PANEGYRICUS DE TERTIO CONSULATU HONORII AUGUSTI

[254]canitiem Glaucus ligat inmortalibus herbis.nec non et variis vectae Nereides ibantaudito rumore feris (hanc pisce voluto160sublevat Oceani monstrum Tartesia tigris;hanc timor Aegaei rupturus fronte carinastrux aries; haec caeruleae suspensa leaenaeinnatat; haec viridem trahitur complexa iuvencum)certatimque novis onerant conubia donis.165cingula Cymothoë, rarum Galatea monileet gravibus Psamathe bacis diadema ferebatintextum, Rubro quas legerat ipsa profundo.mergit se subito vellitque corallia Doto:vimen erat dum stagna subit; processerat undis:170gemma fuit.Nudae Venerem cinxere catervaeplaudentesque simul tali cum voce sequuntur:“hos Mariae cultus, haec munera nostra precamurreginae regina feras. dic talia numquampromeruisse Thetim nec cum soror Amphitrite175nostro nupta Iovi. devotum sentiat aequor,agnoscat famulum virgo Stilichonia pontum.victrices nos saepe rates classemque paternamveximus, attritis cum tenderet ultor Achivis.”Iam Ligurum terris spumantia pectora Triton180adpulerat lassosque fretis extenderat orbes.continuo sublime volans ad moenia Galliscondita, lanigeri suis ostentantia pellem,pervenit. adventu Veneris pulsata receduntnubila, clarescunt puris Aquilonibus Alpes.185[255]and there among the seaweed and Glaucus wreathes his grey hair with deathless flowers. Hearing the tale the Nereids, too, came mounted on various beasts: one (maiden above but fish below) rides the dread sea-tiger of Tartessus; another is carried by that fierce ram, the terror of the Aegean, who shatters ships with his forehead; a third bestrides the neck of a sea-lion; another is borne along by the sea-calf to which she clings. They vie with one another in bringing gifts to the newly-wedded pair. Cymothoë presents a girdle, Galatea a precious necklace, Psamathe a diadem heavily encrusted with pearls gathered by herself from the depths of the Red Sea. Doto suddenly dives to gather coral, a plant so long as it is beneath the water, a jewel once it is brought forth from the waves.The nude crowd of Nereids throng around Venus, following her and singing praises after this manner: “We beg thee, Venus, our queen, to bear these our gifts, these adornments, to queen Maria. Tell her that never did Thetis receive their like nor even our sister Amphitrite when she espoused our Jupiter.[133]Let the daughter of Stilicho hereby realize the devotion of the sea and know that Ocean is her slave. ’Tis we who bore up her father’s fleet, the hope of his victorious land, what time he set out to avenge the ruined Greeks.”And now Triton’s foam-flecked breast had touched the Ligurian shore and his wearied coils were extended over the surface of the water. Straightway Venus flew high in the air to the city founded by the Gauls, the city that shows as its device the fleece-covered pelt of a sow.[134]At the coming of the goddess the routed clouds retire; bright shine the Alps beneath[133]i.e.Neptune.[134]Milan;cf.Isid.Orig.XV. 1vocatum Mediolanum ab eo, quod ibi sus in medio lanea perhibetur inventa; Sidon. Apol. vii. 17et quae lanigero de sue nomen habent.

[254]

canitiem Glaucus ligat inmortalibus herbis.nec non et variis vectae Nereides ibantaudito rumore feris (hanc pisce voluto160sublevat Oceani monstrum Tartesia tigris;hanc timor Aegaei rupturus fronte carinastrux aries; haec caeruleae suspensa leaenaeinnatat; haec viridem trahitur complexa iuvencum)certatimque novis onerant conubia donis.165cingula Cymothoë, rarum Galatea monileet gravibus Psamathe bacis diadema ferebatintextum, Rubro quas legerat ipsa profundo.mergit se subito vellitque corallia Doto:vimen erat dum stagna subit; processerat undis:170gemma fuit.Nudae Venerem cinxere catervaeplaudentesque simul tali cum voce sequuntur:“hos Mariae cultus, haec munera nostra precamurreginae regina feras. dic talia numquampromeruisse Thetim nec cum soror Amphitrite175nostro nupta Iovi. devotum sentiat aequor,agnoscat famulum virgo Stilichonia pontum.victrices nos saepe rates classemque paternamveximus, attritis cum tenderet ultor Achivis.”Iam Ligurum terris spumantia pectora Triton180adpulerat lassosque fretis extenderat orbes.continuo sublime volans ad moenia Galliscondita, lanigeri suis ostentantia pellem,pervenit. adventu Veneris pulsata receduntnubila, clarescunt puris Aquilonibus Alpes.185

canitiem Glaucus ligat inmortalibus herbis.

nec non et variis vectae Nereides ibant

audito rumore feris (hanc pisce voluto160

sublevat Oceani monstrum Tartesia tigris;

hanc timor Aegaei rupturus fronte carinas

trux aries; haec caeruleae suspensa leaenae

innatat; haec viridem trahitur complexa iuvencum)

certatimque novis onerant conubia donis.165

cingula Cymothoë, rarum Galatea monile

et gravibus Psamathe bacis diadema ferebat

intextum, Rubro quas legerat ipsa profundo.

mergit se subito vellitque corallia Doto:

vimen erat dum stagna subit; processerat undis:170

gemma fuit.

Nudae Venerem cinxere catervae

plaudentesque simul tali cum voce sequuntur:

“hos Mariae cultus, haec munera nostra precamur

reginae regina feras. dic talia numquam

promeruisse Thetim nec cum soror Amphitrite175

nostro nupta Iovi. devotum sentiat aequor,

agnoscat famulum virgo Stilichonia pontum.

victrices nos saepe rates classemque paternam

veximus, attritis cum tenderet ultor Achivis.”

Iam Ligurum terris spumantia pectora Triton180

adpulerat lassosque fretis extenderat orbes.

continuo sublime volans ad moenia Gallis

condita, lanigeri suis ostentantia pellem,

pervenit. adventu Veneris pulsata recedunt

nubila, clarescunt puris Aquilonibus Alpes.185

[255]and there among the seaweed and Glaucus wreathes his grey hair with deathless flowers. Hearing the tale the Nereids, too, came mounted on various beasts: one (maiden above but fish below) rides the dread sea-tiger of Tartessus; another is carried by that fierce ram, the terror of the Aegean, who shatters ships with his forehead; a third bestrides the neck of a sea-lion; another is borne along by the sea-calf to which she clings. They vie with one another in bringing gifts to the newly-wedded pair. Cymothoë presents a girdle, Galatea a precious necklace, Psamathe a diadem heavily encrusted with pearls gathered by herself from the depths of the Red Sea. Doto suddenly dives to gather coral, a plant so long as it is beneath the water, a jewel once it is brought forth from the waves.The nude crowd of Nereids throng around Venus, following her and singing praises after this manner: “We beg thee, Venus, our queen, to bear these our gifts, these adornments, to queen Maria. Tell her that never did Thetis receive their like nor even our sister Amphitrite when she espoused our Jupiter.[133]Let the daughter of Stilicho hereby realize the devotion of the sea and know that Ocean is her slave. ’Tis we who bore up her father’s fleet, the hope of his victorious land, what time he set out to avenge the ruined Greeks.”And now Triton’s foam-flecked breast had touched the Ligurian shore and his wearied coils were extended over the surface of the water. Straightway Venus flew high in the air to the city founded by the Gauls, the city that shows as its device the fleece-covered pelt of a sow.[134]At the coming of the goddess the routed clouds retire; bright shine the Alps beneath[133]i.e.Neptune.[134]Milan;cf.Isid.Orig.XV. 1vocatum Mediolanum ab eo, quod ibi sus in medio lanea perhibetur inventa; Sidon. Apol. vii. 17et quae lanigero de sue nomen habent.

[255]

and there among the seaweed and Glaucus wreathes his grey hair with deathless flowers. Hearing the tale the Nereids, too, came mounted on various beasts: one (maiden above but fish below) rides the dread sea-tiger of Tartessus; another is carried by that fierce ram, the terror of the Aegean, who shatters ships with his forehead; a third bestrides the neck of a sea-lion; another is borne along by the sea-calf to which she clings. They vie with one another in bringing gifts to the newly-wedded pair. Cymothoë presents a girdle, Galatea a precious necklace, Psamathe a diadem heavily encrusted with pearls gathered by herself from the depths of the Red Sea. Doto suddenly dives to gather coral, a plant so long as it is beneath the water, a jewel once it is brought forth from the waves.

The nude crowd of Nereids throng around Venus, following her and singing praises after this manner: “We beg thee, Venus, our queen, to bear these our gifts, these adornments, to queen Maria. Tell her that never did Thetis receive their like nor even our sister Amphitrite when she espoused our Jupiter.[133]Let the daughter of Stilicho hereby realize the devotion of the sea and know that Ocean is her slave. ’Tis we who bore up her father’s fleet, the hope of his victorious land, what time he set out to avenge the ruined Greeks.”

And now Triton’s foam-flecked breast had touched the Ligurian shore and his wearied coils were extended over the surface of the water. Straightway Venus flew high in the air to the city founded by the Gauls, the city that shows as its device the fleece-covered pelt of a sow.[134]At the coming of the goddess the routed clouds retire; bright shine the Alps beneath

[133]i.e.Neptune.

[134]Milan;cf.Isid.Orig.XV. 1vocatum Mediolanum ab eo, quod ibi sus in medio lanea perhibetur inventa; Sidon. Apol. vii. 17et quae lanigero de sue nomen habent.

[256]laetitiae causas ignorat dicere mileslaetaturque tamen; Mavortia signa rubescuntfloribus et subitis animantur frondibus hastae.illa suum dictis adfatur talibus agmen:“Gradivum, nostri comites, arcete parumper,190ut soli vacet aula mihi. procul igneus horrorthoracum, gladiosque tegat vagina minaces.stent bellatrices aquilae saevique dracones.fas sit castra meis hodie succumbere signis:tibia pro lituis et pro clangore tubarum195molle lyrae festumque canant. epulentur ad ipsasexcubias; mediis spirent crateres in armis.laxet terribiles maiestas regia fastuset sociam plebem non indignata potestasconfundat turbae proceres. solvantur habenis200gaudia nec leges pudeat ridere severas.“Tu festas, Hymenaee, faces, tu, Gratia, floreselige, tu geminas, Concordia, necte coronas.vos, pennata cohors, quocumque vocaverit usus,divisa properate manu, neu marceat ulla205segnities: alii funalibus ordine ductisplurima venturae suspendite lumina nocti;hi nostra nitidos postes obducere myrtocontendant; pars nectareis adspergite tectafontibus et flamma lucos adolete Sabaeos;210pars infecta croco velamina lutea Serumpandite Sidoniasque solo prosternite vestes.ast alii thalamum docto componite textu;stamine gemmato picturatisque columnis[257]the clear North wind. The soldier rejoices though he cannot tell why. The standards of war burgeon with red flowers and the spears on a sudden sprout with living leaves. Then Venus thus addresses her attendant throng. “Comrades mine, keep away for a while the god of war that the palace may be mine and mine alone. Banish afar the terror of the flashing breastplate; let its scabbard sheath the threatening sword. Advance not the standards of war, the eagles and savage dragons. This day the camp shall yield to my standards; the flute shall sound instead of the bugle, the soft strains of the happy lyre take the place of the trumpets’ blare. Let the soldiers feast even when on guard and the beakers foam in the midst of arms. Let regal majesty lay by its awful pride and power, disdaining not to associate with the people, make one the nobles with the crowd. Let joy be unrestrained and sober Law herself be not ashamed to laugh.“Hymen, choose thou the festal torches, and ye Graces gather flowers for the feast. Thou, Concord, weave two garlands. You, winged band, divide and hasten whithersoever you can be of use: let none be slothful or lazy. You others hang numberless lamps in order from their brackets against the coming of night. Let these haste to entwine the gleaming door-posts with my sacred myrtle. Do you sprinkle the palace with drops of nectar and kindle a whole grove of Sabaean incense. Let others unfold yellow-dyed silks from China and spread tapestries of Sidon on the ground. Do you employ all your arts in decorating the marriage-bed. Woven with jewels and upborne on carved columns be its canopy, such

[256]

laetitiae causas ignorat dicere mileslaetaturque tamen; Mavortia signa rubescuntfloribus et subitis animantur frondibus hastae.illa suum dictis adfatur talibus agmen:“Gradivum, nostri comites, arcete parumper,190ut soli vacet aula mihi. procul igneus horrorthoracum, gladiosque tegat vagina minaces.stent bellatrices aquilae saevique dracones.fas sit castra meis hodie succumbere signis:tibia pro lituis et pro clangore tubarum195molle lyrae festumque canant. epulentur ad ipsasexcubias; mediis spirent crateres in armis.laxet terribiles maiestas regia fastuset sociam plebem non indignata potestasconfundat turbae proceres. solvantur habenis200gaudia nec leges pudeat ridere severas.“Tu festas, Hymenaee, faces, tu, Gratia, floreselige, tu geminas, Concordia, necte coronas.vos, pennata cohors, quocumque vocaverit usus,divisa properate manu, neu marceat ulla205segnities: alii funalibus ordine ductisplurima venturae suspendite lumina nocti;hi nostra nitidos postes obducere myrtocontendant; pars nectareis adspergite tectafontibus et flamma lucos adolete Sabaeos;210pars infecta croco velamina lutea Serumpandite Sidoniasque solo prosternite vestes.ast alii thalamum docto componite textu;stamine gemmato picturatisque columnis

laetitiae causas ignorat dicere miles

laetaturque tamen; Mavortia signa rubescunt

floribus et subitis animantur frondibus hastae.

illa suum dictis adfatur talibus agmen:

“Gradivum, nostri comites, arcete parumper,190

ut soli vacet aula mihi. procul igneus horror

thoracum, gladiosque tegat vagina minaces.

stent bellatrices aquilae saevique dracones.

fas sit castra meis hodie succumbere signis:

tibia pro lituis et pro clangore tubarum195

molle lyrae festumque canant. epulentur ad ipsas

excubias; mediis spirent crateres in armis.

laxet terribiles maiestas regia fastus

et sociam plebem non indignata potestas

confundat turbae proceres. solvantur habenis200

gaudia nec leges pudeat ridere severas.

