IN EUTROPIUM

[178]IN EUTROPIUMLIBER SECUNDUS. PRAEFATIO(XIX.)Qui modo sublimes rerum flectebat habenaspatricius, rursum verbera nota timetet solitos tardae passurus compedis orbesin dominos vanas luget abisse minas.culmine deiectum vitae Fortuna priori5reddidit, insano iam satiata ioco.scindere nunc alia meditatur ligna securifascibus et tandem vapulat ipse suis.ille citas consul poenas se consule solvit:annus qui trabeas hic dedit exilium.10infaustum populis in se quoque vertitur omen;saevit in auctorem prodigiosus honos.abluto penitus respirant nomine fastimaturamque luem sanior aula vomit.dissimulant socii coniuratique recedunt,15procumbit pariter cum duce tota cohors;non acie victi, non seditione coacti;nec pereunt ritu quo periere viri.concidit exiguae dementia vulnere chartae;confecit saevum littera Martis opus.20[179]AGAINST EUTROPIUSBOOK II. PREFACE(XIX.)The nobly born Eutropius who but lately wielded the reins of supreme power once more fears the familiar blows; and, soon to feel the wonted shackles about his halting feet, he laments that his threats against his masters have idly vanished. Fortune, having had enough of her mad freak, has thrust him forth from his high office and restored him to his old way of life. He now prepares to hew wood with axe other than the consular and is at last scourged with the rods he once proudly carried. To the punishment set in motion by him when consul he himself as consul succumbed; the year that brought him his robe of office brought him his exile. That omen of evil augury for the people turns against itself, the portent of that consulship brings ruin to the consul. That name erased, our annals breathe once more, and better health is restored to the palace now that it has at last vomited forth its poison. His friends deny him, his accomplices abandon him; in his fall is involved all the eunuch band, overcome not in battle, subdued not by strife—they may not die a man’s death. A mere stroke of the pen has wrought their undoing, a simple letter has fulfilled Mars’ savage work.

[178]

(XIX.)

Qui modo sublimes rerum flectebat habenaspatricius, rursum verbera nota timetet solitos tardae passurus compedis orbesin dominos vanas luget abisse minas.culmine deiectum vitae Fortuna priori5reddidit, insano iam satiata ioco.scindere nunc alia meditatur ligna securifascibus et tandem vapulat ipse suis.ille citas consul poenas se consule solvit:annus qui trabeas hic dedit exilium.10infaustum populis in se quoque vertitur omen;saevit in auctorem prodigiosus honos.abluto penitus respirant nomine fastimaturamque luem sanior aula vomit.dissimulant socii coniuratique recedunt,15procumbit pariter cum duce tota cohors;non acie victi, non seditione coacti;nec pereunt ritu quo periere viri.concidit exiguae dementia vulnere chartae;confecit saevum littera Martis opus.20

Qui modo sublimes rerum flectebat habenas

patricius, rursum verbera nota timet

et solitos tardae passurus compedis orbes

in dominos vanas luget abisse minas.

culmine deiectum vitae Fortuna priori5

reddidit, insano iam satiata ioco.

scindere nunc alia meditatur ligna securi

fascibus et tandem vapulat ipse suis.

ille citas consul poenas se consule solvit:

annus qui trabeas hic dedit exilium.10

infaustum populis in se quoque vertitur omen;

saevit in auctorem prodigiosus honos.

abluto penitus respirant nomine fasti

maturamque luem sanior aula vomit.

dissimulant socii coniuratique recedunt,15

procumbit pariter cum duce tota cohors;

non acie victi, non seditione coacti;

nec pereunt ritu quo periere viri.

concidit exiguae dementia vulnere chartae;

confecit saevum littera Martis opus.20

[179]AGAINST EUTROPIUSBOOK II. PREFACE(XIX.)The nobly born Eutropius who but lately wielded the reins of supreme power once more fears the familiar blows; and, soon to feel the wonted shackles about his halting feet, he laments that his threats against his masters have idly vanished. Fortune, having had enough of her mad freak, has thrust him forth from his high office and restored him to his old way of life. He now prepares to hew wood with axe other than the consular and is at last scourged with the rods he once proudly carried. To the punishment set in motion by him when consul he himself as consul succumbed; the year that brought him his robe of office brought him his exile. That omen of evil augury for the people turns against itself, the portent of that consulship brings ruin to the consul. That name erased, our annals breathe once more, and better health is restored to the palace now that it has at last vomited forth its poison. His friends deny him, his accomplices abandon him; in his fall is involved all the eunuch band, overcome not in battle, subdued not by strife—they may not die a man’s death. A mere stroke of the pen has wrought their undoing, a simple letter has fulfilled Mars’ savage work.

[179]

(XIX.)

The nobly born Eutropius who but lately wielded the reins of supreme power once more fears the familiar blows; and, soon to feel the wonted shackles about his halting feet, he laments that his threats against his masters have idly vanished. Fortune, having had enough of her mad freak, has thrust him forth from his high office and restored him to his old way of life. He now prepares to hew wood with axe other than the consular and is at last scourged with the rods he once proudly carried. To the punishment set in motion by him when consul he himself as consul succumbed; the year that brought him his robe of office brought him his exile. That omen of evil augury for the people turns against itself, the portent of that consulship brings ruin to the consul. That name erased, our annals breathe once more, and better health is restored to the palace now that it has at last vomited forth its poison. His friends deny him, his accomplices abandon him; in his fall is involved all the eunuch band, overcome not in battle, subdued not by strife—they may not die a man’s death. A mere stroke of the pen has wrought their undoing, a simple letter has fulfilled Mars’ savage work.

[180]Mollis feminea detruditur arce tyrannuset thalamo pulsus perdidit imperium:sic iuvenis nutante fide veterique reductapaelice defletam linquit arnica domum.canitiem raram largo iam pulvere turpat25et lacrimis rugas implet anile gemenssuppliciterque pias humilis prostratus ad arasmitigat iratas voce tremente nurus.innumeri glomerantur eri sibi quisque petentesmancipium solis utile suppliciis.30quamvis foedus enim mentemque obscaenior ore,ira dabit pretium; poena meretur emi.Quas, spado, nunc terras aut quem transibis in axem?cingeris hinc odiis, inde recessit amor,utraque te gemino sub sidere regia damnat:35Hesperius numquam, iam nec Eous eris.miror cur, aliis qui pandere fata solebas,ad propriam cladem caeca Sibylla taces.iam tibi nulla videt fallax insomnia Nilus;pervigilant vates iam, miserande, tui.40quid soror? audebit tecum conscendere puppimet veniet longum per mare fida comes?an fortasse toros eunuchi pauperis oditet te nunc inopem dives amare negat?eunuchi iugulum primus secuisse fateris;45sed tamen exemplo non feriere tuo.vive pudor fatis. en quem tremuere tot urbes,en cuius populi sustinuere iugum![181]The unsexed tyrant has been routed from out his fastness in the women’s quarters and, driven from the bedchamber, has lost his power. Thus sadly, when her lover’s fidelity wavers and a former favourite has been recalled, does a mistress leave his house. With handfuls of dust he sprinkles his scanty hairs and floods his wrinkles with senile tears; as he lies in humble supplication before the altars of the gods his trembling voice seeks to soften the anger of the women. His countless masters gather around, each demanding back his slave, useless except for chastisement. For loathsome though he is and fouler in mind even than in face, yet the very anger they feel against him will make them pay; he is worth buying simply to punish.What land or country wilt thou now visit, eunuch? Here hate surrounds thee, there thy popularity is fled; both courts have uttered thy condemnation in either half of the world; never wert thou of the West, now the East repudiates thee too. I marvel that thou, blind Sibyl,[102]who foretold’st the fates of others, art silent about thine own. No longer does fallacious Nile interpret thy dreams; no longer, poor wretch, do thy prophets see visions. What doth thy sister? Will she dare to embark with thee and bear thee faithful company over the distant seas? Mayhap she scorns the couch of an impoverished eunuch, and now that she herself is rich will not love thee who now art poor. Thou dost confess thou wert the first to cut a eunuch’s throat, but the example will not secure thine own death. Live on that destiny may blush. Lo! this is he whom so many cities have held in awe, whose yoke so many peoples have borne. Why lament the loss of that[102]Claudian calls Eutropius the Sibyl because both were “old women.” He is referring to Eutropius’ consultation of the Egyptian oracle;cf.In Eutrop.i. 312 and note.

[180]

Mollis feminea detruditur arce tyrannuset thalamo pulsus perdidit imperium:sic iuvenis nutante fide veterique reductapaelice defletam linquit arnica domum.canitiem raram largo iam pulvere turpat25et lacrimis rugas implet anile gemenssuppliciterque pias humilis prostratus ad arasmitigat iratas voce tremente nurus.innumeri glomerantur eri sibi quisque petentesmancipium solis utile suppliciis.30quamvis foedus enim mentemque obscaenior ore,ira dabit pretium; poena meretur emi.Quas, spado, nunc terras aut quem transibis in axem?cingeris hinc odiis, inde recessit amor,utraque te gemino sub sidere regia damnat:35Hesperius numquam, iam nec Eous eris.miror cur, aliis qui pandere fata solebas,ad propriam cladem caeca Sibylla taces.iam tibi nulla videt fallax insomnia Nilus;pervigilant vates iam, miserande, tui.40quid soror? audebit tecum conscendere puppimet veniet longum per mare fida comes?an fortasse toros eunuchi pauperis oditet te nunc inopem dives amare negat?eunuchi iugulum primus secuisse fateris;45sed tamen exemplo non feriere tuo.vive pudor fatis. en quem tremuere tot urbes,en cuius populi sustinuere iugum!

Mollis feminea detruditur arce tyrannus

et thalamo pulsus perdidit imperium:

sic iuvenis nutante fide veterique reducta

paelice defletam linquit arnica domum.

canitiem raram largo iam pulvere turpat25

et lacrimis rugas implet anile gemens

suppliciterque pias humilis prostratus ad aras

mitigat iratas voce tremente nurus.

innumeri glomerantur eri sibi quisque petentes

mancipium solis utile suppliciis.30

quamvis foedus enim mentemque obscaenior ore,

ira dabit pretium; poena meretur emi.

Quas, spado, nunc terras aut quem transibis in axem?cingeris hinc odiis, inde recessit amor,utraque te gemino sub sidere regia damnat:35Hesperius numquam, iam nec Eous eris.miror cur, aliis qui pandere fata solebas,ad propriam cladem caeca Sibylla taces.iam tibi nulla videt fallax insomnia Nilus;pervigilant vates iam, miserande, tui.40quid soror? audebit tecum conscendere puppimet veniet longum per mare fida comes?an fortasse toros eunuchi pauperis oditet te nunc inopem dives amare negat?eunuchi iugulum primus secuisse fateris;45sed tamen exemplo non feriere tuo.vive pudor fatis. en quem tremuere tot urbes,en cuius populi sustinuere iugum!

Quas, spado, nunc terras aut quem transibis in axem?

cingeris hinc odiis, inde recessit amor,

utraque te gemino sub sidere regia damnat:35

Hesperius numquam, iam nec Eous eris.

miror cur, aliis qui pandere fata solebas,

ad propriam cladem caeca Sibylla taces.

iam tibi nulla videt fallax insomnia Nilus;

pervigilant vates iam, miserande, tui.40

quid soror? audebit tecum conscendere puppim

et veniet longum per mare fida comes?

an fortasse toros eunuchi pauperis odit

et te nunc inopem dives amare negat?

eunuchi iugulum primus secuisse fateris;45

sed tamen exemplo non feriere tuo.

vive pudor fatis. en quem tremuere tot urbes,

en cuius populi sustinuere iugum!

