[68] The story of the _pietas_ of these brothers has often been told or referred to: the better known passages are Senec. _De benef._ iii. 37. 2; Martial vii. 24. 5; Sil. Ital. xiv. 197. Hyginus (_Fab._ 154) gives the story though with different names. The brothers’ heads appear both on Sicilian and Roman coins, _e.g._ Head, _Hist. Num._ 117; _Brit. Mus. Cat._ Sicily 52, Nos. 70-79; Babelon, _Monn. de la répub._ i. 539, ii. 353. * * * * * Page 190 dissimiles annos sollertia temperat artis: alter in alterius redditur ore parens, et nova germanis paribus discrimina praebens 25 divisit vultus cum pietate faber. O bene naturae memores, documenta supernae iustitiae, iuvenum numina, vota senum: qui spretis opibus medios properastis in ignes nil praeter sanctam tollere canitiem. 30 haud equidem inmerito tanta virtute repressas Enceladi fauces obriguisse reor. ipse redundantem frenavit Mulciber Aetnam, laederet exempli ne monumenta pii. senserunt elementa fidem. pater adfuit aether 35 terraque maternum sedula iuvit onus. quodsi notus amor provexit in astra Laconas, Aenean Phrygio raptus ab igne pater, si vetus Argolicos inlustrat gloria fratres, qui sua materno colla dedere iugo: 40 cur non Amphinomo, cur non tibi, fortis Anapi, aeternum Siculus templa dicavit honos? plura licet summae dederit Trinacria laudi, noverit hoc maius se genuisse nihil; nec doleat damnis, quae devius intulit ardor, 45 nec gemat exustas igne furente domos. non potuit pietas flamma cessante probari: emptum est ingenti clade perenne decus. * * * * * Page 191 The artist’s cunning has succeeded in expressing a difference of age in their faces, though a likeness to either parent is apparent in the features of both the sons; while, to ensure a further dissimilarity in that resemblance, he has varied the tenderness that either countenance expresses. Faithful were ye to Nature’s law, bright example of divine justice, model for youth, fond hope of age! Wealth ye despised, and dashed into the flames to rescue nought save your venerable parents. Not undeservedly, methinks, did such piety quench the fires in Enceladus’ jaws. Vulcan himself checked the flow of molten lava from Etna that it should not harm those patterns of filial duty. The very elements were influenced thereby: father air and mother earth did their best to lighten the burden.