University of Virginia Library

The Argument.

By Juno sent, to ease His present Cares,
The Goddess Anne, to Hannibal repairs:
By whose Advice, to Cannæ He removes.
Elected by the People, Varro proves
A Fatal Consul, the Delaies upbraids
Of Fabius: A List of all the Aids,
That with the Romanes joyn. The Army goes
To Cannæ: Fabius Counsel's to oppose
Rash Varro. What sad Prodigies foreshow
In Heaven, and Earth, the Romanes Overthrow.

Now Fabius, the first, that made them see
The flying Backs of Cadmus Progeny,
Was by the Romane Camp, and Souldiers all,
Their common Parent stil'd: by Hannibal,
His onely Fo. Impatient of Delay,
The Libyan raves. For that, to have a Day
Of Battel, the Dictatour's Death must be
Expected, and the Aid of Destiny
Was to be Wish'd: for while in Arms he stood,
While Fabius liv'd, to hope for Trojan Blood,
Was vain. For now the Souldiers brought again
Their Eagles, and, united, all remain
Under his sole Command. With him alone
He must again contend: and what upon
His Thoughts lay heaviest, was, that, by Delay,
He took the Fury of the War away;
And, by his Art of sitting still, had made
The Plenty of the Tyrian Army fade.
And, though an End, by Fighting, could not be
Obtain'd, or Battel, he his Enemy
Had by his Conduct lately overcome.
Besides, the boasting Celtæ towards Home
Began to look: a People of a light,
Unconstant Minde: Fierce, at the first, in Fight;
But, if withstood, soon quell'd. They griev'd to see
A War should be maintain'd, from Slaughter free:
(A thing to them unknown) and while they stood
In Arms, their Hands were stiff, and dry from Blood.
To add to this, an inward Grief, and Wound
Of civil Envy, did his Thoughts confound;
For Hanno, thwarting all he did intend
At Home, would not permit the Senate send,
To his Assistance, any Aids at all.

Torn with these Cares, and fearing now the Fall
Of his Affairs; Juno, who knew the Fate
Of Cannæ, and with future things elate,
Him with fresh Hopes of Arms, and War inspires,
And fills his Thoughts, again, with mad Desires.
For Anna, call'd from the Laurentine Lakes,
In this mild Language her Instructions takes.

There is a Youth, in Blood ally'd to Thee,
Call'd Hannibal, and from our Belus he
His Noble Name derives: make Haste away,
And the rude Surges of his Cares allay;
Shake Fabius from his Thoughts, who is alone
The Stop, that Italie's not overthrown.
Fabius is now dismiss'd, with Varro he
Hereafter must contend; the War must be
With Varro wag'd. Let him not wanting prove
To Fate, but quickly all his Ensigns move:
I will be present; let him haste away
To th'Iäpygian Plains: there Trebia,
And Thrasimonus Fates shall meet again.
Anna a Neighbour to the Gods, that reign
In those chast Woods, thus answers. It would be
Unjust in Me, should I delay (said She)
Your great Commands; but yet permit, I pray,
The Favours, to my antient Countrey, may
With Caution be retain'd; and that the Will,
And Charge, of my dear Sister I fulfill.

Though Anna be esteem'd Divine, among
The Latine Deities, yet Time with long
Ambages, turning, in Obscurity
Hath drown'd the Reason of Antiquity;
Why Temples the Ausonians should ordain
To Tyrian Pow'rs: Or why, where Trojans reign,
Eliza's Sister should be there ador'd.
But, keeping close to Time, I will record
What antient Fame reports; and, briefly, all
The Story tell, from its Original.

