University of Virginia Library

The Argument.

From Phrigia Cybele's brought to Rome
With Sacred Rites. Chast Claudia doth presume
(To vindicate her self) to draw alone
The standing Ship, by which her Virtue's known.
From Sicily the Consul Scipio sails
To Libya, where his Army still prevails.
Syphax, and Hasdrubal (their Camps in one
For Battell joyn'd) by Scipio overthrown,
Syphax is Captive made; a Pannick Dread,
From that great Overthrow, through Africk spread.
The Carthaginians call, to their Relief,
The General from Italy. His Grief
Exprest at his Return. The Armies fight,
And Hannibal by Scipio's put to flight.
Carthage, at length, receiveth Laws from Rome.
Great Scipio returns, in Triumph, Home.

The Sibyl's antient Oracles foreshow;
That then th'Ausonian Land the Forrain Fo
Should quit, when from Her Phrygian Seat, to Rome,
Cybelè (Mother of the Gods) should come
To be ador'd: and that the Deity,
Arriving, should by Him received be,
That should, selected from among the rest
Of all the Senate, be esteemed Best
Then living in the Present Age. A Name,
Better then Triumphs, and of greater Fame.
And now the thing arriv'd, which they had sought:
Cybelè, in a Latian Ship, was brought.
When Scipio, fearless (while the Senate all
Gave way) was ready to obey the Call,
To meet th'appointed Rites. The Son was He
O'th' General's Uncle, Chosen then to be
The Chief Commander in the Africk Wars:
Illustrious in his many Ancestours.
When, farr at Sea, the Deity this Youth
Devoutly had receiv'd, and to the Mouth
Of Thuscan Tyber brought: the Vessel, strait,
A female Band succeeds, and, with its Fraight,
The lofty Gally through the River drew
With fast'ned Cords. Then, round about them, through
The Air, the hollow Sounds of tinkling Brass,
With the harsh Timbrel's Noise contending, pass:
And dancing Satyres, which inhabit where
Chast Dindymus two lofty Hills appear,
And use in the Dictæan Caves to Sport,
And unto Ide, and silent Woods resort.
Amidst this Noise, the Sacred Vessel, known
By Chearful Shouts, refusing to go on,
Retracts the Ropes, and, on a sudden, stood
Immoveable, and fix'd within the Flood.
With that, the Priest (as in the Ship he stands)
Exclaims; Forbear, with your Polluted Hands,
To touch the Cords, and, I advise you, farr
From hence, Oh! farr depart, whoever are
Prophane, nor in this Chaster Labour joyn;
While it sufficeth, that the Pow'r Divine
Gives this Advise: but, if there any be,
That in her chaster Minde excells, if She
Be Conscious to her self, Her Bodie's Pure,
Her Hand alone this Pious Task, secure,
May undertake. Here Claudia, who her Name
From th'antient Clausi drew, by common Fame
Traduc'd, unto the Ship her Hands, and Eyes
Converting, said; Mother of Deities,
Thou Powr Divine, who didst for Us give Birth
To all the Gods, whose Off-spring Heav'n, and Earth,
The Seas, and Shades below, do rule by Lot.
If this my Body be without a Spot,
Great Goddess be my Witness! and let Me
By this thy easy Bark absolved be.
Thus having said; the Cable, free from Fear,
She seiz'd, and, suddenly, they seem to hear
The Lion's Murmur, and a Sound more Grave,
Untouch'd by any Hand, the Timbrels gave.
The Ship advanc'd so fast, you'd think the Winde
Had forc'd it on, and Claudia's left behinde,
Though 'gainst the Stream it ran. And Hopes, that far
All else exceed, chear up their Hearts: the War
And all their Fears, at length, shall ended be.
For active Scipio, leaving Sicily,
Hid with his winged Ships the spatious Seas:
But, with an off'red Bull, did first appease
The God, on whose blew Waves the Entrails swum.
Then Thunder-bearing Birds, descending from
The Gods Abodes, through the clear Air, in view,
Begin to lead the Navy, and to shew
Their Course by Sea. A Joyful Augury
Their Cries afford; and, as they foreward fly
Under a liquid Cloud, the Ships pursue
As far as they could keep them in their View;
And the Perfidious Coast of Cadmus Land
Attain. Nor yet did Africk Idle stand;
But, since so great a Storm upon her came,
A dreadful Pow'r under a mighty Name,
Against their Fury had prepar'd to bring
The Arms, and Force of the Massylian King.
Libya's sole Hope, and Latium's onely Fear,
Syphax, the Fields, and Valleys, ev'ry where,
And Shores had fill'd with Nomades, that scorn
Their nimble Steeds with Trappings to adorn;
Who with their singing Shafts, that, as they flie
Through Air, like Clouds, surcharg'd, obscure the Skie.
Of the Right-Hand, which he had giv'n before,
And League, that He upon the Altar swore,
Unmindeful; Rites of Hospitality,
And Feasts, that what was done could Testifie
His Faith, and Trust, chang'd by an Impious Flame
Of Love, He had infring'd, and's Crown became
The purchase of his Bed. Great Hasdrubal
A Virgin Daughter had, Esteem'd by all
As Beautiful, as her Descent was fam'd,
She taken to his Bed, as if inflam'd
With his first Nuptial Taper, suddenly,
His Forces all to Carthage turn'd. The Ty
Of Amity with Rome He violates,
And to the Fo his Dotal Arms translates.
