THE

0

TRANSLATED B' THE RIGHT HON.

SIR EDWARD RIDLE'

SOMETIME FELLOW OF ALL SOULS COLLEGE, OXFORD, ANDONE OF THE JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT OF JU STICE

VOLUME ONE

LONDON

ARTHUR L . HUMPHRE'SI 9 1 9

HARSALIA

LUCAN

CONTENTS OF VOLUME ONE

PAGE

PR EFACE ix-xxviii

BOOK

1. EXORDIUM—TH E CROSSING OF TH E RU BICON

II. TH E FL IGHT OF POMPEIU S

III. MASSIL IA

IV. CE SA R IN SPAIN— WA R IN TH E ADR IAT IC SEA

DEATH OF CU R IO

V. TH E ORACLE— TH E MUT IN'—TH E STORM

vii

PREFACE

IN off ering to the Publ ic a new ve rsion of the “ Pharsali a,more complete than that wh ich I formerly publ ished

,I trus t

that a few introductory remarks may no t be consideredinapprop ri ate . I have made them as brief as poss ible .Lucan was born at Corduba (or Cordova) i n A .D . 39 , and

was the son of Marcus Annaeus Mela . His unc le was Luc iusAnnae us Seneca the philosopher

,and his family was dis

tinguishe d among Roman provinc i al s . When he was veryyoung they migrated to Rome

,where Cal igula was then

Emperor ; and there , excep t for a brief expedi tion to Athens ,of uncertain date

,he spent the whole of h is short l ife . Nero

succeeded to the throne in A .D. 54 ; and with h im Lucan atfirs t was on fri endly terms . This friendsh ip , however, cameto an end because

,as is s tated

,at a declamat ion of poems

where the Emperor and Poet competed,the p rize was ad

j udged to the latter . However that may be , Lucan tookpart i n what i s known as the Pisonian Conspiracy , togetherwi th h i s uncle . In A .D . 64 the Conspi racy was di scovered ,and resul ted i n the deaths of both of them . After h i s arrestthe Poet i s said , perhap s untruly , to have revealed the nameof hi s mother as a party . He received from Nero the orderto d ie , and opened hi s veins i n the hot bath ; and so hedied in the twenty-s ixth year of hi s age

,rec i t ing

,as Taci tus

says (Annal xv . a poem wri t ten by h imself inwhich he had recorded the similar death of a woundedsoldier . The fi rst th ree Books of the Pharsal i a had thenbeen publ i shed—it i s thought

,i n A .D . 62—bu t not the l as t

seven .

Lucan was an arden t Republ ican ; h i s cheri shed hope ,1X

PREFACEand dream

, was a revival of authori ty in the Senate . Hewas trained in rhetori c and in the s tudy of the Stoic andEpicurean systems of philosophy

,to the former of wh ich he

and hi s family adhered . He amassed , with great fac i li ty,according to the fashion of the time

,s tores of learn ing in

mythology,history

,geography and as tronomy . The firs t

h e seems to have known well, probably by th e reading Of

Ovid ’s “ Metamorphoses ” and w i th h i s tory he had someacquaintance . Geographical knowledge was then in adeplorable condi tion . Eratosthenes (who l ived from 240 B .C .

to 1 96 and was probably the chief authori ty on th i ssubj ect

,had no sound knowledge even of I taly and the parts

adj acent to it, as may be seen by looking at the map of hissystem published in S i r E . Bunbury ’ s Ancien t Geography

,

”

vol . i . 660 . And although the great work of Strabo was extan t,

i t was not then known at Rome, nor, if it had been , wouldi t have ass isted much . Astronomy

,founded on faulty

knowledge,al though a chosen few had been favoured w i th

gl impses of the truth , was in bewildering confusion . Poemson these subj ec ts were decl aimed in the oratorical schoolsthey were spoken rather than read ; and abounded withrhetoric and wi th masses of details wh ich were ful l ofmistakes .Such were the youthful surroundings of Lucan . He

chose for hi s epic the Civi l War between Cae sar andPompey

,and made a support of the Senate one of h i s chief

obj ects . The action begins wi th Caesar ’s crossing of theRubicon and ends with the march of Cato to Utica

,for i n

poin t of time the ninth Book i s posterior to the tenth . Thepoem i tself, however , concludes abruptly , and i s unfinished ,l eaving Cae sar in a posi t ion of danger in the bat tle of PharosH arbour : but it was probably the intention of the Poet tocarry the narrative down to the date Of Caesar ’s death

,n e arly

four years l ater . If we number the years by reference to th ebi rth of Christ

,the period in question would be from

X

PREFACE

November 50 B.C . to Sep tember 48 B .C . But in those daysthe Republ ican cal endar was s t i l l i n force

,and the era from

which time was counted was the foundation of the c i ty . Bythat computation the years we have to deal wi th were 706and 705 A .U .C . In that calendar , however, there was greatconfusion

,Cmsar

’

s reform not hav ing been carried out unti ltwo years later ; so much so that i t was frequently twomonths

,or even more

,in advance of the true season of the

year,and was corrected from time to t ime by the col lege of

p riests,not upon any system

,bu t as i t happened to sui t them

selves or thei r friends,by th e insertion of i ntercalary months .

In the resul t the dates of the ch ief events i n the poem seemto have been nearly as fol lows

,th e firs t column giving the

t rue time of yearB .C.

50 Novembe r 27 70549 January g

I t was,of course

,impossible th at

,w i th a plot based on the

Civi l War,the gods of the ancien t fai th should have taken

any part on behalf of ei ther Caesar or Pompey . NO debatescould take pl ace on O lympus ; and no goddess could interfere for e ithe r leader . The rul ing divini t i es are found inFortune and in Fate and these two are frequently mentionedas the powers which command the i ssue . When appeals aremade to the gods o r to jupiter it i s to be understood thatthese dei ti es are intended to express the al l-pervading soul of

xi

Ce sar c rosse s the Rubicon .The t ribune s (An tony and Cass ius) qui tRome .

Pompe y qui ts I taly.Ce sar vis i ts Rome and marche s on Massi l ia .Campaign on the Ebro .Cur io de fe ate d in Afr ica.Ce sar ’ s se cond v is i t to Rome .

Ce sar c rosse s to Ep i r us and confron tsPom

Batt le of Pharsalus .Murde r of Pompe y.Ce sar ’ s arr ival in Egypt.Cato’ s march to U t ica.

PREFACEthe universe, the princip le by wh i ch , accord ing to the Stoicaldoc t rine , i t was governed . See

,for instance

,the passages in

B ook I I . , l ines 4- 1 6 , and i n Book V .,l ine s 9 3-96 . Bu t I am

not proposing to enter upon a discussion of the relation ofLucan to religion .

Mr Hei tland,in his Crit ical and Exhaust ive Introduct ion

to the Cambridge Edition of 1 8 87 , specifies four mainli terary defec t s of the poem

,which may be shortly put as

fol lowsI . The excess of detai l .2 . The p lague of catalogues .3 . The occurrence of passages i n wh ich the au thor moral

ise s as a poli ti cal h i stori an,or discusses natural phenomena

the obj ect ion being that these are not su i ted to the poem .

4 . The excessive emp loyment of hyperbole . He observesthat the old warmth of poetry was dead ; the old religiousbel ief was gone ; men had become l i ttl e more than layfigures ; the scene was everyth ing and not the actors uponi t . Thus the Poet was driven to detai l ed descrip ti on ofth ings at the ri sk of error .All thi s seems to me to be perfec tly true. The faul ts

i n the poem are the s tamp of the age i n which i t waswri tten . The details accumulate upon each other . Thusi n B ook I . 430, when L e lius i s proclaiming hi s devotionto Ce sar, he says : “ B id me drive a sword through fatherand brother ; s lay my wife when bearing child : despoil thegods and burn thei r temples ; place my camp on Tiber

’ sbank : destroy the ci ties -I wi l l do i t all though Romewere the vi ctim .

” The horrors of the Marian and Sul lanmassacres are so piled on each other in the second Book thatthe author, as though in haste , becomes Obscure . I n t heth ird Book the catalogue of Pompey ’s forces occup i e s 145l i nes ( 1 84 Tribe

,town and river are heaped together

but the climax i s reached at l ine 3 1 6 :“ There never were

such numbers under Xerxes or Cyrus,and they were al l

X11

PREFACE

brought to Pompey that Ce sar i n one blow migh t conquerth e whole world . I n B ook IV . (60-8 6) we have a s torm o f

rain in the di stri ct of the Ebro . The Eas tern wind sweepsbefore i t al l the vapours of Arabia and India, which general lyvei l the rays of the sun in those parts . They fly across theworld to Western cl imes

,but remai n suspended ti ll they

reach a bel t,which forbids further passage : they fi l l the

space between Earth and Heaven unti l they tumble in floodswhich drown flashes of l igh tning and quench thunderbolts :the colours of the rainbow are washed out

,bu t i t sucks up

the fallen deluge and restores i t to th e sky . In Book V I .are frequent examp les ; but if we pass over Sce va

’

s exploi t sand come to the Witch of Thessaly

,we find that Sextus

Pompey (l ine 475 ) had renounced the ordinary sources ofdivination through oracles

,entrails and birds ; as the gods did

not know enough to sati sfy him . H e seeks the witch whosetribe deal s in ch arms and magic herbs . I n a graphi c passageof some fifty l ines i t i s shown how these instruments work .

Earth , sky , moon , sun,the mind of man

,the universe ,

obey them . The god s mus t hear their suppl ications . Buteven wi th this E richtho i s not conten t— she deals with tombsand ghosts and w i th the bodies of the dead

,and al l the

horrors of Erebus . A recent corpse i s d ragged along andsummoned back to life ; he leap s erect and reveal s toSextus the secre t s of the nether regions . And al l th i s onthe field of Pharsalu s

,where the battl e had not ye t been

foughtThis passage and many others are replete with v igour

and graphic express ion : the descrip tions carry the readeralong with them

,as they must have carri ed those who

li s tened to them when they were reci ted . Even th e drycatalogues are rel ieved by digressions

,such as th at in B ook

I I I l i ne 247 , about th e invent ion of wri ting by th e Ph e n ic ians ; and frequently the au thor winds up by a great l ineor passage . Thus the tal e of troops b rough t home f rom

I: xii i

PREFACEGaul (Book I . 449-52 2) closes wi th the wel l-known pas sageupon the Druids . For I th ink the th ree l ines wh ich fol lowi t should find an earl ier place . That of the horrors inB ook I I . has for i ts finish

Sanguine cae rule um torre nt i d iv id ir aequor .

The account of Thessaly in Book V I . w inds up w i th

Side ribusque v ias incurre ns abs tulit Os sa. (Line

But the poem abounds wi th good lines,many of wh ich

have become celebrated by frequent quotat ion .

Lucan,for ep ithets

,metaphors and allusions

,and for the

general purpose of h i s work,continual ly draws upon the

encyclope dic knowledge which he enj oyed wi th h i s contemporari es . The blunders with which i t abounded werenot then known to be blunders ; and h is audience wouldadmi re where we are aghast . The African march of Cato ,i n Book IX.

,cannot be explained : the Seres , or Chinese ,

s eem to be placed on the Ni le (Book Mount Eryx ,i n S ic i ly

,i s cas t into the [Ege an Sea ; Phoce a, the mother

ci ty of Massi l ia,i s confounded with the Greek d ist ric t of

Phocis the Danube discharges in to the Sea of Azov, an errorof which neither Eratosthenes nor Strabo was guil ty ; Pharsalus , Phil ippi and the B alkans are perpetually confused .

Cicero i s made to del iver a speech in the camp at Pharsalusalthough it must

,by a perfunctory s tudy of the matter, have

become known that he was not there .Similes do no t appear to play an importan t part a person

perusing the poem would not,with few exceptions , carry

them away with h im . Th e y are , indeed , numerous , forMr H ei tland enumerates seventy-nine bu t

,as he very j ustly

observes , one reason why they fai l to impress i s that the Poetoften over-describes that which he i s abou t to i llustrate, so

that the description carries more weight than the s imile .Thus in B ook V . 48 3 a calm at se a i s likened to the frozen

XIV

PREFACEScythian Ocean traversed by horses and chariots ; but thes imi l e i s preceded and followed by two lengthy descriptionsof the calm which are qui te as graphic as the s imile andoverpower it by thei r detai l . Again , i n the bulk of thes imi les themselves there i s not any great poe tical beauty .

Taken,as they often are

,from unattractive mythological

s tories , or wild beasts , or nature i n convuls ion , it couldhardly have been otherwise . Nor do they suggest t o the

reader that the Poet had h imself seen what he describes . Yetthey are in many instances bold and eff ective . The chiefexcep ti on to what has been said wi l l be found in the passage

(Book I . 1 54) where Pompey i s comp ared to the old oak ,which , from i ts own beau ty and fidel i ty to nature

,mus t

remain in the memory, al though like the others it is

accompanied by a viv i d and memorable descrip tion ofthe hero .

I t was necessary to the p lot of the poem that Pompeyshould have ac ted as champion of the Senate , and that heshould have been the deserv ing v i c to r in the war . Un

fortunately he was nei ther the one nor th e other,and the

poem suff ers accordi ngly,as may readi ly be shown .

As to the fi rst of these points , i t is t rue that LordMacaulay

,i n speaking of Cato ’s panegyric (Book IX. 2 1 6)

So that the S enate rule d the Roman S tateH e was i t s ch ie f” ;

says that th is was,i n h i s opin ion

,not far from his torical truth .

Bu t I th ink that at th i s peri od the claim so se t up forPompey i s unsound . If we take the poem i tself the truthappears to crop up when the Romans (B ook I I . 7 1 ) say

why ho r rors ye t againTo se ttle wh ich shall r e ign ?”

They regard e d him,in other words

,as aiming at Empire no

less than Ce sar. Again,at l ine 2 5 2 of the same Book , the

speaker saysxv

PREFACEnor would e i the r ch ie f

For such re ward as Sul la’s wage the war .

”

Cato h imself,in his speech to B rutus , at l ine 3 5 2 , says

If he w insH e too will claim the Emp ire of the world .So le t h im , conque r ing w i th my se r v ice , le arnNo t for h imse lf to conque r .

So that Pompey ’ s aim was Empire,unless Cato could alter i t

by serving wi th him . After these passages it seems to me toolate for Cato

,i n the panegyric, to ask h is hearers to bel ieve

that Pompey only wished to be ch ie f in Rome under a competent Senate although the speech was necessary to the plot .Turning to other authori t i es

,we find that Cicero was the

friend and eulogis t of Pompey . At the outset of the war conducted by Pompey in the Eas t

,he delivered the speech Pro

lege Manilia,known by the name Pompei i l audes .” But

at this later period,when the Civi l War had begun (705

things were diff erent . H e wri tes (“Ad A tticum

,

”ix . 7)

“Ourfriend Cne us has been strangely ambit iou s of a sovereigntyl ike that of Sulla . I say it with confidence . H e never wasless secret . ” Again (

“Ad A tticum ,

” ix . 1 0) How often hashe said Sul la could shal l I not be able And again (

“AdA tticum

,

” vii i . 1 1 ) Neither wishes for happiness ; bothwish for Empire . ” Mommsen (vol . i v . 1 2) states the s i tuationthus Even in h i s own age Pomp e y would have h ad a defini teand re sp e ctabl e posi t ion had he contented himself wi th beingthe general of the S enate

,the office for which he was from

the beginning dest ined . With th i s h e was not content ; so

he fe l l i nto the fatal pl igh t of wish ing to be someth ing el sethan he could be . ”

Bu t the oth e r poin t i s of more importance in its bearingon the poem . We cannot now speak o f comparing Ce sarwi th Pompey ; but the Romans of the t ime do not appear

,

wi th th e exception of those who were more intimate wi thh im, to have appreciated the greatnes s of the former . A

XVI

PREFACE

ves tige of the tru th , perhaps , escapes in the speech of Pothinus

(Book V I I I . where he saysrapimur quo cuncta f e runtur .

We are drawn, as all th ings , to h i s s ide .

But the discovery that he was a Colossus and they wereunderl ings was l eft to l ater times . Sti l l in the nine lines inthe first Book ( 1 6 2 which even Niebuhr could admire

,

Lucan says enough to give Ce sar the supremacy ; thoughhe found i t necessary to dep ic t h im , through the poem ,

asc ruel

,bent on destruct ion and slaughter ; as a hypocri te ;

and as a general who only prevai l ed because of Fortuneand Fate

,with whom he was a favouri te . He was

,in

fact,a consummate general

,sparing of l ife (especially Roman

life) ; merciful in vi ctory ; and no hypocri te . As to thecharge of cruel ty

,I may be allowed to quote some authori

t i es to es tabl i sh i ts fal si ty . Cicero (“ Ad Atticum

,

” v i i i . 1 3 )s ays : “ B Hercules

,if he ki l ls no one and robs no one

those who feared him most wi l l l ove h im most . Townsmenand rustics have frequently spoken with me . They care fornoth ing but thei r fields and cottages and thei r l i ttle herds .And se e 'what a change ' They fear now th e man theytrusted [Pompey] they love him whom they feared [Ce sar] .This refers to Ce sar ’ s occupation of I taly af ter the war began .

See also a passage in a letter Ad Diversos,

” vi i i . 1 5 .

In a revi ew of the early volumes of M e rival e’

s History

(n ar ter ly R eview,March

,Si r Henry Hol land com e s

to the same conclusion,and says that Ce sar’s natural tempera

ment was humane . “ The ‘

gaudensque viam fe cisse ruina ’

of Lucan (Book I . 1 50) i s the phrase of the Poet and not thetruth of the H i s torian .

”

A t the battle of Pharsal ia Ce sar ’ s conduct was similar .

(See M e rivale’

s“ Roman Empire

,

” vol . i i . 29 3 ; Duruy’

s

H i s tory of Rome,

vol . i i i . 2 8 2 ,

Pompey,on the other hand

,despi te h is h aving unlearn e d

war (Book I . 1 48 ) i s depicted as a great leader of armies ,xvi i

PREFACEthe conqueror of the world

,who agains t hi s deserts peri shed

wi thou t attaining h is obj ect,but whose sou l found a place in

the region s e t apart for h im along with the spiri ts of thegreat . Bu t the general sh ip of Pompey

,with which we are

now deal ing,put into continual difficul t ies the Poet who

had invested h im with abili ties which did not really belongto him .

First of al l,when he insis ted

,to the dismay of h i s party,

on leaving I taly for Ce sar to occupy,an excuse was required

and h e i s made to cal l on h is l egions to advance agains t theenemy (Book I I . 579) in a speech which charges Ce sar wi thpouring on the country a flood of Gall i c fury, which wasuntrue and which gives a boastful catalogue of past achievements

,which was scarcely true . The speech fails with the

troops,and he i s obliged to qui t I taly . But who can

sympathi se with Pompey,when he compares this p i ece of

oratory wi th Ce sar’s words spoken at the Rubicon ?The next step was to send hi s son on an errand the obj ect

of which was to bring into the field agains t Rome al l theforeign nation s whom he could influence . This was carriedi nto e ff ect . Bu t it requi res apology as the act of a Romanwhi le Lucan has to put it forward as the deed of his championnor can he give any explanation , excep t that i t had to bedone to satisfy Ce sar ’s fortunes

,which requi red that he should

find at Pharsalu s the world to conquer .After the vic tory at Fort Torquatus (Book VI . when

h is opponent had marched for Thessaly,I taly lay open

to Pompey,who had the command of the se a . He fai l s to

re turn to it,and makes a spee ch in which he says that he

wil l not tread the soi l of h i s country unti l hi s t roop s aredismissed and the war i s finished . But the s trategy waswrong . If h e wish e d to avo id bloodsh e d he could haveposse sse d himse lf of Rome withou t a s truggle : whereas ifhe followed Ce sar it was certain that there would be a battleand consequent loss of Roman lives .

xvi i i

PREFACEA t Pharsalus it i s clear that Pomp e y himsel f was opposed to

O ff ering battl e,and rightly so and that in fighting h e yie lded

to his followers,who were probably encouraged by th e i r

previous success . To support the great general in givingway to those whom he should have controlle d , Lucan bringson to the s tage Cicero

,the greates t of orators

,who was not

there,and who in the camp at Petra had dissuaded h im f rom

such a course Phi l ippic,

” i i . Cicero makes a speech infavour of action which does not contain a singl e argumentthat should have weighed with a general . Pompey give sway ; to become , as he says , a private sold ier ; to sit i dly inthe sh ip and give the winds control . Could he more com

pl e te ly have fai l e d in h is duty ? He accord ingly wi thdrawsto his tent . When his battal i ons had been routed and thehosti l e legions pressed upon the works

,he d iscarded h i s

insignia and fled on horseback to Larissa . H ow could th e

man who had asked h i s t roops to remember that the eyesof Rome were upon them (Book V I I . , l ine 430) have acted somean a part himself ? But it i s explained that h e left thefield because he was afraid that otherwise h is t roop s migh tperi sh wi th h im ; and because of Cornel ia . Surely hi shonour came fi rst bu t he was not a Lovelace

I could not lov e the e , d e ar, so much ,Lov e d I not honour more .

”

Wedged in as i t i s between bri lli ant passages,th i s apology of

Pompey i s painful .Pompey next appealed to the Parth ians for help

,claiming

that he had meri ted thei r fri endsh ip in former years . I nother words , he asked to be restored to Rome by her notoriousfoe . Lentulus disposed of th i s in a speech (Book V I I I . 3 54492) which the Poet h imsel f calls worthy of a consul .I n the barbarous murder which befell h im

,Pompey , for

the firs t time,perhaps

,has all ou r sympathy. H i s Sp e e ch

(Book V I I I . 690-704) upon the whole i sworthy of the occasion .

XIX

PREFACEI t was i ndeed a s trange scene

,and i t gave opportuni ty for the

splendid bursts of poetry which conclude the eigh th Book . Icannot help adding that the circumstances of th is abominablecrime remind me of the tragic fate of our Duke of Suffolk inA .D. 1450 . Shakespeare indeed (King H enry VI. ,

Act iv . ,Scene 3 ) makes the Duke say

Gre a t men of t die by vi le be z oniansA R oman sworde r and banditto slav eMurde r

’d sw e e t Tul ly B ru tus’ bas tard hand

S tabbe d Jul ius Ce sar : savage i slande r sPomp e y the Gre a t : and Suffolk d ie s by p i rate s .

The Duke of Suff olk,as i s wel l known

,was banished the

realm by the K ing . On hi s voyage across the Channel hewas waylaid and dragged into a small boat

, where one of thecrew chopped Off his head wi th half-a-dozen strokes of a rustysword . His body was brough t to shore and th rown uponth e sands near Dover and some said that h is head was fixedon a pole (

“ Pas ton Letters,

” No . But in th e l etterwhich the Duke left for his son at Harwich (No . 1 17 , i n thesame collection) wi l l be found , I th ink , a more worthym emorial of h im than the speech of Pompey furnishes fo rLucan

’

s hero .

A word should be added about Cato,who

,as the righ teous

champion of the los ing cause,plays a part second only to those

of Ce sar and Pomp e y and whose sp e ech to h i s men (Book ix .

4 1 6) seems to me e qual in meri t to any in the poem . The greatgrandson of Marcus Cato the Censor

,he inheri ted h i s

principles and copied h i s example . S i ncerely maintainingthe te ne ts of his ances tor

,he never real i sed that they could

have no influenc e on the age i n which he l ived . H e spokewel l i n support of Cice ro for the condemnation of Catiline ;bu t his successe s we re rare : with the best intention s inthe world he Of ten did gre at harm to the republ ic ”

(DrMiddleton

,

“Life of Cice ro,

” p . H i s followers were few .

Ce sar,i n the first Book o f the Pharsalia

,refers to him as

an empty name (l ine Mommsen s tyl es h im the DonXX

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

PREFACEN iebuhr

,on the other hand

,call s Lucan a bad poet

(“ Lectures on H i s tory of Rome

,

” i i i . I cannot helpthinking that the poets w e re nearer to the truth than theGerman professor . Bu t to compare and class In order greatpoe ts

,who are e xtremely diss imi lar, i s an unprofi table task .

Lord Macaulay,for instance, refused a place among the firs t

s ix to Virgi l,preferring Sophocles . Lucan

’

s posi t ion has

bee n so ful ly di scussed by such authoriti es as Mr H ei tl and ,Mr M ackail , Mr H . E . Butler and Mr Garrod that Ihardly dare follow them . Many of the faults in the workhave b e en al ready pointed ou t : it has upon i t th e s tamp ofth e S i lver Age . It i s largely Rhetorical , though , as MrM ackail says (

“ Latin Literature,p .

“ Pure Rhetorichas p e rhaps n e ve r come qui te so near being Poetry .

” ButRhe toric i s not opposed to Poetry : E st enim finitimus

oratori Poe ta”

(C ice ro ,

“ De O ratore,cap . I n Virgi l there

i s much eloquence,as Mr Garrod points out Oxford Book

o f Latin Verse,

” p . xxxiv . ) and in H orace and no one cansay that the Pe leus and Theti s of Catul lus i s w i thout i t .Bu t the author must be dist inguished from his work . LordMacaulay says Li fe and Letters

,i . When I con

s ider that Lucan died at twenty-s ix,I cannot help ranking

him among the mos t extraordinary men that ever lived .

H i s s tre ngth,his power of attraction

,l i es i n the splendid

passage s of d e scription,in the speeches and in the apostrophes .

Th e reader o f the se forgets the scheme of the poem he forgetsits faul ts . As D e an Merival e wri tes (vol . vi . 46 8 ) :

“The w it andcl e ve rn e s s o f Lucan cons idering his years are preternatural thetrumpet ton e s o f his scorn or admiration

,after more than thi rty

ye ars o f familiarity, s til l thunder in my ears wi th s tartl ing int e nsi ty . Burke couple s Lucan with Corneil l e : “ O l d as I am

,I

re ad the fine rapture s of Lucan and Corneil le wi th pleasure(“ Re fle ctions on the French R e volution

,

” Works,iv .

Corne i l l e i s s tate d to have found his f avouri te s tudy in Lucan .

Montaigne says (Book I I . , cap . after prai sing the ch iefxxi i

PREFACE

class ical poets : “ I also love Lucan , and wi lli ngly re ad h im ,

no t so much for hi s s tyl e , as for his own worth and the

truth and sol idi ty o f hi s opinions and j udgments . S tatius,

wri ting a birthday poem to Lucan a few years after h is death,

s ays This shal l be thy song wh e n younger than Maro wh e nhe wrote the Culex : to thee shal l y ield Ennius ’

s warlikemuse and the lof ty genius of learned Lucretius and h e wholed the Argonauts over se a and he who sang of changing shap e s—what more shal l I say ? The [Eneid i tself shall worsh ipthy Muse .” 1 I t i s

,in fact

,the only epic of th e S i lve r

Age which has real ly stood the tes t of tim e Engl ishLiterature and the Classics

,p . 2 30 ; articl e by Mr A . D .

Godley) .The text of the Pharsali a was preserved in a number of

manuscripts which are el aborately clas s ified by Mr Francke n ,

and whi ch doubtl ess were much read by those who had theopportuni ty of doing so . B i shop S tubbs , while speaking ofl i terature in the t ime of Henry I I . of England , s ay s Lucan

’

s

Pharsal ia,Claudian

,S tatius

,even S i l iu s Ital icus

,bu t Ovid

most of al l,notably more than Vi rgi l or H orace

,seem to have

been the s torehouse of proverbs . ” 2 The fi rs t printed edi tionwas i ssued at Rome in 1469 (H allam ,

“Literature of Europ e,

”

i i . In h i s “Utop i a,

” publ i shed in 1 5 1 5 or 1 5 1 6 , Sir ThomasMore quotes B ook V I I . 8 1 9 Cae lo te gitur, qui non habeturnam .

” Si r Thomas Elyo t in The Gove rnour,

” which waspublished in 1 5 3 1 , after recommending for th e learning ofyouths a number of classical authors both Greek and Latin , says :The two nob le poeti s Si l ius and Lucane be very expedient to

1 H ae c primo cane s sub aevoAnte annos Cul i c is Maroniani.

C e de t musa fe rocis Enn i ,E t docti furor arduus L ucre ti,E t qu i pe r fre ta duxit Argonautas,E t qu i corpora transfiguratQuid majus loquar ? Ipsa te Latin isAe ne is ve ne rabitur cane ntem.

3 L e c ture VI. , on Med ie val and Mode r n H is tory , p . 1 29 .

xxi i i

PREFACEbe l e rne d ; for the one setteth out the emulation in qual i ties andprowe sse of two noble and val ian t capitayne s, one enemy to theother

,that i s to say

,Silius writeth of Scipio the Romane and

H aniball Duke of Cartagine nsis Lucan dec lareth a semblablemater

,but moche more lamentable ; for as moche as the

warre s were civi le,and

,as it were , i n the bowe lle s of the

Romanes,that i s

‘

to say, under th e stande rde s of Juliu s Ce sarand Pompei ” (Book I.

,cap . This coupling of the

Pharsali a wi th the Punic War is hardly to the advantageo f the former : for Sil ius Italicus ’

s poem fell in to oblivionafter the fifth century

,and remained unknown till Poggio

B racciolin i rediscovered i t early i n the fifteenth ; and MrM ackail says that it may fairly contend for the di stinct i onof being the wors t epic ever wri tten (

“ Latin Literature ,”

p . Lucan,however

,maintained h is place and mus t

have been largely read in the s ixteenth and seventeenthcenturi e s ; for I find that h i s work i s referred to or quotedby many eminen t wri ters

,i ncluding the fol low ing z—Lord

B acon,Milton

,Raleigh

,Montaigne

,S elden

,Lord Clarendon

,

Burton , B en Jonson and S ir Thomas B rowne . I n l ate r days ,when Latin quotations were welcome to public assembl ies

,

we find that Lamartine,Pit t and Canning made use of

Lucan . H e was indee d in th is respect a fit rival of Vi rgi land Ovid and I find it s tated by Mr S ichel

,i n his Life of

Sheridan , that that statesman ’s son had frequently seen a copyof the Pharsali a by h is father ’s bedside (S ichel , vol . i .Of pre v ious translations

,the earl ies t wi th wh ich I am

acquainted i s that by S ir Arthur Gorges H e was aM ember of Parl i ament

,and a cousin o f S i r Walter Raleigh

,

who prefixe d a compl ime ntary s tanza to the translation ;and h e was captain o f Ral e igh ’s ship during the voyageo f 1 597 . The translation i s in short rhyming m e t re

,and

i s , in e ff e ct , a long bal l ad which i s inad e quate to the

e xpression o f Lucan : it i s,to use Mr H e itland

’

s phrase,

“too lowly .

” Some of the passages are trivi al,bu t there

xxiv

PREFACE

are verses which are happ i ly turned and which run withfaci l i ty : and though monotonous , the work has a characterof its own . As the book i s scarce , I w ill quote a few passage s ,giving the reference to the Latin text .

Book I . 92 . D i v ide d k ingdoms s tagge r ing s tand .One sce p te r fits one sove rayn hand .

I. 3 1 3 . And Ma rce l l that same prat tl ing jayIt s torcke ato t at iv e s waW' h C h g

' yTo nough t but wha t h imse lf do th say .

III . 5 3 . O se ate of gods could th e se me n so

Fo r sake the e e re the y saw a foe

If thou cans t not , what c i ty canDe se r v e to b e fough t for by man

IV . 648 . Thu s d id Alc ide s ge rd h im fas tU nt i l h is Chane he b rak e a t las t .

IX. 108 . For me ’tw e r e base to want the m igh tBy so rrow ’s s traine to le av e th i s l igh t .

IX. 732 . Huge e le phant s scap e not th e ir paw e sAl l th ings to de ath the ir fu r y drawe s .

There h ad,however

,been publ ished

,i n 1 600

,a version

of the first B ook,by Marlowe . I t was in blank verse and

was headed as Lucan’

s firs t book transl ate d l ine for l ine ”

containing exactly the same number of l ines as the original .I t s massive verse s

,i ts rugged and terse phrases

,and its

abrup t dict ion are i n tone with Lucan ; bu t i n aiming at aline-for- line version the translator became too abrupt ; hefai led to reproduce some o f the ideas and omitted some o f

the l i ne‘s . None the les s it i s a fine piece of work,and the

reader regre t s that there i s no more of it .

Thomas May, the his tori an of the Long Parliament , and

a poet of repute,published a more importan t t ranslation in

1 6 3 1 . B en Jonson honoured i t wi th h is approving notice .I t i s in heroic metre and i s of considerabl e meri t , but iti s very unequal

,and is often uncouth and di sfigured by the

fashion o f the rhyme s . May al so publi sh e d a continuat ionXXV

PREFACEi n seven Books

,carrying on the narrative to the death

of Ce sar ; and th is was not only in Engli sh but al so inLatin hexameters , of which Hallam Literature of Europe

,

”

i i i . 278 ) Speaks as a very spiri ted poem and , in many places atl eas t

,an excel len t imitation . The Latin version i s annexed

to Oude ndorp’

s ed it ion of Lucan,publish ed in 172 8 ; and

i s i n the edi t ion publ i shed at Amste rdam in 17 14 . To quoteone or two passages

,the i l l-fat e d Ptolemy , on the night before

the bat tl e in which he peri sh ed,is described as having been

disturb e d in his s leep by a dream sent by the god Serapis . Ablack bul l

,l ean and emac iated

,with two whi te spots upon

him,appeared

,and was followed by a female figure in

mourn ing garbPos t maje s tate de cora

Ince dit quamvis pullato femina cultu

Turrige ro l ace ro s e ff unde ns ve r t ice crime s .

th e last l ine repeated almost verbatim from the Pharsal ia,

Book I . 1 8 8 .

There i s al so a graphic descrip tion of Ptol emy ’s deathi n the bat tl e

,when he tried to escape i n an open boat

,

throwing off his robe of rank to avoid recognitionMi se ro de tracta ins ignia solum

Hoc Ptoleme e dabant ut vilior umb ra jace re srecall ing Book V I I I . 8 60 vilior umbra fores .Thomas May di e d in 1 6 50 and was buried in Westminster

Abbey : bu t h is name appears among those of the twentyone Commonwealth p e rsonages who by the Royal Warranto f S e ptember 9 , 1 66 1 were exhumated . S tate Trials

,

”

vol . v . 1 3 8 8 .

N icholas Rowe’s poem ( 17 1 5) i s an excellen t one , but ,as a translation

,it i s too copious .

Th e re was al so a translation by a Frenchman namedBre be u f

,at about the same period

,which I h ave no t se en .

Mr H allam says Li terature o f Europe,

” iv . 3 2 3 ) that it issp i ri ted bu t very extravagant .

PREFACEM armonte l

,i n the preface to a transl ation publ ished by

himself i n 1 766 , s ays that Bre be uf’

s version was the onlyone up to that time known or quoted , leaving ou t of accoun tthe work done by Marlowe , S ir A . Gorges, May and Rowe .Engli sh l i terature was at that t ime hardly known in France

,

according to Mr Buckle History,

” vol . i i . Marmontel further s ays th at i t must be confessed that the poemfel l “ dan s des mauvaises mains and that the transl ationmade worse the faults of the origi nal .Marmonte l was a member of the Académie Francaise

and has a great reputation . His own translation is in proseand

,j udging from a partial perusal

,is terse and vigorous

,and

worthy of such an author . But it is at least doubtful whetherthe Pharsal i a as a whole can be adequately rep resented inp rose : and he accordingly had to admit that there were somepassages in the poem which in his vers ion found no e qu iva

l ent . He prints in a supplement to each book the partsof it “ qu i ont passé mes forces

,e t que je n

’ai pu rendre amon gré .

” This was a very serious confes sion,as the supple

ments contain,book by book

,nearly al l the speeches and

apostrophes which have made the Pharsal ia famous .With respec t to the transl ation now off ered to the PublicI have li t t l e to add . I do not agree wi th those who saythat in an English version there ought to be the samenumber of l ines as in the original poem . Marlowe’s ex

pe rime nt was not in th i s respec t a success . Lord Bowe n ,in the Introduct ion to h is fEne id ,

” s tated h i s opinion to beth at a line of blank verse was not equal to a l ine of Vi rgil .Mr Billson has indeed recen tly publi shed an able translationof that work (London . Edward Arnold

,i n which the

l ines exactly correspond wi th those of the original text .Good as the resul t i s

,I th ink that if h e had al lowed hims e l f

more l iberty i t would have bee n better st i l l . Th e t rans latorshould not be bound by a rigid measure o f space andnumber ; for the l anguage which he i s using does not , in

xxvii

PREFACEs tructure or genius

,correspond with that of h i s author . If

the rule were so i t is not too much to say that the heroicmetre could never be adopted nor could others which have

,

i n fact,been successfully used . If Lord Bowen ’ s opinion

i s correct when appli ed to Virgil , certainly i t is so wi thregard to Lucan .

“ For in Lucan everyth ing depends uponconce ntration

,in Virgil upon ampl ification” (Garrod ,

Oxford Book of Latin Verse , Introduct ion , p .

But in studying my former t ransl ation , with more t imeat my disposal than heretofore , I found it was too lengthy ,and have considerably shortened it . I have largely rewri ttenit and have altered passages where the author ’s s ense hadbeen insufficien tly expressed or had been mistaken . For theLatin text I have used the edit ions by Mr H askins

,1 8 87 ;

Francke n, 1 8 96- 1 897 : and by H osius . In a lesser degree

I have referred to Oude ndorp’

s ed ition of 172 8 . I cannotpretend to such cri tical knowledge as would enti tl e me todete rmine between such edi tors . My guide has been theconte xt and intent ion and I bel ieve that no reading wil l befound which has not authority.

I cannot close these remarks w i thout expressing mygrate ful thanks to many for assi stance but especi al ly I wishto acknowl e dge my indebtedness to two l ifelong friendsre cently passed away

,the Rev . H . Montagu Butler

,D .D . ,

Maste r o f Trini ty and W . John Courthope , Esq . ,C .B . ,

for

th e i r most valuable help,sympathy and encouragement .

Final ly , I have to ask for generous consideration o f ad ifficul t work .

E . R .

xxvii i

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M . ANNAEI LVCANI

DE BELLO C IV IL I

L I BER PRIMVS

BELLA per Emathios plus quam civilia campos,

Iu squ e datum sce leri canimu s, populumqu e potentem

In sua victrici conve rsum vi scera dextra ,Cognatasqu e acies , e t rupto foe de re regniC e rtatum tot i s concuss i viribus orbisI n commun e nefas

,inf e stisqu e Obvia signis

S igna,pares aquilas e t pi la m inantia pi li s .

Qui s furor,o cives , quae tanta lice ntia ferri

Gentibus invisis Latium prae be re cruo rem ?

Cumque superba fore t B abylon spol ianda tropae isAu soniis , umbraque e rrare t Crassu s inul ta ,Be l l a geri placu it nullos habitu ra triumphos ?Heu , quantum terrae potu it pe lag ique parariH oc quem civiles hause runt sanguine dextrae 'Unde veni t Titan

,e t nox ubi sidera condi t ,

Quaque die s medius flagrantibu s ae stuat hori s ,E t qua bruma rige ns ac nesci a vere remittiAdstringit Scyth ico glacial em frigore pontum

Sub iuga i am Sere s , iam barbarus i sse t Araxes,

E t ge ns s i qua iace t nasce nti conscia N ilo .

BOOK I

EXORDIUM— THE CROSSING OF THE

RUBICON

WARS worse than civil on Emathian 1 plains,

And crime l e t loose we S ing how Rome’s h igh racePlunged in her v i tal s her victorious swordArmies akin embattled

,with the force

O f all the Shaken e arth ben t on the frayAnd burst asunder

,to the common gui l t

,

A kingdom’s compact eagle wi th eagle me t,

S tandard to S tandard,spear opposed to Spear.

Whence,men o f Rome

,th i s rage

,this boundle ss lust

To sate barbari ans with I tali an bloodDid no t the Shade of Crassus

,wandering still

,

2

Cry for h is vengean ce Could ye no t have Spoi led,

To deck your troph ie s,haughty Babylon

Why wage campaigns that send no laurel s home

What lands,what oceans might have been the prize

Of all the blood thus Sh e d in civi l st ri fe IWhere Titan ri ses

,where night hides th e s tars

,

’Neath southern noons with fiery rays aflam e,

O r where that fros t which never yi e ld s to springIn i cy fe t ters binds the Scythian mainLong sinc e barbarian Araxes ’ s treamAnd al l the dis tant East

,and those who know

( I f any such there be) the birth of N i le ,1 “The gre at Emathian conque ror (M il ton ’ s sonne t ) . Emath ia was a part ofMace don ia, but the word is use d loose ly for The s saly or Ma cedon ia .

2 Crassus had be e n de fe a te d and sla in by the Parth ians in 5 3 B c .,four ye ars be fore

th i s pe r iod .

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Tune,Si tantus amor bel l i t ibi , Roma , nefandi ,

Totum sub Latias l eges cum m ise ris orbem,

In te verte manus nondum t ib i de fu it hostis .A t nunc semirutis penden t quod moe nia te ctis

U rbibus Ital iae , lapsisqu e inge ntia muri sSaxa iace nt nulloqu e domus custode te ne ntur ,Rarus e t an tiquis habitator in urbibus e rrat

,

H orrida quod dumis multosqu e i narata per anno sH e speria e st

,de suntque manus posce ntibus arvi s ,

Non tu ,Pyrrhe fe rox, ne c tanti s cladibuS auctor

Po e nu s e rit ; nul l i penitus de sce nde re ferroContigit al ta sedent civi l i s volne ra dextrae .Quod Si non aliam venturo fata Neron iInve ne re viam

,magnoque ae te rna parantur

Regna dei s cae lumque suo servi re TonantiNon nisi sae vorum po tu it post b e l la gigantum ,

l am nih i l , o superi , qu e rimur scelera i sta ne fasqueHac mercede placen t d iros Pharsal i a camposImpl e at e t Poeni sature ntur sanguine manesU ltima funesta concurrant pro e lia MundaH i s Caesar , Pe rusina fames M utinae que laboresAcce dant fati s

,e t quas premi t aspera classes

Le ucas , e t ardenti servi l ia bel la sub A e tna

BOOK THE CRO SS ING OF THE RUB ICONH ad f e l t our yok e . Th e n , th en , with al l the worldB e n e ath thee , Rome , if for nefarious warSuch be thy pass ion

,turn upon thyself

No t ye t was wanting for thy sword a foe .

That crumbled houses and half-ruined homesNow mark our ci ties that the ancie nt s treetsScarce hear the footfal l of the passer-byThat mighty fragments l ie besid e the wallsThat hearths are desol ate that far and wid eFi e lds thick with bramble and unti l led for ye arsD emand the labours of the h ind i n vainAll thi s nor Pyrrhus caused

,nor Punic ch i e f

,

Nor sword thrust dee p .

’Twas civi l s trife alon eThat dealt the wound and left the d e ath beh ind .

1 Yet if the fates could find no other wayFor Nero ’s coming

,nor the gods wi th ease

Gain thrones in heaven and if th e ThundererI n fearsome battl e forged the giants’ yoke

,

We plain no more , ye gods for such a boonAll wicke dness be welcome and all crimeThronged wi th our dead be di re Pharsal ia S fields

,

B e Punic ghosts avenged by Roman bloodAdd

,Ce sar

,to these i l l s the Mutin toi l s

Pe rusia’

s de arth on Munda’s final fieldThe shock of bat tl e j oined le t angry L e ucasShatter the routed navies servi le hands

1 F roude in h is e ssay e ntit le d “D ivus Ce sar h ints that the se famous l ine s mayhave be e n wri tte n in mock e ry. Probably the five ye ars k nown as the Gold e n E ra ofNe ro had passe d wh e n the y we re wr i tte n : ye t the te x t i tse lf doe s not a id such asugge st ion ; and the v iew ge ne ral ly tak e n— name l y, tha t Lucan was in e arne s t— appe arspre fe rable . The re we re many wh o dre ame d at the t ime that the d isas te r s of the C ivi lWar we re be ing compe n sate d by the we al th and p rospe r ity of the empire unde r Ne ro ;and the assurance of unive r sal pe ace , the n almos t re al i se d, wh ich i s e xpre sse d in l ine s69-7 1 , se ems inconsis te n t with the ide a that this passage was wr i tte n in i rony . L e cky(“ Europe an Moral s from Augustus to Char lemagne ,” vol . i. , p . 240 ) de sc r ibe s th e sel atte r ve r se s as wr it te n “with al l the fe rvour of a Ch r ist ian poe t . S e e al so Me r1vale

'

s

Roman Empi re,

” chapte r l i v .

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Multum Roma tame n d e b e t civilibus armis ,Quod tib i re s acta e st . Te , cum statione pe racta

Astra p e te s serus , prae lati regia cae l iExc ipie t gaudente polo se u sceptra ten e re ,Seu te flamm ige ros Phoe bi consce nde re currus ,

Te lluremque nihil mutato sol e time ntemI gne vago lustrare iuve t tibi numin e ab omniC e de tur , iurisque tui natura re linque t ,Quis de us e sse ve l i s

,ubi regnum pon e re mundi .

Se d n e que in arctoo sedem tibi l e ge ris orbe ,N e c polus ave rs i cal idus qua ve rgitur austri ,Unde tuam vide as obliquo s idere Romam .

A e the ris immensi partem s i pre sse ris unam ,

Se ntie t axis onus . Librat i pondera cael iO rb e te ne medio pars ae the ris i lla se re niTota vac e t, nul lae que obste nt a Caesare nubes .Tunc ge nus humanum positis s ib i consulat armis ,Inque vicem gens omnis ame t ; pax missa pe r orbem

Fe rre a bell igeri compe scat l imina I ani .Se d mihi i am nume n ne c

,S i te pectore vate s

Acc ipio ,C irrhae a ve l im secre ta move ntem

Sollic itare de um Bacchumque avertere NysaTu sati s ad dandas Romana in carmina vi res.Fe rt animus causas tantarum e xprom e re re rum

,

lmme nsumqu e ape ritur opus , quid in arma fure ntemlmpule rit populum ,

quid pacem e xcusse rit orbi .I nvida fatorum s e ri e s summ isque n e gatumS tare diu nimioque graves sub pondere lapsusN e c se Roma f e re ns . S i c

,cum compage soluta

Sae cula tot mundi suprema co ege rit hora ,

BOOK I. ] THE CRO SS ING OF THE RUB ICONU nshe ath the sword on fiery A e tna

’

s slope sS t i l l Rome is gainer by the c ivi l war.Thou

,Ce sar, art her prize . Wh e n thou shal t choos e ,

Thy watch rel ieved,to see k at length the stars

,

All heaven rej oicing o r to hold a th ron eO r else to govern fiery Ph e bus ’ carAnd ligh t a subj ect world that shall not dre adTo ow e her brightness to a d i ff e ren t SunAl l shal l concede thy righ t do what thou wil t ,Sel e c t thy Godhead

,and the central cl ime

Wh e nce thou shalt rule the world wi th power divine . 60And ye t the North e rn or the Southern Pol eWe pray thee

,choose no t bu t in rays di rect

Vouchsafe thy radiance to thy ci ty Rome .Pre ss thou on e i ther side

,the universe

Should lose its equipoise take thou the midst ,And we igh t the s cales

,and le t th at part of h e aven

Where Ce sar s i ts be evermore sere neAnd smile upon us wi th unclouded blue .Then may al l men lay down th e i r arms

,and peace

Through al l the nation s reign , and shu t the gate sThat guard the threshold of the God of War.Be thou my h e lp , to me e

’en now d ivine 'L e t Delphi ’ s s teep her own Apol lo guard

,

And Nysa keep her B acchus,uninvoked .

Rome i s my subj ec t and my muse art thouHuge is the task I purpose to fulfi l

To probe the causes of so great a doom .

Why did a maddened people rush to armsAnd rob the world of peace ? By e nvious fateThe spee dy downfall of th e Lord i s wroughtToo great the burd e n

,gre at Shal l be the fal l .

Rome could not bear the burden of h e r fam e .

So when that hour, the l as t of all , shal l tol l

The world ’s di srup t i on,al l th ings shal l revert

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Antiquum re petent i terum chaos omnia mixtis

S id e ra sid e ribus concurre nt ignea pontumAstra p e te nt te llus e xte nd e re litora nole tExcu tie tque fre tum f ratri contraria Phoeb eIbi t e t

,obliquum bigas agitare per orbem

I ndignata,diem posce t sib i to taque discors

Machina d ivolsi turbabit foe de ra mundi .I n s e magna ruunt lae tis hunc numina re busCre sce ndi posue re modum . Nec gentibus ul l i sCommodat in populum te rrae pe lagique potentemInvidiam Fortuna suam . Tu causa malorum

Facta tribus domini s communis,Roma

,ne c unquam

In turbam missi f e ral ia fo e de ra re gni .O male concorde s n imiaque cupid ine cae ci

,

Quid misce re iuvat vi res orbemque te nereI n me dium dum te rra fretum te rramque le vabit

A e r e t longi volvent Titana labore sNoxqu e di em cae lo to tidem pe r S igna se que tur,Nulla fide s re gni socii s

,omnisqu e potestas

Impati e ns consor tis cri t . Nec ge ntibus ul l i sCre dite , ne c longe fatorum exempla pe tanturFrate rno primi madue runt sanguin e muri .N e c pre tium tanti te l lus pontusque furo risTunc e rat e x iguum dominos commisit asylum .

T emporis angust i mansit concordia d iscors,

Paxque fui t non sponte ducum nam sola futuriCrassu s e rat be l l i me dius mora . Qualite r undasQui se cat e t gem inum graci l i s mare se parat I sthmosN e c pati tur confe rre fre tum Si te rra re ce dat,l onium A e gae o frangat mare si c

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Arma ducum dirim e ns miserando funere Crassu sAssyri as L atio maculavit sanguine Carrhas ,Parthica Romanos solve runt damna furore s .Plus i l la vobis ac i e

,quam cre ditis

,actum e st

,

A rsacidae bel lum vic t is c ivi le d e distis .

D ividitur ferro regnum , popu l ique po te ntis ,Quae mare

,quae terras

,quae totum pos side t orbem ,

1 10

Non ce pit fortuna duos . N am pignora iunctiSanguin is e t diro fe rale s omine tae dasAbs tulit ad manes Parcarum I ul ia sae vaI n te rc e pta manu . Quod si t ib i fata de disse ntMaiore s i n luce moras

,tu sola fure ntem

Ind e virum po te ras atque hine re tine re pat entemA rmatasque manus e xcusso iung e re fe rro ,U t ge ne ros soce ris m e diae iunxe re Sabinae .

