Note 4, 18. 19 — A. PERSIUS FLACCUS (continued 3)

18. curata cuticula sole: with reference to the apricatio or insolatio. Comp. Juv., 11, 203: nostra bibat vernum contracta cuticula solem. What was a matter of hygiene became a matter of luxury. The sun-cure has been revived of late years. Curare cuticulam, cutem, pelliculam is commonly used of ‘good living’ generally, ‘taking very good care of one’s dear little self.’ See Hor., Ep., 1, 2, 29. 4, 15; Sat., 2, 5, 38; Juv., 2, 105.—haec: δεικτικῶς.—i nunc: ‘Irridentis vel exprobrantis formula,’ Jahn, who gives an overwhelming list of examples (comp. Hor., Ep., 1, 6, 17; 2, 3, 76). The usage requires it to be connected with suffla. ‘Go on, then, and blow as you have been blowing.’ Suffla in this sense is quite as ‘low’ as our Americanism. Persius has the aristocrat’s contempt for superfine language, and by a natural reaction falls, not unfrequently, into slang. Jahn compares 5, 13 and 3, 27, and the Greek proverbial expression φυσᾷ γὰρ οὐ σμικροῖσιν αὐλίσκοις ἔπι. Add Menand., fr. 296 (4, 157 Mein.): οἷοι λαλοῦμεν ὄντες οἱ τρισάθλιοι | ἅπαντες οἱ φυσῶντες ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτοῖς μέγα. ‘Mouth it out’ (Conington), ‘spout it out’ (Macleane).