Lu Scipio father in law to Pompey the great fled from Luceria although hee had two strong Legions Marcellus to diminish the strength of Caesar counselled the Senate to make a decree that Caesar should deliver one Legion and Pompey another to Bibulus whom they pretended to send to the Parthian warâ—e Caesar according to the Senates decree delivered to him one Legion for himselfe and another Legion which he had borrowed of Pompey for a present supply after the great losse received by his two Praetors Teturius and Cotta both these Legions Caesar delivered and they were new in Scipio's campe c Lu Domitius Aenobarbus with twentie cohorts was in Corfinium hee had with him those souldiers of Pompeys who had enclosed the Forum when Milo was arraigned for Clodius death Hee sent fiue cohorts to breake downe the bridge of the River watch was three miles from the Towne but those cohorts meeting the forerunners of Caesars army were beaten backe againe d Spartacus a Thracian Fencer fled with 70 companions of his from Lentulus his games at Capua and gathering slaues to his party and arming them made vp an army of 70000 he overcame many Roman Prators and Consuls at last he was vanquished and slaine by Marcus Crâ—ssus c Caesar having wasted Germany with fire and sword after eighteene dayes returned in o France cutting downe the Bridge behind him that it should not be vsefull to the Germanes which Pompey detractingly calls a flight LVCANS Pharsalia The Third Booke The Argument Faire Iulia's Ghost a dreame to Pompey shewes Curio for corne into â—icilia goes To Rome comes Caesâ—r with vnarmed Bands Where though Metelius all in vaine withstands He robs the Treâ—sury Each Nations name That to the Warre in ayd of Pompey came Caesar thence hasts to Spaine and by the way Layes cruell siege to true Massilia But stayes not there himselfe Brutus maintaynes The siege and Caesars first Sea-conquest gaines THe wind-stuff'd sailes had sorth the Navy sent Into the main the Sailers lookes were bent Vpon th'â—onian wants but Pompey's eye Was nere tuâ—n'd backâ— from his deare Italy His natiue coast and that beloved â—hore Which fate ordaines he nere shall visite more Till the high cliffes no more for cloudes he seâ—s And the hilles lessening vanish from his eyes Sweete sleepe did then his weary limbes compose When Iulia's ghost through the cleft ground arose In wofull wise and with a funerall brand Seem'd fury-like before his face to stand From the blest soules abode th'Elizian field To Stygian darknesse and damn'd Ghosts exil'd Since this sad war I saw the furies fire Their brands quoth she to moue your wicked ire Charon preâ—ares more boates for soules to come And hell 's enlarged for tormenting roome Three sisters speedy hands cannot suffice For breaking threads has tyr'd the Destinies Pompey whilest mine a life triumphant led Thy fortunes changed with thy marriage bed Strumpet Cornelia damn'd by destiny To ruine her great Lords could marry thee My funerall fire scarse out Let her in flight Attend thee now and through this civill fight Follow thy Standard whilst I still haue power To brealâ—e your rest at every sleepy hower No how regiues freedome to your loues delight The day holds Caesar Iulia holds the night Lethe's dull waters made not me forget Thee husband and hell princes did permit That I should follow thee through both the hosts I le rush while thou art fighting Iuliaes ghost Shall tell thee still whose Sonne in law thou art Thinke not that war shall this alliance part Thâ—s war shall make vs meete againe This sed She through her fearefull lords embraces fled He though the gods by ghosts doe threaten still Madder of war with sure presage of ill Why are we scarr'd quoth he with fancies vaine Either no sense doth after death remaine Or death is nothing Now the setting Sunne To drowne as much of his bright Orâ—e begun As the Moone wants when after full she waines Or growes neere full Dyrrachium entertaines His navy now the Saylers make to shore Pull downe the sailes and labour at the oare Caesar perceiving all the Ships were gone Past sight with prosperous windes and he alone Left Lord in Italy no joy receiv'de In th' honour of great Pompey's flight but griev'd His foes fled safe along the Ocean No fortune could suffice this eager