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THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY

FOUNDED BY JAMES LOEB, LL.D.

EDITED BY fT. E. PAGE, C.H., LITT.D.

t E. CAPPS, PH.D., LL.D. t W. H. D. ROUSE, litt.d.

L. A. POST, L.H.D. E. H. WARMINGTON, m.a., f.r.hist.soc.

SILIUS ITALICUS I

SILIUS ITALICUS

PUNIC A

WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY J. D. DUFF

M.A., HON.D.LITT. DURHAM

rEIXOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDOB

IN TWO VOLUMES I

LONDON

WILTJAM HEINEMANN LTD

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS

MCMLXI

First printed 1927 Reprinted 1949, 1961

Printed in Great Britain

TO

A. E. H.

AND

W. T. V.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I

PAOS

Preface ....... vii

Introduction :

I. Life of Silius Italicus , , , ix

11. The Poem of Silius Italicus . . xi

III. Manuscripts, Editions, Translations . xvi

Book 1 2

Book II 58

Book III 112

Book IV 168

Book V 232

Book VI 282

Book VII 336

Book VIII 392

PREFACE

The introduction deals first with the life of Silius Italicus, as it is described by Pliny and Martial, and then with his poem, the Punica, which deserves, in the translator's opinion, more respectful treatment than it has generally received in modern times. A short account is added of the manuscripts, editions, and translations.

The text follows, in the main, that of L. Bauer (Teubner, Leipzig, 1890) ; but many of the emenda- tions proposed by Bentley, Bothe, Heinsius, and others, which Bauer includes in his apparatus, are here promoted to the text. The most important of these emendations are indicated in notes below the text.

In the translation I have tried to be true to the original and, at the same time, merciful to the English reader. The poem is so full of allusion that it seemed necessary to add a number of notes, elucidating points of biography, geography, history, and mythology. I have done my best to keep each note within compass. It should be understood that these notes refer to the translation only and not to the Latin text.

Silius is not, in general, an obscure writer. But VOL. I A 2 vii

PREFACE

his poem, like all ancient poems, includes corrupt or difficult passages, on which I have often applied for aid to two powerful allies, Professor A. E. Housman and Mr. W. T. Vesey, Fellow of Gonville and Caius College ; it is a pleasure to record here my indebted- ness to both these scholars.

J. D. Duff. July, 1933.

I

Via I

INTRODUCTION

I. Life of Silius Italicus

SiLius Italicus lived to the age of seventy-five and died A.D. 101 ; he was therefore born a.d. 26. At the time of his birth Tiberius was emperor ; and he lived to see Trajan succeed Nerva. His death did not come in the course of nature : he was afflicted by a chronic ailment and put an end to his sufferings by abstaining from food — a manner of death which was not regarded by the Romans of that age as a crime but as a brave and virtuous action.

Our knowledge of this fact and of his life in general is derived from a letter of Pliny's (iii. 7). Pliny regarded his friend as a fortunate man and happy down to the last day of his life. Of his two sons Silius had lost one ; but the survivor was the more satisfactory son of the two and had even risen, in his father's life-time, to the dignity of the consulship.

Silius was not merely a poet. His poem was the work of his old age when he had retired from public affairs and was living in studious seclusion near Naples. He was consul himself a.d. 68 — the year of Nero's downfall and death ; and he gained a high reputation when he governed the province of Asia as proconsul. Phny hints that his poHtical conduct

ix

INTRODUCTION

during Nero's reign had been open to censure, but says that his later hfe atoned for any early indiscretions. We learn also from Martial ^ that he was famous in his younger days as a pleader in the law-courts.

Silius was a rich man and was able to gratify expen- sive tastes. He bought one fine country-house after another, and filled them with books, pictures, and statues. Upon his busts of Virgil he set special value. He bought the site of Virgil's tomb at Naples, which had fallen into neglect, and restored it. He made pilgrimages to the spot, and kept Virgil's birthday, October 15, with more ceremony than his own. Another of his acquisitions was a house that had belonged to Cicero,^ whom Silius revered as the greatest of Roman orators.*'

His life of retirement was not a solitary life : he received many visitors, with whom he liked to con- verse on literary topics, generally lying on his sofa ; and at times he entertained his guests by reading extracts from his poem, and asked for their criticism. (Pliny himself did not think highly of the poem : it was painstaking, he thought, but lacked genius.)

Thus Silius lived on, respected and courted, until he put an end to his life by his own act. The ailment from which he suffered is described by the word clavus ; the name that modern medical science would give to this affliction is uncertain, but it was incur- able ; and, like a guest who had eaten his fill, he withdrew from the scene.

« vii. 63. * Mart. xi. 48. 9.

"His reverence for both Virgil and Cicero is recorded in his poem : see viii. 593, 594, and viii. 408-413.

X

I

INTRODUCTION

II. The Poem of Silius Italicus

Tlie Punica of Silius Italicus is the longest Latin poem : it contains upwards of 12,000 verses. Its subject is the Second Punic War, the most critical period in the history of the Republic. Hannibal is the true hero of the story, though Silius evidently intended to cast Scipio for that part. The narrative begins with Hannibal's oath and ends with the battle of Zama. There are two long digressions : the first (of 500 lines) fills most of the Sixth Book and contains the story of Regulus which properly belongs to the First Punic War ; and the second digression (in the Eighth Book) devotes 200 lines to the adventures of Anna, the sister of Dido, who has become the Nymph of an Italian river, so that her sympathies are, or ought to be, divided between the combatants. Other- wise, the narrative proceeds in orderly sequence from beginning to end." It was certainly based upon Livy's Third Decad. But Silius owes much more to Virgil's Aeneid than to any other source. He had soaked his mind in Virgil.

There are undoubtedly long stretches in the poem which no modern reader can enjoy. Silius gives ample space, too ample, to the six great battles of the war — Ticinus, Trebia, Lake Trasimene, Cannae, the Metaurus, and Zama ; and the details of slaughter become in him, as they become in better poets, monotonous and repulsive. Then there are the

" There is serious disorder in Book XVII. about 1. 290. But I agree with tliose editors who assume a lacuna here ; and it may well be a very large lacuna. For the lacuna in Book VIII. see p. xvii.

xi

INTRODUCTION

catalogues. The Catalogue was an indispensable part of an ancient Epic, and Silius has many of them — a catalogue of the Carthaginian forces, a catalogue of the Italian contingents who fought at Cannae, a catalogue of Sicilian towns and rivers, and others as well ; and these long lists of names and places, many of them quite obscure, are wearisome. Few poets have had the art to make catalogues interesting. Milton could do it ; and a very different poet from Milton wrote an excellent catalogue — the first part of Macaulay's Horatius. " From lordly Volaterrae " and so on is a catalogue of the Tuscan cities, which the reader, especially the youthful reader, finds delightful.

But the Punica does not consist entirely of carnage and catalogues. What of the poem as a whole ? Does it deserve its deplorable reputation ?

Of some writers it is the custom to say that they are more praised than read ; but no one ever said this of SiHus. Of him it would be truer to say that he is more blamed than read. Even Madvig, who does not blame him, admits that he had only read the poem in parts and celerrime.^ There is no doubt about the verdict pronounced by modern critics and historians of Roman literature. They say very little about Silius,'' but they are all of one opinion — that he was a dull man who wrote a bad poem. And this is the view of the educated public. I believe myself that this judgement is much too summary, and that

" Adversaria Critica, ii. p. 161.

* This is not true of Professor J. Wight Duff, the latest critic of Silius. His discussion of the poem is full and careful {JAterary History of Rome in the Silver Age (1927), pp. 452 foil.) ; but he seems to me somewhat blind to its merits. xii

INTRODUCTION

scholars would think better of the poem if they would condescend to read it.

We know that it was the work of an old man, and the fire and vigour of youth are not to be found in it ; its merits are of another sort. The versification is in general pleasing, and much less monotonous than that of Lucan. Not that Silius had a really fine ear for the beautiful arrangement of vowels and consonants : he is capable of beginning a line with certatisfatis, and ending i mother with genitore PehreJ^ Then too many of his verses end with a trochee ; and the Latin hexameter verse, unlike the Greek in this respect, is shorn of its true majesty if the trochaic ending is used too often.

The chief fault of style in the poem is tautology. Silius evidently thought that a plain statement of fact was improved, if he repeated it over again in different words. Examples may be found on almost every page.

Then there is another peculiarity of expression which is decidedly disconcerting to the reader. I believe that Sihus did himself serious injury by what might seem a trifling matter — his system of nomen- clature. The subject of his poem, the struggle between Carthage and Rome, is stated in the first two lines. But the Romans are not there called Romani : they are called Aeneadae ; and the " supremacy of Italy " is expressed by Oenotria iura, though Oenotria is not Italy but a name given by Greeks in early times to a district or kingdom in the southernmost part of Italy.

Sihus evidently felt that Romani and Itali might

• ix. 543 : xvi. 426.

xiii

INTRODUCTION

recur too often, and that aliases must be found Variety is good ; but here it was carried to excess. The following list of variants for Romani may not be exhaustive, but is surely too long : Aeneadae, Aurunci, Ausonidae and Ausonii^ Dardanidae, Dardani and Dardanii, Dauni and Daunii, Evandrei, Hectorei, Hesperii, Idaei, Iliad, Itali, Laomedontiadae, Latii and Latini, Laurentes, Martigenae, Oenotri, Phryges and Phrygil, Priamidae, Rkoetei, Saturnii, Sigei, Teucri, Troes, Troiugenae, and Tyrrheni. The Carthaginians also are called by nearly a dozen different names. I have thought it best not always to follow Silius in this particular.

The great Roman poets, Lucretius and Virgil, Catullus and Horace, have their place apart ; and Silius has no claim to be ranked with these or near them. Yet, when defects are admitted and due qualifications made, the reader of the Punica, once he has surmounted the obstacles, will find much pleasant walking there. If anyone doubts whether Silius could write poetry, let him read the twenty- three lines in which the aspect and habits of the god Pan are described (xiii. 326-347). If Ovid had written these charming verses, every scholar would know them and critics would be eloquent in their praise. Silius is full of incidental narrative, and he tells a short story well, though it must be admitted that his main narrative is too apt to hang fire. And one quality he has which is a constant com- fort and satisfaction to some at least of his readers. Though inferior to Statius in brilliance and far inferior to Lucan in intellectual force, he is almost entirely free from that misplaced ingenuity which pervades the whole of their works and makes xiv

INTRODUCTION

the reader feel too often as if he were solving puzzles rather than reading poetry.

I shall end by referring to four passages (none of which seems to have been noticed by the contemptu- ous critics) as proofs of Silius's narrative power.

(i.) V. 344 foil. Silius describes how Mago, Hanni- bal's brother, was wounded ; how Hannibal flew to the spot, conveyed the wounded man to the camp, and summoned medical aid to dress the wound. For Hannibal had a famous physician, a descendant of Jupiter Ammon, in his train. (He had also a prophet, whose name was not, to our ears, a recommendation : he was called Bogus.)

(ii.) vii. 282 foil. This is a night scene and recalls the beginning of Matthew Arnold's " Sohrab and Rustum."^ Hannibal has been caught in a trap by Quintus Fabius, the famous Cunctator. Unable to sleep for anxiety, he rises and wakens his brother, Mago ; they make a round of the camp together, and visit the chief captains, to suggest a plan of escape.

Both these extracts are vivid and swift pieces of narrative.

(iii.) The third passage (xvi. 229 foil.) has even higher merit. The scene is dramatic and picturesque ; it is even romantic. The place is the palace of Syphax, king of Numidia, whose alliance Scipio was anxious to secure against Carthage. Scipio had crossed over from Spain to Africa for this purpose.'' We read how the Roman general, the conqueror of Spain, rose from his bed before sunrise and went to

" Both Silius and Arnold doubtless had in mind the beginning of the Tenth Book of the Iliad, * This is a historical fact.

INTRODUCTION

the palace, where he found the king playing with the lion-cubs that he kept as pets. Both were young men, and the younger of the two had a young man's generous hero-worship for his Roman visitor, and ex- presses it in the conversation that follows.

(iv.) ix. 401 foil. This is a scene from the battle of Cannae. It describes the friendship between Marius and Caper, two natives of Praeneste who fell side by side in the battle. There is no doubt that there were really no such persons, and that the entire incident, like many others, was invented by Silius. But the man who wrote these lines was certainly a poet ; and I shall venture to say of them

fiiofJirjareTai ns fxaXXov i) /Ai/xrjcreTat.

III. Manuscripts, Editions, Translations

(a) In 1416 or 1417, during the Council of Con- stance, Poggio, the learned Florentine who unearthed so many Latin authors, found, probably at St. Gall, a manuscript of Silius ; a copy of this was taken by Poggio or one of his companions ; and from that copy all the existing mss. are descended. Neither the original ms. nor the original copy of it is now extant. Editors use the letter S to denote this ms., and C to denote another ms. which was once in the Cathedral library at Cologne ; this ms. also is lost, and its readings are known only from notes made by two scholars towards the end of the sixteenth century. Of the extant mss. four, all written in the fifteenth century, are thought to be better than the rest. Their readings are cited in the critical editions mentioned below. xvi

INTRODUCTION

(b) The two earliest editions were printed at Rome in 1471 ; many others followed, most of them printed in Italy and others in France and Germany. The Aldine edition of 1523 is important in the history of the text, because it offers 81 lines of the poem (viii. 145-225) which are found in no manuscript and in none of the previous editions, though some of the editors had pointed out that there must be a lacuna in the text. The source from which these verses are derived is a matter of dispute : some critics believe them to be the work of a forger ; others hold that they were written by Silius and that the loss of them was due to some mutilation of S, the original ms. at St. Gall. It is certain that the verses fit in perfectly with the context, and that they are such aa Sihus might have written.**

Of later editions the most important are those of G. A. Ruperti (Gottingen, 1795), F. H. Bothe (Stuttgart, 1855), L. Bauer (Leipzig, 1890), and W. C. Summers (London, 1905) in Postgate's Corpus Poetarum Latinorum.

Ruperti 's edition (which was reprinted in a more convenient form by N. E. Lemaire, Paris, 1823) combines immense learning with a candour and simplicity that are most attractive. But he is not an ideal editor : too often he explains at great length what is perfectly clear already, and says nothing where explanation is needed. But his book is indispensable.

Bothe did not publish a text. He translated the

" For a full discussion of this lacuna see Mr. Heitland's article in the Journal of Philolocfy, vol. xxiv. pp. 179-211: he has no doubt that the verses are genuine ; and his opinion carries weight.

xvii

INTRODUCTION

whole poem into German hexameters, archaic both in vocabulary and style, and added below his version notes which deal both with text and interpretation. He is too ready to meddle with the text ; but his brief business-like notes are most valuable. His translation is close and correct, and has fewer lines than the original, which is surely a remarkable feat of compression.

Bauer's text is the work of a competent and careful scholar. The revision by Professor W. C. Summers deserves the same praise and contains some important corrections, by himself and Postgate, of the text of SiUus ; and in punctuation it is much superior to any other text.

(c) Three translations of Silius are known to me. The earhest is by Thomas Ross, " Keeper of His Majesties' Libraries, and Groom of His most Hon- ourable Privy-Chamber." The king was Charles II. The preface is dated at Bruges, November 18, 1657, and the work was pubHshed in London in 1672, twelve years after the Restoration. The translator added a supplement of his own in three books, carrying the story down to the death of Hannibal. The first book is dedicated to the King, the second to the Duke of York, afterwards James II., and the third to the memory of the Duke of Gloucester, the third son of Charles I. Ross was a fairly good scholar, but his versification is unpleasing. The rhyming heroic verse which he chose for his metre was still in its infancy : Dryden had not yet seriously taken it in hand. The second translation, by F. H. Bothe, is spoken of above. The third, printed below the Didot text, has little merit and many mistakes, xviii

SILIUS ITALICUS

BOOKS I-VIII

PUNICORUM

LIBER PRIMUS

ARGUMENT

The subject of the poem is the Second Punic War (1-20). The cause of the war was Juno's hatred of Rome. She chooses Hannibal as her instrument (21-55). HannibaVs character, and the oath he swore in boyhood (56-139). Has- drubal succeeds Hamilcar as commander in Spain : his character, conquests, and death (140-181). Hannibal is chosen to succeed Hasdrubal by all the army in Spain, both

Ordior arma, quibus caelo se gloria tollit Aeneadum patiturque ferox Oenotria iura Carthago, da, Musa, decus memorare laborum antiquae Hesperiae, quantosque ad bella crearit et quot Roma viros, sacri cum perfida pacti 5

gens Cadmea super regno certamina movit, quaesitumque diu, qua tandem poneret arce terrarum Fortuna caput, ter Marte sinistro iuratumque lovi foedus conventaque patrum Sidonii fregere duces, atque impius ensis 10

ter placitam suasit temerando rumpere pacemi.

* Oenotria, the Greek name of an ancient kingdom in S. Italy, is one of the many synonyms for Italy which occur in the poem : see p. xiii.

" Sidonians, Tyrians, Cadmeans, and other names are used by Silius to denote the Carthaginians. 2

»

PUNICA

BOOK I ARGUMENT (continued)

Carthaginians and Spaniards (182-238). Character of Hannibal (239-267). He resolves to attack Saguntum : posi- tion and history of the city (268-295). The siege of Saguntum (296-ii. 695). The Saguntines send an embassy to Rome : the speech of Sicoris (564-671). In the Senate Cn. Cornelius Lentulus and Q. Fabius Maximus express different views : envoys are sent to Hannibal (672-694).

