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The First Book.

The Argument.

At nine Years Old, Young Hannibal doth swear,
At th'Altar, to maintain the Romane War;
His Father, leading into farthest Spain
The Libyan Armie, is in Battel slain:
Him Hasdrubal, in chief Command, Succeeds;
Who, Hate Contracting by his cruel Deeds,
By a poor Slave's revengefull Hand doth fall:
Then Hannibal, elected General,
Breaks Faith with Rome, and to Sagunthus brings
His Arms, whose famous Siege the Poet sings.
I sing those Arms, by which Rome's Glory swell'd
To Heav'n, and Haughty Carthage was compell'd
To bear Oenotrian Laws. My Muse, relate
Hesperia's Toils: how many Men, how Great,
Rome bred, of Old, for War. When Cadmus Seed
Perfidiously infring'd their Sacred Deed,
And, strugling for Command, did War imbrace.
While Fortune long was doubtfull, where to place
2

The Empire of the World. The Tyrian Lords
Thrice with Successless Arms, and Impious Swords,
The Senate's Peace, and League, which they had sworn
To Jove, first broke. And, while, with Fury born,
Each Nation mutual Ruin did contrive,
They, to whom Fate the Victory did give,
Were nearest to their Fall. The Phrygian Powers
In Triumph enter Carthaginian Towers.
Rome's Palaces Sidonian Troops surround;
While onely in her Walls she Safety found.
The Cause of so great Rage, and Hate, with Care
Bequeathing to their Nephews endless War,
Let me relate, and their dark Counsels scan,
The Source of so great Stirs, which thus began.
Long since, when Dido fled her Native Land,
Polluted by her Brother's Impious Hand,
By Chance, on Libya's fatal Coast she falls,
And, on her purchas'd Land, erects new Walls,
With a Bull's-Hide, in Thongs divided round,
Encompass'd, and set out the measur'd Ground.
Here Juno (as the Antient Story goes)
Neglecting Argos, and Mycenæ, those
Belov'd, and pleasant Seats, desir'd to build
Eternal Mansions for her dear Exil'd.
But, when She saw Rome raise her lofty Head
So high, and, crossing Seas, her Eagles spread
Through all the World; mov'd by a Jealous Fear,
She the Phœnicians fill'd with Thoughts of War.
But these, at first, repress'd, and having lost
Their high Attempts on the Sicanian Coast,
Again she Arms prepares: One Captain may
Suffice Her to embroil the Earth, and Sea.
And He was Hannibal; who now puts on
All Her dire Fury: Him She dares alone
3

Ev'n 'gainst the Fates oppose. When, Joy'd to finde
A Man so bloody, casting in her Minde
The Ills, that She would bring on Italy;
Shall that Dardanian Fugitive (said She)
His Troy, and Houshold-Gods, twice Captivate,
In Spight of Me, to Latium translate?
And, for the Trojans, Latine Scepters found?
Ticinus, rather may thy Banks abound
With slaughter'd Romanes; and my Trebia's Flood
Swell, through the Celtick Plains, with Trojan Blood;
And Troubled Thrasimenus backward fly,
Affrighted at the Streams of Purple Dy.
So I may see Hesperian Cannæ Crown'd
With Bodies, and in Blood the Vallies drown'd;
And Thee, swift Aufidus, incertain where
To leave a Ford, when as no Banks appear,
Lab'ring o're Arms, and scatter'd Limbs, thy Way
To break into the Adriatick Sea.
This said; the Youth, who nothing else desires,
But Broils, and War, with Martial Thoughts she fires.
Faithless, repleat with Guil, Unjust was He,
And, when once arm'd, contemn'd the Deity,
Valiant, but Cruel, hating Peace, and fir'd
With a strange Thirst of Humane Blood, desir'd,
Then, in His pride of Youth, to wipe away
His Father's Stains, and i'th' Sicilian Sea
To drown all Leagues, Juno, with Hope of Praise,
Inflames his Heart, to which His Soul obeys.
Now in His Dreams, He seems to break into
The Capitol, and o're the Alps to go:
Oft in His troubled Sleep, rising by Night,
With horrid Cries His Servants Hee'd affright;
Who found Him, bath'd in Sweat, His future War
To wage, and beat with Rage the empty Air.
4

This Fury, against Italy abus'd,
While yet a Childe, his Father had infus'd,
Born of the Noble Barcean Race, deriv'd
From ancient Belus. For, when first, depriv'd
Of her Sichæus, Dido fled from Tyre;
The Belian Youth, t'escape the Tyrian's Ire,
Join'd to her Train, resolved to embrace
Her Fate, and Fortune: from that Noble Race,
Amilcar, fam'd for Valour, claim'd Descent,
And, studious former Hatred to foment,
Soon as his Son could speak, and Words exprest,
Kindled the Romane War within His Breast.
Amidst the City, circled by a Grove
Of shady Yew, that did all Light remove,
A Temple stood, built to Eliza's Ghost,
And dreadfull held through all the Tyrian Coast.
Here (as 'tis said) the Queen with Her own Hand,
Her self from Grief absolv'd: sad Statues stand
Of Father Belus, and, in Order, all
His Off-Spring, with Agenor, whom they call
The Glory of their Line, Phœnix, whose Fame,
Gave to that Land, an everlasting Name.
At length, Eliza joined to her Lord
For ever; at Her Feet the Phrygian Sword:
Next unto these twice fifty Altars stand,
Built to the Gods, that Heav'n, and Hell command:
Clad in a Stygian Vest with scatter'd Locks,
The Priestess, here, Ennæa's Power invokes,
And Acheron: when from the trembling Ground,
Sad Murmures breaking, through the Temple sound,
And Flames from the unkindled Altars rise:
Then, rais'd by Magick Songs, with horrid Cries,
The wandring Ghosts fly through the hollow Air;
While Dido, in her Marble, sweats for Fear.
5