[181]The unsexed tyrant has been routed from out his fastness in the women’s quarters and, driven from the bedchamber, has lost his power. Thus sadly, when her lover’s fidelity wavers and a former favourite has been recalled, does a mistress leave his house. With handfuls of dust he sprinkles his scanty hairs and floods his wrinkles with senile tears; as he lies in humble supplication before the altars of the gods his trembling voice seeks to soften the anger of the women. His countless masters gather around, each demanding back his slave, useless except for chastisement. For loathsome though he is and fouler in mind even than in face, yet the very anger they feel against him will make them pay; he is worth buying simply to punish.What land or country wilt thou now visit, eunuch? Here hate surrounds thee, there thy popularity is fled; both courts have uttered thy condemnation in either half of the world; never wert thou of the West, now the East repudiates thee too. I marvel that thou, blind Sibyl,[102]who foretold’st the fates of others, art silent about thine own. No longer does fallacious Nile interpret thy dreams; no longer, poor wretch, do thy prophets see visions. What doth thy sister? Will she dare to embark with thee and bear thee faithful company over the distant seas? Mayhap she scorns the couch of an impoverished eunuch, and now that she herself is rich will not love thee who now art poor. Thou dost confess thou wert the first to cut a eunuch’s throat, but the example will not secure thine own death. Live on that destiny may blush. Lo! this is he whom so many cities have held in awe, whose yoke so many peoples have borne. Why lament the loss of that[102]Claudian calls Eutropius the Sibyl because both were “old women.” He is referring to Eutropius’ consultation of the Egyptian oracle;cf.In Eutrop.i. 312 and note.

[181]

The unsexed tyrant has been routed from out his fastness in the women’s quarters and, driven from the bedchamber, has lost his power. Thus sadly, when her lover’s fidelity wavers and a former favourite has been recalled, does a mistress leave his house. With handfuls of dust he sprinkles his scanty hairs and floods his wrinkles with senile tears; as he lies in humble supplication before the altars of the gods his trembling voice seeks to soften the anger of the women. His countless masters gather around, each demanding back his slave, useless except for chastisement. For loathsome though he is and fouler in mind even than in face, yet the very anger they feel against him will make them pay; he is worth buying simply to punish.

What land or country wilt thou now visit, eunuch? Here hate surrounds thee, there thy popularity is fled; both courts have uttered thy condemnation in either half of the world; never wert thou of the West, now the East repudiates thee too. I marvel that thou, blind Sibyl,[102]who foretold’st the fates of others, art silent about thine own. No longer does fallacious Nile interpret thy dreams; no longer, poor wretch, do thy prophets see visions. What doth thy sister? Will she dare to embark with thee and bear thee faithful company over the distant seas? Mayhap she scorns the couch of an impoverished eunuch, and now that she herself is rich will not love thee who now art poor. Thou dost confess thou wert the first to cut a eunuch’s throat, but the example will not secure thine own death. Live on that destiny may blush. Lo! this is he whom so many cities have held in awe, whose yoke so many peoples have borne. Why lament the loss of that

[102]Claudian calls Eutropius the Sibyl because both were “old women.” He is referring to Eutropius’ consultation of the Egyptian oracle;cf.In Eutrop.i. 312 and note.

[182]direptas quid plangis opes, quas natus habebit?non aliter poteras principis esse pater.50improbe, quid pulsas muliebribus astra querellis,quod tibi sub Cypri litore parta quies?omnia barbarico per te concussa tumultu.crede mihi, terra tutius aequor erit.Iam non Armenios iaculis terrebis et arcu,55per campos volucrem non agitabis equum;dilecto caruit Byzantius ore senatus;curia consiliis aestuat orba tuis:emeritam suspende togam, suspende pharetram;ad Veneris partes ingeniumque redi.60non bene Gradivo lenonia dextera servit.suscipiet famulum te Cytherea libens.insula laeta choris, blandorum mater Amorum:nulla pudicitiae cura placere potest.prospectant Paphiae celsa de rupe puellae65sollicitae, salvam dum ferat unda ratem.sed vereor, teneant ne te Tritones in altolascivas doctum fallere Nereidas,aut idem cupiant pelago te mergere venti,Gildonis nuper qui tenuere fugam.70inclita captivo memoratur Tabraca Mauro,naufragio Cyprus sit memoranda tuo.vecturum moriens frustra delphina vocabis;ad terram solos devehit ille viros.quisquis adhue similes eunuchus tendit in actus,75respiciens Cyprum desinat esse ferox.[183]wealth thy son shall inherit? In no other way couldst thou have been father to an emperor.[103]Why insatiably weary heaven with a woman’s plaints? A haven of refuge is prepared for thee on the shores of Cyprus. Thou hast plunged the world in war with barbary; the sea, believe me, is safer than the land.No longer wilt thou strike terror into the Armenians with javelin and bow, no more scour the plain on thy fleet charger. The senate of Byzantium has been deprived of thy loved voice; uncertainty holds the august assembly that is now deprived of thy counsels. Hang up thy toga, retired consul; hang up thy quiver, veteran soldier; return to Venus’ service; that is thy true calling. The pander’s hand knows not to serve Mars featly; Cytherea will right gladly take back her slave. Dancing fills the island of Cyprus, home of the happy loves; there purity commands no respect. Paphian maidens gaze forth from the high cliffs, anxious till the wave has brought thy bark safe to land. Yet fear I lest the Tritons detain thee in the deep to teach them how they may seduce the sportive Nereids, or that those same winds which hindered Gildo’s flight may seek to drown thee in the sea. Tabraca owes its fame to the overthrow of the Moor; may Cyprus win prestige from thy shipwreck. In vain will thy last breath be spent in calling on the dolphin to carry thee to shore: his back bears only men.[104]Hereafter should any eunuch attempt to emulate thine actions let him turn his eye towards Cyprus and abate his pride.[103]Eutropius had been raised by Arcadius to the highest of all ranks, that of Patrician. Thesepatriciiwere called the “fathers” of the Emperor. Hence Eutropius, a patrician, left (i.e.forfeited) his property on his banishment to Cyprus to his “son” Arcadius.[104]A reference to the rescue of Arion by the dolphin.

[182]

direptas quid plangis opes, quas natus habebit?non aliter poteras principis esse pater.50improbe, quid pulsas muliebribus astra querellis,quod tibi sub Cypri litore parta quies?omnia barbarico per te concussa tumultu.crede mihi, terra tutius aequor erit.Iam non Armenios iaculis terrebis et arcu,55per campos volucrem non agitabis equum;dilecto caruit Byzantius ore senatus;curia consiliis aestuat orba tuis:emeritam suspende togam, suspende pharetram;ad Veneris partes ingeniumque redi.60non bene Gradivo lenonia dextera servit.suscipiet famulum te Cytherea libens.insula laeta choris, blandorum mater Amorum:nulla pudicitiae cura placere potest.prospectant Paphiae celsa de rupe puellae65sollicitae, salvam dum ferat unda ratem.sed vereor, teneant ne te Tritones in altolascivas doctum fallere Nereidas,aut idem cupiant pelago te mergere venti,Gildonis nuper qui tenuere fugam.70inclita captivo memoratur Tabraca Mauro,naufragio Cyprus sit memoranda tuo.vecturum moriens frustra delphina vocabis;ad terram solos devehit ille viros.quisquis adhue similes eunuchus tendit in actus,75respiciens Cyprum desinat esse ferox.

direptas quid plangis opes, quas natus habebit?

non aliter poteras principis esse pater.50

improbe, quid pulsas muliebribus astra querellis,

quod tibi sub Cypri litore parta quies?

omnia barbarico per te concussa tumultu.

crede mihi, terra tutius aequor erit.

Iam non Armenios iaculis terrebis et arcu,55per campos volucrem non agitabis equum;dilecto caruit Byzantius ore senatus;curia consiliis aestuat orba tuis:emeritam suspende togam, suspende pharetram;ad Veneris partes ingeniumque redi.60non bene Gradivo lenonia dextera servit.suscipiet famulum te Cytherea libens.insula laeta choris, blandorum mater Amorum:nulla pudicitiae cura placere potest.prospectant Paphiae celsa de rupe puellae65sollicitae, salvam dum ferat unda ratem.sed vereor, teneant ne te Tritones in altolascivas doctum fallere Nereidas,aut idem cupiant pelago te mergere venti,Gildonis nuper qui tenuere fugam.70inclita captivo memoratur Tabraca Mauro,naufragio Cyprus sit memoranda tuo.vecturum moriens frustra delphina vocabis;ad terram solos devehit ille viros.quisquis adhue similes eunuchus tendit in actus,75respiciens Cyprum desinat esse ferox.

Iam non Armenios iaculis terrebis et arcu,55

per campos volucrem non agitabis equum;

dilecto caruit Byzantius ore senatus;

curia consiliis aestuat orba tuis:

emeritam suspende togam, suspende pharetram;

ad Veneris partes ingeniumque redi.60

non bene Gradivo lenonia dextera servit.

suscipiet famulum te Cytherea libens.

insula laeta choris, blandorum mater Amorum:

nulla pudicitiae cura placere potest.

prospectant Paphiae celsa de rupe puellae65

sollicitae, salvam dum ferat unda ratem.

sed vereor, teneant ne te Tritones in alto

lascivas doctum fallere Nereidas,

aut idem cupiant pelago te mergere venti,

Gildonis nuper qui tenuere fugam.70

inclita captivo memoratur Tabraca Mauro,

naufragio Cyprus sit memoranda tuo.

vecturum moriens frustra delphina vocabis;

ad terram solos devehit ille viros.

quisquis adhue similes eunuchus tendit in actus,75

respiciens Cyprum desinat esse ferox.

[183]wealth thy son shall inherit? In no other way couldst thou have been father to an emperor.[103]Why insatiably weary heaven with a woman’s plaints? A haven of refuge is prepared for thee on the shores of Cyprus. Thou hast plunged the world in war with barbary; the sea, believe me, is safer than the land.No longer wilt thou strike terror into the Armenians with javelin and bow, no more scour the plain on thy fleet charger. The senate of Byzantium has been deprived of thy loved voice; uncertainty holds the august assembly that is now deprived of thy counsels. Hang up thy toga, retired consul; hang up thy quiver, veteran soldier; return to Venus’ service; that is thy true calling. The pander’s hand knows not to serve Mars featly; Cytherea will right gladly take back her slave. Dancing fills the island of Cyprus, home of the happy loves; there purity commands no respect. Paphian maidens gaze forth from the high cliffs, anxious till the wave has brought thy bark safe to land. Yet fear I lest the Tritons detain thee in the deep to teach them how they may seduce the sportive Nereids, or that those same winds which hindered Gildo’s flight may seek to drown thee in the sea. Tabraca owes its fame to the overthrow of the Moor; may Cyprus win prestige from thy shipwreck. In vain will thy last breath be spent in calling on the dolphin to carry thee to shore: his back bears only men.[104]Hereafter should any eunuch attempt to emulate thine actions let him turn his eye towards Cyprus and abate his pride.[103]Eutropius had been raised by Arcadius to the highest of all ranks, that of Patrician. Thesepatriciiwere called the “fathers” of the Emperor. Hence Eutropius, a patrician, left (i.e.forfeited) his property on his banishment to Cyprus to his “son” Arcadius.[104]A reference to the rescue of Arion by the dolphin.

[183]

wealth thy son shall inherit? In no other way couldst thou have been father to an emperor.[103]Why insatiably weary heaven with a woman’s plaints? A haven of refuge is prepared for thee on the shores of Cyprus. Thou hast plunged the world in war with barbary; the sea, believe me, is safer than the land.

No longer wilt thou strike terror into the Armenians with javelin and bow, no more scour the plain on thy fleet charger. The senate of Byzantium has been deprived of thy loved voice; uncertainty holds the august assembly that is now deprived of thy counsels. Hang up thy toga, retired consul; hang up thy quiver, veteran soldier; return to Venus’ service; that is thy true calling. The pander’s hand knows not to serve Mars featly; Cytherea will right gladly take back her slave. Dancing fills the island of Cyprus, home of the happy loves; there purity commands no respect. Paphian maidens gaze forth from the high cliffs, anxious till the wave has brought thy bark safe to land. Yet fear I lest the Tritons detain thee in the deep to teach them how they may seduce the sportive Nereids, or that those same winds which hindered Gildo’s flight may seek to drown thee in the sea. Tabraca owes its fame to the overthrow of the Moor; may Cyprus win prestige from thy shipwreck. In vain will thy last breath be spent in calling on the dolphin to carry thee to shore: his back bears only men.[104]Hereafter should any eunuch attempt to emulate thine actions let him turn his eye towards Cyprus and abate his pride.

[103]Eutropius had been raised by Arcadius to the highest of all ranks, that of Patrician. Thesepatriciiwere called the “fathers” of the Emperor. Hence Eutropius, a patrician, left (i.e.forfeited) his property on his banishment to Cyprus to his “son” Arcadius.

