BOOK II

(XX.)

Ashes of Phrygia and you last remnants of the ruined East (if any such remain), the augury was but too true, too clear the threats of heaven: now that the blow has fallen what use to learn the presagings of this year of portents? The sailor is more cautious; he foresees the violence of the North wind and hauls in his canvas before the swelling storm. Of what avail to acknowledge a mistake when his vessel is already sunk? Can tears extenuate a crime? The sinister auspices of your consul live on; the atonement due to unmoved fate remains fixed. Ere the deed was done you should have realized its horror; you should have erased the blot ere it had dried. When the body is overwhelmed by long-standing disease ’tis all in vain that thou makest use of healing medicines. When an ulcer has penetrated to the marrow of the bones the touch of a hand is useless, steel and fire must sane the place that the wound heal not on the surface, like any moment to re-open. The flame must penetrate to the quick to make a way for the foul humours to escape; in order that, once the veins are emptied of corrupted blood, the

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arescat fons ipse mali; truncatur et artus, ut liceat reliquis securum degere membris. at vos egregie purgatam creditis aulam, 20 Eutropium si Cyprus habet? vindictaque mundi semivir exul erit? qui vos lustrare valebit oceanus? tantum facinus quae diluet aetas? Induerat necdum trabeas: mugitus ab axe redditus inferno, rabies arcana cavernas 25 vibrat et alterno confligunt culmina lapsu. bacchatus per operta tremor Calchedona movit pronus et in geminas nutavit Bosphorus urbes. concurrere freti fauces, radice revulsa vitant instabilem rursum Symplegada nautae. 30 scilicet haec Stygiae praemittunt signa sorores et sibi iam tradi populos hoc consule gaudent. mox oritur diversa lues: hinc Mulciber ignes sparserat, hinc victa proruperat obice Nereus; haec flagrant, haec tecta natant. quam, numina, poenam 35 servatis sceleri, cuius tot cladibus omen constitit? incumbas utinam, Neptune, tridenti pollutumque solum toto cum crimine mergas. unam pro mundo Furiis concedimus urbem. 39 Utque semel patuit monstris iter, omnia tempus nacta suum properant: nasci tum decolor imber infantumque novi vultus et dissona partu semina, tum lapidum fletus armentaque vulgo ausa loqui mediisque ferae se credere muris; tum vates sine more rapi lymphataque passim 45

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fountain-head of the evil may be dried up. Nay, even limbs are amputated to assure the healthy life of the rest of the body. Think you the Court fitly cleansed by Eutropius’ exile in Cyprus? The world avenged by the banishment of a eunuch? Can any ocean wash away that stain? any age bring forgetfulness of so great a crime?

Ere yet he had donned the consul’s robe there came a rumbling from the bowels of the earth; a hidden madness shook the subterranean caverns and buildings crashed one on another. Chalcedon, shaken to the foundations, tottered like a drunken man, and Bosporus, straying from his course, flooded the cities on his either bank. The shores of the strait came together and the sailors once more had to avoid the Clashing Rocks, torn from their foundation and errant. Surely such presages were sent by the sister deities of Styx, rejoicing that under this consul at last all peoples were delivered into their hands. Soon arose divers forms of ruin: here the fire-god spread his flames; there Nereus, god of the sea, brake his bounds. Here men’s homes were burned, there flooded. Ye gods, what punishment do ye hold in store for the scoundrel whose rise to power was marked by such portents? O’ercome us, Neptune, with thy trident and overwhelm our defiled soil along with all the guilt. One city we yield to the Furies, a scapegoat for the sins of the world.

Once the way was open for portents, prodigies of every sort hasted to disclose themselves. Rain of blood fell, children of weird form were born and offspring discordant with their breed. Statues wept, not seldom the herds dared to speak, and wild beasts braved an entrance into the city. Then seers raved

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pectora terrifici stimulis ignescere Phoebi. fac nullos cecinisse deos: adeone retusi quisquam cordis erit, dubitet qui partibus illis adfore fatalem castrati consulis annum? sed quam caecus inest vitiis amor! omne futurum 50 despicitur suadentque brevem praesentia fructum et ruit in vetitum damni secura libido, dum mora supplicii lucro serumque quod instat creditur, haud equidem contra tot signa Camillo detulerim fasces, nedum (pro sexus!) inerti 55 mancipio, cui, cuncta licet responsa iuberent hortantesque licet sponderent prospera divi, turpe fuit cessisse viros. Exquirite retro crimina continui lectis annalibus aevi, prisca recensitis evolvite saecula fastis: 60 quid senis infandi Capreae, quid scaena Neronis tale ferunt? spado Romuleo succinctus amictu sedit in Augustis laribus. vulgata patebat aula salutantum studiis; huc plebe senatus permixta trepidique duces omnisque potestas 65 confluit. advolvi genibus, contingere dextram ambitus et votum deformibus oscula rugis figere. praesidium legum genitorque vocatur principis et famulum dignatur regia patrem. posteritas, admitte fidem: monumenta petuntur 70 dedecoris multisque gemunt incudibus aera formatura nefas. haec iudicis, ilia togati,

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strangely and frenzied hearts were everywhere ablaze, stirred by the fires of the dread god Phoebus. Yet even had no god warned us, whose mind shall be so dull as to doubt that the year of an emasculate consul must be fatal to those lands? Blind folly ever accompanies crime; of the future no account is taken; sufficient for the day is its short-lived pleasure; heedless of loss passion plunges into forbidden joys, counting the postponement of punishment a gain and believing distant the retribution that even now o’erhangs. In face of such portents I would not have entrusted Camillus’ self with the fasces, let alone a sexless slave (oh! the shame of it!), to yield it to whom were, for men, a disgrace, even though every oracle decreed it, and the insistent deities gave pledges of prosperity.

Look back in the annals of crime, read o’er all past history, unroll the volumes of Rome’s story. What can the Capri of Tiberius’ old age, what can Nero’s theatre offer like to this?[105] A eunuch, clad in the cloak of Romulus, sat within the house of the emperors; the staled palace lay open to the eager throng of visitors; hither hasten senators, mingling with the populace, anxious generals and magistrates of every degree; all are fain to be the first to fall at his feet and to touch his hand; the prayer of all is to set kisses on those hideous wrinkles. He is called defender of the laws, father of the emperor, and the court deigns to acknowledge a slave as its overlord. Ye who come after, acknowledge that it is true! Men must needs erect monuments to celebrate this infamy; on many an anvil groans the bronze that is to take upon it the form of this monster. Here gleams his statue as a judge,

[105] Suetonius draws a lurid (and probably exaggerated) picture of the debaucheries of Tiberius’ old age at Capri. The same author describes the “scaena Neronis.” The curious may find the account in Suet, _Nero_, xxix.

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haec nitet armati species; numerosus ubique fulget eques: praefert eunuchi curia vultus. ac veluti caveant ne quo consistere virtus 75 possit pura loco, cunctas hoc ore laborant incestare vias. maneant inmota precamur certaque perpetui sint argumenta pudoris. subter adulantes tituli nimiaeque leguntur vel maribus laudes: claro quod nobilis ortu 80 (cum vivant domini!), quod maxima proelia solus impleat (et patitur miles!), quod tertius urbis conditor (hoc Byzas Constantinusque videbant!). inter quae tumidus leno producere cenas in lucem, foetere mero, dispergere plausum 85 empturas in vulgus opes, totosque theatris indulgere dies, alieni prodigus auri. at soror et, si quid portentis creditur, uxor mulcebat matres epulis et more pudicae coniugis eunuchi celebrabat vota mariti. 90 hanc amat, hanc summa de re vel pace vel armis consulit, huic curas et clausa palatia mandat ceu stabulum vacuamque domum. sic magna tueri regna nihil, patiensque iugi deluditur orbis? Mitior alternum Zephyri iam bruma teporem 95 senserat et primi laxabant germina flores, iamque iter in gremio pacis sollemne parabant ad muros, Ancyra, tuos, auctore repertum Eutropio, pelagi ne taedia longa subirent,

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there as a consul, there as a warrior. On every side one sees that figure of his mounted on his horse; before the very doors of the senate-house behold a eunuch’s countenance. As though to rob virtue of any place where she might sojourn undefiled, men labour to befoul every street with this vile image. May they rest for ever undisturbed, indisputable proofs of our eternal shame; such is my prayer. Beneath the statues one reads flattering titles and praises too great even for _men_. Do they tell of his noble race and lineage while his owners are still alive? What soldier brooks to read that single-handed he, Eutropius, won great battles? Are Byzas[106] and Constantine to be told that he is the third founder of Rome? Meanwhile the arrogant pander prolongs his revels till the dawn, stinking of wine and scattering money amid the crowd to buy their applause. He spends whole days of amusement in the theatres, prodigal of another’s money. But his sister and spouse (if such a prodigy can be conceived) wins the favour of Rome’s matrons by entertainments, and, like a chaste wife, sings the praises of her eunuch husband. ’Tis her he loves, her he consults on all matters of importance, be it of peace or war, to her care he entrusts the keys of the palace, as one would of a stable or empty house. Is the guardianship of a mighty empire thus naught? Is it thus he makes a mockery of a world’s obedience?

Winter, passing into spring, had now felt the returning warmth of Zephyrus’ breezes and the earliest flowers had oped their buds when, in the lap of peace, they were preparing the annual journey to thy walls, Ancyra. ’Twas Eutropius’ device that weariness of the sea[107] might not come upon him,

[106] Mythical founder of Byzantium (= Constantinople): said to have been contemporaneous with the Argonauts (Diod. iv. 49. 1).

[107] _i.e._ to prevent his being bored with the view of the Bosporus.

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sed vaga lascivis flueret discursibus aestas: 100 unde tamen tanta sublimes mole redibant, ceu vinctos traherent Medos Indumque bibissent. ecce autem flavis Gradivus ab usque Gelonis arva cruentato repetebat Thracia curru: subsidunt Pangaea rotis altaeque sonoro 105 stridunt axe nives. ut vertice constitit Haemi femineasque togas pressis conspexit habenis, subrisit cradele pater cristisque micantem quassavit galeam; tunc implacabile numen Bellonam adloquitur, quae sanguine sordida vestem Illyricis pingues pectebat stragibus hydros: 111 “Necdum mollitiae, necdum, germana, mederi possumus Eoae? numquam corrupta rigescent saecula? Cappadocum tepidis Argaeus acervis aestuat; infelix etiamnum pallet Orontes. 115 dum pereunt, meminere mali; si corda parumper respirare sinas, nullo tot funera sensu praetereunt: antiqua levis iactura cruoris! “Adspicis obscaenum facinus? quid crinibus ora protegis? en quales sese diffudit in actus 120 parva quies, quantum nocuerunt otia ferri! qui caruit bellis, eunucho traditur annus. actum de trabeis esset, si partibus una mens foret Hesperiis; rueret derisa vetustas nullaque calcati starent vestigia iuris, 125 ni memor imperii Stilicho morumque priorum turpe relegasset defenso Thybride nomen

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but a roaming summer might slide away in pleasure journeys. But so magnificent was their return, you would have imagined they brought conquered Persia in their train and had drunk of the waters of Indus. Look you! Mars, returning from the distant lands of the yellow-haired Geloni, was re-seeking the lands of Thrace in his bloody chariot. Pangaeus subsided beneath his wheels, the mountain snows cried out under his sounding axle. Scarce had the father stayed on Haemus’ summit and, reining in his coursers, looked upon the toga-clad woman, when he smiled a cruel smile and shook his gleaming crested helm; then he addressed Bellona, implacable goddess, who, her raiment all stained with blood, was combing her snake-hair, fattened on the slaughter of Illyrians.

“Sister, shall we never succeed in curing the East of effeminacy? Will this corrupt age never learn true manliness? Argaeus yet reeks with those heaps of dead Cappadocians not yet cold; Orontes is still pale from misery. But they only remember evil while they suffer it; give them a moment’s respite and all their slaughter fades from their minds unfelt; little they reck of bloodshed that is past.

“Seest thou this foul deed? Why veil thy face with thine hair? See what crimes a short spell of peace has wrought! what a curse has the sheathèd sword proved! The year that has known no war has had a eunuch for its consul. The consulship would have been at an end had a like spirit animated Italy; this age-long office had fallen amid mockery and no traces been left of its trampled rights, had not Stilicho, heedful of the empire and of the character and morals of a past age, banished from Tiber’s city

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intactamque novo servasset crimine Romam. ille dedit portum, quo se pulsata referret maiestas Latii deformataeque secures; 130 ille dedit fastos, ad quos Oriente relicto confugeret sparsum maculis servilibus aevum. “Quam similes haec aula viros! ad moenia visus dirige: num saltem tacita formidine mussant? num damnant animo? plaudentem cerne senatum 135 et Byzantinos proceres Graiosque Quirites. o patribus plebes, o digni consule patres! quid? quod et armati cessant et nulla virilis inter tot gladios sexum reminiscitur ira? hucine nostrorum cinctus abiere nepotum? 140 sic Bruti despectus honos? “Ignosce parenti, Romule, quod serus temeratis fascibus ultor advenio: iamiam largis haec gaudia faxo compensent lacrimis. quid dudum inflare moraris Tartaream, Bellona, tubam, quid stringere falcem, 145 qua populos a stirpe metis? molire tumultus, excute delicias. Thracum Macetumque ruinae taedet et in gentes iterum saevire sepultas. damna minus consueta move; trans aequora saevas verte faces; aliis exordia sume rapinis. 150 non tibi Riphaeis hostis quaerendus ab oris, non per Caucasias accito turbine valles est opus. Ostrogothis colitur mixtisque Gruthungis Phryx ager: hos parvae poterunt impellere causae

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this shameful name and kept Rome unsullied by an unheard of crime. He has given us a harbour to which the exiled majesty of Latium and the disgraced fasces might retire; he has given us annals wherein, abandoning the East, an age polluted with servile stains might find a refuge.

“How like to its lord the inhabitants of the palace! Turn your eyes to the city walls. Surely they at least mutter disapprobation, though fear forbids them speak out? Do they not condemn him in their hearts? No: list the plaudits of the senate, of the lords of Byzantium, of the Grecian citizens of Rome. O people worthy of such a senate, senate worthy of such a consul! To think that all these bear arms and use them not, that manly indignation reminds not of their sex those many whose thighs bear a sword! Has my descendants’ robe of office sunk so low? Is Brutus’ renown thus brought to scorn?

“Romulus, forgive thy sire for coming so tardy an avenger of those outraged fasces. Right soon will I make them pay for this joy with liberal tears. Why delayest thou, Bellona, to sound the trumpet of hell and to arm thyself with the scythe wherewith thou mowest the people to the ground? Foment discord, banish pleasures. I am aweary of the devastation of Thrace and Macedon, of vengeance twice wreaked on races already buried. Arouse less accustomed destruction; spread fire and sword beyond the seas, make a beginning of new devastation. Seek not now thy foe on Riphaeus’ heights: what boots it to rouse the storm of war amid Caucasia’s ravines? Ostrogoths and Gruthungi together inhabit the land of Phrygia; ’twill need but a touch

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in scelus; ad mores facilis natura reverti. 155 sic eat: in nostro quando iam milite robur torpuit et molli didicit parere magistro, vindicet Arctous violatas advena leges; barbara Romano succurrant arma pudori.”

Sic fatus clipeo, quantum vix ipse deorum 160 arbiter infesto cum percutit aegida nimbo, intonuit. responsat Athos Haemusque remugit; ingeminat raucum Rhodope concussa fragorem. cornua cana gelu mirantibus extulit undis Hebrus et exanguem glacie timor adligat Histrum. 165 tunc, adamante gravem nodisque rigentibus hastam, telum ingens nullique deo iaculabile, torsit. fit late ruptis via nubibus; ilia per auras tot freta, tot montes uno contenta volatu transilit et Phrygiae mediis adfigitur arvis. 170 sensit humus; gemuit Nysaeo palmite felix Hermus et aurata Pactolus inhorruit urna totaque summissis fleverunt Dindyma silvis.

Nec dea praemissae stridorem segnius hastae consequitur, centumque vias meditata nocendi 175 tandem Tarbigilum (Geticae dux improbus alae[108] hic erat) adgreditur. viso tum forte redibat Eutropio vacuus donis, feritasque dolore creverat et, teneris etiam quae crimina suadet

[108] _alae_ Rubenus; MSS. (followed by Birt) have _aulae_.

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to precipitate them into revolt; readily does nature return to her old ways. So be it. Since our soldiers’ valour is numbed and they have learned to obey an unmanned master, let a stranger from the north avenge our outraged laws and barbarian arms bring relief to disgraced Rome.”

So spake he and thundered with his shield nigh as loud as the ruler of the gods when he shakes his aegis from out the lowering cloud. Athos replies, Haemus re-echoes; again and again shaken Rhodope repeats the hoarse uproar. Hebrus raised from out the wondering waters his horns hoary with frost, and bloodless Ister froze in fear. Then the god cast his javelin,[109] heavy with steel, and stiff with knotted shaft, a mighty weapon such as none other god could wield. The clouds part before its onset and give it free passage; through the air it speeds o’er seas and mountains by one mighty cast and comes to earth amid the plains of Phrygia. The ground felt the shock; Hermus blessed with Dionysus’ vines groaned thereat, Pactolus’ golden urn shuddered, all Dindymus bent his forest fleece and wept.

Bellona, too, hastens forth with speed no less than that of Mars’ whistling spear; a hundred ways of hurt she pondered and at last approached Tarbigilus,[110] fierce leader of the Getic squadron. It chanced he had but late returned with empty hands from a visit to Eutropius; disappointment and indignation aggravated his ferocity, and poverty, that can incite

[109] Alluding to the Roman custom of casting a spear as a sign of the declaration of war; _cf_. Ovid, _Fasti_, vi. 207--

Hinc solet hasta manu belli praenuntia mitti In regem et gentes cum placet arma capi.

[110] Tarbigilus seems to have belonged to the nation of the Gruthungi. The exact form of his name is a matter of uncertainty. The MSS. vary: Zosimus (v. 13. 2) calls him Τριβίγιλδος. His revolt in Phrygia (_cf._ ll. 274, etc.) took place in 399.

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ingeniis, Scythicum pectus flammabat egestas. 180 huic sese vultu simulatae coniugis offert mentitoque ferox incedit barbara gressu, carbaseos induta sinus: post terga reductas uberibus propior mordebat fibula vestes, inque orbem tereti mitra retinente capillum 185 strinxerat et virides flavescere iusserat angues. advolat ac niveis reducem complectitur ulnis infunditque animo furiale per oscula virus. principe quam largo veniat, quas inde reportet divitias, astu rabiem motura requirit. 190 ille iter ingratum, vanos deflere labores, quos super eunuchi fastus, quae probra tulisset. continuo secat ungue genas et tempore pandit adrepto gemitus:

“I nunc, devotus aratris scinde solum positoque tuos mucrone sodales 195 ad rastros sudare doce. bene rura Gruthungus excolet et certo disponet sidere vites. felices aliae, quas debellata maritis oppida, quas magnis quaesitae viribus ornant exuviae, quibus Argivae pulchraeque ministrant 200 Thessalides, famulas et quae meruere Lacaenas. me nimium timido, nimium iunxere remisso fata viro, totum qui degener exuit Histrum, qui refugit patriae ritus, quem detinet aequi gloria concessoque cupit vixisse colonus 205 quam dominus rapto. quid pulchra vocabula pigris

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the gentlest heart to crime, inflamed his savage breast. Taking upon her the similitude of his wife she comes to meet him; proudly she steps forth like the barbarian queen, clothed in linen raiment. Close to her breast a brooch fastened her dress that trailed behind her; she had bound her locks into a coil that a polished circlet confined, and bidden her green snakes turn to gold. She hastens to greet him on his return and throws her snowy arms about his neck, instilling the poison of the furies into his soul by her kisses. Guilefully to stir his rage she asks if the great man has been generous to him; if he brings back rich presents. With tears he recounts his profitless journey, his useless toil, the pride and insults, moreover, which he had to bear at the eunuch’s hands. At once she seized the favourable moment, and tearing her cheek with her nails, discloses her complaints.

“Go then, busy thyself with the plough, cleave the soil, bid thy followers lay aside their swords and sweat o’er the harrow. The Gruthungi will make good farmers and will plant their vines in due season. Happy those other women whose glory is seen in the towns their husbands have conquered, they whose adornment is the spoils so hardly won from an enemy, whose servants are fair captives of Argos or Thessaly, and who have won them slaves from Sparta. Fate has mated me with too timid, too indolent a husband, a degenerate who has forgotten the valour of Ister’s tribes, who deserts his country’s ways, whom a vain reputation for justice attracts, while he longs to live as a husbandman by favour rather than as a prince by plunder. Why give fair names to shameful weakness?

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praetentas vitiis? probitatis inertia nomen, iustitiae formido subit. tolerabis iniquam pauperiem, cum tela geras? et flebis inultus, cum pateant tantae nullis custodibus urbes? 210

“Quippe metus poenae. pridem mos ille vigebat, ut meritos colerent impacatisque rebelles urgerent odiis; at nunc, qui foedera rumpit, ditatur; qui servat, eget. vastator Achivae gentis et Epirum nuper populates inultam 215 praesidet Illyrico; iam, quos obsedit, amicos ingreditur muros illis responsa daturus, quorum coniugibus potitur natosque peremit. sic hostes punire solent, haec praemia solvunt excidiis. cunctaris adhuc numerumque tuorum 220 respicis exiguamque manum? tu rumpe quietem; bella dabunt socios. nec te tam prona monerem, si contra paterere viros: nunc alter in armis sexus et eunuchis se defensoribus orbis credidit; hos aquilae Romanaque signa sequuntur. incipe barbaricae tandem te reddere vitae, 226 te quoque iam timeant admirenturque nocentem, quem sprevere pium. spoliis praedaque repletus cum libeat Romanus eris.”

Sic fata repente in diram se vertit avem rostroque recurvo 230 turpis et infernis tenebris obscurior alas auspicium veteri sedit ferale sepulcro.

Ille, pavor postquam resoluto corde quievit

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Cowardice is called loyalty; fear, a sense of justice. Wilt thou submit to humiliating poverty though thou bearest arms? Wilt thou weep unavenged, though so many cities open to thee their undefended gates?

“Dost thou fear the consequences? Rome’s old way was to reward merit and vent on rebels a hate that knew no bound. Now he who breaks a treaty wins riches, while he who observes one lives in want. The ravager of Achaea and recent devastator of defenceless Epirus is lord of Illyria[111]; he now enters as a friend within the walls to which he was laying siege, and administers justice to those whose wives he has seduced and whose children he has murdered. Such is the punishment meted out to an enemy, such the vengeance exacted for wholesale slaughter--and dost thou still hesitate? Hast thou regard to the small numbers of thy followers? Nay, have done with peace: war will give thee allies. Nor would I urge thee so instantly hadst thou to face men. It is another sex that is in arms against thee; the world has entrusted itself to the protection of eunuchs; ’tis such leaders the eagles and standards of Rome follow. Time it is thou didst return to a barbarian life; be thou in thy turn an object of terror, and let men marvel at thy crimes who despised thy virtues. Laden with booty and plunder thou shalt be a Roman when it pleases thee.”

So saying she suddenly changed into an ill-omened bird, a loathsome sight with its hooked beak and plumage blacker than Hell’s darkness, and perched, a sinister augury, on an old tomb.

So soon as repose from terror came to his freed

[111] Alaric was made _magister militum_ in Illyricum: see Introduction, p. x.

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et rigidae sedere comae, non distulit atrox iussa deae; sociis, quae viderat, ordine pandit 235 inritatque sequi. Coniurat barbara pubes nacta ducem Latiisque palam descivit ab armis.

Pars Phrygiae, Scythicis quaecumque Trionibus alget proxima, Bithynos, solem quae condit, Ionas, quae levat, attingit Galatas. utrimque propinqui 240 finibus obliquis Lydi Pisidaeque feroces continuant australe latus. gens una fuere tot quondam populi, priscum cognomen et unum appellata Phryges; sed (quid non longa valebit permutare dies?) dicti post Maeona regem 245 Maeones. Aegaeos insedit Graecia portus; Thyni Thraces arant quae nunc Bithynia fertur; nuper ab Oceano Gallorum exercitus ingens illis ante vagus tandem regionibus haesit gaesaque deposuit, Graio iam mitis amictu, 250 pro Rheno poturus Halyn. dat cuncta vetustas principium Phrygibus; nec rex Aegyptius ultra restitit, humani postquam puer uberis expers in Phrygiam primum laxavit murmura vocem.

Hie cecidit Libycis iactata paludibus olim 255 tibia, foedatam cum reddidit umbra Minervam, hic et Apollinea victus testudine pastor suspensa memores inlustrat pelle Celaenas.

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heart, and his stiffened hair sank down again, he made all haste to carry out the commands of the goddess. He told his followers all that he had seen and urged them to follow him. Rebellious Barbary had found a champion and openly threw off the Latin yoke.

That part of Phrygia which lies towards the north beneath the cold constellation of the Wain borders on Bithynia; that towards the sunset on Ionia, and that towards the sunrise on Galatia. On two sides runs the transverse boundary of Lydia while the fierce Pisidians hem it in to the south. All these peoples once formed one nation and had one name: they were of old called the Phrygians, but (what changes does time not bring about?) after the reign of a king Maeon, were known as Maeones. Then the Greeks settled on the shores of the Aegean, and the Thyni from Thrace cultivated the region now called Bithynia. Not long since a vast army of Gauls, nomad hitherto, came at last to rest in the district; these laid by their spears, clothed them in the civilized robe of Greece and drank no longer from Rhine’s, but from Halys’, waters. All antiquity gives priority to the Phrygian, even Egypt’s king had perforce to recognize it when the babe, nourished at no human breast, first opened his lips to lisp the Phrygian tongue.[112]

Here fell the pipe once hurled into the marshes of Libya, what time the stream reflected Minerva’s disfigured countenance.[113] Here, too, there perished, conquered by Apollo’s lyre, the shepherd Marsyas whose flayed skin brought renown to the city of

[112] The reference is to Herodotus ii. 2. Psammetichus, King of Egypt, wishing to find out which was the most ancient nation, had two children reared in complete silence. As the first word they uttered was “Becos,” the Phrygian word for “bread,” Phrygia was accorded the honour.

