DE BELLO GOTHICO

[102]Palladiaque comas innexus harundine Tritonedomitis veheretur aquis et in aere trementemsuccinctae famulum ferrent Atlanta cohortes,380ipse Iugurthinam subiturus carcere poenampraeberet fera colla iugo, vi captus et armis,non Bocchi Syllaeque dolis.“Sed prima remitto.num praesens etiam Getici me laurea bellideclinare potest? sedesve capacior ulla385tantae laudis erit? tua te benefacta morantemconveniunt, meritisque suis obnoxia virtusquod servavit amat. iam flavescentia centummessibus aestivae detondent Gargara falces,spectatosque iterum nulli celebrantia ludos390circumflexa rapit centenus saecula consul:his annis, qui lustra mihi bis dena recensent,nostra ter Augustos intra pomeria vidi,temporibus variis; eadem sed causa tropaeicivilis dissensus erat. venere superbi,395scilicet ut Latio respersos sanguine currusadspicerem! quisquamne piae laetanda parentinatorum lamenta putet? periere tyranni,sed nobis periere tamen. cum Gallica vulgoproelia iactaret, tacuit Pharsalica Caesar.400namque inter socias acies cognataque signaut vinci miserum, numquam vicisse decorum.restituat priscum per te iam gloria moremverior, et fructum sincerae laudis ab hoste[103]Triton, with his conquered waters and his head crowned with Minerva’s sacred reeds; crowds of slaves with upgirt dresses bore a figure of trembling Atlas cast in bronze; Gildo himself, destined to undergo in prison the punishment once meted out to Jugurtha, offered his stubborn neck to the yoke, Gildo fallen a captive to the arms of Rome, not to the treachery of a Bocchus and a Sulla.[36]“But I pass over what has been. Can the present triumph, too, of the Getic war escape me? Does any spot give ampler room to so great renown? The very blessings thou hast bestowed beg thee not to delay, and thy generosity, constrained by its own fair deeds, must needs love those whom it has saved. Now for a hundred summers the reaper’s sickle has gathered the yellow harvest of Gargarus; already the consul has introduced the games that occur but once in a century and upon which no man looks twice. During these years which number twice ten lustres, I have but thrice[37]seen an emperor enter my walls in triumph; all at different times but for the same reason—civil war. Did they come in their pride that I should see their chariots stained with Italy’s blood? Can any think a mother finds joy in the tears of her offspring? The tyrants were slain, but even they were my children. Caesar boasted him of his victories over the Gauls; he said nought about Pharsalia. Where the two sides bear the same standards and are of one blood, as defeat is ever shameful so victory brings no honour. See thou to it that now a truer glory crown our arms; give me back the joy, long a stranger to me, of honest[36]Bocchus, king of Mauretania, treacherously delivered up his kinsman Jugurtha to Marius. Sulla acted as the agent of the Roman general in this matter.[37]In a century so replete with civil war as the fourth it is hard to say which particular three instances Claudian has in mind. One is no doubt Constantine’s defeat of Maxentius, after which we know that he entered Rome in triumph; the other two may refer to Theodosius’ victories over Eugenius and Maximus.

[102]

Palladiaque comas innexus harundine Tritonedomitis veheretur aquis et in aere trementemsuccinctae famulum ferrent Atlanta cohortes,380ipse Iugurthinam subiturus carcere poenampraeberet fera colla iugo, vi captus et armis,non Bocchi Syllaeque dolis.“Sed prima remitto.num praesens etiam Getici me laurea bellideclinare potest? sedesve capacior ulla385tantae laudis erit? tua te benefacta morantemconveniunt, meritisque suis obnoxia virtusquod servavit amat. iam flavescentia centummessibus aestivae detondent Gargara falces,spectatosque iterum nulli celebrantia ludos390circumflexa rapit centenus saecula consul:his annis, qui lustra mihi bis dena recensent,nostra ter Augustos intra pomeria vidi,temporibus variis; eadem sed causa tropaeicivilis dissensus erat. venere superbi,395scilicet ut Latio respersos sanguine currusadspicerem! quisquamne piae laetanda parentinatorum lamenta putet? periere tyranni,sed nobis periere tamen. cum Gallica vulgoproelia iactaret, tacuit Pharsalica Caesar.400namque inter socias acies cognataque signaut vinci miserum, numquam vicisse decorum.restituat priscum per te iam gloria moremverior, et fructum sincerae laudis ab hoste

Palladiaque comas innexus harundine Triton

edomitis veheretur aquis et in aere trementem

succinctae famulum ferrent Atlanta cohortes,380

ipse Iugurthinam subiturus carcere poenam

praeberet fera colla iugo, vi captus et armis,

non Bocchi Syllaeque dolis.

“Sed prima remitto.

num praesens etiam Getici me laurea belli

declinare potest? sedesve capacior ulla385

tantae laudis erit? tua te benefacta morantem

conveniunt, meritisque suis obnoxia virtus

quod servavit amat. iam flavescentia centum

messibus aestivae detondent Gargara falces,

spectatosque iterum nulli celebrantia ludos390

circumflexa rapit centenus saecula consul:

his annis, qui lustra mihi bis dena recensent,

nostra ter Augustos intra pomeria vidi,

temporibus variis; eadem sed causa tropaei

civilis dissensus erat. venere superbi,395

scilicet ut Latio respersos sanguine currus

adspicerem! quisquamne piae laetanda parenti

natorum lamenta putet? periere tyranni,

sed nobis periere tamen. cum Gallica vulgo

proelia iactaret, tacuit Pharsalica Caesar.400

namque inter socias acies cognataque signa

ut vinci miserum, numquam vicisse decorum.

restituat priscum per te iam gloria morem

verior, et fructum sincerae laudis ab hoste

[103]Triton, with his conquered waters and his head crowned with Minerva’s sacred reeds; crowds of slaves with upgirt dresses bore a figure of trembling Atlas cast in bronze; Gildo himself, destined to undergo in prison the punishment once meted out to Jugurtha, offered his stubborn neck to the yoke, Gildo fallen a captive to the arms of Rome, not to the treachery of a Bocchus and a Sulla.[36]“But I pass over what has been. Can the present triumph, too, of the Getic war escape me? Does any spot give ampler room to so great renown? The very blessings thou hast bestowed beg thee not to delay, and thy generosity, constrained by its own fair deeds, must needs love those whom it has saved. Now for a hundred summers the reaper’s sickle has gathered the yellow harvest of Gargarus; already the consul has introduced the games that occur but once in a century and upon which no man looks twice. During these years which number twice ten lustres, I have but thrice[37]seen an emperor enter my walls in triumph; all at different times but for the same reason—civil war. Did they come in their pride that I should see their chariots stained with Italy’s blood? Can any think a mother finds joy in the tears of her offspring? The tyrants were slain, but even they were my children. Caesar boasted him of his victories over the Gauls; he said nought about Pharsalia. Where the two sides bear the same standards and are of one blood, as defeat is ever shameful so victory brings no honour. See thou to it that now a truer glory crown our arms; give me back the joy, long a stranger to me, of honest[36]Bocchus, king of Mauretania, treacherously delivered up his kinsman Jugurtha to Marius. Sulla acted as the agent of the Roman general in this matter.[37]In a century so replete with civil war as the fourth it is hard to say which particular three instances Claudian has in mind. One is no doubt Constantine’s defeat of Maxentius, after which we know that he entered Rome in triumph; the other two may refer to Theodosius’ victories over Eugenius and Maximus.

[103]

Triton, with his conquered waters and his head crowned with Minerva’s sacred reeds; crowds of slaves with upgirt dresses bore a figure of trembling Atlas cast in bronze; Gildo himself, destined to undergo in prison the punishment once meted out to Jugurtha, offered his stubborn neck to the yoke, Gildo fallen a captive to the arms of Rome, not to the treachery of a Bocchus and a Sulla.[36]

“But I pass over what has been. Can the present triumph, too, of the Getic war escape me? Does any spot give ampler room to so great renown? The very blessings thou hast bestowed beg thee not to delay, and thy generosity, constrained by its own fair deeds, must needs love those whom it has saved. Now for a hundred summers the reaper’s sickle has gathered the yellow harvest of Gargarus; already the consul has introduced the games that occur but once in a century and upon which no man looks twice. During these years which number twice ten lustres, I have but thrice[37]seen an emperor enter my walls in triumph; all at different times but for the same reason—civil war. Did they come in their pride that I should see their chariots stained with Italy’s blood? Can any think a mother finds joy in the tears of her offspring? The tyrants were slain, but even they were my children. Caesar boasted him of his victories over the Gauls; he said nought about Pharsalia. Where the two sides bear the same standards and are of one blood, as defeat is ever shameful so victory brings no honour. See thou to it that now a truer glory crown our arms; give me back the joy, long a stranger to me, of honest

[36]Bocchus, king of Mauretania, treacherously delivered up his kinsman Jugurtha to Marius. Sulla acted as the agent of the Roman general in this matter.

[37]In a century so replete with civil war as the fourth it is hard to say which particular three instances Claudian has in mind. One is no doubt Constantine’s defeat of Maxentius, after which we know that he entered Rome in triumph; the other two may refer to Theodosius’ victories over Eugenius and Maximus.

[104]desuetam iam redde mihi iustisque furoris405externi spoliis sontes absolve triumphos.“Quem, precor, ad finem laribus seiuncta potestasexulat imperiumque suis a sedibus errat?cur mea quae cunctis tribuere palatia nomenneglecto squalent senio? nec creditur orbis410illinc posse regi? medium non deserit umquamcaeli Phoebus iter, radiis tamen omnia lustrat.segnius an veteres Histrum Rhenumque tenebant,qui nostram coluere domum? leviusve timebantTigris et Euphrates, cum foedera Medus et Indus415hinc peteret pacemque mea speraret ab arce?hic illi mansere viri, quos mutua virtuslegit et in nomen Romanis rebus adoptansiudicio pulchram seriem, non sanguine duxit;hic proles atavum deducens Aelia Nervam420tranquillique Pii bellatoresque Severi.hunc civis dignare chorum conspectaque dudumora refer, pompam recolens ut mente priorem,quem tenero patris comitem susceperat aevo,424nunc duce cum socero iuvenem te Thybris adoret.”Orantem medio princeps sermone refovit:“numquam aliquid frustra per me voluisse dolebis,o dea, nec legum fas est occurrere matri.sed nec post Libyam (falsis ne perge querellisincusare tuos) patriae mandata vocantis430sprevimus: advectae misso Stilichone curules,ut nostras tibi, Roma, vices pro principe consulimpleret generoque socer. vidistis in illo[105]fame won from the enemy, and make good guilty triumphs by the lawful spoils of foreign madness.“How long shall our emperor’s rule be a stranger to its true home and his governance stray from its rightful seat? Why does my palace which has given its name to all palaces mourn in neglected decay? Cannot the world be ruled therefrom? Phoebus never deserts his centre path though his beams are shed upon all. Was the hand of those old emperors who made me their home any lighter laid upon the tribes of Danube and Rhine? Was the awe felt by those of Tigris and Euphrates any less real when Mede and Indian came to this my capital of Rome to beg for alliance or sue for peace? Here dwelt those emperors whom merit chose for merit, and so, adopting them as consuls for the Roman state, made judgement not blood continue a noble line. Here lived the Aelian family that traced its descent from Nerva, the peaceful Antonines, the warlike Severi. Thou art a citizen; disdain not such a band; give us back the countenance we beheld long since, that Father Tiber, remembering the glory that was, may with thy father-in-law welcome thee as a man whom as a boy he saw leave my city at his father’s side.”While yet she entreated the emperor reassured her with these words: “Never shalt thou complain that I have been deaf to thine entreaties; I could not thwart thee, goddess, who art the mother of our laws. Bring no railing accusation against thy sons. Did I disregard my country’s call after the African war? Nay, I sent thee Stilicho to sit in the curule chair to take my place, a consul instead of an emperor, a father- instead of a son-in-law. In him thy

[104]

desuetam iam redde mihi iustisque furoris405externi spoliis sontes absolve triumphos.“Quem, precor, ad finem laribus seiuncta potestasexulat imperiumque suis a sedibus errat?cur mea quae cunctis tribuere palatia nomenneglecto squalent senio? nec creditur orbis410illinc posse regi? medium non deserit umquamcaeli Phoebus iter, radiis tamen omnia lustrat.segnius an veteres Histrum Rhenumque tenebant,qui nostram coluere domum? leviusve timebantTigris et Euphrates, cum foedera Medus et Indus415hinc peteret pacemque mea speraret ab arce?hic illi mansere viri, quos mutua virtuslegit et in nomen Romanis rebus adoptansiudicio pulchram seriem, non sanguine duxit;hic proles atavum deducens Aelia Nervam420tranquillique Pii bellatoresque Severi.hunc civis dignare chorum conspectaque dudumora refer, pompam recolens ut mente priorem,quem tenero patris comitem susceperat aevo,424nunc duce cum socero iuvenem te Thybris adoret.”Orantem medio princeps sermone refovit:“numquam aliquid frustra per me voluisse dolebis,o dea, nec legum fas est occurrere matri.sed nec post Libyam (falsis ne perge querellisincusare tuos) patriae mandata vocantis430sprevimus: advectae misso Stilichone curules,ut nostras tibi, Roma, vices pro principe consulimpleret generoque socer. vidistis in illo

desuetam iam redde mihi iustisque furoris405

externi spoliis sontes absolve triumphos.

