common soldier fails to scatter flowers like rain and to drench their leader in a mist of purple blossoms. Crowned with laurel and myrtle they sing: “Blessed father, whether the vault of heaven is thy home, or thou walkest in Elysium, the mansion of the blest, behold Stilicho hath now fulfilled the promises he made thee. A happy interchange has now been made: he compensates thee for his upbringing, and renders marriage in return for marriage, giving back to a son what thou, that son’s father, gave to him. Never needst thou repent of thy choice; a dying father’s love misled thee not. Worthy is he to be thine heir, worthy to be entrusted with the child of so powerful a prince and to hold the reins of government. Now could I tell of the battles fought beneath the slopes of Mount Haemus, the contests wherefrom Strymon reeked red with blood; I could sing the fame of his arms and how, like a thunderbolt, he falls upon his foes, but the marriage-god says me nay. Our song must be such as now befits the singing. Who can surpass Stilicho in counsel? who in knowledge of law and equity? In thee are two opposèd qualities reconciled, wisdom and strength, prudence and fortitude. Was e’er so noble a brow? Whom would Rome’s highest place more befit? What heart but thine is strong enough to bear so many troubles? Shouldst thou stand amid the crowd whoe’er shall see thee would exclaim, ‘That is Stilicho.’ It is thus that the aspect of supreme majesty brings its own witness--not with arrogant voice, or pompous walk, or haughty gesture. The graces which others affect and strive to seem to possess are thine by nature’s gift. Modesty shines forth together with a noble sternness, * * * * * Page 266 formosusque rigor vultusque auctura verendos canities festina venit. cum sorte remota 325 contingat senio gravitas viresque iuventae, utraque te cingit propriis insignibus aetas. ornatur Fortuna viro. non ulla nocendi tela nec infecti iugulis civilibus enses. non odium terrore moves nec frena resolvit 330 gratia; diligimus pariter pariterque timemus. ipse metus te noster amat, iustissime legum arbiter, egregiae pacis fidissime custos, optime ductorum, fortunatissime patrum. plus iam, plus domino cuncti debere fatemur, 335 quod gener est, invicte, tuus. vincire corona; insere te nostris contempto iure choreis. sic puer Eucherius superet virtute parentem; aurea sic videat similes Thermantia taedas; sic uterus crescat Mariae; sic natus in ostro 340 parvus Honoriades genibus considat avitis.” * * * * * Page 267