s: Were parched and arid.  But when Titan neared


s: The Ram, who, backward gazing on the stars,


s: Bore perished Helle, (4) and the hours were held


s: In juster balance, and the day prevailed,


s: The earliest faded moon which in the vault


s: Hung with uncertain horn, from eastern winds


s: Forced Boreas back: and breaking on the mists


s: Drave all that shroud Arabia and the land


s: Of Ganges; all that or by Caurus (5) borne


s: Permit to gather; pitiless flamed the day


s: Behind them, while in front the wide expanse


s: Was driven; nor on mid earth sank the clouds


s: Though weighed with vapour.  North and south alike


s: Were showerless, for on Calpe's rock alone


s: All moisture gathered; here at last, forbidden


s: To pass that sea by Zephyr's bounds contained,


s: And by the furthest belt (6) of heaven, they pause,


s: In masses huge convolved; the widest breadth


s: Of murky air scarce holds them, which divides


s: Earth from the heavens; till pressed by weight of sky


s: In densest volume to the earth they pour


s: Their cataracts; no lightning could endure


s: Such storm unquenched: though oft athwart the gloom


s: Gleamed its pale fire.  Meanwhile a watery arch


s: Scarce touched with colour, in imperfect shape


s: Embraced the sky and drank the ocean waves,


s: So rendering to the clouds their flood outpoured.


s: Which Titan had not conquered; all the rocks


s: Were wet with melting ice; accustomed springs


s: Found not discharge; and from the very banks


s: Each stream received a torrent.  Caesar's arms


s: Are shipwrecked on the field, his tottering camp


s: Swims on the rising flood; the trench is filled


s: With whirling waters; and the plain no more


s: Yields corn or kine; for those who forage seek,


s: Err from the hidden furrow.  Famine knocks


s: (First herald of o'erwhelming ills to come),


s: Fierce at the door; and while no foe blockades


s: The soldier hungers; fortunes buy not now


s: The meanest measure; yet, alas!  is found


s: The fasting peasant, who, in gain of gold,


s: Will sell his little all!  And now the hills


s: Are seen no more; and rivers whelmed in one;


s: Beasts with their homes sweep downwards; and the tide


s: Repels the foaming torrent.  Nor did night


s: Acknowledge Phoebus' rise, for all the sky


s: Felt her dominion and obscured its face,


s: And darkness joined with darkness.  Thus doth lie


s: Sprouts from the frozen earth; but standing ice


s: Tempers (7) the stars which in the middle zone


s: Kindle their flames.  Thus, Father of the world,


s: And thou, trident-god who rul'st the sea


s: Once risen, to return: forced by thy waves


s: Let rivers backward run in different course,


s: Thy shores no longer reaching; and the earth,


s: Shaken, make way for floods.  Let Rhine o'erflow


s: And Rhone their banks; let torrents spread afield


s: Spread lakes upon the land, and seas profound,


s: And snatch the groaning world from civil war.


s: Her darling son; then smiling to his part


s: Returned; and gained her pardon for the past


s: By greater gifts to come.  For now the air


s: Had grown more clear, and Phoebus' warmer rays


s: Coped with the flood and scattered all the clouds


s: In fleecy masses; and the reddening east


s: Proclaimed the coming day; the land resumed


s: Its ancient marks; no more in middle air


s: The moisture hung, but from about the stars


s: Sank to the depths; the forest glad upreared


s: Its foliage; hills again emerged to view


s: And 'neath the warmth of day the plains grew firm.


s: When Sicoris kept his banks, the shallop light


s: Of hoary willow bark they build, which bent


s: On hides of oxen, bore the weight of man


s: And swam the torrent.  Thus on sluggish Po


s: Venetians float; and on th' encircling sea (8)


s: Are borne Britannia's nations; and when Nile


s: Fills all the land, are Memphis' thirsty reeds


s: Shaped into fragile boats that swim his waves.


s: The further bank thus gained, they haste to curve


s: By which imperious Sicoris shall be spanned.


s: Yet fearing he might rise in wrath anew,


s: Not on the nearest marge they placed the beams,


s: But in mid-field.  Thus the presumptuous stream


s: They tame with chastisement, parting his flood


s: In devious channels out; and curb his pride.


s: Petreius, when he saw that Caesar's fates


s: Swept all before them, left Ilerda's steep,


s: And sought for strength amid those distant tribes,


s: Who, loving death, rush in upon the foe, (9)


s: And win their conquests at the point of sword.


s: But in the dawn, when Caesar saw the camp


s: Stand empty on the hill, "To arms!" he cried:


s: "Seek not the bridge nor ford: plunge in the stream


s: And breast the foaming torrent."  Then did hope


s: Their streaming limbs they cherished till the blood


s: Coursed in their veins; until the shadows fell


s: Short on the sward, and day was at the height.


s: Then dashed the horsemen on, and held the foe


s: 'Twixt flight and battle.  In the plain arose


s: Two rocky heights: from each a loftier ridge


s: Of hills ranged onwards, sheltering in their midst


s: A hollow vale, whose deep and winding paths


s: Were safe from warfare; which, when Caesar saw:


s: That if Petreius held, the war must pass


s: To lands remote by savage tribes possessed;


s: "Speed on," he cried, "and meet their flight in front;


s: Fierce be your frown and battle in your glance:


s: No coward's death be theirs; but as they flee


s: Plunge in their breasts the sword."  They seize the pass


s: And place their camp.  Short was the span between


s: Undimmed by space, they gazed on brothers, sons,


s: Or friends and fathers; and within their souls


s: They grasped the impious horror of the war.


s: Yet for a little while no voice was heard,


s: For fear restrained; by waving blade alone


s: Or gesture, spake they; but their passion grew,


s: And broke all discipline; and soon they leaped


s: The hostile rampart; every hand outstretched (10)


s: Embraced the hand of foeman, palm in palm;


s: One calls by name his neighhour, one his host,


s: Found not a comrade, was no son of Rome.


s: Wet are their arms with tears, and sobs break in


s: Upon their kisses; each, unstained by blood,


s: Dreads what he might have done.  Why beat thy breast?


s: Why, madman, weep?  The guilt is thine alone


s: Who takes his title to be feared from thee?


s: When Caesar's trumpets sound the call to arms


s: Heed not the summons; when thou seest advance


s: His standards, halt.  The civil Fury thus


s: Shall fold her wings; and in a private robe


s: That sway'st the world; thou whose eternal bands


s: Come, gentle Concord! (11) these our times do now


s: Now have the people lost their cloak for crime:


s: Their hope of pardon.  They have known their kin.


s: Making more black the hideous guilt to come!


s: Now all was peaceful, and in either camp


s: Sweet converse held the soldiers; on the grass


s: They place the meal; on altars built of turf


s: Pour out libations from the mingled cup;


s: On mutual couch with stories of their fights,


s: They wile the sleepless hours in talk away;


s: "Where stood the ranks arrayed, from whose right hand


s: The quivering lance was sped:" and while they boast


s: Or challenge, deeds of prowess in the war,


s: Faith was renewed and trust.  Thus made the fates


s: Their doom complete, and all the crimes to be;


s: The treaties made; himself and all his camp


s: Sold to the foe; he stirs his guard to work


s: An impious slaughter: the defenceless foe


s: Flings headlong forth: and parts the fond embrace


s: By stroke of weapon and in streams of blood.


s: And thus in words of wrath, to stir the war:


s: "Of Rome forgetful, to your faith forsworn!


s: And could ye not with victory gained return,


s: Lose then!  but losing call not Caesar lord.


s: While still your swords are yours, with blood to shed


s: In doubtful battle, while the fates are hid,


s: Will you like cravens to your master bear


s: Doomed eagles?  Will you ask upon your knees


s: That Caesar deign to treat his slaves alike,


s: And spare, forsooth, like yours, your leaders' lives? (12)


s: Nay!  never shall our safety be the price


s: We wage a civil war.  This name of peace


s: Drags us to slavery.  Ne'er from depths of earth,


s: Fain to withdraw her wealth, should toiling men


s: Draw store of iron; ne'er entrench a town;


s: Ne'er should the war-horse dash into the fray


s: Nor fleet with turret bulwarks breast the main,


s: Could thus be bought.  The foe are pledged to fight


s: By their own guilt.  But you, who still might hope


s: For pardon if defeated -- what can match


s: Your deep dishonour?  Shame upon your peace.


s: From all the world thy powers, and dost entreat


s: Monarchs of distant realms, while haply here


s: We in our treaties bargain for thy life!"


s: Thus did he stir their minds and rouse anew


s: The love of impious battle.  So when beasts


s: Grown strange to forests, long confined in dens,


s: Their fierceness lose, and learn to bear with man;


s: Once should they taste of blood, their thirsty jaws


s: Swell at the touch, and all the ancient rage


s: Comes back upon them till they hardly spare


s: Their keeper.  Thus they rush on every crime:


s: And blows which dealt at chance, and in the night


s: Of battle, had brought hatred on the gods,


s: Though blindly struck, their recent vows of love


s: Made monstrous, horrid.  Where they lately spread


s: The mutual couch and banquet, and embraced


s: Some new-found friend, now falls the fatal blow


s: Upon the self-same breast; and though at first


s: Groaning at the fell chance, they drew the sword;


s: Hate rises as they strike, the murderous arm


s: Confirms the doubtful will: with monstrous joy


s: Through the wild camp they smite their kinsmen down;


s: And carnage raged unchecked; and each man strove,


s: Proud of his crime, before his leader's face


s: Caesar, though losing of thy best, dost know


s: The gods do favour thee.  Thessalian fields


s: Gave thee no better fortune, nor the waves


s: Didst thou so triumph.  By this crime alone


s: Thou from this moment of the better cause


s: With foulest slaughter thus, their leaders shunned


s: All camps with Caesar's joined, and sought again


s: Ilerda's lofty walls; but Caesar's horse


s: Seized on the plain and forced them to the hills


s: Reluctant.  There by steepest trench shut in,


s: He cuts them from the river, nor permits


s: Their circling ramparts to enclose a spring.


s: By this dread path Death trapped his captive prey.


s: Which when they knew, fierce anger filled their souls,


s: And took the place of fear.  They slew the steeds


s: Now useless grown, and rushed upon their fate;


s: Hopeless of life and flight.  But Caesar cried:


s: "Hold back your weapons, soldiers, from the foe,


s: Strike not the breast advancing; let the war


s: Cost me no blood; he falls not without price


s: Who with his life-blood challenges the fray.


s: Scorning their own base lives and hating light,


s: To Caesar's loss they rush upon their death,


s: Nor heed our blows.  But let this frenzy pass,


s: This madman onset; let the wish for death


s: Die in their souls."  Thus to its embers shrank


s: And fainter grew their rage until the night


s: Drew down her starry veil and sank the sun.


s: Thus keener fights the gladiator whose wound


s: Is recent, while the blood within the veins


s: Still gives the sinews motion, ere the skin


s: Shrinks on the bones: but as the victor stands


s: His fatal thrust achieved, and points the blade


s: Unfaltering, watching for the end, there creeps


s: Torpor upon the limbs, the blood congeals


s: About the gash, more faintly throbs the heart,


s: Raving for water now they dig the plains


s: And mattock only searching out the depths,


s: But with the sword; they hack the stony heights,


s: In shafts that reach the level of the plain.


s: No further flees from light the pallid wretch


s: Who tears the bowels of the earth for gold.


s: Yet neither riven stones revealed a spring,


s: Nor streamlet whispered from its hidden source;


s: Nor dripped within the cavern.  Worn at length


s: With labour huge, they crawl to light again,


s: After such toil to fall to thirst and heat


s: The readier victims: this was all they won.