[104]A reference to the rescue of Arion by the dolphin.

[184]IN EUTROPIUMLIBER II.(XX.)Mygdonii cineres et si quid restat Eoi,quod pereat, regni: certe non augure falsoprodigii patuere minae, frustraque peractovulnere monstriferi praesagia discitis anni.cautior ante tamen violentum navita Caurum5prospicit et tumidae subducit vela procellae.quid iuvat errorem mersa iam puppe fateri?quid lacrimae delicta levant? stant omina vestriconsulis: inmotis haesere piacula fatis.tunc decuit sentire nefas, tunc ire recentes10detersum maculas. veteri post obruta morbocorpora Paeonias nequiquam admoveris herbas.ulcera possessis alte suffusa medullisnon leviore manu, ferro sanantur et igni,ne noceat frustra mox eruptura cicatrix.15ad vivum penetrant flammae, quo funditus umordefluat et vacuis corrupto sanguine venis[185]AGAINST EUTROPIUSBOOK II(XX.)Ashes of Phrygia and you last remnants of the ruined East (if any such remain), the augury was but too true, too clear the threats of heaven: now that the blow has fallen what use to learn the presagings of this year of portents? The sailor is more cautious; he foresees the violence of the North wind and hauls in his canvas before the swelling storm. Of what avail to acknowledge a mistake when his vessel is already sunk? Can tears extenuate a crime? The sinister auspices of your consul live on; the atonement due to unmoved fate remains fixed. Ere the deed was done you should have realized its horror; you should have erased the blot ere it had dried. When the body is overwhelmed by long-standing disease ’tis all in vain that thou makest use of healing medicines. When an ulcer has penetrated to the marrow of the bones the touch of a hand is useless, steel and fire must sane the place that the wound heal not on the surface, like any moment to re-open. The flame must penetrate to the quick to make a way for the foul humours to escape; in order that, once the veins are emptied of corrupted blood, the

[184]

(XX.)

Mygdonii cineres et si quid restat Eoi,quod pereat, regni: certe non augure falsoprodigii patuere minae, frustraque peractovulnere monstriferi praesagia discitis anni.cautior ante tamen violentum navita Caurum5prospicit et tumidae subducit vela procellae.quid iuvat errorem mersa iam puppe fateri?quid lacrimae delicta levant? stant omina vestriconsulis: inmotis haesere piacula fatis.tunc decuit sentire nefas, tunc ire recentes10detersum maculas. veteri post obruta morbocorpora Paeonias nequiquam admoveris herbas.ulcera possessis alte suffusa medullisnon leviore manu, ferro sanantur et igni,ne noceat frustra mox eruptura cicatrix.15ad vivum penetrant flammae, quo funditus umordefluat et vacuis corrupto sanguine venis

Mygdonii cineres et si quid restat Eoi,

quod pereat, regni: certe non augure falso

prodigii patuere minae, frustraque peracto

vulnere monstriferi praesagia discitis anni.

cautior ante tamen violentum navita Caurum5

prospicit et tumidae subducit vela procellae.

quid iuvat errorem mersa iam puppe fateri?

quid lacrimae delicta levant? stant omina vestri

consulis: inmotis haesere piacula fatis.

tunc decuit sentire nefas, tunc ire recentes10

detersum maculas. veteri post obruta morbo

corpora Paeonias nequiquam admoveris herbas.

ulcera possessis alte suffusa medullis

non leviore manu, ferro sanantur et igni,

ne noceat frustra mox eruptura cicatrix.15

ad vivum penetrant flammae, quo funditus umor

defluat et vacuis corrupto sanguine venis

[185]AGAINST EUTROPIUSBOOK II(XX.)Ashes of Phrygia and you last remnants of the ruined East (if any such remain), the augury was but too true, too clear the threats of heaven: now that the blow has fallen what use to learn the presagings of this year of portents? The sailor is more cautious; he foresees the violence of the North wind and hauls in his canvas before the swelling storm. Of what avail to acknowledge a mistake when his vessel is already sunk? Can tears extenuate a crime? The sinister auspices of your consul live on; the atonement due to unmoved fate remains fixed. Ere the deed was done you should have realized its horror; you should have erased the blot ere it had dried. When the body is overwhelmed by long-standing disease ’tis all in vain that thou makest use of healing medicines. When an ulcer has penetrated to the marrow of the bones the touch of a hand is useless, steel and fire must sane the place that the wound heal not on the surface, like any moment to re-open. The flame must penetrate to the quick to make a way for the foul humours to escape; in order that, once the veins are emptied of corrupted blood, the

[185]

(XX.)

Ashes of Phrygia and you last remnants of the ruined East (if any such remain), the augury was but too true, too clear the threats of heaven: now that the blow has fallen what use to learn the presagings of this year of portents? The sailor is more cautious; he foresees the violence of the North wind and hauls in his canvas before the swelling storm. Of what avail to acknowledge a mistake when his vessel is already sunk? Can tears extenuate a crime? The sinister auspices of your consul live on; the atonement due to unmoved fate remains fixed. Ere the deed was done you should have realized its horror; you should have erased the blot ere it had dried. When the body is overwhelmed by long-standing disease ’tis all in vain that thou makest use of healing medicines. When an ulcer has penetrated to the marrow of the bones the touch of a hand is useless, steel and fire must sane the place that the wound heal not on the surface, like any moment to re-open. The flame must penetrate to the quick to make a way for the foul humours to escape; in order that, once the veins are emptied of corrupted blood, the

[186]arescat fons ipse mali; truncatur et artus,ut liceat reliquis securum degere membris.at vos egregie purgatam creditis aulam,20Eutropium si Cyprus habet? vindictaque mundisemivir exul erit? qui vos lustrare valebitoceanus? tantum facinus quae diluet aetas?Induerat necdum trabeas: mugitus ab axeredditus inferno, rabies arcana cavernas25vibrat et alterno confligunt culmina lapsu.bacchatus per operta tremor Calchedona movitpronus et in geminas nutavit Bosphorus urbes.concurrere freti fauces, radice revulsavitant instabilem rursum Symplegada nautae.30scilicet haec Stygiae praemittunt signa sororeset sibi iam tradi populos hoc consule gaudent.mox oritur diversa lues: hinc Mulciber ignessparserat, hinc victa proruperat obice Nereus;haec flagrant, haec tecta natant. quam, numina,poenam35servatis sceleri, cuius tot cladibus omenconstitit? incumbas utinam, Neptune, tridentipollutumque solum toto cum crimine mergas.unam pro mundo Furiis concedimus urbem.39Utque semel patuit monstris iter, omnia tempusnacta suum properant: nasci tum decolor imberinfantumque novi vultus et dissona partusemina, tum lapidum fletus armentaque vulgoausa loqui mediisque ferae se credere muris;tum vates sine more rapi lymphataque passim45[187]fountain-head of the evil may be dried up. Nay, even limbs are amputated to assure the healthy life of the rest of the body. Think you the Court fitly cleansed by Eutropius’ exile in Cyprus? The world avenged by the banishment of a eunuch? Can any ocean wash away that stain? any age bring forgetfulness of so great a crime?Ere yet he had donned the consul’s robe there came a rumbling from the bowels of the earth; a hidden madness shook the subterranean caverns and buildings crashed one on another. Chalcedon, shaken to the foundations, tottered like a drunken man, and Bosporus, straying from his course, flooded the cities on his either bank. The shores of the strait came together and the sailors once more had to avoid the Clashing Rocks, torn from their foundation and errant. Surely such presages were sent by the sister deities of Styx, rejoicing that under this consul at last all peoples were delivered into their hands. Soon arose divers forms of ruin: here the fire-god spread his flames; there Nereus, god of the sea, brake his bounds. Here men’s homes were burned, there flooded. Ye gods, what punishment do ye hold in store for the scoundrel whose rise to power was marked by such portents? O’ercome us, Neptune, with thy trident and overwhelm our defiled soil along with all the guilt. One city we yield to the Furies, a scapegoat for the sins of the world.Once the way was open for portents, prodigies of every sort hasted to disclose themselves. Rain of blood fell, children of weird form were born and offspring discordant with their breed. Statues wept, not seldom the herds dared to speak, and wild beasts braved an entrance into the city. Then seers raved

[186]

arescat fons ipse mali; truncatur et artus,ut liceat reliquis securum degere membris.at vos egregie purgatam creditis aulam,20Eutropium si Cyprus habet? vindictaque mundisemivir exul erit? qui vos lustrare valebitoceanus? tantum facinus quae diluet aetas?Induerat necdum trabeas: mugitus ab axeredditus inferno, rabies arcana cavernas25vibrat et alterno confligunt culmina lapsu.bacchatus per operta tremor Calchedona movitpronus et in geminas nutavit Bosphorus urbes.concurrere freti fauces, radice revulsavitant instabilem rursum Symplegada nautae.30scilicet haec Stygiae praemittunt signa sororeset sibi iam tradi populos hoc consule gaudent.mox oritur diversa lues: hinc Mulciber ignessparserat, hinc victa proruperat obice Nereus;haec flagrant, haec tecta natant. quam, numina,poenam35servatis sceleri, cuius tot cladibus omenconstitit? incumbas utinam, Neptune, tridentipollutumque solum toto cum crimine mergas.unam pro mundo Furiis concedimus urbem.39Utque semel patuit monstris iter, omnia tempusnacta suum properant: nasci tum decolor imberinfantumque novi vultus et dissona partusemina, tum lapidum fletus armentaque vulgoausa loqui mediisque ferae se credere muris;tum vates sine more rapi lymphataque passim45

arescat fons ipse mali; truncatur et artus,

ut liceat reliquis securum degere membris.

at vos egregie purgatam creditis aulam,20

Eutropium si Cyprus habet? vindictaque mundi

semivir exul erit? qui vos lustrare valebit

oceanus? tantum facinus quae diluet aetas?

Induerat necdum trabeas: mugitus ab axe

redditus inferno, rabies arcana cavernas25

vibrat et alterno confligunt culmina lapsu.

bacchatus per operta tremor Calchedona movit

pronus et in geminas nutavit Bosphorus urbes.

concurrere freti fauces, radice revulsa

vitant instabilem rursum Symplegada nautae.30

scilicet haec Stygiae praemittunt signa sorores

et sibi iam tradi populos hoc consule gaudent.

mox oritur diversa lues: hinc Mulciber ignes

sparserat, hinc victa proruperat obice Nereus;

haec flagrant, haec tecta natant. quam, numina,

poenam35

servatis sceleri, cuius tot cladibus omen

constitit? incumbas utinam, Neptune, tridenti

pollutumque solum toto cum crimine mergas.

unam pro mundo Furiis concedimus urbem.39

Utque semel patuit monstris iter, omnia tempus

nacta suum properant: nasci tum decolor imber

infantumque novi vultus et dissona partu

semina, tum lapidum fletus armentaque vulgo

ausa loqui mediisque ferae se credere muris;

tum vates sine more rapi lymphataque passim45

[187]fountain-head of the evil may be dried up. Nay, even limbs are amputated to assure the healthy life of the rest of the body. Think you the Court fitly cleansed by Eutropius’ exile in Cyprus? The world avenged by the banishment of a eunuch? Can any ocean wash away that stain? any age bring forgetfulness of so great a crime?Ere yet he had donned the consul’s robe there came a rumbling from the bowels of the earth; a hidden madness shook the subterranean caverns and buildings crashed one on another. Chalcedon, shaken to the foundations, tottered like a drunken man, and Bosporus, straying from his course, flooded the cities on his either bank. The shores of the strait came together and the sailors once more had to avoid the Clashing Rocks, torn from their foundation and errant. Surely such presages were sent by the sister deities of Styx, rejoicing that under this consul at last all peoples were delivered into their hands. Soon arose divers forms of ruin: here the fire-god spread his flames; there Nereus, god of the sea, brake his bounds. Here men’s homes were burned, there flooded. Ye gods, what punishment do ye hold in store for the scoundrel whose rise to power was marked by such portents? O’ercome us, Neptune, with thy trident and overwhelm our defiled soil along with all the guilt. One city we yield to the Furies, a scapegoat for the sins of the world.Once the way was open for portents, prodigies of every sort hasted to disclose themselves. Rain of blood fell, children of weird form were born and offspring discordant with their breed. Statues wept, not seldom the herds dared to speak, and wild beasts braved an entrance into the city. Then seers raved

[187]

fountain-head of the evil may be dried up. Nay, even limbs are amputated to assure the healthy life of the rest of the body. Think you the Court fitly cleansed by Eutropius’ exile in Cyprus? The world avenged by the banishment of a eunuch? Can any ocean wash away that stain? any age bring forgetfulness of so great a crime?

