first crime but when Petreius spy'd That Caesars fortâ—ne did all actions guide Ilerda he forsakes trusting no more The strength of that knowne world but seeking for Vntamed nations fierce with wars dire loue e To that worlds end the battell to remoâ—ue When Caesar saw the hills and campe forsooke He bids his men take armes and never looke For bridge or ford but with their hardy armes Swim ore the streame the souldiers his alarmes Obey with speed and rushing on to fight Venture those wayes that they would feare in flight Then taking armes cherish their bodies wet And their beâ—ummed joynts with running heat Till noone made shadowes short the horsemen then O retake the hindniost of Petreius men Who doubtfull are whether to fight or flye Two rockâ— hills lift their proud tops on high Making a vale beneath aboue the ground Is ioyn'd below safe passages are found Through windings darke which straights if once the foe Had in possession Caesar well did know He might from thence carry the war as far As Spaines remote and barbarous nations are Runne without ranke quoth he pursue your foes Turne backe the war that by their flight you loose Make them turne face to face though they would fly Giue not the cowards leaue basely to dy But on their breasts let them receiue our blowes This said with swiftnesse they prevent their foes Flight to the hills encamping close beside A narrow trench did both the campes divide And of so little distance was the place They might distinctly know each others face There finding fathers brothers sonnes they see The wickednesse of civill enmity And first for feare standing a little mute With nods and swords lift vp frends frends salute But when deare loue conquer'd the law of warres Over the trenches leape the souldiers T' embrace each other some their old hosts meete Some their schoolefellowes some their kinsemen greete He was no Roman that no enemy knew Sighs breake their kisses teares their armes bedew And though no act of blood were yet begun They feare the mischiefe that they might haue done VVhy mourn'st thou foole why doe it thou beat thy breast And weepe in vaine why hast thou now confest Thou ' gainst thy will to wicked war doest goe Stand'st thou in such great feare of him whom thou Thy selfe mak'st dreadfull let this trumpets sound Neglect the cruell noise let none be found To beare his Eagles and the war there ends Caesar and Pompey private men are frends Now concord come that all things doest enfold In thy white armes and the worlds safety hold The earths blest loue future impietyes Our age may feare the ignorance heere dyes Of their misdeeds and from excuse does bar Their guilt they know their foes their kinsemen are Sinister fates that will by this short peace Their future woes and wickednesse encrease T' was peace and in both campes mixt souldiers stray'd And on the grasse their friendly banquets made By the same fire together Bacchus rites They celebrate and spend the watchfull nights In storyes of the war as lovingly Together they in ioyning lodginges lye Where first they did encampe from what hand fled Each Pile and boast of every valiant deede Denying much they graunt the wish of Fate And loue the wretched Souldiers renovate This loue their future wickednesse encreast For when Petreius saw their friendly feast Thinking himselfe and campe to sale betray'd He armes his houshold servants to invade Dire war and guarded with a troope of those Out of his campe th'vnâ—rm'd Caesarians throwes The sword as in embraces joyn'd they stood Divides them and disturbes the peace with blood Then wrath these war provoking speeches gaue Souldiers vnmindefull of the cause you haue Though Caesars conquest you cannot bestow Vpon the Senates cause this you can do Fight till you are orecome whilest you haue hands And blood and whilest the war yet doubtfull stands Will you go serue and traitrous Eagles take And beg of Caesar he no odds would make Betweene his slaues and at his hands dâ—sire Your Captaines liues our safetyes treasons hire Shall never be nor make we civill war To liue by name of peace betray'd we are People for veines of brasse which deepe-hid lye Would never seeke nor townes would fortify No stately horses to the war should pace No tower-like shipps ore spread the Oceans face If liberty for peace were ere well sold Shall Caesar's Souldiers damn'd obedience hold Bound by a wicked oath and you make light Your faith because in a good cause you fight But pardon 's hop'd oh shames dire funerall Not knowing this great Pompey thou ore all The world art mustring and each farthest King Bringing to fight whilest we are articling Basely about thy safety This feirce speech Turn'd backe their mindes stirr'd warrs wicked itch As when wild beasts wean'd from the woods and shutt Vp close to â—ame haue off their wildenesse put And learn'd t' endure a man if blood once staine Their iawes their wildenesse straight returnes againe Their iawes grow hot and their new boyling rage The trembling keeper hardly can aswage They run on wickednesse and what might seeme In a blinde war the gods or fortunes crime Deceived trust makes ours at bord and bed The late embraced breasts are murthered And though vnwillingly at first they draw Yet when their wicked swords drawne out they saw And striking were their friends they truely hate And with the stroke themselues they animate Petreius campe is with strange tumult fill'd And horrid murther sonnes their fathers kill'd And as if hidden mischiefe lost should be They boast their guilt and let their Captaines see Caesar though robbed of thy men yet see The gods high favour not so much for thee On Aegypt or Massilias seas is done Nor so much honour in Pharsalia won f For this sole crime of civill war does make That thou at length the better cause shalt take The Generalls now their blood-stain'd Souldier No more dare trust within the campe so neere But by swift flight toward Ilerda make From whom all passage Caesars horsmen take And there in those dry hills shut vp their foes Whom Caesar striues with a deepe trench t' enclose Cutting all water off he lets them take No springes nor tents neere to the river make They seeing the way of death convert their feare To rage their horses that vnusefull were To men beseidg'd they kill and since in flight T were vaine to hope addresse themselues to fight Caesar perceiues them comming and well knowes That death is sought by his devoted foes Containe your Piles and swords Souldiers quoth he I le loose no blood to get this victory That foe that meetes the sword nere gratis dyes Hating their liues and cheape in their owne eyes They come to mixe our losses with their death They 'll feele no wounds but ioy in losse of breath But let this heate forsake vm this mad fit They 'll loose their wish of death Caesar the fight Forbids
Are done secure let him from court be gone That would be good vertue and soveraignety Doe not agree nothing but feare shall he That is asham'd a tyrant to be deem'd Let Pompey rue that he thy yeares contemn'd Thinking thou couldst not from thy shore driue backe A conquer'd man let not a stranger take Thy scepter if thou wouldst resigne thy reigne Th' hast neerer pledges giue the crowne againe To thy condemned sister le ts keepe free Our Aegypt from the Roman slavery Shall we that did not in the war adhere To Pompey now provoke the Conquerer Vagrant through all the world hopelesse of all He seekes with what lands ruine he may fall Haunted with civill war slaine ghosts he flyes Not only Caesar but the Senates eyes VVhose greater part feedes fowles in Thessaly He feares those nations whom he left to dy Mixt in one bloody field he feares those Kings VVhose haplesse states his fall to ruine brings Now guilty of the losse harbour'd by none To vs whom yet he has not overthrowne He seekes a greater cause ô Ptolomey Haue we to accuse Pompey why would he Our quiet land staine with the crime of war And make vs hated by the Conquerer VVhy does thy misery choose our land alone To bring Pharsalias fortune and thine owne Fear'd punishment into we beare a blame Already and our swords must purge the same In that because the Senate moov'd by thee Gaue vs a crowne we wisht thy victory This sword now drawne by fate we did provide To wound not Pompeys but the conquer'd side And rather could we wish for Caesar's head But whither all are carry'd we are led Mak'st thou a doubt of our necessity To kill thee now we may what strength haue we For thee to trust wretch'd man thou sawst our men Vnarm'd to plow soft mould scarse able when Nile ebb'd Our kingdomes strength t is fit that we Try and confesse canst thou ô Ptolomey Raise Pompey's ruine vnder which great Rome It selfe is fall'n so low or dar'st thou come To stir the ashes of Pharsalia And such a war vpon thy kingdome draw We to no side before the battell clest Shall we now cleaue to Pompey's which is left By the whole world provoking the knowne fates And feared strength of Caesar wretched states Aide they that did their prosperous times attend No faith ere chose a miserable friend The mischiefe pleas'd them all the young king proud Of this strange honour that his men allow'd Him to command so wonderfull a thing Chose out Achâ—llas for the managing Where the false land in Casian sands does ly Stretch'd out and fords witnesse the Syrtes nigh Weapons and parteners of his murdrous guile He puts in a small boate Oh gods durst