Now in explanation of what it was led Sarmentus to indulge in this jest, Horace goes on to say that Messius carried on the left side of his brow a hideous scar. At this Sarmentus directs his wit, making allusion to the _Campanus morbus_ (Campanian disease) and Messius’ disfigured face, finishing up by asking the latter _pastorem saltaret uti Cyclopa_ (to dance the shepherd Cyclops), adding that for this he would need neither mask nor tragic buskins. But the _Campanus morbus_[129] is indeed nothing else but the _capitalis luxus_ (headlong wantonness) of the Nolans, the peculiar vice of the Oscans, _fellation_ in fact, which Messius practised, and to which he owed his _foeda cicatrix_ (hideous scar), his disfigured face; and on both these points Sarmentus proceeds to rally him at great length (_permulta iocatus_,—indulging in very many jests), without Horace however recording his wit any further. In the _pastorem Cyclopa saltare_ (to dance the shepherd Cyclops) again is contained an allusion that has hitherto been quite misunderstood, one which _Lucian_ in his Pseudologistae (ch. 27.) will best explain for us. He says to Timarchus: “But in Italy, great gods! you acquired the heroic nickname of ὁ Κύκλωψ (the Cyclops), because at one time you wanted to practise your vice in imitation of the old legend, as it is found in _Homer_, and actually, as you lay there drunk, held the κισσύβιον (wassail-bowl) in your hand like a wanton Polyphemus; and the young man hired for the purpose with outstretched _hasta_ (spear), that was well sharpened, threw himself upon you like another Odysseus, to thrust out your eye[130]. Yet did he miss his aim, and the spear turned slantwise beside you; So that its point sped past, the edge of your chin merely grazing. Thus it is by no means unreasonable to speak of you as using “cold-mouthed phrases” (Ψυχρολογεῖν). But you, Cyclops, opening your mouth, and gaping as wide as mortal man can, had your cheeks plugged by him, or better you longed, as Charybdis with the ships was fain to swallow down helm and sail and all, you longed to absorb the whole Οὖτις (No-man).” Finally the nickname Messius bears, _Cicirrus_ or _Cicerrus_, would seem to embody a jesting allusion, as it was no doubt given him on account of his throaty, croaking voice. It signifies the same thing as κερκίδες (hawks) in Dio Chrysostom, and like that word is to be derived from κέρχω (to croak)[131].