first they saw fierce Lions crosse their way Leptis was neer'st which quiet harbour lent Their winter free from heat and stormes they spent Now Caesar with Pharsaliaes slaughter cloy'd Leaving all other cares his thoughts employ'd In the poursuite of Pompey and was brought VVhen he his steps by land had vainely sought By fames report to sea and passed ore The Thracian straights and that loue-famed shore VVhere once faire Heroes wofull turret stood VVhere Helles traâ—oeâ—y new-nam'd the flood No arme of sea bounds with a streame so small Asia from Europe though Propontis fall Narrow into the â—uxine sea and from Purple Chalcedon part Byzantiâ—m Thence goes to see renown'â— Sigaean sands The streame of Simois and Rhaetaean lands Faâ—â—'d for the Graeâ—ian worthyeâ— tombe wherely Great ghosts so much in debt to Poetry Sack'd Troyes yet honour'd name he goes about To finde th' old wall of great Apollo out Now fruitlesse trees old oakes with putrify'd And rotten râ—otes the Trojan houâ—es hide And temples of their gods all Troy's orespred VVith bushes thiâ—ke hâ—r ruines ruined He seâ—s the bridall groue Anâ—hises lodg'd Hesiones rocke the caue where Paris iudg'd VVhere nimph Oenone play'd â—he place so fam'd For Ganimedes rape each stone is nam'd A little gliding streame which Xanthus was Vnknowne he past and in the lofty grasse Securely trode a Phrygian straight forbid Him â—râ—ade on Hectors dust with ruines hid The stone retain'd no sacred memory Respect you not great Hectors tombe quoth he Oh great and sacred worke of Poesy That freest from fate and giv'st eternity To mortall wights but Caesar envy not Their living names if Roman muses ought May promise thâ—e while Homer's honoured By future tâ—mes shall thou and I be read No age shall vs with darke oblivion staine But our Pharsalia ever shall remaine Then Caesar pleas'd with sight of these so prais'd Antiquities a greene turfe-alter rais'd And by the frankincense-fed fire prepar'd These orizons not vaine you gods that guard These Heroes dust and in Troyes ruines reigne Aeneas houshold gods that still mainteine In Alba and Lavinia your shrines Vpon whose altars fire yet Trojan shines Thou sacred temple clos'd Palladium That in the sight of man did'st never come The greatest heire of all Iulus race Here in your former seate implores your grace And pious incense on your altars layes Prosper my course and thankefull Rome shall raise Troyes walls againe your people I le restore And build a Roman Troy This said to shore He hasts takes shipping and to Corus lends His full-spread sailes with hast to make amends For these delayes and with a prosperous winde Leaues wealthy Asia and faire Rhodes behinde The VVestwinde blowing still the seaventh night Discovers Aegypts shore by Pharian light But ere they reach the harbour day appeares And dimmes the nightly fires when Caesar heares Strange tumults on the shore noises of men And doubtfull murmurings and fearing then To trust himselfe at land stâ—yes in his fleete VVhom straight Achillas launches forth to meete Bringing his Kings dire gift great Pompey's head VVith an Aegyptian mantle covered And thus his crime with impious words to grace Lord of the world greatest of Roman race And now secure which yet thou doest not know In Pompey's death my King doth heere bestow VVhat only wanted in Pharsalia's field And what thy wars and travells end will yeild VVe in thy absence finish'd civill war For Pompey heere desiring to repaire Thessalia's ruines by our sword lyes slaine By this great pledge Caesar we seeke to gaine Thy loue and in his blood our league to make Heere without bloodshed Aegypts kingdome take Take all Niles fertile regions and receiue VVhat ever thou for Pompey's head would'st giue Thinke him a freind worthy thine armes to haue To whom the fates such power ore Pompey gaue Nor thinke his merit cheape since brought to passe VVith easy slaughter his old freind he was And to his banish'd father did restore The crowne of Aegypt But why speake I more Finde thou a name for this great worke of his Or aske the world if villany it is The more thou ow'st to him that from thee tooke This act of villany Thus having spoke Straight he vncovers and presents the head VVhose scarse-knowne lookes pale death had altered Caesar at first his gift would not refuse Nor turne his eyes away but fixtly veiwes Till he perceiv'd 't was true and plainely saw 'T was safe to be a pious father in law Then shed forc'd teares and from a joyfull breast Drew sighs and grones as thinking teares would best Conceale his inward joy so quite orethrowes The tyrants merit and doth rather choose To weepe then ow to him for Pompey's head He that on slaughter'd Senators could tread And see the blood-stain'd fields of Thessaly Dry-ey'd to thee alone durst not deny The tribute of his eyes Strange turne of fate Weep'st thou for him whom thou with impious hate Caesar so long pursu'dst could not the loue Of Daughter Nephew not aliance mooue Think'st thou among those people that bewaile Great Pompey's death these teares can ought availe Perchance thou envy'st Ptolomeys dire fact And griev'st that any had the power to act This but thy selfe that the revenge of war Was lost and taken from the conquerer What cause so ever did thy sorrow mooue It was far distant from a pious loue Was this the cause that thy pursuite did draw Ore land and sea to saue thy sonne in law 'T was well sad fortune tooke the doome from thee And spar'd so far a Roman modesty As not to suffer thee false man to giue Pardon to him or pity him aliue Yet to deceiue the world and gaine beleife Thou add'st a language to thy fained greife Thy bloody present from our presence beare For worse from Caesar then slaine Pompey here Your wickednesse deserues the only meede Of civill warre to spare the conquered We loose by this and did not Ptolomey His sister hate I could with ease repay This gift of his and for so blacke a deede Returne his sister Cleopatras head Why wag'd he secret war or why durst he Thus thrust his sword into our worke did we By our Pharsalian victory afford Your King this power or license Aegypts sword I brook'd not Pompey to beare share with me In rule of Rome and shall I Ptolomey All nations joyned in our war in vaine If any other power on earth remaine But Caesar now if any land serue two VVe were determin'd from your shore to goe But fame forbid vs lest we should seeme more To feare then hate dire Aegypts bloody shore And doe not thinke you haue deceived me To vs was meant such hospitality And 't was our fortune in Thessaliaes war That frees this head VVith greater danger far Then could be feard we fought I fear'd the doome Of banishment the threats of wrathfull Rome And Pompey's force but had I fled I see My punishment had come from Ptolomey VVe spare his age and
Sword-players to meete they hate by faction This said in open field he leades them on Whom the warres fortune meaning to deceiue After at first does prosperously receiue For Varus he defeated following on Their flying backes in execution Even to the campe When Iuba first did know Of this sad field and Varus overthrow Glad that the glory of the war did stay For him by stealth he leade his troupes away And without noise commanding silence goes Fearing he should be feared of his foes Sabura next in honour to the King With a small troope is sent before to bring Curio on by provocation As if the war were left to him alone Himselfe with all his kingdomes strength below Keepes in the valley The Ichneumon so Provoking by his tailes deceitfull shade Th' Aegyptian Aspe dooes at the last invade Free'd from the deadly venoms danger quite The sâ—rpents throate stretch'd out in vaine to meete A slying shade out the lost poison goes And all about the Aspes jawes vainely flowes Fortune assists this fraud fierce Curio Descrying not the strength of his hid foe Enâ—oines his horsemen all to issue out By night and range the vnknowne fields about And after them himselfe by breake of day With all his Eagles spread marches away Much but in vaine entreated to suspect Libyan deceite and fraudes that still infect The Punicke warres but to his funerall Fate gaue him vp and civill war did call Her author on ore rockes and mountaines high They march when on the hill from farre they spy The foe who cunning seemes to flye away Till he haue set his battells in array Vnder the hill this Curio did not know But thought it flight and like a conquerour now Brings forth his troopes into the open plaine Then first discover'd they this guilefull trainâ— The seeming-fled Numidians they espy'd On the hills tops enclosing every side Curio and his lost troopes astonisht quite The fearefull could not flye the valiant fight The horses now not feirce attrumpets sound Chaw not their foamng bitts beate not the ground Spread not their manes nor doe their eares advance Nor with their wonted spright curyet and prance Their sweating shoulders fum'd their tir'd necks hung And their dry'd mouth thrust out their weary tongue Their breasts and throates hoarse with oft blowing grew Their heavy pulse far their spent bowels drew The fomings dry and hote grew hard vpon The bloody bits no strokes could force them on Nor often spurrings make them mend their speed Wounds make them goe to hasten on the steed Bootes not the rider for the weary horse In comming on wants courage strength and force He onely brings his Rider to the foes And does his breast to all their speares expose But when the Lybian horse came coursing nigh The ground did shake and clouds of dust did flie As great as Thracian whirlewinds blow about Ore the skies cover'd face and darkenesse wrought But when warres miserable fate did fall Vpon the foot no doubtfull field at all Was fought the battell in that time was done That men could die for forth they could not run To make their flight enclos'd on every side From far by darts directly throwne they dy'd Obliquely neere not wounds alone they feele Orewhelm'd with stormes of darts weight of steele Pent vp in a straight roome the army 's kept Those that for feare neer'st to the middle crept Amongst their fellowes swords are not secure For the forefront not able to endure The foes assault slept backe and straighter made The Globe no roome to weild their armes they had Their crowded limmes are prest one armed breast Against another driven to death is prest The conquering Mauritanian could not haue So glad a spectacle as fortune gaue He saw no bodies fall no streames of blood Kept so by crowde vpright the bodies stood Let Fortune this new parentation make For hated Carthages dire spirits sake Let bloody Hanniball and Punicke ghosts Of this sad Roman expiation boast Let not in Lybia gods a Roman fall For Pompey or the Senate make at all Vs rather for her selfe let Affrica Conquer his men ore'throwne when Curio saw And the dust lay'd with blood gaue leaue to see Scorning t'out-liue such a calamity Or hope in flight he meete his death to dye Forward and valiant by necessity What now availes thy place and troubled barres From whence a Tribune to seditious wars Thou stirr'dst the people and the Senates right Betray'dst and could'st to civill war encite The sonne and father in law thy death is wrought Before these Lords haue in Pharsalia fought To see that field is not permitted thee This satisfaction in your bloods giue ye Great ones to wretched Rome and pay for war Oh happy Rome and Romans happyer far Would but the gods aboue as carefull be To keepe as to revenge our liberty Vnburied Curio's noble flesh is food For Libyan birds but since t' will doe no good To conceale that which from times injury Fame still will vindicate wee 'll giue to thee The praise that to thy life dooes appertaine Rome never nurtur'd a more able man Nor one to whom whilest good the lawes ow'd more But vice then hurt our city when the store Of wealth Ambition Riot had declin'd To the worst part his yet vnsetled minde And changed Curio the states fate controul'd Brib'd by the spoiles of France and Caesars gold Though potent Sylla and fierce Marius Cinna and Caesars line got rule ore vs By sword to whom did such power ever fall This man sold Rome the other bought it all FINIS Libri quarts Annotations on the fourth Booke a For this conquest much avayled Caesar having quieted Spaine he might securely prosecute the rest of the war having debarr'd Pompey of those legions on which he most relyed this conquest cost little blood for Afranius and Petreius forced by famine yeilded to Caesar b Afranius and Petreius with aequall power with mutuall loue and care governed fiue legions for Pompey in Spaine and chose Ilerda by the appointment of Pompey as a convenient seate for the war c The Celtae leaving France and passing the Pyrenâ—an mountaines seated themselues by the river Iberus and were called Celtâ—beri d Cinga falling into Iber looses his name to Iber which also giues name to all Spaine e Afranius and Petreius when Caesar's horsemen had stopped their wayes of forraging and fetching in Corne and withall frighted because many cities in that part had revolted to Caesar and the rest were like to follow their example resâ—lved to transserre the war into Celtiberia which remained yet in the friendship of Pompey at having received great benefits from him in the Sertorian war besides they supposed that the fame of Caesar was yet more obscure among those barbarous people therefore at the third watch they secretly dislâ—dged and passing over the river Sicoris they marched with speede toward Iberus When Caesar by his scouts vnderstood this and hearing that beyond there were mountainous strait and
