IN EUTROPIUM

[130]aggere conspicuus; stat circumfusa iuventus425nixa hastis pronasque ferox accommodat aures:“Gildonem domitura manus, promissa minasquetempus agi. si quid pro me doluistis, in armisostentate mihi; iusto magnoque triumphociviles abolete notas; sciat orbis Eous430sitque palam Gallos causa, non robore vinci.nec vos, barbariem quamvis collegerit omnem,terreat. an Mauri fremitum raucosque repulsusumbonum et vestros passuri comminus enses?non contra clipeis tectos gladiisque micantes435ibitis: in solis longe fiducia telis.exarmatus erit, cum missile torserit, hostis.dextra movet iaculum, praetentat pallia laeva;cetera nudus eques. sonipes ignarus habenae;virga regit. non ulla fides, non agminis ordo:440arma oneri, fuga praesidio. conubia mille;non illis generis nexus, non pignora curae:sed numero languet pietas. haec copia vulgi.umbratus dux ipse rosis et marcidus ibitunguentis crudusque cibo titubansque Lyaeo,445confectus senio, morbis stuprisque solutus.excitet incestos turmalis bucina somnos,imploret citharas cantatricesque choreasoffensus stridore tubae discatque coactus,quas vigilat Veneri, castris impendere noctes.450[131]leaning upon their spears the soldiers throng around him and attune their ready ears to his inspiring voice. “My men, so soon to bring defeat upon Gildo, now is the time to fulfil your promises and make good your threats. If you felt indignation on my behalf, now take up arms and prove it. Wash out the stain of civil war by means of a great and deserved triumph. Let the empire of the East know, let it be plain to all the world, that Gaul can only owe defeat to the badness of a cause, not to her enemies’ strength.[79]Let not Gildo affright you though he have all barbary at his back. Shall Moors stand up against the shock of your clashing shields and the near threat of your swords? You shall not oppose men armed with shields or shining blades. These savages put their trust in javelins hurled from afar. Once he has discharged his missile the enemy will be disarmed. With his right hand he hurls his spear, with his left he holds his cloak before him; no other armour has the horseman. His steed knows not the rein; a whip controls it. Obedience and discipline are unknown in their ranks. Their arms are a burden to them, their salvation lies in flight. Though each has many wives, ties of family bind them not, nor have they any love for their children whose very number causes affection to fail. Such are the troops. The chief will come to battle crowned with roses, drenched with scents, his last feast still undigested; drunken with wine, foredone with eld, enervated with disease and venery. Let the war trumpet rouse him from a bed of incest, let him beg aid of lutes and choirs, for he likes not the clarion’s note, and let him learn (all unwilling) to spend in war nights that he now dedicates to love.[79]He appeals to the Gallic element of the army to atone for its previous support of Maximus and Eugenius.

[130]

aggere conspicuus; stat circumfusa iuventus425nixa hastis pronasque ferox accommodat aures:“Gildonem domitura manus, promissa minasquetempus agi. si quid pro me doluistis, in armisostentate mihi; iusto magnoque triumphociviles abolete notas; sciat orbis Eous430sitque palam Gallos causa, non robore vinci.nec vos, barbariem quamvis collegerit omnem,terreat. an Mauri fremitum raucosque repulsusumbonum et vestros passuri comminus enses?non contra clipeis tectos gladiisque micantes435ibitis: in solis longe fiducia telis.exarmatus erit, cum missile torserit, hostis.dextra movet iaculum, praetentat pallia laeva;cetera nudus eques. sonipes ignarus habenae;virga regit. non ulla fides, non agminis ordo:440arma oneri, fuga praesidio. conubia mille;non illis generis nexus, non pignora curae:sed numero languet pietas. haec copia vulgi.umbratus dux ipse rosis et marcidus ibitunguentis crudusque cibo titubansque Lyaeo,445confectus senio, morbis stuprisque solutus.excitet incestos turmalis bucina somnos,imploret citharas cantatricesque choreasoffensus stridore tubae discatque coactus,quas vigilat Veneri, castris impendere noctes.450

aggere conspicuus; stat circumfusa iuventus425

nixa hastis pronasque ferox accommodat aures:

“Gildonem domitura manus, promissa minasque

tempus agi. si quid pro me doluistis, in armis

ostentate mihi; iusto magnoque triumpho

civiles abolete notas; sciat orbis Eous430

sitque palam Gallos causa, non robore vinci.

nec vos, barbariem quamvis collegerit omnem,

terreat. an Mauri fremitum raucosque repulsus

umbonum et vestros passuri comminus enses?

non contra clipeis tectos gladiisque micantes435

ibitis: in solis longe fiducia telis.

exarmatus erit, cum missile torserit, hostis.

dextra movet iaculum, praetentat pallia laeva;

cetera nudus eques. sonipes ignarus habenae;

virga regit. non ulla fides, non agminis ordo:440

arma oneri, fuga praesidio. conubia mille;

non illis generis nexus, non pignora curae:

sed numero languet pietas. haec copia vulgi.

umbratus dux ipse rosis et marcidus ibit

unguentis crudusque cibo titubansque Lyaeo,445

confectus senio, morbis stuprisque solutus.

excitet incestos turmalis bucina somnos,

imploret citharas cantatricesque choreas

offensus stridore tubae discatque coactus,

quas vigilat Veneri, castris impendere noctes.450

[131]leaning upon their spears the soldiers throng around him and attune their ready ears to his inspiring voice. “My men, so soon to bring defeat upon Gildo, now is the time to fulfil your promises and make good your threats. If you felt indignation on my behalf, now take up arms and prove it. Wash out the stain of civil war by means of a great and deserved triumph. Let the empire of the East know, let it be plain to all the world, that Gaul can only owe defeat to the badness of a cause, not to her enemies’ strength.[79]Let not Gildo affright you though he have all barbary at his back. Shall Moors stand up against the shock of your clashing shields and the near threat of your swords? You shall not oppose men armed with shields or shining blades. These savages put their trust in javelins hurled from afar. Once he has discharged his missile the enemy will be disarmed. With his right hand he hurls his spear, with his left he holds his cloak before him; no other armour has the horseman. His steed knows not the rein; a whip controls it. Obedience and discipline are unknown in their ranks. Their arms are a burden to them, their salvation lies in flight. Though each has many wives, ties of family bind them not, nor have they any love for their children whose very number causes affection to fail. Such are the troops. The chief will come to battle crowned with roses, drenched with scents, his last feast still undigested; drunken with wine, foredone with eld, enervated with disease and venery. Let the war trumpet rouse him from a bed of incest, let him beg aid of lutes and choirs, for he likes not the clarion’s note, and let him learn (all unwilling) to spend in war nights that he now dedicates to love.[79]He appeals to the Gallic element of the army to atone for its previous support of Maximus and Eugenius.

[131]

leaning upon their spears the soldiers throng around him and attune their ready ears to his inspiring voice. “My men, so soon to bring defeat upon Gildo, now is the time to fulfil your promises and make good your threats. If you felt indignation on my behalf, now take up arms and prove it. Wash out the stain of civil war by means of a great and deserved triumph. Let the empire of the East know, let it be plain to all the world, that Gaul can only owe defeat to the badness of a cause, not to her enemies’ strength.[79]Let not Gildo affright you though he have all barbary at his back. Shall Moors stand up against the shock of your clashing shields and the near threat of your swords? You shall not oppose men armed with shields or shining blades. These savages put their trust in javelins hurled from afar. Once he has discharged his missile the enemy will be disarmed. With his right hand he hurls his spear, with his left he holds his cloak before him; no other armour has the horseman. His steed knows not the rein; a whip controls it. Obedience and discipline are unknown in their ranks. Their arms are a burden to them, their salvation lies in flight. Though each has many wives, ties of family bind them not, nor have they any love for their children whose very number causes affection to fail. Such are the troops. The chief will come to battle crowned with roses, drenched with scents, his last feast still undigested; drunken with wine, foredone with eld, enervated with disease and venery. Let the war trumpet rouse him from a bed of incest, let him beg aid of lutes and choirs, for he likes not the clarion’s note, and let him learn (all unwilling) to spend in war nights that he now dedicates to love.

[79]He appeals to the Gallic element of the army to atone for its previous support of Maximus and Eugenius.

[132]“Nonne mori satius, vitae quam ferre pudorem?nam quae iam regio restat, si dedita Maurisregibus Illyricis accesserit Africa damnis?ins Latium, quod tunc Meroë Rubroque solebatOceano cingi, Tyrrhena clauditur unda;455et cui non Nilus, non intulit India metas,Romani iam finis erit Trinacria regni.ite recepturi, praedo quem sustulit, axemereptumque Notum; caput insuperabile rerumaut ruet in vestris aut stabit Roma lacertis.460tot mihi debetis populos, tot rura, tot urbesamissas. uno Libyam defendite bello.vestros imperium remos et vestra sequaturcarbasa. despectas trans aequora ducite leges.tertia iam solito cervix mucrone rotetur465tandem funereis finem positura tyrannis.”Omina conveniunt dicto fulvusque Tonantisarmiger a liquida cunctis spectantibus aethracorreptum pedibus curvis innexuit hydrum,dumque reluctantem morsu partitur obunco,470haesit in ungue caput; truncatus decidit anguis.ilicet auguriis alacres per saxa citatitorrentesque ruunt; nec mons aut silva retardat:pendula ceu parvis moturae bella colonisingenti clangore grues aestiva relinquunt475Thracia, cum tepido permutant Strymona Nilo:ordinibus variis per nubila texitur aleslittera pennarumque notis conscribitur aër.Ut fluctus tetigere maris, tunc acrior arsit[133]“Is not death preferable to a life disgraced? If, in addition to the loss of Illyria, Africa is to be surrendered to Moorish kings, what lands still remain to us? The empire of Italy, once bounded by the Nile and the Red Sea, is limited to-day by the sea of Tuscany; shall Sicily now be the most distant province of Roman rule, to which in days of old neither Egypt nor India set an end? Go: win back that southern realm a rebel has reft from me. It depends on your arms whether Rome, the unconquerable mistress of the world, stands or falls. You owe me so many peoples, countries, cities lost. Fight but one battle in defence of Libya. Let empire restored attend on your oars and sails. Give back to Africa the laws of Rome she now disregards. Let history repeat itself, and the sword smite from its trunk the head of this third tyrant[80]and so end at last the series of bloody usurpers.”An omen confirms his word and before the eyes of all, the tawny bird, armour-bearer of Jove, swoops down from the open sky and seizes a snake in his curved talons; and while the eagle tears his struggling prey with his hooked beak, his claws are embedded in its head. The severed body falls to earth. Straightway the soldiers come hurrying up, crossing rocks and streams in their eagerness at the call of this portent. Neither mountains nor woods delay them. Even as the cranes leave their summer home of Thrace clamorously to join issue in doubtful war with the Pygmies, when they desert the Strymon for warm-watered Nile, the letter[81]traced by the speeding line stands out against the clouds and the heaven is stamped with the figure of their flight.When they reached the coast still fiercer blazed[80]The other two being Maximus and Eugenius.[81]i.e.the Greek Λ.

