governing the state or of trampling on the laws. But when he had banished the good and, retaining the dregs of the people, had chosen therefrom advisers of no worth; when his creature Hosius stood on his one side and Leo on the other, then indeed his self-confidence waxed and his lust for power broke forth into open flame. Patrician and consul he brought defilement on the honours he sold; even greater defilement on those he carried himself. The very standards and trumpets of war grew feeble; a palsy seized upon our swords. What wonder the nations rejoiced and we became the easy prey of any who would subdue us? Gone are ploughs and ploughmen; the East is more a desert than Thrace and snowy Haemus. Alas! how many cities, how long unused to war’s alarms, have perished in a single invasion! Not long since a mounted band coming from Araxes’ farthest banks threatened the walls of Antioch and all but set fire to the chief city of the fair province of Syria. Laden with spoil and rejoicing in the vast carnage it had wrought the band returned with none to bar its passage; now it pursues its victorious career inflicting on me wound upon wound. ’Tis not now Caucasus nor cold Phasis that send forces against me; wars arise in the very centre of my empire. Time was when the Gruthungi formed a Roman legion; conquered we gave them laws; fields and dwelling-places we apportioned them. Now they lay waste with fire Lydia and the richest cities of Asia, ay, and everything that escaped the earlier storm. ’Tis neither on their own valour or numbers that they rely; it is our cowardice urges them on, cowardice and the treason of generals, through whose guilt our soldiers now * * * * * Page 228 captivis dat terga suis, quos teste subegit Danuvio partemque timet qui reppulit omnes. “Aula choris epulisque vacat nec perdita curat, dum superest aliquid. ne quid tamen orbe reciso venditor amittat, provincia quaeque superstes 586 dividitur geminumque duplex passura tribunal cogitur alterius pretium sarcire peremptae. sic mihi restituunt populos; hac arte reperta rectorum numerum terris pereuntibus augent. 590 “In te iam spes una mihi. pro fronde Minervae has tibi protendo lacrimas: succurre ruenti, eripe me tandem, servilibus eripe regnis. neve adeo cunctos paucorum crimine damnes nec nova tot meritis offensa prioribus obstet. 595 iamiam flecte animum. suprema pericula semper dant veniam culpae. quamvis iratus et exul pro patriae flammis non distulit arma Camillus. nec te subtrahimus Latio; defensor utrique sufficis. armorum liceat splendore tuorum 600 in commune frui; clipeus nos protegat idem unaque pro gemino desudet cardine virtus.” * * * * * Page 229