opprimit, ut vestros nequeat punire tumultus parte sui. ne vos longe sermone petito demorer, exemplum veteris cognoscite facti: 385 cum ferus Ausonias perfringeret Hannibal arces et Trebiam saevo geminassent funere Cannae, nequiquam Emathium pepulit spes vana Philippum, ut velut adflictos ferro temptaret inerti. Romanos commovit atrox iniuria patres, 390 urgerent maiora licet, graviterque tulere, urbibus inter se claris de culmine rerum congressis, aliquid gentes audere minores. nec poenam differre placet, sed bella gerenti Punica Laevino regis quoque proelia mandant. 395 paruit imperiis consul, fususque Philippus, vilia dum gravibus populis interserit arma, praetereunte manu didicit non esse potentum temptandas, mediis quamvis in luctibus, iras.” Hoc monitu pariter nascentia bella repressit 400 et bello quaesivit opes legitque precantes auxilio mensus numerum, qui congruus esset nec gravis Italiae formidandusve regenti. Nec minus accepto nostrae rumore cohortes (sic ducis urget amor) properantibus undique signis conveniunt, visoque animi Stilichone recepti 406 singultus varios lacrimosaque gaudia miscent: sic armenta boum, vastis quae turbida silvis sparsit hiems, cantus ac sibila nota magistri * * * * * Page 155 cannot punish your rebellion with but a handful of her forces. Not to delay you with foreign tales, hear this example from your deeds of old. When warlike Hannibal was spreading destruction throughout the cities of Italy, and Cannae had doubled Trebia’s cruel losses, a vain hope drove Philip of Macedon to turn his feeble sword against a people which, as he thought, was in difficulties. The monstrous insult roused the Roman Fathers, although more pressing dangers were crowding upon them, and they took it ill that, while two great cities were disputing the mastery of the world, a lesser race should be insolent. They determine upon instant vengeance and command Laevinus, even while he conducts the war with Carthage, to do battle also with the king of Macedonia. The consul obeyed his orders, and Philip, intruding his feeble arms between mighty nations, was routed by a passing band and learned that it does not do to tempt the anger of powerful peoples even when they are in distress.” With this warning Stilicho alike checked the threatened war and won new allies for war, enrolling them at their entreaty and setting such number to their forces as should best suit--neither a burden to Italy nor a terror to its lord.