[132]

“Nonne mori satius, vitae quam ferre pudorem?nam quae iam regio restat, si dedita Maurisregibus Illyricis accesserit Africa damnis?ins Latium, quod tunc Meroë Rubroque solebatOceano cingi, Tyrrhena clauditur unda;455et cui non Nilus, non intulit India metas,Romani iam finis erit Trinacria regni.ite recepturi, praedo quem sustulit, axemereptumque Notum; caput insuperabile rerumaut ruet in vestris aut stabit Roma lacertis.460tot mihi debetis populos, tot rura, tot urbesamissas. uno Libyam defendite bello.vestros imperium remos et vestra sequaturcarbasa. despectas trans aequora ducite leges.tertia iam solito cervix mucrone rotetur465tandem funereis finem positura tyrannis.”Omina conveniunt dicto fulvusque Tonantisarmiger a liquida cunctis spectantibus aethracorreptum pedibus curvis innexuit hydrum,dumque reluctantem morsu partitur obunco,470haesit in ungue caput; truncatus decidit anguis.ilicet auguriis alacres per saxa citatitorrentesque ruunt; nec mons aut silva retardat:pendula ceu parvis moturae bella colonisingenti clangore grues aestiva relinquunt475Thracia, cum tepido permutant Strymona Nilo:ordinibus variis per nubila texitur aleslittera pennarumque notis conscribitur aër.Ut fluctus tetigere maris, tunc acrior arsit

“Nonne mori satius, vitae quam ferre pudorem?

nam quae iam regio restat, si dedita Mauris

regibus Illyricis accesserit Africa damnis?

ins Latium, quod tunc Meroë Rubroque solebat

Oceano cingi, Tyrrhena clauditur unda;455

et cui non Nilus, non intulit India metas,

Romani iam finis erit Trinacria regni.

ite recepturi, praedo quem sustulit, axem

ereptumque Notum; caput insuperabile rerum

aut ruet in vestris aut stabit Roma lacertis.460

tot mihi debetis populos, tot rura, tot urbes

amissas. uno Libyam defendite bello.

vestros imperium remos et vestra sequatur

carbasa. despectas trans aequora ducite leges.

tertia iam solito cervix mucrone rotetur465

tandem funereis finem positura tyrannis.”

Omina conveniunt dicto fulvusque Tonantis

armiger a liquida cunctis spectantibus aethra

correptum pedibus curvis innexuit hydrum,

dumque reluctantem morsu partitur obunco,470

haesit in ungue caput; truncatus decidit anguis.

ilicet auguriis alacres per saxa citati

torrentesque ruunt; nec mons aut silva retardat:

pendula ceu parvis moturae bella colonis

ingenti clangore grues aestiva relinquunt475

Thracia, cum tepido permutant Strymona Nilo:

ordinibus variis per nubila texitur ales

littera pennarumque notis conscribitur aër.

Ut fluctus tetigere maris, tunc acrior arsit

[133]“Is not death preferable to a life disgraced? If, in addition to the loss of Illyria, Africa is to be surrendered to Moorish kings, what lands still remain to us? The empire of Italy, once bounded by the Nile and the Red Sea, is limited to-day by the sea of Tuscany; shall Sicily now be the most distant province of Roman rule, to which in days of old neither Egypt nor India set an end? Go: win back that southern realm a rebel has reft from me. It depends on your arms whether Rome, the unconquerable mistress of the world, stands or falls. You owe me so many peoples, countries, cities lost. Fight but one battle in defence of Libya. Let empire restored attend on your oars and sails. Give back to Africa the laws of Rome she now disregards. Let history repeat itself, and the sword smite from its trunk the head of this third tyrant[80]and so end at last the series of bloody usurpers.”An omen confirms his word and before the eyes of all, the tawny bird, armour-bearer of Jove, swoops down from the open sky and seizes a snake in his curved talons; and while the eagle tears his struggling prey with his hooked beak, his claws are embedded in its head. The severed body falls to earth. Straightway the soldiers come hurrying up, crossing rocks and streams in their eagerness at the call of this portent. Neither mountains nor woods delay them. Even as the cranes leave their summer home of Thrace clamorously to join issue in doubtful war with the Pygmies, when they desert the Strymon for warm-watered Nile, the letter[81]traced by the speeding line stands out against the clouds and the heaven is stamped with the figure of their flight.When they reached the coast still fiercer blazed[80]The other two being Maximus and Eugenius.[81]i.e.the Greek Λ.

[133]

“Is not death preferable to a life disgraced? If, in addition to the loss of Illyria, Africa is to be surrendered to Moorish kings, what lands still remain to us? The empire of Italy, once bounded by the Nile and the Red Sea, is limited to-day by the sea of Tuscany; shall Sicily now be the most distant province of Roman rule, to which in days of old neither Egypt nor India set an end? Go: win back that southern realm a rebel has reft from me. It depends on your arms whether Rome, the unconquerable mistress of the world, stands or falls. You owe me so many peoples, countries, cities lost. Fight but one battle in defence of Libya. Let empire restored attend on your oars and sails. Give back to Africa the laws of Rome she now disregards. Let history repeat itself, and the sword smite from its trunk the head of this third tyrant[80]and so end at last the series of bloody usurpers.”

An omen confirms his word and before the eyes of all, the tawny bird, armour-bearer of Jove, swoops down from the open sky and seizes a snake in his curved talons; and while the eagle tears his struggling prey with his hooked beak, his claws are embedded in its head. The severed body falls to earth. Straightway the soldiers come hurrying up, crossing rocks and streams in their eagerness at the call of this portent. Neither mountains nor woods delay them. Even as the cranes leave their summer home of Thrace clamorously to join issue in doubtful war with the Pygmies, when they desert the Strymon for warm-watered Nile, the letter[81]traced by the speeding line stands out against the clouds and the heaven is stamped with the figure of their flight.

When they reached the coast still fiercer blazed

[80]The other two being Maximus and Eugenius.

[81]i.e.the Greek Λ.

[134]impetus; adripiunt naves ipsique rudentes480expediunt et vela legunt et cornua summisadsociant malis; quatitur Tyrrhena tumultuora nec Alpheae capiunt navalia Pisae:sic Agamemnoniam vindex cum Graecia classemsolveret, innumeris fervebat vocibus Aulis.485non illos strepitus impendentisque procellaesigna nec adventus dubii deterruit Austri.“vellite” proclamant “socii, iam vellite funem.per vada Gildonem quamvis adversa petamus.ad bellum nos trudat hiems per devia ponti.490quassatis cupio tellurem figere rostris.heu nimium segnes, cauta qui mente notatis,si revolant mergi, graditur si litore cornix.ora licet maculis adsperserit occiduus sollunaque conceptis livescat turgida Cauris495et contusa vagos iaculentur sidera crines;imbribus umescant Haedi nimbosaque Taurumducat Hyas totusque fretis descendat Orion:certa fides caeli, sed maior Honorius auctor;illius auspiciis inmensa per aequora miles,500non Plaustris Arctove regor. contemne Booten,navita, turbinibus mediis permitte carinas.si mihi tempestas Libyam ventique negabunt,Augusti Fortuna dabit.”Iam classis in altumprovehitur; dextra Ligures, Etruria laeva505linquitur et caecis vitatur Corsica saxis.humanae specie plantae se magna figuratinsula (Sardiniam veteres dixere coloni),dives ager frugum, Poenos Italosve petenti[135]their enthusiasm. They seize upon the ships and themselves make ready the hawsers; furl the sails and fix the yards to the masts. Etruria’s shore is shaken with their uproar and Arcadian-founded Pisa cannot contain so great a number of ships. So Aulis rang with countless voices what time avenging Greece loosed the cables of Agamemnon’s fleet. No storm-blast deterred them nor threat of coming tempest nor the presence of the treacherous south wind. “Seize the rope, fellow-soldiers,” they cry, “seize the rope: let us sail against Gildo though the very seas be against us. Let the storm drive us to battle by how crooked so ever a course. Fain would I seize upon that shore though my ships’ beaks be shattered. Cowards ye, who cautiously observe whether or no the sea-gulls fly back or the crow pace the beach. What if clouds fleck the face of the setting sun or a stormy moon wear the halo that betokens hurricane? What if comets wave their spreading tails, or the constellation of the Kids threatens rain, or the cloudy Hyades lead forth the Bull and all Orion sink ’neath the waves? Put your trust in the sky, but put more in Honorius. Beneath his auspices I, his soldier, range the boundless seas nor look to the Plough or the Bear to guide me. Make no account of Boötes, sailor; launch your bark in mid tempest. If winds and storms deny me Libya, my emperor’s fortune will grant it.”The fleet is launched. They pass Liguria on their right hand, Etruria on their left, avoiding the sunken reefs of Corsica. There lies an island formed like a human foot (Sardinia its former inhabitants called it), an island rich in the produce of its fields, and conveniently situated for them who sail either to

[134]

impetus; adripiunt naves ipsique rudentes480expediunt et vela legunt et cornua summisadsociant malis; quatitur Tyrrhena tumultuora nec Alpheae capiunt navalia Pisae:sic Agamemnoniam vindex cum Graecia classemsolveret, innumeris fervebat vocibus Aulis.485non illos strepitus impendentisque procellaesigna nec adventus dubii deterruit Austri.“vellite” proclamant “socii, iam vellite funem.per vada Gildonem quamvis adversa petamus.ad bellum nos trudat hiems per devia ponti.490quassatis cupio tellurem figere rostris.heu nimium segnes, cauta qui mente notatis,si revolant mergi, graditur si litore cornix.ora licet maculis adsperserit occiduus sollunaque conceptis livescat turgida Cauris495et contusa vagos iaculentur sidera crines;imbribus umescant Haedi nimbosaque Taurumducat Hyas totusque fretis descendat Orion:certa fides caeli, sed maior Honorius auctor;illius auspiciis inmensa per aequora miles,500non Plaustris Arctove regor. contemne Booten,navita, turbinibus mediis permitte carinas.si mihi tempestas Libyam ventique negabunt,Augusti Fortuna dabit.”Iam classis in altumprovehitur; dextra Ligures, Etruria laeva505linquitur et caecis vitatur Corsica saxis.humanae specie plantae se magna figuratinsula (Sardiniam veteres dixere coloni),dives ager frugum, Poenos Italosve petenti

impetus; adripiunt naves ipsique rudentes480

expediunt et vela legunt et cornua summis

adsociant malis; quatitur Tyrrhena tumultu

ora nec Alpheae capiunt navalia Pisae:

sic Agamemnoniam vindex cum Graecia classem

solveret, innumeris fervebat vocibus Aulis.485

non illos strepitus impendentisque procellae

signa nec adventus dubii deterruit Austri.

“vellite” proclamant “socii, iam vellite funem.

per vada Gildonem quamvis adversa petamus.

ad bellum nos trudat hiems per devia ponti.490

quassatis cupio tellurem figere rostris.

heu nimium segnes, cauta qui mente notatis,

si revolant mergi, graditur si litore cornix.

ora licet maculis adsperserit occiduus sol

lunaque conceptis livescat turgida Cauris495

et contusa vagos iaculentur sidera crines;

imbribus umescant Haedi nimbosaque Taurum

ducat Hyas totusque fretis descendat Orion:

certa fides caeli, sed maior Honorius auctor;

illius auspiciis inmensa per aequora miles,500

non Plaustris Arctove regor. contemne Booten,

navita, turbinibus mediis permitte carinas.

si mihi tempestas Libyam ventique negabunt,

Augusti Fortuna dabit.”

