But love languishes not in idleness and sloth; as far as it could a woman’s watchful care seconds his deeds of glory. While he warred with foreign nations thou keepest guard lest mad envy or burning calumny should dare aught against him while far away, and lest, when war was ended abroad, treachery should lie secretly in wait to injure him * * * * * Page 256 calliditas nocitura domi. tu sedula quondam Rufino meditante nefas, cum quaereret artes in ducis exitium coniuratosque foveret contra pila Getas, motus rimata latentes 235 mandatis tremebunda virum scriptisque monebas. XXXI. (XL.) _Epistula ad Serenam._ Orphea cum primae sociarent numina taedae ruraque compleret Thracia festus Hymen, certavere ferae picturataeque volucres, dona suo vati quae potiora darent, quippe antri memores, cautes ubi saepe sonorae 5 praebuerant dulci mira theatra lyrae. Caucasio crystalla ferunt de vertice lynces, grypes Hyperborei pondera fulva soli, furatae Veneris prato per inane columbae florea conexis serta tulere rosis, 10 fractaque nobilium ramis electra sororum cycnus oloriferi vexit ab amne Padi, et Nilo Pygmaea grues post bella remenso ore legunt Rubri germina cara maris. venit et extremo Phoenix longaevus ab Euro 15 adportans unco cinnama rara pede. nulla avium pecudumque fuit, quae ferre negaret vectigal meritae conubiale lyrae. Tunc opibus totoque Heliconis sedula regno ornabat propriam Calliopea nurum. 20 * * * * * Page 257 at home. Thou didst indeed once show thy vigilance what time Rufinus, hatching his plots, sought means to destroy his master by traitorously stirring up the Getae against Rome, for thou didst search out his foul conspiracy and in fear for thy husband’s safety, didst send him warning by letters and messages. XXXI. (XL.) _Letter to Serena._