Chapter 8

[154]tot Galatae, tot Pontus eat, tot Lydia nummis;si Lyciam tenuisse velis, tot millia ponas,si Phrygas, adde; parum! propriae solacia sorti205communes vult esse notas et venditus ipsevendere cuncta cupit. certantum saepe duorumdiversum suspendit onus; cum pondere indexvergit, et in geminas nutat provincia lances.Non pudet heu, superi, populos venire sub hasta?vendentis certe pudeat, quod iure sepultum211mancipium tot regna tenet, tot distrahit urbes.pollentem solio Croesum victoria Cyrifregit, ut eunucho flueret Pactolus et Hermus?Attalus heredem voluit te, Roma, relinqui,215restitit Antiochus praescripto margine Tauri,indomitos curru Servilius egit Isauroset Pharos Augusto iacuit vel Creta Metello,ne non Eutropio quaestus numerosior esset?in mercem veniunt Cilices, Iudaea, Sophene220Romanusque labor Pompeianique triumphi.Quo struis hos auri cumulos? quae pignora tantissuccedent opibus? nubas ducasve licebit:numquam mater eris, numquam pater; hoc tibi ferrum,hoc natura negat. te grandibus India gemmis,225te foliis Arabes ditent, te vellere Seres:nullus inops adeo, nullum sic urget egestas,ut velit Eutropii fortunam et membra pacisci.Iamque oblita sui nec sobria divitiis mens[155]prices: so much for Galatia, for Pontus so much, so much will buy one Lydia. Would you govern Lycia? Then lay down so many thousands. Phrygia? A little more. He wishes everything to be marked with its price to console him for his own fortune and, himself so often sold, he wants to sell everything. When two are rivals he suspends in the balance their opposed payment; along with the weight the judge inclines, and a province hangs wavering in a pair of scales.Ye gods, are ye not ashamed that whole peoples are sold beneath the hammer? At least let it shame you of the seller, when a slave, a chattel the law counts dead, possesses so many kingdoms and retails so many cities. Did Cyrus’ victory oust mighty Croesus from his throne that Pactolus and Hermus should roll their waves for a eunuch? Did Attalus make you, Rome, his heir, was Antiochus confined within the appointed bounds of Taurus, did Servilius enjoy a triumph over the hitherto unconquered Isaurians, did Egypt fall before Augustus, and Crete before Metellus, to ensure Eutropius a sufficient income?[90]Cilicia, Judaea, Sophene, all Rome’s labours and Pompey’s triumphs, are there to sell.Why heap up these riches? Hast thou children to succeed to them? Marry or be married, thou canst never be a mother or a father: the former nature hath denied thee, the latter the surgeon’s knife. India may enrich thee with enormous jewels, Arabia with her spices, China with her silks; none so needy, none so poverty-stricken as to wish to have Eutropius’ fortune and therewith Eutropius’ body.And now his mind, forgetful of its true nature and[90]Attalus, King of Pergamum, left his kingdom by will to Rome, 133B.C.It became the province of Asia. The terms mentioned here were imposed on Antiochus, King of Syria, in 189B.C.P. Servilius crossed the Taurus and subdued the Isauri 78B.C.; Crete was conquered by Q. Metellus between 68 and 66B.C.

[154]

tot Galatae, tot Pontus eat, tot Lydia nummis;si Lyciam tenuisse velis, tot millia ponas,si Phrygas, adde; parum! propriae solacia sorti205communes vult esse notas et venditus ipsevendere cuncta cupit. certantum saepe duorumdiversum suspendit onus; cum pondere indexvergit, et in geminas nutat provincia lances.Non pudet heu, superi, populos venire sub hasta?vendentis certe pudeat, quod iure sepultum211mancipium tot regna tenet, tot distrahit urbes.pollentem solio Croesum victoria Cyrifregit, ut eunucho flueret Pactolus et Hermus?Attalus heredem voluit te, Roma, relinqui,215restitit Antiochus praescripto margine Tauri,indomitos curru Servilius egit Isauroset Pharos Augusto iacuit vel Creta Metello,ne non Eutropio quaestus numerosior esset?in mercem veniunt Cilices, Iudaea, Sophene220Romanusque labor Pompeianique triumphi.Quo struis hos auri cumulos? quae pignora tantissuccedent opibus? nubas ducasve licebit:numquam mater eris, numquam pater; hoc tibi ferrum,hoc natura negat. te grandibus India gemmis,225te foliis Arabes ditent, te vellere Seres:nullus inops adeo, nullum sic urget egestas,ut velit Eutropii fortunam et membra pacisci.Iamque oblita sui nec sobria divitiis mens

tot Galatae, tot Pontus eat, tot Lydia nummis;

si Lyciam tenuisse velis, tot millia ponas,

si Phrygas, adde; parum! propriae solacia sorti205

communes vult esse notas et venditus ipse

vendere cuncta cupit. certantum saepe duorum

diversum suspendit onus; cum pondere index

vergit, et in geminas nutat provincia lances.

Non pudet heu, superi, populos venire sub hasta?

vendentis certe pudeat, quod iure sepultum211

mancipium tot regna tenet, tot distrahit urbes.

pollentem solio Croesum victoria Cyri

fregit, ut eunucho flueret Pactolus et Hermus?

Attalus heredem voluit te, Roma, relinqui,215

restitit Antiochus praescripto margine Tauri,

indomitos curru Servilius egit Isauros

et Pharos Augusto iacuit vel Creta Metello,

ne non Eutropio quaestus numerosior esset?

in mercem veniunt Cilices, Iudaea, Sophene220

Romanusque labor Pompeianique triumphi.

Quo struis hos auri cumulos? quae pignora tantis

succedent opibus? nubas ducasve licebit:

numquam mater eris, numquam pater; hoc tibi ferrum,

hoc natura negat. te grandibus India gemmis,225

te foliis Arabes ditent, te vellere Seres:

nullus inops adeo, nullum sic urget egestas,

ut velit Eutropii fortunam et membra pacisci.

Iamque oblita sui nec sobria divitiis mens

[155]prices: so much for Galatia, for Pontus so much, so much will buy one Lydia. Would you govern Lycia? Then lay down so many thousands. Phrygia? A little more. He wishes everything to be marked with its price to console him for his own fortune and, himself so often sold, he wants to sell everything. When two are rivals he suspends in the balance their opposed payment; along with the weight the judge inclines, and a province hangs wavering in a pair of scales.Ye gods, are ye not ashamed that whole peoples are sold beneath the hammer? At least let it shame you of the seller, when a slave, a chattel the law counts dead, possesses so many kingdoms and retails so many cities. Did Cyrus’ victory oust mighty Croesus from his throne that Pactolus and Hermus should roll their waves for a eunuch? Did Attalus make you, Rome, his heir, was Antiochus confined within the appointed bounds of Taurus, did Servilius enjoy a triumph over the hitherto unconquered Isaurians, did Egypt fall before Augustus, and Crete before Metellus, to ensure Eutropius a sufficient income?[90]Cilicia, Judaea, Sophene, all Rome’s labours and Pompey’s triumphs, are there to sell.Why heap up these riches? Hast thou children to succeed to them? Marry or be married, thou canst never be a mother or a father: the former nature hath denied thee, the latter the surgeon’s knife. India may enrich thee with enormous jewels, Arabia with her spices, China with her silks; none so needy, none so poverty-stricken as to wish to have Eutropius’ fortune and therewith Eutropius’ body.And now his mind, forgetful of its true nature and[90]Attalus, King of Pergamum, left his kingdom by will to Rome, 133B.C.It became the province of Asia. The terms mentioned here were imposed on Antiochus, King of Syria, in 189B.C.P. Servilius crossed the Taurus and subdued the Isauri 78B.C.; Crete was conquered by Q. Metellus between 68 and 66B.C.

[155]

prices: so much for Galatia, for Pontus so much, so much will buy one Lydia. Would you govern Lycia? Then lay down so many thousands. Phrygia? A little more. He wishes everything to be marked with its price to console him for his own fortune and, himself so often sold, he wants to sell everything. When two are rivals he suspends in the balance their opposed payment; along with the weight the judge inclines, and a province hangs wavering in a pair of scales.

Ye gods, are ye not ashamed that whole peoples are sold beneath the hammer? At least let it shame you of the seller, when a slave, a chattel the law counts dead, possesses so many kingdoms and retails so many cities. Did Cyrus’ victory oust mighty Croesus from his throne that Pactolus and Hermus should roll their waves for a eunuch? Did Attalus make you, Rome, his heir, was Antiochus confined within the appointed bounds of Taurus, did Servilius enjoy a triumph over the hitherto unconquered Isaurians, did Egypt fall before Augustus, and Crete before Metellus, to ensure Eutropius a sufficient income?[90]Cilicia, Judaea, Sophene, all Rome’s labours and Pompey’s triumphs, are there to sell.

Why heap up these riches? Hast thou children to succeed to them? Marry or be married, thou canst never be a mother or a father: the former nature hath denied thee, the latter the surgeon’s knife. India may enrich thee with enormous jewels, Arabia with her spices, China with her silks; none so needy, none so poverty-stricken as to wish to have Eutropius’ fortune and therewith Eutropius’ body.

And now his mind, forgetful of its true nature and

[90]Attalus, King of Pergamum, left his kingdom by will to Rome, 133B.C.It became the province of Asia. The terms mentioned here were imposed on Antiochus, King of Syria, in 189B.C.P. Servilius crossed the Taurus and subdued the Isauri 78B.C.; Crete was conquered by Q. Metellus between 68 and 66B.C.

[156]in miseras leges hominumque negotia ludit.230iudicat eunuchus; quid iam de consule miror?prodigium, quodcumque gerit. quae pagina litessic actas meminit? quibus umquam saecula terriseunuchi videre forum? sed ne qua vacaretpars ignominia neu quid restaret inausum,235arma etiam violare parat portentaque monstrisaggerat et secum petulans amentia certat.erubuit Mavors aversaque risit Enyodedecus Eoum, quotiens intenta sagittiset pharetra fulgens anus exercetur Amazon240arbiter aut quotiens belli pacisque recurritadloquiturque Getas. gaudet cum viderit hostiset sentit iam deesse viros. incendia fumant,muris nulla fides, squalent populatibus agriet medio spes sola mari. trans Phasin aguntur245Cappadocum matres, stabulisque abducta paternisCaucasias captiva bibunt armenta pruinaset Scythicis mutant Argaei pabula silvis.extra Cimmerias, Taurorum claustra, paludesflos Syriae servit. spoliis nec sufficit atrox250barbarus: in caedem vertunt fastidia praedae.Ille tamen (quid enim servum mollemque pudebit?aut quid in hoc poterit vultu flagrare ruboris?)pro victore redit: peditum vexilla sequunturet turmae similes eunuchorumque manipli,255Hellespontiacis legio dignissima signis.obvius ire cliens defensoremque reversumcomplecti. placet ipse sibi laxasque laborat[157]drunken with riches, makes sport of wretched law and the affairs of men. A eunuch is judge. Why now wonder that he is consul? Whatever he does is a prodigy. Can the annals of the law show cases so mishandled? What age or what country has ever witnessed a eunuch’s jurisdiction? That nought might remain undisgraced, nought unattempted, he even makes him ready to outrage arms, heaps portent on portent and wanton folly seeks to outdo itself. Mars blushed, Bellona scoffed and turned her from the disgrace of the East whene’er with arrows strung and flashing quiver the aged Amazon practises battle or hurries back as arbiter of peace and war to hold parley with the Getae. Our enemies rejoiced at the sight and felt that at last we were lacking inmen. Towns were set ablaze; walls offered no security. The countryside was ravaged and brought to ruin. Mid-ocean alone gave hope. Women of Cappadocia were driven into captivity across the river Phasis; stolen from the stalls of their homesteads, the captive herds drink the snowy streams of Caucasus, and the flocks exchange the pastures of Mount Argaeus[91]for the woods of Scythia. Beyond the Cimmerian marshes, defence of the Tauric tribes, the youth of Syria are slaves. Too vast for the fierce barbarians are the spoils; glutted with booty they turn to slaughter.Yet Eutropius (can a slave, an effeminate, feel shame? Could a blush grace such a countenance?), Eutropius returns in triumph. There follow companies of foot, squadrons like their general, maniples of eunuchs, an army worthy Priapus’ standards. His creatures meet him and embrace their saviour on his return.[92]Great is his self-esteem; he struggles[91]A mountain in Cappadocia.[92]Claudian is scarcely fair to Eutropius. The reference here is to the campaign of 398 in which Eutropius succeeded in driving the Huns back behind the Caucasus.

