Of a surety the citadel of Rome has never welcomed home any of her generals with greater magnificence, no, not even Fabricius when he returned after the surrender of Pyrrhus, nor Aemilius Paulus, conqueror of Pella’s king, when he ascended the Capitol in his chariot. No such triumph as this threw open the gates of Rome to Marius after his conquest of Numidia or to Pompey after his victories in the East. Each of these suffered from a rival faction that murmured uneasily against their success, and envy pursued their actions, no matter how noble, with spiteful stings. Stilicho alone was raised above the range of envy and the measure of mankind. For who could be jealous of the star’s eternity, of Jove’s ancient rule in heaven, of Phoebu’s omniscience[13]? There are some merits so transcendent that furious envy’s bounds cannot contain them. Moreover, those other heroes owed a divided allegiance: one gained the favour of the nobles, but was hated of the people, one, supported by the suffrage of the commons, enjoyed but faintly the favour of the [13] Phoebus is said to “know everything” because, as the sun, he is the all-beholding (πανόπτης). * * * * * Page 46 omnis in hoc uno variis discordia cessit ordinibus; laetatur eques plauditque senator votaque patricio certant plebeia favori. 50 O felix servata vocat quem Roma parentem! o mundi communis amor, cui militat omnis Gallia, quem regum thalamis Hispania nectit, cuius et adventum crebris petiere Quirites vocibus et genero meruit praestante senatus! 55 non sic virginibus flores, non frugibus imbres, prospera non fessis optantur flamina nautis, ut tuus adspectus populo. quae numine tanto litora fatidicas attollunt Delia laurus, venturi quotiens adfulsit Apollinis arcus? 60 quae sic aurifero Pactoli fonte tumescit Lydia, cum domitis adparuit Euhius Indis? nonne vides et plebe vias et tecta latere matribus? his, Stilicho, cunctis inopina reluxit te victore salus! septem circumspice montes, 65 qui solis radios auri fulgore lacessunt, indutosque arcus spoliis aequataque templa nubibus et quidquid tanti struxere triumphi. quantum profueris, quantam servaveris urbem, attonitis metire oculis. haec fabula certe 70 cuncta forent, si Poenus adhuc incumberet Austro. Mos erat in veterum castris, ut tempora quercu velaret, validis fuso qui viribus hoste casurum potuit morti subducere civem. * * * * * Page 47 senate. In Stilicho’s case alone class rivalry has not raised its head: the knights welcome him with joy, the senate with enthusiasm, while the people’s prayers rival the goodwill of the nobles.