Nile Durst barbarous Memphis and th'effoeminate men Of soft Canopus harbour such a spleene Has civill war deprest the world so low Or are the Roman fates dejected so Are Pharian swords admitted and a roome For Aegypt left into this war to come In this at least ye civill wars be true Bring well knowne hands keepe forreine beasts from you If Pompey's far-fam'd name deserue to be The crime of Caesar Feares not Ptolomey The ruine of that name or when the sky Thunders dar'st thou effoeminate Ptolomey Insert thy profane hands to terrify Thee King a Romans name enough should be Without that worth that did the world controll Rode thrice in triumph to the capitoll That govern'd Kings that led the Senates war And sonne in law was to the Conquerer VVhy with thy sword our bowells doest thou wound Thou doest not know proud boy vpon what ground Thy fortunes stand thou now canst claime no right To Aegypts scepter for in civill fight He 's fall'n that Aegypts crowne on thee bestow'd Now Pompey's ship tooke downe her sailes and â—ow'd Toward the shore The wicked band drew b neere In a small two-oar'd boate with fained cheere Tell him the Kingdome at his service stands And fâ—ining that the shore for shelues and sands Could not approached be by ships so great Into their little boate they doe entreat He would descend If by the fates decree And everlasting lawes of destiny Pompey condemned to that wretched end Had not bin forc'd to shore c none of his friends VVanted resages of the dire event For had their faith beene pure if they had meant Their Scepter giver truely t' entertaine In Court th Aegyptian King with all his traine And fleete had come Pompey to fate giues way And bid to leaue his navy does obay Preferring d death before base feare Into The enemyes boates Cornelia faine would go Now more impatient to be separate From her deare Lord because she feares his fate Stay wife and sonne and far from shore quoth he Behold my fortune and in this necke try The tyrants faith but deafe to his commands Franticke Cornelia wrings her wofull hands VVhither without me goest thou cruell man Remoov'd from Thessaly must I againe Be left still fatall haue our parting 's bin In flight thou needed'st not to haue touch'd in At Lesbos but there still haue let me be If thou entend I nere shall land with thee Only at sea thy sad companion Thus all in vaine Cornelia making mone Vpon the ships foredecke stood looking ore So full of griefe and feare she could not more Looke after him nor turne her eyes away Doubtfull of his successe the fleete did stay Not fearing swords nor force nor treachery But lest great Pompey shouâ—d submissiuely Adore that scepter that himselfe bestow'd Septimius then a Roman souldier bow'd Saluting Pompey from th' Aegyptian boate VVho oh Heavens shame leaving his pile had got A Barbarous partizan one of the guard To Aegypts King fierce vnrelenting hard Bloody as any beast VVho would not then Haue thought that fortune meant to favour men VVhen she had kept this impious sword so far From Thessaly and stay'd from civill war This hand but she dispos'd the swords alas That civill mischeife might in every place Be done A tale the Conquerors to shame It was the gods eternall blush and blame A Roman sword should by a King be led And the Aegyptian boy reach Pompey's head VVith his owne sword VVhat fame shall future time Giue thee Septimius or how stile thy crime That Brutus act as parricidall blame And now the ending hower of Pompey came Putting himselfe into the monsters e hands He went aboard their boate the murdrous bands Straight draw great Pompey seeing their drawn swords Covers his face disdaining to spend words Or lookes on such a fate and shut his eyes Containing his great spirit lest words might rise Or teares his everlasting fame to taint But when Achillas murdring weapons point Had peirc'd his side scorning the villaines pride No groanes he gaue great like himselfe he dy'd With vnstirr'd breast and thus in secret spake All times that mention of Romes labours make And future ages through the world will see This fact and Aegypts base disloyalty Maintaine thine
ire doth doubtfull stand But straight wheÌ„ his Tailes swindge has made him hoâ— And rais'd his shaggy Mâ—ne from his wide throat He roaves then if a Mauritanian Speare Or Shaft haue pierc'd his side voide of all feare Regâ—rdlesse of that wound he rushes on Gently along flowes ruddy Rubicon From a small Spring when Summer's in her pride And gliding through the valley dooes divide Gallia from Italy now Winter lent Him strength and Cynthia her full hornes had spent In showres to rayse his flâ—od and melted snow The moist East-wind made downe the Alpes to flow The Horse-men first are plac'd against the streame To take the waters fury vnder them The Foote men shelter'd found a passage ore More calme the current being broke before But now when Caesar had orecome the flood And Italy's forbidden ground had trod Heâ—e Peace and broken Lawes I leaue quoth he Fâ—rewell all Leagues Fortune I le follow thee No more wee le trust Warre shall determine all This said by Night the actiue Generall Swifter then Parthian back-shot shaft or stone From Balearieke Slinger marches on T' invade Ariminum when every star Fled from th' approaching Sunne but Lucâ—fer And that day dawn'd that first these broiles should see Either the moist Southwindes or Heavens decree With pitchy Cloudes darkned the fatall day VVhen now the Soldiers by command made stay Iâ—th Market place shrill trumpets flourisht round And the hâ—â—rse Hornes wicked alarums sound VVith this sad noise the Peoples rest was broke The young men rose and from the temples tooke Their Armes now such as long peace had marr'de And their old bucklers now of leather's bar'de Their blunted Piles not of a long time vs'd And Swords with th'eatings of blacke rust abus'd The Roman Colours and knowne Eagles then An Caesar in the midd'st high mâ—uted seene The townesmens trembling joynts for horror faint And to themselues they make this sad complaint Oh ill built Citty too too neere the Gaule Oh sadly situated place when all The world haue peace we are the spoyle of warre And first that are inuaâ—ed happier farre Might we haue liu'd in farthest North or East Or wandring tents of Scythia then possest The edge of Italy This towne of ours First felt the furious Gaules and Cymbrian powers Hither the Libyans first and Germans come This is waâ—â—es way when Fortune threatens Rome Thus silently they mourne and durst not lend Their griefe a word nor teares in publique spend As Birds by winters raging cold are still'de And the mid-ocean dooes no murmur yeild But when bright day dissolu'd the dampes of night The Fates new firebrands bring and stirre to fight Caesars yet doubting minde leaving no pause To shame but fortune findes him out a cause Of armes and labours to make just his war The factious Tribunes by the Senate are Against their sacred priviledge exil'de And by the Graechi's l factious names revil'de These now to Caesar came and brought along With them bold Curio's m mercenary tongue That tongue that once the Peoples boldly stood Gainst armed great ones for the publike good Hee when he saw the Generall musing said While this my voice Caesar thy cause could aide Wee did prorogue though gainst the Senate's will Thy gouernement while Oratoryes skill Could turne the wauering Peoples hearts to thee But since by warres rough hand Lawes silenc'd be Wee are exil'd and gladly it sustaine To be endeniz'd by thy Sword againe Whilst their yet strengthlesse side is only scarr'de Vse no delay delay hurts men prepar'de A greater price on equall danger heere Is set in Gallia's warre alone ten yeare Thou hast consum'd but here one field well fought Rome has the world to thy subiection brought Now thy returne from France with victory No pompous triumph waites no Bayes for thee Shall deck the Capitoll baâ—e enuy's hands Keepe back thy due conquest of warrelike Lands Is made a crime in thee and Pompey's pride Excludes thy rule nor canst thou now diuide The world the world thou maist possesse alone This speech gaue fire to Caesar too too prone Before to warre so peoples showtes raise more A fierce Olimpicke Steed striuing before To force the Lists and breake th' opposing barres Straight to the Standard all his Souldiers Caesar assembling ' middst their murmuring noise Commands a silence with his hand and voice Fellowes in Armes that haue endur'd with me A thousand stormes in ten yeares victory Haue our spent bloods in northerne Climes deseru'de This all our wounds so many winters seru'de Vnder the Alpes not more prouision Rome Would make for warre if Hanniball had come Ouer the Alpes Cohorts they reinforce Forrests are fell'd for Shipping all the force Of Land and Sea is arm'd gainst Caesar now What more had wee beene vanquisht would they do If the fierce Gaules our flying backes pursu'de That dare now wrong vs when our warres conclude Successefully and friendly Gods vs call Let the long peace-infeebled Generall His gownes and new rais'd Souldiers bring along Vaine names the Catoes and Marcellus tongue Must he with Forreigne and bought clients be Glutted with still continuing soueraignty Can hee triumphant Charriots mount before The Year 's appointed â— and let goe no more Honours o vsurp't why should I now complaine Of the lawes breach and famine p made for gaine Th' affrighted forum q with arm'd men