DE CONSULATU STILICHONIS

[352]collectamque diu et certis utcumque locatamsedibus in dubium patiar deponere famam?nec me, quid valeat natura fortior usus,185praeterit aut quantum neglectae defluat arti.desidis aurigae non audit verbera currus,nec manus agnoscit quem non exercuit arcum.esse sed iniustum fateor quodcumque negaturiustitiae. tu prima hominem silvestribus antris190elicis et foedo deterges saecula victu.te propter colimus leges animosque ferarumexuimus. nitidis quisquis te sensibus hausit,inruet intrepidus flammis, hiberna secabitaequora, confertos hostes superabit inermis.195ille vel Aethiopum pluviis solabitur aestus;illum trans Scythiam vernus comitabitur aër.”Sic fatus tradente dea suscepit habenasquattuor ingenti iuris temone refusas.prima Padum Thybrimque ligat crebrisque micantemurbibus Italiam; Numidas[177]Poenosque secunda201temperat; Illyrico se tertia porrigit orbi;ultima Sardiniam, Cyrnum trifidamque retentatSicaniam et quidquid Tyrrhena tunditur undavel gemit Ionia. nec te tot lumina rerum205aut tantum turbavit onus; sed ut altus Olympivertex, qui spatio ventos hiemesque relinquit,perpetuum nulla temeratus nube serenumcelsior exurgit pluviis auditque ruentes[177]NumidasHeinsius; Birt†Lydos.[353]My fame has long been gathered in and where it is ’tis in safe custody; am I to suffer its being put to the hazard? Full well do I realize that habit is a stronger force than nature, nor am I ignorant of the rapidity with which we forget an art that we have ceased to exercise. The whip of an unpractised charioteer is powerless to urge on his horses; the hand that is unaccustomed thereto cannot bend the bow. And yet it were unjust, I admit, to refuse aught to Justice. Thou first didst draw man from his woodland cave and free the human race from its foul manner of life. Thanks to thee we practise law and have put off the temper of wild beasts. Whosoever has drunk of thee with pure heart will rush fearless through flames, will sail the wintry seas, and overcome unarmed the densest company of foemen. Justice is to the just as rain to temper even the heat of Ethiopia, a breath of spring to journey with him across the deserts of Scythia.”So spake he and took from the goddess’ hand the four reins that lay stretched along the huge pole of Justice’s car. The first harnesses the rivers Po and Tiber and Italy with all her glittering towns; the second guides Numidia and Carthage; the third runs out across the land of Illyria; the last holds Sardinia, Corsica, three-cornered Sicily and the coasts beaten by the Tyrrhenian wave or that echo to the Ionian. The splendour and magnitude of the undertaking troubled thee not one whit; but as the lofty summit of Olympus, far removed from the winds and tempests of the lower air, its eternal bright serene untroubled by any cloud, is lifted above the rain storms and hears the hurricane rushing

[352]

collectamque diu et certis utcumque locatamsedibus in dubium patiar deponere famam?nec me, quid valeat natura fortior usus,185praeterit aut quantum neglectae defluat arti.desidis aurigae non audit verbera currus,nec manus agnoscit quem non exercuit arcum.esse sed iniustum fateor quodcumque negaturiustitiae. tu prima hominem silvestribus antris190elicis et foedo deterges saecula victu.te propter colimus leges animosque ferarumexuimus. nitidis quisquis te sensibus hausit,inruet intrepidus flammis, hiberna secabitaequora, confertos hostes superabit inermis.195ille vel Aethiopum pluviis solabitur aestus;illum trans Scythiam vernus comitabitur aër.”Sic fatus tradente dea suscepit habenasquattuor ingenti iuris temone refusas.prima Padum Thybrimque ligat crebrisque micantemurbibus Italiam; Numidas[177]Poenosque secunda201temperat; Illyrico se tertia porrigit orbi;ultima Sardiniam, Cyrnum trifidamque retentatSicaniam et quidquid Tyrrhena tunditur undavel gemit Ionia. nec te tot lumina rerum205aut tantum turbavit onus; sed ut altus Olympivertex, qui spatio ventos hiemesque relinquit,perpetuum nulla temeratus nube serenumcelsior exurgit pluviis auditque ruentes

collectamque diu et certis utcumque locatam

sedibus in dubium patiar deponere famam?

nec me, quid valeat natura fortior usus,185

praeterit aut quantum neglectae defluat arti.

desidis aurigae non audit verbera currus,

nec manus agnoscit quem non exercuit arcum.

esse sed iniustum fateor quodcumque negatur

iustitiae. tu prima hominem silvestribus antris190

elicis et foedo deterges saecula victu.

te propter colimus leges animosque ferarum

exuimus. nitidis quisquis te sensibus hausit,

inruet intrepidus flammis, hiberna secabit

aequora, confertos hostes superabit inermis.195

ille vel Aethiopum pluviis solabitur aestus;

illum trans Scythiam vernus comitabitur aër.”

Sic fatus tradente dea suscepit habenas

quattuor ingenti iuris temone refusas.

prima Padum Thybrimque ligat crebrisque micantem

urbibus Italiam; Numidas[177]Poenosque secunda201

temperat; Illyrico se tertia porrigit orbi;

ultima Sardiniam, Cyrnum trifidamque retentat

Sicaniam et quidquid Tyrrhena tunditur unda

vel gemit Ionia. nec te tot lumina rerum205

aut tantum turbavit onus; sed ut altus Olympi

vertex, qui spatio ventos hiemesque relinquit,

perpetuum nulla temeratus nube serenum

celsior exurgit pluviis auditque ruentes

[177]NumidasHeinsius; Birt†Lydos.

[353]My fame has long been gathered in and where it is ’tis in safe custody; am I to suffer its being put to the hazard? Full well do I realize that habit is a stronger force than nature, nor am I ignorant of the rapidity with which we forget an art that we have ceased to exercise. The whip of an unpractised charioteer is powerless to urge on his horses; the hand that is unaccustomed thereto cannot bend the bow. And yet it were unjust, I admit, to refuse aught to Justice. Thou first didst draw man from his woodland cave and free the human race from its foul manner of life. Thanks to thee we practise law and have put off the temper of wild beasts. Whosoever has drunk of thee with pure heart will rush fearless through flames, will sail the wintry seas, and overcome unarmed the densest company of foemen. Justice is to the just as rain to temper even the heat of Ethiopia, a breath of spring to journey with him across the deserts of Scythia.”So spake he and took from the goddess’ hand the four reins that lay stretched along the huge pole of Justice’s car. The first harnesses the rivers Po and Tiber and Italy with all her glittering towns; the second guides Numidia and Carthage; the third runs out across the land of Illyria; the last holds Sardinia, Corsica, three-cornered Sicily and the coasts beaten by the Tyrrhenian wave or that echo to the Ionian. The splendour and magnitude of the undertaking troubled thee not one whit; but as the lofty summit of Olympus, far removed from the winds and tempests of the lower air, its eternal bright serene untroubled by any cloud, is lifted above the rain storms and hears the hurricane rushing

[353]

My fame has long been gathered in and where it is ’tis in safe custody; am I to suffer its being put to the hazard? Full well do I realize that habit is a stronger force than nature, nor am I ignorant of the rapidity with which we forget an art that we have ceased to exercise. The whip of an unpractised charioteer is powerless to urge on his horses; the hand that is unaccustomed thereto cannot bend the bow. And yet it were unjust, I admit, to refuse aught to Justice. Thou first didst draw man from his woodland cave and free the human race from its foul manner of life. Thanks to thee we practise law and have put off the temper of wild beasts. Whosoever has drunk of thee with pure heart will rush fearless through flames, will sail the wintry seas, and overcome unarmed the densest company of foemen. Justice is to the just as rain to temper even the heat of Ethiopia, a breath of spring to journey with him across the deserts of Scythia.”

So spake he and took from the goddess’ hand the four reins that lay stretched along the huge pole of Justice’s car. The first harnesses the rivers Po and Tiber and Italy with all her glittering towns; the second guides Numidia and Carthage; the third runs out across the land of Illyria; the last holds Sardinia, Corsica, three-cornered Sicily and the coasts beaten by the Tyrrhenian wave or that echo to the Ionian. The splendour and magnitude of the undertaking troubled thee not one whit; but as the lofty summit of Olympus, far removed from the winds and tempests of the lower air, its eternal bright serene untroubled by any cloud, is lifted above the rain storms and hears the hurricane rushing

[354]sub pedibus nimbos et rauca tonitrua calcat:210sic patiens animus per tanta negotia liberemergit similisque sui, iustique tenoremflectere non odium cogit, non gratia suadet.nam spretas quis opes intactaque pectora lucrocommemoret? fuerint aliis haec forte decora:215nulla potest laus esse tibi, quae crimina purget.servat inoffensam divina modestia vocem:temperiem servant oculi; nec lumina fervorasperat aut rabidas suffundit sanguine venas,nullaque mutati tempestas proditur oris.220quin etiam sontes expulsa corrigis iraet placidus delicta domas; nec dentibus umquaminstrepis horrendum, fremitu nec verbera poscis.Qui fruitur poena, ferus est, legumque videturvindictam praestare sibi; cum viscera felle225canduerint, ardet stimulis ferturque nocendiprodigus, ignarus causae: dis proximus ille,quem ratio, non ira movet, qui facta rependensconsilio punire potest. mucrone cruentose iactent alii, studeant feritate timeri230addictoque hominum cumulent aeraria censu.lene fluit Nilus, sed cunctis amnibus extatutilior nullo confessus murmure vires;acrior ac rapidus tacitas praetermeat ingensDanuvius ripas; eadem dementia sani235gurgitis inmensum deducit in ostia Gangen.torrentes inmane fremant lassisque minentur[355]beneath its feet while it treads upon the thunder’s roar; so thy patient mind, unfettered by cares so manifold, rises high above them; thou art ever the same, no hatred can compel thee, no affection induce thee, to swerve from the path of justice. For why should any speak of riches scorned and a heart unallured by gain? These might perhaps be virtues in others: absence of vice is no praise to bestow on thee. The calm of a god banishes anger from thy voice; the spirit of moderation shines from thine eyes; passion never inflames that glance or fills with blood the angry veins; never is a tempest heralded on thy changed countenance. Nay, thou punishest the very criminals without show of anger and checkest their evil-doing with unruffled calm. Never dost thou gnash with thy teeth upon them nor shout orders for them to be chastised.He is a savage who delights in punishment and seems to make the vengeance of the laws his own; when his heart is inflamed with the poison of wrath he is goaded by fury and rushes on knowing nothing of the cause and eager only to do hurt. But he whom reason, not anger, animates is a peer of the gods, he who, weighing the guilt, can with deliberation balance the punishment. Let others boast them of their bloody swords and wish to be feared for their ferocity, while they fill their treasuries with the goods of the condemned. Gently flows the Nile, yet is it more beneficent than all rivers for all that no sound reveals its power. More swiftly the broad Danube glides between its quiet banks. Huge Ganges flows down to its mouths with gently moving current. Let torrents roar horribly, threaten weary

[354]

sub pedibus nimbos et rauca tonitrua calcat:210sic patiens animus per tanta negotia liberemergit similisque sui, iustique tenoremflectere non odium cogit, non gratia suadet.nam spretas quis opes intactaque pectora lucrocommemoret? fuerint aliis haec forte decora:215nulla potest laus esse tibi, quae crimina purget.servat inoffensam divina modestia vocem:temperiem servant oculi; nec lumina fervorasperat aut rabidas suffundit sanguine venas,nullaque mutati tempestas proditur oris.220quin etiam sontes expulsa corrigis iraet placidus delicta domas; nec dentibus umquaminstrepis horrendum, fremitu nec verbera poscis.Qui fruitur poena, ferus est, legumque videturvindictam praestare sibi; cum viscera felle225canduerint, ardet stimulis ferturque nocendiprodigus, ignarus causae: dis proximus ille,quem ratio, non ira movet, qui facta rependensconsilio punire potest. mucrone cruentose iactent alii, studeant feritate timeri230addictoque hominum cumulent aeraria censu.lene fluit Nilus, sed cunctis amnibus extatutilior nullo confessus murmure vires;acrior ac rapidus tacitas praetermeat ingensDanuvius ripas; eadem dementia sani235gurgitis inmensum deducit in ostia Gangen.torrentes inmane fremant lassisque minentur

sub pedibus nimbos et rauca tonitrua calcat:210

sic patiens animus per tanta negotia liber

emergit similisque sui, iustique tenorem

flectere non odium cogit, non gratia suadet.

nam spretas quis opes intactaque pectora lucro

commemoret? fuerint aliis haec forte decora:215

nulla potest laus esse tibi, quae crimina purget.

servat inoffensam divina modestia vocem:

temperiem servant oculi; nec lumina fervor

asperat aut rabidas suffundit sanguine venas,

nullaque mutati tempestas proditur oris.220

quin etiam sontes expulsa corrigis ira

et placidus delicta domas; nec dentibus umquam

instrepis horrendum, fremitu nec verbera poscis.