Here I begin the war by which the fame of the Aeneadae was raised to heaven and proud Carthage submitted to the rule of Italy." Grant me, O Muse, to record the splendid achievements of Italy in ancient days, and to tell of all those heroes whom Rome brought forth for the strife, when the people of Cadmus ^ broke their solemn bond and began the contest for sovereignty ; and for long it remained uncertain, on which of the two citadels Fortune would establish the capital of the world. Thrice over with unholy warfare did the Carthaginian leaders violate their compact with the Senate and the treaty they had sworn by Jupiter to observe ; and thrice over the lawless sword induced them wantonly to break the peace they had approved. But in the

3

SILIUS ITALICUS

sed medio finem bello excidiumque vicissim molitae gentes, propiusque fuere periclo, quis superare datum : reseravit Dardanus arces ductor Agenoreas, obsessa Palatia vallo 15

Poenorum, ac muris defendit Roma salutem.

Tantarum causas irarum odiumque perenni servatum studio et mandata nepotibus arma fas aperire mihi superasque recludere mentes. iamque adeo magni repetam primordia motus. 20

Pygmalioneis quondam per caerula terris pollutum fugiens fraterno crimine regnum fatali Dido Libyes appellitur orae. turn pretio mercata locos nova moenia ponit, cingere qua secto permissum litora tauro. 25

hie luno ante Argos (sic credidit alta vetustas) ante Agamemnoniam, gratissima tecta, Mycenen optavit profugis aeternam condere gent em. verum ubi magnanimis Romam caput urbibus alte exerere ac missas etiam trans aequora classes 30

totum signa videt victricia ferre per orbem, iam propius metuens bellandi corda furore Phoenicum extimulat. sed enim conanime primae contuso pugnae fractisque in gurgite coeptis Sicanio Libycis, iterum instaurata capessens 35

" There were three Punic wars : the second of these is the subject of the poem.

" Scipio Africanus, in 202 b.c. Silius often uses Dardanus as equivalent to Romanus, because the Romans were descendants of Aeneas, an exile from Troy.

* Pygmalion, king of Tyre, treacherously murdered Sychaeus, his brother-in-law and Dido's husband, for the sake of his wealth ; but Dido managed to carry the treasure off to Africa. 4

PUNICA, I. 12-36

second war ° each nation strove to destroy and ex- terminate her rival, and those to whom victory was granted came nearer to destruction : in it a Roman general ^ stormed the citadel of Carthage, the Pala- tine was surrounded and besieged by Hannibal, and Rome made good her safety by her walls alone.

The causes of such fierce anger, the hatred main- tained with unabated fury, the war bequeathed by sire to son and by son to grandson — these things I am permitted to reveal, and to disclose the purposes of Heaven. And now I shall begin by tracing the origin of this great upheaval.

When Dido long ago fled across the sea from the land of Pygmalion,'^ leaving behind her the realm polluted by her brother's guilt, she landed on the destined shore of Libya. There she bought land for a price and founded a new city, where she was per- mitted to lay strips of a bull's hide round the strand. Here — so remote antiquity believed — Juno elected to found for the exiles a nation to last for ever, preferring it to Argos, and to Mycenae, the city of Agamemnon and her chosen dwelling-place. But when she saw Rome lifting her head high among aspiring cities, and even sending fleets across the sea to carry her victorious standards over all the earth, then the goddess felt the danger close and stirred up in the minds of the Phoenicians a frenzy for war. But the effort of their first campaign was crushed, and the enterprise of the Carthaginians was wrecked on the Sicilian sea ^ ; and then Juno took up the sword again

** The first Punic war ended in a great victory at sea for the Romans, near the Aegatian islands off the promontory of Lilybaeum (242 b.c).

SILIUS ITALICUS

arma remolitur ; dux omnia sufficit unus turbanti terra^ pontumque movere paranti.

lamque deae cunctas sibi belliger induit iras Hannibal ; hunc audet solum componere fatis. sanguineo tum laeta viro atque in regna Latini 40 turbine mox saevo venientum haud inscia cladum, " intulerit Latio, spreta me, Troius," inquit, " exul Dardaniam et bis numina capta penates sceptraque fundarit victor Lavinia Teucris, dum Romana tuae, Ticine, cadavera ripae 45

non capiant, famulusque^ mihi per Celtica rura sanguine Pergameo Trebia et stipantibus armis corporibusque virum retro fluat, ac sua largo stagna reformidet Thrasymennus turbida tabo ; dum Cannas, tumulum Hesperiae, campumque cruore Ausonio mersum sublimis lapyga cernam 51

teque vadi dubium coeuntibus, Aufide, ripis per clipeos galeasque virum caesosque per artus vix iter Hadriaci rumpentem ad litora ponti." haec ait ac iuvenem facta ad Mavortia flammat. 55

Ingenio motus avidus fideique sinister is fuit, exsuperans astu, sed devius aequi. armato nullus divum pudor ; improba virtus et pacis despectus honos ; penitusque medullis

^ omnia . . . terra Madvig : agmina . . . terras edd. 2 famulus Postgate : similis edd.

" The legendary king of Laurentum who welcomed Aeneas on his arrival in Italy. The " realm of Latinus " stands for either Rome or Italy.

^ Aeneas.

" Troy : and so " Teucrians " below stands for " Romans."

'^ Troy was taken first by Hercules, when he had been deceived by Laomedon, king of Troy ; and secondly by the Greeks under Agamemnon.

* Juno enumerates the four main victories gained by

6

PUNICA, I. 36-69

for a fresh conflict. When she upset all things on earth and was preparing to stir up the sea, she found a sufficient instrument in a single leader.

Now warlike Hannibal clothed himself with all the wrath of the goddess ; his single arm she dared to match against destiny. Then, rejoicing in that man of blood, and aware of the fierce storm of disasters in store for the realm of Latinus,** she spoke thus : "In defiance of me, the exile from Troy^ brought Dardania " to Latium, together with his household gods — deities that were twice taken prisoners ** ; and he gained a victory and founded a kingdom for the Teucrians at Lavinium. That may pass — provided that the banks of the Ticinus ^ cannot contain the Roman dead, and that the Trebia, obedient to me, shall flow backwards through the fields of Gaul, blocked by the blood of Romans and their weapons and the corpses of men ; provided that Lake Trasi- mene shall be terrified by its own pools darkened with streams of gore, and that I shall see from heaven Cannae, the grave of Italy, and the lapygian plain inundated with Roman blood, while the Aufidus, doubtful of its course as its banks close in, can hardly force a passage to the Adriatic shore through shields and helmets and severed limbs of men." With these words she fired the youthful warrior for deeds of battle.

By nature he was eager for action and faithless to his plighted word, a past master in cunning but a stray er from justice. Once armed, he had no respect for Heaven ; he was brave for evil and despised the glory of peace ; and a thirst for human blood burned

Hannibal over the Romans in Italy: (1) on the Ticinus; (2) on the Trebia ; (3) at Lake Trasimene ; (4) at Cannae, by the river Aufidus.

7

SILIUS ITALICUS

sanguinis humani flagrat sitis. his super, aevi 60 flore virens, avet Aegates abolere, parentum dedecus, ac Siculo demergere foedera ponto. dat mentem luno ac laudum spe corda fatigat. iamque aut nocturno penetrat Capitolia visu aut rapidis fertur per summas passibus Alpes. 65

saepe etiam famuli turbato ad limina somno expavere trucem per vasta silentia vocem, ac largo sudore virum invenere futuras miscentem pugnas et inania bella gerentem.

Hanc rabiem in fines Italum Saturniaque arva 70 addiderat laudem puero patrius furor orsus.^ Sarrana prisci Barcae de gente, vetustos a Belo numerabat avos. namque orba marito cum fugeret Dido famulam Tyron, impia diri Belides iuvenis vitaverat arma tyranni 75

et se participem casus sociarat in omnes. nobilis hoc ortu et dextra spectatus Hamilcar, ut fari primamque datum distinguere lingua Hannibali vocem, sollers nutrire furores, Romanum sevit puerili in pectore bellum. 80

Urbe fuit media sacrum genetricis Elissae manibus et patria Tyriis formidine cultum, quod taxi circum et piceae squalentibus umbris abdiderant caelique arcebant lumine, templum. hoc sese, ut perhibent, curis mortalibus olim 85

' Thus emended by Housman : tantam puero patris heu furor altus Bauer.

« See note to 1. 35.

^ The legendary ruler of Latium, whose reign was the Golden Age.

" Akingof Tyre, also called Sarra; perhaps a title borne by all the kings of Tyre. The father of Dido was called Belus.

^ Barcas. 8

PUNICA, I. 60-85

I...,..,.. „.,.,.,

vigour longed to blot out the Aegates,^ the shame of the last generation, and to drown the treaty of peace in the Sicilian sea. Juno inspired him and tormented his spirit with ambition. Already, in visions of the night, he either stormed the Capitol or marched at speed over the summits of the Alps. Often too the servants who slept at his door were roused and terrified by a fierce cry that broke the desolate silence, and found their master dripping with sweat, while he fought battles still to come and waged imaginary warfare.

When he was a mere child, his father's passion had kindled in Hannibal this frenzy against Italy and the realm of Saturn,'' and started him on his glorious career. Hamilcar, sprung from the Tyrian house of ancient Barcas, reckoned his long descent from Belus.<' For, when Dido lost her husband and fled from a Tyre reduced to slavery, the young scion of Belus<* had escaped the unrighteous sword of the dread tyrant,* and had joined his fortunes with hers for weal or woe. Thus nobly born and a proved warrior, Hamilcar, as soon as Hannibal could speak and utter his first distinct words, sowed war with Rome in the boy's heart ; and well he knew how to feed angry passions.

In the centre of Carthage stood a temple, sacred to the spirit of Elissa,^ the foundress, and regarded with hereditary awe by the people. Round it stood yew- trees and pines with their melancholy shade, which hid it and kept away the light of heaven. Here, as it was reported, the queen had cast off long ago the ills

* Pygmalion. f Another name for Dido.

SILIUS ITALICUS

exuerat regina loco, stant marmore maesto effigies, Belusque parens omnisque nepotum a Belo series ; stat gloria gentis Agenor, et qui longa dedit terris cognomina Phoenix, ipsa sedet tandem aeternum coniuncta Sychaeo ; 90 ante pedes ensis Phrygius iacet ; ordine centum stant arae caelique dels Erebique potenti. hie, crine efFuso, atque Hennaeae numina divae atque Acheronta vocat Stygia cum veste sacerdos. immugit tellus rumpitque horrenda per umbras 95 sibila ; inaccensi flagrant altaribus ignes. turn magico volitant cantu per inania manes exciti, vultusque in marmore sudat Elissae. Hannibal haec patrio iussu ad penetralia fertur ; ingressique habitus atque ora explorat Hamilcar. 100 non ille euhantis Massylae palluit iras, non diros templi ritus aspersaque tabo limina et audito surgentes carmine flammas. oUi permulcens genitor caput oscula libat attolhtque animos hortando et talibus implet : 105 " Gens recidiva Phrygum Cadmeae stirpis alumnos foederibus non aequa premit ; si fata negarint dedecus id patriae nostra depellere dextra,

" Phoenicia. The Roman name for the Carthaginians was Poeni.

^ The sword given her by Aeneas, with which she killed herself.

" Erebus is one of many names for Hades ; Acheron (1. 94), properly a river in Hades, is another such name.

<* Proserpina : she was gathering flowers at Henna in Sicily, when Pluto carried her down to Hades to be his queen.

* i.e. African. The Massyli were a powerful tribe who occupied what is now called Algeria : see note to iii. 282.

10

PUNICA, I. 86-108

that flesh is heir to. Statues of mournful marble stood there — Belus, the founder of the race, and all the line descended from Belus ; Agenor also, the nation's boast, and Phoenix who gave a lasting name" to his country. There Dido herself was seated, at last united for ever to Sychaeus ; and at her feet lay the Trojan sword. ^ A hundred altars stood here in order, sacred to the gods of heaven and the lord of Erebus. ^ Here the priestess with streaming hair and Stygian garb calls up Acheron and the divinity of Henna's goddess.^ The earth rumbles in the gloom and breaks forth into awesome hissings ; and fire blazes unkindled upon the altars. The dead also are called up by magic spells and flit through empty space ; and the marble face of Elissa sweats. To this shrine Hannibal was brought by his father's command ; and, when he had entered, Hamilcar examined the boy's face and bearing. No terrors for him had the Massylian ^ priestess, raving in her frenzy, or the horrid rites -^ of the temple, the blood-bespattered doors, and the flames that mounted at the sound of incantation. His father stroked the boy's head and kissed him ; then he raised his courage by exhortation and thus inspired him :

" The restored race of Phrygians ^ is oppressing with unjust treaties the people of Cadmean stock. If fate does not permit my right hand to avert this dis- honour from our land, you, my son, must choose this

' This is probably an allusion to the human sacrifices, especially of infants, which were common at Carthage : see iv. 765 foil.

' The Romans are here called " Phrygians," " Lauren- tines," and " Tuscans " : see p. xiii. The Carthaginians are called "Cadmeans," because Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, came from Phoenicia : see 1. 6.

11

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haec tua sit laus, nate, velis ; age, concipe bella latura exitium Laurentibus ; horreat ortus 110

iam pubes Tyrrhena tuos, partusque recusent, te surgente, puer, Latiae producere matres."

His acuit stimulis, subicitque baud mollia dictu : " Romanos terra atque undis, ubi competet aetas, ferro ignique sequar Rhoeteaque fata revolvam. 115 non superi mihi, non Mart em cohibentia pacta, non celsae obstiterint Alpes Tarpeiaque saxa. banc mentem iuro nostri per numina Martis, per manes, regina, tuos." turn nigra triformi hostia mactatur divae, raptimque recludit 120

spirantes artus poscens responsa sacerdos ac fugientem animam properatis consulit extis.

Ast ubi quaesitas artis de more vetustae intravit mentes superum, sic deinde profatur : " Aetolos late consterni milite campos 125

Idaeoque lacus flagrantes sanguine cerno. quanta procul moles scopulis ad sidera tendit, cuius in aerio pendent tua vertice castra ! iamque iugis agmen rapitur ; trepidantia fumant moenia, et Hesperio tellus porrecta sub axe 130

Sidoniis lucet flammis. fluit ecce cruentus Eridanus. iacet ore truci super arma virosque, tertia qui tulerat sublimis opima Tonanti.

" The treaty of peace between Rome and Carthage.

* Hecate, who was worshipped also as Diana and Luna.

" She foresees various episodes of the war : the battles of Cannae and Lake Trasimene ; the crossing of the Alps ; the battles of Ticinus and Trebia ; the death of Marcellus ; the storm which drove Hannibal away from Rome (211 b.c). The " Aetolian fields " are Apulia, so called because Diomede, the Aetolian king, settled there after the Trojan war.

^ Marcellus won " choice spoils " by killing in battle a Gallic chief; he fell in an ambush in 208 b.c. : see xv. 334 foil. 12

PUNICA, I. 109-133

as your field of fame. Be quick to swear a war that shall bring destruction to the Laurentines ; let the Tuscan people already dread your birth ; and when you, my son, arise, let Latian mothers refuse to rear their offspring."

With these incentives he spurred on the boy and then dictated a vow not easy to utter : ** When I come to age, I shall pursue the Romans with fire and sword and enact again the doom of Troy. The gods shall not stop my career, nor the treaty that bars the sword ,« neither the lofty Alps nor the Tarpeian rock. I swear to this purpose by the divinity of our native god of war, and by the shade of Elissa." Then a black victim was sacrificed to the goddess of triple shape ^ ; and the priestess, seeking an oracle, quickly opened the still breathing body and questioned the spirit, as it fled from the inward parts that she had laid bare in haste.

But when, following the custom of her ancient art, she had entered into the mind of the gods whom she inquired of, thus she spoke aloud ; "I see the Aetolian fields'' covered far and wide with soldiers' corpses, and lakes red with Trojan blood. How huge the rampart of cliffs that rises far towards heaven ! And on its airy summit your camp is perched. Now the army rushes down from the mountains ; terrified cities send up smoke, and the land that lies beneath the western heavens blazes with Punic fires. See ! the river Po runs blood. Fierce is that face that lies on a heap of arms and men — the face of him who was the third to carry in triumph choice spoils ^ to the

These spoils, only thrice won in Roman history, were the prize of a commander who killed with his own hand the commander of the hostile army.

VOL. I B IS

L

SILIUS ITALICUS

heu quaenam subitis horrescit turbida nimbis tempestas, ruptoque polo micat igneus aether ! 136 magna parant superi : tonat alti regia caeli, bellantemque lovem cerno." venientia fata scire ultra vetuit luno, fibraeque repente conticuere. latent casus longique labores.

Sic clausum linquens arcano pectore bellum 140 atque hominum finem Gades Calpenque secutus, dum fert Herculeis Garamantica signa columnis, occubuit saevo Tyrius certamine ductor.

Interea rerum Hasdrubali traduntur habenae, occidui qui solis opes et vulgus Hiberum 145

Baeticolasque viros furiis agitabat iniquis. tristia corda ducis, simul immedicabilis ira, et fructus regni feritas erat ; asper amore sanguinis, et metui demens credebat honorem ; nee nota docilis poena satiare furores. 160

ore excellentem et spectatum fortibus ausis antiqua de stirpe Tagum, superumque hominumque immemor, erecto suffixum robore maestis ostentabat ovans populis sine funere regem. auriferi Tagus ascito cognomine fontis 156

perque antra et ripas nymphis ululatus Hiberis, Maeonium non ille vadum, non Lydia mallet stagna sibi, nee qui riguo perfunditur auro campum atque illatis Hermi flavescit harenis.

<* Gibraltar and Cadiz. The Pillars of Hercules are now the Straits of Gibraltar.

