1. Nasidieni
(four syllables): otherwise unknown, and perhaps only a fictitious name.
beati, the millionaire.
2. nam: i.e.
I ask, for I learned you were there when I went to invite you myself.
3. de medio:
indulgence in the pleasures of the table was indicated by sitting down early rather than
by staying late as in modern times; cf. tempestiva convivia.
potare, to have been, etc.
(Grammar 276. a).
4. fuerit melius, cf.
bene erat II.2.120.
5. prima: i.e.
in the first course (ferculum) exclusive of the gustatio.
iratum, cf. latrantem, II.2.18.
6. leni, etc.: i.e.
the excellence of the viand depended on the weather. This detail suggests an excessive
particularity in these matters.
7. cenae pater,
(probably a jocose variation on pater familias), our respected host. circum: i.e.
as a garnish. Cf. II.4.75.
8. allec: cf. II.4.73. Such stimulating condiments are especially
grateful in sluggish and bilious climates, and were much used by the Roman epicures.
10. puer, etc.:
these statements seem to indicate a special elegance of service. alte cinctus: apparently only a neatly
dressed slave (cf. v. 70). acernam:
the fine tables of the ancients were made either of choice specimens of wood or of colored
marble. Of course there was here no table-cloth.
11. purpureo: a
useless elegance. alter:
a special slave, called analecta.
13. Attica virgo: i.e.
a Kanephórus (cf. I.3.10), indicating a solemnity and dignity of demeanor suited
to his august mission.
14. Hydaspes: i.e.
an East Indian, a rare luxury.
15. Caecuba: one of
the finer wines, but not necessarily indicating any vulgar display (cf. Od.
II.14.25). Alcon:
the mention of the name seems to indicate another rare slave, but whence brought is not
known, perhaps from Greece. But a Greek slave would be no rarity (cf. Alcis,
a German divinity). Chium:
the Greek wines were milder and sweeter than the Italian, and thus formed a contrast and
gave variety. maris expers,
without sea-water, which was usually added to all but the very best Greek wines,
as men drink Apollinaris with their wine nowadays. In summa gloria. . .fuere Thasium
Chiumque. . .Nunc gratia ante omnia est Clazomenio postquam parcius mari condiunt. Lesbium
sponte suae naturae mare sapit. Plin. H. N. XIV.7(73). There is not
necessarily anything of bad taste in the things served. The host gives his guests a choice
between the hot but rich Italian wines and the sweet and mild but equally choice Chian,
serving the last in its full strength and at the same time without the tang which
the sea-water would have given it. If there is anything wrong in the whole matter, it is
only the overstrained and anxious nicety of selection and service.
16. Albanum, etc.:
here is apparently an overwrought anxiety to please the distinguished guest, but not
necessarily intended as an ostentatious display, notwithstanding Horace's exclamation. He
may merely mean that such resources cause a host to worry over the matter.
19. Fundani, cf. I.10.42. laboro nosse, I am dying to know.
20. summus, etc.:
the triclinium was arranged round three sides of a square, within which was the table, and
the guests reclined there on a couch, thus: 1. Fundanius. 2. Viscus. 3. Varius. 4.
Servilius. 5. Vibidius. 6. Maecenas. 7.Nomentanus. 8. Host. 9. Porcius.
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5 |
4 b |
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1 a |
The host would naturally take No. 7; but see v. 25. The arms of the couches were at a,
b, c, the other places having only cushions. Thurinus, of Thurii, and so
probably not either of those in I.10.83.
21. Varius, cf. I.10.44. Servilio: unknown.
22. umbras:
uninvited persons brought as parasites by the distinguished guest. Cf. Ep.
I.5.28.
23. Nomentanus was
(as also Porcius) a parasite of the host. Here he takes the chief place partly because of
the dulness of the host himself and partly to point out the choice things of the feast in
case anything should escape notice.
25. ad hoc: Cf. II.1.36.
26. nam: i.e.
I speak of this information given, for the rest of us, except Nomentanus, were in the dark
as to the viands, on account of the art used in their preparation.
29. ut, etc.: i.e.
as I soon found out when he (the host) handed me something which, if not informed, I never
should have recognized as the fishes mentioned, never having tasted the like before.
31. melimela rubere,
etc., that the bright red apples were picked, etc.
32. quid hoc:
probably originally quid was the subject in such cases, but idiomatically
hoc must be regarded as the subject here, and quid as a
kind of accusative adverb.
