Smile He vents We likewise things as great by Me Perform'd shall carved on Our Houses see Let Me O Carthage see Sagunthus all At once by Fire and Sword together fall Sons by their Fathers kill'd and let there be Space large enough the Conquer'd Alps to see Whereon Victorious Nomades may ride And Garamantians Let Me see beside Ticinus overflow his Banks with Blood And Trebia's and Thrasimenus Flood Choak'd up with Thuscan Corps Flaminius great In Body and in Arms there finde his Fate Let Consul Scipio bleeding fly and on The weary Shoulders of his Pious Son To 's Friends be born Let this divulged be Carthage shall greater things hereafter see Rome burnt in Libyan Flames shall there be shown And Iove from his Tarpeian Temple thrown In the mean time as it becomes Ye you Brave Youth by whose Assistance I can do And have done things so Great go quickly burn Those Monuments and them to Ashes turn The End of the Sixth Book Vt possessa vident infestis littâ—â—a proris Attâ—ntae properè refluunt ad littera Nymphae Qua procul abrupto Protheus imanÌ„is in Antro Cautibus objectis rejectat Caerula vates Honoratiss Domino Domino Georgio Duci Albemarliae Comiti de Torrington Baroni Monck de Potheridge Beauchamp et Teyes Caro 2 dâ— Regi Angliae c ab Intimis Cubiculis Sanctioribus Consilijs Capitanto Geâ—rali omnium Exercituum SumoÌ„ Ducâ— Magno Stabuli Magistro et Incliti Ordinis Periscelidis Equiti c Tabula Summa Cum Observatia D D.D. SILIUS ITALICUS OF The Second Punick VVar. The Seventh Book THE ARGUMENT Fabius is for the War Dictatour made The Libyan by His Policy delai'd Wasts the Falernian Countrey and to gain A Battel sev'ral Waies removes in Vain Vntill at length by the Ausonian Bands Encompass'd in a Vale besieg'd be stands His Stratagem by which His Troops agen Are from this Danger freed the Romane then With Mutiny demanding Battel are By Fabius appear'd At length the War Is to Minutius left who soon doth yield To their Designs and rashly takes the Field To fight at first the Libyan prevails Till Fabius while all other Succour fails Came to the Romanes And who get the Day And Sacrifices to his Honour pay BUT Fabius the onely Hope and Stay Of Rome's distress'd Affairs Ausonia Now sinking through her Wounds and her Allies Soon arms and vig'rously himself applies Though old the hardest Toils to undergo And with his Army march'd against the Fo. His Understanding more then Man's no Force Of Darts no Weapons nor the Strength of Horse Regarded but he went alone 'gainst all The Libyan Forces and their General As yet Unconquer'd keeping in his Breast Alone the Strength and Safety of the Rest And if He had not then resolv'd to stay The Course of Adverse Fortune by Delay That the last Age of the Dardanian Name Had surely been and Rome had lost her Fame The Favour of the Gods that did attend The Punick Arms He temper'd and an End To Libya's Conquests put The Enemy Insulting in the Woes of Italy By his wise Conduct He debell'd and all The Fraud deluded of proud Hannibal Most Noble General Who Troy again Lapsing to Ruin dost alone sustain And sinking Italy Who dost uphold Evander's Empire and whate're of old The Labours of our Fathers gain'd in Wars Go on and raise thy Name unto the Stars But when new Titles had proclaim'd the Choice Of the Dictatour by the publick Voice The Libyan Prince revolving in his Minde That something of Importance had inclin'd The Romanes to that Change of their Command So suddenly desir'd to understand What was the Fortune of the Man what were His Honours or why Fabius should appear Their last safe Authour in Distress Why He After so many Storms by Rome should be Thought equal unto Hannibal and yet It vex'd him that his Years did want that Heat That might expose him through Temerity To his Deceits and therefore instantly He for a Captive calls t' enquire of all His Customs Actions and Original Cilnius a Youth and of a Noble Name From fair Aretium to Ticinus came In an unhappy Hour and by a Wound That overthrew his Horse fal'n to the Ground His Neck to Libyan Chains then yielded He Desirous by his Death himself to free The Libyan thus informs Thou hast not now With fierce Flaminius said He to do Or Gracchus rash Resolves his Family From the Tyrinthian Gods deriv'd had he Within thy Countrey Hannibal been born Carthage the World's Imperial Crown had Worn With a long Series I 'le not strive to show Particulars let this suffice to know The Fabii by one Combat having broke The Peace and shaken off the Romane Yoak The bold Veientes brought the War's Alarms Ev'n to our Gates the Consul cites to Arms Th' old listed Bands Alcides Progeny Fills up a private Camp one Family Sends a (a) The Fabii were of the Patricii of whom see the Comment on the second Book but their whole Army was not so For the Fabii were but three hundred and the Clients that followed them were five thousand See Festus De verborum significatione in the Word Religio Patrician Army to the Fight Three hundred Captains each whereof you might Trust safely with the Conduct of a War Appear But going forth they threatned are With dire Presages Conscious of their Fate The trembling Threshold of the (b) That Gate through which they marched out to the Fight formerly called Porta Carmentalis was in Memory of their Misfortune ever after termed Scâ—lerata Guilty Gate Sends forth a fatal Sound that Altar roar'd Where chiefly the Tyrinthian God's ador'd Yet they invade the Fo and with so fierce A Valour charge that their small Number scarce Could be distinguish'd and their Slaughters are More then the Souldiers oftentimes the War In Globes compacted close they entertain As oft dispers'd in Parties through the Plain They Dangers meet Equal in Labours all And Valour merit to the Capitol To lead three hundred Triumphs but Alass How vain those Hopes each Man forgetfull was How soon all things that humane are decline These men disdaining while the Fabian Line Was safe that Publick Wars should waged be Incompass'd by a sudden Enemy Fell by the Envy of the Gods but yet Thou hast no Cause of Joy in their Defeat For the Surviver is enough for Thee And Libya as with all their Hands will He Alone contend his Limbs so Active are So Circumspect his Industry and Care Secur'd with cautious Ease Not you whose Veins Swell'd high with youthfull Blood can with the Re Sooner restrain nor prick the Warlike Steed Into the Battel with more furious Speed But Hannibal perceiving as He spoke He coveted to dy Thou dost provoke In vain thou Fool our Rage and seek'st to free Thy self from Bondage by Thy Death said He No Thou shalt live and straiter Chains shall press Thy captive Neck Thus swelling with Success And the propitious
the Sand remain And though no Merchants Trade with them yet Gold They have and still by Shipwrack Traffick hold With all the World Nasamonian Sands And seeketh greater Walls that if the Sea Whose Rage we lately felt shall cease to be His Bar into your Cities he will break Think you this desp'rate Youth would undertake The charge of so great Broils and violate With Arms your League or thus precipitate By Vows into a War onely to give Sagunthus Laws or Us of Life deprive Oh! haste suppress the rising Flame for fear The Danger prove too strong for tardy Care Or though you have no Terrours of your Own Nor yet the Seeds of War which he hath sown Appear can your Sagunthus be deny'd An helping Hand so near in (g) The Sagunthines were Allyed to the Latines by the Ardeates derived from the Zacynthians who built Sagunthum Blood ally'd All the Iberi Galli all that are Still thirsting under Libya's fiery Star Under his Ensigns march We pray you by Th' ador'd Beginnings of the Rutuli Laurentine Houshold-Gods and by these dear Pledges of Mother Troy with speed prepare To Aid our Pietie who are compell'd For poor (h) Ardean from Acrisius whose Daughter Danae built it Acrisionean Walls to yield (i) Sagunthine Tyrinthian Tow'rs You nobly did contend 'Gainst a Sicilian Tyran and defend Campanian Walls and once to have expel'd The Samnites strength was a great Honour held Worthy Sigaean Ancestours I call To Witness you Eternal Fountains all That from Time's birth live in Apulia And close Numician Pools when Ardea Too happy then first sent her Youth abroad With Turnus Altars for a new Abode That they beyond Pyrene's Hills with care All the Laurentine Deities did bear Why then as Members from the Body torn Or else cut off should we expect your Scorn Or why should We descended of your Blood Be now opprest because w' have firmly stood Unto your Leagues Thus having ended all Their sad Complaints a wofull Sight they fall Spreading their Squallid bodies on the Ground The Senate strait consult and as they round Their Votes do pass bold Lentulus who seems Ev'n then to see Sagunthus fall in Flames Adviseth That they instantly demand The Youth be punish'd and to waste the Land Of Carthage with a suddain War if they Refuse But (k) Q. Fabius Maximus Dictator famous for his prudent Conduct against Hannibal of whom see Book 6. Fabius who did wisely weigh Future Events in Dubious affairs Not too Elate who would not stir up Wars On Light occasions and well was Skill'd To manage them yet not engage a Field Gravely advis'd In matters of that Weight Not to be Rash but try if 't were the Hate And Fury of the General had mov'd Those Arms or if the Senate them approvâ—d That some be sent who truly might Relate The State of things This as fore-knowing Fate And providently pond'ring in his Breast The rising Broils wise Fabius exprest As when at Stern a Skilfull Pilot finds By Signs some future Danger in the Winds Contracts unto the reeling Yard the Sails But Tears and Grief with Anger mix'd prevails With all to hasten on the hidden Fates And from the Senate chosen Delegates Are to the Gen'ral sent and if he stand Deaf to the League in Arms have in Command To turn to Carthage City and declare 'Gainst them who had forgot the Gods a War The End of the First Book Bellum Segestare Sinu pacâ—â—que ferebat Quid Sedeat legere NeutruÌ„â—â—nâ—â—â—te Senatu Seâ— clausas Acies gremioque effuderitâ— Arma Accipite infaustuÌ„ Libyoe eventuque Priori Paâ— inquit bellum et Laxos effudit Aâ—â—ctus Illustriss mo Celsissimoque Principi Iacobo Secundoâ— Caroli Secundi Fratri Totius Duci Eborac Caroli Martyris Filio natu Angliae Thalassiarchae c Tabula Humillimeâ— Dicata SILIUS ITALICUS OF The Second Punick VVar. The Second Book THE ARGUMENT Embassadours from Rome to Carthage sent Young Hannibal's deserved Punishment For Violation of the League demand 'Gainst Hannibal for them doth Hanno stand The Carthaginians doubtfull to declare What they intended either Peace or War Stout Fabius offers and to Rome returns In voluntary Flames Sagunthus burns And to deprive the Conqu'rour of the Spoil The People and their Wealth compose the Pile THE Latian Ship o're the Herculean Seas The Senate's grave Commands with Speed conveys And some chief Senatours Wise Fabius who Descended of Tirynthian Race could shew (a) The People of Rome assailed on all sides by their emulous Neighbours the Family of the Fabii undertook the War against the Veientes and marched out three hundred six men Of whom saith Livy in his second Book the Senate would have refused none to be their General but they were so unhappy in their Expedition that they all dyed on the Place One Youth onely remaining of whom this great Restorer of the Name descended See more below in the seventh Book Three hundred Ancestours that in one Day The cruel Storms of War had cast away When Fortune that unequally withstood Their Labours stained with (b) Patritii or Patroni were the chief of the Romane Nobility so called either from their number of Clients or from their Wealth Gravity or Number of Children out of which Romulus at first chose his Senate of an hundred in time they came to be three hundred and were called Senatours and their Sons Patritii endowed with extraordinary Privileges Patritian Blood The Banks of Cremera An equal Share With him in Cares (c) Publius Valerius who was made the first Consul with Brutus after the Expulsion of the Kings had the Surname of Publicola given him for that he was a great Lover of the People and their Interess Of him descended this Consular Person who was joyned with Fabius in this Embassie Publicola did bear Who did from Spartan Volesus descend And as his Name imports the People's Friend The Romane Fasces as His Grand-sire bore When Hannibal first heard that these before The Port arriv'd bringing Decrees of State That now amidst the Flames of War too late Forsaken Peace demanded and withall The Punishment of Him the General Included in the League He strait commands His threatning Ensigns and his armed Bands To shew along the Shore their Targets stain'd With Blood and Swords that late in Slaughter reign'd And cries There 's now no Place for Words you hear The Tyrrhen Trumpets sounding ev'ry where And Groans of Dying Men. While yet they may 'T were best they would return unto the Sea Unless they long to be besieg'd All know What Armed men in Heat of Blood may do How lawless Anger is and what drawn Swords Will dare to Act. By these His threatning Words Repuls'd from the inhospitable Shore They haste to Carthage with the lab'ring Oar While he to Animate the Army rails And thus pursues the Vessel as it sails Prepares that Ship to carry o're the Sea My Head Alass Blind Souls and Hearts that be
