Chapter 17

[376]hic gemmata niger tentoria fixerat Indus;hic Rhodani procera cohors, hic miles alumnusOceani. ductor Stilicho tot gentibus unus,160quot vel progrediens vel conspicit occiduus sol.in quo tam vario vocum generumque tumultutanta quies iurisque metus servator honestite moderante fuit, nullis ut vinea furtisvel seges erepta fraudaret messe colonum,165ut nihil aut saevum rabies aut turpe libidosuaderet, placidi servirent legibus enses.scilicet in vulgus manant exempla regentum,utque ducum lituos, sic mores castra sequuntur.Denique felices aquilas quocumque moveres,170arebant tantis epoti milibus amnes.Illyricum peteres: campi montesque latebant.vexillum navale dares: sub puppibus ibatIonium. nullas[189]succincta Ceraunia nimbisnec iuga Leucatae feriens spumantia fluctu175deterrebat hiems. tu si glaciale iuberesvestigare fretum, securo milite ductistagna reluctantes quaterent Saturnia remi;si deserta Noti, fontem si quaerere Nili,Aethiopum medios penetrassent vela vapores.180Te memor Eurotas, te rustica Musa Lycaei,te pastorali modulantur Maenala cantuPartheniumque nemus, quod te pugnante resurgensaegra caput mediis erexit Graecia flammis.plurima Parrhasius tunc inter corpora Ladon185[189]AΠnullum; otherMSS.nullis, which Birt prints. Butdeterrebatneeds an object (as A and Π indicate). Possibly, then,nullas.[377]stained tent, the dusky Indian his embroidered tent: here were the tall company of warriors from the Rhone and the warlike children of Ocean. Stilicho and Stilicho alone commanded all the nations looked on by the rising and the setting sun. Amid this company so diverse in blood and speech such peace reigned beneath thy rule, so did fear of justice secure right, that not a single vineyard was robbed, nor did a single field cheat the husbandman of its plundered crop; rage incited to no violence, passion to no deeds of shame; the peaceful sword was obedient to law. Of a truth their leaders’ pattern passes to the crowd, and the soldier follows not only the standards but also the example of his general.Whithersoever thou didst lead thy victorious eagles there rivers grew dry, drunk up by so many thousands of men. Didst thou march towards Illyria, plain and mountain were hidden; didst thou give the signal to thy fleet, the Ionian main was lost beneath thy ships. Cloud-girt Ceraunia, the storms that dash the waves in foam on Leucas’ promontory—these could not affright any. Shouldst thou bid them explore some frozen sea, thy untroubled soldiers would shatter the congealed waters with countervailing oar; had they to seek the deserts of the south, to search out the sources of the Nile, their sails would penetrate into Ethiopia’s midmost heat.Thee mindful Eurotas, thee Lycaeus’ rustic muse, thee Maenalus celebrates in pastoral song, and therewith the woods of Parthenius, where, thanks to thy victorious arms, weary Greece has raised once more her head from amid the flames. Then did Ladon, river of Arcadia, stay his course amid the countless bodies,

[376]

hic gemmata niger tentoria fixerat Indus;hic Rhodani procera cohors, hic miles alumnusOceani. ductor Stilicho tot gentibus unus,160quot vel progrediens vel conspicit occiduus sol.in quo tam vario vocum generumque tumultutanta quies iurisque metus servator honestite moderante fuit, nullis ut vinea furtisvel seges erepta fraudaret messe colonum,165ut nihil aut saevum rabies aut turpe libidosuaderet, placidi servirent legibus enses.scilicet in vulgus manant exempla regentum,utque ducum lituos, sic mores castra sequuntur.Denique felices aquilas quocumque moveres,170arebant tantis epoti milibus amnes.Illyricum peteres: campi montesque latebant.vexillum navale dares: sub puppibus ibatIonium. nullas[189]succincta Ceraunia nimbisnec iuga Leucatae feriens spumantia fluctu175deterrebat hiems. tu si glaciale iuberesvestigare fretum, securo milite ductistagna reluctantes quaterent Saturnia remi;si deserta Noti, fontem si quaerere Nili,Aethiopum medios penetrassent vela vapores.180Te memor Eurotas, te rustica Musa Lycaei,te pastorali modulantur Maenala cantuPartheniumque nemus, quod te pugnante resurgensaegra caput mediis erexit Graecia flammis.plurima Parrhasius tunc inter corpora Ladon185

hic gemmata niger tentoria fixerat Indus;

hic Rhodani procera cohors, hic miles alumnus

Oceani. ductor Stilicho tot gentibus unus,160

quot vel progrediens vel conspicit occiduus sol.

in quo tam vario vocum generumque tumultu

tanta quies iurisque metus servator honesti

te moderante fuit, nullis ut vinea furtis

vel seges erepta fraudaret messe colonum,165

ut nihil aut saevum rabies aut turpe libido

suaderet, placidi servirent legibus enses.

scilicet in vulgus manant exempla regentum,

utque ducum lituos, sic mores castra sequuntur.

Denique felices aquilas quocumque moveres,170

arebant tantis epoti milibus amnes.

Illyricum peteres: campi montesque latebant.

vexillum navale dares: sub puppibus ibat

Ionium. nullas[189]succincta Ceraunia nimbis

nec iuga Leucatae feriens spumantia fluctu175

deterrebat hiems. tu si glaciale iuberes

vestigare fretum, securo milite ducti

stagna reluctantes quaterent Saturnia remi;

si deserta Noti, fontem si quaerere Nili,

Aethiopum medios penetrassent vela vapores.180

Te memor Eurotas, te rustica Musa Lycaei,

te pastorali modulantur Maenala cantu

Partheniumque nemus, quod te pugnante resurgens

aegra caput mediis erexit Graecia flammis.

plurima Parrhasius tunc inter corpora Ladon185

[189]AΠnullum; otherMSS.nullis, which Birt prints. Butdeterrebatneeds an object (as A and Π indicate). Possibly, then,nullas.

[377]stained tent, the dusky Indian his embroidered tent: here were the tall company of warriors from the Rhone and the warlike children of Ocean. Stilicho and Stilicho alone commanded all the nations looked on by the rising and the setting sun. Amid this company so diverse in blood and speech such peace reigned beneath thy rule, so did fear of justice secure right, that not a single vineyard was robbed, nor did a single field cheat the husbandman of its plundered crop; rage incited to no violence, passion to no deeds of shame; the peaceful sword was obedient to law. Of a truth their leaders’ pattern passes to the crowd, and the soldier follows not only the standards but also the example of his general.Whithersoever thou didst lead thy victorious eagles there rivers grew dry, drunk up by so many thousands of men. Didst thou march towards Illyria, plain and mountain were hidden; didst thou give the signal to thy fleet, the Ionian main was lost beneath thy ships. Cloud-girt Ceraunia, the storms that dash the waves in foam on Leucas’ promontory—these could not affright any. Shouldst thou bid them explore some frozen sea, thy untroubled soldiers would shatter the congealed waters with countervailing oar; had they to seek the deserts of the south, to search out the sources of the Nile, their sails would penetrate into Ethiopia’s midmost heat.Thee mindful Eurotas, thee Lycaeus’ rustic muse, thee Maenalus celebrates in pastoral song, and therewith the woods of Parthenius, where, thanks to thy victorious arms, weary Greece has raised once more her head from amid the flames. Then did Ladon, river of Arcadia, stay his course amid the countless bodies,

[377]

stained tent, the dusky Indian his embroidered tent: here were the tall company of warriors from the Rhone and the warlike children of Ocean. Stilicho and Stilicho alone commanded all the nations looked on by the rising and the setting sun. Amid this company so diverse in blood and speech such peace reigned beneath thy rule, so did fear of justice secure right, that not a single vineyard was robbed, nor did a single field cheat the husbandman of its plundered crop; rage incited to no violence, passion to no deeds of shame; the peaceful sword was obedient to law. Of a truth their leaders’ pattern passes to the crowd, and the soldier follows not only the standards but also the example of his general.

Whithersoever thou didst lead thy victorious eagles there rivers grew dry, drunk up by so many thousands of men. Didst thou march towards Illyria, plain and mountain were hidden; didst thou give the signal to thy fleet, the Ionian main was lost beneath thy ships. Cloud-girt Ceraunia, the storms that dash the waves in foam on Leucas’ promontory—these could not affright any. Shouldst thou bid them explore some frozen sea, thy untroubled soldiers would shatter the congealed waters with countervailing oar; had they to seek the deserts of the south, to search out the sources of the Nile, their sails would penetrate into Ethiopia’s midmost heat.

