all Those Dangers stand which can upon Me fall T' enjoy Thee here But this our Enemies Will not allow Domestick Treacheries Have now so far above the Arms of Rome Prevail'd that I a Captive shall at Home In Peace be made and hence in Chains be born Snatch'd from thy dear Embrace to be the Scorn (p) The Custom of leading Captives in Triumph was first introduced by the Romanes and among them onely in use the Principal Captives in Chains passing before the Chariot of the Triumpher and for the most part as he entered the Capitol they were led to Prison and on the same Day he layed down his Authority and they their Lives See Cicero In Verrem Of second Triumphs and when that is done A Pride peculiar unto Rome alone I shall not dy like Syphax from the View Of all the World but they will something New For Me invent Whatever was by Us Before Inflicted on their Regulus Will be esteem'd too Little I shall be In Parts divided through all Italy And feel in each a Death and yet not all Their Malice satiate when to Minde they call The Fun'rals of their Friends But that I may Their Plots avoid and keep a better Way Still open to my Fall I now must fly M'Ingrateful Country or resolve to dy This Day before thine Eyes for in this Hand Of Mine alone my Fate shall ever stand Nor shall the World believe the Life and Death Of Hannibal depends upon the Breath Of Rome As this He spake She stop'd the rest With Kisses and reclining on his Brest Her drooping Head whil'st Tears like April-rain Into his Bosom flow by Sighs again Dry'd up Since so it is said She no more Will I my Hannibal thy Stay implore Go and be Happy may those Gods who Thee With such Severity deny to Me Protect Thee when Alone go Happy may Thy wish'd Return be speedy But I Pray For what I cannot Hope those Gods who now Us separate alass will not allow That We should meet again As from her Tongue These last Words fell about his Neck She flung Her Arms and after many Kisses past While both contended who should give the Last With a long Silence for with Grief each Heart Too big for Language swell'd at length they part Now Night the middle of her Course had run Between the Rising and the Falling Sun When Libya's anxious Champion at the Fane All things prepar'd for Flight arrives again There findes the Priestess from her hoary Head Tresses like curling Serpents overspread Her wrinckled Neck a Mantle cross her Breast In which forsaken Dido's Death exprest By her fair Sister's Hand and there bequeath'd As Sacred with the Sword She Frantick sheath'd In her own Bosom fastn'd by a Charm On her left Shoulder and her other Arm Quite Naked waving round a Stygian Wand With which by adding Words She could command The Pow'rs of Hell She meets him at the Door And leads him in The Sacrifice before Prepar'd and She no Minutes now delay'd Invoking some Infernal Names to aid The Work strait horrid Voices rend the Air Some mornful Groans some Sighs of sad Despair Then as if Hell were near the Noise of Chains With doleful Cries which their inflicted Pains Extort For all the Ghosts of Cadmus Race Whom Guilt had stain'd frequenting still the Place To the un-kindled Altars brought Supplies Of Bloodlike Flames which of themselves to rise Appear and by their gloomy Light and Smell Of Sulphur shew that they were brought from Hell At length the Sacrifice was open lay'd Whose Entrails when the Priestess had survay'd She thus the Gods declar'd If Hannibal Be from his Country free He never shall Become a Slave to Rome His very Name Shall make the Syrian Armies own'd by Fame And Italy once more shall fear lest She By his Invasive Arms should ruin'd be Scipio shall not more Fortunate at Rome By th' World be held then Hannibal at Home One Year shall give a Period to their Breath And each finde Satisfaction in his Death In Latian Ground shall Scipio's Ashes ly On Libyssaean Hannibal shall dy With this ambiguous Oracle his Minde As Great and High as when he first design'd The War as if the Gods were still the Same Away he speeds Thoughts of his former Fame And Victories all present Fears allay And with reviving Hopes his Faith betray To a vain Confidence That He alone If arm'd could shake the World and Rome unthrone Ambition and Revenge think nought too great For their Attempt and whil'st he doth repeat The Actions which atchiev'd his former Fame He counts all Easy that 's within his Aim Nor weighs th' Incertainty of Fates to come Those civil Factions that before at Home Weak'ned his Arms now undistinguish'd groan Under that Yoke which Rome for Him alone So long prepar'd so that ev'n He might boast A Victory when Envious Carthage lost Her Liberty and Captiv'd Hanno found No other Hand could cure that Fatal Wound But Hannibal's alone who now got Free Would search the World to finde a Remedy Thus chearful with the Gods misunderstood As a fierce Tyger thirsting after Blood Far from his Covert rangeth seeking Prey O're the Vocanian Plains he took his Way And through the Thapsian Fields his Course pursu'd Where still the Gods resolving to delude His Thoughts with dubious things he Waking dreams Of future Fates and swiftly Posting seems This Language from the Genius of the Place To hear Fly hence fly Hannibal apace Let Asia no longer now attend Thine Arm the World 's great Quarrel to defend Delay the Mother is of Doubts and Fears And he that long the Yoke of Bondage bears Forgets that he was Free and entertains A Servile Love of Safety with his Chains Thy Presence shall encrease the Noble Fire In Syrian Breasts and they at length conspire 'Gainst Rome with Thee and Carthage entertain An Hope by Thee her Freedom to regain That War which Thou didst with so great Applause Wage as Thine Own is made the Common Cause Of the whole World and all Mankinde is now Provok'd to be Assertours of thy Vow Of Romanâ— Blood all Seas all Lands shall taste And (q) Where Scipio the â—last of the Pompeian Generals was overthrown by Caesar in which Battel ten thousand of the Pompeians were slain Thapsus 'mong the Chief in Fame be plac't No sooner did the Blushes of the Morn The Stars extinguish and the Day was born When they arriv'd near to that Fatal Shore Where trembling Seamen hear the Billows roar (r) These Syrtes are two whereof the less is not far distant from Carthage and against it is the Island Ceâ—cinna whither Hannibal fled Of its Dangers and Site see Strabo Geogr. lib. 17. Against those Syrts which moving to and fro Bring certain Ruin wheresoe're they go Charybdis nor dire Scylla's Rage so great A Danger to Sicilian Vessels threat Sometimes themselves above the Waves they heave And stand like Promontories to deceive Unskilful