^ The son-in-law of Hamilcar.

" The Guadalquivir.

<* The Pactolus. This and the Hermus were rivers of Lydia (also called here Maeonia), both rich in gold. In Europe the Tagus was famous for the gold contained in its waters ; and this chief had taken his name from it. 14

PUNICA, I. 134-159

Thunder-god. Ah ! what wild storm is this that rages with sudden downpour, while the sky is rent asunder and the fiery ether flashes ! The gods are preparing mighty things, the throne of high heaven thunders, and I see Jupiter in arms." Then Juno forbade her to learn more of coming events, and the victims suddenly became dumb. The dangers and the endless hardships were con- cealed.

So Hamilcar left his design of war concealed in his secret heart, and made for Calpe and Gades," the limit of the world ; but, while carrying the standards of Africa to the Pillars of Hercules, he fell in a hard- fought battle.

Meanwhile the direction of affairs was handed over to Hasdrubal ^ ; and he harried with savage cruelty the wealth of the western world, the people of Spain, and the dwellers beside the Baetis." Hard was the general's heart, and nothing could mitigate his ferocious temper ; power he valued because it gave him the opportunity to be cruel. Thirst for blood hardened his heart ; and he had the folly to believe that to be feared is glory. Nor was he willing to sate his rage with ordinary punishments. Tagus, a man of ancient race, remarkable for beauty and of proved valour, Hasdrubal, defying gods and men, fastened high on a wooden cross, and displayed in triumph to the sorrowing natives the unburied body of their king. Tagus, who had taken his name from the gold-bearing river, was mourned by the Nymphs of Spain through all their caves and banks ; nor would he have preferred the river of Maeonia** and the pools of Lydia, nor the plain watered by flowing gold and turned yellow by the sands of Hermus pouring over it. Ever first

15

SILIUS ITALICUS

primus inire manus, postremus ponere Martem ; 160 cum rapidum efFusis ageret sublimis habenis quadrupedem, non ense virum, non eminus hasta sistere erat ; volitabat ovans aciesque per ambas iam Tagus auratis agnoscebatur in armis. quern postquam diro suspensum robore vidit 165

deformem leti famulus, clam corripit ensem dilectum domino pernixque irrumpit in aulam atque immite ferit geminato vulnere pectus, at Poeni, succensa ira turbataque luctu et saevis gens laeta, ruunt tormentaque portant. 170 non ignes candensque chalybs, non verbera passim ictibus innumeris lacerum scindentia corpus, carnificaeve manus penitusve infusa medullis pestis et in medio lucentes vulnere flammae cessavere ; ferum visu dictuque, per artem 175

saevitiae extenti, quantum tormenta iubebant, creverunt artus, atque, omni sanguine rupto, ossa liquefactis fumarunt fervida membris. mens intact a manet ; superat ridetque dolores, spectanti similis, fessosque labore minis tros 180

increpitat dominique crucem clamore reposcit.

Haec inter spretae miseranda piacula poenae erepto trepidus ductore exercitus una Hannibalem voce atque alacri certamine poscit. hinc studia accendit patriae virtutis imago, 185

hinc fama in populos iurati didita belli.

" Carthaginian and Spanish. * i.e, Hasdrubars. " Hamilcar.

16

PUNICA, I. 160-186

to enter the battle and last to lay down the sword, when he sat high on his steed and urged it on with loosened reins, no sword could stop him nor spear hurled from far ; on he flew in triumph, and the golden armour of Tagus was well known throughout both armies." Then a servant, when he saw that hideous death and the body of Tagus hanging on the fatal tree, stole his master's favourite sword and rushed into the palace, where he smote that savage breast ^ once and again. Carthaginians are cruel ; and now, in their anger and grief, they made haste to bring the tortures. Every device was used — fire and white-hot steel, scourges that cut the body to ribbons with a rain of blows past counting, the hands of the torturers, the agony driven home into the marrow, the flame burning in the heart of the wound. Dread- ful to see and even to relate, the limbs were expanded by the torturers' ingenuity and grew as much as the torment required ; and, when all the blood had gushed forth, the bones still smoked and burned on, after the limbs were consumed. But the man's spirit remained unbroken ; he was the master still and despised the suffering ; like a mere looker-on he blamed the myrmidons of the torturer for flagging in their task and loudly demanded to be crucified like his master.

While this piteous punishment was inflicted on a victim who made light of it, the soldiers, disturbed by the loss of their general, with one voice and with eager enthusiasm demanded Hannibal for their leader. Their favour was due to many causes — the reflection in him of his father's " valour ; the report, broadcast among the nations, that he was the sworn enemy of Rome ; his youth eager for action and the fiery spirit

17

SILIUS ITALICUS

hinc virides ausis anni fervorque decorus atque armata dolis mens et vis insita fandi. Primi ductorem Libyes clamore salutant, mox et Pyrenes populi et bellator Hiberus. 190

continuoque ferox oritur fiducia menti, cessisse imperio tantum terraeque marisque. Aeoliis candens austris et lampade Phoebi aestifero Libye torretur subdita Cancro, aut ingens Asiae latus, aut pars tertia terris. 195

terminus huie roseos amnis Lageus ad ortus septeno impellens tumefactum gurgite pontum ; at qua diversas clementior aspicit Arctos, Herculeo dirimente freto, diducta propinquis Europes videt arva iugis ; ultra obsidet aequor, 200 nee patitur nomen proferri longius Atlas, Atlas subducto tracturus vertice caelum, sidera nubiferum fulcit caput, aetheriasque erigit aeternum compages ardua cervix, canet barba gelu, frontemque immanibus umbris 205 pinea silva premit ; vastant cava tempora vent), nimbosoque ruunt spumantia flumina rictu. tum geminas laterum cautes maria alta fatigant, atque ubi fessus equos Titan immersit anhelos, flammiferum condunt fumanti gurgite currum. 210 sed qua se campis squalentibus Africa tendit, serpentum largo coquitur fecunda veneno ; felix qua pingues mitis plaga temperat agros, nee Cerere Hennaea Phario nee victa colono.

" African peoples subject to Carthage.

* Aeolus was the ruler of all winds and kept them in prison.

' The Nile, which flows into the sea by seven mouths. Lagus, a Macedonian general, founded the dynasty of the Ptolemies.

** The Bears are the two northern constellations so named.

« Atlas, the mountain range which bou'ids N.W. Africa, 18

PUNICA, I. 187-214

that well became him ; his heart equipped with guile, and his native eloquence.

The Libyans " were first to hail him with applause as their leader, and the Pyrenean tribes and warlike Spaniards followed them. At once his heart swelled with pride and satisfaction that so much of land and sea had come under his sway. Libya lies under the burning sign of Cancer, and is parched by the south winds of Aeolus ^ and the sun's disk. It is either a huge offshoot of Asia, or a third continent of the world. It is bounded on the rosy east by the river of Lagus,*' which strikes the swollen sea with seven streams. But, where the land in milder mood faces the opposing Bears ,'^ it is cut off by the straits of Hercules, and, though parted from them, looks on the lands of Europe from its adjacent heights ; the ocean blocks its further extension, and Atlas * forbids its name to be carried further — Atlas, who would bring down the sky, if he withdrew his shoulders. His cloud-capt head supports the stars, and his soaring neck for ever holds aloft the firmament of heaven. His beard is white with frost, and pine-forests crown his brow with their vast shade ; winds ravage his hollow temples, and foaming rivers rush down from his streaming open jaws. Moreover, the deep seas assail th"'e cliffs on both his flanks, and, when the weary Titan ^ has bathed his panting steeds, hide his flaming car in the steaming ocean. But, where Africa spreads her un- tilled plains, the burnt-up land bears nothing but the poison of snakes in plenty ; though, where a temperate strip blesses the fields, her fertility is not surpassed by the crops of Henna ^ nor by the Egyptian

was personified by the Greeks as a giant who supports heaven on his shoulders. * The sun. " Sicily.

19

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hie passim exultant Numidae, gens inscia freni, 215 quis inter geminas per ludum mobilis aures quadrupedem flectit non cedens virga lupatis. altrix bellorum bellatorumque virorum tellus, nee fidens nudo sine fraudibus ensi.

Altera complebant Hispanae castra cohortes, 220 auxilia Europae genitoris parta tropaeis. Martius hinc campos sonipes hinnitibus implet, hinc iuga cornipedes erecti bellica raptant ; non Eleus eat campo ferventior axis, prodiga gens animae et properare facillima mortem, namque ubi transeendit florentes viribus annos, 226 impatiens aevi spernit novisse senectam, et fati modus in dextra est. his omne metallum : electri gemino pallent de semine venae, atque atros chalybis fetus humus horrida nutrit. 230 sed scelerum causas operit deus : Astur avarus visceribus lacerae telluris mergitur imis et redit infelix efFosso concolor auro. hinc certant, Pactole, tibi Duriusque Tagusque, quique super Gravios lucent es volvit harenas, 235 infernae populis referens oblivia Lethes. nee Cereri terra indocilis nee inhospita Baccho, nullaque Palladia sese magis arbore tollit.

" This fact is asserted by Virgil and Lucan, and repeatedly by Silius : see ii. 64, iii. 293, xvi. 200.

'' They poison their weapons.

•^ At the Olympic games.

** He puts an end to his own life.

* Electrum was a natural metal, called by the Greeks ** white gold " : it was partly gold and partly silver.

^ There was in Spain, in the land of the Gravii, a river called Oblivio and therefore said to recall Lethe, the river 20

1

PUNICA, I. 215-238

husbandman. Here the Numidians rove at large, a nation that knows not the bridle ; for the light switch they ply between its ears turns the horse about in their sport, no less effectively than the bit." This land breeds wars and warriors ; nor do they trust to the naked sword but use guile ^ also.

A second camp was filled with Spanish troops, European allies whom the victories of Hamilcar had gained. Here the war-horse filled the plains with his neighings, and here high-mettled steeds drew along chariots of war ; not even the drivers at Olympia " could dash over the course with more fiery haste. That people recks little of life, and they are most ready to anticipate death. For, when a man has passed the years of youthful strength, he cannot bear to live on and disdains acquaintance with old age ; and his span of life depends on his own right arm.** All metals are found here : there are veins of elec- trum,® whose yellow hue shows their double origin, and the rugged soil feeds the black crop of iron. Heaven covered up the incentives to crime ; but the covetous Asturian plunges deep into the bowels of the mangled earth, and the wretch returns with a face as yellow as the gold he has dug out. The Durius and the Tagus of this land challenge the Pactolus ; and so does the river which rolls its glitter- ing sands over the land of the Gravii and reproduces for the inhabitants the forgetfulness of Lethe in the nether world.^ Spain is not unfit for corn-crops nor unfriendly to the vine ; and there is no land in which the tree of Pallas ^ rises higher.

in Hades whose water takes away the memory of past events. The Durius (now Duero) is a river in Portugal. ' The oUve. ^ OL. I B 2 21

SILIUS ITALICUS

Hae postquam Tyrio gentes cessere tyranno, utque dati rerum freni, tunc arte paterna 240

conciliare viros ; armis consulta senatus vertere, nunc donis. primus sumpsisse laborem, primus iter carpsisse pedes partemque subire, si valli festinet opus, nee cetera segnis, quaecumque ad laudem stimulant ; somnumque negabat 246

naturae noctemque vigil ducebat in armis, interdum proiectus humi turbaeque Libyssae insignis sagulo duris certare maniplis ; celsus et in magno praecedens agmine ductor imperium praeferre suum ; tum vertice nudo 250 excipere insanos imbres caelique ruinam. spectarunt Poeni tremuitque exterritus Astur, torquentem cum tela lovem permixtaque nimbis fulmina et excussos ventorum flatibus ignes turbato transiret equo ; nee pulvere fessum 256

agminis ardenti labefecit Sirius astro, flammiferis tellus radiis cum exusta dehiscit, candentique globo medius coquit aethera fervor, femineum putat humenti iacuisse sub umbra exercetque sitim et spectato fonte recedit. 260

idem correptis sternacem ad proelia frenis frangere equimi et famam letalis amare lacerti ignotique amnis tranare sonantia saxa atque e diversa socios accersere ripa. idem expugnati primus stetit agger e muri, 265

et quotiens campo rapidus fera proelia miscet.

*» Spaniards. Asturia was a province of Spain, famous for its breed of horses and its gold-mines : see 1. 231.

* The ancients supposed that Ughtning was caused by the action of wind upon the clouds.

22

PUNICA, I. 239-266

When these peoples had yielded to the Tyrian ruler and he had received the reins of government, then with his father's craft he gained men's friendship ; by arms or by bribes he caused them to reverse the Senate's decrees. He was ever first to undertake hardship, first to march on foot, and first to bear a hand when the rampart was reared in haste. In all other things that spur a man on to glory he was untiring : denying sleep to nature, he would pass the whole night armed and awake, lying sometimes upon the ground ; distinguished by the general's cloak, he vied with the hardy soldiers of the Libyan army ; or mounted high he rode as leader of the long line ; again he endured bare-headed the fury of the rains and the crashing of the sky. The Carthaginians looked on and the Asturians ° trembled for fear, when he rode his startled horse through the bolts hurled by Jupiter, the lightnings flashing amid the rain, and the fires driven forth by the blasts of the winds ^ ; he was never wearied by the dusty march nor weakened by the fiery star of Sirius.^' When the earth was burnt and cracked by fiery rays, and when the heat of noon parched the sky with its blazing orb, he thought it womanish to lie down in the shade where the ground was moist ; he practised thirst and looked on a spring only to leave it. He would grasp the reins also and break in for battle the steed that tried to throw him ; he sought the glory of a death-dealing arm ; he would swim through the rattling boulders of an unknown river and then summon his comrades from the opposite bank. He was first also to stand on the rampart of a city stormed ; and, whenever he dashed over the plain where fierce battle was joined, a broad * Sirius, the Dog-star, stands for the heat of summer.

23

SILIUS ITALICUS

qua sparsit ferrum, latus rubet aequore limes, ergo instat fatis, et rumpere foedera certus, quo datur, interea Romam comprendere bello gaudet et extremis pulsat Capitolia terris. 270

Prima Saguntinas turbarunt classica portas, bellaque sumpta viro belli maioris amore. baud procul Herculei tollunt se litore muri, clementer crescente iugo, quis nobile nomen conditus excelso sacravit colle Zacynthos. 275

hie comes Alcidae remeabat in agmine Thebas Geryone extincto caeloque ea facta ferebat. tres animas namque id monstrum,tres corpore dextras armarat ternaque caput cervice gerebat. baud alium vidit tellus, cui ponere finem 280

non posset mors una viro, duraeque sorores tertia bis rupto torquerent stamina filo. hinc spolia ostentabat ovans captivaque victor armenta ad fontes medio fervore vocabat, cum tumidas fauces accensis sole venenis 285

calcatus rupit letali vulnere serpens Inachiumque virum terris prostravit Hiberis. mox profugi ducente Noto advertere coloni, insula quos genuit Graio circumflua ponto atque auxit quondam Laertia regna Zacynthos. 290 firmavit tenues ortus mox Daunia pubes, sedis inops, misit largo quam dives alumno,

" To the ancients Spain was the western limit of the world.

'' Saguntum in Spain, like Massilia in Gaul, claimed to be a Greek city. The name was identified with Zacynthus, a companion of Hercules, whose tomb was shown there. The seizure of Geryon's cattle was one of the Labours of Hercules. Further, settlers were said to have come there from the Greek island of Zacynthus (now Zante).

" The three Fates or Parcae.

24

I

PUNICA, I. 267-292

red lane was left on the field, wherever he hurled his spear. Therefore he pressed hard upon the heels of Fortune ; and, resolved as he was to break the treaty, he rejoiced meantime to involve Rome, as far as he could, in war ; and from the end of the world " he struck at the Capitol.

His war-trumpets sounded first before the gates of dismayed Saguntum,^ and he chose this war in his eagerness for a greater war to come. The city, founded by Hercules, rises on a gentle slope not far from the coast, and owes its sacred and famous name to Zacynthus, who is buried there on the lofty hill. For he was on the march back to Thebes in company with Hercules, after the slaying of Geryon, and was praising the exploit up to the skies. That monster was furnished with three lives and three right arms in a single body, and carried a head on each of three necks. Never did earth see another man whom a single death could not destroy — for whom the stern Sisters " span a third lease of life when the thread had twice been snapped. Zacynthus displayed in triumph the prize taken from Geryon, and was calling the cattle to the water in the heat of noon, when a serpent that he trod on discharged from its swollen throat poison envenomed by the sun. The wound was fatal, and the Greek hero lay dead on Spanish soil. At a later time exiled colonists sailed hither before the wind — sons of Zacynthus, the island sur- rounded by the Ionian sea that once formed part of the kingdom of Laertes. '^ These small beginnings were afterwards strengthened by men of Daunia in search of a habitation ; they were sent forth by

•* In Homer Zacynthus forms part of the dominions of Ulysses, son of Laertes.