s: All food they loathe; and 'gainst their deadly thirst


s: Call famine to their aid.  Damp clods of earth


s: They squeeze upon their mouths with straining hands.


s: Where'er on foulest mud some stagnant slime


s: Or moisture lies, though doomed to die they lap


s: With greedy tongues the draught their lips had loathed


s: Had life been theirs to choose.  Beast-like they drain


s: The swollen udder, and where milk was not,


s: They sucked the life-blood forth.  From herbs and boughs


s: Dripping with dew, from tender shoots they pressed,


s: Say, from the pith of trees, the juice within.


s: Happy the host that onward marching finds


s: With murderous venom; had'st thou, Caesar, cast


s: The reeking filth of shambles in the stream,


s: And henbane dire and all the poisonous herbs


s: That lurk on Cretan slopes, still had they drunk


s: Such lingering agony.  Their bowels racked


s: With torments as of flame; the swollen tongue


s: And jaws now parched and rigid, and the veins;


s: Each laboured breath with anguish from the lungs


s: Enfeebled, moistureless, was scarcely drawn,


s: And scarce again returned; and yet agape,


s: Their panting mouths sucked in the nightly dew;


s: They watch for showers from heaven, and in despair


s: Gaze on the clouds, whence lately poured a flood.


s: Saw not their sufferings, nor Cancer's zone,


s: Nor where the Garamantian turns the soil;


s: Two mighty floods, but far beyond their reach,


s: Rolled down in measureless volume to the main.


s: Vanquished, throws down his arms, and leads his troops,


s: Before the victor's feet, and sues for peace.


s: Proud was his bearing, and despite of ills,


s: Still mindful in disaster -- thus he stood,


s: Though suppliant for grace, a leader yet;


s: From fearless heart thus speaking: "Had the fates


s: Not, Caesar, thee; still had this arm fought on


s: And snatched my death.  Now if I suppliant ask,


s: 'Tis that I value still the boon of life


s: Roused us to arms against thee; when the war,


s: This civil war, broke out, it found us chiefs;


s: And with our former cause we kept the faith,


s: So long as brave men should.  The fates' decree


s: We yield the western tribes: the east is thine


s: And all the world lies open to thy march.


s: Be generous!  blood nor sword nor wearied arm


s: Thy conquests bought.  Thou hast not to forgive


s: Aught but thy victory won.  Nor ask we much.


s: Give us repose; to lead in peace the life


s: Thou shalt bestow; suppose these armed lines


s: Are corpses prostrate on the field of war


s: Ne'er were it meet that thy victorious ranks


s: Should mix with ours, the vanquished.  Destiny


s: Has run for us its course: one boon I beg;


s: Bid not the conquered conquer in thy train."


s: Such were his words, and Caesar's gracious smile


s: Granted his prayer, remitting rights that war


s: Gives to the victor.  To th' unguarded stream


s: The soldiers speed: prone on the bank they lie


s: And lap the flood or foul the crowded waves.


s: In many a burning throat the sudden draught


s: Poured in too copious, filled the empty veins


s: And choked the breath within: yet left unquenched


s: The burning pest which though their frames were full


s: Craved water for itself.  Then, nerved once more,


s: Their strength returned.  Oh, lavish luxury,


s: Oh greed that searchest over land and sea


s: To furnish forth the banquet!  Pride that joy'st


s: In sumptuous tables!  learn what life requires,


s: How little nature needs!  No ruddy juice


s: Pressed from the vintage in some famous year,


s: Whose consuls are forgotten, served in cups


s: The failing spark, of life; but water pure


s: And simplest fruits of earth.  The flood, the field


s: Of those who war!  But these, their amour laid


s: Low at the victor's feet, with lightened breast,


s: Secure themselves, no longer dealing death,


s: Beset by care no more, seek out their homes.


s: What priceless gift in peace had they secured!


s: How grieved it now their souls to have poised the dart


s: With arm outstretched; to have felt their raving thirst;


s: And prayed the gods for victory in vain!


s: Nay, hard they think the victor's lot, for whom


s: A thousand risks and battles still remain;


s: Pour out his blood where'er great Caesar leads!


s: Happy, thrice happy, he who, when the world


s: Where he himself shall, though in ruin, lie!


s: No trumpet call shall break his sleep again:


s: But in his humble home with faithful spouse


s: And sons unlettered Fortune leaves him free


s: To Caesar, Magnus sometime was his lord.


s: Nor hope nor dread the event of civil war.


s: In all the parts of earth; (13) but 'gainst his arms


s: Dared somewhat, where Salona's lengthy waste


s: Meets with his waves the breezes of the west.


s: There brave Curectae dwell, whose island home


s: (Safe from all ills but famine) placed his camp.


s: But for his steeds the earth no forage gave,


s: Nor golden Ceres harvest; but his troops


s: Gnawed the dry herbage of the scanty turf


s: Within their rampart lines.  But when they knew


s: With friendly force, by novel mode of flight


s: They aim to reach him.  Not the accustomed keel


s: They lay, nor build the ship, but shapeless rafts


s: Of timbers knit together, strong to bear


s: All ponderous weight; on empty casks beneath


s: By tightened chains made firm, in double rows


s: Supported; nor upon the deck were placed


s: The oarsmen, to the hostile dart exposed,


s: But in a hidden space, by beams concealed.


s: By neither sail nor stalwart arm propelled.


s: They watch the main until the refluent waves


s: Ebb from the growing sands; then, on the tide


s: Receding, launch their vessel; thus she floats


s: With quivering battlements a lofty tower.


s: Restrained his swifter keels, and left the rafts


s: Free from attack, in hope of larger spoil


s: From fresh adventures; for the peaceful sea


s: May tempt them, and their goal in safety reached,


s: To dare a second voyage.  Round the stag


s: Thus will the cunning hunter draw a line


s: Or spread the mesh, and muzzle in his grasp


s: The straining jaws of the Molossian hound,


s: And leash the Spartan pack; nor is the brake


s: The scent with lowered nostrils, and refrains


s: From giving tongue the while; content to mark


s: By shaking leash the covert of the prey.


s: Ere long they manned the rafts in eager wish


s: To quit the island, when the latest glow


s: Still parted day from night.  But Magnus' troops,


s: Cilician once, taught by their ancient art,


s: To view unguarded; but with chains unseen


s: Fast to Illyrian shores, and hanging loose,


s: They blocked the outlet in the waves beneath.


s: The leading rafts passed safely, but the third


s: Hung in mid passage, and by ropes was hauled


s: Below o'ershadowing rocks.  These hollowed out


s: And nodding seemed to fall: shadowed by trees


s: Dark lay the waves beneath.  Hither the tide


s: Brings wreck and corpse, and, burying with the flow,


s: Restores them with the ebb: and when the caves


s: Belch forth the ocean, swirling billows fall


s: In boisterous surges back, as boils the tide


s: In that famed whirlpool on Sicilian shores.


s: Here, with Venetian settlers for its load,


s: Stood motionless the raft.  Octavius' ships


s: Gathered around, while foemen on the land


s: Filled all the shore.  But well the captain knew,


s: Volteius, how the secret fraud was planned,


s: And tried in vain with sword and steel to burst


s: The bands that held them; without hope he fights,


s: Uncertain where to avoid or front the foe.


s: Caught in this strait they strove as brave men should


s: Against opposing hosts; nor long the fight,


s: For fallen darkness brought a truce to arms.


s: Then to his men disheartened and in fear


s: Thus spake in tones commanding: "Free no more,


s: Save for this little night, consult ye now


s: In this last moment, soldiers, how to face


s: Your final fortunes.  No man's life is short


s: Who can take thought for death, nor is your fame


s: Less than a conqueror's, if with breast advanced


s: Ye meet your destined doom.  None know how long


s: The life that waits them.  Summon your own fate,


s: And equal is your praise, whether the hand


s: Quench the last flicker of departing light,


s: Or shear the hope of years.  But choice to die


s: Is thrust not on the mind -- we cannot flee;


s: See at our throats, e'en now, our kinsmen's swords.


s: Then choose for death; desire what fate decrees.


s: At least in war's blind cloud we shall not fall;


s: Nor when the flying weapons hide the day,


s: And slaughtered heaps of foemen load the field,


s: And death is common, and the brave man sinks


s: Unknown, inglorious.  Us within this ship,


s: Seen of both friends and foes, the gods have placed;


s: Both land and sea and island cliffs shall bear,


s: From either shore, their witness to our death,


s: Thou, Fortune, dost prepare.  What glorious deeds


s: Time's annals show!  All these shall we surpass.


s: True, Caesar, that to fall upon our swords


s: For thee is little; yet beleaguered thus,


s: With neither sons nor parents at our sides,


s: Shorn of the glory that we might have earned,


s: We give thee here the only pledge we may.


s: Yet let these hostile thousands fear the souls


s: That rage for battle and that welcome death,


s: That no more rafts were stayed.  They'll offer terms


s: And tempt us with a base unhonoured life.


s: Would that, to give that death which shall be ours


s: For pardon and for life!  lest when our swords


s: Are reeking with our hearts'-blood, they may say


s: This was despair of living.  Great must be


s: That fight his battles, Caesar is to mourn


s: This little handful lost.  For me, should fate


s: Grant us retreat, -- myself would scorn to shun


s: The frenzy of the death that comes apace


s: Controls my being.  Those alone whose end


s: Inspires them, know the happiness of death,


s: Which the high gods, that men may bear to live,


s: Keep hid from others."  Thus his noble words


s: Warmed his brave comrades' hearts; and who with fear


s: And tearful eyes had looked upon the Wain,


s: Turning his nightly course, now hoped for day,


s: Such precepts deep within them.  Nor delayed


s: The sky to dip the stars below the main;


s: For Phoebus in the Twins his chariot drave


s: At noon near Cancer; and the hours of night (14)


s: Lo!  on the rocks the Istrians; while the sea


s: Swarmed with the galleys and their Grecian fleet


s: All armed for fight: but first the war was stayed


s: And terms proposed: life to the foe they thought


s: Would seem the sweeter, by delay of death


s: Thus granted.  But the band devoted stood,


s: Proud of their promised end, and life forsworn,


s: Could shake their high resolve. (15)  In numbers few


s: 'Gainst foemen numberless by land and sea,


s: They wage the desperate fight; then satiate


s: Turn from the foe.  And first demanding death


s: Volteius bared his throat.  "What youth," he cries,


s: "Dares strike me down, and through his captain's wounds


s: Attest his love for death?"  Then through his side


s: Plunge blades uncounted on the moment drawn.


s: He praises all: but him who struck the first


s: Grateful, with dying strength, he does to death.


s: Work all the guilt of battle.  Thus of yore,


s: From seed by Cadmus sown, and fought and died,


s: Dire omen for the brother kings of Thebes.


s: And so in Phasis' fields the sons of earth,


s: Born of the sleepless dragon, all inflamed


s: Deluged the monstrous furrow, while the Queen


s: Feared at the spells she wrought.  Devoted thus


s: To death, they fall, yet in their death itself


s: Less valour show than in the fatal wounds


s: They take and give; for e'en the dying hand


s: Missed not a blow -- nor did the stroke alone


s: Inflict the wound, but rushing on the sword


s: Their throat or breast received it to the hilt;


s: And when by fatal chance or sire with son,


s: Or brothers met, yet with unfaltering weight


s: Down flashed the pitiless sword: this proved their love,


s: To give no second blow.  Half living now


s: They dragged their mangled bodies to the side,


s: Whence flowed into the sea a crimson stream


s: Of slaughter.  'Twas their pleasure yet to see


s: The light they scorned; with haughty looks to scan


s: The death approaching.  But the raft was now


s: Piled up with dead; which, when the foemen saw,


s: Wondering at such a chief and such a deed,


s: They gave them burial.  Never through the world


s: More widely blazed.  Yet meaner men, untaught


s: Which frees from slavery needs no valiant mind


s: To guide the stroke.  But tyranny is feared


s: As dealing death; and Freedom's self is galled


s: By ruthless arms; and knows not that the sword


s: Was given for this, that none need live a slave.