Ere yet he had donned the consul’s robe there came a rumbling from the bowels of the earth; a hidden madness shook the subterranean caverns and buildings crashed one on another. Chalcedon, shaken to the foundations, tottered like a drunken man, and Bosporus, straying from his course, flooded the cities on his either bank. The shores of the strait came together and the sailors once more had to avoid the Clashing Rocks, torn from their foundation and errant. Surely such presages were sent by the sister deities of Styx, rejoicing that under this consul at last all peoples were delivered into their hands. Soon arose divers forms of ruin: here the fire-god spread his flames; there Nereus, god of the sea, brake his bounds. Here men’s homes were burned, there flooded. Ye gods, what punishment do ye hold in store for the scoundrel whose rise to power was marked by such portents? O’ercome us, Neptune, with thy trident and overwhelm our defiled soil along with all the guilt. One city we yield to the Furies, a scapegoat for the sins of the world.

Once the way was open for portents, prodigies of every sort hasted to disclose themselves. Rain of blood fell, children of weird form were born and offspring discordant with their breed. Statues wept, not seldom the herds dared to speak, and wild beasts braved an entrance into the city. Then seers raved

[188]pectora terrifici stimulis ignescere Phoebi.fac nullos cecinisse deos: adeone retusiquisquam cordis erit, dubitet qui partibus illisadfore fatalem castrati consulis annum?sed quam caecus inest vitiis amor! omne futurum50despicitur suadentque brevem praesentia fructumet ruit in vetitum damni secura libido,dum mora supplicii lucro serumque quod instatcreditur, haud equidem contra tot signa Camillodetulerim fasces, nedum (pro sexus!) inerti55mancipio, cui, cuncta licet responsa iuberenthortantesque licet sponderent prospera divi,turpe fuit cessisse viros.Exquirite retrocrimina continui lectis annalibus aevi,prisca recensitis evolvite saecula fastis:60quid senis infandi Capreae, quid scaena Neronistale ferunt? spado Romuleo succinctus amictusedit in Augustis laribus. vulgata patebataula salutantum studiis; huc plebe senatuspermixta trepidique duces omnisque potestas65confluit. advolvi genibus, contingere dextramambitus et votum deformibus oscula rugisfigere. praesidium legum genitorque vocaturprincipis et famulum dignatur regia patrem.posteritas, admitte fidem: monumenta petuntur70dedecoris multisque gemunt incudibus aeraformatura nefas. haec iudicis, ilia togati,[189]strangely and frenzied hearts were everywhere ablaze, stirred by the fires of the dread god Phoebus. Yet even had no god warned us, whose mind shall be so dull as to doubt that the year of an emasculate consul must be fatal to those lands? Blind folly ever accompanies crime; of the future no account is taken; sufficient for the day is its short-lived pleasure; heedless of loss passion plunges into forbidden joys, counting the postponement of punishment a gain and believing distant the retribution that even now o’erhangs. In face of such portents I would not have entrusted Camillus’ self with the fasces, let alone a sexless slave (oh! the shame of it!), to yield it to whom were, for men, a disgrace, even though every oracle decreed it, and the insistent deities gave pledges of prosperity.Look back in the annals of crime, read o’er all past history, unroll the volumes of Rome’s story. What can the Capri of Tiberius’ old age, what can Nero’s theatre offer like to this?[105]A eunuch, clad in the cloak of Romulus, sat within the house of the emperors; the staled palace lay open to the eager throng of visitors; hither hasten senators, mingling with the populace, anxious generals and magistrates of every degree; all are fain to be the first to fall at his feet and to touch his hand; the prayer of all is to set kisses on those hideous wrinkles. He is called defender of the laws, father of the emperor, and the court deigns to acknowledge a slave as its overlord. Ye who come after, acknowledge that it is true! Men must needs erect monuments to celebrate this infamy; on many an anvil groans the bronze that is to take upon it the form of this monster. Here gleams his statue as a judge,[105]Suetonius draws a lurid (and probably exaggerated) picture of the debaucheries of Tiberius’ old age at Capri. The same author describes the “scaena Neronis.” The curious may find the account in Suet,Nero, xxix.

[188]

pectora terrifici stimulis ignescere Phoebi.fac nullos cecinisse deos: adeone retusiquisquam cordis erit, dubitet qui partibus illisadfore fatalem castrati consulis annum?sed quam caecus inest vitiis amor! omne futurum50despicitur suadentque brevem praesentia fructumet ruit in vetitum damni secura libido,dum mora supplicii lucro serumque quod instatcreditur, haud equidem contra tot signa Camillodetulerim fasces, nedum (pro sexus!) inerti55mancipio, cui, cuncta licet responsa iuberenthortantesque licet sponderent prospera divi,turpe fuit cessisse viros.Exquirite retrocrimina continui lectis annalibus aevi,prisca recensitis evolvite saecula fastis:60quid senis infandi Capreae, quid scaena Neronistale ferunt? spado Romuleo succinctus amictusedit in Augustis laribus. vulgata patebataula salutantum studiis; huc plebe senatuspermixta trepidique duces omnisque potestas65confluit. advolvi genibus, contingere dextramambitus et votum deformibus oscula rugisfigere. praesidium legum genitorque vocaturprincipis et famulum dignatur regia patrem.posteritas, admitte fidem: monumenta petuntur70dedecoris multisque gemunt incudibus aeraformatura nefas. haec iudicis, ilia togati,

pectora terrifici stimulis ignescere Phoebi.

fac nullos cecinisse deos: adeone retusi

quisquam cordis erit, dubitet qui partibus illis

adfore fatalem castrati consulis annum?

sed quam caecus inest vitiis amor! omne futurum50

despicitur suadentque brevem praesentia fructum

et ruit in vetitum damni secura libido,

dum mora supplicii lucro serumque quod instat

creditur, haud equidem contra tot signa Camillo

detulerim fasces, nedum (pro sexus!) inerti55

mancipio, cui, cuncta licet responsa iuberent

hortantesque licet sponderent prospera divi,

turpe fuit cessisse viros.

Exquirite retro

crimina continui lectis annalibus aevi,

prisca recensitis evolvite saecula fastis:60

quid senis infandi Capreae, quid scaena Neronis

tale ferunt? spado Romuleo succinctus amictu

sedit in Augustis laribus. vulgata patebat

aula salutantum studiis; huc plebe senatus

permixta trepidique duces omnisque potestas65

confluit. advolvi genibus, contingere dextram

ambitus et votum deformibus oscula rugis

figere. praesidium legum genitorque vocatur

principis et famulum dignatur regia patrem.

posteritas, admitte fidem: monumenta petuntur70

dedecoris multisque gemunt incudibus aera

formatura nefas. haec iudicis, ilia togati,

[189]strangely and frenzied hearts were everywhere ablaze, stirred by the fires of the dread god Phoebus. Yet even had no god warned us, whose mind shall be so dull as to doubt that the year of an emasculate consul must be fatal to those lands? Blind folly ever accompanies crime; of the future no account is taken; sufficient for the day is its short-lived pleasure; heedless of loss passion plunges into forbidden joys, counting the postponement of punishment a gain and believing distant the retribution that even now o’erhangs. In face of such portents I would not have entrusted Camillus’ self with the fasces, let alone a sexless slave (oh! the shame of it!), to yield it to whom were, for men, a disgrace, even though every oracle decreed it, and the insistent deities gave pledges of prosperity.Look back in the annals of crime, read o’er all past history, unroll the volumes of Rome’s story. What can the Capri of Tiberius’ old age, what can Nero’s theatre offer like to this?[105]A eunuch, clad in the cloak of Romulus, sat within the house of the emperors; the staled palace lay open to the eager throng of visitors; hither hasten senators, mingling with the populace, anxious generals and magistrates of every degree; all are fain to be the first to fall at his feet and to touch his hand; the prayer of all is to set kisses on those hideous wrinkles. He is called defender of the laws, father of the emperor, and the court deigns to acknowledge a slave as its overlord. Ye who come after, acknowledge that it is true! Men must needs erect monuments to celebrate this infamy; on many an anvil groans the bronze that is to take upon it the form of this monster. Here gleams his statue as a judge,[105]Suetonius draws a lurid (and probably exaggerated) picture of the debaucheries of Tiberius’ old age at Capri. The same author describes the “scaena Neronis.” The curious may find the account in Suet,Nero, xxix.

[189]

strangely and frenzied hearts were everywhere ablaze, stirred by the fires of the dread god Phoebus. Yet even had no god warned us, whose mind shall be so dull as to doubt that the year of an emasculate consul must be fatal to those lands? Blind folly ever accompanies crime; of the future no account is taken; sufficient for the day is its short-lived pleasure; heedless of loss passion plunges into forbidden joys, counting the postponement of punishment a gain and believing distant the retribution that even now o’erhangs. In face of such portents I would not have entrusted Camillus’ self with the fasces, let alone a sexless slave (oh! the shame of it!), to yield it to whom were, for men, a disgrace, even though every oracle decreed it, and the insistent deities gave pledges of prosperity.

Look back in the annals of crime, read o’er all past history, unroll the volumes of Rome’s story. What can the Capri of Tiberius’ old age, what can Nero’s theatre offer like to this?[105]A eunuch, clad in the cloak of Romulus, sat within the house of the emperors; the staled palace lay open to the eager throng of visitors; hither hasten senators, mingling with the populace, anxious generals and magistrates of every degree; all are fain to be the first to fall at his feet and to touch his hand; the prayer of all is to set kisses on those hideous wrinkles. He is called defender of the laws, father of the emperor, and the court deigns to acknowledge a slave as its overlord. Ye who come after, acknowledge that it is true! Men must needs erect monuments to celebrate this infamy; on many an anvil groans the bronze that is to take upon it the form of this monster. Here gleams his statue as a judge,

[105]Suetonius draws a lurid (and probably exaggerated) picture of the debaucheries of Tiberius’ old age at Capri. The same author describes the “scaena Neronis.” The curious may find the account in Suet,Nero, xxix.

[190]haec nitet armati species; numerosus ubiquefulget eques: praefert eunuchi curia vultus.ac veluti caveant ne quo consistere virtus75possit pura loco, cunctas hoc ore laborantincestare vias. maneant inmota precamurcertaque perpetui sint argumenta pudoris.subter adulantes tituli nimiaeque legunturvel maribus laudes: claro quod nobilis ortu80(cum vivant domini!), quod maxima proelia solusimpleat (et patitur miles!), quod tertius urbisconditor (hoc Byzas Constantinusque videbant!).inter quae tumidus leno producere cenasin lucem, foetere mero, dispergere plausum85empturas in vulgus opes, totosque theatrisindulgere dies, alieni prodigus auri.at soror et, si quid portentis creditur, uxormulcebat matres epulis et more pudicaeconiugis eunuchi celebrabat vota mariti.90hanc amat, hanc summa de re vel pace vel armisconsulit, huic curas et clausa palatia mandatceu stabulum vacuamque domum. sic magna tueriregna nihil, patiensque iugi deluditur orbis?Mitior alternum Zephyri iam bruma teporem95senserat et primi laxabant germina flores,iamque iter in gremio pacis sollemne parabantad muros, Ancyra, tuos, auctore repertumEutropio, pelagi ne taedia longa subirent,[191]there as a consul, there as a warrior. On every side one sees that figure of his mounted on his horse; before the very doors of the senate-house behold a eunuch’s countenance. As though to rob virtue of any place where she might sojourn undefiled, men labour to befoul every street with this vile image. May they rest for ever undisturbed, indisputable proofs of our eternal shame; such is my prayer. Beneath the statues one reads flattering titles and praises too great even formen. Do they tell of his noble race and lineage while his owners are still alive? What soldier brooks to read that single-handed he, Eutropius, won great battles? Are Byzas[106]and Constantine to be told that he is the third founder of Rome? Meanwhile the arrogant pander prolongs his revels till the dawn, stinking of wine and scattering money amid the crowd to buy their applause. He spends whole days of amusement in the theatres, prodigal of another’s money. But his sister and spouse (if such a prodigy can be conceived) wins the favour of Rome’s matrons by entertainments, and, like a chaste wife, sings the praises of her eunuch husband. ’Tis her he loves, her he consults on all matters of importance, be it of peace or war, to her care he entrusts the keys of the palace, as one would of a stable or empty house. Is the guardianship of a mighty empire thus naught? Is it thus he makes a mockery of a world’s obedience?Winter, passing into spring, had now felt the returning warmth of Zephyrus’ breezes and the earliest flowers had oped their buds when, in the lap of peace, they were preparing the annual journey to thy walls, Ancyra. ’Twas Eutropius’ device that weariness of the sea[107]might not come upon him,[106]Mythical founder of Byzantium (= Constantinople): said to have been contemporaneous with the Argonauts (Diod. iv. 49. 1).[107]i.e.to prevent his being bored with the view of the Bosporus.

