Chapter 14

[304]illas inferius collo praeceptaque summaepassuras dominae digna statione locavit.quippe opifex veritus confundere sacra profanisdistribuit partes animae sedesque removit.240iram sanguinei regio sub pectore cordisprotegit imbutam flammis avidamque nocendipraecipitemque sui. rabie succensa tumescit,contrahitur tepefacta metu. cumque omnia secumduceret et requiem membris vesana negaret,245invenit pulmonis opem madidumque furentipraebuit, ut tumidae ruerent in mollia fibrae.at sibi cuncta petens, nil conlatura cupidoin iecur et tractus imos compulsa recessit,quae, velut inmanis reserat dum belua rictus,250expleri pascique nequit: nunc verbere curastorquet avaritiae, stimulis nunc flagrat amorum,nunc gaudet, nunc maesta dolet satiataque rursusexoritur caesaque redit pollentius hydra.“Hos igitur potuit si quis sedare tumultus,255inconcussa dabit purae sacraria menti.tu licet extremos late dominere per Indos,te Medus, te mollis Arabs, te Seres adorent:si metuis, si prava cupis, si duceris ira,servitii patiere iugum; tolerabis iniquas260interius leges. tunc omnia iure tenebis,cum poteris rex esse tui. proclivior ususin peiora datur suadetque licentia luxuminlecebrisque effrena favet. tum vivere caste[305]two he set below the neck in a place befitting their functions, where it is their part to obey the commands of the directing soul. Doubtless our creator, fearing to mix the heavenly with the mortal, placed the different souls in different parts and kept their dwelling-places distinct. Near to the heart whence springs our blood there is within the breast a place where fiery anger lurks, eager to hurt and uncontrolled. This cavity swells when heated by rage and contracts when cooled by fear. Then, since anger swept everything away with it and in its fury gave the limbs no rest, Prometheus invented the lungs to aid the body and applied their humidity to the raging of anger to soothe our wrath-swollen flesh. Lust, that asks for everything and gives nought, was driven down into the liver and of necessity occupied the lowest room. Like a beast, opening its capacious jaws, lust can never be full fed nor satisfied; it is a prey now to the cruel lash of sleepless avarice, now to the fiery goads of love; is swayed now by joy, now by misery, and is no sooner fed than fain to be fed again, returning with more insistence than the oft-beheaded hydra.“Can any assuage this tumult he will assure an inviolable sanctuary for a spotless soul. Thou mayest hold sway o’er farthest India, be obeyed by Mede, unwarlike Arab or Chinese, yet, if thou fearest, hast evil desires, art swayed by anger, thou wilt bear the yoke of slavery; within thyself thou wilt be a slave to tyrannical rule. When thou canst be king over thyself then shalt thou hold rightful rule over the world. The easier way often trod leads to worse; liberty begets licence and, when uncontrolled, leads to vice. Then is a chaste

[304]

illas inferius collo praeceptaque summaepassuras dominae digna statione locavit.quippe opifex veritus confundere sacra profanisdistribuit partes animae sedesque removit.240iram sanguinei regio sub pectore cordisprotegit imbutam flammis avidamque nocendipraecipitemque sui. rabie succensa tumescit,contrahitur tepefacta metu. cumque omnia secumduceret et requiem membris vesana negaret,245invenit pulmonis opem madidumque furentipraebuit, ut tumidae ruerent in mollia fibrae.at sibi cuncta petens, nil conlatura cupidoin iecur et tractus imos compulsa recessit,quae, velut inmanis reserat dum belua rictus,250expleri pascique nequit: nunc verbere curastorquet avaritiae, stimulis nunc flagrat amorum,nunc gaudet, nunc maesta dolet satiataque rursusexoritur caesaque redit pollentius hydra.“Hos igitur potuit si quis sedare tumultus,255inconcussa dabit purae sacraria menti.tu licet extremos late dominere per Indos,te Medus, te mollis Arabs, te Seres adorent:si metuis, si prava cupis, si duceris ira,servitii patiere iugum; tolerabis iniquas260interius leges. tunc omnia iure tenebis,cum poteris rex esse tui. proclivior ususin peiora datur suadetque licentia luxuminlecebrisque effrena favet. tum vivere caste

illas inferius collo praeceptaque summae

passuras dominae digna statione locavit.

quippe opifex veritus confundere sacra profanis

distribuit partes animae sedesque removit.240

iram sanguinei regio sub pectore cordis

protegit imbutam flammis avidamque nocendi

praecipitemque sui. rabie succensa tumescit,

contrahitur tepefacta metu. cumque omnia secum

duceret et requiem membris vesana negaret,245

invenit pulmonis opem madidumque furenti

praebuit, ut tumidae ruerent in mollia fibrae.

at sibi cuncta petens, nil conlatura cupido

in iecur et tractus imos compulsa recessit,

quae, velut inmanis reserat dum belua rictus,250

expleri pascique nequit: nunc verbere curas

torquet avaritiae, stimulis nunc flagrat amorum,

nunc gaudet, nunc maesta dolet satiataque rursus

exoritur caesaque redit pollentius hydra.

“Hos igitur potuit si quis sedare tumultus,255

inconcussa dabit purae sacraria menti.

tu licet extremos late dominere per Indos,

te Medus, te mollis Arabs, te Seres adorent:

si metuis, si prava cupis, si duceris ira,

servitii patiere iugum; tolerabis iniquas260

interius leges. tunc omnia iure tenebis,

cum poteris rex esse tui. proclivior usus

in peiora datur suadetque licentia luxum

inlecebrisque effrena favet. tum vivere caste

[305]two he set below the neck in a place befitting their functions, where it is their part to obey the commands of the directing soul. Doubtless our creator, fearing to mix the heavenly with the mortal, placed the different souls in different parts and kept their dwelling-places distinct. Near to the heart whence springs our blood there is within the breast a place where fiery anger lurks, eager to hurt and uncontrolled. This cavity swells when heated by rage and contracts when cooled by fear. Then, since anger swept everything away with it and in its fury gave the limbs no rest, Prometheus invented the lungs to aid the body and applied their humidity to the raging of anger to soothe our wrath-swollen flesh. Lust, that asks for everything and gives nought, was driven down into the liver and of necessity occupied the lowest room. Like a beast, opening its capacious jaws, lust can never be full fed nor satisfied; it is a prey now to the cruel lash of sleepless avarice, now to the fiery goads of love; is swayed now by joy, now by misery, and is no sooner fed than fain to be fed again, returning with more insistence than the oft-beheaded hydra.“Can any assuage this tumult he will assure an inviolable sanctuary for a spotless soul. Thou mayest hold sway o’er farthest India, be obeyed by Mede, unwarlike Arab or Chinese, yet, if thou fearest, hast evil desires, art swayed by anger, thou wilt bear the yoke of slavery; within thyself thou wilt be a slave to tyrannical rule. When thou canst be king over thyself then shalt thou hold rightful rule over the world. The easier way often trod leads to worse; liberty begets licence and, when uncontrolled, leads to vice. Then is a chaste

[305]

two he set below the neck in a place befitting their functions, where it is their part to obey the commands of the directing soul. Doubtless our creator, fearing to mix the heavenly with the mortal, placed the different souls in different parts and kept their dwelling-places distinct. Near to the heart whence springs our blood there is within the breast a place where fiery anger lurks, eager to hurt and uncontrolled. This cavity swells when heated by rage and contracts when cooled by fear. Then, since anger swept everything away with it and in its fury gave the limbs no rest, Prometheus invented the lungs to aid the body and applied their humidity to the raging of anger to soothe our wrath-swollen flesh. Lust, that asks for everything and gives nought, was driven down into the liver and of necessity occupied the lowest room. Like a beast, opening its capacious jaws, lust can never be full fed nor satisfied; it is a prey now to the cruel lash of sleepless avarice, now to the fiery goads of love; is swayed now by joy, now by misery, and is no sooner fed than fain to be fed again, returning with more insistence than the oft-beheaded hydra.

“Can any assuage this tumult he will assure an inviolable sanctuary for a spotless soul. Thou mayest hold sway o’er farthest India, be obeyed by Mede, unwarlike Arab or Chinese, yet, if thou fearest, hast evil desires, art swayed by anger, thou wilt bear the yoke of slavery; within thyself thou wilt be a slave to tyrannical rule. When thou canst be king over thyself then shalt thou hold rightful rule over the world. The easier way often trod leads to worse; liberty begets licence and, when uncontrolled, leads to vice. Then is a chaste

[306]asperius, cum prompta Venus; tum durius irae265consulitur, cum poena patet. sed comprime motusnec tibi quid liceat, sed quid fecisse decebitoccurrat, mentemque domet respectus honesti.“Hoc te praeterea crebro sermone monebo,ut te totius medio telluris in ore270vivere cognoscas, cunctis tua gentibus essefacta palam nec posse dari regalibus usquamsecretum vitiis; nam lux altissima fatioccultum nihil esse sinit, latebrasque per omnesintrat et abstrusos explorat fama recessus.275“Sis pius in primis; nam cum vincamur in omnimunere, sola deos aequat clementia nobis.neu dubie suspectus agas neu falsus amicisrumorumve avidus: qui talia curat, inaneshorrebit strepitus nulla non anxius hora.280non sic excubiae, non circumstantia pilaquam tutatur amor. non extorquebis amari;hoc alterna fides, hoc simplex gratia donat.nonne vides, operum quod se pulcherrimus ipsemundus amore liget, nec vi conexa per aevum285conspirent elementa sibi? quod limite Phoebuscontentus medio, contentus litore pontuset, qui perpetuo terras ambitque vehitque,nec premat incumbens oneri nec cesserit aër?qui terret, plus ipse timet; sors ista tyrannis290convenit; invideant claris fortesque trucident,[307]life harder when love is at call; then is it a sterner task to govern anger when vengeance is to hand. Yet master thine emotions and ponder not what thou mightest do but what thou oughtest to do, and let regard for duty control thy mind.“Of this too I cannot warn thee too often: remember that thou livest in the sight of the whole world, to all peoples are thy deeds known; the vices of monarchs cannot anywhere remain hid. The splendour of their lofty station allows nought to be concealed; fame penetrates every hiding-place and discovers the inmost secrets of the heart.“Above all fail not in loving-kindness; for though we be surpassed in every virtue yet mercy alone makes us equal with the gods. Let thine actions be open and give no grounds for suspicion, be loyal to thy friends nor lend an ear to rumours. He who attends to such will quake at every idle whisper and know no moment’s peace. Neither watch nor guard nor yet a hedge of spears can secure thee safety; only thy people’s love can do that. Love thou canst not extort; it is the gift of mutual faith and honest goodwill. Seest thou not how the fair frame of the very universe binds itself together by love, and how the elements, not united by violence, are for ever at harmony among themselves? Dost thou not mark how that Phoebus is content not to outstep the limits of his path, nor the sea those of his kingdom, and how the air, which in its eternal embrace encircles and upholds the world, presses not upon us with too heavy a weight nor yet yields to the burden which itself sustains? Whoso causes terror is himself more fearful; such doom befits tyrants. Let them be jealous of another’s fame, murder the

[306]

asperius, cum prompta Venus; tum durius irae265consulitur, cum poena patet. sed comprime motusnec tibi quid liceat, sed quid fecisse decebitoccurrat, mentemque domet respectus honesti.“Hoc te praeterea crebro sermone monebo,ut te totius medio telluris in ore270vivere cognoscas, cunctis tua gentibus essefacta palam nec posse dari regalibus usquamsecretum vitiis; nam lux altissima fatioccultum nihil esse sinit, latebrasque per omnesintrat et abstrusos explorat fama recessus.275“Sis pius in primis; nam cum vincamur in omnimunere, sola deos aequat clementia nobis.neu dubie suspectus agas neu falsus amicisrumorumve avidus: qui talia curat, inaneshorrebit strepitus nulla non anxius hora.280non sic excubiae, non circumstantia pilaquam tutatur amor. non extorquebis amari;hoc alterna fides, hoc simplex gratia donat.nonne vides, operum quod se pulcherrimus ipsemundus amore liget, nec vi conexa per aevum285conspirent elementa sibi? quod limite Phoebuscontentus medio, contentus litore pontuset, qui perpetuo terras ambitque vehitque,nec premat incumbens oneri nec cesserit aër?qui terret, plus ipse timet; sors ista tyrannis290convenit; invideant claris fortesque trucident,

asperius, cum prompta Venus; tum durius irae265

consulitur, cum poena patet. sed comprime motus

nec tibi quid liceat, sed quid fecisse decebit

occurrat, mentemque domet respectus honesti.