“Quem, precor, ad finem laribus seiuncta potestas

exulat imperiumque suis a sedibus errat?

cur mea quae cunctis tribuere palatia nomen

neglecto squalent senio? nec creditur orbis410

illinc posse regi? medium non deserit umquam

caeli Phoebus iter, radiis tamen omnia lustrat.

segnius an veteres Histrum Rhenumque tenebant,

qui nostram coluere domum? leviusve timebant

Tigris et Euphrates, cum foedera Medus et Indus415

hinc peteret pacemque mea speraret ab arce?

hic illi mansere viri, quos mutua virtus

legit et in nomen Romanis rebus adoptans

iudicio pulchram seriem, non sanguine duxit;

hic proles atavum deducens Aelia Nervam420

tranquillique Pii bellatoresque Severi.

hunc civis dignare chorum conspectaque dudum

ora refer, pompam recolens ut mente priorem,

quem tenero patris comitem susceperat aevo,424

nunc duce cum socero iuvenem te Thybris adoret.”

Orantem medio princeps sermone refovit:

“numquam aliquid frustra per me voluisse dolebis,

o dea, nec legum fas est occurrere matri.

sed nec post Libyam (falsis ne perge querellis

incusare tuos) patriae mandata vocantis430

sprevimus: advectae misso Stilichone curules,

ut nostras tibi, Roma, vices pro principe consul

impleret generoque socer. vidistis in illo

[105]fame won from the enemy, and make good guilty triumphs by the lawful spoils of foreign madness.“How long shall our emperor’s rule be a stranger to its true home and his governance stray from its rightful seat? Why does my palace which has given its name to all palaces mourn in neglected decay? Cannot the world be ruled therefrom? Phoebus never deserts his centre path though his beams are shed upon all. Was the hand of those old emperors who made me their home any lighter laid upon the tribes of Danube and Rhine? Was the awe felt by those of Tigris and Euphrates any less real when Mede and Indian came to this my capital of Rome to beg for alliance or sue for peace? Here dwelt those emperors whom merit chose for merit, and so, adopting them as consuls for the Roman state, made judgement not blood continue a noble line. Here lived the Aelian family that traced its descent from Nerva, the peaceful Antonines, the warlike Severi. Thou art a citizen; disdain not such a band; give us back the countenance we beheld long since, that Father Tiber, remembering the glory that was, may with thy father-in-law welcome thee as a man whom as a boy he saw leave my city at his father’s side.”While yet she entreated the emperor reassured her with these words: “Never shalt thou complain that I have been deaf to thine entreaties; I could not thwart thee, goddess, who art the mother of our laws. Bring no railing accusation against thy sons. Did I disregard my country’s call after the African war? Nay, I sent thee Stilicho to sit in the curule chair to take my place, a consul instead of an emperor, a father- instead of a son-in-law. In him thy

[105]

fame won from the enemy, and make good guilty triumphs by the lawful spoils of foreign madness.

“How long shall our emperor’s rule be a stranger to its true home and his governance stray from its rightful seat? Why does my palace which has given its name to all palaces mourn in neglected decay? Cannot the world be ruled therefrom? Phoebus never deserts his centre path though his beams are shed upon all. Was the hand of those old emperors who made me their home any lighter laid upon the tribes of Danube and Rhine? Was the awe felt by those of Tigris and Euphrates any less real when Mede and Indian came to this my capital of Rome to beg for alliance or sue for peace? Here dwelt those emperors whom merit chose for merit, and so, adopting them as consuls for the Roman state, made judgement not blood continue a noble line. Here lived the Aelian family that traced its descent from Nerva, the peaceful Antonines, the warlike Severi. Thou art a citizen; disdain not such a band; give us back the countenance we beheld long since, that Father Tiber, remembering the glory that was, may with thy father-in-law welcome thee as a man whom as a boy he saw leave my city at his father’s side.”

While yet she entreated the emperor reassured her with these words: “Never shalt thou complain that I have been deaf to thine entreaties; I could not thwart thee, goddess, who art the mother of our laws. Bring no railing accusation against thy sons. Did I disregard my country’s call after the African war? Nay, I sent thee Stilicho to sit in the curule chair to take my place, a consul instead of an emperor, a father- instead of a son-in-law. In him thy

[106]me quoque; sic credit pietas non sanguine solo,sed claris potius factis experta parentem.435cuncta quidem centum nequeam perstringere linguis,quae pro me mundoque gerit; sed ab omnibus unum,si fama necdum patuit, te, Roma, docebosubiectum nostris oculis et cuius agendispectator vel causa fui.440“Populator AchivaeBistoniaeque plagae, crebris successibus amenset ruptas animis spirans inmanibus Alpesiam Ligurum trepidis admoverat agmina muristutior auxilio brumae (quo gentibus illissidere consueti favet inclementia caeli)445meque minabatur calcato obsidere vallospem vano terrore fovens, si forte, remotispraesidiis, urgente metu, qua vellet obiremcondicione fidem; nec me timor impulit ulluset duce venturo fretum memoremque tuorum,450Roma, ducum, quibus haud umquam vel morte paratafoedus lucis amor pepigit dispendia famae.nox erat et late stellarum more videbambarbaricos ardere focos; iam classica primosexcierant vigiles, gelida cum pulcher ab Arcto455adventat Stilicho. medius sed clauserat hostisinter me socerumque viam pontemque tenebat,Addua quo scissas spumosior incitat undas.quid faceret? differret iter? discrimina nullasnostra dabant adeunda moras. perrumperet agmen?sed paucis comitatus erat; nam plurima retro,461dum nobis properat succurrere, liquerat armaextera vel nostras acies. hoc ille locatus[107]citizens saw also myself; so my love believes, for it has found that not blood alone but rather glorious deeds can show a parent. Had I a hundred tongues I could not touch on all the benefits he has bestowed upon me and upon the empire; one deed alone of them all will I recount to thee, goddess, if so be it is as yet unknown to thee, a deed of which I was the spectator or the cause.“Alaric had laid waste Greece and the coasts of Thrace and in the mad pride of his many victories and the arrogance inspired by his crossing of the Alps had laid siege to the trembling cities of Liguria with winter as his ally—a season that favours a race accustomed to inclement skies; he then threatened to break down my defences and to lay strait siege to me also, bolstering up his hopes with the thought that, at the terror of his name and in fear of having none to aid me, I should come to terms with him on any conditions he chose. But I felt no fear, for I relied on the advance of Stilicho, and was mindful, O goddess, of those thy leaders who, even in face of death, never through base love of life made terms at the cost of honour. It was night; where’er I looked I saw the watchfires of the enemy shining like stars. The bugle had already summoned the soldiers to the first watch when glorious Stilicho arrived from the frozen north. But the enemy held the road between my father-in-law and myself, and the bridge whose obstructing piers churn turbid Addua to yet fuller foam. What was Stilicho to do? Halt? My danger forbade the least delay. Break through the enemy’s line? His force was too small. In hastening to my aid he had left behind him many auxiliaries and legionary troops. Placed in this dilemma he

[106]

me quoque; sic credit pietas non sanguine solo,sed claris potius factis experta parentem.435cuncta quidem centum nequeam perstringere linguis,quae pro me mundoque gerit; sed ab omnibus unum,si fama necdum patuit, te, Roma, docebosubiectum nostris oculis et cuius agendispectator vel causa fui.440“Populator AchivaeBistoniaeque plagae, crebris successibus amenset ruptas animis spirans inmanibus Alpesiam Ligurum trepidis admoverat agmina muristutior auxilio brumae (quo gentibus illissidere consueti favet inclementia caeli)445meque minabatur calcato obsidere vallospem vano terrore fovens, si forte, remotispraesidiis, urgente metu, qua vellet obiremcondicione fidem; nec me timor impulit ulluset duce venturo fretum memoremque tuorum,450Roma, ducum, quibus haud umquam vel morte paratafoedus lucis amor pepigit dispendia famae.nox erat et late stellarum more videbambarbaricos ardere focos; iam classica primosexcierant vigiles, gelida cum pulcher ab Arcto455adventat Stilicho. medius sed clauserat hostisinter me socerumque viam pontemque tenebat,Addua quo scissas spumosior incitat undas.quid faceret? differret iter? discrimina nullasnostra dabant adeunda moras. perrumperet agmen?sed paucis comitatus erat; nam plurima retro,461dum nobis properat succurrere, liquerat armaextera vel nostras acies. hoc ille locatus

me quoque; sic credit pietas non sanguine solo,

sed claris potius factis experta parentem.435

cuncta quidem centum nequeam perstringere linguis,

quae pro me mundoque gerit; sed ab omnibus unum,

si fama necdum patuit, te, Roma, docebo

subiectum nostris oculis et cuius agendi

spectator vel causa fui.440

“Populator Achivae

Bistoniaeque plagae, crebris successibus amens

et ruptas animis spirans inmanibus Alpes

iam Ligurum trepidis admoverat agmina muris

tutior auxilio brumae (quo gentibus illis

sidere consueti favet inclementia caeli)445

meque minabatur calcato obsidere vallo

spem vano terrore fovens, si forte, remotis

praesidiis, urgente metu, qua vellet obirem

condicione fidem; nec me timor impulit ullus

et duce venturo fretum memoremque tuorum,450

Roma, ducum, quibus haud umquam vel morte parata

foedus lucis amor pepigit dispendia famae.

nox erat et late stellarum more videbam

barbaricos ardere focos; iam classica primos

excierant vigiles, gelida cum pulcher ab Arcto455

adventat Stilicho. medius sed clauserat hostis

inter me socerumque viam pontemque tenebat,

Addua quo scissas spumosior incitat undas.

quid faceret? differret iter? discrimina nullas

nostra dabant adeunda moras. perrumperet agmen?

sed paucis comitatus erat; nam plurima retro,461

dum nobis properat succurrere, liquerat arma

extera vel nostras acies. hoc ille locatus

[107]citizens saw also myself; so my love believes, for it has found that not blood alone but rather glorious deeds can show a parent. Had I a hundred tongues I could not touch on all the benefits he has bestowed upon me and upon the empire; one deed alone of them all will I recount to thee, goddess, if so be it is as yet unknown to thee, a deed of which I was the spectator or the cause.“Alaric had laid waste Greece and the coasts of Thrace and in the mad pride of his many victories and the arrogance inspired by his crossing of the Alps had laid siege to the trembling cities of Liguria with winter as his ally—a season that favours a race accustomed to inclement skies; he then threatened to break down my defences and to lay strait siege to me also, bolstering up his hopes with the thought that, at the terror of his name and in fear of having none to aid me, I should come to terms with him on any conditions he chose. But I felt no fear, for I relied on the advance of Stilicho, and was mindful, O goddess, of those thy leaders who, even in face of death, never through base love of life made terms at the cost of honour. It was night; where’er I looked I saw the watchfires of the enemy shining like stars. The bugle had already summoned the soldiers to the first watch when glorious Stilicho arrived from the frozen north. But the enemy held the road between my father-in-law and myself, and the bridge whose obstructing piers churn turbid Addua to yet fuller foam. What was Stilicho to do? Halt? My danger forbade the least delay. Break through the enemy’s line? His force was too small. In hastening to my aid he had left behind him many auxiliaries and legionary troops. Placed in this dilemma he

[107]

citizens saw also myself; so my love believes, for it has found that not blood alone but rather glorious deeds can show a parent. Had I a hundred tongues I could not touch on all the benefits he has bestowed upon me and upon the empire; one deed alone of them all will I recount to thee, goddess, if so be it is as yet unknown to thee, a deed of which I was the spectator or the cause.

