Book IV

The Argument
Caesar in Spaine neere high •erdaes walls
E•campes 'gainst two Pompeyan generalls.
By suddaine floods his campe endanger'd i•.
Caesar divides the streame of Sicoris,
Oretakes Petrejus flight, who bloodily.
Breakes off his Souldiers new-made amity;
But by extremity of thirst compell'd,
Afranius, and himselfe to Caesar yeild.
Famish'• Antonius yeilds t' his enemy.
Vulteius, and his valiant cohort dye
By their owne swords. Curio on Libya• sand•
Is slaine by Iubaes Manritanian bands.

BVt now sterne Caesar in Spaines farthest coast
Makes war: on which, though little blood it cost,
The fortunes of both Generalls much did stand.
Affranius and Petreius did command
Those campes with aequall power, but concord made
Their governement more firme: their men obay'd
Alternally both Generalls commands.
Heere besides Romans bold Asturian bands,
Light Vestones, and Cel•a were, that came
From France, and with th' Iberi mixt their name.
A little hill not steepe of fertile lands
Swells vp, on which the old Ilerda stands;
Before the towne flowes Sicoris soft streame,
Among Spaines rivers of no small esteeme;
On which a bridge of stone high arched stood
T' endure the violence of a winters flood.
The next hill the Pompeyans campe did beare;
Aequall to which Caesar his tents did reare.
The river in the midst both campes divides,
From whence the champion fields vpon both sides
Extend themselues beyond the ken of man.
Swift Cinga bounds them, that to th' Ocean
Carryes no name, Iber, where you two joyne,
That giues the land her name, takes from thee thine.
The first day they encamp'd, from fight was free:
The Captaines stood each others strength to see
Numbring the Eagles; shame did then beg•n
To damne their rage, and hold their fury in;
One poore dayes respite to their countrey they
And broke lawes gaue; but Caesar when the day
Declin'd, did with a suddaine trench enclose
His campe about, and to deceiue the foes
His army in the front kept station
To hide the worke; and when the morne drew on,
He sends swift troopes the next hill to surprise,
That twixt the foes campe, and Il•rd• lyes;
Thither the foes with shame and terror make,
And by a neerer way the hill they take.
The fight growes there; on sword, and valour one
Relyes, the other on possession.
Laden with armes march Caesar's souldiers vp
'Gainst the steepe hill: their following fellowes prop
Their backes with targets vp, to keepe them so
From falling backe; their Piles against the foe
They could not vse▪ Piles guide their faltring steps:
Hold, as they clime, they catch on shrubs and slips:
Their swords serue not to fight, but cut their way.
This danger Caesar saw, and sent away
His horse to wheele charging in flanke the foe,
And all his foot retreat in safety so
The skirmish ended thus and neither side
Obtain'd the conquest. Thus farre fighting try'd.
What other fates were added to this war
Grew from th'vnconstant motions of the ayre,
For by cold winters dry North-windes the r•ine
The clowds congealed bowells did containe.
Snowes on the hills, and tops of mountaines lye,
And frosts, that at the Sunne's appearance flye.
All lands within those Westerne climates are
Hardened by Winters dry concealing aire.
But when the Sunne now wexed warmer came
To take possession of the heavenly Ram,
Making the aequinoctiall againe,
When day t'exceede the night in length began,
When Cynthia from the Sunne's conjunction
But newly come could hardly yet be knowne;
Boreas sh' excludes, and fire from Eurus takes:
He all the cloudes that his whole quarter makes
Throwes to the West with Nabathaean blasts,
The foggs that India, that Arabia casts
Exhal'd, and growne vnder the rising Sunne,
Sky darkening Corus exhalation,
Which cooles the Indian aire, now blowne away
From thence, make hot the Easterne countreys day.
Nor could the loades of those thicke clouds fall downe
On the mid world, strong tempests driue them on
From North and South; alone does Calpes ground
Drinke the moist aire, the farthest Westerne bound,
Where heavens bow'd hinge does with the Ocean meetes
The cloudes driven thither could no further get:
Their vastnesse hardly could involved be
In such strait roome, as twxit that earth and sky.
Those clouds then crusht together by the pole
Contract in th'ayre, and downe amaine they roule
In gushing showres; lightnings though thicke retaine
No flashing fire, extinguisht by the raine.
Iris no colours can distinctly show
Circling the ayre with an imperfect bow:
She drinkes the sea, and to the Ocean
The ponderous waues fall from the sky againe.
The Pyrenaean nowes, which Titan yet
Could never melt, flow downe: the rockes are wet
With broken ice: rivers their wonted way
Forsake; as channells the whole fields display
Themselues: and now as shipwrack'd on the seas
Flo•e Caesars tents, and drenched companyes
The streame breakes downe his campe: rivers oreflow
His trenon and workes, nor an the souldiers goe
To for•age: the drown'd fields no vittaile leaue:
The wayes by water cover'd all deceiue
The fetchers of provision▪ then came on
A famine still the sad companion
Of other woes: the souldiers by no foes
Besidg'd, are pin'd, one his whole wealth bestowes
Vpon a crust of bread not dearely sold:
(Oh meagre thirst of gaine) for ready gold
An hungry •eller is not wanting there
The waters now haue all, no hils appeare,
The joyning rivers like ore-spreading fe•ns
Cover high rockes; transported are the dens
Of beasts; the streame carryes the strugling horse
Not touching ground, and as of greater force
Then th'Ocean, repells the Oceans tide.