Hither comes Hannibal, commanded by
Amilcar; who observ'd with Curious eye
His Face, and Gesture. Him no Horrid Rites
O'th' Place, nor mad Massila's Fury frights,
Nor the dark Pavement stain'd with Blood, nor Flames
Arising at the sound of Horrid Names.
Stroaking his Head, his Father kiss'd him, chears
His early Courage, and thus fills his Ears.
An unjust Nation, sprang from ruin'd Troy,
With their harsh Leagues do Cadmus Sons annoy:
If Fates deny the Honour should be Mine,
To wipe off this Disgrace, may it be Thine.
Think on a War may Italy destroy:
And may the Tyrrhene Youth (my warlike Boy)
Thy Rising dread; and teeming Mothers fear
Their Children to produce, if Thou appear.
Mov'd by this Language, He replies. By Sea,
And Land, so soon as Years will suffer Me,
With Fire and Sword the Romanes I'le pursue,
And what Rhetæan Fates decree undo.
Neither the Gods, nor Leagues forbidding War,
Tarpeian Rocks, nor Alps shall Me debarr.
This my Resolve by Mars I swear, and by
Thy Ghost, great Queen. This said, to Hecate
Falls a black Victime: the Priestless enquires
The trembling Entrails, as the soul expires.
And when (as Custome was) with Art the mind
O'th' Gods she had explor'd, she thus Divin'd.
Th'Ætolian Plains I see with Armies fill'd,
And Lakes, that with Idæan Blood are swell'd.
What mighty Bodies climb unto the Skie
By Rocks; on whose high top thy Camp shall lie?
Now from the Hills the furious Army falls
Into the Plains, and now the trembling Walls
6

In smoak are lost. I see Sidonian Flames
Through all Hesperia shine, and bloody Streams
Mix'd with Eridanus. Even He, that bare
To Jove the third Opimous Spoils of War,
Lyes dead on heaps of Arms and Men; his face
Retaining still its fierceness. But, alass!
What Tempests do with suddain storms arise;
While, from the gaping Heav'n, swift Lightning flies?
The Gods Great things intend, I see even Jove
Engag'd in War, and Thunder from above.
The silent Entrails now no more reveal'd;
But Juno all the Fates to come conceal'd.
Dangers, and tedious Labours are behind.
So keeping in his breast the War design'd;
While to remotest Gades he doth lead
His Troops, and at Alcides Pillars spread
His Getick Ensigns, slain in fight, in pride
Of all his hopes, the Tyrian Captain dy'd.
Him Hasdrubal succeeds: whose Reign begun
In that rich Land, where the declining Sun
Stoops to the Ocean: whose Tyrant-sway
Th'Iberi, and Beticolæ obey.
Of a dark Soul, implacable was He,
The fruit of whose Command was Cruelty;
His Thirst of Blood unquenchable appear'd,
Esteeming it an Honour to be fear'd:
This Rage known Torments could not satiate.
And thus, while He both Gods and Men forgate,
Tagus of antient Race, and noble Fame
For Beauty, and for valiant Acts, (his Name
Deriv'd from Golden Tagus, and bewail'd
Through all Iberia;) on an Oak impail'd,
He shews in triumph to's sad Peoples eyes,
A King deprived of his Obsequies.
7

Content with his own Bounds, he nor requir'd
Mæonian streams, nor Lydian Pools desir'd,
Nor those rich Vales, where liquid Gold doth flow,
And Hermus with the Sand doth yellow grow.
He first the Fight began, and last withdrew:
And when, with's fiery Steed, he broke into
The Ranks, no Sword, no Spear, could him withstand;
But in both Armies, with his Conqu'ring hand,
Tagus in golden Arms by all was known.
Whom when his Servant saw impail'd upon
The fatal Oak, deform'd; snatching a Sword
From's side, esteem'd by his lamented Lord,
Into the Tyrant's Tent he suddain prest,
And pierc'd, with num'rous wounds, his cruel Brest.
Grief, now, and Rage, the Tyrian Camp divide,
And all their thoughts to sad Revenge apply'de.
Some Fire, some burning Brass, some Racks prepare,
And some with Rods his bleeding Body tear.
All busie hands in various Torments chuse
Their part: some deadly Poyson do infuse;
Others the gaping Wounds with Flames do fill.
And (what was terrible to see, or tell,)
While with all art of Cruelty each Limb
Was stretcht; that Bones in liquid Flesh did swim,
And Marrow, mix'd with Blood, in smoak did rise:
His Courage still was firm, and did despise,
And scorn their Torments; or as he had been
A safe Spectatour onely, and had seen,
Not felt, what they inflict, the Slave disdains
His fainting Executioners; complains
They're dull, and stoutly for the Cross doth call.
'Midst these despised pains, the General
Thus lost, the trembling Armie with one voice,
And cry, on Hannibal streight fix their choice.
8

