nunc dabat hibernum Rhodope nimbosa cubile. 130 vos Haemi gelidae valles, quas saepe cruentis stragibus aequavit Stilicho, vos Thracia testor flumina, quae largo mutastis sanguine fluctus; dicite, Bisaltae vel qui Pangaea iuvencis scinditis, offenso quantae sub vomere putres 135 dissiliant glaebis galeae vel qualia rastris ossa peremptorum resonent inmania regum. Singula complecti cuperem; sed densior instat gestorum series laudumque sequentibus undis obruimur. genitor caesi post bella tyranni 140 iam tibi commissis conscenderat aethera terris. ancipites rerum ruituro culmine lapsus aequali cervice subis: sic Hercule quondam sustentante polum melius librata pependit machina nec dubiis titubavit Signifer astris 145 perpetuaque senex subductus mole parumper obstupuit proprii spectator ponderis Atlas. Nulli barbariae motus; nil turbida rupto ordine temptavit novitas, tantoque remoto principe mutatas orbis non sensit habenas. 150 nil inter geminas acies, ceu libera frenis, ausa manus. certe nec tantis dissona linguis turba nec armorum cultu diversior umquam confluxit populus: totam pater undique secum moverat Auroram; mixtis hic Colchus Hiberis, 155 hic mitra velatus Arabs, hic crine decorus Armenius; hic picta Saces fucataque Medus, * * * * * Page 375 misty Rhodope afforded him a winter’s bed. I call you to witness, cold valleys of Haemus, that Stilicho has often filled with bloody slaughter; and you, rivers of Thrace, your waters turned to blood; say, ye Bisaltae, or you whose oxen plough Pangaeus’ slopes, how many a rotting helm has not your share shattered neath the soil, how oft have not your mattocks rung against the giant bones of slaughtered kings. Fain would I embrace each separate one; but thine exploits press on in too close array, and I am overwhelmed by the pursuing flood of glorious deeds. When Theodosius had warred against, and slain, the tyrant[187] he ascended into heaven, leaving the governance of the world to thee. With a strength equal to his thou dost bear up the tottering structure of the empire that threatens each moment to collapse. Thus, when once Hercules upheld the world, the universal frame hung more surely poised, the Standard-bearer did not reel with tottering stars, and old Atlas, relieved for a moment of the eternal load, was confounded as he gazed upon his own burden.