agmina; fraternas ex aequo dividat hastas, nec sceptri tantum fueris, sed militis heres. quodsi dissimulas nostrae succurrere morti nec prohibere paras, Manes et sidera testor: 165 haec cervix non sola cadet; miscebitur alter sanguis; nec Stygias ferar incomitatus ad undas nec mea securus ridebit funera victor!” Haec ubi, dictatur facinus missusque repente qui ferat extortas invito principe voces. 170 Interea Stilicho iam laetior hoste propinquo nec multo spatii distantibus aequore vallis pugnandi cupidas accendit voce cohortes. Armeniis frons laeva datur; per cornua Gallos dexteriora locat. spumis ignescere frena, 175 pulveris extolli nimbos lateque videres surgere purpureis undantes anguibus hastas serpentumque vago caelum saevire volatu. implet Thessaliam ferri nitor antraque docti cornipedis, teneroque amnis reptatus Achilli 180 et nemus Oetaeum radiat. clamore nivalis Ossa tonat pulsoque fragor geminatur Olympo. intumuit virtus et lucis prodigus arsit impetus; haud illos rupes, haud alta vetarent flumina: praecipiti stravissent omnia cursu. 185 Si tunc his animis acies collata fuisset, prodita non tantas vidisset Graecia caedes, oppida semoto Pelopeia Marte vigerent, * * * * * Page 71 hosts fairly between the two brothers, and do thou not be heir to the sceptre only but to thy forces. But if thou neglect to come to mine aid and make not ready to prevent my death, this head of mine shall not fall alone--by the dead and the stars I swear it. The blood of another shall be mingled with mine. I will not go unaccompanied to the waters of Styx nor shall the victor be free to exult in my death.” So saying he dictates a treasonable letter and sends therewith an emissary to bear the message extorted from the emperor’s unwilling lips.