“What am I to do now? Gildo holds Libya, another[67] Egypt; while I, who subdued land and sea with my strong arm, am left to perish. Veteran of so many wars, can I claim no reward in mine old age? Ye gods in whose despite, it seems, I increased, now aid me at the last; pray Jove for me. And thou, Cybele, if ever of thine own free will thou wert carried over the sea and in exchange for Mount Ida tookest the hills of Rome and didst bathe thy Phrygian lions in Almo’s more favoured stream, move now thy son[68] with a mother’s entreaties. But if the fates forbid and our first founder was misled by augury untrue, o’erwhelm me at least in some different ruin, and change the nature of my punishment. Let Porsenna bring back the Tarquins; let Allia renew her bloody battle. Let me fall rather into the hands of cruel [66] Doubtless a reference to Cincinnatus. [67] Claudian means by “_altera_” the Eastern Empire. [68] _i.e._ Jupiter. * * * * * Page 108 me Senonum furiis, Brenni me reddite flammis. cuncta fame leviora mihi.” Sic fata refusis obticuit lacrimis. mater Cytherea parensque flet Mavors sanctaeque memor Tritonia Vestae, nec Cybele sicco nec stabat lumine Iuno. 130 maerent indigetes et si quos Roma recepit aut dedit ipsa deos. genitor iam corde remitti coeperat et sacrum dextra sedare tumultum, cum procul insanis quatiens ululatibus axem et contusa genas mediis adparet in astris 135 Africa: rescissae vestes et spicea passim serta iacent; lacero crinales vertice dentes et fractum pendebat ebur, talique superbas inrupit clamore fores: “Quid magne moraris Iuppiter avulso nexu pelagique solutis 140 legibus iratum populis inmittere fratrem? mergi prima peto; veniant praerupta Pachyno aequora, laxatis subsidant Syrtibus urbes. si mihi Gildonem nequeunt abducere fata, me rape Gildoni. felicior illa perustae 145 pars Libyae, nimio quae se munita calore defendit tantique vacat secura tyranni. crescat zona rubens; medius flagrantis Olympi me quoque limes agat; melius deserta iacebo vomeris impatiens. pulsis dominentur aristis 150 dipsades et sitiens attollat glaeba cerastas. quid me temperies iuvit? quid mitior aether? Gildoni fecunda fui. iam solis habenae * * * * * Page 109 Pyrrhus; abandon me to the fury of the Senones or the flames of Brennus. Welcome all this rather than to starve!”