Chapter 8

[178]V. (LXXXVI.)Est in conspectu longe locus.Est procul ingenti regio summota recessu,insula qua resides fluctus mitescere cogitin longum producta latus, fractasque per undasardua tranquillo curvantur brachia portu.VI. (LXXVIII.)Rimanti telum ira facit.In iaculum, quodcumque gerit, dementia mutat.omnibus armatur rabies. pro cuspide ferricuncta volant, dum dextra ferox in vulnera saevit.pro telo geritur quidquid suggesserit ira.VII. (LXXXVII.)De quadriga marmorea.1. Quis dedit innumeros uno de marmore vultus?surgit in aurigam currus, paribusque lupatisunanimi frenantur equi: quos forma diremit,materies cognata tenet discrimine nullo.2. Vir redit in currum; ducuntur ab axe iugales;ex alio se quisque facit. quae tanta potestas?una silex tot membra ligat ductusque per artemmons patiens ferri varios mutatur in artus.[179]V. (LXXXVI.)A distant Scene.There is a place deep buried in a huge bay where an island, stretching far out into the sea, stills the rough waves to quiet, and steep cliffs, jutting out into the broken water, curve themselves into a peaceful harbourage.VI. (LXXVIII.)[64]Anger affords a weapon to him who seeks one.Whate’er it carries, that rage converts into a weapon. Wrath supplies all with arms. When an angry man thirsts for blood anything will serve him for a spear. Fury turns a stick into a cudgel.VII. (LXXXVII.)Statue of a Chariot.1. Who had the skill to fashion so many figures out of one block of marble? The chariot melts into the charioteer; the horses with one common accord obey the same reins. These are distinguishable by their various forms but made from one and the same material without distinction.2. The driver is of one piece with the car: to this are attached the steeds, each joined to, and proceeding out of, another. How admirable the artist’s skill! A single block combines within itself all these bodies: one mass of marble by submitting to the chisel has grown into all these various shapes.[64]See Introduction, p. xviii, note 2.

[178]

V. (LXXXVI.)

Est in conspectu longe locus.

Est procul ingenti regio summota recessu,insula qua resides fluctus mitescere cogitin longum producta latus, fractasque per undasardua tranquillo curvantur brachia portu.

Est procul ingenti regio summota recessu,

insula qua resides fluctus mitescere cogit

in longum producta latus, fractasque per undas

ardua tranquillo curvantur brachia portu.

VI. (LXXVIII.)

Rimanti telum ira facit.

In iaculum, quodcumque gerit, dementia mutat.omnibus armatur rabies. pro cuspide ferricuncta volant, dum dextra ferox in vulnera saevit.pro telo geritur quidquid suggesserit ira.

In iaculum, quodcumque gerit, dementia mutat.

omnibus armatur rabies. pro cuspide ferri

cuncta volant, dum dextra ferox in vulnera saevit.

pro telo geritur quidquid suggesserit ira.

VII. (LXXXVII.)

De quadriga marmorea.

1. Quis dedit innumeros uno de marmore vultus?surgit in aurigam currus, paribusque lupatisunanimi frenantur equi: quos forma diremit,materies cognata tenet discrimine nullo.

1. Quis dedit innumeros uno de marmore vultus?

surgit in aurigam currus, paribusque lupatis

unanimi frenantur equi: quos forma diremit,

materies cognata tenet discrimine nullo.

2. Vir redit in currum; ducuntur ab axe iugales;ex alio se quisque facit. quae tanta potestas?una silex tot membra ligat ductusque per artemmons patiens ferri varios mutatur in artus.

2. Vir redit in currum; ducuntur ab axe iugales;

ex alio se quisque facit. quae tanta potestas?

una silex tot membra ligat ductusque per artem

mons patiens ferri varios mutatur in artus.

[179]V. (LXXXVI.)A distant Scene.There is a place deep buried in a huge bay where an island, stretching far out into the sea, stills the rough waves to quiet, and steep cliffs, jutting out into the broken water, curve themselves into a peaceful harbourage.VI. (LXXVIII.)[64]Anger affords a weapon to him who seeks one.Whate’er it carries, that rage converts into a weapon. Wrath supplies all with arms. When an angry man thirsts for blood anything will serve him for a spear. Fury turns a stick into a cudgel.VII. (LXXXVII.)Statue of a Chariot.1. Who had the skill to fashion so many figures out of one block of marble? The chariot melts into the charioteer; the horses with one common accord obey the same reins. These are distinguishable by their various forms but made from one and the same material without distinction.2. The driver is of one piece with the car: to this are attached the steeds, each joined to, and proceeding out of, another. How admirable the artist’s skill! A single block combines within itself all these bodies: one mass of marble by submitting to the chisel has grown into all these various shapes.[64]See Introduction, p. xviii, note 2.

[179]

V. (LXXXVI.)

A distant Scene.

There is a place deep buried in a huge bay where an island, stretching far out into the sea, stills the rough waves to quiet, and steep cliffs, jutting out into the broken water, curve themselves into a peaceful harbourage.

VI. (LXXVIII.)[64]

Anger affords a weapon to him who seeks one.

Whate’er it carries, that rage converts into a weapon. Wrath supplies all with arms. When an angry man thirsts for blood anything will serve him for a spear. Fury turns a stick into a cudgel.

VII. (LXXXVII.)

Statue of a Chariot.

1. Who had the skill to fashion so many figures out of one block of marble? The chariot melts into the charioteer; the horses with one common accord obey the same reins. These are distinguishable by their various forms but made from one and the same material without distinction.

2. The driver is of one piece with the car: to this are attached the steeds, each joined to, and proceeding out of, another. How admirable the artist’s skill! A single block combines within itself all these bodies: one mass of marble by submitting to the chisel has grown into all these various shapes.

[64]See Introduction, p. xviii, note 2.

[180]VIII. (LXIX.)De Polycaste et Perdicca.Quid non saevus Amor flammarum numine cogat?sanguinis en fetum mater amare timet.pectore dum niveo miserum tenet anxia nutrix,inlicitos ignes iam fovet ipsa parens.ultrices pharetras tandem depone, Cupido.5consule iam Venerem: forsan et ipsa dolet.IX. (XLV.)De hystrice.Audieram memorande tuas Stymphale volucresspicula vulnifico quondam sparsisse volatu,nec mihi credibilis ferratae fabula pinnaevisa diu. datur ecce fides et cognitus hystrixHerculeas adfirmat aves.Os longius illi5adsimulat porcum. mentitae cornua saetaesumma fronte rigent. oculis rubet igneus ardor.parva sub hirsuto catuli vestigia dorso.hanc tamen exiguam miro natura tueripraesidio dignata feram: stat corpore toto10silva minax, iaculisque rigens in proelia crescitpicturata seges; quorum cute fixa tenaci[181]VIII. (LXIX.)Of Polycaste and Perdiccas.[65]To what deeds of cruelty will the flames of love not inspire mankind? Here is a mother who dares not love her child, the fruit of her body. Holding the unhappy boy to her snowy breast and wishing to give him suck, she conceives for him, though she is his mother, a shameful passion. Cupid, thou goest too far; put down thy cruel quiver. Consult Venus; mayhap she feels like pangs.IX. (XLV.)The Porcupine.I had heard the strange tale, Stymphalus, that the birds that haunted thy marshes let fall from them arrows of death in their flight, and for long I could not bring myself to believe this story of iron feathers. But here is proof: the porcupine who is surely related to those birds of Hercules is their warrant.His long snout is like that of a swine. Stiff bristles like horns stand up from his forehead. Red and fierce are his fiery eyes. Under his bristly back are short legs like those of a small dog. Small as this animal is, nevertheless Nature has seen fit to dower him with a wonderful means of defence. All over the body grows a threatening thicket: a harvest of brightly coloured spears bristles up ready[65]Perdiccas, the young hunter, is said to have fallen in love with his mother Polycaste (or Polycarpe)=the Earth (seeMythogr. Lat.ii. 130). Claudian inverts the story. For details see Höfer in Roscher’s lexicon, art. “Perdix,” col. 1953.

[180]

VIII. (LXIX.)

De Polycaste et Perdicca.

Quid non saevus Amor flammarum numine cogat?sanguinis en fetum mater amare timet.pectore dum niveo miserum tenet anxia nutrix,inlicitos ignes iam fovet ipsa parens.ultrices pharetras tandem depone, Cupido.5consule iam Venerem: forsan et ipsa dolet.

Quid non saevus Amor flammarum numine cogat?

sanguinis en fetum mater amare timet.

pectore dum niveo miserum tenet anxia nutrix,

inlicitos ignes iam fovet ipsa parens.

ultrices pharetras tandem depone, Cupido.5

consule iam Venerem: forsan et ipsa dolet.

IX. (XLV.)

De hystrice.

Audieram memorande tuas Stymphale volucresspicula vulnifico quondam sparsisse volatu,nec mihi credibilis ferratae fabula pinnaevisa diu. datur ecce fides et cognitus hystrixHerculeas adfirmat aves.Os longius illi5adsimulat porcum. mentitae cornua saetaesumma fronte rigent. oculis rubet igneus ardor.parva sub hirsuto catuli vestigia dorso.hanc tamen exiguam miro natura tueripraesidio dignata feram: stat corpore toto10silva minax, iaculisque rigens in proelia crescitpicturata seges; quorum cute fixa tenaci

Audieram memorande tuas Stymphale volucres

spicula vulnifico quondam sparsisse volatu,

nec mihi credibilis ferratae fabula pinnae

visa diu. datur ecce fides et cognitus hystrix

Herculeas adfirmat aves.

Os longius illi5

adsimulat porcum. mentitae cornua saetae

summa fronte rigent. oculis rubet igneus ardor.

parva sub hirsuto catuli vestigia dorso.

hanc tamen exiguam miro natura tueri

praesidio dignata feram: stat corpore toto10

silva minax, iaculisque rigens in proelia crescit

picturata seges; quorum cute fixa tenaci

[181]VIII. (LXIX.)Of Polycaste and Perdiccas.[65]To what deeds of cruelty will the flames of love not inspire mankind? Here is a mother who dares not love her child, the fruit of her body. Holding the unhappy boy to her snowy breast and wishing to give him suck, she conceives for him, though she is his mother, a shameful passion. Cupid, thou goest too far; put down thy cruel quiver. Consult Venus; mayhap she feels like pangs.IX. (XLV.)The Porcupine.I had heard the strange tale, Stymphalus, that the birds that haunted thy marshes let fall from them arrows of death in their flight, and for long I could not bring myself to believe this story of iron feathers. But here is proof: the porcupine who is surely related to those birds of Hercules is their warrant.His long snout is like that of a swine. Stiff bristles like horns stand up from his forehead. Red and fierce are his fiery eyes. Under his bristly back are short legs like those of a small dog. Small as this animal is, nevertheless Nature has seen fit to dower him with a wonderful means of defence. All over the body grows a threatening thicket: a harvest of brightly coloured spears bristles up ready[65]Perdiccas, the young hunter, is said to have fallen in love with his mother Polycaste (or Polycarpe)=the Earth (seeMythogr. Lat.ii. 130). Claudian inverts the story. For details see Höfer in Roscher’s lexicon, art. “Perdix,” col. 1953.

[181]

VIII. (LXIX.)

Of Polycaste and Perdiccas.[65]

To what deeds of cruelty will the flames of love not inspire mankind? Here is a mother who dares not love her child, the fruit of her body. Holding the unhappy boy to her snowy breast and wishing to give him suck, she conceives for him, though she is his mother, a shameful passion. Cupid, thou goest too far; put down thy cruel quiver. Consult Venus; mayhap she feels like pangs.

