with Caesars foes takes part Who wanting one to rule their mart She as the daughter of their king Assumes thereof the managing And to that Tyrants murdrous slaue Achillas she due iustice gaue And from his corps his head did shaue So now another sacrifice To thee ô Pompey bleeding lies For expiation to thy ghost But fortune will bestow more cost And heauens forbid this should be all The offrings for thy funerall The tyrants selfe of worth is not Nor all his Realme to cleare that blot And till the Senatorean state On Caesars bowels venge their hate Pompeys reuenge will be in date But yet this broile and martiall rage These leaders deaths could not asswage For now againe fresh stirs arise From Ganimed with more supplies Which fiercely doth on Caesar presse And giue a charge with shrewd successe This one daies danger was so great That Caesars fortune it did threat And so mought Ganemedes name Throughout the world haue flown with fame For whilst that Caesar doth prouide In emptie ships from tother side Some armed troop and old cohort Vnto this I le for his support Vpon a sodaine many foes With armed force do him enclose On this side hostil ships do keepe The shoares and barre him from the deepe Behind his backe the traitors bands In filed ranks with weapons stands No hope of safetie doth remaine No place for flight all valour vaine And that which did him most offend Scarce meanes to find a glorious end No force he had whereby he might In martiall sort frame any fight Now Caesars fortune must be lost And yet nor fight nor slaughter cost Coopt vp whereas the place affords No triall there for bloody swords Thus doubtfull musing whether t weare Fitter to die or basely feare He sternely casts his eyes behind And sees his foes in troops combind Wherewith he cals vnto his mind Scaeua his souldier that with fame Had purchast such a glorious name For that braue end and dantlesse spright Which he shewed at Dyrachium fight Where he alone the Rampart kept And neuer once retiring stept When Pompey had the walles beat downe Yet from them all did win renowne ¶ This memory of Scaeuas Mart Puts courage into Caesars heart And nobly hee resolues to dye VVith fame that through the world shold fly But his designe the Fates gaine-say Fortune shewes him a safer way For as he casts his eye aside Vpon his left hand he espide Ships of his friends that there did ride To swim to them he doth entend And therewith said what shall we end Our Fortunes here by villaines slaine Or rather sinke amidst the maine Then shall this Eunuch Ganimede No conquest gaine on Caesars head So hauing sayd he brauely leapt Into the sea but safe he kept His bookes within his left hand drie And with his right the waues doth trie So through the deeps he safely swamme Vntill amongst his frends he came Who him receiue with ioyfull cries That to the Heauens with Ecchos files Finis libri decimi A sharpe reprehension of Ciuill warre The miserable estate of Italy The Romans themselues worke their owne ruine It should seem that this was written in the beginning of Neroes reigne which was most excelleÌ„tly goueâ—ned for the first 5 yeares with singular Iustice temperance This is meere Ironicall flattery In this he teacheth NERO how he should gouerne by an Imagination of what is The causes of the ciuill war Fortune most triumphes ouer great estates No faith amongst Competitors of kingdomes Romulus and Rhemus Crassus the meanes that kept Caesar and Pompey within their bounds By Crassus death this ciuill rage brake out What mischiefe two ambitious mindes can breed in a quiet state IVLIA the means to hold Caesar Pompey in good correspondency Pompeyes iealousie Popeys humor Caesars humor Pompeyes disposition described Popular affectation Caesars disposition described The Roman Vices Wealth the cause of all excesse The great alteration of the Roman humors Diuision between the Senate and the people Honors bought and sold and not conferred by merit Caesar marching toward Rubicon is forbidden by an apparition Caesars answere to the Apparition Caesars Protestation to Rome Caesar wil passe the Rubicon with his legions The description of Rubicon Caesar passeth Rubicon Caesars speech when he had past the Rubicon Caesar surpriseth Ariminum The amazement of the Ariminenses The coÌ„plaint of the Ariminenses The many wracks that Ariminum had endured Caesar the child of Fortune The Iealousie of the Senate The Tribunes disgraced by the Senate Curios oration Curio accuseth the Senate Curio stirres Caesar to attempt Rome A strong perswasion Curio perswades Caesar that the Senate conspire to wrong him Caesar incensed Caesars oration to his Souldiers Caesars scornefull speech of Pompey and some other Romanes Pompey taxed in diuers kinds Milo Clodius Caesar chargeth Pompey with the cause of this ciuill war Pompey a follower of Sylla Caesar alleageth the wrongs offered him by the Senats decree Caesar insinuates with his Souldiers Caesar aleageth Pompeys prouision for pyrats whilst old Roman Veterans are neglected Caesars protestation against tyrannicall ambition Loelius Loelius oration to Caesar Loelius deuotes his faith to Caesar Loelius most desperate protestation for Caesars seruice The affection Caesars souldiers do beare to him Caesar assembles his forces Opinions of ebbing and flowing of the sea The great resolution of the Druides All that Caesar had conquered in ten yeares warres was hazarded to be lost The feares that the rumors of Caesars approach breedes at Rome The fame of Caesars comming to Rome The Senate flie from Rome The Roman frights and flying The Roman Citizens fall from their old wonted valor Pompey taxed for flying froÌ„ Rome at the bruite of Caesars approch Many prodigious signes seene before these ciuill warres Aruns an Augur seekes out the causes of the ciuill war by diuination A Roman procession A Bull sacrificed Aruns the Augur amazed Aruns afeard to expresse the coniecture Aruns censure Tages the first inuenter of Auguring Figulus an excellent Astrologer Doubtfull coniectures Figulus considers the inclinations of the heauens The censure of Figulus Prayers bootlesse against Destinie The censure of Figulus discomforteth the Romans The prophesying of a Roman Matron rap't with a sudden fury Whether there bee destiny or chance in worldly courses An Imprecation against fore-knowledge The Roman Matrons frequent the Temples with an extraordinary deuotion Not to vse presumption in praying The speech of a Roman Matron The coÌ„plaints of the Romans leauing the Citty and following the warres All warres more pleasing to the Romans then ciuill strife The Romans lay a curse on Caesar Pompey both The coÌ„plaint of an old Citizen declaring the bloudy times of Marius and Sylla Marius a bloudy man Bloudy Fury More cruelties Noble Romans slaughtered Murder in Vesta's Temple Marius chaÌ„ge of fortunes Sylla's raging time of crueltie The liberty that was giuen to out-rage The sundry meanes that men make to dye so
with flaming blast And those that on the walles would reare He quels with Iron-pointed speare And with his blade sheares off their wrists On battlements that lay their fists Their chines he cracks breaks their bones With casting down huge weights of stones And those whose Morions are but weake Their sculs in sunder he doth breake Others againe he burnes and scalles With streaming shoures of wilde fire balles So as their cheekes their haire and eyes Rapt with the flames lowd bissing fries ¶ Now when the bodies that were slaine Did rise and mount aboue the plaine Off from the turrets top he leapes Vpon the corpes that lay in heapes And in the midst of them he stood With threatning browes and raging mood As if a Leopard should skippe Out of the Hunters toyle to slippe So he enclosd with trooping swarmes Engag'd repelles all force of Armes His looks with dread their courage charms His sword that like a razor cuts The dryed blood now blunts and gluts That it abated had the edge And turned dull like to a wedge So as when Scaeua with it stroke Where as it lights the bones it broke But drew nor blood nor gashing wounded The steele with hewing was confounded On him the burthen of the fight Did lye and many a dart did light No hand in vaine against him bent No Iauelins push vnlucky spent Fortune now sees new warres in hand The prowes of one doth all withstand The Target of this valiant Knight Did ring with blowes that on it light His hollow caske so crackt and brys'd That it his browes and temples squis'd And yet this while no mortall blow Had he receiued by his foe Onely the darts were throwne so thicke That in his bones the heads did sticke ¶ O witlesse gulles why do you spend Your shafts and darts thus to no end These many shoots that you haue driuen Not yet one deadly wound hath giuen Your mighty slings you shold haue brought And so this one mans end haue wrought Or hugie stones from off the wall Whose weight on him you might let fall Or else your battering Ramme whose force Quickly from him would life diuorce Or your Balista's you might proue If force thereof could him remoue From off the entrance of this port Where he doth so your force retort And as a mighty Bul-warke stands For Caesars side and scornes your hands And Pompey's force in idle wasts But now those Armes away he casts That should protect his breast from foes And in his shield no trust repose His left arme doth therewith dispence For hauing liu'd by his defence And naked doth expose his breast Vnto all harmes that him opprest And in his body fixt he beares A wood of darts of shafts and speares Then hee with fainting steppes seekes out Some one in all this hostile rout Whom he might crush and on him fall Like to a marine monstrous whale And as the beasts of Libicke shore And Affrickes Elephants do rore Opprest with multitudes of speares When from their bloudy backes they teares And do shake off the pointed darts Which in their rugged tough hide smarts Whose hidden wounds not dangerous are But pierce the flesh and giue a skarre Nor all those darts that hang so thicke Nor all the shafts that doe them pricke Can fix on them so deepe a wound To lay them flat dead on the ground But now behold with skilfull art Farre off Gortinus thrylles his dart And Scaeua's head therewith he smot And in his eye there stickes the shot Yet not appal'd when he did feele The blow he brake the crooked steele And from the