aggere conspicuus; stat circumfusa iuventus 425 nixa hastis pronasque ferox accommodat aures: “Gildonem domitura manus, promissa minasque tempus agi. si quid pro me doluistis, in armis ostentate mihi; iusto magnoque triumpho civiles abolete notas; sciat orbis Eous 430 sitque palam Gallos causa, non robore vinci. nec vos, barbariem quamvis collegerit omnem, terreat. an Mauri fremitum raucosque repulsus umbonum et vestros passuri comminus enses? non contra clipeis tectos gladiisque micantes 435 ibitis: in solis longe fiducia telis. exarmatus erit, cum missile torserit, hostis. dextra movet iaculum, praetentat pallia laeva; cetera nudus eques. sonipes ignarus habenae; virga regit. non ulla fides, non agminis ordo: 440 arma oneri, fuga praesidio. conubia mille; non illis generis nexus, non pignora curae: sed numero languet pietas. haec copia vulgi. umbratus dux ipse rosis et marcidus ibit unguentis crudusque cibo titubansque Lyaeo, 445 confectus senio, morbis stuprisque solutus. excitet incestos turmalis bucina somnos, imploret citharas cantatricesque choreas offensus stridore tubae discatque coactus, quas vigilat Veneri, castris impendere noctes. 450 * * * * * Page 131 leaning upon their spears the soldiers throng around him and attune their ready ears to his inspiring voice. “My men, so soon to bring defeat upon Gildo, now is the time to fulfil your promises and make good your threats. If you felt indignation on my behalf, now take up arms and prove it. Wash out the stain of civil war by means of a great and deserved triumph. Let the empire of the East know, let it be plain to all the world, that Gaul can only owe defeat to the badness of a cause, not to her enemies’ strength.[79] Let not Gildo affright you though he have all barbary at his back. Shall Moors stand up against the shock of your clashing shields and the near threat of your swords? You shall not oppose men armed with shields or shining blades. These savages put their trust in javelins hurled from afar. Once he has discharged his missile the enemy will be disarmed. With his right hand he hurls his spear, with his left he holds his cloak before him; no other armour has the horseman. His steed knows not the rein; a whip controls it. Obedience and discipline are unknown in their ranks. Their arms are a burden to them, their salvation lies in flight. Though each has many wives, ties of family bind them not, nor have they any love for their children whose very number causes affection to fail. Such are the troops. The chief will come to battle crowned with roses, drenched with scents, his last feast still undigested; drunken with wine, foredone with eld, enervated with disease and venery.