beset Drawne swords enuironing the Iudgement seat When ' gainst all law Milo for murder try'de Pompey's proude Colours clos'd on euery side Now lest his age though tir'd a priuate state Should end by impious ciuill warre his hate He seekes to glut scorning but to excell His Master Sylla's guilt as Tigers fell Whom their fierce Damme with slaughtred Cattels blood VVas wont to nourish in th' Hyrcanian wood Nere loose their fury so thou Pompey vs'd To lick the blood that Sylla's swords effus'd Retain'st thy former thirst neuer againe Grow those lawes pure that blood did once distaine VVhen wilt thou end thy too long tiranny VVhere bound thy r guilt in this at least to thee A patterne let thy Master Sylla be To leaue off such vsurped soueraignety After the Pirates and tir'de Ponticke King VVhose war to end scarce Poisons s helpe could bring Must Caesars fall Pompey's last triumph make Because commanded I did not forsake My conquering Army but if I be barr'd My labours meâ—de let these haue the reward Of their long service let these Soldiers all Triumph though vnder any Generall Where shall their bloudlesse age after the Warre Finde rest what lands shall my old Soldiers share Where shall they plow where shall their City stand Are Pirates t Pompey worthier of Land March on victorious colours march away The strength that we haue made we must employ He giues the strongest all things that denyes His due nor want we ayding Deities Nor spoile those armes doe seeke nor Soveraignty But to free Rome though bent to slauery Thus spake he the yet doubting Soldiers Vncertaine murmurs raise though fierce with
rugged passages which if the enemy should first enter they might with ease keepe him backe and carâ—y the warre into Celtiberia and those farre countreyes he commanded his horsemen with speede to prevent them and himselfe marching through devious and rough wayes arrived first at those places and encamped himselfe betweene Afranius and the river Iberus which Afranius was marching to the two campes were here fortified so neare to each other that the Souldiers distinctly knew each others faces and talked with their kindred and ancient acquaintance f In this appeared a strange clemency of Caesar that after hee had heard the cruelty of Petrejus towards his Souldiers how taking them from their friends company that had vpon promise secured them hee caused them to be murdered as the Poet relates plainely Caesar notwithstanding seeking out Petrejus his souldiers in his campe spared their liues all and suffered as many of them as would to depart but many Tribunes Centurions and others would not retune but stayed and served after vnder Caesar g It was a policy had often beene vsed by barbarous enemies against the pursuing armies of the Romans to poison all their river it was done by Ingurtha King of Numidia Mithradates King of Pontus and Iuba King of Mauritansa h These two Generalls Afranius and Petrejus though they were here pardoned by Caesar vpon promise to serue no more against him did notwithstaÌ„ding afterwards in the Affrican war follow Scipio against Caesar where they were againe overthrowne Afranius was taken prisoner and by Caesar's command and was slaine Petrejus despairing of pardon as is afterwards showne slew himselfe vpon King Iuba's sword i Fortune yet presumed to doe somewhat against Caesar in his absence aboue about Illyrium for Dolabella and Antonius commanded by Caesar to possesse the Strenghts of the Adriaticke sea eâ—camped one on the Illyrian the other on the Corcyraan share Pompey farre and neere was master of the seas whose Lieutenant Octavius and Libo with great strength of shipping besiedged Antonius and by famine forced him to yeild Basilus from the other shore sent ships to ayde Antonius which were caught by the Pompeyans in a strange snare casting ropes crosse the sea vnder water not to be spi'd Two of the ships escaped and got over the ropes the third which carryed the men of Opitergium was ensnared and held fast The Opitâ—rgians in that place left an example memorable to all posterity for being scarse a thousand men they endured from morning to night the assaults of a great Army round about them and at last when valour could not possible release them rather then yeild themselues into the enemyes hands by the exhortation of their captaine Vultejus all kill'd themselues k In Affrica also the side of Caesar enduring the like calamity shewed the like valour Curio sent by Caesar to winne Libyae having vanquished and put to flight Varus was enclosed on the suddaine by the vnexpected horsemen and army of Iuba King of Mauritania Curio might haue fled when he saw the day lost but much ashamed and scorning to returne to Caesar after the losse of his legions he dyed with all his men LVCANS Pharsalia The First Booke The Argument Romes flying Senate met at Epire chose Great Pompey generall faint Appius goes To Delphos Oracle to seeke advise Which his owne death obscurely signifies Caesar return'd from Spaine with victory Quiets his Souldiers dangerous mutiny Dictator then and Consull both at Rome He makes himselfe sailes from Brundusium To Greece but vex'd with Anthony's delayes In a small boate himselfe alone assayes By night the stormy sea and crosses ore His legions all met on the Graecian shore Addresse themselues for triall of the day Pompey to Lesbos sends his wife away THus fortune kept mixing her good with ill The two a war-wounded generalls aequall still For Macedonia when with Winter's snow The Pleiades did Oemus top bestrow And when the times new-naming day drew neare Old Ianus feast beginner of the yeare Then both the Consuls at the vtmost date Of their expiring honour convocate To Epire the fled fathers where a plaine And forraine seat Rome's Nobles did containe A borrowed court in forraine land heard all The secrets of the State For who can call That place a campe where all Romes Fasces were And axes borne The reverend order there Taught all the people 't was not Pompey's side But Pompey there a member did abide Silence possessing the sad Senate than From an high seat thus Lentulus began If you retaine a strength of minde as good As Roman spirits and your ancient blood Befitts then thinke not in what land you are As banisht from surprised Rome how farre But know the face of your owne company Fathers that governe all this first decree Which yet all kingdomes and all people know We are the Senate For if fortune now Should carry vs vnder the frozen waine Of Vrsa maâ—or or where daies remaine Aequall in length with nights the torrid zone Thither the Empire and dominion Would follow vs When Rome by Gaules was fir'd And that to Vey Camillus was retir'd There then was Rome this order never lost Their right by changing place Caesar can boast Only of mourning walls possession And judgement seates by sad vacation Shut vp and silenc'd empty mansions That court those fathers onely sees whom once When full it banisht of that ranke who ere Is not a banisht man is sitting here We that long peacefull free from guilt haue stood At wars first fury were dispers'd abroad Now to his place each part returnes againe And for the losse of Italy and Spaine The gods the strength of all the world bestow Th'Illyrian Sea has overwhelm'd one foe And Libyan fields does slaughtred Curio No little part of Caesars Senate strow Advance your Eagles follow fate and grant The gods your hope doe not that courage want In this good fortune which when first you fled Your cause stirr'd vp The yeere has finished Our power you fathers whose authorityes No time shall end for th'publike good advise Command great Pompey to be generall His name with joyfull cryes the Senate all Receiue imposing vpon Pompey straight His countrey's and his owne most wretched fate Then faithfull Kings and Nations had their praise Phaebus sea-powerfull Rhodes rewarded was And Spartans rough prais'de were th' Athenians b Phocis made free with her Massylians Faithfull c Deiotarus young Sadalis The valiant d Cotys and e Rhasipolis Of Macedon were prais'd Iuba to thee The Senate giues all Libya by decree And oh sad fare ignoble Ptolemy Worthy of treacherous subjects vnto thee The crime of all the gods and fortunes shame Is granted the Pellaean diadem A tirants sword over thy nation Thou tak'st proud boy would 't were ore them alone Ore f Pompey's throate it is thy sisters crowne Thou tak'st and Caesars impious action The Senate now broke vp the troopes all take Their armes the people and the captaines make For warres vncertaine preparation But g