wound the shaft did plucke Whereto the tender eye fast stucke Then on the ground he lets it fall And spurnes the dart and eye withall So doth the grisly Poland Beare When he is wounded with the speare And madded with the sticking steele Which hee with pricking smart doth feele Gnawes on the wound and like rage spends Vpon the dart that him offends But whilst he flying raues and kickes Within his flanke the lance fast stickes The rancor of this direfull shot His visage did most vgly blot For all his face was swolne and smear'd With clotted bloud no shape appear'd Herewith so lowd the foes did shout As if from heauen some storme burst out More ioy in them could not be seene If Caesars selfe had wounded beene Then they exprest which did surmount At this mans hurt of meane account But he with haughty stedfastnesse Hereof doth the offence suppresse Mildly in shew and with a grace As though in him wroth had no place Forbeare deere Countrey-men quoth he And turne your weapons off from me No more wounds now my death doth need You haue already done the deed These darts but pluck't out of my breast Of bloud I shall be dispossest O take me vp and let me lye In Pompey's Campe before I dye Doe not your Captaine so betray To hold from him what I doe say Scaeua had rather Caesar leaue Then not an honest death receaue ¶ Vnlucky Aulus credit gaue To those false words that he did raue And to his sword he did not list Which he held ready in his fist And as he came for to disarme This Captaine not suspecting harme Quite through the middle of his throte Scaeua his pointed fauchion smote Then he new courage takes againe As soone as he had Aulus slaine And said so let him be embru'd That hopes that I am yet subdu'd Let Pompey know that Scaeua's sword No other place will him affoord Vntill his Ensignes he do yeeld To Caesars will and quit the field Thinke you base men that euer I Like Pompey's Cowards meane to dye Deaths loue giues me more powerfull lawes Then Pompey's or the Senates cause These threats no sooner from him flies But that huge clouds of dust did rise VVhereby they all did then descry That Caesar with his troopes was nye ¶ And he arriued in good time For thereby he takes off the crime And foule disgrace from Pompey's part That they deserued in this Mart. Else Scaeua thou perhaps alone All Pompey's troopes hadst ouer-throwne For with the ending of this fight Thy life likewise did take his flight But whilst that any did withstand The warres gaue vigor to thy hand But lying now stretcht on the ground Thine own friends swarme about thee round And striue to whom the grace may fall To beare thee to thy funerall And him withall they did adore As if within his breast he bore Some heauenly gift or power diuine That made his vertue liuely shine Then all of them did straine and striue Out of his limbes the darts to riue VVhich to the Gods they consecrate To memorize his noble fate And with the Armes of Scaeua's breast The God of warre they did invest But yet how blest had beene thy name And thou obtain'd more glorious fame If Spaniards fierce of thee adread Had turn'd their backes and
Parths his force employ That nation of the world alone I could be glad were ouerthrowne By Caesars armes and that for it He might in triumphs charret sit Thinke that ere thou with sucst an host Couldst passe Araxes frozen cost Old Crassus shade with heauy cheare Stitcht full of darts would first appeare Before thy face and thus would speake O thou that shouldst due vengeance wreake For this huge slaughter on vs made Thou whom we did our hopes perswade Wouldst giue our naked bones a graue That now in mould no rest can haue Camst thou a league and peace to craue Then will those slaughters memories Present themselues before thine eyes When on the walls with stakes yborne Those heads thou seest set vp in scorne And Euphrates that did confound So many Lords in her streames drownd And Tygris that our bodies slaine Did vnder earth a time retaine And then disgorged them againe If with thy mind thou canst dispense To passe by these without offence As well maist thou ô Pompey yeeld Thy selfe vnto Pharsalias field Where Caesar sitting Conquerour Thou mercy maist of him emplore But better weigh our Roman cause If thou dost feare those Tyrants paws That in the South haue residence And Iubas faithlesse insolence Let Pharus King of vs be prayd And Lagus Realme to yeeld vs ayd The Lybicke Syrts do safely bound Vpon this side Aegyptian ground And Nylus from all forreine foes With his seuen heads doth it inclose On tother side and t is a land That of it selfe can liue and stand Contentedly and needs not craue Her neighbors helpe nor showres to haue Nylus doth so her pastures laue Whose scepter Ptolemie a boy And regall crowne doth now enioy Besides to Pompey he doth rest Oblig'd and by his sires bequest Thy pupill is then who would feare A name that doth bâ—â— shadow beares His age as yet from guile is free Such faith you could not looke to see Such lawes or such integrities Nor seruice to the Deities In that kings court that raigned last Long rule all right doth ouercast Vnder a king that newly raignes All things are milde noe force constraines No more he sayd this swaid their mind What libertie last hopes do finde To Pompeys censure none enclinde ¶ Then they Cilician coasts forsake And saile for Cyprus Isle doe make Where Venus mindfull of that place In Paphos for the Ilands grace Her Altars keepes whence spring her race If we may thinke that on the earth The heauenly powers may take their birth Or that the Gods as some do raue Like humane wights beginnings haue When Pompey from this harbour wends About the Cyprian cliffes he trends And Southward doth his way direct But with contrary tides was checkt That do alongst those channels sweepe Neither doth he a straight course keepe Towards mount Cassium by the light That Pharus tower sets out at night But fell with Aegypts lowest shore Scarce stemming tides with sayle and oare And hardly thither got withall Where Nylus parted greatest fall With her seuenth streame and mighty sway Doth fall into Pelusium bay It was the season and the time When Libra being in her prime Indifferently the ballance swayes With equall lengths of nights and daies And Autums solstice now requits By lengthning her ensuing nights The houres that were tane away By springs solstice increasing day Now when that Pompey had descride That Egypts king did then reside Neare Cassius mount he tacks about Seeking a way to find him out For yet did neither daylight faile Nor had the ship yet stroken saile ¶ Forthwith the horse scouts that did stand For Centinels alongst the land Alarums gaue to all the shores And sild the court with great vprores The sudden comming of this man For Counsell small time gaue them than Yet all the vipers of that Court To consultation did resort Amongst the rest of all which Peeres One Achoreus full of yeeres A reuerent sire whom schooling age More modest made and free from rage He was a natiue of that soyle That flowing Nylus doth entoyle In Memphis he receiu'd his lore That doth vaine Rites so much adore VVhere hee had long time exercis'd As Priest the lawes they had deuis'd In honour of that horned beast VVhich they with deity inuest To whom for name they Apis giue Many of which hee did out-liue This Achoreus counsell gaue That faith and merite ought to haue A great respect vnto it borne And that they ought not hold in scorne The plighted league and vowes of loue That this Kings father did approue And vnto Pompey still profest By whom his kingdome he possest For what quoth he can mortals bind To friendship in a higher kind If kings and states no faith maintaine How shall the vulgar truth retaine When they by higher powers are taught All loyall trust to set at naught Why do all kings their subiects sweare Fidelitie to them to beare If that the kings owne actions teach Of vowes and leagues to make a breach When due respects failes in the head How will the members be misled We see that all the world is bent To seeke the way that Princes went All kings by Ceremonies stand By lawes they rule with powerfull hand But if those lawes they vioalate They weaken then their owne estate For where we setled order swayes Who there can rule or who obayes Where Iustice force doth strike no stroke It there dissolues subiections yoake When kings themselues lawlesse grow They hazard then to ouerthrow Their owne estate and teach that mind That is ambitiously enclind How to aspire by fraud or might To reaue away their soueraignes right He that no good deserts obserues The like at others hands deserues Thy father did by Pompeys grace Of Soueraigntie obtaine this place And so thy selfe enioyes this land VVhich he receiu'd at Pompeys hand For it he dy'd in Pompeys debt VVhich fauour thou maist not forget For thereby shall the Romane state Esteeme thee but a Prince ingrate And Caesars selfe condemne thy mind As most disloyall and vnkind And thinke how much thou wouldst him scorne If he in like state were forlorne And forc'd thy royall aid to craue Of whom a friend no helpe could haue In his braue mind he will thee deeme A Prince of worth and more esteeme For fauouring Pompey in distresse That at thy hands deserues no lesse Then now to vse him with disdaine In hope thereby Caesar to gaine A foe that man will dignifie That helps his friend in miserie Though treasons act secure his state Yet Caesar will the traytor hate And thinke that thou to none dost beare Good will but such as grows by feare And therefore will the Roman state Deeme that thou didst both parties hate But do not enuy'd courses proue Thy greatnes rather ground on loue With kings the noble Lyons port Then Foxes wiles doth better sort Pompey againe his head may raise
