“Past generations have known a like fate. Full often, we know, has Italy been attacked--but never without the enemy’s paying dear. With their own blood did our country extinguish the fires lit by the Senones and, once the victim of a German invasion, she soon saw the squalid necks of Teutons and Cimbri loaded with the chains of captivity. Of little value is that glory whose worth has not been augmented by previous hardship; ’tis great dangers that beget great triumphs. “Do you meditate shameful flight and fix your [53] Maximus and Eugenius. * * * * * Page 148 respicitis Latioque libet post terga relicto longinquum profugis Ararim praecingere castris? scilicet Arctois concessa gentibus urbe considet regnum Rhodano capitique superstes 300 truncus erit? vestros stimulant si pignora sensus, me quoque non impar naturae cura remordet, nec ferro sic corda rigent ut nosse recusem quam sanctum soceri nomen, quam dulce mariti, quantus prolis amor. sed numquam oblita decoris obscaenam latebram pietas ignava requiret. 306 nec vobis fortis monitor, mihi cautior uni: hic coniunx, hic progenies, hic carior omni luce gener; pars nulla mei subducta procellae. accipe tu nostrae, tellus Oenotria, mentis 310 vincula communes tecum subeuntia casus, exiguamque moram muris impende tuendis, dum redeo lectum referens in classica robur.” His dictis pavidi firmavit inertia vulgi pectora migrantisque fugam compescuit aulae; 315 ausaque tum primum tenebris emergere pulsis Hesperia, ut secum iunxisse pericula vidit Augustum, tantoque sui stetit obside fati. protinus, umbrosa vestit qua litus oliva Larius et dulci mentitur Nerea fluctu, 320 parva puppe lacum praetervolat; ocius inde scandit inaccessos brumali sidere montes nil hiemis caelive memor. sic ille relinquens ieiunos antro catulos inmanior exit * * * * * Page 149