PANEGYRICUS DE SEXTO CONSULATU HONORII AUGUSTI

[52]non oblita sui servilibus exulat arvis,in proprium sed ducta larem victricia redditfata solo fruiturque iterum, quibus haeserat olim,auspiciis capitique errantia membra reponit.Proxime dis consul, tantae qui prospicis urbi,130qua nihil in terris complectitur altius aether,cuius nec spatium visus nec corda decoremnec laudem vox ulla capit; quae luce metalliaemula vicinis fastigia conserit astris;quae septem scopulis zonas imitatur Olympi;135armorum legumque parens quae fundit in omnesimperium primique dedit cunabula iuris.haec est exiguis quae finibus orta tetenditin geminos axes parvaque a sede profectadispersit cum sole manus. haec obvia fatis140innumeras uno gereret cum tempore pugnas,Hispanas caperet, Siculas obsideret urbeset Gallum terris prosterneret, aequore Poenum,numquam succubuit damnis et territa nullovulnere post Cannas maior Trebiamque fremebat145et, cum iam premerent flammae murumque ferirethostis, in extremos aciem mittebat Hiberosnec stetit Oceano remisque ingressa profundumvincendos alio quaesivit in orbe Britannos.haec est in gremium victos quae sola recepit150humanumque genus communi nomine fovitmatris, non dominae ritu, civesque vocavitquos domuit nexuque pio longinqua revinxit.[53]of itself, is exiled in lands of servitude but, returned to its rightful home, restores to Italy its victorious destiny, enjoys the promised auspices of its foundation and gives back its scattered limbs to the head of the empire.Consul, all but peer of the gods, protector of a city greater than any that upon earth the air encompasseth, whose amplitude no eye can measure, whose beauty no imagination can picture, whose praise no voice can sound, who raises a golden head amid the neighbouring stars and with her seven hills imitates the seven regions of heaven, mother of arms and of law, who extends her sway o’er all the earth and was the earliest cradle of justice, this is the city which, sprung from humble beginnings, has stretched to either pole, and from one small place extended its power so as to be co-terminous with the sun’s light. Open to the blows of fate while at one and the same time she fought a thousand battles, conquered Spain, laid siege to the cities of Sicily, subdued Gaul by land and Carthage by sea, never did she yield to her losses nor show fear at any blow, but rose to greater heights of courage after the disasters of Cannae and Trebia, and, while the enemy’s fire threatened her, and her foe[15]smote upon her walls, sent an army against the furthest Iberians. Nor did Ocean bar her way; launching upon the deep, she sought in another world for Britons to be vanquished. ’Tis she alone who has received the conquered into her bosom and like a mother, not an empress, protected the human race with a common name, summoning those whom she has defeated to share her citizenship and drawing together distant races with bonds of[15]Hannibal.

[52]

non oblita sui servilibus exulat arvis,in proprium sed ducta larem victricia redditfata solo fruiturque iterum, quibus haeserat olim,auspiciis capitique errantia membra reponit.Proxime dis consul, tantae qui prospicis urbi,130qua nihil in terris complectitur altius aether,cuius nec spatium visus nec corda decoremnec laudem vox ulla capit; quae luce metalliaemula vicinis fastigia conserit astris;quae septem scopulis zonas imitatur Olympi;135armorum legumque parens quae fundit in omnesimperium primique dedit cunabula iuris.haec est exiguis quae finibus orta tetenditin geminos axes parvaque a sede profectadispersit cum sole manus. haec obvia fatis140innumeras uno gereret cum tempore pugnas,Hispanas caperet, Siculas obsideret urbeset Gallum terris prosterneret, aequore Poenum,numquam succubuit damnis et territa nullovulnere post Cannas maior Trebiamque fremebat145et, cum iam premerent flammae murumque ferirethostis, in extremos aciem mittebat Hiberosnec stetit Oceano remisque ingressa profundumvincendos alio quaesivit in orbe Britannos.haec est in gremium victos quae sola recepit150humanumque genus communi nomine fovitmatris, non dominae ritu, civesque vocavitquos domuit nexuque pio longinqua revinxit.

non oblita sui servilibus exulat arvis,

in proprium sed ducta larem victricia reddit

fata solo fruiturque iterum, quibus haeserat olim,

auspiciis capitique errantia membra reponit.

Proxime dis consul, tantae qui prospicis urbi,130

qua nihil in terris complectitur altius aether,

cuius nec spatium visus nec corda decorem

nec laudem vox ulla capit; quae luce metalli

aemula vicinis fastigia conserit astris;

quae septem scopulis zonas imitatur Olympi;135

armorum legumque parens quae fundit in omnes

imperium primique dedit cunabula iuris.

haec est exiguis quae finibus orta tetendit

in geminos axes parvaque a sede profecta

dispersit cum sole manus. haec obvia fatis140

innumeras uno gereret cum tempore pugnas,

Hispanas caperet, Siculas obsideret urbes

et Gallum terris prosterneret, aequore Poenum,

numquam succubuit damnis et territa nullo

vulnere post Cannas maior Trebiamque fremebat145

et, cum iam premerent flammae murumque feriret

hostis, in extremos aciem mittebat Hiberos

nec stetit Oceano remisque ingressa profundum

vincendos alio quaesivit in orbe Britannos.

haec est in gremium victos quae sola recepit150

humanumque genus communi nomine fovit

matris, non dominae ritu, civesque vocavit

quos domuit nexuque pio longinqua revinxit.

[53]of itself, is exiled in lands of servitude but, returned to its rightful home, restores to Italy its victorious destiny, enjoys the promised auspices of its foundation and gives back its scattered limbs to the head of the empire.Consul, all but peer of the gods, protector of a city greater than any that upon earth the air encompasseth, whose amplitude no eye can measure, whose beauty no imagination can picture, whose praise no voice can sound, who raises a golden head amid the neighbouring stars and with her seven hills imitates the seven regions of heaven, mother of arms and of law, who extends her sway o’er all the earth and was the earliest cradle of justice, this is the city which, sprung from humble beginnings, has stretched to either pole, and from one small place extended its power so as to be co-terminous with the sun’s light. Open to the blows of fate while at one and the same time she fought a thousand battles, conquered Spain, laid siege to the cities of Sicily, subdued Gaul by land and Carthage by sea, never did she yield to her losses nor show fear at any blow, but rose to greater heights of courage after the disasters of Cannae and Trebia, and, while the enemy’s fire threatened her, and her foe[15]smote upon her walls, sent an army against the furthest Iberians. Nor did Ocean bar her way; launching upon the deep, she sought in another world for Britons to be vanquished. ’Tis she alone who has received the conquered into her bosom and like a mother, not an empress, protected the human race with a common name, summoning those whom she has defeated to share her citizenship and drawing together distant races with bonds of[15]Hannibal.

[53]

of itself, is exiled in lands of servitude but, returned to its rightful home, restores to Italy its victorious destiny, enjoys the promised auspices of its foundation and gives back its scattered limbs to the head of the empire.

Consul, all but peer of the gods, protector of a city greater than any that upon earth the air encompasseth, whose amplitude no eye can measure, whose beauty no imagination can picture, whose praise no voice can sound, who raises a golden head amid the neighbouring stars and with her seven hills imitates the seven regions of heaven, mother of arms and of law, who extends her sway o’er all the earth and was the earliest cradle of justice, this is the city which, sprung from humble beginnings, has stretched to either pole, and from one small place extended its power so as to be co-terminous with the sun’s light. Open to the blows of fate while at one and the same time she fought a thousand battles, conquered Spain, laid siege to the cities of Sicily, subdued Gaul by land and Carthage by sea, never did she yield to her losses nor show fear at any blow, but rose to greater heights of courage after the disasters of Cannae and Trebia, and, while the enemy’s fire threatened her, and her foe[15]smote upon her walls, sent an army against the furthest Iberians. Nor did Ocean bar her way; launching upon the deep, she sought in another world for Britons to be vanquished. ’Tis she alone who has received the conquered into her bosom and like a mother, not an empress, protected the human race with a common name, summoning those whom she has defeated to share her citizenship and drawing together distant races with bonds of

[15]Hannibal.

[54]huius pacificis debemus moribus omnes,quod veluti patriis regionibus utitur hospes;155quod sedem mutare licet; quod cernere Thylenlusus et horrendos quondam penetrare recessus;quod bibimus passim Rhodanum, potamus Orontem;quod cuncti gens una sumus. nec terminus umquamRomanae dicionis erit, nam cetera regna160luxuries vitiis odiisque superbia vertit:sic male sublimes fregit Spartanus Athenasatque idem Thebis cecidit; sic Medus ademitAssyrio Medoque tulit moderamina Perses;subiecit Persen Macedo, cessurus et ipse165Romanis. haec auguriis firmata Sibyllae,haec sacris animata Numae. huic[16]fulmina vibratIuppiter; hanc tota Tritonia Gorgone velat.arcanas huc Vesta faces, huc orgia Bacchustranstulit et Phrygios genetrix turrita leones;170huc defensurus morbos Epidaurius hospesreptavit placido tractu, vectumque per undasinsula Paeonium texit Tiberina draconem.Hanc tu cum superis, Stilicho praeclare, tueris,protegis hanc clipeo patriam regumque ducumque175praecipueque tuam. dedit haec exordia lucisEucherio puerumque ferens hic regia materAugusto monstravit avo; laetatus at illesustulit in Tyria reptantem veste nepotem,Romaque venturi gaudebat praescia fati,180quod te iam tanto meruisset pignore civem.Nec tamen ingratum nec, qui benefacta referre[16]Birt keeps thehincof the betterMSS., comparing xxvi. 509 seu caelum seu Roma tonat;huicς.[55]affection. To her rule of peace we owe it that the world is our home, that we can live where we please, and that to visit Thule and explore its once dreaded wilds is but a sport; thanks to her all and sundry may drink the waters of the Rhone and quaff Orontes’ stream, thanks to her we are all one people. Nor will there ever be a limit to the empire of Rome, for luxury and its attendant vices, and pride with sequent hate have brought to ruin all kingdoms else. ’Twas thus that Sparta laid low the foolish pride of Athens but to fall herself a victim to Thebes; thus that the Mede deprived the Assyrian of empire and the Persian the Mede. Macedonia subdued Persia and was herself to yield to Rome. But Rome found her strength in the oracles of the Sibyl, her vigour in the hallowed laws of Numa. For her Jove brandishes his thunderbolts; ’tis she to whom Minerva offers the full protection of her shield; to her Vesta brought her sacred flame, Bacchus his rites, and the turret-crowned mother of the gods her Phrygian lions. Hither to keep disease at bay came, gliding with steady motion, the snake whose home was Epidaurus, and Tiber’s isle gave shelter to the Paeonian[17]serpent from beyond the sea.This is the city whom thou, Stilicho, and heaven guard, her thou protectest, mother of kings and generals, mother, above all, of thee. Here Eucherius first beheld the light, here the queen his mother showed the babe to his imperial grandsire who rejoiced to lift a grandson upon his knee and to let him crawl upon his purple robes. Rome had foreknowledge of his destined glory and was glad, for so dear a pledge would keep thee ever her faithful citizen.But think not this people ungrateful nor such as[17]i.e.Aesculapius. “Paeonian” from the Greek Παιών, the Healer.

