Brothers twain, with the heart of one, brothers to whose rule fate has entrusted sea and land, if there is aught that has escaped your grandsire’s conquering hand, aught your father has left unsubdued, even now Vulcan prepares the arms for their subjection and Cyclops labours on the Sicilian anvil. Brontes carves countless figures on the shield, Steropes hastes to bend the lofty peak of the flashing helmet, Pyragmon knits the coat of mail, smoky Lipare roars throughout its fire-belching caves. ’Tis for you that Neptune pastures in the seaweed meadows of the Ionian main green sea-horses who can fly o’er the surface of the blue waters with so light a step that their hoofs are unflecked with foam, and course o’er fields of corn so delicately that the ears do not bend beneath their weight. E’en now I see the sack of Babylon and the Parthian driven to flight that is not feigned, Bactria subjected to the Law, the fearful pallor of the Ganges’ servile banks, the humbled Persian throwing off his gem-encrusted robes. Mount to Tanais’ source, explore the frozen North, traverse sun-scorched Libya, o’ercome the fires of Titan and surprise Nile’s hidden spring; pass the Pillars of Hercules, the bourne, too, whence Bacchus returned; whatever heaven enfolds shall own your dominion. To you the Red Sea shall give precious shells, India her ivory, Panchaia perfumes, and China silk. * * * * * Page 286 PANEGYRICUS DE QUARTO CONSULATU HONORII AUGUSTI (VIII.) Auspiciis iterum sese regalibus annus induit et nota fruitur iactantior aula, limina nec passi circum privata morari exultant reduces Augusto consule fasces, cernis ut armorum proceres legumque potentes 5 patricios sumant[144] habitus? et more Gabino discolor incedit legio positisque parumper bellorum signis sequitur vexilla Quirini. lictori cedunt aquilae ridetque togatus miles et in mediis effulget curia castris. 10 ipsa Palatino circumvallata senatu iam trabeam Bellona gerit parmamque removit et galeam sacras umeris vectura curules. nec te laurigeras pudeat, Gradive, secures pacata gestare manu Latiaque micantem 15 loricam mutare toga, dum ferreus haeret currus et Eridani ludunt per prata iugales. Haud indigna coli nec nuper cognita Marti Ulpia progenies et quae diademata mundo sparsit Hibera domus. nec tantam vilior unda 20 [144] _sumant_ B; Birt reads _sumunt_, following the other MSS. * * * * * Page 287 PANEGYRIC ON THE FOURTH CONSULSHIP OF THE EMPEROR HONORIUS (A.D. 398) (VIII.)