The darkened Pole does Phaebus lustre hide,
And the blacke skies all colours doe confound▪
So lyes the farthest part of the worlds ground,
Which the cold zone, and frosts perpetuall
Cover those countreys see no starres at all:
Their barren ice breedes nothing: good alone
To temper with their cold the torrid zone.
So let it be, great Ioue, so let it be
Neptune, whose three fork'd scepter rules the sea.
Thou, Ioue, with stormes perpetuall fill the ayre:
Thou, Neptune, let no rivers home repaire,
Let no streames finde prone passage to the maine,
But with the Oceans tide turne backe againe.
Make the strooke earth to deluge pervious:
These fields let Rhine oreflow, and Rhodanus.
Hither their course let all great rivers bend:
Hither Riphaean snowes, lakes, fountaines s•nd;
Hither all standing pooles from far command,
And saue from civill war this wretched land.
But Caesars fortune, with this little feare
Of his content, returnes greater then ere:
The gods gan favour, and deserv'd t'obtaine
Pardon: the clowded ayre clear'd vp againe:
The master'd waters Sol in fleeces spred:
The night, presaging a faire morne, look'd red:
Things keepe their place: moisture the skye forsakes;
Water (late high) her owne low center takes:
Trees, and emergent hills t'appeare began:
The fields at sight of day grow drie againe.
When Sicoris to his owne bankes restor'd
Had let the field, of twigs, and willow bord
They made small botes cover'd with bullockes hide,
In which they reacht the rivers further side.
So saile the Veneti if Padus flow,
The Britaines saile on their calme Ocean so.
So the Aegyptians saile with woven boates
Of papery rushes in their Nilus floates.
The army in these boates transported now
Build vp a bridge, and fearing th' overflow
Of the fierce streame, their worke they doe note•nd
Vpon the banke, but ore the fields extend.
And lest againe Sicoris should oreflow,
In severall channells cut, he suffers now
For his first crime: but when Petreius spy'd
That Caesars fortune did all actions guide,
Ilerda he forsakes, trusting no more
The strength of that knowne world, but seeking for
Vntamed nations fierce with wars dire loue,
To that worlds end the battell to remooue.
When Caesar saw the hills and campe forsooke,
He bids his men take armes, and never looke
For bridge, or ford, but with their hardy armes
Swim ore the streame: the souldiers his alarmes
Obey with speed, and rushing on to fight
Venture those wayes, that they would feare in flight,
Then taking armes cherish their bodies wet,
And their benummed joynts with running heat,
Till noone made shadowes short; the horsemen then
O retake the hindniost of Petreius men.
Who doubtfull are whether to fight or flye.
Two rock• hills lift their proud tops on high
Making a vale beneath: aboue the ground
Is ioyn'd: below safe passages are found
Through windings darke: which straights if once the foe
Had in possession, Caesar well did know
He might from thence carry the war as far,
As Spaines remote, and barbarous nations are.
Runne without ranke (quoth he) pursue your foes:
Turne backe the war, that by their flight you loose:
Make them turne face to face: though they would fly,
Giue not the cowards leaue basely to dy,
But on their breasts let them receiue our blowes
This said, with swiftnesse they prevent their foes
Flight to the hills, encamping close beside.
A narrow trench did both the campes divide,
And of so little distance was the place,
They might distinctly know each others face.
There finding fathers, brothers, sonnes, they see
The wickednesse of civill enmity.
And first for feare standing a little mute
With nods, and swords lift vp frends, frends salute;
But when deare loue conquer'd the law of warres,
Over the trenches leape the souldiers
T' embrace each other: some their old hosts meete,
Some their schoolefellowes, some their kinsemen greete.
He was no Roman, that no enemy knew:
Sighs breake their kisses, teares their armes bedew,
And though no act of blood were yet begun,
They feare the mischiefe that they might haue done.
Why mourn'st thou foole? why doe it thou beat thy breast,
And weepe in vaine? why hast thou now confest
Thou 'gainst thy will to wicked war doest goe?
Stand'st thou in such great feare of him whom thou
Thy selfe mak'st dreadfull? let this trumpets sound,
Neglect the cruell noise, let none be found
To beare his Eagles, and the war there ends;
Caesar and Pompey private men are frends.
Now concord come, that all things doest enfold
In thy white armes, and the worlds safety hold,
The earths blest loue: future impietyes
Our age may feare; the ignorance heere dyes
Of their misdeeds: and from excuse does bar
Their guilt, they know, their foes their kinsemen are.
