The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-01
HI.

The author of these essays would regard this
self dependent attitude as the central quality
in the character OF Horace and the chief source
Of his intellectual and moral power. 1t is, at
the same time, pointed out that this, after all.
explains only one side of his nature. No writer
of whom we know go much through his own
work seems to have combined in tho same de-
gree the capacity of being happy alone with ap-
titude for social life and keen enjoyment of 1t.
While the first characteristic was the condition
of his Inspiration, of his meditative habit and of
his literary excellence. to the second he owed
many OF the materials Of his art, and also the
sanity of his genius. the moderation and truth of
his Judgment, and his immunity from the weak
nesses and extravaganza of the literary lem
permanent. His relations to society wero deter
mined by reflection Is much as by impulse. In
his lonely musings he considered not only how
he could be true to himself. but how he should
be ducts dmfets, agreeable to his friends" His
early admission into q social circle inheriting
the traditions of . governing aristocracy-al-
though the son Of n freedman. no was a military
tribune at Philippi before no was "a
years old-implies tho possession of some
great social charm; and the nature of
that eharmN Is indicated not only in
tho humor and gayety of many of his writings,
but in the manifold proofs. given In his Odes
and Epistles. of appreciation aud consideration
for others. and in tho evidence which all His
writings afford / of tact and good sense. OF free
dom from vanity and self-assertion. His satire.
indeed. made enemies. and he was feared and
disliked by those who felt themselves to be ex-
posed to 1t. But even tho exercise of this
faculty was restrained In him BY q high sense of
honor. There Is no charge which he repe!s
with more grave earnestness than that of taking
pleasure In hurting the feelings OF others. There
Is no character which he describes with
aueh concentrated acorn a that of thu alan
dorer and backblter. Among the breaches
of honor which he most strongly condemns
Is the betrayal of q secret, and among
the qualities to which he assigns the high
est praise Is faithful silence. Ho processes
TO use his satiric "stilus" only in self-defenco,
or against the enemies and nuisances OF society.
There 10 no doctrine which he breaches with
more sense and good feeling than he docs that
of charitable Indulgence to the faults of our
friends. II It is safe to infer what his conduct
was from that which he fervently approved,
the conclusion would be that Horace's rela-
lions with all those with whom he lived on
terms of intimacy-and they included all
who were best worth knowing In Roman
society-were regulated like those OF the
best mon in our own day, by q high sense
of honor, u tolerant temper and . kind heart,
Traces of tho same temper may DO found In his
relations TO slaves and social interiors, as In the
ti"Sih "hiSh hC aiio"tu bdFubt " u Will
him. In the indulgence which he shows to his
overseer, his sympathy with tho ruMttcd Pit
dule. who may have been his pillicd. or farm
servant, and the kindly appreciation which he
Expresses for his country neighbors. Yet. whilo
Horace was a true friend. not even Mr.. Sellar. to
whom he 10 intensely sympathetic. Processes
to recognize in him tho impulsively affoc-
tionate nature which Is the great attraction
Of Catullus. There Is a certain degree, not. In
IAAI 80 49, ----l l
fairs, but OF reserve, In his every expression of
feeling. except toward ono or two persons, nota-
bly, Mecenas and Virgil. He Is more ready to
sympathizo with the signs of warm affection
bestowed on others than to claim them for him
self. Thus, for instance. the ode on tho return
of Plotius Numida from Spain naturally sug-
gests q comparison with that OF Catullus on tho
return of Verannius. But, while Catullus thinks
OF his own JOY in greeting his friend
with the most unroAtrained demonstration of
Observation-Disclosures cOilum. juctnditm os ocu-
loSque sLdpidbOr, "WindlnG my arms about tbv
neck. l Will kiss thy dear mouth and eyes".-
Horace pictures to himself those proofs OF ar-
lection as bestowed on 4Flius Lamia, a dearer
friend and a younger man than himself: C1ria
multd soddlibus. nuUf pltrd tamen dipidtt 0sclla
qtdm dulct Ldmt1, ITO his dear com oanion
he awards many q kiss. yet to none more than
to delightful LAmia." So, too. In his sorrow for
tho loss Of Quintilius. he thinks more OF the pain
which 1t will cause TO Virgil than OF his own
pain; Multts ttle bonfs hebais occtit, nullt aebf-
ltor guam tibt ptr0M. He dies by many good
men went. but wept by none more than nv
thee, my Virgil" such expressions Mr.. selIar.
would explain partly by Horace's dislike to
make any parade OF his deepest, feelings. lint
partly also by the spirit OF renunciation which
the poet showed In regard to worldly honors. 10
wealth. and to life itself. AS he held that most
WAS to DO got out of life by not valuing IL too
much. and most enjoyment from worldly goods
by not calculating too absolutely on their per
mAnenee-Qudnto Qutsque stbt plura neoaUertt, a
us pluTd Jeret, The more any one shall have
denied himself. 90 much the more shall he gain
from the Rods"-so. even to the higher bles1ing
Of anscuoR. Horace did not abandon himsslf