But Scipio, careful to advise the King,
Bids him be Faithful to observe the thing,
That he had Sworn, and not to violate
The Laws of Peace, but firmly to his State,
And Kingdom stand. To call the Gods to Minde,
And Deeds, that Hospitality did binde.
That farr his Nuptials, farr his Tyrian Bride
Would be 'mong Romane Arms, if He deny'd
What they demanded, he should quickly finde,
That weak Obedience of too soft, and kinde
A Husband, and his Bed's so ardent Heats
Should stand in Blood. Thus, intermixing Threats,
Scipio advis'd the King, whose Wife before
Had stop'd his Ears. And, when Advice no more
Took place, He summons all his Swords agen,
Attesting the Chast Altars of the then-
Polluted League, and in the War proceeds
With various Arts. With Huts of slender Reeds,
And Fenny Flags, such as the Rustick Moor
Selects to thatch his Homely Cottage or'e,
The Libyan Camp was fill'd. This he assail'd
By Stealth, and secret Flames with Targets vail'd,
Scatter'd in Dead of Night, which, as they run
Diffus'd (like a Contagion) and begun
With mighty Noise, through th'Unctuous Food their Way
To make, through all the Air their Light display,
And by their active Heat the Rafters fall.
The Hostile Mischeif, like a Storm, through all
The Camp goes on, and on the arid Reeds,
With frequent Cracks, devouring Vulcan feeds.
Sad burnings in all Quarters rise, and some,
Before they could perceiv't, excited from
Their Sleep, are seiz'd by Fire, and, as for Aid,
In vain, they call, their Faces Flames invade.
The Lemnian God appears in ev'ry Place
A Conquerour, and in his dire Embrace
Destroys both Arms, and Men. The Plague swells High
And through the Clouds the half-burnt Camp doth fly,
In glowing Ashes: Then, with dismal Sounds,
And a prodigious Leap, the Fire surrounds
The King's Pavilion, and had sadly there
Devour'd the Man, had not his Guards, through Fear
Of Danger, (while amaz'd He much enquir'd)
Him from his Sleep, and Bed, by Force, retir'd.

But, when, within one Camp, the Tyrian, and
Syphax their Strength had joyn'd, and through the Land
Call'd thither, all in Arms, the Youth, agen,
The Wounds of that sad Night had eased: then
Shame, Anger, and (a third pernicious Fire)
His Wife into his Minde new Rage inspire.
And now, He, threatning, storms, his Face should be
Blasted by burning of his Camp: that He
Should, Naked, hardly scape the Fo by Flight,
Amidst his trembling Troops. But in the Light,
In clearer Day, and less prefidious View
Of Heav'n, no mortal Syphax could subdue.
Thus Foolishly he rants: while Fate his Pride,
And Breath concluding, would no more abide;
But cuts the Thread of this vain swelling Tongue:
For soon, as He (like Floods, that draw along
Whole Groves, and Rocks, and like swift Torrents, go
Through devious Ways, and all the Banks o'reflow
With foaming Waves) leap'd from his Camp, He prest
His furious Courser on, before the rest
And bids his Troops advance. The other Side
(A noble, sober Army) when they spy'd
The King far off, snatch'd up their Arms, and strait
March on, and singly with themselves debate.
See there: See how this proud Massylian King,
Insulting, at his Army's Head, doth bring
Them on, and for the Combat calls. Oh! may
This my Right-hand that Honour gain to Day.
The Sacred Altars of the Gods he hath
Defil'd, and hath infring'd his League, and Faith,
With our chast General. Oh! may it be
Sufficient (Gods) that once, already, He
From his burnt-Camp escap'd! This in their Hearts
Resolv'd, they all, contending, lance their Darts.
In the Fire-breathing Nostrils of his Steed,
A Jav'lin, that surpass'd the rest in Speed,
Was fix'd: By which the Beast erected stood,
And with his bounding Heels (his Jaws with Blood
Or'eflowing) beat the Air; then backward to
The Ground he fell, and, with a Spear pierc'd through,
As ev'ry Way he toss'd his Limbs, betrai'd
His Rider to the Fo: who Him invade,
As He, in vain, endeavour'd from the Ground
To rise, and fly; and, drawing from the Wound
The Weapon, seize Him. Then the Shame of Chains,
And Gyves, they add; while He to all remains
A great Example, never to rely
Upon Prosperity. And now, they ty
In Manacles his Scepter-bearing Hands:
And He, that, lately, saw so many Lands
Beneath his Feet: that Scepters, and the Sea,
That to the Ocean's bounds extended lay,
Under his Nod beheld, thrown from the Head
Of all his Kingdoms, is in Triumph led.
His Strength thus overthrown, the Libyans are
Cut off: while hated by the God of War.
And known for frequent Flight, (that Enterprize
Condemn'd) with Speed, the Tyrian Captain flies.