man Differring of the war to him seem'd more Then this small conquest but he now giues ore Warres care awhile entent on peace againe And knowing how the peoples loues to gaine That corne most stirres their hate most drawes their loues That onely famine to rebellion moues Cities and feare is bought where great men feede The sloathfull Commoâ—s nought starude people dread Curio is sent to the Sâ—ilian Townes Where once the violent Sea did either drowne Or cut the land and made it selfe a shore In the mid-land the waters ever roare And strugle there lest the two hills should close Part of the war into Sardinia goes Both famous Ilands for rich fruitfull fields No land to Italy more harvest yeelds Nor with more Corne the Roman Garners fills Not Libia these as Granaries excells When Boreas blasts the Southwindes ceasing teare The showring clowdes and make a fruitfull yeare These things provided thus with peacefull showes And Troopes vnarm'd to Rome the Conquerour goes Oh had he but come home with victory Onely of Brittaine France and Germany What long triumphant pompe what honour than What stories had he brought How th' Ocean And the Rhine both his Conquests brideled The noble Gaules and yellow Brittaines led Behind his lofty Chariot winning more He lost those triumphs were deserv'd before No flockeâ— of people now his comming greet VVith ioy all feare his lookes none stand to meet His troopes yet proud is he such feare to mooue And would not change it for the peoples loue Now Anxurs steepest hills he had orepast VVhere a moist path ore Pomine fennes is plac'd VVhere the high wood does Scythian Dian ' show VVhere to long Albaâ— feasts the Consuls goe From an high reeke he viewes the towne afar Not seene before in all his Northren war Then thus admiring his Romes wall he spake Could men not forâ—'d by any fight forsake Thee the gods seate VVhat City will they dare To fight for â—ere the gods their loues declare That not the furious Easterne nations Pannonians or swift Sarmatians Daci or Getes invade thee fortune spares Thee Rome in this to send thee civill warres Having so saint a cheife Then fearefull Rome He entâ—rs with his Troopes they thinke him come To fire and sacke the city not to spare The gods themselues This measure had their feare They thinke hee 'le doe what ere he can no songs No shoutes they counterfet in ioyfull throngs They scarse haue time to hate the fathers meet In Phoebus temple by no lawfull right Of convocation from their houses set And lurking holes the Consuls sacred seate VVas not suppli'de next them no Praetor fills His
Countrey Houshold gods thy Sonne And Wife art thou a mighty exile gone A place for thy sad death is sought afar Not that the gods enuy thee Sepulcher At home but damn'd is Aegypt to that crime And Latium spar'd that Fates in forreine clime May hide this mischiefe and the Romane land Cleare from the blood of her deare Pompey stand FINIS Libri secundi Annotations on the second Booke a An old man to expresse the present calamity repeats the whole course of the civill war betweene Mariuâ— and Sylla as it followes in this discourse b Marius had twice triumphed once over Iugurtha King of Numidia and afterward over the Cimbrians and Teutones but afterwards envying the honour of Sylla to whose hands Bocchas King of Mauritania had delivered Iugurtha and endeavouring by the ayde of Sulpitius Tribune of the People to hinder Sylla from his expedition against Mithridates King of Pontus bed incensed Sylla being then warring in Campania so farre that Sylla brought his Army to Rome and entring the Citie subduing his adversaries got them to be iudged enemies by the Senates decree and banished the citty Marius escaping by flight hid himselfe in the Fennes neere Minturna but being there taken he was put in a dungeon at Minturna c Marius suffered before hand at Minturna for those cruelties which he afterwards acted at Rome when he returned and was Consull the seventh time d The executioner of Minturnae being a Cymbrian entering the darke dungeon to kill Marius saw fire sparkling out of Marius his eyes and heard a voyce saying darest then kill Carus Marius at which the Cymbrian affrighted fled away and the men of Minturnae mooved with pitty and reverence of the man that once had saved