31 AUGUST 1901, Page 14

THE POETRY OF CLAUDIAN.

(To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR.")

SIR,—In your review of Professor Tyrrelre "Latin Anthology " in the Spectator of August 24th you make a kihdly mention

of a translation from Rutilius Nuthatianus to which you gave the hospitality of your columns some little time ago. In the same sentence you speak of a similar passage,-LClatuliall's fine lines on Stilicho's victory at Pollentia, a revival of Ronian soldiership, as Claudian himself' was a revival of Roman poetry. Possibly you may like to have a version of these am, Sir, &c.,

AiiirED J. Ciltitcs.

spoliisque din qtuesita smpel. lex, Palmretque teas nlulatus conjugis sures ; Cmjugis invicto qua dudum frets marito Dement' Ausonidum gemmata morals matram, Romanesque alts families cervice petelutt Argo boas Ephyreiadasque puellas Csperat et pnlchras jam fastidire Lactenas. fed Des qua WIRES obstat Rhamnusia yetis, inemuit, flexitque retain domat aspera victor

Noma, nnoque die Romans. men. en. gnidguid ter denis acies amisimus cams.

0 celebranda mihi cunctis Pollentia media!

0 merit= nomen felicibus apta trinmphis ! Virtutis - fatale solum ; memorabile bast= Harbarise mutt save locis ac flnibiu illis Plena lacessito rediit vindicta Quirino. Illic oceani stagnis excita supremos Cimbrica tempestas, allasque immissa Alpes

Isdetaper procubuit campis. Jam pro- tinus setas

Adveniens getaime gentis permisceat ossa, Et duplices signet tituloa, commune trosetun

' Hic Cpimbros fortesque Getas, Stili- cone peremptos

Et Mario claris ducibus, tegit Itala

tellns.

Discite vesanse Romam non tenmere gente3.

What anguish, Alaric, was thine to know Thy gathered plunder plundered by the foo !

To hear her loud complaint who found too late

Her matchless lord had met a mightier fate. In frenzied pride the spouse of Alarie claims The gems that deck Italia's noblest dames ; The maids from Corinth snatched or Argive coasts She scorns, and all the fair whom Sparta boasts, Alone content, if on her barbarous state' With swan-like neck Rome's high.born daughters wait. But Vengeance, foe of lusts that swell too high,

Turned the great wheel of chance with angry cry,

Intent to spoil the spoiler, and repay Our thrice ten years of loss in one victorious day.

All hail, Pollentia! hail, undying name,

Fit theme for verse that sings a conqueror's fame, Where valour, armed by fate our State to save, Gave to her barbarous foes a splendid grave. Oft on these plains to Rome, by wrong and shame Too long oppressed, an ample vengeance came. 'Twas here the Cimbrian storm, in days of yore, With gathered strength from Ocean's furthest shore, Oar Alpine barriers past, in fruitless rage Rushed to its end. And here the coming age, Mingling the huge remains of either race, Shall this one boast upon one trophy trace : Here mighty &iliac, the Goths o'orthrew, And valiant Marius here the Cimbri slew ; Both buried lie beneath Pollentia's plain, No more, 0 foolish world, the Roman yoke disdain.