S5

SILIUS ITALICUS

magnanimis regnata viris, clarum Ardea nomen.

libertas populis pacto servata decusque

maiorum, et Poenis urbi imperitare negatum. 295

Admovet abrupto flagrantia foedere ductor Sidonius castra et latos quatit agmine campos. ipse caput quassans circumlustravit anhelo muros saevus equo, mensusque paventia tecta, pandere iamdudum portas et cedere vallo 300

imperat, et longe clausis sua foedera, longe Ausoniam fore, nee veniae spem Marte subactis ; scita patrum et leges et iura fidemque deosque in dextra nunc esse sua. verba ocius acer intorto sancit iaculo figitque per arma 305

stantem pro muro et minitantem vana Caicum. concidit exacti medius per viscera teli, efFusisque simul praerupto ex aggere membris, victori moriens tepefactam rettulit hastam. at multo ducis exemplum clamore secuti 310

involvunt atra telorum moenia nube. clara nee in numero virtus latet ; obvia quisque ora duci portans, ceu solus bella capessit. hie crebram fundit Baliari verbere glandem terque levi ducta circum caput altus habena 315

permissum ventis abscondit in aere telum, hie valido librat stridentia saxa lacerto,

" Daunia, properly a part of Apulia, is used here and else- where by Silius as another name for Italy. Ardea was a city in Latium, the capital of the Rutulians, and an important place about the beginning of authentic history. Hence the Saguntines are often called " Rutulians " by Silius.

" Here and often the " treaty " means the conditions of peace dictated by Rome after the First Punic War.

I

PUNICA, I. 293-317

Ardea<» of famous name — a city ruled by heroic kings, and rich in the number of her sons. The freedom of the inhabitants and their ancestral glory were pre- served by treaty ; and by it the Carthaginians were forbidden to rule the city.

The Carthaginian leader broke the treaty * and brought his camp-fires close and shook the wide plains with his marching host. He himself, shaking his head in fury, rode round the walls on his panting steed, taking the measure of the terrified buildings. He bade them open their gates at once and desert their rampart ; he told them that, now they were besieged, their treaties and Italy would be far away, and that they could not hope for quarter, if defeated : " Decrees of the Senate," he cried, " law and justice, honour and Providence, are all in my hand now." In eager haste he confirmed his taunts by hurling his javelin and struck Caicus through his armour, as he stood on the wall and uttered idle threats. Pierced right through the middle, down he fell ; his body at once slipped down from the steep rampart ; and in death he restored to his conqueror the spear warmed with his blood. Then with loud shouting the soldiers followed the example of their leader, and wrapped the walls round with a black cloud of missiles. Their prowess was seen and not hidden by their numbers ; turning his face to the general, each man fought as if he were the only combatant. One hurled volleys of bullets with Balearic sling '^ : standing erect, he brandished the light thong thrice round his head, and launched his missile in the air, for the winds to carry ; another poised whizzing stones with strong arm ; a

* The best slingers of that age came from the Balearic islands.

27

SILIUS ITALICUS

huic impulsa levi torquetur lancea nodo. ante omnes ductor, patriis insignis in armis, nunc picea iactat fumantem lampada flamma, 320 nunc sude, nunc iaculo, nunc saxis impiger instat aut hydro imbutas, bis noxia tela, sagittas contendit nervo atque insultat fraude pharetrae : Dacus ut armiferis Geticae telluris in oris, spicula qui patrio gaudens acuisse veneno 325

fundit apud ripas inopina binominis Histri. Cura subit, collem turrita cingere fronte castelloque urbem circumvallare frequenti. heu priscis numen populis, at nomine solo in terris iam nota Fides ! stat dura inventus 330

ereptamque fugam et claudi videt aggere muros, sed dignam Ausonia mortem putat esse Sagunto, servata cecidisse fide, iamque acrius omnes intendunt vires ; adductis stridula nervis Phocais effundit vastos balista molares ; 335

atque eadem, ingentis mutato pondere teli, ferratam excutiens ornum media agmina rumpit. alternus resonat clangor, certamine tanto conseruere acies, veluti circumdata vallo Roma foret ; clamatque super : " tot milia, gentes inter tela satae, iam capto stamus in hoste ? 341

anne pudet coepti ? pudet ominis ? en bona virtus

" A thong or strap was often attached to the middle of the spear-shaft to increase its speed and force.

'' The Getae were Scythians : the Dacians lived in what is now Hungary and Wallachia.

" The Danube had two names in antiquity — Danubius and Ulster.

28

PUNICA, I. 318-342

third threw a lance speeded by a light strap." In front of them all their leader, conspicuous in his father's armour, now hurls a brand smoking with pitchy flame, now presses on unwearied with stake or javelin or stone, or shoots arrows from the string — missiles dipped in serpent's poison and doubly fatal — - and exults in the guile of his quiver. So the Dacian, in the warlike region of the Getic ^ country, delighting to sharpen his arrows with the poison of his native land, pours them forth in sudden showers on the banks of the Hister, the river of two names. ^

The next task was to surround the hill with a front of towers and blockade the city with a ring of forts. Alas for Loyalty, worshipped by former ages but now known on earth by name only ! The hardy citizens stand there, seeing escape cut off and their walls enclosed by a mound ; but they think it a death worthy of Italy, for Saguntum to fall with her loyalty preserved. Now they exert all their strength with increased ardour : the catapult of Marseilles <* launches with a roar huge boulders from its tightened cords, and also, when the burden of the mighty engine is changed, discharges tree-trunks tipped with iron, and breaks a way through the ranks. Loud rose the noise on each side. They joined battle with as much fierceness as if Rome were besieged. Hannibal also shouted : " So many thousand men, people born in the midst of arms — why do we stand still before an enemy we have already conquered ? Are we ashamed of our enterprise, or ashamed of our begin- ning ? So much for splendid valour and the first

•* The catapult was probably made at Marseilles : it is called Phocaean, because Marseilles was a colony from Phocaea in Asia Minor.

29

SILIUS ITALICUS

primitiaeque ducis ! taline implere paramus Italiam fama ? tales praemittere pugnas ? "

Accensae exultant mentes, haustusque medullis Hannibal exagitat, stimulantque sequentia bella. 346 invadunt manibus vallum caesasque relinquunt deiecti muris dextras. subit arduus agger imponitque globos pugnantum desuper urbi. armavit clauses ac portis arcuit hostem 350

librari multa consueta falarica dextra, horrendum visu robur celsisque nivosae Pyrenes trabs lecta iugis, cui plurima cuspis vix muris toleranda lues ; sed cetera pingui uncta pice atque atro circumlita sulphure fumant. 355 fulminis haec ritu summis e moenibus arcis incita, sulcatum tremula secat aera flamma, qualis sanguineo praestringit lumina crine ad terram caelo decurrens ignea lampas. haec ictu rapido pugnantum saepe per auras, 360 attonito ductore, tulit fumantia membra ; haec vastae lateri turris cum turbine fixa, dum penitus pluteis Vulcanum exercet adesis, arma virosque simul pressit flagrante ruina. tandem condensis artae testudinis armis 366

subducti Poeni vallo caecaque latebra pandunt prolapsam suffossis moenibus urbem.

<• The war in Italy.

^ The falarica was a missile of the largest dimensions, hurled by machinery from towers called falae. It had an iron head and wooden shaft ; and the iron just under the head was enveloped in tow steeped in pitch, which was ignited before the weapon was discharged.

« This name was given to a formation often adopted by soldiers when besieging a town. The shields were carried above the men's heads and overlapped so as to form a pro- tection like the shell of a tortoise. SO

PUNICA, I. 343-367

exploit of your general ! Is this the glorious news with which we intend to fill Italy ? Are these the battles whose rumour we send before us ? "

Fired by his words their courage rose high ; the spirit of Hannibal sank deep into their hearts and inspired them ; and the thought of wars to come « spurred them on. They attack the rampart with bare hands and, when thrust down from the walls, leave there their severed limbs. A high mound was erected and placed parties of combatants above the city. But the besieged were protected and the enemy kept away from the gates by thefalarica,^ which many arms at once were wont to poise. This was a missile of wood, terrible to behold, a beam chosen from the high mountains of the snow-covered Pyrenees, a weapon whose long iron point even walls could scarce withstand. Then the shaft, smeared with oily pitch and rubbed all round with black sulphur, sent forth smoke. When hurled like a thunder- bolt from the topmost walls of the citadel, it clove the furrowed air with a flickering flame, even as a fiery meteor, speeding from heaven to earth, dazzles men's eyes with its blood-red tail. This weapon often confounded Hannibal when it carried aloft the smoking limbs of his men by its swift stroke ; and, when in its flight it struck the side of a huge tower, it kindled a fire which burnt till all the woodwork of the tower was utterly consumed, and buried men and arms together under the blazing ruins. But at last the Carthaginians retreated from the rampart, sheltered by the close-packed shields of the serried " tortoise,"*' and sapped the wall unseen till it collapsed, and made a breach into the town.

31

SILIUS ITALICUS

terribilem in sonitum procumbens aggere victo Herculeus labor atque immania saxa resolvens mugitum ingentem caeli dedit. Alpibus altis 370 aeriae rupes, scopulorum mole revulsa, baud aliter scindunt resonant! fragmine montem. surgebat fcumulo certantumf* prorutus agger, obstabatque iacens vallum, ni protinus instent hinc atque hinc acies media pugnare ruina. 375

Emieat ante omnes primaevo flore iuventae insignis Rutulo Murrus de sanguine ; at idem matre Saguntina Grains geminoque parente Dulichios Italis miscebat prole nepotes. hie magno socios Aradum clamore vocantem, 380 qua corpus loricam inter galeamque patescit, conantis motus speculatus, euspide sistit ; prostratumque premens telo, voce insuper urget: " fallax Poene, iaces ; certe Capitolia primus scandebas victor : quae tanta licentia voti ? 385

nunc Stygio fer bella lovi ! " tum fervidus hastam adversi torquens defigit in inguine Hiberi ; oraque dum calcat iam singultantia leto, " hac iter est," inquit, *' vobis ad moenia Romae, o metuenda manus : sic, quo properatis, eundum." 390 mox instaurantis pugnam circumsilit arma et rapto nudum clipeo latus haurit Hiberi.

^ The words obelized seem to he corrupt.

" Ulysses ruled over the islands of Ithaca, Dulichium, and Zacynthos : hence Silius perversely uses " Dulichian " for " Saguntine," because men of Zacynthos had taken part in founding Saguntum.

" Aradus, who hoped to attack Jupiter on the Capitol at Rome, is told to fight Pluto instead, the Jupiter of Hades. The Styx is one of the infernal rivers : see note to ii. 610. 32

PUNICA, I. 368-392

The rampart gave way, the walls built by Hercules sank down with a fearful crash, and the huge stones fell apart, and a mighty rumbling of the sky followed their fall. So the towering peaks of the high Alps, when a mass of rock is torn away from them, furrow the mountain-side with the roar of an avalanche. With haste the ruined rampart was raised again ; and nought but the prostrate wall prevented both armies from fighting on in the wreckage that divided them.

First of all Murrus sprang forward, conspicuous for his youthful beauty. He was of Rutulian blood, born of a Saguntine mother ; but he had Greek blood too, and by his two parents he combined the seed of Italy with that of Dulichium." When Aradus summoned his comrades with a mighty shout, Murrus watched his forward movement and stopped him ; and the spear-point pierced the gap that came between the breastplate and the helmet. Then pinning him to the ground with his spear he taunted him as well : " False Carthaginian, you lie low ; you were to be foremost, forsooth, in mounting the Capitol as a conqueror ; was ever ambition so presumptuous ? Go now, and fight the deity of the Styx instead!"^ Next, brandishing his fiery spear, he buried it in the groin cf Hiberus who stood before him ; and, treading on the features already convulsed in death, he cried : " Terrible as is your host, by this path must ye march to the walls of Rome ; thus must ye go to the place whither ye are hastening." Then, when Hiberus ^ tried to renew the combat, Murrus evaded the weapon and snatched the shield of his foe, and

" There is some error here : Hiberus was a dying man in 1. 388 ; in 1. 387 Hiberi has ousted some other name.

33

SILIUS ITALICUS

dives agri, dives pecoris famaeque negatus

bella ferisi arcu iaculoque agitabat Hiberus,

felix heu nemorum et vitae laudandus opacae, 395

si sua per patrios tenuisset spicula saltus.

hunc miseratus adest infesto vulnere Ladmus.

cui saevum arridens : " narrabis Hamilcaris umbris

banc," inquit, ** dextram, quae iam post funera vulgi

Hannibalem vobis dederit comitem " — et ferit alte

insurgens gladio cristatae cassidis aera 401

perque ipsum tegimen crepitantia dissipat ossa.

turn frontem Chremes intonsam umbrante capillo

saeptus et horrentes effingens crine galeros ;

turn Masulis crudaque virens ad bella senecta 405

Kartalo, non pavidus fetas mulcere leaenas,

flumineaque urna caelatus Bagrada parmam

et vastae Nasamon Syrtis populator Hiempsal,

audax in fluctu laceras cap tare carinas —

una omnes dextraque cadunt iraque perempti ; 410

nee non serpentem diro exarmare veneno

doctus Athyr tactuque graves sopire chelydros

ac dubiam admoto subolem explorare ceraste.

tu quoque fatidicis Garamanticus accola lucis,

insignis flexo galeam per tempora cornu, 415

heu frustra reditum sortes tibi saepe locutas

mentitumque lovem increpitans, occumbis, Hiarba.

^ feris Summers : ferens Bauer.

" She was supposed to be especially fierce then.

'' Bagrada is a river in N. Africa, after which this man was named. The " urn " of the river is its source. The Syrtes, as formidable to Roman mariners as the Goodwin Sands once were to us, are two rocky gulfs on the N. coast of Africa, between Cyrene and Carthage.

" If he was a true-born child, the snake would not frighten him.

<* The horn showed his connexion with the oracle of 34

PUNICA, I. 393-417

pierced his unprotected side. Rich in land and rich in flocks but unknown to fame, Hiberus used to wage war against wild beasts with bow and javelin, happy, alas, in his forests and worthy of praise in his life of retirement, if he had never carried his arrows outside his ancestral woodlands. In pity for him Ladmus came up, intent to strike. But Murrus cried with a savage laugh : " Tell Hamilcar's ghost of my right arm, which, when the rabble are slain, shall send Hannibal to keep company with you all." Then, rising erect, he smote with his sword the crested brazen helmet and scattered the rattling bones of the skull right through their covering. Next, Chremes, whose unshorn brow was surrounded and shaded by his hair, and who made a shaggy cap of his locks ; then Masulis, and Kartalo, vigorous for war in green old age, who feared not to stroke the lioness with cubs • ; and Bagrada, whose shield was blazoned with the river's urn ^ ; and Hiempsal, one of the Nasa- monians who plunder the devouring Syrtis and make bold to pillage shipwrecks ; — all these were slain alike by that wrathful right hand ; and so was Athyr, skilled to disarm serpents of their fell poison, to send fierce water-snakes to sleep by his touch, and to test a child of doubtful birth by placing a horned snake beside it.*' Slain too was Hiarbas, who dwelt near the prophetic groves of the Garamantes, and whose helmet was conspicuous for the horn that curved over his temples ^ ; in vain, alas, he blamed the oracle that had so often promised a safe return, and Jupiter * for his breach of faith. By this time the rampart had

Ammon, the supreme deity of Libya, who was commonly represented as wearing a ram's head.

• Ammon was often called Jupiter Ammon.

S5

SILIUS ITALICUS

et iam corporibus cumulatus creverat agger, perfusaeque atra fumabant caede ruinae. turn ductorem avido clamore in proelia poscit. 420 At parte ex alia, qua se insperata iuventus 426 extulerat portis, ceu spicula nulla manusque vim ferre exitiumve queant, permixtus utrisque Hannibal agminibus passim furit et quatit ensem, cantato nuper senior quem fecerat igni 430

litore ab Hesperidum Temisus, qui carmine pollens fidebat magica ferrum crudescere lingua, quantus Bistoniis late Gradivus in oris belligero rapitur curru telumque coruscans, Titanum quo pulsa cohors, flagrantia bella 435

cornipedum afflatu domat et stridoribus axis, iamque Hostum Rutulumque Pholum ingentemque

Metiscum, iam Lygdum Duriumque simul flavumque Galaesum et geminos, Chromin atque Gyan, demiserat umbris. Daunum etiam, grata quo non spectatior alter 440 voce movere fora atque orando fingere mentes nee legum custos soUertior, aspera telis dicta admiscentem : " quaenam te, Poene, paternae hue adigunt Furiae ? non haec Sidonia tecta feminea fabricata manu pretiove parata, 445

exulibusve datum dimensis litus harenis. fundamenta deum Romanaque foedera cernis." ast ilium, toto iactantem talia campo, ingenti raptum nisu medioque virorum

" A Thracian people.

* The Giants, sons of Earth who fought against the gods at Phlegra and were imprisoned under volcanoes when defeated. 36

PUNICA, I. 418-449

grown higher with heaps of corpses, and the ruins smoked with horrid slaughter. Then with eager shout Murrus challenged Hannibal to combat.

But Hannibal was far away, where a band of de- fenders had issued unexpected from the gates. As if no missiles or swords could bring him injury or death, he mingled with both armies and raged far and wide, brandishing the sword which old Temisus from the shore of the Hesperides had lately forged with magic spells — Temisus the powerful enchanter who believed that iron was hardened by incantations. Mighty was Hannibal as Mars when he careers far and wide in his war-chariot through the land of the Bistones," brandishing the weapon that defeated the band of Titans,^ and ruling the flame of battle by the snorting of his steeds and the noise of his chariot. Already Hannibal had sent down to Hades Hostus and Pholus the Rutulian and huge Metiscus, and, with them, Lygdus and Durius and fair-haired Galaesus, and a pair of twins, Chromis and Gyas. Next came Daunus, than whom no man was more skilled to move assemblies by the charm of eloquence and to mould men's minds by speech ; nor was any man a more sagacious guardian of the laws. He mingled taunts with his blows : " What madness, inherited from your father, brings you hither, man of Carthage ? This is no Tyrian city built by a woman's hands or bought for money ; this is not a shore with a measured space of sand conceded to exiles " : you see here walls raised by gods, and allies of Rome." But even as he shouted such boasts over all the plain, Hannibal seized him with a mighty effort, and bore

* This is an allusion to the circumstances in which Dido built Carthage: see i. 24, '25.