Of Warlike Sacrifice prepare For now They with clear Promises great things allow Which having seen dear Countrey-men you may Into your native City home convey The End of the Fourth Book Obiuitur telis Nimboque Ruente per Auras Contectus Nulli dextrâ jactare reliquit Flaminum cecidisse sua nec pugna perempto Vlteriorâ— Ductore fuit finem que dedere Illustriss mo Celsissimoque Principi Willelmo Frederico Principi Arausionensium Comiti Nassoviae Cattimel Viand c Marchion Vlissingiae Bredae c Faederati Belgij Terra Marique Imperatorâ— Tabula humillime Dicata SILIUS ITALICUS OF The Second Punick VVar. The Fifth Book THE ARGUMENT Flaminius rash Valour at the Lake Of Thrasimenus The Sidonians take The Hills for Ambush Prodigies foreshow Before the Fight the Roman's Overthrow Both Armies while an Earthquake overthrew Cities and Rivers turn'd the Fight pursue But the Sicilian Troops that basely fly The Field and climb the Trees for Safety dy Together by Sichaeus whose sad Fall Soon after by Flaminius slain by all The Libyans is bewail'd Scout Appius kill'd By Mago whom he wounds what Slaughters fill'd All Quarters how Flaminius bravely dy'd Whose Corps the Romanes slain about him hide NOW Hannibal preparing for the Fight With secret Ambush in the dead of Night The Mountains of Hetraria did invest And all the Passes of the Woods possest On the Left Hand there was a Lake that swell'd Like a vast Sea and all the Neighb'ring Field O're-flowing cover'd with tenacious Slime Here Faun-got Aunus reign'd in Antient time But now 't is known by Thrasimenus Name Whose Sire (a) Tyrrhenus was the Son of Atys King of Maeonia who fearing a Famine resolved to disburden his own Countrey by transplanting some of his People under the Conduct of one of his two Sons Lydus and Tyrrhenus the Lot which was to determine it fell upon Tyrrhenus who planted himself in that Part of Italy which is now called Tuscany He built twelve Cities and was so prudent in Establishing his Affairs that he was feigned to be gray-headed from his Youth He is said to have invented the Trumpet and his People improved so eminently in civil Government that from them the Romanes borrowed all their Triumphal and Consular Ornaments with their Rods Axes other Ensigns of Authority as likewise Musick Augury and Rites of Sacrificing See Strabo lib. 5. Tyrrhenus Lydian Tmolus Fame To the Italian Coasts that since do bear His Name Maeonian Colonies from far By Sea did bring and is by all Renown'd For having taught those Nations first to sound The Trumpet and their Silence broke in Fight Yet not content with this he doth excite His Son to greater things But fir'd with Love Of the fair Boy who with the Gods above For Beauty might compare now Chaste no more (b) Agylle a small City in Tuscany Agylle snatch'd him walking on the Shore Into the Stream This Nymph's Lascivious Minde Was still to Love of beauteous Boys inclin'd And the Italian Darts soon warm'd her Breast But him the carefull Naiades carest Within their mossy Caves while He the Place Abhors and seeks to shun their fond Embrace From hence the Lake a Dowry to his Fame Still conscious of his Rape retains his Name And now the Chariot of the Dewy Night Its Bounds approach'd although the Morn her Light Not yet from her bright Chambers did display But from the Threshold onely breath'd a Ray And Men could less affirm that Night had run Her Course then that the Day its Race begun When through by-Ways the Consul March'd before His Ensigns after Him the Horse no more In Order haste Next in Confusion go The light-arm'd Bands the Foot disorder'd too Forsake their Ranks with them though us'd in War Unfit for Fight the Sutlers mixed are And Ominous Tumults through all Places spread Advancing to the Fight as if they fled While from the Lake a Vapour black as Night Arose and quite depriving them of Sight In a dark Mantle of condensed Clouds Involves the Skies and Day desired shrouds But (c) Hannibal understanding the Temper of Flaminius as a Person rash and violent waited all the Countrey between Cortona and the Lake Thrasimenus with all the Miseries of War thereby to provoke his Enemies to fight Flaminius not enduring it as dishonourable raised his Camp before Aretium and Marched towards him But he no sooner came between the Hills and the Lake but he found himself encompass'd by Hannibal's â—orces and unable to draw his Men into Order they were totally defeated and the Consul slain Liv. Book 22 Hannibal pursues His Fraud the while And in His Ambush closely sitting still Would not permit them in their Haste to be Oppos'd while all the Shore appeareth free From Danger and neglected by the Fo Who to their Fall permits them on to go For they advancing through a narrow Way Before design'd their Safety to betray A double Ruin found The Waters here Contract their Passage there steep Rocks appear And on the Mountain's Top within the Wood T' engage them there a Libyan Party stood Ready to fall on any that should â—ly To a Retreat So when a Fisher by A Chrystal Brook an Osier Wee l doth twine The Entrance large he makes but binds within The Tonnel Close contracting by Degrees The yielding Tops into a Pyramis Through which deceitfull Hole the Fish with Ease Do enter but return not to the Seas In the mean time the furious Consul lost His Reason in this Storm of Fates in Haste He calls his Ensigns on untill from Sea The Sun 's bright Horses re-advanc'd the Day And Rosie Titan to revive the World The Clouds that o're the Face of Heav'n were hurl'd Had quite dispers'd and sensibly to Hell By his clear Rays resolv'd the Darkness fell And then a Bird which as an old (d) Our Ancestours saith Tully lib. De Divinat never enterpriz'd a War before they had first consulted their Augurs This kind of Augury for they were several was frequently us'd among them and if the Birds which were commonly Chickens kept in a Coop refused the Meat thrown before them the Augur pronounced the Enterprize not pleasing to the Gods but if greedily devoured it they encouraged it Presage The Latines us'd before they did engage In Fight he took t' explore the Gods Intent And what should be the following Fight 's Event The Bird Divining future Miseries Refus'd her Meat and from it crying flies With that a Bull a sad Presage before The Holy Altars ceased not to roar And waving with his Neck the fatal Stroak O' th' falling Ax the Sacred Place forsook Besides as they endeavour'd where they stood To pull their Ensigns up the Earth black Blood Into their Faces spouts as to foretell That Slaughter which them afterwards befell Then Iove the Sea and Land with Thunder shook And snatching Bolts from Aetna's Forges strook The Thrasâ—â—enian Lake that smoaking seems To burn and Flames to live within the Streams
things knew and what they fear'd When chang'd in various Shapes he had appear'd And scar'd them hissing like a dreadfull Snake Then roaring like a Lyon fierce thus spake What is it Nymphs that brings you hither tell Why doth that Paleness in your Faces dwell Why seek ye what hereafter shall befall To know To this the Eldest then of all The Italian Nymphs Cymodoce replies Thou know'st already whence our Fears arise What doth this Carthaginian Fleet that thus Deprives us of our Coast portend to us Must the Rhaetean Empire cross the Seas To other Gods Or Tyrian Seamen these Our Ports possess Or from our Native Seat Exil'd must we to Atlas now retreat And dwell in Calpe's farthest Caves Then he Rehearsing things long past ambiguously Thus undertakes to shew ensuing Fate On Ida when the Phrygian Heards-man sate And calling back his stragling Bulls to feed In fertile Meadows with his Pipe of Reed The fam'd Dispute of Sacred Beauty heard Then Cupid who solicitous appear'd T' observe the Time the Snow-white Cygnets joyn'd To 's Mother's Chariot drove a Quiver shin'd Upon his Shoulder and a golden Bow And with a nod to let his Mother know There was no cause to fear shew'd he had brought That Quiver to her Aid with Arrows fraught Some of his Brothers comb her Golden Hair Upon her â—v'ry Fore-head others are Imploy'd Her flowing Garments to compose When sighing from her Lips that like a Rose Blush'd to her Sons this Language fell You see The Day that must a faithfull Witness be Of your great Piety to Me. Oh! who Would e're have this believ'd so long as you Are safe that Venus Beauty and her Face Should question'd be For now what other Grace Remains to us if my Artillery Infected with most pleasing Poison I To You committed have by which you aw Your Grand-sire at your Pleasure who gives Law To Heav'n and Earth then by my Victory O're Iuno and Minerva let me see Cyprus with Idumaean Palms abound And Paphos with an hundred Altars Crown'd While to her winged Boys thus Venus talks A gentle Eccho as the Goddess walks Runs through the Grove and then the (h) Pallaâ— warlike Maid Her Aegis lai'd aside her Hair displai'd That lately by her Helmet had been press'd In Curls with Art and neatly Comb'd and dress'd And Peace enthron'd in her Serener Eys With Speed unto the Place appointed hies () Iuno Saturnia enters on the other side After her Brother's Bed resolving Ide The Trojan's Judgment and Disdain to bear Last (k) Venus Cytherea smiling doth appear And through the Grove and Caves within the 〈◊〉 Sheds fragrant Odours from her Sacred Locks Nor could the Judge endure to keep his Place But dazzled by the Beauty of her Face Fear'd onely lest he should appear to her To doubt The vanquish'd Goddesses transfer Fierce Wars beyond the Seas and Troy was soon With her unhappy Judge quite overthrown Pious Aeneas then by Sea and Land Toss'd up and down in Latium takes his Stand With his Dardanian Gods while Whales within The Ocean shall swim and Stars shall shine In Heaven and Phoebus from the Indian Main Shall rise so long his Progeny shall reign No Bounds of Time their Rule shall terminate But you my Daughters while the Thread of Fate Doth run the Dang'rous Sands of (l) An Island near to Brundusium Sasson flee We Aufidus swell'd high with Blood shall see Driving his purple Waves into the Main And you Aetolian Shades shall once again Fight with the Teucri in that Field so long Ago condemn'd by an (m) The Sibylline which had foretold that the Romanes should receive a great Loss upon the Banks of Aufidus Immortal Song Then Punick Darts the Romane Walls shall shake And Hasdrubal (*) See the fifteenth Book Metaurus Flood shall make To shine with Slaughter And then He that was So secretly begot by Iove's (n) Scipio Africanus See the thirteenth Book Imbrace With a severe Revenge shall expiate At once his Uncle's and His Father's Fate Then shall he fill with Flames Eliza's Shore And force the Libyan tormenting sore The Bowels of Italy to hasten Home And Him in His own Countrey overcome Carthage in Arms shall yield to Him and He Shall from the Name of Africk Famous be From Him (o) Scipio Emilianns another shall arise by whom The third fierce War shall be subdu'd and Rome See him Triumphant after Byrsa's Fall Bring Libya's Ashes to the Capitol While He the Secrets of the Gods detects Thus in his Cave Minâ—tius rejects Both Fabius and his Counsel and with Rage Possess'd the Fo endeavours to engage Nor was the Libyan wanting to foment And feed his Fury But with an Intent T' entice him to embrace a greater Fight With little Loss sometimes dissembles Flight As when the Fish allur'd by scatter'd Baits In some clear Brook forsake their deep Retreats And swimming near the Water's Surface shine The cunning Angler with his twisted Line Soon drags them to the Shore Now Fame which lies Among the Romanes like a Fury flies Telling the Fo was turn'd and Hannibal In Flight his Safety found an End of all Their Miseries did then at Hand appear If they to Overcome permitted were But that their Valour had no other Guid The one that did sad Punishments provide For such as were victorious 'gainst his Will That He within the Camp would shut them still And give Command to sheath their Swords again That so he might a just Account maintain In Arms and Souldiers give a Reason why They dare to overcome the Enemy The Vulgar murmure thus and Iuno fires The Senate's Minds with Envy and Desires Of Popular Air. Then madly they decree Things not to be believ'd and such as be The Wish of Hannibal such as they soon With too great Danger wish they ne're had done For now the Army is divided and (p) Minutius conspiring with some other Hot Spirits of the Army accusing Fabius to the People of Cowardise and Sloath obtained by their Suffrage to be made equal with him in Commission and to have Alternate Command whence this Loss ensued Liv. lib. 22. Minutius shares with Fabius in Command The old Dictatour free from Passion saw And fear'd the Ills that rash Resolv might draw Upon his Countrey therefore full of Care And Pensive to the Camp return'd and there Sharing his Social Forces all the Hills Adjoyning with his Neighb'ring Eagles fills And there at once observes the Libyan's Power And Romane Army from a lofty Tower While Mad to perish or destroy his Foes With sudden Fury rash Minutius throws The Ramparts down and when on either Side Here the Dictatour there the Libyan spy'd Him marching forth their Minds with diff'rent Care This to destroy that to preserve him are Inflam'd But He to Arm with Speed commands And leads from all Defence his hasty Bands The Libyan Captain pours into the Fight His Forces all and thus doth them incite While the
took And threw it at his Face his Jaws were broke Asunder with the Weight his Face no more Its Form retains mix'd with thick Clots of Gore His Brains flow through his Nose and both his Eys Dash'd from his mangled Front he falls and dyes Then Marius fell endeav'ring to relieve Casper his Friend and fearfull to survive His Death Both Youths in Age alike both poor Alike and both Sacred Praeneste bore They joyn'd their Labours and both jointly till'd Their Neighb'ring Fields they both refus'd and will'd Still the same things their Minds alike through all Their Life A Wealthy Concord in a Small Estate They fell together and expir'd In Fight together as they both desir'd Their Arms the Trophy of Simethus were But such a Benefit of Fortune there The Libyan could not long enjoy For now The valiant Scipio with a threatning Brow Came on sore griev'd to see his Cohorts fly And Varro Cause of all their Misery With Curio yellow-hair'd and Brutus from The first great Consul sprung that rescued Rome These by their Valour had the Field regain'd Had not the Libyan General restrain'd With a fierce Charge his Troops about to fly Who when far off He Varro did espy Engag'd and near him moving to and fro The Lictour in his Scarlet Coat I know That Pomp I know the Ensigns of your State Said He such your Flaminius was of late Thus speaking by the Thunder of his Shield His Fury he Proclaims through all the Field Oh wretched Varro Thou might'st there have dy'd With Paulus had not angry Heav'n deny'd That thou by Hannibal should'st there be slain How often to the Gods mightst thou complain That thou did'st scape the Libyan Sword For there Bringing thy Safety when thou did'st dispair Of Life upon Himself brave Scipio all The Danger turn'd nor was fierce Hannibal Unwilling though by that Diversion He The Honour of Opimous Victory Had lost Thee for a greater Fo to change And by that offer'd Combat to Revenge On Him the Rescue of his Father near Ticinus Now the Champions both appear From sev'ral Quarters of the World then whom Earth never yet beheld two Greater come Within the Lists in Strength and Courage held Both equal but the Romane Prince excell'd In Piety and Faith Then from the Cloud Wherein from Mortal Eys the Gods did shroud Themselves leap'd forth to view the Fight more near For Scipio Mars and Pallas full of Fear For Hannibal The Champions both abide Undaunted but their Entrance terrifi'd The Armies Round about thick gloomy Fires Where Pallas moves her Gorgon's Mouth expires And dreadfull Serpents hiss upon her Shield Her Eys like two great Comets through the Field Disperse a Bloody Light and to the Skies From her large Crest the waving Flames arise But Mars the Air disturbing with his Spear And cov'ring with his Shield the Plain doth wear His Mail which by the Lab'ring Cyclops made Aetnean Flames through all the Field displai'd And with his radiant Cask doth rising strike The Stars The Champions on the Fight alike Intent though traversing with watchfull Eys Their Ground perceiv'd the Armed Deities Approach and glad that they Spectatours were Increas'd the Fury of their Minds And here A Jav'lin Pallas from the Libyan's Side Le ts fly with a strong Force which soon espy'd By Mars instructed to afford his Aid By that Example of the furious Maid Strait his Aetnean Sword into the Hands O' th' Youth he puts and greater things Commands At this the Maid incens'd her Visage burn'd In Flames of Rage and She so strangely turn'd Her glaring Eys that in her Dreadfull Look She Gorgon overcame as then She shook Her Aegis all her Snakes their Bodies rear'd And at her first Assault ev'n Mars appear'd A little to give Ground the Goddess still Pursu'd and Part of the adjoyning Hill Torn up with all the Stones that on it grew 'Gainst Mars with all her Force and Fury threw The Horrour of its Fall diffused o're The Plain frights Saffon with a trembling Shore But when the King of Gods this Fight 's Intent Perceiv'd involv'd in Clouds He Iris sent With Speed their too great Fury to allay And thus instructs her Goddess haste away To the Oenotrian Land and there her Rage Command thy Sister Pallas to asswage Bid her not hope to change the fix'd Decree Of Fate and likewise tell Her that if She Desist not for the Poison and the Fire Of Her fierce Minde I know and check her Ire Against the Romane She shall understand How much the dreadfull Thunder of my Hand Excells her Aegis When Tritonia knew This a long time Uncertain what to do And doubtfull in her Thoughts if She should yield T' Her Father's Arms Well We will quit the Field Said She but when W are thus expuls'd will Iove Hinder us to behold from Heav'n above Garganus Fields reeking with Blood This said Under an hollow Cloud the furious Maid To other Places of the Battel took The Libyan General and Earth forsook But Mars the Goddess gone recalls again Their Courage and dispers'd through all the Plain Encompass'd with a Cloud as black as Night With his own Hand strait recollects the Fight The Romanes now their Ensigns turn and Fear Quite lai'd aside the Slaughter ev'ry where Renew Then Aeolus who o're the Winds Is King and them within a Prison binds Who Boreas Eurus Corus Notus and The Rest ev'n Heav'n-disturbing doth Command At Iuno's Suit whose Promises were great Furious (g) A strong South-East-Winde blowing frequently in that part of the Countrey and so called by the Inhabitants which gained in this Fight by the Carthaginians did exceedingly incommodate the Romanes See Livy Book 22. Vulturous whose Imperial Seat Is in th' Aeolian Plains into the Fight Let 's loose for then the Goddess took Delight By him to vindicate her cruel Ire He having div'd in Aetna deep and Fire Conceiv'd strait raising up his flaming Head Into the Air with horrid Roaring fled From thence and through the Daunian Kingdoms blows Clouds of congested Dust and where He goes The dark'ned Air from all as if the Day Were spent their Sight Hands Voices took away Then 'gainst th' Italians Faces Globes of Sand Sad to relate he drives and his Command To fight against them doth with Rage pursue And with that Weight of Ruin overthrew The Souldiers Arms and Trumpets and reverts Upon the Rutuli their flying Darts And frustrates with his adverse Blasts their Blows But all the Weapons that the Libyan throws He seconds and their Jav'lins and their Spears As with the Loop assisting forward bears The Souldiers now chok'd with thick Dust and Breath Stopp'd 'twixt their Jaws that poor ignoble Death Lament while hiding in the troubled Air His yellow Head and strewing all his Hair With Sand Vulturnus with his roaring Wings Sometimes flies at their Backs and sometimes flings Himself against their Faces in a Storm That whistling loud whole Cohorts doth disarm Some that press'd on and
let Them see A single Combate between Thee and Me. Marcellus this demands This said the Fame And Value of the Danger did enflame Him with the Libyan to begin the Fight But this to Iuno was no pleasing Sight Who Him diverted hasting to His Fall From what He then design'd while Hannibal Strives all He can to Rally and to Stay His frighted Troops Such then from Capua And from those fatal Mansions do We come Said He Oh stand ye Wretches You whose Summ Of Glory is Dishonour Credit Me No Place will Faithfull prove to You that flee You have deserv'd that all Ausonia now Should rise against You and it is from You You that with so great Terrour routed are That all may both of Peace and Life despair His Voice suppress'd the Trumpet 's Sound and though Obstructed through their Ears his Clamours go In Graecian Arms young Pedianus stood Most fierce in Fight and from that Trojan Blood Himself derived that from Antenor came Nor less then His Original in Fame Was He (k) A River that descends from the Alps and running more then forty Miles under Ground breaks out again near Venice and emptieth it self into the Adriatick Sea the Euganean Lake not far from it Sacred Timavus Glory and A Name belov'd in the Euganëan Land To Him nor Father Po nor those that boast Their Aponus nor the Venetian Coast Could any Equal finde Whether he fought Or in a studious Life the Muses sought Or turn'd Aönian Ditties with his Quill Not any was more famous for His Skill As He in full Career did close pursue The Libyans at their Backs and near them knew The Cask and Noble Spoils of Paulus slain Worn by young Cinyps who rejoyc'd in vain In that great Favour of his General This Cinyps was belov'd by Hannibal None was then He more Beautifull in Face None in the Fore-Head had a greater Grace So shines that Ivory that in the Air Of Tibur bred Time never can impair Or Gems of the Red-Sea which in the Ear For Whiteness of admired Price We wear Him Glorious in His Helmet and His Crest Well known in the last Rank among the Lest When Pedianus spy'd and to His Eys Paulus from Shades below appear'd to rise Gnashing his Teeth he charg'd him Must said He The Trophies of that Sacred Head by Thee Be worn which not without the Crime of all The Gods and Envy ev'n your General Could wear See Paulus and with that upon The Ghost of Paulus calls to see it done And as he fled his Lance with all his Force Thrusts in his Side then lighting from his Horse Tears off the Cask and Trophies of the Great Consul with his Right-Hand and while he yet Could see despoils him of his Honour all His Beauty is dissolved in his Fall And strait a Stygian Colour over-casts His Snow white Limbs and all the Glory blasts Of His admired Form His Amber Hair Disorder'd falls His limber Neck can bear No more its former Weight but as opprest Sinks with His Head into His Milky Breast So when then (l) Lucifer Cythereian Star again Rising refresh'd from the Eöan Main Himself to Venus boasts if Clouds invade His Face the Lustre of his Beams will fade And soon decreasing in that Mask of Night Retires his languishing and fainting Light Ev'n Pedianus as he takes in Hand His Helmet at his naked Face doth stand Amaz'd and checks his Rage and then away Bearing with Shouts unto his Friends his Prey He Spurs his furious Steed which Stains with Gore From his fierce Mouth the frothy Rems he wore But then Marcellus fierce in Arms came on And meeting Him the Honour He had won Thus gratulates Go Antenorides Go on and by such valiant Acts as these Surpass thy Ancestours it now said He Remains the Spoils of Hannibal should be Our Prize Then fir'd with Rage his fatal Lance With dreadfull Noise he threw nor had perchance His Wish been vain had not the Obvious Force Of Gestar with his Body stop'd the Course O' th' flying Shaft for while He fighting near At Hand defends his General the Spear Not aim'd at Him past through Him ending all His mighty Threatnings in His changed Fall With that the General with Speed withdrew Struck with the Danger of his Death and to