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SILVAE, III. iii. 156–181

thee for their sire’s rebirth! For whether he erred through age, fatigued by decay and exhausted by affairs, or whether Fortune so long favourable now had a mind to leave him, thou wert content, while in shuddering dismay he awaited the coming lightning-stroke, to warn the old man by thunder alone and by a storm that spared him; and when the partner of his cares left far behind him the fields of Italy and crossed the raging seas, he was bidden retire to Campania’s mild coast and the towers of Diomede,[1] a stranger but no exile. Nor didst thou wait long, Germanicus, before thou didst once more unbar the gates of Romulus and console his grief and raise again the stricken house. No wonder, most tranquil prince; for this is that clemency that gives terms of mercy to the conquered Catti[2] and restores their mountain to the Dacians; that lately though after a fierce struggle deigned not that the Marcomanni and the Sarmatian Nomads should furnish forth a Roman triumph.

And now his day is ended, and the inexorable thread runs out. The sorrowing heart of Etruscus asks me for a dirge, such as even the cliffs of Sicily re-echoed not, nor doomed swan ever sang nor cruel Tereus’ bride.[3] Ah! with what violent beating of his breast did I see him wearying his arms, flung prostrate with face bowed down to kiss his sire! Scarce can his friends and servants hold him, scarce do the towering flames make him withdraw. Not otherwise did Theseus on the Sunian shore mourn Aegeus whom his false sails had deceived. Then fearfully groaning, with disfiguring marks upon his

  1. ↑ Diomede was supposed by legend to have come to S. Italy and founded Arpi in Apulia.
  2. ↑ Campaign against the Chatti, 82, unsuccessful fighting against Dacians and Marcomanni about 88, Sarmatian war, probably successful but no triumph, 92.
  3. ↑ The Sirens, and the nightingale (Philomena, ravished by Tereus) are referred to.

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