Lucan's First Book Page 01
LUCAN'S FIRST BOOK
(M. Annaeus Lucanus, Pharsalia, First Book)
Translated by Christopher Marlowe
Wars worse than civil on Thessalian plains, And outrage strangling law and people strong, We sing, whose conquering swords their own breasts launched, Armies allied, the kingdom's league uprooted, Th' affrighted world's force bent on public spoil, Trumpets, and drums like deadly threat'ning other, Eagles alike displayed, darts answering darts.
Romans, what madness, what huge lust of war Hath made Barbarians drunk with Latin blood? Now Babylon, (proud through our spoil) should stoop, While slaughtered Crassus' ghost walks unrevenged. Will ye wage war, for which you shall not triumph?
Aye me, O what a world of land and sea Might they have won whom civil broils have slain! As far as Titan springs where night dims heaven, Ay, to the Torrid Zone where midday burns, And where stiff winter whom no spring resolves, Fetters the Euxine Sea with chains of ice: Scythia and wild Armenia had been yoked, And they of Nilus' mouth (if there live any).
Rome, if thou take delight in impious war, First conquer all the earth, then turn thy force Against thyself: As yet thou wants not foes.
That now the walls of houses half reared totter, That rampires fallen down, huge heaps of stone Lie in our towns, that houses are abandoned, And few live that behold their ancient seats; Italy many years hath lain untilled, And choked with thorns, that greedy earth wants hinds. Fierce Pyrrhus, neither thou nor Hannibal Art cause, no foreign foe could so afflict us, These plagues arise from wreak of civil power.
But if for Nero (then unborn) the Fates Would find no other means, (and gods not slightly Purchase immortal thrones; nor Jove joyed heaven Until the cruel Giants' war was done). We 'plain not heavens, but gladly bear these evils For Nero's sake: Pharsalia groan with slaughter, And Carthage souls be glutted with our bloods; At Munda let the dreadful battles join; Add Caesar, to these ills Perusian famine; The Mutin toils; the fleet at Leuca sunk; And cruel field near burning Etna fought.
Yet Rome is much bound these civil arms, Which made thee Emperor, thee (seeing thou being old Must shine a star) shall heaven (whom thou lovest), Receive with shouts; where thou wilt reign as king, Or mount the Sun's flame-bearing chariot, And with bright restless fire compass the earth, Undaunted though her former guide be changed. Nature, and every power shall give thee place, What god it please thee be, or where sway.
But neither choose the north t' erect thy seat; Nor yet the adverse reeking southern pole, Whence thou shouldst view thy Rome with squinting beams. If any one part of vast heaven thou swayest, The burdened axes with thy force will bend; The midst is best; that place is pure, and bright, There Caesar mayst thou shine and no cloud dim thee; Then men from war shall 'bide in league, and ease, Peace through the world from Janus' fane shall fly, And bolt the brazen gates with bars of iron Thou Caesar at this instant art my God, Thee if I invocate, I shall not need Crave Apollo's aid, or Bacchus' help; Thy power inspires the Muse that sings this war. The causes first I purpose to unfold Of these garboils, whence springs a long discourse, And what made madding people shake off peace.
The Fates are envious, high seats quickly perish, Under great burdens falls are ever grievous; Rome was so great it could not bear itself: So when this world's compounded union breaks, Time ends and to old Chaos all things turn; Confused stars shall meet, celestial fire Fleet on the floods, the earth shoulder the sea, Affording it no shore, and Phoebe's wain Chase Phoebus and enraged affect his place, And strive to shine by day, and full of strife Dissolve the engines of the broken world.
All great things crush themselves, such end the gods Allot the height of honour, men so strong By land, and sea, no foreign force could ruin: O Rome thyself art cause of all these evils, Thyself thus shivered out to three men's shares: Dire league of partners in a kingdom last not.