Page:The Pharsalia of Lucan; (IA cu31924026485809).pdf/79

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Book II
THE FLIGHT OF POMPEIUS
55
'Rouse Egypt's kings; Tigranes, wholly mine,'And Pharnaces and all the vagrant tribes'Of both Armenias; and the Pontic hordes, 720'Warlike and fierce; the dwellers on the hills'Rhipæan, and by that dead northern marsh'Whose frozen surface bears the loaded wain.'Why further stay thee? Let the eastern world'Sound with the war, all cities of the earth'Conquered by me, as vassals, to my camp'Send all their levied hosts. And you whose names'Within the Latian book recorded stand,'Strike for Epirus with the northern wind;'And thence in Greece and Macedonian tracts, 730'(While winter gives us peace) new strength acquire'For coming conflicts.' They obey his wordsAnd loose their ships and launch upon the main.
But Cæsar's might, intolerant of peaceOr lengthy armistice, lest now perchanceThe fates might change their edicts, swift pursuedThe footsteps of his foe. To other men,So many cities taken at a blow,So many strongholds captured, might suffice;And Rome herself, the mistress of the world, 740Lay at his feet, the greatest prize of all.Not so with Cæsar: instant on the goalHe fiercely presses; thinking nothing doneWhile aught remained to do. Now in his graspLay all Italia;—but while Magnus stayedUpon the utmost shore, his grieving soulDeemed all was shared with him. Yet he essayedEscape to hinder, and with labour vainPiled in the greedy main gigantic rocks:Mountains of earth down to the sandy depths 750
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