quas dedit ipse neci; quarum quae clarior una visa loqui: “pro! surge toro. quid plurima volvis 330 anxius? haec requiem rebus finemque labori adlatura dies: omni iam plebe redibis altior et laeti manibus portabere vulgi.” has canit ambages. occulto fallitur ille omine nec capitis sentit praesagia fixi. 335 Iam summum radiis stringebat Lucifer Haemum festinamque rotam solito properantior urget tandem Rufini visurus funera Titan: desiluit stratis densaeque capacia turbae atria regifico iussit splendere paratu 340 exceptura dapes et, quod post vota daretur, insculpi propriis aurum fatale figuris. ipse salutatum reduces post proelia turmas iam regale tumens et principe celsior ibat collaque femineo solvebat mollia gestu 345 imperii certus, tegeret ceu purpura dudum corpus et ardentes ambirent tempora gemmae. Urbis ab angusto tractu, qua vergit in austrum, planities vicina patet: nam cetera pontus circuit exiguo dirimi se limite passus. 350 hic ultrix acies ornatu lucida Martis explicuit cuneos. pedites in parte sinistra consistunt. equites illinc poscentia cursum ora reluctantur pressis sedare lupatis; hinc alii saevum cristato vertice nutant 355 et tremulos umeris gaudent vibrare colores, quos operit formatque chalybs; coniuncta per artem * * * * * Page 83 had killed. Of them one, more distinct than the rest, seemed thus to address him: “Up from thy couch! why schemes thine anxious mind further? This coming day shall bring thee rest and end thy toils. High above the people shalt thou be raised, and happy crowds shall carry thee in their arms.” Such was the ambiguous prophecy of the ghost, but Rufinus observed not the hidden omen and saw not it foretold the elevation of his severed head upon a spear. Now Lucifer touched the peak of Haemus with his rays and Titan urged his hastening wheel quicker than his wont, so soon to see at last the death of Rufinus. Rufinus himself leapt from his bed and bade make ready the capacious palace with regal splendour in preparation for the feast; the gold to be given in largesse he ordered to be stamped with his own fateful image. Himself went to welcome the troops returning from the battle in kingly pride and arrogance above a prince’s. Sure now of empire he wore a woman’s raiment about his neck; as though the purple already clothed his limbs and the jewelled crown blazed upon his brow.