Complete works of lucan, p.86
Complete Works of Lucan, page 86
gens Etrusca fuga trepidi nudata Libonis,
iusque sui pulso iam perdidit Vmbria Thermo.
nec gerit auspiciis ciuilia bella paternis
Caesaris audito conuersus nomine Sulla. 465
Varus, ut admotae pulsarunt Auximon alae,
per diuersa ruens neclecto moenia tergo,
qua siluae, qua saxa, fugit. depellitur arce
Lentulus Asculea; uictor cedentibus instat
deuertitque acies, solusque ex agmine tanto 470
dux fugit et nullas ducentia signa cohortes.
tu quoque nudatam commissae deseris arcem,
Scipio, Nuceriae, quamquam firmissima pubes
his sedeat castris, iam pridem Caesaris armis
Parthorum seducta metu, qua Gallica damna 475
suppleuit Magnus, dumque ipse ad bella uocaret
donauit socero Romani sanguinis usum.
The men of Etruria are left defenceless by the hasty flight of Libo, and the rout of Thermus has already taken from Umbria the power of free action. Sulla, too, has not the fortune of his father in civil war, but turns to flight on hearing the mere name of Caesar. Varus, when the advancing cavalry knocked at the gates of Auximum, rushed through the opposite gate where the foe had left the rear unguarded, and fled through forests and hills. Lentulus was dislodged from the fortress of Asculum, and the conqueror, pressing hard on their retreat, cut off the army: alone of all the force the general escaped, and the standards that brought no troops behind them. Scipio too abandons the stronghold of Nuceria and leaves his charge defenceless, though here were encamped stalwart soldiers, withdrawn long ago from Caesar’s army because of the Parthian peril; with these Magnus once made good the losses in Gaul, and granted a loan of Roman lives to his kinsman, until he himself should summon them to war.
at te Corfini ualidis circumdata muris
tecta tenent, pugnax Domiti; tua classica seruat
oppositus quondam polluto tiro Miloni. 480
ut procul inmensam campo consurgere nubem
ardentisque acies percussis sole corusco
conspexit telis, ‘socii, decurrite’ dixit
‘fluminis ad ripas undaeque inmergite pontem.
et tu montanis totus nunc fontibus exi 485
atque omnis trahe, gurges, aquas, ut spumeus alnos
discussa conpage feras. hoc limite bellum
haereat, hac hostis lentus terat otia ripa.
praecipitem cohibete ducem: uictoria nobis
hic primum stans Caesar erit.’ nec plura locutus 490
deuoluit rapidum nequiquam moenibus agmen.
nam prior e campis ut conspicit amne soluto
rumpi Caesar iter calida prolat ab ira
‘non satis est muris latebras quaesisse pauori?
obstruitis campos fluuiisque arcere paratis, 495
ignaui? non, si tumido me gurgite Ganges
summoueat, stabit iam flumine Caesar in ullo
post Rubiconis aquas. equitum properate cateruae,
ite simul pedites, ruiturum ascendite pontem.’
haec ubi dicta, leuis totas accepit habenas 500
in campum sonipes, crebroque simillima nimbo
trans ripam ualidi torserunt tela lacerti.
ingreditur pulsa fluuium statione uacantem
Caesar, et ad tutas hostis conpellitur arces.
et iam moturas ingentia pondera turris 505
erigit, et mediis subrepit uinea muris:
ecce, nefas belli, reseratis agmina portis
captiuum traxere ducem, ciuisque superbi
constitit ante pedes. uoltu tamen alta minaci
nobilitas recta ferrum ceruice poposcit. 510
scit Caesar poenamque peti ueniamque timeri.
