The second Punick vvar betwwen Hannibal, and the Romanes the whole seventeen books, Englished from the Latine of Silius Italicus : with a continuation from the triumph of Scipio, to the death of Hannibal / by Tho. Ross ...

SILIUS ITALICUS OF The Second Punick VVar. The Eighth Book.

THE ARGUMENT.

By Juno sent, to ease His present Cares, The Goddess Anne, to Hannibal repairs: By whose Advice, to Cannae He removes. Elected by the People, Varro proves A Fatal Consul, the Delaies upbraids Of Fabius: A List of all the Aids, That with the Romanes joyn. The Army goes To Cannae: Fabius Counsel's to oppose Rash Varro. What sad Prodigies foreshow In Heaven, and Earth, the Romanes Overthrow.

NOW Fabius, the first, that made them see The flying Backs of Cadmus (a) Progeny, Was by the Romane Camp, and Souldiers all, Their common Parent stil'd: by Hannibal, His onely Fo. Impatient of Delay, The Libyan raves. For that, to have a Day Of Battel, the Dictatour's Death must be Expected, and the Aid of Destiny Was to be Wish'd: for while in Arms he stood, While Fabius liv'd, to hope for Trojan Blood, Was vain. For now the Souldiers brought again Their Eagles, and, united, all remain

Under his sole Command. With him alone He must again contend: and what upon His Thoughts lay heaviest, was, that, by Delay, He took the Fury of the War away; And, by his Art of sitting still, had made The Plenty of the Tyrian Army fade. And, though an End, by Fighting, could not be Obtain'd, or Battel, he his Enemy Had by his Conduct lately overcome. Besides, the boasting Celtae towards Home Began to look: a People of a light, Unconstant Minde: Fierce, at the first, in Fight; But, if withstood, soon quell'd. They griev'd to see A War should be maintain'd, from Slaughter free: (A thing to them unknown) and while they stood In Arms, their Hands were stiff, and dry from Blood. To add to this, an inward Grief, and Wound Of civil Envy, did his Thoughts confound; For Hanno, thwarting all he did intend At Home, would not permit the Senate send, (b) To his Assistance, any Aids at all. Torn with these Cares, and fearing now the Fall Of his Affairs; Iuno, who knew the Fate Of Cannae, and with future things elate, Him with fresh Hopes of Arms, and War inspires, And fills his Thoughts, again, with mad Desires. For (c) Anna, call'd from the Laurentine Lakes, In this mild Language her Instructions takes. There is a Youth, in Blood ally'd to Thee, Call'd Hannibal, and from our Belus he His Noble Name derives: make Haste away, And the rude Surges of his Cares allay; Shake Fabius from his Thoughts, who is alone The Stop, that Italie's not overthrown.

Fabius is now dismiss'd, with Varro he Hereafter must contend; the War must be With Varro wag'd. Let him not wanting prove To Fate, but quickly all his Ensigns move: I will be present; let him haste away To th' Iapygian Plains: there Trebia, And Thrasimonus Fates shall meet again. Anna a Neighbour to the Gods, that reign In those chast Woods, thus answers. It would be Unjust in Me, should I delay (said She) Your great Commands; but yet permit, I pray, The Favours, to my antient Countrey, may With Caution be retain'd; and that the Will, And Charge, of my dear Sister I fulfill. Though Anna be esteem'd Divine, among The Latine Deities, yet Time with long Ambages, turning, in Obscurity Hath drown'd the Reason of Antiquity; Why Temples the Ausonians should ordain To Tyrian Pow'rs: Or why, where Trojans reign, Eliza's Sister should be there ador'd. But, keeping close to Time, I will record What antient Fame reports; and, briefly, all The Story tell, from its Original. When Tyrian Dido, by her Trojan Guest, Forsaken was, and all her Hopes supprest: Within a secret Place, in Haste, with Cares, And Love, distract, a Fun'ral Pyle she rears; Then takes the Sword (that fatal Gift) that by (d) Her Husband fled was giv'n, resolv'd to dy: When strait Hyarbas, whom before She had Rejected, as a Lover, doth invade Her Kingdom, and his Arms, Victorious (while Her Ashes yet were warm) fix'd to the Pyle.

Who durst, while thus the Nomades fierce King Prevail'd, to their Distress, Assistance bring? Battus, by Chance, the Reins of Chief Command Over(e) Cyrene, with a gentle Hand Then held: this Battus was by Nature Kind, And Humane Chances easily inclin'd With Tears, to pity, and, at first, when Anne A Suppliant before Him came, began The fickle State of Kings to apprehend, And to relieve her, did his Hand extend. Here She two Harvests pass'd, but could no more Enjoy the Aid of Battus, and that Store His Bounty did afford: for then a Fame Was spread, Pygmalion to her Ruine came By Sea. She therefore from that Kingdom flies, And (as if hated by the Deities, And no less hatefull to her self, that She Her Sister's Death, did not accompany) By fatal Tempests, on the Sea, was tost, Till, with torn Sails, to the Laurentine Coast, She driven was, and, sadly Ship-wrack'd, there A Stranger to the People, Soil, and Air, A fearfull Tyrian stood, on Latine ground. When now behold Aeneas, having crown'd His Labours with a Kingdom, to the Place By Chance, with young Iülus came: His Face She quickly knew, and when he spy'd her there, Her Eys fix'd on the Earth, and full of Fear, Faln prostrate at Iülus Feet, whose Eys O'reflow'd with Pity, helping her to rise, To's House, he with a gentle Hand convey'd, And when, with kind Reception, he'd allay'd Her Fears of Danger, with a pensive Care, Desir'd unhappy Dido's Fate to hear.

