Lvcans Pharsalia Containing The Ciuill Warres betweene Caesar and Pompey. Written In Latine Heroicall Verse by M. Annaevs Lvcanus. Translated into English verse by Sir Arthur Gorges ... Whereunto is annexed the life of the Authour, collected out of diuers Authors |
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To the Translator.
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 | Lvcans Pharsalia |  |
To the Translator.
Lvcan, that first in the Imperiall tongue(In naked truth of acted history)
The ciuill wounds made for an Empire song;
Hath checkt precedent, taught succeeding Poesy,
That flatteries and fictions may delight,
May please a Tyrant, wrong a rightfull King,
May please an Orphan Iudgment, wrong the right,
Enuelop Truth, proclaime an vntrue thing.
Lucan, that first hath showne the force of verse,
Relating onely what was seene, felt, donne,
Of Conqu'rors triumphs, of the Conqu'reds herse,
All as it left, all as it first begunne.
Not like the Trojan Theamers, fit for schooles,
Fabling of this and that in Heauen, Earth, Hell,
Sober to mad-men, turning wise to fooles,
Gods to be Neat-heards, men in starres to dwell,
Hath match't the faith, that History requires:
Hath match't best History in choyce of phrase:
Hath taught, that History in nought aspires
Aboue the truth of deeds, it selfe to raise.
This Lucan for his truth a Truch-man gaines
As true to him, as he to Truth remaines.
T. W.
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