necessity demand the felling of a forest, be not ashamed to grasp the axe and hew down the oak. If a stagnant marsh must be crossed let thy horse be the first to test the depth of it. Boldly tread the frozen river; swim the flood. Mounted thyself, ride amid thy squadrons of horse or again stand foot to foot with the infantry. They will advance the bolder for thy presence, and with thee to witness glorious and glad shall be the fulfilment of their task.”
More would he have spoken but Honorius broke in and said: “All this will I do, so God favour my attempts. The peoples and kingdoms committed to my care shall find me not unworthy of thee nor of my brother. But why should I not experience in action what thou has taught in words? Thou goest to the wintry Alps: take me with thee. Let mine arrows pierce the tyrant’s body, and the barbarians pale at my bow. Shall I allow Italy to become the prey of a ruthless bandit? Rome to serve one who is himself but a servant? Am I still such a child that neither power profaned nor just revenge for an uncle’s blood shall move me? Fain would I ride through blood. Quick, give me arms. Why castest thou my youth in my teeth? Why thinkest me unequal to the combat? I am as old as was Pyrrhus when alone he o’erthrew Troy and proved himself no degenerate from his father Achilles. If I may not remain in thy camp as a prince I will come even as a soldier.”
Theodosius kissed his son’s sweet lips and answered him wondering: “Nought have I but praise for thy petition, but this love of glory has bloomed too early. Thy strength will increase with years; till then be patient. Though thou hast not yet completed ten summers thou wouldst hansel dangers that a man
indolis agnosco, fertur Pellaeus, Eoum qui domuit Porum, cum prospera saepe Philippi 375 audiret, laetos inter flevisse sodales nil sibi vincendum patris virtute relinqui. hos video motus. fas sit promittere patri: tantus eris. nostro nec debes regna favori, quae tibi iam natura dedit. sic mollibus olim 380 stridula ducturum pratis examina regem nascentem venerantur apes et publica mellis iura petunt traduntque favos; sic pascua parvus vindicat et necdum firmatis cornibus audax iam regit armentum vitulus. sed proelia differ 385 in iuvenem patiensque meum cum fratre tuere me bellante locum, vos impacatus Araxes, vos celer Euphrates timeat, sit Nilus ubique vester et emisso quidquid sol imbuit ortu. si pateant Alpes, habeat si causa secundos 390 iustior eventus, aderis partesque receptas suscipies, animosa tuas ut Gallia leges audiat et nostros aequus modereris Hiberos. tunc ego securus fati laetusque laborum discedam, vobis utrumque regentibus axem. 395 “Interea Musis animus, dum mollior, instet et quae mox imitere legat; nec desinat umquam tecum Graia loqui, tecum Romana vetustas. antiquos evolve duces, adsuesce futurae