IN RUFINUM LIBER SECUNDUS

[52]Iustitiam diroque prior sic ore lacessit:“en tibi prisca quies renovataque saecula rursus,ut rebare, vigent? en nostra potentia cessitnec locus est usquam Furiis? huc lumina flecte.adspice barbaricis iaceant quot moenia flammis,360quas mihi Rufinus strages quantumque cruorispraebeat et quantis epulentur caedibus hydri.linque homines sortemque meam, pete sidera; notisAutumni te redde plagis, qua vergit in AustrumSignifer; aestivo sedes vicina Leoni365iam pridem gelidaeque vacant confinia Librae.atque utinam per magna sequi convexa liceret!”Diva refert: “non ulterius bacchabere demens.iam poenas tuus iste dabit, iam debitus ultorinminet, et, terras qui nunc ipsumque fatigat370aethera, non vili moriens condetur harena.iamque aderit laeto promissus Honorius aevonec forti genitore minor nec fratre corusco,qui subiget Medos, qui cuspide proteret Indos.sub iuga venturi reges; calcabitur asper375Phasis equo pontemque pati cogetur Araxes,tuque simul gravibus ferri religata catenisexpellere die debellatasque draconumtonsa comas imo barathri claudere recessu.tum tellus communis erit, tum limite nullo380[53]calamity, comes upon Justice sad at heart in her palace, and thus provokes her with horrid utterance: “Is this that old reign of peace; this the return of that golden age thou fondly hopedst had come to pass? Is our power gone, and no place now left for the Furies? Turn thine eyes this way. See how many cities the barbarians’ fires have laid low, how vast a slaughter, how much blood Rufinus hath procured for me, and on what widespread death my serpents gorge themselves. Leave thou the world of men; that lot is mine. Mount to the stars, return to that well-known tract of Autumn sky where the Standard-bearer dips towards the south. The space next to the summer constellation of the Lion, the neighbourhood of the winter Balance has long been empty. And would I could now follow thee through the dome of heaven.”The goddess made answer: “Thou shalt rage no further, mad that thou art. Now shall thy creature receive his due, the destined avenger hangs over him, and he who now wearies land and the very sky shall die, though no handful of dust shall cover his corpse. Soon shall come Honorius, promised of old to this fortunate age, brave as his father Theodosius, brilliant as his brother Arcadius; he shall subdue the Medes and overthrow the Indians with his spear. Kings shall pass under his yoke, frozen Phasis shall bear his horses’ hooves, and Araxes submit perforce to be bridged by him. Then too shalt thou be bound with heavy chains of iron and cast out from the light of day and imprisoned in the nethermost pit, thy snaky locks overcome and shorn from thy head. Then the world shall be owned by all in common, no field marked off from another

[52]

Iustitiam diroque prior sic ore lacessit:“en tibi prisca quies renovataque saecula rursus,ut rebare, vigent? en nostra potentia cessitnec locus est usquam Furiis? huc lumina flecte.adspice barbaricis iaceant quot moenia flammis,360quas mihi Rufinus strages quantumque cruorispraebeat et quantis epulentur caedibus hydri.linque homines sortemque meam, pete sidera; notisAutumni te redde plagis, qua vergit in AustrumSignifer; aestivo sedes vicina Leoni365iam pridem gelidaeque vacant confinia Librae.atque utinam per magna sequi convexa liceret!”Diva refert: “non ulterius bacchabere demens.iam poenas tuus iste dabit, iam debitus ultorinminet, et, terras qui nunc ipsumque fatigat370aethera, non vili moriens condetur harena.iamque aderit laeto promissus Honorius aevonec forti genitore minor nec fratre corusco,qui subiget Medos, qui cuspide proteret Indos.sub iuga venturi reges; calcabitur asper375Phasis equo pontemque pati cogetur Araxes,tuque simul gravibus ferri religata catenisexpellere die debellatasque draconumtonsa comas imo barathri claudere recessu.tum tellus communis erit, tum limite nullo380

Iustitiam diroque prior sic ore lacessit:

“en tibi prisca quies renovataque saecula rursus,

ut rebare, vigent? en nostra potentia cessit

nec locus est usquam Furiis? huc lumina flecte.

adspice barbaricis iaceant quot moenia flammis,360

quas mihi Rufinus strages quantumque cruoris

praebeat et quantis epulentur caedibus hydri.

linque homines sortemque meam, pete sidera; notis

Autumni te redde plagis, qua vergit in Austrum

Signifer; aestivo sedes vicina Leoni365

iam pridem gelidaeque vacant confinia Librae.

atque utinam per magna sequi convexa liceret!”

Diva refert: “non ulterius bacchabere demens.

iam poenas tuus iste dabit, iam debitus ultor

inminet, et, terras qui nunc ipsumque fatigat370

aethera, non vili moriens condetur harena.

iamque aderit laeto promissus Honorius aevo

nec forti genitore minor nec fratre corusco,

qui subiget Medos, qui cuspide proteret Indos.

sub iuga venturi reges; calcabitur asper375

Phasis equo pontemque pati cogetur Araxes,

tuque simul gravibus ferri religata catenis

expellere die debellatasque draconum

tonsa comas imo barathri claudere recessu.

tum tellus communis erit, tum limite nullo380

[53]calamity, comes upon Justice sad at heart in her palace, and thus provokes her with horrid utterance: “Is this that old reign of peace; this the return of that golden age thou fondly hopedst had come to pass? Is our power gone, and no place now left for the Furies? Turn thine eyes this way. See how many cities the barbarians’ fires have laid low, how vast a slaughter, how much blood Rufinus hath procured for me, and on what widespread death my serpents gorge themselves. Leave thou the world of men; that lot is mine. Mount to the stars, return to that well-known tract of Autumn sky where the Standard-bearer dips towards the south. The space next to the summer constellation of the Lion, the neighbourhood of the winter Balance has long been empty. And would I could now follow thee through the dome of heaven.”The goddess made answer: “Thou shalt rage no further, mad that thou art. Now shall thy creature receive his due, the destined avenger hangs over him, and he who now wearies land and the very sky shall die, though no handful of dust shall cover his corpse. Soon shall come Honorius, promised of old to this fortunate age, brave as his father Theodosius, brilliant as his brother Arcadius; he shall subdue the Medes and overthrow the Indians with his spear. Kings shall pass under his yoke, frozen Phasis shall bear his horses’ hooves, and Araxes submit perforce to be bridged by him. Then too shalt thou be bound with heavy chains of iron and cast out from the light of day and imprisoned in the nethermost pit, thy snaky locks overcome and shorn from thy head. Then the world shall be owned by all in common, no field marked off from another

[53]

calamity, comes upon Justice sad at heart in her palace, and thus provokes her with horrid utterance: “Is this that old reign of peace; this the return of that golden age thou fondly hopedst had come to pass? Is our power gone, and no place now left for the Furies? Turn thine eyes this way. See how many cities the barbarians’ fires have laid low, how vast a slaughter, how much blood Rufinus hath procured for me, and on what widespread death my serpents gorge themselves. Leave thou the world of men; that lot is mine. Mount to the stars, return to that well-known tract of Autumn sky where the Standard-bearer dips towards the south. The space next to the summer constellation of the Lion, the neighbourhood of the winter Balance has long been empty. And would I could now follow thee through the dome of heaven.”

The goddess made answer: “Thou shalt rage no further, mad that thou art. Now shall thy creature receive his due, the destined avenger hangs over him, and he who now wearies land and the very sky shall die, though no handful of dust shall cover his corpse. Soon shall come Honorius, promised of old to this fortunate age, brave as his father Theodosius, brilliant as his brother Arcadius; he shall subdue the Medes and overthrow the Indians with his spear. Kings shall pass under his yoke, frozen Phasis shall bear his horses’ hooves, and Araxes submit perforce to be bridged by him. Then too shalt thou be bound with heavy chains of iron and cast out from the light of day and imprisoned in the nethermost pit, thy snaky locks overcome and shorn from thy head. Then the world shall be owned by all in common, no field marked off from another

[54]discernetur ager; nec vomere sulcus aduncofindetur: subitis messor gaudebit aristis.rorabunt querceta favis; stagnantia passimvina fluent oleique lacus; nec murice tinctisvelleribus quaeretur honos, sed sponte rubebunt385attonito pastore greges pontumque per omnemridebunt virides gemmis nascentibus algae.”[55]by any dividing boundary, no furrow cleft with bended ploughshare; for the husbandman shall rejoice in corn that springs untended. Oak groves shall drip with honey, streams of wine well up on every side, lakes of oil abound. No price shall be asked for fleeces dyed scarlet, but of themselves shall the flocks grow red to the astonishment of the shepherd, and in every sea the green seaweed will laugh with flashing jewels.”

[54]

discernetur ager; nec vomere sulcus aduncofindetur: subitis messor gaudebit aristis.rorabunt querceta favis; stagnantia passimvina fluent oleique lacus; nec murice tinctisvelleribus quaeretur honos, sed sponte rubebunt385attonito pastore greges pontumque per omnemridebunt virides gemmis nascentibus algae.”

discernetur ager; nec vomere sulcus adunco

findetur: subitis messor gaudebit aristis.

rorabunt querceta favis; stagnantia passim

vina fluent oleique lacus; nec murice tinctis

velleribus quaeretur honos, sed sponte rubebunt385

attonito pastore greges pontumque per omnem

ridebunt virides gemmis nascentibus algae.”

[55]by any dividing boundary, no furrow cleft with bended ploughshare; for the husbandman shall rejoice in corn that springs untended. Oak groves shall drip with honey, streams of wine well up on every side, lakes of oil abound. No price shall be asked for fleeces dyed scarlet, but of themselves shall the flocks grow red to the astonishment of the shepherd, and in every sea the green seaweed will laugh with flashing jewels.”

[55]

by any dividing boundary, no furrow cleft with bended ploughshare; for the husbandman shall rejoice in corn that springs untended. Oak groves shall drip with honey, streams of wine well up on every side, lakes of oil abound. No price shall be asked for fleeces dyed scarlet, but of themselves shall the flocks grow red to the astonishment of the shepherd, and in every sea the green seaweed will laugh with flashing jewels.”

[56]IN RUFINUM LIBER SECUNDUSINCIPIT PRAEFATIO(IV.)Pandite defensum reduces Helicona sorores,pandite; permissis iam licet ire choris:nulla per Aonios hostilis bucina camposcarmina mugitu deteriore vetat.tu quoque securis pulsa formidine Delphis5floribus ultorem, Delie, cinge tuum.nullus Castalios latices et praescia fatiflumina polluto barbarus ore bibit.Alpheus late rubuit Siculumque per aequorsanguineas belli rettulit unda notas10agnovitque novos absens Arethusa triumphoset Geticam sensit teste cruore necem.Inmensis, Stilicho, succedant otia curiset nostrae patiens corda remitte lyrae,nec pudeat longos interrupisse labores15et tenuem Musis constituisse moram.fertur et indomitus tandem post proelia Mavorslassa per Odrysias fundere membra nivesoblitusque sui posita clementior hastaPieriis aures pacificare modis.20[57]THE SECOND BOOK AGAINST RUFINUSPREFACE(IV.)Return, ye Muses, and throw open rescued Helicon; now again may your company gather there. Nowhere now in Italy does the hostile trumpet forbid song with its viler bray. Do thou too, Delian Apollo, now that Delphi is safe and fear has been dispelled, wreath thy avenger’s head with flowers. No savage foe sets profane lips to Castalia’s spring or those prophetic streams. Alpheus’[55]flood ran all his length red with slaughter and the waves bore the bloody marks of war across the Sicilian sea; whereby Arethusa, though herself not present, recognized the triumphs freshly won and knew of the slaughter of the Getae, to which that blood bore witness.Let peace, Stilicho, succeed these age-long labours and ease thine heart by graciously listening to my song. Think it no shame to interrupt thy long toil and to consecrate a few moments to the Muses. Even unwearying Mars is said to have stretched his tired limbs on the snowy Thracian plain when at last the battle was ended, and, unmindful of his wonted fierceness, to have laid aside his spear in gentler mood, soothing his ear with the Muses’ melody.[55]A reference to Stilicho’s campaign against Alaric in the Peloponnese in 397 (see Introduction, p. x).

[56]

(IV.)

Pandite defensum reduces Helicona sorores,pandite; permissis iam licet ire choris:nulla per Aonios hostilis bucina camposcarmina mugitu deteriore vetat.tu quoque securis pulsa formidine Delphis5floribus ultorem, Delie, cinge tuum.nullus Castalios latices et praescia fatiflumina polluto barbarus ore bibit.Alpheus late rubuit Siculumque per aequorsanguineas belli rettulit unda notas10agnovitque novos absens Arethusa triumphoset Geticam sensit teste cruore necem.Inmensis, Stilicho, succedant otia curiset nostrae patiens corda remitte lyrae,nec pudeat longos interrupisse labores15et tenuem Musis constituisse moram.fertur et indomitus tandem post proelia Mavorslassa per Odrysias fundere membra nivesoblitusque sui posita clementior hastaPieriis aures pacificare modis.20

Pandite defensum reduces Helicona sorores,

pandite; permissis iam licet ire choris:

nulla per Aonios hostilis bucina campos

carmina mugitu deteriore vetat.

tu quoque securis pulsa formidine Delphis5

floribus ultorem, Delie, cinge tuum.

nullus Castalios latices et praescia fati

flumina polluto barbarus ore bibit.

