Lvcans Pharsalia :: :: University of Virginia Library

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

Gorges, Arthur (1557?-1625)

The second Booke.

10.

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The second Booke.

The Argvment.

Fore-knowledge much it doth bewaile
Of woes, that needes must men assaile.
The Roman Matrons plaints exprest
All lawes and iustice are supprest.
Marius and Sylla's rage it showes,
Brutus in doubt to Cato goes,
Who once againe doth Martia wed,
Attir'd like mourners for the dead.
Pompey to Capua takes his way,
Cæsar at large beares all the sway,
And doth Domitius prisoner take.
Pompey doth his oration make.
His sonne hee sends for more supplyes,
Himselfe then at Brundusium lies,
And there besieg'd, thence hardly flies.

Now haue the Gods reueal'd their ire,
The heauenly signes with warres conspire,
And Nature likewise (with fore-sight)
Her lawes and bonds peruerteth quite
With monstrous tumults and garboyle,

Which wretchedly doth humanes toyle.
Great guider of Olimpus hill,
Why hath it pleasd thy sacred will,
That carefull mortals take such count
Of what their skill can not surmount,
As that they should presaging know
Those wrackes they needs must vndergoe?
Whether the All-Creator high
(When first he gan to rectifie
This formlesse masse of Chaos rude,
And did the fire a part seclude)

Whether there bee destiny or chance in worldly courses.

With an eternall fixt decree
Ordain'd that all should certaine be;
And to that law himselfe confin'd,
Wherewith all ages he did binde:
And fram'd the world that course to runne,
That Fates vnchanging hests had spunne?
Or else of humane haps the heft
Were vn-fore-doom'd at randome left?
So that in lifes vncertaine dance,
Things to and fro should slide and glance,
And all subiected vnto chance?
But howsoeuer 'tis ordain'd,
O let mans minde be so restrain'd
From knowing chances future scope

An Imprecation against fore-knowledge.

As that his feares may liue in hope!

When all at length had full conceiu'd,
In what sort higher powers bequeath'd
The Citty to resistlesse harmes;
Then lawes and iustice silence charmes;
And reuerent Honour lackt his meed,
Attir'd in base Plebeian weed.
No Axes now (in bundles bore)
Makes way the Magistrates before.
Amazement so doth griefe forestall,
That Sorrow hath no voyce at all.
Such stupid silence doth inuest
Whole families (with griefe possest)
Where husbands lye, in gasping strife,
Before they doe resigne their life.

The good-wife wrapt in sorrowes bands,
With flaring lockes wringing her hands,
Amidst her wofull houshold stands:
Vntill the liuing breath be fled
From out the corpes (that streacht out dead)
Doth in the pale disfigured face
And closed eyne Deaths portraict place,
Sorrow doth not at full complaine;
But then begins her howling vaine.
Whose mazement now with rage surprisd,
Doth change her robes to weeds disguisd:
And (with her wofull sad consorts)
Vnto the Temples then resorts.
So did our women (in their feares)
Sprinkle the Temple-gods with teares.

The Roman Matrons frequent the Temples with an extraordinary deuotion.

Beating their breasts against the stones,
Powre out their plaints and ruthful moanes.
And (stupify'd twixt griefe and dread)
Did rent their haires from off their head,
And sacred porches therewith spread.
And such as wont in humble wise
To pray and cast to heauen their eyes,
With outrage now the Gods would bend,

Not to vse presumption in praying.

Whose eares with clamours they offend.
Neither to Iupiter alone,
Doe they expose their vowes and mone:
But to all Temples else besides,
Where any of their Gods resides:
The which are fild, and all too scant,
No Altar doth deuotion want.
So do the Matrons (with out-cries)
Inuoke the Gods, and teare the skies.
And one of them amongst the rest
(With blubbered cheeks beating her breast)
Her braided lockes in peeces cuts,
And then her armes she spreads and shuts,
Whilst wth these plaints her voice she gluts

The speech of a Roman Matron.

O wretched Mothers now, she said,
To beat your breasts be not affraid,
Nor yet your tressed lockes to teare.

Langor no longer now forbeare.
Like happes did neuer vs assaile,
For which we had such cause to waile:
Whilst that the fortunes are vntry'd
Of these two Chiefetaines swelling pride.
But were once one of them subdu'd,
Then should our comforts be renew'd:
And so their plaints they aggrauate
That sorrowes selfe grew passionate.

Their men likewise resolu'd for warre,
Now clustred into campes a farre,
Against the wrathfull Gods on high,
In this sort doe exclaiming cry.
O haplesse Captiue-youths forlorne!
Why were we not in those dayes borne,
When Punicke warres did vs ingage,

The cōplaints of the Romans leauing the Citty, and following the warres.

With Canna's and Trebeia's rage?
Yee heauens wee doe not peace desire;
But on vs turne some forraigne ire:
Let all the world our bane conspire;
Stirre Cities vp with sword and fire.
Let Parths and Persians bend their armes,
Let Scythians rampe on vs in swarmes:
And (from the Northerne extreme parts)
Let red-haird Sweaths powre showrs of darts
And with them all that people bred
About the raging Rhenus head:
Yea make vs to all Nations foes,
So you diuert our Ciuill blowes.
Then let the wrathfull Danes and Getes,

All warres more pleasing to the Romans then ciuill strife.

Assaile vs in their hostile heats.
Let the Iberians make discent,
With ensignes and with weapons bent:
Vnto the Archers of the East
Let Rome from no strife be releast.
Nay if high powers decree the same,
To raze out the Hesperian name;
From heauen, to earth let flames descend;
That so the Latium race may end.
And then O direfull Fates withall

The Romans lay a curse on Cæsar & Pompey both.

Grant that some hatefull wracke befall
Both Factions, and the leaders both;
For yet they haue not shewd their wroth.
Why should they such dominion seeke,
As neuer yet was heard the like?
That all mens thoughts it must dismay,
Whether of them the world should sway?
Not both their worth can counterpaise
The ciuill strife that so they raise.

Thus Pieties declining state
Her lamentations did relate,
And parents wofully besides,
Like pressing care and cumbers grides.
In whose repining words appeares,
The wretched fate of their old yeares:
To be preseru'd in lifes disdaine,
To see a ciuill warre againe.
And one of them thus wail'd with teares,
Th' example of great former feares.

The cōplaint of an old Citizen, declaring the bloudy times of Marius and Sylla.

No otherwise (quoth he) did fate
Stirre vp commotion in our state;
When Marius after victory
Obtain'd against the Teuton fry,
And after he in Triumphes Carre
Had rid; for the Numidian warre.
A banisht man he hid his head
In dikes, where flaggie rushes bred.
So did the greedy marrish fennes,
And quagmire bogges shut in their dennes,
(O Fortune) they reseru'd a ward;
But yet anon he was not spar'd
From fettring gyues, nor loathsome Iayle,
VVhich long the old mans life did baile.
But blest had beene if hee had dy'd,
VVhen Consull he the State did guide;
Before he felt the scourging doome
For his mischieuous deedes at Rome.
But Death it selfe did from him flye,
VVhen 'twas decreed that he should dye.
And that the foe was ready prest

To rid the life out of his breast.
When he should giue the fatall wound,
Numnesse his sences so confound,
And mortify'd his arme withall,
That from his hand the sword did fall:
Wherewith the darksome prison shone
Like Phœbus beames at height of noone:
He heard withall a fearefull spell,
As from the gastly sprights of hell,
That Marius power must come againe,
Lawfull 'tis not thy steele to baine
Within his bloud; therefore refraine:
For he shall many doome to death,
Ere he yeeld vp his latest breath.
Let thy vaine rage his sword vp-sheath.
But if the Cymbrian youth desires
Auengement, for their slaughtered sires;
Let them wish him a longer race,
Who was not (by the heauens high grace)
Preseru'd for good; but, by their wrath,
Dessign'd to worke Romes greater scath;
A murtherous man (and if Fates will)
Able much Roman bloud to spill.

