bring to passe to dye By his owne hand no land from me is free My Trophees all that Titan sees possesse Going from thence Phâ—sis cold river sees Me conquerour in the North in the hote Zone Knowne Aegypt and Syene that at noone No shadow spreads my lawes the West obeyes Baetis that meets the faâ—thest VVesterne seas Me tam'd Arabia knowes th'Aenio he bold And Colchos fam'd for her stoâ—ne fleece of gold The Cappadorians from my Colours flie And lewes that serue an vnknowne Deitie Me soft Sophene feares th' Armenians Taurus and the subdu'd Cilicians VVhat warres for him but civill doe I leaue These words his souldiers with no shout receiue Nor are they eager of the fight their feares Great Pompey sees and backe his Standard beares Loath in so great a war to venture men Orecome with same of Caesar yet not seene As a Bull beat in the first fight he tries Through th' empty fields and desart forrests flies Exil'd and tries ' gainst ev'ry tree his hornes Nor till his strength be perfited returnes To pasture then recovering his command Maugure the Heardsman leads them to what land He lift so now as weakest Italy Dooes Pompey leaue and through Apuliâ— fly Himselfe immuring in Brundufirm's hold A towne by Cretan colonies of old Possest that in th' Athenian nauy fled VVhen lying sailes reported Theseus dead Hence Italy's now straightned coast extends Her selfe in forme of a thin tongue and bends Her hornes t' inclose the Adriaticke sea Nor yet could these straight shut vp waters be A haven if high cliffes winds violence Did not restraine and the tir'd waters fence On both sides Nature the windes tyranny To stop high cliffes opposes to the sea That ships by trembling cables held may stand Hence all the Maine lyes ope if to thy land We saile Corcyra or our courses bend On the left hand where Epidamnus tends To the Ionian thither Saylers flye When th'Adrian's rough and cloudes obscure the high Ceraunian mountaines and with violent dash The foaming seas Calabrian Sason wash When of forsaken Italy there was No hope at all nor that the war could passe Into the Spanish coast for twixt that land The lofty Alpes did interposed stand Thus th' eldest of his noble progeny Pompey bespake the worlds far Regions try Nile and Euphrates wheresoere my name Is spread and all the Cities where Romes fame I haue advaunc'd bring backe vnto the seas The now dispers'd Cicilian colonies The strength Pharnaces holds I charge thee bring Arme my Tigranes and th'Aegyptian King Those that inhabit both Armenia's ore And the fierce nation by the Euxine Shore Riphaean bands and those where Scythian carres On his slow back congeal'd Maeotis beares Why speake I more through all the East my Sonne Carry this war through every conquer'd towne I' th' world to vs all triumph'd regions joyne But you whose names the Latian feasts doe signe To Epire saile with the first Northeast winde Through Greece and Macedon new strength to finde While winter giues vs respite from the war To his commands they all obedient are And from th'Italian shore their anchors weigh Caesar impatient of warres long delay Or rest lest changing fates might ought withstand His flying Sonne in law pursues at hand So many townes at first assault surpriz'de And Forts disarmed others had suffic'de Rome the worlds head warres greatest booty left A prey but Caesar in all actions swift Thinking nought done whilst ought vndone remain'd Feircely pursues and though he haue obtain'de All Italy and that great Pompey liues In th' vtmost edge that both are there he grieues Nor would he let his foes passe foorth againe By Sea but seekes to stop the watry maine And with vast hills damme vp the Ocean But this great labour is bestow'de in vaine The Sea those mountaines swallowes mixing all With sands below so if high Erix fall Into the midst of the Aegaean Sea No land aboue the water seene can be Or if the lofty Gaurus quite torne downe Were to the bottome of Avernus throwne But when no earth throwne in would firmely stand Then with a bridge of fastned ships the Land He joynes each Galley doe foure anchors stay Once ore the Sea proud Xerxes such a way Made by report when ioyn'd by bridge he saw Sestos t' Abydos Europe t' Asia And fearing not th'Eastwinde nor Wests affront Walk'd ore the curled backe of Hellespont When ships their sayles round about Athos spread So now this Haven's mouth Ships straightened On which their Bulwarkes vp apace they raise And lofty towers stand trembling on the seas When Pompey saw that a new land orespread The ocean's face care in his brest is bred To ope the sea and carry foorth the warre Fill'd sailes and stretching shrowds the Ships oft bare Against these works breaking them downe made roome Into the Sea for other ships to come Oft well driven engines lighten'd the darke night With flying fires When time for their stolne flight Was come he warnes his men no Sailers noyse Might on the shore be heard nor trumpets voice Divide the houres nor cornets sound at all The marriners should to their charges call Now neere her end Virgo began to be And Libra followes his first day to see The silent fleete departs the anchors made No noise when from thicke sands their hookes are weigh'd Silent while they the sayle-yard bow and reare The maine-mast vp the fearefull masters are The Saylers softly spread their sailes nor dare Shake their strong shrowds within the whizzing aire The Generall makes his prayer Fortune to thee To giue him leaue t' abandon Italy Since thou 'lt not let him keepe it but alas The Fates will scarce grant that the waters flash And furrow'd with so many keeles at once The stâ—mme beat sea with a vast murmur grones The foes let in by gates and vp the wall Which faith by Fortune turn'd had open'd all Along the havens stagge-like Hornes they runne Swiftly to shore griev'd that the fleete was gon Is Pompey's flight so small a victory A straighter passage let him out to sea Then where th'Eubaean channell Chaleis beates Here stuck two shipps which fast the engine gets In fight and neere the shore the skirmish tri'de Heere first the Sea with civill blood was dy'de The Fleet escap'd of those two ships bereft So when Thessalia Iasons Argo left For Colchos bound Cyanean Isles at sea Shot foorth the tayle-maim'd Ship escap'd away Amidst the rockes in vaine the Ilands beat The empty sea she comes a sayler yet Now that the Sunne was neere the Easterne skie Declar'd palefac'd before his rosie dye The Plejades grow dimme each neerer star Looses his light Bootes lazy carre Turnes to the plaine complexion of the skies And Lucifer the great starres darkned flies From the hot day and now wert thou at sea Pompey not with such Fate as when from thee The fearefull Pirats through all seas retir'd Fortune revolts with thy oft triumphs tyr'd Now with thy
Aegaean joyn'd With the Tyrrhene so with th' Ieâ—â—an The Adriatike met How oft in vaine That day the sea seem'd mountaines topps to ' ore flow And yeilding earth that deluge t' vndergoe But such high waues on no shore raised be But from the worlds far part and the maine sea They rowle the earth embracing waters bring Their monstrous waues so whâ—n the heavens high king Help'd his tir'd thunder with his â—rotheis mace To mankinds â—uine earth then added was To Neptunes kingdome when the sea confounded All lands and Tethys by no shore was bounded Contented with no limit but the skyes Then also would those â—welling seas arise Vpto the starres had not great Ioue kept downe Their waues with cloudes nor sprung that night alone From naturall causes the thiâ—ke aire was growne Infected with the dampes of Acheron And clogg'd with foggy stormes waues froÌ„ the maine Fly to the cloudes and fall like showres againe The lightnings light is lost it shines not cleare But shootes obscurely through nights stormy aire The heavens then trembled the high pole for feare Resounded when his hindges mooved were Nature then fear'd the old confusion The elementall concord seem'd vndone And night that mixt th' aetheriall deityes With the infernall â—eem'd againe to rise Their hope of safety was that in this great Wraâ—ke of the world they were not perisht yet As farre as you from Leucas top may see The quiet sea so farre could they desery From waues high tops the troubled Ocean But when the swelling billowes fall againe The maine-mast top scarce aboue water stands The topsailes touch the cloudes the keele the sands For ground is seene from whence the sâ—as arise In hills in waues the seas whole water is Feare conquers art the master does not know Which waue to breake which waue to yeeld vnto But the seas discord only aides them now The barke one billow cannot overflow Let by anothers force which still susteines The yeilding side the barke vpright mainteines Her course supported by all windes no more Low Sasons gulfes Thessalia's crooked shore Or the Ambracian dangerous ports they fear'd But ore the high Ceraunia to be rear'd â—y billowes Caesar thinkes it now to be A danger worthy of his destiny Are the gods troubled so to ruine me Whom sitting heere in a small barke quoth he They haue assaulted with a storme so lowd If on the seas not warres they haue bestow'd The glory of my death fearelesse I come Ye gods to any death that ye can doome Though this too hasty fate great actes breake off I haue already done things great enough The Northren nations I haue tam'd and quell'd My foes at home by armes Rome has beheld Great Pompey my inferiour honours stay'd From me in war the people forc'd haue pay'd All Roman honours in my titles be Let it be knowne fortune to none but thee Though full of honour to the shades below I both Romes Consull and Dictator goe I dye a private death ô gods I craue No funerall let the seas inmost waue Keepe my torne carkasse let me want a tombe And funerall pyle whilest lookt for still to come Into all lands I am and ever fear'd Thus having spoke most strange the tenth waue rear'd His barke aloft nor from the billowes top Did she fall downe kept by the water vp Till on the rocky shore she stood at last His fortune and so many kingdomes cast On shore and townes againe he did receiue Caesar's returne next morne could not deceiue His souldiers so as his stolne flight had done About their generall flock they every