When mounted on thy horse thou playest the mimicry of war, who is quicker smoothly to wheel in flight, who to hurl the spear, or more skilled to sweep round in swift return? There the Massagetae are not thy peers nor the tribes of Thessaly, well versed though they be in riding, no, nor the very Centaurs themselves. Scarce can the squadrons and flying bands that accompany thee keep pace, while the wind behind thee bellies the fierce dragons on the flags. So soon as the touch of thy spur has fired thy steed, flames start from his swelling nostrils; his hoof scarce touches the ground and his mane is outspread over his shoulders. His harness rattles and the golden bit grows warm in his foam-flecked mouth. The jewels that stud his quivering bridle are red with blood. The signs of toil, the dust stains, the disorder of thy hair all do but increase thy beauty. Thy brilliant scarlet cloak drinks in the sunlight as the wind blows its gay surface into folds. Could horses choose their riders then surely would Arion, full fed in the stables of the Nereids, have prayed for the very whip of such a master, Cyllarus would have had none of Castor, but would have looked * * * * * Page 328 Cyllarus et flavum Xanthus sprevisset Achillem. ipse tibi famulas praeberet Pegasus alas portaretque libens melioraque pondera passus Bellerophonteas indignaretur habenas. 560 quin etiam velox Aurorae nuntius Aethon, qui fugat hinnitu stellas roseoque domatur Lucifero, quotiens equitem te cernit ab astris, invidet inque tuis mavult spumare lupatis. Nunc quoque quos habitus, quantae miracula pompae 565 vidimus, Ausonio cum iam succinctus amictu per Ligurum populos solito conspectior ires atque inter niveas alte veherere cohortes, obnixisque simul pubes electa lacertis sidereum gestaret onus. sic numina Memphis 570 in vulgus proferre solet; penetralibus exit effigies, brevis illa quidem: sed plurimus infra liniger imposito suspirat vecte sacerdos testatus sudore deum; Nilotica sistris ripa sonat Phariosque modos Aegyptia ducit 575 tibia; summissis admugit cornibus Apis. omnis nobilitas, omnis tua sacra frequentat Thybridis et Latii suboles; convenit in unum quidquid in orbe fuit procerum, quibus auctor honoris vel tu vel genitor. numeroso consule consul 580 cingeris et socios gaudes admittere patres. inlustri te prole Tagus, te Gallia doctis civibus et toto stipavit Roma senatu. portatur iuvenum cervicibus aurea sedes ornatuque novo gravior deus. asperat Indus 585 velamenta lapis pretiosaque fila smaragdis * * * * * Page 329