“Tu festas, Hymenaee, faces, tu, Gratia, flores

elige, tu geminas, Concordia, necte coronas.

vos, pennata cohors, quocumque vocaverit usus,

divisa properate manu, neu marceat ulla205

segnities: alii funalibus ordine ductis

plurima venturae suspendite lumina nocti;

hi nostra nitidos postes obducere myrto

contendant; pars nectareis adspergite tecta

fontibus et flamma lucos adolete Sabaeos;210

pars infecta croco velamina lutea Serum

pandite Sidoniasque solo prosternite vestes.

ast alii thalamum docto componite textu;

stamine gemmato picturatisque columnis

[257]the clear North wind. The soldier rejoices though he cannot tell why. The standards of war burgeon with red flowers and the spears on a sudden sprout with living leaves. Then Venus thus addresses her attendant throng. “Comrades mine, keep away for a while the god of war that the palace may be mine and mine alone. Banish afar the terror of the flashing breastplate; let its scabbard sheath the threatening sword. Advance not the standards of war, the eagles and savage dragons. This day the camp shall yield to my standards; the flute shall sound instead of the bugle, the soft strains of the happy lyre take the place of the trumpets’ blare. Let the soldiers feast even when on guard and the beakers foam in the midst of arms. Let regal majesty lay by its awful pride and power, disdaining not to associate with the people, make one the nobles with the crowd. Let joy be unrestrained and sober Law herself be not ashamed to laugh.“Hymen, choose thou the festal torches, and ye Graces gather flowers for the feast. Thou, Concord, weave two garlands. You, winged band, divide and hasten whithersoever you can be of use: let none be slothful or lazy. You others hang numberless lamps in order from their brackets against the coming of night. Let these haste to entwine the gleaming door-posts with my sacred myrtle. Do you sprinkle the palace with drops of nectar and kindle a whole grove of Sabaean incense. Let others unfold yellow-dyed silks from China and spread tapestries of Sidon on the ground. Do you employ all your arts in decorating the marriage-bed. Woven with jewels and upborne on carved columns be its canopy, such

[257]

the clear North wind. The soldier rejoices though he cannot tell why. The standards of war burgeon with red flowers and the spears on a sudden sprout with living leaves. Then Venus thus addresses her attendant throng. “Comrades mine, keep away for a while the god of war that the palace may be mine and mine alone. Banish afar the terror of the flashing breastplate; let its scabbard sheath the threatening sword. Advance not the standards of war, the eagles and savage dragons. This day the camp shall yield to my standards; the flute shall sound instead of the bugle, the soft strains of the happy lyre take the place of the trumpets’ blare. Let the soldiers feast even when on guard and the beakers foam in the midst of arms. Let regal majesty lay by its awful pride and power, disdaining not to associate with the people, make one the nobles with the crowd. Let joy be unrestrained and sober Law herself be not ashamed to laugh.

“Hymen, choose thou the festal torches, and ye Graces gather flowers for the feast. Thou, Concord, weave two garlands. You, winged band, divide and hasten whithersoever you can be of use: let none be slothful or lazy. You others hang numberless lamps in order from their brackets against the coming of night. Let these haste to entwine the gleaming door-posts with my sacred myrtle. Do you sprinkle the palace with drops of nectar and kindle a whole grove of Sabaean incense. Let others unfold yellow-dyed silks from China and spread tapestries of Sidon on the ground. Do you employ all your arts in decorating the marriage-bed. Woven with jewels and upborne on carved columns be its canopy, such

[258]aedificetur apex, qualem non Lydia dives215erexit Pelopi nec quem struxere LyaeoIndorum spoliis et opaco palmite Bacchae.illic exuvias omnes cumulate parentum:quidquid avus senior Mauro vel Saxone victis,quidquid ab innumeris socio Stilichone tremendus220quaesivit genitor bellis, quodcumque GelonusArmeniusve dedit; quantum crinita sagittisattulit extremo Meroë circumflua Nilo;misit Achaemenio quidquid de Tigride Medus,cum supplex emeret Romanam Parthia pacem.225nobilibus gazis opibusque cubilia surgantbarbaricis; omnes thalamo conferte triumphos.”Sic ait et sponsae petit improvisa penates.illa autem secura tori taedasque pararinescia divinae fruitur sermone parentis230maternosque bibit mores exemplaque discitprisca pudicitiae Latios nec volvere librosdesinit aut Graios, ipsa genetrice magistra,Maeonius quaecumque senex aut Thracius Orpheusaut Mytilenaeo modulatur pectine Sappho235(sic Triviam Latona monet; sic mitis in antroMnemosyne docili tradit praecepta Thaliae):cum procul augeri nitor et iucundior aërattonitam lustrare domum fundique comarumgratus odor. mox vera fides numenque refulsit.240cunctatur stupefacta Venus; nunc ora puellae,[259]as rich Lydia ne’er built for Pelops nor yet the Bacchae for Lyaeus, decked as his was with the spoils of Ind and the mantling vine. Heap up there all the gathered wealth of the family, all the spoil that Honorius the elder, our emperor’s grandsire, won from Moor and Saxon, all that his dread father with Stilicho at his side gained from numberless wars, all that the Geloni and Armenians have contributed or Meroë added—Meroë encircled by furthermost Nile whose people decorate their hair with arrows; whatever the Medes sent from the banks of Persian Tigris when suppliant Parthia bought peace of Rome. Let the lofty couch be adorned with the barbaric splendour of kings’ treasuries; be all the wealth of all our triumphs gathered in that marriage-chamber.”So spake she and all unannounced sought the bride’s home. But Maria, with no thoughts of wedlock nor knowing that the torches were being got ready, was listening with rapt attention to the discourse of her saintly mother, drinking in that mother’s nature and learning to follow the example of old-world chastity; nor does she cease under that mother’s guidance to unroll the writers of Rome and Greece, all that old Homer sang, or Thracian Orpheus, or that Sappho set to music with Lesbian quill; (even so Latona taught Diana; so gentle Mnemosyne in her cave gave instruction to meek Thalia)—when the sky from afar grows more bright, a sweeter air breathes through the astonished palace and there is spread the happy fragrance of scented locks. Soon came the proof; in all her beauty the goddess bursts upon them. Yet Venus stands amazed, admiring now the daughter’s

[258]

aedificetur apex, qualem non Lydia dives215erexit Pelopi nec quem struxere LyaeoIndorum spoliis et opaco palmite Bacchae.illic exuvias omnes cumulate parentum:quidquid avus senior Mauro vel Saxone victis,quidquid ab innumeris socio Stilichone tremendus220quaesivit genitor bellis, quodcumque GelonusArmeniusve dedit; quantum crinita sagittisattulit extremo Meroë circumflua Nilo;misit Achaemenio quidquid de Tigride Medus,cum supplex emeret Romanam Parthia pacem.225nobilibus gazis opibusque cubilia surgantbarbaricis; omnes thalamo conferte triumphos.”Sic ait et sponsae petit improvisa penates.illa autem secura tori taedasque pararinescia divinae fruitur sermone parentis230maternosque bibit mores exemplaque discitprisca pudicitiae Latios nec volvere librosdesinit aut Graios, ipsa genetrice magistra,Maeonius quaecumque senex aut Thracius Orpheusaut Mytilenaeo modulatur pectine Sappho235(sic Triviam Latona monet; sic mitis in antroMnemosyne docili tradit praecepta Thaliae):cum procul augeri nitor et iucundior aërattonitam lustrare domum fundique comarumgratus odor. mox vera fides numenque refulsit.240cunctatur stupefacta Venus; nunc ora puellae,

aedificetur apex, qualem non Lydia dives215

erexit Pelopi nec quem struxere Lyaeo

Indorum spoliis et opaco palmite Bacchae.

illic exuvias omnes cumulate parentum:

quidquid avus senior Mauro vel Saxone victis,

quidquid ab innumeris socio Stilichone tremendus220

quaesivit genitor bellis, quodcumque Gelonus

Armeniusve dedit; quantum crinita sagittis

attulit extremo Meroë circumflua Nilo;

misit Achaemenio quidquid de Tigride Medus,

cum supplex emeret Romanam Parthia pacem.225

nobilibus gazis opibusque cubilia surgant

barbaricis; omnes thalamo conferte triumphos.”

Sic ait et sponsae petit improvisa penates.

illa autem secura tori taedasque parari

nescia divinae fruitur sermone parentis230

maternosque bibit mores exemplaque discit

prisca pudicitiae Latios nec volvere libros

desinit aut Graios, ipsa genetrice magistra,

Maeonius quaecumque senex aut Thracius Orpheus

aut Mytilenaeo modulatur pectine Sappho235

(sic Triviam Latona monet; sic mitis in antro

Mnemosyne docili tradit praecepta Thaliae):

cum procul augeri nitor et iucundior aër

attonitam lustrare domum fundique comarum

gratus odor. mox vera fides numenque refulsit.240

cunctatur stupefacta Venus; nunc ora puellae,

[259]as rich Lydia ne’er built for Pelops nor yet the Bacchae for Lyaeus, decked as his was with the spoils of Ind and the mantling vine. Heap up there all the gathered wealth of the family, all the spoil that Honorius the elder, our emperor’s grandsire, won from Moor and Saxon, all that his dread father with Stilicho at his side gained from numberless wars, all that the Geloni and Armenians have contributed or Meroë added—Meroë encircled by furthermost Nile whose people decorate their hair with arrows; whatever the Medes sent from the banks of Persian Tigris when suppliant Parthia bought peace of Rome. Let the lofty couch be adorned with the barbaric splendour of kings’ treasuries; be all the wealth of all our triumphs gathered in that marriage-chamber.”So spake she and all unannounced sought the bride’s home. But Maria, with no thoughts of wedlock nor knowing that the torches were being got ready, was listening with rapt attention to the discourse of her saintly mother, drinking in that mother’s nature and learning to follow the example of old-world chastity; nor does she cease under that mother’s guidance to unroll the writers of Rome and Greece, all that old Homer sang, or Thracian Orpheus, or that Sappho set to music with Lesbian quill; (even so Latona taught Diana; so gentle Mnemosyne in her cave gave instruction to meek Thalia)—when the sky from afar grows more bright, a sweeter air breathes through the astonished palace and there is spread the happy fragrance of scented locks. Soon came the proof; in all her beauty the goddess bursts upon them. Yet Venus stands amazed, admiring now the daughter’s

[259]

as rich Lydia ne’er built for Pelops nor yet the Bacchae for Lyaeus, decked as his was with the spoils of Ind and the mantling vine. Heap up there all the gathered wealth of the family, all the spoil that Honorius the elder, our emperor’s grandsire, won from Moor and Saxon, all that his dread father with Stilicho at his side gained from numberless wars, all that the Geloni and Armenians have contributed or Meroë added—Meroë encircled by furthermost Nile whose people decorate their hair with arrows; whatever the Medes sent from the banks of Persian Tigris when suppliant Parthia bought peace of Rome. Let the lofty couch be adorned with the barbaric splendour of kings’ treasuries; be all the wealth of all our triumphs gathered in that marriage-chamber.”