“Hoc te praeterea crebro sermone monebo,

ut te totius medio telluris in ore270

vivere cognoscas, cunctis tua gentibus esse

facta palam nec posse dari regalibus usquam

secretum vitiis; nam lux altissima fati

occultum nihil esse sinit, latebrasque per omnes

intrat et abstrusos explorat fama recessus.275

“Sis pius in primis; nam cum vincamur in omni

munere, sola deos aequat clementia nobis.

neu dubie suspectus agas neu falsus amicis

rumorumve avidus: qui talia curat, inanes

horrebit strepitus nulla non anxius hora.280

non sic excubiae, non circumstantia pila

quam tutatur amor. non extorquebis amari;

hoc alterna fides, hoc simplex gratia donat.

nonne vides, operum quod se pulcherrimus ipse

mundus amore liget, nec vi conexa per aevum285

conspirent elementa sibi? quod limite Phoebus

contentus medio, contentus litore pontus

et, qui perpetuo terras ambitque vehitque,

nec premat incumbens oneri nec cesserit aër?

qui terret, plus ipse timet; sors ista tyrannis290

convenit; invideant claris fortesque trucident,

[307]life harder when love is at call; then is it a sterner task to govern anger when vengeance is to hand. Yet master thine emotions and ponder not what thou mightest do but what thou oughtest to do, and let regard for duty control thy mind.“Of this too I cannot warn thee too often: remember that thou livest in the sight of the whole world, to all peoples are thy deeds known; the vices of monarchs cannot anywhere remain hid. The splendour of their lofty station allows nought to be concealed; fame penetrates every hiding-place and discovers the inmost secrets of the heart.“Above all fail not in loving-kindness; for though we be surpassed in every virtue yet mercy alone makes us equal with the gods. Let thine actions be open and give no grounds for suspicion, be loyal to thy friends nor lend an ear to rumours. He who attends to such will quake at every idle whisper and know no moment’s peace. Neither watch nor guard nor yet a hedge of spears can secure thee safety; only thy people’s love can do that. Love thou canst not extort; it is the gift of mutual faith and honest goodwill. Seest thou not how the fair frame of the very universe binds itself together by love, and how the elements, not united by violence, are for ever at harmony among themselves? Dost thou not mark how that Phoebus is content not to outstep the limits of his path, nor the sea those of his kingdom, and how the air, which in its eternal embrace encircles and upholds the world, presses not upon us with too heavy a weight nor yet yields to the burden which itself sustains? Whoso causes terror is himself more fearful; such doom befits tyrants. Let them be jealous of another’s fame, murder the

[307]

life harder when love is at call; then is it a sterner task to govern anger when vengeance is to hand. Yet master thine emotions and ponder not what thou mightest do but what thou oughtest to do, and let regard for duty control thy mind.

“Of this too I cannot warn thee too often: remember that thou livest in the sight of the whole world, to all peoples are thy deeds known; the vices of monarchs cannot anywhere remain hid. The splendour of their lofty station allows nought to be concealed; fame penetrates every hiding-place and discovers the inmost secrets of the heart.

“Above all fail not in loving-kindness; for though we be surpassed in every virtue yet mercy alone makes us equal with the gods. Let thine actions be open and give no grounds for suspicion, be loyal to thy friends nor lend an ear to rumours. He who attends to such will quake at every idle whisper and know no moment’s peace. Neither watch nor guard nor yet a hedge of spears can secure thee safety; only thy people’s love can do that. Love thou canst not extort; it is the gift of mutual faith and honest goodwill. Seest thou not how the fair frame of the very universe binds itself together by love, and how the elements, not united by violence, are for ever at harmony among themselves? Dost thou not mark how that Phoebus is content not to outstep the limits of his path, nor the sea those of his kingdom, and how the air, which in its eternal embrace encircles and upholds the world, presses not upon us with too heavy a weight nor yet yields to the burden which itself sustains? Whoso causes terror is himself more fearful; such doom befits tyrants. Let them be jealous of another’s fame, murder the

[308]muniti gladiis vivant saeptique venenis,ancipites habeant arces trepidique minentur:tu civem patremque geras, tu consule cunctis,non tibi, nec tua te moveant, sed publica vota.295“In commune iubes si quid censesque tenendum,primus iussa subi: tunc observantior aequifit populus nec ferre negat, cum viderit ipsumauctorem parere sibi. componitur orbisregis ad exemplum, nec sic inflectere sensus300humanos edicta valent quam vita regentis:mobile mutatur semper cum principe vulgus.“His tamen effectis neu fastidire minoresneu pete praescriptos homini transcendere fines.inquinat egregios adiuncta superbia mores.305non tibi tradidimus dociles servire Sabaeos,Armeniae dominum non te praefecimus orae,nec damus Assyriam, tenuit quam femina, gentem.Romani, qui cuncta diu rexere, regendi,qui nec Tarquinii fastus nec iura tulere310Caesaris. annales veterum delicta loquuntur:haerebunt maculae. quis non per saecula damnatCaesareae portenta domus? quem dira Neronisfunera, quem rupes Caprearum taetra latebitincesto possessa seni? victura feretur315gloria Traiani, non tam quod Tigride victonostra triumphati fuerint provincia Parthi,alta quod invectus fractis Capitolia Dacis,[309]brave, live hedged about with swords and fenced with poisons, dwelling in a citadel that is ever exposed to danger, and threaten to conceal their fears. Do thou, my son, be at once a citizen and a father, consider not thyself but all men, nor let thine own desires stir thee but thy people’s.“If thou make any law or establish any custom for the general good, be the first to submit thyself thereto; then does a people show more regard for justice nor refuse submission when it has seen their author obedient to his own laws. The world shapes itself after its ruler’s pattern, nor can edicts sway men’s minds so much as their monarch’s life; the unstable crowd ever changes along with the prince.“Nor is this all: show no scorn of thine inferiors nor seek to overstep the limits established for mankind. Pride joined thereto defaces the fairest character. They are not submissive Sabaeans whom I have handed over to thy rule, nor have I made thee lord of Armenia; I give thee not Assyria, accustomed to a woman’s rule. Thou must govern Romans who have long governed the world, Romans who brooked not Tarquin’s pride nor Caesar’s tyranny. History still tells of our ancestors’ ill deeds; the stain will never be wiped away. So long as the world lasts the monstrous excesses of the Julian house will stand condemned. Will any not have heard of Nero’s murders or how Capri’s foul cliffs were owned by an agèd lecher[156]? The fame of Trajan will never die, not so much because, thanks to his victories on the Tigris, conquered Parthia became a Roman province, not because he brake the might of Dacia and led their chiefs in triumph up the slope of the Capitol, but because[156]i.e.Tiberius.

[308]

muniti gladiis vivant saeptique venenis,ancipites habeant arces trepidique minentur:tu civem patremque geras, tu consule cunctis,non tibi, nec tua te moveant, sed publica vota.295“In commune iubes si quid censesque tenendum,primus iussa subi: tunc observantior aequifit populus nec ferre negat, cum viderit ipsumauctorem parere sibi. componitur orbisregis ad exemplum, nec sic inflectere sensus300humanos edicta valent quam vita regentis:mobile mutatur semper cum principe vulgus.“His tamen effectis neu fastidire minoresneu pete praescriptos homini transcendere fines.inquinat egregios adiuncta superbia mores.305non tibi tradidimus dociles servire Sabaeos,Armeniae dominum non te praefecimus orae,nec damus Assyriam, tenuit quam femina, gentem.Romani, qui cuncta diu rexere, regendi,qui nec Tarquinii fastus nec iura tulere310Caesaris. annales veterum delicta loquuntur:haerebunt maculae. quis non per saecula damnatCaesareae portenta domus? quem dira Neronisfunera, quem rupes Caprearum taetra latebitincesto possessa seni? victura feretur315gloria Traiani, non tam quod Tigride victonostra triumphati fuerint provincia Parthi,alta quod invectus fractis Capitolia Dacis,

muniti gladiis vivant saeptique venenis,

ancipites habeant arces trepidique minentur:

tu civem patremque geras, tu consule cunctis,

non tibi, nec tua te moveant, sed publica vota.295

“In commune iubes si quid censesque tenendum,

primus iussa subi: tunc observantior aequi

fit populus nec ferre negat, cum viderit ipsum

auctorem parere sibi. componitur orbis

regis ad exemplum, nec sic inflectere sensus300

humanos edicta valent quam vita regentis:

mobile mutatur semper cum principe vulgus.

“His tamen effectis neu fastidire minores

neu pete praescriptos homini transcendere fines.

inquinat egregios adiuncta superbia mores.305

non tibi tradidimus dociles servire Sabaeos,

Armeniae dominum non te praefecimus orae,

nec damus Assyriam, tenuit quam femina, gentem.

Romani, qui cuncta diu rexere, regendi,

qui nec Tarquinii fastus nec iura tulere310

Caesaris. annales veterum delicta loquuntur:

haerebunt maculae. quis non per saecula damnat

Caesareae portenta domus? quem dira Neronis

funera, quem rupes Caprearum taetra latebit

incesto possessa seni? victura feretur315

gloria Traiani, non tam quod Tigride victo

nostra triumphati fuerint provincia Parthi,

alta quod invectus fractis Capitolia Dacis,

[309]brave, live hedged about with swords and fenced with poisons, dwelling in a citadel that is ever exposed to danger, and threaten to conceal their fears. Do thou, my son, be at once a citizen and a father, consider not thyself but all men, nor let thine own desires stir thee but thy people’s.“If thou make any law or establish any custom for the general good, be the first to submit thyself thereto; then does a people show more regard for justice nor refuse submission when it has seen their author obedient to his own laws. The world shapes itself after its ruler’s pattern, nor can edicts sway men’s minds so much as their monarch’s life; the unstable crowd ever changes along with the prince.“Nor is this all: show no scorn of thine inferiors nor seek to overstep the limits established for mankind. Pride joined thereto defaces the fairest character. They are not submissive Sabaeans whom I have handed over to thy rule, nor have I made thee lord of Armenia; I give thee not Assyria, accustomed to a woman’s rule. Thou must govern Romans who have long governed the world, Romans who brooked not Tarquin’s pride nor Caesar’s tyranny. History still tells of our ancestors’ ill deeds; the stain will never be wiped away. So long as the world lasts the monstrous excesses of the Julian house will stand condemned. Will any not have heard of Nero’s murders or how Capri’s foul cliffs were owned by an agèd lecher[156]? The fame of Trajan will never die, not so much because, thanks to his victories on the Tigris, conquered Parthia became a Roman province, not because he brake the might of Dacia and led their chiefs in triumph up the slope of the Capitol, but because[156]i.e.Tiberius.

[309]

brave, live hedged about with swords and fenced with poisons, dwelling in a citadel that is ever exposed to danger, and threaten to conceal their fears. Do thou, my son, be at once a citizen and a father, consider not thyself but all men, nor let thine own desires stir thee but thy people’s.

“If thou make any law or establish any custom for the general good, be the first to submit thyself thereto; then does a people show more regard for justice nor refuse submission when it has seen their author obedient to his own laws. The world shapes itself after its ruler’s pattern, nor can edicts sway men’s minds so much as their monarch’s life; the unstable crowd ever changes along with the prince.

“Nor is this all: show no scorn of thine inferiors nor seek to overstep the limits established for mankind. Pride joined thereto defaces the fairest character. They are not submissive Sabaeans whom I have handed over to thy rule, nor have I made thee lord of Armenia; I give thee not Assyria, accustomed to a woman’s rule. Thou must govern Romans who have long governed the world, Romans who brooked not Tarquin’s pride nor Caesar’s tyranny. History still tells of our ancestors’ ill deeds; the stain will never be wiped away. So long as the world lasts the monstrous excesses of the Julian house will stand condemned. Will any not have heard of Nero’s murders or how Capri’s foul cliffs were owned by an agèd lecher[156]? The fame of Trajan will never die, not so much because, thanks to his victories on the Tigris, conquered Parthia became a Roman province, not because he brake the might of Dacia and led their chiefs in triumph up the slope of the Capitol, but because

[156]i.e.Tiberius.

