civibus et vetitis ignavo credere muro 155 tutius obiecit nudam Lacedaemona bellis: at non Pythagorae monitus annique silentes famosum Oebalii luxum pressere Tarenti. “Quis vero insignem tanto sub principe curam respuat? aut quando meritis maiora patebunt 160 praemia? quis demens adeo qui iungere sensus cum Stilichone neget? similem quae protulit aetas consilio vel Marte virum? nunc Brutus amaret vivere sub regno, tali succumberet aulae Fabricius, cuperent ipsi servire Catones. 165 nonne vides, ut nostra soror Clementia tristes obtundat gladios fratresque amplexa serenos adsurgat Pietas, fractis ut lugeat armis Perfidia et laceris morientes crinibus hydri lambant invalido Furiarum vincla veneno? 170 exultat cum Pace Fides, iam sidera cunctae liquimus et placidas inter discurrimus urbes. nobiscum, Theodore, redi.” Subit ille loquentem talibus: “agrestem dudum me, diva, reverti cogis et infectum longi rubigine ruris 175 ad tua signa vocas. nam quae mihi cura tot annis altera quam duras sulcis mollire novales, nosse soli vires, nemori quae commoda rupes, quis felix oleae tractus, quae glaeba faveret frugibus et quales tegeret vindemia colles? 180 terribiles rursum lituos veteranus adibo et desueta vetus temptabo caerula vector? * * * * * Page 351 his fellow-citizens to put a coward’s trust in walls, he set Lacedemon to face wars more securely in her nakedness; but all the teaching of Pythagoras and his years of silence never crushed the infamous licentiousness of Sparta’s colony Tarentum. “Besides, beneath such an emperor, who could refuse office? Was ever merit more richly rewarded? Who is so insensate as not to wish to meet Stilicho in council? Has ever any age produced his equal in prudence or in bravery? Now would Brutus love to live under a king; to such a court Fabricius would yield, the Catos themselves long to give service. Seest thou not how my sister Mercy blunts the cruel sword of war; how Piety rises to embrace the two noble brothers; how Treason laments her broken weapons and the snakes, writhing in death upon the Furies’ wounded heads, lick their chains with enfeebled venom? Peace and loyalty are triumphant. All the host of heaven leaves the stars and wanders from peaceful city to peaceful city. Return thou with us, Theodorus.”