[113] Minerva is said to have thrown her pipe into the river when she observed in the reflection the facial contortions apparently necessary to play it; _cf._ Ovid, _Fasti_, vi. 699.

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quattuor hinc magnis procedunt fontibus amnes auriferi; nec miror aquas radiare metallo, 260 quae totiens lavere Midan. diversus ad Austrum cursus et Arctoum fluviis mare. Dindyma fundunt Sangarium, vitrei puro qui gurgite Galli auctus Amazonii defertur ad ostia Ponti. Icarium pelagus Mycalaeaque litora iuncti 265 Marsya Maeanderque petunt; sed Marsya velox, dum suus est, flexuque carens iam flumine mixtus mollitur, Maeandre, tuo; contraria passus, quam Rhodano stimulatus Arar: quos inter aprica planities Cererique favet densisque ligatur 270 vitibus et glaucae fructus attollit olivae, dives equis, felix pecori pretiosaque picto marmore purpureis, caedit quod Synnada, venis. Talem tum Phrygiam Geticis populatibus uri permisere dei. securas barbarus urbes 275 inrupit facilesque capi. spes nulla salutis, nulla fugae: putribus iam propugnacula saxis longo corruerant aevo pacisque senecta. Interea gelidae secretis rupibus Idae dum sedet et thiasos spectat de more Cybebe 280 Curetumque alacres ad tympana suscitat enses, aurea sanctarum decus inmortale comarum defluxit capiti turris summoque volutus vertice crinalis violatur pulvere murus. obstipuere truces omen Corybantes et uno 285 fixa metu tacitas presserunt orgia buxos. indoluit genetrix, tum sic commota profatur:

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Celaenae. Hence flow four broad auriferous rivers. Small wonder that the waters in which King Midas bathed so often glitter with the rare metal. Two flow north, two southwards. Dindymus gives birth to the river Sangarius, which, swollen by the clear stream of the Gallus, hastens on to the Euxine, the sea of the Amazon. The conjoined streams of Marsyas and Meander make for the Icarian main and Mycale’s strand. Marsyas flows fast and straight while his course is his own; mingled with thy waters, Meander, he goes slowly--unlike the Saône whose waters are hastened by the Rhone’s inflowing. Between these rivers is a sun-kissed plain; kindly is it to the corn, thick-set with vines and displaying the fruit of the grey-green olive; rich, too, in horses, fertile in flocks, and wealthy with the purple-veined marble that Synnada quarries.

Such was Phrygia then when the gods allowed it to be ravaged by Getic brigands. The barbarian burst in upon those cities so peaceful, so easy of capture. There was no hope of safety, no chance of escape. Long and peaceful ages had made the crumbling stones of their battlements to fall.

Meanwhile Cybele was seated amid the hallowed rocks of cold Ida, watching, as is her wont, the dance, and inciting the joyous Curetes to brandish their swords at the sound of the drum, when, lo, the golden-turreted crown, the eternal glory of her blessèd hair, fell from off her head and, rolling from her brow, the castellated diadem is profaned in the dust. The Corybantes stopped in amazement at this omen; general alarm checked their orgies and silenced their pipes. The mother of the gods wept; then spake thus in sorrow.

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“Hoc mihi iam pridem Lachesis grandaeva canebat augurium: Phrygiae casus venisse supremos delapsus testatur apex, heu sanguine qualis 290 ibit Sangarius quantasque cadavera lenti Maeandri passura moras! inmobilis haeret terminus, haec dudum nato placuere Tonanti. par et finitimis luctus, frustraque Lyaei non defensuros implorat Lydia thyrsos. 295 iamque vale Phrygiae tellus perituraque flammis moenia, conspicuas quae nunc attollitis arces, mox campi nudumque solum! dilecta valete flumina! non vestris ultra bacchabor in antris nec iuga sulcabit noster Berecynthia currus.” 300 dixit et ad tristes convertit tympana planctus. labentem patriam sacris ululatibus Attis personat et torvi lacrimis maduere leones. Eutropius, nequeat quamvis metuenda taceri clades et trepidus vulgaverit omnia rumor, 305 ignorare tamen fingit regnique ruinas dissimulat: parvam latronum errare catervam, ad sontes tormenta magis quam tela parari nec duce frangendas iactat, sed iudice vires: vasta velut Libyae venantum vocibus ales 310 cum premitur calidas cursu transmittit harenas inque modum veli sinuatis flamine pennis pulverulenta volat; si iam vestigia retro clara sonent, oblita fugae stat lumine clauso (ridendum!) revoluta caput creditque latere, 315 quem non ipsa videt. furtim tamen ardua mittit

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“This is the portent that agèd Lachesis foretold long years ago. My fallen crown assures me that Phrygia’s final crisis is upon her. Alas for the blood that shall redden Sangarius’ waves; for all the corpses that shall retard Meander’s slow stream. The hour is fixed irrevocably; such, long since, was my son’s, the Thunderer’s, will. A like disaster awaits the neighbouring peoples; in vain does Lydia invoke the thyrsus of Bacchus in her defence. Now fare thee well, land of Phrygia, farewell, walls doomed to the flames, walls that now rear aloft proud towers but will soon be levelled with the ground and the bare earth. Farewell, dear rivers: never more shall I hold my inspired revels in your grottoes; no more shall my chariot leave the traces of its wheels on Berecynthus’ heights.” So spake she, and turned her drums to strains of mourning. Attis filled his devoted country with holy lamentations and Cybele’s tawny lions burst into tears.

Eutropius, although this terrible revolt could not be hid and although rumour had spread everywhere the dread news, none the less affects to ignore it and shuts his eyes to the empire’s peril. ’Twas some poor troop of wandering brigands; such wretches call for punishment not war; a judge--so he brags--not a general should crush their strength. Even so the great Libyan bird, hard pressed by the cries of its pursuers, runs o’er the burning sands and flies through the dust, curving its wings like sails to catch the breeze; but when it clearly hears the footsteps close behind it, it forgets its flight, standing with closed eyes and hiding its head, believing, poor fool, it cannot be seen by those whom itself cannot see. None the less Eutropius

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cum donis promissa novis, si forte rogatus desinat. ille semel nota dulcedine praedae se famulo servire negat, nec grata timentum munera; militiam nullam nec prima superbus 320 cingula dignari; nam quis non consule tali vilis honos? Postquam precibus mitescere nullis, non auro cessisse videt creberque recurrit nuntius incassum nec spes iam foederis extat: tandem consilium belli confessus agendi 325 ad sua tecta vocat. iuvenes venere protervi lascivique senes, quibus est insignis edendi gloria corruptasque dapes variasse decorum, qui ventrem invitant pretio traduntque palato sidereas Iunonis aves et si qua loquendi 330 gnara coloratis viridis defertur ab Indis, quaesitos trans regna cibos, quorumque profundam ingluviem non Aegaeus, non alta Propontis, non freta longinquis Maeotia piscibus explent. vestis odoratae studium; laus maxima risum 335 per vanos movisse sales minimeque viriles munditiae; compti vultus; onerique vel ipsa serica. si Chunus feriat, si Sarmata portas, solliciti scaenae; Romam contemnere sueti mirarique suas, quas Bosphorus obruat! aedes; 340 saltandi dociles aurigarumque periti. Pars humili de plebe duces; pars compede suras

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sends towering promises with new gifts, if haply his foe may pause at his entreaty. But the barbarian, in whose heart was once waked the old love of plunder, refuses to submit to a slave; for him the gifts of fear have no charm; haughtily he disdains any rank,[114] even the highest, for under such a consul what honour would not be disgrace?

When Eutropius saw that no prayers could move him nor any gold win him over; when messenger after messenger returned, his mission unfulfilled, and all hopes of an alliance were at an end, he at last recognized the necessity for war and summoned the council to his palace. Thither they came--wanton lads and debauched greybeards whose greatest glory was gluttony, and whose pride it was to diversify the outraged banquet. Their hunger is only aroused by costly meats, and they tickle their palates with foods imported from overseas, the flesh of the many-eyed fowl of Juno,[115] or of that coloured bird brought from farthest Ind that knows how to speak. Not the Aegean, not deep Propontis, not Maeotis’ lake afar can sate their appetites with fish. Perfumed garments are their care, their pride to move foolish laughter with their silly jests. On their adornment and toilette they bestow a woman’s care and find even the silk they wear too heavy a burden. Should the Hun, the Sarmatian, strike at the city’s gates yet trouble they for nought but the theatre. Rome they despise and reserve their admiration for their own houses--may Bosporus’ waters overwhelm them! Skilful dancers they and clever judges of charioteers.

Some sprung from the dregs of the people are generals; some magistrates--though their legs and

[114] Claudian uses the word _cingulum_ (= a soldier’s belt) as = military service--a not uncommon late use, _cf._ Serv. _Aen._ viii. 724 and (frequently) _cingi_ = to serve, in the Digests.

[115] _i.e._ the peacock.

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cruraque signati nigro liventia ferro iura regunt, facies quamvis inscripta repugnet seque suo prodat titulo. sed prima potestas 345 Eutropium praefert Hosio subnixa secundo. dulcior hic sane cunctis prudensque movendi iuris et admoto qui temperet omnia fumo, fervidus, accensam sed qui bene decoquat iram. considunt apices gemini dicionis Eoae, 350 hic cocus, hic leno, defossi verbere terga, servitio, non arte pares, hic saepius emptus, alter ad Hispanos nutritus verna penates. Ergo ubi collecti proceres, qui rebus in artis consulerent tantisque darent solacia morbis, 355 obliti subito Phrygiae bellisque relictis ad solitos coepere iocos et iurgia circi tendere. nequiquam magna confligitur ira, quis melius vibrata puer vertigine molli membra rotet, verrat quis marmora crine supino? 360 quis magis enodes laterum detorqueat arcus,[116] quis voci digitos, oculos quis moribus aptet? hi tragicos meminere modos; his fabula Tereus, his necdum commissa choro cantatur Agave. Increpat Eutropius: non haec spectacula tempus poscere; nunc alias armorum incumbere curas; 366 se satis Armenio fessum pro limite cingi

[116] Birt _artus_; I return to the vulg. _arcus_.

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ankles are still scarred and livid with their wearing of the fetters of servitude and though their branded foreheads deny their owners’ right to office and disclose their true title. Among them Eutropius holds the first place; Hosius, on whom he relies, comes next. He of a truth is more popular, a cunning artificer of justice who knows well how to steam his cases; at times boiling with anger, yet well able to render down that anger when aroused.[117] These sit enthroned, joint rulers of the eastern empire, the one a cook the other a pander. The backs of both are scarred with the whip, each was a slave though of a different kind. The one had been bought and sold a hundred times, the other brought up a dependant in a Spanish household.

When, therefore, the chief men were gathered together for consultation in this strait and to comfort the sickness of the state, forthwith they forget Phrygia and, setting aside the question of war, start their accustomed fooling and engage in disputes about the Circus. With heat as fierce as it is pointless they wrangle what boy can best whirl quivering limbs in an easy somersault or sweep the marble floor with his drooping locks; who can most twist his flanks into a boneless arch; who can best suit his gestures to his words and his eyes to his character. Some recite speeches from tragedy, others chant the play of Tereus, others again that of Agave, never before staged.

Eutropius chides them; the present moment, says he, demands other spectacles than these; it is war which now should claim all their care. For his part (for he is an old man and a weary) it is enough to defend the frontiers of Armenia; single-handed

[117] Hosius, by birth a Spaniard, had been a slave and a cook--whence these various double meanings. He rose to be _magister officiorum_ at the court of Arcadius (_circa_ 396-8).

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nec tantis unum subsistere posse periclis; ignoscant senio, iuvenes ad proelia mittant:-- qualis pauperibus nutrix invisa puellis 370 adsidet et tela communem quaerere victum rauca monet; festis illae lusisse diebus orant et positis aequaevas visere pensis, irataeque operi iam lasso pollice fila turbant et teneros detergent stamine fletus. 375

Emicat extemplo cunctis trepidantibus audax crassa mole Leo, quem vix Cyclopia solum aequatura fames, quem non ieiuna Celaeno vinceret; hinc nomen fertur meruisse Leonis. acer in absentes linguae iactator, abundans 380 corporis exiguusque animi, doctissimus artis quondam lanificae, moderator pectinis unci. non alius lanam purgatis sordibus aeque praebuerit calathis, similis nec pinguia quisquam vellera per tenues ferri producere rimas. 385 tunc Aiax erat Eutropii lateque fremebat, non septem vasto quatiens umbone iuvencos, sed, quam perpetuis dapibus pigroque sedili inter anus interque colos oneraverat, alvum. adsurgit tandem vocemque expromit anhelam: 390

“Quis novus hic torpor, socii? quonam usque sedemus femineis clausi thalamis patimurque periclum gliscere desidia? graviorum turba malorum texitur, ignavis trahimus dum tempora votis. me petit hic sudor. numquam mea dextera segnis ad ferrum. faveat tantum Tritonia coeptis, 396

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he cannot cope with all these perils. They must pardon his age and send younger men to the war:--it is as though a hated forewoman were sitting among a crowd of poor working-girls and bidding them in her raucous voice ply the loom and gain their livelihood, while they beg to be allowed the enjoyment of a holiday, to lay aside their tasks and visit their friends; angered at her refusal and wearied of their work they crush the threads in their hands and wipe away their gentle tears with the cloth.

Sudden from out that trembling throng upleaps bold Leo[118] with his vast bulk, he whose single prowess Cyclopean hunger could scarce match, whom starving Celaeno could not outvie. ’Tis to this fact that he is said to have owed his name. Bold (when his foe was absent), brave (as a speaker), great in bulk but small of heart, once a highly skilled spinner of thread and a cunning carder, none other could so well cleanse the dirt from out the fleece and fill the baskets, none other pull the thick wool over the iron teeth of the comb as could he. He was then Eutropius’ Ajax and far and near he raged, shaking not a huge shield compact of seven layers of ox-hide, but that belly of his, laden with continuous feastings, as he sat lazily among old dames and distaffs. At length he arose and, panting, said, “What unwonted sluggishness is this, my friends? How long must we sit closeted in the women’s apartments and suffer our perils to increase by reason of our sloth? Fate weaves for us a network of ill while we waste our time in useless vows. This difficult task demands my action; never was my hand slow to use iron. Let but Minerva favour

[118] Gainas and Leo were sent by Eutropius to put down the revolt of Tarbigilus. Gainas, however, never left the Hellespont and Leo, advancing into Pamphylia, there met, and was defeated by, Tarbigilus (Zosim. v. 16. 5). We gather from Claudian that he had once been a weaver.

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inceptum peragetur opus. iam cuncta furorem qui gravat, efficiam leviorem pondere lanae Tarbigilum tumidum, desertoresque Gruthungos ut miseras populabor oves et pace relata 400 pristina restituam Phrygias ad stamina matres.”

His dictis iterum sedit; fit plausus et ingens concilii clamor, qualis resonantibus olim exoritur caveis, quotiens crinitus ephebus aut rigidam Nioben aut flentem Troada fingit. 405 protinus excitis iter inremeabile signis adripit infaustoque iubet bubone moveri agmina Mygdonias mox impletura volucres.

Pulcher et urbanae cupiens exercitus umbrae, adsiduus ludis, avidus splendere lavacris 410 nec soles imbresve pati, multumque priori dispar, sub clipeo Thracum qui ferre pruinas, dum Stilicho regeret, nudoque hiemare sub axe sueverat et duris haurire bipennibus Hebrum. cum duce mutatae vires. Byzantia robur 415 fregit luxuries Ancyranique triumphi. non peditem praecedit eques; non commoda castris eligitur regio; vicibus custodia nullis advigilat vallo; non explorantur eundae vitandaeque viae; nullo se cornua flectunt 420 ordine: confusi passim per opaca vagantur lustra, per ignotas angusto tramite valles.

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mine attempts and the work begun will be the work completed. Now will I render proud Tarbigilus, whose madness has caused all this turmoil, of less weight than a ball of wool, the faithless Gruthungi I will drive before me like a flock of wretched sheep; and when I have restored peace I will set the women of Phrygia once more beside their ancient spinning.”

So saying he sat down again. Great clamour and applause filled the council-chamber, applause such as rises from the rows of spectators in the theatre when some curled youth impersonates Niobe turned to stone, or Hecuba in tears. Straightway Leo unfolds his banners and starts on the journey whence there is to be no return. To the accompaniment of the screech-owl’s ill-omened cry he bids march the host destined so soon to feed the vultures of Mygdonia.

’Tis a well-favoured army, enamoured of the city’s shade, ever present at the games, anxious to shine in the baths, not to bear sun-scorch and rain, and oh! how different to that former army who, ’neath the leadership of Stilicho, endured under arms the frosts of Thrace and were wont to winter in the open air and break with their axes the frozen waters of Hebrus for a draught. Changed is the leader and changed their character. Byzantium’s luxury and Ancyra’s pomp[119] have destroyed their vigour. No longer does the cavalry ride ahead of the foot; suitable ground is not chosen for camps; no constant change of sentries safeguards the ramparts, no scouts are sent forward to discover which roads to take or which to avoid; their evolutions are performed without drill or discipline, in confusion they stray hither and thither amid dark forests, along narrow

[119] _Triumphi_ is ironical. Claudian refers to Eutropius’ pleasure journey to Ancyra; _cf._ l. 98 of this poem.

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sic vacui rectoris equi, sic orba magistro fertur in abruptum casu, non sidere, puppis; sic ruit in rupes amisso pisce sodali 425 belua, sulcandas qui praevius edocet undas inmensumque pecus parvae moderamine caudae temperat et tanto coniungit foedera monstro; illa natat rationis inops et caeca profundi; iam brevibus deprensa vadis ignara reverti 430 palpitat et vanos scopulis inlidit hiatus.

Tarbigilus simulare fugam flatusque Leonis spe nutrire leves improvisusque repente, dum gravibus marcent epulis hostique catenas inter vina erepant, largo sopita Lyaeo 435 castra subit. pereunt alii, dum membra cubili tarda levant; alii leto iunxere soporem; ast alios vicina palus sine more ruentes excipit et cumulis inmanibus aggerat undas. ipse Leo damma cervoque fugacior ibat 440 sudanti tremebundus equo: qui pondere postquam decidit, implicitus limo cunctantia pronus per vada reptabat. caeno subnixa tenaci mergitur et pingui suspirat corpore moles more suis, dapibus quae iam devota futuris 445 turpe gemit, quotiens Hosius mucrone corusco armatur cingitque sinus secumque volutat, quas figat verubus partes, quae frusta calenti

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paths in unexplored valleys. So goes a horse that has lost his rider, thus a ship whose helmsman has been drowned is swept to the abyss, chance guiding her and not the stars. So too the sea monster[120] is dashed to pieces against the rocks when it has lost the comrade fish that swam before it and guided its course through the waves, piloting the great beast with the motion of its tiny tail according to the compact which is between it and its huge companion. Aimlessly the monster swims all unguided through the deep; then, surprised in the shallow water and knowing not how to return to the sea, pants and to no purpose dashes its gaping jaws against the rocks.

Tarbigilus feigns retreat and raises the presumptuous hopes of Leo, then suddenly he bursts all unexpected upon the wine-sodden army, as, overcome by the heavy feast, they brag over their cups of leading the foe in chains. Some are slain as they lift their sluggish limbs from the couch, others know not any break between sleep and death. Others rush pell-mell into a neighbouring swamp and heap the marsh high with their dead bodies. Leo himself, swifter than deer or antelope, fled trembling on his foam-flecked horse, and it falling under his weight Leo sank in the mire and on all fours fought his way through the clinging slime. Held up at first by the thick mud, his fat body gradually settles down panting like a common pig, which, destined to grace the coming feast, squeals when Hosius arms him with flashing knife, and gathers up his garments, pondering the while what portions he will transfix with spits, which pieces of the flesh he will boil and how much sea-urchin

[120] The _balaena_ or whale. According to ancient naturalists the _balaena_ entered into an alliance with the _musculus_ or sea-mouse which, in Pliny’s words, “vada praenatans demonstrat oculorumque vice fungitur” (Pliny, _H.N._ ix. 186).

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mandet aquae quantoque cutem distendat echino. flagrat opus; crebro pulsatus perstrepit ictu;[121] 450 contexit varius penetrans Calchedona nidor. Ecce levis frondes a tergo concutit aura: credit tela Leo; valuit pro vulnere terror implevitque vicem iaculi, vitamque nocentem integer et sola formidine saucius efflat. 455 quis tibi tractandos pro pectine, degener, enses, quis solio campum praeponere suasit avito? quam bene texentum laudabas carmina tutus et matutinis pellebas frigora mensis! hic miserande iaces; hic, dum tua vellera vitas, 460 tandem fila tibi neverunt ultima Parcae. Iam vaga pallentem densis terroribus aulam fama quatit; stratas acies, deleta canebat agmina, Maeonios foedari caedibus agros, Pamphylos Pisidasque rapi. metuendus ab omni 465 Tarbigilus regione tonat; modo tendere cursum in Galatas, modo Bithynis incumbere fertur. sunt qui per Cilicas rupto descendere Tauro, sunt qui correptis ratibus terraque marique adventare ferant; geminantur vera pavoris 470 ingenio: longe spectari puppibus urbes accensas, lucere fretum ventoque citatas omnibus in pelago velis haerere favillas. Hos inter strepitus funestior advolat alter

[121] I print Birt’s text; but unless _pulsatus_ be taken as a substantive (Baehrens’ suggestion, cf. P. Lat. Min. v. p. 120 l. 169) it is untranslatable. Emendations proposed are _pulsu Cos … icta_ Barthius; _pulsatus aper strepit_ Buecheler; _cultri sus_ or _pulpae ius_ Birt. The sense demands, however, some such word as _Bosporus_ to make a parallelism with _Calchedona_. Possibly the line ended _pulsatur Bosporus ictu, perstrepit_ being a gloss on _pulsatur_ and eventually ousting _Bosporus_.

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stuffing will be needed to fill the empty skin. The work of preparation goes on apace, Bosporus echoes to many a blow and the savoury smell envelops Chalcedon.

Suddenly a gentle breeze stirs the foliage behind Leo’s back. He thinks it an arrow, and terror, taking a missile’s place, does duty for a wound. Untouched and stricken only by fear he breathes his last. Degenerate Roman, by whose advice didst thou exchange the comb for the sword, thine ancestral calling for the field of battle? How much better to praise in safety the work of the weavers at their looms and keep out the cold by means of morning feasts. Here thou hast suffered a wretched death; here, while thou soughtest to shirk thy spinning, the Fates have at last spun for thee the final thread.

Now spreading rumour shakes the palace, pale with terror upon terror. It told how that the army was destroyed, the troops butchered, the plain of Maeonia red with slaughter, Pamphylia and Pisidia o’errun by the enemy. On all sides rings the dread name of Tarbigilus. He is now said to be bearing down upon Galatia, now to be meditating an attack on Bithynia. Some say he has crossed the Taurus and is descending upon Cilicia, others that he has possessed himself of a fleet and is advancing both by land and sea. Truth is doubled by panic’s fancy; they say that from the ships far cities are seen ablaze, that the straits are aglow and that ashes driven by the wind catch in the sails of every ship at sea.

Amid all this confusion comes a yet more terrible

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nuntius: armatam rursus Babylona minari 475 rege novo; resides Parthos ignava perosos otia Romanae finem iam quaerere paci. rarus apud Medos regum cruor; unaque cuncto poena manet generi: quamvis crudelibus aeque paretur dominis. sed quid non audeat annus 480 Eutropii? socium nobis fidumque Saporem perculit et Persas in regia vulnera movit rupturasque fidem, leto pars ne qua vacaret, Eumenidum taedas trans flumina Tigridis egit. Tum vero cecidere animi tantisque procellis 485 deficiunt. saepti latrantibus undique bellis infensos tandem superos et consulis omen agnovere sui, nec iam revocabile damnum eventu stolido serum didicere magistro. namque ferunt geminos uno de semine fratres 490 Iapetionidas generis primordia nostri dissimili finxisse manu: quoscumque Prometheus excoluit multumque innexuit aethera limo, hi longe ventura notant dubiisque parati casibus occurrunt fabro meliore politi. 495 deteriore luto pravus quos edidit auctor, quem merito Grai perhibent Epimethea vates, et nihil aetherii sparsit per membra vigoris, hi pecudum ritu non impendentia vitant nec res ante vident; accepta clade queruntur 500 et seri transacta gemunt.

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rumour--that Babylon is again in arms and, under a new monarch,[122] threatens our Empire; the Parthians, long inactive, and now scorning slothful ease, seek to put an end to the peace imposed by Rome. Rare among the Medes is the murder of a king, for punishment falls on the regicide’s whole family. Thus equal obedience is offered to their overlords, cruel as well as kind. But what would not the year of Eutropius’ consulship dare? ’Tis that has stricken down our faithful ally Sapor and roused the Persians’ swords against their own king; that has cast the torch of the Furies across the Euphrates, there to kindle rebellion, that no quarter of the globe may escape carnage.

