hand a shield of shinning brasse Wherein to see the stone transforming face Of sterne Medusa Pallas bad him keepe Then lay'd Medusa in an endlesse sleepe But yet not all part of her snaky haire Defends her head some snakes still waking are Some ore her face and sleeping eylids glide Minerva doth th'averted Perseus guide And with a trembling hand directs the stroake Of his Cyllenian Harpe which quite broke Her large snake-cover'd necke How strange a looke Had Gorgons head cut off by Perseus stroke And towring blade what poyson did arise In her blacke mouth what death shot from her eyes Which not Minerva durst to looke vpon And Perseus sure had bin congeal'd to stone Had not Minerva hid that dismall face With those snake-haires Now Perseus flyes a pace To heaven with Gorgons head but in his mind Considering how the nearest way to find Over the midst of Europe meanes to fly But Pallas straight forbids that injury To Europes fruitfull fields and bids him spare The people there for who can in the ayre Refraine to gaz when such a bird he spyes Perseus converts his course and Westward flyes Ore desert Libya whose vnfruitfull seat Vntill'd lyes ope to nought but Phaebus heat Who runs his burning course straight ore their heads No land then this a larger shadow spreads ' Gainst heaven nor more the moones ecclipse doth cause When straying not in latitude she drawes Neither to North nor South but still is found In signes direct· Yet this vnfruitfull ground Barren in all that 's good a seed could yeild From venome which Medusaes head distill'd From those dire drops mixt with the putrid earth Sols aiding heat did giue new monsters birth First from that dust so mixt with poyson bred Rose the sleep-causing Aspe with swelling head Made of the thickest drop of Gorgons gore Which in no serpent is compacted more She wanting heat seekes not a colder clime Content to liue in her owne Libyaes slime But oh how shamelesse is our thirst of gaine Those Libyan deaths are carryed ore the maine And Aspes at Rome are sold as marchandise In scaly folds the great Haemorrhus lyes Whose bite from all parts drawes the flowing blood Chersidros then that both in land and flood Of doubtfull Syrtes liues Chelydri too That make a reeking slime where ere they goe The Cenchris creeping in a tract direct Whose speckled belly with moe spots is dect Then ere the various Theban marble takes Sand-colour'd Ammodytes the horned snakes That creepe in winding tracks the Scytale No snake in winter casts her skin but she The double-head Dipsas that thirsty makes The water-spoyling Newte the dart-like snakes The Pareas whose way his tale doth guide The Prester too whose sting distendeth wide The wounded's foamy mouth the Seps whose bite Consumes the bones dissolues the body quite The Basiliske whose hisse all snakes doth scarre Hurtfull before the venome touch who far All vulgar serpents from his sight commands Reigning alone vpon the empty'd sands You dragons too glistring in golden pride Who hurtlesse wander through all lands beside Hot Affrik mortall makes aloft you fly Through the ayre on wings and follow speedily The heards your strokes the mightyest buls destroy Great Elephants not escape you all you kill Nor neede you poysons helpe to worke your will This thirsty way among these venom'd snakes Cato amidst his hardy souldiers takes Where many losses of his men he found And deaths vnusuall from a little wound A trodden Dipsas turning backe his head Did bite young Aulus Ensigne bearer bred Of Tyrrhene race no griefe nor paine ensew'd His wound no pity found no danger shew'd But in alas did fiery venome deepe Into his maâ—row and scorch'd entrailes creepe Which quite drunke vp all moisture that should flow Into his vitall parts his palate now And tongue is scorch'd and dry no sweate could goe To his tir'd joynts from 's eyes no teares could flow His place nor his sad generalls command Could stay this thirsty man out of his hand He throwes his Eagle water runs to haue Which the dry venome in his heart did craue Though he in midst of Tanais did ly Padus or Rodanus he would be dry Or drinke the streamer where ever Nilus flowes The soyle ads to his drought the worme doth loose Her venoms fame help'd by so hot a land He digs and seekes each veine in all the sand Now to the Syrts he goes and in his mouth Salt water takes which could not quench his drought Although it pleas'd He did not know what kinde Of death he dy'd nor his disease could finde But thinkes it thirst and now full faine he would Rip open all his veines and drinke his blood Cato commands them loath his men should stay To know what thirst was straight to march away But a more wofull death before his eye Appear'd A Seps no poore Sabellus thigh Hung by the teeth which he straight with his hands Cast off and with his pile nail'd to the sands A little snake but none more full then she Of horrid death the flesh falls off that nigh The wound did grow the bones are bared round Without the body naked shewes the wound His shankes fall off matter each members fills His knees are bar'd his groine blacke filth distills And every muscle of his thighes dissolues The skin that all his naturall parts involues Breaking lets fall his bowels nor doth all That should remaine of a dead body fall The cruell venome eating all the parts Alâ— to a little poisonous filth converts The poison breakes his nerues his ribs doth part Opens his hollow breast there shewes his heart His vitalls all yea all that man composes And his whole nature this foule death discloses His head necke shoulders and strong armes doe flow In venomous filth not sooner melts the snow By hot South windes nor waxe against the Sunne This is but small I speake burnt bodyes run Melted by fire in filth but what fire ere Dissolv'd the bones no bones of his appeare Following their putrid iuice they leaue no signe Of this swift death the palme is only thine Of all the Libyan snakes the soule take they But thou alone the carcasse tak'st away But lo a death quite contrary to it Marsian Nasidius an hot Prester bit Whose face and cheekes a suddaine fire did rost His flesh and skin was stretch'd his shape was lost His swelling body is distended far Past humane growth and vndistinguishd are His limmes all parts the poison doth confound And he lyes hid in his owne body drown'd Nor can his armour keepe his swolne growth in Not more doth boyling water rise within A brazen caldron nor are sailes more swell'd By Westerne windes No limme he now can weild A globe deform'd he is an heape confus'd Which ravening beasts did feare which birds refus'd To which his friends durst doe no obsequy Nor touch but from the growing carcasse fly But yet these snakes present more horrid sights A fierce Hamorrhus noble
