The Second Punick War Between Hannibal, and the Romanes The whole Seventeen Books, Englished from the Latine of Silius Italicus: with A Continuation from the Triumph of Scipio, To the Death of Hannibal. By Tho: Ross |
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The Fourteenth Book.
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 | The Second Punick War Between Hannibal, and the Romanes |  |
391
The Fourteenth Book.
The Argument.
Sicilia describ'd: the wanton KingIs slain. The Libyans, and the Romanes bring,
Into that Land, their Arms. What Victories
Marcellus gaind. Both sides have their supplies
From the divided Land. By Land, and Sea,
To Syracusa's Walls the Romanes lay
Close Siege. What Arts by Archimedes were
Found out, for their repulse. New Aids appear
From Libya by Sea. A Naval Fight,
Wherein some Libyan Ships are put to flight,
Some Captive made, some sunk. Both Armies are
Infected by a Plague: which ceas'd, the War
The Romanes strait renew. To one Assault
Rich Syracusa yields: the Souldier's Fault,
Who Archimedes, as He Figures drew,
Studious, upon the Sand, not knowing, slue,
The General deplores. What praises He
Deserv'd, whose Mercy crown'd his Victory.
Yee Pow'rs of Helicon, now turn your Lays
To Sicily, and the Ortygian Seas:
Sometimes to Daunian Kingdoms your Resorts
To make; sometimes to the Sicanian Ports,
Or Macedonian Palaces to see,
And the Achaïck Land, your Task must be:
Or wandring, where Sardôan Floods enfold
Your Steps; or, where in Cottages, of old,
The Tyrians reign'd, to go; and farthest Day
To visit; and where Earth's vast Globe by Sea
Is Limited: all this the Scenes of War,
That, in their sev'ral Quarters, Acted are
By Mars, require. This therefore We must do,
And, where the War, and Trumpets call, pursue.
To Sicily, and the Ortygian Seas:
Sometimes to Daunian Kingdoms your Resorts
To make; sometimes to the Sicanian Ports,
392
And the Achaïck Land, your Task must be:
Or wandring, where Sardôan Floods enfold
Your Steps; or, where in Cottages, of old,
The Tyrians reign'd, to go; and farthest Day
To visit; and where Earth's vast Globe by Sea
Is Limited: all this the Scenes of War,
That, in their sev'ral Quarters, Acted are
By Mars, require. This therefore We must do,
And, where the War, and Trumpets call, pursue.
Of large extent, a Port of Italy,
Trinacria was, till once Assaulted by
Notus, and raging Waves, against it heav'd
By the Cœrulean Trident, it receiv'd
The Ocean in: for, by an hidden way,
The Earth's torn Entrails the impacted Sea
Asunder threw, and, breaking through the Land
With a full Tide, at once the People, and
The Cities, by the Tempest's secret Force
Bore quite away. Since, keeping that Divorce,
By an impetuous Flood, th'unruly Main
Permits not the Disjoyn'd to meet again.
Trinacria was, till once Assaulted by
Notus, and raging Waves, against it heav'd
By the Cœrulean Trident, it receiv'd
The Ocean in: for, by an hidden way,
The Earth's torn Entrails the impacted Sea
Asunder threw, and, breaking through the Land
With a full Tide, at once the People, and
The Cities, by the Tempest's secret Force
Bore quite away. Since, keeping that Divorce,
By an impetuous Flood, th'unruly Main
Permits not the Disjoyn'd to meet again.
But yet the space, that the two Lands divides,
As Fame reports (so narrow are the Tides,
That run between) Barking of Dogs, and Lays
Of early Birds, to either Side conveys.
So rich the Soil, that it the Garners fills
Of Husband-men: with Olives shades the Hills,
Titles creats to Bacchus, and swift Steeds,
That will endure the sound of Trumpets, breeds.
Cecropian Tapers Hybla, ev'ry where
Renown'd, from her sweet Nectar, kindles: there
Pæonian Streams with secret Sulphur spring;
There, by the Muses grac'd, fam'd Poets Sing
Worthy Apollo, who their Lays diffuse
Through Sacred Groves: whose Syracusian Muse
Makes Helicon resound. The People are
In Language prompt; but, when emploi'd in War,
Their Ports are Crown'd with Trophies, from the Seas.
After the Reign of dire Antiphates,
And Cyclops Rule, Sicanian Plows began
First to turn up the untill'd Ground, and then
From high Pyrene thither People came;
Who on the vacant Land impos'd the Name
Of an Iberian River. After these,
There soon arriv'd stout Bands of Ligures,
By Siculus Commanded, who by War
Possess'd the Land, that still his Name doth bare.
Nor was it Loss of Fame, or held a Shame
For Siculus to change Sicania's Name.
Next Neighb'ring Minos, making his Demands
Of Dædalus, his Eteocretian Bands
Led to the hapless War: and, after He
A Judg of Hell, through cruel Treachery,
And Plots of the Cocalides, was made,
Weary of making War, his People lay'd
Their Arms aside, and dwelt in Sicily.
Trojan Acestes, then, his Progeny
Had mix'd with Trojan Helymus, who there
(Some Bands of Youth soon following) first did rear
Those Walls, that since from Them retain the Name.
Neither are Zancle's Walls obscure in Fame,
Which Saturn, laying down his Sickle there,
Renown'd. But in th'Ennæan Land none are
More fam'd, then those were Founded by the Name,
That thither from Sisyphian Istmus came,
And, in the Ephyræan Offspring, all
Doth much Excel. Here doth Alphæus fall
Into his Arethusa's fishy Springs,
And of a Sacred Crown the Figure brings.
As Fame reports (so narrow are the Tides,
That run between) Barking of Dogs, and Lays
Of early Birds, to either Side conveys.
So rich the Soil, that it the Garners fills
Of Husband-men: with Olives shades the Hills,
Titles creats to Bacchus, and swift Steeds,
That will endure the sound of Trumpets, breeds.
Cecropian Tapers Hybla, ev'ry where
Renown'd, from her sweet Nectar, kindles: there
Pæonian Streams with secret Sulphur spring;
There, by the Muses grac'd, fam'd Poets Sing
393
Through Sacred Groves: whose Syracusian Muse
Makes Helicon resound. The People are
In Language prompt; but, when emploi'd in War,
Their Ports are Crown'd with Trophies, from the Seas.
After the Reign of dire Antiphates,
And Cyclops Rule, Sicanian Plows began
First to turn up the untill'd Ground, and then
From high Pyrene thither People came;
Who on the vacant Land impos'd the Name
Of an Iberian River. After these,
There soon arriv'd stout Bands of Ligures,
By Siculus Commanded, who by War
Possess'd the Land, that still his Name doth bare.
Nor was it Loss of Fame, or held a Shame
For Siculus to change Sicania's Name.
Next Neighb'ring Minos, making his Demands
Of Dædalus, his Eteocretian Bands
Led to the hapless War: and, after He
A Judg of Hell, through cruel Treachery,
And Plots of the Cocalides, was made,
Weary of making War, his People lay'd
Their Arms aside, and dwelt in Sicily.
Trojan Acestes, then, his Progeny
Had mix'd with Trojan Helymus, who there
(Some Bands of Youth soon following) first did rear
Those Walls, that since from Them retain the Name.
Neither are Zancle's Walls obscure in Fame,
Which Saturn, laying down his Sickle there,
Renown'd. But in th'Ennæan Land none are
More fam'd, then those were Founded by the Name,
That thither from Sisyphian Istmus came,
And, in the Ephyræan Offspring, all
Doth much Excel. Here doth Alphæus fall
394
And of a Sacred Crown the Figure brings.
But in Trinacrian Caves the Lemnian God
Delights, and there hath settled his Abode.
For feeding, under ground, in Forges vast,
Lipare from her hollow Head doth cast
A sulph'rous Smoak. But her continual Fires
Ætna, inflam'd, from trembling Rocks expires;
While, with included Groans, the raging Sea
She imitates, and restless, Night, and Day,
Through secret Ruptures murm'ring Thunders. So
From Phlegethon the flaming Billows flow,
And from the melting Caverns rolls (among
Those pitchy Tempests) half-burnt Rocks along.