Then indeed men’s hearts failed them, their courage ebbed away amid all these storms; surrounded as they were on every side by the din of war, at last they recognized the wrath of heaven and their consul’s evil omen, learning too late--schooled by the stubborn issue--their now irrevocable doom. They say that the twin sons of Iapetus formed our first parents of the same materials but with unequal skill. Those whom Prometheus fashioned, and with whose clay he mingled abundant ether, foresee the distant future and, thanks to their more careful making by a better workman, are thus prepared to meet what fate has in store for them. Those framed of baser clay by the sorry artificer the Greek poets so well call Epimetheus, men through whose limbs no ethereal vigour spreads--these, like sheep, cannot avoid the dangers that o’erhang them, nor foresee aught. Not till the blow has fallen do they protest and weep too late the accomplished deed.

[122] Varanes IV., who, like his three predecessors, Artaxerxes, Sapor III., and Varanes III., had observed a truce with Rome, died in 399 and was succeeded by Isdigerdes. For all Claudian’s real or simulated anxiety this monarch was as peaceably disposed as the previous ones (see Oros. vii. 34). Claudian seems to have made an error in calling him Sapor (l. 481).

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Iam sola renidet in Stilichone salus, et cuius semper acerbum ingratumque sibi factorum conscius horror credidit adventum, quem si procedere tantum Alpibus audissent, mortem poenasque tremebant, iam cuncti venisse volunt, scelerumque priorum 506 paenitet; hoc tantis bellorum sidus in undis sperant, hoc pariter iusti sontesque precantur: ceu pueri, quibus alta pater trans aequora merces devehit, intenti ludo studiisque soluti 510 latius amoto passim custode vagantur; si gravis auxilio vacuas invaserit aedes vicinus laribusque suis proturbet inultos, tum demum patrem implorant et nomen inani voce cient frustraque oculos ad litora tendunt. 515 Omnes supplicio dignos letoque fatentur, qui se tradiderint famulis Stilichone relicto. mutati stupuere diu sensuque reducto paulatim proprii mirantur monstra furoris avertuntque oculos: proiectis fascibus horret 520 lictor et infames labuntur sponte secures: quales Aonio Thebas de monte reversae Maenades infectis Pentheo sanguine thyrsis, cum patuit venatus atrox matrique rotatum conspexere caput, gressus caligine figunt 525 et rabiem desisse dolent. quin protinus ipsa tendit ad Italiam supplex Aurora potentem

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There now shone forth but one hope of salvation--Stilicho. Him the expectation of whose visits the consciousness of deeds ill-done had ever rendered bitter and unpleasant, him whose approach even as far as the Alps afflicted the Byzantines with fear of death and punishment, all now wish to come, repentant of their former wrongdoing. To him they look as to a star amid this universal shipwreck of war; to him innocent and guilty alike address their prayers. So children whose sire carries merchandise across the sea, wrapt up in their amusements and heedless of their studies, wander afield more joyfully now that their guardian is absent, yet, should a dangerous neighbour invade their defenceless home and seek to drive them forth unprotected as they are from their fireside, _then_ they beg their father’s help, call upon his name with useless cries and all to no purpose direct their gaze towards the shore.

All admit that they deserve punishment and death for deserting Stilicho and entrusting themselves to the governance of slaves. Long they stood dazed with altered thoughts, and as their senses slowly return they marvel at the results of their own madness and turn away their eyes; flinging down his rods the lictor shudders, and the dishonoured axes fall of their own accord. Even so the Maenads returning to Thebes from the Aonian mount, their thyrses dripping with Pentheus’ blood, learning the true character of their dreadful hunting and seeing the head cast by the mother herself, hide them in the darkness and lament the end of their madness. Thereupon suppliant Aurora turned her flight towards powerful Italy, her hair no

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non radiis redimita comam, non flammea vultu nec croceum vestita diem; stat livida luctu, qualis erat Phrygio tegeret cum Memnona busto. quam simul agnovit Stilicho nec causa latebat, 531 restitit; illa manum victricem amplexa moratur altaque vix lacrimans inter suspiria fatur: “Tantanc te nostri ceperunt taedia mundi? sic me ludibrium famulis risumque relinquis 535 dux quondam rectorque meus? solamque tueris Hesperiam? domiti nec te post bella tyranni cernere iam licuit? sic te victoria nobis eripuit Gallisque dedit? Rufinus origo prima mali: geminas inter discordia partes 540 hoc auctore fuit. sed iam maiora moventi occurrit iusta rediens exercitus ira, fortis adhuc ferrique memor. brevis inde reluxit falsaque libertas; rursum Stilichonis habenis sperabam me posse regi. pro caeca futuri 545 gaudia! fraterno coniungi coeperat orbis imperio (quis enim tanto terrore recentis exempli paribus sese committeret ausis?), cum subito (monstrosa mihi turpisque relatu fabula) Rufini castratus prosilit heres, 550 et similes iterum luctus Fortuna reduxit, ut solum domini sexum mutasse viderer. “Hic primum thalami claustris delicta tegebat clam timideque iubens; erat invidiosa potestas, sed tamen eunuchi, necdum sibi publica iura 555

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longer aureole-crowned and she no more bright of countenance nor clothed with the saffron of the dawn. She stands wan with woe, even as when she buried Memnon in his Phrygian grave. Stilicho recognized her and stayed, well knowing the reason of her visit. Long time she clasped his victorious hand and at length amid tears and sighs addressed him.

“Why art thou so wearied of the world whereon I shine? Leavest thou me thus to be the sport and laughing-stock of slaves and carest only for Italy, thou that wert once my guide and my leader? Since thy victory over the tyrant Eugenius I have not seen thee. Has victory thus robbed me of thee and given thee to Gaul? Rufinus was the prime cause of the trouble; ’twas he who wrought disunion between the two empires. But when he aimed at more there met him an army returning in righteous wrath, an army still strong, still mindful of its former prowess. For a moment I was dazzled by the mirage of liberty: I hoped that Stilicho would once more hold the reins of our empire. Alas for my short-sighted happiness! The world had begun to form one single empire under the rule of the two brothers (for who, with the awful example[123] so fresh in his mind, would dare embark upon a like venture?) when suddenly (it is a monstrous story which scarce bears the telling) a eunuch came forward as Rufinus’ heir. Thus fortune brought back my former miseries with this one difference--that of changing my master’s sex.

At first he kept his crimes hidden behind the doors of his chamber, an unseen and timid ruler; power was his that all envied, yet only a eunuch’s, nor dared he yet arrogate to himself the right of

[123] _i.e._ that of Rufinus.

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sumere nec totas audebat vertere leges. at postquam pulsisque bonis et faece retenta peiores legit socios dignusque satelles hinc Hosius stetit, inde Leo, fiducia crevit regnandique palam flagravit aperta libido. 560 patricius, consul maculat quos vendit honores, plus maculat quos ipse gerit. iam signa tubaeque mollescunt, ipsos ignavia fluxit in enses. exultant merito gentes facilisque volenti praeda sumus. iam Bistoniis Haemoque nivali 565 vastior expulsis Oriens squalescit aratris. ei mihi, quas urbes et quanto tempore Martis ignaras uno rapuerunt proelia cursu! nuper ab extremo veniens equitatus Araxe terruit Antiochi muros, ipsumque decorae 570 paene caput Syriae flammis hostilibus arsit. utque gravis spoliis nulloque obstante profunda lactus caede redit, sequitur mucrone secundo continuum vulnus; nec iam mihi Caucasus hostes nec mittit gelidus Phasis; nascuntur in ipso 575 bella sinu. legio pridem Romana Gruthungi, iura quibus victis dedimus, quibus arva domusque praebuimus, Lydos Asiaeque uberrima vastant ignibus et si quid tempestas prima reliquit. nec vi nec numero freti; sed inertia nutrit 580 proditioque ducum, quorum per crimina miles

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governing the state or of trampling on the laws. But when he had banished the good and, retaining the dregs of the people, had chosen therefrom advisers of no worth; when his creature Hosius stood on his one side and Leo on the other, then indeed his self-confidence waxed and his lust for power broke forth into open flame. Patrician and consul he brought defilement on the honours he sold; even greater defilement on those he carried himself. The very standards and trumpets of war grew feeble; a palsy seized upon our swords. What wonder the nations rejoiced and we became the easy prey of any who would subdue us? Gone are ploughs and ploughmen; the East is more a desert than Thrace and snowy Haemus. Alas! how many cities, how long unused to war’s alarms, have perished in a single invasion! Not long since a mounted band coming from Araxes’ farthest banks threatened the walls of Antioch and all but set fire to the chief city of the fair province of Syria. Laden with spoil and rejoicing in the vast carnage it had wrought the band returned with none to bar its passage; now it pursues its victorious career inflicting on me wound upon wound. ’Tis not now Caucasus nor cold Phasis that send forces against me; wars arise in the very centre of my empire. Time was when the Gruthungi formed a Roman legion; conquered we gave them laws; fields and dwelling-places we apportioned them. Now they lay waste with fire Lydia and the richest cities of Asia, ay, and everything that escaped the earlier storm. ’Tis neither on their own valour or numbers that they rely; it is our cowardice urges them on, cowardice and the treason of generals, through whose guilt our soldiers now

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captivis dat terga suis, quos teste subegit Danuvio partemque timet qui reppulit omnes. “Aula choris epulisque vacat nec perdita curat, dum superest aliquid. ne quid tamen orbe reciso venditor amittat, provincia quaeque superstes 586 dividitur geminumque duplex passura tribunal cogitur alterius pretium sarcire peremptae. sic mihi restituunt populos; hac arte reperta rectorum numerum terris pereuntibus augent. 590 “In te iam spes una mihi. pro fronde Minervae has tibi protendo lacrimas: succurre ruenti, eripe me tandem, servilibus eripe regnis. neve adeo cunctos paucorum crimine damnes nec nova tot meritis offensa prioribus obstet. 595 iamiam flecte animum. suprema pericula semper dant veniam culpae. quamvis iratus et exul pro patriae flammis non distulit arma Camillus. nec te subtrahimus Latio; defensor utrique sufficis. armorum liceat splendore tuorum 600 in commune frui; clipeus nos protegat idem unaque pro gemino desudet cardine virtus.”

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flee before their own captives, whom, as Danube’s stream well knows, they once subdued; and those now fear a handful who once could drive back all.

Meanwhile the palace devotes its attention to dances and feastings, and cares not what be lost so something remain. But lest our salesman lose aught by this dismemberment of the empire he has divided each remaining province into two, and forces the two halves, each under its own governor, to compensate him for the loss of other provinces. ’Tis thus they give me back my lost peoples: by this ingenious device they increase the number of my rulers while the lands they should rule are lost.

In thee is now my only hope; in place of Minerva’s supplicating branch I offer thee my tears. Help me in my distress. Save me from this tyranny of a slave master; do not condemn all for the fault of a few, and let not a recent offence cancel former merits. Grant me now my request; extreme danger ever exonerates from blame. Camillus, though justly angered at his banishment, forebore not to succour his country when in flames. I seek not to draw thee away from Italy; thou art enough defence for both empires. Let both have the benefit of thine illustrious arms; let the same shield defend us and one hero work the salvation of a twofold world”

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FESCENNINA DE NUPTIIS HONORII AUGUSTI

I. (XI.)

Princeps corusco sidere pulchrior, Parthis sagittas tendere doctior, eques Gelonis imperiosior, quae digna mentis laus erit arduae? quae digna formae laus erit igneae? 5 te Leda mallet quam dare Castorem; praefert Achilli te proprio Thetis; victum fatetur Delos Apollinem; credit minorem Lydia Liberum. tu cum per altas impiger ilices 10 praedo citatum cornipedem reges ludentque ventis instabiles comae, telis iacebunt sponte tuis ferae gaudensque sacris vulneribus leo admittet hastam morte superbior. 15 Venus reversum spernit Adonidem, damnat reductum Cynthia Virbium. Cum post labores sub platani voles virentis umbra vel gelido specu torrentiorem fallere Sirium 20 et membra somno fessa resolveris: o quantus uret tum Dryadas calor! quot aestuantes ancipiti gradu furtiva carpent oscula Naides!

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FESCENNINE VERSES IN HONOUR OF THE MARRIAGE OF THE EMPEROR HONORIUS[124]

I. (XI.)

Prince, fairer than the day-star, who shootest thine arrows with an aim more sure than the Parthian’s, rider more daring than the Geloni, what praise shall match thy lofty mind, what praise thy brilliant beauty? Leda would rather have thee her son than Castor; Thetis counts thee dearer than her own Achilles; Delos’ isle admits thee Apollo’s victor; Lydia puts Bacchus second to thee. When in the heat of the chase thou guidest thy coursing steed amid the towering holm-oaks and thy tossing locks stream out upon the wind, the beasts of their own accord will fall before thine arrows and the lion, right gladly wounded by a prince’s sacred hand, will welcome thy spear and be proud so to die. Venus scorns Adonis returned from the dead, Diana disapproves Hippolytus recalled to life.

When after thy toils thou seekest the shade of a green plane-tree or shunnest Sirius’ extreme heat in some cool grot and freest thy wearied limbs in sleep, what a passion of love will inflame the Dryads’ hearts! how many a Naiad will steal up with trembling foot and snatch an unmarked kiss! Who,

[124] The marriage of Honorius and Maria, daughter of Stilicho, took place at Milan, Feb. 398.

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quis vero acerbis horridior Scythis, 25 quis beluarum corde furentior, qui, cum micantem te prope viderit, non optet ultro servitium pati, qui non catenas adripiat libens colloque poscat vincula libero? tu si nivalis per iuga Caucasi 30 saevas petisses pulcher Amazonas, peltata pugnas desereret cohors sexu recepto; patris et inmemor inter frementes Hippolyte tubas strictam securim languida poneret 35 et seminudo pectore cingulum forti negatum solveret Herculi, bellumque solus conficeret decor. Beata, quae te mox faciet virum 40 primisque sese iunget amoribus.

II. (XII.)

Age cuncta nuptiali redimita vere tellus celebra toros eriles; omne nemus cum fluviis, omne canat profundum 5 Ligures favete campi, Veneti favete montes, subitisque se rosetis vestiat Alpinus apex et rubeant pruinae. 10 Athesis strepat choreis calamisque flexuosus leve Mincius susurret

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though he be more uncivilized than the wild Scythians and more cruel even than the beasts, but will, when he has seen near at hand thy transcendent loveliness, offer thee a ready servitude? Who will not willingly seize the chains of slavery and demand the yoke for a neck as yet free? Hadst thou o’er the heights of snowy Caucasus gone against the cruel Amazons in all thy beauty, that warrior band had fled the fight and called to mind again their proper sex; Hippolyte, amid the trumpets’ din, forgetful of her sire, had weakly laid aside her drawn battle-axe, and with half-bared breast loosed the girdle all Hercules’ strength availed not to loose. Thy beauty alone would have ended the war.

Blessed is she who will soon call thee husband and unite herself to thee with the bonds of first love.

II. (XII.)

Come, earth, wreathed about with nuptial spring, do honour to thy master’s marriage-feast. Sing, woods and rivers all, sing, deep of ocean. Give your blessing, too, Ligurian plains and yours, Venetian hills. Let Alpine heights on a sudden clothe themselves with rose-bushes and the fields of ice grow red. Let the Adige re-echo the sound of choric lays and meandering Mincius whisper gently through his

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et Padus electriferis admoduletur alnis; 15 epulisque iam repleto resonet Quirite Thybris dominique laeta votis aurea septemgeminas Roma coronet arces. 20 procul audiant Hiberi, fluit unde semen aulae, ubi plena laurearum imperio feta domus vix numerat triumphos. 25 habet hinc patrem maritus, habet hinc puella matrem geminaque parte ductum Caesareum flumineo stemma recurrit ortu. 30 decorent virecta Bactim, Tagus intumescat auro generisque procreator sub vitreis Oceanus luxurietur antris. 35 Oriensque regna fratrum simul Occidensque plaudat; placide iocentur urbes, quaeque novo quaeque nitent deficiente Phoebo. 40 Aquiloniae procellae, rabidi tacete Cauri, taceat sonorus Auster. solus ovantem Zephyrus perdominetur annum. 45

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reeds and Padus make answer with his amber-dripping alders. Let Tiber’s banks now ring with the voices of Rome’s full-fed citizens and the golden city, rejoicing in her lord’s marriage, crown her seven hills with flowers.

Let Spain hear afar, Spain the cradle of the imperial race, where is a house that is mother of emperors, rich in crowns of laurel, whose triumphs can scarce be numbered. Hence came the bridegroom’s sire, hence the bride’s mother; from either branch flows the blood of the Caesars, like twin streams reunited. Let rich herbage clothe Baetis’ banks and Tagus swell his golden flood; may Ocean, ancestor of the imperial race, make merry in his crystal caves. Let East and West, the two brothers’ realms, join in their applause, and peace and joy fill the cities illumined by the sun at his rising and at his setting. Be still, ye storms of the north and ye mad blasts of Caurus; sounding Auster, sink to rest. Let Zephyrus have sole rule over this year of triumph.

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III. (XIII.)

Solitas galea fulgere comas, Stilicho, molli necte corona. cessent litui saevumque procul Martem felix taeda releget. tractus ab aula rursus in aulam 5 redeat sanguis. patris officiis iunge potenti pignora dextra. gener Augusti pridem fueras, nunc rursus eris socer Augusti. quae iam rabies livoris erit? 10 vel quis dabitur color invidiae? Stilicho socer est, pater est Stilicho.

IV. (XIV.)

Attollens thalamis Idalium iubar dilectus Veneri nascitur Hesperus. iam nuptae trepidat sollicitus pudor, iam produnt lacrimas flammea simplices. ne cessa, iuvenis, comminus adgredi, 5 impacata licet saeviat unguibus. non quisquam fruitur veris odoribus Hyblaeos latebris nec spoliat favos, si fronti caveat, si timeat rubos; armat spina rosas, mella tegunt apes. 10 crescunt difficili gaudia iurgio accenditque magis, quae refugit, Venus. quod flenti tuleris, plus sapit osculum. dices “o!” quotiens, “hoc mihi dulcius quam flavos deciens vincere Sarmatas!” 15

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III. (XIII.)

Twine with a soft garland, Stilicho, the locks whereon a helmet is wont to shine. Let the trumpets of war cease and the propitious torch of marriage banish savage Mars afar. Let regal blood unite once more with regal blood. Perform a father’s office and unite these children with thine illustrious hand. Thou didst marry an emperor’s daughter, now, in turn, thy daughter shall marry an emperor. What room is here for the madness of jealousy? What excuse for envy? Stilicho is father both of bride and bridegroom.

IV. (XIV.)

Hesperus, loved of Venus, rises and shines for the marriage with his Idalian[125] rays. Maiden shame now overcomes the anxious bride; her veil now shows traces of innocent tears. Hesitate not to be close in thine attacks, young lover, e’en though she oppose thee savagely with cruel finger-nail. None can enjoy the scents of spring nor steal the honey of Hybla from its fastnesses if he fears that thorns may scratch his face. Thorns arm the rose and bees find a defence for their honey. The refusals of coyness do but increase the joy; the desire for that which flies us is the more inflamed; sweeter is the kiss snatched through tears. How oft wilt thou say: “Better this than ten victories over the yellow-haired Sarmatae”!

[125] Idalian: from Idalium, a mountain in Cyprus, sacred to Venus.

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Adspirate novam pectoribus fidem mansuramque facem tradite sensibus. tam iunctis manibus nectite vincula, quam frondens hedera stringitur aesculus, quam lento premitur palmite populus, 20 et murmur querula blandius alite linguis adsiduo reddite mutuis. et labris animum conciliantibus alternum rapiat somnus anhelitum. amplexu caleat purpura regio 25 et vestes Tyrio sanguine fulgidas alter virgineus nobilitet cruor. tum victor madido prosilias toro nocturni referens vulnera proelii. Ducant pervigiles carmina tibiae 30 permissisque iocis turba licentior exultet tetricis libera legibus. passim cum ducibus ludite milites, passim cum pueris ludite virgines. haec vox aetheriis insonet axibus, 35 haec vox per populos, per mare transeat: “formosus Mariam ducit Honorius.”

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Breathe a new loyalty into your breasts and let your senses kindle a flame that shall never be extinguished. May your clasped hands form a bond more close than that betwixt ivy and leafy oak tree or poplar and pliant vine. Be the frequent kisses that ye give and receive breathed more softly than those of plaintive doves, and when lips have united soul to soul let sleep still your throbbing breath. Be the purple couch warm with your princely wooing, and a new stain ennoble coverlets ruddy with Tyrian dye. Then leap victorious from the marriage-bed, scarred with the night’s encounter.

All night long let the music of the flute resound and the crowd, set free from law’s harsh restraints, with larger licence indulge the permitted jest. Soldiers, make merry with your leaders, girls with boys. Be this the cry that re-echoes from pole to pole, among the peoples, over the seas: “Fair Honorius weds with Maria.”

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EPITHALAMIUM DE NUPTIIS HONORII AUGUSTI

PRAEFATIO

(IX.)

Surgeret in thalamum ducto cum Pelion arcu nec caperet tantos hospita terra deos, cum socer aequoreus numerosaque turba sororum certarent epulis continuare dies praeberetque Iovi communia pocula Chiron, 5 molliter obliqua parte refusus equi, Peneus gelidos mutaret nectare fontes, Oetaeis fluerent spumea vina iugis: Terpsichore facilem lascivo pollice movit barbiton et molles duxit in antra choros. 10 carmina nec superis nec displicuere Tonanti, cum teneris nossent congrua vota modis. Centauri Faunique negant. quae flectere Rhoeton, quae rigidum poterant plectra movere Pholum?

Septima lux aderat caelo totiensque renato 15 viderat exactos Hesperus igne choros: tum Phoebus, quo saxa domat, quo pertrahit ornos, pectine temptavit nobiliore lyram venturumque sacris fidibus iam spondet Achillem, iam Phrygias caedes, iam Simoënta canit. 20 frondoso strepuit felix Hymenaeus Olympo; reginam resonant Othrys et Ossa Thetim.

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EPITHALAMIUM OF HONORIUS AND MARIA

PREFACE

(IX.)

When Pelion reared his height to form a bridal chamber with long-drawn arches, and his hospitable land could not contain so many gods; when Nereus, sire of the bride, and all the throng of her sisters strove to link day to day with feastings; when Chiron, lying at ease with his horse-flanks curled under him, offered the loving-cup to Jove; when Peneus turned his cold waters to nectar and frothing wine flowed down from Oeta’s summit, Terpsichore struck her ready lyre with festive hand and led the girlish bands into the caves. The gods, the Thunderer himself, disdained not these songs, for they knew that lovers’ vows ever harmonized with tender strains. Centaurs and Fauns would have none of it: what lyre could touch Rhoetus or move inhuman Pholus?

The seventh day had flamed in heaven, seven times had Hesperus relumed his lamp and seen the dances completed; then Phoebus touched his lyre with that nobler quill, wherewith he leads captive rocks and mountain-ashes, and sang to his sacred strings now the promised birth of Achilles, now the slaughter of the Trojans and the river Simois. The happy marriage-cry re-echoed o’er leafy Olympus, and Othrys and Ossa gave back their mistress Thetis’ name.

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EPITHALAMIUM

(X.)

Hauserat insolitos promissae virginis ignes Augustus primoque rudis flagraverat aestu; nec novus unde calor nec quid suspiria vellent, noverat incipiens et adhuc ignarus amandi. non illi venator equus, non spicula curae, 5 non iaculum torquere libet; mens omnis aberrat in vulnus, quod fixit Amor. quam saepe medullis erupit gemitus! quotiens incanduit ore confessus secreta rubor nomenque beatum iniussae scripsere manus! iam munera nuptae 10 praeparat et pulchros Mariae sed luce minores eligit ornatus, quidquid venerabilis olim Livia divorumque nurus gessere superbae. incusat spes aegra moras longique videntur stare dies segnemque rotam non flectere Phoebe. 15 Scyria sic tenerum virgo flammabat Achillem fraudis adhuc expers bellatricesque docebat ducere fila manus et, mox quos horruit Ide, Thessalicos roseo nectebat pollice crines. Haec etiam queritur secum: “quonam usque verendus 20

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EPITHALAMIUM

(X.)

Unfelt before was the fire the Emperor Honorius had conceived for his promised bride, and he burned, all unexperienced, with passion’s first fever, nor knew whence came the heat, what meant the sighs--a tyro and as yet ignorant of love. Hunting, horses, javelins--for none of these he now cares nor yet to fling the spear; Love’s wound occupies all his thoughts. How often he groaned from the very heart; how often a blush, mantling to his cheeks, betrayed his secret; how often, unbidden of himself, his hand would write the loved one’s name. Already he prepares gifts for his betrothed and selects to adorn her (though their beauty is less than hers) the jewels once worn by noble Livia of old and all the proud women of the imperial house. The impatient lover chafes at the delay; the long days seem as though they stood still and the moon as though she moved not her slow wheel. Thus Deidamia, girl of Scyros, e’er yet she sees through his disguise, inflamed with love the young Achilles, and taught his warrior hands to draw the slender thread and passed her rosy fingers through the locks of that Thessalian of whom all Ida was soon to stand in awe.