ghosts expect your side and house to come And for great Pompey in Elysium Prepare a place The houre shall shortly come Envie not then the glory of so small A life that in one world shall lodge you all Make hast to meete your deaths and with a minde Haughty though from small funeralls descen'd To tread vpon the soules of Roman gods For burialls â—all this mortall odds And the Pharsalian fight must only try Who shall by Nile and who by Tyber lye But seeke not thou thy destiny to heare Which fate though I be silent will declare A surer prophet shall thy father be In Sicily although vncertaine he Whither to call thee whence to bid thee flee Or in what coast or climate safe to be Teare Europe Asia Affricke fates divide Your funerall as they your triumphs did Oh wretched house to you the world shall yeild No place more happy then Pharsalia's field Thus having spoke the carcasse did remaine VVith a sad looke and begg'd for death againe But could not die without a magicke spell And herbes nor could the fates restore to hell His soule once sent from thence VVith that the witch Builds vp a lofty funerall pile to which The dead man comes she layes him on the fires Leaues him and lets him dye and then retires With Sextus to his fathers campe and now The welkin gan Auroraes light to show But to the campe till Sextus take his way The darke charm'd night kept off approaching day FINIS Libri Sexti Annotations on the sixt Booke a From their campes by the river Apsâ—â— both generalls at one time brought forth their armies Pompey entending to entercept M. Anthonius and Caesar entending to ioyne with Anthony Anthony certified by some Greekes of Pompey's ambushes kept within his campe till the next day Caesar came to him Pompey then fearing to be enclosed by two armies departing thence marched to asparagu neere Dyrrachium and there encamped thither also marched Caesar and encamped not far from him b Caesar wanting provision was desirous of battell but Pompey better provided of all necessaries purposely delayed it c Caesar perceiving that Pompey would not bee drawne out to fight the next day by a great compasse and difficult way went to Dyrrachium hoping to exclud Pompey thence where his corne and provision lay which Pompey perceiving went thither also by a neerer way d Caesar that his owne men might with the lesse danger forrage and fetch in corne as also to hinder Pompey from forraging and to lessen his estimation among forreine nations kept with garrisons all the tops of the hills and fortified castles there and drew strong trenches from castle to castle so on every side enclosing Pompey The worke extended fifteene miles in compasse being so tarâ—e that Pompey within wanted nothing and Caesar could not man his workes round e Caesars souldiers wanting victuall besieged Pompey abounding with all store of provision Pompey seeing the strange vnheard of food that Caesars souldiers eate while they besieged him said that he now made warre against beasts f Pompey vnderstanding by some renegadoes that Caesars crosse trench betweene the two bulwarkes toward the sea was not finished sent a ship manned with archers and other souldiers to assault the defenders of the worke behind Himselfe about the end of night came thither also with his forces Caesars cohorts that watched there neere the sea seeing themselues assaulted both by land and sea ran away whom the Pompeyans pursued with a great slaughter till Mar. Anthonius with twelue cohorts comming downe the hill made the Pompeyans retreat againe g Caesar to repaire that dayes losse assaulted with three and thirty cohorts the castle which Torquatus kept and beate the Pompeyans from the trench Which Pompey hearing brought his fift Legion to their succour Caesars horsemen fearing to be enclosed began first to flie which the foote seeing and seeing Pompey there in person fled also this victory if Pompey had pursued he had vtterly overthrowne Caesar h Pompey the great slaine vpon the bankes of Nile i Iuba King of Mauritania which had slaine Curio and his Legions before in the Affrican war was vanquished by Caesar and fearing to fall into Caesars hands 〈◊〉 and Petrejus slew each other k For in these two conflicts Caesar lost nine hundred footmen sixty two horsemen thirty Centurions tenne Tribunes and thirty two Ensignes of war LVCANS Pharsalia The Seventh Booke The Argument Great Pompey's flattering dreame his souldiers all Eager of battell vrge their Generall Their wish though rash and fatall findes defence In Ciceroes vnhappy eloquence Against his will great Pompey's forc'd to yeild The signalls given Pharsalias dreadfull field Is fought Romes liberty for ever dyes And vanquisht Pompey to Larissa flyes SAd Titan later Thetis lap forsooke Then natures law requir'd and never tooke A crosser way as if borne backe againe By the sphaeres course would be eclipsed faine Attracting cloudes not food t' his flames to yeild But loath to shine vpon Pharsalia's field That night of Pompey's happy life the last Deceiv'd by flattering sleepes he dream'd him plac'd In the Pompeyan Theater among Romes people flocking in vnnumber'd throng Where shouting to the skyes he heard them raise His name each roome contending in his praise Such were the peoples lookes such was their praise VVhen in his youth and first tryumphant dayes Pompey but then a gentleman of Rome Had quieted the west and Spaine orecome Scattring the troopes revolt Sertorius led And sat by th' Senate as much honoured In his pure candid as trumphall gowne VVhither the doubtfull fancy fearefull growne Of future fate run backe to former joyes Or prophesying by such sights implyes Their conâ—rary and bodes ensuing woe Or else on thee fortune would thus bestow A fight of Rome that could not otherwise Oh doe not wake him from this sleepe to rise No trumpet peirce his eare the next nights rest VVith the foregoing day's sad war opprest VVill nought but fights but blood and slaughter show Happy were Rome could she but see though so Her Pompey blest with such a dreame at this And happy night oh would the deityes Had given one day Pompey to Rome and thee That both assured of your destiny Might reape the last fruit of a loue so deere Thou goest as if thy Rome should thee interre And she still mistresse of her wish in thee Hopes that the fates lodge not such cruelty As to depriâ—◠〈◊〉 of thy honour'd tombe To mourne for thee old men and young would come Children vntaught would weepe the Matrons all VVith haire as once at Brutus funerall Loose hung would beat their breasts now though they feare The swords of the iniurious Conquerer Though he himselfe relate thy death they 'll mourne At publike sacrifice as they adorne Ioues house with laurell wretched men whose mone Conceal'd in sighs must vent it selfe alone And dares not sound in publike theaters Now had the rising Sunne obscur'd the starres VVhen all the souldiers murmuring vp