“Alaric had laid waste Greece and the coasts of Thrace and in the mad pride of his many victories and the arrogance inspired by his crossing of the Alps had laid siege to the trembling cities of Liguria with winter as his ally—a season that favours a race accustomed to inclement skies; he then threatened to break down my defences and to lay strait siege to me also, bolstering up his hopes with the thought that, at the terror of his name and in fear of having none to aid me, I should come to terms with him on any conditions he chose. But I felt no fear, for I relied on the advance of Stilicho, and was mindful, O goddess, of those thy leaders who, even in face of death, never through base love of life made terms at the cost of honour. It was night; where’er I looked I saw the watchfires of the enemy shining like stars. The bugle had already summoned the soldiers to the first watch when glorious Stilicho arrived from the frozen north. But the enemy held the road between my father-in-law and myself, and the bridge whose obstructing piers churn turbid Addua to yet fuller foam. What was Stilicho to do? Halt? My danger forbade the least delay. Break through the enemy’s line? His force was too small. In hastening to my aid he had left behind him many auxiliaries and legionary troops. Placed in this dilemma he

[108]ancipiti, longum socias tardumque putavitexpectasse manus et nostra pericula tendit465posthabitis pulsare suis mediumque per hostemflammatus virtute pia propriaeque salutisinmemor et stricto prosternens obvia ferrobarbara fulmineo secuit tentoria cursu.“Nunc mihi Tydiden attollant carmina vatum,470quod iuncto fidens Ithaco patefacta Dolonisindicio dapibusque simul religataque somnoThracia sopiti penetraverit agmina RhesiGraiaque rettulerit captos ad castra iugales,quorum, si qua fides augentibus omnia Musis,475impetus excessit Zephyros candorque pruinas.ecce virum, taciti nulla qui fraude soporisense palam sibi pandit iter remeatque cruentuset Diomedeis tantum praeclarior ausis,quantum lux tenebris manifestaque proelia furtis!480adde quod et ripis steterat munitior hostiset cui nec vigilem fas est componere Rhesum:Thrax erat, hic Thracum domitor. non tela retardant,obice non haesit fluvii. sic ille minacemTyrrhenam labente manum pro ponte repellens485traiecit clipeo Thybrim, quo texerat urbem,Tarquinio mirante Cocles mediisque superbusPorsennam respexit aquis. celer Addua nostrosulcatus socero: sed, cum transnaret, Etruscisille dabat tergum, Geticis hic pectora bellis.490[109]thought it long and tedious to wait for reinforcements and, putting aside his own peril, was eager only to deliver me from mine; inspired by the courage that is born of love, heedless of his own danger, he broke through the enemy’s midst and, sword in hand, cutting down all who sought to bar his passage, he passed like lightning through the barbarians’ camp.“Now let poets’ songs praise me the son of Tydeus because, relying on Odysseus’ help when the way was opened by Dolon’s wiles and all was sunk in feasting and slumber, he broke into the Thracian camp of Rhesus and brought back to the Greek lines his captured steeds, which—if we may trust the too generous Muses—surpassed the winds in speed, the snows in whiteness. Here was a man who, with no treachery ’mid silent slumber, clave a path for himself with his sword in the open light of day and arrived within our lines covered with blood, thus surpassing the brave deeds of Diomede by as much as day surpasses night and open battle ambush. Alaric’s position, moreover, on the river bank was a stronger one, and he himself a warrior with whom Rhesus, even when awake, could not be compared. Rhesus was king, Alaric the conqueror, of Thrace. Neither weapons nor the river’s bar could stop Stilicho. So Horatius, standing on the falling bridge, drave back the threatening hosts of Etruria and then swam the Tiber, still carrying the shield wherewith to the amazement of Tarquin he had defended Rome, and from mid stream looked back with scornful gaze upon Porsenna. ’Twas the swift Addua my father breasted; but, as he swam the flood, Horatius turned his back upon the Etruscans, Stilicho faced the barbarian foe.

[108]

ancipiti, longum socias tardumque putavitexpectasse manus et nostra pericula tendit465posthabitis pulsare suis mediumque per hostemflammatus virtute pia propriaeque salutisinmemor et stricto prosternens obvia ferrobarbara fulmineo secuit tentoria cursu.“Nunc mihi Tydiden attollant carmina vatum,470quod iuncto fidens Ithaco patefacta Dolonisindicio dapibusque simul religataque somnoThracia sopiti penetraverit agmina RhesiGraiaque rettulerit captos ad castra iugales,quorum, si qua fides augentibus omnia Musis,475impetus excessit Zephyros candorque pruinas.ecce virum, taciti nulla qui fraude soporisense palam sibi pandit iter remeatque cruentuset Diomedeis tantum praeclarior ausis,quantum lux tenebris manifestaque proelia furtis!480adde quod et ripis steterat munitior hostiset cui nec vigilem fas est componere Rhesum:Thrax erat, hic Thracum domitor. non tela retardant,obice non haesit fluvii. sic ille minacemTyrrhenam labente manum pro ponte repellens485traiecit clipeo Thybrim, quo texerat urbem,Tarquinio mirante Cocles mediisque superbusPorsennam respexit aquis. celer Addua nostrosulcatus socero: sed, cum transnaret, Etruscisille dabat tergum, Geticis hic pectora bellis.490

ancipiti, longum socias tardumque putavit

expectasse manus et nostra pericula tendit465

posthabitis pulsare suis mediumque per hostem

flammatus virtute pia propriaeque salutis

inmemor et stricto prosternens obvia ferro

barbara fulmineo secuit tentoria cursu.

“Nunc mihi Tydiden attollant carmina vatum,470

quod iuncto fidens Ithaco patefacta Dolonis

indicio dapibusque simul religataque somno

Thracia sopiti penetraverit agmina Rhesi

Graiaque rettulerit captos ad castra iugales,

quorum, si qua fides augentibus omnia Musis,475

impetus excessit Zephyros candorque pruinas.

ecce virum, taciti nulla qui fraude soporis

ense palam sibi pandit iter remeatque cruentus

et Diomedeis tantum praeclarior ausis,

quantum lux tenebris manifestaque proelia furtis!480

adde quod et ripis steterat munitior hostis

et cui nec vigilem fas est componere Rhesum:

Thrax erat, hic Thracum domitor. non tela retardant,

obice non haesit fluvii. sic ille minacem

Tyrrhenam labente manum pro ponte repellens485

traiecit clipeo Thybrim, quo texerat urbem,

Tarquinio mirante Cocles mediisque superbus

Porsennam respexit aquis. celer Addua nostro

sulcatus socero: sed, cum transnaret, Etruscis

ille dabat tergum, Geticis hic pectora bellis.490

[109]thought it long and tedious to wait for reinforcements and, putting aside his own peril, was eager only to deliver me from mine; inspired by the courage that is born of love, heedless of his own danger, he broke through the enemy’s midst and, sword in hand, cutting down all who sought to bar his passage, he passed like lightning through the barbarians’ camp.“Now let poets’ songs praise me the son of Tydeus because, relying on Odysseus’ help when the way was opened by Dolon’s wiles and all was sunk in feasting and slumber, he broke into the Thracian camp of Rhesus and brought back to the Greek lines his captured steeds, which—if we may trust the too generous Muses—surpassed the winds in speed, the snows in whiteness. Here was a man who, with no treachery ’mid silent slumber, clave a path for himself with his sword in the open light of day and arrived within our lines covered with blood, thus surpassing the brave deeds of Diomede by as much as day surpasses night and open battle ambush. Alaric’s position, moreover, on the river bank was a stronger one, and he himself a warrior with whom Rhesus, even when awake, could not be compared. Rhesus was king, Alaric the conqueror, of Thrace. Neither weapons nor the river’s bar could stop Stilicho. So Horatius, standing on the falling bridge, drave back the threatening hosts of Etruria and then swam the Tiber, still carrying the shield wherewith to the amazement of Tarquin he had defended Rome, and from mid stream looked back with scornful gaze upon Porsenna. ’Twas the swift Addua my father breasted; but, as he swam the flood, Horatius turned his back upon the Etruscans, Stilicho faced the barbarian foe.

[109]

thought it long and tedious to wait for reinforcements and, putting aside his own peril, was eager only to deliver me from mine; inspired by the courage that is born of love, heedless of his own danger, he broke through the enemy’s midst and, sword in hand, cutting down all who sought to bar his passage, he passed like lightning through the barbarians’ camp.

“Now let poets’ songs praise me the son of Tydeus because, relying on Odysseus’ help when the way was opened by Dolon’s wiles and all was sunk in feasting and slumber, he broke into the Thracian camp of Rhesus and brought back to the Greek lines his captured steeds, which—if we may trust the too generous Muses—surpassed the winds in speed, the snows in whiteness. Here was a man who, with no treachery ’mid silent slumber, clave a path for himself with his sword in the open light of day and arrived within our lines covered with blood, thus surpassing the brave deeds of Diomede by as much as day surpasses night and open battle ambush. Alaric’s position, moreover, on the river bank was a stronger one, and he himself a warrior with whom Rhesus, even when awake, could not be compared. Rhesus was king, Alaric the conqueror, of Thrace. Neither weapons nor the river’s bar could stop Stilicho. So Horatius, standing on the falling bridge, drave back the threatening hosts of Etruria and then swam the Tiber, still carrying the shield wherewith to the amazement of Tarquin he had defended Rome, and from mid stream looked back with scornful gaze upon Porsenna. ’Twas the swift Addua my father breasted; but, as he swam the flood, Horatius turned his back upon the Etruscans, Stilicho faced the barbarian foe.

[110]“Exere nunc doctos tantae certamina laudis,Roma, choros et, quanta tuis facundia polletingeniis, nostrum digno sonet ore parentem.”Dixit et antiquae muros egressa Ravennaesigna movet; iamque ora Padi portusque relinquit495flumineos, certis ubi legibus advena Nereusaestuat et pronas puppes nunc amne secundo,nunc redeunte vehit nudataque litora fluctudeserit, Oceani lunaribus aemula damnis.laetior hinc Fano recipit Fortuna vetusto,500despiciturque vagus praerupta valle Metaurus,qua mons arte patens vivo se perforat arcuadmisitque viam sectae per viscera rupis,exuperans delubra Iovis saxoque minantesAppenninigenis cultas pastoribus aras.505quin et Clitumni sacras victoribus undas,candida quae Latiis praebent armenta triumphis,visere cura fuit; nec te miracula fontispraetereunt, tacito passu quem si quis adiret,lentus erat; si voce gradum maiore citasset,510commixtis fervebat aquis; cumque omnibus unasit natura vadis, similes ut corporis undasostendant, haec sola novam iactantia sortemhumanos properant imitari flumina mores.celsa dehinc patulum prospectans Narnia campum515regali calcatur equo, rarique colorisnon procul amnis abest, urbi qui nominis auctor:ilice sub densa silvis artatus opacis[111]“Now, O Rome, lead forth the chorus that shall hymn a contest of such high renown and let thy best genius with all its eloquence voice the well-merited praises of my foster parent.”So spake he and, issuing from the walls of old Ravenna, advanced his standards. He crossed the mouths of the Po and left behind him that river harbour[38]where, in fixed succession, in flows the foaming main and bears up the vessels that ride there at anchor on forward and backward flowing stream, and again deserts the waveless shore, like moon-led tides upon the marge of Ocean. Next he comes to the old city of Fortune’s Temple that bids him glad welcome and from its height looks down upon Metaurus threading its rocky valley where an arch, tunnelled through the living rock, affords a path through the mountain’s very heart, rising above the temple of Jove and the dizzy altars set up by the shepherds of the Apennines. ’Twas thy good pleasure, too, to visit Clitumnus’ wave,[39]beloved of them that triumph, for thence do victors get them white-coated animals for sacrifice at Rome. Thou markest well also the stream’s strange property, flowing gently on when one approaches with silent step, but swirling and eddying should one hasten with louder utterance; and while it is the common nature of water to mirror the exact image of the body it alone boasts the strange power that it mimics not human form but human character. Next thy royal charger treads the streets of Narnia, looking out from its eminence upon the plain below: not far therefrom flows the strange-coloured stream which gives the town its name, its sulphurous waters[38]Classis Portus, a harbour formed by means of the Fossa Augusta which led the southern arm of the Po to Ravenna. It was in existence in 38B.C.(App.B.C.v. 78, 80) and held 250 ships (Jordanes,Get.150;cf.Pliny,H.N.iii. 119; Sid. Apol.Epp.i. 5. 5).[39]For a description of the Clitumnus see Pliny,Epp.viii. 8.