IX. (XLV.)

The Porcupine.

I had heard the strange tale, Stymphalus, that the birds that haunted thy marshes let fall from them arrows of death in their flight, and for long I could not bring myself to believe this story of iron feathers. But here is proof: the porcupine who is surely related to those birds of Hercules is their warrant.

His long snout is like that of a swine. Stiff bristles like horns stand up from his forehead. Red and fierce are his fiery eyes. Under his bristly back are short legs like those of a small dog. Small as this animal is, nevertheless Nature has seen fit to dower him with a wonderful means of defence. All over the body grows a threatening thicket: a harvest of brightly coloured spears bristles up ready

[65]Perdiccas, the young hunter, is said to have fallen in love with his mother Polycaste (or Polycarpe)=the Earth (seeMythogr. Lat.ii. 130). Claudian inverts the story. For details see Höfer in Roscher’s lexicon, art. “Perdix,” col. 1953.

[182]alba subit radix, alternantesque colorumtincta vices, spatiis internigrantibus, exitin solidae speciem pinnae, tenuataque furtim15levis in extremum sese producit acumen.Sed non haec acies ritu silvestris echinifixa manet. crebris propugnat iactibus ultroet longe sua membra tegit, tortumque per aurasevolat excusso nativum missile tergo.20interdum fugiens Parthorum more sequentemvulnerat; interdum positis velut ordine castristerrificum densa mucronum verberat undaet consanguineis hastilibus asperat armos:militat omne ferae corpus vibrataque rauco25terga fragore sonant. stimulis accensa tubarumagmina conlatis credas confligere signis:tantus in angusto strepitus furit. additur armiscalliditas parcusque sui tumor iraque numquamprodiga telorum, caute contenta minari30nec nisi servandae iactus impendere vitae.error abest: certum sollertia destinat ictumnil spatio fallente modum, servatque tenoremmota cutis doctique regit conamina nisus.Quid labor humanus tantum ratione sagaci35proficit? eripiunt trucibus Gortynia capriscornua; subiectis eadem lentescere coguntignibus; intendunt taurino viscere nervos;instruitur pinnis ferroque armatur harundo.ecce brevis propriis munitur bestia telis40[183]for battle. The roots of these weapons are white and are firmly fixed in the animal’s skin. The quills are themselves parti-coloured with black bands and come to a stiff quill-like point, diminishing in diameter towards the tip which is smooth and sharp.But his armoury is not fixed like that of the woodland hedgehog. He can take the offensive and also protect himself at a distance by the frequent discharge of these darts of his, hurling through the air the flying missiles which his own back supplies. At times like the flying Parthian he wounds his pursuers; at times he entrenches himself and strikes his foe by the discharge of a storm of these terrible weapons which bristle on his shoulders out of which they grow. He fights with his whole body, and his back, as it moves, emits a raucous sound. You would think it was the trumpet’s note stirring an army to close with the foe and fight. Small is the animal but great the din. Besides his arms he displays cunning and a cold, calculated fury that never wastes its weapons but cautiously contents itself with threats, for he never expends a dart but in defence of his life. His aim is sure; the blow, such is his skill, unerring, nor can distance delude his range. The motion of his skin in the act of discharging ensures the speed, and accurately directs the flight, of the weapon.Has human endeavour, with reason to guide it, ever done the like? Men rob of their horns the wild goats of Crete, then they force them to become pliant over the fire[66]; they use the guts of cattle to string their bows; they tip their arrows with iron and wing them with feathers. But here is a small animal whose arms are contained in his own body[66]In the making of bows.

[182]

alba subit radix, alternantesque colorumtincta vices, spatiis internigrantibus, exitin solidae speciem pinnae, tenuataque furtim15levis in extremum sese producit acumen.Sed non haec acies ritu silvestris echinifixa manet. crebris propugnat iactibus ultroet longe sua membra tegit, tortumque per aurasevolat excusso nativum missile tergo.20interdum fugiens Parthorum more sequentemvulnerat; interdum positis velut ordine castristerrificum densa mucronum verberat undaet consanguineis hastilibus asperat armos:militat omne ferae corpus vibrataque rauco25terga fragore sonant. stimulis accensa tubarumagmina conlatis credas confligere signis:tantus in angusto strepitus furit. additur armiscalliditas parcusque sui tumor iraque numquamprodiga telorum, caute contenta minari30nec nisi servandae iactus impendere vitae.error abest: certum sollertia destinat ictumnil spatio fallente modum, servatque tenoremmota cutis doctique regit conamina nisus.Quid labor humanus tantum ratione sagaci35proficit? eripiunt trucibus Gortynia capriscornua; subiectis eadem lentescere coguntignibus; intendunt taurino viscere nervos;instruitur pinnis ferroque armatur harundo.ecce brevis propriis munitur bestia telis40

alba subit radix, alternantesque colorum

tincta vices, spatiis internigrantibus, exit

in solidae speciem pinnae, tenuataque furtim15

levis in extremum sese producit acumen.

Sed non haec acies ritu silvestris echini

fixa manet. crebris propugnat iactibus ultro

et longe sua membra tegit, tortumque per auras

evolat excusso nativum missile tergo.20

interdum fugiens Parthorum more sequentem

vulnerat; interdum positis velut ordine castris

terrificum densa mucronum verberat unda

et consanguineis hastilibus asperat armos:

militat omne ferae corpus vibrataque rauco25

terga fragore sonant. stimulis accensa tubarum

agmina conlatis credas confligere signis:

tantus in angusto strepitus furit. additur armis

calliditas parcusque sui tumor iraque numquam

prodiga telorum, caute contenta minari30

nec nisi servandae iactus impendere vitae.

error abest: certum sollertia destinat ictum

nil spatio fallente modum, servatque tenorem

mota cutis doctique regit conamina nisus.

Quid labor humanus tantum ratione sagaci35

proficit? eripiunt trucibus Gortynia capris

cornua; subiectis eadem lentescere cogunt

ignibus; intendunt taurino viscere nervos;

instruitur pinnis ferroque armatur harundo.

ecce brevis propriis munitur bestia telis40

[183]for battle. The roots of these weapons are white and are firmly fixed in the animal’s skin. The quills are themselves parti-coloured with black bands and come to a stiff quill-like point, diminishing in diameter towards the tip which is smooth and sharp.But his armoury is not fixed like that of the woodland hedgehog. He can take the offensive and also protect himself at a distance by the frequent discharge of these darts of his, hurling through the air the flying missiles which his own back supplies. At times like the flying Parthian he wounds his pursuers; at times he entrenches himself and strikes his foe by the discharge of a storm of these terrible weapons which bristle on his shoulders out of which they grow. He fights with his whole body, and his back, as it moves, emits a raucous sound. You would think it was the trumpet’s note stirring an army to close with the foe and fight. Small is the animal but great the din. Besides his arms he displays cunning and a cold, calculated fury that never wastes its weapons but cautiously contents itself with threats, for he never expends a dart but in defence of his life. His aim is sure; the blow, such is his skill, unerring, nor can distance delude his range. The motion of his skin in the act of discharging ensures the speed, and accurately directs the flight, of the weapon.Has human endeavour, with reason to guide it, ever done the like? Men rob of their horns the wild goats of Crete, then they force them to become pliant over the fire[66]; they use the guts of cattle to string their bows; they tip their arrows with iron and wing them with feathers. But here is a small animal whose arms are contained in his own body[66]In the making of bows.

[183]

for battle. The roots of these weapons are white and are firmly fixed in the animal’s skin. The quills are themselves parti-coloured with black bands and come to a stiff quill-like point, diminishing in diameter towards the tip which is smooth and sharp.

But his armoury is not fixed like that of the woodland hedgehog. He can take the offensive and also protect himself at a distance by the frequent discharge of these darts of his, hurling through the air the flying missiles which his own back supplies. At times like the flying Parthian he wounds his pursuers; at times he entrenches himself and strikes his foe by the discharge of a storm of these terrible weapons which bristle on his shoulders out of which they grow. He fights with his whole body, and his back, as it moves, emits a raucous sound. You would think it was the trumpet’s note stirring an army to close with the foe and fight. Small is the animal but great the din. Besides his arms he displays cunning and a cold, calculated fury that never wastes its weapons but cautiously contents itself with threats, for he never expends a dart but in defence of his life. His aim is sure; the blow, such is his skill, unerring, nor can distance delude his range. The motion of his skin in the act of discharging ensures the speed, and accurately directs the flight, of the weapon.

Has human endeavour, with reason to guide it, ever done the like? Men rob of their horns the wild goats of Crete, then they force them to become pliant over the fire[66]; they use the guts of cattle to string their bows; they tip their arrows with iron and wing them with feathers. But here is a small animal whose arms are contained in his own body

[66]In the making of bows.

[184]externam nec quaerit opem; fert omnia secum:se pharetra, sese iaculo, sese utitur arcu.unum animal cunctas bellorum possidet artes.Quodsi omnis nostrae paulatim industria vitaefluxit ab exemplis, quidquid procul appetit hostem,hinc reor inventum, morem hinc traxisse Cydonas46bellandi Parthosque retro didicisse ferireprima sagittiferae pecudis documenta secutos.X. (XCII.)De birro castoreo.Nominis umbra manet veteris; nam dicere birrum,si Castor iuret, castoreum nequeo.sex emptus solidis! quid sit, iam scire potestis:si mihi nulla fides, credite vel pretio.XI. (XCI.)In sepulchrum speciosae.Pulchris stare diu Parcarum lege negatur.magna repente ruunt; summa cadunt subito.hic formosa iacet: Veneris sortita figuramegregiumque decus invidiam meruit.XII. (LXXXIV.)De balneis Quintianis quae in via posita erant.Fontibus in liquidis paulum requiesce, viator,atque tuum rursus carpe refectus iter.[185]and who needs no external defence. He carries all his own arms; himself his own quiver, arrow, and bow. Alone he possesses all the resources of war.But if all human activities as they grow have had their source in imitation we may see here the exemplar of combat by means of missiles. It is from him that the Cretans learned to shoot and the Parthians to strike while in flight. These did but follow the example of the animal that is armed with arrows.X. (XCII.)Of Beaver’s Overcoat.[67]’Tis but the shadow of a name that is left. I cannot call it a coat of beaver, not though Beaver swear it is one. It cost six shillings. Now you know what it is like. If you don’t believe me, believe the price.XI. (XCI.)On the Tomb of a Beauty.Fate allows not beauty a long life: sudden is the end of all that is noble and pre-eminent. Here lies a lovely woman: hers was the beauty of Venus and hers the illwill of Heaven for a gift so rare.XII. (LXXXIV.)Quintius’ Baths.Stay awhile and bathe in these waters, traveller; then set forth again upon thy journey refreshed.[67]Claudian is, I think, punning oncastor=a beaver, and Castor, the name of the owner of the coat. Butcastorin l. 2 might be taken to refer either to the god or to the animal.

[184]

externam nec quaerit opem; fert omnia secum:se pharetra, sese iaculo, sese utitur arcu.unum animal cunctas bellorum possidet artes.Quodsi omnis nostrae paulatim industria vitaefluxit ab exemplis, quidquid procul appetit hostem,hinc reor inventum, morem hinc traxisse Cydonas46bellandi Parthosque retro didicisse ferireprima sagittiferae pecudis documenta secutos.

externam nec quaerit opem; fert omnia secum:

se pharetra, sese iaculo, sese utitur arcu.

unum animal cunctas bellorum possidet artes.

