Humanitext Reader

Horace · Satires §1.7.1-1.7.35

The Courtroom Dispute between Persius and Rupilius Rex

Passage 12 of 30 · Latin

Summary

The poem describes a fierce lawsuit and exchange of insults between two stubborn men, the half-breed Persius and the outlawed Rupilius Rex. Persius pleads his case before Brutus's court, humorously urging Brutus to do away with this 'Rex' (King).

§1.7.1Proscripti Regis Rupili pus atque venenum §1.7.2hybrida quo pacto sit Persius ultus, opinor §1.7.3omnibus et lippis notum et tonsoribus esse.
In what manner the half-breed Persius avenged the filth and venom of the outlawed Rupilius Rex, I think is known to all blear-eyed men and barbers.
§1.7.4Persius hic permagna negotia dives habebat §1.7.5Clazomenis et iam litis cum Rege molestas, §1.7.6durus homo atque odio qui posset vincere Regem, §1.7.7confidens, tumidus, adeo sermonis amari, §1.7.8Sisennas, Barros ut equis praecurreret albis.
This Persius, being rich, had very large business at Clazomenae, and already a troublesome lawsuit with Rex; a harsh man, and one who in bitter hatred could surpass Rex, confident, boastful, and of speech so sharp, that he would outrun the Sisennas and Barruses on white horses.
§1.7.9ad Regem redeo.
I return to Rex.
postquam nihil inter utrumque §1.7.10convenit — hoc etenim sunt omnes iure molesti, §1.7.11quo fortes, quibus adversum bellum incidit: inter §1.7.12Hectora Priamiden, animosum atque inter Achillem §1.7.13ira fuit capitalis, ut ultima divideret mors, §1.7.14non aliam ob causam, nisi quod virtus in utroque §1.7.15summa fuit: duo si discordia vexet inertis §1.7.16aut si disparibus bellum incidat, ut Diomedi §1.7.17cum Lycio Glauco, discedat pigrior, ultro §1.7.18muneribus missis.
After nothing was agreed upon between them—for indeed all troublesome men have this right to the same degree as the brave, when adverse war falls upon them: between Hector, son of Priam, and the spirited Achilles there was a deadly wrath, so that only ultimate death could part them, for no other reason than because the valor in both was supreme; but if discord should vex two cowards, or if war should fall upon unequal rivals, as upon Diomedes with Lycian Glaucus, the weaker would withdraw, voluntarily sending gifts.
Bruto praetore tenente §1.7.19ditem Asiam, Rupili et Persi par pugnat, uti non §1.7.20conpositum melius cum Bitho Bacchius.
When Brutus as praetor was ruling wealthy Asia, the pair of Rupilius and Persius fought, so that Bacchius and Bithus were not more closely matched.
in ius §1.7.21acres procurrunt, magnum spectaculum uterque.
Into court they rush fiercely, each a grand spectacle.
§1.7.22Persius exponit causam; ridetur ab omni §1.7.23conventu; laudat Brutum laudatque cohortem, §1.7.24solem Asiae Brutum appellat stellasque salubris §1.7.25appellat comites, excepto Rege; canem illum, §1.7.26invisum agricolis sidus, venisse: ruebat §1.7.27flumen ut hibernum, fertur quo rara securis.
Persius states his case; he is laughed at by the whole assembly; he praises Brutus and praises his cohort, he calls Brutus the sun of Asia and calls his companions salutary stars, except Rex; he says that that dog, a constellation hated by husbandmen, had come: he rushed like a wintry torrent, whither the axe is seldom carried.
§1.7.28tum Praenestinus salso multoque fluenti §1.7.29expressa arbusto regerit convicia, durus §1.7.30vindemiator et invictus, cui saepe viator §1.7.31cessisset magna conpellans voce cuculum.
Then the man of Praeneste, against the salty and fluent speaker, hurls back abuse squeezed from the vineyard, a hardy and unconquered vintager, to whom the traveler would often have yielded, calling out "cuckoo!" with a loud voice.
§1.7.32at Graecus, postquam est Italo perfusus aceto, §1.7.33Persius exclamat: ‘per magnos, Brute, Deos te §1.7.34oro, qui reges consueris tollere, cur non
But the Greek, after he was drenched with Italian vinegar, Persius exclaims: "By the great gods, Brutus, I entreat you, since you are accustomed to do away with kings, why do you not throat-cut this Rex?
§1.7.35hunc Regem iugulas? operum hoc, mihi crede, tuorum est. ’
Believe me, this is a work of yours."

Notes

  1. 1.7.3opinor / omnibus et lippis notum et tonsoribus esse — The verb 'opinor' acts as the main verb of the sentence, governing the accusative and infinitive construction 'notum ... esse', whose subject is the indirect question clause 'hybrida quo pacto sit Persius ultus' in the preceding lines. The reference to 'blear-eyed men and barbers' is an idiomatic expression for common town gossip.
  2. 1.7.8equis praecurreret albis — The expression 'equis praecurreret albis' (to outrun with white horses) is an idiomatic phrase meaning to far surpass or outstrip others, based on the ancient belief that white horses were the swiftest. Here, it emphasizes Persius's biting wit, which far exceeds that of notorious slanderers.
  3. 1.7.10hoc etenim sunt omnes iure molesti, / quo fortes — The correlative 'hoc ... quo' means 'by the same right (or reason) as...'. The word 'fortes' is modified by the following relative clause 'quibus...'. It humorously explains that just as brave men do not yield in war, so troublesome, stubborn men never compromise with one another.
  4. 1.7.20uti non / conpositum melius cum Bitho Bacchius — The participle 'conpositum' (with 'esse' omitted) describes how well-matched the pair was, comparing them to Bithus and Bacchius, famous gladiators of the time. 'Bacchius' is the subject, paired with 'cum Bitho'.
  5. 1.7.34qui reges consueris tollere — 'consueris' is a syncopated form of 'consueveris' (perfect subjunctive). The relative pronoun 'qui' refers to Brutus; the subjunctive is used in a characterising or causal sense, referencing the historic expulsion of kings by Brutus's ancestors.
  6. 1.7.35hunc Regem iugulas — A play on words (pun) between 'Regem' (the cognomen of Rupilius Rex) and 'reges' (kings) in the preceding line. The punchline relies on urging Brutus, who had regicidal ancestors, to slaughter this 'Rex' (King).

Cite this passage

Horace, Satires §1.7.1-1.7.35. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0893.phi004.humanitext-lat2:1.7.1-1.7.35

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.