When Tyrian Dido, by her Trojan Guest,
Forsaken was, and all her Hopes supprest:
Within a secret Place, in Haste, with Cares,
And Love, distract, a Fun'ral Pyle she rears;
Then takes the Sword (that fatal Gift) that by
Her Husband fled was giv'n, resolv'd to dy:
When strait Hyarbas, whom before She had
Rejected, as a Lover, doth invade
Her Kingdom, and his Arms, Victorious (while
Her Ashes yet were warm) fix'd to the Pyle.
Who durst, while thus the Nomades fierce King
Prevail'd, to their Distress, Assistance bring?
Battus, by Chance, the Reins of Chief Command
Over Cyrene, with a gentle Hand
Then held: this Battus was by Nature Kind,
And Humane Chances easily inclin'd
With Tears, to pity, and, at first, when Anne
A Suppliant before Him came, began
The fickle State of Kings to apprehend,
And to relieve her, did his Hand extend.
Here She two Harvests pass'd, but could no more
Enjoy the Aid of Battus, and that Store
His Bounty did afford: for then a Fame
Was spread, Pygmalion to her Ruine came
By Sea. She therefore from that Kingdom flies,
And (as if hated by the Deities,
And no less hatefull to her self, that She
Her Sister's Death, did not accompany)
By fatal Tempests, on the Sea, was tost,
Till, with torn Sails, to the Laurentine Coast,
She driven was, and, sadly Ship-wrack'd, there
A Stranger to the People, Soil, and Air,
A fearfull Tyrian stood, on Latine ground.
When now behold Æneas, having crown'd
His Labours with a Kingdom, to the Place
By Chance, with young Iülus came: His Face
She quickly knew, and when he spy'd her there,
Her Eys fix'd on the Earth, and full of Fear,
Faln prostrate at Iülus Feet, whose Eys
O'reflow'd with Pity, helping her to rise,
To's House, he with a gentle Hand convey'd,
And when, with kind Reception, he'd allay'd
Her Fears of Danger, with a pensive Care,
Desir'd unhappy Dido's Fate to hear.
Then she, with Language fitted for the Time,
And Tears her Words protracting, thus to him
The Story told. Thou Goddess-born, alone,
Wert the true Cause, my Sister, both her Throne
And Life enjoy'd: her Death, and Fun'ral Fire
(Alass that I, in it, did not expire)
Can witness this: for when She could no more
Behold thy Face, sometimes upon the Shore
She sate, sometimes she stood, and, as her Eys
Pursu'd the Winds, with loud, and mournfull Cries
Æneas call'd, and onely begg'd, that she
Might in the Vessel bear thee Company.
Soon after, troubled in her Thoughts, again
She to her Marriage-Chamber runs amain,
Where, as she enters, she is seiz'd with such
A sudden Trembling, that she dares not touch
Her Nuptial Bed: then, mad with her Embrace,
The starry Image of Iülus Face
She hugs, then Thine; on which, at length, she dwells
With fixed Eys, and her sad Story tells
To Thee, and hopes an Answer to obtain.
But, when Love lai'd all Hopes aside, again
The House she quits, and flies unto the Shore,
Hoping the shifting Winds might Thee restore.
At length, fallacious Levity invites
Her, ev'n to Magick Arts, and the dire Rites
Of the Massilian Nation to descend.
But Oh! What wicked Errours do attend
Such Prophets! while they Stygian Pow'rs allure
From Hell, and promise to her Wounds a Cure.
What a sad Act did I, deceiv'd the while,
Behold! She throws upon the horrid Pyle
All Monuments, and fatal Gifts by Thee
On her bestow'd. With that thus lovingly
He interrupts her; By this Land I swear
(Which in my Wishes you did often hear)
By mild Iülus Head (to Her, and Thee
Once held so dear) I most unwillingly,
Oft looking back, and troubled in my Mind,
Your Kingdom left. Nor had I then declin'd
My Marriage-Bed, had I not threatned bin
By Mercury, who with his Hand Me in
The Cabine plac'd, and drove into the Sea,
With furious Winds, the flying Ship away.
But why (though all Advice is now too late)
Did you permit, at such a Time as that,
That She, without a Guard, in Love should be
So Furious? In broken Murmurs she
(Among her many Sighs) to this replies,
With trembling Lips. I then a Sacrifice
To Stygian Jove, and his Infernal Queen,
To try, if my poor Sister might have been
Eas'd in her Love-sick Mind, prepar'd, and to
The Altars, with all Diligence, I drew
The coal-black Lambs, with mine own Hand: for I,
The Night before, was fill'd with Horrour, by
A Dream: for thrice my Sister call'd on you
With a loud Voice, thrice on Sychæus; who,
Leaping for Joy, with a most chearfull Face
(I thought) appear'd. But, while I strove to chace
These Fancies from my Mind, and, as the Day
Began, that what I saw, might prosper, pray
The Gods; She, Frantick, runs unto the Shore,
And on the silent Sands, where you before
Had stood, her frequent Kisses fix'd, and prest
Your Foot-steps with a kind embracing Breast:
As Mothers, late deprived of their Sons,
Their Ashes hugg. From thence away she runs,
Like a rude Bacchinal) her Hair displai'd,
To that high Pile, which she before had made,
Of a vast Bulk, from whence she might explore
All Carthage-City, with the Seas, and Shore.
Then putting on the Phrygian Robe, and Chain,
Enrich'd with Gems, when she to Mind, again,
Had call'd the Day, wherein she first had seen
These Presents, and the Banquets, that had been
At your Arrival made, and how the long
Labours of Troy you told, while on your Tongue,
With Pity, her still-listning Ear depends;
Then to the Port her weeping Eys she bends;
And, Off'ring to the Gods, in Death, her Hair,
Thus speaks. Ye Gods of lasting Night! who are
By our approaching Death much Greater made,
Be Present, I beseech you! and my Shade,
O'recome with Love, and weary, now of Life,
Receive, with kind Aspect, Æneas Wife,
And Venus Daughter; who t'avenge the Guilt
Of my Sychæus Death, these Tow'rs have built
Of lofty Carthage: now the Shade to you
Of that great Body come. My Husband (who
Was fam'd for his kind Love) perhaps Me there
Expects, and would renew his former Care.
This said, the Sword (that fatal Sword!) which she
Thought a sure Pledg of Dardane Love to be,
Into her Breast she thrusts; her Servants, who
Beheld her, with sad Cries, and Shreeking, through
The Palace run. The Noise, unhappy, I
Receive, and, frighted to the Palace, fly.
Like one distracted, with my Hands, my Face
I tear, and strive to climb up to the Place.
Thrice, with that Sword, I thought my self to kill,
As oft I, sounding, on my Sister fell.
But, when the Rumour of her Fate was spread
Through all the Neighb'ring Cities, thence I fled
To fam'd Cyrene, and, by Fate still cross'd,
From thence upon your Coast, by Tempests tols'd,
I now am cast. The Trojan Prince, inclin'd
To Tears at this, resolv'd to be more kind
To Her: and now all Sadness, Grief, and Care,
Was lai'd aside, and Anne no longer there
A Stranger seem'd to be. But, when the Night
All things by Sea, and Land, had cover'd quite,
Her Sister Dido seem'd with sad Aspect,
These Words to Her, then sleeping, to direct.