34. damnose, to
his ruin, by their potations of his costly wine. moriemur, etc.: i.e. being
nauseated by the talk about eating, the guests humorously resolve to avenge themselves in
the manner indicated.
36. parochi, our
provider, jocosely for host.
37. maledicunt: i.e.
produce free-spoken chaffing. Cf. I.4.89.
38. fervida, etc.: i.e.
the wines would prevent the culinary skill from being appreciated.
39. Allifanis: a
large style of goblet from Allifae in Samnium.
40. imi lecti: i.e.
the parasites who refrain on account of obsequiousness.
44. futura, it
would be, etc., making a separate sentence in English.
45. prima: i.e.
the oil first pressed, which would be the choicest. Venafri: cf. II.4.69.
46. Hiberi: i.e.
the scomber, or mackerel.
48. dum coquitur, while
cooking. cocto,
after it is cooked, a different wine must be added. All these niceties are of the
same kind as those in II.4.
49. hoc: ablative
after magis.
50. quod: lit. the
vinegar, but properly the acid which turned the wine and spoiled it (vitio)
by making it vinegar.
51. ego primus: cf. II.4.74. incoquere,
stew in the mixture. inlutos:
i.e. the sea-urchins soaked give a better juice than the ordinary fish brine. Curtillus, another gourmet.
53. melius: a forced
apposition to echinos, agreeing with (id) antecedent of quod.
testa: i.e.
the echinus.
54. aulaea:
apparently a canopy over the table. Cf. Od. III.29.15; Virg. Æn. 1.697.
57. maius: i.e.
a real danger, as of the fall of the ceiling or house.
58. erigimur, rally.
Rufus: cognomen of
Nasidienus. posito capite:
i.e. in despair, in a manner opposed to erigimur.
59. esset:
imperfect, referring to past time instead of the ordinary pluperfect (Grammar § 308. a).
This is an extreme case of the usage, and hardly to be paralleled, and it may be therefore
colloquial.
60. sapiens, like
a philosopher, perhaps with a shade of irony. the absurdity consisted in the
parasite's treating the matter as an overwhelming calamity.
64. suspendens,
etc., always a scornful cynic, which agrees with his contemptuous irony. Cf. I.6.5.
67. tene, etc.: cf.
Ter. Phorm. II.2.25, a passage which Balatro must have had in his mind.
72. agaso: i.e.
a clumsy slave, fit only for the stable.
74. nudare: i.e.
only serve to reveal the genius which in success might be undiscovered.
75. tibi di, etc.:
the host evidently takes the jest in earnest.
77. soleas poscit: i.e.
to go and order the continuance of the banquet. The shoes were taken off upon reclining.
78. divisos, exchanged,
uttered now to this side, now to that (cf. Od. I.15.15). secreta aure: privately in the ear of
one's neighbor, i.e. they put their heads together and whisper.
79. ludos: referring
as well to the sport on this occasion as to public amusements in general. Cf. the English,
"as good as a play." mallem:
Grammar § 311. b. spectasse:
Grammar § 288. d. Rem.
80. deinceps, next.
81. quoque: i.e.
as well as whatever the hangings fell on.
83. ridetur: of
course impersonal. fictis rerum
(cf. II.2.25), pretended jests, invented to
cover their laughter at Nasidienus.
84. Nasidiene: in a
style of apostrophe suggestive of Epic poetry. mutatae frontis, with a changed
bearing; recovered from his despair, and resolved to triumph over fortune by resolute
endeavor. ut arte,
etc.: apparently proverbial. Cf. Ter. Adelph. IV.7.21 seq.
88. iecur: cf. the
modern pâtè de foie gras. anseris
albae: a female and white, both details made much of by the host, as of
course these would not appear in the liver.
89. armos: cf. II.4.44.
90. edit: probably
subjunctive. adusto:
apparently broiled. There is no reason to think of any want of excellence in the cooking.
91. sine clune:
doubtless a fine touch. Cf., for a different fashion, Gell. 15.8.
92. suavis res, choice
viands enough. In strict grammar we should have quae suaves res essent si,
but here the res is put in apposition without a verb, and the sentence
proceeds as if the verb had been used. causas,
etc.: i.e. the dinner is spoiled by the details, because minutiae of the art of
the cuisine are disgusting to the guests.
93. ulti: i.e.
when the host is so devoted to the culinary art, and so proud of his dinners, the worst
they can do to him is to refuse to enjoy his viands.
95. Canidia: the
sorceress mentioned in Epod. V., XVII. and Sat. I.8. Afris: cf. Od. III.10.18. |