[190]

haec nitet armati species; numerosus ubiquefulget eques: praefert eunuchi curia vultus.ac veluti caveant ne quo consistere virtus75possit pura loco, cunctas hoc ore laborantincestare vias. maneant inmota precamurcertaque perpetui sint argumenta pudoris.subter adulantes tituli nimiaeque legunturvel maribus laudes: claro quod nobilis ortu80(cum vivant domini!), quod maxima proelia solusimpleat (et patitur miles!), quod tertius urbisconditor (hoc Byzas Constantinusque videbant!).inter quae tumidus leno producere cenasin lucem, foetere mero, dispergere plausum85empturas in vulgus opes, totosque theatrisindulgere dies, alieni prodigus auri.at soror et, si quid portentis creditur, uxormulcebat matres epulis et more pudicaeconiugis eunuchi celebrabat vota mariti.90hanc amat, hanc summa de re vel pace vel armisconsulit, huic curas et clausa palatia mandatceu stabulum vacuamque domum. sic magna tueriregna nihil, patiensque iugi deluditur orbis?Mitior alternum Zephyri iam bruma teporem95senserat et primi laxabant germina flores,iamque iter in gremio pacis sollemne parabantad muros, Ancyra, tuos, auctore repertumEutropio, pelagi ne taedia longa subirent,

haec nitet armati species; numerosus ubique

fulget eques: praefert eunuchi curia vultus.

ac veluti caveant ne quo consistere virtus75

possit pura loco, cunctas hoc ore laborant

incestare vias. maneant inmota precamur

certaque perpetui sint argumenta pudoris.

subter adulantes tituli nimiaeque leguntur

vel maribus laudes: claro quod nobilis ortu80

(cum vivant domini!), quod maxima proelia solus

impleat (et patitur miles!), quod tertius urbis

conditor (hoc Byzas Constantinusque videbant!).

inter quae tumidus leno producere cenas

in lucem, foetere mero, dispergere plausum85

empturas in vulgus opes, totosque theatris

indulgere dies, alieni prodigus auri.

at soror et, si quid portentis creditur, uxor

mulcebat matres epulis et more pudicae

coniugis eunuchi celebrabat vota mariti.90

hanc amat, hanc summa de re vel pace vel armis

consulit, huic curas et clausa palatia mandat

ceu stabulum vacuamque domum. sic magna tueri

regna nihil, patiensque iugi deluditur orbis?

Mitior alternum Zephyri iam bruma teporem95

senserat et primi laxabant germina flores,

iamque iter in gremio pacis sollemne parabant

ad muros, Ancyra, tuos, auctore repertum

Eutropio, pelagi ne taedia longa subirent,

[191]there as a consul, there as a warrior. On every side one sees that figure of his mounted on his horse; before the very doors of the senate-house behold a eunuch’s countenance. As though to rob virtue of any place where she might sojourn undefiled, men labour to befoul every street with this vile image. May they rest for ever undisturbed, indisputable proofs of our eternal shame; such is my prayer. Beneath the statues one reads flattering titles and praises too great even formen. Do they tell of his noble race and lineage while his owners are still alive? What soldier brooks to read that single-handed he, Eutropius, won great battles? Are Byzas[106]and Constantine to be told that he is the third founder of Rome? Meanwhile the arrogant pander prolongs his revels till the dawn, stinking of wine and scattering money amid the crowd to buy their applause. He spends whole days of amusement in the theatres, prodigal of another’s money. But his sister and spouse (if such a prodigy can be conceived) wins the favour of Rome’s matrons by entertainments, and, like a chaste wife, sings the praises of her eunuch husband. ’Tis her he loves, her he consults on all matters of importance, be it of peace or war, to her care he entrusts the keys of the palace, as one would of a stable or empty house. Is the guardianship of a mighty empire thus naught? Is it thus he makes a mockery of a world’s obedience?Winter, passing into spring, had now felt the returning warmth of Zephyrus’ breezes and the earliest flowers had oped their buds when, in the lap of peace, they were preparing the annual journey to thy walls, Ancyra. ’Twas Eutropius’ device that weariness of the sea[107]might not come upon him,[106]Mythical founder of Byzantium (= Constantinople): said to have been contemporaneous with the Argonauts (Diod. iv. 49. 1).[107]i.e.to prevent his being bored with the view of the Bosporus.

[191]

there as a consul, there as a warrior. On every side one sees that figure of his mounted on his horse; before the very doors of the senate-house behold a eunuch’s countenance. As though to rob virtue of any place where she might sojourn undefiled, men labour to befoul every street with this vile image. May they rest for ever undisturbed, indisputable proofs of our eternal shame; such is my prayer. Beneath the statues one reads flattering titles and praises too great even formen. Do they tell of his noble race and lineage while his owners are still alive? What soldier brooks to read that single-handed he, Eutropius, won great battles? Are Byzas[106]and Constantine to be told that he is the third founder of Rome? Meanwhile the arrogant pander prolongs his revels till the dawn, stinking of wine and scattering money amid the crowd to buy their applause. He spends whole days of amusement in the theatres, prodigal of another’s money. But his sister and spouse (if such a prodigy can be conceived) wins the favour of Rome’s matrons by entertainments, and, like a chaste wife, sings the praises of her eunuch husband. ’Tis her he loves, her he consults on all matters of importance, be it of peace or war, to her care he entrusts the keys of the palace, as one would of a stable or empty house. Is the guardianship of a mighty empire thus naught? Is it thus he makes a mockery of a world’s obedience?

Winter, passing into spring, had now felt the returning warmth of Zephyrus’ breezes and the earliest flowers had oped their buds when, in the lap of peace, they were preparing the annual journey to thy walls, Ancyra. ’Twas Eutropius’ device that weariness of the sea[107]might not come upon him,

[106]Mythical founder of Byzantium (= Constantinople): said to have been contemporaneous with the Argonauts (Diod. iv. 49. 1).

[107]i.e.to prevent his being bored with the view of the Bosporus.

[192]sed vaga lascivis flueret discursibus aestas:100unde tamen tanta sublimes mole redibant,ceu vinctos traherent Medos Indumque bibissent.ecce autem flavis Gradivus ab usque Gelonisarva cruentato repetebat Thracia curru:subsidunt Pangaea rotis altaeque sonoro105stridunt axe nives. ut vertice constitit Haemifemineasque togas pressis conspexit habenis,subrisit cradele pater cristisque micantemquassavit galeam; tunc implacabile numenBellonam adloquitur, quae sanguine sordida vestemIllyricis pingues pectebat stragibus hydros:111“Necdum mollitiae, necdum, germana, mederipossumus Eoae? numquam corrupta rigescentsaecula? Cappadocum tepidis Argaeus acervisaestuat; infelix etiamnum pallet Orontes.115dum pereunt, meminere mali; si corda parumperrespirare sinas, nullo tot funera sensupraetereunt: antiqua levis iactura cruoris!“Adspicis obscaenum facinus? quid crinibus oraprotegis? en quales sese diffudit in actus120parva quies, quantum nocuerunt otia ferri!qui caruit bellis, eunucho traditur annus.actum de trabeis esset, si partibus unamens foret Hesperiis; rueret derisa vetustasnullaque calcati starent vestigia iuris,125ni memor imperii Stilicho morumque priorumturpe relegasset defenso Thybride nomen[193]but a roaming summer might slide away in pleasure journeys. But so magnificent was their return, you would have imagined they brought conquered Persia in their train and had drunk of the waters of Indus. Look you! Mars, returning from the distant lands of the yellow-haired Geloni, was re-seeking the lands of Thrace in his bloody chariot. Pangaeus subsided beneath his wheels, the mountain snows cried out under his sounding axle. Scarce had the father stayed on Haemus’ summit and, reining in his coursers, looked upon the toga-clad woman, when he smiled a cruel smile and shook his gleaming crested helm; then he addressed Bellona, implacable goddess, who, her raiment all stained with blood, was combing her snake-hair, fattened on the slaughter of Illyrians.“Sister, shall we never succeed in curing the East of effeminacy? Will this corrupt age never learn true manliness? Argaeus yet reeks with those heaps of dead Cappadocians not yet cold; Orontes is still pale from misery. But they only remember evil while they suffer it; give them a moment’s respite and all their slaughter fades from their minds unfelt; little they reck of bloodshed that is past.“Seest thou this foul deed? Why veil thy face with thine hair? See what crimes a short spell of peace has wrought! what a curse has the sheathèd sword proved! The year that has known no war has had a eunuch for its consul. The consulship would have been at an end had a like spirit animated Italy; this age-long office had fallen amid mockery and no traces been left of its trampled rights, had not Stilicho, heedful of the empire and of the character and morals of a past age, banished from Tiber’s city

[192]

sed vaga lascivis flueret discursibus aestas:100unde tamen tanta sublimes mole redibant,ceu vinctos traherent Medos Indumque bibissent.ecce autem flavis Gradivus ab usque Gelonisarva cruentato repetebat Thracia curru:subsidunt Pangaea rotis altaeque sonoro105stridunt axe nives. ut vertice constitit Haemifemineasque togas pressis conspexit habenis,subrisit cradele pater cristisque micantemquassavit galeam; tunc implacabile numenBellonam adloquitur, quae sanguine sordida vestemIllyricis pingues pectebat stragibus hydros:111“Necdum mollitiae, necdum, germana, mederipossumus Eoae? numquam corrupta rigescentsaecula? Cappadocum tepidis Argaeus acervisaestuat; infelix etiamnum pallet Orontes.115dum pereunt, meminere mali; si corda parumperrespirare sinas, nullo tot funera sensupraetereunt: antiqua levis iactura cruoris!“Adspicis obscaenum facinus? quid crinibus oraprotegis? en quales sese diffudit in actus120parva quies, quantum nocuerunt otia ferri!qui caruit bellis, eunucho traditur annus.actum de trabeis esset, si partibus unamens foret Hesperiis; rueret derisa vetustasnullaque calcati starent vestigia iuris,125ni memor imperii Stilicho morumque priorumturpe relegasset defenso Thybride nomen

sed vaga lascivis flueret discursibus aestas:100

unde tamen tanta sublimes mole redibant,

ceu vinctos traherent Medos Indumque bibissent.

ecce autem flavis Gradivus ab usque Gelonis

arva cruentato repetebat Thracia curru:

subsidunt Pangaea rotis altaeque sonoro105

stridunt axe nives. ut vertice constitit Haemi

femineasque togas pressis conspexit habenis,

subrisit cradele pater cristisque micantem

quassavit galeam; tunc implacabile numen

Bellonam adloquitur, quae sanguine sordida vestem

Illyricis pingues pectebat stragibus hydros:111

“Necdum mollitiae, necdum, germana, mederi

possumus Eoae? numquam corrupta rigescent

saecula? Cappadocum tepidis Argaeus acervis

aestuat; infelix etiamnum pallet Orontes.115

dum pereunt, meminere mali; si corda parumper

respirare sinas, nullo tot funera sensu

praetereunt: antiqua levis iactura cruoris!