Thus too he communed with himself: “How long

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cunctatur mea vota socer? quid iungere differt, quam pepigit, castasque preces implere recusat? non ego luxuriem regum moremque secutus quaesivi vultum tabulis[126] ut nuntia formae lena per innumeros iret pictura penates, 25 nec variis dubium thalamis lecturus[127] amorem ardua commisi falsae conubia cerae. non rapio praeceps alienae foedera taedae, sed quae sponsa mihi pridem patrisque relicta mandatis uno materni sanguinis ortu 30 communem partitur avum. fastidia supplex deposui gessique procum; de limine sacro oratum misi proceres, qui proxima nobis iura tenent. fateor, Stilicho, non parva poposci, sed certe mereor princeps, hoc principe natus 35 qui sibi te generum fraterna prole revinxit, cui Mariam debes. faenus mihi solve paternum, redde suos aulae. mater fortasse rogari mollior. o patrui germen, cui nominis heres successi, sublime decus torrentis Hiberi, 40 stirpe soror, pietate parens, tibi creditus infans inque tuo crevi gremio, partuque remoto tu potius Flaccilla mihi. quid dividis ergo

[126] _tabulis_ vulg.; Birt reads _thalamis_ with the better MSS.

[127] Birt reads _laturus_ with P; other MSS. _lecturus_.

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will honoured Stilicho forbear to grant my prayers? Why postpones he the union of those whose love he has approved? Why should he refuse to fulfil my chaste desires? I follow not the example of luxurious princes in seeking the beauties of a pictured countenance, whereby the pander canvass may pass from house to house to make known the charms demanded; nor yet have I sought to choose the uncertain object of my love from this house or from that, and thus entrusted to deceptive wax the difficult selection of a bride. I sever not in violence the bonds that unite a wedded woman to her lord; her I seek who hath long been betrothed to me, who by a father’s orders was left my affianced bride and who through her mother shares with me a common grandsire. A suppliant I have laid aside my rank and acted the suitor. Princes, second only to myself in rank, have I sent from my imperial palace to present my petition. ’Tis no small thing I ask, Stilicho; that I admit; yet surely to me, an emperor, son of that other emperor who, by giving thee his brother’s adopted daughter to wife, made thee his son-in-law,--to me thou dost owe Maria. Pay back to the son the interest due to his sire; restore to the palace those who are its own. Mayhap her mother[128] will be less inexorable. Daughter of mine uncle Honorius, whence I derive my name, chief glory of the land of swift-flowing Ebro, cousin by birth, by mother’s love a mother, to thy care was mine infancy entrusted, in thine arms I grew to boyhood; save for my birth thou, rather than Flacilla, art my mother. Why dost thou separate thy two

[128] Serena, daughter of Honorius, the elder, the brother of Theodosius the Great. Theodosius adopted Serena so that by adoption Honorius and Serena were brother and sister, by birth cousins. Serena was probably born in 376; Honorius not till Sept. 9, 384.

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pignora? quid iuveni natam non reddis alumno? optatusne dies aderit? dabiturne iugalis 45 nox umquam?” Tali solatur vulnera questu. risit Amor placidaeque volat trans aequora matri nuntius et totas iactantior explicat alas. Mons latus Ionium Cypri praeruptus obumbrat, invius humano gressu, Phariumque cubile 50 Proteos et septem despectat cornua Nili. hunc neque candentes audent vestire pruinae, hunc venti pulsare timent, hunc laedere nimbi. luxuriae Venerique vacat. pars acrior anni exulat; aeterni patet indulgentia veris. 55 in campum se fundit apex; hunc aurea saepes circuit et fulvo defendit prata metallo. Mulciber, ut perhibent, his oscula coniugis emit moenibus et tales uxorius obtulit arces. intus rura micant, manibus quae subdita nullis 60 perpetuum florent, Zephyro contenta colono, umbrosumque nemus, quo non admittitur ales, ni probet ante suos diva sub iudice cantus: quae placuit, fruitur ramis; quae victa, recedit. vivunt in Venerem frondes omnisque vicissim 65 felix arbor amat; nutant ad mutua palmae foedera, populeo suspirat populus ictu et platani platanis alnoque adsibilat alnus. Labuntur gemini fontes, hic dulcis, amarus alter, et infusis corrumpunt mella venenis, 70

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children? Why not bestow a daughter born upon an adopted son? Will the longed-for day ever come; the marriage-night ever be sanctioned?”

With such complaint he assuages the wounds of love. Cupid laughed and speeding across the deep bore the news to his gentle mother, proudly spreading his wings to their full extent.

Where Cyprus looks out over the Ionian main a craggy mountain overshadows it; unapproachable by human foot it faces the isle of Pharos, the home of Proteus and the seven mouths of the Nile. The hoar frost dares not clothe its sides, nor the rude winds buffet it nor clouds obscure. It is consecrate to pleasure and to Venus. The year’s less clement seasons are strangers to it, whereover ever brood the blessings of eternal spring. The mountain’s height slopes down into a plain; that a golden hedge encircles, guarding its meadows with yellow metal. This demesne, men say, was the price paid by Mulciber for the kisses of his wife, these towers were the gift of a loving husband. Fair is the enclosed country, ever bright with flowers though touched with no labouring hand, for Zephyr is husbandman enough therefor. Into its shady groves no bird may enter save such as has first won the goddess’ approval for its song. Those which please her may flit among the branches; they must quit who cannot pass the test. The very leaves live for love and in his season every happy tree experiences love’s power: palm bends down to mate with palm, poplar sighs its passion for poplar, plane whispers to plane, alder to alder.

Here spring two fountains, the one of sweet water, the other of bitter, honey is mingled with the first, poison with the second, and in these streams ’tis said

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unde Cupidineas armari fama sagittas. mille pharetrati ludunt in margine fratres, ore pares, aevo similes, gens mollis Amorum. hos Nymphae pariunt, illum Venus aurea solum edidit. ille deos caelumque et sidera cornu 75 temperat et summos dignatur figere reges; hi plebem feriunt. nec cetera numina desunt: hic habitat nullo constricta Licentia nodo et flecti faciles Irae vinoque madentes Excubiae Lacrimaeque rudes et gratus amantum 80 Pallor et in primis titubans Audacia furtis iucundique Metus et non secura Voluptas; et lasciva volant levibus Periuria ventis. quos inter petulans alta cervice Iuventas excludit Senium luco. 85 Procul atria divae permutant radios silvaque obstante virescunt. Lemnius haec etiam gemmis extruxit et auro admiscens artem pretio trabibusque smaragdi supposuit caesas hyacinthi rupe columnas. beryllo paries et iaspide lubrica surgunt 90 limina despectusque solo calcatur achates. in medio glaebis redolentibus area dives praebet odoratas messes; hic mitis amomi, hic casiae matura seges, Panchaeaque turgent cinnama, nec sicco frondescunt vimina costo 95 tardaque sudanti prorepunt balsama rivo. Quo postquam delapsus Amor longasque peregit penna vias, alacer passuque superbior intrat. caesariem tunc forte Venus subnixa corusco fingebat solio. dextra laevaque sorores 100 stabant Idaliae: largos haec nectaris imbres

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that Cupid dips his arrows. A thousand brother Loves with quivers play all around upon the banks, a tender company like to Cupid himself in face and of equal age. The nymphs are their mothers; Cupid is the only child of golden Venus. He with his bow subdues the stars and the gods and heaven, and disdains not to wound mighty kings; of the others the common people is the prey. Other deities, too, are here: Licence bound by no fetters, easily moved Anger, Wakes dripping with wine, inexperienced Tears, Pallor that lovers ever prize, Boldness trembling at his first thefts, happy Fears, unstable Pleasure, and lovers’ Oaths, the sport of every lightest breeze. Amid them all wanton Youth with haughty neck shuts out Age from the grove.

Afar shines and glitters the goddess’ many-coloured palace, green gleaming by reason of the encircling grove. Vulcan built this too of precious stones and gold, wedding their costliness to art. Columns cut from rock of hyacinth support emerald beams; the walls are of beryl, the high-builded thresholds of polished jaspar, the floor of agate trodden as dirt beneath the foot. In the midst is a courtyard rich with fragrant turf that yields a harvest of perfume; there grows sweet spikenard and ripe cassia, Panchaean cinnamon-flowers and sprays of oozy balm, while balsam creeps forth slowly in an exuding stream.

Hither Love glided down, winging his way o’er the long journey. Joyfully and with prouder gait than e’er his wont he enters. Venus was seated on her glittering throne, tiring her hair. On her right hand and on her left stood the Idalian sisters.[129] Of these one pours a rich stream of nectar over Venus’

[129] _i.e._ the Graces.

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inrigat, haec morsu numerosi dentis eburno multifidum discrimen arat; sed tertia retro dat varios nexus et iusto dividit orbes ordine, neglectam partem studiosa relinquens: 105 plus error decuit. speculi nec vultus egebat iudicio; similis tecto monstratur in omni et capitur[130] quocumque videt. dum singula cernit, seque probat, nati venientis conspicit umbram ambrosioque sinu puerum complexa ferocem 110 “quid tantum gavisus?” ait; “quae proelia sudas improbe? quis iacuit telis? iterumne Tonantem inter Sidonias cogis mugire iuvencas? an Titana domas? an pastoralia Lunam rursus in antra vocas? durum magnumque videris debellasse deum.” 116 Suspensus in oscula matris ille refert: “Laetare, parens; inmane tropaeum rettulimus, nostrum iam sensit Honorius arcum. scis Mariam patremque ducem, qui cuspide Gallos Italiamque fovet, nec te praeclara Serenae 120 fama latet. propera; regalibus adnue votis: iunge toros.” Gremio natum Cytherea removit et crines festina ligat peplumque fluentem adlevat et blando spirantem numine ceston cingitur, impulsos pluviis quo mitigat amnes, 125 quo mare, quo ventos irataque fulmina solvit. ut stetit ad litus, parvos adfatur alumnos: “Heus! quis erit, pueri, vitreas qui lapsus in undas huc rapidum Tritona vocet, quo vecta per altum

[130] Birt, following the MSS., _rapitur_; _capitur_ was suggested by Conington, comparing Virg. Aen. viii. 311.

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head, another parts her hair with a fine ivory comb. A third, standing behind the goddess, braids her tresses and orders her ringlets in due array, yet carefully leaving a part untended; such negligence becomes her more. Nor did her face lack the mirror’s verdict; her image is reflected over all the palace and she is charmed wheresoever she looks. While she surveys each detail and approves her beauty she notes the shadow of her son as he approaches and catches the fierce boy to her fragrant bosom. “Whence comes thy joy?” she asks; “cruel child, what battles hast thou fought? What victim has thine arrow pierced? Hast thou once more compelled the Thunderer to low among the heifers of Sidon? Hast thou overcome Apollo, or again summoned Diana to a shepherd’s cave? Methinks thou hast triumphed over some fierce and potent god.”

Hanging upon his mother’s kisses he answered: “Mother, be thou glad; a great victory is ours. Now has Honorius felt our arrows. Thou knowest Maria and her sire, the general whose spear protects Gaul and Italy; the fame of noble Serena is not hidden from thee. Haste thee, assent to their princely prayers and seal this royal union.”

Cytherea freed her from her son’s embrace, hastily bound up her hair, gathered up her flowing dress and girt herself about with the divine girdle whose all-compelling charm can stay the rain-swollen torrent and appease the sea, the winds and angry thunderbolts. Soon as she stood on the shore she thus addressed her small foster-children. “Come, children, which of you will plunge beneath the glassy wave and summon me hither fleet Triton to bear me

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deferar? haud umquam tanto mihi venerit usu. 130 sacri, quos petimus, thalami. pernicius omnes quaerite, seu concha Libycum circumsonat aequor, Aegaeas seu frangit aquas. quicumque repertum duxerit, aurata donabitur ille pharetra.” Dixerat et sparsa diversi plebe feruntur 135 exploratores. pelagi sub fluctibus ibat Carpathiis Triton obluctantemque petebat Cymothoën. timet illa ferum seseque sequenti subripit et duris elabitur uda lacertis. “heus,” inquit speculatus Amor, “non vestra sub imis furta tegi potuere vadis. accingere nostram 141 vecturus dominam: pretium non vile laboris Cymothoën facilem, quae nunc detrectat, habebis. hac mercede veni.” Prorupit gurgite torvus semifer; undosi verrebant brachia crines; 145 hispida tendebant bifido vestigia cornu, qua pistrix commissa viro. ter pectora movit; iam quarto Paphias tractu sulcabat harenas. umbratura deam retro sinuatur in arcum belua; tum vivo squalentia murice terga 150 purpureis mollita toris[131]: hoc navigat antro[132] fulta Venus; niveae delibant aequora plantae. prosequitur volucer late comitatus Amorum tranquillumque choris quatitur mare. serta per omnem Neptuni dispersa domum. Cadmeia ludit 155 Leucothoë, frenatque rosis delphina Palaemon; alternas violis Nereus interserit algas;

[131] _toris_ A, followed by Birt; but _rosis_ VP is attractive.

[132] _antro_ P1; vulg. _ostro_.

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quickly o’er the deep? Never will he have come to do us better service. Sacred is the marriage that I seek. Make all speed in your search; may be the Libyan sea rings to his conch, may be he cleaves the Aegean main. Whoso shall find and bring him hither shall have a golden quiver as a reward.”

She spake and, dividing into various bands, the scouts set out. Triton was swimming beneath the waves of the Carpathian sea, pursuing reluctant Cymothoë. She feared her rough lover and eluded his pursuit, her wet form gliding through the embraces of his strong arms. One of the Loves espied him and cried, “Stay! the deeps cannot hide your amours. Make ready to carry our mistress; as a reward for thy services (and ’tis no meagre one) thou shalt have Cymothoë, a complaisant mistress shall she be though she flout thee now. Come and win thy recompense.”

The dread monster uprose from the abyss; his billowing hair swept his shoulders; hoofs of cloven horn grown round with bristles sprang from where his fishy tail joined his man’s body. He swam three strokes and at the fourth stranded upon the shore of Cyprus. To shade the goddess the monster arched back his tail; then his back, rough with living purple, was bedded with scarlet coverlets; resting in such a retreat does Venus voyage, her snowy feet just dipping in the sea. A great company of wingèd Loves fly after her, troubling the calm surface of Ocean. Neptune’s palace is all adorned with flowers. Leucothoë, daughter of Cadmus, sports on the water, and Palaemon drives his dolphin with a bridle of roses. Nereus sets violets here

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canitiem Glaucus ligat inmortalibus herbis. nec non et variis vectae Nereides ibant audito rumore feris (hanc pisce voluto 160 sublevat Oceani monstrum Tartesia tigris; hanc timor Aegaei rupturus fronte carinas trux aries; haec caeruleae suspensa leaenae innatat; haec viridem trahitur complexa iuvencum) certatimque novis onerant conubia donis. 165 cingula Cymothoë, rarum Galatea monile et gravibus Psamathe bacis diadema ferebat intextum, Rubro quas legerat ipsa profundo. mergit se subito vellitque corallia Doto: vimen erat dum stagna subit; processerat undis: 170 gemma fuit. Nudae Venerem cinxere catervae plaudentesque simul tali cum voce sequuntur: “hos Mariae cultus, haec munera nostra precamur reginae regina feras. dic talia numquam promeruisse Thetim nec cum soror Amphitrite 175 nostro nupta Iovi. devotum sentiat aequor, agnoscat famulum virgo Stilichonia pontum. victrices nos saepe rates classemque paternam veximus, attritis cum tenderet ultor Achivis.” Iam Ligurum terris spumantia pectora Triton 180 adpulerat lassosque fretis extenderat orbes. continuo sublime volans ad moenia Gallis condita, lanigeri suis ostentantia pellem, pervenit. adventu Veneris pulsata recedunt nubila, clarescunt puris Aquilonibus Alpes. 185

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

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

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

[133] _i.e._ Neptune.

[134] Milan; _cf._ Isid. _Orig._ XV. 1 _vocatum Mediolanum ab eo, quod ibi sus in medio lanea perhibetur inventa_; Sidon. Apol. vii. 17 _et quae lanigero de sue nomen habent_.

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laetitiae causas ignorat dicere miles laetaturque tamen; Mavortia signa rubescunt floribus et subitis animantur frondibus hastae. illa suum dictis adfatur talibus agmen: “Gradivum, nostri comites, arcete parumper, 190 ut soli vacet aula mihi. procul igneus horror thoracum, gladiosque tegat vagina minaces. stent bellatrices aquilae saevique dracones. fas sit castra meis hodie succumbere signis: tibia pro lituis et pro clangore tubarum 195 molle lyrae festumque canant. epulentur ad ipsas excubias; mediis spirent crateres in armis. laxet terribiles maiestas regia fastus et sociam plebem non indignata potestas confundat turbae proceres. solvantur habenis 200 gaudia nec leges pudeat ridere severas. “Tu festas, Hymenaee, faces, tu, Gratia, flores elige, tu geminas, Concordia, necte coronas. vos, pennata cohors, quocumque vocaverit usus, divisa properate manu, neu marceat ulla 205 segnities: alii funalibus ordine ductis plurima venturae suspendite lumina nocti; hi nostra nitidos postes obducere myrto contendant; pars nectareis adspergite tecta fontibus et flamma lucos adolete Sabaeos; 210 pars infecta croco velamina lutea Serum pandite Sidoniasque solo prosternite vestes. ast alii thalamum docto componite textu; stamine gemmato picturatisque columnis

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

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

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aedificetur apex, qualem non Lydia dives 215 erexit Pelopi nec quem struxere Lyaeo Indorum spoliis et opaco palmite Bacchae. illic exuvias omnes cumulate parentum: quidquid avus senior Mauro vel Saxone victis, quidquid ab innumeris socio Stilichone tremendus 220 quaesivit genitor bellis, quodcumque Gelonus Armeniusve dedit; quantum crinita sagittis attulit extremo Meroë circumflua Nilo; misit Achaemenio quidquid de Tigride Medus, cum supplex emeret Romanam Parthia pacem. 225 nobilibus gazis opibusque cubilia surgant barbaricis; omnes thalamo conferte triumphos.” Sic ait et sponsae petit improvisa penates. illa autem secura tori taedasque parari nescia divinae fruitur sermone parentis 230 maternosque bibit mores exemplaque discit prisca pudicitiae Latios nec volvere libros desinit aut Graios, ipsa genetrice magistra, Maeonius quaecumque senex aut Thracius Orpheus aut Mytilenaeo modulatur pectine Sappho 235 (sic Triviam Latona monet; sic mitis in antro Mnemosyne docili tradit praecepta Thaliae): cum procul augeri nitor et iucundior aër attonitam lustrare domum fundique comarum gratus odor. mox vera fides numenque refulsit. 240 cunctatur stupefacta Venus; nunc ora puellae,

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

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

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nunc flavam niveo miratur vertice matrem. haec modo crescenti, plenae par altera lunae: adsurgit ceu forte minor sub matre virenti laurus et ingentes ramos olimque futuras 245 promittit iam parva comas; vel flore sub uno ceu geminae Paestana rosae per iugera regnant: haec largo matura die saturataque vernis roribus indulget spatio; latet altera nodo nec teneris audet foliis admittere soles. 250 Adstitit et blande Mariam Cytherea salutat: “salve sidereae proles augusta Serenae, magnorum suboles regum parituraque reges. te propter Paphias sedes Cyprumque reliqui, te propter libuit tantos explere labores 255 et tantum transnare maris, ne vilior ultra privatos paterere lares neu tempore longo dilatos iuvenis nutriret Honorius ignes. accipe fortunam generis, diadema resume, quod tribuas natis, et in haec penetralia rursus, 260 unde parens progressa, redi. fac nulla subesse vincula cognatae: quamvis aliena fuisses principibus, regnum poteras hoc ore mereri. quae propior sceptris facies? qui dignior aula 264 vultus erit? non labra rosae, non colla pruinae, non crines aequant violae, non lumina flammae. quam iuncti leviter sese discrimine confert umbra supercilii! miscet quam iusta pudorem temperies nimio nec sanguine candor abundat!

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

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

[135] The _viola_ was probably a pansy or wallflower, Gk λευκόϊον.

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Aurorae vincis digitos umerosque Dianae; 270 ipsam iam superas matrem. si Bacchus amator dotali potuit caelum signare corona, cur nullis virgo redimitur pulchrior astris? iam tibi molitur stellantia serta Bootes inque decus Mariae iam sidera parturit aether. 275 i, digno nectenda viro tantique per orbem consors imperii! iam te venerabitur Hister; nomen adorabunt populi; iam Rhenus et Albis serviet; in medios ibis regina Sygambros. quid numerem gentes Atlanteosque recessus 280 Oceani? toto pariter donabere mundo.” Dixit et ornatus, dederant quos nuper ovantes Nereides, collo membrisque micantibus aptat. ipsa caput distinguit acu, substringit amictus; flammea virgineis accommodat ipsa capillis. 285 ante fores iam pompa sonat, pilentaque sacra praeradiant ductura nurum. calet obvius ire iam princeps tardumque cupit discedere solem: nobilis haud aliter sonipes, quem primus amoris sollicitavit odor, tumidus quatiensque decoras 290 curvata cervice iubas Pharsalia rura pervolat et notos hinnitu flagitat amnes naribus accensis; mulcet fecunda magistros spes gregis et pulchro gaudent armenta marito. Candidus interea positis exercitus armis 295 exultat socerum circa; nec signifer ullus

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

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

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

[136] Venus acts as _pronuba_. The parting of the hair with the spear was a relic of marriage by capture (_cf._ Catullus lxi.).

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

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

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formosusque rigor vultusque auctura verendos canities festina venit. cum sorte remota 325 contingat senio gravitas viresque iuventae, utraque te cingit propriis insignibus aetas. ornatur Fortuna viro. non ulla nocendi tela nec infecti iugulis civilibus enses. non odium terrore moves nec frena resolvit 330 gratia; diligimus pariter pariterque timemus. ipse metus te noster amat, iustissime legum arbiter, egregiae pacis fidissime custos, optime ductorum, fortunatissime patrum. plus iam, plus domino cuncti debere fatemur, 335 quod gener est, invicte, tuus. vincire corona; insere te nostris contempto iure choreis. sic puer Eucherius superet virtute parentem; aurea sic videat similes Thermantia taedas; sic uterus crescat Mariae; sic natus in ostro 340 parvus Honoriades genibus considat avitis.”

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

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

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PANEGYRICUS DE TERTIO CONSULATU HONORII AUGUSTI

PRAEFATIO

(VI.)

Parvos non aquilis fas est educere fetus ante fidem solis iudiciumque poli. nam pater, excusso saluit cum tegmine proles ovaque maternus rupit hiulca tepor, protinus implumes convertit ad aethera nidos 5 et recto flammas imperat ore pati. consulit ardentes radios et luce magistra natorum vires ingeniumque probat. degenerem refugo torsit qui lumine visum, unguibus hunc saevis ira paterna ferit. 10 exploratores oculis qui pertulit ignes sustinuitque acie nobiliore diem, nutritur volucrumque potens et fulminis heres, gesturus summo tela trisulca Iovi. me quoque Pieriis temptatum saepius antris 15 audet magna suo mittere Roma deo. iam dominas aures, iam regia tecta meremur et chelys Augusto iudice nostra sonat.

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PANEGYRIC ON THE THIRD CONSULSHIP OF THE EMPEROR HONORIUS (A.D. 396)

PREFACE

(VI.)

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

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PANEGYRICUS

(VII.)

Tertia Romulei sumant exordia fasces terque tuas ducat bellatrix pompa curules; festior annus eat cinctusque imitata Gabinos dives Hydaspeis augescat purpura gemmis; succedant armis trabeae, tentoria lictor 5 ambiat et Latiae redeant ad signa secures. tuque o qui patrium curis aequalibus orbem Eoo cum fratre regis, procede secundis alitibus Phoebique novos ordire meatus, spes votumque poli, quem primo a limine vitae 10 nutrix aula fovet, strictis quem fulgida telis inter laurigeros aluerunt castra triumphos. ardua privatos nescit Fortuna penates et regnum cum luce dedit. cognata potestas excepit Tyrio venerabile pignus in ostro 15 lustravitque tuos aquilis victricibus ortus miles et in mediis cunabula praebuit hastis. te nascente ferox toto Germania Rheno

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PANEGYRIC

(VII.)

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

[138] The _cinctus Gabinus_ was one of the insignia of the consulship. It consisted in girding the toga tight round the body by means of one of its _laciniae_ (= loose ends). Servius (on Virg. _Aen._ vii. 612) has a story that Gabii was invaded during the performance of a sacrifice and that the participants repulsed the enemy in their _cinctus_.

