PERSIUS, SATIRE VI
not caring to enquire whether the cinnamon has lost its fragrance or the casia lias been adulterated with cherry. "What?" he will say, "are you to squander your property, and not suffer for it?" And then Bestius[1] has his fling at the Greek philosophers; "It's always so; ever since this emasculated[2] wisdom of ours entered the city along with dates and pepper, our haymakers have spoilt their porridge with thick oils!"—What? are you to be afraid of taunts like these on the other side of the grave? And as for you, my heir, whoever you may be, come away from the crowd for one moment and listen:—[3]
43Have you not heard the news, my good fellow? A laurelled despatch has arrived from Caesar because of a splendid victory over the Germans; the cold ashes are being raked out from the altars; Caesonia[4] is contracting for arms to put up over the gates, with regal mantles, and yellow perukes for the prisoners, and chariots, and life-sized effigies of the Rhine.[5] So in honour of the Gods and the Genius of our General, I am putting on a hundred pairs of gladiators to celebrate these grand doings. Who dares to say me nay? Woe to you if you don't fall in with my humour! I am giving the mob a largess of oil and bread and meat. Do you forbid? Speak out plainly. "No, no," you say, "that field there close by
- ↑ The name Bestius is taken from the corrector Bestius of Horace (Epp. I. xv. 37), and is used to represent the vulgar irrelevant critic, who connects all the evils of his day with the bringing in of new-fangled Greek learning along with foreign articles like pepper, dates, etc. " Your heir will snarl," says Persius, "and Bestius will talk drivel; but why should that trouble you in the grave?" Sapere of course has a punning meaning, referring to Greek Philosophy as well as to the smack of dates and pepper.
- ↑ The words maris expers are taken from Horace (Chium maris expers, Sat. II. viii. 15), but the context is quite different from the Horatian. They have been usually explained as meaning "destitute of salt," and therefore "tasteless," or foolish. But Professor Housman has shown that Casaubon's rendering, "destitute of virility," gives the true meaning (l.c. pp. 27–28). Bestius complains that modern Greek ideas have destroyed the old robustness of Rome; even the rustics have corrupted the homely porridge by mixing with it scented oils.
- ↑ Persius remonstrates with his heir. On an occasion of national rejoicing, he intends to spend freely and patriotically (43–51).
- ↑ Caligula's wife.
- ↑ Besides actual trophies, pictures illustrative of the recent campaign, and even pictures of rivers, were carried in a triumphal procession.