The Camp retir'd Then with a Headlong Rout The Libyan Army turn'd their Arms about And all contend who shall most Speedy fly Their Enemies Pursue and satisfie The long-contracted Anger of their Woes While ev'ry Man with Emulation shows To the Revenging Gods and Heav'n His Sword All stain'd with Blood (m) The Reputation of this Victory was of greater Consequence then the Victory it self though some say the Carthaginians lost two thousand three hundred and the Romanes but one man for from thence the Romanâ—s took Courage scarce believing before that Hannibal could be vanquished in open Fight That Day did first afford That which ev'n from the Gods none durst believe Before that it was possible to give A Stand to Hannibal in Fight but then They took His Chariots Elephâ—nts and Men And strip'd the Living and thus joy'd to see That Hannibal did from the Slaughter flee Return Marcellus to the God of War In Honour is compar'd and Greater far In Triumph march'd then when He once did bring (n) His Victory over Viridomarius King of the Gauls See above in the first Book Opimous Spoils to the Tarpeian King But when the Libyan Prince with much ado Had from His Trenches forc'd the Conqu'ring Fo When and with how much Hostile Blood shall I Wipe off this Stain Ausonia saw Me fly Oh Iove said He dost thou conclude that I Am worthy after Trebia thus to dy And You My long-unconquer'd Troops who are Alass now Vanquished without a War By Capua's Wealth I not degenerate From former Acts have seen You turn of late Your Conqu'ring Ensigns from the Latines and Shew'd them Your Backs and when I call'd to stand And fight from Me You fled Affrighted all As if from the Italian General What then o' th' antient War remains said He In You who can when I recall You flee Thus Hannibal while with loud Shouts their Prey The Romane Troops to Nola bear away But Rome which had been long inur'd to hear The sad Disasters of their Friends and ne're Enjoy'd Success the joyfull Tidings brought At Length how Happily they then had fought With that great Favour of the Gods erects Her drooping Head and Courage recollects But first those Coward Youths that slowly to The War were drawn and while it rag'd withdrew And hid themselves from Danger punish'd be For their Concealment Then with Infamy They Mark all those that through a fond Desire Of Life had Arts invented to retire Or in a League with Hannibal had bin Involv'd and purge the Nation from that Sin That fatal Counsel's punish'd and Thy Crime Metellus who consulted in a Time Of Danger to desert Thy Native Land Such then
Fraight The lofty Gally through the River drew With fast'ned Cords Then round about them through The Air the hollow Sounds of tinkling Brass With the harsh Timbrel's Noise contending pass And dancing Satyres which inhabit where (b) Chast from the Goddess Cybele whose Rites were there most solemnly performed Chast Dindymus two lofty Hills appear And use in the Dictaean Caves to Sport And unto Ide and silent Woods resort Amidst this Noise the Sacred Vessel known By Chearful Shouts refusing to go on Retracts the Ropes and on a sudden stood Immoveable and fix'd within the Flood With that the Priest as in the Ship he stands Exclaims Forbear with your Polluted Hands To touch the Cords and I advise you farr From hence Oh! farr depart whoever are Prophane nor in this Chaster Labour joyn While it sufficeth that the Pow'r Divine Gives this Advise but if there any be That in her chaster Minde excells if She Be Conscious to her self Her Bodie 's Pure Her Hand alone this Pious Task secure May undertake Here (c) Claudia was of the Sabine Patrician Family which first incorporated themselves with the Romanes She was a Vestal Virgin and suspected of Incontinency made this Miracle the Test of Her Chastity and was ever after Honoured as the most Virtuous Matron of her Time Claudia who her Name From th' antient Clausi drew by common Fame Traduc'd unto the Ship her Hands and Eyes Converting said Mother of Deities Thou Powr Divine who didst for Us give Birth To all the Gods whose Off-spring Heav'n and Earth The Seas and Shades below do rule by (d) The Lot between Iupiter Neptune and Pluto by which each of them received his Empire Lot If this my Body be without a Spot Great Goddess be my Witness and let Me By this thy easy Bark absolved be Thus having said the Cable free from Fear She seiz'd and suddenly they seem to hear The Lion's Murmur and a Sound more Grave Untouch'd by any Hand the Timbrels gave The Ship advanc'd so fast you 'd think the Winde Had forc'd it on and Claudia's left behinde Though 'gainst the Stream it ran And Hopes that far All else exceed chear up their Hearts the War And all their Fears at length shall ended be For active Scipio leaving Sicily Hid with his winged Ships the spatious Seas But with an off'red Bull did first appease The God on whose blew Waves the Entrails swum Then Thunder-bearing Birds descending from The Gods Abodes through the clear Air in view Begin to lead the Navy and to shew Their Course by Sea A Joyful Augury Their Cries afford and as they foreward fly Under a liquid Cloud the Ships pursue As far as they could keep them in their View And the Perfidious Coast of Cadmus Land Attain Nor yet did Africk Idle stand But since so great a Storm upon her came A dreadful Pow'r under a mighty Name Against their Fury had prepar'd to bring The Arms and Force of the (e) Of Syphax See the Continuation Book the First Massylian King Libya's sole Hope and Latium's onely Fear Syphax the Fields and Valleys ev'ry where And Shores had fill'd with Nomades that scorn Their nimble Steeds with Trappings to adorn Who with their singing Shafts that as they flie Through Air like Clouds surcharg'd obscure the Skie Of the Right-Hand which he had giv'n before And League that He upon the Altar swore Unmindeful Rites of Hospitality And Feasts that what was done could Testifie His Faith and Trust chang'd by an Impious Flame Of Love He had infring'd and 's Crown became The purchase of his Bed Great Hasdrubal A Virgin Daughter had Esteem'd by all As Beautiful as her Descent was fam'd She taken to his Bed as if inflam'd With his first Nuptial Taper suddenly His Forces all to Carthage turn'd The (f) Of this League see above in the Sixteenth Book Ty Of Amity with Rome He violates And to the Fo his Dotal Arms translates But Scipio careful to advise the King Bids him be Faithful to observe the thing That he had Sworn and not to violate The Laws of Peace but firmly to his State And Kingdom stand To call the Gods to Minde And Deeds that Hospitality did binde That farr his Nuptials farr his Tyrian Bride Would be 'mong Romane Arms if He deny'd What they demanded he should quickly finde That weak Obedience of too soft and kinde A Husband and his Bed's so ardent Heats Should stand in Blood Thus intermixing Threats Scipio advis'd the King whose (g) Sophoâ—isbae Wife before Had stop'd his Ears And when Advice no more Took place He summons all his Swords agen Attesting the Chast Altars of the then Polluted League and in the War proceeds With various Arts. With Huts of slender Reeds And Fenny Flags such as the Rustick Moor Selects to thatch his Homely Cottage or'e The Libyan Camp was fillâ—d This he assail'd By Stealth and secret Flames with Targets vail'd Scatter'd in Dead of Night which as they run Diffus'd like a Contagion and begun With mighty Noise through th' Unctuous Food their Way To make through all the Air their Light display And by their active Heat the Rafters fall The Hostile Mischeif like a Storm through all The Camp goes on and on the arid Reeds With frequent Cracks devouring Vulcan feeds Sad burnings in all Quarters rise and some Before they could perceiv 't excited from Their Sleep are seiz'd by Fire and as for Aid In vain they call their Faces Flames invade The Lemnian God appears in ev'ry Place A Conquerour and in his dire Embrace Destroys both Arms and Men. The Plague swells High And through the Clouds the half-burnt Camp doth fly In glowing Ashes Then with dismal Sounds And a prodigious Leap the Fire surrounds (h) The Assault of the Romanes setting the Huts of the Numidians Camp on Fire was so sudden that Syphax fled Naked out of his Bed and very hardly escaped their Hands after which he joyned his Camp with the Carthaginians The King's Pavilion and had sadly there Devour'd the Man had not his Guards through Fear Of Danger while amaz'd He much enquir'd Him from his Sleep and Bed by Force retir'd But when within one Camp the Tyrian and Syphax their Strength had joyn'd and through the Land Call'd thither all in Arms the Youth agen The Wounds of that sad Night had eased then Shame Anger and a third pernicious Fire His Wife into his Minde new Rage inspire And now He threatning storms his Face should be Blasted by burning of his Camp that He Should Naked hardly scape the Fo by Flight Amidst his trembling Troops But in the Light In clearer Day and less perfidious View Of Heav'n no mortal Syphax could subdue Thus Foolishly he rants while Fate his Pride And Breath concluding would no more abide But cuts the Thread of this vain swelling Tongue For soon as He like Floods that draw along Whole Groves and Rocks and like swift Torrents go Through
devious Ways and all the Banks o'reflow With foaming Waves leap'd from his Camp He prest His furious Courser on before the rest And bids his Troops advance The other Side A noble sober Army when they spy'd The King far off snatch'd up their Arms and strait March on and singly with themselves debate See there See how this proud Massylian King Insulting at his Army's Head doth bring Them on and for the Combat calls Oh! may This my Right-hand that Honour gain to Day The Sacred Altars of the Gods he hath Defil'd and hath infring'd his League and Faith With our chast General Oh! may it be Sufficient Gods that once already He From his burnt-Camp escap'd This in their Hearts Resolv'd they all contending lance their Darts In the Fire-breathing Nostrils of his Steed A Jav'lin that surpass'd the rest in Speed Was fix'd By which the Beast erected stood And with his bounding Heels his Jaws with Blood Or'eflowing beat the Air then backward to The Ground he fell and with a Spear pierc'd through As ev'ry Way he toss'd his Limbs betrai'd His Rider to the Fo who Him invade As He in vain endeavour'd from the Ground To rise and fly and drawing from the Wound The Weapon seize Him Then the Shame of Chains And Gyves they add while He to all remains A great Example never to rely Upon Prosperity And now they ty In Manacles his Scepter-bearing Hands And He that lately saw so many Lands Beneath his Feet that Scepters and the Sea That to the Ocean's bounds extended lay Under his Nod beheld thrown from the Head Of all his Kingdoms is in Triumph led His Strength thus overthrown the Libyans are Cut off while hated by the God of War And known for frequent Flight that Enterprize Condemn'd with Speed the Tyrian Captain flies (i) After this overthrow there was nothing left to relieve Carthage but the Army under Hannibal in Italy whither they immediately sent to recall him Carthage on one sole Man her Members all Thus ruin'd now rely'd And Hannibal Ev'n with his absent Name the Frame sustain'd Falling with so great Noise now what remain'd Was that ev'n Fainting and distress'd for Aid They should invite him Home To this affraid They all assent when they perceiv'd they were Forsaken by the Gods And strait they are Dispatch'd who with the Ship the Briny Main Might pass with Speed to call him Home again And with the Senate's Mandate thus advise Haste Hannibal lest through Delay thine Eyes Carthage in Ruins see Oh! be not slow T' assist thy falling Country and the Fo From these our Walls repell Thus charg'd away They sail'd and on the fourth ensuing Day The Veâ—sel brought them to th' Italian Shore Where cruel Dreams the General 's Minde full sore Disturb'd For as by Night opprest with Care He slept Flaminius Gracchus Paulus there Seem'd with their naked Swords t' assault him and Together drive him from th' Ausonian Land With these of dreadful Ghosts an Army all That did at Thrasimen and Cannae fall Appear to chace him to the Sea While He Endeavour'd to the well-known Alps to flee Then Italy embracing in his Arms To it he stuck untill Prodigious Storms Forc'd him to Sea and in a Tempest sent Him Home again Thus deep in Discontent And with his Dreams perplex'd to him they came And their Instructions in the Senate's Name With the great Danger of the State declare How the Massylian Forces routed were Their