where blew Nereus in Caerulean Caves Turns from the Bottom the contorted Waves An Inundation breaks and by Release Of hidden Springs fierce Torrents do encrease Then as if Trident-struck with furious Throws Th' impetuous Billows labour to impose Upon the trembling Earth the swelling Main Then strait the falling Tide retires again And the forsaken Vessel leaves aground While looking for the Flood the Decks are crown'd With idle Seamen stooping from above In her bright Chariot the Moon doth move These restless Kingdoms of Cymotheae And the continual Labours of the Sea Bringing the Tide and bearing it away While still alternate Tetbys doth obey These view'd in Haste for weight of many Cares Lay on his Thoughts first to remove from Wars The Consort of (e) The Wife of Hannibal his Bed and Son as yet An Infant and depending on the Teat For they their Virgin Nuptial-Tapers joyn'd In Youth and still retain'd a loving Minde But at Sagunthus Siege begot the Childe Not yet the Age of twice six Moons fulfill'd And Hannibal resolving to remove Those dear and tender Pledges of his Love From Arms and future Danger to his Son Directs his Speech and smiling thus begun Oh! Thou great Hope of Carthage and no less A Terrour to the proud Aeneades May'st Thou exceed thy Father in thy Fame And by thy Actions build Thy self a Name May'st Thou a greater Warriour appear Then was thy Grand-sire and now sick with Fear May Rome teach Matrons to prepare their Tears When they disâ—ourse the number of thy Years If my divining Soul do not delude My Sense this very Boy we may conclude A mighty Labour to the Earth will be I know my Countenance in his I see Beneath his angry Brow his threatning Eye Observe the weighty Eccho of his Cry Those Elements of Anger that from me Derived are If any Deity By Chance so glorious Acts anticipate And break off their Beginnings by my Fate Dear Wife endeavour to preserve with Care This Pledg of War and when thou first shalt hear Him speak within my Cradle him convey And on Eliza's Altar let him lay His tender Hands and to my Ashes swear The Prosecution of the Romane War Then when more firm in Years his Cheeks shall wear The Flower of Youth let him in Arms appear And scorning Leagues a Conqu'rour at Rome Raise in the Capitol for me a Tomb. But Thou whom th' happy Honour of a Birth So High attends renown'd through all the Earth For Faith and Constancy remove O far Remove from Dangers of uncertain War And leave these harder Labours We must go Or'e Rocks and Hills that cover'd or'e with Snow Seem to prop up the Heav'ns We what may make Iuno her self admire must undertake Alcides Labours and the Alps that are A Toil more greivous then the sharpest War But if inconstant Fortune my Design Shall thwart and promis'd Favours shall decline May'st thou live long and hasty Fate extend Thy ev'ner Thread of Life beyond my End Thus He. Imilce of Cyrrbaean Race Whose Ancestour Renown'd Castalius was Apollo's Priest and Castulo in Spain So called from his Mother doth retain As yet the Name and from that sacred Line Deriv'd her Parents since the God of Wine Shaking high Calpe with his Thyrsus and Arm'd Menadeâ— subdu'd th' Iberian Land And Milicus who of a Satyre born And Nymph Myrîce on his Front the Horn Of his lascivious Father planted wore A Potent Scepter in that Country bore From him her Country did Imilce claim And fam'd Original from him her Name Corrupted by their barbarous Speech She than Tears flowing with sad Language thus began 〈◊〉 Forgetfull that My Safety doth depend On Thine dost thou refuse Me to attend On thy Designs Is thus thy Nuptial Vow And first-Fruits of my Bed neglected now Or shall I wanting be to climb with Thee The Frozen Hills believe and try in Me A Woman's Strength No Labour is too great For my Chast Love but if on me You set No other Rate but of my Sex alone And part for that I yield I look not on My Fate May Iove consent Go Happy Thou Go and propitious Gods our Pray'rs allow And when in Fight and Heat of Arms you are Think then on Me and this Your Son with Care For I nor Romanes nor their Darts nor Fire Do dread so much as Thee who dost desire To Run upon their Swords and dost present Thy Head to Danger Thee no good Event Of Valour satisfies Honour to Thee Alone seems vested with Infinity Souldiers to dye in Peace to Thee appears A Fate ignoble Oh! my many Fears Forgive Me for I tremble yet I none Do fear that shall encounter Thee alone But pity Us great Father Mars this Storm Avert nor may the Trojans do Him harm Now to the Shore they haste the Seamen climb And hanging on the Yards their Canvase trim And fit them for the gently-breathing Wind While to allay his Fears and ease his Minde Oppress'd with Cares Thus Hannibal Oh spare These Omens My most constant Wife Forbear Thy Tears In Peace or War We all must have A Period to Our Life Our first Day gave A Being to Our last Brave Thoughts do few Enflame by Noble Actions to pursue Eternal Fame such onely mighty Iove Hath destin'd to the bless'd Abodes above Shall I the Romane Yoak endure and see The Tow'rs of Carthage in Captivity Ghosts do by Night affright Me and the Shade Of My dead Father doth My Sloath upbraid The Altars and the horrid Sacrifice I once did offer stand before mine Eys Shortness of dubious Life forbids Delay Of Time Shall I sit still that Carthage may Alone acknowledge Me and speak My Fame And shall not all the World know what I am Shall I relinquish Honour through a Fear To Dy Alass How little Distant are Death and a Silent Life Yet think not I Do Praise affect with mad Temerity I have Esteem for Life for Glory wears Titles and is ador'd in length of Years Great Trophies of this War shall also Thee Attend if Heav'n and Gods propitious be All Tyber shall Thee serve th' Ilian Dames And the rich Romane with the Wealth he claims While thus they sadly talk and mutual Tears Express their present Grief and future Fears From the tall Ship the Master put to Sea Beckons to come aboard without Delay Then from Her Husband snatch'd with fixed Eys She views the Shore till the swift Vessel flies Through liquid Paths and takes Her Sight away While Sea from Land retires and Land from Sea But Hannibal resolving to remove With Cares of War His pensive Thoughts of Love Goes to the ruin'd Walls the which He views And often in His Wish their Fall renews Walking about the Ruins till at length His Labours overcame His stubborn Strength And Sleep insensibly with pleasing Charms Compos'd His Minde intent on War and Arms. Then Iove designing still to exercise The Trojan Race in Future Miseries Revive their antient Labours and by Wars
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 Sychaeus 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 Aeneas Wife And Venus Daughter who t' avenge the Guilt Of my Sychaeus 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 toss'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 was the Daughter of King Latinus whom Aeneas married 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 Coerulean 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 Iove 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 Iove nor doubt it True To Thee hath sent I in th' Oenotrian 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 Iâ—pygian 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
