Cæfar commands to arm. Without delay
The foldier to the river bends his way;
None then with cautious care the bridge explor'd,
Or fought the shallows of the fafer ford;
Arm'd at all points, they plunge amidst the flood, 235
And with strong finews make the paffage good:
Dangers they scorn that might the bold affright,
And ftop ev'n panting cowards in their flight.
At length the farther bank attaining safe,
Chill'd by the stream, their dropping limbs they chafe :
Then with fresh vigour urge the foes pursuit,
And in the sprightly chace the powers of life recruit.
Thus they; till half the course of life was run,
And leffening fhadows own'd the noon-day fun;
The fliers now a doubtful fight maintain,
While the fleet horse in squadrons scour the plain;
The stragglers fcattering round they force to yield,
And gather up the gleanings of the field.
'Midst a wide plain two lofty rocks arife,
Between the cliffs an humble valley lies;
Long rows of ridgy mountains run behind,
Where ways obscure and secret paffes wind.
But Cæfar, deep within his thought, forefees
The foes attempt the covert ftrong to feize:
So may their troops at leisure range afar,
And to the Celtiberians lead the war.
Be quick, (he cries) nor minding just array,
Swift, to the combat, wing your speedy way.
Sce! where yon cowards to the faftness hafte,
But let your terrors in their way be plac'd:
Pierce not the fearful backs of those that fly,
But on your meeting javelins let them die.
He faid. The ready legions took the word,
And hastily obey their eager lord;
With diligence the coming fee prevent,
And stay their marches, to the mountains bent.
Near neighbouring now the camps intrench'd are feen, With scarce a narrow interval between.
Soon as their eyes o'erfhoot the middle space,
From either hofts, fires, fons, and brothers trace
The well-known features of fome kindred face.
Then first their hearts with tenderness were ftruck,
First with remorfe for civil rage they fhook ;
Stiffening with horror cold, and dire amaze,
Awhile in filent interviews they gaze:
Anon with speechlefs figns their fwords falute,
While thoughts conflicting keep their masters mute.
At length, difdaining still to be represt,
Prevailing paffion rofe in every breast,
And the vain rules of guilty war tranfgrefs'd.
As at a signal, both their trenches quit,
And spreading arms in close embraces knit :
Now friendship runs o'er all her ancient claims,
Gueft and companion are their only names;
Old neighbourhood they fondly call to mind,
And how their boyish years in leagues were join'd.
With grief each other mutually they know,
And find a friend in every Roman foe.
Their falling tears their steely arms bedew,
While interrupting fighs each kifs pursue ;
And though their hands are yet unftain'd by guilt,
They tremble for the blood they might have spilt.
But fpeak, unhappy Roman! fpeak thy pain,
Say for what woes thy streaming eyes complain?
Why doft thou groan? why beat thy founding breast? 295
Why is this wild fantastic grief exprest ?
Is it, that yet thy country claims thy care?
Doft thou the crimes of war unwillig fhare?
Ah! whither art thou by thy fears betray'd?
How canft thou dread that power thyself haft made? 300
Do Cæfar's trumpets call thee? fcorn the found.
Does he bid, march? dare thou to keep thy ground.
So rage and flaughter fhall to justice yield,
And fierce Erinnys quit the fatal field :
Cæfar in peace a private ftate fhall know,
And Pompey be no longer call'd his foe.
Appear, thou heavenly Concord! bleft appear!
And shed thy better influences here.
Thou who the warring elements dost bind,
Life of the world, and safety of mankind,
Infuse thy fovereign balm, and heal the wrathful mind.
But if the fame dire fury rages yet,
Too well they know what foes their swords shall meet;
No blind pretence of ignorance remains,
The blood they fhed muft flow from Roman veins. 315
Oh!--fatal truce! the brand of guilty Rome!
From thee worfe wars and redder flaughters come.
See! with what free and unfufpecting love,
From camp to camp the jocund warriors rove;
Each to his turfy table bids his guest,
And Bacchus crowns the hospitable feast.
The graffy fires refulgent lend their light,
While converfation fleepless waftes the night :
Of early feats of arms, by turns they tell,
Of fortunes that in various fields befell,
With well-becoming pride their deeds relate,
And now agree, and friendly now debate :
At length their unaufpicious hands are join'd,
And facred leagues with faith renew'd they bind.
But oh what worfe could cruel fate afford!
The furies fmil'd upon the curft accord,
And dy'd with deeper ftains the Roman fword.
By bufy fame Petreius foon is told,
His camp, himself, to Cæfar all are fold;
When ftraight the chief indignant calls to arm,
And bids the trumpet fpread the loud alarm
With war encompafs'd round he takes his way,
And breaks the fhort-liv'd truce with fierce affray;
He drives th' unarm'd and unfufpecting gueft,
Amaz'd, and wounded, from th' unfinish'd feaft; 340
With horrid fteel he cuts each fond embrace,
And violates with blood the new-made peace.
And left the fainting flames of wrath expire,
With words like thefe he fans the deadly fire..
Ye herd! unknowing of the Roman worth,
And loft to the great caufe which led you forth
Though victory and captive Cæfar were
Honours too glorious for your fwords to fhare;
Yet fomething, abject as you are, from you,
Something to virtue and the laws is due :
A fecond praife ev'n yet you may partake!
Fight, and be vanquish'd for your country's fake.
Can you, while fate as yet fufpends our doom,
While you have blood and lives to lofe for Rome,
Can you with tame fubmission seek a lord;
And own a cause by men and gods abhor'd?
Will you in lowly wife his mercy crave?
Can foldiers beg to wear the name of flave?
Would you for us your
fuit to Cæfar move?
Know we difdain his pardoning power to prove: 360
No private bargain fhall redeem this head :
For Rome, and not for us, the war was made.
Though peace a specious poor pretence afford,
Bafenefs and bondage lurk beneath the word.
In vain the workmen fearch the steely mine
To arm the field, and bid the battle shine;
In vain e fortrefs lifts her towery height;
In vain the warlike steed provokes the fight;
In vain our oars the foamy ocean sweep;
In vain our floating caftles hide the deep;
In vain by land, in vain by sea we fought,
If peace shall e'er with liberty be bought.
See! with what conftancy, what gallant pride,
Our ftedfaft foes defend an impious fide!
Bound by their oaths, though enemies to good,
They scorn to change from what they once have vow'd. While each vain breath your flackening faith with
Yours! who pretend to arm for Rome and laws,
Who find no fault, but Juftice in your cause.
And yet, methinks, I would not give you o'er,
A brave repentance still is in your power :
While Pompey calls the utmost east from far,
And leads the Indian monarchs on to war.
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