one Assaulting him with lamentations And not ingratefull accusations VVhither did thy rash valour carry thee Too cruell Caesar to what destiny Didst thou leaue vs poore soules venturing vpon Th' vnwilling seas and stormes thy selfe alone In thee to seeke for death was cruelty VVhen all the world esteemes thy head so high And on thy life so many liues of ours Depend did none of vs deserue t' haue power Not to surviue thee sleepe did vs detaine While thou wert tost vpon the watry maine Was this the cause thou went'st to Italy Alas it shames vs it was cruelty To venture any man on such a sea For the last act of things such hazards be VVhy doest thou tire the gods so much to goe And venture the worlds greatest Captaine so From fortune's worke and favour thus t' haue sent Thee safe a shore to vs be confident Of the warres issue This vse doest thou make Of the gods favour to escape a wracke Rather then gaine the worlds sole soveraignety Thus while they talke night past the Sunne they see And a cleare day his waues the tired maine By the windes leaue compos'd and smooth'd againe The Captaines also on th' Italian side VVhen the tâ—r'd Ocean free from waues they spy'd By the pure Northwinds rising thence convay'd Their ships which their skill'd Marriners had stay'd So long for feare while winds auspicious fail'd Like a land army their joyn'd navy sail'd On the broad Sea but the chang'd windes by night Fill'd not their sailes but broke the order quite So Cranes in VVinter Strymon's cold forsake To drâ—nke warmâ— Nile and in their first flight make As chance directs of letters various formes VVhen their spread wings are by the violent stormes Of strong South-windes assailed by and by â—n a confused globe all mingled fly The letter 's lost in their disranked wings But the next morne when rising Titan brings A stronger winde to driue the navie ore They passe the vaine attempted Lissus shore And to Nymphaeum come Southwinds that blow The haven on them the Northwindes fled bestow VVhen Caesars legions all collected were And Pompey saw the war was drawne so neere To his owne campe he thinkes best to provide For his wiuâ—â— safety and in Lesbos hide Thee faire Cornelia from the noise of warre Alas in just and noble mindes how farre Prevailes true loue true loue alone had power To make great Pompey feare wars doubâ—full houre His wife alone he wisht free from that stroke That all the world and Romes whole fortune shooke But now a ready mâ—nd wants words in him He yeilds to sweete delayes from fare steales time But when th'approching morne had banisht rest And faire Cornelia his care-wounded breast Clasping from her averted husband seekes A loving kisse wondring to feele his cheekes Moistened with teares tâ— hidâ—en cause she feares And daâ—es not finâ— great Pompey shedding teares He then thus mourning spake oh dâ—arest wife Dearer to me then life not now when life I loath but in our best prosperity That sad day's come which too too muâ—h haue we Yet not enough dâ—fferr'd Caesar's addrest For fight thou must not stay Lesbos the best And safest place will be for thee to hide Doe not enâ—treat me sweete I haue deny'd It to my selfe nor absent long shall we Remaine for swift will this wars tryall be Great things fall speedily To heare not see Thy
pardon his foule fact For let your King for such a deed expect No more then pardon But doe you enterre This VVorthy's head not that the earth may beare And hide your guilt bring fumes and odours store T' appease his head and gather from the shore His scatter'd limbs compose them in one tombe Let his deare ghost perceiue that Caesar's come And heare my pious griefe VVhilst he preferrs All desperate hazards before me and dares Rather to trust his life with Ptolomey The people all haue lost a joyfull day The world our peace the gods my prayers deny'd That laying these victorious armes aside I might embrace thee Pompey and request Our former life and loue and thinke me blest After this war thy aequall still to be Then had my faithfull loue perswaded thee Though conquer'd to excuse the gods and make Thee Rome to pardon me Though thus he spake He found no partners in his griefe the rest Beleâ—t not his and their owne teares supprest And durst oh happy freedome with dry eye Though Caesar wept behold this tragedy FINIS Annotations on the ninth Booke a Whilest the event of the civill war was yet doubtfull and both the Generalls were possessed of their full strengths Cato was fearefull of both their intents and hated them both as fearing that the conquerer would captiue his countrey but after the battell of Pharsalia was fought and Caesar had conquered he was then wholly of Pompey's side desiring to vphold the party vanquished b Pompey the great pursuing Caesar into Thessalia had left Cato with a great strength to guard Dyrachium who hearing the overthrow and flight of Pompey marched away to take shipping at Corcyra and follow Pompey to ioyne his strength with him c Cato at Cyrene hearing that Lucius Scipio the father in-law of Pompey the great was ioyned in Affrica with Iuba King of Mauritania and that Atius Varus whom Pompey had deputed his Lieutenant in Affrica was there also marched overland thither which march being thirty dayes vpon those desart sands any with admirable patience and magnanimity enduring the iourny forsaking his horse alwayes and marching a foot in the head of his army to teach his souldiers rather then command them to endure hardnesse he arrived at last at Iuba's court where though the souldiers with one voice elected him Generall he refused the charge and chose rather to serue vnder Scipio then command himselfe in chiefe d These Psylli are a people inhabiting those parts of Affrica fortifyed by nature with an incredible priveledge against the strength of poison and susteine no harme by the biting of serpents The serpents saith Pliny are afraid of them and when others are bitten these Psylli by sucking the wounds and muttering some charmes dee easily cure them They haue a custome as writers report when their children are borne if the father suspect his wiues chastity he exposes the infant to all kind of serpents if begotten by a stranger the child dyeth but if lawfully begotten the priveledge of his fathers blood protecteth him against the venome LVCANS Pharsalia The Tenth Booke The Argument Caesar in Aegypt fearelesse walkes and sees Their temples tombes and fam'd antiquityes Before his feete faire Cleopatra kneeles Whom to her brother king he reconciles With sumptuous feasts this peace they celelrate To Caesars eare Achoreus doth relate Niles ebbes and flowes and long concealed spring Within the pallace Caesar and the King By sterne Achillas are besieg'd by night Caesar to Pharos takes a secret flight There from his ship he leapes into the waues And his endanger'd life by swimming saues WHen Caesar first possest of Pompey's head Arrived there and those dire sands did tread His fortune stroue with guilty Aegypts fate VVhether that Rome that land should captivate Or Aegypts sword take from the world the head Both of the Conquerer and the conquered Pompey the ghost prevailes thy Manes free Caesar from death left Nile should after thee Be by the Romans lov'd He goes from thence To Alexandria arm'd with confidence In this dire mischiefes pledge following along His fasces But perceiving that the throng Of people murmur'd that in Aegypt he Bore th' Ensignes vp of Romes authority He findes their wavering faiths perceiving plaine That for his sake great Pompey was not slaine Then with a looke still hiding feare goes he The stately temple of th' old god to see VVhich speakes the ancient Macedonian greatnesse But there delighted with no objects sweetnesse Not with their gold nor gods majestike dresse Nor losty city walls with greedinesse Into the burying vault goes Caesar downe There Macedonian Philip's mad-brain'd son The prosperous theife lyes buryed whom just fate Slew in the worlds revenge vaults consecrate Containe those limbs which through the world 't were just To cast aâ—road but fortune spar'd his dust And to that Kingdomes end his fate remain'd If ere the world her freedome had attaind He for a mocke had beene reserv'd whose birth Brought such a dire example to the earth So many lands to be possest by one Scorning the narrow bounds of Macedon And Athens which his father had subdew'd Through Asian lands with human slaughter strew'd Led by too forwaâ—d fates he rushes on Driving his sword through every nation Rivers vnknowne Euphrates be distaines VVith Persians blood Ganges with Indians Th' earth fatall mischiefe lightning dire that rent All people and a star malevolent To nations To invade the South-east sea He built a fleete Not barren Libya Water nor heat nor Ammons desart sands Could stop his course Vpon the Westerne lands Following the worlds devexe he meant to tread To compasse both the poles and drinke Niles head But death did meete his course that checke alone Could nature giue this Kings ambition Who to his graue the worlds sole Empire bore With the same envy that 't was got before And wanting heires left all he did obtaine To be divided by the sword againe But fear'd in Parthia and his Babylon He dy'd Oh shame that Easterne nation Then trembled at the Macedonian speare Farre more then now the Roman pile they feare Though all the North the West and South be â—urs In th' East the Parthian King contempes our powers That Which to Crassus proov'd a fatall place A secure province to small Pella was Now the yong King come from Pelusium Had pacify'd the peoples wrath in whom As hostage of his peace in Aegypts court Caesar was safe when loe from Pharos port Bribing the keeper to vnchaine the same In a small galley Cleopatra came Vnknowne to Caesar entering the house The staine of Aegypt Romes pernicious Fury vnchast to Italyes disgrace As much as Helena's bewitching face Fatall to Troy and her owne Greekes did prooue As much Romes broiles did Cleopatra mooue Our Capitall she with her Sistrum scarr'd VVith Aegypts base effeminate rout prepar'd To seize Romes Eagles and a triumph get Ore captiv'd Caesar when at Leucas fleet It doubtfull stood whether the world that day A woman
