Glorious in such guise the god looked forth and saw the Getae advancing with bowed necks. Then he spake: “What, Alaric, hast thou then changed thy plans? Why hastenest thou back? Art wearied so soon of the coasts of Italy? Feedest thou not thy horses on Tiber’s grassy bank as thou thoughtest to do? Drivest not the plough on Etruria’s hills? Fit object of all the punishments of Hell, thinkest thou to attack the city of the gods with a Giant’s rage? If none other, was not my Phaëthon a warning to thee, Phaëthon fall’n from heaven to quench his flames in my waters, what time he [29] The poplar. [30] Eridanus was a mythical river of the far West, generally identified with the Latin Padus (mod. Po). Phaëthon is said to have fallen into it when he attempted to drive the horses of his father, the sun. After this Eridanus, the river god, became a constellation--hence Eridanus is said to “wet” the southern sky. * * * * * Page 88 flectere terrenis meditatur frena lacertis mortalique diem sperat diffundere vultu? 190 crede mihi, simili bacchatur crimine, quisquis adspirat Romae spoliis aut Solis habenis.” Sic fatus Ligures Venetosque erectior amnes magna voce ciet. frondentibus umida ripis colla levant: pulcher Ticinus et Addua visu 195 caerulus et velox Athesis tardusque meatu Mincius inque novem consurgens ora Timavus. insultant omnes profugo pacataque laetum invitant ad prata pecus; iam Pana Lycaeum, iam Dryadas revocant et rustica numina Faunos. 200 Tu quoque non parvum Getico, Verona, triumpho adiungis cumulum, nec plus Pollentia rebus contulit Ausoniis aut moenia vindicis Hastae. hic, rursus dum pacta movet damnisque coactus extremo mutare parat praesentia casu, 205 nil sibi periurum sensit prodesse furorem converti nec fata loco, multisque suorum diras pavit aves, inimicaque corpora volvens Ionios Athesis mutavit sanguine fluctus. Oblatum Stilicho violato foedere Martem 210 omnibus adripuit votis, ubi Roma periclo iam procul et belli medio Padus arbiter ibat. iamque opportunam motu strepuisse rebelli gaudet perfidiam praebensque exempla labori sustinet accensos aestivo pulvere soles. 215 ipse manu metuendus adest inopinaque cunctis * * * * * Page 89 sought with mortal hand to hold the fiery reins of the sky and hoped to spread day’s brilliance from a mortal countenance? ’Tis the same mad crime, I tell thee, whosoever aspires to spoil Rome or drive the sun’s chariot.”