Morte tua discussa fide s,be llumque move re

Pe rm issum ducibus . Stimulos dedi t aemula vi rtus 1 20

Tu , nova ne ve te re s obscure nt acta triumphosE t vict i s ce dat pi ratica laure a Gal l i s

,

Magn e,time s ; te i am series ususqu e laborum

B rigi t i npatie nsque l oci fortuna se cund i .N e c qu emquam i am fe rre potes t C ae sarve prioremPompe iusve parem . Quis iustius indui t arma

,

Sc i re n e fas magno se iudice qui sque tue tu rVictrix causa d e is: placu it, se d vic ta Catoni . 1

1 Th i s famous l ine was quote d by L amart ine whe n addre s s ing the F re nch A ssembly m1 8 48 . H e was advocat ing, aga ins t the inte re s ts of h i s own par ty (wh i ch 1n the Asse mblywas al l-po ,we rful ) that the pre s ide n t of the Re publ i c Should be chose n by the nation, andno t by the Assembly ; and he e nde d by say ing th at if the course he advocate d wasd 1sastrous to h imse lf, V i c tr ix causa de i s placuit, se d victa Catoni . ”

I O

BOOK THE CRO SS ING OF THE RUB ICONB reak e ach on other thus wh e n Crassus fe l l

,

Who h e ld apart the ch ie fs , in pi te ous d e ath ,And stained Assyria ’s p lains wi th Lati an blood

,

D e fe at in Parth ia loosed th e war in Rom e .

More i n that victory than ye though t was won,

'e sons of Arsace s ; your conquered foesTook at you r hands the rage of civi l strife .By sword the realm is parted and the stateSupreme o ’

e r earth and se a , w ide as the world ,Could not find space for two .

’1 For Juli a bore,

Cut off by fate unpi tying,the bond

Of that i l l-omened marriage,and the pledge

Of blood united,to the shades below .

H ads t thou bu t longer s taye d,it had b e en th ine

To keep th e paren t and the spouse apart,

S t rike sword from grasp and j oin the threate ning handsAs Sab in e matrons in the days of oldJoined in the mids t th e bride groom and the si re .Bu t with thee trust was bu ried

,and the chiefs

Could give th e i r courage vent,and rush e d to war .

Le s t newe r glories should obscure the past,

Late conquered Gaul the bays from pi rates won,

This , Magnus , is thy fe ar thy rol l of fame,

Of glori ous d e eds accompli shed for the s tat eEndure s no equal nor, his triumphs won ,Will Ce sar ’s pride superior rival brookWhich had the righ t ’ twere impious to e nquireEach for hi s cause can vouch a j udge supreme

The victor,heaven the vanqui shed

,Cato

,th e e .

1 Compare Two stars ke e p no t the i r mot ion in one sphe reNor can one E ngland brook a double re ignOf Har ry Pe rcy and the Prince of Wa le s .”

1 H e nry IV Act v. , S ce ne 4 .

Two k ings in England cannot re ign at once .

Maa t owz,

“ Edward I I . , v . 1 , 58 .

I I

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

N e c coie re pares al te r ve rge ntibus anni sI n sen ium longoque togae tranqu illior . usuDe d id icit iam pace ducem ,

famae que peti to rMulta dare in volgus, to tus popularibus auri sImpe l l i, plausuque sui gaudere the atriN e c re parare novas vi res

,multumque priori

Cre dere fortunae . Stat magn i nominis umbraQualis frugi fero quercus sublimis in agroExuvias ve te re s popul i sacrataque ge stansDona ducum ne c i am validis radicibus hae re ns

Pondere fixa suo e st nudo sque pe r aera ramosE ff unde ns trunco non frondibu s e fficit umbramE t quamvis primo nute t casura sub euro ,To t ci rcum S i lvae firmo se robore tollant

,

Sol a tamemcolitur. Se d non in Caesare tantumNome n e rat

,nec fama ducis

, se d nesci a virtusS tare loco , solusque pudor non vincere be l lo .

Acer e t indomitus,quo spe s quoque i ra vocasse t ,

Fe rre manum e t numquam teme rando parcere ferro ,Succe ssu s urgere suos

,i nstare favori

Numinis impe lle ns quidqu id s ib i summa pe te ntiObstare t

, gaude nsque viam f e cisse ruina .Qualite r e xpre ssum venti s per nubila fulmen

12

BOOK THE CROSS ING OF THE RUB ICONNor were they l ike to l ike the one in yearsNow verging towards decay , in t imes of peaceH ad unlearned war bu t thi rs t ing for applauseGave to the people much , and proud of fameH i s former glory cared not to renew

,

But j oyed in pl audi ts of the theatre,

1

H i s gift to Rome his t riumphs in the pas t ,Himself the shadow of a might name .A S when some oak , i n fruitful eld subl ime ,2

Adorned wi th venerable spo ils,and gifts

Of bygone leaders, by i t s weigh t to earthWith feeble roots s ti l l cl ings its naked armsAnd hol low trunk , though leafless , give a ShadeAnd though condemned beneath the tempest ’s shockTo speedy fal l

,amid the sturdi er trees

In sacred grandeur rules the fores t s t i ll .No such repute had Ce sar won

,nor fame

But energy was his that could not restThe only shame he knew was no t to win .

Keen and unvanquished , where revenge or hopeMight call

,resis tless would he s trike the blow

Nor spare to s tai n the Sword : each victory wonReaped to th e ful l the favour of the godsPressed to th e utmost al l that stayed h is cou rseAimed at the summi t of power

,was thrust aside

Triumph his j oy,though ruin marked h i s t rack .

Plausuque sui gaud e re the atri.”

Quote d by Pit t, i n h i s spe e ch on the addr e ss in1 78 3 , on the occas ion of pe ace be ing made with F rance , Spa in, and Ame r ica ; in al lus ionto She r idan. The l atte r r e p l ie d : “ If e ve r I aga in e ngage i n the compos1tions heal lude s to, I may be tempte d to an ac t of pre sumption— to at tempt an improveme nton one of Be n Jonson’ s be s t characte r s— the characte r of the Angry Boy in theAlchymis t .

’

2 Cann ing , i n hi s spe e ch on the vote for the Windsor E stabhshme nt, sa id of KingGe orge I I I . Scathe d by He ave n ’ s l igh tn ing , but conse c rated as much as blasted by theblow

,he ye t e xhibi te d to the awe and ve ne rat lon of mank ind a m igh ty monum e nt of

stre ngth and maje sty in de cay . H e s tood lif e tbe oat cf 16 : poet s t r ippe d of that l uxur ian tfol iage and spre ading those d e nude d arms wh i ch had afforde d she l te r to succe s s ive ge ne rat ions e t trunco non frond ibus e flicit umbram.

”

I 3

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

A e the ris impulsi sonitu mundique fragoreEmicu it rupitque diem populosqu e pave nte sTe rruit obl iqua prae stringe ns lumina flamma

In sua templa furit nu llaqu e e xire ve tante

Materia,magnamque cade ns magnamque re ve rte ns

Dat Stragem late sparsosqu e re colligit ign e s .H ae ducibus causae sube rant sed publica bel l i

Semina,quae populos semper me rse re potente s .

Namqu e ut opes n imias mundo fortuna subactol ntu lit

,e t rebus mores ce sse re se cund is ,

Prae daqu e e t hosti l es luxum suase re rapinae

Non auro te ctisve modus ; me nsasque prioresAspe rnata fames cu l tus ge stare decorosVix nuribu s rapue re mares fecunda virorumPaupe rtas fugitur totoqu e acce rsitu r orbeQuo gens quae que peri t . Tunc longos iunge re finesAgrorum ,

e t quondam duro sulcata Camil l iVom e re e t antiquo s Curiorum passa l igone sLonga sub ignotis e xte nde re rura colonis .Non erat i s populus

,quem pax t ranquil l a iuvare t

,

Quem sua l ibertas immo tis pasce re t armis .Inde i rae faci l e s e t

,quod suasisse t eges tas

,

Vile nefas magnumque decus fe rroque pe te ndum ,

Plus patri a po tuisse sua me nsuraque iuri sV is era t h inc l e ges e t pl e bisci ta coactaeE t cum consul ibus turbantes iu ra tribuniH inc rapti fasces pre tio se c torque favori sIpse su i populus

,le tal isque ambi tus urbi ,

Annua ve nal i re ferons ce rtam ina Campo

I4

BOOK THE CRO SS ING OF THE RU BICONA s part s th e clouds a bol t by w i nd s compelled

,

With crack of riven ai r and crash of worlds,

And veils the l igh t of day,and on mankind

,

B las ting their vi s i on wi th i ts flames obl ique,

Sheds deadly fright then turn ing to its home ,Nought but th e ai r opposing, through its pathSpreads havoc

,and col lects its scatte red fi res .

Such were the hidden motives of the chi efsBut i n the publ ic life the seeds of warThei r hold had taken

,such as bring to pass

The fal l of nat ions and when fortune lavishedOn Roman homes the booty of a world

,

The curse of luxury fel l on her sons .B e hold the pomp profuse

,the houses decke d

With ornament thei r hunger l oa thed the foodOf former days men wore atti re for damesScarce fitly fashioned poverty was scorned

,

Frui tful of warriors and from al l the worldCame that which ru in s nation s whil e the fieldsFurrowed of yore by great Camillus

’ plough,

O r by the mattock which a Curius held ,Lost thei r once narrow bounds

,and widening tracts

By h inds unknown were t i ll ed . No nation th i sTo sheathe the sword , with tranqui l peace contentAnd with her l ibert i es but prone to i reCrime holding l igh t as though by want compe l ledGreat was the glory in the minds of me n

,

Ambit ion l awful even at poin t of sword,

To rise above thei r country might the i r law 200

Decrees were forced from Senate and from Pl e bS

Consul and Tribune broke the laws al ikeBought were the fasces

,and the peopl e sold

For gain thei r favour brib e ry ’ s fatal curseStained every y e arly contest o f the Field .

Then covetous usury rose,and in terest

I S

PHARSALIA [BOOK‘

1 .

H in e usura vorax avidumque in tempora faenusE t concussa fide s e t multi s ut ile bellum .

l am ge lidas Caesar cursu supe rave rat AlpesInge nte sque animo motus be llumque futurumC e pe rat . U t ve ntum est parvi Rubiconis ad undas ,Inge ns visa duci patriae tre pidantis imagoClara per obscuram voltu mae stissima noctem,

Tu rrige ro canos e ff unde ns vert ice crines ,Cae sarie lacera nudisque adstare lace rtis

E t gemitu pe rmixta loqu i Quo te nditis ul traQuo ferr i s mea S igna

,viri Si i ure ve nitis ,

S i c ive s,huc usque l i ce t . ” Tum pe rculit horror

M embra duci s,r igue re comae , gre ssusque co e rce ns

Languor In extrema tenui t ves t i g i a ripa .M ox a i t : O magnae qui moe nia prOSp iciS urbisTarpe i a de rupe

,Tomans

,Phrygiiqu e penates

G e nt i s Iu le ae e t rapti se creta Qu irini

E t re side ns cel sa Latialis Iuppite r AlbaVe stale sque foci summ iqu e o numinis in star,Roma , fave coeptis non te furialibus armis 200

Pe rse quor e n adsum vic tor terraque mariqu e

Cae sar, ubique ruus— lice at modo nunc quoque— miles .I lle cri t

,i l le noce ns

,qui me tib i fe ce rit b os tem .

I nde moras so lvit bel l i tumidumque per amnem

S igna tul i t propere ; s ie ut squal e ntibus arvi sA e stif e rae L ibye s viso l eo comminus hosteSubse dit dubius

,totam dum colligit 1ram

M ox ubi se sae vae stimulavit ve rbe re caudaeE re xitque iubas, e t vasto murmur b iatuInfremuit , tum torta le vi s Si l ancea Mauri

1 6

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 1.

H ae re at au t latum sube ant ve nabula pectus ,Per fe rrum tant i se curus volne ris e xit .Fonte cadi t modico parvisque impe llitur undis

Punice us Rubicon , cum fervida candu it ae stasPerque imas se rpit valle s e t Gallica ce rtusLime s ab Au son iis diste rm inat arva coloni s .Tunc V i re s prae be bat hiemps atque auxe rat undasTe rtia iam gravido pluvial i s Cynthia cornu

,

E t madid is e uri re solu tae flatibu s Alpe s .Primus in obliquum sonipe s opponitur amnem 2 20

Exce pturus aquas mol l i tum cetera rumpi tTurba vado faci les i am fracti flum inis undas .Cae sar u t adversam superato gurgi te ripamA ttigit H e spe riae ve titis e t constitit arvi sH i c

,ait , hic pacem tem e rataque i ura rel inquo

Te,Fortuna

,s e quo r procul hinc iam fo e de ra sunto .

C re didimu s fati s u te ndum e st i udice bello .

”

v’

S ic fatus nocti s te ne bris rapit agmina ductorImpige r it to rto Bale aris ve rbe re fundaeOc ior e t missa Parthi post te rga sagi ttaVic inumqu e minax invadit Ariminon . Igne sSoli s lucife ro fugie bant astra re l icto ,

l amque d ies primos bel l i vi su ra tumul tusExoritur se u sponte d e um

, se u turbidus austerImpu le rat , mae stam te nu e runt nubi la lucem .

Constitit u t capto iu ssus depone re milesS igna foro

,s tridor l ituum clangorque tubarum

Non pia conc inu it cum rauco class ica cornu .

Rupta qu ie s popul i , stratisqu e e xci ta iuve ntusD e ripu it sacris adfixa pe natibu s arma ,Quae pax longa dabat nuda iam crate flu e nte s

Invadunt c lipe o s curvataque cuspide pi laE t scabros nigrae mo rsu robiginis e ns e s .

1 8

BOOK THE CROSS ING OF TH E RU BICONR e sounds the muttere d growl , and should a lanceOr jave lin reach h im from the hunter ’ s ring

,

S corn ing the puny scratch h e bounds afield .

From mod e st fountain blood-red RubiconI n summer ’ s h e at flows on hi s pigmy tid eCreeps through the valleys and with S l e nde r margeDivides the I tal ian peasant f rom the Gaul .Then winter gave h im stre ngth

,and fraught with

mm

Th e th i rd day ’s cre scen t moon while Easte rn windsThawed from the Alpin e s lopes the y ield ing snow . 2 50

The cavalry first form across the St reamTo break the torrent ’s force the rest with e aseB eneath th e i r shelter gain the further bank .

Wh e n Ce sar crossed and trod beneath hi s fe etThe soi l of I taly ’s forbidden fields

,

H e re , spake he , peace , h e re broken laws be leftFarewel l to t reati es . Fortune , lead me onWar i s our j udge

,and in the fate s our

Then in the shad e s o f nigh t he l eads th e troopsSwifte r than Baleari c Sli ng o r sha ftWinged by retre at ing Parth ian

, to the wal l sOf threatened R imini

,whil e fl e d the s tars ,

Save Luci fe r,b e fore the coming sun ,

Whose fi res were ve ile d in clouds , by south winddriven

,

O r e l se at h e ave n ’ s command and thus drew onThe gre y first morn ing of the civi l war .Now stood the troops within the capture d town ,

Th e i r s tandard s plante d and the t rumpe t clangRang forth in h arsh alarums

,giving note

Of impious s tri fe roused from thei r sl e e p the me n 270

Rush e d to the hall and snatch e d the anci e nt armsLong hanging through the y e ars o f pe ace the shie ldWith crumbling fram e dark wi th the tooth o f rust

1 9

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

U t no tae fulse re aqui lae Romanaque S igna,E t ce l sus medio conspectus in agmine Caesar,D irigue re metu , ge lidu s pavor occupat artus ,E t taci to mutos volvunt in pectore qu e stusO male vicinis haec moe nia condi ta Gal l i s

,

O tris t i damnata l oco I pax al ta per omnesE t tranqui l la quie s populos nos prae da fure ntumPrimaque castra sumus . Meliu s

,Fortuna

,de disse s

O rbe sub e oo sedem ge lidaqu e sub arctoE rrante squ e domos , Latii quam claustra tueri .NOS primi Senonum motus C imbrumque rue ntem

Vidimus e t Ma t tem L ibye s cursumque furoris

Teutonici quotiens Romam Fortuna lace ssit ,H ac i ter est bel l i s .” G emitu s ic quisque latenti ,Non au sus timuisse palam vox nul l a doloriCredi ta sed quantum

,volucre s cum bruma co e rce t

,

Rura si l en t me diusque iace t S ine murmure pontus ,Tanta qu ie s . Nocti s ge lidas lux solve rat umbrasEcce faces bel l i dubiae qu e in proe lia mentiUrgentes addunt Stimulos cunctasqu e pudo ris

Rumpunt fata moras iustos fortuna laboratEsse ducis motus e t causas inveni t armis .

20

2 50

260

BOOK THE CROSS ING OF THE RUB ICONTheir swords ‘ ; and j avelins wi th blunte d point .Bu t wh e n the well-known signs and e agl e s shon e

,

And Ce sar towering o’

e r the throng was seen,

They shook for terror,fear possessed th e i r limbs

,

And thoughts unuttered sti rred with in th e i r s ouls .O miserable those to whom thei r homeD e nies the peace that al l men else enj oy 'Placed as we are beside the Northern boundsAnd scarce a footstep from the restles s Gaul

,

We fall the fi rst would that our lot had be e nB e ne ath the Eastern sky

,or frozen North

,

To le ad a wandering life,rather than keep

The gates of Latium . Bre nnus sacked the townAnd H annibal

,and all the Teuton hosts .

This is the path when Rom e’ s the prize of war .

Deep in thei r breasts they breathed the S i len t moanBut dared no t speak thei r sorrow nor th e i r fear .As when in winter al l th e fields are sti l l

,

And birds are voiceless,and as where no sound

B reaks on the s i lence of a central seaSo deep the sti l lness . But when nigh t ’ s chil l shadesYie lded to day

,behold the torch of War

For to th e mind that paused for shame of strifeFate found compel l ing spur

,and Fortune s trove

To give j us t motive for th e ch i e ftain ’ s arms .For while Rome wavered and her patri ots ’ namesWere loud and frequen t in the mouths of men

,

The Senate angered , and in scorn of right ,2

1 Marlowe has i tAnd swords

W i th ugly te e th of black rust foul ly scar re d .I n the S e nate , Curio had p ropose d and car r ie d a re sol ut ion that Pompe ia s and

Ce sar should lay the i r arms down s imul tane ously : but th is was re s is te d by the O l igarchalpar ty

,who e nde avoure d , though unsucce s sful l y, to e xpe l Cur io from the S e nate , and who

place d Pompe ius in command of the leg ions at Capua . Th i s was in e ff e c t a de c l arat ionof war ; and Curio, afte r a las t attempt at re s istance , l e ft the c i ty, and be took h imse lf toCe sar . ( Se e the c l ose of Book IV . )

2 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Expul it ancipi t i discord e s urb e tribunosV icto iure m inax iac ta tis curia G racchis .

H os i am mota ducis vic inaqu e S igna pe te nte sAudax venal i com itatur Curio l ingua— Vox quondam popul i l ibe rtatemqu e tu e riAnsus e t armato s pl e bi misce re pote nt e s

t u e ducem varias vo lve ntem pe ctore curasConspe xit Dum voce tuae po tue re iuvari ,Cae sar

,

”a it parte s

, quamvis nole n te s e natu,

Traximus imp e rium,tum cum mihi ros tra te n e re

IuS e rat e t dubios in t e transfe rre Quiri te s .A t postquam l e ge s bel lo silue re coac tae

,

Pe ll imur e patriis laribus patimurqu e vol e nte s

Exsil ium tua nos faci e r V i ctoria cive s .Dum tre pidant nul lo firmatae robore parte s ,Toll e moras . S emp e r nocu it diff e rre paratis .

Par labor atque m e tus pre tio maiore pe tuntur .

Be l lantem gemini s tenui t te Ga l l ia lustris,

Pars quota te rrarum ? faci l i s i pro e lia paucaG e sse ris e ve ntu

, t ib i Roma sube ge rit o rbem .

Nunc n e qu e te l ongi rem e antem pompa triumphiExcipit, au t sacras poscunt Capitol ia lau rosLivor e dax t ibi cunc ta ne ga t ge n te sque subactas

Vix impune f e re s . Soce rum d e pe lle re re gnoD e cre tum ge n e ro e st

, partiri non pote s orhem ,

Solu s habe re pote s . S i c pos tquam fatus , e t ipsiIn b e llum prono tan tum tame n addidit i raeAcce nditque ducem ,

quantum clamore iuvaturEle us son ipe s , quamvi s i am carc e re clau so

2 2

BOOK I . ] THE CRO S S ING OF THE RU BICONDrove ou t the Tribun e s who withstood th e i r wi l l .To Ce sar ’s troops al re ady on th e marchTh e y haste with Curio , who in forme r daysWi th bold and venal tongue had dare d to speakFor Fre e dom

,and to voi ce th e peopl e ’ s wrongs

,

And summon to th e i r sid e the ch ie fs in arms .Who

,wh e n he saw that Ce sar doubte d s ti l l

,

Spake ou t SO l ong as I the ros trum h e l dMy voice was rai se d agains t th e Senate ’s wil lAnd thy command prolonge d and to thy s id eBy me we re drawn the wave ring m e n o f Rome .

Mute now are laws in war we from our hearth sA re drive n , ye t wi lling exi les for th ine armsShal l make us ci tize ns o f Rom e again .

S trik e 1 for no stre ngth as ye t th e fo e hath gained .

To pause wh e n re ady i s to court de fe atLike ri sk

,l ike l abour

,th ou has t known be fore

,

Bu t n e ver such reward . Could Gallia holdThin e armies te n 2 long years e re victory came

,

That l i t tle nook of e arth One pal try fightO r twain

,fough t ou t by thy re s i s tl e ss hand ,

And Rome for thee Shal l have subdue d the world’Tis true no triumph now would bring th e e home

No captive tribes would grac e thy chario t whee l sWinding in pomp around the anci e nt h i l lSpi te

,gnawing spi te

,deni e s the e al l thy du e

For al l thy conquests , for a world w e l l wonScarce shal t thou go unpunish e d . 'e t

’

tis fat eThou Should ’s t subdu e thy kinsman Share the worldWith him thou canst no t rule thou canst , alon e .

A S when at Eli s ’ festival a horse

1 S tr ike . Dan te p l ace s Cur io in the n inth gulf of he l l , “ from whose th roat wascut the tongue wh ich spak e that hardy word .” Infe rno, xxvm. 9 8 (Cary) .

25 8 D.C . to 49 B.C . The cros smg of the Rub icon took p lace i n the te nth ye ar from

the comme nce me n t of th i s war .2 3

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Immine at foribus pe dibusque re pagula laxe t.

Convocat armato s e xtemplo ad S igna maniplo s ,

t ue s ati s tre pidum turba co e unte tumultum

C omposu it , voltu de xtraque sile ntia iussit

B e l lo rum o soci i , qui mi l le pe ricula Marti sM e cum ait e xpe rti decimo iam vincitis anno

, 300

Hoc cruor arc to is merui t di ff usus in arvi sVolne raque e t mortes hieme sque sub Alpibus actae ?

Non secus ingenti be llorum Roma tumultu

Concutitur,quam Si Poe nus transce nde re t Alpes

H annibal imple ntur val idae ti rone cohortes ;In classem cadi t omne nemus terraque m arique

Iussus Caesar agi . Quid S i mih i Signa iace re ntMarte sub adverso , rue re ntque i n terga ferocesG allo rum popul i nunc

,cum fortuna se cundis

Me cum re bus agat supe rique ad summa vocante s ,Temptamur. Ve n iat longa dux pace solu tusMi li te cum subi to parte sque in bel la togataeM arce llusque loquax e t, nomina vana, Catone s .

Sci lice t e xtremi Pompe ium emptique c l iente sContinuo p e r to t satiabunt tempora regnoI lle re ge t currus nondum patie ntibus annisI l l e semel raptos nunquam dimitte t honoresQuid i am rura que rar to tum suppre ssa pe r orhem

24

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Ac iu ssam servi re famem qui s castra t ime nti

N e sc it mixta foro,gladi i cum tri s te minante s

Iudic ium inso li ta tre pidum cinxe re corona,

Atque auso m e d ias pe rrump e re mil i te l e ge sPomp e iana re um claus e run t S i gna M ilonemNunc quoque ne lassum te ne at privata s e ne c tu s

,

B e lla n e fanda parat su e tu s civil ibu s armisE t docil is Sul lam sce le ris vicisse m agistrum

t ue fe rae t igre s nunquam posu e re furorem ,

Quas nemore H yrcano ,matrum dum lustra se quuntur

,

Altus cae sorum pavi t cruor arm e ntorum,

S i c e t Sullanum sol i to tibi lamb e re fe rrumDurat

,Magn e

,s itis . Nul lus sem e l o re re ce ptus

Po llu tas patitur sanguis mansue scere fauce s .Quem tam e n i nve n i e t tam longa pote nti a finem ?Quis sce le rum modus e st e x hoc i am te

,improbe

,re gno

I l l e tuu s sal tem doce at disce d e re Sul la .Post Cilicasne vagos e t lass i Pontica re gi sPro e l ia barbarico Vix consummata ve n e noUltima Pompe i o dabitu r provincia Cae sar

,

Quod non victri ces aqui las de pone re iussusParue rim mih i s i m e rc e s e re p ta laborum e st

,

H i s sal tem longi non cum duce praem ia be ll iR e ddan tur mil e s sub quolib e t i s te triumphe t .

Confe re t e xsangu is quo se post b e l la se ne c tus ?Quae se d e s cri t em e ritis ? quae rura dabuntur ,Quae noste r ve te ranus are t ? quae mo e nia fe ssis ?

An m e l ius fie nt piratae , Magn e , colon i

26

BOOK THE CROS S ING OF THE RUB ICONAnd ghastly famin e mad e to s e rve hi s e ndsWho hath forgotten how Pompe ius

’ bandsS e ize d on th e forum ? the grim she e n of sword sWh e n outrage d jus ti c e trembled , and th e spe arsH emme d in the j udgment- seat wh e re Milo 1 s tood PAnd now wh e n weary-worn h e draws again 2

I n civi l S tri fe the w e apon love d of old .

As savage t ige rs in Hyrcanian woodsWandering

,or i n the caves that saw th e ir bi rth

,

Onc e having lappe d th e blood of slaugh te re d kin e,

Shal l n e ve r ce as e from rage e’

e n so th i s wh e lpOf cru e l Sulla

,nurs e d in c ivi l war,

Outstrips h i s m as ter and the tongu e which l icke dThat re eking weapon e ve r th i rsts for more .

S tain onc e th e l ips with blood , no oth e r m e alShal l give e nj oyme nt . Shal l there be no e nd

To ye ars o f powe r, no limi t to his crim e

Nay,th i s one l e sson , ere it be too l at e ,

Le arn of thy gent le Sulla— to ret ire 'Of old h i s victory o ’er Cil ician th i e vesAnd Pontus ’ we ary monarch gave h im fame

,

By poison scarce attained . H is latest prizeShal l I be

,Ce sar , I , who would no t qui t

My conque ring e agles at h i s proud commandN ay

,if no triumph is reserved for m e

,

L e t th e se at l e as t of long and toi l some war’N e ath other leade rs the rewards e nj oy .

Wh e re shall the we ary soldi e r find hi s res tWhat cottage hom e s thei r j oys

,what fields thei r frui t

Shal l to our ve te rans y ield ? Will Magnus sayThat pirates only ti ll the field s arigh t ?

1 M i lo was brough t to tr ial for the murde r of Clod ius in 5 2 B .C . , about th re e ye ar sbe fore th i s t ime . Pompe ius , the n sole consul , had surrounde d the t r ibunal W i th sold i e rs ,who a t one time charge d the c rowd . M i l o was se n t in to e x i le a t Mass i l ia

3 Se e Book I I . 6 1 5 .

27

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

To l lite iampridem victricia , toll ite , S ignaViribus utendum e st , quas fe cimus . Arma tenentiOmnia dat

,qu i iusta ne gat . Neque numina de e runt

Nam neque prae da me i s ne que regnum quae ri tu r armi s

De trahimus dominos urbi servi re paratae .

”

3 5 1

D ixe rat at dubium non claro murmure volgus

Secum incerta fremit . Pietas patriique penatesQuamquam cae de feras mentes animosque tume nte s

Frangunt sed diro ferri re vocantu r amoreDucto risqu e metu . Summi tum munera pil iLae l ius eme ritique ge re ns insignia doni ,S e rvati c ivi s re fe re ntem praemia que rcum ,

S i Iicet,

”e xclamat Romani maxime re ctor

Nominis,e t ius e st veras e xprome re voces

Quod tam l enta tuas tenui t patientia vi res,

Conque rimur . D e e ratne t ib i fiducia nos triDum move t haec cal idus spirantia corpora sanguis ,E t dum pila valent forte s torqu e re lacert i ,Degenerem patie re togam re gnumqu e senatus ?Usque ad e o mise rum e st civi l i vincere belloDuc age per Scythiae populos , per inhospita Syrti sLitora pe r cal idas

o

L ibyae sit i e nt i s hare nas .

H ae c manus,u t vi ctum post terga re linque re t orbem

Oceani tumidas remo compe scu it undas ,Fre gi t e t arctoo spumantem verti ce Rhe num .

l

I ussa se qu i tam posse mihi , quam velle necesse e st .Ncc civis meus e st, in quem tua class ica

,Cae sar

,

Audiero. Pe r Signa decem felici a castrisPerque tuos iu ro quocumque ex hoste triumphos

1 A rctoo v e r t i ce . I do no t th ink tha t the e p ithe t arctoo can have any re fe re nceto the d ire ct ion of the Rh ine : and if i t i s of a ge ne ral characte r hold myse lf at l ibe r tyto use i t for the r ive r or for the se a.

2 8

BOOK I. ] TH E CRO SS ING OF TH E RUBICONUnfurl your S tandards victory gild s th em ye t ,As through those glorious years . D e ny our rightsH e that denies them makes our quarrel j ust .Use we our strength we made it for our own .

No booty seek we,nor imperial power .

This would-be ruler of subservient RomeWe force to qui t h i s grasp and Heaven shal l smil eOn those who seek to drag the tyran t down .

Thus Ce sar spake bu t doubtful murmurs ranThroughout the crowd ; thei r household gods and

homesMade pause their minds though long inured to bloodBut fear of Ce sa r

,cursed love of war

,

Drew them to h im . Then Le lius , who woreThe wel l-earned crown for Roman life preserved

,

The foremost Cap tain of the army,spake

O greates t l eader of the Roman name,

I f thou dos t ask it,and the law permi ts

,

I tel l thee all our j ust complaint i s th i s,

That gifted with such strength thou didst refrainFrom using i t . Hadst thou no trust in us ?Wh ile the ho t l ife-blood fi ll s these glowing veins

,

While these s t rong arms avai l to hurl the lance,

Wilt thou in peace endure the Senate ’ s ruleI s c ivi l conquest then so base and vi leLead us th rough Scythian deserts , lead us whereThe inhospitable Syrtes l ine the shoreOf Afric ’s burning sands

,or where thou wi lt

This hand , to l eave a conquered world beh ind ,Tamed with the oar the boisterous North e rn SeaAnd broke the foaming torrents of the Rhin e .

To follow thee fate gives me now the powe rThe w ill was mine before . No ci tizenI count the man ’gains t whom thy t rumpets sound .

By ten campaigns of victory , I swear ,29

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Pe c tore si fratris gladium iuguloque parenti sGonde re me iube as ple nae que i n viscera partuConjug is , invi ta p e ragam rame n omnia dextraSi spo l iare deos ignemqu e imm itte re templ is ,Numina m isce bit castre nsis flamma M one tae

Castra super Tusci s i ponere Thyb rid is undas ,H e sperios audax ve niam m e tator in agrosTu quo scumqu e vole s i n planum e ff unde re muros

,

H i s aries actus dispe rge t saxa lace rtis ,I l la l icet

, pe nitu s tol l i quam iu sse ris u rbem,

Roma s it . H i s cunctae s imul adse nse re cohorte sE latasqu e al te , quae cumqu e ad bell a voca re t ,Prom ise re manus . It tantus ad ae the ra clamor

,

Quantus, pin if e rae Bore as cum Thraciu s O ssae

R upibus incubu it, curvato robore pre ssaeFit sonu s au t ru rsus re de unt is i n ae the ra S i lvae.

Cae sar,u t acce ptum tam prono mil i te bel lum

Pataqu e ferre vid e t,ne quo languore more tur

Fo r tunam,Sparsas pe r Gal l i ca rura cohorte s

Evocat e t Romam moti s p e ti t und ique s ignis .

De se rue re cavo tentori a fixa L emanno

Castraque , quae Vo s e g i curvam super ardua ripamPugnac e s pic ri s cohibe bant L ingone s armis .H i vada lique runt Isarae , qui gurgi te ductusPe r tam multa suo

,famae maioris in amnem

Lapsus , ad ae quore as nome n non pe r tu l it undas .So lvuntur flavi longa s tatione Rute niMitis A tax Latias gaudet non fe rre carinas

30

BOOK THE CRO SS ING OF THE RU B ICONBy al l thy t riumphs , bid me plunge the swordIn si re or brother o r i n pre gnant spouse

,

By thi s unwil li ng hand the deed we re don eB id Spoi l the gods and se t the fanes ablaze

,

Great Juno ’ s shrin e were kindled with our fire sB id plant our arms o ’er Tuscan Tiber ’ s s t re am

,

I tal ian land I ’ll quarter for the campB id raze the wal l , I

’ l l drive the fatal ramAnd rive the stones asund e r

,though the prize

We re Rome herself. ” H i s comrad e s l if t th e i rhands

And vow to follow wheresoe ’er he le ads .And such a clamou r re nds the Sky as whenS ome Thracian blast on O ssa ’s pine-clad rocksFalls h e adlong

,and the loud re -echoing woods

,

O r bending,or re bounding from the S troke

,

I n sounding chorus l ift the roar on h igh .

When Ce sar saw th em eager for the warAnd Fortune favouring

,and that Fate l e d on

,

H e se ized the moment,cal l ed hi s t roops f rom Gaul

,

And bre aking up his camp s e t on fo r Rome,

Void are the ten ts by deep Lake Leman ’s S ideThe camps upon the bee tl ing crags o f Vosge sNO l onger hold the warlike Lingon down

,

Fierce in his pain ted arms I sere i s le ft,

Who past his shal lows gliding , flows a t las tI nto the curre nt of more famous Rhon e ,

To reach the ocean in anoth e r name .

The fai r-haired peopl e of Ce venne s are fre eSof t Aude rej o ic ing bears no Roman k e e l

,

Nor ple asant Var,since then I tal ia ’ s bound

The harbour sacred to Alcid e s ’ nam e

Where hollow crags encroach upon the se a,

IS l eft i n free dom th e re nor Ze phyr gains

3 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Fini s e t H e spe riae , promoto l imit e,Varus

Quaqu e sub Herculeo sacratus numine portusU rge t rupe cava pe lagus non caurus in illumI us habet aut zephyrus solus sua littora turbatC ircius e t tu ta prohibe t statione Monoe ci.

Quaque iace t l i tus dubium ,quod terra fre tumque

Vindicat alte rn is vicibus , cum funditur inge nsOceanus

,vel cum refugis se fluctibu s aufe rt .

Ve ntus ab extremo pe lagus sic axe volute tD e stituatque f e re ns, an sidere mota secundoTe thyos unda vagae lunaribus ae stue t hori s ,Flammiger an Ti tan

, ut alentes hauriat undas ,E rigat occanum fluctusque ad sidera ducat ,Quae rite

,quos agitat mundi labor at mih i semper

Tu, quae cumque moves tam cre bros causa meatus

,

U t superi volu e re,late . Tunc rura N eme tis

Qui tenet e t ripas Aturi , qua li tore curvoMolli ter adm issum claudit Tarbe llicu s aequor,S igna move t , gaude tque amoto Santonus hosteE t Biturix longisqu e leves Sue ssone s i n armis .Optimus e xcusso Leucus R emu sque lac e rto ,Optima gens fl exis i n gyrum Se quana fremi s ,E t docilis rector rostrat i B elga covinniArve rn ique

1 ausi Latio se finge re fratresSanguine ab I l iaco populi

,nimiumque re be llis

N e rviu s e t cae si pollutus sanguine CottaeE t qui te laxi s imitantur , Sarmata, bracci s ,Vangione s Batavique truces , quos aere recurvoS trid e ntes acue re tubae qua Cinga pe re rratGurgi te qua Rhodanus raptum ve locibus undisIn mare fert Ararim qua montibus ardua summis

1 Th is name se ems to have be e n put in e rror for the f Edui. Mr Hask ins ’ note .

3 2

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PHARSALIA

Gens habi tat cana pendentes rupe G e be nnas .

[P z’

ctoner z’

nmuner rubz’

g z mt ma rum nee ultra

Imiabz’

ler Turonar cz’

rcumrz’

ta ca stra coercefl t.

In neéul z},M ed/la ma ,

tuz’

r marcer e perorur

Ana’ur,z

’

amplac‘

z

’

da L z’

ger z’

r r ecr ea tur ab unda .

Inclita Ca emr e z

’

r Genabor dz’

rrol'vz’

tur a liam]Tu quoque

,lae tatus converti pro e lia , Trevir

,

E t nunc tou se L igur, quondam per col la decoreCrinibus e ff usis tot i prae late Comatae

E t quibus immitis placatur sanguine d i roTe utate s horre nsque feri s altaribus H e sus

E t Taranis Scythicae non mitio r ara Dianae .Vos quoque

,qui fortes animas be lloqu e pe remptas

Laudibu s in longum vates dimittitis aevum ,

Plurima securi fudistis carmina , bardi .E t vos barbarico s ri tus moremqu e s in i strumSacrorum

,Druidae

, positis re pe tistis ab armis .Sol i s nosse deos e t cael i numina vobi sAut sol i s ne scire datum nemo ra al ta remotis

Incol itis luci s vobi s auctoribus umbraeNon taci tas Erebi sedes D itisque profundiPal l ida regna pe tunt re git i dem Spi ri tus artu sO rbe al io longae , canitis s i cogni ta , v i taeMors medi a e st . Certe popul i

,quos de spicit arctos

Fel ices errore suo , quos i l l e timorum

Maximus haud u rge t, leti metus . I nde rue ndi

I n ferrum mens prona vi ri s animae que capaces

34

BOOK I . ] THE CRO SS ING OF THE RU B ICONR ejo icest that the war has l eft thy bounds .Ligurian tribes

,now shorn , in ancient days

Fi rs t of the l ong-haired nations,on whose ne cks

Once flowed the auburn locks in pride supremeAnd those who pacify with blood accursedSavage Te utate s , H e sus

’ horrid shrines,

And Tarani s ’ al tars,cruel as were those

Loved by Diana,

1 goddess of the northAl l these now res t in peace . And you , ye bards ,Whose martial l ays send down to dis tan t t imesThe fame of valorou s deeds i n bat tle wrough t

,

Pour forth in safety more abundant song .

While you , ye Druids ,2 when the war was done ,To mysteri es s trange and hateful ri tes re tu rnedTo you alone ’ t i s given the heavenly godsTo know or no t to know secluded grovesYour dwell ing-place

,and forests far remot e .

If what ye S ing be t rue,th e shades of men

Seek not the dismal homes o f ErebusO r death ’s pal e kingdoms bu t the breath of lifeSti ll ru le s these bodies i n another ageLife on thi s hand and that

,and death between .

Happy the pe oples ’neath the Northern S tarI n thi s thei r false bel ief ; fo r them no fearOf that which fright s al l o thers they with handsAnd hearts undaunted rush upon the foe

1 Th i s Diana was wor sh ippe d by the Tauri, a pe op le who dwe l t in the Cr ime a ; and ,according to le ge nd, was propitiate d by human sacr i fi ce s . O re s te s on h i s re turn fromhis e xp iatory wande rings brough t he r image to Gre e ce , and the Gre e ks ide nt ifie d he rwith the i r Ar tem is . (Compare Book V I .

2 The horror of the Druidica l grove s i s again al lude d to in Book I I I . , l ine s 440-46 8 .

De an Me rivale remarks ( chapte r l i . ) on th is passage , that in the de spa i r of anoth e rl ife which pe rvade d Pagan ism a t the t ime , the Roman was e xaspe rate d at the Dru ids ’asse rt ion of the transmigrat ion of soul s . Bu t the passage se ems al so to be t ray a l inge r ingsusp icion that the doctrine may in some shape be true , howe ve r hor r ible we re the r ite sand sac r ifice s . The re al ity of a future l ife was a par t of L ucan

’

s be l ie f, as a state ofreward for he roe s.3 5

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Morti s,e t ignavum re diturae parcere v i tae .

1 E t vos c irrige ros bell i s arce re Cayco sOpposi t i pe titis Romam Rhe nique ferocesDe se ritis ripas e t apertum gentibus orbem .

Caesar, ut imme nsae colle cto robore vi res

Audendi maiora fidem fe ce re,per omnem

Sparg itur Ital iam vicinaqu e moe nia conple t.

Vana quoque ad veros accessi t fama timore s

Irrupitque animos populi clademque futuramIntul it e t velox prope rantis nuntia bell iInnume ras solvit falsa in prae conia l inguas .Est qui

,taurife ris ubi se M e vania campis

Expl icat , audaces ruere in ce rtamina turmasAd fe rat e t, qua Nar Tiberino il labitur amni ,Barbaricas sae vi discurre re Cae saris alasIpsum omnes aquilas collataque S igna fe re ntemAgmine non uno de nsisque incedere castris .

Nec qualem memine re,vident maiorque fe rusque

M e ntibus occurri t victoque immanior hoste .H unc inter Rhe num populos A lpemque iace nte s ,Finibus arctois patriaque a sede revolsos ,Pone se qui, iussamque feri s a gentibus urbemRomano spe ctante rapi . S ic quisque pave ndoDat vi res famae nulloque auctore malorum

,

Quae finxe re, time nt . Nec solum volgus inan i

Pe rcussum terrore pave t sed curia e t ip s iSe dibus e xsilue re patres

,invisaqu e bel l i

Consul ibus fugie ns mandat decreta senatus .Tunc

,quae tuta pe tant e t quae me tue nda re linquant ,

I ncerti , quo quemque fugae tul i t impetus , urge tPrae cipitem populum ,

se rie que hae re ntia longaAgmina prorumpunt. Cre das aut tecta nefandasCorripu isse faces aut iam quat ie nte ruina1 I th ink th e se thr e e l ine s are out of p lace— se e remark s in the Pre face .

3 6

BOOK THE CROS S ING OF THE RUB ICONAnd scorn to spare the l ife that shal l re turn .

Ye too de part who kept the banks of Rhin eAnd leave the curly-hai red Caycan hordeFree at thei r wi l l to march upon th e world .

When strength increased gave hope of greater d e e dsCe sar di spersed throughout I tali a’s boundsH i s countless bands

,and fi l l ed th e neighbouring towns .

Then empty rumour to well-grounded fearGave strength

,fore tel l ing massacre at hand

,

And ’midst the people spread in thousand tongues .One cries in terror

,Swift the squadrons com e

Where Nar wi th Tiber j oins and where,in meads 5 30

By oxen loved,M e vania sp re ad s her walls

,

Fierce Ce sar hurries h i s barbari an horse .With al l his eagles and his s tandards j oinedH e leads the throng that sweeps along the land .

Nor as they knew him do they se e h im nowBut m ightier fie rce

,as from a conquered foe

Advancing in h is rear the peop le s march,

Snatched from thei r homes between the Rhine and Alps ,To sack the c i ty wh il e her sons look on .

Thus each man ’ s panic thought swel l s rumour ’ s l i e 540

They dread the phantoms they themselves create .Nor feared the crowd alone th e S e nate tooFled , and the Fathers , to the Consu l s fi rstThei r hateful order i ssued as for warThey doubt where peri l and where safety l iesThey force the crowd through all the choking gatesAnd headlong each seeks exi le as he wil l .Thou woulds t bel ieve th at blazing to the torchWere men ’s abodes

,or nodd ing to thei r fal l .

So streamed they onwards,frenzied with aff righ t,

A s though by abse nce only could they find

Hope for thei r country . So,when southern blasts

37

PHARSAL IA [BOOK 1 .

Nutante s pendere domos . S ic turba per urbemPrae cipiti lymphata gradu , ve lu t unica rebusSp e s fore t adfl ic tis patrio s e xce d e re muros ,Inconsul ta rui t . Qual is, cum turbidus austerR eppulit a L ibycis imme nsum Syrtibu S aequorFractaque ve l ife ri sonue run t pondera mali ,De silit i n fluctuS deserta puppe magisterNavitaqu e , e t nondum sparsa compage carinaeNaufragium s ib i quisqu e fac i t s ic urbe re l icta

I n be l lum fugitur . Nullum iam languidu s ae voEvaluit revocare parens coniunxve maritum

Fle tibus,au t patri i

,dubiae dum vota salutis

Concipe re nt, te nu e re lare s nec limin e qu isquamH ae sit , e t extremo tunc forsitan urbi s amatae

Ple nus ab it vi su rui t i rrevocabi le volgus .

O faci les dare summa deos e ademqu e tueriDifli cile s U rbem populis victisque frequentemGentibus e t generis

,coe at s i turba , capacem

Humani facilem venturo C aesare prae damIgnavae l i qu e ro manus . Cum pre ssus ab host eC lauditur e xte rnis miles Romanus in oris ,E ffugit exiguo nocturna pe ricula vallo ,E t subitus rap t i munimine cae spitis aggerPrae be t se curos intra ten tori a somnosTu tantum audito be llorum nomine , Roma,D e se re ris nox una tuis non credi ta muri s .Danda tame n venia e st tantorum

,danda

, pavorum

Pompeio fug ie nte time nt . Tum ne qua futuriSpe s sal tem tre pidas mente s leve t

,addi ta fati

Pe ioris manifes ta fide s , supe rique minace sProdigiis terras imple runt, ae the ra, pontum .

Ignota obscurae vide runt sidera nocte sArde ntemque polum flammis

,cae loque volantes

Obl i quas per inane faces,crinemque timendi

Sideri s e t terris mutantem regna cometen .

3 8

BOOK THE CRO SS ING OF THE RUB ICONFrom Libyan Whirlpool s drive the boundl e s s main

,

And mast and sai l crash down upon a sh ipWith pond e rous weight

,but st i l l the frame i s sound

,

H e r crew and cap tain leap in to the se a,

Each making sh ipwreck for h imself. ’Twas thusThey passe d the ci ty gates and fled to war .No aged paren t now could s tay hi s sonNor wife her spouse

,nor did they pray the gods 560

To grant the safe ty of thei r fatherland .

None linger on the threshold for a lookO f thei r loved ci ty

,though perchance the l ast .

Ye gods,who lavi sh priceless gifts on men

,

Nor care to guard them given thus was RomeTe eming with conquered nati ons , whose vas t wal lsH ad compassed al l mankind

,by coward hand s

To coming Ce sar l e ft an easy prey .

The Roman soldie r,when in foreign lands

Pressed by the enemy,in narrow tre nch

And hurri e d mound finds guard enough to makeHis tente d sleep secure thou Rome aloneUpon the rumour of advancing warArt left a desert

,and thy battl ements

Not trusted for a nigh t . Yet for thei r fe arWe find a pardon

,for Pompe iu s fled .

Nor had they room to hope for bette r daysFor Nature heralded worse i l l s to come . 1

The angry gods fi l led earth and ai r and se aWith frequen t prodigies in darkest nightsS trange constellat ion s sparkl ed through the gloomThe pole was al l afire , and torches flewAcross the depths of heave n with horrid hairA blazing comet stretched from east to westAnd threatened change to kingdoms . From the blu ePale l igh tn ing flashed

,and in the murky air

1 Compare V i rgil, Ge orgie I. 469 .

39

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Fulgura fallaci micu e runt cre bra sereno,

E t varias ignis tenso dedi t aere formasNunc iaculum longo nunc Sparso lumine l ampasEm icuit caclo . Tacitum S in e nubibu s ul li sFulme n e t arctois rapie ns e partibus ignemPe rcussit Latiale caput ste l lae que minoresPer vacuum sol itae nocti s de curre re tempusI n me dium vene re diem cornuque coacto

I am Phoebe toto f ratrem cum re dde ret orbe ,Te rrarum subi ta pe rcussa e xpallu it umbra .Ipse caput medio Titan cum fe rre t Olympo ,

Condid it ardentes atra cal igine cu rrusInvolvitque orbem te ne bris ge nte squ e coe g it

Desperare d iem qualem fugie nte per ortusSole Thye ste ae noctem duxe re Myc e nae .O ra fe rox Siculae laxavit Mulciber A e tnae

Nec tuli t in caelum flammas,s e d vertice prono

Ignis in H e spe rium ce cidit l atus . Atra Charybdi sSanguineum fundo tors it mare . Flebile sae viL atrave re canes . Vestal i rap tus ab araI gnis

,e t oste nde ns confe ctas flamma Latinas

Sc inditur in partes g eminoque cacumine surgi tThe banos imitata rogos . Tum cardin e tellusSubse d it

,ve te remque iugis nutantibus Alpes

Discusse re n ivem . Te thys maioribus undi sH e spe riam Calpe n summumque impl e vit A t lanta .Indige te s fl evisse deos urbisque laborem

40

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Te stato s sudore lare s de lapsaqu e templ isDona suis d irasque diem foe dasse volucre s

Accipimu s s ilvisque f e ras sub nocte re l ictisAudaces me dia posu isse cubilia Roma .Tum pe cudum fac i les humana ad murmura linguae ,M onstro s ique hominum partus nume roque m odoque

M embrorum,matremque suus conte rruit infans

D iraqu e p e r populum Cumanae carmina vati sVo lgantur . Tum ,

quos se ctis Bel lona lace r tisSae va move t , ce cine re d e os , crinemque rotante sSanguine um populis ulularunt tri st i a Gal l i .Compo sitis ple nae gemue run t ossibus urnae .

Tunc fragor armorum magnae que pe r avi a vocesAud itae nemorum e t ve n i e nte s comminu s umbrae . 570

Quique co lunt iunctos e xtremis moe nibu s agros,

Diff ug iun t . Inge ns u rbem cinge bat ErinysExcu tie ns pronam flagranti vertice pinumStrid e ntisqu e comas, The banam qual is AgavenImpulit aut sae vi contorsit te la Lycurg iEume nis au t qual em iussu Iunon is iniquae

H orruit Alcides,vi so i am Dite

,M e gae ram .

