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 sixth Booke.
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 | Lvcans Pharsalia |  |
211
The sixth Booke.
The Argvment.
Vnto Dyrachium Pompey goes,Which guards him safely from his foes.
Then Cæsar with a mighty wall,
Doth Pompey's Army round enthrall;
But hee breakes out by open fight.
Scæua's braue minde, and manly might.
Then Thessalies description showne,
And what her old Records makes knowne.
There Sextus, Pompey's worthlesse childe,
With sorceries himselfe defil'd:
And doth Erictho's counsell take,
Which shee learnes from the Stygian lake.
And doth a carkas raise, that telles
Much future wracke, and heauy spelles.
Thus hauing serued Sextus turne,
The speaking carkas she doth burne.
When these two Campes were lodg'd so nye,
Confronting in each others eye,
Their Armes and Ensignes glittring stand,
Brauing vpon the hilles at hand:
And both the Captaines prone to fight,
Hauing assembled all their might,
The Gods each parties then beheld,
Of forces equall in the field.
But Cæsar holds it in disdaine,
The citties of the Greekes to gaine:
And doth his Destinie debarre,
To value that successe in warre.
For nothing now could giue him rest,
Vntill that Pompey were supprest.
But doth affect with what he may
To giue the world one bloody day.
And thereby all to ruine bring
That of his name the earth might ring.
The Fates indifferent threw the dice,
Which of their heads should pay the price.
Thrice Cæsar all his troopes displaide,
Vpon the hils rang'd and arraide;
And thrice prouoking signes had showne,
Of ioyning battell with his fone.
But when at last he plainly saw
To fight he could not Pompey draw,
Who in his Campe more trust reposde,
That with a trench was strongly closde.
His tents and ensignes he did raise,
And secretly through bushie wayes,
With all the hast he could deuise,
He marcht Dyrachyum to surprise;
But Pompey knowing his intent,
By Seas doth this designe preuent.
And on a hill that Petra hight,
He lodge his Campe by his foresight.
So to defend Dyrachyum wals,
Which Cæsar sought to make his thrals,
Although this Citties towres were strong
To haue repulsed any wrong.
Yet her best strength and rampars stands
Not by the worke of ancient hands,
That bulwarkes fram'd by art and toyle,
With clustred heapes digd from the soyle.
(Although such structures mightie power
Nor war, nor time can well deuoure.)
But it was strongly fortifi'd,
All Engines forces to abide,
By onely helpe of Natures hands,
And by the seate whereon it stands.
For tis almost inclosed round
With a maine sea, large and profound.
And craggy steepe cliffes tottring hye,
'Gainst which the roaring billowes flye:
And but by this hill hindered,
With sea it would be Ilanded.
The walles foundations are of Rockes,
Most dangerous for ship-wracke shockes.
When as the Southerne raging blasts,
Th' Ionian furious waues vp casts.
For Temples then, and houses shake,
And froth of seas their toppes ore-rake.
Confronting in each others eye,
Their Armes and Ensignes glittring stand,
Brauing vpon the hilles at hand:
And both the Captaines prone to fight,
Hauing assembled all their might,
212
Of forces equall in the field.
But Cæsar holds it in disdaine,
The citties of the Greekes to gaine:
And doth his Destinie debarre,
To value that successe in warre.
For nothing now could giue him rest,
Vntill that Pompey were supprest.
But doth affect with what he may
To giue the world one bloody day.
And thereby all to ruine bring
That of his name the earth might ring.
The Fates indifferent threw the dice,
Which of their heads should pay the price.
Thrice Cæsar all his troopes displaide,
Vpon the hils rang'd and arraide;
And thrice prouoking signes had showne,
Of ioyning battell with his fone.
But when at last he plainly saw
To fight he could not Pompey draw,
Who in his Campe more trust reposde,
That with a trench was strongly closde.
His tents and ensignes he did raise,
And secretly through bushie wayes,
With all the hast he could deuise,
He marcht Dyrachyum to surprise;
But Pompey knowing his intent,
By Seas doth this designe preuent.
And on a hill that Petra hight,
He lodge his Campe by his foresight.
So to defend Dyrachyum wals,
Which Cæsar sought to make his thrals,
Although this Citties towres were strong
To haue repulsed any wrong.
Yet her best strength and rampars stands
Not by the worke of ancient hands,
That bulwarkes fram'd by art and toyle,
With clustred heapes digd from the soyle.
(Although such structures mightie power
Nor war, nor time can well deuoure.)
213
All Engines forces to abide,
By onely helpe of Natures hands,
And by the seate whereon it stands.
For tis almost inclosed round
With a maine sea, large and profound.
And craggy steepe cliffes tottring hye,
'Gainst which the roaring billowes flye:
And but by this hill hindered,
With sea it would be Ilanded.
The walles foundations are of Rockes,
Most dangerous for ship-wracke shockes.
When as the Southerne raging blasts,
Th' Ionian furious waues vp casts.
For Temples then, and houses shake,
And froth of seas their toppes ore-rake.
Hither the haynous hopes of warre,
Drew Cæsars rage; his foes to barre.
But when he saw their troopes at large,
Disperst on euery mountaines varge.
He vnawares to them, assaies
Farre off a mighty trench to raise:
And brings it with a compasse round,
Enclosing many a mile of ground.
The lands he measures with his eye,
And so casts vp a Rampart hye;
Not onely fram'd of earth and clay,
But hugie rockes therein doth lay.
And stones from flinty quarries dig'd,
The Græcian houses he vnrig'd,
And goodly walles in peeces shakes,
Wherewith this lofty trench he makes
So sollid, and so firme withall,
That it would neither sway nor fall,
With force of battery, neere or farre,
Of Rammes, or Engines for the warre.
Downe go the hilles hand ouer head,
With which the vales are leuelled,
Till Cæsars taske were finished.
Ditches he casts vp large and deepe:
Then mantled Towers square and steepe,
He reares vpon his trenches toppes;
And in this sort he rounding stoppes
A long fetch't compast monstrous bound,
Of bushy woods, and forrest ground,
With plowed lands, and pasture fields,
And some that nought but briers yeelds:
And in this vast incircled soyle
The sauadge beasts he did entoyle.
So as now Pompey's Army needs
Nor fields, nor fodder for their steedes;
So large a territories space,
Did this Cæsarean trench embrace.
And Pompey had sufficient change,
From place to place his Tents to range.
Through it faire riuers tooke their sourse,
And in the seas did end their course.
Cæsar surueyes this wondrous feate,
And when he saw it was compleat:
He and his troopes (with toyle opprest)
Amidst the large fields tooke their rest.
Now let vs heare those fables old,
That of the Troians walles were told,
Ascribed to the God-heads cares,
Although but fram'd of brittle wares:
And those great wonders that doe flye
Of Babylonian walles so hye,
That seem'd to front and threat the skye,
Made by the Parthian turne againe,
That flying doth his fight maintaine.
But looke what spacious fields and lands,
Are compast with fierce Tygris bands,
Or swift Orontes doth embrace,
From which the Kings of Easterne race
Did at the first with suddaine might,
Small kingdomes share vnto their right.
Euen so much ground with rapted close
In broyles of warre fronted with foes,
He quickly wal'd and finished;
Yet those, and this all perished.
Those hands mought with a little toyle,
Ioyne Abidos to Sestus soyle.
And with like heapes of earth haue made
The Hellespont a land-way trade.
And might that Istmos haue purloyn'd,
That Pelops land to Greece hath ioyn'd.
Or else haue made a way direct
For ships to passe without reflect
Through that long stretching Malean straine
That shelues so farre into the maine.
Or any part of all the earth,
Haue changed from her proper birth
Vnto some clime of better mood,
Though Nature had the worke withstood.
This martiall terrace frame of rage
So furnisht, doth enclose the stage,
VVhence factious strife, & bloody streames,
Shall ouer-flow so many Realmes,
Heere the Thessalian slaughters wonne,
And Lybick murdrous deeds mis-done.
And heere now flames the ciuill brand,
VVithin this compast plot of land.
Drew Cæsars rage; his foes to barre.
But when he saw their troopes at large,
Disperst on euery mountaines varge.
He vnawares to them, assaies
Farre off a mighty trench to raise:
And brings it with a compasse round,
Enclosing many a mile of ground.
The lands he measures with his eye,
And so casts vp a Rampart hye;
Not onely fram'd of earth and clay,
But hugie rockes therein doth lay.
And stones from flinty quarries dig'd,
The Græcian houses he vnrig'd,
And goodly walles in peeces shakes,
Wherewith this lofty trench he makes
So sollid, and so firme withall,
That it would neither sway nor fall,
With force of battery, neere or farre,
Of Rammes, or Engines for the warre.
Downe go the hilles hand ouer head,
With which the vales are leuelled,
Till Cæsars taske were finished.
Ditches he casts vp large and deepe:
214
He reares vpon his trenches toppes;
And in this sort he rounding stoppes
A long fetch't compast monstrous bound,
Of bushy woods, and forrest ground,
With plowed lands, and pasture fields,
And some that nought but briers yeelds:
And in this vast incircled soyle
The sauadge beasts he did entoyle.
So as now Pompey's Army needs
Nor fields, nor fodder for their steedes;
So large a territories space,
Did this Cæsarean trench embrace.
And Pompey had sufficient change,
From place to place his Tents to range.
Through it faire riuers tooke their sourse,
And in the seas did end their course.
Cæsar surueyes this wondrous feate,
And when he saw it was compleat:
He and his troopes (with toyle opprest)
Amidst the large fields tooke their rest.
Now let vs heare those fables old,
That of the Troians walles were told,
Ascribed to the God-heads cares,
Although but fram'd of brittle wares:
And those great wonders that doe flye
Of Babylonian walles so hye,
That seem'd to front and threat the skye,
Made by the Parthian turne againe,
That flying doth his fight maintaine.
But looke what spacious fields and lands,
Are compast with fierce Tygris bands,
Or swift Orontes doth embrace,
From which the Kings of Easterne race
Did at the first with suddaine might,
Small kingdomes share vnto their right.
Euen so much ground with rapted close
In broyles of warre fronted with foes,
He quickly wal'd and finished;
Yet those, and this all perished.
215
Ioyne Abidos to Sestus soyle.
And with like heapes of earth haue made
The Hellespont a land-way trade.
And might that Istmos haue purloyn'd,
That Pelops land to Greece hath ioyn'd.
Or else haue made a way direct
For ships to passe without reflect
Through that long stretching Malean straine
That shelues so farre into the maine.
Or any part of all the earth,
Haue changed from her proper birth
Vnto some clime of better mood,
Though Nature had the worke withstood.
This martiall terrace frame of rage
So furnisht, doth enclose the stage,
VVhence factious strife, & bloody streames,
Shall ouer-flow so many Realmes,
Heere the Thessalian slaughters wonne,
And Lybick murdrous deeds mis-done.
And heere now flames the ciuill brand,
VVithin this compast plot of land.
This worke, when first it was erected,
Of Pompey was no more suspected
Then are the clashings of the waues
That lowd against Pelorum raues,
Hard by those people, that farre wide
In midst of Trinacry reside.
Or then the Britton Calidons
Can heare the blustring motions
That Thetis billowes when they rake
Against the Kentish cliffes, do make.
But he no sooner found it out,
VVhat fields this vaste trench closd about,
But straight his troopes he did conuay
From Petra, where secure they lay:
And them about those hilles disposd,
That this maine Rampart had enclosd.
And this he practisd to this end,
That Cæsar should of force extend
His troopes, and weaken so his strength,
Disperst to guard the trenches length.
For so much quantity in ground
This new-raisd Rampart did surround,
As is Aricia's little wood,
Distant from Rome, whereas there stood
A sacred Altar eleuate,
Vnto Diana consecrate.
Or as the riuer Tybris falles
Into the sea from Roman walles.
If so it ran straight in a line,
And did not crooked trending twine,
But yet no Trumpets sound alarmes,
Nor weapons marshalled to harmes.
Although sometimes (their Armes to try)
The wounding darts on both sides flye.
These Captaines now are kept a part
With greater cares from bloody Mart.
For Pompeys campe found penury
Of fodder for his Caualry:
That daily galloping these fields,
Which earst such store of herbage yeelds,
Their horned hoofes so bare had beate,
That grasse nor greene was there to eate.
The lusty Coursers than waxt faint,
When as their lease was thus attaint,
And to another feed were brought,
Where rackes with hay were fully fraught.
But then they mourn'd and pin'd away,
Chang'd from fresh grasse to dryed hay.
And whilst their Riders spurre their sides,
And in the rings their gallop guides,
With trembling ioynts all suddenly
They sinke downe right, and gasping lye,
Till death their stretch't out limbes surprise,
And so the lusty courser dies.
Besides all this, there did ensue
An aire, that such infection drew,
By heauens distemper'd foggy sky,
Wherein contagious heates did fry,
That through the Campe a pest doth flye.
Such banefull Stygian loathsome sents
Do rise from out the dampish vents
Of Nesis hollow mouldy caues;
And such like vapours breathing raues
From forth Typhæus nasty denne,
That chokes with stench both beasts & men.
Herewith in heapes the Souldiers fall,
And that which plagues them worst of all,
The poisned waters more offend
Then all those dampes the aire doth send:
For that their bowels so doth freate,
And parch them with such inward heate,
As that the skinne it scorching swarts,
Their very eyes with swelling starts,
Their faces flame with fiery hue,
Cangranes and Calentures ensue.
And thus tormented sundry wayes,
Their heads for paine they cannot raise.
This raging violent disease
So forcibly doth still encrease,
As that they do not life maintaine
In languishing, and dye with paine;
But all as soone as sicknesse takes
Without delay an end it makes:
And in such troopes so fast they dye,
That whilst the dead vnburied lye,
With noysome stench amongst the life,
This foule contagion growes more rife.
For these poore soules haue not at all,
Any dig'd graues, or funerall.
But as they doe yeeld vp their last,
Out of the Campe their corpes are cast.
Yet (that wch somwhat calm'd these wrackes)
The open sea was at their backes,
And now and then from Northerne winde,
They some refreshing blasts did finde.
And so the forraigne stranger shores,
Their Campe with victuals plenty stores.
Of Pompey was no more suspected
Then are the clashings of the waues
That lowd against Pelorum raues,
Hard by those people, that farre wide
In midst of Trinacry reside.
Or then the Britton Calidons
Can heare the blustring motions
That Thetis billowes when they rake
Against the Kentish cliffes, do make.
But he no sooner found it out,
VVhat fields this vaste trench closd about,
But straight his troopes he did conuay
From Petra, where secure they lay:
And them about those hilles disposd,
That this maine Rampart had enclosd.
And this he practisd to this end,
That Cæsar should of force extend
216
Disperst to guard the trenches length.
For so much quantity in ground
This new-raisd Rampart did surround,
As is Aricia's little wood,
Distant from Rome, whereas there stood
A sacred Altar eleuate,
Vnto Diana consecrate.
Or as the riuer Tybris falles
Into the sea from Roman walles.
If so it ran straight in a line,
And did not crooked trending twine,
But yet no Trumpets sound alarmes,
Nor weapons marshalled to harmes.
Although sometimes (their Armes to try)
The wounding darts on both sides flye.
These Captaines now are kept a part
With greater cares from bloody Mart.
For Pompeys campe found penury
Of fodder for his Caualry:
That daily galloping these fields,
Which earst such store of herbage yeelds,
Their horned hoofes so bare had beate,
That grasse nor greene was there to eate.