Can'st Thou (Oh Sister!) can'st Thou long endure
Within this Family (Oh too secure!)
T'indulge Thy self to Rest? And dost not see
What dangers Thee surround? what Plots 'gainst Thee
Are lai'd? Or dost Thou not, yet, understand
How fatal to Thy Kindred, and Thy Land
The Trojans are? So long as Sphears above,
With Rapid Turning-round, the Stars shall move,
And with her Brother's Light the Moon shall shine,
Upon the Earth between the Trojan Line,
And Tyrians, there shall be no Peace: Arise,
Be gone from hence, Lavinia's Jealousies
Now secret Plots contrive, and in her Minde
Something of Mischeif 'gainst Thee is design'd.
Beside (nor think that this is but a Dream)
Hard by, Numîcus, with a gentle Stream,
From a small Fountain, through a Valley flows:
Hast quickly thither, and Thyself dispose
To Safety; there the Nymphs, with Joy, shall Thee
Receive into the Flood, and Thou shalt be,
In Italy, Eternally Ador'd
A Goddess. And, as Dido spake that Word,
She vanish'd into Air. Anne, frighted by
These Prodigies, awakes; and instantly,
Through Fear, cold Sweat o're all her Limbs is spread.
Then, clad with a thin Garment, from her Bed
She leaps, and through a Window, that was low,
Into the open Fields doth, speedy, go:
Untill Numîcus in his sandy Waves
Receiv'd, and hid her in his Chrystal Caves.
Now, when through all the World its Beams the Day
Had spread, and in the Trojan Chambers they
The Tyrian Lady miss'd, with Cries through all
The Latian Fields they run, and Anna call.
At length Her Footsteps to th'Neighb'ring Flood
They follow, and, as there they Wond'ring stood,
The River from his Chanel strait expell'd
The Stream, and in the Bottom they beheld
'Mong the Cœrulean Sisters, Anne, who broke
Silence, and to the Trojans kindly spoke.
Since that, when first the Year begins, is She
Divinely worshipp'd through all Italy.

When to this Fight that did so fatal prove
To Italy, the spightfull Wife of Jove
Had Her instructed, in her Chariot, light,
Up to the Stars again she takes her Flight,
Hoping full Draughts of Trojan Blood she may
At length receive. The Lesser to obey
The greater Goddess hasts, and strait to all,
Besides, unseen, repairs to Hannibal.
Sequestred from all Company, alone
She finds Him, sadly ruminating on
The dubious Event of His Affairs,
And War, with anxious Sighs; to ease His Cares
With this kind Language She salutes Him. Why
(Most Mighty King of Cadmus Progeny)
Dost Thou persist to vex Thy self with Care?
Know, that the angry Gods appeased are
To Thee: and now an Eye of Favour cast
On th'Agenorides. Away, make haste;
Draw Thy Marmarick Forces out to fight.
The Fasces now are chang'd, and Fabius quite,
By a Decree of Senate, now hath lai'd
The War, and Arms, aside: it may be said,
With a Flaminius Thou hast now to do.
Me the great Wife of Jove (nor doubt it True)
To Thee hath sent, I, in th'Qenotrian Land
Religiously ador'd, a Goddess stand,
Sprang from Your Belus Blood. Then quickly go,
And all the Thunder of War's Fury throw,
Where high Garganus doth it self display
Through Iäpygian Fields unto the Sea;
The Place is not far distant, thither all
Thy Ensigns bear; that Rome, at length, may fall.
This Victory shall Libya suffice.
This said, into the Clouds again She flies.

By these Assurances, of promis'd Praise,
Doth Hannibal His Thoughts dejected raise:
Great Nymph (said He) the Glory of Our Line;
Then whom by Us no Goddess more Divine
Is held! most happy with such Tidings fraught!
Thee (after I victoriously have fought)
At Carthage, in a Marble Temple, I
Will place, and, in her Statue, Dido, nigh
To Thee, shall be ador'd. This said, He then,
Full of glad Thoughts, thus animates his Men.
Now all your tedious Cares, your Sense of ill,
And slow-tormenting Pains of sitting-still
(My Souldiers) lay aside. We have appeas'd
The Wrath of Heav'n, the Gods with Us are pleas'd.
Hence is it, that I Fabius can declare
Discharg'd of his Command: the Fasces are
In other Hands. Now let Me see those great,
And valiant Acts, which oft, with so much Heat,
You promis'd, when excluded from the Fight.
Behold! a Libyan Deity, this Night,
Hath promis'd greater things, then We have done.
Then pull Your Ensigns up, let Us march on
After the Goddess, and that Land invade,
That, by the Name of Diomed, was made
Most fatal to the Phrygians. While they,
Encourag'd thus, to Arpos march'd away,
Varro, by stoln Plebeian Voices made
A Consul, who the Rostra did invade
With Tyranny, opens a spacious Gate
To Ruin, and draws on the Citie's Fate.