dy'd Aurora threw Over her Rosy Cheeks a Veil of Dew Through which dissolving Chrystal from Her Eyes Day did more sadly yet more Fragrant rise Soon as He entred Prostrate at his Feet She falls and thus now sues his Love to meet If my distracted Piety did swell Too High if what I utter'd did not well Beseem a Captive mighty Prince I here Beseech You pardon Me not wont to bear So weighty Griefs and since th' Immortal Gods Above my Syphax Fate on You these Odds Due to your Valour and good Fortune have Bestow'd whatever be my Doom I crave It may proceed from You. And as you are A King and with my Lord did lately share In the Numidian Name let Me not be Expos'd to any Roman's proud Decree As I am onely Wife to Syphax I Would rather any Libyan's Mercy try Then trust a Stranger But withall you know What I a Carthaginian Daughter to Great Hasdrubal may from a Roman fear If then no other Remedy appear Within your Pow'r I here beseech you still By Death to free Me from the Romans Will. Scarce this with all Allurements that could move At once the Conqu'rour's Pity and his Love She had declar'd when He wipes off her Tears With fervent Kisses and her future Fears Allays with Promise to preserve her Free From Roman Hands But pleads Necessity To be Secure that Night to Consummate Their Nuptial Rites Unwillingly to Fate And his Desires She yields and at the Time Her doubtful Heart as Conscious of a Crime Calls back her Blood then sends it forth again Into her Cheeks so shines a Scarlet Stain On Ivory asham'd to have it said One Day a Captive her and Bride had made And now the Weary Horses of the Sun To the Tartessiack Shore their Course had run When Masanissa with all Sacred Rites The Presence of the Marriage God invites But no good Omen shew'd him to be there The Fire the Incense flies the Altars are Smooth'rd in Stygian Smoak a dreadful Sound Through all the Temple runs and shakes the Ground And as from thence into their Chamber they Retire the Holy Tapers all the Way With Sputt'ring Flames as if Alecto shed Sulphure upon them lead them to their Bed All this intent upon his Mistress Eyes He either did not see or did Despise Concluding what He should enjoy would all Those Miseries out-weigh that could befal Before this Fatal Night was spent The Fame Of Masanissa's hasty Nuptials came To Scipio's Ear He fearing to give Way To such a growing Mischief soon as Day Had chas'd away the Stars by Laelius sends A Summons and thus sharply reprehends His Levity 'T is my Belief said He That when We first contracted Amity In Spain and then in Africa when Thou Didst both thy Self and all those Hopes which now Thou callst thine Own to Me commit that then Something in Me thou did'st 'bove other Men Worthy that Trust conceive But I in none Of all these Virtues that did prompt Thee on To seek my Friendship more of Glory plac't Then in my Temperance That with a Chast And Sober Minde I could suppress the Flame Of hottest Lust and this I then did aim To other thy rare Virtues might be joyn'd For trust Me Noble Prince We cannot finde So much of Danger from our Armed Foes As from those stronger Pleasures that enclose Us round and whotsoer'e repells their dire Assaults and can by Temp'rance his Desire Within Himself Subdue a Victory Of greater Honour gains then that which We O're Syphax have obtain'd Those Noble Things Which Thou with Valour worthy greatest Kings Hast in my Absence done I did of late To all of Name in Arms commemorate With all due Praise and still shall keep in Minde But I had rather Thou on what 's behinde Would'st with thy Self reflect then Blush to hear Me give 't a Name It plainly doth appear To all the World that Syphax was or'ethrown And Captiv'd by the Auspicies alone O' th' Roman People Whatsoever He Possess'd his Kingdom Wife and People We May challenge as our Prize and none a Share Of Right can claim Though Sophonisba were No Carthaginian born or did not We Her Father Gen'ral of their Armies see Yet must She who a King that was our Friend An Enemy hath made and in the End Against Us drawn to Arms be sent to Rome And there the Senate's and the People's Doom Attend. Strive therefore to subdue thy Minde Shake this lewd Passion off so much inclin'd To draw Thee into Ruin nor the Grace Of all thy Virtues with one Vice Deface Nor by one Crime deprive thy Self of all Those Thanks at Rome for which thy Merits call Struck to the Heart as if some sudden Flame Were darted through his Blood the Fire of Shame Flies to his Face Yet nothing He replies But strait retires with Sighs and swelling Eyes And knowing that what Scipio had decreed Must stand Irrevocable sends with Speed For Me and with a Box into my Hand A fatal Poison puts with this Command Bear this to my Dear Sophonisba say That Masanissa was resolv'd to pay That Faith to Her which kindest Husbands ow To their Dear Wives But since the Fates have so Decreed that They now countermand his Will To whom it is subjected He is still Resolv'd his second Promise firm shall stand And that Alive into a Roman's Hand She may not fall advise that with her Drink She intermix this Poison Bid Her think Upon the General her Father and Her Country think how once She did command The Hearts of two great Kings to whom Sh' hath been In Marriage joyn'd and let Her Dy a Queen The baneful Drug to my Dear Mistress I With this harsh Message brought Prepar'd to Dy And with Undaunted Minde the Worst to bear That Fate could add She with Attentive Ear Listn'd to what I said and as She took In her fair Hand the Poison with a Look Moor Chearful then when She a Bride was made To Masanissa I accept She said His Nuptial Present nor is it to Me At all Unwelcome since my Husband He Can nothing Greater on his Wife bestow But yet withall I pri'thee let Him know That Sophonisba would more pleas'd have Dy'd If at her Death She had not been his Bride For then my Country might upon my Tomb Have writ that thus I Triumph'd over Rome No sooner spoke but to her Lips She joyn'd The deadly Cup and Greedy there to finde A speedy Death swallows it all and while We Trembling stand about Her with a Smile Which made her Lovely ev'n in Death her Heart Recalling now the Blood from ev'ry Part To its Relief She sinks and as She lies Upon her Couch gives one Great Sigh and dies As the Numidian this sad Story told The Day began to rise They now behold The Tyrian Coast by which they Steer unto That City whence the Carthaginians drew Their fam'd Original when Dido from Her Brother fled Receiv'd as if at Home With all