Alpheus late rubuit Siculumque per aequor

sanguineas belli rettulit unda notas10

agnovitque novos absens Arethusa triumphos

et Geticam sensit teste cruore necem.

Inmensis, Stilicho, succedant otia curiset nostrae patiens corda remitte lyrae,nec pudeat longos interrupisse labores15et tenuem Musis constituisse moram.fertur et indomitus tandem post proelia Mavorslassa per Odrysias fundere membra nivesoblitusque sui posita clementior hastaPieriis aures pacificare modis.20

Inmensis, Stilicho, succedant otia curis

et nostrae patiens corda remitte lyrae,

nec pudeat longos interrupisse labores15

et tenuem Musis constituisse moram.

fertur et indomitus tandem post proelia Mavors

lassa per Odrysias fundere membra nives

oblitusque sui posita clementior hasta

Pieriis aures pacificare modis.20

[57]THE SECOND BOOK AGAINST RUFINUSPREFACE(IV.)Return, ye Muses, and throw open rescued Helicon; now again may your company gather there. Nowhere now in Italy does the hostile trumpet forbid song with its viler bray. Do thou too, Delian Apollo, now that Delphi is safe and fear has been dispelled, wreath thy avenger’s head with flowers. No savage foe sets profane lips to Castalia’s spring or those prophetic streams. Alpheus’[55]flood ran all his length red with slaughter and the waves bore the bloody marks of war across the Sicilian sea; whereby Arethusa, though herself not present, recognized the triumphs freshly won and knew of the slaughter of the Getae, to which that blood bore witness.Let peace, Stilicho, succeed these age-long labours and ease thine heart by graciously listening to my song. Think it no shame to interrupt thy long toil and to consecrate a few moments to the Muses. Even unwearying Mars is said to have stretched his tired limbs on the snowy Thracian plain when at last the battle was ended, and, unmindful of his wonted fierceness, to have laid aside his spear in gentler mood, soothing his ear with the Muses’ melody.[55]A reference to Stilicho’s campaign against Alaric in the Peloponnese in 397 (see Introduction, p. x).

[57]

(IV.)

Return, ye Muses, and throw open rescued Helicon; now again may your company gather there. Nowhere now in Italy does the hostile trumpet forbid song with its viler bray. Do thou too, Delian Apollo, now that Delphi is safe and fear has been dispelled, wreath thy avenger’s head with flowers. No savage foe sets profane lips to Castalia’s spring or those prophetic streams. Alpheus’[55]flood ran all his length red with slaughter and the waves bore the bloody marks of war across the Sicilian sea; whereby Arethusa, though herself not present, recognized the triumphs freshly won and knew of the slaughter of the Getae, to which that blood bore witness.

Let peace, Stilicho, succeed these age-long labours and ease thine heart by graciously listening to my song. Think it no shame to interrupt thy long toil and to consecrate a few moments to the Muses. Even unwearying Mars is said to have stretched his tired limbs on the snowy Thracian plain when at last the battle was ended, and, unmindful of his wonted fierceness, to have laid aside his spear in gentler mood, soothing his ear with the Muses’ melody.

[55]A reference to Stilicho’s campaign against Alaric in the Peloponnese in 397 (see Introduction, p. x).

[58]LIBER II(V.)Iam post edomitas Alpes defensaque regnaHesperiae merita complexus sede parentemauctior adiecto fulgebat sidere mundus,iamque tuis, Stilicho, Romana potentia curiset rerum commissus apex, tibi credita fratrum5utraque maiestas geminaeque exercitus aulae.Rufinus (neque enim patiuntur saeva quietemcrimina pollutaeque negant arescere fauces)infandis iterum terras accendere bellisincohat et solito pacem vexare tumultu.10haec etiam secum: “quanam ratione tueborspem vitae fragilem? qua tot depellere fluctusarte queam? premor hinc odiis, hinc milite cingor.heu quid agam? non arma mihi, non principis ullusauxiliatur amor. matura pericula surgunt15undique et impositi radiant cervicibus enses.quid restat, nisi cuncta novo confundere luctuinsontesque meae populos miscere ruinae?everso iuvat orbe mori; solacia leto[59]BOOK II(V.)After the subjugation of the Alpine tribes and the salvation of the kingdoms of Italy the heavens welcomed the Emperor Theodosius[56]to the place of honour due to his worth, and so shone the brighter by the addition of another star. Then was the power of Rome entrusted to thy care, Stilicho; in thy hands was placed the governance of the world. The brothers’ twin majesty and the armies of either royal court were given into thy charge. But Rufinus (for cruelty and crime brook not peace, and a tainted mouth will not forgo its draughts of blood), Rufinus, I say, began once more to inflame the world with wicked wars and to disturb peace with accustomed sedition. Thus to himself: “How shall I assure my slender hopes of survival? By what means beat back the rising storm? On all sides are hate and the threat of arms. What am I to do? No help can I find in soldier’s weapon or emperor’s favour. Instant dangers ring me round and a gleaming sword hangs above my head. What is left but to plunge the world into fresh troubles and draw down innocent peoples in my ruin? Gladly will I perish if the world does too; general destruction shall console me for[56]Theodosius died in January 395, not long after his defeat of Eugenius at the Frigidus River (near Aquileia), September 5-6, 394 (see Introduction, p. ix).

[58]

(V.)

Iam post edomitas Alpes defensaque regnaHesperiae merita complexus sede parentemauctior adiecto fulgebat sidere mundus,iamque tuis, Stilicho, Romana potentia curiset rerum commissus apex, tibi credita fratrum5utraque maiestas geminaeque exercitus aulae.Rufinus (neque enim patiuntur saeva quietemcrimina pollutaeque negant arescere fauces)infandis iterum terras accendere bellisincohat et solito pacem vexare tumultu.10haec etiam secum: “quanam ratione tueborspem vitae fragilem? qua tot depellere fluctusarte queam? premor hinc odiis, hinc milite cingor.heu quid agam? non arma mihi, non principis ullusauxiliatur amor. matura pericula surgunt15undique et impositi radiant cervicibus enses.quid restat, nisi cuncta novo confundere luctuinsontesque meae populos miscere ruinae?everso iuvat orbe mori; solacia leto

Iam post edomitas Alpes defensaque regna

Hesperiae merita complexus sede parentem

auctior adiecto fulgebat sidere mundus,

iamque tuis, Stilicho, Romana potentia curis

et rerum commissus apex, tibi credita fratrum5

utraque maiestas geminaeque exercitus aulae.

Rufinus (neque enim patiuntur saeva quietem

crimina pollutaeque negant arescere fauces)

infandis iterum terras accendere bellis

incohat et solito pacem vexare tumultu.10

haec etiam secum: “quanam ratione tuebor

spem vitae fragilem? qua tot depellere fluctus

arte queam? premor hinc odiis, hinc milite cingor.

heu quid agam? non arma mihi, non principis ullus

auxiliatur amor. matura pericula surgunt15

undique et impositi radiant cervicibus enses.

quid restat, nisi cuncta novo confundere luctu

insontesque meae populos miscere ruinae?

everso iuvat orbe mori; solacia leto

[59]BOOK II(V.)After the subjugation of the Alpine tribes and the salvation of the kingdoms of Italy the heavens welcomed the Emperor Theodosius[56]to the place of honour due to his worth, and so shone the brighter by the addition of another star. Then was the power of Rome entrusted to thy care, Stilicho; in thy hands was placed the governance of the world. The brothers’ twin majesty and the armies of either royal court were given into thy charge. But Rufinus (for cruelty and crime brook not peace, and a tainted mouth will not forgo its draughts of blood), Rufinus, I say, began once more to inflame the world with wicked wars and to disturb peace with accustomed sedition. Thus to himself: “How shall I assure my slender hopes of survival? By what means beat back the rising storm? On all sides are hate and the threat of arms. What am I to do? No help can I find in soldier’s weapon or emperor’s favour. Instant dangers ring me round and a gleaming sword hangs above my head. What is left but to plunge the world into fresh troubles and draw down innocent peoples in my ruin? Gladly will I perish if the world does too; general destruction shall console me for[56]Theodosius died in January 395, not long after his defeat of Eugenius at the Frigidus River (near Aquileia), September 5-6, 394 (see Introduction, p. ix).

[59]

(V.)

After the subjugation of the Alpine tribes and the salvation of the kingdoms of Italy the heavens welcomed the Emperor Theodosius[56]to the place of honour due to his worth, and so shone the brighter by the addition of another star. Then was the power of Rome entrusted to thy care, Stilicho; in thy hands was placed the governance of the world. The brothers’ twin majesty and the armies of either royal court were given into thy charge. But Rufinus (for cruelty and crime brook not peace, and a tainted mouth will not forgo its draughts of blood), Rufinus, I say, began once more to inflame the world with wicked wars and to disturb peace with accustomed sedition. Thus to himself: “How shall I assure my slender hopes of survival? By what means beat back the rising storm? On all sides are hate and the threat of arms. What am I to do? No help can I find in soldier’s weapon or emperor’s favour. Instant dangers ring me round and a gleaming sword hangs above my head. What is left but to plunge the world into fresh troubles and draw down innocent peoples in my ruin? Gladly will I perish if the world does too; general destruction shall console me for

[56]Theodosius died in January 395, not long after his defeat of Eugenius at the Frigidus River (near Aquileia), September 5-6, 394 (see Introduction, p. ix).

[60]exitium commune dabit nec territus ante20discedam: cum luce simul linquenda potestas.”Haec fatus, ventis veluti si frena resolvatAeolus, abrupto gentes sic obice fuditlaxavitque viam bellis et, nequa maneretinmunis regio, cladem divisit in orbem25disposuitque nefas. alii per terga ferocisDanuvii solidata ruunt expertaque remosfrangunt stagna rotis; alii per Caspia claustraArmeniasque nives inopino tramite ductiinvadunt Orientis opes. iam pascua fumant30Cappadocum volucrumque parens Argaeus equorum,iam rubet altus Halys nec se defendit iniquomonte Cilix. Syriae tractus vastantur amoeniadsuetumque choris et laeta plebe canorumproterit imbellem sonipes hostilis Orontem.35hinc planctus Asiae; Geticis Europa catervisludibrio praedaeque datur frondentis ad usqueDalmatiae fines: omnis quae mobile Pontiaequor et Adriacas tellus interiacet undassqualet inops pecudum, nullis habitata colonis,40instar anhelantis Libyae, quae torrida sempersolibus humano nescit mansuescere cultu.Thessalus ardet ager; reticet pastore fugatoPelion; Emathias ignis populatur aristas.nam plaga Pannoniae miserandaque moenia Thracumarvaque Mysorum iam nulli flebile damnum,46sed cursus sollemnis erat campusque furoriexpositus, sensumque malis detraxerat usus.eheu quam brevibus pereunt ingentia fatis![61]mine own death, nor will I die (for I am no coward) till I have accomplished this. I will not lay down my power before my life.”So spake he, and as if Aeolus unchained the winds so he, breaking their bonds, let loose the nations, clearing the way for war; and, that no land should be free therefrom, apportioned ruin throughout the world, parcelling out destruction. Some pour across the frozen surface of swift-flowing Danube and break with the chariot wheel what erstwhile knew but the oar; others invade the wealthy East, led through the Caspian Gates and over the Armenian snows by a newly-discovered pass. The fields of Cappadocia reek with slaughter; Argaeus, father of swift horses, is laid waste. Halys’ deep waters run red and the Cilician cannot defend himself in his precipitous mountains. The pleasant plains of Syria are devastated, and the enemy’s cavalry thunders along the banks of Orontes, home hitherto of the dance and of a happy people’s song. Hence comes mourning to Asia, while Europe is left to be the sport and prey of Getic hordes even to the borders of fertile Dalmatia. All that tract of land lying between the stormy Euxine and the Adriatic is laid waste and plundered, no inhabitants dwell there; ’tis like torrid Africa whose sun-scorched plains never grow kindlier through human tillage. Thessaly is afire; Pelion silent, his shepherds put to flight; flames bring destruction on Macedonia’s crops. For Pannonia’s plain, the Thracians’ helpless cities, the fields of Mysia were ruined but now none wept; year by year came the invader, unsheltered was the countryside from havoc and custom had robbed suffering of its sting. Alas, in how swift ruin perish

[60]

exitium commune dabit nec territus ante20discedam: cum luce simul linquenda potestas.”Haec fatus, ventis veluti si frena resolvatAeolus, abrupto gentes sic obice fuditlaxavitque viam bellis et, nequa maneretinmunis regio, cladem divisit in orbem25disposuitque nefas. alii per terga ferocisDanuvii solidata ruunt expertaque remosfrangunt stagna rotis; alii per Caspia claustraArmeniasque nives inopino tramite ductiinvadunt Orientis opes. iam pascua fumant30Cappadocum volucrumque parens Argaeus equorum,iam rubet altus Halys nec se defendit iniquomonte Cilix. Syriae tractus vastantur amoeniadsuetumque choris et laeta plebe canorumproterit imbellem sonipes hostilis Orontem.35hinc planctus Asiae; Geticis Europa catervisludibrio praedaeque datur frondentis ad usqueDalmatiae fines: omnis quae mobile Pontiaequor et Adriacas tellus interiacet undassqualet inops pecudum, nullis habitata colonis,40instar anhelantis Libyae, quae torrida sempersolibus humano nescit mansuescere cultu.Thessalus ardet ager; reticet pastore fugatoPelion; Emathias ignis populatur aristas.nam plaga Pannoniae miserandaque moenia Thracumarvaque Mysorum iam nulli flebile damnum,46sed cursus sollemnis erat campusque furoriexpositus, sensumque malis detraxerat usus.eheu quam brevibus pereunt ingentia fatis!

exitium commune dabit nec territus ante20

discedam: cum luce simul linquenda potestas.”

