Those Eagles which the Roman Consuls keepes Thus having spoke aboord the ship he leapes With all his company Romes fate had gone The people bent to slavery vpon The shore exclaime But from a sacred breast Cato to them at last these words exprest Fought you yong men with Caesars armyes hopes No more true Roman but Pompey an troopes To gaine a Lord since for no Lord you fight But liue to doe your selues not tyrants right Since your spent bloods can no mans rule procure But your owne safety you 'll not now endure The wars to liue in bondage you desire And for your slavish neckes a yoake require Your danger 's worthy now the cause is good Pompey perhaps might haue abus'd your blood And will you now when liberty 's so high To aiâ—le of Rome your swords and throates deny Of three Lords fortune now has left but one Aegypts base King and Parthian bowes haue done More for the lawes then you oh shame goe ye Base men and scornâ— the gift of Ptolomey Who will beleeue your hands could guilty be Of any blood he 'll rather thinke that ye Were the first men that from Pharsalia fled Goe then securely you haue merited Pardon in Caesar judgement not subdew'd By seidge or open force Oh servants lewd When your first master's dead his heir you 'll serue Why would you not more then your liues deserue And pardons ravish with you for a prey Metellus daughter Pompey's wife away And his two sonnes the gift of Aegypt's King Surpasse or could you to the tirant bring My head no small reward 't would render ye Then to good purpose haue you follow'd me On then and in our bloods your merit make T is slothfull treason a bare flight to take This speech of Cato straight recalls from seas Their flyng ships as when a swarme of Bees Their hony combâ—s and barren waxe forsake Nor hang in clusters now but singly take Their flight i th aire and tast not slouthfull growne The bitter Thyme at sound of brasse alone Amaz'd they leaue their flight againe approoue Their flowery taskes againe their hony loue Glad is the Shepheard on sweete Hybâ—aes bill To keepe the riches of his cottage still So Catoes speech on their affections wrought And them to patience of a war had brought And now their restlesse mindes with toile t'inure And teach them warlike laboures to endure VVith weary marches first their strength he tryes Along the sands their second labour is To scale Cyrenes lofty walls on whom Cato no vengeance tooke when overcome Though they against him shut their gates to him Revenge sufficient did their conquest seeme He thence to Libyan c Iubaes kingdome goes But there the Syrts did nature interpose Which Catoes dauntlesse virtue hopes to passe These Syrts when all the worlds first structure was Nature as doubtfull left twixt sea and land For neither sinke they quite like seas to stand Nor yet like land with shores repell the maine But doubtfull and vnpassable remaine A shelfe-spoil'd sea a water cover'd land Where sounding waues let in by sands command This part of nature Natures selfe disclam'd As a vaine worke and to no purpose fram'd Or once the deepe-drown'd Syrts were seas entire But burning Titan thence to feede his fire Drew vp those waues so neere the torrid zone And now the water holds contention With Phoebus drought which by continuance spent The Syrts will grow a solid continent For now their topps but shallow waters hide The fading sea decayes at every side When first the fleete began to launch from shore In his owne kingdome did blacke-Auster rore Whose blasts the sea from ship invasion keepe And from the Syrts far rowle the wavy deepe Or flatt the sea with throwne in heapes of sand Now the resistlesse windes the seas command Whose blasts of all spred sailes that fasten'd were To the maine-mast quite robb'd the marriner In vaine the shrowdes to winde so violent Deny their sailes beyond the ships extent Beyond the prow the swelled linnen 's blowne But where a man more provident was knowne That did his linnen to the saileyard ty He quite despoil'd of tackling presently Was overcome That fleete had far more ease Which on the deepe was tost with certaine seas But all those ships which had cut downe their masts T' avoide the fury of strong Austers blasts As then the winde against the tide did striue Against the winde the conquering tide did driue Some ships the sea forsakes whom straight the sands Vnseene surpâ—ise whose state now doubtfull stands Part of the ship vpon firme ground doth rest Part swimmes in water Now the sea 's opprest With flatts The sands assault the Ocean And though strong Auster driue the waues amaine They cannot master these high hills of sand On th' Oceans backe far from all countreys stand Heapes of dry dust not by the Ocean drown'd The wretched sailers though their ships on ground No shores can see Part of the fleete this shallow Detaines the greater part their â—udders follow And safe by flight by skillfull pylots aide Are to Tritomaes standing poole convay'd This poole they say that god esteemeth deare Whose shrill shell trumpet seas and shores doe heare This Pallas loues borne of the braine of Ioue Who first on Libya trode The heart doth proue This land next heauen she standing by the side Her face within the quiet water spy'd And gaue herselfe from the lov'd poole a name Tritonia Heere doth the silent streame Of darke oblivious Lethe gently fall That from hells Lethe takes originall The waking dragons charge is neare to these The once robb'd orchard of th' Hesperides To rob old times of credit the desire Is spite or truth from Poets to require A golden wood there was whose yellow trees Laden with wealthy fruit stood bow'd of these A dragon guardian was which never slept And the bright wood a troope of Virgins kept Hither Alcides comming did surprise The wealth and burden of those laden trees And leaving light their robbed boughs did bring Those glittering apples to th' Argolian King Part of the fleete got off from hence againe And from the Syrâ—es driven did remaine Vnder great Pompey's eldest sonnes command On this side Garamant is in rich land But Catoes vertue brooking no delay Through vnknowne regions lead his troopes away T' encompasse round the Syrts by land for now The stormy seas vnnavigable grow In winter time but stormes desired are To coole the temper of the sweltring aire They feaâ—e no cold in Libya's scorched clime Nor too much heat because in winter time Entring these barren sands thus Cato spake You that haue follow'd me souldiers and make Freedome your only safety settle now Your mindes with constancy to vndergoe Vertues great worke We march ore barren fields Ore Sun-burnt regions where no fountaine yeilds Water enough where Titans heate abounds And killing serpents smeare the parched grounds Hard wayes but whom their falling countrey's cause Through pâ—ths vnknowne and