Carthage on one sole Man (her Members all
Thus ruin'd) now rely'd. And Hannibal,
Ev'n with his absent Name, the Frame sustain'd,
Falling with so great Noise: now, what remain'd
Was, that ev'n Fainting, and distress'd for Aid,
They should invite him Home. To this, affraid,
They all assent, when they perceiv'd, they were
Forsaken by the Gods. And strait they are
Dispatch'd, who with the Ship, the Briny Main
Might pass with Speed, to call him Home again,
And with the Senate's Mandate thus advise.
Haste Hannibal; lest, through Delay, thine Eyes
Carthage in Ruins see. Oh! be not slow
T'assist thy falling Country, and the Fo
From these our Walls repell. Thus charg'd, away
They sail'd, and, on the fourth ensuing Day,
The Vessel brought them to th'Italian Shore;
Where cruel Dreams the General's Minde full sore
Disturb'd. For as by Night, opprest with Care,
He slept, Flaminius, Gracchus, Paulus: there,
Seem'd with their naked Swords t'assault him, and
Together drive him from th'Ausonian Land.
With these, of dreadful Ghosts, an Army: all
That did at Thrasimen, and Cannæ fall,
Appear to chace him to the Sea. While He
Endeavour'd to the well-known Alps to flee.
Then Italy embracing in his Arms,
To it he stuck, untill Prodigious Storms
Forc'd him to Sea, and in a Tempest sent
Him Home again. Thus deep in Discontent,
And with his Dreams perplex'd, to him they came,
And their Instructions, in the Senate's Name,
With the great Danger of the State declare.
How the Massylian Forces routed were;
Their Prince, his Captive Neck, with Chains oppress'd
Kept a new Pomp for Jove: and, how distress'd
Carthage, by Hasdrubal's not single Flight,
Was shaken, and how they, in dead of Night,
(Sad to relate) had seen both Camps (conjoyn'd)
Afire, while th'impious Flames through Africk shin'd.
And that the furious Youth (while Hannibal.
Still kept the Brutian Coast) then threatned all
With Fire to Ruin: That the Fall drew nigh
Of Carthage. To what Country should they fly?
And his great Deeds (what Slaughters he had made
In Italy) relate? When this they'd said,
And all their Woes, and Fears had laid before
His Eyes; they wept, and his Right-Hand adore,
Like some great God. He, with a stern Aspect
Fix'd on the Ground, hears all, and doth reflect
With Silence on their Words, and weighs with Care,
If Carthage of so great a Value were.
At length, He thus reply'd: Oh Envy! Thou
Dire Fo to Man, who never wilt allow
Encrease to things, or, that great Praise should grow
Unto a greater Height. Not long ago
I level with the Ground could Rome, subdu'd,
Have lay'd, and Captive into Servitude
Have led the Nation, and on Italy
Our Laws impos'd. But, while at Home to Me
(Their General) they Pay, and Arms deny;
Nor my Troops, wasted with Success, supply
With fresh Recruits; and Hanno thinks it good
My Cohorts to defraud of Corn, and Food:
All Africk is on Fire, and Romane Spears
Push at Cadmeian Gates. Now, it appears,
That Hannibal's his Country's Glory, and
Her sole Support: and now, in this Right-Hand
Ly all your Hopes. Well, Homeward turn, with Speed,
Our Ensigns, as the Senate hath decreed.
I both my Country's Walls, and (Hanno) Thee
Together will preserve. All this when He
Had thunder'd out, strait from the Shore to Sea
He lanc'd his Fleet, and Sighing sail'd away.
None durst their Backs, as they put off, invade,
Or Him recal. Heav'n seeming to perswade,
He should, of's own accord, thus haste away,
And Italy, at length, be freed: they pray
For Windes, and think it is enough agen
To see the Coast so freed of Foes. As, when
Auster doth his impetuous Blasts restrain,
And, by retiring, calms the foaming Main,
The Sea-man then, not Prodigal of Pray'rs,
Desireth not so much as gentle Airs;
Content, that Notus should intirely cease,
And by the Sea's smooth Course esteems his Peace.
The Tyrian Soldiers, all, their Faces bent
Towards the Main. But Hannibal, intent,
With fixed Eyes, held Italy in view,
While silent Tears, with frequent Sighs, bedew
His Cheeks; as if he had been driven from
His Country, and had left his dearest Home,
Forc'd to some Desert Lands. But when, with Sails
Tack'd close, the Ships made Way with swifter Gales,
And by Degrees, the Hills began to draw
Their Summits down, that now He neither saw
Hesperian Mountains, nor the Daunian Coast:
Thus, fretting with himself; What have I lost
My Sense, unworthy to return (said He)
Ev'n thus, when ever I from Italy
Withdraw my self: in Flames first Carthage all
Should perish, and the Name of Dido Fall.
Was I not Mad, when, after Cannæ's Field,
From the Tarpeian Temples I withheld
My burning Weapons, nor the Thunderer
Dragg'd from his Throne, through the sev'n Hills from War,
Now free? my Flames might have scatter'd then,
And on that haughty Nation brought agen
Troy's Ruins, and their Grand-fires Fate. But, why
Should this Afflict me? Who forbids, that I
Should now invade them with my Sword, and go
Directly to their Walls? It shall be so:
And, through those very Lines returning, where
I once encamped lay, I will repair
To Anyo's Waters, by a Way to Me
Well-known. Then turn your Prows for Italy,
And tack-about the Fleet; I'le make, that Rome,
Besieg'd, shall call again her Scipio Home.