But though, within, it boileth with so Dire
A Storm of Flames, and still-encreasing Fire:
Yet White upon the Top, 'tis strange to tell,
How near those very Flames the Snow doth dwell;
How th'burning Rocks are with Eternal Cold
Congeal'd, and horrid; and how they behold
Perpetual Winter on the Mountain's Head,
And Snow with glowing Ashes overspread.
What should I say of the Æölian Land?
That Dwelling of the Winds, and Bars ordain'd
'Gainst Storms? Here, wash'd by the Iönian Main,
Turn'd to that Land where Pelops once did Reign,
Pachynus Cliffs appear: There opposite
To Libya, and the raging Cauri's Spite,
The noble Lilybæum hath in view
The bending Chelæ. A third Frontier to
The Shore extended, and to Italy
Oppos'd, upon the other Side, the high
Pelorus riseth, with an Hill of Sand.
Delights, and there hath settled his Abode.
For feeding, under ground, in Forges vast,
Lipare from her hollow Head doth cast
A sulph'rous Smoak. But her continual Fires
Ætna, inflam'd, from trembling Rocks expires;
While, with included Groans, the raging Sea
She imitates, and restless, Night, and Day,
Through secret Ruptures murm'ring Thunders. So
From Phlegethon the flaming Billows flow,
And from the melting Caverns rolls (among
Those pitchy Tempests) half-burnt Rocks along.
But though, within, it boileth with so Dire
A Storm of Flames, and still-encreasing Fire:
Yet White upon the Top, 'tis strange to tell,
How near those very Flames the Snow doth dwell;
How th'burning Rocks are with Eternal Cold
Congeal'd, and horrid; and how they behold
Perpetual Winter on the Mountain's Head,
And Snow with glowing Ashes overspread.
What should I say of the Æölian Land?
That Dwelling of the Winds, and Bars ordain'd
'Gainst Storms? Here, wash'd by the Iönian Main,
Turn'd to that Land where Pelops once did Reign,
Pachynus Cliffs appear: There opposite
To Libya, and the raging Cauri's Spite,
The noble Lilybæum hath in view
The bending Chelæ. A third Frontier to
The Shore extended, and to Italy
Oppos'd, upon the other Side, the high
Pelorus riseth, with an Hill of Sand.
Here long in Peace did Hieron command
His People, with a milde, and easy Sway,
And ne're the Hearts of those, that did Obey,
With cruel Fears perplex'd! nor could He be
Induc'd to violate that Faith, which he
Had at the Altars sworn. For many Years
His Social League, with the Ausonian Peers,
Entire he kept. But, when the Fates dissolv'd
His aged Life, the Fatal Crown devolv'd
To's eldest Nephew, and unto that Court
(Of late so Good) unruly Minds resort.
Not sixteen Years of Age the King had known,
When he Eclips'd the Glory of his Throne;
Unable to sustain his Kingdom's Weight,
Too Confident of his too fickle State.
In a short time all Crime's protected by
The Force of Arms; there all Impiety
Familiarly was known: the very Name
Of Justice banish'd, and a modest Shame
Was in the King held Vile. His Mother's high
Descent from Pyrrhus, the great Family
Of antient Æäcus, and Thetis Son,
(In Verse Eternal) spurr'd this Fury on
To that so great a Precipice. And strait
His Breast's invaded by a sudden Heat,
To favour the Designs of Libya,
And, this his Sin admitting no Delay,
He makes new Leagues; by which it was agreed,
That the Sidonian Army should recede
From Sicily, if they the Conquest gain'd.
But yet his Punishment for this remain'd
Still fix'd, and dire Eirnnys him a Tomb
Ev'n in that Land deny'd, where he no room
Would yield to his Ally. For some, whom Ire,
And dayly Fears, invited to Conspire,
(Resolv'd his Youth no longer to abide,
Inflam'd with cruel Lusts, and bloody Pride,
And adding to his Tyranny abhorr'd,
And vilest Acts) him slew. And then the Sword
No measure knew. To this the Slaughter they
Of Women add, and seizing, as a Prey,
His guiltless Sisters, kill them. Thus rag'd new
Recover'd Liberty in Arms, and threw
The Yoak away. Some Punick Camps require;
Some the Italian, and known Friends desire:
Nor was there wanting some, that, full of Rage,
Refus'd in League with either to engage.
395
And ne're the Hearts of those, that did Obey,
With cruel Fears perplex'd! nor could He be
Induc'd to violate that Faith, which he
Had at the Altars sworn. For many Years
His Social League, with the Ausonian Peers,
Entire he kept. But, when the Fates dissolv'd
His aged Life, the Fatal Crown devolv'd
To's eldest Nephew, and unto that Court
(Of late so Good) unruly Minds resort.
Not sixteen Years of Age the King had known,
When he Eclips'd the Glory of his Throne;
Unable to sustain his Kingdom's Weight,
Too Confident of his too fickle State.
In a short time all Crime's protected by
The Force of Arms; there all Impiety
Familiarly was known: the very Name
Of Justice banish'd, and a modest Shame
Was in the King held Vile. His Mother's high
Descent from Pyrrhus, the great Family
Of antient Æäcus, and Thetis Son,
(In Verse Eternal) spurr'd this Fury on
To that so great a Precipice. And strait
His Breast's invaded by a sudden Heat,
To favour the Designs of Libya,
And, this his Sin admitting no Delay,
He makes new Leagues; by which it was agreed,
That the Sidonian Army should recede
From Sicily, if they the Conquest gain'd.
But yet his Punishment for this remain'd
Still fix'd, and dire Eirnnys him a Tomb
Ev'n in that Land deny'd, where he no room
Would yield to his Ally. For some, whom Ire,
And dayly Fears, invited to Conspire,
396
Inflam'd with cruel Lusts, and bloody Pride,
And adding to his Tyranny abhorr'd,
And vilest Acts) him slew. And then the Sword
No measure knew. To this the Slaughter they
Of Women add, and seizing, as a Prey,
His guiltless Sisters, kill them. Thus rag'd new
Recover'd Liberty in Arms, and threw
The Yoak away. Some Punick Camps require;
Some the Italian, and known Friends desire:
Nor was there wanting some, that, full of Rage,
Refus'd in League with either to engage.
Such were Trinacria's Broils, such was the State
Of Sicily, by the young Tyran's Fate;
When high in Honour (for, as 'twice before,
Then, a third Time, He Latian Fasces bore)
Marcellus with his Fleet arriv'd upon
Zanclæan Coasts: and, when all things were known,
The Murther of the King; th'ambiguous Minde
O'th' People; and what Places Arms had join'd
With Carthage; what their Strength; who firmly stood
In Amity with Rome; what vain, and proud
Conceits then Arethusa entertain'd,
Who at the Gates his Entrance did withstand;
Close to the War he falls, and, with an high
Incensed Breast, lets the whole Fury fly
Of's Arms, through all the Neighb'ring places. So
Himself, from Rhodope, doth Boreas throw,
And with Tenth Waves against the Earth doth raise
The Main, and, following th'ejected Seas,
Raves with his roaring Wings. By the first War
Leontine Territories wasted are;
A Land, where once the cruel Læstrigon
Did reign. The General went, Furious, on;
To whom it seem'd all one, if slowly He
Subdu'd the Græcian Forces, as to be
O'recome. Through all the Plain they, Frighted, fly
So, as you'd think they were a Company
Of Women, that his Men at first withstood,
And Ceres Fields made Fertile with their Blood.
In ev'ry Place they 're slain: nor, as they run,
Would furious Mars permit them Death to shun.
Such, as hop'd Flight some Safety might afford,
The General prevented with his Sword:
And, urging on his Troops, that seem'd too slow,
With his Shield's Point, exclaims: Go, quickly Mow
With your keen Swords that coward People down;
That in their Wrastling Exercise, alone,
Are Skill'd; whose lazy Youth with Joy affect
The slender Praise, to be with Olive deckt;
When they those easy Conflicts, in a Shade,
Have undergon, and a poor Conquest made.
This must your onely Honour be, if You
The Enemy, as soon as Seen, subdue.
