Stilicho, too, fails not: at full speed he advanced his army clamorous for battle and spurs their march with these words: “Friends of Rome, the time has now come for you to exact vengeance for outraged Italy. Wipe out the disgrace which the investment of your emperor by his foes has brought upon you, and let your swords end the shame which the defeat on the Timavus[58] and the enemy’s passage of the Alps has caused to Rome. This is the foe whom ye so often put to flight on the plains of Greece, whom not their own valour but a world torn by civil strife has kept safe thus far, as they treacherously mock at treaties and traffic in perjury now with the West, now the East. Reflect that all the fierce peoples of Britain and the tribes who dwell on Danube’s and Rhine’s banks are watching and stand ready. Win a victory now and so be conquerors in many an unfought war. Restore Rome to her former glory; the frame of empire is tottering; let your shoulders support it. A [57] The river on whose banks Pollentia stood. Sozomenes (ix. 6) mentions the oracle. [58] Little is known of this battle. It is to be attributed presumably to (?) November 401 and is doubtless connected with Alaric’s attempt on Aquileia (Jerome, _Contra Ruf._ iii. 21). * * * * * Page 168 vindicat, haec mundo pacem victoria sancit. non in Threiciis Haemi decernimus oris nec super Alpheas umbrantia Maenala ripas 575 constitimus; non hic Tegean Argosque tuemur: visceribus mediis ipsoque in corde videtis bella geri. patrem clipeis defendite Thybrim.” talia nunc pediti, turmae nunc mixtus equestri dicta dabat. Simul externis praecepta ferebat 580 auxiliis. ibat patiens dicionis Alanus, qua nostrae iussere tubae, mortemque petendam pro Latio docuit gentis praefectus Alanae, cui natura breves animis ingentibus artus finxerat inmanique oculos infecerat ira; 585 vulneribus pars nulla vacat rescissaque contis gloria foedati splendet iactantior oris. ille tamen mandante procul Stilichone citatis acceleravit equis Italamque momordit harenam. felix Elysiisque plagis et carmine dignus, 590 qui male suspectam nobis impensius arsit vel leto purgare fidem; qui iudice ferro diluit inmeritum laudato sanguine crimen! morte viri turbatus eques flectebat habenas totaque praeciso nutassent agmina cornu, 595 ni celer instructa Stilicho legione secutus subsidiis peditum pugnam instaurasset equestrem. Quis Musis ipsoque licet Paeane recepto enarrare queat, quantum Gradivus in illa luce suae dederit fundator originis urbi? 600 altius haud umquam toto descendimus ense in iugulum Scythiae, tanta nec clade superbum