Insonu e re tubae, e t quanto cl amore cohortes

M isce ntur,tantum nox atra sile n tibus au ri s

Edidit . E t medio vi s i consurg e re CampoTri stia Sul lani ce cine re oracula mane s ,Tolle ntemque caput ge lidas Anie nis ad undasAgricolae Marium fracto fuge re sepulchro .

H ae c propte r placu it Tusco s de more ve tustoAcciri vat e s . Quorum qui maximus ae voAruns incoluit d e se rtae moe nia Lucae

,

1

1 Luna may be the prope r re ad ing . Se e Dante , “ I nfe rno,xx . l i ne 4 5. Cary ’ 8 note

so re fe rs to th is passage .

42

BOOK THE CRO S S ING OF THE RUB ICONDroppe d from the idol s gif ts i n templ e s fe l lFoul bi rds defile d the day be asts le ft the woodsAnd made th e i r lai r among the s tree ts o f Rom e .

All thi s we hear nay more dumb oxe n spakeMonsters were brough t to bi rth and mothers sh ri e ke dAt th e i r own off sp ring words of d ire import 6 20

From Cume ’s proph e tess were noised abroad .

B e l lona ’s priests wi th bl e e ding arms,and slave s

Of Cybele ’s worsh ip,with ensanguin e d hair

,

H owl e d chants of havoc and of woe to men .

Arms clashed and sounding in the path less woodsWere heard s trange voices spiri ts walke d the earthAnd d e ad men ’s ashes muttered from the urn .

Those‘

who l ive ne ar the wal ls dese rt th e i r home s,

For 10 with h iss ing serpents in he r hair,

Waving in downward whirl a blazing pine,

A fi e nd patrols th e town,l ike that which e rst

At Thebes urged on Agave,or which hurle d

Lycurgus ’ bolts,or that wh ich as h e came

From H ades seen,at haugh ty Juno ’s word

,

Brought terror to the soul of H ercule s .Trumpets l ike those that summon armi e s forthWere heard re -echoing in the s i le nt n igh t :And from the earth ari s i ng Sulla ’ s 2 ghostSang gloomy oracles

,and by Anio

’

s waveAll fled the homesteads

,frigh te d by the Shade

Of Marius waking from his b roken tomb .

I n such dismay they summon,as of yore

,

The Tuscan sages to the nat ion ’s aid .

Aruns, the elde s t, leaving h is abod e

In desolate Luca,came

,well versed in al l

1 Book V I . 39 7 .

2 Sul l a was bur ie d in the Campus Martins . The corp se of Ma i i us was dragge d fromhi s tomb by Su l la’ s orde r, and th rown into the Anio .

43

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Fu lminis e doctus motus v e nasqu e cal e nte s

Fibrarum e t monitus e rrantis in aere pinnae ,Monstra iube t primum

,quae nullo semine discors

Protu l e rat natura , rapi ste rilique nefandosEx utero fe tus infaustis u re re flammis.

Mox iube t e t to tam pavid is a civibu s u rbemAmbiri e t

,fe sto purgante s mo e nia lustro ,

Longa per extremos pome ri a cinge re finesPontifice s

,sacri quibus e st p e rmissa potestas .

Turba minor ri tu sequi tur succincta Gabino,

Ve s talemqu e chorum ducit V i t tata sacerdos,

Troianam sol i cui fas vid isse M ine rvamTunc qui fata d e um se cre taqu e carmina s e rvantE t lotam parvo re vocant Almone C

ybe be n

,

E t doctus volucre s augur servare s i n i s trasSeptemvirque epul is f e stis Titiiqu e sodale s

E t Salius lae to portans ancili a col lo ,E t tollens apicem ge neroso ve rtice Flamen .

Dumqu e i ll i e fl’

usam longis anfractibu s u rbemCircue unt

,Aruns dispersos fu lm inis ignes

Co l ligit e t te rrae mae sto cum murmure condi tDatqu e loci s nom e n sacris : tunc admove t ari sEle cta ce rvice marem . I am funde re BacchumCo ep e rat obliquoqu e molas inducere cultroImpatie nsque diu non grati victima sacri

,

Cornua succincti preme re nt cum torva minis tri ,

44

BOOK THE CRO SS ING OF THE RUB ICONThe lore of omens in the fl igh t o f bi rds

,

The pulse of vi ctims,and the levin bol t .

All monsters firs t , by nature in turmoilB rought into being

, ye t unparentedIn cursed flame of evi l-omened fuelH e b ids consume and next around th e wall sEach trembling ci tizen to march in turn .

The priests,chief guard ians of the publi c fai th

,

With holy sprinkl ing purge the open spaceThat borders on the wal l in sacred garbFol low the peop le and the Vestal band

,

By pries tess l ed with laurel crown bedecked ,To whom alone i s given the right to seeMinerva ’s effigy that came from Troy .

Next come the keepers of th e sacred booksAnd fate ’s predictions who from Almo ’ s brookB ring back Cybebe l aved the augur tooTaught to observe sini ste r fl igh t of b irdsAnd those who serve th e banquets to the godsAnd Tit ian bre thren and the pries t of Mars ,Proud of th e buckler that adorn s h i s neckBy h im the Flamen

,on his noble head

The cap of oflice . While they tread the pathThat winds around the wal l s

,th e aged seer

Collects the thunderbol ts that fel l from heaven ,And lays them deep in earth

,with muttered words

Naming the Spot accursed . Next a steer,Picked for h i s swel l ing neck and beauteous form ,

He leads to the altar,and with sl anting knife

Spreads on his brow the meal , and pours the win e .

The victim ’ s Struggles prove the gods averseBut when the servers press upon hi s horns

1 Such a ce remonial took p l ace in A.D. 56 unde r Ne r o, afte r the temp le s of Jupite rand M ine rva had be e n struck by l ightning , and was probably W i tne ssed by Lucan h imse lf.( S e e Me rivale

’

s H i story of the Roman Empii e ,” chapte r l i i . )45

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1.

Deposi to victum prae be bat popl i te collum .

Nec cruor emicu it sol i tus se d volne re largoDi ffusum ru ti lo nigrum pro sanguine vi rus .Pallu it attonitu s sacris fe ral ibus ArunsAtque i ram supe rum rapti s quae sivit in e xtis .

Te rru it ipse color vatem nam pall id a tae triSViscera tincta noti s ge l idoqu e infecta cruorePlu rimu s adspe rso variabat sanguine l ivor .Cermi t t abe ie cu r madidum venasque minace sH ostil i de parte videt . Pulmoni s anhe liFibra latet

, parvusqu e se cat vi tal i a l ime s .Cor iace t , e t saniem per hiantis viscera rimasEmittunt

, produntqu e suas omenta late bras .

Quodque,nefas

,nul lis impune apparu it e xtis ,

Ecce,videt capit i fibrarum increscere molem

Alterius capi ti s pars ae gra e t marcida pe nde t ,Pars micat e t celeri venas move t improba pulsu .

His ubi conce pit magnorum fata malorum,

Exclamat Vix fas,superi

, quae cumqu e move tis,

Prode re me popu lis neque enim tibi,summe

,litavi

,

Iuppite r , hoc sacrum cae sique in pectora tauriI nfern i ve nere dei . Non fanda timemu s

S ed ve nie nt maiora metu . Di vi sa s e cunde nt ,E t fibris sit nul la fide s sed condito r artisFinxe rit i s ta Tages . ” Fle xa s ic omina Tuscus

Involve ns mul taque te ge ns ambage cane bat .

A t 1 Figulu s , cu i cura deos se cre taqu e cael i1 P . Nigid ius F igulus , a Py thagore an ph i losophe r and as trologe r . Pre tor in 696

A .U . c.-d 1e d an e xi le in 709 . H e i s sa id to have p i Ophe sied the gre atne s s of Augustus

on the day of h i s bi r th . (Mommse n, i v . 56 2 , 56 3 , and Mr Hask in s ’ note . )

BOOK THE CROSS ING OF THE RUB ICONHe bends the knee and yields h im to the blow .

No crimson torren t i ssues at t he stroke ,Bu t from the wound a dark empoi soned St reamEbbs Sl owly downward . Aruns at the S ightAghast

,upon the en trail s of the beas t

Essayed to read the anger of the gods .Th e i r very colour terrified the seerSpotted they were and pale

,w i th sable s tre aks

Of lukewarm gore besp read the l ive r dampWith foul d i sease

,and on the hosti le part

The angry veins defiant o f the l ungsThe fibre hid

,and through the vital parts

The membrane smal l the h e art has ceas e d to throb 690

B lood oozes through the ducts the caul i s Spl i tAnd , fatal omen of impending i ll ,One lobe o ’

e rgrows the other of the twainThe one lies flat and sick

,the other beats

And keeps the pulse i n rapid S trokes asti r .Thus fate was known

,and great di saste rs n igh .

And Aruns t rembl ing spake The heavenly purposeWhate ’er it be , to utter were profaneNo kindly Jove bu t deities from hel lPossessed the carcase of the slaughtered beast .We dare not speak our fears

, ye t fe ar doth makeThe future worse than fact . May al l th e godsProsper the tokens

,and the s acrifice

B e fal se,and Tages 1 founder of our art

H ave taught in vain . Thus Spake the Tuscan seerIn words mysterious . Figulus , to whomFor knowledge of the secret depths of space1 Tage s . A dwarf, w ith the figure of a ch i ld , but w ith gre y h air s , p loughe d up by a

pe asan t ne ar Tarquinii. H e be traye d the se c re t s of E truscan lore and stra ightway died .(Mommse n , vol . i . , p . 190 ; D e nn is, “C i t ie s and Ceme te r ie s of E trur ia,” vol . i . , p .C ice ro, D e D ivinatione , II. , cap xxi i i . , say s : I s anyone so mad as to be l ie ve that he wasp loughe d up , whe the r god or man ? If god , why d id he h ide h imse l f in the e ar th to beturne d up by a p lough ? If man, how could he l ive unde r the e ar th ? ”

47

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1 .

Nosse fui t,quem non ste llarum A e gyptia Memphis 640

A e quare t visu nume risqu e move n tibus astra ,Au t hic e rrat ait nulla cum le ge per aevumMundus

,e t incerto d iscu rrunt s ide ra motu ,

Au t,Si fata movent , urb i ge ne riqu e paratu r

Humano matura lues . T e rrae ne dehi scentSubside ntqu e urbes an tol l e t fe rvidu s aerTempe riem se ge te s te l lus infida ne gabit ?

Omnis an infusis m isce bitu r unda ve ne nis ?Quod cladis genus

,o superi

,qua peste paratis

Sae vitiam ? Ex tremi mul torum tempus in unum 6 50

Conve ne re dies . Summo si frigida cacloS tella noce ns nigro s Saturn i acce nde re t ign is ,D e ucal ione os fud iss e t Aquarius imbre s

,

To taque di ff uso Iatu isse t in ae quore tellu s .S i saevum radi i s N eme ae um

,Phoebe

,L e onem

Nunc premeres,toto flue re nt incendi a mundo ,

Succe nsusque tu i s flagrasse t cu rribus aether .Hi ce ssan t ign e s . Tu , qu i flagrante minacemScorpion ince ndis cauda Che lasqu e pe ru ris ,Quid tantum

,G radive , paras nam miti s in alto 660

Iuppite r occasu premitur , V e ne risque salubreS idus bebet

,motuque cel e r Cyllenius hae re t,

E t caelum Mars solus habet . Cur S igna m e atusD e se ru e re suos mundoqu e obscura f e runturEnsife r i nim ium fulge t latus O rioni sImmine t armorum rabies

,ferrique potestas

Confunde t ius omn e manu, sce le riqu e nefando

Nomen cri t vi rtu s multosqu e e x ibit i n annos

H i c furor . E t supe ros quid prode st po sce re finemCum domino pax i sta ve ni t . Duc , R oma , malorum 670

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PHARSALIA

Continuam seriem clademqu e i n tempora mul taExtrahe civi l i tantum iam libera bel lo .

”

Te rrue rant s ati s haec pavidam prae sag ia ple bem

Sed ma i ora premunt . Nam qual is verti ce PindiEdoni s Ogygio de currit plena Lyae o ,Tal i s e t attonitam rapitur matrona per urbemVocibus his prode ns urge ntem pectora Phoe bumQuo f e ror, o Paean qua me super ae the ra raptamConsti tuis terra ? video Pangaea n ivosisCana iugis latosque H aemi sub rupe Philippos . 6

Quis furor hie,o Phoebe , doce . Quo tel a manusque

Romanae misce nt aci es , be llumqu e s ine hoste est ?Quo diversa f e ror ? primos me ducis i n ortuS ,

Qua mare Lagae i mutatur gurgi te Ni l iHune ego

,flumine a de formis truncus harena

Qui iace t,agnosco . Dubiam super ae quo ra Syrtim

A re ntemque fe ror Libyen , quo tri st i s ErinysTranstulit Emathias acies . Nunc de supe r AlpisNubife rae col les atque ae riam Pyre ne n

Abripimur . Patriae sedes reme amus in urb i s,

Imqiaque i n medio pe raguntur bel la se natu .

Consurgunt partes i terum , totumqu e per orbemRursus e o . Nova da mih i cernere littora PontiTe lluremque novam vid i i am ,

Phoebe,Philippos.

H aec ait,e t l asso iacu it deserta furore .

50

BOOK THE CROSS ING OF THE RU BICONOf lengthening slaughter

,and (for such thy fate)

Make good thy l iberty th rough civi l war .The frightened people heard , and as they h e ardHi s words propheti c made them fear the more .

But worse remained for as on Pindus ’ sl opesPossessed with fury from the Theban godSpeeds some B acchante

,thus in Roman St reets

Behold a matron run,who

,i n her trance

,

Relieves her bosom of the god wi thin .

Why hence dost snatch me,Pe an

,to what shore

Through ai ry regions borne I se e the snowsOf Thracian mountains and Phil ippi ’ s plain sLie broad beneath . Bu t why these battle l ines ,No foe to vanquish— Rome on e i ther handAnd with what purpose whirl me yet apartTo Phe bus ’ ri s ings , where Lage an NileDyes with h is flowing wave the ocean t ideKnown to mine eyes that muti lated trunkWhich lies upon the sand Across the seasBy changing Wh i rlpools to the burning cl imesOf Libya borne

,again I see the hosts

From Thracia brought by fate’s command . And nowThou be ar’

st me o ’er the cloud—compel l ing Alp sAnd Pyrenean summits ; next to Rome .There in mid-Senate s e e the closing sceneOf th is foul war i n foulest murder done .Again the factions ri se th rough all the worldOnce more I pass bu t give me some new land ,Some other region

,Ph e bus , to behold

Washed by the Ponti c b il lows for th e se eyesAlready once have seen Ph il ippi ’s plains 1

The frenzy left her and she Speechless fel l .

1 The confus ion be twe e n the s i te of the batt l e of Ph i l ippi and that of the batt le ofPharsal ia is common among the Roman w rite r s . ( S e e the note to Me r ivale , chapte r xxv1. )

S I

BOOK H

THE FL IGHT OF POMPEIUS

M . ANNAB I LVCANI

DE BELLO C IV IL I

L I BER SECVNDV S

IAMQUE i rae patue re deum ,manife staqu e be l l i

S igna dedi t mundus le ge sque e t fo e de ra re rumPrae scia monstrif e ro ve rtit natura tumul tu

Indixitque nefas . Cur hanc ti bi , rector Olympi ,Soll icitis visum mortalibus adde re curam

,

Noscant venturas u t dira per omina cladesS ive parens rerum

,cum primum inform ia regna

M ate riamque rud em flamma cedente re ce pit,Fixi t in aete rnum causas

,qua cune ta coere ct

,

Se quoqu e lege tenens , e t s ae cula iussa f e re ntemFatorum immoto divisit limite mundumS ive n ih i l posi tum e st, se d Fors in certa vagatur ,Fe rtque re fe rtque vice s , e t habe t mortalia casusSit subitum quodcumque paras s it caeca futuriM e ns hominum fati lice at sperare time nti .

Ergo ubi concipiunt quantis Sit cladibus orb iConstatura fide s supe rum ,

feral e per u rbemIu stitium ,

latu it plebeio te c tuS amictuOmnis bonos nullos comitata e st purpura fasces.Tum qu e stus te nu e re suos , magnusqu e pe r omnis

E rravit s in e voce dolor . Sic fun e re primoA ttonita e tacue re domus

,cum corpora nondum

54

BOOK I I

THE FL IGHT OF POMPEIU S

THU S was made plain the anger of the godsThe world gave s igns of war Nature reve rse dI n monstrous tumul t fraugh t with prodigiesHer laws

,and prescien t spake the coming guil t .

H ow seemed i t j us t to thee,O lympus ’ king

,

That su ff ering mortal s at thy doom Should knowBy dre adful omens massacres to comeO r did the primal paren t of the worldWh e n fi rs t the flames gave way and yield ing le ftMatter unformed to his subduing hand

,

And realms unbalanced , fix by stern decreeUnal terable laws to bind the whole

(Himself, too , bound by law) , so that for ayeAll Nature moves within its fate d bounds ?O r

,is Chance sovereign over all , and we

The sport of Fortune and her turning wheelN ay that be sudden wh ich thou hast i n storeB l ind to th e fu tu re be the minds of menAnd e

’

e n i n terror find a place for hopeForespoken thus a doom upon the world

,

A solemn fas t was called the courts were close dNo robe of office in the l ictors ’ t rainNo Stately garb

,no purple hem was seen

No plain ts were uttered,and a vo i celess grief

Lay deep in every bosom as when deathKnocks at some door but enters not as ye t,Before the mother call s the name aloudO r bids her gri eving maidens beat the breas t ,

5 5

PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

Conclamata iace nt,ne e mate r crine soluto

Ex ig it ad sae vos famularum brae chia planctusSe d cum membra premit fugie nte rige ntia vitaVoltu squ e e xan ime s oculosque in morte micante sN e cdum e st i lle dolor, se d iam metus incubat amensM iratu rque malum.

Cultus matrona prioresD e posu it , mae stae qu e te ne nt delubra cate rvae .

H ae lacrimis sparse re deos , hae pectora duroAdflixe re solo , lace rasque i n limine sacroAttonitae fude re comas vo tisqu e vocari

Adsue tas cre bris fe riunt ululatibus aures .N e e cunctae summi templo iacu e re Tonantis

D ivise re d e os , e t null is de fu it ari sInvidiam factura pare ns quarum una made ntis

Sci ssa genas plane tu l ive ntis atra lace rto sNunc ait o mise rae contund ite pectora matre s ,Nunc laniate comas

,neve hunc diff e rte dolorem

E t summis servate mal is nunc fle re potes tas,

Dum pe nde t fortuna ducum cum vie e rit al te r,

Gaude ndum e st .

” H i s se s t imul i s dolor ipse lace ssit.Ne e non bel la vi ri d ive rsaque castra pe te nte s

E ff undunt iustas in numina saeva quere lasO mise rae sorti s

,quod non in Punica nati

Tempora Cannarum fu imus Tre biae que iuventusNon pacempe timus

,superi

,date gentibus 1ras

,

Nunc urbe s exci te feras coniure t i n armaMundus Achaeme niis de e urrant Medica Susi sAgmina M assage te n Scythicu s non adlige t H i s terFundar ab extremo flavos aquilone SuevosAlbis e t indomitum Rhe n i caput omnibus hostesReddite nos popul is civi le ave rtite bellum .

Hin e Dacus, premat inde G e te s occu rrat H ibe ris

56

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 11.

Alter,ad e oas hie ve rtat S igna phare tras.

Nulla vace t t ib i,Roma

,manus . Ve l perdere nomen

S i place t H e spe rium ,superi , col lapsus in ignes

Plurimu s ad te rram per fulmina de c idat aether .Sae ve parens , u trasqu e s imul parte sque duce sque ,Dum nondum me ru e re , feri . Tantone novorum

Prove ntu sce le rum quae runt, uter impe re t urbiVix tanti fue rat civil ia bella movere

,

U t neuter . ” Tali s pietas peri tura quere lasEge rit . At mise ros angi t sua cura parente s ,Ode runtqu e gravis vivae ia fata se ne ctaeSe rvatosqu e i terum bell i s civilibus annos .

Atque aliqu is magno quae re ns exempla timoriNon alios inqui r motus tune fata parabant,Cum post Te u tonicos victor Libye osque triumpho sExsul l imosa Marius capu t abdidit ulva .S tagna avidi te xe re sol i laxae qu e palude sDeposi tum

,Fortuna

,tuum mox vincula ferri

Ex e d e re seri em longusque in carce re pae dor ,Consul e t e ve rsa fel ix moriturus i n urbePoe nas ante dabat sce le rum . Mors ipsa re fugitSae pe vi rum ,

frustraqu e hosti conce ssa potestasSanguinis invis i . Primo qui cae d is i n actuDe rigu it fe rrumque manu torpente remisit,Vide rat imme nsam tenebroso in carce re lucemTe rribil e sque deas sce le rum M ariumque futurum ,

Audie ratqu e pavens Fas hae c continge re non e st

Colla tib i debet mul tas h ie le gibus ae vi

Ante suam morte s ; vanum depone furorem .

S i l ibet ulcisc i de le tae fune ra genti s,

Hune,Cimbri

,servate se nem . Non i lle favore

BOOK THE FLIGHT OF POM PE IU S

One leade r curb the arch e rs of the EastThe other front the We s t no hand be le f tTo Rome for strife . O r if the gods h ave doomedI tali a ’ s name , le t al l the Sky dissolveIn flaming bolts and fall upon the world .

Strik e,angry parent, leaders down and hosts

While guil tless s ti l l . Why horrors ye t againTo settle which Shall re ign That non e should rule’Twere scarce worth civi l war Thus patrio t tonguesS t i l l found an utterance , soon to speak no more .

Bu t grieving s i res bemoaned their length o f daysWhich doomed them to anoth e r civi l warAnd one thus told the deeds of former years

,

Wrough t i n his youth , to prove his fears were true .

No other deeds the fates laid up in s to reWhen Marius

,vic tor over Teuton hosts

,

Afric ’ s h igh conqueror,cas t ou t from Rom e

,

Lay low in marsh th e greedy ooze and reedsConcealed h im there , thei r trust at Fortune

’ s hand .

Soon chains of pri son wore h i s aged frameAnd lengthened squalor thus he paid for crim e

H is puni shment be forehand doomed to di eConsul in triumph over wasted Rome .Death oft re fused him and th e very fo e

,

I n act of S laughte r, shuddered in th e strok eAnd dropped the we apon f rom his nerve l ess h and .

For through the prison gloom a boundl e ss l ightH e saw the dei ties of crime abhorredThe Marius ye t to come and trembl ing heardThese accents

,Hold the fates permi t the e no t

That neck to seve r. Many a death h e owesTo time ’s predestined laws ere h i s shall come .

I f for th e i r peoples blotted ou t,destroyed ,

Your Cimbrian hosts would wreak the vengeance du e

59

PHARSALIA

Numinis,i ngenti supe rum prote ctus ab ira,

Vir ferus e t Romam cupie nti perdere fatoSufli cie ns .

’ Idem pelago de latus in iquoH ostilem in te rram vacu isque mapalibus actusNuda triumphati iacu it per regna IugurthaeE t Po e nos pre ssit cine re s . Solacia fatiCarthago M ariusque tul i t parite rqu e iace nte s

Ignove re deis . L ibycas ib i colligit i ras1

U t primum fortuna red i t servi l i a solvitAgmina conflato sae vas e rgastula ferroExse rue re manus . Nulli ge standa dabanturSigna ducis

,nis i qu i sce le rum iam fe ce rat usum

A ttule ratqu e i n castra nefas . Pro fata qui s i l le,

Qui s fui t i l l e d ies,Marius quo moe nia vic tor

Co rripu it , quantoque gradu mors sae va cucu rrit

Nobilitas cum plebe peri t , latequ e vagaturEnsi s

,e t a nullo revocatum est pectore ferrum .

S tat cruor in templis, multaque rube ntia cae de

Lubrica saxa madent . Nul l i sua profu it ae tas :Non senis extremum pigu it ve rge ntibus annisPrae cipitasse diem ,

ne e p rimo in l imine vi taeIn fanti s miseri nasce ntia rumpe re fata.Crimine quo parvi cae dem potu e re me re ri

Sed sati s e st iam posse mori . Trahi t ipse furoris

1 Pe rhaps al lud ing to the le ge nd of Ante us . ( Book IV . , l ine

60

BOOK THE FLIGHT OF POM PE IU S

Cease from your madness and preserve the man .

No t as thei r darli ng d id the gods protec tThe man of blood

,but for h i s ruthless hand 1 00

Fi t to make good that massacre of RomeWhich fate demanded .

’ By the sea ’ s desp i teBorne to our foe s , Jugurtha

’

s wasted realmHe saw ,

now conquered there in squal id hutsAwhi le he lay , and trod the host i l e dustOf Carthage

,and his ruin matched wi th hers

Each from the other ’ s fate some sol ace drew,

And prost rate,pardoned heaven . On Libyan soi l

Fresh fury gathering,nex t , when Fortune smiled

He threw the p ri sons w i de and freed the sl aves .Forth rushed the murderous bands , thei r mel ted chainsForged into weapon s for h i s ruffian needs .N0 charge he gave to mere recrui ts in gui l tWho brought not to the camp some proof of crime .How dread that day when conquering Marius se izedThe c i ty ’ s ramparts with what fated speedDeath s t rode upon his victims plebs al ike 1

And nobles peri shed far and near the swordS truck at h is p leasure

,ti l l the temple floors

Ran wet wi th S l augh ter and the crimson s treamB efouled wi th Sl ippery gore the holy wal ls .No age found pity men of fai l ing years

,

Just tottering to the grave , were hurled to deathFrom infants

,in thei r being ’s earl i es t dawn

,

2

The growing life was severed . For what crime’Twas cause enough for death that they could die .

1 The se l ine s are quoted by Hol inshe d in h i s Chronic le s a s d e sc r i pt ive of thehor ror s of a Scott i sh i nroad which took p l ace i n 1 296 .

2 S e e Be n Jonson ’ s Cati l ine ,” A ct i. , sce ne 1 , spe ak ing of the Sul lan massac re .

Cat/aeg ra . Not infant s in the porch of l ife we re fre e .

Cari/inc.

’Twas c r ime e nough that the y had l ive s : to str ike bu t only thosethat coulddo hur t was dul l and poor some fe l l to make the numbe r, as some the pre y .

6 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

Impetus ; e t vi sum lenti , quae sisse noce ntem .

I n nume rum pars magna peri t , rapuitque cruentusV icto r ab ignota vol tus cervice r e ciso s ,

Dum vacua pude t i re manu . Spes una salu tis,O scula pol lu tae fixisse treme ntia dextrae .

Mille l i cet gladi i morti s nova S igna se quantur ,D e gen e r o populus

,vix saecula l onga decorum

S i c me ru isse vi ri s , ne dum breve de de cu S ae viE t vi tam

,dum Sulla redi t . Cui fune ra volgi

Flere vace t ? vix te Sparsum per vi scera , B aebi ,Innume ras i nter carpe ntis membra coronaeDisce ssisse manus au t te , prae sage malorum

Antoni,cuius lace ris pe nde ntia cani s

O ra fe re ns miles festae rorantia mensaeImposuit . Truncos lace ravit Fimbria CrassosSaeva tribunicio madu e runt robora taboTe quoque neglectum

,violatae Scaevola dextrae

,

Ante ipsum p e netrale deae sempe rque cale ntis

M ac tave re focos parvum sed fe ssa se ne ctusSanguin i s e ffud it iugulo flammisqu e pe pe rcit .

Septimus haec sequ i tur repe titis fascibus annus .I l le fu it vi tae Mario modus omnia passo

,

Quae pe ior fortuna potes t , atque omnibus u so ,Quae m e l ior

,m e nsoque , homini quid fata parare nt .

6 2

BOOK THE FLIGHT OF POMPE IU S

The fury grew soon ’ twas a S l uggard ’ s partTo seek the gu i l ty hundreds d ied to swe l lThe tal e of vi ct ims . Shamed by empty hands ,The bloodstained conqueror snatched a reeking head 1 30

From neck unknown . One way of l ife remained ,To kiss wi th shud dering l ips the red righ t hand .

1

Degenerate peopl e H ad ye hearts of men,

Though ye were th reatened by a thousand sword s,

Far rather death than centuri e s of l i feBought at such pri ce much more than breath ingspace

Ti l l Sulla come again .

2 But t ime would fai lI n weeping for the deaths of all who fell .Encircled by innumerable bandsFel l Be bius, his l imbs asunder tornAnd thou Antonius p rescient of thy fateA soldier placed upon the festal boardThy dripp ing templ es clothed with hoary hair a

By Fimbria ’ s sword two Crassi headless fel l .The pri son ce lls were w e t with tribunes ’ blood .

And by the fane where burns the sacred fire ,Fell aged Sce vola

,though that gory h and ‘

Had spared him ye t th e feeble t ide of bloodSti l l l eft the flame al ive upon the hearth .

That selfsame year the seventh time restored 5

The Consul ’s rods that year to Marius broughtThe end of life

,when he at Fortune ’ s hands

Al l i l l s had suffered all her bless ings known .

1 The y con ti nue d ki l l ing al l them tha t Mar ius d id no t salute . (Plutarch , Mar ius,Tudor Ed i tion, vol . i i i . , p .2 The Marian massac re was i n B .C . 8 7-8 6 the S ul lan in 8 2-8 1 .

3 The he ad of An tonius was s truck off and brought to Mar ius a t suppe r . H e wasthe grandfa the r of the Tr iumv i r .

‘1 S ce vola, i t would appe ar , was pu t to de ath afte r Mar ius the e lde r d ie d , by theyounge r Marius . H e was Pont ifex Max imus, and sla in by the al tar of Ve sta .

5D.C . 8 6, Mar ius and C inna we re Consul s . Mar ius d ie d se ve nte e n days afte rwards,

in the se ve nt ie th ye ar of h i s age .

6 3

PHARSALIA [BOOK 11.w

I am quot apud Sacri ce cide re cadave ra Fortum,

Aut Col lina tul i t s tratas quot porta cate rvasTunc cum pae ne caput mundi re rumqu e potestasMu tavit t ranslata locum

,Romanaque Samnis

Ultra Caudinas Spe ravit volne ra Furcas ?Sul la quoque imme nsis accessi t cladibus ul tor.I l le quod e xiguum re stabat sanguin is urb iH ausit dumqu e nimis iam putria membra re cidit ,Exce ss it medicina modum ,

nimiumque secuta e s t,Qua morbi duxe re

,manus . Pe rie re noce nte s

,

S ed cum iam sol i po sse nt supe re sse noce nte s .

Tune data l ibertas odiis , re solutaque l egumFre nis i ra rui t . Non uni cun e ta dabantu r,Sed feci t s ib i quisque nefas . Semel omnia victorIu sse rat . In fandum domini pe r viscera ferrumExe git famulus nati madu e re paternoSanguine ce rtatum e st

,cu i cervix caesa parent i s

C e de re t i n fratrum ce cid e runt praemia fratres .Busta repleta fuga

, pe rm ixtaqu e viva se pultisCorpora

,nec populum late brae cepe re fe rarum.

H ie laqueo fauces e lisaqu e gu ttura fregi tH i c se prae cipit i iacu latu s pondere duraDissilu it pe rcussus humo mortisqu e cruentoVictori rapu e re suas h ie robora bus t iExstru it ipse sui

,ne cdum omni sanguine fuso

D e silit i n flammas e t,dum licet

,occupat ignes .

Colla ducum pilo trepidam ge stata per u rbemE t medio congesta foro cognoscitur ill ic ,

Qu idqu id ubique late t sce le rum . Non Thracia tantum

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

Vidi t Bistonii stabu l is pende re tyranniPostibus Antae i

,Libye ne e G rae cia mae re ns

Tam laceros artus Pisaca flevit in aula .Cum iam tabe fluunt confu saqu e tempore multoAmise re notas , mise ro rum dextra pare ntumColl igit e t pavido subducit cogn i ta furto .

Me qu e ipsum m emini cae si de formia fratris

O ra rogo cupidum ve titisqu e imponere flammisOmnia Sullanae lustrasse cadave ra pacisPerqu e omnis truncos cum qua cervice re cisumConve niat quae sisse caput . Quid sanguine manesPlacatos Catul i re fe ram ? cum victima tri st i sI n fe rias Marius forsan nole ntibus umbri sPend it

,inexpl e to non fanda piacula busto ,

Cum laceros artus aequataque volne ra m embri sVidimus

,e t toto quamvis i n corpore e acso

N i l animae letale datum moremqu e ne fandae

D irum saevitiae, pe re untis parcere morti .

Avolsae ce cide re manus,e xse ctaqu e l ingua

Palpitat e t muto vacuum fet i t aera motu .

H ie aures,al ius spiramina nari s aduncae

Ampu tat ,i ll e cavis e volvit se dibus orbes

,

U ltimaque e ff udit spe ctatis lumina membris .V ix e r i t ul la fide s tam saevi crimin is unumTo t po e nas ce pisse caput . S i c mol e ru inae

Fracta sub ingenti m isce ntur pondere membra,

N e e magis informes ve n iunt ad l ittora t runci,

Qui medio pe rie re freto . Quid perdere fructumIuvit e t

,u t vilem ,

Mari i confunde re voltum

U t sce lu s hoc Sul lae cae d e sque ostensa place re t,Agnosce ndus erat . Vidi t Fortuna colonosPrae ne stina suos cunctos simul ense re cisos ,Unius populum pe re untem tempore mortis .Tum flo s H e spe riae , L atii i am sola iuventus ,Concidit e t m ise rae maculavit ovi l i a Romae .

6 6

BOOK THE FLIGHT OF POM PEIU S

Of Diomede s,

1 tyrant king of Thrace,

Nor of An te us , Libya’ s gian t brood

,

Were hung such horrors nor in Pi sa ’ s hal lWe re seen and wep t for when the sui tors died .

Decay had touched the features of the slainWhen round the mouldering heap with trembl ing handsThe grief-s truck paren ts s tole away thei r de ad .

I sough t my brother ’s body for the pyreWhich they forbad

,and found the severed head

,

Bu t in the bleeding pi le of Sul la ’s peaceSearched for the lacerated trunk in vain .

Why tell of Catulus’s shade appeased ?Of those dread tortures which the l iving frameOf Marius 1 su ff ered at the tomb of himWho haply wished them not ? Pierced , mangled , tornNor speech nor grasp was left h i s every l imbMaimed

,hacked and riven ye t the fatal blow 200

The murde rers wi th savage purpose spared .

’Twere scarce bel ieved that one poor mortal frameSuch agonies could bear ere death should come .Thus crushed beneath some ruin l ie the deadThus shape less from the deep are borne the drowned .

Why spoi l del ight by muti lating thus,

The head of Marius To please Sulla ’s heartThat mangled v i sage must be known to al l .Fortune

,h igh goddess of Pre ne ste ’

s fane,

Saw al l he r townsmen hurri ed to thei r death s 2 1 0

In one fel l instant . All the hope of Rome ,The flower of Latium

,s tained wi th blood the field

Where once th e peaceful t ribes the i r votes declared .

Famine and Sword,the raging Sky and Sea ,

1 D iomede s was said to fe e d h i s hor se s on human fle sh . For Ante us se e Book IV .

660. ( E nomaus was k ing of P isa in E l is . Those who came to sue for h is daugh te r’ shand had to compe te with him in a char iot race , and if de fe ate d we re put to d e ath .

2 The ne phew of Mar ius was tor ture d by Sul la ’ s ord e r at the tomb of Catulus . Ihave shorte ne d the passage de sc r ipt ive of the torture s .

67

PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

Tot simul infesto iuve ne s occumbe re letoSae pe fames pe lagiqu e furor subitae qu e ruinae

Aut terrae cae l ique lues aut bel l ica cl ades , 200

Numquam poena fui t . Densi vix agmina volgiInter e t exsangues immissa morte cate rvasVicto re s movere manus . Vix cae de pe racta

Procumbunt dubiaque labant cervice se d illos

Magna premit s trages , pe raguntque cadave ra partemCae d is v iva graves e l idunt corpora trunci .Intre pidus tant i sed i t se curus ab altoSpectator sce le ris miseri tot mil ia volgiNon timu it iu ss isse mori . Congesta re ce pitOmnia Tyrrhe nus Sul lana cadave ra gurges 2 1 0

I n fluvium primi ce cide re , in corpora summi .Prae cipite s hae se re rates , e t s trage cruentaInterrup tus aquae fluxit prior amnis in aequorAd molem ste tit unda sequens

,dum sanguini s alti

Vis s ib i feci t i ter, campumque eff usa per omnem

Prae cipitiqu e rue ns Tiberina in flumina rivoH ae re ntis adiuvit aquas nec iam alveus amnem

N e e re tine nt ripae , re dditqu e cadave ra campo .

Tandem Tyrrhe nas vix e luctatus i n undasSanguine caeruleum torrent i d ividit aequor. 2 2 0

H isne salus rerum,fel ix his Sul la vocari

,

H i s merui t tumulum medio sib i tol lere CampoH aec ru rsus patie nda manent hoc ordine bel l iIbitur

,hie stabit civil ibus exi tus armi s .

Quamquam agi tant graviora metus mul tumque co itur

Humani generi s ma i ore in pro e l ia damno .

Exsul ibus M ariis be l lorum maxima mercesRoma recepta fui t ne e plus V i ctoria Sul lae

6 8

BOOK THE FLIGHT OF POM PE IU S

And Earth upheave d,have l aid such numbe rs l ow

Man ’s vengeance n e ver . Soon between th e SlainAnd l iving victims there was Space no more

,

Death thus l e t sl ip,to deal the fatal blow .

H ardly when s truck they fell the se vered headScarce toppled from the shoulders bu t the Sl ainB le n t i n a weighty pi l e of massacrePressed ou t the l ife and helped the murderer ’ s arm .

Secure from stain upon h is lofty th rone ,Unshuddering sat the author of the whole

,

Nor feared that at h is word such thousands fell .At length the Tuscan flood received the deadThe fi rs t upon h is waves the las t on thoseThat l ay beneath them vesse ls i n thei r courseWere stayed

,and while th e lower curren t flowed

'e t to the se a,the upper s tood on high

Dammed back by carnage . From th e stree ts meanwhileIn headlong torren ts poured a tide of blood

,

Whose purple path through village and th rough fieldForced sluggish Tiber on

,unti l h i s banks

No longer held h im,and the dead were th rown

B ack on the fi e lds above . With labour hugeAt l ength he struggled to hi s goal and castA crimson bar across the Tuscan Sea .For deeds l ike these

,shal l Sul la now be s tyled

Darl ing of Fortune,

’ Saviour of the StateFor these

,a tomb in middle field of Mars

Record hi s fame Like horrors now returnFor us to suff e r and the c ivi l warThus Shal l be waged again and thus shal l end .

Yet worse disasters may our fears sugge st,

For now with greater carnage of mankindThe rival host s in weightie r battl e mee t .To exi led Marius

,Rome regain e d was prize ,

The only pri z e triumphant Sull a knew

69

PHARSALIA [BOOK 11.

Prae stitit invisas pe nitus quam tol lere partes .Hos al io

,Fortuna

,vocas olimque poten te s

Concurrunt . Neuter civilia be ll a move re t,

Conte ntus,quo Sulla fui t .” S i c maes ta se ne ctus

Prae te ritique memor flebat me tue nsque futuri .

At non magnanimi pe rcussit pectora B rutiTe rror

,e t i n tanta pavidi formidine motus

Pars popul i luge nt is erat se d nocte sopora ,Parrhasis obliquos Helice cum ve rte re t axe s

,

Atria cognati pulsat non ampla Catonis .

I nveni t insomni volve ntem p ublica curaFata vi rum casusqu e urbi s cunct isque time ntem

Se curumque su i , fariqu e hi s vocibus orsusOmnibus e xpulsae terri s ol imqu e fugataeVirtut i s i am sola fide s, quam turbine nulloExcutie t fortuna tibi tu mente labantemDe rige me , dubium certo tu robore firma .

Namqu e ali i Magnum vel Cae saris arma se quanturDux Bruto Cato solu s cri t . Pacemne tue ris

I nconcussa tenens dubio vestigia mundoAn placuit ducibus sce le rum popul iqu e fure ntis

C ladibus immixtum civ i le absolve re bellumQuemque suae rapiunt scelerata in proe lia causaeHos polluta domus l e ge sque in pace time ndae

Hos ferro fugie nda fames mundique ruinae

Pe rmisce nda fide s . Nullum furor e git in armaCastra pe tunt magna vie t i merce d e t ibi uniPer se bel la placent quid to t durasse pe r annos

Profuit immunem co rrupti moribus ae vi

H oc solum longae pretium virtuti s habe bis ,Accipient al ios

,facien t te bella noce ntem.

70

BOOK THE FLIGHT OF POM PE IU S

No greater j oy than S laugh te r o f hi s foes .Long since these rival s , Fortune , thou dos t urgeBy worse ambi tions nor would e i ther chi e fFor such reward as Sull a ’s wage the war .Thus

,mindful of h i s youth , the aged man

Wept for the past,but feare d the coming days .

Where others trembled B rutus ’ noble bre astNo terror found

,nor of the gri eving crowd

Was he a part but i n the d ewy nightWhen the gre at Wain was turn ing round the pol eH e sought his kinsman Cato ’ s humble homeAnd found him sleepless

,fearing not for self

,

But pondering the fortunes of the s tateAnd deep in publ ic cares . And thus he spakeO thou in whom that vi rtue

,which of yore

Took fl ight from earth,now finds its sol e retre at ,

Nor Fortune ’ s s torms Shal l bani sh from i ts home

Vouchsafe thy counsel to my wave ring soulAnd make my weakness s tre ngth . While Ce sar som e

,

Pompe ius others , fol low in the fight,

Cato is B rutus ’ guide . A rt thou for peace,

Thy s teps unshaken in a tottering worldO r wi l t thou partnering the leaders ’ crimesAnd people ’ s fury

,purge the war of gui l t

I n impious battl es men unsheathe the sword,

But e ach by cause impelled the household crimeLaws feared in pe ace want by the sword removedAnd credi t

,in the ruin of a world

B le nding its ruin . Drawn by hope of gain ,And not by thirst for blood

,they se e k th e camp .

Shal l Cato only for war ’ s sake make warWhat profi ts it th rough al l th e se wicke d y e arsThat thou hast l ived untainte d ? This we re al lThy meed of vi rtue

,that the wars which find

7 1

PHAR SALIA [BOOK 11 .

N e tantum,o superi

,l ice at f e ralibus armis ,

H as etiam movisse manus ; ne e pi la lace rtisMissa tui s caeca te lorum in nube fe rantur ,N e e tanta incassum vi rtus eat . Inge re t omnis

Se bel l i fortuna t ib i . Quis nole t in iStoEnse mori

, quamvis al ie no volne re labens,

E t sce lus e sse tuum Melius tranqui l l a sin e armisO ti a solus ages s ie ut cae le s tia semperI nconcussa suo volvuntur s ide ra lapsu .

Fulminibus propior terrae succe nditu r aer,Imaqu e te lluris ventos tractu squ e coruscos

Flammarum accip iunt nub e s e xce dit O lympusLege deum minimas rerum discord ia turbat

,

Pacem summa tenent . Quam lae tae Cae saris au resAccipient tantum venisse in proe l ia civem

Nam prae lata sui s numquam diversa dole bitCastra ducis Magni . N imium placet ipse Caton iS i bel lum civi le placet . Pars magna senatusE t duce p rivato ge stu ru s proe l ia consulSoll ic i tan t proce re squ e al i i quibus adde CatonemSub iuga Pompei i , toto i am l iber in orbeSolus Caesar cri t . Quod S i pro le gibus armaFerre iuvat patriis l ibe rtatemqu e tue ri ,Nunc neque Pompei i B rutum neque Cae saris hostem ,

Post bel lum victo ris habes .”

S i c fatur at i l l iArcano sacras re ddit Cato pectore vocesSummum

,B rute

,nefas civilia be l la fatemur

Se d quo fata trahunt,vi rtus secura se que tur

Crimen e rit superi s e t me f e cisse noce ntem .

72

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

S idera qui s mundumqu e ve lit spe ctare cade ntem

Expe rs ipse metus ? qui s , cum ruat arduus aethe r,Terra labe t mixto co e untis pondere mundi ,Compressas te nuisse manus ? ge nte sne furoremH e spe rium ignotae Romanaqu e S igna se que nturDiductique freti s alio sub side re reges ,O t i a solus agam procu l hune arce te furorem

,

O superi,motura Dabas u t clade G e tasque

Securo me Roma cadat . Ceu morte pare ntemNatorum orbatum l ongum producere funusAd tumulum iube t ipse dolor iuvat ignibus atrisInse ru isse manus constructoque aggere bustiI psum atras te nu isse faces non ante reve llar

,

Exanimem quam te comple ctar, Roma , tuumqueNomen

,l ibertas

,e t inanem prose quar umbram .

Sic e at immite s Romana pi acula diviPlena fe rant nul lo fraudemus sanguine bel lum .

O uti nam cae lique dei s E re bique l ice re t’

H oe caput in cune tas damnatum e xpone re po e nas

D e vo tum hosti les D e cium pre sse re cate rvae

M e geminae figant acies , me barbara tel i sRhe ni turba pe tat, cunctis ego pe rvius b astisExcipiam medius to tiu s volne ra bel l i .H ie re dimat sangui s populos ; hac cae de luatur,Qu idqu id Romani me ru e runt pendere mores .Ad i uga cur faciles populi , cur sae va vo le nte s

Regna pati pe re unt ? me solum invadite fe rro,

Me frustra lege s e t inania iura tue ntem .

H ie dabit, hic pac em iugu lus finemque malorum

Gentibus H e spe riis pos t me regnare volentiNon opus e st bello . Quin publ i ca S igna ducemquePompe ium se qu imur N e e , S i fortuna favebit , 3 20

H

1 A s imil ar passage w i l l be found in a l e tte r of L ord Morle y to Mr Chambe rl ain,da te d 2 8 th De cembe r 1 8 8 5 Re col le ct ion s, i . 207 ) A re the Tor ie s and the Wh igsto say what the y l ike and I to s tand by in sile n t acquie sce nce ? We l l

,I won ’ t .”

74

BOOK THE FLIGHT OF POM PE IU S

To have mad e even Cato guil ty . Who has stre ngthTo gaze unawe d upon a toppling worldWhen stars and sky fal l headlong

,and when earth

S l ip s from her base , who si ts wi th folded handsShall unknown nations

,touched by weste rn S tri fe

,

And monarchs born beneath anoth e r cl imeB rave the d iv i ding seas to j o in the warYe gods Shall Scyth ians and G e tans rouseThei r barbarous rage to Speed the fal l of Rome

,

And I look idly on A S some fond S i re,

Reft of hi s sons,compelled by grief

,h imse lf

Marshal s the long proc e ssion to the tomb,

Finds sol ace in the flame upon h is hand ,And to the pyre applies the kindled torchNought

,Rome

,Shal l tear the e from me

,ti l l I hold

Thy form in death embraced and Fre e dom ’ s name,

Shade though it be,I ’ l l follow to the grave .

Yea le t th e cruel gods exact in ful lRome ’s exp i ation spare no drop of bloodWould that

,devoted to the gods

,my life

Might sati sfy their vengeance Decius fe l l,

Crushed by the host il e ranks . When Cato fallsLet Rhine ’ s fierce barbarous hordes and both the hostsThrust through my frame their darts May I alon eReceive in de ath th e wounds of al l the warThus may the people be redeemed ,

and thusRome for he r gui l t pay the aton ement due .Why Should men die who wish to bear the yokeAnd shrink not from the tyranny to comeStrike me , and m e alone , of laws and rightsI n vain the guardian th is vicarious l ifeShal l give H esperia p e ace and end he r toi ls .Who then wil l re ign shal l find no n e ed for war .But why not fol low Magnus to th e fie ld ,With Consul and with Senate I f h e wins

75

PHARSALIA

Hun e quoque totius s ib i ius promitte re mund iNon b e ne compe rtum e st i deo me mi l i te vincat ,N e s ib i se vicisse putet . ” Si c fatu r

,e t acri s

Irarum movit stimulo s iuve nisqu e calorem

Excitat in n imios bel li c ivi l i s amores .

Inte re a Phoe bo ge lidas pe lle nte te ne bras

Pulsatae sonu e re fores quas sancta re l ictoH orte nsi mae re ns irrupit Marcia bustoQuondam V i rgo toriS me lioris iuncta mari t iM ox ubi conubii pre t ium m e rce squ e soluta e stTe rti a iam soboles

,al ios fe cunda penates

Imple tura datu r geminas ex sanguine matri sPe rm ix tu ra domos . Sed postquam condid it urnaSupremos cine re s

,miserando concita vol tu

,

E ff usas l aniata comas contusaque pectusVe rbe ribus cre bris cine re squ e inges ta se pu lchriNon ali te r placitura vi ro , S i c mae sta pro faturDum sanguis ine rat

,dum vis materna , pe regi

I ussa , Cato , e t gemimos e xcepi feta maritos

Visceribus lass i s partuqu e e xhausta reve rtorI am nul l i trade nda vi ro . Da fo e de ra pr isciI l l ibata tori

,da tan tum nome n inane

Conubi i , lice at tumulo scripsisse Catonis

Marci a nec dubium longo quae ratu r i n ae vo,

M utarim primas expulsa,an tradi ta

,tae das .

Non me lae to rum soc iam re busque s e cundisAccipis i n curas ve nio partemqu e laborum .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 11.

Da mih i castra sequ i. Cur tuta i n pace re linquar ,E t sit c ivil i propior Cornel ia bel loH ae flexe re vi rum voces

,e t tempora quamquam 3 50

S i n t aliena tori s,i am fato in bella vocante ,

Fo e de ra sola tame n vanaque care ntia pompaIura placen t sacrisqu e deos adm itte re tes tes .Festa coronato non pendent l imine se rta

,

Infulaque i n gemino s discurrit candida postes ,L e gitimae qu e faces , grad ibusque adclinis e burnis

S tat torus,e t pi e to vestes discriminat auro

Turritaqu e preme ns frontem matrona corona1 Translata ve tu it continge re l imina plantaNon timidum nuptae levi ter te ctura pudo remLutea dem issos ve larunt flamme a voltusB al teus haud fluxo s gemmis adstrinxit amictus ,Colla mon ile d e ce ns

,um e risque hae re ntia primis

Suppara nudatos cingunt angus ta lace rto s .

Sie ut erat,mae sti s ervat lugubria cul tus ,

Quoque modo natos,hoc e st amplexa maritum .

Obsita funerea ce latur purpura lanaNon sol i t i luse re sales

,ne e more Sabino

Excepit tri s t i s convicia festa maritus .