The Image of his Father's Valour, Fame
Of the War vow'd against the Romane Name,
His young and active Courage, noble Heat,
His Eloquence, and mind arm'd with Deceit,
Procured this Applause. And, first of all,
The Libyan Troops salute him General;
Next these, the Pyrenæan People; than
The warlike Bands of the Iberian.
When streight a Confidence of this Command
Enflames his soul: as if the Sea and Land,
Where Auster rules, or where the Lamp of Day
In Cancer lodg'd tormenteth Libya,
Or Asia did submit; or He beheld
A third part of the World Obedience yield.
His Bounds were where Fam'd Nilus sees the Day
First rise, and with seven Streams invades the Sea.
But where they milder look to either Bear,
Wash'd by th'Herculean-sea, the Plains appear
Of fertile Europe, from the neighb'ring Hills:
All the vast Tract beyond the Ocean fills.
Nor will huge Atlas suffer that his Name
Farther extend: Atlas, whose Neck the Frame
Of Heaven doth prop: Whose clouded Head doth all
The Stars support; which, that withdrawn, would fall.
The Winter of un-melting Frost, and Snow,
Dwells on his Beard; upon his lofty Brow
A Grove of Pines, that cast Eternal shade;
His Temples by the Winds are hollow made;
And Rivers from his misty Jaws descend
In Froth; and both his sides with Seas contend:
Which, when his panting Steeds the weary Sun
Doth drench in smoaking Waves, do seem to drown
The Chariot. But where parch'd Africk's Fields
Appear, the barren Earth no Harvest yields;
9

But Serpents, with fell Poison charg'd; yet where
The Soil is bless'd with a more temperate Air,
Nor Pharian, nor Ennæan Plains excell.
Here the Numidians insulting fill
One quarter of the Camp: no use they know
Of Bridles; but, when Horses swiftest go,
Them, with a Wand, between their Ears apply'd,
As with the Reins, or Curbs, at pleasure, guid.
A warlike Nation, that in Wars delight;
Yet trusting more to Fraud, then open Fight.
The Spanish Troops another part contain'd;
Aids, by his valiant Father's Trophies, gain'd
From Europe: whose fierce Horse with neighing fills
The Plains, and swiftly climbs th'encamped Hills:
(Not Mars through Thracian Fields more furious drives)
A Nation fierce, and prodigal of Lives,
Willing to hasten Death: for, when their Prime
Of years is over-past by conqu'ring Time,
Scorning decay of Strength, or Age, to know,
Bear in their hands their Fate. Here Metals grow
Of matter mixt, Electrum's Pallid Veins
Produc'd, and darker Steel the Earth conteins:
But God those Springs of Mischeif deeply hides;
Yet Astur, covetous, the Earth divides,
And, in her mangled Entrails drown'd again,
Returns with Gold, and bears the Pretious Stain.
Hence Durius, and rich Tagus, with thy Streams
Contend, Pactolus, and that Flood, that seems
To bring up Lethe to the People, and
Upon the Gravii rolls the Glistering Sand.
A Land where Ceres, and Lyæus too
Do dwell, and Olive-Trees in plenty grow.
These Nations, now, reduc'd to the Command
Of Warlike Hannibal, and in his Hand
10

The Reins of Rule: streight with his Father's Arts
He makes his Party; now with Arms subverts
Decrees of Senate, now with Bribes; appears
The first to walk on Foot; the first, that bears
A part, if haste require, a Trench to make;
The first, that all Attempts would undertake:
Remiss in nothing, that to Honour tends;
Refuseth nature Rest, and watchfull spends
The night in Arms. Now, by his Cassock known,
Mix'd with the Libyssæan Foot, lies down
On th'Earth, contending with the Steel he wore
In Hardness: sometimes he'd Advance before
His num'rous Troops; and, with a valiant Hand,
Perform in Person, what he did Command:
Sometimes, on his bare Head, he'd entertain
The Ruins of the Heav'ns; their Storms, and Rain.
The Tyrians saw, th'Asturians did admire
To see, when Jove did dart his forked Fire,
When Thunder fell in Storms, and every Blast
Of Wind struck forth the Flames, how bold he past
Through all, on's snorting Steed: nor would retire,
Though clog'd with Dust, and scorch'd with Sirius fire.
And, when the sultry Air did frie with Heat,
That parch'd the Earth, they seem'd Effeminate,
Who sought a Shade: while He, to exercise
His Thirst, where er'e he sees a Fountain, flies,
His sole Delight's, to dress a furious Horse
For War, and to be famous for the Force
Of's killing Arm: to swim a Stream unknown
Or'e Ecchoing Rocks: t'assail the Foe, upon
The adverse Bank. The first, that would ascend
To scale a Wall, and, when he did contend
In open Fight, where er'e his Sword did go,
It carried Death, and Streams of Blood did flow.
11