[54]

huius pacificis debemus moribus omnes,quod veluti patriis regionibus utitur hospes;155quod sedem mutare licet; quod cernere Thylenlusus et horrendos quondam penetrare recessus;quod bibimus passim Rhodanum, potamus Orontem;quod cuncti gens una sumus. nec terminus umquamRomanae dicionis erit, nam cetera regna160luxuries vitiis odiisque superbia vertit:sic male sublimes fregit Spartanus Athenasatque idem Thebis cecidit; sic Medus ademitAssyrio Medoque tulit moderamina Perses;subiecit Persen Macedo, cessurus et ipse165Romanis. haec auguriis firmata Sibyllae,haec sacris animata Numae. huic[16]fulmina vibratIuppiter; hanc tota Tritonia Gorgone velat.arcanas huc Vesta faces, huc orgia Bacchustranstulit et Phrygios genetrix turrita leones;170huc defensurus morbos Epidaurius hospesreptavit placido tractu, vectumque per undasinsula Paeonium texit Tiberina draconem.Hanc tu cum superis, Stilicho praeclare, tueris,protegis hanc clipeo patriam regumque ducumque175praecipueque tuam. dedit haec exordia lucisEucherio puerumque ferens hic regia materAugusto monstravit avo; laetatus at illesustulit in Tyria reptantem veste nepotem,Romaque venturi gaudebat praescia fati,180quod te iam tanto meruisset pignore civem.Nec tamen ingratum nec, qui benefacta referre

huius pacificis debemus moribus omnes,

quod veluti patriis regionibus utitur hospes;155

quod sedem mutare licet; quod cernere Thylen

lusus et horrendos quondam penetrare recessus;

quod bibimus passim Rhodanum, potamus Orontem;

quod cuncti gens una sumus. nec terminus umquam

Romanae dicionis erit, nam cetera regna160

luxuries vitiis odiisque superbia vertit:

sic male sublimes fregit Spartanus Athenas

atque idem Thebis cecidit; sic Medus ademit

Assyrio Medoque tulit moderamina Perses;

subiecit Persen Macedo, cessurus et ipse165

Romanis. haec auguriis firmata Sibyllae,

haec sacris animata Numae. huic[16]fulmina vibrat

Iuppiter; hanc tota Tritonia Gorgone velat.

arcanas huc Vesta faces, huc orgia Bacchus

transtulit et Phrygios genetrix turrita leones;170

huc defensurus morbos Epidaurius hospes

reptavit placido tractu, vectumque per undas

insula Paeonium texit Tiberina draconem.

Hanc tu cum superis, Stilicho praeclare, tueris,

protegis hanc clipeo patriam regumque ducumque175

praecipueque tuam. dedit haec exordia lucis

Eucherio puerumque ferens hic regia mater

Augusto monstravit avo; laetatus at ille

sustulit in Tyria reptantem veste nepotem,

Romaque venturi gaudebat praescia fati,180

quod te iam tanto meruisset pignore civem.

Nec tamen ingratum nec, qui benefacta referre

[16]Birt keeps thehincof the betterMSS., comparing xxvi. 509 seu caelum seu Roma tonat;huicς.

[55]affection. To her rule of peace we owe it that the world is our home, that we can live where we please, and that to visit Thule and explore its once dreaded wilds is but a sport; thanks to her all and sundry may drink the waters of the Rhone and quaff Orontes’ stream, thanks to her we are all one people. Nor will there ever be a limit to the empire of Rome, for luxury and its attendant vices, and pride with sequent hate have brought to ruin all kingdoms else. ’Twas thus that Sparta laid low the foolish pride of Athens but to fall herself a victim to Thebes; thus that the Mede deprived the Assyrian of empire and the Persian the Mede. Macedonia subdued Persia and was herself to yield to Rome. But Rome found her strength in the oracles of the Sibyl, her vigour in the hallowed laws of Numa. For her Jove brandishes his thunderbolts; ’tis she to whom Minerva offers the full protection of her shield; to her Vesta brought her sacred flame, Bacchus his rites, and the turret-crowned mother of the gods her Phrygian lions. Hither to keep disease at bay came, gliding with steady motion, the snake whose home was Epidaurus, and Tiber’s isle gave shelter to the Paeonian[17]serpent from beyond the sea.This is the city whom thou, Stilicho, and heaven guard, her thou protectest, mother of kings and generals, mother, above all, of thee. Here Eucherius first beheld the light, here the queen his mother showed the babe to his imperial grandsire who rejoiced to lift a grandson upon his knee and to let him crawl upon his purple robes. Rome had foreknowledge of his destined glory and was glad, for so dear a pledge would keep thee ever her faithful citizen.But think not this people ungrateful nor such as[17]i.e.Aesculapius. “Paeonian” from the Greek Παιών, the Healer.

[55]

affection. To her rule of peace we owe it that the world is our home, that we can live where we please, and that to visit Thule and explore its once dreaded wilds is but a sport; thanks to her all and sundry may drink the waters of the Rhone and quaff Orontes’ stream, thanks to her we are all one people. Nor will there ever be a limit to the empire of Rome, for luxury and its attendant vices, and pride with sequent hate have brought to ruin all kingdoms else. ’Twas thus that Sparta laid low the foolish pride of Athens but to fall herself a victim to Thebes; thus that the Mede deprived the Assyrian of empire and the Persian the Mede. Macedonia subdued Persia and was herself to yield to Rome. But Rome found her strength in the oracles of the Sibyl, her vigour in the hallowed laws of Numa. For her Jove brandishes his thunderbolts; ’tis she to whom Minerva offers the full protection of her shield; to her Vesta brought her sacred flame, Bacchus his rites, and the turret-crowned mother of the gods her Phrygian lions. Hither to keep disease at bay came, gliding with steady motion, the snake whose home was Epidaurus, and Tiber’s isle gave shelter to the Paeonian[17]serpent from beyond the sea.

This is the city whom thou, Stilicho, and heaven guard, her thou protectest, mother of kings and generals, mother, above all, of thee. Here Eucherius first beheld the light, here the queen his mother showed the babe to his imperial grandsire who rejoiced to lift a grandson upon his knee and to let him crawl upon his purple robes. Rome had foreknowledge of his destined glory and was glad, for so dear a pledge would keep thee ever her faithful citizen.

But think not this people ungrateful nor such as

[17]i.e.Aesculapius. “Paeonian” from the Greek Παιών, the Healer.

[56]nesciat, hunc credas populum. si volvere priscosannales libeat: quotiens hic proelia sumpsitpro sociis! quotiens dono concessit amicis185regibus Ausonio quaesitas sanguine terras!publica sed numquam tanto se gratia fuditadsensu: quis enim princeps non omnibus egitobsequiis dominum sese patremque vocari,quod tibi continuis resonant convexa diebus?190macte novis consul titulis! Mavortia plebeste dominum Bruto non indignante fateturet, quod adhuc nullo potuit terrore coactalibertas Romana pati, Stilichonis amoridetulit. exultant avidi, quocumque decorus195conspiciare loco, nomenque ad sidera tolluntnec vaga dilecto satiantur lumina vultu:seu circum trabeis fulgentibus aureus intres,seu celebres ludos, solio seu fultus eburnocingas iure forum, denso seu turbine vulgi200circumfusa tuae conscendant rostra secures.Quae vero procerum voces, quam certa fueregaudia, cum totis exurgens ardua pennisipsa duci sacras Victoria panderet aedes!o palma viridi gaudens et amica tropaeis205custos imperii virgo, quae sola mederisvulneribus nullumque doces sentire laborem,seu tibi Dictaeae placuerunt astra Coronaeseu magis aestivo sedes vicina Leoni,seu sceptrum sublime Iovis seu Palladis ambis210aegida, seu fessi mulces suspiria Martis,adsis perpetuum Latio votisque senatusadnue, diva, tui. Stilicho tua saepius ornet[57]knows not how to repay benefits. Turn but the pages of history and thou wilt find how often it has faced war for an ally’s sake, how often bestowed as a gift on friendly monarchs lands won at the expense of Italian blood. Yet never were public thanks poured forth with such consent. For what prince has not sought with every blandishment to be called lord and father—titles which the amphitheatres echo back to thee day after day? Hail, consul, to thy new titles! Mars’ people calls thee lord and Brutus gainsays them not; what till now no terror could compel Rome’s free citizens to endure, they freely offered to their love for Stilicho. Wheresoever thy shining form is seen they haste to greet thee and raise to heaven thy name; nor is their wandering gaze ever sated with looking upon thee whom they love when thou enterest the Circus in thy shining robes of gold or art present at the games or, seated on thine ivory throne, dispensest justice in the forum or, with thine attendant lictors, mountest the rostrum thronged with the dense and surging crowd.But what were the acclamations of the great, how unfeigned their rejoicings when Victory, soaring aloft with outspread wings, herself threw open her holy temple to the hero? Maiden that lovest the green bay, thou that art decked in robes of triumph, guardian of our empire, sole healer of our wounds, that makest our toils as though they were not, whether it pleaseth thee to dwell amid the stars of Ariadne’s crown or nearer to the fervid Lion, whether thou art seated on the lofty sceptre of Jove or Pallas’ shield or calmest the sighs of weary Mars, be ever present to Latium and grant, goddess, the prayers of thy senate. May Stilicho often crown thy portals

[56]

nesciat, hunc credas populum. si volvere priscosannales libeat: quotiens hic proelia sumpsitpro sociis! quotiens dono concessit amicis185regibus Ausonio quaesitas sanguine terras!publica sed numquam tanto se gratia fuditadsensu: quis enim princeps non omnibus egitobsequiis dominum sese patremque vocari,quod tibi continuis resonant convexa diebus?190macte novis consul titulis! Mavortia plebeste dominum Bruto non indignante fateturet, quod adhuc nullo potuit terrore coactalibertas Romana pati, Stilichonis amoridetulit. exultant avidi, quocumque decorus195conspiciare loco, nomenque ad sidera tolluntnec vaga dilecto satiantur lumina vultu:seu circum trabeis fulgentibus aureus intres,seu celebres ludos, solio seu fultus eburnocingas iure forum, denso seu turbine vulgi200circumfusa tuae conscendant rostra secures.Quae vero procerum voces, quam certa fueregaudia, cum totis exurgens ardua pennisipsa duci sacras Victoria panderet aedes!o palma viridi gaudens et amica tropaeis205custos imperii virgo, quae sola mederisvulneribus nullumque doces sentire laborem,seu tibi Dictaeae placuerunt astra Coronaeseu magis aestivo sedes vicina Leoni,seu sceptrum sublime Iovis seu Palladis ambis210aegida, seu fessi mulces suspiria Martis,adsis perpetuum Latio votisque senatusadnue, diva, tui. Stilicho tua saepius ornet

nesciat, hunc credas populum. si volvere priscos

annales libeat: quotiens hic proelia sumpsit

pro sociis! quotiens dono concessit amicis185

regibus Ausonio quaesitas sanguine terras!

publica sed numquam tanto se gratia fudit

adsensu: quis enim princeps non omnibus egit

obsequiis dominum sese patremque vocari,

quod tibi continuis resonant convexa diebus?190

macte novis consul titulis! Mavortia plebes

te dominum Bruto non indignante fatetur

et, quod adhuc nullo potuit terrore coacta

libertas Romana pati, Stilichonis amori

detulit. exultant avidi, quocumque decorus195

conspiciare loco, nomenque ad sidera tollunt

nec vaga dilecto satiantur lumina vultu:

seu circum trabeis fulgentibus aureus intres,

seu celebres ludos, solio seu fultus eburno

cingas iure forum, denso seu turbine vulgi200

circumfusa tuae conscendant rostra secures.