Pignora nul la domus,nul l i coie re propinqui

Iunguntur taci ti conte ntique ausp i ce B ruto .

I l le nec horrificam sancto d imovit ab oreCae sariem duroqu e admis it gaudia vol tuU t primum tol l i f e ralia Vide rat arma ,I n tonsos rigidam in frontem de sce nde re canosPassus erat mae stamque geni s increscere barbam

1 The cus tom of l ifting the br ide ove r the th re shold was a ve r y anc ie n t one . Plutarchs tate s that i t was of Sabine or ig in . The S abine s st ipulate d that the i r wome n should not bebound to se rve the ir husbands in any othe r w01k bu t in the sp inn ing of wool . The re ofth is bathe be e n the use to th i s daye , that the bryd e dothe no t of he rse lfe come ove r theth re shold of he r husband ’ s dore

,bu t she is hoyse d pre te ly into the house : be cause the

Sabyne wome n a t that t ime we re so l ift up and car ie d away by force .

”

( Plutarch,Romulus,” Tudor Translat ion , 1.

78

BOOK II. ] THE FLIGHT OF POMPE IU S

Nor leave me here,but take me to the camp

,

Thy fond companion why Should Magnus ’ wifeB e nearer

,Cato

,to the wars than th ine ? ”

Although the t imes were warl ike and the fate sCal led to the fray , he lent a willing ear.'e t must they pl igh t thei r fai th in simple formOf law thei r witnesses th e gods al one .No festal wreath of flowers crowned the gateNor gl i ttering fi lle t on each post entwinedN0 l egal torch was there , nor ivory S teps ,No couch wi th robes of broidered gold adornedNo comely matron placed upon her browThe bridal garl and

,or forbad th e foot

To touch the threshold s tone no saff ron vei lConcealed the t imid blushes of the brideNo j ewel led bel t confined her flowing robeNor modest c i rcle bound her neck no scarfHung lightly on the snowy Shoulder’s edgeAround the naked arm . Just as she came ,Wearing the garb of sorrow

,while the wool

Covered the purp le border of her robe,

Thus was she wedded . AS She greets her son sShe greet s her husband . Nor

,i n S abine use

Did mournful Cato Share the fes tal tauntNor friend nor foe was b idden si lent bothTheyjo ine d in marri age , yet content , unseenBy any save by B ru tus . Sad and sternOn Cato ’ s l ineaments the marks of griefWere s ti l l unsoftened , and the hoary hairHung o ’er h is reverend vi sage for s ince fi rs tMen flew to arms

,h i s locks were left unkempt

To stream upon hi s b row,and on his ch in

His beard untended grew .

’Twas h i s alon eWho hated not, nor loved , for all mankindTo mourn al ike . Nor did th e i r former couch

79

PHARSALIA [BOOK 1

Uni quippe vacat studiis odiisqu e carentiH umanum lugere genus—ne e foe de ra prisci

Sunt temp rata tori iusto quoque robur amoriR e stitit . H i mores , haec duri immota CatonisSecta fuit

,servare modum fine sque tenere

Naturamque se qu i patriae que impendere vi tamN e e s ibi , sed tot i ge nitum se credere mundo .

Huic epulae , vicisse famem magniqu e penates ,Summovisse hiemem tec to pre tio saqu e vest is ,H i rtam membra super Romani more Qu ir itis

Induxisse togam V e ne risque huic maximus usus ,Progenies urbi pater e st urbique maritus ,

Iu stitiae cul tor , rigid i se rvator hone sti ,I n commune bonus nullosque Catonis i n ac tusSubrepsit partemque tul i t s ib i nata volup tas .

Inte re a trepido disce d e ns agmine MagnusM oe nia Dardan ii tenu i t Campana colon i .Haec placuit bel l i sedes , hine summa movent iH ost i s in occursum sparsas e xte nde re parti s ,Umbros is mediam qua collibus Appe nninu sB rigi t Ital iam ,

nulloque a vertice te l lu sAl t iu s intumuit propiusque accessi t Olympo .

Mons inter geminas medius se porrigit undasInfern i supe riqu e mari s col le sque coe rce nt

Hine Tyrrhena vado frange nte s ae quora Pisac,Illinc D e lmaticis obnoxia fluctibus Ancon .

Fontibus hie vasti s imme nsos concip it amnesFluminaque in gemin i spargit divortia ponti .I n lae vum ce cide re l atu s ve loxque MetaurusC rustumiumque rapax e t iuncto Sapis I sau roSe naqu e e t Adriacas qui ve rbe rat Aufidus undas

80

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

Quoque magis nul lum tel lus se solvit in amnem,

Eridanus f ractas devolvit i n aequora S i lvasH e spe riamque exhaurit aquis . Hune fabula primum 4 10

Populea fluvium ripas umbrasse coronaCumque diem pronum t ransverso l imite duce nsSuccendit Phaethon flagrantibus ae the ra lori s ,Gurgitibus rapt i s pe nitus tel lure pe rusta ,Hune habuisse pares Phoe be is ignibus undas .Non minor hic Nilo

, si non per plana iacentisAegypti L ibycas Nilus stagnare t hare nasNcc minor hie H istro , n is i quod , dum pe rme at orhem

,

Hister casuros i n quae libe t ae quora fontesAccip i t e t Scythicas exi t non solu s i n undas .Dexte riora pe te ns monti s de e livia ThybrimUnda faci t Rutubamque cavum . De labitur i ndeVulturnusque celer nocturnae qu e editor auraeSarnus e t umbrosae Liri s pe r regna M aricae

Vestini s impulsus aqu is rade nsque Salern iCul ta S i ler

, nullasque vado qui Macra moratus

Alnos vicinae procurrit i n ae quora Lunae .Longior e ducto qua surgi t in aera dorso ,Gal l ica rura videt d evexasqu e aspicit Alpi s .Tune Umbris Marsisque fe rax domitusque Sabe llo

Vomere, pinife ris amplexus rupibus omnis

Indigenas Latii populos,non de se rit an te

H e spe riam , quam cum Scyllae is Clauditur undis ,Exte nditqu e suas in templa Lacinia rupe s ,

8 2

BOOK THE FLIGHT OF POMPE IU S

On Adrian bi l lows and that mighty floodWhich

,more than al l the rivers of the e arth

,

Sweeps down the soi l and tears the woods awayAnd d rains H esperi a ’s springs . I n fabled loreH is banks were first by poplar shade enclose d 1

And when the slop ing car of Phaethon,

Aflame with streamers,burned the deepest earth

,

And parched all other rivers,Padus rol l ed

The volume of hi s flood in pride along .

Nile were no larger,but that o ’er the sand

Of level Egypt he Spreads ou t h is wavesNor I s ter

,if h e sought the Scythian main

Unhelped upon his j ourney through the worldBy tributary waters not his own .

But on th e righ t hand Ti be r h as h is sourceDeep-flowing Rutuba

,Vulturnu s swi ft

,

And Sarnus breath ing vapours of the n ight 2Rise there

,and Liri s wi th Vestinian wave

S ti l l gl iding th rough Marica ’ s shady grove,

And S i le r flowing th rough Sale rnian meadsAnd Mae ra ’s swift unnavigable s treamNear Luna rests in Ocean . On the AlpsWhose spurs st rike plainwards

,and on fields of Gaul

The cloudy heights of Apennine look downIn further d i s tance on h i s nearer SlopesThe Sabine turns th e ploughshare Umbrian kineAnd Marsian fatten wi th h is pine clad rocksH e girds the t ribes of Latium

,nor l eaves

H esperia ’ s soi l unt i l the waves that beatOn Scylla ’s cave compel . His southern SpursExtend to Juno ’s temp l e, and of old

1 Phae thon ’ s s i ste r s,who yoke d the horse s of the S un to the char iot for the i r broth e r ,

we re turne d into pop l ar s . Phae thon was flung by Jup ite r into the r ive r Po . (“Ovid .

i i 3 1 12 Sar nus, s i te of the bat t le in wh ich Nar se s de fe ate d Te ia s, the last of the O strogoths,in 553 .

8 3

PHARSALIA

Longior I talia donec confinia pontusSolve re t incumbens te rrasqu e re pe ll e re t aequorAt postquam gemino tellus el i sa profundo e st,Extremi col les S i culo ce sse re Peloro .

Caesar in arma furens nul las nisi sanguine fusoGaudet habere vias

,quod non terat hoste vacantis

H e spe riae fines vacuosqu e irrumpat i n agros ,Atque ipsum non pe rdat i ter conse rtaque bell i sBel la gerat . Non tam portas intrare patent is ,Quam fre gisse iuvat, nec tam pat iente colonoArva premi

,quam si ferro popule tur e t ign i

Concessa pude t i re vi a civemqu e vide ri .

Tune urbes Latii dubiae varioque favoreAncipite s, quamquam primo terrore ru e ntisC e ssurae bel l i

,denso tame n aggere firmant

M oe nia e t abrupto circumdant undique valloSaxorumqu e orbes , e t quae super eminus bostemTel a pe tant, al t i s murorum turribus aptant .

Pronior in Magnum populus, pugnatqu e m i nac i

Cum terrore fide s u t cum mare posside t austerFlatibus horrisonis

,hune ae quora tota sequuntur

S i rursu s tel lus pulsu laxata tride ntisAe olii tumidis immittat fluctibu s e urum ,

Quamvis ie ta novo,ve ntum te nu e re priorem

A equora, nubif e roque polus cum ce sse rit euro,

Vindicar unda notum . Facilis sed vertere mentesTerror erat

,dubiamqu e fidem fortuna f e re bat .

Gens Etrusca fuga trepidi nudata L ibonis,

Iusqu e su i pulso iam pe rdidit Umbria Thermo .

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1 S e e Book VII. 6 70.

PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

N e e geri t auspiciis civil ia bel la pate rn isCae saris audito conversus nomine Sul l a .Varus

,u t admotae pu lsarun t Auximon al ae ,

Pe r diversa ru e ns n e gle c to moe n ia t ergo ,Qua S i lvae

,qua saxa

,fugi t . Depe llitur arce

Le ntulus A scule a victo r ce d e ntibu s instatDive rtitqu e acies , solu squ e ex agm ine t an toDux fugi t e t nullas duce n tia S igna cohortes .Tu quoque nudatam commissae de se ris arcem

,

Scipio,Nuce riae quamquam firm iss ima pub e s

H i s se de at cas tris iampridem Cae saris armisParthorum se ducta metu qu a Gallica damnaSupple vit Magnus , dumque ip se ad bel l a vocare t ,Donavit soce ro Romani sanguin is usum .

At te C o rfini val id is c ircumdata muri s1 Tecta tenen t

, pugnax Domi ti tua clas s ica s ervatOppositu s quondam pol lu to t i ro M iloni .U t procu l imme n sam campo consurge re nubem

Arde n tisque ac ies pe rcussis sole coruscoConspe x it tel i s , Soci i

,de cu rrite ,

” dixi tFlum inis ad ripas undae qu e imme rgite pontem .

E t tu montan is to tus nunc fontibus exiAtque omn is t rahe , gurges , aquas , u t Spume u s alnos

Discussa compage f e ras . H oc l imi te bel lumH ae re at

,hac hos ti s le n tu s terat ot i a rip a .

Prae cipitem coh ibe te ducem V ictori a nobi sHi c primum stans Caesar e rit .” Nec plura locutu s 490

De volvit rapidum ne qu icquam moe nibu s agmen .

Nam prior e campis u t conspicit amne solu toRumpi Caesar i ter

,cal ida prolatu s ab i ra

The re i s a le t te r from Mar ius C e l ius to C ice ro a t th ispe r iod from wh i ch it appe ars that anothe r Dom i t ius had be e n se i z e d and s trangle d atIntemilium in L igur ia . The wr ite r says : Sure l y the D omiti i are a curse wh e re ve r the ysame manne r that h i s name sake has be e n tre ate d a t Intemilium.

”

I wish that our he ave n-de sce nde d ch ie f h ad tre a te d Dom i t iu s a t Corfinium i n the(Middle ton ’ s L ife

and L e t te r s of Cice ro,” pp . 4 52 , 4 53 . Ep. ad D ive r sos, v i i i .8 6

BOOK TH E FLIGHT OF POMPE IU S

Great Sul l a ’s son,no son of such a s i re

For civi l stri fe,took fl igh t at Ce sar’ s name

When horsemen smote the wal l s of Auximon

Varus fled headlong th rough the furth er gateTo rocks and fores ts . Spinthe r leaves his postH is so ld i ers j oin th e swift pursuing foeHe wi th his s tandard s Speeds his fl igh t alone .And Scip i o qu i ts h i s fort , though garri sonedBy those brave l egions

,sen t by Ce s ar home 1

To help the war again st the Parth ian foeWhom Magnus once

,t i l l he Should need their arms

Lent to his k insman to subdue the Gaul .But brave Domitiu s held fi rm h is pos tB eh i nd Corfinium ’

s ramparts h i s the troop sWho newly levied kept the judgme nt h al lAt M i lo ’ s trial .2 When from far the p l a i nRolled up a dusty c loud

,beneath whose vei l

The sheen of armour gl i s tened in the sun,

Dash down the bridge,

” he cried,

“ le t p lank and beamB e sundered

,l e t the river from h is source

In torrents rush ing,bear them to the se a .

Here are we v i c tors,here the foeman stands

,

Here upon yonde r bank th i s h eadlong ch iefShall curb h is march and id ly watch the war .He bade his squadron s gal lop on th e foeIn vain for Ce sar saw th

’

unfe tte re d s treamWould s tay his t roops and roused to i re

,he cried

Were no t th e wal l s Sufli cie nt to pro tec tYour coward soul s ? Seek ye by barricadesAnd s t reams to keep me back What though the flood 540

1 Afte r Ce sar ’ s campaign w i th the Ne rvn, Pompe ius had l e n t h im a le g ion .the Par th ian war broke out and the Se nate re quire d e ach of the two l e ade rs tosupp l y a l e gion for it, Pompe ius demande d the re tur n of the le gion which he hadse n t to G aul ; and Ce sar re turne d it, toge the r w ith one o f h i s own. The y we re ,howe ve r

,re taine d in I taly .

2 Book I. 3 6 8 .

87

PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

Non sati s e s t muros late bras quae s isse pavoriObstruitis campos fluviisqu e arce re paratis ,Ignav i ? non Si tumido me gurgite GangesSummove at , stabit i am flumine Caesar i n ul loPos t Rubiconis aquas . Equ itum prope rate cate rvae

,

I te s imul pe dite s ru itu rum adsce ndite pontem .

”

Haec ubi d icta,le vi s to tas acce pit habe nas

In campum sonipe s cre broqu e Sim illima nimboTrans ripam val id i torse runt tela lacerti .Ingre ditu r pul sa fluvium s tatione vacantem

Caesar,e t ad tutas host i s compe llitur arce s .

E t i am mo tu ras inge ntia pondera turre sE rig it, e t medi is subre pit vinea muri sEcce

,nefas bel l i re se ratis agmina port i s

C aptivum traxe re ducem,civisqu e superbi

Cons titit an te pedes vol tu tame n al ta minaciNobilitas rec ta ferrum cervice poposcit .

Sci t Caesar poe namqu e peti ve niamqu e time ri .

Vive,l i ce t nol i s

,e t nostro mune re ,

” dixi t,

Cerne diem . Victi s iam spes bona partibus e s toExemplumqu e mei ve l , si l ibe t , arma re tempta ,E t n ih i l hac veni a

,S i vice ris ipse

, paciscor .

”

Fatur, e t adstrictis laxari vincula palmisImpe rat . H eu quanto mel ius vel cae de pe ractaParcere Romano po tu it Fortuna pudoriPoe narum extremum cui fi t

,quod cas tra se cu tus

Sit patriae M agnumqu e ducem totumqu e se natum 5 201 Ignosci . Premi t i l le gravi s inte rritus i rasE t secum Romamne petes pacisqu e reces susDegener ? i n medios bel l i non i re fu roresIamdudum mori ture paras rue ce rtus e t omnis

Luci s rumpe moras e t Cae saris e ff uge munus .”

1 Se e no te to Book I I I . 4 1 2 .

8 8

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

N e scius inte re a capt i duci s arma parabatMagnus , u t imm ixto firmare t robore partes .l amque se cu turo iussurus class i ca Phoe boTemptandasqu e ratus moturi m ilitis i rasAdloqu itur tac i tas veneranda voc e cohortesO sce le rum ultore s me lioraqu e S igna se cuti,O vere Romana manus

,quibus arma senatus

Non privata dedi t,vo tis de posc ite pugnam .

Ardent H e spe rii saevis popu latibus agri ,Gal l ica per ge l idas rab ies e fl unditur AlpesI am te tigit sangui s pollu tos Cae saris e nse s .

Di mel ius bel l i tul imus quod damna pri oresCo e pe rit i nde nefas . I am iam me prae side RomaSupplicium poe namque pe tat. Neque en im ista vocariProe l ia iu sta de ce t, patriae se d vindic is i ramNec magi s hoc bel lum e st

,quam quo Catil in a paravit

Arsuras i n tecta faces sociusque furoriSLen tulus e xse rtique manus vae sana C e th e g i .O rabies mise randa duci s cum fata Cam illisTe

,Caesar

,magnisqu e ve lint misce re M e te llis

,

Ad Cinnas M ariosqu e ve niS ? S ternere pro fe c to ,

U t Catulo iacuit Lep i dus,nostrasque secures

Passus,Sicanio te gitu r qui Carbo sepulc ro ,

Quique feros movit Sertorius e xsul H ibe ro s .

Quamquam,s i qua fide s

,hi s te quoque iunge re , Caesar , 5 50

Invideo nostrasqu e manus quod Roma furen t iOpposu it . Parthorum utinam post proe lia sospe s

E t Scythicis Crassus vi c to r reme asse t ab ori s,

90

BOOK THE FL IGHT OF POMPE IU S

Pompe ius, ignorant of his cap tain’ s fate

Cal led up fresh men to give his legions strengthAnd now

,to tes t thei r courage (as he thought

To sound his t rumpets wi th the coming dawn )Thus in maj es tic tones thei r ranks addre ssed :Tru e hos t of Rome avengers of her l awsRanked ’neath the S tandards of the be tte r righ t

,

To whom the Senate gives no private arms,

Ask by your voices for th e battl e s ign .

Fierce fal l s th e p i ll age on Hesperi an field s,

And Gal l i a ’s fu ry o ’er the snowy AlpsIS poured upon us . Ce sar’ s swords at l as tAre red wi th Roman blood . But with th e woundWe gain th e bet ter cause the c rime i s thei rs .Through me her cap tain Rome for vengeance cal l s’

Tis no true fight to wreak your coun try ’s i re .

Was that a war when Catil ina ’

s handLifted agains t h er roofs the flaming torch

,

And,partner i n his fury

,Lentulus

,

And mad Cethegus 1 with h is naked armIs su ch thy madness

,Ce sar ? when the Fates

With great Camillus ’ and Metellus ’ namesMigh t place th ine own

,dos t thou p refe r to rank

W i th Marius and wi th Cinna Swift sh al l beThy fall as Lep idus before th e swordOf Catulus or Carbo who by meWas doomed

,and buried i n S icani an tomb

O r h e who , exi led , roused Iberi a’s h ordes

,

Sertorius— yet,witnes s Heaven

,with these

I hate to rank thee h ate the task that RomeH as laid upon me

,to oppose thy rage .

Would that i n safety from the Parth ian warAnd Scythian Steppes had conquering Crassus come

1 Th i s fami ly i s al so all ude d to by Horace ( “Ar s Poe t ica, 50 ) as hav ing worna garment of anc ie n t fash ion le a v ing the ir arms bare . ( Se e al so Book V I .

9 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

U t s imi l i causa cade re s qua Spartacus host i s .Te quoque S i sup e ri titu lis accedere nostrisIu ss e runt

,vale t i n torque ndo de xte ra pi lo

Fe rvidus haec i terum ci rca praecord ia sangu i sIncaluit disce s non esse ad bel la fugaces

,

Qui pacem po tu e re pat i . Licet i l l e solu tumD e f e c tumque voce t

,ne vos mea te rre at aetas

Dux Sit i n h i s castris s en ior , dum mi les i n i l li s .Quo po tuit c ivem populu s perducere li ber,Ad sce ndi

,supraqu e n ih il n i s i regna

.

re liqu i.

Non p rivata cup i t,Romana qu i squ i s i n urbe

Pompe ium transi re parat . Hine consul u te rqu e ,Hine ac ie s S tatura ducum e st. Cae sarn e senatusVictor cri t ? non tam cace o trah is omnia cursu ,Teque nihi l

,Fortuna

, pude t . M u ltisne re be llis

Gal lia i am lustris ae tasqu e impe nsa laboriDant animos ? Rhe ni ge l id is quod fugi t ab undi s 570

Oce anumque vocans i ncert i stagn a profundi1 Te rrita quae sitis o ste ndit te rga BritannisAn vanae tumu e re minae , quod fama furorisExpulit armatam patriis e se dibus urbem

Heu deme ns non te fugiunt , me cun e ta s e quun tur .Qui cum S igna tul i to to fulge ntia ponto ,Ante bi s e xactum quam Cynth i a conde re t orbem ,

Omne fre tum me tue ns pelagi pi rata re liqu it,Angu staque domum te rrarum i n sede poposcit .

I dem ego per Scythici profugum divortia pon ti1 This l ine i s quote d in S e lde n’

s Janus, p . 102, and trans late d thusH avmg inquiry madeAfte r the Br i tains bold,H e turne d hi s bac k , ’ t i s saidH i s courage would no t hold .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 11.

Indomitum regem Romanaque fata morantem

Ad mortem Sul la f e licior i re co e gi .Pars mundi mihi nul la vacat se d tota teneturTerra mei s quocumque iace t sub sole tropae isHin e me victorem ge lidas ad Phasidos undasArctos habet calida medius mih i cognitu s axi sA e gypto atque umbras nu squam fl e c te nte SyeneOccasus mea iura time nt

,Te thynque fugacem

Qui fe rit Hesperius pos t omnia flumina Bae tis .

Me domitus cognovi t Arabs , me Marte ferocesH e niochi notique e re pto vellere Colch i .Cappadoce s mea S igna time nt e t dedi ta sacrisIncerti Iudae a dei mol lisqu e Sophene .Armenios Cilicasque feros Tau ro sque sube gi .

Quod socero bel lum praeter civi l e re liqu iVerba duc i s nul lo partes clamore sequuntu r

Ncc matura pe tunt prom issae class ica pugnac .

Se nsit e t ipse metum Magnus placu itqu e re f e rri

Signa ne e in tantae discrimina mi ttere pugnael am victum fama non vi s i Cae saris agmen .

Pulsus u t armenti s p rimo certamine taurusSilvarum secreta pet i t vacuosqu e per agrosExsul i n adve rsis e xplorat cornua truncis ,Ne e redi t in pastu s , nis i cum cervice recep taExcussi placu e re tori mox reddi ta victor

94

BOOK THE FLIGHT OF POMPE IU S

Of Pontus held in check the fates of Rome .N0 region of the Earth awai ts me yet .The icy waves of Phasi s know my sword

,

Egyp t i an shores , Syene1 where the

‘

sun

Throws shade on nei ther hand : al l these have l earnedTo fear Pompe ius and far B e t i s ’ s t ream

,

Last of al l floods to j o in th e re flue nt se a .

Arabia and the warl ike hordes tha t dwel lB eside the Euxine wave the famous landThat los t th e golden fleece Ci l ic i an wastes

,

And Cappadoc i an,and the Jews who pray

Before an unknown God Sophene softAll fel t my yoke . What conquests now remain ,What wars not civi l can my kinsman wage ? ”

No loud acc laim received h i s words,nor shout

Asked for the promised bat tl e and the ch iefDrew back the s tandards

,for the sold i ers ’ fears

Were in his soul alike nor dared he t rustAn army

,vanquished by the fame alone

Of Ce sar ’ s powers,to figh t for such a p rize .

And as some bul l,his early combat l o s t ,

Forth driven from th e herd,in exile roams

Th rough l onely pl ai n s or secre t fores t dep th s,

Whets on opposing trunks his growing horn,

And proves h imself for battle , t i l l h i s neckIs ribbed afresh wi th musc l e then re turns

,

Defian t of th e h ind,and vic tor now

1 Be ing ( as was suppose d ) e xact ly unde r the Equator. Sye ne ( the mod e rn As souan )i s the town me n t ioned by the pr ie s t of Sais, who told He rodo tus that be twe e n Sye neand E le phan t ine are two bills w ith conical top s . The name of one of them is Cr0phi,and of the othe r, Mophi. Midway be twe e n them are the foun ta ins of the N i le .

”

(He rod . , i i ., chapte r And se e Parad ise Re gaine d ,” iv . 70Sye ne , and whe re the shadow both way fall s,Me roe , Nilotick i s le ;

B ut Sye ne was in re al ity s ituate d in Lat i tude 24°

5'

30 Bunbury : “Ancie ntGe ography,” i . 6 2 2 .

95

PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

Quoslibe t i n sal tus comitantibus agm ina tauri sInv i to pas tore trah i t s i c viribus imparTradidit H e spe riam profugusqu e per Apula ruraBrundis ii tu tas concess i t Magnus in arces .Urbs e st D ictae is ol im possessa colon i s ,

Quos Creta profugos ve xe re per ae quora puppe sC e cropiae , victum m e ntitis The se a vel i s .Hac l atu s angustum i am se coge ntis i n arcum

H e spe riae te nu em producit i n ae quora Iinguam,

Adriacas fle xis claudit quae cornibu s undas .Nec tame n hoc arti s immissum faucibus aequorPortus erat

,s i non violentos insul a Cauro s

Excipe re t saxi s lassasqu e re funde re t undas .H inc i l l ime montes scopu losae t upi s apertoOpposu it natura mari flatu sque removit

,

U t t remulo stare n t conte ntae fune carinae .Hine late patet omne fretum

,seu vela fe rantur

In portus,Corcyra, ruos , seu laeva pe tatu r

Illyris Ionias vergens Ep idamnos i n undas .Huc fuga nau tarum

,cum to ras Adria v i res

Movit e t i n nubes abie re Ceraunia , cumqueSpumoso Calaber pe rfunditur ae quore Sason .

1

Ergo ub i nul la fide s rebus post terga re lictisNe e l ice t ad duros M artem conve rte re H ibe ros

,

Cum mediae iace ant imm e nsis tractibus Alpes,

Tune sobol e e tanta natum,cui firmior ae tas

,

Ad fatu r Mundi iube o temptare recessus .Euphratem N ilumqu e move , quo nominis usqueNostri fama ven i t

,quas e st volgata per urbes

Pos t me Roma ducem Sparsos per rura colonosRedde mari C ilicas Phario s h ine concute reges1 Tigranemqu e meum . Ncc Pharnacis arma re l inquas,

1 S e e Book V . ,l ine 7 1 7 .

2 Tigrane s the younge r, King of A rme n ia dur ing the Pon t i c war, conducte d byPompe ius . In 66 B . C. he submit te d in the Roman camp, and sat on h i s th rone afte r tha tt ime as a vassal of Rome . (Mommse n , vol . i v . , p .

96

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

Admone o,nec tu populos u traque vagantis

Armenia Pontiqu e feras per litora genti sRhipe asqu e manus e t quas tenet aequore densoPigra palus Scythici patien s M ae otica plaustri .Sed quid plura moror ? totos mea , nate , per ortuSB ella feres totoqu e urbes ag itabis in orbePe rdomitas omnes re de ant i n cas tra triumphi .E t vo s

,qui Latios Signatis nomine fas tos ,

Primus in Epirum boreas agat inde per arvaG raiorum M ace tumque novas adqu irite vi res ,Dum paci dat tempus hiemps . S ic fatur

,e t omnes

Iussa ge runt solvuntque cavas a l i ttore puppe s .

At numquam pat iens paci s longaeque quie tisArmorum

,ne quid fati s mu tare lice re t,

Adse qu itur ge ne rique premi t vestigi a Caesar .Suffice re nt al iis primo tot moe nia cursuRapta

,tot oppre ssae de pulsis ho stibus arces ,

Ipsa caput mundi,be llorum maxima merces

,

Roma capi facilis sed Caesar i n omni a prae ceps ,1 Ni l actum c redens

,cum quid supe re sse t agendum ,

Instat atrox e t adhuc , quamvis posse de rit omnem

Italiam, extremo se de at quod l i tore Magnus ,Communem tame n esse dole t ne e rursus aperto 660

Vul t hostes errare freto, se d molibus undas

Obstruit e t latum de ie ctis rupibu s aequor .Cedi t i n imme nsum cassu s labor omnia pontusH aurit s axa vorax monte sque immisce t hare nis

U t mari s Ae gae i medias Si celsus in undasDepe llatur Eryx , nu llae tame n ae quore rupe s

1 Mon ta igne ( Book III. , cap . quo t ing th i s l i ne , add s : “ as A le xande r sa id , thatthe e nd of h i s l abour was to labour . ”

“ Na th ing is done qub i l och t remanys ado . (Gawin Douglas , Prologue tof Ene id, v i i . )

98

B OOK THE FLIGHT OF POMPE IU S

And Pharnae e s and al l the vagran t tribesOf both Armenias and the Ponti c hordes

,

Warlike and fierce the dwellers on the ShoresRhipe an ,

and by that dead northern marshWhose frozen surface bears the loaded wain .

Why further S tay thee Let the eas tern worldSound wi th the war

,al l c i t ie s of the earth

Conquered by me , my triumphs , to the campSend all thei r l evi ed hos ts . And you whose namesWi th in the Lati an book recorded s tand

,

S trike for Ep i ru s with the northern w i ndAnd thence in Greece and Macedonian tracts

,

(Whi le win ter gives us peace) new strength acqui reFor coming confl ic ts . ” They obey his word sAnd loose thei r sh ip s and launch upon the main .

But Ce sar ’s m i gh t,in toleran t of peace

O r l engthy arm i st ice,le s t now perchance

The fates migh t change thei r edic ts,swift pursued

The footstep s of h i s foe . To other men ,So many c i t i es taken at a b low

,

So many strongholds cap tured,migh t suflice

And Rome hersel f, th e m i s tre ss of th e world ,Lay at his feet

,the greatest pri z e of all .

Not so w i th Ce sar ins tant on the goalHe fiercely presses th inking noth ing doneWh ile aught remained to do . Though in h i s graspLay al l I tal i a — wh i le Pompe ius s tayedUpon the u tmost shore

,his griev ing sou l

Deemed all was Shared w i th h im . Yet he essayedEscape to h inder

,and with labour vain

File d i n the greedy main gigantic rocksMountains of earth down to the sandy dep th sWere swal lowed by the vortex of the se aJust as if Eryx and i ts l ofty top

99

PHARSALIA [BOOK 11.

Emine ant , vel S i convolso vertice Gaurus

D e cidat i n fundum pe nitus stagnantis Averni .Ergo ubi nulla vado tenu i t sua pondera moles ,Tune placu it cae sis inne cte re vincula s i lvi s

1Roboraque imme nsis late re l igare cate nis .

Tales fama canit tumidum super aequora Xe rxemConstruxisse vi as , multum cum pontibus au su sEuropamque A s iae Se stonqu e admovit Abydo ,

Ince ss itqu e f retum rapidi super H e IICSponti

Non e urum z ephyrumqu e time ns,cum vela rate sque

In medium de fe rre t Athon . S i c ora profund iA rtantur casu nemorum tunc aggere mul toSurgi t opus

,longae que tremunt super ae quora turre s

Pompe ius tel lure nova compressa profundiO ra vide ns curi s animum mordacibus angi t

,

U t re se re t pe lagu s spargatqu e per ae quo ra bel lum .

Saepe noto ple nae te nsisqu e rude ntibu s actae

Ipsa maris per claust ra rates fast igia moli sD iscusse re s al o spatiumqu e dedere carinisTortaque per te ne bras valid is balli s ta lace rtisM ultifidas iacu lata faces . U t tempora tandemFurtivae placu e re fugae , ne litora c lamorNau ticus e xagite t, neu bucina dividat horas ,Ne tuba praemon itos pe rducat ad ae quora nautas , 690

Prae cepit soci i s . I am coe pe rat ul tima Vi rgoPhoe bum laturas ortu prae ce de re Chelas ,Cum taci t i solvere rates . Non anchora vocesM ovit

,dum spissis ave l l itu r uncus hare nis

1 Th i s passage m igh t no t in te nd the constr uct ion of sh ips ; bu t it appe ars from Ce sarD e Be l l o Gal l i co,” i . that such was hi s p lan .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 11 .

Dum iuga curvantur mali dumqu e ardua p i nu sE rig itur, pavid i c l ass i s s ilue re magistri

Strictaque penden tes de ducunt carbasa nautae

N e e quat iunt val idos , n e sibile t aura,rudentes .

Dux et iam vo tis hoc te , Fortuna , pre ca tur,Quam re tine re vetas , lice at s ib i perdere sal temItaliam . Vix fata s inunt nam murmure vastoImpulsum rostris sonuit mare , fluctuat unda ,To tque carinarum pe rmixtis ae quora sulc i s .Ergo hostes porti s

,quas omnis so lve ra t urbis

Cum fato conversa fide s,murisque re ce pti,

Prae cipiti cursu flexi per cornua portusO ra pe tunt pe lagusqu e dolen t con tinge re class i .Heu pudor exi gua e st fugie ns V i ctoria Magnus .

Angustus puppe s m itte bat in ae quora l imesArtior Euboica qua Chalcida ve rbe rat unda .

H ie hae se re rates geminae classi que paratasExcepe re manus , tractoque in litora belloH ie primum rubu it civi l i sanguine Nereus .Cete ra class i s abi t summis spoliata carinis

U t,Pagasae a rati s pe te re t cum Phasidos undas

,

Cyaneas tellu s emisit in ae quora cau te s

Rapta puppe minor subducta e st montibus Argo,

Vanaqu e pe rcuss it pontum Symple gas inanem

E t s tatura red i t . I am Phoe bum urgere mone ba t

Non idem coi color ae the ris,albaqu e nondum

Lux rubet e t flammas propioribus e ripit as tri s

102

BOOK THE FLIGHT OF POMPEIU S

No cap tain ’ s order,when the lofty mast

Was rai sed,or yards were bent a S i len t c rew

,

Hanging upon the ropes , d rew down th e sai ls ,Nor shook the mighty cables , les t the windShould sound upon them . But the ch ief, i n praye r ,Thus spake to Fortune Thou whose h igh d ecreeH as made us exi les from I talia’s shores ,Grant us at leas t to leave them . Yet the fate sHardly permi tted , for a murmur vas tCame from the ocean

,as the countless keel s

Furrowe d the waters , and wi th ceasel ess splashThe parted bi l lows rose again and fel l .Then were the gates th rown wid e ; for wi th the fatesThe ci ty changed its fai th and Ce sar ’s troop s

,

Se izing the town,rushed onward by the pier

That c i rcled in th e h arbour then they knewWith sh ame and sorrow that the fleet was freeAnd held the open and Pompe ius

’ fligh tGave a poor triumph .

Yet was narrower farThe channel which gave access to the se aThan that Eube an s t rai t whose waters l aveThe Shore by Chalc i s . Here two sh ip s S tuck fas tThe fatal grapnels dest ined for the fleetSeized on the i r decks and drew them to the landAnd there the bloodshed of th e c iv i l warFi rs t left a blush upon the ocean wave .AS when the famous sh ip sought Phasi s ’ s treamThe rocky gates c l osed in and hard ly grippedHer flying stern then from the emp ty se aThe c l iff s rebound ing to the ir anci en t seatWere fixed to move no more . But now the step sOf morn app roach ing tinged th e easte rn skyWith roseate hues the Pleiades were dim ,

The wagon of the Charioteer grew pale ,1 03

PHARSALIA [BOOK II .

E t iam Ple ias he be t,flexi iam plaustra Bootae

In fac iem puri re de unt langue ntia cae l i ,M aiore squ e l atent ste llae , cal idumque re fugit

Lucifer i pse diem . Pe lagus i am ,Magne

,te ne bas ,

Non ea fata fe re ns,quae

,cum super ae quo ra to to

Prae donem se qu e re re mari lassata triumphis

De stitu it Fortuna tu is . Cum coniuge pulsusE t nati s to tosqu e trahe ns i n bel la penatesVadi s adhuc inge ns populis com itan tibu s e xsul .Quaeri tur ind ignae sedes longinqua ru inae .

Non quia te superi patrio privare sepulcroM alue rint, Phariae busto damnantur hare nae

Parcitur H e spe riae procul hoe u t i n orbe remotoAbscondat Fortuna nefas , Romanaque tellusImmaculata su i se rve tur sanguine Magni .

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BOOK HI

M A S S I L I A

M . ANNAB I LVCANI

DE BELLO C IV IL I

LIBER TERTIVS

PROPULIT u t classem ve l i s ce de ntibus aus te rIncumbe ns m e diumqu e rates movere profundum ,

Omnis i n Ion ios Spe ctabat navita fluctus

Solus ab H esperi a non fl e xit lumina terraMagnus

,dum patrios portus

,dum litora numquam

Ad vi sus red i tura suos te ctumque cacumenNubibus e t dubios ce rnit vane sce re monti s .Inde soporifero ce sse runt l anguida somnoMembra duci s di ri tum plena horroris imagoVisa caput mae stum per hiante s Iul ia terrasTol lere e t acce nso furialis s tare sepulcro .

Se dibu s E lysiis campoqu e expulsa piorumAd Styg ias inqu it te ne bras mane squ e noce nte s

Post bel lum civi l e trahor vid i ip sa tenente sE ume nidas

, quate re nt quas ve stris lampadas armisPraeparat innume ras puppis Ache rontis adus tiPorti tor in mul tas laxantu r Tartara poe nasVix operi cunctae dextra prope rante so rore s

Sufficiunt l assant rumpe ntis s tamina Parcas .Coniuge me lae tos duxisti

,Magne

,triumphos

Fortuna es t mutata tori s sempe rque pote ntis

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

D e trahe re i n cladem fato damnata maritos

Innupsit tepido pae l ex Cornel ia busto .

1

H ae re at i l la tu is per bella per ae quora signis ,Dum non se curos l ice at mihi rumpe re somnos ,E t nul lum ve stro vacuum s it tempus amori ,Sed te ne at Cae sarque dies e t Iul i a nocte s .

Me non L e thae ae , coniunx ,oblivia ripac

Immemorem fe ce re tu i, re ge sque Sil entum

Pe rm ise re se qu i. Veniam te bella gerenteI n medias acies numquam t ibi , Magne , per umbrasPerque me os manes genero non esse lice bit.Abscidis frustra ferro tua pignora . Bel lumTe facie t civi l e meum .

” S ic fata re fug itUmbra per amplexus trepid i dilapsa mari ti .I lle

,de i quamvis cladem mane squ e mine ntur,

Maior in arma rui t certa cum mente malorum,

E t quid ait vani te rremur imagine visus ?Au t nih il est sensus an imi s a morte re lictumAu t mors ipsa n ih i l .” Titan iam pronus i n undasIbat e t igniferi tantum deme rse rat orbis,Quantum d e e sse sole t lunae

,se u plena futura es t

,

Se u i am plena fui t tune obtulit hospi ta tel lusPuppibu s acce ssus faciles legere rudentesE t posi to remis pe tie runt l itora malo .

Caesar,u t em issas vent i rapu e re carinas ,

Absconditqu e f retum c l asses , e t l i tore solusDux ste tit H esperio

,non illum gloria puls i

Lae tificat Magni ’

que ritur, quod tuta per aequorTerga fe rant hostes . Neque enim iam sufli cit ul la 50

Prae cipiti fortuna vi ro nec vincere tant i,

1 I tak e te pido busto as the dat ive case , and as re fe rr ing to Pompe ius , doomed,l ike Corne l ia ’ s forme r husband

,to de fe at and de ath . I f tak e n as the abla t ive , me an ing

tha t Jul ia’ s fune ral p i le was not ye t cold whe n Pompe ius marr ie d C‘or ne l ia, the d i fficul tyi s that two ye ar s e l apse d be twe e n he r de ath and the date of tha t marr iage .

1 1 0

BOOK MASS ILIA

Doomed to bring evi l to each mighty lord,

Cornel ia,weds in thee a breath ing tomb .

Through wars and oceans let her cl i ng to theeSo long as I may break thy nightly res tNo moment left thee for her love , bu t al lBy nigh t to me

,by day to Ce s ar given .

No stream of Lethe wi th oblivi on banksMade me forget th ee and the K ings of deathPermi t my presence in the midst of warI wil l be wi th thee ever

,and my ghost

Remind thee Ce sar’ s daugh ter was thy spouse .No sword of th ine shal l part our marri age bonds

,

By civi l war thou art the more mine own .

So spake the ghost and parti ng in the mis tFled the caresses of her t rembl ing lord .

But he despi te foreboding gods and shades,

With mind the l oft ier braved the doom,and spake .

Why dread the ai ry phantoms of the brainDeath has no terrors if such visions l iveIf they l ive not

,then death ’ s the end of all .

Now fiery Ti tan in decl ining pathDipped to the waves

,h is brigh t c i rcumference

So much dimini shed as a growing moonNot yet ful l c i rcled

,or when pas t th e ful l

When to the fleet a hospi table coastGave access

,and the ropes in order l aid

,

The sai lors struck the masts and rowed ashore .

Thus was the flee t se t free and rapt from v i ewBy favouring breezes . On I talian soi lSole l ord S tood Ce sar but he found no j oyIn triumph over Magnus— rather gri evedThat thus in safety had his fl igh t been sped .

Not any gif ts of fortune now su fficedH is fiery sp i ri t and no victo ry won ,

1 1 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK 111.

U t bel lum diff e rre t , erat . Tum pectore curaSExpul it armorum paciqu e inte ntus age bat,Quoque modo vanos popul i concire t amoresGnarus e t irarum causas e t summa favori sAnnona momenta t rah i . Namqu e adse rit urbesSola fames

,em iturque metus , cum segne poten te s

Volgus alunt ne scit plebes ie iuna t imere .Curio Sicanias t ranscendere iussu s i n urbes ,Qua mare te llurem subitis au t obruit undi sAu t sc id it e t medias feci t s ib i litora te rras .Vis illic inge ns pelagi, sempe rqu e l aboran tA e quo ra ,

ne rupti repe tant confinia montes .Be llaqu e Sardoas e t i am sparguntu r i n w as

U traque frugife ris e st i nsula nobi l i s arvi sN e e plus H e spe riam longinquis m e ssibus u llae

N e e Romana magis compl e runt horre a terrae .

Ubere vix glae bae superar ce ssantibus austris ,Cum medium nubes borea cogente sub axem

Eff usis magnum L ibye tul i t imbribus annum .

Haec ubi sunt provisa duci , tunc agm ina v i c to rNon armata trab ens

,sed paci s habe ntia voltum ,

Tecta pet i t patriae . Pro,Si reme asse t in urbem

,

Gal lorum tan tum popul is arctoqu e subacta ,

Quam seri em rerum longa praem itte re pompa ,Quas potu it bell i facies u t vincula RhenoOce anoque daret , ce lsos u t Gal l i a currusNobil i s e t flavi s se qu e re tu r mixta BritannisPe rdidit o qual em vi ncendo plura triumphum 1

Non illum lact i s vade ntem coe tibu s urbes,

Sed tacitae vide re metu nec constitit usquamObvia turba duci . Gaudet tame n e sse t imoriTam magno populis e t se non malle t amari .l amqu e e t prae cipitis supe rave rat Anxuris arce s

,

E t qua Pomptinas v i a dividit uda paludes ,

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PHARSALIA [BOOK III .

Qua sublime nemus, Scythicae qua regna Dianae

Quaqu e i te r e st Latiis ad summam fasc ibus Albam

Excelsa de rupe pro e nl i am conspic it urbem

A rc to i to to non vi sam tempore bel l iM iratusqu e suae s ic fatur, mo e nia RomaeTene

,deum sedes

,non ul lo Marte coacti

De se ru e re viri pro qua pugnabitur urbeDi mel ius

,quod non Lat i as e ous in oras

Nunc furor incubu it nec iuncto Sarmata veloxPannonio Dacisqu e G e te s admixtu s hab e nti

Tam pavidum t ib i , Roma , ducem fortuna pe pe rcit ,Quod bellum c ivi le fu i t . ” S ic fa tur e t u rbemA ttonitam terrore sub i t . Namque ignibu s atri sCre ditur u t captae rapturus moe nia RomaeSparsurusque deos . Fuit h aec mensu ra timoris

Velle pu tant , quodcumqu e potes t . Non omina fes ta ,Non fictas l acto voces Simulare tumul tu ,

Vix odiss e vacat . Pho ebe a palati a comp letTurba patrum

,nul l o coge ndi i u re senatus ,

E latebris e ducta su i s non consul e sae raeFulse runt sedes

,non proxima lege potes tas

,

Praetor ades t vacuaequ e l oco ce sse re curules .Omnia Caesar erat privatae curi a voe i sTes ti s ades t . Sedere patres ce nse re parati ,S i regnum

, Si templa s ib i iugulumque s e natusExsiliumqu e pe tat. Mel ius quod plura iube reE rubu it quam Roma pati . Tame n exi t i n i ramViribus an posse nt obsiste re i ura , per unumLibertas experta vi rum pugnaxque Metellus ,U t videt ingent i Saturn i a templa revel l iMole , rapit gre ssu s , e t Cae saris agmina rumpe ns

Ante fores nondum re se ratae constitit ae dis .

Usque adeo solus ferrum mortemque t imere

1 1 4

BOOK MASS ILIA

Now Anxur ’

s hold was passed,the oozy road

That parts the marshes and the grove sublimeWhere reigns th e Scyth ian goddess

,and the path

By wh ich men bea r the fasces to the H i l l .Thence gazing on hi s Rome

,S ince Northern wars

Unvi s i ted,he spake S eat of the gods

, 1 00

Have men deserted thee wi thou t a blowWhat c i ty then shall rouse them ? Thank high heavenN0 Eas tern fury sough t I talian shoresN0 Northern horde— th e warfare was ou r ownE ls e had th i s coward Chieftain been thy bane .He found the ci ty trembl ing fi re and flame

,

AS from a conqueror gods and fanes d ispersedSuch was th e measure of thei r fear

,as though

His power and wish were one . No festal shoutGreeted h is march

,no feigned acc l aim of j oy .

Scarce h ad they time for hate . In Phoe bus ’ hal l ,Thei r h id ing places left

,a crowd appeared

Of Senators,uncal led

,for none could cal l .

NO Consul decked th e chair,nor next in rank

The Pre tor,and the seats of state were gone .

Ce sar was al l his private voice was heard 1

All el se were dumb . They sat p repared to voteFor him a throne o r temple for themselvesO r death or exile . Thank the gods that heB lush ed more to order than d id Rome to serve .Yet i n one b reast th e Spi ri t of Freedom roseEnraged le st force Should override the lawsFor hot Metel lus

,when he saw th e gates

Of Saturn ’ s temp l e yi el d ing to the shock,

B urs t i n between the ranks of Ce sar ’s t roopsAnd blocked the doors . ’Tis th i rs t for gold aloneThat fears not death no hand i s rai sed for lawO r v iol ated right bu t for th i s dross

1 H e he ld no oflice a t the t ime .

1 1 5

PHARSALIA [m m 111 .

Auri ne scit amor . Pe re unt discrimine nul loAmissae leges sed

,pars v i l i ss ima rerum ,

Certamen movistis,opes prohibe nsque rapina

Vic torem clara te statur voce tribunusNon nis i per nostrum vobi s pe rcussa pate buntTempla latus

,nullasqu e feres n i s i sanguine sacro

Sparsas , raptor , ope S. Certe violata potes tasI nve ni t i s ta deos C rassumque in bel la se cutaeSae va tribuniciae vove runt proe l ia dirae .

De te ge i am ferrum neque en im t ib i turba verenda estSpectatrix sce l e rum deserta stamus i n u rbe .Non feret e nostro scel eratus praem ia miles .Sunt quos prosternas popul i , quae moe nia dones .Paci s ad e xhaustae spol ium non cogi t egestasB ellum

,Caesar

,habes .”

His magnam victor in i ramVocibus acce nsu s Vanam spem morti s hone staeConcipis haud inquit i ugulo se pollue t i s toNostra

,M e te lle , manus . D ignum te Cae saris i ra

Nullu s honor facie t . Te vindice tu ta re licta e s t

Libertas ? non usque adeo pe rmiscu it imisLongus summa dies , u t non , Si voce M e te lli

Se rve ntu r l eges , mal int a Caesare tol l i .”

Dixe rat,e t nondum foribus cedente tribuno

Acrior i ra sub i t saevos circumspicit e nse s

Oblitus s imulare togam . Tum Cotta M e te llum

Compul it audaci nimium desistere coe pto .

Libertas inqu it popul i,quem regna coe rce nt ,

Lib e rtate peri t cuius se rvave ris umbram,

1 1 6

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

S i, quidqu id iube are , vel is . To t rebus in iqu is

Paruimus vie ti venia e st haec sola pudo risD e ge ne risque me tus

,ni l i am po tuisse n e gari .

Ociu s ave rtat diri mal a semina bel l i .Damna moven t populos

,Si quos sua iura tue ntur .

Non s ib i sed domino gravis e st quae s e rvi t,egestas .

Protinus abducto patu e runt templa Metel lo .

Tune rupe s Tarpeia sonat magnoque reclusasTe statur s tridore fores tunc conditus imoE ru itur templo multi s intactus ab anni sRomani ce nsus populi

,quem Punica be l la

,

Quem d e de ra t Perses,quem vie t i prae da Phi l ippi

Quod tibi,Roma

,fuga Pyrrhus trepidante re liqu it,

Quo te Fabri cius regi non ve ndidit au ro ,Quidquid parcorum mores se rvastis avorum ,

Quod di tes A siae popul i misere tribu tumVicto rique de di t M ino ia Creta M e tel l o

,

Quod Cato longinqua ve xit super ae quora Cypro .

Tunc Orie ntis opes cap to rumqu e ultima regumQuae Pompe ianis prae lata e st gaza triumphis ,Ege ritur t ri st i spoliantur temp l a rapina ,Paupe riorque fui t tunc primum Caesare Roma .

In te re a totum Magn i fortuna per orhemSecum casuras in proe lia move rat urbes .Proxima vicino vires dat G rae cia bel lo .

Phocaicas Amphisa manus scopulosaque CyrrhaParnasusque iugo misi t d e se rtus utroqu e .