Italy released C. Marius and let him goe e Marius escaped from Minturnae tooke flight by obscure passages toward the Sea and getting into a ship a tempest arising was cast vpon the â—â—anas câ—lled Meninges where he receivâ—d some companions and heard that his Sonne with Cethegus were â—otten safe into Affrick to Hyâ—mpsall he then sayed to the coast of Carthaâ—e but being forbidden by the Lictor of Sextilius the Prator to set foot in Affrick Gee tell thy Praetor quoth he that thou hast seene Caâ—us Marius sitting in the ruines of Carthage not vnfitly comparing the ruin'de estate of that great City to his owne now decayed fortunes f When Caius Cinna the Consull appealed to the people for restering those banished men whom the Senate at request of Sylla had iudged enemies a great contention arising Cinna was expelled the City by his colleague Cneius Octavius and flying sollicited the cities of Italy to war he armed slaues and prisoners and ioyning himselfe to Marius returning they entred Rome in a fourefold army Cinna Marius Carbo Sertâ—rius And tyrannized over their Adversaries g Marius had given this token to his Souldiers that they should kill all whom he did not resolute and offer his hand to kisse h Baebius was torne in pieces by the Souldiers i Marcus Antonius an excellent Orator that by his eloquence made the Murtherers relent at last his head being cut off Anius the Tribune brought it to Marius as he was at supper who handling it a while and scoffing at it commanded it to be nayled to the Rostra k Fimbria a cruell Souldier of Marius killed the two Crassi Father and Sonne in each others sight l That place of the prison from whence offenders vsed to he cast downe headlong was stained with the bloud of Licinius the Tribune whose Office was sacred m Mucius Scaevola the high Priest an old man embracing the Altar of Vesta was there slaine n C. Marius entring his seventh Consulship within thirteene dayes after dyed mad of a disease in his side being 70. yeeres old having tasted the extremities of prosperity and adversity o At Sacriportum not far from Praeneste Sylla overcame Caius Marius the Sonne of old C. Marius who fled to Praneste Sylla sent Lucretius Oâ—â—lia to besieage him there but Marius offering to escape through a Minâ— vnder ground and being discovered there killed himselfe Sylla then not ten furlongâ— from Porta Collina overthew Lamponius and Telesinus two Captaines of the Samnites who came to raise Ofellas siedge At these two places Sylla flew aboue seventy thousand men p Marius had promised the Samnites who had been of his party that he would translate the seat of the Empire from Rome to them who now conceived a hope of subiecting the Romans mere then once they did ad Furcas Caudinas where the Romans vnder the conduct of Titus Veturius and Spurius Posthumius received a disgracefull overthrow q Quintus Luctatius Catulus which had been Colleague with C. Marius and triumphed with him over the Cimbrians hearing that Marius was determined to put him to death entring his chamber voluntarily choaked himselfe In revenge of which his brother Catulus obtained of Sylla that Marius the brother of C. Marius might he delivered into his hands who sacrificed him at his brothers Tombe and wounding his armes thighes and legs he cut off his nose and eares cut out his tongue and digged out his eyes letting him so liue awhile that he might die in paine of every limme r Lucretius Offella by Sylla's command and having taken Praneste had killed or cast in Prison all the Senators that he found there of Marius faction but Sylla comming thither commaunded fiue thousand and men of Praeneste who in hope of mercy had cast away their armes and prostrated themselues vpon the ground to be all slaine f Sylla commanded foure whole Legions which had beene of his Enemies side among whom were many Samnites to be all killed at one time in the field of Mars t Sylla called himselfe Felix he named his Sonne Faustus and his Daughter Fausta leaving his Dictatorship he lived privately at Puteoli where be dyed eaten with Lice his Funeralls were kept with great honour in the field of Mars v Martia being a virgin was married to Cato by whom she had three children and then his friend Hortensius desiring to haue her and wanting children Cato