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.

* * * * *

Page 246

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

* * * * *

Page 247

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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Page 248

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

* * * * *

Page 249

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.

* * * * *

Page 250

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.

* * * * *

Page 251

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

* * * * *

Page 252

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_.

* * * * *

Page 253

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

* * * * *

Page 254

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

* * * * *

Page 255

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_.

* * * * *

Page 256

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

* * * * *

Page 257

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

* * * * *

Page 258

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,

* * * * *

Page 259

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

* * * * *

Page 260

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!

* * * * *

Page 261

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

* * * * *

Page 263

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

* * * * *

Page 265

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.”

* * * * *

Page 267

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.

* * * * *

Page 268

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.

* * * * *

Page 269

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.

* * * * *

Page 270

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

* * * * *

Page 271

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.

* * * * *

Page 272

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,

* * * * *

Page 273

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

* * * * *

Page 274

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

* * * * *

Page 275

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.

* * * * *

Page 276

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

* * * * *

Page 277

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

* * * * *

Page 278

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

* * * * *

Page 279

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).

* * * * *

Page 280

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

* * * * *

Page 282

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

* * * * *

Page 284

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.

* * * * *

Page 285

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.

* * * * *

Page 286

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.

* * * * *

Page 287

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.

* * * * *

Page 288

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

* * * * *

Page 289

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.

* * * * *

Page 290

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;

* * * * *

Page 291

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

* * * * *

Page 292

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,

* * * * *

Page 293

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.

* * * * *

Page 294

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.

* * * * *

Page 295

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.

* * * * *

Page 296

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