the Hearts of Men the Women stand Resolv'd to equal them and to require A Share in Glory Then their Antique Tire And Gems which did their Heads and Hands adorn And Carkanets that from their Necks were torn The joyfull Matrons bring and to the War With Emulation Sacrifice nor are The Men unwilling they should share so great A Lot of Praise and to perpetuate That Act rejoice to give them Place Next whom A Noble Troop of Senatours doth come And all into the Publick Treasure heap Their private Riches none desire to keep A secret Stock in Store for better Days But ev'n the Vulgar strive the Banks to raise And with the Spoils of their poor Lares come Thus all her Limbs and Her whole Body Rome At once employing rais'd again to Heav'n Her Bloodless Face besides the Answer giv'n At (o) This Answer of the Oracle was brought by Q. Fabius Pictor who â—â—â—â—ructed by the Priest wore a Wreath of Laurel as he entred the Temple to enquire the Oracle and when he recieved Answer went directly to his Ship on the Poop whereof he placed it and never removed it untill he arrived in Rome where it was deposited on the Altar of Apollo with great Solemnity Liv. lib. 23. Cyrrha adds new Hopes and seems t' allay Their Woes the Messengers reporting they Had joyfull Tidings heard when from the Den A Sacred Voice like Thunder broke and when Inspir'd by Phoebus the Prophetick Maid This bellow'd out Let all your Fears be lai'd Aside fair Venus Race Whate're remain'd Of Misery in your sad War sustain'd Exhausted is Light Labours are behinde And without Dangers Fears be still inclin'd To Pray'rs and to the Gods Devotions pay Warm Sacrifices on their Altars lay Nor yield to Misery for Mars will you Assist and the p Cyrrhaean Prophet who Was ever prompt to ease the Trojans Woes Will all those Ills that threaten you oppose But let an hundred Altars first of all Be Crow'nd with Fire as many Victimes fall To Iove He this dire Cloud and Storms of War Shall Violent to Libya drive From far Your selves shall see Him shaking for the Fight His Aegis which shall all the World affright When this at Cyrrha sung they did Proclaim And to the People's Ears Apollo came Up to the Capitol they flock amain There prostrate to the God the Holy Fane With Blood they Honour Paeans sing and Iove Entreat the Answer may Authentick prove In the mean time Torquatus old in Arms Sardinia with his Countrey 's Force Alarms For there his Name from Trojan Blood deriv'd (q) The Sardinians had yielded to the Obedience of the Romanes at the End of the first Punick War and now at the instigation of Hanno not the Enemy of Hannibal's Family rebelled under the Conduct of Oscus and Hasdrubal In two several Conflicts the Sardinians lost the Day and in the later twelve thousand men were slain among them the King's Son Oscus three thousand two hundred taken Prisoners and with them Hasdrubal Magâ— and Hanno three eminent Carthaginians and the Island reduced to its former Obedience Hapsagoras unto the War reviv'd The Tyrians call'd brave Oscus was His Son Worthy a better Father who upon His forward Youth relying train'd His Young And tender Years as Custom was among Those Barb'rous Nations in Arms. When He Torquatus saw Advancing furiously With hasty Ensigns greedy to begin The Fight strait fallying forth experienc'd in Th' Advantage of the Place a nearer Way He takes and where thick Forests did display Their shady Heads through devious Paths He flies And in an hidden Vale in Ambush lies The Isle Man's Foot resembling by the Sea Encompass'd and assaulted ev'ry Way By Billows and by Waves compress'd contains Vast Tracts of Land at first the Graecian Swains Call'd it Ichnusa But soon after these Boasting His Blood from Libyan Hercules From Himself Sardus on the Land His Name Impos'd the Teucri likewise thither came And there dispers'd through all the Sea when Troy Was overthrown did forc'd Abodes enjoy Then likewise Iölaus to the Land No little Fame didst add when with a Band Of Thespians in thy Father's Navy there Thou didst arrive 'T is said when Cynthia Fair Was by Actaeon in the Fountain seen And all his Members torn his Crime had been Sadly Reveng'd affrighted at his strange Unusual Fate and his prodigious Change His Father Aristaeus fled by Sea And to Sardinia came they tell the Way Unto that Coast to Him before unknown Was by His Mother fam'd Cyrene shown The Countrey is from Serpents free and void Of Poison but with Bogs and Fens annoy'd The Air 's unwholsom where it looks upon Th' Italian Shore with Rocks and Hills of Stone It breaks the sparkling Waves Within the Plains With sultry South-Winds when hot Cancer reigns Are Pale and too much parch'd but all the rest Is Fertile and with Ceres Favours blest Through this rude Tract of Land Pathless Groves The Fo Torquatus oft deluding moves And in Expectance of Iberian Aid And Tyrian Weapons for the Battel stay'd At Length the Fleet arriving and his Men Encourag'd more without Delay agen He from his Covert leaps and then at large The adverse Troops drew out and seem to charge And joyn though Distant and no Space between For hasty Darts at Distance could be see Till trustier Weapons their try'd Swords they drew And then a cruel Slaughter doth ensue They kill and fall alternately and on Their fatal Points descend to Acheron I cannot hope their num'rous Slaughters and So many horrid Acts for a Command So High so Great to utter as I ought Or equal with my Words their Rage that fought But Thou Calliope my Labours bless That to Eternity I may express Our Poët's Noble Deeds but little known As yet and Consecrate His due Renown Ennius of King Mesâpus antient Line Who to the Honour of the Latine Vine Did by His Valour add led the Forlorn To fight sent thither from Calabria born Among the antient Rudiae now known In His surviving Memory alone He as of old the (*) Orphsue Thracian Singer who When Cizycus with War shook Argos threw His Rhodopeian Darts when He had lai'd His Quill aside with no small Slaughter made Himself to be observ'd when first he Charg'd And from the Slaughters of his Hand enlarg'd His Fury Oscus hoping if that Stain He wip'd away Immortal Praise to gain Upon Him flies and at Him throws his Spear With all His Force Apollo sitting near Within a Cloud derides what He design'd And driving far the Shaft into the Winde Fond Youth said He Alass Thou dost aspire Loo high to let His Spoils be thy Desire He 's Sacred and the Muses greatest Care A Poët worthy Phoebus who shall dare The first in Noble Verse Italian Wars To sing and raise their Captains to the Stars He Helicon with His Immortal Lays Shall make to Eccho nor shall He in Praise Or Fame unto the Old (*) Heâ—iod Ascraean
the Obedience of the Carthaginians in which Art Hannibal no less excelled as appeared not onely at his first entrance on his â—ommand which gained him the ready Obedience of that vast Army led by him into Italy but among the Gauls and Italy it self And for this he himself commends Pyrrhuâ— at that Interview with Scipio at the Court of Antiochus as an eminent Virtue in him Vide Liv. lib. 35. Arts He makes his Party now with Arms subverts Decrees of Senate now with Bribes appears The first to walk on Foot the first that bears A part if haste require a Trench to make The first that all Attempts would undertake Remiss in nothing that to Honour tends Refuseth nature Rest and watchfull spends The night in Arms. Now by his Cassock known Mix'd with the Libyssaean Foot lies down On th' Earth contending with the Steel he wore In Hardness sometimes he 'd Advance before His num'rous Troops and with a valiant Hand Perform in Person what he did Command Sometimes on his bare Head he 'd entertain The Ruins of the Heav'ns their Storms and Rain The Tyrians saw th' Asturians did admire To see when Iove did dart his forked Fire When Thunder fell in Storms and every Blast Of Wind struck forth the Flames how bold he past Through all on 's snorting Steed nor would retire Though clog'd with Dust and scorch'd with Sirius fire And when the sultry Air did frie with Heat That parch'd the Earth they seem'd Effeminate Who sought a Shade while He to exercise His Thirst where er'e he sees a Fountain flies His sole Delight 's to dress a furious Horse For War and to be famous for the Force Of 's killing Arm to swim a Stream unknown Or'e Ecchoing Rocks t' assail the Foe