[110]

“Exere nunc doctos tantae certamina laudis,Roma, choros et, quanta tuis facundia polletingeniis, nostrum digno sonet ore parentem.”Dixit et antiquae muros egressa Ravennaesigna movet; iamque ora Padi portusque relinquit495flumineos, certis ubi legibus advena Nereusaestuat et pronas puppes nunc amne secundo,nunc redeunte vehit nudataque litora fluctudeserit, Oceani lunaribus aemula damnis.laetior hinc Fano recipit Fortuna vetusto,500despiciturque vagus praerupta valle Metaurus,qua mons arte patens vivo se perforat arcuadmisitque viam sectae per viscera rupis,exuperans delubra Iovis saxoque minantesAppenninigenis cultas pastoribus aras.505quin et Clitumni sacras victoribus undas,candida quae Latiis praebent armenta triumphis,visere cura fuit; nec te miracula fontispraetereunt, tacito passu quem si quis adiret,lentus erat; si voce gradum maiore citasset,510commixtis fervebat aquis; cumque omnibus unasit natura vadis, similes ut corporis undasostendant, haec sola novam iactantia sortemhumanos properant imitari flumina mores.celsa dehinc patulum prospectans Narnia campum515regali calcatur equo, rarique colorisnon procul amnis abest, urbi qui nominis auctor:ilice sub densa silvis artatus opacis

“Exere nunc doctos tantae certamina laudis,

Roma, choros et, quanta tuis facundia pollet

ingeniis, nostrum digno sonet ore parentem.”

Dixit et antiquae muros egressa Ravennae

signa movet; iamque ora Padi portusque relinquit495

flumineos, certis ubi legibus advena Nereus

aestuat et pronas puppes nunc amne secundo,

nunc redeunte vehit nudataque litora fluctu

deserit, Oceani lunaribus aemula damnis.

laetior hinc Fano recipit Fortuna vetusto,500

despiciturque vagus praerupta valle Metaurus,

qua mons arte patens vivo se perforat arcu

admisitque viam sectae per viscera rupis,

exuperans delubra Iovis saxoque minantes

Appenninigenis cultas pastoribus aras.505

quin et Clitumni sacras victoribus undas,

candida quae Latiis praebent armenta triumphis,

visere cura fuit; nec te miracula fontis

praetereunt, tacito passu quem si quis adiret,

lentus erat; si voce gradum maiore citasset,510

commixtis fervebat aquis; cumque omnibus una

sit natura vadis, similes ut corporis undas

ostendant, haec sola novam iactantia sortem

humanos properant imitari flumina mores.

celsa dehinc patulum prospectans Narnia campum515

regali calcatur equo, rarique coloris

non procul amnis abest, urbi qui nominis auctor:

ilice sub densa silvis artatus opacis

[111]“Now, O Rome, lead forth the chorus that shall hymn a contest of such high renown and let thy best genius with all its eloquence voice the well-merited praises of my foster parent.”So spake he and, issuing from the walls of old Ravenna, advanced his standards. He crossed the mouths of the Po and left behind him that river harbour[38]where, in fixed succession, in flows the foaming main and bears up the vessels that ride there at anchor on forward and backward flowing stream, and again deserts the waveless shore, like moon-led tides upon the marge of Ocean. Next he comes to the old city of Fortune’s Temple that bids him glad welcome and from its height looks down upon Metaurus threading its rocky valley where an arch, tunnelled through the living rock, affords a path through the mountain’s very heart, rising above the temple of Jove and the dizzy altars set up by the shepherds of the Apennines. ’Twas thy good pleasure, too, to visit Clitumnus’ wave,[39]beloved of them that triumph, for thence do victors get them white-coated animals for sacrifice at Rome. Thou markest well also the stream’s strange property, flowing gently on when one approaches with silent step, but swirling and eddying should one hasten with louder utterance; and while it is the common nature of water to mirror the exact image of the body it alone boasts the strange power that it mimics not human form but human character. Next thy royal charger treads the streets of Narnia, looking out from its eminence upon the plain below: not far therefrom flows the strange-coloured stream which gives the town its name, its sulphurous waters[38]Classis Portus, a harbour formed by means of the Fossa Augusta which led the southern arm of the Po to Ravenna. It was in existence in 38B.C.(App.B.C.v. 78, 80) and held 250 ships (Jordanes,Get.150;cf.Pliny,H.N.iii. 119; Sid. Apol.Epp.i. 5. 5).[39]For a description of the Clitumnus see Pliny,Epp.viii. 8.

[111]

“Now, O Rome, lead forth the chorus that shall hymn a contest of such high renown and let thy best genius with all its eloquence voice the well-merited praises of my foster parent.”

So spake he and, issuing from the walls of old Ravenna, advanced his standards. He crossed the mouths of the Po and left behind him that river harbour[38]where, in fixed succession, in flows the foaming main and bears up the vessels that ride there at anchor on forward and backward flowing stream, and again deserts the waveless shore, like moon-led tides upon the marge of Ocean. Next he comes to the old city of Fortune’s Temple that bids him glad welcome and from its height looks down upon Metaurus threading its rocky valley where an arch, tunnelled through the living rock, affords a path through the mountain’s very heart, rising above the temple of Jove and the dizzy altars set up by the shepherds of the Apennines. ’Twas thy good pleasure, too, to visit Clitumnus’ wave,[39]beloved of them that triumph, for thence do victors get them white-coated animals for sacrifice at Rome. Thou markest well also the stream’s strange property, flowing gently on when one approaches with silent step, but swirling and eddying should one hasten with louder utterance; and while it is the common nature of water to mirror the exact image of the body it alone boasts the strange power that it mimics not human form but human character. Next thy royal charger treads the streets of Narnia, looking out from its eminence upon the plain below: not far therefrom flows the strange-coloured stream which gives the town its name, its sulphurous waters

[38]Classis Portus, a harbour formed by means of the Fossa Augusta which led the southern arm of the Po to Ravenna. It was in existence in 38B.C.(App.B.C.v. 78, 80) and held 250 ships (Jordanes,Get.150;cf.Pliny,H.N.iii. 119; Sid. Apol.Epp.i. 5. 5).

[39]For a description of the Clitumnus see Pliny,Epp.viii. 8.

[112]inter utrumque iugum tortis anfractibus albet.inde salutato libatis Thybride lymphis520excipiunt arcus operosaque semita vastismolibus et quidquid tantae praemittitur urbi.Ac velut officiis trepidantibus ora puellaespe propiore tori mater sollertior ornatadveniente proco vestesque et cingula comit525saepe manu viridique angustat iaspide pectussubstringitque comam gemmis et colla monilicircuit et bacis onerat candentibus aures:sic oculis placitura tuis insignior auctiscollibus et nota maior se Roma videndam530obtulit. addebant pulchrum nova moenia vultumaudito perfecta recens rumore Getarum,profecitque opifex decori timor, et vice mira,quam pax intulerat, bello discussa senectuserexit subitas turres cunctosque coëgit535septem continuo colles iuvenescere muro.ipse favens votis solitoque decentior aër,quamvis adsiduo noctem foedaverat imbre,principis et solis radiis detersa removitnubila; namque ideo pluviis turbaverat omnes540ante dies lunamque rudem madefecerat Auster,ut tibi servatum scirent convexa serenum.Omne Palatino quod pons a colle receditMulvius et quantum licuit consurgere tectis,[113]flowing in tortuous course between opposed mountains through dense forests of holm-oak. Then when in greeting to Father Tiber thou hast poured a libation of his waters thou art welcomed by Rome’s arches and all the magnificent buildings which line the roads of that noble city’s suburbs.And as a careful mother at the approach of her daughter’s lover does all that trembling hand can do to enhance the charms that are to win a husband, oft readjusts dress and girdle, confines her breast with bands of green jasper, gathers up her hair with jewels, sets a necklace about her neck, and hangs glistening pearls from her ears, so Rome, in order to be pleasing in thy sight, offers herself to thy admiring gaze more glorious and with hills made higher and herself greater than thou hadst known her. Still fairer than of old she seemed by reason of those new walls that the rumour of the Getae’s approach had just caused to be built; fear was the architect of that beauteous work and, by a strange freak of fortune, war put an end to the decay that peace had brought. For fear it was that caused the sudden upspringing of all those towers and renewed the youth of Rome’s seven hills by enclosing them all within one long wall. Even the weather listened favourably to our prayers and was finer than its wont, although continuous rain had spoiled the preceding night; but the clouds melted away before the glory of the sun and the emperor. All the days before had the south wind troubled with rain and dimmed the moon’s young disc that heaven might know it was for thee that the sunshine waited.One huge crowd filled all the slope between the Palatine hill and the Mulvian bridge and as far up

[112]

inter utrumque iugum tortis anfractibus albet.inde salutato libatis Thybride lymphis520excipiunt arcus operosaque semita vastismolibus et quidquid tantae praemittitur urbi.Ac velut officiis trepidantibus ora puellaespe propiore tori mater sollertior ornatadveniente proco vestesque et cingula comit525saepe manu viridique angustat iaspide pectussubstringitque comam gemmis et colla monilicircuit et bacis onerat candentibus aures:sic oculis placitura tuis insignior auctiscollibus et nota maior se Roma videndam530obtulit. addebant pulchrum nova moenia vultumaudito perfecta recens rumore Getarum,profecitque opifex decori timor, et vice mira,quam pax intulerat, bello discussa senectuserexit subitas turres cunctosque coëgit535septem continuo colles iuvenescere muro.ipse favens votis solitoque decentior aër,quamvis adsiduo noctem foedaverat imbre,principis et solis radiis detersa removitnubila; namque ideo pluviis turbaverat omnes540ante dies lunamque rudem madefecerat Auster,ut tibi servatum scirent convexa serenum.Omne Palatino quod pons a colle receditMulvius et quantum licuit consurgere tectis,

inter utrumque iugum tortis anfractibus albet.

inde salutato libatis Thybride lymphis520

excipiunt arcus operosaque semita vastis

molibus et quidquid tantae praemittitur urbi.

Ac velut officiis trepidantibus ora puellae

spe propiore tori mater sollertior ornat

adveniente proco vestesque et cingula comit525

saepe manu viridique angustat iaspide pectus

substringitque comam gemmis et colla monili

circuit et bacis onerat candentibus aures:

sic oculis placitura tuis insignior auctis

collibus et nota maior se Roma videndam530

obtulit. addebant pulchrum nova moenia vultum

audito perfecta recens rumore Getarum,

profecitque opifex decori timor, et vice mira,

quam pax intulerat, bello discussa senectus

erexit subitas turres cunctosque coëgit535

septem continuo colles iuvenescere muro.

ipse favens votis solitoque decentior aër,

quamvis adsiduo noctem foedaverat imbre,

principis et solis radiis detersa removit

nubila; namque ideo pluviis turbaverat omnes540

ante dies lunamque rudem madefecerat Auster,

ut tibi servatum scirent convexa serenum.

Omne Palatino quod pons a colle recedit

Mulvius et quantum licuit consurgere tectis,

[113]flowing in tortuous course between opposed mountains through dense forests of holm-oak. Then when in greeting to Father Tiber thou hast poured a libation of his waters thou art welcomed by Rome’s arches and all the magnificent buildings which line the roads of that noble city’s suburbs.And as a careful mother at the approach of her daughter’s lover does all that trembling hand can do to enhance the charms that are to win a husband, oft readjusts dress and girdle, confines her breast with bands of green jasper, gathers up her hair with jewels, sets a necklace about her neck, and hangs glistening pearls from her ears, so Rome, in order to be pleasing in thy sight, offers herself to thy admiring gaze more glorious and with hills made higher and herself greater than thou hadst known her. Still fairer than of old she seemed by reason of those new walls that the rumour of the Getae’s approach had just caused to be built; fear was the architect of that beauteous work and, by a strange freak of fortune, war put an end to the decay that peace had brought. For fear it was that caused the sudden upspringing of all those towers and renewed the youth of Rome’s seven hills by enclosing them all within one long wall. Even the weather listened favourably to our prayers and was finer than its wont, although continuous rain had spoiled the preceding night; but the clouds melted away before the glory of the sun and the emperor. All the days before had the south wind troubled with rain and dimmed the moon’s young disc that heaven might know it was for thee that the sunshine waited.One huge crowd filled all the slope between the Palatine hill and the Mulvian bridge and as far up

[113]

flowing in tortuous course between opposed mountains through dense forests of holm-oak. Then when in greeting to Father Tiber thou hast poured a libation of his waters thou art welcomed by Rome’s arches and all the magnificent buildings which line the roads of that noble city’s suburbs.