Bo e oti coie re duces,quos impige r ambi t

1 1 8

BOOK MASS ILIAThou dost what ’s bidden . To a hos t o f i l l sWe mad e submission , and may pardon findFo r th is our shame , for our ignobl e fear,I n that we gave what could no t be refused .

May Ce sar sweep away the seeds of war .A nation ’s anger is by losses S t irred

,

When laws protec t it but the needy sl aveB rings danger to h is master , not h imself.

”

Metel lus yi elded and the gates flew wide .

1

Then sounds the rock Tarpeian , and the shrineGives up the treasure which for centuri esNo hand had touched all that the Punic foeAnd Perses and Phil ippus conquered gave

,

And all the gold which Pyrrhus pan ic-s t ruckLeft when he fled that gold

,

2the price of Rome

,

Which ye t Fabric ius sold no t, and the hoardLaid up

“

by saving si res th e t ribute sentBy Asia ’ s ri ches t nat ion s and the weal thWhich conquering Metel lus brough t from Crete

,

And Cato 2 bore from distan t Cyprus homeAnd las t

,the r iches torn from captive k ings

And borne before Pompe ius when he cameIn frequent triumph . Thus the Shrine was robbedAnd Ce sar firs t brought poverty to Rome .

Meanwhi le all nations of the earth were movedTo Share in Magnus ’ fortunes and the war

,

And in his fated ruin . Gre c i a sent,

Neares t of all , her succours to the hos t .From Cirrha and Parnassus ’ double peakAnd from Amphissa

,Phoci s sen t her youth

1Quote d by Dan te and app l ie d to the ga te s of Purgatory . Purg ., ix .

2 That i s, the gold offe re d by Pyrrhus, and re fuse d by Fabricius , wh ich, afte r thefinal de fe at of Pyrrhus, came in to the pos se ss ion of the v i c tors .

2 S e e Plutarch, “Cato,” Tudor T ransl at ion, vol . V. , p . 1 45 .

1 1 9

PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

Fatidica C ephisos aqua Cadme aque Dirce ,Pisae ae que manus , populisque p e r ae quo ra mitte nsSicaniis A lphe os aquas . Tune Maenala liquitA re as e t H e rcu le am miles Trachiniu s Oe te n .

Thesproti Dryop e sque ruunt, qu e rcu squ e s ile ntis

Chaon io ve te re s l ique runt vert ice Se llo e .

Exhausit totas quamvis del e ctus Ath e nas ,E xiguae Phoe be a tenen t navalia puppe s ,Tre squ e pe tunt ve ram credi Salamina carinae .

I am di lecta I ovi ce nte nis ven i t i n armaCreta ve tus populis Gnososqu e agi tare phare trasDocta ne e eoi s pe ior Gortyna sagittis .

Tune qu i Dardaniam tenet Oricon e t vagus alt i sD ispe rsus s i lvi s Ath amas e t nomine pri scoEnche liae versi testantes fumera Cadmi ,Colch i s e t Adriacas spumans Absyrtos in undasPenei qui rura colunt , quorumque laboreThessalus H aemoniam vomer proscind it Iolcon .

Inde lace ssitum p rimo mare , cum rudis ArgoM iscuit ignotas teme rato l i tore gentesPrimaque cum venti s pe lagique fure ntibus undi sComposuit mortale genus , fatisque per illam

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PHAR SALIA [BOOK 111 .

Accessi t mors una ratem . Tunc linqu itur H aemusThracius e t populum Pholoe menti ta biform em .

D e se ritur S trymon tepido commit te re NiloBistonias consue tus av e s , e t barbara Cone 200

Sarmaticas ubi perdi t aquas sparsamque profundoM ultifidi Pe uce n unum caput adlu it H istriMysiaqu e e t gel ido tel lus perfusa CaicoIdal is ct nim ium gle bis e x ilis Ari sbeQuique colunt Pitane n e t

,quae tua mun e ra

,Pal las

,

Lugen t damnatae Pho e bo victore,Celae nae

Qua cel e r e t re ctis descend e ns M arsya ripis

E rrantem M ae andron adi t mixtu sque re fe rtur

Passaque ab aurife ris tellus e xire m e tall is

Pactolon qua cul ta sce at non vilior Hermus . 2 1 0

Il iacae quoque S igna manus pe rituraque cas traOm inibus pe tie re sui s , nec fabula Troiae

Continu it Phrygiiqu e fe re ns s e Caesar I uli .Acc e dunt Syri ac populi , de se r tus O ron tesE t fel ix

,sic fama

,Ninos ventosa Damascos

Gaz aque e t arbusto palmarum dives Idume,

1 E t Tyros instabilis pre tiosaque murice S idon .

H as ad bel l a rates non fl e xo l imi te pon tiC e rtio r haud ulli s duxit Cynosura carinis .

Pho e nice s primi,famae si cre d itu r, aus i

1 L uc re t ius, v i . 58 5 .

1 2 2

BOOK MASS ILIAWhere dw e l t the fabl e d race o f double form 1

2 20

And H e mus S trymon , wh e nce , as autumn falls ,Winged squadrons seek the banks of warme r N i leAnd al l the i s l e s which mouth s of I s t e r bath eMixed wi th the t idal wave the l and through whichThe cool ing eddies of C

'

aicus flowIdal ian and Arisb e bare of glebe .The h inds of Pitane

,and those who ti l l

Cele ne ’s fields wh ich mourned of yore the giftOf Pal las

,

2 and the vengeance of the godAll d raw the sword and those from Marsyas ’ flood 2 30

Firs t swift,then doubli ng backwards wi th the S t ream

Of sinuous M e ander and from whereEarth gives Pactolus and h is golde n s toreFree passage forth and where wi th rival weal thRich Hermus part s the meads. Nor S tayed the bandsOf Troy

, bu t (doome d as in old time) they j oinedPompe ius

’ fated camp nor held them backThe fabled pas t

,nor Ce sar ’ s c laimed descent

From their I ulus . Syrian peoples cameFrom palmy Idumea and the wall sOf Ninus great of yore from windy pl ainsOf far Damascus and from Gaza ’s hold

,

From Sidon ’ s courts enri ched wi th purple dye ,And Tyre oft trembling wi th the shaken earth .

All these l ed on by Cynosura ’ s l igh t 3

Furrow thei r path di rect upon the war .Phe nici an s fi rs t (if s tory be believed)

1 The Ce ntaurs .2 Probably the flute th rown away by Pal las,which Marsyas p icke d up wh e n he chal l e nge d

Apol l o to a mus i cal con te s t . For h i s p re sumption the god flayed h im al i ve .

3 That i s, the L i t tl e Be ar, by wh ich the Phce nicians s te e re d, wh i le the Gre e ks

s te e re d by the Gre a t Be ar . ( S e e S i r G . L ewis ’ s “A st ronomy of the Anc ie nts,”p I n Book V I I I .

,l ine 1 8 3 , the pi l ot de c l are s that he s te e r s by the pole s tar

itse lf, wh ich i s much ne are r to the L itt le than to the Gre a t Be ar, and i s ( I be l ie ve )re ckone d as one of the s tar s form ing the group known by tha t name . H e may havebe e n a Phoe nic ian .

1 2 3

PHAR SALIA [BOOK 111 .

M ansuram rud ibus vocem signare figu ris

Nondum flumine as Memphis contexe re biblosNove rat e t saxi s tantum volucre sque fe rae qu e

Sculptaque se rvabant magicas an imal i a l inguas .De se ritu r Tauriqu e nemus Pe rse aqu e Tarsos

Coryciumqu e patens e xe sis rupibus antrumMallos e t e xtremae resonant navalibus Aegae

,

Itqu e Ci lix ins ta , i am non pi rata , carina .M ovit e t coos be l lo rum fama recessus

,

Qua col itur Ganges , toto qui solus in orbeO st i a nascen ti contrari a solvere Phoe boAudet e t adve rsum fluctus impe ll it in e urum

H ie ubi Pe llae us pos t Te thyos ae quora ductorConstitit e t magno vinci se fassus ab orbe e st .

Quaqu e f e re ns rapidum divi so gurgi te fontemVasti s Indus aqu is mixtum non sen t i t Hydaspe nQuique bibunt tenera dulces ab harundine sucos ,E t qui tingu e nte s croceo m e d icamine crinem

Fluxa colo ratis adstringunt carbasag emmis .

Quique suas struxe re pyras viviqu e cale ntis

Consce nde re rogos . Pro,quanta e st glori a genti

,

Inie cisse manum fati s vitaque rep l etos ,Quod supe re st, donasse dei s Venere ferocesCappadoce s , duri populus nunc cul to r Amani ,A rme niusqu e tenens volve ntem saxa N iphate n .

A e the ra tange ntis S i lvas l iqu e re ChoatraeI gnotum vobis

,Arabes ve nistis in orbem

Umbras mirati nemorum non i re s ini stras .

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u

PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

Tum furor extremos movit Romanus Ore stas

Carmanosqu e duces quorum d e fl e xus i n aus trumAether non totam m e rgi tame n aspicit A rc ton

Lucet e t exigua velox ibi nocte Bootes .A e thiopumqu e solum ,

quod non preme re tur ab ul laS ign iferi regione poli

,nis i popli te lapso

U l tima curvati proce de re t ungula Tauri .Quaque caput rap i do tollit cum Tigride magnusEuphrates

,quos non dive rsis fontibu s edi t

Persi s,e t ince rtum

,tel lus Si misce at amnes

,

Quod po tiu s Sit nomen aqu is . S ed sparsus i n agrosFerti l i s Euphrates Phariae vi ce fungitur undaeA t Tigr im subi to tel lu s absorbe t hiatuOccul to squ e te git cursus rursusqu e re natum

Fonte novo flumen pelagi non abn e gat undis .Inter Cae sare as aci es d ive rsaqu e S igna

Pugnaces dubium Parthi te nu e re favorem

Content i f e cisse duos . Tinxe re sagi ttasErrantes Scythiae popul i , quos gurgi te BactrosIncludit gel ido vastisque Hyrcania s i lvi s .H i ne Lace daemonii

,moto gens aspera freno

,

H e niochi saevisque adfinis Sarmata Mosch i s,

Col e horum qua rura sce at d itissima Phasi s,

Qua Cro e so fatalis H alys , qua verti ce l ap susRhipae o Tanais divers i nomina mundiImposui t r ipis A siae qu e e t terminus idemEu ropae , mediae dirim e ns confinia terraeNunc hu e , nunc illuc , qua fl e ctitur, ampl ia r orbemQuaqu e fretum torrens M ae o tidos e ge rit undasPontus , e t H e rcule is auf e rtur glori a meti s

,

Oce anumque negar solas admitte re Gades .1 Book I

. 1 20 .

1 2 6

BOOK MAS S I LIA

Then fi red wi th ardour for the Roman warOre tas came

,and far Carmania ’ s ch iefs

,

Whose clime l ie s southward , yet men thence descryLow down the Pole s tar , and B ootes runsH asting to se t

,part seen

,h is nigh tly course

And Eth iop ian s from that sou thern landWhich lies wi thou t the ci rcui t of the S tars

,

Did not the Bul l wi th curving hoof advancedO

’

e rstep the l imit . From that mountain zoneThey came

,where ri s ing from a common fount

Euphrates flows and Tigri s,and did earth

Permi t,were j oined with ei ther name but now

Wh ile l ike th ’

Egyptian flood Euphrates Spread sH i s ferti li sing water

,Tigri s firs t

Drawn down by earth in caverned depth s is plungedAnd holds a secret cou rse then born againFlows on unhindered to the Pers ian se a .

Bu t warl ike Parth i a wavered ’twixt the ch iefs,

Content to h ave made them two while Scythia’

s

hordesDipped fresh thei r darts i n poi son

,whom the s tream

Of Bactros bounds and vas t Hyrcanian woods .Hence springs that rugged nat i on swift and fierce

, 300

Descended from the Twins ’ great chario teer .1

Nor failed Sarmatia,nor the tribes that dwell

By ri ches t Phas i s,and on H alys

’ banks,

Which sealed th e doom of Cre sus king nor whereFrom far Rhipe an ranges Tanais flows ,On ei the r hand a quarter of the world ,Asia and Europe

,and in winding course

Carves ou t a continent no r where the strai tIn boiling surge pours to th e Pon tic deepM e otis

’ waters,rival l ing the pride

1 A race cal le d H e niochi, sa id to be de sce nde d f rom the char iote e r of Castor andPol lux .

1 27

PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

H inc E sse doniae gentes auroqu e ligatasSubstringe ns , Arimaspe , comas h inc forti s AriusLongaqu e Sarmati c i solvens ie iunia bel l iM assage te s quo fugi t e quo , volucre sque Geloni .Non

,cum M emnoniis de duce ns agmina re gnis

Cyrus e t e ffusis numerato mi l i te tel i sDescendi t Perses

,frate rniqu e ul tor amoris

A e quo ra cum tanti s pe rcuss it classibu s , unumTo t reges habu e re ducem co ie re nec umquamTam vari ac cu ltu gen tes

,tam dissona volgi

O ra . To t imme nsae comi tes m issura ru inae

Excivit populos e t d ignas funere MagniExse qu ias fortuna dedi t . Non cornige r HammonMit tere M armaricas cessavi t i n arma cate rvas ,Quidqu id ab occ iduis Libye patet arida MaurisUsque Parae tonias coa ad litora Syrti s .Acc ipe re t fel ix ne non semel omnia Caesar

,

Vince ndum pari ter Pharsal i a prae stitit orbem .

I l l e ub i de se ruit trepidantis mo e nia Romae,

Agmine nubife ram rapto supe re volat A lpemCumque al i i famae popul i terrore pave re nt ,Phocais in dubiis ausa e st servare iuven tusNon Graia levi tate fidem Signataque iura ,E t causas non fata , se qu i . Tame n ante furorem

1 2 8

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

Indomitum duramqu e vi ri de fl e cte re mentemPacifico sermone parant , hostemqu e propinquum

1 O ran t C e cropiae prae lata fronde M ine rvaeSemper in e xte rnis populo communi a ve stro

Massiliam bel l i s te statur fata tulisse ,Compre nsa e st Latiis quae cumque annal ibus aetas .E t nunc , igno to S i quos pet i s orbe triumpho s ,Accipe devotas externa in proe lia dextras .A t si funestas acies , S i d i ra paratisProe lia discordes , lacrimas civil ibu s armisSe cre tumque damus . Tracte ntur volne ra nul l aSacra manu . S i cae licolis furor arma de d isse t,Aut S i te rrige nae temptare nt astra gigantes ,Non tam e n aud e re t p ietas humana vel armisVe l vo tis prode sse Iovi sortisque de orum

Ignarum mortal e genus per fulmina tan tumScire t adhuc cae lo so lum regnare Tonantem .

Adde,quod innume rae concurrunt undiqu e gentes ,

N e e sic horret ine rs sce l e rum contagia mundus ,U t gladiis e ge ant c ivil ia bel l a coactis .

Sit mens is ta quidem cunctis, u t ves tra re cuse ntFata

,ne e haec al ius committat proe l ia miles .

Cui non conspecto langue bit dextra paren teTe laqu e d ivers i prohibe bunt spargere fratres.Fini s adest rerum

,S i non comm ittitis i l l i s

Arma,quibus fas e st . Nob is haec summa pre cand i

Te rribil is aquilas infe staqu e S igna re linquasUrbe procul no strisqu e vel i s te credere muris ,Excludiqu e s inas admisso Caesare bel lum .

Si t l ocus e xce ptus s cel eri M agnoqu e tibiqu e

Tutus, u t invictae fatum Si consulat urb i

,

Foe de ra S i place ant , sit quo ve niatis inermes .1 V irg il

,f Ene id , Vi i . 1 54 ramis ve latos Palladis omne s .

1 30

BOOK MASSILIA

To follow right,not fate but fi rs t of all

Vei led by C e cropian Minerva’s boughs

The ch ieftain they app roach , with peaceful wordsIn hope to change h i s will . Search in the BooksWhich chronicle the deeds of Lati an fameThou ’l t e ver find , when foreign foes made war,Massi l i a ’ s prowess on the s ide of Rome .And now

,i f t riumphs in an unknown world

Thou se ek ’

st,accep t u s

,for ou r swords are th ine

B ut i f in discord with a Roman foeThou arm ’ s t for battl e

,tears we give thee then

And hold aloof : no stranger h and may touchCelesti al wounds . Should all O lympus ’ hos tsHave rushed to war, or Should the gian t b roodAssaul t the stars

, ye t men would not p resumeO r by thei r prayers or arms to help the godsAnd , ignoran t of the fortunes of the Sky ,Taugh t by the thunderbol ts alone

,would know

That Jup i ter s t i l l h eld the throne i n heaven .

Add that unnumbered nations j oin the frayNor shrinks the world so much from tai n t of crimeTh at civi l wars reluctant Swords requi re .

Yet le t mankind refuse to j oin thy ranks ,Let only Romans fight— Shal l not th e sonShrink ere he strike th e S i re on ei the r S ideB ro thers forbid the weapons to be hurl edThe world ’s end comes when other hands are armedThan those which custom and the gods allow .

For us,th i s is our p rayer : Leave , Ce sar , here

Thy dreadful eagles,keep thy host i le s igns

Back from our gates,bu t en ter thou in peace

Mass i l ia ’s rampart s let our c i ty restWi thdrawn from crime

,to Magnus and to thee

Safe and should favouring fate preserve our wallsInv i ol ate

,when both shall wi sh for peace

1 3 1

PHARSAL IA [BOOK 111.

Vel,cum tanta vocent d i sc rimina Martis H ibe ri,

Quid rapidum de fl e ctis i ter ? non pondera rerumNe c momenta sumu s . Numquam fe l icibus armi sU sa manus , patriae primis a s e dibus e xsul ,

E t pos t translatas e xu stae Phocidos arcesM oe nibus e xigu is al ieno in l i tore tut i ,Illustrat quos sola fide s. S i claude re murosObsidione paras e t vi pe rfringe re portas ,Exce pisse faces te ctis e t tel a parati ,U ndarum rapto s ave rsis fontibu s haustusQuae re re e t e ff ossam sitie nte s lambere te rram .

E t,de Sit Si larga Ceres

,tunc horrida cerni

Foe daqu e contingi maculato att ingere morsu .

Nec pave t hic populus pro l ibertate subi re ,Obse ssum Poe no ge ssit quod Marte Saguntum .

Pe ctoribu s rapt i matrum f rustraqu e trahe nte sUbera sicca fame medios m itte ntur i n ignesUxor e t a caro posce t s ib i fata mari toVolne ra misce bunt frat res be llumqu e coacti

H o e potius civi l e gerent . Sic Graia iuventusFinie rat cum turbato iam prodita voltuI ra ducis tandem testata es t voce doloremVana move t Graios nostri fiducia cursus .

Quamvis H e spe rium mundi prOpe remuS ad axem,

M assil iam delere vacat . Gaudete,cohortes

Obvi a prae be ntur fatorum mune re bella .Ve ntus u t amittit v i res , n i si robore de nsaeOccurrant S i lvae

,spatio diffusus inan i

,

tue peri t magnus nullis obstantibus i gni s ,S ic hos tes mih i de e sse noce t damnumqu e putamu s

A rmorum,n isi

,qui vinc i potue re , rebellant .

Sed S i solus eam d imissis degener armis ,Tune mih i tecta paten t ? I am non e xclude re tantum ,

Inclusisse vo lunt . At enim contagi a bel l iD i ra fugant. Dabi ti s poe nas pro pace peti ta

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PHARSAL IA [BOOK 111.

E t nih i l e ss e meo disce tis tu tius ae vo,

Quam duce me bellum .

”

Sic postquam fatus,ad urbem

H aud trepidam converti t i ter tune moe n ia clau saConspicit e t densa iuve num vallat a corona .H aud procu l a muris tumulus surge ntis in al tumTe l lu riS parvum diffuso verti ce campumExplicat haec pat ien s l ongo munim ine cingiVisa duc i rupe s tu tisqu e aptissima castris .

Proxima pars urbi s ce lsam consurg it i n arcem,

Par tumulo,m e d iisqu e sedent convallibu s arva .

Tune res immenso placu it s tatu ra l abore ,Aggere diversos vasto committe re colle s .Sed prius u t totam

,qua t e rra c ingitur, urbem

Claude re t , a summis pe rduxit ad ae quora castris

Longum Caesar opus,fonte squ e e t pahula campi

Amplexus fossa,densas tolle ntia pinn as

Cae spitibus crudaqu e e xstruxit bracchia terra .

I am sati s hoc Graiae memorandum contigit urb iA e te rnumqu e decus , quod non impul sa nec ipsoStrata metu tenui t flagrantis i n omnia bel l iPrae cipitem cursum ,

raptisque a Caesare cunctisVincitur una mora . Quantum e st, quod fata te ne ntur ,Quodqu e virum to ti prope rans imponere mundoHos perdi t Fortuna dies Tunc omnia l ateProcumbunt nemora e t spoliantur robore S i lvae

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BOOK MAS S ILIA

With Shutting Ce sar ou t they shut h im inThey Shun the tain t of slaugh ter Prayerpeace

B rings wi th i t chasti semen t . While Ce sar l ivesLearn that not peace

,but war wi th in his ranks

Alone can make you safe . ”

He turns his marchUpon the fearless c i ty

,and beholds

1 Fas t barred the gate-ways , while in arms the youthsCrown all the battl ements . B eside th e wal l sA hil lock rose

,upon the further edge

Expanding in a p l ai n of gentle s l ope,

Fi t (as he deemed i t) for a camp with di tchAnd circl ing rampart . To a lofty heigh tTh e neares t porti on of the c i ty rose

,

With fields and val l eys ’ twixt th e wal l and h i l l .These summits w i th a mound of earth to j o inThe ch i ef resolves

,giganti c though the toi l .

But fi rs t,from furthest boundari es of h i s camp

,

Enclosing S treams and meadows,to the se a

To draw a rampart,upon ei th er hand

Heaved up with earthy sod with lofty towersCrowned and to Shut Massi l i a from the land .

Such deed the ci ty wrought so for herselfWon fame eternal

,for that

,not in fear

,

Nor at command,She s tayed the flames of war

,

And Ce sar sweep i ng al l th ings i n h i s courseFound only here delay . How great a deedWas hers to stay the fates How great that hereThese days were lost to Fortune in her has teL ow at her favouri te ’ s fee t to l ay the world

1 Domit ius,whe n he le f t Corfinium ( Book I I . p roce e de d to Massi l ia and

induce d tha t c ity to de c l ar e for Pompe ius . The Mass i l ians had k now le dge tha t he wascoming,and he actual l y ar r ive d jus t a t the t im e of the i r embassy to Ce sar. Se e Ce sar

“De B e l l o C iv il i,” i . 34 , 36 . Mommse n, iv . 3 8 3 .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

U t, cum terra levis mediam virgu ltaqu e molemSuspendant

, struc ta late rum compage ligatamArte t humum

, pre ssu s ne ce dat tu rribu s agger .Lucus erat longo numquam violatus ab ae vo ,

Obscurum cinge ns conexis aera ramisE t ge lidas alte summotis sol ibus umbras .Hune non ruricolae Pane s nemorumqu e potentesS i lvani Nymphae qu e tenen t , sed barbara ri tuSacra deum Structae dir is altaribu s arae ,Omnisqu e humanis lustrata cruoribu s arbor .S i qua fidem merui t supe ros mirata vetus tas ,I ll i s e t volucre s me tuunt ins i stere rami sE t lustris re cubare ferae nec ve ntu s i n illaSIncubuit S i lvas e xcussaque nubibus at ri sFulgura non ulli s frondem praebe ntibu s auri sA rboribus suus horror ine st. Tune plurima nigri sFontibus unda cadi t , simulacraque maesta de orumArte e are nt cae sisque e xstant informia truncis .

I pse si tus putriqu e fac i t iam robore pal lorA ttonitos non volgatis sacrata figurisNumina sic m e tuunt tan tum te rroribus addi t

,

Quos time ant, non nosse deos . I am fama fe re batSaepe cavas motu terrae mugire cavernas ,E t procumbe ntis i te rum consurge re taxos ,E t non arde ntis fulgere incendia S i lvae

,

Roboraqu e amplexos circumfluxisse dracones .Non illum cultu popul i propiore frequentant ,Sed ce sse re dei s . Medio cum Phoebus in axe e stAu t caelum nox atra tenet

, pave t ip se sacerdosAcce ssus dominumque t imet depre nde re luci .Hanc inhe t immisso s i lvam procumbe re ferro

Nam vic ina operi be lloqu e intacta p riori

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

I n ter nudatos s tabat de nsissima mon tes .Sed fortes tremue re manus

,motique verenda

Maies tate loci,si robora sacra fe rire nt ,

In sua cre de bant re dituras membra se cu ris .

Implicitas magno Caesar torpore cohortesU t vid i t , primus raptam v ibrare bipe nnemAusus e t ae riam ferro proscinde re que rcumE ff atur merso vi olata in robora ferroIam ne qui s vestrum dubite t subve rte re si lvam ,

Credi te me f e cisse nefas . ” Tune paruit omnis

Impe riis non sublato secura pavoreTurba

,se d e xpe nsa supe rorum e t Cae saris i ra .

Procumbunt orni,nodosa impe llitu r i lex,

Silvaque Dodone s e t fluctibu S aptior alnusE t non ple be ios luctus testata cupressusTune primum posu e re comas e t fronde caren tesAdm ise re d iem ; propulsaque robore densoSustinu it se S i lva e adens . G emu e re videntesG al lorum popul i muri s se d clausa iuven tusExsultat . Quis enim lae sos impune pu tare tEs se deos Servat multos Fo rtuna noce nte s ,

E t tantum mise ris irasci numina possunt.tue sati s cae si nemoris

,quaesi ta per agros

Plaustra fe runt,curvoque sol i ce ssantis aratro

Agricolae rapti s annum fleve re iuve ne is .

Dux tame n impatiens hae suri ad mo e nia Marti sVersus ad Hispanas acie s e xtremaque mundiIussit bella geri . Ste llatis axibu s aggerE rigitur geminasque ae quantis moe nia turris

Acc ip i t hae nullo fixe runt robore te rram,

BOOK MAS S I LIAFel l al l nor spare . But 10 the brawny armsWhich swayed the axes trembled

,and the men

,

Awed b dread terror of the sacred grove,

Held back the blow they thought would be returned .

But Ce sar saw them and was firs t to dareHe se ized an axe and swung down fel l the blowUpon a migh ty oak which towered to heavenAnd as it clove th e desecrated trunkSpake in clear tones Henceforth let no man dreadTo fell th i s fores t all the crime i s mine.This be your creed .

” He spake,and all obeyed

,

For Ce sar ’s i re ou twe ighed the wrath of H eaven .

Yet s till they feared . Then mountai n ash and oak,

Dodona’

s ancien t boas t th e knot ty holmThe cypress

,witness of patrici an gri ef

,

The buoyan t alder,lai d the ir foliage low

,

Admitting day though held by crowding stemsThey hard ly found a passage to the ground .

The Gauls made groan , but those wi th in the wal l sRej oiced for shall men thus insul t the godsAnd find no punishment ? Yet fortune of tProtects th e guilty on the poor aloneThe gods can vent thei r i re . Enough hewn down

,

They seize the country wagons and the hind,

His oxen gone which el se had drawn the p lough,

Mourns for his yearly harvest .

But the ch iefImpat ient of del ay upon the s iegeSpeeds to H ispanian field s and further worlds .

1 They bui ld a fo rt with rad i ating planksAnd towers whose heigh t is equal t o the wallsNot fixed in earth

,the nodding mass crep t on

1 Ca ius T re bon ius was le ft by Ce sar to conduct the s ie ge by land ; wh i le De c imusBrutus was in command of the sh ip s wh ich had be e n col le cted and manne d .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

Sed per i te r longum causa repse re l atenti .Cum tantum nu tare t onus , te lluris inanesConcussisse s inus quae re ntem e rumpe re ve ntum

C re didit e t muros mi rata e st stare i uventu s .Illinc tel a cadunt excel sas urbis in arces .Sed maior Graio Romana i n corpora ferroVi s ine rat . Nec enim sol i s e xcussa lace rtisLancea

,sed tenso bal l i s tae turbine rapta

H aud unum conten ta l atus t ransi re qu ie scitSed pande ns perque arma vi am perque ossa re lic taMorte fugi t supe re st telo post volne ra cursus .At saxum quoti e ns ingen ti ve rbe ris ac tuExcutitu r, qual is rupe s quam verti ce monti sAbscidit impu lsu ve ntorum adiu ta vetus tas ,Frang it cun e ta ru e ns ne e tan tum corpora pressaExanimat totos cum sanguine dissipat artus .U t tame n hosti les densa tes tudine murosTecta subi t vi r tus arm isque inne xa p rioresArma fe runt gale amqu e e xte ntu s pro te git umbo ,Quae pri us e x longo nocu e run t missa re ce ssu ,

I am post terga cadunt n e e Graiis fl e cte re iactum

Aut facil is l abor e st l onginqua ad tel a paratiTormenti mutare modum sed pondere soloContent i nudis e volvunt saxa lace rtis .

Dum fui t armorum seri es,u t grandine tecta

Innocua pe rcussa sonant , Sic omn i a telaR e spuit at postquam vi rtus incerta virorumPerpetuam rupi t defesso mil i te cratem

,

S ingula continu is ce sse runt ictibus arma .

Tune adope rta levi proce dit vinea terra ,Sub cuius plu te is e t tecta fronte IatentesM oliri nunc ima paran t e t vertere fe rroM oe nia nunc ari es suspen so fortior ictuIncussus densi compagem solvere muriTemptat e t impositis unum subduce re saxis .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

Sed super e t flammis e t magnae fragmine mol i sE t sudibus cre bris e t adusti roboris ictuPe rcussae ce dun t crates

,f rustraque labore

Exhausto fessu s repeti r tentori a miles .Summa fui t Grais

,stare nt u t moe nia

, voti .U ltro acies infe rre paran t armisqu e coruscas

Nocturni texe re faces , audaxque iuventusE rupit . Non hasta vi ri s , non le tif e r arcus ,Te lum flamma fui t

,rapie nsqu e incendia ve ntu s

Per Romana tul i t celeri munimina cursu .

N e e, quamvis virid i lucte tur robore , len tas

Igni s agi t vi res,taeda se d rap tu s ab omni

Conse qu itur nigri Spatiosa volumina fumiNcc solum S i lvas

,sed saxa inge ntia solvit,

E t crudae putr i fluxe runt pulvere cau te s .

Procubu it maiorque iace ns apparu it agger .

Spes vict i s t e lluris abi t , placuitqu e profundoFortunam temptare mari . Non robore pictoOrnatas de cuit fulgens tutela cari nas ,Sed rudi s e t qualis procumbit montibu s arborConse r itur, stabilis naval ibus area bell i s .E t i am tu rrige ram B rut i comitata carinam

Ve ne rat i n fluctus Rhodani cum gurgi te class i sSto e chados arva tenen s . N e e non e t Graia iuventusOmne suum fatis volu it committe re roburG randae vosque s enes m ixtis armavit e phe bis .

Accepit non sola vi ros quae s tabat in undi s ,Classi s e t emeri tas repe tunt navalibus aluos .U t matutinos Sparge ns super ae quora PhoebusFregi t aqu is radios e t l iber nubibus aether

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BOOK MASSILIA

And blazing torches overwhelm the frameAnd

,worn wi th empty toi l , the weary troop s

S eek welcome shel ter i n the tent s again .

Thus far the Grecians s trove to hold the townBut now they dared at tack

,and sal l i ed forth

With gli ttering torches for thei r arms by nightNo lance

,nor bow

,nor Shaft for fire alone

IS now thei r weapon . Through the Roman worksFanned by th e wind the furnace spread apaceNor did new wood give pause

,for ruddy tongues

Fed by l ive torches u rged the smoke alongNor beams alone

,bu t - s tones giganti c fel l

And crumbled in to dus t . The migh ty moundLay p rone

,yet in its ru in l arger seemed .

By land defeated,on th e Ocean next

They try thei r fortunes . On their S imp le craftNo painted figure -head adorned the sternNor claimed p rotection from the gods bu t rude

,

Just as they fell upon thei r mountain homes,

The trees were kni t together,and the deck

Gave S teady foot-hold for an ocean figh t .Meanwhile had Ce sar’s squadron left th e RhoneAnd reached w i th B rutus’ 1 turret sh ip the s tra i tBy Ste chas

’ 2 i s l es . Nor less the G rec i an hostB oys not ye t grown to war , and aged men ,Armed for the confl i c t

,with thei r al l at s take .

Nor only di d they marshal for the figh tSh ip s meet for service bu t thei r ancien t keel sB rought from the dockyards . When the morn ing sun

1 Th i s was D e c imus B rutus, an able and tr us te d l ie ute nan t of Ce sar, who made h imone of h i s he i rs in the se cond de gre e . H e , howe ve r , joine d the consp i racy, and i t washe who on the day of the murde r induce d Ce sar to go to the Se nate House . L e s sthan two ye ars l ate r , afte r the s ie ge of Pe rusia, he was de se rte d by his army , take n andput to de ath .

2 Ne ar Toulon , and now c al le d the Ile s d ’

Hyére s .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111.

E t posi to borea pacemque te ne ntibus au strisSe rvatum bel lo iacuit mare , movit ab omniQuisque suam statione ratem , paribusqu e lace rtis

Cae saris hinc puppe s , hinc Graio remige classi sTollitu r impulsae tonsis tremue re carinae ,Cre braqu e sub l imes conve llunt verbera puppe s .

Cornua Romanae class i s validae que t ri remesQuasqu e quater Surge ns e xstru e ti remigis ordoC ommove t e t plu re s quae me rgunt ae quore p inus ,Multiplice s cinxe re rates . H oc robur apertoOppositum pelago . Lunata fron te re ce duntO rdine conte ntae gemino cre visse liburnae .

Ce ls ior at cunctis B rut i prae toria puppisVe rbe ribus seni s agi tur mo lemqu e profundoInvehit e t summis longe peti t ae quora remi s .U t tan tum medi i fu e rat maris , u traque class i s

Quod semel e xcussis posse t transcurre re tonsis ,Innume rae vas to m isce ntur in ae the re voces ,R emorumqu e sonu s premitur clamore , ne e u llae

Andiri potu e re tubae . Tunc cae ru la ve rrunt

Atque in transtra cadunt e t remis pectora pul sant .U t primum rostris crepue runt obvia ros tra ,I n puppim re die re rates

,emissaque tel a

Aera te xe run t vacuumque cade ntia pontum .

E t iam diductis exte ndun t cornua proris ,D ive rsaeque rates laxata classe re ce ptae .

U t,quotiens aestus z e phyris e urisqu e re pugnat ,

H u e abe unt fluctus,il luc mare S i c ub i puppe s

Sulcato varios duxe runt gurgite trac tus,

Quod tul i t i ll a rat i s remis haec re ppulit aequor .Sed Grais habi le s pugnamqu e lace sse re p inusE t temptare fugam ne e l ongo frangere gyroCursum ne e tarde fl e cte nti cedere clavoA t Romana rati s s tab i lem prae be re carinam

C e rtior e t terrae Similem be llant ibus usum .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

Tune in Signife ra res iden t i puppe magistro

B rutus ai t Pate risne aci es errare profundoArtibus e t certas pelagi ? i am conse re bellum ,

Phocaicis medias rostris oppone carinas . ”

Paruit Obliquas e t prae bu it hostibus alnos .

Tunc quae cumque rati s temptavit robora B ruti ,Ictu vie ta suo pe rcussae cap ta cohae sit .Ast al ias manicaeque l igant te re te sque catenae ,Seque tenen t remis tecto s te tit ae quore bel lum .

I am non e xcussis torque ntur tel a lace rtis ,Ncc longinqua cadunt iacu lato volne ra ferro ,M isce nturque manus . Navali plurima bel loEnsi s agi t . S tat quisque suae de robore puppi sPronus in adversos ictu s nul lique p e rempti

I n ratibus ce cide re su i s . Cruor al tu s in undaSpumat

,e t obduc ti concreto sanguine fluctus .

E t quas immissi traxe runt vi ncula ferri ,Has prohibent iungi conserta cadave ra puppe s .

Sem ianime s al i i vas tum subie re profundumH ause runtque suo pe rmixtum sanguine pontum .

Hi luctantem animam lenta cum morte trahe nte sFractarum subi ta ratium pe rie re ruina .I rri ta tela suas pe ragunt in gurgite cae de sE t quodcumque cadi t frustrato pondere ferrum ,

Exceptum medi i s inveni t vo lnuS in undi s .Phocaicis Romana rati s val lata carinis

Robore d iducto dextrum laevumque tu e turAequo Marte l atus cuius dum pugnat ab al taPuppe Tagus G raiumqu e audax aplus tre re te ntat ,Terga simul pari ter mi ssi s e t pectora tel i sTransigitu r medio Concurrit pectore ferrum ,

E t ste tit ince rtuS, flue re t quo volne re , sanguis ,Donec u trasqu e s imul largus cruor e xpulit bastas 590

Divisitqu e animam sparsitqu e i n volne ra le tum .

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BOOK MASS ILIA

Then B rutus to the pi lot on the s ternDost suff er them to range the wider deepVie wi th the foe i n tactics of the se aDraw close and drive us broadside on the prowsOf these Phoce ans .

” H im the pi lo t heardAnd turned his vessel s l an twise to the foe .Then was the se a al l covered w i th the warThen Grecian sh ip s at tacking B ru tus foundTheir ruin in the stroke

,and capt ive lay

B es ide his bulwarks . Some with hooks and chain sThe Romans grapple

,by entangled oars

Themselves held back . And now no outstretchedarm

Hurls forth th e j avelin,but sword i n hand

They wage a naval figh t each from his ShipLeans forth to meet the s troke

,and fal l s when Sl ain

Upon a foeman ’ s deck . Deep flows the streamOf purp l e bl ood to choke the foaming se aBy p i l es of floating corp ses are the S ides

,

Though grapp led,kept asunder. Some

,half dead

,

Plunge in th e ocean,gulping down the brine

Encrimsoned w i th thei r blood some lingering sti l lDraw thei r l as t s truggl ing breath amid the wreckOf broken navies weapons which have m i s sedFind yet thei r vict ims

,and the fal l ing stee l

Fai l s no t in middle deep to deal the wound .

One vessel c i rcl ed by Phoce an keelsDivi des her Strength

,and on the righ t and left

With equal war contend s on whose h igh poop ,While Tagus figh ting gripped the Grec i an stern ,Two fatal dart s p i erced th rough h i s back and breastThe steel me t in the mids t arrested s toodThe purple blood

,uncertain where to flow ,

Til l w i th a gush i t drove each weapon forth ,And l ife d ivided fled through ei ther wound .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

Dirigit huc puppim miseri quoque dextra Te lonis ,Qua nu llam mel ius pelago turbante carinaeAudive re manum nec lux e st notior ul l iC rastina

,se u Phoe bum vide at, se u cornua lunae ,

Semper venturi s componere carbasa ven tis .Hic Latiae rostro compagem rupe rat aln iPi l a se d in medium venere trementia pectus

,

Ave rtitque ratem morie ntis dextra magistri .

Dum cupi t i n sociam Gyare us erepere puppem ,

Excipit immissum su spensa per i l i a ferrumAdfixusque rat i telo retinente pependit .

S tan t gemini fratres,fe cundae gloria matri s

,

Quos eadem variis ge nu e runt viscera fati s .Discrevit mors saeva v i ros , unumqu e re l ictum

Agnorunt miseri sublato errore paren tes ,A e te rnis causam lacrimis tene t i l l e doloremSemper e t amissum f ratrem luge ntibus off ert.Quorum al ter m ixtis obliquo pect ine remisAnsus Romanae Graia de puppe carinaeInie ctare manum se d eam gravis insuper i ctusAmputat i lla tame n nisu

,quo pre nde rat, hae sit,

De riguitque tenens strictis immortua nervi s .Crevit in adve rsis vi rtus p lus nobi l i s i raeTruncus habet fortique instaurat proe l ia laeva ,Rapturusque suam procumbit in ae quora de xtramHaec quoque cum toto manus e st abscisa l acerto .

l am clupe o te lisqu e caren s non conditu r imaPuppe

,se d exposi tus f rate rnaqu e pectore nudo

Arma te ge ns crebra confixus cuspide pe rstatTe laque multorum le to casura suorumEmeri ta i am morte tenet . Tum volne re multoE ffugientem animam lassos colle git i n artusM embraque conte ndit toto qu icumque manehatSanguine , e t hostil em de f e ctis robore membri s

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

Insiluit, solo nociturus pondere , puppem.

S trage vi rum cumulata rati s multoqu e cruorePlena per obliquum cre bros l a tus acc ip i t i c tus ,E t postquam ruptis pe lagus compagibus hau sit,Ad summos repleta foros , descendi t i n undasVicinum involve ns contorto vertice pontum .

A e quora d isce dunt mersa diducta carina ,Inqu e l ocum puppi s ce cidit mare .

Multaqu e pontoPraebuit i lle d ies varii miracula fat i .Ferrea dum puppi rapidos manus inscri t uncos ,Adfixit Lycidan. M e rsus foret i ll e profundo ,Sed proh ibent soci i suspe nsaque crura retentant .Scinditur avolsus

,ne e S i e u t volne re s angui s

Emicuit le ntus ruptis cadi t undique ve nis

D iscursusqu e animae divers a i n membra m e antis

Inte rceptus aquis . Null ius vi ta pe remptiE st t an ta dimissa via . Pars ul t ima trunciTradidit i n le tum vacuos vitalibus artusAt tumidus qua pulmo iace t , qua v i scera ferven t ,H ae se runt ib i fata d iu luctataque multumHac cum parte v i ri vix omnia membra tule runt .Dum nimium pugnax unius turba carinaeIncumbit prono lateri vacuamque re linqu it

Qua care t hoste ratem,congesto pondere pupp i s

Versa cava texit pe lagus nautasqu e carina ,Bracchia ne e licu it vas to iactare p rofundo ,Sed clauso pe rie re mari . Tune unica di riConspe cta e st let i faci es

,cum forte natantem

D ive rsae rostris iuve nem fixe re carinaeDisce ssit medium tam vastos pec tus ad ictus

,

Ncc prohibe re valent obtritis ossibus artus ,Quo m inus aera sone nt el i so ven tre per ora

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BOOK MASS ILIA

Leap s on the foeman ’s deck by weigh t aloneTo work them harm for s treaming down wi th goreAnd pi led on high with corp ses

,while her S ides

Sounded to ceaseless b lows,the fated sh ip

Let in the greedy brine unti l her waysWere level with the waters— then she p l ungedIn whi rl ing eddies downwards—and the mainFi rs t parted

,then c l osed in upon its prey .

Ful l many wondrous death s,w i th fates d iverse

,

Upon the se a in that day ’s figh t befell .Caught by a grappl ing-hook that missed the S i de

,

Had Lyc idas been whelmed in middl e deepBut by his fee t his comrades dragged h im back ,And rent i n twai n h e hung nor Slowly flowedA S from a wound the blood bu t al l h i s veins 1

Were torn asunder and the s tream of l ifeGushed th rough his l imbs ti l l l os t amid the waves .From no man dying has the v i tal b reathRushed by so wide a path the lower trunkSuccumbed to death

,but wi th the lungs and heart

Long strove the fates,and hardly won the whole .

Wh i le,bent upon the figh t

,an eager c rew

Were gathered to the margin of thei r deck(Leaving the upper S i de as bare of foes) ,Thei r sh ip

,cap s izing ’neath its keel upturned ,

Shut in the crew and sea,whose pri soned waves

Were death,for none were free to Spread th ei r arms

And dare th e Ocean . One who hap ly swamAmid th e battle

,chanced upon a death

Strange and unheard of for two meet ing p rowsTransfixe d h is body . At the double s trokeW i de yawns h is ches t b lood i s sues from his mouthW i th flesh commingled and the brazen beaks

1 According to som e the se we re the l ine s which Lucan re c ite d wh i le ble e d ing tode ath ; accord ing to othe r s, those at Book IX . ,

l ine 8 99 .

1 5 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK 111 .

E ie ctat saniem permixtus v i scere sangu i s .Postquam i nh ibent remis puppe s ac rostra re ce duntDe ie ctum i n pe lagu s pe rfosso pectore co rpusVolne ribus transmisit aquas . Pars maxima turbaeNaufraga iactatis morti obluctata lace rtisPupp i s ad auxil ium sociae concurrit at i lli

,

Robora cum ve titis pre nsare nt al t ius ulnisNutare tque rati s populo peri tura recep to ,Impia turba super medios fe rit ense lace rtosBracchia linque nte s Graia pe nde ntia puppeA manibus ce cide re su i s. Non amplius undaeSustinu e re graves in summo gurgi te truncos .

l amqu e omni mis nudato mi l i te teli sI nveni t arma furor remum contorsit in b ostemAlter

,at hie tortum validis ap lust re lace rtis

,

Avo lsasque rotant expul so remige sedesIn pugnam f re ge re rates . Side ntia pe ssum

Corpora caesa tenent spoliantque cadave ra ferro .

Multi inopes tel i iaculum l etale revolsumVoln e ribus traxe re su i s , e t vi scera laevaOppre sse re manu , val idos dum prae be at i c tu sSangui s e t hostilem cum torse rit, exeat , bastam .

Nulla tame n plure s hoc e didit ae quore clades ,Quam pelago diversa lues . Nam pinguibus ign i sAdfixus tae dis e t tecto sulpure vivaxSpargitur at faci les prae be re al imenta carinaeNunc p ice

,nunc l iquida rapue re incendia cera .

Ne c flammas supe rant undae , sparsisque per aequorI am ratibu s fragmenta ferus sib i Vindicat igni s .H ie re cipit fluctus, e xtinguat ut ae quore flammas

,

Hi , ne me rgantur, tabul i s arde ntibus haeren t .Mil le modos inter le ti mors una t imori e st

,

Qua coe pe re mori . Ncc ce ssat n aufraga vi rtusTela le gunt de ie cta mari ratibusque mini stran tInce rtasqu e manus ictu languente per undas

1 5 2

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PHARSAL IA [BOOK 111.

Exercen t . Nunc,rara datur S i cop i a ferri ,

U tuntur pelago . Sae vus comple ctitu r bostemHostis

,e t implicitis gaudent subside re membri s ,

M e rge nte squ e mori . Pugna fui t unus in i l laEximius Phoce us animam servare sub undi sScrutarique fretum ,

S i quid m e rsisse t harenis ,E t nimis adfixos unci convelle re morsus ,Adductum quotiens non se nse rat ancora funem .

H ie ubi compre ssum penitus de duxe rat hos tem ,

Vic to r e t incolumis summas reme abat i n un das .Sed se per vacuos credi t dum surgere fluctus ,Puppibu s occurri t tand emque sub a e quore mansit.

Hi super hosti les ie ce runt bracch ia remosE t ratium te nu e re fugam . Non perdere le tumMaxima cura fui t mul tus sua vo lne ra puppi

Adfixit moriens e t rostris abstulit i c tus .Stantem subl imi Tyrrhenum culmine prorae

Lygdamus , e xcussa Bale aris to rtor habe naeGlande pe te ns s ol ido fregi t cava tempora plumbo .

Se dibus expu lsi, postquam cruor omn ia rup i tVincula, procumbunt ocul i s tat lumine rap toA ttonitus mortisque i l l as putat esse te ne bras.At postquam membri s se nsit cons tare vigorem ,

Vos ,” ai t o soc i i

,S ie ut tormenta sole tis,

Me quoque mitte ndis rec tum componite tel i s .Egere , quod supe re st animae , Tyrrhene , per omnis

Be l lorum casus . Inge ntem militis usumH oc habet ex magna de functum parte cadaverVive ntis fe rie re loco . S ic fatus i n b ostemCaeca tela manu, se d non ramen i rri ta , mittit.Excipit haec iuve nis generos i sanguin i s Argus ,

1 54

BOOK MASS ILIA

The fal len darts and reach them to the sh ip sO r aim some feeble s troke . Should weapons fai lThey use the se a foe seizes upon foeIn savage j oy

,and winding round h i s l imbs

Drags h im to mutual death . But on that dayPhoce us above al l others p roved hi s ski l l .Wel l t rained was h e to d ive beneath the mainAnd scan for sunken tackl e of his sh ipThe s andy dep th s

,or se t some anchor free

Too fi rm ly b i t ing on a stra ining rope .Now had h e dragged a vic t im down to deathAnd v ic to r rose , when on a keel he s truck .

So Ocean claimed h im for her own at length .Some , drowning, s eized a hosti l e oar and checkedThe flying vesse l not to di e in vain

,

Their S ingle care some on the vesse l ’s s ideHanging in death

,essayed to check the prow.

Tyrrhe nus h igh upon his Ship was S truckBy l eaden bol t from Baleari c sl ingOf Lygdamus S t raigh t th rough h i s temp les passedThe fated m i ss i l e and in s treams of bloodForced from the i r seats h i s t rembl ing eyebal l s fel l .Plunged in a darkness as of nigh t , he though tThat l ife had left h im yet ere long he knewThe l ivi ng vigour of his l imbs and c ried ,Place me

,0 fri ends

,as some mach ine of war

St raigh t facing toward s the foe then shal l my dartsS trike as of old and thou

,Tyrrhe nus , spend

Thy l ates t b reath,s ti ll left

,upon the figh t

So sh alt thou p l ay,not whol ly dead

,the part

That fits a soldie r,and the spear that S trikes

Thy frame,shal l m i ss the l iving . Thus he spake ,

And hurled his j avel in , bl ind , but not in vainFor Argus

,generous youth of noble blood ,

Below the midd l e wai s t receive d the spear1 55

PHARSAL IA [BOOK 111 .

Qua i am non medius descendi t i n i l i a venter ,Adiuvitqu e suo procumbens pondere ferrum .

S tabat diversa vie tae iam parte carinaeInfe l ix Argi gen ito r non i lle iuve ntaeTempore Phocaic is ul l i ce ssuru s i n armisVictum aevo robur ce cidit , fe ssusque se ne cta

Exemplum,non miles erat qu i funere vi so

Saepe e aden s longae sen i or per transtra carinae'

Pe rve nit ad puppim spirantisque i nven i t artus .Non lac rimae ce cide re geni s , non pectora tund it,D iste ntis to to rigu it se d corpore palmis .

Nox subi t,atque oculos vastae obduxe re tenebrae ,

E t mise rum ce rne ns agnosce re de sinit A rgum .

I l le caput labens e t i am langu e ntia col laViso patre leva r vox fauces nul la solutasProsequitur tac i to tan tum peti t oscula voltuInvitatqu e patri s claude nda ad lum ina dextram.