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

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intremuit movitque suas formidine silvas Caucasus et positis numen confessa pharetris 20 ignavas Meroë traxit de crine sagittas. reptasti per scuta puer, regumque recentes exuviae tibi ludus erant, primusque solebas aspera complecti torvum post proelia patrem, signa triumphato quotiens flexisset ab Histro 25 Arctoa de strage calens, et poscere partem de spoliis, Scythicos arcus aut rapta Gelonis cingula vel iaculum Daci vel frena Suebi. ille coruscanti clipeo te saepe volentem sustulit adridens et pectore pressit anhelo 30 intrepidum ferri galeae nec triste timentem fulgur et ad summas tendentem brachia cristas. tum sic laetus ait: “rex o stellantis Olympi, talis perdomito redeat mihi filius hoste, Hyrcanas populatus opes aut caede superbus 35 Assyria, sic ense rubens, sic flamine crebro turbidus et grato respersus pulvere belli, armaque gaviso referat captiva parenti.” Mox ubi firmasti recto vestigia gressu, non tibi desidias molles nec marcida luxu 40 otia nec somnos genitor permisit inertes, sed nova per duros instruxit membra labores et cruda teneras exercuit indole vires: frigora saeva pati, gravibus non cedere nimbis, aestivum tolerare iubar, transnare sonoras 45 torrentum furias, ascensu vincere montes,

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

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

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planitiem cursu, valles et concava saltu, nec non in clipeo vigiles producere noctes, in galea potare nives, nunc spicula cornu tendere, nunc glandes Baleari spargere funda. 50 quoque magis nimium pugnae inflammaret amorem, facta tui numerabat avi, quem litus adustae horrescit Libyae ratibusque impervia Thule: ille leves Mauros nec falso nomine Pictos edomuit Scottumque vago mucrone secutus 55 fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus undas et geminis fulgens utroque sub axe tropaeis Tethyos alternae refluas calcavit harenas. hos tibi virtutum stimulos, haec semina laudum, haec exempla dabat. non ocius hausit Achilles 60 semiferi praecepta senis, seu cuspidis artes sive lyrae cantus medicas seu disceret herbas. Interea turbata fides. civilia rursus bella tonant dubiumque quatit discordia mundum. pro crimen superum, longi pro dedecus aevi: 65 barbarus Hesperias exul possederat urbes sceptraque deiecto dederat Romana clienti. iam princeps molitur iter gentesque remotas colligit Aurorae, tumidus quascumque pererrat 69 Euphrates, quas lustrat Halys, quas ditat Orontes; turiferos Arabes saltus, vada Caspia Medi, Armenii Phasin, Parthi liquere Niphaten. Quae tibi tuna Martis rabies quantusque sequendi ardor erat? quanto flagrabant pectora voto

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

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

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

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

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

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optatas audire tubas campique cruenta 75 tempestate frui truncisque inmergere plantas? ut leo, quem fulvae matris spelunca tegebat uberibus solitum pasci, cum crescere sensit ungue pedes et terga iubis et dentibus ora, iam negat imbelles epulas et rupe relicta 80 Gaetulo comes ire patri stabulisque minari aestuat et celsi tabo sordere iuvenci. ille vetat rerumque tibi commendat habenas et sacro meritos ornat diademate crines. tantaque se rudibus pietas ostendit in annis, 85 sic aetas animo cessit, quererentur ut omnes imperium tibi sero datum. Victoria velox auspiciis effecta tuis. Pugnastis uterque: tu fatis genitorque manu. te propter et Alpes invadi faciles cauto nec profuit hosti 90 munitis haesisse locis: spes inrita valli concidit et scopulis patuerunt claustra revulsis. te propter gelidis Aquilo de monte procellis obruit adversas acies revolutaque tela vertit in auctores et turbine reppulit hastas 95 o nimium dilecte deo, cui fundit ab antris Aeolus armatas hiemes, cui militat aether et coniurati veniunt ad classica venti. Alpinae rubuere nives, et Frigidus amnis

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

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

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mutatis fumavit aquis turbaque cadentum 100 staret, ni rapidus iuvisset flumina sanguis. At ferus inventor scelerum traiecerat altum non uno mucrone latus, duplexque tepebat ensis, et ultrices in se converterat iras tandem iusta manus. iam libertate reducta, 105 quamvis emeritum peteret natura reverti numen et auratas astrorum panderet arces nutaretque oneris venturi conscius Atlas, distulit Augustus cupido se credere caelo, dum tibi pacatum praesenti traderet orbem. 110 nec mora: Bistoniis alacer consurgis ab oris, inter barbaricas ausus transire cohortes impavido vultu; linquis Rhodopeia saxa Orpheis animata modis; iuga deseris Oetes Herculeo damnata rogo; post Pelion intras 115 Nereis inlustre toris; te pulcher Enipeus celsaque Dodone stupuit rursusque locutae in te Chaoniae moverunt carmina quercus. Illyrici legitur plaga litoris; arva teruntur Dalmatiae; Phrygii numerantur stagna Timavi. 120 gaudent Italiae sublimibus oppida muris adventu sacrata tuo, summissus adorat Eridanus blandosque iubet mitescere fluctus et Phaëthonteas solitae deflere ruinas roscida frondosae revocant electra sorores. 125 Quanti tum iuvenes, quantae sprevere pudorem spectandi studio matres, puerisque severi

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

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

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

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

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

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certavere senes, cum tu genitoris amico exceptus gremio mediam veherere per urbem velaretque pios communis laurea currus! 130 quis non Luciferum roseo cum Sole videri credidit aut iunctum Bromio radiare Tonantem? floret cristatis exercitus undique turmis, quisque sua te voce canens. praestringit aena lux oculos, nudique seges Mavortia ferri 135 ingeminat splendore diem. pars nobilis arcu, pars longe iaculis, pars comminus horrida contis; hi volucres tollunt aquilas, hi picta draconum colla levant, multusque tumet per nubila serpens iratus stimulante Noto vivitque receptis 140 flatibus et vario mentitur sibila tractu. Ut ventum ad sedes, cunctos discedere tectis dux iubet et generum compellat talibus ultro: “bellipotens Stilicho, cuius mihi robur in armis, pace probata fides: quid enim per proelia gessi 145 te sine? quem merui te non sudante triumphum? Odrysium pariter Getico foedavimus Hebrum sanguine, Sarmaticas pariter prostravimus alas Riphaeaque simul fessos porreximus artus in glacie stantemque rota sulcavimus Histrum: 150 ergo age, me quoniam caelestis regia poscit, tu curis succede meis, tu pignora solus nostra fove: geminos dextra tu protege fratres.

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struggle with boys for places whence to see thee in the tender embraces of thy sire, borne through the midst of Rome on a triumphal chariot decked but with the shade of a simple laurel branch. Who did not then think that he beheld the morning-star together with the rosy sun, or the Thunderer shine in concert with Bacchus? On every side stretches the host of plumed warriors, each hymning thy praises in his own tongue; the brightness of bronze dazzles the eye and the martial glint of a forest of unsheathed swords redoubles the light of day. Some are decked with bows, others bristle with far-flung javelins or pikes for fighting at close quarters. These raise standards adorned with flying eagles, or with embroidered dragons or writhing serpents, that in their thousands seem to be roused to angry life by the breath of the wind which, as it blows them this way and that, causes them to rustle with a sound like the hiss of a living snake.

When they reached the palace the emperor bade all depart and thus unbidden addressed his son-in-law: “Victorious Stilicho, of whose courage in war, of whose loyalty in peace I have made proof--what warlike feat have I performed without thine aid? What triumph have I won that thou helpedst me not in the winning? Together we caused Thracian Hebrus to run red with Getic blood, together overthrew the squadrons of the Sarmatae, together rested our weary limbs on the snows of Mount Riphaeus and scarred the frozen Danube with our chariot’s wheel--come, therefore, since heaven’s halls claim me, do thou take up my task; be thou sole guardian of my children, let thy hand protect my two sons. I adjure thee by

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per consanguineos thalamos noctemque beatam, per taedas, quas ipsa tuo regina levavit 155 coniugio sociaque nurum produxit ab aula, indue mente patrem, crescentes dilige fetus ut ducis, ut soceri. Iamiam securus ad astra te custode ferar; rupta si mole Typhoeus prosiliat, vinclis Tityos si membra resolvat, 160 si furor Enceladi proiecta mugiat Aetna, opposito Stilichone cadent.” Nec plura locutus, sicut erat, liquido signavit tramite nubes ingrediturque globum Lunae limenque relinquit Arcados et Veneris clementes advolat auras. 165 hinc Phoebi permensus iter flammamque nocentem Gradivi placidumque Iovem; stetit arce suprema, algenti qua zona riget Saturnia tractu. machina laxatur caeli rutilaeque patescunt sponte fores. Arctoa parat convexa Bootes, 170 australes reserat portas succinctus Orion invitantque novum sidus, pendentque vicissim quas partes velit ipse sequi, quibus esse sodalis dignetur stellis aut qua regione morari. o decus aetherium, terrarum gloria quondam, 175 te tuus Oceanus natali gurgite lassum excipit et notis Hispania proluit undis. fortunate parens, primos cum detegis ortus, adspicis Arcadium; cum te proclivior urges, occiduum visus remoratur Honorius ignem; 180 et quocumque vagos flectas sub cardine cursus,

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that marriage that makes thee kin with me, by the night that saw its consummation, by the torch which at thy wedding-feast the queen carried in her own hand when she led thy bride-elect from out the imperial palace, take on thee a father’s spirit, guard the years of their childhood. Was not their sire thy master and thy wife’s father? Now, now I shall mount untroubled to the stars for thou wilt watch over them. Even should Typhoeus rend away the rocks and leap forth, should Tityus free his captive limbs, should Enceladus, hurling Etna from him, roar in rage--each and all will fall before Stilicho’s attack.”

He spake no more but still in human form clove a furrow of light through the clouds; he passes to Luna’s globe, leaves Mercury’s threshold and hastens to the gentle airs of Venus. Hence he traverses Phoebus’ path, Mars’ baleful fires and Jupiter’s quiet quarters, and stands upon the very crown of the sky, cold Saturn’s frozen zone. Heaven’s fabric opens, unbidden the shining doors swing back. Boötes prepares a place in the vault of the northern sky, sword-girt Orion unbars the portals of the south; they offer welcome to the new star, uncertain each in turn to what region he will betake himself, what constellation he will grace with his presence, or in what quarter he will elect to shine alone. O glory of heaven as once thou wert of earth, the ocean that laves the shores of the land of thy birth receives thee wearied with thy nightly course, Spain bathes thee in thy natal waves. Happy father, when first thou risest above the horizon thou lookest upon Arcadius, when thou dippest to thy setting the sight of Honorius delays thy westering fires. Through whichever hemisphere thou takest thy wandering

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natorum per regna venis, qui mente serena maturoque regunt iunctas moderamine gentes, saecula qui rursus formant meliore metallo. luget Avarities Stygiis innexa catenis 185 cumque suo demens expellitur Ambitus auro. non dominantur opes nec corrumpentia sensus dona valent: emitur sola virtute potestas. Unanimi fratres, quorum mare terraque fatis debetur, quodcumque manus evasit avitas, 190 quod superest patri: vobis iam Mulciber arma praeparat et Sicula Cyclops incude laborat, Brontes innumeris exasperat aegida signis, altum fulminea crispare in casside conum festinat Steropes, nectit thoraca Pyragmon 195 ignifluisque gemit Lipare fumosa cavernis. vobis Ionia virides Neptunus in alga nutrit equos, qui summa freti per caerula possint ferre viam segetemque levi percurrere motu, nesciat ut spumas nec proterat ungula culmos. 200 iam video Babylona rapi Parthumque coactum non ficta trepidare fuga, iam Bactra teneri legibus et famulis Gangen pallescere ripis gemmatosque humilem dispergere Persida cultus. ite per extremum Tanaim pigrosque Triones, 205 ite per ardentem Libyam, superate vapores solis et arcanos Nili deprendite fontes, Herculeum finem, Bacchi transcurrite metas: vestri iuris erit, quidquid complectitur axis, vobis Rubra dabunt pretiosas aequora conchas, 210 Indus ebur, ramos Panchaia, vellera Seres.

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journey, thou passest over the domains of sons who with tranquil mind and ripe control rule over allied peoples, who once again fashion the ages from a nobler ore. Avarice is left to weep in Stygian chains, mad Ambition and his gold banished afar. Wealth does not hold sway; sense-corrupting gifts are of no avail; virtue alone can purchase power.

Brothers twain, with the heart of one, brothers to whose rule fate has entrusted sea and land, if there is aught that has escaped your grandsire’s conquering hand, aught your father has left unsubdued, even now Vulcan prepares the arms for their subjection and Cyclops labours on the Sicilian anvil. Brontes carves countless figures on the shield, Steropes hastes to bend the lofty peak of the flashing helmet, Pyragmon knits the coat of mail, smoky Lipare roars throughout its fire-belching caves. ’Tis for you that Neptune pastures in the seaweed meadows of the Ionian main green sea-horses who can fly o’er the surface of the blue waters with so light a step that their hoofs are unflecked with foam, and course o’er fields of corn so delicately that the ears do not bend beneath their weight. E’en now I see the sack of Babylon and the Parthian driven to flight that is not feigned, Bactria subjected to the Law, the fearful pallor of the Ganges’ servile banks, the humbled Persian throwing off his gem-encrusted robes. Mount to Tanais’ source, explore the frozen North, traverse sun-scorched Libya, o’ercome the fires of Titan and surprise Nile’s hidden spring; pass the Pillars of Hercules, the bourne, too, whence Bacchus returned; whatever heaven enfolds shall own your dominion. To you the Red Sea shall give precious shells, India her ivory, Panchaia perfumes, and China silk.

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PANEGYRICUS DE QUARTO CONSULATU HONORII AUGUSTI

(VIII.)

Auspiciis iterum sese regalibus annus induit et nota fruitur iactantior aula, limina nec passi circum privata morari exultant reduces Augusto consule fasces, cernis ut armorum proceres legumque potentes 5 patricios sumant[144] habitus? et more Gabino discolor incedit legio positisque parumper bellorum signis sequitur vexilla Quirini. lictori cedunt aquilae ridetque togatus miles et in mediis effulget curia castris. 10 ipsa Palatino circumvallata senatu iam trabeam Bellona gerit parmamque removit et galeam sacras umeris vectura curules. nec te laurigeras pudeat, Gradive, secures pacata gestare manu Latiaque micantem 15 loricam mutare toga, dum ferreus haeret currus et Eridani ludunt per prata iugales. Haud indigna coli nec nuper cognita Marti Ulpia progenies et quae diademata mundo sparsit Hibera domus. nec tantam vilior unda 20

[144] _sumant_ B; Birt reads _sumunt_, following the other MSS.

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PANEGYRIC ON THE FOURTH CONSULSHIP OF THE EMPEROR HONORIUS (A.D. 398)

(VIII.)

Once more the year opens under royal auspices and enjoys in fuller pride its famous prince; not brooking to linger around private thresholds the returning fasces rejoice in Caesar’s consulship. Seest thou how the armed chiefs and mighty judges don the raiment of senators? and the soldiers step forth in garb of peaceful hue worn Gabine[145] wise, and laying aside for a season the standards of war follow the banner of Quirinus. The eagles give way to the lictors, the smiling soldier wears the toga of peace and the senate-house casts its brilliance in the midst of the camp. Bellona herself, surrounded by a noble band of senators, puts on the consul’s gown and lays by her shield and helmet in order to harness the sacred curule chair to her shoulders. Think it no shame, Gradivus, to bear the laurel-crowned axes in a hand of peace and to exchange thy shining breastplate for the Latin toga while thine iron chariot remains unused and thy steeds disport them in the pastures of Eridanus.

Not unworthy of reverence nor but newly acquainted with war is the family of Trajan and that Spanish house which has showered diadems upon the world. No common stream was held worthy

[145] As marking a festival; see note on vii. 3.

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promeruit gentis seriem: cunabula fovit Oceanus; terrae dominos pelagique futuros inmenso decuit rerum de principe nasci. hinc processit avus, cui post Arctoa frementi classica Massylas adnexuit Africa laurus, 25 ille, Caledoniis posuit qui castra pruinis, qui medios Libyae sub casside pertulit aestus, terribilis Mauro debellatorque Britanni litoris ac pariter Boreae vastator et Austri. quid rigor aeternus, caeli quid frigora prosunt 30 ignotumque fretum? maduerunt Saxone fuso Orcades; incaluit Pictorum sanguine Thyle; Scottorum cumulos flevit glacialis Hiverne. quid calor obsistit forti? per vasta cucurrit Aethiopum cinxitque novis Atlanta maniplis, 35 virgineum Tritona bibit sparsosque venenis Gorgoneos vidit thalamos et vile virentes Hesperidum risit, quos ditat fabula, ramos. arx incensa Iubae, rabies Maurusia ferro cessit et antiqui penetralia diruta Bocchi. 40 Sed laudes genitor longe transgressus avitas subdidit Oceanum sceptris et margine caeli clausit opes, quantum distant a Tigride Gades, inter se Tanais quantum Nilusque relinquunt: haec tamen innumeris per se quaesita tropaeis, 45

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to water the homeland of so illustrious a race; Ocean laved their cradle, for it befitted the future lords of earth and sea to have their origin in the great father[146] of all things. Hence came Theodosius, grandfather of Honorius, for whom, exultant after his northern victories, Africa twined fresh laurels won from the Massylae. ’Twas he who pitched his camp amid the snows of Caledonia,[147] who never doffed his helmet for all the heat of a Libyan summer, who struck terror into the Moors, brought into subjection the coasts of Britain and with equal success laid waste the north and the south. What avail against him the eternal snows, the frozen air, the uncharted sea? The Orcades ran red with Saxon slaughter; Thule was warm with the blood of Picts; ice-bound Hibernia wept for the heaps of slain Scots. Could heat stay the advance of a courageous general? No; he overran the deserts of Ethiopia, invested Atlas with troops strange to him, drank of lake Triton where was born the virgin goddess Minerva, beheld the Gorgon’s empoisoned lair, and laughed to see the common verdure of those gardens of the Hesperides which story had clothed with gold. Juba’s fortress was burned down, the frenzied valour of the Moor yielded to the sword and the palace of ancient Bocchus was razed to the ground.

But thy father’s fame far surpassed that of thy grandsire: he subdued Ocean to his governance and set the sky for border to his kingdom, ruling from Gades to the Tigris, and all that lies ’twixt Tanais and Nile; yet all these lands won by countless triumphs of his own, he gained them not by gift

[146] Claudian is thinking of such passages in Homer as _e.g._ _Il._ xiv. 245-246:

ῤέεθρα Ὠκεανοῦ, ὅς περ γένεσις πάντεσσι τέτυκται,

or perhaps Vergil’s _Oceanumque patrem rerum_ (Virg. _Georg._ iv. 382).

[147] _Cf._ note on xv. 216.

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non generis dono, non ambitione potitus. digna legi virtus. ultro se purpura supplex obtulit et solus meruit regnare rogatus. nam cum barbaries penitus commota gementem inrueret Rhodopen et mixto turbine gentes 50 jam deserta suas in nos transfunderet Arctos, Danuvii totae vomerent cum proelia ripae, cum Geticis ingens premeretur Mysia plaustris flavaque Bistonios operirent agmina campos, omnibus adflictis et vel labentibus ictu 55 vel prope casuris: unus tot funera contra restitit extinxitque faces agrisque colonos reddidit et leti rapuit de faucibus urbes. nulla relicta foret Romani nominis umbra, ni pater ille tuus iamiam ruitura subisset 60 pondera turbatamque ratem certaque levasset naufragium commune manu: velut ordine rupto cum procul insanae traherent Phaëthonta quadrigae saeviretque dies terramque et stagna propinqui haurirent radii, solito cum murmure torvis 65 sol occurrit equis; qui postquam rursus eriles agnovere sonos, rediit meliore magistro machina concentusque poli, currusque recepit imperium flammaeque modum. Sic traditus ille servatusque Oriens. at non pars altera rerum 70 tradita: bis possessa manu, bis parta periclis. per varium gemini scelus erupere tyranni tractibus occiduis: hunc saeva Britannia fudit;

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of birth or from lust of power. It was his own merit secured his election. Unsought the purple begged his acceptance of itself; he alone when asked to rule was worthy to do so. For when unrest at home drove barbarian hordes over unhappy Rhodope and the now deserted north had poured its tribes in wild confusion across our borders, when all the banks of Danube poured forth battles and broad Mysia rang beneath the chariots of the Getae, when flaxen-haired hordes covered the plains of Thrace and amid this universal ruin all was either prostrate or tottering to its fall, one man alone withstood the tide of disaster, quenched the flames, restored to the husbandmen their fields and snatched the cities from the very jaws of destruction. No shadow of Rome’s name had survived had not thy sire borne up the tottering mass, succoured the storm-tossed bark and with sure hand averted universal shipwreck. As when the maddened coursers broke from their path and carried Phaëthon far astray, when day’s heat grew fierce and the sun’s rays, brought near to earth, dried up both land and sea, Phoebus checked his fierce horses with his wonted voice; for they knew once more their master’s tones, and with a happier guide heaven’s harmonious order was restored; for now the chariot again accepted government and its fires control.

Thus was the East entrusted to him and thus was its salvation assured; but the other half of the world was not so entrusted: twice was the West gained by valour, twice won by dangers. In those lands of the sunset by manifold crime there arose to power tyrants twain: wild Britain produced one (Maximus), the other (Eugenius) was chosen

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hunc sibi Germanus famulum delegerat exul: ausus uterque nefas, domini respersus uterque 75 insontis iugulo. novitas audere priori suadebat cautumque dabant exempla sequentem. hic nova moliri praeceps, hic quaerere tuta providus; hic fusis, collectis viribus ille; hic vagus excurrens, hic intra claustra reductus. 80 dissimiles, sed morte pares, evadere neutri dedecus aut mixtis licuit procumbere telis. amissa specie, raptis insignibus ambo in vultus rediere suos manibusque revinctis oblati gladiis summittunt colla paratis 85 et vitam veniamque rogant. pro damna pudoris! qui modo tam densas nutu movere cohortes, in quos iam dubius sese libraverat orbis, non hostes victore cadunt, sed iudice sontes; damnat voce reos, petiit quos Marte tyrannos. 90 amborum periere duces: hic sponte carina decidit in fluctus, illum suus abstulit ensis; hunc Alpes, hunc pontus habet. solacia caesis fratribus haec ultor tribuit: necis auctor uterque labitur; Augustas par victima mitigat umbras. 95 has dedit inferias tumulis, iuvenumque duorum purpureos merito placavit sanguine manes. Illi iustitiam confirmavere triumphi,

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as a tool by a Frankish outlaw (Arbogast). Both dared monstrous guilt; both stained their hands with an innocent emperor’s[148] blood. Sudden elevation inspired Maximus with audacity, his failure taught his successor caution. Maximus was quick to arm rebellion, Eugenius careful to attempt only what was safe. The one o’erran the country, spreading his forces in all directions, the other kept his troops together and himself secure behind a rampart. Different were they, but in their deaths alike. To neither was it granted to escape an ignominious end and to fall in the thick of the fight. Gone was their glory, their weapons were reft from them and they reduced to their former state; their arms were bound behind their backs and they stretched forth their necks to the sword’s imminent stroke, begging for pardon and for life. What a fall did pride there suffer! They who but lately had moved such countless cohorts with but a nod, into whose palm a wavering world had hung ready to drop, fall not as warriors at a victor’s hand but as malefactors before a judge; he sentences with his voice as criminals those whom he assailed in war as tyrants. With both perished their lieutenants: Andragathius hurled himself from his ship into the waves, Arbogast took his life with his own sword; the Alps mark the tomb of the one, the sea of the other. This solace at least the avenger afforded to those murdered brothers that both the authors of their deaths themselves were slain; two victims went to appease those royal ghosts. Such was Theodosius’ oblation at their tomb and with the blood of the guilty he appeased the shades of the two young emperors.

Those triumphs stablished Justice on her throne

[148] Maximus was responsible for the murder of the Emperor Gratian, Eugenius for that of Valentinian II. See Introduction, p. viii.

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praesentes docuere deos. hinc saecula discant indomitum nihil esse pio tutumve nocenti: 100 nuntius ipse sui longas incognitus egit praevento rumore vias, inopinus utrumque perculit et clausos montes, ut plana, reliquit. extruite inmanes scopulos, attollite turres, cingite vos fluviis, vastas opponite silvas, 105 Garganum Alpinis Appenninumque nivalem permixtis sociate iugis et rupibus Haemum addite Caucasiis, involvite Pelion Ossae: non dabitis murum sceleri. qui vindicet, ibit: omnia subsident meliori pervia causae. 110 Nec tamen oblitus civem cedentibus atrox partibus infremuit; non insultare iacenti malebat: mitis precibus, pietatis abundans, poenae parcus erat; paci non intulit iram; post acies odiis idem qui terminus armis. 115 profuit hoc vincente capi, multosque subactos prospera[149] laturae commendavere catenae. magnarum largitor opum, largitor honorum pronus et in melius gaudens convertere fata. hinc amor, hinc validum devoto milite robur. 120 hinc natis mansura fides. Hoc nobilis ortu nasceris aequaeva cum maiestate creatus nullaque privatae passus contagia sortis. omnibus acceptis ultro te regia solum protulit et patrio felix adolescis in ostro, 125

[149] Birt, with the MSS., _aspera_; I return to the _prospera_ of the edit. princeps.

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and taught that heaven gives help. From them let the ages learn that righteousness need fear no foe and guilt expect no safety. Himself his own messenger, outstripping the rumour of his approach, Theodosius traversed those long journeys undetected by his enemies. Suddenly he fell on both, passing over entrenched mountains as if they were a plain. Build up monstrous rocks, raise towers, surround yourselves with rivers, set limitless forests to protect you, put Garganus and the snowy Apennines upon the summits of the Alps that all form one vast mountain barrier, plant Haemus on the crags of Caucasus, roll Pelion on Ossa, yet will ye not gain security for guilt. The avenger will come; for the better cause all things shall sink to make a path.

Yet never did Theodosius forget that he and the vanquished were fellow-citizens, nor was his anger implacable against those who yielded. Not his the choice to exult over the fallen. His ears were open to prayers, his clemency unbounded, his vengeance restrained. His anger did not survive the war to darken the days of peace; the day that set an end to the combat set an end to his wrath. Capture by such a victor was a gain; and many a conquered foe did their chains commend to future fortune.[150] As liberal of money as of honours he was ever bent to redress the injuries of fate. Hence the love, the fortitude, the devotion of his troops; hence their abiding loyalty to his sons.

Child of so noble a sire, thy kingly state was coëval with thy birth nor ever knewest thou the soilure of a private lot. To thee all things came unsought; thee only[151] did a palace rear; thy happy growth was in ancestral purple, and thy limbs, never

[150] _i.e._ by winning first the pity and then the favour of Theodosius.

[151] “Only,” because Arcadius was born _before_ Theodosius became emperor.