And as a careful mother at the approach of her daughter’s lover does all that trembling hand can do to enhance the charms that are to win a husband, oft readjusts dress and girdle, confines her breast with bands of green jasper, gathers up her hair with jewels, sets a necklace about her neck, and hangs glistening pearls from her ears, so Rome, in order to be pleasing in thy sight, offers herself to thy admiring gaze more glorious and with hills made higher and herself greater than thou hadst known her. Still fairer than of old she seemed by reason of those new walls that the rumour of the Getae’s approach had just caused to be built; fear was the architect of that beauteous work and, by a strange freak of fortune, war put an end to the decay that peace had brought. For fear it was that caused the sudden upspringing of all those towers and renewed the youth of Rome’s seven hills by enclosing them all within one long wall. Even the weather listened favourably to our prayers and was finer than its wont, although continuous rain had spoiled the preceding night; but the clouds melted away before the glory of the sun and the emperor. All the days before had the south wind troubled with rain and dimmed the moon’s young disc that heaven might know it was for thee that the sunshine waited.

One huge crowd filled all the slope between the Palatine hill and the Mulvian bridge and as far up

[114]una replet turbae facies: undare videres545ima viris, altas effulgere matribus aedes.exultant iuvenes aequaevi principis annis;temnunt prisca senes et in hunc sibi prospera fatigratantur durasse diem moderataque laudanttempora, quod clemens aditu, quod pectore solus550Romanos vetuit currum praecedere patres:cum tamen Eucherius, cui regius undique sanguis,atque Augusta soror fratri praeberet ovantimilitis obsequium; sic illum dura parentisinstituit pietas in se vel pignora parci555quique neget nato, procerum quod praestat honori.haec sibi curva[40]senum maturaque comprobat aetasidque inter veteris speciem praesentis et aulaeiudicat: hunc civem, dominos venisse priores.Conspicuas tum flore genas, diademate crinem560membraque gemmato trabeae viridantia cinctuet fortes umeros et certatura Lyaeointer Erythraeas surgentia colla smaragdosmirari sine fine nurus; ignaraque virgo,cui simplex calet ore pudor, per singula cernens565nutricem consultat anum: quid fixa draconumora velint? ventis fluitent an vera minentursibila suspensum rapturi faucibus hostem?ut chalybe indutos equites et in aere latentesvidit cornipedes: “quanam de gente” rogabat570“ferrati venere viri? quae terra metallonascentes informat equos? num Lemnius auctor[40]curvaBirt; codd.cura.[115]as it was possible to go on the house roofs; the ground seethed with men, the lofty buildings were aglow with women. Those who are young rejoice in an emperor of their own age, the old cease to belaud the past and count their destiny happy that they have lived to see such a day, blessing the kindly times when a prince so easy of access, so singular in courtesy, forbade the senators of Rome to march before his chariot, even though Eucherius, in whose veins ran regal blood on father’s and on mother’s side, and his own sister did honour to his triumph like simple soldiers. Such has been the teaching of that stern but loving parent who showed no more favour to his children than to himself, and refused a son honours he granted to nobles. Bent age and upstanding youth alike are loud in his praises and, comparing the new with the ancient rule, recognize in Honorius a true citizen, in his predecessors tyrants.The women of Rome never tire of gazing at those blooming cheeks, those crowned locks, those limbs clothed in the consul’s jasper-studded robes, those mighty shoulders, and that neck, beauteous as Bacchus’ own, with its necklace of Red Sea emeralds. Many an innocent maid, while simple modesty blushes in her cheek, would bend her gaze o’er all and inquire of her aged nurse the meaning of the dragons on the colours. “Do they,” she would ask, “but wave in the air or is theirs a veritable hiss, uttered as they are about to seize an enemy in their jaws?” When she sees the mail-clad knights and brazen-armoured horses she would fain know whence that iron race of men is sprung and what land it is gives birth to steeds of bronze. “Has the god of Lemnos,”

[114]

una replet turbae facies: undare videres545ima viris, altas effulgere matribus aedes.exultant iuvenes aequaevi principis annis;temnunt prisca senes et in hunc sibi prospera fatigratantur durasse diem moderataque laudanttempora, quod clemens aditu, quod pectore solus550Romanos vetuit currum praecedere patres:cum tamen Eucherius, cui regius undique sanguis,atque Augusta soror fratri praeberet ovantimilitis obsequium; sic illum dura parentisinstituit pietas in se vel pignora parci555quique neget nato, procerum quod praestat honori.haec sibi curva[40]senum maturaque comprobat aetasidque inter veteris speciem praesentis et aulaeiudicat: hunc civem, dominos venisse priores.Conspicuas tum flore genas, diademate crinem560membraque gemmato trabeae viridantia cinctuet fortes umeros et certatura Lyaeointer Erythraeas surgentia colla smaragdosmirari sine fine nurus; ignaraque virgo,cui simplex calet ore pudor, per singula cernens565nutricem consultat anum: quid fixa draconumora velint? ventis fluitent an vera minentursibila suspensum rapturi faucibus hostem?ut chalybe indutos equites et in aere latentesvidit cornipedes: “quanam de gente” rogabat570“ferrati venere viri? quae terra metallonascentes informat equos? num Lemnius auctor

una replet turbae facies: undare videres545

ima viris, altas effulgere matribus aedes.

exultant iuvenes aequaevi principis annis;

temnunt prisca senes et in hunc sibi prospera fati

gratantur durasse diem moderataque laudant

tempora, quod clemens aditu, quod pectore solus550

Romanos vetuit currum praecedere patres:

cum tamen Eucherius, cui regius undique sanguis,

atque Augusta soror fratri praeberet ovanti

militis obsequium; sic illum dura parentis

instituit pietas in se vel pignora parci555

quique neget nato, procerum quod praestat honori.

haec sibi curva[40]senum maturaque comprobat aetas

idque inter veteris speciem praesentis et aulae

iudicat: hunc civem, dominos venisse priores.

Conspicuas tum flore genas, diademate crinem560

membraque gemmato trabeae viridantia cinctu

et fortes umeros et certatura Lyaeo

inter Erythraeas surgentia colla smaragdos

mirari sine fine nurus; ignaraque virgo,

cui simplex calet ore pudor, per singula cernens565

nutricem consultat anum: quid fixa draconum

ora velint? ventis fluitent an vera minentur

sibila suspensum rapturi faucibus hostem?

ut chalybe indutos equites et in aere latentes

vidit cornipedes: “quanam de gente” rogabat570

“ferrati venere viri? quae terra metallo

nascentes informat equos? num Lemnius auctor

[40]curvaBirt; codd.cura.

[115]as it was possible to go on the house roofs; the ground seethed with men, the lofty buildings were aglow with women. Those who are young rejoice in an emperor of their own age, the old cease to belaud the past and count their destiny happy that they have lived to see such a day, blessing the kindly times when a prince so easy of access, so singular in courtesy, forbade the senators of Rome to march before his chariot, even though Eucherius, in whose veins ran regal blood on father’s and on mother’s side, and his own sister did honour to his triumph like simple soldiers. Such has been the teaching of that stern but loving parent who showed no more favour to his children than to himself, and refused a son honours he granted to nobles. Bent age and upstanding youth alike are loud in his praises and, comparing the new with the ancient rule, recognize in Honorius a true citizen, in his predecessors tyrants.The women of Rome never tire of gazing at those blooming cheeks, those crowned locks, those limbs clothed in the consul’s jasper-studded robes, those mighty shoulders, and that neck, beauteous as Bacchus’ own, with its necklace of Red Sea emeralds. Many an innocent maid, while simple modesty blushes in her cheek, would bend her gaze o’er all and inquire of her aged nurse the meaning of the dragons on the colours. “Do they,” she would ask, “but wave in the air or is theirs a veritable hiss, uttered as they are about to seize an enemy in their jaws?” When she sees the mail-clad knights and brazen-armoured horses she would fain know whence that iron race of men is sprung and what land it is gives birth to steeds of bronze. “Has the god of Lemnos,”

[115]

as it was possible to go on the house roofs; the ground seethed with men, the lofty buildings were aglow with women. Those who are young rejoice in an emperor of their own age, the old cease to belaud the past and count their destiny happy that they have lived to see such a day, blessing the kindly times when a prince so easy of access, so singular in courtesy, forbade the senators of Rome to march before his chariot, even though Eucherius, in whose veins ran regal blood on father’s and on mother’s side, and his own sister did honour to his triumph like simple soldiers. Such has been the teaching of that stern but loving parent who showed no more favour to his children than to himself, and refused a son honours he granted to nobles. Bent age and upstanding youth alike are loud in his praises and, comparing the new with the ancient rule, recognize in Honorius a true citizen, in his predecessors tyrants.

The women of Rome never tire of gazing at those blooming cheeks, those crowned locks, those limbs clothed in the consul’s jasper-studded robes, those mighty shoulders, and that neck, beauteous as Bacchus’ own, with its necklace of Red Sea emeralds. Many an innocent maid, while simple modesty blushes in her cheek, would bend her gaze o’er all and inquire of her aged nurse the meaning of the dragons on the colours. “Do they,” she would ask, “but wave in the air or is theirs a veritable hiss, uttered as they are about to seize an enemy in their jaws?” When she sees the mail-clad knights and brazen-armoured horses she would fain know whence that iron race of men is sprung and what land it is gives birth to steeds of bronze. “Has the god of Lemnos,”

[116]indidit hinnitum ferro simulacraque belliviva dedit?” gaudet metuens et pollice monstrat.quod picturatas galeae Iunonia cristas575ornet avis vel quod rigidos vibrata per armosrubra sub aurato crispentur serica dorso.Tunc tibi magnorum mercem Fortuna laborumpersolvit, Stilicho, curru cum vectus eodemurbe triumphantem generum florente iuventa580conspiceres illumque diem sub corde referres,quo tibi confusa dubiis formidine rebusinfantem genitor moriens commisit alendum.virtutes variae fructus sensere receptos;depositum servasse, fides; constantia, parvum585praefecisse orbi; pietas, fovisse propinquum.hic est ille puer, qui nunc ad rostra Quiritesevocat et solio fultus genitoris eburnogestarum patribus causas ex ordine rerumeventusque refert veterumque exempla secutus590digerit imperii sub iudice facta senatu.nil cumulat verbis quae nil fiducia celat;fucati sermonis opem mens conscia laudisabnuit. agnoscunt proceres; habituque Gabinoprincipis et ducibus circumstipata togatis595iure paludatae iam curia militat aulae.adfuit ipsa suis ales Victoria templisRomanae tutela togae: quae divite pennapatricii reverenda fovet sacraria coetus[117]she would ask, “bestowed on metal the power to neigh, and forged living statues for the fight?” Joy and fear fill her mind; she points with her finger how Juno’s bird decks the gay crests upon their helmets, or how, beneath the golden armour on their horses’ backs, the red silk waves and ripples over the strong shoulders.Then it was, Stilicho, that Fortune repaid thee for the labour of so many years when, mounted in the same chariot, thou sawest thy son-in-law in his prime pass in triumph through the streets of Rome, and didst recall that day when in troubled terror mid uncertain fortune the dying father entrusted his son to thy care. Now thy many virtues have found their meet reward: loyalty that has kept safe that which was confided to it, singleness of purpose that made a boy the master of the world, affection that has bestowed such loving care on an adopted son. This is the boy who to-day summons Rome’s citizens to the place of meeting and from his father’s ivory throne tells to the fathers the causes and the issues of his acts, and, following ancient precedent, directs the deeds of empire at the judgement-seat of the Senate. He piles up no words, for confidence has nothing to conceal; his mind, conscious of true worth, refuses the aid of artificial speech. The senators learn to know him; their chief wears the Gabine[41]garb, and thronged with generals in the rôle of peace the Senate-house prepares for service under the auspices of the warlike court. Winged victory herself, Rome’s faithful guardian, was in her temple;[42]her golden pinions stretched in protection over the holy sanctuary where the fathers meet together, and she herself, a tireless[41]See note on vii. 3.[42]A reference to the statue of Victory in the Senate House. Ambrose had persuaded Gratian to turn it out (A.D.384) but Honorius had had it replaced (cf.xxiii.19 and Paulinus,Vita S. Ambr.viii. § 26).

