PANEGYRICUS DICTUS MANLIO THEODORO CONSULI

[328]Cyllarus et flavum Xanthus sprevisset Achillem.ipse tibi famulas praeberet Pegasus alasportaretque libens melioraque pondera passusBellerophonteas indignaretur habenas.560quin etiam velox Aurorae nuntius Aethon,qui fugat hinnitu stellas roseoque domaturLucifero, quotiens equitem te cernit ab astris,invidet inque tuis mavult spumare lupatis.Nunc quoque quos habitus, quantae miracula pompae565vidimus, Ausonio cum iam succinctus amictuper Ligurum populos solito conspectior iresatque inter niveas alte veherere cohortes,obnixisque simul pubes electa lacertissidereum gestaret onus. sic numina Memphis570in vulgus proferre solet; penetralibus exiteffigies, brevis illa quidem: sed plurimus infraliniger imposito suspirat vecte sacerdostestatus sudore deum; Nilotica sistrisripa sonat Phariosque modos Aegyptia ducit575tibia; summissis admugit cornibus Apis.omnis nobilitas, omnis tua sacra frequentatThybridis et Latii suboles; convenit in unumquidquid in orbe fuit procerum, quibus auctor honorisvel tu vel genitor. numeroso consule consul580cingeris et socios gaudes admittere patres.inlustri te prole Tagus, te Gallia doctiscivibus et toto stipavit Roma senatu.portatur iuvenum cervicibus aurea sedesornatuque novo gravior deus. asperat Indus585velamenta lapis pretiosaque fila smaragdis[329]to thy reins for guidance and Xanthus have scorned to bear golden-haired Achilles. Pegasus himself had lent thee his subject wings and been glad to carry thee and, now that a mightier rider bestrode him, had turned in proud disdain from Bellerophon’s bridle. Nay, Aethon, swift messenger of dawn, who routs the stars with his neigh and is driven by rosy Lucifer, seeing thee from heaven as thou ridest by, is filled with envy and would choose rather to hold thy bit in his foaming mouth.What raiment, too, have we not seen, what miracles of splendour, when, girt with the robe of Italy, thou didst go, still more glorious than thou art wont, through the peoples of Liguria, borne aloft amid thy troops clad in triumphal white and carried upon the shoulders of chosen warriors who so proudly upheld their godlike burden! ’Tis thus that Egypt brings forth her gods to the public gaze. The image issues from its shrine; small it is, indeed, yet many a linen-clad priest pants beneath the pole, and by his sweat testifies that he bears a god; Nile’s banks resound to the holy rattles, and Egypt’s pipe drones its native measure; Apis abases his horns and lows in reply. All the nobles, all whom Tiber and Latium rear, throng thy festival; gathered in one are all the great ones of the earth that owe their rank either to thee or to thy sire. Many a consular surrounds thee, the consul whose good pleasure it is to associate the senate in thy triumph. The nobles of Spain, the wise men of Gaul, and the senators of Rome all throng round thee. On young men’s necks is borne thy golden throne, and new adorning adds weight to deity. Jewels of India stud thy vestment, rows of green emeralds enrich

[328]

Cyllarus et flavum Xanthus sprevisset Achillem.ipse tibi famulas praeberet Pegasus alasportaretque libens melioraque pondera passusBellerophonteas indignaretur habenas.560quin etiam velox Aurorae nuntius Aethon,qui fugat hinnitu stellas roseoque domaturLucifero, quotiens equitem te cernit ab astris,invidet inque tuis mavult spumare lupatis.Nunc quoque quos habitus, quantae miracula pompae565vidimus, Ausonio cum iam succinctus amictuper Ligurum populos solito conspectior iresatque inter niveas alte veherere cohortes,obnixisque simul pubes electa lacertissidereum gestaret onus. sic numina Memphis570in vulgus proferre solet; penetralibus exiteffigies, brevis illa quidem: sed plurimus infraliniger imposito suspirat vecte sacerdostestatus sudore deum; Nilotica sistrisripa sonat Phariosque modos Aegyptia ducit575tibia; summissis admugit cornibus Apis.omnis nobilitas, omnis tua sacra frequentatThybridis et Latii suboles; convenit in unumquidquid in orbe fuit procerum, quibus auctor honorisvel tu vel genitor. numeroso consule consul580cingeris et socios gaudes admittere patres.inlustri te prole Tagus, te Gallia doctiscivibus et toto stipavit Roma senatu.portatur iuvenum cervicibus aurea sedesornatuque novo gravior deus. asperat Indus585velamenta lapis pretiosaque fila smaragdis

Cyllarus et flavum Xanthus sprevisset Achillem.

ipse tibi famulas praeberet Pegasus alas

portaretque libens melioraque pondera passus

Bellerophonteas indignaretur habenas.560

quin etiam velox Aurorae nuntius Aethon,

qui fugat hinnitu stellas roseoque domatur

Lucifero, quotiens equitem te cernit ab astris,

invidet inque tuis mavult spumare lupatis.

Nunc quoque quos habitus, quantae miracula pompae565

vidimus, Ausonio cum iam succinctus amictu

per Ligurum populos solito conspectior ires

atque inter niveas alte veherere cohortes,

obnixisque simul pubes electa lacertis

sidereum gestaret onus. sic numina Memphis570

in vulgus proferre solet; penetralibus exit

effigies, brevis illa quidem: sed plurimus infra

liniger imposito suspirat vecte sacerdos

testatus sudore deum; Nilotica sistris

ripa sonat Phariosque modos Aegyptia ducit575

tibia; summissis admugit cornibus Apis.

omnis nobilitas, omnis tua sacra frequentat

Thybridis et Latii suboles; convenit in unum

quidquid in orbe fuit procerum, quibus auctor honoris

vel tu vel genitor. numeroso consule consul580

cingeris et socios gaudes admittere patres.

inlustri te prole Tagus, te Gallia doctis

civibus et toto stipavit Roma senatu.

portatur iuvenum cervicibus aurea sedes

ornatuque novo gravior deus. asperat Indus585

velamenta lapis pretiosaque fila smaragdis

[329]to thy reins for guidance and Xanthus have scorned to bear golden-haired Achilles. Pegasus himself had lent thee his subject wings and been glad to carry thee and, now that a mightier rider bestrode him, had turned in proud disdain from Bellerophon’s bridle. Nay, Aethon, swift messenger of dawn, who routs the stars with his neigh and is driven by rosy Lucifer, seeing thee from heaven as thou ridest by, is filled with envy and would choose rather to hold thy bit in his foaming mouth.What raiment, too, have we not seen, what miracles of splendour, when, girt with the robe of Italy, thou didst go, still more glorious than thou art wont, through the peoples of Liguria, borne aloft amid thy troops clad in triumphal white and carried upon the shoulders of chosen warriors who so proudly upheld their godlike burden! ’Tis thus that Egypt brings forth her gods to the public gaze. The image issues from its shrine; small it is, indeed, yet many a linen-clad priest pants beneath the pole, and by his sweat testifies that he bears a god; Nile’s banks resound to the holy rattles, and Egypt’s pipe drones its native measure; Apis abases his horns and lows in reply. All the nobles, all whom Tiber and Latium rear, throng thy festival; gathered in one are all the great ones of the earth that owe their rank either to thee or to thy sire. Many a consular surrounds thee, the consul whose good pleasure it is to associate the senate in thy triumph. The nobles of Spain, the wise men of Gaul, and the senators of Rome all throng round thee. On young men’s necks is borne thy golden throne, and new adorning adds weight to deity. Jewels of India stud thy vestment, rows of green emeralds enrich

[329]

to thy reins for guidance and Xanthus have scorned to bear golden-haired Achilles. Pegasus himself had lent thee his subject wings and been glad to carry thee and, now that a mightier rider bestrode him, had turned in proud disdain from Bellerophon’s bridle. Nay, Aethon, swift messenger of dawn, who routs the stars with his neigh and is driven by rosy Lucifer, seeing thee from heaven as thou ridest by, is filled with envy and would choose rather to hold thy bit in his foaming mouth.

What raiment, too, have we not seen, what miracles of splendour, when, girt with the robe of Italy, thou didst go, still more glorious than thou art wont, through the peoples of Liguria, borne aloft amid thy troops clad in triumphal white and carried upon the shoulders of chosen warriors who so proudly upheld their godlike burden! ’Tis thus that Egypt brings forth her gods to the public gaze. The image issues from its shrine; small it is, indeed, yet many a linen-clad priest pants beneath the pole, and by his sweat testifies that he bears a god; Nile’s banks resound to the holy rattles, and Egypt’s pipe drones its native measure; Apis abases his horns and lows in reply. All the nobles, all whom Tiber and Latium rear, throng thy festival; gathered in one are all the great ones of the earth that owe their rank either to thee or to thy sire. Many a consular surrounds thee, the consul whose good pleasure it is to associate the senate in thy triumph. The nobles of Spain, the wise men of Gaul, and the senators of Rome all throng round thee. On young men’s necks is borne thy golden throne, and new adorning adds weight to deity. Jewels of India stud thy vestment, rows of green emeralds enrich

[330]ducta virent; amethystus inest et fulgor Hiberustemperat arcanis hyacinthi caerula flammis.nec rudis in tali suffecit gratia textu;auget acus meritum picturatumque metallis590vivit opus: multa remorantur iaspide cultus[164]et variis spirat Nereia baca figuris.quae tantum potuit digitis mollire rigoremambitiosa colus? vel cuius pectinis artetraxerunt solidae gemmarum stamina telae?595invia quis calidi scrutatus stagna profundiTethyos invasit gremium? quis divitis algaegermina flagrantes inter quaesivit harenas?quis iunxit lapides ostro? quis miscuit ignesSidonii Rubrique maris? tribuere colorem600Phoenices, Seres subtegmina, pondus Hydaspes.hoc si Maeonias cinctu graderere per urbes,in te pampineos transferret Lydia thyrsos,in te Nysa choros; dubitassent orgia Bacchi,cui furerent; irent blandae sub vincula tigres.605talis Erythraeis intextus nebrida gemmisLiber agit currus et Caspia flectit eburniscolla iugis: Satyri circum crinemque solutaeMaenades adstringunt hederis victricibus Indos;ebrius hostili velatur palmite Ganges.610Auspice mox laetum sonuit clamore tribunalte fastos ineunte quater. sollemnia luditomina libertas; deductum Vindice moremlex celebrat, famulusque iugo laxatus erili[164]Birtvultus; cod. Ambrosianuscultus.[331]the seams; there gleams the amethyst and the glint of Spanish gold makes the dark-blue sapphire show duller with its hidden fires. Nor in the weaving of such a robe was unadorned beauty enough; the work of the needle increases its value, thread of gold and silver glows therefrom; many an agate adorns the embroidered robes, and pearls of Ocean breathe in varied pattern. What bold hand, what distaff had skill enough to make thus supple elements so hard? What loom so cunning as to weave jewels into close-textured cloth? Who, searching out the uncharted pools of hot Eastern seas, despoiled the bosom of Tethys? Who dared seek o’er burning sands rich growth of coral? Who could broider precious stones on scarlet and so mingle the shining glories of the Red Sea and of Phoenicia’s waters? Tyre lent her dyes, China her silks, Hydaspes his jewels. Shouldst thou traverse Maeonian cities in such a garb, to thee would Lydia hand over her vine-wreathed thyrsus, to thee Nysa her dances; the revels of Bacchus would have doubted whence came their madness; tigers would pass fawning beneath thy yoke. Even such, his fawn-skin enwoven with orient gems, doth the Wine-god drive his car, guiding the necks of Hyrcanian tigers with ivory yoke; around him satyrs and wild-haired Maenads fetter Indians with triumphant ivy, while drunken Ganges twines his hair with the vine tendril.Already shouts of joy and of good omen resound about the consul’s throne to welcome this thy fourth opening of Rome’s year. Liberty enacts her wonted ceremonies; Law observes the custom dating back to Vindex[165]whereby a slave freed from his master’s service is introduced into thy presence and thence[165]Vindex (or Vindicius) was the name of the slave who was granted his liberty by Brutus for giving information of the royalist plot in which Brutus’ own sons were implicated. For the story (probably an aetiological myth to explainvindicta, another word forfestuca) see Livy ii. 5.