catches The kindling brand in their sad parents hand The funerall beds blacke smoaking fragments and Their ashy garments and flesh-smelling coales But when she findes a coarse entombed whole Whose moisture is drawne out and marrow growne Hard by corruption greedy havocke on Each limbe she makes and from their orbes doth teare His congeal'd eyes and stickes her knucles there She gnawes his nailes now pale oregrowne and long Bites halters killing knotts where dead men hung Teares from the gibbetts strangled bodies downe And from the gallowes licks corruption Shee gathers dead mens limmes which showres haue wet And marrow harden'd in Sols scorching â—eate She keepes the nailes that pierc'd crucifi'd hands And gathers poysonous filth and slime that stands On the cold joynts and biting with her fanges The harden'd sinewes vp from ground she hangs And where so ere a naked carcasse ly Before the beasts and ravenous fowles sits she But teares or cuts no limbe till it be bit By Wolves from whose dry jawes she snatches it Nor spares she murdering if life blood she need That from a throat new open'd must proceede She murders when her sacrifices dire Life-blood and panting entrailes doe require And births abortiue by vnnaturall wayes From wounded wombes she takes and burning layes Them on her wicked altars when she lacks Stout cruell ghosts such ghosts forthwith she makes All deaths of men serue for her action From young mens chinns she puls the growing downe And dying striplings haire she cuts away Ericttho oft when ore the coarse she lay Of her dead kinseman and did seeme to kisse Off from his maimed head would bite a piece And opening his pale lips gelled and clung In his dry throat she bites his cold stiffe tongue And whispering murmurs dire by him she sends Her banefull secrets to the Stygian feinds By generall fame when Sextus notice had Of her in depth of night when Titan made At the Antipodes their noone of day Over the desart fields he takes his way The servants waiting on his folly then Searching through broken tombes and graues of men Spy'd on a rocke at last where Aemus bends And the Pharsalian lofty hills extends Ericttho sitting she was trying there Spells which nere witch nor magicke god did heare And for new purposes was framing charmes For fearing lest the civill warres alarmes Should to some other land be carryed thence And Thessaly should want that blood's expence Phillippi feilds with incantations stain'd And sprinâ—kled with dire iuice she did command Not to transferre the war meaning t' enioy So many deaths and the worlds blood t' employ The carcasses of slaughter'd Kings to maâ—me And turne the Roman ashes was her aime To search for princes bones and each great ghost But what best pleas'd her and she study'd most Was what from Pompey's coarse to take away Or vpon which of Caesars limmes to prey Whom first thus Pompey's fearefull sonne bespake Wisest of all Thessalians that canst make Foreknowne all thingâ— to come and turne away The course of destiny to me I pray The certaine end of this wars chance relate I am no meane part of the Roman state Great Pompey's sonne now either lord of all Or wofull heir of his great funerall My minde though wounded now with doubtfull feare Is well resolv'd any knowne woe to beare Oh take from chance this power it may not fall Vnseene and suddaine on me the gods call Or spare the gods and force the truth out from The ghosts below open Elysium Call forth grim death himselfe bid him relate Which of the two is given to him by fate T is no meane taske but labour worthy thee To search what end of this great war shall be The impious Witch proud of a fame to spread Replyes young man wouldst thou haue altered Some meaner fate it had beene easily done I could haue forc'd to any action Th' vnwilling gods I can preserue the breath Of him whom all the starres haue doom'd to death And though the planets all conspire to make Him old the midst of his lifes course can breake But fates and th' order of great causes all Worke downeward from the worlds originall When all mankinde depend on one successe If there you would change ought our arts confesse Fortune has greater power but if content You be alone to know this wars event Many and easie wayes for vs there be To finde out truth the earth the sea the sky The dead the Rodopejan rockes and fields Shall speake to vs. But since late slaughter yeilds Such choise of carcasses in Thessaly To raise vpone of those will easyest be That a warme new-slaine carcasse with a cleare Intelligible voice may greete your eare Least by the Sunne the organs parch'd and spill'd The dismall ghost vncertaine hizzings yeild Then double darkenesse ore nights face she spred And wrapping in a foggy cloud her head She searches where th'unbury'd bodyes lye Away the wolues and hungry vultures flye Loosening their tallands when Ericttho comes To choose her prophet griping with her thummes Their now cold marrows seeking where a tongue And lungs with fillets whole vnwounded hung The fates of those slaine men stand doubtfull all Which of their ghosts she from the dead would call Had she desir'd to raise th' whole army slaine And to reviue them for the war againe Hell had obey'd from Styx by her strange might The people all had beene drawne backe to fight When she a carcas sitting had espy'd An hooke she fasten'd in his throate and ty'd To it a fatall rope by which the hag Ore rockes and stones the wretched carcasse drag That must reviue Vnder the hollow side Of an high mountaine which to this blacke deede The witch had destin'd she the carcasse layes A deepe and vast descent of ground there was As low almost at the blinde caues of Diâ— Which a pale wood with thicke and spreading treâ— Barring the sight of heaven and by Sol's light Not penetrable did oreshadow quite Within the caue was bred by dreary night Pale mouldy filth darkensse sad no lighâ— But light by magicke made ere shined there Within the jawes of Tanarâ—â— the aire Is not so dull that balefull bound twixt hell And vs the princes in those shades that dwell Send without feare their spirits hitherto For though this hag can force the fates to doe What ere she please t is doubtfull whether here Or there those ghosts in their true place appeare She puts a various colour'd cloathing on And fury-like her haire loose hanging downe Was bound about with vipers her face hid But when young Sextus and his traine she spy'd Shaking for feare and his astonisht eye Fixt on the ground banish those feares quoth she His life 's true figure you shall see him take That cowards neede not feare to heare him speake But if the furyes to your eyes were showne The Stygian lakes and burning Phlegeton The gyants bound and Cerberus that shakes His dreadfull curled mane of hissing snakes Why
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
wife and son Sextus Pompejus he repeated these two Iambike verses of Sophocles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These were the last words hee spake to his friends and so entred into the boate where Achillas was e When Pompey was now farre from his ship and perceived no courteous entertainement in the boate hee looked vpon Septimius and thus spake Haue not I knowne thee heretofore my fellow souldier Septimius disdaining to answere him at all only nodded his head to him and when Pompey was rising out of the boate Septimius first run him through with his sword LVCANS Pharsalia The Ninth Booke The Argument Pompey's departed spirit to heaven ascends His wife and sons lament Cato commends His worthy life checks the Cilicians And marching are the scorched Libyan sands To Iuba's Kingdome with strong patience Endures the heat the Southwinds violence And killing serpents venome Caesar sees Renowned Troys defac'd antiquities To Aegypt comes and with dissembling breath Complaines and weepes for noble Pompey's death IN Pharian coales his ghost could not remaine Nor those few ashes his great spirit containe Out from the graue he issues and forsakes Th' vnworthy fire and halfe burnt limbs and takes Vp to the convexe of the sky his flight Where with blacke ayre the starry poles doe meete The space betwixt the regions of the moone And earth halfe-deify'd soules possesse alone Whom fiery worth in guiltlesse liues has taught To brooke the lower part of heaven and brought Them to th'aeternall sphaeres which not they hold That are with incense bury'd tomb'd in gold There filled with true light with wondring eyes The wandring planets and first stars he sees He sees our day involv'd in midst of night And laughes at his torne trunkes ridiculous plight Then ore the Aemathian fields his scatter'd fleete And bloody Caesars troopes he tooke his flight And with revenge for these dire facts possest Catoâ—s bold hart and brutus noble breast Cato while chance was a doubtfull and at stake Whom civill war Lord of the world would make Then hated Pompey though with Pompey he Led by the Senate and Romes Auspicy Had fought but when Pharsaliaes field was try'd He altogether favour'd Pompey's side His countrey wanting a protector then He tooke and chear'd the trembling hearts of men And â—utting swords in fearefull hands againe Made civill war neither for hope of reigne Nor feare of bondage nought at all in war For his owne sake did he his forces are Since Pompey's death alone for liberty VVhich lest the speed of Caesars victory Should seaze vpon being dispersed ore The coast he sailes vnto Corcyra's b shore And in a thousand ships carryes away The conquer'd remnant of Pharsalia Who would haue thouâ—ht so great a fleete had held All flying men that conquer'd ships had fill'd The straitned seas from thence they saile away To ghost-fill'd Taenarus and long Males Thence to Cytherus Boreas blowing faire Crete flyes and getting a good sea they cleare The Cretan coast Phycus that durst deny Their men to land they sacke deservedly And thence along the deepe while faire winds blow Vnto thy shore oh Palinurus goe For not alone doth our Italian sea Keepe monuments of thee but Libya Can witnesse well calme harbours once did please Thy Phrygian master when vpon the seas Descrying shâ—pâ— afar they gan to feare Whether the men their foes or partners were Caesars knowne speed gaue them just cause to feare And still suspect his comming every where But those sad ships brought greife and woes and crys Able to draw soft teares from Catoes eyes For after that Cornelia all in vaine â—est Pompey's tâ—unke beat from the shore againe Should floate at sea by prayers had striv'd to draw From flight the sailers and her son in law When from the shore that little fire descry'd His most vâ—worthy funerall she cry'd Seem'd I not worthy then fortune to thee To light my husbands funerall fire and ly Stretch'd out on his cold limbs burne his torne haires And gathering his sea-scatterd limbs with teares To bath each wound with bones and ashes hot To fiâ—l my lap and in the temples put The sad remainder of his funerall That fir's no honour to his hearse at all Besides perhaps some hands of Aegypt now This loathed office to his ashes doe Well did the Crassi's ashes naked ly For by the gods far greater cruelty Is Pompey burnt Still shall my woes appeare In the same shape and shall I nere interre My slaughter'd Lords and at full vâ—nes lament What need'st thou tombe or any instrument Of sorrow wretch doth not thy breast containe Thy Pompey and his image still remaine VVithin thee let those wiues that meane to liue After their Lords vrnes to their ashes giue But yet the fire that lends you envious light From Aegypts shore brings nothing to my sight Of thee deare Pompey now the flame is gone The vanisht smoake beares to the rising Sunne Pompey aloft the windes vnwillingly Beare vs from thence yet is no land to me Though triumph'd by my Lord as Conquerer Nor chariot deck'd with laurell halfe so deare My breast has quite forgot his happinesse And loues that Pompey whom Niles shores possesse Faine would â— stay vnder this guilty clime The land 's enobled by so great a crime I would not leaue beleeue me Aegypts shore Sextus try thou the chance of war and ore The spacious world thy fathers colours beare This his last will was trusted to my care VVhen me of breath deaths fatall hower shall reaue To you my sonnes this civill warre I leaue And let not Caesar's race in quiet â—eigne VVhilest any of our stocke on earth remaine Solicite kingdomes and free powerfull townes By my names fame these are the factions These are the armes I leaue what Pompey ere VVould goe to sea shall finde a navy there My heires may stirre war in what land they will Be but couragious and remember still Your fathers lawfull power Serue vnder none But Cato whilest he fights for Rome alone I haue perform'd thy trust done thy behest Deare Lord thy cunning did prevaile and lest False I those words of trust should nere deliver Deceiu'd I liv'd Now Pompey wheresoever Th' art gone through hell if any hell there be Or empty Chaos I will follow thee How long my life 's decree'd I doe not know If long I le punish it for lasting so For not expiring when it first did see Thy wounds with sorrow broken it shall dy It shall dissolue in teares no halter sword Or praecipâ—ce shall death to me afford It were a shame for me now thou art gone Not to haue power to dye with griefe alone This said and covering with a vaile her head Vnder the hatches she resolv'd to lead A life in darkenesse neerely hugging woe She feedes on teares and for her husband now Embraces greife The noise of stormy winde Nor cryes of fearefull saâ—lers mooue her minde Her hope contrary to the sailers is Compos'd for
