Sad at heart the army left Thessaly, reached the borders of Macedon, and arrived before the walls of Thessalonica. Indignation deep hid in their hearts prepares the silent wrath of revenge. They look for a place where they may wreak their vengeance and a moment propitious for the blow, and of all that vast army not one is found to divulge with incautious speech his heart’s intent. What succeeding age and time but will marvel that a plot so widespread could be kept hid, a deed of such vast import concealed; that the ardour of their minds was not rendered of no avail by the chance word of a soldier on the march or a drunkard’s babbling? But discretion ruled all alike and the people’s secret was kept. The army crossed the Hebrus, left Rhodope behind, and struck across the uplands of Thrace until it came to the city called after Hercules.[59] When Rufinus learned that Stilicho had retired and that his troops were approaching he held his head high in triumph, believing everything safe, and, anxious to seize the power, inflamed his traitorous minions with this speech: “We have conquered; have driven off our enemy; empire is within my grasp, nor have we anything to fear from the foe. Will one who dared not approach me when I stood alone defeat me now that I am strengthened by the addition of so great a force? Who could stand against him armed whom unarmed he could not conquer? Plot my destruction in exile, friend [59] Probably Heraclea, at the west end of the Propontis. * * * * * Page 80 incassum, Stilicho, dum nos longissima tellus dividat et mediis Nereus interstrepat undis. Alpinas transire tibi me sospite rupes haud dabitur. iaculis illinc me figere tempta. 305 quaere ferox ensem, qui nostra ad moenia tendi possit ab Italia. non te documenta priorum, non exempla vetant? quisnam conatus adire has iactat vitasse manus? detrusimus orbe te medio tantisque simul spoliavimus armis. 310 nunc epulis tempus, socii, nunc larga parare munera donandumque novis legionibus aurum! opportuna meis oritur lux crastina votis. quod nolit rex ipse velit iubeatque coactus in partem mihi regna dari. contingat in uno 315 privati fugisse modum crimenque tyranni.” Talibus adclamat dictis infame nocentum concilium, qui perpetuis crevere rapinis et quos una facit Rufino causa sodales, inlicitum duxisse nihil; funesta tacere 320 nexus amicitiae. iamiam conubia laeti despondent aliena sibi frustraque vicissim promittunt, quae quisque petat, quas devoret urbes. Coeperat humanos alto sopire labores nox gremio, nigrasque sopor diffuderat alas. 325 ille diu curis animum stimulantibus aegre labitur in somnos. toto vix corde quierat, ecce videt diras adludere protinus umbras,