Iam classis in altum

provehitur; dextra Ligures, Etruria laeva505

linquitur et caecis vitatur Corsica saxis.

humanae specie plantae se magna figurat

insula (Sardiniam veteres dixere coloni),

dives ager frugum, Poenos Italosve petenti

[135]their enthusiasm. They seize upon the ships and themselves make ready the hawsers; furl the sails and fix the yards to the masts. Etruria’s shore is shaken with their uproar and Arcadian-founded Pisa cannot contain so great a number of ships. So Aulis rang with countless voices what time avenging Greece loosed the cables of Agamemnon’s fleet. No storm-blast deterred them nor threat of coming tempest nor the presence of the treacherous south wind. “Seize the rope, fellow-soldiers,” they cry, “seize the rope: let us sail against Gildo though the very seas be against us. Let the storm drive us to battle by how crooked so ever a course. Fain would I seize upon that shore though my ships’ beaks be shattered. Cowards ye, who cautiously observe whether or no the sea-gulls fly back or the crow pace the beach. What if clouds fleck the face of the setting sun or a stormy moon wear the halo that betokens hurricane? What if comets wave their spreading tails, or the constellation of the Kids threatens rain, or the cloudy Hyades lead forth the Bull and all Orion sink ’neath the waves? Put your trust in the sky, but put more in Honorius. Beneath his auspices I, his soldier, range the boundless seas nor look to the Plough or the Bear to guide me. Make no account of Boötes, sailor; launch your bark in mid tempest. If winds and storms deny me Libya, my emperor’s fortune will grant it.”The fleet is launched. They pass Liguria on their right hand, Etruria on their left, avoiding the sunken reefs of Corsica. There lies an island formed like a human foot (Sardinia its former inhabitants called it), an island rich in the produce of its fields, and conveniently situated for them who sail either to

[135]

their enthusiasm. They seize upon the ships and themselves make ready the hawsers; furl the sails and fix the yards to the masts. Etruria’s shore is shaken with their uproar and Arcadian-founded Pisa cannot contain so great a number of ships. So Aulis rang with countless voices what time avenging Greece loosed the cables of Agamemnon’s fleet. No storm-blast deterred them nor threat of coming tempest nor the presence of the treacherous south wind. “Seize the rope, fellow-soldiers,” they cry, “seize the rope: let us sail against Gildo though the very seas be against us. Let the storm drive us to battle by how crooked so ever a course. Fain would I seize upon that shore though my ships’ beaks be shattered. Cowards ye, who cautiously observe whether or no the sea-gulls fly back or the crow pace the beach. What if clouds fleck the face of the setting sun or a stormy moon wear the halo that betokens hurricane? What if comets wave their spreading tails, or the constellation of the Kids threatens rain, or the cloudy Hyades lead forth the Bull and all Orion sink ’neath the waves? Put your trust in the sky, but put more in Honorius. Beneath his auspices I, his soldier, range the boundless seas nor look to the Plough or the Bear to guide me. Make no account of Boötes, sailor; launch your bark in mid tempest. If winds and storms deny me Libya, my emperor’s fortune will grant it.”

The fleet is launched. They pass Liguria on their right hand, Etruria on their left, avoiding the sunken reefs of Corsica. There lies an island formed like a human foot (Sardinia its former inhabitants called it), an island rich in the produce of its fields, and conveniently situated for them who sail either to

[136]opportuna situ: quae pars vicinior Afris,510plana solo, ratibus clemens; quae respicit Arcton,inmitis, scopulosa, procax subitisque sonoraflatibus; insanos infamat navita montes.hic hominum pecudumque lues, sic[82]pestifer aërsaevit et exclusis regnant Aquilonibus Austri.515Quos ubi luctatis procul effugere carinis,per diversa ruunt sinuosae litora terrae.pars adit antiqua ductos Carthagine Sulcos;partem litoreo complectitur Olbia muro.urbs Libyam contra Tyrio fundata potenti520tenditur in longum Caralis tenuemque per undasobvia dimittit fracturum flamina collem;efficitur portus medium mare, tutaque ventisomnibus ingenti mansuescunt stagna recessu.hanc omni petiere manu prorisque reductis525suspensa Zephyros expectant classe faventes.[82]Birt, following theMSS.,si. Older editionshuic … huic. I printsic.[137]Africa or Italy. The part that faces Africa is flat and affords good anchorage for ships; the northern shore is inhospitable, rock-bound, stormy, and loud with sudden gales. The sailor curses these wild cliffs. Here the pestilence falls on men and beasts, so plague-ridden and deadly is the air, so omnipotent the South wind and the North winds banished.When their much buffeted vessels had given a wide berth to these dangers, they came to land at different places on the broken coast-line. Some are beached at Sulci, a city founded by Carthage of old. The sea-wall of Olbia shelters others. The city of Caralis over against the coast of Libya, a colony of great Phoenician Carthage, juts out into the sea and extends into the waves, a little promontory that breaks the force of the opposing winds. Thus in the midst a harbour is found and in a huge bay the quiet waters lie safe from every wind. For this harbour they make with every effort, and reversing their vessels they await the favouring breezes of the west wind with fleet at anchor.[83][83]This poem was never properly finished; see Introduction, p. xi.

[136]

opportuna situ: quae pars vicinior Afris,510plana solo, ratibus clemens; quae respicit Arcton,inmitis, scopulosa, procax subitisque sonoraflatibus; insanos infamat navita montes.hic hominum pecudumque lues, sic[82]pestifer aërsaevit et exclusis regnant Aquilonibus Austri.515Quos ubi luctatis procul effugere carinis,per diversa ruunt sinuosae litora terrae.pars adit antiqua ductos Carthagine Sulcos;partem litoreo complectitur Olbia muro.urbs Libyam contra Tyrio fundata potenti520tenditur in longum Caralis tenuemque per undasobvia dimittit fracturum flamina collem;efficitur portus medium mare, tutaque ventisomnibus ingenti mansuescunt stagna recessu.hanc omni petiere manu prorisque reductis525suspensa Zephyros expectant classe faventes.

opportuna situ: quae pars vicinior Afris,510

plana solo, ratibus clemens; quae respicit Arcton,

inmitis, scopulosa, procax subitisque sonora

flatibus; insanos infamat navita montes.

hic hominum pecudumque lues, sic[82]pestifer aër

saevit et exclusis regnant Aquilonibus Austri.515

Quos ubi luctatis procul effugere carinis,

per diversa ruunt sinuosae litora terrae.

pars adit antiqua ductos Carthagine Sulcos;

partem litoreo complectitur Olbia muro.

urbs Libyam contra Tyrio fundata potenti520

tenditur in longum Caralis tenuemque per undas

obvia dimittit fracturum flamina collem;

efficitur portus medium mare, tutaque ventis

omnibus ingenti mansuescunt stagna recessu.

hanc omni petiere manu prorisque reductis525

suspensa Zephyros expectant classe faventes.

[82]Birt, following theMSS.,si. Older editionshuic … huic. I printsic.

[137]Africa or Italy. The part that faces Africa is flat and affords good anchorage for ships; the northern shore is inhospitable, rock-bound, stormy, and loud with sudden gales. The sailor curses these wild cliffs. Here the pestilence falls on men and beasts, so plague-ridden and deadly is the air, so omnipotent the South wind and the North winds banished.When their much buffeted vessels had given a wide berth to these dangers, they came to land at different places on the broken coast-line. Some are beached at Sulci, a city founded by Carthage of old. The sea-wall of Olbia shelters others. The city of Caralis over against the coast of Libya, a colony of great Phoenician Carthage, juts out into the sea and extends into the waves, a little promontory that breaks the force of the opposing winds. Thus in the midst a harbour is found and in a huge bay the quiet waters lie safe from every wind. For this harbour they make with every effort, and reversing their vessels they await the favouring breezes of the west wind with fleet at anchor.[83][83]This poem was never properly finished; see Introduction, p. xi.

[137]

Africa or Italy. The part that faces Africa is flat and affords good anchorage for ships; the northern shore is inhospitable, rock-bound, stormy, and loud with sudden gales. The sailor curses these wild cliffs. Here the pestilence falls on men and beasts, so plague-ridden and deadly is the air, so omnipotent the South wind and the North winds banished.

When their much buffeted vessels had given a wide berth to these dangers, they came to land at different places on the broken coast-line. Some are beached at Sulci, a city founded by Carthage of old. The sea-wall of Olbia shelters others. The city of Caralis over against the coast of Libya, a colony of great Phoenician Carthage, juts out into the sea and extends into the waves, a little promontory that breaks the force of the opposing winds. Thus in the midst a harbour is found and in a huge bay the quiet waters lie safe from every wind. For this harbour they make with every effort, and reversing their vessels they await the favouring breezes of the west wind with fleet at anchor.[83]

[83]This poem was never properly finished; see Introduction, p. xi.

[138]IN EUTROPIUMLIBER I(XVIII.)Semiferos partus metuendaque pignora matrimoenibus et mediis auditum nocte luporummurmur et attonito pecudes pastore locutaset lapidum duras hiemes nimboque minacemsanguineo rubuisse Iovem puteosque cruore5mutatos visasque polo concurrere lunaset geminos soles mirari desinat orbis:omnia cesserunt eunucho consule monstra.heu terrae caelique pudor! trabeata per urbesostentatur anus titulumque effeminat anni.10pandite pontifices Cumanae carmina vatis,fulmineos sollers Etruria consulat ignesinmersumque nefas fibris exploret haruspex,quae nova portendant superi. Nilusne meatudevius et nostri temptat iam transfuga mundi15se Rubro miscere mari? ruptone Niphaterursum barbaricis Oriens vastabitur armis?an morbi ventura lues? an nulla colonoresponsura seges? quae tantas expiet irasvictima? quo diras iugulo placabimus aras?20[139]AGAINST EUTROPIUSBOOK I(XVIII.)Let the world cease to wonder at the births of creatures half human, half bestial, at monstrous babes that affright their own mothers, at the howling of wolves heard by night in the cities, at beasts that speak to their astonied herds, at stones falling like rain, at the blood-red threatening storm clouds, at wells of water changed to gore, at moons that clash in mid heaven and at twin suns. All portents pale before our eunuch consul. O shame to heaven and earth! Our cities behold an old woman decked in a consul’s robe who gives a woman’s name to the year.[84]Open the pages of the Cumaean Sibyl, ye pontifs; let wise Etrurian seers consult the lightning’s flash, and the soothsayer search out the awful portent hidden in the entrails. What new dread warning is this the gods give? Does Nile desert his bed and leaving Roman soil seek to mix his waters with those of the Red Sea? Does cleft Niphates[85]once more let through a host of eastern barbarians to ravage our lands? Does a pestilence threaten us? Or shall no harvest repay the farmer? What victim can expiate divine anger such as this? What offering appease the cruel altars? The consul’s[84]For the consulship of Eutropius see Introduction, p. xv.[85]A mountain in Armenia.

[138]

(XVIII.)

Semiferos partus metuendaque pignora matrimoenibus et mediis auditum nocte luporummurmur et attonito pecudes pastore locutaset lapidum duras hiemes nimboque minacemsanguineo rubuisse Iovem puteosque cruore5mutatos visasque polo concurrere lunaset geminos soles mirari desinat orbis:omnia cesserunt eunucho consule monstra.heu terrae caelique pudor! trabeata per urbesostentatur anus titulumque effeminat anni.10pandite pontifices Cumanae carmina vatis,fulmineos sollers Etruria consulat ignesinmersumque nefas fibris exploret haruspex,quae nova portendant superi. Nilusne meatudevius et nostri temptat iam transfuga mundi15se Rubro miscere mari? ruptone Niphaterursum barbaricis Oriens vastabitur armis?an morbi ventura lues? an nulla colonoresponsura seges? quae tantas expiet irasvictima? quo diras iugulo placabimus aras?20

Semiferos partus metuendaque pignora matri

moenibus et mediis auditum nocte luporum

murmur et attonito pecudes pastore locutas

et lapidum duras hiemes nimboque minacem

sanguineo rubuisse Iovem puteosque cruore5

mutatos visasque polo concurrere lunas

et geminos soles mirari desinat orbis:

omnia cesserunt eunucho consule monstra.

heu terrae caelique pudor! trabeata per urbes

ostentatur anus titulumque effeminat anni.10

pandite pontifices Cumanae carmina vatis,

fulmineos sollers Etruria consulat ignes

inmersumque nefas fibris exploret haruspex,

quae nova portendant superi. Nilusne meatu

devius et nostri temptat iam transfuga mundi15

se Rubro miscere mari? ruptone Niphate

rursum barbaricis Oriens vastabitur armis?

an morbi ventura lues? an nulla colono

responsura seges? quae tantas expiet iras

victima? quo diras iugulo placabimus aras?20

[139]AGAINST EUTROPIUSBOOK I(XVIII.)Let the world cease to wonder at the births of creatures half human, half bestial, at monstrous babes that affright their own mothers, at the howling of wolves heard by night in the cities, at beasts that speak to their astonied herds, at stones falling like rain, at the blood-red threatening storm clouds, at wells of water changed to gore, at moons that clash in mid heaven and at twin suns. All portents pale before our eunuch consul. O shame to heaven and earth! Our cities behold an old woman decked in a consul’s robe who gives a woman’s name to the year.[84]Open the pages of the Cumaean Sibyl, ye pontifs; let wise Etrurian seers consult the lightning’s flash, and the soothsayer search out the awful portent hidden in the entrails. What new dread warning is this the gods give? Does Nile desert his bed and leaving Roman soil seek to mix his waters with those of the Red Sea? Does cleft Niphates[85]once more let through a host of eastern barbarians to ravage our lands? Does a pestilence threaten us? Or shall no harvest repay the farmer? What victim can expiate divine anger such as this? What offering appease the cruel altars? The consul’s[84]For the consulship of Eutropius see Introduction, p. xv.[85]A mountain in Armenia.