Thee mindful Eurotas, thee Lycaeus’ rustic muse, thee Maenalus celebrates in pastoral song, and therewith the woods of Parthenius, where, thanks to thy victorious arms, weary Greece has raised once more her head from amid the flames. Then did Ladon, river of Arcadia, stay his course amid the countless bodies,

[378]haesit et Alpheus Geticis angustus acervistardior ad Siculos etiamnunc pergit amores.Miramur rapidis hostem succumbere bellis,cum solo terrore ruant? non classica Francisintulimus: iacuere tamen. non Marte Suebos190contudimus, quis iura damus. quis credere possit?ante tubam nobis audax Germania servit.cedant, Druse, tui, cedant, Traiane, labores:vestra manus dubio quidquid discrimine gessit,transcurrens egit Stilicho totidemque diebus195edomuit Rhenum, quot vos potuistis in annis;quem ferro, adloquiis; quem vos cum milite, solus.impiger a primo descendens fluminis ortuad bifidos tractus et iuncta paludibus orafulmineum perstrinxit iter; ducis impetus undas200vincebat celeres, et pax a fonte profectacum Rheni crescebat aquis. ingentia quondamnomina, crinigero flaventes vertice reges,qui nec principibus donis precibusque vocatiparuerant, iussi properant segnique verentur205offendisse mora; transvecti lintribus amnemoccursant ubicumque velit. nec fama fefellitiustitiae: videre pium, videre fidelem.quem veniens timuit, rediens Germanus amavit.illi terribiles, quibus otia vendere semper210mos erat et foeda requiem mercede pacisci,natis obsidibus pacem tam supplice vultu[379]and Alphaeus, choked with heaps of slaughtered Getae, won his way more slowly to his Sicilian love.[190]Do we wonder that the foe so swiftly yields in battle when they fall before the sole terror of his name? We did not declare war on the Franks; yet they were overthrown. We did not crush in battle the Suebi on whom we now impose our laws. Who could believe it? Fierce Germany was our slave or ever the trumpets rang out. Where are now thy wars, Drusus, or thine, Trajan? All that your hands wrought after doubtful conflict that Stilicho did as he passed along, and o’ercame the Rhine in as many days as you could do in years; you conquered with the sword, he with a word; you with an army, he single-handed. Descending from the river’s source to where it splits in twain and to the marshes that connect its mouths he flashed his lightning way. The speed of the general outstripped the river’s swift course, and Peace, starting with him from Rhine’s source, grew as grew Rhine’s waters. Chieftains whose names were once so well known, flaxen-haired warrior-kings whom neither gifts nor prayers could win over to obedience to Rome’s emperors, hasten at his command and fear to offend by dull delay. Crossing the river in boats they meet him wheresoever he will. The fame of his justice did not play them false: they found him merciful, they found him trustworthy. Him whom at his coming the German feared, at his departure he loved. Those dread tribes whose wont it was ever to set their price on peace and let us purchase repose by shameful tribute, offered their children as hostages and begged for peace with such suppliant looks that one would have thought them[190]i.e.Arethusa.

[378]

haesit et Alpheus Geticis angustus acervistardior ad Siculos etiamnunc pergit amores.Miramur rapidis hostem succumbere bellis,cum solo terrore ruant? non classica Francisintulimus: iacuere tamen. non Marte Suebos190contudimus, quis iura damus. quis credere possit?ante tubam nobis audax Germania servit.cedant, Druse, tui, cedant, Traiane, labores:vestra manus dubio quidquid discrimine gessit,transcurrens egit Stilicho totidemque diebus195edomuit Rhenum, quot vos potuistis in annis;quem ferro, adloquiis; quem vos cum milite, solus.impiger a primo descendens fluminis ortuad bifidos tractus et iuncta paludibus orafulmineum perstrinxit iter; ducis impetus undas200vincebat celeres, et pax a fonte profectacum Rheni crescebat aquis. ingentia quondamnomina, crinigero flaventes vertice reges,qui nec principibus donis precibusque vocatiparuerant, iussi properant segnique verentur205offendisse mora; transvecti lintribus amnemoccursant ubicumque velit. nec fama fefellitiustitiae: videre pium, videre fidelem.quem veniens timuit, rediens Germanus amavit.illi terribiles, quibus otia vendere semper210mos erat et foeda requiem mercede pacisci,natis obsidibus pacem tam supplice vultu

haesit et Alpheus Geticis angustus acervis

tardior ad Siculos etiamnunc pergit amores.

Miramur rapidis hostem succumbere bellis,

cum solo terrore ruant? non classica Francis

intulimus: iacuere tamen. non Marte Suebos190

contudimus, quis iura damus. quis credere possit?

ante tubam nobis audax Germania servit.

cedant, Druse, tui, cedant, Traiane, labores:

vestra manus dubio quidquid discrimine gessit,

transcurrens egit Stilicho totidemque diebus195

edomuit Rhenum, quot vos potuistis in annis;

quem ferro, adloquiis; quem vos cum milite, solus.

impiger a primo descendens fluminis ortu

ad bifidos tractus et iuncta paludibus ora

fulmineum perstrinxit iter; ducis impetus undas200

vincebat celeres, et pax a fonte profecta

cum Rheni crescebat aquis. ingentia quondam

nomina, crinigero flaventes vertice reges,

qui nec principibus donis precibusque vocati

paruerant, iussi properant segnique verentur205

offendisse mora; transvecti lintribus amnem

occursant ubicumque velit. nec fama fefellit

iustitiae: videre pium, videre fidelem.

quem veniens timuit, rediens Germanus amavit.

illi terribiles, quibus otia vendere semper210

mos erat et foeda requiem mercede pacisci,

natis obsidibus pacem tam supplice vultu

[379]and Alphaeus, choked with heaps of slaughtered Getae, won his way more slowly to his Sicilian love.[190]Do we wonder that the foe so swiftly yields in battle when they fall before the sole terror of his name? We did not declare war on the Franks; yet they were overthrown. We did not crush in battle the Suebi on whom we now impose our laws. Who could believe it? Fierce Germany was our slave or ever the trumpets rang out. Where are now thy wars, Drusus, or thine, Trajan? All that your hands wrought after doubtful conflict that Stilicho did as he passed along, and o’ercame the Rhine in as many days as you could do in years; you conquered with the sword, he with a word; you with an army, he single-handed. Descending from the river’s source to where it splits in twain and to the marshes that connect its mouths he flashed his lightning way. The speed of the general outstripped the river’s swift course, and Peace, starting with him from Rhine’s source, grew as grew Rhine’s waters. Chieftains whose names were once so well known, flaxen-haired warrior-kings whom neither gifts nor prayers could win over to obedience to Rome’s emperors, hasten at his command and fear to offend by dull delay. Crossing the river in boats they meet him wheresoever he will. The fame of his justice did not play them false: they found him merciful, they found him trustworthy. Him whom at his coming the German feared, at his departure he loved. Those dread tribes whose wont it was ever to set their price on peace and let us purchase repose by shameful tribute, offered their children as hostages and begged for peace with such suppliant looks that one would have thought them[190]i.e.Arethusa.

[379]

and Alphaeus, choked with heaps of slaughtered Getae, won his way more slowly to his Sicilian love.[190]

Do we wonder that the foe so swiftly yields in battle when they fall before the sole terror of his name? We did not declare war on the Franks; yet they were overthrown. We did not crush in battle the Suebi on whom we now impose our laws. Who could believe it? Fierce Germany was our slave or ever the trumpets rang out. Where are now thy wars, Drusus, or thine, Trajan? All that your hands wrought after doubtful conflict that Stilicho did as he passed along, and o’ercame the Rhine in as many days as you could do in years; you conquered with the sword, he with a word; you with an army, he single-handed. Descending from the river’s source to where it splits in twain and to the marshes that connect its mouths he flashed his lightning way. The speed of the general outstripped the river’s swift course, and Peace, starting with him from Rhine’s source, grew as grew Rhine’s waters. Chieftains whose names were once so well known, flaxen-haired warrior-kings whom neither gifts nor prayers could win over to obedience to Rome’s emperors, hasten at his command and fear to offend by dull delay. Crossing the river in boats they meet him wheresoever he will. The fame of his justice did not play them false: they found him merciful, they found him trustworthy. Him whom at his coming the German feared, at his departure he loved. Those dread tribes whose wont it was ever to set their price on peace and let us purchase repose by shameful tribute, offered their children as hostages and begged for peace with such suppliant looks that one would have thought them

[190]i.e.Arethusa.