The lusty Coursers than waxt faint,
When as their lease was thus attaint,
And to another feed were brought,
Where rackes with hay were fully fraught.
But then they mourn'd and pin'd away,
Chang'd from fresh grasse to dryed hay.
And whilst their Riders spurre their sides,
And in the rings their gallop guides,
With trembling ioynts all suddenly
They sinke downe right, and gasping lye,
Till death their stretch't out limbes surprise,
And so the lusty courser dies.
Besides all this, there did ensue
An aire, that such infection drew,
By heauens distemper'd foggy sky,
Wherein contagious heates did fry,
217
Such banefull Stygian loathsome sents
Do rise from out the dampish vents
Of Nesis hollow mouldy caues;
And such like vapours breathing raues
From forth Typhæus nasty denne,
That chokes with stench both beasts & men.
Herewith in heapes the Souldiers fall,
And that which plagues them worst of all,
The poisned waters more offend
Then all those dampes the aire doth send:
For that their bowels so doth freate,
And parch them with such inward heate,
As that the skinne it scorching swarts,
Their very eyes with swelling starts,
Their faces flame with fiery hue,
Cangranes and Calentures ensue.
And thus tormented sundry wayes,
Their heads for paine they cannot raise.
This raging violent disease
So forcibly doth still encrease,
As that they do not life maintaine
In languishing, and dye with paine;
But all as soone as sicknesse takes
Without delay an end it makes:
And in such troopes so fast they dye,
That whilst the dead vnburied lye,
With noysome stench amongst the life,
This foule contagion growes more rife.
For these poore soules haue not at all,
Any dig'd graues, or funerall.
But as they doe yeeld vp their last,
Out of the Campe their corpes are cast.
Yet (that wch somwhat calm'd these wrackes)
The open sea was at their backes,
And now and then from Northerne winde,
They some refreshing blasts did finde.
And so the forraigne stranger shores,
Their Campe with victuals plenty stores.
Meane while this dull infectious aire,
Did nothing Cæsars campe impaire.
For they enioyed at their willes
The large faire fields, and lofty hilles;
Nor yet their waters noysome were,
But streaming sweetly, fresh and cleere.
Although another crosse they finde,
For famine plagues them in her kinde.
Wherewith they were as much distrest
As if a siege did them inuest.
The bladed corne the earth did beare,
Was not yet growne vnto an eare,
So as the Souldiers for their feasts,
Were faine to share their food with beasts.
Gnabbing vpon the bryar buddes,
And gathering greene leaues in the woods.
And therewithall such hearbes finde out,
Whose qualities they well might doubt.
For that vpon such roots they grew,
As neuer earst they saw nor knew.
And some of these vpon the fire,
They boyle and fry with sharpe desire,
And some they chew and swallow raw,
Wherewith to fill the hungry maw:
And many other things they eate,
Vnknowne before to be mans meate.
Yet these staru'd soules, besieg'd and dar'd
Their foes, that with full dishes far'd.
218
For they enioyed at their willes
The large faire fields, and lofty hilles;
Nor yet their waters noysome were,
But streaming sweetly, fresh and cleere.
Although another crosse they finde,
For famine plagues them in her kinde.
Wherewith they were as much distrest
As if a siege did them inuest.
The bladed corne the earth did beare,
Was not yet growne vnto an eare,
So as the Souldiers for their feasts,
Were faine to share their food with beasts.
Gnabbing vpon the bryar buddes,
And gathering greene leaues in the woods.
And therewithall such hearbes finde out,
Whose qualities they well might doubt.
For that vpon such roots they grew,
As neuer earst they saw nor knew.
And some of these vpon the fire,
They boyle and fry with sharpe desire,
And some they chew and swallow raw,
Wherewith to fill the hungry maw:
And many other things they eate,
Vnknowne before to be mans meate.
Yet these staru'd soules, besieg'd and dar'd
Their foes, that with full dishes far'd.
But when that Pompey did desire,
To force a way with blood and fire
Through this huge trench, wherby his bands
Might range at large in all the lands.
He would not take the darke of night,
To cloke a base vnmanly fight.
For whilst they both from Armes refrain'd,
To steale on Cæsar he disdain'd.
But breaches large he meanes to make,
And thorough them his way to take.
The Rampart he would lay full low,
And her high Towers ouer-throw.
The sword and slaughter must hew out
The way, to bring this worke about.
The part that did most fitly stand
For Pompey now to take in hand,
And of this trench the neerest side,
Was one high turret dignifide
With Scæuas name; obscur'd from view,
With trees that thicke about it grew.
Thither did he addresse his Mart,
And sets vpon this vast rampart.
With sudden charge; but raisd no dust,
Whereby to giue the foe mistrust
Forthwith such noise of Trumpets sounds
Throughout the fields and aire rebounds,
Such store of Ensign'd Ægles blazde,
To hold the enemy amazde.
Whereby the sword should not alone
Claime all the honor as his owne.
And now to show their courage braue,
That valour would due glory haue,
What place soeuer any tooke,
He neuer afterwards forsooke,
But did that ground with force maintaine,
Or clouds it with his body slaine.
This fight so many liues confounds,
That bodies wanted to take wounds.
And darts that flie like showres of raine,
Were spent, and cast away in vaine.
Then wildfire streames, and flaming pitch,
Flyes on the Rampar and the ditch,
So as the turrets shake withall,
And totter as they meant to fall.
The rams, the engines, and the slings,
Their battry now with fury dings,
Whose often shockes did make such wrack,
That tower and rampart gins to crack.
Then Pompeys men withouten stop,
Do mount vpon the trenches top.
And there their Ægles do display,
Who hoping they had wonne the day:
Thinke now the world shall them obey.
To force a way with blood and fire
Through this huge trench, wherby his bands
Might range at large in all the lands.
He would not take the darke of night,
To cloke a base vnmanly fight.
For whilst they both from Armes refrain'd,
To steale on Cæsar he disdain'd.
But breaches large he meanes to make,
And thorough them his way to take.
The Rampart he would lay full low,
And her high Towers ouer-throw.
The sword and slaughter must hew out
219
The part that did most fitly stand
For Pompey now to take in hand,
And of this trench the neerest side,
Was one high turret dignifide
With Scæuas name; obscur'd from view,
With trees that thicke about it grew.
Thither did he addresse his Mart,
And sets vpon this vast rampart.
With sudden charge; but raisd no dust,
Whereby to giue the foe mistrust
Forthwith such noise of Trumpets sounds
Throughout the fields and aire rebounds,
Such store of Ensign'd Ægles blazde,
To hold the enemy amazde.
Whereby the sword should not alone
Claime all the honor as his owne.
And now to show their courage braue,
That valour would due glory haue,
What place soeuer any tooke,
He neuer afterwards forsooke,
But did that ground with force maintaine,
Or clouds it with his body slaine.
This fight so many liues confounds,
That bodies wanted to take wounds.
And darts that flie like showres of raine,
Were spent, and cast away in vaine.
Then wildfire streames, and flaming pitch,
Flyes on the Rampar and the ditch,
So as the turrets shake withall,
And totter as they meant to fall.
The rams, the engines, and the slings,
Their battry now with fury dings,
Whose often shockes did make such wrack,
That tower and rampart gins to crack.
Then Pompeys men withouten stop,
Do mount vpon the trenches top.
And there their Ægles do display,
Who hoping they had wonne the day:
Thinke now the world shall them obey.
220
That which so many thousand hands,
Nor yet all Cæsars armed bands,
Could not from vtter conquest hold:
One man of courage vncontrold,
Did change the fortune of this day,
And reft the victor of his pray.
His foes still brauing in the face,
With his owne armes made good the place.
And still, not vanquished, nor slaine,
Great Pompey's conquest doth restraine.
And Scæua was this worthies name,
Who formerly had purchast fame
In Cæsars Campe; a priuate man,
Where he this height of honour wanne.
For valour all those to exceed,
That Rhene and Rhodanus did breed.
There was he made for bloody hand,
Centurion of a Latium band.
And of that order ware the weed,
Prone to each doughty daring deede.
But yet he skillesse was to chuse
Iust times his courage stout to vse.
For valour shewne in ciuill warres,
Is vertue maim'd with vices skarres.
When he at last beholds in sight,
His mates retiring from the fight,
Seeking out corners to recoile,
In safety from this furious broyle.
With manly voyce he gan to cry,
VVhither (base cowards) do you flye?
In Cæsars Armes you were not train'd,
VVith fearfull scornes to be distain'd.
O wretched beasts, whom terror driues!
VVithout fight will you loose your liues?
VVhat shame is this that you so droope,
To shift your selues from all the troope?
And not to couet to be found
Amongst the dead, with honors wound.
Ought not your furies to bee such,
Although no dutie did you tutch?
Because the foe this choise hath made,
To pierce through vs with his proud blade,
This day shall not be faintly tride,
Without bloud shed on Pompeys side.
How much more happy should I die
Were I but grac't with Cæsars eye.
But though that Fortune so detracts,
His testimony of my acts;
Yet will I so shut vp my dayes,
That Pompeys selfe shall giue me praise.
Come, shew the signes of noble hearts,
On your foes bosomes breake your darts;
And that they may your vigor feele,
Vpon their throats retort your steele.
The clouds of dust so high are flowne,
And this noyse through the aire so blowne,
As that the verie dinne, and rage,
Doth Cæsar silent eares engage.
Deare mates we yet vnuanquisht stand,
Cæsar will come with speedy hand;
Whose powre this place will soone releeue,
Before our foes vs death can giue.
This onely word so stird their sprites,
As trumpets sounds at first incites
And cals men vnto Martiall fights.
The dauntlesse valour of this man,
They all admir'd; and then they ran
With eger minds him to behold,
The youths likewise with spirits bold,
Stood fast to know, if possibly
A man in such extremitie,
Enuiron'd with so many foes,
When as the place did him enclose,
By vertue could his life retaine:
And hold it safe in Deaths disdaine.
He stand fasts at the Towers defence,
Those that assaile he driues from thence.
Then carkasses in heapes that lie,
He trowles from off the turret hie.
And bruiseth them with bodies fals,
That seeke to scale or mine the walles.
Then he the ruin'd stones convarts
To martiall vse in stead of darts;
Huge timbers he ore-turnes, and frames,
Wherewith the foe he killes and lames:
And threats on them himselfe to cast,
Then pitchy brands, with flaming blast.
And those that on the walles would reare,
He quels with Iron-pointed speare:
And with his blade sheares off their wrists,
On battlements that lay their fists.
Their chines he cracks, & breaks their bones
With casting down huge weights of stones.
And those whose Morions are but weake,
Their sculs in sunder he doth breake.
Others againe he burnes and scalles,
With streaming shoures of wildefire balles:
So as their cheekes, their haire and eyes,
Rapt with the flames, lowd hissing fries.
Nor yet all Cæsars armed bands,
Could not from vtter conquest hold:
One man of courage vncontrold,
Did change the fortune of this day,
And reft the victor of his pray.
His foes still brauing in the face,
With his owne armes made good the place.
And still, not vanquished, nor slaine,
Great Pompey's conquest doth restraine.
And Scæua was this worthies name,
Who formerly had purchast fame
In Cæsars Campe; a priuate man,
Where he this height of honour wanne.
For valour all those to exceed,
That Rhene and Rhodanus did breed.
There was he made for bloody hand,
Centurion of a Latium band.
And of that order ware the weed,
Prone to each doughty daring deede.
But yet he skillesse was to chuse
Iust times his courage stout to vse.
For valour shewne in ciuill warres,
Is vertue maim'd with vices skarres.
When he at last beholds in sight,
His mates retiring from the fight,
Seeking out corners to recoile,
In safety from this furious broyle.
With manly voyce he gan to cry,
VVhither (base cowards) do you flye?
In Cæsars Armes you were not train'd,
VVith fearfull scornes to be distain'd.
O wretched beasts, whom terror driues!
VVithout fight will you loose your liues?
VVhat shame is this that you so droope,
To shift your selues from all the troope?
And not to couet to be found
Amongst the dead, with honors wound.
Ought not your furies to bee such,
Although no dutie did you tutch?
221
To pierce through vs with his proud blade,
This day shall not be faintly tride,
Without bloud shed on Pompeys side.
How much more happy should I die
Were I but grac't with Cæsars eye.
But though that Fortune so detracts,
His testimony of my acts;
Yet will I so shut vp my dayes,
That Pompeys selfe shall giue me praise.
Come, shew the signes of noble hearts,
On your foes bosomes breake your darts;
And that they may your vigor feele,
Vpon their throats retort your steele.
The clouds of dust so high are flowne,
And this noyse through the aire so blowne,
As that the verie dinne, and rage,
Doth Cæsar silent eares engage.
Deare mates we yet vnuanquisht stand,
Cæsar will come with speedy hand;
Whose powre this place will soone releeue,
Before our foes vs death can giue.
This onely word so stird their sprites,
As trumpets sounds at first incites
And cals men vnto Martiall fights.
The dauntlesse valour of this man,
They all admir'd; and then they ran
With eger minds him to behold,
The youths likewise with spirits bold,
Stood fast to know, if possibly
A man in such extremitie,
Enuiron'd with so many foes,
When as the place did him enclose,
By vertue could his life retaine:
And hold it safe in Deaths disdaine.
He stand fasts at the Towers defence,
Those that assaile he driues from thence.
Then carkasses in heapes that lie,
He trowles from off the turret hie.
And bruiseth them with bodies fals,
222
Then he the ruin'd stones convarts
To martiall vse in stead of darts;
Huge timbers he ore-turnes, and frames,
Wherewith the foe he killes and lames:
And threats on them himselfe to cast,
Then pitchy brands, with flaming blast.
And those that on the walles would reare,
He quels with Iron-pointed speare:
And with his blade sheares off their wrists,
On battlements that lay their fists.
Their chines he cracks, & breaks their bones
With casting down huge weights of stones.
And those whose Morions are but weake,
Their sculs in sunder he doth breake.
Others againe he burnes and scalles,
With streaming shoures of wildefire balles:
So as their cheekes, their haire and eyes,
Rapt with the flames, lowd hissing fries.
Now when the bodies that were slaine,
Did rise and mount aboue the plaine:
Off from the turrets top he leapes
Vpon the corpes, that lay in heapes.
And in the midst of them he stood,
With threatning browes, and raging mood,
As if a Leopard should skippe
Out of the Hunters toyle to slippe:
So he enclosd with trooping swarmes
Engag'd, repelles all force of Armes:
His looks with dread their courage charms
His sword that like a razor cuts,
The dryed blood now blunts and gluts,
That it abated had the edge,
And turned dull like to a wedge:
So as when Scæua with it stroke,
Where as it lights, the bones it broke;
But drew nor blood, nor gashing wounded,
The steele with hewing was confounded.
On him the burthen of the fight
Did lye, and many a dart did light.
No hand in vaine against him bent,
No Iauelins push vnlucky spent.
Fortune now sees new warres in hand,
The prowes of one doth all withstand.
The Target of this valiant Knight
Did ring, with blowes that on it light:
His hollow caske so crackt and brys'd,
That it his browes and temples squis'd.
And yet this while no mortall blow
Had he receiued by his foe;
Onely the darts were throwne so thicke,
That in his bones the heads did sticke.
Did rise and mount aboue the plaine:
Off from the turrets top he leapes
Vpon the corpes, that lay in heapes.