vnknowne What name should those two Channells meet in one They 'd beaâ—e Euphrates flowing on the fields That profit there that Nile in Aegypt yeelds But Tigris swallow'd by the gaping earth Long hides his course but at his second birth Deniâ—s not to the Sea his new-borne flood Betwixt boâ—h Campes fierce Parthians neuters stood Content that they alone had causde this war VVith poyson'd arrowes wandring Scythians far Come to the Campe whom Bactros ioy flood Enâ—losâ—s and Hyrcania's desert wood The valiant Heniochian Horsemen there Sprung from the Spartan race Sarmatians neere To the fierce Moschi where cold Phasis glides And Colâ—hos richest pasture fields divides VVhere Halys fatall to the Lydian King Does flow where Tanais that drawes his spring From the Riphaean hills and doth divide Europe from Asia giving to each side The name of severall worlds and as he bends Now to this world now that encrease he lends Where slow Moeotis driven into the seas Takes from the pillars of great Hercules Their fame denying that the Gades alone Admit the sea Scythonian nations The valiant Arians Arimaspians With gold deck'd lockes and swift Gelonians The Massegets their thirst that satisfie With the same horses bloods whereon they fly Not Cyrus leading th'Easterne troopes nor when Xerxes by darts numbring his armed men Came downe nor Agamemnon bound to set His brothers ravisht wife with that fam'd fleet So many Kings brought vnder their commands So many nations drawne from severall lands Different in language and attire nor ere Did fortune bring so many men to beare Part in a mighty ruine making all Sad obsequies at Pompeys funerall Marmaricke troopes the horned Ammon prest And all scorcht Affricke from the farthest VVest To th'Easterne shore send ayde as far as ly The Syrtes gulfes lest Caesar severally And oft be troubled here all nations Pharsalia brings to be suddu'de at once Caesar now leaving fearefull Rome in hast VVith his swift troopes the cloudy Alpes orepast But though his fame all people else affright Phocian Massyllia f dares yet keepe aright Her faith and far from Greekish levity The cause the lawes not fortune followes she But first of all they labour to asswage VVith peacefull parley his vncurbed rage And stubborne minde and to their foe now nigh They send an Oliue-bearing Embassy As Latiums annals can true mention make Massilia still was ready to partake The fate of Rome in any forreine war And now if triumphs over nations far Caesar thou seeke to such a conflict take These hands and liues of ours but if you make Sad civill war then giue vs leaue to bend To neyther side and naught but teares to spend Let not our hands in wounds so sacred be If th' heavenly gods had civill enmity Or earth-borne Giants should assault the sky No ayde to Ioue durst human piety By armes or prayers lend their states aboue We know not but are bound to thinke that Ioue Has thunder still besides how many from All nations now doe voluntaryes come The slothfull world is not from vice so far That you should need forc'd sword to civill war Would every people would this cause refuse And this sad war no hands but Roman vse Some hands would falter at their fathers sight And brothers faintly would ' gainst brothers fight The war will soone haue end if forreine states You vse not t'exercise their ancient hates Our humble suite is that within our wall Thou ' ldst trust thy selfe and leaue behinde thee all Thy threaâ—ning Eagles let vs this obtaine To shut out war and Caesar entertaine Let this place free from guilt safely receiue Thy selfe and Pompey if fates please to giue Peace to vnconquer'd Rome here both may meete Vnarm'd but why when danger did invite Thy wars to Spaine turn'dst thou to vs aside We are of no availe to turne the tide Of your great wars our armes haue prooved still Vnfortunate when fortune did exile Vs from our first plantation here we sate And Phocis sackt towers hither did translaâ—e Here in a forreine coast and weake wall'd towne Safe haue we liv'd our Faith is our râ—nowne If thou intend seidge to our walles to lay Or through our gates t' enforce a speedy way In the defence we are resolv'd to dye And fury of the sword and fire to try If thou divert our waters course the ground Wee le dig and licke the puddle we haue found If foode should faile flesh of our children slaine Fearefull to touch or see our jawes should staine For liberty to suffer wee le not feare VVhat once Saguntum when besiedg'd could beare In Carthage war our babes in vaine that striue To sucke their mothers dry'd vp breasts wee le giue Freely to th' fire a wife shall sue for death At her deare husbands hand a brothers breath A brothers hand shall stop this civill war VVee le choose o'th'two so spoketh ' embassador But Caesar's troubled looke his anger speakes Before his words but this at last these Greekes Vaine hope of our departure has possest Though we were marching to the farthest VVest Yet haue we time to sacke Massilia Souldiers rejoyce fate meetes vs in the way VVith war as windes in th' empty aire doe loose Their force vnlesse some strong growne oake oppose As mighty fires for want of fuell dye So want of foes breedes our calamity Our strength were lost vnlesse some durst stand out To be subdu'd but if I come without My armes they will receiue me they desire Not to exclude but take me prisoner But they forsooth would faine that guilt eschew That followes civill war I le make them rue Their asking peace and know that nought can be Safer then war to those serue vnder me Then on he marches the towne fearelesse shut Their gates and souldiers on the rampiers put Not far off from the walles a hill there stood VVhose top was like a field levell and broade VVhich Caesar in surveying judg'd to be Safe for a campe and fit to fortifieâ— The townes nâ—eâ—'st part did an high castle raise Aequall to th'hill in midst a valley was Caesar resolues on a laborâ—ous thing To fill the valley and together bring Both hills but first to shut vp quite the towne By land from both sides his high campe brings downe A long worke to the sea a bulwarke rais'd Of turfes with rampiers on the top and plac'd In length to cut all convoyes from the towne This was a thing for ever to renowne This Greekish towne to stay the violent course Of this hot war not tâ—ne by suddaine force Or feare when Caesar all the rest orerunne The cities conquest as'kd him time alone T' was much â—o stay â—is fates fortune in hast To make him lord of all the world did wast Time at this â—eidge nâ—w round about the towne The lofty woods are fell'd large Oakes hew'n downe To fortifie with posts tâ—e bulwarkes side Lest earth too brittle of it selfe should slide Away not able the towers weight to beare A wood
their strength they strike in this did stand Their piety alone that at one blow They would dispatch them on the hatches now Halfe dead they draw their bowells and much blood Stream'd downe into the sea it did them good To see the scorned day death to preferre And with proud lookes despise the conquerer Now on the ship the heapes of bodyes shew'd The slaughter made on which the foes bestow'd Fit funeralls admiring much to see To any Captaine such fidelity Fame flying through the world did never raise Any one ship with such resounding praise Yet will not coward nations since such braue Examples learne to know that death to saue Their liberty is not a price so deare But kingdomes arm'd with power of sword they seareâ— Liberty can vse armes and swords should be As men should know to keepe their liberty Oh would the fates would let the fearefull liue That valour only death to men might giue Nor was that war that did in Libya grow Lesse terrible then this bold g Curio By a milde Northren winde was wasted ore From Lilybaeum to that well knowne shore VVhere Clupea seated is and where he sees Great Carthages halfe ruin'd aedifice And pitching his first tents far from the maine VVhere Bagrada furrowes the sandy plaine Those hills and eaten rockes goes to behold VVhich were Aâ—taeus kingdome call'd of old Asking the cause of this old name a clowne Thus tells the tale by long Tradition knowne For Giants births Earth yet not barren made In Libian caues a feared issue had Which to his mother brought as true a fame As Typhon Tityus and Briareus name 'T was good for heaven Antaeus was not borne At Phlegra but this guift did more adorne His mighty strength into his limmes though tir'd His mothers touch a vigour fresh inspir'd This caue his dwelling was this mountaine here He lurckt about his foode slaine lions were His bed no leaues of trees no skin of beasts His strength by sleeping on the ground encreast By him th' inhabitants of Libya dy'd And strangers all that to our coast apply'd His strength not vsing a long time to fall Needed not earths rich gift too strong for all He was though standing vp at length through fame Of this dire plague the great Alcides came Whose hand both sea and land from monsters free'd And for th' encounter each put off his weede One's Nemean tother 's Libyan Lions skin Hercules oiles his limmes ere he begin According to th' Olimpicke rites but he Rubb'd ore his limmes with sand it could not be Enough to touch his mother with his feete They grapple then and armes armes folded meete Striving each others necke with heavy hand To bend yet both fixt and vnbended stand Both wonder much to meete their match at length But Hercules vs'd not his vtmost strength At the first bout but weary'd out his foe Which his oft blowing and cold sweates did show His shaking necke nor breast could firmely stand His bending hammes yeild to Alcides hand Alcides then about his short ribbes cast His conquering armes and grip'd his yeilding wast Then tripping vp his leggs he fairely â—ayes His foe stretch'd out vpon the sand earth stayes His sweat and fills with fresh blood every vaine His armes grow brawny his joynes stâ—ffe againe And his fresh limmes vnclaspe the others hands Amaz'd at this new strength Alcides stands Nor fear'd he Hydra so in Lerna lakes Fruitfull by losse of her reviving snakes Though then but yong Now both were aequall growne One in earths strength the other in his owne Nere had sterne Iuno more encouragement To hope she sees his limmes with sweating spent And his necke dry'd as when he did