the Alps from fear, Rome, anxious worthily to thank her Probus, hastened to beg the Emperor’s favour for that hero’s sons. Her slaves, Shock and horrid Fear, yoked her winged chariot; ’tis they who ever attend Rome with loud-voiced roar, setting wars afoot, whether she battle against the Parthians or vex Hydaspes’ stream with her spear. The one fastens the wheels to the hubs, the other drives the horses beneath the iron yoke and makes them obey the stubborn bit. Rome herself in the guise of the virgin goddess Minerva soars aloft on the road by which she takes possession of the sky after triumphing over the realms of earth. She will not have her hair bound with a comb nor her neck made effeminate with a twisted necklace. Her right side is bare; her snowy shoulder exposed; her brooch fastens her flowing garments but loosely and boldly shows her breast: the belt that supports her sword throws a strip of scarlet across her fair skin. She looks as good as she is fair, chaste beauty armed with awe; her threatening helm of blood-red plumes casts a dark shadow and her shield challenges the sun in its fearful brilliance, that shield which Vulcan forged with all the subtlety of his skill. In it are depicted the children Romulus and Remus, and their loving father Mars, Tiber’s reverent stream, and the wolf that was their nurse; Tiber is embossed in electrum, the children in pure gold, brazen is the wolf, and Mars fashioned of flashing steel. And now Rome, loosing both her steeds together, flies swifter than the fleet east wind; the Zephyrs shrill and the clouds, cleft with the track of the wheels, glow in separate furrows. What matchless speed! One pinion’s stroke and they reach their * * * * * Page 10 quem poscunt, tetigere locum: qua fine sub imo angustant aditum curvis anfractibus Alpes 105 claustraque congestis scopulis durissima tendunt, non alia reseranda manu, sed pervia tantum Augusto geminisque fidem mentita tyrannis. semirutae turres avulsaque moenia fumant; crescunt in cumulum strages vallemque profundam aequavere iugis; stagnant inmersa cruore 111 corpora; turbantur permixto funere manes. Haud procul exhausto laetus certamine victor caespite gramineo consederat arbore fultus adclines umeros; domimim gavisa coronat 115 terra suum, surguntque toris maioribus herbae. sudor adhuc per membra calet creberque recurrit halitus et placidi radiant in casside vultus: qualis letifera populatus caede Gelonos procubat horrendus Getico Gradivus in arvo; 120 exuvias Bellona levat, Bellona tepentes pulvere solvit equos, inmensaque cornus in hastam porrigitur tremulisque ferit splendoribus Hebrum.