Achoreus of the race Of Egypts breed who in that place Did sit vpon a bench of state In this sort did his mind relate O reuerend sire that for thy part To sacred rites deuoted art That with the Gods hast such esteeme As by thy aged yeares may seeme To me the first beginning shew From whence th' Egyptian race did grow The climate of this fruitfull land And how the peoples customes stand And of your Gods the forms and rites The which your old records recites And what ingrauen is in stone Vpon your Pyramides make knowne Reueale your Gods that would be showne If your fore-fathers did their art And sacred mysteries impart To Plato of a Grecian name Then may you well reueale the same To Caesars selfe for where can rest In all the world a worthier guest To whom your skill may be exprest I must confesse that Pompeys name Was some cause that did make me frame My iourney to the Pharian coast And yet when all my warres were most I euermore did giue my mind The motions of the stars to find My thoughts were to the heauens enclind So as Eudoxus Calender Shall not surpasse my framed yeare And therefore as within my brest A great and true desire doth rest Of knowlegde and of vertues lore So nothing do I couet more Then to finde out the secret course From whence this riuer takes his source And where his fountaines head appears That lies vnknowne so many yeares O I will hope at last to see Where Nylus springs for certaine be And so from ciuill warre rest free So Caesar makes an end to speake And this graue sire did silence breake ¶ Caesar I thinke that well I may These mysteries to thee bewray That our great Fathers hidden kept And in their thoughts obscured slept Reserued from the vulgar waies From age to age to these our daies Let others thinke it pietie To silence any mysterie But I do deeme the Gods aboue The worke as gratefull will approue That their great wonders should be showne And sacred rules to all made knowne When first an order was ordaind Whereby the world should be maintaind A diuers motion to the starres Was giuen to hold concordant iarres That they the orbs might onely sway And temper in their whirling way Contrarie to that rapide Pole That first of all doth mouing rolle The Sun doth still diuide and steare The times and seasons of the yeare And so the daies to nights doth change And doth restraine the stars to range About their orbs with powrefull rayes His station staies those wandring wayes The Moone her alteration breeds Vpon the seas and earthly seeds Old Saturne his empiring holds On freezing zoanes and ycie colds And Mars with wrathfull looke abashes The boisterous winds and lightning flashes Great Ioue no tempests doth procure But keepes all in milde temperature And fruitfull Venus of her grace Doth cherrish seeds in euery place Whilst Mercurie with charming vaine Doth moderate the wild vast maine ¶ Now when Cyllenius doth appeare In that part of the wheeling spheare Where Leos sparkling torchets are In enterchange with Cancers starre Where Syrius with his scorching ray Contagiously enflames the day And where the circle that doth change The yearely season iust doth range Betwixt the Tropicks equally Vnder whose couert Nyle doth lie Which when this powre I say that keepes An order in the raging deepes Doth touch with his starres influence Nylus as hauing thereof sence His channell lifts with swelling crest Scorning within his banks to rest Iust as Neptunus Empire flowes When Phoebes horned visage growes Nor doth he call his streames againe In their old harbour to remaine Vntill the Sun by his decline Do vnto the night those houres resigne That halfe the yeare he kept away To make her equall with the day The olde conceit is but a dreame Of this increase of Nylus streame That Aethiopias molten snowes Is cause of her great ouerflowes For in those mounts the Northern stowre Nor Boreas blasts haue any powre And to assure thee that is true Marke but the peoples Sun-burnt hue And those warme vapours that they find Perpetually from Austers winde Then for more proofe adde this likewise That euery riuer that doth rise By falling of the molten yse Doth then begin to be embost When summers spring first melts the frost But Nylus neuer waxeth hire Before the Dog-starre breaths his fire Nor euer doth her waues restraine To keepe within her banks againe But when as Libra with iust paise Doth equallize the nights and dayes Againe those rules do beare no sway With Nyle that other streames obay For winter giues to him no pride His fountaines then their forces hide But when the temper of the skies Most feruently with burning fries Amidst those heates then out he flies And cooles those lands that fire would wast Which vnderneath the line are plast So Nylus helps the world to swage The scorching flames of Leos rage And being cald doth giue redresse To his Syene in distresse When Cancers heates do it oppresse And from these fields draws not his streams Vntill the force of Phoebus beames In Autumns season do decline And Neroe do shade the shine Now who can hereof tell the cause But so great Nature giues her lawes That Nylus thus should range his flood And needfull t is for humane good But former times haue vainely guest This cause of winds blowne from the west Who with great force the aire doth chace With long continuance in one place And that this occidentall blast Doth driue the watrie clouds so fast A thwart the South and their in showres Downe right vpon the Nylus powres Or that the seas so often tost And beating on the Zoylan coast The very furie of the maine Repels the riuer backe againe So as restrained of his way By the vast Oceans powrefull sway Aloft beyond his bounds doth stray There are againe that do suppose That his great inundation growes Of moisture breathing from the earth Whose steaming vapors haue their birth Within the concaues of the ground And belcht out where great rifts are found And that these moistures meerely are By secret courses drawne from farre Out of the Northerne Region By the attracting middle zoane When Titans arrows shot down right On Meroe do parching light And to the burned land it brings The waters from farre rising springs Ganges and Padus send their streames In secret thorow many realmes Then Nylus powres out by one vaine All riuers that he doth retaine But many outlets makes of these When he conuaies them to the seas Another fancy many holds That the vast Ocean which enfolds The circuit of the earth about Flowing from farre at last breakes out With violence where Nyle doth range And with long tracke at length doth change The salt sea streames to waters sweete Whilst through earths bowels they do fleet Some thinke againe that these maine waues Rapt by the Sun when Cancer
boyish King did call To be Lieuetenant Generall Of all his force and in his hand He puts the sword and all command Exempting nothing from his might No not himselfe by Kingly right Rest quietly on thy soft bed And with sweete sleepe be thou fat fed Yet now quoth he be well aduisd For Cleopatra hath surprisd The Palace and is there obay'd The Realme not onely is betray'd But giuen to her as proper right By Caesar and his Roman might Wilt thou forbeare thus hard bested To violate thy Mistresse bed The wicked Sisters nuptiall vowes· Establish't her her brothers spouse And now this Lord of Roman race Doth her his Concubine embrace So as betweene her husbands twaine On Aegypt she will rule and raigne And well deserueth Rome to gaine VVith charming poysons shee knew how To her to make the old man bow And if thou wretch do trust the boy VVhom if one night she doe enioy And once with her bewitching face VVithin her Armes do him embrace So that if he once draw the fires Of her incestious hot desires For euery kisse she will entice That our two heads shall pay the price And if his sister him delight Those loues will turne to our despight The King her husband will obay Adulterous Caesar she can sway So both of vs I must confesse Shall stand condemn'd remedilesse If she should bee our cruell iudge That long hath borne vs mortall grudge VVhom doth not Cleopatra hate Of vs as hainous to her state From whom hath she her loue restrain'd And held her chastity vnstaind And for thine owne sake I require And by that deed wee did conspire VVhereby our selues we did engage VVith mutuall league to Roman rage For Pompeys blood which we haue shed Plucke vp thy spirits and cast off dread Raise sudden warre and tumults broyle Breake in with force and put to spoyle Their chambring sports and nuptiall flame And murder that incestious Dame Euen in her bed where she doth rest And whosoeuer is her guest And let it not our courage bate The Fortune of this Roman mate For she hath raised his renowne And made him tread the whole world down That glory we will share alone When he by vs is ouer-throwne And we already are renown'd For Pompey whom we did confound Behold with hope the Pharian shore As witnesse of that bloody gore Consider by those waues distain'd What liberty to vs remain'd See there a slender heape of sands That for a Tombe to Pompey stands So as the same doth scarce suffise To heale his body where it lies And yet this man so scorned heere To him thou fearst was equall Peere What though no Royall blood we haue The subiects wealth we do not craue Nor after Kingdomes do we raue This onely fact our state will raise Fortune to vs these men betrayes And so then in the necke of this There is prepar'd a greater blisse The second slaughter will vs make Belou'd of Rome for freedomes sake And this aduantage we shall gaine If Caesar by our hands be slaine Those we for Pompey did offend Will loue vs for this Tyrants end Why should his name giue vs affright What need we feare his martiall might For if his troopes doe from him fall Him but a souldier wee may call This night shall end these ciuill warres And expiate Pharsalias skarres And send vnto the shades below His head which he the world doth owe. Then to this worke with courage fall And so cut Caesars throat withall Let Lagean youths performe this thing As due for safety of their King And liberty to Rome to bring In any wise vse no delay For thou shalt take them at a bay Feasting themselues with dainty meate Quaffing sweet wines in Bowles repleate And so prepar'd for Venus heate Doe thou but dare and make no doubt The Gods will bring it so about That Brutus vowes and Catos will Shall rest in thy hand to fulfill Achillas was not slowly bent To this bold fact to yeeld consent No publique Ensignes he displayes As was the vse his force to raise Neither did he his troopes draw out With Trumpets sounds or Souldiers shout But suddenly his martiall bands Do take their weapons in their hands Whose greatest part that Armes did beare The trained Latium Souldiers were Who had their duties much forgot That such corruption so should blot Their honour and their Countries fame To follow one of seruile name And as their Captaine to obay A man in mercenary pay When Aegypts King