[116]

indidit hinnitum ferro simulacraque belliviva dedit?” gaudet metuens et pollice monstrat.quod picturatas galeae Iunonia cristas575ornet avis vel quod rigidos vibrata per armosrubra sub aurato crispentur serica dorso.Tunc tibi magnorum mercem Fortuna laborumpersolvit, Stilicho, curru cum vectus eodemurbe triumphantem generum florente iuventa580conspiceres illumque diem sub corde referres,quo tibi confusa dubiis formidine rebusinfantem genitor moriens commisit alendum.virtutes variae fructus sensere receptos;depositum servasse, fides; constantia, parvum585praefecisse orbi; pietas, fovisse propinquum.hic est ille puer, qui nunc ad rostra Quiritesevocat et solio fultus genitoris eburnogestarum patribus causas ex ordine rerumeventusque refert veterumque exempla secutus590digerit imperii sub iudice facta senatu.nil cumulat verbis quae nil fiducia celat;fucati sermonis opem mens conscia laudisabnuit. agnoscunt proceres; habituque Gabinoprincipis et ducibus circumstipata togatis595iure paludatae iam curia militat aulae.adfuit ipsa suis ales Victoria templisRomanae tutela togae: quae divite pennapatricii reverenda fovet sacraria coetus

indidit hinnitum ferro simulacraque belli

viva dedit?” gaudet metuens et pollice monstrat.

quod picturatas galeae Iunonia cristas575

ornet avis vel quod rigidos vibrata per armos

rubra sub aurato crispentur serica dorso.

Tunc tibi magnorum mercem Fortuna laborum

persolvit, Stilicho, curru cum vectus eodem

urbe triumphantem generum florente iuventa580

conspiceres illumque diem sub corde referres,

quo tibi confusa dubiis formidine rebus

infantem genitor moriens commisit alendum.

virtutes variae fructus sensere receptos;

depositum servasse, fides; constantia, parvum585

praefecisse orbi; pietas, fovisse propinquum.

hic est ille puer, qui nunc ad rostra Quirites

evocat et solio fultus genitoris eburno

gestarum patribus causas ex ordine rerum

eventusque refert veterumque exempla secutus590

digerit imperii sub iudice facta senatu.

nil cumulat verbis quae nil fiducia celat;

fucati sermonis opem mens conscia laudis

abnuit. agnoscunt proceres; habituque Gabino

principis et ducibus circumstipata togatis595

iure paludatae iam curia militat aulae.

adfuit ipsa suis ales Victoria templis

Romanae tutela togae: quae divite penna

patricii reverenda fovet sacraria coetus

[117]she would ask, “bestowed on metal the power to neigh, and forged living statues for the fight?” Joy and fear fill her mind; she points with her finger how Juno’s bird decks the gay crests upon their helmets, or how, beneath the golden armour on their horses’ backs, the red silk waves and ripples over the strong shoulders.Then it was, Stilicho, that Fortune repaid thee for the labour of so many years when, mounted in the same chariot, thou sawest thy son-in-law in his prime pass in triumph through the streets of Rome, and didst recall that day when in troubled terror mid uncertain fortune the dying father entrusted his son to thy care. Now thy many virtues have found their meet reward: loyalty that has kept safe that which was confided to it, singleness of purpose that made a boy the master of the world, affection that has bestowed such loving care on an adopted son. This is the boy who to-day summons Rome’s citizens to the place of meeting and from his father’s ivory throne tells to the fathers the causes and the issues of his acts, and, following ancient precedent, directs the deeds of empire at the judgement-seat of the Senate. He piles up no words, for confidence has nothing to conceal; his mind, conscious of true worth, refuses the aid of artificial speech. The senators learn to know him; their chief wears the Gabine[41]garb, and thronged with generals in the rôle of peace the Senate-house prepares for service under the auspices of the warlike court. Winged victory herself, Rome’s faithful guardian, was in her temple;[42]her golden pinions stretched in protection over the holy sanctuary where the fathers meet together, and she herself, a tireless[41]See note on vii. 3.[42]A reference to the statue of Victory in the Senate House. Ambrose had persuaded Gratian to turn it out (A.D.384) but Honorius had had it replaced (cf.xxiii.19 and Paulinus,Vita S. Ambr.viii. § 26).

[117]

she would ask, “bestowed on metal the power to neigh, and forged living statues for the fight?” Joy and fear fill her mind; she points with her finger how Juno’s bird decks the gay crests upon their helmets, or how, beneath the golden armour on their horses’ backs, the red silk waves and ripples over the strong shoulders.

Then it was, Stilicho, that Fortune repaid thee for the labour of so many years when, mounted in the same chariot, thou sawest thy son-in-law in his prime pass in triumph through the streets of Rome, and didst recall that day when in troubled terror mid uncertain fortune the dying father entrusted his son to thy care. Now thy many virtues have found their meet reward: loyalty that has kept safe that which was confided to it, singleness of purpose that made a boy the master of the world, affection that has bestowed such loving care on an adopted son. This is the boy who to-day summons Rome’s citizens to the place of meeting and from his father’s ivory throne tells to the fathers the causes and the issues of his acts, and, following ancient precedent, directs the deeds of empire at the judgement-seat of the Senate. He piles up no words, for confidence has nothing to conceal; his mind, conscious of true worth, refuses the aid of artificial speech. The senators learn to know him; their chief wears the Gabine[41]garb, and thronged with generals in the rôle of peace the Senate-house prepares for service under the auspices of the warlike court. Winged victory herself, Rome’s faithful guardian, was in her temple;[42]her golden pinions stretched in protection over the holy sanctuary where the fathers meet together, and she herself, a tireless

[41]See note on vii. 3.

[42]A reference to the statue of Victory in the Senate House. Ambrose had persuaded Gratian to turn it out (A.D.384) but Honorius had had it replaced (cf.xxiii.19 and Paulinus,Vita S. Ambr.viii. § 26).

[118]castrorumque eadem comes indefessa tuorum600nunc tandem fruitur votis atque omne futurumte Romae seseque tibi promittit in aevum.Hinc te iam patriis laribus via nomine verosacra refert. flagrat studiis concordia vulgi,quam non inlecebris dispersi colligis auri;605nec tibi venales captant aeraria plaususcorruptura fidem: meritis offertur inemptuspura mente favor. nam munere carior omniobstringit sua quemque salus. procul ambitus erret!non quaerit pretium, vitam qui debet amori.610O quantum populo secreti numinis additimperii praesens genius! quantamque rependitmaiestas alterna vicem, cum regia circiconexum gradibus veneratur purpura vulgus,adsensuque cavae sublatus in aethera vallis615plebis adoratae reboat fragor, unaque totisintonat Augustum septenis arcibus Echo!nec solis hic cursus equis: adsueta quadrigiscingunt arva trabes, subitaeque adspectus harenaediffundit Libycos aliena valle cruores.620haec et belligeros exercuit area lusus,armatos haec saepe choros, certaque vaganditextas lege fugas inconfusosque recursuset pulchras errorum artes iucundaque Martiscernimus. insonuit cum verbere signa magister,625[119]attendant on thine armies, now at last has had her wish granted and is able to promise that for all time to come thou shalt be Rome’s guardian and she thine.Hence the Sacred Way (now truly named) brings thee back to thy home. Eagerly breaks out the world’s one-hearted welcome, that thou dost not woo with lure of scattered gold; nor for thee does the treasury, seeking to corrupt good faith, court venal applause; to worth unpurchased love is offered by a pure heart. For life that is dearer than any gift makes all thy debtors. Away with wooing of applause! He can ask no payment who owes his life to love.Oh what mysterious power over the people does the Empire’s guardian-genius bring! What majesty bows to majesty as the prince, clad in imperial scarlet, returns the salutations of the people that crowd the tiers of the Circus! The shouts of the adoring populace rising from that immense circle thunder to the sky, while the echoes of Rome’s seven hills repeat as with one voice the name of Honorius. Nor does the Circus display only horse-races; its floor, whereon chariots were wont to drive, is surrounded by a palisade, and in this new amphitheatre, so far, so different, from their native valleys, Libyan lions shed their blood. This is the scene, too, of a military display; here we often see armed bands advancing and retiring in mazèd movements that are nevertheless executed according to a fixed plan; we watch them wheel in perfect order, extend with disciplined precision, affording us the pleasing spectacle of mimic warfare. The leader cracks his whip and a thousand bodies execute in unison

[118]

castrorumque eadem comes indefessa tuorum600nunc tandem fruitur votis atque omne futurumte Romae seseque tibi promittit in aevum.Hinc te iam patriis laribus via nomine verosacra refert. flagrat studiis concordia vulgi,quam non inlecebris dispersi colligis auri;605nec tibi venales captant aeraria plaususcorruptura fidem: meritis offertur inemptuspura mente favor. nam munere carior omniobstringit sua quemque salus. procul ambitus erret!non quaerit pretium, vitam qui debet amori.610O quantum populo secreti numinis additimperii praesens genius! quantamque rependitmaiestas alterna vicem, cum regia circiconexum gradibus veneratur purpura vulgus,adsensuque cavae sublatus in aethera vallis615plebis adoratae reboat fragor, unaque totisintonat Augustum septenis arcibus Echo!nec solis hic cursus equis: adsueta quadrigiscingunt arva trabes, subitaeque adspectus harenaediffundit Libycos aliena valle cruores.620haec et belligeros exercuit area lusus,armatos haec saepe choros, certaque vaganditextas lege fugas inconfusosque recursuset pulchras errorum artes iucundaque Martiscernimus. insonuit cum verbere signa magister,625

castrorumque eadem comes indefessa tuorum600

nunc tandem fruitur votis atque omne futurum

te Romae seseque tibi promittit in aevum.

Hinc te iam patriis laribus via nomine vero

sacra refert. flagrat studiis concordia vulgi,

quam non inlecebris dispersi colligis auri;605

nec tibi venales captant aeraria plausus

corruptura fidem: meritis offertur inemptus

pura mente favor. nam munere carior omni

obstringit sua quemque salus. procul ambitus erret!

non quaerit pretium, vitam qui debet amori.610

O quantum populo secreti numinis addit

imperii praesens genius! quantamque rependit

maiestas alterna vicem, cum regia circi

conexum gradibus veneratur purpura vulgus,

adsensuque cavae sublatus in aethera vallis615

plebis adoratae reboat fragor, unaque totis

intonat Augustum septenis arcibus Echo!

nec solis hic cursus equis: adsueta quadrigis

cingunt arva trabes, subitaeque adspectus harenae

diffundit Libycos aliena valle cruores.620

haec et belligeros exercuit area lusus,

armatos haec saepe choros, certaque vagandi

textas lege fugas inconfusosque recursus

et pulchras errorum artes iucundaque Martis

cernimus. insonuit cum verbere signa magister,625

[119]attendant on thine armies, now at last has had her wish granted and is able to promise that for all time to come thou shalt be Rome’s guardian and she thine.Hence the Sacred Way (now truly named) brings thee back to thy home. Eagerly breaks out the world’s one-hearted welcome, that thou dost not woo with lure of scattered gold; nor for thee does the treasury, seeking to corrupt good faith, court venal applause; to worth unpurchased love is offered by a pure heart. For life that is dearer than any gift makes all thy debtors. Away with wooing of applause! He can ask no payment who owes his life to love.Oh what mysterious power over the people does the Empire’s guardian-genius bring! What majesty bows to majesty as the prince, clad in imperial scarlet, returns the salutations of the people that crowd the tiers of the Circus! The shouts of the adoring populace rising from that immense circle thunder to the sky, while the echoes of Rome’s seven hills repeat as with one voice the name of Honorius. Nor does the Circus display only horse-races; its floor, whereon chariots were wont to drive, is surrounded by a palisade, and in this new amphitheatre, so far, so different, from their native valleys, Libyan lions shed their blood. This is the scene, too, of a military display; here we often see armed bands advancing and retiring in mazèd movements that are nevertheless executed according to a fixed plan; we watch them wheel in perfect order, extend with disciplined precision, affording us the pleasing spectacle of mimic warfare. The leader cracks his whip and a thousand bodies execute in unison

[119]

attendant on thine armies, now at last has had her wish granted and is able to promise that for all time to come thou shalt be Rome’s guardian and she thine.