But, when the God of Seas perceiv'd, he burn'd
With so great Rage, and that they now had turn'd,
Towards the Shore again, their shining Prows,
Strait, shaking his Cœrulean Head, he throws
Waves from the Bottom, and the swelling Main
Extrudes beyond its Bounds. Then Windes, and Rain,
With black Æolian Storms, from Rocks arise,
And cover from their Sight, with Clouds, the Skies.
Then, with his Trident, moving all the Sea,
Blew Tethys from the Rising of the Day,
And Fall, he drives, and the whole Ocean's Face
Distracts. The foaming Billows rise apace,
And make the Rocks to shake, on which they beat.
First Auster, from his Nasamonian Seat,
Leaps forth, from the loose Sands the Water flings,
And leaves them bare. Him, on his gloomy Wings,
Fierce Boreas, bearing high a broken Sea,
Pursues. Then thund'ring, in another Way,
With adverse Blasts, Cloud-raising Eurus rowls
Part of the Ocean on: the cracking Poles
Bellow aloud; while frequent Lightning flies,
As if upon the Fleet the angry Skies
Would fall. The rage of Windes, and Lightning, Rain,
And Waves consent, and Darkness on the Main
Imposeth Night. Now, coming from a Rock
A furious Whirl-winde, rais'd by Notus, struck
The Yards, and whistling Dreadfully among
The Shrouds, a Billow, like a Mountain, flung
Against the General's pale-Face. His Eyes
He turning to the Sea, and to the Skies,
Exclaims; O Happy Brother, Hasdrubal,
And to the Gods made equal, in thy Fall!
Thy valiant Hand in Fight did thee afford
A noble Death, Fate did to thee accord,
That with thy Teeth, at least, on Italy
Thou dying might'st lay-hold. But unto Me,
In Cannæ's Field, where noble Paulus dy'd,
And those renowned Souls, Death was deny'd,
Nor, when I would have fir'd the Capitol,
Could I by Jove's Tarpeian Thunder Fall.

While thus he moans, with sev'ral Blasts impell'd,
The Waves, on either Side rush'd on, and held
With their dark Heaps the Vessel down, as drown'd
By that rude Shock. Strait, Whirling swiftly round,
The Sands, rais'd high into the Air, it flung
Again, where, pois'd by th'Windes, on Waves it hung.
But 'gainst rough Stones, and Rocks (sad to behold)
Notus two Gallies with hard Fortune roll'd.
The Prows crack'd with the Fall, and with a Sound
Of Dread, the broken Barks alost rebound
From the Sharp Stones. Strait, over all the Sea,
A various Face of things. Here Helmets they,
Arms, Crimson Crests, and Capua's Treasure see,
And a rich Prize, with Care reserv'd, to be
A Trophy for the Gen'rals Triumph. There
Tripods, and Tables of the Gods appear,
And Sacred Statues, that, in vain, before
The Miserable Latines did adore,
When Venus, frighted, that the Ocean
So high was mov'd, to Neptune thus began.

This Fury, and these Threat'nings (Father) may
Suffice for greater things; now spare (I pray)
Thy Seas, lest envious Carthage boast, that She
A Man hath generated, not to be
Subdu'd in War, and, that to work the Fall
Of Hannibal, the Romanes needed all
Thy Rage, and Seas. Thus Venus spoke, and strait
Their Fury all the swelling Waves abate,
And tow'rds the adverse Camp the Navy drive.
Their Gen'ral, old in Arms, and skill'd to give
Encouragement with Praise, their Mindes, inspir'd
With Anger by these furious Words, and fir'd
Their Brests with Flames of Honour. Thou, to Me,
Flaminius bleeding Head, when slain (said He)
Didst bring. I know thy Hand: Thou, first of all,
Cam'st in to strike, at mighty Paulus Fall,
And in his Bones didst fix thy fatal Spear.
Th'Opimous Spoils of stout Marcellus were
Thy glorious Prize: and falling Gracchus stain'd
Thy Sword. But, there, behold that Valiant Hand;
Which, with a Jav'lin, Warlike Appius (who
Then storm'd the Walls of wealthy Capua) threw
Dead from the lofty Ramparts: and here see
Another Thunder-bolt of Valour! He
It was, who Fulvius, a Name renown'd,
Pierc'd through the Breast, not with a single Wound.
Stand thou here in the Van, who didst in Arms
Consul Crispinus kill, Me, through the Storms
Of Fight, do thou attend, who (I the thing
Remember well) pleas'd in thy Rage, didst bring,
At Cannæ's Field, the Gen'ral's Head to Mee,
Fix'd on a servile Lance. Brave Youth, I see
Thy burning Eys, and Aspect, that hath more
Of Terrour, then thy Sword; such, as before,
Thee (when a Tribune, that in vain withstood,
Crush'd by thy strong Embrace, i'th' cruel Flood
Of famous Trebia drown'd) I did behold.
