Such were the tempests that vexed the turbulent East. But so soon as ever winter had given place to the winds of spring and the hills began to lose their covering of snow, Stilicho, leaving the fields of Italy in peace and safety, set in motion his two armies and hastened to the lands of the sunrise, combining * * * * * Page 66 Gallica discretis Eoaque robora turmis 105 amplexus. numquam tantae dicione sub una convenere manus nec tot discrimina vocum: illinc Armeniae vibratis crinibus alae herbida collectae facili velamina nodo; inde truces flavo comitantur vertice Galli, 110 quos Rhodanus velox, Araris quos tardior ambit et quos nascentes explorat gurgite Rhenus quosque rigat retro pernicior unda Garunnae, Oceani pleno quotiens impellitur aestu. mens eadem cunctis animique recentia ponunt 115 vulnera; non odit victus victorve superbit. et quamvis praesens tumor et civilia nuper classica bellatrixque etiamnunc ira caleret, in ducis eximii conspiravere favorem. haud aliter Xerxen toto simul orbe secutus. 120 narratur rapuisse vagos exercitus amnes et telis umbrasse diem, cum classibus iret per scopulos tectumque pedes contemneret aequor. Vix Alpes egressus erat nec iam amplius errat barbarus adventumque timens se cogit in unam 125 planitiem tutoque includit pascua gyro: tum duplici fossa non exuperabile vallum asperat alternis sudibus murique locata in speciem caesis obtendit plaustra iuvencis. At procul exanguis Rufinum perculit horror; 130 infectae pallore genae; stetit ore gelato incertus peteretne fugam, veniamne subactus * * * * * Page 67