[330]

ducta virent; amethystus inest et fulgor Hiberustemperat arcanis hyacinthi caerula flammis.nec rudis in tali suffecit gratia textu;auget acus meritum picturatumque metallis590vivit opus: multa remorantur iaspide cultus[164]et variis spirat Nereia baca figuris.quae tantum potuit digitis mollire rigoremambitiosa colus? vel cuius pectinis artetraxerunt solidae gemmarum stamina telae?595invia quis calidi scrutatus stagna profundiTethyos invasit gremium? quis divitis algaegermina flagrantes inter quaesivit harenas?quis iunxit lapides ostro? quis miscuit ignesSidonii Rubrique maris? tribuere colorem600Phoenices, Seres subtegmina, pondus Hydaspes.hoc si Maeonias cinctu graderere per urbes,in te pampineos transferret Lydia thyrsos,in te Nysa choros; dubitassent orgia Bacchi,cui furerent; irent blandae sub vincula tigres.605talis Erythraeis intextus nebrida gemmisLiber agit currus et Caspia flectit eburniscolla iugis: Satyri circum crinemque solutaeMaenades adstringunt hederis victricibus Indos;ebrius hostili velatur palmite Ganges.610Auspice mox laetum sonuit clamore tribunalte fastos ineunte quater. sollemnia luditomina libertas; deductum Vindice moremlex celebrat, famulusque iugo laxatus erili

ducta virent; amethystus inest et fulgor Hiberus

temperat arcanis hyacinthi caerula flammis.

nec rudis in tali suffecit gratia textu;

auget acus meritum picturatumque metallis590

vivit opus: multa remorantur iaspide cultus[164]

et variis spirat Nereia baca figuris.

quae tantum potuit digitis mollire rigorem

ambitiosa colus? vel cuius pectinis arte

traxerunt solidae gemmarum stamina telae?595

invia quis calidi scrutatus stagna profundi

Tethyos invasit gremium? quis divitis algae

germina flagrantes inter quaesivit harenas?

quis iunxit lapides ostro? quis miscuit ignes

Sidonii Rubrique maris? tribuere colorem600

Phoenices, Seres subtegmina, pondus Hydaspes.

hoc si Maeonias cinctu graderere per urbes,

in te pampineos transferret Lydia thyrsos,

in te Nysa choros; dubitassent orgia Bacchi,

cui furerent; irent blandae sub vincula tigres.605

talis Erythraeis intextus nebrida gemmis

Liber agit currus et Caspia flectit eburnis

colla iugis: Satyri circum crinemque solutae

Maenades adstringunt hederis victricibus Indos;

ebrius hostili velatur palmite Ganges.610

Auspice mox laetum sonuit clamore tribunal

te fastos ineunte quater. sollemnia ludit

omina libertas; deductum Vindice morem

lex celebrat, famulusque iugo laxatus erili

[164]Birtvultus; cod. Ambrosianuscultus.

[331]the seams; there gleams the amethyst and the glint of Spanish gold makes the dark-blue sapphire show duller with its hidden fires. Nor in the weaving of such a robe was unadorned beauty enough; the work of the needle increases its value, thread of gold and silver glows therefrom; many an agate adorns the embroidered robes, and pearls of Ocean breathe in varied pattern. What bold hand, what distaff had skill enough to make thus supple elements so hard? What loom so cunning as to weave jewels into close-textured cloth? Who, searching out the uncharted pools of hot Eastern seas, despoiled the bosom of Tethys? Who dared seek o’er burning sands rich growth of coral? Who could broider precious stones on scarlet and so mingle the shining glories of the Red Sea and of Phoenicia’s waters? Tyre lent her dyes, China her silks, Hydaspes his jewels. Shouldst thou traverse Maeonian cities in such a garb, to thee would Lydia hand over her vine-wreathed thyrsus, to thee Nysa her dances; the revels of Bacchus would have doubted whence came their madness; tigers would pass fawning beneath thy yoke. Even such, his fawn-skin enwoven with orient gems, doth the Wine-god drive his car, guiding the necks of Hyrcanian tigers with ivory yoke; around him satyrs and wild-haired Maenads fetter Indians with triumphant ivy, while drunken Ganges twines his hair with the vine tendril.Already shouts of joy and of good omen resound about the consul’s throne to welcome this thy fourth opening of Rome’s year. Liberty enacts her wonted ceremonies; Law observes the custom dating back to Vindex[165]whereby a slave freed from his master’s service is introduced into thy presence and thence[165]Vindex (or Vindicius) was the name of the slave who was granted his liberty by Brutus for giving information of the royalist plot in which Brutus’ own sons were implicated. For the story (probably an aetiological myth to explainvindicta, another word forfestuca) see Livy ii. 5.

[331]

the seams; there gleams the amethyst and the glint of Spanish gold makes the dark-blue sapphire show duller with its hidden fires. Nor in the weaving of such a robe was unadorned beauty enough; the work of the needle increases its value, thread of gold and silver glows therefrom; many an agate adorns the embroidered robes, and pearls of Ocean breathe in varied pattern. What bold hand, what distaff had skill enough to make thus supple elements so hard? What loom so cunning as to weave jewels into close-textured cloth? Who, searching out the uncharted pools of hot Eastern seas, despoiled the bosom of Tethys? Who dared seek o’er burning sands rich growth of coral? Who could broider precious stones on scarlet and so mingle the shining glories of the Red Sea and of Phoenicia’s waters? Tyre lent her dyes, China her silks, Hydaspes his jewels. Shouldst thou traverse Maeonian cities in such a garb, to thee would Lydia hand over her vine-wreathed thyrsus, to thee Nysa her dances; the revels of Bacchus would have doubted whence came their madness; tigers would pass fawning beneath thy yoke. Even such, his fawn-skin enwoven with orient gems, doth the Wine-god drive his car, guiding the necks of Hyrcanian tigers with ivory yoke; around him satyrs and wild-haired Maenads fetter Indians with triumphant ivy, while drunken Ganges twines his hair with the vine tendril.

Already shouts of joy and of good omen resound about the consul’s throne to welcome this thy fourth opening of Rome’s year. Liberty enacts her wonted ceremonies; Law observes the custom dating back to Vindex[165]whereby a slave freed from his master’s service is introduced into thy presence and thence

[165]Vindex (or Vindicius) was the name of the slave who was granted his liberty by Brutus for giving information of the royalist plot in which Brutus’ own sons were implicated. For the story (probably an aetiological myth to explainvindicta, another word forfestuca) see Livy ii. 5.

[332]ducitur et grato remeat securior ictu.615tristis condicio pulsata fronte recedit;in civem rubuere genae, tergoque removitverbera permissi felix iniuria voti.Prospera Romuleis sperantur tempora rebusin nomen ventura tuum. praemissa futuris620dant exempla fidem: quotiens te cursibus aevipraefecit, totiens accessit laurea patri.ausi Danuvium quondam transnare Gruthungiin lintres fregere nemus; ter mille ruebantper fluvium plenae cuneis inmanibus alni.625dux Odothaeus erat. tantae conamina classisincipiens aetas et primus contudit annus:summersae sedere rates; fluitantia numquamlargius Arctoos pavere cadavera pisces;corporibus premitur Peuce; per quinque recurrensostia barbaricos vix egerit unda cruores,631confessusque parens Odothaei regis opimarettulit exuviasque tibi. civile secundisconficis auspiciis bellum. tibi debeat orbisfata Gruthungorum debellatumque tyrannum:635Hister sanguineos egit te consule fluctus;Alpinos genitor rupit te consule montes.Sed patriis olim fueras successibus auctor,nunc eris ipse tuis. semper venere triumphicum trabeis sequiturque tuos victoria fasces.640[333]dismissed—a freeman thanks to that envied stroke.[166]A blow upon the brow and his base condition is gone; reddened cheeks have made him a citizen, and with the granting of his prayer a happy insult has given his back freedom from the lash.Prosperity awaits our empire; thy name is earnest for the fulfilment of our hopes. The past guarantees the future; each time that thy sire made thee chief magistrate of the year the laurels of victory crowned his arms. Once the Gruthungi, hewing down a forest to make them boats, dared to pass beyond the Danube. Three thousand vessels, each crowded with a barbarous crew, made a dash across the river. Odothaeus was their leader. Thy youth, nay, the first year of thy life, crushed the attempt of that formidable fleet. Its boats filled and sank; never did the fish of that northern river feed more lavishly on the bodies of men. The island of Peuce was heaped high with corpses. Scarce even through five mouths could the river rid itself of barbarian blood, and thy sire, owning thine influence, gave thanks to thee for the spoils won in person from King Odothaeus. Consul a second time thou didst end civil war by thine auspices. Let the world thank thee for the overthrow of the Gruthungi and the defeat of their king; thou wast consul when the Danube ran red with their blood, thou wast consul, too, when thy sire crossed the Alps to victory.[167]But thou, once author of thy father’s successes, shalt now be author of thine own. Triumph has ever attended thy consulship and victory thy fasces.[166]A reference to the Roman method of manumitting a slavealapa et festuca,i.e.by giving him a slight blow (alapa) with a rod (festuca). See Gaius onvindicatio(iv. 16) and on the whole question R. G. Nisbet inJournal of Roman Studies, viii. Pt. 1.[167]The campaign of Theodosius against Odothaeus, King of the Gruthungi (Zosimus iv. 35 calls him Ὀδόθεος) is thus dated as 386, the year of Honorius’ first consulship (see note on viii. 153). Honorius’ second consulship (394) saw the defeat of Eugenius.

[332]

ducitur et grato remeat securior ictu.615tristis condicio pulsata fronte recedit;in civem rubuere genae, tergoque removitverbera permissi felix iniuria voti.Prospera Romuleis sperantur tempora rebusin nomen ventura tuum. praemissa futuris620dant exempla fidem: quotiens te cursibus aevipraefecit, totiens accessit laurea patri.ausi Danuvium quondam transnare Gruthungiin lintres fregere nemus; ter mille ruebantper fluvium plenae cuneis inmanibus alni.625dux Odothaeus erat. tantae conamina classisincipiens aetas et primus contudit annus:summersae sedere rates; fluitantia numquamlargius Arctoos pavere cadavera pisces;corporibus premitur Peuce; per quinque recurrensostia barbaricos vix egerit unda cruores,631confessusque parens Odothaei regis opimarettulit exuviasque tibi. civile secundisconficis auspiciis bellum. tibi debeat orbisfata Gruthungorum debellatumque tyrannum:635Hister sanguineos egit te consule fluctus;Alpinos genitor rupit te consule montes.Sed patriis olim fueras successibus auctor,nunc eris ipse tuis. semper venere triumphicum trabeis sequiturque tuos victoria fasces.640

ducitur et grato remeat securior ictu.615

tristis condicio pulsata fronte recedit;

in civem rubuere genae, tergoque removit

verbera permissi felix iniuria voti.

Prospera Romuleis sperantur tempora rebus

in nomen ventura tuum. praemissa futuris620

dant exempla fidem: quotiens te cursibus aevi

praefecit, totiens accessit laurea patri.

ausi Danuvium quondam transnare Gruthungi

in lintres fregere nemus; ter mille ruebant

per fluvium plenae cuneis inmanibus alni.625

dux Odothaeus erat. tantae conamina classis

incipiens aetas et primus contudit annus:

summersae sedere rates; fluitantia numquam

largius Arctoos pavere cadavera pisces;

corporibus premitur Peuce; per quinque recurrens

ostia barbaricos vix egerit unda cruores,631

confessusque parens Odothaei regis opima

rettulit exuviasque tibi. civile secundis

conficis auspiciis bellum. tibi debeat orbis

fata Gruthungorum debellatumque tyrannum:635

Hister sanguineos egit te consule fluctus;

Alpinos genitor rupit te consule montes.

