While yet she entreated the emperor reassured her with these words: “Never shalt thou complain that I have been deaf to thine entreaties; I could not thwart thee, goddess, who art the mother of our laws. Bring no railing accusation against thy sons. Did I disregard my country’s call after the African war? Nay, I sent thee Stilicho to sit in the curule chair to take my place, a consul instead of an emperor, a father- instead of a son-in-law. In him thy * * * * * Page 106 me quoque; sic credit pietas non sanguine solo, sed claris potius factis experta parentem. 435 cuncta quidem centum nequeam perstringere linguis, quae pro me mundoque gerit; sed ab omnibus unum, si fama necdum patuit, te, Roma, docebo subiectum nostris oculis et cuius agendi spectator vel causa fui. 440 “Populator Achivae Bistoniaeque plagae, crebris successibus amens et ruptas animis spirans inmanibus Alpes iam Ligurum trepidis admoverat agmina muris tutior auxilio brumae (quo gentibus illis sidere consueti favet inclementia caeli) 445 meque minabatur calcato obsidere vallo spem vano terrore fovens, si forte, remotis praesidiis, urgente metu, qua vellet obirem condicione fidem; nec me timor impulit ullus et duce venturo fretum memoremque tuorum, 450 Roma, ducum, quibus haud umquam vel morte parata foedus lucis amor pepigit dispendia famae. nox erat et late stellarum more videbam barbaricos ardere focos; iam classica primos excierant vigiles, gelida cum pulcher ab Arcto 455 adventat Stilicho. medius sed clauserat hostis inter me socerumque viam pontemque tenebat, Addua quo scissas spumosior incitat undas. quid faceret? differret iter? discrimina nullas nostra dabant adeunda moras. perrumperet agmen? sed paucis comitatus erat; nam plurima retro, 461 dum nobis properat succurrere, liquerat arma extera vel nostras acies. hoc ille locatus * * * * * Page 107 citizens saw also myself; so my love believes, for it has found that not blood alone but rather glorious deeds can show a parent. Had I a hundred tongues I could not touch on all the benefits he has bestowed upon me and upon the empire; one deed alone of them all will I recount to thee, goddess, if so be it is as yet unknown to thee, a deed of which I was the spectator or the cause.