was not of worth Himselfe in warres to lead them forth ¶ No faith nor pietie remaines In those that follow camps for gaines For hired hands payes hope retaines And commonly they will accost The leader that doth giue them most The slender pay they had before To armes prouokes them now the more And not that Caesars head they sought But great rewards their aid had bought O Liberty growne too too base Such is the wofull Empires case That euery where her cankred mindes For ciuill strife ocasion findes This Army from Pharsalia led On Nylus shore new rage hath spred Like ciuill strife in Latium bred What more durst Aegypts force haue done If after Pompey they had runne For all their hands they doe combine To act what higher powers designe No rest remaines for Roman line So hath it pleasd the Gods of late To rent the limbes of Latium state Nor Pompeys nor yet Caesars cause These people now to fury drawes A Pharian Captaines larger payes This ciuill strife anew doth raise And here his force Achillas bends Who Roman liberty pretends And had not destiny ordain'd That their hands should not be distaind With Caesars blood by Fates protected Their purpose then had beene effected Photinus and Achillas both Were prest to scoure this Court of sloth That so with feasting was possest Where all sorts did so carelesse rest Treason might choose what time was best The Bowles that on the Cup-boords stood Might haue beene fild with Caesars blood And to the Table of the King His head they easily might bring But that these Captaines then did doubt The hazard of a nightly rout Lest that confusions murdrous might Shold wrong the work that they would right For if this rage to chance were left Thy life O King might so be reft So hard it is to rule the sword When fury freedome doth affoord Thus they refusd to take that time For to effect their bloody crime And do the best occasion lose To act the worke they did propose But these fresh-souldier-seruile lowts Of fitter seasons make no doubts And therefore did that houre delay By night they would not Caesar slay His date was kept to see day light And by that meanes gaue him this night Thus by Photinus onely grace Caesar did run a longer race Whilst Phoebus shew'd againe his face ¶ By this the messenger of day Bright Lucifer did then display His glittring face
maister of his Gallion Brutus ship stil victorious The fury of this sea-fight when the fleets ioyned A terrible description of a sea-battle A Roman called Tagus slain with two wounds Telo an excellent Pilate of the Massilians slaine Gayareus a Massilian Two Massilian brothers twins slaine in this battell whereof one shewed admirable valour True valor increaseth with mis-fortune A reuenging humor strangely exprest A Gally fighting is sunke down-right Lycida miserably tortured betwixt his foes and his friends A ship ouerwhelmed by the running of the men all to one side So was the Mary Rose lost before Portsmouth in a fight against the French in the dayes of Henry the 8. A miserable destiny The diuers strange aduentures of a sea-fight The weapons all spent what shift was made to offend one another The cruelty of fire in a sea-fight To auoid fire some drowned themselues Others to escape drowning aduenture vpon the flames Any death seemes more easie to men then that which they most doubt Great malice exprest Phoceus an excellent swimmer and diuer drowned at last Some that expose their bodies to saue the ships from bruising Lygdanus Tyrrhenus a valiant Roman It seemed that blinde Fortune guided this blinde mans hand Argus a noble youth slaine The griefe of a father for his slaine sonne not exprest by teares not cries but by a resolute death A lamentable meeting Old Argus his speech to his dying sonne The old man pursues a double death The Massilian ships serue the conquering Romans The lamentation in Massilia The Massilians affection to their slaine friends Brutus victorious on the sea Afranius and Petreius command in Spain for Pompey The Cittie Ilerda The Riuer Sicoris Afranius camp Caesars Campe. The Riuer Cinga The Riuer Iberius Remorse in both the Armies Caesars speedy expedition An incounter betweene Caesars and Afranius Souldiers The admirable courage vndertaking humor of Caesars men Caesar winnes the hill from Afranius A description of winter Foule tempestious weather in Spaine The Rain-bow The mounts Pyrenes A great inundation Famine in Caesars campe The force of Auarice A great deluge An imprecation against civill warre Petreius leaues Ilerda Caesar passeth his Army ouer Sicoris The place where Caesars Armie pursues Petreius Caesar encourageth his Souldiers The two Armies take acquaintance one of the other And exhortation to peace An Apostrophe to concord The kinde entertainment betweene the Souldiers of both Campes Petreius violates the friendly complements between the two Campes Petreius oration to his Souldiers An Apostrophe to Pompey An apt comparison Petreius men vnwillingly betray their aduersaries Caesars clemency graceth his cause Petreius minded to flye to Ilerda Caesars aduice to his Souldiers Petreius Camp distressed for want of water Petreius Affranius submit themselues to Caesar Afranius Oration to Caesar The summe of Afranius Petition Caesars clemency Many of the Souldiers kill themselues with greedy drinking A reprehension of Luxury A detestation of warre The security and contentment that poore men liue in Distresse puts men to their shifts Vulteius manly oration to his distressed troopes A Pagan resolution Confused fighting in Troopes obscures particular valour What felicity the Romans tooke to acquire vnto themselues future fame The affection that Caesars Souldiers did beare vnto him A glorious wish The resolution of Vulteius To be willing to die is a heauenly blessing How much Vulteius speech did animate his little troope Castor and Pâ—llâ—x A parly offered but refused Vulteius assailed on all sides The resolution of the Romans in scorne of their foes Cadmus Ocdepus two sonnes Etheocles and Polynices Medea A cruell slaughter What power rests in valour Curio with an Army goes into Affricke Curios landing in Affricke The Gyant Antaeus The tale of Antaeus The Gyants that rebelled against Iupiter A right Heathen conceite Antaeus the son of the earth The maner of Antaeus life Hercules The combate between Hercules and Antaeus Antaeus streÌ„gth renewed by touching the earth Hydra Iuno Hercules words to Antaeus Antaeus kild by Hercules Scipio Africanus Curio's vaine conceit Actius Varus Pompey's captaine in Affricke King Iuba A nation that ride and rule their horses without bridles The seuerall nations vnder Iuba A strange maner of hunting the Lyon Iubas particular malice to Curio The rumor of Iubas mallice troubles Curios Campe. Curio finding his Army staggering debates with himselfe what course to take Curio ouerthrowes Varus in the field Iuba glad of Varus ouerthrow A Simile Curio too venterous neglecteth good aduice The Punicke deceit in war Curio deceiued with an ambush Curios horse-troopes spen and tired The battaile betwixt Curio and Sabbura Curio's Army oppressed with numbers of foes This fighting in an orbe was the last refuge that the Romans vsed euer in extremity Curio and his Army destroyed He taxeth Curio for faction An Apostrophe to the Roman Lords Curio's praise Auarice and Bribery the ruine of Rome Fortune as yet stand indifferent betweene Caesar and Pompey Epyrus the randevous of Pompey's forces Pompey followes the Senate and not the Senate Pompey Lentulus oration to the Senators in the Campe. Camillus A speech of scorne to Caesar Pompey chosen General of the Army for the Senate Ptolomey discended of the race of Peleus Yong Ptolomey king of Aegipt that caused Pompey to bee slaine and had almost betraied Caesar Appius seekes to know of the Oracles what shall bee this warres euent It was a little before Christ came that the Oracle ceast as was fore-prophesied by the scriptures The Pagans conceit of Parnassus mount Themis the Goddesse of Iustice This seemes to hold great correspondency with the description of the incarnation and life of our blessed Sauiour Cyrrha a Citty at the foote of Pernassus The griefe that the Pagans conceiued for the ceasing of their Oracles The opinion of the Pagans concerning this Oracle Appius comes to the Oracle Phaemonoë disswadeth Appius from searching this Oracle Phaemonoë fearefull to enter the Cauerne of the Oracle Phaemonoë enters the Cauernes by the constraint of Appius The description of one inspired with the fury of prophesying Sybilla Cumana The words of the Oracle to Appius The Bruti suppressers of Tyrants Appius misconstrues the words of the Oracle to his owne advantage The true meaning of the Oracle concerning Appius Nemesis the Goddesse of Reuenge Caesars Army returning out of Spaine Mutinies Caesar perplexed The mutinous oration of one of Caesars Souldiers A pittifull description of the liues of common souldiers The Souldier braues Caesar behinde his backe The admirable vndaunted valour of Caesar An Apostrophe to Caesar Caesars oration to the mutiners A proud Heathen conceit Punishment for the mutiny The awe that Caesars Souldiers stood in of their General The mutiny appeased Caesars Armie goes to Brundusium Caesar comes againe to Rome Caesar made Dictator and Consull at one time A monthly Consull No dangers must hinder Caesars designes Caesar exhorts his mariners to take the sea A stout request Caesar becalmed An ycie sea The dangers of Caesars