[139]

(XVIII.)

Let the world cease to wonder at the births of creatures half human, half bestial, at monstrous babes that affright their own mothers, at the howling of wolves heard by night in the cities, at beasts that speak to their astonied herds, at stones falling like rain, at the blood-red threatening storm clouds, at wells of water changed to gore, at moons that clash in mid heaven and at twin suns. All portents pale before our eunuch consul. O shame to heaven and earth! Our cities behold an old woman decked in a consul’s robe who gives a woman’s name to the year.[84]Open the pages of the Cumaean Sibyl, ye pontifs; let wise Etrurian seers consult the lightning’s flash, and the soothsayer search out the awful portent hidden in the entrails. What new dread warning is this the gods give? Does Nile desert his bed and leaving Roman soil seek to mix his waters with those of the Red Sea? Does cleft Niphates[85]once more let through a host of eastern barbarians to ravage our lands? Does a pestilence threaten us? Or shall no harvest repay the farmer? What victim can expiate divine anger such as this? What offering appease the cruel altars? The consul’s

[84]For the consulship of Eutropius see Introduction, p. xv.

[85]A mountain in Armenia.

[140]consule lustrandi fasces ipsoque litandumprodigio; quodcumque parant hoc omine fata,Eutropius cervice luat sic omnia nobis.[86]Hoc regni, Fortuna, tenes? quaenam ista iocandisaevitia? humanis quantum bacchabere rebus?25si tibi servili placuit foedare curulescrimine, procedat laxata compede consul,rupta Quirinales sumant ergastula cinctus;da saltem quemcumque virum. discrimina quaedamsunt famulis splendorque suus, maculamque minoremcondicionis habet, domino qui vixerit uno.31si pelagi fluctus, Libyae si discis harenas,Eutropii numerabis eros. quot iura, quot illemutavit tabulas vel quanta vocabula vertit!nudatus quotiens, medicum dum consulit emptor,35ne qua per occultum lateat iactura dolorem!omnes paenituit pretii venumque redibat,dum vendi potuit. postquam deforme cadavermansit et in rugas totus defluxit aniles,iam specie doni certatim limine pellunt40et foedum ignaris properant obtrudere munus.tot translata iugis summisit colla, vetustumservitium semperque novum, nec destitit umquam,saepe tamen coepit.Cunabula prima cruentisdebet suppliciis; rapitur castrandus ab ipso45[86]Birt begins the new paragraph atsic, printing a comma atnobis. Alternatively, readvolvisfornobis(so Cuiacius’ codd.).[141]own blood must cleanse the consular insignia, the monster itself must be sacrificed. Whatever it be that fate prepares for us and shows forth by such an omen, let Eutropius’ death, I pray, avert it all.Fortune, is thy power so all-embracing? What is this savage humour of thine? To what lengths wilt thou sport with us poor mortals? If it was thy will to disgrace the consul’s chair with a servile occupant let some “consul” come forward with broken chains, let an escaped jail-bird don the robes of Quirinus—but at least give us a man. There are grades even among slaves and a certain dignity; that slave who has served but one master holds a position of less infamy. Canst thou count the waves of the sea, the grains of Africa’s sands, if so thou canst number Eutropius’ masters. How many owners has he had, in how many sale-catalogues has he appeared, how often has he changed his name! How often has he been stripped while buyer consulted doctor whether there lurked any flaw by reason of some hidden disease! All repented having bought him and he always returned to the slave-market while he could yet fetch a price. When he became but a foul corpse-like body, a mass of senile pendulous flesh, his masters were anxious to rid their houses of him by giving him away as a present and made haste to foist the loathsome gift on an unsuspecting friend. To so many different yokes did he submit his neck, this slave, old in years but ever new to the house; there was no end to his servitude though many beginnings.He is destined from his very cradle to bloody tortures; straight from his mother’s womb he is hurried away to be made a eunuch; no sooner born

[140]

consule lustrandi fasces ipsoque litandumprodigio; quodcumque parant hoc omine fata,Eutropius cervice luat sic omnia nobis.[86]Hoc regni, Fortuna, tenes? quaenam ista iocandisaevitia? humanis quantum bacchabere rebus?25si tibi servili placuit foedare curulescrimine, procedat laxata compede consul,rupta Quirinales sumant ergastula cinctus;da saltem quemcumque virum. discrimina quaedamsunt famulis splendorque suus, maculamque minoremcondicionis habet, domino qui vixerit uno.31si pelagi fluctus, Libyae si discis harenas,Eutropii numerabis eros. quot iura, quot illemutavit tabulas vel quanta vocabula vertit!nudatus quotiens, medicum dum consulit emptor,35ne qua per occultum lateat iactura dolorem!omnes paenituit pretii venumque redibat,dum vendi potuit. postquam deforme cadavermansit et in rugas totus defluxit aniles,iam specie doni certatim limine pellunt40et foedum ignaris properant obtrudere munus.tot translata iugis summisit colla, vetustumservitium semperque novum, nec destitit umquam,saepe tamen coepit.Cunabula prima cruentisdebet suppliciis; rapitur castrandus ab ipso45

consule lustrandi fasces ipsoque litandum

prodigio; quodcumque parant hoc omine fata,

Eutropius cervice luat sic omnia nobis.[86]

Hoc regni, Fortuna, tenes? quaenam ista iocandi

saevitia? humanis quantum bacchabere rebus?25

si tibi servili placuit foedare curules

crimine, procedat laxata compede consul,

rupta Quirinales sumant ergastula cinctus;

da saltem quemcumque virum. discrimina quaedam

sunt famulis splendorque suus, maculamque minorem

condicionis habet, domino qui vixerit uno.31

si pelagi fluctus, Libyae si discis harenas,

Eutropii numerabis eros. quot iura, quot ille

mutavit tabulas vel quanta vocabula vertit!

nudatus quotiens, medicum dum consulit emptor,35

ne qua per occultum lateat iactura dolorem!

omnes paenituit pretii venumque redibat,

dum vendi potuit. postquam deforme cadaver

mansit et in rugas totus defluxit aniles,

iam specie doni certatim limine pellunt40

et foedum ignaris properant obtrudere munus.

tot translata iugis summisit colla, vetustum

servitium semperque novum, nec destitit umquam,

saepe tamen coepit.

Cunabula prima cruentis

debet suppliciis; rapitur castrandus ab ipso45

[86]Birt begins the new paragraph atsic, printing a comma atnobis. Alternatively, readvolvisfornobis(so Cuiacius’ codd.).

[141]own blood must cleanse the consular insignia, the monster itself must be sacrificed. Whatever it be that fate prepares for us and shows forth by such an omen, let Eutropius’ death, I pray, avert it all.Fortune, is thy power so all-embracing? What is this savage humour of thine? To what lengths wilt thou sport with us poor mortals? If it was thy will to disgrace the consul’s chair with a servile occupant let some “consul” come forward with broken chains, let an escaped jail-bird don the robes of Quirinus—but at least give us a man. There are grades even among slaves and a certain dignity; that slave who has served but one master holds a position of less infamy. Canst thou count the waves of the sea, the grains of Africa’s sands, if so thou canst number Eutropius’ masters. How many owners has he had, in how many sale-catalogues has he appeared, how often has he changed his name! How often has he been stripped while buyer consulted doctor whether there lurked any flaw by reason of some hidden disease! All repented having bought him and he always returned to the slave-market while he could yet fetch a price. When he became but a foul corpse-like body, a mass of senile pendulous flesh, his masters were anxious to rid their houses of him by giving him away as a present and made haste to foist the loathsome gift on an unsuspecting friend. To so many different yokes did he submit his neck, this slave, old in years but ever new to the house; there was no end to his servitude though many beginnings.He is destined from his very cradle to bloody tortures; straight from his mother’s womb he is hurried away to be made a eunuch; no sooner born

[141]

own blood must cleanse the consular insignia, the monster itself must be sacrificed. Whatever it be that fate prepares for us and shows forth by such an omen, let Eutropius’ death, I pray, avert it all.

Fortune, is thy power so all-embracing? What is this savage humour of thine? To what lengths wilt thou sport with us poor mortals? If it was thy will to disgrace the consul’s chair with a servile occupant let some “consul” come forward with broken chains, let an escaped jail-bird don the robes of Quirinus—but at least give us a man. There are grades even among slaves and a certain dignity; that slave who has served but one master holds a position of less infamy. Canst thou count the waves of the sea, the grains of Africa’s sands, if so thou canst number Eutropius’ masters. How many owners has he had, in how many sale-catalogues has he appeared, how often has he changed his name! How often has he been stripped while buyer consulted doctor whether there lurked any flaw by reason of some hidden disease! All repented having bought him and he always returned to the slave-market while he could yet fetch a price. When he became but a foul corpse-like body, a mass of senile pendulous flesh, his masters were anxious to rid their houses of him by giving him away as a present and made haste to foist the loathsome gift on an unsuspecting friend. To so many different yokes did he submit his neck, this slave, old in years but ever new to the house; there was no end to his servitude though many beginnings.

