imperiumque dies; inter cunabula consul proveheris, signas posito modo nomine fastos 155 donaturque tibi, qui te produxerat, annus. ipsa Quirinali parvum te cinxit amictu mater et ad primas docuit reptare curules. uberibus sanctis inmortalique dearum crescis adoratus gremio: tibi saepe Diana 160 Maenalios arcus venatricesque pharetras suspendit, puerile decus; tu saepe Minervae lusisti clipeo fulvamque impune pererrans aegida tractasti blandos interritus angues; saepe tuas etiam iam tum gaudente marito 165 velavit regina comas festinaque voti praesumptum diadema dedit, tum lenibus ulnis sustulit et magno porrexit ad oscula patri. nec dilatus honos: mutatur principe Caesar; protinus aequaris fratri. 170 Non certius umquam hortati superi, nullis praesentior aether adfuit ominibus. tenebris involverat atra lumen hiems densosque Notus collegerat imbres. sed mox, cum solita miles te voce levasset, nubila dissolvit Phoebus pariterque dabantur 175 sceptra tibi mundoque dies: caligine liber Bosphorus adversam patitur Calchedona cerni. nec tantum vicina nitent, sed tota repulsis nubibus exuitur Thrace, Pangaea renident insuetosque palus radios Maeotia vibrat. 180 * * * * * Page 299 in thy cradle thou wast raised to the consulship.[152] With the name so recently bestowed upon thee thou dowerest the fasti and the year wherein thou wert born is consecrated to thee. Thy mother herself wrapped thy small form in the consular robe and directed thy first steps to the curule chair. Nourished at a goddess’ breasts, honoured with the embraces of immortal arms thou grewest to maturity. Oft to grace thy boyish form Diana hung upon thy shoulders her Maenalian bow and huntress’ quiver; oft thou didst sport with Minerva’s shield and, crawling unharmed over her glittering aegis, didst caress its friendly serpents with fearless hand. Often even in those early days thy mother beneath thy sire’s happy gaze crowned thy tender locks and, anticipating the answer to her prayers, gave thee the diadem that was to be thine hereafter; then raising thee in her gentle arms she held thee up to receive thy mighty father’s kiss. Nor was that honour long in coming; thou, then Caesar, didst become emperor and wert straightway made equal with thy brother.[153]