37

SILIUS ITALICUS

avulsum inter tela globo et post terga revinctum 450 Hannibal ad poenam lentae mandaverat irae ; increpitansque suos inferri signa iubebat perque ipsos caedis cumulos stragemque iacentum monstrabat furibundus iter cunctosque ciebat 454 nomine et in praedas stantem dabat improbus urbem.

Sed postquam a trepidis allatum fervere partem diversam Marte infausto, Murroque secundos hune superos tribuisse diem, ruit ocius amens lymphato cursu atque ingentes deserit actus, letiferum nutant fulgentes vertiee cristae, 460

crine ut flammifero terret fera regna comet es, sanguineum spargens ignem : vomit atra rubentes fax caelo radios, ac saeva luce coruscum scintillat sidus terrisque extrema minatur. praecipiti dant tela viam, dant signa virique, 465

atque ambae trepidant acies ; iacit igneus hastae dirum lumen apex, ac late fulgurat umbo, talis ubi Aegaeo surgente ad sidera ponto per longum vasto Cauri cum murmure fluctus suspensum in terras port at mare, frigida nautis 470 corda tremunt ; sonat ille procul flatuque tumescens curvatis pavidas tramittit Cycladas undis. non cuncta e muris unum incessentia tela fumantesque ante ora faces, non saxa per artem tormentis excussa tenent. ut tegmina primum 475 fulgentis galeae conspexit et arma cruento inter solem auro rutilantia, turbidus infit :

*• Comets were supposed to portend a change of dynasty and to menace kings more than private men. S8

PUNICA, I. 45r-477

him from the centre of the fighting men, and bound his hands behind him, and reserved him to suffer the punishment of wrath deferred. Then, reproaching his men, he ordered the standards to be advanced, and right through the piled corpses and heaps of dead he pointed out the way in his frenzy, caUing to each man by name, and boldly promising them as booty the still untaken city.

But when frightened messengers brought news that in a different quarter the fighting was fierce and they were losing the day, and that propitious gods had granted this day to Murrus, then Hannibal, abandon- ing his mighty exploits, flew off with frantic haste and the speed of a madman. The plume that nodded on his head showed a deadly brightness, even as a comet terrifies fierce kings " with its flaming tail and showers blood-red fire : the boding meteor spouts forth ruddy rays from heaven, and the star flashes with a dreadful menacing light, threatening earth with destruction. Weapons, standards, and men gave way before his headlong career, and both armies were terrified ; the fiery point of his spear shed a dreadful light, and his shield flashed far and wide. So, when the Aegean sea rises to the stars, and all along the coast, with a mighty roaring of the North-west wind, the waves carry ashore the piled-up sea, the hearts of seamen turn cold and tremble ; the wind roars far away, and with swelling blast and arching waves crosses the frightened Cyclades. Neither missiles from the walls, all aimed at him alone, nor smoking brands before his face, nor boulders hurled cunningly from engines, can arrest his course. As soon as he saw the glittering helmet on the head of Murrus, and his arms shining in the sunlight with blood-bedabbled gold, he began

SILIUS ITALICUS

*' en, qui res Libycas inceptaque tanta retardet, Romani Murrus belli mora ! foedera, faxo iam noscas, quid vana queant et vester Hiberus. 480 fer tecum castamque fidem servataque iura, deceptos mihi linque deos." cui talia Murrus : " exoptatus ades : mens olim proelia poscit speque tui flagrat capitis ; fer debita fraudum praemia et Italiam tellure inquire sub ima. 485

longum in Dardanios fines iter atque nivalem Pyrenen Alpesque tibi mea dextera donat."

Haec inter cernens subeuntem comminus hostem praeruptumque loci fidum sibi, corripit ingens aggere convulso saxum et nitentis in ora 490

devolvit, pronoque silex ruit incitus ictu. subsedit duro concussus fragmine muri. turn pudor accendit mentem, nee conscia fallit virtus pressa loco ; frendens luctatur et aegro scandit in adversum per saxa vetantia nisu. 495

sed postquam propior vicino lumine fulsit et tota se mole tulit, velut incita clausum agmina Poenorum cingant et cuncta paventem castra premant, lato Murrus caligat in hoste. mille simul dextrae densusque micare videtur 500 ensis, et innumerae nutare in casside cristae. conclamant utrimque acies, ceu tota Saguntos igne micet ; trahit instanti languentia leto

<* In the treaty between Rome and Carthage, the river Ebro (Hebrtis) was the limit beyond which Carthage was forbidden to advance; and the freedom of Saguntum was guaranteed : see 11. 294, 295.

^ The ground was littered with the stones that had formed the wall. Hannibal stood on an eminence formed by these, and Murrus had to climb over them.

40

PUNICA, I. 478-503

in his rage : ** Behold Murrus ! Murrus is the man to impede the prowess of Libya and our might} enterprise, the man to hinder the war against Rome ! Soon will I make you learn the power of your useless treaty and your river Ebro." Take with you loyalty unstained and observance of law; leave to me the gods whom I have deceived ! " And Murrus addressed him thus : " I have longed for your coming ; my heart has long been eager for battle and aflame with hope to take your life ; take the deserved reward of your guile, and seek for Italy in the bowels of the earth. My right hand spares you the long march to Roman territory and the ascent of the snowy Pyrenees and the Alps."

Meanwhile, seeing his foe come close, and that he could trust the overhanging ground where he stood, Hannibal rent the rampart and seized a huge rock and hurled it down upon the head of the climber ; and the stone fell swiftly with downward force. Smitten by the tough fragment of the wall, Murrus crouched down. But soon shame fired his heart ; and conscious courage, though taken at a disadvantage, did not fail him. Grinding his teeth, he struggled on, and with difficult effort climbed up over the stones * that barred his way. But when Hannibal shone closer with nearer light, and moved on in all his bulk, then the eyes of Murrus grew dark before his mighty foe ; it seemed as if the whole Carthaginian army were moving to close round him, and as if all the host were attacking him. He seemed to see a thousand arms and countless flashing swords, and a forest of plumes waving on his foe's helmet. Both armies shouted, as if all Saguntum were on fire ; Murrus in fear dragged along his limbs faint with the

41

SILIUS ITALICUS

membra pavens Murrus supremaque vota capessit : " conditor Alcide, cuius vestigia sacra 605

incolimus terra, minitantem averte procellam, si tua non segni defense moenia dextra."

Dumque orat caeloque attoUit lumina supplex, " cerne," ait, " an nostris longe Tirynthius ausis iustius afFuerit. ni displicet aemula virtus, 510

haud me dissimilem, Alcide, primoribus annis agnosces, invicte, tuis ; fer numen amicum et, Troiae quondam primis memorate ruinis, dexter ades Phrygiae delenti stirpis alumnos." sic Poenus pressumque ira simul exigit ensem, 515 qua capuli statuere morae, teloque relate horrida labentis perfunditur arma cruore. ilicet ingenti casu turbata iuventus procurrit ; nota arma viri corpusque superbo victori spoliare negant : coit aucta vicissim 520

hortando manus, et glomerata mole feruntur. hinc saxis galea, hinc clipeus sonat aereus hastis ; incessunt sudibus librataque pondera plumbi certatim iaciunt. decisae vertice cristae direptumque decus nutantum in caede iubarum. 525 iamque agitur largus per membra fluentia sudor, et stant loricae squamis horrentia tela. nee requies tegimenve datur mutare sub ictu. genua labant, fessique humeri gestamina laxant. tum creber penitusque trahens suspiria sicco 530

*• Another name for Hercules.

* Hercules : he lived for many years at Tiryns, an ancient city near Argos.

" See note to 1. 43. 42

PUNICA, I. 604-530

approach of death, and uttered his latest prayer : " Alcides,** our founder, whose footprints we inhabit on hallowed ground, turn aside the storm that threatens us, if I defend thy walls with no sluggish arm."

And, while he prayed and raised his eyes to heaven in supplication, the other spoke thus : " Consider whether the hero of Tiryns ^ will not far more justly assist us in our enterprise. If thou frownest not on rival valour, invincible Alcides, thou wilt recog- nize that I come not short of thy young years ; bring thy power to help me ; and, as thou art renowned for the destruction of Troy long ago," so support me when I destroy the scions of the Phrygian race." Thus Hannibal spoke ; and at the same time, clutch- ing his sword in fury, he drove it home till the hilt stopped it ; then he drew back the weapon, and his dread armour was drenched with the blood of the dying man. At once the fighters rush forward, troubled by the great man's fall, and defy the proud conqueror to take the famous armour and body of Murrus. Their numbers grow by mutual encourage- ment ; they unite and charge in a serried mass. Now stones rattle on Hannibal's helmet, and now spears on his brazen shield ; they attack with stakes, and vie with one another in swinging and hurling weights of lead. The plume was shorn from his head, and the glorious horsehair crest that nodded over the slain was torn in pieces. And now streams of sweat started out and bathed his limbs, and pointed missiles stuck fast in the scales of his breastplate. No respite was possible and no change of armour, beneath the rain of blows. His knees shake, and his weary arms lose hold of his shield. Now too a

43

SILIUS ITALICUS

fumat ab ore vapor, nisuque elisus anhelo auditur gemitus fractumque in casside murmur. 532 fulmineus ceu Spartanis latratibus actus, 421

cum silvam occursu venantum perdidit, hirto horrescit saetis dorso et postrema capessit proelia, canentem mandens aper ore crurorem, iamque gemens geminat contra venabula dentem. 425 mente adversa domat gaudetque nitescere duris 533 virtutem et decoris pretio discrimina pensat.

Hie subitus scisso densa inter nubila caelo 536

erupit quatiens terram fragor, et super ipsas bis pater intonuit geminato fulmine pugnas. inde inter nubes ventorum turbine caeco ultrix iniusti vibravit lancea belli ac femine adverso librata cuspide sedit. 540

Tarpeiae rupes superisque habitabile saxum et vos, virginea lucentes semper in ara Laomedonteae, Troiana altaria, flammae, heu quantum vobis fallacis imagine tell promisere dei ! propius si pressa furenti 545

hasta foret, clausae starent mortalibus Alpes, nee, Thrasymenne, tuis nunc Allia cederet undis.

Sed luno, aspectans Pyrenes vertice celsae nava rudimenta et primos in Marte calores, ut videt impressum coniecta cuspide vulnus, 550

« It is a historical fact that Hannibal was wounded before Saguntum. Silius seems to imply that Jupiter hurled the weapon.

^ The ever-burning fire in the temple of Vesta is meant. The fire was brought from Troy, where Laomedon once was king, by Aeneas, and was kept alight at Rome.

« The AlHa is a tributary of the Tiber where the Romans were defeated with great slaughter by the Gauls (390 b.c).

44.

PUNICA, I. 531-550

constant steam comes smoking from his parched lips, with deep-drawn breaths, and men heard a groaning forced out with panting effort, and an inarticulate cry that broke against the helmet. So the furious wild boar, when pursued by baying hounds of Sparta, and when debarred from the forest by the hunters in his way, erects the bristles on his shaggy back and fights his last battle, champing his own foaming blood ; and now with a yell he dashes his twin tusks against the spears. By courage Hannibal overcomes disaster ; he is glad that valour is made brighter by hardship ; and he finds an equivalent for danger in the reward of glory.

Now the sky was cloven, and a sudden earth-shak- ing crash burst forth among the thick clouds, and right above the battle the Father of heaven thundered twice with repeated bolt. Then, mid the blind hurri- cane of the winds, there sped between the clouds a spear to punish unrighteous warfare, and the well- aimed point lodged in the front of Hannibal's thigh. <* Ye Tarpeian rocks, where the gods have their dwell- ing, and ye fires of Laomedon, altars of Troy,^ that burn for ever with a flame tended by Vestals, how much, alas. Heaven promised to you by the appear- ance of that deceptive weapon ! If the spear had pierced deeper into the fierce warrior, the Alps had been for ever closed to mortal men, and Allia ^ would not now rank after the waters of Lake Trasimene.^

But Juno, surveying from the summit of the lofty Pyrenees his youthful prowess and martial ardour, when she saw the wound inflicted by the point of

But, says Silius, the slaughter at Lake Trasimene was even greater.

^ The third of the great battles won by Hannibal in Italy. VOL. I c 45

SILIUS ITALICUS

advolat, obscura circumdata nube, per auras

et validam duris evellit ab ossibus hastam.

ille tegit clipeo fusum per membra cruorem,

tardaque paulatim et dubio vestigia nisu

alternata trahens, aversus ab aggere cedit. 555

Nox tandem optatis terras pontumque tenebris condidit et pugnas erepta luce diremit. at durae invigilant mentes, molemque reponunt, noctis opus, clauses acuunt extrema pericli et fractis rebus violentior ultima virtus. 560

hinc puer invalidique senes, hinc femina ferre certat opem in dubiis miserando nava labori, saxaque mananti subvectat vulnere miles, iam patribus clarisque senum sua munia curae. concurrunt lectosque viros hortantur et orant, 565 defessis subeant rebus revocentque salutem et Latia extremis implorent casibus arma. " ite citi, remis velisque impellite puppim, saucia dum castris clausa est fera ; tempore Martis utendum est rupto et grassandum ad clara periclis. 570 ite citi, deflete fidem murosque ruentes antiquaque domo meliora accersite fata, mandati summa est : dum stat, remeate, Saguntos. ast illi celerant, qua proxima litora, gressum et fugiunt tumido per spumea caerula velo. 575

Pellebat somnos Tithoni roscida coniux, ac rutilus primis sonipes hinnitibus altos afflarat montes roseasque movebat habenas. iam celsa e muris exstructa mole inventus

« i.e. Hannibal. " Ardea, which is near Rome.

• Aurora, Dawn. 46

PUNICA, I. 551-570

the flying spear, hastened thither through the sky, veiled by a dark cloud, and plucked forth the stout spear from the tough bone. He covered with his shield the blood that poured over his limbs, and went back from the rampart, dragging his feet one after the other slowly and gradually with uncertain effort.

Night at last buried land and sea in welcome darkness, and separated the combatants by robbing them of light. But resolute hearts kept watch, and they rebuilt the wall — their task for the night. The besieged were spurred on by the extremity of their danger, and their last stand was more furious in their desperate plight. Here boys and feeble old men, and there women, strove valiantly to carry on the piteous task in the hour of peril, and soldiers with streaming wounds carried stones to the wall. And now the senators and noble elders were heedful of their special duty. Meeting in haste, they chose envoys, and urged them with entreaties to be active in this grievous plight and bring safety back, and to entreat the aid of Roman armies in their ex- tremity. ** Go with speed ; urge on your ship with oar and sail, while the wounded wild beast ° is shut up in his camp ; we must take advantage of the inter- ruption of war, and rise to fame by danger. Go with speed ; lament our loyalty and our crumbling walls, and bring us better fortune from our ancient home.'' This is our final charge — return before Saguntum falls." Then the men hasten to the nearest coast, and fly with swollen sail over the foaming sea.

The dewy spouse ^ of Tithonus was banishing sleep, and her ruddy steeds had breathed on the mountain- tops with their first neighings, and tugged at their roseate reins. Now high on the walls the inhabitants,

47

SILIUS ITALICUS

clausam nocturnis ostentat turribus urbem. 580

rerum omnes pendent actus, et milite maesto laxata obsidio, ac pugnandi substitit ardor, inque ducem versae tanto discrimine curae.

Interea Rutulis longinqua per aequora vectis Herculei ponto coepere exsistere colles, 585

et nebulosa iugis attollere saxa Monoeci. Thracius hos Boreas scopulos immitia regna solus habet semperque rigens nunc litora pulsat, nunc ipsas alls plangit stridentibus Alpes ; atque ubi se terris glaciali fundit ab Arcto, 590

baud ulli contra fiducia surgere vento. verticibus torquet rapidis mare, fractaque anhelant aequora, et iniecto conduntur gurgite montes ; iamque volans Rhenum Rhodanumque in nubila tollit. hunc postquam Boreae dirum evasere furorem, 595 alternos maesti casus bellique marisque et dubium rerum eventum sermone volutant. " o patria, o Fidei domus inclita, quo tua nunc sunt fata loco ? sacraene manent in collibus arces ? an cinis, heu superi ! tanto de nomine restat ? 600 ferte leves auras flatusque ciete secundos, si nondum insultat templorum Poenicus ignis culminibus, Latiaeque valent succurrere classes."

Talibus illacrimant noctemque diemque querellis,

« Saguntines : see note to 1. 377.

''Now Monaco, named after Hercules Monoecus as a protector of seamen : he had a temple on the promontory. 48

I

PUNICA, I. 580-604

oft on their finished work, point from the walls to their city, fenced in by towers that grew in the night. All activity was suspended ; for the sorrowing Carthaginians relaxed the vigour of the blockade, and their martial ardour paused ; it was to their leader in his great danger that their thoughts were turned.

Meantime the Rutulians" had travelled far over the waters, and the hills of Hercules began to emerge from the sea, and to lift up from the range the cloud- capt cliffs of Monoecus.'' Thracian Boreas is the sole lord of these rocks, a savage domain ; ever freezing, he now lashes the shore, and now beats the Alps themselves with his hissing wings ; and, when he spreads over the land from the frozen Bear,'' no wind dares to rise against him. He churns the sea in rushing eddies, while the broken billows roar and the mountains are buried beneath water piled above them ; and now in his career he raises the Rhine and the Rhone up to the clouds. Having escaped this awful fury of Boreas, the envoys spoke sadly one to another of the hazards of war succeeded by the hazards of the sea, and about the doubtful issue of events. " Alas for our country, the famous home of Loyalty ! how do thy fortunes now stand ? is thy sacred citadel still erect upon the hills ? Or — alas, ye gods ! — are ashes all that remain of so mighty a name ? Grant us light airs, and send forth favouring breezes, if the Carthaginian fire is not yet triumphant over the tops of our temples, and if the Roman fleets have power to help us."