death and wishing stormes she lyes They first arriv'd on Cyprus foamy shore From thence a milde Eastwinde commanding bore Their shipps to Catoes Libyan campe as still A doubtfull minde doe sad presages fill Cneius from shore spying his fathers traine And brother running to the sea amaine VVhere is our father brother speake quoth he Liues the worlds head and honour or are we Vndone and Pompey to the shades below Has borne Romes fate he answeres happy thou VVhom fate into another coast disperst Thou brother this dire mischeife only hear'st Mine eyes are guilty of a fathers death Nor did he loose by Caesars armes his breath Nor of his fall a worthy author found By the false tyrant of Niles impious ground Trusting the gods of hospitality And his owne bounty to old Ptolomey In recompence of kingdomes given he dy'd I saw them wound our noble fathers side And thinking Aegypts King durst not haue done So much I thought Caesar had stood vpon The shore of Nile But not our fathers wounds Nor blood so shed so much my heart confounds As that his head which mounted on a speare Aloft we saw they through their cyties beare Which as they say is kept for Caesars eye The tyrant seekes his guilt to testify For whether dogs or fowles devouring maw Consum'd his trunke or that small fire we saw Dissolved it by stealth I doe not know What ere injurious fate to that could doe I did forgiue the gods that crime and wept For that part only which the tyrant kept When Câ—â—ius heard these words his inward woe In passionate sighs and teares he could not show But thus inflam'd with pious rage gan speake Lanch forth the fleete sailers with speed and breake Through the crosse winds a passage with the oare Braue Captaines follow me never before Knew civill war more worthy ends then these T'interre vnbury'd Manes and appease Pompey with slaughter of th'effaeminate boy Why should not I th' Aegyptians towers destroy And from the temples Alexander take To drowne his hearse in Marcotis lake In Nile Amasis and those Kings with him Digg'd vp from their Pyramides shall swimme All tombes shall rue Pompey 's no sepulcher Isis their goddesse now I le disinter Osiris linnen-cover'd shrine disperse And kill god Aâ—is over Pompey's hearse Vpon a pyle of gods I le burne his head Thus shall the land by me be punished I will not leaue a man to till those fields Nor take the profit that Niles flowing yeilds The gods and people banished and gone Thou father shalt possesse Aegypt alone This said to lanch the fleete forth he assayes But Cato stills the young mans wrath with praise Now ore the shore when Pompey's death was knowne The sky was peirc'd with lamentation A greife not seene not pararell'd at all That common people mourne a great mans fall But when Cornelia quite exhaust with teares Was seene to land with torne dishevel'd haires Their troubled lamentations sounded more Cornelia landed on a friendly shore Gathering the garments and triumphall weedes Of haplesse Pompey that exprest his deedes And ancient trophes painted robes and sheild That thrice great Ioue in triumph had beheld Into the funerall fire she threw them all Such was her lords imagin'd funerall Example from her piety all take And funerall fires all ore the shore they make T' appease the ghosts slaine in Pharsalia So when the shepheards of Apulia Make winter fires on their baâ—e-eaten ground To spring their grasse againe a glistering round The Vulturs arms and high Garganus yeilds And hot Matinus bullocke-pasture fields But not more pleasing was 't to Pompey's spirit That all the people raile at heauen and twit The gods with Pompey then what Cato spoke Few words but from a truth-fill'd breast they broke A Roman's dead not like our ancestry To know the rule of right but good quoth he In this truth scorning age one powerfull growne Not wronging liberty the people prone To serue he only private still remain'd He sway'd the Senate but the Senate reign'd Nought claim'd he by the sword but wish'd what he VVish'd most the Senates freedome to deny Great wealth he had but to the publike hoord He brought far more then he retain'd the sword He tooke but knew the time to lay it downe Arm'd he lov'd peace though armes before the gowne He still prefer'd and ever pleas'd was he Entring or leaving his authority A chast vnriotted house and never stain'd VVith her Lords fortune to all lands remain'd His name renown'd which much availed Rome True liberty long since was gone when home Sylla and Marius came but Pompey dead Even freedomes shadow is quite vanished No Senates face no colour will remaine Of power none now will be asham'd to reigne Oh happy man whom death when conquer'd caught And Aegypts guilt swords to be wisht for brought Perchance thou could'st haue liv'd in Câ—sars state To know the way to dy is mans best fate His next to be compel'd and such to me If captiv'd now fortune let Iuba be Not to be kept to shew the enemy I doe not beg so headlesse kept I be More honour from these words the noble ghost Receiv'd then if the Roman barres should boast Hit praise Now mutinous the souldiers are Since Pompey's death growne weary of the war In which broiles Tarcho Catoes side to quit Tooke vp the colours who prepar'd for flight With all his ships was chid by Cato so Never reclaim'd Cilician wouldst thou goe To thy old theft at sea is Pompey slaine And thou return'd to Pyracy againe Then round about he on each man gan looke Mongst whom one boldly thus to Cato spoke Not hiding his intent 't was not the loue Of civill war but Pompey first did mooue Our armes execuse vs Cato we adhaer'd By favour now he whom the world preferr'd Before her peace is dead our cause is gone Now le ts returne to our left mansion Our houshold gods and children deare to see For what can civill wars conclusion be If not Pharsaliaes field nor Pompeys death Our time of life is spent now let vs breath Our last in peace let our old age provide Our funerall pyles which civill war deny'd Two greatest Captaines For no barbarous Or cruell yoke will fortune lav on vs. No Scythian nor Armenian tyranny The subjects of Romes gowned state are we He that was second Pompey being aliue Is first with vs the highest place we giue His sacred name He whom wars fortunes make Shall be our lord no generall wee 'll take Vnto the war we followed thee alone We 'll follow fate Pompey now thou art gone Nor haue we cause to hope for good successe Since Caesars fortune now doth all possesse Th' Aemathian strength is by his victory Dispers'd we loose his mercy only he Has power and will to spare the conquered Our civill war 's a crime now Pompey's dead 'T was duty while he liv'd If Cato thou Wilt serue thy countrey still le ts follow now
Phoebus from Cirrhaes shades I 'll not desire Nor Nysa's Bacchus Caesar can infuse Vertue enough into a Roman muse The cause of these great actions I le declare And ope a mighty worke what drew to warre Our furious People and the World beside Fates envious course continuance still deny'd To mighty States who greatest falls still feare And Rome not able her owne weight to beare So when the knot of Nature is dissolu'de And the worlds Ages in one houre inuolu'd In their old Chaos Seas with Skyes shall ioyne And Starres with Starres confounded loose their shine The Earth no longer shall extend her shore To keepe the Ocean out the Moone no more Follow the Sunne but scorning her old way Crosse him and claime the guidance of the day The falling worlds now iarring frame no peace No league shall hold great things themselues oppresse The gods this bound to groning states haue set But to no Forraine armes would Fortune yet Lend her owne envy ore great Rome that awes Both Land and Sea shee 's her owne ruines cause Subiected ioyntly to three b Lords how ill Prooue shared rules accords and fatall still Ambition blinded Lords what 's th' happinesse To mixe your powers and ioyntly th' earth possesse Whilest Land the Sea and Ayre the Land shall bound Whilest labouring Titan runnes his glorious round And through twelue heavenly signes night follows day No faith keepe those that kingdomes ioyntly sway Rule brookes no sharers doe not this beleeue In forraine states Rome can examples giue A brothers bloud did our first walls distaine Nor was the spacious earth and watry maine This mischiefes price a refuge for theeues fled A little house this brothers hatred bred This iarring concord lasted for a space Dissembled twixt the two for Crassus was The warres sole let like that small necke of land That in the middst of two great Seas doos stand And will not let them ioyne that tane away Straight the Ioniâ—n meets th' Aegaean Sea So when war parting Crassâ—â— sadly slaine With Romane bloud did Asian Charan staine That Parthian losse to homebred rage gaue reines More then you thinke you did fierce Parthians That day our civill war your conquest wrought And now Romes Empire by the sword is sought That State that mistresse ore the World did reigne Rulde Land and Sea yet could not two conteine For Iulia's t deâ—th whom cruell Fates before Had slaine the pledge of their alliance bore Downe to her graue if Fate had spar'de her life Her furious husband and sterne fathers strife She had compos'de and made their armed hands Let fall their swords and ioyne in friendships bands As once the Sabin women enterposde Their sires and husbands bloody iarres composde Thy death faire Iulia breakes off all accords And giues them leaue againe to draw their swords On both sides powerfull aemusation beares On their ambitious spirits great Pompey feares That his piâ—aticke Laurell should giue place To conquerde France and Caesars deeds deface His ancient triumphs fortunes constant grace Makes him impatient of a second place Nor now can Caesar a superior brooke Nor Pompey brooke a peere who justlier tooke Vp armes great Iudges differ heaven approoues The conquering cause the conquerde Cato loues Nor were they aequall one in yeares was growne And long accustomde to a peacefull gowne Had now forgot the Souldier Fame he bought By bounty to the people and much sought For popular praise his Theaters loud shout Was his delight new strength he sought not out Relying on his ancient fortunes fame And stood the shadow of a glorious name As an old lofty Oake that heeretofore Great Conquerors spoiles and sacred Trophies bore Stands firme by his owne weight his roote now dead And through the ayre his naked boughes does spread And with his trunke not leaues a shaddow makes He though each blast of Easterne winde him shakes And round about well rooted Trees doe grow Is onely honour'd but in Ceasar now Remaines not onely a great Generalls name But restlesse valour and in waâ—re a shame Not to be Conquerâ—ur fierce not curb'd at all Ready to fight where hope or anger call His forward Sword confident of successe And hold the fauour of the gods to presse Orethrowing all that his ambition stay And loues that ruine should enforce his way As lightning