He is destined from his very cradle to bloody tortures; straight from his mother’s womb he is hurried away to be made a eunuch; no sooner born

[142]ubere; suscipiunt matris post viscera poenae.advolat Armenius certo mucrone recisosedoctus mollire mares damnoque nefandumaucturus pretium; fecundum corporis imbrem[87]sedibus exhaurit geminis unoque sub ictu50eripit officium patris nomenque mariti.ambiguus vitae iacuit, penitusque supremumin cerebrum secti traxerunt frigora nervi.Laudemusne manum, quae vires abstulit hosti,an potius fato causam tribuisse queramur?55profuerat mansisse virum; felicior extatopprobrio; serviret adhuc, si fortior esset.Inde per Assyriae trahitur commercia ripae;hinc fora venalis Galata ductore frequentatpermutatque domos varias; quis nomina possit60tanta sequi? miles stabuli Ptolomaeus in illisnotior: hic longo lassatus paelicis usudonat Arinthaeo; neque enim iam dignus haberinec maturus emi. cum fastiditus abiret,quam gemuit, quanto planxit divortia luctu!65“haec erat, heu, Ptolomaee, fides? hoc profuit aetasin gremio consumpta tuo lectusque iugaliset ducti totiens inter praesaepia somni?libertas promissa perit? viduumne relinquisEutropium tantasque premunt oblivia noctes,70crudelis? generis pro sors durissima nostri!femina, cum senuit, retinet conubia partu,[87]codd.ignem; Postgateimbrem.[143]than he becomes a prey to suffering. Up hastens the Armenian, skilled by operating with unerring knife to make males womanish and to increase their loathly value by such loss. He drains the body’s life-giving fluid from its double source and with one blow deprives his victim of a father’s function and the name of husband. Eutropius lay doubtful of life, and the severed sinews drew a numbness deep down into his furthest brain.Are we to praise the hand that robbed an enemy of his strength? Or shall we rather blame the fates? It would have been better had he remained a man; his very disgrace has proved a blessing to him. Had he had his full manly vigour he would still have been a slave.After this he is dragged from one Assyrian mart to another; next in the train of a Galatian slave-merchant he stands for sale in many a market and knows many diverse houses. Who could tell the names of all his buyers? Among these Ptolemy, servant of the post-house,[88]was one of the better known. Then Ptolemy, tired of Eutropius’ long service to his lusts, gives him to Arinthaeus;—gives, for he is no longer worth keeping nor old enough to be bought. How the scorned minion wept at his departure, with what grief did he lament that divorce! “Was this thy fidelity, Ptolemy? Is this my reward for a youth lived in thine arms, for the bed of marriage and those many nights spent together in the inn? Must I lose my promised liberty? Leav’st thou Eutropius a widow, cruel wretch, forgetful of such wonderful nights of love? How hard is the lot of my kind! When a woman grows old her children cement the marriage tie and[88]I take Ptolemy to have been astationarius,i.e.a servant in a public post-house, but there is possibly some covert allusion tostabulumin the sense ofprostibulum, a brothel.

[142]

ubere; suscipiunt matris post viscera poenae.advolat Armenius certo mucrone recisosedoctus mollire mares damnoque nefandumaucturus pretium; fecundum corporis imbrem[87]sedibus exhaurit geminis unoque sub ictu50eripit officium patris nomenque mariti.ambiguus vitae iacuit, penitusque supremumin cerebrum secti traxerunt frigora nervi.Laudemusne manum, quae vires abstulit hosti,an potius fato causam tribuisse queramur?55profuerat mansisse virum; felicior extatopprobrio; serviret adhuc, si fortior esset.Inde per Assyriae trahitur commercia ripae;hinc fora venalis Galata ductore frequentatpermutatque domos varias; quis nomina possit60tanta sequi? miles stabuli Ptolomaeus in illisnotior: hic longo lassatus paelicis usudonat Arinthaeo; neque enim iam dignus haberinec maturus emi. cum fastiditus abiret,quam gemuit, quanto planxit divortia luctu!65“haec erat, heu, Ptolomaee, fides? hoc profuit aetasin gremio consumpta tuo lectusque iugaliset ducti totiens inter praesaepia somni?libertas promissa perit? viduumne relinquisEutropium tantasque premunt oblivia noctes,70crudelis? generis pro sors durissima nostri!femina, cum senuit, retinet conubia partu,

ubere; suscipiunt matris post viscera poenae.

advolat Armenius certo mucrone recisos

edoctus mollire mares damnoque nefandum

aucturus pretium; fecundum corporis imbrem[87]

sedibus exhaurit geminis unoque sub ictu50

eripit officium patris nomenque mariti.

ambiguus vitae iacuit, penitusque supremum

in cerebrum secti traxerunt frigora nervi.

Laudemusne manum, quae vires abstulit hosti,

an potius fato causam tribuisse queramur?55

profuerat mansisse virum; felicior extat

opprobrio; serviret adhuc, si fortior esset.

Inde per Assyriae trahitur commercia ripae;

hinc fora venalis Galata ductore frequentat

permutatque domos varias; quis nomina possit60

tanta sequi? miles stabuli Ptolomaeus in illis

notior: hic longo lassatus paelicis usu

donat Arinthaeo; neque enim iam dignus haberi

nec maturus emi. cum fastiditus abiret,

quam gemuit, quanto planxit divortia luctu!65

“haec erat, heu, Ptolomaee, fides? hoc profuit aetas

in gremio consumpta tuo lectusque iugalis

et ducti totiens inter praesaepia somni?

libertas promissa perit? viduumne relinquis

Eutropium tantasque premunt oblivia noctes,70

crudelis? generis pro sors durissima nostri!

femina, cum senuit, retinet conubia partu,

[87]codd.ignem; Postgateimbrem.

[143]than he becomes a prey to suffering. Up hastens the Armenian, skilled by operating with unerring knife to make males womanish and to increase their loathly value by such loss. He drains the body’s life-giving fluid from its double source and with one blow deprives his victim of a father’s function and the name of husband. Eutropius lay doubtful of life, and the severed sinews drew a numbness deep down into his furthest brain.Are we to praise the hand that robbed an enemy of his strength? Or shall we rather blame the fates? It would have been better had he remained a man; his very disgrace has proved a blessing to him. Had he had his full manly vigour he would still have been a slave.After this he is dragged from one Assyrian mart to another; next in the train of a Galatian slave-merchant he stands for sale in many a market and knows many diverse houses. Who could tell the names of all his buyers? Among these Ptolemy, servant of the post-house,[88]was one of the better known. Then Ptolemy, tired of Eutropius’ long service to his lusts, gives him to Arinthaeus;—gives, for he is no longer worth keeping nor old enough to be bought. How the scorned minion wept at his departure, with what grief did he lament that divorce! “Was this thy fidelity, Ptolemy? Is this my reward for a youth lived in thine arms, for the bed of marriage and those many nights spent together in the inn? Must I lose my promised liberty? Leav’st thou Eutropius a widow, cruel wretch, forgetful of such wonderful nights of love? How hard is the lot of my kind! When a woman grows old her children cement the marriage tie and[88]I take Ptolemy to have been astationarius,i.e.a servant in a public post-house, but there is possibly some covert allusion tostabulumin the sense ofprostibulum, a brothel.

[143]

than he becomes a prey to suffering. Up hastens the Armenian, skilled by operating with unerring knife to make males womanish and to increase their loathly value by such loss. He drains the body’s life-giving fluid from its double source and with one blow deprives his victim of a father’s function and the name of husband. Eutropius lay doubtful of life, and the severed sinews drew a numbness deep down into his furthest brain.

Are we to praise the hand that robbed an enemy of his strength? Or shall we rather blame the fates? It would have been better had he remained a man; his very disgrace has proved a blessing to him. Had he had his full manly vigour he would still have been a slave.

After this he is dragged from one Assyrian mart to another; next in the train of a Galatian slave-merchant he stands for sale in many a market and knows many diverse houses. Who could tell the names of all his buyers? Among these Ptolemy, servant of the post-house,[88]was one of the better known. Then Ptolemy, tired of Eutropius’ long service to his lusts, gives him to Arinthaeus;—gives, for he is no longer worth keeping nor old enough to be bought. How the scorned minion wept at his departure, with what grief did he lament that divorce! “Was this thy fidelity, Ptolemy? Is this my reward for a youth lived in thine arms, for the bed of marriage and those many nights spent together in the inn? Must I lose my promised liberty? Leav’st thou Eutropius a widow, cruel wretch, forgetful of such wonderful nights of love? How hard is the lot of my kind! When a woman grows old her children cement the marriage tie and

[88]I take Ptolemy to have been astationarius,i.e.a servant in a public post-house, but there is possibly some covert allusion tostabulumin the sense ofprostibulum, a brothel.

[144]uxorisque decus matris reverentia pensat.nos Lucina fugit, nec pignore nitimur ullo.cum forma dilapsus amor; defloruit oris75gratia: qua miseri scapulas tutabimur arte?qua placeam ratione senex?”Sic fatus acutumadgreditur lenonis opus, nec segnis ad artemmens erat officiique capax omnesque pudorishauserat insidias. custodia nulla tuendo80fida toro; nulli poterant excludere vectes:ille vel aerata Danaën in turre latentemeliceret. fletus domini fingebat amantis,indomitasque mora, pretio lenibat avaraslascivasque iocis; non blandior ullus euntis85ancillae tetigisse latus leviterque reductisvestibus occulto crimen mandasse susurronec furtis quaesisse locum nec fraude repertacautior elusi fremitus vitare mariti.haud aliter iuvenum flammis Ephyreia Lais90e gemino ditata mari; cum serta refuditcanities, iam turba procax noctisque receditambitus et raro pulsatur ianua tactu,seque reformidat speculo damnante senectus;stat tamen atque alias succingit lena ministras95dilectumque diu quamvis longaeva lupanarcircuit et retinent mores, quod perdidit aetas.[145]a mother’s dignity compensates for the lost charms of a wife. Me Lucina, goddess of childbirth, will not come near; I have no children on whom to rely. Love perishes with my beauty; the roses of my cheeks are faded. What wits can save my wretched back from blows? How can I, an old man, please?”So saying he entered upon the skilled profession of a pander. His whole heart was in his work; he knew his business well and was master of every stratagem for the undoing of chastity. No amount of vigilance could protect the marriage-bed from his attack; no bars could shut him out. He would have haled even Danaë from her refuge in the brazen tower. He would represent his patron as dying of love. Was the lady stubborn, he would win her by his patience; was she greedy, by a gift; flighty, he would corrupt her with a jest. None could arrest the attention of a maidservant with so neat a touch as he, none twitch aside a dress so lightly and whisper his shameful message in her ear. Never was any so skilled to choose a scene for the criminal meeting, or so clever at avoiding the wrath of the cuckold husband should the plot be discovered. One thought of Lais of Corinth, to whom the enamoured youth of that city brought wealth from its twin seas, who, when her grey hair could no longer go crowned with roses, when the emulous crowd of her admirers ceased nightly to haunt her doors and but few were left to knock thereat, when before the mirror’s verdict age shrank back in horror from itself, yet stood, still faithful to her calling, and as a pander dressed others for the part, haunting still the brothel she had loved so well and so long, and still pandering to the tastes old age forbade her.

[144]

uxorisque decus matris reverentia pensat.nos Lucina fugit, nec pignore nitimur ullo.cum forma dilapsus amor; defloruit oris75gratia: qua miseri scapulas tutabimur arte?qua placeam ratione senex?”Sic fatus acutumadgreditur lenonis opus, nec segnis ad artemmens erat officiique capax omnesque pudorishauserat insidias. custodia nulla tuendo80fida toro; nulli poterant excludere vectes:ille vel aerata Danaën in turre latentemeliceret. fletus domini fingebat amantis,indomitasque mora, pretio lenibat avaraslascivasque iocis; non blandior ullus euntis85ancillae tetigisse latus leviterque reductisvestibus occulto crimen mandasse susurronec furtis quaesisse locum nec fraude repertacautior elusi fremitus vitare mariti.haud aliter iuvenum flammis Ephyreia Lais90e gemino ditata mari; cum serta refuditcanities, iam turba procax noctisque receditambitus et raro pulsatur ianua tactu,seque reformidat speculo damnante senectus;stat tamen atque alias succingit lena ministras95dilectumque diu quamvis longaeva lupanarcircuit et retinent mores, quod perdidit aetas.

uxorisque decus matris reverentia pensat.

nos Lucina fugit, nec pignore nitimur ullo.

cum forma dilapsus amor; defloruit oris75

gratia: qua miseri scapulas tutabimur arte?

qua placeam ratione senex?”

