And all this in so short a time. Full five years did Italy mourn beneath the scattered fires of Pyrrhus, for well-nigh eighteen years did the African steeds of the Carthaginians tread down and devastate our harvests, and it was a second generation, born after the outbreak of the war, that, exacting a tardy vengeance for the first, with difficulty drove an aged Hannibal back to his own country. Stilicho acted more quickly: he saw to it that the winter of our distress should last but one winter[49] but that spring in its earliest months should bring back fair weather alike to heaven and to fatherland. Why should I make mention of the wars waged all those weary years against Hannibal and Pyrrhus when that vile gladiator Spartacus, ravaging all the countryside with fire and sword, oft engaged the consuls in open war and, driving out its feeble masters [49] The winter of 401-402. * * * * * Page 138 fuderit imbelles aquilas servilibus armis? nos terrorum expers et luxu mollior aetas 160 deficimus queruli, si bos abductus aratro, si libata seges. non hanc ergastula nobis inmisere manum nec coniurantis harenae turba fuit; qualem Stilicho deiecerit hostem, Thraces et Haemonii poterunt Moesique fateri. 165 Frigida ter decies nudatum frondibus Haemum tendit hiems vestire gelu totiensque solutis ver nivibus viridem monti reparavit amictum, ex quo iam patrios gens haec oblita Triones atque Histrum transvecta semel vestigia fixit 170 Threicio funesta solo. seu fata vocabant seu gravis ira deum, seriem meditata ruinis, ex illo, quocumque vagos impegit Erinys, grandinis aut morbi ritu per devia rerum, praecipites per clausa ruunt, nec contigit ullis 175 amnibus aut scopulis proprias defendere terras. nil Rhodope, nil vastus Athos, nil profuit Hebrus Odrysiis; facili contemptum Strymona saltu et frustra rapidum damnant Haliacmona Bessi. nubibus intactum Macedo miratur Olympum 180 more pererratum campi; gemit inrita Tempe Thessalus et domitis inrisam cautibus Oeten. Sperchiusque et virginibus dilectus Enipeus barbaricas lavere comas. non obice Pindi servati Dryopes nec nubifer Actia texit 185 litora Leucates; ipsae, quae durius olim restiterant Medis, primo conamine ruptae * * * * * Page 139