Qui fruitur poena, ferus est, legumque videtur

vindictam praestare sibi; cum viscera felle225

canduerint, ardet stimulis ferturque nocendi

prodigus, ignarus causae: dis proximus ille,

quem ratio, non ira movet, qui facta rependens

consilio punire potest. mucrone cruento

se iactent alii, studeant feritate timeri230

addictoque hominum cumulent aeraria censu.

lene fluit Nilus, sed cunctis amnibus extat

utilior nullo confessus murmure vires;

acrior ac rapidus tacitas praetermeat ingens

Danuvius ripas; eadem dementia sani235

gurgitis inmensum deducit in ostia Gangen.

torrentes inmane fremant lassisque minentur

[355]beneath its feet while it treads upon the thunder’s roar; so thy patient mind, unfettered by cares so manifold, rises high above them; thou art ever the same, no hatred can compel thee, no affection induce thee, to swerve from the path of justice. For why should any speak of riches scorned and a heart unallured by gain? These might perhaps be virtues in others: absence of vice is no praise to bestow on thee. The calm of a god banishes anger from thy voice; the spirit of moderation shines from thine eyes; passion never inflames that glance or fills with blood the angry veins; never is a tempest heralded on thy changed countenance. Nay, thou punishest the very criminals without show of anger and checkest their evil-doing with unruffled calm. Never dost thou gnash with thy teeth upon them nor shout orders for them to be chastised.He is a savage who delights in punishment and seems to make the vengeance of the laws his own; when his heart is inflamed with the poison of wrath he is goaded by fury and rushes on knowing nothing of the cause and eager only to do hurt. But he whom reason, not anger, animates is a peer of the gods, he who, weighing the guilt, can with deliberation balance the punishment. Let others boast them of their bloody swords and wish to be feared for their ferocity, while they fill their treasuries with the goods of the condemned. Gently flows the Nile, yet is it more beneficent than all rivers for all that no sound reveals its power. More swiftly the broad Danube glides between its quiet banks. Huge Ganges flows down to its mouths with gently moving current. Let torrents roar horribly, threaten weary

[355]

beneath its feet while it treads upon the thunder’s roar; so thy patient mind, unfettered by cares so manifold, rises high above them; thou art ever the same, no hatred can compel thee, no affection induce thee, to swerve from the path of justice. For why should any speak of riches scorned and a heart unallured by gain? These might perhaps be virtues in others: absence of vice is no praise to bestow on thee. The calm of a god banishes anger from thy voice; the spirit of moderation shines from thine eyes; passion never inflames that glance or fills with blood the angry veins; never is a tempest heralded on thy changed countenance. Nay, thou punishest the very criminals without show of anger and checkest their evil-doing with unruffled calm. Never dost thou gnash with thy teeth upon them nor shout orders for them to be chastised.

He is a savage who delights in punishment and seems to make the vengeance of the laws his own; when his heart is inflamed with the poison of wrath he is goaded by fury and rushes on knowing nothing of the cause and eager only to do hurt. But he whom reason, not anger, animates is a peer of the gods, he who, weighing the guilt, can with deliberation balance the punishment. Let others boast them of their bloody swords and wish to be feared for their ferocity, while they fill their treasuries with the goods of the condemned. Gently flows the Nile, yet is it more beneficent than all rivers for all that no sound reveals its power. More swiftly the broad Danube glides between its quiet banks. Huge Ganges flows down to its mouths with gently moving current. Let torrents roar horribly, threaten weary

[356]pontibus et volvant spumoso vertice silvas:pax maiora decet; peragit tranquilla potestas,quod violenta nequit, mandataque fortius urget240imperiosa quies.Idem praedurus iniquasaccepisse preces, rursus, quae digna petitu,largior et facilis; nec quae comitatur honores,ausa tuam leviter temptare superbia mentem.frons privata manet nec se meruisse fatetur,245quae crevisse putat; rigidi sed plena pudoriselucet gravitas fastu iucunda remoto.quae non seditio, quae non insania vulgite viso lenita cadat? quae dissona ritubarbaries, medii quam non reverentia frangat?250vel quis non sitiens sermonis mella politideserat Orpheos blanda testudine cantus?qualem te legimus teneri primordia mundiscribentem aut partes animae, per singula talemcernimus et similes agnoscit pagina mores.255Nec dilata tuis Augusto iudice mercesofficiis, illumque habitum, quo iungitur aulaecuria, qui socio proceres cum principe nectit,quem quater ipse gerit, perfecto detulit annodeposuitque suas te succedente curules.260crescant virtutes fecundaque floreat aetas.ingeniis patuit campus certusque merentistat favor: ornatur propriis industria donis.surgite sopitae, quas obruit ambitus, artes.nil licet invidiae, Stilicho dum prospicit orbi265[357]bridges, and sweep down forests in their foaming whirl; ’tis repose, befits the greater; quiet authority accomplishes what violence cannot, and that mandate compels more which comes from a commanding calm.“Thou art as deaf to the prayers of injustice as thou art generous and attentive where the demand is just. Pride, that ever accompanies office, has not so much as dared to touch thy mind. Thy look is a private citizen’s nor allows that it has deserved what it thinks to have but grown[178]; but full of stately modesty shines forth a gravity that charms because pride is banished. What sedition, what madness of the crowd could see thee and not sink down appeased? What country so barbarous, so foreign in its customs, as not to bow in reverence before thy mediation? Who that desires the honied charm of polished eloquence would not desert the lyre-accompanied song of tuneful Orpheus? In every activity we see thee as we see thee in thy books, describing the creation of the newly-fashioned earth or the parts of the soul; we recognize thy character in thy pages.The Emperor has not been slow in rewarding thy merit. The robe that links Senate-house and palace, that unites nobles with their prince—the robe that he himself has four times worn, he hath at the year’s end handed on to thee, and left his own curule chair that thou mightest follow him. Grow, ye virtues; be this an age of prosperity! The path of glory lies open to the wise; merit is sure of its reward; industry dowered with the gifts it deserves. Arts, rise from the slumber into which depraved ambition had forced you! Envy cannot hold up her head while Stilicho and his godlike[178]i.e.Manlius modestly regards his honours as a natural growth, not as the reward of merit.

[356]

pontibus et volvant spumoso vertice silvas:pax maiora decet; peragit tranquilla potestas,quod violenta nequit, mandataque fortius urget240imperiosa quies.Idem praedurus iniquasaccepisse preces, rursus, quae digna petitu,largior et facilis; nec quae comitatur honores,ausa tuam leviter temptare superbia mentem.frons privata manet nec se meruisse fatetur,245quae crevisse putat; rigidi sed plena pudoriselucet gravitas fastu iucunda remoto.quae non seditio, quae non insania vulgite viso lenita cadat? quae dissona ritubarbaries, medii quam non reverentia frangat?250vel quis non sitiens sermonis mella politideserat Orpheos blanda testudine cantus?qualem te legimus teneri primordia mundiscribentem aut partes animae, per singula talemcernimus et similes agnoscit pagina mores.255Nec dilata tuis Augusto iudice mercesofficiis, illumque habitum, quo iungitur aulaecuria, qui socio proceres cum principe nectit,quem quater ipse gerit, perfecto detulit annodeposuitque suas te succedente curules.260crescant virtutes fecundaque floreat aetas.ingeniis patuit campus certusque merentistat favor: ornatur propriis industria donis.surgite sopitae, quas obruit ambitus, artes.nil licet invidiae, Stilicho dum prospicit orbi265

pontibus et volvant spumoso vertice silvas:

pax maiora decet; peragit tranquilla potestas,

quod violenta nequit, mandataque fortius urget240

imperiosa quies.

Idem praedurus iniquas

accepisse preces, rursus, quae digna petitu,

largior et facilis; nec quae comitatur honores,

ausa tuam leviter temptare superbia mentem.

frons privata manet nec se meruisse fatetur,245

quae crevisse putat; rigidi sed plena pudoris

elucet gravitas fastu iucunda remoto.

quae non seditio, quae non insania vulgi

te viso lenita cadat? quae dissona ritu

barbaries, medii quam non reverentia frangat?250

vel quis non sitiens sermonis mella politi

deserat Orpheos blanda testudine cantus?

qualem te legimus teneri primordia mundi

scribentem aut partes animae, per singula talem

cernimus et similes agnoscit pagina mores.255

Nec dilata tuis Augusto iudice merces

officiis, illumque habitum, quo iungitur aulae

curia, qui socio proceres cum principe nectit,

quem quater ipse gerit, perfecto detulit anno

deposuitque suas te succedente curules.260

crescant virtutes fecundaque floreat aetas.

ingeniis patuit campus certusque merenti

stat favor: ornatur propriis industria donis.

surgite sopitae, quas obruit ambitus, artes.

nil licet invidiae, Stilicho dum prospicit orbi265

[357]bridges, and sweep down forests in their foaming whirl; ’tis repose, befits the greater; quiet authority accomplishes what violence cannot, and that mandate compels more which comes from a commanding calm.“Thou art as deaf to the prayers of injustice as thou art generous and attentive where the demand is just. Pride, that ever accompanies office, has not so much as dared to touch thy mind. Thy look is a private citizen’s nor allows that it has deserved what it thinks to have but grown[178]; but full of stately modesty shines forth a gravity that charms because pride is banished. What sedition, what madness of the crowd could see thee and not sink down appeased? What country so barbarous, so foreign in its customs, as not to bow in reverence before thy mediation? Who that desires the honied charm of polished eloquence would not desert the lyre-accompanied song of tuneful Orpheus? In every activity we see thee as we see thee in thy books, describing the creation of the newly-fashioned earth or the parts of the soul; we recognize thy character in thy pages.The Emperor has not been slow in rewarding thy merit. The robe that links Senate-house and palace, that unites nobles with their prince—the robe that he himself has four times worn, he hath at the year’s end handed on to thee, and left his own curule chair that thou mightest follow him. Grow, ye virtues; be this an age of prosperity! The path of glory lies open to the wise; merit is sure of its reward; industry dowered with the gifts it deserves. Arts, rise from the slumber into which depraved ambition had forced you! Envy cannot hold up her head while Stilicho and his godlike[178]i.e.Manlius modestly regards his honours as a natural growth, not as the reward of merit.

[357]

bridges, and sweep down forests in their foaming whirl; ’tis repose, befits the greater; quiet authority accomplishes what violence cannot, and that mandate compels more which comes from a commanding calm.

“Thou art as deaf to the prayers of injustice as thou art generous and attentive where the demand is just. Pride, that ever accompanies office, has not so much as dared to touch thy mind. Thy look is a private citizen’s nor allows that it has deserved what it thinks to have but grown[178]; but full of stately modesty shines forth a gravity that charms because pride is banished. What sedition, what madness of the crowd could see thee and not sink down appeased? What country so barbarous, so foreign in its customs, as not to bow in reverence before thy mediation? Who that desires the honied charm of polished eloquence would not desert the lyre-accompanied song of tuneful Orpheus? In every activity we see thee as we see thee in thy books, describing the creation of the newly-fashioned earth or the parts of the soul; we recognize thy character in thy pages.

The Emperor has not been slow in rewarding thy merit. The robe that links Senate-house and palace, that unites nobles with their prince—the robe that he himself has four times worn, he hath at the year’s end handed on to thee, and left his own curule chair that thou mightest follow him. Grow, ye virtues; be this an age of prosperity! The path of glory lies open to the wise; merit is sure of its reward; industry dowered with the gifts it deserves. Arts, rise from the slumber into which depraved ambition had forced you! Envy cannot hold up her head while Stilicho and his godlike

[178]i.e.Manlius modestly regards his honours as a natural growth, not as the reward of merit.

