The Glory of Spain (Claudian, Laus Serenae 50-69)

In honor of Spain’s recent world cup victory, here’s a bit of Claudian on the glories of Spain (Hispania to the Romans): Claudian Laus Serenae Quid dignum memorare tuis, Hispania, terris vox humana valet? primo levat aequore solem India: tu fessos exacta luce iugales proluis inque tuo respirant sidera fluctu. dives equis, frugum facilis, pretiosa metallis, principibus fecunda piis, tibi saecula debent           55 Traianum; series his fontibus Aelia fluxit. hinc senior pater, hinc iuvenum diademata fratrum. namque aliae gentes, quas foedere Roma recepit aut armis domuit, varios aptantur in usus imperii; Phariae segetes et Punica messis       60 castrorum devota cibo; dat Gallia robur militis; Illyricis sudant equitatibus alae: sola novum Latiis vectigal Hiberia rebus contulit Augustos. fruges, aeraria, miles undique conveniunt totoque ex orbe leguntur:        65 haec generat qui cuncta regant. nec laude virorum censeri contenta fuit, nisi matribus aeque vinceret et gemino certatim splendida sexu Flaccillam Mariamque daret pulchramque Serenam. On the punctuation of line 57, elucidating the reference to Theodosius the elder, German readers can see here. On the empress Aelia Flavia Flacilla, her daughter Aelia Pulcheria, and Serena herself, see here. And on the very real importance of women of the imperial house in this period, see interestingly here.