Oh what mysterious power over the people does the Empire’s guardian-genius bring! What majesty bows to majesty as the prince, clad in imperial scarlet, returns the salutations of the people that crowd the tiers of the Circus! The shouts of the adoring populace rising from that immense circle thunder to the sky, while the echoes of Rome’s seven hills repeat as with one voice the name of Honorius. Nor does the Circus display only horse-races; its floor, whereon chariots were wont to drive, is surrounded by a palisade, and in this new amphitheatre, so far, so different, from their native valleys, Libyan lions shed their blood. This is the scene, too, of a military display; here we often see armed bands advancing and retiring in mazèd movements that are nevertheless executed according to a fixed plan; we watch them wheel in perfect order, extend with disciplined precision, affording us the pleasing spectacle of mimic warfare. The leader cracks his whip and a thousand bodies execute in unison * * * * * Page 120 mutatos edunt pariter tot pectora motus in latus adlisis clipeis aut rursus in altum vibratis; grave parma sonat, mucronis acutum murmur, et umbonum pulsu modulante resultans ferreus alterno concentus clauditur ense. 630 una omnis summissa phalanx tantaeque salutant te, princeps, galeae. partitis inde catervis in varios docto discurritur ordine gyros, quos neque semiviri Gortynia tecta iuvenci flumina nec crebro vincant Maeandria flexu. 635 discreto revoluta gradu torquentur in orbes agmina, perpetuisque inmoto cardine claustris Ianus bella premens laeta sub imagine pugnae armorum innocuos paci largitur honores. Iamque novum fastis aperit felicibus annum 640 ore coronatus gemino; iam Thybris in uno et Bruti cernit trabeas et sceptra Quirini. consule laetatur post plurima saecula viso Pallanteus apex; agnoscunt rostra curules auditas quondam proavis, desuetaque cingit 645 regius auratis fora fascibus Ulpia lictor, et sextas Getica praevelans fronde secures colla triumphati proculcat Honorius Histri. exeat in populos cunctis inlustrior annus, natus fonte suo, quem non aliena per arva 650 induit hospes honos, cuius cunabula fovit curia, quem primi tandem videre Quirites, quem domitis auspex peperit Victoria bellis! * * * * * Page 121