But Thou, who, first, didst at the Banks of cold
Ticînus, in old Scipio's Blood imbrue
Thy Sword, thy former Enterprize pursue,
And the Son's Blood present me now. Shall I
Fear ev'n the Gods themselves, when Thou art by,
Should they come to the Battel? I beheld,
When thou didst trample on the Hills, that swell'd
To Heav'n, and o're the highest Alps didst go
With Speed. Since, by whose Sword, and Hands I know
Argyripa's capacious Fields were fir'd:
Wilt thou more slowly now, by Me desir'd,
Go on, who first of all didst lance a Dart
Against the Dardan Walls? nor willing art
To joyn unto our Praise? must I again
Thee now excite? Thee, who 'gainst Storms of Rain,
Thunder, and Lightning, and, when I did stand
Jove's Fury, didst, as fierce as He, command
T'endure those vainer Storms, and wentst before
Thy Gen'ral to the Capitol. No more
Need I exhort you now, who, by a War
So fam'd, Sagunthus overthrew; and are
Renown'd for those Beginnings: now again
(As it becomes your selves, and Me) maintain
The former Praises of your Valour. I
I'th' favour of the Gods, and Victory
Grown old, now, after Fifteen Years, on You
Relying, to my falling Country, to
Those House-hold Gods, that in so long a space
Of Time I have not seen, to the Embrace
Of my Chast Wife, and Son return again.
This the last Battel is, that doth remain
To Libya, and to Rome. This Day our Sword
Shall give to the disputed World its Lord.

Thus Hannibal. But, as their General
Began to speak, the Romane Soldiers call
For Battel, and the Signal; nor abide
Delays of Words. All this when Jove espy'd
His Wife, at distance, in a Cloud of Air,
Behold, and that her eager Looks did wear
Something of Sadness, to her with this kinde
Address He goes. What Torments of the Minde
Afflict Thee now? I pri'thee, let me know;
Is it the Libyan Captain's overthrow,
Or Care of Carthage grieves Thee? do but weigh
Within thy Thoughts the Rage of Libya
'Gainst th'Trojans fatal Pow'r, and Progeny,
In violating Leagues. Say what will be
The End of this Rebellious People? None,
Not Carthage, more of Ills hath undergone,
Or Labour, then thy Self: who long hast toil'd
For the Cadmæan Race. Thou hast embroil'd
The Seas, and Earth, and into Italy
Hast sent a furious Youth, while we might see
The Walls of Rome stand trembling, and of all
Man-kinde, for Sixteen Years, was Hannibal
The Chief. 'Tis time the Nation to compose,
The Period is come, and we must close
The Gates of War. The suppliant Queen reply'd.
Nor in that hanging Cloud did I abide,
With a Design, a Day prefix'd, at all,
To change; nor yet the Armies to recall;
Nor War extend: but what You can bestow,
(Since now all Favour towards me is low,
And our first Love's decay'd) 'gainst Fates Decree
I nothing ask. Let Hannibal now flee
His Enemies, as you are pleas'd t'ordain,
And let, in Carthage, Romane Ashes reign.
By th'mutual Pledges of a double Love,
Thy Wife, and Sister, I this onely (Jove)
Intreat, that my brave Captain may survive
All Dangers, and be kept, by Thee, Alive.
Nor let him, Captiv'd, Latian Fetters wear;
But, let these, my dear Walls, that batter'd are
With Mis'ries (though the Tyrian Name decline)
Stand, and, for Honour's sake, be kept as Mine.
Thus Juno. To whom Jove this short Reply
Vouchsaf'd. The Walls of lofty Carthage I
Will, for some time, forbear, as you desire,
And grant them to your Pray'rs, and Tears, entire
To stand. Yet know (dear Wife) at what a rate
I this indulge; not long, that City's Fate
Endures. For there will come a General,
Who, under the same Name, will ruin all
These Tow'rs preserv'd. And, from this fatal Fight
Escaping, Hannibal Ethereal Light
(At this Entreaty) may enjoy a while.
Hee'l seek the Stars, and Ocean to embroil,
And with returning Arms to fill the Earth.
I know his Heart, still pregnant with a Birth
Of War. But to this Boon this shall remain
A Law: He never must behold again
Saturnus Empire; nor to Italy
Return. From instant Death now let him be
Remov'd, with Speed; lest, if i'th' open Plain
He joyn in Battel, he should not again,
By all thy Pow'r, from Scipio's Hand be freed.

While thus their Fates the Thunderer decreed,
Both to the City, and to Hannibal;
The Armies to the Fight advance, and all,
With Shouts, invade the Skies. Earth, in no Age
Before, two mightier Nations did engage
In Fight: nor greater Generals had seen,
Equal in Arms, contending. While, between
These two, their fam'd Dispute's un-valu'd Prize
Was whatsoe're is cover'd with the Skies.
The Tyrian, rich in Purple, 'bove the rest
Rais'd his proud Head: upon his Crimson Crest
A waving Plume. A cruel Dread precedes
From his great Name: his Sword a Lightning sheds,
Well-known to Italy. On th'other Side,
Scipio, in radiant Robes, in Scarlet dy'd,
His dreadful Target shews; where, breathing War,
His Father's Image, and his Uncle's are
Engrav'd: Huge Flames from his high Fore-head fly.