[380]captivoque rogant, quam si post terga revinctiTarpeias pressis subeant cervicibus arces.omne, quod Oceanum fontesque interiacet Histri,215unius incursu tremuit; sine caede subactusservitio Boreas exarmatique Triones.Tempore tam parvo tot proelia sanguine nulloperficis et luna nuper nascente profectusante redis, quam tota fuit, Rhenumque minacem220cornibus infractis adeo mitescere cogis,ut Salius iam rura colat flexosque Sygambrusin falcem curvet gladios, geminasque viatorcum videat ripas, quae sit Romana, requirat;ut iam trans fluvium non indignante Chauco225pascat Belga pecus, mediumque ingressa per AlbimGallica Francorum montes armenta pererrent;ut procul Hercyniae per vasta silentia silvaevenari tuto liceat, lucosque vetustareligione truces et robur numinis instar230barbarici nostrae feriant impune bipennes.Ultro quin etiam devota mente tuenturvictorique favent. quotiens sociare catervasoravit iungique tuis Alamannia signis!nec doluit contempta tamen, spretoque recessit235auxilio laudata fides. provincia missosexpellet citius fasces quam Francia reges,quos dederis. acie nec iam pulsare rebelles,sed vinclis punire licet; sub iudice nostroregia Romanus disquirit crimina carcer:240[381]captives, their hands bound behind their backs, and they mounting the Tarpeian rock with the chains of slavery upon their necks. All those lands that lie between Ocean and the Danube trembled at the approach of one man. Boreas was brought into servitude without a blow; the Great Bear was disarmed.In so short a time didst thou win so many battles without loss of blood, and, setting out with the moon yet new, thou didst return or ever it was full; so didst thou compel the threatening Rhine to learn gentleness with shattered horns, that the Salian now tills his fields, the Sygambrian beats his straight sword into a curved sickle, and the traveller, as he looks at the two banks, asks over which Rome rules. The Belgian, too, pastures his flock across the river and the Chauci heed it not; Gallic herds cross the middle Elbe and wander over the hills of the Franks. Safe it is to hunt amid the vast silence of the distant Hercynian forest, and in the woods that old-established superstition has rendered awful our axes fell the trees the barbarian once worshipped and nought is said.Nay more, devoted to their conqueror this people offers its arms in his defence. How oft has Germany begged to add her troops to thine and to join her forces with those of Rome! Nor yet was she angered when her offer was rejected, for though her aid was refused her loyalty came off with praise. Provence will sooner drive out the governor thou sendest than will the land of the Franks expel the ruler thou hast given them. Not to rout rebels in the field but to punish them with chains is now the law; under our judge a Roman prison holds inquest

[380]

captivoque rogant, quam si post terga revinctiTarpeias pressis subeant cervicibus arces.omne, quod Oceanum fontesque interiacet Histri,215unius incursu tremuit; sine caede subactusservitio Boreas exarmatique Triones.Tempore tam parvo tot proelia sanguine nulloperficis et luna nuper nascente profectusante redis, quam tota fuit, Rhenumque minacem220cornibus infractis adeo mitescere cogis,ut Salius iam rura colat flexosque Sygambrusin falcem curvet gladios, geminasque viatorcum videat ripas, quae sit Romana, requirat;ut iam trans fluvium non indignante Chauco225pascat Belga pecus, mediumque ingressa per AlbimGallica Francorum montes armenta pererrent;ut procul Hercyniae per vasta silentia silvaevenari tuto liceat, lucosque vetustareligione truces et robur numinis instar230barbarici nostrae feriant impune bipennes.Ultro quin etiam devota mente tuenturvictorique favent. quotiens sociare catervasoravit iungique tuis Alamannia signis!nec doluit contempta tamen, spretoque recessit235auxilio laudata fides. provincia missosexpellet citius fasces quam Francia reges,quos dederis. acie nec iam pulsare rebelles,sed vinclis punire licet; sub iudice nostroregia Romanus disquirit crimina carcer:240

captivoque rogant, quam si post terga revincti

Tarpeias pressis subeant cervicibus arces.

omne, quod Oceanum fontesque interiacet Histri,215

unius incursu tremuit; sine caede subactus

servitio Boreas exarmatique Triones.

Tempore tam parvo tot proelia sanguine nullo

perficis et luna nuper nascente profectus

ante redis, quam tota fuit, Rhenumque minacem220

cornibus infractis adeo mitescere cogis,

ut Salius iam rura colat flexosque Sygambrus

in falcem curvet gladios, geminasque viator

cum videat ripas, quae sit Romana, requirat;

ut iam trans fluvium non indignante Chauco225

pascat Belga pecus, mediumque ingressa per Albim

Gallica Francorum montes armenta pererrent;

ut procul Hercyniae per vasta silentia silvae

venari tuto liceat, lucosque vetusta

religione truces et robur numinis instar230

barbarici nostrae feriant impune bipennes.

Ultro quin etiam devota mente tuentur

victorique favent. quotiens sociare catervas

oravit iungique tuis Alamannia signis!

nec doluit contempta tamen, spretoque recessit235

auxilio laudata fides. provincia missos

expellet citius fasces quam Francia reges,

quos dederis. acie nec iam pulsare rebelles,

sed vinclis punire licet; sub iudice nostro

regia Romanus disquirit crimina carcer:240

[381]captives, their hands bound behind their backs, and they mounting the Tarpeian rock with the chains of slavery upon their necks. All those lands that lie between Ocean and the Danube trembled at the approach of one man. Boreas was brought into servitude without a blow; the Great Bear was disarmed.In so short a time didst thou win so many battles without loss of blood, and, setting out with the moon yet new, thou didst return or ever it was full; so didst thou compel the threatening Rhine to learn gentleness with shattered horns, that the Salian now tills his fields, the Sygambrian beats his straight sword into a curved sickle, and the traveller, as he looks at the two banks, asks over which Rome rules. The Belgian, too, pastures his flock across the river and the Chauci heed it not; Gallic herds cross the middle Elbe and wander over the hills of the Franks. Safe it is to hunt amid the vast silence of the distant Hercynian forest, and in the woods that old-established superstition has rendered awful our axes fell the trees the barbarian once worshipped and nought is said.Nay more, devoted to their conqueror this people offers its arms in his defence. How oft has Germany begged to add her troops to thine and to join her forces with those of Rome! Nor yet was she angered when her offer was rejected, for though her aid was refused her loyalty came off with praise. Provence will sooner drive out the governor thou sendest than will the land of the Franks expel the ruler thou hast given them. Not to rout rebels in the field but to punish them with chains is now the law; under our judge a Roman prison holds inquest

[381]

captives, their hands bound behind their backs, and they mounting the Tarpeian rock with the chains of slavery upon their necks. All those lands that lie between Ocean and the Danube trembled at the approach of one man. Boreas was brought into servitude without a blow; the Great Bear was disarmed.

In so short a time didst thou win so many battles without loss of blood, and, setting out with the moon yet new, thou didst return or ever it was full; so didst thou compel the threatening Rhine to learn gentleness with shattered horns, that the Salian now tills his fields, the Sygambrian beats his straight sword into a curved sickle, and the traveller, as he looks at the two banks, asks over which Rome rules. The Belgian, too, pastures his flock across the river and the Chauci heed it not; Gallic herds cross the middle Elbe and wander over the hills of the Franks. Safe it is to hunt amid the vast silence of the distant Hercynian forest, and in the woods that old-established superstition has rendered awful our axes fell the trees the barbarian once worshipped and nought is said.

Nay more, devoted to their conqueror this people offers its arms in his defence. How oft has Germany begged to add her troops to thine and to join her forces with those of Rome! Nor yet was she angered when her offer was rejected, for though her aid was refused her loyalty came off with praise. Provence will sooner drive out the governor thou sendest than will the land of the Franks expel the ruler thou hast given them. Not to rout rebels in the field but to punish them with chains is now the law; under our judge a Roman prison holds inquest

