Such were the precepts of the sire. Even so an aged helmsman oft proved by winter’s various storms, aweary now of the sea and his weight of years, commends to his son the rudder of his bark, tells him of dangers and devices--by what art the helmsman’s hand is guided; what steerage may elude the wave; what is a sign of storms; what the treachery of a cloudless sky, the promise of the [159] The story of the punishment of Mettius Fufetius, the Alban dictator, by the Roman king Tullus Hostilius for his treachery in the war against Fidenae is told by Livy (i. 28. 10) and referred to by Claudian (xv. 254). [160] For Mucius (Scaevola) holding his arm in the flame to show Lars Porsenna how little he, a Roman, minded bodily pain see Livy ii. 12. * * * * * Page 318 quid sol occiduus prodat; quo saucia vento decolor iratos attollat Cynthia vultus. adspice nunc, quacumque micas, seu circulus Austri, magne parens, gelidi seu te meruere Triones, adspice: completur votum. iam natus adaequat 430 te meritis et, quod magis est optabile, vincit subnixus Stilichone tuo, quem fratribus ipse discedens clipeum defensoremque dedisti. pro nobis nihil ille pati nullumque recusat discrimen temptare sui, non dura viarum, 435 non incerta maris, Libyae squalentis harenas audebit superare pedes madidaque cadente Pleiade Gaetulas intrabit navita Syrtes. Hunc tamen in primis populos lenire feroces et Rhenum pacare iubes. volat ille citatis 440 vectus equis nullaque latus stipante caterva, aspera nubiferas qua Raetia porrigit Alpes, pergit et hostiles (tanta est fiducia) ripas incomitatus adit. totum properare per amnem attonitos reges humili cervice videres. 445 ante ducem nostrum flavam sparsere Sygambri caesariem pavidoque orantes murmure Franci procubuere solo: iuratur Honorius absens imploratque tuum supplex Alamannia nomen. Bastarnae venere truces, venit accola silvae 450 Bructerus Hercyniae latisque paludibus exit Cimber et ingentes Albim liquere Cherusci. * * * * * Page 319