So spake she and all unannounced sought the bride’s home. But Maria, with no thoughts of wedlock nor knowing that the torches were being got ready, was listening with rapt attention to the discourse of her saintly mother, drinking in that mother’s nature and learning to follow the example of old-world chastity; nor does she cease under that mother’s guidance to unroll the writers of Rome and Greece, all that old Homer sang, or Thracian Orpheus, or that Sappho set to music with Lesbian quill; (even so Latona taught Diana; so gentle Mnemosyne in her cave gave instruction to meek Thalia)—when the sky from afar grows more bright, a sweeter air breathes through the astonished palace and there is spread the happy fragrance of scented locks. Soon came the proof; in all her beauty the goddess bursts upon them. Yet Venus stands amazed, admiring now the daughter’s

[260]nunc flavam niveo miratur vertice matrem.haec modo crescenti, plenae par altera lunae:adsurgit ceu forte minor sub matre virentilaurus et ingentes ramos olimque futuras245promittit iam parva comas; vel flore sub unoceu geminae Paestana rosae per iugera regnant:haec largo matura die saturataque vernisroribus indulget spatio; latet altera nodonec teneris audet foliis admittere soles.250Adstitit et blande Mariam Cytherea salutat:“salve sidereae proles augusta Serenae,magnorum suboles regum parituraque reges.te propter Paphias sedes Cyprumque reliqui,te propter libuit tantos explere labores255et tantum transnare maris, ne vilior ultraprivatos paterere lares neu tempore longodilatos iuvenis nutriret Honorius ignes.accipe fortunam generis, diadema resume,quod tribuas natis, et in haec penetralia rursus,260unde parens progressa, redi. fac nulla subessevincula cognatae: quamvis aliena fuissesprincipibus, regnum poteras hoc ore mereri.quae propior sceptris facies? qui dignior aula264vultus erit? non labra rosae, non colla pruinae,non crines aequant violae, non lumina flammae.quam iuncti leviter sese discrimine confertumbra supercilii! miscet quam iusta pudoremtemperies nimio nec sanguine candor abundat![261]loveliness, now the snowy neck and golden hair of the mother. The one is like unto the crescent moon, the other to the full. So grows a young laurel beneath the shadow of its parent tree and, small as it now is, gives promise of great branches and thick foliage to come. Or as ’twere two roses of Paestum on one stalk; the one day’s fulness has brought to maturity; steeped in the dews of spring it spreads abroad its petals; the other yet nestles in its bud nor dares receive the sun’s warmth within its tender heart.Venus stood and addressed Maria with these gentle words: “All hail! revered daughter of divine Serena, scion of great kings and destined to be the mother of kings. For thy sake have I left my home in Paphos’ isle and Cyprus; for thy sake was I pleased to face so many labours and cross so many seas lest thou shouldst continue to live a private life little befitting thy true worth and lest young Honorius should still feed in his heart the flame of unrequited love. Take the rank thy birth demands, resume the crown to bequeath it to thy children and re-enter the palace whence thy mother sprang. E’en though no ties of blood united thee to the royal house, though thou wert in no way related thereto, yet would thy beauty render thee worthy of a kingdom. What face could rather win a sceptre? What countenance better adorn a palace? Redder than roses thy lips, whiter than the hoar-frost thy neck, cowslips[135]are not more yellow than thine hair, fire not more bright than thine eyes. With how fine an interspace do the delicate eyebrows meet upon thy forehead! How just the blend that makes thy blush, thy fairness not o’ermantled with too much[135]Theviolawas probably a pansy or wallflower, Gk λευκόϊον.

[260]

nunc flavam niveo miratur vertice matrem.haec modo crescenti, plenae par altera lunae:adsurgit ceu forte minor sub matre virentilaurus et ingentes ramos olimque futuras245promittit iam parva comas; vel flore sub unoceu geminae Paestana rosae per iugera regnant:haec largo matura die saturataque vernisroribus indulget spatio; latet altera nodonec teneris audet foliis admittere soles.250Adstitit et blande Mariam Cytherea salutat:“salve sidereae proles augusta Serenae,magnorum suboles regum parituraque reges.te propter Paphias sedes Cyprumque reliqui,te propter libuit tantos explere labores255et tantum transnare maris, ne vilior ultraprivatos paterere lares neu tempore longodilatos iuvenis nutriret Honorius ignes.accipe fortunam generis, diadema resume,quod tribuas natis, et in haec penetralia rursus,260unde parens progressa, redi. fac nulla subessevincula cognatae: quamvis aliena fuissesprincipibus, regnum poteras hoc ore mereri.quae propior sceptris facies? qui dignior aula264vultus erit? non labra rosae, non colla pruinae,non crines aequant violae, non lumina flammae.quam iuncti leviter sese discrimine confertumbra supercilii! miscet quam iusta pudoremtemperies nimio nec sanguine candor abundat!

nunc flavam niveo miratur vertice matrem.

haec modo crescenti, plenae par altera lunae:

adsurgit ceu forte minor sub matre virenti

laurus et ingentes ramos olimque futuras245

promittit iam parva comas; vel flore sub uno

ceu geminae Paestana rosae per iugera regnant:

haec largo matura die saturataque vernis

roribus indulget spatio; latet altera nodo

nec teneris audet foliis admittere soles.250

Adstitit et blande Mariam Cytherea salutat:

“salve sidereae proles augusta Serenae,

magnorum suboles regum parituraque reges.

te propter Paphias sedes Cyprumque reliqui,

te propter libuit tantos explere labores255

et tantum transnare maris, ne vilior ultra

privatos paterere lares neu tempore longo

dilatos iuvenis nutriret Honorius ignes.

accipe fortunam generis, diadema resume,

quod tribuas natis, et in haec penetralia rursus,260

unde parens progressa, redi. fac nulla subesse

vincula cognatae: quamvis aliena fuisses

principibus, regnum poteras hoc ore mereri.

quae propior sceptris facies? qui dignior aula264

vultus erit? non labra rosae, non colla pruinae,

non crines aequant violae, non lumina flammae.

quam iuncti leviter sese discrimine confert

umbra supercilii! miscet quam iusta pudorem

temperies nimio nec sanguine candor abundat!

[261]loveliness, now the snowy neck and golden hair of the mother. The one is like unto the crescent moon, the other to the full. So grows a young laurel beneath the shadow of its parent tree and, small as it now is, gives promise of great branches and thick foliage to come. Or as ’twere two roses of Paestum on one stalk; the one day’s fulness has brought to maturity; steeped in the dews of spring it spreads abroad its petals; the other yet nestles in its bud nor dares receive the sun’s warmth within its tender heart.Venus stood and addressed Maria with these gentle words: “All hail! revered daughter of divine Serena, scion of great kings and destined to be the mother of kings. For thy sake have I left my home in Paphos’ isle and Cyprus; for thy sake was I pleased to face so many labours and cross so many seas lest thou shouldst continue to live a private life little befitting thy true worth and lest young Honorius should still feed in his heart the flame of unrequited love. Take the rank thy birth demands, resume the crown to bequeath it to thy children and re-enter the palace whence thy mother sprang. E’en though no ties of blood united thee to the royal house, though thou wert in no way related thereto, yet would thy beauty render thee worthy of a kingdom. What face could rather win a sceptre? What countenance better adorn a palace? Redder than roses thy lips, whiter than the hoar-frost thy neck, cowslips[135]are not more yellow than thine hair, fire not more bright than thine eyes. With how fine an interspace do the delicate eyebrows meet upon thy forehead! How just the blend that makes thy blush, thy fairness not o’ermantled with too much[135]Theviolawas probably a pansy or wallflower, Gk λευκόϊον.

[261]

loveliness, now the snowy neck and golden hair of the mother. The one is like unto the crescent moon, the other to the full. So grows a young laurel beneath the shadow of its parent tree and, small as it now is, gives promise of great branches and thick foliage to come. Or as ’twere two roses of Paestum on one stalk; the one day’s fulness has brought to maturity; steeped in the dews of spring it spreads abroad its petals; the other yet nestles in its bud nor dares receive the sun’s warmth within its tender heart.

Venus stood and addressed Maria with these gentle words: “All hail! revered daughter of divine Serena, scion of great kings and destined to be the mother of kings. For thy sake have I left my home in Paphos’ isle and Cyprus; for thy sake was I pleased to face so many labours and cross so many seas lest thou shouldst continue to live a private life little befitting thy true worth and lest young Honorius should still feed in his heart the flame of unrequited love. Take the rank thy birth demands, resume the crown to bequeath it to thy children and re-enter the palace whence thy mother sprang. E’en though no ties of blood united thee to the royal house, though thou wert in no way related thereto, yet would thy beauty render thee worthy of a kingdom. What face could rather win a sceptre? What countenance better adorn a palace? Redder than roses thy lips, whiter than the hoar-frost thy neck, cowslips[135]are not more yellow than thine hair, fire not more bright than thine eyes. With how fine an interspace do the delicate eyebrows meet upon thy forehead! How just the blend that makes thy blush, thy fairness not o’ermantled with too much

[135]Theviolawas probably a pansy or wallflower, Gk λευκόϊον.

[262]Aurorae vincis digitos umerosque Dianae;270ipsam iam superas matrem. si Bacchus amatordotali potuit caelum signare corona,cur nullis virgo redimitur pulchrior astris?iam tibi molitur stellantia serta Bootesinque decus Mariae iam sidera parturit aether.275i, digno nectenda viro tantique per orbemconsors imperii! iam te venerabitur Hister;nomen adorabunt populi; iam Rhenus et Albisserviet; in medios ibis regina Sygambros.quid numerem gentes Atlanteosque recessus280Oceani? toto pariter donabere mundo.”Dixit et ornatus, dederant quos nuper ovantesNereides, collo membrisque micantibus aptat.ipsa caput distinguit acu, substringit amictus;flammea virgineis accommodat ipsa capillis.285ante fores iam pompa sonat, pilentaque sacrapraeradiant ductura nurum. calet obvius ireiam princeps tardumque cupit discedere solem:nobilis haud aliter sonipes, quem primus amorissollicitavit odor, tumidus quatiensque decoras290curvata cervice iubas Pharsalia rurapervolat et notos hinnitu flagitat amnesnaribus accensis; mulcet fecunda magistrosspes gregis et pulchro gaudent armenta marito.Candidus interea positis exercitus armis295exultat socerum circa; nec signifer ullus[263]red! Pinker thy fingers than Aurora’s, firmer thy shoulders than Diana’s; even thy mother dost thou surpass. If Bacchus, Ariadne’s lover, could transform his mistress’ garland into a constellation how comes it that a more beauteous maid has no crown of stars? Even now Boötes is weaving for thee a starry crown, even now heaven brings new stars to birth to do thee honour. Go, mate with one who is worthy of thee and share with him an empire co-extensive with the world. Ister now shall do thee homage; all nations shall adore thy name. Now Rhine and Elbe shall be thy slaves; thou shalt be queen among the Sygambri. Why should I number the peoples and the Atlantic’s distant shores? The whole world alike shall be thy dowry.”She spake and fitted to Maria’s neck and shining limbs the rich gear which the happy Nereids had just given her. She parted her hair with the spear’s point, girded up her dress, and with her own hands set the veil over the maiden’s hair.[136]The procession is halted singing at the door; brightly gleams the holy chariot in which the new bride is to fare. The prince burns to run and meet her and longs for the sun’s tardy setting. Even so the noble steed when first the smell that stirs his passions smites upon him proudly shakes his thick, disordered mane and courses over Pharsalia’s plains. His nostrils are aflame and with a neighing he greets the streams that saw his birth. His masters smile at the hope of their stud’s increase, and the mares take pleasure in their handsome mate.Meanwhile the army has laid aside its swords: the soldiers are dressed in white and throng around Stilicho, the bride’s father. No standard-bearer nor[136]Venus acts aspronuba. The parting of the hair with the spear was a relic of marriage by capture (cf.Catullus lxi.).

[262]

Aurorae vincis digitos umerosque Dianae;270ipsam iam superas matrem. si Bacchus amatordotali potuit caelum signare corona,cur nullis virgo redimitur pulchrior astris?iam tibi molitur stellantia serta Bootesinque decus Mariae iam sidera parturit aether.275i, digno nectenda viro tantique per orbemconsors imperii! iam te venerabitur Hister;nomen adorabunt populi; iam Rhenus et Albisserviet; in medios ibis regina Sygambros.quid numerem gentes Atlanteosque recessus280Oceani? toto pariter donabere mundo.”Dixit et ornatus, dederant quos nuper ovantesNereides, collo membrisque micantibus aptat.ipsa caput distinguit acu, substringit amictus;flammea virgineis accommodat ipsa capillis.285ante fores iam pompa sonat, pilentaque sacrapraeradiant ductura nurum. calet obvius ireiam princeps tardumque cupit discedere solem:nobilis haud aliter sonipes, quem primus amorissollicitavit odor, tumidus quatiensque decoras290curvata cervice iubas Pharsalia rurapervolat et notos hinnitu flagitat amnesnaribus accensis; mulcet fecunda magistrosspes gregis et pulchro gaudent armenta marito.Candidus interea positis exercitus armis295exultat socerum circa; nec signifer ullus

Aurorae vincis digitos umerosque Dianae;270

ipsam iam superas matrem. si Bacchus amator

dotali potuit caelum signare corona,

cur nullis virgo redimitur pulchrior astris?

iam tibi molitur stellantia serta Bootes

inque decus Mariae iam sidera parturit aether.275

i, digno nectenda viro tantique per orbem

consors imperii! iam te venerabitur Hister;

nomen adorabunt populi; iam Rhenus et Albis

serviet; in medios ibis regina Sygambros.

quid numerem gentes Atlanteosque recessus280

Oceani? toto pariter donabere mundo.”