Phoebus from Cirrhaes shades I 'll not desire Nor Nysa's Bacchus Caesar can infuse Vertue enough into a Roman muse The cause of these great actions I le declare And ope a mighty worke what drew to warre Our furious People and the World beside Fates envious course continuance still deny'd To mighty States who greatest falls still feare And Rome not able her owne weight to beare So when the knot of Nature is dissolu'de And the worlds Ages in one houre inuolu'd In their old Chaos Seas with Skyes shall ioyne And Starres with Starres confounded loose their shine The Earth no longer shall extend her shore To keepe the Ocean out the Moone no more Follow the Sunne but scorning her old way Crosse him and claime the guidance of the day The falling worlds now iarring frame no peace No league shall hold great things themselues oppresse The gods this bound to groning states haue set But to no Forraine armes would Fortune yet Lend her owne envy ore great Rome that awes Both Land and Sea shee 's her owne ruines cause Subiected ioyntly to three b Lords how ill Prooue shared rules accords and fatall still Ambition blinded Lords what 's th' happinesse To mixe your powers and ioyntly th' earth possesse Whilest Land the Sea and Ayre the Land shall bound Whilest labouring Titan runnes his glorious round And through twelue heavenly signes night follows day No faith keepe those that kingdomes ioyntly sway Rule brookes no sharers doe not this beleeue In forraine states Rome can examples giue A brothers bloud did our first walls distaine Nor was the spacious earth and watry maine This mischiefes price a refuge for theeues fled A little house this brothers hatred bred This iarring concord lasted for a space Dissembled twixt the two for Crassus was The warres sole let like that small necke of land That in the middst of two great Seas doos stand And will not let them ioyne that tane away Straight the Ioniâ—n meets th' Aegaean Sea So when war parting Crassâ—â— sadly slaine With Romane bloud did Asian Charan staine That Parthian losse to homebred rage gaue reines More then you thinke you did fierce Parthians That day our civill war your conquest wrought And now Romes Empire by the sword is sought That State that mistresse ore the World did reigne Rulde Land and Sea yet could not two conteine For Iulia's t deâ—th whom cruell Fates before Had slaine the pledge of their alliance bore Downe to her graue if Fate had spar'de her life Her furious husband and sterne fathers strife She had compos'de and made their armed hands Let fall their swords and ioyne in friendships bands As once the Sabin women enterposde Their sires and husbands bloody iarres composde Thy death faire Iulia breakes off all accords And giues them leaue againe to draw their swords On both sides powerfull aemusation beares On their ambitious spirits great Pompey feares That his piâ—aticke Laurell should giue place To conquerde France and Caesars deeds deface His ancient triumphs fortunes constant grace Makes him impatient of a second place Nor now can Caesar a superior brooke Nor Pompey brooke a peere who justlier tooke Vp armes great Iudges differ heaven approoues The conquering cause the conquerde Cato loues Nor were they aequall one in yeares was growne And long accustomde to a peacefull gowne Had now forgot the Souldier Fame he bought By bounty to the people and much sought For popular praise his Theaters loud shout Was his delight new strength he sought not out Relying on his ancient fortunes fame And stood the shadow of a glorious name As an old lofty Oake that heeretofore Great Conquerors spoiles and sacred Trophies bore Stands firme by his owne weight his roote now dead And through the ayre his naked boughes does spread And with his trunke not leaues a shaddow makes He though each blast of Easterne winde him shakes And round about well rooted Trees doe grow Is onely honour'd but in Ceasar now Remaines not onely a great Generalls name But restlesse valour and in waâ—re a shame Not to be Conquerâ—ur fierce not curb'd at all Ready to fight where hope or anger call His forward Sword confident of successe And hold the fauour of the gods to presse Orethrowing all that his ambition stay And loues that ruine should enforce his way As lightning by the winde fâ—rc'd from a cloude Breakes through the wounded aire with thunder loud Disturbes the Dâ—y the people terrifyes And by a light oblique dazels our eyes Not Ioues owne Temple spares it when no force No barre an hinder his prevailing course Great waâ—e as foâ—rth it fallyes and roures It makes and gathers his dispersed fires These causes mâ—ou'd the Cheâ—fes and such as are In mightâ— stâ—tes the common seeds of warre For since our Câ—ests the conquer'd world hath fill'd Too full and vertue did to riches yeild Since spoiles and warrelike rapine taught vs riot Excesse in Plate in buildings reignes he dyeâ— Of formertimes wee scoâ—n that soft attire That Women were asham'd of Men desire Strength-breeding pouerty is fled and nought But wealth from all the spoiled world is sought The banc of States those Lands encreas'd they hold In th' hands of vnknowne Tenants which of old Caemillus plow share wounded and the hands Of th' ancient Curii till'd the state now stands Not as of old when men from auarice free Could liue in peace and wisht but liberty Hence quarrels grow what pouerty esteemed A vild offence now 's greatest honour deem'd By Sword our Countreys power in curbe to hold Might measures â—ight Lawes and decrees are sold Consuls and Tribunes iarres all right suppresse Fasces are bought the peoples suffrages Corruptly sought and giuen hence bloody iarres Oft staine elections in the field of Maâ—s So griping Vsury growes so faith is lâ—st And ciuill warre as gainefull sought by most By this time Caesar the cold Alpes orepast In his great thoughts the future warre had cast And now to Rubicon's small current come He dreames the Image of affrighted Rome With countenance sad through dusky night appearesâ— On her towre-bearing head her hoary haires Hung downe all torne her armes were nak'd when she Tâ—us sighing speakes oh whither carry yee My Ensignes Souldiers If you come as friends As Roman Citizens your march here ends k A suddaine feare straight chilles the generall veines His haire 's with horrour rais'd faintnesse detaines His steps vpon the banke then thus he praâ—â—s Thou Ioue whose eye these Citie walles surueyes From thy Tarpeian hill You Deiâ—ies Of Troy and Romulus hid misteries Thou Latian Ioue worshipt on th' Alban mount You Vestall fires and Rome whom I account My greatest God blesse this attempt not thee Doe I inuade Conquerour by land and sea Thy Caesar comes thy Souldier still Be hee He in the fault that caus'd this enmity Then brooking no delay the streame showre-swell'd He marches ore so in a â—ibyan field A Lion viewing his sterne foe at hand Till he collect his
his sonne can stay No weeping wife her Husband can perswade No nor their houshold gods till they haue made Vowes for their safety none an eye dares cast Back on lou'd Rome although perhaps his last Irrevocably doe the people flye You gods that easily giue prosperity But not maintaine it that great city fill'd VVith natiue soules and conquer'd that would yeeld Mankinde a dwelling is abandon'd now An easie prey to Caesar when a foe Begirts our Souldiers in a forreine Land One little trench nights danger can withstand A soddaine worke rais'd out of earth endures The foes assault th' encamped's sleepe secures Thou Rome a war but noysd art left by all Not one nights safety trusted to thy wall But pardon their amaze when Pompey flyes 'T is time to feare then lest their hearts should rise With hope of future good sad augury bodes A worse ensuing fate the threatning gods Fill heaven and earth and sea with prodigies Vnheard-of Starres by night adorne the skies Heaven seemes to flame and through the Welkin fire Obliquely flyes state-changing comets dire Display to vs their bloud portending haire Deceitfull lightnings flash in clearest ayre Strange formed Meteors the thicke ayre had bred Like Iavelins long like lampes more broadly spread Lightning without one cracke of thunder brings From the cold North his winged fires and flings Them ' gainst our Capitoll small starres that vse Onely by night their lustre to diffuse Now shine in midst of day Cynthia bright In her full orbe like Phoeâ—us at the sight Of earths blacke shades eclipses Titan hidâ—s When mounâ—ed in the midd'st of heaven he rides In cloudes his burning Chariot to enfold The world in darknesse quite day to behâ—ld No Nation hopes as once backe to the East He fled at sight of sad Thyestes feast Fierce Vulcan opts Sicilian Aetna's throate But to the sky her flames she belches noâ— But on th' Italian shore obliquely flings Bloud from her bottome blacke Charibdis brings Sadlyer barke Scyllaes doggs then they were wont The Vestall fire goes out on th'Alban mount Ioues sacrificing fire it selfe divides Into two parts and rises on two sides Like the two Theban Princes funerall fires Earth opes her threatning jawes th' Alpes nodding spires Shake off their snow Thetis does higheâ— now Twixt Libyan Atlas and Spaines Calpe flow The natiue gods did weepe Romes certaine thrall The Lares sweating shew'd the offrings fall Downe in the Temples and as we haue heard Nights fatall Birds in midst of day appear'd VVilde Beasts at midnight from the deserts come And take bold lodging in the streets of Rome Beasts make with mens articulate voice their monâ— Births monstrous both in limmes proportion And number mothers their owne infants fear'd Sibilla's fatall lines were sung and heard Among the people and with bloody armes Cybel's head-shaking Priests pronounc'd their charmes I th' peoples eares howling a balefull mone And Ghosts from out their quiet vrnes did grone Clâ—shing of armour and loude showtes they heare In desert groues and threatnings Ghosts appeare The dwellers neere without the City wall Fled fierce Erynnis had encompast all The towne her snaky haires and burning brand Shaking as when she rul'd Agauâ—'s hand Or the selfe maim'd Lycurgus such was she VVho once when sent by Inno's cruelty Great Hercules new come from Hell did fright Shrill trumpets sounded dismall ayres of night That horrid noise that meeting armies yeild Did