“Adspicis obscaenum facinus? quid crinibus ora

protegis? en quales sese diffudit in actus120

parva quies, quantum nocuerunt otia ferri!

qui caruit bellis, eunucho traditur annus.

actum de trabeis esset, si partibus una

mens foret Hesperiis; rueret derisa vetustas

nullaque calcati starent vestigia iuris,125

ni memor imperii Stilicho morumque priorum

turpe relegasset defenso Thybride nomen

[193]but a roaming summer might slide away in pleasure journeys. But so magnificent was their return, you would have imagined they brought conquered Persia in their train and had drunk of the waters of Indus. Look you! Mars, returning from the distant lands of the yellow-haired Geloni, was re-seeking the lands of Thrace in his bloody chariot. Pangaeus subsided beneath his wheels, the mountain snows cried out under his sounding axle. Scarce had the father stayed on Haemus’ summit and, reining in his coursers, looked upon the toga-clad woman, when he smiled a cruel smile and shook his gleaming crested helm; then he addressed Bellona, implacable goddess, who, her raiment all stained with blood, was combing her snake-hair, fattened on the slaughter of Illyrians.“Sister, shall we never succeed in curing the East of effeminacy? Will this corrupt age never learn true manliness? Argaeus yet reeks with those heaps of dead Cappadocians not yet cold; Orontes is still pale from misery. But they only remember evil while they suffer it; give them a moment’s respite and all their slaughter fades from their minds unfelt; little they reck of bloodshed that is past.“Seest thou this foul deed? Why veil thy face with thine hair? See what crimes a short spell of peace has wrought! what a curse has the sheathèd sword proved! The year that has known no war has had a eunuch for its consul. The consulship would have been at an end had a like spirit animated Italy; this age-long office had fallen amid mockery and no traces been left of its trampled rights, had not Stilicho, heedful of the empire and of the character and morals of a past age, banished from Tiber’s city

[193]

but a roaming summer might slide away in pleasure journeys. But so magnificent was their return, you would have imagined they brought conquered Persia in their train and had drunk of the waters of Indus. Look you! Mars, returning from the distant lands of the yellow-haired Geloni, was re-seeking the lands of Thrace in his bloody chariot. Pangaeus subsided beneath his wheels, the mountain snows cried out under his sounding axle. Scarce had the father stayed on Haemus’ summit and, reining in his coursers, looked upon the toga-clad woman, when he smiled a cruel smile and shook his gleaming crested helm; then he addressed Bellona, implacable goddess, who, her raiment all stained with blood, was combing her snake-hair, fattened on the slaughter of Illyrians.

“Sister, shall we never succeed in curing the East of effeminacy? Will this corrupt age never learn true manliness? Argaeus yet reeks with those heaps of dead Cappadocians not yet cold; Orontes is still pale from misery. But they only remember evil while they suffer it; give them a moment’s respite and all their slaughter fades from their minds unfelt; little they reck of bloodshed that is past.

“Seest thou this foul deed? Why veil thy face with thine hair? See what crimes a short spell of peace has wrought! what a curse has the sheathèd sword proved! The year that has known no war has had a eunuch for its consul. The consulship would have been at an end had a like spirit animated Italy; this age-long office had fallen amid mockery and no traces been left of its trampled rights, had not Stilicho, heedful of the empire and of the character and morals of a past age, banished from Tiber’s city

[194]intactamque novo servasset crimine Romam.ille dedit portum, quo se pulsata referretmaiestas Latii deformataeque secures;130ille dedit fastos, ad quos Oriente relictoconfugeret sparsum maculis servilibus aevum.“Quam similes haec aula viros! ad moenia visusdirige: num saltem tacita formidine mussant?num damnant animo? plaudentem cerne senatum135et Byzantinos proceres Graiosque Quirites.o patribus plebes, o digni consule patres!quid? quod et armati cessant et nulla virilisinter tot gladios sexum reminiscitur ira?hucine nostrorum cinctus abiere nepotum?140sic Bruti despectus honos?“Ignosce parenti,Romule, quod serus temeratis fascibus ultoradvenio: iamiam largis haec gaudia faxocompensent lacrimis. quid dudum inflare morarisTartaream, Bellona, tubam, quid stringere falcem,145qua populos a stirpe metis? molire tumultus,excute delicias. Thracum Macetumque ruinaetaedet et in gentes iterum saevire sepultas.damna minus consueta move; trans aequora saevasverte faces; aliis exordia sume rapinis.150non tibi Riphaeis hostis quaerendus ab oris,non per Caucasias accito turbine vallesest opus. Ostrogothis colitur mixtisque GruthungisPhryx ager: hos parvae poterunt impellere causae[195]this shameful name and kept Rome unsullied by an unheard of crime. He has given us a harbour to which the exiled majesty of Latium and the disgraced fasces might retire; he has given us annals wherein, abandoning the East, an age polluted with servile stains might find a refuge.“How like to its lord the inhabitants of the palace! Turn your eyes to the city walls. Surely they at least mutter disapprobation, though fear forbids them speak out? Do they not condemn him in their hearts? No: list the plaudits of the senate, of the lords of Byzantium, of the Grecian citizens of Rome. O people worthy of such a senate, senate worthy of such a consul! To think that all these bear arms and use them not, that manly indignation reminds not of their sex those many whose thighs bear a sword! Has my descendants’ robe of office sunk so low? Is Brutus’ renown thus brought to scorn?“Romulus, forgive thy sire for coming so tardy an avenger of those outraged fasces. Right soon will I make them pay for this joy with liberal tears. Why delayest thou, Bellona, to sound the trumpet of hell and to arm thyself with the scythe wherewith thou mowest the people to the ground? Foment discord, banish pleasures. I am aweary of the devastation of Thrace and Macedon, of vengeance twice wreaked on races already buried. Arouse less accustomed destruction; spread fire and sword beyond the seas, make a beginning of new devastation. Seek not now thy foe on Riphaeus’ heights: what boots it to rouse the storm of war amid Caucasia’s ravines? Ostrogoths and Gruthungi together inhabit the land of Phrygia; ’twill need but a touch

[194]

intactamque novo servasset crimine Romam.ille dedit portum, quo se pulsata referretmaiestas Latii deformataeque secures;130ille dedit fastos, ad quos Oriente relictoconfugeret sparsum maculis servilibus aevum.“Quam similes haec aula viros! ad moenia visusdirige: num saltem tacita formidine mussant?num damnant animo? plaudentem cerne senatum135et Byzantinos proceres Graiosque Quirites.o patribus plebes, o digni consule patres!quid? quod et armati cessant et nulla virilisinter tot gladios sexum reminiscitur ira?hucine nostrorum cinctus abiere nepotum?140sic Bruti despectus honos?“Ignosce parenti,Romule, quod serus temeratis fascibus ultoradvenio: iamiam largis haec gaudia faxocompensent lacrimis. quid dudum inflare morarisTartaream, Bellona, tubam, quid stringere falcem,145qua populos a stirpe metis? molire tumultus,excute delicias. Thracum Macetumque ruinaetaedet et in gentes iterum saevire sepultas.damna minus consueta move; trans aequora saevasverte faces; aliis exordia sume rapinis.150non tibi Riphaeis hostis quaerendus ab oris,non per Caucasias accito turbine vallesest opus. Ostrogothis colitur mixtisque GruthungisPhryx ager: hos parvae poterunt impellere causae

intactamque novo servasset crimine Romam.

ille dedit portum, quo se pulsata referret

maiestas Latii deformataeque secures;130

ille dedit fastos, ad quos Oriente relicto

confugeret sparsum maculis servilibus aevum.

“Quam similes haec aula viros! ad moenia visus

dirige: num saltem tacita formidine mussant?

num damnant animo? plaudentem cerne senatum135

et Byzantinos proceres Graiosque Quirites.

o patribus plebes, o digni consule patres!

quid? quod et armati cessant et nulla virilis

inter tot gladios sexum reminiscitur ira?

hucine nostrorum cinctus abiere nepotum?140

sic Bruti despectus honos?

“Ignosce parenti,

Romule, quod serus temeratis fascibus ultor

advenio: iamiam largis haec gaudia faxo

compensent lacrimis. quid dudum inflare moraris

Tartaream, Bellona, tubam, quid stringere falcem,145

qua populos a stirpe metis? molire tumultus,

excute delicias. Thracum Macetumque ruinae

taedet et in gentes iterum saevire sepultas.

damna minus consueta move; trans aequora saevas

verte faces; aliis exordia sume rapinis.150

non tibi Riphaeis hostis quaerendus ab oris,

non per Caucasias accito turbine valles

est opus. Ostrogothis colitur mixtisque Gruthungis

Phryx ager: hos parvae poterunt impellere causae

[195]this shameful name and kept Rome unsullied by an unheard of crime. He has given us a harbour to which the exiled majesty of Latium and the disgraced fasces might retire; he has given us annals wherein, abandoning the East, an age polluted with servile stains might find a refuge.“How like to its lord the inhabitants of the palace! Turn your eyes to the city walls. Surely they at least mutter disapprobation, though fear forbids them speak out? Do they not condemn him in their hearts? No: list the plaudits of the senate, of the lords of Byzantium, of the Grecian citizens of Rome. O people worthy of such a senate, senate worthy of such a consul! To think that all these bear arms and use them not, that manly indignation reminds not of their sex those many whose thighs bear a sword! Has my descendants’ robe of office sunk so low? Is Brutus’ renown thus brought to scorn?“Romulus, forgive thy sire for coming so tardy an avenger of those outraged fasces. Right soon will I make them pay for this joy with liberal tears. Why delayest thou, Bellona, to sound the trumpet of hell and to arm thyself with the scythe wherewith thou mowest the people to the ground? Foment discord, banish pleasures. I am aweary of the devastation of Thrace and Macedon, of vengeance twice wreaked on races already buried. Arouse less accustomed destruction; spread fire and sword beyond the seas, make a beginning of new devastation. Seek not now thy foe on Riphaeus’ heights: what boots it to rouse the storm of war amid Caucasia’s ravines? Ostrogoths and Gruthungi together inhabit the land of Phrygia; ’twill need but a touch

[195]

this shameful name and kept Rome unsullied by an unheard of crime. He has given us a harbour to which the exiled majesty of Latium and the disgraced fasces might retire; he has given us annals wherein, abandoning the East, an age polluted with servile stains might find a refuge.

“How like to its lord the inhabitants of the palace! Turn your eyes to the city walls. Surely they at least mutter disapprobation, though fear forbids them speak out? Do they not condemn him in their hearts? No: list the plaudits of the senate, of the lords of Byzantium, of the Grecian citizens of Rome. O people worthy of such a senate, senate worthy of such a consul! To think that all these bear arms and use them not, that manly indignation reminds not of their sex those many whose thighs bear a sword! Has my descendants’ robe of office sunk so low? Is Brutus’ renown thus brought to scorn?

“Romulus, forgive thy sire for coming so tardy an avenger of those outraged fasces. Right soon will I make them pay for this joy with liberal tears. Why delayest thou, Bellona, to sound the trumpet of hell and to arm thyself with the scythe wherewith thou mowest the people to the ground? Foment discord, banish pleasures. I am aweary of the devastation of Thrace and Macedon, of vengeance twice wreaked on races already buried. Arouse less accustomed destruction; spread fire and sword beyond the seas, make a beginning of new devastation. Seek not now thy foe on Riphaeus’ heights: what boots it to rouse the storm of war amid Caucasia’s ravines? Ostrogoths and Gruthungi together inhabit the land of Phrygia; ’twill need but a touch

[196]in scelus; ad mores facilis natura reverti.155sic eat: in nostro quando iam milite roburtorpuit et molli didicit parere magistro,vindicet Arctous violatas advena leges;barbara Romano succurrant arma pudori.”Sic fatus clipeo, quantum vix ipse deorum160arbiter infesto cum percutit aegida nimbo,intonuit. responsat Athos Haemusque remugit;ingeminat raucum Rhodope concussa fragorem.cornua cana gelu mirantibus extulit undisHebrus et exanguem glacie timor adligat Histrum.165tunc, adamante gravem nodisque rigentibus hastam,telum ingens nullique deo iaculabile, torsit.fit late ruptis via nubibus; ilia per aurastot freta, tot montes uno contenta volatutransilit et Phrygiae mediis adfigitur arvis.170sensit humus; gemuit Nysaeo palmite felixHermus et aurata Pactolus inhorruit urnatotaque summissis fleverunt Dindyma silvis.Nec dea praemissae stridorem segnius hastaeconsequitur, centumque vias meditata nocendi175tandem Tarbigilum (Geticae dux improbus alae[108]hic erat) adgreditur. viso tum forte redibatEutropio vacuus donis, feritasque dolorecreverat et, teneris etiam quae crimina suadet[108]alaeRubenus;MSS.(followed by Birt) haveaulae.[197]to precipitate them into revolt; readily does nature return to her old ways. So be it. Since our soldiers’ valour is numbed and they have learned to obey an unmanned master, let a stranger from the north avenge our outraged laws and barbarian arms bring relief to disgraced Rome.”So spake he and thundered with his shield nigh as loud as the ruler of the gods when he shakes his aegis from out the lowering cloud. Athos replies, Haemus re-echoes; again and again shaken Rhodope repeats the hoarse uproar. Hebrus raised from out the wondering waters his horns hoary with frost, and bloodless Ister froze in fear. Then the god cast his javelin,[109]heavy with steel, and stiff with knotted shaft, a mighty weapon such as none other god could wield. The clouds part before its onset and give it free passage; through the air it speeds o’er seas and mountains by one mighty cast and comes to earth amid the plains of Phrygia. The ground felt the shock; Hermus blessed with Dionysus’ vines groaned thereat, Pactolus’ golden urn shuddered, all Dindymus bent his forest fleece and wept.Bellona, too, hastens forth with speed no less than that of Mars’ whistling spear; a hundred ways of hurt she pondered and at last approached Tarbigilus,[110]fierce leader of the Getic squadron. It chanced he had but late returned with empty hands from a visit to Eutropius; disappointment and indignation aggravated his ferocity, and poverty, that can incite[109]Alluding to the Roman custom of casting a spear as a sign of the declaration of war;cf. Ovid,Fasti, vi. 207—Hinc solet hasta manu belli praenuntia mittiIn regem et gentes cum placet arma capi.[110]Tarbigilus seems to have belonged to the nation of the Gruthungi. The exact form of his name is a matter of uncertainty. TheMSS.vary: Zosimus (v. 13. 2) calls him Τριβίγιλδος. His revolt in Phrygia (cf.ll. 274, etc.) took place in 399.