And in the midst of them he stood,
With threatning browes, and raging mood,
As if a Leopard should skippe
Out of the Hunters toyle to slippe:
So he enclosd with trooping swarmes
Engag'd, repelles all force of Armes:
His looks with dread their courage charms
His sword that like a razor cuts,
The dryed blood now blunts and gluts,
That it abated had the edge,
And turned dull like to a wedge:
So as when Scæua with it stroke,
Where as it lights, the bones it broke;
But drew nor blood, nor gashing wounded,
The steele with hewing was confounded.
On him the burthen of the fight
Did lye, and many a dart did light.
223
No Iauelins push vnlucky spent.
Fortune now sees new warres in hand,
The prowes of one doth all withstand.
The Target of this valiant Knight
Did ring, with blowes that on it light:
His hollow caske so crackt and brys'd,
That it his browes and temples squis'd.
And yet this while no mortall blow
Had he receiued by his foe;
Onely the darts were throwne so thicke,
That in his bones the heads did sticke.
O witlesse gulles! why do you spend
Your shafts and darts thus to no end?
These many shoots that you haue driuen,
Not yet one deadly wound hath giuen.
Your mighty slings you shold haue brought
And so this one mans end haue wrought:
Or hugie stones from off the wall,
Whose weight on him you might let fall;
Or else your battering Ramme, whose force
Quickly from him would life diuorce.
Or your Balista's you might proue,
If force thereof could him remoue
From off the entrance of this port,
Where he doth so your force retort;
And as a mighty Bul-warke stands
For Cæsars side, and scornes your hands,
And Pompey's force in idle wasts.
But now those Armes away he casts
That should protect his breast from foes,
And in his shield no trust repose:
His left arme doth therewith dispence
For hauing liu'd by his defence,
And naked doth expose his breast
Vnto all harmes that him opprest.
And in his body fixt he beares
A wood of darts, of shafts, and speares.
Then hee with fainting steppes seekes out
Some one in all this hostile rout,
Whom he might crush, and on him fall
Like to a marine monstrous whale.
And as the beasts of Libicke shore,
And Affrickes Elephants do rore,
Opprest with multitudes of speares,
When from their bloudy backes they teares,
And do shake off the pointed darts,
Which in their rugged tough hide smarts.
Whose hidden wounds not dangerous are,
But pierce the flesh, and giue a skarre.
Nor all those darts that hang so thicke,
Nor all the shafts that doe them pricke,
Can fix on them so deepe a wound,
To lay them flat dead on the ground.
But now behold with skilfull art,
Farre off Gortinus thrylles his dart,
And Scæua's head therewith he smot,
And in his eye there stickes the shot.
Yet not appal'd, when he did feele
The blow, he brake the crooked steele;
And from the wound the shaft did plucke,
Whereto the tender eye fast stucke.
Then on the ground he lets it fall,
And spurnes the dart and eye withall.
So doth the grisly Poland Beare,
When he is wounded with the speare,
And madded with the sticking steele,
Which hee with pricking smart doth feele;
Gnawes on the wound, and like rage spends
Vpon the dart that him offends.
But whilst he flying raues and kickes,
Within his flanke the lance fast stickes.
The rancor of this direfull shot
His visage did most vgly blot:
For all his face was swolne, and smear'd
With clotted bloud, no shape appear'd.
Herewith so lowd the foes did shout,
As if from heauen some storme burst out.
More ioy in them could not be seene,
If Cæsars selfe had wounded beene,
Then they exprest; which did surmount
At this mans hurt, of meane account.
But he with haughty stedfastnesse,
Hereof doth the offence suppresse
Mildly in shew, and with a grace,
As though in him wroth had no place.
Forbeare deere Countrey-men, quoth he,
And turne your weapons off from me:
No more wounds now my death doth need,
You haue already done the deed.
These darts but pluck't out of my breast,
Of bloud I shall be dispossest.
O take me vp, and let me lye
In Pompey's Campe before I dye.
Doe not your Captaine so betray,
To hold from him what I doe say.
Scæua had rather Cæsar leaue,
Then not an honest death receaue.
Your shafts and darts thus to no end?
These many shoots that you haue driuen,
Not yet one deadly wound hath giuen.
Your mighty slings you shold haue brought
And so this one mans end haue wrought:
Or hugie stones from off the wall,
Whose weight on him you might let fall;
Or else your battering Ramme, whose force
Quickly from him would life diuorce.
Or your Balista's you might proue,
If force thereof could him remoue
From off the entrance of this port,
Where he doth so your force retort;
And as a mighty Bul-warke stands
For Cæsars side, and scornes your hands,
And Pompey's force in idle wasts.
But now those Armes away he casts
That should protect his breast from foes,
And in his shield no trust repose:
His left arme doth therewith dispence
For hauing liu'd by his defence,
And naked doth expose his breast
Vnto all harmes that him opprest.
And in his body fixt he beares
A wood of darts, of shafts, and speares.
Then hee with fainting steppes seekes out
Some one in all this hostile rout,
224
Like to a marine monstrous whale.
And as the beasts of Libicke shore,
And Affrickes Elephants do rore,
Opprest with multitudes of speares,
When from their bloudy backes they teares,
And do shake off the pointed darts,
Which in their rugged tough hide smarts.
Whose hidden wounds not dangerous are,
But pierce the flesh, and giue a skarre.
Nor all those darts that hang so thicke,
Nor all the shafts that doe them pricke,
Can fix on them so deepe a wound,
To lay them flat dead on the ground.
But now behold with skilfull art,
Farre off Gortinus thrylles his dart,
And Scæua's head therewith he smot,
And in his eye there stickes the shot.
Yet not appal'd, when he did feele
The blow, he brake the crooked steele;
And from the wound the shaft did plucke,
Whereto the tender eye fast stucke.
Then on the ground he lets it fall,
And spurnes the dart and eye withall.
So doth the grisly Poland Beare,
When he is wounded with the speare,
And madded with the sticking steele,
Which hee with pricking smart doth feele;
Gnawes on the wound, and like rage spends
Vpon the dart that him offends.
But whilst he flying raues and kickes,
Within his flanke the lance fast stickes.
The rancor of this direfull shot
His visage did most vgly blot:
For all his face was swolne, and smear'd
With clotted bloud, no shape appear'd.
Herewith so lowd the foes did shout,
As if from heauen some storme burst out.
More ioy in them could not be seene,
If Cæsars selfe had wounded beene,
225
At this mans hurt, of meane account.
But he with haughty stedfastnesse,
Hereof doth the offence suppresse
Mildly in shew, and with a grace,
As though in him wroth had no place.
Forbeare deere Countrey-men, quoth he,
And turne your weapons off from me:
No more wounds now my death doth need,
You haue already done the deed.
These darts but pluck't out of my breast,
Of bloud I shall be dispossest.
O take me vp, and let me lye
In Pompey's Campe before I dye.
Doe not your Captaine so betray,
To hold from him what I doe say.
Scæua had rather Cæsar leaue,
Then not an honest death receaue.
Vnlucky Aulus credit gaue
To those false words that he did raue;
And to his sword he did not list,
Which he held ready in his fist.
And as he came for to disarme
This Captaine; (not suspecting harme)
Quite through the middle of his throte,
Scæua his pointed fauchion smote.
Then he new courage takes againe
As soone as he had Aulus slaine.
And said, so let him be embru'd,
That hopes that I am yet subdu'd.
Let Pompey know that Scæua's sword
No other place will him affoord;
Vntill his Ensignes he do yeeld
To Cæsars will, and quit the field.
Thinke you (base men) that euer I
Like Pompey's Cowards meane to dye?
Deaths loue giues me more powerfull lawes
Then Pompey's, or the Senates cause.
These threats no sooner from him flies,
But that huge clouds of dust did rise;
VVhereby they all did then descry
That Cæsar with his troopes was nye.
To those false words that he did raue;
And to his sword he did not list,
Which he held ready in his fist.
And as he came for to disarme
This Captaine; (not suspecting harme)
Quite through the middle of his throte,
Scæua his pointed fauchion smote.
Then he new courage takes againe
As soone as he had Aulus slaine.
And said, so let him be embru'd,
That hopes that I am yet subdu'd.
Let Pompey know that Scæua's sword
No other place will him affoord;
Vntill his Ensignes he do yeeld
To Cæsars will, and quit the field.
Thinke you (base men) that euer I
Like Pompey's Cowards meane to dye?
Deaths loue giues me more powerfull lawes
Then Pompey's, or the Senates cause.
These threats no sooner from him flies,
But that huge clouds of dust did rise;
226
That Cæsar with his troopes was nye.
And he arriued in good time,
For thereby he takes off the crime
And foule disgrace from Pompey's part,
That they deserued in this Mart.
Else Scæua thou perhaps alone
All Pompey's troopes hadst ouer-throwne:
For with the ending of this fight
Thy life likewise did take his flight.
But whilst that any did withstand,
The warres gaue vigor to thy hand.
But lying now stretcht on the ground,
Thine own friends swarme about thee round;
And striue to whom the grace may fall
To beare thee to thy funerall.
And him withall they did adore,
As if within his breast he bore
Some heauenly gift, or power diuine,
That made his vertue liuely shine.
Then all of them did straine and striue,
Out of his limbes the darts to riue:
VVhich to the Gods they consecrate,
To memorize his noble fate.
And with the Armes of Scæua's breast,
The God of warre they did invest.
But yet how blest had beene thy name,
And thou obtain'd more glorious fame;
If Spaniards fierce of thee a dread
Had turn'd their backes, and from thee fled.
Or the Cantabrian martiall wights,
That brode short glaiues vse in their fights.
Or those rough Tewtons brusky swart,
That vse long slang-swords in their mart.
This ciuill warre allowes no place
For Trophies; nor affoords the grace
Ioues Temple with thy spoyles to dight,
Nor Triumphes showts for valours right.
O thou vnhappy, that in vaine
Didst Cæsar with such valour gaine!
For thereby he takes off the crime
And foule disgrace from Pompey's part,
That they deserued in this Mart.
Else Scæua thou perhaps alone
All Pompey's troopes hadst ouer-throwne:
For with the ending of this fight
Thy life likewise did take his flight.
But whilst that any did withstand,
The warres gaue vigor to thy hand.
But lying now stretcht on the ground,
Thine own friends swarme about thee round;
And striue to whom the grace may fall
To beare thee to thy funerall.
And him withall they did adore,
As if within his breast he bore
Some heauenly gift, or power diuine,
That made his vertue liuely shine.
Then all of them did straine and striue,
Out of his limbes the darts to riue:
VVhich to the Gods they consecrate,
To memorize his noble fate.
And with the Armes of Scæua's breast,
The God of warre they did invest.
But yet how blest had beene thy name,
And thou obtain'd more glorious fame;
If Spaniards fierce of thee a dread
Had turn'd their backes, and from thee fled.
Or the Cantabrian martiall wights,
That brode short glaiues vse in their fights.
Or those rough Tewtons brusky swart,
That vse long slang-swords in their mart.
This ciuill warre allowes no place
For Trophies; nor affoords the grace
Ioues Temple with thy spoyles to dight,
Nor Triumphes showts for valours right.
O thou vnhappy, that in vaine
Didst Cæsar with such valour gaine!
227
Pompey repulsed in this sort
By Cæsars forces from the fort,
Hauing at last withdrawne his troopes
From out this Ramparts trenching coopes,
No more was tyred therewithall,
(But to the warre a fresh doth fall)
Then wearied is the raging maine,
Whom Easterne winde doth hoise & straine;
When as the waues their wroth wold wreake,
The rockes resisting do them breake.
Or when some huge cliffe side it beates,
Although at first no part it freates;
Yet doth the weltring waue at length
Moulder it downe for all his strength.
For now he hath discouered plaine
A Castle, standing neere the maine,
Which of this Rampart was a part,
Whither he turnes his speedy Mart:
Which he by sea and land diuides,
And it assail'd on either sides.
Then all the quarters as he goes,
With Cohorts arm'd, abrode he strowes;
And doth at large dispose his Tents,
Now freed from former noysome sents:
This fresh aire much his campe contents.
So Padus channell swelling hye
Ouer his bankes with streames doth flye;
And all the lower pasture fields
Vnto her raging current yeelds;
Who with her heapes of gathered waues,
At last on all the Champian raues:
And with her torrents doth explore
New channels, neuer knowne before.
Which likewise frontier lands confounds,
From some Lords taking their due bounds:
And vnto others giues againe
More then they euer did retaine.
Cæsar had scarce discouered out
This plot that Pompey went about,
But that a Beacon it bewrayes,
That suddainly huge flames displaies.
And therewithall the dust that flies
In scatter'd cloudes vp to the skies;
Now laid againe, the aire was cleere:
Then to his sight did plaine appeare
This Ramparts turret raz'd and torne,
He findes it ruin'd and forlorne,
The cold signes of a hostile scorne.
The place was voyd, no warre he meets,
Whereat the more he frets and greets,
That Pompey so should take his rest,
As though that Cæsar were supprest.
He therefore now his force prepares
To runne into all mischiefes snares,
But that he would their new ioyes quaile;
And then he fiercely did assaile
The quarter where Torquatus lyes,
Who Cæsars march as speedy spies,
As is a ship with all sailes borne,
Swift driuen in a Circean storme.
Torquatus drawes his troopes withall
Closely within the Ramparts wall;
And to combine his small strength fast,
Into a ring he did them cast.
By this time Cæsars force drew nye,
And ore the Ramparts fence they flye.
Then Pompey all his troopes of Armes
Calles from the hils, that come in swarmes,
Whose Army couers all the lands,
And now incloseth Cæsars bands.
Those people that dwell in the fields,
Where Ætnas mount such sparkling yeelds,
Are not with greater feare possest
When from Encelads boyling breast,
Out of the cauernes fuming hye,
The fiery flints abrode doe flye:
VVhose heapes of burning cinders cast,
All ouer, strowes the Champian vast.
Then Cæsars troopes that saw with feares
The dust that Pompey's army reares.
But blinde with clouds of trembling frght,
Amaz'd betooke themselues to flight.
And then amongst their foes they fall,
So feare to ruine them doth hall;
Here so much bloud might haue bene shed,
As might of force haue Cæsar led
To yeeld vnto a setled peace,
And so from ciuill Armes to cease:
But that milde Pompey now withstands
The rage of his owne armed bands,
And with his owne appeasing words,
Holds backe his souldiers forward swords.
O Rome how blest had bene thy fate,
How free thy lawes had held their state,
And how exempt from Tyrants mace
Had Sylla bene in Pompeys place.
Alas the greefe thereof doth smart,
And still that greefe will grieue my heart.
That Cæsar thou hast thus suruiu'd,
And to this impious haight arriu'd.
Because in fight thou chanst to finde,
And meete a Soninlaw so kinde.
O most accursed fatall teene,
No Libicke slaughters then had beene,
Nor Spaine had Mundas furie seene;
Nor yet that corps with goare polluted,
Nobler then Egypts king reputed;
Had so on Pharus shoare bene slaine,
Nor Nilus blusht with that blood staine,
Nor on Marmaricks fandie plaine
Had Iubas naked carkasse laine.
Nor Scipios blood bene shed with these
The Punicke spirits to appease.
Nor sacred Cato in this strife
So soone had left his blessed life.
But this might well haue prou'd the day
All Romane wracks to wipe away,
And therewithall anticipate
The dismall blacke Pharsalian fate.
By Cæsars forces from the fort,
Hauing at last withdrawne his troopes
From out this Ramparts trenching coopes,
No more was tyred therewithall,
(But to the warre a fresh doth fall)
Then wearied is the raging maine,
Whom Easterne winde doth hoise & straine;
When as the waues their wroth wold wreake,
The rockes resisting do them breake.