then present in midst of Mars his field Rose Sylla's ghost and woes ensuing told Plowmen neere Aniens streames Marius behold Rise from his sepulchre and flye appall'd For these things were the Tuscan Prophets call'd As custome was the sagest of them all Dwelt in Etrurian Luna's desert wall Aruns that lightnings motion vnderstands Birds flight and entrailes op'te he first commands Those monstrous birthes that from no seede did come But horrid issues of a barren wombe To be consum'd in fire then all the towne To be encompast in procession Th' high Priests whose charge it is he next doth vrge The City walles with hallowed rites to purge Through their whole circuit following after these Th' inferiour Priests attir'd Gabinian wise The Vestall Maides with their vail'd Sister come That only may see Troy's Palladium Then those that Sibyll's secret verses keepe And Cybell yearely in still Almon steepe Septemuirâ— that governe sacred Feasts The learned Augurs and Apolloes Priests The noble Flameâ— Salius that beares On his glad neck the target of great Mars VVhilst they the towne compasse in winding tracts Aruns the Lightnings dispers'd fire collects And into th' eaâ—tn with a sad murmure flings Then names the places and to th' altar brings A chosen Bull then wine betwixt his hornes He â—owres and sprinkles ore with Salt and Corne His knife the Bull impatient long denyes Himselfe to so abhor'd a Sacrifice But by the guirded Sacrificers strength Hanging vpon his hornes ore come at length Bending his knees holds forth his conquer'd necke Nor did pure blood come out but poyson black Instead of blood from the wound open'd flyes Aruns grew pale at this sad Sacrifice And the gods wrath he in the Entrailes seekes VVhose colour scar'd him pale they were with streakes Of blacke th' infected blood congealed showes Sprinkled with different palenesse various The liver putrifi'de on th'hostile side VVere threatning veines the lungs their fillets hide A narrow line divides the vitall parts The heart lyes still and corrupt matter starts Through gaping clefts no part oth'cause is hid And that which never wâ—thout danger did Appeare on th' entrailes was a double head One head was sicke feeble and languished The other quicke his pulses nimbly beates By this when he perceâ—u'de what woe the Fates Prepar'de he cri'de aloud all that you doe O gods I must not to the People show Nor with this haplesse sacrifice can I Great Iupiter thy anger pacifie The blacke infernall deities appeare In th' entrailes woes vnspeakable we feare But greater will ensue you gods lend aydâ— And let no credit to our Art be had But counted Tages fiction thus with long Ambages darkly the old Tuscan sung But Figulâ—â— whose care it was aright To know the gods and heavens to whom for sight Of planets and the motion of each starre Not great Aegyptian Memphis might compare Either no lawes direct the world quoth he And all the starres doe moue vncertainely Or if Fates rule a swift destruction Threatens mankinde and th' earth shall Cities downe By earthquakes swallow'de be intemperately Shall ayre grow hot false earth her seedes deny Or shall the waters poyson'de be what kinde Of ruine is it gods what mischiefes finde Your cruelties many dire aspects meete If Saturne cold in midst of heaven should siâ— Aquarius would Deucatious flood haue bred And all the earth with waters overspred If Sol should mount the Nemean Lions backe In flames would all the worlds whole fabrick cracke And all the sky with Sol's burnt chariot blaze These aspects ceâ—se but thou that
Has done all hitherto fortune from thee Requires the last hand to this speedily Successefull war doe Libya's quicksands lye Or her devouring gulfes twixt thee and me Haue I committed thee to vnknowne seas Or sent thee on vntryed casualtyes Caesar commands thee not coward to goe But follow him my selfe heere where the foe Encamped lyes am first arrived now Fear'st thou my campe we loose what fates bestow And to the windes and seas I bootlesse plaine My forward souldiers doe not thou detaine That would take any seas if I judge right They'd come through shipwracke vnder me to fight Now I must speake in greife the world I see Is not divided twixt vs aequally In Epire Caesar and th' whole Senate rest Thou art alone of Italy possest But having often vs'd such words as those They still delaying Caesar gan suppose The gods not wanting vnto him but he To them and rashly did resolue to try By night those seas which they for feare forbore Although commanded finding evermore Bold actions thriue and hopes in a t small bote T' orecome those waues whole navyes ventur'd not Now weary night wars toilesome cares did end Poore men tooke rest whose meane estates could lend Their breasts sound sleepe the campe all silent proou'd VVhen the third houre the second watch had moov'd VVith carefull steps through this vast silence then Caesar what not the meanest of his men VVould doe entends leaues all and goes alone VVith none but fortune his companion And passing through the courts of guard he findes All fast asleepe complaning in his minde That he could passe but at the water side He found a boate with a small cable ty'd Fast to a rocke the man that ow'd and kept This boate not far from thence securely slept In a small cottage of no timber trees But woven reedes and barren bulrushes Built vp a boate's turn'd bottome did suffice To fence his wall There Caesar twice or thrice Knockt with his hand that all the cottage shak'd From his soft bed of sedge Amyclas wak'd VVhat shipwrackt man quoth hee knockes there or whom Has fortune driven to my poore house to come For shelter speaking thus he rose from bed And his fir'd match with better suell fed Secure from feare of warre such houses are Full well he knowes no spoile for civill war Oh safe blest poore mans life oh gift of all The gods not yet well knowne what city wall VVhat temple had not fear'd at Caesar's stroke But when the doore was ope thus Caesar spoke Enlarge thy hopes poore man expect to haue More wealth from me then modesty can craue Only transport me to th' Italian shore This trade of living thou shalt neede no more No more shall labour thy poore age sustaine Yeild to thy fate a god is come to raine Downe showres of wealth thy little house vpon Thus Caesar though disguiâ—d forgetts the tone Of private men when poore Amyelas made This answere many things alâ—s disswade My minde from trusting of the seas to night The Sunne set pale his beames dispers'd whose light Partly to North and partly South inclin'd The middle of his orbe but dimn ely shin'd And dazled not the weake beholders eyes VVith dulled hornes did the pale mooue arise Not free from cloudes her middle part she had Her pointed ends no horne directly made First red betokening windes â—â—en pale shâ—was And in darke cloudes obscur'd her mourning face But the shorâ—s â—olse the murmur of the woods The Dolphins playing vp and downe the floods VVith course vncertaine I mislike no more Like I ther Cormoâ—ants flockâ—ng to the shore Nor that the Herne â—n her smooth wing relying Presumes to reaâ—h the skyes with lofty flyâ—ng No that the Crow waglâ—ng along the shore Diuâ—s downe and seemes t'antiâ—ipate a showre But if affaires of weight requiâ—e mine aide To vse my skill I will not be afraide Either the windes and seas shall it deny Oâ— I will reach the shore of Italy This said loosing his vessell he puts on And spâ—eads his sailes at whose first motion Not only th'vsuall falling starres did make In the darke aire a long and fiery traâ—ke But even those starres which make their fixt abode In th' higheast â—phaeres did seeme to shaâ—e and nod The seas blacke face a terrour does diffâ—se The threatning waues in tâ—ackes voluminous Boile vp the seas by blasts vncertaine blowne Betoken many windes conception Then thus the master spake behold how great A danger the sea teemes withall as yet Vncertaine tis what winde rough East or West Shall come the baâ—ke's on every side distrest With severall waues the cloudes and skies expresse The Southwindes rage the murmur of the seas The Northwest winde in such a storme to shore Not safe nor shipwrackt can we ere get ore No course but one of safety doâ—s remaine Hopelesse to steare our courses backe againe Let 's set our danger'd barke a land before We are too far gone from the Graecian shore Caesar presuming that all dangers great Would yeild to him contemne quoth he the threat Of raging seas spread sailes and if the sky Warrant thee not to goe for â—taly I le warrant thee the just cause why thou fear'st Is this because thou know'st not whom thou bear'st Him whom the gods never forsake to whom Fortune accounts it injury to come After his wish breake through the waues alone Thinke thy selfe safe in my protection These are the troubles of the seas and skyes Not of our barke this barke where Caesar is Her cariage shall protect nor long shall this Storme last but happy for the Ocean t is This barke is heere Oh turne not backe thy hand Nor thinke vpon Epire's adjoyning land Thinke on Calabria's shore safe to arriue Since no land else to me can safety giue Alas thou knowest not why these terrours rise In all these tumults of the seas and skyes Does fortune striue to pleasure me No more He spoke when straight a furious whirlewind tore From the rent barke her shrowdes and downe it flunge The sailes that on the trembling mainemast hunge The joynt dissolved vessell sounds when lo Windes full of danger from all quarters blow First from th' Atlantike Ocean Corus blowes Rowling the waues and raised billowes throwes With violence against the rockes amaine Him Boreas meetes and turnes them backe againe The sea stands doubtful to what winde to yeild But Scythian Boreas fury winnes the feild But though high waues he from the bottome reare Yet to the shore those waues he cannot beare They meete with those that Corus brings and breake The seas thus rais'd though now the winds were weak Would meete themselues Nor must you now surmise Eurus is still or showre-blacke Notus lyes Imprison'd close in Aeal's rocky caue They from their severall quarters rush to saue With furious blasts their lands from being drown'd And keepe the sea within his proper bound For oft they say small seas by violent winde Haue beene transported so th'