This from the Gen'ral heard, the Army, strait,
More furiously fall on, and press on Fate:
Now the sole Contest 'mong themselves remain'd,
Who should the Foremost be; what valiant Hand
The rest Excel in noblest Spoils. Not more
Enrag'd, the Billows of Euripus roar,
Broken 'gainst Caphareus: Propontis so
The bellowing Sea, with Violence, doth throw
From its strait Mouth: nor near the farthest Sun,
With greater Tumult, doth the Ocean run,
And strike th'Herculean Pillars. Yet in Heat
Of Blood, and Fury of a Fight so great,
Was the milde Grace of Noble Valour fam'd.
A Tyrrhene Souldier, Alylus Nam'd,
At Thrasimenus Lake once Captive made,
The milde Commands, and easy Bondage, had
Of Berra undergone, and Home agen,
With his kinde Master's leave, return'd: and then,
Resuming Arms, his former Misery
Reveng'd in the Sicilian War: while He
Was mingled, in the midst of all the Fight,
And did by Chance on's Master Berra light,
(Who, to the League from Carthage sent, did there,
Entring the Social War, an Helmet wear
Of Brass, that, shutting close, secur'd his Face)
The Youth He with his Sword invades, and as,
Fainting with feeble Steps, he left his Stand,
And Backward went, o'rethrew him on the Sand.
Hearing the Conqu'rour's Voice, poor Berra, strait
His fearful, lingring Soul from instant Fate
Recov'ring, from his Chin the Fastning tares
Of his then treach'rous Helmet; and to Pray'rs
Had farther Language added: but, amaz'd
At that so sudden Sight, Asylus gaz'd
On his known Face, and, as his Sword he stai'd
With's Hand, with Groans, and Tears obortive said;
Oh! beg not Life, I pray, or Doubtful so
Entreat: 'tis just, that I defend my Fo.
He the best Souldier is, who first, and last
In War, defends his Faith. Me, first, Thou hast
Rescu'd from Death, and, not preserved by
Thy Fo, didst him preserve. I'de not Deny
My Self (who have endur'd so much of Ill)
To be Unworthy, and deserving still
To fall into things Worse, should this my Hand
Not make thy Way where Fire, and Sword withstand.
And kindly raising him, as this he said,
With Life the Benefits of Life repay'd.
Of Sicily, by the young Tyran's Fate;
When high in Honour (for, as 'twice before,
Then, a third Time, He Latian Fasces bore)
Marcellus with his Fleet arriv'd upon
Zanclæan Coasts: and, when all things were known,
The Murther of the King; th'ambiguous Minde
O'th' People; and what Places Arms had join'd
With Carthage; what their Strength; who firmly stood
In Amity with Rome; what vain, and proud
Conceits then Arethusa entertain'd,
Who at the Gates his Entrance did withstand;
Close to the War he falls, and, with an high
Incensed Breast, lets the whole Fury fly
Of's Arms, through all the Neighb'ring places. So
Himself, from Rhodope, doth Boreas throw,
And with Tenth Waves against the Earth doth raise
The Main, and, following th'ejected Seas,
Raves with his roaring Wings. By the first War
Leontine Territories wasted are;
A Land, where once the cruel Læstrigon
Did reign. The General went, Furious, on;
397
Subdu'd the Græcian Forces, as to be
O'recome. Through all the Plain they, Frighted, fly
So, as you'd think they were a Company
Of Women, that his Men at first withstood,
And Ceres Fields made Fertile with their Blood.
In ev'ry Place they 're slain: nor, as they run,
Would furious Mars permit them Death to shun.
Such, as hop'd Flight some Safety might afford,
The General prevented with his Sword:
And, urging on his Troops, that seem'd too slow,
With his Shield's Point, exclaims: Go, quickly Mow
With your keen Swords that coward People down;
That in their Wrastling Exercise, alone,
Are Skill'd; whose lazy Youth with Joy affect
The slender Praise, to be with Olive deckt;
When they those easy Conflicts, in a Shade,
Have undergon, and a poor Conquest made.
This must your onely Honour be, if You
The Enemy, as soon as Seen, subdue.
This from the Gen'ral heard, the Army, strait,
More furiously fall on, and press on Fate:
Now the sole Contest 'mong themselves remain'd,
Who should the Foremost be; what valiant Hand
The rest Excel in noblest Spoils. Not more
Enrag'd, the Billows of Euripus roar,
Broken 'gainst Caphareus: Propontis so
The bellowing Sea, with Violence, doth throw
From its strait Mouth: nor near the farthest Sun,
With greater Tumult, doth the Ocean run,
And strike th'Herculean Pillars. Yet in Heat
Of Blood, and Fury of a Fight so great,
Was the milde Grace of Noble Valour fam'd.
A Tyrrhene Souldier, Alylus Nam'd,
398
The milde Commands, and easy Bondage, had
Of Berra undergone, and Home agen,
With his kinde Master's leave, return'd: and then,
Resuming Arms, his former Misery
Reveng'd in the Sicilian War: while He
Was mingled, in the midst of all the Fight,
And did by Chance on's Master Berra light,
(Who, to the League from Carthage sent, did there,
Entring the Social War, an Helmet wear
Of Brass, that, shutting close, secur'd his Face)
The Youth He with his Sword invades, and as,
Fainting with feeble Steps, he left his Stand,
And Backward went, o'rethrew him on the Sand.
Hearing the Conqu'rour's Voice, poor Berra, strait
His fearful, lingring Soul from instant Fate
Recov'ring, from his Chin the Fastning tares
Of his then treach'rous Helmet; and to Pray'rs
Had farther Language added: but, amaz'd
At that so sudden Sight, Asylus gaz'd
On his known Face, and, as his Sword he stai'd
With's Hand, with Groans, and Tears obortive said;
Oh! beg not Life, I pray, or Doubtful so
Entreat: 'tis just, that I defend my Fo.
He the best Souldier is, who first, and last
In War, defends his Faith. Me, first, Thou hast
Rescu'd from Death, and, not preserved by
Thy Fo, didst him preserve. I'de not Deny
My Self (who have endur'd so much of Ill)
To be Unworthy, and deserving still
To fall into things Worse, should this my Hand
Not make thy Way where Fire, and Sword withstand.
And kindly raising him, as this he said,
With Life the Benefits of Life repay'd.
399
His first Attempts in Sicily thus blest
With Quiet; Troops Marcellus forward prest,
And his Victorious Eagles turning to
The Ephyreian Walls, he straitway drew
About the Syracusian Towr's a Line:
Yet did his love of Fighting now decline.
With grave Advice he strives to take away
Their blind Resolves, and Fury to allay.
But (lest perhaps they might refuse, or fear
To credit Offers, that so Gentle were)
The Siege with strictest Guards still forward went,
And He, with cautious Arms, then more intent,
Watch'd, fearless, in the Front, with secret Care
Designing Dangers, not expected there.
So in the Po, or in Cayster's Streams,
Swims the White Swan, and, while her Body seems
Unmov'd, with the prone River forward goes,
And with her Feet through silent Surges rows.
With Quiet; Troops Marcellus forward prest,
And his Victorious Eagles turning to
The Ephyreian Walls, he straitway drew
About the Syracusian Towr's a Line:
Yet did his love of Fighting now decline.
With grave Advice he strives to take away
Their blind Resolves, and Fury to allay.
But (lest perhaps they might refuse, or fear
To credit Offers, that so Gentle were)
The Siege with strictest Guards still forward went,
And He, with cautious Arms, then more intent,
Watch'd, fearless, in the Front, with secret Care
Designing Dangers, not expected there.
So in the Po, or in Cayster's Streams,
Swims the White Swan, and, while her Body seems
Unmov'd, with the prone River forward goes,
And with her Feet through silent Surges rows.
But, while the Town, Besieg'd, still doubtful stands,
What to resolve; their Arms, and Social Bands,
Th'excited People, and the Cities sent
T'enforce the Camp. Thither Messana went,
That lies upon the Sea, from Latian Ground
Too far disjoyn'd, by Oscan Tribes renown'd:
Then Catinè, too near Typhæus Flame,
And for two pious Brothers known to Fame;
And Camerina, not by Fates to be
Once mov'd: then Hybla, that presumes with Thee
(Hymettus) Hives of Nectar to compare.
Selinis, that so many Palms doth bear;
And Myle, once a Port secure, but now
The Shore alone a Refuge doth allow,
And dangerous to such as scape the Sea.
Then lofty Eryx and Centuripe,
From her high Mountain, with Entella, came,
Entella plentiful in Wine, a Name
To Troy's Acestes dear. Then Tapsos, and
Acra, that high on Icy Hills doth stand.