Quae vero procerum voces, quam certa fuere

gaudia, cum totis exurgens ardua pennis

ipsa duci sacras Victoria panderet aedes!

o palma viridi gaudens et amica tropaeis205

custos imperii virgo, quae sola mederis

vulneribus nullumque doces sentire laborem,

seu tibi Dictaeae placuerunt astra Coronae

seu magis aestivo sedes vicina Leoni,

seu sceptrum sublime Iovis seu Palladis ambis210

aegida, seu fessi mulces suspiria Martis,

adsis perpetuum Latio votisque senatus

adnue, diva, tui. Stilicho tua saepius ornet

[57]knows not how to repay benefits. Turn but the pages of history and thou wilt find how often it has faced war for an ally’s sake, how often bestowed as a gift on friendly monarchs lands won at the expense of Italian blood. Yet never were public thanks poured forth with such consent. For what prince has not sought with every blandishment to be called lord and father—titles which the amphitheatres echo back to thee day after day? Hail, consul, to thy new titles! Mars’ people calls thee lord and Brutus gainsays them not; what till now no terror could compel Rome’s free citizens to endure, they freely offered to their love for Stilicho. Wheresoever thy shining form is seen they haste to greet thee and raise to heaven thy name; nor is their wandering gaze ever sated with looking upon thee whom they love when thou enterest the Circus in thy shining robes of gold or art present at the games or, seated on thine ivory throne, dispensest justice in the forum or, with thine attendant lictors, mountest the rostrum thronged with the dense and surging crowd.But what were the acclamations of the great, how unfeigned their rejoicings when Victory, soaring aloft with outspread wings, herself threw open her holy temple to the hero? Maiden that lovest the green bay, thou that art decked in robes of triumph, guardian of our empire, sole healer of our wounds, that makest our toils as though they were not, whether it pleaseth thee to dwell amid the stars of Ariadne’s crown or nearer to the fervid Lion, whether thou art seated on the lofty sceptre of Jove or Pallas’ shield or calmest the sighs of weary Mars, be ever present to Latium and grant, goddess, the prayers of thy senate. May Stilicho often crown thy portals

[57]

knows not how to repay benefits. Turn but the pages of history and thou wilt find how often it has faced war for an ally’s sake, how often bestowed as a gift on friendly monarchs lands won at the expense of Italian blood. Yet never were public thanks poured forth with such consent. For what prince has not sought with every blandishment to be called lord and father—titles which the amphitheatres echo back to thee day after day? Hail, consul, to thy new titles! Mars’ people calls thee lord and Brutus gainsays them not; what till now no terror could compel Rome’s free citizens to endure, they freely offered to their love for Stilicho. Wheresoever thy shining form is seen they haste to greet thee and raise to heaven thy name; nor is their wandering gaze ever sated with looking upon thee whom they love when thou enterest the Circus in thy shining robes of gold or art present at the games or, seated on thine ivory throne, dispensest justice in the forum or, with thine attendant lictors, mountest the rostrum thronged with the dense and surging crowd.

But what were the acclamations of the great, how unfeigned their rejoicings when Victory, soaring aloft with outspread wings, herself threw open her holy temple to the hero? Maiden that lovest the green bay, thou that art decked in robes of triumph, guardian of our empire, sole healer of our wounds, that makest our toils as though they were not, whether it pleaseth thee to dwell amid the stars of Ariadne’s crown or nearer to the fervid Lion, whether thou art seated on the lofty sceptre of Jove or Pallas’ shield or calmest the sighs of weary Mars, be ever present to Latium and grant, goddess, the prayers of thy senate. May Stilicho often crown thy portals

[58]limina teque simul rediens in castra reducat.hunc bellis comitare favens, hunc redde togatum215consiliis. semper placidis te moribus egitservavitque piam victis nec polluit umquamlaurum saevitia. cives nec fronte superbadespicit aut trepidam vexat legionibus urbem;sed verus patriae consul cessantibus armis220contentus lictore venit nec inutile quaeritferri praesidium solo munitus amore.Magnarum nec parcus opum geminare profundasdistulit impensas, sed post miracula castrisedita vel genero Romae maiora reservat.225auratos Rhodiis imbres nascente Minervaindulsisse Iovem perhibent, Bacchoque paternumiam pulsante femur mutatus palluit Hermusin pretium, votique famem passurus avariditabat rutilo quidquid Mida tangeret auro;230fabula seu verum canitur: tua copia vicitfontem Hermi tactumque Midae pluviamque Tonantis.obscurat veteres obscurabitque futurospar donis armisque manus: si solveret ignisquot dedit inmanes vili pro pondere massas235argenti, potuere lacus et flumina fundi.Nec tibi, quae pariter silvis dominaris et astris,exiguam Stilicho movit, Latonia, curam:tu quoque nobilibus spectacula nostra laborasinlustrare feris summoque in vertice rupis240Alpinae socias arcu cessante pudicas[59]and bear thee back with him to his armies. Accompany and bless him in war and give him back in robes of peace to our council-chambers. Always has he brought thee home in a spirit of mercy and kept thee kindly to the vanquished nor ever stained thy laurels with cruelty. He neither looks with disdain on his fellow-citizens nor harries the anxious city with his legionaries; but true consul now that the war is ended he comes accompanied only by his lictors nor seeks the useless protection of the sword, guarded only by a people’s love.Handling his great wealth in no niggard spirit he does not hesitate to double his lavish expenses and after giving wondrous games in honour of his soldiery and of Honorius reserves yet greater for Rome. They say that Jove at Minerva’s birth showered gold upon lucky Rhodes; that while Bacchus forced an egress from his father’s thigh Hermus grew pale and turned to that same metal; that Midas, fated to suffer hunger as a punishment for his greed, converted to shining gold everything that he touched. Be these stories true or false thy liberality exceeds the waters of Hermus, the touch of Midas, the Thunderer’s shower. Thy hands, as prodigal of gifts as of daring deeds, o’ershadow the past and will o’ershadow the future. Should fire have melted the countless mass of silver thou bestowest as though it were the cheapest of metals, lakes and rivers of silver might have been formed.Thou too, Latonia, queen alike of the woods and of the stars, art moved by no small care for Stilicho; thou toilest to distinguish our spectacles with the forest’s noblest denizens, and on the dizzy summits of Alpine rocks layest aside thy bow and summonest

[58]

limina teque simul rediens in castra reducat.hunc bellis comitare favens, hunc redde togatum215consiliis. semper placidis te moribus egitservavitque piam victis nec polluit umquamlaurum saevitia. cives nec fronte superbadespicit aut trepidam vexat legionibus urbem;sed verus patriae consul cessantibus armis220contentus lictore venit nec inutile quaeritferri praesidium solo munitus amore.Magnarum nec parcus opum geminare profundasdistulit impensas, sed post miracula castrisedita vel genero Romae maiora reservat.225auratos Rhodiis imbres nascente Minervaindulsisse Iovem perhibent, Bacchoque paternumiam pulsante femur mutatus palluit Hermusin pretium, votique famem passurus avariditabat rutilo quidquid Mida tangeret auro;230fabula seu verum canitur: tua copia vicitfontem Hermi tactumque Midae pluviamque Tonantis.obscurat veteres obscurabitque futurospar donis armisque manus: si solveret ignisquot dedit inmanes vili pro pondere massas235argenti, potuere lacus et flumina fundi.Nec tibi, quae pariter silvis dominaris et astris,exiguam Stilicho movit, Latonia, curam:tu quoque nobilibus spectacula nostra laborasinlustrare feris summoque in vertice rupis240Alpinae socias arcu cessante pudicas

limina teque simul rediens in castra reducat.

hunc bellis comitare favens, hunc redde togatum215

consiliis. semper placidis te moribus egit

servavitque piam victis nec polluit umquam

laurum saevitia. cives nec fronte superba

despicit aut trepidam vexat legionibus urbem;

sed verus patriae consul cessantibus armis220

contentus lictore venit nec inutile quaerit

ferri praesidium solo munitus amore.

Magnarum nec parcus opum geminare profundas

distulit impensas, sed post miracula castris

edita vel genero Romae maiora reservat.225

auratos Rhodiis imbres nascente Minerva

indulsisse Iovem perhibent, Bacchoque paternum

iam pulsante femur mutatus palluit Hermus

in pretium, votique famem passurus avari

ditabat rutilo quidquid Mida tangeret auro;230

fabula seu verum canitur: tua copia vicit

fontem Hermi tactumque Midae pluviamque Tonantis.

obscurat veteres obscurabitque futuros

par donis armisque manus: si solveret ignis

quot dedit inmanes vili pro pondere massas235

argenti, potuere lacus et flumina fundi.

Nec tibi, quae pariter silvis dominaris et astris,

exiguam Stilicho movit, Latonia, curam:

tu quoque nobilibus spectacula nostra laboras

inlustrare feris summoque in vertice rupis240

Alpinae socias arcu cessante pudicas

[59]and bear thee back with him to his armies. Accompany and bless him in war and give him back in robes of peace to our council-chambers. Always has he brought thee home in a spirit of mercy and kept thee kindly to the vanquished nor ever stained thy laurels with cruelty. He neither looks with disdain on his fellow-citizens nor harries the anxious city with his legionaries; but true consul now that the war is ended he comes accompanied only by his lictors nor seeks the useless protection of the sword, guarded only by a people’s love.Handling his great wealth in no niggard spirit he does not hesitate to double his lavish expenses and after giving wondrous games in honour of his soldiery and of Honorius reserves yet greater for Rome. They say that Jove at Minerva’s birth showered gold upon lucky Rhodes; that while Bacchus forced an egress from his father’s thigh Hermus grew pale and turned to that same metal; that Midas, fated to suffer hunger as a punishment for his greed, converted to shining gold everything that he touched. Be these stories true or false thy liberality exceeds the waters of Hermus, the touch of Midas, the Thunderer’s shower. Thy hands, as prodigal of gifts as of daring deeds, o’ershadow the past and will o’ershadow the future. Should fire have melted the countless mass of silver thou bestowest as though it were the cheapest of metals, lakes and rivers of silver might have been formed.Thou too, Latonia, queen alike of the woods and of the stars, art moved by no small care for Stilicho; thou toilest to distinguish our spectacles with the forest’s noblest denizens, and on the dizzy summits of Alpine rocks layest aside thy bow and summonest

[59]

and bear thee back with him to his armies. Accompany and bless him in war and give him back in robes of peace to our council-chambers. Always has he brought thee home in a spirit of mercy and kept thee kindly to the vanquished nor ever stained thy laurels with cruelty. He neither looks with disdain on his fellow-citizens nor harries the anxious city with his legionaries; but true consul now that the war is ended he comes accompanied only by his lictors nor seeks the useless protection of the sword, guarded only by a people’s love.

Handling his great wealth in no niggard spirit he does not hesitate to double his lavish expenses and after giving wondrous games in honour of his soldiery and of Honorius reserves yet greater for Rome. They say that Jove at Minerva’s birth showered gold upon lucky Rhodes; that while Bacchus forced an egress from his father’s thigh Hermus grew pale and turned to that same metal; that Midas, fated to suffer hunger as a punishment for his greed, converted to shining gold everything that he touched. Be these stories true or false thy liberality exceeds the waters of Hermus, the touch of Midas, the Thunderer’s shower. Thy hands, as prodigal of gifts as of daring deeds, o’ershadow the past and will o’ershadow the future. Should fire have melted the countless mass of silver thou bestowest as though it were the cheapest of metals, lakes and rivers of silver might have been formed.

Thou too, Latonia, queen alike of the woods and of the stars, art moved by no small care for Stilicho; thou toilest to distinguish our spectacles with the forest’s noblest denizens, and on the dizzy summits of Alpine rocks layest aside thy bow and summonest

[60]et pharetratarum comitum inviolabile cogisconcilium. veniunt umeros et brachia nudaearmataeque manus iaculis et terga sagittis,incomptae pulchraeque tamen; sudoribus ora245pulverulenta rubent, sexum nec cruda fateturvirginitas; sine lege comae; duo cingula vestemcrure tenus pendere vetant. praecedit amicasflava Leontodame, sequitur nutrita LycaeoNebrophone telisque domat quae Maenala Thero.250ignea Cretaea properat Britomartis ab Idaet cursu Zephyris numquam cessura Lycaste.iungunt se geminae metuenda feris Hecaërgeet soror, optatum numen venantibus, Opisprogenitae Scythia: divas nemorumque potentes255fecit Hyperboreis Delos praelata pruinis.hae septem venere duces; exercitus alterNympharum incedunt, acies formosa Dianae,centum Taygeti, centum de vertice Cynthiet totidem casto genuit quas flumine Ladon.260has ubi collectas vidit, sic Delia coepit:“O sociae, mecum thalami quae iura perosaevirgineo gelidos percurritis agmine montes,cernitis ut Latio superi communibus ornenthunc annum studiis? quantos Neptunus equorum265donet ab orbe greges? laudi quod nulla canendaefratris plectra vacent? nostram quoque sentiat idemquam meritis debemus opem. non spicula poscitiste labor; maneant clausis nunc sicca pharetris,omnis et a solitis noster venatibus arcus270[61]thy virgin companions and the chaste band of thy quiver-bearing followers. Thither they come, their shoulders and arms bare, spears in their hands and arrows slung across their backs, beautiful though unadorned; red their cheeks, dusty and suffused with sweat; their fierce virginity betrays not their sex; disordered their hair; girdles twain prevent their dresses from flowing down below their knees. Golden-haired Leontodame precedes her comrades, Nebrophone, foster child of Mount Lycaeus, follows her, and Thero whose arrows hold Maenalus in subjection. Fiery Britomartis hastens from Cretan Ida and Lycaste, peer of the western winds in flight. There join them the twin sisters Hecaërge, terror of beasts, and Opis, deity beloved of hunters, Scythian maids; their preference for Delos[18]over the frosts of the north made them goddesses and queens of the woods. These were the seven chiefs who came; there followed them a second band of Nymphs, Diana’s lovely company, a hundred from Taygetus, a hundred from Cynthus’ summit, a hundred more whose first home was beside the chaste waters of Ladon. When she saw these gathered together Delia thus began:“Friends who hate the rites of wedlock even as I hate them, who scour the snowy mountains in virgin companies, mark you how the gods with unanimous favour glorify this year for Latium? How many herds of horses Neptune provides from every quarter of the world? How that none of my brother Apollo’s lyres can refrain from sounding the praises of Stilicho? From us too let Stilicho receive the favour we justly owe him; the task needs no javelin; let our arrows remain bloodless in our unopened quivers. Let every bow refrain from its[18]i.e.they became goddesses through association with Diana whose chosen island was Delos.