vntoucht of old was growing there Of thicke set trees whose bougâ—s spreading and faire Meetâ—ng obscured the enclosed aire And made darke shades exilâ—ng Phoebus rayes There no rude Fawne nor wanton Silvan playes No Nimph disports but cruell Deityes Claime barbarous â—ites and bloody sacrifice Each tree's defil'd with humane blood if we Beleeue traditions of antiquitie No bird dates light vpon those hallowed bowes No beasts make there their dens no wind there blowes No lightning falls a sad religious awe The quiet trees vnstirr'd by winde doe draw Blacke water currents from darke fountaines flow The gods vnpolisht images doe know No arte but plaine and formelesse trunks they are Their mosse and mouldinesse procures a feare The common figures of knowne Deities Are not so fear'd not knowing what God t is Makes him more awfull by relation The shaken earths darke cavernes oft did grone Fall'n Yew trees often of themselues would rise With seeming fire oft flam'd th'vnburned trees And winding dragons the cold oakes embrace None giue neere worship to that balefull place The people leaue it to the gods alone When black night reignes or Phoebus guilds the noone The Priest himselfe trembles afraid to spie Oâ— find this woods tutelar Deity This wood he bids them fell not standing far From off their worke vntoucht in former war Among the other bared hills it stands Of a thicke growth the souldiers valiant hands Trembled to strike moov'd with the majestie And thinke the axe from off the sacred tree Rebounding backe would their owne bodies wound Tn ' amzement of his men when Caesar found In his bold hand himselfe an hatchet tooke And first of all assaults a loâ—ty oake And having wounded the religious tree Let no man feare to fell this wood quoth he The guilt of this offence let Caesar beare The souldiers all obey not voide of feare But ballancing the gods and Caesars frowne The knotty Holmes the tall wild Ashes downe Ioues sacred Oake ship-building Alder falles And Cypresse worne at great mâ—ns funeralls Then first cut downe admit the sight of day The falling trees so thicke each other stay The Gaules lament to see the wood destroy'd But the besieged townesmen all orejoy'd Hope that the wronged gods will vengeance take But gods oft spare the guiltiest men and make Poore wretches onely feele their vengefull hand When wood enough was fell'd waines they command From every part plowmen their seasons lose Whilst in this worke souldiers their teames dispose But weary in this g lingring war to stay Before the walles Caesar goes far away To meet his troopes in Spaine his army stayes Before the towne there lofty forts they raise And bulwarkâ—s equalling the height o' th towne Which had in earth no fixt foundation But rowled to and fro the cause vnknone The townesmen viewing this strange motion Thought it some earthquake where the strugling wind From the earths cavernes could no passage find But much they wonder their owne walls stand fast From thence against the towne their Piles they cast But the Greeks missill weapons did more harme To Caesars men sent from no feeble arme But mighty engines with a whirlewinds might These not content one breast alone to split Through many bodies bones and armours cleaue Not loosing in one wound their strength and leaue Behind them many deaths but when they throw Great massie stones the mortall force is so As from a mountaines top a falling rocke Which the winds force and ruining time has broke Not only killes what man so ere it dash But every limme dooes into pieces pash But when with fence of shields conjoyned all The sheltred souldiers could approach the wall Their heads all cover'd like a fishes shell Those darts and stones flue over them which fell With danger on their heads before but now The Greekes at such small distance could nâ—t throw Nor th'engine change content with weight alone On their foes heads they roule downe heavy stone But while the fence did last hurtlesse did all Their stones and darts like haile on houses fall Vntill the townesmens teased valour broke When Caesar's mâ—n were tir'd with often strokes The fence and did their ioyned shields divide Then did a thin earth cover'd worke proceede Vnder whose covert those that lay did fall To worke in vndermining of the wall Sometimes the back forc'd ramme did strongly driue Forward the well compacted wall to riue But from aboue with fires with often stroakes Of broken bars stakes and fire harden'd oakes They force the fence the worke broke downe vaine The souldiers tir'd fly to their campe againe The Greekes then sally foâ—th not satisfi'd That their walles safely stand and fire workes hide h Vnder their armes no mortall bow nor speare Armes the bold youth but flaming fire they beare Which with swift wings into the Romane trench The strong windes carry nought has power to quench Or slacken it the wood though greene dissolues And in blacke clouds of smoke the aire involues But fire all pieces of the buildings take Not onely wood but stones and rockes doe cracke And moulder into ashes greater now The failing bulwarkes in their ruines show The conquer'd now loosing all hope by land Resolue the hazard of sea-fight to stand Their ships fâ—re-decke no gilded names adorne But timber plaine such as the woods had borne Growing make stations firme for Navall fight Now downe the streame of Rodanus the fleet From Staechas comes to sea and there attends Brâ—tus Praetorian ship Massilia sends Her vtmost strength to triall of the war Old men and beardlesse boyes all armed are The fleet then ready on the Ocean Was rigg'd and â—ld woâ—ne ships repair'd againe Now when the sky is cleare and his bright rayes On the calme sea the rising Sunne displayes The North and Southerne windes their fury spare And leaue the calmâ—d Ocean fit for war Both nations rowing from their stations meete Here the Caesarian there the Graecian fleete With oft and lusty strokes of Rowers from The havens trembling the great Gallies come The hoâ—es of Caesar's fleete Gallies that bore Three Oares aside and some that went with foure Or more did maâ—e themselues opposing so In front behinde them smaller vessels goe Liburnian Gallies with two Oares content Conâ—oyn'd in foâ—me of aâ— halfe Moone they went Brutus Praetorian galley swe rt the sea Like a vaste house then th' rest more high was she And row'd with sixe strong Oares on a side But when 〈◊〉 little sea-roome did divide Both fleetes as that one stroak would make them meet Numberlesse voyces the vaste ayre did greeâ— Plowing the Seas Souldiers loud shouts quite drown'd The noise of rowing and shrill trumpets sound Then sweepe they the blew waues the rowers seat TheÌ„selues ' gainst their breasts strong stroaks they fâ—t Ships against ships beakes meeting beakes resound And run â—sterne the ayre is darkned round With flying darts which faâ—ling th' Ocean hide Then turning their forecastles far more wide They make their