Sed patriis olim fueras successibus auctor,

nunc eris ipse tuis. semper venere triumphi

cum trabeis sequiturque tuos victoria fasces.640

[333]dismissed—a freeman thanks to that envied stroke.[166]A blow upon the brow and his base condition is gone; reddened cheeks have made him a citizen, and with the granting of his prayer a happy insult has given his back freedom from the lash.Prosperity awaits our empire; thy name is earnest for the fulfilment of our hopes. The past guarantees the future; each time that thy sire made thee chief magistrate of the year the laurels of victory crowned his arms. Once the Gruthungi, hewing down a forest to make them boats, dared to pass beyond the Danube. Three thousand vessels, each crowded with a barbarous crew, made a dash across the river. Odothaeus was their leader. Thy youth, nay, the first year of thy life, crushed the attempt of that formidable fleet. Its boats filled and sank; never did the fish of that northern river feed more lavishly on the bodies of men. The island of Peuce was heaped high with corpses. Scarce even through five mouths could the river rid itself of barbarian blood, and thy sire, owning thine influence, gave thanks to thee for the spoils won in person from King Odothaeus. Consul a second time thou didst end civil war by thine auspices. Let the world thank thee for the overthrow of the Gruthungi and the defeat of their king; thou wast consul when the Danube ran red with their blood, thou wast consul, too, when thy sire crossed the Alps to victory.[167]But thou, once author of thy father’s successes, shalt now be author of thine own. Triumph has ever attended thy consulship and victory thy fasces.[166]A reference to the Roman method of manumitting a slavealapa et festuca,i.e.by giving him a slight blow (alapa) with a rod (festuca). See Gaius onvindicatio(iv. 16) and on the whole question R. G. Nisbet inJournal of Roman Studies, viii. Pt. 1.[167]The campaign of Theodosius against Odothaeus, King of the Gruthungi (Zosimus iv. 35 calls him Ὀδόθεος) is thus dated as 386, the year of Honorius’ first consulship (see note on viii. 153). Honorius’ second consulship (394) saw the defeat of Eugenius.

[333]

dismissed—a freeman thanks to that envied stroke.[166]A blow upon the brow and his base condition is gone; reddened cheeks have made him a citizen, and with the granting of his prayer a happy insult has given his back freedom from the lash.

Prosperity awaits our empire; thy name is earnest for the fulfilment of our hopes. The past guarantees the future; each time that thy sire made thee chief magistrate of the year the laurels of victory crowned his arms. Once the Gruthungi, hewing down a forest to make them boats, dared to pass beyond the Danube. Three thousand vessels, each crowded with a barbarous crew, made a dash across the river. Odothaeus was their leader. Thy youth, nay, the first year of thy life, crushed the attempt of that formidable fleet. Its boats filled and sank; never did the fish of that northern river feed more lavishly on the bodies of men. The island of Peuce was heaped high with corpses. Scarce even through five mouths could the river rid itself of barbarian blood, and thy sire, owning thine influence, gave thanks to thee for the spoils won in person from King Odothaeus. Consul a second time thou didst end civil war by thine auspices. Let the world thank thee for the overthrow of the Gruthungi and the defeat of their king; thou wast consul when the Danube ran red with their blood, thou wast consul, too, when thy sire crossed the Alps to victory.[167]

But thou, once author of thy father’s successes, shalt now be author of thine own. Triumph has ever attended thy consulship and victory thy fasces.

[166]A reference to the Roman method of manumitting a slavealapa et festuca,i.e.by giving him a slight blow (alapa) with a rod (festuca). See Gaius onvindicatio(iv. 16) and on the whole question R. G. Nisbet inJournal of Roman Studies, viii. Pt. 1.

[167]The campaign of Theodosius against Odothaeus, King of the Gruthungi (Zosimus iv. 35 calls him Ὀδόθεος) is thus dated as 386, the year of Honorius’ first consulship (see note on viii. 153). Honorius’ second consulship (394) saw the defeat of Eugenius.

[334]sis, precor, adsiduus consul Mariique relinquaset senis Augusti numerum. quae gaudia mundo,per tua lanugo cum serpere coeperit ora,cum tibi protulerit festas nox pronuba taedas!quae tali devota toro, quae murice fulgens645ibit in amplexus tanti regina mariti?quaenam tot divis veniet nurus, omnibus arviset toto donanda mari? quantusque fereturidem per Zephyri metas Hymenaeus et Euri!o mihi si liceat thalamis intendere carmen650conubiale tuis, si te iam dicere patrem!tempus erit, cum tu trans Rheni cornua victor,Arcadius captae spoliis Babylonis onustuscommunem maiore toga signabitis annum;crinitusque tuo sudabit fasce Suebus,655ultima fraternas horrebunt Bactra secures.[335]Heaven grant thou mayest be our perpetual consul and outnumber Marius[168]and old Augustus. Happy universe that shall see the first down creep over thy cheeks, and the wedding-night that shall lead forth for thee the festal torches. Who shall be consecrated to such a couch; who, glorious in purple, shall pass, a queen, to the embraces of such a husband? What bride shall come to be the daughter of so many gods, dowered with every land and the whole sea? How gloriously shall the nuptial song be borne at once to farthest East and West! O may it be mine to sing thy marriage-hymn, mine presently to hail thee father! The time will come when, thou victorious beyond the mouths of the Rhine, and thy brother Arcadius laden with the spoil of captured Babylon, ye shall endow the year with yet more glorious majesty; when the long-haired Suebian shall bear the arms of Rome and the distant Bactrian tremble beneath the rule of thyself and thy brother.[168]Marius was consul seven, Augustus thirteen, times.

[334]

sis, precor, adsiduus consul Mariique relinquaset senis Augusti numerum. quae gaudia mundo,per tua lanugo cum serpere coeperit ora,cum tibi protulerit festas nox pronuba taedas!quae tali devota toro, quae murice fulgens645ibit in amplexus tanti regina mariti?quaenam tot divis veniet nurus, omnibus arviset toto donanda mari? quantusque fereturidem per Zephyri metas Hymenaeus et Euri!o mihi si liceat thalamis intendere carmen650conubiale tuis, si te iam dicere patrem!tempus erit, cum tu trans Rheni cornua victor,Arcadius captae spoliis Babylonis onustuscommunem maiore toga signabitis annum;crinitusque tuo sudabit fasce Suebus,655ultima fraternas horrebunt Bactra secures.

sis, precor, adsiduus consul Mariique relinquas

et senis Augusti numerum. quae gaudia mundo,

per tua lanugo cum serpere coeperit ora,

cum tibi protulerit festas nox pronuba taedas!

quae tali devota toro, quae murice fulgens645

ibit in amplexus tanti regina mariti?

quaenam tot divis veniet nurus, omnibus arvis

et toto donanda mari? quantusque feretur

idem per Zephyri metas Hymenaeus et Euri!

o mihi si liceat thalamis intendere carmen650

conubiale tuis, si te iam dicere patrem!

tempus erit, cum tu trans Rheni cornua victor,

Arcadius captae spoliis Babylonis onustus

communem maiore toga signabitis annum;

crinitusque tuo sudabit fasce Suebus,655

ultima fraternas horrebunt Bactra secures.

[335]Heaven grant thou mayest be our perpetual consul and outnumber Marius[168]and old Augustus. Happy universe that shall see the first down creep over thy cheeks, and the wedding-night that shall lead forth for thee the festal torches. Who shall be consecrated to such a couch; who, glorious in purple, shall pass, a queen, to the embraces of such a husband? What bride shall come to be the daughter of so many gods, dowered with every land and the whole sea? How gloriously shall the nuptial song be borne at once to farthest East and West! O may it be mine to sing thy marriage-hymn, mine presently to hail thee father! The time will come when, thou victorious beyond the mouths of the Rhine, and thy brother Arcadius laden with the spoil of captured Babylon, ye shall endow the year with yet more glorious majesty; when the long-haired Suebian shall bear the arms of Rome and the distant Bactrian tremble beneath the rule of thyself and thy brother.[168]Marius was consul seven, Augustus thirteen, times.

[335]

Heaven grant thou mayest be our perpetual consul and outnumber Marius[168]and old Augustus. Happy universe that shall see the first down creep over thy cheeks, and the wedding-night that shall lead forth for thee the festal torches. Who shall be consecrated to such a couch; who, glorious in purple, shall pass, a queen, to the embraces of such a husband? What bride shall come to be the daughter of so many gods, dowered with every land and the whole sea? How gloriously shall the nuptial song be borne at once to farthest East and West! O may it be mine to sing thy marriage-hymn, mine presently to hail thee father! The time will come when, thou victorious beyond the mouths of the Rhine, and thy brother Arcadius laden with the spoil of captured Babylon, ye shall endow the year with yet more glorious majesty; when the long-haired Suebian shall bear the arms of Rome and the distant Bactrian tremble beneath the rule of thyself and thy brother.

[168]Marius was consul seven, Augustus thirteen, times.

[336]PANEGYRICUS DICTUS MANLIO THEODORO CONSULIPRAEFATIO(XVI.)Audebisne, precor, tantae subiecta catervae,inter tot proceres, nostra Thalia, loqui?nec te fama vetat, vero quam celsius auctamvel servasse labor vel minuisse pudor?an tibi continuis crevit fiducia castris5totaque iam vatis pectora miles habet?culmina Romani maiestatemque senatuset, quibus exultat Gallia, cerne viros.omnibus audimur terris mundique per auresibimus. ah nimius consulis urget amor!10Iuppiter, ut perhibent, spatium cum discere velletnaturae regni nescius ipse sui,armigeros utrimque duos aequalibus alismisit ab Eois Occiduisque plagis.Parnasus geminos fertur iunxisse volatus;15contulit alternas Pythius axis aves.Princeps non aquilis terras cognoscere curat;certius in vobis aestimat imperium.hoc ego concilio collectum metior orbem;hoc video coetu quidquid ubique micat.20[337]PANEGYRIC ON THE CONSULSHIP OF FL. MANLIUS THEODORUS[169](A.D.399)PREFACE(XVI.)Wilt dare to sing, my Muse, when so great, so august an assembly shall be thy critic? Does not thine own renown forbid thee? ’Tis greater now than thou deservest; how hard then to enhance, how disgraceful to diminish it! Or has thine assurance grown through ever dwelling in the camp, and does the soldier now wholly possess the poet’s breast? Behold the flower of the Roman senate, the majesty, the pride, the heroes of Gaul. The whole earth is my audience, my song shall sound in the ears of all the world. Alack! Love for our consul constrains too strongly. Jove, ’tis said, when he would fain learn its extent (for he knew not the bounds of his own empire) sent forth two eagles of equal flight from the East and from the West. On Parnassus, as they tell, their twin flights met; the Delphic heaven brought together the one bird and the other. Our Emperor needs no eagles to teach him the magnitude of his domains; yourselves are preceptors more convincing. ’Tis this assembly that gives to me the measure of the universe; here I see gathered all the brilliance of the world.[169]See Introduction, p. xv. Judging from this poem Manlius started by being anadvocatusin the praetorian prefect’s court, was thenpraesesof some district in Africa, then governor (consularis) of Macedonia, next recalled to Rome as Gratian’smagister epistularum, thencomes sacrarum largitionum(= ecclesiastical treasurer) and after that praetorian prefect of Gaul (ll. 50-53).

[336]

(XVI.)

Audebisne, precor, tantae subiecta catervae,inter tot proceres, nostra Thalia, loqui?nec te fama vetat, vero quam celsius auctamvel servasse labor vel minuisse pudor?an tibi continuis crevit fiducia castris5totaque iam vatis pectora miles habet?culmina Romani maiestatemque senatuset, quibus exultat Gallia, cerne viros.omnibus audimur terris mundique per auresibimus. ah nimius consulis urget amor!10Iuppiter, ut perhibent, spatium cum discere velletnaturae regni nescius ipse sui,armigeros utrimque duos aequalibus alismisit ab Eois Occiduisque plagis.Parnasus geminos fertur iunxisse volatus;15contulit alternas Pythius axis aves.Princeps non aquilis terras cognoscere curat;certius in vobis aestimat imperium.hoc ego concilio collectum metior orbem;hoc video coetu quidquid ubique micat.20

Audebisne, precor, tantae subiecta catervae,

inter tot proceres, nostra Thalia, loqui?

nec te fama vetat, vero quam celsius auctam

vel servasse labor vel minuisse pudor?

an tibi continuis crevit fiducia castris5

totaque iam vatis pectora miles habet?

culmina Romani maiestatemque senatus

et, quibus exultat Gallia, cerne viros.

omnibus audimur terris mundique per aures

ibimus. ah nimius consulis urget amor!10

Iuppiter, ut perhibent, spatium cum discere vellet

naturae regni nescius ipse sui,

armigeros utrimque duos aequalibus alis

misit ab Eois Occiduisque plagis.

