Book II
THE FLIGHT OF POMPEIUS
53
'To fear Pompeius: and far Bætis'[1] stream,
'Last of all floods to join the refluent sea.
'Arabia and the warlike hordes that dwell
'Beside the Euxine wave: the famous land
'That lost the Golden Fleece; Cilician wastes,
'And Cappadocian, and the Jews who pray
'Before an unknown God; Sophene soft—
'All felt my yoke. What conquests now remain, 670
'What wars not civil can my kinsman wage?'
No loud acclaim received his words, nor shout
Asked for the promised battle: and the chief
Drew back the standards, for the soldier's fears
Were in his soul alike; nor dared he trust
An army, vanquished by the fame alone
Of Cæsar's powers, to fight for such a prize.
And as some bull, his early combat lost,
Forth driven from the herd, in exile roams
Through lonely plains or secret forest depths, 680
Whets on opposing trunks his growing horn,
And proves himself for battle, till his neck
Is ribbed afresh with muscle: then returns,
Defiant of the hind, and victor now
Leads wheresoe'er he will his lowing bands:
Thus Magnus, yielding to a stronger foe,
Gave up Italia, and sought in flight
Brundusium's sheltering battlements.
'Last of all floods to join the refluent sea.
'Arabia and the warlike hordes that dwell
'Beside the Euxine wave: the famous land
'That lost the Golden Fleece; Cilician wastes,
'And Cappadocian, and the Jews who pray
'Before an unknown God; Sophene soft—
'All felt my yoke. What conquests now remain, 670
'What wars not civil can my kinsman wage?'
No loud acclaim received his words, nor shout
Asked for the promised battle: and the chief
Drew back the standards, for the soldier's fears
Were in his soul alike; nor dared he trust
An army, vanquished by the fame alone
Of Cæsar's powers, to fight for such a prize.
And as some bull, his early combat lost,
Forth driven from the herd, in exile roams
Through lonely plains or secret forest depths, 680
Whets on opposing trunks his growing horn,
And proves himself for battle, till his neck
Is ribbed afresh with muscle: then returns,
Defiant of the hind, and victor now
Leads wheresoe'er he will his lowing bands:
Thus Magnus, yielding to a stronger foe,
Gave up Italia, and sought in flight
Brundusium's sheltering battlements.
- ↑ Bætis is the Guadalquivir.
modern Assouan) is the town mentioned by the priest of Sais, who told Herodotus that 'between Syene and Elephantine are two hills with conical tops. The name of one of them is Crophi, and of the other, Mophi. Mid-way between them are the fountains of the Nile.' (Herod., II., chapter 28.) And see 'Paradise Regained,' IV., 70:—