Thus night and day they mourned and wept, until

* The Bear denotes the North.

49

SILIUS ITALICUS

donee Laurentes puppis defertur ad oras, 605

qua pater, acceptis Anienis ditior undis, in pontum flavo descendit gurgite Thybris. hinc consanguineae subeunt iam moenia Romae.

Concilium vocat augustum castaque beatos paupertate patres ac nomina parta triumphis 610 consul et aequantem superos virtute senatum. facta animosa viros et recti sacra cupido attollunt ; hirtaeque togae neglectaque mensa dexteraque a curvis capulo non segnis aratris ; exiguo faciles et opum non indiga corda, 615

ad parvos curru remeabant saepe penates.

In foribus sacris primoque in limine templi captivi currus, belli decus, armaque rapta pugnantum ducibus saevaeque in Marte secures, perfossi clipei et servantia tela cruorem 620

claustraque portarum pendent ; hie Punica bella, Aegates cernas fusaque per aequora classe exactam ponto Libyen testantia rostra ; hie galeae Senonum pensatique improbus auri arbiter ensis inest, Gallisque ex arce fugatis 625

arma revertentis pompa gestata Camilli ; hie spolia Aeacidae, hie Epirotica signa

« Laurentum was a town and district of Latium, about sixteen miles from Rome. In the legendary history it is the capital of Latium, and was the residence of King Latinus at the time when Aeneas landed in Italy. Laurentes is in Silius an equivalent of Bomani.

^ An anachronism : Scipio was the first Roman general to take a name from a conquered country ; see note to xvii. 626.

" This is a reference to Cincinnatus, who was summoned from his plough to be consul in 438 b.c.

^ The Senate-house. The Senate often met in one of the temples at Rome.

* See note to 1. 35.

50

PUNICA, I. 605-627

their ship put in at the shore of Laurentum," where father Tiber, richer by the tribute of the Anio's waters, runs down with yellow stream into the sea. From here they soon reached the city of their Roman kinsmen.

The consul summoned the worshipful assembly — the Fathers rich in unstained poverty, with names acquired by conquests ^ — a senate rivalling the gods in virtue. Brave deeds and a sacred passion for justice exalted these men ; their dress was rough and their meals simple, and the hands they brought from the crooked plough were ready with the sword-hilt ^ ; content with little, uncovetous of riches, they often went back to humble homes from the triumphal car.

At the sacred doors and on the threshold of the temple ^ captured chariots were hung, glorious spoils of war, and armour taken from hostile generals, and axes ruthless in battle, and perforated shields, and weapons to which the blood still clung, and the bolts of city-gates. Here one might see the wars with Carthage, the Aegatian * islands, and the ships' prows which testified that Carthage had been driven from the sea when her fleet was defeated on the water. Here were the helmets of the Senones and the in- solent sword that decreed the weight of gold paid down,^ and the armour that was borne in the proces- sion of Camillus on his return, when the Gauls had been repulsed from the citadel ; here were the spoils of the scion of Aeacus, and here the standards of the

' In 390 B.C. the Senones, a Gallic tribe, took Rome and burnt it. The Romans paid gold for a ransom ; and when the gold was being weighed, Brennus, the leader of the Gauls, threw his sword into the scale, as a gesture of contempt. Brennus was afterwards defeated by Gamillus.

51

SILIUS ITALICUS

et Ligurum horrentes coni parmaeque relatae Hispana de gente rudes Alpinaque gaesa.

Sed postquam clades patefecit et horrida bella 630 orantum squalor, praesens astare Sagunti ante oculos visa est extrema precantis imago, turn senior maesto Sicoris sic incipit ore : " sacrata gens clara fide, quam rite fatentur Marte satam populi ferro parere subacti, 635

ne crede emensos levia ob discrimina pontum. vidimus obsessam patriam murosque trementes ; et, quern insana freta aut coetus genuere ferarum, vidimus Hannibalem. procul his a moenibus, oro, arcete, o superi, nostroque in Marte tenete 640

fatiferae iuvenem dextrae ! qua mole sonant es exigit ille trabes ! et quantus crescit in armis ! trans iuga Pyrenes, medium indignatus Hiberum, excivit Calpen et mersos Syrtis harenis molitur populos maioraque moenia quaerit. 645

spumeus hie, medio qui surgit ab aequore, fluctus, si prohibere piget, vestras se effringet in urbes. an tanti pretium motus ruptique per enses foederis hoc iuveni iurata in bella ruenti creditis, ut statuat superatae iura Sagunto ? 650

ocius ite, viri, et nascentem extinguite flammam, ne serae redeant post aucta pericula curae. quamquam o, si nullus terror, non obruta iam nunc semina fumarent belli, vestraene Sagunto

« Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who made war against Rome 282- 275 B.C. He claimed descent from Achilles, the grandson of Aeacus.

" See note to 1. 141. " See note to 1. 408.

52

PUNICA, I. 628-654

Epirote," the bristling plumed helmets of the Ligures, the rude targets brought back from Spanish natives, and Alpine javelins.

But when the mourning garb of the suppliants made plain their calamities and sufferings in war, the Senate seemed to see before them the figure of Saguntum appealing for help in her last hour. Then aged Sicoris thus began his sorrowful tale : " O people famous for keeping of your oaths, people whom the nations defeated by your arms admit with reason to be the seed of Mars, think not that we have crossed the sea because of trifling dangers. We have seen our native city besieged and its walls rocking ; we have looked on Hannibal, a man to whom raging seas or some union of wild beasts gave birth. I pray that Heaven may keep the deadly arm of that stripling far from these walls, and confine him to war against us. With what might he hurls the crashing beam ! How his stature increases in battle ! Scorning the limit of the Ebro, and crossing the range of the Pyrenees, he has roused up Calpe ^ and stirs up the peoples hidden in the sands of the Syrtis," and has greater cities in his eye. This foaming billow, rising" in mid-ocean, will dash itself against the cities of Italy, if you refuse to stop it. Do you believe that Hannibal, frantic for the war he has sworn to wage, will be content with this reward of his great enter- prise and his breach of treaty by force of arms — the conquest and submission of Saguntum ? Hasten, ye men of Rome, to put out the flame in its beginning, or the trouble may recur too late when the danger has grown greater. And yet — ah me ! — if no danger threatened you, if the hidden sparks of war were not at this moment smoking, would it be beneath you to

VOL. I c 2 53

SILIUS ITALICUS

spernendum consanguineam protendere dextram ?

omnis Hiber, omnis rapidis fera Gallia turmis, 656

omnis ab aestifero sitiens Libys imminet axe.

per vos culta diu Rutulae primordia gentis

Laurentemque larem et genetricis pignora Troiae,

conservate pios, qui permutare coacti 660

Acrisioneis Tirynthia culmina muris.

vos etiam Zanclen Siculi contra arma tyranni

iuvisse egregium ; vos et Campana tueri

moenia, depulso Samnitum robore, dignum

Sigeis duxistis avis, vetus incola Daunus, 665

testor vos, fontes et stagna arcana Numici,

cum felix nimium dimitteret Ardea pubem,

sacra domumque ferens et avi penetralia Turni,

ultra Pyrenen Laurentia nomina duxi.

cur ut decisa atque avulsa a corpore membra 670

despiciar, nosterque luat cur foedera sanguis ? "

Tandem, ut finitae voces, (miserabile visu) summissi palmas, lacerato tegmine vestis, affigunt proni squalentia corpora terrae. inde agitant consulta patres curasque fatigant. 675 Lentulus, ut cernens accensae tecta Sagunti, poscendum poenae iuvenem celerique negantis exuri bello Carthaginis arva iubebat.

" A reference to the Palladium, a statue of Pallas, which was brought from Troy to Rome and assured the safety of the city which contained it.

" That is, to migrate from Ardea to Saguntum : Danae, daughter of Acrisius, was said to have founded Ardea.

" Zancle, afterwards called Messana, when occupied by the Mamertines, was defended by Rome against Hiero, king of Syracuse.

** In 343 B.C. the Romans rescued Capua, the capital of Campania, from the Samnites.

' A name for Italy.

54

PUNICA, I. 655-678

hold out to your city of Saguntum a kindred hand ? All Spain threatens us, all Gaul with her swift horse- men, and all thirsty Libya from the torrid zone. By the long-cherished origins of the Rutulian race, by the household gods of Laurentum, and by the pledges " of our mother Troy, preserve those righteous men who were forced to leave the walls of Acrisius for the towers of Hercules.^ It M^as your glory to help Zancle against the armies of the Sicilian despot ''; you deemed it worthy of your Trojan ancestors to defend the walls of Capua and drive away the strength of the Samnites.** I was once a dweller in Daunia * — bear witness, ye springs and secret pools of the river Numicius ^ ! — and when Ardea sent forth the sons in which she was too rich, I bore forth ^ the sacred things and the inner shrine from the house of Turnus, my ancestor, and carried the name of Laurentum beyond the Pyrenees. Why should I be scorned, like a limb cut off and torn from the body } and why should our blood expiate the breach of the treaty ? "

At last, when they ceased to speak, it was pitiful to see them dash their unkempt bodies down upon the floor, with their open hands held up and their garments torn. Next the Fathers held counsel and carried on anxious debate. Lentulus, as if he actually saw the houses of Saguntum burning, moved that they should demand the surrender of Hannibal for punishment, and that, if Carthage refused to give him up, her territory should be ravaged with instant

' A small river of Latium runnina: into the sea between Ardea and Laurentum : it was believed that Aeneas was buried beside the river.

» The speaker identifies himself with the original settlers at Saguntum.

SILIUS ITALICUS

at Fabius, cauta speculator mente futuri nee laetus dubiis parcusque lacessere Martem 680 et melior clause bellum producere ferro : prima super tantis rebus pensanda, ducisne ceperit arma furor, patres an signa moveri censuerint ; mittique viros, qui exacta reportent. providus haec, ritu vatis, fundebat ab alto 685

pectore praemeditans Fabius surgentia bella. |ut saepe e celsa grandaevus puppe magister, prospiciens signis venturum in carbasa Caurum, summo iam dudum substringit lintea malo. sed lacrimae atque ira mixtus dolor impulit omnes praecipitare latens fatum ; lectique senatu, 691

qui ductorem adeant ; si perstet surdus in armis pactorum, vertant inde ad Carthaginis arces nee divum oblitis indicere bella morentur.

" See note to ii. 6.

** The Carthap:inians were unmindful of the gods, when they violated a treaty which they had sworn by the gods to observe.

56

PUNICA, I. 679-694

war. But Fabius,** peering warily into the future, no lover of doubtful courses, slow to provoke war, and skilful to prolong a campaign without unsheathing the sword, was next to speak. He said that in so grave a matter they must first find out whether the madness of Hannibal began the war, or the senate of Carthage ordered the army to advance ; they must send envoys to examine and report. Mindful of the future and musing on the war to come, Fabius, prophet-like, uttered this advice from his lofty soul. Thus many a veteran pilot, when from his high poop he sees by tokens that the gale will soon fall upon his canvas, reefs his sails in haste upon the top- mast. But tears, and grief mixed with resentment, made them all eager to hasten the unknown future. Senators were chosen to approach Hannibal ; if he turned a deaf ear to his engagements and fought on, they must then turn their steps to the city of Carthafre and declare war without delay against men unmindful of the gods.^

57

LIBER SECUNDUS

ARGUMENT

The Roman envoys, dismissed by Hannibal, proceed to Carthage (1-24). Hannibal addresses his tnen and goes on with the siege (25-269). The Roman envoys are received in the Carthaginian senate : speeches of Hanno and Gestar : Fabius declares war (270-390). Hannibal deals with some rebellious tribes and returns to the siege : he receives a gift of armour from the Spanish peoples (391-456). The

Caeruleis provecta vadis iam Dardana puppis tristia magnanimi portabat iussa senatus primoresque patrum. Fabius, Tirynthia proles, ter centum memorabat avos, quos turbine Martis abstulit una dies, cum Fors non aequa labori 5

patricio Cremerae maculavit sanguine ripas. huic comes aequato sociavit munere curas Publicola, ingentis Volesi Spartana propago. is, cultam referens insigni nomine plebem, Ausonios atavo ducebat consule fastos. 10

Hos ut depositis portum contingere velis

" Q. Fabius Maximus, the famous Dictator often men- tioned later in the poem, was one of the envoys. The Fabii claimed Hercules as their ancestor. In 480 b.c, three hun- dred Fabii with 4000 clients went out to fight against the people of Veil, and all but one of them fell by the river Cremera in Etruria.

58

BOOK II

ARGUMENT (continued)

sufferings of Saguntum (457-474). The goddess Loyalty is sent to the city by Hercules, its founder, and encourages them to resist (475-525). But Juno sends a Fury from Hell who drives the people mad (526-649). TJiey build a great pyre and light it. Hannibal takes the city (650-695). Epilogue by the poet (696-707).

And now the Roman vessel, sailing forth over the blue water, carried leading senators with the stern behests of the high-souled Senate. Fabius, descended from Hercules, could tell of ancestors thre^ hundred in number, who were swept away in a single day by the hurricane of war, when Fortune frowned on the enterprise of the patricians and stained the banks of the Cremera with their blood.** With Fabius went Publicola, the Spartan descendant of mighty Volesus, and shared the duty in common with his colleague. Publicola showed by his name his friendship for the people, and the name stood first on the roll of Roman consuls, when his ancestor held office.^

When word was brought to Hannibal that the

* Volesus, the founder of the famous Valerian family, was a Sabine, who settled at Rome. The Sabines claimed a Spartan origin. One of his descendants gained the name of Publicola(b^riend of the People), and was elected consul in the first year of the Republic, 509 b.c.

59

SILIUS ITALICUS

allatum Hannibali consultaque ferre senatus iam medio seram bello poscentia pacem ductorisque simul conceptas foedere poenas, ocius armatas passim per litora turmas 15

ostentare iubet minitantia signa recensque perfusos clipeos et tela rubentia caede. baud dictis nunc esse locum ; strepere omnia clamat Tyrrhenae clangore tubae gemituque cadentum. dum detur, relegant pontum neu se addere clausis 20 festinent ; notum, quid caede calentibus armis, quantum irae liceat, motusve quid audeat ensis. sic ducis afFatu per inhospita litora pulsi, converso Tyrios petierunt remige patres.

Hie alto Poenus fundentem vela carinam 25

incessens dextra : " Nostrum, pro lupiter ! '* inquit, " nostrum ferre caput parat ilia per aequora puppis. heu caecae mentes tumefactaque corda secundis ! armatum Hannibalem poenae petit impia tellus ! ne deposce, adero ; dabitur tibi copia nostri 30

ante expectatum, portisque focisque timebis, quae nunc externos defendis, Roma, penates. Tarpeios iterum scopulos praeruptaque saxa scandatis licet et celsam migretis in arcem, nullo iam capti vitam pensabitis auro." 35

Incensi dictis animi, et furor additus armis. conditur extemplo telorum nubibus aether,

" The war-trumpet was an Etruscan Invention.

^ Italy.

" The first time was during the Gallic invasion in 390 b.c.

<* See note to i. 624.

60

PUNICA, IT. 12-37

envoys had lowered sail and were gaining the har- bour, and that they brought a decree of the Senate demanding peace — a belated peace when war was already raging — and also the punishment of the general as laid down in the treaty, he quickly ordered squadrons in arms to display all along the shore menacing standards, shields newly dyed with blood, and weapons red with slaughter. ' ' This is no time for words," he cried ; " all the land is loud with the blare of the Tyrrhene « trumpet and the groans of the dying. Let them, while they may, put to sea again, and not make haste to join the besieged Saguntines ; we know the licence of passion and of weapons reeking with slaughter, and the boldness of the sword, when once unsheathed." Thus accosted by Hannibal, the envoys, driven away along the unfriendly shore, turned their course about and made for the Carthaginian senate.

Then Hannibal shook his fist at the vessel as she spread her sails : "Ye gods," he cried, "it is my head, even mine, which yonder ship seeks to carry across the sea ! Woe be to minds that cannot see, and to hearts puffed up with prosperity ! The un- righteous land ^ demands Hannibal, sword in hand, for punishment. Without your asking, I shall come ; you shall see enough of me before you expect me ; and Rome, which is now protecting foreign house- holds, shall tremble for her own gates and her own hearths. Though ye clamber a second time ^ up the steep cliffs of the Tarpeian rock and take refuge in your lofty citadel, ye shall not again, when made prisoners, ransom your lives for any weight of gold." ^

These words fired the courage of his troops, and they fought with fresh fury. Instantly the sky was hidden with clouds of missiles, and the towers of

61

SILIUS ITALICUS

et densa resonant saxorum grandine turres.

ardor agit, provecta queat dum cernere muros,

inque oculis profugae Martem exercere carinae. 40

ipse autem incensas promissa piacula turmas

flagitat, insignis nudato vulnere, ductor

ac repetens questus furibundo personat ore :

" poscimur, o socii, Fabiusque e puppe catenas

ostentat, dominique vocat nos ira senatus. 45

si taedet coepti, culpandave movimus arma,

Ausoniam ponto propere revocate carinam.

nil moror, evincta lacerandum tradite dextra.

nam cur, Eoi deductus origine Beli,

tot Libyae populis, tot circumfusus Hiberis, 60

servitium perferre negem ? Rhoeteius immo

aeternum imperet et populis saeclisque propaget

regna ferox ; nos iussa virum nutusque tremamus."

efFundunt gemitus atque omina tristia vertunt

in stirpem Aeneadum ac stimulant clamoribus iras. 55

Discinctos inter Libyas populosque bilingues Marmaricis audax in bella Oenotria signis venerat Asbyte, proles Garamantis Hiarbae. Hammone hie genitus, Phorcynidos antra Medusae Cinyphiumque Macen et iniquo a sole calentes 60 Battiadas late imperio sceptrisque regebat ; cui patrius Nasamon aeternumque arida Barce,

« Hannibal himself. * See note to i. 73.