Marius a bloudy man.

This wretched wight the raging waue
Into a hostile Countrey draue.
Where faine he was for his reliefe
(Sculking in corners like a Thiefe)
To lodge in dennes where none did wonne
Of Iugurths Countrey ouer-runne.
And sometimes in the ruines lay
Of Punicke walles, the Romans pray.
Where Carthage fate and his did meete,
Each others misery to greete.
But soone againe his fortune chang'd,
And then vnto his party rang'd
The raging scum of Lybick land:
Where he did all the Iayles dis-band,
And of the Fetters and the Gyues,
His Martiall weapons he contriues.
But none he gaue a Captaines charge,

Vnlesse he could make knowne at large,
That hee had done some heynous deed,
And at his Campe so sought his meed.
O cruell Fates, what day was that,
What day that dismall chance begat?
That Marius should, with his returne,
Victor againe, make Rome to mourne?
How proudly then did cruell death
Both Lords and Commons reaue of breath?

Bloudy Fury.

How did the sword about him lay?
No breast was free from Murthers way.
The Temples human bloud did store,
Their pauements stained with the gore.
No sex nor age protection gaue:
On hoary heads the sword did raue,
And sent them headlong to their graue.
Nither did they a whit forbeare
The silly babes, that newly were
But borne, and brought to this worlds light:
Their liuing day held not to night.
O what could colour their pretents,
Against poore harmlesse innocents?
But it suffisd their tyranny
That they still found out some to dye.
So raues this force in cruelty:
And he was deem'd a coward slacke,
That none but faulty men would wracke.
Thus numbers dyed day by day:
For now they would not spare to slay
The strangers, whom they did not know:
But cut their heads their bodies fro.

More cruelties.

They sham'd to come their Lord before
With empty hands, not fil'd with gore.
One saue-guard yet for life remaines
To those, that such a grace obtaines,
As on their knees with vowes submisse,
Fell Marius bloudy hand to kisse.
O people growne degenerate,
From glory of your wonted state!
A thousand swords threatning new kindes

Of deaths, should not debase your mindes.
By such meanes to prolong your dayes,
As doth so foule dishonor raise.
And yet you did but life adiurne,
Vntill that Sylla do returne.
Few liue this common bane to mourne.
Scarcely shall any one remaine,
That saw when thou O Bebius slaine,
wer't into mangled morsels cut,

Noble Romans slaughtered.

Their bloudy thirsting blades to glut.
Or yet, O Antony, to tell
Of thee, that didst presage too well
These fatall harmes, how thy graue head
(with milke-white lockes all ouer-spread)
Was from the murthered body tore,
And (by a furious souldier bore
Dropping and smoking all in gore)
Was on the Table set, in iest,
Where Marius kept his solemne feast.
Nor how the Crassies corpes in scorne,
By Timbria were hackt and torne.
And how the awfull Rostrums beake,
Soyled with Tribunes bloud did reake.
And Scœuola thy age doth plaine,
To be so murdered in disdaine,
Where Vesta's sacred Temple stands,
By their life-violating hands.
Those fires that alwayes burne so cleere

Murder in Vesta's Temple.

With thy bloud somewhat tainted were:
Yet thy old veines could yeeld small store,
But spar'd those flames from quenching gore.
The seuenth time now is come in date,
That Marius takes his Consuls state.
Such was the manner of his life,
No man with Fortune had more strife,
And none her fauours found more rife.

Marius chāge of fortunes.

Who better then his course should range,
Then he that oft had try'd such change?
How many other bodies slaine
The streets of Sacroportum baine?

What heapes of carcasses all hewd,
Before Collina gates were strewd?
And now at last the whole worlds head
(She whose high power all Nations dread)
Must be depriu'd of supreme grace,
And chang'd vnto another place.
And Samnium now the world must know,
Shall giue to Rome a greater blow;
Then when her Army forced was
Vnder the Caudium forkes to passe.

Reuenging Sylla now comes in,
And monstrous slaughters doe begin:

Sylla's raging time of crueltie.

For that small store which did remaine,
Of bloud, he searcheth euery vaine.
And whilst he doth in shew pretend
Corrupted humors to amend,
The medcines rage did more offend.
His hand to deep doth search the wound,
Cutting of those were faultlesse found,
And onely those were left to liue,
That to his mischife helpe would giue.
Then spleene did lawlesse leaue obtaine,
That head-strong wrath on law shold raigne.
VVhich power was not to one design'd,
But vnto euery murtherous minde.
So will did all things loose and binde.

The liberty that was giuen to out-rage.

Seruants and slaues (with balefull blades)
Their maisters bowels now inuades:
Children likewise their hands did staine
VVith bloud of their owne parents slaine:
And striue some meed for it to gaine.
So did the brothers in likewise,
Of bloud fraternall make their prize.
Vnto the Tombes some frighted fled,

The sundry meanes that men make to dye, so to auoid the disdaine of Syllas insolencies.

The quicke were mingled with the dead.
None safe-guard seeke in sauage coates:
Some hang themselues: some cut their throats
Others againe (short worke to make)
Their neckes and limbes in peeces brake,
By falling to the ground from high,

Scorning by murdrous hands to dye.
Others againe doe now desire
To make a pile for funerall fire,
VVounding themselues to that intent,
And ere their life-bloud was out-spent,
Into the flames their bodies cast,
And laid them there whilst strength did last.
The heads of Peeres were borne the whiles
About the trembling streets on piles,
And in the Forum there lye throwne.
No villany is left vnknowne,
All horrid acts are boasting blowne.
The Thracian tyrant Dyomede
Neuer saw bloud more rifely shed,
Floting in his Bistonian stalles,
Nor carkasses about the walles
Of huge Antæus Lybicke caue:
Nor Greece to more laments it draue,
To see the heads of worthy men
Dight the Picean bloudy den.
Now though the heapes of gored clots,
And tract of time disfiguring blots
The knowledge of the faces slaine;
Sad parents yet would not refraine,
By stealth to get (if they could pry)
Their childrens limbes where they did lye.
And I my selfe can call to minde,
That then I much desir'd to finde

An old mans report of Syllas time.

Mine owne deare brothers mangled head,
That there lay slaughtred mongst the dead.
VVhereby to giue it funerall,
And fires (although deny'd to all)
VVhen as I saw the rage decrease
Of Sylla's sword, reputed peace;
Then heaps of Trunkes abroad I spread,
To see which fitted with his head.

VVhat should I here at large relate,
How Catulus ghost was expiate,
VVhen Marius (hackt and tortured)
For sacrifice was offered

To his vnsatiable Tombe,
By an vn-heard-of cruell doome.