[310]quam patriae quod mitis erat. ne desine tales,nate, sequi.“Si bella canant, prius agmina durisexerce studiis et saevo praestrue Marti.321non brumae requies, non hibernacula segnesenervent torpore manus. ponenda salubricastra loco; praebenda vigil custodia vallo.disce, ubi denseri cuneos, ubi cornua tendi325aequius aut iterum flecti; quae montibus aptae,quae campis acies, quae fraudi commoda vallis,quae via difficilis. fidit si moenibus hostis,tum tibi murali libretur machina pulsu;saxa rota; praeceps aries protectaque portas330testudo feriat; ruat emersura iuventuseffossi per operta soli. si longa moreturobsidio, tum vota cave secura remittasinclusumve putes; multis damnosa fueregaudia; dispersi pereunt somnove soluti;335saepius incautae nocuit victoria turbae.neu tibi regificis tentoria larga redundentdeliciis, neve imbelles ad signa ministrosluxuries armata trahat. neu flantibus Austrisneu pluviis cedas, neu defensura calorem340aurea summoveant rapidos umbracula soles.inventis utere cibis. solabere partesaequali sudore tuas: si collis iniquus,[311]he was kindly to his country. Fail not to make such as he thine example, my son.“Should war threaten, see first that thy soldiers are exercised in the practices of war and prepare them for the rigours of service. The ease of winter months spent in winter quarters must not weaken nor unnerve their hands. Establish thy camps in healthy places and see that watchful sentries guard the ramparts. Learn how to know when to mass your troops and when it is better to extend them or face them round; study the formations suitable for mountain warfare and those for fighting on the plain. Learn to recognize what valleys may conceal an ambush and what routes will prove difficult. If thine enemy trusts in his walls to defend him then let thy catapults hurl stones at his battlements; fling rocks thereat and let the swinging ram and shield-protected testudo[157]shake his gates. Your troops should undermine the walls and issuing from this tunnel should rush into the town. Should a long siege delay thee, then take care thou unbend not thy purpose in security or count thine enemy thy prisoner. Many ere this have found premature triumph their undoing, scattered or asleep they have been cut to pieces; indeed victory itself has not seldom been the ruin of careless troops. Not for thee let spacious tents o’erflow with princely delights nor luxury don arms and drag to the standards her unwarlike train. Though the storm winds blow and the rain descends yield not to them and use not cloth of gold to guard thee from the sun’s fierce rays. Eat such food as thou canst find. It will be a solace to thy soldiers that thy toil is as heavy as theirs; be the first to mount the arduous hill and, should[157]A well-known Roman method of attack by which the troops advanced to the point of attack in close formation, each man holding his shield above his head. The protection thus afforded to the assaulting band was likened to the shell of the tortoise (testudo).

[310]

quam patriae quod mitis erat. ne desine tales,nate, sequi.“Si bella canant, prius agmina durisexerce studiis et saevo praestrue Marti.321non brumae requies, non hibernacula segnesenervent torpore manus. ponenda salubricastra loco; praebenda vigil custodia vallo.disce, ubi denseri cuneos, ubi cornua tendi325aequius aut iterum flecti; quae montibus aptae,quae campis acies, quae fraudi commoda vallis,quae via difficilis. fidit si moenibus hostis,tum tibi murali libretur machina pulsu;saxa rota; praeceps aries protectaque portas330testudo feriat; ruat emersura iuventuseffossi per operta soli. si longa moreturobsidio, tum vota cave secura remittasinclusumve putes; multis damnosa fueregaudia; dispersi pereunt somnove soluti;335saepius incautae nocuit victoria turbae.neu tibi regificis tentoria larga redundentdeliciis, neve imbelles ad signa ministrosluxuries armata trahat. neu flantibus Austrisneu pluviis cedas, neu defensura calorem340aurea summoveant rapidos umbracula soles.inventis utere cibis. solabere partesaequali sudore tuas: si collis iniquus,

quam patriae quod mitis erat. ne desine tales,

nate, sequi.

“Si bella canant, prius agmina duris

exerce studiis et saevo praestrue Marti.321

non brumae requies, non hibernacula segnes

enervent torpore manus. ponenda salubri

castra loco; praebenda vigil custodia vallo.

disce, ubi denseri cuneos, ubi cornua tendi325

aequius aut iterum flecti; quae montibus aptae,

quae campis acies, quae fraudi commoda vallis,

quae via difficilis. fidit si moenibus hostis,

tum tibi murali libretur machina pulsu;

saxa rota; praeceps aries protectaque portas330

testudo feriat; ruat emersura iuventus

effossi per operta soli. si longa moretur

obsidio, tum vota cave secura remittas

inclusumve putes; multis damnosa fuere

gaudia; dispersi pereunt somnove soluti;335

saepius incautae nocuit victoria turbae.

neu tibi regificis tentoria larga redundent

deliciis, neve imbelles ad signa ministros

luxuries armata trahat. neu flantibus Austris

neu pluviis cedas, neu defensura calorem340

aurea summoveant rapidos umbracula soles.

inventis utere cibis. solabere partes

aequali sudore tuas: si collis iniquus,

[311]he was kindly to his country. Fail not to make such as he thine example, my son.“Should war threaten, see first that thy soldiers are exercised in the practices of war and prepare them for the rigours of service. The ease of winter months spent in winter quarters must not weaken nor unnerve their hands. Establish thy camps in healthy places and see that watchful sentries guard the ramparts. Learn how to know when to mass your troops and when it is better to extend them or face them round; study the formations suitable for mountain warfare and those for fighting on the plain. Learn to recognize what valleys may conceal an ambush and what routes will prove difficult. If thine enemy trusts in his walls to defend him then let thy catapults hurl stones at his battlements; fling rocks thereat and let the swinging ram and shield-protected testudo[157]shake his gates. Your troops should undermine the walls and issuing from this tunnel should rush into the town. Should a long siege delay thee, then take care thou unbend not thy purpose in security or count thine enemy thy prisoner. Many ere this have found premature triumph their undoing, scattered or asleep they have been cut to pieces; indeed victory itself has not seldom been the ruin of careless troops. Not for thee let spacious tents o’erflow with princely delights nor luxury don arms and drag to the standards her unwarlike train. Though the storm winds blow and the rain descends yield not to them and use not cloth of gold to guard thee from the sun’s fierce rays. Eat such food as thou canst find. It will be a solace to thy soldiers that thy toil is as heavy as theirs; be the first to mount the arduous hill and, should[157]A well-known Roman method of attack by which the troops advanced to the point of attack in close formation, each man holding his shield above his head. The protection thus afforded to the assaulting band was likened to the shell of the tortoise (testudo).

[311]

he was kindly to his country. Fail not to make such as he thine example, my son.

“Should war threaten, see first that thy soldiers are exercised in the practices of war and prepare them for the rigours of service. The ease of winter months spent in winter quarters must not weaken nor unnerve their hands. Establish thy camps in healthy places and see that watchful sentries guard the ramparts. Learn how to know when to mass your troops and when it is better to extend them or face them round; study the formations suitable for mountain warfare and those for fighting on the plain. Learn to recognize what valleys may conceal an ambush and what routes will prove difficult. If thine enemy trusts in his walls to defend him then let thy catapults hurl stones at his battlements; fling rocks thereat and let the swinging ram and shield-protected testudo[157]shake his gates. Your troops should undermine the walls and issuing from this tunnel should rush into the town. Should a long siege delay thee, then take care thou unbend not thy purpose in security or count thine enemy thy prisoner. Many ere this have found premature triumph their undoing, scattered or asleep they have been cut to pieces; indeed victory itself has not seldom been the ruin of careless troops. Not for thee let spacious tents o’erflow with princely delights nor luxury don arms and drag to the standards her unwarlike train. Though the storm winds blow and the rain descends yield not to them and use not cloth of gold to guard thee from the sun’s fierce rays. Eat such food as thou canst find. It will be a solace to thy soldiers that thy toil is as heavy as theirs; be the first to mount the arduous hill and, should

[157]A well-known Roman method of attack by which the troops advanced to the point of attack in close formation, each man holding his shield above his head. The protection thus afforded to the assaulting band was likened to the shell of the tortoise (testudo).

[312]primus ini; silvam si caedere provocat usus,sumpta ne pudeat quercum stravisse bipenni.345calcatur si pigra palus, tuus ante profundumpertemptet sonipes. fluvios tu protere cursuhaerentes glacie, liquidos tu scinde natatu.nunc eques in medias equitum te consere turmas;nunc pedes adsistas pediti. tum promptius ibuntte socio, tum conspicuus gratusque geretur351sub te teste labor.”Dicturum plura parentemvoce subis: “equidem, faveant modo numina coeptis,haec effecta dabo, nec me fratrique tibiquedissimilem populi commissaque regna videbunt.355sed cur non potius, verbis quae disseris, usuexperior? gelidas certe nunc tendis in Alpes.duc tecum comitem; figant sine nostra tyrannumspicula; pallescat nostro sine barbarus arcu.Italiamne feram furiis praedonis acerbi360subiectam? patiar Romam servire clienti?usque adeone puer? nec me polluta potestasnec pia cognati tanget vindicta cruoris?per strages equitare libet. da protinus arma.cur annos obicis? pugnae cur arguor impar?aequalis mihi Pyrrhus erat, cum Pergama solus365verteret et patri non degeneraret Achilli.denique si princeps castris haerere nequibo,vel miles veniam.”Delibat dulcia natioscula miratusque refert: “laudanda petisti;370sed festinus amor, veniet robustior aetas;ne propera. necdum decimas emensus aristasadgrederis metuenda viris: vestigia magnae[313]necessity demand the felling of a forest, be not ashamed to grasp the axe and hew down the oak. If a stagnant marsh must be crossed let thy horse be the first to test the depth of it. Boldly tread the frozen river; swim the flood. Mounted thyself, ride amid thy squadrons of horse or again stand foot to foot with the infantry. They will advance the bolder for thy presence, and with thee to witness glorious and glad shall be the fulfilment of their task.”More would he have spoken but Honorius broke in and said: “All this will I do, so God favour my attempts. The peoples and kingdoms committed to my care shall find me not unworthy of thee nor of my brother. But why should I not experience in action what thou has taught in words? Thou goest to the wintry Alps: take me with thee. Let mine arrows pierce the tyrant’s body, and the barbarians pale at my bow. Shall I allow Italy to become the prey of a ruthless bandit? Rome to serve one who is himself but a servant? Am I still such a child that neither power profaned nor just revenge for an uncle’s blood shall move me? Fain would I ride through blood. Quick, give me arms. Why castest thou my youth in my teeth? Why thinkest me unequal to the combat? I am as old as was Pyrrhus when alone he o’erthrew Troy and proved himself no degenerate from his father Achilles. If I may not remain in thy camp as a prince I will come even as a soldier.”Theodosius kissed his son’s sweet lips and answered him wondering: “Nought have I but praise for thy petition, but this love of glory has bloomed too early. Thy strength will increase with years; till then be patient. Though thou hast not yet completed ten summers thou wouldst hansel dangers that a man

[312]

primus ini; silvam si caedere provocat usus,sumpta ne pudeat quercum stravisse bipenni.345calcatur si pigra palus, tuus ante profundumpertemptet sonipes. fluvios tu protere cursuhaerentes glacie, liquidos tu scinde natatu.nunc eques in medias equitum te consere turmas;nunc pedes adsistas pediti. tum promptius ibuntte socio, tum conspicuus gratusque geretur351sub te teste labor.”Dicturum plura parentemvoce subis: “equidem, faveant modo numina coeptis,haec effecta dabo, nec me fratrique tibiquedissimilem populi commissaque regna videbunt.355sed cur non potius, verbis quae disseris, usuexperior? gelidas certe nunc tendis in Alpes.duc tecum comitem; figant sine nostra tyrannumspicula; pallescat nostro sine barbarus arcu.Italiamne feram furiis praedonis acerbi360subiectam? patiar Romam servire clienti?usque adeone puer? nec me polluta potestasnec pia cognati tanget vindicta cruoris?per strages equitare libet. da protinus arma.cur annos obicis? pugnae cur arguor impar?aequalis mihi Pyrrhus erat, cum Pergama solus365verteret et patri non degeneraret Achilli.denique si princeps castris haerere nequibo,vel miles veniam.”Delibat dulcia natioscula miratusque refert: “laudanda petisti;370sed festinus amor, veniet robustior aetas;ne propera. necdum decimas emensus aristasadgrederis metuenda viris: vestigia magnae

primus ini; silvam si caedere provocat usus,

sumpta ne pudeat quercum stravisse bipenni.345

calcatur si pigra palus, tuus ante profundum

pertemptet sonipes. fluvios tu protere cursu

haerentes glacie, liquidos tu scinde natatu.

nunc eques in medias equitum te consere turmas;

nunc pedes adsistas pediti. tum promptius ibunt

te socio, tum conspicuus gratusque geretur351

sub te teste labor.”

