to precipitate them into revolt; readily does nature return to her old ways. So be it. Since our soldiers’ valour is numbed and they have learned to obey an unmanned master, let a stranger from the north avenge our outraged laws and barbarian arms bring relief to disgraced Rome.” So spake he and thundered with his shield nigh as loud as the ruler of the gods when he shakes his aegis from out the lowering cloud. Athos replies, Haemus re-echoes; again and again shaken Rhodope repeats the hoarse uproar. Hebrus raised from out the wondering waters his horns hoary with frost, and bloodless Ister froze in fear. Then the god cast his javelin,[109] heavy with steel, and stiff with knotted shaft, a mighty weapon such as none other god could wield. The clouds part before its onset and give it free passage; through the air it speeds o’er seas and mountains by one mighty cast and comes to earth amid the plains of Phrygia. The ground felt the shock; Hermus blessed with Dionysus’ vines groaned thereat, Pactolus’ golden urn shuddered, all Dindymus bent his forest fleece and wept. Bellona, too, hastens forth with speed no less than that of Mars’ whistling spear; a hundred ways of hurt she pondered and at last approached Tarbigilus,[110] fierce leader of the Getic squadron. It chanced he had but late returned with empty hands from a visit to Eutropius; disappointment and indignation aggravated his ferocity, and poverty, that can incite [109] Alluding to the Roman custom of casting a spear as a sign of the declaration of war; _cf_. Ovid, _Fasti_, vi. 207-- Hinc solet hasta manu belli praenuntia mitti In regem et gentes cum placet arma capi. [110] Tarbigilus seems to have belonged to the nation of the Gruthungi. The exact form of his name is a matter of uncertainty. The MSS. vary: Zosimus (v. 13. 2) calls him Τριβίγιλδος. His revolt in Phrygia (_cf._ ll. 274, etc.) took place in 399. * * * * * Page 198 ingeniis, Scythicum pectus flammabat egestas. 180 huic sese vultu simulatae coniugis offert mentitoque ferox incedit barbara gressu, carbaseos induta sinus: post terga reductas uberibus propior mordebat fibula vestes, inque orbem tereti mitra retinente capillum 185 strinxerat et virides flavescere iusserat angues. advolat ac niveis reducem complectitur ulnis infunditque animo furiale per oscula virus. principe quam largo veniat, quas inde reportet divitias, astu rabiem motura requirit. 190 ille iter ingratum, vanos deflere labores, quos super eunuchi fastus, quae probra tulisset. continuo secat ungue genas et tempore pandit adrepto gemitus: