Intacti cum claustra freti, coëuntibus aequor armatum scopulis, audax inrumperet Argo Aeetam Colchosque petens, propiore periclo omnibus attonitis, solus post numina Tiphys incolumem tenui damno servasse carinam 5 fertur et ancipitem montis vitasse ruinam deceptoque vagae concursu rupis in altum victricem duxisse ratem; stupuere superbae arte viri domitae Symplegades et nova passae iura soli cunctis faciles iam puppibus haerent, 10 ut vinci didicere semel. quodsi ardua Tiphyn navis ob innocuae meritum sic gloria vexit, quae tibi pro tanti pulso discrimine regni sufficient laudes, Stilicho? licet omnia vates in maius celebrata ferant ipsamque secandis 15 Argois trabibus iactent sudasse Minervam nec nemoris muti iunxisse carentia sensu robora, sed caeso Tomari Iovis augure luco arbore praesaga tabulas animasse loquaces. plurima sed quamvis variis miracula monstris 20 ingeminent, teneras victuri carmine mentes, * * * * * Page 127 (XXVI.) When the intrepid Argo, passing between the clashing rocks that guarded its entrance, burst through the portals of the unfurrowed sea making for Colchis where Aeëtes ruled, it is said that, when all were panic-stricken by the nearing danger, Tiphys alone--with heaven’s help--kept safe the almost uninjured bark. ’Twas thanks to him that the Argo escaped the cliffs threatening ruin and came out victorious into the open sea, cunningly eluding the meeting shock of the floating rocks. Amazed were the proud Symplegades thus subdued by the hero’s skill, and, submitting to the novel laws of the fixed earth, offer unmoved an easy passage to all ships since once they have learned defeat. But if the merit of saving a single vessel from ruin won, and rightly won, for Tiphys such meed of honour, what praises shall suffice for thee, Stilicho, who hast freed so great an empire from destruction? Poets may exaggerate the story; they may boast that Minerva toiled with her own hands to hew the Argo’s beams, and that she fitted together no senseless timber from a dumb forest, but felled the augural grove of Tomarian[45] Jove and with those prophetic trees quickened its planks to speech. But though they burden their recital with the story of countless prodigies to captivate the mind of the unlettered [45] A reference to the “talking oaks” of Dodona, Tomarus (or Tmarus) being a mountain in Epirus near Dodona. * * * * * Page 128