upon The adverse Bank The first that would ascend To scale a Wall and when he did contend In open Fight where er'e his Sword did go It carried Death and Streams of Blood did flow Being therefore now resolv'd to violate The Sacred League he urgeth on his Fate And where he can on Rome's Allies doth fall And storms in farthest Lands the Capitol His waving Ensigns first displaiâ—d for love Of greater Wars against (m) Alteia Hermandica Arbacaia and some other Provinces of Spain had before felt the Fury of the Carthaginians but Sagunthus was the first Confederate City with the Romanes that was Attaqued by them It is now called Mor-viedro Scituate upon the River Iberus or Ebro about a mile from the Sea great onely in its Fame of this memorable Siege Sagunthus move The Walls first built by Hercules not far From Sea upon a rising Hill appear Whose noble Name Zacynthus there by Fate Entomb'd upon the Top did consecrate He among others of Alcides Train Return'd to Thebes the fam'd Gerion (n) Three Brothers that Reigned in Spain with such admirable Unanimity that all seemed to be Governed by one Mind which gave Birth to this Fable They were subdued by Hercules slain Three Souls that Monster did inform three pair Of Hands his Head a triple Neck did bear Earth ne'r beheld another could survive One Death to whom the Fates three Lives did give Yet here the Conqu'rour shew'd his Spoils and as In Heat of day the Captive Heards did pass Unto the Springs a Serpent kick'd by chance Big with enflaming Poison did advance His tumid Jaws and by a deadly Wound Lay'd the Inachian dead on Spanish Ground About that time an exil'd Colonie Born in an Island of the Grecian Sea Came from the South and by Zacynthus there To Ithaca's Dominions added were The Daunian Youth wanting a dwelling then Rich in their Numbers led by Valiant men Sent from a City which we Ardea term Arrivâ—d their weak Beginnings to confirm These by Agreement with the Romane State Having their Liberties inviolate And Honour of their Ancestours forsook What they had long endur'd the Tyrian Yoak Against these therefore his incensed Bands Breaking the League fierce Hannibal commands Disturbs their Peace with Arms. Shaking his Head Himself high-mounted on his panting Steed Surveys the Walls and when he had beheld The trembling Houses Summons them to yield Their Gates and Forts tells them That Italie Their Leagueâ— and hop'd-for Aids far distant be Nor should his Mercy meet them if subdu'de By Arms That all the Senate could conclude Their Laws and Statutes nay their Gods and Faith Were now within his Power And what he saith Confirms by 's Javelin thrown against the Walls Which on Caïcus vainly threat'ning falls And through his Arms his Body pierc'd He slain And tumbling from the Rampart brings again To the insulting Conquerour his Dart Reeking in Blood and trembling in his Heart The rest th' Example of the General With Shouts pursue and streight obscure the Wall With a dark Cloud of Darts Nor was their clear Valour in Number lost each man doth bear Himself against the foremost as if he Alone would undertake the Enemie Here one the Sling with frequent Jerks doth ply Which waved thrice about his Head le ts flie A Weapon with the Winds which in the Air Is lost to sight Huge Stones another there Flings from his sinewy Arm this doth advance And from the slippery nouse expells a Lance. But Hannibal before all other rich In 's Father's Arms now flings with flaming Pitch A smoaking Lamp then hurls his Javelin now With Stakes and Stones doth press upon the Foe Or poison'd Arrows sends and doth applaud Insulting as they flie his Quiver's fraud Such Shafts the Daci on the Getique Coast Steep'd in the Poison of their Countrie boast And by the Banks of two-nam'd (o) It being also called Danubius by the Scythians by reason of an unfortunate Expedition they once made over it Eustath in Dion Ister shoot But now it is decreed and they about The Hill their horned Bulwarks raise and round The City armed Towers do abound Oh Faith by antient Times ador'd which now On Earth we onely by thy Name do know The Valiant Youth resolved stand and see All hope of Flight cut off their Walls to be Begirt with Arms yet think a noble Death Most worthy Rome And that Sagunthus Faith By them preserv'd she might more Glorious fall Then stand they now more resolutely all Their Strength collect Then from contracted Strings Stones of vast Bulk the Phocaean (p) The Balista was a kinde of Sling invented saith Pliny lib. 7. cap. 36. by the Phoenicians wherewith they cast Stones Spears Darts c. and is here called Phocaean for that the Sagunthines were descended of the Thebans in whose Territory was Phoâ—â—s Engine slings Or changing weight whole Trees with Iron bound Ejects that breaking through the Ranks confound A Shout both Armies raise and furious come To Blows as if they had besieged Rome Among so many thousands that did stand Circled in Arms like Corn on fertile Land Bold Hannibal desirous to enspire Into his Armie's minds that furious Fire Was lodg'd in his own
Circle up with winding Streams Over whose Banks fierce Hannibal from far Calls (o) Upon Conclusion of the first Punick War the Carthaginians were obliged by Article not to pass over the River â—berus which Article was transgressed by Hannibal Africk-People to the Romane War On his broad Shoulders as he smiling tries These wealthy Presents proudly thus he cries In how much Romane Blood shall I imbrue These Arms with how great Punishments pursue That Gowned Senate that themselves do make Revengers of the War we undertake Now in the Siege the Fo grows old a Day Concludes the Citie 's Fate while weary they Their forein Aids expect but now no more They look upon the Seas or helpless Shore (p) Disparing of their long expected Aid from the Romanes the Saâ—unthines after eight months Sieg resolved to dy within their Walls What miseries they endured till the City was taken are at large discoursed in Livy Lib. 22. Perceiving Deaths approach with sad Despair For their parch'd Entrails the Contagious Air Enflames while Famine in their Bowels reigns And dries the Blood in their contracted Veins From their faln Cheeks their sinking Eyes within Their Heads retire and through the shrivled Skin The Bones and ill-knit Joints a wofull Sight With Nervs consum'd appear the Dew of Night Some gather from the Earth to quench the Fire Of thirst and some themselves do vainly tire For Liquour while they hardest Oaks do bruise Their rav'ning Hunger which doth nought refuse Compels them to strange Food From Shields they tare The Hides to feed upon and leave them bare These Ruins of his Citie from the Skie Alcides look'd on with a mournfull Eye But all in vain for him the strict command And fear of his great Father Iove withstand That he should nothing act 'gainst the Decree Of his severe (*) Iuno Step-Mother Therefore He Concealing his Design to Faith repairs Who in the farthest part of Heav'n the Cares Of Deities revolv'd thus at her Shrine He tries Her Counsels Thou great Power Divine Born before Iove himself who art the Grace And Honour both of Gods and Humane Race Consort of Justice without whom nor Seas Nor Earth can know the benefit of Peace A Goddess where thou art in every Breast Canst thou behold Sagunthus thus opprest Unmov'd That Citie which for Thee alone So many so great ills hath undergone For Thee the People dy upon Thee all Men Women Children that can speak do call By Famine overcome from Heaven relieve Their