midd'st of Libya draws Who make no vowes for their returning home But thinke of going only let them come I would deceiue no souldier nor keepe close My feares to draw them on Let only those My followers be whom dangers doe invite Who thinke it braue and Roman in my sight T' endure the worst of ills He that would haue A suâ—ety for his safety and â—â—ine saue His loued life let him be gone from me And finde an easier way to slavery Vpon the sands whilest I first footing set Let me first suffer th'aires annoying heat Let serpents poyson'd teeth first seize on me And in my fâ—te doe you your dangers try Let him that sees me dâ—iming water craue And plaine of heat wherâ—â— a shelter haue Or when I ride before the foote straight grow Weary if any by endurance know Whether I goe souldier or generall The â—ands heat thirst and poysonous serpents all Are sweete to vertue hath things patience loues And sweetest still when dearest goodnesse proues These Libyan dangers only justify The flight of men thus their hot spirits he With labours loue and virtue striv'd to fire Maâ—â—hing ore deserts neuer to retire Seâ—ure he goes to Libya gracing there VVith his great name a little sepulcher If th' old accâ—unt we follow Libya is The world's third part following the windes skyes A part of Europe For not distant more Then Scythian Tanais is Nilus shore From VVesterne Gades where Europe Affricke flyes And makes the Ocean roome but greater is Asia then both For as they both send forth Libya from South and Europe from the North The VVesterne winde the Easterne winde alone From Asia blowes That part that 's fertile knowne Of Libya VVestward lyes but moisture lackes The North-winde dry with vs there stormy takes His flight but seldome thither The rich soile No wealthy growing mineralls doe spoile The earth corrupts into no brasse nor gold But keepes her naturall and perfect mold The Mauritanian men are rich alone In Citron wood of which no vse was knowne To them of old contented with the shade Our axes first did that strange wood invade From far we fetch our tables as our meate But in those parts about the Syrts whose heat Is violent and scorching Sol too nere No corne can grow no vines can prosper there Nor trees deepe rooting take the sandy ground VVants vitall temper and no care is found Of Ioue in that at all the barren land Through every season doth vnchanged stand By natures negligence Yet this dull earth Vnto a few small herbes affords a birth VVhich are the hardy Nasamonians fare Neere the sea coast they bleakely seated are Whom barbaraus Syrts with the worlds losse maintaine For spoile they still vpon the sand remaine And though no merchant trade with them yet gold They haue and still by shipwracke traffique hold VVith all the world This way did vertue beare Cato along the Souldiers could not feare A storme by land or thinke of blustring winde But there alas the Ocean's dangers finde For more on land then sea the Southwindes rore About the Syrt and hurt the land much more No rockes nor mountaines stand opposed there To breake his force and turne him into aire No well-growne oakes no wood opposed stands The ground lyes open all free are the sands To Aeols rage which violently strong Hurryes through th' aire a sandy cloud along Their greatest part of land the windes doe beare Into the aire which hangs not fixed there His house and land the Nasamonian sees Fly in the winde their little cottages Blowne ore their heads into the aire as high As from a fire the smoake and sparkles fly The mounted dust like smoake obscures the sky And then moâ—e strong then vsuall did the blast Assault our men no souldier could stand fast No nor the ground â—n which they stood could stay 'T would shake the earth and beare that land away If Libya hollow were or harder mould The Sâ—utherne windes in cavernes to enfold But â—â—nce compos'd of loose and fleeting sands Resisting not it bides the lowest stands Because the highest yeilds helmets of men Theiâ— sheilâ—s and piles the winde with fury then Bereft them of and through the VVelkin tost That in some forreine far-remooved coast Perchance by men was deem'd a prodigy And nations fear'd armes falling from the sky Thinking those weapons rest from men did fâ—ll Downe from the gods So once I thinke that all Our sacred sheilds to holy Numa were VVhich now our choise Patritian shoulders beare The Southerne winde or Northerne robb'd of yore Some forreine people that those bucklers wore The land thus plagu'd with winde the souldiers all Downe to the ground their cloathes fast guirded fall Hold fast the earth yet sure they scarsely lay By weight nor strength from being blowne away Mountaines of dust the Southwindes furious hand Rowles ore their heads drowned is heapes of sand The souldiers scarse can stir Some though vpright VVith rising earth are orewhelmed quite And though the earth remooue want motion Vast stones of ruin'd walls from far are blowne And strange to tell in some far region fall They ruines see that see no house at all No paths nor difference now of wayes are knowne Their course is guided by the star alone Like navigators nor all stars to vs In that Horrizon are conspicuous For to earths face there bowed many be Obscur'd from sight But when