et quocumque loco Stilicho tentoria figat, haec patria est.” Dux inde vetat: “desistite, quaeso. atque avidam differte manum. cadat iste minacis invidiae cumulus. non est victoria tanti, ut videar vicisse mihi. vos fida iuventus 250 ite, mei quondam socii.” nec plura locutus flexit iter: vacuo qualis discedit hiatu impatiens remeare leo, quem plurima cuspis et pastorales pepulerunt igne catervae, inclinatque iubas demissaque lumina velat 255 et trepidas maesto rimatur murmure silvas. Ut sese legio vidit disiuncta relinqui, ingentem tollit gemitum galeasque solutis umectat lacrimis pressamque morantia vocem thoracum validos pulsant suspiria nexus: 260 “tradimur, heu, tantumque sequi prohibemur amorem!” exclamant. “spernisne tuas, dux optime, dextras, quas tibi victrices totiens Bellona probavit? nos adeo viles? adeo felicior axis Hesperius, meruit qui te rectore teneri? 265 quid nobis patriam, quid cara revisere tandem pignora dilectosve iuvat coluisse penates? te sine dulce nihil. iam formidata tyranni tempestas subeunda mihi, qui forte nefandas iam parat insidias, qui nos aut turpibus Hunis 270 aut impacatis famulos praebebit Alanis; quamquam non adeo robur defecerit omne tantave gestandi fuerit penuria ferri. tu, licet occiduo maneas sub cardine caeli, * * * * * Page 77 I know. Wheresoever Stilicho plants his tent there is my fatherland.” But Stilicho said them nay: “Cease, I beg you,” he cried, “stay your eager hands. Suffer to disperse the mountain of hatred that towers over me. I hold not victory so dear that I would fain seem to win it for myself. Loyal gentlemen, so long my fellow-soldiers, get you gone.” He said no more but turned away, as a lion loath to retire makes off with empty maw when the serried spears and the burning branches in the hands of the shepherd band drive him back and he droops his mane and closes his downcast eyes and with a disappointed roar pushes his way through the trembling forest.