the Obedience of the Carthaginians in which Art Hannibal no less excelled as appeared not onely at his first entrance on his â—ommand which gained him the ready Obedience of that vast Army led by him into Italy but among the Gauls and Italy it self And for this he himself commends Pyrrhuâ— at that Interview with Scipio at the Court of Antiochus as an eminent Virtue in him Vide Liv. lib. 35. Arts He makes his Party now with Arms subverts Decrees of Senate now with Bribes appears The first to walk on Foot the first that bears A part if haste require a Trench to make The first that all Attempts would undertake Remiss in nothing that to Honour tends Refuseth nature Rest and watchfull spends The night in Arms. Now by his Cassock known Mix'd with the Libyssaean Foot lies down On th' Earth contending with the Steel he wore In Hardness sometimes he 'd Advance before His num'rous Troops and with a valiant Hand Perform in Person what he did Command Sometimes on his bare Head he 'd entertain The Ruins of the Heav'ns their Storms and Rain The Tyrians saw th' Asturians did admire To see when Iove did dart his forked Fire When Thunder fell in Storms and every Blast Of Wind struck forth the Flames how bold he past Through all on 's snorting Steed nor would retire Though clog'd with Dust and scorch'd with Sirius fire And when the sultry Air did frie with Heat That parch'd the Earth they seem'd Effeminate Who sought a Shade while He to exercise His Thirst where er'e he sees a Fountain flies His sole Delight 's to dress a furious Horse For War and to be famous for the Force Of 's killing Arm to swim a Stream unknown Or'e Ecchoing Rocks t' assail the Foe upon The adverse Bank The first that would ascend To scale a Wall and when he did contend In open Fight where er'e his Sword did go It carried Death and Streams of Blood did flow Being therefore now resolv'd to violate The Sacred League he urgeth on his Fate And where he can on Rome's Allies doth fall And storms in farthest Lands the Capitol His waving Ensigns first displaiâ—d for love Of greater Wars against (m) Alteia Hermandica Arbacaia and some other Provinces of Spain had before felt the Fury of the Carthaginians but Sagunthus was the first Confederate City with the Romanes that was Attaqued by them It is now called Mor-viedro Scituate upon the River Iberus or Ebro about a mile from the Sea great onely in its Fame of this memorable Siege Sagunthus move The Walls first built by Hercules not far From Sea upon a rising Hill appear Whose noble Name Zacynthus there by Fate Entomb'd upon the Top did consecrate He among others of Alcides Train Return'd to Thebes the fam'd Gerion (n) Three Brothers that Reigned in Spain with such admirable Unanimity that all seemed to be Governed by one Mind which gave Birth to this Fable They were subdued by Hercules slain Three Souls that Monster did inform three pair Of Hands his Head a triple Neck did bear Earth ne'r beheld another could survive One Death to whom the Fates three Lives did give Yet here the Conqu'rour shew'd his Spoils and as In Heat of day the Captive Heards did pass Unto the Springs a Serpent kick'd by chance Big with enflaming Poison did advance His tumid Jaws and by a deadly Wound Lay'd the Inachian dead on Spanish Ground About that time an exil'd Colonie Born in an Island of the Grecian Sea Came from the South and by Zacynthus there To Ithaca's Dominions added were The Daunian Youth wanting a dwelling then Rich in their Numbers led by Valiant men Sent from a City which we Ardea term Arrivâ—d their weak Beginnings to confirm These by Agreement with the Romane State Having their Liberties inviolate And Honour of their Ancestours forsook What they had long endur'd the Tyrian Yoak Against these therefore his incensed Bands Breaking the League fierce Hannibal commands Disturbs their Peace with Arms. Shaking his Head Himself high-mounted on his panting Steed Surveys the Walls and when he had beheld The trembling Houses Summons them to yield Their Gates and Forts tells them That Italie Their Leagueâ— and hop'd-for Aids far distant be Nor should his Mercy meet them if subdu'de By Arms That all the Senate could conclude Their Laws and Statutes nay their Gods and Faith Were now within his Power And what he saith Confirms by 's Javelin thrown against the Walls Which on Caïcus vainly threat'ning falls And through his Arms his Body pierc'd He slain And tumbling from the Rampart brings again To the insulting Conquerour his Dart Reeking in Blood and trembling in his Heart The rest th' Example of the General With Shouts pursue and streight obscure the Wall With a dark Cloud of Darts Nor was their clear Valour in Number lost each man doth bear Himself against the foremost as if he Alone would undertake the Enemie Here one the Sling with frequent Jerks doth ply Which waved thrice about his Head le ts flie A Weapon with the Winds which in the Air Is lost to sight Huge Stones another there Flings from his sinewy Arm this doth advance And from the slippery nouse expells a Lance. But Hannibal before all other rich In 's Father's Arms now flings with flaming Pitch A smoaking Lamp then hurls his Javelin now With Stakes and Stones doth press upon the Foe Or poison'd Arrows sends and doth applaud Insulting as they flie his Quiver's fraud Such Shafts the Daci on the Getique Coast Steep'd in the Poison of their Countrie boast And by the Banks of two-nam'd (o) It being also called Danubius by the Scythians by reason of an unfortunate Expedition they once made over it Eustath in Dion Ister shoot But now it is decreed and they about The Hill their horned Bulwarks raise and round The City armed Towers do abound Oh Faith by antient Times ador'd which now On Earth we onely by thy Name do know The Valiant Youth resolved stand and see All hope of Flight cut off their Walls to be Begirt with Arms yet think a noble Death Most worthy Rome And that Sagunthus Faith By them preserv'd she might more Glorious fall Then stand they now more resolutely all Their Strength collect Then from contracted Strings Stones of vast Bulk the Phocaean (p) The Balista was a kinde of Sling invented saith Pliny lib. 7. cap. 36. by the Phoenicians wherewith they cast Stones Spears Darts c. and is here called Phocaean for that the Sagunthines were descended of the Thebans in whose Territory was Phoâ—â—s Engine slings Or changing weight whole Trees with Iron bound Ejects that breaking through the Ranks confound A Shout both Armies raise and furious come To Blows as if they had besieged Rome Among so many thousands that did stand Circled in Arms like Corn on fertile Land Bold Hannibal desirous to enspire Into his Armie's minds that furious Fire Was lodg'd in his own
