“He is a prey to the most diverse vices: whatsoe’er his bottomless greed has stolen, a yet more insatiable profligacy squanders. He is the terror of the living, the heir of the dead, the violator of the unwed, and the foul corrupter of the marriage-bed. He is never quiet; when greed is sated lust is rampant; day is a misery to the rich, night to the married. Is any wealthy or known to possess a beautiful wife, he is overwhelmed by some trumped-up charge. If no charge be brought against him, he is asked to a banquet and there murdered. No form of death but is known to this artist in crime. He investigates the properties of different poisons and serpents’ livid venom and knows of deadly herbs unknown even to stepmothers. If any condemns what he sees by a look or sighs with too much freedom, at the very festal board out darts some henchman with drawn sword at a nod from his master. Each glued to his seat tastes in silent fear of the deadly banquet; drains, pale of face, the treacherous cup, and looks around at the weapons that threaten his life. The deadly board is decked in infernal splendour, wet with slaughter, dreadful with fear of sword and suspected poison. When wine has [71] Tangiers. * * * * * Page 112 ut vino calefacta Venus, tum saevior ardet luxuries, mixtis redolent unguenta coronis: crinitos inter famulos pubemque canoram orbatas iubet ire nurus nuperque peremptis 185 adridere viris. Phalarim tormentaque flammae profuit et Siculi mugitus ferre iuvenci quam tales audire choros. nec damna pudoris turpia sufficiunt: Mauris clarissima quaeque fastidita datur. media Carthagine ductae 190 barbara Sidoniae subeunt conubia matres; Aethiopem nobis generum, Nasamona maritum ingerit; exterret cunabula discolor infans. his fretus sociis ipso iam principe maior incedit; peditum praecurrunt agmina longe; 195 circumdant equitum turmae regesque clientes, quos nostris ditat spoliis. proturbat avita quemque domo; veteres detrudit rure colonos. exiliis dispersa feror. numquamne reverti fas erit errantesque solo iam reddere cives?” 200 Iret adhuc in verba dolor, ni Iuppiter alto coepisset solio (voces adamante notabat Atropos et Lachesis iungebat stamina dictis): “nec te, Roma, diu nec te patiemur inultam, Africa. communem prosternet Honorius hostem. 205 pergite securae. vestrum vis nulla tenorem separat et soli famulabitur Africa Romae.” Dixit et adflavit Romam meliore iuventa. continuo redit ille vigor seniique colorem mutavere comae. solidatam crista resurgens 210 * * * * * Page 113