by the winde fâ—rc'd from a cloude Breakes through the wounded aire with thunder loud Disturbes the Dâ—y the people terrifyes And by a light oblique dazels our eyes Not Ioues owne Temple spares it when no force No barre an hinder his prevailing course Great waâ—e as foâ—rth it fallyes and roures It makes and gathers his dispersed fires These causes mâ—ou'd the Cheâ—fes and such as are In mightâ— stâ—tes the common seeds of warre For since our Câ—ests the conquer'd world hath fill'd Too full and vertue did to riches yeild Since spoiles and warrelike rapine taught vs riot Excesse in Plate in buildings reignes he dyeâ— Of formertimes wee scoâ—n that soft attire That Women were asham'd of Men desire Strength-breeding pouerty is fled and nought But wealth from all the spoiled world is sought The banc of States those Lands encreas'd they hold In th' hands of vnknowne Tenants which of old Caemillus plow share wounded and the hands Of th' ancient Curii till'd the state now stands Not as of old when men from auarice free Could liue in peace and wisht but liberty Hence quarrels grow what pouerty esteemed A vild offence now 's greatest honour deem'd By Sword our Countreys power in curbe to hold Might measures â—ight Lawes and decrees are sold Consuls and Tribunes iarres all right suppresse Fasces are bought the peoples suffrages Corruptly sought and giuen hence bloody iarres Oft staine elections in the field of Maâ—s So griping Vsury growes so faith is lâ—st And ciuill warre as gainefull sought by most By this time Caesar the cold Alpes orepast In his great thoughts the future warre had cast And now to Rubicon's small current come He dreames the Image of affrighted Rome With countenance sad through dusky night appearesâ— On her towre-bearing head her hoary haires Hung downe all torne her armes were nak'd when she Tâ—us sighing speakes oh whither carry yee My Ensignes Souldiers If you come as friends As Roman Citizens your march here ends k A suddaine feare straight chilles the generall veines His haire 's with horrour rais'd faintnesse detaines His steps vpon the banke then thus he praâ—â—s Thou Ioue whose eye these Citie walles surueyes From thy Tarpeian hill You Deiâ—ies Of Troy and Romulus hid misteries Thou Latian Ioue worshipt on th' Alban mount You Vestall fires and Rome whom I account My greatest God blesse this attempt not thee Doe I inuade Conquerour by land and sea Thy Caesar comes thy Souldier still Be hee He in the fault that caus'd this enmity Then brooking no delay the streame showre-swell'd He marches ore so in a â—ibyan field A Lion viewing his sterne foe at hand Till he collect his
wars Long vse their houshold gods their minds gan mooue And piety but straight the swords dire loue And feare of Caesar turnde them backe againe Lalius the first Files leading did obtaine For saving of a Roman Soldier Oake-crownd and freed from duties of the war If I may speake Romes greatest Generall Thy Soldiers thoughts quoth he It grieues vs all That such long patience kept thee from so just A war or didst thou not thine army trust While life-bloud keepes this breathing body warme While brandisht Darts fly from this agile arme Wilt thou weake gownes and Senates raigne endure In civill war is Conquest so impure Lead vs through Libyas gulfes cold Seythian land Lead vs ore thirsty Affrickes scorched sand This arme the conquerde world behind to leaue Has plowde the Brittish Oceans curled waue And broke the Rhines swift current thy command To doe my will 's as ready as my hand Hee s not my friend gainst whom thy trumpets sound By these thy colours which ten Camps haue found Ever victorious Caesar here I sweare And by thy triumphs ore what foe so ere If thou command me spill my brothers life Kill my old Father or my pregnant wife I le doo 't though with a most vnwilling hand Fire Temples rob the godds at thy command Great Iunoes Temple in our flames shall sinke If to encampe on Tuscan Tybers brinke I le boldly pitch in Italy thy tent If to dismantle townes be thy entent These armes of mine the battering Ram shall place Although the city thou wouldst quite deface Were Rome it selfe The Souldiers all agree And promise â—im their lifted hands on high To any war Their shout not that can passe Which the loud blast of Thracian Boreas On piny Ossa makes and bowes amaine The ratling wood or lets it rise againe Caesar perceiving that the Fates gaue way To war and his Men prone fearing delay His troopes through France dispers'd straight calling home With flying colours marches on to Rome They leaue their tents pitcht by Lemanus v Lake And those on Vogesus high Rockes forsake Which aw'de the painted Lingones so strong Isara's Fords they leaue that runne so long Alone but in a River of more fame Falling to ' the Ocean beares an other name The yellow Ruthens eas'de of their long feare Milde A tax ioyes no Roman shipps to beare And Varus Italyes encreased bound That haven Alcides consecrated ground With Cliffes orelookes the Sea no Northwest winde Nor West blow there Cirtius their proper winde Reignes there where safe Alcides fort dooes stand And that still doubtfull-coast that Sea and Land Callenge by turnes firme land it is when low The Ocean ebbes but sea at every flow VVhither the winde strong blowing from the Pole And then retiring to and fro doe rowle The Sea or that the Moone his course doe guide Or burning Titan moist foode to provide Attracting lift the Ocean to the sky Seeke you that labour for such skill for me VVhat ere thou be that cause this ebbe and flow Be still conceal'd since heauen will haue it so They march away that Nemasus did hold And Adors bankes where Tarbe does enfold In her crookt shore the sea that gently flowes The Santoni reioyce now free'd from foes Th'Leuci and Rhemi Archers good with these Bituriges and Speare-arm'd Suessones The dwellers neere Sequana skilfull riders The Belgae hooke-arm'd Chariots expert guiders Sprung from the Troian blood the Hedui That durst claime bâ—otherhood of Italy Rebellious Neâ—uiars x stain'd with Cotta's fate And they that in loose Mantles imitate Sarmatia fierce Batauians whom to warre Crookt Trumpets call those that neere Cinga are VVhere Araris with Rhodanus now met Runnes ioyn'd into the Sea the men whose seate Is on Gebenna mount couer'd with snow The Pictones now free their fields can plow The fickle Turones are not restrain'd By garrison the Andian now disdain'd To pine in Medna's thick fogges but goes For pleasure where delightfull Liger flowes Faire Genabos is freed from garrison Treuer is glad the warre from thence is gon The Ligures now shorne once like the rest Long haird of all the vnshorne Gaules the best And where with offerings stayn'd of humane blood Hermes and Mars their cruell Altars stood And Ioue that vilâ— as Scythian Dian's are Then you that valiant soules and slaine in warre Doe celebrate wâ—th praise that neuer dyes You Bards securely sung your Elegyes You Drâ—ides now free'd from warre maintaine Yâ—ur Barbarous rites and Sacrâ—fice againe You what heauen is and gods alone can tell Or else alone are ignorant you dwell In vast and desert woods you teach no spirit Plutoes pale kingdome can by death inherit They in another world informe againe The middst twixt long liues if you truth maintaine Is death But those wilde people happy are In this their errour whom feare greatest farre Of all feares iniures not the feare of death Thence are they prone to warre nor losse of breath Esteeme nor spare a life that comes againe They that the hair'd Cayes did conteine In their obedience marching now to Rome From Rhines rude bankes and new found countrey come VVhen Caesar's novv collected strength had bred More lofty hopes through Italy he spred His troopes and all the neighbouring Cities seiz'd Then idle rumours their true feares encreas'd And peirc'd the peoples hearts swift fame gan show The warres approach and their ensuing woe Then euery tongue a false alarum yeilds Some dare report that on the pasture fields Of faire Meuania is the warre begunne And bloody Caesar's barbarous Cohorts runne VVhere Vmbrian Nar does into Tyber flow That all his Eagles and ioyn'd Standards now With a vast strength make furious approach Nor doe they now suppose him to be such As once they saw him fiercer far then so They thinke and savadge as his conquer'd foe That all th' inhabitants twixt th'Alpes and Rhine Drawne from their countries and cold Northerne clime Follow and Rome a Roman looking on By barbarous hands shall fall thus every one By feare giues strength to Fame no author knowne They feare what they suppose but not alone The People dooes this vaine surmise deceiue The Senate shakes th' affrighted Fathers leaue Their seates and flying to the Consuls giue Directions for the war VVhere safe to liue VVhat place t' avoide they know not whither ere Their suddaine wits directs their steps they beâ—re Th' amazed people forth in troopes whom nought So long had stirr'de a man would then haue thought The city fir'd orth'houses sudaine fall By earthquake threatned the madd people all VVith hasty steppes so vnadvised runne As if no way at all were left to shunne Their imminent and feard destruction But to forsake their habitation As when rough Seaes by stormy Auster blowne From Libia's Sands haue broke the maire mast down Master and Marriners their Ship forsake Not torne as yet leape into th' Sea and make Themselues a Shipwracke so from th' City they Fly into warre no Sire
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
againe then the maides breast Shou'd ope the temple doores and out she prest Her mad fit holds nor had she all explain'de Part of the god within her still remain'd And round about her wandring eyes he rowl'd Nor does her face one constant posture hold But sometimes threatning sometimes fearefull t is Sometimes a fiery red her countenance dyes Sometimes her pallid cheekes anger exprest Not feare nor can her wearied heart finde rest But as a while after the windes are câ—as'd The Ocean muâ—mur's so oft so bings eas'd The maidens breast But twixt this inspir'd light And her plaine humane vnderstandings sight A darkenesse came Phoebus oblivion sent Then from her breasts the gods high secrets went And divinations to the Tripodes Return'd againe But when her fit gan cease Shee falls Nor didst thou beguil'd i Appius feare From doubtfull Oracles thy death so neare But in that tottering world with hopes most vaine Thought quietly Eubaea to retaine Ah foole what god but death could set thee free Out of the world 's generall calamity And war there shall thy hearse entombed lye And so possesse Eubaea quietly Where th' sea by marble-fam'd Carystos is Straightn'd and pride-revenging Nemesis Rhamnus adores a straighten'd currert strong That channels holds and Eurypus along Beares ships by violence changing oft his tide From Chalcis to ill harbouring Aulis side By this time Caesar come from conquer'd Spaine With his victorious Eagles was againe Marching k another way when rate almost The prosperous course of his whole war had crost For conquer'd in no fight the generall In his owne campe gan feare the losse of all His treason's fruit those hands that faithfull still Had serv'd his warres now glutted with the fill Of blood began to quit their generall Th' alarmes tragicke sounds not heard at all A while and cold sheath'd swords their thirst of war Had cool'd or else the greedy souldier Damning for gaine both cause and generall Would set his blood stain'd sword at higher sale Caesar not more in any danger try'd How tottering and vnfirme a prop his pride Had lean'd vpon and well might stagger reft Of all those souldiers hands and almost left To his owne sword he that so many lands Had drawne to war knowes now the souldiers hands Not his must doe the deede Their plaints now be Not dumbe nor timorous is their mutiny That cause that does suspitious mindes restraine Whilest each one feares where he is fear'd againe And thinkes that he himselfe distasts alone His rulers tyranny in this was gone Their number to secure their feare is able Where all offend the crime 's vnpunishable They poure out threats now Caesar let vs cease From wicked war thou seek'st by land and seas Swords for these throates and vpon any foe Wouldst our too cheape esteemed liues bestow Some of vs slaine in war in Gallia lye In Spaine lye some and some in Italy Ore all the world thy army 's slaughtered While thou orecom'st what bootes our blood that 's shed ' Gainst Gaules and Germans in the North so far For all thou pay'st vs with a civill war When Rome we tooke and made the Senate flye What spoiles from Men or Temples gathered we Guilty in swords and hands all villany We goe vpon vertuous in poverty Alone what end is