sustaine The heavens but when he clasp'd his foe againe Antaeus staying not till he be throwne Falls of himselfe and rises stronger growne His mother earth to his tir'd members giues What spirit she has and labours when he striues But when Alcides found â—arths touch to be Strengthning to him now thou shalt stand quoth he No more thou falâ—'st nor will we trust againe The ground this breast shall thy crusht limbes susteâ—ne Hither Antaeus shalt thou fall this spoke Him striving to fall downe aloft he tooke And grasp'd his middle fast earth could not lend Strength to her dying sonne nor succour send But till his foâ—s breast starke and cold he found Alcides durst not trust him on the ground From hence selfe-lov'd antiquity and fame Old times recorder gaue this place a name But to these hills a nobler name gaue he That drew the Punicke foe from Italy Scipio arriving on our Libya heere Pitch'd his first campe the ruines yet appeare Of that old trench this place of all the rest Was first by Roman victory possest Curio as if the place were fortunate And still retain'd those former Captaines fate In war rejoyc'd and in this lucky place Pitch'd his vnlucky tents which did deface The places Omen and provok'd sterne foes With strength vnaequall Affricke all that owes Obedience to the Roman Eagles then VVas vnder Varus who though strong in men Of Italy aide from the Libyan King Requires to whom the worlds far regions bring Their force with Iuba no one King alone VVas master of such large dominion In length th'extent of his great Kingdomes ground Gades-neighbouring Atlas and Ioues Ammon bound Neere Thera but in breadth the torrid zone Betwixt the sea and it it coasts vpon So many people to his army presse Th' Autolodes and wandring Nomades Getulians hors'd without caparison The Mauritanians of complexion Like Indians poore Nasamonians Scorcht Garamantes swift Marmaricans Massylians that without saddles ride And with a wand their bitlesse horses guide Mazacian darts that Median shafts excell Those that in empty cottages doe dwell Affrican hunters that all darts refuse And their loose coates ' gainst angry Lyons vse Nor did the cause of civill war alone But private anger bring King Iuba on Curio that yeere wherein he did defile Divine and human lawes striv'd to exile By tribunitiall law from Libyas throne This King and barre him his forefathers crowne VVhâ—lest he would make thee Rome a monarchy He mindfull of the wrong thinkes this to be The greatest guift his scepter could bestow This Iuba's fame affrighted Curio Besides no Souldiers firme to Caesar's side Were in his army none that had beene try'd In Germany but at Confinium tane False to new Lords did to their first remaine Doubtfull and thought both sides indifferent were But when he saw all slacke through slavish feare That the night-guards their trenches did forsake With a distracted spirit thus he spake Daring conceales great feareâ— I le first assay The fight and put my Souldiers in array While tâ—ey are mine doubt growes from rest alone Fight shall prevent their consultation When swords whet their dire wills and helmets hide Their blushes who can then compare the side Or weigh the cause they favour as they stand As no old hate does on the stage command
Appius feares warres doubtfull chance alone Solliciting the gods th' events to heare And Phoebus Temple that for many a yeare Had beene shut vp at Delphos opens he Parnassus with two tops reaching the sky Twixt East and West aequally distant lyes To Bacchus and Apollo's deityes Sacred to whom in mixed sacrifice The Theban wiues at Delphos solemnize Their trieterickes this one hill alone Appear'd when all the world was overflowne And stood as middle twixt the sea and sky One top Parnaffus then contented thee For one alone did aboue water shew Young Phoebus there with shafts vnvsed slew The speckled Python that in waite long lay His banisht mother great with childe to slay Themis the kingdome then and Tripos held But when h Apollo the cleft ground beheld T' inspire oraculous truth and further findes The gapâ—ng earth exhale prophetike windes Downe in that sacred caue himselfe he hides And now turn'd Prophet there Apollo bides VVhich of the gods lurkes here what deity Shot downe from heaven vouchsafes to dignify This caue what heavenly god dwells heere below That does the fates aeternall courses know And things to come and telling people sure Vouchsafes the touch of woman to endure VVhether this powerfull god barely relate The fates or his relation make them fate Perchance that spirit that all the world maintaines And the poiz'd earth in empty aire susteines Through these Cirrhaean caues does passage get Striving with his aethereall part to meete This spirit once entered the virgins brest Striking her humane soule sounds forth exprest VVith hideous noise so vrging flames come from Sicilian Aetna's over burden'd wombe Typhaeus so throwes vp his stones abroade Prest with Inarime's aeternall loade This god expos'd to all deny'd to none Is free'd from hearing human crimes alone To him no man whispers vnlawfull prayers For he things fixt vnchangeable declares Forbidding men to wish and gratiously Giues just men dwellings though whole townes they be As once to Tyre he teaches vs wars slight As to th' Athenians in their navall fight At Salamine he cleares the causes showne Earths barrennesse and aire 's infection Our age no gift of heaven wants more then this Of Delphos oracle which silent is Since Kings afraid to haue their fates exprest Forbid the gods to speake nor is the Priest Of Delphos for the god 's long silence sad This Oracle's cessation makes them glad For to that breast where ere he doe inspire Vntimely death is punishment or hire Of his reception the fitt's vehemence Too much orecomes the strength of human sence And their fraile soules the god 's high motion shakes Appius whilest too too neare a search he makes To know Rome's fate to th' vnstirr'd Tripodes And silent cavernes does his steps addresse The Priest commanded t'ope that dreadfull seate And for the god a prophetesse to get Findes young Phemonoe as she carelesse roues ' Mongst the Castalian springs and silent groues And makes her breake the Temple doores The maide To stand in that most horrid place afraide Thought by a vaine deceit Appius to bring From his desire of knowing future things Why hop'st thou Roman truth should here be showne The hill quoth she is mute the god is gone Whether the spirit haue left these cavernes quite And to the worlds far regions tane his flight Or Phytho burnt by barbarous Brennus vp Did with the ashes fill this hole and stop Great Phaebus way or that the gods decree Make Cirrha mute thinking it prophecy Enough that Sibyll's bookes among you liue Or Phoebus wont from out his temple driue All wicked persons now no mouth haue found Worthy enough his Oracles to sound The Maids deceit appear'd her feare imply'd She falsely had the present gods deny'd Then a white fillet ties her lockes behinde With Delphian Bayes and wreathed garlands binde Her haire before The Priest thrusts on the maid VVho fearefull still about the entrance staid And durst no neerer to the god to come Nor to approach the temples inmost roome There counterfeiting that she was possest She vtters from an vndisturbed brest Fain'd words with no confused murmure flowing Nor the least signe of divine fury showing Her words so deepely could not Appius wound As great Apolloes truth no trembling sound That broke her speech there was no voice so shrill As all the caues capacious throat might fill Her Lawrell fell not from her frightd haire The temple and the wood vnshaken were These signes betray'd her fearefull to receiue The god when angry Appius did perceiue That 't was no Oracle Thou wretch quoth he Both I and these abused gods will bee Reveng'd for this vnlesse thou straight descend And truely tell what all these stirres portend To the affrighted world with that the maid Descends downe to the Oracle afraid And standing ore the vault the god possest VVith a full spirit her vnaccustom'd brest The rockes so many yeeres vnwasted spirit He fills her with and comming to inherit A Delphian brest nere fill'd he Prophetesse Fuller her former minde he banishes And bids all woman from her breast begone She raging beares in this distraction Not her owne necke her haire vpright throwes downe The sacred ornaments and Phoebus crowne Her necke turnes wildly round downe she throwes All tripodes she meets with as she goes And with an inward fire she burnes which shewes Thee Phoebus wrath nor doest thou onely vse Thy prickes thy flames and incitations now But bridles too the Prophetesse shall know More then she must reveale all times are heapt Vp in one heape and many ages crept Into her wretched breast things orders too And all contend out into light to goe The Fates desiring vtterance striue within VVhen the world ends and when it shall begin The prophetesse can tell and vnderstands The Oceans depth and number of the sands As the Cumaean Sibyll in a scorne Her prophecies should serue all nations turne From the vast heape of vniversall Fate VVith a proud hand cull'd out the Roman State So now the Phoebus fill'd Phemonâ—â— Striues obscure Appius where to find out thee ' Mongst all the Delphian inspirations Then first from her mad mouth the foaming â—unnes And in the horrid caue were heard at once Broke-winded murmurs howlings and sad grones At last these words fall from the maide orecome Great threates of war thou only freed from Shalt in Eubaea's pleasant valleys rest And there she stopt Phoebus her speech supprest Yee Tripodes keepers of fate that know All the world's secrets and Apollo thou Skill'd in all truth from whom the gods conceale No future times why fear'st thou to reveale That action that our Empire 's ruine brings Great Captaines deaths and funeralls of Kings And all the people that with Rome shall bleede Haue not the gods this mischiefe yet decree'd Or stay those fates whilest planets are at strife And doubt about condemning Pompey's life Or hid'st thou fortune to effect more sure Our liberties revenge and Brutus cure Of monarchy
