But heaven’s judgement is not a whit behind man’s favour. The gods unite for thine especial protection and deliver thine enemy into thy hands upon the sea shore or hinder his flight by the ocean’s immense barrier or make him turn his arms madly against himself; and so, a second Pentheus, he is hewn in * * * * * Page 18 bacchati laniant Pentheo corpora ritu; insidias retegunt et in ipsa cubilia fraudum ducunt ceu tenera venantem nare Molossi. 215 ominibus ventura notant aut alite monstrant aut monitos certa dignantur imagine somnos. Pro quibus innumerae trabearum insignia terrae certatim petiere tibi. poscentibus ipse restiteras et mens, aliorum prona favori, 220 iudex dura sui, facibus succensa pudoris tarda verecundis excusat praemia causis. ergo avidae tantosque novi spe consulis annos elusae dominae pergunt ad limina Romae, si minus adnuerit precibus, vel cogere certae 225 cunctantem votoque moras auferre paratae. conveniunt ad tecta deae, quae candida lucent monte Palatino. glaucis tum prima Minervae nexa comam foliis fulvaque intexta micantem veste Tagum tales profert Hispania voces: 230 “Cuncta mihi semper Stilicho, quaecumque poposci, concessit tantumque suos invidit honores. Augusti potuit soceri contemnere fasces: iam negat et genero. si non ut ductor ab orbe quem regit, accipiat saltem cognatus ab aula. 235 exiguumne putat, quod sic amplexus Hiberam progeniem nostros inmoto iure nepotes sustinet, ut patrium commendet purpura Baetim? quod pulchro Mariae fecundat germine regnum? * * * * * Page 19 pieces by his own soldier’s frenzied blades. The gods discover for thee plots against thy life and lead thee to the very lair of treason, even as Molossan hounds guide the huntsman with their subtle scent. They show forth the future by omens or by birds or they deign to give thee clear warning in dreams.