Being therefore, now, resolv'd to violate
The Sacred League, he urgeth on his Fate.
And, where he can, on Rome's Allies doth fall,
And storms in farthest Lands the Capitol.
His waving Ensigns (first displai'd for love
Of greater Wars) against Sagunthus move.
The Walls, first built by Hercules, not far
From Sea, upon a rising Hill appear.
Whose noble Name Zacynthus, there by Fate
Entomb'd upon the Top, did consecrate.
He, among others of Alcides Train,
Return'd to Thebes, the fam'd Gerion slain.
Three Souls that Monster did inform, three pair
Of Hands, his Head a triple Neck did bear.
Earth ne'r beheld another could survive
One Death, to whom the Fates three Lives did give.
Yet here the Conqu'rour shew'd his Spoils: and, as
In Heat of day the Captive Heards did pass
Unto the Springs, a Serpent, kick'd by chance,
Big with enflaming Poison, did advance
His tumid Jaws, and by a deadly Wound
Lay'd the Inachian dead on Spanish Ground.
About that time, an exil'd Colonie,
Born in an Island of the Grecian Sea,
Came from the South, and by Zacynthus there
To Ithaca's Dominions added were.
The Daunian Youth, wanting a dwelling, then
Rich in their Numbers, led by Valiant men,
Sent from a City, which we Ardea term,
Arriv'd, their weak Beginnings to confirm.
These, by Agreement with the Romane State,
Having their Liberties inviolate,
And Honour of their Ancestours, forsook,
What they had long endur'd, the Tyrian Yoak.
12

Against these, therefore, his incensed Bands,
Breaking the League, fierce Hannibal commands:
Disturbs their Peace with Arms. Shaking his Head,
Himself high-mounted on his panting Steed,
Surveys the Walls; and, when he had beheld
The trembling Houses, Summons them to yield
Their Gates, and Forts: tells them; That Italie,
Their Leagues, and hop'd-for Aids, far distant be;
Nor should his Mercy meet them, if subdu'de
By Arms: That all the Senate could conclude,
Their Laws, and Statutes, nay their Gods, and Faith,
Were now within his Power. And what he saith,
Confirms by's Javelin thrown against the Walls:
Which on Caïcus, vainly threat'ning, falls;
And through his Arms his Body pierc'd. He slain,
And tumbling from the Rampart, brings again
To the insulting Conquerour his Dart,
Reeking in Blood, and trembling in his Heart.
The rest th'Example of the General
With Shouts pursue; and streight obscure the Wall
With a dark Cloud of Darts. Nor was their clear
Valour in Number lost: each man doth bear
Himself against the foremost; as if he,
Alone, would undertake the Enemie.
Here one the Sling with frequent Jerks doth ply;
Which, waved thrice about his Head, lets flie
A Weapon with the Winds; which in the Air
Is lost, to sight. Huge Stones another, there,
Flings from his sinewy Arm: this doth advance,
And from the slippery nouse expells a Lance.
But Hannibal, before all other, rich
In's Father's Arms, now flings, with flaming Pitch,
A smoaking Lamp; then hurls his Javelin; now,
With Stakes, and Stones, doth press upon the Foe:
13

Or poison'd Arrows sends, and doth applaud
Insulting, as they flie, his Quiver's fraud.
Such Shafts the Daci, on the Getique Coast,
Steep'd in the Poison of their Countrie, boast,
And by the Banks of two-nam'd Ister shoot.
But now it is decreed, and they, about
The Hill, their horned Bulwarks raise; and, round
The City, armed Towers do abound.
Oh Faith, by ancient Times ador'd, which now
On Earth, we onely by thy Name do know!
The Valiant Youth resolved stand, and see
All hope of Flight cut off; their Walls to be
Begirt with Arms: yet think a noble Death,
Most worthy Rome. And that, Sagunthus Faith
By them preserv'd, she might more Glorious fall,
Then stand: they now more resolutely all
Their Strength collect. Then from contracted Strings
Stones of vast Bulk the Phocæan Engine slings:
Or, changing weight, whole Trees with Iron bound
Ejects; that, breaking through, the Ranks confound.
A Shout both Armies raise, and furious come
To Blows; as if they had besieged Rome.
Among so many thousands, that did stand,
Circled in Arms, like Corn on fertile Land;
Bold Hannibal, desirous to enspire
Into his Armie's minds that furious Fire
Was lodg'd in his own Breast, doth thus excite
Their Rage, and Stimulates the following Fight.
Do we stand still before a Captiv'd Foe?
Asham'd we have begun? Asham'd to go
On with this O men? goodly Valour! Shall
These be the first-Fruits of the General?
Must we fill Italie with such a Fame?
Premise such Fights as this? Go on, for shame.
14