This Fellow, basely born, his Parent's Name
Unknown, into the Forum, Bawling, came
With an immodest Tongue, and made by Bribes,
And Rapine rich, humour'd th'inconstant Tribes,
By railing at the Senate, and so far
Prevail'd in Rome, then shaken by the War;
That He (by whom, had he with Victory
Return'd, it had been Shame for Italy
To be preserv'd) of all Affairs the Weight
Assum'd; sole Arbiter of her great Fate.
Him 'mong the Fabii, and those Names renown'd
In War, the Scipios, and Marcellus crown'd
With Spoils to Jove, blind Suffrages (a Stain)
Plac'd in the Fasti, while the Love of Gain,
And Mars's Field, a greater Mischief bred
For Cannæ, then the Arms of Diomed.
He, as he was Seditious, busie still
To foment Envy, and devoid of Skill
To plead, so was he weak in Martial Arts,
And neither fam'd for Courage, nor for Parts
To manage such Affairs, hop'd yet, among
The Valiant, to be honour'd for his Tongue,
And from the Rostra urgeth for a Fight.
When therefore to the People, full of Spight,
He had upbraided Fabius for Delay,
Against the Senate too this boasting Plea
He undertakes: Quirites! You to whom
Belongs the chief Command, to you I come,
Your Consul, for Commission now to Fight.
Shall I sit still, or, wandring o're the Height
Of Hills, beneath me Garamantians see,
And parched Moors to share in Italy?
Or shall I use that Sword, which now I wear,
Giv'n by your Suffrage. Good Dictatour, hear
What 'tis the Martial People now command.
It is their Will, that the Ausonian Land
Be eas'd of Libya's War, and of the Fo.
Do they to War precipitately go;
Who, having suffer'd much, now the third Year,
With saddest Miseries consum'd appear?
Hast then, take Arms, brave men; your sole Delay
To Triumph, is a little March. That Day,
Which first shews you the Fo, shall overthrow
The Senate and the Libyan War. Then go
With Speed; I, bound in Latian Fetters, through
The City Hannibal, in Fabius View,
Will lead. This boasting said, out at the Gates,
Rushing to Arms, he, strait, precipitates:
Like one, that unacquainted with the Arts
To guide a Chariot, from the Barriers starts;
Gives the full Reins with one, with to'ther Hand
The Whip imploys, while he doth tott'ring stand
Unequal to the Steeds: the Axel-tree,
Press'd by th'ill-turning Wheels, appears to be
On fire, and smoaks: the Chariot to, and fro,
Is toss'd; with it the Reins, entangled, flow.

Paulus, (who then for Peace, and War, was joyn'd
His Colleague) well perceiv'd the State inclin'd
To Ruin, and, by his unhappy Sway,
Its Strength, and Glory quickly would decay.
But the unconstant Fury of the rude,
And troubled People, and a Wound renew'd
Fresh in his Memory, Complaints supprest,
And kept his swelling Griefs within his Breast.
For when, in younger Years, he had subdu'd
Illyrium, the envious Multitude
Upon his Conquest foul Aspersions cast,
And, with unjust Reports, his Laurel blast.
Thence of the cruel People he did bear
Still in his Mind a Rev'rential Fear.
But, to the Gods ally'd, his Pedigree
From Heav'n, by fam'd Progenitours, might be
Deriv'd. His Chief, Amulius, could prove
Assaracus his Ancestour; he, Jove.
And none deny'd, who Him in Arms had seen,
That that His great Original had been.
To Him, as then he was about to take
The Field, and quit the Town, thus Fabius spake.

If that thy greatest War thou dost believe
To be with Hannibal, thou wilt deceive
Thy Countrey, Paulus (I am loth my Minde
To speak thus freely) but, Im'e sure, thou'lt finde,
Within the Camp, worse Conflicts, and a Fo
More fierce, orI, in vain, have sought to know
Events of War so long. I lately heard
Him promise (and, if I the Ruins fear'd,
That we shall suffer, I could weary be
Of Life, and my old Age) so soon as He
Could see him, he would fight the prosp'rous Fo.
Oh Paulus, should the eager Libyan know
This Speech, how near would our Destruction be!
I do believe, that now the Enemy
Stands ready in the Plain, and hopes to finde
Another Consul, of Flaminius Mind,
To fall into his Hands. What men wilt Thou
Provoke, mad Varro? Or, unskilfull, how
Canst thou, forthwith, their Camp, and Arms before
Discover? and, by thy Delays, explore,
How much the Customs of the Fo may Thee
Avail? How great his Magazine may be?
Or what the Place's Nature? Thou their kind
Of Weapons soon wilt know, and Fortune finde
Standing on all their Points. Paulus, thy just
Resolves to all his devious Courses must
Opposed be: if it be just in him
T'afflict his Countrey, can it be a Crime
In Thee to save it? Hannibal is now
Straitned for Victuals: His Associates grow
Now weary of his Friendship, since the Heat
Of War's allai'd: here He finds no Retreat
To better Quarters: here no Cities are,
To whose Fidelity he can repair.
Nor can he here recruit his Youth again:
Scarce a third part of all those men remain,
That with him from Iberus came: Oh then
Continue firm, and to our Wounds, agen
The Med'cine of a Cautious War apply.
If in the mean time Th'art invited by
Any propitious Air, and Heav'n approve;
Near to thy better Fortune quickly move.