[156]

in miseras leges hominumque negotia ludit.230iudicat eunuchus; quid iam de consule miror?prodigium, quodcumque gerit. quae pagina litessic actas meminit? quibus umquam saecula terriseunuchi videre forum? sed ne qua vacaretpars ignominia neu quid restaret inausum,235arma etiam violare parat portentaque monstrisaggerat et secum petulans amentia certat.erubuit Mavors aversaque risit Enyodedecus Eoum, quotiens intenta sagittiset pharetra fulgens anus exercetur Amazon240arbiter aut quotiens belli pacisque recurritadloquiturque Getas. gaudet cum viderit hostiset sentit iam deesse viros. incendia fumant,muris nulla fides, squalent populatibus agriet medio spes sola mari. trans Phasin aguntur245Cappadocum matres, stabulisque abducta paternisCaucasias captiva bibunt armenta pruinaset Scythicis mutant Argaei pabula silvis.extra Cimmerias, Taurorum claustra, paludesflos Syriae servit. spoliis nec sufficit atrox250barbarus: in caedem vertunt fastidia praedae.Ille tamen (quid enim servum mollemque pudebit?aut quid in hoc poterit vultu flagrare ruboris?)pro victore redit: peditum vexilla sequunturet turmae similes eunuchorumque manipli,255Hellespontiacis legio dignissima signis.obvius ire cliens defensoremque reversumcomplecti. placet ipse sibi laxasque laborat

in miseras leges hominumque negotia ludit.230

iudicat eunuchus; quid iam de consule miror?

prodigium, quodcumque gerit. quae pagina lites

sic actas meminit? quibus umquam saecula terris

eunuchi videre forum? sed ne qua vacaret

pars ignominia neu quid restaret inausum,235

arma etiam violare parat portentaque monstris

aggerat et secum petulans amentia certat.

erubuit Mavors aversaque risit Enyo

dedecus Eoum, quotiens intenta sagittis

et pharetra fulgens anus exercetur Amazon240

arbiter aut quotiens belli pacisque recurrit

adloquiturque Getas. gaudet cum viderit hostis

et sentit iam deesse viros. incendia fumant,

muris nulla fides, squalent populatibus agri

et medio spes sola mari. trans Phasin aguntur245

Cappadocum matres, stabulisque abducta paternis

Caucasias captiva bibunt armenta pruinas

et Scythicis mutant Argaei pabula silvis.

extra Cimmerias, Taurorum claustra, paludes

flos Syriae servit. spoliis nec sufficit atrox250

barbarus: in caedem vertunt fastidia praedae.

Ille tamen (quid enim servum mollemque pudebit?

aut quid in hoc poterit vultu flagrare ruboris?)

pro victore redit: peditum vexilla sequuntur

et turmae similes eunuchorumque manipli,255

Hellespontiacis legio dignissima signis.

obvius ire cliens defensoremque reversum

complecti. placet ipse sibi laxasque laborat

[157]drunken with riches, makes sport of wretched law and the affairs of men. A eunuch is judge. Why now wonder that he is consul? Whatever he does is a prodigy. Can the annals of the law show cases so mishandled? What age or what country has ever witnessed a eunuch’s jurisdiction? That nought might remain undisgraced, nought unattempted, he even makes him ready to outrage arms, heaps portent on portent and wanton folly seeks to outdo itself. Mars blushed, Bellona scoffed and turned her from the disgrace of the East whene’er with arrows strung and flashing quiver the aged Amazon practises battle or hurries back as arbiter of peace and war to hold parley with the Getae. Our enemies rejoiced at the sight and felt that at last we were lacking inmen. Towns were set ablaze; walls offered no security. The countryside was ravaged and brought to ruin. Mid-ocean alone gave hope. Women of Cappadocia were driven into captivity across the river Phasis; stolen from the stalls of their homesteads, the captive herds drink the snowy streams of Caucasus, and the flocks exchange the pastures of Mount Argaeus[91]for the woods of Scythia. Beyond the Cimmerian marshes, defence of the Tauric tribes, the youth of Syria are slaves. Too vast for the fierce barbarians are the spoils; glutted with booty they turn to slaughter.Yet Eutropius (can a slave, an effeminate, feel shame? Could a blush grace such a countenance?), Eutropius returns in triumph. There follow companies of foot, squadrons like their general, maniples of eunuchs, an army worthy Priapus’ standards. His creatures meet him and embrace their saviour on his return.[92]Great is his self-esteem; he struggles[91]A mountain in Cappadocia.[92]Claudian is scarcely fair to Eutropius. The reference here is to the campaign of 398 in which Eutropius succeeded in driving the Huns back behind the Caucasus.

[157]

drunken with riches, makes sport of wretched law and the affairs of men. A eunuch is judge. Why now wonder that he is consul? Whatever he does is a prodigy. Can the annals of the law show cases so mishandled? What age or what country has ever witnessed a eunuch’s jurisdiction? That nought might remain undisgraced, nought unattempted, he even makes him ready to outrage arms, heaps portent on portent and wanton folly seeks to outdo itself. Mars blushed, Bellona scoffed and turned her from the disgrace of the East whene’er with arrows strung and flashing quiver the aged Amazon practises battle or hurries back as arbiter of peace and war to hold parley with the Getae. Our enemies rejoiced at the sight and felt that at last we were lacking inmen. Towns were set ablaze; walls offered no security. The countryside was ravaged and brought to ruin. Mid-ocean alone gave hope. Women of Cappadocia were driven into captivity across the river Phasis; stolen from the stalls of their homesteads, the captive herds drink the snowy streams of Caucasus, and the flocks exchange the pastures of Mount Argaeus[91]for the woods of Scythia. Beyond the Cimmerian marshes, defence of the Tauric tribes, the youth of Syria are slaves. Too vast for the fierce barbarians are the spoils; glutted with booty they turn to slaughter.

Yet Eutropius (can a slave, an effeminate, feel shame? Could a blush grace such a countenance?), Eutropius returns in triumph. There follow companies of foot, squadrons like their general, maniples of eunuchs, an army worthy Priapus’ standards. His creatures meet him and embrace their saviour on his return.[92]Great is his self-esteem; he struggles

[91]A mountain in Cappadocia.

[92]Claudian is scarcely fair to Eutropius. The reference here is to the campaign of 398 in which Eutropius succeeded in driving the Huns back behind the Caucasus.

[158]distendisse genas fictumque inflatus anhelat,pulvere respersus tineas et solibus ora260pallidior, verbisque sonat plorabile quiddamultra nequitiam fractis et proelia narrat:perque suam tremula testatur voce sororem,defecisse vagas ad publica commoda vires;cedere livori nec sustentare procellas265invidiae; mergique fretis spumantibus orat.exoretque utinam! dum talia fatur ineptasdeterget lacrimas atque inter singula dictaflebile suspirat: qualis venit arida socruslonginquam visura nurum; vix lassa resedit270et iam vina petit.Quid te, turpissime, bellisinseris aut saevi pertemptas Pallada campi?tu potes alterius studiis haerere Minervaeet telas, non tela pati, tu stamina nosse,tu segnes operum sollers urgere puellas275et niveam dominae pensis involvere lanam.vel, si sacra placent, habeas pro Marte Cybeben;rauca Celaenaeos ad tympana disce furores.cymbala ferre licet pectusque inlidere pinuinguinis et reliquum Phrygiis abscidere cultris.280arma relinque viris. geminam quid dividis aulamconarisque pios odiis committere fratres?te magis, ah demens, veterem si respicis artem,conciliare decet.Gestis pro talibus annum[159]to swell out his pendulous cheeks and feigns a heavy panting; his lousy head dust-sprinkled and his face bleached whiter by the sun, he sobs out some pitiful complaint with voice more effeminate than effeminacy’s self and tells of battles. In tremulous tones he calls his sister to witness that he has spent his strength for his country’s need; that he yields to envy and cannot stand up against the storms of jealousy and prays to be drowned in the foaming seas. Would God his prayer had been granted! Thus speaking, he wipes away the silly tears, sighing and sobbing between each word; like a withered old dame travelled far to visit her son’s daughter—scarce seated aweary and already she asks for wine.Why busy thy foul self with wars? Why attempt battle on the bloody field? ’Tis to the arts of that other Minerva thou shouldst apply thyself. The distaff, not the dart should be thine; thine to spin the thread, and, cunning craftsman that thou art, to urge on the spinning-maids when lazy; thine to wind the snowy wool for thy mistress’ weaving. Or, wouldst thou be a devotee, let Cybele, not Mars, be the object of thy worship. Learn to imitate the madness of the Corybantes to the accompaniment of rolling drums. Thou mayest carry cymbals, pierce thy breast with the sacred pine, and with Phrygian knife destroy what yet is left of thy virility. Leave arms to men. Why seek to divide the two empires and embroil loving brothers in strife? Madman, remember thy former trade; ’twere more fitting thou shouldst endeavour to reconcile them.It is for deeds like this that Eutropius demands

[158]

distendisse genas fictumque inflatus anhelat,pulvere respersus tineas et solibus ora260pallidior, verbisque sonat plorabile quiddamultra nequitiam fractis et proelia narrat:perque suam tremula testatur voce sororem,defecisse vagas ad publica commoda vires;cedere livori nec sustentare procellas265invidiae; mergique fretis spumantibus orat.exoretque utinam! dum talia fatur ineptasdeterget lacrimas atque inter singula dictaflebile suspirat: qualis venit arida socruslonginquam visura nurum; vix lassa resedit270et iam vina petit.Quid te, turpissime, bellisinseris aut saevi pertemptas Pallada campi?tu potes alterius studiis haerere Minervaeet telas, non tela pati, tu stamina nosse,tu segnes operum sollers urgere puellas275et niveam dominae pensis involvere lanam.vel, si sacra placent, habeas pro Marte Cybeben;rauca Celaenaeos ad tympana disce furores.cymbala ferre licet pectusque inlidere pinuinguinis et reliquum Phrygiis abscidere cultris.280arma relinque viris. geminam quid dividis aulamconarisque pios odiis committere fratres?te magis, ah demens, veterem si respicis artem,conciliare decet.Gestis pro talibus annum

distendisse genas fictumque inflatus anhelat,

pulvere respersus tineas et solibus ora260

pallidior, verbisque sonat plorabile quiddam

ultra nequitiam fractis et proelia narrat:

perque suam tremula testatur voce sororem,

defecisse vagas ad publica commoda vires;

cedere livori nec sustentare procellas265

invidiae; mergique fretis spumantibus orat.

exoretque utinam! dum talia fatur ineptas

deterget lacrimas atque inter singula dicta

flebile suspirat: qualis venit arida socrus

longinquam visura nurum; vix lassa resedit270

et iam vina petit.

Quid te, turpissime, bellis

inseris aut saevi pertemptas Pallada campi?

tu potes alterius studiis haerere Minervae

et telas, non tela pati, tu stamina nosse,

tu segnes operum sollers urgere puellas275

et niveam dominae pensis involvere lanam.

vel, si sacra placent, habeas pro Marte Cybeben;

rauca Celaenaeos ad tympana disce furores.

cymbala ferre licet pectusque inlidere pinu

inguinis et reliquum Phrygiis abscidere cultris.280

arma relinque viris. geminam quid dividis aulam

conarisque pios odiis committere fratres?

te magis, ah demens, veterem si respicis artem,

conciliare decet.