Parnasus geminos fertur iunxisse volatus;15

contulit alternas Pythius axis aves.

Princeps non aquilis terras cognoscere curat;

certius in vobis aestimat imperium.

hoc ego concilio collectum metior orbem;

hoc video coetu quidquid ubique micat.20

[337]PANEGYRIC ON THE CONSULSHIP OF FL. MANLIUS THEODORUS[169](A.D.399)PREFACE(XVI.)Wilt dare to sing, my Muse, when so great, so august an assembly shall be thy critic? Does not thine own renown forbid thee? ’Tis greater now than thou deservest; how hard then to enhance, how disgraceful to diminish it! Or has thine assurance grown through ever dwelling in the camp, and does the soldier now wholly possess the poet’s breast? Behold the flower of the Roman senate, the majesty, the pride, the heroes of Gaul. The whole earth is my audience, my song shall sound in the ears of all the world. Alack! Love for our consul constrains too strongly. Jove, ’tis said, when he would fain learn its extent (for he knew not the bounds of his own empire) sent forth two eagles of equal flight from the East and from the West. On Parnassus, as they tell, their twin flights met; the Delphic heaven brought together the one bird and the other. Our Emperor needs no eagles to teach him the magnitude of his domains; yourselves are preceptors more convincing. ’Tis this assembly that gives to me the measure of the universe; here I see gathered all the brilliance of the world.[169]See Introduction, p. xv. Judging from this poem Manlius started by being anadvocatusin the praetorian prefect’s court, was thenpraesesof some district in Africa, then governor (consularis) of Macedonia, next recalled to Rome as Gratian’smagister epistularum, thencomes sacrarum largitionum(= ecclesiastical treasurer) and after that praetorian prefect of Gaul (ll. 50-53).

[337]

(XVI.)

Wilt dare to sing, my Muse, when so great, so august an assembly shall be thy critic? Does not thine own renown forbid thee? ’Tis greater now than thou deservest; how hard then to enhance, how disgraceful to diminish it! Or has thine assurance grown through ever dwelling in the camp, and does the soldier now wholly possess the poet’s breast? Behold the flower of the Roman senate, the majesty, the pride, the heroes of Gaul. The whole earth is my audience, my song shall sound in the ears of all the world. Alack! Love for our consul constrains too strongly. Jove, ’tis said, when he would fain learn its extent (for he knew not the bounds of his own empire) sent forth two eagles of equal flight from the East and from the West. On Parnassus, as they tell, their twin flights met; the Delphic heaven brought together the one bird and the other. Our Emperor needs no eagles to teach him the magnitude of his domains; yourselves are preceptors more convincing. ’Tis this assembly that gives to me the measure of the universe; here I see gathered all the brilliance of the world.

[169]See Introduction, p. xv. Judging from this poem Manlius started by being anadvocatusin the praetorian prefect’s court, was thenpraesesof some district in Africa, then governor (consularis) of Macedonia, next recalled to Rome as Gratian’smagister epistularum, thencomes sacrarum largitionum(= ecclesiastical treasurer) and after that praetorian prefect of Gaul (ll. 50-53).

[338]PANEGYRICUS(XVII.)Ipsa quidem Virtus pretium sibi, solaque lateFortunae secura nitet nec fascibus ulliserigitur plausuve petit clarescere vulgi.nil opis externae cupiens, nil indiga laudis,divitiis animosa suis inmotaque cunctis5casibus ex alta mortalia despicit arce.attamen invitam blande vestigat et ultroambit honor: docuit totiens a rure profectuslictor et in mediis consul quaesitus aratris.te quoque naturae sacris mundique vacantem,10emeritum pridem desudatisque remotumiudiciis eadem rursum complexa potestasevehit et reducem notis imponit habenis.accedunt trabeae: nil iam, Theodore, relictum,quo virtus animo crescat vel splendor honori.[170]15culmen utrumque tenes: talem te protinus anniformavere rudes, et dignum vita curulitraxit iter primaeque senes cessere iuventae.iam tum canities animi, iam dulce loquendi[170]honoriconject. Birt;honorecodd.[339]PANEGYRIC(XVII.)Virtue is its own reward; alone with its far-flung splendour it mocks at Fortune; no honours raise it higher nor does it seek glory from the mob’s applause. External wealth cannot arouse its desires, it asks no praise but makes its boast of self-contained riches, and unmoved by all chances it looks down upon the world from a lofty citadel. Yet in its own despite importunate honours pursue it, and offer themselves unsought; that the lictor coming from the farm hath ofttimes proved and a consul sought for even at the plough. Thou, too, who wert at leisure to study the mysteries of nature and the heavens, thou who hadst served thy time and retired from the law courts where thou hadst toiled so long, art once more enfolded by a like dignity, which, raising thee aloft, sets in thy returning hands the familiar rein. The consulship now is thine, Theodorus, nor is there now aught left to add to thy virtues or to the glory of thy name. Thou art now at the summit of both; from thine earliest years thy character was thus formed, the whole course of thy life was worthy of the curule chair; thy earliest youth outrivalled age. Even then thy mind was hoar, thy pleasant talk weighty, thy

[338]

(XVII.)

Ipsa quidem Virtus pretium sibi, solaque lateFortunae secura nitet nec fascibus ulliserigitur plausuve petit clarescere vulgi.nil opis externae cupiens, nil indiga laudis,divitiis animosa suis inmotaque cunctis5casibus ex alta mortalia despicit arce.attamen invitam blande vestigat et ultroambit honor: docuit totiens a rure profectuslictor et in mediis consul quaesitus aratris.te quoque naturae sacris mundique vacantem,10emeritum pridem desudatisque remotumiudiciis eadem rursum complexa potestasevehit et reducem notis imponit habenis.accedunt trabeae: nil iam, Theodore, relictum,quo virtus animo crescat vel splendor honori.[170]15culmen utrumque tenes: talem te protinus anniformavere rudes, et dignum vita curulitraxit iter primaeque senes cessere iuventae.iam tum canities animi, iam dulce loquendi

Ipsa quidem Virtus pretium sibi, solaque late

Fortunae secura nitet nec fascibus ullis

erigitur plausuve petit clarescere vulgi.

nil opis externae cupiens, nil indiga laudis,

divitiis animosa suis inmotaque cunctis5

casibus ex alta mortalia despicit arce.

attamen invitam blande vestigat et ultro

ambit honor: docuit totiens a rure profectus

lictor et in mediis consul quaesitus aratris.

te quoque naturae sacris mundique vacantem,10

emeritum pridem desudatisque remotum

iudiciis eadem rursum complexa potestas

evehit et reducem notis imponit habenis.

accedunt trabeae: nil iam, Theodore, relictum,

quo virtus animo crescat vel splendor honori.[170]15

culmen utrumque tenes: talem te protinus anni

formavere rudes, et dignum vita curuli

traxit iter primaeque senes cessere iuventae.

iam tum canities animi, iam dulce loquendi

[170]honoriconject. Birt;honorecodd.

[339]PANEGYRIC(XVII.)Virtue is its own reward; alone with its far-flung splendour it mocks at Fortune; no honours raise it higher nor does it seek glory from the mob’s applause. External wealth cannot arouse its desires, it asks no praise but makes its boast of self-contained riches, and unmoved by all chances it looks down upon the world from a lofty citadel. Yet in its own despite importunate honours pursue it, and offer themselves unsought; that the lictor coming from the farm hath ofttimes proved and a consul sought for even at the plough. Thou, too, who wert at leisure to study the mysteries of nature and the heavens, thou who hadst served thy time and retired from the law courts where thou hadst toiled so long, art once more enfolded by a like dignity, which, raising thee aloft, sets in thy returning hands the familiar rein. The consulship now is thine, Theodorus, nor is there now aught left to add to thy virtues or to the glory of thy name. Thou art now at the summit of both; from thine earliest years thy character was thus formed, the whole course of thy life was worthy of the curule chair; thy earliest youth outrivalled age. Even then thy mind was hoar, thy pleasant talk weighty, thy

[339]

(XVII.)

Virtue is its own reward; alone with its far-flung splendour it mocks at Fortune; no honours raise it higher nor does it seek glory from the mob’s applause. External wealth cannot arouse its desires, it asks no praise but makes its boast of self-contained riches, and unmoved by all chances it looks down upon the world from a lofty citadel. Yet in its own despite importunate honours pursue it, and offer themselves unsought; that the lictor coming from the farm hath ofttimes proved and a consul sought for even at the plough. Thou, too, who wert at leisure to study the mysteries of nature and the heavens, thou who hadst served thy time and retired from the law courts where thou hadst toiled so long, art once more enfolded by a like dignity, which, raising thee aloft, sets in thy returning hands the familiar rein. The consulship now is thine, Theodorus, nor is there now aught left to add to thy virtues or to the glory of thy name. Thou art now at the summit of both; from thine earliest years thy character was thus formed, the whole course of thy life was worthy of the curule chair; thy earliest youth outrivalled age. Even then thy mind was hoar, thy pleasant talk weighty, thy

[340]pondus et attonitas sermo qui duceret aures.20mox undare foro victrix opulentia linguaetutarique reos. ipsa haec amplissima sedesorantem stupuit, bis laudatura regentem.hinc te pars Libyae moderantem iura probavit,quae nunc tota probat; longi sed pignus amoris25exiguae peperere morae populumque clientempublica mansuris testantur vocibus aera.inde tibi Macetum tellus et credita Pellaemoenia, quae famulus quondam ditavit Hydaspes;tantaque commissae revocasti gaudia genti30mitibus arbitriis, quantum bellante Philippofloruit aut nigri cecidit cum regia Pori.Sed non ulterius te praebuit urbibus aula:maluit esse suum; terris edicta daturus,supplicibus responsa venis. oracula regis35eloquio crevere tuo, nec dignius umquammaiestas meminit sese Romana locutam.hinc sacrae mandantur opes orbisque tributapossessi, quidquid fluviis evolvitur auri,quidquid luce procul venas rimata sequaces40abdita pallentis fodit sollertia Bessi.Ac velut expertus[171]lentandis navita tonsispraeficitur lateri custos; hinc ardua proraetemperat et fluctus tempestatesque futurasedocet; adsiduo cum Dorida vicerit usu,45iam clavum totamque subit torquere carinam:[171]expertusBarthius; Birt keepsMSS.exertus.[341]converse the admiration and delight of all that heard it. The wealth of thy triumphant eloquence soon overflowed the forum and brought safety to the accused. Yea, this most august assembly was astonied at thy pleading, as it was twice to applaud thy governance. Next, a part of Libya approved the administration which it now in its entirety enjoys; but thy brief stay won for thee a pledge of perpetual love, and public statues bear witness with enduring eloquence that thou wert a nation’s guardian. Macedonia was next committed to thy care and the walls of Pella, enriched once by conquered Hydaspes. The mildness of thy rule brought to the country entrusted to thee such joy as it once knew under warlike Philip or when the empire of Indian Porus fell to Alexander’s arms.But Rome could not spare thy services longer to the provinces; she chose rather to have thee for her own; thou comest to give edicts to the world, to make reply to suppliants. A monarch’s utterance has won dignity from thine eloquence, never can the majesty of Rome recall when she spoke more worthily. After this the offerings and wealth of the world, the tribute of the empire, is entrusted to thy care; the gold washed down by the rivers and that dug out of deep Thracian mines by the skill of pale-faced Bessi who track the hidden seams—all is thine.As a sailor skilled in wielding the oar is at first set in charge of but a side of the vessel, then, when he can manage the lofty prow and is able, thanks to his long experience of the sea, to know beforehand what storms and tempests the vessel is like to encounter, he has charge of the helm and is entrusted with the

