Once more the year opens under royal auspices and enjoys in fuller pride its famous prince; not brooking to linger around private thresholds the returning fasces rejoice in Caesar’s consulship. Seest thou how the armed chiefs and mighty judges don the raiment of senators? and the soldiers step forth in garb of peaceful hue worn Gabine[145] wise, and laying aside for a season the standards of war follow the banner of Quirinus. The eagles give way to the lictors, the smiling soldier wears the toga of peace and the senate-house casts its brilliance in the midst of the camp. Bellona herself, surrounded by a noble band of senators, puts on the consul’s gown and lays by her shield and helmet in order to harness the sacred curule chair to her shoulders. Think it no shame, Gradivus, to bear the laurel-crowned axes in a hand of peace and to exchange thy shining breastplate for the Latin toga while thine iron chariot remains unused and thy steeds disport them in the pastures of Eridanus. Not unworthy of reverence nor but newly acquainted with war is the family of Trajan and that Spanish house which has showered diadems upon the world. No common stream was held worthy [145] As marking a festival; see note on vii. 3. * * * * * Page 288 promeruit gentis seriem: cunabula fovit Oceanus; terrae dominos pelagique futuros inmenso decuit rerum de principe nasci. hinc processit avus, cui post Arctoa frementi classica Massylas adnexuit Africa laurus, 25 ille, Caledoniis posuit qui castra pruinis, qui medios Libyae sub casside pertulit aestus, terribilis Mauro debellatorque Britanni litoris ac pariter Boreae vastator et Austri. quid rigor aeternus, caeli quid frigora prosunt 30 ignotumque fretum? maduerunt Saxone fuso Orcades; incaluit Pictorum sanguine Thyle; Scottorum cumulos flevit glacialis Hiverne. quid calor obsistit forti? per vasta cucurrit Aethiopum cinxitque novis Atlanta maniplis, 35 virgineum Tritona bibit sparsosque venenis Gorgoneos vidit thalamos et vile virentes Hesperidum risit, quos ditat fabula, ramos. arx incensa Iubae, rabies Maurusia ferro cessit et antiqui penetralia diruta Bocchi. 40 Sed laudes genitor longe transgressus avitas subdidit Oceanum sceptris et margine caeli clausit opes, quantum distant a Tigride Gades, inter se Tanais quantum Nilusque relinquunt: haec tamen innumeris per se quaesita tropaeis, 45 * * * * * Page 289