Eagles may not rear their young without the sun’s permission and the goodwill of heaven. So soon as the chicks have shattered their shells and issued forth, after that the warmth of their mother’s body has cracked the opening egg, the father bird makes haste to carry the unfledged nestlings aloft and bids them gaze at the sun’s fires with unblinking eye. He takes counsel of those bright beams and under light’s schooling makes trial of the strength and temper of his sons. The angry father strikes with pitiless talons the degenerate who turns away his glance, but he whose eye can bear the searching flame, who with bolder sight can outstare the noonday sun, is brought up a king of birds, heir to the thunderbolt, destined to carry Jove’s three-forked weapon. So mighty Rome fears not to send me, oft tested e’er now in the Muses’ caverns, to face the emperor, her god. Now have I won an emperor’s ear, the entrance to an emperor’s palace and the emperor himself as judge of my lyre’s song. * * * * * Page 270 PANEGYRICUS (VII.) Tertia Romulei sumant exordia fasces terque tuas ducat bellatrix pompa curules; festior annus eat cinctusque imitata Gabinos dives Hydaspeis augescat purpura gemmis; succedant armis trabeae, tentoria lictor 5 ambiat et Latiae redeant ad signa secures. tuque o qui patrium curis aequalibus orbem Eoo cum fratre regis, procede secundis alitibus Phoebique novos ordire meatus, spes votumque poli, quem primo a limine vitae 10 nutrix aula fovet, strictis quem fulgida telis inter laurigeros aluerunt castra triumphos. ardua privatos nescit Fortuna penates et regnum cum luce dedit. cognata potestas excepit Tyrio venerabile pignus in ostro 15 lustravitque tuos aquilis victricibus ortus miles et in mediis cunabula praebuit hastis. te nascente ferox toto Germania Rheno * * * * * Page 271 PANEGYRIC (VII.)