[60]

et pharetratarum comitum inviolabile cogisconcilium. veniunt umeros et brachia nudaearmataeque manus iaculis et terga sagittis,incomptae pulchraeque tamen; sudoribus ora245pulverulenta rubent, sexum nec cruda fateturvirginitas; sine lege comae; duo cingula vestemcrure tenus pendere vetant. praecedit amicasflava Leontodame, sequitur nutrita LycaeoNebrophone telisque domat quae Maenala Thero.250ignea Cretaea properat Britomartis ab Idaet cursu Zephyris numquam cessura Lycaste.iungunt se geminae metuenda feris Hecaërgeet soror, optatum numen venantibus, Opisprogenitae Scythia: divas nemorumque potentes255fecit Hyperboreis Delos praelata pruinis.hae septem venere duces; exercitus alterNympharum incedunt, acies formosa Dianae,centum Taygeti, centum de vertice Cynthiet totidem casto genuit quas flumine Ladon.260has ubi collectas vidit, sic Delia coepit:“O sociae, mecum thalami quae iura perosaevirgineo gelidos percurritis agmine montes,cernitis ut Latio superi communibus ornenthunc annum studiis? quantos Neptunus equorum265donet ab orbe greges? laudi quod nulla canendaefratris plectra vacent? nostram quoque sentiat idemquam meritis debemus opem. non spicula poscitiste labor; maneant clausis nunc sicca pharetris,omnis et a solitis noster venatibus arcus270

et pharetratarum comitum inviolabile cogis

concilium. veniunt umeros et brachia nudae

armataeque manus iaculis et terga sagittis,

incomptae pulchraeque tamen; sudoribus ora245

pulverulenta rubent, sexum nec cruda fatetur

virginitas; sine lege comae; duo cingula vestem

crure tenus pendere vetant. praecedit amicas

flava Leontodame, sequitur nutrita Lycaeo

Nebrophone telisque domat quae Maenala Thero.250

ignea Cretaea properat Britomartis ab Ida

et cursu Zephyris numquam cessura Lycaste.

iungunt se geminae metuenda feris Hecaërge

et soror, optatum numen venantibus, Opis

progenitae Scythia: divas nemorumque potentes255

fecit Hyperboreis Delos praelata pruinis.

hae septem venere duces; exercitus alter

Nympharum incedunt, acies formosa Dianae,

centum Taygeti, centum de vertice Cynthi

et totidem casto genuit quas flumine Ladon.260

has ubi collectas vidit, sic Delia coepit:

“O sociae, mecum thalami quae iura perosae

virgineo gelidos percurritis agmine montes,

cernitis ut Latio superi communibus ornent

hunc annum studiis? quantos Neptunus equorum265

donet ab orbe greges? laudi quod nulla canendae

fratris plectra vacent? nostram quoque sentiat idem

quam meritis debemus opem. non spicula poscit

iste labor; maneant clausis nunc sicca pharetris,

omnis et a solitis noster venatibus arcus270

[61]thy virgin companions and the chaste band of thy quiver-bearing followers. Thither they come, their shoulders and arms bare, spears in their hands and arrows slung across their backs, beautiful though unadorned; red their cheeks, dusty and suffused with sweat; their fierce virginity betrays not their sex; disordered their hair; girdles twain prevent their dresses from flowing down below their knees. Golden-haired Leontodame precedes her comrades, Nebrophone, foster child of Mount Lycaeus, follows her, and Thero whose arrows hold Maenalus in subjection. Fiery Britomartis hastens from Cretan Ida and Lycaste, peer of the western winds in flight. There join them the twin sisters Hecaërge, terror of beasts, and Opis, deity beloved of hunters, Scythian maids; their preference for Delos[18]over the frosts of the north made them goddesses and queens of the woods. These were the seven chiefs who came; there followed them a second band of Nymphs, Diana’s lovely company, a hundred from Taygetus, a hundred from Cynthus’ summit, a hundred more whose first home was beside the chaste waters of Ladon. When she saw these gathered together Delia thus began:“Friends who hate the rites of wedlock even as I hate them, who scour the snowy mountains in virgin companies, mark you how the gods with unanimous favour glorify this year for Latium? How many herds of horses Neptune provides from every quarter of the world? How that none of my brother Apollo’s lyres can refrain from sounding the praises of Stilicho? From us too let Stilicho receive the favour we justly owe him; the task needs no javelin; let our arrows remain bloodless in our unopened quivers. Let every bow refrain from its[18]i.e.they became goddesses through association with Diana whose chosen island was Delos.

[61]

thy virgin companions and the chaste band of thy quiver-bearing followers. Thither they come, their shoulders and arms bare, spears in their hands and arrows slung across their backs, beautiful though unadorned; red their cheeks, dusty and suffused with sweat; their fierce virginity betrays not their sex; disordered their hair; girdles twain prevent their dresses from flowing down below their knees. Golden-haired Leontodame precedes her comrades, Nebrophone, foster child of Mount Lycaeus, follows her, and Thero whose arrows hold Maenalus in subjection. Fiery Britomartis hastens from Cretan Ida and Lycaste, peer of the western winds in flight. There join them the twin sisters Hecaërge, terror of beasts, and Opis, deity beloved of hunters, Scythian maids; their preference for Delos[18]over the frosts of the north made them goddesses and queens of the woods. These were the seven chiefs who came; there followed them a second band of Nymphs, Diana’s lovely company, a hundred from Taygetus, a hundred from Cynthus’ summit, a hundred more whose first home was beside the chaste waters of Ladon. When she saw these gathered together Delia thus began:

“Friends who hate the rites of wedlock even as I hate them, who scour the snowy mountains in virgin companies, mark you how the gods with unanimous favour glorify this year for Latium? How many herds of horses Neptune provides from every quarter of the world? How that none of my brother Apollo’s lyres can refrain from sounding the praises of Stilicho? From us too let Stilicho receive the favour we justly owe him; the task needs no javelin; let our arrows remain bloodless in our unopened quivers. Let every bow refrain from its

[18]i.e.they became goddesses through association with Diana whose chosen island was Delos.

[62]temperet; in solam cruor hic servetur harenam.retibus et clatris dilata morte tenendaeducendaeque ferae. cupidas arcete sagittas;consulis in plausum casuris parcite monstris.acceleret divisa manus: mihi cursus anhelas275tenditur ad Syrtes, mecum Dictynna Lycasteet comes Opis eat; steriles iuvat ire per aestus:namque feras aliis tellus Maurusia donumpraebuit, huic soli debet sed victa tributum.dum nos horribiles Libyae scrutamur alumnos,280Europae vos interea perquirite saltuset scopulos. posita ludat formidine pastorsecurisque canat Stilichonem fistula silvis.pacet muneribus montes qui legibus urbes.”Dixit et extemplo frondosa fertur ab Alpe285trans pelagus; cervi currum subiere iugales,quos decus esse deae primi sub limine caeliroscida fecundis concepit Luna cavernis:par nitor intactis nivibus; frons discolor aurogerminat et spatio summas aequantia fagos290cornua ramoso surgunt procera metallo.Opis frena tenet, fert retia rara Lycasteauratasque plagas, inmortalesque Molossilatrantes mediis circum iuga nubibus ibant.quinque aliae paribus (Phoebe sic iusserat) armis295diversa regione ruunt ducitque cohortemquaeque suam. variae formis et gente sequunturingenioque canes. illae gravioribus aptaemorsibus, hae pedibus celeres, hae nare sagaces,[63]wonted hunting and the blood of our prey be spilled but in the arena. Not for now their death; close the glades with net and cages and lead the beasts captive; withhold your impatient arrows; spare the monsters of the forest whose death shall win applause for our consul. Divide and haste in every direction; my breathless course is towards the Syrtes; do you, Cretan Lycaste and Opis, bear me company. My purpose is to traverse the unfruitful desert; Mauretania has given ere now her animals to other consuls as a gift, to this consul alone she owes them as a conquered land owes tribute. While we track out the dread progeny of Libya do you hunt the glades and rocks of Europe. Let joy banish fear from the shepherd’s breast and his pipe hymn Stilicho in the dreadless forests. As his laws have given peace to the cities so let his shows give peace to the mountains.”She spake and straightway is borne from the leafy Alps across the sea. Hinds bow their necks to her chariot’s yoke, hinds whom the dewy moon conceived in her fertile caverns beneath the threshold of the morning sky to be the glory of the goddess. White their skins as driven snow; gold marks their foreheads whence spring branching golden horns lofty as the tallest beech-trees. Opis holds the reins. Lycaste carries the fine-wrought nets and golden snares, and deathless Molossian hounds run barking about the chariot amid the clouds. Five others thus equipped (such were Diana’s orders) hasten this way and that, each at the head of her own company; there follow them dogs of various shape, breed and character; some whose heavy jowls fit them for big game, some swift of foot,

[62]

temperet; in solam cruor hic servetur harenam.retibus et clatris dilata morte tenendaeducendaeque ferae. cupidas arcete sagittas;consulis in plausum casuris parcite monstris.acceleret divisa manus: mihi cursus anhelas275tenditur ad Syrtes, mecum Dictynna Lycasteet comes Opis eat; steriles iuvat ire per aestus:namque feras aliis tellus Maurusia donumpraebuit, huic soli debet sed victa tributum.dum nos horribiles Libyae scrutamur alumnos,280Europae vos interea perquirite saltuset scopulos. posita ludat formidine pastorsecurisque canat Stilichonem fistula silvis.pacet muneribus montes qui legibus urbes.”Dixit et extemplo frondosa fertur ab Alpe285trans pelagus; cervi currum subiere iugales,quos decus esse deae primi sub limine caeliroscida fecundis concepit Luna cavernis:par nitor intactis nivibus; frons discolor aurogerminat et spatio summas aequantia fagos290cornua ramoso surgunt procera metallo.Opis frena tenet, fert retia rara Lycasteauratasque plagas, inmortalesque Molossilatrantes mediis circum iuga nubibus ibant.quinque aliae paribus (Phoebe sic iusserat) armis295diversa regione ruunt ducitque cohortemquaeque suam. variae formis et gente sequunturingenioque canes. illae gravioribus aptaemorsibus, hae pedibus celeres, hae nare sagaces,

temperet; in solam cruor hic servetur harenam.

retibus et clatris dilata morte tenendae

ducendaeque ferae. cupidas arcete sagittas;

consulis in plausum casuris parcite monstris.

acceleret divisa manus: mihi cursus anhelas275

tenditur ad Syrtes, mecum Dictynna Lycaste

et comes Opis eat; steriles iuvat ire per aestus:

namque feras aliis tellus Maurusia donum

praebuit, huic soli debet sed victa tributum.

dum nos horribiles Libyae scrutamur alumnos,280

Europae vos interea perquirite saltus

et scopulos. posita ludat formidine pastor

securisque canat Stilichonem fistula silvis.

pacet muneribus montes qui legibus urbes.”