men so neere their end Trembled with frantike feare if fates doe lend Presaging mindes of future ills to men Romans that sojourn'd in Armenia then And Tyrian Gades and in what coast soere Or climate they abode lamented there Blaming their causelesse griefe and did not know Their losses in Pharsalia's overthrow An Augur sitting on a th'Euganean mount If fame record a truth where springs the fount Of foggy Aponus where Timauus does First part and thence in severall channells flowes This day quoth he the action 's in the height Pompey and Caesars impious armyes fight Whether Ioues thunder and divining stroke He had observ'd or how thicke aire did choake The jarring heavens or on the poles did looke Or in the firmament had found this fight By the Sunnes palenesse and starres mournefull light But nature sure did differently display From other dayes the sad Thessalian day And if all men had skilfull Augurs bin By all the world Pharsalia had bin seene Greatest of men whose fates through the earth extend Whom all the gods haue leasure to attend These acts of yours to all posterity Whether their owne great fame shall signifie Or that these lines of mine haue profited Your mighty names these wars when they are read Shall stir th' affections of the readers minde Making his wishes and vaine feares inclin'd As to a thing to come not past and guide The hearts of all to favour Pompey's side Pompey descending downe the hill displayes His troopes reflecting rising Phoebus rayes Not rashly ore the fields in order good And marshall'd well the haplesse army stood The left wing first was Lâ—ntulus his care With the first â—egion then the best in war And fourth Thou stout Domitius lead'st the right Valiant though still vnfortunate in fight In the maine battell with his warlike bands Brought lately from Cilicia Scipio stands VVell fortify'd heere vnder a command A gâ—nerâ—ll first in Affâ—cks scorched land But all along the swift Enipeus side The loose-rain'd troopes of Ponticke horsemen ride And mountaniers of Cappadocia Vpon the dryer fields in rich array Doe the earths Monarchs Kings and Tetrarchs stand And all the states that Roman swords command Thither from Libya came Numidians Iâ—grâ—as arâ—hers Crete's Cydonians Fâ—iâ—ce Gaules there fought against their wonted foe Theâ—e warlike Spaniards their short shields did show The Conquerer of all triumphs now depriue And let no people this sad war surviue Caesar that day dislodging to provide For corne was marching out when he espy'd The foes descending downe the champâ—on field And that so often wisht-for â—ay behâ—ld That on one chance of war should set the maine Sâ—â—ke of delay and covetous of reigne In this small tract of time condemn'd had he The civill war as a slow villany But when fates falling ruine shake he saw And both their fortunes to a tryall draw His wondrous loue of sword some languishment Gan feele his minde though ever confident Of good successe now doubts from feare his owne As Pompey fortunes from presumption Did keepe his minde at last exiling feares With confidence he cheeres his souldiers Braue souldiers the worlds aw Caesars estate That lay of fight is come which we from fate So oft haue begg'd oh doe not now desire But by your valours fortunes aide acquire What Caesar is lyes in your hands alâ—ne This is the day which passing Rubicon Was pâ—omist me in hope of which we stirr'd And our forbidden triumphs haue differr'd This is the day that shall restore to you Children and wiues and shares of land bestow Free'd from wars duties this the day that tryes Wiâ—ness'd by fate whose cause the juster is This field the conquer'd side shall guilty make If you with fire and sword haue for my sake Assaulted Rome now fight like souldiers And free your swords from guilt no hand in wars Is pure in both sides iudgement nor for me Fight you alone but that your selues may be Free lords of all the world I for mine owne Content could liue in a Plebejan gowne Or be in any state so you obteine A perfect freedome by my envy reigne Nor with much blood shall all the world be bought But youths of Greece in schooles of wrestling taught Base sluggish spirits that never armes did beare And mixt Barbarian troopes are standing there That when the armies joyne will nere abide The trumpets sound nor showtes of their owne side In civill war few hands alas shall fight Most of the blowes vpon Romes foes shall light And rid the world of well-spar'd people goe Breake through those dastard nations and orethrow The world at your first onset make it knowne That all those nations which so oft were showne In Pompey's triumphs are not worthy prou'd Of one poore triumph Arâ— th' Armenians moov'd Thinke you what Generall shall Rome obtaine With least bloods losse would the Barbarians gaine A soveraignety for Pompey they abhor All Romans as their lords and hate those more Whom they haue knowne The trust of my affaires To friends whose valour through so many wars In France I haue beheld does fortune now Commit what souldiers sword doe not I know And when through th' aire a trembling pile is sent I le truely tell you from what arme it went Those signes I see that nere your Generall fail'd Feirce lookes and threatning eyes you haue prevail'd Me thinkes the rivers swell'd with blood I see And at your feete the slaughtered bodyes ly Of Kings and Senators nations to day Swim in this bloody field But I delay My fortunes in detaining from the field Your forward spirits pardon me though I yeild A while to pleasing hope I nere did see The gods so liberall and so speedily But one fields distance from our wish are we What Kings and nations are possest of now When this field 's fought is Caesars to bestow O gods what stars what influence of the sky Has given so great a power to Thessaly This day allots the punishmâ—nt or gaines Of all our wars thinke vpon Caesars chaines His wrackes and gibbets thinke you see this face These quarter'd limmes stand in the market place Remember Sylla in the field of Mars For ' gainst a Syllane Generall are our wars My care 's for you this hand shall free mine owne Who ere lookes backe before the day be won Shall see me fall on mine owne sword and dy You gods whose cares are drawne downe from the sky By Romes dissentions let him Conquerer be That to the Conquer'd meanes no cruelty And thinkes his countrymen haue not in ought Misdone because against his side they fought When Pompey in a narrow place had shut Your helpelesse valour vp how did he glut His sword with blood but this I beg of you Souldiers let no man wound a flying foe Account him still your countreyman that flyes But while they stand in fight let not your eyes Be moov'd with piety though in that place Your fathers stood but with your swords deface Their reverend lookes Who ere has
determines to assault their wall Whilest fortune's hot and terrour workes in all Nor does he thinke that this command appeares Too harsh too hot and weary'd souldiers Small exhortation leads them to the prey Our victory quoth he is full to day And for our blood nought is remaining now But the reward which 't is my part to show I cannot say to giue what every man Shall giue himselfe behold yon tents that stand Full of all riches there gold rak'd in Spaine There th' Easterne Nations treasuryes remaine Pompey's and all those Kings estates doe lacke Possessours souldiers run and overtake Whom you pursue and what so ere to you Pharsalia giues take from the conquer'd now This speech of Caesars and golds impious loue Over the swords the furious souldiers droue To tread on Senatours and Captaines slaine What trench what bulwarke could their force susteine Seeking the price of all their wars and sin To know for what they haue so guilty been Spoiling the world they found a wealthy masse Which for wars future charges gather'd was But their all-covering thoughts could not be fill'd With what Spaâ—nes mines and Tagus streames could yeild Or on their sands rich Arimaspians finde Though all the spoiles be theirs yet in their minde Their mischeife at too cheape a sale they vent And are bid losse in spoiling of these tents VVhen to himselfe the Conquerour Rome decree'd And in that hope whole mountaines promised Patricians tents impious Plebejans keepe In Kings pavilions common souldiers sleepe On brothers and on fathers empty beds The killers lay their parricidall heads But furious dreames disturbe their restlesse rest Thessalia's fight remaines in every breast Their horrid guilt still wakes the battell stands In all their thoughts they brandish empty hands Without their swords you would haue thought the feild Had groan'd and that the guilty earth did yeild Exhaled spirits that in the aire did moue And Stygian feares possest the night aboue A sad revenge on them their conquest takes Their sleepes present the furies hissing snakes And brands their countreymens sad ghosts appeare To each the image of his proper feare One sees an old mans visage one a young Another's tortuâ—'d all the evening long With his slaine brothers spirit their fathers sight Dants some but Caesar's soule all ghosts affâ—ight Orestes so not purg'd in Scythia Th' Eumenides affrighting faces saw Not more was Pentheus in Agaves fit Dismay'd nor she when she was free'd from it Him all the swords that dire Pharsalia saw And which the Senate in revenge should draw Oppresse that night and Hellish-monsters scourge But that which most his guilty soule did vrge Was this that Sâ—yx the fiends and furyes grim Pompey being yet aliue had seiz'd on him But having suffred all when dayes cleare light Display'd Pharsalia's slaughter to his sight No dismall objects could â—uert his eyes From thence the rivers swell'd with blood he sees And heapes of bodyes aequalling high hills And carâ—asses whence blood and filth distills He numbers Pompey's people and that place Ordaines for banquetting from whence each face He might discerne and know them as they ly Proud that Aemathia's earth he cannot see Or scarse discerne the slaughter-cover'd ground In blood his fortune and his gods he found And with that joyfull sight to feede his eyes To the wretch'd soules he funerall fire denyes Making Aemathia noisome to the aire Carthage that