Non semper clipei metuendum gentibus orbem dilecto studiosa parens fabricabat Achilli, Lemnia nec semper supplex ardentis adibat antra dei nato galeam factura comantem, sed placidos etiam cinctus et mitia pacis 5 ornamenta dabat, bello quibus ille peracto conspicuus reges inter fulgeret Achivos. ipsa manu chlamydes ostro texebat et auro, frenaque, quae volucrem Xanthum Baliumque decerent, aequore quaesitis onerabat sedula gemmis. 10 At tibi diversis, princeps altissime, certant obsequiis soceri. Stilicho Mavortia confert munera, barbaricas strages Rhenique triumphos. reginae contenta modum servare Serena in tua sollicitas urget velamina telas. 15 * * * * * Page 273 enfeebling Mercury; thy shameful disease and premature decay to lady Moon and lady Venus; Saturn has robbed thee of thy property. But this one fact is beyond me:--what causes thy filthy ways? XLV. (LV.) _The Shell._ Nymph, come from Helicon and pour herein thy limpid waters; fill all the vast extent of this wondrous shell. Surely the water that has bathed the face of the poetess Serena will have more virtue than all the streams of Castalia. XLVI. (LXXII.) _On a Cloak and a Bridle._ His loving mother did not always fashion for her dear son Achilles those round shields that did affright the world; she did not constantly approach the fiery caverns of the god of Lemnos, begging a plumèd helmet for her son. She gave him, besides these, garments of peace and unwarlike adornments wherewith, after the toils of war, he might shine conspicuous among the chiefs of the Achaeans. With her own hand she wove him cloaks of purple and gold and with patient care studded with ocean gems bridles to adorn his fleet steeds, Xanthus and Balius. On thee, most puissant emperor, thy wife’s parents bestow diverse presents. Stilicho gives thee warlike gifts--slaughter of barbarians and victories on the Rhine; Serena, content to do such work as befits a queen, plies her busy loom to weave thee raiment. * * * * * Page 274 XLVII. (LXXIII.) _De equo dono dato._