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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The third Booke.
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The third Booke.
The Argvment.
This doth declare Whilst Pompey flees,The vision that he dreaming sees.
To Sicill Ile is Curio sent,
Cæsar to Rome makes his descent.
The Treasurie as spoyle he takes,
Metellus some resistance makes.
In these warres who takes Pompey's Part.
Cæsar to Spaine transferres his Mart,
And in his passage takes in hand
Marseilles siege by sea and land.
Yet onwards still he doth proceed,
And leaueth Brutus in his steed:
Who by a battell on the Maine
With conquest doth the Citty gaine.
With friendly gales the sailes doe flye,
Whilst through the deepes the ships doe plye;
And all their lookes as they doe wend,
Vpon Ionias coast they bend.
But Pompey's eyes still fixed stand,
Gazing on the Hesperian land,
And whilst he viewes his natiue shore,
(Which he is like to see no more)
The high lands seeme as clouds to sight,
And then at last doe vanish quite.
Now whil'st a slumbring sleepe did ceaze
His wearied sprights, to giue them ease;
In dreames, a vision he descries,
That from below did gastly rise.
The sad aspect of Iulias face,
Seem'd to appeare in that same place,
Whereas her funerall fire was made,
And said, I come from Stygian shade,
Where ghosts afflicted haunt and trade,
Chac'd from those faire Elisian fields,
To blessed soules that solace yeelds.
Constraind I follow ciuill warre,
Where I beheld the Furies iarre,
Sparkling abroad their blazing brands
Amongst thy troopes of armed bands.
And Charon, Ferry-man of Hell,
More skiffes prepares then tongue can tell.
And Dis new torments doth deuise
For soules, that posting to him flies.
And now the Fatall Sisters try,
With all their speed, their worke to ply.
Yet their three hands can scarce suffise,
Their webbes so fast in sunder flies.
O Pompey! whil'st I was thy wife,
In Triumphes thou didst lead thy life:
Thy Fortune since, it seemes, it fled,
Cleane chang'd with thy new nuptiall bed,
Which is ordain'd (by wrathfull Fates)
To bring her Pheeres to dolefull dates.
Cornelia, that same strumpet vile,
That did her spousall bed defile,
Before the funerall fires were spent,
Wherein her husbands bones were brent.
She still thy Ensignes doth accost,
By land or sea where so thou gost.
Whilst, me in memory to keepe,
Thou wilt not breake one houres sleep.
No vacant time there doth remaine,
Your mutuall loue-sports to restraine.
But Cæsar shall thee chase by day,
And I by night will thee dismay.
Læthe from me cannot remoue
The memory of thy deere loue.
The powers infernall licence me
Throughout the earth to follow thee.
Amidst the fierce batalions rage,
I dreadlesse will my selfe ingage.
For by my ghost I doe protest,
Within thy power it shall not rest,
(O Pompey) that stile to prophane
Of Sonne-in-law, which thou hast tane.
Thou seekst in vaine with thy swords edge
To cut the knot of that vowd pledge.
Doe what thou canst, these Ciuill harmes
At last shall cast thee in mine armes.
Thus hauing said, the wandring shade
From the embracements softly fade,
Of her old spouse, herewith adrade:
Yet though the Gods his ruine threats,
And ghosts would moue him to regreats,
The fiercer he to armes doth flye,
Resolu'd his fatall chance to try.
Whilst through the deepes the ships doe plye;
And all their lookes as they doe wend,
Vpon Ionias coast they bend.
But Pompey's eyes still fixed stand,
Gazing on the Hesperian land,
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(Which he is like to see no more)
The high lands seeme as clouds to sight,
And then at last doe vanish quite.
Now whil'st a slumbring sleepe did ceaze
His wearied sprights, to giue them ease;
In dreames, a vision he descries,
That from below did gastly rise.
The sad aspect of Iulias face,
Seem'd to appeare in that same place,
Whereas her funerall fire was made,
And said, I come from Stygian shade,
Where ghosts afflicted haunt and trade,
Chac'd from those faire Elisian fields,
To blessed soules that solace yeelds.
Constraind I follow ciuill warre,
Where I beheld the Furies iarre,
Sparkling abroad their blazing brands
Amongst thy troopes of armed bands.
And Charon, Ferry-man of Hell,
More skiffes prepares then tongue can tell.
And Dis new torments doth deuise
For soules, that posting to him flies.
And now the Fatall Sisters try,
With all their speed, their worke to ply.
Yet their three hands can scarce suffise,
Their webbes so fast in sunder flies.
O Pompey! whil'st I was thy wife,
In Triumphes thou didst lead thy life:
Thy Fortune since, it seemes, it fled,
Cleane chang'd with thy new nuptiall bed,
Which is ordain'd (by wrathfull Fates)
To bring her Pheeres to dolefull dates.
Cornelia, that same strumpet vile,
That did her spousall bed defile,
Before the funerall fires were spent,
Wherein her husbands bones were brent.
She still thy Ensignes doth accost,
By land or sea where so thou gost.
Whilst, me in memory to keepe,
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No vacant time there doth remaine,
Your mutuall loue-sports to restraine.
But Cæsar shall thee chase by day,
And I by night will thee dismay.
Læthe from me cannot remoue
The memory of thy deere loue.
The powers infernall licence me
Throughout the earth to follow thee.
Amidst the fierce batalions rage,
I dreadlesse will my selfe ingage.
For by my ghost I doe protest,
Within thy power it shall not rest,
(O Pompey) that stile to prophane
Of Sonne-in-law, which thou hast tane.
Thou seekst in vaine with thy swords edge
To cut the knot of that vowd pledge.
Doe what thou canst, these Ciuill harmes
At last shall cast thee in mine armes.
Thus hauing said, the wandring shade
From the embracements softly fade,
Of her old spouse, herewith adrade:
Yet though the Gods his ruine threats,
And ghosts would moue him to regreats,
The fiercer he to armes doth flye,
Resolu'd his fatall chance to try.
What now (quoth he) shall slumbring sights
Of visions vaine, appall our sprights?
Either the bodies laid in graue
Of mortals here, no feeling haue:
Or nothing 'tis when death doth raue.
By this time Tytan dipt his head
Downe into Thetis azur'd bed:
And onely so much light he lends
Vnto the Earth, as Phœbe sends
From her pale face, with hornes new clos'd,
Or when her orbe hath beene compos'd.
Now this desired stranger coast,
Affoords him leaue to land his hoast:
And to that end they did prepare
Their Anchors, and their Cables yare.
And as they doe approch the shoares,
They strike their sailes, and ply their oares.
Of visions vaine, appall our sprights?
Either the bodies laid in graue
Of mortals here, no feeling haue:
Or nothing 'tis when death doth raue.
By this time Tytan dipt his head
Downe into Thetis azur'd bed:
And onely so much light he lends
Vnto the Earth, as Phœbe sends
From her pale face, with hornes new clos'd,
Or when her orbe hath beene compos'd.
Now this desired stranger coast,
Affoords him leaue to land his hoast:
And to that end they did prepare
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And as they doe approch the shoares,
They strike their sailes, and ply their oares.
When Cæsar saw that from the bay
The windes had borne the fleet away,
Which now the seas hid from his sight,
Although his onely power and might
Commanded all Hesperia soyle;
No glory yet in him did boyle,
So to put Pompey to that foyle.
But did his minde much more displease,
That so his foes had scap't by seas.
Fortune by no meanes could content
The height whereto his minde was bent:
He weyes not so much conquests gaine,
As still in raging warres to raigne.
And yet now seemes that he doth meane,
From care of warres his thoughts to weane:
And to intend the publicke peace;
Hoping by that meanes to encrease
The peoples vaine vnconstant loue,
And discontentments to remoue.
Which to effect, the grateful'st way
Was how the common dearth to stay:
For now the Cities, and the rest
Famine most grieuously opprest.
Then Awe, and Loue are surest bread,
When by the rich the poore are fed,
The starued vulgar nothing dread.
The windes had borne the fleet away,
Which now the seas hid from his sight,
Although his onely power and might
Commanded all Hesperia soyle;
No glory yet in him did boyle,
So to put Pompey to that foyle.
But did his minde much more displease,
That so his foes had scap't by seas.
Fortune by no meanes could content
The height whereto his minde was bent:
He weyes not so much conquests gaine,
As still in raging warres to raigne.
And yet now seemes that he doth meane,
From care of warres his thoughts to weane:
And to intend the publicke peace;
Hoping by that meanes to encrease
The peoples vaine vnconstant loue,
And discontentments to remoue.
Which to effect, the grateful'st way
Was how the common dearth to stay:
For now the Cities, and the rest
Famine most grieuously opprest.
Then Awe, and Loue are surest bread,
When by the rich the poore are fed,
The starued vulgar nothing dread.
Curio therefore to this intent,
Into Sycilia Ile is sent:
Whereas the seas with furious waues,
Either the mouldring shores still shaues,
Or else the clyffes so beates and shakes,
As in the land great indraughts makes.
And still their fury so maintaine
As keepes the parted confines twaine
That they can neuer ioyne againe.
Now rage of warre (but new begunne)
Doth ouer all Sardinia runne.
Both of which Ilands still abound
With fertill croppes vpon the ground;
So as no coast on all that maine
Hesperia serues with so much graine.
The Roman barnes no land so feeds,
Scarcely the stalkes the eares exceeds.
Not Affricke doth affoord like store;
When as the clouds, with Boreas rore,
Breeds fruitful years, and moists the shore.
Thus Cæsar did, with care prouide
How these defects might be suply'd:
Then marcheth on (with stately port)
But not in any warlicke sort:
His countenance seem'd to peace design'd,
And so to Rome his course enclin'd.
Into Sycilia Ile is sent:
Whereas the seas with furious waues,
Either the mouldring shores still shaues,
Or else the clyffes so beates and shakes,
As in the land great indraughts makes.
And still their fury so maintaine
As keepes the parted confines twaine
That they can neuer ioyne againe.
Now rage of warre (but new begunne)
Doth ouer all Sardinia runne.
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With fertill croppes vpon the ground;
So as no coast on all that maine
Hesperia serues with so much graine.
The Roman barnes no land so feeds,
Scarcely the stalkes the eares exceeds.
Not Affricke doth affoord like store;
When as the clouds, with Boreas rore,
Breeds fruitful years, and moists the shore.
Thus Cæsar did, with care prouide
How these defects might be suply'd:
Then marcheth on (with stately port)
But not in any warlicke sort:
His countenance seem'd to peace design'd,
And so to Rome his course enclin'd.
O had he come vnto that Towne,
Only adorn'd with the renowne,
And Trophies of the Gallicke spoyles,
And glory of his Northerne broyles,
How great a traine, what worthy showes
Might he haue made of conquered foes?
Of all his Rhene and Ocean thralles,
His conquest of the noble Gaules,
And with them all his captiue flockes,
Of Brittons, with their yellow lockes.
O what a triumph did he leese,
In winning more then all of these!
Only adorn'd with the renowne,
And Trophies of the Gallicke spoyles,
And glory of his Northerne broyles,
How great a traine, what worthy showes
Might he haue made of conquered foes?
Of all his Rhene and Ocean thralles,
His conquest of the noble Gaules,
And with them all his captiue flockes,
Of Brittons, with their yellow lockes.
O what a triumph did he leese,
In winning more then all of these!
The Cities now as he remoues,
Did not (in troopes to shew their loues)
Meet him with shouts and friendly cries:
But silent, and with fearfull eyes.
No flockes of people in the fields
To see him there, applauses yeelds:
Yet his contentment stands in this,
That he to them a terror is.
For he did euer more approue
The peoples feare, then their vaine loue.
Did not (in troopes to shew their loues)
Meet him with shouts and friendly cries:
But silent, and with fearfull eyes.
No flockes of people in the fields
To see him there, applauses yeelds:
Yet his contentment stands in this,
That he to them a terror is.
For he did euer more approue
The peoples feare, then their vaine loue.
Now he the steepy Towres had past
Of strong Anxuris, and at last
The fennie way withall he takes,
That lies between Pontinas lakes:
Neere which the groue aloft is seene,
Of Diane, Scythians heauenly Queene.
And not farre thence, high Albas way,
Where Latium rites make Holiday.
From whence vpon a rocke on hye,
A loofe, the Citty he did eye:
Which (since his Gallicke warre began)
He neuer yet had seene till than.
And now (admiring that prospect)
To Rome this speech he did direct.
Of strong Anxuris, and at last
The fennie way withall he takes,
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Neere which the groue aloft is seene,
Of Diane, Scythians heauenly Queene.
And not farre thence, high Albas way,
Where Latium rites make Holiday.
From whence vpon a rocke on hye,
A loofe, the Citty he did eye:
Which (since his Gallicke warre began)
He neuer yet had seene till than.
And now (admiring that prospect)
To Rome this speech he did direct.
O seate of Gods! could this men so
Forsake thee, ere they saw a foe?
If thou canst not, what Citty can
Deserue to be fought for by man?
Well haue the higher powers represt,
The humors of the armed East,
From ioyning with the Hungars stout:
And all that fierce outragious rout
Of Dakes, of Getes, and Sarmatans,
From bringing downe their bloudy bands
To thee (poore Rome) by Fortune spar'd,
Whom fearefull Pompey durst not guard.