With these an Agathyrnian Band was there,
And Tyndaris, that glories in her Pair
Of Læda's Sons, and Agragas, that breeds,
And brings her num'rous Troops of Warlike Steeds,
That all the Air inflame with Neighing loud,
And roll unto the Walls a dusty Cloud.
Their Leader Grosphus was, whose carved Shield
The Monument of antient Torture held;
A fierce Bull's Image; which, while Bodies, burn'd
By Flames put underneath, to bellowings turn'd
Sad Groans, and you'd believe some Oxen goar'd,
And driven from their Stalls, then truly roar'd.
But, this reveng'd, th'Inventer of so Dire
An Art; did, bellowing, in his Bull expire.
Thither came Hesa, thither Gela came,
Gela, that from the River takes her Name:
And the Palîci, where the Perjur'd are
Tortur'd by present Punishment: and there
Trojan Acesta was, and Acys, who
Through Ætna's Vales into the Sea doth flow,
His dear Nymph washing with a pleasant Stream,
Once in thy Flame a Rival, Polypheme:
But, while He fled thy Barb'rous Rage, into
Small Streams dissolv'd, at once, he scap'd his Fo,
And his victorious Waters mix'd among
His Galathêa's Waves. With These, along
Came Those, that murm'ring Alabis; and those,
That Hyspa drink, and the perspicuous Flows
Of clear Achates: Vagedrusa too,
And Hypates, whose Chanel runs so low:
Pantagya likewise, easy to be past,
Through his small Current; and, which runs so fast,
The Yellow-Stream'd Siméthus. Thermæ then,
Of old enrich'd with Muses, Arm'd her Men,
Where Hymera descends into the Seas:
For it divides it self two sev'ral Ways,
And runs to East, and West, with equal Force.
Two-Crown'd Nebrodes keepeth this Divorce;
Then which, no Hill with a Sicanian Shade
Doth rise more Rich: this lofty Enna made
A sacred Fortress to the Groves of Gods.
Here a dark Path to Stygian Abodes
A Cave, that opens wide the gaping Ground,
Detects, through which a strange new Lover found
A Way to unknown Coasts. Pluto this way,
Inflam'd with Lust, durst venture up to Day,
And, leaving doleful Acheron, above,
On the forbidden Earth, his Chariot drove.
Then, having Ravish'd the Ennæan Maid;
In Haste, retiring, his black Steeds, affrai'd
To view the Face of Heav'n, and flying Day,
Drove back to Styx, and hid in Shades his Prey.
Petreia Romane Leaders then desir'd:
And Romane Leagues Callipolis requir'd;
And Eugion, arch'd with Stone: and there they see
Hadranum, and Hergentum, Melitè,
Proud of her stately Webs, and wealthy Store
Of Wool: Melactè, with a Fishy Shore:
And Cephalædias, near the stormy Main;
Whose boist'rous Coast, in the Cœrulean Plain,
Feeds the vast Whales: the Tauromenians too,
Where Ships by dire Charybdis, in their view,
In quick-devouring Gulphs are swallow'd down,
And from the Bottom strait again are thrown
Up to the Stars. These Latine Arms approv'd,
And under the Laurentine Ensigns mov'd.
What to resolve; their Arms, and Social Bands,
Th'excited People, and the Cities sent
T'enforce the Camp. Thither Messana went,
That lies upon the Sea, from Latian Ground
Too far disjoyn'd, by Oscan Tribes renown'd:
Then Catinè, too near Typhæus Flame,
And for two pious Brothers known to Fame;
And Camerina, not by Fates to be
Once mov'd: then Hybla, that presumes with Thee
(Hymettus) Hives of Nectar to compare.
Selinis, that so many Palms doth bear;
And Myle, once a Port secure, but now
The Shore alone a Refuge doth allow,
And dangerous to such as scape the Sea.
Then lofty Eryx and Centuripe,
400
Entella plentiful in Wine, a Name
To Troy's Acestes dear. Then Tapsos, and
Acra, that high on Icy Hills doth stand.
With these an Agathyrnian Band was there,
And Tyndaris, that glories in her Pair
Of Læda's Sons, and Agragas, that breeds,
And brings her num'rous Troops of Warlike Steeds,
That all the Air inflame with Neighing loud,
And roll unto the Walls a dusty Cloud.
Their Leader Grosphus was, whose carved Shield
The Monument of antient Torture held;
A fierce Bull's Image; which, while Bodies, burn'd
By Flames put underneath, to bellowings turn'd
Sad Groans, and you'd believe some Oxen goar'd,
And driven from their Stalls, then truly roar'd.
But, this reveng'd, th'Inventer of so Dire
An Art; did, bellowing, in his Bull expire.
Thither came Hesa, thither Gela came,
Gela, that from the River takes her Name:
And the Palîci, where the Perjur'd are
Tortur'd by present Punishment: and there
Trojan Acesta was, and Acys, who
Through Ætna's Vales into the Sea doth flow,
His dear Nymph washing with a pleasant Stream,
Once in thy Flame a Rival, Polypheme:
But, while He fled thy Barb'rous Rage, into
Small Streams dissolv'd, at once, he scap'd his Fo,
And his victorious Waters mix'd among
His Galathêa's Waves. With These, along
Came Those, that murm'ring Alabis; and those,
That Hyspa drink, and the perspicuous Flows
Of clear Achates: Vagedrusa too,
And Hypates, whose Chanel runs so low:
401
Through his small Current; and, which runs so fast,
The Yellow-Stream'd Siméthus. Thermæ then,
Of old enrich'd with Muses, Arm'd her Men,
Where Hymera descends into the Seas:
For it divides it self two sev'ral Ways,
And runs to East, and West, with equal Force.
Two-Crown'd Nebrodes keepeth this Divorce;
Then which, no Hill with a Sicanian Shade
Doth rise more Rich: this lofty Enna made
A sacred Fortress to the Groves of Gods.
Here a dark Path to Stygian Abodes
A Cave, that opens wide the gaping Ground,
Detects, through which a strange new Lover found
A Way to unknown Coasts. Pluto this way,
Inflam'd with Lust, durst venture up to Day,
And, leaving doleful Acheron, above,
On the forbidden Earth, his Chariot drove.
Then, having Ravish'd the Ennæan Maid;
In Haste, retiring, his black Steeds, affrai'd
To view the Face of Heav'n, and flying Day,
Drove back to Styx, and hid in Shades his Prey.
Petreia Romane Leaders then desir'd:
And Romane Leagues Callipolis requir'd;
And Eugion, arch'd with Stone: and there they see
Hadranum, and Hergentum, Melitè,
Proud of her stately Webs, and wealthy Store
Of Wool: Melactè, with a Fishy Shore:
And Cephalædias, near the stormy Main;
Whose boist'rous Coast, in the Cœrulean Plain,
Feeds the vast Whales: the Tauromenians too,
Where Ships by dire Charybdis, in their view,
In quick-devouring Gulphs are swallow'd down,
And from the Bottom strait again are thrown
402
And under the Laurentine Ensigns mov'd.
The rest of the Sicilian People there,
With Elysæan Vows, in Arms appear.
A thousand were the Agathyrnian Bands;
As many Strongylos, that South-ward stands:
A thousand sent Fascellina, the Seat
Of the Thoantean Goddess: Thrice as great
A Number gave Panormos; some, that kill'd
Wilde Beasts in Chase; and some in Fishing skill'd;
And some, that could the Birds from Heav'n allure.
Herbesos then, nor Naulochum secure
Of Danger sate: nor, with her Shady Plains,
Morgentia from this treach'rous War abstains.
Joyn'd with Nemæan Forces, thither came
Amastra; thither Thisse small in Name;
Netum with these, and Micitè combin'd;
With these Achetum, and Sidonia joyn'd;
And Depane; and, vex'd with roaring Waves,
Helorus; and Triochala, by Slaves
Soon after Wasted; Arabeia fierce;
Iëtas high; and Tabas, to converse
With Arms most ready; and Cossyra small,
And Mutè, which not Megara at all
Exceeds in Bigness, came, with joynt consent,
To Libya's Aid; with Caulon eminent
For her calm Sea; when She the Halcyon hears
Singing, and the scarce-moving Water bears
The swimming Nests on Surges strangely still'd.
