“Alaric had laid waste Greece and the coasts of Thrace and in the mad pride of his many victories and the arrogance inspired by his crossing of the Alps had laid siege to the trembling cities of Liguria with winter as his ally--a season that favours a race accustomed to inclement skies; he then threatened to break down my defences and to lay strait siege to me also, bolstering up his hopes with the thought that, at the terror of his name and in fear of having none to aid me, I should come to terms with him on any conditions he chose. But I felt no fear, for I relied on the advance of Stilicho, and was mindful, O goddess, of those thy leaders who, even in face of death, never through base love of life made terms at the cost of honour. It was night; where’er I looked I saw the watchfires of the enemy shining like stars. The bugle had already summoned the soldiers to the first watch when glorious Stilicho arrived from the frozen north. But the enemy held the road between my father-in-law and myself, and the bridge whose obstructing piers churn turbid Addua to yet fuller foam. What was Stilicho to do? Halt? My danger forbade the least delay. Break through the enemy’s line? His force was too small. In hastening to my aid he had left behind him many auxiliaries and legionary troops. Placed in this dilemma he * * * * * Page 108 ancipiti, longum socias tardumque putavit expectasse manus et nostra pericula tendit 465 posthabitis pulsare suis mediumque per hostem flammatus virtute pia propriaeque salutis inmemor et stricto prosternens obvia ferro barbara fulmineo secuit tentoria cursu. “Nunc mihi Tydiden attollant carmina vatum, 470 quod iuncto fidens Ithaco patefacta Dolonis indicio dapibusque simul religataque somno Thracia sopiti penetraverit agmina Rhesi Graiaque rettulerit captos ad castra iugales, quorum, si qua fides augentibus omnia Musis, 475 impetus excessit Zephyros candorque pruinas. ecce virum, taciti nulla qui fraude soporis ense palam sibi pandit iter remeatque cruentus et Diomedeis tantum praeclarior ausis, quantum lux tenebris manifestaque proelia furtis! 480 adde quod et ripis steterat munitior hostis et cui nec vigilem fas est componere Rhesum: Thrax erat, hic Thracum domitor. non tela retardant, obice non haesit fluvii. sic ille minacem Tyrrhenam labente manum pro ponte repellens 485 traiecit clipeo Thybrim, quo texerat urbem, Tarquinio mirante Cocles mediisque superbus Porsennam respexit aquis. celer Addua nostro sulcatus socero: sed, cum transnaret, Etruscis ille dabat tergum, Geticis hic pectora bellis. 490 * * * * * Page 109