So weakely mand, more blest art farre
With Ciuill then with Forraigne warre.
Forsake thee, ere they saw a foe?
If thou canst not, what Citty can
Deserue to be fought for by man?
Well haue the higher powers represt,
The humors of the armed East,
From ioyning with the Hungars stout:
And all that fierce outragious rout
Of Dakes, of Getes, and Sarmatans,
From bringing downe their bloudy bands
To thee (poore Rome) by Fortune spar'd,
Whom fearefull Pompey durst not guard.
So weakely mand, more blest art farre
With Ciuill then with Forraigne warre.
Thus said, forthwith he did invest
The Citty, then with feares possest:
For sure they thought, that (in his ire)
All should haue beene consum'd with fire,
And Temples should to ruine runne,
As soone as hee the walles had wonne.
Such was the measure of their fright,
His will they constru'd by his might.
And in such sudden mazements weare,
That they their sacred rites forbeare.
The common sort to sportings bent,
Their merry tunes turn'd to lament:
No spleen they had, their sprights were spent
The Roman Fathers reuerend troope
In Phœbus Pallace sitting, droope:
Not thither called at an houre,
By order of the Senates powre.
No Consuls with their presence grace
Their sacred seates in supreme place.
Nor next to them the lawes to sway
The Prætor sate in his array.
No Coches at the Senate gate,
That thither bring the Peeres of state.
Cæsar alone was all in all,
His priuate voyce the Court doth thrall.
The Fathers to his hests giue way,
Rady his pleasure to obay.
Whether he Monarchy desire,
Or would to sacred rites aspire:
Or liues of Senators would wast,
Or them into exile would cast.
But he (more modest and more milde)
Did blush his power should be defil'd;
More to command (with threatning feare)
Then well the Roman state could beare.
The Citty, then with feares possest:
For sure they thought, that (in his ire)
All should haue beene consum'd with fire,
And Temples should to ruine runne,
As soone as hee the walles had wonne.
Such was the measure of their fright,
His will they constru'd by his might.
And in such sudden mazements weare,
That they their sacred rites forbeare.
The common sort to sportings bent,
Their merry tunes turn'd to lament:
No spleen they had, their sprights were spent
The Roman Fathers reuerend troope
In Phœbus Pallace sitting, droope:
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By order of the Senates powre.
No Consuls with their presence grace
Their sacred seates in supreme place.
Nor next to them the lawes to sway
The Prætor sate in his array.
No Coches at the Senate gate,
That thither bring the Peeres of state.
Cæsar alone was all in all,
His priuate voyce the Court doth thrall.
The Fathers to his hests giue way,
Rady his pleasure to obay.
Whether he Monarchy desire,
Or would to sacred rites aspire:
Or liues of Senators would wast,
Or them into exile would cast.
But he (more modest and more milde)
Did blush his power should be defil'd;
More to command (with threatning feare)
Then well the Roman state could beare.
But one there was amongst the rest,
For liberty that would contest:
And in a rage he tooke in hand,
To know if Cæsar might withstand
The ancient Rules of their free state,
And in that point would right debate.
This stout Metellus was, who saw
A swarming troope of Souldiers draw
Neere to Saturnus Temple gates,
That were lockt vp from dire debates,
Steps forth enrag'd, and doth assay
Through Cæsars bands to force a way.
So much of tempting gold the loue
The mindes of mortall men can moue,
Danger of sword and death to proue.
The lawes no Valor doth protect,
The care thereof all do neglect.
But (that which is most vile of all)
Riches, whereto base mindes are thrall,
Stirres vp a foolish idle brawle.
This Tribune, with a tongue at large,
The out-rage laies to Cæsars charge:
And telles him plainly that before
He shall breake ope the Temple dore,
The sword should first his breast inuade,
And bathe in sacred bloud his blade.
And that the Gods for iustice sake,
Vengance would pay if spoyle he make,
Or doe by force the treasure take.
The Tribunes curses in like case
(Said he) did greedy Crassus trace.
And did against him so preuaile,
That wofull warre his pride did quaile.
Doe thou so now vnsheath thy sword,
That dost such lawlesse leaue affoord
To this iniurious foule contempt
From peoples rage thou art exempt.
What can this forlorne towne attempt?
Thy wicked Souldiers must not craue,
The treasures of our state to haue:
Else-where thou hast sufficient spoyles
Of conquered Townes in other soyles.
No want at all thy troopes constraines,
Of our long peace to share the gaines:
In warre (O Cæsar) loose the raines.
For liberty that would contest:
And in a rage he tooke in hand,
To know if Cæsar might withstand
The ancient Rules of their free state,
And in that point would right debate.
This stout Metellus was, who saw
A swarming troope of Souldiers draw
Neere to Saturnus Temple gates,
That were lockt vp from dire debates,
Steps forth enrag'd, and doth assay
Through Cæsars bands to force a way.
So much of tempting gold the loue
The mindes of mortall men can moue,
Danger of sword and death to proue.
The lawes no Valor doth protect,
The care thereof all do neglect.
But (that which is most vile of all)
Riches, whereto base mindes are thrall,
Stirres vp a foolish idle brawle.
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The out-rage laies to Cæsars charge:
And telles him plainly that before
He shall breake ope the Temple dore,
The sword should first his breast inuade,
And bathe in sacred bloud his blade.
And that the Gods for iustice sake,
Vengance would pay if spoyle he make,
Or doe by force the treasure take.
The Tribunes curses in like case
(Said he) did greedy Crassus trace.
And did against him so preuaile,
That wofull warre his pride did quaile.
Doe thou so now vnsheath thy sword,
That dost such lawlesse leaue affoord
To this iniurious foule contempt
From peoples rage thou art exempt.
What can this forlorne towne attempt?
Thy wicked Souldiers must not craue,
The treasures of our state to haue:
Else-where thou hast sufficient spoyles
Of conquered Townes in other soyles.
No want at all thy troopes constraines,
Of our long peace to share the gaines:
In warre (O Cæsar) loose the raines.
With these proud words the Tribune hath
So farre prouoked Cæsars wrath,
As that with scorne he did reply;
In vaine poore soule thou hop'st to dye
So braue a death, as by my blade:
Nought hath Metellus worthy made,
So great a grace as Cæsars ire,
It sorts not with thy proud desire.
Thinkst thou that freedoms state must stand
Supported by thy feeble hand?
My glory wonne in so long warre,
Thy vaine conceipt exceeds so farre,
As that the lawes would lesse detest,
By Cæsars hand to be supprest,
Then by Metellus voyce to hold,
The freedome that they did of old.
So Cæsar spake, and yet before
The Tribune left the Temple dore,
His rage increased more and more.
And to the wrathfull swords he prest,
Forgetting what his gowne profest.
So farre prouoked Cæsars wrath,
As that with scorne he did reply;
In vaine poore soule thou hop'st to dye
So braue a death, as by my blade:
Nought hath Metellus worthy made,
So great a grace as Cæsars ire,
It sorts not with thy proud desire.
Thinkst thou that freedoms state must stand
Supported by thy feeble hand?
My glory wonne in so long warre,
Thy vaine conceipt exceeds so farre,
As that the lawes would lesse detest,
By Cæsars hand to be supprest,
Then by Metellus voyce to hold,
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So Cæsar spake, and yet before
The Tribune left the Temple dore,
His rage increased more and more.
And to the wrathfull swords he prest,
Forgetting what his gowne profest.
But Cotta check't, and staied than,
The sawcy boldnesse of this man.
And said; the freedome now they held,
To soueraigne power in spight must yeeld.
For though this act thou couldst maintaine,
Thou shouldst but freedomes shadow gaine.
Since our deiected state obayes
So many other seruile wayes.
This comfort and excuse we haue,
If slander vs as base depraue.
Resistlesse power doth all men braue.
And I would rather wish to heare,
These seedes of warre dispersed weare.
With losse of wealth those may be vext,
That freedome haue for their pretext.
For want more grieuously doth raue
Vpon the maister then the slaue.
The sawcy boldnesse of this man.
And said; the freedome now they held,
To soueraigne power in spight must yeeld.
For though this act thou couldst maintaine,
Thou shouldst but freedomes shadow gaine.
Since our deiected state obayes
So many other seruile wayes.
This comfort and excuse we haue,
If slander vs as base depraue.
Resistlesse power doth all men braue.
And I would rather wish to heare,
These seedes of warre dispersed weare.
With losse of wealth those may be vext,
That freedome haue for their pretext.
For want more grieuously doth raue
Vpon the maister then the slaue.
Metellus being put aside,
The Temple was set open wide:
And such a noyse the rushing shockes
Did make, when they did force the lockes,
That the Tarpeian cliffe did sound,
Lowd with the Eccho's that rebound.
Out of the Temple cleane they swept
The wealth, that had full safe beene kept
So long agoe by conquests gain'd,
Whereof scarce memory remain'd.
The Temple was set open wide:
And such a noyse the rushing shockes
Did make, when they did force the lockes,
That the Tarpeian cliffe did sound,
Lowd with the Eccho's that rebound.
Out of the Temple cleane they swept
The wealth, that had full safe beene kept
So long agoe by conquests gain'd,
Whereof scarce memory remain'd.
The treasures got in Punicke broyles,
The Persian, and Macedons spoyles;
With heapes of gold, that were a pray,
When Pirrhus trembling fled away,
That had Fabritius faith assay'd,
In vaine our Rome to haue betraid.
And whatsoeuer heretofore
Our frugall sires laid vp in store:
With all the tribute and the rent,
From time to time that Asia sent:
And all the spoyles from Creta fot,
By conquest that Metellus got:
With Cato's wealth, which he did bring
(By long seas) from the Cyprus King:
With all the treasures of the east,
And those rare Trophies that did feast
The eyes of all that them beheld,
When Pompeys triumphes so exceld:
And was the latest conquest wonne
On those great kingdomes ouer-runne.
All these the Victors vse supplies
By wofull rapine made good prize.
Whereon might truly passe this doome,
Cæsar was richer now then Rome.
The Persian, and Macedons spoyles;
With heapes of gold, that were a pray,
When Pirrhus trembling fled away,
That had Fabritius faith assay'd,
In vaine our Rome to haue betraid.
And whatsoeuer heretofore
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With all the tribute and the rent,
From time to time that Asia sent:
And all the spoyles from Creta fot,
By conquest that Metellus got:
With Cato's wealth, which he did bring
(By long seas) from the Cyprus King:
With all the treasures of the east,
And those rare Trophies that did feast
The eyes of all that them beheld,
When Pompeys triumphes so exceld:
And was the latest conquest wonne
On those great kingdomes ouer-runne.
All these the Victors vse supplies
By wofull rapine made good prize.
Whereon might truly passe this doome,
Cæsar was richer now then Rome.
Pompey meane while a world had wonne,
That would in warre his fortune runne:
Great Cities on his side did band,
That shall at Cæsars mercy stand.
The Græcians first their succour lends:
Amphisa her braue Phoceans sends;
Then those that doe the Countries fill,
On both sides of Parnassus hill;
With rocky Cyrrha, to him swarmes
The Captaines of Boetian Armes.
Where Cephisos, with his swift waues,
Old Cadmus Citty weltring laues.
Whose water fatall answeres raues.
To these, Pisean people ioynes:
With sweet Alpheus, that purloynes
Her secret current vnder ground,
Till she Trinacria hath found.
Menala then th' Arcadians leaue,
And to these warres themselues bequeaue:
And Trachine Souldiers thither flye,
From the Herculean Oeten hye:
The Thesprotes and Driopes
Doe likewise march along with ease.
The Sellæ, that his part doe take,
Their solitary groues forsake,
That on Chaonians toppe doe shake.
And though th' Athænian bands were spent
In former warres whereto they went,
Yet loyall Salamina lent
Three little shippes, which now they rigge,
That in Phœbeian docks did ligge.
The ancient Creet, Ioues loued land,
Where Citties ten times ten did stand,
Her Gnossian quiuers thither sent,
With people vsing bowes euent:
Gortinæ shewes the like good will,
Whose Archers equals Easterne skill.
Then Orithow sent Dardan strength:
With Athamus that farre in length
Disperseth many woods she ownes.
And old Enchyle, where the stones
Shew Cadmus metamorphoz'd bones.
So Colchis, and Absirtos flud,
Whose froth filles Adriaticke mud.
The Pæni, that (with clownish skill)
The Countries all about there till.
And with Thessalian Plowes doe toyle,
And furrough vp Hialcons soyle.
From whence (into the raging maine)
Was carried first that stranger traine,
Of Argonauts, whose boysterous bands
Did range and spoyle in forraine lands.
They first the practise did contriue,
How men against the seas might striue.
And how with sailes to take the winde,
Whereby remoted shores to finde.
And therewithall they did display
To loathsome Death a new found way,
On mortals liues to raue and pray.
The Thracian Æmus is left bare:
And Pholoe, whose manrood are
(As lying fables leaue to minde)
By nature shap't of Centaurs kinde.