sad Estate and some Assistance give Thus He To whom the Heav'nly Maid again Replies I see all this nor is' t in vain That thus my Leagues infringed are a Day Shall come Alcides that shall sure repay With Vengance these their dire Attempts But I Was forc'd from the polluted Earth to fly To seek in Iove's blest Mansions a Place Free from the num'rous Frauds of Humane Race I left their Tyrans that their Scepters hold Fearing as they are Fear'd that Fury Gold The vile Reward of Treacheries I left And above all the Men who now bereft Of all Humanity like Beasts by Spoil And Rapine live while Honour is the Foil To Luxury and Modesty by Night And her dark Crimes opprest avoids the Light The place of Right the too imperious Sword Doth arrogate and Force alone 's Ador'd Vertue gives way to Vice for look upon The Nations of the Earth and there is none Is Innocent their frequent Fellowship In Crimes alone the Common Peace doth keep But that these Walls erected by thy Hand May in the Book of Fame for ever stand By an End worthy Thee and that they may Not give their Bodies up a Captive Prey To the Proud African which onely now The Fates and State of Future things allow The Honour of their Death will I extend Beyond the pow'r of Fate and them commend As Patterns to Posterity and go With their prais'd Souls unto the Shades below This said The constant Virgin through the Air Descends and to Sagunthus doth repair Then strugling with the Fates through ev'ry Breast She goes invades their Minds which all-possest By her great Deitie each Soul doth prove Her Altar burning by her Sacred Love Now as if Strong again for Arms they cry And in the Fight their weak Endeavours try Strength above Hope they find while the sweet Name And Honour of the Goddess doth inflame Their Hearts resolved for her Sake to dye And suffer things far worse then Death to try The Food of Savage Beasts and Crimes to add To their Repast but them chaste Faith forbad Longer with so much Guilt to view the Day Or with Man's Flesh their Hunger to allay Her when Saturnia who by chance came down Into the Libyan Camp within the Town Which she so hated saw she doth upbraid The Virgin 's Courage and the War she made Then in a Rage with troubled Steps she went To that dire Fury that doth still torment The guilty Souls and thus upon her calls With Hands extended Strike said she those Walls Thou Darling of the Night let thy fell Hands Destroy that People 't is Iuno commands My self within a Cloud will here stand by And see the Issue of thy Industry Those Weapons which sometimes immortal Iove Disturb by which thou Acheron dost move Thy Flames of Sulphure and thy hideous Snakes In Curls thy horrid Voice which silent makes Hell's Triple-headed Porter and let fall From 's Jaws his poys'nous Spume commixt with Gall What Plagues and Mischief what Impiety Soe're within thy fruitful Breast do lie Upon these hated Rutuli throw down And let Sagunthus sink to Acheron Thus let their peevish Faith rewarded be Incited by these words Tisiphone Invades the Walls then round about the Hill Trembles and roaring Waves the Shore do fill Innumerable Serpents on her Head Hissing her tumid Neck and Breast or'espread Death walking with her his wide Jaws extends On whom pale Sorrow and black Grief attends All Plagues were present that created were While Cerberus with howling rends the Air. Forthwith she counterfeits Tyburna's Face Her Voice her Speech her Gesture and her Pace Tyburna of a Noble Race deriv'd Her Blood from Daunus and by War depriv'd Of her dear Husband Murrus then bewail'd Her Widdowed Bed The Fury having vail'd Her self with her sad Countenance her Hair Dishevel'd to the Assembly doth repair And tearing there her Cheeks What end said she Of our great Faith and Citie shall we see I have my Murrus seen who every Night Doth me with his yet gaping Wounds affright And lamentably thus on me doth call Flie my Tyburna Flie this Citie 's Fall Or if the Conqu'ring Libyan deny The Earth to thee to me Tyburna flie Our Gods are faln and we poor Rutuli Are lost the Punick Sword doth all enjoy I tremble and his Ghost as yet before Mine Eyes me-thinks appears Shall I no more Thy Stately Palaces Sagunthus see Happy my Murrus was thrice happy He Who saw his Countrey
the God himself reveal'd and round With Purple Raies an Ivy Garland Crown'd His shining Front about his Neck he flung His Locks in his Right Hand a Tankard hung And fallen from his Thyrsus Vines about The Table with Nisaean Branches sprout Nor could Falernus with the pleasant Tast Contend when some few Cups about had past Now with his Foot or stamm'ring Tongue he makes The God to laugh while the strong Liquour shakes His Brains and he endeavours to make good Return of Thanks in Words scarce understood Till Sleep which Bacchus still accompanies Wheree're he goes compos'd his struggling Eyes But when the rising Sun dispers'd the Dew The Massick Swains with Admiration view Their fields with vines like groves most richly crown'd And with the Sun the Branches shining round The Hill their Glory spread and since that hour Rich Tmolus and Arvisian Cups that pour Ambrosian Liquour forth and thy fam'd Field Fertile Methymna to Falernus yield Through this the Libyan like a Fury past And all the Countrey round about lai'd wast Incited by His Men whose Swords pursu'd Their thirst of Blood While Fabius doth delude Their General And now a mad Desire Of fighting the Ausonian Camp doth fire All covet in that Madness to descend Into the Plain My Muse let us commend The Man whom Fate permitted to subdue Both Armies and their Fury overthrew If Me the Senate had believ'd to be Of such hot Temper and so Rash said he Or that such Clamours easily my Minde Could shake they had not when the State declin'd Giv'n me the Conduct of this desp'rate War My Resolutions of a Battel are Already fix'd it shall my Conquest be To keep you safe that urge so eagerly Your Fate against your Will none of you all By Fabius shall have Liberty to fall If weary of the Light you now desire That the Ausonian Name with you Expire Or if it grieves you that at such a time No Place is rendred Famous by the Crime Of some new Mischief or notorious Blow Recall Flaminius from the Shades below A Signal by his late Temerity And Auspicies you have Do ye not see A Precipice and your approaching Fate Consider to the Ruin of the State One Victorie's enough for Hannibal Stay then and understand your General When the wish'd Time shall come that may require Your Hands then let those furious Words conspire With Deeds beleive Me 't is an easie thing To go to fight should we now open fling Our Ports one Hour you all into the Field May pour but they to whom the Gods shall yield A kinde and mild Aspect as forth they go Shall have that Bliss alone to scape the Fo And safe return The Libyan relyes Upon His Fortune and His Vessel flies With a propitious Wind and till that Gale Shall slack and cease to fill his swelling Sail It must of Business be and constant Care To seek Delaies Fortune's Imbraces are Perpetual to none see how much less The Tyrian Forces are how they decrease In Fame since We declin'd the Fight And We 'Mong other things for this may praised be That they who But it is better far that I Forbear more Words You now the Enemy A Battel and Pitcht-field require Oh! may This Confidence be such another Day Ye Gods In the mean time excluding all Chances of greater Dangers that may fall Upon you and My Countrey pray let Me To the whole War