s: Ah Death!  would'st thou but let the coward live


s: And grant the brave alone the prize to die!


s: Nor less were Libyan fields ablaze with war.


s: For Curio rash from Lilybaean (16) coast


s: Sailed with his fleet, and borne by gentle winds


s: Betwixt half-ruined Carthage, mighty once,


s: And Clupea's cliff, upon the well-known shore


s: His anchors dropped.  First from the hoary sea


s: Remote, where Bagra slowly ploughs the sand,


s: He placed his camp: then sought the further hills


s: Antaeus' kingdom called.  From ancient days


s: This name was given; and thus a swain retold


s: Earth still another monster brought to birth,


s: More justly far her pride, than Briareus


s: With all his hundred hands, or Typhon fierce,


s: That not in Phlegra's (17) fields Antaeus grew,


s: But here in Libya; to her offspring's strength,


s: Unmeasured, vast, she added yet this boon,


s: He touched his parent, fresh from her embrace


s: In yonder cave he dwelt, 'neath yonder rock


s: He made his feast on lions slain in chase:


s: There slept he; not on skins of beasts, or leaves,


s: But fed his strength upon the naked earth.


s: Perished the Libyan hinds and those who came,


s: Brought here in ships, until he scorned at length


s: The earth that gave him strength, and on his feet


s: Made all his victims.  Last to Afric shores,


s: Drawn by the rumour of such carnage, came


s: Both land and sea of monsters.  Down on earth


s: Cast down the hide he wore.  With shining oil,


s: The hero rubs his limbs: the giant feared


s: His strength might fail; and cast o'er all his bulk


s: Hot sand in handfuls.  Thus with arms entwined


s: And grappling hands each seizes on his foe;


s: With hardened muscles straining at the neck


s: Long time in vain; for firm the sinewy throat


s: Stood column-like, nor yielded; so that each


s: Wondered to find his peer.  Nor at the first


s: Divine Alcides put forth all his strength,


s: By lengthy struggle wearing out his foe,


s: Till chilly drops stood on Antaeas' limbs,


s: And toppled to its fall the stately throat,


s: And smitten by the hero's blows, the legs


s: Began to totter.  Breast to breast they strive


s: To gain the vantage, till the victor's arms


s: Gird in the giant's yielding back and sides,


s: And squeeze his middle part: next 'twixt the thighs


s: He puts his feet, and forcing them apart,


s: Lays low the mighty monster limb by limb.


s: The dry earth drank his sweat, while in his veins


s: Warm ran the life-blood, and with strength refreshed,


s: The muscle swelled and all the joints grew firm,


s: And with his might restored, he breaks his bonds


s: Amazed the hero stood at such a strength.


s: Not thus he feared, though then unused to war,


s: That hydra fierce, which smitten in the marsh


s: Again they join in fight, one with the powers


s: Which earth bestowed, the other with his own:


s: Nor did the hatred of his step-dame (18) find


s: In all his conflicts greater room for hope.


s: She sees bedewed in sweat the neck and limbs


s: Which once had borne the mountain of the gods


s: Nor knew the toil: and when Antaeus felt


s: His foeman's arms close round him once again,


s: He flung his wearying limbs upon the sand


s: To rise with strength renewed; all that the earth,


s: Though labouring sore, could breathe into her son


s: She gave his frame.  But Hercules at last


s: Saw how his parent gave the giant strength.


s: 'Stand thou,' he cried; 'no more upon the ground


s: Thou liest at thy will -- here must thou stay


s: Within mine arms constrained; against this breast,


s: Antaeus, shalt thou fall.'  He lifted up


s: And held by middle girth the giant form,


s: Still struggling for the earth: but she no more


s: Could give her offspring rigour.  Slowly came


s: The chill of death upon him, and 'twas long


s: Trusted the earth and laid the giant down.


s: Hence hoar antiquity that loves to prate


s: And wonders at herself (19), this region called


s: Here was his camp; here can'st thou see the trace


s: Of that most famous rampart (20) whence at length


s: The fortunes of the spot must hold in store


s: The fates of former chiefs: and on the place


s: Of happy augury placed his tents ill-starred,


s: Took from the hills their omens; and with force


s: Then lay 'neath Varus.  He, though placing first


s: Trust in his Latian troops, from every side


s: And furthest regions, summons to his aid


s: The nations who confessed King Juba's rule.


s: Held the dominion.  From the western belt (21)


s: Near Gades, Atlas parts their furthest bounds;


s: But from the southern, Hammon girds them in


s: Hard by the whirlpools; and their burning plains


s: Stretch forth unending 'neath the torrid zone,


s: In breadth its equal, till they reach at length


s: From all these regions tribes unnumbered flock


s: To Juba's standard: Moors of swarthy hue


s: As though from Ind; Numidian nomads there


s: And Nasamon's needy hordes; and those whose darts


s: Dark Garamantians leave their fervid home;


s: And those whose coursers unrestrained by bit


s: Which wields the guiding switch: the hunter, too,


s: Who wanders forth, his home a fragile hut,


s: And blinds with flowing robe (if spear should fail)


s: Stirred Juba's spirit: private hatred too


s: Roused him to war.  For in the former year,


s: When Curio all things human and the gods


s: And drive the monarch from his father's throne,


s: While giving Rome a king.  To Juba thus,


s: Still smarting at the insult, came the war,


s: A welcome harvest for his crown retained.


s: These rumours Curio feared: nor had his troops


s: (Ta'en in Corfinium's hold) (23) in waves of Rhine


s: Had learned devotion: wavering in their faith,


s: Their second chief they doubt, their first betrayed.


s: Yet when the general saw the spirit of fear


s: Creep through his camp, and discipline to fail,


s: And sentinels desert their guard at night,


s: Thus in his fear he spake:  "By daring much


s: Fear is disguised; let me be first in arms,


s: And bid my soldiers to the plain descend,


s: While still my soldiers.  Idle days breed doubt.


s: By fight forestall the plot (24).  Soon as the thirst


s: Of bloodshed fills the mind, and eager hands


s: Grip firm the sword, and pressed upon the brow


s: The helm brings valour to the failing heart --


s: Who cares to measure leaders' merits then?


s: Who weighs the cause?  With whom the soldier stands,


s: Nerves for the combat, yet as he shall strike


s: He hates his rival."  Thinking thus he leads


s: His troops in battle order to the plain.


s: Then victory on his arms deceptive shone


s: Hiding the ills to come: for from the field


s: Driving the hostile host with sword and spear,


s: He smote them till their camp opposed his way.


s: But after Varus' rout, unseen till then,


s: By stealth came Juba: silent was his march;


s: His only fear lest rumour should forestall


s: To tempt the enemy, while in hollow vale


s: He holds the armies of his realm unseen.


s: Thus doth the sly ichneumon (25) with his tail


s: Drawn to the moving shadow: he, with head


s: Turned sideways, watches till the victim glides


s: Within his reach, then seizes by the throat


s: Behind the deadly fangs: forth from its seat


s: Balked of its purpose, through the brimming jaws


s: Gushes a tide of poison.  Fortune smiled


s: Sent forth his horse by night without the camp


s: To scour more distant regions.  He himself


s: At earliest peep of dawn bids carry forth


s: His standards; heeding not his captains' prayer


s: Urged on his ears: "Beware of Punic fraud,


s: The craft that taints a Carthaginian war."


s: And gave the youth to fate; and civil strife


s: Where broke the hills abruptly to their fall


s: He ranks his troops and sees the foe afar:


s: Till from the height in loose unordered lines


s: The Roman forces streamed upon the plain,


s: In thought that Juba fled.  Then first was known


s: The treacherous fraud: for swift Numidian horse


s: On every side surround them: leader, men --


s: All see their fate in one dread moment come.


s: No coward flees, no warrior bravely strides


s: To meet the battle: nay, the trumpet call


s: Stirs not the charger with resounding hoof


s: To spurn the rock, nor galling bit compels


s: To champ in eagerness; nor toss his mane


s: And prick the ear, nor prancing with his feet


s: To claim his share of combat.  Tired, the neck


s: Droops downwards: smoking sweat bedews the limbs:


s: Dry from the squalid mouth protrudes the tongue,


s: Hoarse, raucous panting issues from their chests;


s: Their flanks distend: and every curb is dry


s: With bloody foam; the ruthless sword alone


s: Could move them onward, powerless even then


s: To charge; but giving to the hostile dart


s: A nearer victim.  But when the Afric horse


s: First made their onset, loud beneath their hoofs


s: Rang the wide plain, and rose the dust in air


s: As by some Thracian whirlwind stirred; and veiled


s: The heavens in darkness.  When on Curio's host


s: The tempest burst, each footman in the rank


s: Stood there to meet his fate -- no doubtful end


s: Death to them all.  No conflict hand to hand


s: Was granted them, by lances thrown from far


s: And sidelong sword-thrusts slain: nor wounds alone,


s: But clouds of weapons falling from the air


s: By weight of iron o'erwhelmed them.  Still drew in


s: The straightening circle, for the first pressed back


s: He needs must perish by his comrades' swords.


s: And as the front rank fell, still narrower grew


s: The close crushed phalanx, till to raise their swords


s: Space was denied.  Still close and closer forced


s: The armed breasts against each other driven


s: Pressed out the life.  Thus not upon a scene


s: Such as their fortune promised, gazed the foe.


s: No tide of blood was there to glut their eyes,


s: No members lopped asunder, though the earth so


s: Was piled with corpses; for each Roman stood


s: In death upright against his comrade dead.


s: Let cruel Carthage rouse her hated ghosts


s: By this fell offering; let the Punic shades,


s: Receive atonement: yet 'twas shame, ye gods,


s: That Libya gained not for herself the day;


s: And that our Romans on that field should die


s: To save Pompeius and the Senate's cause.


s: Now was the dust laid low by streams of blood,


s: And Curio, knowing that his host was slain.


s: Chose not to live; and, as a brave man should.


s: He rushed upon the heap, and fighting fell.


s: In vain with turbid speech hast thou profaned


s: From that proud (26) citadel the tribune flag:


s: And armed the people, and the Senate's rights


s: Betraying, hast compelled this impious war


s: Betwixt the rival kinsmen.  Low thou liest


s: Before Pharsalus' fight, and from thine eyes


s: Is hid the war.  'Tis thus to suffering Rome,


s: Ye mighty make atonement with your blood.


s: Happy were Rome and all her sons indeed,


s: There Curio lies; untombed his noble corpse,


s: Torn by the vultures of the Libyan wastes.


s: Yet shall we, since such merit, though unsung,


s: Give thee thy meed of praise.  Rome never bore


s: Had so adorned her laws; but soon the times,


s: Of too abundant wealth, in transverse stream


s: Swept o'er his wavering mind: and Curio changed,


s: Turned with his change the scale of human things.


s: Lords of our lives.  But who had power like him?


s: All others bought the state: he sold alone. (27)


s: (1)  Both of these generals were able and distinguished officers.