[340]

pondus et attonitas sermo qui duceret aures.20mox undare foro victrix opulentia linguaetutarique reos. ipsa haec amplissima sedesorantem stupuit, bis laudatura regentem.hinc te pars Libyae moderantem iura probavit,quae nunc tota probat; longi sed pignus amoris25exiguae peperere morae populumque clientempublica mansuris testantur vocibus aera.inde tibi Macetum tellus et credita Pellaemoenia, quae famulus quondam ditavit Hydaspes;tantaque commissae revocasti gaudia genti30mitibus arbitriis, quantum bellante Philippofloruit aut nigri cecidit cum regia Pori.Sed non ulterius te praebuit urbibus aula:maluit esse suum; terris edicta daturus,supplicibus responsa venis. oracula regis35eloquio crevere tuo, nec dignius umquammaiestas meminit sese Romana locutam.hinc sacrae mandantur opes orbisque tributapossessi, quidquid fluviis evolvitur auri,quidquid luce procul venas rimata sequaces40abdita pallentis fodit sollertia Bessi.Ac velut expertus[171]lentandis navita tonsispraeficitur lateri custos; hinc ardua proraetemperat et fluctus tempestatesque futurasedocet; adsiduo cum Dorida vicerit usu,45iam clavum totamque subit torquere carinam:

pondus et attonitas sermo qui duceret aures.20

mox undare foro victrix opulentia linguae

tutarique reos. ipsa haec amplissima sedes

orantem stupuit, bis laudatura regentem.

hinc te pars Libyae moderantem iura probavit,

quae nunc tota probat; longi sed pignus amoris25

exiguae peperere morae populumque clientem

publica mansuris testantur vocibus aera.

inde tibi Macetum tellus et credita Pellae

moenia, quae famulus quondam ditavit Hydaspes;

tantaque commissae revocasti gaudia genti30

mitibus arbitriis, quantum bellante Philippo

floruit aut nigri cecidit cum regia Pori.

Sed non ulterius te praebuit urbibus aula:

maluit esse suum; terris edicta daturus,

supplicibus responsa venis. oracula regis35

eloquio crevere tuo, nec dignius umquam

maiestas meminit sese Romana locutam.

hinc sacrae mandantur opes orbisque tributa

possessi, quidquid fluviis evolvitur auri,

quidquid luce procul venas rimata sequaces40

abdita pallentis fodit sollertia Bessi.

Ac velut expertus[171]lentandis navita tonsis

praeficitur lateri custos; hinc ardua prorae

temperat et fluctus tempestatesque futuras

edocet; adsiduo cum Dorida vicerit usu,45

iam clavum totamque subit torquere carinam:

[171]expertusBarthius; Birt keepsMSS.exertus.

[341]converse the admiration and delight of all that heard it. The wealth of thy triumphant eloquence soon overflowed the forum and brought safety to the accused. Yea, this most august assembly was astonied at thy pleading, as it was twice to applaud thy governance. Next, a part of Libya approved the administration which it now in its entirety enjoys; but thy brief stay won for thee a pledge of perpetual love, and public statues bear witness with enduring eloquence that thou wert a nation’s guardian. Macedonia was next committed to thy care and the walls of Pella, enriched once by conquered Hydaspes. The mildness of thy rule brought to the country entrusted to thee such joy as it once knew under warlike Philip or when the empire of Indian Porus fell to Alexander’s arms.But Rome could not spare thy services longer to the provinces; she chose rather to have thee for her own; thou comest to give edicts to the world, to make reply to suppliants. A monarch’s utterance has won dignity from thine eloquence, never can the majesty of Rome recall when she spoke more worthily. After this the offerings and wealth of the world, the tribute of the empire, is entrusted to thy care; the gold washed down by the rivers and that dug out of deep Thracian mines by the skill of pale-faced Bessi who track the hidden seams—all is thine.As a sailor skilled in wielding the oar is at first set in charge of but a side of the vessel, then, when he can manage the lofty prow and is able, thanks to his long experience of the sea, to know beforehand what storms and tempests the vessel is like to encounter, he has charge of the helm and is entrusted with the

[341]

converse the admiration and delight of all that heard it. The wealth of thy triumphant eloquence soon overflowed the forum and brought safety to the accused. Yea, this most august assembly was astonied at thy pleading, as it was twice to applaud thy governance. Next, a part of Libya approved the administration which it now in its entirety enjoys; but thy brief stay won for thee a pledge of perpetual love, and public statues bear witness with enduring eloquence that thou wert a nation’s guardian. Macedonia was next committed to thy care and the walls of Pella, enriched once by conquered Hydaspes. The mildness of thy rule brought to the country entrusted to thee such joy as it once knew under warlike Philip or when the empire of Indian Porus fell to Alexander’s arms.

But Rome could not spare thy services longer to the provinces; she chose rather to have thee for her own; thou comest to give edicts to the world, to make reply to suppliants. A monarch’s utterance has won dignity from thine eloquence, never can the majesty of Rome recall when she spoke more worthily. After this the offerings and wealth of the world, the tribute of the empire, is entrusted to thy care; the gold washed down by the rivers and that dug out of deep Thracian mines by the skill of pale-faced Bessi who track the hidden seams—all is thine.

As a sailor skilled in wielding the oar is at first set in charge of but a side of the vessel, then, when he can manage the lofty prow and is able, thanks to his long experience of the sea, to know beforehand what storms and tempests the vessel is like to encounter, he has charge of the helm and is entrusted with the

[342]sic cum clara diu mentis documenta dedisses,non te parte sui, sed in omni corpore sumpsitimperium cunctaque dedit tellure regendosrectores. Hispana tibi Germanaque Tethys50paruit et nostro diducta Britannia mundo,diversoque tuas coluerunt gurgite voceslentus Arar Rhodanusque ferox et dives Hiberus.o quotiens doluit Rhenus, qua barbarus ibat,quod te non geminis frueretur iudice ripis!55unius fit cura viri, quodcumque rubescitoccasu, quodcumque dies devexior ambit.Tam celer adsiduos explevit cursus honores;una potestatum spatiis interfuit aetastotque gradus fati iuvenilibus intulit annis.60Postquam parta quies et summum nacta cacumeniam secura petit privatum gloria portum,ingenii redeunt fructus aliique labores,et vitae pars nulla perit: quodcumque receditlitibus, incumbit studiis, animusque vicissim65aut curam imponit populis aut otia Musis.omnia Cecropiae relegis secreta senectaediscutiens, quid quisque novum mandaverit aevoquantaque diversae producant agmina sectae.Namque aliis princeps rerum disponitur aër;70hic confidit aquis; hic procreat omnia flammis.[343]direction of the entire ship; so when thou hadst long given illustrious proofs of thy character, the empire of Rome summoned thee to govern not a part but the whole of itself, and set thee as ruler over all the rulers of the world. The seas of Spain, the German ocean obeyed thee and Britain, so far removed from our continent. Rivers of all lands observed thy statutes, slow-flowing Saône, swift Rhone, and Ebro rich in gold. How often did the Rhine, in those districts where the barbarians dwell, lament that the blessings of thy rule extended not to both banks! All the lands the setting sun bathes in its rays, all that its last brilliance illumines are entrusted to the charge of one man.So swiftly did thy career fill office after office; a single period of life was enough for the round of dignities and gave to thy youthful years every step on fortune’s ladder.When repose was earned and now, after reaching the highest place, glory, laying care aside, seeks refuge in a private life, genius again wins reward from other tasks. No part of life is lost: all that is withdrawn from the law courts is devoted to the study, and thy mind in turn either bestows its efforts on the State or its leisure on the Muses. Once more thou readest the secrets of ancient Athens, examining the discoveries with which each sage has enriched posterity and noting what hosts of disciples the varying schools produce.For some hold that air[172]is the first beginning of all things, others that water is, others again derive the sum of things from fire. Another, destined to[172]Claudian refers to the early Ionian philosophers. Anaximenes believed that air was the first principle of all things, Thales said water, Heraclitus fire. l. 72 refers to Empedocles who postulated the four elements and two principles, love and hate, which respectively made and unmade the universe out of the elements. The “hic” of l. 75 may be Democritus or it may refer to the Sceptic, Pyrrho. The “hic” of l. 76 is Anaxagoras, the friend of Pericles. “Ille” (79) may be taken to refer to Leucippus, the first of the atomic philosophers; he postulated infinite space. “Hi” (82) = Democritus, Epicurus, and other atomists. “Alii” (83) are the Platonists.

[342]

sic cum clara diu mentis documenta dedisses,non te parte sui, sed in omni corpore sumpsitimperium cunctaque dedit tellure regendosrectores. Hispana tibi Germanaque Tethys50paruit et nostro diducta Britannia mundo,diversoque tuas coluerunt gurgite voceslentus Arar Rhodanusque ferox et dives Hiberus.o quotiens doluit Rhenus, qua barbarus ibat,quod te non geminis frueretur iudice ripis!55unius fit cura viri, quodcumque rubescitoccasu, quodcumque dies devexior ambit.Tam celer adsiduos explevit cursus honores;una potestatum spatiis interfuit aetastotque gradus fati iuvenilibus intulit annis.60Postquam parta quies et summum nacta cacumeniam secura petit privatum gloria portum,ingenii redeunt fructus aliique labores,et vitae pars nulla perit: quodcumque receditlitibus, incumbit studiis, animusque vicissim65aut curam imponit populis aut otia Musis.omnia Cecropiae relegis secreta senectaediscutiens, quid quisque novum mandaverit aevoquantaque diversae producant agmina sectae.Namque aliis princeps rerum disponitur aër;70hic confidit aquis; hic procreat omnia flammis.

sic cum clara diu mentis documenta dedisses,

non te parte sui, sed in omni corpore sumpsit

imperium cunctaque dedit tellure regendos

rectores. Hispana tibi Germanaque Tethys50

paruit et nostro diducta Britannia mundo,

diversoque tuas coluerunt gurgite voces

lentus Arar Rhodanusque ferox et dives Hiberus.

o quotiens doluit Rhenus, qua barbarus ibat,

quod te non geminis frueretur iudice ripis!55

unius fit cura viri, quodcumque rubescit

occasu, quodcumque dies devexior ambit.

Tam celer adsiduos explevit cursus honores;

una potestatum spatiis interfuit aetas

totque gradus fati iuvenilibus intulit annis.60

Postquam parta quies et summum nacta cacumen

iam secura petit privatum gloria portum,

ingenii redeunt fructus aliique labores,

et vitae pars nulla perit: quodcumque recedit

litibus, incumbit studiis, animusque vicissim65

aut curam imponit populis aut otia Musis.

omnia Cecropiae relegis secreta senectae

discutiens, quid quisque novum mandaverit aevo

quantaque diversae producant agmina sectae.

Namque aliis princeps rerum disponitur aër;70

hic confidit aquis; hic procreat omnia flammis.

[343]direction of the entire ship; so when thou hadst long given illustrious proofs of thy character, the empire of Rome summoned thee to govern not a part but the whole of itself, and set thee as ruler over all the rulers of the world. The seas of Spain, the German ocean obeyed thee and Britain, so far removed from our continent. Rivers of all lands observed thy statutes, slow-flowing Saône, swift Rhone, and Ebro rich in gold. How often did the Rhine, in those districts where the barbarians dwell, lament that the blessings of thy rule extended not to both banks! All the lands the setting sun bathes in its rays, all that its last brilliance illumines are entrusted to the charge of one man.So swiftly did thy career fill office after office; a single period of life was enough for the round of dignities and gave to thy youthful years every step on fortune’s ladder.When repose was earned and now, after reaching the highest place, glory, laying care aside, seeks refuge in a private life, genius again wins reward from other tasks. No part of life is lost: all that is withdrawn from the law courts is devoted to the study, and thy mind in turn either bestows its efforts on the State or its leisure on the Muses. Once more thou readest the secrets of ancient Athens, examining the discoveries with which each sage has enriched posterity and noting what hosts of disciples the varying schools produce.For some hold that air[172]is the first beginning of all things, others that water is, others again derive the sum of things from fire. Another, destined to[172]Claudian refers to the early Ionian philosophers. Anaximenes believed that air was the first principle of all things, Thales said water, Heraclitus fire. l. 72 refers to Empedocles who postulated the four elements and two principles, love and hate, which respectively made and unmade the universe out of the elements. The “hic” of l. 75 may be Democritus or it may refer to the Sceptic, Pyrrho. The “hic” of l. 76 is Anaxagoras, the friend of Pericles. “Ille” (79) may be taken to refer to Leucippus, the first of the atomic philosophers; he postulated infinite space. “Hi” (82) = Democritus, Epicurus, and other atomists. “Alii” (83) are the Platonists.