alone opposed be These Words their furious Arms and Rage appease As when his calmer Brow the God of Seas Lifts 'bove the troubled Waves and views the Main As Lord and is by it beheld again The raging Winds their cruel Murmurs cease Nor move the Wings upon their Foreheads Peace Is soon diffus'd o're all the calmed Brine And on the silent Shore smooth Waters shine This by the Libyan's subtile Care descry'd Strait by the Poison of his Plots he try'd Their Minds For Fabius as his Father's Heir Plow'd a few Acres which the Name did bear Of Massicus Renown'd for Gen'rous Vines These to advance his mischeivous Designs Which through the Camp ambiguous Rumours spread From Fire and Sword his spar'd this Plot soon bred Suspicion of the Quiet of that Place As if that He did privately imbrace A League to lengthen out the War But all The cunning Stratagems of Hannibal The wise Dictatour saw and understood But among Swords and Trumpets thought it good To scorn their Envy nor the Wounds to shun Of Fame the Hazard of a Fight to run Till wandring up and down and oft in vain Moving his Camp now here now there to gain Occasion to fight the Libyan He Enclos'd where Woods and rocky Hills we see With his divided Troops Here Him behind The lofty (c) The City Formiae in Câ—mpania once inhabited by the Lâ—strâ—gonians who were of the Anthropaephagâ— Cajeta a Sea-Port on the same Coast. Laestrigonian Rocks confin'd There with its Moorish Grounds Linternum was No use of Souldiers or of Swords the place Affords but there severest Famine all The Plagues that lost Sagunthus did befall Exacting them oppress'd and Fate an End Seem'd to the Arms of Carthage to intend Now Sleep all Things by Sea and Land did hide With 's gloomy Wings and having lai'd aside The Labours of the Day the pleasing Rest Granted to men by Night the World possest But the (f) Hannibal Sidonian General the Cares That then enflam'd His Heart and watchfull Fears Rob'd of the Benefits of Night while He Left His unquiet Bed and suddenly Cov'ring his Shoulder with a Lyon's Skin That lately spread upon the Grass had been His Pallat in the Field to 's (*) Mago Brother's Tent From 's Own not distant far directly went He not degenerate in Martial Rites On a Bull 's Hide then slept and by the Night 's Great Blessing eas'd His pensive Thoughts and near Fix'd in the Earth upright his Fatal Spear On which His Helmet hung upon the Ground His Breast-plate Sword and Shield about it round His Bow and Balearick Sling Not far From these a Youthfull Troop all try'd in War Lay sleeping on the Earth and near at Hand His Horse caparison'd doth grazing stand His Entrance Mago wakes Brother said He With that takes up his Arms What is' t that Thee Thus stupifies Then Mago rose and all His Troop then lying on the Ground doth call With Speed to Arms. Then Hannibal began Us Fabius that so vigilant Old Man The sole Delay to Our Propitious Fates Thus indispos'd by Night exasperates To Cares You see how We encompass'd are With armed Bands and how the Souldier Collected in a Ring doth Us invest But now since Our Affairs are thus distrest Consider My Design We have within The Camp an Herd of Oxen that have been Plunder'd from all the Countrey round and now As Custom is march with the Army to The Horns and Fronts of some of these will I Give a Command dry Twigs and Sticks to ty Which fir'd when once the
Flags The Lemnian God Soon enters and their Hatches all abroad Diffus'd strait fills the Rowers full of Fear Forsake their Benches yet although they were So hard Beset the Noise of that so great And fatal Mischief did not Penetrate To those below till running fiercely down By unctuous Lamps and Torches thither thrown Victorious Flames whizz through the Hold. Yet where From Dardan Fire and Smoak as yet they were Untouch'd and Free the dire Himilco held His Gallie's Fate and them with Stones repell'd And here poor Cidnus while a flaming Brand I' th' Air He brandish'd from Lichaeus Hand Into the Ocean by a Mural Stone From the Decks slippery with Blood was thrown Then with a filthy Stink a Lamp the Air Pollutes and Hisseth on the Waves and there A missile Weapon Sabrata le ts fly From the adored Poop the Deity O' th' Libyan Ship was Hammon who survay'd With his Horn'd Brow the Sea Now Father Aid And graunt Thou Garamantick God that We May 'gainst the Romanes fling sure Darts said He. Then from the trembling Throng as this he spoke A Cornel came that through the Visage broke Of Neptune's Neighbour Telon nev'rtheless He in the Gate of Death doth forward press On those who Flying in a Crowd retir'd Into a part o' th' Ship as yet not fir'd But when th' inevitable Fire had past Like Lightning through whate're was next at last The whole Ship to victorious Flames was made A Prey but first Himilco by the Aid Of a Sea-Rope where Vulcan had not yet Rais'd to extreamest height his Stygian Heat A little scorch'd slips down into the Sea And by the Oars of Friends is born away Next wretched Batho did thy Fate deprive A Ship of a good Pilot who couldst strive With roughest Seas and Weather by thy skill The highest Storms He could prevent what chill Boreas next day or Auster did intend Nor Cynosura couldst thou though thou bend Thy Course obscurely his still-watchful Eye Deceive When he perceiv'd their Misery No Measure had Thou Hammon who dost see This our unequal Fate receive said He My Blood With that into his Breast he drives His Sword and in 's Right-Hand the Blood receives Which largely 'twixt his Sacred Horns he pours Daphnis 'mong these unhappy Fate devours An antient Name who chose to leave the Woods And chang'd his Farms for the perfidious Floods But how much more under a Shepheard's Name Did the first of that Race excel in Fame To Daphnis the (m) The Muses of Sicily Sicelides inclin'd And a Castalian Pipe to him the kind Apollo gave commanding when he lay'd Himself along upon the Grass and play'd To Daphnis the joy'd Flocks through Medows and Through Fields should haste and Rivers Silent stand When on his seven-fold Reeds he play'd the Woods He charm'd the Syrens in their briny Floods Forgot to Sing and Scylla's Dogs no more Would bark a quiet Face Charybdis bore And 'mong the Rocks the Cyclops overjoy'd Would hear his Lays But here by War destroy'd Fell the whole Progeny and that great Name So Amiable for his sacred Flame On smoaking Planks fierce Ornytos away Then swum and lingred out a Death by Sea So Ajax when her Thunder Pallas threw Did rising Waves with burning Arms subdue Marmarick Scyron wounded by a Stem's Sharp Point quite through the Belly part of 's Lâ—mbs Swim under Water part above and so Through all the Ocean on the Fatal Prow Is born away The Ships the Fight pursue Close on both sides and with a bloody Dew From lab'ring Oars the Faces dash of those That fought With such fierce strokes Marcellus goes That his stout Gally overcame the Wind Which as Libaeus seizing fast behinde With eager Hands endeavovur'd to have stop'd With a sharp Ax his Members off were lop'd And sticking to their Hold were born away By the swift Vessel In this bloody Fray Aeölides Podetus did engage In a Sicanian Ship although his Age Not yet arriv'd to Man He whether by Sinister Gods drawn thither or his high Hot spirit and desire of War not yet Full ripe for Honour painted Arms did fit To his white Shoulders proud so with his tall Chimaera to disturbe the Sea Now all Rutulian Ships now all the Libyan He Better in Oars and Darts Triumphantly Outstrip'd and Nessus had