with him. Neighbouring Verona is, for him, more distant than sun-scorched India; Benacus he accounts as the Red Sea. But his strength is unimpaired and the third generation see in him a sturdy, stout-armed grandsire. Let who will be a wanderer and explore farthest Spain: such may have more of a journey; he of Verona has more of a life.[72] XXI. (LXXX.) _Of Theodore and Hadrian._[73] Manlius Theodorus sleeps night and day; the sleepless Egyptian steals alike from gods and men. Peoples of Italy, be this your one prayer--that Manlius keep awake and the Egyptian sleep. XXII. (XXXIX.) _Apology to Hadrian._ Must the violence of thine anger last so long? Are my tears never to cease to flow? Dost thou thus suddenly turn thy favour to hatred? Where, then, is that leniency that knows not to harm any, that loving-kindness? Shall envy have such licence? Has the clamour of calumny so prevailed? What though rash wrath, though heedless youth tempted me, though pride urged, though passion led me astray, yet shouldst _thou_ be above meeting me with like weapons. Human murmurs never touch the gods nor do the loose railings of man disturb the peace of heaven. My punishment has [72] Claudian plays on the words _vitae_ and _viae_. [73] For M. see xvi. and note (and Introduction, p. xv). H. was _comes sacrarum largitionum_ in the East in 395, _magister officiorum_ in 397, praetorian prefect of Italy 401. This epigram was probably written in 396: the apology (next poem) perhaps the same year. * * * * * Page 198 excessit iam poena modum. concede iacenti. en adsum; veniam confessus crimina posco. Manibus Hectoreis atrox ignovit Achilles. ultrices Furias matris placavit Orestes. reddidit Alcides Priamo, quas ceperat, arces. 15 Pellaeum iuvenem regum flexere ruinae: Darium famulis manibus doluisse peremptum fertur et ingenti solatus fata sepulchro; tradita captivo spatiosior India Poro. conditor hic patriae; sic hostibus ille pepercit; 20 hunc virtus tua digna sequi. quemcumque deorum laesimus, insultet iugulo pascatque furorem. Gratia defluxit, sequitur feralis egestas; desolata domus, caris spoliamur amicis: hunc tormenta necant, hic undique truditur exul. 25 quid superest damnis? quae saeva pericula restant?