This said, with Fury they invade the Wall,
On which they leave their Hands, and backwards fall.
With that in haste a Mount was rais'd, above
The Town, whereon the Fighting Squadrons move.
But with an Engine, that by many hands
Was mov'd, the brave Besieg'd, the thronging Bands
Drive from the Gates. It was a mighty Oak,
Strange to behold; which, for defence, they took
From th'Pyrenæan Hills. This, strongly lin'd
With num'rous Pikes of Steel, could hardly finde
By Walls, resistance; and about besmear'd
With Sulphur, and with unctious Pitch, appear'd
Like an huge Thunder-bolt, and from the Walls
Of their high Arcenal it swiftly falls,
Cutting with trembling Flames the yielding Air;
(So Comets, running with their bloody Hair,
From Heav'n to Earth, cast a Prodigious light)
And with a furious Force, that did affright
Ev'n Hannibal, upon the Armie flies,
Tossing their smoaking Members to the Skies:
Till, fix'd to a vast Tower, the active Flames,
Through the raw Hides, consume the mighty Beams.
And there, in burning Ruins, both the Men,
And Arms involves. The Carthaginians then,
Grown wise by loss, through secret Mines convey
Their Troops, and so the City open lay.
That labour of Great Hercules, the Wall,
To th'Earth, with noise incredible, doth fall;
And in its Ruin Stones immense doth roll,
That Eccho from the Alps unto the Pole.
So airy Rocks, torn from their Native side
By Storms, with horrour do an Hill divide.
The Breach was soon, with Heaps of Bodies slain,
Obstructing their Advance, supply'd again.
15

Amidst those Ruins, both with equal Rage
Do meet; before the rest, in's prime of Age,
Murrus, ennobled by a Latine Line,
Himself a Greek, his Mother Sagunthine;
Whose Parents, in a Sacred League combin'd,
Dulichian Nephews to Italian joyn'd.
He, as stout Vaidus his Companions calls
Aloud unto the Fight, upon him falls,
And wounds him, where unarm'd he did appear,
Between his Cask and Corslet; with his Spear
Stopping his bold Attempts: and, as he lies
Prostrate upon the Ground, insulting cries;
Th'art down, false Carthaginian: surely thou,
As Conquerour, didst fancy foremost now
To climbe the Capitol: but, what could move
Such bold Desires? Go, war with Stygian Jove.
Then, as Iberus fiercely did advance,
To succour him, fix'd in his Thigh his Lance:
And, spurning Vaidus dying Face, quoth he;
This to the Walls of Rome your Way must be,
O fear'd, and valiant Hands! you all must tread
This Path, whither soe're your Haste doth lead.
And, as Iberus labour'd to renew
The Fight, his Target seis'd, and pierc'd him through
His naked Side. Iberus, rich in Land,
And Flocks, unknown to Fame, could well command
His Dart, and Bow, against a flying Beast:
Happy in's Private life, had he possest
Those Weapons still, within his Father's Groves.
To succour him with speed now Ladmus moves:
On whom bold Murrus grimly smiling, Thou
(Said he) shalt tell Amilcar's Shade below;
That this right-Hand, after the Vulgars fall,
Shall give you for Companion Hannibal:
16

Then, rising high, with's Sword on's Helmet struck,
Which, through the very brasen Cover, broke
His cracking Scull. Then Chremes, who his Hair
Unshorn, like to a Cap, on's Brow did wear:
With Masulus, and Harcalo, though old,
Yet not unfit for War; who with a bold
And fearless Hand, a teeming Lyoness
Would stroke: then Bragada, whose Shield's Impress,
A River's Urn: Hyempsal, who the Wrack
Of Ships from dang'rous Sands would boldly take,
As Spoils, from raging Seas: these sadly all,
Slain by his fatal Hand, together fall:
And with them Atyr, skilfull to disarm
Serpents of Poison, whose sole Touch could charm
To sleep the banefull Adder, and apply
The Cerast, all suspected Broods to try.
And thou Hyarba, Garamantick, born
By Oracular Groves, thy Helmet, like an Horn,
Bending about thy Temples, there wer't slain;
Accusing Jove, and Destinies, in vain,
That often falsly thy Return express'd.
But now with Bodies slain the Heap encreas'd,
And with the yet-warm Streams of slaughter smoaks;
While Murrus to the Fight aloud provokes
The General: as when, pursu'd by cries
Of Spartan Dogs, a Boar the Forest flies,
And, met by Hunters, on his Back doth rear
The Ensigns of his Rage, and his last War
Attempts, and, as his foamy Blood he eats,
Groaning, his Tusks against their Javelins beats.
But in another Quarter, where Despair
Had forc'd the Youth to sally, free from fear,
That any Hand, or Dart, could work his fall,
Raging amidst the Troops was Hannibal:
17