there of war at all Or what can be enough if Rome too small See our gray haires weake hands and bloodlesse armes Our vse of life is gone in warres alarmes Our age consum'd send vs now old at least To choose our deaths this is our bad request Our dying limmes on hard ground not to lay Nor strike steele helmets till our dying day To seeke some frends to close our eyes in death To get our proper Piles our last to breath In our wiues armes let sicknesse end our dayes Let 's vnder Caesar find some other wayes Of death then sword why hood winkt leadst thou vs With a vaine hope on acts portentuous As if in civill war we were not able To know what treason is most profitable Our wars haue taught him nothing if not this What we can doe nor is this enterprise Forbid by law he was our generall In th'German wars here we are fellowes all Whom treason soiles it makes of aequall state Besides in his vnthankefull aestimate Our valour 's lost and whatsoere we doe Is call'd his fortune but let Caesar know We are his fate Though friended by the gods Caesar is nothing if with vs at odds This said about his tent they mustur all With angry lookes seeking their generall So let it goe ye gods since piety Forsakes vs and our hopes on vice relye Let discord make an end of civill war What generall would not such a tumult scarre But Caesar that the fates still suddaine tryes And loues through greatest dangers t'exercise His fortunes comes nor till their rage abate Stayes he but meetes the fury of their hate Cityes and Temples spoyles to them he nere Deny'd though Ioue's Tarpejan house it were Senators wiues and daughters to deflower All villanyes would Caesar from his power Haue them aske freely and wars guerdon loue And nothing feares but that his men should proue Honest Ah Caesar art thou not asham'd That civill war by thine owne souldiers damn'd Should be allow'd by thee shall they first be Weary of blood and hate impiety Whilest thou runn'st headlong on through wrong and right Giue ore and learne to liue out of a fight Giue thy guilt leaue to end Why to these wars Doest thou enforce vnwilling souldiers The civill war flyes from thee on the top Of a turfe mount stands Caesar fearlesse vp Deserving feare by his vndaunted looke And thus as anger prompted him he spoke Whom you with hands and lookes did absent braue Souldiers vnarm'd and present now you haue Heere sheath your swords if you would end the wars Sedition that no act of valour dares Faint hearted fooles and flying spirits declares Tir'd with their matchlesse Captaines conquering state But goe leaue me to war with mine owne fate These weapons will find hands when I cashiere All you as many men as swords are heere Will fortune send me shall all Italy In such a fleete with vanquisht Pompey flye And shall my conquests not bring men to share The wealthy spoiles of this neere finisht war Reaping the profit of your toile and so Vnwounded with my laurell'd charriot goe You an old worne and bloodlesse company Then Rom's plebeians shall my tryumphs see Can Caesars fortune feele the losse of you If all the streames that into th' Ocean flow Should threaten to withdraw themselues the seas Would by the losse of them no more decrease Then now they fill Thinke you that such as ye Can any moment to my fortunes be The gods care never will so low descend That fates your deaths or safeties should attend The fates attend on great mens actions Mankind liues for a few and you whom once Spaine fear'd and all the North
Aegaean joyn'd With the Tyrrhene so with th' Ieâ—â—an The Adriatike met How oft in vaine That day the sea seem'd mountaines topps to ' ore flow And yeilding earth that deluge t' vndergoe But such high waues on no shore raised be But from the worlds far part and the maine sea They rowle the earth embracing waters bring Their monstrous waues so whâ—n the heavens high king Help'd his tir'd thunder with his â—rotheis mace To mankinds â—uine earth then added was To Neptunes kingdome when the sea confounded All lands and Tethys by no shore was bounded Contented with no limit but the skyes Then also would those â—welling seas arise Vpto the starres had not great Ioue kept downe Their waues with cloudes nor sprung that night alone From naturall causes the thiâ—ke aire was growne Infected with the dampes of Acheron And clogg'd with foggy stormes waues froÌ„ the maine Fly to the cloudes and fall like showres againe The lightnings light is lost it shines not cleare But shootes obscurely through nights stormy aire The heavens then trembled the high pole for feare Resounded when his hindges mooved were Nature then fear'd the old confusion The elementall concord seem'd vndone And night that mixt th' aetheriall deityes With the infernall â—eem'd againe to rise Their hope of safety was that in this great Wraâ—ke of the world they were not perisht yet As farre as you from Leucas top may see The quiet sea so farre could they desery From waues high tops the troubled Ocean But when the swelling billowes fall againe The maine-mast top scarce aboue water stands The topsailes touch the cloudes the keele the sands For ground is seene from whence the sâ—as arise In hills in waues the seas whole water is Feare conquers art the master does not know Which waue to breake which waue to yeeld vnto But the seas discord only aides them now The barke one billow cannot overflow Let by anothers force which still susteines The yeilding side the barke vpright mainteines Her course supported by all windes no more Low Sasons gulfes Thessalia's crooked shore Or the Ambracian dangerous ports they fear'd But ore the high Ceraunia to be rear'd â—y billowes Caesar thinkes it now to be A danger worthy of his destiny Are the gods troubled so to ruine me Whom sitting heere in a small barke quoth he They haue assaulted with a storme so lowd If on the seas not warres they haue bestow'd The glory of my death fearelesse I come Ye gods to any death that ye can doome Though this too hasty fate great actes breake off I haue already done things great enough The Northren nations I haue tam'd and quell'd My foes at home by armes Rome has beheld Great Pompey my inferiour honours stay'd From me in war the people forc'd haue pay'd All Roman honours in my titles be Let it be knowne fortune to none but thee Though full of honour to the shades below I both Romes Consull and Dictator goe I dye a private death ô gods I craue No funerall let the seas inmost waue Keepe my torne carkasse let me want a tombe And funerall pyle whilest lookt for still to come Into all lands I am and ever fear'd Thus having spoke most strange the tenth waue rear'd His barke aloft nor from the billowes top Did she fall downe kept by the water vp Till on the rocky shore she stood at last His fortune and so many kingdomes cast On shore and townes againe he did receiue Caesar's returne next morne could not deceiue His souldiers so as his stolne flight had done About their generall flock they every one Assaulting him with lamentations And not ingratefull accusations VVhither did thy rash valour carry thee Too cruell Caesar to what destiny Didst thou leaue vs poore soules venturing vpon Th' vnwilling seas and stormes thy selfe alone In thee to seeke for death was cruelty VVhen all the world esteemes thy head so high And on thy life so many liues of ours Depend did none of vs deserue t' haue power Not to surviue thee sleepe did vs detaine While thou wert tost vpon the watry maine Was this the cause thou went'st to Italy Alas it shames vs it was cruelty To venture any man on such a sea For the last act of things such hazards be VVhy doest thou tire the gods so much to goe And venture the worlds greatest Captaine so From fortune's worke and favour thus t' haue sent Thee safe a shore to vs be confident Of the warres issue This vse doest thou make Of the gods favour to escape a wracke Rather then gaine the worlds sole soveraignety Thus while they talke night past the Sunne they see And a cleare day his waues the tired maine By the windes leaue compos'd and smooth'd againe The Captaines also on th' Italian side VVhen the tâ—r'd Ocean free from waues they spy'd By the pure Northwinds rising thence convay'd Their ships which their skill'd Marriners had stay'd So long for feare while winds auspicious fail'd Like a land army their joyn'd navy sail'd On the broad Sea but the chang'd windes by night Fill'd not their sailes but broke the order quite So Cranes in VVinter Strymon's cold forsake To drâ—nke warmâ— Nile and in their first flight make As chance directs of letters various formes VVhen their spread wings are by the violent stormes Of strong South-windes assailed by and by â—n a confused globe all mingled fly The letter 's lost in their disranked wings But the next morne when rising Titan brings A stronger winde to driue the navie ore They passe the vaine attempted Lissus shore And to Nymphaeum come Southwinds that blow The haven on them the Northwindes fled bestow VVhen Caesars legions all collected were And Pompey saw the war was drawne so neere To his owne campe he thinkes best to provide For his wiuâ—â— safety and in Lesbos hide Thee faire Cornelia from the noise of warre Alas in just and noble mindes how farre Prevailes true loue true loue alone had power To make great Pompey feare wars doubâ—full houre His wife alone he wisht free from that stroke That all the world and Romes whole fortune shooke But now a ready mâ—nd wants words in him He yeilds to sweete delayes from fare steales time But when th'approching morne had banisht rest And faire Cornelia his care-wounded breast Clasping from her averted husband seekes A loving kisse wondring to feele his cheekes Moistened with teares tâ— hidâ—en cause she feares And daâ—es not finâ— great Pompey shedding teares He then thus mourning spake oh dâ—arest wife Dearer to me then life not now when life I loath but in our best prosperity That sad day's come which too too muâ—h haue we Yet not enough dâ—fferr'd Caesar's addrest For fight thou must not stay Lesbos the best And safest place will be for thee to hide Doe not enâ—treat me sweete I haue deny'd It to my selfe nor absent long shall we Remaine for swift will this wars tryall be Great things fall speedily To heare not see Thy
Pompey's dâ—nger is enough so thee Thy loue deceiues me if thou couldst eâ—dure To see this fight for me to sleepe secure VVith thee this war begun â—nd from thine armes To rise were shame when the wars loud alarmes Shake all the world and that thy Pompey came Sad with no losse to such a war were shame Nor shall thy husbands fortune all together Oppresse thee farre remoov'd safer then either People or king And should the gods contriue My death let Pompeys better part surviue And a place be whither I may desire If fate and Caesar vanquish to retire Her weakenesse could of such great griefe containe Her sences fled she did amaz'd remaine At length when sad complaints these words could frame My Lord quoth she I haue no cause to blame Our wedlockes fortune or the gods aboue No death no funerall divides our loue We part the common and plebeian way For feare of war Cornelia must not stay Let 's be divorc'd to gratifye the foe Since he 's at hand Pompey esteem'st thou so My faith or think'st thou any thing can be Safer to me then thee Depend not we Vpon one chance canst cruell thou command Thy absent wife this ruines shocke to stand Or think'st thou it a happy state for me While thy chance yet does doubtfull stand to dye For feare of future ill I will attend Thy death but till sad fame the newes can send So farre shall be forced to surviue Bâ—sides thou wilt accustome me to grieue And beare so great a sorrow as I feare Pardon that I confesse I cannot beare And if the good gods heare my prayers now I last of all the happy newes shall know I on the rockes when thou art conquerer Shall carefull sit and even that ship shall feare That brings the happy newes nor will my feare Haue end so soone as I thy conquest heare So farre remoov'd from thee that Caesar may Though flying seize Cornelia as a pray My banishment will Lesbos shore renowne And make the towne of Mitylene knowne Where Pompey's wife abides My last request Is this if thou be conquer'd and nought rest To sâ—uâ— thy life but flight to any bay Rather then that turne thy vnhappy way Vpon my shore thou wilt be surely sought This said from bed she leapt with griefe distraught Her woes with no delayes to enterlace Nor could she then her Lord 's sad breast embrace Nor hang about his necke the last fruite's gone Of so long loue their griefes they hasten on And at the parting neither had the power To say farewell Never so sad an hower In all their life had they Suâ—ceeding woes Their mindes by custome hardened could