Sinister fates, that will by this short peace
Their future woes, and wickednesse encrease.
T'was peace, and in both campes mixt souldiers stray'd,
And on the grasse their friendly banquets made:
By the same fire together Bacchus rites
They celebrate, and spend the watchfull nights
In storyes of the war as lovingly
Together they in ioyning lodginges lye.
Where first they did encampe, from what hand fled
Each Pile, and boast of every valiant deede
Denying much they graunt the wish of Fate,
And loue the wretched Souldiers renovate.
This loue their future wickednesse encreast,
For when Petreius saw their friendly feast,
Thinking himselfe and campe to sale betray'd
He armes his houshold servants to invade
Dire war: and guarded with a troope of those
Out of his campe th'vn•rm'd Caesarians throwes.
The sword, as in embraces joyn'd they stood,
Divides them, and disturbes the peace with blood.
Then wrath these war provoking speeches gaue,
Souldiers vnmindefull of the cause you haue,
Though Caesars conquest you cannot bestow
Vpon the Senates cause, this you can do,
Fight till you are orecome: whilest you haue hands,
And blood, and whilest the war yet doubtfull stands,
Will you go serue, and traitrous Eagles take?
And beg of Caesar he no odds would make
Betweene his slaues, and at his hands desire
Your Captaines liues? our safetyes treasons hire
Shall never be; nor make we civill war
To liue: by name of peace betray'd we are.
People for veines of brasse, which deepe-hid lye
Would never seeke, nor townes would fortify:
No stately horses to the war should pace,
No tower-like shipps ore spread the Oceans face,
If liberty for peace were ere well sold.
Shall Caesar's Souldiers damn'd obedience hold
Bound by a wicked oath, and you make light
Your faith, because in a good cause you fight?
But pardon's hop'd: oh shames dire funerall.
Not knowing this, great Pompey, thou ore all
The world art mustring, and each farthest King
Bringing to fight, whilest we are articling
Basely about thy safety. This feirce speech
Turn'd backe their mindes, & stirr'd warrs wicked itch;
As when wild beasts wean'd from the woods, and shutt
Vp close to •ame, haue off their wildenesse put,
And learn'd t'endure a man, if blood once staine
Their iawes, their wildenesse straight returnes againe,
Their iawes grow hot, and their new boyling rage
The trembling keeper hardly can aswage.
They run on wickednesse, and what might seeme
In a blinde war the gods or fortunes crime,
Deceived trust makes ours; at bord, and bed
The late embraced breasts are murthered;
And though vnwillingly at first they draw,
Yet when their wicked swords drawne out they saw,
And striking were, their friends they truely hate,
And with the stroke themselues they animate.
Petreius campe is with strange tumult fill'd,
And horrid murther: sonnes their fathers kill'd:
And as if hidden mischiefe lost should be,
They boast their guilt, and let their Captaines see.
Caesar, though robbed of thy men, yet see
The gods high favour: not so much for thee
On Aegypt, or Massilias seas is done,
Nor so much honour in Pharsalia won.
For this sole crime of civill war does make
That thou at length the better cause shalt take.
The Generalls now their blood-stain'd Souldier
No more dare trust within the campe so neere.
But by swift flight toward Ilerda make,
From whom all passage Caesars horsmen take,
And there in those dry hills shut vp their foes,
Whom Caesar striues with a deepe trench t'enclose
Cutting all water off, he lets them take
No springes, nor tents neere to the river make
They seeing the way of death, convert their feare
To rage; their horses, that vnusefull were
To men beseidg'd, they kill, and since in flight
Twere vaine to hope, addresse themselues to fight
Caesar perceiues them comming, and well knowes
That death is sought by his devoted foes.
Containe your Piles, and swords, Souldiers (quoth he)
Ile loose no blood to get this victory.
That foe, that meetes the sword, nere gratis dyes:
Hating their liues, and cheape in their owne eyes,
They come to mixe our losses with their death:
They'll feele no wounds, but ioy in losse of breath.
But let this heate forsake vm, this mad fit,
They'll loose their wish of death. Caesar the fight
Forbids, and lets their choller spend in vaine,
Till Sol descended to the Ocean,
And starres appear'd; then when no hope's at all
Of fight, their feircenesse does by little fall,
Their mindes grow cold. So is most courage found
In late hurt men, whilest freshnesse of the wound,
And the blood hot giues nimble motion
To every nerue, and muscles guide the bone:
If the wound-giver hold his hand, and stay:
Then a cold numnesse, (strength being tane away)
Seizes the minde, and the stiffe members tyes,
The wound growne cold (the blood congealing) dryes.
The Souldiers wanting water through each creeke
Of the digg'd earth for hidden fountaines seeke.
Not only now the mattocke, and the spade,
But swords earth-digging instruments are made.
Downe from the tops of mountaines as profound
They goe, as lyes the lowest marish ground.
Farther from day, and deeper in earths mould
Divers not the searcher for Assyrian gold.