with thy Thessalian bow Feirce wars first seedes did from this countrey grow Heere the first horse for war sprang from a rocke Which mighty Neptune with his trident stroke To chew on the steele bit he not disdain'd And fom'd by his Thessalian rider rain'd From hence the first of ships the Ocean plow'd And seas hid paths to earth-bred mortalls show'd Itonus first of all Thessalia's King To forme by hammer did hot mettalls bring Made silver liquid stamp'd his coines impresse In gold and melted brasse in furnaces Hence did th' account of money first arise The fatall cause of war and tragedies Heere was that hideous serpent Python bred VVhose skin the Delphian Tripos covered Whence to those games Thessalian bayes are brought Aloeus wicked brood ' gainst heaven here fought When Ossa on high Pelions top was set And the Celestiall orbes swift motion let When both the generalls in this land by fate Destin'd encamp'd the wars ensuing state Fills all presaging mindes all saw at hand That hower on which this wars last cast should stand Cowards now trembled that wars fate so neare Was drawne and fear'd the worst both hope and feare To this yet-doubtfull tryall brought the stout But one alas among the fearefull rout Was Sextus Pempey's most vnworthy son Who afterwards a banisht man vpon Sicilian seas turn'd Pirate and there stain'd The fam'd sea-triumphs his great father gain'd He brooking no delay but weake to beare A doubtfull state endeauoures vrg'd by feare To find fates future course Nor does he craue From Delphian Phoebus from the Pyâ—hian caue Or that fam'd Oake fruitfull in akehornes where Ioues mouth giues answere this event to heare Nor seekes advice from them to whom are knowne Birds flights beasts entrailes lightnings motion Nor the Chaldaean skill'd Astrologer Nor any secret wayes that lawfull were But magicke damn'd by all the gods aboue And her detested secrets seekes to prooue Aide from the ghosts and feinds below to craue Thinking ah wretch the gods small knowledge haue The place it selfe this vaine dire madnesse helpt Nere to the campe th' Aemonian witches dwelt Whom no invented monâ—â—ers can excell Their art 's what ere 's incredible to tell Besides Thessaliaes fields and rockes doe beare Strange killing hearbes and plants and stones that heare The charming Witches murmurs there arise Plants that haue power to force the deityes Medea there a stranger in those fields Gather'd worse herbes then any Colchos yeilds Those wretches impious charmes turne the gods cares Though deafe to many nations zealous prayers Their voice alone beares through the inmost skyes Commands to the vnwilling deityes Which not their care of heavens high motions Can turne away when those dire murmurs once Enter the sky though the Aegyptians wise And Babylonians their deepe misteryes Should vtter all th'Aemonian witch still beares From all their altars the gods forced eares These witches spells loues soft desires haue sent Into the hardest hearts ' gainst fates intent Severe old men haue burn'd in impious loue VVhich tempered drinkes and philtrums could not moue Nor that to which the fole his damms loue owes The swelling flesh that on his forehead growes Mindes by no poyson hurt have perished By spells those whom no loue of marriage bed Nor tempting beautyes power could ere inflame By Magicke knot-ty'd thread together came The course of things has stay'd to keepe out day Night has stood still the sky would not obey The law of Nature the dull world at their Dire voice has beene benumn'd great Iupiter Vrging their course himselfe admir'd to see The poles not moov'd by their swift axeltree Showres they have made clouded the clearest sky And heaven has thunder'd Ioue not knowing why By the same voyce with haire loose hanging they Moist swelling clouds and stormes haue chas'd away The sea without one puffe of wind has swell'd Againe in spite of Auster has beene still'd Ships sailes haue quite against the windes been sway'd Steepe waters torrents in their fall haue stay'd And rivers haue run backe Nile not oreflowne In Summer time Maeander straight has run Arar has hasten'd Rhodanus growne slow High hills sunke downe haue aequall'd vales below Aboue his head the cloudes Olympus saw In midst of VVinter Scythian snowes did thaw VVithout the Sunne the tide-rais'd Ocean Aemonian spells beat from the shore againe The ponderous earth out of her center tost Her middle place in the worlds orbe has lost So great a weight strooke by that voyce was stirr'd And on both sides the face of heaven appear'd All deadly creatures and for mischeife borne Both feare and serue by death the witches turne The Tigers fierce and Lyons nobly bold Fawne vpon them cold snakes themselues vnfold And in the frosty fields lye all vntwin'd Dissected vipers by their power are joyn'd Their poison'd breathings poison'd serpents kill Why are the gods thus troubled to fulfill And fearefull their enchantments to contemne What bargaine has thus ty'd the gods to them Doe they obey vpon necessity Or pleasure or some vnknowne piety Deserues it or some secret threats prevaile Or haue they jurisdiction over all The gods or does one certaine deity feare Their most imperious charmes who what so ere Himselfe is forc'd too can the world compell By them the starres oft from the pole downe fell And by their voices poyson Phaebe turn'd Growne pale with darke and earthly fires has burn'd No lesse then if debarr'd her brothers shine By enterposall of the earth betweene Her Orbe and his these labours vndergone Has she deprest by incantation Vntill more nigh she foam'd her gelly on Their herbes These spells of this dire nation And damned rites dreadfull Erictho scornes As too too good and this foule art adornes With newer rites in townes her dismall head Or houses roofes is never covered Forsaken graues and tombes the ghosts expell'd She haunts by fiends in aestimation held To heare hells silent counsells and to know The Stygian cells and misteryes below Of Dis her breathing heere no hindrance was A yellow leanenesse spreads her lothed face Her dreadfull lookes knowne to no lightsome aire With heavy hell-like paâ—enesse clogged are Laden she is with long vnkemmed haires But when darke stormes or clouds obscure the starres From naked graues then forth Ericttho stalkes To catch the nights quicke sulphur as she walkes The corne burnes vp and blasts where ere she tread And by her breath cleare aires are poisoned She prayes not to the gods nor humbly cryes For helpe nor knowes she pleasing sacrifice But funerall flames to th' altars she preferres Frankincense snatch'd from burning sepulchres The gods at her first voice grant any harme She askes and dare not heare her second charme Liue soules that rule their limbs she does entombe Death though vnwilling seizes those to whom The fates owe yeeres with a crosse pompe men dead Returne from grâ—ue coarses from tombes haue fled Young mens hot ashes and burnt bones she snatches Out of the midst of funerall Piles and
and downe The fates now drawing the worlds ruine on Desire a signall to the fight poore men VVhose greater part should never see the end Of that sad day about their Generalls tent Hasting the houre of their neere death they vent Their passions and complaints and franticke growne Their owne and publike fate they hasten on They call great Pompey sluggish timorous Patient of Caesar and ambitious Of soveraignety desirous still to reigne Ore all those Kings and fearing peace againe The Kings and Easterne nations all complain'd VVarre was prolong'd and they from home detain'd The gods when they our ruine had decreed VVould make it thus our owne erroneous deed Ruine we sought and mortall warres requir'd In Pompey's campe Pharsalia is desir'd Noâ— did this wish want Cicero's defence The greatest author of Romes eloquence In whose growne-rule fierce Catiline did feare The peacefull axes Now turn'd souldier From barres and pleadings had beene silent long And this bad cause thus strengthens with his tongue Pompey for all her gifts fortune implores That thou wouldst vse her now thy Senators Thy kings and all the suppliant world entreat Thy leaue to conquer Caesar shall he yet So long a war against mankind maintaine VVell may the forreigne nations now disdaine VVho suddainely were vanquished by thee That Pompey is so slow in victory VVhere 's now thy spirit thy confidence of fate Canst thou now doubt the gods ah most ingrate Or fear'st thou to commit into their hand The Senates cause thy troopes without command Their Eagles will advance 't were shame for thee To be compell'd to conquer if thou be Our generall and ours the war to try The hazard lyes in our authority VVhy