[358]sidereusque gener. non hic violata curulis,turpia non Latios incestant nomina fastos;fortibus haec concessa viris solisque gerendapatribus et Romae numquam latura pudorem.Nuntia votorum celeri iam Fama volatu270moverat Aonios audito consule lucos.concinuit felix Helicon fluxitque Aganippelargior et docti riserunt floribus amnes.Uranie redimita comas, qua saepe magistraManlius igniferos radio descripserat axes,275sic alias hortata deas: “patimurne, sorores,optato procul esse die nec limina nostriconsulis et semper dilectas visimus aedes?notior est Helicone[179]domus. gestare curuleset fasces subiisse libet. miracula plebi280colligite et claris nomen celebrate theatris.“Tu Iovis aequorei summersam fluctibus aulamoratum volucres, Erato, iam perge quadrigas,a quibus haud umquam palmam rapturus Arion.inlustret circum sonipes, quicumque superbo285perstrepit hinnitu Bactin, qui splendida potatstagna Tagi madidoque iubas adspergitur auro.“Calliope, liquidas Alciden posce palaestras:cuncta Palaemoniis manus explorata coronisadsit et Eleo pubes laudata Tonanti.290“Tu iuga Taygeti frondosaque Maenala, Clio,i Triviae supplex; non aspernata rogantemamphitheatrali faveat Latonia pompae.[179]codd. haveStilichone; Birt obelizes the line; it is only found in V;HeliconeGevartius.[359]son-in-law direct the state. Here is no pollution of the consul’s office, no shameful names disgrace the Latin fasti; here the consulship is an honour reserved for the brave, given only to senators, never a source of scandal to Rome’s city.[180]Now had Fame, announcing our good fortune, winged her way to Aonia whose groves she stirred with the tidings of the new consul. Helicon raised a hymn of praise, Aganippe flowed with waters more abundant, the streams of song laughed with flowers. Then Urania, her hair wreath-crowned, Urania whose hand had oft directed Manlius’ compass in marking out the starry spheres, thus addressed the other Muses: “Sisters, can we bear to be absent this longed-for day? Shall we not visit our consul’s door and the house we have always loved? Better known to us is it than Helicon; gladly we draw the curule chair and bear the fasces. Bring marvels for the people’s delight and make known his name in the famed theatres.“Do thou, Erato, go visit the palace of Neptune beneath the sea and beg for four swift coursers such that even Arion could not snatch the prize from them. Let the Circus be graced by every steed to whose proud neighing Baetis re-echoes, who drinks of Tagus’ shining pools and sprinkles his mane with its liquid gold.“Calliope, ask thou of Alcides the oil of the wrestling-ground. Let all the company proved in the games at Elis follow thee and the athletes who have won fame with Olympian Jove.“Fly, Clio, to Taygetus’ heights and leafy Maenalus and beg Diana not to spurn thy petition but help the amphitheatre’s pomp. Let the goddess herself[180]Claudian is thinking of Eutropius, Manlius’ eastern colleague.

[358]

sidereusque gener. non hic violata curulis,turpia non Latios incestant nomina fastos;fortibus haec concessa viris solisque gerendapatribus et Romae numquam latura pudorem.Nuntia votorum celeri iam Fama volatu270moverat Aonios audito consule lucos.concinuit felix Helicon fluxitque Aganippelargior et docti riserunt floribus amnes.Uranie redimita comas, qua saepe magistraManlius igniferos radio descripserat axes,275sic alias hortata deas: “patimurne, sorores,optato procul esse die nec limina nostriconsulis et semper dilectas visimus aedes?notior est Helicone[179]domus. gestare curuleset fasces subiisse libet. miracula plebi280colligite et claris nomen celebrate theatris.“Tu Iovis aequorei summersam fluctibus aulamoratum volucres, Erato, iam perge quadrigas,a quibus haud umquam palmam rapturus Arion.inlustret circum sonipes, quicumque superbo285perstrepit hinnitu Bactin, qui splendida potatstagna Tagi madidoque iubas adspergitur auro.“Calliope, liquidas Alciden posce palaestras:cuncta Palaemoniis manus explorata coronisadsit et Eleo pubes laudata Tonanti.290“Tu iuga Taygeti frondosaque Maenala, Clio,i Triviae supplex; non aspernata rogantemamphitheatrali faveat Latonia pompae.

sidereusque gener. non hic violata curulis,

turpia non Latios incestant nomina fastos;

fortibus haec concessa viris solisque gerenda

patribus et Romae numquam latura pudorem.

Nuntia votorum celeri iam Fama volatu270

moverat Aonios audito consule lucos.

concinuit felix Helicon fluxitque Aganippe

largior et docti riserunt floribus amnes.

Uranie redimita comas, qua saepe magistra

Manlius igniferos radio descripserat axes,275

sic alias hortata deas: “patimurne, sorores,

optato procul esse die nec limina nostri

consulis et semper dilectas visimus aedes?

notior est Helicone[179]domus. gestare curules

et fasces subiisse libet. miracula plebi280

colligite et claris nomen celebrate theatris.

“Tu Iovis aequorei summersam fluctibus aulam

oratum volucres, Erato, iam perge quadrigas,

a quibus haud umquam palmam rapturus Arion.

inlustret circum sonipes, quicumque superbo285

perstrepit hinnitu Bactin, qui splendida potat

stagna Tagi madidoque iubas adspergitur auro.

“Calliope, liquidas Alciden posce palaestras:

cuncta Palaemoniis manus explorata coronis

adsit et Eleo pubes laudata Tonanti.290

“Tu iuga Taygeti frondosaque Maenala, Clio,

i Triviae supplex; non aspernata rogantem

amphitheatrali faveat Latonia pompae.

[179]codd. haveStilichone; Birt obelizes the line; it is only found in V;HeliconeGevartius.

[359]son-in-law direct the state. Here is no pollution of the consul’s office, no shameful names disgrace the Latin fasti; here the consulship is an honour reserved for the brave, given only to senators, never a source of scandal to Rome’s city.[180]Now had Fame, announcing our good fortune, winged her way to Aonia whose groves she stirred with the tidings of the new consul. Helicon raised a hymn of praise, Aganippe flowed with waters more abundant, the streams of song laughed with flowers. Then Urania, her hair wreath-crowned, Urania whose hand had oft directed Manlius’ compass in marking out the starry spheres, thus addressed the other Muses: “Sisters, can we bear to be absent this longed-for day? Shall we not visit our consul’s door and the house we have always loved? Better known to us is it than Helicon; gladly we draw the curule chair and bear the fasces. Bring marvels for the people’s delight and make known his name in the famed theatres.“Do thou, Erato, go visit the palace of Neptune beneath the sea and beg for four swift coursers such that even Arion could not snatch the prize from them. Let the Circus be graced by every steed to whose proud neighing Baetis re-echoes, who drinks of Tagus’ shining pools and sprinkles his mane with its liquid gold.“Calliope, ask thou of Alcides the oil of the wrestling-ground. Let all the company proved in the games at Elis follow thee and the athletes who have won fame with Olympian Jove.“Fly, Clio, to Taygetus’ heights and leafy Maenalus and beg Diana not to spurn thy petition but help the amphitheatre’s pomp. Let the goddess herself[180]Claudian is thinking of Eutropius, Manlius’ eastern colleague.

[359]

son-in-law direct the state. Here is no pollution of the consul’s office, no shameful names disgrace the Latin fasti; here the consulship is an honour reserved for the brave, given only to senators, never a source of scandal to Rome’s city.[180]

Now had Fame, announcing our good fortune, winged her way to Aonia whose groves she stirred with the tidings of the new consul. Helicon raised a hymn of praise, Aganippe flowed with waters more abundant, the streams of song laughed with flowers. Then Urania, her hair wreath-crowned, Urania whose hand had oft directed Manlius’ compass in marking out the starry spheres, thus addressed the other Muses: “Sisters, can we bear to be absent this longed-for day? Shall we not visit our consul’s door and the house we have always loved? Better known to us is it than Helicon; gladly we draw the curule chair and bear the fasces. Bring marvels for the people’s delight and make known his name in the famed theatres.

“Do thou, Erato, go visit the palace of Neptune beneath the sea and beg for four swift coursers such that even Arion could not snatch the prize from them. Let the Circus be graced by every steed to whose proud neighing Baetis re-echoes, who drinks of Tagus’ shining pools and sprinkles his mane with its liquid gold.

“Calliope, ask thou of Alcides the oil of the wrestling-ground. Let all the company proved in the games at Elis follow thee and the athletes who have won fame with Olympian Jove.

“Fly, Clio, to Taygetus’ heights and leafy Maenalus and beg Diana not to spurn thy petition but help the amphitheatre’s pomp. Let the goddess herself

[180]Claudian is thinking of Eutropius, Manlius’ eastern colleague.

[360]audaces legat ipsa viros, qui colla ferarumarte ligent certoque premant venabula nisu.295ipsa truces fetus captivaque ducat ab antrisprodigia et caedis sitientem differat arcum.conveniant ursi, magna quos mole ruentestorva Lycaoniis Helice miretur ab astris,perfossique rudant populo pallente leones,300quales Mygdonio curru frenare Cybebeoptet et Herculei mallent fregisse lacerti.obvia fulminei properent ad vulnera pardisemine permixto geniti, cum forte leaenaenobiliorem uterum viridis corrupit adulter;305hi maculis patres referant et robore matres.quidquid monstriferis nutrit Gaetulia campis,Alpina quidquid tegitur nive, Gallica siquidsilva tenet, iaceat; largo ditescat harenasanguine; consumant totos spectacula montes.310“Nec molles egeant nostra dulcedine ludi:qui laetis risum salibus movisse facetus,qui nutu manibusque loquax, cui tibia flatu,cui plectro pulsanda chelys, qui pulpita soccopersonat aut alte graditur maiore cothurno,315et qui magna levi detrudens murmura tactuinnumeras voces segetis moderatus aenaeintonet erranti digito penitusque trabalivecte laborantes in carmina concitet undas,vel qui more avium sese iaculentur in auras320[361]choose out brave hunters cunningly to lasso the necks of wild animals and to drive home the hunting-spear with unfailing stroke. With her own hand let her lead forth from their caverns fierce beasts and captive monsters, laying aside her bloodthirsty bow. Let bears be gathered together, whereat, as they charge with mighty bulk, Helice may gaze in wonder from Lycaon’s stars.[181]Let smitten lions roar till the people turn pale, lions such as Cybele would be fain to harness to her Mygdonian chariot or Hercules strangle in his mighty arms. May leopards, lightning-swift, hasten to meet the spear’s wound, beasts that are born of an adulterous union what time the spotted sire did violence to the nobler lion’s mate: of such beasts their markings recall the sire, their courage the dam. Whatsoever is nourished by the fields of Gaetulia rich in monsters, whatsoever lurks beneath Alpine snows or in Gallic woods, let it fall before the spear. Let large streams of blood enrich the arena and the spectacle leave whole mountains desolate.“Nor let gentler games lack the delights we bring: let the clown be there to move the people’s laughter with his happy wit, the mime whose language is in his nod and in the movements of his hands, the musician whose breath rouses the flute and whose finger stirs the lyre, the slippered comedian to whose voice the theatre re-echoes, the tragedian towering on his loftier buskin; him too whose light touch can elicit loud music from those pipes of bronze that sound a thousand diverse notes beneath his wandering fingers and who by means of a lever stirs to song the labouring water.[182]Let us see acrobats who hurl themselves through the air like birds and build[181]Helice = the Great Bear; so does the phrase “Lycaon’s stars,” for Lycaon was the father of Callisto who was transformed by the jealous Juno into a bear and as such translated by Jupiter to the sky. Claudian means that he wants the Great Bear to observe this assemblage of earthly bears.[182]Thehydraulusor water organ was known in Cicero’s day (Tusc.iii. 18.43). It is illustrated by a piece of sculpture in the Museum at Arles (see Grove,Dict. of Music, under “Organ” ).

