Page:The Pharsalia of Lucan; (IA cu31924026485809).pdf/74

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50
PHARSALIA
Book II
He asks his death. But Cæsar knew his wishWas punishment, and pardon was his fear:'Live though thou would'st not,' so the chieftain spake,'And by my gift, unwilling, see the day:'Be to my conquered foes the cause of hope,'Proof of my clemency—or if thou wilt'Take arms again—and should'st thou conquer, count'This pardon nothing.' Thus he spake, and bade 580Let loose the bands and set the captive free.Ah! better had he died, and fortune sparedThe Roman's last dishonour, whose worse doomIt is, that he who joined his country's campAnd fought with Magnus for the Senate's causeShould gain for this—a pardon! Yet he curbedHis anger, thinking, 'Wilt thou then to Rome'And peaceful scenes, degenerate? Rather war,'The furious battle and the certain end!'Break with life's ties: be Cæsar's gift in vain.' 590Pompeius, ignorant that his captain thusWas taken, armed his levies newly raisedTo give his legions strength; and as he thoughtTo sound his trumpets with the coming dawn,To test his soldiers ere he moved his campThus in majestic tones their ranks addressed:'Soldiers of Rome! Avengers of her laws!'To whom the Senate gives no private arms,'Ask by your voices for the battle sign.'Fierce falls the pillage on Hesperian fields, 600'And Gallia's fury o'er the snowy Alps[1]'Is poured upon us. Cæsar's swords at last'Are red with Roman blood. But with the wound'We gain the better cause; the crime is theirs.'No war is this, but for offended Rome
  1. ↑ See line 497.
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