Abstract

Most of the above text is straightforward. Horace is explaining that wrath – the reader may think at this stage either of Horace's own wrath expressed in the scurrilous iambi mentioned in 2–3 or that of the woman he addresses – resembles various other things. Thus in 5a wrath's effect is compared to that of the Magna Mater on her priests, the Galli, and in 5b–6 to that of Apollo on the Pythia. In 7a Dionysus’ effect on his maenads provides the analogy. These are good comparisons to the ruinous effects of anger.