Then she, with Language fitted for the Time, And Tears her Words protracting, thus to him The Story told. Thou Goddess-born, alone, Wert the true Cause, my Sister, both her Throne And Life enjoy'd: her Death, and Fun'ral Fire (Alass that I, in it, did not expire) Can witness this: for when She could no more Behold thy Face, sometimes upon the Shore She sate, sometimes she stood, and, as her Eys Pursu'd the Winds, with loud, and mournfull Cries Aeneas call'd, and onely begg'd, that she Might in the Vessel bear thee Company. Soon after, troubled in her Thoughts, again She to her Marriage-Chamber runs amain, Where, as she enters, she is seiz'd with such A sudden Trembling, that she dares not touch Her Nuptial Bed: then, mad with her Embrace, The starry Image of I••lus Face She hugs, then Thine; on which, at length, she dwells With fixed Eys, and her sad Story tells To Thee, and hopes an Answer to obtain. But, when Love lai'd all Hopes aside, again The House she quits, and flies unto the Shore, Hoping the shifting Winds might Thee restore. At length, fallacious Levity invites Her, ev'n to Magick Arts, and the dire Rites Of the Massilian Nation to descend. But Oh! What wicked Errours do attend Such Prophets! while they Stygian Pow'rs allure From Hell, and promise to her Wounds a Cure. What a sad Act did I, deceiv'd the while, Behold! She throws upon the horrid Pyle All Monuments, and fatal Gifts by Thee On her bestow'd. With that thus lovingly

He interrupts her; By this Land I swear (Which in my Wishes you did often hear) By mild I••lus Head (to Her, and Thee Once held so dear) I most unwillingly, Oft looking back, and troubled in my Mind, Your Kingdom left. Nor had I then declin'd My Marriage-Bed, had I not threatned bin By Mercury, who with his Hand Me in The Cabine plac'd, and drove into the Sea, With furious Winds, the flying Ship away. But why (though all Advice is now too late) Did you permit, at such a Time as that, That She, without a Guard, in Love should be So Furious? In broken Murmurs she (Among her many Sighs) to this replies, With trembling Lips. I then a Sacrifice To Stygian Iove, and his Infernal Queen, To try, if my poor Sister might have been Eas'd in her Love-sick Mind, prepar'd, and to The Altars, with all Diligence, I drew The coal-black Lambs, with mine own Hand: for I, The Night before, was fill'd with Horrour, by A Dream: for thrice my Sister call'd on you With a loud Voice, thrice on Sychaeus; who, Leaping for Joy, with a most chearfull Face (I thought) appear'd. But, while I strove to chace These Fancies from my Mind, and, as the Day Began, that what I saw, might prosper, pray The Gods; She, Frantick, runs unto the Shore, And on the silent Sands, where you before Had stood, her frequent Kisses fix'd, and prest Your Foot-steps with a kind embracing Breast: As Mothers, late deprived of their Sons, Their Ashes hugg. From thence away she runs,

Like a rude Bacchinal) her Hair displai'd, To that high Pile, which she before had made, Of a vast Bulk, from whence she might explore All Carthage-City, with the Seas, and Shore. Then putting on the Phrygian Robe, and Chain, Enrich'd with Gems, when she to Mind, again, Had call'd the Day, wherein she first had seen These Presents, and the Banquets, that had been At your Arrival made, and how the long Labours of Troy you told, while on your Tongue, With Pity, her still-listning Ear depends; Then to the Port her weeping Eys she bends; And, Off'ring to the Gods, in Death, her Hair, Thus speaks. Ye Gods of lasting Night! who are By our approaching Death much Greater made, Be Present, I beseech you! and my Shade, O'recome with Love, and weary, now of Life, Receive, with kind Aspect, Aeneas Wife, And Venus Daughter; who t' avenge the Guilt Of my Sychaeus Death, these Tow'rs have built Of lofty Carthage: now the Shade to you Of that great Body come. My Husband (who Was fam'd for his kind Love) perhaps Me there Expects, and would renew his former Care. This said, the Sword (that fatal Sword!) which she Thought a sure Pledg of Dardane Love to be, Into her Breast she thrusts; her Servants, who Beheld her, with sad Cries, and Shreeking, through The Palace run. The Noise, unhappy, I Receive, and, frighted to the Palace, fly. Like one distracted, with my Hands, my Face I tear, and strive to climb up to the Place. Thrice, with that Sword, I thought my self to kill, As oft I, sounding, on my Sister fell.

But, when the Rumour of her Fate was spread Through all the Neighb'ring Cities, thence I fled To fam'd Cyrene, and, by Fate still cross'd, From thence upon your Coast, by Tempests toss'd, I now am cast. The Trojan Prince, inclin'd To Tears at this, resolv'd to be more kind To Her: and now all Sadness, Grief, and Care, Was lai'd aside, and Anne no longer there A Stranger seem'd to be. But, when the Night All things by Sea, and Land, had cover'd quite, Her Sister Dido seem'd with sad Aspect, These Words to Her, then sleeping, to direct. Can'st Thou (Oh Sister!) can'st Thou long endure Within this Family (Oh too secure!) T' indulge Thy self to Rest? And dost not see What dangers Thee surround? what Plots 'gainst Thee Are lai'd? Or dost Thou not, yet, understand How fatal to Thy Kindred, and Thy Land The Trojans are? So long as Sphears above, With Rapid Turning-round, the Stars shall move, And with her Brother's Light the Moon shall shine, Upon the Earth between the Trojan Line, And Tyrians, there shall be no Peace: Arise, Be gone from hence, Lavinia's Jealousies Now secret Plots contrive, and in her Minde Something of Mischeif 'gainst Thee is design'd. Beside (nor think that this is but a Dream) Hard by, Numîcus, with a gentle Stream, From a small Fountain, through a Valley flows: Hast quickly thither, and Thyself dispose To Safety; there the Nymphs, with Joy, shall Thee Receive into the Flood, and Thou shalt be, In Italy, Eternally Ador'd A Goddess. And, as Dido spake that Word,