Haec fatus, ventis veluti si frena resolvat

Aeolus, abrupto gentes sic obice fudit

laxavitque viam bellis et, nequa maneret

inmunis regio, cladem divisit in orbem25

disposuitque nefas. alii per terga ferocis

Danuvii solidata ruunt expertaque remos

frangunt stagna rotis; alii per Caspia claustra

Armeniasque nives inopino tramite ducti

invadunt Orientis opes. iam pascua fumant30

Cappadocum volucrumque parens Argaeus equorum,

iam rubet altus Halys nec se defendit iniquo

monte Cilix. Syriae tractus vastantur amoeni

adsuetumque choris et laeta plebe canorum

proterit imbellem sonipes hostilis Orontem.35

hinc planctus Asiae; Geticis Europa catervis

ludibrio praedaeque datur frondentis ad usque

Dalmatiae fines: omnis quae mobile Ponti

aequor et Adriacas tellus interiacet undas

squalet inops pecudum, nullis habitata colonis,40

instar anhelantis Libyae, quae torrida semper

solibus humano nescit mansuescere cultu.

Thessalus ardet ager; reticet pastore fugato

Pelion; Emathias ignis populatur aristas.

nam plaga Pannoniae miserandaque moenia Thracum

arvaque Mysorum iam nulli flebile damnum,46

sed cursus sollemnis erat campusque furori

expositus, sensumque malis detraxerat usus.

eheu quam brevibus pereunt ingentia fatis!

[61]mine own death, nor will I die (for I am no coward) till I have accomplished this. I will not lay down my power before my life.”So spake he, and as if Aeolus unchained the winds so he, breaking their bonds, let loose the nations, clearing the way for war; and, that no land should be free therefrom, apportioned ruin throughout the world, parcelling out destruction. Some pour across the frozen surface of swift-flowing Danube and break with the chariot wheel what erstwhile knew but the oar; others invade the wealthy East, led through the Caspian Gates and over the Armenian snows by a newly-discovered pass. The fields of Cappadocia reek with slaughter; Argaeus, father of swift horses, is laid waste. Halys’ deep waters run red and the Cilician cannot defend himself in his precipitous mountains. The pleasant plains of Syria are devastated, and the enemy’s cavalry thunders along the banks of Orontes, home hitherto of the dance and of a happy people’s song. Hence comes mourning to Asia, while Europe is left to be the sport and prey of Getic hordes even to the borders of fertile Dalmatia. All that tract of land lying between the stormy Euxine and the Adriatic is laid waste and plundered, no inhabitants dwell there; ’tis like torrid Africa whose sun-scorched plains never grow kindlier through human tillage. Thessaly is afire; Pelion silent, his shepherds put to flight; flames bring destruction on Macedonia’s crops. For Pannonia’s plain, the Thracians’ helpless cities, the fields of Mysia were ruined but now none wept; year by year came the invader, unsheltered was the countryside from havoc and custom had robbed suffering of its sting. Alas, in how swift ruin perish

[61]

mine own death, nor will I die (for I am no coward) till I have accomplished this. I will not lay down my power before my life.”

So spake he, and as if Aeolus unchained the winds so he, breaking their bonds, let loose the nations, clearing the way for war; and, that no land should be free therefrom, apportioned ruin throughout the world, parcelling out destruction. Some pour across the frozen surface of swift-flowing Danube and break with the chariot wheel what erstwhile knew but the oar; others invade the wealthy East, led through the Caspian Gates and over the Armenian snows by a newly-discovered pass. The fields of Cappadocia reek with slaughter; Argaeus, father of swift horses, is laid waste. Halys’ deep waters run red and the Cilician cannot defend himself in his precipitous mountains. The pleasant plains of Syria are devastated, and the enemy’s cavalry thunders along the banks of Orontes, home hitherto of the dance and of a happy people’s song. Hence comes mourning to Asia, while Europe is left to be the sport and prey of Getic hordes even to the borders of fertile Dalmatia. All that tract of land lying between the stormy Euxine and the Adriatic is laid waste and plundered, no inhabitants dwell there; ’tis like torrid Africa whose sun-scorched plains never grow kindlier through human tillage. Thessaly is afire; Pelion silent, his shepherds put to flight; flames bring destruction on Macedonia’s crops. For Pannonia’s plain, the Thracians’ helpless cities, the fields of Mysia were ruined but now none wept; year by year came the invader, unsheltered was the countryside from havoc and custom had robbed suffering of its sting. Alas, in how swift ruin perish

[62]imperium tanto quaesitum sanguine, tanto50servatum, quod mille ducum peperere labores,quod tantis Romana manus contexuit annis,proditor unus iners angusto tempore vertit.Urbs etiam, magnae quae ducitur aemula Romaeet Calchedonias contra despectat harenas,55iam non finitimo Martis terrore movetur,sed propius lucere faces et rauca sonarecornua vibratisque peti fastigia telisadspicit. hi vigili muros statione tueri,hi iunctis properant portus munire carinis.60obsessa tamen ille ferus laetatur in urbeexultatque malis summaeque ex culmine turrisimpia vicini cernit spectacula campi:vinctas ire nurus, nunc in vada proxima mergiseminecem, hunc subito percussum vulnere labi65dum fugit, hunc animam portis efflare sub ipsis;nec canos prodesse seni puerique cruorematernos undare sinus. inmensa voluptaset risus plerumque subit; dolor afficit unus,quod feriat non ipse manu. videt omnia late70exceptis incensa suis et crimine tantoluxuriat carumque sibi non abnuit hostem;iactabatque ultro, quod soli castra paterentsermonumque foret vicibus permissa potestas.egregii quotiens exisset foederis auctor,75stipatur sociis, circumque armata clientum[63]even the greatest things! An empire won and kept at the expense of so much bloodshed, born from the toils of countless leaders, knit together through so many years by Roman hands, one coward traitor overthrew in the twinkling of an eye.That city,[57]too, called of men the rival of great Rome, that looks across to Chalcedon’s strand, is stricken now with terror at no neighbouring war; nearer home it observes the flash of torches, the trumpet’s call, and its own roofs the target for an enemy’s artillery. Some guard the walls with watchful outposts, others hasten to fortify the harbour with a chain of ships. But fierce Rufinus is full of joy in the leaguered city and exults in its misfortunes, gazing at the awful spectacle of the surrounding country from the summit of a lofty tower. He watches the procession of women in chains, sees one poor half-dead wretch drowned in the water hard by, another, stricken as he fled, sink down beneath the sudden wound, another breathe out his life at the tower’s very gates; he rejoices that no respect is shown to grey hairs and that mother’s breasts are drenched with their children’s blood. Great is his pleasure thereat; from time to time he laughs and knows but one regret—that it is not his own hand that strikes. He sees the whole countryside (except for his own lands) ablaze, and has joy of his great wickedness, making no secret of the fact that the city’s foes are his friends. It is his boast, moreover, that to him alone the enemy camp opened its gates, and that there was allowed right of parley between them. Whene’er he issued forth to arrange some wondrous truce his companions thronged him round and an armed band of dependents[57]Constantinople.

[62]

imperium tanto quaesitum sanguine, tanto50servatum, quod mille ducum peperere labores,quod tantis Romana manus contexuit annis,proditor unus iners angusto tempore vertit.Urbs etiam, magnae quae ducitur aemula Romaeet Calchedonias contra despectat harenas,55iam non finitimo Martis terrore movetur,sed propius lucere faces et rauca sonarecornua vibratisque peti fastigia telisadspicit. hi vigili muros statione tueri,hi iunctis properant portus munire carinis.60obsessa tamen ille ferus laetatur in urbeexultatque malis summaeque ex culmine turrisimpia vicini cernit spectacula campi:vinctas ire nurus, nunc in vada proxima mergiseminecem, hunc subito percussum vulnere labi65dum fugit, hunc animam portis efflare sub ipsis;nec canos prodesse seni puerique cruorematernos undare sinus. inmensa voluptaset risus plerumque subit; dolor afficit unus,quod feriat non ipse manu. videt omnia late70exceptis incensa suis et crimine tantoluxuriat carumque sibi non abnuit hostem;iactabatque ultro, quod soli castra paterentsermonumque foret vicibus permissa potestas.egregii quotiens exisset foederis auctor,75stipatur sociis, circumque armata clientum

imperium tanto quaesitum sanguine, tanto50

servatum, quod mille ducum peperere labores,

quod tantis Romana manus contexuit annis,

proditor unus iners angusto tempore vertit.

Urbs etiam, magnae quae ducitur aemula Romae

et Calchedonias contra despectat harenas,55

iam non finitimo Martis terrore movetur,

sed propius lucere faces et rauca sonare

cornua vibratisque peti fastigia telis

adspicit. hi vigili muros statione tueri,

hi iunctis properant portus munire carinis.60

obsessa tamen ille ferus laetatur in urbe

exultatque malis summaeque ex culmine turris

impia vicini cernit spectacula campi:

vinctas ire nurus, nunc in vada proxima mergi

seminecem, hunc subito percussum vulnere labi65

dum fugit, hunc animam portis efflare sub ipsis;

nec canos prodesse seni puerique cruore

maternos undare sinus. inmensa voluptas

et risus plerumque subit; dolor afficit unus,

quod feriat non ipse manu. videt omnia late70

exceptis incensa suis et crimine tanto

luxuriat carumque sibi non abnuit hostem;

iactabatque ultro, quod soli castra paterent

sermonumque foret vicibus permissa potestas.

egregii quotiens exisset foederis auctor,75

stipatur sociis, circumque armata clientum

[63]even the greatest things! An empire won and kept at the expense of so much bloodshed, born from the toils of countless leaders, knit together through so many years by Roman hands, one coward traitor overthrew in the twinkling of an eye.That city,[57]too, called of men the rival of great Rome, that looks across to Chalcedon’s strand, is stricken now with terror at no neighbouring war; nearer home it observes the flash of torches, the trumpet’s call, and its own roofs the target for an enemy’s artillery. Some guard the walls with watchful outposts, others hasten to fortify the harbour with a chain of ships. But fierce Rufinus is full of joy in the leaguered city and exults in its misfortunes, gazing at the awful spectacle of the surrounding country from the summit of a lofty tower. He watches the procession of women in chains, sees one poor half-dead wretch drowned in the water hard by, another, stricken as he fled, sink down beneath the sudden wound, another breathe out his life at the tower’s very gates; he rejoices that no respect is shown to grey hairs and that mother’s breasts are drenched with their children’s blood. Great is his pleasure thereat; from time to time he laughs and knows but one regret—that it is not his own hand that strikes. He sees the whole countryside (except for his own lands) ablaze, and has joy of his great wickedness, making no secret of the fact that the city’s foes are his friends. It is his boast, moreover, that to him alone the enemy camp opened its gates, and that there was allowed right of parley between them. Whene’er he issued forth to arrange some wondrous truce his companions thronged him round and an armed band of dependents[57]Constantinople.

[63]

even the greatest things! An empire won and kept at the expense of so much bloodshed, born from the toils of countless leaders, knit together through so many years by Roman hands, one coward traitor overthrew in the twinkling of an eye.

That city,[57]too, called of men the rival of great Rome, that looks across to Chalcedon’s strand, is stricken now with terror at no neighbouring war; nearer home it observes the flash of torches, the trumpet’s call, and its own roofs the target for an enemy’s artillery. Some guard the walls with watchful outposts, others hasten to fortify the harbour with a chain of ships. But fierce Rufinus is full of joy in the leaguered city and exults in its misfortunes, gazing at the awful spectacle of the surrounding country from the summit of a lofty tower. He watches the procession of women in chains, sees one poor half-dead wretch drowned in the water hard by, another, stricken as he fled, sink down beneath the sudden wound, another breathe out his life at the tower’s very gates; he rejoices that no respect is shown to grey hairs and that mother’s breasts are drenched with their children’s blood. Great is his pleasure thereat; from time to time he laughs and knows but one regret—that it is not his own hand that strikes. He sees the whole countryside (except for his own lands) ablaze, and has joy of his great wickedness, making no secret of the fact that the city’s foes are his friends. It is his boast, moreover, that to him alone the enemy camp opened its gates, and that there was allowed right of parley between them. Whene’er he issued forth to arrange some wondrous truce his companions thronged him round and an armed band of dependents

[57]Constantinople.