" Silius here uses " Rhoetean " as an equivalent of " Roman." Rhoeteum was a promontory in the Trojan country. This is more surprising than the names of Trojans, Phrygians, Dardanids, Priamids, Teucri, etc., which he con- stantly applies to the Romans : see p. xiii.

•* i.e. the doom foreseen by Hannibal for Carthage.

• Speaking Libyan and Egyptian.

^ Asbyte is clearly modelled upon Camilla in the A eneid ( vii. 803 foil.). The chief nations of Libya are enumerated below. 62

PUNICA, II. 38-62

Sagimtum rattled under a thick hail of stones. Men were spurred on by their eagerness to wage war under the eyes of the retreating vessel, while she could still see the walls in her course. But their leader, conspicuous with his wound exposed to view, himself demanded of his excited soldiers the promised scapegoat,** and shouted his repeated complaint with frenzied utterance : " Comrades, the Romans demand my surrender ; and Fabius on the deck displays the fetters for me, and the wrath of the imperious Senate summons me. If you are weary of our enterprise, if the war we have begun is blame- worthy, then make haste to recall the Roman ship from the sea. I am ready : hand me over to the torturers with fettered wrists. For why should I, though I trace my pedigree to Belus ^ of the East, and am girt about by so many nations of Africa and Spain — why should I refuse to endure slavery ? Nay, let the Roman " rule for ever, and proudly spread his tyranny over the world for all generations : let us tremble at their nod and obey their bidding." His men groan aloud, and turn the evil omen ^ upon the race of the Aeneadae, and increase their ardour by shouting.

Among the loosely-girt Libyans and the peoples of two tongues,^ Asbyte^ had come boldly to fight against Rome with troops from Marmarica. She was the child of Hiarbas the Garamantian ; and he was the son of Ammon and ruled with extended sway the caves of Medusa, daughter of Phorcys, and the Macae who dwell by the river Cinyps, and the Cyrenians whom the cruel sun scorches ; he was obeyed by the Nasamones, hereditary subjects, by ever-parched Barce, by the forests of the Autololes,

63

SILIUS ITALICUS

cui nemora Autololum atque infidae litora Syrtis

parebant nullaque levis Gaetulus habena.

atque is fundarat thalamos Tritonide nympha, 65

unde genus proavumque lovem regina ferebat

et sua fatidico repetebat nomina luco.

haec, ignara viri vacuoque assueta cubili,

venatu et silvis primos dependerat annos ;

non calathis mollita manus operatave fuso, 70

Dietynnam et saltus et anhelum impellere planta

cornipedem ac stravisse feras immitis amabat.

quales Threiciae Rhodopen Pangaeaque lustrant

saxosis nemora alta iugis cursuque fatigant

Hebrum innupta manus : spreti Ciconesque Getaeque

et Rhesi domus et lunatis Bistones armis. 76

Ergo habitu insignis patrio, religata fluentem Hesperidum crinem dono dextrumque feroci nuda latus Marti ac fulgentem tegmine laevam Thermodontiaca munita in proelia pelta, 80

fumantem rapidis quatiebat cursibus axem. pars comitum biiugo curru, pars cetera dorso fertur equi ; nee non Veneris iam foedera passae reginam cingunt, sed virgine densior ala est. ipsa autem gregibus per longa mapalia lectos 85

ante aciem ostentabat equos ; tumuloque propinqua dum sequitur gyris campum, vibrata per auras spicula contorquens summa ponebat in arce.

" The oracular shrine of Jupiter Ammon : see note to i. 415.

* A name of Diana, the Huntress.

" A warlike race of women, who play a great part in Greek mythology and art. They were supposed to live among the Thracian mountains, Rhodope and Pangaeus, and by the river Hebrus.

^ A golden clasp is meant : the Hesperides were nymphs who guarded the golden apples near Mount Atlas. 64

PUNICA, II. 63-88

by the shore of treacherous Syrtis, and by the Gae- tulians who ride without reins. And he had built a marriage-bed for the nymph Tritonis, from whom the princess was born ; she claimed Jupiter as her forefather and derived her name from the prophetic grove." She was a maiden and ever lay alone, and had spent her early years in the forest-chase ; never did the wool-basket soften her hands nor the spindle give her occupation ; but she loved Dictynna ^ and the wood- lands, and to urge on with her heel the panting steed and lay low wild beasts without mercy. Even so the band of Amazons '^ in Thrace traverse Rhodope and the high forests on the stony ridges of Mount Pangaeus, and tire out the Hebrus by their speed ; they spurn all suitors — the Cicones and Getae, the royal house of Rhesus, and the Bistones with their crescent-shaped shields.

And thus conspicuous in her native dress — with her long hair bound by a gift from the Hesperides,*^ with her right breast bared for battle, while the shield glittered on her left arm and the target of the Amazons protected her in battle — she urged on her smoking chariot with furious speed. Some of her companions drove two-horse chariots, while others rode on horseback ; and some of the princess's escort had already submitted to the bond of wedlock, but the maidens of the troop outnumbered these. She herself proudly displayed before the line the steeds which she had chosen from the droves among distant native huts ; keeping near the mound, she drove round the plain in circles ; and, hurling her whizzing missiles through the air, she planted them in the summit of the citadel.

Qb

SILIUS ITALICUS

Haiic hasta totiens intrantem moenia Mopsus non tulit et celsis senior Gortynia muris 90

tela sonante fugat nervo liquidasque per auras dirigit aligero letalia vulnera ferro. Cres erat, aerisonis Curetum advectus ab antris, Dictaeos agitare puer levioribus annis pennata saltus assuetus harundine Mopsus. 95

ille vagam caelo demisit saepe volucrem ; ille procul campo linquentem retia cervum vulnere sistebat ; rueretque inopina sub ictu ante fera ineauto, quam sibila poneret arcus. nee se turn pharetra iactavit iustius ulla, 100

Eois quamquam certet Gortyna sagittis. verum ut, opum levior, venatu extendere vitam abnuit, atque artae res exegere per aequor, coniuge cum Meroe natisque inglorius hospes intrarat miseram, fato ducente, Saguntum. 105

coryti fratrum ex humeris calami que paterni pendebant volucerque chalybs, Minoia tela, hie, medius iuvenum, Massylae gentis in agmen crebra Cydoneo fundebat spicula cornu. iam Garamum audacemque Thyrum pariterque ruentes 110

Gisgonem saevumque Bagam indignumque sagittae, impubem malas, tarn certae occurrere Lixum fuderat et plena tractabat bella pharetra. turn, vultum intendens telumque in virginis ora, desertum non grata lovem per vota vocabat. 115

** Arrows in Latin poetry are generally " Dictaean " or * Gortynian " or " Cretan." Crete was famous for its archers ; and Dicte and Gortyn are Cretan cities.

" The Curetes were the guardians of the infant Zeus (Jupiter) in Crete and drowned his cries by clashing their shields and cymbals. * The Parthian archers are meant. 66

PUNICA, II. 89-116

Again and again she hurled her weapons within the walls ; but old Mopsus resented it, and sped from the high walls Cretan ° arrows from his twanging bow, and launched through the clear sky deadly wounds with the winged steel. He was a Cretan, who had voyaged from the caverns of the Curetes ^ that ring with brass. When young and nimble, he was wont to beat the coverts of Dicte with feathered shafts : oft did he bring down from the sky the wandering bird ; from a distance he would strike and stay the stag that was escaping from the nets along the plain ; and the beast would collapse, surprised by a blow unforeseen, before the bow had ceased to twang. Gortyna, though she rivals the arrows of the East," had more reason then to boast of Mopsus than of any other archer. But when, grown poor, he was un- willing to pass his whole life in hunting, and when his poverty drove him across the sea, he had come, a humble guest, with his wife Meroe and his sons ; and destiny had led him to ill-fated Saguntum. From the young men's shoulders there hung quivers and their father's arrows and the winged steel that is Crete's weapon. Mopsus, between his sons, was raining arrows from his Cydonian <* bow of horn upon the Massy lian warriors. Already he had laid low Garamus and bold Thyrus, and Gisgo rushing on together with fierce Bagas, and Lixus, yet beardless, who did not deserve to meet an arrow so unerring ; and he fought on with his quiver filled. Now he turned his eyes and his weapon against the face of Asbyte, and prayed to Jupiter ; but his prayer found no favour with the god whom he had deserted.* For

** Cydon is another city of Crete. • By leaving Crete, the birthplace of Jupiter.

67

SILIUS ITALICUS

namque ut fatiferos convert! prospicit arcus, opposite procul insidiis Nasamonias Harpe corpore praeripuit letum calamumque volantem, dum clamat, patulo excipiens tramisit hiatu, et primae ferrum a tergo videre sorores. 120

at comitis frendens casu labentia virgo membra levat parvaque oculos iam luce natantes irrorat lacrimis totisque annisa doloris viribus intorquet letalem in moenia cornum. ilia volans humerum rapido transverberat ictu 125 conantis Dorylae, iunctis iam cornibus arcus, educti spatium nervi complente sagitta, excutere in ventos resoluto pollice ferrum. tum subitum in vulnus praeceps devolvitur altis aggeribus muri, iuxtaque cadentia membra 130

effusi versa calami fluxere pharetra. exclamat paribus frater vicinus in armis Icarus ulciscique parat lacrimabile fatum. atque ilium raptim promentem in proelia telum Hannibal excussi praevertit turbine saxi. 135

labuntur gelido torpentia frigore membra, deficiensque manus pharetrae sua tela remisit. At pater in gemino natorum funere Mopsus correptos arcus ter maesta movit ab ira, ter cecidit dextra, et notas dolor abstulit artes. 140 paenitet heu sero dulces liquisse penates, arreptoque avide. quo concidis, Icare, saxo, postquam aevum senior percussaque pectora frustra sentit et, ut tantos compescat morte dolores, nil opis in dextra, vastae se culmine turris 145

*• The Nasamones were an African tribe who lived near the Syrtes and had an evil reputation as wreckers : see i. 409.

^ This phrase is found elsewhere in Latin poetry : we should say " fell forward." 68

PUNICA, II. 116-145

Harpe, a Nasamonian « maid, when she saw the fatal bow turned about, placed herself in the way of the distant danger, and anticipated the mortal blow ; and even as she shouted, the flying arrow struck her open mouth and passed through ; and her sisters first saw the point standing out behind her. But Asbyte, furious at the fall of her comrade, raised the prostrate body and wetted with her tears the swimming eyes with their failing light ; and then, putting forth all the strength of sorrow, she hurled her deadly spear against the city walls. On it flew and pierced with sudden blow the shoulder of Dorylas, as he strove to launch the steel into the air with loosened thumb — the ends of the bow already met, and the arrow filled the space left by the expanded string. Then he fell down headlong towards his sudden wound ^ from the high bastions of the wall, and beside his falling body the arrows poured forth from his upset quiver. His brother, Icarus, armed alike and standing near him, cried aloud and sought to avenge that pitiable death. But, as he put forth his weapon in haste for battle, Hannibal hurled a great stone and stopped him with its whirling mass. His limbs collapsed, stiff with icy cold, and his failing hand returned to the quiver the arrow that belonged to it.

But Mopsus, when both his sons were slain, caught up his bow in his grief and rage, and bent it thrice ; but thrice his hand fell, and sorrow robbed him of his accustomed skill. Too late, alas ! he regrets to have left the land he loved. Eagerly he clutched the stone that had felled Icarus ; but, when the old man felt that his feeble blows on his own breast were vain, and knew that his arm could not help him to end his sore grief by death, he threw him-

69

SILIUS ITALICUS

praecipitem iacit et delapsus pondere prono membra super nati moribundos explicat artus. Dum cadit externo Gortynius advena bello, iam nova molitus stimulate milite Theron, Alcidae templi custos araeque sacerdos, 150

non expectatum Tyriis efFuderat agmen et fera miscebat reserata proelia porta, atque illi non hasta manu, non vertice cassis, sed, fisus latis humeris et mole iuventae, agmina vastabat elava, nihil indigus ensis. 155

exuviae capiti impositae tegimenque leonis terribilem attoUunt excelso vertice rictum. centum angues idem Lernaeaque monstra gerebat in clipeo et sectis geminam serpentibus hydram. ille lubam Thapsumque patrem clarumque Micipsam nomine avi Maurumque Sacen, a moenibus actos 161 palantesque fuga, praeceps ad litora cursu egerat, atque una spumabant aequora dextra. nee contentus Idi leto letoque Cothonis Marmaridae nee caede Rothi nee caede lugurthae, 165 Asbytes currum et radiantis tegmina laenae poscebat votis gemmataque lumina peltae atque in belligera versabat virgine mentem. quem ruere ut telo vidit regina cruento, obliquos detorquet equos laevumque per orbem 170 fallaci gyro campum secat ac velut ales averso rapitur sinuata per aequora curru.

« For each head of the Hydra (a water-snake) that Her- cules cut off, two new heads grew. The priest of Hercules displays on his shield one of the Labours of Hercules.

^ The allusion has not been explained. In 148 b.c. a Micipsa became king of Numidia and adopted Jugurtha. Perhaps the text is corrupt. Silius appears to be giving to 70

PUNICA, II. 146-172

self headlong from the top of the huge tower ; and, ftilling heavily down, laid at full length his dying limbs on his son's body.

While the Cretan stranger fell thus in foreign war, Theron, who guarded Hercules' temple and was priest at his altar, urged on the fighters and attempted a fresh effort. Unbarring a gate, he sent out a force to surprise the Carthaginians, and the fighting was fierce. He bore no spear in his hand nor helmet on his head ; but, trusting in his broad shoulders and youthful strength, he laid the enemy low with a club, and craved no sword. The skin stripped from a lion was laid on his head, and raised the terrible open mouth aloft on his tall figure. He bore likewise on his shield a hundred snakes and the monster of Lerna — the hydra ° that multiplied when the serpents were cut in two. Juba and his father Thapsus ; Micipsa, famous for the glory of his ancestor,^ and Saces the Moor — all these he had driven from the walls and pursued headlong to the shore as they fled in dis- order ; and his unaided arm made the sea foam with blood. Not satisfied with the death of Idus and the death of Cotho of Marmarica, nor with the slaughter of Rothus and the slaughter of Jugurtha, he raised his ambition to Asbyte's chariot, the glittering mantle that covered her, and her bright jewelled target ; and all his mind was fixed on the warrior maiden. When the princess saw him rushing on with blood- stained weapon, she made her horses swerve aside ; and thus, evading him by wheeling to the left, she cleaves the plain and flies like a bird over the curving field, showing him the back of her chariot. And,

fictitious persons names that were famous later in Roman history. He does the same thino: elsewhere.

71

SILIUS ITALICUS

dumque ea se ex oculis aufert, atque ocior Euro

incita pulveream campo trahit ungula nubem,

adversum late stridens rota proterit agmen, 175

ingerit et crebras virgo trepidantibus hastas.

hie cecidere Lycus Thamyrisque et nobile nomen

Eurydamas, clari deductum stirpe parentis ;

qui thalamos ausus quondam sperare superbos,

heu demens ! Ithacique torum ; sed enim arte pudica

fallacis totiens revoluto stamine telae 181

deceptus, mersum pelago iactarat Ulixen ;

ast Ithacus vero ficta pro morte loquacem

affecit leto, taedaeque ad funera versae.

gens extrema viri campis deletur Hiberis 185

Eurydamas Nomados dextra ; superinstrepit ater

et servat cursum perfractis ossibus axis.

lamque aderat remeans virgo, inter proelia post- quam distringi Therona videt, saevamque bipennem perlibrans mediae fronti, spolium inde superbum 190 Herculeasque tibi exuvias, Dictynna, vovebat. nee segnis Theron tantae spe laudis in ipsos adversus consurgit equos villosaque fulvi ingerit obiectans trepidantibus ora leonis. attoniti terrore novo rictuque minaci 195

quadrupedes iactant resupino pondere currum. turn saltu Asbyten conantem linquere pugnas occupat, incussa gemina inter tempora clava, ferventesque rotas turbataque frena pavore disiecto spargit collisa per ossa cerebro ; 200

ac rapta properans caedem ostentare bipenni,

" Silius seems to have made a mistake. In Homer the suitor whom Penelope put off by her device of unravelling her web every night is called Eurymachus.

" Ulysses. « See note to 1. 71.

72

PUNICA, II. 173-201

while she vanished from his sight, and the hoofs of her horses, galloping swifter than the wind, raised a cloud of dust on the field, her crashing wheels crushed the opposing ranks far and wide ; and the maiden launched spear after spear upon them in their con- fusion. Here Lycas fell, and Thamyris, and Eury- damas <* of famous name, the scion of a noble stock. His ancestor, poor fool ! had dared long ago to covet a splendid marriage with the wife of the Ithacan ^ ; but he was taken in by the trick of the chaste wife, who unravelled every night the threads of her web. He had declared that Ulysses was drowned at sea ; but the Ithacan inflicted death upon the prater — real death and no fiction ; and funeral took the place of marriage. Now his latest descendant, Eurydamas, was slain by the hand of the Numidian queen : the fatal chariot thundered over his broken bones and kept its course.