Dixit et extemplo frondosa fertur ab Alpe285

trans pelagus; cervi currum subiere iugales,

quos decus esse deae primi sub limine caeli

roscida fecundis concepit Luna cavernis:

par nitor intactis nivibus; frons discolor auro

germinat et spatio summas aequantia fagos290

cornua ramoso surgunt procera metallo.

Opis frena tenet, fert retia rara Lycaste

auratasque plagas, inmortalesque Molossi

latrantes mediis circum iuga nubibus ibant.

quinque aliae paribus (Phoebe sic iusserat) armis295

diversa regione ruunt ducitque cohortem

quaeque suam. variae formis et gente sequuntur

ingenioque canes. illae gravioribus aptae

morsibus, hae pedibus celeres, hae nare sagaces,

[63]wonted hunting and the blood of our prey be spilled but in the arena. Not for now their death; close the glades with net and cages and lead the beasts captive; withhold your impatient arrows; spare the monsters of the forest whose death shall win applause for our consul. Divide and haste in every direction; my breathless course is towards the Syrtes; do you, Cretan Lycaste and Opis, bear me company. My purpose is to traverse the unfruitful desert; Mauretania has given ere now her animals to other consuls as a gift, to this consul alone she owes them as a conquered land owes tribute. While we track out the dread progeny of Libya do you hunt the glades and rocks of Europe. Let joy banish fear from the shepherd’s breast and his pipe hymn Stilicho in the dreadless forests. As his laws have given peace to the cities so let his shows give peace to the mountains.”She spake and straightway is borne from the leafy Alps across the sea. Hinds bow their necks to her chariot’s yoke, hinds whom the dewy moon conceived in her fertile caverns beneath the threshold of the morning sky to be the glory of the goddess. White their skins as driven snow; gold marks their foreheads whence spring branching golden horns lofty as the tallest beech-trees. Opis holds the reins. Lycaste carries the fine-wrought nets and golden snares, and deathless Molossian hounds run barking about the chariot amid the clouds. Five others thus equipped (such were Diana’s orders) hasten this way and that, each at the head of her own company; there follow them dogs of various shape, breed and character; some whose heavy jowls fit them for big game, some swift of foot,

[63]

wonted hunting and the blood of our prey be spilled but in the arena. Not for now their death; close the glades with net and cages and lead the beasts captive; withhold your impatient arrows; spare the monsters of the forest whose death shall win applause for our consul. Divide and haste in every direction; my breathless course is towards the Syrtes; do you, Cretan Lycaste and Opis, bear me company. My purpose is to traverse the unfruitful desert; Mauretania has given ere now her animals to other consuls as a gift, to this consul alone she owes them as a conquered land owes tribute. While we track out the dread progeny of Libya do you hunt the glades and rocks of Europe. Let joy banish fear from the shepherd’s breast and his pipe hymn Stilicho in the dreadless forests. As his laws have given peace to the cities so let his shows give peace to the mountains.”

She spake and straightway is borne from the leafy Alps across the sea. Hinds bow their necks to her chariot’s yoke, hinds whom the dewy moon conceived in her fertile caverns beneath the threshold of the morning sky to be the glory of the goddess. White their skins as driven snow; gold marks their foreheads whence spring branching golden horns lofty as the tallest beech-trees. Opis holds the reins. Lycaste carries the fine-wrought nets and golden snares, and deathless Molossian hounds run barking about the chariot amid the clouds. Five others thus equipped (such were Diana’s orders) hasten this way and that, each at the head of her own company; there follow them dogs of various shape, breed and character; some whose heavy jowls fit them for big game, some swift of foot,

[64]hirsutaeque fremunt Cressae tenuesque Lacaenae300magnaque taurorum fracturae colla Britannae.Dalmatiae lucos abruptaque brachia Pindisparsa comam Britomartis agit. tu Gallica cingislustra, Leontodame, Germanorumque paludeseruis et si quis defensus harundine Rheni305vastus aper nimio dentes curvaverat aevo.nubiferas Alpes Appenninique recessusGarganique nives Hecaërge prompta fatigat.speluncas canibus Thero rimatur Hiberasinformesque cavis ursos detrudit ab antris,310quorum saepe Tagus manantes sanguine rictusnon satiavit aquis et quos iam frigore segnesPyrenaea tegit latebrosis frondibus ilex.Cyrnaeis Siculisque iugis venata viragoNebrophone cervos aliasque in vincula cogit315non saevas pecudes, sed luxuriantis harenaedelicias, pompam nemorum.Quodcumque tremendumdentibus aut insigne iubis aut nobile cornuaut rigidum saetis, capitur decus omne timorquesilvarum. non cauta latent, non mole resistunt320fortia, non volucri fugiunt pernicia cursu.haec laqueis innexa gemunt; haec clausa ferunturilignis domibus. fabri nec tigna poliresufficiunt; rudibus fagis texuntur et ornisfrondentes caveae. ratibus pars ibat onustis325per freta vel fluvios: exanguis dextera torpetremigis et propriam metuebat navita mercem.per terram pars ducta rotis, longoque morantur[65]some keen of scent; shaggy Cretans bay, slender Spartans, and Britons that can break the backs of mighty bulls. Britomartis scours the woods of Dalmatia and the precipitous ridges of Pindus, her hair flying in the wind. Thou, Leontodame, surroundest the glades of Gaul and huntest the marshes of Germany, tracking out any huge boar, his tusks flexed with age, that may have taken shelter among the sedges that flank the Rhine. Swift Hecaërge tires the cloud-capped Alps, the valleys of the Apennines, and the snows of Garganus. Thero with her dogs explores the caves of Spain and from their recesses ousts the horrid bears of whose bloody jaws full oft Tagus’ flood has failed to quench the thirst, and whose bodies, numbed with cold, the holm-oak of the Pyrenees o’ershadows with its leaves. The manlike maiden Nebrophone hunts the mountains of Corsica and Sicily and captures deer and other harmless beasts, beasts that are the joy of the rich amphitheatre and the glory of the woods.Whatsoever inspires fear with its teeth, wonder with its mane, awe with its horns and bristling coat—all the beauty, all the terror of the forest is taken. Guile protects them not; neither strength nor weight avails them; their speed saves not the fleet of foot. Some roar enmeshed in snares; some are thrust into wooden cages and carried off. There are not carpenters enough to fashion the wood; leafy prisons are constructed of unhewn beech and elm. Boats laden with some of the animals traverse seas and rivers; bloodless from terror the rower’s hand is stayed, for the sailor fears the merchandise he carries. Others are transported over land in wagons that block the roads with the long procession,

[64]

hirsutaeque fremunt Cressae tenuesque Lacaenae300magnaque taurorum fracturae colla Britannae.Dalmatiae lucos abruptaque brachia Pindisparsa comam Britomartis agit. tu Gallica cingislustra, Leontodame, Germanorumque paludeseruis et si quis defensus harundine Rheni305vastus aper nimio dentes curvaverat aevo.nubiferas Alpes Appenninique recessusGarganique nives Hecaërge prompta fatigat.speluncas canibus Thero rimatur Hiberasinformesque cavis ursos detrudit ab antris,310quorum saepe Tagus manantes sanguine rictusnon satiavit aquis et quos iam frigore segnesPyrenaea tegit latebrosis frondibus ilex.Cyrnaeis Siculisque iugis venata viragoNebrophone cervos aliasque in vincula cogit315non saevas pecudes, sed luxuriantis harenaedelicias, pompam nemorum.Quodcumque tremendumdentibus aut insigne iubis aut nobile cornuaut rigidum saetis, capitur decus omne timorquesilvarum. non cauta latent, non mole resistunt320fortia, non volucri fugiunt pernicia cursu.haec laqueis innexa gemunt; haec clausa ferunturilignis domibus. fabri nec tigna poliresufficiunt; rudibus fagis texuntur et ornisfrondentes caveae. ratibus pars ibat onustis325per freta vel fluvios: exanguis dextera torpetremigis et propriam metuebat navita mercem.per terram pars ducta rotis, longoque morantur

hirsutaeque fremunt Cressae tenuesque Lacaenae300

magnaque taurorum fracturae colla Britannae.

Dalmatiae lucos abruptaque brachia Pindi

sparsa comam Britomartis agit. tu Gallica cingis

lustra, Leontodame, Germanorumque paludes

eruis et si quis defensus harundine Rheni305

vastus aper nimio dentes curvaverat aevo.

nubiferas Alpes Appenninique recessus

Garganique nives Hecaërge prompta fatigat.

speluncas canibus Thero rimatur Hiberas

informesque cavis ursos detrudit ab antris,310

quorum saepe Tagus manantes sanguine rictus

non satiavit aquis et quos iam frigore segnes

Pyrenaea tegit latebrosis frondibus ilex.

Cyrnaeis Siculisque iugis venata virago

Nebrophone cervos aliasque in vincula cogit315

non saevas pecudes, sed luxuriantis harenae

delicias, pompam nemorum.

Quodcumque tremendum

dentibus aut insigne iubis aut nobile cornu

aut rigidum saetis, capitur decus omne timorque

silvarum. non cauta latent, non mole resistunt320

fortia, non volucri fugiunt pernicia cursu.

haec laqueis innexa gemunt; haec clausa feruntur

ilignis domibus. fabri nec tigna polire

sufficiunt; rudibus fagis texuntur et ornis

frondentes caveae. ratibus pars ibat onustis325

per freta vel fluvios: exanguis dextera torpet

remigis et propriam metuebat navita mercem.

per terram pars ducta rotis, longoque morantur

[65]some keen of scent; shaggy Cretans bay, slender Spartans, and Britons that can break the backs of mighty bulls. Britomartis scours the woods of Dalmatia and the precipitous ridges of Pindus, her hair flying in the wind. Thou, Leontodame, surroundest the glades of Gaul and huntest the marshes of Germany, tracking out any huge boar, his tusks flexed with age, that may have taken shelter among the sedges that flank the Rhine. Swift Hecaërge tires the cloud-capped Alps, the valleys of the Apennines, and the snows of Garganus. Thero with her dogs explores the caves of Spain and from their recesses ousts the horrid bears of whose bloody jaws full oft Tagus’ flood has failed to quench the thirst, and whose bodies, numbed with cold, the holm-oak of the Pyrenees o’ershadows with its leaves. The manlike maiden Nebrophone hunts the mountains of Corsica and Sicily and captures deer and other harmless beasts, beasts that are the joy of the rich amphitheatre and the glory of the woods.Whatsoever inspires fear with its teeth, wonder with its mane, awe with its horns and bristling coat—all the beauty, all the terror of the forest is taken. Guile protects them not; neither strength nor weight avails them; their speed saves not the fleet of foot. Some roar enmeshed in snares; some are thrust into wooden cages and carried off. There are not carpenters enough to fashion the wood; leafy prisons are constructed of unhewn beech and elm. Boats laden with some of the animals traverse seas and rivers; bloodless from terror the rower’s hand is stayed, for the sailor fears the merchandise he carries. Others are transported over land in wagons that block the roads with the long procession,

[65]

some keen of scent; shaggy Cretans bay, slender Spartans, and Britons that can break the backs of mighty bulls. Britomartis scours the woods of Dalmatia and the precipitous ridges of Pindus, her hair flying in the wind. Thou, Leontodame, surroundest the glades of Gaul and huntest the marshes of Germany, tracking out any huge boar, his tusks flexed with age, that may have taken shelter among the sedges that flank the Rhine. Swift Hecaërge tires the cloud-capped Alps, the valleys of the Apennines, and the snows of Garganus. Thero with her dogs explores the caves of Spain and from their recesses ousts the horrid bears of whose bloody jaws full oft Tagus’ flood has failed to quench the thirst, and whose bodies, numbed with cold, the holm-oak of the Pyrenees o’ershadows with its leaves. The manlike maiden Nebrophone hunts the mountains of Corsica and Sicily and captures deer and other harmless beasts, beasts that are the joy of the rich amphitheatre and the glory of the woods.

