“Calliope, ask thou of Alcides the oil of the wrestling-ground. Let all the company proved in the games at Elis follow thee and the athletes who have won fame with Olympian Jove. “Fly, Clio, to Taygetus’ heights and leafy Maenalus and beg Diana not to spurn thy petition but help the amphitheatre’s pomp. Let the goddess herself [180] Claudian is thinking of Eutropius, Manlius’ eastern colleague. * * * * * Page 360 audaces legat ipsa viros, qui colla ferarum arte ligent certoque premant venabula nisu. 295 ipsa truces fetus captivaque ducat ab antris prodigia et caedis sitientem differat arcum. conveniant ursi, magna quos mole ruentes torva Lycaoniis Helice miretur ab astris, perfossique rudant populo pallente leones, 300 quales Mygdonio curru frenare Cybebe optet et Herculei mallent fregisse lacerti. obvia fulminei properent ad vulnera pardi semine permixto geniti, cum forte leaenae nobiliorem uterum viridis corrupit adulter; 305 hi maculis patres referant et robore matres. quidquid monstriferis nutrit Gaetulia campis, Alpina quidquid tegitur nive, Gallica siquid silva tenet, iaceat; largo ditescat harena sanguine; consumant totos spectacula montes. 310 “Nec molles egeant nostra dulcedine ludi: qui laetis risum salibus movisse facetus, qui nutu manibusque loquax, cui tibia flatu, cui plectro pulsanda chelys, qui pulpita socco personat aut alte graditur maiore cothurno, 315 et qui magna levi detrudens murmura tactu innumeras voces segetis moderatus aenae intonet erranti digito penitusque trabali vecte laborantes in carmina concitet undas, vel qui more avium sese iaculentur in auras 320 * * * * * Page 361