“What need of further words? Why, Stilicho, dost thou delay to conquer because ashamed to fight? Knowest thou not that the viler a foe the greater the rejoicing at his overthrow? His defeat of the pirates extended the fame of great Pompey; his victory in the Servile War gave an added glory to Crassus. Thou acceptest my charge: I recognize the clamour that terrified the East and drove Gildo and his Moors to their destruction. Why sound the trump of war? No need to attack him with javelin or spear. At the crack of the whip will be bowed the back that has felt its blows. Even so when after many years the Scythian army came back from the wars and was met on the confines of its native land by the usurping crowd of slaves who sought to keep their returning masters from their country; with displayed whips they routed the armed ranks; back from its enterprise the familiar terror drove the servile mob, and at threat of the lash the bondsman’s sword grew dull.” * * * * * Page 178 IN EUTROPIUM LIBER SECUNDUS. PRAEFATIO (XIX.) Qui modo sublimes rerum flectebat habenas patricius, rursum verbera nota timet et solitos tardae passurus compedis orbes in dominos vanas luget abisse minas. culmine deiectum vitae Fortuna priori 5 reddidit, insano iam satiata ioco. scindere nunc alia meditatur ligna securi fascibus et tandem vapulat ipse suis. ille citas consul poenas se consule solvit: annus qui trabeas hic dedit exilium. 10 infaustum populis in se quoque vertitur omen; saevit in auctorem prodigiosus honos. abluto penitus respirant nomine fasti maturamque luem sanior aula vomit. dissimulant socii coniuratique recedunt, 15 procumbit pariter cum duce tota cohors; non acie victi, non seditione coacti; nec pereunt ritu quo periere viri. concidit exiguae dementia vulnere chartae; confecit saevum littera Martis opus. 20 * * * * * Page 179 AGAINST EUTROPIUS BOOK II. PREFACE (XIX.)