THE TENTH BOOK O F LUCA N'S PHAR SALIA, TRANSLATE D. THE ARGUMENT AND CONNECTION OF THE STORY WITH THE FOREGOING BOOKS. Pompey, flying to Egypt, after his defeat at Pharfalia, was, by the king's confent, bafely murdered by Pothinus, and his head prefented to Cæfar, as he approached the Ægyptian coaft, in pursuit of his enemy. The poet having represented this catastrophe in the two former books; the argument of the tenth book is as follows: Cæfar lands in Ægypt. He goes to Alexandria; visits the temple, and the fepulchre of the kings, in which Alexander the Great was buried. The poet, in a beautiful digreffion, declaims against the ambition of that monarch. Ptolemy, the young king of Ægypt, meets Cæfar at his arrival, and receives him into his palace. His fifter Cleopatra, who had been kept a prisoner in Pharos, makes her escape, and privately getting admittance to Cæfar, implores his protection. By his means fhe is reconciled to her brother; after which she entertains Cæfar at a feast. The The fupper being ended, Cæfar requests of Achoreus, the priest, an account of the antiquities of Ægypt, particularly of the river Nile. Achoreus's reply. The course of that river described, with an enumeration of the various opinions concerning its fpring, and the causes of its overflowing. Pothinus plots the death of Cæfar. His message to Achillas to invite him to join in this attempt. Achillas marches against Alexandria with an army composed of Ægyptians and Romans, and befieges Cæfar in the palace, who feizes Ptolemy as a pledge for his own fecurity. A herald, fent from the king to inquire the cause of this tumult, is flain. An attack being made, Cæfar defends himself, burns the Ægyptian fhips in the harbour, and poffeffes himfelf of Pharos, where he puts Pothinus to death. Arfinoe, younger fifter of Ptolemy, by the aid of Ganimede, her governor, arriving in the camp, caufes Achillas to be flain. Ganimede renews the attack against Cæfar, who is blocked up in Pharos, and reduced to the greatest extremity. HEN conquering Cæfar follow'd to the land His rival's head, and trod the barbarous itrand, His fortune ftrove with guilty Egypt's fate In doubtful fight, and this the dire debate ; Shall Roman arms great Lagus' realm enthrall? Or fhall the victor, like the vanquish'd, fall By Egypt's fword? Pompey, thy ghost withstood Th' impending blow, and fav'd the general's blood, 5 Left Rome, too happy after lofs of thee, Secure, and with this barbarous pledge content, 10 15 Obferving Cæfar foon his error spy'd, That not for him his mighty rival dy'd, Yet fmooth'd his brow, all marks of fear fupprefs'd, And hid his cares, deep bury'd in his breast. Then with intrepid mien he took his way, The city walls and temples to furvey, Works which thy ancient power, great Macedon, difplay. 20 25 He view'd the fplendid fanes with careless eyes, 30 The fport of winds, or in the ocean loft, Had met a jufter fate, this tomb obtain❜d, And facred, to that kingdom's end, remain’d. 35 0! O! fhould aufpicious years roll round again, Difdaining what his father won before, He left his home; while Fortune smooth'd his way, Nor yet content, a navy he provides, 50 40 45 } } Had Heaven but giv'n him line, he had outrun March'd round the poles, and drank discover❜d Nile 60 At his fpring-head-But winged fate the while Comes on with speed, the funeral hour draws near; Death only could arrest his mad career, Who Who to his grave the world's fole empire bore, 65 Yet Babylon firft yielded to his arms, ours, Th' unconquer'd East defies our feeble powers, So fatal once to Rome's great Craffi known, Now from Pelufium, where expanding wide And undiscover'd lands, and lurks within the court. Provok'd the Grecian and the Trojan arms, -No lefs did Cleopatra's eyes infpire VOL. XXXL U 70 75 80 A rabble |