Sic fatus acutum

adgreditur lenonis opus, nec segnis ad artem

mens erat officiique capax omnesque pudoris

hauserat insidias. custodia nulla tuendo80

fida toro; nulli poterant excludere vectes:

ille vel aerata Danaën in turre latentem

eliceret. fletus domini fingebat amantis,

indomitasque mora, pretio lenibat avaras

lascivasque iocis; non blandior ullus euntis85

ancillae tetigisse latus leviterque reductis

vestibus occulto crimen mandasse susurro

nec furtis quaesisse locum nec fraude reperta

cautior elusi fremitus vitare mariti.

haud aliter iuvenum flammis Ephyreia Lais90

e gemino ditata mari; cum serta refudit

canities, iam turba procax noctisque recedit

ambitus et raro pulsatur ianua tactu,

seque reformidat speculo damnante senectus;

stat tamen atque alias succingit lena ministras95

dilectumque diu quamvis longaeva lupanar

circuit et retinent mores, quod perdidit aetas.

[145]a mother’s dignity compensates for the lost charms of a wife. Me Lucina, goddess of childbirth, will not come near; I have no children on whom to rely. Love perishes with my beauty; the roses of my cheeks are faded. What wits can save my wretched back from blows? How can I, an old man, please?”So saying he entered upon the skilled profession of a pander. His whole heart was in his work; he knew his business well and was master of every stratagem for the undoing of chastity. No amount of vigilance could protect the marriage-bed from his attack; no bars could shut him out. He would have haled even Danaë from her refuge in the brazen tower. He would represent his patron as dying of love. Was the lady stubborn, he would win her by his patience; was she greedy, by a gift; flighty, he would corrupt her with a jest. None could arrest the attention of a maidservant with so neat a touch as he, none twitch aside a dress so lightly and whisper his shameful message in her ear. Never was any so skilled to choose a scene for the criminal meeting, or so clever at avoiding the wrath of the cuckold husband should the plot be discovered. One thought of Lais of Corinth, to whom the enamoured youth of that city brought wealth from its twin seas, who, when her grey hair could no longer go crowned with roses, when the emulous crowd of her admirers ceased nightly to haunt her doors and but few were left to knock thereat, when before the mirror’s verdict age shrank back in horror from itself, yet stood, still faithful to her calling, and as a pander dressed others for the part, haunting still the brothel she had loved so well and so long, and still pandering to the tastes old age forbade her.

[145]

a mother’s dignity compensates for the lost charms of a wife. Me Lucina, goddess of childbirth, will not come near; I have no children on whom to rely. Love perishes with my beauty; the roses of my cheeks are faded. What wits can save my wretched back from blows? How can I, an old man, please?”

So saying he entered upon the skilled profession of a pander. His whole heart was in his work; he knew his business well and was master of every stratagem for the undoing of chastity. No amount of vigilance could protect the marriage-bed from his attack; no bars could shut him out. He would have haled even Danaë from her refuge in the brazen tower. He would represent his patron as dying of love. Was the lady stubborn, he would win her by his patience; was she greedy, by a gift; flighty, he would corrupt her with a jest. None could arrest the attention of a maidservant with so neat a touch as he, none twitch aside a dress so lightly and whisper his shameful message in her ear. Never was any so skilled to choose a scene for the criminal meeting, or so clever at avoiding the wrath of the cuckold husband should the plot be discovered. One thought of Lais of Corinth, to whom the enamoured youth of that city brought wealth from its twin seas, who, when her grey hair could no longer go crowned with roses, when the emulous crowd of her admirers ceased nightly to haunt her doors and but few were left to knock thereat, when before the mirror’s verdict age shrank back in horror from itself, yet stood, still faithful to her calling, and as a pander dressed others for the part, haunting still the brothel she had loved so well and so long, and still pandering to the tastes old age forbade her.

[146]Hinc honor Eutropio; cumque omnibus unica virtusesset in eunuchis thalamos servare pudicos,solus adulteriis crevit. nec verbera tergo100cessavere tamen, quotiens decepta libidoirati caluisset eri, frustraque rogantemiactantemque suos tot iam per lustra laboresdotalem genero nutritoremque puellaetradidit. Eous rector consulque futurus105pectebat dominae crines et saepe lavantinudus in argento lympham gestabat alumnae.et cum se rapido fessam proiecerat aestu,patricius roseis pavonum ventilat alis.Iamque aevo laxata cutis, sulcisque genarum110corruerat passa facies rugosior uva:flava minus presso finduntur vomere rura,nec vento sic vela tremunt. miserabile turpesexedere caput tineae; deserta patebantintervalla comae: qualis sitientibus arvis115arida ieiunae seges interlucet aristaevel qualis gelidis pluma labente pruinisarboris inmoritur trunco brumalis hirundo.scilicet ut trabeis iniuria cresceret olim,has in fronte notas, hoc dedecus addidit oris120luxuriae Fortuna suae: cum pallida nudisossibus horrorem dominis praeberet imagodecolor et macies occursu laederet omnes,[147]Hence sprang Eutropius’ fame; for, though a eunuch’s one virtue be to guard the chastity of the marriage-chamber, here was one (and one only) who grew great through adulteries. But the lash fell as before on his back whenever his master’s criminal passion was through him frustrated. Then it was in vain that he prayed for forgiveness and reminded his lord of all those years of faithful service; he would find himself handed over to a son-in-law as part of the bride’s dowry. Thus he would become a lady’s-maid, and so the future consul and governor of the East would comb his mistress’ locks or stand naked holding a silver vessel of water wherein his charge could wash herself. And when overcome by the heat she threw herself upon her couch, there would stand this patrician fanning her with bright peacock feathers.And now his skin had grown loose with age; his face, more wrinkled than a raisin, had fallen in by reason of the lines in his cheeks. Less deep the furrows cloven in the cornfield by the plough, the folds wrought in the sails by the wind. Loathsome grubs ate away his head and bare patches appeared amid his hair. It was as though clumps of dry barren corn dotted a sun-parched field, or as if a swallow were dying in winter sitting on a branch, moulting in the frosty weather. Truly, that the outrage to the consul’s office might one day be the greater, Fortune added to her gift of wealth this brand upon his brow, this deformity of face. When his pallor and fleshless bones had roused feelings of revulsion in his masters’ hearts, and his foul complexion and lean body offended all who came

[146]

Hinc honor Eutropio; cumque omnibus unica virtusesset in eunuchis thalamos servare pudicos,solus adulteriis crevit. nec verbera tergo100cessavere tamen, quotiens decepta libidoirati caluisset eri, frustraque rogantemiactantemque suos tot iam per lustra laboresdotalem genero nutritoremque puellaetradidit. Eous rector consulque futurus105pectebat dominae crines et saepe lavantinudus in argento lympham gestabat alumnae.et cum se rapido fessam proiecerat aestu,patricius roseis pavonum ventilat alis.Iamque aevo laxata cutis, sulcisque genarum110corruerat passa facies rugosior uva:flava minus presso finduntur vomere rura,nec vento sic vela tremunt. miserabile turpesexedere caput tineae; deserta patebantintervalla comae: qualis sitientibus arvis115arida ieiunae seges interlucet aristaevel qualis gelidis pluma labente pruinisarboris inmoritur trunco brumalis hirundo.scilicet ut trabeis iniuria cresceret olim,has in fronte notas, hoc dedecus addidit oris120luxuriae Fortuna suae: cum pallida nudisossibus horrorem dominis praeberet imagodecolor et macies occursu laederet omnes,

Hinc honor Eutropio; cumque omnibus unica virtus

esset in eunuchis thalamos servare pudicos,

solus adulteriis crevit. nec verbera tergo100

cessavere tamen, quotiens decepta libido

irati caluisset eri, frustraque rogantem

iactantemque suos tot iam per lustra labores

dotalem genero nutritoremque puellae

tradidit. Eous rector consulque futurus105

pectebat dominae crines et saepe lavanti

nudus in argento lympham gestabat alumnae.

et cum se rapido fessam proiecerat aestu,

patricius roseis pavonum ventilat alis.

Iamque aevo laxata cutis, sulcisque genarum110

corruerat passa facies rugosior uva:

flava minus presso finduntur vomere rura,

nec vento sic vela tremunt. miserabile turpes

exedere caput tineae; deserta patebant

intervalla comae: qualis sitientibus arvis115

arida ieiunae seges interlucet aristae

vel qualis gelidis pluma labente pruinis

arboris inmoritur trunco brumalis hirundo.

scilicet ut trabeis iniuria cresceret olim,

has in fronte notas, hoc dedecus addidit oris120

luxuriae Fortuna suae: cum pallida nudis

ossibus horrorem dominis praeberet imago

decolor et macies occursu laederet omnes,

[147]Hence sprang Eutropius’ fame; for, though a eunuch’s one virtue be to guard the chastity of the marriage-chamber, here was one (and one only) who grew great through adulteries. But the lash fell as before on his back whenever his master’s criminal passion was through him frustrated. Then it was in vain that he prayed for forgiveness and reminded his lord of all those years of faithful service; he would find himself handed over to a son-in-law as part of the bride’s dowry. Thus he would become a lady’s-maid, and so the future consul and governor of the East would comb his mistress’ locks or stand naked holding a silver vessel of water wherein his charge could wash herself. And when overcome by the heat she threw herself upon her couch, there would stand this patrician fanning her with bright peacock feathers.And now his skin had grown loose with age; his face, more wrinkled than a raisin, had fallen in by reason of the lines in his cheeks. Less deep the furrows cloven in the cornfield by the plough, the folds wrought in the sails by the wind. Loathsome grubs ate away his head and bare patches appeared amid his hair. It was as though clumps of dry barren corn dotted a sun-parched field, or as if a swallow were dying in winter sitting on a branch, moulting in the frosty weather. Truly, that the outrage to the consul’s office might one day be the greater, Fortune added to her gift of wealth this brand upon his brow, this deformity of face. When his pallor and fleshless bones had roused feelings of revulsion in his masters’ hearts, and his foul complexion and lean body offended all who came

[147]

Hence sprang Eutropius’ fame; for, though a eunuch’s one virtue be to guard the chastity of the marriage-chamber, here was one (and one only) who grew great through adulteries. But the lash fell as before on his back whenever his master’s criminal passion was through him frustrated. Then it was in vain that he prayed for forgiveness and reminded his lord of all those years of faithful service; he would find himself handed over to a son-in-law as part of the bride’s dowry. Thus he would become a lady’s-maid, and so the future consul and governor of the East would comb his mistress’ locks or stand naked holding a silver vessel of water wherein his charge could wash herself. And when overcome by the heat she threw herself upon her couch, there would stand this patrician fanning her with bright peacock feathers.