compose She fainting falls and in her servaâ—ts hands Lifted is borne to sea but on the sands She falls as if that shore she faine would keepe At last perforce she 's carry'd to the ship From her deare countrey's shore not so distrest Fled she when Caesar Italy possest With Pompey then she went now all alone Wanting that guide she from her Lord is gone Sleepelesse she spent in her now widow'd bed Cold and alone the night that followed That side that naked vs'd not to be left Is of a husbands company bereft Oft would she when her sleepy armes she spread With hands deceiv'd embraâ—e the empty bed Seeking her Lord her flight she would forget For though lâ—ues flame-fed on her marrow yet Ore all the bed she would not tumblâ—ng spread Fearing to misse her Lord that part of bed She kept but fate did not so well ordaine The howr's at hand that brings her Lord againe FINIS Libri quints Annotations on the fift Booke a Pompey's losses as we saw before in the 2.3 and 4. Bookes were these all his garrisons beaten cut of Italy and himselfe driven from thence Massilia sackt all Spaine lost together with his army vnder the conduct of Afrarius and Petrejus Caesars losses a cohort of Opitergians whâ—ch kill'd themselues on the Illyrian sea with their captaine Vulteius and Curio kill'd by king Iuba b Phocis was then made free as well as Massilia her colony which Caesar besiedg'd c Dejotarus king of Galatia brought to the army of Pompey sixe hundred horsemen d Cotys king of Thracia sent to the Army fiue hundred horsemen vnder the conduct of his sâ—â—ne Sadalis e Râ—asipolis brought from Macedonia two hundred horsemen f Ptolemey defraâ—ded his sister Cleopatra of her share in the kingdome and in killing Pompey saved Caesar the doing of that impious act g Appius the Governour of Aâ—haia desirous to know the event of the civill war compelled the chiefe Priest of Delphos to descend to the Oracle which had not of a long time beene vsed h In the midst of the hill there was a deepe hole into the earth out of which came a cold spirit as it were a winde and filled the Prophetesses with a fury so that they instanâ—ly prophesied of things to come i Appius thinking this oracle had warned him onely to abstaine from this war retired himselfe into that countrey which lyeth betweene Râ—amâ—uâ— and Carystâ—s called Cala Eubâ—a where before the battle of Phâ—rsalia he dyed of a disease and was there buryed and so â—ossest quietly the place which the Oracle had promised him k Caesar was now returned to Placentia from Spaine Where hee had conquered Afranius and Petrejus two of Pompey's Lieutenants and was going from thence into Epire and Macedonia against Pompey in the meane time this mutiny happened l Caesar cashiered with ignominy all the ninth legion at Placentia and with much adoe after many prayers received them againe but not without taking punishment of the chiefe mutenâ—ers m Caesar made himselfe Dictator at Rome without any lawfull election that is neither named by the Senate nor Consul but eleven dayes after he left his Dictatorshippe having made himselfe and Publius Servilius Consuls n Then beganne all those names of flattery which they afterward vsed to their Emperours as Diuus Ever Augustus Father of his countrey Founder of peace Lord and the like o After all governement was in the hands of Caesar alone all the ancient rites in creating of Magistrates were quite taken â—way an imaginary face of election was in the field of Mars the tribes were cited but were not admitted distinctly and in the true forme to giue their suffrages the other orders were but vaine for the Emperour commended him to the Centuries whom he would haue Consul or else designed him and chose him himselfe their Augury also was abused and the Augurs interpreted every thing as they were compelled p Vnder the Emperours Consuls were oft chosen for halfe an yeare for 1.2 or 3 moneths q Pompey was then is Candavia but when he heard that Caesar was come and was possest of Oricum and Apollonia hee hasted to Dyrrachium Caesar pitched his tents at one side of the river Apsus and Pompey at the other r Caesar having landed his men the same night sent backe the ships to Brundusium for
should yon feare cowards whilest I am by To see those fiends that shake at sight of me Then with warme blood opening fresh wounds she fills His breast and gore to th' inward parts distills Of the Moones poisonous gelly store she takes And all the hurtfull broodes that nature makes Foame of mad dogs which sight of water dread The pyth of staggs with serpents nourished Was mixed there the dire Hyaena's knot The spotted Lynx his bowells wanted not Nor that small fish whose strength though Eurus rise Can stay the course of ships the Dragons eyes The sounding stone that brooding Eagles make Warme in their nests th' Arabian nimble snake The red sea-viper pretious gemms that kept Skins from th' aliue Libyan Cerastes stript The Phoenix ashes lay'd in Araby With these when vile and namelesse poisons she Had mixt and leaues fill'd with enchantments strong And herbes which her dire mouth had spit on young What poyson she did on the world bestow Then adds a voyce to charme the gods below More powerfull then all herbes confounding noises Much dissonant and far from humane voices There was the barke of dogs the wolues sad howle The scriches waâ—ling hollowing of the Owle All voices of wilde beasts hissing of snakes The sound that beat from rockes the water makeâ— The murmur of stirr'd woods the thunders noise Broke from a cloud all â—â—is was in her voice The rest Aemonian incantations tell And thus her voice peirces the lowest hell Furyes and Stygian fiends whose scourges wound All guilty soules Chaos that wouldst confound Vn-number'd worlds king of the earth beneath That griev'st to see the gods exempt from death Thou Styx and faire Elysium which no spirit To a Thessalian witch deserues t'enherit Thou that thy mother hat'st Persephone And heaven thou lowest part of Hecate By whom the silent tongues of fienes with vs Haue entercourse hells porter Cerberus That currishnesse into our breasts doest put You destinyes that twice this thread must cut And thou the burning streames old ferriman Tired with ghosts brought backe to me againe If I invoke you with a mouth prophane And foule enough to heare these prayers daine If with a breath fasting from humane flesh These incantations I did nere expresse If womens wombes whole burdens vpon you And luke-warme braines I often did bestow If one your altâ—rs heads of infants slaine I set and bowells that must liue againe Obey my voice no ghost that long has felt The Stygian shades nor long in darkenesse dwelt But one that lately from the living went And is but yet at pale hells first descent And one which though obedient to this spell Could be but once transported ore to hell I aske let some knowne souldiers ghost relate Before great Pompey's sonne his fathers fate If civill war of you haue merited Then lifting vp her foaming mouth and head She saw hard by the ghost of that dead man Trembling to enter his old goale againe Fearing those cold pale members and into Thâ—â—â—ounded breast and entrailes torne to go Ah wretch from whom deaths gift is tane away To dye no more that fates durst thus delay Ericttho wonder'd wrath with death and fate The liueles coarse with living snakes she beateâ— And through earths craneys which her charmes had broke Bark'd to the fiends and thus hells silence shooke Maegera and Tisiphone that slight My voice through hell with your dire whips affright Hither that wretched spirit or from below By your true names of Stygian bitches you I will call vp and to the Sunnes light leaue No dead mens graues shall harbour or receiue Your heads I le follow you observing well And from all tombes and quiet vrnes expell False Hecate thee to the gods I le show To whom thou vsest with bright lookes to goe In thy pale rotten forme and so provide Thou shalt not thy Tartarian visage hide Vnder the earths vast weight I will relate VVhat food destaines thee in what wedlockes state Thou lou'st the nights sad king with such a staine That Ceres shall not wish thee backe againe ' Gainst thee the worlds worst judge I will set free The giants or let to the day to thee VVill you obey or shall I him invoke VVhose name the earths foundations ever shooke VVho without hurt th'vnvailed Gorgon sees Of whose strong stripes Erinnys fearefull is VVho keepes an hell vnknowne to you and where You are aboue that dare by Styx forsweare Then straight the clotted blood grows warme againe Feedes the blacke wounds and runnes through every veine And th' outward parts the vitall pulses beate In his cold breast and life 's restored heate Mixt with cold death through parts disused runns And to each joynt giues trembling motions The sinnews stretch the carkasse from the ground Rises not by degrees but at one bound Stands bolt vpright the eyes with twincking hard Are op'd not dead nor yet aliue appear'd The face his palenesse still and stiffenesse stayes He stands at this revivall in amaze But his dumbe seal'd-vp lips no murmur made Only an answering tongue and voice he had Speake quoth Ericttho what I aske and well Shalt thou rewarded be if truth thou tell By our Haemonian art I le set thee free Throughout all ages and bestow on thee Such funeralls with charmes so burne thy bones Thy ghost shall heare no incantations Let this the fruit of thy revivall be No spells no herbs shall dare to take from thee Thy long safe rest when I haue made thee dy The gods and Prophets answere doubtfully But he that dares enquire of ghosts beneath And boldly goe to th' oracles of death Is plainly told the truth spare not but name Plainely the things and places all and frame A speech wherein I may conferre with fate Adding a charme to make him know the state Of whatsoere she askt thus presently The weeping carcasse spake I did not see The sisters fatall threds so soone alas Backe from those silent bankes enforc'd to passe But what by speech from all the spirits I gain'd Among the Roman ghosts fell discord reign'd Romes wicked war disturb'd hells quiet rest Some Captaines from sad hell some from the blest Elysian fields come forth and there what fate Entends to doe they openly relate The happy ghosts look'd sad the Decii then Father and sonne wars-expiating men I saw the Curii and Camillus wailing Sylla himselfe against thee fortune railing His issues Libyan fate braue Scipio Bewail'd and Cato Carthages great foe His nephew's bondage-scaping death did monc â—mong the blessed spirits Brutus alone Reioyc'd first Consul that Romes king exil'd Fierce Catiline sterne Marius and the wilde Câ—thegs breaking chaines orejoyed were The popular law promulging Drusi there And daring Gracchi shouting clapt their hands Fetter'd for euer with strong iron bands In Plutoes dungeons impious ghosts had hopes Of blessed seates Pluto pale dungeons opes Prepares hard stones and adamantine chaines To punish the proud Conquerour ordaines Take you this comfort in a blessed roome The
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
