[1208] Dictata. The allusion is to Nero, who ordered that his verses should be taught to the boys in the schools of Rome. The works of eminent contemporary poets were sometimes the subjects of study in schools, as well as the standard writings of Virgil and Horace. Cf. Juv., vii., 226, "Totidem olfecisse lucernas Quot stabant pueri quum totus decolor esset Flaccus et hæreret nigro fuligo Maroni."
[1209] Cirratorum. "Boys of high rank with well-curled hair." Cf. Mart., i., Ep. xxxv., "Cirrata caterva magistri."
[1210] Ecce! "See," answers Persius, "the noblest result, after all you can hope to attain, is only to have your poems lisped through by men surcharged with food and wine!"
[1211] Inter pocula. Cf. Juv., vi., 434; xi., 178.
[1212] Romulidæ, the degenerate self-styled descendants of Romulus. With equal bitterness Juvenal calls them "Quirites," iii., 60; "Trojugenæ," viii., 181; xi., 95; "Turba Remi," x., 73.
[1213] Balba de nare. Balbutire is properly a defect of the tongue, not of the nose.
[1214] Eliquare is properly used of the melting down of metals. It is here put for effeminate affectation of speech.
[1215] Phyllidas. Not alluding probably to the Heroics of Ovid on these two subjects, but to some wretched trash of his own day.
[1216] Assensere. From Ov., Met., ix., 259, "Assensere Dei." So xiv., 592.
[1217] Cinis. Cf. Ov., Trist., III., iii., 76. Amor., III., ix., 67, "Ossa quieta precor tuta requiescite in urnâ, Et sit humus cineri non onerosa tuo." Propert., I., xvii., 24, "Ut mihi non ullo pondere terra foret." Juv., vii., 207, "Dii Majorum umbris tenuem et sine pondere terram Spirantesque crocos et in urnâ. perpetuum ver."