Claudian, volume 1 (of 2): With an English translation by Maurice PlatnauerClaudianus, Claudius
General
Claudian, volume 1 (of 2): With an English translation by Maurice Platnauer
Claudianus, Claudius
Claudianus, Claudius -- Translations into English
stained tent, the dusky Indian his embroidered tent: here were the tall
company of warriors from the Rhone and the warlike children of Ocean.
Stilicho and Stilicho alone commanded all the nations looked on by the
rising and the setting sun. Amid this company so diverse in blood and
speech such peace reigned beneath thy rule, so did fear of justice
secure right, that not a single vineyard was robbed, nor did a single
field cheat the husbandman of its plundered crop; rage incited to no
violence, passion to no deeds of shame; the peaceful sword was obedient
to law. Of a truth their leaders’ pattern passes to the crowd, and the
soldier follows not only the standards but also the example of his
general.
Whithersoever thou didst lead thy victorious eagles there rivers
grew dry, drunk up by so many thousands of men. Didst thou march
towards Illyria, plain and mountain were hidden; didst thou give the
signal to thy fleet, the Ionian main was lost beneath thy ships.
Cloud-girt Ceraunia, the storms that dash the waves in foam on Leucas’
promontory--these could not affright any. Shouldst thou bid them
explore some frozen sea, thy untroubled soldiers would shatter the
congealed waters with countervailing oar; had they to seek the deserts
of the south, to search out the sources of the Nile, their sails would
penetrate into Ethiopia’s midmost heat.
Thee mindful Eurotas, thee Lycaeus’ rustic muse, thee Maenalus
celebrates in pastoral song, and therewith the woods of Parthenius,
where, thanks to thy victorious arms, weary Greece has raised once more
her head from amid the flames. Then did Ladon, river of Arcadia, stay
his course amid the countless bodies,
* * * * *
Page 378
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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