He impersonates some deity, probably Discord, who summons Bellona to take arms for the destruction of Rome; and in a strain of fierce irony recommends to her other fatal measures, to extirpate the gods of Rome:-- Roma, ipsique tremant furialia murmura reges.
Jam superos terris atque hospita numina pelle: Romanos populare Deos, et nullus in aris Vestoe exoratoe fotus strue palleat ignis.
Ilis instructa dolis palatia celsa subibo; Majorum mores, et pectora prisca fugabo Funditus; atque simul, nullo discrimine rerum, Spernantur fortes, nec sic reverentia justis.
Attica neglecto pereat facundia Phoebo: Indignis contingat honos, et pondera rerum; Non virtus sed casus agat; tristique cupido; Pectoribus saevi demens furor aestuet aevi; Omniaque hoec sine mente Jovis, sine numine sumimo.
Merobaudes in Niebuhr's edit.

of the Byzantines, p.

14 .-- M.] [Footnote 62: Denique pro meritis terrestribus aequa rependens Munera, sacricolis summos impertit honores.
Dux bonus, et certare sinit cum laude suorum, Nec pago implicitos per debita culmina mundi Ire viros prohibet.
Ipse magistratum tibi consulis, ipse tribunal Contulit.
Prudent.

in Symmach.i.617, &c.
Note: I have inserted some lines omitted by Gibbon .-- M.] [Footnote 63: Libanius (pro Templis, p.

32) is proud that Theodosius should thus distinguish a man, who even in his presence would swear by Jupiter.