A Marian cruelly tortured by Sylla's Executioners.

Whereas perhaps the wrathlesse spright
Did not affect that horrid sight;
VVhich we beheld when his crusht bones
VVith ioynt from ioynt was wrackt at once.
VVhen he as many wounds did beare
As members in his body were.
And yet no mortall stroke of sword
VVould him desired end affoord.
VVhich manner of a cruell death
Too long defer'd his latest breath.
His hands hewd off, fell from the stumpes,
His tongue out-torn, then trembling iumps.
Vnable to expresse a voyce,
His weasan pipe roares out a noyse.
One pares his eares from off his head,
Another doth his nostrels shred:
VVhilst he the whiles (poore tortured soule)
On these rent parts his eyes did rowle.
And then (to glut their tyrannies)
From out his head they pluckt his eyes.
Hardly may credit vs assure,
That life could so much paine endure.
So (with the fall of ruines heft)
Are bones and members crusht and cleft:
And so deform'd in tempests drown'd
Vpon the rockes are bodies found.
VVhat fruit or pleasure could they take
This wofull spectacle to make
Of Marius vgly mangled face?
Forsooth they knew they should gain grace
To shew it Sylla in that case.

Now comes in Prænestina's turne,
For her inhabitants to mourne:
VVhom she beheld (all at a trice)
To pay the bloudy sword like price.
Then quailed were th' Hesperian flowers,
And Latium youths now death deuours:
Then loathsome streame from bodies slaine,

The pleasant fields of Rome distaine,
Where gallants in their owne bloud baine.
Not Famines rage, nor wrackes of seas,
Not Earthquakes dreads, nor Plagues t'apease

Rome did neuer by any meanes suffer so great desolation as by Marius and Sylla.

The Heauens wrath; nor bloudy Warres,
Euer gaue vs such deadly scarres.
For now the heapes of bodies dead
The murderers sway so pestered,
That they lackt roome to fetch the blow,
When they would hewing wounds bestow.
And when that any one was slaine,
He could not fall flat on the plaine:
The dead did reeling them sustaine.
But slaughters came at last so thicke,
That bodies dead stifle the quicke.
Nothing at all these horrid facts,
Sylla's vnmated minde distracts;

Sylla beholds the slaughters without any remorse.

But from his Turrets top doth eye
(Without remorse) those swarmes that dye
And carelesse heares their clamorous cry.
The Tyrrhen gulfe at last receiues
Millions (whom death to it bequeaues)
Of Syllane slaughters, whose torne limmes,
At first vpon the Tyber swimmes:
But at the last twas heapt so high,
That bodies did on bodies lye:
So as the boats were stopt their course,
And Tybers streames were bard their sourse.
For heaps of limmes that thither flocke,
Damb'd vp the riuer like a locke.
But that part next vnto the seas,
Had liberty to take his vease.
And that which was the heapes behinde,
The clustred carkasses did binde.

Tyber stopt of his course with the infinite number of slaine bodies.

Nathlesse the torrents of the bloud
Did force a way, and with his floud,
Aboue the Tyber strand did rise,
And ouer all the fields it flies.
So as the streames of bloud gaue vent
Vnto the River, that was pent.

The bankes could not this floud withstand,
Which cast the bodies on the land.
And thence into the Tyrrhene maine,
The bloud did fall with such a traine,
That her blew waues it did diuide
Into a sanguine colour dy'd.
Were these the meanes to mend amisse?
Was Sylla, Fœlix nam'd for this?

A speech of scorne against Sylla.

Is this the merit he doth yeeld,
To haue his Tombe in Martius field?

These mischiefes must be borne againe,
This warre will follow that same vaine
Of ciuill strife; I feare this curse
To fall at last from bad to worse.
For where two armed factions meets,
Mankinde with common bane it greets.
The Marian rage did onely tend
His exil'd state but to amend:
So Rome receiues him as a frend.
And Sylla did no more desire,
But to reuenge his quenchlesse ire
With bloudy ruine of all those
That were of party with his foes.
But Fortune calles these Captaines twaine

The feare and doubt that this ciuill warre will bring a worse euent then the factions of Marius and Sylla.

(I doubt me) to a higher straine.
These both in Armes are stout and strong,
And will together rush ere long.
The others raisd no ciuill strife,
And Sylla tooke a priuate life.
So did this graue old sire lament
His mindfull woes of time fore-spent,
Fearing this ciuill warres euent.

And yet no feare a place could finde
In noble Brutus valiant minde,
This staggering dread that mazed all,

Brutus constancy and courage.

His constant heart could not appall.
But ere the dawning of the day,
When Parrhasis did downeward sway
The oblique Axels of her waine,
And did the drowsie skies refraine.

Vnto the little lodge he hies,
Where Cato his deare Vnkle lies;
And at his wicket lowd he rapt,
Whom he found not in slumbers wrapt:
But tossing (in his carefull mood)
The fortunes of the common good,
And safety of the Cities state,
Which he more wey'd then his owne fate:
Then thus with him he did debate.

O matchlesse Truth, and vndefil'd,

Brutus speech to Cato.

Which all the world hath now exil'd!
O Vertue, whilome in request,
Now onely lodg'd in thy iust breast.
Which no worlds fortunes thence can wrest
Affoord thy graue aduice to me,
Settle my thoughts that wauering be;
And (with thy iudgement sound and stout)
Direct me now that am in doubt.
Some now on Cæsars side will warre:
Others of Pompeyes party are;
But reuerend Cato, or else none,
Shall Brutus Captaine be alone.
And whether thou resolued art
(In these fraile times) to stay from Mart,
Or that thy minde be not dismaid,
One of these selfe-wild guides to aid:
And that thou deeme this ciuill strife,
worthy the waging of thy life?
I do not know; but others all
Respects to wicked Armes doe call.
Some for their filed houses cause:
Some that in peace feare Iustice lawes:
Others their staru'd estate to mend,
To spoyles and ciuill rapine tend:
And many banckrouts (drownd in debts)
In troubled streames would cast their nets.
None take vp Armes with good intent,
But all for hope of profit bent.
Onely thy selfe no humor drawes
To warres, but for thy Countries cause.

What can it now tend to thy praise
To haue vprightly spent thy dayes?
So fraught with vertue, free from crimes,
In these our vice-corrupted times?
If thou at last this censure haue,
Thy honest minde so to depraue?
That others were corrupt before
(In these vile warres) thy armes had bore.
But now thy selfe, this strife accurst
Hath made as faulty as the worst.
But I beseech the Gods aboue,
That from thy heart they so remoue
The humor of this mood vnmilde,
That with it thou be not defil'de:
And that thy armes thou doe not straine
To cast the Pile, with might and maine,
In clouds amongst the common rout;
And so great valour spend in doubt.
For in these warres if any erre,
The blame on thee they will conferre:
And those whom others bring to bane,
Thy sword therewith they will prophane,
And make thee author of all harmes,
That in this ciuill discord swarmes.
Peace better with thy temper sorts,
Exempt from enuies false reports.
Like as the heauenly bodies sway
With true and milde vnchanging way,
The aire (that to the earth is next)
With thunders rage is most perplext:
Whilst windes earth plants doth ouercast,
And lightning flashes do them blast:
Olympus 'boue the clouds stands fast.
It is ordain'd by Ioues high hest,
That discord should small things infest:
But concord highest states hath blest.
How would it Cæsars eares content,
That such a Peere, as thou, wert bent
To yeeld thy selfe vnto the warres,
And be partaker of these iarres?

