haec nitet armati species; numerosus ubique fulget eques: praefert eunuchi curia vultus. ac veluti caveant ne quo consistere virtus 75 possit pura loco, cunctas hoc ore laborant incestare vias. maneant inmota precamur certaque perpetui sint argumenta pudoris. subter adulantes tituli nimiaeque leguntur vel maribus laudes: claro quod nobilis ortu 80 (cum vivant domini!), quod maxima proelia solus impleat (et patitur miles!), quod tertius urbis conditor (hoc Byzas Constantinusque videbant!). inter quae tumidus leno producere cenas in lucem, foetere mero, dispergere plausum 85 empturas in vulgus opes, totosque theatris indulgere dies, alieni prodigus auri. at soror et, si quid portentis creditur, uxor mulcebat matres epulis et more pudicae coniugis eunuchi celebrabat vota mariti. 90 hanc amat, hanc summa de re vel pace vel armis consulit, huic curas et clausa palatia mandat ceu stabulum vacuamque domum. sic magna tueri regna nihil, patiensque iugi deluditur orbis? Mitior alternum Zephyri iam bruma teporem 95 senserat et primi laxabant germina flores, iamque iter in gremio pacis sollemne parabant ad muros, Ancyra, tuos, auctore repertum Eutropio, pelagi ne taedia longa subirent, * * * * * Page 191 there as a consul, there as a warrior. On every side one sees that figure of his mounted on his horse; before the very doors of the senate-house behold a eunuch’s countenance. As though to rob virtue of any place where she might sojourn undefiled, men labour to befoul every street with this vile image. May they rest for ever undisturbed, indisputable proofs of our eternal shame; such is my prayer. Beneath the statues one reads flattering titles and praises too great even for _men_. Do they tell of his noble race and lineage while his owners are still alive? What soldier brooks to read that single-handed he, Eutropius, won great battles? Are Byzas[106] and Constantine to be told that he is the third founder of Rome? Meanwhile the arrogant pander prolongs his revels till the dawn, stinking of wine and scattering money amid the crowd to buy their applause. He spends whole days of amusement in the theatres, prodigal of another’s money. But his sister and spouse (if such a prodigy can be conceived) wins the favour of Rome’s matrons by entertainments, and, like a chaste wife, sings the praises of her eunuch husband. ’Tis her he loves, her he consults on all matters of importance, be it of peace or war, to her care he entrusts the keys of the palace, as one would of a stable or empty house. Is the guardianship of a mighty empire thus naught? Is it thus he makes a mockery of a world’s obedience?