tayle and boysterous breast From yawning iawes besmear'd with gore Doth bellow out a hideous rore If then the Mauritanian launce Vpon his rugged hide doe glaunce Or in his wounded bleeding side The Hunters Iauelin doe abide He carelesse then for losse of blood Assailes with ramping fiery mood The Huntsman and with out stretcht pawes By force at last himselfe withdrawes ¶ Cleare Rubicon that first is fed But from a bubling fountaines head During the time of Summers sunne With a low shallow streame doth runne His current through the valleys glides And Italy from Gaule diuides But at this time his source was more The Winters raine increast his store The Moone likewise but yong in dayes His feeding springs doth higher raise And that which made him most to swell Were molten heapes of snow that fell From downe the Alpes in torrents great Dissolued by some gentle heate The Horse-men first the worke doe wage And of the streame the shallowes gage And with thicke Troopes in close arrayes The swiftnesse of the torrent stayes The passage thus more easie made The Foote doth through the riuer wade Caesar his Army thus at last Forbidden Rubicon hath past And standing on th' Hesperian bankes Thus spake he to his filed Rankes Heere doe I now all peace abiure And lawes vniustly put in vre O Fortune I will follow thee From other bonds my selfe I free In Fate my trust I doe affye Warre as a Iudge my cause shall trye No more he said but with dispach At the approach of nights first watch His well-train'd Troopes he doth prepare Who in their march as speedy are As motions of Balarian slings That circling through the thin aire sings Or showres of shafts at Parths let flye When they retire that dimme the sky His March with such great speede hee plies As doth Ariminum surprise Phoebus by this with dawning light Obscured had the lampes of night And now the dismall day begunne Wherein his first attempt was done Vpon this Cittie that doth stand A frontier of Italian land And whether Fates did so fore-cast Or foggy-faced Austers blast Did scoule vpon this wretched fact The aire with misty clouds was pact The Towne thus suddenly possest The Market-place they doe inuest Where their braue Ensignes proudly stands Guarded with many armed bands The Trumpets with their dreadfull notes Drawn through their hoarse Meandry throat Mixt with tempestuous noyse of warres The Burgers with Alarums skarres Their state which was secure at night By dawne of day was in this fright They outh amaz'd their beds forsake And to the Temples them betake Where they doe arme them in a stownd With such munitions as they found Which in long peace hang'd on the walles Idle vn-vsd to Martiall brawles The Shields that were of ancient dates VVorme-eaten to the very plates Their Piles with heads blunted and bowd Their glaiues the cankered rust did cloud ¶ But when the Egle was displaid And Caesar in bright Armes arrayd Mounted vpon a Throne of State In midst of his sterne Legions sate The Cittizens then silent were Their senses rap't with numming feare A patient silence them possest Whilst these sad mones boyle in their brest What dismall Planets wrathfull frowne So neere the Gaules confin'd our Towne What Destiny with endlesse toyle First drew vs to this fatall soyle In peace all people liue secure But we in peace must warres endure To Out-rage we are still a pray Our seate stands so in Harmes high-way O Fortune more had we beene blest In dwelling farthest East or West Or neere the Pole to haue our homes Or else in Tents that wandring roames Then thus to keepe a Frontier gate Of Italies enuied state We first did see that great deluge Of the fierce Senons Army huge VVe first endur'd the Cymbrian brunt Er'e Marius force did them confrunt And frightfull bruted Hanniball Did at his entrance on vs fall Then sauage Troopes of Teuton swarmes Infested vs with hostile armes And thus as oft as lowring Fate Did please to scourge the Roman state By raising vp some powerfull foe This was the way that Warre did goe These sower accounts that them attaint They swallow vp without complaint And so their discontentment hide Heart-breaking sorrow is tongue-ty'd But looke what silence doth possesse The aire when Winter doth distresse The singing birds and them restraines From vtt'ring their melodious vaines Or else as calmes the billowes bindes Not being mou'd with gusts of windes Such stiffnes ceas'd their grief-bound minds This dayes worke done and ouer-past And following night growne to his last The Sunne his Chariot Eastward hies And with his beames doth cleare the skies Caesar that doubtfull yet remain'd Before this entrance he had gain'd Is now in hot bloud fully bent To follow on his bold attempt The Fates likewise his humour drawes Dreadlesse to breake all leagues and lawes And Fortune whose he was avowd His enterprise as iust allowd And motiue reasons doth prouide To trust to Armes lest worse betide The iealous Senate now fore-cast What danger former times had past By the seditious Gracchian fact That with the people were compact And thereupon against all right The Court with ouer-bearing might Those Tribunes presently expell Whose power did in the Citty swell And with the Senate so contest For Caesars right against their hest The fiered Tribunes thus disgrac't Forthwith to Caesars campe did hast But he that felt himselfe most strong Was Curio that with bribed tongue The Senate so much had vpbrayd And peoples voyce for Caesar swayd And he no sooner was arriu'd At Caesars Campe of feare depriu'd To Caesar he himselfe presents Whom many carefull thoughts torments In plotting of these warres euents ¶ Caesar quoth he whilst Iustice lawes Gaue vpright hearing to thy cause And that a truthfull tongue might speake So long my words the yce did breake And durst confront thy proudest foes Yea though the Senate did oppose For whilst I might as Tribune pleade The peoples voyce so did I lead That thou hadst their applauses all A longer time to gouerne Gaule But after this the Senates might Against all law with scornfull spight Vs as a factious party held And from our natiue Rome expeld Which out-rage and oppressiue scorne With greater patience wee haue borne In hope that thy victorious arme Their Dung-hill crowing so will charme As shall our liberties restore Free Roman Tribunes as before Now therefore whilst surprising frights Possesse thy foes and daunts their sprights Whilst they confusd twixt hope and feare Know not on suddaine how to reare Such valiant Troopes and trained Bands As now are vnder Caesars hands Slacke thou no time Fate guides thy game To men prepar'd delay is shame And doe but to remembrance call The dangers past in conquering Gaule Thy toyles that thou didst vnder-goe Before thou couldst subdue that foe And then compare it with this taske Which doth but resolution aske And
more he said but did preuent His foes ere they the hilles had hent Then there a sunder they did pitch Their Tents fenc't with a little ditch From whence each other did descry VVith ease how they incamped lye Then they began to know each other Father the sonne brother the brother Their ciuill mallice waxed cold Yet for a while from speech they hold Onely with swords they beckning make And so their first acquaintance take At last vnto such tearmes they fall That loue suppresseth raging brawle For then the Souldiers vndertooke Into each others campe to looke And with free hearts and dreadlesse face VVith friendly armes their guests embrace This man his host calles by his name Others to kinsfolkes doe the same Another he espies his mate That was his schoole-fellow but late No Roman was on either side But he some old acquaintance spy'd Their Armes were all with teares besprent Their kisses do in soâ—â—…es lament And though no bloud were drawne at all Yet did they feare what might befall Alas why vexe you so your breast What need you waile this mad vnrest These needlesse teares were banisht quite If you consider but a right That you your selues nurse this despight Do you so much the mischiefe feare That your owne humors bred and reare Why let the Trumpet sound his fill Regard it not but keepe you still And though the Ensignes flye at large From ciuill brawles your Armes discharge So shall you end Erinnys date And Caesar then in priuate state Shall cease his son-in-law to hate ¶ O Concord with eternall grace That sweetly do'st all things embrace Within this mixed massie spheare Worlds sacred loue be present heere For now in danger stands our age To be distrest with future rage Warres mischiefes secretly deuisd Is now discouer'd and despisd The mis-led people see with shame What is the cause of all their blame Each friend doth know his friend by name But ah dire Fates that do aduance With a sinister ordinance The bloudy strife that shall encrease For this small time of pleasing peace Truce now in both the Campes did swarme With visitations free from harme Vpon the greene turfe is their seat Where they together friendly eate And Bacchus liquor doth abound Huge fires they kindle on the ground Together they do Cabbins make But all the night no sleepe doe take The tales they tell keepe them awake One telles how he the trench defends Another how his pile he bends With strength that from his arme he sends And whilst that some thus brags and boasts What they haue done in sundry coasts Others againe will giue a glance And say that this fell out by chance Yet they poore soules doe finde content That with such faith the time is spent But ah this new contracted loue Must greater future mallice proue For when Petreius heard report How both the Campes in friendly sort With mutuall loue each other greets And in such kindnesse daily meets He then imployes some trusty bands Who with their armed wicked hands Do fall on the vnarmed foe And ore the trenches them do throw Then their embracements and kinde words They separate with bloody swords So in a sauadge brainsick mood He washt away this peace with blood ¶ Then he enrag'd with words of ire New fewell addes vnto old fire O Souldiers that with base neglect Do thus your Countries cause reiect And with a loose forgetfull minde To your owne Ensignes are vnkinde By this meanes you can neuer showe The faith that you the Senate owe. Can this league that you haue renewd Witnesse that Caesar is subdu'd By you and can it be maintain'd Your countries freedome thus is gain'd Beleeue me now you rather goe The way your selues to ouer-throw Will you become proud Caesars slaue Whilst in your hands you weapons haue And whil'st the Victors happy state Depends vpon a doubtfull fate And whilst your sturdy limbes and vaines Not soak't with wounds fresh blood retains Will you as men that ill deserue Vnder condemned Ensignes serue Must Caesar without more adoe Now needs be su'd and sought vnto That he would you vouchsafe the grace To serue in some inferior place And must we that command in chiefe Of Caesar seeke our liues reliefe Oh no that scorne we much disdaine Treason shall not our safety gaine No wicked price can vs retaine This ciuill warre we doe not wage To saue our liues from furies rage Our liberties and Countries cause Vs willingly to dangers drawes What need we deepe mines vndertake For Steele and Iron Armes to make Or why should we our Citties wall And