[382]Marcomeres Sunnoque docet; quorum alter Etruscumpertulit exilium; cum se promitteret alterexulis ultorem, iacuit mucrone suorum:res avidi concire novas odioque furentespacis et ingenio scelerumque cupidine fratres.245Post domitas Arctos alio prorupit ab axetempestas et, ne qua tuis intacta tropaeispars foret, Australis sonuit tuba. moverat omnesMaurorum Gildo populos, quibus inminet Atlaset quos interior nimio plaga sole relegat:250quos vagus umectat Cinyps et proximus hortisHesperidum Triton et Gir notissimus amnisAethiopum, simili mentitus gurgite Nilum;venerat et parvis redimitus Nuba sagittiset velox Garamas, nec quamvis tristibus Hammon255responsis alacrem potuit Nasamona morari.stipantur Numidae campi, stant pulvere SyrtesGaetulae, Poenus iaculis obtexitur aër.hi virga moderantur equos; his fulva leonesvelamenta dabant ignotarumque ferarum260exuviae, vastis Meroë quas nutrit harenis;serpentum patulos gestant pro casside rictus;pendent vipereae squamosa pelle pharetrae.non sic intremuit Simois, cum montibus Idaenigra coloratus produceret agmina Memnon,265non Ganges, cum tela procul vibrantibus Indisinmanis medium vectaret belua Porum.[383]on the crimes of kings. Marcomeres and Sunno[191]give proof: the one underwent exile in Etruria, the other, proclaiming himself the exile’s avenger, fell beneath the swords of his own soldiers. Both were eager to arouse rebellion, both hated peace—true brothers in character and in a common love of crime.After the conquest of the north arose a fresh storm in another quarter. The trumpets of war rang out in the south that there might be no part of the world untouched by thy victories. Gildo stirred up all the Moorish tribes living beneath mount Atlas and those whom the excessive heat of the sun cuts off from us in the interior of Africa, those too whom Cinyps’ wandering stream waters, and Triton, neighbour of the garden of the Hesperides; those who dwell beside the waters of Gir, most famous of the rivers of Ethiopia, that overflows his banks as it had been another Nile. There came at his summons the Nubian with his head-dress of short arrows, the fleet Garamantian, the Nasamonian whose impetuous ardour not even the sinister predictions of Ammon could restrain. The plain of Numidia was overrun, their dust covered the Gaetulian Syrtes; the sky of Carthage was darkened with their arrows. Some, mounted, guide their horses with sticks, others are clad in tawny lion-skins and pelts of the nameless animals that range the vast deserts of Meroë. Severed heads of serpents with gaping jaws serve them for helmets, the bright scaly skin of the viper fashions their quivers. Simois trembled not so violently when swart Memnon led his dusky troops o’er Ida’s summit. Not so fearful was Ganges when Porus approached, mounted on his towering elephant and surrounded with his far-shooting Indian soldiery.[191]Marcomeres and Sunno, brother chiefs of the Ripuarian Franks, had (?in connexion with Maximus’ revolt) invaded Roman territory near Cologne in 388 and been defeated by Arbogast. Stilicho’s successful campaign against them, of which we read here, is to be dated 395 (?March).

[382]

Marcomeres Sunnoque docet; quorum alter Etruscumpertulit exilium; cum se promitteret alterexulis ultorem, iacuit mucrone suorum:res avidi concire novas odioque furentespacis et ingenio scelerumque cupidine fratres.245Post domitas Arctos alio prorupit ab axetempestas et, ne qua tuis intacta tropaeispars foret, Australis sonuit tuba. moverat omnesMaurorum Gildo populos, quibus inminet Atlaset quos interior nimio plaga sole relegat:250quos vagus umectat Cinyps et proximus hortisHesperidum Triton et Gir notissimus amnisAethiopum, simili mentitus gurgite Nilum;venerat et parvis redimitus Nuba sagittiset velox Garamas, nec quamvis tristibus Hammon255responsis alacrem potuit Nasamona morari.stipantur Numidae campi, stant pulvere SyrtesGaetulae, Poenus iaculis obtexitur aër.hi virga moderantur equos; his fulva leonesvelamenta dabant ignotarumque ferarum260exuviae, vastis Meroë quas nutrit harenis;serpentum patulos gestant pro casside rictus;pendent vipereae squamosa pelle pharetrae.non sic intremuit Simois, cum montibus Idaenigra coloratus produceret agmina Memnon,265non Ganges, cum tela procul vibrantibus Indisinmanis medium vectaret belua Porum.

Marcomeres Sunnoque docet; quorum alter Etruscum

pertulit exilium; cum se promitteret alter

exulis ultorem, iacuit mucrone suorum:

res avidi concire novas odioque furentes

pacis et ingenio scelerumque cupidine fratres.245

Post domitas Arctos alio prorupit ab axe

tempestas et, ne qua tuis intacta tropaeis

pars foret, Australis sonuit tuba. moverat omnes

Maurorum Gildo populos, quibus inminet Atlas

et quos interior nimio plaga sole relegat:250

quos vagus umectat Cinyps et proximus hortis

Hesperidum Triton et Gir notissimus amnis

Aethiopum, simili mentitus gurgite Nilum;

venerat et parvis redimitus Nuba sagittis

et velox Garamas, nec quamvis tristibus Hammon255

responsis alacrem potuit Nasamona morari.

stipantur Numidae campi, stant pulvere Syrtes

Gaetulae, Poenus iaculis obtexitur aër.

hi virga moderantur equos; his fulva leones

velamenta dabant ignotarumque ferarum260

exuviae, vastis Meroë quas nutrit harenis;

serpentum patulos gestant pro casside rictus;

pendent vipereae squamosa pelle pharetrae.

non sic intremuit Simois, cum montibus Idae

nigra coloratus produceret agmina Memnon,265

non Ganges, cum tela procul vibrantibus Indis

inmanis medium vectaret belua Porum.

[383]on the crimes of kings. Marcomeres and Sunno[191]give proof: the one underwent exile in Etruria, the other, proclaiming himself the exile’s avenger, fell beneath the swords of his own soldiers. Both were eager to arouse rebellion, both hated peace—true brothers in character and in a common love of crime.After the conquest of the north arose a fresh storm in another quarter. The trumpets of war rang out in the south that there might be no part of the world untouched by thy victories. Gildo stirred up all the Moorish tribes living beneath mount Atlas and those whom the excessive heat of the sun cuts off from us in the interior of Africa, those too whom Cinyps’ wandering stream waters, and Triton, neighbour of the garden of the Hesperides; those who dwell beside the waters of Gir, most famous of the rivers of Ethiopia, that overflows his banks as it had been another Nile. There came at his summons the Nubian with his head-dress of short arrows, the fleet Garamantian, the Nasamonian whose impetuous ardour not even the sinister predictions of Ammon could restrain. The plain of Numidia was overrun, their dust covered the Gaetulian Syrtes; the sky of Carthage was darkened with their arrows. Some, mounted, guide their horses with sticks, others are clad in tawny lion-skins and pelts of the nameless animals that range the vast deserts of Meroë. Severed heads of serpents with gaping jaws serve them for helmets, the bright scaly skin of the viper fashions their quivers. Simois trembled not so violently when swart Memnon led his dusky troops o’er Ida’s summit. Not so fearful was Ganges when Porus approached, mounted on his towering elephant and surrounded with his far-shooting Indian soldiery.[191]Marcomeres and Sunno, brother chiefs of the Ripuarian Franks, had (?in connexion with Maximus’ revolt) invaded Roman territory near Cologne in 388 and been defeated by Arbogast. Stilicho’s successful campaign against them, of which we read here, is to be dated 395 (?March).

[383]

on the crimes of kings. Marcomeres and Sunno[191]give proof: the one underwent exile in Etruria, the other, proclaiming himself the exile’s avenger, fell beneath the swords of his own soldiers. Both were eager to arouse rebellion, both hated peace—true brothers in character and in a common love of crime.

After the conquest of the north arose a fresh storm in another quarter. The trumpets of war rang out in the south that there might be no part of the world untouched by thy victories. Gildo stirred up all the Moorish tribes living beneath mount Atlas and those whom the excessive heat of the sun cuts off from us in the interior of Africa, those too whom Cinyps’ wandering stream waters, and Triton, neighbour of the garden of the Hesperides; those who dwell beside the waters of Gir, most famous of the rivers of Ethiopia, that overflows his banks as it had been another Nile. There came at his summons the Nubian with his head-dress of short arrows, the fleet Garamantian, the Nasamonian whose impetuous ardour not even the sinister predictions of Ammon could restrain. The plain of Numidia was overrun, their dust covered the Gaetulian Syrtes; the sky of Carthage was darkened with their arrows. Some, mounted, guide their horses with sticks, others are clad in tawny lion-skins and pelts of the nameless animals that range the vast deserts of Meroë. Severed heads of serpents with gaping jaws serve them for helmets, the bright scaly skin of the viper fashions their quivers. Simois trembled not so violently when swart Memnon led his dusky troops o’er Ida’s summit. Not so fearful was Ganges when Porus approached, mounted on his towering elephant and surrounded with his far-shooting Indian soldiery.

[191]Marcomeres and Sunno, brother chiefs of the Ripuarian Franks, had (?in connexion with Maximus’ revolt) invaded Roman territory near Cologne in 388 and been defeated by Arbogast. Stilicho’s successful campaign against them, of which we read here, is to be dated 395 (?March).

