Blessed mortal, whom the Rome that thou hast saved calls her father; darling of the world to whose banner flocks the whole of Gaul, whom Spain connects by marriage with the imperial house, for whose advent the citizens cried with ceaseless prayer, and whose presence the senate owed to thine illustrious son-in-law. Not such a girl’s delight in flowers, not such the desire of the crops for rain, or of weary sailors for a prosperous breeze as is the longing of thy people for the sight of thee. Under no such influence as this do the prophetic laurels wave on Delo’s coast when the brightness of Apollo’s bow announces the deity’s approach. Never did Pactolus’ golden wave so swell in pride when Bacchus from conquered Ind visited his banks. Markest thou not how the roads cannot be seen for the people, the roofs for the matrons? Thanks to thy victories, Stilicho, salvation has dawned on all beyond their hopes. Look round on Rome’s seven hills whose sheen of gold rivals the very sun’s rays; see the arches decked with spoil, the temples towering to the sky, and all the buildings that celebrate this signal triumph. Let thine astonished glance measure the magnitude of the city thou hast saved and the immensity of thy services. All this would live but in the memory were the African still master of the south. It was the custom in campaigns of olden time to crown with oak the brow of him who by his valour had put the enemy to flight and succeeded in rescuing a fellow-citizen from imminent death. * * * * * Page 48 at tibi quae poterit pro tantis civica reddi 75 moenibus? aut quantae pensabunt facta coronae? nec solam populi vitam debere fatetur armis Roma tuis; sed, quo iucundior esset lucis honoratae fructus, venerabile famae pondus et amissas vires et regna recepit. 80 iam non praetumidi supplex Orientis ademptam legatis poscit Libyam famulosve precatur (dictu turpe) suos: sed robore freta Gabino te duce Romana tandem se vindicat ira. ipsa iubet signis bellaturoque togatus 85 imperat et spectant aquilae decreta senatus. ipsa tibi trabeas ultro dedit, ipsa curulem obtulit ultori fastosque ornare coëgit. Nil perdit decoris prisci nec libera quaerit saecula, cum donet fasces, cum proelia mandet; 90 seque etiam crevisse videt. quis Gallica rura, quis meminit Latio Senonum servisse ligones? aut quibus exemplis fecunda Thybris ab Arcto vexit Lingonico sudatas vomere messes? illa seges non auxilium modo praebuit urbi, 95 sed fuit indicio, quantum tibi, Roma, liceret: admonuit dominae gentes instarque tropaei rettulit ignotum gelidis vectigal ab oris. Hoc quoque maiestas augescit plena Quirini, * * * * * Page 49