Strymon (that doth to Nylus sands
Send birds of the Bistonian lands)
Her aid sets out in warlicke bands:
And barbarous Cone, when she leaues
Sarmatian streames, and after cleaues
To Peucens spreading channell deepe,
One of those heads alone doth keepe,
That from great Istars current sweepe:
Then Misia and Idalis land,
That mingles with cold Caicos strand,
And the Arisban barren mould,
With those that doe Pitanen hould;
Then the Celenes most accurst,
Lamenting that their Marsia durst
(O Pallas with thy gifts elate)
Stirre conquering Phœbus to debate.
And high shoar'd Marsia whose swift race,
Crooked Meander doth embrace,
And with her, wheeles about her pace.
With Pactols sands, that do vnfold,
The pretious graines of glowing gold
To forraigne coasts, and Hernius strands,
That equals it with pretious sands.
So likewise all the Ilium bands,
To fruitlesse warres for Pompey stands.
Neglecting the old flying fame,
That Iulius of the Troians came.
So Syria her assistance giues,
And the inhabitants that liues
About Orontes desart coasts,
And Ninus towne, whose blisse fame boasts:
Damascus subiect to high windes:
Gaza likewise; and where men findes
Palme-trees so rife, and thicke to stand,
Named the Idumean land:
The sea-washt Citty Tyrus hight,
Sydon with pretious purple dight,
Their ships (when to the warres they flye)
Range not the seas vncertainly.
No sea-men haue the Art more try'd,
How by the Pole their course to guide.
So likewise (if we credit fame)
Phœnicians were the first had name,
The vse of characters to finde,
And letters to expresse our minde.
Memphis the practise had not found
Of those broad flagges vpon her ground,
How they together should be bound.
Of beasts and birds (this was their trade)
The shapes deepe cut in stones they made.
And so their magicke art presaru'd
In brutish Images faire caru'd.
Then those inhabitants that roues
About mount Taurus wooddy groues.
And Persian Tarsus, with those men,
That cut rockes for Coricum denn.
The Mallians, and the Æge coast,
Whose shippes doe ring with billowes tost.
And Silix now the seas frequent
Allowd, but not as Pyrates sent.
So are the Easterne Countries led
Vnto this warre by fame farre spread.
That Ganges now her troopes forth brings,
The current of whose floating springs
Of all streames in the world dares runne,
A course contrary to the Sunne;
And headlong flies against the East,
Heere it is said the warfare ceast,
That Macedons great Captaine made,
When he the Ocean did invade.
And did himselfe ore-come confesse
With this vast worlds vnweldnesse.
There Indus fiercely forth doth sweepe,
With mighty streames, and channels deepe,
Diuided into gulfes alone,
But with Hidaspis mingles none.
Then those that the sweet liquor swilles,
Which from the sugar-canes distilles:
And they that vse with saffrons graine,
To giue their haire a shining staine.
And so in dainty lawnes doe dangle,
Which they with glistering Iewels spangle.
And those that make their funerall piles,
Before that Death their Life exiles.
And doe without constraint embrace,
The furious flames with dreadlesse face.
O how great glory doe they gaine,
That death can hold in such disdaine,
With their owne hands (in spight of fates)
To hasten on their welcome dates;
And whilst in perfect health they liue,
Their soules vnto the Gods do giue!
Then those fierce Capadocian lads
Whom hunting humors so much glads,
With bruske Ammannian plowing swads:
Armenia, where Nyphatem flowes,
And rowles huge pebbles as she goes,
With the Coastra forrests hye,
Whose lofty toppes doe threat the skye.
And yee Arabians (that doe view
An vncoth clime vnknowne to you)
Do wonder much the shade to see
Streame from the left side of a tree.
Then came vnto this Roman warre
Th' Orestians, that doe dwell a farre:
The leaders of Carmania bands,
Whose climate to the Southward stands,
Not wholly hid from Arctons light,
But see his Carre part of the night.
And Æthiop neere to all the signes,
That in the cirkling Zodiaque twines.
Excepting Taurus clouen heeles,
When cowring crookedly he reeles.
And where great Euphrates is bred
With swift stream'd Tygris from one head,
In Persian fountaine ioyntly fed.
Who when they mingle here and there,
Breeds doubt which of the names they beare
But Euphrates (with fruitfull streames,
As she doth trauerse sundry realmes)
Resembles Nylus in her course.
But Tygris in her rapid sourse,
Is suddenly deuoured quite,
Into the earth from all mens sight,
And vnder ground doth runne her race
Till with new head her streame she trace,
And with the Ocean enterlace.
This while the Parthians held them coy,
Either to helpe or to annoy,
Any of these two mighty guides,
They'l warre on none of both their sides:
But laugh which way the world it slides.
The wandring Scyths, with poysned darts,
Their aid vnto this warre imparts.
And Bactrians closd with chilly gulfes,
VVith Hircane forrests fostring wolfes.
Then the Henochians bring their band,
A part of Lacedemon land.
That headstrong are where they withstand
And of Sarmatia all that track,
That ioynes to Mosko backe to back.
And where rich Phasis cuts and bounds
The Colchos fields, and fruitfull grounds.
VVith Halis bringing heauy fate
To Cræsus, in his rich estate.
And where as Tannais tumbling downe
His streames, from off Rypheus crowne.
Giues vnto Nations sundry names,
As she her winding channels frames.
And Europe doth on either side,
From Asia with her bankes diuide.
Now here, now there, which way she bends,
The limits of the world extends.
And where the Euxine sea doth take
Huge torrents from Meotis lake,
And so the glory doth abate
Of Gades, whom (as tales relate)
Did onely through her pillars twaine,
That way let in the westerne maine,
VVrought by the huge Herculean paine.
Then aids come from Scythonian ports,
With whom the Arimasps consorts.
Those doe with golden phillets dresse
Their curled lockes, and combed tresse.
The Axij, Pompey's part professe,
With Massagets, that did let blood,
Their horses hoofes in steed of food,
So to releieue their hungry mood,
In the Sarmatick lingring brawle,
And Gelons swiftest of them all,
So huge a masse of Martiall bands
Came not from the Memnonian lands,
When Cyrus did his armies make,
For warres that he had vndertake.
Nor Zerxes with his boysterous crew
That all his thousands onely knew
By counting of the darts they threw.
Nor Agamemnons nauy strong,
Which to reuenge his brothers wrong,
With Græcian Princes past the seas,
In number euer equal'd these.
So many Kings to battaile prest,
Neuer obay'd one Chiefetaines hest.
Such diuers formes of habites strange,
Of language such confused change,
So great a traine of royall Peeres
Was neuer seene in former yeares,
As Fortune now did lead in dance,
To mingle with this warres mischance.
Like funerals for Pompey's sake
A fitting exequie to make.
Then Corniger, that Hammon hight,
Did not forbeare with supreme might,
To summon all Marmatick lands
Vnto these warres to leade their bands.
Or whatsoeuer force did rest
Euen from the furthest of the west,
Of parching Lybs, and sun-burnt Moores;
Together with the Easterne powers,
As farre as Paratonia strands,
Vnto the bounds of Syrtes sands.
That Cæsars fortune yet may know
He had not wonne all at a blow:
But should in the Pharsalian fields
Incounter worlds with speares and shields.
That would in warre his fortune runne:
Great Cities on his side did band,
That shall at Cæsars mercy stand.
The Græcians first their succour lends:
Amphisa her braue Phoceans sends;
Then those that doe the Countries fill,
On both sides of Parnassus hill;
With rocky Cyrrha, to him swarmes
The Captaines of Boetian Armes.
Where Cephisos, with his swift waues,
Old Cadmus Citty weltring laues.
Whose water fatall answeres raues.
To these, Pisean people ioynes:
With sweet Alpheus, that purloynes
Her secret current vnder ground,
Till she Trinacria hath found.
Menala then th' Arcadians leaue,
And to these warres themselues bequeaue:
And Trachine Souldiers thither flye,
From the Herculean Oeten hye:
The Thesprotes and Driopes
Doe likewise march along with ease.
91
Their solitary groues forsake,
That on Chaonians toppe doe shake.
And though th' Athænian bands were spent
In former warres whereto they went,
Yet loyall Salamina lent
Three little shippes, which now they rigge,
That in Phœbeian docks did ligge.
The ancient Creet, Ioues loued land,
Where Citties ten times ten did stand,
Her Gnossian quiuers thither sent,
With people vsing bowes euent:
Gortinæ shewes the like good will,
Whose Archers equals Easterne skill.
Then Orithow sent Dardan strength:
With Athamus that farre in length
Disperseth many woods she ownes.
And old Enchyle, where the stones
Shew Cadmus metamorphoz'd bones.
So Colchis, and Absirtos flud,
Whose froth filles Adriaticke mud.
The Pæni, that (with clownish skill)
The Countries all about there till.
And with Thessalian Plowes doe toyle,
And furrough vp Hialcons soyle.
From whence (into the raging maine)
Was carried first that stranger traine,
Of Argonauts, whose boysterous bands
Did range and spoyle in forraine lands.
They first the practise did contriue,
How men against the seas might striue.
And how with sailes to take the winde,
Whereby remoted shores to finde.
And therewithall they did display
To loathsome Death a new found way,
On mortals liues to raue and pray.
The Thracian Æmus is left bare:
And Pholoe, whose manrood are
(As lying fables leaue to minde)
By nature shap't of Centaurs kinde.
92
Send birds of the Bistonian lands)
Her aid sets out in warlicke bands:
And barbarous Cone, when she leaues
Sarmatian streames, and after cleaues
To Peucens spreading channell deepe,
One of those heads alone doth keepe,
That from great Istars current sweepe:
Then Misia and Idalis land,
That mingles with cold Caicos strand,
And the Arisban barren mould,
With those that doe Pitanen hould;
Then the Celenes most accurst,
Lamenting that their Marsia durst
(O Pallas with thy gifts elate)
Stirre conquering Phœbus to debate.
And high shoar'd Marsia whose swift race,
Crooked Meander doth embrace,
And with her, wheeles about her pace.
With Pactols sands, that do vnfold,
The pretious graines of glowing gold
To forraigne coasts, and Hernius strands,
That equals it with pretious sands.
So likewise all the Ilium bands,
To fruitlesse warres for Pompey stands.
Neglecting the old flying fame,
That Iulius of the Troians came.
So Syria her assistance giues,
And the inhabitants that liues
About Orontes desart coasts,
And Ninus towne, whose blisse fame boasts:
Damascus subiect to high windes:
Gaza likewise; and where men findes
Palme-trees so rife, and thicke to stand,
Named the Idumean land:
The sea-washt Citty Tyrus hight,
Sydon with pretious purple dight,
Their ships (when to the warres they flye)
Range not the seas vncertainly.
No sea-men haue the Art more try'd,
93
So likewise (if we credit fame)
Phœnicians were the first had name,
The vse of characters to finde,
And letters to expresse our minde.
Memphis the practise had not found
Of those broad flagges vpon her ground,
How they together should be bound.
Of beasts and birds (this was their trade)
The shapes deepe cut in stones they made.
And so their magicke art presaru'd
In brutish Images faire caru'd.
Then those inhabitants that roues
About mount Taurus wooddy groues.
And Persian Tarsus, with those men,
That cut rockes for Coricum denn.
The Mallians, and the Æge coast,
Whose shippes doe ring with billowes tost.
And Silix now the seas frequent
Allowd, but not as Pyrates sent.
So are the Easterne Countries led
Vnto this warre by fame farre spread.
That Ganges now her troopes forth brings,
The current of whose floating springs
Of all streames in the world dares runne,
A course contrary to the Sunne;
And headlong flies against the East,
Heere it is said the warfare ceast,
That Macedons great Captaine made,
When he the Ocean did invade.
And did himselfe ore-come confesse
With this vast worlds vnweldnesse.
There Indus fiercely forth doth sweepe,
With mighty streames, and channels deepe,
Diuided into gulfes alone,
But with Hidaspis mingles none.
Then those that the sweet liquor swilles,
Which from the sugar-canes distilles:
And they that vse with saffrons graine,
To giue their haire a shining staine.
94
Which they with glistering Iewels spangle.
And those that make their funerall piles,
Before that Death their Life exiles.
And doe without constraint embrace,
The furious flames with dreadlesse face.
O how great glory doe they gaine,
That death can hold in such disdaine,
With their owne hands (in spight of fates)
To hasten on their welcome dates;
And whilst in perfect health they liue,
Their soules vnto the Gods do giue!
Then those fierce Capadocian lads
Whom hunting humors so much glads,
With bruske Ammannian plowing swads:
Armenia, where Nyphatem flowes,
And rowles huge pebbles as she goes,
With the Coastra forrests hye,
Whose lofty toppes doe threat the skye.
And yee Arabians (that doe view
An vncoth clime vnknowne to you)
Do wonder much the shade to see
Streame from the left side of a tree.
Then came vnto this Roman warre
Th' Orestians, that doe dwell a farre:
The leaders of Carmania bands,
Whose climate to the Southward stands,
Not wholly hid from Arctons light,
But see his Carre part of the night.
And Æthiop neere to all the signes,
That in the cirkling Zodiaque twines.
Excepting Taurus clouen heeles,
When cowring crookedly he reeles.