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 Iove 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' Aetolian 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 (o) Varro having resolved to fight wheresoever he met Hannibal the People gave him an excessive Liberty to raise men so that he had a greater Army then ever the Romanes levied before to the number of eighty eight thousand men See Plutarch in Fabio 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 ArdeÌ„a once fatal to the (p) Ardea was a wealthy City of the Latines distant from Rome eighteen Miles when Aeneas entred Italy Turnus was King of it who gave Battel to Aeneas and was slain by him Tarquimus Superbus besieged this City when his Son left the Camp and posted to Rome to ravish Lucretia which not onely forced him to raise the Siege but subverted his Dominion over the Romanes See Liv. lib. 1. Name Of Phrygians and Lavînum where of old Built on a lofty Hill they did behold Great Iuno's Temple and Collatia where Chast Brutus took his Birth with those that are Wont to frequent Diana's cruel (q) Diana's Grove near Aricia a Town scituate behinde the Alban Hill upon the Via Appia In this Grove Numa pretended his Private Conference with the Nymph Egeria Grove And that the Mouth o' th' (r) Tiber. Tyrrhen River love They likewise that in Almo's warmer Stream Cherish (s) Almo a small Brook that flows into Tiber wherein once a year the Image of Cybele was washed Cybele to the Army came Thy Tybur too Catyllus muster'd and (t) Praeneste built by Praenestus the Son of Latinus and Nephew to Vlysses and Circe where there was a Temple Dedicated to Fortune and famous for its Oracles Praeneste 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 Aequicolae 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 (u) The Velitrini upon the Confidâ—nce of a Prophesie that told them a Citizen of their City should one day obtain the Dominion over all Italy did very often contend with Rome but were still worsted untill Augustus who was born there obtaining the Empire fulfilled the Prophesie Velitrae 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 Vfens within his Chanel strait collects And with the Slime the Neighb'ring Sea infects Were under valiant Scaevola'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 (x) Mutius Scaevola who when Rome was besieged by Tarquinius Superbus and Porsenna issued out of the City by night resolving to kill Porsenna and passing disguised through the Guards coming into his Tent not knowing the King slew one of his Nobles and finding immediatly his Errour in a Rage burnt his Hand for the Mistake Liv. lib. 1. 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 Circaean 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 Aquinum 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 (y) Marcus Tullius Cicero The famous Oratour 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 â—rave Deeds among The Chief was (z) Vid. Lib. 15. 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 (a) Cybele Gods Reate and Nursia that as besieg'd by Frosts doth stand
Mariners strait falling back Choak up the Chanel and prepare a Wrack Under smooth Waters where with all their Pride Display'd tall Ships of late might safely ride But Hannibal less fears the Treach'rous Sand Or raging Seas then the more Treach'rous Land Which Confident of better Fate he quits And to a little Bark himself commits The Seas as Conscious that he was too Great To be their Sacrifice their Rage forget The Syrts retire and the Conspiring Gales Pursue the Bark and swell her pregnant Sails The careful Pilot for Cercîna steers Scarce knowing that the Fraight his Vessel bears Once balanc'd the whole World yet wonders Heav'n In that tempestuous Track a Course so ev'n Allow'd so much the flatt'ring Destinies With a smooth Vizor of Success disguise Intended Ruin that ev'n Hannibal Measures from hence what ever might befal Himself and while they yet the Africk Shore On which the Fates resolv'd henever more Should tread in View retain'd I now am Free Perfidious Country both from Rome and Thee My better Fortune now saith He doth stand Not in a Senate's Vote but in this Hand This Hand which maugre thy Ingratitude Shall Thee if Me the Gods do not delude Redeem and Thou at length confess that none Can breake thy Yoke but Hannibal alone Now from the flying Ship the Land withdrew The Libyan Shore descends no more in View Those Altars which Vlysses once did rear To rescue his forgetful Friends appear Unhappy Men who in those Dang'rous Fields Found out those strange Delights that (s) In these Syrtes inhabited Lotophagi among whom Vlysses his Companions bewitched with the Taste of the Lotus desired to dwell till Vlysses there raised Altars to Sacrifice for their Recovery the Ruins whereof were to be seen in the Time of Strabo lib. 17. and Homer Odyss lib. 9. Lotus yields Whose Taste all other Pleasures far exceeds Man nothing more to make him Happy needs In this all dear Delights at once they found And Memory of Friends and Country drown'd No sooner these were lost but to their Eyes Cercîna ' midst the Waves began to rise Approaching near the Port some Ships they found Whose Carthaginian Owners Homeward bound Soon as the Prince they spy'd upon the Shore Haste to salute Him and almost Adore The Memory of his high Deeds within Their Breasts still liv'd how great He once had been To Minde they call and pay unto his Name Those Honours which they know his Merits claim Though now his State be less for with a Cloud O'recast or else Eclips'd the Sun 's allow'd To be the same in Virtue as before When it shin'd Brightest nor was He the more To be neglected 'cause the borrow'd Rays Of Train at which the Common People gaze And great with Envy swell aside are lay'd He still is that fam'd Hannibal who made So many Barb'rous Nations to submit To his Commands and Native Rites forget While fierce Massylians with Iberians stood In Fight Revengers each of others Blood While rude Cantabrians with the Celtae came T' assert his Quarrel and beneath his Name United liv'd as if one Clime their Birth Had giv'n and nurtur'd them on Fertile Earth Here all are busy to express their Care To entertain Him and to such as were Inquisitive to know what did invite Him thither cunning He reply'd I might Indeed have gone to Tyre another Way But none so near I judg since I this Day Must speâ—d in Sacrifice to th' Pow'rs above That what I there must prosecute may prove Propitious to the State which thither Me Hath sent and since within this Island We Few Trees for Shelter finde let Me entreat Your Sails this Day to shroud Us from the Heat O'th'scorching Sun No sooner said but all Their Hands employ some from the Masts let fall The Sails some lift them with their Yards to Land On which extended streight for Tents they stand And now whatever Rare the Isle affords Makes up the Feast and round the hast'ned Boards Lyaeus flows and first To Liberty A Bowl is crown'd which all as greedily Quaff off as if in it they thought to finde Their Wish and Sense of Bondage from the Minde Expel And as the sparkling Liquour warms Their Blood each man as if he were in Arms Defies the Pow'r of Rome now scorns to bear That Yoak which in a Sober mind his Fear Would prompt him to imbrace and what before He durst not Think he now dares Act and more All former Fears are banish'd This exclaims 'Gainst Hanno's Pride and That his Countrey blames For want of Courage bids the Prince again Attempt to take away that Fatal Stain For which as in th' inflaming Juice he steeps His Brains he in a Drunken Pity weeps But Hannibal whose Thoughts were far from thence Remov'd and entertain'd a nobler Sense Of what they suffer'd then themselves mean while Looks on their Follies with a scornful Smile