the aire was free From the windes rage dissolv'd againe by heat And scorching day their body flow'd with sweat Their mouths with thirst were parch'd a little steame They spy'd which from a muddy fountaine came From whence with much adoe a souldier got His hellmet full of water and straight brought The same to Cato their dry throates were all VVith dust besmeaâ—ed and the generall Himselfe was envy'd for that little draught Base souldier answeres he in thy poore thought Seem'd I alone so worthlesse none but I Tender and weake in all this company This punishment thou more deserv'st then I To drinke thy selfe while all the army 's dry Then stirr'd with wrath he strucke the helmet downe The water spilt suffic'd them every one And now to Libyaes only temple plac'd In Garamanâ—is rude they came at last Iupiter Ammon is adored there Not arm'd with thunder like our Iupiter But crooked hornes To whom the Libyans build No sumptuous Fane no orient iewells fill'd The house with lustre Though the Indians The Aethiopes and rich Arabians Iupiter Ammon's name doe all adore And no god else yet still that god is poore No wealth corrupts his Fane a god of th' old Purenesse his temple guards from Roman gold That place of all the countrey onely greene Shewes a gods presence All that lyes betweene Leptis and Berenicis is dry sand And barren dust no part of all the land But Ammons seat beares trees The cause of it A neighbouring fountaine is whose waters knit The moistened earth and make fertility But when the Sun
Quiet well temper'd aire doth Ioue possesse The seedes of all things Venus cherishes Cyllenius rules ore waters which are great He when he enters where the dog-stâ—rs heat And burning fire 's display'd there where thâ— signe Of Cancer hot doth with the Lyon joyne And where the Zodiacke holds his Capricorne And Cancer vnder which Niles head is borne Ore which when Mercuryes proud fires doe stand And in a line direct as by command Of Phaebe the obeying Ocean growes So from his open'd fountaine Nilus flowes Nor ebâ—s againe till night haue from the Sun Those howers recover'd which the summer wor. Vaine was the old opinion that Niles flow Was caus'd or help'd by Aethiopian snow For on those hills cold Boreas never blowes As there the natiues Sunburnt visage showes And moist hot Southerne windes Besides the head Of every streame that from thaw'd iâ—e is bred Swells then when first the spring dissolues the snowes But Nile before the dogâ—dayes never flowes Nor is confin'd within his bankes againe Till the Autumnal aequinoctian Thence t is he knowes no lawes of other streames Nor swells in winter when Sols scorching beames Are far remote his waters want their end But Nile comes forth in summer time to lend A cooler temper to the sweltring aire Vnder the torrid zone least fire impaire The earth vnto her succour Nilus drawes And swells against the Lyons burning jawes And when hot Cancer his Siene burnes Vnto her aide implored Nilus turnes Nor till the Sun to Autumne doe descend And that hot Meroë her shades extend Doth he restore againe the drowned field Who can the causes of this flowing yeild Even so our mother nature hath decreed That Nile should flow and so the world hath neede As vainely doth antiquity declare The West windes cause of this increases are Which keepe their seasons strictly and long stay And beare within the aire continu'd sway These from the Westerne parts all clouds exile Beyond the South and hang them over Nile Or else their blasts the rivers current meete And will not let it to the Ocean get Prevented so from falling to the maine The streame swells backe and overflowes the plaine Some through the cavernes of earths hollow won be In secret channells thinke these waters come Attracted to th' aequator from the cold North clime when Sol his Merâ—ë doth hold The scorched earth attracting water thither Ganges and Padus flow vnseene together Venting all rivers at one fountaine so VVithin one channell Nilus cannot goe From th' Ocean swelling which beguirts about All lands some thinke encreased Nile breakes out The waters loose ere they so far haue ran Their saltnesse quite Besides the Ocean Is the stars fond we thinke which Phoebius drawes VVhen he possesseth fiery Cancers claws More then the aire digests attraced so Falls backe by night and causes Nilus flow I thinke if I may judge so great a case Some waters since the world created was In after ages from some broken vaine Of earth haue growne some god did then ordaine VVhen he created all the world whose tides By certaine lawes the great Creator guides Caesar's desire to know our Nilus spring Possest th Aegyptian Persian Graecian King No age but striv'd to future time to teach This skill none yet his hidden nature reach Philipp's great son Memphis most honourd King Sent to th' earths vtmost bounds to finde Niles spring Choise Aethiops they trode the sunburnt ground Of the hot zone and there warme Nilus found The farthest VVest our great Sesostris saw VVhilest captiue Kings did his proud charriot draw Yet there your Rhodanus and Padus spy'd Before our Nâ—les hid fountaine he descry'd The mad Cambises to the Easterne lands And lonâ—-liv'd people came His famisht bands Qâ—te spent and with each others a slaughter fed Return'd thou Nile yet vndiscovered No tale dares mention thine originall Th' art sought wherever seene No land at all Can boast that Nile is hers Yet I le reveale As far as that same god that doth conceale Thy spring inspires me From th' Antarticke pole Vnder hot Cancer doe thy surges rowle Directly North winding to East and VVest Sometimes th' Arabians sometimes Libyans blest VVith fruitfullnesse thou mak'st the Seres spy Thee first and seeke thee too thy channell by The Aethiopians as a stranger flowes And the world knowes not to what land it owes Thy sacred head which nature hid from all Lest any land should see thee Nilus small She turn'd away thy spring and did desire No land should know it but all lands admire Thou in the summer Solstice art oreflowne