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Book I

THE CROSSING OF THE RUBICON

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Their fears but speak them not; no sound is heard 290Giving their anguish utterance: as whenIn depth of winter all the fields are still,The birds are voiceless and no sound is heardTo break the silence of the central sea.But when the day had broken through the shadesOf chilly darkness, lo! the torch of war!For by the hand of Fate is swift dispersedAll Cæsar's shame of battle, and his mindScarce doubted more; and Fortune toiled to makeHis action just and give him cause for arms. 300For while Rome doubted and the tongues of menSpoke of the chiefs who won them rights of yore,The hostile Senate, in contempt of right,Drove out the Tribunes. They to Cæsar's campWith Curio hasten, who of venal tongue,Bold, prompt, persuasive, had been wont to preachOf Freedom to the people, and to callUpon the chiefs to lay their weapons down.^[1]And when he saw how deeply Cæsar mused,'While from the rostrum I had power,' he said, 310'To call the populace to aid thy cause,'By this my voice against the Senate's will'Was thy command prolonged. But silenced now'Are laws in war: we driven from our homes;'Yet is our exile willing; for thine arms'Shall make us citizens of Rome again.'Strike; for no strength as yet the foe hath gained.

↑ In the Senate, Curio had proposed and carried a resolution that Pompeius and Cæsar should lay their arms down simultaneously; but this was resisted by the Oiigarchal party, who endeavoured, though unsuccessfully, to expel Curio from the Senate, and who placed Pompeius in command of the legions at Capua. This was in effect a declaration of war; and Curio, after a last attempt at resistance, left the city, and betook himself to Cæsar. (See the close of Book IV.)

[1] In the Senate, Curio had proposed and carried a resolution that Pompeius and Cæsar should lay their arms down simultaneously; but this was resisted by the Oiigarchal party, who endeavoured, though unsuccessfully, to expel Curio from the Senate, and who placed Pompeius in command of the legions at Capua. This was in effect a declaration of war; and Curio, after a last attempt at resistance, left the city, and betook himself to Cæsar. (See the close of Book IV.)

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