hornest ' engirâ— the adverse fleet As when strong windes with tydes repugnant meet One way the Sea the waues another go These ships vpon the furrow'de Ocean so Make different tracts and waues vpon the maine Which oares rais'd the sea beats downe againe But the Greeke vessels were more nimble far Either to flye or turne about the war They could without long tedious turning weild Themselues and quickly to the sterne could yeeld The Roman ships slow keel'd would firmely stand And lend sure footing like a fight by land The master then of his Praetorian ship Brutus be spake why doest thou let them slip Leaue thy Sea-tricks and joyne the battells close ' Gainst the Phocaicke stemmes â—ur ships oppose He straight obeyes and turnes his owne broâ—d side Against their stemmes what ship so ere they tride To encounter her with her owne stroke orecome Stiâ—kes fast and is surprisde they hoâ—ke in some With oares some some they with chaines hold fast On the seas cover'd face the war is plac'd No brandisht Iavelins manage now the war No darted steele bestowing wounds from far Hands ioyne with hands and in this Navall fight The sword acts all in their owne ships vpright They face their foes prone strokes some fal down slaine In their owne ships dy'd is the Ocean And the waues stiffen'd with congealâ—d blood Ships hook't together could not meet withstood By falling carcasses some halfe dead sinke And their owne bloud mixt with salt water drinke Some that desire their strugling liues to keepe Fall in the ruines of their broken ship Iavelins that mist the aime they did intend Fall in the sea and finish there their end Finding their bodies to receiue a wound A Roman ship by Greeks inviron'd round Fights stiffely still on left hand and on right Maintaining long ' gainst all a doubtfull fight Vpon whose lofty decke whilst Taâ—us bold Strived a seazed Graecian flag to hold Two darts together sent together split His breast and backe and in the middle meet The blood not knowing yet which way to run Makes stand but out at last both darts are throwne He in two wounds his dying soule divides Hither his ship whilst haplesse Telo guides Then whom none better on a boistrous sea Could guide a ship none better knew then he Tomorrow 's weather if the Sunne he spy'de Or Moone and could for futâ—â—re stormes provide He vvith his stemme a Roman ship had broke But through his heart a trembling javelin stroke The ship turnes off following his dying hand Gyareus leaping to his friends command Straight with a Roman javelin strongly flung Was slaine and to the ship fast nailed hung Two twinnes stand vp their fruitfull mothers fame That from one wombe with fates far different came Death parâ—s them their sad parents reft of one Without mistaking know their living sonne Whose lookes the cause of lasting sorrow keepe And make his friends for his slaine brother weepe One of those twinnes from his Greeke ship was bold Vpon a Roman keele to lay strong hold But from aboue a stroke cuts off his hand Which in the place did still fast bended stand And kept the hold the nerues more stiffe became By death his courage by this noble maime Was rais'd and greater by this accident His valiant left hand ' gainst his foes he bent And rushes on his lost right hand to reach But that alas another sword did fetch Off by the shoulder now both hands were gone Nor sword nor target could he weild yet downe He did not sinke but naked breasted stood Formost to saue his armed brothers blood And there all darts all wounds that were ordain'd For many deaths one dying breast contein'd And then his soule fleeting so many wayes He recollects and in his tir'd limmes stayes That little strength and blood was left to skip Before his death into the Roman ship His enemies by weight alone t' oppresse For now the ship laden with carcasses And full of blood bor'd through the side had been And through her â—eakes drinking the water in Was fill'd vp to the hatches sinking than It turn'd the face of the neere Ocean The waters to the sinking ship gaue way And in her roome clos'd vp againe That day Miraculous fates the Ocean did behold An iron hooke throwne to lay violent hold Vpon a ship on Lycidas did light Drown'd had he been but his friends hinder'd it And on his lower parts caught hold in two The man was pluckt nor did his blood spin slow As from a wound but gushing in one spout From all his broken vaines at once let out Into the sea falls his life-carrying blood Never so great a passage open stood To let out any soule life straight forsakes His lower halfe since vitall parts it lackes But in his vpper halfe since in that part Lay the soft lungs and life susteining heart Death staâ—es a while and findes repugnancy Nor at one time could all his members dye The men that mann'd one ship eager of fight All pressing to one side leaue empty quite The other side whose weight ore turn'd the ship Which topsie turvy sinking downe did keepe The Saylers vnder water all of them Were drown'd nor could their armes haue roome to swim One horrid kind of death that day was seene A yong man swimming was whose breast betweene Two meeting Ships sharpe stemms was bored through The brazen stemms through bones and flesh did goe And made a noise his squeezed belly sent Vp through his mouth blood mixt with excrement But when the ships divide themselues againe The body throwne into the Ocean The water through his bored bosome came Now in the Sea shipwrack'd Massiâ—iaâ—s swame Towards their fellowes ship to saue their liues But that already over burden'd strâ—ues To keepe her friends though thus distressed out And from aboue with swords the Souldiers cut Their armes when hold vpon the ship they lay Then downe againe into the Sea fall they Leauing their hands behinde the Ocean Can now no longer their maim'd trunkes sustaine But now when all the Souldiers darts were gone Fury finds weapons Oares by some are throwne Against their foes with a strong arme The mast Do some teare downe and in their fury cast Some teare the Saylers seates bords from the decke Some throwe for weapons they their ships do breake Some wanting swords their friends dead bodies spoile From his owne breast one drawes the mortall Pile With the left hand holding the wound so long To keepe in blood and strength till he had flung The iavelin at his foe then lets it run But nothing wrought so much destruction At Sea as Seas opposed Element The fire which wrapt in vnctious stuffe was sent And sulphur balles the ships apt fuell were Their pitch and melting waxe tooke easily fire Nor now could water quench th'vnruly flame Fragments of broken ships still burning swam Into the Sea to quench his fire one skips For feare of drowning to the burning ships Another cleaues that
