mersit et attonitum tranavit Cloelia Thybrim? Eutropio fasces adservabantur adempti Tarquiniis? quemcumque meae vexere curules, laxato veniat socium aversatus Averno. 450 impensi sacris Decii prorumpite bustis Torquatique truces animosaque pauperis umbra Fabricii tuque o, si forte inferna piorum iugera et Elysias scindis, Serrane, novales. Poeno Scipiadae, Poeno praeclare Lutati, 455 Sicania Marcelle ferox, gens Claudia surgas[99] et Curii veteres; et, qui sub iure negasti vivere Caesareo, parvo procede sepulcro Eutropium passure Cato; remcate tenebris, agmina Brutorum Corvinorumque catervae. 460 eunuchi vestros habitus, insignia sumunt ambigui Romana mares; rapuere tremendas Hannibali Pyrrhoque togas; flabella perosi adspirant trabeis; iam non umbracula gestant virginibus, Latias ausi vibrare secures! 465 “Linquite femineas infelix turba latebras, alter quos pepulit sexus nec suscipit alter, execti Veneris stimulos et vulnere casti (mixta duplex aetas; inter puerumque senemque nil medium): falsi complete sedilia patres; 470 ite novi proceres infecundoque senatu Eutropium stipate ducem; celebrate tribunal pro thalamis, verso iam discite more curules, non matrum pilenta sequi. [99] MSS. have _surgat_. * * * * * Page 173 chaste Lucretia plunged the dagger into her bosom and Cloelia swam the astonished Tiber? Were the fasces reft from Tarquin to be given to Eutropius? Let Hell ope her jaws and all who have sat in my curule chair come and turn their backs upon their colleague. Decii, self-sacrificed for your country’s good, come forth from your graves; and you, fierce Torquati; and thou, too, great-hearted shade of poor Fabricius. Serranus, come thou hither, if now thou ploughest the acres of the holy dead and cleavest the fallow lands of Elysium. Come Scipios, Lutatius, famed for your victories over Carthage, Marcellus, conqueror of Sicily, rise from the dead, thou Claudian race, you progeny of Curius. Cato, thou who wouldst not live beneath Caesar’s rule, come thou forth from thy simple tomb and brave the sight of Eutropius. Immortal bands of Bruti and Corvini, return to earth. Eunuchs don your robes of office, sexless beings assume the insignia of Rome. They have laid hands on the toga that inspired Hannibal and Pyrrhus with terror. They now despise the fan and aspire to the consul’s cloak. No longer do they carry the maidenly parasol for they have dared to wield the axes of Latium.