With Elysæan Vows, in Arms appear.
A thousand were the Agathyrnian Bands;
As many Strongylos, that South-ward stands:
A thousand sent Fascellina, the Seat
Of the Thoantean Goddess: Thrice as great
A Number gave Panormos; some, that kill'd
Wilde Beasts in Chase; and some in Fishing skill'd;
And some, that could the Birds from Heav'n allure.
Herbesos then, nor Naulochum secure
Of Danger sate: nor, with her Shady Plains,
Morgentia from this treach'rous War abstains.
Joyn'd with Nemæan Forces, thither came
Amastra; thither Thisse small in Name;
Netum with these, and Micitè combin'd;
With these Achetum, and Sidonia joyn'd;
And Depane; and, vex'd with roaring Waves,
Helorus; and Triochala, by Slaves
Soon after Wasted; Arabeia fierce;
Iëtas high; and Tabas, to converse
With Arms most ready; and Cossyra small,
And Mutè, which not Megara at all
Exceeds in Bigness, came, with joynt consent,
To Libya's Aid; with Caulon eminent
For her calm Sea; when She the Halcyon hears
Singing, and the scarce-moving Water bears
The swimming Nests on Surges strangely still'd.
But the fam'd City (Syracusa) fill'd
Her spacious Walls with various Arms, and Men,
Collected from all parts. The People, then
Facile, and ready Tumults to desire,
Their Leaders with this boasting Language Fire;
That their four Tow'rs, and Walls, no Fo, as yet,
Had entred; That their Fathers saw how great
A Cloud, so inaccessible a Town,
Through situation of her Port, had thrown
Upon the Salaminian, Victories,
And Eastern Trophies; when, before their Eyes,
Three hundred Ships, and Athens, in whose Ayd
The Ruins of the Persian King were made
To serve, in one great Wrack, while they sustain
No Loss at all, were swallow'd in the Main.
Two Brothers (born in Carthage, and ally'd
To Carthaginians, by the Mother's side,
Whose Father, a Sicilian, banished
From Syracuse, had them in Libya bred;
In whom Sicanian Levity conspir'd,
With Tyrian Fraud, the giddy People fir'd.
Which when Marcellus saw, and that no Cure
The Wounds of their Sedition would endure,
(The War still growing, from the Fo, more high)
He streight attests the Gods of Sicily,
Thy Fountains, Arethusa, and the Lakes,
And Rivers; That unwillingly he takes
The War in hand, and that those Arms (which He
Ne're of himself assum'd) the Enemy
Forc'd him to bear. With that, the Wall he storms,
And Thunders on the City with his Arms.
An equal Fury them together all
Draws on: on either side they Fight, and Fall.
With many Cov'rings seeming to invade
The Stars in height, and by a Græcian made
Ten Stories high, which Shades of many a Grove
Consum'd, a Tow'r there was, from whence they strove
To roll down mighty Stones, and Engines, which
With Fire were Arm'd, and pow'r down scalding Pitch.
Here Cimber, at a distance having thrown
A burning Lamp, the Fatal Weapon on
The side had fix'd: The Fire, assisted by
The Force of Wind, quite through the Tow'r doth fly,
And through the lofty Machine's sev'ral Floors,
Encreasing, climbes, and trembling Beams devours
With rapid Flames, which (Smoak, like Billows, thick
To Heav'n ascending) soon Victorious, lick
The shining Top. All places, fill'd with Smoak,
And Clouds of Darkness as, with a fierce Stroak
Of Thunder dash'd, none scaping it, they all,
In one vast ruin, into Ashes fall.
Her spacious Walls with various Arms, and Men,
Collected from all parts. The People, then
Facile, and ready Tumults to desire,
Their Leaders with this boasting Language Fire;
403
Had entred; That their Fathers saw how great
A Cloud, so inaccessible a Town,
Through situation of her Port, had thrown
Upon the Salaminian, Victories,
And Eastern Trophies; when, before their Eyes,
Three hundred Ships, and Athens, in whose Ayd
The Ruins of the Persian King were made
To serve, in one great Wrack, while they sustain
No Loss at all, were swallow'd in the Main.
Two Brothers (born in Carthage, and ally'd
To Carthaginians, by the Mother's side,
Whose Father, a Sicilian, banished
From Syracuse, had them in Libya bred;
In whom Sicanian Levity conspir'd,
With Tyrian Fraud, the giddy People fir'd.
Which when Marcellus saw, and that no Cure
The Wounds of their Sedition would endure,
(The War still growing, from the Fo, more high)
He streight attests the Gods of Sicily,
Thy Fountains, Arethusa, and the Lakes,
And Rivers; That unwillingly he takes
The War in hand, and that those Arms (which He
Ne're of himself assum'd) the Enemy
Forc'd him to bear. With that, the Wall he storms,
And Thunders on the City with his Arms.
An equal Fury them together all
Draws on: on either side they Fight, and Fall.
With many Cov'rings seeming to invade
The Stars in height, and by a Græcian made
Ten Stories high, which Shades of many a Grove
Consum'd, a Tow'r there was, from whence they strove
To roll down mighty Stones, and Engines, which
With Fire were Arm'd, and pow'r down scalding Pitch.
404
A burning Lamp, the Fatal Weapon on
The side had fix'd: The Fire, assisted by
The Force of Wind, quite through the Tow'r doth fly,
And through the lofty Machine's sev'ral Floors,
Encreasing, climbes, and trembling Beams devours
With rapid Flames, which (Smoak, like Billows, thick
To Heav'n ascending) soon Victorious, lick
The shining Top. All places, fill'd with Smoak,
And Clouds of Darkness as, with a fierce Stroak
Of Thunder dash'd, none scaping it, they all,
In one vast ruin, into Ashes fall.
Like Fortune on the other Side, by Sea,
The Ships attended. For, when nearer they
Unto the City, and the Houses, drew,
Where the Port brings the calmed Waters to
The Walls, a Mischief Unexpected there
Fills (by a new Device) their Hearts with Fear.
A Beam (exactly Smooth, and ev'ry where
Like a Ship's Mast, the Knots shav'd off) did bear
Strong Grapples, firmly fix'd, and seising all
That Fought, from the high Rampart of the Wall,
Caught them aloft with Hooks of Ir'n, and to
The midst of all the City, backward, threw.
Nor did this Force thus toss the Men alone,
But, when the Steel, impuls'd, was downward thrown
Upon a Ship, and the impetuous Stroak
Fix'd the tenacious Teeth within the Oak,
Aloft the Vessel's tost, and suddenly
The Chains, with Art, let loose (most Sad to see)
With such a Force into the Sea agen
Is thrown, that it there sinks with all the Men.
Beside these Stratagems, the Wall, by Art
Made hollow, narrow Loop-holes did impart;
Through which, upon the Fo they might, secure,
Discharge their Weapons, from the Counter-Mure:
And this so cunningly Contriv'd, the Fo,
Through the same Way, no Shafts again could throw.
The Ships attended. For, when nearer they
Unto the City, and the Houses, drew,
Where the Port brings the calmed Waters to
The Walls, a Mischief Unexpected there
Fills (by a new Device) their Hearts with Fear.
A Beam (exactly Smooth, and ev'ry where
Like a Ship's Mast, the Knots shav'd off) did bear
Strong Grapples, firmly fix'd, and seising all
That Fought, from the high Rampart of the Wall,
Caught them aloft with Hooks of Ir'n, and to
The midst of all the City, backward, threw.
Nor did this Force thus toss the Men alone,
But, when the Steel, impuls'd, was downward thrown
Upon a Ship, and the impetuous Stroak
Fix'd the tenacious Teeth within the Oak,
Aloft the Vessel's tost, and suddenly
The Chains, with Art, let loose (most Sad to see)
With such a Force into the Sea agen
Is thrown, that it there sinks with all the Men.
Beside these Stratagems, the Wall, by Art
Made hollow, narrow Loop-holes did impart;
405
Discharge their Weapons, from the Counter-Mure:
And this so cunningly Contriv'd, the Fo,
Through the same Way, no Shafts again could throw.
Thus Græcian Policy, and Art excell'd
Their Arms, and both by Sea, and Land, repell'd
Marcellus, with his mighty Threatnings, and
Before the Walls a dreadful War doth stand.