‘uiue, licet nolis, et nostro munere’ dixit
‘cerne diem. uictis iam spes bona partibus esto
exemplumque mei. uel, si libet, arma retempta,
et nihil hac uenia, si uiceris, ipse paciscor.’ 515
fatur et astrictis laxari uincula palmis
imperat. heu, quanto melius uel caede peracta
parcere Romano potuit fortuna pudori!
poenarum extremum ciui, quod castra secutus
sit patriae Magnumque ducem totumque senatum, 520
ignosci. premit ille grauis interritus iras,
et secum ‘Romamne petes pacisque recessus
degener? in medios belli non ire furores
iam dudum moriture paras? rue certus et omnis
lucis rumpe moras et Caesaris effuge munus.’ 525
But Domitius, eager for battle, lay behind strong walls in the city of Corfinium; and under his command were the men who, as recruits, had been arrayed against bloodstained Milo. When Domitius saw far away a vast cloud of dust rising from the plain, and the glitter of a host whose weapons were struck by the sunlight, “Comrades,” he cried “speed down to the river banks and sink the bridge beneath the water. I call on the stream at once to issue forth in might from its springs in the mountains and bring hither all its waters, to carry down with foaming current the planks of the shattered structure. At this point must the war be stayed; on these banks let the foe waste time in idleness! Check ye his headlong haste; it will be a victory to us if Caesar is first brought to a halt here.” Without another word he hurried the soldiers down from the walls, but in vain. Caesar got the start of him: from the plain he saw that they were letting loose the river to interrupt his march; and in hot anger he cried out: “Cowards! not content with seeking a hiding-place behind walls for your fear, do you barricade the plains and seek to keep me off’ by means of rivers? After crossing the Rubicon, never again will Caesar be stopped by any stream, not even if the Ganges blocked his way with its swollen, flood. Let the squadrons of horse gallop forward and the infantry also advance; and mount the bridge ere it falls.” When thus he spoke, the light horse charged in full gallop across the plain, and strong arms hurled javelins like heavy rain over the bank. Driving back the guard, Caesar occupies the undefended stream, and the enemy are forced back to the safety of the citadel. Next Caesar erects towers to launch huge masses of stone, and the penthouse creeps up to the walls that divide the armies. But see! — abomination of war! — the gates are opened and the soldiers drag their general a prisoner. Domitius halted in the presence of his arrogant equal; yet with threatening mien and neck unbent, his lofty soul demanded death by the sword. But knowing that he sought punishment and feared pardon, Caesar addressed him: “Live on, against your will, and see the sun by my generosity. Be an earnest of hope to your friends when they are conquered, and enable them to judge of me; even, if you choose, draw the sword again; and, if you prove victorious, I make no bargain for myself on the strength of mercy shown to you.” With these words he bids the bonds be loosened from the fettered hands. How much better, if he had been slain outright, would Fortune have respected the honour of a Roman! This surpasses all other penalties, that for joining the army of his country — an army led by Magnus and including the whole Senate — a patriot should be pardoned! Unterrified, Domitius hid his grievous wrath, and thus addressed himself: “Will you, thus disgraced, seek peaceful retirement at Rome? Haste rather to the centre of war’s horrors and die as soon as may be. Speed straight to your mark, snap every tie that binds you to life, and escape Caesar’s generosity!”
nescius interea capti ducis arma parabat
Magnus, ut inmixto firmaret robore partis.
iamque secuturo iussurus classica Phoebo
temptandasque ratus moturi militis iras
adloquitur tacitas ueneranda uoce cohortes. 530
‘o scelerum ultores melioraque signa secuti,
o uere Romana manus, quibus arma senatus
non priuata dedit, uotis deposcite pugnam,
ardent Hesperii saeuis populatibus agri,
Gallica per gelidas rabies ecfunditur Alpes, 535
iam tetigit sanguis pollutos Caesaris enses.
di melius, belli tulimus quod damna priores:
coeperit inde nefas, iam iam me praeside Roma
supplicium poenamque petat. neque enim ista uocari
proelia iusta decet, patriae sed uindicis iram; 540
nec magis hoc bellum est, quam quom Catilina parauit
arsuras in tecta faces sociusque furoris
Lentulus exertique manus uaesana Cethegi.
o rabies miseranda ducis! cum fata Camillis
te, Caesar, magnisque uelint miscere Metellis, 545
ad Cinnas Mariosque uenis. sternere profecto
ut Catulo iacuit Lepidus, nostrasque securis
passus Sicanio tegitur qui Carbo sepulchro,
quique feros mouit Sertorius exul Hiberos.
quamquam, siqua fides, his te quoque iungere, Caesar, 550
inuideo nostrasque manus quod Roma furenti
opposuit. Parthorum utinam post proelia sospes
et Scythicis Crassus uictor remeasset ab oris,
ut simili causa caderes, quoi Spartacus, hosti.