And with repeated Cups still feeds the Flame Untill as he design'd he overcame Their Strength and while their Hands as yet retain'd The Blushing Bowls Sleep all their Senses chain'd The End of the First Book of the Continuation Infaustis Masanissa rapit Connubia taedis Praecipitatque suae Sophonis bae Fata Veneno Hausta Romanos metuens Nova Sponsa Triumphos Servata infelix it Libertate sub Vmbras Dignissimo Viro Gulielmo Wiseman de Magna Canfeild in Comitatu Essex Baronetto Iabula observantiss D.D.D. A CONTINUATION OF SILIUS ITALICUS To the DEATH of HANNIBAL The Second Book THE ARGUMENT To Hannibal Isalces doth relate King Masanissa's Love and the sad Fate Of Sophonisba Rome dreads the Report Of a new War In the Ephesian Court Scipio and Hannibal are entertain'd And meet as Friends The City Temple and Its Wealth describ'd Great Alexander's Deeds Eumolpus sings Whence a Discourse proceeds Who the best Captains weâ—e Past Actions are Revolv'd The King resolves upon a War WHILE thus pretended Piety beguiles The Vulgar and the glad Deceiver smiles At the Success Secure that none could bear The Tidings of his Flight before the Fear Of being stop'd was past to Sea again He hastens hoises Sail while yet the Reign Of Night continu'd and the (a) Cynosura or Vrsa Minor which the Tyrians observed in Sailing as the Greeks did Helice or Vrsa Major according to that of Ovid lib. Trist. Two Bears there are of which the Tyrian seeks The Less the Greater guides the wandring Greeks Tyrian Star Lent faithful Beams to guide the Mariner And as well pleas'd with what had past his Friends Discours'd how much their Mirth had made Amends For all Delays his sure Numidian Guide Who once attended on great Syphax Bride Began But He inspir'd above the Rest To Me appear'd who did so much detest And scorn their Names who through a shameful Dread Of Dying had submitted to be led In Triumph and in Chains before they Dy'd Had tamely Sacrific'd unto the Pride Of Roman Conqu'rours How He did declame For this 'gainst
Syphax how adore the Name Of Noble Sophonisba who did bear A Face as Chearful as I carry here Said He and to avoid that Shame was seen To drink her Death and fall a Glorious Queen I well observ'd his Zeal and I confess Reply'd Great Hannibal could little less Then weep at Mention of so dear a Name But since we onely have by Common Fame Her Story heard and You a Witness wâ—re Of all that past to Us her Fate declare Then He. When Syphax was o'rethrown and all Numidia lost through his Unhappy Fall False Masanissa less ambitiously Aspir'd unto his Empire then to be Successour in his Bed and when h' had gain'd The Queen into his Pow'r the King enchain'd And kept a Trophy to Young Scipio's Pride Impatient till h' enjoy'd so fair a Bride His Minde he thus discovers If the Throne Of Syphax or Numidia's Wealth alone Had been the Object of mine Arms I now Whate're the Gods or Fortune could allow To my Desires possess'd but know my Aim Fair Queen is Higher and a Nobler Flame Reigns in my Breast the Romane General May this perchance an Happy Conquest call Because his Eagles now securely fly O're the Numidian Plains But nothing I Have gain'd though this late Victory restore Whatever Syphax did from Me before Usurp though Hammon and Tarpeian Iove Conspire to make Me great unless your Love This Happiness confirm For this did I From Libya's to the Romane Ensigns fly Knowing no other Means to win You from (b) Masanissa in his Youth Educated in Carthage and observed to be a Person of singular Accomplishments Hasdrubal the Son of Giscon betrothed to Him his Daughter Sophonisba as eminent for her Beauty as Birth and imediately procured Him the Command of an Army in Iberia But afterward finding Syphax a more powerful Prince inamoured of Her He bestowed Her on him which among other things incited Masanissa privately to make Peace with Scipio and turn his Arms against Carthage Appian Libyâ— My Rival's Arms and since He is by Rome Thrown from that glorious Height and can no more Be Worthy held of what He did before In You enjoy since none but He that wears A Crown and in his Hand a Scepter bears Can Merit such a Bliss that You may live A Queen and what lost Carthage cannot give Nor Sophonisba take but from my Hand Be still ador'd through the Numidian Land Accept my Love by which You can alone Shun Romane Chains and still possess a Throne To this the Queen though an extream Disdain Of what He offer'd in Her Soul did Reign Fearing to be a Spectacle at Rome More then to Dy replies 'T is to presume Too much upon your Victory if You Imagine it as Easy to Subdue This Heart as late our Arms and though by Force You have already made a sad Divorce Yet know the Memory of Syphax Name Will in this Breast admit no other Flame While He survives But rather then be led To Rome in Triumph I confess the Bed Of any born of Libyan Blood may be Prefer'd yet if the adverse Fates decree That to avoid that Shame I must the Crime Of hasty Nuptials add a little Time Me thinks you ought in Justice to allow To expiate with Tears my former Vow With this Reply which neither gave Assent To his Demand nor yet deny'd Her Tent He quits advising Her to shun Delays In her Resolve for that e're many Days Should pass the Captives must be sent to Rome And Her Consent would then too Tardy come At these last Words as when our Libyan Darts A Tygress strike at first amaz'd She starts And growling stands but when the wounding Steel Is deeply fix'd and She begins to feel The Anguish of a Wound She rends the Air With Cries and lab'ring with her Teeth to tare The Weapons forth augments her Pain then flies To some known Covert and there Raving dies Struck to the Heart as if She then had seen The Gorgon's Head or like Amphîon's Queen Congeal'd to Marble Statue-like She stands A while and Silent weeps At length her Hands Invade her Head from which She frantick tears The lovely Hair and furiously impairs The Beauty of that Face which by two Kings Had been ador'd At last Her self She flings Upon her Bed and with a mournful Cry On her dear Syphax calls Which hearing I Stept in and found her turning to and fro Her Eyes now dry and fir'd with Anger so When Pentheus scorn'd the Trieterick Feast Agave's Looks Her inward Rage exprest Amaz'd a while I Silent stood till She Sighs making Way for Words at length to Me Her Speech directs 'T is not because Uncrown'd Isalces that I grieve a deeper Wound My Soul afflicts and I am wrack'd between Two dire Extreams Oh! had I never seen Numidia's Court or had I ne're been led By Hymen's Tapers to my Syphax Bed The World perhaps had never heard that one Born of Great Hasdrubal was from a Throne To Rome a Captive led but I must now Oh cruel Fate renounce my Nuptial Vow To yield up what my Lord esteem'd above Numidia's Throne the Treasure of my Love To Masanissa and in his Embrace Those Sacred Ties dissolve or in the Face Of Rome the greatest Trophy of the War Exposed be and the Triumphal Car Of the proud Conquerour in Chains attend Ye Gods what greater Mischief can Ye send Upon this Head Your Thunder cannot give A Blow