shames constraint She rise and vtter'd this most sad complaint VVould I to hated Caesar had bin led A bride since happy to no Husbands bed Twice haue I hurt the world my bridall lights Erinnys and th' vnhappy Crassi's sprights Carry'd accursed by those ghosts I hare Th' Assyrian fortune to this civill war I was the cause that all these nations dy'd And all the gods forsooke the juster side O greatest Lord worthy of better fate Then my sad marriage had dire fortunes hate Such power on thee why did I marry thee To make thee wretched take revenge on me VVhich willingly I le pay to make the sea More passable Kings faiths more firme to thee And all the world more hospitable drowne Me by the way oh would this life had gone Before to get thee victory but now Deare Pompey expiate thine overthrow VVhere ere thou lyest ô cruell Iulia Reveng'd already in Phaâ—salia Come wreake thine anger et thy strumpets death Appease thy wrath and spare thy Pompey's breath This said and sinking in his armes her fall Againe drew teares from the spectators all Pompey's great heart relented and that eye VVept there that in Pharsalia's field was dry The Mâ—tylenaeans then thus on the shore Bespake great Pompey if for evermore It shall our honour be to haue preserv'd Thy dearest pledge if we haue so deserv'd To grace the city of thy servants daine And heere with vs though but one night remaine Make this a place honour'd for evermore A place that Roman pilgrims may adore Our towne before all townes thou should'st approue For all townes else may hope for Caesars loue VVe haue already trespast further yet This is an I le and Caesar wants a fleete Besides thy nobles know this place and heere Will meete thy fates on this knowne shore repaire Take our gods wealth our temples gold and bands Of our young men to serue by sea or land Take thou though conquer'd Lesbos forces heere Lest Caesar presse them as the Conquerer Oh cleare this faithfull land of that foule crime That thou which loud'st vs in thy prosperous time Should'st feare our faith in thy adversity Glad of these mens so wondrous piety For the worlds sake that some fidelity Was left to wretched states this land quoth he That I of all the world most deare esteem'd By this great pledge I left with you it seem'd She was the hostage that my loue was here That here my houshold gods and countrey were Heere was my Rome fled from the field before I came to you I toutch'd vpon no shore Knowing that Lesbos in preserving her Had purchas'd Caesars iâ—e I did not feare To giue you cause your pâ—rdons all to plead Let it suffice that I your guilt haue made I must through all the world my fates pursue Oh happy â—esbos ever fam'd from you People and Kings shall learne fidelity To vs or faithfull you alone shall be VVhich lands are true which false I now must try Heare ô ye gods it any gods with me Remaiâ—e my last of prayers grant vs to finde A land like Leâ—bos whose stiâ—l faithfull minde Dares giue safe landing to our conquer'd state And parting safe not fearing Caesars hate His sad companion then aboord he tooke You would haue thought all Lesbos had forsooke Their natâ—ue soile exil'd so great a cry VVas rais'd and wofull hands heav'd to the sky All ore the shore for Pompey least of all Though he deserv'd their sorrow by his fill But seeing her depart whom they had seene All this war time as their owne citizen The people wept of her the matrons dry From teares could hardly haue tane leaue though she Vnto her lord a Conquerer had gone She so had gain'd the loue of every one By vertuous courteous carriage modesty Of a chast looke proud to no company Lowly to all and such her life was seene VVhile her lord stood as he had conquer'd bin Now Titans orbe halfe drowned in the seas Gaue paâ—t to vs part to th' Antipodes When care in Pompey's restlesse bosome runs Sometimes on Romes confederate states and townes And kings vncertaine faiths sometimes vpon The South-scorch'd regions of the torrid zone Sometimes as too sad burdens he layes by His wearied cares of future destiny Asking the master of each star and where He guesses land what rules heaven giues to steere His ship at sea what stars to Syria guide Which of Bootes fires to Lybias side Directs to this the master thus replyes We follow not those stars which through the skyes Doe slide and passe away vnconstant stars In the vnfixt pole deceiue the marriners That pole that never falls nere drownes in sea Famous for Cynosure and Helice Doth guiâ—â—e our ships when ere that stars got vp Right verticall just ore the saileyards top Then to the Bosphorus we make apase And seaâ— that Synthiaes crooked shores embrace But when more low and neerer to the sea Artophilâ—x and Cynosura be Then to the Syrian poâ—ts our course we steere Canoâ—us then is elevated there VVhich feares the North and in the Southerne skyes Remaines alone VVho thence to th'left hand plyes Pharos ore past into the Syrtes falls But whither now shall we direct our sailes To whom with doubtfull thoughts Pompey replyes In all the course at sea obserue but this To keepe thy ship still far from Thessaly And to the heavens and seas leaue Italy The rest trust to the winds I now haue tane My deare left pledge Cornelia in againe I then was certaine whither to resort But now let fortune finde vs out a pâ—rt Thus Pompey spake the master straightway turnes About his sailes stretch'd out with aequall hornes And to the left hand guides the ship to plow Those waues that twixt Chios and Asia flow To the ships length he turnes his sailes about The sea perceiues the change her waves are cut By the sharpe stemme with different motion The skilfull Charrioter not halfe so soone Raines round his horse and doth with suddaine change About the goale his wheeling charriot range Sol hid the stars and land discovered When those that from Pharsalia's battell fled To Pompey came and first from Lesbos shores He met his son then Kings and Senators For Pompey yet although at that sad time Vanquish'd and fled had Kings to waite on him Proud scepter'd Kings that ore the East did reigne Attended there in banish'd Pompeys traine Then Pompey King Deiotarus commands To goe for aide to farthest Easterne lands Most loyall King since on Pharsalia's plaines This world was lost from Rome it now remaines To try the East those that by Tigris ly And by Euphrates yet from Caesar free Grieue not though to repaire my fortunes lost Thou to the Medes or farthest Scythians go'st Or quite beyond the day that this world sees Beare my salutes to great Arsacides And if our ancient league remaine which I By Latian Ioue by his owne deity He swore let the Armenian archers strong Their well-bent bowes and
quivers bring along If you O Parthians vndisquieted I ever left when I pursu'd the fled Vnquiet Alans to the Caspian strait And forc'd you not for safety to retreat To Babylon marching ore Cyrus ground And the Chaldaean kingdomes vtmost bound Appearing nearer then the Persian To the Suns rise where into th' Ocean Nysas Hydaspes and swift Ganges fall Suffer'd you only when I conquer'd all To goe vntriumph'd Parthias King alone Of all th' Easts monarchs scap'd subjection Nor once alone doe you your safety ow To me who after Crassus overthrow Appeas'd the just incensed wrath of Rome For all my merits now let Parthia come Out of her bounds appointed and passe ore Greeke Zeugma's walls and the forbidden shore Conquer for Pompey Rome will loose the day Gladly The King refus'd not to obey Though hard were his command laying aside His kingly robes and in a servants weede Attir'd he goes in a distressed time 'T is safe for Kings like poorest men to seeme Therefore how much liues he that 's truely poore Safer then Kings The King tooke leaue at shore And by the Icarion rockes great Pompey gone Leaues Ephesus and sea-calme Colophon Shaving small Samos foaming rockes he go's A gentle gale blowes from the shore of Cos Gindon and Phebus-honour'd Rhodes he leaues And sailing straight in the mid-Ocean saues Telmessums long and winding circuits First Pamphylia greetes their eyes but Pompey durst Commit his person to no towne but thee Little Phaselis thy small company And few inhabitants could not cause a feare More in the ship then in thy walls there were But sailing thence againe high Tauâ—us showes It selfe and Dipsas that from Taurus flowes Could Pompey thinke when erst he clear'd the seas Of Pirates rage it purchas'd his owne ease He now flyes safe along Cicilian shores In a small ship there many Senators Following oretake their flying generall Within the haven of Celendrae small Where in and out ships on Selinus past In full assembly of the lords at last Thus sadly Pompey spake my Lords whose sight As deare companions botâ— in war and flight I doe esteeme my country though we stand On a bare shore in poore Cicilian land Attended with no force advice to take And new provision for a war to make Yet bring couragious hearts I lost not all In Thessaly nor did my fortune fall So low but that this head againe may rise Could Marius after all his miseryes In Libya rise to a seaventh Consulship And me so lightly fall'n will fortune keepe A thousand Captaines on the Graecian sea A thousand ships I haue Pharsalia Has rather scatter'd then quite overthrowne My strength but me my actions fame alone Which all the earth haue seene my name that now The whole world loues shall guard Consider you Th' Aegyptian Libyan Parthian monarchies Bâ—th in their strength and faith and then advise Which fittest is to ayde Roms labouring state But I my Lords will to your eares relate Freely my secret'st cares and tell the truth How I encline I doe suspect the youth Of Aegypts King for true fidelity Requires strong yeares I feare the subtlety And double heart of Mauritania's King Remembring Carthage whence his race did spring He gapes for Italy and his vaine brest Is much with thought of Hanniball possest Whose blood commixt with th' old Numidiâ—ns Obliquely Iuba's pedegree distaines He swell'd to see Varus a suppliant growne And Roman fates inferiour to his owne Therefore my Lords to th' Easterne world let vs Retire Euphrates with a spacious Channell divides the world the Caspian straits On tother side yeild safe and large retreats Another pole measures th' Assyrian dayes And nights another colour beare the seas Sever'd from ours their ainâ—e is soveraignty Their bowes more strong their steeds more fierce and high Then ours no boy nor aged man wants skill Or strength to shoot deadly their arrows kill Their bowes first brooke Pellaean speares and won Th' Assyrian wall-renowned Babylon And Median Bactra Nor so fearefull are The Parthians of our piles but that they dare Come out to war against vs they haue try'd Their shafts sufficiently when Crassus dy'd Nor are their trusty shafts arm'd at the head With steele alone but deadly venomed Slight wounds are mortall and the least blood drawne Will kill Oh would on the fierce Parthian I were not forced to depend their fate Does too too much Romes fortune aemulate Too many gods ayde them He draw from home Some other nations of the East to come To war But if Barbarians leagues deceiue Our hopes or else our scorn'd alliance leaue Let fortune then our sad and shipwrack'd state Beyond the knowne and traffiqu'd world translate I will not sue to Kings whom I haue made But in my death this comfort shall be had Lying far off this body shall not be Subject to Caesar's rage nor piety But there revolving my whole life's past fate Still honour'd in those parts was Pompey's state How great has Easterne Tanais me seene How great beyond Maeotis haue I bin Into what lands did my victorious name More sound or whence in greater triumph came Favour my purpose Rome what happyer Can the go is grant thee then in civill war To vse the Parthian armes to overthrow That land and mixe their ruine with our woe When the fierce Parthians haue with Caesar fought Crassus revenge or mine must needes be wrought This said he heard their murmur to condemne His plot But Lentulus ' mongst all of them In spirit and noble griefe the forward'st man Thus worthy his late Consulship began Has the Pharsalian losse so broke thy minde Has one dayes fate the world so low declin'd Doth that one battell our whole cause decide And no cure left to helpe our wounded side Is no hope left thee Pompey but to sue At the proud Parthians feete woulâ—st thou eschew All lanâ—s and climes and thither aime thy flight Where crosse poles reigne and vnknowne starres giue light T' adore the Parthians and their deityes Chaldaean fires and Barbarous sacrifice Why in this war pretend'st thou liberty Why is the wretched world deceiv'd by thee If thou canst serue whose name they trembled at As the cheife ruler of the roman fate Whom they haue seene leade captiue Kings before From wilde Hyrcania and the Indian shore Shall they now see cast downe and broke by fate Measuring themselues by Pompey's begging state With Rome and Italy aspire t'enherit Thou canst spake nothing worth thy fate and spirit Their ignorance i th' Roman tongue requires That thou in teares shouldst vtter thy desires Would'st thou so wound our shame that not from Rome But Parthia the revenge of Rome should come She chose thee Generall of her civill war Why doest thou spread her losse and wounds so far As Scythia and teach Parthia to goe Beyond her bound Rome shall in her deepe woe This speciall comfort loose of bringing in No Kings but serving her owne citizen Canst thou delight from farthest parts to come
