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PHARSALIA
Book IV
To pass that sea by Zephyr's bounds contained,And by the furthest belt[1] of heaven, they pause,In masses huge convolved; the widest breadthOf murky air scarce holds them, which dividesEarth from the heavens; till pressed by weight of skyIn densest volume to the earth they pourTheir cataracts; no lightning could endureSuch storm unquenched: though oft athwart the gloomGleamed its pale fire. Meanwhile a watery archScarce touched with colour, in imperfect shape 90Embraced the sky and drank the ocean waves,So rendering to the clouds their flood outpoured.And now were thawed the Pyrenæan snowsWhich Titan had not conquered; all the rocksWere wet with melting ice; accustomed springsFound not discharge; and from the very banksEach stream received a torrent. Cæsar's armsAre shipwrecked on the field, his tottering campSwims on the rising flood; the trench is filledWith whirling waters; and the plain no more 100Yields corn or kine; for those who forage seek,Err from the hidden furrow. Famine knocks(First herald of o'erwhelming ills to come),Fierce at the door; and while no foe blockadesThe soldier hungers; fortunes buy not nowThe meanest measure; yet, alas! is foundThe fasting peasant, who, in gain of gold,Will sell his little all! And now the hillsAre seen no more; and rivers whelmed in one;Beasts with their homes sweep downwards; and the tide 110
- ↑ See Mr. Heitland's introduction, upon the meaning of the word 'cardo.' The word 'belt' seems fairly to answer to the two great circles or four meridians which he describes. The word occurs again at line 760; Book V., 80; Book VII., 452.