s: Thapsus.  Petreius, after the same battle, escaped along


s: with Juba; and failing to find a refuge, they challenged


s: each other to fight.  Petreius was killed, and Juba, the


s: (2)  These are the names of Spanish tribes.  The Celtiberi dwelt


s: (3)  Lerida, on the river Segre, above its junction with the


s: Ebro.  Cinga is the modern Cinca, which falls into the Segre


s: (4)  Phrixus and Helle, the children of Nephele, were to be


s: sacrificed to Zeus: but Nephele rescued them, and they rode


s: away through the air on the Ram with the golden fleece.  But


s: Helle fell into the sea, which from her was named the


s: Hellespont. (See Book IX., 1126.)  The sun enters Aries


s: about March 20.  The Ram is pictured among the


s: (6)  See Mr. Heitland's introduction, upon the meaning of the


s: word "cardo".  The word "belt" seems fairly to answer to the


s: two great circles or four meridians which he describes.  The


s: (7)  The idea is that the cold of the poles tempers the heat of


s: (8)  Fuso: either spacious, outspread; or, poured into the land


s: (referring to the estuaries) as Mr. Haskins prefers; or,


s: poured round the island.  Portable leathern skiffs seem to


s: have been in common use in Caesar's time in the English


s: Channel.  These were the rowing boats of the Gauls.


s: (10) Compare the passage in Tacitus, "Histories", ii., 45,


s: in which the historian describes how the troops of Otho


s: and Vitellius wept over each other after the battle and


s: deplored the miseries of a civil war.  "Victi


s: victoresque in lacrumas effusi, sortem civilium armorum


s: (11) "Saecula nostra" may refer either to Lucan's own time or to


s: the moment arrived at in the poem; or it may, as Francken


s: (12) "Petenda est"? -- "is it fit that you should beg for the


s: lives of your leaders?"  Mr. Haskins says, "shall you have


s: to beg for them?"  But it means that to do so is the height


s: (13) The scene is the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic.  Here was


s: Diocletian's palace. (Described in the 13th chapter of


s: (14) That is, night was at its shortest.


s: (15) On the following passage see Dean Merivale's remarks,


s: "History of the Roman Empire", chapter xvi.


s: (17) For Phlegra, the scene of the battle between the giants and


s: the gods, see Book VII., 170, and Book IX., 774.  Ben Jonson


s: ("Sejanus", Act v., scene 10) says of Sejanus: --


s: "Phlegra, the field where all the sons of earth


s: Mustered against the gods, did ne'er acknowledge


s: (22) Curio was tribune in B.C. 50.  His earlier years are stated


s: (24) Preferring the reading "praeripe", with Francken.


s: (25) Bewick ("Quadrupeds," p. 238) tells the following anecdote


s: of a tame ichneumon which had never seen a serpent, and to


s: which he brought a small one.  "Its first emotion seemed to


s: be astonishment mixed with anger; its hair became erect; in


s: an instant it slipped behind the reptile, and with


s: remarkable swiftness and agility leaped upon its head,


s: seized it and crushed it with its teeth."


s: (26) Reading "arce", not "arte".  The word "signifer" seems to


s: favour the reading I have preferred; and Dean Merivale and


s: (27) For the character and career of Curio, see Merivale's


s: "History of the Roman Empire", chapter xvi.  He was of


s: profligate character, but a friend and pupil of Cicero; at


s: first a rabid partisan of the oligarchy, he had, about the


s: period of his tribuneship (B.C. 50-49), become a supporter


s: of Caesar.  How far Gaulish gold was the cause of this


s: conversion we cannot tell. It is in allusion to this change


s: that he was termed the prime mover of the civil war.  His


s: arrival in Caesar's camp is described in Book I., line 303.


s: He became Caesar's chief lieutenant in place of the deserter


s: Labienus; and, as described in Book III., was sent to


s: Sardinia and Sicily, whence he expelled the senatorial


s: forces.  His final expedition to Africa, defeat and death,


s: form the subject of the latter part of this book.  Mommsen


s: describes him as a man of talent, and finds a resemblance


s: Thus had the smiles of Fortune and her frowns


s: Brought either chief to Macedonian shores


s: Still equal to his foe.  From cooler skies


s: Sank Atlas' (1) daughters down, and Haemus' slopes


s: Were white with winter, and the day drew nigh


s: Devoted to the god who leads the months,


s: And marking with new names the book of Rome,


s: When came the Fathers from their distant posts


s: By both the Consuls to Epirus called (2)


s: Ere yet the year was dead: a foreign land


s: Obscure received the magistrates of Rome,


s: And heard their high debate.  No warlike camp


s: This; for the Consul's and the Praetor's axe


s: Proclaimed the Senate-house; and Magnus sat


s: When all were silent, from his lofty seat


s: Thus Lentulus began, while stern and sad


s: The Fathers listened: "If your hearts still beat


s: With Latian blood, and if within your breasts


s: Still lives your fathers' vigour, look not now


s: On this strange land that holds us, nor enquire


s: Your distance from the captured city: yours


s: This proud assembly, yours the high command


s: In all that comes.  Be this your first decree,


s: Whose truth all peoples and all kings confess;


s: Be this the Senate.  Let the frozen wain


s: Demand your presence, or the torrid zone


s: Wherein the day and night with equal tread


s: For ever march; still follows in your steps


s: When flamed the Capitol with fires of Gaul


s: Was Rome, nor ever though it changed its clime


s: Your order lost its rights.  In Caesar's hands


s: Are sorrowing houses and deserted homes,


s: Laws silent for a space, and forums closed


s: In public fast.  His Senate-house beholds


s: Those Fathers only whom from Rome it drove,


s: While Rome was full.  Of that high order all


s: Not here, are exiles. (3)  Ignorant of war,


s: Its crimes and bloodshed, through long years of peace,


s: Ye fled its outburst: now in session all


s: Are here assembled.  See ye how the gods


s: Weigh down Italia's loss by all the world


s: Thrown in the other scale?  Illyria's wave


s: Rolls deep upon our foes: in Libyan wastes


s: Is fallen their Curio, the weightier part (4)


s: Of Caesar's senate!  Lift your standards, then,


s: Spur on your fates and prove your hopes to heaven.


s: Let Fortune, smiling, give you courage now


s: As, when ye fled, your cause.  The Consuls' power


s: Fails with the dying year: not so does yours;


s: They heard his words, and placed their country's fates,


s: Nor less their own, within the chieftain's hands.


s: Then did they shower on people and on kings


s: Honours well earned -- Rhodes, Mistress of the Seas,


s: Was decked with gifts; Athena, old in fame,


s: Received her praise, and the rude tribes who dwell


s: Their own Phocaea's freedom; on the chiefs


s: Of Thracian tribes, fit honours were bestowed.


s: To serve King Juba's sceptre; and, alas!


s: The faithless sovereign, scandal to the gods,


s: Of Pella.  Boy!  thy sword was only sharp


s: Against thy people.  Ah if that were all!


s: The fatal gift gave, too, Pompeius' life;


s: Bereft thy sister of her sire's bequest, (5)


s: In doubtful sort, against their hidden fate


s: Feared for the chances of the war, and sought


s: Through Phoebus' ancient oracle to break


s: The silence of the gods and know the end.


s: Between the western belt and that which bounds (7)


s: The furthest east, midway Parnassus rears


s: The Theban band leads up the Delphic feast


s: On each third year.  This mountain, when the sea


s: Poured o'er the earth her billows, rose alone,


s: By one high peak scarce master of the waves,


s: Parting the crest of waters from the stars.


s: There, to avenge his mother, from her home


s: Chased by the angered goddess while as yet


s: She bore him quick within her, Paean came


s: (When Themis ruled the tripods and the spot) (8)


s: And with unpractised darts the Python slew.


s: But when he saw how from the yawning cave


s: A godlike knowledge breathed, and all the air


s: Was full of voices murmured from the depths,


s: He took the shrine and filled the deep recess;


s: Has left heaven's light in this dark cave to hide?


s: What spirit that knows the secrets of the world


s: And things to come, here condescends to dwell,


s: Divine, omnipotent?  bear the touch of man,


s: And at his bidding deigns to lift the veil?


s: Perchance he sings the fates, perchance his song,


s: Once sung, is fate.  Haply some part of Jove


s: Sent here to rule the earth with mystic power,


s: Sounds through the caves, and in its flight returns


s: To that high home of thunder whence it came.


s: Strikes on the human spirit: then a voice


s: Sounds from her breast, as when the lofty peak


s: Of Etna boils, forced by compelling flames,


s: Frets 'neath the pile of huge Inarime. (9)


s: Though free to all that ask, denied to none,


s: That heralds forth the god; no whispered vow,


s: No evil prayer prevails; none favour gain:


s: Yet loves the just.  When men have left their homes


s: To seek another, it hath turned their steps


s: Aright, as with the Tyrians; (10)  and raised


s: The hearts of nations to confront their foe,


s: As prove the waves of Salamis: (11)  when earth


s: Has plagued mankind, this utterance benign


s: Hath raised their hopes and pointed to the end.


s: No gift from heaven's high gods so great as this


s: Our centuries have lost, since Delphi's shrine


s: Has silent stood, and kings forbade the gods (12)


s: To speak the future, fearing for their fates.


s: Nor does the priestess sorrow that the voice


s: To her is happiness; for whatever breast


s: Shakes the frail breath that with the god receives,


s: These tripods Appius seeks, unmoved for years


s: These soundless caverned rocks, in quest to learn


s: The keeper calls Phemonoe; (13) whose steps


s: Round the Castalian fount and in the grove


s: Were wandering careless; her he bids to pass


s: The portals.  But the priestess feared to tread


s: The awful threshold, and with vain deceits


s: Sought to dissuade the chieftain from his zeal


s: To learn the future.  "What this hope," she cried,


s: "Roman, that moves thy breast to know the fates?


s: Stifled the god; perhaps the breath divine


s: Has left its ancient gorge and thro' the world


s: Wanders in devious paths; or else the fane,


s: Consumed to ashes by barbarian (14) fire,


s: Closed up the deep recess and choked the path


s: Of Phoebus; or the ancient Sibyl's books


s: Disclosed enough of fate, and thus the gods


s: Since wicked steps are banished from the fane,


s: In this our impious age the god finds none


s: Whom he may answer."  But the maiden's guile


s: Was known, for though she would deny the gods


s: Her fears approved them.  On her front she binds


s: A twisted fillet, while a shining wreath


s: Of Phocian laurels crowns the locks that flow


s: The priest compelled her, and she passed within.


s: But horror filled her of the holiest depths


s: And resting near the doors, in breast unmoved


s: She dares invent the god in words confused,


s: Which proved no mind possessed with fire divine;


s: By such false chant less injuring the chief


s: Than faith in Phoebus and the sacred fane.


s: No burst of words with tremor in their tones,


s: No voice re-echoing through the spacious vault


s: Proclaimed the deity, no bristling locks


s: Shook off the laurel chaplet; but the grove


s: Unshaken, and the summits of the shrine,


s: Gave proof she shunned the god.  The Roman knew


s: "Wretch," he exclaimed, "to us and to the gods,


s: Whose presence thou pretendest, thou shalt pay


s: For this thy fraud the punishment; unless


s: Thou enter the recess, and speak no more,


s: Of this world-war, this tumult of mankind,


s: Thine own inventions."  Then by fear compelled,


s: At length the priestess sought the furthest depths,


s: And stayed beside the tripods; and there came


s: Breathed from the living rock for centuries


s: Untouched; nor ever with a mightier power


s: Of Delphic priestess; his pervading touch


s: Drove out her former mind, expelled the man,


s: And made her wholly his.  In maddened trance


s: She whirls throughout the cave, her locks erect


s: Dashed to the ground; her steps unguided turn


s: To this side and to that; the tripods fall


s: O'erturned; within her seethes the mighty fire


s: He urged her onwards, but with curb restrained;


s: Nor was it given her by the god to speak


s: All that she knew; for into one vast mass (15)


s: All time was gathered, and her panting chest


s: Groaned 'neath the centuries.  In order long


s: All things lay bare: the future yet unveiled


s: Struggled for light; each fate required a voice;


s: The compass of the seas, Creation's birth,


s: Creation's death, the number of the sands,


s: All these she knew.  Thus on a former day


s: The prophetess upon the Cuman shore, (16)


s: Disdaining that her frenzy should be slave


s: To other nations, from the boundless threads


s: Chose out with pride of hand the fates of Rome.