For if thou Pompey's part do take,
He would thereof aduantage make,
And please himselfe withall to thinke,
Cato at Ciuill warres doth winke.
The Senate for the greatest part,
And Consuls likewise range their Mart,
Now vnderneath a priuate head,
And many other Lords so lead;
To whom adde Cato to the rest,
A Souldier vnder Pompeys hest,
So Cæsars power shall be increast.
For then will he sway all alone,
That in his Campe compeere hath none.
But if our Armes we needs must take,
For Lawes defence, and Countries sake,
Brutus to neither part will goe,
As Pompeys friend, or Cæsars foe:
But which of them shall victor stand,
Him Brutus meanes to take in hand.
So ends his speech; To whom againe
Cato replies, with sober vaine;
And from the secrets of his breast,
Like Oracles these words exprest.

O Brutus, needs we must confesse,
Most heynously they doe trangresse,

Cato's answere to Brutus.

That wilfully raise ciuill warre,
Which thought be euer from vs farre.
But whither fates doe men constraine,
Thither may Vertue safely traine.
Let heauen, for me, beare all the blame,
If I amisse my course doe frame.
For who can view (with dreadlesse eye)
The falling of the starry sky?
Or else containe his helping hands,
If he in doubt and danger stands
To be ore-whelmed with the fall
Of earths grosse weight, and this vaste all?
Or that the aire on flaming fire,
Our present ruine did conspire?
Shall vnknowne Nations parties take

With factions that the Romans make?
Shall Kings, from Clymes remote so farre,
Assisting be vnto our warre?
And shall I hold an idle place?
Farre from me be a minde so base!
These bloudy broyles like to ensue,
Might moue the Dakes and Getes to view
Our hard mishaps; and yet shall I
Carelesse let Rome her fortune try?
Or rather as the parent showes
His tender loue, that mourning goes
(Accompaned with many frends)
His childs sad funerals intends;
When Nature doth his heart enforce
Vnto the graue to guide the corse;
And then with sorrow takes in hand
To fire the stack with blazing brand.
No otherwise can I remoue
From thee (O Rome) my loyall loue,
Whilst that my limbes with life do moue,
And liberty thy name embrace,
Or thy vaine shadow in thy place.
But let the world goe how it will,
And let the wrathfull Gods vp fill
The full amends for Romes offence,
In this Warre with our blouds expence;
No drop thereof will we defraud,
But if my wish yee would applaud,
O powers of heauen and hell, vouchsafe
To cast the burthen of this scath
Alone vpon my wretched head.
No hostile harmes the Decij fled,
To free their Countrey hard bestead.
Let both the Armies me inclose,
Let all the barbarous ruthlesse foes
Of Rhene, on me bestow their blowes.
Yea let my body beare the scarres
Of all the wounds giuen in these warres.
My limbes thereto I would bequeaue,
And willingly them all receaue.

And happy would my death esteeme
The peoples wracke so to redeeme.
Could sacrifice of my bloud spilt,
Propitiate the Roman guilt?
Why doe the people fondly throng
To Tyrants, that our State would wrong,
And willingly the thraldome trust
Of kingly raignes, proud and vniust?
O let me witting onely feele
The fury of the murthering steele!
Let me that still haue beene afraid
To violate what Iustice said,
And thus in vaine haue lawes obaid.
O let this throat be caru'd in twaine,
If peace by it we may obtaine,
And giue an end vnto those broyles
Which now th' Hesperian nation toyles!
For if with me these warres had end,
No man would Monarchy intend.
But as it is warres we must make,
And Pompey for our leader take.
And all our force and courage bend,
The publicke standard to defend.
For I assuredly doe know
If Pompey giue the ouerthrow;
He is of minde too iust and meeke
Supreme command alone to seeke,
But doth such tyranny dislike.
To make him victor Il'e be one:
He shall not claime the baies alone.
Thus Cato spake; whose feeling words
(Like pricking neelds, or points of swords)
Stir'd vp stout Brutus martiall ire,
And his yong bloud doth set on fire,
Too much on Ciuill warres desire.

By this time Phœbus shining bright,
With beames had chast the chilly night.
When all the house did ringing sound

Martia, Cato's old wife returnes to his house againe.

With blowes, that from the gate rebound,
Giuen by modest Martia's hand,

Who mournfully without did stand,
But newly thither come withall
From her Hortensius funerall.
That whilome (in her virgins state)
Was spoused to a better mate.
And now againe she was inlarg'd
From nuptiall bonds, and vowes discharg'd.
Which for a time she did fulfill,
So to obey her Cato's will.
And fruitfully her children boare,
Wherewith two houses she did store.
And then with child she was conceiu'd,
When first Hortensius her receiu'd.
But after she (with funerall fire,)
Had paid his bones their latest hire:
And ashes in the Vrna plac'd,
With mournfull cheere, and looke defac'd,
Her haires about her shoulders spread,
Sprinkled with cinders of the dead,
Beating her breast with mournfull cry,
No presence to delight the eye.
Thus she her heauie tale began.

Martias speech to Cato.

Whilst youths pure bloud through my veines ran,
And I (repleat with fruitfull seed)
Obayd the hest by thee decreed,
Yeelding my selfe to husbands twaine,
Posterity to both did gaine.
But now with paines maternall worne,
And weake with many children borne,
With thee I seeke my dayes to spend,
Fit else for none to wedlockes end.
Restore me to thy loue againe,
That neuer did thy bed distaine,
And (to content my wretched life)
Affoord me but the name of Wife.
That my sad Tombe this stile may beare,
Cato's true Martia resteth here.
So that the wrong of future time,
Slander me not with blamelesse crime,
And deeme I had defil'd thy bed:

Because I did Hortensius wed.
When well thou knowst, in thy iust minde,
I was thereto by thee design'd:
Yet seeke I not to be thy mate,
Thereby to liue in better state,
Or to enioy a life of ease:
To share thy cares me best will please.
Part in thy trauels I desire,
To campe with thee shall be my hire:
Should I in peace and safety shrowd,
Whilst that Cornelia so hath vowd
To follow Pompeys ciuill warre?
Doe not my loue such grace debarre.

These faithfull words so won the man,
That though the time vnfit were than,
Whilst strife and tumults were in date,

Martia againe married to Cato.

To enter into wedlockes state:
Yet they agreed, the knot was ty'd;
But solemne pompe was laid aside.
The Matrimoniall bond alone
Suffisd to make the nuptials knowne:
All Ceremonies they forbeare;
Onely the Gods their witnesse weare.
The Porch with Garlands was not dight,

What Ceremonies Cato would haue at his wedding.

The Pillars want silke-ribbone white,
No Tapers lent a flaming light:
No stately steps of Ivory
Ioyn'd to the bed where they should lye:
The Curtens and the Couerlets
No gold embrodery besets:
No matron there, with crowne of state,
To guard the bride till it were late,
From companing her spoused mate:
No vaile of lawne did hide or grace;

Martias attire.