And where great Euphrates is bred
With swift stream'd Tygris from one head,
In Persian fountaine ioyntly fed.
Who when they mingle here and there,
Breeds doubt which of the names they beare
But Euphrates (with fruitfull streames,
As she doth trauerse sundry realmes)
Resembles Nylus in her course.
95
Is suddenly deuoured quite,
Into the earth from all mens sight,
And vnder ground doth runne her race
Till with new head her streame she trace,
And with the Ocean enterlace.
This while the Parthians held them coy,
Either to helpe or to annoy,
Any of these two mighty guides,
They'l warre on none of both their sides:
But laugh which way the world it slides.
The wandring Scyths, with poysned darts,
Their aid vnto this warre imparts.
And Bactrians closd with chilly gulfes,
VVith Hircane forrests fostring wolfes.
Then the Henochians bring their band,
A part of Lacedemon land.
That headstrong are where they withstand
And of Sarmatia all that track,
That ioynes to Mosko backe to back.
And where rich Phasis cuts and bounds
The Colchos fields, and fruitfull grounds.
VVith Halis bringing heauy fate
To Cræsus, in his rich estate.
And where as Tannais tumbling downe
His streames, from off Rypheus crowne.
Giues vnto Nations sundry names,
As she her winding channels frames.
And Europe doth on either side,
From Asia with her bankes diuide.
Now here, now there, which way she bends,
The limits of the world extends.
And where the Euxine sea doth take
Huge torrents from Meotis lake,
And so the glory doth abate
Of Gades, whom (as tales relate)
Did onely through her pillars twaine,
That way let in the westerne maine,
VVrought by the huge Herculean paine.
Then aids come from Scythonian ports,
96
Those doe with golden phillets dresse
Their curled lockes, and combed tresse.
The Axij, Pompey's part professe,
With Massagets, that did let blood,
Their horses hoofes in steed of food,
So to releieue their hungry mood,
In the Sarmatick lingring brawle,
And Gelons swiftest of them all,
So huge a masse of Martiall bands
Came not from the Memnonian lands,
When Cyrus did his armies make,
For warres that he had vndertake.
Nor Zerxes with his boysterous crew
That all his thousands onely knew
By counting of the darts they threw.
Nor Agamemnons nauy strong,
Which to reuenge his brothers wrong,
With Græcian Princes past the seas,
In number euer equal'd these.
So many Kings to battaile prest,
Neuer obay'd one Chiefetaines hest.
Such diuers formes of habites strange,
Of language such confused change,
So great a traine of royall Peeres
Was neuer seene in former yeares,
As Fortune now did lead in dance,
To mingle with this warres mischance.
Like funerals for Pompey's sake
A fitting exequie to make.
Then Corniger, that Hammon hight,
Did not forbeare with supreme might,
To summon all Marmatick lands
Vnto these warres to leade their bands.
Or whatsoeuer force did rest
Euen from the furthest of the west,
Of parching Lybs, and sun-burnt Moores;
Together with the Easterne powers,
As farre as Paratonia strands,
Vnto the bounds of Syrtes sands.
97
He had not wonne all at a blow:
But should in the Pharsalian fields
Incounter worlds with speares and shields.
Now Cæsar following on his Mart,
From trembling Rome he doth depart:
And (with his valiant expert host)
Ouer the cloud-brow'd Alpes doth post.
And whilst that other Citties feare,
The thundring fame of him to heare,
Massilian youthes dare take in hand,
As Neuters in these warres to stand.
Not with Greeke lightnesse vnresolu'd,
But with a constant courage bold,
They doe entend for to debate
The lawes and freedome of their state,
And not to change or follow fate.
But yet before they do engage
Their Cittie vnto battailes rage,
They will attempt (with all their skill)
To qualifie his head-strong will
With courteous and perswasiue words,
And not till need vnsheath their swords.
Now therefore when they vnderstand
That Cæsars force was neere at hand,
Embassadors to him were sent,
Who with them Oliue branches hent,
To shew that peace was their intent.
From trembling Rome he doth depart:
And (with his valiant expert host)
Ouer the cloud-brow'd Alpes doth post.
And whilst that other Citties feare,
The thundring fame of him to heare,
Massilian youthes dare take in hand,
As Neuters in these warres to stand.
Not with Greeke lightnesse vnresolu'd,
But with a constant courage bold,
They doe entend for to debate
The lawes and freedome of their state,
And not to change or follow fate.
But yet before they do engage
Their Cittie vnto battailes rage,
They will attempt (with all their skill)
To qualifie his head-strong will
With courteous and perswasiue words,
And not till need vnsheath their swords.
Now therefore when they vnderstand
That Cæsars force was neere at hand,
Embassadors to him were sent,
Who with them Oliue branches hent,
To shew that peace was their intent.
Your Latium Annals doe make knowne
Massilia still such faith hath showne
Vnto the reuerend Roman state,
As that in all the dire debate,
That they haue had with forraigne foes,
She hath partaked with their blowes.
And now if thou doe vndertake,
Conquests in vnknowne Climes to make,
Command our true deuoted hands,
To warre with thee in forraigne lands.
But if yee (with infestious Armes)
Prepared are for discords harmes,
To ciuill warres, then giue vs leaue
Our teares in secret to bequeaue.
Against all piety it stands,
In bloud of friends to bath our hands.
But if the Gods (to wroth inclin'd)
VVith venging arms would shew their mind,
Or if the earth-bred Gyants fell,
Against high heauens would rebell,
Yet humane duty should not dare
VVith an inferior bootlesse care,
Either by treaty, or by might,
To offer for the Gods to fight.
Little can we poore mortals gesse
VVhat humors higher powers possesse:
VVhen Ioue from high his anger wreakes,
He thunder-bolts and lightning speakes.
Admit that many nations strange,
Amongst these broyles their forces range.
And that the sottish vulgar sort
VVould this contagious crime support,
And not repine (constrain'd from farre)
To whet their swords for ciuill warre;
Yet be it farre from honest hearts
To follow any factious parts.
Let no braue Souldiers venter life,
To bolster out domesticke strife.
VVhat hand would not with feare be taint,
To see his wounded father faint?
Brothers that warre on either parts,
VVill doubt to throw their fatall darts.
And sure your Empires state will end,
If warres vniust you doe intend.
But now our suite we doe commend,
VVhich is, that from our Citty gates,
You would with-hold all dire debates;
And no infestious Ensignes send,
Nor Egles fierce vs to offend;
But that as to your friends most iust
Your person with our walles would trust.
VVhere Cæsar may (deuoid of doubt)
Assure himselfe his armes shut out.
Our Towne is free from enuies wroth
To Cæsar and to Pompey both.
But if that Romes vn-vanquisht state
Shall still subsist by fauouring Fate;
And that your humors it might please,
Your wraths with friendship to appease.
Here may you both vnarmed meet,
And peaceably each other greet.
But if prouoking warres of Spaine,
Your forces thither doe constraine;
Why range you then so farre astray?
Our Citty lies not in your way;
Whose worth of no importance is,
Our state stands still exempt from blisse.
We could not earst with happy armes,
Defend our selues, and countries harmes.
But exil'd made our last retreat
From Phocis Towers, our natiue seat;
Arriuing in this stranger port,
Where we securely raisd a fort,
Rounded with walles of no great haigth,
But alwayes guarded with our faith.
Now if you will besiege our Towne,
And teare our gates and ramparts downe,
And set our houses on a fire,
Spending on vs your hostile ire,
Our water-courses turne awry,
And all our fountaine heads draw dry,
And sucke the moisture from those fields,
That fruits and graine vnto vs yeelds.
O then behold a loathsome sight,
When Famin shall (with rauening plight)
Constraine vs for to eate and gnaw
Our fleshy limbes to feed our maw;
Our liberties we hold so deare,
That we no toyles nor torments feare.
But as Saguntum, with renowne,
When Hannibal besieg'd that Towne,
Our mothers so, with dried pappes,
Will cast their infants from their lappes,
Into the fire, to end mishaps.
The wife will begge with watery eye
Of her deere husbands hand to dye.
And mischiefes measure vp to fill,
The brother will the brother kill.
Such ciuill warre they'le rather make,
Then any other vndertake.
Massilia still such faith hath showne
Vnto the reuerend Roman state,
As that in all the dire debate,
That they haue had with forraigne foes,
She hath partaked with their blowes.
And now if thou doe vndertake,
Conquests in vnknowne Climes to make,
Command our true deuoted hands,
To warre with thee in forraigne lands.
But if yee (with infestious Armes)
Prepared are for discords harmes,
98
Our teares in secret to bequeaue.
Against all piety it stands,
In bloud of friends to bath our hands.
But if the Gods (to wroth inclin'd)
VVith venging arms would shew their mind,
Or if the earth-bred Gyants fell,
Against high heauens would rebell,
Yet humane duty should not dare
VVith an inferior bootlesse care,
Either by treaty, or by might,
To offer for the Gods to fight.
Little can we poore mortals gesse
VVhat humors higher powers possesse:
VVhen Ioue from high his anger wreakes,
He thunder-bolts and lightning speakes.
Admit that many nations strange,
Amongst these broyles their forces range.
And that the sottish vulgar sort
VVould this contagious crime support,
And not repine (constrain'd from farre)
To whet their swords for ciuill warre;
Yet be it farre from honest hearts
To follow any factious parts.
Let no braue Souldiers venter life,
To bolster out domesticke strife.
VVhat hand would not with feare be taint,
To see his wounded father faint?
Brothers that warre on either parts,
VVill doubt to throw their fatall darts.
And sure your Empires state will end,
If warres vniust you doe intend.
But now our suite we doe commend,
VVhich is, that from our Citty gates,
You would with-hold all dire debates;
And no infestious Ensignes send,
Nor Egles fierce vs to offend;
But that as to your friends most iust
Your person with our walles would trust.
VVhere Cæsar may (deuoid of doubt)
99
Our Towne is free from enuies wroth
To Cæsar and to Pompey both.
But if that Romes vn-vanquisht state
Shall still subsist by fauouring Fate;
And that your humors it might please,
Your wraths with friendship to appease.
Here may you both vnarmed meet,
And peaceably each other greet.
But if prouoking warres of Spaine,
Your forces thither doe constraine;
Why range you then so farre astray?
Our Citty lies not in your way;
Whose worth of no importance is,
Our state stands still exempt from blisse.
We could not earst with happy armes,
Defend our selues, and countries harmes.
But exil'd made our last retreat
From Phocis Towers, our natiue seat;
Arriuing in this stranger port,
Where we securely raisd a fort,
Rounded with walles of no great haigth,
But alwayes guarded with our faith.
Now if you will besiege our Towne,
And teare our gates and ramparts downe,
And set our houses on a fire,
Spending on vs your hostile ire,
Our water-courses turne awry,
And all our fountaine heads draw dry,
And sucke the moisture from those fields,
That fruits and graine vnto vs yeelds.
O then behold a loathsome sight,
When Famin shall (with rauening plight)
Constraine vs for to eate and gnaw
Our fleshy limbes to feed our maw;
Our liberties we hold so deare,
That we no toyles nor torments feare.
But as Saguntum, with renowne,
When Hannibal besieg'd that Towne,
Our mothers so, with dried pappes,
100
Into the fire, to end mishaps.
The wife will begge with watery eye
Of her deere husbands hand to dye.
And mischiefes measure vp to fill,
The brother will the brother kill.
Such ciuill warre they'le rather make,
Then any other vndertake.
Thus the Massilian Legats said,
Which speech did Cæsar so vpbraid,
As that in him it stird vp spleene
Which in his very lookes were seene.
And in these tearmes exprest his teene.
Which speech did Cæsar so vpbraid,
As that in him it stird vp spleene
Which in his very lookes were seene.
And in these tearmes exprest his teene.
Your Græcian race conceiues in vaine,
What course we meane to entertaine.
For though our iourney seeme to bend
Westward for Spaine, yet we may spend
And spare sufficient time to boote,
To raze your walles vp by the roote.
Reioyce my Cohorts, at this hap;
Fate casts a warre into your lappe.
The blustring windes do loose their grace,
When in the vacant aire they trace,
If no thicke woods withstand their race.
The flaming fire is but a blast,
If fewell be not on it cast:
So is it noisome vnto me,
Without a warring foe to be.
My troopes that idle life doe rue,
When they meet no rebellious crue,
That with their force they may subdue.
Massilians thinke they offer faire,
That Cæsar may vnarm'd repaire
In priuate sort safe to their state,
Or else they will shut vp their gate:
I needs must scorne this double flout,
To shut me in, or shut me out.
Then they will seeme to banish farre,
Contagion of a ciuill warre;
But they shall smart in that they dare
Intreat of peace in my affaire,
And by experience well shall see
None are then those more safe and free,
That by my armes protected be.
So hauing said, his troopes he leades
Towards the Towne that nothing dreads,
Whose gates were shut, & walles well mand
VVith store of youths that on them stand.
What course we meane to entertaine.
For though our iourney seeme to bend
Westward for Spaine, yet we may spend
And spare sufficient time to boote,
To raze your walles vp by the roote.
Reioyce my Cohorts, at this hap;
Fate casts a warre into your lappe.
