[55] That is, the best and the worst poets. [56] This was one of the themes given in the schools of rhetoricians, in the deliberative kind; whether Sylla should lay down the supreme power of dictatorship, or still keep it? [57] Lucilius, the first satirist of the Romans, who wrote long before Horace. [58] Mævia, a name put for any impudent or mannish woman. [59] Juvenal's barber, now grown wealthy. [60] Crispinus, an Egyptian slave; now, by his riches, transformed into a nobleman. [61] The Romans were grown so effeminate in Juvenal's time, that they wore light rings in the summer, and heavier in the winter. [62] Matho, a famous lawyer, mentioned in other places by Juvenal and Martial. [63] Lyons, a city in France, where annual sacrifices and games were made in honour of Augustus Cæsar. [64] Here the poet complains, that the governors of provinces being accused for their unjust exactions, though they were condemned at their trials, yet got off by bribery. [65] Horace, who wrote satires; it is more noble, says our author, to imitate him in that way, than to write the labours of Hercules, the sufferings of Diomedes and his followers, or the flight of Dædalus, who made the Labyrinth, and the death of his son Icarus. [66] Nero married Sporus, an eunuch; though it may be, the poet meant Nero's mistress in man's apparel. [67] Mecænas is often taxed by Seneca and others for his effeminacy. [68] The meaning is, that the very consideration of such a crime will hinder a virtuous man from taking his repose. [69] Shadwell, our author's old enemy.--E. [70] Deucalion and Pyrrha, when the world was drowned, escaped to the top of Mount Parnassus, and were commanded to restore mankind, by throwing stones over their heads; the stones he threw became men, and those she threw became women. [71] The ears of all slaves were bored, as a mark of their servitude; which custom is still usual in the East Indies, and in other parts, even for whole nations, who bore prodigious holes in their ears, and wear vast weights at them. [72] Pallus, a slave freed by Claudius Cæsar, and raised by his favour to great riches. Licinius was another wealthy freedman belonging to Augustus. [73] Perhaps the storks were used to build on the top of the temple dedicated to Concord. [74] He calls the Roman knights, &c. harpies, or devourers. In those days, the rich made doles intended for the poor; but the great were either so covetous, or so needy, that they came in their litters to demand their shares of the largess; and thereby prevented, and consequently starved, the poor.