Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/329

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SILVAE, V. ii. 19–45

the august abode and hallowed chamber of the Latian Senate, but preceded by a long array of thine own kinsmen. Just as when on the wide spaces of the Roman Circus a horse is awaited, comely to behold and generous with the blood of famous sires, in whose long pedigree a lucky mating has produced distinguished parentage; the applause of all excites him, the very dust and the round turning-points welcome with joy his flying hooves: so did the Senate-house know thee, illustrious boy, as born for itself, and set the patrician crescent[1] on thy youthful feet. Soon did thy shoulders recognize as their own the wonted Tyrian folds and the proud tunic.[2] And indeed thy sire was preparing for thee mighty patterns of thy fame to be. For on the threshold of manhood he straightway made warlike attack on quiver-bearing Araxes and Armenia that would not learn to serve fierce Nero. Corbulo[3] held command in the stern warfare, but even he admired Bolanus, his comrade in battle and partner of his toils, in many a glorious fight; on him too was he wont to lay his keenest anxieties, and shared with him his fears, what occasion befriended ambush, what times were good for open fighting, when to suspect the word and when to trust the flight of proud Armenia. Bolanus it was who knew beforehand the perils of the route, Bolanus who sought the ridge that served the safety of the camp, Bolanus who measured[4] out the fields and cleared the dangerous hindrances of torrent or forest, who fulfilled the mighty purposes of that revered chieftain, and alone of all availed to

  1. ↑ The crescent-shaped buckle on the senatorial shoe.
  2. ↑ The “toga praetexta” and the laticlave (tunic with one broad purple stripe down the middle). See note to v. 1. 52.
  3. ↑ For the campaigns of Corbulo see Tac. Ann. xv. 1.
  4. ↑ “metiri” is usually changed to “metari,” as being more appropriate to camps; Statius, however, may not be thinking of castrametation at all, or may prefer the less technical word.

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