praesentes docuere deos. hinc saecula discant indomitum nihil esse pio tutumve nocenti: 100 nuntius ipse sui longas incognitus egit praevento rumore vias, inopinus utrumque perculit et clausos montes, ut plana, reliquit. extruite inmanes scopulos, attollite turres, cingite vos fluviis, vastas opponite silvas, 105 Garganum Alpinis Appenninumque nivalem permixtis sociate iugis et rupibus Haemum addite Caucasiis, involvite Pelion Ossae: non dabitis murum sceleri. qui vindicet, ibit: omnia subsident meliori pervia causae. 110 Nec tamen oblitus civem cedentibus atrox partibus infremuit; non insultare iacenti malebat: mitis precibus, pietatis abundans, poenae parcus erat; paci non intulit iram; post acies odiis idem qui terminus armis. 115 profuit hoc vincente capi, multosque subactos prospera[149] laturae commendavere catenae. magnarum largitor opum, largitor honorum pronus et in melius gaudens convertere fata. hinc amor, hinc validum devoto milite robur. 120 hinc natis mansura fides. Hoc nobilis ortu nasceris aequaeva cum maiestate creatus nullaque privatae passus contagia sortis. omnibus acceptis ultro te regia solum protulit et patrio felix adolescis in ostro, 125 [149] Birt, with the MSS., _aspera_; I return to the _prospera_ of the edit. princeps. * * * * * Page 295 and taught that heaven gives help. From them let the ages learn that righteousness need fear no foe and guilt expect no safety. Himself his own messenger, outstripping the rumour of his approach, Theodosius traversed those long journeys undetected by his enemies. Suddenly he fell on both, passing over entrenched mountains as if they were a plain. Build up monstrous rocks, raise towers, surround yourselves with rivers, set limitless forests to protect you, put Garganus and the snowy Apennines upon the summits of the Alps that all form one vast mountain barrier, plant Haemus on the crags of Caucasus, roll Pelion on Ossa, yet will ye not gain security for guilt. The avenger will come; for the better cause all things shall sink to make a path.