[360]

audaces legat ipsa viros, qui colla ferarumarte ligent certoque premant venabula nisu.295ipsa truces fetus captivaque ducat ab antrisprodigia et caedis sitientem differat arcum.conveniant ursi, magna quos mole ruentestorva Lycaoniis Helice miretur ab astris,perfossique rudant populo pallente leones,300quales Mygdonio curru frenare Cybebeoptet et Herculei mallent fregisse lacerti.obvia fulminei properent ad vulnera pardisemine permixto geniti, cum forte leaenaenobiliorem uterum viridis corrupit adulter;305hi maculis patres referant et robore matres.quidquid monstriferis nutrit Gaetulia campis,Alpina quidquid tegitur nive, Gallica siquidsilva tenet, iaceat; largo ditescat harenasanguine; consumant totos spectacula montes.310“Nec molles egeant nostra dulcedine ludi:qui laetis risum salibus movisse facetus,qui nutu manibusque loquax, cui tibia flatu,cui plectro pulsanda chelys, qui pulpita soccopersonat aut alte graditur maiore cothurno,315et qui magna levi detrudens murmura tactuinnumeras voces segetis moderatus aenaeintonet erranti digito penitusque trabalivecte laborantes in carmina concitet undas,vel qui more avium sese iaculentur in auras320

audaces legat ipsa viros, qui colla ferarum

arte ligent certoque premant venabula nisu.295

ipsa truces fetus captivaque ducat ab antris

prodigia et caedis sitientem differat arcum.

conveniant ursi, magna quos mole ruentes

torva Lycaoniis Helice miretur ab astris,

perfossique rudant populo pallente leones,300

quales Mygdonio curru frenare Cybebe

optet et Herculei mallent fregisse lacerti.

obvia fulminei properent ad vulnera pardi

semine permixto geniti, cum forte leaenae

nobiliorem uterum viridis corrupit adulter;305

hi maculis patres referant et robore matres.

quidquid monstriferis nutrit Gaetulia campis,

Alpina quidquid tegitur nive, Gallica siquid

silva tenet, iaceat; largo ditescat harena

sanguine; consumant totos spectacula montes.310

“Nec molles egeant nostra dulcedine ludi:

qui laetis risum salibus movisse facetus,

qui nutu manibusque loquax, cui tibia flatu,

cui plectro pulsanda chelys, qui pulpita socco

personat aut alte graditur maiore cothurno,315

et qui magna levi detrudens murmura tactu

innumeras voces segetis moderatus aenae

intonet erranti digito penitusque trabali

vecte laborantes in carmina concitet undas,

vel qui more avium sese iaculentur in auras320

[361]choose out brave hunters cunningly to lasso the necks of wild animals and to drive home the hunting-spear with unfailing stroke. With her own hand let her lead forth from their caverns fierce beasts and captive monsters, laying aside her bloodthirsty bow. Let bears be gathered together, whereat, as they charge with mighty bulk, Helice may gaze in wonder from Lycaon’s stars.[181]Let smitten lions roar till the people turn pale, lions such as Cybele would be fain to harness to her Mygdonian chariot or Hercules strangle in his mighty arms. May leopards, lightning-swift, hasten to meet the spear’s wound, beasts that are born of an adulterous union what time the spotted sire did violence to the nobler lion’s mate: of such beasts their markings recall the sire, their courage the dam. Whatsoever is nourished by the fields of Gaetulia rich in monsters, whatsoever lurks beneath Alpine snows or in Gallic woods, let it fall before the spear. Let large streams of blood enrich the arena and the spectacle leave whole mountains desolate.“Nor let gentler games lack the delights we bring: let the clown be there to move the people’s laughter with his happy wit, the mime whose language is in his nod and in the movements of his hands, the musician whose breath rouses the flute and whose finger stirs the lyre, the slippered comedian to whose voice the theatre re-echoes, the tragedian towering on his loftier buskin; him too whose light touch can elicit loud music from those pipes of bronze that sound a thousand diverse notes beneath his wandering fingers and who by means of a lever stirs to song the labouring water.[182]Let us see acrobats who hurl themselves through the air like birds and build[181]Helice = the Great Bear; so does the phrase “Lycaon’s stars,” for Lycaon was the father of Callisto who was transformed by the jealous Juno into a bear and as such translated by Jupiter to the sky. Claudian means that he wants the Great Bear to observe this assemblage of earthly bears.[182]Thehydraulusor water organ was known in Cicero’s day (Tusc.iii. 18.43). It is illustrated by a piece of sculpture in the Museum at Arles (see Grove,Dict. of Music, under “Organ” ).

[361]

choose out brave hunters cunningly to lasso the necks of wild animals and to drive home the hunting-spear with unfailing stroke. With her own hand let her lead forth from their caverns fierce beasts and captive monsters, laying aside her bloodthirsty bow. Let bears be gathered together, whereat, as they charge with mighty bulk, Helice may gaze in wonder from Lycaon’s stars.[181]Let smitten lions roar till the people turn pale, lions such as Cybele would be fain to harness to her Mygdonian chariot or Hercules strangle in his mighty arms. May leopards, lightning-swift, hasten to meet the spear’s wound, beasts that are born of an adulterous union what time the spotted sire did violence to the nobler lion’s mate: of such beasts their markings recall the sire, their courage the dam. Whatsoever is nourished by the fields of Gaetulia rich in monsters, whatsoever lurks beneath Alpine snows or in Gallic woods, let it fall before the spear. Let large streams of blood enrich the arena and the spectacle leave whole mountains desolate.

“Nor let gentler games lack the delights we bring: let the clown be there to move the people’s laughter with his happy wit, the mime whose language is in his nod and in the movements of his hands, the musician whose breath rouses the flute and whose finger stirs the lyre, the slippered comedian to whose voice the theatre re-echoes, the tragedian towering on his loftier buskin; him too whose light touch can elicit loud music from those pipes of bronze that sound a thousand diverse notes beneath his wandering fingers and who by means of a lever stirs to song the labouring water.[182]Let us see acrobats who hurl themselves through the air like birds and build

[181]Helice = the Great Bear; so does the phrase “Lycaon’s stars,” for Lycaon was the father of Callisto who was transformed by the jealous Juno into a bear and as such translated by Jupiter to the sky. Claudian means that he wants the Great Bear to observe this assemblage of earthly bears.

[182]Thehydraulusor water organ was known in Cicero’s day (Tusc.iii. 18.43). It is illustrated by a piece of sculpture in the Museum at Arles (see Grove,Dict. of Music, under “Organ” ).

[362]corporaque aedificent celeri crescentia nexu,quorum compositam puer amentatus in arcememicet et vinctu plantae vel cruribus hacrenspendula librato figat vestigia saltu.mobile ponderibus descendat pegma reductis325inque chori speciem spargentes ardua flammasscaena rotet varios et fingat Mulciber orbisper tabulas impune vagus pictaeque citatoludant igne trabes et non permissa morarifida per innocuas errent incendia turres.330lascivi subito confligant aequore lembistagnaque remigibus spument inmissa canoris.“Consul per populos idemque gravissimus auctoreloquii, duplici vita subnixus in aevumprocedat pariter libris fastisque legendus.335accipiat patris exemplum tribuatque nepotifilius et coeptis ne desit fascibus heres.decurrat trabeata domus tradatque securesmutua postcritas servatoque ordine fatiManlia continuo numeretur consule proles.”340[363]pyramids that grow with swift entwining of their bodies, to the summit of which pyramid rushes a boy fastened by a thong, a boy who, attached there by the foot or leg, executes a step-dance suspended in the air. Let the counterweights be removed and the mobile crane descend, lowering on to the lofty stage men who, wheeling chorus-wise, scatter flames; let Vulcan forge balls of fire to roll innocuously across the boards, let the flames appear to play about the sham beams of the scenery and a tame conflagration, never allowed to rest, wander among the untouched towers. Let ships meet in mimic warfare on an improvised ocean and the flooded waters be lashed to foam by singing oarsmen.“As consul at once and stateliest master, upborne by a twofold fame, let Manlius go forth among the peoples, read in his own books and in our calendars. May the sire’s example be followed by the son[183]and handed on to a grandson, nor these first fasces ever lack succession. May his race pass on purple-clad, may the generations, each to each, hand on the axes, and obedient to the ordinance of fate, Manlius after Manlius add one more consul to the tale.”[183]We do not hear of Claudian’s hopes coming true. This son was, however, proconsul of Africa (Augustine,Contra Crescon.iii. 62).

[362]

corporaque aedificent celeri crescentia nexu,quorum compositam puer amentatus in arcememicet et vinctu plantae vel cruribus hacrenspendula librato figat vestigia saltu.mobile ponderibus descendat pegma reductis325inque chori speciem spargentes ardua flammasscaena rotet varios et fingat Mulciber orbisper tabulas impune vagus pictaeque citatoludant igne trabes et non permissa morarifida per innocuas errent incendia turres.330lascivi subito confligant aequore lembistagnaque remigibus spument inmissa canoris.“Consul per populos idemque gravissimus auctoreloquii, duplici vita subnixus in aevumprocedat pariter libris fastisque legendus.335accipiat patris exemplum tribuatque nepotifilius et coeptis ne desit fascibus heres.decurrat trabeata domus tradatque securesmutua postcritas servatoque ordine fatiManlia continuo numeretur consule proles.”340

corporaque aedificent celeri crescentia nexu,

quorum compositam puer amentatus in arcem

emicet et vinctu plantae vel cruribus hacrens

pendula librato figat vestigia saltu.

mobile ponderibus descendat pegma reductis325

inque chori speciem spargentes ardua flammas

scaena rotet varios et fingat Mulciber orbis

per tabulas impune vagus pictaeque citato

ludant igne trabes et non permissa morari

fida per innocuas errent incendia turres.330

lascivi subito confligant aequore lembi

stagnaque remigibus spument inmissa canoris.

“Consul per populos idemque gravissimus auctor

eloquii, duplici vita subnixus in aevum

procedat pariter libris fastisque legendus.335

accipiat patris exemplum tribuatque nepoti

filius et coeptis ne desit fascibus heres.

decurrat trabeata domus tradatque secures

mutua postcritas servatoque ordine fati

Manlia continuo numeretur consule proles.”340

[363]pyramids that grow with swift entwining of their bodies, to the summit of which pyramid rushes a boy fastened by a thong, a boy who, attached there by the foot or leg, executes a step-dance suspended in the air. Let the counterweights be removed and the mobile crane descend, lowering on to the lofty stage men who, wheeling chorus-wise, scatter flames; let Vulcan forge balls of fire to roll innocuously across the boards, let the flames appear to play about the sham beams of the scenery and a tame conflagration, never allowed to rest, wander among the untouched towers. Let ships meet in mimic warfare on an improvised ocean and the flooded waters be lashed to foam by singing oarsmen.“As consul at once and stateliest master, upborne by a twofold fame, let Manlius go forth among the peoples, read in his own books and in our calendars. May the sire’s example be followed by the son[183]and handed on to a grandson, nor these first fasces ever lack succession. May his race pass on purple-clad, may the generations, each to each, hand on the axes, and obedient to the ordinance of fate, Manlius after Manlius add one more consul to the tale.”[183]We do not hear of Claudian’s hopes coming true. This son was, however, proconsul of Africa (Augustine,Contra Crescon.iii. 62).

[363]

pyramids that grow with swift entwining of their bodies, to the summit of which pyramid rushes a boy fastened by a thong, a boy who, attached there by the foot or leg, executes a step-dance suspended in the air. Let the counterweights be removed and the mobile crane descend, lowering on to the lofty stage men who, wheeling chorus-wise, scatter flames; let Vulcan forge balls of fire to roll innocuously across the boards, let the flames appear to play about the sham beams of the scenery and a tame conflagration, never allowed to rest, wander among the untouched towers. Let ships meet in mimic warfare on an improvised ocean and the flooded waters be lashed to foam by singing oarsmen.

“As consul at once and stateliest master, upborne by a twofold fame, let Manlius go forth among the peoples, read in his own books and in our calendars. May the sire’s example be followed by the son[183]and handed on to a grandson, nor these first fasces ever lack succession. May his race pass on purple-clad, may the generations, each to each, hand on the axes, and obedient to the ordinance of fate, Manlius after Manlius add one more consul to the tale.”

