Book I
THE CROSSING OF THE RUBICON
23
Shrouded his burning car in blackest gloom
And plunged the world in darkness, so that men
Despaired of day—like as he veiled his light
[1]From that fell banquet which Mycenæ saw. 600
The jaws of Etna were agape with flame
That rose not heavenwards, but headlong fell
In smoking stream upon the Italian flank.
Then black Charybdis, from her boundless depth,
Threw up a gory sea. In piteous tones
Howled the wild dogs; the Vestal fire was snatched
From off the altar; and the flame that crowned
The Latin festival was split in twain,
As on the Theban pyre,[2] in ancient days;
Earth tottered on its base: the mighty Alps 610
From off their summits shook th' eternal snow.[3]
In huge upheaval Ocean raised his waves
O'er Calpe's rock and Atlas' hoary head.
The native gods shed tears, and holy sweat
Dropped from the idols; gifts in temples fell:
Foul birds defiled the day; beasts left the woods
And made their lair among the streets of Rome.
All this we hear; nay more: dumb oxen spake;
Monsters were brought to birth and mothers shrieked
At their own offspring; words of dire import 620
From Cumæ's prophetess were noised abroad.
And plunged the world in darkness, so that men
Despaired of day—like as he veiled his light
[1]From that fell banquet which Mycenæ saw. 600
The jaws of Etna were agape with flame
That rose not heavenwards, but headlong fell
In smoking stream upon the Italian flank.
Then black Charybdis, from her boundless depth,
Threw up a gory sea. In piteous tones
Howled the wild dogs; the Vestal fire was snatched
From off the altar; and the flame that crowned
The Latin festival was split in twain,
As on the Theban pyre,[2] in ancient days;
Earth tottered on its base: the mighty Alps 610
From off their summits shook th' eternal snow.[3]
In huge upheaval Ocean raised his waves
O'er Calpe's rock and Atlas' hoary head.
The native gods shed tears, and holy sweat
Dropped from the idols; gifts in temples fell:
Foul birds defiled the day; beasts left the woods
And made their lair among the streets of Rome.
All this we hear; nay more: dumb oxen spake;
Monsters were brought to birth and mothers shrieked
At their own offspring; words of dire import 620
From Cumæ's prophetess were noised abroad.
- ↑ Compare Ben Jonson's 'Catiline,' I. I:—Lecca. The day goes back,
Or else my senses.
Curius. As at Atrens' feast. - ↑ When the Theban brothers. Eteocles and Polynices, were being burned on the some pyre, the flame shot up in two separate tongues, indicating that even in death they could not be reconciled. (Mr. Haskins' note, citing Statius. 'Theb.')
- ↑ 'Shock the old snow from off their trembling laps.' (Marlowe.) The Latin word is jugis".