[384]Porus Alexandro, Memnon prostratus Achilli,Gildo nempe tibi.Nec solum fervidus Austrum,sed partes etiam Mavors agitabat Eoas.270quamvis obstreperet pietas, his ille regendaetranstulerat nomen Libyae scelerique profanofallax legitimam regni praetenderat umbram.surgebat geminum varia formidine bellum,hoc armis, hoc triste dolis. hoc Africa saevis275cinxerat auxiliis, hoc coniuratus alebatinsidiis Oriens. illinc edicta meabantcorruptura duces; hinc frugibus atra negatisurgebat trepidamque fames obsederat urbem.exitiale palam Libycum; civile pudoris280obtentu tacitum.Tales utrimque procellaecum fremerent lacerumque alternis ictibus ancepsimperium pulsaret hiems, nil fessa remisitofficii virtus contraque minantia fatapervigil eventusque sibi latura secundos285maior in adversis micuit: velut arbiter alni,nubilus Aegaeo quam turbine vexat Orion,exiguo clavi flexu declinat aquarumverbera, nunc recta, nunc obliquante carinacallidus, et pelagi caelique obnititur irae.290Quid primum, Stilicho, mirer? quod cautus ad omnesrestiteris fraudes, ut te nec noxia furtolittera nec pretio manus inflammata lateret?quod nihil in tanto circum terrore locutusindignum Latio? responsa quod ardua semper295Eois dederis, quae mox effecta probasti—[385]Yet Porus was defeated by Alexander, Memnon by Achilles, and Gildo by thee.It was not, however, only the South that fierce Mars aroused but also the East. Though loyalty cried out against it Gildo had transferred the nominal rule of Libya to the Eastern empire, cloaking his base treason under the name of legitimate government.[192]Thus with diverse terror a twofold war arose; here were arms, there were wiles. Africa supported the one with her savage tribes, the other the conspiring East nurtured with treachery. From Byzantium came edicts to subvert the loyalty of governors; from Africa that refused her crops black famine pressed and had beleaguered trembling Rome. Libya openly meditated our destruction; over the civic strife shame had laid her veil of silence.Though such storms raged on either hand, though the twofold tempest buffeted the torn empire on this side and on that, no whit did our consul’s courage yield to weariness, but ever watchful against threatening doom and soon to win prosperous issue, shone greater amid dangers: as the ship’s pilot, tossed in mid Aegean by the storms of rainy Orion, eludes the waves’ buffeting by the least turn of the tiller, skilfully guiding his vessel now on straight, now on slanting course, and struggles successfully against the conjoint fury of sea and sky.At what, Stilicho, shall I first marvel? At the providence that resisted all intrigues, whereby no treacherous missive, no bribe-fraught hand escaped thy notice? Or because that amid the general terror thou spakest no word unworthy of Latium? Or because thou didst ever give haughty answer to the East and later made that answer[192]Africa belonged to the West. Gildo, in the words of Zosimus (v. 11. 2), ἀφίστησι τήν χῶραν τῆς Ὁνωρίου βασιλείας καὶ τῇ Ἀρκαδίου προστίθησιν.

[384]

Porus Alexandro, Memnon prostratus Achilli,Gildo nempe tibi.Nec solum fervidus Austrum,sed partes etiam Mavors agitabat Eoas.270quamvis obstreperet pietas, his ille regendaetranstulerat nomen Libyae scelerique profanofallax legitimam regni praetenderat umbram.surgebat geminum varia formidine bellum,hoc armis, hoc triste dolis. hoc Africa saevis275cinxerat auxiliis, hoc coniuratus alebatinsidiis Oriens. illinc edicta meabantcorruptura duces; hinc frugibus atra negatisurgebat trepidamque fames obsederat urbem.exitiale palam Libycum; civile pudoris280obtentu tacitum.Tales utrimque procellaecum fremerent lacerumque alternis ictibus ancepsimperium pulsaret hiems, nil fessa remisitofficii virtus contraque minantia fatapervigil eventusque sibi latura secundos285maior in adversis micuit: velut arbiter alni,nubilus Aegaeo quam turbine vexat Orion,exiguo clavi flexu declinat aquarumverbera, nunc recta, nunc obliquante carinacallidus, et pelagi caelique obnititur irae.290Quid primum, Stilicho, mirer? quod cautus ad omnesrestiteris fraudes, ut te nec noxia furtolittera nec pretio manus inflammata lateret?quod nihil in tanto circum terrore locutusindignum Latio? responsa quod ardua semper295Eois dederis, quae mox effecta probasti—

Porus Alexandro, Memnon prostratus Achilli,

Gildo nempe tibi.

Nec solum fervidus Austrum,

sed partes etiam Mavors agitabat Eoas.270

quamvis obstreperet pietas, his ille regendae

transtulerat nomen Libyae scelerique profano

fallax legitimam regni praetenderat umbram.

surgebat geminum varia formidine bellum,

hoc armis, hoc triste dolis. hoc Africa saevis275

cinxerat auxiliis, hoc coniuratus alebat

insidiis Oriens. illinc edicta meabant

corruptura duces; hinc frugibus atra negatis

urgebat trepidamque fames obsederat urbem.

exitiale palam Libycum; civile pudoris280

obtentu tacitum.

Tales utrimque procellae

cum fremerent lacerumque alternis ictibus anceps

imperium pulsaret hiems, nil fessa remisit

officii virtus contraque minantia fata

pervigil eventusque sibi latura secundos285

maior in adversis micuit: velut arbiter alni,

nubilus Aegaeo quam turbine vexat Orion,

exiguo clavi flexu declinat aquarum

verbera, nunc recta, nunc obliquante carina

callidus, et pelagi caelique obnititur irae.290

Quid primum, Stilicho, mirer? quod cautus ad omnes

restiteris fraudes, ut te nec noxia furto

littera nec pretio manus inflammata lateret?

quod nihil in tanto circum terrore locutus

indignum Latio? responsa quod ardua semper295

Eois dederis, quae mox effecta probasti—

[385]Yet Porus was defeated by Alexander, Memnon by Achilles, and Gildo by thee.It was not, however, only the South that fierce Mars aroused but also the East. Though loyalty cried out against it Gildo had transferred the nominal rule of Libya to the Eastern empire, cloaking his base treason under the name of legitimate government.[192]Thus with diverse terror a twofold war arose; here were arms, there were wiles. Africa supported the one with her savage tribes, the other the conspiring East nurtured with treachery. From Byzantium came edicts to subvert the loyalty of governors; from Africa that refused her crops black famine pressed and had beleaguered trembling Rome. Libya openly meditated our destruction; over the civic strife shame had laid her veil of silence.Though such storms raged on either hand, though the twofold tempest buffeted the torn empire on this side and on that, no whit did our consul’s courage yield to weariness, but ever watchful against threatening doom and soon to win prosperous issue, shone greater amid dangers: as the ship’s pilot, tossed in mid Aegean by the storms of rainy Orion, eludes the waves’ buffeting by the least turn of the tiller, skilfully guiding his vessel now on straight, now on slanting course, and struggles successfully against the conjoint fury of sea and sky.At what, Stilicho, shall I first marvel? At the providence that resisted all intrigues, whereby no treacherous missive, no bribe-fraught hand escaped thy notice? Or because that amid the general terror thou spakest no word unworthy of Latium? Or because thou didst ever give haughty answer to the East and later made that answer[192]Africa belonged to the West. Gildo, in the words of Zosimus (v. 11. 2), ἀφίστησι τήν χῶραν τῆς Ὁνωρίου βασιλείας καὶ τῇ Ἀρκαδίου προστίθησιν.

[385]

Yet Porus was defeated by Alexander, Memnon by Achilles, and Gildo by thee.

It was not, however, only the South that fierce Mars aroused but also the East. Though loyalty cried out against it Gildo had transferred the nominal rule of Libya to the Eastern empire, cloaking his base treason under the name of legitimate government.[192]Thus with diverse terror a twofold war arose; here were arms, there were wiles. Africa supported the one with her savage tribes, the other the conspiring East nurtured with treachery. From Byzantium came edicts to subvert the loyalty of governors; from Africa that refused her crops black famine pressed and had beleaguered trembling Rome. Libya openly meditated our destruction; over the civic strife shame had laid her veil of silence.

Though such storms raged on either hand, though the twofold tempest buffeted the torn empire on this side and on that, no whit did our consul’s courage yield to weariness, but ever watchful against threatening doom and soon to win prosperous issue, shone greater amid dangers: as the ship’s pilot, tossed in mid Aegean by the storms of rainy Orion, eludes the waves’ buffeting by the least turn of the tiller, skilfully guiding his vessel now on straight, now on slanting course, and struggles successfully against the conjoint fury of sea and sky.

At what, Stilicho, shall I first marvel? At the providence that resisted all intrigues, whereby no treacherous missive, no bribe-fraught hand escaped thy notice? Or because that amid the general terror thou spakest no word unworthy of Latium? Or because thou didst ever give haughty answer to the East and later made that answer

[192]Africa belonged to the West. Gildo, in the words of Zosimus (v. 11. 2), ἀφίστησι τήν χῶραν τῆς Ὁνωρίου βασιλείας καὶ τῇ Ἀρκαδίου προστίθησιν.