[343]

direction of the entire ship; so when thou hadst long given illustrious proofs of thy character, the empire of Rome summoned thee to govern not a part but the whole of itself, and set thee as ruler over all the rulers of the world. The seas of Spain, the German ocean obeyed thee and Britain, so far removed from our continent. Rivers of all lands observed thy statutes, slow-flowing Saône, swift Rhone, and Ebro rich in gold. How often did the Rhine, in those districts where the barbarians dwell, lament that the blessings of thy rule extended not to both banks! All the lands the setting sun bathes in its rays, all that its last brilliance illumines are entrusted to the charge of one man.

So swiftly did thy career fill office after office; a single period of life was enough for the round of dignities and gave to thy youthful years every step on fortune’s ladder.

When repose was earned and now, after reaching the highest place, glory, laying care aside, seeks refuge in a private life, genius again wins reward from other tasks. No part of life is lost: all that is withdrawn from the law courts is devoted to the study, and thy mind in turn either bestows its efforts on the State or its leisure on the Muses. Once more thou readest the secrets of ancient Athens, examining the discoveries with which each sage has enriched posterity and noting what hosts of disciples the varying schools produce.

For some hold that air[172]is the first beginning of all things, others that water is, others again derive the sum of things from fire. Another, destined to

[172]Claudian refers to the early Ionian philosophers. Anaximenes believed that air was the first principle of all things, Thales said water, Heraclitus fire. l. 72 refers to Empedocles who postulated the four elements and two principles, love and hate, which respectively made and unmade the universe out of the elements. The “hic” of l. 75 may be Democritus or it may refer to the Sceptic, Pyrrho. The “hic” of l. 76 is Anaxagoras, the friend of Pericles. “Ille” (79) may be taken to refer to Leucippus, the first of the atomic philosophers; he postulated infinite space. “Hi” (82) = Democritus, Epicurus, and other atomists. “Alii” (83) are the Platonists.

[344]alter in Aetnaeas casurus sponte favillasdispergit revocatque deum rursusque receptisnectit amicitiis quidquid discordia solvit.corporis hic damnat sensus verumque videri75pernegat. hic semper lapsurae pondera terraeconatur rapido caeli fulcire rotatuaccenditque diem praerupti turbine saxi.ille ferox unoque tegi non passus Olympoinmensum per inane volat finemque perosus80parturit innumeros angusto pectore mundos.hi vaga collidunt caecis primordia plagis.numina constituunt alii casusque relegant.Graiorum obscuras Romanis floribus artesinradias, vicibus gratis formare loquentes85suetus et alterno verum contexere nodo.quidquid Socratico manavit ab ordine, quidquiddocta Cleantheae sonuerunt atria turbae,inventum quodcumque tuo, Chrysippe, recessu,quidquid Democritus risit dixitque tacendo90Pythagoras, uno se pectore cuncta vetustascondidit et maior collectis viribus exit.ornantur veteres et nobiliore magistroin Latium spretis Academia migrat Athenis,ut tandem propius discat, quo fine beatum95dirigitur, quae norma boni, qui limes honesti;quaenam membra sui virtus divisa domandisobiectet vitiis; quae pars iniusta recidat,quae vincat ratione metus, quae frenet amores;aut quotiens elementa doces semperque fluentis100[345]fall self-immolated into Etna’s fiery crater, reduces God to principles of dispersion and re-collection and binds again in resumed friendship all that discord separates. This philosopher allows no authority to the senses and denies that the truth can be perceived. Another seeks to explain the suspension of the world in space by the rapid revolution of the sky (whence else the world would fall) and kindles day’s fires by the whirl of a rushing rock. That fearless spirit, not content with the covering of but one sky, flies through the limitless void and, scorning a limit, conceives in one small brain a thousand worlds. Others make wandering atoms clash with blind blows, while others again set up deities and banish chance.Thou dost adorn the obscure learning of Greece with Roman flowers,[173]skilled to shape speech in happy interchange and weave truth’s garland with alternate knots. All the lore of Socrates’ school, the learning that echoed in Cleanthes’ lecture-room, the thoughts of the stoic Chrysippus in his retreat, all the laughter of Democritus, all that Pythagoras spoke by silence—all the wisdom of the ancients is stored in that one brain whence it issues forth the stronger for its concentration. The ancients gain fresh lustre and, scorning Athens, the Academy migrates to Latium under a nobler master, the more exactly at last to learn by what end happiness guides its path, what is the rule of the good, the goal of the right; what division of virtue should be set to combat and overthrow each separate vice, and what part of virtue it is that curbs injustice, that causes reason to triumph over fear, that holds lust in check. How often hast thou taught us the nature[173]Claudian’s way of saying that Manlius translates Greek philosophy into clear and elegant Latin, throwing his translation into the form of a dialogue.

[344]

alter in Aetnaeas casurus sponte favillasdispergit revocatque deum rursusque receptisnectit amicitiis quidquid discordia solvit.corporis hic damnat sensus verumque videri75pernegat. hic semper lapsurae pondera terraeconatur rapido caeli fulcire rotatuaccenditque diem praerupti turbine saxi.ille ferox unoque tegi non passus Olympoinmensum per inane volat finemque perosus80parturit innumeros angusto pectore mundos.hi vaga collidunt caecis primordia plagis.numina constituunt alii casusque relegant.Graiorum obscuras Romanis floribus artesinradias, vicibus gratis formare loquentes85suetus et alterno verum contexere nodo.quidquid Socratico manavit ab ordine, quidquiddocta Cleantheae sonuerunt atria turbae,inventum quodcumque tuo, Chrysippe, recessu,quidquid Democritus risit dixitque tacendo90Pythagoras, uno se pectore cuncta vetustascondidit et maior collectis viribus exit.ornantur veteres et nobiliore magistroin Latium spretis Academia migrat Athenis,ut tandem propius discat, quo fine beatum95dirigitur, quae norma boni, qui limes honesti;quaenam membra sui virtus divisa domandisobiectet vitiis; quae pars iniusta recidat,quae vincat ratione metus, quae frenet amores;aut quotiens elementa doces semperque fluentis100

alter in Aetnaeas casurus sponte favillas

dispergit revocatque deum rursusque receptis

nectit amicitiis quidquid discordia solvit.

corporis hic damnat sensus verumque videri75

pernegat. hic semper lapsurae pondera terrae

conatur rapido caeli fulcire rotatu

accenditque diem praerupti turbine saxi.

ille ferox unoque tegi non passus Olympo

inmensum per inane volat finemque perosus80

parturit innumeros angusto pectore mundos.

hi vaga collidunt caecis primordia plagis.

numina constituunt alii casusque relegant.

Graiorum obscuras Romanis floribus artes

inradias, vicibus gratis formare loquentes85

suetus et alterno verum contexere nodo.

quidquid Socratico manavit ab ordine, quidquid

docta Cleantheae sonuerunt atria turbae,

inventum quodcumque tuo, Chrysippe, recessu,

quidquid Democritus risit dixitque tacendo90

Pythagoras, uno se pectore cuncta vetustas

condidit et maior collectis viribus exit.

ornantur veteres et nobiliore magistro

in Latium spretis Academia migrat Athenis,

ut tandem propius discat, quo fine beatum95

dirigitur, quae norma boni, qui limes honesti;

quaenam membra sui virtus divisa domandis

obiectet vitiis; quae pars iniusta recidat,

quae vincat ratione metus, quae frenet amores;

aut quotiens elementa doces semperque fluentis100

[345]fall self-immolated into Etna’s fiery crater, reduces God to principles of dispersion and re-collection and binds again in resumed friendship all that discord separates. This philosopher allows no authority to the senses and denies that the truth can be perceived. Another seeks to explain the suspension of the world in space by the rapid revolution of the sky (whence else the world would fall) and kindles day’s fires by the whirl of a rushing rock. That fearless spirit, not content with the covering of but one sky, flies through the limitless void and, scorning a limit, conceives in one small brain a thousand worlds. Others make wandering atoms clash with blind blows, while others again set up deities and banish chance.Thou dost adorn the obscure learning of Greece with Roman flowers,[173]skilled to shape speech in happy interchange and weave truth’s garland with alternate knots. All the lore of Socrates’ school, the learning that echoed in Cleanthes’ lecture-room, the thoughts of the stoic Chrysippus in his retreat, all the laughter of Democritus, all that Pythagoras spoke by silence—all the wisdom of the ancients is stored in that one brain whence it issues forth the stronger for its concentration. The ancients gain fresh lustre and, scorning Athens, the Academy migrates to Latium under a nobler master, the more exactly at last to learn by what end happiness guides its path, what is the rule of the good, the goal of the right; what division of virtue should be set to combat and overthrow each separate vice, and what part of virtue it is that curbs injustice, that causes reason to triumph over fear, that holds lust in check. How often hast thou taught us the nature[173]Claudian’s way of saying that Manlius translates Greek philosophy into clear and elegant Latin, throwing his translation into the form of a dialogue.

[345]

fall self-immolated into Etna’s fiery crater, reduces God to principles of dispersion and re-collection and binds again in resumed friendship all that discord separates. This philosopher allows no authority to the senses and denies that the truth can be perceived. Another seeks to explain the suspension of the world in space by the rapid revolution of the sky (whence else the world would fall) and kindles day’s fires by the whirl of a rushing rock. That fearless spirit, not content with the covering of but one sky, flies through the limitless void and, scorning a limit, conceives in one small brain a thousand worlds. Others make wandering atoms clash with blind blows, while others again set up deities and banish chance.

Thou dost adorn the obscure learning of Greece with Roman flowers,[173]skilled to shape speech in happy interchange and weave truth’s garland with alternate knots. All the lore of Socrates’ school, the learning that echoed in Cleanthes’ lecture-room, the thoughts of the stoic Chrysippus in his retreat, all the laughter of Democritus, all that Pythagoras spoke by silence—all the wisdom of the ancients is stored in that one brain whence it issues forth the stronger for its concentration. The ancients gain fresh lustre and, scorning Athens, the Academy migrates to Latium under a nobler master, the more exactly at last to learn by what end happiness guides its path, what is the rule of the good, the goal of the right; what division of virtue should be set to combat and overthrow each separate vice, and what part of virtue it is that curbs injustice, that causes reason to triumph over fear, that holds lust in check. How often hast thou taught us the nature

[173]Claudian’s way of saying that Manlius translates Greek philosophy into clear and elegant Latin, throwing his translation into the form of a dialogue.

