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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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Page 309

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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Page 311

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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Page 313

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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Page 314

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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Page 315

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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Page 316

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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Page 317

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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Page 318

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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Page 319

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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Page 320

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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Page 321

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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Page 333

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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Page 337

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.

* * * * *

Page 339

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

* * * * *

Page 340

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

* * * * *

Page 342

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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Page 343

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.

* * * * *

Page 344

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.

* * * * *

Page 346

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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Page 347

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

* * * * *

Page 348

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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Page 349

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.

* * * * *

Page 350

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?

* * * * *

Page 351

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_.

* * * * *

Page 353

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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Page 354

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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Page 355

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

* * * * *

Page 356

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

* * * * *

Page 357

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)