Pandite defensum reduces Helicona sorores, pandite; permissis iam licet ire choris: nulla per Aonios hostilis bucina campos carmina mugitu deteriore vetat. tu quoque securis pulsa formidine Delphis 5 floribus ultorem, Delie, cinge tuum. nullus Castalios latices et praescia fati flumina polluto barbarus ore bibit. Alpheus late rubuit Siculumque per aequor sanguineas belli rettulit unda notas 10 agnovitque novos absens Arethusa triumphos et Geticam sensit teste cruore necem. Inmensis, Stilicho, succedant otia curis et nostrae patiens corda remitte lyrae, nec pudeat longos interrupisse labores 15 et tenuem Musis constituisse moram. fertur et indomitus tandem post proelia Mavors lassa per Odrysias fundere membra nives oblitusque sui posita clementior hasta Pieriis aures pacificare modis. 20 * * * * * Page 57 THE SECOND BOOK AGAINST RUFINUS PREFACE (IV.) Return, ye Muses, and throw open rescued Helicon; now again may your company gather there. Nowhere now in Italy does the hostile trumpet forbid song with its viler bray. Do thou too, Delian Apollo, now that Delphi is safe and fear has been dispelled, wreath thy avenger’s head with flowers. No savage foe sets profane lips to Castalia’s spring or those prophetic streams. Alpheus’[55] flood ran all his length red with slaughter and the waves bore the bloody marks of war across the Sicilian sea; whereby Arethusa, though herself not present, recognized the triumphs freshly won and knew of the slaughter of the Getae, to which that blood bore witness. Let peace, Stilicho, succeed these age-long labours and ease thine heart by graciously listening to my song. Think it no shame to interrupt thy long toil and to consecrate a few moments to the Muses. Even unwearying Mars is said to have stretched his tired limbs on the snowy Thracian plain when at last the battle was ended, and, unmindful of his wonted fierceness, to have laid aside his spear in gentler mood, soothing his ear with the Muses’ melody. [55] A reference to Stilicho’s campaign against Alaric in the Peloponnese in 397 (see Introduction, p. x). * * * * * Page 58 LIBER II (V.)