Paulus, with Sadness, briefly thus again
Answers. This Piety shall still remain
With me: thy Minde (unconquer'd General)
Against the Libyan I'le still bear. Withall,
I know there is such Reason to with-hold
From Fight, that Hannibal, now waxing old,
Through thy Delays, perceivs the War to be
Almost suppress'd, and at a Stand: but see
The sad Displeasure! see the Wrath of Heav'n!
One Consul (I believe) to Rome is giv'n
To 'ther to Carthage: He draws with Him all
Affairs, and madly fears, that Rome should fall
By any other Hand, then by His own:
She, cruel, from the Tyrian Senate, none
Could more destructive choose: no Warlike Steed;
To carry Him against the Fo, hath Speed
Enough. It grievs Him, that His March should be
Retarded, by the Night's Obscurity.
With Swords half drawn He marches, that no Stay,
To draw a Sword, His fighting may delay.
But ye Tarpeian Rocks, and Tow'rs that be
Sacred to Jove, through him ally'd to Me!
And my thrice happy Countrie's Walls, which now
I standing leave, the Witness of my Vow!
Where e're the common Safety calls me, I
Will go, and greatest Dangers will defie;
But, if still deaf, to what I shall advise,
The Camp will fight, I shall no longer prize
Th'Enjoyment of my Sons, and dearest Home,
Nor, like to Varro, me shall wounded Rome
Returning see. Thus high in Discontent
The Generals, both, to the Army went.