gaue our consuls sepulcher And Libyan fire on Cannae did conferre Could not teach him his enemies t' inter Remembring still his anger not even then With slaughter slack'd they were his countrey men VVe doe not seuerall fires or tombs desire Doe but to all these nations grant one fire And let them not on pyles distinct be brent Or if thou aime at Pompey's punishment Pyl'd vp let Pindus wood and Ossa be That he from sea Pharsalia's fire may see This anger bootes thee not fort is all one VVhether the fire or putrefaction Dissolue them all to natures bosome goe And to themselues their ends the bodyes owe. If now these nations Caesar be not burn'd They shall when earth and seas to flames are turn'd One fire shall burne the world and with the sky Shall mixe these bones where ere thy soule shall be Their soules shall goe in ayre thou shalt not fly Higher nor better in Avernus ly Death frees from fortune Earth receiues againe VVhat ever she brought forth and they obtaine Heavens coverture that haue no vrnes at all Thou that deny'st these nations funerall VVhy dost thou fly these slaughter smelling fields Breath if thou canst the aire this region yeilds Or drinke this water Caesar but from thee The rotting people challenge Thessaly And keepe possession ' gainst the conquerer To the sad food of this Aemathian war Senting from far the bloods corruption The Thracian wolues Arcadian lions run Beares from their dens dogs from their kennells come And all those ravenous creatures else on whom Nature bestowes the strongest sents ful well The ayre by carrion putrify'd to smell Hither all birds of prey assembled are That long had waited on this civill war Birds that from Thrace to Nile in winter goe Stay'â— longer then then they were wont to doe Nere did moe birds of prey in one ayre fly Nor did moe vulturs ever cloud the sky From every wood came foule each tree was fil'd With bloody birds that crimson drops distill'd Downe from the aire blood and corruption rain'd The conquerours face and impious eagles stain'd Birds from their weary tallands oft let fall Gobbets of flosh nor were the people all Consumed so buryed in bird or beast Which would not on their bowels fully feast Nor sucke their marrow all but lightly tast The greatest part of Roman flesh is cast Disdain'd away which by the Sunne and time Dissolv'd is mixed with Thessalian slime Vnhappy Thessaly what hast thou done T' offend the angry gods that thee alone So many deaths and impious fates should staine What age what length of time can purge againe The guâ—lt that thou hast wrought what corne in thee And grasse with blood discolour'd shall not be What plow share but some Roman ghost shall wound Before that time new battells on thy ground Shall be and impious civill wars shall staine Thy fields before this blood be dry againe If all the graues of our dead ancesters We should turne vp their tombes that stand and theirs Whose time-consumed vrnes haue cast abroad Th'enclosed dust moe ashes would be trod And bones by harrows teeth digg'd vp and found In the sad furâ—owes of Thessaliaes ground No Marriners had sailed from thy shore Nor Husbandmen had plow'd thee any more The Roman peoples graue thy ghostly field Had no inhabitant for ever till'd No heards of cattell on thy plaines had run Nor durst the shepheards feede their flockes vpon Thy pasture fields with Roman blood manur'd Nor habitable nor to be endur'd As in the torrid or cold i y zone Shouldst thou haue lyen forsaken
Leading fierce nations ' gainst the walls of Rome Following those Eagles that slaine Crassus lost That only King that from th' Aemathian a host Was absent fortune did his favour guide Will he provoke the Conquerers strong side And joyne with vanquisht Pompey thinke you no We haue no cause to trust that nation so The people all borne in the Northren cold Are lovers of the war hardy and bold But in the East and Southerne climes the heat Of gentle aire makes them effoeminate Their men soft cloathing and loose garments weare Parthians vpon the Median fields and where Along Sarmaâ—ian plaines swift Tigris flowes By liberty of flight can by no foes Be vanquished but where the earth does swell Ore craggy hills they cannot clime so well Nor in darke places can they vse the bow Nor dare they swim torrents that swiftly flow Nor in the field with blood all over dy'd Dare they the dust and Summer Sunne abide No rams nor engines can the Parthian vse Nor fill the trenches vp when he pursues What ere is arrow-profe serues for a wall Slight are their waâ—s their fights like flyings all They stragling fight apter to fly then stand Their arrowes venom'd are nor close at hand Dare they maintaine a fight far off with bowes They shoot and where it lists the wind bestowes Their wounâ—s but fight of sword does strength requireâ— All manly nations the sword-fight desire At the first on set they'll disarmed be And when their quivers are exhaust must flee Their trust in poyson is not in their hands Think'st thou them men Pompey that dare not stand Without such helpes the hazard of a fight Can such base aide be worth so long a flight For thee so far from thine owne land to dy And vnder barbarous earth entomb'd to ly In a base monument yet such a one As will he envy'd Crassus having none Thy state is not so pitifull for death Nor fear'd by men ends all but losse of breath Vnder that wicked King Cornelia feares not The Venus of those barbarous courts who heares not Which like bruit beasts all wedlocks rites exile And with wiues numberlesse all lawes defile Th' incestuous beds abhorred secrets ly Ope to a thousand concubines rais'd high With wine and banqueting the King refraines No lawlesse lust though nere so full of staines Th' embraces of so many women can Not all the night tire one insatiate man In Kings incestuous beds their sisters ly And mothers which should names vnstained be Oâ—dipus wofull tale condemns alone Thebes of a crime though ignorantly done But there how often does the Parthian King Arsacides from such foule incest spring What can be wickednesse to him that may Defile his mother shall Cornelia Metellus noble progeny be led The thousand'th wife to a Barbarians bed Yet none more often will the tyrant vse Then her her husbands titles will infuse A scornefull lust and which will please him more He 'll know that she was Crassus wife before And comes as fate did her to Parthia ow A captiue for that former overthrow Thinke on that slaughter 't will not only bring Shame to haue begg'd aide from that fatall King But to haue made a civill war before For what will Caesar and thy selfe be more Accus'd by all then that while you two fought There could for Crassus no revenge be wrought ' Gainst Parthia all our armyes should haue gone And that no strength might want from garrison Our Northren lands should haue bin free'd each one Till treacherous â—usa and proud Babylon Had fall'n for tombes vpon our slaughter'd men Of Parthian peace fortune we beg an end And if Thessalia end the civill war Against the Parthian send thy Conquerer Of all the world I should rejoyce alone At Caesar's triumphs ore that nation When thou the cold Araxis streams hast crost Shall not the slaughter'd Crassus mourning ghost Vpbraide thee thou whom our vnbury'd ghosts Long since expected with revenging hosts Com'st thou to sue for peace besides thine eyes Sad monuments of Roman tragoedyes Shall greete the walls on which our Captaines heads Were fixt where bodyes of our souldiers dead Euphrates swallow'd and swift Tigris streame Rowl'd backe againe to earth If thou to them Canst sue why Pompey doest thou scorne to pray To Caesar sitting in Thessalia Looke rather vpon Romes confederates And if thou doe suspect the Southerne states And Iuba's falsehood goe to Ptolomey Aegypt by Lybian quickesands Westerly Is guarded on the East fall Niles seven floods To th' sea a land content with her owne goods A land that needes nor raine nor merchandise So much on only Nilus she relyes Young Ptolemey reignes there that owes his crowne To thee once left to thy tuition Feare not the shadow of a name no hurt Can be in tender yeares in an old court Let not religion faith or trust be sought Men vs'd to scepters are asham'd of nought The mildest governement a kingdome findes Vnder new kings This speech quite turn'd their minds How are despairing states most free and bold Pompey's opinion is by all controll'd They leaue Cilicia and to Cyprus mooue Their course No land does Venus better loue Still mindfull of her birth if we at all Thinke gods were borne or had originall Pompey departing thence his course gan bend Round all the Cyprian rocks that Southward tend And got into the enterposed maine Nor by the nights weake light could he attaine Mount Casius but with strugling sailes and strength A lower port of Aegypt reach'd at length Where parted Nilus greatest channell flowes And to the Ocean at Pelusium goes That time was come wherein just Libra weighes The howers and makes the nights aequall with dayes Then payes the winter nights howers which the spring Had tane away They hearing that the King Was at mount Casius thither make repaire The Sun yet was not downe the winde blew faire The sâ—outs along the shore post to the court And fill their fearefull eares with the report Of Pompey's comming though their time were small For counsell yet the Aegyptian monsters all Were met ' mongst whom Achoreus began Whom age taught modesty a milde old man Him superstitious Memphys that observ'd Th' encrease of Nile brought forth while he had serv'd At the gods altars not one Apis liv'd Fiue changes of the Moone his speech reviv'd The sacred league of Ptolomey's dead father And Pompey's merits but Photinus rather A counseller for tyrants with base breath Durst thus presume to counsell Pompey's death Iustice and truth haue many guilty made Faith suffers Ptolomey when it would aide VVhom fortune hates joyne with the gods and fate And fly the wretched loue the fortunate Profit from honesty differs as far As does the sea from fire earth from a star Crownes loose their power whilest only good they doe Respect of right all strength does overthrow T is mischeifes freedome and th'vncurbed sword That does to hated crownes safety affoord No cruell actions vnlesse throughly done