te quoque si superi titulis accedere nostris 555
iusserunt, ualet, en, torquendo dextera pilo,
feruidus haec iterum circa praecordia sanguis
incaluit; disces non esse ad bella fugaces
qui pacem potuere pati. licet ille solutum
defectumque uocet, ne uos mea terreat aetas: 560
dux sit in his castris senior, dum miles in illis.
quo potuit ciuem populus perducere liber
ascendi, supraque nihil nisi regna reliqui.
non priuata cupis, Romana quisquis in urbe
Pompeium transire paras. hinc consul uterque, 565
hinc acies statura ducum est. Caesarne senatus
uictor erit? non tam caeco trahis omnia cursu
teque nihil, Fortuna, pudet. multisne rebellis
Gallia iam lustris aetasque inpensa labori
dant animos? Rheni gelidis quod fugit ab undis 570
Oceanumque uocans incerti stagna profundi
territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis?
an uanae tumuere minae quod fama furoris
expulit armatam patriis e sedibus urbem?
heu demens, non te fugiunt, me cuncta secuntur. 575
qui cum signa tuli toto fulgentia ponto,
ante bis exactum quam Cynthia conderet orbem,
omne fretum metuens pelagi pirata reliquit
angustaque domum terrarum in sede poposcit.
idem per Scythici profugum diuortia ponti 580
indomitum regem Romanaque fata morantem
ad mortem Sulla felicior ire coegi.
pars mundi mihi nulla uacat, sed tota tenetur
terra meis, quocumque iacet sub sole, tropaeis:
hinc me uictorem gelidas ad Phasidos undas 585
Arctos habet, calida medius mihi cognitus axis
Aegypto atque umbras nusquam flectente Syene,
occasus mea iura timent Tethynque fugacem
qui ferit Hesperius post omnia flumina Baetis,
me domitus cognouit Arabs, me Marte feroces 590
Heniochi notique erepto uellere Colchi,
Cappadoces mea signa timent et dedita sacris
incerti Iudaea dei mollisque Sophene,
Armenios Cilicasque feros Taurumque subegi:
quod socero bellum praeter ciuile reliqui?’ 595
Magnus meanwhile, unaware that Domitius had been made prisoner, was taking the field, in order to encourage his adherents by an addition of strength. On the following day he intended to bid his trumpets sound, and now thought fit to test the ardour of his men before they marched. There was silence in the ranks as that august voice addressed them: “Avengers of crime and followers of the rightful standards, Romans indeed, whom the Senate has armed to defend your country, declare now your eagerness for battle. The fields of Italy are on fire with savage devastation, the fury of Gaul is pouring over the wintry Alps, blood has already touched and defiled the swords of Caesar. I thank Heaven that we first have borne the losses of war; be it so! let the wickedness begin with the other side; but now must Rome, under my leadership, demand the penalty and inflict the punishment. For the battles you must fight should not be called battles but the wrath and vengeance of our country. This is not war, any more than it was when brands to burn our houses were prepared by Catiline, and by Lentulus, his partner in wickedness, and by the frantic hand of Cethegus — the man of the naked arm. What pitiable madness is Caesar’s! Though Fortune is ready to raise him to the height of a Camillus or great Metellus, he joins the ranks of such as Marius and Cinna. His defeat is certain, just as Lepidus was overthrown by Catulus, and as Carbo, who now lies in a Sicilian grave, was beheaded by my orders; and so Sertorius fell, who in exile stirred the fierce Spaniards to war. And yet, upon my honour, I am loth to couple Caesar even with these, and I grieve that Rome has set my arm to stop his madness. Would that Crassus had returned after battle with the Parthians alive and victorious from the borders of Scythia, that Caesar, not less guilty than Spartacus, might be overthrown by the same antagonist. But if Heaven has ordained that he too should add to my fame, see! this right hand has strength to hurl the pilum, the blood about this heart has kindled to a glow once again; he shall learn that men who were able to put up with peace are no cowards in war. Though he call me feeble and worn out, you must not be disquieted by my age: that I am older than Caesar matters not, provided his soldiers are older than mine. I have risen as high as a free people could exalt a citizen, and above me nothing remains save tyranny. Whoever schemes to rise above Pompey in the Roman State covets too much for a mere subject. On my side both consuls will take their stand, and on my side an army made up of generals. Shall Caesar defeat