[386]securus, quamvis et opes et rura tenerentinsignesque domos? levis haec iactura; nec umquampublica privatae cesserunt commoda causae.dividis ingentes curas teque omnibus unum300obicis, inveniens animo quae mente gerenda,efficiens patranda manu, dictare paratusquae scriptis peragenda forent. quae brachia centum,quis Briareus aliis numero crescente lacertistot simul obiectis posset confligere rebus:305evitare dolos; veteres firmare cohortes,explorare novas; duplices disponere classes,quae fruges aut bella ferant; aulaeque tumultumet Romae lenire famem? quot nube soporisinmunes oculi per tot discurrere partes,310tot loca sufficerent et tam longinqua tueri?Argum fama canit centeno lumine cinctumcorporis excubiis unam servasse iuvencam!Unde tot adlatae segetes? quae silva carinastexuit? unde rudis tanto tirone iuventus315emicuit senioque iterum vernante resumpsitGallia bis fractas Alpino vulnere vires?non ego dilectu, Tyrii sed vomere Cadmitam subitas acies concepto dente draconisexiluisse reor: Dircaeis qualis in arvis320messis cum proprio mox bellatura colonocognatos strinxit gladios, cum semine iactoterrigenae galea matrem nascente ferirent[387]good? They held thy goods, thy lands, thy houses, yet wast thou unmoved. This thou didst account a trifling loss nor ever preferred private to public interest. Thy mighty task thou dost parcel out, yet dost thou face it all alone, debating the problems that must needs be thought out, acting where deeds are called for, ever ready to dictate where aught is to be accomplished by writing. What hundred-handed monster, what Briareus, whose arms ever grew more numerous as they were lopped off, could cope with all these things at once? To avoid the snares of treachery, to strengthen existing regiments and enroll new ones, to equip two fleets, one of corn-ships, one of men-of-war, to quell the tumult of the court and alleviate the hunger of the Roman populace—what eyes, never visited by the veil of sleep, have had the strength to turn their gaze in so many directions and over so many lands or to pierce so far? Fame tells how Argus girt with a hundred eyes could guard but one heifer with his body’s watch.Whence comes this mass of corn? What forest fashioned all those vessels? Whence has sprung this untutored army with all its young recruits? Whence has Gaul, its age once more at the spring, won back the strength that Alpine blows twice shattered[193]? Methinks ’tis no levy but the ploughshare of the Phoenician Cadmus that has raised up thus suddenly a host sprung from the sowing of the dragon’s teeth; ’tis like the crop that in the fields of Thebes drew the sword of kin in threatened battle with its own sower when, the seed once sown, the earth-born giants clave the earth, their mother’s womb, with their springing helms and a harvest of[193]In the wars against, respectively, Eugenius and the Goths.

[386]

securus, quamvis et opes et rura tenerentinsignesque domos? levis haec iactura; nec umquampublica privatae cesserunt commoda causae.dividis ingentes curas teque omnibus unum300obicis, inveniens animo quae mente gerenda,efficiens patranda manu, dictare paratusquae scriptis peragenda forent. quae brachia centum,quis Briareus aliis numero crescente lacertistot simul obiectis posset confligere rebus:305evitare dolos; veteres firmare cohortes,explorare novas; duplices disponere classes,quae fruges aut bella ferant; aulaeque tumultumet Romae lenire famem? quot nube soporisinmunes oculi per tot discurrere partes,310tot loca sufficerent et tam longinqua tueri?Argum fama canit centeno lumine cinctumcorporis excubiis unam servasse iuvencam!Unde tot adlatae segetes? quae silva carinastexuit? unde rudis tanto tirone iuventus315emicuit senioque iterum vernante resumpsitGallia bis fractas Alpino vulnere vires?non ego dilectu, Tyrii sed vomere Cadmitam subitas acies concepto dente draconisexiluisse reor: Dircaeis qualis in arvis320messis cum proprio mox bellatura colonocognatos strinxit gladios, cum semine iactoterrigenae galea matrem nascente ferirent

securus, quamvis et opes et rura tenerent

insignesque domos? levis haec iactura; nec umquam

publica privatae cesserunt commoda causae.

dividis ingentes curas teque omnibus unum300

obicis, inveniens animo quae mente gerenda,

efficiens patranda manu, dictare paratus

quae scriptis peragenda forent. quae brachia centum,

quis Briareus aliis numero crescente lacertis

tot simul obiectis posset confligere rebus:305

evitare dolos; veteres firmare cohortes,

explorare novas; duplices disponere classes,

quae fruges aut bella ferant; aulaeque tumultum

et Romae lenire famem? quot nube soporis

inmunes oculi per tot discurrere partes,310

tot loca sufficerent et tam longinqua tueri?

Argum fama canit centeno lumine cinctum

corporis excubiis unam servasse iuvencam!

Unde tot adlatae segetes? quae silva carinas

texuit? unde rudis tanto tirone iuventus315

emicuit senioque iterum vernante resumpsit

Gallia bis fractas Alpino vulnere vires?

non ego dilectu, Tyrii sed vomere Cadmi

tam subitas acies concepto dente draconis

exiluisse reor: Dircaeis qualis in arvis320

messis cum proprio mox bellatura colono

cognatos strinxit gladios, cum semine iacto

terrigenae galea matrem nascente ferirent

[387]good? They held thy goods, thy lands, thy houses, yet wast thou unmoved. This thou didst account a trifling loss nor ever preferred private to public interest. Thy mighty task thou dost parcel out, yet dost thou face it all alone, debating the problems that must needs be thought out, acting where deeds are called for, ever ready to dictate where aught is to be accomplished by writing. What hundred-handed monster, what Briareus, whose arms ever grew more numerous as they were lopped off, could cope with all these things at once? To avoid the snares of treachery, to strengthen existing regiments and enroll new ones, to equip two fleets, one of corn-ships, one of men-of-war, to quell the tumult of the court and alleviate the hunger of the Roman populace—what eyes, never visited by the veil of sleep, have had the strength to turn their gaze in so many directions and over so many lands or to pierce so far? Fame tells how Argus girt with a hundred eyes could guard but one heifer with his body’s watch.Whence comes this mass of corn? What forest fashioned all those vessels? Whence has sprung this untutored army with all its young recruits? Whence has Gaul, its age once more at the spring, won back the strength that Alpine blows twice shattered[193]? Methinks ’tis no levy but the ploughshare of the Phoenician Cadmus that has raised up thus suddenly a host sprung from the sowing of the dragon’s teeth; ’tis like the crop that in the fields of Thebes drew the sword of kin in threatened battle with its own sower when, the seed once sown, the earth-born giants clave the earth, their mother’s womb, with their springing helms and a harvest of[193]In the wars against, respectively, Eugenius and the Goths.

[387]

good? They held thy goods, thy lands, thy houses, yet wast thou unmoved. This thou didst account a trifling loss nor ever preferred private to public interest. Thy mighty task thou dost parcel out, yet dost thou face it all alone, debating the problems that must needs be thought out, acting where deeds are called for, ever ready to dictate where aught is to be accomplished by writing. What hundred-handed monster, what Briareus, whose arms ever grew more numerous as they were lopped off, could cope with all these things at once? To avoid the snares of treachery, to strengthen existing regiments and enroll new ones, to equip two fleets, one of corn-ships, one of men-of-war, to quell the tumult of the court and alleviate the hunger of the Roman populace—what eyes, never visited by the veil of sleep, have had the strength to turn their gaze in so many directions and over so many lands or to pierce so far? Fame tells how Argus girt with a hundred eyes could guard but one heifer with his body’s watch.

Whence comes this mass of corn? What forest fashioned all those vessels? Whence has sprung this untutored army with all its young recruits? Whence has Gaul, its age once more at the spring, won back the strength that Alpine blows twice shattered[193]? Methinks ’tis no levy but the ploughshare of the Phoenician Cadmus that has raised up thus suddenly a host sprung from the sowing of the dragon’s teeth; ’tis like the crop that in the fields of Thebes drew the sword of kin in threatened battle with its own sower when, the seed once sown, the earth-born giants clave the earth, their mother’s womb, with their springing helms and a harvest of

[193]In the wars against, respectively, Eugenius and the Goths.