[183]We do not hear of Claudian’s hopes coming true. This son was, however, proconsul of Africa (Augustine,Contra Crescon.iii. 62).

[364]DE CONSULATU STILICHONISLIBER I.(XXI.)Continuant superi pleno Romana favoregaudia successusque novis successibus augent:conubii necdum festivos regia cantussopierat, cecinit fuso Gildone triumphos,et calidis thalami successit laurea sertis,5sumeret ut pariter princeps nomenque maritivictorisque decus; Libyae post proelia crimenconcidit Eoum, rursusque Oriente subactoconsule defensae surgunt Stilichone secures.ordine vota meant. equidem si carmen in unum10tantarum sperem cumulos advolvere rerum,promptius imponam glaciali Pelion Ossae.si partem tacuisse velim, quodcumque relinquammaius erit. veteres actus primamque iuventamprosequar? ad sese mentem praesentia ducunt.15narrem iustitiam? resplendet gloria Martis.armati referam vires? plus egit inermis.quod floret Latium, Latio quod reddita servitAfrica, vicinum quod nescit Hiberia Maurum,[365]ON STILICHIO’S CONSULSHIP (A.D.400)BOOK I(XXI.)Ceaseless are the blessings the gods shower with full bounty upon Rome, crowning success with new successes. Scarce had the happy songs of marriage ceased to echo in the palace when the defeat of Gildo brought material for a hymn of triumph. Hard upon the garlands of passionate love followed the crown of laurel, so that the emperor won alike the name of husband and the fame of conqueror. After the war in Africa eastern sedition waned; the Orient once more was laid low and, guarded by the consul Stilicho, the axes rose in triumph. In due order are vows fulfilled. Should I hope to roll into one poem all my lofty themes, more easily should I pile Pelion on frozen Ossa. Were I silent anent a part, what I leave unsung will prove the greater. Am I to recall his deeds of old and earliest manhood? His present deeds lure away my mind. Am I to tell of his justice? His military glory outshines it. Shall I mention his prowess in war? He has done more in peace. Shall I relate how Latium flourishes, how Africa has returned to her allegiance and service, how Spain knows no more

[364]

(XXI.)

Continuant superi pleno Romana favoregaudia successusque novis successibus augent:conubii necdum festivos regia cantussopierat, cecinit fuso Gildone triumphos,et calidis thalami successit laurea sertis,5sumeret ut pariter princeps nomenque maritivictorisque decus; Libyae post proelia crimenconcidit Eoum, rursusque Oriente subactoconsule defensae surgunt Stilichone secures.ordine vota meant. equidem si carmen in unum10tantarum sperem cumulos advolvere rerum,promptius imponam glaciali Pelion Ossae.si partem tacuisse velim, quodcumque relinquammaius erit. veteres actus primamque iuventamprosequar? ad sese mentem praesentia ducunt.15narrem iustitiam? resplendet gloria Martis.armati referam vires? plus egit inermis.quod floret Latium, Latio quod reddita servitAfrica, vicinum quod nescit Hiberia Maurum,

Continuant superi pleno Romana favore

gaudia successusque novis successibus augent:

conubii necdum festivos regia cantus

sopierat, cecinit fuso Gildone triumphos,

et calidis thalami successit laurea sertis,5

sumeret ut pariter princeps nomenque mariti

victorisque decus; Libyae post proelia crimen

concidit Eoum, rursusque Oriente subacto

consule defensae surgunt Stilichone secures.

ordine vota meant. equidem si carmen in unum10

tantarum sperem cumulos advolvere rerum,

promptius imponam glaciali Pelion Ossae.

si partem tacuisse velim, quodcumque relinquam

maius erit. veteres actus primamque iuventam

prosequar? ad sese mentem praesentia ducunt.15

narrem iustitiam? resplendet gloria Martis.

armati referam vires? plus egit inermis.

quod floret Latium, Latio quod reddita servit

Africa, vicinum quod nescit Hiberia Maurum,

[365]ON STILICHIO’S CONSULSHIP (A.D.400)BOOK I(XXI.)Ceaseless are the blessings the gods shower with full bounty upon Rome, crowning success with new successes. Scarce had the happy songs of marriage ceased to echo in the palace when the defeat of Gildo brought material for a hymn of triumph. Hard upon the garlands of passionate love followed the crown of laurel, so that the emperor won alike the name of husband and the fame of conqueror. After the war in Africa eastern sedition waned; the Orient once more was laid low and, guarded by the consul Stilicho, the axes rose in triumph. In due order are vows fulfilled. Should I hope to roll into one poem all my lofty themes, more easily should I pile Pelion on frozen Ossa. Were I silent anent a part, what I leave unsung will prove the greater. Am I to recall his deeds of old and earliest manhood? His present deeds lure away my mind. Am I to tell of his justice? His military glory outshines it. Shall I mention his prowess in war? He has done more in peace. Shall I relate how Latium flourishes, how Africa has returned to her allegiance and service, how Spain knows no more

[365]

(XXI.)

Ceaseless are the blessings the gods shower with full bounty upon Rome, crowning success with new successes. Scarce had the happy songs of marriage ceased to echo in the palace when the defeat of Gildo brought material for a hymn of triumph. Hard upon the garlands of passionate love followed the crown of laurel, so that the emperor won alike the name of husband and the fame of conqueror. After the war in Africa eastern sedition waned; the Orient once more was laid low and, guarded by the consul Stilicho, the axes rose in triumph. In due order are vows fulfilled. Should I hope to roll into one poem all my lofty themes, more easily should I pile Pelion on frozen Ossa. Were I silent anent a part, what I leave unsung will prove the greater. Am I to recall his deeds of old and earliest manhood? His present deeds lure away my mind. Am I to tell of his justice? His military glory outshines it. Shall I mention his prowess in war? He has done more in peace. Shall I relate how Latium flourishes, how Africa has returned to her allegiance and service, how Spain knows no more

[366]tuta quod imbellem miratur Gallia Rhenum,20aut gelidam Thracen decertatosque laboresHebro teste canam? magnum mihi panditur aequor,ipsaque Pierios lassant proclivia curruslaudibus innumeris.Etenim mortalibus ex quotellus coepta coli, numquam sincera bonorum25sors ulli concessa viro. quem vultus honestat,dedecorant mores; animus quem pulchrior ornat,corpus destituit. bellis insignior ille,sed pacem foedat vitiis. hic publica felix,sed privata minus, partitum; singula quemque30nobilitant: hunc forma decens, hunc robur in armis,hunc rigor, hunc pietas, illum sollertia iuris,hunc suboles castique tori. sparguntur in omnes,in te mixta fluunt; et quae divisa beatosefficiunt, collecta tenes.35Ne facta revolvammilitiamque patris, cuius producere famam,si nihil egisset clarum nec fida Valentidextera duxisset rutilantes crinibus alas,sufficeret natus Stilicho: mens ardua sempera puero, tenerisque etiam fulgebat in annis40fortunae maioris honos. erectus et acernil breve moliri, nullis haerere potentumliminibus fatisque loqui iam digna futuris.iam tum conspicuus, iam tum venerabilis ibasspondebatque ducem celsi nitor igneus oris45[367]the Moor as her neighbour, how Gaul has now nought to fear from a disarmed Germany? Or shall I sing of wintry Thrace and those fierce struggles whereof Hebrus was witness? Limitless is the expanse that opens before me and even on the slopes of Helicon this weight of praise retards my muse’s chariot.For truly since man inhabited this globe never has one mortal been granted all earth’s blessings without alloy. This man’s face is fair but his character is evil; another has a beauteous soul but an ugly body. One is renowned in war but makes peace hideous with his vices. This man is happy in his public but unhappy in his private life. Each takes a part; each owes his fame to some one gift, to bodily beauty, to martial prowess, to strength, to uprightness of life, to knowledge of law, to his offspring and a virtuous wife. To all men else blessings come scattered, to thee they flow commingled, and gifts that separately make happy are all together thine.I will not unfold the tale of thy sire’s[184]warlike deeds. Had he done nothing of note, had he in loyalty to Valens never led to battle those yellow-haired companies, yet to be the father of Stilicho would have spread abroad his fame. Ever from thy cradle did thy soul aspire, and in the tender years of childhood shone forth the signs of loftier estate. Lofty in spirit and eager, nothing paltry didst thou essay; never didst thou haunt any rich man’s doorstep; thy speech was such as to befit thy future dignities. A mark wert thou even then for all eyes, even then an object of reverence; the fiery brightness of thy noble countenance, the very mould[184]We know really nothing of Stilicho’s parentage save that the family was a Vandal one:Vandalorum genere editus, Oros. vii. 38.

[366]

tuta quod imbellem miratur Gallia Rhenum,20aut gelidam Thracen decertatosque laboresHebro teste canam? magnum mihi panditur aequor,ipsaque Pierios lassant proclivia curruslaudibus innumeris.Etenim mortalibus ex quotellus coepta coli, numquam sincera bonorum25sors ulli concessa viro. quem vultus honestat,dedecorant mores; animus quem pulchrior ornat,corpus destituit. bellis insignior ille,sed pacem foedat vitiis. hic publica felix,sed privata minus, partitum; singula quemque30nobilitant: hunc forma decens, hunc robur in armis,hunc rigor, hunc pietas, illum sollertia iuris,hunc suboles castique tori. sparguntur in omnes,in te mixta fluunt; et quae divisa beatosefficiunt, collecta tenes.35Ne facta revolvammilitiamque patris, cuius producere famam,si nihil egisset clarum nec fida Valentidextera duxisset rutilantes crinibus alas,sufficeret natus Stilicho: mens ardua sempera puero, tenerisque etiam fulgebat in annis40fortunae maioris honos. erectus et acernil breve moliri, nullis haerere potentumliminibus fatisque loqui iam digna futuris.iam tum conspicuus, iam tum venerabilis ibasspondebatque ducem celsi nitor igneus oris45

tuta quod imbellem miratur Gallia Rhenum,20

aut gelidam Thracen decertatosque labores

Hebro teste canam? magnum mihi panditur aequor,

ipsaque Pierios lassant proclivia currus

laudibus innumeris.

Etenim mortalibus ex quo

tellus coepta coli, numquam sincera bonorum25

sors ulli concessa viro. quem vultus honestat,

dedecorant mores; animus quem pulchrior ornat,

corpus destituit. bellis insignior ille,

sed pacem foedat vitiis. hic publica felix,

sed privata minus, partitum; singula quemque30

nobilitant: hunc forma decens, hunc robur in armis,

hunc rigor, hunc pietas, illum sollertia iuris,

hunc suboles castique tori. sparguntur in omnes,

in te mixta fluunt; et quae divisa beatos

efficiunt, collecta tenes.35

Ne facta revolvam

militiamque patris, cuius producere famam,

si nihil egisset clarum nec fida Valenti

dextera duxisset rutilantes crinibus alas,

sufficeret natus Stilicho: mens ardua semper

a puero, tenerisque etiam fulgebat in annis40

fortunae maioris honos. erectus et acer

nil breve moliri, nullis haerere potentum

liminibus fatisque loqui iam digna futuris.

iam tum conspicuus, iam tum venerabilis ibas

spondebatque ducem celsi nitor igneus oris45

[367]the Moor as her neighbour, how Gaul has now nought to fear from a disarmed Germany? Or shall I sing of wintry Thrace and those fierce struggles whereof Hebrus was witness? Limitless is the expanse that opens before me and even on the slopes of Helicon this weight of praise retards my muse’s chariot.For truly since man inhabited this globe never has one mortal been granted all earth’s blessings without alloy. This man’s face is fair but his character is evil; another has a beauteous soul but an ugly body. One is renowned in war but makes peace hideous with his vices. This man is happy in his public but unhappy in his private life. Each takes a part; each owes his fame to some one gift, to bodily beauty, to martial prowess, to strength, to uprightness of life, to knowledge of law, to his offspring and a virtuous wife. To all men else blessings come scattered, to thee they flow commingled, and gifts that separately make happy are all together thine.I will not unfold the tale of thy sire’s[184]warlike deeds. Had he done nothing of note, had he in loyalty to Valens never led to battle those yellow-haired companies, yet to be the father of Stilicho would have spread abroad his fame. Ever from thy cradle did thy soul aspire, and in the tender years of childhood shone forth the signs of loftier estate. Lofty in spirit and eager, nothing paltry didst thou essay; never didst thou haunt any rich man’s doorstep; thy speech was such as to befit thy future dignities. A mark wert thou even then for all eyes, even then an object of reverence; the fiery brightness of thy noble countenance, the very mould[184]We know really nothing of Stilicho’s parentage save that the family was a Vandal one:Vandalorum genere editus, Oros. vii. 38.