Quodsi omnis nostrae paulatim industria vitae

fluxit ab exemplis, quidquid procul appetit hostem,

hinc reor inventum, morem hinc traxisse Cydonas46

bellandi Parthosque retro didicisse ferire

prima sagittiferae pecudis documenta secutos.

X. (XCII.)

De birro castoreo.

Nominis umbra manet veteris; nam dicere birrum,si Castor iuret, castoreum nequeo.sex emptus solidis! quid sit, iam scire potestis:si mihi nulla fides, credite vel pretio.

Nominis umbra manet veteris; nam dicere birrum,

si Castor iuret, castoreum nequeo.

sex emptus solidis! quid sit, iam scire potestis:

si mihi nulla fides, credite vel pretio.

XI. (XCI.)

In sepulchrum speciosae.

Pulchris stare diu Parcarum lege negatur.magna repente ruunt; summa cadunt subito.hic formosa iacet: Veneris sortita figuramegregiumque decus invidiam meruit.

Pulchris stare diu Parcarum lege negatur.

magna repente ruunt; summa cadunt subito.

hic formosa iacet: Veneris sortita figuram

egregiumque decus invidiam meruit.

XII. (LXXXIV.)

De balneis Quintianis quae in via posita erant.

Fontibus in liquidis paulum requiesce, viator,atque tuum rursus carpe refectus iter.

Fontibus in liquidis paulum requiesce, viator,

atque tuum rursus carpe refectus iter.

[185]and who needs no external defence. He carries all his own arms; himself his own quiver, arrow, and bow. Alone he possesses all the resources of war.But if all human activities as they grow have had their source in imitation we may see here the exemplar of combat by means of missiles. It is from him that the Cretans learned to shoot and the Parthians to strike while in flight. These did but follow the example of the animal that is armed with arrows.X. (XCII.)Of Beaver’s Overcoat.[67]’Tis but the shadow of a name that is left. I cannot call it a coat of beaver, not though Beaver swear it is one. It cost six shillings. Now you know what it is like. If you don’t believe me, believe the price.XI. (XCI.)On the Tomb of a Beauty.Fate allows not beauty a long life: sudden is the end of all that is noble and pre-eminent. Here lies a lovely woman: hers was the beauty of Venus and hers the illwill of Heaven for a gift so rare.XII. (LXXXIV.)Quintius’ Baths.Stay awhile and bathe in these waters, traveller; then set forth again upon thy journey refreshed.[67]Claudian is, I think, punning oncastor=a beaver, and Castor, the name of the owner of the coat. Butcastorin l. 2 might be taken to refer either to the god or to the animal.

[185]

and who needs no external defence. He carries all his own arms; himself his own quiver, arrow, and bow. Alone he possesses all the resources of war.

But if all human activities as they grow have had their source in imitation we may see here the exemplar of combat by means of missiles. It is from him that the Cretans learned to shoot and the Parthians to strike while in flight. These did but follow the example of the animal that is armed with arrows.

X. (XCII.)

Of Beaver’s Overcoat.[67]

’Tis but the shadow of a name that is left. I cannot call it a coat of beaver, not though Beaver swear it is one. It cost six shillings. Now you know what it is like. If you don’t believe me, believe the price.

XI. (XCI.)

On the Tomb of a Beauty.

Fate allows not beauty a long life: sudden is the end of all that is noble and pre-eminent. Here lies a lovely woman: hers was the beauty of Venus and hers the illwill of Heaven for a gift so rare.

XII. (LXXXIV.)

Quintius’ Baths.

Stay awhile and bathe in these waters, traveller; then set forth again upon thy journey refreshed.

[67]Claudian is, I think, punning oncastor=a beaver, and Castor, the name of the owner of the coat. Butcastorin l. 2 might be taken to refer either to the god or to the animal.

[186]lympharum dominum nimium miraberis, hospes,inter dura viae balnea qui posuit.XIII. (LXXIX.)In podagrum qui carmina sua non stare dicebat.Quae tibi cum pedibus ratio? quid carmina culpas?scandere qui nescis, versiculos laceras?“claudicat hic versus; haec” inquit “syllaba nutat”;atque nihil prorsus stare putat podagerXIV. (LXXXII.)Ad Maximum qui ei mel misit.Dulcia dona mihi semper tu, Maxime, mittis,et, quidquid mittis, mella putare decet.XV. (LXXXIX.)De paupere amantePaupertas me saeva domat dirusque Cupido:sed toleranda fames, non tolerandus amor.XVI. (XC.)De eodem.Esuriens pauper telis incendor amoris.inter utrumque malum deligo pauperiem.[187]An thou become its guest, warm will be thy gratitude towards him that built this bath and set it by the side of this long dusty road.XIII. (LXXIX.)To a gouty Critic.Canst thou talk of feet? Dost blame my verses and criticize my lines, thou whose own feet are so weak? This couplet, you say, will scarcely stand: the scansion is shaky. Dear friend, a gouty man thinks nothing at all can stand.XIV. (LXXXII.)To thank Maximus for a Gift of Honey.Thou dost ever send me sweet gifts, Maximus; ’tis honey whatsoever thou sendest, methinks.XV. (LXXXIX.)The Poor Lover.Biting poverty and cruel Cupid are my foes. Hunger I can endure; love I cannot.XVI. (XC.)The Same.A hungry pauper am I, a victim fallen to love. Two ills; but poverty is the lesser.

[186]

lympharum dominum nimium miraberis, hospes,inter dura viae balnea qui posuit.

lympharum dominum nimium miraberis, hospes,

inter dura viae balnea qui posuit.

XIII. (LXXIX.)

In podagrum qui carmina sua non stare dicebat.

Quae tibi cum pedibus ratio? quid carmina culpas?scandere qui nescis, versiculos laceras?“claudicat hic versus; haec” inquit “syllaba nutat”;atque nihil prorsus stare putat podager

Quae tibi cum pedibus ratio? quid carmina culpas?

scandere qui nescis, versiculos laceras?

“claudicat hic versus; haec” inquit “syllaba nutat”;

atque nihil prorsus stare putat podager

XIV. (LXXXII.)

Ad Maximum qui ei mel misit.

Dulcia dona mihi semper tu, Maxime, mittis,et, quidquid mittis, mella putare decet.

Dulcia dona mihi semper tu, Maxime, mittis,

et, quidquid mittis, mella putare decet.

XV. (LXXXIX.)

De paupere amante

Paupertas me saeva domat dirusque Cupido:sed toleranda fames, non tolerandus amor.

Paupertas me saeva domat dirusque Cupido:

sed toleranda fames, non tolerandus amor.

XVI. (XC.)

De eodem.

Esuriens pauper telis incendor amoris.inter utrumque malum deligo pauperiem.

Esuriens pauper telis incendor amoris.

inter utrumque malum deligo pauperiem.

[187]An thou become its guest, warm will be thy gratitude towards him that built this bath and set it by the side of this long dusty road.XIII. (LXXIX.)To a gouty Critic.Canst thou talk of feet? Dost blame my verses and criticize my lines, thou whose own feet are so weak? This couplet, you say, will scarcely stand: the scansion is shaky. Dear friend, a gouty man thinks nothing at all can stand.XIV. (LXXXII.)To thank Maximus for a Gift of Honey.Thou dost ever send me sweet gifts, Maximus; ’tis honey whatsoever thou sendest, methinks.XV. (LXXXIX.)The Poor Lover.Biting poverty and cruel Cupid are my foes. Hunger I can endure; love I cannot.XVI. (XC.)The Same.A hungry pauper am I, a victim fallen to love. Two ills; but poverty is the lesser.

[187]

An thou become its guest, warm will be thy gratitude towards him that built this bath and set it by the side of this long dusty road.

XIII. (LXXIX.)

To a gouty Critic.

Canst thou talk of feet? Dost blame my verses and criticize my lines, thou whose own feet are so weak? This couplet, you say, will scarcely stand: the scansion is shaky. Dear friend, a gouty man thinks nothing at all can stand.

XIV. (LXXXII.)

To thank Maximus for a Gift of Honey.

Thou dost ever send me sweet gifts, Maximus; ’tis honey whatsoever thou sendest, methinks.

XV. (LXXXIX.)

The Poor Lover.

Biting poverty and cruel Cupid are my foes. Hunger I can endure; love I cannot.

XVI. (XC.)

The Same.

A hungry pauper am I, a victim fallen to love. Two ills; but poverty is the lesser.

[188]XVII. (L.)De piis fratribus et de statuis eorum quae sunt apud Catinam.Adspice sudantes venerando pondere fratres,divino meritos semper honore coli,iusta quibus rapidae cessit reverentia flammaeet mirata vagas reppulit Aetna faces.complexi manibus fultos cervice parentes5attollunt vultus accelerantque gradus.grandaevi gemina sublimes prole ferunturet cara natos implicuere mora.nonne vides, ut saeva senex incendia monstret?ut trepido genetrix invocet ore deos?10erexit formido comam, perque omne metallumfusus in attonito palluit aere tremor.in iuvenum membris animosus cernitur horroratque oneri metuens impavidusque sui.reiectae vento chlamydes. dextram exerit ille15contentus laeva sustinuisse patrem;ast illi duplices in nodum colligit ulnascautior in sexu debiliore labor.hoc quoque praeteriens oculis ne forte relinquas,artificis tacitae quod meruere manus:20nam consanguineos eadem cum forma figuret,hic propior matri fit tamen, ille patri.[189]XVII. (L.)On the Statues of Two Brothers at Catina.[68]See these two brothers toiling beneath a burden piety bade them bear. They deserve the tribute of divine honours at the hands of all men: at the sight of them the respectful flames ceased their ravages and Etna in admiration restrained his flooding lava. Seizing their parents they set them upon their shoulders and, with eyes raised to heaven, hasten their steps. The aged parents, thus carried aloft by their two sons, impede their flight, but dear to the children is that very delay. See, the old man points to the cruel flames; the aged mother’s trembling lips call upon the gods for help. Fear has set their hair on end, the bronze is terror-stricken and a pale shiver runs over all the metal. In the countenances of the sons is seen courage in face of danger, and, if fear, then fear for their burdens, none for themselves. The wind has blown back their cloaks. One raises his right hand; his left is enough to sustain his aged sire. But the other needs must clasp his burden with both arms, taking greater care for that it is his mother, one of the weaker sex, that he bears. This, too, as thou passest by, leave not unnoted, for well the craftsman’s dumb hands deserve such regard; both he has moulded with a likeness such as brothers bear, yet the one resembles rather his mother, the other his father.[68]The story of thepietasof these brothers has often been told or referred to: the better known passages are Senec.De benef.iii. 37. 2; Martial vii. 24. 5; Sil. Ital. xiv. 197. Hyginus (Fab.154) gives the story though with different names. The brothers’ heads appear both on Sicilian and Roman coins,e.g.Head,Hist. Num.117;Brit. Mus. Cat.Sicily 52, Nos. 70-79; Babelon,Monn. de la répub.i. 539, ii. 353.

[188]

XVII. (L.)

De piis fratribus et de statuis eorum quae sunt apud Catinam.

Adspice sudantes venerando pondere fratres,divino meritos semper honore coli,iusta quibus rapidae cessit reverentia flammaeet mirata vagas reppulit Aetna faces.complexi manibus fultos cervice parentes5attollunt vultus accelerantque gradus.grandaevi gemina sublimes prole ferunturet cara natos implicuere mora.nonne vides, ut saeva senex incendia monstret?ut trepido genetrix invocet ore deos?10erexit formido comam, perque omne metallumfusus in attonito palluit aere tremor.in iuvenum membris animosus cernitur horroratque oneri metuens impavidusque sui.reiectae vento chlamydes. dextram exerit ille15contentus laeva sustinuisse patrem;ast illi duplices in nodum colligit ulnascautior in sexu debiliore labor.hoc quoque praeteriens oculis ne forte relinquas,artificis tacitae quod meruere manus:20nam consanguineos eadem cum forma figuret,hic propior matri fit tamen, ille patri.

