[184] We know really nothing of Stilicho’s parentage save that the family was a Vandal one: _Vandalorum genere editus_, Oros. vii. 38.
membrorumque modus, qualem nec carmina fingunt semideis. quacumque alte gradereris in urbe, cedentes spatiis adsurgentesque videbas quamvis miles adhuc. taciti suffragia vulgi iam tibi detulerant, quidquid mox debuit aula. 50 Vix primaevus eras, pacis cum mitteris auctor Assyriae; tanta foedus cum gente ferire commissum iuveni. Tigrim transgressus et altum Euphraten Babylona petis. stupuere severi Parthorum proceres, et plebs pharetrata videndi 55 flagravit studio, defixaeque hospite pulchro Persides arcanum suspiravere calorem. turis odoratae cumulis et messe Sabaea pacem conciliant arae; penetralibus ignem sacratum rapuere adytis rituque iuvencos 60 Chaldaeo stravere magi. rex ipse micantem inclinat dextra pateram secretaque Beli et vaga testatur volventem sidera Mithram. si quando sociis tecum venatibus ibant, quis Stilichone prior ferro penetrare leones 65 comminus aut longe virgatas figere tigres? flectenti faciles cessit tibi Medus habenas; torquebas refugum Parthis mirantibus arcum. Nubilis interea maturae virginis aetas urgebat patrias suspenso principe curas, 70 quem simul imperioque ducem nataeque maritum prospiceret; dubius toto quaerebat ab axe dignum coniugio generum thalamisque Serenae.
of thy limbs, greater even than poets feign of demi-gods, marked thee out for a leader of men. Whithersoever thy proud form went in the city thou didst see men rise and give place to thee; yet thou wast then but a soldier. The silent suffrage of the people had already offered thee all the honours the court was soon to owe.
Scarce hadst thou reached man’s estate when thou wast sent to negotiate peace with Assyria[185]; to make a treaty with so great a people was the charge entrusted to thy youth. Crossing the Tigris and the deep Euphrates thou cam’st to Babylon. The grave lords of Parthia looked at thee in amaze and the quiver-bearing mob burned with desire to behold, while the daughters of Persia gazing on their beauteous guest sighed out their hidden love. The peace is sworn at altars sweet with the fragrance of incense and the harvests of Saba. Fire is brought forth from the innermost sanctuary and the Magi sacrifice heifers according to the Chaldean ritual. The king himself dips the jewelled bowl of sacrifice and swears by the mysteries of Bel and by Mithras who guides the errant stars of heaven. Whenever they made thee sharer of their hunting, whose sword struck down the lion in close combat before that of Stilicho, whose arrow pierced the striped tiger afar before thine? When thou didst guide the easy rein the Mede gave way to thee, and the Parthian marvelled at the bow thou didst discharge in flight.