Prince his Captive Neck with Chains oppress'd Kept (k) See the Continuation Book the First a new Pomp for Iove and how distress'd Carthage by Hasdrubal's not single Flight Was shaken and how they in dead of Night Sad to relate had seen both Camps conjoyn'd Afire while th' impious Flames through Africk shin'd And that the furious Youth while Hannibal Still kept the Brutian Coast then threatned all With Fire to Ruin That the Fall drew nigh Of Carthage To what Country should they fly And his great Deeds what Slaughters he had made In Italy relate When this they 'd said And all their Woes and Fears had laid before His Eyes they wept and his Right-Hand adore Like some great God He with a stern Aspect Fix'd on the Ground hears all and doth reflect With Silence on their Words and weighs with Care If Carthage of so great a Value were At length He thus reply'd Oh Envy Thou Dire Fo to Man who never wilt allow Encrease to things or that great Praise should grow Unto a greater Height Not long ago I level with the Ground could Rome subdu'd Have lay'd and Captive into Servitude Have led the Nation and on Italy Our Laws impos'd But while at Home to Me Their General they Pay and Arms deny Nor my Troops wasted with Success supply With fresh Recruits and Hanno thinks it good My Cohorts to defraud of Corn and Food All Africk is on Fire and Romane Spears Push at Cadmeian Gates Now it appears That Hannibal's his Country's Glory and Her sole Support and now in this Right-Hand Ly all your Hopes Well Homeward turn with Speed Our Ensigns as the Senate hath decreed I both my Country's Walls and Hanno Thee Together will preserve All this when He Had thunder'd out strait from the Shore to Sea He lanc'd his Fleet and (l) When Hannibal was at Sea saith Livy he often looked back towards Italy accusing both the Gods and Men for reducing his great Designs to that Necessity Sighing sail'd away None durst their Backs as they put off invade Or Him recal Heav'n seeming to perswade He should of 's own accord thus haste away And Italy at length be freed they pray For Windes and think it is enough agen To see the Coast so freed of Foes As when Auster doth his impetuous Blasts restrain And by retiring calms the foaming Main The Sea-man then not Prodigal of Pray'rs Desireth not so much as gentle Airs Content that Notus should intirely cease And by the Sea 's smooth Course esteems his Peace The Tyrian Soldiers all their Faces bent Towards the Main But Hannibal intent With fixed Eyes held Italy in view While silent Tears with frequent Sighs bedew His Cheeks as if he had been driven from His Country and had left his dearest Home Forc'd to some Desert Lands But when with Sails Tack'd close the Ships made Way with swifter Gales And by Degrees the Hills began to draw Their Summits down that now He neither saw Hesperian Mountains nor the Daunian Coast Thus fretting with himself What have I lost My Sense unworthy to return said He Ev'n thus when ever I from Italy Withdraw my self in Flames first Carthage all Should perish and the Name of Dido Fall Was I not Mad when after Cannae's Field From the Tarpeian Temples I withheld My burning Weapons nor the Thunderer Dragg'd from his Throne through the sev'n Hills from War Now free my Flames might have scatter'd then And on that haughty Nation brought agen Troy's Ruins and
then thy Self who long hast toil'd For the Cadmaean Race Thou hast embroil'd The Seas and Earth and into Italy Hast sent a furious Youth while we might see The Walls of Rome stand trembling and of all Man-kinde for Sixteen Years was Hannibal The Chief 'T is time the Nation to compose The Period is come and we must close The Gates of War The suppliant Queen reply'd Nor in that hanging Cloud did I abide With a Design a Day prefix'd at all To change nor yet the Armies to recall Nor War extend but what You can bestow Since now all Favour towards me is low And our first Love 's decay'd 'gainst Fates Decree I nothing ask Let Hannibal now flee His Enemies as you are pleas'd t'ordain And let in Carthage Romane Ashes reign By th' mutual Pledges of a double Love Thy Wife and Sister I this onely Iove Intreat that my brave Captain may survive All Dangers and be kept by Thee Alive Nor let him Captiv'd Latian Fetters wear But let these my dear Walls that batter'd are With Mis'ries though the Tyrian Name decline Stand and for Honour's sake be kept as Mine Thus Iuno To whom Iove this short Reply Vouchsaf'd The Walls of lofty Carthage I Will for some time forbear as you desire And grant them to your Pray'rs and Tears entire To stand Yet know dear Wife at what a rate I this indulge not long that City's Fate Endures For there will come a General Who under the same (o) Scipio Aemiâ—ianus who in the last Carthaginian War took and razed Carthage Name will ruin all These Tow'rs preserv'd And from this fatal Fight Escaping Hannibal Ethereal Light At this Entreaty may enjoy a while Hee 'l seek the Stars and Ocean to embroil And with returning Arms to fill the Earth I know his Heart still pregnant with a Birth (p) The War which afterwards ensued under Antiochus See the Continuation Boâ—k the Third Of War But to this Boon this shall remain A Law He never must behold again Saturnus Empire nor to Italy Return From instant Death now let him be Remov'd with Speed lest if i' th' open Plain He joyn in Battel he should not again By all thy Pow'r from Scipio's Hand be freed While thus their Fates the Thunderer decreed Both to the City and to Hannibal The Armies to the Fight advance and all With Shouts invade the Skies Earth in no Age Before two mightier Nations did engage In Fight nor greater Generals had seen Equal in Arms contending While between These two their fam'd Dispute's un-valu'd Prize Was whatsoe're is cover'd with the Skies The Tyrian rich in Purple 'bove the rest Rais'd his proud Head upon his Crimson Crest A waving Plume A cruel Dread precedes From his great Name his Sword a Lightning sheds Well-known to Italy On th' other Side Scipio in radiant Robes in Scarlet dy'd His dreadful Target shews where breathing War His Father's Image and his Uncle's are Engrav'd Huge Flames from his high Fore-head fly And thus the Hopes of all and Victory Under so great a Force of Arms and Men Stood in the Generals alone And then Thus Fear or Favour as 't is often seen Suggests If valiant Scipio had been In Libya born the Empire might have come To Agenorean Nephews Or had Rome Giv'n Birth to Hannibal then doubtless He The World had subject made to Italy Now rapid Storms of flying Shafts brake through The Air and with them Clouds of Horrour drew Then to the Sword more close each Army came And Fight it Face to Face A dreadful Flame Burns in their Eys and those that in the Van Contemning Danger first the Charge began Between both Armies fell and long before Not seen by them the Earth drunk Native Gore But here in Courage hot as He was Young Stout Masanissa flings himself among The Macedonian Cohorts and flies round About with 's winged Darts the Champagn Ground So when the painted Britain goes to War He circumvents with his hook-bearing Carr The thronged Bands A Graecian Phalanx then In a close Body had drawn up their Men As was their Country's Use and firmly stood With intermingled Spears to make it good Unmindeful of the Compact he had made After the League these (q) Philip King of Macedon of whom see Book the Fifteenth Page 430. Philip to the Aid Of Cadmus shaken City sent And now Broken with many Wounds the Soldiers grow More thin and as on ev'ry Side they lay Prostrate upon the Ground an open Way Between the Weapons leave Then with a Stroke Of Ruin in th' Ausonian Cohorts broke And cancell all their Graecian Perjuries Archemorus by Rutulus Teucer dies By stout Norbanus in declining Age Both by their Mother Mantua sent t' engage In Arms. But Samjus brave Calênus slue And Selvis Clytuis a Pellaean who Vainly insulted in his Country's Name But alass Clytuis 't was not (r) The City where Alexander the Great was born Pella's Fame That could from Daunian Darts defend thee here But Laelius with Upbraidings more severe Then these the (s) Of these see above Book the Eleventh Page 296. Brutian Bands of Latine Race Destroys Was Italy so Vile a Place That it with Tyrian Oars You thus said He Through the rude Seas and raging Waves should flee But 't is enough that you are fled Will You With Latine Blood a forein Land imbrue This said He Silarus active in the Fight Prevented with a Shaft that in its Flight Stuck in the Bottom of his Throat so hard It flew that it at once the Passage barr'd Of Life and Voice Vergilius destroy'd Caudînus By Amanus Sarris dy'd Their Looks and Habit of their Arms well-known And Language that concorded with their own Inflam'd their Rage Whom when Amilcar's Son Perceiv'd inclining from the Fight to run He cries Betray not thus our Nation stand Then charg'd and turn'd the Battel with his Hand As when a Parethonian Snake that long I' th' Garamantian Fields was fed among The fervent Sands with Poison swell'd doth rear His Neck and spouts through the infected Air The flowing Venom to the Skies so He Herjus that with his Spear continually Dealt Wounds who of Marrucian Lineage came And in Theatè had a noble Name More nimble stops and as he something high Attempted seeking with his Enemy An equal Praise with a swift Hand quite through His Body drives his fatal Weapon to The Hilts. The Wounded falls and as he lies Prostrate his Brother seeks with dying Eyes When Young Pleminius came on apace And brandishing his Sword before his Face Enrag'd at his sad Fall with a loud Cry Threatning demands his Brother This Reply Gave Hannibal I shall refuse no more If you think fit your Brother to restore On this Condition that from Shades below You Hasdrubal recall Shall I forego My juster Hate 'gainst such as Romanes are Or shall I let my Heart relent and spare One born on the Italian Ground then may The Ghosts me as a
that while Stratonica was present his Pulse and Spâ—â—its were stronger discovered the Cause of his Malady to his Father who readily assented to his Desires and from them came the race of this Antiochus Of Stratonîca had the hidden Flame Reveal'd to shew how much a Noble Minde 'Bove Cupidinean Shafts prevails resign'd Into his Arms his Love and rescu'd from The hand of Fate a Race of Kings to come Hence to our Royal Line this solemn Day We consecrate and grateful Honours pay Thus the Iönian sung and as among The rest the lofty Subject of His Song The Libyan applauds the Romane thus To him began Though 'twixt the Gods and Us Great is the difference yet Virtue may Raise Men to those Felicities which they In Heav'n enjoy and none so worthy are Of that high Bliss as those whose Name in War Hath plac'd them here on Earth above the rest Of Humane Race Fate cannot such devest Of Immortality For with Applause The World adores them and obeys their Laws From these all Arts and Virtues that the Minde Of Man enrich at first took Birth and finde Their just Rewards For when Immortal Iove Had fram'd the World though all the Stars above In Order plac'd and strugling Nature saw All things created here her certain Law And Times obey yet guided by their Will Mankinde among themselves a Chaos still Retain'd No Bounds of Justice to repress The Hand of Rapine Vices in Excess Reign'd in all Mindes the Names of Right and Wrong Unknown to all the Virtuous were the Strong Nor then did Man to greater Good aspire Then what seem'd such suggested by Desire But lest a Custom in Licencious Deeds The use of Reason and Celestial Seeds Should quite deprave that true Promethean Fire The Breasts of some Brave Heroes did inspire Those Monsters to subdue and to compel The too Licencious under Laws to dwell The Ill to punish and the Good to Crown With due Rewards Hence Honour and Renown The Mindes of Mortals first from baser Earth Rais'd towards Heav'n from whence they took their Birth But since Lyaeus and Alcides Wars The World with Trophies and the Heav'n with Stars Adorn'd who tell me hath the greatest Name In Arms deserv'd and an Immortal Fame If such their Praise if such their Merits are The Libyan replies No Hand in War So worthy Fame so mighty things hath done As the Pellaean Youth whose Valour won More Victories then Time had Years to Crown His Life allow'd The Force of whose Renown His Laws on farthest Nations did obtrude And Kingdoms which he never saw subdu'd For who that heard how great his Conquests were How small his Force would not with Reason fear compast round Those Arms which Persia's (p) When