The Libyan within th'Ætolian Plains
(As by His Dream advis'd) encamp'd remains.
Neither had Italy e're sent a Force
Greater for Number, both of Foot, and Horse,
Into the Field: for then they fear'd the Fall
Both of the City, and the Nation; all
Their Hopes upon one Battel did depend.
Therefore the Faun-got Rutuli did send,
Join'd with Sicanian Arms, their Sacred Bands
Into the War. Those, that possess the Lands
Of Daunus, and Laurentine Palaces,
And fam'd Numicius Waters, join'd with these.
From Castrum likewise, to the War, they came;
And Ardea, once fatal to the Name
Of Phrygians; and, Lavînum, where of old
(Built on a lofty Hill) they did behold
Great Juno's Temple; and, Collatia where
Chast Brutus took his Birth: with those, that are
Wont to frequent Diana's cruel Grove;
And that the Mouth o'th' Tyrrhen River love.
They likewise, that in Almo's warmer Stream
Cherish Cybele, to the Army came.
Thy Tybur too, Catyllus, muster'd; and
Præneste, that upon an Hill doth stand,
Sacred to Fortune; and Antemna, fam'd:
Before Crustumium, from the River nam'd.
With the Labîci, skill'd to Plow, and those,
That dwell where now Imperial Tiber flows;
With Anyo's Neighbours, and the People, where
The Fields with cold Simbrivium water'd are;
And the Æquicolæ, for Tillage known.
Their Captain, Scaurus was; whose Chin the Down
Then newly cover'd: but his rising Worth
Began to future Times to set him forth.
These were not wont with Steel to point the Spear,
Or Quivers full of winged Shafts to bear;
Piles, and short Swords, they love: their Heads with Brass
Defended are, their Crests all else surpass.
But those, which Setia, that's reserv'd alone
For Bacchus Table, and Velitræ, known
By many Battels, from her Valley sent,
With such as Cora listed, and that went
From Signia, full of hurtfull Wines; with those,
Where the black Fen of Satura o'reflows
The Pontine Level, with a noisom Flood;
Which, running through the Fields, all stain'd with Mud,
Ufens within his Chanel strait collects:
And with the Slime the Neighb'ring Sea infects,
Were under valiant Scævola's Command;
Who, Great in's Ancestours, nor of that Hand
Unworthy held, whose honour'd Figure He,
Carv'd in his Target, wore: where they might see
The flaming Altars, 'midst the Tyrrhen Bands,
Now angry with himself, bold Mutius stands,
And Valour, in his Image, seem'd to be
Turn'd into Rage: Porsenna, instantly,
Having escap'd the Blow, to Arms returns,
While He his erring Hand, for Anger, burns.
Then, from the fam'd Circæan Hills, and from
Anxur (high-standing on a Rock) they come:
With those, that Plow the Hernick Stony Fields,
And fair Anagnia, that such Plenty yields
Of Wheat. But Sylla the Terentines, joyn'd
With Privernates, led. Then, those, that shin'd
In their bright Arms, from Sora lately sent.
Next these, the Fabraterian People went,
And Scaptian Youth. Atina too was there,
From her cold Hill; and Suessa, worn with War:
And, from the Plough, Trusino, not to be
Esteem'd, as weak. But those, that Lyris see,
Mixing his sulph'rous Waters with the cold
Fibrenus, and, with silent Streams, by old
Arpinum glides; with the Venafrian Bands,
And him, that with the Larinates Hands
Brings his Auxiliaries, and the vast
Aquînum of her Men doth quite exhaust,
Tullius to War, in brasen Arms, did bring:
A Noble Youth, that did from Tullus spring,
And of so great a Wit, that Fate ordain'd,
That He should give to the Ausonian Land
One of his Race, that should be understood
Beyond the Indies, and their famous Flood
Of Ganges: whose great Voice the World should fill;
Who, by the Thunder of his Tongue, should still
The Noise of War; nor shall Posterity
Er'e hope the like, for Eloquence, to see.
But from Theramnean Blood, of Clausus, sprung,
Inimitable for brave Deeds, among
The Chief, was Nero: Him the Troops, that came
From Amiternum, and, which takes her Name
From Bactrians, Casperula, with all
From Foruli, and, which we Sacred call
To th'Mother of the Gods, Reate, and
Nursia, that as besieg'd by Frosts doth stand,
And Troops from Tetricus cold Rock, to th'Field
Attend, all arm'd with Lances, and their Shield
Made, Globe-like, round: no Plumes their Helmets bear,
And their left Legs with Boots defended are.
These, as they Joyfull march'd, some Praises sung
To Thee, great Sanctus (for from Thee they sprung)
Some, Sabus, honour Thee, who first of all
Thy People, from Thy Name, didst Sabines call.
But Curio, rough with's scaly Coat of Mail,
And on his Helmet's Crest an Horses Tail,
Into the War so great Assistance brings;
That not the Raging Sea more num'rous flings
Its foaming Billows up: nor Bands more light,
And Active, when She imitates a Fight,
Riding through num'rous Troops, with Moon-like Shields,
The Warlike Maid leads through the Scythian Fields,
And makes Thermodoon, and the Earth, resound
The Noise. Here those, that in thy Stony Ground,
Numana, dwell, and those, that near the Shore
With flaming Altars, Cupra, Thee adore,
Were to be seen. They likewise thither send,
Their Aids, who the Truentine Tow'rs defend
By the adjoyning River, and the Sun,
From their bright Targets, by Reflexion,
At Distance, rais'd a bloody Light: and there
Ancon as rich in Purple did appear,
As are the Libyan, or Sidonian Looms.
Then, water'd by Vomanus, Adria comes.
And, near to them, the Ensigns they behold
Of churlish Asculum, which (fam'd of old)
Vepîcus, sprung from Saturne, built: Him, by
Her Charms, Phœbean Circe forc'd to fly,
Depriv'd of his own Figure through the Air,
With yellow Plumes. Once the Pelasgi there
Inhabited, and Aesis (as by Fame
We learn) their Ruler was, and left his Name
Unto the River, and his People all
Began Asili, from himself, to call.
Nor, coming from their hollow Hills, with worse
Supplies, did Umbrian Swains the Camp enforce.
These Æsis, Sapis, and, with rapid Waves,
Roll'd over lofty Rocks, Metaurus Laves:
Clitumnus too, that Bulls for Sacrifice
Washeth in Sacred Streams; and Nar, that flies
Foaming to Tiber; and, whose Waters run
Ingloriously, Tinia, and Rubicon,
With Clavis, and which, from the Senones,
Was Senna call'd: but Tyber, 'midst of these,
With Banks unshaken, near th'Imperial Walls,
Swells high, and thence into the Ocean falls.
Their Cities, Arna, and Mevania, rich
In spacious Meads, Hispellum, Narnia, which
Upon a steep, and rocky Hill doth ly;
Inginum too, of old infected by
Moist Clouds; and, lying in an open Plain,
Fulginia, wanting Walls. Near these remain
A warlike People, Amerini nam'd:
And Camers, near to them, for Arrows fam'd;
With wealthy Sarsina, renown'd for Store
Of Milk; and the Tudertes, that adore
The God of War. These, a stout Race of Men,
Contemning Death, were led by Piso, then
A Youth, and there in such an Habit shin'd;
But equalling, by his sagacious Mind,
The Antient, and in Policy his Years
Excelling, at the Armie's Head appears
In Parthian-painted Arms, and Golden Chain;
Whose Gems a Lustre cast through all the Plain.
But then a Legion of Hetrurian Bands,
Compleat, stout Galba (a great Name) commands:
From Cretan Minos He his Pedigree
Deriv'd, and from Lustfull Pasiphae,
So hated by the Bull; and from that Line
His Noble Ancestours in Order shine.
Then Cere chosen Bands, Cortona then
(Proud Tarcon's Family) send chosen Men;
With old Graviscæ, Alsium, by thy Streams
Grecian Alesus, lov'd, and that, which seems
Besieg'd by a rude Plain, Fregellæ: nor
Was Fesula (the Fam'd Interpreter
Of Thunder) wanting, with her Sacred Bands.
And, near to them, Clusinum Muster'd stands,
Once a great Terrour to the Walls of Rome;
When thou, Porsenna, Arm'd, didst thither come,
And didst endeavour to restore, in vain,
Th'expell'd Tarquinii to the Throne again.
Then Luna, from her Snow-white Quarries, prest
Her lab'ring Youth: Luna, before the rest,
Fam'd for her spacious Port; which can contain
Ships without Number, and shuts in the Main.
Not far from these, the Vetulonian Band
(The Glory once of the Mæonian Land)
Which first ordain'd twelve Fasces to precede
The Consuls; and, to strike a silent Dread,
As many Axes added: it was She,
That first adorn'd with polish'd Ivory
Triumphal Chairs: Her Nobles first array'd
In Tyrian Purple, and that Trumpets made
Courage by them in Battel to enflame.
Next these the Nepesinian Cohorts came,
And Just Falisci; and, Flavinia, those,
That keep thy Fires. Near whom Sabaca goes,
In Fens abounding; and, that near thy Lake,
Cimînus, dwell; with them, that Sutrium take
For their Abode; and those, that to the Rites
Of Phœbus high Soracte oft invites:
Caps of the Skins of Beasts their Heads defend;
Two Darts they carry, and their Spears commend
Before the Lycian Bows. These, all in War
Most expert: but the Marsian People are
Not onely Valiant; but can likewise Charm
To sleep the banefull Adder, and disarm
The Viper of her Teeth, by Herbs, and Spells.
Anguitia first (as Fame the Story tells)
Oëtes Race, those hurtfull Simples shew'd,
And with her Touch, all Poison's Force subdu'd.
She from her Sphear could shake the Moon, and Floods
Stop with her Voice; and, calling down the Woods,
The Mountains naked make. But, full of Dread,
Marsyas, when he the Phrygian Creni fled
By Sea, unto that People gave his Name;
When, with a Lute, Apollo overcame
His shrill Mygdonian Flute. The Chief of all
Their Cities they, from antient Marus, call
Marruvium; and, for Corn in moister Fields,
More inward, Alba store of Apples yields.
The rest were little Towns obscure in Fame;
But in their Numbers greater, then their Name.
'Mong which, Pelignas, and cold Sulmo sent
Their Cohorts; nor, then these, less diligent
Were those of Cales, born, near them in Blood,
From Calaïs (as by Fame 'tis understood)
The Noble Founder of a City fair,
Whom Orithyia (ravish'd through the Air)
For Boreas nurs'd in Getick Caves. No less
Active in War, then these, Vestini press
Their Youth, inur'd to Hardship by the Chase
Of salvage Beasts. They likewise War imbrace,
That in thy Tow'rs, Fiscellus, dwell: and, now,
They also arm, that fertile Pinna mow;
And thy rich Meads, Avella, that so soon
Sprout up: and then in Emulation
Of the Frentani, the Marrucins drew
Corfinium's People, and Theate too.
All these, with Rustick Weapons arm'd for Fight,
Could, with their Slings, a Bird, in highest Flight,
Strike down: the Skins of Bears, about their Breast,
In Hunting kill'd, they wear. And now the rest,
That were for Wealth, or Ancestours renown'd,
In all the Tract of the Campanian Ground,
Appear in Arms, or their Assistance send.
The Osci in their Neighb'ring Plains attend
Th'Arrival of the Generals: and there
Warm Sinuessa, and Vulturnum, were;
Whose River like a Torrent falls into
The Sea; and, whom her Silence overthrew,
Amyclæ. Fundi, and Cajeta, where
Lamus was King. Thy People too were there,
Antiphates, that's by the Sea comprest.
And, which the rotten Fens, and Pools invest,
Linternum: and the Cumæ, that of old,
Conscious of Fate, all future things foretold.
There was Nuteria, there was Gaurus, good
For Shipping; there, deriv'd from Grecian Blood,
With many Souldiers was Parthenope,
With Dicarchenian Bands: and Alliphe,
And Nola, to the Libyan hard to pass.
Slighted for Clanius, there Acerræ was:
There the Serrastes: there were to be seen
Mild Sarnus Riches, and the Troops had been
Listed in Phlegra, fat with Sulphure; and
Misenus, and the Ithatesian Band
Of Baius, burning with the Giant's Breath.
Not Prochyte, nor, which Typhæus Death
In sulph'rous Flames, Inarime, beheld,
Nor ancient Telo's Stony Isle, this Field
Avoids. But thither doth Calatia, from
Her little Walls, thither Surrentum come;
And, poor in Corn, Avella. But, of all
The Chief was Capua; that, too Prodigal
(Alass!) not knowing in Prosperity
To keep a Mean, was lost in Luxury.

