LUCAN'S PHARSALIA.

BOOK V.

THE ARGUMENT.

In Epirus the confuls affemble the fenate, who unanimoufly appoint Pompey general of the war against Cæfar, and decree public thanks to the feveral princes and ftates who affifted the commonwealth. Appius, at that time prætor of Achaia, confults the Oracle of Delphos, concerning the event of the civilwar. And, upon this occafion, the poet goes into a digreffion concerning the origin, the manner of the delivery, and the prefent filence of that oracle. From Spain, Cæfar returns into Italy, where he quells a mutiny in his army, and punishes the of fenders. From Placentia, where this diforder happened, he orders them to march to Brundufium; where, after a short turn to Rome, and affuming the confulfhip, or rather the fupreme power, he joins them himself. From Brundufium, though it was then the middle of winter, he tranfports part of his army by fea to Epirus, and lands at Palæfte. Pompey, who then lay about Candavia, hearing of Cæfar's arrival, and being in pain for Dyrrachium, marched that way: On the banks of the river Apfus, they met and incamped clofe together. Cæfar was not yet joined by that part of his troops which he had left behind him at Brundufium, under the command of Mark Anthony; and being uneafy at his delays leaves his camp by night, and ventures over a tempestuous fea in a small bark to haften the tranfport. Upon Cæfar joining his forces together, Pompey perceived that the war would now probably be foon decided by a battle; and upon that confideration, refolved to fend his wife to expect the event at Lefbos. Their parting, which is extremely moving, concludes this book.

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,THUS

THUS,

HUS, equal fortune holds a while the fcale,
And bids the leading chiefs by turns prevail;
In doubt the goddess, yet, their fate detains,
And keeps them for Emathia's fatal plains.
And now the setting Pleiades grew low,
The hills food hoary in December's fnow;
The folemn feafon was approaching near,
When other names renew'd the Fafli wear,
And double Janus leads the coming year.
The confuls, while their rods they yet remain'd,
While, yet, fome fhew of liberty maintain'd,
With miffives round the fcatter'd fathers greet,
And in Epirus bid the fenate meet.
There the great rulers of the Roman state,
In foreign feats, confulting, meanly fate.
No face of war the grave affembly wears,
But civil power in peaceful pomp appears:
The purple order to their place refort,
While waiting lictors guard the crouded court.
No faction thefe, nor party, seem to be,
But a full fenate, legal, juft, and free.

Great, as he is, here Pompey ftands confeft

A private man, and one among the relt.

Their mutual groans, at length, and murmurs cease,

And every mournful found is hush'd in peace;
When from the confular diftinguish'd throne,
Sublimely rais'd, thus Lentulus begun.

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If yet our Roman virtue is the fame,

Yet worthy of the race from which we came,
And emulates our great forefathers name,

Let

Let not our thoughts, by fad remembrance led,
Bewail thofe captive walls from whence we fled.
This time demands that to ourselves we turn,
Nor, fathers, have we leisure now to mourn;
But let each early care, each honeft heart,
Our fenate's facred dignity affert.
To all around proclaim it, wide, and near,
That power which kings obey, and nations fear,
That only legal power of Rome, is here.
For whether to the Northern Bear we go,
Where pale fhe glitters o'er eternal snow;
- Or whether in thofe fultry climes we burn,
Where night and day with equal hours return;
The world shall still acknowledge us its head,
And empire follow wherefoe'er we lead.
When Gallic flames the burning city felt,
At Veiæ Rome with her Camillus dwelt.
Beneath forfaken roofs proud Cæfar reigns,
Our vacant courts, and filent laws constrains;
While flaves obedient to his tyrant will,
Outlaws, and profligates, his fenate fill ;
With him a banish'd guilty croud appear,
All that are juft and innocent are here.

Difpers'd by war, though guiltless of its crimes,
Our order yielded to these impious times;

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At length returning each from his retreat,
In happy hour the scatter'd members meet.
The gods and fortune greet us on the way,
And with the world loft Italy repay.
Upon Illyria's favourable coast,

Vulteius with his furious band are loft;

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While in bold Curio, on the Libyan plain,
One half of Cæfar's fenators lie flain.

March then, ye warriors! fecond fate's design,
And to the leading gods your ardour join,
With equal conftancy to battle come,

is near,

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As when you shunn'd the foe, and left your native Rome.
The period of the confuls power
Who yield our Fafces with the ending year:
But you, ye fathers, whom we still obey,
Who rule mankind with undetermin'd sway,
Attend the public weal, with faithful care,
And bid our greatest Pompey lead the war.

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In loud applaufe the pleas'd affembly join,
And to the glorious task the chief affign:
His country's fate they trust to him alone,
And bid him fight Rome's battles, and his own.
Next, to their friends their thanks are dealt around,
And some with gifts, and some with praise are crown'd:
Of these, the chief are Rhodes, by Phœbus lov'd,
And Sparta rough, in virtue's lore approv'd.
Of Athens much they speak; Maffilia's aid
Is with her parent Phocis' freedom paid.
Deiotarus his truth they much commend,
Their ftill unfhaken faithful Afian friend.
Brave Cotys and his valiant fon they grace,
With bold Rhafipolis from stormy Thrace.
While gallant Juba justly is decreed
To his paternal fceptre to fucceed.

And thou too, Ptolemy, (unrighteous fate!)
Wert rais'd unworthy to the regal state

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The