[388]armifer et viridi floreret milite sulcus.hoc quoque non parva fas est cum laude relinqui,325quod non ante fretis exercitus adstitit ultor,ordine quam prisco censeret bella senatus.neglectum Stilicho per tot iam saecula moremrettulit, ut ducibus mandarent proelia patresdecretoque togae felix legionibus iret330tessera. Romuleas leges rediisse fatemur,cum procerum iussis famulantia cernimus arma.Tyrrhenum poteras cunctis transmittere signiset ratibus Syrtes, Libyam complere maniplis;consilio stetit ira minor, ne territus ille335te duce suspecto Martis graviore paratuaut in harenosos aestus zonamque rubentemtenderet aut solis fugiens transiret in ortusmissurusve sibi certae solacia mortisoppida dirueret flammis. res mira relatu:340ne timeare times et, quem vindicta manebat,desperare vetas. quantum fiducia nobisprofuit! hostilis salvae Carthaginis arces;inlaesis Tyrii gaudent cultoribus agri,quos potuit vastare fuga. spe captus inani345nec se subripuit poenae nostrisque pepercit:demens, qui numero tantum, non robore mensusRomanos rapidis ibat ceu protinus omnescalcaturus equis et, quod iactare solebat,solibus effetos mersurus pulvere Gallos.350[389]young soldiery burgeoned along the armèd furrows. This too must not be passed over without full meed of praise, that the avenging expedition did not embark until the senate had, in accordance with antique usage, declared war. Stilicho re-established this custom, neglected for so many ages, that the Fathers should give generals charge to fight, and by decree of the toga-clad Senate the battle-token pass auspiciously among the legions. We acknowledge that the laws of Romulus have now returned when we see arms obedient to our ministers.Thou couldst have filled the Tyrrhene sea with all thy standards, the Syrtes with thy fleet and Libya with thy battalions, but wrath was stayed o’ercome by prudent fear lest Gildo, terrified at the thought that thou wast in arms against him and suspecting that thy forces were of overwhelming strength, might retire into the hot desert and the torrid zone, or travel east in flight or, to console him for the certainty of death, might destroy his cities with fire. Marvellous it is to tell: thou wast fearful of being feared and forbade him to despair whom thy vengeance awaited. How greatly was his confidence our gain! Safe are the towers of hostile Carthage, and the Phoenician fields rejoice in their unharmed husbandmen, fields he might have laid waste in his flight. Deluded by a vain hope he spared what was ours without escaping chastisement for himself. Madman, to measure Rome by the numbers instead of the valour of her soldiers! He advanced as though he would ride them all down by means of his fleet cavalry and, as he often boasted, would overwhelm in the dust the Gauls enervated by the sun’s heat. But he soon learned that neither wounds

[388]

armifer et viridi floreret milite sulcus.hoc quoque non parva fas est cum laude relinqui,325quod non ante fretis exercitus adstitit ultor,ordine quam prisco censeret bella senatus.neglectum Stilicho per tot iam saecula moremrettulit, ut ducibus mandarent proelia patresdecretoque togae felix legionibus iret330tessera. Romuleas leges rediisse fatemur,cum procerum iussis famulantia cernimus arma.Tyrrhenum poteras cunctis transmittere signiset ratibus Syrtes, Libyam complere maniplis;consilio stetit ira minor, ne territus ille335te duce suspecto Martis graviore paratuaut in harenosos aestus zonamque rubentemtenderet aut solis fugiens transiret in ortusmissurusve sibi certae solacia mortisoppida dirueret flammis. res mira relatu:340ne timeare times et, quem vindicta manebat,desperare vetas. quantum fiducia nobisprofuit! hostilis salvae Carthaginis arces;inlaesis Tyrii gaudent cultoribus agri,quos potuit vastare fuga. spe captus inani345nec se subripuit poenae nostrisque pepercit:demens, qui numero tantum, non robore mensusRomanos rapidis ibat ceu protinus omnescalcaturus equis et, quod iactare solebat,solibus effetos mersurus pulvere Gallos.350

armifer et viridi floreret milite sulcus.

hoc quoque non parva fas est cum laude relinqui,325

quod non ante fretis exercitus adstitit ultor,

ordine quam prisco censeret bella senatus.

neglectum Stilicho per tot iam saecula morem

rettulit, ut ducibus mandarent proelia patres

decretoque togae felix legionibus iret330

tessera. Romuleas leges rediisse fatemur,

cum procerum iussis famulantia cernimus arma.

Tyrrhenum poteras cunctis transmittere signis

et ratibus Syrtes, Libyam complere maniplis;

consilio stetit ira minor, ne territus ille335

te duce suspecto Martis graviore paratu

aut in harenosos aestus zonamque rubentem

tenderet aut solis fugiens transiret in ortus

missurusve sibi certae solacia mortis

oppida dirueret flammis. res mira relatu:340

ne timeare times et, quem vindicta manebat,

desperare vetas. quantum fiducia nobis

profuit! hostilis salvae Carthaginis arces;

inlaesis Tyrii gaudent cultoribus agri,

quos potuit vastare fuga. spe captus inani345

nec se subripuit poenae nostrisque pepercit:

demens, qui numero tantum, non robore mensus

Romanos rapidis ibat ceu protinus omnes

calcaturus equis et, quod iactare solebat,

solibus effetos mersurus pulvere Gallos.350

[389]young soldiery burgeoned along the armèd furrows. This too must not be passed over without full meed of praise, that the avenging expedition did not embark until the senate had, in accordance with antique usage, declared war. Stilicho re-established this custom, neglected for so many ages, that the Fathers should give generals charge to fight, and by decree of the toga-clad Senate the battle-token pass auspiciously among the legions. We acknowledge that the laws of Romulus have now returned when we see arms obedient to our ministers.Thou couldst have filled the Tyrrhene sea with all thy standards, the Syrtes with thy fleet and Libya with thy battalions, but wrath was stayed o’ercome by prudent fear lest Gildo, terrified at the thought that thou wast in arms against him and suspecting that thy forces were of overwhelming strength, might retire into the hot desert and the torrid zone, or travel east in flight or, to console him for the certainty of death, might destroy his cities with fire. Marvellous it is to tell: thou wast fearful of being feared and forbade him to despair whom thy vengeance awaited. How greatly was his confidence our gain! Safe are the towers of hostile Carthage, and the Phoenician fields rejoice in their unharmed husbandmen, fields he might have laid waste in his flight. Deluded by a vain hope he spared what was ours without escaping chastisement for himself. Madman, to measure Rome by the numbers instead of the valour of her soldiers! He advanced as though he would ride them all down by means of his fleet cavalry and, as he often boasted, would overwhelm in the dust the Gauls enervated by the sun’s heat. But he soon learned that neither wounds

[389]

young soldiery burgeoned along the armèd furrows. This too must not be passed over without full meed of praise, that the avenging expedition did not embark until the senate had, in accordance with antique usage, declared war. Stilicho re-established this custom, neglected for so many ages, that the Fathers should give generals charge to fight, and by decree of the toga-clad Senate the battle-token pass auspiciously among the legions. We acknowledge that the laws of Romulus have now returned when we see arms obedient to our ministers.

Thou couldst have filled the Tyrrhene sea with all thy standards, the Syrtes with thy fleet and Libya with thy battalions, but wrath was stayed o’ercome by prudent fear lest Gildo, terrified at the thought that thou wast in arms against him and suspecting that thy forces were of overwhelming strength, might retire into the hot desert and the torrid zone, or travel east in flight or, to console him for the certainty of death, might destroy his cities with fire. Marvellous it is to tell: thou wast fearful of being feared and forbade him to despair whom thy vengeance awaited. How greatly was his confidence our gain! Safe are the towers of hostile Carthage, and the Phoenician fields rejoice in their unharmed husbandmen, fields he might have laid waste in his flight. Deluded by a vain hope he spared what was ours without escaping chastisement for himself. Madman, to measure Rome by the numbers instead of the valour of her soldiers! He advanced as though he would ride them all down by means of his fleet cavalry and, as he often boasted, would overwhelm in the dust the Gauls enervated by the sun’s heat. But he soon learned that neither wounds

[390]Sed didicit non Aethiopum geminata venenisvulnera, non fusum crebris hastilibus imbrem,non equitum nimbos Latiis obsistere pilis.sternitur ignavus Nasamon, nec spicula supplexiam torquet Garamas; repetunt deserta fugaces355Autololes; pavidus proiecit missile Mazax.cornipedem Maurus nequiquam hortatur anhelum;praedonem lembo profugum ventisque repulsumsuscepit merito fatalis Tabraca portuexpertum quod nulla tuis elementa paterent360hostibus, et laetae passurum iurgia plebisfracturumque reos humili sub iudice vultus.Nil tribuat Fortuna sibi. sit prospera semperilla quidem; sed non uni certamina pugnaecredidimus totis nec constitit alea castris365nutatura semel; si quid licuisset iniquiscasibus, instabant aliae post terga biremes;venturus dux maior erat.Victoria nullaclarior aut hominum votis optatior umquamcontigit. an quisquam Tigranen armaque Ponti370vel Pyrrhum Antiochique fugam vel vincla Iugurthaeconferat aut Persen debellatumque Philippum?hi propagandi ruerant pro limite regni;hic stabat Romana salus. ibi tempora tutotraxerunt dilata moras; hic vincere tarde375vinci paene fuit. discrimine Roma supremointer supplicium populi deforme pependit;et tantum Libyam fructu maiore recepitquam peperit, quantum graviorem amissa doloremquam necdum quaesita movent. quis Punica gesta,[391]made more deadly by the poisoned arrow of Ethiopia nor thick hail of javelins nor clouds of horsemen can withstand Latin spears. The cowardly Nasamonian troops are scattered, the Garamantian hurls not his spears but begs for mercy, the swift-footed Autololes fly to the desert, the terror-stricken Mazacian flings away his arms, in vain the Moor urges on his flagging steed. The brigand flees in a small boat and driven back by the winds met with his just fate in the harbour of Tabraca, discovering that no element offered refuge, Stilicho, to thine enemies. There he was destined to undergo the insults of the overjoyed populace and to bow his guilty head before a lowly judgement-seat.Let not Fortune claim aught for herself. Let her be ever favourable; but we trusted not the issue to a single fight, nor was the hazard set with all our force to be lost at a single throw. Had hard chance at all prevailed, a second fleet pressed on behind, a greater leader was yet to come.Never was a more famous victory nor one that was the object of more heart-felt prayers. Will anyone compare with this the defeat of Tigranes, of the king of Pontus, the flight of Pyrrhus or Antiochus, the capture of Jugurtha, the overthrow of Perses or Philip? Their fall meant but the enlargement of the empire’s bounds; on Gildo’s depended the very existence of Rome. In those cases delay entailed no ill; in this a late-won victory was all but a defeat. On this supreme issue, while leanness racked her people, hung the fate of Rome; and to win back Libya was a greater gain than its first conquest, even as to lose a possession stirs a heavier pain than never to have had it. Who would