hold'st thou the worlds swords from Caesar's throat They all are drawne almost and tarry not Thy â—low alarmes make hast lest thy command They all forsake the Senate does demand If they thy souldiers or companions be Great Pompey sigh'd to see how contrary The gods were bent and fortune crost his mindâ— If you be all quoth he this way inclin'd And me a souldier not a generall The time require I le be no let at all To fate let fortune all these nations cast Into one ruine be this day the last To the great'st part of men But witnesse Rome Pompey 's enforc'd to this sad field to come The warres whole worke neede not haue cost one wound But Caesar without blood subdu'd and bound Might haue bin brought to answere injur'd peace What fury 's this oh blinde in wickednesse To conquer without blood in civill war You are afraid Masters o'th'land we are The seas are wholly ours the famisht foe To fetch in Corne vnripe is forc'd to goe And 't is become his wish by swords to dye And with his ruine mixe our tragedy In this some part is finisht of the war That our fresh-water souldiers doe not feare The fight if that be in true valour done Into extreamest dangers many run For feare of future ill valiant'st is he That feares not t'vndergoe a danger nigh Nor to differ it Would you then commit Your strength to fortunes hand and to one fight The worlds estate desiring all that I Should rather fight then get the victory The rule of Romes estate thou didst bestow Fortune on me receiue it greater now Protect it in this wars blinde chance to me Nor crime nor honour shall this battell be Caesar thy wicked prayers ' gainst mine prevaile We fight how dismall to all people shall This day appeare how many lands vndone Shall be how crimson shall Enipeus run With Roman bloud would the first pile of all This mortall war would light if I could fall Without the ruine of our side on me For not more joyfull can the conquest be Pompey a name shall be to every one Of hate or pity when this fight is done The conquer'd shall endure the worst of woe The worst of crimes the Conquerour shall doe With that the reines be to their fury giues Suffring the fight So th'artlesse sailer leaues His helpelesse barke when Corus blasts are growne Too strong to guidance of the windes alone A fearefull murmuring noise rose through all parts Of th'campe and diversly their manly hearts Beat ' gainst their breasts vpon the face of some Appear'd the palenesse of a death to come And ghastly lookes that day they thinke fate brings A lasting state of rule on earthly things And what Rome was after this field is fought Be ask'd no man of his owne danger thought Amaz'd with greater feares Who when he sees All shores oreflowne and th'vncurb'd Ocean rise Ore mountaines tops the Firmament and Sunne Fall downe to earth in such confusion Could feare his owne estate no private state Has time to feare but Romes and Pompey's fate Nor did they trust their swords vnlesse sharpe set On stones the points of their dull piles they whet Each archer fitts his bow with surest strings And choisest arrowes in his quiver brings Horse-men sharpe spurres provide and strongest raines So when earths Giants vpon Phlegra 's plaines If with the actes of gods our humane warres We may compare rebell'd the sword of Mars In Aetna's fâ—rge and Neptunes three-fork'd speare Were scowr'd and sharpen'd Phoebus arrowes there With Python dull'd made sharpe the blew-ey'd maide Vpon her sheild Medusa's haires display'd Ioues lightning then the Cyclops moulded new Fortune foretold the woes that should ensue By many tokens for the stormy sky Withstood their marches into Thessaly The cloudes against their eyes did lightnings throw Meteors like lampes like fiery posts in show And beamâ—s cloud-breaking Typhons did arise And lightnings flashes dimm'd and closd their eyes Their helmets plumes were sindg'd their piles did meltâ— Sword-blades dissolv'd run downe the hilts they felt Their impious swords with sulphur from the skyes Did smoake their Ensignes hid with swarmes of Bees Could scarce be pluck'd from ground the bearers bow'd Themselues to get them vp which seem'd oreflow'd With teares from thence even to Thessalia The bull from th' holy altars ran away And to Pharsalia field directly flyes VVhilest their sad altar wants a sacrifice But what night furyes what Eumenides VVhat Stygian powers or gods of wickednesse VVhat hellish feinds Caesar didst thou appease Preparing for such wicked warres as these Whether the gods or their owne feare had wrought These wonders doubtfull t is but many thought They saw Olympus meete with Pindus hill And Aemus fall th'adjoyning valleyes fill That in the night Pharsalia sounded loud The noise of battell that Baebei's flowd Swiftly with blood But most admired they To see each others face show darke the day Grow pale and night their helmets overspread Their fathers ghosts and all their kinsemen dead T' appeare before their eyes But this alone Comforted their sicke mindes knowing their owne Impious entents brothers to kill and ope Their fathers throates they hence conceived hope Thinking these monsters and portents t'imply Th' accomplishment of their impiety No wonder t is if
and vnknowne If thou hadst beene not first but onely seat Of wicked war Oh giue vs leaue to hate This guilty land ye gods why doe you staine The world t'absolue it so the blood in Spaine Sicilian seas Mutina Leucas spilt Has quite absolv'd Philippi fields from guilt FINIS Libri Septims Annotations on the seventh Booke a The same day when this great Pharsalian field was fought an Augur C. Cornelius being then at Padua observing his rules of augury told vnto them that stood by him the very instant when the battell beganne and going aâ—aine to his art returned as it were inspired and cryes out with a loud voice Caesar the day is thine b This Chrastinus was an old Souldier of Caesars army and now Emeritus that is free'd from the duties of the war but for loue of Caesar served in this war a voluntary he desiring to giue the onset spake thus to Caesar I hope Caesar this day so to behaue my selfe that thou shalt thanke me either aliue or dead he was slaine runne through the mouth c When Caesar perceived that his horsemen could not withstand the force of Pompeys horsemen and archers he drew foorth 3000 men which for that purpose hee had placed in the right wing they with such fury assaulted Pompeys horsemen that they all fled after whose flight all the archers wanting their defence were without resistance slaine d Marcus Brutus was there fighting in Plebeian armour and scaped the knowledge of Caesars souldiers This was that Brutus that ioyning afterward with Cassius was with him Vanquished in the Philippian fields by Octavius and Antonius after which battell all hope of Roman liberty was for ever lost e L. Domitius was by the Senates decree to succeede Caesar in the government of France In this warre taking Pompeys side he was at Corfinium by his owne souldiers brought bound to Caesar and by him pardoned afterward in Massilla he was vanquished by D. Brutus Caesars Lieutenant and fled LVCANS Pharsalia The Eight Booke The Argument Through devious deserts vanquish'd Pompey flyes And sailes to Lesbos whence with weeping eyes He takes his wife In severall flying fleetes Sextus and other Roman Lords he meetes Deiotarus the Gallogracian King Is sent to great Arsacides to bring To aide of Pompey's side the Parthian bowes The Lords consult where to retire and chose Aegypts base shore Th'vnthankefull king betrayes Old Pompey comming and before the face Of Sextus and Cornelia ere he lands By base Achillas and Septimius hands Great Pompey dyes By night poore Codrus comes And on the shore his halfe burnt trunke entombes Without the head The author doth inveigh ' Gainst treachereous Aegypt and base Ptolemey ORe woody Tempe and th' Herculian straits Following th'Aemonian woods desert retreâ—ts Though farre about great Pompey rode his steede Quite spent past helpe of spurre had lost his speede Through devious wayes he turnes and leaues behinde No tracke of his vncertaine flight the winde Filling the shaken woods with murmuring noises Made him afraide and his owne followers voices That rode behinde and by him For although Fall'n from his height of former fortunes now He thinkes his blood set at no vulgar rate But as high priz'd still mindfull of his fate By Caesar as himselfe for Caesars head Would giue But through the deserts as he fled His presence and majestike face deny'd A safe concealement many as they hy'd Vnto his camâ—e and had not heard his fall Stood in amaze to meete their generall VVondring at fortunes turnes and scarse is he Beleft relating his owne misâ—ry He grieuâ—s that any his low state should see And wishes rather in all lands to be Vnknowne and through the world obscurely goe But fortunes ancient favour brings this woe His present sinking state more to depresse By honours weight and former happinesse Now he perceiues he did too early clime Blames his triumphant youth in Sylla's time And grieues to thinâ—e vpon in these sad dayes His Ponticke lauâ—â—ll or Pyratickâ— bayes So too long age greâ—t'st happinesse destroyes And life surviving Empire former joyes Breede greife vnlesse wiâ—h them our end be sent Aâ—d timely death ensuing wors prevent Let none but with a minde prepar'd to dy Dare to adventure on prosperity Now to the shore be came where Peneus ran