These for the future War by Scipio form'd;
He gave them Piles; and then with Iron arm'd
Their Breasts: from Home, (as was their Father's Wont)
They lighter Weapons, Shafts of Cornel, blunt,
Without an Head of Steel, but hardned by
The Fire, with Hurl-Bats, which they can let fly,
And, with a String, retire, as they invade
The Fo, and Axes for the Countrey made.
Nor was he wanting, 'midst them all, to shew
Great Signs of future Praise. Sometimes He threw
An hardned Stake, or leap'd a Trench to scale
A Wall, or, arm'd, by Swimming would prevail
Against impetuous Streams: these great, and bold
Examples of His Valour all behold.
Oft, in the open Plain, with wondrous Speed
Would he out-run the spur'd, and fleetest Steed:
Oft, cross the Camp, would He a Jav'lin throw,
Or weighty Stone. He had a Martial Brow;
His Hair was soft, and gentle, which behind
Hung in long Tresses; His Aspect was kind,
And gentle; and His Eys a pleasing Dread
With sparkling Raies, on the Beholders, shed.
Samnis was likewise there, not yet inclin'd
To Hannibal, yet keping in her Mind
Her antient Anger; Batulum, and those,
That dwell where Mucra by Liguria flows.
With them, that Bovianian Caves frequent,
Or Caudine Straits, and which Esernia sent,
Or Rufre; or, obscure Herdonia, from
Thy Fields, soon after wasted, armed come.
Alike in Courage, there, the Brutii stand,
With them from Lucane Hills, a lusty Band;
And Hirpine Youth, who, cover'd o're with Hides
Of Beasts, and Darts, like Bristles by their Sides,
Are all by Hunting fed; and, ever, dwell
In Caves, and in a River Thirst expell,
And get their Sleep with Labour. Calaber,
And the Salentine Cohorts, added are
To them; near whom Brundusium doth stand,
A famous Period to th'Italian Land.
A Legion bold Cethegus there commands,
Of Social Aids, and intermingled Bands.
Now, from Leucosia's Rocks, the Souldiers shew
Themselves, and from Picentian Pesto too,
And from Caryllæ, that soon after fell
By Hannibal's dire Rage: with those, that dwell
Near Silarus, where Fame reports, the Flood
To turn to hardest Stone the drowned Wood:
He both the stout Salernian Fauchion, and
Th'unpolish'd Club, that, fitted to his Hand,
The strong Buxentian us'd, commends. While he
(As was the Custom of his Family)
His Arm bar'd to the Shoulder, joy'd to ride
A stubborn Horse, and in his hard Mouth try'd
His Strength of Youth, by Wheeling to, and fro.
And you, ye wasted Nations of the Po,
Your Vows then by the Gods neglected, all
Rush into Arms, by Fate decreed to fall.
Placentia, ruin'd by the War, contends
With Mutina, and Mantua, that sends
Her Levies, sought Cremona to excell:
Fam'd Mantua, where the Thespian Sisters dwell;
Which, Emulous of Smyrna's Muse, is prais'd
For Audine Songs, and to the Stars is rais'd.
The next, by Athesis encompass'd, went
Verona; and Faventia, diligent
Still to preserve the Pines, that Crown her Fields:
Vercellæ; and Pellentia, that yields
Store of black Wooll; and Ocnus Family,
Which against Turnus once assisted Thee,
Æneas; and Bononia, that lyes
Near little Rhene: with him, that lab'ring plies,
With pond'rous Oars, the muddy Streams, that by
Ravenna flow, which 'mong the Fens doth ly.
Then, sprang, of old, from the Euganean Land,
(Antenor's Countrey) came a Trojan Band.
There Aquileia, with Venetian Arms,
Are eager for the Fight: there the Alarms
O'th'Fo, the swift Ligurians attend;
And, scatter'd on the Rocks, Vageni send
Their hardy Nephews, there ordain'd to be
The Honour of the Libyan's Victory.
Brutus, in whom these People, all, repose
Their greatest Confidence, their Leader goes
Into the Field, and 'gainst the Enemy
Excites their Rage. A pleasant Gravity
Adorn'd his Fore-head, and a serious Mind
With Valour, not to Cruelty inclin'd.
Th'unpleasant Praise of churlish Rigour He
Did not affect, or harsh Austerity,
Nor Glory by sinister Courses sought.
To these three thousand expert Archers, brought
From flaming Ætna, the Sicilian King,
Most faithfull, adds: but Ilva did not bring
So many men; and yet She did afford
Her Cohorts, which, selected for the Sword,
And arm'd with Native Mettle, thither came:
They Varro's Zeal to fight would hardly blame,
Whoe're so many Arms at once beheld.
Such Numbers rag'd through the Rhætéan Field;
When Troy the great Mycenæ did invade,
And, when a thousand Ships their Anchors weigh'd,
And sail'd through Hellespont. So soon as they
Arriv'd at Cannæ, where the Ruins lay
Of an old City, they encamp'd, and there
Their most unhappy Ensigns fix'd: nor were
The Gods then wanting to foreshew to all
Those Ruins, that soon after did befall.
Th'affrighted Souldiers see their Piles to burn,
The Turrets on the Rampires overturn,
And fall. Garganus, from a lofty Crown,
Trembling, the Woods, and Forests, tumbles down.
From his deep Bottom Aufidus began
Panting to roar: amidst the Ocean,
Remote Ceraunian Rocks with Flames affright
The trembling Mariners; and then, the Light
With sudden Stygian Darkness cover'd o're,
Calabrian Sipus Gropes for Land, and Shore,
The Owl with fatal Houting oft alarms
The Camp, ev'n at the Gates; and Bees, in Swarms,
Like Clouds, involve the Eagles: in the Air
Comets, the Fall of Kings, with flaming Hair,
Shine fatally: and salvage Beasts by Night
Break through the Camp, and Works, and, in the sight
O'th'frighted Souldiers, through the Neighb'ring field
Scatter the Limbs o'th'Centinel they kill'd:
Deluded by the Image of their Fear,
From their dark Graves, the Ghosts of Gauls appear
To break: and then the high Tarpeian Rock,
As torn from its Foundation, often shook:
The Temples of the Gods with Streams of Blood
Were wet: Quirinus Statue, as it stood,
Wept largely: Allia, greater then before,
Swells higher then the Banks: the Alps no more
Stand still, nor Apennine, which Night, and Day,
Shook with vast Ruptures, and where Libya
Extended lyes, ev'n from the very Pole,
'Gainst Italy, the flaming Meteors roll.
Such horrid Thunder-Claps the Heav'ns above
Divide, that they detect the Face of Jove.
The Lemnian God his Lightning likewise threw
From Ætna, and, as broken Quarries flew
Up to the Clouds (as in the Giant's Wars)
Knock'd his Phlægræan Head against the Stars.