the Senate? No! Fortune does not bring on the course of events so blindly; she is not so utterly shameless. What emboldens Caesar? Is it Gaul, which twice five years have not tamed? Is it a lifetime devoted to the task? Is it because he fled from the cold waters of Rhine, and gave the name of Ocean to the pools of a sea that was neither sea nor land, and turned his back in panic to the Britons whom he went out of his way to attack? Or have his idle threats risen high, because the report of his madness has driven the people forth in arms from their native city? Poor madman! It is not you before whom all things flee, but I whom all things follow. When I bore the standards that shone over all the sea, before the moon had twice filled out her disk and hidden it again, the pirates, scared from the sea and abandoning every creek, begged for a narrow plot of dry land to live on. Again, when the indomitable king obstructed Rome’s destiny, I drove him in flight along the isthmus of the Scythian sea; and I, more fortunate than Sulla, forced him to die. No part of the world have I left untouched: the whole earth, beneath whatever clime it lies, is occupied by my trophies. On one side, the North knows my victories by the icy waters of the Phasis; the torrid zone is known to me in sultry Egypt and Syene where the shadows fall perpendicular; my power is dreaded in the West, and where Spanish Baetis, remotest of all rivers, beats back the ebbing tide. The Arab owns me his conqueror; so do the warlike Heniochi, and the Colchians famous for the fleece they were robbed of. My standards overawe Cappadocia, and Judaea given over to the worship of an unknown god, and effeminate Sophene; I subdued the Armenians, the fierce Cilicians, and the range of Taurus. I have left my kinsman no war to wage, except civil war.” The general’s speech was followed by no applause from his supporters, nor did his men demand at once the signal for the promised battle. Magnus himself was conscious of their fear; and it was decided to recall the standards, rather than expose to the hazard of a decisive engagement an army already beaten by the rumour of Caesar before they saw him. When a bull is driven from the herd by his first defeat, he seeks the recesses of the forest, or spends his solitary banishment in the fields; there he tests his horns upon the tree-trunks for opponents; nor does he return to the pasture till he has recovered strength and approves of his starting muscles; but when he has conquered his rival and got back his herd, he leads them, accompanied by the bulls, to what glades he will, and defies the herdsman. Thus Pompey surrendered Italy to his stronger rival, and fled through the open country of Apulia till he found a safe retreat in the fortress of Brundisium.
verba ducis nullo partes clamore secuntur
nec matura petunt promissae classica pugnae.
sensit et ipse metum Magnus, placuitque referri
signa nec in tantae discrimina mittere pugnae
iam uictum fama non uisi Caesaris agmen. 600
pulsus ut armentis primo certamine taurus
siluarum secreta petit uacuosque per agros
exul in aduersis explorat cornua truncis
nec redit in pastus, nisi cum ceruice recepta
excussi placuere tori, mox reddita uictor 605
quoslibet in saltus comitantibus agmina tauris
inuito pastore trahit, sic uiribus inpar
tradidit Hesperiam profugusque per Apula rura
Brundisii tutas concessit Magnus in arces.
Of yore this city was occupied by men of Dicte — Cretan exiles, who were borne across the sea on Athenian ships with the sails that falsely told that Theseus had been conquered. At this point Italy grows narrow, and her straitened border puts forth a slender tongue of land into the sea — a tongue which encloses waters of the Adriatic within curving horns. Yet the water that makes its way through the narrow entrance would be no harbour, but for an island, which confronts the fierce northern gales with a barrier of rock and repels the wearied waves. On both sides Nature has set masses of craggy cliff to meet the open sea, and has kept off the blasts, that ships might ride there at anchor, content with a swaying cable. From here all the sea is visible far and wide, whether the ship is bound for the ports of Corcyra or turns to the left, where Illyrian Epidamnos slopes down towards the Ionian sea. Here the mariner takes refuge, when the Adriatic puts forth all its might, when the Ceraunian mountains are lost in cloud, and when Sason in Calabria is drenched with spray.
