They came that dwell By Nemes' fields, and banks of Satirus, Where Tarbel's winding shores embrace the sea, The Santons that rejoice in Caesar's love, Those of Bituriges and light Axon pikes; And they of Rhine and Leuca, cunning darters, And Sequana that well could manage steeds; The Belgians apt to govern British cars; Th' Averni too, which boldly feign themselves The Romans' brethren, sprung of Ilian race; The stubborn Nervians stained with Cotta's blood, And Vangions who like those of Sarmata, Wear open slops: and fierce Batavians, Whom trumpet's clang incites, and those that dwell By Cinga's stream, and where swift Rhodanus Drives Araris to sea; they near the hills, Under whose hoary rocks Gebenna hangs; And Trevier, thou being glad that wars are past thee; And you late shorn Ligurians, who were wont In large spread hair to exceed the rest of France; And where to Hesus, and fell Mercury They offer human flesh, and where Jove seems Bloody like Dian, whom the Scythians serve; And you, French Bardi, whose immortal pens Renown the valiant souls slain in your wars, Sit safe at home and chant sweet poesy. And Druides you now in peace renew Your barbarous customs, and sinister rites, In unfelled woods, and sacred groves you dwell, And only gods and heavenly powers you know, Or only know you nothing. for you hold That souls pass not to silent Erebus Or Pluto's bloodless kingdom, but elsewhere Resume a body: so (if truth you sing) Death brings long life. Doubtless these northern men Whom death, the greatest of all fears, affright not, Are blest by such sweet error, this makes them Run on the sword's point and desire to die, And shame spare life which being lost is won. You likewise that repulsed the Caeic foe, March towards Rome; and you fierce men of Rhine Leaving your country open to the spoil.
These being come, their huge power made him bold To manage greater deeds; the bordering towns He garrisoned; and Italy he filled with soldiers.
Vain fame increased true fear, and did invade The people's minds, and laid before their eyes Slaughter to come, and swiftly bringing news Of present war, made many lies and tales. One swears his troops of daring horsemen fought Upon Mevania's plain, where bulls are grazed; Other that Caesar's barbarous bands were spread Along Nar flood that into Tiber falls, And that his own ten ensigns, and the rest Marched not entirely, and yet hide the ground, And that he's much changed, looking wild and big, And far more barbarous than the French (his vassals) And that he lags behind with them of purpose Borne twixt the Alps and Rhine, which he hath brought From out their northern parts, and that Rome, He looking on, by these men should be sacked. Thus in his fright did each man strengthen fame, And without ground, feared what themselves had feigned; Nor were the commons only strook to heart With this vain terror; but the Court, the Senate. The fathers' selves leaped from their seats; and flying Left hateful war decreed to both the consuls. Then with their fear and danger all distract, Their sway of flight carries the heady rout That in chained troops break forth at every port; You would have thought their houses had been fired Or dropping-ripe, ready fall with ruin, So rushed the inconsiderate multitude Thorough the city hurried headlong on, As if the only hope (that did remain To their afflictions) were t' abandon Rome.
Look how when stormy Auster from the breach Of Libyan Syrtes rolls a monstrous wave, Which makes the mainsail fall with hideous sound; The pilot from the helm leaps in the sea; And mariners, albeit the keel be sound, Shipwrack themselves: even so the city left, All rise in arms; nor could the bedrid parents Keep back their sons, or women's tears their husbands; They stayed not either to pray or sacrifice, Their household gods restrain them not, none lingered, As loath to leave Rome whom they held so dear: Th' irrevocable people fly in troops.
O gods, that easy grant men great estates, But hardly grace to keep them: Rome that flows With citizens and captives, and would hold The world (were it together) is by cowards Left as a prey now Caesar doth approach: When Romans are besieged by foreign foes, With slender trench they escape night stratagems, And sudden rampire raised of turf snatched up Would make them sleep securely in their tents. Thou Rome at name of war runn'st from thyself, And wilt not trust thy city walls one night: Well might these fear, when Pompey feared and fled. Now evermore lest some one hope might ease The commons' jangling minds, apparent signs arose, Strange sights appeared, the angry threat'ning gods Filled both the earth and seas with prodigies; Great store of strange and unknown stars were seen Wandering about the north, and rings of fire Fly in the air, and dreadful bearded stars, And comets that presage the fall of kingdoms.