She vanish'd into Air. Anne, frighted by These Prodigies, awakes; and instantly, Through Fear, cold Sweat o're all her Limbs is spread. Then, clad with a thin Garment, from her Bed She leaps, and through a Window, that was low, Into the open Fields doth, speedy, go: Untill Numîcus in his sandy Waves Receiv'd, and hid her in his Chrystal Caves. Now, when through all the World its Beams the Day Had spread, and in the Trojan Chambers they The Tyrian Lady miss'd, with Cries through all The Latian Fields they run, and Anna call. At length Her Footsteps to th' Neighb'ring Flood They follow, and, as there they Wond'ring stood, The River from his Chanel strait expell'd The Stream, and in the Bottom they beheld 'Mong the Coerulean Sisters, Anne, who broke Silence, and to the Trojans kindly spoke. Since that, when first the Year begins, is She Divinely worshipp'd through all Italy. When to this Fight that did so fatal prove To Italy, the spightfull Wife of Iove Had Her instructed, in her Chariot, light, Up to the Stars again she takes her Flight, Hoping full Draughts of Trojan Blood she may At length receive. The Lesser to obey The greater Goddess hasts, and strait to all, Besides, unseen, repairs to Hannibal. Sequestred from all Company, alone She finds Him, sadly ruminating on The dubious Event of His Affairs, And War, with anxious Sighs; to ease His Cares With this kind Language She salutes Him. Why (Most Mighty King of Cadmus Progeny)

Dost Thou persist to vex Thy self with Care? Know, that the angry Gods appeased are To Thee: and now an Eye of Favour cast On th' Agenorides. Away, make haste; Draw Thy Marmarick Forces out to fight. The Fasces now are chang'd, and Fabius quite, By a Decree of Senate, now hath lai'd The War, and Arms, aside: it may be said, With a Flaminius Thou hast now to do. Me the great Wife of Iove (nor doubt it True) To Thee hath sent, I, in th' Oenotrian Land Religiously ador'd, a Goddess stand, Sprang from Your Belus Blood. Then quickly go, And all the Thunder of War's Fury throw, Where high Garganus doth it self display Through I••pygian Fields unto the Sea; The Place is not far distant, thither all Thy Ensigns bear; that Rome, at length, may fall. This Victory shall Libya suffice. This said, into the Clouds again She flies. By these Assurances, of promis'd Praise, Doth Hannibal His Thoughts dejected raise: Great Nymph (said He) the Glory of Our Line; Then whom by Us no Goddess more Divine Is held! most happy with such Tidings fraught! Thee (after I victoriously have fought) At Carthage, in a Marble Temple, I Will place, and, in her Statue, Dido, nigh To Thee, shall be ador'd. This said, He then, Full of glad Thoughts, thus animates his Men. Now all your tedious Cares, your Sense of ill, And slow-tormenting Pains of sitting-still (My Souldiers) lay aside. We have appeas'd The Wrath of Heav'n, the Gods with Us are pleas'd.

Hence is it, that I Fabius can declare Discharg'd of his Command: the Fasces are In other Hands. Now let Me see those great, And valiant Acts, which oft, with so much Heat, You promis'd, when excluded from the Fight. Behold! a Libyan Deity, this Night, Hath promis'd greater things, then We have done. Then pull Your Ensigns up, let Us march on After the Goddess, and that Land invade, That, by the Name of Diomed, was made Most fatal to the Phrygians. While they, Encourag'd thus, to Arpos march'd away, Varro, by stoln Plebeian Voices made A Consul, who the (f) Rostra did invade With Tyranny, opens a spacious Gate To Ruin, and draws on the Citie's Fate. This Fellow, basely born, his Parent's Name Unknown, into the (g) Forum, Bawling, came With an immodest Tongue, and made by Bribes, And Rapine rich, humour'd th' inconstant Tribes, By railing at the Senate, and so far Prevail'd in Rome, then shaken by the War; That He (by whom, had he with Victory Return'd, it had been Shame for Italy To be preserv'd) of all Affairs the Weight Assum'd; sole Arbiter of her great Fate. Him 'mong the Fabii, and those Names renown'd In War, the Scipios, and Marcellus crown'd With Spoils to Iove, blind Suffrages (a Stain) Plac'd in the (h) Fasti, while the Love of Gain, And (i) Mars's Field, a greater Mischief bred For Cannae, then the Arms of Diomed. He, as he was Seditious, busie still To foment Envy, and devoid of Skill

To plead, so was he weak in Martial Arts, And neither fam'd for Courage, nor for Parts To manage such Affairs, hop'd yet, among The Valiant, to be honour'd for his Tongue, And from the Rostra urgeth for a Fight. When therefore to the People, full of Spight, (k) He had upbraided Fabius for Delay, Against the Senate too this boasting Plea He undertakes: (l)Quirites! You to whom Belongs the chief Command, to you I come, Your Consul, for Commission now to Fight. Shall I sit still, or, wandring o're the Height Of Hills, beneath me Garamantians see, And parched Moors to share in Italy? Or shall I use that Sword, which now I wear, Giv'n by your Suffrage. Good Dictatour, hear What 'tis the Martial People now command. It is their Will, that the Ausonian Land Be eas'd of Libya's War, and of the Fo. Do they to War precipitately go; Who, having suffer'd much, now the third Year, With saddest Miseries consum'd appear? Hast then, take Arms, brave men; your sole Delay To Triumph, is a little March. That Day, Which first shews you the Fo, shall overthrow The Senate and the Libyan War. Then go With Speed; I, bound in Latian Fetters, through The City Hannibal, in Fabius View, Will lead. This boasting said, out at the Gates, Rushing to Arms, he, strait, precipitates: Like one, that unacquainted with the Arts To guide a Chariot, from the Barriers starts; Gives the full Reins with one, with to'ther Hand The Whip imploys, while he doth tott'ring stand