U t torpore senex caru it vire squ e c ruentu sCoepit habere dolor , Non pe rdam tempora dixi t ,A saevis pe rmissa dei s iugulumque sen i lem

Confodiam . Veni am misero concede paren ti ,Arge

,quod amplexus

,extrema quod oscula fugi .

Nondum de stitu it cal idus tu a vo lne ra sanguis ,Semianimisqu e iace s e t adhuc potes esse supe rste s .

S ic fatus, quamvis capulum per viscera mis s i

Pollu e rat gladi i,tamem al ta sub ae quora tendi t

Prae c ipiti sal tu le tum prae ce de re nat iFe stinantem animam morti non cre didit uni .Inc l i nan t iam fata ducum ,

ne e i am amplius ancep sBell i casus erat . Graiae pars maxima class i sM e rgitur , ast al i ac mutato rem ige puppe sV ictore s ve xe re suos naval ia paucae

p

1 I t was re ckoned a gre a t misfortune for a ch i l d to die be fore i t s pare n t . S e e MrHask ins’ note to th is passage . I t was a par t of the duty of ch i ldre n and he i r s to offe rsac rifice to the shade s of the i r pare n ts, who we re the D i i mane s .

”

1 56

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PHARSALIA [BOOK 111.

Prae cipiti te nu e re fuga . Quis in urbe pare ntumPle tus erat quanti matrum per litora pl anctusConiunx sae pe s u i confusis voltibus undaCre didit Ora v i ri Romanum amplexa cadaver ,A cce nsisque rogis miseri de corpore truncoC e rtave re patres . At B rutus in aequore v ictorPrimus Cae sare is pelagi decus addidit arm i s .

BOOK MAS S ILIAWhat tears of paren ts for the i r off spring slain

,

How wept th e mothers ’Mid the pi le con fuse dOfttimes the wi fe sought madly for her spouseAnd chose for her las t ki ss some Roman S lai nWhile wre tched fathers by the blazing pyresFought for the dead . But Brutus thus at se aFirs t gained a triumph for great Ce sar ’s arms . 1

1 I t was B rutus who gaine d the naval v ictory ove r the Ve ne t i some se ve n ye ars be forethe fi rs t naval fight, that we know of, fough t i n the At l an tic O ce an .

1 59

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M . ANNAB I LVCANI

DE BELLO C IV IL I

LIBER QVARTVS

AT procul extremis te rrarum Caesar i n orisM artem sae vu s agi t , non multa cae de noce ntem

,

Maxima sed fat i ducibus momenta datu rum .

I ure pari rector castris A fran ius i l l i sAc Pe tre iu s erat concord ia duxit in acquasImperium commune vi ces

,tute laque vall i

Pe rvigil al terno paret custodia S i gno .

His praeter Lat i as aci es era t impige r AsturVe tton e sque l eves pro fugique a gente vetus taGallorum C e l tae misce nte s nomen H ibe ris .

Col le tume t modico le niqu e e xcrevit in al tumPingue solum tumulo super hune fundata vetustaSurgi t Ile rda manu placidis prae labitur undisH esperios in ter Sicoris non ul timus amnes

,

Saxe us ingent i quem pons ample ctitur are uHibernas passu ru s aquas . A t proxima t upesS igna tene t Magni nec Caesar col le minoreCastra levat me diuS dirimit ten tori a gurges .Expl icat hin e tel lus campos e ff usa paten t i sVix oculo prendente modum ,

camposque coere ct

1 6 2

BOOK IV

CZESAR IN SPA IN— WAR IN THE ADRIAT ICSEA— DEATH OF CUR IO

BUT i n the dis tan t regions of the earthF i erce Ce sar warring

,though i n fight he dealt

No baneful S laugh ter,hastened on the doom

To sw ift fulfi lment . There on Magnus ’ S id eAfranius and Pe tre ius 1 held command

,

Who ruled alternate,and the rampart guard

Obeyed the s tandard of each chief i n turn .

There with the Romans in the camp were j oinedAsturi ans 2 swift

,and Ve ttons l igh t ly armed ,

And Cel ts who,exi led from thei r ancien t home

,

H ad j oined Ibe rus to th ei r former name .

A gen tle sl op e ascend s,and ri ch the soi l

Where old Ile rda “ S tands bes ide her gl idesNot l eas t of western rivers

,Sicoris

Of placid curren t,by a m ighty arch

Of S tone embraced,wh i ch Shal l not be swep t down

By S torms of winter . From a summit nearWaved Magnus ’ s tandard s Ce sar ’ s on a h ill ,Rival l ing the firs t and i n the midst a s tream .

Here boundless p l ain s are spread beyond the range 20

1 Both of the se ge ne ral s we re able and d ist inguishe d oflice rs . Pe tre ius had de fe ate dCat i l ine . A franius w as s lain by Ce sar ’ s sold ie r s afte r the batt le of Thap sus. Pe tre ius,afte r the s ame batt le

,e scape d along w ith Juba ; and fai l ing to find a re fuge , the y

chal le nged e ach o the r to fight . Pe tre ius was k i l le d, and Juba, the surv ivor, pu t an e ndto h imse l f.

2 The se are the name s of Span ish tr ibe s . The Ce l t ibe r i dwe l t on the Ibe rus (Ebro) .3 L e r ida, on the r i ve r Se gre

,above i t s junct ion w ith the E bro . C inga i s the mode rn

C inca, and S icoris i s the mode r n S e gre , in to wh ich i t fal l s .1 6 3

PHARSAL IA [BOOK Iv .

Cinga rapax ,ve titus fluctus e t litora cursu

Ocean i pe pulisse suo nam gurgi te mixtoQui prae stat terri s aufe rt tib i nomen H ibe rus .

Prima dies bel li cessavi t Marte cruento ,Spe ctandasque ducum vi res nume rosaque S ignaExposuit piguit sce l e ris pudor arma fure ntumContinu it patriae que e t ruptis legibus unumDonave re diem . Prono tum Caesar OlympoI n noctem subi t a circumde dit agmina fossa ,Dum p rimae p e rstant ac i es , hostemque fe fe llitE t prope conse rtis obduxit castra manipl is .

Luce nova col lem subi to consce nde re cursu ,Qui medius tutam castris d irime bat Ile rdam ,

Impe rat . H ue hostem pari ter te rro rqu e pudorqueImpul it , e t rapto tumulum prio r agm ine cep i t .His virtus fe rrumqu e locum promittit , at i l li sIpse locus . Miles rupe s one ratus i n altasNititur adve rsoque acie s i n monte Supin aH ae re t e t i n tergum casura umbone se que ntisE rigitur . Null i telam v ib rare vacabatDum labat e t fixo firmat vest igia pi lo ,Dum scopulos stirpe squ e tenen t atque hoste re lictoCae dunt ense v i am . Vidi t lapsura ru inaAgmina dux e qu itemque iube t succedere belloMunitumque l atu s laevo prae duce re gyro .

S ic pe des ex fac i l i nu lloqu e urgente re ceptus ,Irritus e t victor subducto Marte pe pe ndit .

H actenus armorum di scrimina cetera belloFata ded i t variis ince rtus motibus aer .Pigro bruma gelu Siccisque aqu ilonibu s hae re ns

A e the re constricto pluvias i n nube te ne bat .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

U re bant montana nives camposqu e iace nte sNon du raturae conspecto sole pru inaeAtque omnis propior m e rge n ti s idera cacloA ru e rat tellus h iberno dura sereno .

Sed postquam ve rnus cal idum Ti tana re ce pit

S idera re spicie ns de lapsae port i tor Hel les ,Atque i te rum ae quatis ad iustae pondera LibraeTemporibus vi cere dies tune sole re l ictoCynth ia

,quo primum cornu dubitanda re fu lsit,

1Exclusit borean flammasque acce pit ab euro .

I l l e suo nubes quascumqu e i nveni t in axe ,Torsit in occiduum Nabatae is flatibus orhemE t quas sen ti t Arabs e t quas Gangeti ca tel lu sExhalat nebulas

, qu idqu id concrescere primusS ol pati tur

, qu idqu id caeli fuscator coiImpule rat Caurus , quidqu id d e f e nde rat I ndos .Incendere diem nubes ori en te remotae

,

N e e medio potu e re graves incumbe re mundo ,Sed nimbos rapu e re fuga . Vacat imbribus arctosE t notus , i n solam Calp e n fluit umidus aer .H i c ubi i am z ephyri fines e t summus OlympiCardo tenet T e thyn , ve titae transcurre re densosInvolvere globos conge stumqu e acri s atriVix re cipit spatium quod separat ae the re te rram .

l amque polo press ac l argos de nsantur i n imbre sSpissatae que fluunt nec servant fulmina flammas

Quamvis creb ra m ice nt moriuntur fulgura nimbis .

Hine imperfec to comple ctitur aera gyroArcus vix ull a variatu s luce colorem

1 This d ifficul t passage se ems to in te nd tha t the e as te rn w i nd d rove be fore i t al l thec l ouds and vapour gathe re d in that quarte r

,le av ing the burn ing sun of the e as t unve i le d ;

and that the c louds pas se d onward to the Span i sh coun t r ie s,whe r e the l im i t se t by the

we ste rn be l t of the he ave ns compe l led th em to pause and fal l in torre n ts . Calpe i s puti n the te xt for Spa in ge ne ral l y . The me an ing of the we s te rn be l t i s ful l y d iscussedby Mr Hask ins and by Mr He it land . The phrase i s aga in found in Book V . 72 andBook VII. 3 8 1 .

1 6 6

BOOK Iv . ] CfESAR IN SPAINMountains were n ipped wi th snow, and lower plainsBy frosts that fled before the ri s ing sun

And al l the l and,there nearer to the sky

1

That whelms the s tars , was h ard and arid grownBy suns of winter . But when Ti tan n e are dThe Ram who backward gazing on the s tarsB ore peri shed Helle

,

2 and the hours were heldI n balance

,and the days again prevai led

,

A crescent moon wh i ch , parting from the sun ,

Yet hardly grew,Shu t ou t the northern blas t

Bu t from the eas tern wind his fervour took,

Who hasting wes tward swep t along the mis tsAssembled in h is cl ime al l that th e sunUpri s ing gathers by Arabian coas ts

,

O r Shroud the Ganges banks,or Caurus cas t s

On O rien t sk ies to ve i l the land of Ind .

B eh ind them flamed the cloud l ess eas tern day.

Nor yet descended on the m iddle earthThe fly ing masses to th ’

Ibe rian l andThe storm sweep s on . There where the western bel tHold s back the ocean , and forbids to pass ,The c louds make pause in mountains huge convolved ;The murky ai r scarce holds them which dividesEarth from the heaven , t i l l weighted by the skyCondensed i n floods they tumble to the groundPale lightn ings flash

,but peri sh as they gleam

The thunderbol t is quenched in cataractsA watery arch , of colour scarcely hued ,Of shape imperfec t , grip s the a iry space ,

1 Me an ing Spain , ly ing far the r to the we s t than I taly .2 Ph r ixus and He l le , the ch i ldre n of Ne phe le , we re to be sac rifice d to Z e us ; but

Ne phe le r e scue d them , and th e y rode away th rough the air on the R am w ith the golde nfle e ce . But He l le fe l l in to the se a, wh ich fr om he r was name d the He l le spon t . ( Se eBook IX . The sun e n te r s Arie s about March 20. The Ram is picture d amongthe cons te l l at ions w ith h i s he ad ave rse .

1 67

PHARSALIA [BOOK IV .

Oce anumque bibi t , raptosque ad nubi l a fluc tusPe rtulit , e t caclo de fusum re ddidit aequor .l amque Pyre nae ae , quas numquam solvere Ti tan

Evaluit , fluxe re nives , fractoqu e made scunt

Saxa gelu . Tum ,quae solitiS e font ibus exi t

,

Non habe t unda vias tam largas alveus omnis

A ripis accepit aquas . I am naufraga campoCae saris arma natan t , impulsaque gurgi te mul toCas tra labant alto re stagnant flumina val lo .

Non pe corum rap tu s faci les , non pabula mers iUlla f e runt sulci te ctarum errore viarumFallitur occultis sparsus populator in agri s .l amqu e comes semper magnorum p rima malo rum

Saeva fames aderat nulloqu e obse ssus ab hosteMi les eget toto censu non prodigus emitExiguam C e re rem . Pro lucri pall ida tabesNon dees t prol ato ie iunus vendi tor auro .

I am tumul i colle squ e latent iam flumina cune taCondidit una palus vastaqu e voragine me rsit .

Absorpsit pe nitu s rupe s ac tecta fe rarumD e tulit atque ipsas hausit subitisqu e freme ntis

Vorticibus contorsit aquas e t re ppul it aes tu sFortior oceani . Nec Phoebum surgere sent i tNox subje cta polo rerum discrimina misce tDe formis cael i facie s iunctae qu e teneb rae .S ic mundi pars ima iace t quam zona nivali sPe rpe tuae que premunt hieme s non S idera cacloUlla vi det

,S teri li non quidquam frigore gignit,

Sed glacie medios signorum tempe rat ignes .S ic

,o summe parens mundi

,S i c sor te secunda

Acquorei rector facias,Neptune

, tride ntis

E t tu pe rpe tuis imp endas aera nimbisTu reme are vetes , quoscumque emise ris

,aestus.

Non habe ant amnes decl ivem ad litora cursum,

1 68

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PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

Sed pelagi re fe rantu r aqu is , concussaqu e te l lusLaxe t i te r fluviis hos campos Rhe nus inunde t

,

Hos Rhodanus vastos obl i quent flum ina fontes .Rhipae as hue solve n ive s , huc S tagna lae usqu eE t pigras ubicumqu e iace n t e ff unde paludesE t miseras bell i s c ivilibu s e ripe terras .

Sed parvo Fortuna vi ri con tenta pavorePlena redi t

,solitoque m agi s fave re se cundi

E t veniam me rue re dei . I am ra rior aerE t par Phoebus aqu is de nsas in vel lera nubesSparse rat, e t nocte s ven tura luc e rubeban t

Se rvatoqu e l oco rerum disce ssit ab as tri sUmor e t ima pet i t quidqu id pe nde bat aquarum .

Tollere S i lva comas,stagnis emergere colles

Incipiun t visoque d ie du re sce re valle s .tue habui t ri pas Sicoris camposque re l iqu it,

Primum cana sal ix mad e facto vimine parvamTe xitur in puppim,

cae soque inducta iuve nco

V e c toris pat ien s tumidum supe re natat amnem .

S i c Ve ne tus s tagnante Pado fu soque1 B ri tannus

Navigat oceano ; Sic cum t e net omnia N i lu sConse ritur bibul a M emphitis cumba papyro .

H i s ratibus transie cta In anus f e stinat utrimqu e

Succisum curvare nemus fluviique f e rocis

I ncrementa tim e ns non pr imis robora ripis

Imposui t medios pontem distendi t in agros .Ac ne quid Sicoris re pe titis aude at undi s ,Spargitur i n sulcos e t sc i sso gurgi te rivi sDat poe nas maioris aquae . Po stquam omni a fati sCae saris i re videt , ce lsam Pe tre ius Ile rdam

1 Fuso e i the r spac ious , outspre ad ; or, poure d in to the l and ( re fe r r ing to thee s tuarie s ) as Mr Hask ins pr e fe rs ; or

,pour e d round the i s land . Por table le athe rn sk iff s

se em to have be e n in common use in Ce sar ’ s t ime in the E ngl i sh Channe l . The se we rethe row ing boat s of the Gaul s . (Momms e n , vol . iv .

170

BOOK Iv. ] CfESAR IN SPAIN

Thy Shores no longer reach ing and th e e arth,

Shaken,make way for floods . L e t Rhine o ’

e rflow

And Rhone their banks le t torrents sp read afieldUnmeasured waters me l t Rhipe an snowsSp read s tagnant l akes and seas upon the land

,

And snatch the groan ing world from civi l war .

Thus for a moment Fortune t ried her sonWith presen t fears then smi l ing to h is partReturned the gods gained pardon for the pas tBy greater favours . For the ai r was nowMore cl ear

,and Phe bus

,s ca tte ring the clouds

,

Coped wi th the waters and the reddening eas tProclaim e d the coming day the land resumedIts ancien t marks no more about the s tarsThe moistu re hung

,but sough t its lowl ie r home .

The fores ts ro se,the hi l l s emerged to view

And ’neath the warmth of day the p lains grew firm .

When Sicoris kep t his banks,the Shal lop l igh t

Of hoary wi llow bark they build,which ben t

On h ide s of oxen,bears the weigh t of man

And swims the torren t . Thu s on sluggish PoVenet i ans float and on th ’

e nc ircling se a

Are B ri ton s borne and Ski ff s of th i rs ty reedsSwim on his flood when Nile i s on the land .

The farther bank thus gained,they haste to curve

The fal len fores t,and to form the arch

By which imperiou s Sicoris sh al l be spanned .

Yet fearing he migh t ri se i n wrath anew,

No t on the nearest marge they p l ace the beams,

B u t in mid-fie ld . Thus the p resumptuous streamThey tame wi th chast i sement

,parting his flood

In dev iou s channel s ou t and curb h i s p ride .Pe tre ius, see ing that al l th ings gave way

To Ce sar’ s dest i ny , l eaves Ile rda’

s S teep ,17 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK IV .

De se rit e t noti diffisus viribus orbisIndom itos quae rit populos e t semper in armaMarti s amore feros

,e t tendi t i n ult ima mundi .

Nudato s Caesar col le s de se rtaque castraConspicie ns cap e re arma iube t nec quae re re pon temNec vada

,se d duri s fluvium superare lace rtis .

Pare tu r rapu itqu e ru e ns i n pro e lia mile s ,Quod fugie ns timuisse t

,i te r . M ox uda re ce ptis

Membra fovent armis ge l ido squ e a gurgite cursuR e stituunt artus , done c de cre sce re t umbraI n medium su rge nte d ie iamque agmina summaCarpit eques , dubiiqu e fugae pugnae que te ne ntur .

Attollunt campo geminae iuga saxe a rupe S

Val le cava medi a t e l lus hinc ardua ce lsosContinuat col les tutae quos inte r opacoAnfractu latu e re viae quibus hoste pot i toFaucibus emitti te rrarum i n devia M artem

Inqu e feras gentes Caesar videt . Ite S in e uIlo

O rdine ait raptumque fuga convert i te bellumE t faciem pugnac voltusqu e i nferte m inace s,N e e l ice at pavidis ignava occumbe re morteExcipiant recto fugie nte s pectore ferrum .

”

Dixi t e t ad mon tes te ndentem praeve nit bostem .

Illic exiguo paulum d istan t ia val loCastra locant . Postquam spat io langue ntia nul loMutua conspicuos habue runt lumina vol tus ,E t fratres natosque suos vide re patre sque ,De pre nsum e st c ivi l e nefas . Te nue re parumpe r

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PHARSAL IA [BOOK Iv .

O ra metu , tantum nutu motoque salutantEnse suos mox ut s timul i s maioribu s ardensRupi t amor leges

,aude t transcendere val lum

Mi les,i n amp lexus e ff usas tendere palmas .

H ospitis i ll e cie t nomen , vocat i lle propinquum ,

Admone t hun e studiis consors pu e rilibus aetasN e e Romanus erat qu i non agnove rat b ostem .

Arma rigant lacrim is, Singultibus oscula rumpunt ,E t quamvis nul lo maculatus s angu ine miles ,Quae po tu it f e cisse , t imet . Quid pectora pul sas ?Quid

,vae sane

, gemis ? fle tu s quid fundis inanesNec te sponte tua s cel eri parere fate ris ?Usque ade one t imes

,quem tu facis ip se time ndum ?

Classica den t bel lo saevos tu negl ige cantusS igna fe ran t cessa iamiam civi li s ErinysConcid e t

,e t Caesar ge ne rum privatus amabit .

Nunc ades,ae te rno compl e cte ns omnia nexu ,

O rerum mixtiqu e salus concordia mundiE t sacer o rbi s amor magnum nunc saecul a nost ra 1Venturi discrime n habent . Pe rie re late brae

Tot sce l e rum,populo ven ia e st e repta nocenti

Agnove re suos . Pro numine fata s in i st roExigua requie tan tas auge ntia cl adesPax erat

, e t mile s castris permixtus u trisqu eE rrabat duro concordes cae spite mensasInstituunt

,e t pe rm ix to libamina Baccho

G ramine is fluxe re focis iunctoqu e cubili

Extrahit insomn e s be l lorum fabul a nocte s 200

Quo primum s te te rin t campo,qua lancea dextra

Exie rit . Dum,quae ge sse runt fort i a , iactant,

E t dum multa ne gant , quod solum fata pe tebant ,1 Sae cul a nos tra may re fe r e i the r to L ucan

’

s own t ime or to the mome n t ar r i veda t in the poem ; or i t may, as F rancken sugge sts, have a more ge ne ral me aning .

I74

BOOK Iv . ] CZESAR IN SPAIN

To leap the rampart each wi th hand outstre tched 1

Embraces hand of foeman , palm in palmOne cal l s by name h is neighbour

,one h is host

,

Another wi th h i s s choolmate talks againOf olden S tudies he who in th e campFound not a comrade , was no son of Rome .W e t are the i r arms w i th tears , and sobs break inUpon thei r kisses each , unstained by blood ,Dreads what he might have done . Why beat thy breastWhy

,madman

,weep The guil t i s th in e alone

To do or to abstain . Dost fear the manWho takes h is ti t l e to be feared from thee PHeed not the charge when Ce sar ’ s t rumpets soundHal t at thei r cal l thu s civ i l rage shal l cease

,

And private Ce sar love h i s kin again .

Come,holy Love

,whose sacred bonds embrace 200

The kni tted fabric of th e universe ICome

,gentl e Concord these our times do now

For good or evi l dest iny controlThe coming cen turi es Ah

,cruel fate

Now have the people lost th ei r cloak for crimeThei r hop e of pardon . They have known thei r kin .

Woe for the resp i te given by th e godsMaking more black the h ideous gui lt to come 1Now all was peaceful

,and i n e i ther camp

Sweet conve rse held the sold iers on the gras s 2 1 0

They place the meal,and pour the mingled cup

B righ t glows the turf upon the friend ly fi reOn mutual couch th ey whi le the nigh t awayWith s to ries of thei r figh ts from whose right handThe lance was sped

,where fi rs t the batt l e s tood .

They boas t and chal lenge prowess i n the war,1 Compare the pa s sage i n Tac itus, “ Hi st . , 11. 4 5 , in which the h i s torian de sc r ibe show the t roop s of O tho and V i te l l ius we pt ove r e ach o the r afte r the batt le and de p l ore d

the m ise rie s of a c ivil war . V ie t i victore sque in lacrumas e ff usi , sortem civilium armorum

mise ri le t itié d e te stante s .

”

I 7S

PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .Es t mise ris renovata fide s , atque omne futurumCre vit amore nefas . Nam postquam foe de ra pac i s

1 Cogni ta Pe tre io seque e t sua tradi ta ve numCastra vide t

,famulas scelerata ad proe lia dextras

Exci ta r atque hostes tu rba stipatu s inermesPrae cipitat castris , iunctosque ample xibus enseSeparat e t multo disturbat sanguine pacem . 2 10

Addidit i ra ferox mo turas pro e lia vocesImmemor o patriae , signorum obl i te tuorum ,

Non potes hoe causae,miles

, prae stare , senatusAdse rtor V ie to re de as u t Caesare certeU t vincare

,potes . Dum ferrum ince rtaque fata

Quique fluat mul to non de e rit volne re sangui s,

Ibitis ad dominum damnataqu e S igna fe re tis ?tue habe at famu los nullo di scrimine Caesar,Exorandus cri t ducibu s quoque vi ta pe te nda e st

Numquam nos tra s alus p re tium me rce squ e ne fandae 2 20

Proditionis cri t non ho e c ivil ia bella ,U t vivamus

,agunt . Trah imu r sub nomine pac i s .

Non chalybem gentes penitus fugie nte metalloE ru e re nt

,nul li vallare nt opp ida muri ,

Non sonipe s in bel la ferox , non i ret i n aequo rTurrige ras c l as si s pelago Sparsu ra carinas ,Si bene l ibertas umquam pro pace dare tur .

Hostes nempe meos scel eri iu rata nefandoSacramenta tenent at vob is vilior ho e estVestra fide s

,quod pro causa pugnantibus acqua

E t veniam sperare l icet . Pro dira pudorisFoe de ra nunc toto fatorum ignarus in orbe ,Magne , paras acie s mundique extrema te ne ntis

1 I t appe ar s that A franius was wi l l ing to come to te rms : and h i s son had be e n inne got iat ions with Ce sar about the safe ty of h imse l f and h i s fathe r . I t was Pe tre ius whocause d the rupture . Ce sar : D e Be l l o C iv i l i,” i . 74 , 75 . Se e l ine 3 56 .

176

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PHARSALIA [BOOK IV .

Sol l i ci tas reges,cum forsan foe de re nostro

I am tib i sit prom issa salus .” S ic fatur e t omnes

Concussit mentes sce le rumque re duxit amorem .

S ic ub i de su e tae s i lvi s i n carcere clausoM ansue ve re ferae e t voltu s posue re m inace sAtque hominem d id ice re pat i Si torrida parvusVeni t i n ora cruo r

,re de unt rabie squ e furorque ,

Admonitae qu e tume nt gustato sanguine faucesFervet e t a trepido vix abstine t i ra magistro .

Itur i n omne nefas e t quae fortuna d e orumInv idi a caeca be l lorum nocte tul isse t ,Fec i t monstra fide s inter me nsasqu e torosque ,Quae modo compl exu fove runt , pectora cae duntE t quamvis primo ferrum strinxe re gementes ,U t dextrae iusti gladius di ssuasor adhae s it ,Dum fe riunt , odere suos , animosqu e labantis

Confirmant ictu . Fervent iam castra tumultu,

[E z‘

sce lerum turéa,rapz

’

untur col/a pa r entum]Ac ve lu t occultum pereat sce lus , omnia monstraIn faciem posu e re ducum iuvat esse noce ntis .

Tu Caesar, quamvis spoliatus mil i te multo ,

Agnoscis supe ros . Neque enim tib i maior i n arv i sEmathiis fortuna fu i t nec Phocidos undi sM assil iae

,Phario nec tantum est ae quore ge stum .

Hoc siqu idem sol o c ivi l i s crimine bell iDux causae m e l ioris eri s . Pol luta nefandaAgm ina cae de duces iunctis committe re castris

Non aude nt,altae qu e ad moe nia rursus Ile rdae

Intendere fugam . Campos eques obvius omnis

Abstulit e t Siccis inclu s it col libu s bostem .

Tunc inopes undae prae rupta cingere foss aCae sar avet ne e cas tra pati continge re ripas ,Au t c i rcum largos curvari bracchia fontes .U t leti vide re v iam ,

conversus in i ramPrae cipitem t imor e st. Miles non uti l e clausis

1 78

BOOK 1v . ] CZESAR IN SPAIN

We in ou r treati es bargain for thy lifeThus d id he rouse agai n the l ove of crime .

So beas ts grown s trange to fores ts , pen t in densThei r fie rce ne ss l ose , and l e arn to be ar wi th manBu t at th e taste of blood thei r th irs ty j awsSwel l wi th the greed of carnage

,and their rage

Returns the keeper trembles and h i s l i feIs hardly spared . They rush upon the warDeeds which in nigh t of bat tle bl indly doneHad brought the gods to Shame

,thei r vows of truce

Made doubly monstrous now . Where they had SpreadThe mutual couch and sough t a fri end ’ s embrace

,

Upon that fri end they deal th e fatal bl ow .

True,with a S i gh at firs t th ey d raw the blade

,

But s troke gives hatred as they grasp the swordI t calls for gui l t the timid doub ting heartFinds courage i n the deed . Through all the campA slaughter rages

,and as though a crime

,

Unknown,were los t

,they seek the l eaders ’ glance 270

And strike to find a glory in thei r Shame .Robbed of thy men

,thou

,Ce sar

,know

’

st the godsB efri end thee yet . No greate r fortune th ineOn fields Thessal ian , nor upon the se aThat l aves Mass i l ia . Nor on Pharos ’ mainWas such ach ievement wrough t . This crime alone

,

Of war renewed,gave thee the better cause .

Thei r gui l ty troops the leaders dare not trus tNear Ce sar’ s camp

,and sough t again in fl igh t

Ile rda’

s walls but‘ Ce sar ’ s horse compel l edTo qui t th e plains and keep th e th i rsty h i l l .There wate r fail ed th em

,barred by Ce sar ’s t rench

B ack from the river and thei r camp embracedWi th in i t s c i rcui t no abundan t spring .

By th i s dread path Death trapped hi s captive pre y .

Wh ich when they knew,fierce anger fil l ed thei r hearts ,

179

PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

Auxil ium mactavit e quos tandemqu e coactus

Spe posi t a damnare fugam casurus in hostesFe rtur . U t effuso Caesar de curre re passuVidi t e t ad certam devotos tendere mortem ,

Tela tene iam,miles

,

”ait f e rrumqu e t uent i

Subtrahe non ullo conste t mihi sangu ine bel lum .

Vincitu r haud grat is , iugulo qui provocat b os tem .

En s ib i v i l i s ades t invi sa luce i uventusIam damno peri tura meo non se ntie t ic tus ,Incumbe t glad iis , gaude bit s anguine fuso .

D e se rat h ie fervor mentes , cadat impetus amens ,Perdant vel le mori .” S ic de flagrare minace sIncassum e t ve tito passus langue sce re bello ,Substituit merso dum nox sua lumina Pho e bo .

I nde ub i nulla data e st misce nd i cop i a Marti s,

Pau latim cadi t i ra ferox , me nte sque te pe scunt

Saucia maiores animos u t pec tora ges tant,

Dum dolor e st ictusque re ce ns e t mobile nervi sConame n cal idus praebe t cruor ossaque nondum

Adduxe re cutem S i conscius ensi s adactiS tat v i ctor tenu itque manus , tum frigidus artusAdl igat atque animum subducto robore torpor ,Postquam s icca rige ns adstrinxit volne ra s anguis .l amqu e inopes undae p rimum tellure re fossaOccul tos l ati ce s abstrusaque flumina quae runt

Ncc sol um rastr is durisque ligonibus arva ,Sed gladiis fodere su is , pu te usqu e cavatiMonti s ad irrigui premitur fastigi a camp i .Non s e tam pe nitus , tam longe luce re lictaM e rse rit A sturii s crutator pal l idus auri .Non tame n aut te ctis sonue runt cursibus amnes

,

Aut micue re novi pe rcusso pumice fontesAntra neque exiguo stillant sudantia rore ,Au t impulsa l ev i turbatur glare a vena .Tune exhausta supe r multo sudore iuventus

1 80

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PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

Extrahitur duri s Sil icum lassata me tallis

Quoque minus posse n t Siccos tole rare vapores ,Quae sitae f e cistis aquae . Ne e langu ida fessiCorpora suste n tant epuli s

,me nsasqu e pe rosi

Auxi l ium fe ce re famem . S i moll iu s arvum

Prodidit umorem,pingu e s manus u traqu e glaebas

Expr imit ora super nigro Si turb ida l imoCol luvi e s immota iace t, cadi t omnis in haustusC e rtatim obscae nos miles morie nsqu e re ce pit

Quas nol le t victuru s aquas rituque fe rarum

D iste ntas S i ccan t pe cude s , e t l ac te negatoSordidus exhaus to so rb e tur ab ub e re sangui s .Tune herbas fronde squ e te runt e t rore made ntis

De stringunt ramos e t S i quos palmi te crudoA rboris au t tene ra suco s pre sse re medul l a .

O fortunati,fugie ns quos barbarus host is

Fontibus imm ixto stravit per rura veneno .

H os l i cet in fluvios saniem tabemqu e f e rarum ,

Pall ida Dictae is,Caesar

,nasce n tia s axi s

Infundas aconita pal am,Romana iuven tus

Non de c e pta bibe t . Torre ntur vi scera flamma ,

Oraqu e s icca rige nt squamosis aspera lingu isI am marce nt venae

,nulloque umore rigatu s

Acri s al ternos angu stat pulmo meatus ,R e scissoqu e nocen t su sp iria dura palatoPandunt ora tame n nocturnumqu e aera cap tant .Exspe ctant imbre s, quorum modo cun e ta natabantImpul su ,

e t Siccis voltu s i n nub ibus hae ren t .Quoque magis mise ros undae ie iunia solvant

,

Non super are ntem Met oen Cancriqu e s ub axe ,Qua nudi Garamante s aran t

,sedere se d i n t e r

Stagnantem Sicorim e t rapidum de pre nsus H ibe rum

Spe ctat vicinos sitie ns e xe rcitus amnes .

1 8 2

BOOK 1v . ] C fESAR IN SPA IN

Nor dripped wi thin the cavern . Worn at l engthWith l abour huge

,they crawl to l igh t again

Such toi l Shal l render them to thi rs t and heatThe readier vict ims th i s was all th e y won .

All food they loathe and ’gain st th ei r deadly th irs tCal l famin e to thei r ai d . Damp clods of earthThey squeeze upon the i r mouths wi th stra ining hand s .Where ’er on foules t mud some stagnant sl imeO r mois ture l i es

,each fain ting soldier strives

Wi th dying comrad e fi rs t to lap the draugh t,

Loathsome had l ife been his . Like beas ts they drainThe swollen udder

,and where milk was no t

,

They suck the l ife-blood forth . From herbs and boughsDripp ing wi th dew

,from tender Shoots they press

,

Yea,from the pi th of trees

,th e j u ice w i th in .

Happy the hos t that onward march ing findsI t s savage enemy has fouled the wel l sWith murderous venom hadst thou

,Ce sar

,cas t

The reeking fi l th of Shambles in the S t ream,

And henbane d i re and all the herbs that lurkOn Cretan Sl opes

,S t i l l , knowing , had they drunk

The fatal waters . Torments rack thei r frames ,Thei r tongues and j aws are rigid , and the vein sEach laboured breath with anguish from the lungsEnfeebled

,mois tureles s

,i s s carcely drawn

,

And scarce again re tu rned and yet agape,

Their pant ing mouths suck in the n ightly dewThey watch for showers from heaven

,and in despai r

Gaze on the clouds,whence lately poured a flood . 3 50

Nor were thei r t ortu res l es s that Mero eSaw not thei r suff erings

,nor Cancer’ s zone ,

Nor where the Garamantian turn s the soi lBut Sicoris and Ibe rus at thei r feet ,Two migh ty floods

,th e s tagnant and the swift ,

Rol led down in bounteous volume to the main .

1 8 3

PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

I am domi t i ce sse re duces, pacisque pe te ndae

Auctor damnatis supple x A franius armisSemianime s i n castra trahe ns hostil ia turmasVictoris ste tit ante pe des . Servata pre cantiM aie stas non fracta mal is , inte rqu e prioremFortunam casusqu e novos geri t omnia vi e ti ,Sed duci s

,e t veniam securo pectore poscit

S i me degeneri stravisse nt fata sub hoste,

Non de e rat forti s rapiendo de xte ra l e to .

A t nunc causa mih i e st orandae sol a salutis ,D ignum donanda

,Caesar

,te credere vi ta .

Non parti s studiis agimu r nec sumpsimus armaConsiliis in imica tuis . Nos de n iqu e bel lumInveni t c ivi le duces

,causae que priori ,

Dum potu it , servata fide s . N i l fata moramur

Tradimus Hesp e ri as gentes,ape rimus a s,

Se curumqu e orb i s patimur post terga reli c ti .Nec cruor eff usus campis t ib i bel la pe re g itNe e ferrum lassae qu e manus . H o e hostibus unumQuod vincas

,igno sce tu is . Nec magna pe tuntur

'

O ti a des f e ssis, vitam patiaris inermesDegere

,quam tribuis . Camp i s p rostrata iace re

Agm ina nostra putes nec enim f e l icibus armisM isce ri damnata d e ce t , partemqu e triumphi

Cap tos ferre tu i turba haec sua fata pe re git .

H oe pe timus,victos n e tecum vincere cogas .

Dixe rat at Caesar f acilis voltuqu e se re nu s

Fle ctitur atque usus bell i po e namque remittit .

U t primum iustae placue runt fo e de ra paci s ,Incustoditos de currit miles ad amnes ,I ncumbi t ripis pe rm issaque flumina i turbat .

Continuus multi s subitarum t rac tus aquarum

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PHARSALIA [BOOK iv.

Aera non passus vacu is discurre re ve nis

A rtavit clausitqu e animam nec f e rvida pes t i sCedi t adhuc

,sed morbus egens i am gurgi te ple nis

Visceribus sibi poscit aquas . M ox robora nervi sE t vi res re die re viri s . O prodiga rerumLuxuri es numquam parvo con ten ta paratu ,

E t quae sitorum te rra pe lagoqu e ciborum

Ambitiosa fames e t lau tae glo ri a mensae,

Disci te,quam parvo l ice at producere vi tam

,

E t quantum natura pe tat. N on e rigit ae gros

Nob ili s ignoto di ff usus consu l e B acchus,

Non auro mu rraque bibunt , sed gurgi te puroVi ta redi t sati s e s t popul is fluviusque C e re squ e .

Heu mise ri,qui bel l a ge t un t Tunc arma re linquens

Victori miles spoliato pectore tu tusInnocuusque suas curarum l iber in urbesSpargitur . O quantum donata pace potitosExcussis umquam ferrum vibrasse lace rtisPae nituit

,tolerasse Sitim frustraqu e rogasse

Prospera bell a d e os . Nempe us i s Marte secundoTot dubiae restan t ac ie s

,to t i n orbe labores

U t numquam fortuna lab e t succe ssibus ancep s,Vince ndum to ti e ns terras funde ndus in omnis

E s t cruor e t Caesar per tot sua fata se que ndus .

Fel ix,qui potu it mundi nutante ruina ,

Quo iace at i am scire loco . Non pro e lia fe SSOSUlla vocant

,certos non rumpunt class ica somnos .

I am coniunx natiqu e rudes e t sord ida tectaE t non de ductos re cipi t sua terra colonos .H oe quoque se curis one ris fortuna remisit ,Sollicitus ment i quod abe st favor i l l e salu tis

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BOOK Iv . ] C fESAR IN SPAIN

be

By copious d raughts , and l ife was snatched away .

Their bodies brimmed with water : ye t the plagueCraved more to qu e nch its flame . But nerved once more

,

Their s trength re turned . Oh , lavish luxury ,Contented never wi th th e frugal mealOh

,gre ed that searches t ove r land and se a

TO furni sh forth the banquet Pride that joy’

st

In sumptuous tables l e arn what life requi res,

How li tt le nature needs No ruddy j uic ePressed from the vin tage in some famous year

,

Whose consul s are forgot ten,served in cups

With j ewel s wrought,res tore s the spark of l ife .

The flood,the frui ts of earth suffi ce for men .

Alas th e weary lo t of those who warThei r armour yielded up

,wi th l ightened breast

,

Bese t by care no more , they seek thei r homes.What pri celess gift i n peace had they securedHow grieved i t now thei r soul s to have poi sed the dartWi th arm outs tre tched to have fel t thei r raving thirst 4 1 0

And prayed the gods fo r v i c tory in vainNay

,hard they th ink the V i ctor ’ s lo t

,for whom

A thousand ri sks and battl es s t i l l remainIf fortune never i s to l eave his S ide

,

H ow often must he triumph and how oftPour ou t h i s blood where ’er great Ce sar leadsHappy

,th rice happy

,he who

,when the world

Is nodding to its ruin,knows the spot

Where des t i ny to h im shal l give reposeNo trumpet call Shal l break his s l eep agai nBut i n his humble home

,wi th fai thful spouse

And sons unlettered,Fortune leaves h im free

From rage of party,for if l i fe he owes

1 Compar e the spe e ch of Max Piccolomin i in the “ P i ccolomini,A ct sce ne 4 ,

be ginn ing :0 schone r Tag, wenn e ndl ich de r Solda tI ns L e be n he imk e h r t .”

1 87

PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

E st auctor, dux i l l e fui t . S ic proe lia sol i1 Fel ices nul l o spectant civilia voto .

Non eadem bel li totum fortuna per orbemConstitit

,i n partes aliquid sed Cae saris ausa es t ,

Qua mari s Adriaci l ongas fe rit unda SalonasE t te pidum in mol les z e phyros e xcurrit I ad e r .Illic be llaci confisu s gente Curic tum ,

Quos al i t Adriaco tellus circumflua ponto,

C lauditu r e xtrema re side ns Antonius oraCau tus ab incursu belli , S1 sol a re ce dat ,Expugnat quae tuta, fames . Non pabula tellusPasce ndis submittit equis , non proscri t u llamFlava Ceres sege tem ; spoliabat gramine campumMiles e t attonso m i se r i s iam de ntibus arvoCastrorum siccas de cae spite volse ra t herbas .U t primum adve rsae Socios in l i tore terraeE t Basilum vide re ducem ,

nova furta per aequorExqui si ta fugae . Neque enim de more carinasExte ndunt puppe sque l e van t , se d firma ge re ndis

M olibu s insol i to conte xunt robora due tu .

Namque ratem vacuae sus ten tant undique cuppae , 420

Quarum porre ctis series cons tric ta cate nisOrdinibus geminis Obl iquas e xcipit alnosNcc geri t e xpositum tel i s i n fronte patent iR emigium se d , quod trabibus circumde dit aequor ,Hoc f e rit e t tac i t i prae be t miracul a cursus ,Quod nec vela f e rat nec apertas ve rbe re t undas .Tunc freta se rvantur , dum se de cl ivibus undis

1 Ce sar re quire d that e ach of the soldie r s should give up h i s arms and re turn to h i shome . Those of them who we re Span i sh we re disbande d a t once ; and those who we reI tal ians we re d i scharge d a t the borde r s of Gaul . Mommse n, iv . , p . 3 8 8 . Ce sar : D e Be l l oC i v i l i,” i . 8 5.

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PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .Aestus agat re fluoque mari nude ntur hare nae .

l amqu e re labe n ti cre sce bant l itora pontoMissa rati s prono de f e rtu r lapsa profundoE t geminae comi tes . Cune tas super ardua turrisEmine t e t tremu lis t abulata minantia pinnis .

Nolu it Illyricae custos O ctavius undaeConf e stim temptare ratem , ce le re squ e carinasContinu it cursu cre scat dum prae da secundoE t temere ingressos re pe te ndum invitat ad aequorPace mari s . S i c dum pavidos formidine cervosC laudat odoratae m e tu e ntis ae ra pinnae ,Au t dum dispositis atto llat reti a vari s ,Venator te net ora levi s clamosa Molossi ,Spartanos C re tasque l igat nec cre ditur ull iS i lva cani

,nisi qui pf e sso ves t igia rost ro

C olligit e t prae da ne scit lat rare reperta ,Conte ntu s tremulo monstrasse cubilia loro .N e e in ora

,compl e ntu r moles avide qu e pe titis

Insul a d e se ritur ratibu s,quo tempore primas

Imp e di t ad noc tem i am lux extrema te ne bras .

At Pompe ianu s fraudes inne cte re pontoAntiqua parat arte Ci lix passusque vacareSumma fre ti

,medio suspendi t vincul a ponto ,

E t laxas flu itare s in i t re l igatqu e catenasRupis ab Illyricae scopulis . Ne e prima ne e i l la ,Quae sequ i tur tardata rati s se d terti a molesH ae sit e t ad cau te s adducto fune secuta est .Impendent cava saxa mari ru ituraqu e sempe rStat— m irum—moles e t s i lvi s aequor inumbrat .Huc fractas aquilone rates subme rsaqu e pontusCorpora saepe tul i t cae cisque abscondit i n antris

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BOOK iv . ] THE ADRIATI C

Move S i l en t on i ts path acros s th e sea,

By sai l nor arm propel led . They watch th e mainTi l l from the shore e bbs back the re flue nt t ideAnd bare s the sands then se t the ve ssel f ree .She gl ides upon her path and floats the wavesWith comrades twain there ri ses over eachWi th quivering bat tl emen ts a lofty tower.O ctavius

,guardian of I llyrian seas

,

Restrained h is swifter keel s,and spared the rafts

,

I ntent on larger booty,for h e though t

One happy venture and the open seaMight give them courage for a fresh attempt .Thus round a stag the hunter draws a l ineOf tainted feathers or will Spread the net

,

And grasp the muzzle of Molossi an hound,

And leash th e Spartan pack nor i s th e brakeTrusted to any dog but such as t racksThe scen t wi th lowered nostri ls

,and refrains

From giving tongue the while content to markBy Shaking cord the covert of the prey .

Ere long they manned the rafts in eage r wi shTo qui t the is land

,while the latest glow

Yet hindered darkness . Bu t Pompe ius’ t roops

,

Cil i c ian once,t augh t by thei r anc i ent art

,

I n fraudulen t devi ce had left the se aTo vi ew unguarded but wi th chains unseenFast to I l lyrian shores

,and hanging loose

,

They blocked the outlet i n the depth below .

The lead ing rafts passed safely, bu t th e th i rd ,

Caught by the rope,was drawn beneath the rocks .

These,hol lowed by the sea

,in ponderous mass

O’

e rhanging , seemed upon the point to fal lAnd trees made dark the wave . Here o ft the mainWith in the deep recess sweeps broken wrecksAnd bod i es of the drowned

,ti ll ebbing tides

1 9 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .R e stituit raptus tectum mare cumqu e cavernaeEvomue re f retum ,

contorti vertic i s undaeTaurome nitanam vincunt fervore Charybdim.

Hic Opite rginis moles onerata colon isConstitit hanc omni puppe s statione solu tae

Circu e unt, al i i rupe s ac litora comple nt .

Vulte ius taci t as senti t sub gurgi te f raudes—Dux erat i l le rat is— frustra qu i vincula ferroRumpe re conatus poscit spe proe lia nul la ,Ince rtus , qua terga daret , qua pectora bel lo .

Hoc ramen in casu quantum depre nsa vale bat

Eff e cit virtus in ter to t mi l i a captaeCircumfusa rat i e t ple nam vix i nde cohortemPugna fuit

,non longa quidem nam condid it umbra

Nox lucem dubiam, pacemqu e habu e re tenebrae .

Tune Sic attonitam ve nturaque fata pave ntemR e xit magnanima Vulte ius voce cohortemLibera non ultra parva quam nocte iuventus

,

Consulite extremis angusto tempore rebus .Vita brevi s nul l i supe re st , qu i tempus in i l laQuae re ndae s ibi mortis habet nec gloria let iI nferior

,iuve ne s

,admoto occurre re fato ,

Omnibus incerto venturae tempore vi tae .Par animi laus e st e t quos spe rave ris annosPerdere e t e xtremae momentum abrumpe re luci s ,Acce rsas dum fata manu non cogitur ulluS

Velle mori . Fuga nul la patet,s tant undique nostris

Intenti cives iugu lis de ce rnite le tum,

E t metus omnis abe st cupias , quodcumque necesseNon tame n i n caeca be llorum nube cade ndum e st

,

Aut cum pe rm ixtas ac i es sua tela te ne bris

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PHARSALIA . [BOOK Iv .

Involvunt consert a iace nt cum corpora campo ,In medium mors omnis abi t, peri t obru ta virtus .Nos in conspicua soci i s hostique carinaConstitu e re dei . Prae be bunt ae quora testes,Prae be bunt terrae , summis dabit in sula saxi sSpe ctabunt geminae d iverso e l i tore partes .Nesci o quod nostris magnum e t memorab i l e fat isExemp lum

,Fortu na

,paras . Quae cumqu e per aevum

Exhibu it mon ime nta fide s se rvataque ferroM ilitiae pietas , transisse t nostra i uve ntusNamque su i s p ro te gladiis incumbe re , Caesar ,Es se parum scimus sed non maiora supe rsunt

Obse ssis,tant i quae p ignora demus amoris .

Abscidit nostrae multum sors invida laudi,

Quod non cum se nibus capti natisque te nemur .

Indomitos se iat esse viros time atqu e fu re ntis

E t morti faci les animos,e t gaude at hosti s

Non plure s hae sisse rates . Temptare parabunt

Fo e de ribus turpiqu e volen t corrumpe re vi ta .

O utinam,quo plus habe at mors unica famae

,

Promittant ven iam,iube ant sperare salu tem ,

Ne nos,cum cal ido fodiemus viscera ferro ,

D e spe rasse pu te nt . Magna vi rtu te me re ndum est ,Caesar u t am issis i n ter tot mili a pauc i sH o e damnum clademqu e voce t. Dent fata re ce ssumEm ittantque l icet , vitare instantia molim .

Proie e i vi tam,comites

, totusque futurae

Morti s agor s t imuli s furor e st . Agnosce re sol i sPe rmissum

, quos iam tangi t vi cini a fat i ,Victurosque dei celant, ut v ivere duren t ,Felix e sse mori . ” S ic cun e t as sustul it ardor

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BOOK 1v . ] THE ADRIATIC

Unknown , inglorious . Us wi thin thi s sh ip,

Seen of both fri ends and foes,the gods have p laced

B oth land and se a and i sland cl iff shal l bear,

From e i ther shore , th ei r witness to our death ,In which some great and memorable fameThou

,Fortune , dost p repare . What glorious deeds

Of warl ike heroi sm,of nob le fai th

,

Time’ s annals Show All these Sh all we surpass .

True, Ce sar, that to fal l upon ou r swordsFor thee i s l i tt l e ye t beleaguered thus ,W i th nei ther son s nor parents at our s ides

,

Shorn of the glory that we migh t h ave earned,

We give thee here the on ly pledge we may .

'e t le t these hosti le thousands fear the heartsThat rage for batt le and that welcome death

,

And know us for invincible,and j oy

That no more rafts were s tayed . They ’l l off er terms,

And tempt us with a base unhonoured l ife .Would that

,to give that death wh i ch Shall be ours

The greater glory,th ey may bid us hope

For pardon and for life les t when our sword sAre re eking wi th our hearts ’-blood

,they may say

This was despai r of l iving . Great must beThe prowess of our end

,if in the hosts

That fight his battle s,Ce sar i s to mourn

This l i t t l e handful lost . For me,Should fate

Grant us re treat— myself would scorn to ShunThe coming onset . Life I cast away

,

The frenzy of the death that comes apaceControls my being . Those whose end i s nearAlone may know the happiness of deathWhich p i tying heaven from al l else conceal sThat men may bear to l ive .” 1 H i s s t i rring words

1 Quote d in S i r T . B rowne ’ s “ R e l ig io Me d i c i, i . 44 . Th e re be many e xCe llent strain s i n that Poe t whe rew ith h i s Sto i cal ge n ius hath l ibe ral ly supp l i ed h im . ”

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PHARSALIA [BOOK W .

