“Shall we allow the centuries to roll on in this even tenour, and man to live thus blessed? What novel kindliness has corrupted our characters? Where is our inbred fury? Of what use the lash with none to suffer beneath it? Why this purposeless girdle of smoky torches? Sluggards, ye, * * * * * Page 30 heu nimis ignavae, quas Iuppiter arcet Olympo, 50 Theodosius terris. en aurea nascitur aetas, en proles antiqua redit. Concordia, Virtus eumque Fide Pietas alta cervice vagantur insignemque canunt nostra de plebe triumphum. pro dolor! ipsa mihi liquidas delapsa per auras 55 Iustitia insultat vitiisque a stirpe recisis elicit oppressas tenebroso carcere leges. at nos indecores longo torpebimus aevo omnibus eiectae regnis! agnoscite tandem quid Furias deceat; consuetas sumite vires 60 conventuque nefas tanto decernite dignum. iam cupio Stygiis invadere nubibus astra, iam flatu violare diem, laxare profundo frena mari, fluvios ruptis inmittere ripis et rerum vexare fidem.” Sic fata cruentum 65 mugiit et totos serpentum erexit hiatus noxiaque effudit concusso crine venena. anceps motus erat vulgi. pars maxima bellum indicit superis, pars Ditis iura veretur, dissensuque alitur rumor: ceu murmurat alti 70 impacata quies pelagi, cum flamine fracto durat adhuc saevitque tumor dubiumque per aestum lassa recedentis fluitant vestigia venti. Improba mox surgit tristi de sede Megaera, quam penes insani fremitus animique profanus 75 error et undantes spumis furialibus irae: non nisi quaesitum cognata caede cruorem inlicitumve bibit, patrius quem fuderit ensis, * * * * * Page 31 whom Jove has excluded from heaven, Theodosius from earth. Lo! a golden age begins; lo! the old breed of men returns. Peace and Godliness, Love and Honour hold high their heads throughout the world and sing a proud song of triumph over our conquered folk. Justice herself (oh the pity of it!), down-gliding through the limpid air, exults over me and, now that crime has been cut down to the roots, frees law from the dark prison wherein she lay oppressed. Shall we, expelled from every land, lie this long age in shameful torpor? Ere it be too late recognize a Fury’s duty: resume your wonted strength and decree a crime worthy of this august assembly. Fain would I shroud the stars in Stygian darkness, smirch the light of day with our breath, unbridle the ocean deeps, hurl rivers against their shattered banks, and break the bonds of the universe.”