Dixit et ornatus, dederant quos nuper ovantes

Nereides, collo membrisque micantibus aptat.

ipsa caput distinguit acu, substringit amictus;

flammea virgineis accommodat ipsa capillis.285

ante fores iam pompa sonat, pilentaque sacra

praeradiant ductura nurum. calet obvius ire

iam princeps tardumque cupit discedere solem:

nobilis haud aliter sonipes, quem primus amoris

sollicitavit odor, tumidus quatiensque decoras290

curvata cervice iubas Pharsalia rura

pervolat et notos hinnitu flagitat amnes

naribus accensis; mulcet fecunda magistros

spes gregis et pulchro gaudent armenta marito.

Candidus interea positis exercitus armis295

exultat socerum circa; nec signifer ullus

[263]red! Pinker thy fingers than Aurora’s, firmer thy shoulders than Diana’s; even thy mother dost thou surpass. If Bacchus, Ariadne’s lover, could transform his mistress’ garland into a constellation how comes it that a more beauteous maid has no crown of stars? Even now Boötes is weaving for thee a starry crown, even now heaven brings new stars to birth to do thee honour. Go, mate with one who is worthy of thee and share with him an empire co-extensive with the world. Ister now shall do thee homage; all nations shall adore thy name. Now Rhine and Elbe shall be thy slaves; thou shalt be queen among the Sygambri. Why should I number the peoples and the Atlantic’s distant shores? The whole world alike shall be thy dowry.”She spake and fitted to Maria’s neck and shining limbs the rich gear which the happy Nereids had just given her. She parted her hair with the spear’s point, girded up her dress, and with her own hands set the veil over the maiden’s hair.[136]The procession is halted singing at the door; brightly gleams the holy chariot in which the new bride is to fare. The prince burns to run and meet her and longs for the sun’s tardy setting. Even so the noble steed when first the smell that stirs his passions smites upon him proudly shakes his thick, disordered mane and courses over Pharsalia’s plains. His nostrils are aflame and with a neighing he greets the streams that saw his birth. His masters smile at the hope of their stud’s increase, and the mares take pleasure in their handsome mate.Meanwhile the army has laid aside its swords: the soldiers are dressed in white and throng around Stilicho, the bride’s father. No standard-bearer nor[136]Venus acts aspronuba. The parting of the hair with the spear was a relic of marriage by capture (cf.Catullus lxi.).

[263]

red! Pinker thy fingers than Aurora’s, firmer thy shoulders than Diana’s; even thy mother dost thou surpass. If Bacchus, Ariadne’s lover, could transform his mistress’ garland into a constellation how comes it that a more beauteous maid has no crown of stars? Even now Boötes is weaving for thee a starry crown, even now heaven brings new stars to birth to do thee honour. Go, mate with one who is worthy of thee and share with him an empire co-extensive with the world. Ister now shall do thee homage; all nations shall adore thy name. Now Rhine and Elbe shall be thy slaves; thou shalt be queen among the Sygambri. Why should I number the peoples and the Atlantic’s distant shores? The whole world alike shall be thy dowry.”

She spake and fitted to Maria’s neck and shining limbs the rich gear which the happy Nereids had just given her. She parted her hair with the spear’s point, girded up her dress, and with her own hands set the veil over the maiden’s hair.[136]The procession is halted singing at the door; brightly gleams the holy chariot in which the new bride is to fare. The prince burns to run and meet her and longs for the sun’s tardy setting. Even so the noble steed when first the smell that stirs his passions smites upon him proudly shakes his thick, disordered mane and courses over Pharsalia’s plains. His nostrils are aflame and with a neighing he greets the streams that saw his birth. His masters smile at the hope of their stud’s increase, and the mares take pleasure in their handsome mate.

Meanwhile the army has laid aside its swords: the soldiers are dressed in white and throng around Stilicho, the bride’s father. No standard-bearer nor

[136]Venus acts aspronuba. The parting of the hair with the spear was a relic of marriage by capture (cf.Catullus lxi.).

[264]nec miles pluviae flores dispergere ritucessat purpureoque ducem perfundere nimbo.haec quoque velati lauro myrtoque canebant:“Dive parens, seu te complectitur axis Olympi,seu premis Elysias animarum praemia valles,301en promissa tibi Stilicho iam vota peregit;iam gratae rediere vices; cunabula pensat;acceptum reddit thalamum natoque reponit,quod dederat genitor. numquam te, sancte, pigebitiudicii nec te pietas suprema fefellit.306dignus cui leges, dignus cui pignora tantiprincipis et rerum commendarentur habenae.dicere possemus, quae proelia gesta sub Haemoquaeque cruentarint fumantem Strymona pugnae,quam notus clipeo, quanta vi fulminet hostem,311ni prohiberet Hymen, quae tempestiva relatu,nunc canimus. quis consilio, quis iuris et aequinosse modum melior? quod semper dissilit, in teconvenit, ingenio robur, prudentia forti.315fronte quis aequali? quem sic Romana decerentculmina? sufficerent tantis quae pectora curis?stes licet in populo, clamet quicumque videbit:‘hic est, hic Stilicho!’ sic se testatur et offertcelsa potestatis species, non voce feroci,320non alto simulata gradu, non improba gestu.adfectant alii quidquid fingique laborant,hoc donat natura tibi. pudor emicat una[265]common soldier fails to scatter flowers like rain and to drench their leader in a mist of purple blossoms. Crowned with laurel and myrtle they sing: “Blessed father, whether the vault of heaven is thy home, or thou walkest in Elysium, the mansion of the blest, behold Stilicho hath now fulfilled the promises he made thee. A happy interchange has now been made: he compensates thee for his upbringing, and renders marriage in return for marriage, giving back to a son what thou, that son’s father, gave to him. Never needst thou repent of thy choice; a dying father’s love misled thee not. Worthy is he to be thine heir, worthy to be entrusted with the child of so powerful a prince and to hold the reins of government. Now could I tell of the battles fought beneath the slopes of Mount Haemus, the contests wherefrom Strymon reeked red with blood; I could sing the fame of his arms and how, like a thunderbolt, he falls upon his foes, but the marriage-god says me nay. Our song must be such as now befits the singing. Who can surpass Stilicho in counsel? who in knowledge of law and equity? In thee are two opposèd qualities reconciled, wisdom and strength, prudence and fortitude. Was e’er so noble a brow? Whom would Rome’s highest place more befit? What heart but thine is strong enough to bear so many troubles? Shouldst thou stand amid the crowd whoe’er shall see thee would exclaim, ‘That is Stilicho.’ It is thus that the aspect of supreme majesty brings its own witness—not with arrogant voice, or pompous walk, or haughty gesture. The graces which others affect and strive to seem to possess are thine by nature’s gift. Modesty shines forth together with a noble sternness,

[264]

nec miles pluviae flores dispergere ritucessat purpureoque ducem perfundere nimbo.haec quoque velati lauro myrtoque canebant:“Dive parens, seu te complectitur axis Olympi,seu premis Elysias animarum praemia valles,301en promissa tibi Stilicho iam vota peregit;iam gratae rediere vices; cunabula pensat;acceptum reddit thalamum natoque reponit,quod dederat genitor. numquam te, sancte, pigebitiudicii nec te pietas suprema fefellit.306dignus cui leges, dignus cui pignora tantiprincipis et rerum commendarentur habenae.dicere possemus, quae proelia gesta sub Haemoquaeque cruentarint fumantem Strymona pugnae,quam notus clipeo, quanta vi fulminet hostem,311ni prohiberet Hymen, quae tempestiva relatu,nunc canimus. quis consilio, quis iuris et aequinosse modum melior? quod semper dissilit, in teconvenit, ingenio robur, prudentia forti.315fronte quis aequali? quem sic Romana decerentculmina? sufficerent tantis quae pectora curis?stes licet in populo, clamet quicumque videbit:‘hic est, hic Stilicho!’ sic se testatur et offertcelsa potestatis species, non voce feroci,320non alto simulata gradu, non improba gestu.adfectant alii quidquid fingique laborant,hoc donat natura tibi. pudor emicat una

nec miles pluviae flores dispergere ritu

cessat purpureoque ducem perfundere nimbo.

haec quoque velati lauro myrtoque canebant:

“Dive parens, seu te complectitur axis Olympi,

seu premis Elysias animarum praemia valles,301

en promissa tibi Stilicho iam vota peregit;

iam gratae rediere vices; cunabula pensat;

acceptum reddit thalamum natoque reponit,

quod dederat genitor. numquam te, sancte, pigebit

iudicii nec te pietas suprema fefellit.306

dignus cui leges, dignus cui pignora tanti

principis et rerum commendarentur habenae.

dicere possemus, quae proelia gesta sub Haemo

quaeque cruentarint fumantem Strymona pugnae,

quam notus clipeo, quanta vi fulminet hostem,311

ni prohiberet Hymen, quae tempestiva relatu,

nunc canimus. quis consilio, quis iuris et aequi

nosse modum melior? quod semper dissilit, in te

convenit, ingenio robur, prudentia forti.315

fronte quis aequali? quem sic Romana decerent

culmina? sufficerent tantis quae pectora curis?

stes licet in populo, clamet quicumque videbit:

‘hic est, hic Stilicho!’ sic se testatur et offert

celsa potestatis species, non voce feroci,320

non alto simulata gradu, non improba gestu.

adfectant alii quidquid fingique laborant,

hoc donat natura tibi. pudor emicat una

[265]common soldier fails to scatter flowers like rain and to drench their leader in a mist of purple blossoms. Crowned with laurel and myrtle they sing: “Blessed father, whether the vault of heaven is thy home, or thou walkest in Elysium, the mansion of the blest, behold Stilicho hath now fulfilled the promises he made thee. A happy interchange has now been made: he compensates thee for his upbringing, and renders marriage in return for marriage, giving back to a son what thou, that son’s father, gave to him. Never needst thou repent of thy choice; a dying father’s love misled thee not. Worthy is he to be thine heir, worthy to be entrusted with the child of so powerful a prince and to hold the reins of government. Now could I tell of the battles fought beneath the slopes of Mount Haemus, the contests wherefrom Strymon reeked red with blood; I could sing the fame of his arms and how, like a thunderbolt, he falls upon his foes, but the marriage-god says me nay. Our song must be such as now befits the singing. Who can surpass Stilicho in counsel? who in knowledge of law and equity? In thee are two opposèd qualities reconciled, wisdom and strength, prudence and fortitude. Was e’er so noble a brow? Whom would Rome’s highest place more befit? What heart but thine is strong enough to bear so many troubles? Shouldst thou stand amid the crowd whoe’er shall see thee would exclaim, ‘That is Stilicho.’ It is thus that the aspect of supreme majesty brings its own witness—not with arrogant voice, or pompous walk, or haughty gesture. The graces which others affect and strive to seem to possess are thine by nature’s gift. Modesty shines forth together with a noble sternness,

[265]

common soldier fails to scatter flowers like rain and to drench their leader in a mist of purple blossoms. Crowned with laurel and myrtle they sing: “Blessed father, whether the vault of heaven is thy home, or thou walkest in Elysium, the mansion of the blest, behold Stilicho hath now fulfilled the promises he made thee. A happy interchange has now been made: he compensates thee for his upbringing, and renders marriage in return for marriage, giving back to a son what thou, that son’s father, gave to him. Never needst thou repent of thy choice; a dying father’s love misled thee not. Worthy is he to be thine heir, worthy to be entrusted with the child of so powerful a prince and to hold the reins of government. Now could I tell of the battles fought beneath the slopes of Mount Haemus, the contests wherefrom Strymon reeked red with blood; I could sing the fame of his arms and how, like a thunderbolt, he falls upon his foes, but the marriage-god says me nay. Our song must be such as now befits the singing. Who can surpass Stilicho in counsel? who in knowledge of law and equity? In thee are two opposèd qualities reconciled, wisdom and strength, prudence and fortitude. Was e’er so noble a brow? Whom would Rome’s highest place more befit? What heart but thine is strong enough to bear so many troubles? Shouldst thou stand amid the crowd whoe’er shall see thee would exclaim, ‘That is Stilicho.’ It is thus that the aspect of supreme majesty brings its own witness—not with arrogant voice, or pompous walk, or haughty gesture. The graces which others affect and strive to seem to possess are thine by nature’s gift. Modesty shines forth together with a noble sternness,

[266]formosusque rigor vultusque auctura verendoscanities festina venit. cum sorte remota325contingat senio gravitas viresque iuventae,utraque te cingit propriis insignibus aetas.ornatur Fortuna viro. non ulla nocenditela nec infecti iugulis civilibus enses.non odium terrore moves nec frena resolvit330gratia; diligimus pariter pariterque timemus.ipse metus te noster amat, iustissime legumarbiter, egregiae pacis fidissime custos,optime ductorum, fortunatissime patrum.plus iam, plus domino cuncti debere fatemur,335quod gener est, invicte, tuus. vincire corona;insere te nostris contempto iure choreis.sic puer Eucherius superet virtute parentem;aurea sic videat similes Thermantia taedas;sic uterus crescat Mariae; sic natus in ostro340parvus Honoriades genibus considat avitis.”[267]and white hairs come hastening to increase the reverence of thy face. Though dignity be the crown of age and strength, by a far different lot, of youth, yet either season decks thee with its own peculiar honours. Thou art the ornament of fortune. Never tookst thou up the sword for hurt nor ever didst steep its blade in citizens’ blood. No cruelties on thy part aroused men’s hatred; favouritism never slacks the reins of justice. We love thee, yet we fear thee. Our very fear testifies to our love, O thou most righteous interpreter of Law, guardian most sure of peace with honour, greatest of our generals, most blessèd among the fathers of our country. We all confess that now we owe our emperor an even firmer allegiance for that thou, hero invincible, art the father of his bride. Crown thy head with a garland, lay aside thy rank for a moment and join our dances. An thou dost this, so may thy son Eucherius[137]surpass the virtues of his sire; so may the fair Thermantia, thy daughter, live to see a marriage such as this; so may Maria’s womb grow big and a little Honorius, born in the purple, rest on his grandsire’s lap.”[137]Eucherius (born about 388) was the son, and Thermantia the younger daughter, of Stilicho and Serena. After the death of Maria she became Honorius’ second wife.

