Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/217

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SILVAE, III. iii. 129–155

droop pale heads and roses die at the first South wind, or on fresh meadows the purple flower of spring withers away. Around that funeral train did ye hover, ye arrow-bearing Loves, and anoint the bier with your mother’s balm; freely did ye scatter your torn hair and feathers on the flames, and your quivers were heaped to build the pyre. What offerings, what tears wouldest thou have paid at thy mother’s grave, Etruscus, who deemest thy father’s death untimely and mournest with true affection for his years!

He who with his nod now sways the heights of heaven,[1] and has given of his glorious offspring to earth and sky alike, gladly granted to him the honour of an Idumaean[2] triumph, and deeming him worthy the distinction and rank that the procession of victory brings forbade it not, nor did obscurity of birth diminish his renown.[3] He too led him down to the benches of the knights from among the people, and ennobled him and took off the humble iron ring and made him equal to his sons in lofty eminence. Twice eight lustres of prosperity flowed by, and his life’s course was without a cloud. How lavish he was in the service of his sons, how willing to strip himself of all his wealth, the wonted splendour of Etruscus from that day to this bears witness, for it was thy indulgence that gave him his lordly mien. Thou didst clasp him in an embrace that ever called him back to thee, and didst rule by the love and not the sternness of a father; to him even his brother rejoiced to give way, more anxious for his renown than for his own.

What gratitude, greatest of princes, what loyal vows do these youths, devoted to thy service, pay

  1. ↑ Vespasian, whose sons were Titus (d. 81) and Domitian.
  2. ↑ Here = Judaean; the reference is to the revolt of the Jews that culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.
  3. ↑ The gold ring and the fourteen seats above the orchestra were privileges of the Equestrian order.

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