The blustring windes do loose their grace,
When in the vacant aire they trace,
If no thicke woods withstand their race.
The flaming fire is but a blast,
If fewell be not on it cast:
So is it noisome vnto me,
Without a warring foe to be.
My troopes that idle life doe rue,
When they meet no rebellious crue,
That with their force they may subdue.
Massilians thinke they offer faire,
That Cæsar may vnarm'd repaire
In priuate sort safe to their state,
Or else they will shut vp their gate:
I needs must scorne this double flout,
To shut me in, or shut me out.
Then they will seeme to banish farre,
Contagion of a ciuill warre;
But they shall smart in that they dare
101
And by experience well shall see
None are then those more safe and free,
That by my armes protected be.
So hauing said, his troopes he leades
Towards the Towne that nothing dreads,
Whose gates were shut, & walles well mand
VVith store of youths that on them stand.
Not farre from thence Cæsar espies
A hill, that loftily did rise.
VVhose toppe extends a pretty space,
Fit for a little camping place.
This he esteem'd a peece of ground,
VVhich all their tents might safely bound,
Casting a trench about it round.
The Cities side next fronting this,
A strong and lofty Castle is,
VVhose toppe euen with this hill is seene,
And then a plaine lies both betweene:
VVhere with great labour vp were cast
Diuers high mounts with Ramparts vast.
But first on all parts to the land,
VVhereon the Citty walles did stand,
He did inuiron round about
VVith trenches and with bulwarkes stout.
And this huge worke so did conuay,
That all was shut vp but the bay.
How great and eternising fame
VVas it vnto this Citties name,
That neuer ouer-awd with feare,
In this distresse, that now they were,
Did still vndaunted courage beare.
Seeing that Cæsar had so late
Subiected all in so short date,
That one towne should oppose his fate.
Bootlesse it is that to fore-slow,
VVhich Fate sets downe how it shall goe.
Fortune, that hastens this mans sway,
And saies the world shall him obay,
In this but trifles time away.
Downe goes the woods hand ouer head,
The Okes are from the forrests shred.
With which their works of earth are bound,
Wherby they stand more firme and sound:
That their foundation well may beare
The structures that on them they reare,
which else their heft wold mouldring teare
A hill, that loftily did rise.
VVhose toppe extends a pretty space,
Fit for a little camping place.
This he esteem'd a peece of ground,
VVhich all their tents might safely bound,
Casting a trench about it round.
The Cities side next fronting this,
A strong and lofty Castle is,
VVhose toppe euen with this hill is seene,
And then a plaine lies both betweene:
VVhere with great labour vp were cast
Diuers high mounts with Ramparts vast.
But first on all parts to the land,
VVhereon the Citty walles did stand,
He did inuiron round about
VVith trenches and with bulwarkes stout.
And this huge worke so did conuay,
That all was shut vp but the bay.
How great and eternising fame
VVas it vnto this Citties name,
That neuer ouer-awd with feare,
In this distresse, that now they were,
Did still vndaunted courage beare.
Seeing that Cæsar had so late
Subiected all in so short date,
That one towne should oppose his fate.
Bootlesse it is that to fore-slow,
VVhich Fate sets downe how it shall goe.
Fortune, that hastens this mans sway,
And saies the world shall him obay,
In this but trifles time away.
102
The Okes are from the forrests shred.
With which their works of earth are bound,
Wherby they stand more firme and sound:
That their foundation well may beare
The structures that on them they reare,
which else their heft wold mouldring teare
A Groue there stood full long of yore,
Which none durst violate before,
Whose armes so thicke did interlace,
That it obscured all the place.
And with coole shadowes kept off farre,
The glowing beames of Tytans carre.
The rurall Nymphes here did not wonne,
Nor Syluane Gods, nor Fairies runne:
But with a barbarous sacred rite,
For sacrifice had Altars dight.
The rugged rindes (throughout this wood)
Were smer'd and staind with human blood.
If we may credit giue to eld,
That heauenly powers in reuerence held;
The very birds it did affright,
Vpon the boughes to pearch or light.
The sauadge beasts did it forbeare,
And would not haunt or kennell there.
No windes on these trees shewd their force,
Lightning did thence her flames diuorce.
An vgly horrid denne it was,
That neither bred greene leafe or grasse.
But many swarthy springs there rise,
From whence froth-bubling black streams flies:
And there rough hewed pictures stands
Of Gods, fram'd by some bungling hands.
In rotten trunkes of hollow treene,
Strange vncoth shapes are often seene.
The hideous seate of this sterne place,
With dread makes pale the gazers face.
The vsuall figures daily seene
Of God-heads, not so fearfull beene,
Nor holds mens mindes in so great awe
As those they neuer knew or saw.
Oft-times from out the hollow ground,
Strange howling voyces did resound.
Huge Ew-trees sometimes seeme to fall,
And straight spring vp againe withall.
The fires that run by night in fields,
Twining these trees no blasting yeelds.
About the Okes fell Dragons twist,
Thither to come no people list.
Tis left vnto the powers diuine:
For be it when the Sunne did shine,
Or when darke night the earth doth hide,
The Priest there scarcely durst abide.
To meet (in so great feare he stood)
The God that patroniz'd this wood.
This groue that neere the campe did stand,
Must now be feld downe out of hand.
Of which in former warres with Gaule,
No sticke was euer cut at all;
But safe vntoucht did stand vpright,
Neere other woods destroyed quite.
Which none durst violate before,
Whose armes so thicke did interlace,
That it obscured all the place.
And with coole shadowes kept off farre,
The glowing beames of Tytans carre.
The rurall Nymphes here did not wonne,
Nor Syluane Gods, nor Fairies runne:
But with a barbarous sacred rite,
For sacrifice had Altars dight.
The rugged rindes (throughout this wood)
Were smer'd and staind with human blood.
If we may credit giue to eld,
That heauenly powers in reuerence held;
The very birds it did affright,
Vpon the boughes to pearch or light.
The sauadge beasts did it forbeare,
And would not haunt or kennell there.
No windes on these trees shewd their force,
Lightning did thence her flames diuorce.
An vgly horrid denne it was,
That neither bred greene leafe or grasse.
But many swarthy springs there rise,
From whence froth-bubling black streams flies:
And there rough hewed pictures stands
Of Gods, fram'd by some bungling hands.
In rotten trunkes of hollow treene,
Strange vncoth shapes are often seene.
The hideous seate of this sterne place,
With dread makes pale the gazers face.
The vsuall figures daily seene
Of God-heads, not so fearfull beene,
Nor holds mens mindes in so great awe
103
Oft-times from out the hollow ground,
Strange howling voyces did resound.
Huge Ew-trees sometimes seeme to fall,
And straight spring vp againe withall.
The fires that run by night in fields,
Twining these trees no blasting yeelds.
About the Okes fell Dragons twist,
Thither to come no people list.
Tis left vnto the powers diuine:
For be it when the Sunne did shine,
Or when darke night the earth doth hide,
The Priest there scarcely durst abide.
To meet (in so great feare he stood)
The God that patroniz'd this wood.
This groue that neere the campe did stand,
Must now be feld downe out of hand.
Of which in former warres with Gaule,
No sticke was euer cut at all;
But safe vntoucht did stand vpright,
Neere other woods destroyed quite.
But yet the Souldiers daring mood,
To cut these trees dismaied stood,
The reuerent place so cool'd their blood.
They thought that if this groue they fell,
The Axes edge would then rebell,
And in reuenge (as thereto loath)
Vpon their limbes turne backe his wroth.
To cut these trees dismaied stood,
The reuerent place so cool'd their blood.
They thought that if this groue they fell,
The Axes edge would then rebell,
And in reuenge (as thereto loath)
Vpon their limbes turne backe his wroth.
When Cæsar saw his Cohorts put
In so great dread this groue to cut;
He takes an Axe, and fiercely stroake
Vpon a mighty high-growne Oake:
Which when he had halfe hewne a sunder,
Why mates (quoth he) is this a wonder?
Feare not with me to doe the same,
Vpon my head lay all the blame.
Which said, they his command attempt:
But yet from feare not full exempt.
Their mindes in doubt were held at oddes,
To anger Cæsar, or the Gods.
In so great dread this groue to cut;
He takes an Axe, and fiercely stroake
Vpon a mighty high-growne Oake:
Which when he had halfe hewne a sunder,
Why mates (quoth he) is this a wonder?
Feare not with me to doe the same,
Vpon my head lay all the blame.
Which said, they his command attempt:
But yet from feare not full exempt.
Their mindes in doubt were held at oddes,
To anger Cæsar, or the Gods.
104
Then downe is feld the long-grain'd Ash,
The knotty Holme in twaine they slash.
The great Dodonian Beech high-growne,
Now with the Axe lies ouer-throwne.
The Alder, bred by riuers sides,
As did the rest, like wracke betides.
The Cypres, vsd by those that mourne,
Whilst noble funerals do burne.
Then did the place so fleec'd and shorne,
In stead of shade, let in the morne:
So neere they grew, that being feld,
One tree another vpright held.
The knotty Holme in twaine they slash.
The great Dodonian Beech high-growne,
Now with the Axe lies ouer-throwne.
The Alder, bred by riuers sides,
As did the rest, like wracke betides.
The Cypres, vsd by those that mourne,
Whilst noble funerals do burne.
Then did the place so fleec'd and shorne,
In stead of shade, let in the morne:
So neere they grew, that being feld,
One tree another vpright held.
The Gallicke peasants at this sight,
Condole the spoyle with heauy plight.
But all the Burgers (from the wall)
Reioyce to see this huge down-fall.
They hope this sacrilegious deed
Against the Gods, would vengeance breed.
Yet Fortune oft we see doth spare
The mighty that most guilty are.
And heauenly powers their fury slakes,
In plaging wretched harmlesse snakes.
Condole the spoyle with heauy plight.
But all the Burgers (from the wall)
Reioyce to see this huge down-fall.
They hope this sacrilegious deed
Against the Gods, would vengeance breed.
Yet Fortune oft we see doth spare
The mighty that most guilty are.
And heauenly powers their fury slakes,
In plaging wretched harmlesse snakes.
When they had trees sufficient store
To serue their turne, they feld no more.
But round about they seeke all parts,
To bring in carriages and carts:
Which did the countrey much annoy,
Their plowes in that sort to imploy.
This season seru'd the lands to till,
And much it went against their will
To let their husbandry stand still.
To serue their turne, they feld no more.
But round about they seeke all parts,
To bring in carriages and carts:
Which did the countrey much annoy,
Their plowes in that sort to imploy.
This season seru'd the lands to till,
And much it went against their will
To let their husbandry stand still.
Cæsar likewise was much inrag'd,
About this siege to be engag'd.
His forces were design'd a farre,
To be imployd in greater warre,
Against his enemies in Spaine,
Whose armies coast the Westerne maine.
And therefore to cut off delayes,
A woodden Turret he did raise,
Of so great height, and large withall,
As was the castle and the wall.
Which was not fixt vnto the ground,
But borne vpon huge truckles round.
And creeping forward like a snayle,
Was not discernd how it did trayle.
And when this masse did crackling shake
The Townsmen thoght that some Earthquake
This hugious structure did surprise,
And musd their walles shak't not likewise,
Yet still their courage did subsist
The Romans stoutly to resist.
And not alone with casting darts,
But with great slings they pierce both parts
Of this huge frame, and make such way,
That armed troopes downe-right they slay.
And with those maine stones from them cast,
When bones are bruisd, and liues laid wast.
More wounds they leaue so gaping wide,
That darts had way from side to side.
Such mighty blowes these stones do giue,
As when fierce windes do whirling driue,
Against some old high tottering rocke,
VVhich so the cliffe doth teare and shocke,
As that on whom the ruines fall,
The bruised corpes to death doth sprall,
And mingles bloud and ioynts withall.
But then to giue them more offence,
VVith thicke conioyned Target fence,
They do assaile the Citty wall,
And to that fight with courage fall.
Target to Targe, borne with high hand,
One doth behinde another stand.
The sides whereof so wide extends,
As that their Murrions it defends;
And now the darts that cost from farre
Their enemies did wound and scarre,
Could not preuaile gainst this close fight,
But ouer-slipt their bodies quite.
Then were the Townsmen new to seeke
Some other meanes that were more like
How to offend, which did them paine
How to begin to learne againe
To vse their darts with fashions strange,
And practisd weapons now to change.
Therefore (in stead therof) they chose
With armes vnarm'd vpon their foes,
Huge stones to ding downe from the walles,
Whose weight might crush them with their falles.
But so firme stood their clustred sheelds,
That to those stones no more they yeelds
Then toppes of houses breake or faile
With whirling showers of ratling haile:
Which on the tile stones sound and dance,
So from this fence the stones did glance.
Yet still the Burgers grew more fierce,
And with continuall heaps did pierce
This Target-fence, and at the length
Disioyn'd their strong connexed strength:
So as the Cohorts ouer-toyl'd,
Seuer'd themselues, and then recoy'ld.
But therewithall came new supplies,
Who then another Engine tries.
Their Vinias to the wall they brought,
Couerd with greene turfes all aloft.
