erexit galeam clipeique recanduit orbis et levis excussa micuit rubigine cornus. Umentes iam noctis equos Lethaeaque Somnus frena regens tacito volvebat sidera curru. iam duo divorum proceres, maiorque minorque 215 Theodosii, pacem laturi gentibus ibant, qui Iovis arcanos monitus mandataque ferrent fratribus et geminis sancirent foedera regnis: sic cum praecipites artem vicere procellae adsiduoque gemens undarum verbere nutat 220 descensura ratis, caeca sub nocte vocati naufraga Ledaei sustentant vela Lacones. circulus ut patuit Lunae, secuere meatus diversos: Italas senior tendebat in oras; at pater, intrantem Pontum qua Bosphorus artat, Arcadii thalamis urbique inlapsus Eoae. 226 quem simulac vidit natus (nam clara nitebat Cynthia), permixto tremuerunt gaudia fletu complexuque fovens, quos non speraverat, artus “O mihi post Alpes nunc primum reddite,” dixit, 230 “unde tuis optatus ades? da tangere dextram, qua gentes cecidere ferae. quis tale removit praesidium terris? ut te mortalia pridem implorant longeque pium fortemque requirunt!” Cui pater in tales rupit suspiria voces: 235 “hoc erat? in fratres medio discordia Mauro nascitur et mundus germanaque dissidet aula? * * * * * Page 115 upright stood the plumes, the round shield shone once more, and gone was every trace of rust from her wingèd, gleaming spear. Sleep was now driving the dew-drenched steeds of night, guiding them with the reins of Lethe and carrying round the stars in her silent course, when the elder and the younger Theodosius,[72] chief among the heroes divine, came to bring peace to men. They bore Jove’s secret message and mandate to the two brothers and ratified the treaty between the two empires. So when at dead of night the driving tempest has brought the helmsman’s skill to nought and the sinking ship groans and shudders at the waves’ ceaseless shock, Leda’s Spartan-born sons sustain the foundering bark in answer to the sailors’ prayers. At the rise of the full moon the twain parted. The elder directed his steps towards the coasts of Italy, the younger visited the couch of Arcadius, gliding down to that Eastern city where Bosporus narrows the entrance to the Euxine. As soon as the son saw his father (for the moon was shining brightly), he wept, yet trembled for joy, and embracing that form he had little hoped ever to embrace again, said: “O thou restored now to me for the first time since thy triumphs in the Alps, whence comest thou to thy loving son? Let me touch that hand that has conquered so many barbarian races! Who hath robbed the world of such a defender? How long a while has mankind prayed thine aid, and missed thy goodness and thy might!”