All admit that they deserve punishment and death for deserting Stilicho and entrusting themselves to the governance of slaves. Long they stood dazed with altered thoughts, and as their senses slowly return they marvel at the results of their own madness and turn away their eyes; flinging down his rods the lictor shudders, and the dishonoured axes fall of their own accord. Even so the Maenads returning to Thebes from the Aonian mount, their thyrses dripping with Pentheus’ blood, learning the true character of their dreadful hunting and seeing the head cast by the mother herself, hide them in the darkness and lament the end of their madness. Thereupon suppliant Aurora turned her flight towards powerful Italy, her hair no * * * * * Page 224 non radiis redimita comam, non flammea vultu nec croceum vestita diem; stat livida luctu, qualis erat Phrygio tegeret cum Memnona busto. quam simul agnovit Stilicho nec causa latebat, 531 restitit; illa manum victricem amplexa moratur altaque vix lacrimans inter suspiria fatur: “Tantanc te nostri ceperunt taedia mundi? sic me ludibrium famulis risumque relinquis 535 dux quondam rectorque meus? solamque tueris Hesperiam? domiti nec te post bella tyranni cernere iam licuit? sic te victoria nobis eripuit Gallisque dedit? Rufinus origo prima mali: geminas inter discordia partes 540 hoc auctore fuit. sed iam maiora moventi occurrit iusta rediens exercitus ira, fortis adhuc ferrique memor. brevis inde reluxit falsaque libertas; rursum Stilichonis habenis sperabam me posse regi. pro caeca futuri 545 gaudia! fraterno coniungi coeperat orbis imperio (quis enim tanto terrore recentis exempli paribus sese committeret ausis?), cum subito (monstrosa mihi turpisque relatu fabula) Rufini castratus prosilit heres, 550 et similes iterum luctus Fortuna reduxit, ut solum domini sexum mutasse viderer. “Hic primum thalami claustris delicta tegebat clam timideque iubens; erat invidiosa potestas, sed tamen eunuchi, necdum sibi publica iura 555 * * * * * Page 225 longer aureole-crowned and she no more bright of countenance nor clothed with the saffron of the dawn. She stands wan with woe, even as when she buried Memnon in his Phrygian grave. Stilicho recognized her and stayed, well knowing the reason of her visit. Long time she clasped his victorious hand and at length amid tears and sighs addressed him.