And shakes his Sword, that was, not long before,
With Fire enchanted, on th'Hesperian Shore,
Made by Old Temisus; whose pow'rfull Skill
Could temper, with his Charming Tongue, the Steel.
So, in Bistonian Plains, the God of War
Brandish'd his Sword; when, in his Iron Car,
The Titans he pursu'd; or, with the Breath
Of's Steeds, and Noise of's Wheels, extinguisheth
The Flames of War. Hoscus, and Pholus, now,
Lygdus, and Dirius, to the Shades below,
By him were sent. To them Galesus fair;
The Twins, Chronus and Gyas, added were:
With Daunus; who all other did excell,
In Pleading at the Bar, and by his Skill
(Though a most Just Observer of the Laws)
Still gain'd the Hearers minds unto his Cause.
But, furiously, with Rage transported, now,
This Language adds, as he his Darts doth throw;
Whither, proud Carthaginian, will the Spite,
And Fury, of thy Father, thee incite?
Here are no Fabricks, by a Womans Hand
Erected, purchas'd with a Price; or Land
To Exiles measur'd, by an Oxe's Hide:
Here the Foundations of the Gods abide,
And Romane Leagues. While thus he, boasting, speaks;
With a fierce Charge, the Carthaginian breaks
Into the fighting Ranks, that him surround,
And seising on him Captive, having bound
His Hands upon his Back, commands him strait,
In slowly-killing Pains, to meet his Fate.
Then bids his Ensigns to Advance; and, through
The Heaps of Slaughter'd Men, the Way doth shew,
Exciting all by Name; and gives away,
Sure of Success, the City, as their Prey.
18

But now, inform'd by some, that Fled, that Heaven
To Murrus, in another Part, had given
The Day with Victory, enrag'd, he flies
Like a fierce Tiger, and that Enterprize
Forsakes: while, as he goes, his Helmet seems,
Upon his Head, to cast forth killing Beams.
As when a Comet, with its fiery Hair,
A Kingdom frights, and scatters through the Air
Its Bloody Flames; which, as they issue forth,
With Horrour, threaten Ruin to the Earth.
The Ensigns, Arms, and Men, unto his Rage
Give way; and, as he, Furious, doth engage,
Both Armies tremble: while his Spear ejects
A Light, prodigious; that round reflects,
Like Lightning, on his Shield. As when the Waves,
Swelling up to the Stars, while Corus raves
On the Ægæan-Sea, hang in the Air;
Filling th'affrighted Sea-mens Hearts with Fear:
And roaring, Thunder-like, as they encrease,
Toss, to and fro, the trembling Cyclades,
Within their hollow Bosoms. Him, not all
The Darts, that do invade him, from the Wall;
Nor Flames, cast at his Face; nor Stones, by Art,
Excuss'd from mighty Engines, could divert.
Soon as a shining Crest he did behold,
And, by the Sun's reflection, Arms of Gold,
Besmear'd with Blood, look red; enrag'd, he saies.
See Murrus, who Our great Attempts delaies,
And Libya's Affairs: I'le make Thee know,
What thy Iberus, and vain Leagues can do.
Keep still your Laws, Faith, Justice: but (said he)
Leave your deceived Deities to Me.
Murrus replies; Th'art Welcome. My desire
To Combate Thee, long since, did burn like Fire,
19

In hope to have thy Head: receive what's due
For all thy Fraud, and under Ground pursue
Thy Way to Italy; to thee this Hand
Shall a long Journey give to th'Trojan Land,
And Alps, and high Pyrene, crown'd with Snow.
This said, perceiving his approaching Foe,
From the high Breach, a firm, and weighty Stone,
With all his Strength, he takes, and hurls it down,
As he Advanc'd, and in its speedy fall
Oppress'd him, as if stricken with the Wall.
Shame fires his Thoughts; nor, still wont to prevail,
Though check'd, did then his conscious Valour fail.
Gnashing his Teeth, he labours to ascend
The Wall, through all the Darts, that it defend:
But when he nearer shin'd, and stood upon
The Rampart, all the Tyrian Troops came on,
And compass'd Murrus round, who all the Host
Amaz'd, and soon among his Foes was lost.
A thousand Hands, and Swords, together shine,
Unnumber'd waving Crests on Casks decline.
Loud Shouts, and Clamours, from all Quarters came,
As if Sagunthus all were in a Flame.
Murrus, his Limbs, with instant Death possess'd,
Drags after him, and these Last words express'd.
Alcides, Thou, who first these Walls didst rear,
Whose Sacred foot-steps we inhabite here,
Avert this Storm, which menaceth our Land;
If I defend not with a sluggish Hand
Thy Walls. And looking up (as thus he pray'd)
To Heav'n, Shall not our bold Attempts (he said)
More justly favour'd be, Great Hercules?
Unless our emulous Valour thee displease.
For, not unlike thy self, when Mortal, Me
Thou shalt acknowledg. Then propitious be,
20

Thou God, that first didst waste unhappy Troy.
Me rather, who the Reliques will destroy
Of th'Phrygian Race, (said Hannibal) assist.
And, as he spake, with all his Fury prest
His Sword through Murrus. Troubled at his Fall,
The Youth run in; his Arms, and Corps, by all
Well known, were to the Conquerour deni'de,
For Spoil: the Troops encrease on either side,
And stand all in an Heap; while Stones rebound
'Gainst Helmets, & while Spears 'gainst Targets sound.
Some hard'ned Stakes do throw, some pond'rous Lead,
By which the Crest's divided on the Head,
And Glory of the Plumes in Slaughter fall.
And now the Rivulets of Sweat o're all
The Libyan's Members flow; on ev'ry Scale
Stand barbed Arrows, in his Coat of Mail.
No Rest, no Shelter left to shun a Blow:
His Knees decline, and weary Shoulders bow
Under his Arms. Then, from his parched Jaws,
His Breath like Vapour breaking forth, he draws
Deep sighs, and Groans, that check'd by panting throws,
A broken Murmur through his Helmet goes.
His Courage his Adversity outvies,
Perswading Virtue, then to exercise
Her Strength, when Fortune frowns: and so outweighs
Dangers, by th'Glory of ensuing Praise.
A suddain Noise, among the Clouds, breaks forth
From the divided Heav'n, and shakes the Earth.
Jove, over both the Armies, thund'red twice;
Then, in an horrid Whirl-wind, in the Skies,
Shak'd the revengfull Lance of unjust War,
And couch'd upon his adverse Thigh the Spear.
Ye, Rocks Tarpeian, where Powers Divine
Reside! and Trojan Flames, that ever shine
21

