Rufinus stood rooted to earth. There is no hope of escape, for a forest of flashing spears hems him in. Shut in on the right hand and on the left he stood and gazed in wonder on the drawn blades of the armed throng; as a beast who has lately left his native hills, driven in exile from the wooded mountains and condemned to the gladiatorial shows, rushes into the arena while over against him the gladiator, heartened by the crowd’s applause kneels and holds out his spear. The beast, alarmed at the noise, gazes with head erect upon the rows of seats in the amphitheatre and hears with amazement the murmuring of the crowd. Then one more daring than the rest drew his sword and leapt forward from the crowd and with fierce words and flashing eye rushed upon Rufinus crying: “It is the hand of Stilicho whom thou vauntest that thou didst expel that smites thee; his sword, which thou thoughtest far away, that pierces thy heart.” So spake he and transfixed Rufinus’ side with a well-deserved thrust. Happy the hand that first spilt such vile blood and poured out vengeance for a world made weary. Straightway all pierce him with their spears and tear quivering limb from limb; one single body warms all these weapons with its blood; shame to him whose sword returns unstained therewith. * * * * * Page 88 hi vultus avidos et adhuc spirantia vellunt 410 lumina, truncatos alii rapuere lacertos. amputat ille pedes, umerum quatit ille solutis nexibus; hic fracti reserat curvamina dorsi; hic iecur, hic cordis fibras, hic pandit anhelas pulmonis latebras. spatium non invenit ira 415 nec locus est odiis. consumpto funere vix tum deseritur sparsumque perit per tela cadaver. sic mons Aonius rubuit, cum Penthea ferrent Maenades aut subito mutatum Actaeona cornu traderet insanis Latonia visa Molossis. 420 criminibusne tuis credis, Fortuna, mederi et male donatum certas aequare favorem suppliciis? una tot milia morte rependis? eversis agedum Rufinum divide terris. da caput Odrysiis, truncum mereantur Achivi. 425 quid reliquis dabitur? nec singula membra peremptis sufficiunt populis. Vacuo plebs undique muro iam secura fluit; senibus non obstitit aetas virginibusve pudor; viduae, quibus ille maritos abstulit, orbataeque ruunt ad gaudia matres 430 insultantque alacres. laceros iuvat ire per artus pressaque calcato vestigia sanguine tingui. nec minus adsiduis flagrant elidere saxis prodigiale caput, quod iam de cuspide summa * * * * * Page 89