Yet never did Theodosius forget that he and the vanquished were fellow-citizens, nor was his anger implacable against those who yielded. Not his the choice to exult over the fallen. His ears were open to prayers, his clemency unbounded, his vengeance restrained. His anger did not survive the war to darken the days of peace; the day that set an end to the combat set an end to his wrath. Capture by such a victor was a gain; and many a conquered foe did their chains commend to future fortune.[150] As liberal of money as of honours he was ever bent to redress the injuries of fate. Hence the love, the fortitude, the devotion of his troops; hence their abiding loyalty to his sons. Child of so noble a sire, thy kingly state was coëval with thy birth nor ever knewest thou the soilure of a private lot. To thee all things came unsought; thee only[151] did a palace rear; thy happy growth was in ancestral purple, and thy limbs, never [150] _i.e._ by winning first the pity and then the favour of Theodosius. [151] “Only,” because Arcadius was born _before_ Theodosius became emperor. * * * * * Page 296 membraque vestitu numquam violata profano in sacros cecidere sinus. Hispania patrem auriferis eduxit aquis, te gaudet alumno Bosphorus. Hesperio de limine surgit origo, sed nutrix Aurora tibi; pro pignore tanto 130 certatur, geminus civem te vindicat axis. Herculis et Bromii sustentat gloria Thebas, haesit Apollineo Delos Latonia partu Cretaque se iactat tenero reptata Tonanti; sed melior Delo, Dictaeis clarior oris 135 quae dedit hoc numen regio; non litora nostro sufficerent angusta deo. nec inhospita Cynthi saxa tuos artus duro laesere cubili: adclinis genetrix auro, circumflua gemmis in Tyrios enixa toros; ululata verendis 140 aula puerperiis. quae tunc documenta futuri? quae voces avium? quanti per inane volatus? qui vatum discursus erat? tibi corniger Hammon et dudum taciti rupere silentia Delphi, te Persae cecinere magi, te sensit Etruscus 145 augur et inspectis Babylonius horruit astris, Chaldaei stupuere senes Cumanaque rursus intonuit rupes, rabidae delubra Sibyllae. nec te progenitum Cybeleius aere sonoro lustravit Corybas: exercitus undique fulgens 150 adstitit; ambitur signis augustior infans, sentit adorantes galeas, redditque ferocem vagitum lituus. Vitam tibi contulit idem * * * * * Page 297