some of Alexander's Captains saw the vast Number of his Enemies they adviseth him to fall upon them by Night but He replyed he scorned to steal a Victory Quintus Curtius Monarch With Troops so numerous that all the Ground 'Twixt Tigris and Euphrates scarce could yield Them room to stand subdu'd in open Field Scorning to Fortune or to Night to ow A Victory He in full Day the Fo Assails while God and Men together stand Spectatours of the Wonders of his Hand And see each Macedonian Souldiers bring A Nation captivated to their King But not to speak of Battels where his Skill And Conduct all subjected to his Will No Town no City though the Sea and Land Conspir'd against his Force could Him withstand (q) The City of Tyre was so obstinate in holding out against Alexander's whole Force that he resolved once to raise the Siege but fearing it might stain the Glory of his former Victories after seven Months Siege and many terrible Attacks wherein He lost a great part of his Army He took it See Quintus Curtius in his Fourth Book Our Tyrian Walls alone the Glory have To have resisted well and that They gave A longer Stand to th' Torrent of his Rage Then all the Persian Pow'rs that did engage Against his Arms. No Object was above His Courage whose Example would remove All Obstacles that others might deterr And though in great Designs he would confer The Best he follow'd his own Thoughts alone And so made all his Victories his Own And may He have the Praise for none hath more In Arms deserv'd perhaps no God before Next him that Noble Epirote that came To the Tarentines Aid the Crown may claim His Courage when a Youth Pantauchus found Above his Strength though for his Strength renown'd While in two Armies View as once before His mighty Ancestour on Xanthus Shore Great Hector slew He his proud Fo subdu'd And to the wondring Macedonians shew'd All things that they had seen in former Times (r) Pyrrhus was invited into Italy by the Tarentines to assist them against the Romanes He was a Prince eminent for his Valour and Esteemed by the Macedonians as the likest Alexander of any of his Successours He slew Pantauchus Demetrius his Lieuteâ—ant in single Combat See Plutarch in the Life of Pyrrhus In their so glorious Prince except his Crimes Nor were his Victories by Arms alone Where Fortune more then Virtue oft is known To give the Bays His Wisdom Conquest findes Where his Sword could not reach and or'e the Mindes Of Men his Triumph gains and thus he drew From Romane Leagues Italian People to His side They thought themselves more Safe within His Camp then they in fenced Towns had bin Under the Romane Laws For he first taught That Art and Camps to their Perfection brought But if a Third you Seek who hath no less Then these deserv'd though Envious Gods Success Deny'd Me here Me Hannibal behold Who with as early Courage and as bold Attempts a War against the Romane Name Pursu'd and from the farthest Gades came To seek a Fo which future Times might call Most Worthy to contend with Hannibal Not soft Sabaeans or Arabians or A People that the Rites and Toils of War So little knew that charg'd with rich Perfume More then with Sweat or Dust did more presume On Numbers then their Arms or such whose Ease And Lusts must prove the Conquerour's Disease And future Ruin I through Nations born In War and nurtur'd in it with a Scorn Of Fate and Fortune or'e Pyrene o're The dreadful Alps Victorious Ensigns bore And found that Fo with whom I might contend With greater Fame who boast that they descend From Mans himself and to the World no less Appear by their great Valour and Success (s) As when Tarentum Capua and other Cities contended for Superiority with Rome and gave Opportunity to forein Enemies to enter Italy when Hannibal came against them all parts of Italy with Sicily Sardinia c. united under the Roman Laws Nor was it when some other Citie 's Pride With Rome for Empire strove and did divide Their scatter'd Force but when all Italy Her Strength united to encounter Me. I shall not open those deep
Endowments had not yet been renowned as was Laelius for any Military Actions but was then chosen Consul with Laelius Scipio known More by his Brother's Actions then his Own Desir'd to do as He had done before To vanquish Kingdoms and by Conquests more (e) Scipio Africanus was but twenty four Years old when he took New-Carthage in Spain Then Years to count his Age. But some whom fear Of Syria's Force and what cost Rome so dear The Name of Hannibal then mov'd did stand For a more knowing and experienc'd Hand One whose great Virtues by his Deeds were known Supported by no Merits but his Own And such was Laelius held by Land and Sea For whom Acilius this Important Plea Assumes If We Rome's Safety seek and more Then Private Names the publick Peace adore Whence Fathers this Dispute whence this Delay Why should we leave to Fortune what we may Prevent with Reason when Distempers are Grown Great the Wise strong Remedies prepare Let not those Seeds of Virtue that appear In Younger Breasts be valu'd at the Fear Of Publick Ruin (f) The Temerity of Flaminius and Minutius See the Fifth and the Eight Books of Silius We 've already found What Mischief Youth not by a single Wound May through their Heat produce and still do feel The Anguish of those Wounds the Libyan steel Through them inflicted which if now again Torn open will ingeminate the Pain One Errour all our former Ills recals And brings the World against Us to our Walls For Rome alass can boast no Strength of Friends Abroad but what on her Success depends Her Virtue onely must her Wealth defend Her Wisdom to employ it her Best Friend Then let not Favour to a Private Name Anticipate your Reason I disclaim All Envy to those honour'd Heads that have Enrich'd Us with their Trophies and that gave New Titles to our Fasti. May they live Still glorious in them and all Time survive But let not Us Heav'n's Blessings so confine As if Entail'd upon a single Line Our Laws have so ordain'd that all that are Deserving may in Publick Honours share Hence Libyan some some Gallick wreaths have crown'd By sev'ral Lands are sev'ral Names renown'd Our Fathers still the Burthen of the State Impos'd on Shoulders equal to the Weight The Greatest Heroes ever would contend When Prudence more then Fortune might commend Their Deeds For though the great Alcides kill'd Serpents in 's Cradle yet till he was Skill'd Through many Labours how his Strength to guide He never with the (g) Antaeus Libyan Monster tri'd His God-like Courage Let such Honours be Bestow'd when Dangers in a less Degree Shall threaten Us and when these Forein Storms Cannot resist but exercise your Arms. What skilful Pilot by late Tempest tost His Vessel torn some Sails and Tackle lost While still the rude Winds rage the Billows roar Though now he hath in view his Native Shore Will Idle too secure of Safety stand And trust the Helm to a less Skilful Hand No let this Senate's Wisdom so provide That what We want of Strength may be supply'd By Conduct then if 't be decreed the State Shall suffer We may not be blam'd but Fate This said his Silence a deep Silence through The Senate struck and on great Scipio drew The Eyes of all In him it lay to turn Their Choice to Votes or Fortune of the (h) The Box into which they put their Lots was so called Urn. This did Young Scipio Laelius that desire (i) Laelius confident of his Party in the Senate was desirous to put it to the Vote Lucius Scipio to draw Lots which were the two waies of choosing Officers till encouraged by his Brother Africanus to leâ—ve it 〈◊〉 the Senate's Choice resolving to offer himself to be his Lieu-tenant which determined the Dispute As confident the Senate would require A Man whose former Actions might commend Their Choice and Rome upon his Care depend After some Pause and strugling 'twixt the Names Of dearest Friend and Brother while each claims In his divided Soul an equal Share Thus Africanus doth himself declare I should forbear to speak did I not see Grave Fathers that your Eyes are fix'd on Me On whom a Province lies more Weighty far Then was the Burthen of the Africk War For there Rome's Fortune with mine own did joyn But this Intestine Conflict's wholly mine While for my Blood l'gainst my Soul contend Distinguish'd 'twixt a Brother and a Friend A Friend whom Rome may boast that he was born In her Embrace whose Virtues do adorn The Present and the future Age will bless Whom as my better Genius I confess I ever entertain'd his Counsels still Pursu'd as Oracles and never will My Laelius from my Soul divide But now Ev'n what Acilius pleads will not allow That to his Conduct we this War assign This onely to our Name the Pow'rs Divine Reserve If greater Wars shall threaten Rome The Honour of Command will best become My Noble Laelius and when War shall cease Hee 'l be her Chiefest Ornament in Peace Though now the Title GREAT the Syrian King Assumes and to his Aid all Asia bring Yet if the Libyan Captain be not there Too mean a Province that for Laelius were The Gods their Blessings as the Stars bestow Their Influence on Men and Things below Do sev'rally dispense Some Fatal are To those that be the most renown'd in War Yet by less Warlike fall Not to repeat Forein Examples or to tell how Great In Arms ev'n by a Woman Cyrus fell Things nearer to Us Fathers may compell Your Wonder After our best Captains slain Your Scipio undertook the War in Spain When scarce five Lustra old and all those Lands Subdu'd where Hannibal those dreadful Bands Amass'd that shook your Walls What since I 've done Becomes not Me to speak whater'e I won Under Your Auspicies was the Decree Of Heav'n should onely be atchiev'd by Me. Nor censure me as Vain who arrogate So great a Partage in the Romane Fate To say that where the Libyans are your Foes You must a Scipio to their Arms oppose Carthage will ever threaten these our Walls Till Heav'n our (k) Scipio Nasica in the last Punick War took Carthage Sacked it and rased the Walls Name unto her Ruin calls Then 't is not that I emulate my Friend But for Rome's Safety Fathers I contend And if the Arguments of Youth disswade Your Choice let my maturer Age be made The Balance of your Doubts my Brother's Years Mine own exceed when I your greater Fears Allay'd with Victory and that again You may the same assurance entertain Me his Lieu-tenant make and fear no more Those Arms which I subdu'd for you before This said loud Clamours with a full Assent The Temple shook and through the City went Thence through all Italy the swift alarms Of War excite the active Youth to Arms. No Region from those Hills whose frozen Heads The Stars invade to where blew
Embrace and Roots beneath are making Love No Birds of Prey upon the Branches dwell Or if they there frequent 't is strange to tell How soon their cruel Nature they forego And Kindness to all other Creatures show All in their Kinds are pair'd no Bird alone No Turtles by their Mates deserted Moan Nothing that Mischief breeds can there be found Love onely hath the Pow'r t' inflict a Wound From Native Grottoes that all Art exceed Their Chrystal Fountains sev'ral Chanels feed With cooling Streams which as they murm'ring pass Still Verdant keep the Lover's Seats of Grass All this survai'd their Temple 's sacred Rites To Wonder and Devotion them invites The Chief was Paphos which their Senses Charms Above Belief The Goddess there her Arms Her Chariot harness'd Doves and whatsoe're On Earth she values keeps Her Trophies here Of such as 'gainst her Pow'r rebell'd the Gates Adorn their Names and Fate the Priest relates A Priest who yet five Lustra had not seen Yet since he three had told her Priest had been But must no longer at her Altar stand Or take the sacred Censer in his Hand When from his Birth twice twenty Years expir'd For Youth is by the Goddess most desir'd Such all her Votaries and Clients are The Aged seldom at her Shrines appear These view'd and past to a fair Porch they came Where Miracles the Deity proclaim Bodies to other things transform'd by Love Whose strange Originals their Change did prove Some whose Obdurate Hearts had made them Stone Some Beasts some Birds some Trees their Figures none Had lost but as when chang'd their Shapes retain And Monuments of her great Pow'r remain Above the rest an Iv'ry Statue stands Fair ev'n to Wonder Hannibal demands What Nymph it was of that Celestial Form To whom the Priest replies A Soul did warm This Iv'ry once The Storie 's very strange Yet this fair City and these Walls the Change Attest When first Pygmalion