On Virgin Altars! what great things (alass)
To you, by that fallacious Meteor, was
Promis'd by Heav'n? for, had it nearer been
Oppos'd against their Rage, we ne'r had seen
A Passage through the Alps; nor Allia
Should (Thrasimenus) to thy Streams give way.
But Juno, on Pyrene's Top, from far,
Beholding his so early Heat, in War,
And fruitless Onset, pulls his falling Spear
From the hard Bones, where it did first appear.
He hiding with his Shield the Blood, that swims,
Diffus'd in Streams, upon his wounded Limbs;
Fainting, with slow, and doubtfull Steps, retires.
The Night, at length, arrives to their desires,
And both the Earth, and Sea, in darkness hides,
And, putting Day to flight, the Fight decides.
But their resolved Minds still watch, with Care,
And, lab'ring in the Night, the Breach repair.
Extremities of Danger do incense
Their Thoughts, and Courage; which takes Violence
From their Despair. Hence Men oppress'd with Age,
Women, and tender Children, all engage
To help, and in that dubious State of things,
With his yet bleeding Wounds, the Souldier brings
Stones to the Work: the Senatours their share
Partake, and Nobles, in the Publick Care.
They meet, and chosen Men exhort, with Pray'rs,
To succour their deplorable Affairs,
And from Sagunthus Walls to drive away
The Tyrian Flames. Now, go, with speed (say they)
And, while the wounded Tyger is restrain'd,
And shut within his Den, their Ships ascend.
A speedy Diligence is best in War;
The way to Honour is, where Dangers are.
22

Haste ye, these antient Walls, that can no more
Defend us, and our Faith, at Rome deplore.
Come home with better Fates: in brief, Return,
Before in Funeral Flames Sagunthus burn.
With this sad Charge to the next Shore they hie,
And or'e the Seas with swelling Canvase flie.
Now Tithon's rosie Wife had Sleep exil'd,
And with her Horses early neighing fill'd
The Misty Hills, and shook her Reins, with Dew
Surcharg'd: when from the Walls the Youth did shew
Their high-built Tow'rs; that there by Night had bin
Erected, and the City compass'd in.
All Action's lay'd aside; the Souldier's sad;
The Siege declines; that Heat stands still, that had
So Active been; and, in that Danger, all
Their Cares are turn'd upon the General.
The Rutuli, by this, the Seas had crost,
Beginning now to see th'Herculean Coast,
And Cloud-encompass'd Rocks, that to the Skies
From the Monœcian Hills aspiring rise.
Here Thracian Boreas his Imperial Seat
Maintains: and, always Cold, sometimes doth beat
Upon the Shore; sometimes, with roaring Wings,
Cleaves ev'n the Alps; and, when himself he flings
Over the Earth, from the still-Icie Bear,
No other Winds against him dare appear.
With whirling Blasts, the Ocean is broke
Into divided Waves, that rise in Smoak,
And hide the Hills from sight: then, as he flies,
Heaves Rhene, and Rhodanus, unto the Skies.
When this dire Fury of fierce Boreas they
Had scap'd, th'alternate Dangers of the Sea,
And their sad War, and dubious Success
Of things, with frequent Sighs they thus express.
23

Dear Countrey! Faith's renowned Temple! where
Are now thy Fates? do yet thy Tow'rs appear
Sacred on Hills? Or, of so Great a Name,
Do Ashes, the sad Reliques of a Flame,
Onely remain; ye Gods? Oh! fill our Sails
With gentle Winds, and give us prosp'rous Gales;
If that our Temples Roofs the Fire invade
Not yet, or Latian Ships can lend us Aid.
In such Complaints, they, Day and Night, deplore
Their State; untill on the Italian Shore
The Ship arriv'd: where Father Tyber, made
More rich by Anyo's Waters, doth invade
With Yellow Waves the Sea. From thence they come
Unto the Walls of their own-kindred, Rome.
The Consul calls a Solemn Council; where
Fathers of unstain'd Poverty appear:
Whose worthy Names do from their Triumphs rise.
A Senate, that in Virtue equalize
The Gods: such Men, as valiant Acts to Fame
Commend; whom just Desires of Right enflame:
Their Beards, and Hair, neglected on their Brow;
Their Hands familiar with the crooked Plow;
Content with little: Hearts, whom no desire
Of Wealth torments; who, often, did retire
To their small Lares, in Triumphal Cars.
But, at the Temple-Gates, the Spoils of Wars,
Their Captiv'd Chariots, and Weapons stain'd
With Blood, Opimous Spoils, which they had gain'd
From Generals, with Axes terrible
In Fight; then Bars of Gates, whose Cities fell
Under their Fury; Targets, pierced through
By Darts, and Swords, hang up: and here they view
Ægathes War; Ships scatter'd on the Sea,
Whose Stems, there hanging, Testimonials be
24