Her modest lookes, and bashfull face:
Her mantle that did loosely flye,
No faire imbossed belt did tye:
Rich Carkanets her necke had none,
Set out with pearle, and pretious stone;
But from her shoulders there did traile

Downe to her waste a simple vaile;
These dolefull weeds her state did waile.
But as she did her children beare
In sorrow, and in doubtfull feare,
Such now her spousall pleasures were.
And ouer all her purple gowne,
A mourning mantle trailed downe:
No melody, nor musickes voyce
Did with these nuptials reioyce:
Nor suiting with the Sabines trade:
No solemne feasts at all were made:
Her Stoicke husband them forbade.
No children then the house did grace,
No kins-folkes flockt vnto the place:
The match they made vp secretly,
Suffisd with Brutus company.
The Bride-groome had long time deferd

The description of Cato and his manner of life.

To cut or shaue his wilde growne beard:
It ouer-spred his reuerend face,
In his sad lookes no mirth tooke place.
For when he first did vnderstand,
That Faction furiously did band;
Vnshorne he left his hairy head,
Vnkemb'd his rugged brow to spread.
And in like sort about his face,
His shaggy beard did dangling trace.
He thought it fit that some iust minde,
(Vnto no partiall mood inclin'd)
Should waile this rage in humane kinde.
His recreation was not fed
With comfort of a nuptiall bed:
Loues vigor now in him lay dead.
And (with the common care fore-spent)
From troubled thoughts could not relent:
This course strict Cato doth content.
The modest meane he still intends,
And of his actions casts the ends.
With Natures lawes he holds no strife,
And to his Countrey vowes his life.
He doth not thinke that he was borne

His owne state onely to adorne:
But that he is in duty ty'd,
And zeale, to all the world beside.
His dainties were but hungers stay:
Large Palaces he did not way:
But that sound structure that did hold
Out Summers heat, and Winters cold.
And neuer in the pompe exceedes
Of garments, or of costly weedes:
But as the custome old did beare,
When Roman Quirites vsd to weare
Gownes, made of wouen shaggy heare.
He lent no lust to Venery,
But to maintaine posterity.
He Father was, and Husband sworne
Vnto his Citty, now forlorne.
Iustice most strictly hee obserues,
From honest faith he neuer swerues.
Voluptuous life he did detest,
It could not breed in Cato's breast.

Now Pompey, and his gathred Troopes

Pompey hauing forsaken Rome, comes to Capua.

Of Souldiers, that with terror droopes,
To Capua's walles themselues betake,
And there their randevous doe make.
A Towne built by the Troian race,
Where they a Collonie did place.
This for a seat of warre he chose,
And in the Countrey round bestowes
His bands, and Cohorts to withstand
The force of Cæsar, now at hand.

Here are those hilles of Apenine,
That in the midst run like a line
Alongst the whole Italian land,
Where these vmbragious mountaines stand,

The mounts Apenins.

Towring their lofty toppes a high;
None to Olympus comes more nigh.
This tracke of hilles (betweene two maines)
Iust in the midst his race out-straines.
The higher and the lower deepes,
These hilles conioyn'd a sunder keepes.

On this side doth the Pisan land
The rage of Tyrrhene seas withstand.
On th' other side Anconas soyle
Makes the Dalmatian flouds recoyle.
These mountaines in their bowels breeds
Many springs heads, that Riuers feeds:
Which diuersly their streames conuart
Into both seas on either part.
Metaurus swift, on the left side

Names of sundry riuers that flow from the Apenius.

And fierce Crustumium thence doe glide:
With Senna, and Isapis waues,
Isaurus walles that mildly laues:
Then Aufidus, that takes his vease
Into the Adriaticke seas:
Eridanus, that roots vp woods,
And sweepes them with his swelling floods,
And (from the faire Hesperian lands)
Conuayes them to the Oceans strands;
This Riuer (as old lawes suppose)
With poplar shades did first enclose,
And crowne his banks with circling rowes,

Phaetons flames.

When Phaeton (out of the way,
Leading his blazing Carre astray)
Did set on fire the aire and sky,
The earth did singe, and waters dry;
Whilst yet this riuers flowing streames
Held tacke against those burning beames:
And doth maintaine as broad a course,
As Nylus, with his seuen-fold sourse:
Except when Nylus ouer-bounds
The Lybicke and Ægiptian grounds:
Nor lesse then Istar; but when as
He doth through many Nations passe,
And other streames vnto him takes,
That to the seas their progresse makes:
Whereby alone he doth not pay
His tribute to the Scythian bay,
Now from this mountaines steepe right side
First doth the Riuer Tyber glide:
And high-bankt Rutuba withall:

Vulturnus likewise with swift fall:
And Sarnus, from whose muddy lists
The aire about is stuft with mists:
And Lyris that the prouince trades
Of sweet Maurica, clad with shades,
Whose backe Vestinus water lades:
And Syler, that through Salerne floates:
With Macra, that will beare no boates,
But doth dis-boage into those deepes,
That by the Citty Luna sweepes.
These mountaines (as they longer streach)
Their tops withall doe higher reach
Towards the confines of faire France,
And on the Alpes their prospect glance,
The Vmbrians and the Marsians soyle,
VVhere the Sabellian plowes doe toile.
So do these Pine-treed hilles embrace
The coasts of Latiums ancient race;
And neuer leaues th' Hesperian ground,
Till Sycils seas their limits bound.
Yet long agoe did further wend,
And to Lacinia's Temple tend;
Vntill such time as her confines
(By seas encroach) their length declines.
For Italy to Sycill ioyn'd,
Before the double seas purloyn'd
The land away, and cut the shore,
That earst was fixt vnto Pelore.

Cæsar in Armes with furies sway,
Not without bloud will shape his way.

Cæsars humor and expedition.

Hesperians he accounts his foes,
And would not gaine them without blowes,
Least in that kinde he being slacke,
Might leaue a warre behinde his backe.
Those gates more please him that withstand,
Then those set open to his hand.
Best sorting are to his desire
Those Countries won with sword and fire,
Then such as would his peace acquire.
He scornes to march through beaten waies,

Or to deserue a Patriots praise.

At the first beginning of the warre the Citties of Italy stood wauering to which side to incline

The Latine Citties yet repine,
And doubt which way they should incline:
For though at first they stood at gaze,
When as the warre began to blaze;
Yet now their walles they fortifie
With Ramparts, and with Bulwarkes hye,
And cast about them ditches deepe;
Then to the Towers, and Turrets steepe,
Round stones of hugye weight they bring,
And darts amongst the foes to fling.

The vulgar do more affect Pompey then Cæsar.

The vulgar most to Pompey bends;
Yet with their loue their feare contends.
Like as when whistling Southerne winde
(Vnto tempestuous stormes inclin'd)
Shoouing the seas before his blast,
The rowling billowes follow fast,
Although that Æols changing hand
From his vast caue do them dis-band;
And Easterne gale, that checkes the maine,
Whose puffes the very Racke doth straine:
The sea his first voage yet doth trace,
And still the Southerne winde imbrace.
So dread these men in doubt did hold,
Their faith so fortune bought and sold.

Libo flyes from his charge.

And Libo first (with base dismay)
Hytruria naked left a pray.