And now his skin had grown loose with age; his face, more wrinkled than a raisin, had fallen in by reason of the lines in his cheeks. Less deep the furrows cloven in the cornfield by the plough, the folds wrought in the sails by the wind. Loathsome grubs ate away his head and bare patches appeared amid his hair. It was as though clumps of dry barren corn dotted a sun-parched field, or as if a swallow were dying in winter sitting on a branch, moulting in the frosty weather. Truly, that the outrage to the consul’s office might one day be the greater, Fortune added to her gift of wealth this brand upon his brow, this deformity of face. When his pallor and fleshless bones had roused feelings of revulsion in his masters’ hearts, and his foul complexion and lean body offended all who came

[148]aut pueris latura metus aut taedia mensisaut crimen famulis aut procedentibus omen,125et nihil exhausto caperent in stipite lucri:(sternere quippe toros vel caedere ligna culinaemembra negant; aurum, vestes, arcana tuerimens infida vetat; quis enim committere velletlenoni thalamum?): tandem ceu funus acerbum130infaustamque suis trusere penatibus umbram.contemptu iam liber erat: sic pastor obesumlacte canem ferroque ligat pascitque revinctum,dum validus servare gregem vigilique rapaceslatratu terrere lupos; cum tardior idem135iam scabie laceras deiecit sordidus aures,solvit et exuto lucratur vincula collo.Est ubi despectus nimius iuvat. undique pulsoper cunctas licuit fraudes impune vagariet fatis aperire viam. pro quisquis Olympi140summa tenes, tanto libuit mortalia risuvertere? qui servi non est admissus in usum,suscipitur regnis, et quem privata ministrumdedignata domus, moderantem sustinet aula.ut primum vetulam texere palatia vulpem,145quis non ingemuit? quis non inrepere sacrisobsequiis doluit totiens venale cadaver?ipsi quin etiam tali consorte fremebantregales famuli, quibus est inlustrior ordoservitii, sociumque diu sprevere superbi.150[149]in contact with him, scaring children, disgusting those that sat at meat, disgracing his fellow-slaves, or terrifying as with an evil omen those that met him; when his masters ceased to derive any advantage from that withered trunk (for his wasted limbs refused even to make the beds or cut wood for the kitchen fire, while his faithless nature forbade their entrusting him with the charge of gold or vesture or the secrets of the house—who could bring him to entrust his marriage-chamber to a pander?), then at last they thrust him from their houses like a troublesome corpse or an ill-omened ghost. He was now free—for everyone despised him. So a shepherd chains up a dog and fattens him with milk while yet his strength avails to guard the flock and, ever watchful, to scare away wolves with his barking. But when later this same dog grows old and dirty and droops his mangy ears he looses him, and, taking off his collar, at least saves that.Universal contempt is sometimes a boon. Driven out by all, he could freely range amid every sort of crime, and open a way for destiny. Oh thou, whosoe’er thou art, that holdest sway in Olympus, was it thy humour to make such mockery of mankind? He who was not suffered to perform the duties of a slave is admitted to the administration of an empire; him whom a private house scorned as a servant, a palace tolerates as its lord. When first the consular residence received this old vixen, who did not lament? Who grieved not to see an oft-sold corpse worm itself into the sacred service of the emperor? Nay, the very palace-servants, holding a prouder rank in slavery, murmured at such a colleague and long haughtily scorned his company.

[148]

aut pueris latura metus aut taedia mensisaut crimen famulis aut procedentibus omen,125et nihil exhausto caperent in stipite lucri:(sternere quippe toros vel caedere ligna culinaemembra negant; aurum, vestes, arcana tuerimens infida vetat; quis enim committere velletlenoni thalamum?): tandem ceu funus acerbum130infaustamque suis trusere penatibus umbram.contemptu iam liber erat: sic pastor obesumlacte canem ferroque ligat pascitque revinctum,dum validus servare gregem vigilique rapaceslatratu terrere lupos; cum tardior idem135iam scabie laceras deiecit sordidus aures,solvit et exuto lucratur vincula collo.Est ubi despectus nimius iuvat. undique pulsoper cunctas licuit fraudes impune vagariet fatis aperire viam. pro quisquis Olympi140summa tenes, tanto libuit mortalia risuvertere? qui servi non est admissus in usum,suscipitur regnis, et quem privata ministrumdedignata domus, moderantem sustinet aula.ut primum vetulam texere palatia vulpem,145quis non ingemuit? quis non inrepere sacrisobsequiis doluit totiens venale cadaver?ipsi quin etiam tali consorte fremebantregales famuli, quibus est inlustrior ordoservitii, sociumque diu sprevere superbi.150

aut pueris latura metus aut taedia mensis

aut crimen famulis aut procedentibus omen,125

et nihil exhausto caperent in stipite lucri:

(sternere quippe toros vel caedere ligna culinae

membra negant; aurum, vestes, arcana tueri

mens infida vetat; quis enim committere vellet

lenoni thalamum?): tandem ceu funus acerbum130

infaustamque suis trusere penatibus umbram.

contemptu iam liber erat: sic pastor obesum

lacte canem ferroque ligat pascitque revinctum,

dum validus servare gregem vigilique rapaces

latratu terrere lupos; cum tardior idem135

iam scabie laceras deiecit sordidus aures,

solvit et exuto lucratur vincula collo.

Est ubi despectus nimius iuvat. undique pulso

per cunctas licuit fraudes impune vagari

et fatis aperire viam. pro quisquis Olympi140

summa tenes, tanto libuit mortalia risu

vertere? qui servi non est admissus in usum,

suscipitur regnis, et quem privata ministrum

dedignata domus, moderantem sustinet aula.

ut primum vetulam texere palatia vulpem,145

quis non ingemuit? quis non inrepere sacris

obsequiis doluit totiens venale cadaver?

ipsi quin etiam tali consorte fremebant

regales famuli, quibus est inlustrior ordo

servitii, sociumque diu sprevere superbi.150

[149]in contact with him, scaring children, disgusting those that sat at meat, disgracing his fellow-slaves, or terrifying as with an evil omen those that met him; when his masters ceased to derive any advantage from that withered trunk (for his wasted limbs refused even to make the beds or cut wood for the kitchen fire, while his faithless nature forbade their entrusting him with the charge of gold or vesture or the secrets of the house—who could bring him to entrust his marriage-chamber to a pander?), then at last they thrust him from their houses like a troublesome corpse or an ill-omened ghost. He was now free—for everyone despised him. So a shepherd chains up a dog and fattens him with milk while yet his strength avails to guard the flock and, ever watchful, to scare away wolves with his barking. But when later this same dog grows old and dirty and droops his mangy ears he looses him, and, taking off his collar, at least saves that.Universal contempt is sometimes a boon. Driven out by all, he could freely range amid every sort of crime, and open a way for destiny. Oh thou, whosoe’er thou art, that holdest sway in Olympus, was it thy humour to make such mockery of mankind? He who was not suffered to perform the duties of a slave is admitted to the administration of an empire; him whom a private house scorned as a servant, a palace tolerates as its lord. When first the consular residence received this old vixen, who did not lament? Who grieved not to see an oft-sold corpse worm itself into the sacred service of the emperor? Nay, the very palace-servants, holding a prouder rank in slavery, murmured at such a colleague and long haughtily scorned his company.

[149]

in contact with him, scaring children, disgusting those that sat at meat, disgracing his fellow-slaves, or terrifying as with an evil omen those that met him; when his masters ceased to derive any advantage from that withered trunk (for his wasted limbs refused even to make the beds or cut wood for the kitchen fire, while his faithless nature forbade their entrusting him with the charge of gold or vesture or the secrets of the house—who could bring him to entrust his marriage-chamber to a pander?), then at last they thrust him from their houses like a troublesome corpse or an ill-omened ghost. He was now free—for everyone despised him. So a shepherd chains up a dog and fattens him with milk while yet his strength avails to guard the flock and, ever watchful, to scare away wolves with his barking. But when later this same dog grows old and dirty and droops his mangy ears he looses him, and, taking off his collar, at least saves that.

Universal contempt is sometimes a boon. Driven out by all, he could freely range amid every sort of crime, and open a way for destiny. Oh thou, whosoe’er thou art, that holdest sway in Olympus, was it thy humour to make such mockery of mankind? He who was not suffered to perform the duties of a slave is admitted to the administration of an empire; him whom a private house scorned as a servant, a palace tolerates as its lord. When first the consular residence received this old vixen, who did not lament? Who grieved not to see an oft-sold corpse worm itself into the sacred service of the emperor? Nay, the very palace-servants, holding a prouder rank in slavery, murmured at such a colleague and long haughtily scorned his company.

[150]Cernite, quem Latiis poscant adnectere fastis:cuius et eunuchos puduit! sed vilior anteobscurae latuit pars ignotissima turbae,donec Abundanti furiis—qui rebus Eoisexitium primumque sibi produxit—ab imis155evectus thalamis summos invasit honores.quam bene dispositum terris, ut dignus iniquifructus consilii primis auctoribus instet.sic multos fluvio vates arente per annoshospite qui caeso monuit placare Tonantem,160inventas primus Busiridis imbuit araset cecidit saevi, quod dixerat, hostia sacri.sic opifex tauri tormentorumque repertor,qui funesta novo fabricaverat aera dolori,primus inexpertum Siculo cogente tyranno165sensit opus docuitque suum mugire iuvencum.nullius Eutropius, quam qui se protulit, antedireptas possedit opes nullumque prioremperculit exilio solumque hoc rite peregit,auctorem damnare suum.Postquam obsitus aevo170semivir excelsam rerum sublatus in arcem,quod nec vota pati nec fingere somnia possunt,vidit sub pedibus leges subiectaque collanobilium tantumque sibi permittere fata,qui nihil optasset plus libertate mereri,175[151]See what manner of man they seek to connect with the annals of Rome: the very eunuchs were ashamed of him. At first of no account, he lay hid, the most unknown unit of an unregarded throng, till thanks to the mad folly of Abundantius[89](who brought ruin on the empire of the East and, ere that, upon himself) he was advanced from the most menial office to the highest honours. What a happy dispensation of providence it is that in this world the results of ill counsel fall first upon its instigators! Thus the seer who advised Busiris to placate the Thunderer’s wrath, what time Nile’s flood had long run dry, with a stranger’s blood himself first stained that tyrant’s altar with his own and fell a victim of the horrid sacrifice he had advised. Thus he who made the brazen bull and devised that new form of torture, casting the deadly bronze as an instrument of torment, was (at the bidding of the Sicilian tyrant) the first to make trial of the unhanselled image, and to teach his own bull to roar. So with Eutropius: on no man’s goods did he sooner seize than on those of him by whom he had been raised to power; none did he drive sooner into exile and thus, by the condemnation of his patron, was to thank for one righteous action.When this half-man, worn out with age, had been raised to that pinnacle of glory for which he never would have dared to pray, of which never to dream; when he had seen law at his feet, the heads of the nobility inclined before him, and fortune heaping such gifts upon one whose only hope and prayer had been to gain his freedom, he straightway forgot[89]By birth a Scythian. Entered the Roman army under Gratian and reached the position ofmagister utriusque militiaeunder Theodosius. Consul in 393 (Zosim. v. 10. 5) and banished three years later to Pityus, thanks to the machinations of Eutropius.

[150]

Cernite, quem Latiis poscant adnectere fastis:cuius et eunuchos puduit! sed vilior anteobscurae latuit pars ignotissima turbae,donec Abundanti furiis—qui rebus Eoisexitium primumque sibi produxit—ab imis155evectus thalamis summos invasit honores.quam bene dispositum terris, ut dignus iniquifructus consilii primis auctoribus instet.sic multos fluvio vates arente per annoshospite qui caeso monuit placare Tonantem,160inventas primus Busiridis imbuit araset cecidit saevi, quod dixerat, hostia sacri.sic opifex tauri tormentorumque repertor,qui funesta novo fabricaverat aera dolori,primus inexpertum Siculo cogente tyranno165sensit opus docuitque suum mugire iuvencum.nullius Eutropius, quam qui se protulit, antedireptas possedit opes nullumque prioremperculit exilio solumque hoc rite peregit,auctorem damnare suum.Postquam obsitus aevo170semivir excelsam rerum sublatus in arcem,quod nec vota pati nec fingere somnia possunt,vidit sub pedibus leges subiectaque collanobilium tantumque sibi permittere fata,qui nihil optasset plus libertate mereri,175

Cernite, quem Latiis poscant adnectere fastis:

cuius et eunuchos puduit! sed vilior ante

obscurae latuit pars ignotissima turbae,

donec Abundanti furiis—qui rebus Eois

exitium primumque sibi produxit—ab imis155

evectus thalamis summos invasit honores.

quam bene dispositum terris, ut dignus iniqui

fructus consilii primis auctoribus instet.

sic multos fluvio vates arente per annos

hospite qui caeso monuit placare Tonantem,160

inventas primus Busiridis imbuit aras

et cecidit saevi, quod dixerat, hostia sacri.

sic opifex tauri tormentorumque repertor,

qui funesta novo fabricaverat aera dolori,

primus inexpertum Siculo cogente tyranno165

sensit opus docuitque suum mugire iuvencum.

nullius Eutropius, quam qui se protulit, ante

direptas possedit opes nullumque priorem

perculit exilio solumque hoc rite peregit,

auctorem damnare suum.