[64]agmina privatis ibant famulantia signis;ipse inter medios, ne qua de parte relinquatbarbariem, revocat fulvas in pectora pellesfrenaque et inmanes pharetras arcusque sonoros80adsimulat mentemque palam proclamat amictu,nec pudet Ausonios currus et iura regentemsumere deformes ritus vestemque Getarum;insignemque habitum Latii mutare coactaemaerent captivae pellito iudice leges.85Quis populi tum vultus erat! quae murmura furtim!(nam miseris ne flere quidem aut lenire doloremcolloquiis impune licet): “quonam usque feremusexitiale iugum? durae quis terminus umquamsortis erit? quis nos funesto turbine rerum90aut tantis solvet lacrimis, quos barbarus illinc,hinc Rufinus agit, quibus arva fretumque negatur?magna quidem per rura lues, sed maior oberratintra tecta timor. tandem succurre ruentiheu patriae, Stilicho! dilecta hic pignora certe,95hic domus, hic thalamis primum genialibus omen,hic tibi felices erexit regia taedas.vel solus sperate veni. te proelia visolanguescent avidique cadet dementia monstri.”Talibus urgetur discors Aurora procellis.100at Stilicho, Zephyris cum primum bruma remittiet iuga diffusis nudari coepta pruinis,partibus Italiae tuta sub pace relictisutraque castra movens Phoebi properabat ad ortus,[65]danced attendance on a civilian’s standards. Rufinus himself in their midst drapes tawny skins of beasts about his breast (thorough in his barbarity), and uses harness and huge quivers and twanging bows like those of the Getae—his dress openly showing the temper of his mind. One who drives a consul’s chariot and enjoys a consul’s powers has no shame to adopt the manners and dress of barbarians; Roman law, obliged to change her noble garment, mourns her slavery to a skin-clad judge.What looks then on men’s faces! What furtive murmurs! For, poor wretches, they could not even weep nor, without risk, ease their grief in converse. “How long shall we bear this deadly yoke? What end shall there ever be to our hard lot? Who will free us from this death-fraught anarchy, this day of tears? On this side the barbarian hems us in, on that Rufinus oppresses us; land and sea are alike denied us. A pestilence stalks through the country: yes, but a deadlier terror haunts our houses. Stilicho, delay no more but succour thy dying land; of a truth here are thy children, here thy home, here were taken those first auspices for thy marriage, so blessed with children, here the palace was illumined with the torches of happy wedlock. Nay, come even though alone, thou for whom we long; wars will perish at thy sight and the ravening monster’s rage subside.”Such were the tempests that vexed the turbulent East. But so soon as ever winter had given place to the winds of spring and the hills began to lose their covering of snow, Stilicho, leaving the fields of Italy in peace and safety, set in motion his two armies and hastened to the lands of the sunrise, combining

[64]

agmina privatis ibant famulantia signis;ipse inter medios, ne qua de parte relinquatbarbariem, revocat fulvas in pectora pellesfrenaque et inmanes pharetras arcusque sonoros80adsimulat mentemque palam proclamat amictu,nec pudet Ausonios currus et iura regentemsumere deformes ritus vestemque Getarum;insignemque habitum Latii mutare coactaemaerent captivae pellito iudice leges.85Quis populi tum vultus erat! quae murmura furtim!(nam miseris ne flere quidem aut lenire doloremcolloquiis impune licet): “quonam usque feremusexitiale iugum? durae quis terminus umquamsortis erit? quis nos funesto turbine rerum90aut tantis solvet lacrimis, quos barbarus illinc,hinc Rufinus agit, quibus arva fretumque negatur?magna quidem per rura lues, sed maior oberratintra tecta timor. tandem succurre ruentiheu patriae, Stilicho! dilecta hic pignora certe,95hic domus, hic thalamis primum genialibus omen,hic tibi felices erexit regia taedas.vel solus sperate veni. te proelia visolanguescent avidique cadet dementia monstri.”Talibus urgetur discors Aurora procellis.100at Stilicho, Zephyris cum primum bruma remittiet iuga diffusis nudari coepta pruinis,partibus Italiae tuta sub pace relictisutraque castra movens Phoebi properabat ad ortus,

agmina privatis ibant famulantia signis;

ipse inter medios, ne qua de parte relinquat

barbariem, revocat fulvas in pectora pelles

frenaque et inmanes pharetras arcusque sonoros80

adsimulat mentemque palam proclamat amictu,

nec pudet Ausonios currus et iura regentem

sumere deformes ritus vestemque Getarum;

insignemque habitum Latii mutare coactae

maerent captivae pellito iudice leges.85

Quis populi tum vultus erat! quae murmura furtim!

(nam miseris ne flere quidem aut lenire dolorem

colloquiis impune licet): “quonam usque feremus

exitiale iugum? durae quis terminus umquam

sortis erit? quis nos funesto turbine rerum90

aut tantis solvet lacrimis, quos barbarus illinc,

hinc Rufinus agit, quibus arva fretumque negatur?

magna quidem per rura lues, sed maior oberrat

intra tecta timor. tandem succurre ruenti

heu patriae, Stilicho! dilecta hic pignora certe,95

hic domus, hic thalamis primum genialibus omen,

hic tibi felices erexit regia taedas.

vel solus sperate veni. te proelia viso

languescent avidique cadet dementia monstri.”

Talibus urgetur discors Aurora procellis.100

at Stilicho, Zephyris cum primum bruma remitti

et iuga diffusis nudari coepta pruinis,

partibus Italiae tuta sub pace relictis

utraque castra movens Phoebi properabat ad ortus,

[65]danced attendance on a civilian’s standards. Rufinus himself in their midst drapes tawny skins of beasts about his breast (thorough in his barbarity), and uses harness and huge quivers and twanging bows like those of the Getae—his dress openly showing the temper of his mind. One who drives a consul’s chariot and enjoys a consul’s powers has no shame to adopt the manners and dress of barbarians; Roman law, obliged to change her noble garment, mourns her slavery to a skin-clad judge.What looks then on men’s faces! What furtive murmurs! For, poor wretches, they could not even weep nor, without risk, ease their grief in converse. “How long shall we bear this deadly yoke? What end shall there ever be to our hard lot? Who will free us from this death-fraught anarchy, this day of tears? On this side the barbarian hems us in, on that Rufinus oppresses us; land and sea are alike denied us. A pestilence stalks through the country: yes, but a deadlier terror haunts our houses. Stilicho, delay no more but succour thy dying land; of a truth here are thy children, here thy home, here were taken those first auspices for thy marriage, so blessed with children, here the palace was illumined with the torches of happy wedlock. Nay, come even though alone, thou for whom we long; wars will perish at thy sight and the ravening monster’s rage subside.”Such were the tempests that vexed the turbulent East. But so soon as ever winter had given place to the winds of spring and the hills began to lose their covering of snow, Stilicho, leaving the fields of Italy in peace and safety, set in motion his two armies and hastened to the lands of the sunrise, combining

[65]

danced attendance on a civilian’s standards. Rufinus himself in their midst drapes tawny skins of beasts about his breast (thorough in his barbarity), and uses harness and huge quivers and twanging bows like those of the Getae—his dress openly showing the temper of his mind. One who drives a consul’s chariot and enjoys a consul’s powers has no shame to adopt the manners and dress of barbarians; Roman law, obliged to change her noble garment, mourns her slavery to a skin-clad judge.

What looks then on men’s faces! What furtive murmurs! For, poor wretches, they could not even weep nor, without risk, ease their grief in converse. “How long shall we bear this deadly yoke? What end shall there ever be to our hard lot? Who will free us from this death-fraught anarchy, this day of tears? On this side the barbarian hems us in, on that Rufinus oppresses us; land and sea are alike denied us. A pestilence stalks through the country: yes, but a deadlier terror haunts our houses. Stilicho, delay no more but succour thy dying land; of a truth here are thy children, here thy home, here were taken those first auspices for thy marriage, so blessed with children, here the palace was illumined with the torches of happy wedlock. Nay, come even though alone, thou for whom we long; wars will perish at thy sight and the ravening monster’s rage subside.”

Such were the tempests that vexed the turbulent East. But so soon as ever winter had given place to the winds of spring and the hills began to lose their covering of snow, Stilicho, leaving the fields of Italy in peace and safety, set in motion his two armies and hastened to the lands of the sunrise, combining

[66]Gallica discretis Eoaque robora turmis105amplexus. numquam tantae dicione sub unaconvenere manus nec tot discrimina vocum:illinc Armeniae vibratis crinibus alaeherbida collectae facili velamina nodo;inde truces flavo comitantur vertice Galli,110quos Rhodanus velox, Araris quos tardior ambitet quos nascentes explorat gurgite Rhenusquosque rigat retro pernicior unda Garunnae,Oceani pleno quotiens impellitur aestu.mens eadem cunctis animique recentia ponunt115vulnera; non odit victus victorve superbit.et quamvis praesens tumor et civilia nuperclassica bellatrixque etiamnunc ira caleret,in ducis eximii conspiravere favorem.haud aliter Xerxen toto simul orbe secutus.120narratur rapuisse vagos exercitus amneset telis umbrasse diem, cum classibus iretper scopulos tectumque pedes contemneret aequor.Vix Alpes egressus erat nec iam amplius erratbarbarus adventumque timens se cogit in unam125planitiem tutoque includit pascua gyro:tum duplici fossa non exuperabile vallumasperat alternis sudibus murique locatain speciem caesis obtendit plaustra iuvencis.At procul exanguis Rufinum perculit horror;130infectae pallore genae; stetit ore gelatoincertus peteretne fugam, veniamne subactus[67]the so different squadrons of Gaul and of the East. Never before did there meet together under one command such numerous bands, never in one army such a babel of tongues. Here were curly-haired Armenian cavalry, their green cloaks fastened with a loose knot, fierce Gauls with golden locks accompanied them, some from the banks of the swift-flowing Rhone, or the more sluggish Saône, some whose infant bodies Rhine’s flood had laved, or who had been washed by the waves of the Garonne that flow more rapidly towards, than from, their source, whenever they are driven back by Ocean’s full tide. One common purpose inspires them all; grudges lately harboured are laid aside; the vanquished feels no hate, the victor shows no pride. And despite of present unrest, of the trumpet’s late challenge to civil strife, and of warlike rage still aglow, yet were all at one in their support of their great leader. So it is said that the army that followed Xerxes, gathered into one from all quarters of the world, drank up whole rivers in their courses, obscured the sun with the rain of their arrows, passed through mountains on board ship, and walked the bridged sea with contemptuous foot.Scarce had Stilicho crossed the Alps when the barbarian hordes began to restrict their forays and for fear of his approach gathered together in the plain and enclosed their pasture lands within a defensive ring. They then built an impregnable fortification with a double moat, planted stakes two deep at intervals along its summit and set wagons rigged with ox-hide all round like a wall.Panic fear seized upon Rufinus as he saw this from afar, and his cheeks grew pale. He stood with ice-cold face, not knowing whether to fly, to own himself

[66]

Gallica discretis Eoaque robora turmis105amplexus. numquam tantae dicione sub unaconvenere manus nec tot discrimina vocum:illinc Armeniae vibratis crinibus alaeherbida collectae facili velamina nodo;inde truces flavo comitantur vertice Galli,110quos Rhodanus velox, Araris quos tardior ambitet quos nascentes explorat gurgite Rhenusquosque rigat retro pernicior unda Garunnae,Oceani pleno quotiens impellitur aestu.mens eadem cunctis animique recentia ponunt115vulnera; non odit victus victorve superbit.et quamvis praesens tumor et civilia nuperclassica bellatrixque etiamnunc ira caleret,in ducis eximii conspiravere favorem.haud aliter Xerxen toto simul orbe secutus.120narratur rapuisse vagos exercitus amneset telis umbrasse diem, cum classibus iretper scopulos tectumque pedes contemneret aequor.Vix Alpes egressus erat nec iam amplius erratbarbarus adventumque timens se cogit in unam125planitiem tutoque includit pascua gyro:tum duplici fossa non exuperabile vallumasperat alternis sudibus murique locatain speciem caesis obtendit plaustra iuvencis.At procul exanguis Rufinum perculit horror;130infectae pallore genae; stetit ore gelatoincertus peteretne fugam, veniamne subactus

Gallica discretis Eoaque robora turmis105

amplexus. numquam tantae dicione sub una

convenere manus nec tot discrimina vocum:

illinc Armeniae vibratis crinibus alae

herbida collectae facili velamina nodo;

inde truces flavo comitantur vertice Galli,110

quos Rhodanus velox, Araris quos tardior ambit

et quos nascentes explorat gurgite Rhenus

quosque rigat retro pernicior unda Garunnae,

Oceani pleno quotiens impellitur aestu.

mens eadem cunctis animique recentia ponunt115

vulnera; non odit victus victorve superbit.

et quamvis praesens tumor et civilia nuper

classica bellatrixque etiamnunc ira caleret,

in ducis eximii conspiravere favorem.

haud aliter Xerxen toto simul orbe secutus.120

narratur rapuisse vagos exercitus amnes

et telis umbrasse diem, cum classibus iret

per scopulos tectumque pedes contemneret aequor.

Vix Alpes egressus erat nec iam amplius errat

barbarus adventumque timens se cogit in unam125

planitiem tutoque includit pascua gyro:

tum duplici fossa non exuperabile vallum

asperat alternis sudibus murique locata

in speciem caesis obtendit plaustra iuvencis.

