[sect. 2]
Damasippus had apparently promised to take the statues if they did not please Cicero.
genus omnino signorum omnium. all the statues in the world.
Musis Metelli: statues in the possession of Metellus.
tanti putassem: sc. as you paid for your Bacchae.
Musis omnibus approbantibus: the Muses themselves would not have been offended at being rated at a lower price than you paid for the Bacchae.
erat, would have been.
Martis [gap in text] pacis auctori: the Bacchae in Cicero's study would be absurd enough, but the statue of Mars would be still more ridiculous for a man who prided himself upon being a dux togatus. Cf. Cat. 3.23 togati me uno togato duce et imperatore vicistis.
aes alienum: the quaint comment of Manutius is: Martis enim et Saturni signa nihil prosperum promittere, astrologi confirmant: stulte, qui divinationem rerum futurarum, quae soli Deo notae sunt, ad suam scientiam revocent.
Mercuri: the god of good luck, especially in money matters; cf. Hor. Sat. 2.3.68 reiecta praeda, quam praesens Mercurius fert; Pers. 6.62 sum tibi Mercurius; venio deus huc ego ut ille pingitur; and Plautus Amph. 1-14..
felicius [gap in text] transigere possemus: i.e. with the help of Mercury, the god of bargains.
