The women of Rome never tire of gazing at those blooming cheeks, those crowned locks, those limbs clothed in the consul’s jasper-studded robes, those mighty shoulders, and that neck, beauteous as Bacchus’ own, with its necklace of Red Sea emeralds. Many an innocent maid, while simple modesty blushes in her cheek, would bend her gaze o’er all and inquire of her aged nurse the meaning of the dragons on the colours. “Do they,” she would ask, “but wave in the air or is theirs a veritable hiss, uttered as they are about to seize an enemy in their jaws?” When she sees the mail-clad knights and brazen-armoured horses she would fain know whence that iron race of men is sprung and what land it is gives birth to steeds of bronze. “Has the god of Lemnos,” * * * * * Page 116 indidit hinnitum ferro simulacraque belli viva dedit?” gaudet metuens et pollice monstrat. quod picturatas galeae Iunonia cristas 575 ornet avis vel quod rigidos vibrata per armos rubra sub aurato crispentur serica dorso. Tunc tibi magnorum mercem Fortuna laborum persolvit, Stilicho, curru cum vectus eodem urbe triumphantem generum florente iuventa 580 conspiceres illumque diem sub corde referres, quo tibi confusa dubiis formidine rebus infantem genitor moriens commisit alendum. virtutes variae fructus sensere receptos; depositum servasse, fides; constantia, parvum 585 praefecisse orbi; pietas, fovisse propinquum. hic est ille puer, qui nunc ad rostra Quirites evocat et solio fultus genitoris eburno gestarum patribus causas ex ordine rerum eventusque refert veterumque exempla secutus 590 digerit imperii sub iudice facta senatu. nil cumulat verbis quae nil fiducia celat; fucati sermonis opem mens conscia laudis abnuit. agnoscunt proceres; habituque Gabino principis et ducibus circumstipata togatis 595 iure paludatae iam curia militat aulae. adfuit ipsa suis ales Victoria templis Romanae tutela togae: quae divite penna patricii reverenda fovet sacraria coetus * * * * * Page 117 she would ask, “bestowed on metal the power to neigh, and forged living statues for the fight?” Joy and fear fill her mind; she points with her finger how Juno’s bird decks the gay crests upon their helmets, or how, beneath the golden armour on their horses’ backs, the red silk waves and ripples over the strong shoulders.