already drown'd In cruel Waves Nessus with Turrets crown'd Alass vain Glory that did then so ill Perswade a Boy to Fight which wanted skill While for Marcellus Crest which then he wore On 's dreadful Caske and Spoils he doth implore The Gods as he too rashly did advance A deadly Wound by a returned Lance He took Oh how much prais'd whither he threw The (n) Discus was a round Quoit os Lead Stone or the like which was used for Exercise much like the Sledg among our Country People Discus shining near the Stars or drew His Bow and to the Clouds his Arrows sent Or run with winged Feet and as he went Scarce touch'd the Ground or o're the measur'd Plains By leaping past taught by continual pains Enough of praise fond Youth didst thou acquire In such safe Conflicts why didst thou aspire To greater Deeds When he was beaten down And sunk through num'rous Darts against him thrown Under the Waves his shipwrack'd Corps the while Deprived of his Syracosian Pile Cyclopean Rocks bemoan with Cyane Anapus Arethusa and the Sea But Tiberinus in another place Where then the Libyan Admiral did pass Drives on his Ship and streight they Iö cry'd And cast their Grapples in on either side The Ships stand bound unto the Combat nor With Shafts and Darts at distance thrown the War Do they pursue but Fight it near at hand And with the Sword as in a Fight at Land Where the first slaughter open'd and did shew A passage the Italian Ships broke through While the vast Chains and Iron Bands his Friends Maela advis'd to break and so intends Such as had Boarded him to bear away Farther from their then equal Arms to Sea Yong Polypheme in an Aetnéan Cave Was bred and thence affected still to have The Name of antient Fierceness nurtur'd by A She-Wolf when a Childe his Stature high And terrible of Bulk a cruel Minde Rage ever in his Face his Heart inclin'd To Blood as all the Cyclops He at length The Chains got loose with all his Bodie 's Strength Had driven on the Ship and in the Sea Drowning his Oars had born her quite away Had not Laronius with a sudden Blow Of 's Lance as he his Body rais'd to row Nail'd him to 's Seat Scarce he in Death forsook What he begun for as its wonted Stroke His Hand then languishing did still pursue Upon the surface of the Sea he drew The lazy Oar struck with the adverse Prow On one side to the other from the Fo The Libyans throng'd when with their sudden Weight Oppress'd Waves leaping in on that side strait The Vessel under Water sinks and there Targets and
contending where The Images in Texture breath and there What Babylon could boast engrav'd or Tyre Proud in embroider'd Purple could admire What in Attalick Arras Needles wrought And varied with Art or could be bought From Pharian Looms with Silver Goblets rich With Gems and Images of Gods the which The Deity first giv'n by Art retain Beside the Spoils o' th' Erythraean Main Was made their Prey with Fleeces which from Trees The Serian Women card This Wealth and these Rich Houses when the Romane General Had taken standing High upon the Wall The City Trembling with their Shouts he views And when he found it left to his Refuse Whether the Fabricks there of Kings should be Left standing or the following Day should see No Walls at all he sadly Groans and then (t) Marcellus wept both in detestation of the Fury of the Souldiers and in Commiseration of the Death of Archimedes who notwithstanding the great Tumults at the Entrance of the Romanes into the City was so intent in drawing some Mathematical Lines on the Sands that not minding a Souldier who asked him Who he was for Marcellus commanded Archimedes should be saved he was slain by him Griev'd that so much was left to cruel Men He speedily recalls the Souldiers Ire Commanding that the Houses stand entire And that the Antient Gods their Temples there Inhabit still The Conquer'd thus to sparâ— Was better worth then Spoil and Vict'ry stood Content and clap'd her Wings unstain'd with Blood Tears for Thee likewise from the General Thou fam'd (u) Archimedes Defender of thy Country fall Whom drawing Lines and Figures in the Sand While in so great a Ruin thou dost stand Untouched and Idaeas dost pursue By Chance an Ign'rant Common Souldier slew But now again their minds the People give To Mirth in which the Conquer'd seem to strive Ev'n with the Conquerours (x) Marcellus He emulous O' th' nature of the Gods preserving thus The City built it which still stands to be A glorious Trophy to Posterity And shall continue that the Manners so Of antient Generals the World may know Happy the People if as Antiently In War our Towns could now preserved be From Spoils in Peace for if his Care by whom (y) The Poet here flatters Domitiaâ— We now enjoy our Peace had not o'recome That boundless Rage of Plundring all the Hand Of Rapine had quite bar'd both Sea and Land The End of the Fourteenth Book Cum Subito assistunt dextâ—i Laeuâq Hinc Virtus Illinc Virtuti Inimica Voluptasâ— Occupat inde prior Promissis Fisa Voluptas Tum Virtus quas nam Iuvenem Florentibus inquit Pellicis in Fraudes Annis Honoratissimo Viro Edoardo Nicholas Equiti Aurato Serenissimis Carolo j m â— 2. d â— Magnae Brittaniae c Regibus Secretario è Sanctioribus Cousilijs Tabula Summa cum Obseruantia D.D.D. SILIUS ITALICUS OF The Second Punick VVar. The Fifteenth Book THE ARGUMENT Scipio his Father and his Uncle slain Made Consul undertakes the War of Spain Though but (*) Twenty five years five Lustra old The vain Delights Of Youth to which fond Pleasure him invites He flyes and Virtue follows Then by Sea To Spain he hasts and in one happy Day An Omen to his future Conquests makes New Carthage which he sudden storms and takes His Chastity that to her Princely Spouse A Captiv'd Beauteous Maid untouch'd allows The Macedonian King incuâ—sions makes Upon the Graecian Coasts Old Fabius takes Tarentum The Numidian Tâ—oops surprize Marcellus by an Ambush where he dies His Obsequies by Hannibal perform'd The Libyan Camp in Spain by Scipio storm'd Young Hasdrubal over Pyrene flies Perswades the Gauls with him in Arms to rise And Italy invades where he again Is by the Romans overthrown and slain By Nero who his Head upon a Spear In Triumph to the Romane Camp doth bear BUT a new Care Rome's Senate now perplext The Nations trembling at their Loss who next Should Rule and undertake the War of Spain By a proud Fo both (a) After the two Scipioes were overthrown in Spain though Martius had recovered very much yet was the Terrour of the Libyan Arms joyned with the Infidelity of the Natives so great that all Men at Râ—â—â— waved the undertaking of that War Scipioes were slain Two Warlike Valiant Brothers hence a Fear Lest the Tartessiack People should adhere To Tyrian Laws and dread the War at Hand The State thus shaken sad the Senate stand Looking about for Remedies and pray Th' Immortal Gods to give them One that may With Courage in the shatter'd Camp succeed As General The Noble Youth indeed Eager his Father's and his Uncle's Shade To vindicate sad Troops of Friends disswade And adding by their Sorrows to their Fears Sadly recount the Number of his Years Should he into that Fatal Country go Amidst the Ashes of his Friends that Fo He there must Fight who had the Counsels foil'd And Arms of two great Generals and boil'd With Pride of his Success Nor was it for His tender Arms to Manage such a War Or that Command at such Unskilful Years To undertake The Youth these Cares and Fears Alone retiring to the farthest Part Of all his House