Claudian is often called the last poet of the classical tradition. This edition of his last extant work offers a newly edited text with facing English translation. A superb example of the literature of late antiquity, it records in exquisite verse the splendor of the western imperial court and serves as a historical witness to the events and attitudes of the last years of the Roman empire. The introduction and commentary analyze the historical background and, more importantly, Claudian"s language, style, imagery, and use of other Greek and Latin sources.