But no sought rivers hidden course is showne;
No springs appear'd opening the Pummice stone:
No bubbling brooke rowles little pibble stones:
Nor sweating caue makes distillations.
Weary with digging then the sweating men
Are from those rocky pits drawne out againe:
And this vaine search of water the dry aire
Makes them lesse able to endure; nor dare
They feede their weary bodyes, eating nought,
As medi••ne against thirst is hunger sought.
If the soft earth doe moisture yeild, they bring
The clods, & ore their mouths with both hands wring.
The blacke vnstirred mud, that every sinke
Affords by strife the greedy Souldiers drinke.
And what to saue their liues they would haue stucke
To take now dying drinke; like beasts some sucke
Beasts dugs, and when milke failes, with greedy jaw
Meere blood from their exhausted udders draw.
Hearbs, and greene leaues they wring: bedewed twigs
They licke, and juce of bleeding vines: small sprigs
Of trees they for their tender sap doe squeeze.
Oh happy men, whom barbarous enemyes
Flying by poysoning all the rivers kill'd:
But, Caesar, though these rivers should be fill'd
With poysons, carrions, and pale Aconite
Growing on Cretan rockes▪ yet knowing it
These Romans then would drinke, their bowells now
Are scorcht, their mouths, & tongs dry'd rougher grow,
Their veines shrinke vp: their lungs in this distresse
Not moist contract the breathing passages
Breathings hard drawne their vlcer'd palates teare,
They ope their thirsty mouthes, to drinke nights aire,
And wish such showres, as all did lately drowne,
And the dry cloudes their lookes are fixt vpon.
But that which most encreas'd their misery,
They were encamp'd not no dry Meroe,
Nor where the naked Garamantes plow
Hot Cancers tropicke; but betweene the flow
Of swift Iberus, and full Sicoris:
The thirstie campe two neighbouring rivers sees.
Now both the generals yeild; Afranius layes
Downe armes and peace (become a suppliant) prayes.
Into the enemies campe his starved bands
Drawing before the conquerors feete he stands:
Then begging pardon with a carelesse breast
He lost no Majesty; but twixt his •ast,
And former state he beares himselfe in all,
A conquer'd man, but yet a generall.
Had I fall'n vnder a base enemy,
I had not lack'd an hand my selfe to free:
Know then the cause that now I beg to liue,
I thinke thee, Caesar, worthy life to giue.
For no sides favour, nor as foes to thee
Did we take armes; both Generalls were we
Before this civill war, and haue maintain'd
The former cause: now wee'll not fate withstand.
Spaine we deliver vp, and ope the East:
Of all the world behind thou now mayst rest
Secure: nor has much bloods effusion,
Sharpe swords, or weary'd armes this conquest won:
Onely thy foes, that thou hast conquered,
Forgiue: nor beg we much, grant vs to lead
Vnarm'd those liues, that thou hast now bestow'd:
Suppose that all our slaughtered troopes lay strow'd
Over the fields: to mixe vnfortunate
With happy armes, and we participate
Thy tryumphs were vnfit: our fates we know:
Compell vs not with thee to conquer now.
But Caesar gently, and with smiling cheare
Both pardons, and dismisses them from war.
But when the league was firmely 'gree'd vpon,
The souldiers to th' vnguarded rivers run,
Fall on the bankes, troubling the granted streame.
But long continued draughts in many of them,
Not suffering aire through th' empty veines to flye,
Shut vp their liues: nor could they easily
Cease this dry plague: but though their guts they fill,
The covetous disease is craving still.
At last their nerues, and strength againe it brings
Oh luxury too prodigall of things,
Content with no provision easily brought;
Ambitious hunger for things dearely sought
Ore land, and sea, pride of a sumptuous table:
See what small store to cherish life is able,
And nature please: these Souldiers fainting soules
No vnknowne Consuls noble wine in bowles
Of mirrhe, and gold restores from fountaines pure
Water, and bread their fleeting liues assure.
Wretches that follow warres. These souldiers
Being now disarm'd are made secure, from cares
Exempt, and innocent returne againe
To their owne townes. When peace they did obtaine,
How much they griev'd that ever they had cast
One pile, or suffer'd thirst, or ever askt
The gods in vaine to grant them prosperous warres?
For to the happyer fighting Souldiers
What toiles through all the world, what doubtfull fields
Remaine to fight? Though fortune alwayes yeilds
Happy successe, yet must they oftentimes
Conquer, spill blood throughout all lands, and elimes,
And follow Caesar, through all fates of his.
When the world's ruine's neare, he happy is,
That knowes his setled place. Their weary armes
No war calls forth: their sleepes no loud alarmes
Disturbes; their wiues, children, and houses they▪
And lands (though no deducted colony),
Enjoy; by fortune from this burden free'd
No favour does their mindes disquiet breed:
One generall sav'd their liues: tother their owne
Commander was. Thus happy they alone
Free'd from desires the civill warres behold.
But through the world this fortune did not hold;
She durst act some what against Casar's side.