Hence the Sacred Way (now truly named) brings thee back to thy home. Eagerly breaks out the world’s one-hearted welcome, that thou dost not woo with lure of scattered gold; nor for thee does the treasury, seeking to corrupt good faith, court venal applause; to worth unpurchased love is offered by a pure heart. For life that is dearer than any gift makes all thy debtors. Away with wooing of applause! He can ask no payment who owes his life to love.

Oh what mysterious power over the people does the Empire’s guardian-genius bring! What majesty bows to majesty as the prince, clad in imperial scarlet, returns the salutations of the people that crowd the tiers of the Circus! The shouts of the adoring populace rising from that immense circle thunder to the sky, while the echoes of Rome’s seven hills repeat as with one voice the name of Honorius. Nor does the Circus display only horse-races; its floor, whereon chariots were wont to drive, is surrounded by a palisade, and in this new amphitheatre, so far, so different, from their native valleys, Libyan lions shed their blood. This is the scene, too, of a military display; here we often see armed bands advancing and retiring in mazèd movements that are nevertheless executed according to a fixed plan; we watch them wheel in perfect order, extend with disciplined precision, affording us the pleasing spectacle of mimic warfare. The leader cracks his whip and a thousand bodies execute in unison

[120]mutatos edunt pariter tot pectora motusin latus adlisis clipeis aut rursus in altumvibratis; grave parma sonat, mucronis acutummurmur, et umbonum pulsu modulante resultansferreus alterno concentus clauditur ense.630una omnis summissa phalanx tantaeque salutantte, princeps, galeae. partitis inde catervisin varios docto discurritur ordine gyros,quos neque semiviri Gortynia tecta iuvenciflumina nec crebro vincant Maeandria flexu.635discreto revoluta gradu torquentur in orbesagmina, perpetuisque inmoto cardine claustrisIanus bella premens laeta sub imagine pugnaearmorum innocuos paci largitur honores.Iamque novum fastis aperit felicibus annum640ore coronatus gemino; iam Thybris in unoet Bruti cernit trabeas et sceptra Quirini.consule laetatur post plurima saecula visoPallanteus apex; agnoscunt rostra curulesauditas quondam proavis, desuetaque cingit645regius auratis fora fascibus Ulpia lictor,et sextas Getica praevelans fronde securescolla triumphati proculcat Honorius Histri.exeat in populos cunctis inlustrior annus,natus fonte suo, quem non aliena per arva650induit hospes honos, cuius cunabula fovitcuria, quem primi tandem videre Quirites,quem domitis auspex peperit Victoria bellis![121]their new movements; now they clap their bucklers to their sides, now they brandish them above their heads; deeply sound the clashing shields, sharply ring the engaging swords, and, to the rhythm of beaten targes, the echoing song of steel is punctuated by the interclash of weapons. Suddenly the whole phalanx falls on its knees before thee and a thousand helmets bow down in reverence. Then the companies separate, wheeling and counter-wheeling with ordered skill, following a course more tortuous than the corridors of the Minotaur’s Cretan palace or the reaches of Meander’s wandering stream. Then wheeling apart they form with circular masses, and Janus,[43]emprisoning war behind his ever unopening doors, after a happy mimicry of battle bestows on peace the innocent rewards of combat.And now, his double head crowned with laurel, Janus opens the new year with auspicious calendar; now Tiber sees united in Honorius Brutus’ consular robe and Romulus’ kingly sceptre. The Palatine hill rejoices after many generations again to look upon a consul; the rostra learn to know the curule chair famed of old among our forefathers, and royal lictors, a long unwonted sight, encircle with their golden fasces the Forum of Trajan; while Honorius, wreathing with Getic laurels the axes borne for the sixth time before him, places a conqueror’s foot upon the neck of subdued Danube. Let this year springing from its true source go forth among the nations more glorious than any—a year the consul inaugurated, not a stranger in a strange land, whose cradle the Senate-house guarded, that Roman citizens first beheld, that Victory, all wars o’ercome, auspiciously[43]Mentioned, no doubt, as symbolical of the New Year.

[120]

mutatos edunt pariter tot pectora motusin latus adlisis clipeis aut rursus in altumvibratis; grave parma sonat, mucronis acutummurmur, et umbonum pulsu modulante resultansferreus alterno concentus clauditur ense.630una omnis summissa phalanx tantaeque salutantte, princeps, galeae. partitis inde catervisin varios docto discurritur ordine gyros,quos neque semiviri Gortynia tecta iuvenciflumina nec crebro vincant Maeandria flexu.635discreto revoluta gradu torquentur in orbesagmina, perpetuisque inmoto cardine claustrisIanus bella premens laeta sub imagine pugnaearmorum innocuos paci largitur honores.Iamque novum fastis aperit felicibus annum640ore coronatus gemino; iam Thybris in unoet Bruti cernit trabeas et sceptra Quirini.consule laetatur post plurima saecula visoPallanteus apex; agnoscunt rostra curulesauditas quondam proavis, desuetaque cingit645regius auratis fora fascibus Ulpia lictor,et sextas Getica praevelans fronde securescolla triumphati proculcat Honorius Histri.exeat in populos cunctis inlustrior annus,natus fonte suo, quem non aliena per arva650induit hospes honos, cuius cunabula fovitcuria, quem primi tandem videre Quirites,quem domitis auspex peperit Victoria bellis!

mutatos edunt pariter tot pectora motus

in latus adlisis clipeis aut rursus in altum

vibratis; grave parma sonat, mucronis acutum

murmur, et umbonum pulsu modulante resultans

ferreus alterno concentus clauditur ense.630

una omnis summissa phalanx tantaeque salutant

te, princeps, galeae. partitis inde catervis

in varios docto discurritur ordine gyros,

quos neque semiviri Gortynia tecta iuvenci

flumina nec crebro vincant Maeandria flexu.635

discreto revoluta gradu torquentur in orbes

agmina, perpetuisque inmoto cardine claustris

Ianus bella premens laeta sub imagine pugnae

armorum innocuos paci largitur honores.

Iamque novum fastis aperit felicibus annum640

ore coronatus gemino; iam Thybris in uno

et Bruti cernit trabeas et sceptra Quirini.

consule laetatur post plurima saecula viso

Pallanteus apex; agnoscunt rostra curules

auditas quondam proavis, desuetaque cingit645

regius auratis fora fascibus Ulpia lictor,

et sextas Getica praevelans fronde secures

colla triumphati proculcat Honorius Histri.

exeat in populos cunctis inlustrior annus,

natus fonte suo, quem non aliena per arva650

induit hospes honos, cuius cunabula fovit

curia, quem primi tandem videre Quirites,

quem domitis auspex peperit Victoria bellis!

[121]their new movements; now they clap their bucklers to their sides, now they brandish them above their heads; deeply sound the clashing shields, sharply ring the engaging swords, and, to the rhythm of beaten targes, the echoing song of steel is punctuated by the interclash of weapons. Suddenly the whole phalanx falls on its knees before thee and a thousand helmets bow down in reverence. Then the companies separate, wheeling and counter-wheeling with ordered skill, following a course more tortuous than the corridors of the Minotaur’s Cretan palace or the reaches of Meander’s wandering stream. Then wheeling apart they form with circular masses, and Janus,[43]emprisoning war behind his ever unopening doors, after a happy mimicry of battle bestows on peace the innocent rewards of combat.And now, his double head crowned with laurel, Janus opens the new year with auspicious calendar; now Tiber sees united in Honorius Brutus’ consular robe and Romulus’ kingly sceptre. The Palatine hill rejoices after many generations again to look upon a consul; the rostra learn to know the curule chair famed of old among our forefathers, and royal lictors, a long unwonted sight, encircle with their golden fasces the Forum of Trajan; while Honorius, wreathing with Getic laurels the axes borne for the sixth time before him, places a conqueror’s foot upon the neck of subdued Danube. Let this year springing from its true source go forth among the nations more glorious than any—a year the consul inaugurated, not a stranger in a strange land, whose cradle the Senate-house guarded, that Roman citizens first beheld, that Victory, all wars o’ercome, auspiciously[43]Mentioned, no doubt, as symbolical of the New Year.

[121]

their new movements; now they clap their bucklers to their sides, now they brandish them above their heads; deeply sound the clashing shields, sharply ring the engaging swords, and, to the rhythm of beaten targes, the echoing song of steel is punctuated by the interclash of weapons. Suddenly the whole phalanx falls on its knees before thee and a thousand helmets bow down in reverence. Then the companies separate, wheeling and counter-wheeling with ordered skill, following a course more tortuous than the corridors of the Minotaur’s Cretan palace or the reaches of Meander’s wandering stream. Then wheeling apart they form with circular masses, and Janus,[43]emprisoning war behind his ever unopening doors, after a happy mimicry of battle bestows on peace the innocent rewards of combat.

And now, his double head crowned with laurel, Janus opens the new year with auspicious calendar; now Tiber sees united in Honorius Brutus’ consular robe and Romulus’ kingly sceptre. The Palatine hill rejoices after many generations again to look upon a consul; the rostra learn to know the curule chair famed of old among our forefathers, and royal lictors, a long unwonted sight, encircle with their golden fasces the Forum of Trajan; while Honorius, wreathing with Getic laurels the axes borne for the sixth time before him, places a conqueror’s foot upon the neck of subdued Danube. Let this year springing from its true source go forth among the nations more glorious than any—a year the consul inaugurated, not a stranger in a strange land, whose cradle the Senate-house guarded, that Roman citizens first beheld, that Victory, all wars o’ercome, auspiciously

[43]Mentioned, no doubt, as symbolical of the New Year.

[122]hunc et privati titulis famulantibus anniet, quos armipotens genitor retroque priores655diversis gessere locis, ceu numen adorent;hunc et quinque tui vel quos habiturus in urbepost alios, Auguste, colant. licet unus in omnesconsul eas, magno sextus tamen iste superbitnomine: praeteritis melior, venientibus auctor.660[123]brought to birth. Years in which mere commoners held the consulship, and ye years when Theodosius and his predecessors graced that office in Rome or elsewhere, count your honours as nought and worship this present year. Ay, you five previous consulships of Honorius, even you that our emperor shall hold in Rome in the days to come, give place to this one. Wert thou, Honorius, to be consul every year, yet is this thy sixth to be magnified above all thy consulships, excelling all that are past and model of all that are to come.

[122]

hunc et privati titulis famulantibus anniet, quos armipotens genitor retroque priores655diversis gessere locis, ceu numen adorent;hunc et quinque tui vel quos habiturus in urbepost alios, Auguste, colant. licet unus in omnesconsul eas, magno sextus tamen iste superbitnomine: praeteritis melior, venientibus auctor.660

hunc et privati titulis famulantibus anni

et, quos armipotens genitor retroque priores655

diversis gessere locis, ceu numen adorent;

hunc et quinque tui vel quos habiturus in urbe

post alios, Auguste, colant. licet unus in omnes

consul eas, magno sextus tamen iste superbit

nomine: praeteritis melior, venientibus auctor.660

[123]brought to birth. Years in which mere commoners held the consulship, and ye years when Theodosius and his predecessors graced that office in Rome or elsewhere, count your honours as nought and worship this present year. Ay, you five previous consulships of Honorius, even you that our emperor shall hold in Rome in the days to come, give place to this one. Wert thou, Honorius, to be consul every year, yet is this thy sixth to be magnified above all thy consulships, excelling all that are past and model of all that are to come.

[123]

brought to birth. Years in which mere commoners held the consulship, and ye years when Theodosius and his predecessors graced that office in Rome or elsewhere, count your honours as nought and worship this present year. Ay, you five previous consulships of Honorius, even you that our emperor shall hold in Rome in the days to come, give place to this one. Wert thou, Honorius, to be consul every year, yet is this thy sixth to be magnified above all thy consulships, excelling all that are past and model of all that are to come.