Bringing with thee a winter of thine owne VVhen winter is not ours nature alone Suffers thy streames to both the poles to run Not there thy mouth not heere thy spring is found Thy parted channell doth encompasse round Meroë fruitfull to blacke husband-men And rich in Eben wood whose leaues though greene Can with no shade asswage the summers heat Vnder the Lion so directly set From thence thy current with no waters losse Ore the hot zone and barren deserts goes Sometimes collected in one channell going Sometimes dispers'd and yeilding bankes oreflowing His parted armes againe collected slide In one slow streame where Philas doth divide Arabia from Aegypt Ore the sand VVhere the red sea by one small necke of land From ours is kept thou Nile doest gently flow Oh who would thinke thou ere so rough couldst grow That sees thee gentle heere but when thy way Steâ—pe Catarackts and craggy rockes would stay Thy never-curbed waues with scorne despise Those petty lets and foaming Iaue the skyes Thy waters sound with noise the neighbouring hills Thy conquering streame with froath grown hoary fills Hence he with fury first assaults that I le Which our forefathers did Abatos stile And those neare rockes which they were pleas'to call The rivers veines because they first of all His swelling growth did show Hence nature did His stragling waues within high mountaines hide Which part thee Nile from Affricke betwixt those As in a vale thy pent vp water flowes At Memphis first thou runn'st in fields and plaines VVhere thy proud streame all bankes and bounds disdaines Thus they secure as if in peace a part Of night discours'd But base Photinus heart Once stain'd with sacred blood could nere be free From horrid thoughts Since Pompey's murder he Counts nought a crime great Pompey's Manes bide Within his breast and vengefull furyes guide His thoughts to monsters new hoping to staine Base hands with Caesars blood which fates ordaine Great Senators shall shed Fate to a slaue That day almost the Senates vengeance gaue The mulct of civill war Oh gods defend Let none that life in Brutus absence end Shall th' execution of Romes tirant be Base Aegypts crime and that example dy Bold man he makes attempt against fates course Nor at close murder aimes by opâ—n force A most vnconquer'd Captaine he assaults So much are mindes embolden'd by their faults He durst the death of Caesar
his sonne can stay No weeping wife her Husband can perswade No nor their houshold gods till they haue made Vowes for their safety none an eye dares cast Back on lou'd Rome although perhaps his last Irrevocably doe the people flye You gods that easily giue prosperity But not maintaine it that great city fill'd VVith natiue soules and conquer'd that would yeeld Mankinde a dwelling is abandon'd now An easie prey to Caesar when a foe Begirts our Souldiers in a forreine Land One little trench nights danger can withstand A soddaine worke rais'd out of earth endures The foes assault th' encamped's sleepe secures Thou Rome a war but noysd art left by all Not one nights safety trusted to thy wall But pardon their amaze when Pompey flyes 'T is time to feare then lest their hearts should rise With hope of future good sad augury bodes A worse ensuing fate the threatning gods Fill heaven and earth and sea with prodigies Vnheard-of Starres by night adorne the skies Heaven seemes to flame and through the Welkin fire Obliquely flyes state-changing comets dire Display to vs their bloud portending haire Deceitfull lightnings flash in clearest ayre Strange formed Meteors the thicke ayre had bred Like Iavelins long like lampes more broadly spread Lightning without one cracke of thunder brings From the cold North his winged fires and flings Them ' gainst our Capitoll small starres that vse Onely by night their lustre to diffuse Now shine in midst of day Cynthia bright In her full orbe like Phoeâ—us at the sight Of earths blacke shades eclipses Titan hidâ—s When mounâ—ed in the midd'st of heaven he rides In cloudes his burning Chariot to enfold The world in darknesse quite day to behâ—ld No Nation hopes as once backe to the East He fled at sight of sad Thyestes feast Fierce Vulcan opts Sicilian Aetna's throate But to the sky her flames she belches noâ— But on th' Italian shore obliquely flings Bloud from her bottome blacke Charibdis brings Sadlyer barke Scyllaes doggs then they were wont The Vestall fire goes out on th'Alban mount Ioues sacrificing fire it selfe divides Into two parts and rises on two sides Like the two Theban Princes funerall fires Earth opes her threatning jawes th' Alpes nodding spires Shake off their snow Thetis does higheâ— now Twixt Libyan Atlas and Spaines Calpe flow The natiue gods did weepe Romes certaine thrall The Lares sweating shew'd the offrings fall Downe in the Temples and as we haue heard Nights fatall Birds in midst of day appear'd VVilde Beasts at midnight from the deserts come And take bold lodging in the streets of Rome Beasts make with mens articulate voice their monâ— Births monstrous both in limmes proportion And number mothers their owne infants fear'd Sibilla's fatall lines were sung and heard Among the people and with bloody armes Cybel's head-shaking Priests pronounc'd their charmes I th' peoples eares howling a balefull mone And Ghosts from out their quiet vrnes did grone Clâ—shing of armour and loude showtes they heare In desert groues and threatnings Ghosts appeare The dwellers neere without the City wall Fled fierce Erynnis had encompast all The towne her snaky haires and burning brand Shaking as when she rul'd Agauâ—'s hand Or the selfe maim'd Lycurgus such was she VVho once when sent by Inno's cruelty Great Hercules new come from Hell did fright Shrill trumpets sounded dismall ayres of night That horrid noise that meeting armies yeild Did then present in midst of Mars his field Rose Sylla's ghost and woes ensuing told Plowmen neere Aniens streames Marius behold Rise from his sepulchre and flye appall'd For these things were the Tuscan Prophets call'd As