The Man (th'Isthmiack Swains Immortal Fame)
In Wit, with ease, all other overcame,
That then the World produc'd. Not rich; but One,
To whom the Heavens, and all the Earth was known.
He, by the Sun's obscured Rays, at Birth
Of Day, could tell what Storms would fall: if Earth
Were Fix'd, or did Instable hang: why, bound
By certain Leagues, this Globe's encompass'd round
By Thetis Waves: the Labours of the Sea,
And Moon, what Laws the Ocean's Tides obey.
Nor is it vain to think, that He the Sand
Of the vast World could Count; who, by the Hand
Of a weak Woman, could, with so much Skill,
Draw Ships, and heaps of Stones against an Hill.
Their Arms, and both by Sea, and Land, repell'd
Marcellus, with his mighty Threatnings, and
Before the Walls a dreadful War doth stand.
The Man (th'Isthmiack Swains Immortal Fame)
In Wit, with ease, all other overcame,
That then the World produc'd. Not rich; but One,
To whom the Heavens, and all the Earth was known.
He, by the Sun's obscured Rays, at Birth
Of Day, could tell what Storms would fall: if Earth
Were Fix'd, or did Instable hang: why, bound
By certain Leagues, this Globe's encompass'd round
By Thetis Waves: the Labours of the Sea,
And Moon, what Laws the Ocean's Tides obey.
Nor is it vain to think, that He the Sand
Of the vast World could Count; who, by the Hand
Of a weak Woman, could, with so much Skill,
Draw Ships, and heaps of Stones against an Hill.
While thus, with Stratagems, He wearied all
The Teucri, and the Romane General;
An hundred Sail of Tyrian Ships their Way
Made towards their Relief, and plow'd the Sea.
Erected now with sudden Hopes, their Fleet
Lanch'd from the Port, the Syracusians meet,
And joyn with them: nor, on the other Side,
Was the Ausonian backward to provide
His Navy; but, with drowned Oars, apace
Cuts through the Ocean, whose beaten Face
With frequent Stroaks grows White, and, where they cleave
The Billows, a broad Path of Foam they leave.
Both, equally, insult upon the Main;
And Neptune's Empire with new Storms again
Trembles, through which their Shouts, and Clamours sound,
And Ecchoes, full as loud, from Rocks rebound.
And now, drawn out for Fight, the Warriours stood,
And compass with their Wings the spacious Flood,
And with their Naval Toils the Wat'ry Plain
Include. Both Navies, in like Form amain,
Came on, and with their Moon-like Circles crow'd
The foaming Waves. Now, no Delay's allow'd;
The dreadful Murmurs of the cruel Brass,
Sounding the Charge, through all the Ocean pass:
Which rouzing Triton, frighted him; their Yell,
And Noise, contending with his crooked Shell.
Scarce they the Sea rememb'red, with so prone
A Fury to the Battel they go on,
And, standing on the Gallie's Margents, throw
Uncertain Darts, still nodding to and fro:
The Sea between them is with Weapons strew'd;
While the tall Vessel rising, as they row'd
With lab'ring Stroaks, the foaming Billows cleaves
With the black Keel, and so their Aim deceives.
But some in Fight were torn, and with the stroke
Of the Assaulting Ship their Oars were broke;
Some swiftly through the Bulk of others strike
With their sharpe Prows, and in the Breach alike
Are stop'd, and stop. But then, amidst them all,
A Gally (terrible to Sight, and Tall
Above the rest, then which none had before
More large been Lanch'd from the Sidonian Shore)
Strikes with four hundred Oars, at once, the Main,
And, Proud of her large Sails, that could retain
Strong Boreas, and gather ev'ry Blast
With her wide Yards, but very slowly past,
If onely driv'n with Oars, She put to Sea.
The Latine Ships, more ready to obey
The Pilot's hand, and charg'd with fighting Men,
Made Way with more Celerity. Which when
Himilco, through the calmed Ocean, spy'd,
Advancing, and commanded on his Side
To give the Charge, obliquely with their Prows,
All the Sea-Gods invoking to his Vows,
(As was his Custom) strait an Arrow to
Th'extended Nerve he fits, and 'gainst a Fo
Directs it with his Ey, and when, again
His Arms releas'd, he shew'd the flying Kain
Its Passage through the Air, his steddy Look
Pursuing, brought it to a Wound; and strook,
Nailing it to the Helm, the Pilot's Hand;
Which, now, no more was able to command,
So maim'd, the yielding Stern, where he was plac'd:
And, while unto his Aid the Sea-Men haste,
As if the Ship were taken, 'midst them all,
With the like Fate, and Nerve, a Shaft doth fall
Again, which Taurus, as he undertook
The vacant Helm, quite through the Body strook.
The Teucri, and the Romane General;
An hundred Sail of Tyrian Ships their Way
Made towards their Relief, and plow'd the Sea.
Erected now with sudden Hopes, their Fleet
Lanch'd from the Port, the Syracusians meet,
And joyn with them: nor, on the other Side,
Was the Ausonian backward to provide
His Navy; but, with drowned Oars, apace
Cuts through the Ocean, whose beaten Face
With frequent Stroaks grows White, and, where they cleave
The Billows, a broad Path of Foam they leave.
406
And Neptune's Empire with new Storms again
Trembles, through which their Shouts, and Clamours sound,
And Ecchoes, full as loud, from Rocks rebound.
And now, drawn out for Fight, the Warriours stood,
And compass with their Wings the spacious Flood,
And with their Naval Toils the Wat'ry Plain
Include. Both Navies, in like Form amain,
Came on, and with their Moon-like Circles crow'd
The foaming Waves. Now, no Delay's allow'd;
The dreadful Murmurs of the cruel Brass,
Sounding the Charge, through all the Ocean pass:
Which rouzing Triton, frighted him; their Yell,
And Noise, contending with his crooked Shell.
Scarce they the Sea rememb'red, with so prone
A Fury to the Battel they go on,
And, standing on the Gallie's Margents, throw
Uncertain Darts, still nodding to and fro:
The Sea between them is with Weapons strew'd;
While the tall Vessel rising, as they row'd
With lab'ring Stroaks, the foaming Billows cleaves
With the black Keel, and so their Aim deceives.
But some in Fight were torn, and with the stroke
Of the Assaulting Ship their Oars were broke;
Some swiftly through the Bulk of others strike
With their sharpe Prows, and in the Breach alike
Are stop'd, and stop. But then, amidst them all,
A Gally (terrible to Sight, and Tall
Above the rest, then which none had before
More large been Lanch'd from the Sidonian Shore)
Strikes with four hundred Oars, at once, the Main,
And, Proud of her large Sails, that could retain
Strong Boreas, and gather ev'ry Blast
With her wide Yards, but very slowly past,
407
The Latine Ships, more ready to obey
The Pilot's hand, and charg'd with fighting Men,
Made Way with more Celerity. Which when
Himilco, through the calmed Ocean, spy'd,
Advancing, and commanded on his Side
To give the Charge, obliquely with their Prows,
All the Sea-Gods invoking to his Vows,
(As was his Custom) strait an Arrow to
Th'extended Nerve he fits, and 'gainst a Fo
Directs it with his Ey, and when, again
His Arms releas'd, he shew'd the flying Kain
Its Passage through the Air, his steddy Look
Pursuing, brought it to a Wound; and strook,
Nailing it to the Helm, the Pilot's Hand;
Which, now, no more was able to command,
So maim'd, the yielding Stern, where he was plac'd:
And, while unto his Aid the Sea-Men haste,
As if the Ship were taken, 'midst them all,
With the like Fate, and Nerve, a Shaft doth fall
Again, which Taurus, as he undertook
The vacant Helm, quite through the Body strook.
But now, at length, a Cuman Ship broke in,
Which Corbulo commanded, and had been
With chearful Youths at Stabiæ fill'd, of late.
The Guardian Goddess (neighb'ring Venus) sate
On the high Poop. This charging very near,
The Object of all Shafts, amidst them there
Sinking, the yielding Waters doth divide;
And their Mouths foaming Nereus (as they cry'd
For Aid) fills with his Brine, and, as they strove
In vain, the Sea them sucking in, above
The Waves their Hands appear. But here, behold!