honour now the fates to thee Through the whole life gaue long prosperity And the world knowes not vnlesse now they see How Pompey's spirit could beaâ—e adversity Blush not that such base hands thy death afford But thinke who ever strike 't is Caesars sword Though they these limbs all torne and scatter'd leaue Yet am I happy god no god can reaue My happinesse my fortunes and my breath Expire at once nor wretched is my death Cornelia and my son this slaughter see So much more patient let my sorrow be The more Cornelia and my son approoue My dying constancy the more they 'll loue So well could he his dying spirits guide Such strength of minde had Pompey when he dy'd But poore Cornelia that had rather dy Then see that sight with shreekings fills the sky T was wicked I deare Lord that murdred thee For whilst at Lesbos thou turnd'st in to me Caesar had enter'd Aegypts shore for who But he had power that horrid act to doe What ere thou art sent from the gods to kill Pleasing thine owne revenge or Caesars will Thou know'st not wretch where Pompey's bowels be Thou strik'st with fury there where conquer'd he Desires thy stroke now let him suffer more Then his owne death and see my head before I am not guiltlesse from the crime of war The only wife following my Lord so far Fearelesse of campes or seas and conquer'd too I tooke him in which Monarchs durst not doe Did I for this husband deserue to be Left safe aboord false Lord why spar'st thou me Or thought'st thou life thou dying fit for me I le finde a death though not from Ptolomey Oh sailors let me leape downe from the decke Or with these twisted shrowdes to breake my necke Or let some worthy friend of Pompey's now Heere sheath his weapon and for Pompey doe An act that hâ—e'll impute to Caesars hate Why doe you hinder my desired fate Husband thou liv'st Cornelia has not power Yet of her selfe they hinder my deaths houre And there she sounds to be the Conquerours pray The fearefull fleete hoist sailes and post away But when great Pompey fell that sacred face And honour'd visage kept his former grace Though angry with the gods deaths vtmost hate Chang'd not his visage and majesticke state As they confesse that his rent necke did see For sterne Seâ—timius in that cruelty Findes out an act more cruell to vncover His face he cuts the cloth that was cast over Invading halfe-dead Pompey's breathing face His dying necke acrosse the bords he layes Then cuâ—s the nerves and I veines the twisted bones He breakes the art to whip off heads at once VVas not yet found But when the head was torne Off â—rom the trunke 't was by Achillas borne Dâ—generate Roman base Septimius Vs'd in an vnder office couldst thou thus Basely cut off great Pompey's sacred head To be oh shame by another carryed Young Ptolomey to know great Pompey's face Those haires that kings haue honour'd whose curl'd grace Adorn'd his noble front stroakes with his hands Fixt on a pole the head of Pompey standes VVhilst yet his lips with throbbing murmurs shooke His eyes vnclos'd and liuely was his looke That head that still determin'd war and peace That rul'd the Senate lawes and suffrages Romes fortune in that face tooke greatest pride Nor was the wicked tyrant satisfy'd With sight but for memoriall of the fact Dire arts the heads corruption must extract The braine is taken out dry'd is the skin The noisome moisture purged from within Medicines make solid and preserue the face Degenerate issue last of Lagus race Whom thy incestuous sister shall depose VVhen sacred vaults the Macedon enclose When dust of Kings in sumptuous buildings lyes And the ignoble race of Ptolomey's In Pyramids and rich Mausolean graues Vnjustly rest must Pompey by the waues And headlesse trunke against the shore be swept VVas it too great a trouble to haue kept The carcasse whole for Caesar this sad date Did fortune giue to Pompey's prosperous state By such a death as this to pull him downe From such an height heaping all plagues in one Sad day which he so many yeares had bin Free from nor yet had Pompey ever seene Ioy mixt with woe no god his prosperous state Did ere disturbe none helpt his wretched fate But once for all with a differring hand Did fortune pay him torne vpon the sand Salt water playing in his wounds the mocke Of seas he lyes and beat ' gainst every rocke No figure left of him t is note enough To know great Pompey that his head is off But fates ere Caesar on that shore arriue A suddaine funerall to Pompey giue Lest he in none or in a better tombe Should ly To th' shore did fearefull Codrus come Out of his lurking hole that was before Great Pompey's quaestors and from Cyprus shore Had follow'd him he by the shades of night Durst goe true loue had vanquisht terrour quite To find his slaughter'd Lord along the sand And through the waues to bring the trunke to land Faint light through dusky clouds sad Cynthia gaue But different colour'd from the foamy waue The trunke appeard which Codrus catching straight When the waues ebb'd but tired with the weight Expects their flow to helpe him and so bore The trunke to land and plac'd it on the shore Then falling downe bathing the wounds in teares Thus to the gods he speakes and clouded stars Fortune no costly pile with odours fill'd Thy Pompey craues nor that his hearse may yeild Precious Arabian fumes to fill the ayre Nor that the pious Roman neekes should beare Their countreys father forth nor to adorne A funerall pompe old tryumphs should be borne No funerall songs nor that his troopes the while March a dead march about their generalls pyle Great Pompey but a base Plebejan Beere That his torne limbs may carry to dry fire Let him not want wood and a burner though But meane and let it be ô gods enough That with loose haire Cornelia does not stand To take her last embrace and then command To fire the pile from this last funerall rite She is away yet hardly out of sight This said far off a little fire he kenn'd Burne a neglected herse watch'd by no friend Thither he goes and taking thence a part Of fire and halfe-burn'd stickes who ere thou art Neglected ghost deare to no friend quoth he But happier then great Pompey pardon me If any knowledge after death remaines That by a strangers hand thy hearse susteines This wrong I know thou yeild'st and castendure For Pompey's sake this losse of sepulture And art asham'd of funerall rites whilest he Lyes an vnburyed ghost Then speedily With his armes full of fire poore Codrus ran To find the trunke which to the shore againe The waues had beat then off the sand he wipes And gathering vp the ribs of broken ships He layes them in a ditch on no hew'n trees Or well built pyle the
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
Tullus bites A braue young man that studyed Catoes worth And as in pouncing of a picture forth Through every hole the pressed saffâ—on goes So from his every part red poison flowes For blood his teares were blood from every pore Where nature vented moisture heretofore His mouth his nose flowes blood his sweate is red His running veines all parts be bloodyed And his whole body's but one wound become An Aspes sharpe bite did Laeuus heart benum No paine he felt surpris'd with sudaine sleepe He dy'd descending to the Stygian deepe Not halfe so suddaine doe those poysons kill Which dire Sabaean sorcerers distill From off the falsely seeming Sabine tree On an old stumpe a dart-like snake did ly Which as from thence her selfe she nimbly threw Through Paulus head and wounded temples flew T was not the poison wrought his fate the blow It selfe brought death To her compared slow Fly stones from slings and not so swift as she From Parthian bowes doe winged arrowes flee What help'd it wretched Murrus that he did Kill a fierce Basiliske the poyson slid Along his speare and fastned on his hand Which he cut off and then did safely stand With that hands losse viewing securely there The sad example of his death so neare Who would haue thought the knotty Scorpion had Such power in killing or a sting so bad Her straight stroke won when she Orion â—â—ew A trophee which the constellations shew Who small Solpuâ—a from thy hole would flee Yet the three sisters giue their power to tâ—ee So that no rest they found by night nor day They fear'd the ground it selfe on which they lay For neither heapes of leaues nor â—eedes they found To make them beds but on the naked ground Expos'd their bodyes whose warme vapours steame By night attracted the cold snakes to them Whose harmelesse jawes whilest nights astringents cold The poyson freez'd vnhurt their bosomes hold Nor by the guidance of the stars their way Can they discerne but oft complayning say Restore oh gods to vs those wars againe From which we fled restore Pharsalia's plaine Why should we dy whose liues devoted were And sworne to war the death of cowards here The Dipsases on Caesars party are And horned snakes helpe end our civill war Oh let vs goe where the hot zone doth ly 'T would ease our grieved hearts that to the sky We might ascribe our deaths In nought doe we Accuse thee Affrica or nature thee For thou this monster bearing countrey tane From mens plantation didst for snakes ordaine This land all barren where no corne could thriue Thou mad'st that men might from these serpents liue But we are come into their dwellings here Take punishment on vs thou god who ere Hating our journey didst the world divide Placing the doubtfull Syrtes on one side The torrid zone on tother deaths sad seate Plac'd in the midst To thy most hid retreat Our civill war dares goe to the worlds end Our wayes through natures secrets prying tend Worse things perchance must be endur'd then this The pole declines the setting Sunne doth hisse Drench'd in the sea No land doth further ly This way then Iubaes woefull monarchy Knowne but by fame we shall perchance againe Wish for this serpents land th' aire doth containe Some comfort yet some things are living here Alas we wish not for our countrey deare Europe nor Asia different Sunnes which see Vnder what pole oh â—ffricke left we thee 'T was winter at Cyrene when we lay Is the yeares course chang'd in so small a way The South is at our backes to th' adverse pole Our journey tends about the world we rowle We are perchance Antipodes to Rome Let this our comfort be Let Caesar come Oh let our foes pursue where we haue fled Thus they in sad complaints vnburdened Their loaded patience Catoes vertue keepes Them proofe ' gainst any labour who still sleepes Vpon the naked sands and every hower Present at every fate tempts fortunes power Comes at all calls his presence doth bestow Farre more then health a strength to vndergoe Even death it selfe Whilest Cato's standing by They are asham'd impatiently to dy What power ore him had any misery Whose presence griefe in others breasts subdew'd And what small power can be in sorrow shew'd Some case at last did tired fortune giue To their long suffrings there a nation liue Marinarian d Psylls from serpents biting free They arm'd with powerfull incantations be Their blood 's secure and though they did not charme By touch of poyson cannot suffer harme The places nature this did justly giue Thâ—t serpent-free they might with serpents liue T was well that in this poysonous aire they breath For peace is made betwixt themselues and death Of their owne broodes such certaine proofes haue all That when to ground a new-borne childe doth fall Fearing strange Venus hath their beds defil'd By deadly Aspes they try the doubted childe As th' Eâ—gle when her Eaglets are disclos'd Layes them against the rising Sunne expâ—s'd Those that with stedy eye can view his beemes And boldly gaze those only she esteemes The â—ther scornes the Psylls so count it there Their nations pledge if infants doe not feare The serpents touch or freely play with snakes They not content with their owne safety take For strangers care and following th' army then Against those serpents aided Catoes men For when the campe was pitch'd those sands that lay Within the compasse of the trenches they Did purge with snake-expelling charmes throughout And medâ—inable fires made round about Their Wall wort crackes and fennell gumme doth fry Thin Tamaâ—iske Thessalian Centory Strong Panace Arabian Pepperwort Sicilian Thapsos burn'd with Sulphurwort Larâ—he trees and Southernewood which serpents dread And hornes of stags far off from Affricke bred So night was safe If slung by day they were That magicke nations miracles appeare For ' gainst the Psyl's the taken venome striues Markes to the wounded place their spittle giues Whose force the poyson in the wound doth stay Then with a foaming tongue dire charmes they say In ceaselesse murmurs For no time to breath The danger giues Approaching speedy death Admits no silence Oft hath poyson tane In th'inmost parts bin charm'd away againe But when call'd out by their commanding tongue If any poyson dare to tarry long Then falling downe they licke the pallid wound And with a gentle bite squeezing it round Sucke with their mouths the poyson out and it Extracted from the key-cold body spit And in their mouths tasting the poyson well VVhat serpent deepest bit the Psylls can tell Now ore the fields encourag'd by their aide The Roman souldiers wander'd lesse afraide Thus Cato treading sands of Libya The Moone twice waning and twice wexing saw Now more and more the sands to harden gan And Affricks thicken'd ground grew gâ—eâ—e againe Trees here and there began t' extend their shade And cottages of reedes and sedges made How great an hope of better ground had they VVhen
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