Unequal to the Steeds: the Axel-tree, Press'd by th' ill-turning Wheels, appears to be On fire, and smoaks: the Chariot to, and fro, Is toss'd; with it the Reins, entangled, flow. Paulus, (who then for Peace, and War, was joyn'd His Colleague) well perceiv'd the State inclin'd To Ruin, and, by his unhappy Sway, Its Strength, and Glory quickly would decay. But the unconstant Fury of the rude, And troubled People, and a (m) Wound renew'd Fresh in his Memory, Complaints supprest, And kept his swelling Griefs within his Breast. For when, in younger Years, he had subdu'd Illyrium, the envious Multitude Upon his Conquest foul Aspersions cast, And, with unjust Reports, his Laurel blast. Thence of the cruel People he did bear Still in his Mind a Rev'rential Fear. But, to the Gods ally'd, his Pedigree From Heav'n, by fam'd Progenitours, might be Deriv'd. His Chief, Amulius, could prove Assaracus his Ancestour; he, Iove. And none deny'd, who Him in Arms had seen, That that His great Original had been. To Him, as then he was about to take The Field, and quit the Town, thus Fabius spake. If that thy greatest War thou dost believe To be with Hannibal, thou wilt deceive Thy Countrey, Paulus (I am loth my Minde To speak thus freely) but, Im'e sure, thou'lt finde, Within the Camp, worse Conflicts, and a Fo More fierce, or I, in vain, have sought to know Events of War so long. I lately heard Him promise (and, if I the Ruins fear'd,

That we shall suffer, I could weary be Of Life, and my old Age) so soon as He Could see him, he would fight the prosp'rous Fo. Oh Paulus, should the eager Libyan know This Speech, how near would our Destruction be! I do believe, that now the Enemy Stands ready in the Plain, and hopes to finde Another Consul, of Flaminius Mind, To fall into his Hands. What men wil•• Thou Provoke, mad Varro? Or, unskilfull, how Canst thou, forthwith, their Camp, and Arms before Discover? and, by thy Delays, explore, How much the Customs of the Fo may Thee Avail? How great his Magazine may be? Or what the Place's Nature? Thou their kind Of Weapons soon wilt know, and Fortune finde Standing on all their Points. Paulus, thy just Resolves to all his devious Courses must Opposed be: if it be just in him T' afflict his Countrey, can it be a Crime In Thee to save it? Hannibal is now Straitned for Victuals: His Associates grow Now weary of his Friendship, since the Heat Of War's allai'd: here He finds no Retreat To better Quarters: here no Cities are, To whose Fidelity he can repair. Nor can he here recrui•• his Youth again: (n) Scarce a third part of all those men remain, That with him from Iberus came: Oh then Continue firm, and to our Wounds, agen The Med'cine of a Cautious War apply. If in the mean time Th' art invited by Any propitious Air, and Heav'n approve; Near to thy better Fortune quickly move.

Paulus, with Sadness, briefly thus again Answers. This Piety shall still remain With me: thy Minde (unconquer'd General) Against the Libyan I'le still bear. Withall, I know there is such Reason to with-hold From Fight, that Hannibal, now waxing old, Through thy Delays, perceivs the War to be Almost suppress'd, and at a Stand: but see The sad Displeasure! see the Wrath of Heav'n! One Consul (I believe) to Rome is giv'n To 'ther to Carthage: He draws with Him all Affairs, and madly fears, that Rome should fall By any other Hand, then by His own: She, cruel, from the Tyrian Senate, none Could more destructive choose: no Warlike Steed; To carry Him against the Fo, hath Speed Enough. It grievs Him, that His March should be Retarded, by the Night's Obscurity. With Swords half drawn He marches, that no Stay, To draw a Sword, His fighting may delay. But ye Tarpeian Rocks, and Tow'rs that be Sacred to Iove, through him ally'd to Me! And my thrice happy Countrie's Walls, which now I standing leave, the Witness of my Vow! Where e're the common Safety calls me, I Will go, and greatest Dangers will defie; But, if still deaf, to what I shall advise, The Camp will fight, I shall no longer prize Th' Enjoyment of my Sons, and dearest Home, Nor, like to Varro, me shall wounded Rome Returning see. Thus high in Discontent The Generals, both, to the Army went. The Libyan within th' Aetolian Plains (As by His Dream advis'd) encamp'd remains.

Neither had Italy e're sent a Force Greater for Number, both of Foot, and Horse, Into the Field: for then they fear'd the Fall Both of the City, and the Nation; all (o) Their Hopes upon one Battel did depend. Therefore the Faun-got Rutuli did send, Join'd with Sicanian Arms, their Sacred Bands Into the War. Those, that possess the Lands Of Daunus, and Laurentine Palaces, And fam'd Numicius Waters, join'd with these. From Castrum likewise, to the War, they came; And Ardēa, once fatal to the (p) Name Of Phrygians; and, Lavînum, where of old (Built on a lofty Hill) they did behold Great Iuno's Temple; and, Collatia where Chast Brutus took his Birth: with those, that are Wont to frequent Diana's cruel (q) Grove; And that the Mouth o'th' (r) Tyrrhen River love. They likewise, that in Almo's warmer Stream Cherish (s) Cybele, to the Army came. Thy Tybur too, Catyllus, muster'd; and (t) Praeneste, that upon an Hill doth stand, Sacred to Fortune; and Antemna, fam'd: Before Crustumium, from the River nam'd. With the Labîci, skill'd to Plow, and those, That dwell where now Imperial Tiber flows; With Anyo's Neighbours, and the People, where The Fields with cold Simbrivium water'd are; And the Aequicolae, for Tillage known. Their Captain, Scaurus was; whose Chin the Down Then newly cover'd: but his rising Worth Began to future Times to set him forth. These were not wont with Steel to point the Spear, Or Quivers full of winged Shafts to bear;