Gestis pro talibus annum

[159]to swell out his pendulous cheeks and feigns a heavy panting; his lousy head dust-sprinkled and his face bleached whiter by the sun, he sobs out some pitiful complaint with voice more effeminate than effeminacy’s self and tells of battles. In tremulous tones he calls his sister to witness that he has spent his strength for his country’s need; that he yields to envy and cannot stand up against the storms of jealousy and prays to be drowned in the foaming seas. Would God his prayer had been granted! Thus speaking, he wipes away the silly tears, sighing and sobbing between each word; like a withered old dame travelled far to visit her son’s daughter—scarce seated aweary and already she asks for wine.Why busy thy foul self with wars? Why attempt battle on the bloody field? ’Tis to the arts of that other Minerva thou shouldst apply thyself. The distaff, not the dart should be thine; thine to spin the thread, and, cunning craftsman that thou art, to urge on the spinning-maids when lazy; thine to wind the snowy wool for thy mistress’ weaving. Or, wouldst thou be a devotee, let Cybele, not Mars, be the object of thy worship. Learn to imitate the madness of the Corybantes to the accompaniment of rolling drums. Thou mayest carry cymbals, pierce thy breast with the sacred pine, and with Phrygian knife destroy what yet is left of thy virility. Leave arms to men. Why seek to divide the two empires and embroil loving brothers in strife? Madman, remember thy former trade; ’twere more fitting thou shouldst endeavour to reconcile them.It is for deeds like this that Eutropius demands

[159]

to swell out his pendulous cheeks and feigns a heavy panting; his lousy head dust-sprinkled and his face bleached whiter by the sun, he sobs out some pitiful complaint with voice more effeminate than effeminacy’s self and tells of battles. In tremulous tones he calls his sister to witness that he has spent his strength for his country’s need; that he yields to envy and cannot stand up against the storms of jealousy and prays to be drowned in the foaming seas. Would God his prayer had been granted! Thus speaking, he wipes away the silly tears, sighing and sobbing between each word; like a withered old dame travelled far to visit her son’s daughter—scarce seated aweary and already she asks for wine.

Why busy thy foul self with wars? Why attempt battle on the bloody field? ’Tis to the arts of that other Minerva thou shouldst apply thyself. The distaff, not the dart should be thine; thine to spin the thread, and, cunning craftsman that thou art, to urge on the spinning-maids when lazy; thine to wind the snowy wool for thy mistress’ weaving. Or, wouldst thou be a devotee, let Cybele, not Mars, be the object of thy worship. Learn to imitate the madness of the Corybantes to the accompaniment of rolling drums. Thou mayest carry cymbals, pierce thy breast with the sacred pine, and with Phrygian knife destroy what yet is left of thy virility. Leave arms to men. Why seek to divide the two empires and embroil loving brothers in strife? Madman, remember thy former trade; ’twere more fitting thou shouldst endeavour to reconcile them.

It is for deeds like this that Eutropius demands

[160]flagitet Eutropius, ne quid non polluat unus,285dux acies, iudex praetoria, tempora consul!Nil adeo foedum, quod non exacta vetustasediderit longique labor commiserit aevi.Oedipodes matrem, natam duxisse Thyestescantatur, peperit fratres Iocasta marito290et Pelopea sibi. Thebas ac funera Troiaetristis Erechthei deplorat scaena theatri.in volucrem Tereus, Cadmus se vertit in anguem.Scylla novos mirata canes. hunc arbore figit,elevat hunc pluma, squamis hunc fabula vestit,295hunc solvit fluvio. numquam spado consul in orbenec iudex ductorve fuit! quodcumque virorumest decus, eunuchi scelus est. exempla creanturquae socci superent risus luctusque cothurni.Quam pulcher conspectus erat, cum tenderet artusexangues onerante toga cinctuque gravatus301indutoque senex obscaenior iret in auro:humani qualis simulator simius oris,quem puer adridens pretioso stamine Serumvelavit nudasque nates ac terga reliquit,305ludibrium mensis; erecto pectore divesambulat et claro sese deformat amictu.candida pollutos comitatur curia fasces,forsitan et dominus. praebet miracula lictor[161]this year of office, to ensure that by his efforts alone he leaves nothing not dishonoured, ruining the army as its general, the courts as their judge, the imperial fasti as a consul.No portent so monstrous but time past has given it birth and the labour of bygone centuries produced it. Legend tells us that Oedipus married his mother and Thyestes his daughter; Jocasta bare brothers to her husband, Thyestes’s daughter gave birth to her own brother. Athenian tragedy tells the sad tale of Thebes and the baneful war of Troy. Tereus was changed into a bird, Cadmus into a snake; Scylla looked in amaze on the dogs that girt her waist. Ancient story relates how one was transformed into a tree and thus attached to earth, how another grew wings and flew, how a third was clothed with scales and yet another melted into a river. But no country has ever had a eunuch for a consul or judge or general. What in a man is honourable is disgraceful in an emasculate. Here is an example to surpass all that is most laughable in comedy, most lamentable in tragedy.A pleasant sight in truth to see him strain his sapless limbs beneath the weight of the toga, borne down by the wearing of his consular dress; the gold of his raiment rendered his decrepitude even more hideous. ’Twas as though an ape, man’s imitator, had been decked out in sport with precious silken garments by a boy who had left his back and quarters uncovered to amuse the guests at supper. Thus richly dressed he walks upright and seems the more loathsome by reason of his brilliant trappings. Dressed in white the senate, perhaps even his master,[93]accompanies the dishonoured fasces. Behold a portent! A lictor more noble than the[93]i.e.the Emperor.

[160]

flagitet Eutropius, ne quid non polluat unus,285dux acies, iudex praetoria, tempora consul!Nil adeo foedum, quod non exacta vetustasediderit longique labor commiserit aevi.Oedipodes matrem, natam duxisse Thyestescantatur, peperit fratres Iocasta marito290et Pelopea sibi. Thebas ac funera Troiaetristis Erechthei deplorat scaena theatri.in volucrem Tereus, Cadmus se vertit in anguem.Scylla novos mirata canes. hunc arbore figit,elevat hunc pluma, squamis hunc fabula vestit,295hunc solvit fluvio. numquam spado consul in orbenec iudex ductorve fuit! quodcumque virorumest decus, eunuchi scelus est. exempla creanturquae socci superent risus luctusque cothurni.Quam pulcher conspectus erat, cum tenderet artusexangues onerante toga cinctuque gravatus301indutoque senex obscaenior iret in auro:humani qualis simulator simius oris,quem puer adridens pretioso stamine Serumvelavit nudasque nates ac terga reliquit,305ludibrium mensis; erecto pectore divesambulat et claro sese deformat amictu.candida pollutos comitatur curia fasces,forsitan et dominus. praebet miracula lictor

flagitet Eutropius, ne quid non polluat unus,285

dux acies, iudex praetoria, tempora consul!

Nil adeo foedum, quod non exacta vetustas

ediderit longique labor commiserit aevi.

Oedipodes matrem, natam duxisse Thyestes

cantatur, peperit fratres Iocasta marito290

et Pelopea sibi. Thebas ac funera Troiae

tristis Erechthei deplorat scaena theatri.

in volucrem Tereus, Cadmus se vertit in anguem.

Scylla novos mirata canes. hunc arbore figit,

elevat hunc pluma, squamis hunc fabula vestit,295

hunc solvit fluvio. numquam spado consul in orbe

nec iudex ductorve fuit! quodcumque virorum

est decus, eunuchi scelus est. exempla creantur

quae socci superent risus luctusque cothurni.

Quam pulcher conspectus erat, cum tenderet artus

exangues onerante toga cinctuque gravatus301

indutoque senex obscaenior iret in auro:

humani qualis simulator simius oris,

quem puer adridens pretioso stamine Serum

velavit nudasque nates ac terga reliquit,305

ludibrium mensis; erecto pectore dives

ambulat et claro sese deformat amictu.

candida pollutos comitatur curia fasces,

forsitan et dominus. praebet miracula lictor

[161]this year of office, to ensure that by his efforts alone he leaves nothing not dishonoured, ruining the army as its general, the courts as their judge, the imperial fasti as a consul.No portent so monstrous but time past has given it birth and the labour of bygone centuries produced it. Legend tells us that Oedipus married his mother and Thyestes his daughter; Jocasta bare brothers to her husband, Thyestes’s daughter gave birth to her own brother. Athenian tragedy tells the sad tale of Thebes and the baneful war of Troy. Tereus was changed into a bird, Cadmus into a snake; Scylla looked in amaze on the dogs that girt her waist. Ancient story relates how one was transformed into a tree and thus attached to earth, how another grew wings and flew, how a third was clothed with scales and yet another melted into a river. But no country has ever had a eunuch for a consul or judge or general. What in a man is honourable is disgraceful in an emasculate. Here is an example to surpass all that is most laughable in comedy, most lamentable in tragedy.A pleasant sight in truth to see him strain his sapless limbs beneath the weight of the toga, borne down by the wearing of his consular dress; the gold of his raiment rendered his decrepitude even more hideous. ’Twas as though an ape, man’s imitator, had been decked out in sport with precious silken garments by a boy who had left his back and quarters uncovered to amuse the guests at supper. Thus richly dressed he walks upright and seems the more loathsome by reason of his brilliant trappings. Dressed in white the senate, perhaps even his master,[93]accompanies the dishonoured fasces. Behold a portent! A lictor more noble than the[93]i.e.the Emperor.

[161]

this year of office, to ensure that by his efforts alone he leaves nothing not dishonoured, ruining the army as its general, the courts as their judge, the imperial fasti as a consul.

No portent so monstrous but time past has given it birth and the labour of bygone centuries produced it. Legend tells us that Oedipus married his mother and Thyestes his daughter; Jocasta bare brothers to her husband, Thyestes’s daughter gave birth to her own brother. Athenian tragedy tells the sad tale of Thebes and the baneful war of Troy. Tereus was changed into a bird, Cadmus into a snake; Scylla looked in amaze on the dogs that girt her waist. Ancient story relates how one was transformed into a tree and thus attached to earth, how another grew wings and flew, how a third was clothed with scales and yet another melted into a river. But no country has ever had a eunuch for a consul or judge or general. What in a man is honourable is disgraceful in an emasculate. Here is an example to surpass all that is most laughable in comedy, most lamentable in tragedy.

A pleasant sight in truth to see him strain his sapless limbs beneath the weight of the toga, borne down by the wearing of his consular dress; the gold of his raiment rendered his decrepitude even more hideous. ’Twas as though an ape, man’s imitator, had been decked out in sport with precious silken garments by a boy who had left his back and quarters uncovered to amuse the guests at supper. Thus richly dressed he walks upright and seems the more loathsome by reason of his brilliant trappings. Dressed in white the senate, perhaps even his master,[93]accompanies the dishonoured fasces. Behold a portent! A lictor more noble than the

[93]i.e.the Emperor.

[162]consule nobilior libertatemque daturus,310quam necdum meruit. scandit sublime tribunalatque inter proprias laudes Aegyptia iactatsomnia prostratosque canit se vate tyrannos.scilicet in dubio vindex Bellona pependit,dum spado Tiresias enervatusque Melampus315reptat ab extremo referens oracula Nilo.Obstrepuere avium voces, exhorruit annusnomen, et insanum gemino proclamat ab oreeunuchumque vetat fastis accedere Ianus:sumeret inlicitos etenim si femina fasces,320esset turpe minus. Medis levibusque Sabaeisimperat hic sexus, reginarumque sub armisbarbariae pars magna iacet: gens nulla probatur,eunuchi quae sceptra ferat. Tritonia, Phoebe,Terra, Ceres, Cybele, Iuno, Latona coluntur:325eunuchi quae templa dei, quas vidimus aras?inde sacerdotes; haec intrat pectora Phoebus;inde canunt Delphi; Troianam sola Minervamvirginitas Vestalis adit flammasque tuetur:hi nullas meriti vittas semperque profani.330nascitur ad fructum mulier prolemque futuram:hoc genus inventum est ut serviat. Herculis arcuconcidit Hippolyte; Danai fugere bipennem,Penthesilea, tuam; claras Carthaginis arcescreditur et centum portis Babylona superbam335femineus struxisse labor. quid nobile gessit[163]consul, and a man about to grant to others a liberty which he has not yet himself won. He mounts the lofty platform and amid a torrent of self-laudation boasts of a prophetic dream he had in Egypt[94]and of the defeat of tyrants which he foretold. No doubt the goddess of war stayed her avenging hand and waited till that emasculate Tiresias, that unmanned Melampus, could crawl back with oracles culled from farthest Nile.Loud sang the prophetic birds in warning. The year shuddered at the thought of bearing Eutropius’ name, and Janus proclaimed the madness of the choice from his two mouths, forbidding a eunuch to have access to his annals. Had a woman assumed the fasces, though this were illegal it were nevertheless less disgraceful. Women bear sway among the Medes and swift Sabaeans; half barbary is governed by martial queens. We know of no people who endure a eunuch’s rule. Worship is paid to Pallas, Phoebe, Vesta, Ceres, Cybele, Juno, and Latona; have we ever seen a temple built or altars raised to a eunuch god? From among women are priestesses chosen; Phoebus enters into their hearts; through their voices the Delphian oracle speaks; none but the Vestal Virgins approach the shrine of Trojan Minerva and tend her flame: eunuchs have never deserved the fillet and are always unholy. A woman is born that she may bear children and perpetuate the human race; the tribe of eunuchs was made for servitude. Hippolyte fell but by the arrow of Hercules; the Greeks fled before Penthesilea’s axe; Carthage, far-famed citadel, proud Babylon with her hundred gates, are both said to have been built by a woman’s hand. What noble deed did[94]In 394 Arcadius had sent Eutropius to the Thebaid to consult a certain Christian prophet, John, upon the result of Eugenius’ revolt (Sozom. vii. 22. 7, 8).