At procul exanguis Rufinum perculit horror;130

infectae pallore genae; stetit ore gelato

incertus peteretne fugam, veniamne subactus

[67]the so different squadrons of Gaul and of the East. Never before did there meet together under one command such numerous bands, never in one army such a babel of tongues. Here were curly-haired Armenian cavalry, their green cloaks fastened with a loose knot, fierce Gauls with golden locks accompanied them, some from the banks of the swift-flowing Rhone, or the more sluggish Saône, some whose infant bodies Rhine’s flood had laved, or who had been washed by the waves of the Garonne that flow more rapidly towards, than from, their source, whenever they are driven back by Ocean’s full tide. One common purpose inspires them all; grudges lately harboured are laid aside; the vanquished feels no hate, the victor shows no pride. And despite of present unrest, of the trumpet’s late challenge to civil strife, and of warlike rage still aglow, yet were all at one in their support of their great leader. So it is said that the army that followed Xerxes, gathered into one from all quarters of the world, drank up whole rivers in their courses, obscured the sun with the rain of their arrows, passed through mountains on board ship, and walked the bridged sea with contemptuous foot.Scarce had Stilicho crossed the Alps when the barbarian hordes began to restrict their forays and for fear of his approach gathered together in the plain and enclosed their pasture lands within a defensive ring. They then built an impregnable fortification with a double moat, planted stakes two deep at intervals along its summit and set wagons rigged with ox-hide all round like a wall.Panic fear seized upon Rufinus as he saw this from afar, and his cheeks grew pale. He stood with ice-cold face, not knowing whether to fly, to own himself

[67]

the so different squadrons of Gaul and of the East. Never before did there meet together under one command such numerous bands, never in one army such a babel of tongues. Here were curly-haired Armenian cavalry, their green cloaks fastened with a loose knot, fierce Gauls with golden locks accompanied them, some from the banks of the swift-flowing Rhone, or the more sluggish Saône, some whose infant bodies Rhine’s flood had laved, or who had been washed by the waves of the Garonne that flow more rapidly towards, than from, their source, whenever they are driven back by Ocean’s full tide. One common purpose inspires them all; grudges lately harboured are laid aside; the vanquished feels no hate, the victor shows no pride. And despite of present unrest, of the trumpet’s late challenge to civil strife, and of warlike rage still aglow, yet were all at one in their support of their great leader. So it is said that the army that followed Xerxes, gathered into one from all quarters of the world, drank up whole rivers in their courses, obscured the sun with the rain of their arrows, passed through mountains on board ship, and walked the bridged sea with contemptuous foot.

Scarce had Stilicho crossed the Alps when the barbarian hordes began to restrict their forays and for fear of his approach gathered together in the plain and enclosed their pasture lands within a defensive ring. They then built an impregnable fortification with a double moat, planted stakes two deep at intervals along its summit and set wagons rigged with ox-hide all round like a wall.

Panic fear seized upon Rufinus as he saw this from afar, and his cheeks grew pale. He stood with ice-cold face, not knowing whether to fly, to own himself

[68]posceret an fidos sese transferret in hostes.quid nunc divitiae, quid fulvi vasta metallicongeries, quid purpureis effulta columnis135atria prolataeve iuvant ad sidera moles?audit iter numeratque dies spatioque viarummetitur vitam. torquetur pace futuranec recipit somnos et saepe cubilibus amensexcutitur poenamque luit formidine poenae.140sed redit in rabiem scelerumque inmane resumitingenium sacrasque fores praedivitis aulaeintrat et Arcadium mixto terrore precatur:“Per fratris regale iubar, per facta parentisaetherii floremque tui te deprecor aevi,145eripe me gladiis; liceat Stilichonis iniquasevitare minas. in nostram Gallia caedemconiurata venit. quidquid rigat ultima Tethys,extremos ultra volitat gens si qua Britannos,mota mihi. tantis capiendi credimur armis?150tot signis unum petitur caput? unde cruorisista sitis? geminum caeli sibi vindicat axemet nullum vult esse parem. succumbere poscitcuncta sibi: regit Italiam Libyamque coercet;Hispanis Gallisque iubet; non orbita solis,155non illum natura capit. quascumque paravithic Augustus opes et quas post bella recepit,solus habet, possessa semel nec reddere curat.scilicet ille quidem tranquilla pace fruatur;nos premat obsidio? quid partem invadere temptat?deserat Illyricos fines; Eoa remittat161[69]beaten and sue for mercy, or go over to an enemy whose good faith his treachery had assured. Of what use now were his riches, his vast stores of golden ore, his halls upheld with red marble pillars, his sky-towering palace? He hears of Stilicho’s march and counts the days, measuring his term of life according to the distance of his enemy from him. He is troubled with thoughts of coming peace and cannot sleep, often starts up distraught from his bed and suffers as punishment the fear of punishment. But his fury repossesses him and, regaining his genius for crime, he enters the sacred portal of the rich palace and addresses Arcadius with prayers and threats: “By thy brother’s royal star, by the deeds of thy divine sire and the flower of thine own age, I beg thee deliver me from the edge of the sword; let me escape the cruel threatenings of Stilicho. All Gaul is sworn to my destruction. Tethys’ extreme coasts, the wandering tribes beyond the farthest Britons are stirred up against me. Am I thought fit prey for all those armies? Are so many standards advanced against a solitary man? Whence comes this lust for blood? Stilicho lays claim to either hemisphere and will brook no equal. The world forsooth must lie at his feet. Italy is his kingdom, Libya his dominion, Spain and Gaul his empire. The sun’s path circumscribes him not, no nor the whole universe. All the wealth collected here by Theodosius or received by him after the war is Stilicho’s alone, and he has small mind to restore what he has once acquired. Is he to enjoy his gains in peace and quietness while ’tis mine to stand a siege? Why should he encroach on thy share? Let him leave Illyria, send back his Eastern troops, divide the

[68]

posceret an fidos sese transferret in hostes.quid nunc divitiae, quid fulvi vasta metallicongeries, quid purpureis effulta columnis135atria prolataeve iuvant ad sidera moles?audit iter numeratque dies spatioque viarummetitur vitam. torquetur pace futuranec recipit somnos et saepe cubilibus amensexcutitur poenamque luit formidine poenae.140sed redit in rabiem scelerumque inmane resumitingenium sacrasque fores praedivitis aulaeintrat et Arcadium mixto terrore precatur:“Per fratris regale iubar, per facta parentisaetherii floremque tui te deprecor aevi,145eripe me gladiis; liceat Stilichonis iniquasevitare minas. in nostram Gallia caedemconiurata venit. quidquid rigat ultima Tethys,extremos ultra volitat gens si qua Britannos,mota mihi. tantis capiendi credimur armis?150tot signis unum petitur caput? unde cruorisista sitis? geminum caeli sibi vindicat axemet nullum vult esse parem. succumbere poscitcuncta sibi: regit Italiam Libyamque coercet;Hispanis Gallisque iubet; non orbita solis,155non illum natura capit. quascumque paravithic Augustus opes et quas post bella recepit,solus habet, possessa semel nec reddere curat.scilicet ille quidem tranquilla pace fruatur;nos premat obsidio? quid partem invadere temptat?deserat Illyricos fines; Eoa remittat161

posceret an fidos sese transferret in hostes.

quid nunc divitiae, quid fulvi vasta metalli

congeries, quid purpureis effulta columnis135

atria prolataeve iuvant ad sidera moles?

audit iter numeratque dies spatioque viarum

metitur vitam. torquetur pace futura

nec recipit somnos et saepe cubilibus amens

excutitur poenamque luit formidine poenae.140

sed redit in rabiem scelerumque inmane resumit

ingenium sacrasque fores praedivitis aulae

intrat et Arcadium mixto terrore precatur:

“Per fratris regale iubar, per facta parentis

aetherii floremque tui te deprecor aevi,145

eripe me gladiis; liceat Stilichonis iniquas

evitare minas. in nostram Gallia caedem

coniurata venit. quidquid rigat ultima Tethys,

extremos ultra volitat gens si qua Britannos,

mota mihi. tantis capiendi credimur armis?150

tot signis unum petitur caput? unde cruoris

ista sitis? geminum caeli sibi vindicat axem

et nullum vult esse parem. succumbere poscit

cuncta sibi: regit Italiam Libyamque coercet;

Hispanis Gallisque iubet; non orbita solis,155

non illum natura capit. quascumque paravit

hic Augustus opes et quas post bella recepit,

solus habet, possessa semel nec reddere curat.

scilicet ille quidem tranquilla pace fruatur;

nos premat obsidio? quid partem invadere temptat?

deserat Illyricos fines; Eoa remittat161

[69]beaten and sue for mercy, or go over to an enemy whose good faith his treachery had assured. Of what use now were his riches, his vast stores of golden ore, his halls upheld with red marble pillars, his sky-towering palace? He hears of Stilicho’s march and counts the days, measuring his term of life according to the distance of his enemy from him. He is troubled with thoughts of coming peace and cannot sleep, often starts up distraught from his bed and suffers as punishment the fear of punishment. But his fury repossesses him and, regaining his genius for crime, he enters the sacred portal of the rich palace and addresses Arcadius with prayers and threats: “By thy brother’s royal star, by the deeds of thy divine sire and the flower of thine own age, I beg thee deliver me from the edge of the sword; let me escape the cruel threatenings of Stilicho. All Gaul is sworn to my destruction. Tethys’ extreme coasts, the wandering tribes beyond the farthest Britons are stirred up against me. Am I thought fit prey for all those armies? Are so many standards advanced against a solitary man? Whence comes this lust for blood? Stilicho lays claim to either hemisphere and will brook no equal. The world forsooth must lie at his feet. Italy is his kingdom, Libya his dominion, Spain and Gaul his empire. The sun’s path circumscribes him not, no nor the whole universe. All the wealth collected here by Theodosius or received by him after the war is Stilicho’s alone, and he has small mind to restore what he has once acquired. Is he to enjoy his gains in peace and quietness while ’tis mine to stand a siege? Why should he encroach on thy share? Let him leave Illyria, send back his Eastern troops, divide the

[69]

beaten and sue for mercy, or go over to an enemy whose good faith his treachery had assured. Of what use now were his riches, his vast stores of golden ore, his halls upheld with red marble pillars, his sky-towering palace? He hears of Stilicho’s march and counts the days, measuring his term of life according to the distance of his enemy from him. He is troubled with thoughts of coming peace and cannot sleep, often starts up distraught from his bed and suffers as punishment the fear of punishment. But his fury repossesses him and, regaining his genius for crime, he enters the sacred portal of the rich palace and addresses Arcadius with prayers and threats: “By thy brother’s royal star, by the deeds of thy divine sire and the flower of thine own age, I beg thee deliver me from the edge of the sword; let me escape the cruel threatenings of Stilicho. All Gaul is sworn to my destruction. Tethys’ extreme coasts, the wandering tribes beyond the farthest Britons are stirred up against me. Am I thought fit prey for all those armies? Are so many standards advanced against a solitary man? Whence comes this lust for blood? Stilicho lays claim to either hemisphere and will brook no equal. The world forsooth must lie at his feet. Italy is his kingdom, Libya his dominion, Spain and Gaul his empire. The sun’s path circumscribes him not, no nor the whole universe. All the wealth collected here by Theodosius or received by him after the war is Stilicho’s alone, and he has small mind to restore what he has once acquired. Is he to enjoy his gains in peace and quietness while ’tis mine to stand a siege? Why should he encroach on thy share? Let him leave Illyria, send back his Eastern troops, divide the

[70]agmina; fraternas ex aequo dividat hastas,nec sceptri tantum fueris, sed militis heres.quodsi dissimulas nostrae succurrere mortinec prohibere paras, Manes et sidera testor:165haec cervix non sola cadet; miscebitur altersanguis; nec Stygias ferar incomitatus ad undasnec mea securus ridebit funera victor!”Haec ubi, dictatur facinus missusque repentequi ferat extortas invito principe voces.170Interea Stilicho iam laetior hoste propinquonec multo spatii distantibus aequore vallispugnandi cupidas accendit voce cohortes.Armeniis frons laeva datur; per cornua Gallosdexteriora locat. spumis ignescere frena,175pulveris extolli nimbos lateque videressurgere purpureis undantes anguibus hastasserpentumque vago caelum saevire volatu.implet Thessaliam ferri nitor antraque docticornipedis, teneroque amnis reptatus Achilli180et nemus Oetaeum radiat. clamore nivalisOssa tonat pulsoque fragor geminatur Olympo.intumuit virtus et lucis prodigus arsitimpetus; haud illos rupes, haud alta vetarentflumina: praecipiti stravissent omnia cursu.185Si tunc his animis acies collata fuisset,prodita non tantas vidisset Graecia caedes,oppida semoto Pelopeia Marte vigerent,[71]hosts fairly between the two brothers, and do thou not be heir to the sceptre only but to thy forces. But if thou neglect to come to mine aid and make not ready to prevent my death, this head of mine shall not fall alone—by the dead and the stars I swear it. The blood of another shall be mingled with mine. I will not go unaccompanied to the waters of Styx nor shall the victor be free to exult in my death.”So saying he dictates a treasonable letter and sends therewith an emissary to bear the message extorted from the emperor’s unwilling lips.Meanwhile Stilicho, exulting in the thought of advancing upon the foe and of the narrow stretch of country that separated him from the fortifications, inflames with his words the hearts of his troops already thirsting for battle. On the left wing are posted the Armenians, farther to the right the Gauls. A beholder might have seen bits covered with warm foam, clouds of dust uprising, and on all sides waving banners bearing the device of a scarlet dragon; the very air seemed to teem with these fierce flying monsters. The glint of steel fills all Thessaly and the cave of the wise Centaur; the river whose banks supported Achilles’ baby footsteps and the forests of Oeta are agleam with arms, snowy Ossa re-echoes to the sound and Olympus smitten therewith sends it back twofold. Hearts beat high with a courage that is lavish of life. Neither precipice nor deep river could check their advance: their headlong speed would have overthrown all barriers.If the two armies had then joined battle in this temper ruined Greece would not have witnessed such disaster as she did, the cities of the Peloponnese would still have been flourishing untouched by the hand