Red with Pharsalia's slaughter to the maine There a a small barke vnfit for seas and windes Scarse safe in shallowest rivers Pompey findes And goes aboord He with whose navyes oares Even yet Corcyra shakes and Leucas shoares That tam'd Cicilia and Liburnia Goes fearfull now in a small barke to sea To Lesbos shore his sailes commanded are By thee Cornelia conscious of his care VVhere thou then lay'st far more with sorrow fill'd Then if th'hadst bin in dire Pharsalia's field Thy carefull breast still sad presages shake And feares thy restlesse slumbers still awake Each night presents Thessalia when night 's done To th' shore and sea orehanging rockes begone VVith woe to veiw the Oceans face she hyes And still all ships that come she first espyes But dares aske nothing of her husbands state Lo now a ship that comes alas what fate It brings thou knowst not but behold thy feares Thy cares whole summe thy vanquisht lord appeares Himselfe the sad relater of wars crime VVhy now lament'st thou not thus loosing time VVhen thou may'st weepe thou fear'st the ship drawne nigh She runs and sees the crime of destiny Pompey palefac'd his hoary haires hung downe Ore his sad brow his garments squallid growne Then greife contracts her soule a suddaine night Invades her sense and reaues her eyes of light Her nerue-forsaken joynts all faile cold is Her heart deceiv'd with hope of death she lyes But Pompey landed searches the shores side VVhom when Cornelia's maids now neere espy'd They durst not on fates cruelty complaine More then with silent sighs striving in vaine To lift their lady vp whom in his armes Great Pompey takes and with embraces warmes Her key-cold breast But when the fled blood fills Her outward parts Husbands hand she feeles And better brookes his visage he forbid Her veild to fate and thus her sorrow chid VVhy is thy noble strength of courage broke VVoman descended from so great a stocke By the first wound of fate thou hast the way To purchase fame that never shall decay Thy sexes praise springs not from war or state But faithfull loue to an vnhappy mate Aduance thy thoughts and let thy piety Contend with fortune loue me now cause I Am conquerd sweete 't is more true praise for thee To loue me thus when all authority The sacred Senate and my Kings are gone Begin to loue thy Pompey now alone That griefe extreame thy husband yet aliue Becomes thee not thou shouldst that sorrow giue To my last funeralls thou art bereft Of nothing by this war thy Pompey 's left Aliue and safe his fortunes onely gone 'T is that thou wail'st and that thou lovd'st alone Chid by her Husband thus by
Those Eagles which the Roman Consuls keepes Thus having spoke aboord the ship he leapes With all his company Romes fate had gone The people bent to slavery vpon The shore exclaime But from a sacred breast Cato to them at last these words exprest Fought you yong men with Caesars armyes hopes No more true Roman but Pompey an troopes To gaine a Lord since for no Lord you fight But liue to doe your selues not tyrants right Since your spent bloods can no mans rule procure But your owne safety you 'll not now endure The wars to liue in bondage you desire And for your slavish neckes a yoake require Your danger 's worthy now the cause is good Pompey perhaps might haue abus'd your blood And will you now when liberty 's so high To aiâ—le of Rome your swords and throates deny Of three Lords fortune now has left but one Aegypts base King and Parthian bowes haue done More for the lawes then you oh shame goe ye Base men and scornâ— the gift of Ptolomey Who will beleeue your hands could guilty be Of any blood he 'll rather thinke that ye Were the first men that from Pharsalia fled Goe then securely you haue merited Pardon in Caesar judgement not subdew'd By seidge or open force Oh servants lewd When your first master's dead his heir you 'll serue Why would you not more then your liues deserue And pardons ravish with you for a prey Metellus daughter Pompey's wife away And his two sonnes the gift of Aegypt's King Surpasse or could you to the tirant bring My head no small reward 't would render ye Then to good purpose haue you follow'd me On then and in our bloods your merit make T is slothfull treason a bare flight to take This speech of Cato straight recalls from seas Their flyng ships as when a swarme of Bees Their hony combâ—s and barren waxe forsake Nor hang in clusters now but singly take Their flight i th aire and tast not slouthfull growne The bitter Thyme at sound of brasse alone Amaz'd they leaue their flight againe approoue Their flowery taskes againe their hony loue Glad is the Shepheard on sweete Hybâ—aes bill To keepe the riches of his cottage still So Catoes speech on their affections wrought And them to patience of a war had brought And now their restlesse mindes with toile t'inure And teach them warlike laboures to endure VVith weary marches first their strength he tryes Along the sands their second labour is To scale Cyrenes lofty walls on whom Cato no vengeance tooke when overcome Though they against him shut their gates to him Revenge sufficient did their conquest seeme He thence to Libyan c Iubaes kingdome goes But there the Syrts did nature interpose Which Catoes dauntlesse virtue hopes to passe These Syrts when all the worlds first structure was Nature as doubtfull left twixt sea and land For neither sinke they quite like seas to stand Nor yet like land with shores repell the maine But doubtfull and vnpassable remaine A shelfe-spoil'd sea a water cover'd land Where sounding waues let in by sands command This part of nature Natures selfe disclam'd As a vaine worke and to no purpose fram'd Or once the deepe-drown'd Syrts were seas entire But burning Titan thence to feede his fire Drew vp those waues so neere the torrid zone And now the water holds contention With Phoebus drought which by continuance spent The Syrts will grow a solid continent For now their topps but shallow waters hide The fading sea decayes at every side When first the fleete began to launch from shore In his owne kingdome did blacke-Auster rore Whose blasts the sea from ship invasion keepe And from the Syrts far rowle the wavy deepe Or flatt the sea with throwne in heapes of sand Now the resistlesse windes the seas command Whose blasts of all spred sailes that fasten'd were To the maine-mast quite robb'd the marriner In vaine the shrowdes to winde so violent Deny their sailes beyond the ships extent Beyond the prow the swelled linnen 's blowne But where a man more provident was knowne That did his linnen to the saileyard ty He quite despoil'd of tackling presently Was overcome That fleete had far more ease Which on the deepe was tost with certaine seas But all those ships which had cut downe their masts T' avoide the fury of strong Austers blasts As then the winde against the tide did striue Against the winde the conquering tide did driue Some ships the sea forsakes whom straight the sands Vnseene surpâ—ise whose state now doubtfull stands Part of the ship vpon firme ground doth rest Part swimmes in water Now the sea 's opprest With flatts The sands assault the Ocean And though strong Auster driue the waues amaine They cannot master these high hills of sand On th' Oceans backe far from all countreys stand Heapes of dry dust not by the Ocean drown'd The wretched sailers though their ships on ground No shores can see Part of the fleete this shallow Detaines the greater part their â—udders follow And safe by flight by skillfull pylots aide Are to Tritomaes standing poole convay'd This poole they say that god esteemeth deare Whose shrill shell trumpet seas and shores doe heare This Pallas loues borne of the braine of Ioue Who first on Libya trode The heart doth proue This land next heauen she standing by the side Her face within the quiet water spy'd And gaue herselfe from the lov'd poole a name Tritonia Heere doth the silent streame Of darke oblivious Lethe gently fall That from hells Lethe takes originall The waking dragons charge is neare to these The once robb'd orchard of th' Hesperides To rob old times of credit the desire Is spite or truth from Poets to require A golden wood there was whose yellow trees Laden with wealthy fruit stood bow'd of these A dragon guardian was which never slept And the bright wood a troope of Virgins kept Hither Alcides comming did surprise The wealth and burden of those laden trees And leaving light their robbed boughs did bring Those glittering apples to th' Argolian King Part of the fleete got off from hence againe And from the Syrâ—es driven did remaine Vnder great Pompey's eldest sonnes command On this side Garamant is in rich land But Catoes vertue brooking no delay Through vnknowne regions lead his troopes away T' encompasse round the Syrts by land for now The stormy seas vnnavigable grow In winter time but stormes desired are To coole the temper of the sweltring aire They feaâ—e no cold in Libya's scorched clime Nor too much heat because in winter time Entring these barren sands thus Cato spake You that haue follow'd me souldiers and make Freedome your only safety settle now Your mindes with constancy to vndergoe Vertues great worke We march ore barren fields Ore Sun-burnt regions where no fountaine yeilds Water enough where Titans heate abounds And killing serpents smeare the parched grounds Hard wayes but whom their falling countrey's cause Through pâ—ths vnknowne and