Then the Queen answered: “Full well know I, far-famed ruler, that thy victorious armies toil for Italy, and that once again servitude and furious rebels have given way before thee, overthrown in one and the same battle. Yet I pray thee add to our late won liberty this further boon, if in very truth thou still reverest me. There are among my citizens two young brothers of noble lineage, the dearly loved sons of Probus, born on a festal day and reared in my own bosom. ’Twas I gave the little ones their cradles when the goddess of childbirth freed their mother’s womb from its blessed burden and heaven brought to light her glorious offspring. To these I would not prefer the noble Decii nor the brave Metelli, no, nor the Scipios who overcame the warlike Carthaginians nor the Camilli, that family fraught with ruin for the Gauls. The Muses have endowed them with full measure of their skill; their eloquence knows no bounds. Theirs not to wanton in sloth and banquets spread; unbridled pleasure tempts them not, nor can the lure of youth undermine their characters. Gaining from weighty cares an old man’s mind, their fiery youth is bridled by a greybeard’s wisdom. That fortune to which their birth entitles them I beg thee assure them and appoint for them the path of the coming year. ’Tis no unreasonable request and will be no unheard-of boon. Their birth demands it should be so. Grant it; so may Scythian Araxes be our vassal * * * * * Page 14 sic Rhenus per utrumque latus, Medisque subactis nostra Semiramiae timeant insignia turres; sic fluat attonitus Romana per oppida Ganges.” Ductor ad haec: “optata iubes ultroque volentem, diva, rogas; non haec precibus temptanda fuissent. usque adeone meam condunt oblivia mentem, 166 ut pigeat meminisse Probi, quo vindice totam vidimus Hesperiam fessasque resurgere gentes? ante dabunt hiemes Nilum, per flumina dammae errabunt glacieque niger damnabitur Indus, 170 ante Thyesteis iterum conterrita mensis intercisa dies refugos vertetur in ortus, quam Probus a nostro possit discedere sensu.”