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Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

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RUTILIUS NAMAIIANUSby road is one of a thous<strong>and</strong> miles ° from the Ligurianterritories to the Sicilian straits : on her breadth thedestructive fury of the Tuscan <strong>and</strong> of the Adriaticmain makes entry in varied winding curves ; but wherethe l<strong>and</strong> is narrowest between the neiijriibouring seasit stretches merely one hundred <strong>and</strong> thirty miles. '^The central mountain-chain slopes towards the sunderedbillows where the rising <strong>and</strong> the setting Sungodbrings <strong>and</strong> <strong>with</strong>draws the day : its eastern peaksbeset the Dalmatian waves, <strong>and</strong> its western spurscleave the blue Tuscan waters. If we acknowledgethat the world was made on a definite plan <strong>and</strong> ifthis great fabric was a god's design, then as a protectivefringe for our <strong>Latin</strong> outposts he wove theApennines, barriers scarce approachable by mountainpaths. Nature feared men's jealousy (of Italy)<strong>and</strong> thought it scant defence to put the Alps inNorthern invaders' way, just as she has fenced <strong>with</strong>many limbs our vital parts <strong>and</strong> placed more thanone covering around the precious works she hasproduced. Even then the Rome that was to bedeserved her encirclement of manifold bulwarks<strong>and</strong> had gods who thought anxiously for her.Wherefore more bitter is the crime of cursedStilicho in that he was betrayer of the Empire's

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