And thus the Hopes of all, and Victory
(Under so great a Force of Arms, and Men)
Stood in the Generals alone. And then
Thus Fear, or Favour (as 'tis often seen)
Suggests. If valiant Scipio had been
In Libya born, the Empire might have come
To Agenorean Nephews. Or, had Rome
Giv'n Birth to Hannibal, then doubtless He
The World had subject made to Italy.
Now rapid Storms of flying Shafts brake through
The Air, and with them Clouds of Horrour drew:
Then to the Sword more close each Army came,
And Fight it Face to Face. A dreadful Flame
Burns in their Eys, and those, that in the Van,
Contemning Danger, first the Charge began,
Between both Armies fell; and, long before
Not seen by them, the Earth drunk Native Gore.
But here, in Courage hot, as He was Young,
Stout Masanissa flings himself among
The Macedonian Cohorts, and flies round
About, with's winged Darts, the Champagn Ground.
So, when the painted Britain goes to War,
He circumvents with his hook-bearing Carr
The thronged Bands. A Græcian Phalanx then,
In a close Body, had drawn up their Men,
(As was their Country's Use) and firmly stood,
With intermingled Spears, to make it good.
Unmindeful of the Compact he had made
After the League, these Philip to the Aid
Of Cadmus shaken City sent. And now,
Broken with many Wounds, the Soldiers grow
More thin, and, as on ev'ry Side they lay
Prostrate upon the Ground, an open Way
Between the Weapons leave. Then, with a Stroke,
Of Ruin, in th'Ausonian Cohorts broke,
And cancell all their Græcian Perjuries.
Archemorus by Rutulus; Teucer dies
By stout Norbanus, in declining Age:
Both by their Mother Mantua sent t'engage
In Arms. But Samjus brave Calênus slue:
And Selvis Clytuis (a Pellæan) who
Vainly insulted in his Country's Name.
But alass Clytuis! 'twas not Pella's Fame,
That could from Daunian Darts defend thee here.
But Lælius, with Upbraidings more severe
Then these, the Brutian Bands, of Latine Race,
Destroys. Was Italy so Vile a Place,
That it, with Tyrian Oars, You thus (said He)
Through the rude Seas, and raging Waves should flee?
But 'tis enough, that you are fled. Will You
With Latine Blood a forein Land imbrue?
This said: He Silarus, active in the Fight,
Prevented with a Shaft, that in its Flight
Stuck in the Bottom of his Throat: so hard
It flew, that it, at once, the Passage barr'd
Of Life, and Voice. Vergilius destroy'd
Caudînus. By Amanus Sarris dy'd.
Their Looks, and Habit of their Arms, well-known,
And Language, that concorded with their own,
Inflam'd their Rage. Whom when Amilcar's Son
Perceiv'd inclining from the Fight to run,
He cries; Betray not thus our Nation; stand:
Then charg'd, and turn'd the Battel with his Hand.
As when a Parethonian Snake, that long,
I'th' Garamantian Fields, was fed among
The fervent Sands, with Poison swell'd, doth rear
His Neck, and spouts, through the infected Air,
The flowing Venom to the Skies: so He
Herjus (that with his Spear continually
Dealt Wounds, who of Marrucian Lineage came,
And in Theatè had a noble Name)
More nimble, stops, and, as he something high
Attempted, seeking with his Enemy
An equal Praise, with a swift Hand, quite through
His Body drives his fatal Weapon to
The Hilts. The Wounded falls, and, as he lies
Prostrate, his Brother seeks with dying Eyes:
When Young Pleminius came on apace,
And, brandishing his Sword before his Face,
Enrag'd at his sad Fall, with a loud Cry,
Threatning, demands his Brother. This Reply
Gave Hannibal; I shall refuse no more
(If you think fit) your Brother to restore,
On this Condition, that from Shades below
You Hasdrubal recall. Shall I forego
My juster Hate 'gainst such as Romanes are?
Or shall I let my Heart relent? and spare
One, born on the Italian Ground? then may
The Ghosts me, as a Fo, from thence where they
Abide, expell! Then may my Brother Me
For ever banish his Society
In dark Avernus! Speaking thus, he ran
With all the Weight of's Shield upon the Man,
And where the Earth, made slipp'ry with the Blood
Of's Brother, fail'd him, as he Fighting stood,
Fel'd, and with's Sword dispatch'd him on the Place:
While with extended Hands in his Embrace
He prostrate Herius held, and eas'd his weight
Of Grief, by sharing in his Brother's Fate.
The Libyan then a Body mix'd in Fight
Invades, and rushing on, his Foes to Flight
Turn'd a long way. As, when, with Thunder hurl'd
Th'Ætnéan Bolts of Jove affright the World,
And his high Palace shake, a Pannick Fright
Makes all Man-kinde to quake, th'Obortive Light
With Horrour shines, and Jove seems ready, by
Each Man, at him to let his Lightning fly.

But in another Quarter, as if there
Where Scipio fought, the onely Danger were,
A bloody Fight new Forms of Death Creates
In various Shapes. A Sword this penetrates,
And down he falls: That lamentably Groans,
A Stone in pieces crushing all his Bones.