s: With fates unnumbered, laboured ere she found,


s: Beneath such mighty destinies concealed,


s: Thine, Appius, who alone had'st sought the god


s: In land Castalian; then from foaming lips


s: First rushed the madness forth, and murmurs loud


s: Uttered with panting breath and blent with groans;


s: Till through the spacious vault a voice at length


s: Broke from the virgin conquered by the god:


s: "From this great struggle thou, O Roman, free


s: Escap'st the threats of war: alive, in peace,


s: Thou shalt possess the hollow in the coast


s: Of vast Euboea."  Thus she spake, no more.


s: Ye mystic tripods, guardians of the fates


s: And Paean, thou, from whom no day is hid


s: By heaven's high rulers, Master of the truth,


s: Why fear'st thou to reveal the deaths of kings,


s: Rome's murdered princes, and the latest doom


s: Of her great Empire tottering to its fall,


s: And all the bloodshed of that western land?


s: Were yet the stars in doubt on Magnus' fate


s: Not yet decreed, and did the gods yet shrink


s: That Fortune's sword for civil strife might wreak


s: Just vengeance, and a Brutus' arm once more


s: Rushed forth the prophetess in frenzy driven,


s: Not all her knowledge uttered; and her eyes,


s: Still troubled by the god who reigned within,


s: Or filled with wild affright, or fired with rage


s: Gaze on the wide expanse: still works her face


s: Convulsive; on her cheeks a crimson blush


s: With ghastly pallor blent, though not of fear.


s: Her weary heart throbs ever; and as seas


s: Boom swollen by northern winds, she finds in sighs,


s: She hastes from that dread light in which she saw


s: The fates, to common day, lo!  on her path


s: The darkness fell.  Then by a Stygian draught


s: Of the forgetful river, Phoebus snatched


s: Back from her soul his secrets; and she fell


s: Baffled, while yet the Empire of the world


s: Hung in the balance, sought his promised realm


s: All ills of earth, the crash of war -- what god


s: Can give thee such a boon, but death alone?


s: Awaits thee, where Carystos' marble crags (17)


s: Draw in the passage of the sea, and where


s: Who hate the proud, and where the ocean strait


s: Boils in swift whirlpools, and Euripus draws


s: Deceitful in his tides, a bane to ships,


s: Chalcidian vessels to bleak Aulis' shore.


s: But Caesar carried from the conquered west


s: When envying his victorious course the gods


s: Almost turned back the prosperous tide of fate.


s: Not on the battle-field borne down by arms


s: But in his tents, within the rampart lines,


s: Seemed for a moment gone.  That faithful host,


s: His comrades trusted in a hundred fields,


s: Or that the falchion sheathed had lost its charm;


s: Scarce ever silent; or replete with blood,


s: Well nigh betrayed their general and sold


s: For hope of gain their honour and their cause.


s: No other perilous shock gave surer proof


s: How trembled 'neath his feet the dizzy height


s: From which great Caesar looked.  A moment since


s: His high behest drew nations to the field:


s: Now, maimed of all, he sees that swords once drawn


s: Are weapons for the soldier, not the chief.


s: From the stern ranks no doubtful murmur rose;


s: His comrades doubting, feared himself in turn;


s: Alone (he thinks) indignant at the wrongs


s: Wrought by the despot.  In so great a host


s: Dread found no place.  Where thousands share the guilt


s: Crime goes unpunished.  Thus from dauntless throats


s: They hurled their menace: "Caesar, give us leave


s: To quit thy crimes; thou seek'st by land and sea


s: The sword to slay us; let the fields of Gaul


s: How for thy victories our comrades fell.


s: What boots it us that by an army's blood


s: The Rhine and Rhone and all the northern lands


s: Thou hast subdued?  Thou giv'st us civil war


s: For all these battles; such the prize.  When fled


s: The Senate trembling, and when Rome was ours


s: What homes or temples did we spoil?  Our hands


s: Reek with offence!  Aye, but our poverty


s: Proclaims our innocence!  What end shall be


s: Of arms and armies?  What shall be enough


s: If Rome suffice not?  and what lies beyond?


s: Behold these silvered locks, these nerveless hands


s: And shrunken arms, once stalwart!  In thy wars


s: Gone is the strength of life, gone all its pride!


s: Dismiss thine aged soldiers to their deaths.


s: How shameless is our prayer!  Not on hard turf


s: To stretch our dying limbs; nor seek in vain,


s: When parts the soul, a hand to close our eyes;


s: Not with the helmet strike the stony clod: (19)


s: Rather to feel the dear one's last embrace,


s: Let nature end old age.  And dost thou think


s: Will fetch the highest price?  What thou canst dare


s: These years have proved, or nothing; law divine


s: Nor human ordinance shall hold thine hand.


s: Thou wert our leader on the banks of Rhine;


s: Henceforth our equal; for the stain of crime


s: Makes all men like to like.  Add that we serve


s: A thankless chief: as fortune's gift he takes


s: The fruits of victory our arms have won.


s: We are his fortunes, and his fates are ours


s: To fashion as we will.  Boast that the gods


s: Shall do thy bidding!  Nay, thy soldiers' will


s: Shall close the war."  With threatening mien and speech


s: Thus through the camp the troops demand their chief.


s: When faith and loyalty are fled, and hope


s: What general had not feared at such revolt?


s: But mighty Caesar trusting on the throw,


s: As was his wont, his fortune, and o'erjoyed


s: To front their anger raging at its height


s: Unflinching comes.  No temples of the gods,


s: Not Jove's high fane on the Tarpeian rock,


s: Not Rome's high dames nor maidens had he grudged


s: To their most savage lust: that they should ask


s: The worst, his wish, and love the spoils of war.


s: Nor feared he aught save order at the hands


s: Of that unconquered host.  Art thou not shamed


s: That strife should please thee only, now condemned


s: Even by thy minions?  Shall they shrink from blood,


s: They from the sword recoil?  and thou rush on


s: Heedless of guilt, through right and through unright,


s: Nor learn that men may lay their arms aside


s: Escapes thy grasp.  Stay thou thy crimes at length;


s: Nor force thy will on those who will no more.


s: And, since he feared not, worthy to be feared;


s: And thus while anger stirred his soul began:


s: "Thou that with voice and hand didst rage but now


s: Against thine absent chief, behold me here;


s: Here strike thy sword into this naked breast,


s: To stay the war; and flee, if such thy wish.


s: Betrays your coward souls, betrays the youth


s: Who tires of victories which gild the arms


s: Of an unconquered chief, and yearns for flight.


s: Well, leave me then to battle and to fate!


s: I cast you forth; for every weapon left,


s: Fortune shall find a man, to wield it well.


s: Shall Magnus in his flight with such a fleet


s: Draw nations in his train; and not to me as


s: My victories bring hosts, to whom shall fall


s: The prize of war accomplished, who shall reap


s: Your laurels scorned, and scathless join the train


s: That leads my chariot to the sacred hill?


s: While you, despised in age and worn in war,


s: Gaze on our triumph from the civic crowd.


s: Were to withdraw their waters, it would fail


s: By not one inch, no more than by their flow


s: It rises now.  Have then your efforts given


s: Strength to my cause?  Not so: the heavenly gods


s: Stoop not so low; fate has no time to judge


s: Your lives and deaths.  The fortunes of the world


s: With me the northern and Iberian worlds,


s: Would flee when led by Magnus.  Strong in arms


s: For Caesar's cause was Labienus; (20) now


s: That vile deserter, with his chief preferred,


s: Wanders o'er land and sea.  Nor were your faith


s: One whit more firm to me if, neither side


s: Espoused, you ceased from arms.  Who leaves me once,


s: Though not to fight against me with the foe,


s: Joins not my ranks again.  Surely the gods


s: Smile on these arms who for so great a war


s: Grant me fresh soldiers.  From what heavy load


s: Fortune relieves me!  for the hands which aimed


s: At all, to which the world did not suffice,


s: Reserve the conflict.  Quit ye, then, my camp,


s: 'Quirites', (21) Caesar's soldiers now no more,


s: And leave my standards to the grasp of men!


s: Yet some who led this mad revolt I hold,


s: Not as their captain now, but as their judge.


s: Lie, traitors, prone on earth, stretch out the neck


s: And take th' avenging blow.  And thou whose strength


s: Shall now support me, young and yet untaught,


s: Behold the doom and learn to strike and die."


s: Such were his words of ire, and all the host


s: Drew back and trembled at the voice of him


s: They would depose, as though their very swords


s: Would from their scabbards leap at his command


s: Themselves unwilling; but he only feared


s: Might be denied, till they submitting pledged


s: Their lives and swords alike, beyond his hope.


s: To strike and suffer (22) holds in surest thrall


s: The heart inured to guilt; and Caesar kept,


s: From soft Calabria's inlets and the point


s: Where sheltered Sipus nestles at the feet


s: Of rich Garganus, jutting from the shore


s: In huge escarpment that divides the waves


s: Of Hadria; on each hand, his seaward slopes


s: Of Boreas rushing from Dalmatian strands.


s: But Caesar entered trembling Rome unarmed,


s: Now taught to serve him in the garb of peace.


s: Dictator named, to grant their prayers, forsooth:


s: Then first of all the names by which we now


s: Lie to our masters, men found out the use:


s: For to preserve his right to wield the sword


s: He mixed the civil axes with his brands;


s: Clothing his power; and stamped upon the time


s: Could better mark the dread Pharsalian year


s: Than "Caesar, Consul"?  (23) Now the famous field


s: The tribes in order and divides the votes


s: Nor do they heed the portents of the sky:


s: Deaf were the augurs to the thunder roll;


s: The owl flew on the left; yet were the birds


s: Propitious sworn.  Then was the ancient name


s: Degraded first; and monthly Consuls, (24)


s: Shorn of their rank, are chosen to mark the years.


s: And Trojan Alba's (25) god (since Latium's fall


s: Blaze from his altars on the festal night.


s: Then through Apulia's fallows, that her hinds


s: Left all untilled, to sluggish weeds a prey


s: Passed Caesar onward, swifter than the fire


s: Of heaven, or tigress dam: until he reached


s: Brundusium's winding ramparts, built of old


s: Constrained the billows, and his trembling fleet


s: Feared for the winter storms nor dared the main.


s: But Caesar's soul burned at the moments lost


s: For speedy battle, nor could brook delay


s: Should give safe passage to his routed foe:


s: And thus he stirred his troops, in seas unskilled,


s: With words of courage: "When the winter wind


s: Has seized on sky and ocean, firm its hold;


s: Upon the billows.  Straight shall be our course.


s: No winding nooks of coast, but open seas


s: Struck by the northern wind alone we plough,


s: And may he bend the spars, and bear us swift


s: Smiting the billows from Phaeacian (26) coasts,


s: May catch our flagging sails.  Cast loose the ropes


s: From our victorious prows.  Too long we waste


s: Tempests that blow to bear us to our goal."


s: Now sank the sun to rest; the evening star


s: Shone on the darkening heaven, and the moon


s: Reigned with her paler light, when all the fleet


s: Freed from retaining cables seized the main.