Adspice sudantes venerando pondere fratres,

divino meritos semper honore coli,

iusta quibus rapidae cessit reverentia flammae

et mirata vagas reppulit Aetna faces.

complexi manibus fultos cervice parentes5

attollunt vultus accelerantque gradus.

grandaevi gemina sublimes prole feruntur

et cara natos implicuere mora.

nonne vides, ut saeva senex incendia monstret?

ut trepido genetrix invocet ore deos?10

erexit formido comam, perque omne metallum

fusus in attonito palluit aere tremor.

in iuvenum membris animosus cernitur horror

atque oneri metuens impavidusque sui.

reiectae vento chlamydes. dextram exerit ille15

contentus laeva sustinuisse patrem;

ast illi duplices in nodum colligit ulnas

cautior in sexu debiliore labor.

hoc quoque praeteriens oculis ne forte relinquas,

artificis tacitae quod meruere manus:20

nam consanguineos eadem cum forma figuret,

hic propior matri fit tamen, ille patri.

[189]XVII. (L.)On the Statues of Two Brothers at Catina.[68]See these two brothers toiling beneath a burden piety bade them bear. They deserve the tribute of divine honours at the hands of all men: at the sight of them the respectful flames ceased their ravages and Etna in admiration restrained his flooding lava. Seizing their parents they set them upon their shoulders and, with eyes raised to heaven, hasten their steps. The aged parents, thus carried aloft by their two sons, impede their flight, but dear to the children is that very delay. See, the old man points to the cruel flames; the aged mother’s trembling lips call upon the gods for help. Fear has set their hair on end, the bronze is terror-stricken and a pale shiver runs over all the metal. In the countenances of the sons is seen courage in face of danger, and, if fear, then fear for their burdens, none for themselves. The wind has blown back their cloaks. One raises his right hand; his left is enough to sustain his aged sire. But the other needs must clasp his burden with both arms, taking greater care for that it is his mother, one of the weaker sex, that he bears. This, too, as thou passest by, leave not unnoted, for well the craftsman’s dumb hands deserve such regard; both he has moulded with a likeness such as brothers bear, yet the one resembles rather his mother, the other his father.[68]The story of thepietasof these brothers has often been told or referred to: the better known passages are Senec.De benef.iii. 37. 2; Martial vii. 24. 5; Sil. Ital. xiv. 197. Hyginus (Fab.154) gives the story though with different names. The brothers’ heads appear both on Sicilian and Roman coins,e.g.Head,Hist. Num.117;Brit. Mus. Cat.Sicily 52, Nos. 70-79; Babelon,Monn. de la répub.i. 539, ii. 353.

[189]

XVII. (L.)

On the Statues of Two Brothers at Catina.[68]

See these two brothers toiling beneath a burden piety bade them bear. They deserve the tribute of divine honours at the hands of all men: at the sight of them the respectful flames ceased their ravages and Etna in admiration restrained his flooding lava. Seizing their parents they set them upon their shoulders and, with eyes raised to heaven, hasten their steps. The aged parents, thus carried aloft by their two sons, impede their flight, but dear to the children is that very delay. See, the old man points to the cruel flames; the aged mother’s trembling lips call upon the gods for help. Fear has set their hair on end, the bronze is terror-stricken and a pale shiver runs over all the metal. In the countenances of the sons is seen courage in face of danger, and, if fear, then fear for their burdens, none for themselves. The wind has blown back their cloaks. One raises his right hand; his left is enough to sustain his aged sire. But the other needs must clasp his burden with both arms, taking greater care for that it is his mother, one of the weaker sex, that he bears. This, too, as thou passest by, leave not unnoted, for well the craftsman’s dumb hands deserve such regard; both he has moulded with a likeness such as brothers bear, yet the one resembles rather his mother, the other his father.

[68]The story of thepietasof these brothers has often been told or referred to: the better known passages are Senec.De benef.iii. 37. 2; Martial vii. 24. 5; Sil. Ital. xiv. 197. Hyginus (Fab.154) gives the story though with different names. The brothers’ heads appear both on Sicilian and Roman coins,e.g.Head,Hist. Num.117;Brit. Mus. Cat.Sicily 52, Nos. 70-79; Babelon,Monn. de la répub.i. 539, ii. 353.

[190]dissimiles annos sollertia temperat artis:alter in alterius redditur ore parens,et nova germanis paribus discrimina praebens25divisit vultus cum pietate faber.O bene naturae memores, documenta supernaeiustitiae, iuvenum numina, vota senum:qui spretis opibus medios properastis in ignesnil praeter sanctam tollere canitiem.30haud equidem inmerito tanta virtute repressasEnceladi fauces obriguisse reor.ipse redundantem frenavit Mulciber Aetnam,laederet exempli ne monumenta pii.senserunt elementa fidem. pater adfuit aether35terraque maternum sedula iuvit onus.quodsi notus amor provexit in astra Laconas,Aenean Phrygio raptus ab igne pater,si vetus Argolicos inlustrat gloria fratres,qui sua materno colla dedere iugo:40cur non Amphinomo, cur non tibi, fortis Anapi,aeternum Siculus templa dicavit honos?plura licet summae dederit Trinacria laudi,noverit hoc maius se genuisse nihil;nec doleat damnis, quae devius intulit ardor,45nec gemat exustas igne furente domos.non potuit pietas flamma cessante probari:emptum est ingenti clade perenne decus.[191]The artist’s cunning has succeeded in expressing a difference of age in their faces, though a likeness to either parent is apparent in the features of both the sons; while, to ensure a further dissimilarity in that resemblance, he has varied the tenderness that either countenance expresses.Faithful were ye to Nature’s law, bright example of divine justice, model for youth, fond hope of age! Wealth ye despised, and dashed into the flames to rescue nought save your venerable parents. Not undeservedly, methinks, did such piety quench the fires in Enceladus’ jaws. Vulcan himself checked the flow of molten lava from Etna that it should not harm those patterns of filial duty. The very elements were influenced thereby: father air and mother earth did their best to lighten the burden.If signal piety raised Castor and Pollux to the skies, if Aeneas won immortality by rescuing his sire from burning Troy, if ancient story has rendered famous the names of those Argive brothers, Cleobis and Biton,[69]who harnessed themselves to their mother’s car, why does not Sicily dedicate a temple to the ageless memory of Amphinomos and Anapius? Though the three-cornered isle has many titles to fame, let her be sure that she has never given birth to a nobler deed. Let her not weep the destruction wrought by the spreading flames nor lament the houses burned down by the fire’s fury. The flames abating had never put affection to the proof; the great disaster purchased immortal fame.[69]Herodotus tells their story in book i. 31.

[190]

dissimiles annos sollertia temperat artis:alter in alterius redditur ore parens,et nova germanis paribus discrimina praebens25divisit vultus cum pietate faber.O bene naturae memores, documenta supernaeiustitiae, iuvenum numina, vota senum:qui spretis opibus medios properastis in ignesnil praeter sanctam tollere canitiem.30haud equidem inmerito tanta virtute repressasEnceladi fauces obriguisse reor.ipse redundantem frenavit Mulciber Aetnam,laederet exempli ne monumenta pii.senserunt elementa fidem. pater adfuit aether35terraque maternum sedula iuvit onus.quodsi notus amor provexit in astra Laconas,Aenean Phrygio raptus ab igne pater,si vetus Argolicos inlustrat gloria fratres,qui sua materno colla dedere iugo:40cur non Amphinomo, cur non tibi, fortis Anapi,aeternum Siculus templa dicavit honos?plura licet summae dederit Trinacria laudi,noverit hoc maius se genuisse nihil;nec doleat damnis, quae devius intulit ardor,45nec gemat exustas igne furente domos.non potuit pietas flamma cessante probari:emptum est ingenti clade perenne decus.

dissimiles annos sollertia temperat artis:

alter in alterius redditur ore parens,

et nova germanis paribus discrimina praebens25

divisit vultus cum pietate faber.

O bene naturae memores, documenta supernae

iustitiae, iuvenum numina, vota senum:

qui spretis opibus medios properastis in ignes

nil praeter sanctam tollere canitiem.30

haud equidem inmerito tanta virtute repressas

Enceladi fauces obriguisse reor.

ipse redundantem frenavit Mulciber Aetnam,

laederet exempli ne monumenta pii.

senserunt elementa fidem. pater adfuit aether35

terraque maternum sedula iuvit onus.

quodsi notus amor provexit in astra Laconas,

Aenean Phrygio raptus ab igne pater,

si vetus Argolicos inlustrat gloria fratres,

qui sua materno colla dedere iugo:40

cur non Amphinomo, cur non tibi, fortis Anapi,

aeternum Siculus templa dicavit honos?

plura licet summae dederit Trinacria laudi,

noverit hoc maius se genuisse nihil;

nec doleat damnis, quae devius intulit ardor,45

nec gemat exustas igne furente domos.

non potuit pietas flamma cessante probari:

emptum est ingenti clade perenne decus.

[191]The artist’s cunning has succeeded in expressing a difference of age in their faces, though a likeness to either parent is apparent in the features of both the sons; while, to ensure a further dissimilarity in that resemblance, he has varied the tenderness that either countenance expresses.Faithful were ye to Nature’s law, bright example of divine justice, model for youth, fond hope of age! Wealth ye despised, and dashed into the flames to rescue nought save your venerable parents. Not undeservedly, methinks, did such piety quench the fires in Enceladus’ jaws. Vulcan himself checked the flow of molten lava from Etna that it should not harm those patterns of filial duty. The very elements were influenced thereby: father air and mother earth did their best to lighten the burden.If signal piety raised Castor and Pollux to the skies, if Aeneas won immortality by rescuing his sire from burning Troy, if ancient story has rendered famous the names of those Argive brothers, Cleobis and Biton,[69]who harnessed themselves to their mother’s car, why does not Sicily dedicate a temple to the ageless memory of Amphinomos and Anapius? Though the three-cornered isle has many titles to fame, let her be sure that she has never given birth to a nobler deed. Let her not weep the destruction wrought by the spreading flames nor lament the houses burned down by the fire’s fury. The flames abating had never put affection to the proof; the great disaster purchased immortal fame.[69]Herodotus tells their story in book i. 31.

[191]

The artist’s cunning has succeeded in expressing a difference of age in their faces, though a likeness to either parent is apparent in the features of both the sons; while, to ensure a further dissimilarity in that resemblance, he has varied the tenderness that either countenance expresses.

Faithful were ye to Nature’s law, bright example of divine justice, model for youth, fond hope of age! Wealth ye despised, and dashed into the flames to rescue nought save your venerable parents. Not undeservedly, methinks, did such piety quench the fires in Enceladus’ jaws. Vulcan himself checked the flow of molten lava from Etna that it should not harm those patterns of filial duty. The very elements were influenced thereby: father air and mother earth did their best to lighten the burden.

If signal piety raised Castor and Pollux to the skies, if Aeneas won immortality by rescuing his sire from burning Troy, if ancient story has rendered famous the names of those Argive brothers, Cleobis and Biton,[69]who harnessed themselves to their mother’s car, why does not Sicily dedicate a temple to the ageless memory of Amphinomos and Anapius? Though the three-cornered isle has many titles to fame, let her be sure that she has never given birth to a nobler deed. Let her not weep the destruction wrought by the spreading flames nor lament the houses burned down by the fire’s fury. The flames abating had never put affection to the proof; the great disaster purchased immortal fame.

