Page:The Pharsalia of Lucan; (IA cu31924026485809).pdf/19
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PREFACE
xv
There fillèd with true light, with wond'ring eyes
The wand'ring planets and first stars he sees.
He sees our day involv'd in midst of night,
And laughs at his torne trunk's ridiculous plight.
Book IX. line 12.
The wand'ring planets and first stars he sees.
He sees our day involv'd in midst of night,
And laughs at his torne trunk's ridiculous plight.
Book IX. line 12.
The ponderous earth out of her center tost,
Her middle place in the world's orbe has lost;
So great a weight strooke by that voice was stirr'd
And on both sides the face of heaven appeared.
Book VI. line 481.
Her middle place in the world's orbe has lost;
So great a weight strooke by that voice was stirr'd
And on both sides the face of heaven appeared.
Book VI. line 481.
But his version of Cato's speech at the oracle of Hammon, Book IX. lines 566–584 (659–684 in this translation), will probably find admirers, and is as follows:
What, Labienus, should I seeke to know?
If I had rather dye in armes, than bow
Unto a Lord? if life be nought at all?
No difference betwixt long life and small?
If any force can hurt men vertuous?
If fortune loose, when vertue doth oppose
Her threats, if good desires be happinesse
And vertue grow not greater by successe?
Thus much we know, nor deeper can the skill
Of Ammon teach. The gods are with us still;
And though their oracles should silent be,
Nought can we doe without the gods decree;
Nor needs he voices; what was fit to know
The great Creator at our births did show.
Nor did he choose these barren sands to shew
(Hiding it heere) his trueth but to a few.
Is there a seate of God, save earth, and sea,
Aire, heaven, and vertue? Why for God should we
Seeke further? What ere moves, what ere is seene
Is Jove. For oracles let doubtfull men
Fearefull of future chances troubled be;
Sure death, not oracles, ascertaine me,
The coward and the valiant man must fall,
This is enough for Jove to speake to all.
If I had rather dye in armes, than bow
Unto a Lord? if life be nought at all?
No difference betwixt long life and small?
If any force can hurt men vertuous?
If fortune loose, when vertue doth oppose
Her threats, if good desires be happinesse
And vertue grow not greater by successe?
Thus much we know, nor deeper can the skill
Of Ammon teach. The gods are with us still;
And though their oracles should silent be,
Nought can we doe without the gods decree;
Nor needs he voices; what was fit to know
The great Creator at our births did show.
Nor did he choose these barren sands to shew
(Hiding it heere) his trueth but to a few.
Is there a seate of God, save earth, and sea,
Aire, heaven, and vertue? Why for God should we
Seeke further? What ere moves, what ere is seene
Is Jove. For oracles let doubtfull men
Fearefull of future chances troubled be;
Sure death, not oracles, ascertaine me,
The coward and the valiant man must fall,
This is enough for Jove to speake to all.