revolved in his Heart Under a Laurel Shade When suddenly Here Virtue Pleasure there her Enemy Descending through the Air on either hand Exceeding Humane Stature by him stand The One breath'd Persian Odours from her Head Her Amber-Hair upon her Shoulders spread Shining with Yellow Gold a Tyrian Vest She wore the Beauty of her Front exprest The Bodkin's Art and from her Wanton Ey The frequent Flames with dubious Motion fly A diff'rent Habit did the Other wear Her Forehead rough and never chang'd by Hair Compos'd a steddy Look her Gesture nigh To Man's and such her Face with Modesty Chearful upon her lofty Shoulders shin'd A Snow-white Robe Then Pleasure first inclin'd To promise Much thus seizeth him What Rage What Fury's this brave Youth thy Flow'r of Age Thus to Consume in Fighting Art thou so Unmindful of dire Cannae and the Po Or Thrasimen then Styx more grievous far To what end do you Thus the Fates by War Provoke Th' Atlantick Kingdoms you prepare To try and Tyrian Houses But forbear Let me advise to strive with Dangers so Or thy Self rashly as before to throw Into those Storms of Arms unless you shun Those Rites sad Virtue here will bid you run Into the midst of Armies and through Fire 'T is She that Prodigal thy noble Sire Thy Uncle Paulus and the Decii down Into the Lakes of Erebus hath thrown While Titles to their Ashes She proclaims And gilds their Tombs with Memorable Names Yet are their Souls Insensible what She Performs But Youth if Thou wilt go with Me In a smooth Path thy Days allow'd by Fate Shall pass No Trumpet 's Sound shall violate Thy troubled Sleeps nor Northern Frosts nor Heat Of burning Cancer shalt thou Feel Nor eat On Tables oft compos'd
then thy Self who long hast toil'd For the Cadmaean Race Thou hast embroil'd The Seas and Earth and into Italy Hast sent a furious Youth while we might see The Walls of Rome stand trembling and of all Man-kinde for Sixteen Years was Hannibal The Chief 'T is time the Nation to compose The Period is come and we must close The Gates of War The suppliant Queen reply'd Nor in that hanging Cloud did I abide With a Design a Day prefix'd at all To change nor yet the Armies to recall Nor War extend but what You can bestow Since now all Favour towards me is low And our first Love 's decay'd 'gainst Fates Decree I nothing ask Let Hannibal now flee His Enemies as you are pleas'd t'ordain And let in Carthage Romane Ashes reign By th' mutual Pledges of a double Love Thy Wife and Sister I this onely Iove Intreat that my brave Captain may survive All Dangers and be kept by Thee Alive Nor let him Captiv'd Latian Fetters wear But let these my dear Walls that batter'd are With Mis'ries though the Tyrian Name decline Stand and for Honour's sake be kept as Mine Thus Iuno To whom Iove this short Reply Vouchsaf'd The Walls of lofty Carthage I Will for some time forbear as you desire And grant them to your Pray'rs and Tears entire To stand Yet know dear Wife at what a rate I this indulge not long that City's Fate Endures For there will come a General Who under the same (o) Scipio Aemiâ—ianus who in the last Carthaginian War took and razed Carthage Name will ruin all These Tow'rs preserv'd And from this fatal Fight Escaping Hannibal Ethereal Light At this Entreaty may enjoy a while Hee 'l seek the Stars and Ocean to embroil And with returning Arms to fill the Earth I know his Heart still pregnant with a Birth (p) The War which afterwards ensued under Antiochus See the Continuation Boâ—k the Third Of War But to this Boon this shall remain A Law He never must behold again Saturnus Empire nor to Italy Return From instant Death now let him be Remov'd with Speed lest if i' th' open Plain He joyn in Battel he should not again By all thy Pow'r from Scipio's Hand be freed While thus their Fates the Thunderer decreed Both to the City and to Hannibal The Armies to the Fight advance and all With Shouts invade the Skies Earth in no Age Before two mightier Nations did engage In Fight nor greater Generals had seen Equal in Arms contending While between These two their fam'd Dispute's un-valu'd Prize Was whatsoe're is cover'd with the Skies The Tyrian rich in Purple 'bove the rest Rais'd his proud Head upon his Crimson Crest A waving Plume A cruel Dread precedes From his great Name his Sword a Lightning sheds Well-known to Italy On th' other Side Scipio in radiant Robes in Scarlet dy'd His dreadful Target shews where breathing War His Father's Image and his Uncle's are Engrav'd Huge Flames from his high Fore-head fly And thus the Hopes of all and Victory Under so great a Force of Arms and Men Stood in the Generals alone And then Thus Fear or Favour as 't is often seen Suggests If valiant Scipio had been In Libya born the Empire might have come To Agenorean Nephews Or had Rome Giv'n Birth to Hannibal then doubtless He The World had subject made to Italy Now rapid Storms of flying Shafts brake through The Air and with them Clouds of Horrour drew Then to the Sword more close each Army came And Fight it Face to Face A dreadful Flame Burns in their Eys and those that in the Van Contemning Danger first the Charge began Between both Armies fell and long before Not seen by them the Earth drunk Native Gore But here in Courage hot as He was Young Stout Masanissa flings himself among The Macedonian Cohorts and flies round About with 's winged Darts the Champagn Ground So when the painted Britain goes to War He circumvents with his hook-bearing Carr The thronged Bands A Graecian Phalanx then In a close Body had drawn up their Men As was their Country's Use and firmly stood With intermingled Spears to make it good Unmindeful of the Compact he had made After the League these (q) Philip King of Macedon of whom see Book the Fifteenth Page 430. Philip to the Aid Of Cadmus shaken City sent And now Broken with many Wounds the Soldiers grow More thin and as on ev'ry Side they lay Prostrate upon the Ground an open Way Between the Weapons leave Then with a Stroke Of Ruin in th' Ausonian Cohorts broke And cancell all their Graecian Perjuries Archemorus by Rutulus Teucer dies By stout Norbanus in declining Age Both by their Mother Mantua sent t' engage In Arms. But Samjus brave Calênus slue And Selvis Clytuis a Pellaean who Vainly insulted in his Country's Name But alass Clytuis 't was not (r) The City where Alexander the Great was born Pella's Fame That could from Daunian Darts defend thee here But Laelius with Upbraidings more severe Then these the (s) Of these see above Book the Eleventh Page 296. Brutian Bands of Latine Race Destroys Was Italy so Vile a Place That it with Tyrian Oars You thus said He Through the rude Seas and raging Waves should flee But 't is enough that you are fled Will You With Latine Blood a forein Land imbrue This said He Silarus active in the Fight Prevented with a Shaft that in its Flight Stuck in the Bottom of his Throat so hard It flew that it at once the Passage barr'd Of Life and Voice Vergilius destroy'd Caudînus By Amanus Sarris dy'd Their Looks and Habit of their Arms well-known And Language that concorded with their own Inflam'd their Rage Whom when Amilcar's Son Perceiv'd inclining from the Fight to run He cries Betray not thus our Nation stand Then charg'd and turn'd the Battel with his Hand As when a Parethonian Snake that long I' th' Garamantian Fields was fed among The fervent Sands with Poison swell'd doth rear His Neck and spouts through the infected Air The flowing Venom to the Skies so He Herjus that with his Spear continually Dealt Wounds who of Marrucian Lineage came And in Theatè had a noble Name More nimble stops and as he something high Attempted seeking with his Enemy An equal Praise with a swift Hand quite through His Body drives his fatal Weapon to The Hilts. The Wounded falls and as he lies Prostrate his Brother seeks with dying Eyes When Young Pleminius came on apace And brandishing his Sword before his Face Enrag'd at his sad Fall with a loud Cry Threatning demands his Brother This Reply Gave Hannibal I shall refuse no more If you think fit your Brother to restore On this Condition that from Shades below You Hasdrubal recall Shall I forego My juster Hate 'gainst such as Romanes are Or shall I let my Heart relent and spare One born on the Italian Ground then may The Ghosts me as a
