Did ever the single theme of woman’s worth more fitly stir other bards? The Greeks sing of Alcestis, that chaste Thessalian, who, to win her husband from death, freely offered herself in his stead, allowing him to enjoy her own span of life. The Latin Muse takes prophetic Tanaquil[96] for her theme or Cloelia breasting Tiber’s waves in her return to Rome or the maiden Claudia dragging with her own hair the ship which bore Cybele, what time it stuck fast in that same stream. Does old Homer’s soaring soul essay aught else throughout his song? Dangers from Charybdis’ gulf, from Scylla’s dogs, from Circe’s cup, the escape of Ulysses from the greed of Antiphate, the passage of the ship between the rocks where sat the Sirens to whose alluring voices the rowers were deaf, the blinding of Cyclops, the desertion of Calypso--all these do but redound to the glory of Penelope, and the whole scene is set to display her chastity alone. Toils by land and sea, ten years of war, ten years of wandering, all do but illustrate the fidelity of a wife. Let Claudia rejoice in the goddess’ witness and with heaven’s help vindicate her claim to chastity, freeing at the same moment the vessel’s stern and her own character from shame. Let Penelope by artful delays deceive the madness of the suitors and, ever faithful to Ulysses, delude their solicitations, ever winding up again by night the warp of her day-spun web. Yet shall not one of these heroines dare to vie with Serena. [96] Tanaquil, sister of the elder Tarquin, wife of the Etruscan Lucumo; for her prophetic powers see Livy i. 34. 8. Cloelia, a hostage with Porsenna, swam back to Rome (Livy ii. 13. 6). When the image of Cybele was brought to Rome (204 B.C.) and the boat stuck in a shallow at the Tiber’s mouth it was said that only a chaste woman could move it. Claudia, who had been accused of adultery, took hold of the rope and towed the vessel to shore. * * * * * Page 242 Quodsi nobilitas cunctis exordia pandit laudibus atque omnes redeunt in semina causae, 35 quis venerabilior sanguis, quae maior origo quam regalis erit? non hoc privata dedere limina nec tantum poterat contingere nomen angustis laribus; patruo te principe celsam bellipotens inlustrat avus, qui signa Britanno 40 intulit Oceano Gaetulaque reppulit arma. claram Scipiadum taceat Cornelia gentem seque minus iactet Libycis dotata trophaeis. cardine tu gemino laurus praetendis avitas: inde Caledoniis, Australibus inde parentum 45 cingeris exuviis. necdum moderamina mundi sumpserat illa domus, cum te Lucina beatis adderet astrorum radiis, o maxima rerum gloria: post genitam didicit regnare Serenam.