[69]Herodotus tells their story in book i. 31.

[192]XVIII. (LI.)De mulabus Gallicis.Adspice morigeras Rhodani torrentis alumnasimperio nexas imperioque vagas,dissona quam varios flectant ad murmura cursuset certas adeant voce regente vias.quamvis quaeque sibi nullis discurrat habenis5et pateant duro libera colla iugo,ceu constricta tamen servit patiensque laborumbarbaricos docili concipit aure sonos.absentis longinqua valent praecepta magistri,frenorumque vicem lingua virilis agit.10haec procul angustat sparsas spargitque coactas:haec sistit rapidas, haec properare facit.laeva iubet: laevo deducunt limite gressum.mutavit strepitum: dexteriora petunt.nec vinclis famulae nec libertate feroces,15exutae laqueis, sub dicione tamenconsensuque pares et fulvis pellibus hirtaeesseda concordes multisonora trahunt.miraris, si voce feras pacaverit Orpheus,cum pronas pecudes Gallica verba regant?20XIX. (XLIII.)Epistula ad Gennadium exproconsule.Italiae commune decus, Rubiconis amoeniincola, Romani fama secunda fori,[193]XVIII. (LI.)Of French Mules.Behold the docile children of fast-flowing Rhone that at their master’s word come together and at that word disperse. See how they go this way or that according to the different cries he utters, and, guided only by his voice, take the path he would have them take. Though each unguided by the rein takes his own course and no collar presses upon their necks they obey as though harnessed and, insensible to fatigue, hear and follow the directions shouted by their barbarous master. Though far away from their owner they nevertheless respect his commands, obeying the word of the muleteer as it were a bridle. It is his voice that even at a distance gathers them together when scattered or scatters them when gathered together; this that checks their haste or quickens their dragging steps. Does he shout “left,” they turn them to the left: does he alter his cry to “right,” to the right they go. Slaves, yet without bonds, free, but without licence, they go unbridled but obedient. Covered with tawny pelts they haul along the rumbling carts, each cheerfully doing his fair share. Dost thou wonder that Orpheus tamed the wild beasts with his song when the words of a Gaul can guide these swift-footed mules?XIX. (XLIII.)Letter to Gennadius,[70]ex-Proconsul.Glory of all Italy, who dwellest on the pleasant banks of Rubicon, ornament of the Roman bar[70]Gennadius was by birth a Syrian (Synesius,Ep.30); prefect of Egypt in 396 (Cod. Theod.xiv. 27. 1). He seems to have lived at Ravenna (Rubiconis incola). Birt (praef. p. xviii) thinks that line 2 refers to Symmachus, Gennadius’ contemporary, not to Cicero.

[192]

XVIII. (LI.)

De mulabus Gallicis.

Adspice morigeras Rhodani torrentis alumnasimperio nexas imperioque vagas,dissona quam varios flectant ad murmura cursuset certas adeant voce regente vias.quamvis quaeque sibi nullis discurrat habenis5et pateant duro libera colla iugo,ceu constricta tamen servit patiensque laborumbarbaricos docili concipit aure sonos.absentis longinqua valent praecepta magistri,frenorumque vicem lingua virilis agit.10haec procul angustat sparsas spargitque coactas:haec sistit rapidas, haec properare facit.laeva iubet: laevo deducunt limite gressum.mutavit strepitum: dexteriora petunt.nec vinclis famulae nec libertate feroces,15exutae laqueis, sub dicione tamenconsensuque pares et fulvis pellibus hirtaeesseda concordes multisonora trahunt.miraris, si voce feras pacaverit Orpheus,cum pronas pecudes Gallica verba regant?20

Adspice morigeras Rhodani torrentis alumnas

imperio nexas imperioque vagas,

dissona quam varios flectant ad murmura cursus

et certas adeant voce regente vias.

quamvis quaeque sibi nullis discurrat habenis5

et pateant duro libera colla iugo,

ceu constricta tamen servit patiensque laborum

barbaricos docili concipit aure sonos.

absentis longinqua valent praecepta magistri,

frenorumque vicem lingua virilis agit.10

haec procul angustat sparsas spargitque coactas:

haec sistit rapidas, haec properare facit.

laeva iubet: laevo deducunt limite gressum.

mutavit strepitum: dexteriora petunt.

nec vinclis famulae nec libertate feroces,15

exutae laqueis, sub dicione tamen

consensuque pares et fulvis pellibus hirtae

esseda concordes multisonora trahunt.

miraris, si voce feras pacaverit Orpheus,

cum pronas pecudes Gallica verba regant?20

XIX. (XLIII.)

Epistula ad Gennadium exproconsule.

Italiae commune decus, Rubiconis amoeniincola, Romani fama secunda fori,

Italiae commune decus, Rubiconis amoeni

incola, Romani fama secunda fori,

[193]XVIII. (LI.)Of French Mules.Behold the docile children of fast-flowing Rhone that at their master’s word come together and at that word disperse. See how they go this way or that according to the different cries he utters, and, guided only by his voice, take the path he would have them take. Though each unguided by the rein takes his own course and no collar presses upon their necks they obey as though harnessed and, insensible to fatigue, hear and follow the directions shouted by their barbarous master. Though far away from their owner they nevertheless respect his commands, obeying the word of the muleteer as it were a bridle. It is his voice that even at a distance gathers them together when scattered or scatters them when gathered together; this that checks their haste or quickens their dragging steps. Does he shout “left,” they turn them to the left: does he alter his cry to “right,” to the right they go. Slaves, yet without bonds, free, but without licence, they go unbridled but obedient. Covered with tawny pelts they haul along the rumbling carts, each cheerfully doing his fair share. Dost thou wonder that Orpheus tamed the wild beasts with his song when the words of a Gaul can guide these swift-footed mules?XIX. (XLIII.)Letter to Gennadius,[70]ex-Proconsul.Glory of all Italy, who dwellest on the pleasant banks of Rubicon, ornament of the Roman bar[70]Gennadius was by birth a Syrian (Synesius,Ep.30); prefect of Egypt in 396 (Cod. Theod.xiv. 27. 1). He seems to have lived at Ravenna (Rubiconis incola). Birt (praef. p. xviii) thinks that line 2 refers to Symmachus, Gennadius’ contemporary, not to Cicero.

[193]

XVIII. (LI.)

Of French Mules.

Behold the docile children of fast-flowing Rhone that at their master’s word come together and at that word disperse. See how they go this way or that according to the different cries he utters, and, guided only by his voice, take the path he would have them take. Though each unguided by the rein takes his own course and no collar presses upon their necks they obey as though harnessed and, insensible to fatigue, hear and follow the directions shouted by their barbarous master. Though far away from their owner they nevertheless respect his commands, obeying the word of the muleteer as it were a bridle. It is his voice that even at a distance gathers them together when scattered or scatters them when gathered together; this that checks their haste or quickens their dragging steps. Does he shout “left,” they turn them to the left: does he alter his cry to “right,” to the right they go. Slaves, yet without bonds, free, but without licence, they go unbridled but obedient. Covered with tawny pelts they haul along the rumbling carts, each cheerfully doing his fair share. Dost thou wonder that Orpheus tamed the wild beasts with his song when the words of a Gaul can guide these swift-footed mules?

XIX. (XLIII.)

Letter to Gennadius,[70]ex-Proconsul.

Glory of all Italy, who dwellest on the pleasant banks of Rubicon, ornament of the Roman bar

[70]Gennadius was by birth a Syrian (Synesius,Ep.30); prefect of Egypt in 396 (Cod. Theod.xiv. 27. 1). He seems to have lived at Ravenna (Rubiconis incola). Birt (praef. p. xviii) thinks that line 2 refers to Symmachus, Gennadius’ contemporary, not to Cicero.

[194]Graiorum populis et nostro cognite Nilo(utraque gens fasces horret amatque tuos):carmina ieiunas poscis solantia fauces?5testor amicitiam nulla fuisse domi.nam mihi mox nidum pennis confisa relinquuntet lare contempto non reditura volant.XX. (LII.)De sene Veronensi qui Suburbium numquam egressus est.Felix, qui propriis aevum transegit in arvis,ipsa domus puerum quem videt, ipsa senem;qui baculo nitens in qua reptavit harenaunius numerat saecula longa casae.illum non vario traxit fortuna tumultu,5nec bibit ignotas mobilis hospes aquas.non freta mercator tremuit, non classica miles,non rauci lites pertulit ille fori.indocilis rerum, vicinae nescius urbisadspectu fruitur liberiore poli.10frugibus alternis, non consule computat annum:autumnum pomis, ver sibi flore notat.idem condit ager soles idemque reducit,metiturque suo rusticus orbe diem,ingentem meminit parvo qui germine quercum15aequaevumque videt consenuisse nemus,[195]second only to Cicero, well known to the peoples of Greece and to Egypt, land of my birth (for both have feared and loved thy rule), dost thou ask for poems to appease thy hungry throat?By our friendship, I swear there are none at home. My verses soon learn to trust to their own wings and leave the nest, flying far afield nor ever returning to their humble home.XX. (LII.)Of an old Man of Verona who never left his home.Happy he who has passed his whole life mid his own fields, he of whose birth and old age the same house is witness; he whose stick supports his tottering steps o’er the very ground whereon he crawled as a baby and whose memory knows but of one cottage as the scene where so long a life was played out. No turns of fortune vexed him with their sudden storms;[71]he never travelled nor drank the waters of unknown rivers. He was never a trader to fear the seas nor a soldier to dread the trumpet’s call; never did he face the noisy wrangles of the courts. Unpractised in affairs, unfamiliar with the neighbouring town, he finds his delight in a freer view of the sky above him. For him the recurring seasons, not the consuls, mark the year: he knows autumn by his fruits and spring by her flowers. From the selfsame fields he watches the sun rise and set, and, at his work, measures the day with his own round of toils. He remembers yon mighty oak an acorn, and sees the plantation, set when he was born, grown old along[71]This proves the poem to have been written before the Gothic irruption of 401. Abraham Cowley translated this poem (Essays and Plays, etc., Camb. Press, 1906, p. 447).

[194]

Graiorum populis et nostro cognite Nilo(utraque gens fasces horret amatque tuos):carmina ieiunas poscis solantia fauces?5testor amicitiam nulla fuisse domi.nam mihi mox nidum pennis confisa relinquuntet lare contempto non reditura volant.

Graiorum populis et nostro cognite Nilo

(utraque gens fasces horret amatque tuos):

carmina ieiunas poscis solantia fauces?5

testor amicitiam nulla fuisse domi.

nam mihi mox nidum pennis confisa relinquunt

et lare contempto non reditura volant.

XX. (LII.)

De sene Veronensi qui Suburbium numquam egressus est.