s: With slackened sheet the canvas wooed the breeze,


s: Which rose and fell and fitful died away,


s: Till motionless the sails, and all the waves


s: Were still as deepest pool, where never wind


s: Ripples the surface.  Thus in Scythian climes


s: Bound fast in frosty fetters; Ister's streams (27)


s: No more impel the main, and ships constrained


s: Stand fast in ice; and while in depths below


s: The waves still murmur, loud the charger's hoof


s: Sounds on the surface, and the travelling wheel


s: In stagnant pools upon the mournful deep:


s: Against the course of nature lay outstretched


s: Forgat its ancient ways and knew no more


s: The ceaseless tides, nor any breeze of heaven,


s: Mirrored upon its wave.  For while the fleet


s: Might hurry to attack, with sturdy stroke


s: Churning the deep; or famine's deadly grip


s: Might seize the ships becalmed.  For dangers new


s: New vows they find.  "May mighty winds arise


s: And rouse the ocean, and this sluggish plain


s: Cast off stagnation and be sea once more."


s: Thus did they pray, but cloudless shone the sky,


s: Unrippled slept the surface of the main;


s: And stirred the depths, and moved the fleet along


s: Towards the Ceraunian headland; and the waves


s: And favouring breezes followed on the ships,


s: Now speeding faster, till (their goal attained)


s: They cast their anchors on Palaeste's (28) shore.


s: This land first saw the chiefs in neighbouring camps


s: Confronted, which the streams of Apsus bound


s: Scarce flowing from a marsh, the frequent boat


s: Finds room to swim; while on the foamy bed


s: The melted snows pour seawards.  Here were met


s: (So Fortune ordered it) the mighty pair;


s: And in its woes the world yet vainly hoped


s: That brought to nearer touch their crime itself


s: Might bleed abhorrence: for from either camp


s: Voices were clearly heard and features seen.


s: Nor e'er, Pompeius, since that distant day


s: When Caesar's daughter and thy spouse was reft


s: By pitiless fate away, nor left a pledge,


s: Did thy loved kinsman (save on sands of Nile)


s: But Caesar's mind though frenzied for the fight


s: Was forced to pause until Antonius brought


s: Rehearsing Leucas' fight.  With prayers and threats


s: Caesar exhorts him.  "Why delay the fates,


s: Thou cause of evil to the suffering world?


s: My speed hath won the major part: from thee


s: Do Libyan whirlpools with deceitful tides


s: Untried to which I call?  To unknown risks


s: Art thou commanded?  Caesar bids thee come,


s: Thou sluggard, not to leave him.  Long ago


s: I ran my ships midway through sands and shoals


s: To harbours held by foes; and dost thou fear


s: My friendly camp?  I mourn the waste of days


s: And winds I call unceasing: hold not back


s: Thy willing troops, but let them dare the sea;


s: Here gladly shall they come to join my camp,


s: Though risking shipwreck.  Not in equal shares


s: The world has fallen between us: thou alone


s: And all the lords of Rome."  Twice called and thrice


s: Antonius lingered still: but Caesar thought


s: Not sit supine; and knowing danger yields


s: To whom heaven favours, he upon the waves


s: Feared by Antonius' fleets, in shallow boat


s: Embarked, and daring sought the further shore.


s: Now gentle night had brought repose from arms;


s: And sleep, blest guardian of the poor man's couch,


s: Restored the weary; and the camp was still.


s: The hour was come that called the second watch


s: With cautious tread advanced to such a deed (29)


s: As slaves should dare not.  Fortune for his guide,


s: Stretched in repose he leaps, in secret wrath


s: At such a sleep.  Pacing the winding beach,


s: On ocean's marge afloat.  Hard by on shore


s: Its master dwelt within his humble home.


s: No solid front it reared, for sterile rush


s: And marshy reed enwoven formed the walls,


s: Propped by a shallop with its bending sides


s: Turned upwards.  Caesar's hand upon the door


s: Knocks twice and thrice until the fabric shook.


s: Arising, calls: "What shipwrecked sailor seeks


s: My humble home?  Who hopes for aid from me,


s: By fates adverse compelled?"  He stirs the heap


s: Glows in the darkness, and throws wide the door.


s: Careless of war, he knew that civil strife


s: Stoops not to cottages.  Oh!  happy life


s: That poverty affords!  great gift of heaven


s: Too little understood!  what mansion wall,


s: What temple of the gods, would feel no fear


s: When Caesar called for entrance?  Then the chief:


s: "Enlarge thine hopes and look for better things.


s: Place me, and thou shalt cease from one poor boat


s: To earn thy living; and in years to come


s: Look for a rich old age: and trust thy fates


s: To those high gods whose wont it is to bless


s: The poor with sudden plenty."  So he spake


s: E'en at such time in accents of command,


s: For how could Caesar else?  Amyclas said,


s: "'Twere dangerous to brave the deep to-night.


s: Or peaceful rays to rest; part of his beams


s: Presaged a southern gale, the rest proclaimed


s: Shorn of its strength, permitted human eyes


s: Rose not with silver horns upon the night


s: Nor pure in middle space; her slender points


s: Not drawn aright, but blushing with the track


s: Of raging tempests, till her lurid light


s: Was sadly veiled within the clouds.  Again


s: The forest sounds; the surf upon the shore;


s: The dolphin's mood, uncertain where to play;


s: And soaring on his wings -- all these alarm;


s: The raven, too, who plunged his head in spray,


s: But if the cause demands, behold me thine.


s: Either we reach the bidden shore, or else


s: Storm and the deep forbid -- we can no more."


s: Thus said he loosed the boat and raised the sail.


s: No sooner done than stars were seen to fall


s: In flaming furrows from the sky: nay, more;


s: The pole star trembled in its place on high:


s: Black horror marked the surging of the sea;


s: The main was boiling in long tracts of foam,


s: Uncertain of the wind, yet seized with storm.


s: Then spake the captain of the trembling bark:


s: "See what remorseless ocean has in store!


s: Whether from east or west the storm may come


s: The billows tumble.  Judged by clouds and sky


s: A western tempest: by the murmuring deep


s: A wild south-eastern gale shall sweep the sea.


s: Nor bark nor man shall reach Hesperia's shore


s: Back on our course forbidden by the gods,


s: Is our one refuge, and with labouring boat


s: To reach the shore ere yet the nearest land


s: Was in himself, to make all dangers yield.


s: And thus he answered: "Scorn the threatening sea,


s: Spread out thy canvas to the raging wind;


s: One cause of terror just -- thou dost not know


s: Thy comrade, ne'er deserted by the gods,


s: Whom fortune blesses e'en without a prayer.


s: Break through the middle storm and trust in me.


s: The burden of this fight fails not on us


s: Shall swim the billows safe in him it bears.


s: Nor shall the wind rage long: the boat itself


s: Shall calm the waters.  Flee the nearest shore,


s: Steer for the ocean with unswerving hand:


s: Then in the deep, when to our ship and us


s: No other port is given, believe thou hast


s: Calabria's harbours.  And dost thou not know


s: The purpose of such havoc?  Fortune seeks


s: Swooped on the boat and tore away the sheet:


s: The fluttering sail fell on the fragile mast:


s: And groaned the joints.  From all the universe


s: First Corus (30) lifts his head, and stirs the depths


s: Whole seas and oceans; but the chilly north


s: Drove back the deep that doubted which was lord.


s: But Scythian Aquilo prevailed, whose blast


s: Tossed up the main and showed as shallow pools


s: Each deep abyss; and yet was not the sea


s: Heaped on the crags, for Corus' billows met


s: The waves of Boreas: such seas had clashed


s: Even were the winds withdrawn; Eurus enraged


s: Burst from the cave, and Notus black with rain,


s: And all the winds from every part of heaven


s: Strove for their own; and thus the ocean stayed


s: Rapt in the storm are whirled.  The Tuscan deep


s: Sounds wandering Hadria.  How long the crags


s: Which that day fell, the Ocean's blows had braved!


s: What lofty peaks did vanquished earth resign!


s: And yet on yonder coast such mighty waves


s: Took not their rise; from distant regions came


s: Those monster billows, driven on their course


s: By that great current which surrounds the world. (31)


s: Thus did the King of Heaven, when length of years


s: Wore out the forces of his thunder, call


s: His brother's trident to his help, what time


s: The earth and sea one second kingdom formed


s: Now, too, the sea had risen to the stars


s: Pressed down its waves with clouds: came not from heaven


s: That night, as others; but the murky air


s: Was dim with pallor of the realms below; (32)


s: The sky lay on the deep; within the clouds


s: The waves received the rain: the lightning flash


s: Clove through the parted air a path obscured


s: By mist and darkness: and the heavenly vaults


s: That holds the sky was shaken.  Nature feared


s: Had burst their bonds, and night had come to mix


s: Not to have perished was their only hope.


s: Far as from Leucas point the placid main


s: Spreads to the horizon, from the billow's crest


s: They viewed the dashing of th' infuriate sea;


s: Thence sinking to the middle trough, their mast


s: Scarce topped the watery height on either hand,


s: Their sails in clouds, their keel upon the ground.


s: For all the sea was piled into the waves,


s: And drawn from depths between laid bare the sand.


s: For fear o'ercame; he knew not where to yield


s: Or where to meet the wave: but safety came


s: From ocean's self at war: one billow forced


s: Repelled it upwards, and she rode the storm


s: Through every blast triumphant.  Not the shore


s: Of humble Sason (33), nor Thessalia's coast


s: "Are such the labours of the gods?" exclaimed,


s: "Bent on my downfall have they sought me thus,


s: Whatever death they send shall strike me down.


s: Let fate cut short the deeds that I would do


s: And hasten on the end: the past is mine.


s: The northern nations fell beneath my sword;


s: My dreaded name compels the foe to flee.


s: Pompeius yields me place; the people's voice


s: And all the titles which denote the powers


s: Known to the Roman state my name shall bear.


s: Let none know this but thou who hear'st my prayers,


s: Fortune, that Caesar summoned to the shades,


s: Ere his last prize was won.  I ask no pomp


s: Mangled beneath the waves: I leave a name


s: That men shall dread in ages yet to come


s: And all the earth shall honour."  Thus he spake,


s: When lo!  a tenth gigantic billow raised


s: The feeble keel, and where between the rocks


s: A cleft gave safety, placed it on the shore.


s: Thus in a moment fortune, kingdoms, lands,


s: When daylight came, he entered not the camp


s: Silent as when he parted; for his friends


s: Soon pressed around him, and with weeping eyes


s: "Whither in reckless daring hast thou gone,


s: Unpitying Caesar?  Were these humble lives


s: Left here unguarded while thy limbs were given,


s: Unsought for, to be scattered by the storm?


s: For life and safety, and so great a world


s: Calls thee its master, to have courted death


s: Proves want of heart.  Was none of all thy friends


s: Deserving held to join his fate with thine?


s: When thou wast tossed upon the raging deep


s: We lay in slumber!  Shame upon such sleep!


s: And why thyself didst seek Italia's shores?


s: 'Twere cruel (such thy thought) to speak the word


s: All men must bear what chance or fate may bring,


s: The sudden peril and the stroke of death;


s: But shall the ruler of the world attempt


s: The raging ocean?  With incessant prayers


s: To crown the war, that Fortune and the deep


s: Have cast thee on our shores?  And would'st thou use


s: Not lordship, not the empire of the world,


s: But lucky shipwreck!"  Night dispersed, and soon


s: The sun beamed on them, and the wearied deep,


s: The winds permitting, lulled its waves to rest.


s: Fresh from a cloudless heaven, to break the sea,


s: He loosed his ships which, by the pilots' hands


s: Swept as a marching host across the main.


s: But night unfriendly from the seamen snatched


s: All governance of sail, parting the ships


s: In divers paths asunder.  Like as cranes


s: Deserting frozen Strymon for the streams


s: Of Nile, when winter falls, in casual lines


s: Of wedge-like figures (34) first ascend the sky;


s: But when in loftier heaven the southern breeze


s: Strikes on their pinions tense, in loose array


s: Dispersed at large, in flight irregular,


s: They wing their journey onwards.  Stronger winds


s: Past Lissus' shelter which they vainly sought,


s: Till bare to northern blasts, Nymphaeum's port,


s: But safe in southern, gave the fleet repose,


s: That Caesar's troops were gathered in their strength


s: And that the war for quick decision called


s: Safe and apart: so lifting from his soul


s: The weight that burdened it.  Thus, lawful Love.