raise huge Ramparts therewithall What need such troopes of Coursers braue As in our Campes we daily haue Or to what vse should we maintaine Such towring Gallions on the maine If we be willing to release Our liberties to gaine a peace A wicked oath our foes doth binde To sue these warres with constant minde And can you with your faiths dispence That is engag'd with iust pretence Need you from guilt to be acquite Because you for your Countrey fight O shamefull and vnmanly act That would such heynous leagues contract Pompey that art estrang'd by Fate From knowledge of the Cities state And Armies dost prepare for warre With aids from Kings remote so farre Perhaps thou buildst vpon our trust Ready to aid thy quarrell iust Thus said againe he sets on fire Their mindes with wicked warres desire ¶ Like as the cruell sauadge beast That long from forrest prey hath ceast Shut vp within a closed cage More mildly bred dis-vsd from rage At length his nature being tam'd To humane bent is brought and fram'd If he againe but taste the smacke Of blood that he so long did lacke And therewith warme his rauening Iawes Will then with furious ramping pawes Thirsty of bloud expose his power His fearefull keeper to deuoure So to all villany they goe And monstrous treachery they show The which vile fact they cloake with night Blinde Fortunes deed and Fates despight For now behold 'twixt bed and boord They brutishly doe bathe the sword VVithin their breasts whom they before VVith deere embracements did deplore And though at first they moaning yearne So to employ their weapons sterne The thirsty sword that peace withstands Offers it selfe into their hands Yet whilst they kill they loath the fact Their faint blowes shew their minds distract But now the Campe is raging hot All faith is brutishly forgot Their rauening hands with blood they glut The sonnes their fathers throats do cut Yet that the Souldiers may be freed As guiltlesse of this heynous deed Before their two great Captaines eyes They did shew forth this bloody prize VVhich sight did them with ioy surprize ¶ But Caesar though thy gallant bands Be thus despoil'd with treacherous hands Yet thou the Gods dost still regard And didst not such reuenge award Vpon thy foes when thou didst stand Triumphant in Pharsalia land
runne away To sloth they would themselues bequeaue And their victorious Captaine leaue Be gonne such abiect mindes I hate Leaue me to warre and to my fate These armes of mine will finde out hands VVhen I haue casht seditious bands Fortune with gallants will supply My weapons that vn-vsd shall lye Can Pompey whom I chast away Be follow'd with so great a sway Of Latium ships with him to flye And thinke you that my victory VVill not my campe with troopes supplie Yes and those troopes we must prefarre To haue the honor of this warre And they will share away the gaines Of all your former taken paines Then shall you Veterans relent To see your blood in vaine so spent And when my Triumphes come in place Your selues haue nether gifts nor grace Thinke you that I shall losse receaue Because that you my Campe doe leaue Yea all as much as it the course Of riuers threat to change their sourse And from the seas their streames detaine Were able so to slake the maine That ebs floods 't would not maintaine What do you now your selues perswade That you in ought my fortune made The Gods do not their care abase To men of your inferior place They giue no leasure to their eye To see where such men liue or dye Of great mens Fate they haue a care That of this world supporters are To Spaine and to the Northerne coast You terrors were led in my hoast But had you followed Pompey then You would haue prou'd but conquer'd men Labienus was a valiant knight Whilst he in Caesars Armes did fight But now a run-a-way most base Doth after a new Captaine trace By sea and land from place to place Your faiths to me no better are If you shall shew your selues in warre Of so debaushed minds to be As neither foes nor friends to me For he that doth my Ensignes leaue And will not vnto Pompey cleaue Of me no fauour can receaue Surely the Gods my Tents protect And will I should your fraud reiect And that I doe vnto mee call New troopes to wage this warre withall O Fortune how dost thou enlarge My weary shoulders of a charge To giue me meanes now to despise Those hands whose hopes nought can suffise No not the whole worlds spoyle and pelfe But I will warre now for my selfe Therefore from out my Campe depart And those braue Ensignes of my Mart Yee slothfull Romans lay them downe They shall be borne with more renowne And now the Authors of this rage Iustice not Caesar doth engage Prostrate your selues therefore with speed And on the blocke receiue your meed For of this mutinous deuice Your faithlesse heads must pay the price And you new Souldiers on whose hands The strength now of my Army stands Behold these paines learne lawes of Armes Know how to dye for factious harmes The common rout whilst thus he spake Vnder his threatning voyce did quake And this great bragging factious troope That might haue made one head to droop Vnto his will with awe did stoope As though the very swords conspir'd To yeeld to what his will requir'd And that the steele it selfe in spight Of hands would yeeld him duties right Yet Caesars selfe did stand in doubt That most of all the armed rout Would haue maintain'd their cause in field And not to execution yeeld But yet their patience past the scope Of their offended Captaines hope For they not onely held them still But gaue their throats vnto his will Then did he feare that their sterne hearts Inur'd before to ruthlesse parts Would now grow dull vnfit for Marts Loe thus did Iustice direfull stroke To former peace their mindes reuoke Chiefe Mutiners receiu'd their paine The rest restor'd to grace againe ¶ The Army then directed was Thence to Brundusium to passe In ten daies march and there to meet The Mariners and Caesars fleet Some of them cal'd from Hydrus bay And from old Taras where they lay Others from Leucas secret shores And those in Salapin that Moores With some that did in Sipus ride Whose streams neere to those cliffes do tide Where the Apulian Gargan hill Fruitfull to husband men that till Stretching along Ausonia's soyles By North Dalmatia entoyles And on the South Calabria bounds Thence like a Promontory rounds Into the Adriaticke sounds Meane while doth Caesar take his way To fearefull Rome taught to obay In peacefull gowne the victors minde His armed troopes he left behind And there the people by request In signe of loue would needs inuest Him with the high Dictators name And Consulship ioyn'd to the same Obseru'd with ioyfull solemne feasts And suffrages to his owne hests So generally as that before Neuer was any flattered more With Lordly phrase him to adore And for to grace with iust pretence His warre as for the states defence The swords that they before him beare With Consuls axes mingled were And where the Aegles Ensignes waue He ioynes the Faggots ribbond braue And so vsurpes with idle fame Of Empires rule Dictators name Thus markes he out that wofull time With worthy Titles free from crime And so to giue Pharsalia's fight The colour of a quarrell right That yeare the Consuls name he hends And publique good his cause pretends To solemne shewes in Martius fields A forced fained forme he yeelds The peoples voyces he obtaines For will or nill powre them constraines The Tribes he partially diuides With shew the Vrne the lots decides The heauenly signes no credit beares Thunders moues not the Augures eares They sweare the birds with good lucke flye Whilst dismall Owles are heard to crye So breach of lawes that high powre stain'd Which reuerence had so long maintein'd And that times names might full agree With his designes he doth decree A monthly Consull to install Distinguish't with times festiuall And that high powre that Latium brights Should haue his Ceremoniall rites Perform'd by Torches in the nights Though sacred honours scarce were due To Ioue that nought our wrackes did rue ¶ From Rome then Caesar hastes away Through those low meads that yeelds the hay That the Apulian people makes With handy pitchforkes and with rakes And in his speed he is more swift Then is the flash of lightnings drift Or Tyger of the female kinde Vntill the houses he doe finde Of Craetan frames Brundusium hight Where with the aires tempestuous spight He findes the hauens mouth winde-bound And trembling barkes within the sound With winters stormes like to be drownd But yet this daring Captaine thinkes That shamefully his businesse shrinkes If doubts or dreads should him delay Or him confine within a bay Whilst that he sees the tossing maine Is scour'd by Pompey's lucklesse traine And to adde courage to their sprites His mariners he thus incites The Northerne sky and winters winde We alwayes doe more certaine finde And current of the Ocean vast Continue with more constant blast When once they take then