in this Isle Arriv'd a Votary to Venus while Our Cyprian Virgins such a Freedom us'd That jealous Lovers thought themselves abus'd He flying Hymen to his House retires But still retaining in his Breast the Fires Of Love his troubled Fancy to divert This Statue with more then Promethean Art He frames and as all Parts he wondring views Desires of Hymen in his Breast renews And Venus thus invokes Give Me He said For Wife as Beautiful and Chast a Maid Great Goddess and if thou my Pray'r wilt hear A Temple to thy Name my Race shall rear No sooner said but th' Object of his Love Receives a Soul and strait began to move Her Eyes no more are fix'd but lively Raies Eject and first on her kinde Maker gaze Then on her polish'd Limbs which purple Veins Now warm and soften with their beauteous stains In brief She lives Pygmalion's dearest Flame And from their Nuptial Bed great Paphos came Who when the Fates the borrow'd Soul again Requir'd his Iv'ry Mother in this Fane Vow'd to the Goddess plac'd and we still here With holy Incense Honour once a Year When this with other Wonders they had seen The (q) The most secret Place of the Temple Adyta they enter which within No Images adorn But Venus stood Alone and kept her Altars free from (r) See Tacitus in his Eighteenth Book Blood They Tears of Myrrha onely offer there And Sighs of Lovers The included Air Is ever warm and wheresoe're they turn They meet soft Kisses but no Lips discern Amaz'd the Strangers stand though strangely pleas'd When them from Wonder thus the Priest releas'd The Goddess for this secret Place alone The Birth of Kisses This Miracle reserves thus made her Own When She her dear Ascanius had convey'd Up to Cythêra and on Violets lai'd The sleeping Boy Her Aromatick Show'rs Of sweetest Roses round about She pow'rs Then gazing on his Face her former Flame Her lov'd Adonis to her Fancy came Scarce could She then withstand his Beautie 's Charms Scarce from his dear Embrace refrain her Arms. But fearing to disturb the Boy 's sweet Rest Her Lips upon the Neighb'ring Roses prest They strait grow Warm and riâ—ing from the place Turn'd into Kisses fly about her Face The Goddess willing that the World should share So sweet a Pleasure scatters through the Air With a large Hand the new-created Seed Which as from fertile Glebe arising breed But the first Born She plac'd within this Fane Which warm as now you feel them still remain This said a sudden Noise permits no more But summons them abruptly to the Shore The Wind came fair the busy Seamen weigh Their barbed Anchors and stand off to Sea The Time no longer stay will now afford The churlish Masters hasten all aboard Torn from Delight the Syrian Nobles are Displeas'd and rather wish another War But Hannibal whose great Heroick Brest A Nobler Flame then that of Love possest With as much Joy the Fetters of those Charms Shakes off as Towns besieg'd from Hostile Arms Themselves by Sallies free and all the Woes That threatned them revert upon their Foes Honour which Noble Deeds in War attends Exciting his great Soul he first ascends His Ship and offers to the God of Seas Warm Entrails then at large his Sails displaies Loud Clamours from his high Example through The Fleet are spread whil'st all his Course pursue And now the Land retires the Cyprian Shore Is lost and all the Flames which they before Cherish'd are quite extinct in ev'ry Breast Wholly with Thoughts of future War possest A War wherein Rome's Fortune stood alone Against the World and were there more then One Might with them all contend So Great was She Till lessen'd by her Crims of Victory Twice had the Sun descended to the Sea Twice the wing'd Hours had rais'd again the Day When they that Coast where Sida doth obtrude High Rocks Her strong Defence against the rude Assaults of Raging Billows made and there Beheld what both their Wonder and their Fear At once creates The Seamen think they 've lost Their Course and touch upon some un-known Coast. Or Nature from the Bowels of the Main Some Cyclas thrusts or floating Grove again But as they nearer came within that Wood They saw for Fight prepar'd an Army stood So numerous they were that what before Their Wonder was is now their Terrour more Their Order such as when her borrow'd Raies With growing Horns the Silver Moon displaies But her full Glory their Guilt brasen Prows Surpast and gave the Morning as it rose A brighter Face and where they made their Way With a new Light anticipate the Day The Syrian (s) A Sea-fight between Hannibal and the Romanes Navy whether clog'd with Fear Or their vast Bulk though still they forward steer Went slowly on till Hannibal so far Advanc'd before that he provok'd the War At his Approach the Romane Souldiers fill The Air with Shouts that seem the Winds to still And fright Pamphylian Nymphs while he
will convey to Thee Then taking up the Sword her self she lai'd Upon his Arms and gaping did invade The rising Flames Dispersed on the Ground Promiscuous Heaps of half-burnt Bodies round About her ly unhappy Funerals As when a Lyon fierce with Hunger falls On trembling Flocks which greedily he eats With Thirsty Jaws and Blood regurgitates From his extended Throat or'e mangled Heaps Of half-devour'd Trunks and Limbs he leaps Then walking round them with a murm'ring Noise Grinding his Teeth surveys what he destroys The Sheep and Guardian-Dog the Company Of Shepheards with the Master prostrate ly And all the Cottages as if a War Had late been there destroy'd and wasted are And now the Carthaginians do invade The City by these Ruins empty made This Work which glad Saturnia commends Perform'd to Hell Tisiphone descends And with her as in Triumph proudly takes A num'rous Troop to the Infernal Lakes But you bless'd Souls who cannot equal'd be By any Age since Time's Nativity May you the Glory of the Earth become And happy Dwellers in Elysium Adorn the chaster Seats of pious Souls But you whom unjust Victory enrolls In Fame's large Catalogue ye Nations hear Break not the Leagues of Peace nor Crowns more dear Then Faith esteem Cast from his Countrey He A wandring Exile through the World shall be And Carthage trembling shall behold him Flie While in his troubled Sleeps affrighted by Sagunthine Ghosts He 'll wish he there had dy'd By them and when a Sword shall be deny'd This great unconquer'd Captain then shall go (r) After the Forces of Antiochus were broken and he made Peace with the Romanes Hannibal when he had spent some time about Crete and Rhodes still suspecting his safety fled to Prusias King of Bithynia who at first civilly received and employed him in his Wars but at length fearing the Power of the Romanes he basely sought to betray him into the hands of their Embassadour C. Flaminius whose Father Hannibal had slain in the Fight near the Lake Thrasimenus which to avoid finding none other remedy to escape that Treachery he Poysoned himself Deform'd by Poyson to the Shades below The End of the Second Book Te Strages Nemorum Magnaeque Ruinae Idcei Generis Lachrimasaque Fata Sequuntur Sedjam praeteritos vlâ—ra meminisse Labores Conspectae propius demâ—sere paâ—â—ntibus Alpes Memoriae Illustrissimi desideratissimique Anglis Lugendi Henrici Glocestriae â—ucis Principisâ— et ob Eximias Virtutes perpetuo Tabula Religiose Consecrata SILIUS ITALICUS OF The Second Punick VVar. The Third Book THE ARGUMENT Bostar to Ammon's Oracle is sent To understand the future War's Event To Carthage Hannibal His Wife and Son Conveys by Sea unwilling they should run The Hazard of the War A Num'rous List Of all the Nations that Him Assist. Pyrene overpass'd He marcheth on Vntill His Conqu'ring Army stood upon The Banks of Rhodanus whose rapid Stream By Art and Industry He overcame At length ascends the Alps great Miseries The Army in their tedious March surprize Vntill arriving in the Taurine Plain They there Encamp Bostar returns again From Horned Ammon's Temple and declares The God's Command to prosecute the Wars ALL Tyes of Faith by Tyrian Arms undone And Walls of (a) The Metaphorical Epithete of the Poet given to Sagunthus as a City of entire and inviolate Faith Chast Sagunthus overthrown Through Iove's Displeasure strait the Conqu'rour went To the World's Bounds and Gades (b) The Carthaginians and Inhabitants of Gades being both derived from the Tyrians who for the Benefit of Trade planted themselves in several Parts of the World and had many Colonies in Libya whence with them Diodorus Siculus lib. 5. believes a Colony came that built Gades For that Gadir in the Punick Tongue signifieth a Walled Town by Descent To Him ally'd and diligent to finde What Prophets and presaging Souls divin'd Concerning his Command Bostar is strait Dispatch'd by Sea to know ensuing Fate (c) This Oracle was a long time very famous so that Alexander hazarded both himself and a great Part of his Army to visit the Temple through the Sands between Aegypt and Mesogaba where when arrived the flattering Priest declared him the Son of that God But as Strabo observes after the Romanes became Masters of Libya the Credit of this Oracle submitted to the Sybils Books and the Etrurian Augury and in the time of Strabo the Temple was not to be seen but ni its Ruins 'T is a Belief in Sanctuaries long Preserv'd where horned Ammon plac'd among The parched Garamantians emulates Cyrrhaean Caves that in a Grove which Fates Foretells he future Ages did declare With their Events An happy Omen theâ— To his Designs he sought and long before The Day arriv'd all Chances did explore And Fortune of the War But here the God Ador'd the Holy Altars he doth load With Spoils snatch'd lately at Sagunthus Fall Half-burnt from the then flaming Arcenal 'T is a Report and not believed Vain That from the first Erecting of that Fane The Timber Firm continues and hath known The Hands of the first Architects alone Here they rejoice to think the God doth dwell And from his Temple doth Decay repell And they that have the Honour to repair Into the secret Places must with Care Provide that Women do not enter in And from the Gates must banish bristled Swine Neither before the Altars may they wear Discolour'd Robes their Bodies cover'd are With Linen and Pelusiack Tulbans Crown Their Heads their Garments loosely hanging down They Incense burn and by their Fathers taught The Sacrificing Vest with Studs is wrought Bare-foot short-hair'd their Beds from loose Desires Are free their Altars keep Eternal Fires Within no Statues of the Gods appear Or Images The Place a Rev'rent Fear And Majesty adorn But carv'd with Skill The Gates the Labours of Alcides fill There the Lernaean Hydra lies her Snakes Cut off and there with God-like Strength he breaks The Nemaean Lyon's gaping Jaws and then Hell's Porter drag'd from his Eternal Den Affrights the Ghosts with Howling and disdains His Thraldom while Megaera fear'd the Chains Near these the Thracian Horses and the Boar Arcadia's Plague the Hart whose Fore-head wore Horns that in Breadth the Arms of Trees surpass'd Next them a Conquest no less easie plac'd Earth-born Antaeus on his Mother stood And the two-formed Centaur's ugly Brood While the poor (d) The Acarnanians were wont to cut off the Hair from their Fore-heads lest their Enemies closing with them in Fight should lay hold of it Acarnanian seems to fear His Naked Front then Oeta doth appear To shine with Sacred Fires and to the Skies On winged Flames his mighty Soul doth rise These various Shapes of Valour having fill'd A while his Eyes near to them he beheld A Sea that rising to a wondrous Height Fell on the subject Earth with all its Weight No Shores do give it Bounds but ev'ry where The Waters o're the Fields diffused are For