death that vvas most neare Among a thousand deaths they most did feare Nor did their shipwrackt valouridly liue Darts floating on the waues they take and giue Their fellowes in the ship or on the seas Themselues those darts though feebly exercise When vveapons vvant the seas their vveapons be Foes grasping foes together gladly die But in that fight one Phocian did excell To search the seas he vnder vvater vvell Could keepe his breath diue to the lowest sands And loosen fastned anchors with his hands He grapling vvith a foe downe in the maine Had sunke and drown'd him and himselfe againe Safe and a conquerour rose but rising found Ships in his vvay and so at last was drown'd Some with their armes on their foes oares lay hold To stay their flight deare as they could they sold Their liues some vvounded to keepe off the blowes From their friends ships their bodies enterpose Tyrrhenus standing on the decke aloft â—â—gdamus vvith a Balearicke shaft VVounded the ponderous lead his temples broke His falling eyes their hollow feate forsooke The opticke nerues and ligaments were broke He now starke blind amazed at the stroake Thinks this to be deaths darknesse finding than That all his limmes their perfect strength retaine Fellowes quoth he place me vvhere I may throw A pile and plant me as you vse to doe Engines of vvar this little life that now Remaines Tyrrenus on all hazzards throw This body though in part already dead VVill serue for vvarlike vses and instead Of men aliue take vvounds Thus hauing spoke In his blind aymelesse hand a Pile he shooke And threw it not in vaine vvhich as it light Below his belly noble Argus hit VVhose vveight now falling made it further glide Argus vnhappy Sire on t'other side The beaten ship then stood to none vvould he VVhen he vvas young in feates of souldiery Giue place his strength is now by age decay'de And he no Souldier but a patterne made He seeing his sonne fall vvith trembling step Stumbling along came to that side the ship And finding there the body panting yet No teares fell from his cheekes nor did he beat His vvofull breast His hands now stiffe vvere growne And all his joynts cold numnesse seizes on A suddaine darkenesse closes vp his eyes That he discernes not Argus vvhom he sees Argus his dying head began to reare And feebâ—e necke seeing his Father there Speachlesse yet seem'd in silence to demand A kisse and to invite his Fathers hand To close his dying eyes but the old man Free from amaze vvhen bloody griefe began To recollect his strength I vvill not loose That time quoth he that angry fâ—te bestowes Pardon thy wretched father that from thee Argus and from thy last embrace I flee Thy wounds warme bloud yet signes of life do giue Th' art but halfe dead and yet a whilâ— maist liue I le goe before thee Sonne these words exprest And with a bloudy sword piercing his brest He leapt into the sea hasting to death Before his dearest Sonne his flitting breath Vnto one single kind of destiny He durst not trust Now great commanders dye And now no longer doubtfull is the fight Some of the Greekes are sunke by hasty flight Some get into the haven others beare Changing their loade the Roman Conquerer But now sad Parents mournings fill the towne The shore with mothers lamentation Did ring instead of her deare husbands face A weeping wife mistaken did embrace A Roman Fathers funerall rites to giue About their Sonnes deformed bodies striue But Brutus Conquerer on the Ocean To Caesar's side first navall honour wan FINIS Libri tertii Annotations on the third Booke a The vsuall time of mourning among the Romans for the losse of Husband or wife was ten moneths within which space of time it was accounted infamous to marry and therefore Cornelia daughter to Lucius Scipio and Widow of Pub. Crassus who was married to Pompey the great within that time it here stiled by Iulia strumpet b Caesar although it much concerned him to pursue Pompey and overtake him before his strength were too much encreased by forreine aide yet partly for want of ships and partly fearing lest in his absence there might happen some new commotion in Italy and withall fearing the Pompeian army that was then in Spaine vnder the conduct of Afranius and Peticius he resolved first to goe and settle things at Rome and afterwards to goe fight against those armies in Spaine c Valerius was sent into Sardinia to fetch Corne and Curio into Sicily as Propraetor with three legions those countreys were two the greatest Granaries of the Romane Empire d Caesar assembled the Senators into Apolloes temple and there with curteous language excused himselfe concerning this war as a thing vndertaken only to preserue his owne dignity against the envy and iniury of a few he entreateth them to take care of the common-wealth and ioyne with him in it likewise to send Embassadors to Pompey and the Consuls concerning peace e The Tribunitiall power was held so sacred that whosoever did offer any violence vnto it they thought the gods would take revenge and conceived the reason of that great and miserable overthrow which Marcus Crassus received in Parthia to be because Atâ—ejus the Tribune had cursed him as he went away f Caesar passing through the further Gallia and vnderstanding that Domitius whom he had lately taken prisoner at Coâ—finium and released againe was come into Massylia a city that favoured Pompey's faction he called out some of the chiefe of the city and admonished them not too much to obey one man and so draw a warre vpon themselues thâ—y shut the gates against Caesar but requested him gently to passe by them hoping by that meanes to haue kept themselues in safety and to haue remained as neuters in the war but that drew this heavy seidge vpon them Vnhappy Massilia saith Florus which desiring too much to preserue her peace for feare of war fell into a war g Caesar had sent Caius Fabius his Lieutenant with three legions into Spaine to dislodge Afranius a Lieutenant of Pompey's in the Pyrenaean straights and now himselfe leaving Caius Trebonius to besiedge Massilia by land and Decius Brutus to besiedge it by Sea goes with nine hundred horsemen into Spayne to Fabius his campe h The story in the place concerning the firing of these workes which Caesars souldiers had raised and the actions of the Massyâ—ians is not rightly related by Lucan but differs much from the relation of true histories LVCANS Pharsasia The Fourth Booke The Argument Caesar in Spaine neere high â—erdaes walls Eâ—campes ' gainst two Pompeyan generalls By suddaine floods his campe endanger'd iâ— Caesar divides the streame of Sicoris Oretakes Petrejus flight who bloodily Breakes off his Souldiers new-made amity But by extremity of thirst compell'd Afranius and himselfe to Caesar yeild Famish'â— Antonius yeilds t' his enemy Vulteius and his valiant cohort dye By their owne swords Curio on Libyaâ— sandâ—
