The more happy hopes grew in our hearts the more they deserted the Getae, who, touching the stars with their heads, after crossing the Alps accounted all their own and deemed nothing left to do. But when they saw all our glorious youth, all the quickly levied infantry, all the squadrons of horse, a countryside protected by so many rivers and fortresses, and themselves caught in a snare, a trouble they dared not voice seized their hearts and a regret that they had invaded Italy with too forward eagerness; and Rome they hoped within their grasp seemed far away. Weariness of their mighty undertaking steals over them. Yet Alaric’s face conceals his fear; he bids to the council of war those whose age or prowess had gained them the dignity of leadership. There sat the senate of long-haired, skin-clad Getic leaders. Many a scar received in battle adorned their faces, spears guide their tottering steps and, instead of a staff, old age, refusing to disarm, supports itself on their tall shafts. Then arose one older than the rest, trusted for his counsel and advice, who, fixing his gaze upon the ground, shaking his hoary locks and leaning on his ivory hilt, thus spake: “If I miscount not the years this is well-nigh the thirtieth winter since we swam across the swift Ister. All that time we have escaped defeat at the hands of Rome. Yet never, Alaric, has Mars brought your fortunes to such * * * * * Page 162 res, Alarice, tuas. per tot certamina docto crede seni, qui te tenero vice patris ab aevo gestatum parva solitus donare pharetra atque aptare breves umeris puerilibus arcus: 495 saepe quidem frustra monui, servator ut icti foederis Emathia tutus tellure maneres; sed quoniam calidae rapuit te flamma iuventae, nunc saltem, si cura tibi manet ulla tuorum, his claustris evade, precor, dumque agmina longe, dum licet, Hesperiis praeceps elabere terris, 501 ne nova praedari cupiens et parta reponas pastorique lupus scelerum delicta priorum intra saepta luas. quid palmitis uber Etrusci, quid mihi nescioquam proprio cum Thybride Romam semper in ore geris? referunt si vera parentes, 506 hanc urbem insano nullus qui Marte petivit laetatus violasse redit; nec numina sedem destituunt: iactata procul dicuntur in hostem fulmina divinique volant pro moenibus ignes, 510 seu caelum seu Roma tonat. si temnis Olympum, a magno Stilichone cave, qui semper iniquos Fortuna famulante premit. scis ipse, per oras Arcadiae quam densa rogis cumulaverit ossa, sanguine quam largo Graios calefecerit amnes; 515 extinctusque fores, ni te sub nomine legum proditio regnique favor texisset Eoi.” Talia grandaevum flammata fronte loquentem * * * * *