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(From Pharsalia)
Translated by Nicholas Rowe
UNEQUAL thus to Cæsar, Pompey yields | |
| The fair dominion of Hesperia’s fields: | |
| Swift through Apulia march his flying powers, | |
| And seek the safety of Brundusium’s towers. | |
| This city a Dictæan people hold, | 5 |
| Here placed by tall Athenian barks of old; | |
| When with false omens from the Cretan shore, | |
| Their sable sails victorious Theseus bore. | |
| Here Italy a narrow length extends, | |
| And in a scanty slip projected ends. | 10 |
| A crooked mole around the waves she winds, | |
| And in her folds the Adriatic binds. | |
| Nor yet the bending shores could form a bay, | |
| Did not a barrier isle the winds delay, | |
| And break the seas tempestuous in their way. | 15 |
| Huge mounds of rocks are placed by nature’s hand, | |
| To guard around the hospitable strand; | |
| To turn the storm, repulse the rushing tide, | |
| And bid the anchoring bark securely ride. | |
| Hence Nereus wide the liquid main displays, | 20 |
| And spreads to various ports his watery ways; | |
| Whether the pilot from Corcyra stand, | |
| Or for Illyrian Epidamnus’ strand. | |
| Hither when all the Adriatic roars, | |
| And thundering billows vex the double shores; | 25 |
| When sable clouds around the welkin spread, | |
| And frowning storms involve Ceraunia’s head; | |
| When white with froth Calabrian Sason lies, | |
| Hither the tempest-beaten vessel flies. | |
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