Felix, qui propriis aevum transegit in arvis,ipsa domus puerum quem videt, ipsa senem;qui baculo nitens in qua reptavit harenaunius numerat saecula longa casae.illum non vario traxit fortuna tumultu,5nec bibit ignotas mobilis hospes aquas.non freta mercator tremuit, non classica miles,non rauci lites pertulit ille fori.indocilis rerum, vicinae nescius urbisadspectu fruitur liberiore poli.10frugibus alternis, non consule computat annum:autumnum pomis, ver sibi flore notat.idem condit ager soles idemque reducit,metiturque suo rusticus orbe diem,ingentem meminit parvo qui germine quercum15aequaevumque videt consenuisse nemus,

Felix, qui propriis aevum transegit in arvis,

ipsa domus puerum quem videt, ipsa senem;

qui baculo nitens in qua reptavit harena

unius numerat saecula longa casae.

illum non vario traxit fortuna tumultu,5

nec bibit ignotas mobilis hospes aquas.

non freta mercator tremuit, non classica miles,

non rauci lites pertulit ille fori.

indocilis rerum, vicinae nescius urbis

adspectu fruitur liberiore poli.10

frugibus alternis, non consule computat annum:

autumnum pomis, ver sibi flore notat.

idem condit ager soles idemque reducit,

metiturque suo rusticus orbe diem,

ingentem meminit parvo qui germine quercum15

aequaevumque videt consenuisse nemus,

[195]second only to Cicero, well known to the peoples of Greece and to Egypt, land of my birth (for both have feared and loved thy rule), dost thou ask for poems to appease thy hungry throat?By our friendship, I swear there are none at home. My verses soon learn to trust to their own wings and leave the nest, flying far afield nor ever returning to their humble home.XX. (LII.)Of an old Man of Verona who never left his home.Happy he who has passed his whole life mid his own fields, he of whose birth and old age the same house is witness; he whose stick supports his tottering steps o’er the very ground whereon he crawled as a baby and whose memory knows but of one cottage as the scene where so long a life was played out. No turns of fortune vexed him with their sudden storms;[71]he never travelled nor drank the waters of unknown rivers. He was never a trader to fear the seas nor a soldier to dread the trumpet’s call; never did he face the noisy wrangles of the courts. Unpractised in affairs, unfamiliar with the neighbouring town, he finds his delight in a freer view of the sky above him. For him the recurring seasons, not the consuls, mark the year: he knows autumn by his fruits and spring by her flowers. From the selfsame fields he watches the sun rise and set, and, at his work, measures the day with his own round of toils. He remembers yon mighty oak an acorn, and sees the plantation, set when he was born, grown old along[71]This proves the poem to have been written before the Gothic irruption of 401. Abraham Cowley translated this poem (Essays and Plays, etc., Camb. Press, 1906, p. 447).

[195]

second only to Cicero, well known to the peoples of Greece and to Egypt, land of my birth (for both have feared and loved thy rule), dost thou ask for poems to appease thy hungry throat?

By our friendship, I swear there are none at home. My verses soon learn to trust to their own wings and leave the nest, flying far afield nor ever returning to their humble home.

XX. (LII.)

Of an old Man of Verona who never left his home.

Happy he who has passed his whole life mid his own fields, he of whose birth and old age the same house is witness; he whose stick supports his tottering steps o’er the very ground whereon he crawled as a baby and whose memory knows but of one cottage as the scene where so long a life was played out. No turns of fortune vexed him with their sudden storms;[71]he never travelled nor drank the waters of unknown rivers. He was never a trader to fear the seas nor a soldier to dread the trumpet’s call; never did he face the noisy wrangles of the courts. Unpractised in affairs, unfamiliar with the neighbouring town, he finds his delight in a freer view of the sky above him. For him the recurring seasons, not the consuls, mark the year: he knows autumn by his fruits and spring by her flowers. From the selfsame fields he watches the sun rise and set, and, at his work, measures the day with his own round of toils. He remembers yon mighty oak an acorn, and sees the plantation, set when he was born, grown old along

[71]This proves the poem to have been written before the Gothic irruption of 401. Abraham Cowley translated this poem (Essays and Plays, etc., Camb. Press, 1906, p. 447).

[196]proxima cui nigris Verona remotior IndisBenacumque putat litora Rubra lacum.sed tamen indomitae vires firmisque lacertisaetas robustum tertia cernit avum.20erret et extremos alter scrutetur Hiberos:plus habet hic vitae, plus habet ille viae.XXI. (LXXX.)De Theodoro et Hadriano.Manlius indulget somno noctesque diesque;insomnis Pharius sacra profana rapit.omnibus hoc, Italae gentes, exposcite votis,Manlius ut vigilet, dormiat ut Pharius.XXII. (XXXIX.)Deprecatio ad Hadrianum.Usque adeone tuae producitur impetus irae?nullus erit finis lacrimis? subitisque favorempermutas odiis? quo mens ignara nocendi,quo sensus abiere pii? tantumne licebitinvidiae? tantum strepitus valuere maligni?5Me dolor incautus, me lubrica duxerit aetas,me tumor impulerit, me devius egerit ardor:te tamen haud decuit paribus concurrere telis.humanae superos numquam tetigere querellaenec vaga securum penetrant convicia caelum.10[197]with him. Neighbouring Verona is, for him, more distant than sun-scorched India; Benacus he accounts as the Red Sea. But his strength is unimpaired and the third generation see in him a sturdy, stout-armed grandsire. Let who will be a wanderer and explore farthest Spain: such may have more of a journey; he of Verona has more of a life.[72]XXI. (LXXX.)Of Theodore and Hadrian.[73]Manlius Theodorus sleeps night and day; the sleepless Egyptian steals alike from gods and men. Peoples of Italy, be this your one prayer—that Manlius keep awake and the Egyptian sleep.XXII. (XXXIX.)Apology to Hadrian.Must the violence of thine anger last so long? Are my tears never to cease to flow? Dost thou thus suddenly turn thy favour to hatred? Where, then, is that leniency that knows not to harm any, that loving-kindness? Shall envy have such licence? Has the clamour of calumny so prevailed?What though rash wrath, though heedless youth tempted me, though pride urged, though passion led me astray, yet shouldstthoube above meeting me with like weapons. Human murmurs never touch the gods nor do the loose railings of man disturb the peace of heaven. My punishment has[72]Claudian plays on the wordsvitaeandviae.[73]For M. see xvi. and note (and Introduction, p. xv). H. wascomes sacrarum largitionumin the East in 395,magister officiorumin 397, praetorian prefect of Italy 401. This epigram was probably written in 396: the apology (next poem) perhaps the same year.

[196]

proxima cui nigris Verona remotior IndisBenacumque putat litora Rubra lacum.sed tamen indomitae vires firmisque lacertisaetas robustum tertia cernit avum.20erret et extremos alter scrutetur Hiberos:plus habet hic vitae, plus habet ille viae.

proxima cui nigris Verona remotior Indis

Benacumque putat litora Rubra lacum.

sed tamen indomitae vires firmisque lacertis

aetas robustum tertia cernit avum.20

erret et extremos alter scrutetur Hiberos:

plus habet hic vitae, plus habet ille viae.

XXI. (LXXX.)

De Theodoro et Hadriano.

Manlius indulget somno noctesque diesque;insomnis Pharius sacra profana rapit.omnibus hoc, Italae gentes, exposcite votis,Manlius ut vigilet, dormiat ut Pharius.

Manlius indulget somno noctesque diesque;

insomnis Pharius sacra profana rapit.

omnibus hoc, Italae gentes, exposcite votis,

Manlius ut vigilet, dormiat ut Pharius.

XXII. (XXXIX.)

Deprecatio ad Hadrianum.

Usque adeone tuae producitur impetus irae?nullus erit finis lacrimis? subitisque favorempermutas odiis? quo mens ignara nocendi,quo sensus abiere pii? tantumne licebitinvidiae? tantum strepitus valuere maligni?5Me dolor incautus, me lubrica duxerit aetas,me tumor impulerit, me devius egerit ardor:te tamen haud decuit paribus concurrere telis.humanae superos numquam tetigere querellaenec vaga securum penetrant convicia caelum.10

Usque adeone tuae producitur impetus irae?

nullus erit finis lacrimis? subitisque favorem

permutas odiis? quo mens ignara nocendi,

quo sensus abiere pii? tantumne licebit

invidiae? tantum strepitus valuere maligni?5

Me dolor incautus, me lubrica duxerit aetas,

me tumor impulerit, me devius egerit ardor:

te tamen haud decuit paribus concurrere telis.

humanae superos numquam tetigere querellae

nec vaga securum penetrant convicia caelum.10

[197]with him. Neighbouring Verona is, for him, more distant than sun-scorched India; Benacus he accounts as the Red Sea. But his strength is unimpaired and the third generation see in him a sturdy, stout-armed grandsire. Let who will be a wanderer and explore farthest Spain: such may have more of a journey; he of Verona has more of a life.[72]XXI. (LXXX.)Of Theodore and Hadrian.[73]Manlius Theodorus sleeps night and day; the sleepless Egyptian steals alike from gods and men. Peoples of Italy, be this your one prayer—that Manlius keep awake and the Egyptian sleep.XXII. (XXXIX.)Apology to Hadrian.Must the violence of thine anger last so long? Are my tears never to cease to flow? Dost thou thus suddenly turn thy favour to hatred? Where, then, is that leniency that knows not to harm any, that loving-kindness? Shall envy have such licence? Has the clamour of calumny so prevailed?What though rash wrath, though heedless youth tempted me, though pride urged, though passion led me astray, yet shouldstthoube above meeting me with like weapons. Human murmurs never touch the gods nor do the loose railings of man disturb the peace of heaven. My punishment has[72]Claudian plays on the wordsvitaeandviae.[73]For M. see xvi. and note (and Introduction, p. xv). H. wascomes sacrarum largitionumin the East in 395,magister officiorumin 397, praetorian prefect of Italy 401. This epigram was probably written in 396: the apology (next poem) perhaps the same year.

[197]

with him. Neighbouring Verona is, for him, more distant than sun-scorched India; Benacus he accounts as the Red Sea. But his strength is unimpaired and the third generation see in him a sturdy, stout-armed grandsire. Let who will be a wanderer and explore farthest Spain: such may have more of a journey; he of Verona has more of a life.[72]

XXI. (LXXX.)

Of Theodore and Hadrian.[73]

Manlius Theodorus sleeps night and day; the sleepless Egyptian steals alike from gods and men. Peoples of Italy, be this your one prayer—that Manlius keep awake and the Egyptian sleep.

XXII. (XXXIX.)

Apology to Hadrian.

Must the violence of thine anger last so long? Are my tears never to cease to flow? Dost thou thus suddenly turn thy favour to hatred? Where, then, is that leniency that knows not to harm any, that loving-kindness? Shall envy have such licence? Has the clamour of calumny so prevailed?

What though rash wrath, though heedless youth tempted me, though pride urged, though passion led me astray, yet shouldstthoube above meeting me with like weapons. Human murmurs never touch the gods nor do the loose railings of man disturb the peace of heaven. My punishment has

[72]Claudian plays on the wordsvitaeandviae.

[73]For M. see xvi. and note (and Introduction, p. xv). H. wascomes sacrarum largitionumin the East in 395,magister officiorumin 397, praetorian prefect of Italy 401. This epigram was probably written in 396: the apology (next poem) perhaps the same year.