[196]

in scelus; ad mores facilis natura reverti.155sic eat: in nostro quando iam milite roburtorpuit et molli didicit parere magistro,vindicet Arctous violatas advena leges;barbara Romano succurrant arma pudori.”Sic fatus clipeo, quantum vix ipse deorum160arbiter infesto cum percutit aegida nimbo,intonuit. responsat Athos Haemusque remugit;ingeminat raucum Rhodope concussa fragorem.cornua cana gelu mirantibus extulit undisHebrus et exanguem glacie timor adligat Histrum.165tunc, adamante gravem nodisque rigentibus hastam,telum ingens nullique deo iaculabile, torsit.fit late ruptis via nubibus; ilia per aurastot freta, tot montes uno contenta volatutransilit et Phrygiae mediis adfigitur arvis.170sensit humus; gemuit Nysaeo palmite felixHermus et aurata Pactolus inhorruit urnatotaque summissis fleverunt Dindyma silvis.Nec dea praemissae stridorem segnius hastaeconsequitur, centumque vias meditata nocendi175tandem Tarbigilum (Geticae dux improbus alae[108]hic erat) adgreditur. viso tum forte redibatEutropio vacuus donis, feritasque dolorecreverat et, teneris etiam quae crimina suadet

in scelus; ad mores facilis natura reverti.155

sic eat: in nostro quando iam milite robur

torpuit et molli didicit parere magistro,

vindicet Arctous violatas advena leges;

barbara Romano succurrant arma pudori.”

Sic fatus clipeo, quantum vix ipse deorum160

arbiter infesto cum percutit aegida nimbo,

intonuit. responsat Athos Haemusque remugit;

ingeminat raucum Rhodope concussa fragorem.

cornua cana gelu mirantibus extulit undis

Hebrus et exanguem glacie timor adligat Histrum.165

tunc, adamante gravem nodisque rigentibus hastam,

telum ingens nullique deo iaculabile, torsit.

fit late ruptis via nubibus; ilia per auras

tot freta, tot montes uno contenta volatu

transilit et Phrygiae mediis adfigitur arvis.170

sensit humus; gemuit Nysaeo palmite felix

Hermus et aurata Pactolus inhorruit urna

totaque summissis fleverunt Dindyma silvis.

Nec dea praemissae stridorem segnius hastae

consequitur, centumque vias meditata nocendi175

tandem Tarbigilum (Geticae dux improbus alae[108]

hic erat) adgreditur. viso tum forte redibat

Eutropio vacuus donis, feritasque dolore

creverat et, teneris etiam quae crimina suadet

[108]alaeRubenus;MSS.(followed by Birt) haveaulae.

[197]to precipitate them into revolt; readily does nature return to her old ways. So be it. Since our soldiers’ valour is numbed and they have learned to obey an unmanned master, let a stranger from the north avenge our outraged laws and barbarian arms bring relief to disgraced Rome.”So spake he and thundered with his shield nigh as loud as the ruler of the gods when he shakes his aegis from out the lowering cloud. Athos replies, Haemus re-echoes; again and again shaken Rhodope repeats the hoarse uproar. Hebrus raised from out the wondering waters his horns hoary with frost, and bloodless Ister froze in fear. Then the god cast his javelin,[109]heavy with steel, and stiff with knotted shaft, a mighty weapon such as none other god could wield. The clouds part before its onset and give it free passage; through the air it speeds o’er seas and mountains by one mighty cast and comes to earth amid the plains of Phrygia. The ground felt the shock; Hermus blessed with Dionysus’ vines groaned thereat, Pactolus’ golden urn shuddered, all Dindymus bent his forest fleece and wept.Bellona, too, hastens forth with speed no less than that of Mars’ whistling spear; a hundred ways of hurt she pondered and at last approached Tarbigilus,[110]fierce leader of the Getic squadron. It chanced he had but late returned with empty hands from a visit to Eutropius; disappointment and indignation aggravated his ferocity, and poverty, that can incite[109]Alluding to the Roman custom of casting a spear as a sign of the declaration of war;cf. Ovid,Fasti, vi. 207—Hinc solet hasta manu belli praenuntia mittiIn regem et gentes cum placet arma capi.[110]Tarbigilus seems to have belonged to the nation of the Gruthungi. The exact form of his name is a matter of uncertainty. TheMSS.vary: Zosimus (v. 13. 2) calls him Τριβίγιλδος. His revolt in Phrygia (cf.ll. 274, etc.) took place in 399.

[197]

to precipitate them into revolt; readily does nature return to her old ways. So be it. Since our soldiers’ valour is numbed and they have learned to obey an unmanned master, let a stranger from the north avenge our outraged laws and barbarian arms bring relief to disgraced Rome.”

So spake he and thundered with his shield nigh as loud as the ruler of the gods when he shakes his aegis from out the lowering cloud. Athos replies, Haemus re-echoes; again and again shaken Rhodope repeats the hoarse uproar. Hebrus raised from out the wondering waters his horns hoary with frost, and bloodless Ister froze in fear. Then the god cast his javelin,[109]heavy with steel, and stiff with knotted shaft, a mighty weapon such as none other god could wield. The clouds part before its onset and give it free passage; through the air it speeds o’er seas and mountains by one mighty cast and comes to earth amid the plains of Phrygia. The ground felt the shock; Hermus blessed with Dionysus’ vines groaned thereat, Pactolus’ golden urn shuddered, all Dindymus bent his forest fleece and wept.

Bellona, too, hastens forth with speed no less than that of Mars’ whistling spear; a hundred ways of hurt she pondered and at last approached Tarbigilus,[110]fierce leader of the Getic squadron. It chanced he had but late returned with empty hands from a visit to Eutropius; disappointment and indignation aggravated his ferocity, and poverty, that can incite

[109]Alluding to the Roman custom of casting a spear as a sign of the declaration of war;cf. Ovid,Fasti, vi. 207—Hinc solet hasta manu belli praenuntia mittiIn regem et gentes cum placet arma capi.

[109]Alluding to the Roman custom of casting a spear as a sign of the declaration of war;cf. Ovid,Fasti, vi. 207—

Hinc solet hasta manu belli praenuntia mittiIn regem et gentes cum placet arma capi.

Hinc solet hasta manu belli praenuntia mitti

In regem et gentes cum placet arma capi.

[110]Tarbigilus seems to have belonged to the nation of the Gruthungi. The exact form of his name is a matter of uncertainty. TheMSS.vary: Zosimus (v. 13. 2) calls him Τριβίγιλδος. His revolt in Phrygia (cf.ll. 274, etc.) took place in 399.

[198]ingeniis, Scythicum pectus flammabat egestas.180huic sese vultu simulatae coniugis offertmentitoque ferox incedit barbara gressu,carbaseos induta sinus: post terga reductasuberibus propior mordebat fibula vestes,inque orbem tereti mitra retinente capillum185strinxerat et virides flavescere iusserat angues.advolat ac niveis reducem complectitur ulnisinfunditque animo furiale per oscula virus.principe quam largo veniat, quas inde reportetdivitias, astu rabiem motura requirit.190ille iter ingratum, vanos deflere labores,quos super eunuchi fastus, quae probra tulisset.continuo secat ungue genas et tempore panditadrepto gemitus:“I nunc, devotus aratrisscinde solum positoque tuos mucrone sodales195ad rastros sudare doce. bene rura Gruthungusexcolet et certo disponet sidere vites.felices aliae, quas debellata maritisoppida, quas magnis quaesitae viribus ornantexuviae, quibus Argivae pulchraeque ministrant200Thessalides, famulas et quae meruere Lacaenas.me nimium timido, nimium iunxere remissofata viro, totum qui degener exuit Histrum,qui refugit patriae ritus, quem detinet aequigloria concessoque cupit vixisse colonus205quam dominus rapto. quid pulchra vocabula pigris[199]the gentlest heart to crime, inflamed his savage breast. Taking upon her the similitude of his wife she comes to meet him; proudly she steps forth like the barbarian queen, clothed in linen raiment. Close to her breast a brooch fastened her dress that trailed behind her; she had bound her locks into a coil that a polished circlet confined, and bidden her green snakes turn to gold. She hastens to greet him on his return and throws her snowy arms about his neck, instilling the poison of the furies into his soul by her kisses. Guilefully to stir his rage she asks if the great man has been generous to him; if he brings back rich presents. With tears he recounts his profitless journey, his useless toil, the pride and insults, moreover, which he had to bear at the eunuch’s hands. At once she seized the favourable moment, and tearing her cheek with her nails, discloses her complaints.“Go then, busy thyself with the plough, cleave the soil, bid thy followers lay aside their swords and sweat o’er the harrow. The Gruthungi will make good farmers and will plant their vines in due season. Happy those other women whose glory is seen in the towns their husbands have conquered, they whose adornment is the spoils so hardly won from an enemy, whose servants are fair captives of Argos or Thessaly, and who have won them slaves from Sparta. Fate has mated me with too timid, too indolent a husband, a degenerate who has forgotten the valour of Ister’s tribes, who deserts his country’s ways, whom a vain reputation for justice attracts, while he longs to live as a husbandman by favour rather than as a prince by plunder. Why give fair names to shameful weakness?