[367]

the Moor as her neighbour, how Gaul has now nought to fear from a disarmed Germany? Or shall I sing of wintry Thrace and those fierce struggles whereof Hebrus was witness? Limitless is the expanse that opens before me and even on the slopes of Helicon this weight of praise retards my muse’s chariot.

For truly since man inhabited this globe never has one mortal been granted all earth’s blessings without alloy. This man’s face is fair but his character is evil; another has a beauteous soul but an ugly body. One is renowned in war but makes peace hideous with his vices. This man is happy in his public but unhappy in his private life. Each takes a part; each owes his fame to some one gift, to bodily beauty, to martial prowess, to strength, to uprightness of life, to knowledge of law, to his offspring and a virtuous wife. To all men else blessings come scattered, to thee they flow commingled, and gifts that separately make happy are all together thine.

I will not unfold the tale of thy sire’s[184]warlike deeds. Had he done nothing of note, had he in loyalty to Valens never led to battle those yellow-haired companies, yet to be the father of Stilicho would have spread abroad his fame. Ever from thy cradle did thy soul aspire, and in the tender years of childhood shone forth the signs of loftier estate. Lofty in spirit and eager, nothing paltry didst thou essay; never didst thou haunt any rich man’s doorstep; thy speech was such as to befit thy future dignities. A mark wert thou even then for all eyes, even then an object of reverence; the fiery brightness of thy noble countenance, the very mould

[184]We know really nothing of Stilicho’s parentage save that the family was a Vandal one:Vandalorum genere editus, Oros. vii. 38.

[368]membrorumque modus, qualem nec carmina finguntsemideis. quacumque alte gradereris in urbe,cedentes spatiis adsurgentesque videbasquamvis miles adhuc. taciti suffragia vulgiiam tibi detulerant, quidquid mox debuit aula.50Vix primaevus eras, pacis cum mitteris auctorAssyriae; tanta foedus cum gente ferirecommissum iuveni. Tigrim transgressus et altumEuphraten Babylona petis. stupuere severiParthorum proceres, et plebs pharetrata videndi55flagravit studio, defixaeque hospite pulchroPersides arcanum suspiravere calorem.turis odoratae cumulis et messe Sabaeapacem conciliant arae; penetralibus ignemsacratum rapuere adytis rituque iuvencos60Chaldaeo stravere magi. rex ipse micanteminclinat dextra pateram secretaque Beliet vaga testatur volventem sidera Mithram.si quando sociis tecum venatibus ibant,quis Stilichone prior ferro penetrare leones65comminus aut longe virgatas figere tigres?flectenti faciles cessit tibi Medus habenas;torquebas refugum Parthis mirantibus arcum.Nubilis interea maturae virginis aetasurgebat patrias suspenso principe curas,70quem simul imperioque ducem nataeque maritumprospiceret; dubius toto quaerebat ab axedignum coniugio generum thalamisque Serenae.[369]of thy limbs, greater even than poets feign of demi-gods, marked thee out for a leader of men. Whithersoever thy proud form went in the city thou didst see men rise and give place to thee; yet thou wast then but a soldier. The silent suffrage of the people had already offered thee all the honours the court was soon to owe.Scarce hadst thou reached man’s estate when thou wast sent to negotiate peace with Assyria[185]; to make a treaty with so great a people was the charge entrusted to thy youth. Crossing the Tigris and the deep Euphrates thou cam’st to Babylon. The grave lords of Parthia looked at thee in amaze and the quiver-bearing mob burned with desire to behold, while the daughters of Persia gazing on their beauteous guest sighed out their hidden love. The peace is sworn at altars sweet with the fragrance of incense and the harvests of Saba. Fire is brought forth from the innermost sanctuary and the Magi sacrifice heifers according to the Chaldean ritual. The king himself dips the jewelled bowl of sacrifice and swears by the mysteries of Bel and by Mithras who guides the errant stars of heaven. Whenever they made thee sharer of their hunting, whose sword struck down the lion in close combat before that of Stilicho, whose arrow pierced the striped tiger afar before thine? When thou didst guide the easy rein the Mede gave way to thee, and the Parthian marvelled at the bow thou didst discharge in flight.Meanwhile a maiden of years full ripe for marriage troubled a father’s heart, and the emperor doubted whom to select as her husband and as future ruler of the world; right anxiously did he search east and west for a son-in-law worthy of being wedded[185]By Assyria Claudian means Persia. He refers to the dispatch of Stilicho in 387 as ambassador to the court of Sapor III. (383-388) to arrange about the partition of Armenia.

[368]

membrorumque modus, qualem nec carmina finguntsemideis. quacumque alte gradereris in urbe,cedentes spatiis adsurgentesque videbasquamvis miles adhuc. taciti suffragia vulgiiam tibi detulerant, quidquid mox debuit aula.50Vix primaevus eras, pacis cum mitteris auctorAssyriae; tanta foedus cum gente ferirecommissum iuveni. Tigrim transgressus et altumEuphraten Babylona petis. stupuere severiParthorum proceres, et plebs pharetrata videndi55flagravit studio, defixaeque hospite pulchroPersides arcanum suspiravere calorem.turis odoratae cumulis et messe Sabaeapacem conciliant arae; penetralibus ignemsacratum rapuere adytis rituque iuvencos60Chaldaeo stravere magi. rex ipse micanteminclinat dextra pateram secretaque Beliet vaga testatur volventem sidera Mithram.si quando sociis tecum venatibus ibant,quis Stilichone prior ferro penetrare leones65comminus aut longe virgatas figere tigres?flectenti faciles cessit tibi Medus habenas;torquebas refugum Parthis mirantibus arcum.Nubilis interea maturae virginis aetasurgebat patrias suspenso principe curas,70quem simul imperioque ducem nataeque maritumprospiceret; dubius toto quaerebat ab axedignum coniugio generum thalamisque Serenae.

membrorumque modus, qualem nec carmina fingunt

semideis. quacumque alte gradereris in urbe,

cedentes spatiis adsurgentesque videbas

quamvis miles adhuc. taciti suffragia vulgi

iam tibi detulerant, quidquid mox debuit aula.50

Vix primaevus eras, pacis cum mitteris auctor

Assyriae; tanta foedus cum gente ferire

commissum iuveni. Tigrim transgressus et altum

Euphraten Babylona petis. stupuere severi

Parthorum proceres, et plebs pharetrata videndi55

flagravit studio, defixaeque hospite pulchro

Persides arcanum suspiravere calorem.

turis odoratae cumulis et messe Sabaea

pacem conciliant arae; penetralibus ignem

sacratum rapuere adytis rituque iuvencos60

Chaldaeo stravere magi. rex ipse micantem

inclinat dextra pateram secretaque Beli

et vaga testatur volventem sidera Mithram.

si quando sociis tecum venatibus ibant,

quis Stilichone prior ferro penetrare leones65

comminus aut longe virgatas figere tigres?

flectenti faciles cessit tibi Medus habenas;

torquebas refugum Parthis mirantibus arcum.

Nubilis interea maturae virginis aetas

urgebat patrias suspenso principe curas,70

quem simul imperioque ducem nataeque maritum

prospiceret; dubius toto quaerebat ab axe

dignum coniugio generum thalamisque Serenae.

[369]of thy limbs, greater even than poets feign of demi-gods, marked thee out for a leader of men. Whithersoever thy proud form went in the city thou didst see men rise and give place to thee; yet thou wast then but a soldier. The silent suffrage of the people had already offered thee all the honours the court was soon to owe.Scarce hadst thou reached man’s estate when thou wast sent to negotiate peace with Assyria[185]; to make a treaty with so great a people was the charge entrusted to thy youth. Crossing the Tigris and the deep Euphrates thou cam’st to Babylon. The grave lords of Parthia looked at thee in amaze and the quiver-bearing mob burned with desire to behold, while the daughters of Persia gazing on their beauteous guest sighed out their hidden love. The peace is sworn at altars sweet with the fragrance of incense and the harvests of Saba. Fire is brought forth from the innermost sanctuary and the Magi sacrifice heifers according to the Chaldean ritual. The king himself dips the jewelled bowl of sacrifice and swears by the mysteries of Bel and by Mithras who guides the errant stars of heaven. Whenever they made thee sharer of their hunting, whose sword struck down the lion in close combat before that of Stilicho, whose arrow pierced the striped tiger afar before thine? When thou didst guide the easy rein the Mede gave way to thee, and the Parthian marvelled at the bow thou didst discharge in flight.Meanwhile a maiden of years full ripe for marriage troubled a father’s heart, and the emperor doubted whom to select as her husband and as future ruler of the world; right anxiously did he search east and west for a son-in-law worthy of being wedded[185]By Assyria Claudian means Persia. He refers to the dispatch of Stilicho in 387 as ambassador to the court of Sapor III. (383-388) to arrange about the partition of Armenia.

[369]

of thy limbs, greater even than poets feign of demi-gods, marked thee out for a leader of men. Whithersoever thy proud form went in the city thou didst see men rise and give place to thee; yet thou wast then but a soldier. The silent suffrage of the people had already offered thee all the honours the court was soon to owe.

Scarce hadst thou reached man’s estate when thou wast sent to negotiate peace with Assyria[185]; to make a treaty with so great a people was the charge entrusted to thy youth. Crossing the Tigris and the deep Euphrates thou cam’st to Babylon. The grave lords of Parthia looked at thee in amaze and the quiver-bearing mob burned with desire to behold, while the daughters of Persia gazing on their beauteous guest sighed out their hidden love. The peace is sworn at altars sweet with the fragrance of incense and the harvests of Saba. Fire is brought forth from the innermost sanctuary and the Magi sacrifice heifers according to the Chaldean ritual. The king himself dips the jewelled bowl of sacrifice and swears by the mysteries of Bel and by Mithras who guides the errant stars of heaven. Whenever they made thee sharer of their hunting, whose sword struck down the lion in close combat before that of Stilicho, whose arrow pierced the striped tiger afar before thine? When thou didst guide the easy rein the Mede gave way to thee, and the Parthian marvelled at the bow thou didst discharge in flight.

Meanwhile a maiden of years full ripe for marriage troubled a father’s heart, and the emperor doubted whom to select as her husband and as future ruler of the world; right anxiously did he search east and west for a son-in-law worthy of being wedded

[185]By Assyria Claudian means Persia. He refers to the dispatch of Stilicho in 387 as ambassador to the court of Sapor III. (383-388) to arrange about the partition of Armenia.