[162]

consule nobilior libertatemque daturus,310quam necdum meruit. scandit sublime tribunalatque inter proprias laudes Aegyptia iactatsomnia prostratosque canit se vate tyrannos.scilicet in dubio vindex Bellona pependit,dum spado Tiresias enervatusque Melampus315reptat ab extremo referens oracula Nilo.Obstrepuere avium voces, exhorruit annusnomen, et insanum gemino proclamat ab oreeunuchumque vetat fastis accedere Ianus:sumeret inlicitos etenim si femina fasces,320esset turpe minus. Medis levibusque Sabaeisimperat hic sexus, reginarumque sub armisbarbariae pars magna iacet: gens nulla probatur,eunuchi quae sceptra ferat. Tritonia, Phoebe,Terra, Ceres, Cybele, Iuno, Latona coluntur:325eunuchi quae templa dei, quas vidimus aras?inde sacerdotes; haec intrat pectora Phoebus;inde canunt Delphi; Troianam sola Minervamvirginitas Vestalis adit flammasque tuetur:hi nullas meriti vittas semperque profani.330nascitur ad fructum mulier prolemque futuram:hoc genus inventum est ut serviat. Herculis arcuconcidit Hippolyte; Danai fugere bipennem,Penthesilea, tuam; claras Carthaginis arcescreditur et centum portis Babylona superbam335femineus struxisse labor. quid nobile gessit

consule nobilior libertatemque daturus,310

quam necdum meruit. scandit sublime tribunal

atque inter proprias laudes Aegyptia iactat

somnia prostratosque canit se vate tyrannos.

scilicet in dubio vindex Bellona pependit,

dum spado Tiresias enervatusque Melampus315

reptat ab extremo referens oracula Nilo.

Obstrepuere avium voces, exhorruit annus

nomen, et insanum gemino proclamat ab ore

eunuchumque vetat fastis accedere Ianus:

sumeret inlicitos etenim si femina fasces,320

esset turpe minus. Medis levibusque Sabaeis

imperat hic sexus, reginarumque sub armis

barbariae pars magna iacet: gens nulla probatur,

eunuchi quae sceptra ferat. Tritonia, Phoebe,

Terra, Ceres, Cybele, Iuno, Latona coluntur:325

eunuchi quae templa dei, quas vidimus aras?

inde sacerdotes; haec intrat pectora Phoebus;

inde canunt Delphi; Troianam sola Minervam

virginitas Vestalis adit flammasque tuetur:

hi nullas meriti vittas semperque profani.330

nascitur ad fructum mulier prolemque futuram:

hoc genus inventum est ut serviat. Herculis arcu

concidit Hippolyte; Danai fugere bipennem,

Penthesilea, tuam; claras Carthaginis arces

creditur et centum portis Babylona superbam335

femineus struxisse labor. quid nobile gessit

[163]consul, and a man about to grant to others a liberty which he has not yet himself won. He mounts the lofty platform and amid a torrent of self-laudation boasts of a prophetic dream he had in Egypt[94]and of the defeat of tyrants which he foretold. No doubt the goddess of war stayed her avenging hand and waited till that emasculate Tiresias, that unmanned Melampus, could crawl back with oracles culled from farthest Nile.Loud sang the prophetic birds in warning. The year shuddered at the thought of bearing Eutropius’ name, and Janus proclaimed the madness of the choice from his two mouths, forbidding a eunuch to have access to his annals. Had a woman assumed the fasces, though this were illegal it were nevertheless less disgraceful. Women bear sway among the Medes and swift Sabaeans; half barbary is governed by martial queens. We know of no people who endure a eunuch’s rule. Worship is paid to Pallas, Phoebe, Vesta, Ceres, Cybele, Juno, and Latona; have we ever seen a temple built or altars raised to a eunuch god? From among women are priestesses chosen; Phoebus enters into their hearts; through their voices the Delphian oracle speaks; none but the Vestal Virgins approach the shrine of Trojan Minerva and tend her flame: eunuchs have never deserved the fillet and are always unholy. A woman is born that she may bear children and perpetuate the human race; the tribe of eunuchs was made for servitude. Hippolyte fell but by the arrow of Hercules; the Greeks fled before Penthesilea’s axe; Carthage, far-famed citadel, proud Babylon with her hundred gates, are both said to have been built by a woman’s hand. What noble deed did[94]In 394 Arcadius had sent Eutropius to the Thebaid to consult a certain Christian prophet, John, upon the result of Eugenius’ revolt (Sozom. vii. 22. 7, 8).

[163]

consul, and a man about to grant to others a liberty which he has not yet himself won. He mounts the lofty platform and amid a torrent of self-laudation boasts of a prophetic dream he had in Egypt[94]and of the defeat of tyrants which he foretold. No doubt the goddess of war stayed her avenging hand and waited till that emasculate Tiresias, that unmanned Melampus, could crawl back with oracles culled from farthest Nile.

Loud sang the prophetic birds in warning. The year shuddered at the thought of bearing Eutropius’ name, and Janus proclaimed the madness of the choice from his two mouths, forbidding a eunuch to have access to his annals. Had a woman assumed the fasces, though this were illegal it were nevertheless less disgraceful. Women bear sway among the Medes and swift Sabaeans; half barbary is governed by martial queens. We know of no people who endure a eunuch’s rule. Worship is paid to Pallas, Phoebe, Vesta, Ceres, Cybele, Juno, and Latona; have we ever seen a temple built or altars raised to a eunuch god? From among women are priestesses chosen; Phoebus enters into their hearts; through their voices the Delphian oracle speaks; none but the Vestal Virgins approach the shrine of Trojan Minerva and tend her flame: eunuchs have never deserved the fillet and are always unholy. A woman is born that she may bear children and perpetuate the human race; the tribe of eunuchs was made for servitude. Hippolyte fell but by the arrow of Hercules; the Greeks fled before Penthesilea’s axe; Carthage, far-famed citadel, proud Babylon with her hundred gates, are both said to have been built by a woman’s hand. What noble deed did

[94]In 394 Arcadius had sent Eutropius to the Thebaid to consult a certain Christian prophet, John, upon the result of Eugenius’ revolt (Sozom. vii. 22. 7, 8).

[164]eunuchus? quae bella tulit? quas condidit urbes?illas praeterea rerum natura creavit,hos fecere manus: seu prima Semiramis astuAssyriis mentita virum, ne vocis acutae340mollities levesve genae se prodere possent,hos sibi coniunxit similes; seu Parthica ferroluxuries vetuit nasci lanuginis umbramservatoque diu puerili flore coegitarte retardatam Veneri servire iuventam.345Fama prius falso similis vanoque viderificta ioco; levior volitare per oppida rumorriderique nefas: veluti nigrantibus alisaudiretur olor, corvo certante ligustris.atque aliquis gravior morum: “si talibus, inquit,350creditur et nimiis turgent mendacia monstris,iam testudo volat, profert iam cornua vultur;prona petunt retro fluvii iuga; Gadibus ortumCarmani texere diem; iam frugibus aptumaequor et adsuetum silvis delphina videbo;355iam cochleis homines iunctos et quidquid inanenutrit Iudaicis quae pingitur India velis.”Subicit et mixtis salibus lascivior alter:“miraris? nihil est, quod non in pectore magnumconcipit Eutropius. semper nova, grandia semperdiligit et celeri degustat singula sensu.361nil timet a tergo; vigilantibus undique curisnocte dieque patet; lenis facilisque moverisupplicibus mediaque tamen mollissimus iranil negat et sese vel non poscentibus offert;365[165]a eunuch ever do? What wars did such an one fight, what cities did he found? Moreover, nature created the former, the hand of man the latter, whether it was from fear of being betrayed by her shrill woman’s voice and her hairless cheeks that clever Semiramis, to disguise her sex from the Assyrians, first surrounded herself with beings like her, or the Parthians employed the knife to stop the growth of the first down of manhood and forced their boys, kept boys by artifice, to serve their lusts by thus lengthening the years of youthful charm.At first the rumour of Eutropius’ consulship seemed false and invented as a jest. A vague story spread from city to city; the crime was laughed at as one would laugh to hear of a swan with black wings or a crow as white as privet. Thus spake one of weighty character: “If such things are believed and swollen lies tell of unheard of monsters, then the tortoise can fly, the vulture grow horns, rivers flow back and mount the hills whence they spring, the sun rise behind Gades and set amid the Carmanians of India; I shall soon see ocean fit nursery for plants and the dolphin a denizen of the woods; beings half-men, half-snails and all the vain imaginings of India depicted on Jewish curtains.”Then another adds, jesting with a more wanton wit: “Dost thou wonder? Nothing great is there that Eutropius does not conceive in his heart. He ever loves novelty, ever size, and is quick to taste everything in turn. He fears no assault from the rear; night and day he is ready with watchful care; soft, easily moved by entreaty, and, even in the midst of his passion, tenderest of men, he never says ‘no,’ and is ever at the disposal even of

[164]

eunuchus? quae bella tulit? quas condidit urbes?illas praeterea rerum natura creavit,hos fecere manus: seu prima Semiramis astuAssyriis mentita virum, ne vocis acutae340mollities levesve genae se prodere possent,hos sibi coniunxit similes; seu Parthica ferroluxuries vetuit nasci lanuginis umbramservatoque diu puerili flore coegitarte retardatam Veneri servire iuventam.345Fama prius falso similis vanoque viderificta ioco; levior volitare per oppida rumorriderique nefas: veluti nigrantibus alisaudiretur olor, corvo certante ligustris.atque aliquis gravior morum: “si talibus, inquit,350creditur et nimiis turgent mendacia monstris,iam testudo volat, profert iam cornua vultur;prona petunt retro fluvii iuga; Gadibus ortumCarmani texere diem; iam frugibus aptumaequor et adsuetum silvis delphina videbo;355iam cochleis homines iunctos et quidquid inanenutrit Iudaicis quae pingitur India velis.”Subicit et mixtis salibus lascivior alter:“miraris? nihil est, quod non in pectore magnumconcipit Eutropius. semper nova, grandia semperdiligit et celeri degustat singula sensu.361nil timet a tergo; vigilantibus undique curisnocte dieque patet; lenis facilisque moverisupplicibus mediaque tamen mollissimus iranil negat et sese vel non poscentibus offert;365

eunuchus? quae bella tulit? quas condidit urbes?

illas praeterea rerum natura creavit,

hos fecere manus: seu prima Semiramis astu

Assyriis mentita virum, ne vocis acutae340

mollities levesve genae se prodere possent,

hos sibi coniunxit similes; seu Parthica ferro

luxuries vetuit nasci lanuginis umbram

servatoque diu puerili flore coegit

arte retardatam Veneri servire iuventam.345

Fama prius falso similis vanoque videri

ficta ioco; levior volitare per oppida rumor

riderique nefas: veluti nigrantibus alis

audiretur olor, corvo certante ligustris.

atque aliquis gravior morum: “si talibus, inquit,350

creditur et nimiis turgent mendacia monstris,

iam testudo volat, profert iam cornua vultur;

prona petunt retro fluvii iuga; Gadibus ortum

Carmani texere diem; iam frugibus aptum

aequor et adsuetum silvis delphina videbo;355

iam cochleis homines iunctos et quidquid inane

nutrit Iudaicis quae pingitur India velis.”