custome was the sagest of them all Dwelt in Etrurian Luna's desert wall Aruns that lightnings motion vnderstands Birds flight and entrailes op'te he first commands Those monstrous birthes that from no seede did come But horrid issues of a barren wombe To be consum'd in fire then all the towne To be encompast in procession Th' high Priests whose charge it is he next doth vrge The City walles with hallowed rites to purge Through their whole circuit following after these Th' inferiour Priests attir'd Gabinian wise The Vestall Maides with their vail'd Sister come That only may see Troy's Palladium Then those that Sibyll's secret verses keepe And Cybell yearely in still Almon steepe Septemuirâ— that governe sacred Feasts The learned Augurs and Apolloes Priests The noble Flameâ— Salius that beares On his glad neck the target of great Mars VVhilst they the towne compasse in winding tracts Aruns the Lightnings dispers'd fire collects And into th' eaâ—tn with a sad murmure flings Then names the places and to th' altar brings A chosen Bull then wine betwixt his hornes He â—owres and sprinkles ore with Salt and Corne His knife the Bull impatient long denyes Himselfe to so abhor'd a Sacrifice But by the guirded Sacrificers strength Hanging vpon his hornes ore come at length Bending his knees holds forth his conquer'd necke Nor did pure blood come out but poyson black Instead of blood from the wound open'd flyes Aruns grew pale at this sad Sacrifice And the gods wrath he in the Entrailes seekes VVhose colour scar'd him pale they were with streakes Of blacke th' infected blood congealed showes Sprinkled with different palenesse various The liver putrifi'de on th'hostile side VVere threatning veines the lungs their fillets hide A narrow line divides the vitall parts The heart lyes still and corrupt matter starts Through gaping clefts no part oth'cause is hid And that which never wâ—thout danger did Appeare on th' entrailes was a double head One head was sicke feeble and languished The other quicke his pulses nimbly beates By this when he perceâ—u'de what woe the Fates Prepar'de he cri'de aloud all that you doe O gods I must not to the People show Nor with this haplesse sacrifice can I Great Iupiter thy anger pacifie The blacke infernall deities appeare In th' entrailes woes vnspeakable we feare But greater will ensue you gods lend aydâ— And let no credit to our Art be had But counted Tages fiction thus with long Ambages darkly the old Tuscan sung But Figulâ—â— whose care it was aright To know the gods and heavens to whom for sight Of planets and the motion of each starre Not great Aegyptian Memphis might compare Either no lawes direct the world quoth he And all the starres doe moue vncertainely Or if Fates rule a swift destruction Threatens mankinde and th' earth shall Cities downe By earthquakes swallow'de be intemperately Shall ayre grow hot false earth her seedes deny Or shall the waters poyson'de be what kinde Of ruine is it gods what mischiefes finde Your cruelties many dire aspects meete If Saturne cold in midst of heaven should siâ— Aquarius would Deucatious flood haue bred And all the earth with waters overspred If Sol should mount the Nemean Lions backe In flames would all the worlds whole fabrick cracke And all the sky with Sol's burnt chariot blaze These aspects ceâ—se but thou that
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
Is slaine by Iubaes Manritanian bands BVt now sterne Caesar in Spaines farthest coast Makes war on which though little blood it a cost The fortunes of both Generalls much did stand Affranius b and Petreius did command Those campes with aequall power but concord made Their governement more firme their men obay'd Alternally both Generalls commands Heere besides Romans bold Asturian bands Light Vestones and Celâ—a c were that came From France and with th' Iberi mixt their name A little hill not steepe of fertile lands Swells vp on which the old Ilerda stands Before the towne flowes Sicoris soft streame Among Spaines rivers of no small esteeme On which a bridge of stone high arched stood T' endure the violence of a winters flood The next hill the Pompeyans campe did beare Aequall to which Caesar his tents did reare The river in the midst both campes divides From whence the champion fields vpon both sides Extend themselues bâ—yond the ken of man Swift Cinga bounds them that to th' Ocean Carryes no name d Iber where you two joyne That giues the land her name takes from thee thine The first day they encamp'd from fight was free The Captaines stood each others strength to see Numbring the Eagles shame did then begâ—n To damne their rage and hold their fury in One poore dayes respite to their countrey they And broke lawes gaue but Caesar when the day Declin'd did with a suddaine trench enclose His campe about and to deceiue the foes His army in the front kept station To hide the worke and when the morne drew on He sends swift troopes the next hill to surprise That twixt the foes campe and Ilâ—rdâ— lyes Thither the foes with shame and terror make And by a neerer way the hill they take The fight growes there on sword and valour one Relyes the other on possession Laden with armes march Caesar's souldiers vp ' Gainst the steepe hill their following fellowes prop Their backes with targets vp to keepe them so From falling backe their Piles against the foe They could not vse Pileâ— guide their faltring steps Hold as they clime they catch on shrubs and slips Their swords serue not to fight but cut their way This danger Caesar saw and sent away His horse to wheele charging in flanke the foe And all his foot retreat in safety so The skirmish ended thus and neither side Obtain'd the conquest Thus farre fighting try'd What other fates were added to this war Grew from th'vnconstant motions of the ayre For by cold winters dry North-windes the râ—ine The clowds congealeâ— bowells did containe Snowes on the hills and tops of mountaines lye And frosts that at the Sunne 's appearance flye All lands within those Westerne