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
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
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
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
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