that supreme humane pride That will all honour ouer-stride Then will his noble death beseeme The Fates that him so worthy deeme O let him liue and proudly raigne And then by Brutus sword be slaine ¶ Here now our Countries glory dies Here in a heape confused lies The old Patrician Roman gore Mixt with Plebeian bloudy store And yet amidst this butcherie Of Heroick Nobilitie Domitius stout that death of thine Aboue the rest most cleare did shine Whom fate did oft oppresse and tosse For Fortune still did Pompey crosse Where thou madst one and still hadst losse So often wert thou Caesars pray But now hast clos'd thy latest day With liberty preserued free Which makes those many wounds to thee Pleasing whereof thou now must dye And no more Caesars pardons try But Caesar chanc't that way to passe Where he in gore blood wallowing was And tauntingly vnto him spake Domitius thou that soughtst to take My charge from me and gouerne Gaule Pompey thou canst not serue at all Without thee this warre we shall trye No more he said Then to reply His panting breast him life affoords And thus pronounc't his dying words Caesar thou hast not yet the meed Of thy accursed wicked deed Doubtfull as yet doth stand thy fate And lesse in shew then Pompeys state I one of Pompeys traine doe goe Freely vnto the shades below And safely thither doe I wend And yet by that these warres haue end I well may hope when I am dead Wracke shall befall thy wretched head And vengeance due shall on thee light And yeeld both me and Pompey right So hauing said did life resigne And deaths darke hand clos'd vp his eyne ¶ In vaine alas what should I shed Teares here vpon the thousands dead Of those that from the worlds each part Did finde their ends in this dire Mart Or why should I but single out Some priuate fates in this huge rout Whose bowels pierc't with deadly wounds Their latest liuing dayes confounds Or who on earth dead bodies spurnes Or who their bloody swords poynts turnes Vpon their breast that gasping lye To free their soules that lingring dye Or who at one blow downe is cast Or who with hewd limbes standeth fast Or who with darts doth bodies wound Or with his launce nailes men to ground Or whose veins pierc't whence blood flies out Into the aire and doth besprout The Armour of his murdring foe Who slaies his brother at a blow And as a stranger doth him spoyle Cuts off his head and in the soyle Doth hide the same to hide his guilt Or who his fathers bloud hath spilt And mangled hath his face the while The lookers on so to beguile And doth it with such ragefull ire As t were some foe and not his sire No one mans death can claime lament To waile men now no time is lent The slaughters of Pharsalias field Is nothing such as others yeeld There priuate Fates the warres attends Here Rome and all her people ends There warre to death doth souldiers call But here at once whole Nations fall The Grecian peoples bloud here streames The Ponticke and Assirian realmes And now the bloud of Romans slaine In torrents fleets on that againe And with her ouer-flowing store Sweepes from the fields Barbarian gore More people in this battaile slaine Then our age can supply againe T is more then life and health that 's lost It hath the whole world ruine cost The sword vpon those bodies rages That should haue serued future ages What haue our children yet misdonne That they to seruile state must runne Or what fault in posterity Borne to be thralles to tyranny Haue we so cowardly borne Armes And offred vp our throats to harmes The burthen of anothers feare Vpon our shoulders must we beare O Fortune if thou needs wouldst call Our sonnes to be a tyrants thrall Thou shouldst haue giuen them warres withall ¶ Now doth vnhappy Pompey finde The Gods and Roman Fates vnkinde And ere the fight was throughly ended His cursed fortune he condemned Whilst in the field hee stood on hye Vpon a hill and thence did eye The slaughters and the troopes ramuerst Throughout Pharsalias field disperst The which the fight before did hide He multitudes sees on his side Of weapons and of bodies lost And his owne wracke at their blouds cost Yet did he not as wretches will Desire the whole with him should spill Nor in his ruine wrap them all But on the heauenly powers did call That yet the greatest part might thriue Of Latium blood and him suruiue This is his comfort in annoy O Gods quoth he doe not destroy So many Nations at a clappe The world may stand free from mishappe And Rome may many ages flourish Although that Pompey sinke and perish But if it so your likings please More woes on me to heape then these My wife and children yet subsist For Fates to do with what they list Hath not this ciuill warre cost deere If I and mine must perish heere May not such wounds be deemed wide Though all the world escape beside O Fortune why dost thou so racke And labour to bring all to wracke Nothing is mine I all things lacke So hauing said he rides about The Ensignes and the Armes in rout And in each part throughout the lands Sees how his squadrons broken stands Whom he retraits and doth restraine From running to their deaths amaine He values not himselfe so much That for his sake harme should them touch And yet his courage did not faile The swords and weapons to assaile Or put his life to hazards chance Or vnto death his breast aduance He fear'd if Pompey there should dye The Souldiers would no dangers flye But on his body heaped lye Besides he fouly did despise To lye a scorne to Caesars eyes Yet if thy father-in-law affect To cast his eyes on that prospect Thy head to him will be presented It cannot be by place preuented And thou his wife wert partly cause Why from this slaughter he with-drawes To see thy face for Fates ordaine That in thy sight he should be slaine Then he a Courser swift bestrides And posting from the battaile rides Feare makes him not to turne his backe His heart did neuer courage lacke In most distresse his minde was stout Nor plaints nor teares he powreth out But such a reuerent griefe exprest As with a Maiesty fits best For him at that time to bestow On Roman fortune brought so low And with like constancy beheld The downe-falles of Emathia's field Nor prosperous wars could make thee proud Nor ouer-throwes thy courage cloud That faithlesse Fortune flattring thee With glorious pompe in triumphes three Thou now dost scorne with lesse account And makes thy minde her force surmount Securely thou from hence dost part Freed from the cumbrous cares of Mart. And now at large thou leasure hast To ruminate thy glories past Ambitious hopes neuer suffis'd From thee are fled and now despis'd Now maist
As Marius did in former dayes Or if not so yet are we sure The Romane Empire will endure For her foundation doth not stand By Caesars or by Pompeys hand Her Peeres her people and her powre One battell cannot so deuoure That we should thinke we may disdaine Her Empire that doth still remaine The bloody field at Cannas fought More slaughter then Pharsalia wrought And though that the Trebeian fight And Tracimene did giue them flight Yet Romes estate subsisted still And did reuenge her selfe at will For Hannibal was vanquished And Carthage Empire ruined Though thou no aide to Pompey giue Yet like a king his wants releiue And giue him safetie in thy lands That custome with all Nations stands For Caesars selfe hath tride like grace When he did flie from Syllas face And for the safetie of his head Vnto king Nichomedes fled And therefore doth by practise know That kings in honour ought to show Remorse on him that comes a guest For kings themselues may be distrest And Ptolomie thy father late Oppressed by his fathers hate Was aided by the Roman state Though Caesar for a time may raigne Yet Rome doth Monarchie disdaine And her braue spirits that still liu'd free To vassallage will not agree Meane while defile not thou thy youth Vngratefully vnto that truth That heretofore hath shewde such grace To thee and to thy kingly race Thy dying father did commend The care of thee as to a frend To Pompeys trust which in iust sort He did discharge and thee support If this may not oblige thy mind Who right of thee can hope to find Be well aduisd and stand in awe The worlds defame on thee to draw In thy yong yeares for such a staine Will all thy life on thee remaine The vessell alwayes holdeth fast The sent wherof it first did tast But if thou wilt nor Pompey lend Thy aides that Caesar may offend Nor in thy kingdome let him rest For safegard of his life distrest Nor with thy bountie him relieue That to thy sire this Crowne did giue Yet him dismisse in courteous sort When he sets saile to leaue this port Harme not his life he was thy frend For that would men and Gods offend All those that such vile acts haue done Into the like mishaps haue runne Busyris that with bloody vaine All strangers so did entertaine Was vsde at last with like despight Reueng'd by the Herculean might He that with blood vpholds his state The most do feare and all do hate And he that hated is of all Is sure into mischance to fall That Counsellor that would thee good Will thee dehort from Roman blood For though the Romans now do iarre And entertaine a ciuill warre Long will they not be so beguilde That mallice will be reconcilde Meane while this warre vnto them showes Both fained friends and secret foes And mischiefe then will sure betide To those that plaid on either side For when this ciuill strife is dated And forraine wrongs shall be debated O then will they reuengement haue Of all that in their blood did raue Therefore it thee concernes ô king To looke what future change may bring And not alone to meditate The present ordring of thy state The skilfull Pilot will not trust The glaring Sun but doubts a gust And doth accordingly prepare To haue his sailes and tackling yare O Ptolomey then gouerne so To giue no vantage to the foe Nor yet to serue thy present ends Too carelesse bee of tried frends ¶ To this Photinus prone to ill Who better knew with flattring skill To draw a Prince to tyrannize In hate of Pompey thus replies Rightfull respects ô Ptolomey Brings many Princes to decay Obserued faith so much commended Hath with repentance often ended When men will striue to eleuate That Fortune meanes to ruinate The Fates and Gods obserue aright Thy wretches damn'd by their despight Combine thou with the happy wight As farre as is this earthly scope Distant from high heauens vaulted cope And fire and waues repugnant are So truth and profite euer iarre The power of Scepters then decayes When truthes regards their actions swayes T is truly said that foolish pittie Hath oft confounded many a Cittie Sly pollicie with searching ends Envied Kingdomes states defends Except the sword thou often draw Thou canst not make thy will a law Do that and hold them all in awe O let him from a court depart That hath a pious tender heart Milde modesty and mighty power Cannot reside in one selfe bower Feare still accosts Regality That is ashamd of cruelty Not without ill intention borne Pompey thy yong yeares so doth scorne To thinke that thy vnconquer'd might From these shores cannot him affright Such guests may not depriue thy throne Heires thou hast neerer of thine owne If Aegypts Scepter thou abhorre Thy banisht sister then restorre We will defend the kingdomes right Against the proud Italian might What Pompey heretofore had not Shall neuer be the victors lot But now that Pompey is forlorne Of all the world and Fortunes scorne And no where intrest hath at all He seekes with what land he may fall His sence these ciuill broiles doe stall Caesar alone doth not him fright But he doth shun the Senates sight Of whom the greatest part and powre Thessalian vultures now deuoure And all those Nations he doth dread Whose bloods together for him shed He basely hath abandoned And shames of those Kings to be knowne Whose Fortunes he hath ouer-throwne Thessaly hath him guilty tride Not knowing where his head to hide He now accosteth Aegypts soyle Which yet he hath not brought to spoyle And giues vs by this vile pretence Iust cause against him of offence For why should he engage vs so That now rest free from warre or foe And seeke to bring our land and state So deeply into Caesars hate Is ours the Realme on which in spleene Thou faine wouldst lay Pharsalias teene That with thy wrackes we ruin'd beene Iust cause doth vs good leaue affoord To free this perill by the sword But where 't is vrg'd at thy request The Senate did our King inuest With this Crowne we for that againe With aids thy quarrell did maintaine But now this sword worne by my side Which fate now bids me to prouide O Pompey must not thee offend But through the bowels shall transcend Of him that conquer'd was of late I wish it rather Caesars fate We driuen are to go that way That Fortune goes who all doth sway Doubtst thou O Pompey if it be A course most needfull now for me To violate thy wretched life When lawfull t is to free all strife With what hope didst thou haples wight Desire vpon our coast to light When we are not prepar'd for warre Our people scarcely able are With spades to delue those clayie lands That Nylus softens to our hands T is fit to measure our owne force
