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(From Pharsalia, Book IX)
Translated by Nicholas Rowe
NOW near approaching to the burning zone, | |
| To warmer, calmer skies they journeyed on. | |
| The slackening storms the neighboring sun confess, | |
| The heat strikes fiercer, and the winds grow less, | |
| Whilst parching thirst and fainting sweats increase. | 5 |
| As forward on the weary way they went, | |
| Panting with drought, and all with labor spent, | |
| Amidst the desert desolate and dry, | |
| One chanced a little trickling spring to spy: | |
| Proud of the prize, he drained the scanty store, | 10 |
| And in his helmet to the chieftain bore. | |
| Around, in crowds, the thirsty legions stood, | |
| Their throats and clammy jaws with dust bestrewed, | |
| And all with wishful eyes the liquid treasure viewed. | |
| Round the leader cast his careful look, | 15 |
| Sternly, the tempting envied gift he took, | |
| Held it, and thus the giver fierce bespoke: | |
| “And think’st thou then that I want virtue most! | |
| Am I the meanest of this Roman host! | |
| Am I the first soft coward that complains! | 20 |
| That shrinks, unequal to these glorious pains! | |
| Am I in ease and infamy the first! | |
| Rather be thou, base as thou art, accursed, | |
| Thou that dar’st drink, when all beside thee thirst.” | |
| He said; and wrathful stretching forth his hand, | 25 |
| Poured out the precious draught upon the sand. | |
| Well did the water thus for all provide, | |
| Envied by none, while thus to all denied, | |
| A little thus the general want supplied. | |
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