Then, indeed, at the news of his return, the legions, such love they bore their general, hastened together from every side, and at the sight of Stilicho their courage revived and they broke out into sobbings and tears of joy. So when a herd of cattle has been scattered throughout some vast forest by the storm’s violence the beasts eagerly make for the sound of the ox-herd’s well-known song or whistle and * * * * * Page 156 certatim repetunt et avitae pascua vallis 410 inque vicem se voce regunt gaudentque fideles reddere mugitus et, qua sonus attigit aurem, rara per obscuras adparent cornua frondes. adcurrit vicina manus, quam Raetia nuper Vandalicis auctam spoliis defensa probavit; 415 venit et extremis legio praetenta Britannis, quae Scotto dat frena truci ferroque notatas perlegit exanimes Picto moriente figuras; agmina quin etiam flavis obiecta Sygambris quaeque domant Chattos inmansuetosque Cheruscos, huc omnes vertere minas tutumque remotis 421 excubiis Rhenum solo terrore relinquunt. ullane posteritas credet? Germania quondam illa ferox populis, quae vix instantibus olim principibus tota poterat cum mole teneri, 425 iam sese placidam praebet Stilichonis habenis, ut nec praesidiis nudato limite temptet expositum calcare solum nec transeat amnem, incustoditam metuens attingere ripam. Celsior o cunctis unique aequande Camillo! 430 vestris namque armis Alarici fracta quievit ac Brenni rabies; confusis rebus uterque divinam tribuistis opem, sed tardior ille iam captae vindex patriae, tu sospitis ultor. o quantum mutata tuo fortuna regressu! 435 ut sese pariter diffudit in omnia regni membra vigor vivusque redit color urbibus aegris! * * * * * Page 157