Where long Salonae's beaten with the tide
Of th' Adriaticke sea; where Zephyre blowes
Vpon the warme Iader's gentle flowes,
Antonius there trusting the warlike bands
Of his Curetes, whose environ'd lands
The Adriaticke sea encircles round,
Was straight beseidged in the vtmost bound,
Safe from warres reach, if famine, that alone
Conquers the strongest fortresses, were gone:
The ground no pasture for their horses yeilds,
Nor yellow Ceres cloaths the fallow'd feilds.
The men eat grasse, and when the feilds grow bare,
The grasse from off their camps dry'd turffes they teare.
But when their friends on th'adverse shore they spy'd▪
And Zasil•• the admirall, they try'd
New wayes of flight by sea; for their sterne end
They did not hoift, nor did their keele extend
(As custome was) but with vnusuall sleight
Firme timber boates to beare a mighty weight
They made. These empty boates on every side
Susteine the ship; whose double rancke was ty'd
With chaines acrosse Nor were the oares dispos'd
On th' open front to the foes darts expos'd:
Only that sea, that was enclosed round
By those conjoyned boates, their oares did wound.
A miracle of silent slight it show'd;
She bo•e no sailes, or sea discover'd row'd.
Now they obserue the tides, till th' ebbing seas
Leaue the sands bare, and make the shore encrease;
Then from aboue into the Ocean prone
The ship falls by two galleyes waited on:
Ore which a lofty threatning tower was rear'd,
Where spires, and trembling pinnacles appear'd.
Octavius keeper of th'Illyrian sea
Would not assault this ship too suddainly:
But his swift vessells thought it good to stay
Till th' easy passage might encrease his prey,
And farther on to sea by peace invites
His rashly enter'd foes; such are the slights
Of huntsmen, when their toiles they haue dispos'd:
And fearefull deere in plumed nets enclos'd:
Their dogs of Crete and Sparta they containe,
And their wide mouth'd Molossians restraine:
No dog is trusted in the wood, but he,
That can vpon a full sent silent be,
And never open when he findes the game,
Content alone to signifie the same
By wagging of the string; then presently
The Souldiers leaue the Ile, and eagerly
They come a boord the ship, when day's last light
Gaue place to the approach of dusky night.
But the Cilicians of great Pompey's side
According to their old sea-craft, had ty'd
Chaines through the midst o'th'sea, of which no show
Appear'd aboue, but loosely let them flow:
The chaine was fasten'd to th' Illyrian shore.
The first, and second ships not staid got ore:
The third was caught of burden much more vast,
And to the rocke by a drawne rope was cast.
The rocke hangs ore the sea (a wonder tis)
Hollow, and still (though falling) stands, with trees
Making a shade: hither the sea by tides
Oft driues: and in those darkesome cavernes hides
Ships broke by Aquilon, and drowned men:
Which hidden store the rocke restores againe;
And when the cavernes belch it vp, in heate
Sicilian Charybdis cannot get
Preheminence. Heere did the great ship stand,
That was with valiant Opitergians mann'd
Her from all havens did all ships enclose:
Some from the rocke, some from the shore oppose.
Vulteius found this vnder-water traine
(The Captaine of the ship) who all in vaine
Striving to cut the chaines, did then desire
Without all hope, to fight: where to retire,
Or how to conquer is not seene: but here
As much as snared valour could appeare,
It did: against so many thousand wights,
That did enclose, scarse one full cohort fights,
Not long endeed, for night in her blacke shade
Shut vp the day, and peace the darkenesse made.
Then stout Vulteius thus gan animate
The cohort fearing sad ensuing fate.
Yong men, that but for one short night are free,
Provide in time for sates extremity:
There's no man's life is short, that does allow
Him time to seeke his death: nor thinke it now
Lesse glorious that we meete a fate at hand.
The times of future life none vnderstand.
Tis aequall praise of minde to giue away
Our liues last moment, and the hoped stay
Of many yeres, so we the actors be:
No man can be compell'd to wish to dye.
No way for flight is left: at every hand
Bent 'gainst our throates the sterne Cilicians stand.
Let feare be banisht then: resolue to dye,
And let your wishes meete necessity.
Nor shall we fall in a blinde cloud of war,
As when two battels joyn'd in darkenesse are,
When heapes of carcasses bestrow the field,
Valour lies buried, all are aequall held.
But in a ship the gods haue placed vs
Both to our friends and foes conspicuous.
The Ile, the continent, the seas allow
Witnesses to vs, and two parties now.
From divers shores behold vs: in our ends
What great, and rare example Fate entends
I know not. What ere Chronicles afford
Of trust, of Souldiers faith maintain'd by sword,
We shall excell: tis a small thing to die
Vpon our swords, Caesar, we know for thee:
But greater pledges in this sad distresse
We want, our great affections to expresse
And envious Fates vs of much praises barre,
That not our parents, nor our children are
Heere with vs. Let our foes our valour finde,
And feare our force, and death contemning minde:
Let them be glad that no more ships were caught,
Perchance they'll try by leagues what can be wrought,
Proffering base life: would they would promise vs
Pardon, to make our deaths more glorious,
Lest when we fall our killing swords vpon,
Our foes should call it desperation.