With an huge Leap, quite cross the Billows, bold
With Rage, leap'd Corbulo upon the Decks
(For now the Gallies, which strong Bands connex
Of Ir'n, a Tow'r of Oak brought up) and there,
Like a dire Comet, shaking, in the Air,
On the high Top, a flaming Pine, the Fires
With Brimstone fed, with which the Winde conspires,
Throws 'mong the Libyan 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 Lichæus 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 lets 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 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 Limbs
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 Libæus 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
Æölides 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
Chimæra, 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 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.
Which Corbulo commanded, and had been
With chearful Youths at Stabiæ fill'd, of late.
The Guardian Goddess (neighb'ring Venus) sate
On the high Poop. This charging very near,
The Object of all Shafts, amidst them there
Sinking, the yielding Waters doth divide;
And their Mouths foaming Nereus (as they cry'd
For Aid) fills with his Brine, and, as they strove
In vain, the Sea them sucking in, above
The Waves their Hands appear. But here, behold!
With an huge Leap, quite cross the Billows, bold
408
(For now the Gallies, which strong Bands connex
Of Ir'n, a Tow'r of Oak brought up) and there,
Like a dire Comet, shaking, in the Air,
On the high Top, a flaming Pine, the Fires
With Brimstone fed, with which the Winde conspires,
Throws 'mong the Libyan 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 Lichæus 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 lets 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
409
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 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.
410
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 Limbs
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 Libæus 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
Æölides 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
Chimæra, to disturbe the Sea. Now all
411
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 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
Mæla advis'd to break, and sointends
Such, as had Boarded him, to bear away
Farther, from their then equal Arms, to Sea.
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;
412
Mæla advis'd to break, and sointends
Such, as had Boarded him, to bear away
Farther, from their then equal Arms, to Sea.
Yong Polypheme in an Ætnéan 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 Crests, and useless Darts, that were
Pointed with Steel, with Guardian Gods, upon
The Ocean float. All Weapons lost: here One
Fights with a broken Plank, and so agen,
By Shipwrack, Arms himself for Fight; and then
Another, whom blinde Rage too rashly heats,
Spoils of her Oars the Ship, teras up the Seats
O'th' Seamen, and with no Distinction throws.
Neither from breaking Sterns, nor yet from Prows,
To deal intended Wounds, do they abstain,
And snatch up Weapons swimming on the Main.
The Waves at gaping Wounds break in, which strait
Their fleeting Souls with Sighs regurgitate,
Into the Sea. Some in a strict Embrace
Are drown'd, and, where no Weapons else have Place,
Kill, in their Death, their Foes. The Rage of those,
That from the Bottom rise, more Cruel grows,
And they resolve, for Swords, the briny Flood
To use, while Whirl-pits, coverd o're with Blood,
The turning Corps devour. Loud Clamours here
Are heard: sad Deaths, and Flight, and Groanings there,
With cracks of breaking Oars, and Stems, that beat
The Air with dreadful Ecchoes, as they meet.
Thus chaf'd, and overspread with War, the Sea
Grew hot; when, in a little Bark, away
Himilco stealing, weary of the Fight,
Towards the Coast of Libya, takes his Flight.
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 Crests, and useless Darts, that were
Pointed with Steel, with Guardian Gods, upon
The Ocean float. All Weapons lost: here One
Fights with a broken Plank, and so agen,
By Shipwrack, Arms himself for Fight; and then
Another, whom blinde Rage too rashly heats,
Spoils of her Oars the Ship, teras up the Seats
O'th' Seamen, and with no Distinction throws.
Neither from breaking Sterns, nor yet from Prows,
413
And snatch up Weapons swimming on the Main.
The Waves at gaping Wounds break in, which strait
Their fleeting Souls with Sighs regurgitate,
Into the Sea. Some in a strict Embrace
Are drown'd, and, where no Weapons else have Place,
Kill, in their Death, their Foes. The Rage of those,
That from the Bottom rise, more Cruel grows,
And they resolve, for Swords, the briny Flood
To use, while Whirl-pits, coverd o're with Blood,
The turning Corps devour. Loud Clamours here
Are heard: sad Deaths, and Flight, and Groanings there,
With cracks of breaking Oars, and Stems, that beat
The Air with dreadful Ecchoes, as they meet.
Thus chaf'd, and overspread with War, the Sea
Grew hot; when, in a little Bark, away
Himilco stealing, weary of the Fight,
Towards the Coast of Libya, takes his Flight.
At length, both Greeks, and Libyans quit the Sea,
And now the captiv'd Ships are born away,
In a long Train, together link'd, to Land,
While some amidst the Deep still burning stand.
The Lemnian God shines o're the glitt'ring Seas,
Which brandish up, and down his trembling Rays.
There known at Sea burns Cyané, and here
The winged Siren burns, Europa there,
Who, in a white Bull's Shape, by Jove was born,
And cross'd the Ocean, holding by his Horn.
And Nerëis, who, with Hair dishevel'd, rides
A crooked Fish, and through the Ocean guides
The wat'ry Reins: there Phyton wand'ring o're
The Waves, and Hammon burns; with That, which bore
Eliza's Image, and, on either Side,
With twice three Oars, did o're the Billows ride.
But chain'd Anapus to his Native Shore
Is drag'd, with nimble Pegasus, that bore
His Gorgon Wings up to the Stars; and that
Tall Ship, where Carved Lybia's Image sate,
And Triton Captivate, and Ætna high
With Rocks (where buried, deep in Flames, doth ly
Panting Enceladus) is drag'd away,
With their Cadmæan Sidon. Nor had they
To break into their trembling Walls delay'd,
Nor from the Temples of the Gods had stay'd
Their Conqu'ring Engins then, if suddenly
Rais'd by the Envy of the Gods, and by
Their Toils at Sea, a dire Contagion, and
Devouring Sickness, had not set a stand
To all their Joys. For Sol with flaming Hair,
And influence of Fiery Stars, the Air
And Cyane, that open lyes, and swells
With Fenny Waters, round, with noisom smells
Of dire Cocytus fills, and so pollutes
Autumn, then Flourishing with store of Fruits,
And it inflames with Lightning: the thick Air
With Clouds of Darkness smoaks. Earth, ev'ry where,
Parch'd, with a vitiated Face appears,
Affords no Food, nor any Shadows bears
For fainting Man, and in the Pitchy Air,
Black Vapours move. Dogs are the first, that bear
The fury of this Plague; next, as they Flie,
Birds fall with flagging Pinions from the Skie;
Then Beasts within the Forests dy; at last
It creeps into the Camp, and there doth wast
Th'infected Troops: their tongues dry'd up, cold sweat
Creeps through their Entrails, or'e their Limbs: the Meat
Appointed for their sustenance, their dry,
And parched Jaws refuse to swallow: by
Sharp Coughs their Lungs are torn, and, Thirsty, from
Their panting Throats, a fiery Breath doth come.
Their Eys, scare able to endure the Light,
Sink from their crooked Noses, while they spit
Corruption mix'd with Blood; a shrivel'd Skin
Covers their Bones, the Flesh consum'd within.
Oh Greif! in their known Arms renowned, by
A lazy Death, the valiant Souldiers Dy:
Their stately Trophies, gain'd in many a War,
Are thrown into the Fire, no Med'cines are
Of Pow'r, but all too weak for the Disease.
Heap'd up, the Ashes of the Dead Encrease
To a vast Hill, though Bodies ev'ry where
Forsaken, and Unburied ly, through Fear
To touch infected Limbs. Thus sadly fed,
The Acherusian Plague doth farther spread,
And shakes with no less Grief Trinacrian Walls,
And on the Libyan Camp as fiercely falls.
Now, equal in their Ruin, ev'ry Place
The common Wrath of Heav'n, and the same Face
Of Death frequents: and yet no Force of all
These Ills could vanquish (while their General
Was safe) the Romanes: He, alone, secure,
Doth balance all the Woes, which they endure.
And now the captiv'd Ships are born away,
In a long Train, together link'd, to Land,
While some amidst the Deep still burning stand.
The Lemnian God shines o're the glitt'ring Seas,
Which brandish up, and down his trembling Rays.
There known at Sea burns Cyané, and here
The winged Siren burns, Europa there,
Who, in a white Bull's Shape, by Jove was born,
And cross'd the Ocean, holding by his Horn.