Pharsalia A strange marke to be knowne by Codrus Pompeys seruant entends a funerall sire for his masters body whē he had found it Codius complaint against Fortune Codrus makes hard shift for fuell and fire to bury Pompeys body Codrus speech to Pompeys ghost whilest the body was burning Codrus hauing performed his last office to his maister hides himselfe again Codrus buryes the cinders layes a stone with an inscription on it Hercules and Bacchus tomb A breefe recitall of Pōpeys noble acts The basenes of Pompeys Tombe Sybilla Cumana her prophetes A curse against Egypt Isis the wife of Osiris one of the Egyptian Gods Meaning Caesar whom they accompted a tyrant for taking such power to him ouer the Empire The Authors loue to Pompeys merit Pōpeys graue stands in the high way of those that trade frō many nations Romes liberty buried with Pompey The authour meanes here that if Pompy had no tōbe at all the place of his sepulcher forgottē that then future ages wold by considering his acts thinke he were deified The Aegyptiās will obscure this vile treachery from their successors report so of Pompey as the Cretans did of Iupiter Pompeys soule receiued into the lower spheres Pompeys soule contemplates the earthly passages Cato disliked Pompey Cato takes on him the protection of his comely Cato assembles all the scattred Romans of Pharsalia Catoes Nauie and his nauigation Palinurus Aeneas Pilot. Cornelia desires to stay on the Aegyptian coast To bee buried in that treacherous land was a dishonor to Pompey The land where Pompey is interred deerer to Cornelia then any other land Cornelia perswades Sextus to Armes Cornelia deliuers Pompeys words and charge to his sonnes Here he speaks according to the opinion of Seneca with whom hee was brought vp Cornelias solitary griefes Cornelias fleete arriues on Lybia where Cato was incamped Cnaeus Pompeius words to his brother Sextus Sextus answere to his brother Cnaeus reply speeches of reuenge for his father so murdred Cato appeaseth the wrath of yong Cnaeus The great lamentations of the people for Pompey Cornelias great piety towards Pompey The custome of some countries in burning their lands to make them fruitful Catos Oration in the praise of Pompey Catos words to Tarchon a Seaman The oration of one of the sea-men to Cato Meaning Caesar Caesar was then Consull Catos answere to the mutinous mariners Meaning that Pompey beeing dead if they were victors there remained none to tyranize Meaning Crassus Pompey and Caesar A disdainfull manner of speech that Cato vsed to the reuolting Seamen An apt comparison of Bees A digression from the matter to the nature of the Syrtes The description of a cruell tempest on the Seas A Riuer in Affricke Tryton Neptunes Trumperer The riuer Laethe The fable of Hercules that tooke away the golden Apples from the gardē Hesperides Catos oration to his souldiers before hee takes his iourney into the desarts of Lybia Cato enters the deserts of Lybia Mauritania the manner of that nation The Nasmons that liue vpon sea wracks The furious effects of the Lybian winds The perils of the Lybian sands Men trauel on land by the helpe of the stars as on the Seas A souldier brings Cato water in his helmet Catos continencie So did Alexander Berennicis and Leptis two Cities A relation how the signes and poles doe lye to those parts of Lybia Labienus speech to Cato Catos diuine conceits Catos temperance Two sortes of venemous serpents Cato drinkes first of suspected water Meaning the fable that followes The fable of Medusa These twelue translated verses are so ambigious in the Latine as that it rests to the best and most probable construction that can bee made thereof They were two other Gorgons her sisters Atlas metamorphosed by Medusa Mercury the founder of the Arcadian harp and of wrastling Perseus borne of Danae and the golden showre Pallas Target Perseus with harpe the fauchion of Mercury cuts off Medusas head The diuers kindes of serpēts that were ingendred in Lybia by the drops of blood that fell from the necke of Medusa according to fabulous antiquity Therfore called Basiliscus of the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The poyson of Dipsaes The poyson of the Seps The poyson of the Prester The poyson of the Hemorrhois The nature of the Aspicks poyson The nature of the serpent called a Iaculum The nature of the Basilisks poyson Salpuga a kind of poysnous Ants. The murmuring and repining of the soldiers against their miserable iourney The Serpents of Lybia This part of Lybia not ordained for man to liue in In this part of the world both the Poles do seeme to be as low as the horyson There opiniō then of the Antipodes Catos prsise The nature of a people in Lybia called the Psilli that cure the bites of Serpents How the Psilli try their wiues chastitie Medicines against the serpents poyson Leptis a good citie on the frontiers of Lybia He now returns to speak of Caesar Here was Achilles his Tombe Hesione Laomedons daughter Ganimed Paris The words of a Peasant to Caesar The praise of of Poësie Homer Caesars sacrifice at Troy and his vowes Caesar doth challenge his descent from the Troians Caesar sailes towards Affricke Pompeys head brought to Caesar with an Oration Caesars behauiour at the sight of Pompys head Caesars words to him that presented Pompeys head Caesar reproues Ptolemey Caesar giues cōmandement for Pompeys funerall Caesar pretends a meaning to haue been reconciled to Pompey The Cōmentators do vary in opinion vpon the construction of these 4. verses wherein I doe follow the exposition of Hortensius as most probable Meaning Pompeys head Caesar visits the Aegyptian monuments Meaning Alexander the Great He enuies bitterly against Alexander the Great Death preuēts Alexanders designes The Parths alwayes infestious to the Romans Ptolemy comes to see Caesar Cleopatra comes to Caesar by stealth The Systron was an instrument of warre vsed by the Egyptians in stead of a Trumpet Meaning the battell betwin Augustus and Anthonie Anthony loued Cleopatta and forsooke Octauia Caesar had issue by Cleopatra and a sonne called Caesareon Cleopatras manner and speech to Caesar The crown of Egypt as capable of a Quene as a King Cleopatra affects not to mary her brother as her father appointed She inueies against Photinus The sumptuous entertainment the Egyptians gaue vnto Caesar Some of the Egyptians haue faire colourd haire Cleopatras attires The Egiptians folly so to discouer their abundant treasures to Caesar The excesse of a feast Alluding to the Idolatrous Egyptians that worshipped beasts bird◠Mareotis a little Prouince in Egypt that yeelds the best wines A place where the pleasant Muscadine grapes do grow The Egyptian Ladies did vse to pouder their haires as now a daies is vsed Caesars word to Achoreus The Egyptian priest Caesar reduced the yeare to a iuster account then Eudoxus did Caesars desire to find out the springs of Nylus head Achoreus answer to Caesars demands He refels their opinions that do thinke the fals of the molten snow to be the cause of Nylus increase Syene a cittie vpon Nylus Diuers opinions for the flowing of Nylus How many great Kings searched to know the secretes of Nylus and his fountaines What these Seres are all the Commentators are doubtfull and doe think the word to be mistakē But such there are towards the North-pole Neroë the greatest Island that is in Nylus Phile a Citty neere Nylus The Cataracts of Nylus Abatos an Iland by Memphis not to be approched for quick-sands as some write Photinus conceiues a practise of treason vpon Caesar Achillas the Generall of Ptolemeys forces Photinus letter to Achillas Cleopatras hate to Photinus Achillas In scorne hee tearms Pompey Caesars equall Photinus hopes to gratifie the Roman state by murdering Caesar as he hop't to please Caesar by killing Pompey Achillas prepares forces to surprise Caesar No trust in mercenary Souldiers The Romans apt to ciuill dissention Caesar his carelesnesse whilst he was in Cleopatras company It is ill trusting to the moderation of the sword in the fury of fight Opportunity in martiall affaires once lost is hardly recouered Their foolish discipline in seeking to surprise Caesar Caesar dangerously engaged Apt comparisons Small things do oftentimes more annoy men then greater Caesar holds Ptolemey with him for his security Luxury and pleasure dangerous to great men Caesars valor The ships fired in the hauen The citie of Alexandria fired at which time the famous library was burnt Caesar for safety takes Pharos Photinus put to death Here it seems that in the former parts some thing is wāting for no relation is euer made how Photinus came within Caesars power Arsinoe the sister of Cleopatra Achillas slaine Reuenge obserued for Pōpeys murder Caesar in great danger The force of braue examples in extremitie In the Lattin copie these verses to the end were supplied by Sulpitius and so translated Caesar saues himselfe by swimming