“Why art thou so wearied of the world whereon I shine? Leavest thou me thus to be the sport and laughing-stock of slaves and carest only for Italy, thou that wert once my guide and my leader? Since thy victory over the tyrant Eugenius I have not seen thee. Has victory thus robbed me of thee and given thee to Gaul? Rufinus was the prime cause of the trouble; ’twas he who wrought disunion between the two empires. But when he aimed at more there met him an army returning in righteous wrath, an army still strong, still mindful of its former prowess. For a moment I was dazzled by the mirage of liberty: I hoped that Stilicho would once more hold the reins of our empire. Alas for my short-sighted happiness! The world had begun to form one single empire under the rule of the two brothers (for who, with the awful example[123] so fresh in his mind, would dare embark upon a like venture?) when suddenly (it is a monstrous story which scarce bears the telling) a eunuch came forward as Rufinus’ heir. Thus fortune brought back my former miseries with this one difference--that of changing my master’s sex. At first he kept his crimes hidden behind the doors of his chamber, an unseen and timid ruler; power was his that all envied, yet only a eunuch’s, nor dared he yet arrogate to himself the right of [123] _i.e._ that of Rufinus. * * * * * Page 226 sumere nec totas audebat vertere leges. at postquam pulsisque bonis et faece retenta peiores legit socios dignusque satelles hinc Hosius stetit, inde Leo, fiducia crevit regnandique palam flagravit aperta libido. 560 patricius, consul maculat quos vendit honores, plus maculat quos ipse gerit. iam signa tubaeque mollescunt, ipsos ignavia fluxit in enses. exultant merito gentes facilisque volenti praeda sumus. iam Bistoniis Haemoque nivali 565 vastior expulsis Oriens squalescit aratris. ei mihi, quas urbes et quanto tempore Martis ignaras uno rapuerunt proelia cursu! nuper ab extremo veniens equitatus Araxe terruit Antiochi muros, ipsumque decorae 570 paene caput Syriae flammis hostilibus arsit. utque gravis spoliis nulloque obstante profunda lactus caede redit, sequitur mucrone secundo continuum vulnus; nec iam mihi Caucasus hostes nec mittit gelidus Phasis; nascuntur in ipso 575 bella sinu. legio pridem Romana Gruthungi, iura quibus victis dedimus, quibus arva domusque praebuimus, Lydos Asiaeque uberrima vastant ignibus et si quid tempestas prima reliquit. nec vi nec numero freti; sed inertia nutrit 580 proditioque ducum, quorum per crimina miles * * * * * Page 227