ludus et occisos pulchrum iurare parentes. nec plus nubigenas duplex natura biformes cognatis aptavit equis; acerrima nullo 330 ordine mobilitas insperatique recursus. Quos tamen impavidus contra spumantis ad Hebri tendis aquas, sic ante tubas aciemque precatus: “Mavors, nubifero seu tu procumbis in Haemo seu te cana gelu Rhodope seu remige Medo 335 sollicitatus Athos seu caligantia nigris ilicibus Pangaea tenent, accingere mecum et Thracas defende tuos. si laetior adsit gloria, vestita spoliis donabere quercu.” Audiit illa pater scopulisque nivalibus Haemi 340 surgit et hortatur celeres clamore ministros: “fer galeam, Bellona, mihi nexusque rotarum tende, Pavor. frenet rapidos Formido iugales. festinas urgete manus. meus ecce paratur ad bellum Stilicho, qui me de more tropaeis 345 ditat et hostiles suspendit in arbore cristas. communes semper litui, communia nobis signa canunt iunctoque sequor tentoria curru.” sic fatus campo insiluit lateque fugatas hinc Stilicho turmas, illinc Gradivus agebat 350 et clipeis et mole pares; stat cassis utrique sidereis hirsuta iubis loricaque cursu aestuat et largo saturatur vulnere cornus. Acrior interea voto multisque Megaera luxuriata malis maestam deprendit in arce 355 * * * * * Page 51 righteous act to swear by their murdered parents. Their double nature fitted not better the twi-formed Centaurs to the horses that were parts of them. Disorderly, but of incredible swiftness, they often return to the fight when little expected. Fearless, however, against such forces, thou, Stilicho, approachest the waters of foaming Hebrus and thus prayest ere the trumpets sound and the fight begins: “Mars, whether thou reclinest on cloud-capped Haemus, or frost-white Rhodope holdeth thee, or Athos, severed to give passage to the Persian fleet, or Pangaeus, gloomy with dark holm-oaks, gird thyself at my side and defend thine own land of Thrace. If victory smile on us, thy meed shall be an oak stump adorned with spoils.”