hiberna sub nocte leo tacitusque per altas 325 incedit furiale nives; stant colla pruinis aspera; flaventes adstringit stiria saetas; nec meminit leti nimbosve aut frigora curat, dum natis alimenta parat. Sublimis in Arcton prominet Hercyniae confinis Raetia silvae, 330 quae se Danuvii iactat Rhenique parentem utraque Romuleo praetendens flumina regno: primo fonte breves, alto mox gurgite regnant et fluvios cogunt unda coëunte minores in nomen transire suum. te Cimbrica Tethys 335 divisum bifido consumit, Rhene, meatu; Thracia quinque vadis Histrum vorat Amphitrite: ambo habiles remis, ambo glacialia secti terga rotis, ambo Boreae Martique sodales. sed latus, Hesperiae quo Raetia iungitur orae, 340 praeruptis ferit astra iugis panditque tremendam vix aestate viam. multi ceu Gorgone visa obriguere gelu; multos hausere profundae vasta mole nives, cumque ipsis saepe iuvencis naufraga candenti merguntur plaustra barathro. 345 interdum subitam glacie labente ruinam mons dedit et tepidis fundamina subruit astris pendenti male fida solo. Per talia tendit frigoribus mediis Stilicho loca. nulla Lyaei pocula; rara Ceres; raptos contentus in armis 350 delibasse cibos madidoque oneratus amictu * * * * * Page 151 cave, issues forth hunger-maddened some winter night and with silent tread goes out across the deep snow with murder in his heart, his mane frozen about his shoulders, and icicles clinging to his tawny coat; nought recks he of death nor cares for snow nor frost if only he can procure food for his little ones.