Sepultos Atque Novis pandit Velox sua Carbasa Fatis Dignissimo Viro Gervasio Holles de Grimsby in Comitatu Lincoln Armig Flagrante Rebellione Regijs in Exercitibus fortiss mo Chiliarcho extincta tanaâ— Libellorum Supplicum Regis Magistro Tabula Observantiss D.D.D. A CONTINUATION OF SILIUS ITALICUS To the DEATH of HANNIBAL` The First Book THE ARGUMENT The Romane Piety and Zeal to pay At Scipio's Return the Vows which they In War had made King Syphax Captive dies By voluntary Famine The sad Cries Of Carthaginian Dames Their Citie 's quite Disarmd â—milce's parting Tears By Night Great Hannibal his Treach'rous Country flies Sails to Cercinna and in Sacrifice A Day consumes Fearing to be betray'd Those whom he dâ—ubts by Wine asleep are lay'd NOW had great Scipio brought his Trophies Home And with loud Triumphs fill'd the Streets of Rome The People to their num'rous Altars bring Their pleasing Off'rings and glad Paeans sing Such Store of Sweets in ev'ry Temple smoak As if not Libya onely felt the Yoak Of this great Conquest but Arabia there Her Tribute gave and the Sabaeans were Their Vassals Or as if to Prophesie That all the World in Time to come should be By them subdu'd and Rome Triumphant stand The wealthy Store-house of each conquer'd Land Bulls that with Snow for Whiteness might contend Wash'd in (a) Clitumnus a River in Tuscany in the Territories of the Falisci now called Civita Castellana where such Bulls as were designed for Sacrifice in Triumphs were washed and became White Plin. lib. 2. cap. 103. asserted by Virgil Georg. 2. Hinc Albi Clitumne greges c. But this Virtue vanishing they supplyed the want of White with Red Bulls White Heards and Victims of the best Esteem Bulls wash'd Clitumnus in thy Sacred Stream The Romane Triumphs to the Temples lead But this Virtue c. Clitumnus sacred Streams ascend The Capitol their curled Foreheads Crown'd With flowry Wreaths their Horns with Fillets bound These all in solemn Order round the Hill Thrice slowly lead the Joyfull People fill The trembling Air with Shouts then enter while The Gods seem pleas'd and in their Statues smile Pleas'd that Devotion with Success they see So duely mix'd and grateful Piety (b) It was a Laudable Custom among the Romanes after a Victory obtained to command a Festival of Nine Days wherein all the People abstained from Work and Sacrificed to the Gods for their Success Polyb. lib. Excerpt Legat. cap. 16. To pay those holy Vows which first arose From Fears of Ruin and insulting Foes First to the Queen of Gods a Purple Vest Whose rich Embroid'ry all the Art exprest Of the Sidonian Dames and then a Crown Of Gold which hapless Syphax overthrown His Sophonisba wore the Matrons bring And Off'ring at her Shrine thus Pious sing Sister and Wife of Iove Celestial Queen Whom we so long so full of Wrath have seen That Rome almost despairing of her Fate Saw these her Walls besieg'd let not thy Hate To Trojan Blood still prompt Thee to despise Our Piety but with serener Eyes Behold Us now and hear Us when We pray And our Oblations on thine Altars lay Why should thy Love to Libya still enflame Thy Rage 'gainst Us who from Aenêas came Let it suffice We to this very Time Have expiated with our Blood that Crime Of Paris Oh! believe him now to be In Us repenting his Disdain of Thee Be then appeas'd thy Mercy will no less Then doth thy Power thy Deity confess And if at length with other Gods and Fate Thou wilt comply to bless the Romane State As Thou on the Supreamest Throne above The Heav'ns art seated so here next to Iove Thou shalt be worshipp'd and the World shall come To bring their Off'rings unto Thee at Rome The Flamen while they thus invoke his Hands Display'd to Heav'n at Iove's high Altar stands And thus exhorts Oh! may We ever see Religion thus to Crown thy Victory Quirinus Progeny these Pious Charms Oh Rome will force the Gods to bless thine Arms. Then O then let thy Piety encrease As now when War is ended and thy Peace Confirm Impiety alone the Fates Provokes and flingeth open (c) The Temple of Ianus was alwaies open while the Romanes were in War and never shut but when in Peace with all the World it is observed not to have been shut above thrice First by Numa Secondly after the Second Punick War and Lastly by Augustus Caesar. Ianus Gates This said an hundred Bulls at once are slain Which with their Blood an hundred Altars stain Their Entrails all enquir'd for what 's to come Promise a lasting Happiness to Rome That She the Head of all the World should stand And next to Iove the Universe command (d) Though as Plutarch observes some other Triumphs had exceeded this of Scipio in their Pomp and Wealth yet none was entertained with so much Joy the Romanes being not onely absolved from the Despair of forcing Hannibal out of Italy but Carthage likewise wholy subdued The Gods thus serv'd they all begin to Feast And in their costly Banquets spend the rest O' th' Day The Senate seated are alone And to great Scipio's Honour one by one A stately Goblet quaff of Massick Wine His Cheeks mean while with modest Blushes shine As if they 'd Fire the Laurel on his Brow Unwilling those Just Praises to allow So in the Gyants War when Heav'n again Was free from Fear and mighty Typhon slain To Mirth themselves the Gods dispos'd and round The Tables Hebè with Nepenthè crown'd Their Cups while all Apollo's Skill proclaim Commend his Bow his Shafts and certain Aim By which the Gyants fell when they upon The Stars had seiz'd and Iove's Celestial Throne Almost possess'd But back again to Hell Struck with these Heav'nly Arms the Rebels fell The solemn Day thus spent the Night succeeds Inviting all to Rest. While Syphax bleeds Within the Trumpet which their Triumphs sounds Grates on his Ears strikes to his Heart and wounds His very Soul Sometimes He thinks upon His former (e) Syphax was the greatest of all the Kings of Libya having besides his own Inheritance of the Massili and Mauritania usurped part of Masanissa's Kingdom of Numidia which moved Masanissa to revolt to the Romanes State when sitting on a Throne Of Native Ivory He did command Those Nations which the Aethiopian Land And Nasamon confines with those that by The Carthaginian Bounds and Hammon ly With all that South-ward dwell near Nile and those Where the Herculean Sea 'gainst Calpè throws Its foaming Waves when he could summon to The War whole Myriads of Horsemen who On naked Steeds did ride and gave them Law And between Rome and Carthage when he saw The World disputed was that He had been The Umpire of their Quarrel and had seen Them both his Friendship seek until his Flame Of Love the Ruin of his Throne became Sad with these Thoughts that in his troubled Breast