Much valour must deserue that Caesar may
Account the lesse of vs a fatall day
Among so many thousand. Should fate giue
Egresse from hence, I would not wish to liue;
I haue already cast away my breath,
Drawen by the sweetnesse of approaching death:
A fury tis, which none but they can know,
To whom nere Fates such knowledge doe allow;
The Gods deaths sweetnesse doe conceale, to make
Men liue. A noble courage straight did take
The young mens minds; though all with weeping eyes
(Before the Captaines speech) had view'd the skies,
And fear'd to see the turne of Charles his waine:
But now their valiant minds wish day againe
After this speech; nor was day slowt' appeare:
Sol leaving Gemini, and drawing neare
His height in Cancer, when the shortest night
Vrg'd the Thessalian Archer. Day growne light,
Discover'd warrelike Istrians on the land,
The fierce Liburnians, and Greeke fleete, that stand
Covering the seas. They first suspending fight,
Striue to orecome by covenants, and invite
The ship to yeild by granting life; but they
Devoted, scorning life, stand in array,
Secure in sight, resolv'd what end to take:
No stormes their strong resolved mindes could shake:
And though but few, by land, and sea they fought
(Such confidence deaths resolution brought)
Against innumerable hands; but when
Warre had drawne blood enough, their fury then
Turn'd from their foes. The Captaine first of all
Vulteius offring his bare throte gan call
Seeking for death, is there no Souldier here
Worthy to shed my blood? let him appeare,
And killing me shew that himselfe dares bleed.
With that of life his wounded breast was free'd
By many swords; Vulteius thankes bestow'd
On all; but dying him, to whom he ow'd
His first kind wound, he thankefully againe
Requites with death. Thus meeting all were slaine,
And on one side the warres whole mischiefe hung.
So the serpentine brood by Cadmus Sprung,
Fell by each others hand, a dire presage
Of the ensuing Theban brothers rage.
So those of th'waking Dragons teeth once fram'd
In Colchos fields, by Magicke spells enflam'd,
With kindred blood the fields plow'd furrowes dy'd;
Which mischiefe wrought by hearbs before vntry'd
Medea fear'd her selfe. So fell these men
By ba•gain'd fate, and in the death of them
To dye was the least valour: they both fall,
And kill at once: no right hand mist at all,
Though at the point of death: nor to their blades
Ow'd they their wounds: a breast the sword invades,
Their throates invade their hands; and if blinde chance
A brothers sword 'gainst brother did advance,
Or sonnes 'gainst father, with vndanted hand,
And all their strength they strike; in this did stand
Their piety alone, that at one blow
They would dispatch them; on the hatches now
Halfe dead they draw their bowells, and much blood
Stream'd downe into the sea; it did them good
To see the scorned day, death to preferre,
And with proud lookes despise the conquerer.
Now on the ship the heapes of bodyes shew'd
The slaughter made: on which the foes bestow'd
Fit funeralls, admiring much to see
To any Captaine such fidelity.
Fame flying through the world did never raise
Any one ship with such resounding praise.
Yet will not coward nations since such braue
Examples, learne to know, that death to saue
Their liberty is not a price so deare:
But kingdomes arm'd with power of sword they seare•
Liberty can vse armes, and swords should be
(As men should know) to keepe their liberty.
Oh would the fates would let the fearefull liue,
That valour only death to men might giue.
Nor was that war that did in Libya grow
Lesse terrible then this: bold Curio
By a milde Northren winde was wasted ore
From Lilybaeum to that well knowne shore,
Where Clupea seated is, and where he sees
Great Carthages halfe ruin'd aedifice:
And pitching his first tents far from the maine,
Where Bagrada furrowes the sandy plaine,
Those hills, and eaten rockes goes to behold,
Which were Antaeus kingdome call'd of old;
Asking the cause of this old name, a clowne
Thus tells the tale by long Tradition knowne▪
For Giants births Earth yet not barren made
In Libian caues a feared issue had,
Which to his mother brought as true a fame,
As Typhon, Tityus, and Briareus name.
'Twas good for heaven Antaeus was not borne
At Phlegra; but this guift did more adorne
His mighty strength: into his limmes (though tir'd,)
His mothers touch a vigour fresh inspir'd.
This caue his dwelling was, this mountaine here
He lurckt about, his foode slaine lions were:
His bed no leaues of trees, no skin of beasts:
His strength by sleeping on the ground encreast.
By him th'inhabitants of Libya dy'd,
And strangers all, that to our coast apply'd.
His strength (not vsing a long time to fall)
Needed not earths rich gift: too strong for all
He was though standing vp; at length through fame
Of this dire plague the great Alcides came,
Whose hand both sea and land from monsters free'd
And for th'encounter each put off his weede,
One's Nemean, tother's Libyan Lions skin:
Hercules oiles his limmes ere he begin
According to th' Olimpicke rites: but he
Rubb'd ore his limmes with sand: it could not be
Enough to touch his mother with his feete.