And Nerëis, who, with Hair dishevel'd, rides
A crooked Fish, and through the Ocean guides
The wat'ry Reins: there Phyton wand'ring o're
The Waves, and Hammon burns; with That, which bore
Eliza's Image, and, on either Side,
With twice three Oars, did o're the Billows ride.
414
Is drag'd, with nimble Pegasus, that bore
His Gorgon Wings up to the Stars; and that
Tall Ship, where Carved Lybia's Image sate,
And Triton Captivate, and Ætna high
With Rocks (where buried, deep in Flames, doth ly
Panting Enceladus) is drag'd away,
With their Cadmæan Sidon. Nor had they
To break into their trembling Walls delay'd,
Nor from the Temples of the Gods had stay'd
Their Conqu'ring Engins then, if suddenly
Rais'd by the Envy of the Gods, and by
Their Toils at Sea, a dire Contagion, and
Devouring Sickness, had not set a stand
To all their Joys. For Sol with flaming Hair,
And influence of Fiery Stars, the Air
And Cyane, that open lyes, and swells
With Fenny Waters, round, with noisom smells
Of dire Cocytus fills, and so pollutes
Autumn, then Flourishing with store of Fruits,
And it inflames with Lightning: the thick Air
With Clouds of Darkness smoaks. Earth, ev'ry where,
Parch'd, with a vitiated Face appears,
Affords no Food, nor any Shadows bears
For fainting Man, and in the Pitchy Air,
Black Vapours move. Dogs are the first, that bear
The fury of this Plague; next, as they Flie,
Birds fall with flagging Pinions from the Skie;
Then Beasts within the Forests dy; at last
It creeps into the Camp, and there doth wast
Th'infected Troops: their tongues dry'd up, cold sweat
Creeps through their Entrails, or'e their Limbs: the Meat
Appointed for their sustenance, their dry,
And parched Jaws refuse to swallow: by
415
Their panting Throats, a fiery Breath doth come.
Their Eys, scare able to endure the Light,
Sink from their crooked Noses, while they spit
Corruption mix'd with Blood; a shrivel'd Skin
Covers their Bones, the Flesh consum'd within.
Oh Greif! in their known Arms renowned, by
A lazy Death, the valiant Souldiers Dy:
Their stately Trophies, gain'd in many a War,
Are thrown into the Fire, no Med'cines are
Of Pow'r, but all too weak for the Disease.
Heap'd up, the Ashes of the Dead Encrease
To a vast Hill, though Bodies ev'ry where
Forsaken, and Unburied ly, through Fear
To touch infected Limbs. Thus sadly fed,
The Acherusian Plague doth farther spread,
And shakes with no less Grief Trinacrian Walls,
And on the Libyan Camp as fiercely falls.
Now, equal in their Ruin, ev'ry Place
The common Wrath of Heav'n, and the same Face
Of Death frequents: and yet no Force of all
These Ills could vanquish (while their General
Was safe) the Romanes: He, alone, secure,
Doth balance all the Woes, which they endure.
Soon, therefore, as the burning Dog allay'd
His deadly Heat, and the Contagion stay'd
The greedy Hand of Death, (as when the Seas,
The South-Winds ceasing, their rude Waves appease.)
The Fisher drives his Bark into the Main.
So his Youth, wasted by the Plague, again
At length Marcellus Arms, and ev'ry Band,
Purg'd with due Sacrifice, now Chearful stand
About their Ensigns, and o'rejoy'd appear,
That they then liv'd the Trumpet's Sound to hear.
Against the Fo they March, well-pleas'd, that they
(If Fates determine so) in Battel may
Dy by the Sword; it grieves them for their Friends,
Who, like to Beasts, by such Inglorious Ends,
Their un-commended Souls expired-in
Their Fatal Beds. Then to their Tombs agen,
And worthless Fun'ral Piles, they turn their Eys,
And rather wish, then see by Maladies
To be o'recome, to have no Graves at all.
His deadly Heat, and the Contagion stay'd
The greedy Hand of Death, (as when the Seas,
The South-Winds ceasing, their rude Waves appease.)
The Fisher drives his Bark into the Main.
So his Youth, wasted by the Plague, again
At length Marcellus Arms, and ev'ry Band,
Purg'd with due Sacrifice, now Chearful stand
About their Ensigns, and o'rejoy'd appear,
That they then liv'd the Trumpet's Sound to hear.
416
(If Fates determine so) in Battel may
Dy by the Sword; it grieves them for their Friends,
Who, like to Beasts, by such Inglorious Ends,
Their un-commended Souls expired-in
Their Fatal Beds. Then to their Tombs agen,
And worthless Fun'ral Piles, they turn their Eys,
And rather wish, then see by Maladies
To be o'recome, to have no Graves at all.
The first, whose lofty Ensigns to the Wall
Advanc'd, the Gen'ral was. Their Faces in
Their Helmets hide that Leanness, which had bin
Contracted by their lying still: and so
That Paleness, which might animate the Fo,
Is from their Sight conceal'd. Then on they fall,
And in thick Bodies scale the batter'd Wall.
So many Houses, and strong Tow'rs by War,
Before unenter'd, by the Soldier,
At one Assault, are now surpriz'd. The Sun,
Wheree're his Chariot through the World doth run,
Could not behold a Town, that might compare
With Syracusa then: so many were
The Temples of the Gods, within the Wall
So numerous their Havens, and withall
Their Market-places, and their Theatres,
On lofty Columns rais'd, and mighty Bars
Contending with the Sea. Then add to these
Innumerable stately Palaces,
That, in long Rows, most spatious, appear
Like Countries; with the Groves, which Sacred were
To Sports of Youth, which Limits large enclose
With ample Galleries: then captiv'd Prows,
And Stems of Ships adorn the Temples, mix'd
With num'rous Arms, that to the Gods were fix'd;
Which or the Marathonian Fo had lost,
Or else were brought from Conquer'd Libya's Coast.
And there Agathocléan Trophies shin'd;
There Hieron's great Riches: there they finde
Antiquity by Artists Sacred made.
Not any Place, in any Age, ('tis said)
More glorious was in Pictures: there they take
All Works of Brass, that Ephyrè could make;
Garments with Yellow Gold 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' Erythræan 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,
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 spare
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 Defender of thy Country) fall,
Whom, drawing Lines, and Figures in the Sand,
(While in so great a Ruin thou dost stand
Untouched, and Idæas dost pursue)
By Chance an Ign'rant Common Souldier slew.
Advanc'd, the Gen'ral was. Their Faces in
Their Helmets hide that Leanness, which had bin
Contracted by their lying still: and so
That Paleness, which might animate the Fo,
Is from their Sight conceal'd. Then on they fall,
And in thick Bodies scale the batter'd Wall.
So many Houses, and strong Tow'rs by War,
Before unenter'd, by the Soldier,
At one Assault, are now surpriz'd. The Sun,
Wheree're his Chariot through the World doth run,
Could not behold a Town, that might compare
With Syracusa then: so many were
The Temples of the Gods, within the Wall
So numerous their Havens, and withall
Their Market-places, and their Theatres,
On lofty Columns rais'd, and mighty Bars
Contending with the Sea. Then add to these
Innumerable stately Palaces,
That, in long Rows, most spatious, appear
Like Countries; with the Groves, which Sacred were
To Sports of Youth, which Limits large enclose
With ample Galleries: then captiv'd Prows,
And Stems of Ships adorn the Temples, mix'd
With num'rous Arms, that to the Gods were fix'd;
417
Or else were brought from Conquer'd Libya's Coast.
And there Agathocléan Trophies shin'd;
There Hieron's great Riches: there they finde
Antiquity by Artists Sacred made.
Not any Place, in any Age, ('tis said)
More glorious was in Pictures: there they take
All Works of Brass, that Ephyrè could make;
Garments with Yellow Gold 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' Erythræan 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,
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 spare
Was better worth then Spoil, and Vict'ry stood
Content, and clap'd her Wings unstain'd with Blood.
419
(Thou fam'd Defender of thy Country) fall,
Whom, drawing Lines, and Figures in the Sand,
(While in so great a Ruin thou dost stand
Untouched, and Idæas 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. 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
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.
To Mirth, in which the Conquer'd seem to strive
Ev'n with the Conquerours. 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
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.
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