Virtue is its own reward; alone with its far-flung splendour it mocks at Fortune; no honours raise it higher nor does it seek glory from the mob’s applause. External wealth cannot arouse its desires, it asks no praise but makes its boast of self-contained riches, and unmoved by all chances it looks down upon the world from a lofty citadel. Yet in its own despite importunate honours pursue it, and offer themselves unsought; that the lictor coming from the farm hath ofttimes proved and a consul sought for even at the plough. Thou, too, who wert at leisure to study the mysteries of nature and the heavens, thou who hadst served thy time and retired from the law courts where thou hadst toiled so long, art once more enfolded by a like dignity, which, raising thee aloft, sets in thy returning hands the familiar rein. The consulship now is thine, Theodorus, nor is there now aught left to add to thy virtues or to the glory of thy name. Thou art now at the summit of both; from thine earliest years thy character was thus formed, the whole course of thy life was worthy of the curule chair; thy earliest youth outrivalled age. Even then thy mind was hoar, thy pleasant talk weighty, thy * * * * * Page 340 pondus et attonitas sermo qui duceret aures. 20 mox undare foro victrix opulentia linguae tutarique reos. ipsa haec amplissima sedes orantem stupuit, bis laudatura regentem. hinc te pars Libyae moderantem iura probavit, quae nunc tota probat; longi sed pignus amoris 25 exiguae peperere morae populumque clientem publica mansuris testantur vocibus aera. inde tibi Macetum tellus et credita Pellae moenia, quae famulus quondam ditavit Hydaspes; tantaque commissae revocasti gaudia genti 30 mitibus arbitriis, quantum bellante Philippo floruit aut nigri cecidit cum regia Pori. Sed non ulterius te praebuit urbibus aula: maluit esse suum; terris edicta daturus, supplicibus responsa venis. oracula regis 35 eloquio crevere tuo, nec dignius umquam maiestas meminit sese Romana locutam. hinc sacrae mandantur opes orbisque tributa possessi, quidquid fluviis evolvitur auri, quidquid luce procul venas rimata sequaces 40 abdita pallentis fodit sollertia Bessi. Ac velut expertus[171] lentandis navita tonsis praeficitur lateri custos; hinc ardua prorae temperat et fluctus tempestatesque futuras edocet; adsiduo cum Dorida vicerit usu, 45 iam clavum totamque subit torquere carinam: [171] _expertus_ Barthius; Birt keeps MSS. _exertus_. * * * * * Page 341