Whatsoever inspires fear with its teeth, wonder with its mane, awe with its horns and bristling coat—all the beauty, all the terror of the forest is taken. Guile protects them not; neither strength nor weight avails them; their speed saves not the fleet of foot. Some roar enmeshed in snares; some are thrust into wooden cages and carried off. There are not carpenters enough to fashion the wood; leafy prisons are constructed of unhewn beech and elm. Boats laden with some of the animals traverse seas and rivers; bloodless from terror the rower’s hand is stayed, for the sailor fears the merchandise he carries. Others are transported over land in wagons that block the roads with the long procession,

[66]ordine plaustra vias montanis plena triumphiset fera sollicitis vehitur captiva iuvencis,330explebat quibus ante famem, quotiensque reflexiconspexere boves, pavidi temone recedunt.Iamque pererratis Libyae flagrantibus orislegerat eximios Phoebi germana leones,Hesperidas qui saepe fugant ventoque citatis335terrificant Atlanta iubis armentaque longevastant Aethiopum quorumque impune fragosamurmura pastorum numquam venere per aures.non illos taedae ardentes, non strata supernelapsuro virgulta solo, non vocibus haedi340pendentis stimulata fames, non fossa fefellit;ultro se voluere capi gaudentque videritantae praeda deae. respirant pascua tandem;agricolae reserant iam tuta mapalia Mauri,tum virides pardos et cetera colligit Austri345prodigia inmanesque simul Latonia dentes,qui secti ferro in tabulas auroque micantesinscripti rutilum caelato consule nomenper proceres et vulgus eant. stupor omnibus Indisplurimus ereptis elephas inglorius errat350dentibus: insedit nigra cervice gementumet fixum dea quassat ebur penitusque cruentisstirpibus avulsis patulos exarmat hiatus,ipsos quin etiam nobis miracula velletducere: sed pigra cunctari mole veretur.355Tyrrhenas fetus Libycos amplexa per undas[67]bearing the spoils of the mountains. The wild beast is borne a captive by those troubled cattle on whom in times past he sated his hunger, and each time that the oxen turned and looked at their burden they pull away in terror from the pole.By now Phoebus’ sister had wandered o’er the torrid plains of Libya and chosen out superb lions who had often put the Hesperides to flight, filled Atlas with alarm at their wind-tossed manes, and plundered far and wide the flocks of Ethiopia, lions whose terrible cries had never struck upon the herdsmen’s ears but as heralding their destruction. To catch them had been used no blazing torches, no twigs strewn over turf undermined; the voice of a tethered kid had not allured their hunger nor had a diggèd pit ensnared them: of their own free will they gave themselves up to capture and rejoiced at being seen the prey of so great a goddess. At length the countryside breathes again and the Moorish farmers unbar their now safe huts. Then Latonia collected grey-spotted[19]leopards and other marvels of the south and huge ivory tusks which, carved with iron into plaques and inlaid with gold to form the glistening inscription of the consul’s name, should pass in procession among lords and commons. All India stood in speechless amaze to see many an elephant go shorn of the glory of his tusks. Seated upon their black necks despite their cries the goddess shook the fixèd ivory and tearing it up from its bloody roots disarmed the monstrous mouths. Nay, she fain would have brought the elephants themselves as a spectacle but feared that their vast weight would retard the ships.Fiercely o’er the Tyrrhene wave echoes the fleet[19]Literally “green.” Latin (and Greek) colour epithets are often strangely at variance with ours.

[66]

ordine plaustra vias montanis plena triumphiset fera sollicitis vehitur captiva iuvencis,330explebat quibus ante famem, quotiensque reflexiconspexere boves, pavidi temone recedunt.Iamque pererratis Libyae flagrantibus orislegerat eximios Phoebi germana leones,Hesperidas qui saepe fugant ventoque citatis335terrificant Atlanta iubis armentaque longevastant Aethiopum quorumque impune fragosamurmura pastorum numquam venere per aures.non illos taedae ardentes, non strata supernelapsuro virgulta solo, non vocibus haedi340pendentis stimulata fames, non fossa fefellit;ultro se voluere capi gaudentque videritantae praeda deae. respirant pascua tandem;agricolae reserant iam tuta mapalia Mauri,tum virides pardos et cetera colligit Austri345prodigia inmanesque simul Latonia dentes,qui secti ferro in tabulas auroque micantesinscripti rutilum caelato consule nomenper proceres et vulgus eant. stupor omnibus Indisplurimus ereptis elephas inglorius errat350dentibus: insedit nigra cervice gementumet fixum dea quassat ebur penitusque cruentisstirpibus avulsis patulos exarmat hiatus,ipsos quin etiam nobis miracula velletducere: sed pigra cunctari mole veretur.355Tyrrhenas fetus Libycos amplexa per undas

ordine plaustra vias montanis plena triumphis

et fera sollicitis vehitur captiva iuvencis,330

explebat quibus ante famem, quotiensque reflexi

conspexere boves, pavidi temone recedunt.

Iamque pererratis Libyae flagrantibus oris

legerat eximios Phoebi germana leones,

Hesperidas qui saepe fugant ventoque citatis335

terrificant Atlanta iubis armentaque longe

vastant Aethiopum quorumque impune fragosa

murmura pastorum numquam venere per aures.

non illos taedae ardentes, non strata superne

lapsuro virgulta solo, non vocibus haedi340

pendentis stimulata fames, non fossa fefellit;

ultro se voluere capi gaudentque videri

tantae praeda deae. respirant pascua tandem;

agricolae reserant iam tuta mapalia Mauri,

tum virides pardos et cetera colligit Austri345

prodigia inmanesque simul Latonia dentes,

qui secti ferro in tabulas auroque micantes

inscripti rutilum caelato consule nomen

per proceres et vulgus eant. stupor omnibus Indis

plurimus ereptis elephas inglorius errat350

dentibus: insedit nigra cervice gementum

et fixum dea quassat ebur penitusque cruentis

stirpibus avulsis patulos exarmat hiatus,

ipsos quin etiam nobis miracula vellet

ducere: sed pigra cunctari mole veretur.355

Tyrrhenas fetus Libycos amplexa per undas

[67]bearing the spoils of the mountains. The wild beast is borne a captive by those troubled cattle on whom in times past he sated his hunger, and each time that the oxen turned and looked at their burden they pull away in terror from the pole.By now Phoebus’ sister had wandered o’er the torrid plains of Libya and chosen out superb lions who had often put the Hesperides to flight, filled Atlas with alarm at their wind-tossed manes, and plundered far and wide the flocks of Ethiopia, lions whose terrible cries had never struck upon the herdsmen’s ears but as heralding their destruction. To catch them had been used no blazing torches, no twigs strewn over turf undermined; the voice of a tethered kid had not allured their hunger nor had a diggèd pit ensnared them: of their own free will they gave themselves up to capture and rejoiced at being seen the prey of so great a goddess. At length the countryside breathes again and the Moorish farmers unbar their now safe huts. Then Latonia collected grey-spotted[19]leopards and other marvels of the south and huge ivory tusks which, carved with iron into plaques and inlaid with gold to form the glistening inscription of the consul’s name, should pass in procession among lords and commons. All India stood in speechless amaze to see many an elephant go shorn of the glory of his tusks. Seated upon their black necks despite their cries the goddess shook the fixèd ivory and tearing it up from its bloody roots disarmed the monstrous mouths. Nay, she fain would have brought the elephants themselves as a spectacle but feared that their vast weight would retard the ships.Fiercely o’er the Tyrrhene wave echoes the fleet[19]Literally “green.” Latin (and Greek) colour epithets are often strangely at variance with ours.

[67]

bearing the spoils of the mountains. The wild beast is borne a captive by those troubled cattle on whom in times past he sated his hunger, and each time that the oxen turned and looked at their burden they pull away in terror from the pole.

By now Phoebus’ sister had wandered o’er the torrid plains of Libya and chosen out superb lions who had often put the Hesperides to flight, filled Atlas with alarm at their wind-tossed manes, and plundered far and wide the flocks of Ethiopia, lions whose terrible cries had never struck upon the herdsmen’s ears but as heralding their destruction. To catch them had been used no blazing torches, no twigs strewn over turf undermined; the voice of a tethered kid had not allured their hunger nor had a diggèd pit ensnared them: of their own free will they gave themselves up to capture and rejoiced at being seen the prey of so great a goddess. At length the countryside breathes again and the Moorish farmers unbar their now safe huts. Then Latonia collected grey-spotted[19]leopards and other marvels of the south and huge ivory tusks which, carved with iron into plaques and inlaid with gold to form the glistening inscription of the consul’s name, should pass in procession among lords and commons. All India stood in speechless amaze to see many an elephant go shorn of the glory of his tusks. Seated upon their black necks despite their cries the goddess shook the fixèd ivory and tearing it up from its bloody roots disarmed the monstrous mouths. Nay, she fain would have brought the elephants themselves as a spectacle but feared that their vast weight would retard the ships.

Fiercely o’er the Tyrrhene wave echoes the fleet

[19]Literally “green.” Latin (and Greek) colour epithets are often strangely at variance with ours.

[68]classis torva[20]sonat, caudamque in puppe retorquensad proram iacet usque leo: vix sublevat unumtarda ratis! fremitus stagnis auditur in imiscunctaque prosiliunt cete terrenaque Nereus360confert monstra suis et non aequare fatetur.aequora sic victor quotiens per rubra Lyaeusnavigat, intorquet clavum Silenus et acresadsudant tonsis Satyri taurinaque pulsuBaccharum Bromios invitant tympana remos:365transtra ligant hederae, malum circumflua vestitpampinus, antennis inlabitur ebria serpens,perque mero madidos currunt saliuntque rudenteslynces et insolitae mirantur carbasa tigres.[20]torvaBirt;MSS.haveturba.[69]that holds the Libyan breed, and, as he coils his tail upon the stern, a lion stretches to the prow; that single beast the labouring bark can scarce uplift; deep down below the waters is heard the roaring. Out rushes the leviathan. Neptune compares these land prodigies to his and admits that his are not their equal. So whene’er victorious Bacchus ploughs the Red Sea’s waves, Silenus sways the helm, the urgent Satyrs sweat upon their oars and the oxhide drums, smitten by the Bacchants, summon the rowers of Bromius to toil at the thwarts; ivy-wreaths deck the benches, the pliant vine entwines the mast; a drunken snake glides out upon the yardarms; lynxes run and leap along the sheets that drip with wine, and unaccustomed tigers stare in amaze at the canvas.

[68]

classis torva[20]sonat, caudamque in puppe retorquensad proram iacet usque leo: vix sublevat unumtarda ratis! fremitus stagnis auditur in imiscunctaque prosiliunt cete terrenaque Nereus360confert monstra suis et non aequare fatetur.aequora sic victor quotiens per rubra Lyaeusnavigat, intorquet clavum Silenus et acresadsudant tonsis Satyri taurinaque pulsuBaccharum Bromios invitant tympana remos:365transtra ligant hederae, malum circumflua vestitpampinus, antennis inlabitur ebria serpens,perque mero madidos currunt saliuntque rudenteslynces et insolitae mirantur carbasa tigres.

classis torva[20]sonat, caudamque in puppe retorquens

ad proram iacet usque leo: vix sublevat unum

tarda ratis! fremitus stagnis auditur in imis

cunctaque prosiliunt cete terrenaque Nereus360

confert monstra suis et non aequare fatetur.

aequora sic victor quotiens per rubra Lyaeus

navigat, intorquet clavum Silenus et acres

adsudant tonsis Satyri taurinaque pulsu

Baccharum Bromios invitant tympana remos:365

transtra ligant hederae, malum circumflua vestit

pampinus, antennis inlabitur ebria serpens,

perque mero madidos currunt saliuntque rudentes

lynces et insolitae mirantur carbasa tigres.

[20]torvaBirt;MSS.haveturba.

[69]that holds the Libyan breed, and, as he coils his tail upon the stern, a lion stretches to the prow; that single beast the labouring bark can scarce uplift; deep down below the waters is heard the roaring. Out rushes the leviathan. Neptune compares these land prodigies to his and admits that his are not their equal. So whene’er victorious Bacchus ploughs the Red Sea’s waves, Silenus sways the helm, the urgent Satyrs sweat upon their oars and the oxhide drums, smitten by the Bacchants, summon the rowers of Bromius to toil at the thwarts; ivy-wreaths deck the benches, the pliant vine entwines the mast; a drunken snake glides out upon the yardarms; lynxes run and leap along the sheets that drip with wine, and unaccustomed tigers stare in amaze at the canvas.

