Within the limits of Africa, Gildo, the Moor, maintained a proud and dangerous independence; and the minister of Constantinople asserted his equal reign over the emperor, and the empire, of the East.
[Footnote 17: Stilicho, directly or indirectly, is the perpetual theme of Claudian.

The youth and private life of the hero are vaguely expressed in the poem on his first consulship, 35-140.] [Footnote 18: Vandalorum, imbellis, avarae, perfidae, et dolosae, gentis, genere editus.

Orosius, l.vii.c.38.Jerom (tom.i.

ad Gerontiam, p.

93) call him a Semi-Barbarian.] [Footnote 19: Claudian, in an imperfect poem, has drawn a fair, perhaps a flattering, portrait of Serena.