their enthusiasm. They seize upon the ships and themselves make ready the hawsers; furl the sails and fix the yards to the masts. Etruria’s shore is shaken with their uproar and Arcadian-founded Pisa cannot contain so great a number of ships. So Aulis rang with countless voices what time avenging Greece loosed the cables of Agamemnon’s fleet. No storm-blast deterred them nor threat of coming tempest nor the presence of the treacherous south wind. “Seize the rope, fellow-soldiers,” they cry, “seize the rope: let us sail against Gildo though the very seas be against us. Let the storm drive us to battle by how crooked so ever a course. Fain would I seize upon that shore though my ships’ beaks be shattered. Cowards ye, who cautiously observe whether or no the sea-gulls fly back or the crow pace the beach. What if clouds fleck the face of the setting sun or a stormy moon wear the halo that betokens hurricane? What if comets wave their spreading tails, or the constellation of the Kids threatens rain, or the cloudy Hyades lead forth the Bull and all Orion sink ’neath the waves? Put your trust in the sky, but put more in Honorius. Beneath his auspices I, his soldier, range the boundless seas nor look to the Plough or the Bear to guide me. Make no account of Boötes, sailor; launch your bark in mid tempest. If winds and storms deny me Libya, my emperor’s fortune will grant it.” The fleet is launched. They pass Liguria on their right hand, Etruria on their left, avoiding the sunken reefs of Corsica. There lies an island formed like a human foot (Sardinia its former inhabitants called it), an island rich in the produce of its fields, and conveniently situated for them who sail either to * * * * * Page 136 opportuna situ: quae pars vicinior Afris, 510 plana solo, ratibus clemens; quae respicit Arcton, inmitis, scopulosa, procax subitisque sonora flatibus; insanos infamat navita montes. hic hominum pecudumque lues, sic[82] pestifer aër saevit et exclusis regnant Aquilonibus Austri. 515 Quos ubi luctatis procul effugere carinis, per diversa ruunt sinuosae litora terrae. pars adit antiqua ductos Carthagine Sulcos; partem litoreo complectitur Olbia muro. urbs Libyam contra Tyrio fundata potenti 520 tenditur in longum Caralis tenuemque per undas obvia dimittit fracturum flamina collem; efficitur portus medium mare, tutaque ventis omnibus ingenti mansuescunt stagna recessu. hanc omni petiere manu prorisque reductis 525 suspensa Zephyros expectant classe faventes. [82] Birt, following the MSS., _si_. Older editions _huic … huic_. I print _sic_. * * * * * Page 137