bestowed her vpon him being theâ— great with childe after Hortensius his death she returned thus to Cato x Cornelia the daughter of Lucius Scipio and widdow of Publius Crassus was married to Pompey after Iuliaes death y At the fame of Caesars approach the Governors through Italy all fled not daring to withstand him or maintaine any Forts against him many of those are here named First Scribonius Libo leaues his charge at Hetruria and Thermus forsakes Vmbria Faustus Sylla son to Sylla the Dictator wanting his Fathers spirit and fortune in civill war fled at the name of Caesar z Atius Varus when hee perceived that the chiefe Citizens of Auximum favoured Caesar tooke his Garison from thence and fled a Lentulus Spinther with ten cohorts kept the Towne of Asculum who hearing of Caesars comming fled away thinking to carry with him his cohorts but was forsaken by most of his sâ—uldiers b
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
bring to passe to dye By his owne hand no land from me is free My Trophees all that Titan sees possesse Going from thence Phâ—sis cold river sees Me conquerour in the North in the hote Zone Knowne Aegypt and Syene that at noone No shadow spreads my lawes the West obeyes Baetis that meets the faâ—thest VVesterne seas Me tam'd Arabia knowes th'Aenio he bold And Colchos fam'd for her stoâ—ne fleece of gold The Cappadorians from my Colours flie And lewes that serue an vnknowne Deitie Me soft Sophene feares th' Armenians Taurus and the subdu'd Cilicians VVhat warres for him but civill doe I leaue These words his souldiers with no shout receiue Nor are they eager of the fight their feares Great Pompey sees and backe his Standard beares Loath in so great a war to venture men Orecome with same of Caesar yet not seene As a Bull beat in the first fight he tries Through th' empty fields and desart forrests flies Exil'd and tries ' gainst ev'ry tree his hornes Nor till his strength be perfited returnes To pasture then recovering his command Maugure the Heardsman leads them to what land He lift so now as weakest Italy Dooes Pompey leaue and through Apuliâ— fly Himselfe immuring in Brundufirm's hold A towne by Cretan colonies of old Possest that in th' Athenian nauy fled VVhen lying sailes reported Theseus dead Hence Italy's now straightned coast extends Her selfe in forme of a thin tongue and bends Her hornes t' inclose the Adriaticke sea Nor yet could these straight shut vp waters be A haven if high cliffes winds violence Did not restraine and the tir'd waters fence On both sides Nature the windes tyranny To stop high cliffes opposes to the sea That ships by trembling cables held may stand Hence all the Maine lyes ope if to thy land We saile Corcyra or our courses bend On the left hand where Epidamnus tends To the Ionian thither Saylers flye When th'Adrian's rough and cloudes obscure the high Ceraunian mountaines and with violent dash The foaming seas Calabrian Sason wash When of forsaken Italy there was No hope at all nor that the war could passe Into the Spanish coast for twixt that land The lofty Alpes did interposed stand Thus th' eldest of his noble progeny Pompey bespake the worlds far Regions try Nile and Euphrates wheresoere my name Is spread and all the Cities where Romes fame I haue advaunc'd bring backe vnto the seas The now dispers'd Cicilian colonies The strength Pharnaces holds I charge thee bring Arme my Tigranes and th'Aegyptian King Those that inhabit both Armenia's ore And the fierce nation by the Euxine Shore Riphaean bands and those where Scythian carres On his slow back congeal'd Maeotis beares Why speake I more through all the East my Sonne Carry this war through every conquer'd towne I' th' world to vs all triumph'd regions joyne But you whose names the Latian feasts doe signe To Epire saile with the first Northeast winde Through Greece and Macedon new strength to finde While winter giues vs respite from the war To his commands they all obedient are And from th'Italian shore their anchors weigh Caesar impatient of warres long delay Or rest lest changing fates might ought withstand His flying Sonne in law pursues at hand So many townes at first assault surpriz'de And Forts disarmed others had suffic'de Rome the worlds head warres greatest booty left A prey but Caesar