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membraque vestitu numquam violata profano in sacros cecidere sinus. Hispania patrem auriferis eduxit aquis, te gaudet alumno Bosphorus. Hesperio de limine surgit origo, sed nutrix Aurora tibi; pro pignore tanto 130 certatur, geminus civem te vindicat axis. Herculis et Bromii sustentat gloria Thebas, haesit Apollineo Delos Latonia partu Cretaque se iactat tenero reptata Tonanti; sed melior Delo, Dictaeis clarior oris 135 quae dedit hoc numen regio; non litora nostro sufficerent angusta deo. nec inhospita Cynthi saxa tuos artus duro laesere cubili: adclinis genetrix auro, circumflua gemmis in Tyrios enixa toros; ululata verendis 140 aula puerperiis. quae tunc documenta futuri? quae voces avium? quanti per inane volatus? qui vatum discursus erat? tibi corniger Hammon et dudum taciti rupere silentia Delphi, te Persae cecinere magi, te sensit Etruscus 145 augur et inspectis Babylonius horruit astris, Chaldaei stupuere senes Cumanaque rursus intonuit rupes, rabidae delubra Sibyllae. nec te progenitum Cybeleius aere sonoro lustravit Corybas: exercitus undique fulgens 150 adstitit; ambitur signis augustior infans, sentit adorantes galeas, redditque ferocem vagitum lituus. Vitam tibi contulit idem

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outraged by garb profane, were laid upon a hallowed lap. Spain with its rivers of gold gave birth to thy sire; Bosporus boasts thee among its children. The West is the cradle of thy race but the East was thine own nurse; rivals are they for so dear a pledge, either hemisphere claims thee as its citizen. The fame of Hercules and Bacchus has immortalized Thebes; when Latona gave birth to Apollo in Delos that island stayed its errant course; it is Crete’s boast that over its fields the infant Thunderer crawled. But the land that brought divine Honorius to birth is a greater than Delos, a more famous than Crete. Such narrow shores would not suffice our god. Nor did the bleak rocks of Cynthus hurt thy body with their rough bed; on couch of gold, clothed in jewelled raiment, thy mother gave birth to thee amid Tyrian purples; a palace rang with joy at that royal deliverance. What presages were there not then of future prosperity? what songs of birds, what flights of good omen in the heavens? What was the hurrying to and fro of seers? Hornèd Ammon and Delphi so long dumb at length broke their silence; Persian magi prophesied thy triumphs; Tuscan augurs felt thine influence; seers of Babylon beheld the stars and trembled; amazement seized the Chaldaean priests; the rock of Cumae, shrine of raging Sibyl, thundered once again. Cybele’s corybants surrounded not thy cradle with the clatter of their brazen shields; a shining host stood by thee on every side. Standards of war hedged in the royal babe who marked the bowed helmets of the worshipping soldiery while the trumpet’s blare answered his warlike cries.

The day that gave thee birth gave thee a kingdom;

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imperiumque dies; inter cunabula consul proveheris, signas posito modo nomine fastos 155 donaturque tibi, qui te produxerat, annus. ipsa Quirinali parvum te cinxit amictu mater et ad primas docuit reptare curules. uberibus sanctis inmortalique dearum crescis adoratus gremio: tibi saepe Diana 160 Maenalios arcus venatricesque pharetras suspendit, puerile decus; tu saepe Minervae lusisti clipeo fulvamque impune pererrans aegida tractasti blandos interritus angues; saepe tuas etiam iam tum gaudente marito 165 velavit regina comas festinaque voti praesumptum diadema dedit, tum lenibus ulnis sustulit et magno porrexit ad oscula patri. nec dilatus honos: mutatur principe Caesar; protinus aequaris fratri. 170 Non certius umquam hortati superi, nullis praesentior aether adfuit ominibus. tenebris involverat atra lumen hiems densosque Notus collegerat imbres. sed mox, cum solita miles te voce levasset, nubila dissolvit Phoebus pariterque dabantur 175 sceptra tibi mundoque dies: caligine liber Bosphorus adversam patitur Calchedona cerni. nec tantum vicina nitent, sed tota repulsis nubibus exuitur Thrace, Pangaea renident insuetosque palus radios Maeotia vibrat. 180

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in thy cradle thou wast raised to the consulship.[152] With the name so recently bestowed upon thee thou dowerest the fasti and the year wherein thou wert born is consecrated to thee. Thy mother herself wrapped thy small form in the consular robe and directed thy first steps to the curule chair. Nourished at a goddess’ breasts, honoured with the embraces of immortal arms thou grewest to maturity. Oft to grace thy boyish form Diana hung upon thy shoulders her Maenalian bow and huntress’ quiver; oft thou didst sport with Minerva’s shield and, crawling unharmed over her glittering aegis, didst caress its friendly serpents with fearless hand. Often even in those early days thy mother beneath thy sire’s happy gaze crowned thy tender locks and, anticipating the answer to her prayers, gave thee the diadem that was to be thine hereafter; then raising thee in her gentle arms she held thee up to receive thy mighty father’s kiss. Nor was that honour long in coming; thou, then Caesar, didst become emperor and wert straightway made equal with thy brother.[153]

Never was the encouragement of the gods more sure, never did heaven attend with more favouring omens. Black tempest had shrouded the light in darkness and the south wind gathered thick rain-clouds, when of a sudden, so soon as the soldiers had borne thee aloft with customary shout, Phoebus scattered the clouds and at the same moment was given to thee the sceptre, to the world light. Bosporus, freed from clouds, permits a sight of Chalcedon on the farther shore; nor is it only the vicinity of Byzantium that is bathed in brightness; the clouds are driven back and all Thrace is cleared; Pangaeus shows afar and lake Maeotis makes quiver the rays he

[152] Honorius, who was born Sept. 9, 384, was made consul for 386.

[153] Arcadius was made Augustus Jan. 16 (? 19), 383: Honorius not till Nov. 20, 393. Both succeeded to the throne Jan. 17, 395.

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nec Boreas nimbos aut sol ardentior egit: imperii lux illa fuit; praesagus obibat cuncta nitor risitque tuo natura sereno. visa etiam medio populis mirantibus audax stella die, dubitanda nihil nec crine retuso 185 languida, sed quantus numeratur nocte Bootes, emicuitque plagis alieni temporis hospes ignis et agnosci potuit, cum luna lateret: sive parens Augusta fuit, seu forte reluxit divi sidus avi, seu te properantibus astris 190 cernere sol patiens caelum commune remisit. adparet quid signa ferant. ventura potestas claruit Ascanio, subita cum luce comarum innocuus flagraret apex Phrygioque volutus vertice fatalis redimiret tempora candor. 195 at tua caelestes inlustrant omina flammae. talis ab Idaeis primaevus Iuppiter antris possessi stetit arce poli famulosque recepit natura tradente deos; lanugine nondum vernabant vultus nec adhuc per colla fluebant 200 moturae convexa comae; tum scindere nubes discebat fulmenque rudi torquere lacerto. Laetior augurio genitor natisque superbus iam paribus duplici fultus consorte redibat splendebatque pio complexus pignora curru. 205 haud aliter summo gemini cum patre Lacones, progenies Ledaea, sedent: in utroque relucet frater, utroque soror; simili chlamys effluit auro;

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rarely sees. ’Tis not Boreas nor yet Phoebus’ warmer breath that has put the mists to flight. That light was an emperor’s star. A prophetic radiance was over all things, and with thy brightness Nature laughed. Even at mid-day did a wondering people gaze upon a bold star (’twas clear to behold)--no dulled nor stunted beams but bright as Boötes’ nightly lamp. At a strange hour its brilliance lit up the sky and its fires could be clearly seen though the moon lay hid. May be it was the Queen mother’s star or the return of thy grandsire’s now become a god, or may be the generous sun agreed to share the heavens with all the stars that hasted to behold thee. The meaning of those signs is now unmistakable. Clear was the prophecy of Ascanius’ coming power when an aureole crowned his locks, yet harmed them not, and when the fires of fate encircled his head and played about his temples.[154] Thy future the very fires of heaven foretell. So the young Jove, issuing from the caves of Ida, stood upon the summit of the conquered sky and received the homage of the gods whom Nature handed to his charge. The bloom of youth had not yet clothed his cheeks nor flowed there o’er his neck the curls whose stirrings were to shake the world. He was yet learning how to cleave the clouds and hurl the thunderbolt with unpractised hand.

Gladdened by that augury and proud of his now equal sons the sire returned, upstayed on the two princes and lovingly embracing his children in glittering car. Even so the Spartan twins, the sons of Leda, sit with highest Jove; in each his brother is mirrored, in each their sister; round each alike flows a golden dress, and star-crowned are the

[154] Virgil mentions the portent (_Aen._ ii. 682).

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stellati pariter crines. iuvat ipse Tonantem error et ambiguae placet ignorantia matri; 210 Eurotas proprios discernere nescit alumnos. Ut domus excepit reduces, ibi talia tecum pro rerum stabili fertur dicione locutus: “Si tibi Parthorurm solium Fortuna dedisset, care puer, terrisque procul venerandus Eois 215 barbarus Arsacio consurgeret ore tiaras: sufficeret sublime genus luxuque fluentem deside nobilitas posset te sola tueri. altera Romanae longe rectoribus aulae condicio. virtute decet, non sanguine niti. 220 maior et utilior fato coniuncta potenti, vile latens virtus. quid enim? submersa tenebris proderit obscuro veluti sine remige puppis vel lyra quae reticet vel qui non tenditur arcus. “Hanc tamen haud quisquam, qui non agnoverit ante 225 semet et incertos animi placaverit aestus, inveniet; longis illuc ambagibus itur. disce orbi, quod quisque sibi. cum conderet artus nostros, aetheriis miscens terrena, Prometheus, sinceram patri mentem furatus Olympo 230 continuit claustris indignantemque revinxit et, cum non aliter possent mortalia fingi, adiunxit geminas. illae cum corpore lapsae intereunt, haec sola manet bustoque superstes evolat. hanc alta capitis fundavit in arce 235 mandatricem operum prospecturamque labori;

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locks of both. The Thunderer rejoices in his very uncertainty, and to their hesitating mother her ignorance brings delight; Eurotas cannot make distinction between his own nurslings.

When all had returned to the palace, Theodosius, anxious for the world’s just governance, is said to have addressed thee in these terms:

“Had fortune, my dear son, given thee the throne of Parthia, hadst thou been a descendant of the Arsacid house and did the tiara, adored by Eastern lands afar, tower upon thy forehead, thy long lineage would be enough, and thy birth alone would protect thee, though wantoning in idle luxury. Very different is the state of Rome’s emperor. ’Tis merit, not blood, must be his support. Virtue hidden hath no value, united with power ’tis both more effective and more useful. Nay, o’erwhelmed in darkness it will no more advantage its obscure possessor than a vessel with no oars, a silent lyre, an unstrung bow.

“Yet virtue none shall find that has not first learned to know himself and stilled the uncertain waves of passion within him. Long and winding is the path that leads thereto. What each man learns in his own interests learn thou in the interests of the world. When Prometheus mixed earthly and heavenly elements and so formed human kind, he stole man’s spirit pure from his own heavenly home, held it imprisoned and bound despite its outcries, and since humanity could be formed in no other way he added two more souls.[155] These fail and perish with the body; the first alone remains, survives the pyre and flies away. This soul he stationed in the lofty fastness of the brain to control and oversee the work and labours of the body. The other

[155] Claudian here follows the Platonic psychology which divides the soul into τὸ ἐπιθυμητικόν, τὸ θυμοειδές, the two (” geminas” ) baser elements, and τὸ λογιστικόν (the “haec” of l. 234).

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illas inferius collo praeceptaque summae passuras dominae digna statione locavit. quippe opifex veritus confundere sacra profanis distribuit partes animae sedesque removit. 240 iram sanguinei regio sub pectore cordis protegit imbutam flammis avidamque nocendi praecipitemque sui. rabie succensa tumescit, contrahitur tepefacta metu. cumque omnia secum duceret et requiem membris vesana negaret, 245 invenit pulmonis opem madidumque furenti praebuit, ut tumidae ruerent in mollia fibrae. at sibi cuncta petens, nil conlatura cupido in iecur et tractus imos compulsa recessit, quae, velut inmanis reserat dum belua rictus, 250 expleri pascique nequit: nunc verbere curas torquet avaritiae, stimulis nunc flagrat amorum, nunc gaudet, nunc maesta dolet satiataque rursus exoritur caesaque redit pollentius hydra. “Hos igitur potuit si quis sedare tumultus, 255 inconcussa dabit purae sacraria menti. tu licet extremos late dominere per Indos, te Medus, te mollis Arabs, te Seres adorent: si metuis, si prava cupis, si duceris ira, servitii patiere iugum; tolerabis iniquas 260 interius leges. tunc omnia iure tenebis, cum poteris rex esse tui. proclivior usus in peiora datur suadetque licentia luxum inlecebrisque effrena favet. tum vivere caste

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two he set below the neck in a place befitting their functions, where it is their part to obey the commands of the directing soul. Doubtless our creator, fearing to mix the heavenly with the mortal, placed the different souls in different parts and kept their dwelling-places distinct. Near to the heart whence springs our blood there is within the breast a place where fiery anger lurks, eager to hurt and uncontrolled. This cavity swells when heated by rage and contracts when cooled by fear. Then, since anger swept everything away with it and in its fury gave the limbs no rest, Prometheus invented the lungs to aid the body and applied their humidity to the raging of anger to soothe our wrath-swollen flesh. Lust, that asks for everything and gives nought, was driven down into the liver and of necessity occupied the lowest room. Like a beast, opening its capacious jaws, lust can never be full fed nor satisfied; it is a prey now to the cruel lash of sleepless avarice, now to the fiery goads of love; is swayed now by joy, now by misery, and is no sooner fed than fain to be fed again, returning with more insistence than the oft-beheaded hydra.

“Can any assuage this tumult he will assure an inviolable sanctuary for a spotless soul. Thou mayest hold sway o’er farthest India, be obeyed by Mede, unwarlike Arab or Chinese, yet, if thou fearest, hast evil desires, art swayed by anger, thou wilt bear the yoke of slavery; within thyself thou wilt be a slave to tyrannical rule. When thou canst be king over thyself then shalt thou hold rightful rule over the world. The easier way often trod leads to worse; liberty begets licence and, when uncontrolled, leads to vice. Then is a chaste

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asperius, cum prompta Venus; tum durius irae 265 consulitur, cum poena patet. sed comprime motus nec tibi quid liceat, sed quid fecisse decebit occurrat, mentemque domet respectus honesti. “Hoc te praeterea crebro sermone monebo, ut te totius medio telluris in ore 270 vivere cognoscas, cunctis tua gentibus esse facta palam nec posse dari regalibus usquam secretum vitiis; nam lux altissima fati occultum nihil esse sinit, latebrasque per omnes intrat et abstrusos explorat fama recessus. 275 “Sis pius in primis; nam cum vincamur in omni munere, sola deos aequat clementia nobis. neu dubie suspectus agas neu falsus amicis rumorumve avidus: qui talia curat, inanes horrebit strepitus nulla non anxius hora. 280 non sic excubiae, non circumstantia pila quam tutatur amor. non extorquebis amari; hoc alterna fides, hoc simplex gratia donat. nonne vides, operum quod se pulcherrimus ipse mundus amore liget, nec vi conexa per aevum 285 conspirent elementa sibi? quod limite Phoebus contentus medio, contentus litore pontus et, qui perpetuo terras ambitque vehitque, nec premat incumbens oneri nec cesserit aër? qui terret, plus ipse timet; sors ista tyrannis 290 convenit; invideant claris fortesque trucident,

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life harder when love is at call; then is it a sterner task to govern anger when vengeance is to hand. Yet master thine emotions and ponder not what thou mightest do but what thou oughtest to do, and let regard for duty control thy mind.

“Of this too I cannot warn thee too often: remember that thou livest in the sight of the whole world, to all peoples are thy deeds known; the vices of monarchs cannot anywhere remain hid. The splendour of their lofty station allows nought to be concealed; fame penetrates every hiding-place and discovers the inmost secrets of the heart.

“Above all fail not in loving-kindness; for though we be surpassed in every virtue yet mercy alone makes us equal with the gods. Let thine actions be open and give no grounds for suspicion, be loyal to thy friends nor lend an ear to rumours. He who attends to such will quake at every idle whisper and know no moment’s peace. Neither watch nor guard nor yet a hedge of spears can secure thee safety; only thy people’s love can do that. Love thou canst not extort; it is the gift of mutual faith and honest goodwill. Seest thou not how the fair frame of the very universe binds itself together by love, and how the elements, not united by violence, are for ever at harmony among themselves? Dost thou not mark how that Phoebus is content not to outstep the limits of his path, nor the sea those of his kingdom, and how the air, which in its eternal embrace encircles and upholds the world, presses not upon us with too heavy a weight nor yet yields to the burden which itself sustains? Whoso causes terror is himself more fearful; such doom befits tyrants. Let them be jealous of another’s fame, murder the

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muniti gladiis vivant saeptique venenis, ancipites habeant arces trepidique minentur: tu civem patremque geras, tu consule cunctis, non tibi, nec tua te moveant, sed publica vota. 295 “In commune iubes si quid censesque tenendum, primus iussa subi: tunc observantior aequi fit populus nec ferre negat, cum viderit ipsum auctorem parere sibi. componitur orbis regis ad exemplum, nec sic inflectere sensus 300 humanos edicta valent quam vita regentis: mobile mutatur semper cum principe vulgus. “His tamen effectis neu fastidire minores neu pete praescriptos homini transcendere fines. inquinat egregios adiuncta superbia mores. 305 non tibi tradidimus dociles servire Sabaeos, Armeniae dominum non te praefecimus orae, nec damus Assyriam, tenuit quam femina, gentem. Romani, qui cuncta diu rexere, regendi, qui nec Tarquinii fastus nec iura tulere 310 Caesaris. annales veterum delicta loquuntur: haerebunt maculae. quis non per saecula damnat Caesareae portenta domus? quem dira Neronis funera, quem rupes Caprearum taetra latebit incesto possessa seni? victura feretur 315 gloria Traiani, non tam quod Tigride victo nostra triumphati fuerint provincia Parthi, alta quod invectus fractis Capitolia Dacis,

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brave, live hedged about with swords and fenced with poisons, dwelling in a citadel that is ever exposed to danger, and threaten to conceal their fears. Do thou, my son, be at once a citizen and a father, consider not thyself but all men, nor let thine own desires stir thee but thy people’s.

“If thou make any law or establish any custom for the general good, be the first to submit thyself thereto; then does a people show more regard for justice nor refuse submission when it has seen their author obedient to his own laws. The world shapes itself after its ruler’s pattern, nor can edicts sway men’s minds so much as their monarch’s life; the unstable crowd ever changes along with the prince.

“Nor is this all: show no scorn of thine inferiors nor seek to overstep the limits established for mankind. Pride joined thereto defaces the fairest character. They are not submissive Sabaeans whom I have handed over to thy rule, nor have I made thee lord of Armenia; I give thee not Assyria, accustomed to a woman’s rule. Thou must govern Romans who have long governed the world, Romans who brooked not Tarquin’s pride nor Caesar’s tyranny. History still tells of our ancestors’ ill deeds; the stain will never be wiped away. So long as the world lasts the monstrous excesses of the Julian house will stand condemned. Will any not have heard of Nero’s murders or how Capri’s foul cliffs were owned by an agèd lecher[156]? The fame of Trajan will never die, not so much because, thanks to his victories on the Tigris, conquered Parthia became a Roman province, not because he brake the might of Dacia and led their chiefs in triumph up the slope of the Capitol, but because

[156] _i.e._ Tiberius.

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quam patriae quod mitis erat. ne desine tales, nate, sequi. “Si bella canant, prius agmina duris exerce studiis et saevo praestrue Marti. 321 non brumae requies, non hibernacula segnes enervent torpore manus. ponenda salubri castra loco; praebenda vigil custodia vallo. disce, ubi denseri cuneos, ubi cornua tendi 325 aequius aut iterum flecti; quae montibus aptae, quae campis acies, quae fraudi commoda vallis, quae via difficilis. fidit si moenibus hostis, tum tibi murali libretur machina pulsu; saxa rota; praeceps aries protectaque portas 330 testudo feriat; ruat emersura iuventus effossi per operta soli. si longa moretur obsidio, tum vota cave secura remittas inclusumve putes; multis damnosa fuere gaudia; dispersi pereunt somnove soluti; 335 saepius incautae nocuit victoria turbae. neu tibi regificis tentoria larga redundent deliciis, neve imbelles ad signa ministros luxuries armata trahat. neu flantibus Austris neu pluviis cedas, neu defensura calorem 340 aurea summoveant rapidos umbracula soles. inventis utere cibis. solabere partes aequali sudore tuas: si collis iniquus,

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he was kindly to his country. Fail not to make such as he thine example, my son.

“Should war threaten, see first that thy soldiers are exercised in the practices of war and prepare them for the rigours of service. The ease of winter months spent in winter quarters must not weaken nor unnerve their hands. Establish thy camps in healthy places and see that watchful sentries guard the ramparts. Learn how to know when to mass your troops and when it is better to extend them or face them round; study the formations suitable for mountain warfare and those for fighting on the plain. Learn to recognize what valleys may conceal an ambush and what routes will prove difficult. If thine enemy trusts in his walls to defend him then let thy catapults hurl stones at his battlements; fling rocks thereat and let the swinging ram and shield-protected testudo[157] shake his gates. Your troops should undermine the walls and issuing from this tunnel should rush into the town. Should a long siege delay thee, then take care thou unbend not thy purpose in security or count thine enemy thy prisoner. Many ere this have found premature triumph their undoing, scattered or asleep they have been cut to pieces; indeed victory itself has not seldom been the ruin of careless troops. Not for thee let spacious tents o’erflow with princely delights nor luxury don arms and drag to the standards her unwarlike train. Though the storm winds blow and the rain descends yield not to them and use not cloth of gold to guard thee from the sun’s fierce rays. Eat such food as thou canst find. It will be a solace to thy soldiers that thy toil is as heavy as theirs; be the first to mount the arduous hill and, should

[157] A well-known Roman method of attack by which the troops advanced to the point of attack in close formation, each man holding his shield above his head. The protection thus afforded to the assaulting band was likened to the shell of the tortoise (_testudo_).

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primus ini; silvam si caedere provocat usus, sumpta ne pudeat quercum stravisse bipenni. 345 calcatur si pigra palus, tuus ante profundum pertemptet sonipes. fluvios tu protere cursu haerentes glacie, liquidos tu scinde natatu. nunc eques in medias equitum te consere turmas; nunc pedes adsistas pediti. tum promptius ibunt te socio, tum conspicuus gratusque geretur 351 sub te teste labor.” Dicturum plura parentem voce subis: “equidem, faveant modo numina coeptis, haec effecta dabo, nec me fratrique tibique dissimilem populi commissaque regna videbunt. 355 sed cur non potius, verbis quae disseris, usu experior? gelidas certe nunc tendis in Alpes. duc tecum comitem; figant sine nostra tyrannum spicula; pallescat nostro sine barbarus arcu. Italiamne feram furiis praedonis acerbi 360 subiectam? patiar Romam servire clienti? usque adeone puer? nec me polluta potestas nec pia cognati tanget vindicta cruoris? per strages equitare libet. da protinus arma. cur annos obicis? pugnae cur arguor impar? aequalis mihi Pyrrhus erat, cum Pergama solus 365 verteret et patri non degeneraret Achilli. denique si princeps castris haerere nequibo, vel miles veniam.” Delibat dulcia nati oscula miratusque refert: “laudanda petisti; 370 sed festinus amor, veniet robustior aetas; ne propera. necdum decimas emensus aristas adgrederis metuenda viris: vestigia magnae

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necessity demand the felling of a forest, be not ashamed to grasp the axe and hew down the oak. If a stagnant marsh must be crossed let thy horse be the first to test the depth of it. Boldly tread the frozen river; swim the flood. Mounted thyself, ride amid thy squadrons of horse or again stand foot to foot with the infantry. They will advance the bolder for thy presence, and with thee to witness glorious and glad shall be the fulfilment of their task.”

More would he have spoken but Honorius broke in and said: “All this will I do, so God favour my attempts. The peoples and kingdoms committed to my care shall find me not unworthy of thee nor of my brother. But why should I not experience in action what thou has taught in words? Thou goest to the wintry Alps: take me with thee. Let mine arrows pierce the tyrant’s body, and the barbarians pale at my bow. Shall I allow Italy to become the prey of a ruthless bandit? Rome to serve one who is himself but a servant? Am I still such a child that neither power profaned nor just revenge for an uncle’s blood shall move me? Fain would I ride through blood. Quick, give me arms. Why castest thou my youth in my teeth? Why thinkest me unequal to the combat? I am as old as was Pyrrhus when alone he o’erthrew Troy and proved himself no degenerate from his father Achilles. If I may not remain in thy camp as a prince I will come even as a soldier.”