Dicturum plura parentem

voce subis: “equidem, faveant modo numina coeptis,

haec effecta dabo, nec me fratrique tibique

dissimilem populi commissaque regna videbunt.355

sed cur non potius, verbis quae disseris, usu

experior? gelidas certe nunc tendis in Alpes.

duc tecum comitem; figant sine nostra tyrannum

spicula; pallescat nostro sine barbarus arcu.

Italiamne feram furiis praedonis acerbi360

subiectam? patiar Romam servire clienti?

usque adeone puer? nec me polluta potestas

nec pia cognati tanget vindicta cruoris?

per strages equitare libet. da protinus arma.

cur annos obicis? pugnae cur arguor impar?

aequalis mihi Pyrrhus erat, cum Pergama solus365

verteret et patri non degeneraret Achilli.

denique si princeps castris haerere nequibo,

vel miles veniam.”

Delibat dulcia nati

oscula miratusque refert: “laudanda petisti;370

sed festinus amor, veniet robustior aetas;

ne propera. necdum decimas emensus aristas

adgrederis metuenda viris: vestigia magnae

[313]necessity demand the felling of a forest, be not ashamed to grasp the axe and hew down the oak. If a stagnant marsh must be crossed let thy horse be the first to test the depth of it. Boldly tread the frozen river; swim the flood. Mounted thyself, ride amid thy squadrons of horse or again stand foot to foot with the infantry. They will advance the bolder for thy presence, and with thee to witness glorious and glad shall be the fulfilment of their task.”More would he have spoken but Honorius broke in and said: “All this will I do, so God favour my attempts. The peoples and kingdoms committed to my care shall find me not unworthy of thee nor of my brother. But why should I not experience in action what thou has taught in words? Thou goest to the wintry Alps: take me with thee. Let mine arrows pierce the tyrant’s body, and the barbarians pale at my bow. Shall I allow Italy to become the prey of a ruthless bandit? Rome to serve one who is himself but a servant? Am I still such a child that neither power profaned nor just revenge for an uncle’s blood shall move me? Fain would I ride through blood. Quick, give me arms. Why castest thou my youth in my teeth? Why thinkest me unequal to the combat? I am as old as was Pyrrhus when alone he o’erthrew Troy and proved himself no degenerate from his father Achilles. If I may not remain in thy camp as a prince I will come even as a soldier.”Theodosius kissed his son’s sweet lips and answered him wondering: “Nought have I but praise for thy petition, but this love of glory has bloomed too early. Thy strength will increase with years; till then be patient. Though thou hast not yet completed ten summers thou wouldst hansel dangers that a man

[313]

necessity demand the felling of a forest, be not ashamed to grasp the axe and hew down the oak. If a stagnant marsh must be crossed let thy horse be the first to test the depth of it. Boldly tread the frozen river; swim the flood. Mounted thyself, ride amid thy squadrons of horse or again stand foot to foot with the infantry. They will advance the bolder for thy presence, and with thee to witness glorious and glad shall be the fulfilment of their task.”

More would he have spoken but Honorius broke in and said: “All this will I do, so God favour my attempts. The peoples and kingdoms committed to my care shall find me not unworthy of thee nor of my brother. But why should I not experience in action what thou has taught in words? Thou goest to the wintry Alps: take me with thee. Let mine arrows pierce the tyrant’s body, and the barbarians pale at my bow. Shall I allow Italy to become the prey of a ruthless bandit? Rome to serve one who is himself but a servant? Am I still such a child that neither power profaned nor just revenge for an uncle’s blood shall move me? Fain would I ride through blood. Quick, give me arms. Why castest thou my youth in my teeth? Why thinkest me unequal to the combat? I am as old as was Pyrrhus when alone he o’erthrew Troy and proved himself no degenerate from his father Achilles. If I may not remain in thy camp as a prince I will come even as a soldier.”

Theodosius kissed his son’s sweet lips and answered him wondering: “Nought have I but praise for thy petition, but this love of glory has bloomed too early. Thy strength will increase with years; till then be patient. Though thou hast not yet completed ten summers thou wouldst hansel dangers that a man

[314]indolis agnosco, fertur Pellaeus, Eoumqui domuit Porum, cum prospera saepe Philippi375audiret, laetos inter flevisse sodalesnil sibi vincendum patris virtute relinqui.hos video motus. fas sit promittere patri:tantus eris. nostro nec debes regna favori,quae tibi iam natura dedit. sic mollibus olim380stridula ducturum pratis examina regemnascentem venerantur apes et publica mellisiura petunt traduntque favos; sic pascua parvusvindicat et necdum firmatis cornibus audaxiam regit armentum vitulus. sed proelia differ385in iuvenem patiensque meum cum fratre tuereme bellante locum, vos impacatus Araxes,vos celer Euphrates timeat, sit Nilus ubiquevester et emisso quidquid sol imbuit ortu.si pateant Alpes, habeat si causa secundos390iustior eventus, aderis partesque receptassuscipies, animosa tuas ut Gallia legesaudiat et nostros aequus modereris Hiberos.tunc ego securus fati laetusque laborumdiscedam, vobis utrumque regentibus axem.395“Interea Musis animus, dum mollior, instetet quae mox imitere legat; nec desinat umquamtecum Graia loqui, tecum Romana vetustas.antiquos evolve duces, adsuesce futurae[315]might fear: I mark the tokens of a noble nature. It is said that Alexander, conqueror of eastern Porus, wept at the constant news of Philip’s fortune, telling his companions who rejoiced thereat that his sire’s valour left him nought to conquer. In thee I see like spirit. May a father be allowed this prophecy—“thou shalt be as great”! It is not to my goodwill thou owest the kingdom, for nature has already made it thine. So even from his birth bees reverence the king[158]who is to lead their buzzing swarms through the soft meadows, ask his public laws for the gathering of the honey and entrust to him their combs. So the spirited young bull-calf claims sovereignty over the grazing-grounds and, though as yet his horns are not grown strong, lords it over the herd. Nay: postpone thy campaigns till thou art a man and while I do battle patiently help thy brother to fulfil my office. Be you two the terror of untamed Araxes and of swift Euphrates; may Nile throughout all his length belong to you and all the lands upon which the morning sun lets fall his beam. Should I force a passage over the Alps, should success crown the juster cause, thou shalt come and govern the recovered provinces, whereby fierce Gaul shall obey thy laws and my native Spain be guided by thy just rule. Then, careless of doom and rejoicing in my labours, I shall quit this mortal life, while you, my sons, rule either hemisphere.“Meanwhile cultivate the Muses whilst thou art yet young; read of deeds thou soon mayest rival; never may Greece’s story, never may Rome’s, cease to speak with thee. Study the lives of the heroes of old to accustom thee for wars that are to be.[158]As is well known, the ancients mistook the sex of the queen bee.

[314]

indolis agnosco, fertur Pellaeus, Eoumqui domuit Porum, cum prospera saepe Philippi375audiret, laetos inter flevisse sodalesnil sibi vincendum patris virtute relinqui.hos video motus. fas sit promittere patri:tantus eris. nostro nec debes regna favori,quae tibi iam natura dedit. sic mollibus olim380stridula ducturum pratis examina regemnascentem venerantur apes et publica mellisiura petunt traduntque favos; sic pascua parvusvindicat et necdum firmatis cornibus audaxiam regit armentum vitulus. sed proelia differ385in iuvenem patiensque meum cum fratre tuereme bellante locum, vos impacatus Araxes,vos celer Euphrates timeat, sit Nilus ubiquevester et emisso quidquid sol imbuit ortu.si pateant Alpes, habeat si causa secundos390iustior eventus, aderis partesque receptassuscipies, animosa tuas ut Gallia legesaudiat et nostros aequus modereris Hiberos.tunc ego securus fati laetusque laborumdiscedam, vobis utrumque regentibus axem.395“Interea Musis animus, dum mollior, instetet quae mox imitere legat; nec desinat umquamtecum Graia loqui, tecum Romana vetustas.antiquos evolve duces, adsuesce futurae

indolis agnosco, fertur Pellaeus, Eoum

qui domuit Porum, cum prospera saepe Philippi375

audiret, laetos inter flevisse sodales

nil sibi vincendum patris virtute relinqui.

hos video motus. fas sit promittere patri:

tantus eris. nostro nec debes regna favori,

quae tibi iam natura dedit. sic mollibus olim380

stridula ducturum pratis examina regem

nascentem venerantur apes et publica mellis

iura petunt traduntque favos; sic pascua parvus

vindicat et necdum firmatis cornibus audax

iam regit armentum vitulus. sed proelia differ385

in iuvenem patiensque meum cum fratre tuere

me bellante locum, vos impacatus Araxes,

vos celer Euphrates timeat, sit Nilus ubique

vester et emisso quidquid sol imbuit ortu.

si pateant Alpes, habeat si causa secundos390

iustior eventus, aderis partesque receptas

suscipies, animosa tuas ut Gallia leges

audiat et nostros aequus modereris Hiberos.

tunc ego securus fati laetusque laborum

discedam, vobis utrumque regentibus axem.395

“Interea Musis animus, dum mollior, instet

et quae mox imitere legat; nec desinat umquam

tecum Graia loqui, tecum Romana vetustas.

antiquos evolve duces, adsuesce futurae

[315]might fear: I mark the tokens of a noble nature. It is said that Alexander, conqueror of eastern Porus, wept at the constant news of Philip’s fortune, telling his companions who rejoiced thereat that his sire’s valour left him nought to conquer. In thee I see like spirit. May a father be allowed this prophecy—“thou shalt be as great”! It is not to my goodwill thou owest the kingdom, for nature has already made it thine. So even from his birth bees reverence the king[158]who is to lead their buzzing swarms through the soft meadows, ask his public laws for the gathering of the honey and entrust to him their combs. So the spirited young bull-calf claims sovereignty over the grazing-grounds and, though as yet his horns are not grown strong, lords it over the herd. Nay: postpone thy campaigns till thou art a man and while I do battle patiently help thy brother to fulfil my office. Be you two the terror of untamed Araxes and of swift Euphrates; may Nile throughout all his length belong to you and all the lands upon which the morning sun lets fall his beam. Should I force a passage over the Alps, should success crown the juster cause, thou shalt come and govern the recovered provinces, whereby fierce Gaul shall obey thy laws and my native Spain be guided by thy just rule. Then, careless of doom and rejoicing in my labours, I shall quit this mortal life, while you, my sons, rule either hemisphere.“Meanwhile cultivate the Muses whilst thou art yet young; read of deeds thou soon mayest rival; never may Greece’s story, never may Rome’s, cease to speak with thee. Study the lives of the heroes of old to accustom thee for wars that are to be.[158]As is well known, the ancients mistook the sex of the queen bee.

[315]

might fear: I mark the tokens of a noble nature. It is said that Alexander, conqueror of eastern Porus, wept at the constant news of Philip’s fortune, telling his companions who rejoiced thereat that his sire’s valour left him nought to conquer. In thee I see like spirit. May a father be allowed this prophecy—“thou shalt be as great”! It is not to my goodwill thou owest the kingdom, for nature has already made it thine. So even from his birth bees reverence the king[158]who is to lead their buzzing swarms through the soft meadows, ask his public laws for the gathering of the honey and entrust to him their combs. So the spirited young bull-calf claims sovereignty over the grazing-grounds and, though as yet his horns are not grown strong, lords it over the herd. Nay: postpone thy campaigns till thou art a man and while I do battle patiently help thy brother to fulfil my office. Be you two the terror of untamed Araxes and of swift Euphrates; may Nile throughout all his length belong to you and all the lands upon which the morning sun lets fall his beam. Should I force a passage over the Alps, should success crown the juster cause, thou shalt come and govern the recovered provinces, whereby fierce Gaul shall obey thy laws and my native Spain be guided by thy just rule. Then, careless of doom and rejoicing in my labours, I shall quit this mortal life, while you, my sons, rule either hemisphere.

“Meanwhile cultivate the Muses whilst thou art yet young; read of deeds thou soon mayest rival; never may Greece’s story, never may Rome’s, cease to speak with thee. Study the lives of the heroes of old to accustom thee for wars that are to be.

[158]As is well known, the ancients mistook the sex of the queen bee.

