This is the city whom thou, Stilicho, and heaven guard, her thou protectest, mother of kings and generals, mother, above all, of thee. Here Eucherius first beheld the light, here the queen his mother showed the babe to his imperial grandsire who rejoiced to lift a grandson upon his knee and to let him crawl upon his purple robes. Rome had foreknowledge of his destined glory and was glad, for so dear a pledge would keep thee ever her faithful citizen. But think not this people ungrateful nor such as [17] _i.e._ Aesculapius. “Paeonian” from the Greek Παιών, the Healer. * * * * * Page 56 nesciat, hunc credas populum. si volvere priscos annales libeat: quotiens hic proelia sumpsit pro sociis! quotiens dono concessit amicis 185 regibus Ausonio quaesitas sanguine terras! publica sed numquam tanto se gratia fudit adsensu: quis enim princeps non omnibus egit obsequiis dominum sese patremque vocari, quod tibi continuis resonant convexa diebus? 190 macte novis consul titulis! Mavortia plebes te dominum Bruto non indignante fatetur et, quod adhuc nullo potuit terrore coacta libertas Romana pati, Stilichonis amori detulit. exultant avidi, quocumque decorus 195 conspiciare loco, nomenque ad sidera tollunt nec vaga dilecto satiantur lumina vultu: seu circum trabeis fulgentibus aureus intres, seu celebres ludos, solio seu fultus eburno cingas iure forum, denso seu turbine vulgi 200 circumfusa tuae conscendant rostra secures. Quae vero procerum voces, quam certa fuere gaudia, cum totis exurgens ardua pennis ipsa duci sacras Victoria panderet aedes! o palma viridi gaudens et amica tropaeis 205 custos imperii virgo, quae sola mederis vulneribus nullumque doces sentire laborem, seu tibi Dictaeae placuerunt astra Coronae seu magis aestivo sedes vicina Leoni, seu sceptrum sublime Iovis seu Palladis ambis 210 aegida, seu fessi mulces suspiria Martis, adsis perpetuum Latio votisque senatus adnue, diva, tui. Stilicho tua saepius ornet * * * * * Page 57