He errs who thinks that submission to a noble prince is slavery; never does liberty show more fair than beneath a good king. Those he himself appoints to rule he in turn brings before the judgement-seat of people and senate, and gladly yields whether they claim reward for merit or seek for punishment. Now the purple lays aside its pride and disdains not to have judgement passed upon itself. Such were the principles of rule taught by Stilicho to his son-in-law, Honorius; ’twas thus he guided his youth with the reins of prudence, and with precepts such as these directed his tender years, a truer father to the emperor than Theodosius, his stay in war, his adviser in peace. Thanks to him dishonour is banished and our age blossoms with Rome’s ancient virtues; thanks to him power, long degraded and all but transferred,[14] no longer, forgetful [14] _i.e._ (apparently) to Constantinople. Throughout this confused passage Claudian seems to be labouring the point that now the capital of the West (Rome) is restored to an equal importance with that of the East (Constantinople). * * * * * Page 52 non oblita sui servilibus exulat arvis, in proprium sed ducta larem victricia reddit fata solo fruiturque iterum, quibus haeserat olim, auspiciis capitique errantia membra reponit. Proxime dis consul, tantae qui prospicis urbi, 130 qua nihil in terris complectitur altius aether, cuius nec spatium visus nec corda decorem nec laudem vox ulla capit; quae luce metalli aemula vicinis fastigia conserit astris; quae septem scopulis zonas imitatur Olympi; 135 armorum legumque parens quae fundit in omnes imperium primique dedit cunabula iuris. haec est exiguis quae finibus orta tetendit in geminos axes parvaque a sede profecta dispersit cum sole manus. haec obvia fatis 140 innumeras uno gereret cum tempore pugnas, Hispanas caperet, Siculas obsideret urbes et Gallum terris prosterneret, aequore Poenum, numquam succubuit damnis et territa nullo vulnere post Cannas maior Trebiamque fremebat 145 et, cum iam premerent flammae murumque feriret hostis, in extremos aciem mittebat Hiberos nec stetit Oceano remisque ingressa profundum vincendos alio quaesivit in orbe Britannos. haec est in gremium victos quae sola recepit 150 humanumque genus communi nomine fovit matris, non dominae ritu, civesque vocavit quos domuit nexuque pio longinqua revinxit. * * * * * Page 53 of itself, is exiled in lands of servitude but, returned to its rightful home, restores to Italy its victorious destiny, enjoys the promised auspices of its foundation and gives back its scattered limbs to the head of the empire.