on You for Vengeance call With that a Showr of Darts that ev'ry where Fly like a Tempest through the darkned Air O'rewhelm and hide his Body so that none Could after boast that by his Hand alone Flaminius dy'd Thus with the General The Fight soon ended for the Chief of all The Youth as angry with themselves and Heaven That to their Arms so ill Success had given And choosing rather once to dy then see The Affrican enjoy the Victory With Hands all bloody in the fatal Fight Seise on their Gen'ral's Body in their Sight So lately slain with all his Weapons and United in a Ring about him stand Till all in one great Heap of Slaughter dy'd And falling like an Hill his Body (p) It appears by this that Flaminius had lai'd aside all Ornaments of Consul or General for that his Body could not be distinguished from any of those that fell about him hid Now having spread Destruction through the Wood And Lake and left the Valleys deep in Blood To th' Heap of Bodies Hannibal withdrew And with him Mago and as them they view What Wounds What Deaths are here said he behold How ev'ry Hand still grasps a Sword though cold In Death The armed Souldiers as they ly Seem to maintain the Fight How these did dy Now let our Troops observe the Threats appear Yet in their Foreheads and their Faces bear Their living Anger and I fear that Land Which fruitfull is in Men so valiant and Of so great Courage Fates to her decree The Empire of the World and She shall be Victorious in Distress This said He yields To Night and Darkness over all the Fields Diffus'd while Sol into the Sea descends Restrains their Fury and the Slaughter ends The End of the Fifth Book Sâ—rranus clarum Nomen Tua Regule Proles Limina pulsabat â—ari Vetus isse Parentis Vileâ— et haud Surda tractarat proelia â—ama Serpens centum porrectus in Vlnâ—s Extendit â—olem atque Assultans Sydera â—ambit Hoâ—oratiss o. Domino Dâ— Edoardo Baroni de Hyndon SumaÌ„ Totius Cancellario et ê Sanctioribê° Regis Comiti Clarendon Vicâ—â—om Cornbury Anglioe nec non Accademiae Oxon Consilijs Tabula SumÌ„a aâ— observantia D.D.D. SILIUS ITALICUS OF The Second Punick VVar. The Sixth Book THE ARGUMENT Brutius great Valour who before he dy'd His Eagle from his Foes i' th Earth doth hide Sorranus wounded to Perusa's Plains By Night retires him Marus entertains And having dress'd his Wounds to him declares Great Regulus his Father's Death and Wars His Noble Courage in his Punishment Fabius elected General his Descent The Romanes Sadness and the People's Cries Affrighted at the Libyans Victories The Conqu'rours to Linternum go and there The Monuments that did at large declare The Victories by Sea and Land which Rome From Carthage once had gain'd with Fire consume BUT when his Steeds in the Tartessiack Main Loos'd to give way to Night Sol joyn'd again On the Eoan Shores and Serians who The first of all the World his Beams review For silken Fleeces to their Groves repair The Place of sad Destruction ev'ry where Appears and Monuments of furious War Here Men and Arms and Horses mingled are There Hands lop'd off still to their Lances stick In Wounds of Bodies slain there Targets thick Trumpets and headless Trunks ly scatter'd round Through all the Plain with Swords that as they wounâ— 'Gainst Bones were broke Some with be-nighted Eys Half dead in vain there sought th' enlightned Skies The Lake all foams of Gore and on the Waves Float Bodies that for ever want their Graves Yet midst these Miseries and loss of Blood Firm as her Fate the Romane Valour stood Brutius whose many Wounds declar'd that He Against his Foes had fought unequally Scarce from the Heaps of th' miserable Dead 'Mong whom he lay had rais'd his wounded Head Striving with mangled Limbs to creep away His Nerves now shrinking when the fatal Day Was done Him Fortune had not plac'd among The Rich nor was he honour'd for his Tongue Or his Descent but Valiant with his Sword Nor did the Volscian Nation afford Any that had of Time recover'd more Nor sought he when but yet a Boy before The Down had cloath'd his Cheeks himself to hide For Safety in the Camp Flaminius try'd His Courage when in Fight he overthrew With better Gods the Celtick Arms hence grew His present Honour in all Wars that he The Keeper of the Sacred Bird should be Hence Glory made him to preserve with Care The Cause of 's Death For when he did dispair Of Life perceiving nothing could withstand (a) This Honour which Brutius enjoyed as the Reward of his Valour was alwaies conferred on the first Centurion of the Triarii who were the Reserve of the Army he was obliged to loose his Life with this Ensign of his Charge which was honour'd by the whole Army and therefore stiled Sacred by the Poet. The Romanes adoring their Eagles which were sometimes of Silver seldome of Wood but often woven or painted on the Banner as if they were Divine Herodian lib. 4. To keep his Eagle from the Libyans Hand Since Fate gave Way and that the Romane Side Was ruin'd in the Fight he sought to hide And bury't in the Earth but overthrown With sudden Darts again and falling down Extends himself upon it and beneath His Body hides it choosing such a Death But when from Stygian Night and Sleep the Light Return'd he from the Neighb'ring Heaps upright Arose upon his Spear and Strong alone In his Attempt the Earth now overflown With Blood and softned by the standing Gore With 's Sword he digs and as he doth adore Th' unhappy Eagle's Image with his Hand Now fainting smooths again th' unequal Sand Then into thinner Air his Breath doth go And his great Soul unto the Shades below Near him was to be seen the Sacred Rage Of Valour whose Deservings do engage Our Muse to sing its Fame Levinus born On high Privernum that rich Vines adorn Dead on dead Nasamonian Tyres lay And when unequal Fortune had that Day Depriv'd him of his Arms his Spear and Sword Then naked in the Fight his Griefs afford New Weapons With his bloody Mouth he flies Upon his Fo and with his Teeth supplies His want of other Arms and thus he tears His Nostrills off bites out his Eyes his Ears Pulls from his mangled Head his Forehead too Strangely disfigures while the Blood doth flow About his Jaws yet this not satisfies Till with his Mouth all full he feeding dyes While Valour sadly to the Victour's Eye These Wonders shews the wounded Troops that fly To various Chances are expos'd Some through By-wayes of desert Woods some wandring go By Night through unfrequented Fields and there Each little Noise or Motion of the Air Or flying Birds affright them and they finde No Sleep or quiet Thoughts but still inclin'd To fear beleeve that Mago with his Spear Or Hannibal pursues them in the Rear
the God th' Aeneades possest With Resolution in a faithfull Breast The Nation to repose and put the Reins Of Safety into Noble Fabius Hands Perceiving then the Pow'r of War to be Entrusted to his Care not Him said He Envy nor Fame with Libyan Vanity Guided nor Spoil nor cunning Treachery Nor other base Desires shall overthrow Skilfull and old in War He well doth know Success and Loss with equal Thoughts to bear His Minde well temper'd both for Peace and War Thus Iove and then remounted to the Skies This Fabius whom his Foes could ne're surprize In Arms and thus by Iove commended thought Himself most Happy when entire He brought Those Numbers Home again which He before Conducted to the Field and no Man more Desir'd Himself or dearest Son to spare Then He did them none with so sad a Care Beheld their Wounds in Fight and when again He came a Conqu'rour with the Noble Stain Of hostile Blood besmear'd his Legions all Appear'd compleat before the Citie 's Wall His fam'd Original with Heav'n did claim Alliance for when great Alcides came From Spain Gerion's Spoils his Monstrous Kine He that Way where the Walls of Rome do shine In Triumph drove Then did Arcadius found As Fame reports in Rude and Desart Ground His Palace and a needy People swai'd When by his Sacred Guest the Royal Maid Arcas his Daughter overcome with Joy From that her Crime of Love conceiv'd a Boy Was Fabius nam'd from Him a Mother she Became to a Tyrinthian Progeny And hence three hundred Fabii once did go All from one House in Arms against the Fo Whose most Renowned Actions by his Wife Delaies which then Alone could equalize The Libyan Conduct this Our Fabius all Excell'd So great then wert Thou Hannibal But while the Latines busily prepare To raise Recruits and re-inforce the War The Carthaginian Captain terrified By Iove and having lai'd his Hopes aside Of batt'ring Rome's high Walls his Army leads Up to the Vmbrian Hills where Tuder spreads Upon an high Descent its hanging Walls And where Mevania o're large Fields exhales Thick gloomy Clouds and Consecrate to Iove Fat Bulls through Rich and Wealthy Pastures move From thence desirous of Picenian Prey Through the Palladian Fields he makes his Way And wheresoe're the Spoil invites Him there His wandring Troops their plundring Ensigns bear Till fair Campania stop'd his furious Course And undefended entertain'd the Force O' th' War within her Bosome As He there Beheld the Temple and the Buildings near (i) A River of Campania upon the Banks of which stood Linternum small Town made famous by the Renowned Africanus who after his Disgrace at Rome thought that more worthy to retain his Ashes then his ingratefull Countrey Linternus swelling Stream he fix'd his Eyes Upon the various Pictures where he spies The Monuments o' th' former War maintain'd By th' Romane Senate For they there remain'd Carv'd on the Porches and all things exprest In Order and at large Before the rest Great Regulus appears to instigate The War a War which had he known his Fate He would have shun'd There Noble (k) Appius Claudius Pulcher Consul with C. Norbanus Flaccus for his Victory over Hiâ—ron King of Syracuse and the Carthaginians that came to his Assistance had the Honour of Trâ—umph Appius stood In a pitcht Field and high in Libyan Blood From their great Slaughter a just Triumph Crown'd With Lawrel gain'd Near these at Sea renown'd (l) Cneiâ—s Duillius was the first thâ—t triumphed for a Naval â—ictory gainâ—d by him over the Carthaginians and assumed to himselâ— wiâ—hout the â—llowance either of Senate or People as a perpetual Honour when he returnâ—d from any Feast to have Torches and a Trumpeter to march before him Duillius on a Snow-white Column Rose Bearing his Naval Trophies Stems and Prows Of Ships the first that Italy had known Those Spoils the Tyrian Navy overthrown To Dedicate to Neptune Near Him stand His Nightly Glories shining Torches and His Sacred Trumpeter that from a Feast Was wont with chearfull Sounds that Joy exprest T' attend him to his honour'd Home and then (m) After his Death his Statue was placed in the Forum and continued till the Time of Pliny as he affirms lib. 23. cap. 5. The Honours of that Noble Citizen Deceas'd He sees Near these doth Scipio stand And celebrates in the (n) L. Cornelius Scipio Consul overthrew in Sardinia Hanno the Carthaginian General slew Him and gave Him Burial Liv. lib. 17. Sardôan Land The Tyrian Captain's Funerals subdu'd By Him Then on the Libyan Shores He view'd The routed Bands in scatter'd Parties fly About the Field and Regulus hard by Pursuing at their Backs the Nomades The Garamantians the Autololes The Moors and Hammon lay down Arms and yield Their Cities up Within a Sandy Field Slow Bragada with Poison foams and there A Serpent 'gainst an Army makes a War Then from his Ship (o) Our Authour follows the vulgar Opinion That after the Defeat of Regulus the Carthaginians seemed highly to value Xantippus his Service and dismissed him with great Honour and Rewards But fearing a future Reproach of the great Benefits they had received by his Conduct they gave him a rotten Ship newly trimmed which some say sunk with him by the Way others that the Seamen were instructed to drown him but Polybius not ignorant of these Opinions affirms that fearing their Treachery he prudently withdrew himself Polyb. lib. 1. Xantippus thrown in vain Calling upon the Gods was in the Main By a perfidious Band most sadly drown'd And there too late great Regulus He found The Punishment of Thy unhappy Death The two Aegates likewise from beneath The Waves they make to rise about them lay Torn Ships and Libyans floating on the Sea Lord of the Ocean then (p) Q. Luctatius Consul his Victory near the Island Aegates See before in the First Book Luctatius bore Away with a propitious Gale to Shore The Captiv'd Ships With these in Order all Amilcar Father to the General Stood (q) It was a Custom among the Romanes to describe in Picture the Nations that had been conquered by them and to bear in Triumph the Images of such Generals as were overthrown and escaped their Hands As this Amilcar who never was their Captive and Hannibal described in Scipio's Triumph See lib. 17. infra bound and from all other Objects drew Upon himself the People's Eyes to view His stern Aspect and then was to be seen The Face of Peace the Altars that had been Polluted with the League and Iove deceiv'd The Romane giving Laws and as they heav'd Their Axes up the Libyan trembling stands And begging Pardon with submissive Hands Swears but in vain the League This from the Sky Fair Cytherea with a joyfull Eye Beheld But when the Libyan General Had with a troubled Brow survai'd it all His slow contracted Rage that all the while Boil'd in His Breast thus with a scornfull