Subicit et mixtis salibus lascivior alter:

“miraris? nihil est, quod non in pectore magnum

concipit Eutropius. semper nova, grandia semper

diligit et celeri degustat singula sensu.361

nil timet a tergo; vigilantibus undique curis

nocte dieque patet; lenis facilisque moveri

supplicibus mediaque tamen mollissimus ira

nil negat et sese vel non poscentibus offert;365

[165]a eunuch ever do? What wars did such an one fight, what cities did he found? Moreover, nature created the former, the hand of man the latter, whether it was from fear of being betrayed by her shrill woman’s voice and her hairless cheeks that clever Semiramis, to disguise her sex from the Assyrians, first surrounded herself with beings like her, or the Parthians employed the knife to stop the growth of the first down of manhood and forced their boys, kept boys by artifice, to serve their lusts by thus lengthening the years of youthful charm.At first the rumour of Eutropius’ consulship seemed false and invented as a jest. A vague story spread from city to city; the crime was laughed at as one would laugh to hear of a swan with black wings or a crow as white as privet. Thus spake one of weighty character: “If such things are believed and swollen lies tell of unheard of monsters, then the tortoise can fly, the vulture grow horns, rivers flow back and mount the hills whence they spring, the sun rise behind Gades and set amid the Carmanians of India; I shall soon see ocean fit nursery for plants and the dolphin a denizen of the woods; beings half-men, half-snails and all the vain imaginings of India depicted on Jewish curtains.”Then another adds, jesting with a more wanton wit: “Dost thou wonder? Nothing great is there that Eutropius does not conceive in his heart. He ever loves novelty, ever size, and is quick to taste everything in turn. He fears no assault from the rear; night and day he is ready with watchful care; soft, easily moved by entreaty, and, even in the midst of his passion, tenderest of men, he never says ‘no,’ and is ever at the disposal even of

[165]

a eunuch ever do? What wars did such an one fight, what cities did he found? Moreover, nature created the former, the hand of man the latter, whether it was from fear of being betrayed by her shrill woman’s voice and her hairless cheeks that clever Semiramis, to disguise her sex from the Assyrians, first surrounded herself with beings like her, or the Parthians employed the knife to stop the growth of the first down of manhood and forced their boys, kept boys by artifice, to serve their lusts by thus lengthening the years of youthful charm.

At first the rumour of Eutropius’ consulship seemed false and invented as a jest. A vague story spread from city to city; the crime was laughed at as one would laugh to hear of a swan with black wings or a crow as white as privet. Thus spake one of weighty character: “If such things are believed and swollen lies tell of unheard of monsters, then the tortoise can fly, the vulture grow horns, rivers flow back and mount the hills whence they spring, the sun rise behind Gades and set amid the Carmanians of India; I shall soon see ocean fit nursery for plants and the dolphin a denizen of the woods; beings half-men, half-snails and all the vain imaginings of India depicted on Jewish curtains.”

Then another adds, jesting with a more wanton wit: “Dost thou wonder? Nothing great is there that Eutropius does not conceive in his heart. He ever loves novelty, ever size, and is quick to taste everything in turn. He fears no assault from the rear; night and day he is ready with watchful care; soft, easily moved by entreaty, and, even in the midst of his passion, tenderest of men, he never says ‘no,’ and is ever at the disposal even of

[166]quod libet ingenio, subigit traditque fruendum;quidquid amas, dabit ilia manus; communiter omnifungitur officio gaudetque potentia flecti.hoc quoque conciliis peperit meritoque laborum,accipit et trabeas argutae praemia dextrae.”370Postquam vera fides facinus vulgavit Eoumgentibus et Romae iam certius impulit aures,“Eutropiumne etiam nostra dignabimur ira?hic quoque Romani meruit pars esse doloris?”sic effata rapit caeli per inania cursum375diva potens unoque Padum translapsa volatucastra sui rectoris adit. tum forte decoruscum Stilichone gener pacem implorantibus ultroGermanis responsa dabat, legesque Caucisarduus et flavis signabat iura Suebis.380his tribuit reges, his obside foedera sancitindicto; bellorum alios transcribit in usus,militet ut nostris detonsa Sygambria signis.laeta subit Romam pietas et gaudia paenemoverunt lacrimas tantoque exultat alumno:385sic armenta suo iam defensante iuvencocelsius adsurgunt erectae cornua matri,sic iam terribilem stabulis dominumque ferarumcrescere miratur genetrix Massyla leonem.dimovit nebulam iuvenique adparuit ingens.390tum sic orsa loqui:[167]those that solicit him not. Whatever the senses desire he cultivates and offers for another’s enjoyment. That hand will give whatever thou wouldest have. He performs the functions of all alike; his dignity loves to unbend. His meetings[95]and his deserving labours have won him this reward,[96]and he receives the consul’s robe in recompense for the work of his skilful hand.”When the rumour concerning this disgrace of the eastern empire was known to be true and had impressed belief on Roman ears, Rome’s goddess thus spake: “Is Eutropius worthy of mine ire? Is such an one fit cause for Roman grief?” So saying the mighty goddess winged her way through the heavens and with one stroke of her pinions passed beyond the Po and approached the camp of her emperor. It happened that even then the august Honorius, assisted by his father-in-law Stilicho, was making answer to the Germans who had come of their own accord to sue for peace. From his lofty throne he was dictating laws to the Cauci and giving a constitution to the flaxen-haired Suebi. Over these he sets a king, with those he signs a treaty now that hostages have been demanded; others he enters on the list as serviceable allies in war, so that in future the Sygambrians will cut off their flowing locks and serve beneath our banners. Joy and love so fill the goddess’ heart that she well nigh weeps, so great is her happy pride in her illustrious foster-child. So when a bullock fights in defence of the herd his mother lifts her own horns more proudly; so the African lioness gazes with admiration on her cub as he grows to be the terror of the farmsteads and the future king of beasts. Rome lays aside her veil of cloud and towers above the youthful warrior, then thus begins.[95]With a play upon the sexual meaning of the word: indeed the whole passage, from l. 358 is a mass of obscene innuendo.[96]i.e.the consulship.

[166]

quod libet ingenio, subigit traditque fruendum;quidquid amas, dabit ilia manus; communiter omnifungitur officio gaudetque potentia flecti.hoc quoque conciliis peperit meritoque laborum,accipit et trabeas argutae praemia dextrae.”370Postquam vera fides facinus vulgavit Eoumgentibus et Romae iam certius impulit aures,“Eutropiumne etiam nostra dignabimur ira?hic quoque Romani meruit pars esse doloris?”sic effata rapit caeli per inania cursum375diva potens unoque Padum translapsa volatucastra sui rectoris adit. tum forte decoruscum Stilichone gener pacem implorantibus ultroGermanis responsa dabat, legesque Caucisarduus et flavis signabat iura Suebis.380his tribuit reges, his obside foedera sancitindicto; bellorum alios transcribit in usus,militet ut nostris detonsa Sygambria signis.laeta subit Romam pietas et gaudia paenemoverunt lacrimas tantoque exultat alumno:385sic armenta suo iam defensante iuvencocelsius adsurgunt erectae cornua matri,sic iam terribilem stabulis dominumque ferarumcrescere miratur genetrix Massyla leonem.dimovit nebulam iuvenique adparuit ingens.390tum sic orsa loqui:

quod libet ingenio, subigit traditque fruendum;

quidquid amas, dabit ilia manus; communiter omni

fungitur officio gaudetque potentia flecti.

hoc quoque conciliis peperit meritoque laborum,

accipit et trabeas argutae praemia dextrae.”370

Postquam vera fides facinus vulgavit Eoum

gentibus et Romae iam certius impulit aures,

“Eutropiumne etiam nostra dignabimur ira?

hic quoque Romani meruit pars esse doloris?”

sic effata rapit caeli per inania cursum375

diva potens unoque Padum translapsa volatu

castra sui rectoris adit. tum forte decorus

cum Stilichone gener pacem implorantibus ultro

Germanis responsa dabat, legesque Caucis

arduus et flavis signabat iura Suebis.380

his tribuit reges, his obside foedera sancit

indicto; bellorum alios transcribit in usus,

militet ut nostris detonsa Sygambria signis.

laeta subit Romam pietas et gaudia paene

moverunt lacrimas tantoque exultat alumno:385

sic armenta suo iam defensante iuvenco

celsius adsurgunt erectae cornua matri,

sic iam terribilem stabulis dominumque ferarum

crescere miratur genetrix Massyla leonem.

dimovit nebulam iuvenique adparuit ingens.390

tum sic orsa loqui:

[167]those that solicit him not. Whatever the senses desire he cultivates and offers for another’s enjoyment. That hand will give whatever thou wouldest have. He performs the functions of all alike; his dignity loves to unbend. His meetings[95]and his deserving labours have won him this reward,[96]and he receives the consul’s robe in recompense for the work of his skilful hand.”When the rumour concerning this disgrace of the eastern empire was known to be true and had impressed belief on Roman ears, Rome’s goddess thus spake: “Is Eutropius worthy of mine ire? Is such an one fit cause for Roman grief?” So saying the mighty goddess winged her way through the heavens and with one stroke of her pinions passed beyond the Po and approached the camp of her emperor. It happened that even then the august Honorius, assisted by his father-in-law Stilicho, was making answer to the Germans who had come of their own accord to sue for peace. From his lofty throne he was dictating laws to the Cauci and giving a constitution to the flaxen-haired Suebi. Over these he sets a king, with those he signs a treaty now that hostages have been demanded; others he enters on the list as serviceable allies in war, so that in future the Sygambrians will cut off their flowing locks and serve beneath our banners. Joy and love so fill the goddess’ heart that she well nigh weeps, so great is her happy pride in her illustrious foster-child. So when a bullock fights in defence of the herd his mother lifts her own horns more proudly; so the African lioness gazes with admiration on her cub as he grows to be the terror of the farmsteads and the future king of beasts. Rome lays aside her veil of cloud and towers above the youthful warrior, then thus begins.[95]With a play upon the sexual meaning of the word: indeed the whole passage, from l. 358 is a mass of obscene innuendo.[96]i.e.the consulship.

[167]

those that solicit him not. Whatever the senses desire he cultivates and offers for another’s enjoyment. That hand will give whatever thou wouldest have. He performs the functions of all alike; his dignity loves to unbend. His meetings[95]and his deserving labours have won him this reward,[96]and he receives the consul’s robe in recompense for the work of his skilful hand.”

When the rumour concerning this disgrace of the eastern empire was known to be true and had impressed belief on Roman ears, Rome’s goddess thus spake: “Is Eutropius worthy of mine ire? Is such an one fit cause for Roman grief?” So saying the mighty goddess winged her way through the heavens and with one stroke of her pinions passed beyond the Po and approached the camp of her emperor. It happened that even then the august Honorius, assisted by his father-in-law Stilicho, was making answer to the Germans who had come of their own accord to sue for peace. From his lofty throne he was dictating laws to the Cauci and giving a constitution to the flaxen-haired Suebi. Over these he sets a king, with those he signs a treaty now that hostages have been demanded; others he enters on the list as serviceable allies in war, so that in future the Sygambrians will cut off their flowing locks and serve beneath our banners. Joy and love so fill the goddess’ heart that she well nigh weeps, so great is her happy pride in her illustrious foster-child. So when a bullock fights in defence of the herd his mother lifts her own horns more proudly; so the African lioness gazes with admiration on her cub as he grows to be the terror of the farmsteads and the future king of beasts. Rome lays aside her veil of cloud and towers above the youthful warrior, then thus begins.

[95]With a play upon the sexual meaning of the word: indeed the whole passage, from l. 358 is a mass of obscene innuendo.

[96]i.e.the consulship.

[168]“Quantum te principe possim,non longinqua docent, domito quod Saxone Tethysmitior aut fracto secura Britannia Picto;ante pedes humili Franco tristique Sueboperfruor et nostrum video, Germanice, Rhenum.395sed quid agam? discors Oriens felicibus actisinvidet atque alio Phoebi de cardine surguntcrimina, ne toto conspiret corpore regnum.Gildonis taceo magna cum laude receptamperfidiam et fretos Eoo robore Mauros.400quae suscepta fames, quantum discriminis urbi,ni tua vel soceri numquam non provida virtusaustralem Arctois pensasset frugibus annum!invectae Rhodani Tiberina per ostia classesCinyphiisque ferax Araris successit aristis.405Teutonicus vomer Pyrenaeique iuvencisudavere mihi; segetes mirantur Hiberashorrea; nec Libyae senserunt damna rebellisiam transalpina contenti messe Quirites.ille quidem solvit meritas (scit Tabraca) poenas,410ut pereat quicumque tuis conflixerit armis.“Ecce repens isdem clades a partibus exitterrorisque minus, sed plus habitura pudorisEutropius consul, pridem tolerare fatemurhoc genus, Arsacio postquam se regia fastu415sustulit et nostros corrupit Parthia mores,praefecti sed adhuc gemmis vestique dabanturcustodes sacroque adhibere silentia somno;[169]“Examples near at hand testify to the extent of my power now thou art emperor. The Saxon is conquered and the seas safe; the Picts have been defeated and Britain is secure. I love to see at my feet the humbled Franks and broken Suebi, and I behold the Rhine mine own, Germanicus.[97]Yet what am I to do? The discordant East envies our prosperity, and beneath that other sky, lo! wickedness flourishes to prevent our empire’s breathing in harmony with one body. I make no mention of Gildo’s treason, detected so gloriously in spite of the power of the East on which the rebel Moor relied. For what extremes of famine did we not then look? How dire a danger overhung our city, had not thy valour or the ever-provident diligence of thy father-in-law supplied corn from the north in place of that from the south! Up Tiber’s estuary there sailed ships from the Rhine, and the Saône’s fertile banks made good the lost harvests of Africa. For me the Germans ploughed and the Spaniards’ oxen sweated; my granaries marvel at Iberian corn, nor did my citizens, now satisfied with harvests from beyond the Alps, feel the defection of revolted Africa. Gildo, however, paid the penalty for his treason as Tabraca can witness. So perish all who take up arms against thee!“Lo! on a sudden from that same clime comes another scourge, less terrible indeed but even more shameful, the consulship of Eutropius. I admit I have long learned to tolerate this unmanned tribe, ever since the court exalted itself with Arsacid pomp and the example of Parthia corrupted our morals. But till now they were but set to guard jewels and raiment, and to secure silence for the imperial slumber. Never beyond the sleeping-chamber[97]She calls himGermanicusbecause of his pacification of Germany; see Introduction, p. x.

