with a mother’s pride dared to invite to her son’s wedding the queen of starry heaven herself. The queen of the gods spurned not her request either out of respect for Calliopea herself or because she was drawn by a just affection for the pious poet who had so often in her honour chanted his songs before her altars, hymning Juno’s godhead with his sweet voice and telling of the battles of her lord the Thunderer waged on the plains of Phlegra, and of the menace of Enceladus and the Titans there broken. Straightway, counting the marriage--night worthy of her presence, she brought heavenly gifts to deck the bridal, gifts such as stoop not to adorn mortals, gifts that the gods alone may possess. But as Juno showed herself gracious to Thracian Orpheus, so wilt thou, Serena, be favourable to my prayers. The stars, her slaves, obey the nod of her head; thee land and sea, subdued beneath thy feet, obey. I did not, as other suitors use, promise at my courtship fields where graze unnumbered flocks nor hills covered with countless vines, nor rich olive-trees waving in the breeze their grey foliage, nor harvests reaped by a thousand scythes, nor a lofty palace with golden pillars. Enough was the mandate of a goddess; thy letter, Serena, stands me in stead of flocks, of harvests, of palace. The shadow of thy name has won over her parents and an imperial prayer concealed my poverty. When Serena writes, what with such words could not the empire’s spirit or duteous love accomplish?[107] Would heaven had allowed me to solemnize the longed-for day in the light of thy presence, in thy [107] Claudian means that Serena’s imperial position and his own respect therefor ensure his obedience. Serena had written (_littera_, l. 43) urging Claudian to marry, and the poet uses the letter to urge his suit (ll. 37-46). * * * * * Page 260 optatum celebrare diem! me iungeret auspex purpura, me sancto cingeret aula choro. et mihi quam scriptis desponderat ante puellam, coniugiis eadem pronuba dextra daret. nunc medium quoniam votis maioribus aequor 55 invidet et Libycae dissidet ora plagae, saltem absens, regina, fave reditusque secundos adnue sidereo laeta supercilio. terrarum tu pande vias, tu mitibus Euris aequora pacari prosperiora iube, 60 ut tibi Pierides doctumque fluens Aganippe debita servato vota cliente canant. XXXII. (XCV.) _De salvatore._