Page:The Pharsalia of Lucan; (IA cu31924026485809).pdf/103

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Book III
MASSILIA
79
Rained fierce and ceaseless and the Romans tired,Some here and there sank fainting. Next the roofAdvanced with earth besprinkled: underneathThe ram conceals his head, which, poised and swung,They dash with mighty force upon the wall,Covered themselves with mantlets. Though the headLight on the lower stones, yet as the shockFalls and refalls, from battlement to baseThe rampart soon shall topple. But by balks 550And rocky fragments overwhelmed, and flames,The roof at length gave way; and worn with toilAll spent in vain, the wearied troops withdrewAnd sought the shelter of their tents again.Thus far to hold their battlements was allThe Greeks had hoped; now, venturing attack,With glittering torches for their arms, by nightFearless they sallied forth: nor lance they bearNor deadly bow, nor shaft; for fire aloneIs now their weapon. Through the Roman works 560Driven by the wind the conflagration spread:Nor did the newness of the wood make pauseThe fury of the flames, which, fed afreshBy living torches, 'neath a smoky pallLeaped on in fiery tongues. Not wood aloneBut stones gigantic crumbling into dustDissolved beneath the heat; the mighty moundLay prone, yet in its ruin larger seemed.Next, conquered on the land, upon the mainThey try their fortunes. On their simple craft 570No painted figure-head adorned the bowsNor claimed protection from the gods; but rude,Just as they fell upon their mountain homes,The trees were knit together, and the deckGave steady foot-hold for an ocean fight.
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.