Behold the docile children of fast-flowing Rhone that at their master’s word come together and at that word disperse. See how they go this way or that according to the different cries he utters, and, guided only by his voice, take the path he would have them take. Though each unguided by the rein takes his own course and no collar presses upon their necks they obey as though harnessed and, insensible to fatigue, hear and follow the directions shouted by their barbarous master. Though far away from their owner they nevertheless respect his commands, obeying the word of the muleteer as it were a bridle. It is his voice that even at a distance gathers them together when scattered or scatters them when gathered together; this that checks their haste or quickens their dragging steps. Does he shout “left,” they turn them to the left: does he alter his cry to “right,” to the right they go. Slaves, yet without bonds, free, but without licence, they go unbridled but obedient. Covered with tawny pelts they haul along the rumbling carts, each cheerfully doing his fair share. Dost thou wonder that Orpheus tamed the wild beasts with his song when the words of a Gaul can guide these swift-footed mules? XIX. (XLIII.) _Letter to Gennadius,[70] ex-Proconsul._ Glory of all Italy, who dwellest on the pleasant banks of Rubicon, ornament of the Roman bar [70] Gennadius was by birth a Syrian (Synesius, _Ep._ 30); prefect of Egypt in 396 (_Cod. Theod._ xiv. 27. 1). He seems to have lived at Ravenna (_Rubiconis incola_). Birt (praef. p. xviii) thinks that line 2 refers to Symmachus, Gennadius’ contemporary, not to Cicero. * * * * * Page 194 Graiorum populis et nostro cognite Nilo (utraque gens fasces horret amatque tuos): carmina ieiunas poscis solantia fauces? 5 testor amicitiam nulla fuisse domi. nam mihi mox nidum pennis confisa relinquunt et lare contempto non reditura volant. XX. (LII.) _De sene Veronensi qui Suburbium numquam egressus est._ Felix, qui propriis aevum transegit in arvis, ipsa domus puerum quem videt, ipsa senem; qui baculo nitens in qua reptavit harena unius numerat saecula longa casae. illum non vario traxit fortuna tumultu, 5 nec bibit ignotas mobilis hospes aquas. non freta mercator tremuit, non classica miles, non rauci lites pertulit ille fori. indocilis rerum, vicinae nescius urbis adspectu fruitur liberiore poli. 10 frugibus alternis, non consule computat annum: autumnum pomis, ver sibi flore notat. idem condit ager soles idemque reducit, metiturque suo rusticus orbe diem, ingentem meminit parvo qui germine quercum 15 aequaevumque videt consenuisse nemus, * * * * *