in all actions swift Thinking nought done whilst ought vndone remain'd Feircely pursues and though he haue obtain'de All Italy and that great Pompey liues In th' vtmost edge that both are there he grieues Nor would he let his foes passe foorth againe By Sea but seekes to stop the watry maine And with vast hills damme vp the Ocean But this great labour is bestow'de in vaine The Sea those mountaines swallowes mixing all With sands below so if high Erix fall Into the midst of the Aegaean Sea No land aboue the water seene can be Or if the lofty Gaurus quite torne downe Were to the bottome of Avernus throwne But when no earth throwne in would firmely stand Then with a bridge of fastned ships the Land He joynes each Galley doe foure anchors stay Once ore the Sea proud Xerxes such a way Made by report when ioyn'd by bridge he saw Sestos t' Abydos Europe t' Asia And fearing not th'Eastwinde nor Wests affront Walk'd ore the curled backe of Hellespont When ships their sayles round about Athos spread So now this Haven's mouth Ships straightened On which their Bulwarkes vp apace they raise And lofty towers stand trembling on the seas When Pompey saw that a new land orespread The ocean's face care in his brest is bred To ope the sea and carry foorth the warre Fill'd sailes and stretching shrowds the Ships oft bare Against these works breaking them downe made roome Into the Sea for other ships to come Oft well driven engines lighten'd the darke night With flying fires When time for their stolne flight Was come he warnes his men no Sailers noyse Might on the shore be heard nor trumpets voice Divide the houres nor cornets sound at all The marriners should to their charges call Now neere her end Virgo began to be And Libra followes his first day to see The silent fleete departs the anchors made No noise when from thicke sands their hookes are weigh'd Silent while they the sayle-yard bow and reare The maine-mast vp the fearefull masters are The Saylers softly spread their sailes nor dare Shake their strong shrowds within the whizzing aire The Generall makes his prayer Fortune to thee To giue him leaue t' abandon Italy Since thou 'lt not let him keepe it but alas The Fates will scarce grant that the waters flash And furrow'd with so many keeles at once The stâ—mme beat sea with a vast murmur grones The foes let in by gates and vp the wall Which faith by Fortune turn'd had open'd all Along the havens stagge-like Hornes they runne Swiftly to shore griev'd that the fleete was gon Is Pompey's flight so small a victory A straighter passage let him out to sea Then where th'Eubaean channell Chaleis beates Here stuck two shipps which fast the engine gets In fight and neere the shore the skirmish tri'de Heere first the Sea with civill blood was dy'de The Fleet escap'd of those two ships bereft So when Thessalia Iasons Argo left For Colchos bound Cyanean Isles at sea Shot foorth the tayle-maim'd Ship escap'd away Amidst the rockes in vaine the Ilands beat The empty sea she comes a sayler yet Now that the Sunne was neere the Easterne skie Declar'd palefac'd before his rosie dye The Plejades grow dimme each neerer star Looses his light Bootes lazy carre Turnes to the plaine complexion of the skies And Lucifer the great starres darkned flies From the hot day and now wert thou at sea Pompey not with such Fate as when from thee The fearefull Pirats through all seas retir'd Fortune revolts with thy oft triumphs tyr'd Now with thy
passage free from fight But rather force the trenches and breake downe The forts and passe where ruine leades him on Through swords and slaughter to enforce his way The part of the neere trench most fitly lay Minutius castle call'd trees thickly set Making a groue obscure ore shadow'd it Hither his Cohorts by no dust betray'd He led and suddenly the walls assay'd So many Roman Eagles glister round The field at once so many trumpets sound That now to swords the victory nought owes Feare had discomfited th' astonisht foes Yet wherein valour only could be show'd That ground where first they stood they dying strow'd But the Pompeyans now want foes to slay Whole showers of Pilâ—s in vaine are throwne away Then fire rowâ—'d vp in pitchy stuffe they throw Vpon the workes the shaken turrets bow Threatning a fall the