86
PHARSALIA
Book III
Oft in his fatal grasp he seized a foe 770
Nor loosed his grip until the life was gone.
Such was his frequent deed; but this his fate:
For rising, victor (as he thought), to air,
Full on a keel he struck and found his death.
Some, drowning, seized a hostile oar and checked
The flying vessel; not to die in vain,
Their single care; some on their vessel's side
Hanging, in death, with wounded frame essayed
To check the charging prow.
Tyrrhenus high
Upon the bulwarks of his ship was struck 780
By leaden bolt from Balearic sling
Of Lygdamus; straight through his temples passed
The fated missile; and in streams of blood
Forced from their seats his trembling eyeballs fell.
Plunged in a darkness as of night, he thought
That life had left him; yet ere long he knew
The living vigour of his limbs; and cried,
'Place me, O friends, as some machine of war
'Straight facing towards the foe; then shall my darts
'Strike as of old; and thou, Tyrrhenus, spend 790
'Thy latest breath, still left, upon the fight:
'So shalt thou play, not wholly dead, the part
'That fits a soldier, and the spear that strikes
'Thy frame, shall miss the living.' Thus he spake,
And hurled his javelin, blind, but not in vain;
For Argus, generous youth of noble blood,
Below the middle waist received the spear
And falling drave it home. His aged sire
From furthest portion of the conquered ship
Beheld; than whom in prime of manhood none 800
More brave in battle: now no more he fought,
Yet did the memory of his prowess stir
Nor loosed his grip until the life was gone.
Such was his frequent deed; but this his fate:
For rising, victor (as he thought), to air,
Full on a keel he struck and found his death.
Some, drowning, seized a hostile oar and checked
The flying vessel; not to die in vain,
Their single care; some on their vessel's side
Hanging, in death, with wounded frame essayed
To check the charging prow.
Tyrrhenus high
Upon the bulwarks of his ship was struck 780
By leaden bolt from Balearic sling
Of Lygdamus; straight through his temples passed
The fated missile; and in streams of blood
Forced from their seats his trembling eyeballs fell.
Plunged in a darkness as of night, he thought
That life had left him; yet ere long he knew
The living vigour of his limbs; and cried,
'Place me, O friends, as some machine of war
'Straight facing towards the foe; then shall my darts
'Strike as of old; and thou, Tyrrhenus, spend 790
'Thy latest breath, still left, upon the fight:
'So shalt thou play, not wholly dead, the part
'That fits a soldier, and the spear that strikes
'Thy frame, shall miss the living.' Thus he spake,
And hurled his javelin, blind, but not in vain;
For Argus, generous youth of noble blood,
Below the middle waist received the spear
And falling drave it home. His aged sire
From furthest portion of the conquered ship
Beheld; than whom in prime of manhood none 800
More brave in battle: now no more he fought,
Yet did the memory of his prowess stir