so Fatal if you let Me live To see that Day As thus She spake her Eyes With sudden Streams of Tears her Tongue surprize When I perceiv'd that Masanissa's Flame Though yet an Enemy was still the same He had before profess'd hoping the Charms Of such a Beauty might regain his Arms To Carthage as they Syphax had withdrawn From Romane Leagues after a Solemn Pawn Of Faith before the Gods I thus begun Had Heav'n left any other Means to shun The Pow'r of Rome and that prodigious Shame Which proudly they on all of Tyrian Name Inflict I should resolve whate're it be To share Your Fortune But since now You see The Conquerour your Captive is You may Redeem your Self and give a better Day To Your lost Country 'T was for this alone Hasdrubal plac'd you on Numidia's Throne The Cause is still the Same nor is' t a Crime Which Fate Necessitates and which in Time You may a Signal Piety avow To all the World Ev'n Syphax will allow It such and dy Content if You restore Entire to Libya what She lost before Perswaded thus as when a Sea-man findes Nothing but certain Ruin from the Windes Which on the Ocean storm resolv'd no more To trust their Fury for â—ome Neighb'ring Shore He steers and to secure Himself doth choose Upon a Sand the lab'ring Bark to loose So from Rome's Rage the Queen resolves to throw Her self for Safety on a gentler Fo Who now approach'd while She puts on a Face Might move his Pity and a God's Embrace So when her Memnon
Thighs more slender grow No more Erect but prone t'wards Earth he goes In all a Beast but yet alass he knows He is not what he was when strait the Cry Of his Molossian Hounds perswades to fly The Nymphs all laughing urge them to pursue The Chase He flies they follow and in View Pinch'd in the Haunch to shew Diana's Power He falls and they their Master chang'd devour Here his two Guests then which the World had none Then Greater seen whose Presence more his Throne Renown'd then all the Trophies he had gain'd The King with Chearful Welcom entertain'd And to their Eyes as to invite his Foes To a new Conquest prodigally shews His Empire 's Riches For no King before That had the Syrian Scepter sway'd did more Possess He was of all the Richest Heir That did Great Alexander's Trophies share And that vast Wealth not onely kept Entire But greater which his Conquests did acquire Heap'd on his Throne As if to entertain Those famous Heroes Fortune did ordain That past and present Ages should combine To yield their Spoils and in that Honour joyn It was a Day when to commemorate The King's Nativity th' Ephesian State With annual Rites their Loyal Joys exprest The King as Custom was a Stately Feast Prepares the Nobles all invited come And there the Fates of Carthage and of Rome Scipio and Hannibal the Banquet grace And now meet not to Fight but to Embrace So when Aenéas fled from Ruin'd Troy And sought a fore in Conquest to enjoy Met by Tydîdes on th' Oenotrian Shore They laid aside that Fury which before Reign'd in their Breasts which Xanthus Yellow Flood And the Dardanian Plains had stain'd with Blood And with new Friendship what they both had done In Arms repeat since that sad War begun They now are glad each others Face to know Each counts the other Worthy such a Fo Whose constant Courage nothing of Success In War could heighten nor of Loss depress Whose Virtue in all Fortunes was the same And ow'd its Titles to no other Name Who in pursuit of Honour sought not to Destroy a Noble Fo but to subdue And when in Arms would do what Man could dare T' attempt and after Victory would spare The Conquer'd Blood nor vainly sought to praise His own brave Deeds and blast another's Bays Such in th' Ephesian Court these Heroes shin'd And with as free and strict Embraces joyn'd Their Valiant hands as if nor Trebia's Flood Nor Cannae had been stain'd with Roman Blood By Carthaginian Swords Nor Hannibal So lately had beheld his Countrie 's Fall In Zama's Wounds Nor Scipio his Fate Deprest upbraids nor Hannibal his Hate At Stygian Altars sworn discovers now But Sacred Concord on each Heroe's Brow Sits as Enthron'd and over all the rest Her Wings display's t' inaugurate the Feast And now the Face of Mirth appears through all The Court Th'invited in a spacious Hall At Iv'ry Tables sit and richly there Their Senses feed with whatsoever Rare The Asian World affords The Seas the Earth And Air to gratulate so high a Birth Their choicest Tribute send and all that Art To heighten Nature's Bounty could impart Was liberally employ'd Amaz'd to see The strange Excess of Syrian Luxury Soon cloy'd with diff'rent Thoughts the Heroes are Affected and perpend the future War The Romans pleas'd to think how weak in Fight Those Arms will prove which softned with Delight All Virtue so disarm'd How easily The Roman Swords their Way to Victory Would finde where Honour led them on and Spoils So wealthy were the Trophies of their Toils But Hannibal more sadly thoughtful calls To Minde the Fate of Capua and the falls Of those brave Libyan Bands that had so far Advanc'd his Name till a more cruel War Of Ease and Riot at effeminate Boards Un-nerv'd their Valour dull'd their Conqu'ring Swords Blasted those Laurels that before had crown'd Their warlike Brows and as in Lethé drown'd All Mem'ry of themselves in these soft Charms So lost they quite forgot the Use of Arms. As thus they ruminate Eumolpus brings His Iv'ry Lute and to the warbling Strings Accords his Voice and chants in smoothest Lays The King's Descent and Alexander's Praise How first the Horned God his Libyan Grove And Sacred Springs for fair Olympia's Love Forfook and how from that Divine Embrace Small Pella was by a Celestial Race Renown'd and while descending to the Earth 'Mong other Pow'rs Divine t' assist his Birth Th' Ephesian Goddess busyed wholly there Kept not her Famous Temple in her Care (m) In that Night when Alexander was born the Temple of Ephesus was fired by Herostratus who upon the Wrack confest He did it to make himself Famous whereupon Timaeus as Cicero or Magnesius as Plutarch affirms said that the Goddess called Lucina when She acts the Mid-wife's part was so busy to bring Alexander into the World that She could not have time to save her Temple Cic. de Nat. Dear lib. 2. Plut. Alexander An Impious Hand to build it self a Name With Sacrilegious Flames th' admired Frame Destroy'd But when Lucina's Care had giv'n To Earth a mighty Conquerour to Heav'n (n) In that Night when Alexander was born the Temple of Ephesus was fired by Herostratus who upon the Wrack confest He did it to make himself Famous whereupon Timaeus as Cicero or Magnesius as Plutarch affirms said that the Goddess called Lucina when She acts the Mid-wife's part was so busy to bring Alexander into the World that She could not have time to save her Temple Cic. de Nat. Dear lib. 2. Plut. Alexander A future Deity and he began To shew the World that he was more then Man By his great Deeds to his Immortal Name As humbly prostrate as to the bright Flame Of rising Day th' admiring Persian bow'd To him Sabaeans and Arabians vow'd Their richest Gums to him the Parthians