Some, basely flying, on their Faces are,
Through Fear, Precipitated. 'Gainst the War,
Others, with Valour arm'd, their Breasts oppose.
While the Rheteian Gen'ral forward goes
O're the dead Heaps. As when the God of War
With Slaughter pleas'd, shakes his Bistonian Carr,
Near frozen Hebrus, and the Getick Snow
Melts with warm Blood, and Ice, by Aquilo
Augmented, with his ratling Chariot's weight
Asunder breaks. Now with a dreadful Heat,
Looking about, He ev'ry valiant Name
With's Sword assails. There through the World for Fame
Of Slaughters known, among their Weapons, falls
On ev'ry Side, the Youth, that storm'd thy Walls
(Sagunthus) and a War most Cruel in
Thy miserable Ruins did begin.
There, who the Sacred Thrasimen with Blood
Had stained, and the Phaëtontian Flood
Polluted, who the Boldness had to move
Their Arms, to sack the House, and Throne of Jove,
In one vast Ruin fell. There they were slain,
Who did the Secrets of the Gods prophane,
And first the Alps, prohibited, had press'd
With mortal Steps. The Army, all possess'd
With Fear, in haste discouraged retire.
As, through a Citie's Houses, when the Fire
Diffused runs, and ventilated by
A rapid Winde, the active Flames do fly
Up to the Skies, struck with a sudden Fear,
And Trembling, as the City captive were
The People run, distracted ev'ry Way.
But Scipio, now grown weary with Delay,
So to pursue those scatter'd Combats, or
To be detained in so light a War,
Resolv'd his Force upon the Cause of all
Those Ills, and War to turn. For, Hannibal
Alone that Day surviving, it would be
No Benefit at all to Italy,
Should Carthage Walls be set on Fire, and all
Their Armies overthrown. But should He fall
Alone, not all their Arms, and Men would ought
Avail the Libyans. Him he therefore sought,
And search'd, through all the Field, with busy Eyes.
Then to the thickest of the Fight he hies,
Wishing, that all Ausonia, if He there
Should him encounter, the Spectatours were.
And bold, with a fierce Voice, his Fo doth cite
(Upbraiding him) unto another Fight.
Which Language when affrighted Juno hears:
Lest it should touch the Libyan Captain's Ears,
Sh' informs a Romane Shape, which strait assumes
Th'Italian Prince's shining Crest, his Plumes,
And Shield, and spreads his radiant Cassock's Grace
Upon his Shoulders. Then She adds his Pace,
And Habit; such, as him She did behold
Provoking to the Fight: and Motion bold,
Without a Body, gives. At length, a Steed,
Like false, and vain, She forms, that runs with Speed
Through devious Ways, and offers to the Sight
The Image of a Warlike Shade, in Fight.

Thus Scipio, fain'd by Juno, proudly to
The Fight advanc'd, and brandish'd in the view
Of Hannibal his Sword; who, pleas'd, his Ey
Beheld the Romane General so nigh,
And hoping mighty things were then at Hand,
Strait claps his Heels against his Courser, and,
With sudden Force, a Jav'lin at him throws.
The winged Shade turns back, and flying goes
Quite cross the Field, beyond the Armies. Then,
As if possess'd of's Chief Desire, agen,
With his steel'd Heel, th'insulting Libyan makes
His Horse to bleed, and still pursuing shakes
Th'enlarged Reins. O! whither dost thou run
Forgetful, that 'tis our Dominion
(Scipio) where now thou Fly'st. Libya to Thee
Affords no skulking Hole. Thus, proudly, he
With his drawn Sword still follow'd, as it Fled,
Until, deluded, by it, he was led
Into another Field, far distant from
The place of Battel; where no sooner come,
But the Delusive Shade to Air resolves.
What God (said angry Hannibal) involves
Himself in that dark Light to Me? Or why
Doth he conceal'd within that Monsterly?
Is then my Glory to the Gods become
So opposite? Yet never shalt thou from
This Hand compel, or force my Fo (said He)
By all thy Arts, whatever God thou be,
Who stand'st for Italy. With that he wheel'd
His nimble Steed about, and to the Field
Enrag'd returns. When strait, with secret Dread
Of sudden Mischief shock'd, upon his Head
Down fell his Courser, and, by Juno's care,
Breath'd from his panting Breast his Life to Air.
But then, Impatient, This again (said He)
This is your Plot (ye Gods) nor do you me
Deceive: I better by the Rocks had bin
O'rewhelm'd; I better had been drowned in
The Waves, and Seas. Was I preserved then
To this vile Death? while those unhappy Men,
That have my Ensigns follow'd, and from Me
Alone receiv'd a Battel's Augury,
Are slaughter'd, and I, absent, understand
Their Groans, their Voice, and Words, as they demand
Their Hannibal. What Stygian Torrent is
Sufficient to wash off my Sin? As this
He spake, on's Right-Hand with an earnest Ey
He look'd, enflam'd with a Desire to Dy.
But Juno, pitying the Man, assumes
A Sheepherd's Face, and, on a sudden, comes
From the thick Woods; and, as he thought to Dy
A Death Inglorious, thus accosts Him: Why,
So arm'd, to these Our Woods do you repair?