Piles, and short Swords, they love: their Heads with Brass Defended are, their Crests all else surpass. But those, which Setia, that's reserv'd alone For Bacchus Table, and (u) Velitrae, known By many Battels, from her Valley sent, With such as Cora listed, and that went From Signia, full of hurtfull Wines; with those, Where the black Fen of Satura o'reflows The Pontine Level, with a noisom Flood; Which, running through the Fields, all stain'd with Mud, Vfens within his Chanel strait collects: And with the Slime the Neighb'ring Sea infects, Were under valiant Scaevola's Command; Who, Great in's Ancestours, nor of that Hand Unworthy held, whose honour'd Figure He, Carv'd in his Target, wore: where they might see The flaming Altars, 'midst the Tyrrhen Bands, Now angry with himself, bold (x) Mutius stands, And Valour, in his Image, seem'd to be Turn'd into Rage: Porsenna, instantly, Having escap'd the Blow, to Arms returns, While He his erring Hand, for Anger, burns. Then, from the fam'd Circaean Hills, and from Anxur (high-standing on a Rock) they come: With those, that Plow the Hernick Stony Fields, And fair Anagnia, that such Plenty yields Of Wheat. But Sylla the Terentines, joyn'd With Privernates, led. Then, those, that shin'd In their bright Arms, from Sora lately sent. Next these, the Fabraterian People went, And Scaptian Youth. Atina too was there, From her cold Hill; and Suessa, worn with War: And, from the Plough, Trusino, not to be Esteem'd, as weak. But those, that Lyris see,

Mixing his sulph'rous Waters with the cold Fibrenus, and, with silent Streams, by old Arpinum glides; with the Venafrian Bands, And him, that with the Larinates Hands Brings his Auxiliaries, and the vast Aquinum of her Men doth quite exhaust, Tullius to War, in brasen Arms, did bring: A Noble Youth, that did from Tullus spring, And of so great a Wit, that Fate ordain'd, That He should give to the Ausonian Land (y) One of his Race, that should be understood Beyond the Indies, and their famous Flood Of Ganges: whose great Voice the World should fill; Who, by the Thunder of his Tongue, should still The Noise of War; nor shall Posterity Er'e hope the like, for Eloquence, to see. But from Theramnean Blood, of Clausus, sprung, Inimitable for ••rave Deeds, among The Chief, was (z) Nero: Him the Troops, that came From Amiternum, and, which takes her Name From Bactrians, Casperula, with all From Foruli, and, which we Sacred call To th' Mother of the (a) Gods, Reate, and Nursia, that as besieg'd by Frosts doth stand, And Troops from Tetricus cold Rock, to th' Field Attend, all arm'd with Lances, and their Shield Made, Globe-like, round: no Plumes their Helmets bear, And their left Legs with (b) Boots defended are. These, as they Joyfull march'd, some Praises sung To Thee, great (c) Sanctus (for from Thee they sprung) Some, Sabus, honour Thee, who first of all Thy People, from Thy Name, didst Sabines call. But Curio, rough with 's scaly Coat of Mail, And on his Helmet's Crest an Horses Tail,

Into the War so great Assistance brings; That not the Raging Sea more num'rous flings Its foaming Billows up: nor Bands more light, And Active, when She imitates a Fight, Riding through num'rous Troops, with Moon-like Shields, (d) The Warlike Maid leads through the Scythian Fields, And makes Thermodoon, and the Earth, resound The Noise. Here those, that in thy Stony Ground, Numana, dwell, and those, that near the Shore With flaming Altars, (e) Cupra, Thee adore, Were to be seen. They likewise thither send, Their Aids, who the Truentine Tow'rs defend By the adjoyning River, and the Sun, From their bright Targets, by Reflexion, At Distance, rais'd a bloody Light: and there Ancon as rich in Purple did appear, As are the Libyan, or Sidonian Looms. Then, water'd by Vomanus, Adria comes. And, near to them, the Ensigns they behold Of churlish Asculum, which (fam'd of old) Vepîcus, sprung from Saturne, built: Him, by Her Charms, Phoebean Circe forc'd to fly, Depriv'd of his own (f) Figure through the Air, With yellow Plumes. Once the Pelasgi there Inhabited, and Aesis (as by Fame We learn) their Ruler was, and left his Name Unto the River, and his People all Began Asili, from himself, to call. Nor, coming from their hollow Hills, with worse Supplies, did Vmbrian Swains the Camp enforce. These Aesis, Sapis, and, with rapid Waves, Roll'd over lofty Rocks, Metaurus Laves: Clitumnus too, that Bulls for Sacrifice Washeth in Sacred Streams; and Nar, that flies

Foaming to Tiber; and, whose Waters run Ingloriously, Tinia, and Rubicon, With Clavis, and which, from the Senones, Was Senna call'd: but Tyber, 'midst of these, With Banks unshaken, near th' Imperial Walls, Swells high, and thence into the Ocean falls. Their Cities, Arna, and Mevania, rich In spacious Meads, Hispellum, Narnia, which Upon a steep, and rocky Hill doth ly; Inginum too, of old infected by Moist Clouds; and, lying in an open Plain, Fulginia, wanting Walls. Near these remain A warlike People, Amerini nam'd: And Camers, near to them, for Arrows fam'd; With wealthy Sarfina, renown'd for Store Of Milk; and the Tudertes, that adore The God of War. These, a stout Race of Men, Contemning Death, were led by Piso, then A Youth, and there in such an Habit shin'd; But equalling, by his sagacious Mind, The Antient, and in Policy his Years Excelling, at the Armie's Head appears In Parthian-painted Arms, and Golden Chain; Whose Gems a Lustre cast through all the Plain. But then a Legion of Hetrurian Bands, Compleat, stout Galba (a great Name) commands: From Cretan Minos He his Pedigree Deriv'd, and from Lustfull-Pasiphae, (g) So hated by the Bull; and from that Line His Noble Ancestours in Order shine. Then Cere chosen Bands, Cortona then (Proud Tarcon's Family) send chosen Men; With old Graviscae, Alsium, by thy Streams Grecian Alesus, lov'd, and that, which seems