[70]

agmina; fraternas ex aequo dividat hastas,nec sceptri tantum fueris, sed militis heres.quodsi dissimulas nostrae succurrere mortinec prohibere paras, Manes et sidera testor:165haec cervix non sola cadet; miscebitur altersanguis; nec Stygias ferar incomitatus ad undasnec mea securus ridebit funera victor!”Haec ubi, dictatur facinus missusque repentequi ferat extortas invito principe voces.170Interea Stilicho iam laetior hoste propinquonec multo spatii distantibus aequore vallispugnandi cupidas accendit voce cohortes.Armeniis frons laeva datur; per cornua Gallosdexteriora locat. spumis ignescere frena,175pulveris extolli nimbos lateque videressurgere purpureis undantes anguibus hastasserpentumque vago caelum saevire volatu.implet Thessaliam ferri nitor antraque docticornipedis, teneroque amnis reptatus Achilli180et nemus Oetaeum radiat. clamore nivalisOssa tonat pulsoque fragor geminatur Olympo.intumuit virtus et lucis prodigus arsitimpetus; haud illos rupes, haud alta vetarentflumina: praecipiti stravissent omnia cursu.185Si tunc his animis acies collata fuisset,prodita non tantas vidisset Graecia caedes,oppida semoto Pelopeia Marte vigerent,

agmina; fraternas ex aequo dividat hastas,

nec sceptri tantum fueris, sed militis heres.

quodsi dissimulas nostrae succurrere morti

nec prohibere paras, Manes et sidera testor:165

haec cervix non sola cadet; miscebitur alter

sanguis; nec Stygias ferar incomitatus ad undas

nec mea securus ridebit funera victor!”

Haec ubi, dictatur facinus missusque repente

qui ferat extortas invito principe voces.170

Interea Stilicho iam laetior hoste propinquo

nec multo spatii distantibus aequore vallis

pugnandi cupidas accendit voce cohortes.

Armeniis frons laeva datur; per cornua Gallos

dexteriora locat. spumis ignescere frena,175

pulveris extolli nimbos lateque videres

surgere purpureis undantes anguibus hastas

serpentumque vago caelum saevire volatu.

implet Thessaliam ferri nitor antraque docti

cornipedis, teneroque amnis reptatus Achilli180

et nemus Oetaeum radiat. clamore nivalis

Ossa tonat pulsoque fragor geminatur Olympo.

intumuit virtus et lucis prodigus arsit

impetus; haud illos rupes, haud alta vetarent

flumina: praecipiti stravissent omnia cursu.185

Si tunc his animis acies collata fuisset,

prodita non tantas vidisset Graecia caedes,

oppida semoto Pelopeia Marte vigerent,

[71]hosts fairly between the two brothers, and do thou not be heir to the sceptre only but to thy forces. But if thou neglect to come to mine aid and make not ready to prevent my death, this head of mine shall not fall alone—by the dead and the stars I swear it. The blood of another shall be mingled with mine. I will not go unaccompanied to the waters of Styx nor shall the victor be free to exult in my death.”So saying he dictates a treasonable letter and sends therewith an emissary to bear the message extorted from the emperor’s unwilling lips.Meanwhile Stilicho, exulting in the thought of advancing upon the foe and of the narrow stretch of country that separated him from the fortifications, inflames with his words the hearts of his troops already thirsting for battle. On the left wing are posted the Armenians, farther to the right the Gauls. A beholder might have seen bits covered with warm foam, clouds of dust uprising, and on all sides waving banners bearing the device of a scarlet dragon; the very air seemed to teem with these fierce flying monsters. The glint of steel fills all Thessaly and the cave of the wise Centaur; the river whose banks supported Achilles’ baby footsteps and the forests of Oeta are agleam with arms, snowy Ossa re-echoes to the sound and Olympus smitten therewith sends it back twofold. Hearts beat high with a courage that is lavish of life. Neither precipice nor deep river could check their advance: their headlong speed would have overthrown all barriers.If the two armies had then joined battle in this temper ruined Greece would not have witnessed such disaster as she did, the cities of the Peloponnese would still have been flourishing untouched by the hand

[71]

hosts fairly between the two brothers, and do thou not be heir to the sceptre only but to thy forces. But if thou neglect to come to mine aid and make not ready to prevent my death, this head of mine shall not fall alone—by the dead and the stars I swear it. The blood of another shall be mingled with mine. I will not go unaccompanied to the waters of Styx nor shall the victor be free to exult in my death.”

So saying he dictates a treasonable letter and sends therewith an emissary to bear the message extorted from the emperor’s unwilling lips.

Meanwhile Stilicho, exulting in the thought of advancing upon the foe and of the narrow stretch of country that separated him from the fortifications, inflames with his words the hearts of his troops already thirsting for battle. On the left wing are posted the Armenians, farther to the right the Gauls. A beholder might have seen bits covered with warm foam, clouds of dust uprising, and on all sides waving banners bearing the device of a scarlet dragon; the very air seemed to teem with these fierce flying monsters. The glint of steel fills all Thessaly and the cave of the wise Centaur; the river whose banks supported Achilles’ baby footsteps and the forests of Oeta are agleam with arms, snowy Ossa re-echoes to the sound and Olympus smitten therewith sends it back twofold. Hearts beat high with a courage that is lavish of life. Neither precipice nor deep river could check their advance: their headlong speed would have overthrown all barriers.

If the two armies had then joined battle in this temper ruined Greece would not have witnessed such disaster as she did, the cities of the Peloponnese would still have been flourishing untouched by the hand

[72]starent Arcadiae, starent Lacedaemonis arces;non mare fumasset geminum flagrante Corintho190nec fera Cecropiae traxissent vincula matres.illa dies potuit nostris imponere finemcladibus et sceleris causas auferre futuri.invida pro quantum rapuit Fortuna triumphum!inter equos interque tubas mandata feruntur195regia et armati veniunt ductoris ad aures.Obstupuit; simul ira virum, simul obruit ingensmaeror et ignavo tantum licuisse nocentimiratur. dubios anceps sententia volviteventus: peragat pugnas an fortia coepta200deserat? Illyricis ardet succurrere damnis;praeceptis obstare timet. reverentia frangitvirtutis stimulos: hinc publica commoda suadent,hinc metus invidiae. tandem indignatus ad astraextollit palmas et ab imo pectore fatur:205“Numina Romanis necdum satiata ruinis,si iuvat imperium penitus de stirpe revelli,uno si placuit deleri saecula lapsu,si piget humani generis, prorumpat in arvalibertas effrena maris vel limite iusto210devius errantes Phaëthon confundat habenas.cur per Rufinum geritur? procumbere mundumhoc auctore pudet. mediis revocamur ab armis(pro dolor!) et strictos deponere cogimur enses.vos, arsurae urbes perituraque moenia, testor:215cedo equidem et miserum permitto casibus orbemflectite signa, duces. redeat iam miles Eous.[73]of war, Arcadia and Sparta’s citadel would have remained unravaged. Burning Corinth would not have heated the waves of her two seas, nor would cruel chains have led in captivity the matrons of Athens. That day might have set an end to our disasters and destroyed the seeds of future calamities. For shame, envious Fortune, of what a triumph didst thou rob us! The kingly mandate came to Stilicho in arms amid the cavalry and the trumpets’ din.He stood amazed; anger and great grief o’erwhelm the hero and he wonders that such power for ill is allowed a coward. His wavering mind ponders the uncertain issue: shall he continue his advance or fail his brave beginnings? He longs to stem Illyria’s ruin but fears to disobey orders. Loyalty annuls the prickings-on of valour. The public good urges him one way, fear of the emperor’s displeasure another. At length in his distress he raises his hands to heaven and speaks from deep within his heart: “Ye gods not yet glutted with Rome’s destruction, if ye will that our empire be utterly uprooted, if ye have resolved to blot out all the centuries with one blow, if ye repent you of the race of man, then let the sea’s unrestrained fury burst forth upon the land or let Phaëthon, deviating from his ordained course, drive his straying chariot at random. Shall Rufinus be your tool? ’Twere shame that such an one should be the author of the world’s destruction. O the grief of it! recalled in mid fight; forced to lay down the swords we have drawn! Cities marked out for the flames, walls doomed to destruction, I call you to witness: see, I retire; I leave the unhappy world to its fate. Turn your banners, captains; to your homes, soldiers of the east. Needs must we obey.

[72]

starent Arcadiae, starent Lacedaemonis arces;non mare fumasset geminum flagrante Corintho190nec fera Cecropiae traxissent vincula matres.illa dies potuit nostris imponere finemcladibus et sceleris causas auferre futuri.invida pro quantum rapuit Fortuna triumphum!inter equos interque tubas mandata feruntur195regia et armati veniunt ductoris ad aures.Obstupuit; simul ira virum, simul obruit ingensmaeror et ignavo tantum licuisse nocentimiratur. dubios anceps sententia volviteventus: peragat pugnas an fortia coepta200deserat? Illyricis ardet succurrere damnis;praeceptis obstare timet. reverentia frangitvirtutis stimulos: hinc publica commoda suadent,hinc metus invidiae. tandem indignatus ad astraextollit palmas et ab imo pectore fatur:205“Numina Romanis necdum satiata ruinis,si iuvat imperium penitus de stirpe revelli,uno si placuit deleri saecula lapsu,si piget humani generis, prorumpat in arvalibertas effrena maris vel limite iusto210devius errantes Phaëthon confundat habenas.cur per Rufinum geritur? procumbere mundumhoc auctore pudet. mediis revocamur ab armis(pro dolor!) et strictos deponere cogimur enses.vos, arsurae urbes perituraque moenia, testor:215cedo equidem et miserum permitto casibus orbemflectite signa, duces. redeat iam miles Eous.

starent Arcadiae, starent Lacedaemonis arces;

non mare fumasset geminum flagrante Corintho190

nec fera Cecropiae traxissent vincula matres.

illa dies potuit nostris imponere finem

cladibus et sceleris causas auferre futuri.

invida pro quantum rapuit Fortuna triumphum!

inter equos interque tubas mandata feruntur195

regia et armati veniunt ductoris ad aures.

Obstupuit; simul ira virum, simul obruit ingens

maeror et ignavo tantum licuisse nocenti

miratur. dubios anceps sententia volvit

eventus: peragat pugnas an fortia coepta200

deserat? Illyricis ardet succurrere damnis;

praeceptis obstare timet. reverentia frangit

virtutis stimulos: hinc publica commoda suadent,

hinc metus invidiae. tandem indignatus ad astra

extollit palmas et ab imo pectore fatur:205

“Numina Romanis necdum satiata ruinis,

si iuvat imperium penitus de stirpe revelli,

uno si placuit deleri saecula lapsu,

si piget humani generis, prorumpat in arva

libertas effrena maris vel limite iusto210

devius errantes Phaëthon confundat habenas.

cur per Rufinum geritur? procumbere mundum

hoc auctore pudet. mediis revocamur ab armis

(pro dolor!) et strictos deponere cogimur enses.

vos, arsurae urbes perituraque moenia, testor:215

cedo equidem et miserum permitto casibus orbem

flectite signa, duces. redeat iam miles Eous.

[73]of war, Arcadia and Sparta’s citadel would have remained unravaged. Burning Corinth would not have heated the waves of her two seas, nor would cruel chains have led in captivity the matrons of Athens. That day might have set an end to our disasters and destroyed the seeds of future calamities. For shame, envious Fortune, of what a triumph didst thou rob us! The kingly mandate came to Stilicho in arms amid the cavalry and the trumpets’ din.He stood amazed; anger and great grief o’erwhelm the hero and he wonders that such power for ill is allowed a coward. His wavering mind ponders the uncertain issue: shall he continue his advance or fail his brave beginnings? He longs to stem Illyria’s ruin but fears to disobey orders. Loyalty annuls the prickings-on of valour. The public good urges him one way, fear of the emperor’s displeasure another. At length in his distress he raises his hands to heaven and speaks from deep within his heart: “Ye gods not yet glutted with Rome’s destruction, if ye will that our empire be utterly uprooted, if ye have resolved to blot out all the centuries with one blow, if ye repent you of the race of man, then let the sea’s unrestrained fury burst forth upon the land or let Phaëthon, deviating from his ordained course, drive his straying chariot at random. Shall Rufinus be your tool? ’Twere shame that such an one should be the author of the world’s destruction. O the grief of it! recalled in mid fight; forced to lay down the swords we have drawn! Cities marked out for the flames, walls doomed to destruction, I call you to witness: see, I retire; I leave the unhappy world to its fate. Turn your banners, captains; to your homes, soldiers of the east. Needs must we obey.