[266]

formosusque rigor vultusque auctura verendoscanities festina venit. cum sorte remota325contingat senio gravitas viresque iuventae,utraque te cingit propriis insignibus aetas.ornatur Fortuna viro. non ulla nocenditela nec infecti iugulis civilibus enses.non odium terrore moves nec frena resolvit330gratia; diligimus pariter pariterque timemus.ipse metus te noster amat, iustissime legumarbiter, egregiae pacis fidissime custos,optime ductorum, fortunatissime patrum.plus iam, plus domino cuncti debere fatemur,335quod gener est, invicte, tuus. vincire corona;insere te nostris contempto iure choreis.sic puer Eucherius superet virtute parentem;aurea sic videat similes Thermantia taedas;sic uterus crescat Mariae; sic natus in ostro340parvus Honoriades genibus considat avitis.”

formosusque rigor vultusque auctura verendos

canities festina venit. cum sorte remota325

contingat senio gravitas viresque iuventae,

utraque te cingit propriis insignibus aetas.

ornatur Fortuna viro. non ulla nocendi

tela nec infecti iugulis civilibus enses.

non odium terrore moves nec frena resolvit330

gratia; diligimus pariter pariterque timemus.

ipse metus te noster amat, iustissime legum

arbiter, egregiae pacis fidissime custos,

optime ductorum, fortunatissime patrum.

plus iam, plus domino cuncti debere fatemur,335

quod gener est, invicte, tuus. vincire corona;

insere te nostris contempto iure choreis.

sic puer Eucherius superet virtute parentem;

aurea sic videat similes Thermantia taedas;

sic uterus crescat Mariae; sic natus in ostro340

parvus Honoriades genibus considat avitis.”

[267]and white hairs come hastening to increase the reverence of thy face. Though dignity be the crown of age and strength, by a far different lot, of youth, yet either season decks thee with its own peculiar honours. Thou art the ornament of fortune. Never tookst thou up the sword for hurt nor ever didst steep its blade in citizens’ blood. No cruelties on thy part aroused men’s hatred; favouritism never slacks the reins of justice. We love thee, yet we fear thee. Our very fear testifies to our love, O thou most righteous interpreter of Law, guardian most sure of peace with honour, greatest of our generals, most blessèd among the fathers of our country. We all confess that now we owe our emperor an even firmer allegiance for that thou, hero invincible, art the father of his bride. Crown thy head with a garland, lay aside thy rank for a moment and join our dances. An thou dost this, so may thy son Eucherius[137]surpass the virtues of his sire; so may the fair Thermantia, thy daughter, live to see a marriage such as this; so may Maria’s womb grow big and a little Honorius, born in the purple, rest on his grandsire’s lap.”[137]Eucherius (born about 388) was the son, and Thermantia the younger daughter, of Stilicho and Serena. After the death of Maria she became Honorius’ second wife.

[267]

and white hairs come hastening to increase the reverence of thy face. Though dignity be the crown of age and strength, by a far different lot, of youth, yet either season decks thee with its own peculiar honours. Thou art the ornament of fortune. Never tookst thou up the sword for hurt nor ever didst steep its blade in citizens’ blood. No cruelties on thy part aroused men’s hatred; favouritism never slacks the reins of justice. We love thee, yet we fear thee. Our very fear testifies to our love, O thou most righteous interpreter of Law, guardian most sure of peace with honour, greatest of our generals, most blessèd among the fathers of our country. We all confess that now we owe our emperor an even firmer allegiance for that thou, hero invincible, art the father of his bride. Crown thy head with a garland, lay aside thy rank for a moment and join our dances. An thou dost this, so may thy son Eucherius[137]surpass the virtues of his sire; so may the fair Thermantia, thy daughter, live to see a marriage such as this; so may Maria’s womb grow big and a little Honorius, born in the purple, rest on his grandsire’s lap.”

[137]Eucherius (born about 388) was the son, and Thermantia the younger daughter, of Stilicho and Serena. After the death of Maria she became Honorius’ second wife.

[268]PANEGYRICUS DE TERTIO CONSULATU HONORII AUGUSTIPRAEFATIO(VI.)Parvos non aquilis fas est educere fetusante fidem solis iudiciumque poli.nam pater, excusso saluit cum tegmine prolesovaque maternus rupit hiulca tepor,protinus implumes convertit ad aethera nidos5et recto flammas imperat ore pati.consulit ardentes radios et luce magistranatorum vires ingeniumque probat.degenerem refugo torsit qui lumine visum,unguibus hunc saevis ira paterna ferit.10exploratores oculis qui pertulit ignessustinuitque acie nobiliore diem,nutritur volucrumque potens et fulminis heres,gesturus summo tela trisulca Iovi.me quoque Pieriis temptatum saepius antris15audet magna suo mittere Roma deo.iam dominas aures, iam regia tecta meremuret chelys Augusto iudice nostra sonat.[269]PANEGYRIC ON THE THIRD CONSULSHIP OF THE EMPEROR HONORIUS (A.D.396)PREFACE(VI.)Eagles may not rear their young without the sun’s permission and the goodwill of heaven. So soon as the chicks have shattered their shells and issued forth, after that the warmth of their mother’s body has cracked the opening egg, the father bird makes haste to carry the unfledged nestlings aloft and bids them gaze at the sun’s fires with unblinking eye. He takes counsel of those bright beams and under light’s schooling makes trial of the strength and temper of his sons. The angry father strikes with pitiless talons the degenerate who turns away his glance, but he whose eye can bear the searching flame, who with bolder sight can outstare the noonday sun, is brought up a king of birds, heir to the thunderbolt, destined to carry Jove’s three-forked weapon. So mighty Rome fears not to send me, oft tested e’er now in the Muses’ caverns, to face the emperor, her god. Now have I won an emperor’s ear, the entrance to an emperor’s palace and the emperor himself as judge of my lyre’s song.

[268]

(VI.)

Parvos non aquilis fas est educere fetusante fidem solis iudiciumque poli.nam pater, excusso saluit cum tegmine prolesovaque maternus rupit hiulca tepor,protinus implumes convertit ad aethera nidos5et recto flammas imperat ore pati.consulit ardentes radios et luce magistranatorum vires ingeniumque probat.degenerem refugo torsit qui lumine visum,unguibus hunc saevis ira paterna ferit.10exploratores oculis qui pertulit ignessustinuitque acie nobiliore diem,nutritur volucrumque potens et fulminis heres,gesturus summo tela trisulca Iovi.me quoque Pieriis temptatum saepius antris15audet magna suo mittere Roma deo.iam dominas aures, iam regia tecta meremuret chelys Augusto iudice nostra sonat.

Parvos non aquilis fas est educere fetus

ante fidem solis iudiciumque poli.

nam pater, excusso saluit cum tegmine proles

ovaque maternus rupit hiulca tepor,

protinus implumes convertit ad aethera nidos5

et recto flammas imperat ore pati.

consulit ardentes radios et luce magistra

natorum vires ingeniumque probat.

degenerem refugo torsit qui lumine visum,

unguibus hunc saevis ira paterna ferit.10

exploratores oculis qui pertulit ignes

sustinuitque acie nobiliore diem,

nutritur volucrumque potens et fulminis heres,

gesturus summo tela trisulca Iovi.

me quoque Pieriis temptatum saepius antris15

audet magna suo mittere Roma deo.

iam dominas aures, iam regia tecta meremur

et chelys Augusto iudice nostra sonat.

[269]PANEGYRIC ON THE THIRD CONSULSHIP OF THE EMPEROR HONORIUS (A.D.396)PREFACE(VI.)Eagles may not rear their young without the sun’s permission and the goodwill of heaven. So soon as the chicks have shattered their shells and issued forth, after that the warmth of their mother’s body has cracked the opening egg, the father bird makes haste to carry the unfledged nestlings aloft and bids them gaze at the sun’s fires with unblinking eye. He takes counsel of those bright beams and under light’s schooling makes trial of the strength and temper of his sons. The angry father strikes with pitiless talons the degenerate who turns away his glance, but he whose eye can bear the searching flame, who with bolder sight can outstare the noonday sun, is brought up a king of birds, heir to the thunderbolt, destined to carry Jove’s three-forked weapon. So mighty Rome fears not to send me, oft tested e’er now in the Muses’ caverns, to face the emperor, her god. Now have I won an emperor’s ear, the entrance to an emperor’s palace and the emperor himself as judge of my lyre’s song.

[269]

(VI.)

Eagles may not rear their young without the sun’s permission and the goodwill of heaven. So soon as the chicks have shattered their shells and issued forth, after that the warmth of their mother’s body has cracked the opening egg, the father bird makes haste to carry the unfledged nestlings aloft and bids them gaze at the sun’s fires with unblinking eye. He takes counsel of those bright beams and under light’s schooling makes trial of the strength and temper of his sons. The angry father strikes with pitiless talons the degenerate who turns away his glance, but he whose eye can bear the searching flame, who with bolder sight can outstare the noonday sun, is brought up a king of birds, heir to the thunderbolt, destined to carry Jove’s three-forked weapon. So mighty Rome fears not to send me, oft tested e’er now in the Muses’ caverns, to face the emperor, her god. Now have I won an emperor’s ear, the entrance to an emperor’s palace and the emperor himself as judge of my lyre’s song.

[270]PANEGYRICUS(VII.)Tertia Romulei sumant exordia fascesterque tuas ducat bellatrix pompa curules;festior annus eat cinctusque imitata Gabinosdives Hydaspeis augescat purpura gemmis;succedant armis trabeae, tentoria lictor5ambiat et Latiae redeant ad signa secures.tuque o qui patrium curis aequalibus orbemEoo cum fratre regis, procede secundisalitibus Phoebique novos ordire meatus,spes votumque poli, quem primo a limine vitae10nutrix aula fovet, strictis quem fulgida telisinter laurigeros aluerunt castra triumphos.ardua privatos nescit Fortuna penateset regnum cum luce dedit. cognata potestasexcepit Tyrio venerabile pignus in ostro15lustravitque tuos aquilis victricibus ortusmiles et in mediis cunabula praebuit hastis.te nascente ferox toto Germania Rheno[271]PANEGYRIC(VII.)Let the consular fasces of Romulus open a third year, and for the third time let the warlike procession accompany thy curule litter. More festal in array be the coming year, and let purple, folded in Gabine[138]guise, be proudly enriched with gems of Hydaspes; let the cloak of peace succeed the arms of war; let the lictor guard the consul’s tent and the Latin axes return to the standards.[139]And do thou, Honorius, who with thy brother, lord of the East, governest with equal care a world that was once thy sire’s, go thy way with favourable omens and order the sun’s new course, thyself heaven’s hope and desire, palace-nurtured even from life’s threshold, to whom the camp, gleaming with drawn swords, gave schooling among the laurels of victory. Thy towering fortune has never known the condition of a private citizen; when thou wast born thou wast born a king. Power which was thine by birth received thee, a precious pledge, amid the purple; soldiers bearing victorious standards inaugurated thy birth and set thy cradle in the midst of arms. When thou wast born fierce Germany trembled along[138]Thecinctus Gabinuswas one of the insignia of the consulship. It consisted in girding the toga tight round the body by means of one of itslaciniae(= loose ends). Servius (on Virg.Aen.vii. 612) has a story that Gabii was invaded during the performance of a sacrifice and that the participants repulsed the enemy in theircinctus.[139]Claudian suggests the uniting of civil and military power in the hands of Honorius.

[270]

(VII.)