Nobil ium mentes iuve num cum side ra cael iAnte duci s voces ocul is ume ntibus omnesA spice re nt fl e xoque Ursae temone pave re nt ,Idem

,cum fortes animos prae cepta sub issent ,

Optave re diem . Nec segnis vergere pon toTune erat ast ra polus nam sol L e dae a te n e batSidera vicino cum lux al t iss ima Cancro e stNox tum The ssalicas urge bat parva sagi t tas .De te git orta dies stantis in rupibus H istros

Pugnace squ e mari Graia cum classe L iburnos .

Temptave re prius suspenso vincere bel loFo e de ribus

,fie re t cap r i s S i dulcior ipsa

Morti s vi ta mora . Stabat devota iuventusDamnata i am luce ferox se curaque pugnae

Promisso s ib i fine manu null ique tumul tusExcusse re vi ri s mentes ad summa paratasInnume rasqu e simul pauci terraque mariqu e

Sustinue re manus tanta e st fiducia morti s .tue sati s bel lo visum e st fluxisse cruoris,

Versus ab hoste furor . Primus dux ipse carinaeVulte ius iugulo posce ns i am fata re te ctoEcqu is ai t iuve num e st, cuius si t dextra cruoreDigna meo ce rtaque fide per volne ra nostraTe ste tur se velle mori N e e plura locutoViscera non unus iamdudum transigit ensi s .Co llaudat cunctos

, se d e um ,cui volne ra prima

D e be bat,grato moriens inte rficit ictu .

Concurrunt al i i totumque in partibus uni sB e llo rum fe ce re nefas . S ic semine CadmiEm icuit Dircae a cohors ce ciditqu e suorum

Volne ribus,dirum The banis fratribus omen

Phas idos e t campis insomni dente creat i

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PHARSALIA [BOOK IV .

Te rrige nae missa magicis e cantibus i raCognato tantos imple runt sanguine sulcosIpsaqu e , inexpe rtis quod primum fe ce rat he rbis,Expavit M e dea nefas . S ic mutua pae t iFata cadunt iuve ne s , minimumqu e in morte virorum

Mors vi rtuti s habet pari ter ste rnuntque caduntqu e

Volne re letal i ne e qu emquam dextra f e fe llitCum fe riat morie n te manu . N e e volnus adactis 560

D e be tu r gladiis pe rcussum e st pectore ferrum ,

E t iugul i pre sse re manum . Cum sorte cruentaFratribus incurrunt fratres natusqu e parent i ,H aud trep i dan te tame n to to cum pondere dextraExe ge re cri se s . Pie tas fe rie ntibus unaNon repet i s se fui t . l am Iati s vi scera lap saSemianime s traxe re fori s mu ltumqu e cruorem

Infude re mari . De Spe ctam ce rn e re lucemVictore sque s uos vol tu spe ctare superboE t mortem sen ti re iuvat . I am strage crue ntaConspicitur cumulata rat is bu stisqu e remittunt

Corpora Victore s,ducibus m irantibu s ull i

Esse ducem tanti . Nnllam maiore locu ra estO re ratem totum discurre ns Fama per orbem .

Non tamen ignavae post haec exemp l a virorumPercip ient gentes

,quam sit non ardua vi rtu s

,

Servi t ium fugi sse manu . Sed regna time ntur

Ob ferrum ,e t saevis l ib ertas uritur armis

,

Ignoratque datos , ne qu isquam se rviat , e nse s .

Mors , utinam pavidos vi tae subduce re nolle s ,Sed v i rtus te sola clare t 1

Non se gnior i l loMarte fui t , qu i tum L ibycis e xarsit in arvi s .

1 Montaigne quote s th i s pas sage ( Book I. , chapte r spe aking of de ath as “ thesove re ign good of nature ; the sole support of l ibe rty , and the common and promptremedy of al l e vi l s . ” S e e al so Me rivale

’s “Hi s tory of the Roman Emp i re ,”

chapte r xv i .1 98

BOOK iv. ] THE ADRIATIC

Born of the sleepless dragon,al l inflamed

By magic incan tations,with their blood

Deluged the monstrous furrow, while the QueenFeared at the Spells She wrought . Devoted thusTo death

,they fal l

,yet in the i r death i tself

Less valour Show than in the fatal woundsThey take and give for e ’en the dying handMissed not a blow— nor did the s troke aloneInflict the wound

,but rush ing on the Sword

Thei r throat or breast received it to the h i l tAnd when by fatal chance or s i re w i th son

,

O r brothers met,yet wi th unfal tering weigh t

Down flashed the p i ti l e ss sword thi s p roved thei r love,

To give no second blow . Half living nowThey dragged thei r mangled bodies to the s ide

,

Whence flowed into the se a a crimson st reamOf slaugh ter . ’Twas thei r pleasure yet to se eThe ligh t they scorned w i th h aughty looks to scanThe faces of thei r vic tors

,and to feel

The death approach ing . But the raft was nowPi led up wi th dead . The hosti le chiefs

,amazed

At such submission to thei r captain ’s word,

Gave due in terment . Ne ’er of any ShipDid Fame such glory sp read throughout the world .

Yet coward nations,heed ing not the deed

,

Di scern no t that the hand which breaks th e yokeBut l i t tl e courage needs and tyrannyIs feared as deal ing death , and freedom galledBy ruth l es s arms . They know not that the swordWas given for th i s

,that none need l ive a Slave .

Ah Death wouldst thou but l e t th e coward l iveAnd gran t the brave alone the prize to die

Nor less were Libyan fields ablaze with war .For with his navy from Sici l i an coas ts

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PHARSALIA [BOOK W .

N amque rates audax L ilybae o l i tore solvit

Curio,ne e forti vel is aqui lon e recepto

Inter semirutas magnae Carthaginis arcesE t Clupe am tenui t stationis lito ra notae

Primaqu e castra locat cano procul ae quore , qua seBagrada l e n tus agit siccae sulcator hare nae .

Inde peti t tumulos e xe sasqu e undiqu e rupe s ,Antae i quae regna vocat non vana vetustas .Nom inis ant iqu i cupie ntem nosce re causasCognita pe r mu lto s docu it rudi s incola patres

Nondum pos t ge nitos te l l us e fl é ta gigantasTe rribilem Libycis partum conce pit in antris

Ncc tam iu sta fui t te rrarum glori a TyphonAu t Tityos Briare usqu e ferox cae loque pe pe rcit ,Quod non Phle grae is Antae um sustulit arvi s .H oc quoque tam vastas cumu lavit mune re vi resTerra su i fetus

,quod

,cum te tig e re pare ntem,

I am defects vige nt renovato robore membra .Haec i lli spelunca domus latu isse sub al taRup e f e runt

,epu las rap tos habuisse leones

Ad somnos non terga ferae prae be re cubile

Adsu e runt,non S i lva torum vire sque re sum it

I n nuda tellure iace ns . Pe rie re colon iArvorum L ibye s pe re unt quos adpulit aequorAuxilioque diu virtus non usa cade ndiTerrae spe rnit opes invictus robore cunctis ,Quamvis s tare t, erat . Tandem volgata c ruent iFama mal i terras monstris ae quorque l evantemM agnanimum A lcide n L ibycas e xcivit i n oras .I l le C le onae i proie cit terga leoni s ,Antaeus L ibyci pe rfudit membra l iquore

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PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

H ospe s Olympiacae servato more palaes trae .I lle parum fid e ns pedibus continge re matrem

Auxi l ium membri s calidas infund it hare nas .

Conse ru e re manus e t mul to bracchia nexu .

Colla diu gravibus frustra temp rata lace rtisImmo tumqu e caput fixa cum fronte tene turM iranturqu e habuisse parem . Nec viribus u tiAlcides primo vo lu it certamine toti sExhausitque vi rum quod creber anhe l itus i ll iProd idit e t ge l idus fesso de corpore sudor .Tunc ce rvix lassata quati

,tunc pectore pectus

U rge ri, tunc obliqua pe rcussa l abareCrura manu . I am terga vir i ce de ntia victorAdl igat e t medium compre ss is ilibu s artat ,Inguinaqu e inse rtis pedibu s di s tendi t e t omnem

Explicu it per membra vi rum . Rapit arida tel lusSudorem cal ido comple ntu r sanguin e venaeIntumue re tori

, totosque induruit artusH e rcule osque novo laxavit corpore nodos .Constit it Alcides stupe factus robore tan toNe e S i c Inachiis

, quamvis rudi s e sset,in und i s

De se ctam timu it reparatis anguibu s hydram .

Confl ixe re pares,te llu ris viribus i l l e ,

I ll e sui s . Numquam sae vae sperare nove rcae 1

Plus licu it videt exhausto s sudoribus artusCe rvicemque vi ri , Siccam cum ferret Olympum.

1 Juno.

202

BOOK i v. ] DEATH OF CUR IOThe Libyan h ide he wore . With Shining oil

,

As one who wrestl es at O lymp i a ’ s fe ast,

The hero rubbed h is l imbs the gian t feare dTo trust his fee t , and cast o

’er al l h i s bulkH ot s and in handfuls . Thus they twin e thei r armsAnd grappl ing hands . Long time thei r muscl e s striveTo bend the neck— in vain thei r s i newy th roatsS tood column-l ike and ei ther was amazedTo find h is peer . Nor d id Alcides fi rs tU se all his S trength , bu t aimed to t i re his foeBy lengthy s truggle t i l l the breath came ShortAnd chilly drop s s tood on Ante us ’ l imbs .Now breas t to breas t they strive the s tately throatB egins to tot te r

,and th e gian t ’ s l egs

Shake to Alc ides ’ hand the vi ctor ’ s armsGi rd in Ante us ’ yielding back and S idesAnd Squeeze h is middle part next ’ twixt the thighsHe puts h is fee t

,and forcing them apart

,

Lays low the mighty monster l imb by l imb .

The dry earth drank h is Sweat,while i n h is veins 670

Warm ran the l ife-blood,al l hi s muscles swel led

,

H is joints grew firm,and wi th h is s trength renewed 1

He rives th e arms of Hercules away .

Amazed the hero stood at such a might .Not thus he feared

,though then unused to war

,

That hydra fierce which,smit ten in the marsh

Of Inachus,renewed i ts severed heads .

They fough t as peers,th e giant wi th the powers

Which earth bestowed,th e hero wi th hi s own

Nor did the hatred of hi s s tep-dame findIn all his confl ic t s gre ater room for hope .She sees bedewed in Sweat the neck and limbs

1 Se e Lord Te nnyson ’ s Que e n Mary, Act i i i . , sce ne 2, wh e re Card inal Pole te l l s

the Que e n tha t h i s re turn to England has g ive n h im he al th , and saysAy, cous in, as the h e a the n g ian tH ad bu t to touch the ground , h i s force re turne d .

203

PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

t ue i terum f e ssis inie c it bracchia membris ,Non e xspe ctatis Antaeus viribus hosti sSponte cadi t maiorque acce pto robore surgi t .Quisquis ine s t terri s

,i n f e ssos Spi ri tu s artus

Ege ritur, te llusqu e vi ro luctante labo rat .

U t tandem auxilium tae tae prode sse parenti sAlcides se nsit

,Standum e st t ibi ,

’ dixi t e t ultraNon crede re solo ste rn ique ve tabe re terra ,H ae re bis pre ssis in tra m e a p e ctora membri sH uc

,Antae e , cades .

’ S i c fatus su s tu lit al teNite ntem i n te rras iuve nem . M orie ntis i n artus 6 50

Non potuit nati tellus submitte re vi resAlcides medium tenui t iam pectora pigroS tricta ge lu te rrisqu e diu non cre didit bostem .

Hine ae vi ve te ris custos famosa vetus tasM iratrixqu e su i Signavit nomine te rras .Sed maiora dedi t cognomina collibus istis

,

Foenum qui Latiis re vocavit ab arcibus hostem,

Scipio . Nam sedes L ibyca tel lure poti toHaec fui t. En

,ve te ris ce rn i s vestigia valli

Romana hos primum tenui t V ic tori a campos .

Curio lae tatus,tamquam fortuna locorum

Bella gerat , se rve tque ducum s ib i fata priorum ,

Felic i non fausta loco tentoria pone nsIndu lsit castris e t collibus abstu l it omenSollicitatqu e feros non aequi s viribus hostes .Omnis Romanis quae ce sse rat Afri ca sign is ,

Tunc Vari sub iure fui t qui robore quamquamConfisus Latio regis tamen undique v i re s

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PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .Excivit Libyae gen ti s e xtremaque mundiS igna suum comitata Iubam . Non fusior ull iTerra fui t domino qua sunt longi ss ima regna,Cardine ab occiduo vicinus Gadibu s AtlasTe rminat a medio confinis Syrtibus HammonAt qua lata iace t vasti plaga fervida regni ,Distinc t occanum z onae que e xusta cale ntis

Sufficiunt spati o . Popul i to t cas tra sequunturAutolole s Num idae qu e vagi sempe rque paratusI ncul to Gae tulus equo tune concolor I ndoMaurus

,inops Nasamon

,m ixti Garamante pe rusto

M armaridae volucre s ae quaturusque sagit tasM e dorum tremu lum cum torsit missi le M a z ax

,

E t gens quae nudo re side ns M assylia dorsoO ra levi fl e ctit fre norum nescia v i rgaE t sol i tus vacu is e rrare mapalibus AferVenator

,fe rrique s imul fiducia non e st,

Ve stibus i ratos laxis ope rire l eones .Ncc solum studiis civilibus arma parabat,Privatae se d bell a dabat Iuba concitus i rae .Hune quoque

,quo supe ros humanaqu e polluit, anno

Lege tribunicia soli o depe lle re avorum

Curio temptarat L ibyamque au fe rre tyranno ,Dum regnum te

,Roma

,faci t . M emor i l le dolori s

H oe bellum sce ptri fructum putat esse re ten ti .H ac igi tu r regi s t repidar i am Curio fama

,

E t quod Cae sare is numquam devota iuven tusI lla n im i s castris n e e Rhe ni miles i n undi sExploratus erat , Corfin i captus in arce ,Infidusque novi s ducibus dubiusque priori ,

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BOOK 1v. ] DEATH OF CUR IO

fl

From furthest regions , al l the Libyan hostsWho fol low Juba ’ s s tandards to the wars .Not any monarch over wider t ractsHeld the dominion . From the western bel tNear Gades

,Atlas parts thei r furthes t bounds

Bu t from the southern , Hammon girds th em inH ard by the Whirlpool s and thei r burning pl ain sF ill al l the vastness of the torrid zone

,

And reach the ocean upon ei ther hand .

Tribes wi thou t number j oin the swarthy MoorA s though from Ind Numidian nomads thereAnd Nasamon

’

s needy hordes and those whose dartsRival the flying arrows of the MedeDark Garamantians l eave th e i r fervid homeAnd those whose coursers unre strained by bitO r saddle

, ye t obey the rider’ s h and

Which wields the guid ing switch th e hunter,too

,

Who wanders forth,h is home a fragile hu t,

And bl inds wi th flow ing robe (if Spear Should fail)The angry l ion

,monarch of the stepp e .

Not eagerness alone to save the S tateS ti rred Juba

’ s sp i ri t private hatred tooRoused h im to war . For in the former year

,

When Curio was t ribune and profanedAl l thi ngs both human and divine

,he strove

To banish Juba from his father ’ s th rone ,And tearing Libya from a tyran t ’ s swayGive Rome a king and Juba took the warAS welcome harvest for his crown retai ned .

This Curio heard,and feared nor had hi s t roops

Sure trust in Ce sar’ s cause . Corfinium’

s portHad been thei r post

,nor had they on the Rhine

Shared in his fights and wavering in f ai thThei r second ch i ef they doubt

,thei r firs t betrayed .

1 In B . C . 50, whe n Cur io was tr ibune , he had move d to confi sca te Juba’ s k ingdom .207

PHARSAL IA [BOOK IV.

Fas utrumque putat . Sed postquam languida segniC e rnit cune ta metu noc tu rnaqu e munia val l iDesolata fuga

,tre pida sic mente profatu r

Aude ndo magnus te gitur timor arma cape ssamIp se pri o r campum miles de sce ndat i n ae quum,

Dum meus e st variam semper dant otia men tem .

E ripe consi l i um pugna cum dira voluntasEnse subi t presso

,galeae tex e re pudorem

Quis confe rre duce s m eminit ? qui s pendere causasQua ste tit

,inde fave t ve lu ti fatalis hare nae

M une ribu s non i ra ve tus concurre re cogi tProductos odere pares .” S ic fatus ape rtisInstruxit campis acies quem blanda futuri sD e ceptura mali s bell i fortuna re cepit .Nam p epul it Varum campo nudataque foe daTerga fuga

,donec ve tu e runt cas tra

,ce cid it .

Tristi a sed postquam superati pro e l ia VariSunt audita I ubac

,lae tus quod glori a bel l i

S i t rebus servata su i s,rapit agm ina furtim

Obscuratque suam per iussa sile ntia famam,

H o e solum m e tu e ns incau tus ab hoste tim e ri .

M ittitu r,exigua qui proe l ia prima lace ssat

E liciatqu e manu , Numidis a rege secundus,U t s ibi commiss i S imulator Sabura bel l iIpse cava regni vi res in val l e re te ntatA spidas u t Pharias cauda solle rtior hosti sLudit e t iratas incerta provocat umbraObl iquusque caput vari as serpenti s in aurasE ffusae tuto compre ndit gu t tura mo t su

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PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

L e tif e ram ci t ra saniem tune i rri ta pesti sExprimitu r , fauce sque fluunt pereunte veneno .

Fraudibus eve ntum de de rat fortuna fe roxqu e

Non exploratis occul ti viribus hosti sCurio nocturnum castris e rumpe re cogi tIgnotisque e quitem l at e discu rre re campis .Ipse sub aurorae primos e xce de re motusSigna iube t castris multum frustraqu e rogatu s ,U t Libycas m e tuat fraudes inf e ctaqu e semperPunica bella dolis . Leti fortuna propinquiTradide rat fati s iuvenem ,

be llumqu e trahe bat

Auctorem civile suum . Super ardua ducitSaxa

,super caute s abrup to limite S igna

Cum procu l e summis conspe cti collibus hostesFraude sua ce sse re parum

,dum colle re licto

E ffu sam patulis aciem committe re t arv i sI l le fugam credens simulatae ne sciu s arti s ,U t vi ctor

,medios aciem de ie cit in agros .

Tune primum patu e re doli , Numidae qu e fugacesU ndique comple tis claus e runt montibus agmen .

Obstupu it dux ipse s imul pe rituraqu e tu rba .Non timidi pe tie re fugam ,

non pro e lia fortes .Quippe ubi non sonipe s motus c l angore tubarumSaxa quatit pulsu ,

rigidos vexantia frenosO ra terens

,Spargitque iubas e t subrigit aures

Ince rtoqu e pedum pugna r non stare tumultu

Fessa iace t cervix fumant sudoribus artus ,C raque proie e ta squal e nt are ntia l inguaPectora rauca gemunt

,quae creber anhe litus urge t ,

E t de f e cta gravi s l onge trahi t i l i a pul sus,

Siccaque sanguine is dure scit spuma lupatis .

2 1 0

BOOK 1v. ] DEATH OF CUR IOStrives to al l ure the serp en t of the NileDrawn to the Shadow

,and with head obl ique

Keeps watch— hi s vict im vainly bi te s the ai rThen grasps h i s th roat beh ind the deadly fangs

,

And wasted venom gushes th rough the j aws .To wiles of Juba Fortune gave succ e s s .For Curio carele ss of a h idden foeSen t out hi s horse by n igh t

,and bade them scour

Plains wide,unknown as ye t wh i le he h imself

A t early dawn commands th e s tandards forth .

Vain were the frequent prayers B eware th e fraud, 790

The craft that ever tain ts a Punic war . ”

The doom hung over him of coming deathAnd civi l warfare d ragged its author down .

Where b roke the h il l s ab rup tly to th ei r fallHe ranks his t roops and sees the foe afarWho St i l l deceiving

,S imul ated fl ight

,

Til l from the heigh t in loose unordered l inesThe Roman forces S t reamed upon the p l ain

,

In though t th at Juba fled . Then first was knownThe treacherous fraud for 10 the flying horseTrooped on each mountain top

,from every side

Surround th e column leader,men alike

All see thei r fate i n one dread momen t come .NO coward flees

,no warrio r bravely s trides

To meet the battle nay, the trumpet callS ti rs not th e charger with resounding hoofTo spurn th e rock

,nor gal l ing b i t compel s

To champ in eagerness,nor toss h is mane

And prick the ear,nor prancing wi th h is feet

To c laim his Share of combat . Tired , the neck 8 1 0

Droops downward s smoking sweat bedews the l imbsDry from the panting mouth protrudes the tongue ,Hoarse

,raucous murmurs i ssue from thei r ches ts

Thei r flanks di stended and on every curb

2 1 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

l amqu e gradum neque ve rbe ribus Stimul isqu e coacti

Nec quamvis cre bris iuss i calcar ibu s , adduntV oln e ribu s cogun tur equi nec profu it ul l iCorn ip e di s rupiss e moras neque enim impetu s i ll eIncursusqu e fui t tantum p e rfe rtu r ad hostesE t spatium iacu l is oblato volne re donat .A t vagus Afer e quos u t primum emi sit i n agmen ,Tun e campi t remu e re sono terraque solu ta ,Quantu s B istonio torqu e tur t urb i ne pulvis ,Aera nube sua t e xit t rax itque t e ne bras .

U t vero in pe dit e s fatum miserabi l e b e lliIncubu it , nul lo dub i i d iscrimine Marti sAncipit e s ste t e ru nt casus , sed tempora pugnacMors t enu i t neque enim licu it procu rr e re contraE t misce re manus . S ic undiqu e sae p ta iuven tusComminus obliqu is e t re cris em inus hastis

Obru itu r non voln e ribu s nec sanguin e,solum

T e lorum nimbo peritu ra e t pondere ferri .Ergo aci es tan tae parvum spissantur i n orhemAc

,Si qu is me tu e ns medium corre psit in agmen ,

V ix impune suos in t e r conve rt itur e nse s

D e nsaturqu e globus , quantum pede prima relato 780

Con strinx it gy ros acies . Non arma move ndi

1am l ocus e st pre s sis , stipataqu e membra t e run turFrangi tu r armatum col li so pec tore pectu s .Non tam lae ta tul i t v icto r sp e ctacula Mau ru s ,Quam fortuna dabat fluvios non i l l e cru orisM embro rumqu e videt lapsum e t fe rie n tia t e rram

Corpora compre ssum tu rba ste t it omne cadaver .

Excit e t invi sas dirae Carthagin is umbrasInf e ri is Fort una novi s f e rat i s ta cruen tu sHann i bal e t Poen i tam di ra pi acul a manes .R omanam

, superi , Libyca t e l lure ru inam

Z I Z

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PHARSALIA [BOO K Iv

Pompeio prode sse nefas votisque s enatusAfrica nos potins vincat s ib i .

Curio fusasU t vidi t campis ac i es e t cernere tan tasPe rmisit clades compre ssus sanguine pulvi s ,Non tul i t adfl ictis animam producere rebusAut sperare fugam ,

ce ciditque i n s t rage suorumImpige r ad le tum e t forti s v i rtu te coacta .

Quid nunc rostra t ib i prosunt turbata forumqu e ,Unde tribunicia plebeius S ignifer arceArma dabas populis quid prodita iu ra senatusE t gener atque soce r bel l o concurre re iuss iAn te iace s, quam dira duces Pharsal ia confe rt ,Spe ctandumqu e t ib i b e l lum civi le negatum e s t .

H as urbi mise rae ve stro de sanguine poe nasNempe dati s lu it is iugulo sic arma

,poten tes .

Fel ix Roma quidem c ive squ e habitu ra b e atos ,S i l ibe rtatis supe ri s tam cura place re t,Quam vind icta placet . L ibycas en nobi le co rpusPascit aves nullo conte ctu s Curi o busto .

At t ibi nos, quando

‘

non prode rit i st a S i lere ,A quibus omne ae vi senium sua fama repe llit ,Digna damus

,iuve nis , me ritae prae conia vi tae .

H aud al ium tan ta civem tu l i t indole Roma,

Aut cui plus leges de be re nt recta se qu e nti .Perd ita tunc urbi nocue runt s aecul a , postquamAmbitus e t luxus e t opum me tue nda facul tasTransverso mentem dubiam torrente tule runtM ome ntumqu e fu i t mutatu s Curio rerum

2 1 4

4

BOOK 1v . ] DEATH OF CUR IOShould p rofi t Magnus and the S enate ’ s cause

,

Were Shame,ye gods nay , for herself alone

Let L ibya gain her triumph ove r Rome .Now was th e dust laid low by s treams of blood

,

And Curio,knowing that h is host was slain

,

Chose no t to l ive and , as a brave man Should ,H e rushed upon the heap

,and figh ting fell .

In vain wi th tu rb id speech hast thou profanedThe pulp i t of the forum waved in vainFrom that p roud ci tadel the t ribune flagAnd armed the peop l e

,and the Senate ’s rights

B etraying,forced upon the kinsmen ch ief s

Th is impious strife . Before Pharsalus ’ figh tThou l i est low

,th e i ssue of the war

H id from th ine eyes . ’Ti s thus to suff ering RomeFor arms sed i t ious and for civ i l strifeYe migh ty make atonement wi th your blood .

Happy were Rome and al l her son s indeed,

Did but the gods as rigid ly protectAS they avenge

,her violated l aws

There Curio l ies un tombed hi s noble corpse,

Torn by the vul tures of the Libyan wastes .Yet shal l we

,S in ce such meri t

,though unsung

,

Lives by its fame throughout the march of time ,Give thee thy meed of prai se . Rome never boreAnother son

,who

,had he righ t pursued ,

Had so adorned her l aws but soon the t imes,

Thei r l uxury,curruption ,

and the cu rseOf cop ious weal th

,swep t o ’er his waveri ng mind

In stream transvers e and,bribed by spoi ls of Gaul

And golden gifts of Ce sar,Curio changed

Turned wi th his change the scale of human th ings .True , mighty Sulla , Cinna s tained with bloodAnd cruel Marius

,and the long descen t

2 1 5

PHARSALIA [BOOK Iv .

Gallorum cap tus spoliis e t Cae saris auro .

I us l ice t i n iugulos nostros s ib i fe ce ri t enseSul la pote ns M ariusqu e ferox e t Cinna cruen tusCae sare ae qu e domus series cui tanta po testasConcessa e st emere omnes

,hie ve ndidit urbem .

2 1 6

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THE ORACLE THE MUT IN'

THE STORM

M . ANNAE I LVCANI

DE BELLO C IV IL I

LIBER QVINTVS

SIC al terna duces be llorum volnera passosI n M ace tum terras m isce ns adve rsa se cundisSe rvavit Fortuna pares . Iam sparse rat H aemo

B ruma n ives ge l idoque e adens Atlanti s Olympo ,

Instabatqu e d ies , qui dat nova nomina fastisQuique co lit primus duce ntem tempora Ianum .

Dum tame n emeri t i remanet pars ul t ima iuri s,

Consul ute rqu e vagos bel l i per munia patresE l i ci t Epirum . Peregrina ac sordida sedesRomanos cepi t proceres , se cre taque rerumH ospe s in e xte rnis audivit curia te ctis .Nam quis castra voce t to t strictas iure secures

,

Tot fasces docuit populos venerabili s ordo ,Non Magni partes

, se d Magnum in part ibus es se .U t primum mae stum te nu e re sile ntia coe tum

,

Lentulus e cel sa sub l imis sede profaturIndole S i dignum Latia , si sanguine p riscoRobur ine st animis

,non qua tel lure coacti

Quamque procul te ctis captae se de amus ab urbi s ,Cernite se d ve strae faciem cognoscite turbae

Cunctaque iussuri p rimum hoc de ce rnite , patres ,

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PHARSAL IA [BOOK v .

Quod re gnis popu lisqu e l ique t, nos esse se natum .

Nam ve l Hype rbore ae plaustrum glaciale sub UrsaeVel plaga qua torrens claususque vaporibus axi sN e e pati tur nocte s ne e iniquos crescere sol es ,S i fortuna f e rat, rerum nos summa se qu e turImpe riumque comes . Tarpeia sede pe rustaGallorum facibus Ve iosque h ab itante CamilloIllic Roma fui t . Non umquam pe rdidit ordoMutato sua iura solo . M ae re ntia tectaCaesar habet vacuasqu e domos le ge sque sile ntis

C lausaqu e iustitio t ri s ti fora . Curia solo sI l l a vi det patres

,plena quos urbe fugavit .

O rdi ne de tanto quisqui s non e xsulat hic e st .

I gnaros sce le rum longaqu e i n pace quietosBe llorum primus sparsit furor omnia rursusMembra loco re de unt . En toti s viribus orbi sH e spe riam pensant superi iace t host i s i n undisObru tu s Illyricis L ibyae squale ntibus arvi sCurio Cae sare i ce cidit pars magna senatus .Tollite S igna

,duces

,fatorum impe llite cursum

Spem ve stram prae state dei s fortunaque tantosDe t vobi s animos

,quantos fugie ntibu s hostem

Causa dabat . Nostrum exhausto ius clauditur annoVos

,quorum finem non es t se nsura potestas

,

Consu lite i n medium,Patres

,M agnumque iube te

Es se ducem.

” Lacto nomen c l amore senatus

2 2 2

BOOK v . ] THE ORACLE

Whose t ruth al l peoples and al l kings confessWe are the Senate . Let the frozen wainDemand your presence , or th e torrid zoneWhere day and darkness march wi th equal tread

,

With you abide s the maj e s ty of Rome .When flamed the Cap i tol wi th fi res of GaulRome wi th Camil lus went w i th change of cl imeYour order ever shall p reserve i t s righ ts .With Ce sar are sad houses

,vacan t homes

,

Laws si l en t for a space,and forums closed

I n publ ic fas t . His Senate—house beholdsThose Fathers only whom from Rome i t drove

,

While Rome was full . Of that h igh order al lNot here

,are exi les .1 Ignorant of war

,

I t s crimes and bloodshed,th rough long years of peace

Ye fled its outburs t now in session al lAre here assembled . See ye how th e godsWeigh down I tal i a’s l oss by al l th e worldThrown in the other scale I l lyri a ’s waveRol l s on our foes in Libya ’ s ari d was tesIS fal len thei r Curio

,th e weigh ti er part

Of Ce sar ’s senate Lift your standards,then

,

Spur on your fates and prove your hopes to heaven .

Let Fortune,smi l ing

,give you courage now

A s, when ye fled

,your cause . The Consuls ’ power

Fails wi th the dying year no t so does yoursBy your commandmen t for the common wealDecree Pompe ius l eader .

” With app lause

1 Th at i s to say, Ce sar ’ s S e na te at Rome could boas t of those S e nator s only whomi t had, be fore Pompe ias ’ fl ight , de c l are d publ i c e nem ie s . But th e y we r e to be re garde das e xi le s, having los t th e i r r ight s, r athe r than the Se nator s in Epi rus, who we re i n ful lposse ss ion of the i r s .De an Me r ivale says that p robabl y Ce sar ’ s S e nate was not le ss nume rous than h i sr ival ’ s . Duruy says the re we re 200 Se nator s in Pompe ius ’ camp, out of a total of be twe e n500 and 600. Mommse n say s : The y we re ve r i tably em igrant s . Th i s Roman Coble n t zp re se nte d a pit iful spe ctac le of the h igh p re te ns ions and pal try pe r formance s of the grande e sof Rome .

”

(Vol. iv ., p . A lmos t al l the Consulars we re with Pompe ius ,

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Excipit e t Magno fatum patriaeque suumque

Imposui t . Tune i n reges populosque me re ntis

Sparsus honor, pe lagiqu e pote ns Pho e be ia donisExornata Rhodos ge lidique incul ta iuventusTayge ti fama ve te re s laudantu r AthenaeM assiliaequ e suae donatur l ibera Phoci s .1

Tune Sadale n fortemqu e Cotyn fidumqu e per armaDe iotarum e t ge lidae dominum Rhascypol in oraeCollaudant , L ibyamqu e iube nt auctore sematuSceptrife ro parere I ubac . Pro tri st i a fataE t t ibi

,non fidae genti s d i gni ssime regno ,

Fortunae,Ptolemae e , pudor crime nque de orum ,

Cingere Pe llae o pre ssos diademate crin i sPe rmissum . Saevum i n populos puer accipis e nsemAtque utinam in populos donata es t regia Lagi

,

Access i t Magni iugulus re gnumque sororiE reptum e st soce roque nefas . l am turba solu toArma peti t coe tu . Quae cum popul ique duce squeCasibus ince rtis e t caeca sorte parare nt ,Solus in ancipite s me tui t de sce nde re Marti s

2 Appius eventus finemqu e e xprome re rerumSollicitat supe ros , multosque obducta per annosDe lphica fatid ic i re se rat penetral i a Phoebi .

Hesperio tantum,quantum submotus coo

Card ine , Parnasu s gemino peti t ae the ra col le ,Mons Phoe bo Bromioqu e s acer , cui numine m ixto

1 Phoc i s i s a confusion for Phoce a, wh ich i t i s pe rmiss ible to corre ct .2 App iu s was Proconsul and in command of Acha ia for the Se nate . H e abandoned

h i s dut ie s and sough t the orac le a t De lph i, obtain ing a pre diction of h i s own d isastrousfate . A s a re sul t of th is de se rt ion of Acha ia Ce sa r had the le ss d ifficul ty in e stabl i sh ingh imse l f in The ssaly .

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

De lph ica The banae re fe runt t ri eterica B acchae .H oe solum fluctu terras m e rge nte cacumenEminu it, pontoque fui t d iscrime n e t astri s .Tu quoque vix summam se ductu s ab aequore rupem

Extu le ras unoqu e iugo ,Parnase , late bas .

Ultor ibi e xpulsae preme re t cum viscera partusMatri s adhuc rudibus Paean Pythona sag ittis

Explicu it , cum regna Themis tripodasque te ne re t .

U t V i di t Paean vastos te llu ris h iatusDivinam spi rare fidem ve ntosque l oquacesExhalare so lum ,

sacris se condidit antrisIncubu itqu e adyto vates ib i factus Apol lo .

Qu is late t hic supe rum ? quod numen ab ae the re pre ssumD ignatu r cae cas inclusum hab i tat e cavernasQuis te rram cael i pati tu r deus , omnia cursusA e te rni secreta tenens mundiqu e futuriConscius , ac popul is sese profe rre paratusContactusqu e f e re ns hominum magnusqu e pote nsque ,

1 Sive canit fatum,s eu

,quod iube t i l le cane ndo

,

Fi t fatum Forsan terri s inserta rege ndis2

Aere l ibratum vacuo quae sustine t orbem,

Totiu s pars magna Iovi s Cirrhae a per an traExi t e t ae the rio trahitur conexa Tonanti .H oe ub i vi rgineo conceptum e s t pectore numen ,H umanam fe rie ns animam somat oraqu e vat i sSolvit ceu Siculus flamm is urge ntibu s A e tnam

1 F atum,or fate , me an t or ig inal l y wha t had be e n spok e n : and be fore F ate be came a

powe r, e ve n gre ate r than Jupite r , i t me an t that wh i ch had once be e n spoke n by Jupite r,

and coul d ne ve r be change d— no t e ve n by Jupi te r h imse l f. (Max Miille r, S c ie nce ofL anguage

,

”1 8 6 2

,p .

2 Th i s passage re fe r s to the S toical doc t r ine of the soul , wh ich pe rvade d the un i ve rseand which i s ide nt ifi e d with Jupite r. Compare V i rgi l , “ JEne id , v i . 724-728 . Se e

al so Book IX . 578-580 .

2 26

BOOK v. ] THE ORACLE

And Paean consecrate ; to whom conj o inedThe Theban band leads up th e Delphic feastOn each thi rd ye ar . When se a prevailed on

earthAlone Parnasus scarcely topped the floodOne summit on ly parted waves and skThe other whelmed . When Themis ruled the spot 1

There,to avenge h is mother

,from her home

Chased by the angered goddess while as ye tShe bore him quick wi th in her

,Pae an came

And wi th unprac tis ed darts the Python sl ew .

But when he saw how from the yawning caveA godl ike knowledge breathed

,and all the ai r

Was ful l of voices murmured from the depths,

He took the shrine and fi l led the deep recessH enceforth a prophet . Wh ich of al l th e godsFor this dark cave re signed the l igh t of heavenWhat sp i ri t tha t knows the secret s of the worldAnd th ings to come

,here condescends to dwell

,

Supreme,omnipotent bears mortal touch

,

And deigns to speak to man in word s div inePerchance h e sings the fates perchance the

song,

Once sung,is fate . Hap ly some part of jove

Here pri soned for th e rule of earth,whose orb

I t holds i n balance on the emp ty ai r,

B reathes th rough the cavern,as i t seeks return

To heavenly regions and its kindred god .

This dei ty conceived in maiden breas tSmi tes on her human soul— th en i ssues forthThe prophe t voice as when in Sici lyFrom A e tna

’

s summit gush compell ing flames ,

1 Themis, the godde s s of l aw, was in posse ss ion of the De lphic orac le , pre v ious toApol l o . (JE sch. , Eume nide s,” l ine As to the ar r ival of Apol lo, se e Grote , i .40, 4 1

2 27

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

U ndat apex Campana f reme ns ceu saxa vaporatConditus Inarim e s ae te rna mole Typhoeus .H oe tame n e xpositum cunctis nulliqu e negatum

Numen ab humani solum s e l abe fu roris 1

Vindicat . Haud ill ic taci to mala vota susurroConcipiunt . Nam fixa canens mu tandaqu e nul l iMortales op tare ve tat iustisqu e be nignu s

Saepe dedi t sedem totas mutantibus urbes,

U t Tyriis dedi t i l l e minas impellere bell i,

U t Salaminiacum mem init mare sustul it i rasTe l luris s terili s monstra to fine re solvit

Aera tabificum . Non ul lo saecul a donoNostra care nt maiore deum ,

quam De lphica sede sQuod silu it

, postquam reges timue re futuraE t supe ros ve tu e re loqu i . N e e voce negataCirrhae ae mae re nt vates

,templ iqu e fruuntu r

Iu stitio . Nam si qua deus sub pectora veni t,

Num inis au t poena e st mors immatura re ce ptiAu t pretium quipp e s t imulo fluctuqu e furorisCompages humana labat

, pulsusqu e de orum

Concutiunt fragi le s animas . Sic tempore l ongoImmotos tripodas vastae qu e sile ntia rupis

Appiu s H e spe rii scrutator ad ul tima fatiSollicitat . Iu ssu s sedes laxare ve re ndas

1 Mr Hask in s take s “ furor in th i s passage to me an w icke dne s s ge ne r al l y . But i tse ems to me that the Poe t me an t human fre n z y , or pass ion , from wh ich he says tha t theorac le was fre e , g iving i ts advic e with div ine impar tial i ty, and with in te n t to be ne fi t thesu i tor s .

2 2 8

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Antistes pavidamque dei s immitte re vatem

Castal ios ci rcum lati ces nemo rumqu e recessusPhemono e n errore vagam e u risque vacantem

Corripu it cog itque fores irrumpe re templi .Limine te rrifico me tue ns consi stere Phoe basAbste rre re ducem nosce ndi ardore futuraCassa fraude parat . Quid sp e s ,

”a it

,improba veri 1 30

Te,Romane

,t rah i t muto Parnasus h iatu

Conticu it pre ssitqu e deum , seu sp i ri tu s istasD e stituit fauces mundiqu e in devia ve rsumDux it i ter s e u

,barbari ca cum lampade Python

Arsi t,in imme nsas cine re s abie re cavernas

E t Phoe bi te nue re viam se u sponte de orumC irrha s i let fatiqu e sat e st arcana futuriCarmina longae vae vobi s commiss a S ibyl l ae

1 Seu Paean sol i tu s templis arce re noce nte s

O ra,quibus solvat , nostro non inve ni t aevo .

Virginei patu e re doli , f e citqu e ne gatis

Numinibu s metus ipse fid em . Tum torta p ri oresStringit vi tta comas , crine squ e i n terga solutosCandida Phocaica compl e ct itur i nfula l auro .

H ae re ntem dubiamqu e preme ns in temp la sacerdo sImpu lit . I lla pavens adyti pene trale remotiFatidicum p rima templorum i n parte re sistitAtque deum simulans sub pectore ficta quie toVerba re f e rt

,nul l o confusae murmure voe i s

Instinctam sacro men tem testata furore,

Haud acque lae sura ducem,cu i fal sa e ane bat ,

Quam tripodas Pho e bique fidem . Non rup ta trementi

Verba sonO ne e vox antri comple re capacis

1 Compare Book IX . 1 9 1“ i n hoe tame n u t i l i s ae vo

Cui non ul la fuit jus t i re ve re ntia .

2 30

BOOK v . ] THE ORACLE

The prophetes s to en ter to th e god,

The keeper cal l s Phemono el who strayed

With careless footstep s i n the sacred groveAnd by the fountai n her he b ids to passThe portals . But th e priestes s fe ared to treadThe awful threshold

,and wi th vain decei ts

Sough t to d issuade the chieftain from his zealTO l earn the future . What th i s imp i ous hopeThat moves thee

,Roman

,to unvei l th e fates

Long has Parnasus and its s i len t cleftStifle d th e god perhaps the breath divineHas l eft the gorge to wander th rough th e worldO r when barbari ans se t th e sh rine aflam e

2

The ashes ch oked the cavern s and the pathOf Phce bus or the ancien t S ibyl ’s booksHave told enough the centuri e s to comeO r else th e god

,who from his temp le gates

Spurned the p rofane,finds none to answer now .

But though the maiden would deny th e gods ,Her fears app roved them . On her front she bindsA twi sted fi l let

,while a sh ining wreath

Of Phocian laurel s crowns the locks th at flowUpon her shoulders . Hesi tating yet ,The p ries t compel led he r, and sh e passed wi th in .

But horror fi l led her Of the hol ies t depthsFrom wh ich th e fateful oracle proceedsAnd by the porch

,i n accents Of her own

She feigns the dei ty no words confused ,NO mystic murmurs prove the fi re d iv ineBy such false chant less i nj uring the ch iefThan fai th in Phoebus and the sacred fane.NO burs t Of word s w i th tremor i n thei r tones ,

1 Th i s name 18 one of those g ive n to the Cumae an S ibyl me nt ioned again in l ine 206 .

She was said to have be e n the daugh te r of Apol lo .Probably by the Gaul s unde r Bre nnus, 279 B C.

2 3 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Sufii cie ns spat ium,nul loque horro re comarum

Excu ssae l aurus immotaqu e culmina templ iSe curumqu e nemus ve ritam se credere Phoe boProdide rant . Se nsit tripodas cessare , fure nsqueAppius

, E t nob i s m e ritas dabi s,improba

, po e nas

E t sup e ri s,quos fing is ,

”ait

,n i si m e rge ris antris

Deque orb i s trepidi tanto consul ta tumultu

D e sinis ipsa loqu i .” Tand em con te rrita V i rgo

C onfugit ad tripodas vastisqu e adducta cave rnisH ae sit e t i nsu e to concepit p e c tore numen ,Quod non e xhaustae p e r tot i am saecula rupisSpi ri tus inge ssit vati ; tandemqu e po titu sPectore C irrhae o non umquam ple nior artusPhoe bado s irrupit Paean ; m e ntemque priorem

Expu lit atque hominem toto s ibi cedere iu ssitPectore . Bacchatu r dem e ns al iena per an trumColl a fe re ns, vittasque de i Phoe be aque sertaE re c tis di scussa comis per inania templiAncipi t i ce rvice rotat

,spargitque vagan ti

Obstantis tripodas magnoque e xae stuat i gneIratum te

,Phoebe

,f e re ns . N e e ve rbe re so lo

U te ris e t stimu los fiammasqu e i n viscera mergi sAccipi t e t frenos ne e tantum prode re vat i ,Quantum sci re

,l i ce t . Ve n i t aetas omnis in unam

Conge riem,m ise rumque premunt to t saecula pectu s .

Tanta pate t rerum series,atque omne futurum

2 3 2

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PHARSAL IA [BOOK v .

Nititur i n lucem ; vocemqu e pe te ntia fataLuctantur ; non p

o

rima dies , non ul t ima mundi ,Non modus ocean i numerus non de e rat hare nae .

Tali s 1n Euboico vates Cumana re ce ssuI ndignata suum multi s se rvi re furoremGentibus

,ex tan ta fatorum s t rage superba

Exce rpsit Romana manu . S i c plena laboratPhemono e Phoe bo

,dum te

,consultor ope rti

Castalia tel lure dei,vix inve ni t

,Appi

,

I nter fata diu quae re ns tam magna laten tem .

Spumea tun e primum rabies vae sana per oraE ff lu it e t gemitus e t anhelo e l ara m e atu

Murmura tunc mae stus vasti s ululatus i n antris,

Extremae que sonant domita i am virg ine voce sE ff ugis ingentes tan ti discriminis e xpe rs

Be llorum , Romane , minas solusque quie temEuboici vasta late ri s conval l e te ne bis .

Cetera suppre ssit fauce squ e Obstruxi t Apol lo .

Custodes tripode s fatorum arcanaque mundiTuque po te ns veri , Paean , nu llumqu e futuriA superi s cel ate d iem

,suprema ru e ntis z oo

Imperi i cae sosqu e duces e t fumera regumE t to t i n H esperi o collapsas sanguine gentesCur ape rire times an nondum numina tan tumD e creve re nefas

,e t adhuc dubitantibus astri s

Pompei i damnare caput tot fata te ne ntu r PVindicis an glad i i facinu s poe nasqu e furorisR e gnaque ad ul tore s i terum re de untia B rutosU t pe ragat fortuna , tae e s .

P

Tune pec tore vati s‘

Impactae ce sse re fores,e xpulsaque templ is

2 34

BOOK v . ] THE ORACLE

The compass of the seas , Cre ation’s bi rth

,

Creation ’s death,the number Of the sands

,

All these she knew . Thus on a former dayThe prophetes s bes ide the Cuman shore

,

l

Di sdain ing that her frenzy should be slaveTO other nat ions , from so great a pi l eChose out wi th pride Of hand the fates Of Rome . 2 10

E ’en so Phemono e l aboured ere she found,

Beneath such mighty desti n i e s conce aled,

Th ine,Appius

,who alone hadst sough t the god

I n land Castal ian th e n from foaming l ip sFi rs t rush e d the madness forth

,and murmurs loud

Uttered wi th pant ing breath and blent wi th groansT i l l through the spacious vaul t a voice at l engthB roke from the vi rgin conquere d by the godFree from the war

,in peace

,thou shalt possess

A lonely hol low on the E ubce an coas t . ” 2 20

SO far she spake— the rest Apol lo stayed .

Ye myst i c tripods,guardi an s Of the fates

,

And Pae an thou,from whom no day i s h id

By heaven s high rulers , Master Of the t ruth ,Why fe ar ’

st thou to reveal the d e ath of kings ,Rome ’s murdered prince s

,and the l atest doom

Of tottering Empire,and that western land '

Drenched in I tal ian blood Were yet the starsIn doub t on Magnus ’ fate 'e t sh rank th e godsFrom that

,the greates t c rime O r wert thou dumb

That Fortun e ’ s sword for c ivi l s trife migh t wreakJust vengeance

,and a B ru tus ’ arm once more

Requi te the tyran t ?From the temple doors

Rushed forth th e prophetess in frenzy driven ,Re fe r r ing to the v i s it Of f Ene as to the S ibyl . (V i rg i l, E ne id, v i . 70, e tc. )

2 Re fe r r ing to the batt le of Munda .2 3 5

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Pro siluit pe rs tat rabies , ne e cune ta locutae , 2 10

Quem non emisit , supe re st deus . I l le ferocesTorqu e t adhuc ocu los to toque vagantia caclo

Lumina,nunc vol tu pavido nunc torva minaci

Stat numquam facies rubor igne us infic it oraLive nte sque genas n e c

,qu i solet esse time nti

,

Te rribil is se d pallor in e st n e e fe ssa qu ie scuntCorda sed u t tumidus Bore ae post flamina pontusRauca gem it , s i c muta levant su spiria vatem .

Dumque a luce sacra , qua vid i t f ata , re fe rturAd volgare iubar

,mediae venere tenebrae . 2 20

Imm isit Stygiam Paean in vi scera Le then ,Quae rape re t s ecreta deum . Tum pectore verumFugi t

,e t ad Phoe bi tripodas re die re futura

Vixque re fe cta cadi t .Nec te vi cin i a leti

Te rritat ambiguis frustratum sortibus,Appi

I ure sed incerto mundi subside re regnumChale idos E uboicae

,vana spe rap te

,parabas .

Heu deme ns nul lum bel l i sen t i re f ragorem ,

Tot mundi carn i sse mal is, prae stare de orum

Excepta qui s morte potes t ? Secreta te n e bisL itoris Euboici

,memorando condi te busto

,

Qua mari s angu stat fauces saxosa Carys tosE t tumidis infes ta colit qua numina Rhamnus

,

Artatus rapido fe rvet qua gurgi te pontus,

Euripusque t rah i t cursum mu tantibus undi sChale idie as puppe s ad iniquam classibus Au lin .

Inte re a domitis Caesar reme abat H ibe ris

Victrices aqui las al ium laturus i n orbem

Cum prope fatorum tantos per prospera cursusAvertere d ei . NullO nam Marte subactus

2 3 6

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

1 Intra castrorum timu it ten tori a duc to rPerdere succe ssus sce le rum cum paeme fide le sPer to t bel la manus sat iatae sangu ine tandemD e stitu e re ducem seu mae sto class ica paulumInte rmissa sono clausu squ e e t frigidus ensi sExpule rat bell i furi as se u praemia milesDum maiora peti t damnat causamque ducemqu e ,E t sce le re imbu tos e tiamnunc ve nditat cuses .Haud magis e xpe rtu s d i scrimine Caesar in ul lo e st ,Quam non e stab i l i , t remulo sed culmine cune t aD e Spice re t stare tqu e super titubantia fultus .