[346]materiae causas: quae vis animaverit astraimpuleritque choros; quo vivat machina motu;sidera cur septem retro nitantur in ortusobluctata polo; variisne meatibus idemarbiter an geminae convertant aethera mentes;sitne color proprius rerum, lucisne repulsu106eludant aciem; tumidos quae luna recursusnutriat Oceani; quo fracta tonitrua vento,quis trahat imbriferas nubes, quo saxa creenturgrandinis; unde rigor nivibus; quae flamma per auras110excutiat rutilos tractus aut fulmina veloxtorqueat aut tristem figat crinita cometem.Iam tibi compositam fundaverat ancora puppim,telluris iam certus eras; fecunda placebantotia; nascentes ibant in saecula libri:115cum subito liquida cessantem vidit ab aethraIustitia et tanto viduatas iudice leges.continuo frontem limbo velata pudicamdeserit Autumni portas, qua vergit in AustrumSignifer et noctis reparant dispendia Chelae.120pax avibus, quacumque volat, rabiemque frementesdeposuere ferae; laetatur terra reversonumine, quod prisci post tempora perdidit auri.illa per occultum Ligurum se moenibus infertet castos levibus plantis ingressa penates125invenit aetherios signantem pulvere cursus,quos pia sollicito deprendit pollice Memphis:[347]of the elements and the causes of matter’s ceaseless change; what influence has given life to the stars, moving them in their courses; what quickens with movement the universal frame. Thou tellest why the seven planets strive backward towards the East, doing battle with the firmament; whether there is one lawgiver to different movements or two minds govern heaven’s revolution; whether colour is a property of matter or whether objects deceive our sight and owe their colours to reflected light; how the moon causes the ebb and flow of the tide; which wind brings about the thunder’s crash, which collects the rain clouds and by which the hail-stones are formed; what causes the coldness of snow and what is that flame that ploughs its shining furrow through the sky, hurls the swift thunderbolt, or sets in heaven’s dome the tail of the baleful comet.Already had the anchor stayed thy restful bark, already thou wert minded to go ashore; fruitful leisure charmed and books were being born for immortality, when, of a sudden, Justice looked down from the shining heaven and saw thee at thine ease, saw Law, too, deprived of her great interpreter. She stayed not but, wreathing her chaste forehead with a band, left the gates of Autumn where the Standard-bearer dips towards the south and the Scorpion makes good the losses of the night. Where’er she flies a peace fell upon the birds and howling beasts laid aside their rage. Earth rejoices in the return of a deity lost to her since the waning of the age of gold. Secretly Justice enters the walls of Milan, Liguria’s city, and penetrating with light step the holy palace finds Theodorus marking in the sand those heavenly movements which reverent Memphis discovered by

[346]

materiae causas: quae vis animaverit astraimpuleritque choros; quo vivat machina motu;sidera cur septem retro nitantur in ortusobluctata polo; variisne meatibus idemarbiter an geminae convertant aethera mentes;sitne color proprius rerum, lucisne repulsu106eludant aciem; tumidos quae luna recursusnutriat Oceani; quo fracta tonitrua vento,quis trahat imbriferas nubes, quo saxa creenturgrandinis; unde rigor nivibus; quae flamma per auras110excutiat rutilos tractus aut fulmina veloxtorqueat aut tristem figat crinita cometem.Iam tibi compositam fundaverat ancora puppim,telluris iam certus eras; fecunda placebantotia; nascentes ibant in saecula libri:115cum subito liquida cessantem vidit ab aethraIustitia et tanto viduatas iudice leges.continuo frontem limbo velata pudicamdeserit Autumni portas, qua vergit in AustrumSignifer et noctis reparant dispendia Chelae.120pax avibus, quacumque volat, rabiemque frementesdeposuere ferae; laetatur terra reversonumine, quod prisci post tempora perdidit auri.illa per occultum Ligurum se moenibus infertet castos levibus plantis ingressa penates125invenit aetherios signantem pulvere cursus,quos pia sollicito deprendit pollice Memphis:

materiae causas: quae vis animaverit astra

impuleritque choros; quo vivat machina motu;

sidera cur septem retro nitantur in ortus

obluctata polo; variisne meatibus idem

arbiter an geminae convertant aethera mentes;

sitne color proprius rerum, lucisne repulsu106

eludant aciem; tumidos quae luna recursus

nutriat Oceani; quo fracta tonitrua vento,

quis trahat imbriferas nubes, quo saxa creentur

grandinis; unde rigor nivibus; quae flamma per auras110

excutiat rutilos tractus aut fulmina velox

torqueat aut tristem figat crinita cometem.

Iam tibi compositam fundaverat ancora puppim,

telluris iam certus eras; fecunda placebant

otia; nascentes ibant in saecula libri:115

cum subito liquida cessantem vidit ab aethra

Iustitia et tanto viduatas iudice leges.

continuo frontem limbo velata pudicam

deserit Autumni portas, qua vergit in Austrum

Signifer et noctis reparant dispendia Chelae.120

pax avibus, quacumque volat, rabiemque frementes

deposuere ferae; laetatur terra reverso

numine, quod prisci post tempora perdidit auri.

illa per occultum Ligurum se moenibus infert

et castos levibus plantis ingressa penates125

invenit aetherios signantem pulvere cursus,

quos pia sollicito deprendit pollice Memphis:

[347]of the elements and the causes of matter’s ceaseless change; what influence has given life to the stars, moving them in their courses; what quickens with movement the universal frame. Thou tellest why the seven planets strive backward towards the East, doing battle with the firmament; whether there is one lawgiver to different movements or two minds govern heaven’s revolution; whether colour is a property of matter or whether objects deceive our sight and owe their colours to reflected light; how the moon causes the ebb and flow of the tide; which wind brings about the thunder’s crash, which collects the rain clouds and by which the hail-stones are formed; what causes the coldness of snow and what is that flame that ploughs its shining furrow through the sky, hurls the swift thunderbolt, or sets in heaven’s dome the tail of the baleful comet.Already had the anchor stayed thy restful bark, already thou wert minded to go ashore; fruitful leisure charmed and books were being born for immortality, when, of a sudden, Justice looked down from the shining heaven and saw thee at thine ease, saw Law, too, deprived of her great interpreter. She stayed not but, wreathing her chaste forehead with a band, left the gates of Autumn where the Standard-bearer dips towards the south and the Scorpion makes good the losses of the night. Where’er she flies a peace fell upon the birds and howling beasts laid aside their rage. Earth rejoices in the return of a deity lost to her since the waning of the age of gold. Secretly Justice enters the walls of Milan, Liguria’s city, and penetrating with light step the holy palace finds Theodorus marking in the sand those heavenly movements which reverent Memphis discovered by

[347]

of the elements and the causes of matter’s ceaseless change; what influence has given life to the stars, moving them in their courses; what quickens with movement the universal frame. Thou tellest why the seven planets strive backward towards the East, doing battle with the firmament; whether there is one lawgiver to different movements or two minds govern heaven’s revolution; whether colour is a property of matter or whether objects deceive our sight and owe their colours to reflected light; how the moon causes the ebb and flow of the tide; which wind brings about the thunder’s crash, which collects the rain clouds and by which the hail-stones are formed; what causes the coldness of snow and what is that flame that ploughs its shining furrow through the sky, hurls the swift thunderbolt, or sets in heaven’s dome the tail of the baleful comet.

Already had the anchor stayed thy restful bark, already thou wert minded to go ashore; fruitful leisure charmed and books were being born for immortality, when, of a sudden, Justice looked down from the shining heaven and saw thee at thine ease, saw Law, too, deprived of her great interpreter. She stayed not but, wreathing her chaste forehead with a band, left the gates of Autumn where the Standard-bearer dips towards the south and the Scorpion makes good the losses of the night. Where’er she flies a peace fell upon the birds and howling beasts laid aside their rage. Earth rejoices in the return of a deity lost to her since the waning of the age of gold. Secretly Justice enters the walls of Milan, Liguria’s city, and penetrating with light step the holy palace finds Theodorus marking in the sand those heavenly movements which reverent Memphis discovered by

[348]quae moveant momenta polum, quam certus in astriserror, quis tenebras solis causisque meantemdefectum indicat numerus, quae linea Phoeben130damnet et excluso pallentem fratre relinquat.ut procul adspexit fulgentia Virginis oracognovitque deam, vultus veneratus amicosoccurrit scriptaeque notas confundit harenae.Tum sic diva prior: “Manli, sincera bonorum135congeries, in quo veteris vestigia rectiet ductos video mores meliore metallo:iam satis indultum studiis, Musaeque tot annoseripuere mihi. pridem te iura reposcunt:adgredere et nostro rursum te redde labori140nec tibi sufficiat transmissae gloria vitae.humanum curare genus quis terminus umquampraescripsit? nullas recipit prudentia metas.adde quod haec multis potuit contingere sedes,sed meriti tantum redeunt actusque priores145commendat repetitus honos, virtusque reducitquos fortuna legit.[174]melius magnoque petendumcredis in abstrusa rerum ratione morari?scilicet illa tui patriam praecepta Platoniserexere magis, quam qui responsa secutus150obruit Eoas classes urbemque carinisvexit et arsuras Medo subduxit Athenas?Spartanis potuit robur praestare Lycurgusmatribus et sexum leges vicere severae[174]Birtregitwith theMSS.(he suggestsnequit); Heinsiuslegit.[349]anxious reckoning. He sought the forces that move the heavens, the fixed (though errant) path of the planets, the calculation which predicts the over-shadowing of the sun and its surely-fixed eclipse, and the line that sentences the moon to be left in darkness by shutting out her brother. Soon as from afar he beheld the shining face of the Maiden[175]and recognized the goddess, reverencing that dear countenance, he hurries to meet her, effacing from the sand the diagrams he had drawn.The goddess was the first to speak. “Manlius, in whom are gathered all the virtues unalloyed, in whom I see traces of ancient justice and manners moulded of a purer metal, thou hast devoted time enough now to study; all these years have the Muses reft from me my pupil. Long has Law demanded thy return to her allegiance. Come, devote thyself once more to my service, and be not content with the glory of thy past. To the service of mankind what boundary ever set the limits? Wisdom accepts no ends for herself. Then, too, to many has this office fallen, as well it might, but only the worthy return thereto; reappointment to office is the best commendation of office well held, and virtue brings back him whom chance elects. Deemst thou it a better and a worthier aim to spend thy days in exploring Nature’s secret laws? Dost thou think it was thy Plato’s precepts raised his country to glory rather than he[176]who, in obedience to the oracle, sank the Persian fleet, put his city on shipboard and saved from the Medes Athens destined for the flames? Lycurgus could dower the mothers of Sparta with a man’s courage and by his austere laws correct the weakness of their sex; by forbidding[175]Virgo (= Astraea) was a recognized synonym for the goddess Justice; see Virg.Ec.iv. 6.[176]i.e.Themistocles.

[348]

quae moveant momenta polum, quam certus in astriserror, quis tenebras solis causisque meantemdefectum indicat numerus, quae linea Phoeben130damnet et excluso pallentem fratre relinquat.ut procul adspexit fulgentia Virginis oracognovitque deam, vultus veneratus amicosoccurrit scriptaeque notas confundit harenae.Tum sic diva prior: “Manli, sincera bonorum135congeries, in quo veteris vestigia rectiet ductos video mores meliore metallo:iam satis indultum studiis, Musaeque tot annoseripuere mihi. pridem te iura reposcunt:adgredere et nostro rursum te redde labori140nec tibi sufficiat transmissae gloria vitae.humanum curare genus quis terminus umquampraescripsit? nullas recipit prudentia metas.adde quod haec multis potuit contingere sedes,sed meriti tantum redeunt actusque priores145commendat repetitus honos, virtusque reducitquos fortuna legit.[174]melius magnoque petendumcredis in abstrusa rerum ratione morari?scilicet illa tui patriam praecepta Platoniserexere magis, quam qui responsa secutus150obruit Eoas classes urbemque carinisvexit et arsuras Medo subduxit Athenas?Spartanis potuit robur praestare Lycurgusmatribus et sexum leges vicere severae

quae moveant momenta polum, quam certus in astris

error, quis tenebras solis causisque meantem

defectum indicat numerus, quae linea Phoeben130

damnet et excluso pallentem fratre relinquat.

ut procul adspexit fulgentia Virginis ora

cognovitque deam, vultus veneratus amicos

occurrit scriptaeque notas confundit harenae.