battred bulwarks grone Beat by the rammes impetous fury downe And ore the trenches Pompeys Eagles fly To vindicate the Roman liberty That place which not a thousand companyes Nor all the strength of Caesar could surprise One man alone guards from the Conquerers Denying Pompey's conquest whilest he weares A sword and liues His name was Scaeva once A common souldier of those legions That serv'd in Gallia then Centurion By blood promoted to all mischiefe prone And one that knew not in a civill war How great a crime the souldiers valours are He when he saw his fellowes leaving fight And seeking out safe places for their flight Whither quoth he base slaues and beasts does feare Vnknowne to all that armes for Caesar beare Driue you can you retire without one wound Or are you not asham'd not to be found Among the heape of men though faith were gone Anger me thinkes should make you fight alone We are the men of all through whom the foe Has chose to breake let this day bloody goe On Pompey's side I should farre happyer dy In Caesars sight but since the fates deny Him for a witnesse Pompey shall commend My death your breasts and throates vndaunted bend Against their steele and turne their weapons backe The dust far off is seene this ruines crackâ— Has by this time enter'd our generalls cares We conquer fellowes Caesar straight appeares To challenge though we dye this fort his voice More then th' alarums first inciting noise Their fury stirr'd then wondring at the man And eager to behold the souldiers ran To see if valour disadvantag'd so Surpris'd by place and number could bestow Ought more then death He making good alone The falling worke first throwes dead bodyes downe From the full tower to overwhelme the foes The posts the wals slaughter it selfe bestowes Weapons on him threatning himselfe to fall Downe on their heads and thrusts off from the wall The breasts of scaling foes with poles and stakes And with his sword cuts off his hand that takes Hold on the bulwarkes top and with vast stones Pashes their heads in peices breakes their bones And dashes out their weakely-fenced braines Downe on anothers haire and face he raines Pitch fir'd the fire whizzes in burning eyes But when the pil'd vp carcasses gan rise To aequall the walls height as nimbly then Into the midst of Pompey's armed men Scaeva leapes downe from thence as Libbards fierce Breake thorough the besetting huntsmens speares Then Scaeva wedg'd in round and by th' whole war Enclos'd yet where he striks is Conquerer His swords point dull with blood congealed growes And blunt nor does it peirce but bruise his foes His sword has lost the vse and without wound It breakes mens limmes The foes encircling round At him direct their weapons all and all Their hands aime right and javelins rightly fall There fortune a strange match beholds one man ' Gainst a whole war His strong sheild founded than VVith often strokes his broken helmet beat Downe to his Temples wrings with paine and heat And nothing else protects his vitall parts But th' outside of his flesh stucke full of darts VVhy with light darts and arrowes doe you striue Vaine fooles such wounds as cannot kill to giue Let the Phalaricke strong her wilde fire throw Or massy walls of stone gainst such a foe Let battring Rammes and wars vast engines all Remooue him thence he stands for Caesar's wall ' Gainst Pompey's course His breast no armes now hide Scorning to vse a sheild lest his left side Should want a wound and he be forc'd to liue By his owne fault what wounds the war can giue He takes alone and bearing a thicke wood Of darts vpon his breast now wearyed stood Choosing what foe to fall on so at sea Doe whales and monstrous beasts of Libya So a Getulian Elephant clos'd in By hunters round all shafts from his thicke skin Beates backe and breakes or mooving it shakes off The sticking darts his bowells safe enough And through those wounds no blood he looses so So many shafts and darts cannot bestow One death At last a Cretan bow let flye A sure Gortyan shaft in the left eye Of Scaua stucke the shaft be voide of feares The ligaments and opticke sinnewes teares That th' arrowes forked iron head did stay And kick'd the shaft with his owne eye away So if a Libyan looped javelin peirce The side of a Pannonian