[73]

of war, Arcadia and Sparta’s citadel would have remained unravaged. Burning Corinth would not have heated the waves of her two seas, nor would cruel chains have led in captivity the matrons of Athens. That day might have set an end to our disasters and destroyed the seeds of future calamities. For shame, envious Fortune, of what a triumph didst thou rob us! The kingly mandate came to Stilicho in arms amid the cavalry and the trumpets’ din.

He stood amazed; anger and great grief o’erwhelm the hero and he wonders that such power for ill is allowed a coward. His wavering mind ponders the uncertain issue: shall he continue his advance or fail his brave beginnings? He longs to stem Illyria’s ruin but fears to disobey orders. Loyalty annuls the prickings-on of valour. The public good urges him one way, fear of the emperor’s displeasure another. At length in his distress he raises his hands to heaven and speaks from deep within his heart: “Ye gods not yet glutted with Rome’s destruction, if ye will that our empire be utterly uprooted, if ye have resolved to blot out all the centuries with one blow, if ye repent you of the race of man, then let the sea’s unrestrained fury burst forth upon the land or let Phaëthon, deviating from his ordained course, drive his straying chariot at random. Shall Rufinus be your tool? ’Twere shame that such an one should be the author of the world’s destruction. O the grief of it! recalled in mid fight; forced to lay down the swords we have drawn! Cities marked out for the flames, walls doomed to destruction, I call you to witness: see, I retire; I leave the unhappy world to its fate. Turn your banners, captains; to your homes, soldiers of the east. Needs must we obey.

[74]parendum est. taceant litui. prohibete sagittas.parcite contiguo—Rufinus praecipit!—hosti.”His dictis omnes una fremuere manipli220quantum non Italo percussa Ceraunia fluctu,quantum non madidis elisa tonitrua Cauris,secernique negant ereptaque proelia poscunt,insignemque ducem populus defendit uterqueet sibi quisque trahit. magno certatur amore,225alternamque fidem non inlaudata lacessitseditio talique simul clamore queruntur:“Quis mihi nudatos enses, quis tela lacertisexcutit et solvi curvatos imperat arcus?quisnam audet stricto leges imponere ferro?230inflammata semel nescit mitescere virtus.iam mihi barbaricos sitientia pila cruoressponte volant ultroque manus mucrone furentiducitur et siccum gladium vagina recusat.non patiar. semperne Getis discordia nostra235proderit? en iterum belli civilis imago!quid consanguineas acies, quid dividis olimconcordes aquilas? non dissociabile corpusconiunctumque sumus. te qua libet ire sequemur.te vel Hyperboreo damnatam sidere Thylen,240te vel ad incensas Libyae comitabor harenas.Indorum si stagna petas Rubrique recessuslitoris, auriferum veniam poturus Hydaspen;si calcare Notum secretaque noscere Nilinascentis iubeas, mundum post terga relinquam;245[75]Silence, ye clarions; men, forbear to shoot. The foe is at hand, spare him; ’tis Rufinus’ command.”At these words an unanimous roar went up from all the companies. With less din are the cliffs of Ceraunia buffeted by the Italian sea or the thunders evoked from the western winds’ wet storm-clouds. They will not separate, and demand the battle of which they have been defrauded. East and west claim the leadership of that illustrious chief. It is a contest of affection; insubordination that none can blame threatens to sap the loyalty of both armies who thus utter their common complaint: “Who is it robs us of our drawn swords? Who strikes the lance from our hand and bids us unstring the bent bow? Who dares dictate to an army under arms? Valour once roused knows no abatement. Spears thirsting for barbarian blood cast themselves from out our hands; our headlong blades force our vengeful arms to follow them; our very scabbards refuse to sheath an unblooded sword. I will not bear it. Shall the Getae ever profit by our dissension? Behold once more the shadow of civil war. Why dost thou seek to separate armies whose blood is one, standards of immemorial alliance? We are a body one and indivisible. Thee will we follow whithersoever thou goest; thee will we accompany even as far as Thule lying ice-bound beneath the pole-star, or to the burning sands of Libya. Should thy path be by the waters of Ind, or the bays of the Red Sea,[58]I would go drink Hydaspes’ golden stream. Shouldst thou bid me fare south and search out the hidden sources of the stripling Nile, I would leave behind me the world[58]By themare rubrumthe ancients meant the Indian Ocean. The Hydaspes is the modern Jhylum.

[74]

parendum est. taceant litui. prohibete sagittas.parcite contiguo—Rufinus praecipit!—hosti.”His dictis omnes una fremuere manipli220quantum non Italo percussa Ceraunia fluctu,quantum non madidis elisa tonitrua Cauris,secernique negant ereptaque proelia poscunt,insignemque ducem populus defendit uterqueet sibi quisque trahit. magno certatur amore,225alternamque fidem non inlaudata lacessitseditio talique simul clamore queruntur:“Quis mihi nudatos enses, quis tela lacertisexcutit et solvi curvatos imperat arcus?quisnam audet stricto leges imponere ferro?230inflammata semel nescit mitescere virtus.iam mihi barbaricos sitientia pila cruoressponte volant ultroque manus mucrone furentiducitur et siccum gladium vagina recusat.non patiar. semperne Getis discordia nostra235proderit? en iterum belli civilis imago!quid consanguineas acies, quid dividis olimconcordes aquilas? non dissociabile corpusconiunctumque sumus. te qua libet ire sequemur.te vel Hyperboreo damnatam sidere Thylen,240te vel ad incensas Libyae comitabor harenas.Indorum si stagna petas Rubrique recessuslitoris, auriferum veniam poturus Hydaspen;si calcare Notum secretaque noscere Nilinascentis iubeas, mundum post terga relinquam;245

parendum est. taceant litui. prohibete sagittas.

parcite contiguo—Rufinus praecipit!—hosti.”

His dictis omnes una fremuere manipli220

quantum non Italo percussa Ceraunia fluctu,

quantum non madidis elisa tonitrua Cauris,

secernique negant ereptaque proelia poscunt,

insignemque ducem populus defendit uterque

et sibi quisque trahit. magno certatur amore,225

alternamque fidem non inlaudata lacessit

seditio talique simul clamore queruntur:

“Quis mihi nudatos enses, quis tela lacertis

excutit et solvi curvatos imperat arcus?

quisnam audet stricto leges imponere ferro?230

inflammata semel nescit mitescere virtus.

iam mihi barbaricos sitientia pila cruores

sponte volant ultroque manus mucrone furenti

ducitur et siccum gladium vagina recusat.

non patiar. semperne Getis discordia nostra235

proderit? en iterum belli civilis imago!

quid consanguineas acies, quid dividis olim

concordes aquilas? non dissociabile corpus

coniunctumque sumus. te qua libet ire sequemur.

te vel Hyperboreo damnatam sidere Thylen,240

te vel ad incensas Libyae comitabor harenas.

Indorum si stagna petas Rubrique recessus

litoris, auriferum veniam poturus Hydaspen;

si calcare Notum secretaque noscere Nili

nascentis iubeas, mundum post terga relinquam;245

[75]Silence, ye clarions; men, forbear to shoot. The foe is at hand, spare him; ’tis Rufinus’ command.”At these words an unanimous roar went up from all the companies. With less din are the cliffs of Ceraunia buffeted by the Italian sea or the thunders evoked from the western winds’ wet storm-clouds. They will not separate, and demand the battle of which they have been defrauded. East and west claim the leadership of that illustrious chief. It is a contest of affection; insubordination that none can blame threatens to sap the loyalty of both armies who thus utter their common complaint: “Who is it robs us of our drawn swords? Who strikes the lance from our hand and bids us unstring the bent bow? Who dares dictate to an army under arms? Valour once roused knows no abatement. Spears thirsting for barbarian blood cast themselves from out our hands; our headlong blades force our vengeful arms to follow them; our very scabbards refuse to sheath an unblooded sword. I will not bear it. Shall the Getae ever profit by our dissension? Behold once more the shadow of civil war. Why dost thou seek to separate armies whose blood is one, standards of immemorial alliance? We are a body one and indivisible. Thee will we follow whithersoever thou goest; thee will we accompany even as far as Thule lying ice-bound beneath the pole-star, or to the burning sands of Libya. Should thy path be by the waters of Ind, or the bays of the Red Sea,[58]I would go drink Hydaspes’ golden stream. Shouldst thou bid me fare south and search out the hidden sources of the stripling Nile, I would leave behind me the world[58]By themare rubrumthe ancients meant the Indian Ocean. The Hydaspes is the modern Jhylum.

[75]

Silence, ye clarions; men, forbear to shoot. The foe is at hand, spare him; ’tis Rufinus’ command.”

At these words an unanimous roar went up from all the companies. With less din are the cliffs of Ceraunia buffeted by the Italian sea or the thunders evoked from the western winds’ wet storm-clouds. They will not separate, and demand the battle of which they have been defrauded. East and west claim the leadership of that illustrious chief. It is a contest of affection; insubordination that none can blame threatens to sap the loyalty of both armies who thus utter their common complaint: “Who is it robs us of our drawn swords? Who strikes the lance from our hand and bids us unstring the bent bow? Who dares dictate to an army under arms? Valour once roused knows no abatement. Spears thirsting for barbarian blood cast themselves from out our hands; our headlong blades force our vengeful arms to follow them; our very scabbards refuse to sheath an unblooded sword. I will not bear it. Shall the Getae ever profit by our dissension? Behold once more the shadow of civil war. Why dost thou seek to separate armies whose blood is one, standards of immemorial alliance? We are a body one and indivisible. Thee will we follow whithersoever thou goest; thee will we accompany even as far as Thule lying ice-bound beneath the pole-star, or to the burning sands of Libya. Should thy path be by the waters of Ind, or the bays of the Red Sea,[58]I would go drink Hydaspes’ golden stream. Shouldst thou bid me fare south and search out the hidden sources of the stripling Nile, I would leave behind me the world

[58]By themare rubrumthe ancients meant the Indian Ocean. The Hydaspes is the modern Jhylum.

[76]et quocumque loco Stilicho tentoria figat,haec patria est.”Dux inde vetat: “desistite, quaeso.atque avidam differte manum. cadat iste minacisinvidiae cumulus. non est victoria tanti,ut videar vicisse mihi. vos fida iuventus250ite, mei quondam socii.” nec plura locutusflexit iter: vacuo qualis discedit hiatuimpatiens remeare leo, quem plurima cuspiset pastorales pepulerunt igne catervae,inclinatque iubas demissaque lumina velat255et trepidas maesto rimatur murmure silvas.Ut sese legio vidit disiuncta relinqui,ingentem tollit gemitum galeasque solutisumectat lacrimis pressamque morantia vocemthoracum validos pulsant suspiria nexus:260“tradimur, heu, tantumque sequi prohibemuramorem!”exclamant. “spernisne tuas, dux optime, dextras,quas tibi victrices totiens Bellona probavit?nos adeo viles? adeo felicior axisHesperius, meruit qui te rectore teneri?265quid nobis patriam, quid cara revisere tandempignora dilectosve iuvat coluisse penates?te sine dulce nihil. iam formidata tyrannitempestas subeunda mihi, qui forte nefandasiam parat insidias, qui nos aut turpibus Hunis270aut impacatis famulos praebebit Alanis;quamquam non adeo robur defecerit omnetantave gestandi fuerit penuria ferri.tu, licet occiduo maneas sub cardine caeli,[77]I know. Wheresoever Stilicho plants his tent there is my fatherland.”But Stilicho said them nay: “Cease, I beg you,” he cried, “stay your eager hands. Suffer to disperse the mountain of hatred that towers over me. I hold not victory so dear that I would fain seem to win it for myself. Loyal gentlemen, so long my fellow-soldiers, get you gone.” He said no more but turned away, as a lion loath to retire makes off with empty maw when the serried spears and the burning branches in the hands of the shepherd band drive him back and he droops his mane and closes his downcast eyes and with a disappointed roar pushes his way through the trembling forest.When the armies saw that they had been parted and left, they groaned deeply and bedewed their helmets with a stream of tears. The sighs that refused egress to their smothered words shook the strong fastenings of their breastplates. “We are betrayed,” they cried, “and forbidden to follow him we love so well. Dost thou despise, matchless chief, thine own right hands which have so often won thee the victory? Are we thus vile? Is the Western sky to be the happier which has won the right to enjoy thy rule? What boots it to return to our country, to see once more our children dear after so long an absence, to live again in the home we love? Without thee is no joy. Now must I face the tyrant’s dread wrath; mayhap e’en now he is making ready against me some wicked snare and will make me a slave to the foul Huns or restless Alans. Yet is not my strength altogether perished nor so complete my powerlessness to wield the sword. Rest thou beneath the sun’s westering course, Stilicho, thou art still

[76]

et quocumque loco Stilicho tentoria figat,haec patria est.”Dux inde vetat: “desistite, quaeso.atque avidam differte manum. cadat iste minacisinvidiae cumulus. non est victoria tanti,ut videar vicisse mihi. vos fida iuventus250ite, mei quondam socii.” nec plura locutusflexit iter: vacuo qualis discedit hiatuimpatiens remeare leo, quem plurima cuspiset pastorales pepulerunt igne catervae,inclinatque iubas demissaque lumina velat255et trepidas maesto rimatur murmure silvas.Ut sese legio vidit disiuncta relinqui,ingentem tollit gemitum galeasque solutisumectat lacrimis pressamque morantia vocemthoracum validos pulsant suspiria nexus:260“tradimur, heu, tantumque sequi prohibemuramorem!”exclamant. “spernisne tuas, dux optime, dextras,quas tibi victrices totiens Bellona probavit?nos adeo viles? adeo felicior axisHesperius, meruit qui te rectore teneri?265quid nobis patriam, quid cara revisere tandempignora dilectosve iuvat coluisse penates?te sine dulce nihil. iam formidata tyrannitempestas subeunda mihi, qui forte nefandasiam parat insidias, qui nos aut turpibus Hunis270aut impacatis famulos praebebit Alanis;quamquam non adeo robur defecerit omnetantave gestandi fuerit penuria ferri.tu, licet occiduo maneas sub cardine caeli,

et quocumque loco Stilicho tentoria figat,

haec patria est.”