Pompeyes great Commanders flie from their garisons before they saw the enemy.

Thermus (with his example led)
Left Vmbria guardlesse, and thence fled.
So Sylla (with opprobrious shame,
Forgetfull of his Fathers fame)

Sylla flies from his charge.

Trembled to heare but Cæsars name.
Varus likewise himselfe inlarg'd,

Varus flies frō Auximium.

And all the garrison discharg'd,
That in Auximium he had plac'd,
Ere any foe the walles had fac'd;
Out at posterne gate he rides,
And in the woods and mountaines hides.

Lentulus forsooke Æsculea his garrison.

Æsculea, Lentulus forsooke,
And vnto flight himselfe betooke.

But him the Victor did pursue,
Making them turne againe that flue;
And of so many armed bands,
Onely the leader scap't his hands:
No Ensignes mongst those Cohorts stands.
And Scypio thou too soone didst leaue

Scipio forsook Nuceria, that was man'd with a braue garrison of Roman Veterans.

Nuceria, that their state bequeaue
Vnto thy trust, which so did faile,
Ere any force did them assaile;
When as that warlike Towne was man'd
With many a gallant trained band
Of valiant youths, from Cæsars armes,
Cal'd to relieue the Parthian harmes.
But first imploy'd on Pompey's cost,
To venge the bloud in Gallia lost.
And now himselfe doth warres intend,
For these stout troopes againe did send,
To be his father-in-lawes sure guards:
This vse of Roman bloud awards.
But thou Corfinium, strong-fenc'd hould,
Commanded by Domitius bould,
That with huge walles inuiron'd art,
With Flankes and Ramparts, fit for Mart;
Thy garrison were those new bands,
That Milo tooke from Iustice hands.
Now from the walles (with watchfull eyes)
Domitius first neere hand espies
Great clouds of dust aloft to rise.
And with the glittering sun-shine beames,
Faire armed Troopes cast flaming streames.

Souldiers & friends, quoth he, make haste,
This bridge forthwith must be laid waste,

Domitius speech to his garrison Souldiers.

That doth vpon this riuer stand:
See it be razed out of hand.
And you huge mountaines now let flie
Your fountaine heads, and raise so hye
The flowing Riuers with rough tides,
That all the boats that thereon glides,
Vpon the shelues may wracke their sides:
Stay here the limits of this warre,

This Towne their proud attempt shall barre:
And on these bankes those rauening bands
(With hopeles gains) shal make their stands.
Here first shall Cæsars force desist,
And victory yeeld to our fist.
He said no more, but hastes withall,
The swaggring troopes from off the wall,
That headlong to the worke doe fall.

VVhen Cæsar from his Campe perceiu'd
The Riuers passage was bereau'd,
And that the breaking of the bridge,

Cæsars words at the siege of Corfinium.

His iournies speed would much abridge;
Enrag'd with wrath: what now? quoth he,
Are not strong walles esteem'd to be
Sufficient sculking dennes to hide
These crauen Souldiers terrifide?
O cowards will you ouer-flow
The fields, thereby my march to slow?
VVhen Ganges with his stickle sway,
Nor any other floud can stay
Cæsar, from holding on his way;
Now he the Rubicon hath past,
Yee troopes of horse set forth with hast:
And bands of foot come follow on,
This shaken bridge goe set vpon.

No sooner he the word did speake,
But out his forward horsemen breake,
And doe the riuers bankes assaile,
Like to a stormy drift of haile.
To th' other side then they let flye
A showre of darts, that cloud the skye.
And Cæsars selfe the passage takes,
VVhere none to him resistance makes.
Then quickly he doth force them all
To make retrait within the wall.
And then the Rammes for battery
Vnto the worke he doth apply.
VVith other Engines brought in place,
That Towers and Bul-warkes will deface.

But see the villany of warre!

The garrison the gates vnbarre,

Domitius deliuered to Cæsar by his owne men.

Their Gouernour they doe betray,
And him a prisoner forth conuay,
Before proud Cæsars feet to lay.
But yet his state and noble face
It seem'd no terror did imbase:
For oft he stoutly cal'd for death;
The Victor knew he loathed breath,
As one that did despaire of life.
But Cæsar said; Our grace is rife:
Liue therefore though against thy will;

Cæsars words to Domitius his prisoner.

And by our gift (said he) liue still.
Let others (whom I shall subdue)
In thee a perfect patterne view
Of Cæsars mercy; and now chuse,
On whose side thou thy Armes wilt vse:
Or if thou wilt retired liue,
Thy choyce to thee I freely giue.
But doe not thinke this moues my minde,
That I thereby like grace would finde,
If thou hereafter conquest gaine;
That base respect I much disdaine.
Thus said; forthwith he gaue in charge
His hands from fetters to inlarge.
But better much had him bety'd,
If he that present houre had dy'd:
And Fortune more had freed from shame
The honour of the Roman name.
He holds it now a grieuous scorne
(With reputation so forlorne)
To warre for his deere Countries sake,
And therein Pompey's part to take;
Whom all the Senates forces aides,
Whilst hostile pardon him vpbraides.

Domitius his inward troubled thoughts

These thoughts his heart doe still infest,
And with himselfe doth thus contest:

Shall I in Rome goe make my nest,
And (as a man degenerate)
Shut vp my selfe in peacefull state?
And not this noble warre pursue,

That wisht for death, so lately due?
Nay rather into hazards runne,
Vntill thy lifes twist be out-spunne,
And Cæsars gift with glory shunne.

Report did not as yet relate
This Captaines base subdued state
To Pompeys eares fraught full of cares,
For his designes that now prepares
To strength his part with forraigne shares,
And order giues the following day,
With Trumpets sound to set in ray
His troopes, and then to feele their minde
How they to battaile were enclinde.
To whom, when they did silence make,
With reuerend voyce he thus bespake.

Pompeys oration to his souldiers.

Yee vengers iust of guilty hands,
Yee Souldiers of right Roman bands,
That for defence of Iustice stands,
Whom now the Senates supreme hest
Doth not with priuate armes inuest;
Dispose your forward hearts for fight,
Since now Hesperia (in our sight)
Doth flame on fire in wretched state,
And her faire fields depopulate.
This clew of rage (in Gallia spunne)
Ouer the yeie Alpes is runne,
And Cæsar in this raging mood,
Pollutes his sword with Latium blood.
The Gods him iustly charge with blame,
As Author of this ciuill flame.
And now euen now Rome to me calles,
Whom she her president installes)
To chastise these rebellious brawles.
Whose armes (with countries bloud defil'd)
Cannot as worthy warres by stil'd:
To ours that honoured name belongs,

Hee compares Cæsar to Cataline.

That doe reuenge our Countries wrongs.
His warre is of no better kinde,
Then that which Cataline design'd,
When Rome he meant to set on fire,

And had with him that did conspire
One of the Lentulij his mates,
Cæthegus, bare-arm'd in debates.

The house of the Cæthegi vsed alwayes to fight bare Armed.

O wretched rage that so dost raigne
Within this leaders wilfull braine,
Whom Fates would raise to no lesse fame,
Then those of the Camillan name!
Or those braue Lords Metellij hight.
But thou art of another spright:
Thy humor followes iust the straine
Of Cinna's and of Marius vaine:
Whose infamies doe still remaine.
Like Lepidus that was supprest
By Catull', or as we distrest
Proud Carbo, that (by Iustice hest)
Our Axes fatall edges try'd,
Whose bones Sycilia soyle doth hide.
Or as Sertorius, iustly slaine

Sertorius.