beare more fierce Growne by her wound she wheeles her selfe about Eager to catch the dart and pull it out Which still turnes with her Scaeua's lookes now bore No fiercenesse all his face deform'd with gore A shout that reach'd the sky the Conquerers raise So little blood though drawne from Caesars face Could not haue joy'd them more But Scaeua now In his great heart suppressing this deepe woe With a milde looke that did no valour show Hold Countrey-men quoth he forbeare me now VVounds further not my death nor now neede I Moe weapons in but these pull'd out to dye Into the campe of Pompey carry me Doo 't for your generalls sake let Scaeua be Rather th' example now of Caesar left Then of a noble death Aulus be left These fained words of his vnhappily And did not the swords point against him see But as to seize him and his armes he ventures His throate the lightning sword of Scaeua enters His valour then by this one death renew'd VVax'd hot who ere dares thinke Scaeua subdu'd Thus let him rue quoth he if from this steele Pompey seeke peace let him to Caesar kneele Thought you me like your selues fearefull and base You loue not Pompey and the Senates cause As I loue death VVith that the dust rais'd high Gaue them all notice Caesars troopes were nigh And from wars shame did the Pompeyans free Lest a whole troope should haue bin thought to flee From Scaeua only VVhen the fight was done He fell and dy'd for fight when blood was gone Lent strength His friends taking him as he fallâ— Vpon their shoulders to his funeralls Are proud to beare him and that breast adore As if some sacred deity it bore Or
determines to assault their wall Whilest fortune's hot and terrour workes in all Nor does he thinke that this command appeares Too harsh too hot and weary'd souldiers Small exhortation leads them to the prey Our victory quoth he is full to day And for our blood nought is remaining now But the reward which 't is my part to show I cannot say to giue what every man Shall giue himselfe behold yon tents that stand Full of all riches there gold rak'd in Spaine There th' Easterne Nations treasuryes remaine Pompey's and all those Kings estates doe lacke Possessours souldiers run and overtake Whom you pursue and what so ere to you Pharsalia giues take from the conquer'd now This speech of Caesars and golds impious loue Over the swords the furious souldiers droue To tread on Senatours and Captaines slaine What trench what bulwarke could their force susteine Seeking the price of all their wars and sin To know for what they haue so guilty been Spoiling the world they found a wealthy masse Which for wars future charges gather'd was But their all-covering thoughts could not be fill'd With what Spaâ—nes mines and Tagus streames could yeild Or on their sands rich Arimaspians finde Though all the spoiles be theirs yet in their minde Their mischeife at too cheape a sale they vent And are bid losse in spoiling of these tents VVhen to himselfe the Conquerour Rome decree'd And in that hope whole mountaines promised Patricians tents impious Plebejans keepe In Kings pavilions common souldiers sleepe On brothers and on fathers empty beds The killers lay their parricidall heads But furious dreames disturbe their restlesse rest Thessalia's fight remaines in every breast Their horrid guilt still wakes the battell stands In all their thoughts they brandish empty hands Without their swords you would haue thought the feild Had groan'd and that the guilty earth did yeild Exhaled spirits that in the aire did moue And Stygian feares possest the night aboue A sad revenge on them their conquest takes Their sleepes present the furies hissing snakes And brands their countreymens sad ghosts appeare To each the image of his proper feare One sees an old mans visage one a young Another's tortuâ—'d all the evening long With his slaine brothers spirit their fathers sight Dants some but Caesar's soule all ghosts affâ—ight Orestes so not purg'd in Scythia Th' Eumenides affrighting faces saw Not more was Pentheus in Agaves fit Dismay'd nor she when she was free'd from it Him all the swords that dire Pharsalia saw And which the Senate in revenge should draw Oppresse that night and Hellish-monsters scourge But that which most his guilty soule did vrge Was this that