Prince, fairer than the day-star, who shootest thine arrows with an aim more sure than the Parthian’s, rider more daring than the Geloni, what praise shall match thy lofty mind, what praise thy brilliant beauty? Leda would rather have thee her son than Castor; Thetis counts thee dearer than her own Achilles; Delos’ isle admits thee Apollo’s victor; Lydia puts Bacchus second to thee. When in the heat of the chase thou guidest thy coursing steed amid the towering holm-oaks and thy tossing locks stream out upon the wind, the beasts of their own accord will fall before thine arrows and the lion, right gladly wounded by a prince’s sacred hand, will welcome thy spear and be proud so to die. Venus scorns Adonis returned from the dead, Diana disapproves Hippolytus recalled to life. When after thy toils thou seekest the shade of a green plane-tree or shunnest Sirius’ extreme heat in some cool grot and freest thy wearied limbs in sleep, what a passion of love will inflame the Dryads’ hearts! how many a Naiad will steal up with trembling foot and snatch an unmarked kiss! Who, [124] The marriage of Honorius and Maria, daughter of Stilicho, took place at Milan, Feb. 398. * * * * * Page 232 quis vero acerbis horridior Scythis, 25 quis beluarum corde furentior, qui, cum micantem te prope viderit, non optet ultro servitium pati, qui non catenas adripiat libens colloque poscat vincula libero? tu si nivalis per iuga Caucasi 30 saevas petisses pulcher Amazonas, peltata pugnas desereret cohors sexu recepto; patris et inmemor inter frementes Hippolyte tubas strictam securim languida poneret 35 et seminudo pectore cingulum forti negatum solveret Herculi, bellumque solus conficeret decor. Beata, quae te mox faciet virum 40 primisque sese iunget amoribus. II. (XII.) Age cuncta nuptiali redimita vere tellus celebra toros eriles; omne nemus cum fluviis, omne canat profundum 5 Ligures favete campi, Veneti favete montes, subitisque se rosetis vestiat Alpinus apex et rubeant pruinae. 10 Athesis strepat choreis calamisque flexuosus leve Mincius susurret * * * * * Page 233