brought Their Bowes un-bent and conque'rd Quivers fraught With fatal Shafts him all from Ganges Shore To those that Nile's mysterious Streams adore Their Lord obey'd and next the God of Wine For Wonders done acknowlegd'd as Divine But when he was for Earth too mighty grown And summon'd hence to a Celestial Throne Heav'n that the Syrian Monarchy might stand For ever firm into Seleâ—cus Hand The sacred Scepter gave Since none but he Was worthy to succeed a Deity Who could Himself subdue An act that far Transcends whatever can be done in War And Man Immortal makes For who the Force Of Beauty can withstand or can divorce Love from his wounded Breast may justly more Of Conquest boast then Gods have done before Yet He when by expiring Sighs he found Those very Eyes his Pious Son did wound That his own Souls surpriz'd and that the Name (o) Antiochus the Son of Seleucus fell in Love with his Mother in Law Stratonica and ashamed to reveal his Passion fell desperately Sick Erasistratus the Physician finding it a Disease rather of the Minde then Body and observing
among So many Sighs unmoved stands His Hand The Consul on the Shore as he on Land First stept extends to help him and to meet With kind Respect and his Arrival greet He stepping back still carefull of our State Requires the Consul not to violate His Supream Dignity but to retire Then on he goes while Weeping we admire His Constancy and compass'd by the proud Sidonians and with them a Captive Croud Rais'd Envy in the Gods But now his Flame With her two hopefull Sons sad Martia came Unhappy in her Noble Lords Excess Of Virtue that disdain'd in his Distress To stoop to Fortune Her dishevel'd Hair And Robes neglected as she sadly tare Oh know'st thou not the Day or can it be It touch'd thee not in younger Years said she And when in Tyrian Habit like Disguise Deform'd she saw him then with mournfull Cryes She fainting fell and strait grew Cold and Pale In all her Limbs Oh let our Prayers prevail And if the Gods be just may Carthage see Such the Sidonian Mothers then to me He whispers and commands that I remove You and your Mother while he still doth prove Impenetrable 'gainst the strongest Blow Of Grief and Scorns that Yoak to undergo Here with deep Sighs and Tears complaining thus The Youth begun Dear Father whom with us No Deity excells that doth remain In the Tarpeian Tow'rs if to Complain May be allow'd to Piety Oh! why This Comfort unto Us did'st Thou deny Or why Oh! why Thou too severe that Grace Did'st thou refuse to touch thy Sacred Face Or Kiss Thee To joyn Hands was it a Sin So great How much these Wounds had lighter been If fixed in my Minde when I repair To Shades below I Thy Embrace might bear But I in vain these things Record for we Were then my Marus in our Infancy Yet I remember well his Form was more Then Humane that his Locks descended o're His Manly Neck white as the Alpine Snow Stern Majesty was seated on his Brow The Venerable Index of his Minde Such as since then mine Eyes could never finde Then Marus him advising to refrain By such Complaints to vex his Wounds again Resumes the Word What when he careless past By his own Houshold Gods and went in haste To the Sidonians curs'd (f) Such Ambassadours as came from their Enemies to the Romanes never admitted into their City but but treated with them in the Temples of Mars or Apollo that stood without the Walls And though Regulus was admitted to the Senate yet according to his Promise he returned to lodge with them whose Quarter was on the other Side of Tiber. See Polybius Eclog 14. Abode his Eyes The Monuments of his great Victories Then saw hung up as Shields and Chariots and Known Darts while at the Door his Wife doth stand And cryes Oh! whither goes my Regulus This is no Punick Dungeon that Thou thus Should'st fly both it and Me. The Foot-steps here Of our Chast Marriage-Bed are yet as clear As at the first Our House still entertains Its Gods without a Crime Then say what Stains In us thou find'st The Senate gave thee Joy When I to thee This and that other Boy Had born Oh turn and see This House is Thine Where Thou a Noble Consul once didst shine In Purple Robes and marching from this Door Did'st see the Romane Fasces go before Hence did'st Thou go to War and here with Me Wert wont the Trophies of Thy Victory To fix against these Posts I ask not now The Rites of Hymen or Our Nuptial Vow Onely desist Our Houshold-Gods to slight And to Thy Sons at least allow This Night Amidst these Tears He with the Tyrians goes To lodge and left Her venting thus Her Woes Scarce had the rising Day on Orta seen The Place where great Alcides Pile had been When for the Libyan Lords the Consul sent I at the Gate beheld (*) Regulus Him as He went Into the Temple what the Senate there Debated what His last Addresses were To the sad weeping Court Himself to Me Did Chearfully relate So soon as He Was enter'd with their Hands and Voices all Him to his wonted Seat contending call But He the antient Honour of His Place Rejects while they about Him throng'd embrace And take Him by the Hand and thus intreat He would restore a Captain of so great A Name unto his Countrey He might be Exchang'd for Numbers in Captivity And then more justly might the Tyrian Land And Towers be wasted by that valiant Hand Which they had bound in Chains But He His Eyes And Hands together lifting to the Skies Thou God of Justice said that govern'st all And Faith whom I no less Divine may call And Sarran Iuno all invok'd by Me My Promise of Return to testifie Let Me speak Worthy of my self and by My Words prevent my Countrie 's Ruin I More chearfull shall to Carthage go said He If that my Promise of Return may be Preserv'd though 't be to Punishment Oh then Desist to tender unto Me agen That Honour with Destruction to the State My many Years and Wars accelerate My Death and now by long Imprisonment And Bonds in this my Age my Strength is spent Your Regulus Was once and did pursue The hardest Duties of the War when you Did know Him such but now within a Cold And bloodless Body you a Name behold Oh! let not Carthage then that House of Fraud That doth her self in Treachery applaud Not knowing how great things to Us remain Think for this aged Body to regain Her Captiv'd Youth Men fit for War But go Arm'd against Her Deceits and let her know What Rome can do though I am Captivate Nor let a Peace accepted be but what Our (g) Which Conditions were That the Carthaginians should not invade Sicily nor any the Allies of King Hieron That they should quit all the Islands beâ—ween Sicily and Italy That all Capâ—ives should be released without Ransom and that they should pay Tribute to the Romanes for twenty years See Polybius lib. 1. Fathers entertain'd They now require And gave it Me in Charge as their Desire That in an equal League the War be weigh'd And equal Laws on either Side be made But may I Sink to Styx before I see The Romanes to so base a Peace agree This said the Court resolving to pursue His Faithfull Grave Advice he strait withdrew Himself to render to the Libyans Ire Who with a sad Repulse of their Desire Dismiss'd return'd through the Herculean Main Threatning their cheerfull Captive Home again After the Senate now a mournfull Croud Of People throng and all the Fields with loud Complaints are fill'd sometimes resolv'd again To call him back or else by Force retain With their just Griefs But Trembling 'bove them all His Wife as at his sudden Funeral When to the Ship he went with dolefull Cries And Shreekings to the Sea as Frantick flies Take Me along O Libyans let Me Share both his Death and