Tum sic diva prior: “Manli, sincera bonorum135

congeries, in quo veteris vestigia recti

et ductos video mores meliore metallo:

iam satis indultum studiis, Musaeque tot annos

eripuere mihi. pridem te iura reposcunt:

adgredere et nostro rursum te redde labori140

nec tibi sufficiat transmissae gloria vitae.

humanum curare genus quis terminus umquam

praescripsit? nullas recipit prudentia metas.

adde quod haec multis potuit contingere sedes,

sed meriti tantum redeunt actusque priores145

commendat repetitus honos, virtusque reducit

quos fortuna legit.[174]melius magnoque petendum

credis in abstrusa rerum ratione morari?

scilicet illa tui patriam praecepta Platonis

erexere magis, quam qui responsa secutus150

obruit Eoas classes urbemque carinis

vexit et arsuras Medo subduxit Athenas?

Spartanis potuit robur praestare Lycurgus

matribus et sexum leges vicere severae

[174]Birtregitwith theMSS.(he suggestsnequit); Heinsiuslegit.

[349]anxious reckoning. He sought the forces that move the heavens, the fixed (though errant) path of the planets, the calculation which predicts the over-shadowing of the sun and its surely-fixed eclipse, and the line that sentences the moon to be left in darkness by shutting out her brother. Soon as from afar he beheld the shining face of the Maiden[175]and recognized the goddess, reverencing that dear countenance, he hurries to meet her, effacing from the sand the diagrams he had drawn.The goddess was the first to speak. “Manlius, in whom are gathered all the virtues unalloyed, in whom I see traces of ancient justice and manners moulded of a purer metal, thou hast devoted time enough now to study; all these years have the Muses reft from me my pupil. Long has Law demanded thy return to her allegiance. Come, devote thyself once more to my service, and be not content with the glory of thy past. To the service of mankind what boundary ever set the limits? Wisdom accepts no ends for herself. Then, too, to many has this office fallen, as well it might, but only the worthy return thereto; reappointment to office is the best commendation of office well held, and virtue brings back him whom chance elects. Deemst thou it a better and a worthier aim to spend thy days in exploring Nature’s secret laws? Dost thou think it was thy Plato’s precepts raised his country to glory rather than he[176]who, in obedience to the oracle, sank the Persian fleet, put his city on shipboard and saved from the Medes Athens destined for the flames? Lycurgus could dower the mothers of Sparta with a man’s courage and by his austere laws correct the weakness of their sex; by forbidding[175]Virgo (= Astraea) was a recognized synonym for the goddess Justice; see Virg.Ec.iv. 6.[176]i.e.Themistocles.

[349]

anxious reckoning. He sought the forces that move the heavens, the fixed (though errant) path of the planets, the calculation which predicts the over-shadowing of the sun and its surely-fixed eclipse, and the line that sentences the moon to be left in darkness by shutting out her brother. Soon as from afar he beheld the shining face of the Maiden[175]and recognized the goddess, reverencing that dear countenance, he hurries to meet her, effacing from the sand the diagrams he had drawn.

The goddess was the first to speak. “Manlius, in whom are gathered all the virtues unalloyed, in whom I see traces of ancient justice and manners moulded of a purer metal, thou hast devoted time enough now to study; all these years have the Muses reft from me my pupil. Long has Law demanded thy return to her allegiance. Come, devote thyself once more to my service, and be not content with the glory of thy past. To the service of mankind what boundary ever set the limits? Wisdom accepts no ends for herself. Then, too, to many has this office fallen, as well it might, but only the worthy return thereto; reappointment to office is the best commendation of office well held, and virtue brings back him whom chance elects. Deemst thou it a better and a worthier aim to spend thy days in exploring Nature’s secret laws? Dost thou think it was thy Plato’s precepts raised his country to glory rather than he[176]who, in obedience to the oracle, sank the Persian fleet, put his city on shipboard and saved from the Medes Athens destined for the flames? Lycurgus could dower the mothers of Sparta with a man’s courage and by his austere laws correct the weakness of their sex; by forbidding

[175]Virgo (= Astraea) was a recognized synonym for the goddess Justice; see Virg.Ec.iv. 6.

[176]i.e.Themistocles.

[350]civibus et vetitis ignavo credere muro155tutius obiecit nudam Lacedaemona bellis:at non Pythagorae monitus annique silentesfamosum Oebalii luxum pressere Tarenti.“Quis vero insignem tanto sub principe curamrespuat? aut quando meritis maiora patebunt160praemia? quis demens adeo qui iungere sensuscum Stilichone neget? similem quae protulit aetasconsilio vel Marte virum? nunc Brutus amaretvivere sub regno, tali succumberet aulaeFabricius, cuperent ipsi servire Catones.165nonne vides, ut nostra soror Clementia tristesobtundat gladios fratresque amplexa serenosadsurgat Pietas, fractis ut lugeat armisPerfidia et laceris morientes crinibus hydrilambant invalido Furiarum vincla veneno?170exultat cum Pace Fides, iam sidera cunctaeliquimus et placidas inter discurrimus urbes.nobiscum, Theodore, redi.”Subit ille loquentemtalibus: “agrestem dudum me, diva, reverticogis et infectum longi rubigine ruris175ad tua signa vocas. nam quae mihi cura tot annisaltera quam duras sulcis mollire novales,nosse soli vires, nemori quae commoda rupes,quis felix oleae tractus, quae glaeba faveretfrugibus et quales tegeret vindemia colles?180terribiles rursum lituos veteranus adiboet desueta vetus temptabo caerula vector?[351]his fellow-citizens to put a coward’s trust in walls, he set Lacedemon to face wars more securely in her nakedness; but all the teaching of Pythagoras and his years of silence never crushed the infamous licentiousness of Sparta’s colony Tarentum.“Besides, beneath such an emperor, who could refuse office? Was ever merit more richly rewarded? Who is so insensate as not to wish to meet Stilicho in council? Has ever any age produced his equal in prudence or in bravery? Now would Brutus love to live under a king; to such a court Fabricius would yield, the Catos themselves long to give service. Seest thou not how my sister Mercy blunts the cruel sword of war; how Piety rises to embrace the two noble brothers; how Treason laments her broken weapons and the snakes, writhing in death upon the Furies’ wounded heads, lick their chains with enfeebled venom? Peace and loyalty are triumphant. All the host of heaven leaves the stars and wanders from peaceful city to peaceful city. Return thou with us, Theodorus.”Then Theodorus made answer: “From my long accustomed fields, goddess, thou urgest me to return, summoning to thy standard one grown rusty in the distant countryside. What else has been my care all these years but to break up the stubborn fallow-land into furrows, to know the nature of the soil, the rocky land suitable to the growth of trees, the country where the olive will flourish, the fields that will yield rich harvests of grain or the hills which my vineyards may clothe? I have served my time; am I to hearken once more to the dreadful trumpet? Is the old helmsman again to brave the seas whose lore he has forgotten?

[350]

civibus et vetitis ignavo credere muro155tutius obiecit nudam Lacedaemona bellis:at non Pythagorae monitus annique silentesfamosum Oebalii luxum pressere Tarenti.“Quis vero insignem tanto sub principe curamrespuat? aut quando meritis maiora patebunt160praemia? quis demens adeo qui iungere sensuscum Stilichone neget? similem quae protulit aetasconsilio vel Marte virum? nunc Brutus amaretvivere sub regno, tali succumberet aulaeFabricius, cuperent ipsi servire Catones.165nonne vides, ut nostra soror Clementia tristesobtundat gladios fratresque amplexa serenosadsurgat Pietas, fractis ut lugeat armisPerfidia et laceris morientes crinibus hydrilambant invalido Furiarum vincla veneno?170exultat cum Pace Fides, iam sidera cunctaeliquimus et placidas inter discurrimus urbes.nobiscum, Theodore, redi.”Subit ille loquentemtalibus: “agrestem dudum me, diva, reverticogis et infectum longi rubigine ruris175ad tua signa vocas. nam quae mihi cura tot annisaltera quam duras sulcis mollire novales,nosse soli vires, nemori quae commoda rupes,quis felix oleae tractus, quae glaeba faveretfrugibus et quales tegeret vindemia colles?180terribiles rursum lituos veteranus adiboet desueta vetus temptabo caerula vector?

civibus et vetitis ignavo credere muro155

tutius obiecit nudam Lacedaemona bellis:

at non Pythagorae monitus annique silentes

famosum Oebalii luxum pressere Tarenti.

“Quis vero insignem tanto sub principe curam

respuat? aut quando meritis maiora patebunt160

praemia? quis demens adeo qui iungere sensus

cum Stilichone neget? similem quae protulit aetas

consilio vel Marte virum? nunc Brutus amaret

vivere sub regno, tali succumberet aulae

Fabricius, cuperent ipsi servire Catones.165

nonne vides, ut nostra soror Clementia tristes

obtundat gladios fratresque amplexa serenos

adsurgat Pietas, fractis ut lugeat armis

Perfidia et laceris morientes crinibus hydri

lambant invalido Furiarum vincla veneno?170

exultat cum Pace Fides, iam sidera cunctae

liquimus et placidas inter discurrimus urbes.

nobiscum, Theodore, redi.”

Subit ille loquentem

talibus: “agrestem dudum me, diva, reverti

cogis et infectum longi rubigine ruris175

ad tua signa vocas. nam quae mihi cura tot annis

altera quam duras sulcis mollire novales,

nosse soli vires, nemori quae commoda rupes,

quis felix oleae tractus, quae glaeba faveret

frugibus et quales tegeret vindemia colles?180

terribiles rursum lituos veteranus adibo

et desueta vetus temptabo caerula vector?

[351]his fellow-citizens to put a coward’s trust in walls, he set Lacedemon to face wars more securely in her nakedness; but all the teaching of Pythagoras and his years of silence never crushed the infamous licentiousness of Sparta’s colony Tarentum.“Besides, beneath such an emperor, who could refuse office? Was ever merit more richly rewarded? Who is so insensate as not to wish to meet Stilicho in council? Has ever any age produced his equal in prudence or in bravery? Now would Brutus love to live under a king; to such a court Fabricius would yield, the Catos themselves long to give service. Seest thou not how my sister Mercy blunts the cruel sword of war; how Piety rises to embrace the two noble brothers; how Treason laments her broken weapons and the snakes, writhing in death upon the Furies’ wounded heads, lick their chains with enfeebled venom? Peace and loyalty are triumphant. All the host of heaven leaves the stars and wanders from peaceful city to peaceful city. Return thou with us, Theodorus.”Then Theodorus made answer: “From my long accustomed fields, goddess, thou urgest me to return, summoning to thy standard one grown rusty in the distant countryside. What else has been my care all these years but to break up the stubborn fallow-land into furrows, to know the nature of the soil, the rocky land suitable to the growth of trees, the country where the olive will flourish, the fields that will yield rich harvests of grain or the hills which my vineyards may clothe? I have served my time; am I to hearken once more to the dreadful trumpet? Is the old helmsman again to brave the seas whose lore he has forgotten?

[351]

his fellow-citizens to put a coward’s trust in walls, he set Lacedemon to face wars more securely in her nakedness; but all the teaching of Pythagoras and his years of silence never crushed the infamous licentiousness of Sparta’s colony Tarentum.

“Besides, beneath such an emperor, who could refuse office? Was ever merit more richly rewarded? Who is so insensate as not to wish to meet Stilicho in council? Has ever any age produced his equal in prudence or in bravery? Now would Brutus love to live under a king; to such a court Fabricius would yield, the Catos themselves long to give service. Seest thou not how my sister Mercy blunts the cruel sword of war; how Piety rises to embrace the two noble brothers; how Treason laments her broken weapons and the snakes, writhing in death upon the Furies’ wounded heads, lick their chains with enfeebled venom? Peace and loyalty are triumphant. All the host of heaven leaves the stars and wanders from peaceful city to peaceful city. Return thou with us, Theodorus.”

Then Theodorus made answer: “From my long accustomed fields, goddess, thou urgest me to return, summoning to thy standard one grown rusty in the distant countryside. What else has been my care all these years but to break up the stubborn fallow-land into furrows, to know the nature of the soil, the rocky land suitable to the growth of trees, the country where the olive will flourish, the fields that will yield rich harvests of grain or the hills which my vineyards may clothe? I have served my time; am I to hearken once more to the dreadful trumpet? Is the old helmsman again to brave the seas whose lore he has forgotten?

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