s: Thus art thou tyrant o'er the mightiest mind!


s: His spouse was the one cause why Magnus stayed


s: Nor met his fortunes, though he staked the world


s: And all the destinies of Rome.  The word


s: He speaks not though resolved; so sweet it seemed,


s: A pause from Fate!  But at the close of night,


s: When drowsy sleep had fled, Cornelia sought


s: And win his kisses.  Then amazed she saw


s: His cheek was tearful, and with boding soul


s: She shrank instinctive from the hidden wound,


s: Nor dared to rouse him weeping.  But he spake:


s: "Dearer to me than life itself, when life


s: Is happy (not at moments such as these);


s: The day of sorrow comes, too long delayed,


s: Nor long enough!  With Caesar at our gates


s: Thou wilt not long be absent from thy lord.


s: Disasters hasten, and things highest fall


s: With speediest ruin.  'Tis enough for thee


s: To hear of Magnus' peril; and thy love (35)


s: Deceives thee with the thought that thou canst gaze


s: Unmoved on civil strife.  It shames my soul


s: On the eve of war to slumber at thy side,


s: And rise from thy dear breast when trumpets call


s: Lie hid, nor let the fortune of thy lord


s: Whelm thee with all its weight.  If unkind heaven


s: Our armies rout, still let my choicest part


s: Still leave me that whereto I fain would flee."


s: Hardly at first her senses grasped the words


s: In their full misery; then her mind amazed


s: Could scarce find utterance for the grief that pressed.


s: "Nought, Magnus, now is left wherewith to upbraid


s: The gods and fates of marriage; 'tis not death


s: That parts our love, nor yet the funeral pyre,


s: Nor that dread torch which marks the end of all.


s: I share the ignoble lot of vulgar lives:


s: My spouse rejects me.  Yes, the foe is come!


s: Break we our bonds and Julia's sire appease! --


s: Is this thy consort, Magnus, this thy faith


s: In her fond loving heart?  Can danger fright


s: Her and not thee?  Long since our mutual fates


s: Hang by one chain; and dost thou bid me now


s: Without thee?  Is it well that I should die


s: Even while you pray for fortune?  And suppose


s: I flee from evil and with death self-sought


s: Follow thy footsteps to the realms below --


s: Add that thou fain by use would'st give me strength


s: To bear such sorrow and my doom.  Forgive


s: Thy wife confessing that she fears the power.


s: And if my prayers shall bring the victory,


s: The joyful tale shall come to me the last


s: In that lone isle of rocks.  When all are glad,


s: My heart shall throb with anguish, and the sail


s: Which brings the message I shall see with fear,


s: Not safe e'en then: for Caesar in his flight


s: Might seize me there, abandoned and alone


s: To be his hostage.  If thou place me there,


s: The spouse of Magnus, shall not all the world


s: This my last prayer: if all is lost but flight,


s: And thou shalt seek the ocean, to my shores


s: Turn not thy keel, ill-fated one: for there,


s: There will they seek thee."  Thus she spoke distraught,


s: Leaped from the couch and rushed upon her fate;


s: No stop nor stay: she clung not to his neck


s: Nor threw her arms about him; both forego


s: The last caress, the last fond pledge of love,


s: And grief rushed in unchecked upon their souls;


s: Still gazing as they part no final words


s: Could either utter, and the sweet Farewell


s: Remained unspoken.  This the saddest day


s: Of all their lives: for other woes that came


s: More gently struck on hearts inured to grief.


s: Borne to the shore with failing limbs she fell


s: And grasped the sands, embracing, till at last


s: Her maidens placed her senseless in the ship.


s: Not in such grief she left her country's shores


s: When Caesar's host drew near; for now she leaves,


s: Though faithful to her lord, his side in flight


s: And flees her spouse.  All that next night she waked;


s: Then first what means a widowed couch she knew,


s: Its cold, its solitude.  When slumber found


s: Her eyelids, and forgetfulness her soul,


s: Seeking with outstretched arms the form beloved,


s: She grasps but air.  Though tossed by restless love,


s: She leaves a place beside her as for him


s: Returning.  Yet she feared Pompeius lost


s: Worse than her fears, and in the hour of woe


s: (1)  The Pleiades, said to be daughters of Atlas.


s: (2)  These were the Consuls for the expiring year, B.C. 49 --


s: (3)  That is to say, Caesar's Senate at Rome could boast of those


s: public enemies.  But they were to be regarded as exiles,


s: having lost their rights, rather than the Senators in


s: Epirus, who were in full possession of theirs.


s: (4)  Dean Merivale says that probably Caesar's Senate was not


s: less numerous than his rival's.  Duruy says there were


s: and 600.  Mommsen says, "they were veritably emigrants.


s: This Roman Coblentz presented a pitiful spectacle of the


s: high pretensions and paltry performances of the grandees of


s: Rome." (Vol. iv., p. 397.)  Almost all the Consulars were


s: (5)  By the will of Ptolemy Auletes, Cleopatra had been appointed


s: means that Caesar would have killed Pompeius if young


s: Ptolemy had not done so.  She lost her hare of the kingdom,


s: (6)  Appius was Proconsul, and in command of Achaia, for the


s: (8)  Themis, the goddess of law, was in possession of the Delphic


s: (9)  The modern isle of Ischia, off the Bay of Naples.


s: (10) The Tyrians consulted the oracle in consequence of the


s: earthquakes which vexed their country (Book III., line 225),


s: (11) See Herodotus, Book VII., 140-143.  The reference is to the


s: answer given by the oracle to the Athenians that their


s: wooden walls would keep them safe; which Themistocles


s: (12) Cicero, on the contrary, suggests that the reason why the


s: oracles ceased was this, that men became less credulous.


s: ("De Div.", ii., 57)  Lecky, "History of European Morals


s: from Augustus to Charlemagne", vol. i., p. 368.


s: (13) This name is one of those given to the Cumaean Sibyl


s: mentioned at line 210.  She was said to have been the


s: (14) Probably by the Gauls under Brennus, B.C. 279.


s: (15) These lines form the Latin motto prefixed to Shelley's poem,


s: (16) Referring to the visit of Aeneas to the Sibyl. (Virgil,


s: (17) Appius was seized with fever as soon as he reached the spot;


s: (19) Reading "galeam", with Francken; not "glebam".


s: (20) Labienus left Caesar's ranks after the Rubicon was crossed,


s: and joined his rival.  In his mouth Lucan puts the speech


s: made at the oracle of Hammon in Book IX.  He was slain at


s: (21) That is, civilians; no longer soldiers.  This one


s: contemptuous expression is said to have shocked and abashed


s: (22) Reading "tenet", with Hosius and Francken; not "timet", as


s: Haskins.  The prospect of inflicting punishment attracted,


s: while the suffering of it subdued, the mutineers.


s: (23) Caesar was named Dictator while at Massilia.  Entering Rome,


s: Consul for the incoming year, B.C. 48, along with Servilius


s: Isauricus.  (Caesar, "De Bello Civili", iii., 1; Merivale,


s: (24) In the time of the Empire, the degraded Consulship,


s: preserved only as a name, was frequently transferred


s: monthly, or even shorter, intervals from one favourite to


s: (25) Caesar performed the solemn rites of the great Latin


s: festival on the Alban Mount during his Dictatorship.


s: (26) Dyrrhachium was founded by the Corcyreams, with whom the


s: Homeric Phaeacians have been identified.


s: (27) Apparently making the Danube discharge into the Sea of Azov.


s: (28) At the foot of the Acroceraunian range.


s: (29) Caesar himself says nothing of this adventure.  But it is


s: mentioned by Dion, Appian and Plutarch ("Caesar", 38).  Dean


s: Merivale thinks the story may have been invented to


s: introduce the apophthegm used by Caesar to the sailor, "Fear


s: nothing: you carry Caesar and his fortunes" (lines 662-665).


s: Mommsen accepts the story, as of an attempt which was only


s: abandoned because no mariner could be induced to undertake


s: it.  Lucan colours it with his wildest and most exaggerated


s: (31) The ocean current, which, according to Hecataeus, surrounded


s: I know of no river called Ocean, and I think that Homer or


s: one of the earlier poets invented the name and introduced it


s: "Oceanus" Aeschylus seems to have intended to personify the


s: (33) Sason is a small island just off the Ceraunian rocks, the


s: point of which is now called Cape Linguetta, and is nearly


s: (35) Reading "Teque tuus decepit amor", as preferred by Hosius.


s: Now that the chiefs with minds intent on fight


s: Had drawn their armies near upon the hills


s: And all the gods beheld their chosen pair,


s: Caesar, the Grecian towns despising, scorned


s: Save at his kinsman's cost.  In all his prayers


s: He seeks that moment, fatal to the world,


s: When shall be cast the die, to win or lose,


s: And all his fortune hang upon the throw.


s: Thrice he drew out his troops, his eagles thrice,


s: Demanding battle; thus to increase the woe


s: Of Latium, prompt as ever: but his foes,


s: Proof against every art, refused to leave


s: The rampart of their camp.  Then marching swift


s: By hidden path between the wooded fields


s: He seeks, and hopes to seize, Dyrrhachium's (1) fort;


s: But Magnus, speeding by the ocean marge,


s: First camped on Petra's slopes, a rocky hill


s: Thus by the natives named.  From thence he keeps


s: Watch o'er the fortress of Corinthian birth


s: Which by its towers alone without a guard


s: Was safe against a siege.  No hand of man


s: In ancient days built up her lofty wall,


s: Not all the works of war, nor Time himself


s: Shall undermine her.  Nature's hand has raised


s: And but for one short bridge of narrow earth


s: Dyrrhachium were an island.  Steep and fierce,


s: Dreaded of sailors, are the cliffs that bear


s: Her walls; and tempests, howling from the west,


s: And homes and temples tremble at the shock.


s: Thirsting for battle and with hopes inflamed


s: Here Caesar hastes, with distant rampart lines


s: Though spread in spacious camp upon the hills.


s: Meet to be compassed, nor content with turf


s: Fit for a hasty mound, he bids his troops


s: Tear from the quarries many a giant rock:


s: And spoils the dwellings of the Greeks, and drags


s: Their walls asunder for his own.  Thus rose


s: A mighty barrier which no ram could burst


s: Mountains are cleft, and level through the hills


s: The work of Caesar strides: wide yawns the moat,


s: Forts show their towers rising on the heights,


s: And groves and spacious lands, and beasts of prey,


s: Nor field nor forage in th' encircled span


s: Nor room to move his camp; nay, rivers rose


s: Within, and ran their course and reached the sea;


s: And Caesar wearied ere he saw the whole,


s: And daylight failed him.  Let the ancient tale


s: The walls of Ilium: let the fragile bricks


s: The fleeting Parthian.  Here a larger space


s: Than those great cities which Orontes swift


s: And Tigris' stream enclose, or that which boasts


s: Fit for Assyria's kings, is closed by walls


s: Forced to completion.  Yet this labour huge


s: Was spent in vain.  So many hands had joined


s: With mighty mole the Hellespontine wave,


s: Or Corinth from the realm of Pelops' king


s: Had rent asunder, or had spared each ship


s: Or had done anything most hard, to change


s: The world's created surface.  Here the war


s: Was prisoned: blood predestinate to flow


s: In all the parts of earth; the host foredoomed


s: The tide of civil passion rose and fell.