[69]

that holds the Libyan breed, and, as he coils his tail upon the stern, a lion stretches to the prow; that single beast the labouring bark can scarce uplift; deep down below the waters is heard the roaring. Out rushes the leviathan. Neptune compares these land prodigies to his and admits that his are not their equal. So whene’er victorious Bacchus ploughs the Red Sea’s waves, Silenus sways the helm, the urgent Satyrs sweat upon their oars and the oxhide drums, smitten by the Bacchants, summon the rowers of Bromius to toil at the thwarts; ivy-wreaths deck the benches, the pliant vine entwines the mast; a drunken snake glides out upon the yardarms; lynxes run and leap along the sheets that drip with wine, and unaccustomed tigers stare in amaze at the canvas.

[70]PANEGYRICUS DE SEXTO CONSULATU HONORII AUGUSTIPRAEFATIO(XXVII.)Omnia, quae sensu volvuntur vota diurno,pectore sopito reddit amica quies.venator defessa toro cum membra reponit,mens tamen ad silvas et sua lustra redit.iudicibus lites, aurigae somnia currus5vanaque nocturnis meta cavetur equis.furto gaudet amans, permutat navita merceset vigil elapsas quaerit avarus opes,blandaque largitur frustra sitientibus aegrisinriguus gelido pocula fonte sopor.10Me quoque Musarum studium sub nocte silentiartibus adsuetis sollicitare solet.namque poli media stellantis in arce videbarante pedes summi carmina ferre Iovis;utque favet somnus, plaudebant numina dictis15et circumfusi sacra corona chori.Enceladus mihi carmen erat victusque Typhoeus:hic subit Inarimen, hunc gravis Aetna domat.[71]PANEGYRIC ON THE SIXTH CONSULSHIP OF THE EMPEROR HONORIUS (a.d.404)PREFACE(XXVII.)All things that with waking sense desire ponders kindly repose brings back to the slumbering mind. The huntsman stretches his weary limbs upon the couch, yet his mind ever returns to the woods where his quarry lurks. The judge dreams of law-suits, the charioteer of his chariot the nightly steeds of which he guides past a shadowy turning-point. The lover repeats love’s mysteries, the merchant makes exchange of goods, the miser still watchfully grasps at elusive riches, and to thirsty sufferers all-pervading sleep offers from a cooling spring idly alluring draughts.I am a lover of the Muses and in the silent night I too am haunted by that my accustomed task. For meseemed I stood upon the very summit of the starry sky and laid my songs at Jove’s feet, and, in the flattery of sleep, the gods and all the sacred band gathered about Jove’s throne gave applause to my words. I sang of Enceladus and conquered Typhoeus, the first a prisoner beneath Inarime, the second oppressed by the weight of Etna. How

[70]

(XXVII.)

Omnia, quae sensu volvuntur vota diurno,pectore sopito reddit amica quies.venator defessa toro cum membra reponit,mens tamen ad silvas et sua lustra redit.iudicibus lites, aurigae somnia currus5vanaque nocturnis meta cavetur equis.furto gaudet amans, permutat navita merceset vigil elapsas quaerit avarus opes,blandaque largitur frustra sitientibus aegrisinriguus gelido pocula fonte sopor.10Me quoque Musarum studium sub nocte silentiartibus adsuetis sollicitare solet.namque poli media stellantis in arce videbarante pedes summi carmina ferre Iovis;utque favet somnus, plaudebant numina dictis15et circumfusi sacra corona chori.Enceladus mihi carmen erat victusque Typhoeus:hic subit Inarimen, hunc gravis Aetna domat.

Omnia, quae sensu volvuntur vota diurno,

pectore sopito reddit amica quies.

venator defessa toro cum membra reponit,

mens tamen ad silvas et sua lustra redit.

iudicibus lites, aurigae somnia currus5

vanaque nocturnis meta cavetur equis.

furto gaudet amans, permutat navita merces

et vigil elapsas quaerit avarus opes,

blandaque largitur frustra sitientibus aegris

inriguus gelido pocula fonte sopor.10

Me quoque Musarum studium sub nocte silenti

artibus adsuetis sollicitare solet.

namque poli media stellantis in arce videbar

ante pedes summi carmina ferre Iovis;

utque favet somnus, plaudebant numina dictis15

et circumfusi sacra corona chori.

Enceladus mihi carmen erat victusque Typhoeus:

hic subit Inarimen, hunc gravis Aetna domat.

[71]PANEGYRIC ON THE SIXTH CONSULSHIP OF THE EMPEROR HONORIUS (a.d.404)PREFACE(XXVII.)All things that with waking sense desire ponders kindly repose brings back to the slumbering mind. The huntsman stretches his weary limbs upon the couch, yet his mind ever returns to the woods where his quarry lurks. The judge dreams of law-suits, the charioteer of his chariot the nightly steeds of which he guides past a shadowy turning-point. The lover repeats love’s mysteries, the merchant makes exchange of goods, the miser still watchfully grasps at elusive riches, and to thirsty sufferers all-pervading sleep offers from a cooling spring idly alluring draughts.I am a lover of the Muses and in the silent night I too am haunted by that my accustomed task. For meseemed I stood upon the very summit of the starry sky and laid my songs at Jove’s feet, and, in the flattery of sleep, the gods and all the sacred band gathered about Jove’s throne gave applause to my words. I sang of Enceladus and conquered Typhoeus, the first a prisoner beneath Inarime, the second oppressed by the weight of Etna. How

[71]

(XXVII.)

All things that with waking sense desire ponders kindly repose brings back to the slumbering mind. The huntsman stretches his weary limbs upon the couch, yet his mind ever returns to the woods where his quarry lurks. The judge dreams of law-suits, the charioteer of his chariot the nightly steeds of which he guides past a shadowy turning-point. The lover repeats love’s mysteries, the merchant makes exchange of goods, the miser still watchfully grasps at elusive riches, and to thirsty sufferers all-pervading sleep offers from a cooling spring idly alluring draughts.

I am a lover of the Muses and in the silent night I too am haunted by that my accustomed task. For meseemed I stood upon the very summit of the starry sky and laid my songs at Jove’s feet, and, in the flattery of sleep, the gods and all the sacred band gathered about Jove’s throne gave applause to my words. I sang of Enceladus and conquered Typhoeus, the first a prisoner beneath Inarime, the second oppressed by the weight of Etna. How

[72]quam laetum post bella Iovem susceperat aetherPhlegraeae referens praemia militiae!20Additur ecce fides nec me mea lusit imago,inrita nec falsum somnia misit ebur.en princeps, en orbis apex aequatus Olympo!en quales memini, turba verenda, deos!fingere nil maius potuit sopor, altaque vati25conventum caelo praebuit aula parem.[73]joyous was that Jove whom, after the war with the giants, heaven welcomed, enriched with the spoils from Phlegra’s field!My dream has come true; ’twas no vain imagining; nor did the false ivory gate[21]send forth an unaccomplished dream. Behold our lord, behold earth towering to heaven’s height! Here before me are gods such as I then saw, gods worthy of all reverence. Nought greater could dreams have fancied; this noble assembly offers the poet an audience like to that of heaven.[21]A reference to the famous epilogue of Verg.Aen.vi. (ll. 893-96). Dreams which come through the ivory gate are false, those which issue from the gate of horn, true.

[72]

quam laetum post bella Iovem susceperat aetherPhlegraeae referens praemia militiae!20Additur ecce fides nec me mea lusit imago,inrita nec falsum somnia misit ebur.en princeps, en orbis apex aequatus Olympo!en quales memini, turba verenda, deos!fingere nil maius potuit sopor, altaque vati25conventum caelo praebuit aula parem.

quam laetum post bella Iovem susceperat aether

Phlegraeae referens praemia militiae!20

Additur ecce fides nec me mea lusit imago,

inrita nec falsum somnia misit ebur.

en princeps, en orbis apex aequatus Olympo!

en quales memini, turba verenda, deos!

fingere nil maius potuit sopor, altaque vati25

conventum caelo praebuit aula parem.

[73]joyous was that Jove whom, after the war with the giants, heaven welcomed, enriched with the spoils from Phlegra’s field!My dream has come true; ’twas no vain imagining; nor did the false ivory gate[21]send forth an unaccomplished dream. Behold our lord, behold earth towering to heaven’s height! Here before me are gods such as I then saw, gods worthy of all reverence. Nought greater could dreams have fancied; this noble assembly offers the poet an audience like to that of heaven.[21]A reference to the famous epilogue of Verg.Aen.vi. (ll. 893-96). Dreams which come through the ivory gate are false, those which issue from the gate of horn, true.

[73]

joyous was that Jove whom, after the war with the giants, heaven welcomed, enriched with the spoils from Phlegra’s field!

My dream has come true; ’twas no vain imagining; nor did the false ivory gate[21]send forth an unaccomplished dream. Behold our lord, behold earth towering to heaven’s height! Here before me are gods such as I then saw, gods worthy of all reverence. Nought greater could dreams have fancied; this noble assembly offers the poet an audience like to that of heaven.

[21]A reference to the famous epilogue of Verg.Aen.vi. (ll. 893-96). Dreams which come through the ivory gate are false, those which issue from the gate of horn, true.

[74]PANEGYRICUS(XXVIII.)Aurea Fortunae Reduci si templa prioresob reditum vovere ducum, non dignius umquamhaec dea pro meritis amplas sibi posceret aedes,quam sua cum pariter trabeis reparatur et urbimaiestas: neque enim campus sollemnis et urna5luditur in morem, species nec dissona coetuaut peregrina nitet simulati iuris imago.indigenas habitus nativa palatia sumunt,et, patriis plebem castris sociante Quirino,Mars augusta sui renovat suffragia campi.10qualis erit terris, quem mons Euandrius offertRomanis avibus, quem Thybris inaugurat, annus?quamquam omnes, quicumque tui cognominis, annisemper inoffensum dederint successibus omensintque tropaea tuas semper comitata secures,15hic tamen ante omnes miro promittitur ortu,urbis et Augusti geminato numine felix.namque velut stellas Babylonia cura salubresoptima tunc spondet mortalibus edere fata,caelicolae cum celsa tenent summoque feruntur20[75]THE PANEGYRIC(XXVIII.)If our ancestors vowed temples to “Home-bringing Fortune” in honour of the return of their generals, never would this goddess more worthily claim for her services a noble temple than when their proper majesty is restored alike to the consulship and to Rome. The annual election in the Campus Martius is not the accustomed farce, nor see we a consul of other race than his electors nor a foreigner claiming pretended rights.[22]The palace now our own wears a native dress, and while Quirinus associates the people with the armies of Italy, Mars gives back to his own Field its imperial suffrage. What will the year be like for mortals that is ushered in by omens on the Palatine Hill so favourable to true sons of Rome and inaugurated on the banks of the Tiber? ’Tis true that years marked by thy name have ever been rich in omens of success and that victory has always accompanied thy consulship, yet by its wondrous dawn is this year set before all years, blessed by the twofold deity of Rome and of her Emperor. For as Babylonian lore gives assurance that propitious stars do then promise the best fortune to mortals when they hold the summit of the sky and their course is at the zenith, not dimming their[22]Claudian means that this year there is a real election (cf.Lucan, v. 392 for a similar passage) and that the new consul is a true Roman.

[74]

(XXVIII.)