[198]excessit iam poena modum. concede iacenti.en adsum; veniam confessus crimina posco.Manibus Hectoreis atrox ignovit Achilles.ultrices Furias matris placavit Orestes.reddidit Alcides Priamo, quas ceperat, arces.15Pellaeum iuvenem regum flexere ruinae:Darium famulis manibus doluisse peremptumfertur et ingenti solatus fata sepulchro;tradita captivo spatiosior India Poro.conditor hic patriae; sic hostibus ille pepercit;20hunc virtus tua digna sequi. quemcumque deorumlaesimus, insultet iugulo pascatque furorem.Gratia defluxit, sequitur feralis egestas;desolata domus, caris spoliamur amicis:hunc tormenta necant, hic undique truditur exul.25quid superest damnis? quae saeva pericula restant?Emollit rabiem praedae mortisque facultas.praetereunt subiecta ferae, torvique leones,quae stravisse calent, eadem prostrata relinquuntnec nisi bellantis gaudent cervice iuvenci30nobiliore fame. secuit nascentia votalivor et ingesto turbavit gaudia luctu:iamiam suppliciis fessos humilesque serenusrespice. quid tanta dignaris mole clientem?in brevibus numquam sese probat Aeolus undis,35nec capit angustus Boreae certamina collis:Alpes ille quatit, Rhodopeia culmina lassat.incubuit numquam caelestis flamma salictis[199]been too severe; spare a fallen foe. Behold me; I confess my faults and ask pardon for my sin.Fierce Achilles showed mercy to the shade of Hector, Orestes appeased his mother’s avenging furies, Hercules restored to Priam the cities which he had taken. A king’s overthrow won the pity of Pella’s youthful monarch, who wept, men say, for the death of Darius at a slave’s hand, and consoled his ghost with a lofty mausoleum. To captive Porus Alexander gave back an ampler kingdom. ’Twas thus the founder of our country[74]spared his conquered foes. Thine own nobility demands that thou shouldst follow his example. If it is one of the gods that I have insulted let him send down punishment upon me and sate his anger.Now that I have lost thy favour I am become a prey to grinding poverty, my house is desolate, my friends reft from me. Death with torture is the fate of one, exile of another. What further losses can I suffer? What more cruel plagues can befall me?The power to despoil and kill softens anger. Wild beasts turn away from their stricken prey, and fierce lions, eager to destroy, abandon the dead victim, and with a nobler hunger riot only in the flesh of the warlike steer. Envy has snapped the thread of my prosperity and turned my happiness into mourning. I am fordone with punishment and my pride is broken; look on me again with favour. Is a humble client worth so heavy a weight of anger? Aeolus makes not trial of himself where the sea’s waters are shallow; no lowly hill encounters Boreas’ blasts; ’tis the Alps he shakes, the summit of Rhodope he harasses. Never doth the lightning[74]Alexander is called the founder of Claudian’s country (Egypt) because the first Ptolemy was one of his generals and became king of Egypt on Alexander’s death.

[198]

excessit iam poena modum. concede iacenti.en adsum; veniam confessus crimina posco.Manibus Hectoreis atrox ignovit Achilles.ultrices Furias matris placavit Orestes.reddidit Alcides Priamo, quas ceperat, arces.15Pellaeum iuvenem regum flexere ruinae:Darium famulis manibus doluisse peremptumfertur et ingenti solatus fata sepulchro;tradita captivo spatiosior India Poro.conditor hic patriae; sic hostibus ille pepercit;20hunc virtus tua digna sequi. quemcumque deorumlaesimus, insultet iugulo pascatque furorem.Gratia defluxit, sequitur feralis egestas;desolata domus, caris spoliamur amicis:hunc tormenta necant, hic undique truditur exul.25quid superest damnis? quae saeva pericula restant?Emollit rabiem praedae mortisque facultas.praetereunt subiecta ferae, torvique leones,quae stravisse calent, eadem prostrata relinquuntnec nisi bellantis gaudent cervice iuvenci30nobiliore fame. secuit nascentia votalivor et ingesto turbavit gaudia luctu:iamiam suppliciis fessos humilesque serenusrespice. quid tanta dignaris mole clientem?in brevibus numquam sese probat Aeolus undis,35nec capit angustus Boreae certamina collis:Alpes ille quatit, Rhodopeia culmina lassat.incubuit numquam caelestis flamma salictis

excessit iam poena modum. concede iacenti.

en adsum; veniam confessus crimina posco.

Manibus Hectoreis atrox ignovit Achilles.

ultrices Furias matris placavit Orestes.

reddidit Alcides Priamo, quas ceperat, arces.15

Pellaeum iuvenem regum flexere ruinae:

Darium famulis manibus doluisse peremptum

fertur et ingenti solatus fata sepulchro;

tradita captivo spatiosior India Poro.

conditor hic patriae; sic hostibus ille pepercit;20

hunc virtus tua digna sequi. quemcumque deorum

laesimus, insultet iugulo pascatque furorem.

Gratia defluxit, sequitur feralis egestas;

desolata domus, caris spoliamur amicis:

hunc tormenta necant, hic undique truditur exul.25

quid superest damnis? quae saeva pericula restant?

Emollit rabiem praedae mortisque facultas.

praetereunt subiecta ferae, torvique leones,

quae stravisse calent, eadem prostrata relinquunt

nec nisi bellantis gaudent cervice iuvenci30

nobiliore fame. secuit nascentia vota

livor et ingesto turbavit gaudia luctu:

iamiam suppliciis fessos humilesque serenus

respice. quid tanta dignaris mole clientem?

in brevibus numquam sese probat Aeolus undis,35

nec capit angustus Boreae certamina collis:

Alpes ille quatit, Rhodopeia culmina lassat.

incubuit numquam caelestis flamma salictis

[199]been too severe; spare a fallen foe. Behold me; I confess my faults and ask pardon for my sin.Fierce Achilles showed mercy to the shade of Hector, Orestes appeased his mother’s avenging furies, Hercules restored to Priam the cities which he had taken. A king’s overthrow won the pity of Pella’s youthful monarch, who wept, men say, for the death of Darius at a slave’s hand, and consoled his ghost with a lofty mausoleum. To captive Porus Alexander gave back an ampler kingdom. ’Twas thus the founder of our country[74]spared his conquered foes. Thine own nobility demands that thou shouldst follow his example. If it is one of the gods that I have insulted let him send down punishment upon me and sate his anger.Now that I have lost thy favour I am become a prey to grinding poverty, my house is desolate, my friends reft from me. Death with torture is the fate of one, exile of another. What further losses can I suffer? What more cruel plagues can befall me?The power to despoil and kill softens anger. Wild beasts turn away from their stricken prey, and fierce lions, eager to destroy, abandon the dead victim, and with a nobler hunger riot only in the flesh of the warlike steer. Envy has snapped the thread of my prosperity and turned my happiness into mourning. I am fordone with punishment and my pride is broken; look on me again with favour. Is a humble client worth so heavy a weight of anger? Aeolus makes not trial of himself where the sea’s waters are shallow; no lowly hill encounters Boreas’ blasts; ’tis the Alps he shakes, the summit of Rhodope he harasses. Never doth the lightning[74]Alexander is called the founder of Claudian’s country (Egypt) because the first Ptolemy was one of his generals and became king of Egypt on Alexander’s death.

[199]

been too severe; spare a fallen foe. Behold me; I confess my faults and ask pardon for my sin.

Fierce Achilles showed mercy to the shade of Hector, Orestes appeased his mother’s avenging furies, Hercules restored to Priam the cities which he had taken. A king’s overthrow won the pity of Pella’s youthful monarch, who wept, men say, for the death of Darius at a slave’s hand, and consoled his ghost with a lofty mausoleum. To captive Porus Alexander gave back an ampler kingdom. ’Twas thus the founder of our country[74]spared his conquered foes. Thine own nobility demands that thou shouldst follow his example. If it is one of the gods that I have insulted let him send down punishment upon me and sate his anger.

Now that I have lost thy favour I am become a prey to grinding poverty, my house is desolate, my friends reft from me. Death with torture is the fate of one, exile of another. What further losses can I suffer? What more cruel plagues can befall me?

The power to despoil and kill softens anger. Wild beasts turn away from their stricken prey, and fierce lions, eager to destroy, abandon the dead victim, and with a nobler hunger riot only in the flesh of the warlike steer. Envy has snapped the thread of my prosperity and turned my happiness into mourning. I am fordone with punishment and my pride is broken; look on me again with favour. Is a humble client worth so heavy a weight of anger? Aeolus makes not trial of himself where the sea’s waters are shallow; no lowly hill encounters Boreas’ blasts; ’tis the Alps he shakes, the summit of Rhodope he harasses. Never doth the lightning

[74]Alexander is called the founder of Claudian’s country (Egypt) because the first Ptolemy was one of his generals and became king of Egypt on Alexander’s death.

[200]nec parvi frutices iram meruere Tonantis:ingentes quercus, annosas fulminat ornos.40Hoc pro supplicibus ramis, pro fronde Minervae,hoc carmen pro ture damus. miserere tuorum.me, precor, heu, me redde mihi gravibusque mederevulneribus vitamque iube famamque reverti.quae per te cecidit, per te fortuna resurgat.45sanus Achilleis remeavit Telephus herbis,cuius pertulerat vires, et sensit in unoletalem placidamque manum; medicina per hostemcontigit, et pepulit quos fecerat ipse dolores.Quodsi nec precibus fletu nec flecteris ullo,50eripe calcatis non prospera cingula Musis,eripe militiam, comitem me pelle sodalis.[75]scilicet insignis de paupere vate triumphus.scilicet egregiis ornabere victor opimis.inruat in miseros cognata potentia cives;55audiat haec commune solum longeque carinisnota Pharos, flentemque attollens gurgite vultumnostra gemat Nilus numerosis funera ripis.XXIII. (LXXIV.)Deprecatio in Alethium quaestorem.Sic non Aethiopum campos aestate pererremnec Scythieo brumam sub Iove nudus agam,[75]Birtsodali(EV AJ);sodalisR.[201]strike the humble willows nor do the modest shrubs deserve the Thunder’s angry bolt; lofty oaks and agèd elms are his victims.Instead of the suppliant’s branch plucked from Minerva’s sacred olive, instead of incense, I offer thee this poem. Have mercy on thy servant. Restore me, even me, to my former state, heal my cruel wounds, bid life and honour return to me. Do thou, who didst overthrow my fortune, build it up again. Telephus came back cured by the magic of Achilles.[76]The same hand dealt death and healing—an enemy restoring him to health by the assuagement of the very pains he had inflicted.But if neither my prayers nor my tears can soften thee, spurn the Muses with thy foot and take away my unlucky decorations, deprive me of my rank, cast me aside who was once thy companion. A noteworthy victory this thou hast won over a poor poet; redoubtable indeed the spoils that will grace such a triumph. Let a fellow-countryman’s power overwhelm his wretched fellows.[77]Be my fate told to our common fatherland and to Pharos, known of all who sail the distant seas, and let Father Nile raise his weeping head from out the flood and mourn my cruel case along the banks of all his seven mouths.XXIII. (LXXIV.)Apology to Alethius, the Quaestor.[78]As I hope never to cross the plains of Ethiopia beneath a summer sun, never to pass a winter naked[76]Telephus, wounded by Achilles’ spear, could only be cured by his “wounder.” In return for such information about Troy as should lead to its capture, Achilles cured Telephus by means of the rust on the spear that had inflicted the wound.Herbismust here mean simply magic (cf.Prop. iv. 7. 72), but it is curious, andhasta(e) is tempting.[77]Both Hadrian and Claudian were Egyptians.[78]Nothing is known about this Alethius.

[200]

nec parvi frutices iram meruere Tonantis:ingentes quercus, annosas fulminat ornos.40Hoc pro supplicibus ramis, pro fronde Minervae,hoc carmen pro ture damus. miserere tuorum.me, precor, heu, me redde mihi gravibusque mederevulneribus vitamque iube famamque reverti.quae per te cecidit, per te fortuna resurgat.45sanus Achilleis remeavit Telephus herbis,cuius pertulerat vires, et sensit in unoletalem placidamque manum; medicina per hostemcontigit, et pepulit quos fecerat ipse dolores.Quodsi nec precibus fletu nec flecteris ullo,50eripe calcatis non prospera cingula Musis,eripe militiam, comitem me pelle sodalis.[75]scilicet insignis de paupere vate triumphus.scilicet egregiis ornabere victor opimis.inruat in miseros cognata potentia cives;55audiat haec commune solum longeque carinisnota Pharos, flentemque attollens gurgite vultumnostra gemat Nilus numerosis funera ripis.

nec parvi frutices iram meruere Tonantis:

ingentes quercus, annosas fulminat ornos.40

Hoc pro supplicibus ramis, pro fronde Minervae,

hoc carmen pro ture damus. miserere tuorum.

me, precor, heu, me redde mihi gravibusque medere

vulneribus vitamque iube famamque reverti.

quae per te cecidit, per te fortuna resurgat.45

sanus Achilleis remeavit Telephus herbis,

cuius pertulerat vires, et sensit in uno

letalem placidamque manum; medicina per hostem

contigit, et pepulit quos fecerat ipse dolores.

