Chapter XL: Book XX: Argument

Gerlach without hesitation pronounces the subject of this book
to have been "the superstition of the lower orders, and the
luxury of the banquets of the wealthy." There were, even in
the days of Lucilius, many who could see through, and heartily
despise, the ignorant superstition by which their fellow-men were
shackled. Hence the famous saying of Cato, that he wondered how
a soothsayer could look another of the same profession in the
face without laughing. The 3d and 4th Fragments are probably part
of the speech of some notorious epicure, who cordially detests
the simplicity and frugality of ancient days; and the 6th may
contain the fierce expression of his unmeasured indignation at
any attempt to suppress or curtail the lavish munificence and
luxurious self-indulgence of men like himself. The 6th, 7th, and
9th Fragments may also refer to the sumptuous banquets of the day.

1 These bugbears, Lamiæ, which the Fauni and Numas set up--at
these he trembles, and sets all down as true.... Just as little
children believe that all the statues of brass are alive and
human beings, just so these men believe all these fables to be
true, and think there is a heart inside these brazen statues.

... It is a mere painter's board, nothing is real; all
counterfeit.[1817]

2 ... in their own season, and at one and the same time ... and
in half an hour ... after three are ended ... only the same and
the fourth.

3 ... such dainties as endive, or some herb of that kind, and
pilchards' sauce ... but this is sorry ware.[1818]

4 I reviled the savage law of Calpurnius Piso, and snorted forth
my angry breath from my nostrils....[1819]

5 ... then he will burst asunder, just as the Marsian by his
incantation makes the snakes burst, when he has caused all
their veins to swell

6 They are captivated with tripe and rich dinners.[1820]

7 ... he be a trifler and an empty-headed fellow ... far the
greatest[1821]

8 ... then a certain youth whom they call[1822]

9 ... then he wiped the broad tables with a purple napkin[1823]

10 ... damage the bows and shear away the helm.

11 ... they chatter: and your dirty-nosed country lout chimes
in.[1824]

FOOTNOTES:

[1817] _Terriculas_ (for the old reading, Terricolas), "any thing used to frighten children, as bugbears." The forms _terriculum_ and _terriculamentum_ also occur. Compare the μορμολυκεῖον of the Greeks, Arist., Thesm., 417, and μορμὼ, Arist., Achar., 582; Pax, 474 (vid. Ruhnken's Timæus, in voc., who quotes numerous passages); and Empusa, Ar., Ran., 293. The _Lamiæ_ were monsters, represented of various shapes (λάμια, Arist., Vesp., 1177, from λάμος, vorago), as hags, or vampyres (strigum instar), or with the bodies of women above, terminating in the lower extremities of an ass. Hence ὀνοσκελίς, ὀνοκώλη. Vid. Hor., A. P., 340, "Neu pransæ Lamiæ vivum puerum extrahat alvo," cum Schol. Cruqu. They were supposed to devour children, or at all events suck their blood. Cf. Tert. adv. Valent., iii. Festus in voc. Manducus, Maniæ. Manducus is probably from mandendo, and was represented with huge jaws and teeth, like our "Raw-head and bloody-bones." It was probably the mask used in the Atellane exodia. Cf. Juv., iii., 175, "Cum personæ pallentis hiatum in gremio matris formidat rusticus infans." Plaut., Rud., II., vi., 51, "Quid si aliquo ad ludos me pro manduco locem? Quapropter? Quia pol clarè crepito dentibus." The _Fauni_ are put for any persons of great antiquity, the inventors of these fables (ἀρχαϊκά, Ar., Nub., 812), just as Picus in Juvenal, viii., 131, "tum licet a _Pico_ numeres genus." Pergula (cf. ad Juv., xi., 137) is "the stall outside a shop where articles were exhibited for sale," and where painters sometimes exposed their pictures to public view. «Cf. Plin., xxxv., 10, 36, who says Apelles used to conceal himself behind the pergula, to hear the remarks of passers-by on his paintings.»

[1818] _Pulmentarium._ So ὄψον, "any kind of food eaten with something else, though rarely, if ever, with vegetables." It took its name from the days when the Romans had no bread, but used pulse instead. Vid. Plin., xviii., 8, 19. Pers., iii., 102. Juv., vii., 185. Hor., ii., Sat. ii., 19, "Tu pulmentaria quære sudando." _Intybus._ Cf. ad v., Fr. 14. _Mænarum._ Ad Pers., iii, 76.

[1819] Cf. Introduction, p. 285. Gerlach says it describes the fierce snortings of an angry man: "hominem ex imo pectore iras anhelantem." Cf. Pers., v., 91, "Ira cadat naso." Theoc., i., 18, χολὰ ποτὶ ῥινὶ κάθηται. Mart., vi., Ep. lxiv., 28.

[1820] _Præcisum_, like omasum, "the fat part of the belly of beef chopped up;" the "busecchie" of the modern Italians.

[1821] Cf. xiv., Fr. 3.

[1822] _Parectaton_, a παρεκτείνω. Quasi extensus, "an overgrown youth." The penultima is lengthened in Latin.

[1823] Cf. Hor., ii., Sat. viii., 11.

[1824] _Deblaterant._ Cf. Plaut., Aul., II., iii., 1. _Blennus_ is beautifully expressed by the German "rotznase." Plaut., Bacch., V., i., 2.