Page:The Pharsalia of Lucan; (IA cu31924026485809).pdf/35

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Book I
THE CROSSING OF THE RUBICON
11
'Tarpeian seest the wall of mighty Rome;'Gods of my race who watched o'er Troy of old;'Thou Jove of Alba's height, and Vestal fires,'And rites of Romulus erst rapt to heaven,'And God-like Rome; be friendly to my quest.'Not with offence or hostile arms I come, 230'Thy Cæsar, conqueror by land and sea,'Thy soldier here and wheresoe'er thou wilt:'No other's; his, his only be the guilt'Whose acts make me thy foe.' He gives the wordAnd bids his standards cross the swollen stream.So in the wastes of Afric's burning climeThe lion crouches as his foes draw near,Feeding his wrath the while, his lashing tailProvokes his fury; stiff upon his neckBristles his mane: deep from his gaping jaws 240Resounds a muttered growl, and should a lanceOr javelin reach him from the hunter's ring,Scorning the puny scratch he bounds afield.From modest fountain blood-red RubiconIn summer's heat flows on; his pigmy tideCreeps through the valleys and with slender margeDivides the Italian peasant from the Gaul.Then winter gave him strength, and fraught with rainThe third day's crescent moon; while Eastern windsThawed from the Alpine slopes the yielding snow. 250The cavalry first form across the streamTo break the torrent's force; the rest with easeBeneath their shelter gain the further bank.When Cæsar crossed and trod beneath his feetThe soil of Italy's forbidden fields,'Here,' spake he, 'peace, here broken laws be left;'Farewell to treaties. Fortune, lead me on;'War is our judge, and in the fates our trust.'
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