climates are Hardened by Winters dry conâ—ealing aire But when the Sunne now wexed warmer came To take possession of the heavenly Ram Making the aequinoctiall againe When day t' exceede the night in length began When Cynthia from the Sunne 's conjunction But newly come could hardly yet be knowne Boreas sh ' excludes and fire from Eurus takes He all the cloudes that his whole quarter makes Throwes to the West with Nabathaean blasts The foggs that India that Arabia casts Exhal'd and growne vnder the rising Sunne Sky darkening Coâ—us exhalation Which cooles the Indian aire now blowne away From thence make hot the Easterne countreys day Nor could the loades of those thicke clouds fall downe On the mid world strong tempests driue them on From North and South alone does Calpes ground Drinke the moist aire the farthest Westerne bound Where heavens bow'd hinge does with the Ocean meeteâ— The cloudes driven thither could no further get Their vastnesse hardly could involved be In such strait roome as twxit that earth and sky Those clouds then crusht together by the pole Contract in th' ayre and downe amaine they roule In gushing showres lightnings though thicke retaine No flashing fire extinguisht by the raine Iris no colours can distinctly show Circling the ayre with an imperfect bow She drinkes the sea and to the Ocean The ponderous waues fall from the sky againe The Pyrenaean nowes which Titan yet Could never melt flow downe the rockes are wet With broken ice rivers their wonted way Forsâ—ke as channells the whole fields display Themselues and now as shipwrack'd on the seas Floâ—e Caesars tents and drenched companyes The streame breakes downe his campe rivers oreflow His trenon and workes nor an the souldiers goe To forâ—age the drown'd fields no vittaile leaue The wayes by water cover'd all deceiue The fetchers of provision then came on A famine still the sad companion Of other woes the souldiers by no foes Besidg'd are pin'd one his whole wealth bestowes Vpon a crust of bread not dearely sold Oh meagre thirst of gaine for ready gold An hungry â—eller is not wanting there The waters now haue all no hils appeare The joyning rivers like ore-spreading feâ—ns Cover high rockes transported are the dens Of beasts the streame carryes the strugling horse Not touching ground and as of greater force Then th' Ocean repells the Oceans tide The darkened Pole does Phaebus lustre hide And the blacke skies all colours doe confound So lyes the farthest part of the worlds ground Which the cold zone and frosts perpetuall Cover those countreys see no starres at all Their barren ice breedes nothing good alone To temper with their cold the torrid zone So let it be great Ioue so let it be Neptune whose three fork'd scepter rules the sea Thou Ioue with stormes perpetuall fill the ayre Thou Neptune let no rivers home repaire Let no streames finde prone passage to the maine But with the Oceans tide turne backe againe Make the strooke earth to deluge pervious These fields let Rhine oreflow and Rhodanus Hither their course let all great rivers bend Hither Riphaean snowes lakes fountaineâ— sâ—nd Hither all standing pooles from far command And saue from civill war this wretched land But Caesars fortune with this little feare Of his content returnes greater then ere The gods gan favour and deserv'd t' obtaine Pardon the clowded ayre clear'd vp againe The master'd waters Sol in fleeces spred The night presaging a faire morne look'd red Things keepe their place moisture the skye forsakes VVater late high her owne low center takes Trees and emergent hills t' appeare began The fields at sight of day grow drie againe VVhen Sicoris to his owne bankes restor'd Had let the field of twigs and willow bord They made small botes cover'd with bullockes hide In which they reacht the rivers further side So saile the Veneti if Padus flow The Britaines saile on their calme Ocean so So the Aegyptians saile with woven boates Of papery rushes in their Nilus floates The army in these boates transported now Build vp a bridge and fearing th' overflow Of the fierce streame their worke they doe noteâ—nd Vpon the banke but ore the fields extend And lest againe Sicoris should oreflow In severall channells cut he suffers now For his
Antonius to transport the rest of his legions and his horsemen whose slow comming made Caesar defer the fight s This Marcus Antonius after the death of Iulius Caesar had warre with Augustus by whom he was vanquished in a sea fight neere Leucas t When part of the army for want of Ships stay'd at Brundusium vnder Antonius Gabinius and Calenus Caesar impatient of delay resolved to goe himselfe as a messenger to call them in a stormy night and a little vessell some say a boate that would beare twelue oares but vnknowne to all his army he past in a disguised habite through all the courts of guard and went to Sea LVCANS Pharsalia The Sixt Booke The Argument Caesar enclosing Pompey with a fence And trenches of a vast circumference Endures a famine Pompey pestilence Who breaking through escapes a conquerer thence Braue Scaeva's valour and admired fight Into Thessalia Caesar takes his flight Great Pompey followes the description And Poets tales That Thessaly renâ—wne To the dire witch Ericttho Sextus goes This fatall warres sad issue to disclose She quickens a dead carcasse which relates To Sixtus eare his and his fathers fates And craving then deaths freedome to obtaine â—s by a magicke spell dissolv'd againe WHen on neere a hils both Generalls fierce b of fight Had pitch'd their tents and drawne their troâ—pes in sight And the gods saw their match Caesar in Greece â—cornes to take towes or owne the destinyes For any conquest but his sonne in law's The worlds sad howre that to a tryall drawes This wars maine-chance he wishes for alone That cast of fortune that must ruine one Thrice on the hills his battell he array'd And all his threatning Eagles thrice display'd Shewing that he would neuer wanting be T'oreâ—hrow the Roman state But when he see No provocations