midd'st of Libya draws Who make no vowes for their returning home But thinke of going only let them come I would deceiue no souldier nor keepe close My feares to draw them on Let only those My followers be whom dangers doe invite Who thinke it braue and Roman in my sight T' endure the worst of ills He that would haue A suâ—ety for his safety and â—â—ine saue His loued life let him be gone from me And finde an easier way to slavery Vpon the sands whilest I first footing set Let me first suffer th'aires annoying heat Let serpents poyson'd teeth first seize on me And in my fâ—te doe you your dangers try Let him that sees me dâ—iming water craue And plaine of heat wherâ—â— a shelter haue Or when I ride before the foote straight grow Weary if any by endurance know Whether I goe souldier or generall The â—ands heat thirst and poysonous serpents all Are sweete to vertue hath things patience loues And sweetest still when dearest goodnesse proues These Libyan dangers only justify The flight of men thus their hot spirits he With labours loue and virtue striv'd to fire Maâ—â—hing ore deserts neuer to retire Seâ—ure he goes to Libya gracing there VVith his great name a little sepulcher If th' old accâ—unt we follow Libya is The world's third part following the windes skyes A part of Europe For not distant more Then Scythian Tanais is Nilus shore From VVesterne Gades where Europe Affricke flyes And makes the Ocean roome but greater is Asia then both For as they both send forth Libya from South and Europe from the North The VVesterne winde the Easterne winde alone From Asia blowes That part that 's fertile knowne Of Libya VVestward lyes but moisture lackes The North-winde dry with vs there stormy takes His flight but seldome thither The rich soile No wealthy growing mineralls doe spoile The earth corrupts into no brasse nor gold But keepes her naturall and perfect mold The Mauritanian men are rich alone In Citron wood of which no vse was knowne To them of old contented with the shade Our axes first did that strange wood invade From far we fetch our tables as our meate But in those parts about the Syrts whose heat Is violent and scorching Sol too nere No corne can grow no vines can prosper there Nor trees deepe rooting take the sandy ground VVants vitall temper and no care is found Of Ioue in that at all the barren land Through every season doth vnchanged stand By natures negligence Yet this dull earth Vnto a few small herbes affords a birth VVhich are the hardy Nasamonians fare Neere the sea coast they bleakely seated are Whom barbaraus Syrts with the worlds losse maintaine For spoile they still vpon the sand remaine And though no merchant trade with them yet gold They haue and still by shipwracke traffique hold VVith all the world This way did vertue beare Cato along the Souldiers could not feare A storme by land or thinke of blustring winde But there alas the Ocean's dangers finde For more on land then sea the Southwindes rore About the Syrt and hurt the land much more No rockes nor mountaines stand opposed there To breake his force and turne him into aire No well-growne oakes no wood opposed stands The ground lyes open all free are the sands To Aeols rage which violently strong Hurryes through th' aire a sandy cloud along Their greatest part of land the windes doe beare Into the aire which hangs not fixed there His house and land the Nasamonian sees Fly in the winde their little cottages Blowne ore their heads into the aire as high As from a fire the smoake and sparkles fly The mounted dust like smoake obscures the sky And then moâ—e strong then vsuall did the blast Assault our men no souldier could stand fast No nor the ground â—n which they stood could stay 'T would shake the earth and beare that land away If Libya hollow were or harder mould The Sâ—utherne windes in cavernes to enfold But â—â—nce compos'd of loose and fleeting sands Resisting not it bides the lowest stands Because the highest yeilds helmets of men Theiâ— sheilâ—s and piles the winde with fury then Bereft them of and through the VVelkin tost That in some forreine far-remooved coast Perchance by men was deem'd a prodigy And nations fear'd armes falling from the sky Thinking those weapons rest from men did fâ—ll Downe from the gods So once I thinke that all Our sacred sheilds to holy Numa were VVhich now our choise Patritian shoulders beare The Southerne winde or Northerne robb'd of yore Some forreine people that those bucklers wore The land thus plagu'd with winde the souldiers all Downe to the ground their cloathes fast guirded fall Hold fast the earth yet sure they scarsely lay By weight nor strength from being blowne away Mountaines of dust the Southwindes furious hand Rowles ore their heads drowned is heapes of sand The souldiers scarse can stir Some though vpright VVith rising earth are orewhelmed quite And though the earth remooue want motion Vast stones of ruin'd walls from far are blowne And strange to tell in some far region fall They ruines see that see no house at all No paths nor difference now of wayes are knowne Their course is guided by the star alone Like navigators nor all stars to vs In that Horrizon are conspicuous For to earths face there bowed many be Obscur'd from sight But when the aire was free From the windes rage dissolv'd againe by heat And scorching day their body flow'd with sweat Their mouths with thirst were parch'd a little steame They spy'd which from a muddy fountaine came From whence with much adoe a souldier got His hellmet full of water and straight brought The same to Cato their dry throates were all VVith dust besmeaâ—ed and the generall Himselfe was envy'd for that little draught Base souldier answeres he in thy poore thought Seem'd I alone so worthlesse none but I Tender and weake in all this company This punishment thou more deserv'st then I To drinke thy selfe while all the army 's dry Then stirr'd with wrath he strucke the helmet downe The water spilt suffic'd them every one And now to Libyaes only temple plac'd In Garamanâ—is rude they came at last Iupiter Ammon is adored there Not arm'd with thunder like our Iupiter But crooked hornes To whom the Libyans build No sumptuous Fane no orient iewells fill'd The house with lustre Though the Indians The Aethiopes and rich Arabians Iupiter Ammon's name doe all adore And no god else yet still that god is poore No wealth corrupts his Fane a god of th' old Purenesse his temple guards from Roman gold That place of all the countrey onely greene Shewes a gods presence All that lyes betweene Leptis and Berenicis is dry sand And barren dust no part of all the land But Ammons seat beares trees The cause of it A neighbouring fountaine is whose waters knit The moistened earth and make fertility But when the Sun
and not Roman should obey Her prides first spring that impious night had bin That with our chiefes mixt that incestuous queene Who would not pardon Anthonyes mad loue When Caesars flinty breast desires could moue In midst of war when heat of fight rag'd most And in a couâ—t haunted by Pompey's ghost Embrew'd with blood from dire Pharsalias field Could he vnto adultrous Venus yeild And mixe with warlike cares oh shamelesse head A bastard issue and vnlawfull bed Forgetting Pompey to beget a brother To thee faire Iulia on a strumpet mother Suffring the forces of his scattered foes To joyne in Affrike basely he bestowes Time in Aegyptian loue a conquerer Not for himselfe but to bestow on her Whâ—m trusting to her beauty without teares Though gesture sad with loose as if rent haires Drest in a beautious and becomming woe Did Cleopatra meete bespeaking so If mighty Caesar noblenesse there be Aegyptian Lagus royall issued Depos'd and banisht from my fathers state If thy great hand restore my former fate Kneele at thy feet a queene vnto our nation Thou dost appeare a gratious constellation I am not the first woman that hath sway'd The Pharian scepter Aegypt has obay'd A queene not sexe excepted I desire Thee read the will of my deceased Sire Who left me there a partner to enjoy My brothers crowne and marriage bed The boy I know would loue his sister were he free But all his power will and affections be Vnder Photinas girdle To obtaine The crowne I beg not Caesar from this staine Free thou our house command the King to be A King and free from servants tyranny Shall slaues so proud of Pompey's slaughter be Threatning the same which fates avert to thee Caesar 't is shame enough to th' earth and thee His death Photinus gift and guilt should be Her suite in Caesars eares had found small grace But beauty pleades and that incestuous face Prevailes the pleasures of a wanton bed Corrupt the judge The King had purchased His peace with weighty summes of gold which done With sumptuous feasts this glad accord they crowne Her riot forth in highest pompe not yet Transferr'd to Rome did Cleopatra set The house excell'd those temples which men build In wicked'st times the high-arch'd roofes were fill'd With wealth high tresses golden tables bore Nor did carv'd marble only cover ore The house alone th'vnmixt Achates stood And pillars of red marble their feet troad On pauements of rich Onyx pillars there Not coverd with Aegyptian Eben were Eben was timber there and that rich wood Not to adorne but prop the Pallace stood The roomes with Ivory glister'd and each dore Inlay'd with indian shels embellish'd ore With choisest Emeraulds the beds all shone With richest gems and yellow Iasper stone Coverlids rich some purple dy'd in graine Whose tincture was not from one Caldron tane Part woue of glittering gold part scarlet dy As is th'Aegyptian vse of Tapestry The servitours stood by and waiting pages Some different in complexions some in ages Some of blacke Libyan hew some golden haires Thaâ— Caesar yeilds in all his German wars He nere had seene so bright a yellow haire Some stiffe cuâ—l'd loâ—kes on Sun-burnt fore heads weare Besides th' vnhappy strength robb'd company The Eunuch'd youths neere these were standing by Youths of a stronger age yet those so young Scarse any downe darkning their cheekes was sprung Downe sate the Princes and the higher power Caesar her hurtfull face all painted ore Sate Cleopatra not content alone T' enjoy her