Would you go to that cruel Battel, where
Great Hannibal in Arms the rest subdues
Of the Ausonian Armies? If you'l choose
The speedy, and compendious Way to go
Into the Thickest of them, I will show
The nearest Tract. To this He strait agrees,
And onerates with ample Promises
The, Sheepherd's Breast: and tells him, that the State
Of Carthage would his Pains remunerate
With large Rewards, and He would give as great.
Thus Eager, hasting o're the next Retreat
With largest Steps, the Goddess him conveys,
Deceiv'd by Intricacy of the Ways,
In Circles, and, her self concealing still,
Gave him unwellcome Safety 'gainst his Will.
But the Cadméan Troops, forsaken all,
And full of Fear, seeing no Hannibal,
Nor the known Conflicts of their furious Chief,
Some think him slain, others are of Belief,
That He, concluding all was lost, withdrew
From the Sinister Gods. And now, in View,
The Romane Gen'ral (like a Storm) amain
Came on, and chas'd them thorough all the Plain.
Carthage her self then trembled: Pannick Dread
Through Africk by the routed Troops is spread.
And, without Fighting, as they Head-long fly,
To their extreamest Bounds they, frighted hie.
Some to Tartessiack Coasts dispersed are;
Others to Battus Lands, and Nile repair.
So, when, by secret Force o'recome, at last
Vesuvius to the Stars his Flames doth cast,
Through many Ages fed, o're Sea, and Land
The Fire's diffus'd: th'Eöan Seres stand
Amaz'd, beholding a Prodigious Sight,
Their silken Groves with Latian Ashes White.
But now, at length, the weary General
To th'neighb'ring Hill Saturnia brought, where all
The Face, and Signs o'th bloody Fight more near
He saw. Such as Garganus did appear;
Such as the Tyrrhen Lake, and Trebia's Flood,
And swift Eridanus, with Humane Blood
O'reflowing, he beheld. Such a dire Face
Was shown of Myriads slaughter'd on the Place.
Then troubled Juno re-ascends the Skie,
And, climbing up the Hill, the Fo drew nigh;
When Hannibal thus with himself: Though all
The Fabrick of the Heav'ns dissolv'd should fall
On this my Head; and Earth should open wide:
Yet shall the Fame of Cannæ (Jove) abide;
And sooner from thy Empire shalt Thou fall,
Then in the Deeds, and Name of Hannibal,
The World be silent. Nor, from this my Hand,
Secure (O Rome) shalt thou for ever stand.
I, against Thee, my Country's Hope will live,
For a new War. For that Thou now dost thrive
In Fight, is 'cause thy Foes sit still. To Me
More then enough it is, that Italy,
And Dardan Mothers, while I live, will there
Expect Me, and ne're lay aside their Fear.
Then, with a few, that fled away, he gets
Back to the Hills, and more secure Retreats.
Here the War's Period was. To Scipio
Strait, of their own Accord, they open throw
Their Gates. Their Impious Rites abolish'd are.
Their Arms he takes away, and Laws, that were
Engrav'd. Their Strength in Riches, and their Pride
Is overthrown, and Elephants aside
Their Castles lay. At length (to Libya
A dismal Sight) their Fleet is fir'd: the Sea
Burns with the sudden Tempest, and the Flame
Nereus affrights. The Gen'ral, with a Name,
That equal shall with Time, for ever, stand,
With the first Title of that conquer'd Land,
Sure of that Empire, goes, by Sea, to Rome,
And, in great Triumph, to his Native Home
Is born. Before him Syphax, Captivate,
Upon a Bier, his Eyes dejected, sate;
His Neck in golden Chains preserv'd. And here
Hanno, and Young Phœnician Nobles were:
Then Macedonian Princes: next to these
The Moors, with parched Skins: then Nomades,
And Garamantians known to Horned Jove:
Where they the Sands survay, and Syrts, that prove
Destructive still to Ships. Next, lifting to
The Stars her conquer'd Hands, did Carthage go.
Then the Effigies of th'Iberian Land,
Now Peaceable: with Gades, that doth stand
The Period of the Earth; and Calpè, that,
Of old, Alcides Praise did terminate:
With Bætis, which the Horses of the Sun
Is wont to bath in Streams, that gently run:
And high Pyrenè, that gives Birth to Wars,
And lifts her leavy Head unto the Stars.
With rude Iberus, that, with Fury, flings
Against the Sea the Rivers, that he brings.
Yet nothing more delights their Mindes, and Eyes,
Then Hannibal, as in the Field he flies.

But standing in his Chariot, to the View
Of Rome, his Martial Face doth Scipio shew;
In Gold, and Tyrian Purple, richly drest:
As, when descending from the spicy East,
With Bridled Tygers, Bacchus drove along
His Vine-bound Chariot: Or, when, among
The slaughter'd Gyants, in Phlegræan Wars
Alcides walk'd, and touch'd the very Stars.

Hail, thou Un-conquerable Parent! who,
In Praise, art equal to Quirînus, to
Camillus in Deservings! nor, when She,
Among the rest, commemorateth Thee,
The Offspring of the Gods, doth Rome bely
Tarpeian Jove's Immortal Progeny.