[124]DE BELLO GOTHICOPRAEFATIO(XXV.)Post resides annos longo velut excita somnoRomanis fruitur nostra Thalia choris.optatos renovant eadem mihi culmina coetus,personat et noto Pythia vate domus:consulis hic fasces cecini Libyamque receptam,5hic mihi prostratis bella canenda Getis.Sed prior effigiem tribuit successus aënam,oraque patricius nostra dicavit honos;adnuit his princeps titulum poscente senatu;respice iudicium quam grave, Musa, subis!10ingenio minuit merces properata favorem:carminibus veniam praemia tanta negant;et magis intento studium censore laborat,quod legimur medio conspicimurque foro.Materies tamen ipsa iuvat solitumque timorem15dicturo magna sedula parte levat.nam mihi conciliat gratas impensius auresvel meritum belli vel Stilichonis amor.[125]THE GOTHIC WARPREFACE(XXV.)After years of sloth my Muse, as if startled from long slumber, rejoices to sing a Roman song to Roman ears. Once more the same halls bring the gathering I longed for, and Apollo’s temple echoes to the voice of a familiar bard. ’Twas here I sang of the consular fasces and of the winning back of Libya and here must I sing of the war that overthrew the Getae.But my former success won for me a brazen statue[44]and the Fathers set up my likeness in my honour; at the Senate’s prayer the Emperor allowed the claim—bethink thee, Muse, how strict a judgement thou dost face! Wit wins less favour when too soon rewarded, and so great a gift refuses indulgence for my song. Now that my name is read and my features are known in the forum my Muse labours for a sterner critic than before.Yet my theme itself brings cheer and, as I begin to speak, eagerly lightens much of my accustomed fear. A gracious and more devoted hearing is secured for me, be it by the war’s deserving or be it by Stilicho’s love.[44]For Claudian’s statue see Introduction, p. xii. For a similar honour conceded to Sidoniuscf.Sid. Apol.Epp.ix. 16. 3;Carm.viii. 8.

[124]

(XXV.)

Post resides annos longo velut excita somnoRomanis fruitur nostra Thalia choris.optatos renovant eadem mihi culmina coetus,personat et noto Pythia vate domus:consulis hic fasces cecini Libyamque receptam,5hic mihi prostratis bella canenda Getis.Sed prior effigiem tribuit successus aënam,oraque patricius nostra dicavit honos;adnuit his princeps titulum poscente senatu;respice iudicium quam grave, Musa, subis!10ingenio minuit merces properata favorem:carminibus veniam praemia tanta negant;et magis intento studium censore laborat,quod legimur medio conspicimurque foro.Materies tamen ipsa iuvat solitumque timorem15dicturo magna sedula parte levat.nam mihi conciliat gratas impensius auresvel meritum belli vel Stilichonis amor.

Post resides annos longo velut excita somno

Romanis fruitur nostra Thalia choris.

optatos renovant eadem mihi culmina coetus,

personat et noto Pythia vate domus:

consulis hic fasces cecini Libyamque receptam,5

hic mihi prostratis bella canenda Getis.

Sed prior effigiem tribuit successus aënam,

oraque patricius nostra dicavit honos;

adnuit his princeps titulum poscente senatu;

respice iudicium quam grave, Musa, subis!10

ingenio minuit merces properata favorem:

carminibus veniam praemia tanta negant;

et magis intento studium censore laborat,

quod legimur medio conspicimurque foro.

Materies tamen ipsa iuvat solitumque timorem15

dicturo magna sedula parte levat.

nam mihi conciliat gratas impensius aures

vel meritum belli vel Stilichonis amor.

[125]THE GOTHIC WARPREFACE(XXV.)After years of sloth my Muse, as if startled from long slumber, rejoices to sing a Roman song to Roman ears. Once more the same halls bring the gathering I longed for, and Apollo’s temple echoes to the voice of a familiar bard. ’Twas here I sang of the consular fasces and of the winning back of Libya and here must I sing of the war that overthrew the Getae.But my former success won for me a brazen statue[44]and the Fathers set up my likeness in my honour; at the Senate’s prayer the Emperor allowed the claim—bethink thee, Muse, how strict a judgement thou dost face! Wit wins less favour when too soon rewarded, and so great a gift refuses indulgence for my song. Now that my name is read and my features are known in the forum my Muse labours for a sterner critic than before.Yet my theme itself brings cheer and, as I begin to speak, eagerly lightens much of my accustomed fear. A gracious and more devoted hearing is secured for me, be it by the war’s deserving or be it by Stilicho’s love.[44]For Claudian’s statue see Introduction, p. xii. For a similar honour conceded to Sidoniuscf.Sid. Apol.Epp.ix. 16. 3;Carm.viii. 8.

[125]

(XXV.)

After years of sloth my Muse, as if startled from long slumber, rejoices to sing a Roman song to Roman ears. Once more the same halls bring the gathering I longed for, and Apollo’s temple echoes to the voice of a familiar bard. ’Twas here I sang of the consular fasces and of the winning back of Libya and here must I sing of the war that overthrew the Getae.

But my former success won for me a brazen statue[44]and the Fathers set up my likeness in my honour; at the Senate’s prayer the Emperor allowed the claim—bethink thee, Muse, how strict a judgement thou dost face! Wit wins less favour when too soon rewarded, and so great a gift refuses indulgence for my song. Now that my name is read and my features are known in the forum my Muse labours for a sterner critic than before.

Yet my theme itself brings cheer and, as I begin to speak, eagerly lightens much of my accustomed fear. A gracious and more devoted hearing is secured for me, be it by the war’s deserving or be it by Stilicho’s love.

[44]For Claudian’s statue see Introduction, p. xii. For a similar honour conceded to Sidoniuscf.Sid. Apol.Epp.ix. 16. 3;Carm.viii. 8.

[126](XXVI.)Intacti cum claustra freti, coëuntibus aequorarmatum scopulis, audax inrumperet ArgoAeetam Colchosque petens, propiore pericloomnibus attonitis, solus post numina Tiphysincolumem tenui damno servasse carinam5fertur et ancipitem montis vitasse ruinamdeceptoque vagae concursu rupis in altumvictricem duxisse ratem; stupuere superbaearte viri domitae Symplegades et nova passaeiura soli cunctis faciles iam puppibus haerent,10ut vinci didicere semel. quodsi ardua Tiphynnavis ob innocuae meritum sic gloria vexit,quae tibi pro tanti pulso discrimine regnisufficient laudes, Stilicho? licet omnia vatesin maius celebrata ferant ipsamque secandis15Argois trabibus iactent sudasse Minervamnec nemoris muti iunxisse carentia sensurobora, sed caeso Tomari Iovis augure lucoarbore praesaga tabulas animasse loquaces.plurima sed quamvis variis miracula monstris20ingeminent, teneras victuri carmine mentes,[127](XXVI.)When the intrepid Argo, passing between the clashing rocks that guarded its entrance, burst through the portals of the unfurrowed sea making for Colchis where Aeëtes ruled, it is said that, when all were panic-stricken by the nearing danger, Tiphys alone—with heaven’s help—kept safe the almost uninjured bark. ’Twas thanks to him that the Argo escaped the cliffs threatening ruin and came out victorious into the open sea, cunningly eluding the meeting shock of the floating rocks. Amazed were the proud Symplegades thus subdued by the hero’s skill, and, submitting to the novel laws of the fixed earth, offer unmoved an easy passage to all ships since once they have learned defeat. But if the merit of saving a single vessel from ruin won, and rightly won, for Tiphys such meed of honour, what praises shall suffice for thee, Stilicho, who hast freed so great an empire from destruction? Poets may exaggerate the story; they may boast that Minerva toiled with her own hands to hew the Argo’s beams, and that she fitted together no senseless timber from a dumb forest, but felled the augural grove of Tomarian[45]Jove and with those prophetic trees quickened its planks to speech. But though they burden their recital with the story of countless prodigies to captivate the mind of the unlettered[45]A reference to the “talking oaks” of Dodona, Tomarus (or Tmarus) being a mountain in Epirus near Dodona.

[126]

(XXVI.)

Intacti cum claustra freti, coëuntibus aequorarmatum scopulis, audax inrumperet ArgoAeetam Colchosque petens, propiore pericloomnibus attonitis, solus post numina Tiphysincolumem tenui damno servasse carinam5fertur et ancipitem montis vitasse ruinamdeceptoque vagae concursu rupis in altumvictricem duxisse ratem; stupuere superbaearte viri domitae Symplegades et nova passaeiura soli cunctis faciles iam puppibus haerent,10ut vinci didicere semel. quodsi ardua Tiphynnavis ob innocuae meritum sic gloria vexit,quae tibi pro tanti pulso discrimine regnisufficient laudes, Stilicho? licet omnia vatesin maius celebrata ferant ipsamque secandis15Argois trabibus iactent sudasse Minervamnec nemoris muti iunxisse carentia sensurobora, sed caeso Tomari Iovis augure lucoarbore praesaga tabulas animasse loquaces.plurima sed quamvis variis miracula monstris20ingeminent, teneras victuri carmine mentes,

Intacti cum claustra freti, coëuntibus aequor

armatum scopulis, audax inrumperet Argo

Aeetam Colchosque petens, propiore periclo

omnibus attonitis, solus post numina Tiphys

incolumem tenui damno servasse carinam5

fertur et ancipitem montis vitasse ruinam

deceptoque vagae concursu rupis in altum

victricem duxisse ratem; stupuere superbae

arte viri domitae Symplegades et nova passae

iura soli cunctis faciles iam puppibus haerent,10

ut vinci didicere semel. quodsi ardua Tiphyn

navis ob innocuae meritum sic gloria vexit,

quae tibi pro tanti pulso discrimine regni

sufficient laudes, Stilicho? licet omnia vates

in maius celebrata ferant ipsamque secandis15

Argois trabibus iactent sudasse Minervam

nec nemoris muti iunxisse carentia sensu

robora, sed caeso Tomari Iovis augure luco

arbore praesaga tabulas animasse loquaces.

plurima sed quamvis variis miracula monstris20

ingeminent, teneras victuri carmine mentes,

[127](XXVI.)When the intrepid Argo, passing between the clashing rocks that guarded its entrance, burst through the portals of the unfurrowed sea making for Colchis where Aeëtes ruled, it is said that, when all were panic-stricken by the nearing danger, Tiphys alone—with heaven’s help—kept safe the almost uninjured bark. ’Twas thanks to him that the Argo escaped the cliffs threatening ruin and came out victorious into the open sea, cunningly eluding the meeting shock of the floating rocks. Amazed were the proud Symplegades thus subdued by the hero’s skill, and, submitting to the novel laws of the fixed earth, offer unmoved an easy passage to all ships since once they have learned defeat. But if the merit of saving a single vessel from ruin won, and rightly won, for Tiphys such meed of honour, what praises shall suffice for thee, Stilicho, who hast freed so great an empire from destruction? Poets may exaggerate the story; they may boast that Minerva toiled with her own hands to hew the Argo’s beams, and that she fitted together no senseless timber from a dumb forest, but felled the augural grove of Tomarian[45]Jove and with those prophetic trees quickened its planks to speech. But though they burden their recital with the story of countless prodigies to captivate the mind of the unlettered[45]A reference to the “talking oaks” of Dodona, Tomarus (or Tmarus) being a mountain in Epirus near Dodona.

[127]

(XXVI.)

When the intrepid Argo, passing between the clashing rocks that guarded its entrance, burst through the portals of the unfurrowed sea making for Colchis where Aeëtes ruled, it is said that, when all were panic-stricken by the nearing danger, Tiphys alone—with heaven’s help—kept safe the almost uninjured bark. ’Twas thanks to him that the Argo escaped the cliffs threatening ruin and came out victorious into the open sea, cunningly eluding the meeting shock of the floating rocks. Amazed were the proud Symplegades thus subdued by the hero’s skill, and, submitting to the novel laws of the fixed earth, offer unmoved an easy passage to all ships since once they have learned defeat. But if the merit of saving a single vessel from ruin won, and rightly won, for Tiphys such meed of honour, what praises shall suffice for thee, Stilicho, who hast freed so great an empire from destruction? Poets may exaggerate the story; they may boast that Minerva toiled with her own hands to hew the Argo’s beams, and that she fitted together no senseless timber from a dumb forest, but felled the augural grove of Tomarian[45]Jove and with those prophetic trees quickened its planks to speech. But though they burden their recital with the story of countless prodigies to captivate the mind of the unlettered

[45]A reference to the “talking oaks” of Dodona, Tomarus (or Tmarus) being a mountain in Epirus near Dodona.

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