Ea sub oculis posita negligimus; proximorum incuriosi, longinqua sectamur. "Those things which are placed under our eyes we overlook; indifferent to what is near, we long for what is distant." As Campbell says: AULUS PERSIUS FLACCUS was an eminent Roman satirist, born of equestrian rank, educated at Rome, and distinguished for his gentle manners and blameless life. He enjoyed as his companions the most noted men of his time, among whom were Seneca and Lucan. His Satires, six in number, were exceedingly popular not only at the time they were written, but for several succeeding generations. They are distinguished for the unsparing manner in which they rebuke the corruption and degeneracy of the times. His writings are not extensive, for he died at the age of twenty-eight, a time of life at which most men are only beginning their literary career. He was a nobleman of stainless character, and this has greatly endeared him to the world. He may, perhaps, be said to have measured the span of an ordinary life in noble deeds, though not in years. Care. Vanity. O curas hominum ! O quantum est in rebus inane! "Oh the cares of mankind! Oh how much vanity there is in human affairs!"-Satires, I, 1. Popular Applause. An erit, qui velle recuset Os populi meruisse ? "Lives there the man with soul so dead as to disown the wish to merit popular applause?". Sat. I, 41. Punishment of Tyrants. Magne pater divum, saevos punire tyrannos Moverit ingenium, ferventi tincta veneno, Virtutem videant, intabescantque relicta. “Great father of the gods! when lust ill-boding, filled with burning poison, has inflamed the mind, grant to punish ruthless tyrants in no other way than this, that they behold nobility and pine away at having abandoned it."- Sat. III, 35. Prevention. Rule of Medicine. Venienti occurrite morbo. "Go forth to meet the disease while yet a long way off.". Sat. III, 64. The best way to treat disease is to prevent its approach. Introspection. Knowledge. Tecum habita, et noris, quam sit tibi curta supellex. "Retire within thyself, and thou wilt blush to find how poor a stock is there." Sat. IV, 52. Enjoyment of Life. Mindful of Death. Indulge genio, carpamus dulcia: nostrum est, Vive memor leti. Fugit hora. "Indulge thy fancy; let us sip the sweets of life; it is our good fortune that you live; thou wilt soon be ashes, a ghost, and a tale that is told. Live mindful of destruction. Time is passing." — Sat. V, 151. LUCAN. BORN 39 A.D. — DIED 65 A.D. MARCUS ANNAEUS LUCANUS, a nephew of Seneca, and the greatest poet of the silver age, was born at Cordova, Spain, in the year 39 A.D. He was early taken to Rome, where he is said to have been precocious as a pupil, and where his poetical genius and rising fame soon attracted the notice of Nero, and so aroused the Emperor's jealousy that he forbade his public recitals. This so excited the indignation of Lucan that he joined in a conspiracy, but was discovered, and basely sought to clear himself by implicating his mother and father. He, however, failed to obtain a reprieve; and, causing his veins to be opened, expired by his own hand while repeating from the Pharsalia a passage descriptive of a soldier's death. The only production of Lucan now extant is the Pharsalia, a heroic poem in ten books, descriptive of the war between Caesar and Pompey. It is a metrical narration of facts, but fails to rise to the dignity of an epic poem. Lucan's style is often strained and ostentatious, and partakes of the general characteristics of the age in its partiality for antithesis and rhetorical display. Quintilian describes him as, "Ardens et concitatus et sententiis clarissimus," to which he adds magis oratoribus quam poetis annumerandus.” His poetry was oratorical, and his oratory poetic. 66 Prosperity. Destruction. In se magna ruunt: laetis hunc numina rebus Great things hasten to their own destruction: the gods have assigned this limit to the increase of prosperity."— Pharsalia, I, 81. Caesar. Ambition. Successus urgere suos: instare favori Numinis impellens quicquid sibi summa petenti "He made the most of his advantages and relied upon the help of heaven, removing whatever opposed his onward progress, and rejoicing even in the ruin upon which he made his path."— Phar. I, 148. describing conditions as they existed in early times. It is to be hoped that this may never again become the standard of society. Prosperity. Uncertainty. O faciles dare summa deos, eademque tueri Difficiles! "How ready are the gods to grant prosperity; how reluctant to insure its tenure!"- Phar. I, 510. Sed quo fata trahunt, virtus secura sequetur. "Virtue, conscious of its innocence, will go wherever the fates direct." - Phar. II, 287. Nil actum credens, dum quid superesset agendum. "Thinking nothing done, while aught remained to do." - Phar. II, 657. Describing the disposition of Caesar, and the working principle of an energetic and successful man. Revolution. Crime. Pardon. Quicquid multis peccatur, inultum est. "When multitudes offend, the crime is pardoned.” — Phar. V, 260. Adversity the Test of Devotion. Felix se nescit amari. "So long as one is happy, he knows not whether he is loved.". Phar. VII, 727. Good Name. Reputation. Clarum et venerabile nomen gentibus, Et nostrae multum quod proderat urbi. A name illustrious and revered by nations, one which has bestowed much good upon our city."- Phar. IX, 203. Would that every one might, at least, become worthy of this last distinction. God. Haeremus cuncti superis, temploque tacente Et coelum, et virtus? superos quid quaerimus ultra? Sed mors certa facit: pavido fortique cadendum est. "We all depend on God, and though his temple be silent, we can do nothing except by his divine will. He needs no words to voice his will; the Creator has declared at the birth of each what heaven has granted us to know; he has not hidden wisdom in the sterile sands, nor obscured his truth in clouds of dust, that few might find it. Where else is the abode of God but on the earth and in the sea, air, heaven, and virtuous minds? Why look beyond for God? He is in everything thou beholdest, wheresoe'er thou movest. The sceptical and such as live in constant dread of future ills may seek astrology. It is not oracles, but the certainty of death that makes me confident, for the coward and the brave alike must fall. It is enough that God has given us this truth."— Phar. IX. 573. |