The Father heard his prayer and rose from the snowy peaks of Haemus shouting commands to his speedy servants: “Bellona, bring my helmet; fasten me, Panic, the wheels upon my chariot; harness my swift horses, Fear. Hasten: speed on your work. See, my Stilicho makes him ready for war; Stilicho whose habit it is to load me with rich trophies and hang upon the oak the plumed helmets of his enemies. For us together the trumpets ever sound the call to battle; yoking my chariot I follow wheresoever he pitch his camp.” So spake he and leapt upon the plain, and on this side Stilicho scattered the enemy bands in broadcast flight and on that Mars; alike the twain in accoutrement and stature. The helmets of either tower with bristling crests, their breastplates flash as they speed along and their spears take their fill of widely dealt wounds. Meanwhile Megaera, more eager now she has got her way, and revelling in this widespread * * * * * Page 52 Iustitiam diroque prior sic ore lacessit: “en tibi prisca quies renovataque saecula rursus, ut rebare, vigent? en nostra potentia cessit nec locus est usquam Furiis? huc lumina flecte. adspice barbaricis iaceant quot moenia flammis, 360 quas mihi Rufinus strages quantumque cruoris praebeat et quantis epulentur caedibus hydri. linque homines sortemque meam, pete sidera; notis Autumni te redde plagis, qua vergit in Austrum Signifer; aestivo sedes vicina Leoni 365 iam pridem gelidaeque vacant confinia Librae. atque utinam per magna sequi convexa liceret!” Diva refert: “non ulterius bacchabere demens. iam poenas tuus iste dabit, iam debitus ultor inminet, et, terras qui nunc ipsumque fatigat 370 aethera, non vili moriens condetur harena. iamque aderit laeto promissus Honorius aevo nec forti genitore minor nec fratre corusco, qui subiget Medos, qui cuspide proteret Indos. sub iuga venturi reges; calcabitur asper 375 Phasis equo pontemque pati cogetur Araxes, tuque simul gravibus ferri religata catenis expellere die debellatasque draconum tonsa comas imo barathri claudere recessu. tum tellus communis erit, tum limite nullo 380 * * * * * Page 53