Punishment said She My Dear I beg this One thing onely by Those Pledges of our Loves permit that I May Share with Thee whatever Dangers be Destin'd by Land or Sea or Heav'n to Thee I did not send Xantippus to the War Nor did I give those heavy Chains that are About thy Neck why then dost fly Me so To Punishment Oh! give me leave to go Me and my Children and perhaps our Tears May Carthage move to Pity If her Ears The cruel City stop we then may all Thou and thy Family together fall Or if resolv'd to dy here dy with Me For I a Sharer in thy Fate will be As thus she spoke the Vessel by Degrees Loos'd from the Shore to put to Sea She sees Then most Unhappy mad with Grief She cries Lifting her weary Hands unto the Skies See Him that boasts with treach'rous Libyans thus And Foes to keep his Faith but what to Us Was promis'd Violates Oh! where is now Perfidious man thy Faith and Nuptial Vow These Words He unrelenting heard The rest The Noise and Dashing of the Oars supprest Then down the River with the Stream We run Unto the Borders where the Sea begun O're which We sail and with Our hollow Pine Cleave the vast Billows foaming with their Brine I dreading more then Death proud Libya's Scorn Wish'd that the Ship by some rude Tempest born Against some Rock might split or else that We Might by the raging Seas o'rewhelmed be But gently-breathing Winds the Vessel bore Away and Us to Libyan Rage restore Which I unhappy saw and Home was sent A sad Relatour of his Punishment T was an hard Task nor would I now relate To Thee how Carthage then did imitate The Fury of wild Beasts to vent their Spleen If any Age in all the World had seen Any thing Greater then that high and brave Example which the Rev'rent Virtue gave Of your great Father 'T were a Shame for Me To add Complaints to those dire Torments He So unconcern'd endur'd and truly You Worthy of so great Blood Your self should shew By wiping Tears away A (h) This Engine built in Form of a Cage and proportioned to his Body is best though briefly described by our Authour who notwithstanding omits one exact part of his Punishment mentioned by Valerius Maximus lib. 9. cap. 2 viz. That they cut off his Ey-Lids so that continual Light as well as those Pikes of Iron that tormented him might keep him perpetually waking till the long Variety of Pain killed Him Cage they build Of Wood whose Grates on ev'ry Side were fill'd With equal Pikes of Steel which sharp and thick By Art in Order plac'd erected stick All Sleep by this Invention was deny'd And when through length of Time to either Side Dull Slumbers Him inclin'd a Row of Pikes Into his Bowels through his Body strikes Oh! cease to grieve brave Youth suppress thy Tears He Overcomes that this with Patience bears His Glory long shall flourish while in Heav'n Or Earth to constant Faith a Place is giv'n Or Virtue 's Sacred Name alive shall be A Day shall come wherein Posterity Great Regulus shall tremble when they hear Thy Fate which Thou with so much Scorn did'st bear Thus Marus spoke and with sad Care again His Wounds fomented to allay the Pain Fame in the mean time having sprinkled o're Her rapid Wings with Blood as if before Dip'd in the Streams of Thrasimenus Lies With Truth commixing through the City flies And to the People's Minds again recalls The Loss of Allia and Tarpeian VValls Storm'd by the Senones Sad Terrour shakes Her Reins and Fear the Tempest greater makes Now to the Walls with winged Speed She flies An horrid Voice is heard OUR ENEMIES APPROACH and then with Piles and Darts the Air In vain they beat Th' affrighted Matrons bare Their hoary Locks and with them as they Weep The Walls and Pavements of the Temples sweep And to the Gods for Friends deceased pray Too late Alass and rest not Night or Day Howling with Grief the scatter'd People ly Before the Gates and with a carefull Eye All that return observe About them throng And as they speak hang listning at their Tongue But cannot Credit give if News of Joy They chance to tell and yet again their Stay Intreat and sometimes with sad Looks alone Not Words with such as hasted to be gone Prevail for Tdings and yet Trembling stand To hear what they so Earnestly demand Bad News doth Force their Tears and if deni'd To know or if the Messenger reply'd With doubtfull Words from thence new Fears arise And now when Troops returning to their Eyes More near appear'd out at the Gates they run Fearing they had been lost and then begun To Kiss their Wounds and tire the Gods with Pray'r Among these honoured for his pious Care Old Marus with him young Serranus led And Martia who since Regulus was dead Still kept at Home all Company forsook And onely for her Childrens Sake did brook The Light now runs into a Grief as great As was her former Though distracted strait She Marus knew and thus accosts him Thou Great Faiths renown'd Companion surely now Thou giv'st me lighter Wounds or say hath Fate Caus'd the revengefull Sword to penetrate Into my Bowels deep What e're it be So Carthage Him in Chains may never see Nor Sacrifice Him to His Father's Pain I 'm pleas'd Ye Gods How oft have I in vain Oh my dear Son intreated Thee forbear Thy Father's Courage and His Heat in War That his sad Glory might not Thee engage In Arms. I have of too vivacious Age The hard Afflictions undergone But now Spare Us I pray ye Gods If any of you For Us have fought suppress the Enemy But when this sullen Cloud of Misery Was past the Senate with all Speed prepares To give Support to their distress'd Affairs All strive with Emulation the War To undertake and present Dangers bar The Progress of their Griefs The chief of all Their Cares was no appoint a General Upon whose Conduct shaken Italy And the whole Frame of her Affairs might be Imposâ—d when now their Countrey did appear To sink For Iove resolved to defer Awhile the Time of Her Imperial Pow'r And rising look'd from the Albanian Tow'r Upon the Tyrrhen People and beheld The Carthaginian with Successes swell'd Preparing his Victorious Arms t' invade Our Walls But Iove his Head then shaking said I never will permit that Thou shalt come Proud Libyan Youth within the Walls of Rome Thou mayst the Tyrrhen Vales with Slaughter fill And make with Latine Blood the Rivers swell And overflow their Banks but I defend That the Tarpeian Rock thou shouldst ascend Or to those Walls so dear to Me aspire With that four Timesâ— he threw his forked Fire Which shin'd through all the Tyrrhen Land and cast A Cloud upon the Army as it past From the divided Heav'n But yet all this The Libyan to divert could not suffice With that