340 [from Lucan’s Pharsalia Book 1]

This said, the restles generall through the darke

(Swifter then bullets throwne from Spanish slinges,

Or darts which Parthians backward shoot) marcht on

And then (when Lucifer did shine alone,

5           And some dim stars) he Arriminum enter’d:

Day rose and viewde these tumultes of the war;

Whether the gods, or blustring south were cause

I know not, but the cloudy ayre did frown;

The soldiours having won the market place,

10         There spred the colours, with confused noise

Of trumpets clange, shril cornets, whistling fifes;

The people started; young men left their beds;

And snatcht armes neer their household gods hung up

Such as peace yeelds; wormeaten leatherne targets,

15         Through which the wood peer’d, headles darts, olde swords

With ugly teeth of blacke rust fouly scarr’d:

         But seeing white Eagles, and Roomes flags wel known,

         And lofty Cæsar in the thickest throng,

         They shooke for feare, and cold benumm’d their lims,

20         And muttering much, thus to themselves complain’d.

O wals unfortunate too neere to France,

Predestinate to ruine; all lands else

Have stable peace, here wars rage first begins,

We bide the first brunt, safer might we dwel,

25         Under the frosty beare, or parching East,

Wagons or tents, then in this frontire towne,

We first sustain’d the uproares of the Gaules,

And furious Cymbrians and of Carthage moores,

As oft as Roome was sackt, here gan the spoile:

30     Thus sighing whispered they, and none durst speake

         And shew their feare, or griefe: but as the fields

         When birds are silent thorough winters rage;

         Or sea far from the land, so all were whist.