Besieg'd by a rude Plain, Fregellae: nor Was Fesula (the Fam'd Interpreter Of Thunder) wanting, with her Sacred Bands. And, near to them, Clusinum Muster'd stands, Once a great Terrour to the Walls of Rome; When thou, Porsenna, Arm'd, didst thither come, And didst endeavour to restore, in vain, Th' expell'd Tarquinii to the Throne again. Then Luna, from her Snow-white Quarries, prest Her lab'ring Youth: Luna, before the rest, Fam'd for her spacious Port; which can contain Ships without Number, and shuts in the Main. Not far from these, the Vetulonian Band (The Glory once of the Maeonian Land) Which first ordain'd twelve Fasces to precede The Consuls; and, to strike a silent Dread, As many Axes added: it was She, That first adorn'd with polish'd Ivory Triumphal Chairs: Her Nobles first array'd In Tyrian Purple, and that Trumpets made Courage by them in Battel to enflame. Next these the Nepesinian Cohorts came, And Just Falisci; and, Flavinia, those, That keep thy Fires. Near whom Sabaca goes, In Fens abounding; and, that near thy Lake, Cimînus, dwell; with them, that Sutrium take For their Abode; and those, that to the Rites Of Phoebus high Soracte oft invites: Caps of the Skins of Beasts their Heads defend; Two Darts they carry, and their Spears commend Before the Lycian Bows. These, all in War Most expert: but the Marsian People are Not onely Valiant; but can likewise Charm To sleep the banefull Adder, and disarm

The Viper of her Teeth, by Herbs, and Spells. Anguitia first (as Fame the Story tells) Oëtes Race, those hurtfull Simples shew'd, And with her Touch, all Poison's Force subdu'd. She from her Sphear could shake the Moon, and Floods Stop with her Voice; and, calling down the Woods, The Mountains naked make. But, full of Dread, (h) Marsyas, when he the Phrygian Creni fled By Sea, unto that People gave his Name; When, with a Lute, Apollo overcame His shrill Mygdonian Flute. The Chief of all Their Ci••ies they, from antient Marus, call Marruvium; and, for Corn in moister Fields, More inward, Alba store of Apples yields. The rest were little Towns obscure in Fame; But in their Numbers greater, then their Name. 'Mong which, Pelignus, and cold Sulmo sent Their Cohorts; nor, then these, less diligent Were those of Cales, born, near them in Blood, From Calaïs (as by Fame 'tis understood) The Noble Founder of a City fair, Whom Orithyia (ravish'd through the Air) For Boreas nurs'd in Getick Caves. No less Active in War, then these, Vestini press Their Youth, inur'd to Hardship by the Chase Of salvage Beasts. They likewise War imbrace, That in thy Tow'rs, Fiscellus, dwell: and, now, They also arm, that fertile Pinna mow; And thy rich Meads, Avella, that so soon Sprout up: and then in Emulation Of the Frentani, the Marrucins drew Corfinium's People, and Theate too. All these, with Rustick Weapons arm'd for Fight, Could, with their Slings, a Bird, in highest Flight,

Strike down: the Skins of Bears, about their Breast, In Hunting kill'd, they wear. And now the rest, That were for Wealth, or Ancestours renown'd, In all the Tract of the Campanian Ground, Appear in Arms, or their Assistance send. The Osci in their Neighb'ring Plains attend Th' Arrival of the Generals: and there Warm Sinuessa, and Vulturnum, were; Whose River like a Torrent falls into The Sea; and, whom her (i) Silence overthrew, Amyclae. Fundi, and Cajeta, where Lamus was King. Thy People too were there, (k) Antiphates, that's by the Sea comprest. And, which the rotten Fens, and Pools invest, Linternum: and the Cumae, that of old, Conscious of Fate, all future things foretold. There was Nuceria, there was Gaurus, good For Shipping; there, deriv'd from Grecian Blood, With many Souldiers was Parthenope, With Dicarchenian Bands: and Alliphe, And (l) Nola; to the Libyan hard to pass. Slighted for Clanius, there Acerrae was: There the Serrastes: there were to be seen Mild Sarnus Riches, and the Troops had been Listed in Phlegra, fat with Sulphure; and Misenus, and the Ithacesian Band Of Baius, burning with the (m) Giant's Breath. Not Prochyte, nor, which Typhaeus Death In sulph'rous Flames, Inarime, beheld, Nor ancient Telo's Stony Isle, this Field Avoids. But thither doth Calatia, from Her little Walls, thither Surrentum come; And, poor in Corn, Avella. But, of all The Chief was Capua; that, too Prodigal

(Alass!) not knowing in Prosperity To keep a Mean, was lost in Luxury. These for the future War by Scipio form'd; He gave them Piles; and then with Iron arm'd Their Breasts: from Home, (as was their Father's Wont) They lighter Weapons, Shafts of Cornel, blunt, Without an Head of Steel, but hardned by The Fire, with Hurl-Bats, which they can let fly, And, with a String, retire, as they invade The Fo, and Axes for the Countrey made. Nor was he wanting, 'midst them all, to shew Great Signs of future Praise. Sometimes He threw An hardned Stake, or leap'd a Trench to scale A Wall, or, arm'd, by Swimming would prevail Against impetuous Streams: these great, and bold Examples of His Valour all behold. Oft, in the open Plain, with wondrous Speed Would he out-run the spur'd, and fleetest Steed: Oft, cross the Camp, would He a Jav'lin throw, Or weighty Stone. He had a Martial Brow; His Hair was soft, and gentle, which behind Hung in long Tresses; His Aspect was kind, And gentle; and His Eys a pleasing Dread With sparkling Raies, on the Beholders, shed. (n) Samnis was likewise there, not yet inclin'd To Hannibal, yet keping in her Mind Her antient Anger; Batulum, and those, That dwell where Mucra by Liguria flows. With them, that Bovianian Caves frequent, Or Caudine Straits, and which Esernia sent, Or Rufre; or, obscure Herdonia, from Thy Fields, soon after (o) wasted, armed come. Alike in Courage, there, the Brutii stand, With them from Lucane Hills, a lusty Band;