For his rebellious course in Spaine.
Although in faith it grieues me much
So to compare with any such
Thee Cæsar; but that Romes offence
Cannot with our reuenge dispence.
But would it had beene so ordain'd
That Crassus victory had gain'd
Against the Parthes, and from the coast
Of Scythia, brought againe his hoast;
Whereby he might thy selfe subdue,
As Spartacus he ouerthrew.
Or if the all fore-seeing eye
Will that we two our forces try;

Spartacus a Rebell.

My arme as well as thine shall show,
That it the pearcing Pile can throw.
And that my bloud, for courage bold,
Disdaines by thee to be controld.
And that a heart to peace inclin'd,
Is not therefore of cowards kinde.

Pompeys ostentation recounting all his owne great deeds.

For though he tearme me spent with yeares,
Let not my age put you in feares.
My Campe experience so shall guide,

As fits an ancient leader try'd.
Let his be ordered by the sway
Of a yong Captaines heady way;
I haue arriu'd to highest place
That free-men gaine by peoples grace:
And haue all honours palmes possest,
But Monarchy, which I detest.
He (whom ambition so doth feed,

A vaine-glorious speech.

That Pompeys power he would exceed,
In swaying of the Roman state)
Affects more then a priuate fate.
The Roman Peeres this Campe doe grace,
The Consuls here doe hold their place.
Shall Cæsars pride them all out-face?
O Fortune! can it thus betide,
That thou so blindly things should guide,
And shamelesse tollerate such pride?
Because that he (in ten yeares space)
Had neare subdu'd the Gallicke race,
Where he so long a time hath war'd,

Pompey chargeth Cæsar to haue fled from the Brittons.

And oft from Rhenes cold banke beene scard,
And laid the fault vpon the deepes,
That with such rage their channell sweepes
As no shippes there safe harbour keepes;
Thereby his dastard flight to cloake
From Brittons, whom he did prouoke.
But now, since he doth proudly boast,
That (at the fame of his fierce host)
The Senate left their homes for dread,
And from the armed Citty fled;

A poore excuse.

Vaine foole, for feare they fled not thee,
But for good will all followed me;
That haue my glittering streamers showd
Through all the Seas, with pyrates strowd,
And did those Rouers force to seeke,
Their refuge, in a little creeke.
I likewise did, with conquering hand,
Subdue the Soueraigne of that land,
That Romans force did long withstand:
And made an end of Pontus warre,

More blest thereby then Sylla farre.
No part of all the world is free,
But hath beene conquered by me.
The cold North streames of Phasidos
My powerfull hand and conquest knowes,
With Ægypts parching sands besides,
And Syen, whom no shadow hides:
My name is fearfull to the west,
And Spaine likewise I haue supprest:
Where Bætis riuer last of all,
Into the Ocean sea doth fall.
Arabia conquered felt my hands,
And fierce Ænochians warlike bands.
Colchos renownd with fleece of gold,
And Capadocia I controld.
The Iewes, the vnknowne God that serue,
And dainty Sophens that preserue
Themselues so choyce; th' Armenians,
The Taurynes, and Sylicians:
All these are vanquished by me,
And nothing from my hands left free:

Pompey recounts his actions.

But Ciuill warres vnweldy heft,
Which to my father-in-law I left.

Thus Pompey did his mind make knowne,
Whereat no showts of ioy were showne.
Neither seem'd they much to desire

Pompeys Souldiers but little mou'd with his great words.

The Trumpet kindling Martiall ire.
And he himselfe (dismaid at this)
The Bands and Ensignes doth dismisse.
Not trusting to his staggering troopes,
That basely so halfe-conquered droopes,
To heare the sound of Cæsars fame,
Before that he a neere them came:

Pompey's men amazed at the fame of Cæsar.

And therefore would not hazard fight
VVith cohorts in that daunted plight.
But as a Bull his lease forsakes,
VVhen he a foyle in combate takes,
Into some groue, and desart wood,
Doth range and runne with furious mood.
In which mad plight, (with rage repleat)

With hoofe and horns the shrubs doth beat,
And to his pasture comes no more,
Vntill his strength he doe restore.
And his rug'd necke, and furrow'd hide
Please him againe with puft vp pride;
Doth then at last returne againe,
And more insult ore all the plaine;
Leading the heard with him to goe,
Whether the heards-man will or no.
So Pompeys force (too weake for fight)
Leaues Italie to Cæsars spight.
And (like a sculking run-away)
Doth through Apulia roaue and stray,
Till at Brundusium he arriues,
The which strong fortresse him reuiues.

Pompey comes to Brundusium.

This Towne of old was first possest,
By a strange Collony distrest,
That were as banisht men out-cast.
From Creet, and through the Ocean vast
Conuay'd by ships of Athens state,
(As ancient fables doe relate)
When Theseus did blacke sailes aduance,
Breading false feare of his mischance.
This part of Italie doth show
An indraught, compast like a bow,
In midst whereof a peece of land
(Form'd like a tongue out-stretcht) doth stand
Which bow the Adriaticke maine,

Brundusium described.

With horned compasse, doth containe.
And yet thereby ships could not finde
A harbour safe from euery winde;
But that an Iland of high rockes
Safe from the storme, this indraught blocks:
And doth repell the raging waues,
When so the stormy tempests raues.
And here and there, on euery side,
Nature doth safely so prouide,
That boats and ships may safely ride,
But by a little Cable ty'd.
And thence they may free passage take;

If they a voyage meane to make,
For the Corcyrian Iland bound;
Or else would seke their anchor ground
On the Ilyrian left-side lands,
Where Epidamnus Citty stands.
Here also oft sea-faring men
Their tempest-driuen ships vp pen,
When Adriaticke stormes arise,
Or on Ceraunia cloudy skies:
Or when Calabrias Sason shores,
With foaming billowes swelles and roares.

When Pompey now did plainly finde
Assurance none remaind behinde
His backe, in Italies affaire,
Nor that he could himselfe prepare
To turne the warre another way
For Spaine, where his chiefe forces lay:
Because the Alpes were iust betweene
And from that course debar'd him cleane;
His sonne vnto him he doth call,
That eldest was amongst them all:
And him commands the world to try,

Pompey his words to his eldest sonne, whom hee sends for aids.

For aid whereon he might rely.
Search Euphrates and Nylus shore,
To whom our fame was spred of yore:
And all those Nations draw to head,
Where I haue Roman Armies led:
With all those Pyrates vanquished,
Whom I in Collonies did spred

A briefe Catalogue of the nations that aid Pompey.

Throughout the large Cylician soile,
Bid them vnto the seas recoyle.
Stirre vp with all the Pharaoh's King:
Let my Tygranes his force bring;
But therewithall haue speciall care,
Pharnaces doe his armes prepare,
With both Armenians wandring rout,
And Pontus people warlicke stout:
Together with Ryphæan bands,
And those that coast alongst the strands
Of slow Meotis lake, thicke frorne,

Whereon the Scythian Carts are borne.
But what, my sonne, needs many words?
Bid all the East now whet their swords,
And Citties all where so they stand
That haue beene conquered by our hand:
And to my Campe summon them all,
That to my Tryumphes haue beene thrall.