[198]

ingeniis, Scythicum pectus flammabat egestas.180huic sese vultu simulatae coniugis offertmentitoque ferox incedit barbara gressu,carbaseos induta sinus: post terga reductasuberibus propior mordebat fibula vestes,inque orbem tereti mitra retinente capillum185strinxerat et virides flavescere iusserat angues.advolat ac niveis reducem complectitur ulnisinfunditque animo furiale per oscula virus.principe quam largo veniat, quas inde reportetdivitias, astu rabiem motura requirit.190ille iter ingratum, vanos deflere labores,quos super eunuchi fastus, quae probra tulisset.continuo secat ungue genas et tempore panditadrepto gemitus:“I nunc, devotus aratrisscinde solum positoque tuos mucrone sodales195ad rastros sudare doce. bene rura Gruthungusexcolet et certo disponet sidere vites.felices aliae, quas debellata maritisoppida, quas magnis quaesitae viribus ornantexuviae, quibus Argivae pulchraeque ministrant200Thessalides, famulas et quae meruere Lacaenas.me nimium timido, nimium iunxere remissofata viro, totum qui degener exuit Histrum,qui refugit patriae ritus, quem detinet aequigloria concessoque cupit vixisse colonus205quam dominus rapto. quid pulchra vocabula pigris

ingeniis, Scythicum pectus flammabat egestas.180

huic sese vultu simulatae coniugis offert

mentitoque ferox incedit barbara gressu,

carbaseos induta sinus: post terga reductas

uberibus propior mordebat fibula vestes,

inque orbem tereti mitra retinente capillum185

strinxerat et virides flavescere iusserat angues.

advolat ac niveis reducem complectitur ulnis

infunditque animo furiale per oscula virus.

principe quam largo veniat, quas inde reportet

divitias, astu rabiem motura requirit.190

ille iter ingratum, vanos deflere labores,

quos super eunuchi fastus, quae probra tulisset.

continuo secat ungue genas et tempore pandit

adrepto gemitus:

“I nunc, devotus aratris

scinde solum positoque tuos mucrone sodales195

ad rastros sudare doce. bene rura Gruthungus

excolet et certo disponet sidere vites.

felices aliae, quas debellata maritis

oppida, quas magnis quaesitae viribus ornant

exuviae, quibus Argivae pulchraeque ministrant200

Thessalides, famulas et quae meruere Lacaenas.

me nimium timido, nimium iunxere remisso

fata viro, totum qui degener exuit Histrum,

qui refugit patriae ritus, quem detinet aequi

gloria concessoque cupit vixisse colonus205

quam dominus rapto. quid pulchra vocabula pigris

[199]the gentlest heart to crime, inflamed his savage breast. Taking upon her the similitude of his wife she comes to meet him; proudly she steps forth like the barbarian queen, clothed in linen raiment. Close to her breast a brooch fastened her dress that trailed behind her; she had bound her locks into a coil that a polished circlet confined, and bidden her green snakes turn to gold. She hastens to greet him on his return and throws her snowy arms about his neck, instilling the poison of the furies into his soul by her kisses. Guilefully to stir his rage she asks if the great man has been generous to him; if he brings back rich presents. With tears he recounts his profitless journey, his useless toil, the pride and insults, moreover, which he had to bear at the eunuch’s hands. At once she seized the favourable moment, and tearing her cheek with her nails, discloses her complaints.“Go then, busy thyself with the plough, cleave the soil, bid thy followers lay aside their swords and sweat o’er the harrow. The Gruthungi will make good farmers and will plant their vines in due season. Happy those other women whose glory is seen in the towns their husbands have conquered, they whose adornment is the spoils so hardly won from an enemy, whose servants are fair captives of Argos or Thessaly, and who have won them slaves from Sparta. Fate has mated me with too timid, too indolent a husband, a degenerate who has forgotten the valour of Ister’s tribes, who deserts his country’s ways, whom a vain reputation for justice attracts, while he longs to live as a husbandman by favour rather than as a prince by plunder. Why give fair names to shameful weakness?

[199]

the gentlest heart to crime, inflamed his savage breast. Taking upon her the similitude of his wife she comes to meet him; proudly she steps forth like the barbarian queen, clothed in linen raiment. Close to her breast a brooch fastened her dress that trailed behind her; she had bound her locks into a coil that a polished circlet confined, and bidden her green snakes turn to gold. She hastens to greet him on his return and throws her snowy arms about his neck, instilling the poison of the furies into his soul by her kisses. Guilefully to stir his rage she asks if the great man has been generous to him; if he brings back rich presents. With tears he recounts his profitless journey, his useless toil, the pride and insults, moreover, which he had to bear at the eunuch’s hands. At once she seized the favourable moment, and tearing her cheek with her nails, discloses her complaints.

“Go then, busy thyself with the plough, cleave the soil, bid thy followers lay aside their swords and sweat o’er the harrow. The Gruthungi will make good farmers and will plant their vines in due season. Happy those other women whose glory is seen in the towns their husbands have conquered, they whose adornment is the spoils so hardly won from an enemy, whose servants are fair captives of Argos or Thessaly, and who have won them slaves from Sparta. Fate has mated me with too timid, too indolent a husband, a degenerate who has forgotten the valour of Ister’s tribes, who deserts his country’s ways, whom a vain reputation for justice attracts, while he longs to live as a husbandman by favour rather than as a prince by plunder. Why give fair names to shameful weakness?

[200]praetentas vitiis? probitatis inertia nomen,iustitiae formido subit. tolerabis iniquampauperiem, cum tela geras? et flebis inultus,cum pateant tantae nullis custodibus urbes?210“Quippe metus poenae. pridem mos ille vigebat,ut meritos colerent impacatisque rebellesurgerent odiis; at nunc, qui foedera rumpit,ditatur; qui servat, eget. vastator Achivaegentis et Epirum nuper populates inultam215praesidet Illyrico; iam, quos obsedit, amicosingreditur muros illis responsa daturus,quorum coniugibus potitur natosque peremit.sic hostes punire solent, haec praemia solvuntexcidiis. cunctaris adhuc numerumque tuorum220respicis exiguamque manum? tu rumpe quietem;bella dabunt socios. nec te tam prona monerem,si contra paterere viros: nunc alter in armissexus et eunuchis se defensoribus orbiscredidit; hos aquilae Romanaque signa sequuntur.incipe barbaricae tandem te reddere vitae,226te quoque iam timeant admirenturque nocentem,quem sprevere pium. spoliis praedaque repletuscum libeat Romanus eris.”Sic fata repentein diram se vertit avem rostroque recurvo230turpis et infernis tenebris obscurior alasauspicium veteri sedit ferale sepulcro.Ille, pavor postquam resoluto corde quievit[201]Cowardice is called loyalty; fear, a sense of justice. Wilt thou submit to humiliating poverty though thou bearest arms? Wilt thou weep unavenged, though so many cities open to thee their undefended gates?“Dost thou fear the consequences? Rome’s old way was to reward merit and vent on rebels a hate that knew no bound. Now he who breaks a treaty wins riches, while he who observes one lives in want. The ravager of Achaea and recent devastator of defenceless Epirus is lord of Illyria[111]; he now enters as a friend within the walls to which he was laying siege, and administers justice to those whose wives he has seduced and whose children he has murdered. Such is the punishment meted out to an enemy, such the vengeance exacted for wholesale slaughter—and dost thou still hesitate? Hast thou regard to the small numbers of thy followers? Nay, have done with peace: war will give thee allies. Nor would I urge thee so instantly hadst thou to face men. It is another sex that is in arms against thee; the world has entrusted itself to the protection of eunuchs; ’tis such leaders the eagles and standards of Rome follow. Time it is thou didst return to a barbarian life; be thou in thy turn an object of terror, and let men marvel at thy crimes who despised thy virtues. Laden with booty and plunder thou shalt be a Roman when it pleases thee.”So saying she suddenly changed into an ill-omened bird, a loathsome sight with its hooked beak and plumage blacker than Hell’s darkness, and perched, a sinister augury, on an old tomb.So soon as repose from terror came to his freed[111]Alaric was mademagister militumin Illyricum: see Introduction, p. x.

[200]

praetentas vitiis? probitatis inertia nomen,iustitiae formido subit. tolerabis iniquampauperiem, cum tela geras? et flebis inultus,cum pateant tantae nullis custodibus urbes?210“Quippe metus poenae. pridem mos ille vigebat,ut meritos colerent impacatisque rebellesurgerent odiis; at nunc, qui foedera rumpit,ditatur; qui servat, eget. vastator Achivaegentis et Epirum nuper populates inultam215praesidet Illyrico; iam, quos obsedit, amicosingreditur muros illis responsa daturus,quorum coniugibus potitur natosque peremit.sic hostes punire solent, haec praemia solvuntexcidiis. cunctaris adhuc numerumque tuorum220respicis exiguamque manum? tu rumpe quietem;bella dabunt socios. nec te tam prona monerem,si contra paterere viros: nunc alter in armissexus et eunuchis se defensoribus orbiscredidit; hos aquilae Romanaque signa sequuntur.incipe barbaricae tandem te reddere vitae,226te quoque iam timeant admirenturque nocentem,quem sprevere pium. spoliis praedaque repletuscum libeat Romanus eris.”Sic fata repentein diram se vertit avem rostroque recurvo230turpis et infernis tenebris obscurior alasauspicium veteri sedit ferale sepulcro.Ille, pavor postquam resoluto corde quievit

praetentas vitiis? probitatis inertia nomen,

iustitiae formido subit. tolerabis iniquam

pauperiem, cum tela geras? et flebis inultus,

cum pateant tantae nullis custodibus urbes?210

“Quippe metus poenae. pridem mos ille vigebat,

ut meritos colerent impacatisque rebelles

urgerent odiis; at nunc, qui foedera rumpit,

ditatur; qui servat, eget. vastator Achivae

gentis et Epirum nuper populates inultam215

praesidet Illyrico; iam, quos obsedit, amicos

ingreditur muros illis responsa daturus,

quorum coniugibus potitur natosque peremit.

sic hostes punire solent, haec praemia solvunt

excidiis. cunctaris adhuc numerumque tuorum220

respicis exiguamque manum? tu rumpe quietem;

bella dabunt socios. nec te tam prona monerem,

si contra paterere viros: nunc alter in armis

sexus et eunuchis se defensoribus orbis

credidit; hos aquilae Romanaque signa sequuntur.

incipe barbaricae tandem te reddere vitae,226

te quoque iam timeant admirenturque nocentem,

quem sprevere pium. spoliis praedaque repletus

cum libeat Romanus eris.”

Sic fata repente

in diram se vertit avem rostroque recurvo230

turpis et infernis tenebris obscurior alas

auspicium veteri sedit ferale sepulcro.

Ille, pavor postquam resoluto corde quievit

[201]Cowardice is called loyalty; fear, a sense of justice. Wilt thou submit to humiliating poverty though thou bearest arms? Wilt thou weep unavenged, though so many cities open to thee their undefended gates?“Dost thou fear the consequences? Rome’s old way was to reward merit and vent on rebels a hate that knew no bound. Now he who breaks a treaty wins riches, while he who observes one lives in want. The ravager of Achaea and recent devastator of defenceless Epirus is lord of Illyria[111]; he now enters as a friend within the walls to which he was laying siege, and administers justice to those whose wives he has seduced and whose children he has murdered. Such is the punishment meted out to an enemy, such the vengeance exacted for wholesale slaughter—and dost thou still hesitate? Hast thou regard to the small numbers of thy followers? Nay, have done with peace: war will give thee allies. Nor would I urge thee so instantly hadst thou to face men. It is another sex that is in arms against thee; the world has entrusted itself to the protection of eunuchs; ’tis such leaders the eagles and standards of Rome follow. Time it is thou didst return to a barbarian life; be thou in thy turn an object of terror, and let men marvel at thy crimes who despised thy virtues. Laden with booty and plunder thou shalt be a Roman when it pleases thee.”So saying she suddenly changed into an ill-omened bird, a loathsome sight with its hooked beak and plumage blacker than Hell’s darkness, and perched, a sinister augury, on an old tomb.So soon as repose from terror came to his freed[111]Alaric was mademagister militumin Illyricum: see Introduction, p. x.

[201]

Cowardice is called loyalty; fear, a sense of justice. Wilt thou submit to humiliating poverty though thou bearest arms? Wilt thou weep unavenged, though so many cities open to thee their undefended gates?

“Dost thou fear the consequences? Rome’s old way was to reward merit and vent on rebels a hate that knew no bound. Now he who breaks a treaty wins riches, while he who observes one lives in want. The ravager of Achaea and recent devastator of defenceless Epirus is lord of Illyria[111]; he now enters as a friend within the walls to which he was laying siege, and administers justice to those whose wives he has seduced and whose children he has murdered. Such is the punishment meted out to an enemy, such the vengeance exacted for wholesale slaughter—and dost thou still hesitate? Hast thou regard to the small numbers of thy followers? Nay, have done with peace: war will give thee allies. Nor would I urge thee so instantly hadst thou to face men. It is another sex that is in arms against thee; the world has entrusted itself to the protection of eunuchs; ’tis such leaders the eagles and standards of Rome follow. Time it is thou didst return to a barbarian life; be thou in thy turn an object of terror, and let men marvel at thy crimes who despised thy virtues. Laden with booty and plunder thou shalt be a Roman when it pleases thee.”

So saying she suddenly changed into an ill-omened bird, a loathsome sight with its hooked beak and plumage blacker than Hell’s darkness, and perched, a sinister augury, on an old tomb.

So soon as repose from terror came to his freed

[111]Alaric was mademagister militumin Illyricum: see Introduction, p. x.

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