And Hirpine Youth, who, cover'd o're with Hides Of Beasts, and Darts, like Bristles by their Sides, Are all by Hunting fed; and, ever, dwell In Caves, and in a River Thirst expell, And get their Sleep with Labour. Calaber, And the Salentine Cohorts, added are To them; near whom Brundusium doth stand, A famous Period to th' Italian Land. A Legion bold Cethegus there commands, Of Social Aids, and intermingled Bands. Now, from Leucosia's Rocks, the Souldiers shew Themselves, and from Picentian Pesto too, And from Caryllae, that soon after fell By Hannibal's dire Rage: with those, that dwell Near Silarus, where Fame reports, the Flood To turn to hardest Stone the drowned Wood: He both the stout Salernian Fauchion, and Th' unpolish'd Club, that, fitted to his Hand, The strong Buxentian us'd, commends. While he (As was the Custom of his Family) His Arm bar'd to the Shoulder, joy'd to ride A stubborn Horse, and in his hard Mouth try'd His Strength of Youth, by Wheeling to▪ and fro. And you, ye wasted Nations of the Po, Your Vows then by the Gods neglected, all Rush into Arms, by Fate decreed to fall. Placentia, ruin'd by the War, contends With Mutina, and (p) Mantua, that sends Her Levies, sought Cremona to excell: Fam'd Mantua, where the Thespian Sisters dwell; Which, Emulous of Smyrna's (q) Muse, is prais'd For Audine Songs, and to the Stars is rais'd. The next, by Athesis encompass'd, went Verona; and Faventia, diligent

Still to preserve the Pines, that Crown her Fields: Vercellae; and Pellentia, that yields Store of black Wooll; and Ocnus Family, Which against Turnus once assisted Thee, Aeneas; and Bononia, that lyes Near little Rhene: with him, that lab'ring plies, With pond'rous Oars, the muddy Streams, that by Ravenna flow, which 'mong the Fens doth ly. Then, sprang, of old, from the Euganean Land, (Antenor's Countrey) came a Trojan Band. There Aquileia, with Venetian Arms, Are eager for the Fight: there the Alarms O'th' Fo, the swift Ligurians attend; And, scatter'd on the Rocks, Vageni send Their hardy Nephews, there ordain'd to be The Honour of the Libyan's Victory. Brutus, in whom these People, all, repose Their greatest Confidence, their Leader goes Into the Field, and 'gainst the Enemy Excites their Rage. A pleasant Gravity Adorn'd his Fore-head, and a serious Mind With Valour, not to Cruelty inclin'd. Th' unpleasant Praise of churlish Rigour He Did not affect, or harsh Austerity, Nor Glory by ••inister Courses sought. To these three thousand expert Archers, brought From flaming Aetna, the (r) Sicilian King, Most faithfull, adds: but Il••a did not bring So many men; and yet She did afford Her Cohorts, which, selected for the Sword, And arm'd with Native Mettle, thither came: They Varro's Zeal to fight would hardly blame, Whoe're so many Arms at once beheld. Such Numbers rag'd through the Rhaetéan Field;

When Troy the great Mycenae did invade, And, when a thousand Ships their Anchors weigh'd, And sail'd through Hellespont. So soon as they Arriv'd at Cannae, where the Ruins lay Of an old City, they encamp'd, and there Their most unhappy Ensigns fix'd: nor were The Gods then wanting to foreshew to all Those Ruins, that soon after did befall. Th' affrighted Souldiers see their Piles to burn, The Turrets on the Rampires overturn, And fall. Garganus, from a lofty Crown, Trembling, the Woods, and Forests, tumbles down. From his deep Bottom Aufidus began Panting to roar: amidst the Ocean, Remote Ceraunian Rocks with Flames affright The trembling Mariners; and then, the Light With sudden Stygian Darkness cover'd o're, Calabrian Sipus Gropes for Land, and Shore, The Owl with fatal Houting oft alarms The Camp, ev'n at the Gates; and Bees, in Swarms, Like Clouds, involve the Eagles: in the Air Comets, the Fall of Kings, with flaming Hair, Shine fatally: and salvage Beasts by Night Break through the Camp, and Works, and, in the sight O'th' frighted Souldiers, through the Neighb'ring field Scatter the Limbs o'th' Centinel they kill'd: Deluded by the Image of their Fear, From their dark Graves, the Ghosts of Gauls appear To break: and then the high Tarpeian Rock, As torn from its Foundation, often shook: The Temples of the Gods with Streams of Blood Were wet: Quirinus Statue, as it stood, Wept largely: Allia, greater then before, Swells higher then the Banks: the Alps no more

Stand still, nor Apennine, which Night, and Day, Shook with vast Ruptures, and where Libya Extended lyes, ev'n from the very Pole, 'Gainst Italy, the flaming Meteors roll. Such horrid Thunder-Claps the Heav'ns above Divide, that they detect the Face of Iove. The Lemnian God his Lightning likewise threw From Aetna, and, as broken Quarries flew Up to the Clouds (as in the Giant's Wars) Knock'd his Phlaegraean Head against the Stars. But, 'midst them all, as conscious of the Fight, He looks, and Sense-distracted with the Fright, With horrid Cries the Camp a Souldier fills, And, panting, thus express'd the future Ills. Spare us, ye cruel Gods! the Fields I see Too little for the Heaps of Slaughter be. Through thickest Ranks the Libyan Captain flies, And His swift Chariot over Companies Of Men, and Arms, drives on, and drags along Their Limbs, and Ensigns: while the wind, with strong Impetuous Blasts, a furious War doth make Against our Eys, and Faces▪ From thy Lake (Sad Thrasimen!) unmindfull of his Years, In vain, Servilius, now reserv'd appears. Whither! Oh whither, is't that Varro flies! Oh Iove! among the Stones, see! Paulus lies, The last great Hope of Rome's declining State: These Ruins, Trebia, now, exceed thy Fate. Behold, a Bridg is made of Bodies flain, And silent Aufidus into the Main Rolls mangled Corps: o're all the Plains I see The Elephants insult with Victory. Our Consul's Axes, and our Fasces, stain'd With Blood, a Tyrian Lictor in his Hand,

After our Custom, bears. To Libya The Pomp of Romane Triumph's born away. Oh Grief! Yet this, ye Gods, that we behold, Is your Command: while by congested Gold, Torn from left Hands, victorious Carthage sees (s) The Measure of the Romane Miseries.