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
to Styx were sent Waâ— like Domitius e death was eminent Whom â—ates had carry'd through all overthrowes Nere without him did Pompey's fortune loose Vanquisht so oft by Caesar yet dyes now With liberty and gladly falls into A thousand wounds proud that he shall no more Be pardon'd now Him weltering in his gore Caesar espy'd with taunts vpbraiding thus Now my successor proud Domitius At length thou shalt forsake thy Pompey's side And war is made without thee He râ—ply'd VVith that last breath which in his dying breast Struggled thou Caesar hast not yet possest The dire reward of all thy wickednesse But yet art doubtfull of thy fate and lesse Then Pompey vnder whom seâ—ure I goe And a free ghost downe to the shades below And dying hope that thou subdu'd to day To â—s and him for thy misdeedes shalt pay VVith this last speech away his spirit flyes And night eternall closes vp his eyes VVe cannot in the worlds sad funerall Particular teares pay to the death of all Nor search each private fate whose breast a wound Receiv'd who spurn'd mens hearts vpon the ground VVho through the mouth receiv'd his mortall wound And thence breath'd out his soule who fell to ground At the first stroke who stood vpright the while His lopt-off limbes fell downe who with a pile VVas fast nail'd to the earth whose blood spun out And sprinkled all his foes arm'd breast about VVho kills his brother and that then he may VVithout shame rifle throwes his head away VVho teares his fathers face that standers by Conjecture by his too much cruelty T was not his father whom he robb'd of life No death is worthy of particular greife Nor haue we time to weepe for every wight No other losse was like Pharsalia's fight Rome there by souldiers heere by kingdomes dyes There private mens heere nations tragoedyes Heere flow'd Assyrian Graecian Ponticke blood But all these bloods the powerfull Roman flood Droue through the field away All people there Are deeplyer wounded then one age can beaâ—e Farre more then life then safety heere is gone For all succeeding times we are orethrowne These swords subdue all ages that shall serue Alas what could posterity deserue To be in thraldome bone fought we with feare Spar'd we our throates the punishment we beare Of others flight To vs that since doe liue Fates should giue war if they a tyrant giue Pompey perceiv'd Romes fate and gods were gone In all this losse not mooved for his owne Ill hap Ascending a small hill to see The slaughters all that cover'd Thessaly Which while the war endur'd could not be spy'd He thence discern'd how many people dy'd How many swords reach at his destiny In how much blood he falls nor wishes he As wretches vse all with himselfe to drowne And mixe the nations ruine with his owne But for survivall of most part of men He deignes to thinke the gods even worthy then Of prayers from him and makes this to be His sorrowes comfort spare ye gods quoth he To sinke all nations Pompey if you lift Although the world remaine and Rome subsist May be made wretched if moe wounds on me You would inflict a wife and sonnes haue I So many pledges haue we given to fate Ist nought for civill war to ruinate Me and my house are we a losse so small VVithout the world why wouldst thou ruine all Fortune now nought is mine With that he rides Through his distressed troopes and on all sides Sounds a retreat from death calling them backe Thinking himseâ—fe not worth so great a wracke Nor lack'd he spirit their weapons to defy VVith throat or breast but fear'd if he should dy No souldier then would fly but there would fall And all the world â—y with their generall Or out of Caesars sight a death he sought In vaine thy head to Caesar must be brought Where ere he please to see 't His wiues deare sight Another reason was that caus'd his flight For in her sight the fates his death decree'd Then Pompey mounted on a gallant steede Fled from the field fearing no swords behind But bearing still a fate-vnconquer'd minde No sighes nor teares he spent with majesty His griefe was mixt such as befitted thee Pompey in Romes calamity to shew With lookes vnchang'd didst thou Aemathia view That minde which wars successe could neere erect To pride wars losses cannot now deject Fortun 's as far below thy wretched fate As she was false to thy triumphant state Securely now from Empires burden free Thou goest and on thy past prosperity Hast time to looke all boundlesse hopes are gone And what thou wert may now be truely knowne Fly this dire battell and to witâ—esse call The gods that none for thy sake Pompey fall That stay behind thee in Thessalia No more then Aegypt Munda Affrica The battels greatest part fought not for thee Nor shall the honour'd name of Pompey be VVars quarrell now the foes that still will be ' Mongst vs are Caesar and Româ—s liberty And t will appeare more plaine after thy flight Thy dying Senate for themselues did fight Let thy flight comfort thee thou shalt not see Those blood-staind troopes nor their impiety The rivers swell'd with blood looke backe and see And pitty Caesar with what heart can be Revisite Rome made happyer by this field VVhat banishment in forreine lands can yeild To thee by thee what ere can be endur'd Vnder th'Aegyptian tyrant rest assur'd The gods and favouring fates as best preferre T were worse for thee to be the conquerer Let all the people waile and weepe no more But dry their teares and let the world adore As well thy ruine as prosperity Looke vpon Kings with a commanding eye Aegypt and Libyas Kings whom thâ—u hast crown'd And cityes builâ— by thee and choose a ground VVhere thou wilt dy Larissa towne beheld First witnesse of thy fall fled from the field Thy noble selfe vnconquer'd by the fates VVhose Citizens all issuing forth the gates To meete thee as if Conquerer they went And gifts from loue and sorrow did present They ope theiâ— temples and their houses all And wish themselues paâ—tâ—kâ—rs of his fall Much of his great name 's left in his owne eye He seemes the least nations would helpe him trâ—â— Once more his fortune and renew the war He cryes be faithfull to the Conquerer What should the conquer'd doe with townes and men Thou Caesar thy countreys bowells then Wert wading through Pharsalia's bloody field Whilest peoples loues to thee he reconcil'd Pompey rides thence the people sigh and cry And raile against each cruell deity The people's favour now is truely proov'd Whilest great thou couldst not know thy selfe belov'd When Caesar saw the field with Roman blood Was overflow'd enough he thought it good His swords from execution to refraine And spare poore liues that would haue dy'd in vaine But left the foes should to their campe in flight Retire and rest should banish terrour quite He straight