[316]militiae, Latium retro te confer in aevum.400libertas quaesita placet? mirabere Brutum.perfidiam damnas? Metti satiabere poenis.triste rigor nimius? Torquati despice mores.mors impensa bonum? Decios venerare ruentes.vel solus quid fortis agat, te ponte soluto405oppositus Cocles, Muci te flamma docebit;quid mora perfringat, Fabius; quid rebus in artisdux gerat, ostendet Gallorum strage Camillus.discitur hinc nullos meritis obsistere casus:prorogat aeternam feritas tibi Punica famam,410Regule; successus superant adversa Catonis.discitur hinc quantum paupertas sobria possit:pauper erat Curius, reges cum vinceret armis,pauper Fabricius, Pyrrhi cum sperneret aurum;sordida dictator flexit Serranus aratra:415lustratae lictore casae fascesque salignispostibus adfixi; collectae consule messeset sulcata diu trabeato rura colono.”Haec genitor praecepta dabat: velut ille carinaelongaevus rector, variis quem saepe procellis420exploravit hiems, ponto iam fessus et annisaequoreas alni nato commendat habenaset casus artesque docet: quo dextra regatursidere; quo fluctus possit moderamine falli;quae nota nimborum; quae fraus infida sereni;425[317]Go back to the Latin age. Admirest thou a fight for liberty? Thou wilt admire Brutus. Does treachery rouse thine indignation? The punishment of Mettius[159]will fill thee with satisfaction. Dost thou hate undue severity? Abominate Torquatus’ savagery. Is it a virtue to die for one’s country? Honour the self-devotion of the Decii. Horatius Cocles, facing the foe on the broken bridge, Mucius holding his arm in the flames,[160]these shall show thee what, single-handed, brave men can do. Fabius will show thee what overthrow delay can cause; Camillus and his slaughter of the Gauls what in face of odds a leader can effect. From history thou mayest learn that no ill fortune can master worth; Punic savagery extends thy fame, Regulus, to eternity; the failure of Cato outdoes success. From history thou mayest learn the power of frugal poverty; Curius was a poor man when he conquered kings in battle; Fabricius was poor when he spurned the gold of Pyrrhus; Serranus, for all he was dictator, drove the muddy plough. In those days the lictors kept watch at a cottage door, the fasces were hung upon a gateway of wood; consuls helped to gather in the harvest, and for long years the fields were ploughed by husbandmen who wore the consular robe.”Such were the precepts of the sire. Even so an aged helmsman oft proved by winter’s various storms, aweary now of the sea and his weight of years, commends to his son the rudder of his bark, tells him of dangers and devices—by what art the helmsman’s hand is guided; what steerage may elude the wave; what is a sign of storms; what the treachery of a cloudless sky, the promise of the[159]The story of the punishment of Mettius Fufetius, the Alban dictator, by the Roman king Tullus Hostilius for his treachery in the war against Fidenae is told by Livy (i. 28. 10) and referred to by Claudian (xv. 254).[160]For Mucius (Scaevola) holding his arm in the flame to show Lars Porsenna how little he, a Roman, minded bodily pain see Livy ii. 12.

[316]

militiae, Latium retro te confer in aevum.400libertas quaesita placet? mirabere Brutum.perfidiam damnas? Metti satiabere poenis.triste rigor nimius? Torquati despice mores.mors impensa bonum? Decios venerare ruentes.vel solus quid fortis agat, te ponte soluto405oppositus Cocles, Muci te flamma docebit;quid mora perfringat, Fabius; quid rebus in artisdux gerat, ostendet Gallorum strage Camillus.discitur hinc nullos meritis obsistere casus:prorogat aeternam feritas tibi Punica famam,410Regule; successus superant adversa Catonis.discitur hinc quantum paupertas sobria possit:pauper erat Curius, reges cum vinceret armis,pauper Fabricius, Pyrrhi cum sperneret aurum;sordida dictator flexit Serranus aratra:415lustratae lictore casae fascesque salignispostibus adfixi; collectae consule messeset sulcata diu trabeato rura colono.”Haec genitor praecepta dabat: velut ille carinaelongaevus rector, variis quem saepe procellis420exploravit hiems, ponto iam fessus et annisaequoreas alni nato commendat habenaset casus artesque docet: quo dextra regatursidere; quo fluctus possit moderamine falli;quae nota nimborum; quae fraus infida sereni;425

militiae, Latium retro te confer in aevum.400

libertas quaesita placet? mirabere Brutum.

perfidiam damnas? Metti satiabere poenis.

triste rigor nimius? Torquati despice mores.

mors impensa bonum? Decios venerare ruentes.

vel solus quid fortis agat, te ponte soluto405

oppositus Cocles, Muci te flamma docebit;

quid mora perfringat, Fabius; quid rebus in artis

dux gerat, ostendet Gallorum strage Camillus.

discitur hinc nullos meritis obsistere casus:

prorogat aeternam feritas tibi Punica famam,410

Regule; successus superant adversa Catonis.

discitur hinc quantum paupertas sobria possit:

pauper erat Curius, reges cum vinceret armis,

pauper Fabricius, Pyrrhi cum sperneret aurum;

sordida dictator flexit Serranus aratra:415

lustratae lictore casae fascesque salignis

postibus adfixi; collectae consule messes

et sulcata diu trabeato rura colono.”

Haec genitor praecepta dabat: velut ille carinae

longaevus rector, variis quem saepe procellis420

exploravit hiems, ponto iam fessus et annis

aequoreas alni nato commendat habenas

et casus artesque docet: quo dextra regatur

sidere; quo fluctus possit moderamine falli;

quae nota nimborum; quae fraus infida sereni;425

[317]Go back to the Latin age. Admirest thou a fight for liberty? Thou wilt admire Brutus. Does treachery rouse thine indignation? The punishment of Mettius[159]will fill thee with satisfaction. Dost thou hate undue severity? Abominate Torquatus’ savagery. Is it a virtue to die for one’s country? Honour the self-devotion of the Decii. Horatius Cocles, facing the foe on the broken bridge, Mucius holding his arm in the flames,[160]these shall show thee what, single-handed, brave men can do. Fabius will show thee what overthrow delay can cause; Camillus and his slaughter of the Gauls what in face of odds a leader can effect. From history thou mayest learn that no ill fortune can master worth; Punic savagery extends thy fame, Regulus, to eternity; the failure of Cato outdoes success. From history thou mayest learn the power of frugal poverty; Curius was a poor man when he conquered kings in battle; Fabricius was poor when he spurned the gold of Pyrrhus; Serranus, for all he was dictator, drove the muddy plough. In those days the lictors kept watch at a cottage door, the fasces were hung upon a gateway of wood; consuls helped to gather in the harvest, and for long years the fields were ploughed by husbandmen who wore the consular robe.”Such were the precepts of the sire. Even so an aged helmsman oft proved by winter’s various storms, aweary now of the sea and his weight of years, commends to his son the rudder of his bark, tells him of dangers and devices—by what art the helmsman’s hand is guided; what steerage may elude the wave; what is a sign of storms; what the treachery of a cloudless sky, the promise of the[159]The story of the punishment of Mettius Fufetius, the Alban dictator, by the Roman king Tullus Hostilius for his treachery in the war against Fidenae is told by Livy (i. 28. 10) and referred to by Claudian (xv. 254).[160]For Mucius (Scaevola) holding his arm in the flame to show Lars Porsenna how little he, a Roman, minded bodily pain see Livy ii. 12.

[317]

Go back to the Latin age. Admirest thou a fight for liberty? Thou wilt admire Brutus. Does treachery rouse thine indignation? The punishment of Mettius[159]will fill thee with satisfaction. Dost thou hate undue severity? Abominate Torquatus’ savagery. Is it a virtue to die for one’s country? Honour the self-devotion of the Decii. Horatius Cocles, facing the foe on the broken bridge, Mucius holding his arm in the flames,[160]these shall show thee what, single-handed, brave men can do. Fabius will show thee what overthrow delay can cause; Camillus and his slaughter of the Gauls what in face of odds a leader can effect. From history thou mayest learn that no ill fortune can master worth; Punic savagery extends thy fame, Regulus, to eternity; the failure of Cato outdoes success. From history thou mayest learn the power of frugal poverty; Curius was a poor man when he conquered kings in battle; Fabricius was poor when he spurned the gold of Pyrrhus; Serranus, for all he was dictator, drove the muddy plough. In those days the lictors kept watch at a cottage door, the fasces were hung upon a gateway of wood; consuls helped to gather in the harvest, and for long years the fields were ploughed by husbandmen who wore the consular robe.”

Such were the precepts of the sire. Even so an aged helmsman oft proved by winter’s various storms, aweary now of the sea and his weight of years, commends to his son the rudder of his bark, tells him of dangers and devices—by what art the helmsman’s hand is guided; what steerage may elude the wave; what is a sign of storms; what the treachery of a cloudless sky, the promise of the

[159]The story of the punishment of Mettius Fufetius, the Alban dictator, by the Roman king Tullus Hostilius for his treachery in the war against Fidenae is told by Livy (i. 28. 10) and referred to by Claudian (xv. 254).

[160]For Mucius (Scaevola) holding his arm in the flame to show Lars Porsenna how little he, a Roman, minded bodily pain see Livy ii. 12.

[318]quid sol occiduus prodat; quo saucia ventodecolor iratos attollat Cynthia vultus.adspice nunc, quacumque micas, seu circulus Austri,magne parens, gelidi seu te meruere Triones,adspice: completur votum. iam natus adaequat430te meritis et, quod magis est optabile, vincitsubnixus Stilichone tuo, quem fratribus ipsediscedens clipeum defensoremque dedisti.pro nobis nihil ille pati nullumque recusatdiscrimen temptare sui, non dura viarum,435non incerta maris, Libyae squalentis harenasaudebit superare pedes madidaque cadentePleiade Gaetulas intrabit navita Syrtes.Hunc tamen in primis populos lenire feroceset Rhenum pacare iubes. volat ille citatis440vectus equis nullaque latus stipante caterva,aspera nubiferas qua Raetia porrigit Alpes,pergit et hostiles (tanta est fiducia) ripasincomitatus adit. totum properare per amnemattonitos reges humili cervice videres.445ante ducem nostrum flavam sparsere Sygambricaesariem pavidoque orantes murmure Franciprocubuere solo: iuratur Honorius absensimploratque tuum supplex Alamannia nomen.Bastarnae venere truces, venit accola silvae450Bructerus Hercyniae latisque paludibus exitCimber et ingentes Albim liquere Cherusci.[319]setting sun; what storm-wind frets the Moon so that discoloured she uplifts an angry face. Behold now, great father, in whatsoever part of heaven thou shinest, be it the southern arch or the cold constellation of the Plough that has won the honour of thy presence; see, thy prayer has been answered; thy son now equals thee in merit, nay, a consummation still more to be desired, he surpasseth thee, thanks to the support of thy dear Stilicho whom thou thyself at thy death didst leave to guard and defend the brothers twain. For us there is nought that Stilicho is not ready to suffer, no danger to himself he is not willing to face, neither hardships of the land nor hazards of the sea. His courage will carry him on foot across the deserts of Libya, at the setting of the rainy Pleiads his ship will penetrate the Gaetulian Syrtes.To him, however, thy first command is to calm fierce nations and bring peace to the Rhine. On wind-swift steed, no escort clinging to his side, he crosses the cloud-capped summits of the Raetian Alps, and, so great is his trust in himself, approaches the river unattended. Then mightest thou have seen from source to mouth come hastening up Rhine’s princes, bending their heads in fearful submission. Before our general the Sygambri abased their flaxen locks and the Franks cast themselves upon the ground and sued with trembling voice for pardon. Germany swears allegiance to the absent Honorius and addresses her suppliant prayers to him. Fierce Bastarnae were there and the Bructeri who dwell in the Hercynian forest. The Cimbrians left their broad marsh-lands, the tall Cherusci came from the river Elbe. Stilicho listens

[318]

quid sol occiduus prodat; quo saucia ventodecolor iratos attollat Cynthia vultus.adspice nunc, quacumque micas, seu circulus Austri,magne parens, gelidi seu te meruere Triones,adspice: completur votum. iam natus adaequat430te meritis et, quod magis est optabile, vincitsubnixus Stilichone tuo, quem fratribus ipsediscedens clipeum defensoremque dedisti.pro nobis nihil ille pati nullumque recusatdiscrimen temptare sui, non dura viarum,435non incerta maris, Libyae squalentis harenasaudebit superare pedes madidaque cadentePleiade Gaetulas intrabit navita Syrtes.Hunc tamen in primis populos lenire feroceset Rhenum pacare iubes. volat ille citatis440vectus equis nullaque latus stipante caterva,aspera nubiferas qua Raetia porrigit Alpes,pergit et hostiles (tanta est fiducia) ripasincomitatus adit. totum properare per amnemattonitos reges humili cervice videres.445ante ducem nostrum flavam sparsere Sygambricaesariem pavidoque orantes murmure Franciprocubuere solo: iuratur Honorius absensimploratque tuum supplex Alamannia nomen.Bastarnae venere truces, venit accola silvae450Bructerus Hercyniae latisque paludibus exitCimber et ingentes Albim liquere Cherusci.

quid sol occiduus prodat; quo saucia vento

decolor iratos attollat Cynthia vultus.

adspice nunc, quacumque micas, seu circulus Austri,

magne parens, gelidi seu te meruere Triones,

adspice: completur votum. iam natus adaequat430

te meritis et, quod magis est optabile, vincit

subnixus Stilichone tuo, quem fratribus ipse

discedens clipeum defensoremque dedisti.

pro nobis nihil ille pati nullumque recusat

discrimen temptare sui, non dura viarum,435

non incerta maris, Libyae squalentis harenas

audebit superare pedes madidaque cadente

Pleiade Gaetulas intrabit navita Syrtes.