Or when some huge cliffe side it beates,
Although at first no part it freates;
Yet doth the weltring waue at length
Moulder it downe for all his strength.
For now he hath discouered plaine
A Castle, standing neere the maine,
Which of this Rampart was a part,
Whither he turnes his speedy Mart:
Which he by sea and land diuides,
And it assail'd on either sides.
Then all the quarters as he goes,
With Cohorts arm'd, abrode he strowes;
And doth at large dispose his Tents,
Now freed from former noysome sents:
This fresh aire much his campe contents.
So Padus channell swelling hye
Ouer his bankes with streames doth flye;
And all the lower pasture fields
Vnto her raging current yeelds;
Who with her heapes of gathered waues,
At last on all the Champian raues:
And with her torrents doth explore
New channels, neuer knowne before.
Which likewise frontier lands confounds,
From some Lords taking their due bounds:
And vnto others giues againe
More then they euer did retaine.
Cæsar had scarce discouered out
This plot that Pompey went about,
But that a Beacon it bewrayes,
228
And therewithall the dust that flies
In scatter'd cloudes vp to the skies;
Now laid againe, the aire was cleere:
Then to his sight did plaine appeare
This Ramparts turret raz'd and torne,
He findes it ruin'd and forlorne,
The cold signes of a hostile scorne.
The place was voyd, no warre he meets,
Whereat the more he frets and greets,
That Pompey so should take his rest,
As though that Cæsar were supprest.
He therefore now his force prepares
To runne into all mischiefes snares,
But that he would their new ioyes quaile;
And then he fiercely did assaile
The quarter where Torquatus lyes,
Who Cæsars march as speedy spies,
As is a ship with all sailes borne,
Swift driuen in a Circean storme.
Torquatus drawes his troopes withall
Closely within the Ramparts wall;
And to combine his small strength fast,
Into a ring he did them cast.
By this time Cæsars force drew nye,
And ore the Ramparts fence they flye.
Then Pompey all his troopes of Armes
Calles from the hils, that come in swarmes,
Whose Army couers all the lands,
And now incloseth Cæsars bands.
Those people that dwell in the fields,
Where Ætnas mount such sparkling yeelds,
Are not with greater feare possest
When from Encelads boyling breast,
Out of the cauernes fuming hye,
The fiery flints abrode doe flye:
VVhose heapes of burning cinders cast,
All ouer, strowes the Champian vast.
Then Cæsars troopes that saw with feares
The dust that Pompey's army reares.
229
Amaz'd betooke themselues to flight.
And then amongst their foes they fall,
So feare to ruine them doth hall;
Here so much bloud might haue bene shed,
As might of force haue Cæsar led
To yeeld vnto a setled peace,
And so from ciuill Armes to cease:
But that milde Pompey now withstands
The rage of his owne armed bands,
And with his owne appeasing words,
Holds backe his souldiers forward swords.
O Rome how blest had bene thy fate,
How free thy lawes had held their state,
And how exempt from Tyrants mace
Had Sylla bene in Pompeys place.
Alas the greefe thereof doth smart,
And still that greefe will grieue my heart.
That Cæsar thou hast thus suruiu'd,
And to this impious haight arriu'd.
Because in fight thou chanst to finde,
And meete a Soninlaw so kinde.
O most accursed fatall teene,
No Libicke slaughters then had beene,
Nor Spaine had Mundas furie seene;
Nor yet that corps with goare polluted,
Nobler then Egypts king reputed;
Had so on Pharus shoare bene slaine,
Nor Nilus blusht with that blood staine,
Nor on Marmaricks fandie plaine
Had Iubas naked carkasse laine.
Nor Scipios blood bene shed with these
The Punicke spirits to appease.
Nor sacred Cato in this strife
So soone had left his blessed life.
But this might well haue prou'd the day
All Romane wracks to wipe away,
And therewithall anticipate
The dismall blacke Pharsalian fate.
Cæsar thus crost by heauenly powers,
Forsakes these Ramparts and these Towers,
And with his totter'd troopes defeated
Vnto Emathias fields retreated.
Now those that fauour'd Pompeys part,
And all the leaders of his mart
Do him perswade all that they may,
His forces now to turne away,
And not his father inlaw pursue,
Seeing that he his presence flew;
But that he would with his braue hoast,
Returne vnto his natiue coast,
For since no foe did him withstand,
He well might visite Latium land.
But Pompey flat did that deny,
And in these tearmes he doth reply.
I neuer will to Rome returne
As Cæsar did, to make her mourne,
Neuer shall she see me againe,
But freed of a Martiall traine.
I could haue staide in Latium than,
when first these ciuill iarres began,
Would I our Temples so betray
To make of them the souldiers pray,
Or in the Forum armes display.
Nay rather then I would conuart
To Italy this bloody Mart,
I sooner would pursue a warre
Vnder the freezing Northerne starre,
Amongst the Scythes, or in that soyle
Whose plants the Torrid Zoane doth broile.
Shall I for one victorious day
Now take from Rome her rest away?
O Rome why fled I first so farre
But to preserue thee free from warre;
And rather then Ile change that minde
Now to become to thee vnkinde,
And draw this hatefull strife on thee,
Let Cæsar take all Rome for me.
So said, he then prepar'd his hoast
To march vnto the Easterne coast.
And through by wayes his army past,
Pearcing those desart forrests vast,
That frontyer on Candauias sides,
And in Thessalia he abides,
The place that Fate for warre prouides.
230
And with his totter'd troopes defeated
Vnto Emathias fields retreated.
Now those that fauour'd Pompeys part,
And all the leaders of his mart
Do him perswade all that they may,
His forces now to turne away,
And not his father inlaw pursue,
Seeing that he his presence flew;
But that he would with his braue hoast,
Returne vnto his natiue coast,
For since no foe did him withstand,
He well might visite Latium land.
But Pompey flat did that deny,
And in these tearmes he doth reply.
I neuer will to Rome returne
As Cæsar did, to make her mourne,
Neuer shall she see me againe,
But freed of a Martiall traine.
I could haue staide in Latium than,
when first these ciuill iarres began,
Would I our Temples so betray
To make of them the souldiers pray,
Or in the Forum armes display.
Nay rather then I would conuart
To Italy this bloody Mart,
I sooner would pursue a warre
Vnder the freezing Northerne starre,
Amongst the Scythes, or in that soyle
Whose plants the Torrid Zoane doth broile.
Shall I for one victorious day
Now take from Rome her rest away?
O Rome why fled I first so farre
But to preserue thee free from warre;
And rather then Ile change that minde
Now to become to thee vnkinde,
And draw this hatefull strife on thee,
Let Cæsar take all Rome for me.
So said, he then prepar'd his hoast
To march vnto the Easterne coast.
231
Pearcing those desart forrests vast,
That frontyer on Candauias sides,
And in Thessalia he abides,
The place that Fate for warre prouides.
This land mount Ossa doth inclose
On that side where Aurora showes
The rising of the winters sunne,
When he his lowest course doth runne.
But when the worlds eye lookes vp higher,
The cold aire warming with his fier,
Whilst clyming vp the loftie skies,
His beames yet somewhat oblique flies.
And as those beames the land enuades
On that side Pelion casts his shades.
But when amidst the heauens he drawes
Chasing the raging Lyons iawes,
And makes his solstice for those lands
There woody Othrys bordring stands.
Then Pyndus frounts those milder blasts
That Zephirus on that side casts;
And hastens on approaching night,
With his high top shading the light.
And they that in the vale are bred
Where mount Olympus lifts his head,
Those bitter blasts neuer offends
That Boreas from his cauerne sends,
Nor know they whether that the Beare
Be all night glowing in the spheare.
On that side where Aurora showes
The rising of the winters sunne,
When he his lowest course doth runne.
But when the worlds eye lookes vp higher,
The cold aire warming with his fier,
Whilst clyming vp the loftie skies,
His beames yet somewhat oblique flies.
And as those beames the land enuades
On that side Pelion casts his shades.
But when amidst the heauens he drawes
Chasing the raging Lyons iawes,
And makes his solstice for those lands
There woody Othrys bordring stands.
Then Pyndus frounts those milder blasts
That Zephirus on that side casts;
And hastens on approaching night,
With his high top shading the light.
And they that in the vale are bred
Where mount Olympus lifts his head,
Those bitter blasts neuer offends
That Boreas from his cauerne sends,
Nor know they whether that the Beare
Be all night glowing in the spheare.
Whilome this vallie, that did lie
In midst of all these mountaines hie
Was fennish grounds, and moorish muds,
Still ouerwhelm'd with standing fluds:
And those vast lakes that drownd this plaine
Ranne not through Tempe to the Maine;
But in one pond stood alwayes still,
And euer more did waters swill;
Vntill that the Herculean wonder,
With mightie straine did rent asunder
The Ossan mount from Pelion hill,
And then these waters did distill,
Into Nereus brakish fields,
And so to Thetis sonne it yeelds
Emathias kingdome; where abounds,
Pharsalos goodly champion grounds:
But how much better had it beene
A watry plash, then grassie greene:
There now Philaces cittie stands,
That first sent ships to Ilium lands.
There Ptelos and Dorion towne,
Wailing the Muses wrathfull frowne.
Trachin likewise is seated there,
And Melibæa freed from feare
By Hercules Artillery;
The bitter price of periury.
Larissa likewise of great power,
And noble Argos here did tower.
Where now the cultor shares the soyle
And plough-men dayly care and toyle;
Here stood (as fables olde relates)
Echions Thebes with seauenfolde gates.
Whereas Agaue banished
The Bacchanals she worshipped,
By Pentheus her kingly sonne,
Him all inrag'd to death hath donne.
Whose head though cast into the fire,
Could not appease her franticke ire.
In midst of all these mountaines hie
Was fennish grounds, and moorish muds,
Still ouerwhelm'd with standing fluds:
And those vast lakes that drownd this plaine
Ranne not through Tempe to the Maine;
But in one pond stood alwayes still,
And euer more did waters swill;
Vntill that the Herculean wonder,
With mightie straine did rent asunder
The Ossan mount from Pelion hill,
232
Into Nereus brakish fields,
And so to Thetis sonne it yeelds
Emathias kingdome; where abounds,
Pharsalos goodly champion grounds:
But how much better had it beene
A watry plash, then grassie greene:
There now Philaces cittie stands,
That first sent ships to Ilium lands.
There Ptelos and Dorion towne,
Wailing the Muses wrathfull frowne.
Trachin likewise is seated there,
And Melibæa freed from feare
By Hercules Artillery;
The bitter price of periury.
Larissa likewise of great power,
And noble Argos here did tower.
Where now the cultor shares the soyle
And plough-men dayly care and toyle;
Here stood (as fables olde relates)
Echions Thebes with seauenfolde gates.
Whereas Agaue banished
The Bacchanals she worshipped,
By Pentheus her kingly sonne,
Him all inrag'd to death hath donne.
Whose head though cast into the fire,
Could not appease her franticke ire.
This hugie lake that now had vent
To let out all her waters pent,
In many parts it selfe deuides,
Then Æas with small current slides,
But with cleare streame bends to the west,
Till in Ionian seas she rest.
Nor yet with stronger course then this
Doth run the sire of Isidis,
Whose maiden shape high Ioue restores,
And her transports to Egypts shores.
So Achelous thence doth passe,
(O Cæneus that almost was
Thy sonne in law) and then defiles
With slimie waues Echinads Iles.
With Euenos that bare the staines
Of blood from Nessus wounded vaines.
And with his current streameth on
Through Meleagers Calydon.
Then Sperchios that with greater speed,
The waues Maliacan doth feed.
And sweet Amphrisos that doth sweepe,
With cristall streames and channell deepe
The fields where Phœbus fed his sheepe.
And still Anauros, whence doth rise
Nor vapours that the clouds supplies,
Nor airie dewes that moisture casts,
Nor gentle breathes of windy blasts.
All other riuers else beside,
Into the maine that do not glide
With their own strength and proper course
Into Pæneus yeeld their source.
Then stickle stream'd Æpidanus,
With neuer swift Enipeus,
Till she with other waters bed;
Thence doth Asopos take her head;
Phœnyx and Melas doe the same,
And Tytaresse that holds his name,
And waues so firme, and from his springs
A vertue takes, which neuer mings
With other streame; but safe and sound
A path hath on Peneus found,
As if itran vpon dry ground.
And as Fame sayes, this riuers head
Is in the Stygian waters bred.
And being mindfull of his fount,
Doth hold it selfe in more account,
Then with the common waues to mixe,
But keepes the maiestie of Styxe.
To let out all her waters pent,
In many parts it selfe deuides,
Then Æas with small current slides,
But with cleare streame bends to the west,
Till in Ionian seas she rest.
Nor yet with stronger course then this
Doth run the sire of Isidis,
Whose maiden shape high Ioue restores,
And her transports to Egypts shores.
So Achelous thence doth passe,
(O Cæneus that almost was
Thy sonne in law) and then defiles
233
With Euenos that bare the staines
Of blood from Nessus wounded vaines.
And with his current streameth on
Through Meleagers Calydon.
Then Sperchios that with greater speed,
The waues Maliacan doth feed.
And sweet Amphrisos that doth sweepe,
With cristall streames and channell deepe
The fields where Phœbus fed his sheepe.
And still Anauros, whence doth rise
Nor vapours that the clouds supplies,
Nor airie dewes that moisture casts,
Nor gentle breathes of windy blasts.
All other riuers else beside,
Into the maine that do not glide
With their own strength and proper course
Into Pæneus yeeld their source.
Then stickle stream'd Æpidanus,
With neuer swift Enipeus,
Till she with other waters bed;
Thence doth Asopos take her head;
Phœnyx and Melas doe the same,
And Tytaresse that holds his name,
And waues so firme, and from his springs
A vertue takes, which neuer mings
With other streame; but safe and sound
A path hath on Peneus found,
As if itran vpon dry ground.
And as Fame sayes, this riuers head
Is in the Stygian waters bred.
And being mindfull of his fount,
Doth hold it selfe in more account,
Then with the common waues to mixe,
But keepes the maiestie of Styxe.
As soone as all these ponds were drain'd
Which erst this tracke of land retain'd,
Bebicius with his furrowing shares
For tillage these fat fields prepare;
And all the Lelegans then tride
How they the plough thereon could guide.
Thereto the ploughmen put their hands
Of Dolop, and Aeolian lands.
The Magnetes there their horses stoares
And people knowne to Minyen oares.
Here did the Centaure, birth of clowds,
That in Pelethron darke dens shrowds,
Ingendred of Ixions race
Disperse themselues, for dwelling place.
And thou Moniche didst wonne there
That Pholoes rockes didst riue and teare.
And Rhetus that on Ætnas top
Those hugie trees didst wresting lop.
Which Boreas with his boystrous blast
Could hardly teare or ouercast.
And Phole in this soile did rest,
Where great Alcides was his guest.
And wicked Nessus here resides
That afterwards gain'd bloody sides.
With Lernean shafts that Hercles guides.
And thou O Chiron now growne old,
Conuerted to a starre so cold,
Thy strong Æmonian bow dost draw
Against great Scorpios poysoned maw.
So on this land in euery part
Did shine the direfull seedes of Mart.
Here first of all the goodly breeds
Of the Thessalian fierie steedes,
For vse of warre so prone and fit,
Did rise, when as Neptunus smit
The flintie stones with Marine mace,
Engendring so the coarsers race,
That champs the bit with praucing pace.
And here the Lapiths hands first straines
Their foaming mouths with bridling raines.