The End of the Eighth Book.

Notes

• (a)

  The Carthaginians.
• (b)

  Hannibal, not able to obtain his Desire of Battel, (the Hopes of which had till then kept his Army together) had Thoughts of returning into France (saith Livy, lib. 22.) if the Consuls, that succeeded Fabius, had used the same Arts with him to avoid fighting. For Hannibal, strongly opposed at Home by Hanno's Faction, had no Supplies thence: and, in Italy most of the Cities oppo∣sing him, he could not finde Provisions to sustain his Men; till the following Vi∣ctory, at Cannae, gave Him all, that He wanted.
• (c)

  The Sister of Dido.
• (d)

  Aeneas.
• (e)

  Cyrene, a City scituate between the great Syrt, and Marcotis, from which all that part of Libya is called Cyrenaica.
• Lavinia was the Daughter of King Latinus, whom Aeneas married.
• (f)

  The Pulpit, wherein stood such, as spoke to the People in their Assem∣blies••
• (g)

  The Pleading-Place.
• (h)

  The Romane Kalenders.
• (i)

  The Place where they Assemb∣bled.
• (k)

  Varro was no sooner elected Consul, but he told the People, that the War had been brought into Italy by the Nobility, and would be kept in the Bowels of it, if the Fabii had the Command of their Armies. See Liv. Book 16.
• (l)

  A Compellation frequently u∣sed to the People by such as flatter'd them.
• (m)

  After Paulus Aemylius had sub∣dued King P••rs••us, and spoiled seven∣teen Cities in Illyrium, at his Return to Rome, the People accused him of con∣verting much of the Booty to his own use (as they did, a••terwards, Scipio A∣fricanus) since which time he never took any Publick Employment, till made Colleague with Varre.
• (n)

  When Hannibal marched from Rhedanus, his Army consisted of eight and thirty thousand Foot, and about eight thousand Horse: but, through the Difficulties which he encountred in his Passage over the Alpes, he scarce brought half of them into Italy. Polyb. lib. 3. Livy affirms, scarce a third part.
• (o)

  Varro having resolved to fight, wheresoever he met Hannibal, the People gave him an excessive Liberty to raise men: so that he had a greater Ar∣my, then ever the Romanes levied be∣fore; to the number of eighty eight thousand men. See Plutarch in Fabio.
• (p)

  Ardea, was a wealthy City of the Latines, (distant from Rome eigh∣teen Miles) when Aeneas entred Ita∣ly, Turnus was King of it, who gave Battel to Aeneas, and was slain by him, Tarquimus Superbus besieged this Ci∣ty, when his Son left the Camp, and posted to Rome, to ravish Lucretia; which not onely forced him to raise the Siege, but subverted his Dominion over the Romanes. See Liv. lib. 1.
• (q)

  Diana's Grove near Aricia, a Town scituate behinde the Alban Hill, upon the Via Appia. In this Grove Nu∣ma pretended his Private Conference with the Nymph Egeria.
• (r)

  Tiber.
• (s)

  Almo, a small Brook, that flows into Tiber; wherein, once a year, the Image of Cybele was washed.
• (t)

  Praeneste, built by Praenestus, the Son of Latinus, and Nephew to Vlys∣ses, and Circe: where there was a Temple Dedicated to Fortune, and fa∣mous for its Oracles.
• (u)

  The Velitrini, upon the Confi∣d••nce of a Prophesie, that told them, a Citizen of their City should one day obtain the Dominion over all Ita∣ly, did very often contend with Rome: but were still worsted; untill Augustus, who was born there, obtaining the Empire, fulfilled the Prophesie.
• (x)

  Mutius Scaevola, who, when Rome was besieged by Tarquinius Su∣perbus, and Porsenna, issued out of the City by night, resolving to kill Porsen∣na, and passing, disguised, through the Guards, coming into his Tent, not knowing the King, slew one of his Nobles, and finding immediatly his Er∣rour, in a Rage, burnt his Hand, for the Mistake. Liv. lib. 1.
• (y)

  Marcus Tullius Cicero, The famous Oratour.
• (z)

  Vid. Lib. 15.
• (a)

  Cybele.
• (b)

  This kind of Armour on the left Legs, was peculiar to the Sabines, a∣mong the Italians; and Aetolians, a∣mong the Greeks.
• (c)

  Sanctus was the Father of Sa∣bus.
• (d)

  Amazon.
• (e)

  Iuno, who had there a Temple.
• (f)

  Turned into a Wood-pecker by Circe.
• (g)

  Silius, in this, agrees with Virgil, in his Bucolicks, that the Bull fled from Pasiphae; till Daedalus made a Cow of Wood, where in the Qu. was enclosed, and the Bull deluded.
• (h)

  Who being vanquished by A∣pollo, in his Contention of Musick, had his Skin strip'd over his Ears.
• (i)

  Amyclae, a City of the Sabines, having had frequent false Alarms of their Enemies Approach, that they might be no more disturbed, made a Law, That none should any more dare to give the Alarm. The Enemy coming, no man daring to violate the Edict, the City was taken.
• (k)

  The Bay of Cajeta.
• (l)

  Where Marcellus gave Hanni∣bal a notable Repulse.
• (m)

  Giants there vanquished, and buried by Hercules.
• (n)

  The Samnites often rebelled a∣gainst the Romanes, and, after this De∣feat, discovered their antient Enmity, by revolting to Hannibal.
• (o)

  Herdonia was burned by Hanni∣bal, fearing it would revolt to the Ro∣manes, and the chief Citizens slain, for having had Conference with Fulvius. See Liv. lib. 27.
• (p)

  Where Virgil was born.
• (q)

  Homer
• (r)

  King Hieron.
• (s)

  Mago sent to Carthage with the Tidings of this Victory, carryed with him a Bushel (saith Livy, others more) of Gold Rings, then worn onely by Romane Gentlemen.