Tertia Romulei sumant exordia fascesterque tuas ducat bellatrix pompa curules;festior annus eat cinctusque imitata Gabinosdives Hydaspeis augescat purpura gemmis;succedant armis trabeae, tentoria lictor5ambiat et Latiae redeant ad signa secures.tuque o qui patrium curis aequalibus orbemEoo cum fratre regis, procede secundisalitibus Phoebique novos ordire meatus,spes votumque poli, quem primo a limine vitae10nutrix aula fovet, strictis quem fulgida telisinter laurigeros aluerunt castra triumphos.ardua privatos nescit Fortuna penateset regnum cum luce dedit. cognata potestasexcepit Tyrio venerabile pignus in ostro15lustravitque tuos aquilis victricibus ortusmiles et in mediis cunabula praebuit hastis.te nascente ferox toto Germania Rheno

Tertia Romulei sumant exordia fasces

terque tuas ducat bellatrix pompa curules;

festior annus eat cinctusque imitata Gabinos

dives Hydaspeis augescat purpura gemmis;

succedant armis trabeae, tentoria lictor5

ambiat et Latiae redeant ad signa secures.

tuque o qui patrium curis aequalibus orbem

Eoo cum fratre regis, procede secundis

alitibus Phoebique novos ordire meatus,

spes votumque poli, quem primo a limine vitae10

nutrix aula fovet, strictis quem fulgida telis

inter laurigeros aluerunt castra triumphos.

ardua privatos nescit Fortuna penates

et regnum cum luce dedit. cognata potestas

excepit Tyrio venerabile pignus in ostro15

lustravitque tuos aquilis victricibus ortus

miles et in mediis cunabula praebuit hastis.

te nascente ferox toto Germania Rheno

[271]PANEGYRIC(VII.)Let the consular fasces of Romulus open a third year, and for the third time let the warlike procession accompany thy curule litter. More festal in array be the coming year, and let purple, folded in Gabine[138]guise, be proudly enriched with gems of Hydaspes; let the cloak of peace succeed the arms of war; let the lictor guard the consul’s tent and the Latin axes return to the standards.[139]And do thou, Honorius, who with thy brother, lord of the East, governest with equal care a world that was once thy sire’s, go thy way with favourable omens and order the sun’s new course, thyself heaven’s hope and desire, palace-nurtured even from life’s threshold, to whom the camp, gleaming with drawn swords, gave schooling among the laurels of victory. Thy towering fortune has never known the condition of a private citizen; when thou wast born thou wast born a king. Power which was thine by birth received thee, a precious pledge, amid the purple; soldiers bearing victorious standards inaugurated thy birth and set thy cradle in the midst of arms. When thou wast born fierce Germany trembled along[138]Thecinctus Gabinuswas one of the insignia of the consulship. It consisted in girding the toga tight round the body by means of one of itslaciniae(= loose ends). Servius (on Virg.Aen.vii. 612) has a story that Gabii was invaded during the performance of a sacrifice and that the participants repulsed the enemy in theircinctus.[139]Claudian suggests the uniting of civil and military power in the hands of Honorius.

[271]

(VII.)

Let the consular fasces of Romulus open a third year, and for the third time let the warlike procession accompany thy curule litter. More festal in array be the coming year, and let purple, folded in Gabine[138]guise, be proudly enriched with gems of Hydaspes; let the cloak of peace succeed the arms of war; let the lictor guard the consul’s tent and the Latin axes return to the standards.[139]And do thou, Honorius, who with thy brother, lord of the East, governest with equal care a world that was once thy sire’s, go thy way with favourable omens and order the sun’s new course, thyself heaven’s hope and desire, palace-nurtured even from life’s threshold, to whom the camp, gleaming with drawn swords, gave schooling among the laurels of victory. Thy towering fortune has never known the condition of a private citizen; when thou wast born thou wast born a king. Power which was thine by birth received thee, a precious pledge, amid the purple; soldiers bearing victorious standards inaugurated thy birth and set thy cradle in the midst of arms. When thou wast born fierce Germany trembled along

[138]Thecinctus Gabinuswas one of the insignia of the consulship. It consisted in girding the toga tight round the body by means of one of itslaciniae(= loose ends). Servius (on Virg.Aen.vii. 612) has a story that Gabii was invaded during the performance of a sacrifice and that the participants repulsed the enemy in theircinctus.

[139]Claudian suggests the uniting of civil and military power in the hands of Honorius.

[272]intremuit movitque suas formidine silvasCaucasus et positis numen confessa pharetris20ignavas Meroë traxit de crine sagittas.reptasti per scuta puer, regumque recentesexuviae tibi ludus erant, primusque solebasaspera complecti torvum post proelia patrem,signa triumphato quotiens flexisset ab Histro25Arctoa de strage calens, et poscere partemde spoliis, Scythicos arcus aut rapta Geloniscingula vel iaculum Daci vel frena Suebi.ille coruscanti clipeo te saepe volentemsustulit adridens et pectore pressit anhelo30intrepidum ferri galeae nec triste timentemfulgur et ad summas tendentem brachia cristas.tum sic laetus ait: “rex o stellantis Olympi,talis perdomito redeat mihi filius hoste,Hyrcanas populatus opes aut caede superbus35Assyria, sic ense rubens, sic flamine crebroturbidus et grato respersus pulvere belli,armaque gaviso referat captiva parenti.”Mox ubi firmasti recto vestigia gressu,non tibi desidias molles nec marcida luxu40otia nec somnos genitor permisit inertes,sed nova per duros instruxit membra laboreset cruda teneras exercuit indole vires:frigora saeva pati, gravibus non cedere nimbis,aestivum tolerare iubar, transnare sonoras45torrentum furias, ascensu vincere montes,[273]the Rhine’s full course, Caucasus shook his forests in fear, and the people of Meroë, confessing thy divinity, laid aside their quivers and drew the useless arrows from their hair. As a child thou didst crawl among shields, fresh-won spoils of monarchs were thy playthings, and thou wert ever the first to embrace thy stern father on his return from rude battles, when that, reeking with the blood of northern savages, he came home victorious from his conquest over the tribes of the Danube. Then wouldst thou demand thy share of the spoils, a Scythian bow or a belt won from the Geloni, a Dacian spear or Suabian bridle. Often would he smile on thee and uplift thee, eager for the honour, on his shining shield, and clasp thee to his still panting bosom. Thou fearedst not his coat of mail nor the dread gleam of his helmet but stretchedst out thy hands to grasp its lofty plumes. Then in his joy thy father cried: “King of starry Olympus, may this my son return in like manner from the lands of conquered foes, rich with the spoils of Hyrcania or proud with the slaughter of the Assyrians; his sword thus red with blood, his countenance thus roughened by the constant blasts and stained with the welcome dust of heroic combat, may he bring back to his happy father the arms of his conquered foes.”Soon when thou couldst stand upright and walk with firm step thy sire forbade thee enervating sloth, luxurious ease, time-wasting slumbers. He strengthened thy young limbs with hard toils and rude was the training wherewith he exercised thy tender powers. Thou wert taught to bear winter’s cruel cold, to shrink not before storm and tempest, to face the heat of summer, to swim across loud-roaring torrents, to

[272]

intremuit movitque suas formidine silvasCaucasus et positis numen confessa pharetris20ignavas Meroë traxit de crine sagittas.reptasti per scuta puer, regumque recentesexuviae tibi ludus erant, primusque solebasaspera complecti torvum post proelia patrem,signa triumphato quotiens flexisset ab Histro25Arctoa de strage calens, et poscere partemde spoliis, Scythicos arcus aut rapta Geloniscingula vel iaculum Daci vel frena Suebi.ille coruscanti clipeo te saepe volentemsustulit adridens et pectore pressit anhelo30intrepidum ferri galeae nec triste timentemfulgur et ad summas tendentem brachia cristas.tum sic laetus ait: “rex o stellantis Olympi,talis perdomito redeat mihi filius hoste,Hyrcanas populatus opes aut caede superbus35Assyria, sic ense rubens, sic flamine crebroturbidus et grato respersus pulvere belli,armaque gaviso referat captiva parenti.”Mox ubi firmasti recto vestigia gressu,non tibi desidias molles nec marcida luxu40otia nec somnos genitor permisit inertes,sed nova per duros instruxit membra laboreset cruda teneras exercuit indole vires:frigora saeva pati, gravibus non cedere nimbis,aestivum tolerare iubar, transnare sonoras45torrentum furias, ascensu vincere montes,

intremuit movitque suas formidine silvas

Caucasus et positis numen confessa pharetris20

ignavas Meroë traxit de crine sagittas.

reptasti per scuta puer, regumque recentes

exuviae tibi ludus erant, primusque solebas

aspera complecti torvum post proelia patrem,

signa triumphato quotiens flexisset ab Histro25

Arctoa de strage calens, et poscere partem

de spoliis, Scythicos arcus aut rapta Gelonis

cingula vel iaculum Daci vel frena Suebi.

ille coruscanti clipeo te saepe volentem

sustulit adridens et pectore pressit anhelo30

intrepidum ferri galeae nec triste timentem

fulgur et ad summas tendentem brachia cristas.

tum sic laetus ait: “rex o stellantis Olympi,

talis perdomito redeat mihi filius hoste,

Hyrcanas populatus opes aut caede superbus35

Assyria, sic ense rubens, sic flamine crebro

turbidus et grato respersus pulvere belli,

armaque gaviso referat captiva parenti.”

Mox ubi firmasti recto vestigia gressu,

non tibi desidias molles nec marcida luxu40

otia nec somnos genitor permisit inertes,

sed nova per duros instruxit membra labores

et cruda teneras exercuit indole vires:

frigora saeva pati, gravibus non cedere nimbis,

aestivum tolerare iubar, transnare sonoras45

torrentum furias, ascensu vincere montes,

[273]the Rhine’s full course, Caucasus shook his forests in fear, and the people of Meroë, confessing thy divinity, laid aside their quivers and drew the useless arrows from their hair. As a child thou didst crawl among shields, fresh-won spoils of monarchs were thy playthings, and thou wert ever the first to embrace thy stern father on his return from rude battles, when that, reeking with the blood of northern savages, he came home victorious from his conquest over the tribes of the Danube. Then wouldst thou demand thy share of the spoils, a Scythian bow or a belt won from the Geloni, a Dacian spear or Suabian bridle. Often would he smile on thee and uplift thee, eager for the honour, on his shining shield, and clasp thee to his still panting bosom. Thou fearedst not his coat of mail nor the dread gleam of his helmet but stretchedst out thy hands to grasp its lofty plumes. Then in his joy thy father cried: “King of starry Olympus, may this my son return in like manner from the lands of conquered foes, rich with the spoils of Hyrcania or proud with the slaughter of the Assyrians; his sword thus red with blood, his countenance thus roughened by the constant blasts and stained with the welcome dust of heroic combat, may he bring back to his happy father the arms of his conquered foes.”Soon when thou couldst stand upright and walk with firm step thy sire forbade thee enervating sloth, luxurious ease, time-wasting slumbers. He strengthened thy young limbs with hard toils and rude was the training wherewith he exercised thy tender powers. Thou wert taught to bear winter’s cruel cold, to shrink not before storm and tempest, to face the heat of summer, to swim across loud-roaring torrents, to

[273]

the Rhine’s full course, Caucasus shook his forests in fear, and the people of Meroë, confessing thy divinity, laid aside their quivers and drew the useless arrows from their hair. As a child thou didst crawl among shields, fresh-won spoils of monarchs were thy playthings, and thou wert ever the first to embrace thy stern father on his return from rude battles, when that, reeking with the blood of northern savages, he came home victorious from his conquest over the tribes of the Danube. Then wouldst thou demand thy share of the spoils, a Scythian bow or a belt won from the Geloni, a Dacian spear or Suabian bridle. Often would he smile on thee and uplift thee, eager for the honour, on his shining shield, and clasp thee to his still panting bosom. Thou fearedst not his coat of mail nor the dread gleam of his helmet but stretchedst out thy hands to grasp its lofty plumes. Then in his joy thy father cried: “King of starry Olympus, may this my son return in like manner from the lands of conquered foes, rich with the spoils of Hyrcania or proud with the slaughter of the Assyrians; his sword thus red with blood, his countenance thus roughened by the constant blasts and stained with the welcome dust of heroic combat, may he bring back to his happy father the arms of his conquered foes.”