Whose hollow pent-house sheluing steepe,
Did them from blowes and danger keepe:
Then with the Pick-axe and the spade,
The walles foundation they inuade,
And so began to vndermine,
Safely protected with their Vine.
The battering Ramme then forth they bring
Whose hanging huge heft with a swing
Firme couched stones down tottring bring
And whilst the force thereof they try,
The Burgers heape downe from a hye
Such monstrous logs and quenchlesse flames
VVith fiered brands to burne these frames.
And still these fires doe so renew,
That the scorch't flames in sunder flew:
VVhereat the Souldiers tyr'd with paine,
Seing their labour lost in vaine,
Home to their Tents retir'd againe.
About this siege to be engag'd.
His forces were design'd a farre,
To be imployd in greater warre,
Against his enemies in Spaine,
Whose armies coast the Westerne maine.
And therefore to cut off delayes,
A woodden Turret he did raise,
Of so great height, and large withall,
105
Which was not fixt vnto the ground,
But borne vpon huge truckles round.
And creeping forward like a snayle,
Was not discernd how it did trayle.
And when this masse did crackling shake
The Townsmen thoght that some Earthquake
This hugious structure did surprise,
And musd their walles shak't not likewise,
Yet still their courage did subsist
The Romans stoutly to resist.
And not alone with casting darts,
But with great slings they pierce both parts
Of this huge frame, and make such way,
That armed troopes downe-right they slay.
And with those maine stones from them cast,
When bones are bruisd, and liues laid wast.
More wounds they leaue so gaping wide,
That darts had way from side to side.
Such mighty blowes these stones do giue,
As when fierce windes do whirling driue,
Against some old high tottering rocke,
VVhich so the cliffe doth teare and shocke,
As that on whom the ruines fall,
The bruised corpes to death doth sprall,
And mingles bloud and ioynts withall.
But then to giue them more offence,
VVith thicke conioyned Target fence,
They do assaile the Citty wall,
And to that fight with courage fall.
Target to Targe, borne with high hand,
One doth behinde another stand.
The sides whereof so wide extends,
As that their Murrions it defends;
And now the darts that cost from farre
Their enemies did wound and scarre,
Could not preuaile gainst this close fight,
But ouer-slipt their bodies quite.
Then were the Townsmen new to seeke
Some other meanes that were more like
106
How to begin to learne againe
To vse their darts with fashions strange,
And practisd weapons now to change.
Therefore (in stead therof) they chose
With armes vnarm'd vpon their foes,
Huge stones to ding downe from the walles,
Whose weight might crush them with their falles.
But so firme stood their clustred sheelds,
That to those stones no more they yeelds
Then toppes of houses breake or faile
With whirling showers of ratling haile:
Which on the tile stones sound and dance,
So from this fence the stones did glance.
Yet still the Burgers grew more fierce,
And with continuall heaps did pierce
This Target-fence, and at the length
Disioyn'd their strong connexed strength:
So as the Cohorts ouer-toyl'd,
Seuer'd themselues, and then recoy'ld.
But therewithall came new supplies,
Who then another Engine tries.
Their Vinias to the wall they brought,
Couerd with greene turfes all aloft.
Whose hollow pent-house sheluing steepe,
Did them from blowes and danger keepe:
Then with the Pick-axe and the spade,
The walles foundation they inuade,
And so began to vndermine,
Safely protected with their Vine.
The battering Ramme then forth they bring
Whose hanging huge heft with a swing
Firme couched stones down tottring bring
And whilst the force thereof they try,
The Burgers heape downe from a hye
Such monstrous logs and quenchlesse flames
VVith fiered brands to burne these frames.
And still these fires doe so renew,
That the scorch't flames in sunder flew:
VVhereat the Souldiers tyr'd with paine,
107
Home to their Tents retir'd againe.
The Burgers then the Gods did craue,
Their Citty walles from wracke to saue.
And therewithall with courage stout,
Their youths by night did sally out;
Pressing vpon the Roman bands,
And closely carried in their hands
Fierce wild-fire balles, which they with slings
Amongst the hostile army flings.
No other Armes with them they tooke,
Their darts for that time they forsooke.
Their bended bowes were laid aside,
Onely those whorling fires they try'd:
Which kindling flame with winde enrag'd,
Their campe most desperatly ingag'd.
And with such fury did inuade,
The workes and Towers that they had made
Of wood and timber, though but greene,
Yet did the flames so creepe betweene
With smouldring heat the ioints and floores
That searching fire the boords deuoures.
Wch spred abrode such swarth-thick smokes,
As that the aire it dampes and chokes.
At last this flame was growne so fierce,
As that it did not onely pierce
Their timber-frames so strong compact,
But with like force in sunder crack't
The very stones new dig'd from ground,
Wherwith their structurs were compound
So wasting fire did all confound,
And these maine ruines ouer-cast
In hugenesse farre the workes surpast.
Their Citty walles from wracke to saue.
And therewithall with courage stout,
Their youths by night did sally out;
Pressing vpon the Roman bands,
And closely carried in their hands
Fierce wild-fire balles, which they with slings
Amongst the hostile army flings.
No other Armes with them they tooke,
Their darts for that time they forsooke.
Their bended bowes were laid aside,
Onely those whorling fires they try'd:
Which kindling flame with winde enrag'd,
Their campe most desperatly ingag'd.
And with such fury did inuade,
The workes and Towers that they had made
Of wood and timber, though but greene,
Yet did the flames so creepe betweene
With smouldring heat the ioints and floores
That searching fire the boords deuoures.
Wch spred abrode such swarth-thick smokes,
As that the aire it dampes and chokes.
At last this flame was growne so fierce,
As that it did not onely pierce
Their timber-frames so strong compact,
But with like force in sunder crack't
The very stones new dig'd from ground,
Wherwith their structurs were compound
So wasting fire did all confound,
And these maine ruines ouer-cast
In hugenesse farre the workes surpast.
The Romans thus distrest by land,
Do now resolue to take in hand
To try their fortunes on the seas;
But not with ships the eye to please,
Adorn'd and painted on their sides
With formes of Gods their sailes that guides.
But rough and rude made vp in haste,
Of trees new cut, strong built, and vaste,
Compact with knees and timber sure,
That seas and tempests would endure.
This nauy rig'd, forthwith they guide,
Assisted both with winde and tide,
Vnto the mouth of Rhodanus,
Where being all assembled thus,
On Brutus they attendance gaue,
Whose ship was stout, high carg'd, & braue.
Then hoysing sailes, they rang'd the seas
Alongst the shores of Stæcades.
The Greeke Massilians in like sort,
Prouide themselues within their port:
No lesse resolu'd to venter blowes
Vpon the seas, against their foes.
And in this minde with courage bold,
They man their ships with yong and old.
And doe not set out to this fight,
Onely those vessels in good plight;
But rig'd vp ships decay'd and torne,
That in the dockes lay then forlorne.
Do now resolue to take in hand
To try their fortunes on the seas;
But not with ships the eye to please,
Adorn'd and painted on their sides
With formes of Gods their sailes that guides.
But rough and rude made vp in haste,
108
Compact with knees and timber sure,
That seas and tempests would endure.
This nauy rig'd, forthwith they guide,
Assisted both with winde and tide,
Vnto the mouth of Rhodanus,
Where being all assembled thus,
On Brutus they attendance gaue,
Whose ship was stout, high carg'd, & braue.
Then hoysing sailes, they rang'd the seas
Alongst the shores of Stæcades.
The Greeke Massilians in like sort,
Prouide themselues within their port:
No lesse resolu'd to venter blowes
Vpon the seas, against their foes.
And in this minde with courage bold,
They man their ships with yong and old.
And doe not set out to this fight,
Onely those vessels in good plight;
But rig'd vp ships decay'd and torne,
That in the dockes lay then forlorne.
Phœbus no sooner with his beames
Glitter'd vpon the Ocean streames,
Blunting his darts on Neptunes face,
And from the skies the clouds did chase.
The North-winds laid, the South-wind still,
The seas all calme for fight at will:
But they wey'd anchor, and did load
Their yards with sailes, and left the roade.
Glitter'd vpon the Ocean streames,
Blunting his darts on Neptunes face,
And from the skies the clouds did chase.
The North-winds laid, the South-wind still,
The seas all calme for fight at will:
But they wey'd anchor, and did load
Their yards with sailes, and left the roade.
Here Cæsars fleet their Oares do plye,
There do the Grekes like labour try:
And with such sway their strokes they take,
As that the very keeles did quake.
The lofty ships are drawne on fast,
By those that to the fight make haste.
There do the Grekes like labour try:
And with such sway their strokes they take,
As that the very keeles did quake.
The lofty ships are drawne on fast,
By those that to the fight make haste.
The Roman wings composed were
Of many ships, whereof some beare
Three bankes of Oares, and foure some,
Others had more the seas to scumme.
And with this strength into the deepe
They lanch, and crescent order keepe.
Whereas Liburnian Gallies goe,
With Oares of two bankes and no moe.
Yet Brutus Gallion Admirall,
With sixe bankes went stoutest of all,
And with long Oares their strokes let fall.
Of many ships, whereof some beare
Three bankes of Oares, and foure some,
Others had more the seas to scumme.
And with this strength into the deepe
109
Whereas Liburnian Gallies goe,
With Oares of two bankes and no moe.
Yet Brutus Gallion Admirall,
With sixe bankes went stoutest of all,
And with long Oares their strokes let fall.
When in the maine both of these fleets
In battell rang'd together meetes:
Confronting with their force so neere,
As that their Oares could scarce goe cleere,
Such shouts and clamors they did make,
As that the very aire did shake.
And with the voyces that rebound,
The clashing of the Oares were drown'd,
And did suppresse the Trumpets sound.
The rowers then the blew waues teare
And on their benches fall and reare,
Whilst Oares each other ouer-beare.
Their beake heads first together foyne,
Then cast about their sternes to ioyne,
And did so fast their darts let flye,
As that their numbers cloud the skye,
And on the sea in heapes did lye.
About againe with speed they tacke,
Prow against Prow doth shocke and cracke:
And many ships scattred abrode
Againe relying, lay on loade.
As when the Easterne windes oppose
The Southerne gales, that sternly blowes.
One way with force the billowes sweepes,
Another way the current keepes.
So in the deepes the Gallies range,
Vncertainly with flitting change.
For when their Oares haue forward ply'd,
Backe are they checkt with winde and tide.
But the Massilian gallies are
Of saile and stirrage much more yare,
Nimble and light to leaue or take,
And on their staies quicke speed can make.
Whereas the Roman steady ships
With deeper draughts their bottomes dips.
And in the seas do vpright stand,
As fierce for fight, as on the land.
The maister of that Gallion stout,
That Admiral'd the Roman rout,
Sitting vpon the puppe on hye,
From whence he all the course might eye.
Brutus to him aloud thus spake.
What worke (quoth he) meane you to make?
Shall my fleet idle range the coast,
That you your marine Art may boast?
We hither come prepar'd for fight,
Against our foes to shew our might.
Come bring vs therefore sword to sword,
Lay me the stoutest Greekes aboord.
These words of Brutus he obayes,
His broad side to the foe he layes.
But whosoeuer of the foes
Did shocke their sides, or changed blowes
With Brutus shippe, him grappling fast,
He boords, and ouercame at last.
The other Gallies wast to wast,
With hookes and chaines doe grapple fast.
And by the Oares did hold each other,
The fighting ships the seas did smother.
But now they doe not make their warre
With slings and engines cast a farre.
Those deadly wounds the life that parts,
Are not from Iron-headed darts.
But now they buckle hand to hand,
The sea-fight doth on sharpe swords stand.
The ships aloft are man'd and arm'd,
And fist to fist incountring swarm'd.
Dead bodies on the hatches fell,
Their bloud amongst the waues doe mell
In such abundance, that the froth
Of clotted gore, made Neptune wroth.
And whilst with force their arms they straine
To linke themselues with grappling chaine.
The bodies slaine in heapes so rides,
They cannot ioyne their sides to sides.
Some halfe dead sprawling down-right sink,
Some their own bloud with salt-waues drink.
Others halfe drownd resisting death,
Struggling for life with latest breath,
VVith timbers from crack't ships that slid,
Out of their paines are quickly rid.
And many darts that ouer slips
The fight, into the Ocean dips.
Missing the markes their force to stay,
Embrue their steele another way.
Lighting on those that swimming fleet,
VVho in the waues new wounds do meet.
In battell rang'd together meetes:
Confronting with their force so neere,
As that their Oares could scarce goe cleere,
Such shouts and clamors they did make,
As that the very aire did shake.
And with the voyces that rebound,
The clashing of the Oares were drown'd,
And did suppresse the Trumpets sound.
The rowers then the blew waues teare
And on their benches fall and reare,
Whilst Oares each other ouer-beare.
Their beake heads first together foyne,
Then cast about their sternes to ioyne,
And did so fast their darts let flye,
As that their numbers cloud the skye,
And on the sea in heapes did lye.
About againe with speed they tacke,
Prow against Prow doth shocke and cracke:
And many ships scattred abrode
Againe relying, lay on loade.
As when the Easterne windes oppose
The Southerne gales, that sternly blowes.
One way with force the billowes sweepes,
Another way the current keepes.