at noone is mounted high Those trees no shadow can diffuse at all Their boughs scarse hide their trunkes No shade or small The Sunbeames make since perpendicular It is perceiv'd this is the region where The summer Tropicke hits the Zodiacke The signes obliquely rise not but direct Nor more direct the Bull then Scorpio Moist Capricornus then hot Cancer goe Nor Gemeni then Sagitarius Nor Leo then oppos'd Aquarius Virgo then Pisces Libraes motion Then Aries But whom the torrid zone Divides from vs those people ever see The shadowes Southward which here Northward be You slowly seeing Cynosure suppose Her vndrench'd carre into the Ocean goes And that no Northerne signe from seas is free You stand far distant from each axeltree Your signes in midst of heaven converted be The Easterne people standing at the doore The oracles of horned Ioue t'implore Gaue place to Cato whom his souldiers ply That of that Libyan far-fam'd deity His future fates event he would be taught Him Labienus most of all besought Chance and the fortune of our way quoth he Lâ—nd vs the mouth of that great deity And his sure counsells we may now implore His powerfull guidance through this war and ore The dangerous Syrtes For to whom should I Beleeue the gods would truly or certify Their secret wills then Catoes holy breast Whose life to heavenly lawes was still addrest And follow'd god behold we now haue heere A freedome given to talke with Iupiter Cato enquires of wicked Caesars fate And know what shall be Romes ensuing state Whether this civill war be made in vaine Or shall our lawes and liberties maintaine Let Ammon's sacred voice thy breast inspire Thou lover of strict vertue now desire To know what vertue is seeke from aboue Approovement of the trueth He full of Ioue Whom in his secret breast he carried ever These temple worthy speeches did deliver What Labienus should I seeke to know If I had rather dye in armes then bow Vnto a Lord if life be nought at all No difference betwixt long life and small If any force can hurt men vertuous If fortune loose when vertue doth oppose Her threats if good desires be happinesse And vertue grow not greater by successe Thus much we know nor deeper can the skill Of Ammon teach The gods are with vs still And though their oracles should silent be Nought can we doe without the gods decree Nor needes he voices what was fit to know The great Creator at our births did show Nor did he choose these barren sands to shew Hiding it heere his trueth but to a few Is there a seate of god saue earth and sea Aire heaven and vertue why for god should we Seeke further what ere moues what ere is seene Is Ioue For oracles let doubtfull men Fearefull of future chances troubled be Sure death not oracles ascertaine mee The coward and the valiant man must fall This is enough for Ioue to speake to all Then marching thence the temples faith he saues And to the people vntry'd Ammon leaues Himselfe afoot before his weary'd bands Marches with piâ—e in hand and not commands But shewes them how to labour never sits In coach or charriot sleepes the least a nights Last tasts the water When a fountaines found He stayes a foot till all the souldiers round And every cullion drinke If fame be due To truest goodnesse if you simply view Vertue without successe what ere we call In greatest Romans great was fortune all Who could deserue in prosperous war such fame Or by the nations blood so great a name Rather had I this vertuous triumph win In Libyaes desert sands then thrice be seene In Pompey's laurell'd charriot or to lead Iugurtha captiue Here behold indeed Rome thy true father by whose sacred name Worthy thy Temples it shall never shame People to sweare whom if thou ere art free Thou wilt hereafter make a deity Now to a torrid clime they came more hot Then which the gods for men created not Few waters heere are seene but in the sands One largely-flowing fountaine only stands But full of Serpents as it could containe There on the bankes hot killing Aspes remaine And Dipsases in midst of water dry VVhen Cato saw his men for thirst would dy Fearing those waters thus he spake to them Feare not to drinke souldiers this wholesome streame Be not affrighted with vaine shewes of death The snakes bite deadly fatall are their teeth VVhen their dire venome mixes with our blood The water 's safe Then of the doubtfull flood He drinkes himselfe there only the first draught Of all the Libyan waters Cato sought VVhy Libyaes aire should be infected so VVith mortall plagues what hurtfull secrets grow Mixt with the noxious soile by natures hand Our care nor labour cannot vnderstand But that the world in the true cause deceiv'd In stead of that a common tale receiv'd In Libyaes farthest part whose scorched ground The Ocean warm'd by setting Sol doth bound Medusas countrey lay whose barren fields No trees doe cloath whose soile no herbage yeilds Chang'd by her looke all stones and rockes they grow Heere hurtfull nature first those plagues did show First from Medusas jawes those serpents growne Hissed with forked tongues and hanging downe Like womans haire vpon her backe gaue strokes Vnto her pleased necke In stead of lockes Vpon her horrid front did serpents hisse Her combe comb'd poyson downe no part but this Safe to be seene about Medusa was For who ere fear'd the monsters mouth and face Whom that had view'd her with an eye direct Did she ere suffer sence of death t' affect She hasten'd doubting fate preventing dread Their bodyes dy'd before their soules were fled Enclosed soules with bodyes turn'd to stone The furyes haires could madnesse worke alone Cerberus hissing Orpheus musicke still'd Alcides saw that Hydra which he kill'd But this strange monster even her father who Is the seas second god her mother too Cetos and Gorgon sisters feared she Could strike a numnesse through the sea and sky And harden all the world into a stone Birds in their flight haue fall'n conjealed downe Running wilde beasts to rockes converted were And all the neighbouring Aethiopians there To marble statues not a creature brookes The sight of her t' avoide the Gorgons lookes Her snakes themselues backeward themselues invert She neere Alcides pillars could convert Titanian Altâ—s to an hill and those Giants with serpents feete that durst oppose The gods themselues those wars in Phlegra field Her face could end but shew'd in Pallas sheild Thither the sonne of showre rap'd Daâ—ae Borne on th' Arcadian wings of Mercury Inventer of the harpe and wrestling game Flying through th' aire with borrow'd Harpe came Harpe whom monsters blood before did staine When he that kept Ioves loued cow was slaine Aide to her winged brother Pallas gaue Conditioning the Gorgons head to haue She bids him fly to Libyaes Easterne bound His face averted or the Gorgons ground In his left
