Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/93

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SILVAE, I. iv. 79–102

dire retreating bowmen and Araxes that now brooks a Roman bridge. Why should I tell of the double command[1] and the twice repeated governorship of Asia? who thrice and four times would fain have him for herself, but our Annals and the higher curule chair,[2] oft promised, call him back. Why extol the tribute and wondrous obedience of Libya,[3] and the spoils of triumph sent to Rome from the midst of peace, and such wealth as not even he who gave the charge had dared to expect? Trasimene and the Alps exult and the ghosts of Cannae; and the mangled shade of Regulus first appears and claims its glorious reward. Time allows not to recount the armies of the North and rebellious Rhine and the prayers of captive Veleda,[4] and, latest and greatest glory, Rome given thee in charge, when the Dacians were falling before us and thou wert chosen, Gallicus, to take up the reins of so great a chief, and Fortune marvelled not.

“Him then, if my words find favour, we will rescue, my son, from Pluto’s cruelty. This is the prayer of the illustrious Father of the Latian City,[5] and he has deserved it; for not in vain of late did ye sing my praise, ye boys, clad in patrician purple. If there be any herb in twy-formed Chiron’s health-giving cave, all that Trojan Pergamus stores for thee in thy shrine or blest Epidaurus nurtures in her healing sands, all the aid of flowering dittany that Crete brings forth in the glens of Ida, the abundant

  1. ↑ Some explain as “the praetorship,” cf. Mommsen (Staatsrecht, i. 384 n.), who quotes Cic. De leg. agr. ii. 34. 93, and Plautus, Epid. i. 1. 25, to prove that the praetor in Rome only had two lictors (cf. bissenos fasces, of the consulship, Silv. i. 2. 174).
  2. ↑ i.e., the consulship, which would be registered in the Fasti.
  3. ↑ Vespasian had renewed and increased the tribute paid by Africa and other provinces; Gallicus was perhaps sent there as Special Commissioner for this purpose.
  4. ↑ A German prophetess, for whom see Tac. Hist. iv. 61, v. 22.
  5. ↑ i.e., the Emperor.

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