corporaque aedificent celeri crescentia nexu, quorum compositam puer amentatus in arcem emicet et vinctu plantae vel cruribus hacrens pendula librato figat vestigia saltu. mobile ponderibus descendat pegma reductis 325 inque chori speciem spargentes ardua flammas scaena rotet varios et fingat Mulciber orbis per tabulas impune vagus pictaeque citato ludant igne trabes et non permissa morari fida per innocuas errent incendia turres. 330 lascivi subito confligant aequore lembi stagnaque remigibus spument inmissa canoris. “Consul per populos idemque gravissimus auctor eloquii, duplici vita subnixus in aevum procedat pariter libris fastisque legendus. 335 accipiat patris exemplum tribuatque nepoti filius et coeptis ne desit fascibus heres. decurrat trabeata domus tradatque secures mutua postcritas servatoque ordine fati Manlia continuo numeretur consule proles.” 340 * * * * * Page 363 pyramids that grow with swift entwining of their bodies, to the summit of which pyramid rushes a boy fastened by a thong, a boy who, attached there by the foot or leg, executes a step-dance suspended in the air. Let the counterweights be removed and the mobile crane descend, lowering on to the lofty stage men who, wheeling chorus-wise, scatter flames; let Vulcan forge balls of fire to roll innocuously across the boards, let the flames appear to play about the sham beams of the scenery and a tame conflagration, never allowed to rest, wander among the untouched towers. Let ships meet in mimic warfare on an improvised ocean and the flooded waters be lashed to foam by singing oarsmen. “As consul at once and stateliest master, upborne by a twofold fame, let Manlius go forth among the peoples, read in his own books and in our calendars. May the sire’s example be followed by the son[183] and handed on to a grandson, nor these first fasces ever lack succession. May his race pass on purple-clad, may the generations, each to each, hand on the axes, and obedient to the ordinance of fate, Manlius after Manlius add one more consul to the tale.” [183] We do not hear of Claudian’s hopes coming true. This son was, however, proconsul of Africa (Augustine, _Contra Crescon._ iii. 62). * * * * * Page 364 DE CONSULATU STILICHONIS LIBER I. (XXI.)