s: Who peaceful tills the mid-Sicilian fields


s: Hears not Pelorous (2) sounding to the storm;


s: So billows thunder on Rutupian shores (3),


s: But when he saw the mighty barrier stretch


s: O'er hill and valley, and enclose the land,


s: He bade his columns leave their rocky hold


s: And seize on posts of vantage in the plain;


s: Thus forcing Caesar to extend his troops


s: Such space encompassed as divides from Rome


s: Aricia, (4) sacred to that goddess chaste


s: From Rome's high ramparts to the Tuscan sea,


s: Commands an onset, and the darts that fly


s: Fly though forbidden; but the arm that flings


s: For proof the lance, at random, here and there


s: Deals impious slaughter.  Weighty care compelled


s: Each leader to withhold his troops from fight;


s: For there the weary earth of produce failed


s: Pressed by Pompeius' steeds, whose horny hoofs


s: Rang in their gallop on the grassy fields


s: And killed the succulence.  They strengthless lay


s: Upon the mown expanse, nor pile of straw,


s: Brought from full barns in place of living grass,


s: Relieved their craving; shook their panting flanks,


s: And as they wheeled Death struck his victim down.


s: Then foul contagion filled the murky air


s: Whose poisonous weight pressed on them in a cloud


s: Pestiferous; as in Nesis' isle (5) the breath


s: Of Styx rolls upwards from the mist-clad rocks;


s: Or that fell vapour which the caves exhale


s: From Typhon (6) raging in the depths below.


s: Then died the soldiers, for the streams they drank


s: Held yet more poison than the air: the skin


s: Was dark and rigid, and the fiery plague


s: Made hard their vitals, and with pitiless tooth


s: Gnawed at their wasted features, while their eyes


s: Started from out their sockets, and the head


s: Drooped for sheer weariness.  So the disease


s: Grew swifter in its strides till scarce was room,


s: 'Twixt life and death, for sickness, and the pest


s: Slew as it struck its victim, and the dead


s: Thrust from the tents (such all their burial) lay


s: Blent with the living.  Yet their camp was pitched


s: Hard by the breezy sea by which might come


s: All nations' harvests, and the northern wind


s: Their foe, not vexed with pestilential air


s: Nor stagnant waters, ample range enjoyed


s: Upon the spacious uplands: yet as though


s: In leaguer, famine seized them for its prey.


s: Scarce were the crops half grown when Caesar saw


s: How prone they seized upon the food of beasts,


s: And stripped of leaves the bushes and the groves,


s: And dragged from roots unknown the doubtful herb.


s: Thus ate they, starving, all that teeth may bite


s: Or fire might soften, or might pass their throats


s: Dry, parched, abraded; food unknown before


s: Nor placed on tables: while the leaguered foe


s: Was pleased to break his bonds and be at large,


s: Unarmed in shade of night; his mighty soul


s: Scorns such a path to victory.  'Twas his aim,


s: To lay the turrets low; to mark his track,


s: To hew a path between his slaughtered foes.


s: Minucius' (7) turret was the chosen spot


s: Where groves of trees and thickets gave approach


s: Flashed all at once his eagles into sight


s: And all his trumpets blared.  But ere the sword


s: Could win the battle, on the hostile ranks


s: Dread panic fell; prone as in death they lay


s: Where else upright they should withstand the foe;


s: Nor more availed their valour, and in vain


s: The cloud of weapons flew, with none to slay.


s: Then blazing torches rolling pitchy flame


s: Are hurled, and shaken nod the lofty towers


s: And threaten ruin, and the bastions groan


s: Struck by the frequent engine, and the troops


s: Stride o'er the rampart, in their front the world.


s: Yet now that passage which not Caesar's self


s: Nor thousand valiant squadrons had availed


s: To rescue from their grasp, one man in arms


s: Steadfast till death refused them; Scaeva named


s: This hero soldier: long he served in fight


s: Waged 'gainst the savage on the banks of Rhone;


s: And now centurion made, through deeds of blood,


s: He bore the staff before the marshalled line.


s: Prone to all wickedness, he little recked


s: Greatest of crimes; and when he saw how turned


s: His comrades from the war and sought in flight


s: A refuge, (8) "Whence," he cried, "this impious fear


s: Your backs on death, and are ye not ashamed


s: Not to be found where slaughtered heroes lie?


s: Might bid you stand.  We are the chosen few


s: Through whom the foe would break.  Unbought by blood


s: This day shall not be theirs.  'Neath Caesar's eye,


s: True, death would be more happy; but this boon


s: Fortune denies: at least my fall shall be


s: Praised by Pompeius.  Break ye with your breasts


s: Their weapons; blunt the edges of their swords


s: With throats unyielding.  In the distant lines


s: For he shall come who while his soldiers die


s: Shall make the fortress his."  His voice called forth


s: The courage that the trumpets failed to rouse


s: When first they rang: his comrades mustering come


s: To watch his deeds; and, wondering at the man,


s: To test if valour thus by foes oppressed,


s: In narrow space, could hope for aught but death.


s: But Scaeva standing on the tottering bank


s: Heaves from the brimming turret on the foe


s: The corpses of the fallen; the ruined mass


s: Furnishing weapons to his hands; with beams,


s: And ponderous stones, nay, with his body threats


s: His enemies; with poles and stakes he thrusts


s: The breasts advancing; when they grasp the wall


s: He lops the arm: rocks crush the foeman's skull


s: Till rolls the greedy blaze about his eyes


s: With hideous crackle.  As the pile of slain


s: Rose to the summit of the wall he sprang,


s: Above the swords upraised, till in mid throng


s: Of foes he stood, hemmed in by densest ranks


s: And ramparted by war; in front and rear,


s: Where'er he struck, the victor.  Now his sword


s: Blunted with gore congealed no more could wound,


s: But brake the stricken limb; while every hand


s: Flung every quivering dart at him alone;


s: Nor missed their aim, for rang against his shield


s: In broken fragments pressed upon his brow;


s: His vital parts were safeguarded by spears


s: Thus waged a novel combat, for there warred


s: Against one man an army.  Why with darts,


s: Madmen, assail him and with slender shafts,


s: 'Gainst which his life is proof?  Or ponderous stones


s: This warrior chief shall overwhelm, or bolts


s: Flung by the twisted thongs of mighty slings.


s: This champion of the gate.  No fragile wall


s: Stands here for Caesar, blocking with its bulk


s: Pompeius' way to freedom.  Now he trusts


s: His shield no more, lest his sinister hand,


s: Idle, give life by shame; and on his breast


s: Bearing a forest of spears, though spent with toil


s: And braves alone the wounds of all the war.


s: Oppressed by frequent darts, break those that fall


s: Rebounding from his horny hide, and shake


s: Those that find lodgment, while his life within


s: Lies safe, protected, nor doth spear avail


s: To reach the fount of blood.  Unnumbered wounds


s: By arrow dealt, or lance, thus fail to slay


s: A Cretan archer's shaft, more sure of aim


s: Than vows could hope for, strikes on Scaeva's brow


s: Intrepid, bursts the nerves, and tears the shaft


s: Forth with the eyeball, and with dauntless heel


s: Treads them to dust.  Not otherwise a bear


s: Pannonian, fiercer for the wound received,


s: Maddened by dart from Libyan thong propelled,


s: Turns circling on her wound, and still pursues


s: The weapon fleeing as she whirls around.


s: Thus, in his rage destroyed, his shapeless face


s: Stood foul with crimson flow.  The victors' shout


s: A little blood could give them had they seen


s: That Caesar's self was wounded.  Down he pressed


s: Deep in his soul the anguish, and, with mien,


s: No longer bent on fight, submissive cried,


s: Far hence: no weapons now can haste my death;


s: Draw from my breast the darts, but add no more.


s: Of Magnus, living: this your gift to him;


s: No brave man's death my title to renown,


s: But Caesar's flag deserted."  So he spake.


s: Unhappy Aulus thought his words were true,


s: Nor saw within his hand the pointed sword;


s: And leaping forth in haste to make his own


s: The prisoner and his arms, in middle throat


s: Received the lightning blade.  By this one death


s: Rose Scaeva's valour again; and thus he cried,


s: Such be the punishment of all who thought


s: Great Scaeva vanquished; if Pompeius seeks


s: Peace from this reeking sword, low let him lay


s: At Caesar's feet his standards.  Me do ye think


s: Such as yourselves, and slow to meet the fates?


s: Your love for Magnus and the Senate's cause


s: Is less than mine for death."  These were his words;


s: And dust in columns proved that Caesar came.


s: Thus was Pompeius' glory spared the stain


s: Of flight compelled by Scaeva.  He, when ceased


s: The battle, fell, no more by rage of fight,


s: Or sight of blood out-pouring from his wounds,


s: Roused to the combat.  Fainting there he lay


s: Upon the shoulders of his comrades borne,


s: Dwelt in his bosom) for his matchless deeds,


s: Plucked forth the gory shafts and took his arms


s: To deck the gods and shield the breast of Mars.


s: Thrice happy thou with such a name achieved,


s: Had but the fierce Iberian from thy sword,


s: The light Cantabrian: with no spoils shalt thou


s: Adorn the Thunderer's temple, nor upraise


s: The shout of triumph in the ways of Rome.


s: For all thy prowess, all thy deeds of pride


s: Repulsed, Pompeius idly ceased from war,


s: Tireless, which tempests force upon the crag


s: That breaks it, or which gnaws a mountain side


s: He sought the turrets nearest to the main,


s: His troops in hand, but on the spacious plain


s: Spread forth his camp.  They joyful leave the tents


s: And wander at their will.  Thus Padus flows


s: In brimming flood, and foaming at his bounds,


s: Making whole districts quake; and should the bank


s: Fail 'neath his swollen waters, all his stream


s: Breaks forth in swirling eddies over fields


s: Not his before; some lands are lost, the rest


s: Had Caesar seen the fire or known the fight:


s: And coming found the rampart overthrown,


s: The dust no longer stirred, the rains cold


s: As from a battle done.  The peace that reigned


s: There and on Magnus' side, as though men slept,


s: Their victory won, aroused his angry soul.


s: Quick he prepares, so that he end their joy


s: Careless of slaughter or defeat, to rush


s: With threatening columns on Torquatus' post.


s: But swift as sailor, by his trembling mast


s: Warned of Circeian tempest, furls his sails,


s: So swift Torquatus saw, and prompt to wage


s: The war more closely, he withdrew his men


s: Were Caesar's companies, when from the hills


s: Pompeius hurled his host upon their ranks


s: Shut in, and hampered.  Not so much o'erwhelmed


s: As Caesar's soldiers is the hind who dwells


s: On Etna's slopes, when blows the southern wind,


s: And all the mountain pours its cauldrons forth


s: Writhing beneath his load spouts o'er the plains


s: Encircled, vanquished, ere the fight, they fled


s: In cloud of terror on their rearward foe,


s: So rushing on their fates.  Thus had the war


s: Shed its last drop of blood and peace ensued,


s: But Magnus suffered not, and held his troops.


s: Free, happy, mistress of thy laws and rights


s: Were Sulla here.  Now shalt thou ever grieve


s: That in his crowning crime, to have met in fight


s: Nor Juba (10) lain unburied on the sands,


s: Nor Scipio with his blood outpoured appeased


s: The ghosts of Carthage; nor the blameless life


s: Had then been blotted from the book of fate.


s: But Caesar left the region where his arms


s: Had found the deities averse, and marched


s: His shattered columns to Thessalian lands.


s: Then to Pompeius came (whose mind was bent


s: His captains, striving to persuade their chief


s: Now freed from foes.  "Ne'er will I pass," he said,


s: Like Caesar, at the head of banded hosts.


s: Mine, had I chosen in our country's shrines, (11)


s: To join the battle.  So that banished far