50
PHARSALIA
Book II
He asks his death. But Cæsar knew his wish
Was 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 580
Let loose the bands and set the captive free.
Ah! better had he died, and fortune spared
The Roman's last dishonour, whose worse doom
It is, that he who joined his country's camp
And fought with Magnus for the Senate's cause
Should gain for this—a pardon! Yet he curbed
His 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.' 590
Pompeius, ignorant that his captain thus
Was taken, armed his levies newly raised
To give his legions strength; and as he thought
To sound his trumpets with the coming dawn,
To test his soldiers ere he moved his camp
Thus 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
Was 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 580
Let loose the bands and set the captive free.
Ah! better had he died, and fortune spared
The Roman's last dishonour, whose worse doom
It is, that he who joined his country's camp
And fought with Magnus for the Senate's cause
Should gain for this—a pardon! Yet he curbed
His 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.' 590
Pompeius, ignorant that his captain thus
Was taken, armed his levies newly raised
To give his legions strength; and as he thought
To sound his trumpets with the coming dawn,
To test his soldiers ere he moved his camp
Thus 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
- ↑ See line 497.