[370]iudicium virtutis erat; per castra, per urbes,per populos animi cunctantis libra cucurrit.75tu legeris tantosque viros, quos obtulit orbis,intra consilium vincis sensumque legentis,et gener Augustis olim socer ipse futurusaccedis. radiis auri Tyriaque superbitmaiestate torus; comitata parentibus exit80purpureis virgo. stabat pater inde tropaeisinclitus; inde pium matris regina gerebatobsequium gravibus subnectens flammea gemmis.tunc et Solis equos, tunc exultasse choreisastra ferunt mellisque lacus et flumina lactis85erupisse solo, cum floribus aequora vernisBosphorus indueret roseisque evincta coroniscertantes Asiae taedas Europa levaret.Felix arbitrii princeps, qui congrua mundoiudicat et primus censet, quod cernimus omnes.90talem quippe virum natis adiunxit et aulae,cui neque luxuries bello nec blanda periclisotia nec lucis fructus pretiosior umquamlaude fuit. quis enim Visos in plaustra ferocesreppulit aut saeva Promoti caede tumentes95Bastarnas una potuit delere ruina?Pallantis iugulum Turno moriente piavitAeneas, tractusque rotis ultricibus Hectorirato vindicta fuit vel quaestus Achilli.tu neque vesano raptas venalia curru100funera nec vanam corpus meditaris in unumsaevitiam; turmas equitum peditumque catervas[371]to Serena. Merit alone had to decide; through camps, through cities, through nations roamed his poised and hesitating thoughts. But thou wast chosen, thus in the opinion and judgement of him who selected thee surpassing all the candidates of the whole world and becoming a son-in-law in the imperial family where thou wast shortly to become a father-in-law. The marriage-bed was ablaze with flashing gold and regal purple. The maiden steps forth accompanied by her parents clad in scarlet. On one side stood her sire, famed for his triumphs, on the other was the queen, fulfilling a mother’s loving office and ordering the bridal veil beneath a weight of jewels. Then, so men say, the horses of the sun and the stars of heaven danced for joy, pools of honey and rivers of milk welled forth from the earth. Bosporus decked his banks with vernal flowers, and Europe, entwined with rosy garlands, uplifted the torches in rivalry with Asia.Happy our emperor in his choice; he judges and the world agrees; he is the first to value what we all see. Ay, for he has allied to his children and to his palace one who never preferred ease to war nor the pleasures of peace to danger, nor yet his life to his honour. Who but he could have driven back the savage Visigoths to their wagons or overwhelmed in one huge slaughter the Bastarnae puffed up with the slaying of Promotus[186]? Aeneas avenged the slaughter of Pallas with the death of Turnus, Hector, dragged behind the chariot-wheels, was to wrathful Achilles either revenge or gain; thou dost not carry off in mad chariot dead bodies for ransom nor plot idle savagery against a single corpse; thou slayest at thy friend’s tomb whole[186]Promotus, who had rescued Theodosius from an ambush in his war against the Visigoths in 390, lost his life in the same war the year after. Stilicho succeeded to his command.

[370]

iudicium virtutis erat; per castra, per urbes,per populos animi cunctantis libra cucurrit.75tu legeris tantosque viros, quos obtulit orbis,intra consilium vincis sensumque legentis,et gener Augustis olim socer ipse futurusaccedis. radiis auri Tyriaque superbitmaiestate torus; comitata parentibus exit80purpureis virgo. stabat pater inde tropaeisinclitus; inde pium matris regina gerebatobsequium gravibus subnectens flammea gemmis.tunc et Solis equos, tunc exultasse choreisastra ferunt mellisque lacus et flumina lactis85erupisse solo, cum floribus aequora vernisBosphorus indueret roseisque evincta coroniscertantes Asiae taedas Europa levaret.Felix arbitrii princeps, qui congrua mundoiudicat et primus censet, quod cernimus omnes.90talem quippe virum natis adiunxit et aulae,cui neque luxuries bello nec blanda periclisotia nec lucis fructus pretiosior umquamlaude fuit. quis enim Visos in plaustra ferocesreppulit aut saeva Promoti caede tumentes95Bastarnas una potuit delere ruina?Pallantis iugulum Turno moriente piavitAeneas, tractusque rotis ultricibus Hectorirato vindicta fuit vel quaestus Achilli.tu neque vesano raptas venalia curru100funera nec vanam corpus meditaris in unumsaevitiam; turmas equitum peditumque catervas

iudicium virtutis erat; per castra, per urbes,

per populos animi cunctantis libra cucurrit.75

tu legeris tantosque viros, quos obtulit orbis,

intra consilium vincis sensumque legentis,

et gener Augustis olim socer ipse futurus

accedis. radiis auri Tyriaque superbit

maiestate torus; comitata parentibus exit80

purpureis virgo. stabat pater inde tropaeis

inclitus; inde pium matris regina gerebat

obsequium gravibus subnectens flammea gemmis.

tunc et Solis equos, tunc exultasse choreis

astra ferunt mellisque lacus et flumina lactis85

erupisse solo, cum floribus aequora vernis

Bosphorus indueret roseisque evincta coronis

certantes Asiae taedas Europa levaret.

Felix arbitrii princeps, qui congrua mundo

iudicat et primus censet, quod cernimus omnes.90

talem quippe virum natis adiunxit et aulae,

cui neque luxuries bello nec blanda periclis

otia nec lucis fructus pretiosior umquam

laude fuit. quis enim Visos in plaustra feroces

reppulit aut saeva Promoti caede tumentes95

Bastarnas una potuit delere ruina?

Pallantis iugulum Turno moriente piavit

Aeneas, tractusque rotis ultricibus Hector

irato vindicta fuit vel quaestus Achilli.

tu neque vesano raptas venalia curru100

funera nec vanam corpus meditaris in unum

saevitiam; turmas equitum peditumque catervas

[371]to Serena. Merit alone had to decide; through camps, through cities, through nations roamed his poised and hesitating thoughts. But thou wast chosen, thus in the opinion and judgement of him who selected thee surpassing all the candidates of the whole world and becoming a son-in-law in the imperial family where thou wast shortly to become a father-in-law. The marriage-bed was ablaze with flashing gold and regal purple. The maiden steps forth accompanied by her parents clad in scarlet. On one side stood her sire, famed for his triumphs, on the other was the queen, fulfilling a mother’s loving office and ordering the bridal veil beneath a weight of jewels. Then, so men say, the horses of the sun and the stars of heaven danced for joy, pools of honey and rivers of milk welled forth from the earth. Bosporus decked his banks with vernal flowers, and Europe, entwined with rosy garlands, uplifted the torches in rivalry with Asia.Happy our emperor in his choice; he judges and the world agrees; he is the first to value what we all see. Ay, for he has allied to his children and to his palace one who never preferred ease to war nor the pleasures of peace to danger, nor yet his life to his honour. Who but he could have driven back the savage Visigoths to their wagons or overwhelmed in one huge slaughter the Bastarnae puffed up with the slaying of Promotus[186]? Aeneas avenged the slaughter of Pallas with the death of Turnus, Hector, dragged behind the chariot-wheels, was to wrathful Achilles either revenge or gain; thou dost not carry off in mad chariot dead bodies for ransom nor plot idle savagery against a single corpse; thou slayest at thy friend’s tomb whole[186]Promotus, who had rescued Theodosius from an ambush in his war against the Visigoths in 390, lost his life in the same war the year after. Stilicho succeeded to his command.

[371]

to Serena. Merit alone had to decide; through camps, through cities, through nations roamed his poised and hesitating thoughts. But thou wast chosen, thus in the opinion and judgement of him who selected thee surpassing all the candidates of the whole world and becoming a son-in-law in the imperial family where thou wast shortly to become a father-in-law. The marriage-bed was ablaze with flashing gold and regal purple. The maiden steps forth accompanied by her parents clad in scarlet. On one side stood her sire, famed for his triumphs, on the other was the queen, fulfilling a mother’s loving office and ordering the bridal veil beneath a weight of jewels. Then, so men say, the horses of the sun and the stars of heaven danced for joy, pools of honey and rivers of milk welled forth from the earth. Bosporus decked his banks with vernal flowers, and Europe, entwined with rosy garlands, uplifted the torches in rivalry with Asia.

Happy our emperor in his choice; he judges and the world agrees; he is the first to value what we all see. Ay, for he has allied to his children and to his palace one who never preferred ease to war nor the pleasures of peace to danger, nor yet his life to his honour. Who but he could have driven back the savage Visigoths to their wagons or overwhelmed in one huge slaughter the Bastarnae puffed up with the slaying of Promotus[186]? Aeneas avenged the slaughter of Pallas with the death of Turnus, Hector, dragged behind the chariot-wheels, was to wrathful Achilles either revenge or gain; thou dost not carry off in mad chariot dead bodies for ransom nor plot idle savagery against a single corpse; thou slayest at thy friend’s tomb whole

[186]Promotus, who had rescued Theodosius from an ambush in his war against the Visigoths in 390, lost his life in the same war the year after. Stilicho succeeded to his command.

[372]hostilesque globos tumulo prosternis amici;inferiis gens tota datur. nec Mulciber auctormendacis clipei fabricataque vatibus arma105conatus iuvere tuos: tot barbara solusmilia iam pridem miseram vastantia Thracenfinibus exiguae vallis conclusa tenebas.nec te terrisonus stridor venientis Alaninec vaga Chunorum feritas, non falce Gelonus,110non arcu pepulere Getae, non Sarmata conto.extinctique forent penitus, ni more malignofalleret Augustas occultus proditor auresobstrueretque moras strictumque reconderet ensem,solveret obsessos, praeberet foedera captis.115Adsiduus castris aderat, rarissimus urbi,si quando trepida princeps pietate vocaret;vixque salutatis Laribus, vix coniuge visa,deterso necdum repetebat sanguine campum.nec stetit Eucherii dum carperet oscula saltem120per galeam. patris stimulos ignisque maritivicit cura ducis. quotiens sub pellibus egitEdonas hiemes et tardi flabra Bootaesub divo Riphaca tulit! cumque igne propinquofrigora vix ferrent alii, tunc iste rigentem125Danuvium calcabat eques nivibusque profundumscandebat cristatus Athon lateque coruscocurvatas glacie silvas umbone ruebat.nunc prope Cimmerii tendebat litora Ponti,[373]squadrons of horse, companies of foot, and hordes of enemies. To his ghost a whole nation is offered up. Neither Vulcan’s fabulous shield nor such armour as that of which poets sing the forging assisted thine efforts. Single-handed thou didst succeed in penning within the narrow confines of a single valley the vast army of barbarians that were long since ravaging the land of Thrace. For thee the fearful shriek of the onrushing Alan had no terrors nor the fierceness of the nomad Hun nor the scimitar of the Geloni, nor the Getae’s bow or Sarmatian’s club. These nations would have been destroyed root and branch had not a traitor by a perfidious trick abused the emperor’s ear and caused him to withhold his hand; hence the sheathing of the sword, the raising of the siege, and the granting of a treaty to the prisoners.He was always with the army, seldom in Rome, and then only when the young emperor’s anxious love summoned him thither. Scarce had he greeted the gods of his home, scarce seen his wife when, still stained with the blood of his enemies, he hastened back to the battle. He did not stay to catch at least a kiss from Eucherius through his vizor; the anxieties of a general o’ercame a father’s yearning and a husband’s love. How often has he bivouacked through the Thracian winter and endured beneath the open sky the blasts that slow Boötes sends from mount Riphaeus. When others, huddled over the fire, could scarce brook the cold, he would ride his horse across the frozen Danube and climb Athos deep in snow, his helmet on his head, thrusting aside the frozen branches of the ice-laden trees with his far gleaming targe. Now he pitched his tent by the shores of Cimmerian Pontus, now

[372]

hostilesque globos tumulo prosternis amici;inferiis gens tota datur. nec Mulciber auctormendacis clipei fabricataque vatibus arma105conatus iuvere tuos: tot barbara solusmilia iam pridem miseram vastantia Thracenfinibus exiguae vallis conclusa tenebas.nec te terrisonus stridor venientis Alaninec vaga Chunorum feritas, non falce Gelonus,110non arcu pepulere Getae, non Sarmata conto.extinctique forent penitus, ni more malignofalleret Augustas occultus proditor auresobstrueretque moras strictumque reconderet ensem,solveret obsessos, praeberet foedera captis.115Adsiduus castris aderat, rarissimus urbi,si quando trepida princeps pietate vocaret;vixque salutatis Laribus, vix coniuge visa,deterso necdum repetebat sanguine campum.nec stetit Eucherii dum carperet oscula saltem120per galeam. patris stimulos ignisque maritivicit cura ducis. quotiens sub pellibus egitEdonas hiemes et tardi flabra Bootaesub divo Riphaca tulit! cumque igne propinquofrigora vix ferrent alii, tunc iste rigentem125Danuvium calcabat eques nivibusque profundumscandebat cristatus Athon lateque coruscocurvatas glacie silvas umbone ruebat.nunc prope Cimmerii tendebat litora Ponti,

hostilesque globos tumulo prosternis amici;

inferiis gens tota datur. nec Mulciber auctor

mendacis clipei fabricataque vatibus arma105

conatus iuvere tuos: tot barbara solus

milia iam pridem miseram vastantia Thracen

finibus exiguae vallis conclusa tenebas.

nec te terrisonus stridor venientis Alani

nec vaga Chunorum feritas, non falce Gelonus,110

non arcu pepulere Getae, non Sarmata conto.

