Through his extended battle gives command,
The foremost lines in order fix'd shall stand;
Mean-while the laft, low lurking from the foe,
With fecret labour fink a trench below:
Successful they the deftin'd task purfue,
While closing files prevent the hostile view.
Soon as the morn renew'd the dawning gray,
He bids the foldier urge his speedy way,
To feize a vacant height that near Ilerda lay.
This faw the foe, and wing'd with fear and shame,
Through fecret paths with swift prevention came.
Now various motives various hopes afford,
To these the place, to those the conquering fword:
Opprefs'd beneath their armour's cumbrous weight,
Th' affailants labouring tempt the steepy height;
Half bending back they mount with panting pain,
The following croud their foremost mates fuftain; 65
Againft the fhelving precipice they toil,
And prop their hands upon the steely pile;
On cliffs, and fhrubs, their steps, fome climbing stay,
With cutting swords fome clear the woody way;
Nor death, nor wounds, their enemies annoy,
While other ufes now their arms employ.
Their chief the danger from afar survey'd,
And bade the horfe fly timely to their aid.
In order just the ready fquadrons ride,
Then wheeling to the right and left divide,
To flank the foot, and guard each naked side.
Safe in the middle space retire the foot,
Make good the rear, and fcorn the foes purfuit;
Each fide retreat, though each disdain to yield,
And claim the glory of the doubtful field.
Thus far the caufe of Rome by arms was try'd,
And human rage alone the war supply'd;
But now the elements new wrath prepare,
And gathering tempefts vex the troubled air,
Long had the earth by wintery frost been bound,
And the dry north had numb'd the lazy ground.
No furrow'd fields were drench'd with drifly rain,
Snow hid the hills, and hoary ice the plain.
All defolate the western climes were feen,
Keen were the blafts, and fharp the blue ferene,
To parch the fading herb, and dip the fpringing green.
At length the genial heat began to fhine,
With ftronger beams in Aries' vernal fign;
Again the golden day refum'd its right,
And rul'd in juft equation with the night:
The moon her monthly course had now begun,
And with increasing horns forfook the fun;
When Boreas, by night's filver emprefs driven,
To fofter airs refign'd the western heaven.
Then with warm breezes gentler Eurus came,
Glowing with India's and Arabia's flame.
The sweeping wind the gathering vapours preft,
From every region of the farthest east;
Nor hang they heavy in the midway sky,
But fpeedy to Hefperia driving fly;
To Calpe's hills the fluicy rains repair,
From north, and fouth, the clouds affemble there,
And darkening ftorms lour in the fluggish air.
Where western skies the utmost ocean bound,
The watery treasures heap the welkin round;
Thither they croud, and, fcanted in the space,
Scarce between heaven and earth can find a place.
Condens'd at length the fpouting torrents pour,
Earth fmokes, and rattles with the gushing shower;
Jove's forky fires are rarely feen to fly,
Extinguifa'd in the deluge foon they die;
Nor e'er before did dewy Iris show
Such fady colours, or fo maim'd a bow:
Unvary'd by the light's refracting beam,
She stoop'd to drink from ocean's briny stream;
Then to the dropping fky restor'd the rain:
Again the falling waters fought the main.
Then firft the covering fnows began to flow
From off the Pyrenean's hoary brow;
Huge hills of frost, a thousand ages old,
O'er which the fummer funs had vainly roll'd,
Now melting, rush from every fide amain,
Swell every brook, and deluge all the plain.
And now o'er Cæfar's camp the torrents fweep,
Bear down the works, and fill the trenches. deep. 130
Here men and arms in mix'd confusion swim,
And hollow tents drive with th' impetuous ftream;
Loft in the fpreading floods the land-marks lie,
Nor can the forager his way defcry.
No beafts for food the floating paftures yield,
Nor herbage rifes in the watery field.
And now, to fill the measure of their fears,
Her baleful vifage meagre
Seldom alone, fhe troops among the fiends,
And still on war and peftilence attends.
Unprefs'd, unftraiten'd by befieging foes,
All miferies of want the foldier knows.
Gladly he gives his little wealth, to eat,
And buys a morfel with his whole eftate.
Curs'd Merchandize! where life itself is fold,
And avarice confents to ftarve for gold!
No rock, no rifing mountain, rears his head,
No fingle river winds along the mead,
But one vaft lake o'er all the land is fpread.
No lofty grove, no foreft haunt is found,
But in his den deep lies the favage drown'd:
With headlong rage refiftlefs in its courfe,
The rapid torrent whirls the fnorting horse;
High o'er the fea the foamy freshes ride,
While backward Tethys turns her yielding tide. 155 Mean-time continued darknefs veils the fkies,
And funs with unavailing ardour rife;
Nature no more her various face can boaft,
But form is huddled up in night, and loft.
Such are the climes beneath the frozen zone,
Where chearless winter plants her dreary throne;
No golden ftars their gloomy heavens adorn,
Nor genial seasons to their earth return:
But everlasting ice and fnows appear,
Bind up the fummer figns, and curfe the barren year. 165
Almighty Sire! who doft fupremely reign,
And thou great ruler of the raging main !
Ye gracious gods I in mercy give command,
This defolation may for ever stand.
Thou Jové! for ever cloud thy ftormy sky;
Thou Neptune! bid thy angry waves run high:
Heave thy huge trident for a mighty blow,
Strike the ftrong earth, and bid her fountains flow;
Bid every river-god exhaust his urn,
Nor let thy own alternate tides return;
Wide let their blended waters wafte around,
Thefe regions, Rhine, and thofe of Rhone confound. Melt, ye hoar mountains of Riphæan snow;
Brooks, ftreams, and lakes, let all your fources go;
Your fpreading floods the guilt of Rome shall spare, 180
And fave the wretched world from Civil War.
But fortune ftay'd her short displeasure here,
Nor urg'd her minion with too long a fear;
With large increafe her favours full return'd,
As if the gods themselves his anger mourn'd;
As if his name were terrible to heaven,
And Providence could fue to be forgiven.
Now 'gan the welkin clear to fhine ferene,
And Phoebus potent in his rays was feen.
The scattering clouds difclos'd the piercing light, 190
And hung the firmament with fleecy white;
The troublous ftorm had spent his wrathful store,
And clattering rains were heard to rush no more.
Again the woods their leafy honours raife,
And herds upon the rifing mountains graze.
Day's genial heat upon the damps prevails,
And ripens into earth the slimy vales.
Bright glittering ftars adorn night's fpangled air,
And ruddy evening skies foretel the morning fair.
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