Hunc tamen in primis populos lenire feroces

et Rhenum pacare iubes. volat ille citatis440

vectus equis nullaque latus stipante caterva,

aspera nubiferas qua Raetia porrigit Alpes,

pergit et hostiles (tanta est fiducia) ripas

incomitatus adit. totum properare per amnem

attonitos reges humili cervice videres.445

ante ducem nostrum flavam sparsere Sygambri

caesariem pavidoque orantes murmure Franci

procubuere solo: iuratur Honorius absens

imploratque tuum supplex Alamannia nomen.

Bastarnae venere truces, venit accola silvae450

Bructerus Hercyniae latisque paludibus exit

Cimber et ingentes Albim liquere Cherusci.

[319]setting sun; what storm-wind frets the Moon so that discoloured she uplifts an angry face. Behold now, great father, in whatsoever part of heaven thou shinest, be it the southern arch or the cold constellation of the Plough that has won the honour of thy presence; see, thy prayer has been answered; thy son now equals thee in merit, nay, a consummation still more to be desired, he surpasseth thee, thanks to the support of thy dear Stilicho whom thou thyself at thy death didst leave to guard and defend the brothers twain. For us there is nought that Stilicho is not ready to suffer, no danger to himself he is not willing to face, neither hardships of the land nor hazards of the sea. His courage will carry him on foot across the deserts of Libya, at the setting of the rainy Pleiads his ship will penetrate the Gaetulian Syrtes.To him, however, thy first command is to calm fierce nations and bring peace to the Rhine. On wind-swift steed, no escort clinging to his side, he crosses the cloud-capped summits of the Raetian Alps, and, so great is his trust in himself, approaches the river unattended. Then mightest thou have seen from source to mouth come hastening up Rhine’s princes, bending their heads in fearful submission. Before our general the Sygambri abased their flaxen locks and the Franks cast themselves upon the ground and sued with trembling voice for pardon. Germany swears allegiance to the absent Honorius and addresses her suppliant prayers to him. Fierce Bastarnae were there and the Bructeri who dwell in the Hercynian forest. The Cimbrians left their broad marsh-lands, the tall Cherusci came from the river Elbe. Stilicho listens

[319]

setting sun; what storm-wind frets the Moon so that discoloured she uplifts an angry face. Behold now, great father, in whatsoever part of heaven thou shinest, be it the southern arch or the cold constellation of the Plough that has won the honour of thy presence; see, thy prayer has been answered; thy son now equals thee in merit, nay, a consummation still more to be desired, he surpasseth thee, thanks to the support of thy dear Stilicho whom thou thyself at thy death didst leave to guard and defend the brothers twain. For us there is nought that Stilicho is not ready to suffer, no danger to himself he is not willing to face, neither hardships of the land nor hazards of the sea. His courage will carry him on foot across the deserts of Libya, at the setting of the rainy Pleiads his ship will penetrate the Gaetulian Syrtes.

To him, however, thy first command is to calm fierce nations and bring peace to the Rhine. On wind-swift steed, no escort clinging to his side, he crosses the cloud-capped summits of the Raetian Alps, and, so great is his trust in himself, approaches the river unattended. Then mightest thou have seen from source to mouth come hastening up Rhine’s princes, bending their heads in fearful submission. Before our general the Sygambri abased their flaxen locks and the Franks cast themselves upon the ground and sued with trembling voice for pardon. Germany swears allegiance to the absent Honorius and addresses her suppliant prayers to him. Fierce Bastarnae were there and the Bructeri who dwell in the Hercynian forest. The Cimbrians left their broad marsh-lands, the tall Cherusci came from the river Elbe. Stilicho listens

[320]accipit ille preces varias tardeque rogatusadnuit et magno pacem pro munere donat.nobilitant veteres Germanica foedera Drusos,455Marte sed ancipiti, sed multis cladibus empta—quisvictum meminit sola formidine Rhenum?quod longis alii bellis potuere mereri,hoc tibi dat Stilichonis iter.Post otia Gallilimitis hortaris Graias fulcire ruinas.460Ionium tegitur velis ventique laboranttot curvare sinus servaturasque Corinthumprosequitur facili Neptunus gurgite classes,et puer, Isthmiaci iam pridem litoris exul,secura repetit portus cum matre Palaemon.465plaustra cruore natant: metitur pellita iuventus:pars morbo, pars ense perit. non lustra Lycaei,non Erymantheae iam copia sufficit umbraeinnumeris exusta rogis, nudataque ferrosic flagrasse suas laetantur Maenala silvas.470excutiat cineres Ephyre, Spartanus et Arcastutior exanguis pedibus proculcet acervosfessaque pensatis respiret Graecia poenis!gens, qua non Scythicos diffusior ulla Trionesincoluit, cui parvus Athos angustaque Thrace,475cum transiret, erat, per te viresque tuorumfracta ducum lugetque sibi iam rara superstes,et, quorum turbae spatium vix praebuit orbis,uno colle latent. sitiens inclusaque vallo[321]to their various prayers, gives tardy assent to their entreaties and of his great bounty bestows upon them peace. A covenant with Germany gave glory to the Drusi of old, but purchased by what uncertain warfare, by how many disasters! Who can recall the Rhine conquered by terror alone? That which others were enabled to win by long wars—this, Honorius, Stilicho’s mere march gives thee.Thou biddest Stilicho after restoring peace in Gaul save Greece from ruin. Vessels cover the Ionian sea; scarce can the wind fill out so many sails. Neptune with favouring currents attends the fleet that is to save Corinth, and young Palaemon, so long an exile from the shores of his isthmus, returns in safety with his mother to the harbour. The blood of barbarians washes their wagons; the ranks of skin-clad warriors are mowed down, some by disease, some by the sword. The glades of Lycaeus, the dark and boundless forests of Erymanthus, are not enough to furnish such countless funeral pyres; Maenalus rejoices that the axe has stripped her of her woods to provide fuel for such a holocaust. Let Ephyre[161]rise from her ashes while Spartan and Arcadian, now safe, tread under foot the heaps of slain; let Greece’s sufferings be made good and her weary land be allowed to breathe once more. That nation, wider spread than any that dwells in northern Scythia, that found Athos too small and Thrace too narrow when it crossed them, that nation, I say, was conquered by thee and thy captains, and now, in the persons of the few that survive, laments its own overthrow. One hill now shelters a people whose hordes scarce the whole world could once contain. Athirst and hemmed within their rampart they[161]= Corinth.

[320]

accipit ille preces varias tardeque rogatusadnuit et magno pacem pro munere donat.nobilitant veteres Germanica foedera Drusos,455Marte sed ancipiti, sed multis cladibus empta—quisvictum meminit sola formidine Rhenum?quod longis alii bellis potuere mereri,hoc tibi dat Stilichonis iter.Post otia Gallilimitis hortaris Graias fulcire ruinas.460Ionium tegitur velis ventique laboranttot curvare sinus servaturasque Corinthumprosequitur facili Neptunus gurgite classes,et puer, Isthmiaci iam pridem litoris exul,secura repetit portus cum matre Palaemon.465plaustra cruore natant: metitur pellita iuventus:pars morbo, pars ense perit. non lustra Lycaei,non Erymantheae iam copia sufficit umbraeinnumeris exusta rogis, nudataque ferrosic flagrasse suas laetantur Maenala silvas.470excutiat cineres Ephyre, Spartanus et Arcastutior exanguis pedibus proculcet acervosfessaque pensatis respiret Graecia poenis!gens, qua non Scythicos diffusior ulla Trionesincoluit, cui parvus Athos angustaque Thrace,475cum transiret, erat, per te viresque tuorumfracta ducum lugetque sibi iam rara superstes,et, quorum turbae spatium vix praebuit orbis,uno colle latent. sitiens inclusaque vallo

accipit ille preces varias tardeque rogatus

adnuit et magno pacem pro munere donat.

nobilitant veteres Germanica foedera Drusos,455

Marte sed ancipiti, sed multis cladibus empta—quis

victum meminit sola formidine Rhenum?

quod longis alii bellis potuere mereri,

hoc tibi dat Stilichonis iter.

Post otia Galli

limitis hortaris Graias fulcire ruinas.460

Ionium tegitur velis ventique laborant

tot curvare sinus servaturasque Corinthum

prosequitur facili Neptunus gurgite classes,

et puer, Isthmiaci iam pridem litoris exul,

secura repetit portus cum matre Palaemon.465

plaustra cruore natant: metitur pellita iuventus:

pars morbo, pars ense perit. non lustra Lycaei,

non Erymantheae iam copia sufficit umbrae

innumeris exusta rogis, nudataque ferro

sic flagrasse suas laetantur Maenala silvas.470

excutiat cineres Ephyre, Spartanus et Arcas

tutior exanguis pedibus proculcet acervos

fessaque pensatis respiret Graecia poenis!

gens, qua non Scythicos diffusior ulla Triones

incoluit, cui parvus Athos angustaque Thrace,475

cum transiret, erat, per te viresque tuorum

fracta ducum lugetque sibi iam rara superstes,

et, quorum turbae spatium vix praebuit orbis,

uno colle latent. sitiens inclusaque vallo

[321]to their various prayers, gives tardy assent to their entreaties and of his great bounty bestows upon them peace. A covenant with Germany gave glory to the Drusi of old, but purchased by what uncertain warfare, by how many disasters! Who can recall the Rhine conquered by terror alone? That which others were enabled to win by long wars—this, Honorius, Stilicho’s mere march gives thee.Thou biddest Stilicho after restoring peace in Gaul save Greece from ruin. Vessels cover the Ionian sea; scarce can the wind fill out so many sails. Neptune with favouring currents attends the fleet that is to save Corinth, and young Palaemon, so long an exile from the shores of his isthmus, returns in safety with his mother to the harbour. The blood of barbarians washes their wagons; the ranks of skin-clad warriors are mowed down, some by disease, some by the sword. The glades of Lycaeus, the dark and boundless forests of Erymanthus, are not enough to furnish such countless funeral pyres; Maenalus rejoices that the axe has stripped her of her woods to provide fuel for such a holocaust. Let Ephyre[161]rise from her ashes while Spartan and Arcadian, now safe, tread under foot the heaps of slain; let Greece’s sufferings be made good and her weary land be allowed to breathe once more. That nation, wider spread than any that dwells in northern Scythia, that found Athos too small and Thrace too narrow when it crossed them, that nation, I say, was conquered by thee and thy captains, and now, in the persons of the few that survive, laments its own overthrow. One hill now shelters a people whose hordes scarce the whole world could once contain. Athirst and hemmed within their rampart they[161]= Corinth.

[321]

to their various prayers, gives tardy assent to their entreaties and of his great bounty bestows upon them peace. A covenant with Germany gave glory to the Drusi of old, but purchased by what uncertain warfare, by how many disasters! Who can recall the Rhine conquered by terror alone? That which others were enabled to win by long wars—this, Honorius, Stilicho’s mere march gives thee.