[168]

“Quantum te principe possim,non longinqua docent, domito quod Saxone Tethysmitior aut fracto secura Britannia Picto;ante pedes humili Franco tristique Sueboperfruor et nostrum video, Germanice, Rhenum.395sed quid agam? discors Oriens felicibus actisinvidet atque alio Phoebi de cardine surguntcrimina, ne toto conspiret corpore regnum.Gildonis taceo magna cum laude receptamperfidiam et fretos Eoo robore Mauros.400quae suscepta fames, quantum discriminis urbi,ni tua vel soceri numquam non provida virtusaustralem Arctois pensasset frugibus annum!invectae Rhodani Tiberina per ostia classesCinyphiisque ferax Araris successit aristis.405Teutonicus vomer Pyrenaeique iuvencisudavere mihi; segetes mirantur Hiberashorrea; nec Libyae senserunt damna rebellisiam transalpina contenti messe Quirites.ille quidem solvit meritas (scit Tabraca) poenas,410ut pereat quicumque tuis conflixerit armis.“Ecce repens isdem clades a partibus exitterrorisque minus, sed plus habitura pudorisEutropius consul, pridem tolerare fatemurhoc genus, Arsacio postquam se regia fastu415sustulit et nostros corrupit Parthia mores,praefecti sed adhuc gemmis vestique dabanturcustodes sacroque adhibere silentia somno;

“Quantum te principe possim,

non longinqua docent, domito quod Saxone Tethys

mitior aut fracto secura Britannia Picto;

ante pedes humili Franco tristique Suebo

perfruor et nostrum video, Germanice, Rhenum.395

sed quid agam? discors Oriens felicibus actis

invidet atque alio Phoebi de cardine surgunt

crimina, ne toto conspiret corpore regnum.

Gildonis taceo magna cum laude receptam

perfidiam et fretos Eoo robore Mauros.400

quae suscepta fames, quantum discriminis urbi,

ni tua vel soceri numquam non provida virtus

australem Arctois pensasset frugibus annum!

invectae Rhodani Tiberina per ostia classes

Cinyphiisque ferax Araris successit aristis.405

Teutonicus vomer Pyrenaeique iuvenci

sudavere mihi; segetes mirantur Hiberas

horrea; nec Libyae senserunt damna rebellis

iam transalpina contenti messe Quirites.

ille quidem solvit meritas (scit Tabraca) poenas,410

ut pereat quicumque tuis conflixerit armis.

“Ecce repens isdem clades a partibus exit

terrorisque minus, sed plus habitura pudoris

Eutropius consul, pridem tolerare fatemur

hoc genus, Arsacio postquam se regia fastu415

sustulit et nostros corrupit Parthia mores,

praefecti sed adhuc gemmis vestique dabantur

custodes sacroque adhibere silentia somno;

[169]“Examples near at hand testify to the extent of my power now thou art emperor. The Saxon is conquered and the seas safe; the Picts have been defeated and Britain is secure. I love to see at my feet the humbled Franks and broken Suebi, and I behold the Rhine mine own, Germanicus.[97]Yet what am I to do? The discordant East envies our prosperity, and beneath that other sky, lo! wickedness flourishes to prevent our empire’s breathing in harmony with one body. I make no mention of Gildo’s treason, detected so gloriously in spite of the power of the East on which the rebel Moor relied. For what extremes of famine did we not then look? How dire a danger overhung our city, had not thy valour or the ever-provident diligence of thy father-in-law supplied corn from the north in place of that from the south! Up Tiber’s estuary there sailed ships from the Rhine, and the Saône’s fertile banks made good the lost harvests of Africa. For me the Germans ploughed and the Spaniards’ oxen sweated; my granaries marvel at Iberian corn, nor did my citizens, now satisfied with harvests from beyond the Alps, feel the defection of revolted Africa. Gildo, however, paid the penalty for his treason as Tabraca can witness. So perish all who take up arms against thee!“Lo! on a sudden from that same clime comes another scourge, less terrible indeed but even more shameful, the consulship of Eutropius. I admit I have long learned to tolerate this unmanned tribe, ever since the court exalted itself with Arsacid pomp and the example of Parthia corrupted our morals. But till now they were but set to guard jewels and raiment, and to secure silence for the imperial slumber. Never beyond the sleeping-chamber[97]She calls himGermanicusbecause of his pacification of Germany; see Introduction, p. x.

[169]

“Examples near at hand testify to the extent of my power now thou art emperor. The Saxon is conquered and the seas safe; the Picts have been defeated and Britain is secure. I love to see at my feet the humbled Franks and broken Suebi, and I behold the Rhine mine own, Germanicus.[97]Yet what am I to do? The discordant East envies our prosperity, and beneath that other sky, lo! wickedness flourishes to prevent our empire’s breathing in harmony with one body. I make no mention of Gildo’s treason, detected so gloriously in spite of the power of the East on which the rebel Moor relied. For what extremes of famine did we not then look? How dire a danger overhung our city, had not thy valour or the ever-provident diligence of thy father-in-law supplied corn from the north in place of that from the south! Up Tiber’s estuary there sailed ships from the Rhine, and the Saône’s fertile banks made good the lost harvests of Africa. For me the Germans ploughed and the Spaniards’ oxen sweated; my granaries marvel at Iberian corn, nor did my citizens, now satisfied with harvests from beyond the Alps, feel the defection of revolted Africa. Gildo, however, paid the penalty for his treason as Tabraca can witness. So perish all who take up arms against thee!

“Lo! on a sudden from that same clime comes another scourge, less terrible indeed but even more shameful, the consulship of Eutropius. I admit I have long learned to tolerate this unmanned tribe, ever since the court exalted itself with Arsacid pomp and the example of Parthia corrupted our morals. But till now they were but set to guard jewels and raiment, and to secure silence for the imperial slumber. Never beyond the sleeping-chamber

[97]She calls himGermanicusbecause of his pacification of Germany; see Introduction, p. x.

[170]militia eunuchi numquam progressa cubili,non vita spondente fidem, sed inertia tutum420mentis pignus erat. secreta monilia servent,ornatus curent Tyrios: a fronte recedantimperii. tenero tractari pectore nescitpublica maiestas. numquam vel in aequore puppimvidimus eunuchi clavo parere magistri.425nos adeo sperni faciles? orbisque carinavilior? auroram sane, quae talia ferregaudet, et adsuetas sceptris muliebribus urbespossideant; quid belliferam communibus uruntItaliam maculis nocituraque probra severis430ammiscent populis? peregrina piacula fortipellantur longe Latio nec transeat Alpesdedecus; in solis, quibus extitit, haereat arvis.scribat Halys, scribat famae contemptor Orontes:per te perque tuos obtestor Roma triumphos,435nesciat hoc Thybris, numquam poscentibus olimqui dare Dentatis annos Fabiisque solebat.Martius eunuchi repetet suffragia campus?Aemilios inter servatoresque CamillosEutropius? iam Chrysogonis tua, Brute, potestas440Narcissisque datur? natos hoc dedere poenaeprofuit et misero civem praeponere patri?hoc mihi Ianiculo positis Etruria castrisquaesiit et tantum fluvio Porsenna remotus?hoc meruit vel ponte Cocles vel Mucius igne?445visceribus frustra castum Lucretia ferrum[171]did the eunuch’s service pass; not their lives gave guarantee of loyalty but their dull wits were a sure pledge. Let them guard hidden store of pearls and Tyrian-dyed vestments; they must quit high offices of state. The majesty of Rome cannot devolve upon an effeminate. Never have we seen so much as a ship at sea obey the helm in the hands of a eunuch-captain. Are we then so despicable? Is the whole world of less account than a ship? Let eunuchs govern the East by all means, for the East rejoices in such rulers, let them lord it over cities accustomed to a woman’s sway: why disfigure warlike Italy with the general brand and defile her austere peoples with their deadly profligacy? Drive this foreign pollution from out the boundaries of manly Latium; suffer not this thing of shame to cross the Alps; let it remain fixed in the country of its birth. Let the river Halys or Orontes, careless of its reputation, add such a name to its annals: I, Rome, beg thee by thy life and triumphs, let not Tiber suffer this disgrace—Tiber whose way was to give the consulship to such men as Dentatus and Fabius though they asked not for it. Shall the Field of Mars witness the canvassing of an eunuch? Is Eutropius to stand with Aemilii and Camilli, saviours of their country? Is thy office, Brutus, now to be given to a Chrysogonus or a Narcissus[98]? Is this the reward for giving up thy sons to punishment and setting the citizen’s duty before the father’s grief? Was it for this that the Tuscans made their camp on the Janiculum and Porsenna was but the river’s span from our gates? For this that Horatius kept the bridge and Mucius braved the flames? Was it all to no purpose that[98]Notorious freedmen and tools respectively of Sulla and the Emperor Claudius.

[170]

militia eunuchi numquam progressa cubili,non vita spondente fidem, sed inertia tutum420mentis pignus erat. secreta monilia servent,ornatus curent Tyrios: a fronte recedantimperii. tenero tractari pectore nescitpublica maiestas. numquam vel in aequore puppimvidimus eunuchi clavo parere magistri.425nos adeo sperni faciles? orbisque carinavilior? auroram sane, quae talia ferregaudet, et adsuetas sceptris muliebribus urbespossideant; quid belliferam communibus uruntItaliam maculis nocituraque probra severis430ammiscent populis? peregrina piacula fortipellantur longe Latio nec transeat Alpesdedecus; in solis, quibus extitit, haereat arvis.scribat Halys, scribat famae contemptor Orontes:per te perque tuos obtestor Roma triumphos,435nesciat hoc Thybris, numquam poscentibus olimqui dare Dentatis annos Fabiisque solebat.Martius eunuchi repetet suffragia campus?Aemilios inter servatoresque CamillosEutropius? iam Chrysogonis tua, Brute, potestas440Narcissisque datur? natos hoc dedere poenaeprofuit et misero civem praeponere patri?hoc mihi Ianiculo positis Etruria castrisquaesiit et tantum fluvio Porsenna remotus?hoc meruit vel ponte Cocles vel Mucius igne?445visceribus frustra castum Lucretia ferrum

militia eunuchi numquam progressa cubili,

non vita spondente fidem, sed inertia tutum420

mentis pignus erat. secreta monilia servent,

ornatus curent Tyrios: a fronte recedant

imperii. tenero tractari pectore nescit

publica maiestas. numquam vel in aequore puppim

vidimus eunuchi clavo parere magistri.425

nos adeo sperni faciles? orbisque carina

vilior? auroram sane, quae talia ferre

gaudet, et adsuetas sceptris muliebribus urbes

possideant; quid belliferam communibus urunt

Italiam maculis nocituraque probra severis430

ammiscent populis? peregrina piacula forti

pellantur longe Latio nec transeat Alpes

dedecus; in solis, quibus extitit, haereat arvis.

scribat Halys, scribat famae contemptor Orontes:

per te perque tuos obtestor Roma triumphos,435

nesciat hoc Thybris, numquam poscentibus olim

qui dare Dentatis annos Fabiisque solebat.

Martius eunuchi repetet suffragia campus?