Quodsi nec precibus fletu nec flecteris ullo,50

eripe calcatis non prospera cingula Musis,

eripe militiam, comitem me pelle sodalis.[75]

scilicet insignis de paupere vate triumphus.

scilicet egregiis ornabere victor opimis.

inruat in miseros cognata potentia cives;55

audiat haec commune solum longeque carinis

nota Pharos, flentemque attollens gurgite vultum

nostra gemat Nilus numerosis funera ripis.

XXIII. (LXXIV.)

Deprecatio in Alethium quaestorem.

Sic non Aethiopum campos aestate pererremnec Scythieo brumam sub Iove nudus agam,

Sic non Aethiopum campos aestate pererrem

nec Scythieo brumam sub Iove nudus agam,

[75]Birtsodali(EV AJ);sodalisR.

[201]strike the humble willows nor do the modest shrubs deserve the Thunder’s angry bolt; lofty oaks and agèd elms are his victims.Instead of the suppliant’s branch plucked from Minerva’s sacred olive, instead of incense, I offer thee this poem. Have mercy on thy servant. Restore me, even me, to my former state, heal my cruel wounds, bid life and honour return to me. Do thou, who didst overthrow my fortune, build it up again. Telephus came back cured by the magic of Achilles.[76]The same hand dealt death and healing—an enemy restoring him to health by the assuagement of the very pains he had inflicted.But if neither my prayers nor my tears can soften thee, spurn the Muses with thy foot and take away my unlucky decorations, deprive me of my rank, cast me aside who was once thy companion. A noteworthy victory this thou hast won over a poor poet; redoubtable indeed the spoils that will grace such a triumph. Let a fellow-countryman’s power overwhelm his wretched fellows.[77]Be my fate told to our common fatherland and to Pharos, known of all who sail the distant seas, and let Father Nile raise his weeping head from out the flood and mourn my cruel case along the banks of all his seven mouths.XXIII. (LXXIV.)Apology to Alethius, the Quaestor.[78]As I hope never to cross the plains of Ethiopia beneath a summer sun, never to pass a winter naked[76]Telephus, wounded by Achilles’ spear, could only be cured by his “wounder.” In return for such information about Troy as should lead to its capture, Achilles cured Telephus by means of the rust on the spear that had inflicted the wound.Herbismust here mean simply magic (cf.Prop. iv. 7. 72), but it is curious, andhasta(e) is tempting.[77]Both Hadrian and Claudian were Egyptians.[78]Nothing is known about this Alethius.

[201]

strike the humble willows nor do the modest shrubs deserve the Thunder’s angry bolt; lofty oaks and agèd elms are his victims.

Instead of the suppliant’s branch plucked from Minerva’s sacred olive, instead of incense, I offer thee this poem. Have mercy on thy servant. Restore me, even me, to my former state, heal my cruel wounds, bid life and honour return to me. Do thou, who didst overthrow my fortune, build it up again. Telephus came back cured by the magic of Achilles.[76]The same hand dealt death and healing—an enemy restoring him to health by the assuagement of the very pains he had inflicted.

But if neither my prayers nor my tears can soften thee, spurn the Muses with thy foot and take away my unlucky decorations, deprive me of my rank, cast me aside who was once thy companion. A noteworthy victory this thou hast won over a poor poet; redoubtable indeed the spoils that will grace such a triumph. Let a fellow-countryman’s power overwhelm his wretched fellows.[77]Be my fate told to our common fatherland and to Pharos, known of all who sail the distant seas, and let Father Nile raise his weeping head from out the flood and mourn my cruel case along the banks of all his seven mouths.

XXIII. (LXXIV.)

Apology to Alethius, the Quaestor.[78]

As I hope never to cross the plains of Ethiopia beneath a summer sun, never to pass a winter naked

[76]Telephus, wounded by Achilles’ spear, could only be cured by his “wounder.” In return for such information about Troy as should lead to its capture, Achilles cured Telephus by means of the rust on the spear that had inflicted the wound.Herbismust here mean simply magic (cf.Prop. iv. 7. 72), but it is curious, andhasta(e) is tempting.

Herbismust here mean simply magic (cf.Prop. iv. 7. 72), but it is curious, andhasta(e) is tempting.

[77]Both Hadrian and Claudian were Egyptians.

[78]Nothing is known about this Alethius.

[202]sic non imbriferam noctem ducentibus HaedisIonio credam turgida vela mari,sic non Tartareo Furiarum verbere pulsus5irati relegam carmina grammatici:nulla meos traxit petulans audacia sensus,liberior iusto nec mihi lingua fuit.versiculos, fateor, non cauta voce notavi,heu miser! ignorans, quam grave crimen erat.10Orpheos alii libros impune lacessuntnec tua securum te, Maro, fama vehit;ipse parens vatum, princeps Heliconis, Homerusiudicis excepit tela severa notae.sed non Vergilius, sed non accusat Homerus:15neuter enim quaestor, pauper uterque fuit.en moveo plausus! en pallidus omnia laudoet clarum repeto terque quaterque “sophos”!ignoscat placidus tandem flatusque remittatet tuto recitet quod libet ore: placet.20XXIV. (LXXXIII.)De lucusta.Horret apex capitis; medio fera lumina surguntvertice; cognatus dorso durescit amictus.armavit natura cutem dumique rubentescuspidibus parvis multos acuere rubores.[203]beneath the northern pole, never to entrust my bellying sails to the Ionian Sea what time the Kids bring round the rainy nights, never, driven by the Furies’ hellish blows, to re-read the verses of an angry pedant,[79]’twas not, I swear, impudent effrontery that moved me, nor did my tongue exceed a just outspokenness. I admit I incautiously found fault with a few lines, not realizing, luckless wight, the heinousness of my offence. Others attack the books of Orpheus and nothing is said; nor does thy fame, Maro, support thee in safety. The very father of poetry, Homer, lord of Helicon, knew the stigma of the censor’s pen. Yet neither Vergil nor Homer complains, for neither was a quaestor and both were poor. See, then, I applaud! See, in terror I praise every word and loudly cry again and again “bravo!” Let him be appeased and pardon at last, let him cease from wrath—and with secure voice recite whate’er he will; I applaud.XXIV. (LXXXIII.)The Lobster.Long horns project from his head; fierce eyes stand out from his forehead; his back is protected by the armour of his self-grown shell. Nature herself has rendered his skin a sufficient defence, covering it with small, red, pointed spikes.[79]The “pedant” is doubtless Alethius himself and the “verses” the very poem which Claudian has already read once and criticized unfavourably.

[202]

sic non imbriferam noctem ducentibus HaedisIonio credam turgida vela mari,sic non Tartareo Furiarum verbere pulsus5irati relegam carmina grammatici:nulla meos traxit petulans audacia sensus,liberior iusto nec mihi lingua fuit.versiculos, fateor, non cauta voce notavi,heu miser! ignorans, quam grave crimen erat.10Orpheos alii libros impune lacessuntnec tua securum te, Maro, fama vehit;ipse parens vatum, princeps Heliconis, Homerusiudicis excepit tela severa notae.sed non Vergilius, sed non accusat Homerus:15neuter enim quaestor, pauper uterque fuit.en moveo plausus! en pallidus omnia laudoet clarum repeto terque quaterque “sophos”!ignoscat placidus tandem flatusque remittatet tuto recitet quod libet ore: placet.20

sic non imbriferam noctem ducentibus Haedis

Ionio credam turgida vela mari,

sic non Tartareo Furiarum verbere pulsus5

irati relegam carmina grammatici:

nulla meos traxit petulans audacia sensus,

liberior iusto nec mihi lingua fuit.

versiculos, fateor, non cauta voce notavi,

heu miser! ignorans, quam grave crimen erat.10

Orpheos alii libros impune lacessunt

nec tua securum te, Maro, fama vehit;

ipse parens vatum, princeps Heliconis, Homerus

iudicis excepit tela severa notae.

sed non Vergilius, sed non accusat Homerus:15

neuter enim quaestor, pauper uterque fuit.

en moveo plausus! en pallidus omnia laudo

et clarum repeto terque quaterque “sophos”!

ignoscat placidus tandem flatusque remittat

et tuto recitet quod libet ore: placet.20

XXIV. (LXXXIII.)

De lucusta.

Horret apex capitis; medio fera lumina surguntvertice; cognatus dorso durescit amictus.armavit natura cutem dumique rubentescuspidibus parvis multos acuere rubores.

Horret apex capitis; medio fera lumina surgunt

vertice; cognatus dorso durescit amictus.

armavit natura cutem dumique rubentes

cuspidibus parvis multos acuere rubores.

[203]beneath the northern pole, never to entrust my bellying sails to the Ionian Sea what time the Kids bring round the rainy nights, never, driven by the Furies’ hellish blows, to re-read the verses of an angry pedant,[79]’twas not, I swear, impudent effrontery that moved me, nor did my tongue exceed a just outspokenness. I admit I incautiously found fault with a few lines, not realizing, luckless wight, the heinousness of my offence. Others attack the books of Orpheus and nothing is said; nor does thy fame, Maro, support thee in safety. The very father of poetry, Homer, lord of Helicon, knew the stigma of the censor’s pen. Yet neither Vergil nor Homer complains, for neither was a quaestor and both were poor. See, then, I applaud! See, in terror I praise every word and loudly cry again and again “bravo!” Let him be appeased and pardon at last, let him cease from wrath—and with secure voice recite whate’er he will; I applaud.XXIV. (LXXXIII.)The Lobster.Long horns project from his head; fierce eyes stand out from his forehead; his back is protected by the armour of his self-grown shell. Nature herself has rendered his skin a sufficient defence, covering it with small, red, pointed spikes.[79]The “pedant” is doubtless Alethius himself and the “verses” the very poem which Claudian has already read once and criticized unfavourably.

[203]

beneath the northern pole, never to entrust my bellying sails to the Ionian Sea what time the Kids bring round the rainy nights, never, driven by the Furies’ hellish blows, to re-read the verses of an angry pedant,[79]’twas not, I swear, impudent effrontery that moved me, nor did my tongue exceed a just outspokenness. I admit I incautiously found fault with a few lines, not realizing, luckless wight, the heinousness of my offence. Others attack the books of Orpheus and nothing is said; nor does thy fame, Maro, support thee in safety. The very father of poetry, Homer, lord of Helicon, knew the stigma of the censor’s pen. Yet neither Vergil nor Homer complains, for neither was a quaestor and both were poor. See, then, I applaud! See, in terror I praise every word and loudly cry again and again “bravo!” Let him be appeased and pardon at last, let him cease from wrath—and with secure voice recite whate’er he will; I applaud.

XXIV. (LXXXIII.)

The Lobster.

Long horns project from his head; fierce eyes stand out from his forehead; his back is protected by the armour of his self-grown shell. Nature herself has rendered his skin a sufficient defence, covering it with small, red, pointed spikes.

[79]The “pedant” is doubtless Alethius himself and the “verses” the very poem which Claudian has already read once and criticized unfavourably.

Back to Index Next