Pompeys words to the Roman Lords at Brundusium.

And you likewise, braue Latium Lords,
Whose names our Holy-dayes records,
First to Epyrus get you gone;
Then through the Grecian fields march on:
In Macedon new force receiue,
Whilst winters season lends vs leaue.
When he had said, they all agreed
To follow what he had decreed:
And that there might no time be lost,
They hoise their sailes, and leaue the coast.

But Cæsar not enduring peace,
Nor liking long from Armes to cease,

Cæsar followes Pompey close at the heeles.

Least Fortune should estrange her face,
Still hotly doth pursue the chase,
And presseth Pompey at the heeles,
As one that no contentment feeles,
In ought that yet by him is done:
That hath so many Cities wonne
In so short time; and hath distrest
So many foes, of Forts possest:
And finding Rome, the worlds chiefe head,
So easie to his conquest lead,
The greatest prize that warre could gaine:
Yet Cæsar (in his maistering vaine)
With nothing done contents his minde,

Cæsars humor.

VVhil'st ought to doe remaines behinde.
But onward in this warre doth trace,
Though all Italia giues him place:
And much at Pompey's state repines,
That he should rest in her confines.
And no lesse doth it him displease,
That he should passe from thence by seas:
The Hauens mouth he striues to shut,

And therein heapes of rockes doth glut.

Cæsar goes about to shut vp the Hauen of Brundusium to keepe in Pompey from flying away.

But that his labour lost in vaine,
Swallowd by the deuouring maine.
And like the sands are spearst abroad,
Faster then hands can them vnload.
For of those heapes no marke was seene
More then if Athos mount had beene
Orethrowne, and in the middle cast
Of the Egæan Ocean vast.
Or as if Gaurus hill so steepe
VVere into the deuouring deepe
Of foule Auernus headlong throwne:
So this huge worke was ouerflowne:
No signe at all thereof was showne.
Now therefore he meanes to assay
Another course to stop the bay.
VVith piles of wood (hereto design'd)

The like was vsed by the Spaniards before Antwerpe, which they tearmed a Stockade.

And huge Oke trees with chains combin'd,
This harbours mouth must be confin'd.
So fame reports that Zerxes tryd,
The raging seas to ouerstride,
Framing on Hellespont a way,
Ouer the which he would conuay

Zerxes.

From Asias side his mighty hoast,
Vnto Europas fertill coast.
And on this floting bridge transport
Old Abydos to Sestus fort.
Not fearing to be ouer-cast
VVith Eurus, or with Zephirs blast,
VVhen he through Athos forc'd a way,
Safely his Nauy to imbay.
So was this harbours mouth chain'd fast
VVith woods cut downe into it cast;
VVhereon they did large Towers aduance,
That on the rowling billowes dance.
VVhen Pompey now at last perceiu'd
The out-let of the sea bereau'd;
VVith firme compact foundation wrought
VVhereby the worke to passe was brought,
A world of cares torment his thought,

How to set free the bay againe,
And sparse these workes into the maine.
He therefore now stout shippes prouides,
(With hoised sailes, and force of tides)
Against this linked bridge to rush,

Pōpey forceth away through Cæsars worke before the harbour.

Which with huge Engines they doe crush,
So that peece-meale it teares and splits,
And on the weltring Ocean flits:
In cliffes and rockes lye linked trees.
Thus for his ships a passage frees.
And in the darke (with force of flings)
Great wilde-fire balles amongst them flings.
Then he commands, in still of night,
That all prepare themselues for flight.
That Mariners no clamours make;
When to their shippes they them betake:
Nor that the Trumpets warning giue,
When they their watches doe relieue.
But that the troopes doe come aboord,
Not thereto cal'd by Trumpets woord.

It seemes Lucan is heere mistaken, for that this beginning of the war was in the Spring of the yeare, as Appian writeth.

The Sunne in Libra now doth shine
On Autumnes Equinoxiall line,
When (with the dawning of the day)
They doe prepare to packe away,
And wey'd their Anchors with no cries,
That in the oase deepe buried lies.
And whilst they hoise their tackled yards,
The fearfull Maisters silence guards.
They cut their sailes, and cables coyle,

Pompey leaues Brundusium, & flies by sea in the night.

The Sailers without noise doe toile.
Then Pompey Fortune did desire,
That now he safely might retire
From Italy; since she design'd,
That he no resting there should finde:
But seem'd it did the Fates displease;
For (with the working of the seas)
The shippes pell-mell incumbred were.
Which did a sudden clamor reare.
And falling foule (with blustring weather)
Their beake-heads clattring meet together.

The enemy the Citty takes,
As soone as Pompey it forsakes.
The Townsmen straight set ope the gates.
So faith doth change when fortune mates.
The walles they had no sooner wonne,
But straight the armed troopes doe runne
To both ends of this compast land,
Which at the harbours mouth doth stand.
And much were vext to looke thereon,
How Pompey with his fleet was gone.
O shame! a little conquest 'tis,
To see great Pompey flying this.
He slipt out at a narrow breach,

A reproch to Pompey.

And so the Ocean wide did reach:
This breach by which his ships did passe,
Through this huge worke, no bigger was
Then the Eubæan straight, whereon
There beates the waues of Calcydon.
And here two of these ships stooke fast,
Into the which these Souldiers cast
Huge grapling hooks, with mighty chains,
That them vnto the shore constraines.
Here ciuill bloud the sea first staines.
The whole fleet else free passage finde;
But these chiefe ships were left behinde.
Euen so when Iason tooke in hand,
First to attempt the Colchos land;
Cyanea's cliffe let fall two rockes
Into the sea, whose boysterous shockes
One of his lesser vessels hits,
Whose sterne abaft it somewhat splits:
Yet safely from those rockes she flits
Into a sheltring creeke, and theare
Her wracke forthwith she doth repare.

By this the breaking of the day
A differing colour doth display:
Yet Phœbus (with his glistering head)
Had not Aurora's cheekes made red,
Though his approach drew on a pace:
To which the nearer starres giue place.

The Pleiades no longer shines:
Boötes to the East inclines:
The greater starres that shine by night,
And Lucifer, that lampe of light,
Hides from the heate of Tytans sight.
Now Pompey through the seas doth scower,
But not with like Empiring power,
As when he did those Pirates foyle,
That all the maine did robbe and spoyle.
Thy fortunes haue their race out runne,
Tired with thy great conquests wonne.
So as mishap thee now doth call,
With thy deere spouse and children all,
Into a warre farre off to flee,
And all thy houshold Gods with thee.
And yet (in this exiled fate)
A noble traine supports thy state.
But oh some forraigne shore is sought,
Whereas thy ruine must be wrought.
Not that the Gods in wrath desire,
That thou shouldst want thy funerall fire
Vntomb'd in thine owne natiue land;
But with thy death curse Ægypt strand:
And free that heynous wretched deed
From Latium, that thy worth did breed.
For her so Fortune doth prouide,
In coasts remote that guilt to hide.
To keepe the Roman land from staine
Of bloud, of her deere Pompey slaine.

Finis Libri secundi.