’Tis a well-favoured army, enamoured of the city’s shade, ever present at the games, anxious to shine in the baths, not to bear sun-scorch and rain, and oh! how different to that former army who, ’neath the leadership of Stilicho, endured under arms the frosts of Thrace and were wont to winter in the open air and break with their axes the frozen waters of Hebrus for a draught. Changed is the leader and changed their character. Byzantium’s luxury and Ancyra’s pomp[119] have destroyed their vigour. No longer does the cavalry ride ahead of the foot; suitable ground is not chosen for camps; no constant change of sentries safeguards the ramparts, no scouts are sent forward to discover which roads to take or which to avoid; their evolutions are performed without drill or discipline, in confusion they stray hither and thither amid dark forests, along narrow [119] _Triumphi_ is ironical. Claudian refers to Eutropius’ pleasure journey to Ancyra; _cf._ l. 98 of this poem. * * * * * Page 216 sic vacui rectoris equi, sic orba magistro fertur in abruptum casu, non sidere, puppis; sic ruit in rupes amisso pisce sodali 425 belua, sulcandas qui praevius edocet undas inmensumque pecus parvae moderamine caudae temperat et tanto coniungit foedera monstro; illa natat rationis inops et caeca profundi; iam brevibus deprensa vadis ignara reverti 430 palpitat et vanos scopulis inlidit hiatus. Tarbigilus simulare fugam flatusque Leonis spe nutrire leves improvisusque repente, dum gravibus marcent epulis hostique catenas inter vina erepant, largo sopita Lyaeo 435 castra subit. pereunt alii, dum membra cubili tarda levant; alii leto iunxere soporem; ast alios vicina palus sine more ruentes excipit et cumulis inmanibus aggerat undas. ipse Leo damma cervoque fugacior ibat 440 sudanti tremebundus equo: qui pondere postquam decidit, implicitus limo cunctantia pronus per vada reptabat. caeno subnixa tenaci mergitur et pingui suspirat corpore moles more suis, dapibus quae iam devota futuris 445 turpe gemit, quotiens Hosius mucrone corusco armatur cingitque sinus secumque volutat, quas figat verubus partes, quae frusta calenti * * * * * Page 217