Soon when thou couldst stand upright and walk with firm step thy sire forbade thee enervating sloth, luxurious ease, time-wasting slumbers. He strengthened thy young limbs with hard toils and rude was the training wherewith he exercised thy tender powers. Thou wert taught to bear winter’s cruel cold, to shrink not before storm and tempest, to face the heat of summer, to swim across loud-roaring torrents, to

[274]planitiem cursu, valles et concava saltu,nec non in clipeo vigiles producere noctes,in galea potare nives, nunc spicula cornutendere, nunc glandes Baleari spargere funda.50quoque magis nimium pugnae inflammaret amorem,facta tui numerabat avi, quem litus adustaehorrescit Libyae ratibusque impervia Thule:ille leves Mauros nec falso nomine Pictosedomuit Scottumque vago mucrone secutus55fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus undaset geminis fulgens utroque sub axe tropaeisTethyos alternae refluas calcavit harenas.hos tibi virtutum stimulos, haec semina laudum,haec exempla dabat. non ocius hausit Achilles60semiferi praecepta senis, seu cuspidis artessive lyrae cantus medicas seu disceret herbas.Interea turbata fides. civilia rursusbella tonant dubiumque quatit discordia mundum.pro crimen superum, longi pro dedecus aevi:65barbarus Hesperias exul possederat urbessceptraque deiecto dederat Romana clienti.iam princeps molitur iter gentesque remotascolligit Aurorae, tumidus quascumque pererrat69Euphrates, quas lustrat Halys, quas ditat Orontes;turiferos Arabes saltus, vada Caspia Medi,Armenii Phasin, Parthi liquere Niphaten.Quae tibi tuna Martis rabies quantusque sequendiardor erat? quanto flagrabant pectora voto[275]climb mountains, to run o’er the plain, to leap ravines and hollows, to spend sleepless nights of watching under arms, to drink melted snow from thy casque, to shoot the arrow from the bow or hurl the acorn-missiles with a Balearic sling. And the more to inflame thy heart with love of battle he would recount to thee the deeds of thy grandsire, object of dread to Libya’s sun-scorched shores and Thule whither no ship can sail. He conquered the fleet Moors and the well-named[140]Picts; his roaming sword pursued the flying Scot; his adventurous oars broke the surface of the northern seas. Crowned with the spoils of triumphs won beneath the northern and the southern sky he trod the wave-swept strand of either Ocean. Thus did he spur thy courage, thus sow the seeds of fame; these were the examples he gave. Not more avidly did Achilles himself drink in the Centaur’s precepts when he learnt of him how to wield the spear or play the lyre or discern healing plants.Meanwhile the world forgot its loyalty: the thunder of civil war sounded afresh and discord shook the tottering earth. O ye guilty gods! O shame everlasting!—a barbarian[141]exile had possessed himself of the cities of Italy and had entrusted the government of Rome to some low-born dependent. But Theodosius was already afoot, rallying to his standard the distant nations of the East, the dwellers on the banks of flooding Euphrates, clear Halys, and rich Orontes. The Arabs left their spicy groves, the Medes the waters of the Caspian Sea, the Armenians the river Phasis, the Parthians the Niphates.What lust of battle then filled thy heart, what longing to accompany thy father! What would not[140]Pict, to a Roman, means “painted.” They were. “well-named Picts” because they painted themselves with woad or other stain.[141]Arbogast is the “barbarian,” Eugenius (by trade a rhetorician) the “dependent.” See Introduction, p. ix.

[274]

planitiem cursu, valles et concava saltu,nec non in clipeo vigiles producere noctes,in galea potare nives, nunc spicula cornutendere, nunc glandes Baleari spargere funda.50quoque magis nimium pugnae inflammaret amorem,facta tui numerabat avi, quem litus adustaehorrescit Libyae ratibusque impervia Thule:ille leves Mauros nec falso nomine Pictosedomuit Scottumque vago mucrone secutus55fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus undaset geminis fulgens utroque sub axe tropaeisTethyos alternae refluas calcavit harenas.hos tibi virtutum stimulos, haec semina laudum,haec exempla dabat. non ocius hausit Achilles60semiferi praecepta senis, seu cuspidis artessive lyrae cantus medicas seu disceret herbas.Interea turbata fides. civilia rursusbella tonant dubiumque quatit discordia mundum.pro crimen superum, longi pro dedecus aevi:65barbarus Hesperias exul possederat urbessceptraque deiecto dederat Romana clienti.iam princeps molitur iter gentesque remotascolligit Aurorae, tumidus quascumque pererrat69Euphrates, quas lustrat Halys, quas ditat Orontes;turiferos Arabes saltus, vada Caspia Medi,Armenii Phasin, Parthi liquere Niphaten.Quae tibi tuna Martis rabies quantusque sequendiardor erat? quanto flagrabant pectora voto

planitiem cursu, valles et concava saltu,

nec non in clipeo vigiles producere noctes,

in galea potare nives, nunc spicula cornu

tendere, nunc glandes Baleari spargere funda.50

quoque magis nimium pugnae inflammaret amorem,

facta tui numerabat avi, quem litus adustae

horrescit Libyae ratibusque impervia Thule:

ille leves Mauros nec falso nomine Pictos

edomuit Scottumque vago mucrone secutus55

fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus undas

et geminis fulgens utroque sub axe tropaeis

Tethyos alternae refluas calcavit harenas.

hos tibi virtutum stimulos, haec semina laudum,

haec exempla dabat. non ocius hausit Achilles60

semiferi praecepta senis, seu cuspidis artes

sive lyrae cantus medicas seu disceret herbas.

Interea turbata fides. civilia rursus

bella tonant dubiumque quatit discordia mundum.

pro crimen superum, longi pro dedecus aevi:65

barbarus Hesperias exul possederat urbes

sceptraque deiecto dederat Romana clienti.

iam princeps molitur iter gentesque remotas

colligit Aurorae, tumidus quascumque pererrat69

Euphrates, quas lustrat Halys, quas ditat Orontes;

turiferos Arabes saltus, vada Caspia Medi,

Armenii Phasin, Parthi liquere Niphaten.

Quae tibi tuna Martis rabies quantusque sequendi

ardor erat? quanto flagrabant pectora voto

[275]climb mountains, to run o’er the plain, to leap ravines and hollows, to spend sleepless nights of watching under arms, to drink melted snow from thy casque, to shoot the arrow from the bow or hurl the acorn-missiles with a Balearic sling. And the more to inflame thy heart with love of battle he would recount to thee the deeds of thy grandsire, object of dread to Libya’s sun-scorched shores and Thule whither no ship can sail. He conquered the fleet Moors and the well-named[140]Picts; his roaming sword pursued the flying Scot; his adventurous oars broke the surface of the northern seas. Crowned with the spoils of triumphs won beneath the northern and the southern sky he trod the wave-swept strand of either Ocean. Thus did he spur thy courage, thus sow the seeds of fame; these were the examples he gave. Not more avidly did Achilles himself drink in the Centaur’s precepts when he learnt of him how to wield the spear or play the lyre or discern healing plants.Meanwhile the world forgot its loyalty: the thunder of civil war sounded afresh and discord shook the tottering earth. O ye guilty gods! O shame everlasting!—a barbarian[141]exile had possessed himself of the cities of Italy and had entrusted the government of Rome to some low-born dependent. But Theodosius was already afoot, rallying to his standard the distant nations of the East, the dwellers on the banks of flooding Euphrates, clear Halys, and rich Orontes. The Arabs left their spicy groves, the Medes the waters of the Caspian Sea, the Armenians the river Phasis, the Parthians the Niphates.What lust of battle then filled thy heart, what longing to accompany thy father! What would not[140]Pict, to a Roman, means “painted.” They were. “well-named Picts” because they painted themselves with woad or other stain.[141]Arbogast is the “barbarian,” Eugenius (by trade a rhetorician) the “dependent.” See Introduction, p. ix.

[275]

climb mountains, to run o’er the plain, to leap ravines and hollows, to spend sleepless nights of watching under arms, to drink melted snow from thy casque, to shoot the arrow from the bow or hurl the acorn-missiles with a Balearic sling. And the more to inflame thy heart with love of battle he would recount to thee the deeds of thy grandsire, object of dread to Libya’s sun-scorched shores and Thule whither no ship can sail. He conquered the fleet Moors and the well-named[140]Picts; his roaming sword pursued the flying Scot; his adventurous oars broke the surface of the northern seas. Crowned with the spoils of triumphs won beneath the northern and the southern sky he trod the wave-swept strand of either Ocean. Thus did he spur thy courage, thus sow the seeds of fame; these were the examples he gave. Not more avidly did Achilles himself drink in the Centaur’s precepts when he learnt of him how to wield the spear or play the lyre or discern healing plants.

Meanwhile the world forgot its loyalty: the thunder of civil war sounded afresh and discord shook the tottering earth. O ye guilty gods! O shame everlasting!—a barbarian[141]exile had possessed himself of the cities of Italy and had entrusted the government of Rome to some low-born dependent. But Theodosius was already afoot, rallying to his standard the distant nations of the East, the dwellers on the banks of flooding Euphrates, clear Halys, and rich Orontes. The Arabs left their spicy groves, the Medes the waters of the Caspian Sea, the Armenians the river Phasis, the Parthians the Niphates.

What lust of battle then filled thy heart, what longing to accompany thy father! What would not

[140]Pict, to a Roman, means “painted.” They were. “well-named Picts” because they painted themselves with woad or other stain.

[141]Arbogast is the “barbarian,” Eugenius (by trade a rhetorician) the “dependent.” See Introduction, p. ix.

[276]optatas audire tubas campique cruenta75tempestate frui truncisque inmergere plantas?ut leo, quem fulvae matris spelunca tegebatuberibus solitum pasci, cum crescere sensitungue pedes et terga iubis et dentibus ora,iam negat imbelles epulas et rupe relicta80Gaetulo comes ire patri stabulisque minariaestuat et celsi tabo sordere iuvenci.ille vetat rerumque tibi commendat habenaset sacro meritos ornat diademate crines.tantaque se rudibus pietas ostendit in annis,85sic aetas animo cessit, quererentur ut omnesimperium tibi sero datum.Victoria veloxauspiciis effecta tuis. Pugnastis uterque:tu fatis genitorque manu. te propter et Alpesinvadi faciles cauto nec profuit hosti90munitis haesisse locis: spes inrita valliconcidit et scopulis patuerunt claustra revulsis.te propter gelidis Aquilo de monte procellisobruit adversas acies revolutaque telavertit in auctores et turbine reppulit hastas95o nimium dilecte deo, cui fundit ab antrisAeolus armatas hiemes, cui militat aetheret coniurati veniunt ad classica venti.Alpinae rubuere nives, et Frigidus amnis[277]thine eager spirit have given to hear the beloved clarion’s note and to revel in the bloody storm of battle, trampling upon the slaughtered bodies of thy foes! Like a young lion in a cave, accustomed to look for nourishment to the teats of its tawny mother, who, so soon as he finds talons beginning to grow from out his paws and a mane sprout from his neck and teeth arm his jaws, will have none of this inglorious food but burns to leave his cavern home and accompany his Gaetulian sire, to bring death upon the herds and steep him in the gore of some tall steer. But Theodosius said thee nay, and put the reins of government into thy hands, crowning thy head with the sacred diadem it wore so meetly. And so did thy virtue show in earliest years, so did thy soul out-range thy youth that all complained that to thee empire was granted late.Swiftly beneath thy auspices was victory achieved. Both fought for us—thou with thy happy influence, thy father with his strong right arm. Thanks to thee the Alps lay open to our armies, nor did it avail the careful foe to cling to fortified posts. Their ramparts, and the trust they put therein, fell; the rocks were torn away and their hiding-places exposed. Thanks to thine influence the wind of the frozen North overwhelmed the enemy’s line with his mountain storms, hurled back their weapons upon the throwers and with the violence of his tempest drove back their spears. Verily God is with thee, when at thy behest Aeolus frees the armed tempests from his cave, when the very elements fight for thee and the allied winds come at the call of thy trumpets. The Alpine snows grew red with slaughter, the cold Frigidus, its waters turned to blood, ran hot and steaming, and would

[276]

optatas audire tubas campique cruenta75tempestate frui truncisque inmergere plantas?ut leo, quem fulvae matris spelunca tegebatuberibus solitum pasci, cum crescere sensitungue pedes et terga iubis et dentibus ora,iam negat imbelles epulas et rupe relicta80Gaetulo comes ire patri stabulisque minariaestuat et celsi tabo sordere iuvenci.ille vetat rerumque tibi commendat habenaset sacro meritos ornat diademate crines.tantaque se rudibus pietas ostendit in annis,85sic aetas animo cessit, quererentur ut omnesimperium tibi sero datum.Victoria veloxauspiciis effecta tuis. Pugnastis uterque:tu fatis genitorque manu. te propter et Alpesinvadi faciles cauto nec profuit hosti90munitis haesisse locis: spes inrita valliconcidit et scopulis patuerunt claustra revulsis.te propter gelidis Aquilo de monte procellisobruit adversas acies revolutaque telavertit in auctores et turbine reppulit hastas95o nimium dilecte deo, cui fundit ab antrisAeolus armatas hiemes, cui militat aetheret coniurati veniunt ad classica venti.Alpinae rubuere nives, et Frigidus amnis

optatas audire tubas campique cruenta75

tempestate frui truncisque inmergere plantas?

ut leo, quem fulvae matris spelunca tegebat

uberibus solitum pasci, cum crescere sensit

ungue pedes et terga iubis et dentibus ora,

iam negat imbelles epulas et rupe relicta80

Gaetulo comes ire patri stabulisque minari

aestuat et celsi tabo sordere iuvenci.

ille vetat rerumque tibi commendat habenas

et sacro meritos ornat diademate crines.

tantaque se rudibus pietas ostendit in annis,85

sic aetas animo cessit, quererentur ut omnes

imperium tibi sero datum.

Victoria velox

auspiciis effecta tuis. Pugnastis uterque:

tu fatis genitorque manu. te propter et Alpes

invadi faciles cauto nec profuit hosti90

munitis haesisse locis: spes inrita valli

concidit et scopulis patuerunt claustra revulsis.

te propter gelidis Aquilo de monte procellis

obruit adversas acies revolutaque tela

vertit in auctores et turbine reppulit hastas95

o nimium dilecte deo, cui fundit ab antris

Aeolus armatas hiemes, cui militat aether

et coniurati veniunt ad classica venti.