Hence gallies cut the waues with oares,
Sent from the Pagasæan shoares;
And Inland men did first engage
To venter on the billowes rage,
And here Ionos that did raigne
Ouer the vast Thessalian plaine,
Did first of all his stamps conioyne
To molten mettals, fram'd for coyne.
And maketh siluer run in streames,
Swelting amidst the fiery gleames.
The gold likewise at first he brake,
And thereof money he did make,
And in the boyling furnace vast,
The copper he did liquid cast.
Then thence did all that garboyle spring,
And mischiefe that the warres did bring,
Enticing all the world to armes
For riches gaine, the seeds of harmes.
Here was huge vgly Python bred,
In Cyrrhan dens lurking his head.
And then was vsde Thessalian bayes,
To yeeld the Pythian games their praise.
Wicked Alæus broode from hence
Was sent, that made that high offence
Against the Gods waging their warres,
On Pelions top neare to the starres,
Heaping mount Ossa on his backe,
Whereby heauens course they thought to slack.
Which erst this tracke of land retain'd,
Bebicius with his furrowing shares
For tillage these fat fields prepare;
And all the Lelegans then tride
234
Thereto the ploughmen put their hands
Of Dolop, and Aeolian lands.
The Magnetes there their horses stoares
And people knowne to Minyen oares.
Here did the Centaure, birth of clowds,
That in Pelethron darke dens shrowds,
Ingendred of Ixions race
Disperse themselues, for dwelling place.
And thou Moniche didst wonne there
That Pholoes rockes didst riue and teare.
And Rhetus that on Ætnas top
Those hugie trees didst wresting lop.
Which Boreas with his boystrous blast
Could hardly teare or ouercast.
And Phole in this soile did rest,
Where great Alcides was his guest.
And wicked Nessus here resides
That afterwards gain'd bloody sides.
With Lernean shafts that Hercles guides.
And thou O Chiron now growne old,
Conuerted to a starre so cold,
Thy strong Æmonian bow dost draw
Against great Scorpios poysoned maw.
So on this land in euery part
Did shine the direfull seedes of Mart.
Here first of all the goodly breeds
Of the Thessalian fierie steedes,
For vse of warre so prone and fit,
Did rise, when as Neptunus smit
The flintie stones with Marine mace,
Engendring so the coarsers race,
That champs the bit with praucing pace.
And here the Lapiths hands first straines
Their foaming mouths with bridling raines.
Hence gallies cut the waues with oares,
Sent from the Pagasæan shoares;
And Inland men did first engage
To venter on the billowes rage,
And here Ionos that did raigne
235
Did first of all his stamps conioyne
To molten mettals, fram'd for coyne.
And maketh siluer run in streames,
Swelting amidst the fiery gleames.
The gold likewise at first he brake,
And thereof money he did make,
And in the boyling furnace vast,
The copper he did liquid cast.
Then thence did all that garboyle spring,
And mischiefe that the warres did bring,
Enticing all the world to armes
For riches gaine, the seeds of harmes.
Here was huge vgly Python bred,
In Cyrrhan dens lurking his head.
And then was vsde Thessalian bayes,
To yeeld the Pythian games their praise.
Wicked Alæus broode from hence
Was sent, that made that high offence
Against the Gods waging their warres,
On Pelions top neare to the starres,
Heaping mount Ossa on his backe,
Whereby heauens course they thought to slack.
Now when in these vnluckie lands,
Both Chieftains had incampt their bands,
The doubt of future warres euents,
Their minds with equall cares torments.
For now they see approaching nie,
The day that must their fortunes trie.
And as the houre did draw more neare,
So coward minds the more did feare,
And still the worst their thoughts retaine,
But yet some few of these againe
Giues to their courage better scope,
By ballancing their feare with hope.
And Sextus now amongst this rowte
Did shew himselfe a crauen lowte.
As one that no way did inherit
The glory of great Pompeys spirit.
For he will take a Pirates trade,
And will the Scycill seas inuade;
Whereby those Triumphs he distaind
That on the seas his father gain'd.
But now his feares stirres vp his mind,
To know how chances stood design'd:
And growne impatient of delayes,
Long'd to foreknow his future dayes.
The Delos God he doth not heede,
Nor yet consults with Pythias reede.
Nor what Dodona sawes relates,
That breeds the Akorne swynish cates
Which groue from Ioues mouth soundeth fates.
Nor yet the Augures skill he tries
Of bowel'd beasts for sacrifise;
Nor what the flying birds presage,
Nor yet obserues the lightnings rage;
Nor doth he search to vnderstand
The knowledge of th' Assyrian land,
By motions of the starres on hie,
And how the planets qualefie;
Or any hidden lawfull meanes,
But he the hatefull secrets gleanes
Of Magicks spels, and them doth proue
So odious to the Gods aboue.
And wofull murdrous altars dights
To Dis, and the infernall sprights
Whom he beleeues, and as deiected,
The heauenly powres he nought suspected.
And now this place where he resides
His wicked humour more misguides,
For many sorcerers, and witches,
Dwell there, where now his tents he pitches.
Whose foule illusions fraught with lies
Doth modest pietie despise.
And of their art this point is chiefe
To vndertake things past beliefe.
Both Chieftains had incampt their bands,
The doubt of future warres euents,
Their minds with equall cares torments.
For now they see approaching nie,
The day that must their fortunes trie.
And as the houre did draw more neare,
So coward minds the more did feare,
And still the worst their thoughts retaine,
But yet some few of these againe
Giues to their courage better scope,
By ballancing their feare with hope.
And Sextus now amongst this rowte
Did shew himselfe a crauen lowte.
As one that no way did inherit
The glory of great Pompeys spirit.
For he will take a Pirates trade,
236
Whereby those Triumphs he distaind
That on the seas his father gain'd.
But now his feares stirres vp his mind,
To know how chances stood design'd:
And growne impatient of delayes,
Long'd to foreknow his future dayes.
The Delos God he doth not heede,
Nor yet consults with Pythias reede.
Nor what Dodona sawes relates,
That breeds the Akorne swynish cates
Which groue from Ioues mouth soundeth fates.
Nor yet the Augures skill he tries
Of bowel'd beasts for sacrifise;
Nor what the flying birds presage,
Nor yet obserues the lightnings rage;
Nor doth he search to vnderstand
The knowledge of th' Assyrian land,
By motions of the starres on hie,
And how the planets qualefie;
Or any hidden lawfull meanes,
But he the hatefull secrets gleanes
Of Magicks spels, and them doth proue
So odious to the Gods aboue.
And wofull murdrous altars dights
To Dis, and the infernall sprights
Whom he beleeues, and as deiected,
The heauenly powres he nought suspected.
And now this place where he resides
His wicked humour more misguides,
For many sorcerers, and witches,
Dwell there, where now his tents he pitches.
Whose foule illusions fraught with lies
Doth modest pietie despise.
And of their art this point is chiefe
To vndertake things past beliefe.
For Thessaly on her rocks breeds
Many inchanting balefull weeds.
And sensibly her very stones
Those damned spels did seale with grones.
And many charmes it eleuates,
The heauenly powres it violates.
And fell Medea from those fields
Fetcht herbs, that Colchos neuer yeelds.
Their wicked charmes were of such force,
That they could wrest vnto remorse
The Gods deafe eares, that hardned weare
Gainst those that more deuotion beare.
And nations that their hests did feare.
Their damned voyce and hellish cries,
Could force a way to pearce the skyes.
And with their powrefull words incite
The higher powres in heauens dispight.
For that same supreme care diuine
How heauenly orbes and spheares encline
Is cast aside, when they haue sent
Their charmes vnto the firmament.
For though the Babylonian clime,
And Memphis do retaine the prime,
Of all such sages as can tell
What deepe and hidden skill doth dwell
Within the ancient magicks spell;
Yet th' Thessalian witch can bend,
Those powres their altars to entend.
Many inchanting balefull weeds.
And sensibly her very stones
Those damned spels did seale with grones.
237
The heauenly powres it violates.
And fell Medea from those fields
Fetcht herbs, that Colchos neuer yeelds.
Their wicked charmes were of such force,
That they could wrest vnto remorse
The Gods deafe eares, that hardned weare
Gainst those that more deuotion beare.
And nations that their hests did feare.
Their damned voyce and hellish cries,
Could force a way to pearce the skyes.
And with their powrefull words incite
The higher powres in heauens dispight.
For that same supreme care diuine
How heauenly orbes and spheares encline
Is cast aside, when they haue sent
Their charmes vnto the firmament.
For though the Babylonian clime,
And Memphis do retaine the prime,
Of all such sages as can tell
What deepe and hidden skill doth dwell
Within the ancient magicks spell;
Yet th' Thessalian witch can bend,
Those powres their altars to entend.
Their charming words are of such might
That those hard hearts that nought delight
In sports of loue, nor naturally
Retaine thereof the quallity
By their inchantments set on fier,
Shall flame in feruent loues desier.
Yea crabbed sires, forespent with age,
They will infect with lusting rage.
Nor onely noysome potions vse,
Nor onely do that lumpe enfuse
Which on a young colts forhead breeds,
That slimie humours swelling feeds:
Before the louing damme do share
It with her teeth, and make it bare.
But with the charmes that they do chatter,
Not vsing any poysnous matter,
They will the strongest minds infest,
And at their pleasure force and wrest.
And those whom discord hath misled
To leaue and loath their nuptiall bed
They haue reclaim'd; and that great force
Of beautie wanting kinde remorse,
By meanes of Magicks twisted twine,
To gentle loue they made encline.
And things from natures course estrang'd
The daies to lengthned nights they chang'd
The firmament kept not his course,
The spheares forbeare their rapted source;
Their motions dully languishing,
Whenas their charming spels they sing.
And Iupiter himselfe did woonder,
Wat made the Poles so slowly blunder.
And why they did not turne more swift,
Being vrged with their woonted drift.
All things are ouerlaide with showrs,
When Phœbus shines the dark clouds lowrs.
Vnknowne to Ioue they make it thunder,
As though the skies would rent in sunder.
With one selfe voyce they cloudes disperse,
And then againe to raine reuerse.
When no wind blowes, the seas shall rage,
And in huge stormes their wrath asswage.
And (most contrary vnto kinde)
The ships shall saile against the winde.
The torrent from the mountains top
Amidst his course shall stay and stop.
The riuer shall run countermount,
And turne his course vnto his fount.
The Sommer shall not Nylus raise,
Meander straight his crooked wayes.
The Rhodanus shall be come slow,
And Arar him shall ouergo.
The mountains whelme their steepy head,
And as a plaine be ouerspread.
Olympus vnderlooke the clouds:
Scythia from whom the Sun still shrowds
In midst of winters frostie flaw,
Her snowes shall then dissolue and thaw;
And with their charmes they will restraine
The setled flowing of the maine.
And force him with those bonds dispense
Design'd by Cynthias influence.
They will so strike that fixed waight
The Axe, that bears the worlds whole fraight
That turning in the Orbes mid wheele,
It beckning somewhat seemes to reele.
And with one word this heaped masse,
And pondrous loade so crazed was,
That it would prospects thorow teare,
To see the other Hemispheare.
That those hard hearts that nought delight
In sports of loue, nor naturally
Retaine thereof the quallity
By their inchantments set on fier,
Shall flame in feruent loues desier.
Yea crabbed sires, forespent with age,
They will infect with lusting rage.
Nor onely noysome potions vse,
Nor onely do that lumpe enfuse
Which on a young colts forhead breeds,
That slimie humours swelling feeds:
Before the louing damme do share
It with her teeth, and make it bare.
But with the charmes that they do chatter,
Not vsing any poysnous matter,
238
And at their pleasure force and wrest.
And those whom discord hath misled
To leaue and loath their nuptiall bed
They haue reclaim'd; and that great force
Of beautie wanting kinde remorse,
By meanes of Magicks twisted twine,
To gentle loue they made encline.
And things from natures course estrang'd
The daies to lengthned nights they chang'd
The firmament kept not his course,
The spheares forbeare their rapted source;
Their motions dully languishing,
Whenas their charming spels they sing.
And Iupiter himselfe did woonder,
Wat made the Poles so slowly blunder.
And why they did not turne more swift,
Being vrged with their woonted drift.
All things are ouerlaide with showrs,
When Phœbus shines the dark clouds lowrs.
Vnknowne to Ioue they make it thunder,
As though the skies would rent in sunder.
With one selfe voyce they cloudes disperse,
And then againe to raine reuerse.
When no wind blowes, the seas shall rage,
And in huge stormes their wrath asswage.
And (most contrary vnto kinde)
The ships shall saile against the winde.
The torrent from the mountains top
Amidst his course shall stay and stop.
The riuer shall run countermount,
And turne his course vnto his fount.
The Sommer shall not Nylus raise,
Meander straight his crooked wayes.
The Rhodanus shall be come slow,
And Arar him shall ouergo.
The mountains whelme their steepy head,
And as a plaine be ouerspread.
Olympus vnderlooke the clouds:
Scythia from whom the Sun still shrowds
239
Her snowes shall then dissolue and thaw;
And with their charmes they will restraine
The setled flowing of the maine.
And force him with those bonds dispense
Design'd by Cynthias influence.
They will so strike that fixed waight
The Axe, that bears the worlds whole fraight
That turning in the Orbes mid wheele,
It beckning somewhat seemes to reele.
And with one word this heaped masse,
And pondrous loade so crazed was,
That it would prospects thorow teare,
To see the other Hemispheare.
All animals of deadly natures
That Lethall beene to humane creatures,
In feare of these inchanters liue,
Or to their art assistance giue.
The Tygre with his bloodie iawes;
The Lyon that all ouer-awes,
On them will fawne with milde aspect.
The water Snakes with like respect,
Their chilly circles will vnfould,
And streatch themselues on dewy mould,
If these vile hagges do them behold.
The vipers wombe, when it is torne,
By that damn'd broode that she hath borne,
They will make whole; and humane breath
Shall giue the Serpent present death.
How are the Gods perplext with paine,
To yeeld vnto this sorcerous vaine?
And held in awe them to disdaine?
What contract haue they made withall?
That they can hold them so in thrall.
Are they opprest by Witches might,
Or in their charmes take they delight?
Are they deare to the Deities,
For any secret pieties.
Do they preuaile this by entreates,
Or do they vse some secret threates?
With all the Gods haue they that hand:
Or do those powerfull charmes command?
Some one peculiar Deitie,
That can with such facilitie
Constraine this world to yeeld and tend
To that which is so forc't to bend.
These witches first did headlong teare
The starres downe from the loftie spheare,
And modest Cynthias siluer hue
Vnto a pallid colour grew.
Infected with their venom'd phrase,
And with swarth earthly face did blaze.
As if the earth had bene betweene
To barre her of her brothers sheene.
And that his orbe with duskie shade
Those heauenly beames kept from her glade
And with these charmes is so opprest
That she can neuer be at rest,
Vntill the slimie matter fall,
That they do oint their hearbs withall.
That Lethall beene to humane creatures,
In feare of these inchanters liue,
Or to their art assistance giue.
The Tygre with his bloodie iawes;
The Lyon that all ouer-awes,
On them will fawne with milde aspect.
The water Snakes with like respect,
Their chilly circles will vnfould,
And streatch themselues on dewy mould,
If these vile hagges do them behold.
The vipers wombe, when it is torne,
By that damn'd broode that she hath borne,
They will make whole; and humane breath
Shall giue the Serpent present death.
How are the Gods perplext with paine,
To yeeld vnto this sorcerous vaine?