Aemilios inter servatoresque Camillos

Eutropius? iam Chrysogonis tua, Brute, potestas440

Narcissisque datur? natos hoc dedere poenae

profuit et misero civem praeponere patri?

hoc mihi Ianiculo positis Etruria castris

quaesiit et tantum fluvio Porsenna remotus?

hoc meruit vel ponte Cocles vel Mucius igne?445

visceribus frustra castum Lucretia ferrum

[171]did the eunuch’s service pass; not their lives gave guarantee of loyalty but their dull wits were a sure pledge. Let them guard hidden store of pearls and Tyrian-dyed vestments; they must quit high offices of state. The majesty of Rome cannot devolve upon an effeminate. Never have we seen so much as a ship at sea obey the helm in the hands of a eunuch-captain. Are we then so despicable? Is the whole world of less account than a ship? Let eunuchs govern the East by all means, for the East rejoices in such rulers, let them lord it over cities accustomed to a woman’s sway: why disfigure warlike Italy with the general brand and defile her austere peoples with their deadly profligacy? Drive this foreign pollution from out the boundaries of manly Latium; suffer not this thing of shame to cross the Alps; let it remain fixed in the country of its birth. Let the river Halys or Orontes, careless of its reputation, add such a name to its annals: I, Rome, beg thee by thy life and triumphs, let not Tiber suffer this disgrace—Tiber whose way was to give the consulship to such men as Dentatus and Fabius though they asked not for it. Shall the Field of Mars witness the canvassing of an eunuch? Is Eutropius to stand with Aemilii and Camilli, saviours of their country? Is thy office, Brutus, now to be given to a Chrysogonus or a Narcissus[98]? Is this the reward for giving up thy sons to punishment and setting the citizen’s duty before the father’s grief? Was it for this that the Tuscans made their camp on the Janiculum and Porsenna was but the river’s span from our gates? For this that Horatius kept the bridge and Mucius braved the flames? Was it all to no purpose that[98]Notorious freedmen and tools respectively of Sulla and the Emperor Claudius.

[171]

did the eunuch’s service pass; not their lives gave guarantee of loyalty but their dull wits were a sure pledge. Let them guard hidden store of pearls and Tyrian-dyed vestments; they must quit high offices of state. The majesty of Rome cannot devolve upon an effeminate. Never have we seen so much as a ship at sea obey the helm in the hands of a eunuch-captain. Are we then so despicable? Is the whole world of less account than a ship? Let eunuchs govern the East by all means, for the East rejoices in such rulers, let them lord it over cities accustomed to a woman’s sway: why disfigure warlike Italy with the general brand and defile her austere peoples with their deadly profligacy? Drive this foreign pollution from out the boundaries of manly Latium; suffer not this thing of shame to cross the Alps; let it remain fixed in the country of its birth. Let the river Halys or Orontes, careless of its reputation, add such a name to its annals: I, Rome, beg thee by thy life and triumphs, let not Tiber suffer this disgrace—Tiber whose way was to give the consulship to such men as Dentatus and Fabius though they asked not for it. Shall the Field of Mars witness the canvassing of an eunuch? Is Eutropius to stand with Aemilii and Camilli, saviours of their country? Is thy office, Brutus, now to be given to a Chrysogonus or a Narcissus[98]? Is this the reward for giving up thy sons to punishment and setting the citizen’s duty before the father’s grief? Was it for this that the Tuscans made their camp on the Janiculum and Porsenna was but the river’s span from our gates? For this that Horatius kept the bridge and Mucius braved the flames? Was it all to no purpose that

[98]Notorious freedmen and tools respectively of Sulla and the Emperor Claudius.

[172]mersit et attonitum tranavit Cloelia Thybrim?Eutropio fasces adservabantur ademptiTarquiniis? quemcumque meae vexere curules,laxato veniat socium aversatus Averno.450impensi sacris Decii prorumpite bustisTorquatique truces animosaque pauperis umbraFabricii tuque o, si forte inferna piorumiugera et Elysias scindis, Serrane, novales.Poeno Scipiadae, Poeno praeclare Lutati,455Sicania Marcelle ferox, gens Claudia surgas[99]et Curii veteres; et, qui sub iure negastivivere Caesareo, parvo procede sepulcroEutropium passure Cato; remcate tenebris,agmina Brutorum Corvinorumque catervae.460eunuchi vestros habitus, insignia sumuntambigui Romana mares; rapuere tremendasHannibali Pyrrhoque togas; flabella perosiadspirant trabeis; iam non umbracula gestantvirginibus, Latias ausi vibrare secures!465“Linquite femineas infelix turba latebras,alter quos pepulit sexus nec suscipit alter,execti Veneris stimulos et vulnere casti(mixta duplex aetas; inter puerumque senemquenil medium): falsi complete sedilia patres;470ite novi proceres infecundoque senatuEutropium stipate ducem; celebrate tribunalpro thalamis, verso iam discite more curules,non matrum pilenta sequi.[99]MSS.havesurgat.[173]chaste Lucretia plunged the dagger into her bosom and Cloelia swam the astonished Tiber? Were the fasces reft from Tarquin to be given to Eutropius? Let Hell ope her jaws and all who have sat in my curule chair come and turn their backs upon their colleague. Decii, self-sacrificed for your country’s good, come forth from your graves; and you, fierce Torquati; and thou, too, great-hearted shade of poor Fabricius. Serranus, come thou hither, if now thou ploughest the acres of the holy dead and cleavest the fallow lands of Elysium. Come Scipios, Lutatius, famed for your victories over Carthage, Marcellus, conqueror of Sicily, rise from the dead, thou Claudian race, you progeny of Curius. Cato, thou who wouldst not live beneath Caesar’s rule, come thou forth from thy simple tomb and brave the sight of Eutropius. Immortal bands of Bruti and Corvini, return to earth. Eunuchs don your robes of office, sexless beings assume the insignia of Rome. They have laid hands on the toga that inspired Hannibal and Pyrrhus with terror. They now despise the fan and aspire to the consul’s cloak. No longer do they carry the maidenly parasol for they have dared to wield the axes of Latium.“Unhappy band, leave your womanly fastnesses, you whom the male sex has discarded and the female will not adopt. The knife has cut out the stings of love and by that wounding you are pure. A mixture are you of two ages—child and greybeard and nought between. Take your seats, fathers in name alone. Come new lords, come sterile senate, throng your leader Eutropius. Fill the judgement-seat, not the bedchamber. Change your habits and learn to follow the consul’s chair, not the woman’s litter.

[172]

mersit et attonitum tranavit Cloelia Thybrim?Eutropio fasces adservabantur ademptiTarquiniis? quemcumque meae vexere curules,laxato veniat socium aversatus Averno.450impensi sacris Decii prorumpite bustisTorquatique truces animosaque pauperis umbraFabricii tuque o, si forte inferna piorumiugera et Elysias scindis, Serrane, novales.Poeno Scipiadae, Poeno praeclare Lutati,455Sicania Marcelle ferox, gens Claudia surgas[99]et Curii veteres; et, qui sub iure negastivivere Caesareo, parvo procede sepulcroEutropium passure Cato; remcate tenebris,agmina Brutorum Corvinorumque catervae.460eunuchi vestros habitus, insignia sumuntambigui Romana mares; rapuere tremendasHannibali Pyrrhoque togas; flabella perosiadspirant trabeis; iam non umbracula gestantvirginibus, Latias ausi vibrare secures!465“Linquite femineas infelix turba latebras,alter quos pepulit sexus nec suscipit alter,execti Veneris stimulos et vulnere casti(mixta duplex aetas; inter puerumque senemquenil medium): falsi complete sedilia patres;470ite novi proceres infecundoque senatuEutropium stipate ducem; celebrate tribunalpro thalamis, verso iam discite more curules,non matrum pilenta sequi.

mersit et attonitum tranavit Cloelia Thybrim?

Eutropio fasces adservabantur adempti

Tarquiniis? quemcumque meae vexere curules,

laxato veniat socium aversatus Averno.450

impensi sacris Decii prorumpite bustis

Torquatique truces animosaque pauperis umbra

Fabricii tuque o, si forte inferna piorum

iugera et Elysias scindis, Serrane, novales.

Poeno Scipiadae, Poeno praeclare Lutati,455

Sicania Marcelle ferox, gens Claudia surgas[99]

et Curii veteres; et, qui sub iure negasti

vivere Caesareo, parvo procede sepulcro

Eutropium passure Cato; remcate tenebris,

agmina Brutorum Corvinorumque catervae.460

eunuchi vestros habitus, insignia sumunt

ambigui Romana mares; rapuere tremendas

Hannibali Pyrrhoque togas; flabella perosi

adspirant trabeis; iam non umbracula gestant

virginibus, Latias ausi vibrare secures!465

“Linquite femineas infelix turba latebras,

alter quos pepulit sexus nec suscipit alter,

execti Veneris stimulos et vulnere casti

(mixta duplex aetas; inter puerumque senemque

nil medium): falsi complete sedilia patres;470

ite novi proceres infecundoque senatu

Eutropium stipate ducem; celebrate tribunal

pro thalamis, verso iam discite more curules,

non matrum pilenta sequi.

[99]MSS.havesurgat.

[173]chaste Lucretia plunged the dagger into her bosom and Cloelia swam the astonished Tiber? Were the fasces reft from Tarquin to be given to Eutropius? Let Hell ope her jaws and all who have sat in my curule chair come and turn their backs upon their colleague. Decii, self-sacrificed for your country’s good, come forth from your graves; and you, fierce Torquati; and thou, too, great-hearted shade of poor Fabricius. Serranus, come thou hither, if now thou ploughest the acres of the holy dead and cleavest the fallow lands of Elysium. Come Scipios, Lutatius, famed for your victories over Carthage, Marcellus, conqueror of Sicily, rise from the dead, thou Claudian race, you progeny of Curius. Cato, thou who wouldst not live beneath Caesar’s rule, come thou forth from thy simple tomb and brave the sight of Eutropius. Immortal bands of Bruti and Corvini, return to earth. Eunuchs don your robes of office, sexless beings assume the insignia of Rome. They have laid hands on the toga that inspired Hannibal and Pyrrhus with terror. They now despise the fan and aspire to the consul’s cloak. No longer do they carry the maidenly parasol for they have dared to wield the axes of Latium.“Unhappy band, leave your womanly fastnesses, you whom the male sex has discarded and the female will not adopt. The knife has cut out the stings of love and by that wounding you are pure. A mixture are you of two ages—child and greybeard and nought between. Take your seats, fathers in name alone. Come new lords, come sterile senate, throng your leader Eutropius. Fill the judgement-seat, not the bedchamber. Change your habits and learn to follow the consul’s chair, not the woman’s litter.

[173]

chaste Lucretia plunged the dagger into her bosom and Cloelia swam the astonished Tiber? Were the fasces reft from Tarquin to be given to Eutropius? Let Hell ope her jaws and all who have sat in my curule chair come and turn their backs upon their colleague. Decii, self-sacrificed for your country’s good, come forth from your graves; and you, fierce Torquati; and thou, too, great-hearted shade of poor Fabricius. Serranus, come thou hither, if now thou ploughest the acres of the holy dead and cleavest the fallow lands of Elysium. Come Scipios, Lutatius, famed for your victories over Carthage, Marcellus, conqueror of Sicily, rise from the dead, thou Claudian race, you progeny of Curius. Cato, thou who wouldst not live beneath Caesar’s rule, come thou forth from thy simple tomb and brave the sight of Eutropius. Immortal bands of Bruti and Corvini, return to earth. Eunuchs don your robes of office, sexless beings assume the insignia of Rome. They have laid hands on the toga that inspired Hannibal and Pyrrhus with terror. They now despise the fan and aspire to the consul’s cloak. No longer do they carry the maidenly parasol for they have dared to wield the axes of Latium.

“Unhappy band, leave your womanly fastnesses, you whom the male sex has discarded and the female will not adopt. The knife has cut out the stings of love and by that wounding you are pure. A mixture are you of two ages—child and greybeard and nought between. Take your seats, fathers in name alone. Come new lords, come sterile senate, throng your leader Eutropius. Fill the judgement-seat, not the bedchamber. Change your habits and learn to follow the consul’s chair, not the woman’s litter.