could his sonne in law Who close entrenched lay to battell draw From thence c he march'd by woody passages And close to take Dyrrachiums fortâ—esses Thither a neerer way great Pompey takes Along the shore and on high Petra makes His campe to guard from thence Dyrrachium towne Safe without men by her owne strength alone No human labour no old structure made Her fence which would though nere so lofty fade By force â—f war or eating time oretaken A strength that by no engine can be shaken Her scite and nature giue the sea profound And steepe waue-breaking rockes enclose it round But for on little hill an Iland 't were Ship-threatning rockes susteine the walls and there Th' Ionian sea rais'd by the Southwindes blasts Her temples shakes and frothy foamings casts Ore houses topps War-thirsty Caesar then Conceiv'd d a cruell hope spreading his men Round on the hills from every side t' enclose With joyned trenches his vnwarâ— foes And all the ground surveying with his eye Is not content alone to fortefie His workes with brittle earth but weighty-stone From quarryes digs vast rockes houses torne downe And Greekish walls brought thither make a fence Able the rams assaulting violence And all wars furious engines to withstand Hills levell'd valleyes rais'd make even lâ—nd In Caesars woâ—kes with trenches wide enclos'd And towâ—â—d castels on the hills dispos'd With a vast circuite he takes in the ground About the pastures woods and shelters round As 't were for deere spreading a wide-stretch'd toile Pompey no roome nor pasture wants for while He thus enclos'd by Caesars trenches is He remooues campes so many rivers rise And their whole course within this circuite run And Caesar tir'd going to looke vpon His workes makes often stayes Let ancient tales To the gods worke adscribe the Trojan wall Let flying Parthians still admire alone The brittle earth-built walls of Babylon As far as Tigris and Orontes run As the Assyrian Kings dominion Stretch'd in the East a suddaine worke of war Encloses heere Lost those great labours are So many hâ—nds would to Abydos put Sestos fill vp the Hellespont and cut Corinth from Pelops land and from the seas Take long Malea for the saâ—lers ease Or mende some part though nature should deny Of the worlds structure Here wars quarters lye Here feedes that blood that in all lands must flow The Libyan and Thessalian overthrow Wars civill fury boiles kept straitly in The woâ—kes first structure Pompey had not seene As who in middest of Sâ—â—ily safe dwell When rough Pelorous barkes can never â—ell As Northren Britâ—ainâ—s câ—nnâ—t heare the rore Of flowing seas agaiâ—st the Kâ—ntâ—sh shore But when himselfe beâ—uâ—t to faâ— he â—new By a vast trench he from safe Petra drew His troopes and ore the hills dispos'd them so To keepe the rankes of his beseidging foe More thin and tooke of the enclosed ground As much in length as in true distance fouâ—d Twixt lofty Rome and th' Aâ—icinian wood VVhere Scythian Dian's ador'd image stood As far as Tyber's streame from Romes walls ends By straight account not as the river bends No trumpets sound piles vncommanded flye Mischeifes oft done as they their javelinstry Both cheifes are kept from fight bâ— greater care Pompey because his pasture feilds are bare The ground he had by hoâ—se orâ—tramâ—led was VVhose horny hoofes trode downe the springing grasse The war-like steed weary'd in those bar'd feilds VVhen the full racke proviâ—der far brought yeilâ—s Tasting his new-brought food falls downe and dyes Treading the ring fail'd by his trembling thighs Their bodyes wast by dire consumption The vnstirr'd aire drâ—wes moist contagion Into a pestilentiall â—loud such breath Nasis exhales from her darke caues beneath Such poison'd aire where bury'd Typhon lyes The ground sends forth apace the army dyes The water from the aire infection taking VVith costiuenesse toâ—ments the bowells aking Dry's their discolour'd skin their blood-swolne eyes Doe breake the fiery plague with botâ—â—es flyes All ore the face their heavy heads fall downe Now more and more suddaine their death was growne Twixt life and death the siâ—kenesse has no roome But death does with the first faint symptomes come By carcasses which all vnburyed lye Among the living growes mortality T was all the souâ—dâ—ers buriall to be cast Out of the tents This plague was staid at last By blasts of strong aire-stirring Northern winde Ships fraught with Corne the shore and sea behinde But Caesar free vpon the spacious hills No pâ—stilence from aire or water feâ—les But as if straight beseig'd a famine strong Is forc'd to suffer corne as yet not sprong To the full height his wretched men he sees Fall to beasts food eate grasse and rob the trees Of leaues and tender twigs and venturing more Death-thrâ—atning herbes from rootes vnknowne they tore What ever they could bite soften with heat Or through their wounded palats downe could get And things that human tables nere did know Content to eate besidg'd c their full fed foe When through the trenches Pompey pleas'd to make His way and freedome of all lands to take He seekes not th' obscure time of duskâ— night Scorning to steale a
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
