sic cum clara diu mentis documenta dedisses, non te parte sui, sed in omni corpore sumpsit imperium cunctaque dedit tellure regendos rectores. Hispana tibi Germanaque Tethys 50 paruit et nostro diducta Britannia mundo, diversoque tuas coluerunt gurgite voces lentus Arar Rhodanusque ferox et dives Hiberus. o quotiens doluit Rhenus, qua barbarus ibat, quod te non geminis frueretur iudice ripis! 55 unius fit cura viri, quodcumque rubescit occasu, quodcumque dies devexior ambit. Tam celer adsiduos explevit cursus honores; una potestatum spatiis interfuit aetas totque gradus fati iuvenilibus intulit annis. 60 Postquam parta quies et summum nacta cacumen iam secura petit privatum gloria portum, ingenii redeunt fructus aliique labores, et vitae pars nulla perit: quodcumque recedit litibus, incumbit studiis, animusque vicissim 65 aut curam imponit populis aut otia Musis. omnia Cecropiae relegis secreta senectae discutiens, quid quisque novum mandaverit aevo quantaque diversae producant agmina sectae. Namque aliis princeps rerum disponitur aër; 70 hic confidit aquis; hic procreat omnia flammis. * * * * * Page 343 direction of the entire ship; so when thou hadst long given illustrious proofs of thy character, the empire of Rome summoned thee to govern not a part but the whole of itself, and set thee as ruler over all the rulers of the world. The seas of Spain, the German ocean obeyed thee and Britain, so far removed from our continent. Rivers of all lands observed thy statutes, slow-flowing Saône, swift Rhone, and Ebro rich in gold. How often did the Rhine, in those districts where the barbarians dwell, lament that the blessings of thy rule extended not to both banks! All the lands the setting sun bathes in its rays, all that its last brilliance illumines are entrusted to the charge of one man. So swiftly did thy career fill office after office; a single period of life was enough for the round of dignities and gave to thy youthful years every step on fortune’s ladder. When repose was earned and now, after reaching the highest place, glory, laying care aside, seeks refuge in a private life, genius again wins reward from other tasks. No part of life is lost: all that is withdrawn from the law courts is devoted to the study, and thy mind in turn either bestows its efforts on the State or its leisure on the Muses. Once more thou readest the secrets of ancient Athens, examining the discoveries with which each sage has enriched posterity and noting what hosts of disciples the varying schools produce. For some hold that air[172] is the first beginning of all things, others that water is, others again derive the sum of things from fire. Another, destined to