brothers bed nor Aegypts crowne Laden with pearles the read seas spoyled store On her rich haire and weary'd necke she wore Her snowy breasts their whitenesse did display Thorough the thin Sidonian tiffenay VVrought and extended by the curious hand Of Aegypts workemen Citron tables stand On Ivory tressells such as Caesars eyes Saw not when he King Iuba did surprise O blinde ambitious madnesse to declare Your wealth to him that makes a civill war And tempt an armed guest For though that he Sought not for wealth by waâ—s impiety And the worlds wracke suppose our cheifes of old VVere there compos'd of that poore ages mould Fabriâ—ii Curii graue or that plaine man That Consull from th' Etrurian plowes was tane VVere sitting at those tables whom to Rome VVith such a tryumph he would wish to come In golden plate they fill their feasting bords VVith what the aire the earth or Nile affords VVhat luxury with vaine ambition had Sought through the world and not as hunger bad Beasts foules the gods of Aegypt are devour'd From christall ewers is Niles water powr'd Vpon their hands studded with gemms that shine Their bowles conteine no Mareotike wine But strong and sparkling wines of Meroe To whom few yeeres giue full maturity VVith fragrant Nard and never-fading rose Their heads are crown'd their haire anointed flowes VVith sweetest cinnamon that has not spent His savour in the aire nor lost his sent In forreine climes and fresh Amomum brought From harvests neere at hand there Caesar's taught The riches of the spoiled world to take And is asham'd that he a war did make VVith his poore sonne in law desiring now Some quarâ—ell would twixt him and Aegypt grow VVhen wine and cates had tir'd their glutted pleasure Caesar begins with long discourse to measure The howers of night bespeaking gently thus The linnen vested graue Achoreus Old man devoted to religion And which thine age confirmes despis'd by none Of all the gods to longing eares relate Aegypts originall her site and state VVorship of gods and what doth ere remaine In your old temples character'd explaine The gods that would be knowne to vs vnfold If your forefathers their religion told T' Athenian Plato once when had you ere A guest more worthy or more fit to heare Rumor of Pompey drew our march thus far And fame of you for still in mid'st of war I leasure had of heaven and gods to heare And the stars course nor shall Eudoxus yeare Excell my Consulship But though so much My vertue be my loue of truth be such There 's nought I more desire to know at all Then Niles hid head and strange originall So many years vnknowne grant but to me A certaine hope the head of Nile to see I le leaue off civill war Caesar had done When thus divine Achoreus begun Let it be lawfull Caesar to vnfold Our great forefathers secrets hid of old From the lay people Let who ere suppose It piety to keepe these wonders close I thinke the gods are pleas'd to be made knowne And haue their sacred lawes to people showne Planets which crosse and slacke the tenth sphaeres course Had from the worlds first law their different powers The Sun divides the yeares makes nights and dayes Dimmes other stars with his resplendent rayes And their wilâ—e courses moderates the tides Of Thetis Phabes grouth and waning guides Saturne cold iâ—e and frozen zones obtaines Mars ore the windes and winged lightning reignes
Quiet well temper'd aire doth Ioue possesse The seedes of all things Venus cherishes Cyllenius rules ore waters which are great He when he enters where the dog-stâ—rs heat And burning fire 's display'd there where thâ— signe Of Cancer hot doth with the Lyon joyne And where the Zodiacke holds his Capricorne And Cancer vnder which Niles head is borne Ore which when Mercuryes proud fires doe stand And in a line direct as by command Of Phaebe the obeying Ocean growes So from his open'd fountaine Nilus flowes Nor ebâ—s againe till night haue from the Sun Those howers recover'd which the summer wor. Vaine was the old opinion that Niles flow Was caus'd or help'd by Aethiopian snow For on those hills cold Boreas never blowes As there the natiues Sunburnt visage showes And moist hot Southerne windes Besides the head Of every streame that from thaw'd iâ—e is bred Swells then when first the spring dissolues the snowes But Nile before the dogâ—dayes never flowes Nor is confin'd within his bankes againe Till the Autumnal aequinoctian Thence t is he knowes no lawes of other streames Nor swells in winter when Sols scorching beames Are far remote his waters want their end But Nile comes forth in summer time to lend A cooler temper to the sweltring aire Vnder the torrid zone least fire impaire The earth vnto her succour Nilus drawes And swells against the Lyons burning jawes And when hot Cancer his Siene burnes Vnto her aide implored Nilus turnes Nor till the Sun to Autumne doe descend And that hot Meroë her shades extend Doth he restore againe the drowned field Who can the causes of this flowing yeild Even so our mother nature hath decreed That Nile should flow and so the world hath neede As vainely doth antiquity declare The West windes cause of this increases are Which keepe their seasons strictly and long stay And beare within the aire continu'd sway These from the Westerne parts all clouds exile Beyond the South and hang them over Nile Or else their blasts the rivers current meete And will not let it to the Ocean get Prevented so from falling to the maine The streame swells backe and overflowes the plaine Some through the cavernes of earths hollow won be In secret channells thinke these waters come Attracted to th' aequator from the cold North clime when Sol his Merâ—ë doth hold The scorched earth attracting water thither Ganges and Padus flow vnseene together Venting all rivers at one fountaine so VVithin one channell Nilus cannot goe From th' Ocean swelling which beguirts about All lands some thinke encreased Nile breakes out The waters loose ere they so far haue ran Their saltnesse quite Besides the Ocean Is the stars fond we thinke which Phoebius drawes VVhen he possesseth fiery Cancers claws More then the aire digests attraced so Falls backe by night and causes Nilus flow I thinke if I may judge so great a case Some waters since the world created was In after ages from some broken vaine Of earth haue growne some god did then ordaine VVhen he created all the world whose tides By certaine lawes the great Creator guides Caesar's desire to know our Nilus spring Possest th Aegyptian Persian Graecian King No age but striv'd to future time to teach This skill none yet his hidden nature reach Philipp's great son Memphis most honourd King Sent to th' earths vtmost bounds to finde Niles spring Choise Aethiops they trode the sunburnt ground Of the hot zone and there warme Nilus found The farthest VVest our great Sesostris saw VVhilest captiue Kings did his proud charriot draw Yet there your Rhodanus and Padus spy'd Before our Nâ—les hid fountaine he descry'd The mad Cambises to the Easterne lands And lonâ—-liv'd people came His famisht bands Qâ—te spent and with each others a slaughter fed Return'd thou Nile yet vndiscovered No tale dares mention thine originall Th' art sought wherever seene No land at all Can boast that Nile is hers Yet I le reveale As far as that same god that doth conceale Thy spring inspires me From th' Antarticke pole Vnder hot Cancer doe thy surges rowle Directly North winding to East and VVest Sometimes th' Arabians sometimes Libyans blest VVith fruitfullnesse thou mak'st the Seres spy Thee first and seeke thee too thy channell by The Aethiopians as a stranger flowes And the world knowes not to what land it owes Thy sacred head which nature hid from all Lest any land should see thee Nilus small She turn'd away thy spring and did desire No land should know it but all lands admire Thou in the summer Solstice art oreflowne Bringing with thee a winter of thine owne VVhen winter is not ours nature alone Suffers thy streames to both the poles to run Not there thy mouth not heere thy spring is found Thy parted channell doth encompasse round Meroë fruitfull to blacke husband-men And rich in Eben wood whose leaues though greene Can with no shade asswage the summers heat Vnder the Lion so directly set From thence thy current with no waters losse Ore the hot zone and barren deserts goes Sometimes collected in one channell going Sometimes dispers'd and yeilding bankes oreflowing His parted armes againe collected slide In one slow streame where Philas doth divide Arabia from Aegypt Ore the sand VVhere the red sea by one small necke of land From ours is kept thou Nile doest gently flow Oh who would thinke thou ere so rough couldst grow That sees thee gentle heere but when thy way Steâ—pe Catarackts and craggy rockes would stay Thy never-curbed waues with scorne despise Those petty lets and foaming Iaue the skyes Thy waters sound with noise the neighbouring hills Thy conquering streame with froath grown hoary fills Hence he with fury first assaults that I le Which our forefathers did Abatos stile And those neare rockes which they were pleas'to call The rivers veines because they first of all His swelling growth did show Hence nature did His stragling waues within high mountaines hide Which part thee Nile from Affricke betwixt those As in a vale thy pent vp water flowes At Memphis first thou runn'st in fields and plaines VVhere thy proud streame all bankes and bounds disdaines Thus they secure as if in peace a part Of night discours'd But base Photinus heart Once stain'd with sacred blood could nere be free From horrid thoughts Since Pompey's murder he Counts nought a crime great Pompey's Manes bide Within his breast and vengefull furyes guide His thoughts to monsters new hoping to staine Base hands with Caesars blood which fates ordaine Great Senators shall shed Fate to a slaue That day almost the Senates vengeance gaue The mulct of civill war Oh gods defend Let none that life in Brutus absence end Shall th' execution of Romes tirant be Base Aegypts crime and that example dy Bold man he makes attempt against fates course Nor at close murder aimes by opâ—n force A most vnconquer'd Captaine he assaults So much are mindes embolden'd by their faults He durst the death of Caesar