They grapple then, and armes, armes folded meete.
Striving each others necke with heavy hand
To bend; yet both fixt, and vnbended stand.
Both wonder much to meete their match at length:
But Hercules vs'd not his vtmost strength
At the first bout, but weary'd out his foe,
Which his oft blowing, and cold sweates did show:
His shaking necke, nor breast could firmely stand:
His bending hammes yeild to Alcides hand:
Alcides then about his short ribbes cast
His conquering armes, and grip'd his yeilding wast,
Then tripping vp his leggs he fairely •ayes
His foe stretch'd out vpon the sand; earth stayes
His sweat, and fills with fresh blood every vaine,
His armes grow brawny, his joynes st•ffe againe,
And his fresh limmes vnclaspe the others hands.
Amaz'd at this new strength Alcides stands
Nor fear'd he Hydra so in Lerna lakes
Fruitfull by losse of her reviving snakes,
Though then but yong; Now both were aequall growne
One in earths strength, the other in his owne.
Nere had sterne Iuno more encouragement
To hope; she sees his limmes with sweating spent,
And his necke dry'd, as when he did sustaine
The heavens: but when he clasp'd his foe againe,
Antaeus staying not till he be throwne,
Falls of himselfe, and rises stronger growne:
His mother earth to his tir'd members giues
What spirit she has, and labours when he striues.
But when Alcides found earths touch to be
Strengthning to him, now thou shalt stand (quoth he)
No more thou fal•'st, nor will we trust againe
The ground: this breast shall thy crusht limbes susteine;
Hither, Antaeus, shalt thou fall this spoke,
Him striving to fall downe aloft he tooke,
And grasp'd his middle fast: earth could not lend
Strength to her dying sonne, nor succour send.
But till his foes breast starke and cold he found
Alcides durst not trust him on the ground.
From hence selfe-lov'd antiquity, and fame,
Old times recorder, gaue this place a name.
But to these hills a nobler name gaue he,
That drew the Punicke foe from Italy.
Scipio arriving on our Libya, heere
Pitch'd his first campe: the ruines yet appeare
Of that old trench; this place of all the rest
Was first by Roman victory possest.
Curio, as if the place were fortunate,
And still retain'd those former Captaines fate
In war, rejoyc'd, and in this lucky place
Pitch'd his vnlucky tents, which did deface
The places Omen: and provok'd sterne foes
With strength vnaequall; Affricke all that owes
Obedience to the Roman Eagles, then
Was vnder Varus, who, (though strong in men
Of Italy) aide from the Libyan King
Requires, to whom the worlds far regions bring
Their force with Iuba; no one King alone
Was master of such large dominion:
In length th'extent of his great Kingdomes ground
Gades-neighbouring Atlas, and Ioues Ammon bound
Neere Thera; but in breadth the torrid zone,
Betwixt the sea, and it, it coasts vpon
So many people to his army presse,
Th' Autolodes, and wandring Nomades:
Getulians hors'd without caparison:
The Mauritanians of complexion
Like Indians: poore Nasamonians,
Scorcht Garamantes, swift Marmaricans:
Massylians, that without saddles ride,
And with a wand their bitlesse horses guide:
Mazacian darts, that Median shafts excell:
Those that in empty cottages doe dwell;
Affrican hunters, that all darts refuse,
And their loose coates 'gainst angry Lyons vse.
Nor did the cause of civill war alone,
But private anger bring King Iuba on.
Curio that yeere, wherein he did defile
Divine, and human lawes, striv'd to exile
By tribunitiall law from Libyas throne
This King, and barre him his forefathers crowne,
Whilest he would make thee, Rome, a monarchy.
He mindfull of the wrong thinkes this to be
The greatest guift his scepter could bestow.
This Iuba's fame affrighted Curio:
Besides no Souldiers firme to Caesar's side
Were in his army, none that had beene try'd
In Germany▪ but at Confinium tane
False to new Lords did to their first remaine
Doubtfull, and thought both sides indifferent were.
But when he saw all slacke through slavish feare,
That the night-guards their trenches did forsake
With a distracted spirit thus he spake.
Daring conceales great feare• Ile first assay
The fight, and put my Souldiers in array
While they are mine: doubt growes from rest alone:
Fight shall prevent their consultation;
When swords whet their dire wills, and helmets hide
Their blushes, who can then compare the side,
Or weigh the cause? they favour as they stand:
As no old hate does on the stage command
Sword-players to meete: they hate by faction.
This said, in open field he leades them on;
Whom the warres fortune, meaning to deceiue
After, at first does prosperously receiue.
