Book I
THE CROSSING OF THE RUBICON
13
Their fears but speak them not; no sound is heard 290
Giving their anguish utterance: as when
In depth of winter all the fields are still,
The birds are voiceless and no sound is heard
To break the silence of the central sea.
But when the day had broken through the shades
Of chilly darkness, lo! the torch of war!
For by the hand of Fate is swift dispersed
All Cæsar's shame of battle, and his mind
Scarce doubted more; and Fortune toiled to make
His action just and give him cause for arms. 300
For while Rome doubted and the tongues of men
Spoke of the chiefs who won them rights of yore,
The hostile Senate, in contempt of right,
Drove out the Tribunes. They to Cæsar's camp
With Curio hasten, who of venal tongue,
Bold, prompt, persuasive, had been wont to preach
Of Freedom to the people, and to call
Upon 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.
Giving their anguish utterance: as when
In depth of winter all the fields are still,
The birds are voiceless and no sound is heard
To break the silence of the central sea.
But when the day had broken through the shades
Of chilly darkness, lo! the torch of war!
For by the hand of Fate is swift dispersed
All Cæsar's shame of battle, and his mind
Scarce doubted more; and Fortune toiled to make
His action just and give him cause for arms. 300
For while Rome doubted and the tongues of men
Spoke of the chiefs who won them rights of yore,
The hostile Senate, in contempt of right,
Drove out the Tribunes. They to Cæsar's camp
With Curio hasten, who of venal tongue,
Bold, prompt, persuasive, had been wont to preach
Of Freedom to the people, and to call
Upon 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.)