To t rapti s truncus manibus gladioqu e re lictu s

Pacue suo,qui to t genti s i n bel la trahe bat

,

Sci t non es se duc i s strictos se d militis cu ses .Non pavidum i am murmur erat , nec pectore tec toI ra latens nam quae dubias constringe re mentesCausa sol et

,dum quisque pave t quibus ipse timori e s t ,

Seque putat solum re gno rum iniu sta gravar1,

H aud re tine t . Quippe ipsa metus e xsolve rat audaxTurba suos qu idqu id mul ti s pe ccatur , inultum e st . 260

Efi’

ude re minas L ice at discedere,Caesar

,

A rabie sce le rum . Quae ris terraque mariqu e

H i s ferrum iugulis , animasqu e e ff unde re vi lesQuol ibet hoste paras partem tib i Gallia nostriE ripu it partem duri s H ispania bel l i sPars iace t Hesperia totoqu e e xe rcitu s orbeTe vincente peri t . Terri s fudisse cruorem

Quid iuvat arctois Rhodano Rhe noqu e subactis

Tot mih i pro bel l i s bel lum civi le de disti .1 The mutiny occur re d a t Plac e nt ia, i n the val le y of the PO, wh e re p robabl y thre ele g ions had be e n s tat ione d and whe re h ad ar r ive d al so the l e g ion or le g ions which hade scorte d Afranius ’

s troop s to the borde r s Of Gaul . (S e e Book IV .

2 38

BOOK v . ] THE MUTINY

No t i n the battle-fie ld he feared to loseThe prize Of al l h i s crimes , but i n the campWith in his ramparts for that fai thful hos t

,

H is comrades trusted in a hundred fields,

Almost forsook h im . The sad t rump perchanceMute for a moment

,and the blade in sheath

Grown cold,had tamed thei r frenzy for the war

O r els e in hope Of greater gifts,thei r cause

And leader they condemned,and sold the sword

S ti ll so i led with murder . By no o ther ri skCae sar more surely learned h ow as he l ookedO ’e r al l th ings el se

,the heigh t on which he stood

Trembled beneath h im . But a moment sinceH is h igh behes t drew nat ion s to the warNow

,maimed Of al l

,with scarce a weapon left

Savi ng h i s own,he knows that swords unsheathed

Are wielded by the so ldi er,not the chi ef.

NO t imorous voice was there no s ilen t wrathConcealed nor doubting mind

,as though alone

Indignant a t th e wrong,and in di stru s t

O f those in turn di s trust ing . Fear in eachHad fled before the boldnes s of the hostThe crime is free where thousands bear the gui l t.They hurled thei r menace Caesar

,give us leave

TO qui t thy crimes thou s e ek’

st by land and se a

Sword s for our throats ; to take these worthless l ivesAl l foes sufli ce le t bat tl e-fie lds Of GaulAnd far Iberi a

,and the world proclaim

How for thy v i ctories our comrades fel l .What boots it us that by an army ’ s bloodThe Rhine and Rhone and al l the north ern landsThou hast subdued ? Thou g iv

’

st us civi l warFor al l these battles 5 when the Senate fledAnd Rome was ours

,what homes did we de s troy P

What temples ? Are our hands inured to spoi l P2 39

PHARSAL IA [BOOK v .

Cepimus expul so patri ae cum tecta se natu,

Quos hominum ve l quos l icuit spol iare de orum PImus in omne nefas

,manibu s fe rroqu e noce nte s

,

Paupe rtate pii . Finis qui s quaeri tur armis PQuid satis e st, s i Roma parum P i am respice canosInvalidasqu e manus e t in anes cern e lace rtos .

Usus abi t vi tae bel l i s consumpsimus aevum .

Ad mortem d imitte senes . En improba votaNon duro l ice at morie ntia cae spite membraPonere

,non an ima galcam fugie nte feri re

Atque ocu los mort i clausuram quae re re de xtram ,

Coniugis illabi lacrim is , un ique paratumSci re rogum . L ice at morbis finire se ne ctam

Sit praete r gladios al iquod sub Caesare fatum .

Quid ve lut ignaros,ad quae porte nta paremur

,

Spe trahi s ? usque adeo sol i civilibus armi sN e scimus , cuius sce l e ris s it maxima merces ?Nil actum e st bel l i s

,s i nondum compe rit istas

Omnia posse manus . N e e fas ne e vincula iuri sH o e aude re ve tant . Rhe ni mihi Caesar in undi sDux erat

,hic socius . Facinu s

,quos inquinar

,aequat . 290

Adde,quod ingrato me ritorum iudice vi rtu s

Nos tra peri t qu idqu id ge rimu s,fortuna vocatu r .

Nos fatum se i at e sse suum . Licet omne de orumObsequium spe re s : i rato mili te , Caesar,Pax e rit .

” Haec fatu s toti s discu rre re castris

Co epe rat inf e stoque ducem deposce re voltu .

S ic eat , 0 sup e ri , quando pie tasqu e fide sque

De stituunt moresque malos sperare re lictum e st

Finem civi l i faciat discordi a bel lo .

Quem non i l le ducem po tu it te rre re tumul tus ?Fata se d in prae ceps sol i tus demitte re Caesar

240

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PHARSAL IA [BOOK v.Fortunamque suam per summa pe ricula gaudensExe rce re veni t ; ne e dum de sae viat i ra,Exspe ctat medios prope rat temptare furores .Non i l l i s u rbes spoliandaqu e temp l a ne gasse tTarpe iamqu e Iovi s sedem matre squ e senatusPassurasqu e i nfanda nu rus . Vult omnia certeA se saeva peti

,vult praemia Mart is amari

M ilitis indomit i tantum mens sana time tur .

Non pude t , heu Caesar,sol i t ib i bel la p l acere

Iam manibu s damnata tui s ? hos ante pige bitSanguinis ? h is ferri grave iu s e rit ? ip se per omneFasque n e fasqu e rues P lassare e t d isce s ine armisPosse pati l ice at sce le rum t ib i ponere finem .

Saeve quid insequ e ris P qui d iam nole ntibus ins tasBel lum te c ivi le fugi t . Ste tit aggere fu ltiCae spitis intre pidus voltu m e ruitque time ri

Non m e tu e ns atque haec i ra dictante profaturQui modo in ab sentem vol tu de xtraque fure bas ,

Miles,habes nudum promptumqu e ad voln e ra pectus .

H ie fuge,s i bel l i finis placet, ense re licto .

D e te git imbe lle s an imas n i l fortite r ausaSe ditio tantumqu e fugam medi tata iuventusAc ducis invicti rebus lassata se cundis .

Vadite meque meis ad bel la re linquite fat i s .Inven ient haec arma manus

,vobisqu e re pulsis

Tot re dde t fortuna v i ros,quot tela vacabunt .

242

BOOK v. ] THE MUTINY

B ut Caesar,wont to trus t upon the throw

H is fates and fortune,and in utmost ri sk 1

Rej oic ing,fron ts thei r anger at its heigh t .

He meets the i r cal l . NO temples of the gods,

No storied towns,no t Jove ’s Tarpeian home,

Not Rome’ s h igh dames nor maidens had he grudged 340

TO thei r mos t savage lus t th at they should ask

The worst,his wi sh , and love the spoi l s Of war.

Nor feared he augh t s ave order at the hand sOf that unconquered hos t . Art thou not shamedThat s trife should p lease thee only

,now condemned

Even by thy minions P Shall t/z ey sh rink from blood ,T/z ey from the sword recoi l ? and thou rush onHeedless of gui l t

,th rough righ t and through unrigh t

,

Nor learn that men may l ay thei r arms asideYet bear to l ive P This c ivi l butcheryEscapes thy grasp . S tay thou thy crimes at lengthNor force thy wi l l on those who w i l l no more .He stood intrep id on a turfy moundFi t to be feared as fearing not at al lAnd thus wh i le anger s ti rred his soul beganThou that wi th voice and hand d ids t rage but now

Agains t th ine absent chief,behold me here

Plunge in th i s breas t,all ready for the wound

And bare,thy sword and end the war and flee .

Thi s mut iny devoid of daring deedBetrays your coward souls

,be trays the youth

Who t i res of v i ctories wh ich gild th e arm sOf an unconquered chief

,and yearns for fl igh t .

Leave me to fate w i th that I ’ l l wage the war,'ou I cas t forth . For every weapon left ,Fortune shal l find a man to w ield i t wel l.1 Montaigne (Book I. , cap . 2 3 ) compare s Caz sar with Louis X I . , “ the mos t mis tr us tful of our k ings ,” who commit te d h i s l ife and l ibe r ty in to hi s e nemie s ’ hands in orde r toshow h i s absolute confide nce in them .

243

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Anne fugam Magni tanta cum c l as se sequunturH e spe riae gentes , nob is V i c toria turbamNon dabit

,impuls i tantum quae praemia bell i

Au fe rat,e t ve stri rapta mercede laboris

Laurife ros nullo comite tu r volne re currus ?

Vos de spe cta , senes , e xhaustaqu e s anguine turbaC e rn e tis nostros i am plebs Romana triumphos .

Cae saris an cursus ve strae sent i re pu tatisDamnum posse fugae P ve luti s i cun e ta m ine nturFlumina quos m isce nt pelago subduce re fontes ,Non magis ablatis umquam d e sce nde rit aequor ,Quam nunc cre scit , aqu is . An vos momenta putatisUlla de disse mihi P numquam s ic cura d e orumSe premi t

,u t ve strae morti ve straeque s alut i

Fata vace nt procerum motus haec cune ta sequunturH umanum pauci s vivit genus . O rb is H ibe riHorror e t arctOi nostro sub nomine miles

,

Pompeio certe fugeres duce . Forti s i n armisCae sare is Labie nu s erat nunc transfuga vi l i sCum duce prae lato terras atque ae quora lustrat .

N e e mel ior mih i ves tra fid e s,s i bell a nec hoste

Ncc duce me ge ritis . Quisqui s mea s igna re linqu itNcc Pompe ianis tradit sua part ibus arma,H ie numquam vul t esse meus . Sunt i s ta profe ctoCurae castra dei s

,qui me committe re tant i s

Non n i s i mutato volue runt mil i te bel l i s .Heu , quantum Fortuna ume ris i am pondere f e ssisAmol itur onus spe rante s omnia dextrasExarmare datur

,quibus h ie non sufl icit orbi s .

I am certe mih i bel l a geram disce dite castris,

Trad i te nos tra vi ri s ignavi s igna Quiri tes .1

At paucos, quibu s haec rab ies auctoribus arsi t ,1 C i v i l ian s , no longe r sold ie rs Th i s con temptuous e xpre ss ion i s sa id to have abashed

the army . Tac itus ,

244

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Non Caesar, se d poena tenet . Procumbite terrae 3 60

Infidumqu e caput f e riendaque te ndite coll a .E t tu

,quo solo stabunt i am robore castra ,

Tiro rudi s,spe cta poe nas e t disce feri re ,

Disce mori . ”

Tremu it saeva sub voce m inantisVolgus ine rs, unumqu e caput tam magna iuven tusPrivatum factura time t

,ve lu t cnsibus ipsis

Impe re t invi to motu ru s mil i te ferrum .

Ipse pave t ne tela s ibi dextrae que ne ge ntur

Ad sce lus hoe Caesar vicit pat ient i a sae viSpem ducis , e t iugu lo s non tantum prae stitit cuses .Nil magi s adsu e tas sceleri quam perdere mentesAtque peri re tenet . Tam diri foederi s ictuParta qu ie s , poe naqu e red i t pl acata iuventus .B rundi sium d e cim is iube t hinc att ingere castris

E t cune tas revocare rates,quas aviu s Hydrus

Antiquusqu e Taras se cre taqu e litora L e ucae ,Quas re cipit Salapina palus e t subdita SipusM ontibu s Ausoniam qua torqu ens frugife r oram ,

De lmatico bore ae Calabroque Obnoxius austro ,Apulus Adriacas exi t Garganus in undas .

Ip se peti t trepidam tutus sine mi l i te Romam

I am doctam servi re togae populoque pre canti

Sci l icet indulge ns summum dictator honorem

BOOK v. ] CfESAR’

S VOYAGE

Ye coward townsmen Bu t some gui l ty f ewI keep

,not as their cap tain , but the ir judge .

Lie,trai tors

,prone on earth , s tretch out th e neck

And take th ’

ave nging blow . And thou whose strengthShal l now support me

,young and yet untaught

,

Behold the doom and learn to strike and die . ”

Such were his words Of ire , and al l the hostDrew back and trembled at the voice of h imThey would depose

,as though thei r very swords

Would from thei r scabbard s leap at hi s commandThemselve s unwi ll ing but he only fe aredLes t hand and weapon to ach ieve the crimeMight be denied t i l l they submitt ing pledgedThei r l ives and swords al ike

,beyond h is hope .

Hearts trained to guil t are held i n sures t thral lBy doom

,by taste of death and Cae sar kep t

,

By dreadful compac t ratified in blood,

Those whom he feared to lose .H e bids them

In ten days’ march Brundusium, and recal l

From Old Tarentum and from Hydrus l oneH is navy, and from Leucas

’ point remote,

And the Salapian marsh where Sipus l i esBy ri ch Garganus , whose escarpment seversThe Hadrian bi l lows on each hand his s lopesBufl

’

e te d by th e W i nd s o r Auster borneFrom rich Apul i a

,or the s terner blas t

Of Boreas rush ing from Dalmatian strands.

But Cae sar en tered safe without a guardRome

,trembl ing

,t aught to serve the garb of peace ,

1 Dictator n amed,to gran t the ir p rayers , forsooth

1 Cae sar was name d D i c tator wh i le at Mass i l ia . E nte ring Rome , he he ld theOffice for e le ve n days only, but was e le c te d Consul for the incoming ye ar,al ong w ith Se rvilius Isauricus . (Cae sar De Be l lo C iv il i,” i i i . 1 ; M e r ivale ,chap te r xv i . )

247

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Contigit e t lae tos feci t se consul e fas tos .Namqu e omnes voces , per quas i am tempore tantoM e ntimur dominis , haec primum re ppe rit aetas,Qua sib i ne ferri ius ullum Caesar abe sse t ,Ansonias voluit glad iis misce re secure s .Addidit e t fasce s aqu ilis e t nomen inaneImperi i rap1e ns s ignavit tempora dignaMaesta nota nam quo mel ius Pharsalicu s annusConsule notus e rit ? Pingi t sollemn ia CampusE t non adm issae d irimit su ff ragia pl e bis

De cantatqu e t ribus e t vana ve rsat in urna .Ncc caelum servare l ice t tonat augure surdo ,E t lae tae iurantur aves bubone s in is tro .

Inde peri t primum quondam ven e randa potes tasIuris inop s care at tantum ne nomin e tempus

,

Menstruus in fastos distingu it saecula consul .Ncc non Iliacae numen quod prae side t Albae ,Haud meri tum Latio soll emnia sacra subactoVidi t flammife ra confe ctas nocte Latinas .I nde rapi r cursu s e t

,quae piger Apulus arva

De se ru it rastris e t inerti tradidit he rbae ,Ocior e t cael i flammis e t tigride fetaTranscurrit curviqu e tenens M inoia tec taBrundisii

,clau sas ven ti s brumalibus undas

I nve ni t e t pavidas hiberno sidere classes .Turpe duci vi sum

,rapie ndi tempora bel l i

I n se gne s exisse moras portuque teneri ,Dum pate at tu tum vel non f e licibus aequorExpertes amimos pelagi sic robore comple tFortius hibe rni flatus

,cae lumque fre tumqu e

248

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Cum ce pe re , tenent , quam quos incumbe re ce rtosPe rfida nubiferi ve tat inconstantia veri s .N e c mari s anfractus lustrandaqu e l itora nobi s ,Sed recti fluctu s soloqu e aqui lone se candi .H ie utinam summi curve t carche sia maliIncumbatqu e fe r e ns e t Graia ad moch i a pe rfl e t ,N e Pompeian i Phae acum e l i tore to toLanguida iactatis compre ndant carbasa remis .Rumpite , quae re tine nt fel ices vi ncula p ro t asIamdudum nub e s e t saevas pe rdimus undas .Sidera prima poli Phoe bo l aben te sub undas

Exie rant, e t luna suas i am f e ce rat umbras ,Cum pari ter solvere rate s tortosque rudentesLaxave re s inus e t fl exo navita cornuObl iquat l aevo pede carbasa summaqu e pande ns

Suppara velorum pe rituras col l igit auras .U t primum l evior propel lere l intea ve ntusIncip i t e x iguumque tume nt, mox reddi ta maloI n med iam ce cid e re ratem terraque re lictaNon valet ipsa se qui puppe s , quae ve xe rat, aura .A e quora len ta iace nt, al to torpore ligataePigrius immotis hae se re paludibus undae .S i c s tat ine rs Scythicas ads tringen s B osporus undas ,Cum glacie retinente fretum non impul it Hister,

1

Imme nsumque gelu tegitur mare comprimit unda ,De pre ndit quascumque rates ne e pervi a vel i sA e quora frangit eques , fluctuqu e l atente sonantemO rb i ta m igrantis scindit M ae otida B ess i .Sae va quie s pelagi mae stoque ignava profundoS tagna tace ntis aquae ; ve luti deserta rigen teA e quora natura cessan t , pontusqu e vetustasObl itus servare vi ces non comme at ae stu,

Non horrore tremit,non sol is imagine vibrat .

1 Appare n tly mak ing the Danube discharge in to the S e a of A z ov .2 5O

BOOK v . ] C fESAR’

S VOYAGE

When winter grasp s the ocean and the skyI t ho ld s them fi rmly

,while in constant spring

B rings fai thless breezes from its pass ing cloudsNo nooks of coas t we search the open se aS truck by the northern wind alone we ploughAnd may he fierce ly fal l upon the sai l sAnd bend the spars

,and to the Greci an towns

Ful l swiftly bear u s el se Pompe ius’ sh ips

From coasts Phaeacian 1 with th e i r swifter oarsMay catch us l ingering . Cas t loose the rope sFrom our v i ctorious p rows . Too long we wasteTempests th at blow to bear us to our goal . ”1 Now the firs t stars appeared

,as Phoebus sank

The moon cas t sh adows as together al lThe sh ips weighed anchor and the b e nding sai l sPul led straigh t the ropes , the sai l ors sl acked the sheetsAnd se t the top sai l s sideways to the windAt fi rs t they drew

,but soon the canvas flappe d

The harbour breeze which bore them from the coas t 480Flagged i n thei r wake . Then al l the se a was calmNO s tagnant pool in deeper s t i l ln es s s leep s .Thus B osporus res trains the Scyth ian mainIn frosty fetters Iste r

’

s s treams no moreImpel the tide

,and sh ips s tand fast in i ce

The waves st i l l murmur in the dep th below ,

While on th e surface sounds the charger ’ s hoofAnd Hess i an wagons cut the frozen se a .

Cruel as tempes t was th e calm that l ayUpon the mournful deep ’gainst Nature ’s l awsA rigid p l ai n as though the se a forgotIts ancient ways and knew the t ides no moreNor owned the breeze nor quivered to the sun .

1 Dyrrhae hium was founde d by the Corcyre ans , w i th whom the Hom e r ic Phae ac ianshave be e n ide n t ifie d .2 S e e note a t e nd of th i s book .

2 5 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Casibu s innume ris fixae patu e re carinae .I l lime infe stae classes e t inertia tonsisAequora motu rae

,gravi s h inc l anguore profundi

Obse ssis ventura fames . Nova vota timoriSunt inventa novo

,fluctus n imiasqu e precari

V e ntorum vires , dum se torpe ntibus undaExcu tiat stagnis e t sit mare . Nubila nu squamU ndarumqu e minae caclo languente fre toqu eNaufragii spes omnis ab i t . Sed nocte fugataLae sum nube di em iubar e xtulit imaque se nsim

Concussit pe lagi movitqu e Ceraunia nau tis .

I nde rapi coepe re rates atque ae quora classem

Curva se qu i, quae iam ve nto fluc tuque secundoLapsa Palae stinas uncis confix it hare nas .

Prima duces vidi t iunctis consi s tere castrisTellu s

,quam voluce r G e nusus

,quam mollior Apsus

Circu e unt ripis . Apso ge stare carinasCausa palus

,le n i quam fal lens e ge rit unda

A t G e nusum nunc sol e n ives,nunc imbre solu tae

Prae cipitant neuter longo se gurgi t e lassat,

Sed minimum terrae vicino l i tore novi t .H oe fortuna loco tantae duo nom in a fama e

Composu it m ise rique fui t spes irri ta mundi ,Posse duces parva camp i statione diremptosAdmo tum dammare nefas nam cernere vol tu sE t voces audi re datur multosqu e per annosDile ctus t ib i , Magne , scce r post pignora tan taSanguin is , infaustam sobolem mortemqu e nepo tis ,Te ni s i Ni l i aca propius non vidi t harena .Cae saris attonitam m isce nda ad proe l ia m e ntemFerre moras sce le rum partes iu sse re reli c tae .Ductor erat cunctis audax Anton iu s armi sI am tum civi l i m e ditatu s L e ucada be llO .

y-s

1 Jul ia d ie d i n ch i ldbe d,and the ch i ld d id no t long surv ive he r. Book I . , l ine I 1 3

(L a t in) , 1 26 (E ngl i sh ) . Th i s passage i s Obscure .

2 5 2

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v .Illum sae pe minis Caesar pre cibusque morantem 480

Evocat O mundo tantorum causa laborum,

Quid supe ros e t fata tenes P sun t cetera cursuActa meo summam rapt i per prospera bel l iTe poscit Fortuna manum . Num rup ta vadosisSyrtibus incerto L ibye nos dividit ae stu PNumquid inexperto tua cre dimus arma profundo ,Iuque novos trahe ris casus P ignave

,veni re

Te Caesar,non i re

,iube t . Prior ip se per hostes

Pe rcu ssi medias alien i iu ri s hare nasTu mea castra t imes P pe re untia tempora fat iConqueror

,in ven tos impe ndo vota fre tumque

Ne retine dubium cupie ntis i re per aequorS i bene nota mih i e st

,ad Cae saris arma iuventus

Naufragio ven i sse volet . Iam voce dolori sU te ndum e st, non ex aequo divisimus orbem

E pirum Cae sarqu e tenet totusqu e senatus ,Ausoniam tu solus habes .” H is terque quate rqueVocibus e xcitum postquam cessare vide bat,Dum se de e ss e deis ac non s ibi numina cred i t ,Sponte per incautas audet temp rare late bras ,QuOd iuss i timue re fretum , temerari a pronoExpe rtus ce ssisse deo fluctusqu e ve re ndos

C lassibus exigua spe rat superare carina.

Solve rat armorum fessas nox languida curasParva qu ie s m ise ris , in quorum pectora somnoDat vires fortuna minor . Jam castra sile bant,Tertia iam vigi les commove rat hora se cundos

2 54

BOOK v . ] TH E STORM

But Ce sar urges h im with prayers and threatsMaker Of mischief

,plague of all th e world

,

Why stay the gods and fate s ? my voyage gained 5 30

Th e t riumph s which al ready we have won,

And Fortune leaves thee bu t a final stroke .

DO Libyan Whirlpools with decei tful tid e sUncertain separate us P I s the deepUntri ed to which I cal l P TO unknown ri sksArt thou commanded P Not to see k a foe

,

But come to C e sar call ing . I was firstTh rough navies on the watch to seize the shoreAnd dost thou fear my camp P On winds and wavesI Spend my vows and mourn the waste Of day s 540

Which fate allo tted us . Then hold no t back1 Thy willing troops

,but le t them dare the se a

H ere gladly shall they come to j oin my camp,

Though ri sking sh ipwreck with indignan t voiceI cal l upon thee . Not in equal sharesThe world has fal l en between us thou aloneDost hold I tal i a

,bu t Ep i rus I

And all th e lord s Of Rome . ” Twice cal l ed and thriceAntonius l ingered sti l l but Ce sar ’s mindWas that he failed the god s

,not they h is cause.

By nigh t he braved the s trai t wh ich others fearedThough bidden for he knew that daring deedsAre safely wrought beneath the smile of heavenAnd thus he hoped in fragi le boat to crossThe s tormy bi l lows fearful to a fleet .

Now gentle n igh t had brough t repose from armsAnd sleep

,bles t guard ian of the poor man ’s couch

,

Restored the weary and the camp was s ti l l .The hour was come that called the second watch

1 According to Ce sar, De Be l lo Civ i l i, i i i . 26 , i t was the sold ie r s who pe r suaded

Anton ius to s tar t .2 5 5

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Caesar sol l ic i to per vasta sile ntia gre ssuVix famulis aude nda parat

, cunctisqu e re lictis

Sola placet Fortuna comes . Tentori a postquamEgre ssu s vigilum somno ce de ntia membraTransiluit, qu e stus tac i te quod fal le re posset .Lito ra curva l egit prim isque i nveni t in undi sRupibus e xe sis hae re ntem fun e carinam .

R e ctorem dominumque rat is secura te ne batH aud procul i nde domus, non ullo robore fulta ,Sed steril i iunco cannaqu e inte xta palustriE t l atus inversa nudum muni ta phase lo .

H aec Caesar bi s terque manu quassantia tectumLimina commovit . Moll i consurgit Amyclas ,Quem dabat alga

,toro . Quisnam mea naufragus

Tecta pe tit P au t qu em nostrae fortuna coe g itAuxil ium sperare casac P S ic fatus ab al toAggere iam tepidae sublato fune favi llaeScintillam te nuem commo tos pavi t i n ignesSe curus bell i prae dam c ivil ibus armisSci t non esse casas. O vi tae tu ta facultasPauperi s angustiqu e lares o munera nondumInte lle cta deum Quibus hoc continge re templisAut potu it muri s nullo trepidare tumultu

Caesarea pulsante manu P Tum pos te reclu soDux ait Exspe cta votis maiora mode stis

Spe squ e tuas laxa , iuve n is s i iussa se cu tusMe ve his H e spe riam ,

non ul tra cun e ta carinaeDe be bis

,manibusqu e inopem duxisse s e ne ctam .

Ne cessa prae be re deo tua fata volent iAugustos opibus subitis imple re penatesS ic fatur

,quamquam pleb e i o te c tu s amic tu ,

Indocilis privata loqu i . Turn pauper Amyclas

2 56

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v

Mul ta quidem p rohibent noc turno credere ponto 540

Nam sol non ruti l as de duxit i n aequora nubesConcorde sque tul i t radios noton altera Phoe bi ,Altera pars borean diducta luce vocabat .

O rbe quoque e xhaustus medio langue nsque re ce ssit

Spe ctantis oculos infirmo lumine passusLunaque non grac i l i surrexit l uc ida cornuAut orbi s medi i puros e xe sa recessusNcc duxit recto te nuata cacumina cornuVe ntorumqu e nota rubu it tum lurida palle nsO ra tul i t vol tu sub nubem tri s t i s ituro .

Sed mihi ne e motus nemorum nec l itoris ictu sNcc p lace t ince rtus qu i provocat ae quora delph inAut s iccum quod mergus amat , quodque ausa volareArdea subl imi s p innae confisa natant iQuodque caput spargens undi s , ve lut occupe t imbrem,

Instabi l i gre ssu me titur litora corn ix .

Sed si magnarum poscunt discrimina rerum ,

Haud dubitem prae be re manus vel l itora tangamIussa

,vel hoe potius pe lagu s flatusque ne gabunt .

”

Haec fatur solve nsqu e ratem dat carbasa venti s 560

Ad quorum motus non solum lap sa per al tumAera dispersos traxe re cade ntia sulcosS idera, se d summis etiam quae fixa te ne nturAstra pol i s

,sun t vi sa quati . Niger inficit horror

Terga maris , longo per multa volumina tractuA e stuat unda minax flatusque incerta futuriTurbida te stantur concep tos aequora ventos .Tune rec tor trepidae fatur rati s Adspice , saevum

Quanta paret pe lagus z ephyros inte ndat an eurosInce rtum e st puppim dubius f e rit undique pontus . 570Nubibus e t cae lo notus e st S i murmura pontiConsulimus , cauri ve rrunt mare . Gurgi te tanto

2 58

BOOK v THE STORM

Twere dangerous to brave the deep to-nigh t .The sun descended not in ruddy cloudsO r peaceful rays to rest part of hi s beamsPresaged a southern gale , the res t proclaimedA northern tempest and h is middle orb

,

Shorn of its s trength , permitted human eyesTo gaze upon hi s grandeur and th e moonRose not w i th si lver horns upon th e n igh tNor pure in middle space her s lender pointsNot drawn arigh t

,bu t blush ing wi th the track

Of raging tempests,t i l l her lurid ligh t

Was sadly ve i led wi th in th e clouds . AgainThe fores t sounds the surf upon the shoreThe dolphin ’ s mood

,uncertain where to play ;

The se a-mew on the land the heron usedTo wade among the shal lows

,borne aloft

And soaring on his wings— al l these alarmThe raven

,too

,who p lunged his head in spray

,

A s i f to antic ipate the coming rain,

And trod the margin with unsteady gai t .But if the cause demands

,behold me th ine .

E i the r we reach the bidden shore,or el se

S torm and the deep forbid—w e can no more .Thus said

,he loosed the boat and rai sed the sai l .

NO sooner done than stars were seen to fal lI n flaming furrows from the sky nay

,more

The pole star trembled in its place on h ighB lack horror marked the surging Of the se aThe threaten ing ocean boi l ed i n trac t s of foam

,

Uncertai n of the wind,yet seized wi th storm .

Then spake the cap tain of the t rembling barkSee what remorseless ocean has i n storeWhether from east or west the storm may comeWe know not yet from every side the mainIs dashed upon us . Judged by clouds and sky

2 59

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .Ncc rati s Hesperi as tanget ne e naufragus oras .Desperare vi am e t ve titos conve rte re cursusSola salus . L ice at vexata l ito ra puppePrendere

,ne longe nimium s i t proxima tel lus .

Fi sus cun e ta sib i ce ssura pe ricula CaesarSpe rne minas ,

”inqu it , pelagi ventoque furenti

Trade sinum . Italiam si caclo auctore recusas ,Me pete . Sola tibi causa e st haec in sta timoris ,

Ve ctorem non nosse tuum , quem numina numquamD e stituunt, de quo male tune Fortuna me re tur,

Cum post vota veni t . Medias pe rrumpe procel las ,Tutel a secure mea . Cael i i s te fre tique ,Non puppis nostrae , labor e st hanc Caesare pre ssamA fluctu de fe nde t onus . Ncc longa furoriVe ntorum saevo dabitur mora prode rit undi sI s ta rat i s . Ne flecte manum

,fuge proxima vel i s

L itora tune Calabro portu te crede potitum ,

Cum iam non pote rit puppi nostrae qu e salut iAl tera terra dari . Quid tanta s trage pare tur ,Ignoras P quae rit pelagi cae lique tumu ltu ,

Quid prae ste t Fortun a mih i .” Non plura locuto

Avol sit laceros pe rcu ssa puppe rude ntisTurbo rapax fragilemqu e super volitantia malumVela tul i t sonuit v ic ti s compagibus alnu s .Inde ruunt to to congesta pe ricula mundo .

Primus ab oceano caput e xse ris A tlante o ,

Caure , movens aes tus i am te tolle nte fu re batPontus e t i n scopu los totas e rexe rat undasOccurri t ge lidu s boreas pe lagusqu e re tund it

E t dubium pende t , vento cui pare at , aequor .Sed Scythici vicit rabies Aqu ilonis e t undas

2 60

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

To rsit ct abstrusas penitus vada feci t hare nas .

Nec pe rfe rt pontum B oreas ad saxa suumqueIn fluctus Cauri frangit mare motaque possunt

A e quora subductis et iam concurre re venti s .Non Euri cessasse minas

,non imbribus atrum

A e olii iacu isse Notum sub carcere saxiCre dide rim cunctos sol i ta de parte ru e ntisD e fe ndisse suas vi ol ento turbine terras ,Sic pe lagus mansisse loco . Non parva proce llisA e quora rapta fe runt A e gae as t ransi t i n undasTyrrhenum

,sonat I on io vagus Adri a ponto .

A quotiens frustra pulsatos ae quore montesObruit i l l a d ie s quam celsa cacum in a pe ssumTellu s vi e ta dedi t non illO l i tore surguntTam val idi fluctus

,alioque ex orbe voluti

A magno venere mari,mundumque coe rcens

M onstrife ros agi t unda sinus . S i c rec tor Olympi 6 20

Cusp ide fraterna lassatum i n saecula fulmenAdiuvit , re gnoque access i t terra secundo ,Cum mare convolvit gentes

,cum litora Tethys

Noluit ul la pat i cae lo contenta teneri .Nunc quoque tan ta mari s moles crevisse t i n as tra ,Ni supe rum rec tor pre ssisse t nubibus undas .Non caeli nox i l l a fui t late t Obsitus aerInfe rnae pallore domus nimbisque gravatusDeprimitu r, fluctusque i n nub ibus accip i t imbrem .

Lux eti am me tue nda peri t , ne e fulgura curruntClara

,se d Obscurum nimbosus dissilit aer.

Tune supe rum convexa tremunt , atque arduus ax i s

2 62

BOOK v. ] THE STORM

Then Scythi an Aquilo prevailed , whose blas tTossed up the main and showed as shallow pool sEach deep abyss and yet was not the se aHeaped on the crags

,for Caurus ’ bi l lows me t

The wave s Of Boreas such seas had clashedEven were the winds wi thdrawn Eurus enragedBurst from the cave

,and Notus black with rain

,

And all the winds from every part of heavenS trove for the ir own and thus the ocean stayedWith in h is boundaries . The tempests sweepNO pet ty seas adrift the Tuscan mainI nvades th ’

n e an i n I on ian gulfSounds wandering Hadria . How long the cragsWh i ch that day fel l , the ocean

’ s b lows h ad bravedWhat lofty peaks did vanqu i shed earth resignAnd yet on yonder coast such mighty wavesTook not thei r ri se from distan t regions cameThose monster bi l lows

,driven upon thei r cou rse

By th at great curren t wh ich surrounds the world .

1

Thus did the K ing of Heaven,when length of years

Wore ou t the forces Of h is thunder,cal l

H is bro ther ’ s triden t to his help, what t imeEarth i n the se a a second kingdom foundAnd ocean knew no l imi t bu t the sky.

Now,too

,the se a had risen to the s tars

I n migh ty mass,had not O lympus ’ ch ief

Pressed down i ts waves wi th c louds that n lght fromCame no t

,as others bu t the murky ai r

Was dim w i th pal lor Of th e realms belowTh e sky l ay on the deep with in th e clouds

1 The oce an cur re n t, wh ich , accordiug to H e Cate us, surrounde d the wor ld . ButHe rodotus of th i s the ory says : “ For my par t I know of no r ive r c alle d O ce an , and Ith ink tha t Home r or one of the e ar l ie r poe ts i nve nte d the name and int roduce d it intohis poe try ” ( Book I I . 23 , and Book IV . I n “ Oce anus ” JE schylus se ems tohave inte nded to pe r sonify the gre a t surrounding stre am ( “ Prom l ine s 29 1 ,

263

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Insonu it motaque pol i compage laborat .Extimuit natura chaos rupisse vide ntur

Concordes cl ementa moras,rursusque redi re

Nox manes mixtura deis .Spes una salutis ,

Quod tan ta mundi nondum pe rie re ruina .Quantum L e ucadio placidus de vertice pontusD e sp1c1tur, tantum nau tae vide re trementesFluc tibu s e summis pra e ceps mare cumque tume nte s 640

Rursus h iant undae , vix em ine t ae quore malus .Nub i la tanguntu r vel i s e t terra carina .

Nam pe lagus , qua parte s ede r , non ce lat hare nas

Exhaustum i n cumu los,omnisque in fluctibus unda e s t .

Arti s opem vicere metus ne scitque magister,Quam frangat , cu i ce dat aquae . Discord i a pontiSuccurrit m ise ris , fluctusqu e e ve rte re puppim

Non valet i n fluctum victum latus unda repel lensE rigit , atque omni surgi t rati s ardua ven to .

Non hum ilem Sasona vadi s,non litora curvae

The ssaliae saxosa paven t orae qu e mal ignosAmbraciae portus scopulosa Ceraunia nau taeSumma time nt.

Credi t i am digna pe ricula Cae sarFati s esse sui s . Tantu sne e ve rte re

,

” dixi t,

Me superi s labor e st parva quem puppe se de ntem

264

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Tam magno pe tie re mari ? si glori a l e tiE st pelago donata mei be llisque ne gamur

,

Intrepidus quamcumque dati s mihi , numina, mortemA e cipiam . Lice t ingentes abrupe rit actusFestimata dies fati s

,sat magna pe re gi

Arctoas domui gentes inimica subeg iArma metu vidi t Magnum mih i Roma secundumIussa plebe tul i fasces per bella n e gato sNulla mei s abe rit titul is Romana potestas .Nec scie t hoe qu isquam , n i s i tu , quae sola me orum

Consc ia votorum es, me , quamvis ple nus honorumE t dictator eam Stygias e t consu l ad umbras ,Privatum

,Fortuna

,mori . Mih i funere nul lo

E st opus , o superi lacerum re tine te cadaverFluctibu s in medi i s de sint mihi busta rogusque , 670

Dum me tuar semper terraque expecter ab omni .”z

Haec fatum decimus , dictu mirabi le , fluctusInvalida cum puppe l e vat ne e rursu s ab al toAggere de ie cit pelagi , se d pe rtul it unda ,Scruposisque angusta vacant ubi litora saxi s ,Imposui t terrae . Pari te r to t regna, to t urbesFortunamque suam tac ta tel lu re re cepit .

Sed non tam reme ans Caesar i am luce prop inqua,

Quam taci ta sua cas tra fuga comite sque fe f e llit .C ircumfusa duci fl evit gemituque suorum

E t non ingratis ince ssit turba que re lis .

Quo te,dure, tul i t vi rtus temeraria , Caesar P

1 Privatum—La. hold ing, i n h i s own op i n ion, no o ffice be cause he was not ye t King .Hask ins , Francke n.

2 I am inde bte d to Dr But le r , l ate mas te r of Tri n ity, for hav i ng cal le d my at te nt ionto Berange r ’ s poem, L e s Souve nirs du Pe up le ,” i n wh ich the same thought finds e xpre s

The pe asan t woman who has e n te r taine d in he r youth the gre at Napole on te l l s thes tory of h im to he r grand ch ildre n ; and in doing so says :

O n di sait ; Il va paraitre .

Par me r il e st accouru ;L ’

et range r va vo ir son mai tre .

266

BOOK v . ] THE STORM

Here in th i s puny ski ff i n such a se a PIf to the deep the glory of my fallIs due

,and not to war , i nt rep id st i l l

Whatever death they send shal l s trike me down.

Let fate cu t short the deeds that I would doAnd hasten on the end the past i s mine .The northern nat ion s fel l beneath my swordMy d readed name compel s the foe to flee .Pompe ius yields me place the peop l e ’ s voiceGave at my order what the wars denied .

And all the t i t l e s wh i ch denote the powersKnown to the Roman s tate my name shal l bear .Let none know this bu t thou who hear ’s tp rayers ,

Fortune that Ce sar summoned to the shades,

Dic tato r,Consul

,ful l of honours

,d ied

Ere his l as t prize was won . I ask no pyreO r tomb , ye gods wherein my dust may restNay p lunge in middle deep th i s bat tered frameLet earth expectan t fear for my returnThen 10 l a ten th gigantic bi l low raisedThe feeble keel

,and where between the rocks

A c l eft gave safety,placed i t on the shore .

Thus in a momen t fortune , k ingdoms , l ands ,Once more were Ce sar ’s .

Bu t on his returnWhen dayl igh t came

,he en tered not the camp

S ilen t as when he parted for h i s friendsSoon p ressed around

,and ch iding

,thus w i th tears ,

In accen ts welcome to his ears beganWhither in reckles s daring hast thou gone,Unp i tying Ce sar ? We re these humble l ivesLeft here unguarded wh i le thy l imbs were given ,Unsough t for

,t o be scattered by the s to rm P

267

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Au t quae nos vi les an imas in fata re linque nsInvitis sparg e nda dabas tua membra proce llis PCum to t i n hac anima populorum vi ta salusqu ePe nde at e t tantus caput hoc s ibi f e ce rit orbi s ,Sae vitia e st voluisse mori . Nullusne tuorum

Eme ru it comitum,fati s non posse supe rste s

Es se tui s ? Cum te rape re t mare , corpora segni sNos tra sopor tenu i t . Pude t heu Tibi causa pe te ndae 690

Haec fui t H e spe riae P vi sum e st committe re quemquam

Tam sae vo crudel e mari . Sors ul t ima rerumIn dubios casus e t prona p e ricula morti sPrae cipitare sole t mund i i am summa te ne ntemPe rmisisse mari tantum quid numina lassas PSufli cit ad summam bel l i favor i ste laborqueFortunae

,quod te nostris impe git b arenis P

H i ne usus placue re deum ,non rector u t orbis

N e e dominus rerum,se d fel ix nau fragu s e sses P

Tali a iactante s di scussa nocte se re nusOppre ssit cum sole d ies , f e ssumqu e tume nte s

Composuit pe lagu s ven t i s patie ntibus undas .N e e non H e spe rii lassatum fluctibus aequor

U t vide re duces, pu rumque in surgere cae lo

Fracturum pe lagus bore am ,solve re carinas

,

Quas ve ntus doctae que pari moderamine dextraePe rm ixtas habue re diu latumque per aequor ,U t terrest re

,co i t conse rtis puppibus agme n .

Sed nox sae va modum ventu ve liqu e te noremE ripu it nautis e xcussitque ordine puppe s .

Strymona sic g e lidum bruma pe lle nte re l inquunt

Poturae te , Nile , grues , primoqu e volatu

Efli ngunt varias casu monstrante figuras

MOx ubi pe rcussit ten sas no tus altior alas ,

26 8

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v .Confusos temere immixtae glome rantur i n orbes

,

E t turbata peri t dispe rsis l i t tera pinnis .

Cum primum re de unte d ie viol e ntior aerPuppibu s incubuit Pho e be o concitus ortu ,Prae te re unt frustra temptati litora LissiNymphae umqu e tenen t nudas aqu ilonibus undas 720

Succe de ns bore ae i am portum f e ce rat auster .

U ndique col latis i n robur Cae saris armisSumma vide ns duri Magnus d i scrimina Marti sI am castris instare su i s , sepone re tu tumConiugii d e crevit onus , L e sboque remotam

Te proe nl a saevi strepitu , Cornel ia , bel l iOccule re . Heu quan tum mentes dominatur i n acquasIusta Venus dubium tre pidumque ad proe lia , Magne ,Te quoque feci t amor quod nol le s s tare sub ictuFortunae , quo mundus erat Romanaqu e fata ,Coniunx sol a fui t . Mentem iam verba paratamD e stituunt , blandae qu e iuvat ven tura trahe ntemI ndulgere morae tempus subduce re fati s .Nocte sub extrema pulso torpore quie tis ,Dum foy et ample xu gravidum Corneli a curi sPec tu s e t avers i p eti t oscul a grata mari ti

,

Ume ntis mirata genas pe rcussaque cace oVolne re

,non audet fl e ntem depre nde re Magnum .

I l le geme ns Non nunc vi ta mih i dulcior,

”inqu it,

Cum tae de t vi tae,l acto se d tempore

,coniunx

,

Veni t maesta dies e t quam nimiumque parumqu e

D istulimus i am totus adest i n pro e lia Caesar .C e de ndum e st bel l i s quorum tibi tuta latebraLesbos cri t . Desi ste p reces temptare negav i

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BOOK v.] THE PARTING

Strikes on thei r p in ions tense , in loose arrayDispersed at large

,i n fl igh t i rregular

,

They W ing thei r j ourney onwards . S tronger windsWith day returning blew the sh ip s along

,

Past L issus ’ shelter wh ich they vainly sough t,

Till bare to northern blas ts,Nymphe um

’

s port,

B ut safe in southern , gave the fleet repose .

When Ce sar ’ s t roop s were gath ered in thei r st rengthAnd Magnus saw the batt l e day was nearB efore his ramparts , he resolved to freeH is sp i ri t from the load of p resen t love

,

And send h i s spouse Cornel i a from hi s S i de,

Safe from the rage and tumul t of the war,

To Lesbos’ shore remote . Thus , l awful Love ,Thus art thou tyrant o ’er the righ teou s mindH is spouse was the one cause why Magnus stayedNor met th e battl e

,though h e s taked the world

And al l the de s t in ies of Rome . The wordHe speaks not though resolved so sweet i t seemedWhen on the future pondering

,to gain

A pause from Fate B ut at the close of n igh t,

When drowsy sleep had fled , Cornel ia soughtTo soothe the anxious bosom of her lordAnd w in h i s ki sse s then amazed she saw

H is che ck w as tearful , and wi th boding soulSh rank from the h idden wound

,nor dared surp ri se

Magnus i n tears . But s igh ing thus he spakeDearer to me than l ife , when l ife is glad

And not as now ,a burden of despai r,

The d ay of sorrow comes , too long delayed ,Nor l ong enough With Ce sar at our gatesWi th al l his forces , a s ecure retreatShal l Lesbos give thee . Try me not wi th prayersMine own were vain . Nor is our parting long

27 1

PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

l am mih i . Non longos a me patie re recessu sPrae cipite s ade runt casus ; prope rante ruin aSumma cadunt . Sati s e st audisse pe ricu la Magni .Teque tuus d e cepit amor, civil ia bellaS i spe ctare potes nam me iam Marte paratoSe cu ros cepisse pude t cum coniuge somnos ,Eque tuo

, quatiunt m ise rum cum c l ass ica mundum ,

Su rre xisse s inu . Ve re or civilibus armisPompe ium nullo t ri s tem committe re damno .

Tutior inte re a populis e t tu tior omniRege late

, positamqu e procul fortuna mari t iNon tota te mole premat . S i numina nost rasImpul e rint aci es , maneat pars opt ima nostri ,Sitque mihi , si fata premant victorqu e cruentus ,Quo fugi sse vel im .

’

Vix tan tum infirma dolorem

Cep i t,e t at ton i to ce sse re e pectore sensus .

Tandem vox maestas potu it pe r fe rre querela s .

Ni l mih i de fati s thalami supe risque re l ictum est ,Magne

,queri : nostros non rump i t tunus amores

N e e d i ri fax summa rogi se d sorte frequentiPl e be iaqu e nimis careo dimissa mari to .

H osti s ad adve n tum rumpamu s fo e de ra t aedaePlacemus soce rum . S ic e st t ib i cogni ta , Magne ,Nostra fide s P cre disne al iqui d mih i tu tiu s esse,Quam tib i P non Ol im casu pe ndemu s ab unO P

Fu lm inibu s me,sae ve

,iube s tantae qu e ru inae

Absentem prae stare caput P secura vi deturSors t ibi , cum facias e ti am nunc vo ta , peri sse PU t nol im servi re mal i s

,sed morte parata

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PHARSALIA [BOOK v .

Te s e quar ad manes fe riat dum maesta remotasFama procul terras , vivam tib i nempe supe rste s .

Adde,quod adsu e scis fat i s tantumqu e dolorem,

C rude lis,me ferre doces . Ignosce fate nti

Posse pati t imeo . Quod s i sun t vota d e isqueAudior , eventus rerum scie t ul tima coniunx.

Sollicitam rupe s i am te victore te nebunt ,E t puppim,

quae fata feret tam lae ta , tim e bo .

Ncc solven t audi ta metus mih i prospera bel l i,

Cum vacu is pro ie cta l oci s a Caesare possimVel fugie nte capi . Note sce nt litora clariNomini s exsilio , positaqu e ib i con iuge MagniQuis M ityle nae as pote rit ne scire late bras PH oe pre cor extremum ,

si n i l t ib i v i e t a rel inquentTu tius arma fuga , cum te commise ris undi s ,Quol ibe t infaustam potius de fle cte carinam

L itoribus quae re re meis .” S ic fata re lictis

Exsilu it s trati s amens torme ntaqu e nul l aVul t diff e rre mora . Non mae sti pec tora Magn iSustine t ampl exu dulci , non col l a tenere ,Extremu squ e peri t tam longi fructus amoris

Prae cipitan tque suos luctus ne ute rque re ce de ns

Su stinu it dix isse vale vitamque per omnem

Nulla fui t tam maesta dies nam cetera damnaDurata i am mente mal i s firmaque tule runt .

Labitur infe lix manibusque excep ta suorumFe rtur ad ae quore as, ac se proste rnit , hare nas ,Litoraqu e ip sa tenet tandemque i l lata carinae e st .Non sic inf e lix patriam portusque re l iquit

Hesperios , saevi preme re nt cum Cae saris arma .

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BOOK v. ] THE PARTING

Am I to l ive t i l l to that dis tant i sl eSome t ardy rumour of thy fal l may come ?And then thou say ’s t , unfeel ing that by use

Strength shal l be mine to bear such load of i l l sA s fate reserves for us but at such strengthMy spi ri t t rembles . Ah forgive the truth .

And if the favouring gods shal l hear my prayers,

I shal l be las t to hear the v i c toryIn that lone i sl e of rocks . When al l are glad

,

My heart shal l th rob w i th angui sh,and the sai l

Wh ich brings the message I shal l se e with fear,

Not safe e ’en then for Ce s ar in h i s fl igh tMigh t se i ze me there

,abandoned and alone

TO be h is hos tage . If thou p l ace me there,

The spouse of Magnus,shal l not al l the world

Wel l know the secret Mitylene holds PTh i s my las t p rayer if al l is l os t but fl igh t

,

And thou shal t seek the ocean,to my shores

Turn not thy keel , i l l-fated one for th ere ,There w i l l th ey seek thee . Thus she spoke di s traugh t

,

Leaped from th e couch and sped to meet her doom 8 80

N0 s top nor s tay they hasten on thei r gri ef ;She c lung no t to his neck the last caressThey both forego

,the las t fond p ledge of love

N0 word s they utter,and the sweet Farewel l

Rema i ned unspoken . Th i s th e saddes t dayOf al l th ei r l ives for o ther woes that cameMore gently struck on hearts i nured to gri ef.Borne to the shore w i th fail ing l imbs she fel lAnd grasped the sands

,embrac ing, ti l l at l as t

Her maidens pl aced h er senseless in the sh ip .Not i n such grief she l eft her country ’ s shoresWhen Ce sar ’ s host d rew near for now she l eaves ,Though fai thful to her lord

,his s ide in fl igh t

And flees her spouse . All that next n ight she waked

275

PHARSAL IA [BOOK v .

Fida comes Magni vadit duce sol a re lictoPompe iumque fugi t . Quae nox tib i p roxima veni t ,Insomnis viduo tum primum frigida le cto ,

Atque insueta quie s uni , nudumque mari toNon hae re nte l atus . Somno quam saepe gravataD e ceptis vacuum manibus complexa cubile e st

Atque obl i ta fugae quae sivit nocte maritum .

Nam quamvis flamma taci tas u rente medul las,

Non iuvat i n to to corpus iactare cubili

Se rvatur pars i l l a tori . Caru isse time bat

Pompeio se d non superi tam lacta parabantInstabat , mise rae Magnum quae re dde re t , hora .

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