With this warning Stilicho alike checked the threatened war and won new allies for war, enrolling them at their entreaty and setting such number to their forces as should best suit—neither a burden to Italy nor a terror to its lord.

Then, indeed, at the news of his return, the legions, such love they bore their general, hastened together from every side, and at the sight of Stilicho their courage revived and they broke out into sobbings and tears of joy. So when a herd of cattle has been scattered throughout some vast forest by the storm’s violence the beasts eagerly make for the sound of the ox-herd’s well-known song or whistle and

[156]

certatim repetunt et avitae pascua vallis 410

inque vicem se voce regunt gaudentque fideles

reddere mugitus et, qua sonus attigit aurem,

rara per obscuras adparent cornua frondes.

adcurrit vicina manus, quam Raetia nuper

Vandalicis auctam spoliis defensa probavit; 415

venit et extremis legio praetenta Britannis,