young soldiery burgeoned along the armèd furrows. This too must not be passed over without full meed of praise, that the avenging expedition did not embark until the senate had, in accordance with antique usage, declared war. Stilicho re-established this custom, neglected for so many ages, that the Fathers should give generals charge to fight, and by decree of the toga-clad Senate the battle-token pass auspiciously among the legions. We acknowledge that the laws of Romulus have now returned when we see arms obedient to our ministers.
Thou couldst have filled the Tyrrhene sea with all thy standards, the Syrtes with thy fleet and Libya with thy battalions, but wrath was stayed o’ercome by prudent fear lest Gildo, terrified at the thought that thou wast in arms against him and suspecting that thy forces were of overwhelming strength, might retire into the hot desert and the torrid zone, or travel east in flight or, to console him for the certainty of death, might destroy his cities with fire. Marvellous it is to tell: thou wast fearful of being feared and forbade him to despair whom thy vengeance awaited. How greatly was his confidence our gain! Safe are the towers of hostile Carthage, and the Phoenician fields rejoice in their unharmed husbandmen, fields he might have laid waste in his flight. Deluded by a vain hope he spared what was ours without escaping chastisement for himself. Madman, to measure Rome by the numbers instead of the valour of her soldiers! He advanced as though he would ride them all down by means of his fleet cavalry and, as he often boasted, would overwhelm in the dust the Gauls enervated by the sun’s heat. But he soon learned that neither wounds
Sed didicit non Aethiopum geminata venenis vulnera, non fusum crebris hastilibus imbrem, non equitum nimbos Latiis obsistere pilis. sternitur ignavus Nasamon, nec spicula supplex iam torquet Garamas; repetunt deserta fugaces 355 Autololes; pavidus proiecit missile Mazax. cornipedem Maurus nequiquam hortatur anhelum; praedonem lembo profugum ventisque repulsum suscepit merito fatalis Tabraca portu expertum quod nulla tuis elementa paterent 360 hostibus, et laetae passurum iurgia plebis fracturumque reos humili sub iudice vultus. Nil tribuat Fortuna sibi. sit prospera semper illa quidem; sed non uni certamina pugnae credidimus totis nec constitit alea castris 365 nutatura semel; si quid licuisset iniquis casibus, instabant aliae post terga biremes; venturus dux maior erat. Victoria nulla clarior aut hominum votis optatior umquam contigit. an quisquam Tigranen armaque Ponti 370 vel Pyrrhum Antiochique fugam vel vincla Iugurthae conferat aut Persen debellatumque Philippum? hi propagandi ruerant pro limite regni; hic stabat Romana salus. ibi tempora tuto traxerunt dilata moras; hic vincere tarde 375 vinci paene fuit. discrimine Roma supremo inter supplicium populi deforme pependit; et tantum Libyam fructu maiore recepit quam peperit, quantum graviorem amissa dolorem quam necdum quaesita movent. quis Punica gesta,