Aurea Fortunae Reduci si templa prioresob reditum vovere ducum, non dignius umquamhaec dea pro meritis amplas sibi posceret aedes,quam sua cum pariter trabeis reparatur et urbimaiestas: neque enim campus sollemnis et urna5luditur in morem, species nec dissona coetuaut peregrina nitet simulati iuris imago.indigenas habitus nativa palatia sumunt,et, patriis plebem castris sociante Quirino,Mars augusta sui renovat suffragia campi.10qualis erit terris, quem mons Euandrius offertRomanis avibus, quem Thybris inaugurat, annus?quamquam omnes, quicumque tui cognominis, annisemper inoffensum dederint successibus omensintque tropaea tuas semper comitata secures,15hic tamen ante omnes miro promittitur ortu,urbis et Augusti geminato numine felix.namque velut stellas Babylonia cura salubresoptima tunc spondet mortalibus edere fata,caelicolae cum celsa tenent summoque feruntur20

Aurea Fortunae Reduci si templa priores

ob reditum vovere ducum, non dignius umquam

haec dea pro meritis amplas sibi posceret aedes,

quam sua cum pariter trabeis reparatur et urbi

maiestas: neque enim campus sollemnis et urna5

luditur in morem, species nec dissona coetu

aut peregrina nitet simulati iuris imago.

indigenas habitus nativa palatia sumunt,

et, patriis plebem castris sociante Quirino,

Mars augusta sui renovat suffragia campi.10

qualis erit terris, quem mons Euandrius offert

Romanis avibus, quem Thybris inaugurat, annus?

quamquam omnes, quicumque tui cognominis, anni

semper inoffensum dederint successibus omen

sintque tropaea tuas semper comitata secures,15

hic tamen ante omnes miro promittitur ortu,

urbis et Augusti geminato numine felix.

namque velut stellas Babylonia cura salubres

optima tunc spondet mortalibus edere fata,

caelicolae cum celsa tenent summoque feruntur20

[75]THE PANEGYRIC(XXVIII.)If our ancestors vowed temples to “Home-bringing Fortune” in honour of the return of their generals, never would this goddess more worthily claim for her services a noble temple than when their proper majesty is restored alike to the consulship and to Rome. The annual election in the Campus Martius is not the accustomed farce, nor see we a consul of other race than his electors nor a foreigner claiming pretended rights.[22]The palace now our own wears a native dress, and while Quirinus associates the people with the armies of Italy, Mars gives back to his own Field its imperial suffrage. What will the year be like for mortals that is ushered in by omens on the Palatine Hill so favourable to true sons of Rome and inaugurated on the banks of the Tiber? ’Tis true that years marked by thy name have ever been rich in omens of success and that victory has always accompanied thy consulship, yet by its wondrous dawn is this year set before all years, blessed by the twofold deity of Rome and of her Emperor. For as Babylonian lore gives assurance that propitious stars do then promise the best fortune to mortals when they hold the summit of the sky and their course is at the zenith, not dimming their[22]Claudian means that this year there is a real election (cf.Lucan, v. 392 for a similar passage) and that the new consul is a true Roman.

[75]

(XXVIII.)

If our ancestors vowed temples to “Home-bringing Fortune” in honour of the return of their generals, never would this goddess more worthily claim for her services a noble temple than when their proper majesty is restored alike to the consulship and to Rome. The annual election in the Campus Martius is not the accustomed farce, nor see we a consul of other race than his electors nor a foreigner claiming pretended rights.[22]The palace now our own wears a native dress, and while Quirinus associates the people with the armies of Italy, Mars gives back to his own Field its imperial suffrage. What will the year be like for mortals that is ushered in by omens on the Palatine Hill so favourable to true sons of Rome and inaugurated on the banks of the Tiber? ’Tis true that years marked by thy name have ever been rich in omens of success and that victory has always accompanied thy consulship, yet by its wondrous dawn is this year set before all years, blessed by the twofold deity of Rome and of her Emperor. For as Babylonian lore gives assurance that propitious stars do then promise the best fortune to mortals when they hold the summit of the sky and their course is at the zenith, not dimming their

[22]Claudian means that this year there is a real election (cf.Lucan, v. 392 for a similar passage) and that the new consul is a true Roman.

[76]cardine nec radios humili statione recondunt:haud aliter Latiae sublimis Signifer aulae,imperii sidus propria cum sede locavit,auget spes Italas; et certius omina surguntvictrici concepta solo.Cum pulcher Apollo25lustrat Hyperboreas Delphis cessantibus aras,nil tum Castaliae rivis communibus undaedissimiles, vili nec discrepat arbore laurus,antraque maesta silent inconsultique recessus.at si Phoebus adest et frenis grypha iugalem30Riphaeo tripodas repetens detorsit ab axe,tunc silvae, tunc antra loqui, tunc vivere fontes,tunc sacer horror aquis adytisque effunditur Echoclarior et doctae spirant praesagia rupes.ecce Palatino crevit reverentia monti35exultatque habitante deo potioraque Delphissupplicibus late populis oracula panditatque suas ad signa iubet revirescere laurus.Non alium certe decuit rectoribus orbisesse larem, nulloque magis se colle potestas40aestimat et summi sentit fastigia iuris;attollens apicem subiectis regia rostristot circum delubra videt tantisque deorumcingitur excubiis! iuvat infra tecta Tonantiscernere Tarpeia pendentes rupe Gigantas45caelatasque fores mediisque volantia signanubibus et densum stipantibus aethera templisaeraque vestitis numerosa puppe columnisconsita subnixasque iugis inmanibus aedes,[77]light by a low position in the sky; so the Standard-bearer of the Latin palace[23]athiszenith gives hope of a brighter future for Italy in placing the star of our empire in its true position. Omens that have their origin in Rome’s victorious soil are the more sure of fulfilment.When fair Apollo leaves Delphi’s shrine and visits the altars of the north, Castalia’s waters differ in no wise from those of any common stream, nor the laurel from any common tree; sad and silent is the cave and the shrine without a worshipper. But if Phoebus is there, Phoebus returned from Scythian climes to his Delphic tripod, guiding thither his yoked griffins, the woods, the caves regain their voice, the streams their life; the sacred ripple revisits the face of the waters, a clearer echo resounds from the shrine and the now inspired rocks tremble to the voice of prophecy. Now the Palatine Mount is exalted with honour and rejoices in the return of its native deity; far and wide among the suppliant peoples it spreads oracles surer even than those of Delphi and bids its laurels grow green again to deck the standards of Rome.Of a truth no other city could fitly be the home of the world’s rulers; on this hill is majesty most herself, and knows the height of her supreme sway; the palace, raising its head above the forum that lies at its feet, sees around it so many temples and is surrounded by so many protecting deities. See below the Thunderer’s temple the Giants suspended from the Tarpeian rock, behold the sculptured doors, the cloud-capped statues, the sky-towering temples, the brazen prows of many a vessel welded on to lofty columns, the temples built on massy crags where the[23]i.e.the Emperor.Signiferalso means the zodiac. Claudian puns on the ambiguity.

[76]

cardine nec radios humili statione recondunt:haud aliter Latiae sublimis Signifer aulae,imperii sidus propria cum sede locavit,auget spes Italas; et certius omina surguntvictrici concepta solo.Cum pulcher Apollo25lustrat Hyperboreas Delphis cessantibus aras,nil tum Castaliae rivis communibus undaedissimiles, vili nec discrepat arbore laurus,antraque maesta silent inconsultique recessus.at si Phoebus adest et frenis grypha iugalem30Riphaeo tripodas repetens detorsit ab axe,tunc silvae, tunc antra loqui, tunc vivere fontes,tunc sacer horror aquis adytisque effunditur Echoclarior et doctae spirant praesagia rupes.ecce Palatino crevit reverentia monti35exultatque habitante deo potioraque Delphissupplicibus late populis oracula panditatque suas ad signa iubet revirescere laurus.Non alium certe decuit rectoribus orbisesse larem, nulloque magis se colle potestas40aestimat et summi sentit fastigia iuris;attollens apicem subiectis regia rostristot circum delubra videt tantisque deorumcingitur excubiis! iuvat infra tecta Tonantiscernere Tarpeia pendentes rupe Gigantas45caelatasque fores mediisque volantia signanubibus et densum stipantibus aethera templisaeraque vestitis numerosa puppe columnisconsita subnixasque iugis inmanibus aedes,

cardine nec radios humili statione recondunt:

haud aliter Latiae sublimis Signifer aulae,

imperii sidus propria cum sede locavit,

auget spes Italas; et certius omina surgunt

victrici concepta solo.

Cum pulcher Apollo25

lustrat Hyperboreas Delphis cessantibus aras,

nil tum Castaliae rivis communibus undae

dissimiles, vili nec discrepat arbore laurus,

antraque maesta silent inconsultique recessus.

at si Phoebus adest et frenis grypha iugalem30

Riphaeo tripodas repetens detorsit ab axe,

tunc silvae, tunc antra loqui, tunc vivere fontes,

tunc sacer horror aquis adytisque effunditur Echo

clarior et doctae spirant praesagia rupes.

ecce Palatino crevit reverentia monti35

exultatque habitante deo potioraque Delphis

supplicibus late populis oracula pandit

atque suas ad signa iubet revirescere laurus.

Non alium certe decuit rectoribus orbis

esse larem, nulloque magis se colle potestas40

aestimat et summi sentit fastigia iuris;

attollens apicem subiectis regia rostris

tot circum delubra videt tantisque deorum

cingitur excubiis! iuvat infra tecta Tonantis

cernere Tarpeia pendentes rupe Gigantas45

caelatasque fores mediisque volantia signa

nubibus et densum stipantibus aethera templis

aeraque vestitis numerosa puppe columnis

consita subnixasque iugis inmanibus aedes,

[77]light by a low position in the sky; so the Standard-bearer of the Latin palace[23]athiszenith gives hope of a brighter future for Italy in placing the star of our empire in its true position. Omens that have their origin in Rome’s victorious soil are the more sure of fulfilment.When fair Apollo leaves Delphi’s shrine and visits the altars of the north, Castalia’s waters differ in no wise from those of any common stream, nor the laurel from any common tree; sad and silent is the cave and the shrine without a worshipper. But if Phoebus is there, Phoebus returned from Scythian climes to his Delphic tripod, guiding thither his yoked griffins, the woods, the caves regain their voice, the streams their life; the sacred ripple revisits the face of the waters, a clearer echo resounds from the shrine and the now inspired rocks tremble to the voice of prophecy. Now the Palatine Mount is exalted with honour and rejoices in the return of its native deity; far and wide among the suppliant peoples it spreads oracles surer even than those of Delphi and bids its laurels grow green again to deck the standards of Rome.Of a truth no other city could fitly be the home of the world’s rulers; on this hill is majesty most herself, and knows the height of her supreme sway; the palace, raising its head above the forum that lies at its feet, sees around it so many temples and is surrounded by so many protecting deities. See below the Thunderer’s temple the Giants suspended from the Tarpeian rock, behold the sculptured doors, the cloud-capped statues, the sky-towering temples, the brazen prows of many a vessel welded on to lofty columns, the temples built on massy crags where the[23]i.e.the Emperor.Signiferalso means the zodiac. Claudian puns on the ambiguity.

[77]

light by a low position in the sky; so the Standard-bearer of the Latin palace[23]athiszenith gives hope of a brighter future for Italy in placing the star of our empire in its true position. Omens that have their origin in Rome’s victorious soil are the more sure of fulfilment.

When fair Apollo leaves Delphi’s shrine and visits the altars of the north, Castalia’s waters differ in no wise from those of any common stream, nor the laurel from any common tree; sad and silent is the cave and the shrine without a worshipper. But if Phoebus is there, Phoebus returned from Scythian climes to his Delphic tripod, guiding thither his yoked griffins, the woods, the caves regain their voice, the streams their life; the sacred ripple revisits the face of the waters, a clearer echo resounds from the shrine and the now inspired rocks tremble to the voice of prophecy. Now the Palatine Mount is exalted with honour and rejoices in the return of its native deity; far and wide among the suppliant peoples it spreads oracles surer even than those of Delphi and bids its laurels grow green again to deck the standards of Rome.

Of a truth no other city could fitly be the home of the world’s rulers; on this hill is majesty most herself, and knows the height of her supreme sway; the palace, raising its head above the forum that lies at its feet, sees around it so many temples and is surrounded by so many protecting deities. See below the Thunderer’s temple the Giants suspended from the Tarpeian rock, behold the sculptured doors, the cloud-capped statues, the sky-towering temples, the brazen prows of many a vessel welded on to lofty columns, the temples built on massy crags where the

[23]i.e.the Emperor.Signiferalso means the zodiac. Claudian puns on the ambiguity.

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