Theodosius kissed his son’s sweet lips and answered him wondering: “Nought have I but praise for thy petition, but this love of glory has bloomed too early. Thy strength will increase with years; till then be patient. Though thou hast not yet completed ten summers thou wouldst hansel dangers that a man

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indolis agnosco, fertur Pellaeus, Eoum qui domuit Porum, cum prospera saepe Philippi 375 audiret, laetos inter flevisse sodales nil sibi vincendum patris virtute relinqui. hos video motus. fas sit promittere patri: tantus eris. nostro nec debes regna favori, quae tibi iam natura dedit. sic mollibus olim 380 stridula ducturum pratis examina regem nascentem venerantur apes et publica mellis iura petunt traduntque favos; sic pascua parvus vindicat et necdum firmatis cornibus audax iam regit armentum vitulus. sed proelia differ 385 in iuvenem patiensque meum cum fratre tuere me bellante locum, vos impacatus Araxes, vos celer Euphrates timeat, sit Nilus ubique vester et emisso quidquid sol imbuit ortu. si pateant Alpes, habeat si causa secundos 390 iustior eventus, aderis partesque receptas suscipies, animosa tuas ut Gallia leges audiat et nostros aequus modereris Hiberos. tunc ego securus fati laetusque laborum discedam, vobis utrumque regentibus axem. 395 “Interea Musis animus, dum mollior, instet et quae mox imitere legat; nec desinat umquam tecum Graia loqui, tecum Romana vetustas. antiquos evolve duces, adsuesce futurae

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might fear: I mark the tokens of a noble nature. It is said that Alexander, conqueror of eastern Porus, wept at the constant news of Philip’s fortune, telling his companions who rejoiced thereat that his sire’s valour left him nought to conquer. In thee I see like spirit. May a father be allowed this prophecy--“thou shalt be as great”! It is not to my goodwill thou owest the kingdom, for nature has already made it thine. So even from his birth bees reverence the king[158] who is to lead their buzzing swarms through the soft meadows, ask his public laws for the gathering of the honey and entrust to him their combs. So the spirited young bull-calf claims sovereignty over the grazing-grounds and, though as yet his horns are not grown strong, lords it over the herd. Nay: postpone thy campaigns till thou art a man and while I do battle patiently help thy brother to fulfil my office. Be you two the terror of untamed Araxes and of swift Euphrates; may Nile throughout all his length belong to you and all the lands upon which the morning sun lets fall his beam. Should I force a passage over the Alps, should success crown the juster cause, thou shalt come and govern the recovered provinces, whereby fierce Gaul shall obey thy laws and my native Spain be guided by thy just rule. Then, careless of doom and rejoicing in my labours, I shall quit this mortal life, while you, my sons, rule either hemisphere.

“Meanwhile cultivate the Muses whilst thou art yet young; read of deeds thou soon mayest rival; never may Greece’s story, never may Rome’s, cease to speak with thee. Study the lives of the heroes of old to accustom thee for wars that are to be.

[158] As is well known, the ancients mistook the sex of the queen bee.

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militiae, Latium retro te confer in aevum. 400 libertas quaesita placet? mirabere Brutum. perfidiam damnas? Metti satiabere poenis. triste rigor nimius? Torquati despice mores. mors impensa bonum? Decios venerare ruentes. vel solus quid fortis agat, te ponte soluto 405 oppositus Cocles, Muci te flamma docebit; quid mora perfringat, Fabius; quid rebus in artis dux gerat, ostendet Gallorum strage Camillus. discitur hinc nullos meritis obsistere casus: prorogat aeternam feritas tibi Punica famam, 410 Regule; successus superant adversa Catonis. discitur hinc quantum paupertas sobria possit: pauper erat Curius, reges cum vinceret armis, pauper Fabricius, Pyrrhi cum sperneret aurum; sordida dictator flexit Serranus aratra: 415 lustratae lictore casae fascesque salignis postibus adfixi; collectae consule messes et sulcata diu trabeato rura colono.” Haec genitor praecepta dabat: velut ille carinae longaevus rector, variis quem saepe procellis 420 exploravit hiems, ponto iam fessus et annis aequoreas alni nato commendat habenas et casus artesque docet: quo dextra regatur sidere; quo fluctus possit moderamine falli; quae nota nimborum; quae fraus infida sereni; 425

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Go back to the Latin age. Admirest thou a fight for liberty? Thou wilt admire Brutus. Does treachery rouse thine indignation? The punishment of Mettius[159] will fill thee with satisfaction. Dost thou hate undue severity? Abominate Torquatus’ savagery. Is it a virtue to die for one’s country? Honour the self-devotion of the Decii. Horatius Cocles, facing the foe on the broken bridge, Mucius holding his arm in the flames,[160] these shall show thee what, single-handed, brave men can do. Fabius will show thee what overthrow delay can cause; Camillus and his slaughter of the Gauls what in face of odds a leader can effect. From history thou mayest learn that no ill fortune can master worth; Punic savagery extends thy fame, Regulus, to eternity; the failure of Cato outdoes success. From history thou mayest learn the power of frugal poverty; Curius was a poor man when he conquered kings in battle; Fabricius was poor when he spurned the gold of Pyrrhus; Serranus, for all he was dictator, drove the muddy plough. In those days the lictors kept watch at a cottage door, the fasces were hung upon a gateway of wood; consuls helped to gather in the harvest, and for long years the fields were ploughed by husbandmen who wore the consular robe.”

Such were the precepts of the sire. Even so an aged helmsman oft proved by winter’s various storms, aweary now of the sea and his weight of years, commends to his son the rudder of his bark, tells him of dangers and devices--by what art the helmsman’s hand is guided; what steerage may elude the wave; what is a sign of storms; what the treachery of a cloudless sky, the promise of the

[159] The story of the punishment of Mettius Fufetius, the Alban dictator, by the Roman king Tullus Hostilius for his treachery in the war against Fidenae is told by Livy (i. 28. 10) and referred to by Claudian (xv. 254).

[160] For Mucius (Scaevola) holding his arm in the flame to show Lars Porsenna how little he, a Roman, minded bodily pain see Livy ii. 12.

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quid sol occiduus prodat; quo saucia vento decolor iratos attollat Cynthia vultus. adspice nunc, quacumque micas, seu circulus Austri, magne parens, gelidi seu te meruere Triones, adspice: completur votum. iam natus adaequat 430 te meritis et, quod magis est optabile, vincit subnixus Stilichone tuo, quem fratribus ipse discedens clipeum defensoremque dedisti. pro nobis nihil ille pati nullumque recusat discrimen temptare sui, non dura viarum, 435 non incerta maris, Libyae squalentis harenas audebit superare pedes madidaque cadente Pleiade Gaetulas intrabit navita Syrtes. Hunc tamen in primis populos lenire feroces et Rhenum pacare iubes. volat ille citatis 440 vectus equis nullaque latus stipante caterva, aspera nubiferas qua Raetia porrigit Alpes, pergit et hostiles (tanta est fiducia) ripas incomitatus adit. totum properare per amnem attonitos reges humili cervice videres. 445 ante ducem nostrum flavam sparsere Sygambri caesariem pavidoque orantes murmure Franci procubuere solo: iuratur Honorius absens imploratque tuum supplex Alamannia nomen. Bastarnae venere truces, venit accola silvae 450 Bructerus Hercyniae latisque paludibus exit Cimber et ingentes Albim liquere Cherusci.

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setting sun; what storm-wind frets the Moon so that discoloured she uplifts an angry face. Behold now, great father, in whatsoever part of heaven thou shinest, be it the southern arch or the cold constellation of the Plough that has won the honour of thy presence; see, thy prayer has been answered; thy son now equals thee in merit, nay, a consummation still more to be desired, he surpasseth thee, thanks to the support of thy dear Stilicho whom thou thyself at thy death didst leave to guard and defend the brothers twain. For us there is nought that Stilicho is not ready to suffer, no danger to himself he is not willing to face, neither hardships of the land nor hazards of the sea. His courage will carry him on foot across the deserts of Libya, at the setting of the rainy Pleiads his ship will penetrate the Gaetulian Syrtes.

To him, however, thy first command is to calm fierce nations and bring peace to the Rhine. On wind-swift steed, no escort clinging to his side, he crosses the cloud-capped summits of the Raetian Alps, and, so great is his trust in himself, approaches the river unattended. Then mightest thou have seen from source to mouth come hastening up Rhine’s princes, bending their heads in fearful submission. Before our general the Sygambri abased their flaxen locks and the Franks cast themselves upon the ground and sued with trembling voice for pardon. Germany swears allegiance to the absent Honorius and addresses her suppliant prayers to him. Fierce Bastarnae were there and the Bructeri who dwell in the Hercynian forest. The Cimbrians left their broad marsh-lands, the tall Cherusci came from the river Elbe. Stilicho listens

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accipit ille preces varias tardeque rogatus adnuit et magno pacem pro munere donat. nobilitant veteres Germanica foedera Drusos, 455 Marte sed ancipiti, sed multis cladibus empta--quis victum meminit sola formidine Rhenum? quod longis alii bellis potuere mereri, hoc tibi dat Stilichonis iter. Post otia Galli limitis hortaris Graias fulcire ruinas. 460 Ionium tegitur velis ventique laborant tot curvare sinus servaturasque Corinthum prosequitur facili Neptunus gurgite classes, et puer, Isthmiaci iam pridem litoris exul, secura repetit portus cum matre Palaemon. 465 plaustra cruore natant: metitur pellita iuventus: pars morbo, pars ense perit. non lustra Lycaei, non Erymantheae iam copia sufficit umbrae innumeris exusta rogis, nudataque ferro sic flagrasse suas laetantur Maenala silvas. 470 excutiat cineres Ephyre, Spartanus et Arcas tutior exanguis pedibus proculcet acervos fessaque pensatis respiret Graecia poenis! gens, qua non Scythicos diffusior ulla Triones incoluit, cui parvus Athos angustaque Thrace, 475 cum transiret, erat, per te viresque tuorum fracta ducum lugetque sibi iam rara superstes, et, quorum turbae spatium vix praebuit orbis, uno colle latent. sitiens inclusaque vallo

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to their various prayers, gives tardy assent to their entreaties and of his great bounty bestows upon them peace. A covenant with Germany gave glory to the Drusi of old, but purchased by what uncertain warfare, by how many disasters! Who can recall the Rhine conquered by terror alone? That which others were enabled to win by long wars--this, Honorius, Stilicho’s mere march gives thee.

Thou biddest Stilicho after restoring peace in Gaul save Greece from ruin. Vessels cover the Ionian sea; scarce can the wind fill out so many sails. Neptune with favouring currents attends the fleet that is to save Corinth, and young Palaemon, so long an exile from the shores of his isthmus, returns in safety with his mother to the harbour. The blood of barbarians washes their wagons; the ranks of skin-clad warriors are mowed down, some by disease, some by the sword. The glades of Lycaeus, the dark and boundless forests of Erymanthus, are not enough to furnish such countless funeral pyres; Maenalus rejoices that the axe has stripped her of her woods to provide fuel for such a holocaust. Let Ephyre[161] rise from her ashes while Spartan and Arcadian, now safe, tread under foot the heaps of slain; let Greece’s sufferings be made good and her weary land be allowed to breathe once more. That nation, wider spread than any that dwells in northern Scythia, that found Athos too small and Thrace too narrow when it crossed them, that nation, I say, was conquered by thee and thy captains, and now, in the persons of the few that survive, laments its own overthrow. One hill now shelters a people whose hordes scarce the whole world could once contain. Athirst and hemmed within their rampart they

[161] = Corinth.

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ereptas quaesivit aquas, quas hostibus ante 480 contiguas alio Stilicho deflexerat actu mirantemque novas ignota per avia valles iusserat averso fluvium migrare meatu. Obvia quid mirum vinci, cum barbarus ultro iam cupiat servire tibi? tua Sarmata discors 485 sacramenta petit; proiecta pelle Gelonus militat; in Latios ritus transistis Alani. ut fortes in Marte viros animisque paratos, sic iustos in pace legis longumque tueris electos crebris nec succedentibus urges. 490 iudicibus notis regimur, fruimurque quietis militiaeque bonis, ceu bellatore Quirino, ceu placido moderante Numa. non inminet ensis, nullae nobilium caedes; non crimina vulgo texuntur; patria maestus non truditur exul; 495 impia continui cessant augmenta tributi; non infelices tabulae; non hasta refixas vendit opes; avida sector non voce citatur, nec tua privatis crescunt aeraria damnis. munificus largi, sed non et prodigus, auri. 500 perdurat non empta fides nec pectora merces adligat; ipsa suo pro pignore castra laborant; te miles nutritor amat. Quae denique Romae

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sought in vain for the stolen waters, that, once within our foemen’s reach, Stilicho had turned aside in another course, and commanded the stream, that marvelled at its strange channel amid unknown ways, to shift its altered track.

What wonder that the nations barring thy path should fall before thee, since the barbarian of his own choice now seeks to serve thee? The Sarmatae, ever a prey to internal strife, beg to swear allegiance to thee; the Geloni cast off their cloaks of hide and fight for thee; you, O Alans, have adopted the customs of Latium. As thou choosest for war men that are brave and eager for the fray, so thou choosest for the offices of peace men that are just, and once chosen keepest them long in their charge, not ousting them by ever new successors. We know the magistrates who govern us, and we enjoy the blessings of peace while we reap the advantages of war, as though we lived at one and the same time in the reign of warlike Romulus and peace-loving Numa. A sword is no longer hung over our heads; there are no massacres of the great; gone is the mob of false accusers; no melancholy exiles are driven from their fatherland. Unholy increase of perpetual taxes is at an end; there are no accursed lists,[162] no auctions of plundered wealth; the voice of greed summons not the salesman, nor is thy treasury increased by private losses. Thou art liberal with thy money, yet not wasteful of it. The loyalty of thy soldiers is a lasting loyalty, for it is not bought, nor is it gifts that win their love; the army is anxious for the success of its own child and loves thee who wast its nursling.

And how deep is thy devotion to Rome herself!

[162] _i.e._ lists of the proscribed and of their properties put up for sale.

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cura tibi! quam fixa manet reverentia patrum! firmatur senium iuris priscamque resumunt 505 canitiem leges emendanturque vetustae acceduntque novae. talem sensere Solonem res Pandioniae; sic armipotens Lacedaemon despexit muros rigido munita Lycurgo. quae sub te vel causa brevis vel iudicis error 510 neglegitur? dubiis quis litibus addere finem iustior et mersum latebris educere verum? quae pietas quantusque rigor tranquillaque magni vis animi nulloque levis terrore moveri nec nova mirari facilis! quam docta facultas 515 ingenii linguaeque modus! responsa verentur legati, gravibusque latet sub moribus aetas. Quantus in ore pater radiat! quam torva voluptas frontis et augusti maiestas grata pudoris! iam patrias imples galeas; iam cornus avita 520 temptatur vibranda tibi; promittitur ingens dextra rudimentis Romanaque vota moratur. quis decor, incedis quotiens clipeatus et auro squameus et rutilus cristis et casside maior! sic, cum Threïcia primum sudaret in hasta, 525 flumina laverunt puerum Rhodopeia Martem. quae vires iaculis vel, cum Gortynia tendis spicula, quam felix arcus certique petitor vulneris et iussum mentiri nescius ictum! scis, quo more Cydon, qua dirigat arte sagittas 530

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How fixed abides thy reverence for the Senate! Old customs are preserved, law has recovered its ancient sanctity in the amendment of former statutes and by the addition of new ones. Such an one as thee Pandion’s city[163] found in Solon; even so did warrior Lacedaemon disdain walls, for unyielding Lycurgus gave it defence. What case so petty, what judicial error so slight that it escapes thy notice? Who with truer justice put an end to dishonest suits and brought forth lurking truth from her hiding-place? What mercy, yet what firmness; thine is the quiet strength of a great soul, too firm to be stirred by fear, too stable to be swayed by the attraction of novelty. How stored with learning thy ready wit, how controlled thy speech; ambassadors are awe-stricken at thine answers, and thy grave manners make them forget thy years.

How thy father’s nobility shines in thy face! How awful is thy winning brow, how charming the majesty of a blushing emperor! Boy though thou art, thou canst wear thy sire’s helmet and brandish thy grandsire’s spear. These exercises of thy youth foreshadow vast strength in manhood and convince Rome that the ruler of her prayers is come. How fair art thou in shield and golden armour girt, with waving plumes and taller by the altitude of a helmet! So looked the youthful Mars when after the toil and sweat of his first battle he bathed him in Thracian Rhodope’s mountain stream. With what vigour thou hurlest the javelin, and, when thou stretchest the Cretan bow, what success attends thy shaft! Sure is the wound it seeks; it knows not how to fail the appointed stroke. Thou knowest in what fashion the Cretan,

[163] _i.e._ Athens.

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Armenius, refugo quae sit fiducia Partho: sic Amphioniae pulcher sudore palaestrae Alcides pharetras Dircaeaque tela solebat praetemptare feris olim domitura Gigantes et pacem latura polo, semperque cruentus 535 ibat et Alcmenae praedam referebat ovanti; caeruleus tali prostratus Apolline Python implicuit fractis moritura volumina silvis. Cum vectaris equo simulacraque Martia ludis, quis mollis sinuare fugas, quis tendere contum 540 acrior aut subitos melior flexisse recursus? non te Massagetae, non gens exercita campo Thessala, non ipsi poterunt aequare bimembres; vix comites alae, vix te suspensa sequuntur agmina ferventesque tument post terga dracones. 545 utque tuis primum sonipes calcaribus arsit, ignescunt patulae nares, non sentit harenas ungula discussaeque iubae sparguntur in armos; turbantur phalerae, spumosis morsibus aurum fumat, anhelantes exundant sanguine gemmae. 550 ipse labor pulvisque decet confusaque motu caesaries; vestis radiato murice solem combibit, ingesto crispatur purpura vento. si dominus legeretur equis, tua posceret ultro verbera Nereidum stabulis nutritus Arion 555 serviretque tuis contempto Castore frenis

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with what skill the Armenian, directs his arrows; in what the retreating Parthian puts his trust. Thus was Alcides, graced with the sweat of the wrestling-ground at Thebes, wont to try his bow and Boeotian arrows on the beasts of the forest ere he turned them against the Giants and so secured peace for heaven. Stains of blood were ever upon him and proud was his mother Alcmena of the spoils he brought back home. Such was Apollo when he slew the livid serpent that enfolded and brake down forests in his dying coils.

When mounted on thy horse thou playest the mimicry of war, who is quicker smoothly to wheel in flight, who to hurl the spear, or more skilled to sweep round in swift return? There the Massagetae are not thy peers nor the tribes of Thessaly, well versed though they be in riding, no, nor the very Centaurs themselves. Scarce can the squadrons and flying bands that accompany thee keep pace, while the wind behind thee bellies the fierce dragons on the flags. So soon as the touch of thy spur has fired thy steed, flames start from his swelling nostrils; his hoof scarce touches the ground and his mane is outspread over his shoulders. His harness rattles and the golden bit grows warm in his foam-flecked mouth. The jewels that stud his quivering bridle are red with blood. The signs of toil, the dust stains, the disorder of thy hair all do but increase thy beauty. Thy brilliant scarlet cloak drinks in the sunlight as the wind blows its gay surface into folds. Could horses choose their riders then surely would Arion, full fed in the stables of the Nereids, have prayed for the very whip of such a master, Cyllarus would have had none of Castor, but would have looked

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Cyllarus et flavum Xanthus sprevisset Achillem. ipse tibi famulas praeberet Pegasus alas portaretque libens melioraque pondera passus Bellerophonteas indignaretur habenas. 560 quin etiam velox Aurorae nuntius Aethon, qui fugat hinnitu stellas roseoque domatur Lucifero, quotiens equitem te cernit ab astris, invidet inque tuis mavult spumare lupatis. Nunc quoque quos habitus, quantae miracula pompae 565 vidimus, Ausonio cum iam succinctus amictu per Ligurum populos solito conspectior ires atque inter niveas alte veherere cohortes, obnixisque simul pubes electa lacertis sidereum gestaret onus. sic numina Memphis 570 in vulgus proferre solet; penetralibus exit effigies, brevis illa quidem: sed plurimus infra liniger imposito suspirat vecte sacerdos testatus sudore deum; Nilotica sistris ripa sonat Phariosque modos Aegyptia ducit 575 tibia; summissis admugit cornibus Apis. omnis nobilitas, omnis tua sacra frequentat Thybridis et Latii suboles; convenit in unum quidquid in orbe fuit procerum, quibus auctor honoris vel tu vel genitor. numeroso consule consul 580 cingeris et socios gaudes admittere patres. inlustri te prole Tagus, te Gallia doctis civibus et toto stipavit Roma senatu. portatur iuvenum cervicibus aurea sedes ornatuque novo gravior deus. asperat Indus 585 velamenta lapis pretiosaque fila smaragdis

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

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

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ducta virent; amethystus inest et fulgor Hiberus temperat arcanis hyacinthi caerula flammis. nec rudis in tali suffecit gratia textu; auget acus meritum picturatumque metallis 590 vivit opus: multa remorantur iaspide cultus[164] et variis spirat Nereia baca figuris. quae tantum potuit digitis mollire rigorem ambitiosa colus? vel cuius pectinis arte traxerunt solidae gemmarum stamina telae? 595 invia quis calidi scrutatus stagna profundi Tethyos invasit gremium? quis divitis algae germina flagrantes inter quaesivit harenas? quis iunxit lapides ostro? quis miscuit ignes Sidonii Rubrique maris? tribuere colorem 600 Phoenices, Seres subtegmina, pondus Hydaspes. hoc si Maeonias cinctu graderere per urbes, in te pampineos transferret Lydia thyrsos, in te Nysa choros; dubitassent orgia Bacchi, cui furerent; irent blandae sub vincula tigres. 605 talis Erythraeis intextus nebrida gemmis Liber agit currus et Caspia flectit eburnis colla iugis: Satyri circum crinemque solutae Maenades adstringunt hederis victricibus Indos; ebrius hostili velatur palmite Ganges. 610 Auspice mox laetum sonuit clamore tribunal te fastos ineunte quater. sollemnia ludit omina libertas; deductum Vindice morem lex celebrat, famulusque iugo laxatus erili

[164] Birt _vultus_; cod. Ambrosianus _cultus_.

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

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

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

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ducitur et grato remeat securior ictu. 615 tristis condicio pulsata fronte recedit; in civem rubuere genae, tergoque removit verbera permissi felix iniuria voti. Prospera Romuleis sperantur tempora rebus in nomen ventura tuum. praemissa futuris 620 dant exempla fidem: quotiens te cursibus aevi praefecit, totiens accessit laurea patri. ausi Danuvium quondam transnare Gruthungi in lintres fregere nemus; ter mille ruebant per fluvium plenae cuneis inmanibus alni. 625 dux Odothaeus erat. tantae conamina classis incipiens aetas et primus contudit annus: summersae sedere rates; fluitantia numquam largius Arctoos pavere cadavera pisces; corporibus premitur Peuce; per quinque recurrens ostia barbaricos vix egerit unda cruores, 631 confessusque parens Odothaei regis opima rettulit exuviasque tibi. civile secundis conficis auspiciis bellum. tibi debeat orbis fata Gruthungorum debellatumque tyrannum: 635 Hister sanguineos egit te consule fluctus; Alpinos genitor rupit te consule montes. Sed patriis olim fueras successibus auctor, nunc eris ipse tuis. semper venere triumphi cum trabeis sequiturque tuos victoria fasces. 640

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

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

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

[166] A reference to the Roman method of manumitting a slave _alapa et festuca_, _i.e._ by giving him a slight blow (_alapa_) with a rod (_festuca_). See Gaius on _vindicatio_ (iv. 16) and on the whole question R. G. Nisbet in _Journal of Roman Studies_, viii. Pt. 1.

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

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sis, precor, adsiduus consul Mariique relinquas et senis Augusti numerum. quae gaudia mundo, per tua lanugo cum serpere coeperit ora, cum tibi protulerit festas nox pronuba taedas! quae tali devota toro, quae murice fulgens 645 ibit in amplexus tanti regina mariti? quaenam tot divis veniet nurus, omnibus arvis et toto donanda mari? quantusque feretur idem per Zephyri metas Hymenaeus et Euri! o mihi si liceat thalamis intendere carmen 650 conubiale tuis, si te iam dicere patrem! tempus erit, cum tu trans Rheni cornua victor, Arcadius captae spoliis Babylonis onustus communem maiore toga signabitis annum; crinitusque tuo sudabit fasce Suebus, 655 ultima fraternas horrebunt Bactra secures.

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

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

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PANEGYRICUS DICTUS MANLIO THEODORO CONSULI

PRAEFATIO

(XVI.)

Audebisne, precor, tantae subiecta catervae, inter tot proceres, nostra Thalia, loqui? nec te fama vetat, vero quam celsius auctam vel servasse labor vel minuisse pudor? an tibi continuis crevit fiducia castris 5 totaque iam vatis pectora miles habet? culmina Romani maiestatemque senatus et, quibus exultat Gallia, cerne viros. omnibus audimur terris mundique per aures ibimus. ah nimius consulis urget amor! 10 Iuppiter, ut perhibent, spatium cum discere vellet naturae regni nescius ipse sui, armigeros utrimque duos aequalibus alis misit ab Eois Occiduisque plagis. Parnasus geminos fertur iunxisse volatus; 15 contulit alternas Pythius axis aves. Princeps non aquilis terras cognoscere curat; certius in vobis aestimat imperium. hoc ego concilio collectum metior orbem; hoc video coetu quidquid ubique micat. 20

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PANEGYRIC ON THE CONSULSHIP OF FL. MANLIUS THEODORUS[169] (A.D. 399)

PREFACE

(XVI.)

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

[169] See Introduction, p. xv. Judging from this poem Manlius started by being an _advocatus_ in the praetorian prefect’s court, was then _praeses_ of some district in Africa, then governor (_consularis_) of Macedonia, next recalled to Rome as Gratian’s _magister epistularum_, then _comes sacrarum largitionum_ (= ecclesiastical treasurer) and after that praetorian prefect of Gaul (ll. 50-53).

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PANEGYRICUS

(XVII.)

