conventum caelo praebuit aula parem.

[73]

joyous was that Jove whom, after the war with the giants, heaven welcomed, enriched with the spoils from Phlegra’s field!

My dream has come true; ’twas no vain imagining; nor did the false ivory gate[21] send forth an unaccomplished dream. Behold our lord, behold earth towering to heaven’s height! Here before me are gods such as I then saw, gods worthy of all reverence. Nought greater could dreams have fancied; this noble assembly offers the poet an audience like to that of heaven.

[21] A reference to the famous epilogue of Verg. Aen. vi. (ll. 893-96). Dreams which come through the ivory gate are false, those which issue from the gate of horn, true.

[74]

PANEGYRICUS

(XXVIII.)

Aurea Fortunae Reduci si templa priores

ob reditum vovere ducum, non dignius umquam