extinctique forent penitus, ni more maligno

falleret Augustas occultus proditor aures

obstrueretque moras strictumque reconderet ensem,

solveret obsessos, praeberet foedera captis.115

Adsiduus castris aderat, rarissimus urbi,

si quando trepida princeps pietate vocaret;

vixque salutatis Laribus, vix coniuge visa,

deterso necdum repetebat sanguine campum.

nec stetit Eucherii dum carperet oscula saltem120

per galeam. patris stimulos ignisque mariti

vicit cura ducis. quotiens sub pellibus egit

Edonas hiemes et tardi flabra Bootae

sub divo Riphaca tulit! cumque igne propinquo

frigora vix ferrent alii, tunc iste rigentem125

Danuvium calcabat eques nivibusque profundum

scandebat cristatus Athon lateque corusco

curvatas glacie silvas umbone ruebat.

nunc prope Cimmerii tendebat litora Ponti,

[373]squadrons of horse, companies of foot, and hordes of enemies. To his ghost a whole nation is offered up. Neither Vulcan’s fabulous shield nor such armour as that of which poets sing the forging assisted thine efforts. Single-handed thou didst succeed in penning within the narrow confines of a single valley the vast army of barbarians that were long since ravaging the land of Thrace. For thee the fearful shriek of the onrushing Alan had no terrors nor the fierceness of the nomad Hun nor the scimitar of the Geloni, nor the Getae’s bow or Sarmatian’s club. These nations would have been destroyed root and branch had not a traitor by a perfidious trick abused the emperor’s ear and caused him to withhold his hand; hence the sheathing of the sword, the raising of the siege, and the granting of a treaty to the prisoners.He was always with the army, seldom in Rome, and then only when the young emperor’s anxious love summoned him thither. Scarce had he greeted the gods of his home, scarce seen his wife when, still stained with the blood of his enemies, he hastened back to the battle. He did not stay to catch at least a kiss from Eucherius through his vizor; the anxieties of a general o’ercame a father’s yearning and a husband’s love. How often has he bivouacked through the Thracian winter and endured beneath the open sky the blasts that slow Boötes sends from mount Riphaeus. When others, huddled over the fire, could scarce brook the cold, he would ride his horse across the frozen Danube and climb Athos deep in snow, his helmet on his head, thrusting aside the frozen branches of the ice-laden trees with his far gleaming targe. Now he pitched his tent by the shores of Cimmerian Pontus, now

[373]

squadrons of horse, companies of foot, and hordes of enemies. To his ghost a whole nation is offered up. Neither Vulcan’s fabulous shield nor such armour as that of which poets sing the forging assisted thine efforts. Single-handed thou didst succeed in penning within the narrow confines of a single valley the vast army of barbarians that were long since ravaging the land of Thrace. For thee the fearful shriek of the onrushing Alan had no terrors nor the fierceness of the nomad Hun nor the scimitar of the Geloni, nor the Getae’s bow or Sarmatian’s club. These nations would have been destroyed root and branch had not a traitor by a perfidious trick abused the emperor’s ear and caused him to withhold his hand; hence the sheathing of the sword, the raising of the siege, and the granting of a treaty to the prisoners.

He was always with the army, seldom in Rome, and then only when the young emperor’s anxious love summoned him thither. Scarce had he greeted the gods of his home, scarce seen his wife when, still stained with the blood of his enemies, he hastened back to the battle. He did not stay to catch at least a kiss from Eucherius through his vizor; the anxieties of a general o’ercame a father’s yearning and a husband’s love. How often has he bivouacked through the Thracian winter and endured beneath the open sky the blasts that slow Boötes sends from mount Riphaeus. When others, huddled over the fire, could scarce brook the cold, he would ride his horse across the frozen Danube and climb Athos deep in snow, his helmet on his head, thrusting aside the frozen branches of the ice-laden trees with his far gleaming targe. Now he pitched his tent by the shores of Cimmerian Pontus, now

[374]nunc dabat hibernum Rhodope nimbosa cubile.130vos Haemi gelidae valles, quas saepe cruentisstragibus aequavit Stilicho, vos Thracia testorflumina, quae largo mutastis sanguine fluctus;dicite, Bisaltae vel qui Pangaea iuvencisscinditis, offenso quantae sub vomere putres135dissiliant glaebis galeae vel qualia rastrisossa peremptorum resonent inmania regum.Singula complecti cuperem; sed densior instatgestorum series laudumque sequentibus undisobruimur. genitor caesi post bella tyranni140iam tibi commissis conscenderat aethera terris.ancipites rerum ruituro culmine lapsusaequali cervice subis: sic Hercule quondamsustentante polum melius librata pependitmachina nec dubiis titubavit Signifer astris145perpetuaque senex subductus mole parumperobstupuit proprii spectator ponderis Atlas.Nulli barbariae motus; nil turbida ruptoordine temptavit novitas, tantoque remotoprincipe mutatas orbis non sensit habenas.150nil inter geminas acies, ceu libera frenis,ausa manus. certe nec tantis dissona linguisturba nec armorum cultu diversior umquamconfluxit populus: totam pater undique secummoverat Auroram; mixtis hic Colchus Hiberis,155hic mitra velatus Arabs, hic crine decorusArmenius; hic picta Saces fucataque Medus,[375]misty Rhodope afforded him a winter’s bed. I call you to witness, cold valleys of Haemus, that Stilicho has often filled with bloody slaughter; and you, rivers of Thrace, your waters turned to blood; say, ye Bisaltae, or you whose oxen plough Pangaeus’ slopes, how many a rotting helm has not your share shattered neath the soil, how oft have not your mattocks rung against the giant bones of slaughtered kings.Fain would I embrace each separate one; but thine exploits press on in too close array, and I am overwhelmed by the pursuing flood of glorious deeds. When Theodosius had warred against, and slain, the tyrant[187]he ascended into heaven, leaving the governance of the world to thee. With a strength equal to his thou dost bear up the tottering structure of the empire that threatens each moment to collapse. Thus, when once Hercules upheld the world, the universal frame hung more surely poised, the Standard-bearer did not reel with tottering stars, and old Atlas, relieved for a moment of the eternal load, was confounded as he gazed upon his own burden.Barbary was quiet, no revolution troubled the empire’s peace and though so great a prince was dead the world knew not that the reins had passed into another’s hands. No company in the two armies[188]dared aught as though set loose from control. Yet surely never had such diversities of language and arms met together to form one united people. Theodosius had unified the whole East beneath his rule. Here were mingled Colchian and Iberian, mitred Arab, beautifully coifed Armenian; here the Sacian had pitched his painted tent, the Mede his[187]i.e.Eugenius.[188]i.e.of East and West.

[374]

nunc dabat hibernum Rhodope nimbosa cubile.130vos Haemi gelidae valles, quas saepe cruentisstragibus aequavit Stilicho, vos Thracia testorflumina, quae largo mutastis sanguine fluctus;dicite, Bisaltae vel qui Pangaea iuvencisscinditis, offenso quantae sub vomere putres135dissiliant glaebis galeae vel qualia rastrisossa peremptorum resonent inmania regum.Singula complecti cuperem; sed densior instatgestorum series laudumque sequentibus undisobruimur. genitor caesi post bella tyranni140iam tibi commissis conscenderat aethera terris.ancipites rerum ruituro culmine lapsusaequali cervice subis: sic Hercule quondamsustentante polum melius librata pependitmachina nec dubiis titubavit Signifer astris145perpetuaque senex subductus mole parumperobstupuit proprii spectator ponderis Atlas.Nulli barbariae motus; nil turbida ruptoordine temptavit novitas, tantoque remotoprincipe mutatas orbis non sensit habenas.150nil inter geminas acies, ceu libera frenis,ausa manus. certe nec tantis dissona linguisturba nec armorum cultu diversior umquamconfluxit populus: totam pater undique secummoverat Auroram; mixtis hic Colchus Hiberis,155hic mitra velatus Arabs, hic crine decorusArmenius; hic picta Saces fucataque Medus,

nunc dabat hibernum Rhodope nimbosa cubile.130

vos Haemi gelidae valles, quas saepe cruentis

stragibus aequavit Stilicho, vos Thracia testor

flumina, quae largo mutastis sanguine fluctus;

dicite, Bisaltae vel qui Pangaea iuvencis

scinditis, offenso quantae sub vomere putres135

dissiliant glaebis galeae vel qualia rastris

ossa peremptorum resonent inmania regum.

Singula complecti cuperem; sed densior instat

gestorum series laudumque sequentibus undis

obruimur. genitor caesi post bella tyranni140

iam tibi commissis conscenderat aethera terris.

ancipites rerum ruituro culmine lapsus

aequali cervice subis: sic Hercule quondam

sustentante polum melius librata pependit

machina nec dubiis titubavit Signifer astris145

perpetuaque senex subductus mole parumper

obstupuit proprii spectator ponderis Atlas.

Nulli barbariae motus; nil turbida rupto

ordine temptavit novitas, tantoque remoto

principe mutatas orbis non sensit habenas.150

nil inter geminas acies, ceu libera frenis,

ausa manus. certe nec tantis dissona linguis

turba nec armorum cultu diversior umquam

confluxit populus: totam pater undique secum

moverat Auroram; mixtis hic Colchus Hiberis,155

hic mitra velatus Arabs, hic crine decorus

Armenius; hic picta Saces fucataque Medus,

[375]misty Rhodope afforded him a winter’s bed. I call you to witness, cold valleys of Haemus, that Stilicho has often filled with bloody slaughter; and you, rivers of Thrace, your waters turned to blood; say, ye Bisaltae, or you whose oxen plough Pangaeus’ slopes, how many a rotting helm has not your share shattered neath the soil, how oft have not your mattocks rung against the giant bones of slaughtered kings.Fain would I embrace each separate one; but thine exploits press on in too close array, and I am overwhelmed by the pursuing flood of glorious deeds. When Theodosius had warred against, and slain, the tyrant[187]he ascended into heaven, leaving the governance of the world to thee. With a strength equal to his thou dost bear up the tottering structure of the empire that threatens each moment to collapse. Thus, when once Hercules upheld the world, the universal frame hung more surely poised, the Standard-bearer did not reel with tottering stars, and old Atlas, relieved for a moment of the eternal load, was confounded as he gazed upon his own burden.Barbary was quiet, no revolution troubled the empire’s peace and though so great a prince was dead the world knew not that the reins had passed into another’s hands. No company in the two armies[188]dared aught as though set loose from control. Yet surely never had such diversities of language and arms met together to form one united people. Theodosius had unified the whole East beneath his rule. Here were mingled Colchian and Iberian, mitred Arab, beautifully coifed Armenian; here the Sacian had pitched his painted tent, the Mede his[187]i.e.Eugenius.[188]i.e.of East and West.

[375]

misty Rhodope afforded him a winter’s bed. I call you to witness, cold valleys of Haemus, that Stilicho has often filled with bloody slaughter; and you, rivers of Thrace, your waters turned to blood; say, ye Bisaltae, or you whose oxen plough Pangaeus’ slopes, how many a rotting helm has not your share shattered neath the soil, how oft have not your mattocks rung against the giant bones of slaughtered kings.

Fain would I embrace each separate one; but thine exploits press on in too close array, and I am overwhelmed by the pursuing flood of glorious deeds. When Theodosius had warred against, and slain, the tyrant[187]he ascended into heaven, leaving the governance of the world to thee. With a strength equal to his thou dost bear up the tottering structure of the empire that threatens each moment to collapse. Thus, when once Hercules upheld the world, the universal frame hung more surely poised, the Standard-bearer did not reel with tottering stars, and old Atlas, relieved for a moment of the eternal load, was confounded as he gazed upon his own burden.

Barbary was quiet, no revolution troubled the empire’s peace and though so great a prince was dead the world knew not that the reins had passed into another’s hands. No company in the two armies[188]dared aught as though set loose from control. Yet surely never had such diversities of language and arms met together to form one united people. Theodosius had unified the whole East beneath his rule. Here were mingled Colchian and Iberian, mitred Arab, beautifully coifed Armenian; here the Sacian had pitched his painted tent, the Mede his

[187]i.e.Eugenius.

[188]i.e.of East and West.

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