Ipsa quidem Virtus pretium sibi, solaque late Fortunae secura nitet nec fascibus ullis erigitur plausuve petit clarescere vulgi. nil opis externae cupiens, nil indiga laudis, divitiis animosa suis inmotaque cunctis 5 casibus ex alta mortalia despicit arce. attamen invitam blande vestigat et ultro ambit honor: docuit totiens a rure profectus lictor et in mediis consul quaesitus aratris. te quoque naturae sacris mundique vacantem, 10 emeritum pridem desudatisque remotum iudiciis eadem rursum complexa potestas evehit et reducem notis imponit habenis. accedunt trabeae: nil iam, Theodore, relictum, quo virtus animo crescat vel splendor honori.[170] 15 culmen utrumque tenes: talem te protinus anni formavere rudes, et dignum vita curuli traxit iter primaeque senes cessere iuventae. iam tum canities animi, iam dulce loquendi

[170] _honori_ conject. Birt; _honore_ codd.

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PANEGYRIC

(XVII.)

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

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pondus et attonitas sermo qui duceret aures. 20 mox undare foro victrix opulentia linguae tutarique reos. ipsa haec amplissima sedes orantem stupuit, bis laudatura regentem. hinc te pars Libyae moderantem iura probavit, quae nunc tota probat; longi sed pignus amoris 25 exiguae peperere morae populumque clientem publica mansuris testantur vocibus aera. inde tibi Macetum tellus et credita Pellae moenia, quae famulus quondam ditavit Hydaspes; tantaque commissae revocasti gaudia genti 30 mitibus arbitriis, quantum bellante Philippo floruit aut nigri cecidit cum regia Pori. Sed non ulterius te praebuit urbibus aula: maluit esse suum; terris edicta daturus, supplicibus responsa venis. oracula regis 35 eloquio crevere tuo, nec dignius umquam maiestas meminit sese Romana locutam. hinc sacrae mandantur opes orbisque tributa possessi, quidquid fluviis evolvitur auri, quidquid luce procul venas rimata sequaces 40 abdita pallentis fodit sollertia Bessi. Ac velut expertus[171] lentandis navita tonsis praeficitur lateri custos; hinc ardua prorae temperat et fluctus tempestatesque futuras edocet; adsiduo cum Dorida vicerit usu, 45 iam clavum totamque subit torquere carinam:

[171] _expertus_ Barthius; Birt keeps MSS. _exertus_.

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

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

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

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sic cum clara diu mentis documenta dedisses, non te parte sui, sed in omni corpore sumpsit imperium cunctaque dedit tellure regendos rectores. Hispana tibi Germanaque Tethys 50 paruit et nostro diducta Britannia mundo, diversoque tuas coluerunt gurgite voces lentus Arar Rhodanusque ferox et dives Hiberus. o quotiens doluit Rhenus, qua barbarus ibat, quod te non geminis frueretur iudice ripis! 55 unius fit cura viri, quodcumque rubescit occasu, quodcumque dies devexior ambit. Tam celer adsiduos explevit cursus honores; una potestatum spatiis interfuit aetas totque gradus fati iuvenilibus intulit annis. 60 Postquam parta quies et summum nacta cacumen iam secura petit privatum gloria portum, ingenii redeunt fructus aliique labores, et vitae pars nulla perit: quodcumque recedit litibus, incumbit studiis, animusque vicissim 65 aut curam imponit populis aut otia Musis. omnia Cecropiae relegis secreta senectae discutiens, quid quisque novum mandaverit aevo quantaque diversae producant agmina sectae. Namque aliis princeps rerum disponitur aër; 70 hic confidit aquis; hic procreat omnia flammis.

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

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

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

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

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

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alter in Aetnaeas casurus sponte favillas dispergit revocatque deum rursusque receptis nectit amicitiis quidquid discordia solvit. corporis hic damnat sensus verumque videri 75 pernegat. hic semper lapsurae pondera terrae conatur rapido caeli fulcire rotatu accenditque diem praerupti turbine saxi. ille ferox unoque tegi non passus Olympo inmensum per inane volat finemque perosus 80 parturit innumeros angusto pectore mundos. hi vaga collidunt caecis primordia plagis. numina constituunt alii casusque relegant. Graiorum obscuras Romanis floribus artes inradias, vicibus gratis formare loquentes 85 suetus et alterno verum contexere nodo. quidquid Socratico manavit ab ordine, quidquid docta Cleantheae sonuerunt atria turbae, inventum quodcumque tuo, Chrysippe, recessu, quidquid Democritus risit dixitque tacendo 90 Pythagoras, uno se pectore cuncta vetustas condidit et maior collectis viribus exit. ornantur veteres et nobiliore magistro in Latium spretis Academia migrat Athenis, ut tandem propius discat, quo fine beatum 95 dirigitur, quae norma boni, qui limes honesti; quaenam membra sui virtus divisa domandis obiectet vitiis; quae pars iniusta recidat, quae vincat ratione metus, quae frenet amores; aut quotiens elementa doces semperque fluentis 100

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

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

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

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materiae causas: quae vis animaverit astra impuleritque choros; quo vivat machina motu; sidera cur septem retro nitantur in ortus obluctata polo; variisne meatibus idem arbiter an geminae convertant aethera mentes; sitne color proprius rerum, lucisne repulsu 106 eludant aciem; tumidos quae luna recursus nutriat Oceani; quo fracta tonitrua vento, quis trahat imbriferas nubes, quo saxa creentur grandinis; unde rigor nivibus; quae flamma per auras 110 excutiat rutilos tractus aut fulmina velox torqueat aut tristem figat crinita cometem. Iam tibi compositam fundaverat ancora puppim, telluris iam certus eras; fecunda placebant otia; nascentes ibant in saecula libri: 115 cum subito liquida cessantem vidit ab aethra Iustitia et tanto viduatas iudice leges. continuo frontem limbo velata pudicam deserit Autumni portas, qua vergit in Austrum Signifer et noctis reparant dispendia Chelae. 120 pax avibus, quacumque volat, rabiemque frementes deposuere ferae; laetatur terra reverso numine, quod prisci post tempora perdidit auri. illa per occultum Ligurum se moenibus infert et castos levibus plantis ingressa penates 125 invenit aetherios signantem pulvere cursus, quos pia sollicito deprendit pollice Memphis:

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

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

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quae moveant momenta polum, quam certus in astris error, quis tenebras solis causisque meantem defectum indicat numerus, quae linea Phoeben 130 damnet et excluso pallentem fratre relinquat. ut procul adspexit fulgentia Virginis ora cognovitque deam, vultus veneratus amicos occurrit scriptaeque notas confundit harenae. Tum sic diva prior: “Manli, sincera bonorum 135 congeries, in quo veteris vestigia recti et ductos video mores meliore metallo: iam satis indultum studiis, Musaeque tot annos eripuere mihi. pridem te iura reposcunt: adgredere et nostro rursum te redde labori 140 nec tibi sufficiat transmissae gloria vitae. humanum curare genus quis terminus umquam praescripsit? nullas recipit prudentia metas. adde quod haec multis potuit contingere sedes, sed meriti tantum redeunt actusque priores 145 commendat repetitus honos, virtusque reducit quos fortuna legit.[174] melius magnoque petendum credis in abstrusa rerum ratione morari? scilicet illa tui patriam praecepta Platonis erexere magis, quam qui responsa secutus 150 obruit Eoas classes urbemque carinis vexit et arsuras Medo subduxit Athenas? Spartanis potuit robur praestare Lycurgus matribus et sexum leges vicere severae

[174] Birt _regit_ with the MSS. (he suggests _nequit_); Heinsius _legit_.

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

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

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

[176] _i.e._ Themistocles.

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civibus et vetitis ignavo credere muro 155 tutius obiecit nudam Lacedaemona bellis: at non Pythagorae monitus annique silentes famosum Oebalii luxum pressere Tarenti. “Quis vero insignem tanto sub principe curam respuat? aut quando meritis maiora patebunt 160 praemia? quis demens adeo qui iungere sensus cum Stilichone neget? similem quae protulit aetas consilio vel Marte virum? nunc Brutus amaret vivere sub regno, tali succumberet aulae Fabricius, cuperent ipsi servire Catones. 165 nonne vides, ut nostra soror Clementia tristes obtundat gladios fratresque amplexa serenos adsurgat Pietas, fractis ut lugeat armis Perfidia et laceris morientes crinibus hydri lambant invalido Furiarum vincla veneno? 170 exultat cum Pace Fides, iam sidera cunctae liquimus et placidas inter discurrimus urbes. nobiscum, Theodore, redi.” Subit ille loquentem talibus: “agrestem dudum me, diva, reverti cogis et infectum longi rubigine ruris 175 ad tua signa vocas. nam quae mihi cura tot annis altera quam duras sulcis mollire novales, nosse soli vires, nemori quae commoda rupes, quis felix oleae tractus, quae glaeba faveret frugibus et quales tegeret vindemia colles? 180 terribiles rursum lituos veteranus adibo et desueta vetus temptabo caerula vector?

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

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

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

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collectamque diu et certis utcumque locatam sedibus in dubium patiar deponere famam? nec me, quid valeat natura fortior usus, 185 praeterit aut quantum neglectae defluat arti. desidis aurigae non audit verbera currus, nec manus agnoscit quem non exercuit arcum. esse sed iniustum fateor quodcumque negatur iustitiae. tu prima hominem silvestribus antris 190 elicis et foedo deterges saecula victu. te propter colimus leges animosque ferarum exuimus. nitidis quisquis te sensibus hausit, inruet intrepidus flammis, hiberna secabit aequora, confertos hostes superabit inermis. 195 ille vel Aethiopum pluviis solabitur aestus; illum trans Scythiam vernus comitabitur aër.” Sic fatus tradente dea suscepit habenas quattuor ingenti iuris temone refusas. prima Padum Thybrimque ligat crebrisque micantem urbibus Italiam; Numidas[177] Poenosque secunda 201 temperat; Illyrico se tertia porrigit orbi; ultima Sardiniam, Cyrnum trifidamque retentat Sicaniam et quidquid Tyrrhena tunditur unda vel gemit Ionia. nec te tot lumina rerum 205 aut tantum turbavit onus; sed ut altus Olympi vertex, qui spatio ventos hiemesque relinquit, perpetuum nulla temeratus nube serenum celsior exurgit pluviis auditque ruentes

[177] _Numidas_ Heinsius; Birt _†Lydos_.

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My fame has long been gathered in and where it is ’tis in safe custody; am I to suffer its being put to the hazard? Full well do I realize that habit is a stronger force than nature, nor am I ignorant of the rapidity with which we forget an art that we have ceased to exercise. The whip of an unpractised charioteer is powerless to urge on his horses; the hand that is unaccustomed thereto cannot bend the bow. And yet it were unjust, I admit, to refuse aught to Justice. Thou first didst draw man from his woodland cave and free the human race from its foul manner of life. Thanks to thee we practise law and have put off the temper of wild beasts. Whosoever has drunk of thee with pure heart will rush fearless through flames, will sail the wintry seas, and overcome unarmed the densest company of foemen. Justice is to the just as rain to temper even the heat of Ethiopia, a breath of spring to journey with him across the deserts of Scythia.”

So spake he and took from the goddess’ hand the four reins that lay stretched along the huge pole of Justice’s car. The first harnesses the rivers Po and Tiber and Italy with all her glittering towns; the second guides Numidia and Carthage; the third runs out across the land of Illyria; the last holds Sardinia, Corsica, three-cornered Sicily and the coasts beaten by the Tyrrhenian wave or that echo to the Ionian. The splendour and magnitude of the undertaking troubled thee not one whit; but as the lofty summit of Olympus, far removed from the winds and tempests of the lower air, its eternal bright serene untroubled by any cloud, is lifted above the rain storms and hears the hurricane rushing

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sub pedibus nimbos et rauca tonitrua calcat: 210 sic patiens animus per tanta negotia liber emergit similisque sui, iustique tenorem flectere non odium cogit, non gratia suadet. nam spretas quis opes intactaque pectora lucro commemoret? fuerint aliis haec forte decora: 215 nulla potest laus esse tibi, quae crimina purget. servat inoffensam divina modestia vocem: temperiem servant oculi; nec lumina fervor asperat aut rabidas suffundit sanguine venas, nullaque mutati tempestas proditur oris. 220 quin etiam sontes expulsa corrigis ira et placidus delicta domas; nec dentibus umquam instrepis horrendum, fremitu nec verbera poscis. Qui fruitur poena, ferus est, legumque videtur vindictam praestare sibi; cum viscera felle 225 canduerint, ardet stimulis ferturque nocendi prodigus, ignarus causae: dis proximus ille, quem ratio, non ira movet, qui facta rependens consilio punire potest. mucrone cruento se iactent alii, studeant feritate timeri 230 addictoque hominum cumulent aeraria censu. lene fluit Nilus, sed cunctis amnibus extat utilior nullo confessus murmure vires; acrior ac rapidus tacitas praetermeat ingens Danuvius ripas; eadem dementia sani 235 gurgitis inmensum deducit in ostia Gangen. torrentes inmane fremant lassisque minentur

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beneath its feet while it treads upon the thunder’s roar; so thy patient mind, unfettered by cares so manifold, rises high above them; thou art ever the same, no hatred can compel thee, no affection induce thee, to swerve from the path of justice. For why should any speak of riches scorned and a heart unallured by gain? These might perhaps be virtues in others: absence of vice is no praise to bestow on thee. The calm of a god banishes anger from thy voice; the spirit of moderation shines from thine eyes; passion never inflames that glance or fills with blood the angry veins; never is a tempest heralded on thy changed countenance. Nay, thou punishest the very criminals without show of anger and checkest their evil-doing with unruffled calm. Never dost thou gnash with thy teeth upon them nor shout orders for them to be chastised.

He is a savage who delights in punishment and seems to make the vengeance of the laws his own; when his heart is inflamed with the poison of wrath he is goaded by fury and rushes on knowing nothing of the cause and eager only to do hurt. But he whom reason, not anger, animates is a peer of the gods, he who, weighing the guilt, can with deliberation balance the punishment. Let others boast them of their bloody swords and wish to be feared for their ferocity, while they fill their treasuries with the goods of the condemned. Gently flows the Nile, yet is it more beneficent than all rivers for all that no sound reveals its power. More swiftly the broad Danube glides between its quiet banks. Huge Ganges flows down to its mouths with gently moving current. Let torrents roar horribly, threaten weary

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pontibus et volvant spumoso vertice silvas: pax maiora decet; peragit tranquilla potestas, quod violenta nequit, mandataque fortius urget 240 imperiosa quies. Idem praedurus iniquas accepisse preces, rursus, quae digna petitu, largior et facilis; nec quae comitatur honores, ausa tuam leviter temptare superbia mentem. frons privata manet nec se meruisse fatetur, 245 quae crevisse putat; rigidi sed plena pudoris elucet gravitas fastu iucunda remoto. quae non seditio, quae non insania vulgi te viso lenita cadat? quae dissona ritu barbaries, medii quam non reverentia frangat? 250 vel quis non sitiens sermonis mella politi deserat Orpheos blanda testudine cantus? qualem te legimus teneri primordia mundi scribentem aut partes animae, per singula talem cernimus et similes agnoscit pagina mores. 255 Nec dilata tuis Augusto iudice merces officiis, illumque habitum, quo iungitur aulae curia, qui socio proceres cum principe nectit, quem quater ipse gerit, perfecto detulit anno deposuitque suas te succedente curules. 260 crescant virtutes fecundaque floreat aetas. ingeniis patuit campus certusque merenti stat favor: ornatur propriis industria donis. surgite sopitae, quas obruit ambitus, artes. nil licet invidiae, Stilicho dum prospicit orbi 265

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bridges, and sweep down forests in their foaming whirl; ’tis repose, befits the greater; quiet authority accomplishes what violence cannot, and that mandate compels more which comes from a commanding calm.

“Thou art as deaf to the prayers of injustice as thou art generous and attentive where the demand is just. Pride, that ever accompanies office, has not so much as dared to touch thy mind. Thy look is a private citizen’s nor allows that it has deserved what it thinks to have but grown[178]; but full of stately modesty shines forth a gravity that charms because pride is banished. What sedition, what madness of the crowd could see thee and not sink down appeased? What country so barbarous, so foreign in its customs, as not to bow in reverence before thy mediation? Who that desires the honied charm of polished eloquence would not desert the lyre-accompanied song of tuneful Orpheus? In every activity we see thee as we see thee in thy books, describing the creation of the newly-fashioned earth or the parts of the soul; we recognize thy character in thy pages.

The Emperor has not been slow in rewarding thy merit. The robe that links Senate-house and palace, that unites nobles with their prince--the robe that he himself has four times worn, he hath at the year’s end handed on to thee, and left his own curule chair that thou mightest follow him. Grow, ye virtues; be this an age of prosperity! The path of glory lies open to the wise; merit is sure of its reward; industry dowered with the gifts it deserves. Arts, rise from the slumber into which depraved ambition had forced you! Envy cannot hold up her head while Stilicho and his godlike

[178] _i.e._ Manlius modestly regards his honours as a natural growth, not as the reward of merit.

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sidereusque gener. non hic violata curulis, turpia non Latios incestant nomina fastos; fortibus haec concessa viris solisque gerenda patribus et Romae numquam latura pudorem. Nuntia votorum celeri iam Fama volatu 270 moverat Aonios audito consule lucos. concinuit felix Helicon fluxitque Aganippe largior et docti riserunt floribus amnes. Uranie redimita comas, qua saepe magistra Manlius igniferos radio descripserat axes, 275 sic alias hortata deas: “patimurne, sorores, optato procul esse die nec limina nostri consulis et semper dilectas visimus aedes? notior est Helicone[179] domus. gestare curules et fasces subiisse libet. miracula plebi 280 colligite et claris nomen celebrate theatris. “Tu Iovis aequorei summersam fluctibus aulam oratum volucres, Erato, iam perge quadrigas, a quibus haud umquam palmam rapturus Arion. inlustret circum sonipes, quicumque superbo 285 perstrepit hinnitu Bactin, qui splendida potat stagna Tagi madidoque iubas adspergitur auro. “Calliope, liquidas Alciden posce palaestras: cuncta Palaemoniis manus explorata coronis adsit et Eleo pubes laudata Tonanti. 290 “Tu iuga Taygeti frondosaque Maenala, Clio, i Triviae supplex; non aspernata rogantem amphitheatrali faveat Latonia pompae.

[179] codd. have _Stilichone_; Birt obelizes the line; it is only found in V; _Helicone_ Gevartius.

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son-in-law direct the state. Here is no pollution of the consul’s office, no shameful names disgrace the Latin fasti; here the consulship is an honour reserved for the brave, given only to senators, never a source of scandal to Rome’s city.[180]

Now had Fame, announcing our good fortune, winged her way to Aonia whose groves she stirred with the tidings of the new consul. Helicon raised a hymn of praise, Aganippe flowed with waters more abundant, the streams of song laughed with flowers. Then Urania, her hair wreath-crowned, Urania whose hand had oft directed Manlius’ compass in marking out the starry spheres, thus addressed the other Muses: “Sisters, can we bear to be absent this longed-for day? Shall we not visit our consul’s door and the house we have always loved? Better known to us is it than Helicon; gladly we draw the curule chair and bear the fasces. Bring marvels for the people’s delight and make known his name in the famed theatres.

“Do thou, Erato, go visit the palace of Neptune beneath the sea and beg for four swift coursers such that even Arion could not snatch the prize from them. Let the Circus be graced by every steed to whose proud neighing Baetis re-echoes, who drinks of Tagus’ shining pools and sprinkles his mane with its liquid gold.

“Calliope, ask thou of Alcides the oil of the wrestling-ground. Let all the company proved in the games at Elis follow thee and the athletes who have won fame with Olympian Jove.

“Fly, Clio, to Taygetus’ heights and leafy Maenalus and beg Diana not to spurn thy petition but help the amphitheatre’s pomp. Let the goddess herself

[180] Claudian is thinking of Eutropius, Manlius’ eastern colleague.

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audaces legat ipsa viros, qui colla ferarum arte ligent certoque premant venabula nisu. 295 ipsa truces fetus captivaque ducat ab antris prodigia et caedis sitientem differat arcum. conveniant ursi, magna quos mole ruentes torva Lycaoniis Helice miretur ab astris, perfossique rudant populo pallente leones, 300 quales Mygdonio curru frenare Cybebe optet et Herculei mallent fregisse lacerti. obvia fulminei properent ad vulnera pardi semine permixto geniti, cum forte leaenae nobiliorem uterum viridis corrupit adulter; 305 hi maculis patres referant et robore matres. quidquid monstriferis nutrit Gaetulia campis, Alpina quidquid tegitur nive, Gallica siquid silva tenet, iaceat; largo ditescat harena sanguine; consumant totos spectacula montes. 310 “Nec molles egeant nostra dulcedine ludi: qui laetis risum salibus movisse facetus, qui nutu manibusque loquax, cui tibia flatu, cui plectro pulsanda chelys, qui pulpita socco personat aut alte graditur maiore cothurno, 315 et qui magna levi detrudens murmura tactu innumeras voces segetis moderatus aenae intonet erranti digito penitusque trabali vecte laborantes in carmina concitet undas, vel qui more avium sese iaculentur in auras 320

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choose out brave hunters cunningly to lasso the necks of wild animals and to drive home the hunting-spear with unfailing stroke. With her own hand let her lead forth from their caverns fierce beasts and captive monsters, laying aside her bloodthirsty bow. Let bears be gathered together, whereat, as they charge with mighty bulk, Helice may gaze in wonder from Lycaon’s stars.[181] Let smitten lions roar till the people turn pale, lions such as Cybele would be fain to harness to her Mygdonian chariot or Hercules strangle in his mighty arms. May leopards, lightning-swift, hasten to meet the spear’s wound, beasts that are born of an adulterous union what time the spotted sire did violence to the nobler lion’s mate: of such beasts their markings recall the sire, their courage the dam. Whatsoever is nourished by the fields of Gaetulia rich in monsters, whatsoever lurks beneath Alpine snows or in Gallic woods, let it fall before the spear. Let large streams of blood enrich the arena and the spectacle leave whole mountains desolate.

“Nor let gentler games lack the delights we bring: let the clown be there to move the people’s laughter with his happy wit, the mime whose language is in his nod and in the movements of his hands, the musician whose breath rouses the flute and whose finger stirs the lyre, the slippered comedian to whose voice the theatre re-echoes, the tragedian towering on his loftier buskin; him too whose light touch can elicit loud music from those pipes of bronze that sound a thousand diverse notes beneath his wandering fingers and who by means of a lever stirs to song the labouring water.[182] Let us see acrobats who hurl themselves through the air like birds and build

[181] Helice = the Great Bear; so does the phrase “Lycaon’s stars,” for Lycaon was the father of Callisto who was transformed by the jealous Juno into a bear and as such translated by Jupiter to the sky. Claudian means that he wants the Great Bear to observe this assemblage of earthly bears.

[182] The _hydraulus_ or water organ was known in Cicero’s day (_Tusc._ iii. 18.43). It is illustrated by a piece of sculpture in the Museum at Arles (see Grove, _Dict. of Music_, under “Organ” ).

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corporaque aedificent celeri crescentia nexu, quorum compositam puer amentatus in arcem emicet et vinctu plantae vel cruribus hacrens pendula librato figat vestigia saltu. mobile ponderibus descendat pegma reductis 325 inque chori speciem spargentes ardua flammas scaena rotet varios et fingat Mulciber orbis per tabulas impune vagus pictaeque citato ludant igne trabes et non permissa morari fida per innocuas errent incendia turres. 330 lascivi subito confligant aequore lembi stagnaque remigibus spument inmissa canoris. “Consul per populos idemque gravissimus auctor eloquii, duplici vita subnixus in aevum procedat pariter libris fastisque legendus. 335 accipiat patris exemplum tribuatque nepoti filius et coeptis ne desit fascibus heres. decurrat trabeata domus tradatque secures mutua postcritas servatoque ordine fati Manlia continuo numeretur consule proles.” 340

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pyramids that grow with swift entwining of their bodies, to the summit of which pyramid rushes a boy fastened by a thong, a boy who, attached there by the foot or leg, executes a step-dance suspended in the air. Let the counterweights be removed and the mobile crane descend, lowering on to the lofty stage men who, wheeling chorus-wise, scatter flames; let Vulcan forge balls of fire to roll innocuously across the boards, let the flames appear to play about the sham beams of the scenery and a tame conflagration, never allowed to rest, wander among the untouched towers. Let ships meet in mimic warfare on an improvised ocean and the flooded waters be lashed to foam by singing oarsmen.

“As consul at once and stateliest master, upborne by a twofold fame, let Manlius go forth among the peoples, read in his own books and in our calendars. May the sire’s example be followed by the son[183] and handed on to a grandson, nor these first fasces ever lack succession. May his race pass on purple-clad, may the generations, each to each, hand on the axes, and obedient to the ordinance of fate, Manlius after Manlius add one more consul to the tale.”

[183] We do not hear of Claudian’s hopes coming true. This son was, however, proconsul of Africa (Augustine, _Contra Crescon._ iii. 62).

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DE CONSULATU STILICHONIS

LIBER I.

(XXI.)

Continuant superi pleno Romana favore gaudia successusque novis successibus augent: conubii necdum festivos regia cantus sopierat, cecinit fuso Gildone triumphos, et calidis thalami successit laurea sertis, 5 sumeret ut pariter princeps nomenque mariti victorisque decus; Libyae post proelia crimen concidit Eoum, rursusque Oriente subacto consule defensae surgunt Stilichone secures. ordine vota meant. equidem si carmen in unum 10 tantarum sperem cumulos advolvere rerum, promptius imponam glaciali Pelion Ossae. si partem tacuisse velim, quodcumque relinquam maius erit. veteres actus primamque iuventam prosequar? ad sese mentem praesentia ducunt. 15 narrem iustitiam? resplendet gloria Martis. armati referam vires? plus egit inermis. quod floret Latium, Latio quod reddita servit Africa, vicinum quod nescit Hiberia Maurum,

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ON STILICHIO’S CONSULSHIP (A.D. 400)