Thou biddest Stilicho after restoring peace in Gaul save Greece from ruin. Vessels cover the Ionian sea; scarce can the wind fill out so many sails. Neptune with favouring currents attends the fleet that is to save Corinth, and young Palaemon, so long an exile from the shores of his isthmus, returns in safety with his mother to the harbour. The blood of barbarians washes their wagons; the ranks of skin-clad warriors are mowed down, some by disease, some by the sword. The glades of Lycaeus, the dark and boundless forests of Erymanthus, are not enough to furnish such countless funeral pyres; Maenalus rejoices that the axe has stripped her of her woods to provide fuel for such a holocaust. Let Ephyre[161]rise from her ashes while Spartan and Arcadian, now safe, tread under foot the heaps of slain; let Greece’s sufferings be made good and her weary land be allowed to breathe once more. That nation, wider spread than any that dwells in northern Scythia, that found Athos too small and Thrace too narrow when it crossed them, that nation, I say, was conquered by thee and thy captains, and now, in the persons of the few that survive, laments its own overthrow. One hill now shelters a people whose hordes scarce the whole world could once contain. Athirst and hemmed within their rampart they

[161]= Corinth.

[322]ereptas quaesivit aquas, quas hostibus ante480contiguas alio Stilicho deflexerat actumirantemque novas ignota per avia vallesiusserat averso fluvium migrare meatu.Obvia quid mirum vinci, cum barbarus ultroiam cupiat servire tibi? tua Sarmata discors485sacramenta petit; proiecta pelle Gelonusmilitat; in Latios ritus transistis Alani.ut fortes in Marte viros animisque paratos,sic iustos in pace legis longumque tueriselectos crebris nec succedentibus urges.490iudicibus notis regimur, fruimurque quietismilitiaeque bonis, ceu bellatore Quirino,ceu placido moderante Numa. non inminet ensis,nullae nobilium caedes; non crimina vulgotexuntur; patria maestus non truditur exul;495impia continui cessant augmenta tributi;non infelices tabulae; non hasta refixasvendit opes; avida sector non voce citatur,nec tua privatis crescunt aeraria damnis.munificus largi, sed non et prodigus, auri.500perdurat non empta fides nec pectora mercesadligat; ipsa suo pro pignore castra laborant;te miles nutritor amat.Quae denique Romae[323]sought in vain for the stolen waters, that, once within our foemen’s reach, Stilicho had turned aside in another course, and commanded the stream, that marvelled at its strange channel amid unknown ways, to shift its altered track.What wonder that the nations barring thy path should fall before thee, since the barbarian of his own choice now seeks to serve thee? The Sarmatae, ever a prey to internal strife, beg to swear allegiance to thee; the Geloni cast off their cloaks of hide and fight for thee; you, O Alans, have adopted the customs of Latium. As thou choosest for war men that are brave and eager for the fray, so thou choosest for the offices of peace men that are just, and once chosen keepest them long in their charge, not ousting them by ever new successors. We know the magistrates who govern us, and we enjoy the blessings of peace while we reap the advantages of war, as though we lived at one and the same time in the reign of warlike Romulus and peace-loving Numa. A sword is no longer hung over our heads; there are no massacres of the great; gone is the mob of false accusers; no melancholy exiles are driven from their fatherland. Unholy increase of perpetual taxes is at an end; there are no accursed lists,[162]no auctions of plundered wealth; the voice of greed summons not the salesman, nor is thy treasury increased by private losses. Thou art liberal with thy money, yet not wasteful of it. The loyalty of thy soldiers is a lasting loyalty, for it is not bought, nor is it gifts that win their love; the army is anxious for the success of its own child and loves thee who wast its nursling.And how deep is thy devotion to Rome herself![162]i.e.lists of the proscribed and of their properties put up for sale.

[322]

ereptas quaesivit aquas, quas hostibus ante480contiguas alio Stilicho deflexerat actumirantemque novas ignota per avia vallesiusserat averso fluvium migrare meatu.Obvia quid mirum vinci, cum barbarus ultroiam cupiat servire tibi? tua Sarmata discors485sacramenta petit; proiecta pelle Gelonusmilitat; in Latios ritus transistis Alani.ut fortes in Marte viros animisque paratos,sic iustos in pace legis longumque tueriselectos crebris nec succedentibus urges.490iudicibus notis regimur, fruimurque quietismilitiaeque bonis, ceu bellatore Quirino,ceu placido moderante Numa. non inminet ensis,nullae nobilium caedes; non crimina vulgotexuntur; patria maestus non truditur exul;495impia continui cessant augmenta tributi;non infelices tabulae; non hasta refixasvendit opes; avida sector non voce citatur,nec tua privatis crescunt aeraria damnis.munificus largi, sed non et prodigus, auri.500perdurat non empta fides nec pectora mercesadligat; ipsa suo pro pignore castra laborant;te miles nutritor amat.Quae denique Romae

ereptas quaesivit aquas, quas hostibus ante480

contiguas alio Stilicho deflexerat actu

mirantemque novas ignota per avia valles

iusserat averso fluvium migrare meatu.

Obvia quid mirum vinci, cum barbarus ultro

iam cupiat servire tibi? tua Sarmata discors485

sacramenta petit; proiecta pelle Gelonus

militat; in Latios ritus transistis Alani.

ut fortes in Marte viros animisque paratos,

sic iustos in pace legis longumque tueris

electos crebris nec succedentibus urges.490

iudicibus notis regimur, fruimurque quietis

militiaeque bonis, ceu bellatore Quirino,

ceu placido moderante Numa. non inminet ensis,

nullae nobilium caedes; non crimina vulgo

texuntur; patria maestus non truditur exul;495

impia continui cessant augmenta tributi;

non infelices tabulae; non hasta refixas

vendit opes; avida sector non voce citatur,

nec tua privatis crescunt aeraria damnis.

munificus largi, sed non et prodigus, auri.500

perdurat non empta fides nec pectora merces

adligat; ipsa suo pro pignore castra laborant;

te miles nutritor amat.

Quae denique Romae

[323]sought in vain for the stolen waters, that, once within our foemen’s reach, Stilicho had turned aside in another course, and commanded the stream, that marvelled at its strange channel amid unknown ways, to shift its altered track.What wonder that the nations barring thy path should fall before thee, since the barbarian of his own choice now seeks to serve thee? The Sarmatae, ever a prey to internal strife, beg to swear allegiance to thee; the Geloni cast off their cloaks of hide and fight for thee; you, O Alans, have adopted the customs of Latium. As thou choosest for war men that are brave and eager for the fray, so thou choosest for the offices of peace men that are just, and once chosen keepest them long in their charge, not ousting them by ever new successors. We know the magistrates who govern us, and we enjoy the blessings of peace while we reap the advantages of war, as though we lived at one and the same time in the reign of warlike Romulus and peace-loving Numa. A sword is no longer hung over our heads; there are no massacres of the great; gone is the mob of false accusers; no melancholy exiles are driven from their fatherland. Unholy increase of perpetual taxes is at an end; there are no accursed lists,[162]no auctions of plundered wealth; the voice of greed summons not the salesman, nor is thy treasury increased by private losses. Thou art liberal with thy money, yet not wasteful of it. The loyalty of thy soldiers is a lasting loyalty, for it is not bought, nor is it gifts that win their love; the army is anxious for the success of its own child and loves thee who wast its nursling.And how deep is thy devotion to Rome herself![162]i.e.lists of the proscribed and of their properties put up for sale.

[323]

sought in vain for the stolen waters, that, once within our foemen’s reach, Stilicho had turned aside in another course, and commanded the stream, that marvelled at its strange channel amid unknown ways, to shift its altered track.

What wonder that the nations barring thy path should fall before thee, since the barbarian of his own choice now seeks to serve thee? The Sarmatae, ever a prey to internal strife, beg to swear allegiance to thee; the Geloni cast off their cloaks of hide and fight for thee; you, O Alans, have adopted the customs of Latium. As thou choosest for war men that are brave and eager for the fray, so thou choosest for the offices of peace men that are just, and once chosen keepest them long in their charge, not ousting them by ever new successors. We know the magistrates who govern us, and we enjoy the blessings of peace while we reap the advantages of war, as though we lived at one and the same time in the reign of warlike Romulus and peace-loving Numa. A sword is no longer hung over our heads; there are no massacres of the great; gone is the mob of false accusers; no melancholy exiles are driven from their fatherland. Unholy increase of perpetual taxes is at an end; there are no accursed lists,[162]no auctions of plundered wealth; the voice of greed summons not the salesman, nor is thy treasury increased by private losses. Thou art liberal with thy money, yet not wasteful of it. The loyalty of thy soldiers is a lasting loyalty, for it is not bought, nor is it gifts that win their love; the army is anxious for the success of its own child and loves thee who wast its nursling.

And how deep is thy devotion to Rome herself!

[162]i.e.lists of the proscribed and of their properties put up for sale.

[324]cura tibi! quam fixa manet reverentia patrum!firmatur senium iuris priscamque resumunt505canitiem leges emendanturque vetustaeacceduntque novae. talem sensere Solonemres Pandioniae; sic armipotens Lacedaemondespexit muros rigido munita Lycurgo.quae sub te vel causa brevis vel iudicis error510neglegitur? dubiis quis litibus addere finemiustior et mersum latebris educere verum?quae pietas quantusque rigor tranquillaque magnivis animi nulloque levis terrore moverinec nova mirari facilis! quam docta facultas515ingenii linguaeque modus! responsa verenturlegati, gravibusque latet sub moribus aetas.Quantus in ore pater radiat! quam torva voluptasfrontis et augusti maiestas grata pudoris!iam patrias imples galeas; iam cornus avita520temptatur vibranda tibi; promittitur ingensdextra rudimentis Romanaque vota moratur.quis decor, incedis quotiens clipeatus et aurosquameus et rutilus cristis et casside maior!sic, cum Threïcia primum sudaret in hasta,525flumina laverunt puerum Rhodopeia Martem.quae vires iaculis vel, cum Gortynia tendisspicula, quam felix arcus certique petitorvulneris et iussum mentiri nescius ictum!scis, quo more Cydon, qua dirigat arte sagittas530[325]How fixed abides thy reverence for the Senate! Old customs are preserved, law has recovered its ancient sanctity in the amendment of former statutes and by the addition of new ones. Such an one as thee Pandion’s city[163]found in Solon; even so did warrior Lacedaemon disdain walls, for unyielding Lycurgus gave it defence. What case so petty, what judicial error so slight that it escapes thy notice? Who with truer justice put an end to dishonest suits and brought forth lurking truth from her hiding-place? What mercy, yet what firmness; thine is the quiet strength of a great soul, too firm to be stirred by fear, too stable to be swayed by the attraction of novelty. How stored with learning thy ready wit, how controlled thy speech; ambassadors are awe-stricken at thine answers, and thy grave manners make them forget thy years.How thy father’s nobility shines in thy face! How awful is thy winning brow, how charming the majesty of a blushing emperor! Boy though thou art, thou canst wear thy sire’s helmet and brandish thy grandsire’s spear. These exercises of thy youth foreshadow vast strength in manhood and convince Rome that the ruler of her prayers is come. How fair art thou in shield and golden armour girt, with waving plumes and taller by the altitude of a helmet! So looked the youthful Mars when after the toil and sweat of his first battle he bathed him in Thracian Rhodope’s mountain stream. With what vigour thou hurlest the javelin, and, when thou stretchest the Cretan bow, what success attends thy shaft! Sure is the wound it seeks; it knows not how to fail the appointed stroke. Thou knowest in what fashion the Cretan,[163]i.e.Athens.

[324]

cura tibi! quam fixa manet reverentia patrum!firmatur senium iuris priscamque resumunt505canitiem leges emendanturque vetustaeacceduntque novae. talem sensere Solonemres Pandioniae; sic armipotens Lacedaemondespexit muros rigido munita Lycurgo.quae sub te vel causa brevis vel iudicis error510neglegitur? dubiis quis litibus addere finemiustior et mersum latebris educere verum?quae pietas quantusque rigor tranquillaque magnivis animi nulloque levis terrore moverinec nova mirari facilis! quam docta facultas515ingenii linguaeque modus! responsa verenturlegati, gravibusque latet sub moribus aetas.Quantus in ore pater radiat! quam torva voluptasfrontis et augusti maiestas grata pudoris!iam patrias imples galeas; iam cornus avita520temptatur vibranda tibi; promittitur ingensdextra rudimentis Romanaque vota moratur.quis decor, incedis quotiens clipeatus et aurosquameus et rutilus cristis et casside maior!sic, cum Threïcia primum sudaret in hasta,525flumina laverunt puerum Rhodopeia Martem.quae vires iaculis vel, cum Gortynia tendisspicula, quam felix arcus certique petitorvulneris et iussum mentiri nescius ictum!scis, quo more Cydon, qua dirigat arte sagittas530

cura tibi! quam fixa manet reverentia patrum!

firmatur senium iuris priscamque resumunt505

canitiem leges emendanturque vetustae

acceduntque novae. talem sensere Solonem

res Pandioniae; sic armipotens Lacedaemon

despexit muros rigido munita Lycurgo.

quae sub te vel causa brevis vel iudicis error510

neglegitur? dubiis quis litibus addere finem

iustior et mersum latebris educere verum?

quae pietas quantusque rigor tranquillaque magni

vis animi nulloque levis terrore moveri

nec nova mirari facilis! quam docta facultas515

ingenii linguaeque modus! responsa verentur

legati, gravibusque latet sub moribus aetas.

