60. #ritu | generis#: 'by regular descent' (Conington). Jahn connects
_generis_ with _avunculus_. --#maior avunculus#: _avii aut aviae
avunculus est_ (Jahn), 'great-great-uncle.' Persius qualifies this
statement by _prope_, 'something like,' but he has not only got the
degree wrong, but has passed over to the mother's side. The thought of
this _frigidiuscula ratio_, as Jahn calls it, does not need
illustration. Still, comp. Juv., 4, 99: _unde fit ut malim fraterculus
esse gigantum_. --#exit# = _evadit_, 1, 45; 5, 130.
61-74. Persius: 'You are getting impatient. Why not wait for your turn?
I am Fortune. Wait until I drop my purse into your hand, and then be
satisfied with what I have left in it. _Tadius bequeathed me some
money._ I know he did. What is that to you? None of your fatherly advice
about looking after my balance at the banker's. What do I care about
"balance?" I will eat a good dinner, and not starve myself for your
spoilt grandson's sake.'
61. #qui prior es#: In this form of the +lampadêphoria+ 'the course was
marked out in stations, at each of which a new set of runners stood
ready to take up the race, and so long as the torch remained alight, and
the conditions of the race were thus fulfilled, it could not exchange
hands except at particular stations' (Pretor, after Jahn). Here the man
in advance is represented as trying to get the torch out of Persius's
hands before he has reached the station, while Persius is yet running
(_in decursu_), which Jahn properly emphasizes. The interpretation is
much disputed. --#poscis#: implies impatience.