Alpinae rubuere nives, et Frigidus amnis

[277]thine eager spirit have given to hear the beloved clarion’s note and to revel in the bloody storm of battle, trampling upon the slaughtered bodies of thy foes! Like a young lion in a cave, accustomed to look for nourishment to the teats of its tawny mother, who, so soon as he finds talons beginning to grow from out his paws and a mane sprout from his neck and teeth arm his jaws, will have none of this inglorious food but burns to leave his cavern home and accompany his Gaetulian sire, to bring death upon the herds and steep him in the gore of some tall steer. But Theodosius said thee nay, and put the reins of government into thy hands, crowning thy head with the sacred diadem it wore so meetly. And so did thy virtue show in earliest years, so did thy soul out-range thy youth that all complained that to thee empire was granted late.Swiftly beneath thy auspices was victory achieved. Both fought for us—thou with thy happy influence, thy father with his strong right arm. Thanks to thee the Alps lay open to our armies, nor did it avail the careful foe to cling to fortified posts. Their ramparts, and the trust they put therein, fell; the rocks were torn away and their hiding-places exposed. Thanks to thine influence the wind of the frozen North overwhelmed the enemy’s line with his mountain storms, hurled back their weapons upon the throwers and with the violence of his tempest drove back their spears. Verily God is with thee, when at thy behest Aeolus frees the armed tempests from his cave, when the very elements fight for thee and the allied winds come at the call of thy trumpets. The Alpine snows grew red with slaughter, the cold Frigidus, its waters turned to blood, ran hot and steaming, and would

[277]

thine eager spirit have given to hear the beloved clarion’s note and to revel in the bloody storm of battle, trampling upon the slaughtered bodies of thy foes! Like a young lion in a cave, accustomed to look for nourishment to the teats of its tawny mother, who, so soon as he finds talons beginning to grow from out his paws and a mane sprout from his neck and teeth arm his jaws, will have none of this inglorious food but burns to leave his cavern home and accompany his Gaetulian sire, to bring death upon the herds and steep him in the gore of some tall steer. But Theodosius said thee nay, and put the reins of government into thy hands, crowning thy head with the sacred diadem it wore so meetly. And so did thy virtue show in earliest years, so did thy soul out-range thy youth that all complained that to thee empire was granted late.

Swiftly beneath thy auspices was victory achieved. Both fought for us—thou with thy happy influence, thy father with his strong right arm. Thanks to thee the Alps lay open to our armies, nor did it avail the careful foe to cling to fortified posts. Their ramparts, and the trust they put therein, fell; the rocks were torn away and their hiding-places exposed. Thanks to thine influence the wind of the frozen North overwhelmed the enemy’s line with his mountain storms, hurled back their weapons upon the throwers and with the violence of his tempest drove back their spears. Verily God is with thee, when at thy behest Aeolus frees the armed tempests from his cave, when the very elements fight for thee and the allied winds come at the call of thy trumpets. The Alpine snows grew red with slaughter, the cold Frigidus, its waters turned to blood, ran hot and steaming, and would

[278]mutatis fumavit aquis turbaque cadentum100staret, ni rapidus iuvisset flumina sanguis.At ferus inventor scelerum traiecerat altumnon uno mucrone latus, duplexque tepebatensis, et ultrices in se converterat irastandem iusta manus. iam libertate reducta,105quamvis emeritum peteret natura revertinumen et auratas astrorum panderet arcesnutaretque oneris venturi conscius Atlas,distulit Augustus cupido se credere caelo,dum tibi pacatum praesenti traderet orbem.110nec mora: Bistoniis alacer consurgis ab oris,inter barbaricas ausus transire cohortesimpavido vultu; linquis Rhodopeia saxaOrpheis animata modis; iuga deseris OetesHerculeo damnata rogo; post Pelion intras115Nereis inlustre toris; te pulcher Enipeuscelsaque Dodone stupuit rursusque locutaein te Chaoniae moverunt carmina quercus.Illyrici legitur plaga litoris; arva terunturDalmatiae; Phrygii numerantur stagna Timavi.120gaudent Italiae sublimibus oppida murisadventu sacrata tuo, summissus adoratEridanus blandosque iubet mitescere fluctuset Phaëthonteas solitae deflere ruinasroscida frondosae revocant electra sorores.125Quanti tum iuvenes, quantae sprevere pudoremspectandi studio matres, puerisque severi[279]have been choked with the heaps of corpses had not their own fast-flowing gore helped on its course.Meanwhile Arbogast, the cause of this wicked war, had pierced his side deep not with a single blade: two swords[142]reeked with his blood, and his own hand, learning justice at last, had turned its savage fury against himself. Thus was liberty restored; but though Nature demanded the return to heaven of divine Theodosius whose work was now accomplished, though the sky threw open the golden palaces of its starry vault and Atlas staggered knowing the burden he was to bear, yet did the emperor forbear to entrust him to expectant Olympus until he could in thy presence hand over to thee a world at peace. Straightway didst thou, Honorius, leave the coasts of Thrace, and, braving the dangers of the journey, pass without a tremor through the hordes of barbarians. Thou leavest the rocks of Rhodope to which Orpheus’ lyre gave life; thou quittest the heights of Oeta, scene of Hercules’ ill-omened funeral pyre; next thou climbest Pelion, famed for the marriage of Peleus and Thetis. Fair Enipeus and lofty Dodona look upon thee in amaze, and the oaks of Chaonia, finding tongues once more, utter oracles in thine honour. Thou skirtest the extreme coasts of Illyria and, passing over Dalmatia’s fields, dost cross in turn the nine sources of Trojan Timavus.[143]The high-walled cities of Italy rejoice in the blessings of thy presence. Eridanus bows his head and worships, bidding his waves flow gently to the sea; and Phaëthon’s leafy sisters, that ever weep their brother’s death, check the flow of their dewy amber.How many youths, how many matrons set modesty aside in eagerness to behold thee! Austere greybeards[142]This is obscure. Zosimus (iv. 58. 6) and Socrates (v. 25) merely mention suicide, but from Claudian’s account it looks as though, like Nero, Arbogast’s courage had failed him and an attendant had had to help him to his death.[143]The Fons Timavi (near Aquileia and the river Frigidus) is called Trojan from the story of the colonization of Venetia by the Trojan Antenor (Livy i. 1. 3).

[278]

mutatis fumavit aquis turbaque cadentum100staret, ni rapidus iuvisset flumina sanguis.At ferus inventor scelerum traiecerat altumnon uno mucrone latus, duplexque tepebatensis, et ultrices in se converterat irastandem iusta manus. iam libertate reducta,105quamvis emeritum peteret natura revertinumen et auratas astrorum panderet arcesnutaretque oneris venturi conscius Atlas,distulit Augustus cupido se credere caelo,dum tibi pacatum praesenti traderet orbem.110nec mora: Bistoniis alacer consurgis ab oris,inter barbaricas ausus transire cohortesimpavido vultu; linquis Rhodopeia saxaOrpheis animata modis; iuga deseris OetesHerculeo damnata rogo; post Pelion intras115Nereis inlustre toris; te pulcher Enipeuscelsaque Dodone stupuit rursusque locutaein te Chaoniae moverunt carmina quercus.Illyrici legitur plaga litoris; arva terunturDalmatiae; Phrygii numerantur stagna Timavi.120gaudent Italiae sublimibus oppida murisadventu sacrata tuo, summissus adoratEridanus blandosque iubet mitescere fluctuset Phaëthonteas solitae deflere ruinasroscida frondosae revocant electra sorores.125Quanti tum iuvenes, quantae sprevere pudoremspectandi studio matres, puerisque severi

mutatis fumavit aquis turbaque cadentum100

staret, ni rapidus iuvisset flumina sanguis.

At ferus inventor scelerum traiecerat altum

non uno mucrone latus, duplexque tepebat

ensis, et ultrices in se converterat iras

tandem iusta manus. iam libertate reducta,105

quamvis emeritum peteret natura reverti

numen et auratas astrorum panderet arces

nutaretque oneris venturi conscius Atlas,

distulit Augustus cupido se credere caelo,

dum tibi pacatum praesenti traderet orbem.110

nec mora: Bistoniis alacer consurgis ab oris,

inter barbaricas ausus transire cohortes

impavido vultu; linquis Rhodopeia saxa

Orpheis animata modis; iuga deseris Oetes

Herculeo damnata rogo; post Pelion intras115

Nereis inlustre toris; te pulcher Enipeus

celsaque Dodone stupuit rursusque locutae

in te Chaoniae moverunt carmina quercus.

Illyrici legitur plaga litoris; arva teruntur

Dalmatiae; Phrygii numerantur stagna Timavi.120

gaudent Italiae sublimibus oppida muris

adventu sacrata tuo, summissus adorat

Eridanus blandosque iubet mitescere fluctus

et Phaëthonteas solitae deflere ruinas

roscida frondosae revocant electra sorores.125

Quanti tum iuvenes, quantae sprevere pudorem

spectandi studio matres, puerisque severi

[279]have been choked with the heaps of corpses had not their own fast-flowing gore helped on its course.Meanwhile Arbogast, the cause of this wicked war, had pierced his side deep not with a single blade: two swords[142]reeked with his blood, and his own hand, learning justice at last, had turned its savage fury against himself. Thus was liberty restored; but though Nature demanded the return to heaven of divine Theodosius whose work was now accomplished, though the sky threw open the golden palaces of its starry vault and Atlas staggered knowing the burden he was to bear, yet did the emperor forbear to entrust him to expectant Olympus until he could in thy presence hand over to thee a world at peace. Straightway didst thou, Honorius, leave the coasts of Thrace, and, braving the dangers of the journey, pass without a tremor through the hordes of barbarians. Thou leavest the rocks of Rhodope to which Orpheus’ lyre gave life; thou quittest the heights of Oeta, scene of Hercules’ ill-omened funeral pyre; next thou climbest Pelion, famed for the marriage of Peleus and Thetis. Fair Enipeus and lofty Dodona look upon thee in amaze, and the oaks of Chaonia, finding tongues once more, utter oracles in thine honour. Thou skirtest the extreme coasts of Illyria and, passing over Dalmatia’s fields, dost cross in turn the nine sources of Trojan Timavus.[143]The high-walled cities of Italy rejoice in the blessings of thy presence. Eridanus bows his head and worships, bidding his waves flow gently to the sea; and Phaëthon’s leafy sisters, that ever weep their brother’s death, check the flow of their dewy amber.How many youths, how many matrons set modesty aside in eagerness to behold thee! Austere greybeards[142]This is obscure. Zosimus (iv. 58. 6) and Socrates (v. 25) merely mention suicide, but from Claudian’s account it looks as though, like Nero, Arbogast’s courage had failed him and an attendant had had to help him to his death.[143]The Fons Timavi (near Aquileia and the river Frigidus) is called Trojan from the story of the colonization of Venetia by the Trojan Antenor (Livy i. 1. 3).

[279]

have been choked with the heaps of corpses had not their own fast-flowing gore helped on its course.

Meanwhile Arbogast, the cause of this wicked war, had pierced his side deep not with a single blade: two swords[142]reeked with his blood, and his own hand, learning justice at last, had turned its savage fury against himself. Thus was liberty restored; but though Nature demanded the return to heaven of divine Theodosius whose work was now accomplished, though the sky threw open the golden palaces of its starry vault and Atlas staggered knowing the burden he was to bear, yet did the emperor forbear to entrust him to expectant Olympus until he could in thy presence hand over to thee a world at peace. Straightway didst thou, Honorius, leave the coasts of Thrace, and, braving the dangers of the journey, pass without a tremor through the hordes of barbarians. Thou leavest the rocks of Rhodope to which Orpheus’ lyre gave life; thou quittest the heights of Oeta, scene of Hercules’ ill-omened funeral pyre; next thou climbest Pelion, famed for the marriage of Peleus and Thetis. Fair Enipeus and lofty Dodona look upon thee in amaze, and the oaks of Chaonia, finding tongues once more, utter oracles in thine honour. Thou skirtest the extreme coasts of Illyria and, passing over Dalmatia’s fields, dost cross in turn the nine sources of Trojan Timavus.[143]The high-walled cities of Italy rejoice in the blessings of thy presence. Eridanus bows his head and worships, bidding his waves flow gently to the sea; and Phaëthon’s leafy sisters, that ever weep their brother’s death, check the flow of their dewy amber.

How many youths, how many matrons set modesty aside in eagerness to behold thee! Austere greybeards

[142]This is obscure. Zosimus (iv. 58. 6) and Socrates (v. 25) merely mention suicide, but from Claudian’s account it looks as though, like Nero, Arbogast’s courage had failed him and an attendant had had to help him to his death.

[143]The Fons Timavi (near Aquileia and the river Frigidus) is called Trojan from the story of the colonization of Venetia by the Trojan Antenor (Livy i. 1. 3).

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