Of Libya's vanquish'd Fleet: the Helmets here
Of curled Senones are fix'd; and there
The Sword, the Judg of their redeeming Gold:
With these, the honour'd Trophies of the bold
Camillus, and his Arms, in Triumph borne
(The Gauls now all repuls'd) at his Return:
Here were the Spoils of great Æacides;
And Epirotick Ensigns: among these,
Dreadfull Ligurian Crests, with the rude Shield
Of Spain, and Alpine Gesa, they beheld.
But, when the Ruins they had born, and fear'd,
As written in their Squallid Looks appear'd,
So, that Sagunthus Image seem'd to stand,
Before their Eyes, and their Last Aid demand;
Grave Sycoris, with Tears, began, and saith.
Ye, Romanes, famous for your sacred Faith;
Whom justly all the Nations, that give place
Unto your Arms, acknowledg Mars his Race;
Think not, that we have measur'd o're the Sea,
For Dangers light. Our Walls, and Countrey, we,
Besieg'd, and falling, saw: and there, whom wilde
Beasts, or the raging Seas, brought forth, beheld,
Fierce Hannibal. Far from these Walls, Oh! far,
Keep him, ye Gods, I pray: and to our War
Confine his dreadfull Hand. What mighty Beams
He hurls? How Strong, how Great in Arms he seems?
Over Pyrene's Hills he makes his Way,
And, scorning that Iberus Flood should stay
His Speed, he listeth Calpe, in his Bands,
With those, that dive in Nasamonian Sands;
And seeketh greater Walls: that, if the Sea,
Whose Rage we lately felt, shall cease to be
His Bar, into your Cities he will break.
Think you, this desp'rate Youth would undertake
25

The charge of so great Broils, and violate
With Arms your League, or thus precipitate
By Vows into a War; onely to give
Sagunthus Laws, or Us of Life deprive?
Oh! haste, suppress the rising Flame, for fear
The Danger prove too strong for tardy Care.
Or, though you have no Terrours of your Own,
Nor yet the Seeds of War, which he hath sown,
Appear: can your Sagunthus be deny'd
An helping Hand, so near in Blood ally'd?
All the Iberi, Galli, all that are
Still thirsting under Libya's fiery Star,
Under his Ensigns march. We pray you, by
Th'ador'd Beginnings of the Rutuli,
Laurentine Houshold-Gods, and by these dear
Pledges of Mother Troy, with speed prepare
To Aid our Pietie, who are compell'd
For poor Acrisionean Walls to yield
Tyrinthian Tow'rs. You nobly did contend
'Gainst a Sicilian Tyran, and defend
Campanian Walls; and, once, to have expel'd
The Samnites strength, was a great Honour held,
Worthy Sigæan Ancestours. I call
To Witness you Eternal Fountains, all
That, from Time's birth, live in Apulia,
And close Numician Rools: when Ardea,
(Too happy then) first sent her Youth abroad,
With Turnus Altars, for a new Abode;
That they, beyond Pyrene's Hills, with care,
All the Laurentine Deities did bear.
Why then, as Members from the Body torn,
Or else cut off, should we expect your Scorn?
Or why should We, descended of your Blood
Be now opprest, because w'have firmly stood
26

Unto your Leagues? Thus, having ended all
Their sad Complaints (a wofull Sight) they fall,
Spreading their Squallid bodies on the Ground.
The Senate strait consult, and, as they, round,
Their Votes do pass, bold Lentulus, who seems
Ev'n then to see Sagunthus fall in Flames,
Adviseth; That they instantly demand
The Youth be punish'd, and to waste the Land
Of Carthage, with a suddain War, if they
Refuse. But Fabius, who did wisely weigh
Future Events, in Dubious affairs
Not too Elate, who would not stir up Wars
On Light occasions, and well was Skill'd
To manage them, yet not engage a Field,
Gravely advis'd; In matters of that Weight.
Not to be Rash: but try, if't were the Hate,
And Fury, of the General had mov'd
Those Arms; or if the Senate them approv'd:
That some be sent, who truly might Relate
The State of things. This, as fore-knowing Fate,
And providently pond'ring in his Breast
The rising Broils, wise Fabius exprest.
As when, at Stern, a Skilfull Pilot finds,
By Signs, some future Danger in the Winds,
Contracts, unto the reeling Yard, the Sails.
But Tears, and Grief, with Anger mix'd, prevails
With all, to hasten on the hidden Fates:
And, from the Senate, chosen Delegates
Are to the Gen'ral sent; and, if he stand
Deaf to the League, in Arms, have in Command,
To turn to Carthage City, and declare
'Gainst them, who had forgot the Gods, a War.
The End of the First Book.
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