And held in awe them to disdaine?
What contract haue they made withall?
That they can hold them so in thrall.
Are they opprest by Witches might,
Or in their charmes take they delight?
Are they deare to the Deities,
For any secret pieties.
Do they preuaile this by entreates,
Or do they vse some secret threates?
240
Or do those powerfull charmes command?
Some one peculiar Deitie,
That can with such facilitie
Constraine this world to yeeld and tend
To that which is so forc't to bend.
These witches first did headlong teare
The starres downe from the loftie spheare,
And modest Cynthias siluer hue
Vnto a pallid colour grew.
Infected with their venom'd phrase,
And with swarth earthly face did blaze.
As if the earth had bene betweene
To barre her of her brothers sheene.
And that his orbe with duskie shade
Those heauenly beames kept from her glade
And with these charmes is so opprest
That she can neuer be at rest,
Vntill the slimie matter fall,
That they do oint their hearbs withall.
These wicked rites and charming spels
Practisde whereas those vile hags dwels,
Erycktho fierce seem'd to disdaine,
Pretending her more pious vaine;
And into new formes would conuart
The errors of this loathsome art.
She would not lodge her damned head
In towne, or house, or any shed.
But still amongst the graues would rest,
And tombes of corses dispossest.
Gratefull to hellish Deities,
Conuersing silent companies.
Life vnto her no hinderance was,
Into the Stygian shades to passe.
And there the secret will to know
Of Dis, that woonneth still below.
Her bleasme and megre lookes detect,
A loathsome hellish swarth aspect;
That bright dayes light will neuer see,
The Stygian shades her prospects bee.
She hath withall a gastly face,
And feltred lockes about it trace.
When showres, or duskie clouds by night
Obscure the starres from humane sight,
Out of the silent graues she hasts,
And catcheth at the lightning blasts.
Then through the fields she pacing spurnes,
And full-ear'd corne she blasting burnes:
And with the very breath she sends,
The healthy aire taints and offends.
Vnto the Gods she neuer prayes,
Nor powers of heauen to guide her wayes.
She takes no keepe of Augures skill,
How sacrifice bodes good or ill:
But most of all she doth desire,
The funerall piles to set on fire;
And whilst they burne, to filch from thence
The Spices and the Frankinsence.
Practisde whereas those vile hags dwels,
Erycktho fierce seem'd to disdaine,
Pretending her more pious vaine;
And into new formes would conuart
The errors of this loathsome art.
She would not lodge her damned head
In towne, or house, or any shed.
But still amongst the graues would rest,
And tombes of corses dispossest.
Gratefull to hellish Deities,
Conuersing silent companies.
Life vnto her no hinderance was,
Into the Stygian shades to passe.
And there the secret will to know
Of Dis, that woonneth still below.
Her bleasme and megre lookes detect,
A loathsome hellish swarth aspect;
That bright dayes light will neuer see,
The Stygian shades her prospects bee.
241
And feltred lockes about it trace.
When showres, or duskie clouds by night
Obscure the starres from humane sight,
Out of the silent graues she hasts,
And catcheth at the lightning blasts.
Then through the fields she pacing spurnes,
And full-ear'd corne she blasting burnes:
And with the very breath she sends,
The healthy aire taints and offends.
Vnto the Gods she neuer prayes,
Nor powers of heauen to guide her wayes.
She takes no keepe of Augures skill,
How sacrifice bodes good or ill:
But most of all she doth desire,
The funerall piles to set on fire;
And whilst they burne, to filch from thence
The Spices and the Frankinsence.
The Gods euen at the first request,
Do grant to her each wicked hest:
And feare to heare her twice to craue
The thing that she desires to haue.
She buries bodies yet aliue,
Before that death their soules depriue:
And though their date might long subsist,
In spight of Fates she cuts their twist.
And others dead brings backe againe
From funerals, with ioyfull traine;
Restoring life to euery vaine.
Out of the midst of funerall fires
She rapes, and greedily desires
The smoking cinders as they lye,
And yong mens bones that flaming fry.
And raging, will not doubt nor feare
The torch from parents hands to teare.
Then all the flakes that she espies,
Which from the coarse wch black smoke flies,
And garments vnto ashes turn'd,
And oylie fragments scarcely burn'd,
Together she doth scrape and glut;
But when into a Tombe they put
A sollid body, moist within,
With marrow closd in hardned skinne,
Then will she raue on all the parts;
Into the eyes her fingers darts,
And neuer digging leaues withall
Till she teares out the very ball.
Then from the dryed hands she rents
And gnawes the pallid excrements:
The knots her teeth in sunder share,
Of ropes wherewith men strangled are.
The hanging carkasses she fleeces,
And then the gibbets breakes in peeces:
The wether-beaten paunch she cast
Out of the corpes, and then at last
She lets the sunne thereon to sprout,
And vn-sod marrow so takes out.
Those that are hang'd in Iron chaines,
Whose hands the rusty fetters straines
From all the ioynts, whereof distilles
The oylie moisture, that downe trilles
In greasie filth, and swarthy gore,
She gathers vp for poysons store.
Whilst gnawing on the nerues she files,
Fast by the teeth she hangs the whiles;
And if that she by chance doe finde
A carkasse on the ground vn-shrinde,
Amongst the rauening beasts and fowle,
There will this Sorceresse sitting scowle:
But will not with a knife select
The flesh, and parts she doth affect:
But she will onely pry and watch,
The morsels from Wolues iawes to snatch.
From murder neuer stayes her hands,
When as in need of blood she stands
That freshly flowes from wounds at first,
Such she findes out to quench her thirst.
Nor will she stay her murdrous mood,
When she would sacrifice life-blood:
Or that some funerall rites require
The trembling intrailes on the fire.
The babes within the mothers wombe,
With gashing wound she will vntombe
Ere nature bring it forth to light;
Her flaming Altars so to dight.
And whensoeuer she needs most
Some cruell sturdy humor'd ghost,
Her slaughtring fist the soules prepares,
No humane life she euer spares.
From off the chinnes she rents and teares
Of flowring youths the downy haires.
And with left hand the lockes will shaue
Of striplings, lingring to the graue.
This Witch her owne kinne hath not spar'd,
That death of her dire hand hath shar'd:
But first she would them coll and kisse,
And then the head from corpes dismisse.
And when that death their iawes had fixt,
She then would gnab her teeth betwixt,
And so bite off the labbring tongue,
That to the dry throat fast was clung:
And with her cold lips then would babble
Of whispring charmes full many a rabble.
And then at last with some vile spell
Would send their sprights to shades of hell.
Do grant to her each wicked hest:
And feare to heare her twice to craue
The thing that she desires to haue.
She buries bodies yet aliue,
Before that death their soules depriue:
And though their date might long subsist,
In spight of Fates she cuts their twist.
And others dead brings backe againe
From funerals, with ioyfull traine;
Restoring life to euery vaine.
Out of the midst of funerall fires
She rapes, and greedily desires
The smoking cinders as they lye,
And yong mens bones that flaming fry.
And raging, will not doubt nor feare
The torch from parents hands to teare.
Then all the flakes that she espies,
Which from the coarse wch black smoke flies,
And garments vnto ashes turn'd,
And oylie fragments scarcely burn'd,
Together she doth scrape and glut;
242
A sollid body, moist within,
With marrow closd in hardned skinne,
Then will she raue on all the parts;
Into the eyes her fingers darts,
And neuer digging leaues withall
Till she teares out the very ball.
Then from the dryed hands she rents
And gnawes the pallid excrements:
The knots her teeth in sunder share,
Of ropes wherewith men strangled are.
The hanging carkasses she fleeces,
And then the gibbets breakes in peeces:
The wether-beaten paunch she cast
Out of the corpes, and then at last
She lets the sunne thereon to sprout,
And vn-sod marrow so takes out.
Those that are hang'd in Iron chaines,
Whose hands the rusty fetters straines
From all the ioynts, whereof distilles
The oylie moisture, that downe trilles
In greasie filth, and swarthy gore,
She gathers vp for poysons store.
Whilst gnawing on the nerues she files,
Fast by the teeth she hangs the whiles;
And if that she by chance doe finde
A carkasse on the ground vn-shrinde,
Amongst the rauening beasts and fowle,
There will this Sorceresse sitting scowle:
But will not with a knife select
The flesh, and parts she doth affect:
But she will onely pry and watch,
The morsels from Wolues iawes to snatch.
From murder neuer stayes her hands,
When as in need of blood she stands
That freshly flowes from wounds at first,
Such she findes out to quench her thirst.
Nor will she stay her murdrous mood,
When she would sacrifice life-blood:
Or that some funerall rites require
243
The babes within the mothers wombe,
With gashing wound she will vntombe
Ere nature bring it forth to light;
Her flaming Altars so to dight.
And whensoeuer she needs most
Some cruell sturdy humor'd ghost,
Her slaughtring fist the soules prepares,
No humane life she euer spares.
From off the chinnes she rents and teares
Of flowring youths the downy haires.
And with left hand the lockes will shaue
Of striplings, lingring to the graue.
This Witch her owne kinne hath not spar'd,
That death of her dire hand hath shar'd:
But first she would them coll and kisse,
And then the head from corpes dismisse.
And when that death their iawes had fixt,
She then would gnab her teeth betwixt,
And so bite off the labbring tongue,
That to the dry throat fast was clung:
And with her cold lips then would babble
Of whispring charmes full many a rabble.
And then at last with some vile spell
Would send their sprights to shades of hell.
The fame that of this Witch did runne,
Had made her knowne to Pompey's sonne,
Who in the depth of silent night,
When Tytan had conuaid his light
Vnto the middle of that skye,
That to our feet opposd doth lye;
Abrode at that time Sextus traces
Into the solitary places,
Attended by a company
Prepar'd, and true to villany:
VVho ranging vp and downe the land,
VVhere graues and Tombes did vse to stand,
By chaunce a farre they spy'd this hagge,
Close sitting by a rocky cragge,
Neere to a path that straight doth guide
The way vnto mount Æmus side:
There she such charms did mūbling chatter,
That no Magitians knew the matter:
Nor yet the Gods of Magickes art,
Of her strange spels knew any part:
New fictions she did cunne by heart.
And fearing that this bloudy warre
VVould be transferred yet more farre,
From Thessaly to other soyles,
VVhereby the blood that these garboyles
On either side would flowing yeeld,
Should be depriu'd Pharsalias field
VVhich she already had defil'd
VVith spelles, and incantations vilde;
Did what she could that might withstand
To draw the warres from out this land.
For now she hop't to glut her mood,
VVith vse of flowing humane blood:
And that in such a world of strife,
She should haue deaths, and slaughters rife;
That cinders of the Romans dead,
Might in Emathia's field be spread,
And bones of noble Peeres there slaine,
VVhose ghosts she hop't should be her gain.
This was her drift, this her desire,
VVherewith her heart was set on fire;
Proposing to her selfe the spoyle
Of Pompey's part vpon his foyle.
And with like rage to raue and rampe
Vpon some wrackes of Cæsars campe.
Then to this hagge, with words full milde,
First spake great Pompey's worthlesse childe.
Had made her knowne to Pompey's sonne,
Who in the depth of silent night,
When Tytan had conuaid his light
Vnto the middle of that skye,
That to our feet opposd doth lye;
Abrode at that time Sextus traces
Into the solitary places,
Attended by a company
Prepar'd, and true to villany:
VVho ranging vp and downe the land,
VVhere graues and Tombes did vse to stand,
By chaunce a farre they spy'd this hagge,
Close sitting by a rocky cragge,
Neere to a path that straight doth guide
244
There she such charms did mūbling chatter,
That no Magitians knew the matter:
Nor yet the Gods of Magickes art,
Of her strange spels knew any part:
New fictions she did cunne by heart.
And fearing that this bloudy warre
VVould be transferred yet more farre,
From Thessaly to other soyles,
VVhereby the blood that these garboyles
On either side would flowing yeeld,
Should be depriu'd Pharsalias field
VVhich she already had defil'd
VVith spelles, and incantations vilde;
Did what she could that might withstand
To draw the warres from out this land.
For now she hop't to glut her mood,
VVith vse of flowing humane blood:
And that in such a world of strife,
She should haue deaths, and slaughters rife;
That cinders of the Romans dead,
Might in Emathia's field be spread,
And bones of noble Peeres there slaine,
VVhose ghosts she hop't should be her gain.
This was her drift, this her desire,
VVherewith her heart was set on fire;
Proposing to her selfe the spoyle
Of Pompey's part vpon his foyle.
And with like rage to raue and rampe
Vpon some wrackes of Cæsars campe.
Then to this hagge, with words full milde,
First spake great Pompey's worthlesse childe.
O thou that art the greatest grace
Of Sages of Æmonian race,
That canst at large to men relate
Their destiny and future fate:
And hast the power to turne aside
Euents of harmes that should betide:
I thee beseech doe me that grace
To let me know this doubtfull case.
What is the scope and certaine end
VVhereto this ciuill warre will tend.
I am not least of Roman heires,
That intrest haue in these affaires;
Great Pompey is my noble sire,
And I his sonne that must aspire
Either to be the Lord of all,
Or heire of his great funerall.
My minde doth doubtfull dread retaine,
And yet resolu'd I am againe
To carry all with courage stout,
Were I but sure what would fall out.
Doe thou therefore resolue I pray
The doubt of this vncertaine day,
That we be not surpris'd vnwares,
Nor blindly led to Fortunes snares.
From higher powers extort the truth,
Or on the Gods thou maist haue ruth;
And all the Stygian ghosts below
Vrge to thy power, the truth to show.
Goe search Thessalian fields about,
And also learne which of our rout
Death is resolu'd to him to call,
That in these ciuill warres must fall.
This labour is of no base kinde,
But worthy thy inspired minde:
A worke of glory by thee donne,
To know how so great Fate shall runne.
Of Sages of Æmonian race,
That canst at large to men relate
Their destiny and future fate:
And hast the power to turne aside
Euents of harmes that should betide:
I thee beseech doe me that grace
To let me know this doubtfull case.
245
VVhereto this ciuill warre will tend.
I am not least of Roman heires,
That intrest haue in these affaires;
Great Pompey is my noble sire,
And I his sonne that must aspire
Either to be the Lord of all,
Or heire of his great funerall.
My minde doth doubtfull dread retaine,
And yet resolu'd I am againe
To carry all with courage stout,
Were I but sure what would fall out.
Doe thou therefore resolue I pray
The doubt of this vncertaine day,
That we be not surpris'd vnwares,
Nor blindly led to Fortunes snares.
From higher powers extort the truth,
Or on the Gods thou maist haue ruth;
And all the Stygian ghosts below
Vrge to thy power, the truth to show.
Goe search Thessalian fields about,
And also learne which of our rout
Death is resolu'd to him to call,
That in these ciuill warres must fall.
This labour is of no base kinde,
But worthy thy inspired minde:
A worke of glory by thee donne,
To know how so great Fate shall runne.
This glorifide Thessalian Witch,
To heare her fame, for ioy did itch,
And thus reply'd; O noble youth,
Didst thou desire to know the truth
Of future chance, in lesser fate
As thou requir'st I could relate,
Although the Gods it disavow'd;
For so much is to Art allow'd.
For though the planets influence,
Did call some one mans life from hence;
Yet could we thereof make a stay,
And so likewise can take away
With speciall hearbes, his liuing houre,
That all the starres vnited power
Did vnto eldest yeares designe,
And in the midst breake off his twine.