For Varus he defeated, following on
Their flying backes in execution
Even to the campe When Iuba first did know
Of this sad field, and Varus overthrow,
Glad that the glory of the war did stay
For him, by stealth he leade his troupes away:
And without noise (commanding silence) goes,
Fearing he should be feared of his foes
Sabura next in honour to the King
With a small troope is sent before to bring
Curio on by provocation,
As if the war were left to him alone:
Himselfe with all his kingdomes strength below
Keepes in the valley, The Ichneumon so
Provoking by his tailes deceitfull shade
Th' Aegyptian Aspe, dooes at the last invade
(Free'd from the deadly venoms danger quite)
The serpents throate stretch'd out in vaine to meete
A slying shade: out the lost poison goes,
And all about the Aspes jawes vainely flowes.
Fortune assists this fraud: fierce Curio
Descrying not the strength of his hid foe,
En•oines his horsemen all to issue out
By night, and range the vnknowne fields about:
And after them himselfe by breake of day
With all his Eagles spread marches away,
Much (but in vaine) entreated to suspect
Libyan deceite, and fraudes that still infect
The Punicke warres: but to his funerall
Fate gaue him vp, and civill war did call
Her author on: ore rockes and mountaines high
They march; when on the hill from farre they spy
The foe: who cunning, seemes to flye away
Till he haue set his battells in array
Vnder the hill: this Curio did not know,
But thought it flight, and like a conquerour now
Brings forth his troopes into the open plaine:
Then first discover'd they this guilefull traine:
The seeming-fled Numidians they espy'd
On the hills tops enclosing every side:
Curio, and his lost troopes astonisht quite;
The fearefull could not flye, the valiant fight:
The horses now not feirce attrumpets sound
Chaw not their foamng bitts, beate not the ground:
Spread not their manes nor doe their eares advance,
Nor with their wonted spright curyet and prance:
Their sweating shoulders fum'd, their tir'd necks hung
And their dry'd mouth thrust out their weary tongue:
Their breasts, and throates hoarse with oft blowing grew:
Their heavy pulse far their spent bowels drew:
The fomings dry and hote grew hard vpon
The bloody bits: no strokes could force them on,
Nor often spurrings make them mend their speed;
Wounds make them goe: to hasten on the steed
Bootes not the rider, for the weary horse
In comming on wants courage, strength and force:
He onely brings his Rider to the foes,
And does his breast to all their speares expose.
But when the Lybian horse came coursing nigh,
The ground did shake, and clouds of dust did flie
(As great as Thracian whirlewinds blow about)
Ore the skies cover'd face, and darkenesse wrought.
But when warres miserable fate did fall
Vpon the foot, no doubtfull field at all
Was fought: the battell in that time was done,
That men could die: for forth they could not run
To make their flight, enclos'd on every side
From far by darts directly throwne they dy'd,
Obliquely neere: not wounds alone they feele
Orewhelm'd with stormes of darts, & weight of steele:
Pent vp in a straight roome the army's kept:
Those that for feare neer'st to the middle crept,
Amongst their fellowes swords are not secure,
For the forefront not able to endure
The foes assault, slept backe, and straighter made
The Globe: no roome to weild their armes they had:
Their crowded limmes are prest: one armed breast
Against another driven to death is prest.
The conquering Mauritanian could not haue
So glad a spectacle as fortune gaue;
He saw no bodies fall: no streames of blood,
Kept so by crowde vpright the bodies stood.
Let Fortune this new parentation make
For hated Carthages dire spirits sake:
Let bloody Hanniball, and Punicke ghosts
Of this sad Roman expiation boast.
Let not in Lybia, gods, a Roman fall
For Pompey or the Senate make at all:
Vs rather for her selfe let Affrica
Conquer: his men ore'throwne when Curio saw,
And the dust lay'd with blood gaue leaue to see,
Scorning t'out-liue such a calamity,
Or hope in flight, he meete his death, to dye
Forward, and valiant by necessity.
What now availes thy place, and troubled barres,
From whence a Tribune to seditious wars
Thou stirr'dst the people, and the Senates right
Betray'dst, and could'st to civill war encite
The sonne, and father in law? thy death is wrought
Before these Lords haue in Pharsalia fought.
To see that field is not permitted thee.
This satisfaction in your bloods giue ye
Great ones, to wretched Rome, and pay for war;
Oh happy Rome, and Romans happyer far.
Would but the gods aboue as carefull be
To keepe, as to revenge our liberty.
Vnburied Curio's noble flesh is food
For Libyan birds: but (since t'will doe no good
To conceale that, which from times injury
Fame still will vindicate) wee'll giue to thee
The praise that to thy life dooes appertaine.
Rome never nurtur'd a more able man,
Nor one to whom (whilest good) the lawes ow'd more:
But vice then hurt our city, when the store
Of wealth, Ambition, Riot had declin'd
To the worst part his yet vnsetled minde,
And changed Curio the states fate controul'd
Brib'd by the spoiles of France, and Caesars gold.
Though potent Sylla, and fierce Marius,
Cinna, and Caesars line got rule ore vs
By sword: to whom did such power ever fall?
This man sold Rome, the other bought it all.