Note 50 — A. PERSIUS FLACCUS

bibulas donaveris aures: The student is by this time familiar with Persius’s way of hammering a familiar figure into odd shapes. If ears drink in, then ears are thirsty; if they are thirsty, then they tipple; and if you can give ear, you can bestow ears. ‘In vain would you have given up your thirsty ears to be drenched by the praises of the mob.’ Donaveris, Perf. Subj., μάτην παρεσχηκὼς ἂν εἴης τὰ ὦτα. Future ascertainment of a completed action. G., 271, 2.