But since the order of all things
From one first chiefe beginning springs,
And Fates do labour in this all,
And thou of that a change wouldst call,
Whereby one onely mortall stroke
Might this worlds vniverse revoke.
All our consorts must needs agree,
That Fortune can do more then wee.
But if it may suffise thy hope,
Of one mans hap to know the scope,
Tis easie certainly to doe,
And many meanes do helpe thereto.
The earth, the aire, the Chaos old,
The fields with hearbes so manifold,
The rockes of Rhodopeian land
VVould sound that we should vnderstand.
But since that daily there is store
Of new slaine bodies with fresh gore,
Tis easie for Emathia's field
One head for our designes to yeeld;
VVhose carkasse warme, and newly slaine,
Doth yet a sound of voyce retaine:
VVhose corpes not parched with the sunne,
Nor warmth as yet from members runne:
This Stygian ghost not yet will stutter,
But to our eares will plaine words vtter.
To heare her fame, for ioy did itch,
And thus reply'd; O noble youth,
Didst thou desire to know the truth
Of future chance, in lesser fate
As thou requir'st I could relate,
Although the Gods it disavow'd;
For so much is to Art allow'd.
For though the planets influence,
Did call some one mans life from hence;
Yet could we thereof make a stay,
And so likewise can take away
246
That all the starres vnited power
Did vnto eldest yeares designe,
And in the midst breake off his twine.
But since the order of all things
From one first chiefe beginning springs,
And Fates do labour in this all,
And thou of that a change wouldst call,
Whereby one onely mortall stroke
Might this worlds vniverse revoke.
All our consorts must needs agree,
That Fortune can do more then wee.
But if it may suffise thy hope,
Of one mans hap to know the scope,
Tis easie certainly to doe,
And many meanes do helpe thereto.
The earth, the aire, the Chaos old,
The fields with hearbes so manifold,
The rockes of Rhodopeian land
VVould sound that we should vnderstand.
But since that daily there is store
Of new slaine bodies with fresh gore,
Tis easie for Emathia's field
One head for our designes to yeeld;
VVhose carkasse warme, and newly slaine,
Doth yet a sound of voyce retaine:
VVhose corpes not parched with the sunne,
Nor warmth as yet from members runne:
This Stygian ghost not yet will stutter,
But to our eares will plaine words vtter.
VVhen she had said, her sullen head
She artificially ore-spread
VVith doubled darknesse of the night,
And with a foggy mist bedight;
About the bodies slaine she pries,
That in the fields vnburied lies.
And with her lookes she did affray
The rauening Wolues, and birds of pray,
VVho from the bodies fled away.
VVhilst that this hagge a carkasse prold,
And search't the marrow deadly cold,
Wherein the lungs and lights she found
Quite starke, but free from any wound.
Then for a voyce she seekes and pries,
Within this body where it lies.
Meane while there hung in question than
The fate of many a slaughtred man,
VVhom she againe from death would call;
For had she try'd to take them all,
That of both Armies there lay slaine,
The warres she had supply'd againe,
And silenced Erebus law;
For could this powerfull monster draw
From Stygian lake so great a crew,
Their fighting alwayes would renew.
But now a body she hath got,
That had no wound but in the throat.
Him she elects, and him doth hooke
VVith halter, and with Iron crooke,
And through the rockes the ruthlesse hagge
This miserable corpes did dragge,
That life must take, and doth it trace
VVhereas a hollow vaulted place
Vnder a lofty cliffe doth rise,
VVhere she (fell Witch) doth sacrifice.
She artificially ore-spread
VVith doubled darknesse of the night,
And with a foggy mist bedight;
About the bodies slaine she pries,
That in the fields vnburied lies.
And with her lookes she did affray
The rauening Wolues, and birds of pray,
VVho from the bodies fled away.
VVhilst that this hagge a carkasse prold,
247
Wherein the lungs and lights she found
Quite starke, but free from any wound.
Then for a voyce she seekes and pries,
Within this body where it lies.
Meane while there hung in question than
The fate of many a slaughtred man,
VVhom she againe from death would call;
For had she try'd to take them all,
That of both Armies there lay slaine,
The warres she had supply'd againe,
And silenced Erebus law;
For could this powerfull monster draw
From Stygian lake so great a crew,
Their fighting alwayes would renew.
But now a body she hath got,
That had no wound but in the throat.
Him she elects, and him doth hooke
VVith halter, and with Iron crooke,
And through the rockes the ruthlesse hagge
This miserable corpes did dragge,
That life must take, and doth it trace
VVhereas a hollow vaulted place
Vnder a lofty cliffe doth rise,
VVhere she (fell Witch) doth sacrifice.
Here is a land not farre from hell,
VVhere lies a deepe obscured cell
Sunke vnder ground, with cauernes vast,
VVhose toppe with shades is ouer-cast;
For bowes of trees so enter-lace,
That they obscure and vaile this place,
So as no where can mortall eye
Discerne the Sunne, or glimpse of skye;
But deadly darknesse, and long night
In this sad Denne be-clouds all sight,
And but by charmes hath neuer light.
The foggy aire within this cell,
More lothsome is then dampes of hell.
And this swarth Region on all sides,
Auernus from our world diuides.
And hither the infernall King
His ghosts doth neuer feare to bring:
For though this witch of Thessaly
The Fates by force can qualifie,
Yet doubtfull is it whether she
From this place into hell can see:
Or whether personally this fend
Vnto the Stygian shades discend.
A smokie foule rag'd weed she weares
With open face, and back-cast haires:
The fillets that her lockes do trace,
She doth with vipers inter-lace.
And when she saw in how great feare
Yong Pompey and his followers were,
As men that horror did confound,
Looking downe wistly to the ground.
What now (quoth she) be of good cheare,
Lay doubt aside, and do not feare,
For now you shall forthwith perceaue
A figure new true life receaue,
Though dread do make your spirits weake,
Yet may you heare him plainly speake.
If I should shew you Stygian lakes,
And helles bankes breathing fiery flakes,
And that you may the Furies see
Safely, safe-conduited by me.
And Cerberus with curled breast,
Shaking his hideous snaky crest,
And Gyants huge, whose feter'd hands
Behinde their backes, are tide in bands.
VVhy stand you cowards in such frights,
To looke vpon poore trembling sprights?
VVhere lies a deepe obscured cell
Sunke vnder ground, with cauernes vast,
VVhose toppe with shades is ouer-cast;
For bowes of trees so enter-lace,
That they obscure and vaile this place,
So as no where can mortall eye
Discerne the Sunne, or glimpse of skye;
But deadly darknesse, and long night
In this sad Denne be-clouds all sight,
And but by charmes hath neuer light.
The foggy aire within this cell,
More lothsome is then dampes of hell.
And this swarth Region on all sides,
Auernus from our world diuides.
248
His ghosts doth neuer feare to bring:
For though this witch of Thessaly
The Fates by force can qualifie,
Yet doubtfull is it whether she
From this place into hell can see:
Or whether personally this fend
Vnto the Stygian shades discend.
A smokie foule rag'd weed she weares
With open face, and back-cast haires:
The fillets that her lockes do trace,
She doth with vipers inter-lace.
And when she saw in how great feare
Yong Pompey and his followers were,
As men that horror did confound,
Looking downe wistly to the ground.
What now (quoth she) be of good cheare,
Lay doubt aside, and do not feare,
For now you shall forthwith perceaue
A figure new true life receaue,
Though dread do make your spirits weake,
Yet may you heare him plainly speake.
If I should shew you Stygian lakes,
And helles bankes breathing fiery flakes,
And that you may the Furies see
Safely, safe-conduited by me.
And Cerberus with curled breast,
Shaking his hideous snaky crest,
And Gyants huge, whose feter'd hands
Behinde their backes, are tide in bands.
VVhy stand you cowards in such frights,
To looke vpon poore trembling sprights?
Then she doth luke-warme blood convay
Into the body as it lay,
And with new wounds the same doth gash,
And clotterd gore away doth wash.
Then she together working mings
All vncoth births that Nature brings.
The froth of mad dogges iawes she takes,
That feare to see fresh watry lakes.
The Lynx his bowels laid thereon,
With the Hyena's ioyntlesse bone.
The marrow of a stagge new dead,
That hath a serpent swallowed.
And that same little fish whose force
Can so with-hold the forward course
Of any ship amidst the maine,
When all her sailes the winde doth straine.
A Dragons eyes therewith she prest,
And that stone in the Ægles nest,
That ratling sounds, and heate doth catch
Amongst the egges that she doth hatch.
Th' Arabian Serpent that makes wing
The poys'nous Viper, whose sharpe sting
The red-sea Cockle doth defend,
Wherein the pretious pearle is pen'd.
And therewithall the skinne new flead
From the Cœrastæ but halfe dead;
With those burnt ashes that arise
Out of the Phœnix sacrifice.
These venom'd heapes she workes & frames,
Distinguish't by their seuerall names.
And leaues she addes repleate with spelles,
And growing hearbes, wherewith she melles
The spittle of her driueling iawes,
And euery other poysons cause,
Deuised by her sorcerous sawes.
Into the body as it lay,
And with new wounds the same doth gash,
And clotterd gore away doth wash.
Then she together working mings
All vncoth births that Nature brings.
The froth of mad dogges iawes she takes,
That feare to see fresh watry lakes.
249
With the Hyena's ioyntlesse bone.
The marrow of a stagge new dead,
That hath a serpent swallowed.
And that same little fish whose force
Can so with-hold the forward course
Of any ship amidst the maine,
When all her sailes the winde doth straine.
A Dragons eyes therewith she prest,
And that stone in the Ægles nest,
That ratling sounds, and heate doth catch
Amongst the egges that she doth hatch.
Th' Arabian Serpent that makes wing
The poys'nous Viper, whose sharpe sting
The red-sea Cockle doth defend,
Wherein the pretious pearle is pen'd.
And therewithall the skinne new flead
From the Cœrastæ but halfe dead;
With those burnt ashes that arise
Out of the Phœnix sacrifice.
These venom'd heapes she workes & frames,
Distinguish't by their seuerall names.
And leaues she addes repleate with spelles,
And growing hearbes, wherewith she melles
The spittle of her driueling iawes,
And euery other poysons cause,
Deuised by her sorcerous sawes.
Then with a voyce that farre exceeds
The strength of all hearbs that earth breeds,
She calles and charmes the Gods of hell,
And mutters first a confus'd spell
Of varying sounds, that wistly larre,
From humane language diffring farre.
She hath the barking of a hound,
And of a Wolfe the howling sound.
The hollow whooping of the Owle,
The skryching of the blacke night fowle.
The bellowing of the sauadge beast,
With hissing of a Snake exprest.
The hollow murmures of the waues,
Beating against the cliffie caues;
The whistling of the wooddy leaues,
And thunders noise, the clouds that cleaues.
So many sounds from one voyce flye,
The rest her direfull charmes supply:
And with her tongue she frames a spell,
That pierc'd downe to the depth of hell.
The strength of all hearbs that earth breeds,
She calles and charmes the Gods of hell,
And mutters first a confus'd spell
Of varying sounds, that wistly larre,
From humane language diffring farre.
She hath the barking of a hound,
And of a Wolfe the howling sound.
The hollow whooping of the Owle,
The skryching of the blacke night fowle.
The bellowing of the sauadge beast,
With hissing of a Snake exprest.
The hollow murmures of the waues,
250
The whistling of the wooddy leaues,
And thunders noise, the clouds that cleaues.
So many sounds from one voyce flye,
The rest her direfull charmes supply:
And with her tongue she frames a spell,
That pierc'd downe to the depth of hell.
Ye Destinies, the Stygian scourge,
That torments on offenders vrge.
And thou Auernus gulfe profound,
That swalowing canst whole worlds confound
And thou that all this earth dost sway,
Whose death the heauenly powers delay,
That thereby thou for longer times
Maist be reseru'd, to plague thy crimes.
O Styx, and yee Elizian fields,
That solace none to witches yeelds!
And thou Persephon that dost loth,
The heauens, and thy mother both.
And Hecate our deerest frend
That to my tongue dost cunning lend;
Whereby commerce and vse I haue
Of ghosts, and the infernall graue.
Thou Porter of infernall gates,
That dost on bowels share for cates
VVith thy deuouring rauenous iawes;
And you three sisters that forth drawes
And cuts in two each liuing line,
Of power to breake this worke of mine.
And thou ô Ferry-man growne old,
That hast so long those waues controld,
Doe not these soules from me with-hold;
But grant to me that I request,
If my petition be exprest
VVith wicked words sufficiently,
And vowes repleat with villany:
Or if I neuer yet did charme,
But that with bloud and bowels warme
I first of all did breake my fast,
And bodies full to you haue cast.
And if that I the braines haue dasht
That were bloud-warme, & then haue washt,
And to your Altars, heads did giue
Of infants, that might longer liue:
Obserue my suit, that doth not craue
A body smoldred in the graue,
Or that in darknesse long hath beene,
But one that late the light hath seene;
And newly did his soule discharge,
And scarce arriued at helles varge;
Let him my charmes now entertaine,
And he shall soone returne againe.
Let this ghost of a Souldier late,
Great Pompey's destiny relate
To Pompey's sonne, if in your sight
A ciuill warre deserue that right.
That torments on offenders vrge.
And thou Auernus gulfe profound,
That swalowing canst whole worlds confound
And thou that all this earth dost sway,
Whose death the heauenly powers delay,
That thereby thou for longer times
Maist be reseru'd, to plague thy crimes.
O Styx, and yee Elizian fields,
That solace none to witches yeelds!
And thou Persephon that dost loth,
The heauens, and thy mother both.
And Hecate our deerest frend
That to my tongue dost cunning lend;
Whereby commerce and vse I haue
Of ghosts, and the infernall graue.
Thou Porter of infernall gates,
That dost on bowels share for cates
VVith thy deuouring rauenous iawes;
And you three sisters that forth drawes
And cuts in two each liuing line,
Of power to breake this worke of mine.
And thou ô Ferry-man growne old,
That hast so long those waues controld,
Doe not these soules from me with-hold;
But grant to me that I request,
If my petition be exprest
VVith wicked words sufficiently,
And vowes repleat with villany:
Or if I neuer yet did charme,
But that with bloud and bowels warme
I first of all did breake my fast,
And bodies full to you haue cast.
251
That were bloud-warme, & then haue washt,
And to your Altars, heads did giue
Of infants, that might longer liue:
Obserue my suit, that doth not craue
A body smoldred in the graue,
Or that in darknesse long hath beene,
But one that late the light hath seene;
And newly did his soule discharge,
And scarce arriued at helles varge;
Let him my charmes now entertaine,
And he shall soone returne againe.
Let this ghost of a Souldier late,
Great Pompey's destiny relate
To Pompey's sonne, if in your sight
A ciuill warre deserue that right.
When she her charming spell had sed,
She raisd her frothy mouth and head:
Wistly a while she did behold
The ghost of that same carkasse cold,
That stood in feare, and great amaze
Vpon those liuelesse limbes to gaze;
And did that lothsome pinfold hate.
That was her prison but of late.
She dreads into that breast to passe,
That now so hack't and mangled was.
And in those bowels to reside,
Whose veins were cut with wounds so wide.
Ah wretched Ghost whom deaths last stroke
Could not exempt from lifes fraile yoke!
Eryctho maruailes much, and frets,
That Fates should vse these lingring lets.
And in her wroth this dead corpes takes,
And scourgeth it with liuing snakes.
Then through the earth by that same glade
She pries, which she with charms had made.
And barking, to the sprights she speakes,
Which noise Erebus silence breakes.