Dux inde vetat: “desistite, quaeso.

atque avidam differte manum. cadat iste minacis

invidiae cumulus. non est victoria tanti,

ut videar vicisse mihi. vos fida iuventus250

ite, mei quondam socii.” nec plura locutus

flexit iter: vacuo qualis discedit hiatu

impatiens remeare leo, quem plurima cuspis

et pastorales pepulerunt igne catervae,

inclinatque iubas demissaque lumina velat255

et trepidas maesto rimatur murmure silvas.

Ut sese legio vidit disiuncta relinqui,

ingentem tollit gemitum galeasque solutis

umectat lacrimis pressamque morantia vocem

thoracum validos pulsant suspiria nexus:260

“tradimur, heu, tantumque sequi prohibemur

amorem!”

exclamant. “spernisne tuas, dux optime, dextras,

quas tibi victrices totiens Bellona probavit?

nos adeo viles? adeo felicior axis

Hesperius, meruit qui te rectore teneri?265

quid nobis patriam, quid cara revisere tandem

pignora dilectosve iuvat coluisse penates?

te sine dulce nihil. iam formidata tyranni

tempestas subeunda mihi, qui forte nefandas

iam parat insidias, qui nos aut turpibus Hunis270

aut impacatis famulos praebebit Alanis;

quamquam non adeo robur defecerit omne

tantave gestandi fuerit penuria ferri.

tu, licet occiduo maneas sub cardine caeli,

[77]I know. Wheresoever Stilicho plants his tent there is my fatherland.”But Stilicho said them nay: “Cease, I beg you,” he cried, “stay your eager hands. Suffer to disperse the mountain of hatred that towers over me. I hold not victory so dear that I would fain seem to win it for myself. Loyal gentlemen, so long my fellow-soldiers, get you gone.” He said no more but turned away, as a lion loath to retire makes off with empty maw when the serried spears and the burning branches in the hands of the shepherd band drive him back and he droops his mane and closes his downcast eyes and with a disappointed roar pushes his way through the trembling forest.When the armies saw that they had been parted and left, they groaned deeply and bedewed their helmets with a stream of tears. The sighs that refused egress to their smothered words shook the strong fastenings of their breastplates. “We are betrayed,” they cried, “and forbidden to follow him we love so well. Dost thou despise, matchless chief, thine own right hands which have so often won thee the victory? Are we thus vile? Is the Western sky to be the happier which has won the right to enjoy thy rule? What boots it to return to our country, to see once more our children dear after so long an absence, to live again in the home we love? Without thee is no joy. Now must I face the tyrant’s dread wrath; mayhap e’en now he is making ready against me some wicked snare and will make me a slave to the foul Huns or restless Alans. Yet is not my strength altogether perished nor so complete my powerlessness to wield the sword. Rest thou beneath the sun’s westering course, Stilicho, thou art still

[77]

I know. Wheresoever Stilicho plants his tent there is my fatherland.”

But Stilicho said them nay: “Cease, I beg you,” he cried, “stay your eager hands. Suffer to disperse the mountain of hatred that towers over me. I hold not victory so dear that I would fain seem to win it for myself. Loyal gentlemen, so long my fellow-soldiers, get you gone.” He said no more but turned away, as a lion loath to retire makes off with empty maw when the serried spears and the burning branches in the hands of the shepherd band drive him back and he droops his mane and closes his downcast eyes and with a disappointed roar pushes his way through the trembling forest.

When the armies saw that they had been parted and left, they groaned deeply and bedewed their helmets with a stream of tears. The sighs that refused egress to their smothered words shook the strong fastenings of their breastplates. “We are betrayed,” they cried, “and forbidden to follow him we love so well. Dost thou despise, matchless chief, thine own right hands which have so often won thee the victory? Are we thus vile? Is the Western sky to be the happier which has won the right to enjoy thy rule? What boots it to return to our country, to see once more our children dear after so long an absence, to live again in the home we love? Without thee is no joy. Now must I face the tyrant’s dread wrath; mayhap e’en now he is making ready against me some wicked snare and will make me a slave to the foul Huns or restless Alans. Yet is not my strength altogether perished nor so complete my powerlessness to wield the sword. Rest thou beneath the sun’s westering course, Stilicho, thou art still

[78]tu mihi dux semper, Stilicho, nostramque vel absensexperiere fidem. dabitur tibi debita pridem276victima: promissis longe placabere sacris.”Tristior Haemoniis miles digressus ab oristangebat Macetum fines murosque subibat,Thessalonica, tuos. sensu dolor haeret in alto280abditus et tacitas vindictae praestruit iras,spectaturque favens odiis locus aptaque letotempora. nec quisquam tanta de pube repertus,proderet incautis qui corda minantia verbis.quae non posteritas, quae non mirabitur aetas285tanti consilium vulgi potuisse taceriaut facinus tam grande tegi mentisque caloremnon sermone viae, non inter pocula rumpi?aequalis tantam tenuit constantia turbamet fuit arcanum populo. percurritur Haemus,290deseritur Rhodope Thracumque per ardua tendunt,donec ad Herculei perventum nominis urbem.Ut cessisse ducem, propius venisse cohortescognita Rufino, magna cervice triumphatomnia tuta ratus sceptrumque capessere fervet295et coniuratos hortatur voce clientes:“vicimus, expulimus, facilis iam copia regni.nullus ab hoste timor. quis enim, quem poscere solumhorruit, hunc tanto munitum milite vincat?quis ferat armatum, quem non superavit inermem?i nunc, exitium nobis meditare remotus301[79]ever our general, and though we be not together thou shalt still know our loyalty. Long has a victim been owed thee; he shall be sacrificed and thou placated by an immolation promised of old.”Sad at heart the army left Thessaly, reached the borders of Macedon, and arrived before the walls of Thessalonica. Indignation deep hid in their hearts prepares the silent wrath of revenge. They look for a place where they may wreak their vengeance and a moment propitious for the blow, and of all that vast army not one is found to divulge with incautious speech his heart’s intent. What succeeding age and time but will marvel that a plot so widespread could be kept hid, a deed of such vast import concealed; that the ardour of their minds was not rendered of no avail by the chance word of a soldier on the march or a drunkard’s babbling? But discretion ruled all alike and the people’s secret was kept. The army crossed the Hebrus, left Rhodope behind, and struck across the uplands of Thrace until it came to the city called after Hercules.[59]When Rufinus learned that Stilicho had retired and that his troops were approaching he held his head high in triumph, believing everything safe, and, anxious to seize the power, inflamed his traitorous minions with this speech: “We have conquered; have driven off our enemy; empire is within my grasp, nor have we anything to fear from the foe. Will one who dared not approach me when I stood alone defeat me now that I am strengthened by the addition of so great a force? Who could stand against him armed whom unarmed he could not conquer? Plot my destruction in exile, friend[59]Probably Heraclea, at the west end of the Propontis.

[78]

tu mihi dux semper, Stilicho, nostramque vel absensexperiere fidem. dabitur tibi debita pridem276victima: promissis longe placabere sacris.”Tristior Haemoniis miles digressus ab oristangebat Macetum fines murosque subibat,Thessalonica, tuos. sensu dolor haeret in alto280abditus et tacitas vindictae praestruit iras,spectaturque favens odiis locus aptaque letotempora. nec quisquam tanta de pube repertus,proderet incautis qui corda minantia verbis.quae non posteritas, quae non mirabitur aetas285tanti consilium vulgi potuisse taceriaut facinus tam grande tegi mentisque caloremnon sermone viae, non inter pocula rumpi?aequalis tantam tenuit constantia turbamet fuit arcanum populo. percurritur Haemus,290deseritur Rhodope Thracumque per ardua tendunt,donec ad Herculei perventum nominis urbem.Ut cessisse ducem, propius venisse cohortescognita Rufino, magna cervice triumphatomnia tuta ratus sceptrumque capessere fervet295et coniuratos hortatur voce clientes:“vicimus, expulimus, facilis iam copia regni.nullus ab hoste timor. quis enim, quem poscere solumhorruit, hunc tanto munitum milite vincat?quis ferat armatum, quem non superavit inermem?i nunc, exitium nobis meditare remotus301

tu mihi dux semper, Stilicho, nostramque vel absens

experiere fidem. dabitur tibi debita pridem276

victima: promissis longe placabere sacris.”

Tristior Haemoniis miles digressus ab oris

tangebat Macetum fines murosque subibat,

Thessalonica, tuos. sensu dolor haeret in alto280

abditus et tacitas vindictae praestruit iras,

spectaturque favens odiis locus aptaque leto

tempora. nec quisquam tanta de pube repertus,

proderet incautis qui corda minantia verbis.

quae non posteritas, quae non mirabitur aetas285

tanti consilium vulgi potuisse taceri

aut facinus tam grande tegi mentisque calorem

non sermone viae, non inter pocula rumpi?

aequalis tantam tenuit constantia turbam

et fuit arcanum populo. percurritur Haemus,290

deseritur Rhodope Thracumque per ardua tendunt,

donec ad Herculei perventum nominis urbem.

Ut cessisse ducem, propius venisse cohortes

cognita Rufino, magna cervice triumphat

omnia tuta ratus sceptrumque capessere fervet295

et coniuratos hortatur voce clientes:

“vicimus, expulimus, facilis iam copia regni.

nullus ab hoste timor. quis enim, quem poscere solum

horruit, hunc tanto munitum milite vincat?

quis ferat armatum, quem non superavit inermem?

i nunc, exitium nobis meditare remotus301

[79]ever our general, and though we be not together thou shalt still know our loyalty. Long has a victim been owed thee; he shall be sacrificed and thou placated by an immolation promised of old.”Sad at heart the army left Thessaly, reached the borders of Macedon, and arrived before the walls of Thessalonica. Indignation deep hid in their hearts prepares the silent wrath of revenge. They look for a place where they may wreak their vengeance and a moment propitious for the blow, and of all that vast army not one is found to divulge with incautious speech his heart’s intent. What succeeding age and time but will marvel that a plot so widespread could be kept hid, a deed of such vast import concealed; that the ardour of their minds was not rendered of no avail by the chance word of a soldier on the march or a drunkard’s babbling? But discretion ruled all alike and the people’s secret was kept. The army crossed the Hebrus, left Rhodope behind, and struck across the uplands of Thrace until it came to the city called after Hercules.[59]When Rufinus learned that Stilicho had retired and that his troops were approaching he held his head high in triumph, believing everything safe, and, anxious to seize the power, inflamed his traitorous minions with this speech: “We have conquered; have driven off our enemy; empire is within my grasp, nor have we anything to fear from the foe. Will one who dared not approach me when I stood alone defeat me now that I am strengthened by the addition of so great a force? Who could stand against him armed whom unarmed he could not conquer? Plot my destruction in exile, friend[59]Probably Heraclea, at the west end of the Propontis.

[79]

ever our general, and though we be not together thou shalt still know our loyalty. Long has a victim been owed thee; he shall be sacrificed and thou placated by an immolation promised of old.”

Sad at heart the army left Thessaly, reached the borders of Macedon, and arrived before the walls of Thessalonica. Indignation deep hid in their hearts prepares the silent wrath of revenge. They look for a place where they may wreak their vengeance and a moment propitious for the blow, and of all that vast army not one is found to divulge with incautious speech his heart’s intent. What succeeding age and time but will marvel that a plot so widespread could be kept hid, a deed of such vast import concealed; that the ardour of their minds was not rendered of no avail by the chance word of a soldier on the march or a drunkard’s babbling? But discretion ruled all alike and the people’s secret was kept. The army crossed the Hebrus, left Rhodope behind, and struck across the uplands of Thrace until it came to the city called after Hercules.[59]

When Rufinus learned that Stilicho had retired and that his troops were approaching he held his head high in triumph, believing everything safe, and, anxious to seize the power, inflamed his traitorous minions with this speech: “We have conquered; have driven off our enemy; empire is within my grasp, nor have we anything to fear from the foe. Will one who dared not approach me when I stood alone defeat me now that I am strengthened by the addition of so great a force? Who could stand against him armed whom unarmed he could not conquer? Plot my destruction in exile, friend

[59]Probably Heraclea, at the west end of the Propontis.

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