Sâ—yx the fiends and furyes grim Pompey being yet aliue had seiz'd on him But having suffred all when dayes cleare light Display'd Pharsalia's slaughter to his sight No dismall objects could â—uert his eyes From thence the rivers swell'd with blood he sees And heapes of bodyes aequalling high hills And carâ—asses whence blood and filth distills He numbers Pompey's people and that place Ordaines for banquetting from whence each face He might discerne and know them as they ly Proud that Aemathia's earth he cannot see Or scarse discerne the slaughter-cover'd ground In blood his fortune and his gods he found And with that joyfull sight to feede his eyes To the wretch'd soules he funerall fire denyes Making Aemathia noisome to the aire Carthage that gaue our consuls sepulcher And Libyan fire on Cannae did conferre Could not teach him his enemies t' inter Remembring still his anger not even then With slaughter slack'd they were his countrey men VVe doe not seuerall fires or tombs desire Doe but to all these nations grant one fire And let them not on pyles distinct be brent Or if thou aime at Pompey's punishment Pyl'd vp let Pindus wood and Ossa be That he from sea Pharsalia's fire may see This anger bootes thee not fort is all one VVhether the fire or putrefaction Dissolue them all to natures bosome goe And to themselues their ends the bodyes owe. If now these nations Caesar be not burn'd They shall when earth and seas to flames are turn'd One fire shall burne the world and with the sky Shall mixe these bones where ere thy soule shall be Their soules shall goe in ayre thou shalt not fly Higher nor better in Avernus ly Death frees from fortune Earth receiues againe VVhat ever she brought forth and they obtaine Heavens coverture that haue no vrnes at all Thou that deny'st these nations funerall VVhy dost thou fly these slaughter smelling fields Breath if thou canst the aire this region yeilds Or drinke this water Caesar but from thee The rotting people challenge Thessaly And keepe possession ' gainst the conquerer To the sad food of this Aemathian war Senting from far the bloods corruption The Thracian wolues Arcadian lions run Beares from their dens dogs from their kennells come And all those ravenous creatures else on whom Nature bestowes the strongest sents ful well The ayre by carrion putrify'd to smell Hither all birds of prey assembled are That long had waited on this civill war Birds that from Thrace to Nile in winter goe Stay'â— longer then then they were wont to doe Nere did moe birds of prey in one ayre fly Nor did moe vulturs ever cloud the sky From every wood came foule each tree was fil'd With bloody birds that crimson drops distill'd Downe from the aire blood and corruption rain'd The conquerours face and impious eagles stain'd Birds from their weary tallands oft let fall Gobbets of flosh nor were the people all Consumed so buryed in bird or beast Which would not on their bowels fully feast Nor sucke their marrow all but lightly tast The greatest part of Roman flesh is cast Disdain'd away which by the Sunne and time Dissolv'd is mixed with Thessalian slime Vnhappy Thessaly what hast thou done T' offend the angry gods that thee alone So many deaths and impious fates should staine What age what length of time can purge againe The guâ—lt that thou hast wrought what corne in thee And grasse with blood discolour'd shall not be What plow share but some Roman ghost shall wound Before that time new battells on thy ground Shall be and impious civill wars shall staine Thy fields before this blood be dry againe If all the graues of our dead ancesters We should turne vp their tombes that stand and theirs Whose time-consumed vrnes haue cast abroad Th'enclosed dust moe ashes would be trod And bones by harrows teeth digg'd vp and found In the sad furâ—owes of Thessaliaes ground No Marriners had sailed from thy shore Nor Husbandmen had plow'd thee any more The Roman peoples graue thy ghostly field Had no inhabitant for ever till'd No heards of cattell on thy plaines had run Nor durst the shepheards feede their flockes vpon Thy pasture fields with Roman blood manur'd Nor habitable nor to be endur'd As in the torrid or cold i y zone Shouldst thou haue lyen forsaken
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