ROWE'S

LUC A N.

VOLUME II.

THE SIX LAST BOOKS.

FOR IBRARY

NEW-YORK

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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 states who affifted the commonwealth. Appius, at that time prætor of Achaia, confults the Oracle of Delphos, concerning the event of the civil war. 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 offenders. From Placentia, where this diforder happened, he orders them to march to Brundufium; where, after a fhort 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 tempeftuous 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 consideration, resolved to fend his wife to expect the event at Lesbos. Their parting, which is extremely moving, concludes this book.

THUS

HUS, equal fortune holds a while the scale,
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 ftood hoary in December's fnow;
The folemn feafon was approaching near,
When other names renew'd the Fafti 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 ftate,
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 resort,
While waiting lictors guard the crouded court.
No faction thefe, nor party, feem 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 reft.

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