So in the deepes the Gallies range,
Vncertainly with flitting change.
For when their Oares haue forward ply'd,
Backe are they checkt with winde and tide.
But the Massilian gallies are
Of saile and stirrage much more yare,
Nimble and light to leaue or take,
And on their staies quicke speed can make.
Whereas the Roman steady ships
110
And in the seas do vpright stand,
As fierce for fight, as on the land.
The maister of that Gallion stout,
That Admiral'd the Roman rout,
Sitting vpon the puppe on hye,
From whence he all the course might eye.
Brutus to him aloud thus spake.
What worke (quoth he) meane you to make?
Shall my fleet idle range the coast,
That you your marine Art may boast?
We hither come prepar'd for fight,
Against our foes to shew our might.
Come bring vs therefore sword to sword,
Lay me the stoutest Greekes aboord.
These words of Brutus he obayes,
His broad side to the foe he layes.
But whosoeuer of the foes
Did shocke their sides, or changed blowes
With Brutus shippe, him grappling fast,
He boords, and ouercame at last.
The other Gallies wast to wast,
With hookes and chaines doe grapple fast.
And by the Oares did hold each other,
The fighting ships the seas did smother.
But now they doe not make their warre
With slings and engines cast a farre.
Those deadly wounds the life that parts,
Are not from Iron-headed darts.
But now they buckle hand to hand,
The sea-fight doth on sharpe swords stand.
The ships aloft are man'd and arm'd,
And fist to fist incountring swarm'd.
Dead bodies on the hatches fell,
Their bloud amongst the waues doe mell
In such abundance, that the froth
Of clotted gore, made Neptune wroth.
And whilst with force their arms they straine
To linke themselues with grappling chaine.
The bodies slaine in heapes so rides,
111
Some halfe dead sprawling down-right sink,
Some their own bloud with salt-waues drink.
Others halfe drownd resisting death,
Struggling for life with latest breath,
VVith timbers from crack't ships that slid,
Out of their paines are quickly rid.
And many darts that ouer slips
The fight, into the Ocean dips.
Missing the markes their force to stay,
Embrue their steele another way.
Lighting on those that swimming fleet,
VVho in the waues new wounds do meet.
The Romans now are throughly try'd,
Encompast round on euery side.
And then the fury of the fight,
Straines on the left hand and the right.
VVhere whilst that Tagus deales his blowes
From his high puppe on Greekish foes,
Two dismall darts light on his breast,
And steepe their steele deepe in his cheast.
So as the bloud did stand in doubt
At whether wound it should gush out.
Vntill at length the boyling blood,
Draue both the darts out with their flood.
So life departed with the gore,
The wounds did open death a dore.
Encompast round on euery side.
And then the fury of the fight,
Straines on the left hand and the right.
VVhere whilst that Tagus deales his blowes
From his high puppe on Greekish foes,
Two dismall darts light on his breast,
And steepe their steele deepe in his cheast.
So as the bloud did stand in doubt
At whether wound it should gush out.
Vntill at length the boyling blood,
Draue both the darts out with their flood.
So life departed with the gore,
The wounds did open death a dore.
Massilian Telo, wretched wight,
The Gally guided to this fight,
A better Mariner was none,
That had more Art and practise showne
Of any ship to finde the trimme,
In wrought seas how she best might swimme.
Nor better knew his markes a farre,
Nor how to take the Sunne and Starre.
Nor better gest which way the winde
VVas likeliest to be enclin'd.
This maister with his brasse-beake head,
Out of a Roman ship had shred
A mighty planke; but loe the while,
His breast was pierc'd through with a pile.
And as this worthy Pilot dy'd,
Out of his hand the helme did slide.
The Gally guided to this fight,
A better Mariner was none,
That had more Art and practise showne
Of any ship to finde the trimme,
In wrought seas how she best might swimme.
Nor better knew his markes a farre,
Nor how to take the Sunne and Starre.
Nor better gest which way the winde
VVas likeliest to be enclin'd.
This maister with his brasse-beake head,
Out of a Roman ship had shred
A mighty planke; but loe the while,
112
And as this worthy Pilot dy'd,
Out of his hand the helme did slide.
Then whilst Gayareus Gallicke Greeke,
Another shippe doth bordering streeke,
And straines to enter her by fight,
A Iauelin pierc'd his bowels quite,
And to the ship side nailes him fast,
VVhere he must hang if steele-head last.
Another shippe doth bordering streeke,
And straines to enter her by fight,
A Iauelin pierc'd his bowels quite,
And to the ship side nailes him fast,
VVhere he must hang if steele-head last.
Two brothers did this fight adorne,
Twins hard to know, at one birth borne.
These glorious testimonies were,
Of that rich wombe that did them beare.
But sundry fates did them pursue,
Though from one self-same root they grew:
For one of them in this sterne fight,
VVith fatall stroke was reft the light.
And him the parents better knew
That did suruiue, wanting the view
Of him late slaine, of semblant hue,
A chance that much lamenting breedes,
His halfe-selfe lost, his dolour feeds.
This brother that as yet suruiues,
Against a Roman Gally striues,
VVho though the oares his breast withstand
Yet on her side he graspt his hand,
Till one dire stroke the hand did reaue,
VVhich to his hold still fast did cleaue;
Not vtterly depriu'd of sence,
Whose ioints wold not be losd from thence
Now valor with mishap increast,
The noble stumpe more wrath expreast.
Stirring vp then his left hands might,
To take reuenge of this despight,
But as hee stoop't for to recouer
The first lost hand, he lost the other;
And both into the sea did fall,
Slasht from the body arme and all.
Thus of his limbes dispoild and wrack't,
His Target both and sword he lack't:
Yet for all this aloft he bides,
And vnder hatches neuer hides.
But his bare trunke he did display
On his slaine brother where he lay,
Whil'st many wounds he did assay.
And then as one that life disdaines,
Other mens harmes he entertaines;
Vntill at last, with wounds opprest,
Finding that life would leaue his breast,
That little strength that yet remaines
He doth collect into his vaines;
And with that small store of life-blood,
He armes his legges, and with fierce mood
Into the ship did leaping rush,
That with his weight he might her crush.
This ship opprest with slaughtered limbes,
The bloud about the hatches swimmes:
And being crack't with many a crush,
That oft a-thwart her ribbes did brush:
Her knees were loosd, her ioynts did ope,
The leakes in her did giue free scope
The waues so fast to sucke and gull,
That all her deckes at last were full.
Then to the bottome downe she sinkes,
Making a gulfe with circling crinkes.
The hollow where the ship did ride,
That did before the waues diuide,
Is now againe with seas supply'd.
This day in midst of Thetis lappe
Many strange accidents did happe.
Twins hard to know, at one birth borne.
These glorious testimonies were,
Of that rich wombe that did them beare.
But sundry fates did them pursue,
Though from one self-same root they grew:
For one of them in this sterne fight,
VVith fatall stroke was reft the light.
And him the parents better knew
That did suruiue, wanting the view
Of him late slaine, of semblant hue,
A chance that much lamenting breedes,
His halfe-selfe lost, his dolour feeds.
This brother that as yet suruiues,
Against a Roman Gally striues,
VVho though the oares his breast withstand
Yet on her side he graspt his hand,
Till one dire stroke the hand did reaue,
VVhich to his hold still fast did cleaue;
Not vtterly depriu'd of sence,
Whose ioints wold not be losd from thence
Now valor with mishap increast,
The noble stumpe more wrath expreast.
Stirring vp then his left hands might,
To take reuenge of this despight,
But as hee stoop't for to recouer
The first lost hand, he lost the other;
And both into the sea did fall,
Slasht from the body arme and all.
Thus of his limbes dispoild and wrack't,
His Target both and sword he lack't:
113
And vnder hatches neuer hides.
But his bare trunke he did display
On his slaine brother where he lay,
Whil'st many wounds he did assay.
And then as one that life disdaines,
Other mens harmes he entertaines;
Vntill at last, with wounds opprest,
Finding that life would leaue his breast,
That little strength that yet remaines
He doth collect into his vaines;
And with that small store of life-blood,
He armes his legges, and with fierce mood
Into the ship did leaping rush,
That with his weight he might her crush.
This ship opprest with slaughtered limbes,
The bloud about the hatches swimmes:
And being crack't with many a crush,
That oft a-thwart her ribbes did brush:
Her knees were loosd, her ioynts did ope,
The leakes in her did giue free scope
The waues so fast to sucke and gull,
That all her deckes at last were full.
Then to the bottome downe she sinkes,
Making a gulfe with circling crinkes.
The hollow where the ship did ride,
That did before the waues diuide,
Is now againe with seas supply'd.
This day in midst of Thetis lappe
Many strange accidents did happe.
Then whilst into another ship,
The Harping-irons they did slip,
Which in her sides their hooks should fixe,
In Lycida one of them stickes;
Which would haue hald him ouer-boord,
But that his mates their helpe affoord:
And by the legges still held him fast,
Till he in peeces flew at last;
Whereby his bloud dropt not so slow
As that which from a wound doth flow:
But out at euery broken vaine
A streame of crimson gusht amaine.
And that which wont was to impart
Life to the limbes from out the heart,
With that same element was mixt,
That earth and aier lies betwixt.
Neuer did any dying wight
So many wayes breathe out his spright.
The lower parts of that torne trunke,
Depriu'd of spirits, fainting shrunke.
But where the lungs and liuer lies,
And noblest parts that heat supplies,
That did a while his breath prolong,
And still for life did struggle strong.
But he with stretching grew so lither,
That limbe with limbe scarce held together.
The Harping-irons they did slip,
Which in her sides their hooks should fixe,
In Lycida one of them stickes;
Which would haue hald him ouer-boord,
But that his mates their helpe affoord:
And by the legges still held him fast,
Till he in peeces flew at last;
Whereby his bloud dropt not so slow
As that which from a wound doth flow:
114
A streame of crimson gusht amaine.
And that which wont was to impart
Life to the limbes from out the heart,
With that same element was mixt,
That earth and aier lies betwixt.
Neuer did any dying wight
So many wayes breathe out his spright.
The lower parts of that torne trunke,
Depriu'd of spirits, fainting shrunke.
But where the lungs and liuer lies,
And noblest parts that heat supplies,
That did a while his breath prolong,
And still for life did struggle strong.
But he with stretching grew so lither,
That limbe with limbe scarce held together.
Now whilst the fight is fiercely try'd,
The Souldiers all runne to that side,
Whereas the foes doe thickest stand,
And left the other side vnmand.
With which vnequall poise ore-way'd,
One ship is topsie-turuy sway'd,
And dooth into the Ocean reele,
And ouer head turnes vp her keele:
Which so oppressed all the swarme,
That none could stretch a legge or arme,
Whereby to swim and saue their liues,
And so the sea their breath depriues.
The Souldiers all runne to that side,
Whereas the foes doe thickest stand,
And left the other side vnmand.
With which vnequall poise ore-way'd,
One ship is topsie-turuy sway'd,
And dooth into the Ocean reele,
And ouer head turnes vp her keele:
Which so oppressed all the swarme,
That none could stretch a legge or arme,
Whereby to swim and saue their liues,
And so the sea their breath depriues.
Thus death amongst them al doth raue
For whilst one youth did striue to saue
His life, by swimming on the waue,
Two hostile ships together ran,
Which 'twixt them bare this haplesse man,
And with such force their powers did rush,
That flesh and bones together crush.
The body was not of such proofe,
To keepe those ships so farre aloofe:
But they so close together fall,
That their brasse beakes did ring withall.
Herewith his belly being ript
Into the panch the water slipt.
And at his mouth he powred out
His bloud and bowels like a spout.
But now the Oares doe backward steere,
So as their beake-heads were set cleere:
And so this carkasse rent and slit,
Vpon the waues did weltring flit.
For whilst one youth did striue to saue
His life, by swimming on the waue,
Two hostile ships together ran,
Which 'twixt them bare this haplesse man,
And with such force their powers did rush,
That flesh and bones together crush.
The body was not of such proofe,
To keepe those ships so farre aloofe:
But they so close together fall,
That their brasse beakes did ring withall.
Herewith his belly being ript
115
And at his mouth he powred out
His bloud and bowels like a spout.
But now the Oares doe backward steere,
So as their beake-heads were set cleere:
And so this carkasse rent and slit,
Vpon the waues did weltring flit.
There were beside a hugie rout,
That suffering shipwracke swamme about
To saue their liues, and to that end
Sought for some ship that was a frend.
But by mischance they light vpon
A Greekish Gally of their fone,
Hanging vpon her sides and helme,
So thick, that might her ouer-whelme:
Wherewith the souldiers then aboord,
Hewd off their armes with edge of sword.
And left the hands claspt on the sides,
From whence their maimed bodies slides.
So as they could no more sustaine
Themselues, by swimming on the maine.
That suffering shipwracke swamme about
To saue their liues, and to that end
Sought for some ship that was a frend.
But by mischance they light vpon
A Greekish Gally of their fone,
Hanging vpon her sides and helme,
So thick, that might her ouer-whelme:
Wherewith the souldiers then aboord,
Hewd off their armes with edge of sword.
And left the hands claspt on the sides,
From whence their maimed bodies slides.