Tysiphone thou hatefull spright,
And thou Megera, that setst light
By my request, come tell me plaine,
When this sad soule you did retaine
With you in hell, did she not beare
Your torments, and your scourgings there?
By your true names I will you call,
You Stygian hagges I will enthrall,
And captiues hold in this worlds light,
And follow you with all despight
Through Graues, through Tombes, through Burials,
And banish you from Funerals.
And Hecate Il'e make thee knowne
In perfect shape that is thine owne:
Thou shalt no more thy selfe adorne
With borrowed figure, so to scorne
The Gods, with falshood and decait,
When thou art cal'd on them to wait.
Thy vile pale forme I will display,
Helles lookes thou shalt not put away.
And I (Proserpina) will tell,
That vnder earths huge weight doth dwell,
What feasts and iunketing you make,
And what disports in loue you take;
And how you set your whole delight
In dalliance with the King of night:
Which life of thine, if Ceres kend,
Thou neuer more to her shouldst wend.
To thee of wretches all most vile,
As iudge of this, I'le send the while
Bright Tytan, with his beames so fierce,
That through the chinks of earth shal pierce,
And all thy shiftings open lay,
By suddaine sending in of day.
Will you assent my will to do,
Or shall I him compell thereto,
Vpon whose name I neuer call,
But that the earth doth quake withall;
He that with face vncouered,
Dares looke vpon Gorgona's head;
And with his whippes and fell aspect,
Trembling Erinnis doth correct.
And he that can farre better tell
Then your owne selues the dens of hell.
His mansion vnder you he takes,
And he may sweare by Stygian lakes.
She raisd her frothy mouth and head:
Wistly a while she did behold
The ghost of that same carkasse cold,
That stood in feare, and great amaze
Vpon those liuelesse limbes to gaze;
And did that lothsome pinfold hate.
That was her prison but of late.
She dreads into that breast to passe,
That now so hack't and mangled was.
And in those bowels to reside,
Whose veins were cut with wounds so wide.
Ah wretched Ghost whom deaths last stroke
Could not exempt from lifes fraile yoke!
Eryctho maruailes much, and frets,
That Fates should vse these lingring lets.
And in her wroth this dead corpes takes,
And scourgeth it with liuing snakes.
Then through the earth by that same glade
She pries, which she with charms had made.
And barking, to the sprights she speakes,
Which noise Erebus silence breakes.
Tysiphone thou hatefull spright,
And thou Megera, that setst light
252
When this sad soule you did retaine
With you in hell, did she not beare
Your torments, and your scourgings there?
By your true names I will you call,
You Stygian hagges I will enthrall,
And captiues hold in this worlds light,
And follow you with all despight
Through Graues, through Tombes, through Burials,
And banish you from Funerals.
And Hecate Il'e make thee knowne
In perfect shape that is thine owne:
Thou shalt no more thy selfe adorne
With borrowed figure, so to scorne
The Gods, with falshood and decait,
When thou art cal'd on them to wait.
Thy vile pale forme I will display,
Helles lookes thou shalt not put away.
And I (Proserpina) will tell,
That vnder earths huge weight doth dwell,
What feasts and iunketing you make,
And what disports in loue you take;
And how you set your whole delight
In dalliance with the King of night:
Which life of thine, if Ceres kend,
Thou neuer more to her shouldst wend.
To thee of wretches all most vile,
As iudge of this, I'le send the while
Bright Tytan, with his beames so fierce,
That through the chinks of earth shal pierce,
And all thy shiftings open lay,
By suddaine sending in of day.
Will you assent my will to do,
Or shall I him compell thereto,
Vpon whose name I neuer call,
But that the earth doth quake withall;
He that with face vncouered,
Dares looke vpon Gorgona's head;
And with his whippes and fell aspect,
Trembling Erinnis doth correct.
253
Then your owne selues the dens of hell.
His mansion vnder you he takes,
And he may sweare by Stygian lakes.
Forthwith when she had vsd her charme
The chill blood in this corps grew warme.
The black wounds now more fleshly showes
And through the veins the thin blood flowes
Strengthning withall each outward part;
The tender strings that feede the hart
Vnder the cold breast gan to beate,
As soone as they did feele the heate.
The marrow that was dulled long,
Taking fresh force was grown more strong
New life was mingled death among:
Then pulses all and artyres strike,
The sinewes streach and motion seeke.
But now the body neuer tries
To streach his lims whereas it lies,
With easie strength and by degrees;
But suddenly rebounding flees
From off the ground, and stands vpright
With eyes wide open to the light,
And yawning iawes that breathed rife,
Yet in his face was no great life.
But rather of a deadly hue,
Stiffe wrinckled and a pallid blew.
He stonisht was at this worlds wonder,
His tyed tong no sound could blunder.
His voyce and speech had but in taske,
To answer what the witch did aske.
Tell me quoth she what I require,
And for it great shall be thy hire.
If to the world we truths impart,
The fame of our Æmonian art
Will euer, after glory gaine,
And our free sawes, as soothes remaine:
In such a shrine thy lims shall lie,
And in such wood thy corps shall frie.
And will so charme thy funerall,
As that the spels of Magicks call:
Thy ghost shall neuer hire at all.
And to thy selfe this boone bequeaue,
For that thou didst new life receaue.
That hearbs nor charms shall be of force,
Thy long sleepe euer to diuorce,
That death receiuest at my hand,
None do those answers vnderstand
That Oracles and Trypods tell,
Who Fates requires from ghosts of hell
Shall euer in assurance dwell:
He valiantly to worke doth go,
That dire deaths Oracle would know.
I pray thee therefore do not spare
To shew things names right as they are.
Describe the places, and speake plaine
That I true Fates may entertaine.
The chill blood in this corps grew warme.
The black wounds now more fleshly showes
And through the veins the thin blood flowes
Strengthning withall each outward part;
The tender strings that feede the hart
Vnder the cold breast gan to beate,
As soone as they did feele the heate.
The marrow that was dulled long,
Taking fresh force was grown more strong
New life was mingled death among:
Then pulses all and artyres strike,
The sinewes streach and motion seeke.
But now the body neuer tries
To streach his lims whereas it lies,
With easie strength and by degrees;
But suddenly rebounding flees
From off the ground, and stands vpright
With eyes wide open to the light,
And yawning iawes that breathed rife,
Yet in his face was no great life.
But rather of a deadly hue,
Stiffe wrinckled and a pallid blew.
He stonisht was at this worlds wonder,
His tyed tong no sound could blunder.
His voyce and speech had but in taske,
To answer what the witch did aske.
Tell me quoth she what I require,
And for it great shall be thy hire.
If to the world we truths impart,
The fame of our Æmonian art
Will euer, after glory gaine,
And our free sawes, as soothes remaine:
In such a shrine thy lims shall lie,
And in such wood thy corps shall frie.
And will so charme thy funerall,
254
Thy ghost shall neuer hire at all.
And to thy selfe this boone bequeaue,
For that thou didst new life receaue.
That hearbs nor charms shall be of force,
Thy long sleepe euer to diuorce,
That death receiuest at my hand,
None do those answers vnderstand
That Oracles and Trypods tell,
Who Fates requires from ghosts of hell
Shall euer in assurance dwell:
He valiantly to worke doth go,
That dire deaths Oracle would know.
I pray thee therefore do not spare
To shew things names right as they are.
Describe the places, and speake plaine
That I true Fates may entertaine.
To this withall she addes a spell,
Whereby the ghost had power to tell
What so of him she sought to know,
Whilst his sad face teares ouerflow.
Truly I had not time (quoth he)
To marke the Fatall sisters three,
How they their spinning twists did guide,
I was cal'd from the riuer side,
So secretly and in such hast,
I could not know how all things past.
But that which I did learne was doon
Amongst the soules where I did woon,
Fell discord and outragious strife,
Amongst the Roman ghost was rife.
So as their broyles and armed riet,
Th' infernall state did much disquiet.
Diuers great Captains were diuided,
About their quarrell vndecided.
One part doth in Elysium dwell,
Tother in those darke dens of hell.
And both sides readily inclin'd,
To trie what destinie design'd.
The blessed soules did then appeare,
But sad and mournfull in their cheare.
The Decij both I there beheld,
The father and his worthie child.
Braue spirits that did expiate
The Tyranies from Roman state.
Camillus, and the Curij,
There wayling stood with watrie eye.
And Scylla one amongst this rout,
Against thee Fortune doth cry out.
And Scipio there I saw deplore,
That so the hatefull Affricke shore
Their noble blood should now distaine,
With his owne grandchild thereon slaine.
And Cato maior of renowne,
The ancient foe to Carthage towne,
Did here lament his Nephewes fate,
That dy'd in scorne of seruile state.
And Brutus in his Consuls gowne,
That Tyranny did first put downe,
We here beheld in ioyful moode,
Amongst blest soules whereas he stood.
There Catilyne with prowd disdaines,
Insults amongst his broken chaines.
And Marius with his bloody harmes,
Cethegi with their naked armes.
There likewise I the Drusians saw,
That made their libertie a law,
Reioycing in a popular loue
And Gracchi that great things durst proue,
Though hampered with lasting chaines,
Whose liberties hell-gates restraines.
Yet clap their hands that plaudits yeelds
These wicked ghosts craue blessed fields.
Then this infernall Realmes great guide
His stations did enlarge more wide.
And therewithall he sharpes the rocks,
Hard adamantine chaines and locks,
With iron links he doth prepare,
As torments for the victors share.
But yet ô youth take now with thee
This comfortable word from me,
Expect a blessed resting place
For thy sires soule and all his race.
For in that kingdome deepe of Dis
A pleasant part reserued is
To entertaine great Pompeys spright.
Let not the glory him delight,
Of this short lifes vncertaine date,
The houre drawes neare, whose present fate,
Shall these great captains fortunes mixe;
In death therefore your comforts fixe.
Go proudly and with high desires
Vnto your lowly funerall fiers,
And spurning scorne those haughty soules
That Roman rites like Gods controules.
For now the strife is who shall haue
On Tybris or on Nyle his graue,
And all the warre these Captaines wage
Is where shall be their funerall stage.
Whereby the ghost had power to tell
What so of him she sought to know,
Whilst his sad face teares ouerflow.
Truly I had not time (quoth he)
To marke the Fatall sisters three,
How they their spinning twists did guide,
I was cal'd from the riuer side,
So secretly and in such hast,
I could not know how all things past.
But that which I did learne was doon
Amongst the soules where I did woon,
Fell discord and outragious strife,
Amongst the Roman ghost was rife.
So as their broyles and armed riet,
Th' infernall state did much disquiet.
Diuers great Captains were diuided,
About their quarrell vndecided.
One part doth in Elysium dwell,
Tother in those darke dens of hell.
And both sides readily inclin'd,
To trie what destinie design'd.
The blessed soules did then appeare,
255
The Decij both I there beheld,
The father and his worthie child.
Braue spirits that did expiate
The Tyranies from Roman state.
Camillus, and the Curij,
There wayling stood with watrie eye.
And Scylla one amongst this rout,
Against thee Fortune doth cry out.
And Scipio there I saw deplore,
That so the hatefull Affricke shore
Their noble blood should now distaine,
With his owne grandchild thereon slaine.
And Cato maior of renowne,
The ancient foe to Carthage towne,
Did here lament his Nephewes fate,
That dy'd in scorne of seruile state.
And Brutus in his Consuls gowne,
That Tyranny did first put downe,
We here beheld in ioyful moode,
Amongst blest soules whereas he stood.
There Catilyne with prowd disdaines,
Insults amongst his broken chaines.
And Marius with his bloody harmes,
Cethegi with their naked armes.
There likewise I the Drusians saw,
That made their libertie a law,
Reioycing in a popular loue
And Gracchi that great things durst proue,
Though hampered with lasting chaines,
Whose liberties hell-gates restraines.
Yet clap their hands that plaudits yeelds
These wicked ghosts craue blessed fields.
Then this infernall Realmes great guide
His stations did enlarge more wide.
And therewithall he sharpes the rocks,
Hard adamantine chaines and locks,
With iron links he doth prepare,
As torments for the victors share.
But yet ô youth take now with thee
256
Expect a blessed resting place
For thy sires soule and all his race.
For in that kingdome deepe of Dis
A pleasant part reserued is
To entertaine great Pompeys spright.
Let not the glory him delight,
Of this short lifes vncertaine date,
The houre drawes neare, whose present fate,
Shall these great captains fortunes mixe;
In death therefore your comforts fixe.
Go proudly and with high desires
Vnto your lowly funerall fiers,
And spurning scorne those haughty soules
That Roman rites like Gods controules.
For now the strife is who shall haue
On Tybris or on Nyle his graue,
And all the warre these Captaines wage
Is where shall be their funerall stage.
But as for what concernes thy fate,
Do not desire I should relate,
Spare me, for though I silence keepe
A Prophet of more knowledge deepe,
Will let thee all things vnderstand,
And thou in the Sicilian land,
Shalt haue it at thy fathers hand.
Whose mind as yet I do not know,
Whither he meanes that thou shalt go;
Or from what place thou shouldst refraine,
Or what vnluckie coasts disdaine.
Or in which part of this worlds clime
Thou shouldst abide and spend thy time.
But haplesse ye, Europe forbeare,
Affricke and Asia, likewise feare,
Fortune your tombes will there diuide,
Where earst triumphant you did ride.
O wretched house! the world you yeelds,
Nought safer then Pharsalias fields.
Thus hauing his relation told,
With mornefull lookes did silence hold.
And death was his desired meede,
But Magicks charmes thereto would neede,
And hearbes to make the carkasse fall;
For Fates could not againe recall
The soule that once at large did rome,
By lawes expir'd of Stygian doome.
Then did Erictho frame withall
A pile of wood for funerall,
Thus to the fire the bodie went
Which kindled, was laid downe and brent.
Where when Erictho saw him lie,
She left him in that place to die.
And so along with Sextus went,
To visite Pompey at his Tent.
But now the mornings dawne drew neare,
So that the dayes peepe did appeare.
Therefore that they might secret passe
To Pompey where he camped was,
She did inchant the scowling night,
With sable vailes to clowd the light.
Do not desire I should relate,
Spare me, for though I silence keepe
A Prophet of more knowledge deepe,
Will let thee all things vnderstand,
And thou in the Sicilian land,
Shalt haue it at thy fathers hand.
Whose mind as yet I do not know,
Whither he meanes that thou shalt go;
Or from what place thou shouldst refraine,
Or what vnluckie coasts disdaine.
Or in which part of this worlds clime
Thou shouldst abide and spend thy time.
But haplesse ye, Europe forbeare,
Affricke and Asia, likewise feare,
Fortune your tombes will there diuide,
Where earst triumphant you did ride.
O wretched house! the world you yeelds,
Nought safer then Pharsalias fields.
Thus hauing his relation told,
With mornefull lookes did silence hold.
257
But Magicks charmes thereto would neede,
And hearbes to make the carkasse fall;
For Fates could not againe recall
The soule that once at large did rome,
By lawes expir'd of Stygian doome.
Then did Erictho frame withall
A pile of wood for funerall,
Thus to the fire the bodie went
Which kindled, was laid downe and brent.
Where when Erictho saw him lie,
She left him in that place to die.
And so along with Sextus went,
To visite Pompey at his Tent.
But now the mornings dawne drew neare,
So that the dayes peepe did appeare.
Therefore that they might secret passe
To Pompey where he camped was,
She did inchant the scowling night,
With sable vailes to clowd the light.
Finis Libri Sexti.
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