Postquam obsitus aevo170

semivir excelsam rerum sublatus in arcem,

quod nec vota pati nec fingere somnia possunt,

vidit sub pedibus leges subiectaque colla

nobilium tantumque sibi permittere fata,

qui nihil optasset plus libertate mereri,175

[151]See what manner of man they seek to connect with the annals of Rome: the very eunuchs were ashamed of him. At first of no account, he lay hid, the most unknown unit of an unregarded throng, till thanks to the mad folly of Abundantius[89](who brought ruin on the empire of the East and, ere that, upon himself) he was advanced from the most menial office to the highest honours. What a happy dispensation of providence it is that in this world the results of ill counsel fall first upon its instigators! Thus the seer who advised Busiris to placate the Thunderer’s wrath, what time Nile’s flood had long run dry, with a stranger’s blood himself first stained that tyrant’s altar with his own and fell a victim of the horrid sacrifice he had advised. Thus he who made the brazen bull and devised that new form of torture, casting the deadly bronze as an instrument of torment, was (at the bidding of the Sicilian tyrant) the first to make trial of the unhanselled image, and to teach his own bull to roar. So with Eutropius: on no man’s goods did he sooner seize than on those of him by whom he had been raised to power; none did he drive sooner into exile and thus, by the condemnation of his patron, was to thank for one righteous action.When this half-man, worn out with age, had been raised to that pinnacle of glory for which he never would have dared to pray, of which never to dream; when he had seen law at his feet, the heads of the nobility inclined before him, and fortune heaping such gifts upon one whose only hope and prayer had been to gain his freedom, he straightway forgot[89]By birth a Scythian. Entered the Roman army under Gratian and reached the position ofmagister utriusque militiaeunder Theodosius. Consul in 393 (Zosim. v. 10. 5) and banished three years later to Pityus, thanks to the machinations of Eutropius.

[151]

See what manner of man they seek to connect with the annals of Rome: the very eunuchs were ashamed of him. At first of no account, he lay hid, the most unknown unit of an unregarded throng, till thanks to the mad folly of Abundantius[89](who brought ruin on the empire of the East and, ere that, upon himself) he was advanced from the most menial office to the highest honours. What a happy dispensation of providence it is that in this world the results of ill counsel fall first upon its instigators! Thus the seer who advised Busiris to placate the Thunderer’s wrath, what time Nile’s flood had long run dry, with a stranger’s blood himself first stained that tyrant’s altar with his own and fell a victim of the horrid sacrifice he had advised. Thus he who made the brazen bull and devised that new form of torture, casting the deadly bronze as an instrument of torment, was (at the bidding of the Sicilian tyrant) the first to make trial of the unhanselled image, and to teach his own bull to roar. So with Eutropius: on no man’s goods did he sooner seize than on those of him by whom he had been raised to power; none did he drive sooner into exile and thus, by the condemnation of his patron, was to thank for one righteous action.

When this half-man, worn out with age, had been raised to that pinnacle of glory for which he never would have dared to pray, of which never to dream; when he had seen law at his feet, the heads of the nobility inclined before him, and fortune heaping such gifts upon one whose only hope and prayer had been to gain his freedom, he straightway forgot

[89]By birth a Scythian. Entered the Roman army under Gratian and reached the position ofmagister utriusque militiaeunder Theodosius. Consul in 393 (Zosim. v. 10. 5) and banished three years later to Pityus, thanks to the machinations of Eutropius.

[152]iamiam dissimulat dominos alteque tumescuntserviles animi. procerum squalore repletuscarcer et exulibus Meroë campique gemescuntAethiopum; poenis hominum plaga personat ardens;Marmaricus claris violatur caedibus Hammon.180Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in altum:cuncta ferit dum cuncta timet, desaevit in omnesut se posse putent, nec belua taetrior ullaquam servi rabies in libera terga furentis;agnoscit gemitus et poenae parcere nescit,185quam subiit, dominique memor, quem verberat, odit.adde, quod eunuchus nulla pietate moveturnec generi natisve cavet. clementia cunctisin similes, animosque ligant consortia damni;iste nec eunuchis placidus.Sed peius in aurum190aestuat; hoc uno fruitur succisa libido.quid nervos secuisse iuvat? vis nulla cruentamcastrat avaritiam. parvis exercita furtisquae vastare penum neglectaque sueverat arcaeclaustra remoliri, nunc uberiore rapina195peccat in orbe manus. quidquid se Tigris ab Haemodividit, hoc certa proponit merce locanduminstitor imperii, caupo famosus honorum.hic Asiam villa pactus regit; ille redemitconiugis ornatu Syriam; dolet ille paterna200Bithynos mutasse domo. subfixa patentivestibulo pretiis distinguit regula gentes:[153]his former masters, and his slave’s mind swelled high within him. The prisons were filled with degraded nobles, Meroë and the plains of Ethiopia re-echoed to the weeping of exiles; the desert rang with the punishment of men; the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Africa was stained with gentle blood.Nothing is so cruel as a man raised from lowly station to prosperity; he strikes everything, for he fears everything; he vents his rage on all, that all may deem he has the power. No beast so fearful as the rage of a slave let loose on free-born backs; their groans are familiar to him, and he cannot be sparing of punishment that he himself has undergone; remembering his own master he hates the man he lashes. Being a eunuch also he is moved by no natural affection and has no care for family or children. All are moved to pity by those whose circumstances are like their own; similitude of ills is a close bond. Yet he is kind not even to eunuchs.His passion for gold increases—the only passion his mutilated body can indulge. Of what use was emasculation? The knife is powerless against reckless avarice. That hand so well practised in petty thefts, accustomed to rifle a cupboard or remove the bolt from the unwatched coffer, now finds richer spoils and the whole world to rob. All the country between the Tigris and Mount Haemus he exposes for sale at a fixed price, this huckster of empire, this infamous dealer in honours. This man governs Asia for the which his villa has paid. That man buys Syria with his wife’s jewels. Another repents of having taken Bithynia in exchange for his paternal mansion. Fixed above the open doors of his hall is a list giving the provinces and their

[152]

iamiam dissimulat dominos alteque tumescuntserviles animi. procerum squalore repletuscarcer et exulibus Meroë campique gemescuntAethiopum; poenis hominum plaga personat ardens;Marmaricus claris violatur caedibus Hammon.180Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in altum:cuncta ferit dum cuncta timet, desaevit in omnesut se posse putent, nec belua taetrior ullaquam servi rabies in libera terga furentis;agnoscit gemitus et poenae parcere nescit,185quam subiit, dominique memor, quem verberat, odit.adde, quod eunuchus nulla pietate moveturnec generi natisve cavet. clementia cunctisin similes, animosque ligant consortia damni;iste nec eunuchis placidus.Sed peius in aurum190aestuat; hoc uno fruitur succisa libido.quid nervos secuisse iuvat? vis nulla cruentamcastrat avaritiam. parvis exercita furtisquae vastare penum neglectaque sueverat arcaeclaustra remoliri, nunc uberiore rapina195peccat in orbe manus. quidquid se Tigris ab Haemodividit, hoc certa proponit merce locanduminstitor imperii, caupo famosus honorum.hic Asiam villa pactus regit; ille redemitconiugis ornatu Syriam; dolet ille paterna200Bithynos mutasse domo. subfixa patentivestibulo pretiis distinguit regula gentes:

iamiam dissimulat dominos alteque tumescunt

serviles animi. procerum squalore repletus

carcer et exulibus Meroë campique gemescunt

Aethiopum; poenis hominum plaga personat ardens;

Marmaricus claris violatur caedibus Hammon.180

Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in altum:

cuncta ferit dum cuncta timet, desaevit in omnes

ut se posse putent, nec belua taetrior ulla

quam servi rabies in libera terga furentis;

agnoscit gemitus et poenae parcere nescit,185

quam subiit, dominique memor, quem verberat, odit.

adde, quod eunuchus nulla pietate movetur

nec generi natisve cavet. clementia cunctis

in similes, animosque ligant consortia damni;

iste nec eunuchis placidus.

Sed peius in aurum190

aestuat; hoc uno fruitur succisa libido.

quid nervos secuisse iuvat? vis nulla cruentam

castrat avaritiam. parvis exercita furtis

quae vastare penum neglectaque sueverat arcae

claustra remoliri, nunc uberiore rapina195

peccat in orbe manus. quidquid se Tigris ab Haemo

dividit, hoc certa proponit merce locandum

institor imperii, caupo famosus honorum.

hic Asiam villa pactus regit; ille redemit

coniugis ornatu Syriam; dolet ille paterna200

Bithynos mutasse domo. subfixa patenti

vestibulo pretiis distinguit regula gentes:

[153]his former masters, and his slave’s mind swelled high within him. The prisons were filled with degraded nobles, Meroë and the plains of Ethiopia re-echoed to the weeping of exiles; the desert rang with the punishment of men; the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Africa was stained with gentle blood.Nothing is so cruel as a man raised from lowly station to prosperity; he strikes everything, for he fears everything; he vents his rage on all, that all may deem he has the power. No beast so fearful as the rage of a slave let loose on free-born backs; their groans are familiar to him, and he cannot be sparing of punishment that he himself has undergone; remembering his own master he hates the man he lashes. Being a eunuch also he is moved by no natural affection and has no care for family or children. All are moved to pity by those whose circumstances are like their own; similitude of ills is a close bond. Yet he is kind not even to eunuchs.His passion for gold increases—the only passion his mutilated body can indulge. Of what use was emasculation? The knife is powerless against reckless avarice. That hand so well practised in petty thefts, accustomed to rifle a cupboard or remove the bolt from the unwatched coffer, now finds richer spoils and the whole world to rob. All the country between the Tigris and Mount Haemus he exposes for sale at a fixed price, this huckster of empire, this infamous dealer in honours. This man governs Asia for the which his villa has paid. That man buys Syria with his wife’s jewels. Another repents of having taken Bithynia in exchange for his paternal mansion. Fixed above the open doors of his hall is a list giving the provinces and their

[153]

his former masters, and his slave’s mind swelled high within him. The prisons were filled with degraded nobles, Meroë and the plains of Ethiopia re-echoed to the weeping of exiles; the desert rang with the punishment of men; the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Africa was stained with gentle blood.

Nothing is so cruel as a man raised from lowly station to prosperity; he strikes everything, for he fears everything; he vents his rage on all, that all may deem he has the power. No beast so fearful as the rage of a slave let loose on free-born backs; their groans are familiar to him, and he cannot be sparing of punishment that he himself has undergone; remembering his own master he hates the man he lashes. Being a eunuch also he is moved by no natural affection and has no care for family or children. All are moved to pity by those whose circumstances are like their own; similitude of ills is a close bond. Yet he is kind not even to eunuchs.

His passion for gold increases—the only passion his mutilated body can indulge. Of what use was emasculation? The knife is powerless against reckless avarice. That hand so well practised in petty thefts, accustomed to rifle a cupboard or remove the bolt from the unwatched coffer, now finds richer spoils and the whole world to rob. All the country between the Tigris and Mount Haemus he exposes for sale at a fixed price, this huckster of empire, this infamous dealer in honours. This man governs Asia for the which his villa has paid. That man buys Syria with his wife’s jewels. Another repents of having taken Bithynia in exchange for his paternal mansion. Fixed above the open doors of his hall is a list giving the provinces and their

Back to Index Next