Page:Satires, Epistles, Art of Poetry of Horace - Coningsby (1874).djvu/230

 materies" identical with "communia," and "privati juris" with "proprie," contrary to Orelli's opinion.

Yet haste and chance may blink the obvious truth. I am not sure whether this was the connecting link in Horace's mind; but I felt that the absence of any link would make the transition between the two sentences intolerably abrupt in English, and go I supplied a link as I best could. Macleane seems right in remarking that the remark "multa ferunt" &c. seems to be drawn forth by the dark picture of old age contained in the preceding verses, and has not much otherwise to do with the subject. Horace doubtless felt that he was passing middle life himself.

Yet so that none should ask it to resign The sixth, fourth, second places in the line. Horace does not mention the sixth place: I have introduced it for the benefit of persons who, as actually happened to me when very young, may attempt to write Iambic trimeters with no guide but this passage, and may be in consequence in danger of making them scazons, as I actually did.

Entrust it first to Mæcius' critic ears, Your sire's, and mine, and keep it back nine years. Almost a verbal coincidence with Howes, but a coincidence only.

Then blush not for the lyre: Apollo sings In unison with her who sweeps its strings. It is difficult to say whether the paragraph of which these lines are the conclusion is a sketch of the history of poetry