proudly stands Into the sea from ships the Navall bands Assault the house but Caesar every where Is for defence at hand and weapons here There wild-fire vses Though besiedg'd he be Doth the besiedgers worke such strength had he Of constant spirit wild fire balls he threw Among the joyned ships nor slowly flew The flame on pitchy shrowds and bords that drop With melted waxe at once the saileyards top And lowest hatches burne An halfe burnt boate Here drownes in seas their foes and weapons floate Nor ore the ships alone doe flames prevaile But all the houses neere the shore assaile The South windes feed the flame and driue it on Along the houses with such motion As through the VVelkin fiery meteors run That wanting fuell feed on aire alone This fire a while the courts besiedging stay'd And drew the people to the cityes aide Caesar that time would not in sleepe bestow VVho well could vse occasions and knew how In war to take the greatest benefit Of suddaine chances ships his men by night Surprises Pharos Pharos heretofore An Iland was when prophet Proteus wore That crowne but joyn'd to Alexandria now Two helpes on Caesar doth that fort bestow Commands the sea the foes incursions stay'd And made a passage safe for Caesars aide He now intends no longer to differ Protinus c death though not enough severe Not fire nor beasts nor gibbets reaue his breath Slaine with a sword he dyes great Pompey's death Arsinoe d from court escaped goes By Ganymedes helpe to Caesars foes The â—owne as Lagus daughter to obtaine By whose just sword was sterne Achillas slaine Another to thy ghost is sacrific'd Pompey but fortune is not yet suffic'd Far be it â—ods that these two deaths should be His full revenge the fall of Ptolomey And Aegypts ruine not enough is thought Nor ere can his revenge be fully wrought Till Caesar by the Senates swords be slaine But though the author's dead these broiles remaine For Ganymedes now commander moov'd A second war which full of danger proov'd So great the perill was that day alone Might Caesars name to future times renowne While Caesar striues pent vp so closely there To ship his men from thence a suddaine feare Of war did his entended passage meete Before his face the foes well-rigged fleete Behinde their foote from shore against him fight No way of safety 's left valour nor flight Nor scarse doth hope of noble death remaine No heapes of bodyes no whole armyes slaine Are now requir'd to conquer Caesar there A little blood will serue Whether to feare Or wish for death he knowes not In this same Sad straite he thinkes of noble Scaeva's fame VVho at Dyrrachium when his workes were downe Beseidg'd all Pompey's strength himselfe alone Th' example rais'd his thoughts resolv'd to doe What Scaeva did but straight a scorne to owe His valour to examples checks againe That high resolue great thoughts great thoughts restraine Yet thus at last Scaeva was mine 't was I Nurtur'd that spirit if like him I dy I doe not imitate but Caesars â—eate Rather confirmes that Scaevas act was great In this resolue had Caesar charg'd them all Himselfe alone and so a glorious fall Slaine by a thousand hands at once had met Or else enobled by a death so great Those thousand hands but fortune was afraid To venture Caesar further then her aide Could lend a famous rescue and endeare The danger to him she discovers neare Ships of his owne thither when Caesar makes He findes no safety there but straight forsakes Those ships againe and leapes into the maine The trembling billowes fear'd to entertaine So great a pledge of fortune one to whom Fate ow'd so many victoryes to come And Ioue whilest he on Caesars danger lookes Suspects the truth of th'adamantine bookes Who could haue thought but that the gods aboue Had now begun to favour Rome and loue Her liberty againe and that the fate Of Pompey's sons of Cato and the state ' Gainst Caesars fortune had prevailed now Why doe the powers Caelestiall labour so To be vnjust againe againe take care To saue that life they had expos'd so far That now the danger even in Caesars eye Might cleare their doome of partiality But he must liue vntill his fall may prooue Brutus and Cassius were more iust then Ioue Now all alone on seas doth Caesar floate Himselfe the oares the Pylot and the boate Yet could not all these offices employ One mans whole strength for his left hand on high Raised holds vp his papers and preserues The fame of his past deedes his right hand serues To cut the waues and guard his life alone ' Gainst th' Oceans perills and all darts which throwne From every side doe darken all the sky And make a cloud though heaven it selfe deny Two hundred paces thus alone he swam Till to the body of his feete he came His ore-ioy'd souldiers shouting to the skies Take sure presage of future victoryes FINIS Annotations on the tenth Booke a Cambyses the son of Cyrus and king of Persia added to his monarchy the kingdome of Aegypt he intended a farther war against the Aethiopians which are called Macrobij by reason of the extraordinary length of their naturall liues But by reason of the tediousnesse of the march and want of provision there was in his army a great famine that they killed by lot every tenth souldier and fed vpon them b Achillas comming to assault Caesar had an army of twenty thousand they were many of them Roman souldiers which had served before vnder Gabinius but had changed their manner of life and corrupted with the riot of Aegypt had quite forgotten the Roman discipline c Photinus the Kings tutor remaining with Caesar sent secret encouragements to Achillas to goe forward with his siedge which being discovered by interception of his messengers he was slaine by Caesar d Ganymedes an Eunuch and tutor to Arsinoe the yoâ—ger sister of the King of Aegypt assaulted Achillas by treachery and slâ—w him and being himselfe made Generall of the army he continued the siedge against Caesar FJNJS