and not Roman should obey Her prides first spring that impious night had bin That with our chiefes mixt that incestuous queene Who would not pardon Anthonyes mad loue When Caesars flinty breast desires could moue In midst of war when heat of fight rag'd most And in a couâ—t haunted by Pompey's ghost Embrew'd with blood from dire Pharsalias field Could he vnto adultrous Venus yeild And mixe with warlike cares oh shamelesse head A bastard issue and vnlawfull bed Forgetting Pompey to beget a brother To thee faire Iulia on a strumpet mother Suffring the forces of his scattered foes To joyne in Affrike basely he bestowes Time in Aegyptian loue a conquerer Not for himselfe but to bestow on her Whâ—m trusting to her beauty without teares Though gesture sad with loose as if rent haires Drest in a beautious and becomming woe Did Cleopatra meete bespeaking so If mighty Caesar noblenesse there be Aegyptian Lagus royall issued Depos'd and banisht from my fathers state If thy great hand restore my former fate Kneele at thy feet a queene vnto our nation Thou dost appeare a gratious constellation I am not the first woman that hath sway'd The Pharian scepter Aegypt has obay'd A queene not sexe excepted I desire Thee read the will of my deceased Sire Who left me there a partner to enjoy My brothers crowne and marriage bed The boy I know would loue his sister were he free But all his power will and affections be Vnder Photinas girdle To obtaine The crowne I beg not Caesar from this staine Free thou our house command the King to be A King and free from servants tyranny Shall slaues so proud of Pompey's slaughter be Threatning the same which fates avert to thee Caesar 't is shame enough to th' earth and thee His death Photinus gift and guilt should be Her suite in Caesars eares had found small grace But beauty pleades and that incestuous face Prevailes the pleasures of a wanton bed Corrupt the judge The King had purchased His peace with weighty summes of gold which done With sumptuous feasts this glad accord they crowne Her riot forth in highest pompe not yet Transferr'd to Rome did Cleopatra set The house excell'd those temples which men build In wicked'st times the high-arch'd roofes were fill'd With wealth high tresses golden tables bore Nor did carv'd marble only cover ore The house alone th'vnmixt Achates stood And pillars of red marble their feet troad On pauements of rich Onyx pillars there Not coverd with Aegyptian Eben were Eben was timber there and that rich wood Not to adorne but prop the Pallace stood The roomes with Ivory glister'd and each dore Inlay'd with indian shels embellish'd ore With choisest Emeraulds the beds all shone With richest gems and yellow Iasper stone Coverlids rich some purple dy'd in graine Whose tincture was not from one Caldron tane Part woue of glittering gold part scarlet dy As is th'Aegyptian vse of Tapestry The servitours stood by and waiting pages Some different in complexions some in ages Some of blacke Libyan hew some golden haires Thaâ— Caesar yeilds in all his German wars He nere had seene so bright a yellow haire Some stiffe cuâ—l'd loâ—kes on Sun-burnt fore heads weare Besides th' vnhappy strength robb'd company The Eunuch'd youths neere these were standing by Youths of a stronger age yet those so young Scarse any downe darkning their cheekes was sprung Downe sate the Princes and the higher power Caesar her hurtfull face all painted ore Sate Cleopatra not content alone T' enjoy her brothers bed nor Aegypts crowne Laden with pearles the read seas spoyled store On her rich haire and weary'd necke she wore Her snowy breasts their whitenesse did display Thorough the thin Sidonian tiffenay VVrought and extended by the curious hand Of Aegypts workemen Citron tables stand On Ivory tressells such as Caesars eyes Saw not when he King Iuba did surprise O blinde ambitious madnesse to declare Your wealth to him that makes a civill war And tempt an armed guest For though that he Sought not for wealth by waâ—s impiety And the worlds wracke suppose our cheifes of old VVere there compos'd of that poore ages mould Fabriâ—ii Curii graue or that plaine man That Consull from th' Etrurian plowes was tane VVere sitting at those tables whom to Rome VVith such a tryumph he would wish to come In golden plate they fill their feasting bords VVith what the aire the earth or Nile affords VVhat luxury with vaine ambition had Sought through the world and not as hunger bad Beasts foules the gods of Aegypt are devour'd From christall ewers is Niles water powr'd Vpon their hands studded with gemms that shine Their bowles conteine no Mareotike wine But strong and sparkling wines of Meroe To whom few yeeres giue full maturity VVith fragrant Nard and never-fading rose Their heads are crown'd their haire anointed flowes VVith sweetest cinnamon that has not spent His savour in the aire nor lost his sent In forreine climes and fresh Amomum brought From harvests neere at hand there Caesar's taught The riches of the spoiled world to take And is asham'd that he a war did make VVith his poore sonne in law desiring now Some quarâ—ell would twixt him and Aegypt grow VVhen wine and cates had tir'd their glutted pleasure Caesar begins with long discourse to measure The howers of night bespeaking gently thus The linnen vested graue Achoreus Old man devoted to religion And which thine age confirmes despis'd by none Of all the gods to longing eares relate Aegypts originall her site and state VVorship of gods and what doth ere remaine In your old temples character'd explaine The gods that would be knowne to vs vnfold If your forefathers their religion told T' Athenian Plato once when had you ere A guest more worthy or more fit to heare Rumor of Pompey drew our march thus far And fame of you for still in mid'st of war I leasure had of heaven and gods to heare And the stars course nor shall Eudoxus yeare Excell my Consulship But though so much My vertue be my loue of truth be such There 's nought I more desire to know at all Then Niles hid head and strange originall So many years vnknowne grant but to me A certaine hope the head of Nile to see I le leaue off civill war Caesar had done When thus divine Achoreus begun Let it be lawfull Caesar to vnfold Our great forefathers secrets hid of old From the lay people Let who ere suppose It piety to keepe these wonders close I thinke the gods are pleas'd to be made knowne And haue their sacred lawes to people showne Planets which crosse and slacke the tenth sphaeres course Had from the worlds first law their different powers The Sun divides the yeares makes nights and dayes Dimmes other stars with his resplendent rayes And their wilâ—e courses moderates the tides Of Thetis Phabes grouth and waning guides Saturne cold iâ—e and frozen zones obtaines Mars ore the windes and winged lightning reignes