Quantus in ore pater radiat! quam torva voluptas

frontis et augusti maiestas grata pudoris!

iam patrias imples galeas; iam cornus avita520

temptatur vibranda tibi; promittitur ingens

dextra rudimentis Romanaque vota moratur.

quis decor, incedis quotiens clipeatus et auro

squameus et rutilus cristis et casside maior!

sic, cum Threïcia primum sudaret in hasta,525

flumina laverunt puerum Rhodopeia Martem.

quae vires iaculis vel, cum Gortynia tendis

spicula, quam felix arcus certique petitor

vulneris et iussum mentiri nescius ictum!

scis, quo more Cydon, qua dirigat arte sagittas530

[325]How fixed abides thy reverence for the Senate! Old customs are preserved, law has recovered its ancient sanctity in the amendment of former statutes and by the addition of new ones. Such an one as thee Pandion’s city[163]found in Solon; even so did warrior Lacedaemon disdain walls, for unyielding Lycurgus gave it defence. What case so petty, what judicial error so slight that it escapes thy notice? Who with truer justice put an end to dishonest suits and brought forth lurking truth from her hiding-place? What mercy, yet what firmness; thine is the quiet strength of a great soul, too firm to be stirred by fear, too stable to be swayed by the attraction of novelty. How stored with learning thy ready wit, how controlled thy speech; ambassadors are awe-stricken at thine answers, and thy grave manners make them forget thy years.How thy father’s nobility shines in thy face! How awful is thy winning brow, how charming the majesty of a blushing emperor! Boy though thou art, thou canst wear thy sire’s helmet and brandish thy grandsire’s spear. These exercises of thy youth foreshadow vast strength in manhood and convince Rome that the ruler of her prayers is come. How fair art thou in shield and golden armour girt, with waving plumes and taller by the altitude of a helmet! So looked the youthful Mars when after the toil and sweat of his first battle he bathed him in Thracian Rhodope’s mountain stream. With what vigour thou hurlest the javelin, and, when thou stretchest the Cretan bow, what success attends thy shaft! Sure is the wound it seeks; it knows not how to fail the appointed stroke. Thou knowest in what fashion the Cretan,[163]i.e.Athens.

[325]

How fixed abides thy reverence for the Senate! Old customs are preserved, law has recovered its ancient sanctity in the amendment of former statutes and by the addition of new ones. Such an one as thee Pandion’s city[163]found in Solon; even so did warrior Lacedaemon disdain walls, for unyielding Lycurgus gave it defence. What case so petty, what judicial error so slight that it escapes thy notice? Who with truer justice put an end to dishonest suits and brought forth lurking truth from her hiding-place? What mercy, yet what firmness; thine is the quiet strength of a great soul, too firm to be stirred by fear, too stable to be swayed by the attraction of novelty. How stored with learning thy ready wit, how controlled thy speech; ambassadors are awe-stricken at thine answers, and thy grave manners make them forget thy years.

How thy father’s nobility shines in thy face! How awful is thy winning brow, how charming the majesty of a blushing emperor! Boy though thou art, thou canst wear thy sire’s helmet and brandish thy grandsire’s spear. These exercises of thy youth foreshadow vast strength in manhood and convince Rome that the ruler of her prayers is come. How fair art thou in shield and golden armour girt, with waving plumes and taller by the altitude of a helmet! So looked the youthful Mars when after the toil and sweat of his first battle he bathed him in Thracian Rhodope’s mountain stream. With what vigour thou hurlest the javelin, and, when thou stretchest the Cretan bow, what success attends thy shaft! Sure is the wound it seeks; it knows not how to fail the appointed stroke. Thou knowest in what fashion the Cretan,

[163]i.e.Athens.

[326]Armenius, refugo quae sit fiducia Partho:sic Amphioniae pulcher sudore palaestraeAlcides pharetras Dircaeaque tela solebatpraetemptare feris olim domitura Giganteset pacem latura polo, semperque cruentus535ibat et Alcmenae praedam referebat ovanti;caeruleus tali prostratus Apolline Pythonimplicuit fractis moritura volumina silvis.Cum vectaris equo simulacraque Martia ludis,quis mollis sinuare fugas, quis tendere contum540acrior aut subitos melior flexisse recursus?non te Massagetae, non gens exercita campoThessala, non ipsi poterunt aequare bimembres;vix comites alae, vix te suspensa sequunturagmina ferventesque tument post terga dracones.545utque tuis primum sonipes calcaribus arsit,ignescunt patulae nares, non sentit harenasungula discussaeque iubae sparguntur in armos;turbantur phalerae, spumosis morsibus aurumfumat, anhelantes exundant sanguine gemmae.550ipse labor pulvisque decet confusaque motucaesaries; vestis radiato murice solemcombibit, ingesto crispatur purpura vento.si dominus legeretur equis, tua posceret ultroverbera Nereidum stabulis nutritus Arion555serviretque tuis contempto Castore frenis[327]with what skill the Armenian, directs his arrows; in what the retreating Parthian puts his trust. Thus was Alcides, graced with the sweat of the wrestling-ground at Thebes, wont to try his bow and Boeotian arrows on the beasts of the forest ere he turned them against the Giants and so secured peace for heaven. Stains of blood were ever upon him and proud was his mother Alcmena of the spoils he brought back home. Such was Apollo when he slew the livid serpent that enfolded and brake down forests in his dying coils.When mounted on thy horse thou playest the mimicry of war, who is quicker smoothly to wheel in flight, who to hurl the spear, or more skilled to sweep round in swift return? There the Massagetae are not thy peers nor the tribes of Thessaly, well versed though they be in riding, no, nor the very Centaurs themselves. Scarce can the squadrons and flying bands that accompany thee keep pace, while the wind behind thee bellies the fierce dragons on the flags. So soon as the touch of thy spur has fired thy steed, flames start from his swelling nostrils; his hoof scarce touches the ground and his mane is outspread over his shoulders. His harness rattles and the golden bit grows warm in his foam-flecked mouth. The jewels that stud his quivering bridle are red with blood. The signs of toil, the dust stains, the disorder of thy hair all do but increase thy beauty. Thy brilliant scarlet cloak drinks in the sunlight as the wind blows its gay surface into folds. Could horses choose their riders then surely would Arion, full fed in the stables of the Nereids, have prayed for the very whip of such a master, Cyllarus would have had none of Castor, but would have looked

[326]

Armenius, refugo quae sit fiducia Partho:sic Amphioniae pulcher sudore palaestraeAlcides pharetras Dircaeaque tela solebatpraetemptare feris olim domitura Giganteset pacem latura polo, semperque cruentus535ibat et Alcmenae praedam referebat ovanti;caeruleus tali prostratus Apolline Pythonimplicuit fractis moritura volumina silvis.Cum vectaris equo simulacraque Martia ludis,quis mollis sinuare fugas, quis tendere contum540acrior aut subitos melior flexisse recursus?non te Massagetae, non gens exercita campoThessala, non ipsi poterunt aequare bimembres;vix comites alae, vix te suspensa sequunturagmina ferventesque tument post terga dracones.545utque tuis primum sonipes calcaribus arsit,ignescunt patulae nares, non sentit harenasungula discussaeque iubae sparguntur in armos;turbantur phalerae, spumosis morsibus aurumfumat, anhelantes exundant sanguine gemmae.550ipse labor pulvisque decet confusaque motucaesaries; vestis radiato murice solemcombibit, ingesto crispatur purpura vento.si dominus legeretur equis, tua posceret ultroverbera Nereidum stabulis nutritus Arion555serviretque tuis contempto Castore frenis

Armenius, refugo quae sit fiducia Partho:

sic Amphioniae pulcher sudore palaestrae

Alcides pharetras Dircaeaque tela solebat

praetemptare feris olim domitura Gigantes

et pacem latura polo, semperque cruentus535

ibat et Alcmenae praedam referebat ovanti;

caeruleus tali prostratus Apolline Python

implicuit fractis moritura volumina silvis.

Cum vectaris equo simulacraque Martia ludis,

quis mollis sinuare fugas, quis tendere contum540

acrior aut subitos melior flexisse recursus?

non te Massagetae, non gens exercita campo

Thessala, non ipsi poterunt aequare bimembres;

vix comites alae, vix te suspensa sequuntur

agmina ferventesque tument post terga dracones.545

utque tuis primum sonipes calcaribus arsit,

ignescunt patulae nares, non sentit harenas

ungula discussaeque iubae sparguntur in armos;

turbantur phalerae, spumosis morsibus aurum

fumat, anhelantes exundant sanguine gemmae.550

ipse labor pulvisque decet confusaque motu

caesaries; vestis radiato murice solem

combibit, ingesto crispatur purpura vento.

si dominus legeretur equis, tua posceret ultro

verbera Nereidum stabulis nutritus Arion555

serviretque tuis contempto Castore frenis

[327]with what skill the Armenian, directs his arrows; in what the retreating Parthian puts his trust. Thus was Alcides, graced with the sweat of the wrestling-ground at Thebes, wont to try his bow and Boeotian arrows on the beasts of the forest ere he turned them against the Giants and so secured peace for heaven. Stains of blood were ever upon him and proud was his mother Alcmena of the spoils he brought back home. Such was Apollo when he slew the livid serpent that enfolded and brake down forests in his dying coils.When mounted on thy horse thou playest the mimicry of war, who is quicker smoothly to wheel in flight, who to hurl the spear, or more skilled to sweep round in swift return? There the Massagetae are not thy peers nor the tribes of Thessaly, well versed though they be in riding, no, nor the very Centaurs themselves. Scarce can the squadrons and flying bands that accompany thee keep pace, while the wind behind thee bellies the fierce dragons on the flags. So soon as the touch of thy spur has fired thy steed, flames start from his swelling nostrils; his hoof scarce touches the ground and his mane is outspread over his shoulders. His harness rattles and the golden bit grows warm in his foam-flecked mouth. The jewels that stud his quivering bridle are red with blood. The signs of toil, the dust stains, the disorder of thy hair all do but increase thy beauty. Thy brilliant scarlet cloak drinks in the sunlight as the wind blows its gay surface into folds. Could horses choose their riders then surely would Arion, full fed in the stables of the Nereids, have prayed for the very whip of such a master, Cyllarus would have had none of Castor, but would have looked

[327]

with what skill the Armenian, directs his arrows; in what the retreating Parthian puts his trust. Thus was Alcides, graced with the sweat of the wrestling-ground at Thebes, wont to try his bow and Boeotian arrows on the beasts of the forest ere he turned them against the Giants and so secured peace for heaven. Stains of blood were ever upon him and proud was his mother Alcmena of the spoils he brought back home. Such was Apollo when he slew the livid serpent that enfolded and brake down forests in his dying coils.

When mounted on thy horse thou playest the mimicry of war, who is quicker smoothly to wheel in flight, who to hurl the spear, or more skilled to sweep round in swift return? There the Massagetae are not thy peers nor the tribes of Thessaly, well versed though they be in riding, no, nor the very Centaurs themselves. Scarce can the squadrons and flying bands that accompany thee keep pace, while the wind behind thee bellies the fierce dragons on the flags. So soon as the touch of thy spur has fired thy steed, flames start from his swelling nostrils; his hoof scarce touches the ground and his mane is outspread over his shoulders. His harness rattles and the golden bit grows warm in his foam-flecked mouth. The jewels that stud his quivering bridle are red with blood. The signs of toil, the dust stains, the disorder of thy hair all do but increase thy beauty. Thy brilliant scarlet cloak drinks in the sunlight as the wind blows its gay surface into folds. Could horses choose their riders then surely would Arion, full fed in the stables of the Nereids, have prayed for the very whip of such a master, Cyllarus would have had none of Castor, but would have looked

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