ABSTRACT
Brink’s note on line 133 (1982a) should be heeded: “As for dedisset, this instance differs from all cases of dare, with which it is confidently joined in TLL V,1,1696,71–78; but two passages of the Ars may be compared, although what the Muse grants there is an action and therefore in the inf.: A.P. 83, 323–4.” 1 The transmitted text must mean: wherefrom should the young learn prayers if the Muse had not granted them the bard? 2 What Brink does not comment on is the difference between his adduced examples and our case. In the Ars Horace is talking of inspiration and poetic talent as gifts from the Muse. This is the natural thing to expect from the interference of a Muse, but in vatem ni Musa dedisset it is the poet himself that is the gift. This is unusual as far as I can see, but it could be defended as a kind of shorthand way of saying that certain august prayers to the gods are dependent on poets inspired by the Muse for their beneficial effect.