So as they could no more sustaine
Themselues, by swimming on the maine.
Now in this battailes long euent,
Were darts and weapons almost spent.
But fury then prouides for Armes,
With Oares now one another harmes.
The staues that flagges and Ensignes beare,
They from the banners snatch and teare.
With benches whereon they did sit,
The rowers one another smit,
And peeces from the ship sides split.
Their fellowes that in heapes lye slaine,
Vpon the deckes they search againe,
That they their weapons might retaine.
Others to shew their dreadlesse hearts,
Out of their wounds doe rash the darts,
And with their left hands close the sore,
So to represse the bubling gore,
Which striues that way to finde a vent,
Whereas the lance had made a dent.
Were darts and weapons almost spent.
But fury then prouides for Armes,
With Oares now one another harmes.
The staues that flagges and Ensignes beare,
They from the banners snatch and teare.
With benches whereon they did sit,
The rowers one another smit,
And peeces from the ship sides split.
Their fellowes that in heapes lye slaine,
Vpon the deckes they search againe,
That they their weapons might retaine.
Others to shew their dreadlesse hearts,
Out of their wounds doe rash the darts,
And with their left hands close the sore,
So to represse the bubling gore,
Which striues that way to finde a vent,
Whereas the lance had made a dent.
But all this hauocke by the seas,
Was not to be compar'd to these,
That last of all they did inuent,
By a contrary element.
For now enrag'd with greater ire,
They cast abrode such desperate fire,
Composd of brimstone, pitch and oyle,
Wherein their darts they wrap and foyle.
And then such wild-fire balles doe make,
Whose flames no waters force can slake,
But on the ships quicke hold will take:
Where they incounter ropes and boords,
That tarre and rosin store affoords;
Stuffe that will quickly flame retaine,
And hard to be extinct againe.
The boords that from the ships sides shakes,
These fiers hand-fast on them takes.
Here some doe plunge into the seas,
The scorching flames so to appease.
Others in danger of the waues,
Hold by those plankes that flaming raues;
So whilst mongst many deaths they runne,
No death so much they striu'd to shunne,
As that which first they apprehend
Did threaten them their liues to end.
Yet all these ship-wrackes nought auaile,
Their courage to abase or quaile:
But on the seas the darts that flow
They gather vp, at shippes to throw,
With those faint hands that them sustaine,
By swimming in the rowling maine.
And when they cannot meet with darts,
Another way they play their parts.
When one foe doth another spy,
They straight together struggling try,
Till both downe to the bottome flye.
116
That last of all they did inuent,
By a contrary element.
For now enrag'd with greater ire,
They cast abrode such desperate fire,
Composd of brimstone, pitch and oyle,
Wherein their darts they wrap and foyle.
And then such wild-fire balles doe make,
Whose flames no waters force can slake,
But on the ships quicke hold will take:
Where they incounter ropes and boords,
That tarre and rosin store affoords;
Stuffe that will quickly flame retaine,
And hard to be extinct againe.
The boords that from the ships sides shakes,
These fiers hand-fast on them takes.
Here some doe plunge into the seas,
The scorching flames so to appease.
Others in danger of the waues,
Hold by those plankes that flaming raues;
So whilst mongst many deaths they runne,
No death so much they striu'd to shunne,
As that which first they apprehend
Did threaten them their liues to end.
Yet all these ship-wrackes nought auaile,
Their courage to abase or quaile:
But on the seas the darts that flow
They gather vp, at shippes to throw,
With those faint hands that them sustaine,
By swimming in the rowling maine.
And when they cannot meet with darts,
Another way they play their parts.
When one foe doth another spy,
They straight together struggling try,
Till both downe to the bottome flye.
Amongst the rest in this fierce fight,
A man there was that Phoceus hight,
A Souldier of a gallant spright,
That well could swim, and well could diue,
And vnder water long suruiue,
So as for need the bottomes sands,
He would take vp with diuing hands.
Or if the Anchors hooke were bound,
He could vnloose it from the ground.
Or fixe the cable, that by chance
From out the Anchors ring did glance.
This fellow singles out a foe,
And in his armes doth graspe him so,
That to the bottome both do goe.
There him he strangles in the mud,
Then lifts himselfe aboue the floud.
But after this againe he tries
In semblant sort to diue and rise:
And as his head aloft he reares,
Against a ship his skull he teares;
Wherewith he downe-right sunke amaine,
And neuer rose aliue againe.
Some now the hostile oares by might
Would hold and stay their ships from flight,
But that which most did all offend,
Was vnreueng'd their liues to end.
Many that saw their death draw nye,
Would on the ship sides hazards try.
And so the beake-head brace and clip,
To beare the blow from off the ship.
A man there was that Phoceus hight,
A Souldier of a gallant spright,
That well could swim, and well could diue,
And vnder water long suruiue,
117
He would take vp with diuing hands.
Or if the Anchors hooke were bound,
He could vnloose it from the ground.
Or fixe the cable, that by chance
From out the Anchors ring did glance.
This fellow singles out a foe,
And in his armes doth graspe him so,
That to the bottome both do goe.
There him he strangles in the mud,
Then lifts himselfe aboue the floud.
But after this againe he tries
In semblant sort to diue and rise:
And as his head aloft he reares,
Against a ship his skull he teares;
Wherewith he downe-right sunke amaine,
And neuer rose aliue againe.
Some now the hostile oares by might
Would hold and stay their ships from flight,
But that which most did all offend,
Was vnreueng'd their liues to end.
Many that saw their death draw nye,
Would on the ship sides hazards try.
And so the beake-head brace and clip,
To beare the blow from off the ship.
Then Lygdanus by chance did eye,
Tyrrhenus mounted loftily,
Strowting vpon a Gallions puppe,
A sling and bullet he takes vp,
And sent it with a strength so fierce,
That both his temples it did pierce;
From whence a streame of bloud forth flies,
And after it starts out his eyes.
His sight thus rap't, amaz'd did stand,
And thought this darknes was deaths hand.
But when his sprights were come againe
That did true valor still retaine;
My mates (quoth he) that so well know
The piercing dart a farre to throw,
Direct me now a right to stand,
That I may vse my darting hand.
Then to himselfe a lowd he spake,
Tyrrhene goe now and vndertake
In warre all hazards that may chance,
Thy end more brauely to aduance.
Such noble thoughts this man halfe slaine
Did in his haughty heart retaine.
My wel-steel'd dart, Ioue grant thou light
Vpon some gallant worthy wight.
So said, his dart he forth did straine
With his blinde arme, yet not in vaine,
But did a lusty younker smite,
Of noble bloud, he Argus hight.
The point his very nauell hit,
But pierc'd it not halfe through as yet;
Vntill he groueling downe did fall,
Which prest the head home shaft and all.
Tyrrhenus mounted loftily,
Strowting vpon a Gallions puppe,
A sling and bullet he takes vp,
And sent it with a strength so fierce,
That both his temples it did pierce;
From whence a streame of bloud forth flies,
And after it starts out his eyes.
His sight thus rap't, amaz'd did stand,
And thought this darknes was deaths hand.
But when his sprights were come againe
That did true valor still retaine;
My mates (quoth he) that so well know
The piercing dart a farre to throw,
Direct me now a right to stand,
118
Then to himselfe a lowd he spake,
Tyrrhene goe now and vndertake
In warre all hazards that may chance,
Thy end more brauely to aduance.
Such noble thoughts this man halfe slaine
Did in his haughty heart retaine.
My wel-steel'd dart, Ioue grant thou light
Vpon some gallant worthy wight.
So said, his dart he forth did straine
With his blinde arme, yet not in vaine,
But did a lusty younker smite,
Of noble bloud, he Argus hight.
The point his very nauell hit,
But pierc'd it not halfe through as yet;
Vntill he groueling downe did fall,
Which prest the head home shaft and all.
When this happe Argus did betide,
His father on the other side,
Did in a conquer'd Gally stand,
Great was his worth by sea and land;
For he in all the Phocians warres,
Gaue place to none that doing dares.
But now with eld was weake and spent,
And yet vnto this battaile went;
Not as a Souldier to obay,
But in high place to rule and sway.
Now when this dismall chance he spy'd,
Ouer the seats he straines to stride:
And so poore man still clambring vp,
Made shift to come vnto the puppe:
Where when he saw his Argus lye
Gasping for life, at point to dye,
No teares fell from the old mans eye,
Neither did he outraging cry;
But numnesse did his sence surprise,
And darknesse did benight his eyes.
His body sodainly grew cold,
His hands out-stretcht could nothing hold.
And in this trance and sencelesse plight,
He had forgot his Argus quite.
But he sweet youth his head did becke,
That faintly reeled on his necke.
And lifts it vp a little space,
When first he glimpst his fathers face.
His Iaw-falne mouth no voyce forth sends,
But silent to his father bends;
And beckes his head as latest blisse,
From his old lippes to get a kisse.
And with best meanes he could deuise,
Pointed to him to close his eyes.
The griping sorrow that did straine
This poore old man in euery vaine,
Puts rage and spright in him againe.
Well now (quoth he) I'le loose no time,
This wracke is chanced for my crime.
The direfull Fates as they ordaine
Shall haue me, by mine owne hand slaine.
Deare Argus my sweet boy dispence
With thy sad fathers late offence,
In that I did not thee embrace,
Nor with last duties kisse thy face.
As yet thy wound doth not so draine,
The life-blood out of euery vaine,
But that thy lookes good hope do giue,
That thou a while maist longer liue.
No sooner had he said that word,
But straight he fell vpon his sword,
Which he draue to the very hilt;
Yet not content with his bloud spilt,
Into the sea he head-long flies,
One way to death could not suffice.
His father on the other side,
Did in a conquer'd Gally stand,
Great was his worth by sea and land;
For he in all the Phocians warres,
Gaue place to none that doing dares.
But now with eld was weake and spent,
And yet vnto this battaile went;
Not as a Souldier to obay,
But in high place to rule and sway.
Now when this dismall chance he spy'd,
Ouer the seats he straines to stride:
And so poore man still clambring vp,
Made shift to come vnto the puppe:
Where when he saw his Argus lye
Gasping for life, at point to dye,
No teares fell from the old mans eye,
Neither did he outraging cry;
But numnesse did his sence surprise,
And darknesse did benight his eyes.
His body sodainly grew cold,
His hands out-stretcht could nothing hold.
And in this trance and sencelesse plight,
119
But he sweet youth his head did becke,
That faintly reeled on his necke.
And lifts it vp a little space,
When first he glimpst his fathers face.
His Iaw-falne mouth no voyce forth sends,
But silent to his father bends;
And beckes his head as latest blisse,
From his old lippes to get a kisse.
And with best meanes he could deuise,
Pointed to him to close his eyes.
The griping sorrow that did straine
This poore old man in euery vaine,
Puts rage and spright in him againe.
Well now (quoth he) I'le loose no time,
This wracke is chanced for my crime.
The direfull Fates as they ordaine
Shall haue me, by mine owne hand slaine.
Deare Argus my sweet boy dispence
With thy sad fathers late offence,
In that I did not thee embrace,
Nor with last duties kisse thy face.
As yet thy wound doth not so draine,
The life-blood out of euery vaine,
But that thy lookes good hope do giue,
That thou a while maist longer liue.
No sooner had he said that word,
But straight he fell vpon his sword,
Which he draue to the very hilt;
Yet not content with his bloud spilt,
Into the sea he head-long flies,
One way to death could not suffice.
This fortune now drawes to an end
Which way the victory shall tend.
No longer cause there doth remaine,
Hazards of battaile to maintaine.
Most of Massilian fleet is drownd,
The rest for Roman seruice bound.
Whose rowers when they changed were,
The Roman victors in them beare.
A few with speed away did flye,
For shelter in some harbours nye;
But now what tongue can well expresse
The Cities fright and heauinesse?
How fathers for their sonnes lament,
What teares the wailing mothers spent.
And how the wiues vpon the shore,
In forlorne troopes would search and pore
Amongst the waues distain'd with gore:
Where they their husbands corps might haue
Disfigured weltring in the waue.
But often-times their markes did misse,
And for a Greeke, a Roman kisse.
The fathers with like strife desires
To giue their sonnes their funerall fires.
But Brutus with triumphant hands,
Victor vpon the Ocean stands.
And on the sea first purchast fame
With victory to Cæsars name.
Which way the victory shall tend.
No longer cause there doth remaine,
Hazards of battaile to maintaine.
Most of Massilian fleet is drownd,
The rest for Roman seruice bound.
Whose rowers when they changed were,
The Roman victors in them beare.
120
For shelter in some harbours nye;
But now what tongue can well expresse
The Cities fright and heauinesse?
How fathers for their sonnes lament,
What teares the wailing mothers spent.
And how the wiues vpon the shore,
In forlorne troopes would search and pore
Amongst the waues distain'd with gore:
Where they their husbands corps might haue
Disfigured weltring in the waue.
But often-times their markes did misse,
And for a Greeke, a Roman kisse.
The fathers with like strife desires
To giue their sonnes their funerall fires.
But Brutus with triumphant hands,
Victor vpon the Ocean stands.
And on the sea first purchast fame
With victory to Cæsars name.
Finis Libritertij.
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