[174]“Ne prisca revolvamneu numerem, quantis iniuria mille per annos475sit retro ducibus, quanti foedabitur aevicanities, unam subeant quot saecula culpam:inter Arinthaei fastos et nomen erileservus erit dominoque suos aequalis honoresinseret! heu semper Ptolomaei noxia mundo480mancipia! en alio laedor graviore Pothinoet patior maius Phario scelus. ille cruoremconsulis unius Pellaeis ensibus hausit;inquinat hic omnes.“Si nil privata movebunt,at tu principibus, vestrae tu prospice causae485regalesque averte notas. hunc accipit unumaula magistratum: vobis patribusque recurrithic alternus honos. in crimen euntibus annisparce, quater consul! contagia fascibus, oro,defendas ignava tuis neu tradita libris490omina vestitusque meos, quibus omne, quod ambitoceanus, domui, tanta caligine mergicalcarique sinas. nam quae iam bella geramusmollibus auspiciis? quae iam conubia prolemvel frugem latura seges? quid fertile terris,495quid plenum sterili possit sub consule nasci?eunuchi si iura dabunt legesque tenebunt,ducant pensa viri mutatoque ordine rerumvivat Amazonio confusa licentia ritu.[175]“I would not cite examples from remote antiquity nor count the countless magistrates of past history whom he thus outrages. But think how the reverence due to all past ages will be impaired, on how many centuries one man’s shame will set its mark. Amid the annals that record the name of Arinthaeus,[100]his master, will be found the slave, and he will enter his own honours as equal to those of his owner. The slaves of Egypt’s kings have ever been a curse to the world; behold I suffer from a worse than Pothinus and bear a wrong more flagrant than that of which Egypt was once the scene. Pothinus’ sword at Alexandria spilled the blood of a single consul;[101]Eutropius brings dishonour on all.“If the fate of subjects cannot move thee, yet have thou regard for princes, for your common cause, and remove this stain on royalty. The consulship is the sole office the emperor deigns to accept; alternately the honour passes to Court and Senate. Thou who hast thyself been four times consul spare succeeding consuls this infamy. I pray thee, protect the fasces, so often thine, from the pollution of a eunuch’s hand; let not the omens handed down in our sacred books, let not those robes of mine wherewith I have subdued everything within Ocean’s stream, be plunged in so great darkness and trodden under foot. What kind of wars can we wage now that a eunuch takes the auspices? What marriage, what harvest will be fruitful? What fertility, what abundance is possible beneath a consul stricken with sterility? If eunuchs shall give judgement and determine laws, then let men card wool and live like the Amazons, confusion and licence dispossessing the order of nature.[100]Arinthaeus had held the high position ofmagister peditum. He died in 379.[101]Pothinus, the creature of Ptolemy Dionysius, was instrumental in killing Pompey in Egypt in 48B.C.

[174]

“Ne prisca revolvamneu numerem, quantis iniuria mille per annos475sit retro ducibus, quanti foedabitur aevicanities, unam subeant quot saecula culpam:inter Arinthaei fastos et nomen erileservus erit dominoque suos aequalis honoresinseret! heu semper Ptolomaei noxia mundo480mancipia! en alio laedor graviore Pothinoet patior maius Phario scelus. ille cruoremconsulis unius Pellaeis ensibus hausit;inquinat hic omnes.“Si nil privata movebunt,at tu principibus, vestrae tu prospice causae485regalesque averte notas. hunc accipit unumaula magistratum: vobis patribusque recurrithic alternus honos. in crimen euntibus annisparce, quater consul! contagia fascibus, oro,defendas ignava tuis neu tradita libris490omina vestitusque meos, quibus omne, quod ambitoceanus, domui, tanta caligine mergicalcarique sinas. nam quae iam bella geramusmollibus auspiciis? quae iam conubia prolemvel frugem latura seges? quid fertile terris,495quid plenum sterili possit sub consule nasci?eunuchi si iura dabunt legesque tenebunt,ducant pensa viri mutatoque ordine rerumvivat Amazonio confusa licentia ritu.

“Ne prisca revolvam

neu numerem, quantis iniuria mille per annos475

sit retro ducibus, quanti foedabitur aevi

canities, unam subeant quot saecula culpam:

inter Arinthaei fastos et nomen erile

servus erit dominoque suos aequalis honores

inseret! heu semper Ptolomaei noxia mundo480

mancipia! en alio laedor graviore Pothino

et patior maius Phario scelus. ille cruorem

consulis unius Pellaeis ensibus hausit;

inquinat hic omnes.

“Si nil privata movebunt,

at tu principibus, vestrae tu prospice causae485

regalesque averte notas. hunc accipit unum

aula magistratum: vobis patribusque recurrit

hic alternus honos. in crimen euntibus annis

parce, quater consul! contagia fascibus, oro,

defendas ignava tuis neu tradita libris490

omina vestitusque meos, quibus omne, quod ambit

oceanus, domui, tanta caligine mergi

calcarique sinas. nam quae iam bella geramus

mollibus auspiciis? quae iam conubia prolem

vel frugem latura seges? quid fertile terris,495

quid plenum sterili possit sub consule nasci?

eunuchi si iura dabunt legesque tenebunt,

ducant pensa viri mutatoque ordine rerum

vivat Amazonio confusa licentia ritu.

[175]“I would not cite examples from remote antiquity nor count the countless magistrates of past history whom he thus outrages. But think how the reverence due to all past ages will be impaired, on how many centuries one man’s shame will set its mark. Amid the annals that record the name of Arinthaeus,[100]his master, will be found the slave, and he will enter his own honours as equal to those of his owner. The slaves of Egypt’s kings have ever been a curse to the world; behold I suffer from a worse than Pothinus and bear a wrong more flagrant than that of which Egypt was once the scene. Pothinus’ sword at Alexandria spilled the blood of a single consul;[101]Eutropius brings dishonour on all.“If the fate of subjects cannot move thee, yet have thou regard for princes, for your common cause, and remove this stain on royalty. The consulship is the sole office the emperor deigns to accept; alternately the honour passes to Court and Senate. Thou who hast thyself been four times consul spare succeeding consuls this infamy. I pray thee, protect the fasces, so often thine, from the pollution of a eunuch’s hand; let not the omens handed down in our sacred books, let not those robes of mine wherewith I have subdued everything within Ocean’s stream, be plunged in so great darkness and trodden under foot. What kind of wars can we wage now that a eunuch takes the auspices? What marriage, what harvest will be fruitful? What fertility, what abundance is possible beneath a consul stricken with sterility? If eunuchs shall give judgement and determine laws, then let men card wool and live like the Amazons, confusion and licence dispossessing the order of nature.[100]Arinthaeus had held the high position ofmagister peditum. He died in 379.[101]Pothinus, the creature of Ptolemy Dionysius, was instrumental in killing Pompey in Egypt in 48B.C.

[175]

“I would not cite examples from remote antiquity nor count the countless magistrates of past history whom he thus outrages. But think how the reverence due to all past ages will be impaired, on how many centuries one man’s shame will set its mark. Amid the annals that record the name of Arinthaeus,[100]his master, will be found the slave, and he will enter his own honours as equal to those of his owner. The slaves of Egypt’s kings have ever been a curse to the world; behold I suffer from a worse than Pothinus and bear a wrong more flagrant than that of which Egypt was once the scene. Pothinus’ sword at Alexandria spilled the blood of a single consul;[101]Eutropius brings dishonour on all.

“If the fate of subjects cannot move thee, yet have thou regard for princes, for your common cause, and remove this stain on royalty. The consulship is the sole office the emperor deigns to accept; alternately the honour passes to Court and Senate. Thou who hast thyself been four times consul spare succeeding consuls this infamy. I pray thee, protect the fasces, so often thine, from the pollution of a eunuch’s hand; let not the omens handed down in our sacred books, let not those robes of mine wherewith I have subdued everything within Ocean’s stream, be plunged in so great darkness and trodden under foot. What kind of wars can we wage now that a eunuch takes the auspices? What marriage, what harvest will be fruitful? What fertility, what abundance is possible beneath a consul stricken with sterility? If eunuchs shall give judgement and determine laws, then let men card wool and live like the Amazons, confusion and licence dispossessing the order of nature.

[100]Arinthaeus had held the high position ofmagister peditum. He died in 379.

[101]Pothinus, the creature of Ptolemy Dionysius, was instrumental in killing Pompey in Egypt in 48B.C.

[176]“Quid trahor ulterius? Stilicho, quid vincere differs,dum certare pudet? nescis quod turpior hostis501laetitia maiore cadit? piratica Magnumerigit, inlustrat servilis laurea Crassum.adnuis. agnosco fremitum, quo palluit Eurus,quo Mauri Gildoque ruit. quid Martia signa505sollicitas? non est iaculis hastisve petendus:conscia succumbent audito verbere terga,ut Scytha post multos rediens exercitus annos,cum sibi servilis pro finibus obvia pubesiret et arceret dominos tellure reversos,510armatam ostensis aciem fudere flagellis:notus ab inceptis ignobile reppulit horrorvulgus et addictus sub verbere torpuit ensis.”[177]“What need of further words? Why, Stilicho, dost thou delay to conquer because ashamed to fight? Knowest thou not that the viler a foe the greater the rejoicing at his overthrow? His defeat of the pirates extended the fame of great Pompey; his victory in the Servile War gave an added glory to Crassus. Thou acceptest my charge: I recognize the clamour that terrified the East and drove Gildo and his Moors to their destruction. Why sound the trump of war? No need to attack him with javelin or spear. At the crack of the whip will be bowed the back that has felt its blows. Even so when after many years the Scythian army came back from the wars and was met on the confines of its native land by the usurping crowd of slaves who sought to keep their returning masters from their country; with displayed whips they routed the armed ranks; back from its enterprise the familiar terror drove the servile mob, and at threat of the lash the bondsman’s sword grew dull.”

[176]

“Quid trahor ulterius? Stilicho, quid vincere differs,dum certare pudet? nescis quod turpior hostis501laetitia maiore cadit? piratica Magnumerigit, inlustrat servilis laurea Crassum.adnuis. agnosco fremitum, quo palluit Eurus,quo Mauri Gildoque ruit. quid Martia signa505sollicitas? non est iaculis hastisve petendus:conscia succumbent audito verbere terga,ut Scytha post multos rediens exercitus annos,cum sibi servilis pro finibus obvia pubesiret et arceret dominos tellure reversos,510armatam ostensis aciem fudere flagellis:notus ab inceptis ignobile reppulit horrorvulgus et addictus sub verbere torpuit ensis.”

“Quid trahor ulterius? Stilicho, quid vincere differs,

dum certare pudet? nescis quod turpior hostis501

laetitia maiore cadit? piratica Magnum

erigit, inlustrat servilis laurea Crassum.

adnuis. agnosco fremitum, quo palluit Eurus,

quo Mauri Gildoque ruit. quid Martia signa505

sollicitas? non est iaculis hastisve petendus:

conscia succumbent audito verbere terga,

ut Scytha post multos rediens exercitus annos,

cum sibi servilis pro finibus obvia pubes

iret et arceret dominos tellure reversos,510

armatam ostensis aciem fudere flagellis:

notus ab inceptis ignobile reppulit horror

vulgus et addictus sub verbere torpuit ensis.”

[177]“What need of further words? Why, Stilicho, dost thou delay to conquer because ashamed to fight? Knowest thou not that the viler a foe the greater the rejoicing at his overthrow? His defeat of the pirates extended the fame of great Pompey; his victory in the Servile War gave an added glory to Crassus. Thou acceptest my charge: I recognize the clamour that terrified the East and drove Gildo and his Moors to their destruction. Why sound the trump of war? No need to attack him with javelin or spear. At the crack of the whip will be bowed the back that has felt its blows. Even so when after many years the Scythian army came back from the wars and was met on the confines of its native land by the usurping crowd of slaves who sought to keep their returning masters from their country; with displayed whips they routed the armed ranks; back from its enterprise the familiar terror drove the servile mob, and at threat of the lash the bondsman’s sword grew dull.”

[177]

“What need of further words? Why, Stilicho, dost thou delay to conquer because ashamed to fight? Knowest thou not that the viler a foe the greater the rejoicing at his overthrow? His defeat of the pirates extended the fame of great Pompey; his victory in the Servile War gave an added glory to Crassus. Thou acceptest my charge: I recognize the clamour that terrified the East and drove Gildo and his Moors to their destruction. Why sound the trump of war? No need to attack him with javelin or spear. At the crack of the whip will be bowed the back that has felt its blows. Even so when after many years the Scythian army came back from the wars and was met on the confines of its native land by the usurping crowd of slaves who sought to keep their returning masters from their country; with displayed whips they routed the armed ranks; back from its enterprise the familiar terror drove the servile mob, and at threat of the lash the bondsman’s sword grew dull.”

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