Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/85

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SILVAE, I. iii. 95—iv. 2

worth seeing despite Aegean storms and the Hyades’ snowy constellation and the Olenian star,*[1] even though the bark must be thrown on Malea’s mercy and the way lie through Sicilian surges[2]: why do men look slightingly on pleasure near at hand? Here thy lyre delights the Fauns of Tibur and Alcides himself and Catillus, sung of by a mightier harp,[3] whether thou hast a mind to strive with the Pindaric quill or dost lift thy lyre to the height of heroic deeds or stirrest up the black venom of thy bitter satire, or whether thy letters glow and sparkle, composed with no less skill.

O worthy of the wealth of Midas and of Croesus and of Persian treasure, all blessing on thy wealth of soul, thou o’er whose watered fields Hermus should have flowed with yellow channel and Tagus with his shining sand! So mayst thou full oft enjoy thy learned leisure, I pray, so with heart unclouded mayst thou outpass the limits of old Nestor’s age!

IV. TO RUTILIUS GALLICUS, ON HIS RECOVERY FROM ILLNESS


“Soteria” means a thanksgiving for recovery from sickness (as here), or for rescue from any serious danger. Here Statius congratulates Rutilius Gallicus, a man of noble rank and military distinction, who after seeing service in Asia Minor and Pannonia had become successively Praetor, Governor of the province of Asia, Consul, Imperial Commissioner in Africa, and finally Prefect of the City; between the last two offices he had fought on the Rhine. The recovery is effected by divine agency, Apollo and Aesculapius visiting the patient and tending him themselves.


Hurrah! ye exist then, ye gods, nor is Clotho’s spinning inexorable; kindly Astraea[4] hath regard

  1. ↑ The star known as Capella, the rising of which heralded storms; Aege, daughter of Olenus, was changed into a goat.
  2. ↑ Scylla and Charybdis.
  3. ↑ Either Virgil (Aen. vii. 670) or Horace (C. i. 18). Catillus was one of the founders of Tibur.
  4. ↑ Often identified with Justice.

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