[390]

Sed didicit non Aethiopum geminata venenisvulnera, non fusum crebris hastilibus imbrem,non equitum nimbos Latiis obsistere pilis.sternitur ignavus Nasamon, nec spicula supplexiam torquet Garamas; repetunt deserta fugaces355Autololes; pavidus proiecit missile Mazax.cornipedem Maurus nequiquam hortatur anhelum;praedonem lembo profugum ventisque repulsumsuscepit merito fatalis Tabraca portuexpertum quod nulla tuis elementa paterent360hostibus, et laetae passurum iurgia plebisfracturumque reos humili sub iudice vultus.Nil tribuat Fortuna sibi. sit prospera semperilla quidem; sed non uni certamina pugnaecredidimus totis nec constitit alea castris365nutatura semel; si quid licuisset iniquiscasibus, instabant aliae post terga biremes;venturus dux maior erat.Victoria nullaclarior aut hominum votis optatior umquamcontigit. an quisquam Tigranen armaque Ponti370vel Pyrrhum Antiochique fugam vel vincla Iugurthaeconferat aut Persen debellatumque Philippum?hi propagandi ruerant pro limite regni;hic stabat Romana salus. ibi tempora tutotraxerunt dilata moras; hic vincere tarde375vinci paene fuit. discrimine Roma supremointer supplicium populi deforme pependit;et tantum Libyam fructu maiore recepitquam peperit, quantum graviorem amissa doloremquam necdum quaesita movent. quis Punica gesta,

Sed didicit non Aethiopum geminata venenis

vulnera, non fusum crebris hastilibus imbrem,

non equitum nimbos Latiis obsistere pilis.

sternitur ignavus Nasamon, nec spicula supplex

iam torquet Garamas; repetunt deserta fugaces355

Autololes; pavidus proiecit missile Mazax.

cornipedem Maurus nequiquam hortatur anhelum;

praedonem lembo profugum ventisque repulsum

suscepit merito fatalis Tabraca portu

expertum quod nulla tuis elementa paterent360

hostibus, et laetae passurum iurgia plebis

fracturumque reos humili sub iudice vultus.

Nil tribuat Fortuna sibi. sit prospera semper

illa quidem; sed non uni certamina pugnae

credidimus totis nec constitit alea castris365

nutatura semel; si quid licuisset iniquis

casibus, instabant aliae post terga biremes;

venturus dux maior erat.

Victoria nulla

clarior aut hominum votis optatior umquam

contigit. an quisquam Tigranen armaque Ponti370

vel Pyrrhum Antiochique fugam vel vincla Iugurthae

conferat aut Persen debellatumque Philippum?

hi propagandi ruerant pro limite regni;

hic stabat Romana salus. ibi tempora tuto

traxerunt dilata moras; hic vincere tarde375

vinci paene fuit. discrimine Roma supremo

inter supplicium populi deforme pependit;

et tantum Libyam fructu maiore recepit

quam peperit, quantum graviorem amissa dolorem

quam necdum quaesita movent. quis Punica gesta,

[391]made more deadly by the poisoned arrow of Ethiopia nor thick hail of javelins nor clouds of horsemen can withstand Latin spears. The cowardly Nasamonian troops are scattered, the Garamantian hurls not his spears but begs for mercy, the swift-footed Autololes fly to the desert, the terror-stricken Mazacian flings away his arms, in vain the Moor urges on his flagging steed. The brigand flees in a small boat and driven back by the winds met with his just fate in the harbour of Tabraca, discovering that no element offered refuge, Stilicho, to thine enemies. There he was destined to undergo the insults of the overjoyed populace and to bow his guilty head before a lowly judgement-seat.Let not Fortune claim aught for herself. Let her be ever favourable; but we trusted not the issue to a single fight, nor was the hazard set with all our force to be lost at a single throw. Had hard chance at all prevailed, a second fleet pressed on behind, a greater leader was yet to come.Never was a more famous victory nor one that was the object of more heart-felt prayers. Will anyone compare with this the defeat of Tigranes, of the king of Pontus, the flight of Pyrrhus or Antiochus, the capture of Jugurtha, the overthrow of Perses or Philip? Their fall meant but the enlargement of the empire’s bounds; on Gildo’s depended the very existence of Rome. In those cases delay entailed no ill; in this a late-won victory was all but a defeat. On this supreme issue, while leanness racked her people, hung the fate of Rome; and to win back Libya was a greater gain than its first conquest, even as to lose a possession stirs a heavier pain than never to have had it. Who would

[391]

made more deadly by the poisoned arrow of Ethiopia nor thick hail of javelins nor clouds of horsemen can withstand Latin spears. The cowardly Nasamonian troops are scattered, the Garamantian hurls not his spears but begs for mercy, the swift-footed Autololes fly to the desert, the terror-stricken Mazacian flings away his arms, in vain the Moor urges on his flagging steed. The brigand flees in a small boat and driven back by the winds met with his just fate in the harbour of Tabraca, discovering that no element offered refuge, Stilicho, to thine enemies. There he was destined to undergo the insults of the overjoyed populace and to bow his guilty head before a lowly judgement-seat.

Let not Fortune claim aught for herself. Let her be ever favourable; but we trusted not the issue to a single fight, nor was the hazard set with all our force to be lost at a single throw. Had hard chance at all prevailed, a second fleet pressed on behind, a greater leader was yet to come.

Never was a more famous victory nor one that was the object of more heart-felt prayers. Will anyone compare with this the defeat of Tigranes, of the king of Pontus, the flight of Pyrrhus or Antiochus, the capture of Jugurtha, the overthrow of Perses or Philip? Their fall meant but the enlargement of the empire’s bounds; on Gildo’s depended the very existence of Rome. In those cases delay entailed no ill; in this a late-won victory was all but a defeat. On this supreme issue, while leanness racked her people, hung the fate of Rome; and to win back Libya was a greater gain than its first conquest, even as to lose a possession stirs a heavier pain than never to have had it. Who would

[392]quis vos, Scipiadae, quis te iam, Regule, nosset,380quis lentum caneret Fabium, si iure peremptoinsultaret atrox famula Carthagine Maurus?haec omnes veterum revocavit adorea lauros;restituit Stilicho cunctos tibi, Roma, triumphos.385[393]now be telling of the Punic wars, of you, ye Scipios, or of thee, Regulus; who would sing of cautious Fabius, if, destroying right, the fierce Moor were trampling on an enslaved Carthage? This victory, Rome, has revived the laurels of thy heroes of old; Stilicho has restored to thee all thy triumphs.

[392]

quis vos, Scipiadae, quis te iam, Regule, nosset,380quis lentum caneret Fabium, si iure peremptoinsultaret atrox famula Carthagine Maurus?haec omnes veterum revocavit adorea lauros;restituit Stilicho cunctos tibi, Roma, triumphos.385

quis vos, Scipiadae, quis te iam, Regule, nosset,380

quis lentum caneret Fabium, si iure perempto

insultaret atrox famula Carthagine Maurus?

haec omnes veterum revocavit adorea lauros;

restituit Stilicho cunctos tibi, Roma, triumphos.385

[393]now be telling of the Punic wars, of you, ye Scipios, or of thee, Regulus; who would sing of cautious Fabius, if, destroying right, the fierce Moor were trampling on an enslaved Carthage? This victory, Rome, has revived the laurels of thy heroes of old; Stilicho has restored to thee all thy triumphs.

[393]

now be telling of the Punic wars, of you, ye Scipios, or of thee, Regulus; who would sing of cautious Fabius, if, destroying right, the fierce Moor were trampling on an enslaved Carthage? This victory, Rome, has revived the laurels of thy heroes of old; Stilicho has restored to thee all thy triumphs.

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