But, 'midst them all, as conscious of the Fight,
He looks, and Sense-distracted with the Fright,
With horrid Cries the Camp a Souldier fills,
And, panting, thus express'd the future Ills.

Spare us, ye cruel Gods! the Fields I see
Too little for the Heaps of Slaughter be.
Through thickest Ranks the Libyan Captain flies,
And His swift Chariot over Companies
Of Men, and Arms, drives on, and drags along
Their Limbs, and Ensigns: while the wind, with strong
Impetuous Blasts, a furious War doth make
Against our Eys, and Faces. From thy Lake
(Sad Thrasimen!) unmindfull of his Years,
In vain, Servilius, now reserv'd appears.
Whither! Oh whither, is't that Vurro flies!
Oh Jove! among the Stones, see! Paulus lies,
The last great Hope of Rome's declining State:
These Ruins, Trebia, now, exceed thy Fate.
Behold, a Bridg is made of Bodies slain,
And silent Aufidus into the Main
Rolls mangled Corps: o're all the Plains I see
The Elephants insult with Victory.
Our Consul's Axes, and our Fasces, stain'd
With Blood, a Tyrian Lictor in his Hand,
After our Custom, bears. To Libya
The Pomp of Romane Triumph's born away.
Oh Grief! Yet this, ye Gods, that we behold,
Is your Command: while by congested Gold,
Torn from left Hands, victorious Carthage sees
The Measure of the Romane Miseries.