And now Asbyte came back to the place, when she saw Theron busy with battle ; and, aiming her fierce battle-axe at the centre of his brow, she vowed to Dictynna ^ a glorious spoil from it, even the lion-skin of Hercules. Nor did Theron hang back : eager for so great a prize, he rose up right in front of the horses and held before them the shaggy head of the tawny lion and thrust it in their frightened faces. Frantic with fear unfelt before — fear of the menacing open jaws — the coursers upset the heavy car and turned it over. Then, as Asbyte tried to flee from the fight, he sprang to stop her, and smote her between the twin temples with his club ; he spattered the glowing wheels and the reins, disordered by the terrified horses, with the brains that gushed from the broken skull. Then he seized her axe and, eager to display

73

SILIUS ITALICUS

amputat e curru revolutae virginis ora.

necdum irae positae ; celsa nam figitur hasta

spectandum caput ; id gestent ante agmina Poenum,

imperat, et propere currus ad moenia vertant. 205

haec caecus fati divumque abeunte favore

vicino Theron edebat proelia leto.

namque aderat toto ore ferens iramque minasque

Hannibal et caesam Asbyten fixique tropaeum

infandum capitis furiata mente dolebat. 210

ac simul aerati radiavit luminis umbo,

et concussa procul membris velocibus arma

letiferum intonuere, fugam perculsa repente

ad muros trepido convertunt agmina cursu.

sicut agit levibus per sera crepuscula pennis 215

e pastu volucres ad nota cubilia vesper ;

aut, ubi Cecropius formidine nubis aquosae

sparsa super flores examina tollit Hymettos,

ad dulces ceras et odori corticis antra

mellis apes gravidae properant densoque volatu 220

raucum connexae glomerant ad limina murmur.

praecipitat metus attonitos, caecique feruntur.

heu blandum caeli lumen ! tantone cavetur

mors reditura metu nascentique addita fata ?

consilium damnant portisque atque aggere tuto 225

erupisse gemunt ; retinet vix agmina Theron

interdumque manu, interdum clamore minisque :

" state, viri ; meus ille hostis ; mihi gloria magnae.

« Cecropian = Athenian. Cecrops was an ancient king of Athens : Hymettus, famous for its honey, is a hill at Athens. ^ Cp. xvi. 73.

74

PUNICA, II. 202-228

his slaughter of her, cut off the head of the maiden when she rolled out of her chariot. Not yet was his rage sated ; for he fixed her head on a lofty pike, for all to see, and bade men bear it in front of the Punic army, and drive the chariot with speed to the town. Blind to his doom and deserted by divine favour, Theron fought on ; but death was near him. For Hannibal came up, with wrath and menace expressed in every feature ; with frenzied heart he raged at the slaughter of Asbyte, and at the horrid trophy of her head borne aloft. And, as soon as his shield of glittering brass shone out, and the armour on his swift limbs, rattling afar, thundered forth doom, the enemy were suddenly stricken with fear and fled in haste tow ards the town. So, in the late twilight, evening sends the birds on their light wings back from their feeding-ground to their familiar roosts ; or so, when Cecropian Hymet- tus " scares with menace of a rain-cloud the swarms scattered over the flowers, the bees, heavy with honey, hasten back to their luscious combs and hives of fragrant cork ; they fly in a close pack, and unite in a deep humming noise outside the hives. Thus panic drove the frightened soldiers headlong, and they rushed on blindly. Ah ! how sweet is the light of heaven ! * Why do men shun with such terror the death that must some day come, and the sentence pronounced against them at birth ? They curse their design, and lament their sally from the protec- tion of the gates and the wall. Theron can hardly stop their flight, using force sometimes and some- times loud threats : " Stand fast, my men ; yon enemy belongs to me ; stand fast — victory in a mighty combat is coming to me. My right hand shall

75

SILIUS ITALICUS

state, venit pugnae : muro tectisque Sagunti hac abigam Poenos dextra ; spectacula tantum 230 ferte, viri ; vel, si cunctos metus acer in urbem, heu deforme ! rapit, soli mihi claudite portas." At Poenus rapido praeceps ad moenia cursu, dum pavitant trepidi rerum fessique salutis, tendebat ; stat primam urbem murosque patentes postposita caede et dilata invadere pugna. 236

id postquam Herculeae custos videt impiger arae, emicat et velox formidine praevenit hostem. gliscit Elissaeo violentior ira tyranno : ** tu solve interea nobis, bone ianitor urbis, 240

supplicium, ut pandas," inquit, ** tua moenia leto." nee plura efFari sinit ira, rotatque coruscum mucronem ; sed contortum prior impete vasto Daunius huie robur iuvenis iacit ; arma fragore iota gravi raucum gemuere, alteque resultant 245 aere illisa cavo nodosae pondera clavae. at viduus teli et frustrato proditus ictu, pernici velox cursu rapit incita membra et celeri fugiens perlustrat moenia planta. instat atrox terga increpitans fugientia victor. 250 conclamant matres, celsoque e culmine muri lamentis vox mixta sonat ; nunc nomine noto appellant, seras fesso nunc pandere portas posse volunt ; quatit hortantum praecordia terror, ne simul accipiant ingentem moenibus hostem. 255 incutit umbonem fesso assultatque ruenti

* Daunian = Italian = Saguntine. 76

PUNICA, II. 229-256

drive away the Carthaginians from the wall and houses of Saguntum : do your part as mere spectators ; or, if urgent fear drives you all into the city — a sorry sight — then shut your gates against me alone."

But Hannibal was hastening with headlong speed towards the walls, while the besieged were in fear, trembling for their safety and despairing of life ; his purpose was to attack the city first through its open gates, deferring the slaughter of his foe. When the bold guardian of the temple of Hercules saw this, he sprang forward and, urged to speed by his fears, outstripped the foeman. The wrath of the Tyrian leader waxed yet fiercer : " You, worthy keeper of the city's gates, shall first suffer death at my hands, and by your death throw open the walls." Rage prevented further speech, and he whirled round his flashing sword ; but the Daunian ° warrior w as before him and swinging his club with mighty force threw it at Hannibal. Beneath that heavy blow his armour rang with a hollow sound ; and the weighty knotted club, crashing upon the hollow metal, re- bounded high. Then, unarmed and betrayed by his unsuccessful stroke, Theron urged his limbs to hasty flight and ran round the walls, seeking to escape by his speed. The conqueror pursued fiercely and taunted the back of the fugitive. The matrons cried out together, and their voices, together with wailings, rose up from the lofty summit of the wall ; now they address Theron by his familiar name, and now, too late, they wish for power to open the gate to him in his extremity ; but, even as they encourage him, their hearts are shaken by the fear that, together with him, they may admit within the walls their mighty foe. Hannibal struck the weary runner with

VOL. ID 77

SILIUS ITALICUS

Poenus et ostentans spectantem e moenibus urbem : ** i, miseram Asbyten leto solare propinquo." haec dicens, iugulo optantis dimittere vitam infestum condit mucronem ac regia laetus 260

quadrupedes spolia abreptos a moenibus ipsis, quis aditum portae trepidantum saepserat agmen, victor agit curruque volat per ovantia castra.

At Nomadum furibunda cohors miserabile humandi deproperat munus tumulique adiungit honorem 265 et rapto cineres ter circum corpore lustrat. hinc letale viri robur tegimenque tremendum in flammas iaciunt ; ambustoque ore genisque deforme alitibus liquere cadaver Hiberis.

Poenorum interea quis rerum summa potestas, 270 consultant bello super, et quae dicta ferantur Ausoniae populis, oratorumque minaci adventu trepidant, movet hinc foedusque fidesque et testes superi iurataque pacta parentum, hinc popularis amor coeptantis magna iuventae, 275 et sperare iuvat belli meliora. sed, olim ductorem infestans odiis gentilibus, Hannon sic adeo increpitat studia incautumque favorem : ** cuncta quidem, patres, (neque enim cohibere

minantum irae se valuere) premunt formidine vocem. 280

baud tamen abstiterim, mortem licet arma propin- quent.

" Hanno, surnamed The Great, was a Carthaginian general and statesman, who possessed great influence in the Cartha- ginian senate, and always used it to oppose Hamilcar, and Hamilcar's sons, Hannibal and Hasdrubal. 78

PUNICA, II. 257-281

his shield and sprang upon him as he fell ; then, pointing to the citizens watching from the walls, " Go ! " he cried, " and comfort hapless Asbyte by your speedy death ! " and at the same time buried his fatal sword in the throat of a victim who was fain to lose his life. Then the conqueror drove off with joy the horses taken from Asbyte, carrying them off from before the very walls, where the body of fugitives had used them to block the entrance of the gate ; and off he sped in the chariot through the triumphant lines.

But the band of Numidians, frantic with grief, made haste with the sad office of burial, and gave Asbyte the tribute of a pyre, and seized the dead man's body and carried it thrice round her ashes. Next they cast into the flames his murderous club and his dreadful head-dress ; and, when the face and beard were burnt, they left the unsightly corpse to the Spanish vultures.

Meanwhile the rulers of Carthage took counsel concerning the war and the answer they must send to the Italian people ; and the formidable approach of the envoys made them uneasy. On the one hand they were swayed by loyalty to the treaty, by the gods who witnessed it, and by the compact to which their fathers swore ; and on the other by the popularity of the ambitious young leader ; and they nursed a hope of victory. But Hanno,^ hereditary foe and constant assailant of Hannibal, with these words rebuked their zeal and heedless partiality : " Senators, all things indeed intimidate me from speaking ; for the angry threats of my opponents have proved unable to restrain themselves. Yet I shall not flinch, not even though I must soon die by violence. I shall

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testabor superos et caelo nota relinquam,

quae postrema salus rerum patriaeque reposcit.

nee nune obsessa demum et fumante Sagunto

haec serus vates Hannon canit ; anxia rupi 285

pectora, ne castris innutriretur et amis

exitiale caput, monui et, dum vita, monebo,

ingenitum noscens virus flatusque paternos ;

ut, qui stelligero speculatur sidera caelo,

venturam pelagi rabiem Caurique futura 290

praedicit miseris baud vanus flamina nautis.

consedit solio rerumque invasit habenas :

ergo armis foedus fasque omne abrumpitur armis,

oppida quassantur, longeque in moenia nostra

Aeneadum arrectae mentes, disiectaque pax est. 295

exagitant manes iuvenem furiaeque paternae

ac funesta sacra et conversi foedere rupto

in caput infidum superi Massylaque vates.

an nunc ille novi caecus caligine regni

externas arces quatit ? baud Tirynthia tecta 300

(sic propria luat hoc poena nee misceat urbis

fata suis), nunc hoc, hoc inquam, tempore muros

oppugnat, Carthago, tuos teque obsidet armis.

lavimus Hennaeas animoso sanguine valles

et vix conducto produximus arma Lacone. 305

nos ratibus laceris Scyllaea replevimus antra

classibus et refluo spectavimus aequore raptis

contorta e fundo revomentem transtra Charybdin.

« This refers to the oath which Hamilcar made his son swear in Dido's temple, in the presence of the Massylian priestess : c/. i. 81-139.

^ " Henna " = " Sicily." Hanno is referring to the First Punic War, when Sparta sent troops under Xanthippus, and Regulus, the Roman general, was defeated (258 b.c).

" When defeated at sea near the Aegatian islands : see note to i. 35. 80

PUNICA, II. 282-308

appeal to the gods, and I shall tell Heaven, ere I die, the measures demanded by the safety of the state and of our country in its extremity. Not now only, when it is too late, when Saguntum is besieged and burning, do I prophesy these evils : I made a clean breast of my fears : I warned you before and, while I live, shall go on warning you, not to suffer that instrument of destruction to be bred up in camps and in war ; for I marked the poison of his nature and his hereditary ambition, even as the watcher of the starry heavens foretells, not in vain, to hapless seamen the coming fury of the sea and the approaching blasts of the North-west wind. Hannibal has taken his seat on a throne and seized the reins of government ; and therefore the treaty is broken by the sword, and by the sword every obligation is broken ; cities are shaken, and the distant Aeneadae are alert to attack Carthage, and peace has been thrown to the winds. The young man is driven mad by the ghost and evil spirit of his father, by that fatal ceremony," by the gods who have turned against the breaker of faith and treaties, and by the Massylian priestess. Blinded and dazzled by new-gained power, he is overthrowing cities ; but are they foreign cities ? It is not Sagun- tum that he is attacking — so may he atone for this crime in his own person and not involve his country in his punishment — now, even now, I declare, he is attacking the walls of Carthage and besieging us with his army. We drenched the valleys of Henna with the blood of the brave, and could hardly carry on the war by hiring the Spartan. '' We filled Scylla's caverns with shipwrecks ^ ; and, when our fleets were borne away by the tide, we saw Charybdis whirling the rowers' benches round and spouting them forth

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respice, pro demens ! pro pectus inane deorum ! Aegates Libyaeque prociil fluitantia membra. 310 quo ruis ? et patriae exitio tibi nomina quaeris ? scilicet immensae, visis iuvenilibus armis, snbsident Alpes, subsidet mole nivali Alpibus aequatum attollens caput Apenninus. sed campos fac, vane, dari. num gentibus istis 315 mortales animi ? aut ferro flammave fatiscunt ? baud tibi Neritia cernes cum prole laborem. pubescit castris miles, galeaque teruntur nondum signatae flava lanugine malae. nee requies aevi nota, exsanguesque merendo 320 stant prima inter signa senes letumque lacessunt. ipse ego Romanas perfosso corpore turmas tela intorquentes correpta e vulnere vidi ; vidi animos mortesque virum decorisque furorem. si bello obsistis nee te victoribus offers, 325

quantum heu , Carthago , donat tibi sanguinis Hannon ! ' ' Gestar ad haec (namque impatiens asperque co- quebat iamdudum immites iras mediamque loquentis bis conatus erat turbando abrumpere vocem) : " concilione," inquit, " Libyae Tyrioque senatu, 330 pro superi ! Ausonius miles sedet ? armaque tantum baud dum sumpta viro ? nam cetera non latet hostis. nunc geminas Alpes Apenninumque minatur, nunc freta Sicaniae et Scyllaei litoris undas ;

" By '* limbs " it seems that separate parts of the Cartha- ginian empire, such as Sicily and Sardinia, are meant.

" The false statement must be attributed to rhetorical licence.

" The Saguntines are meant : they came originally from Zacynthus, an Ionian island ; and Neritus is a mountain in Ithaca, another Ionian island. 82

PUNICA, II. 309-334

from her depths. Madman, with no fear of God in your heart, look at the Aegatian islands and the limbs " of Libya drifting far away ! Whither are you rushing ? Do you seek fame for yourself by the ruin of your country ? The huge Alps will sink down, forsooth, at sight of the stripling warrior ; and the snowy mass of the Apennines, that raise their summit as high as the Alps,^ will sink down also. But sup- pose, vain pretender, that you reach the plains ; that nation has a spirit that never dies ; sword and flame can never wear them out. You will not find yourself fighting there against the stock that came from Neritus.^ Their soldiers grow to manhood in the camp, and their faces rub against the helmet before they are marked by the golden down. Nor is rest known to them in age ; even old men, who have shed their blood in long service, stand in the front rank and challenge death. My own eyes have seen Roman soldiers, when run through the body, snatch the weapon from their wound and hurl it at the foe ; I have seen their courage and the way they die and their passion for glory. From how much bloodshed does Hanno save Carthage, if she sets her face against war and does not wantonly confront the conquerors!" To this speech Gestar replied. Harsh and im- patient, he had long been nursing bitter wrath, and twice had he tried to raise a disturbance and silence Hanno in the middle of his speech. " Ye gods ! " he cried : "is this a Roman soldier, seated in the council of Libya and the Carthaginian senate ? Arms he has not yet taken up ; but in all else the foeman stands declared before us. Now he threatens us with the twin ranges of Alps and Apennines, now with the Sicilian sea and the waves on Scylla's

83

SILIUS ITALICUS

nee procul est, quin iam manes umbrasque pavescat Dardanias ; tanta accumulat praeconia leto 336

vulneribusque virum ac tollit sub sidera gentem. mortalem, mihi crede, licet formidine turpi frigida corda tremant, mortalem sumimus hostem. vidi ego, cum, geminas artis post terga catenis 340 evinctus palmas, vulgo traheretur ovante carceris in tenebras spes et fiducia gentis Regulus Hectoreae ; vidi, cum robore pendens Hesperiam cruce sublimis spectaret ab alta. nee vero terrent puerilia protinus ora 345

sub galea et pressae properata casside malae. indole non adeo segni sumus. aspice, turmae quot Libycae certant annos anteire labore et nudis bellantur equis. ipse, aspice, ductor, cum primam tenero vocem proferret ab ore, 350

iam bella et lituos ac flammis urere gentem iurabat Phrygiam atque animo patria arma movebat. proinde polo crescant Alpes, astrisque coruscos Apenninus agat scopulos : per saxa nivesque (dicam etenim, ut stimulent atram vel inania mentem) 355

per caelum est qui pandat iter, pudet Hercule tritas desperare vias laudemque timere secundam. sed Libyae clades et primi incendia belli aggerat atque iterum pro libertate labores Hannon ferre vetat. ponat formidinis aestus 360 parietibusque domus imbellis femina servet singultantem animam ; nos, nos contra ibimus hostem,

«» The Trojans, identified by Silius with the Romans.

^ Regulus was tortured to death : see vi. 539 foil. ; and his dead body seems to have been crucified : see 1. 435. 84

PUNICA, II. 335-362

shore ; he is not far from fearing the very shades and ghosts of the Romans : such praise does he heap upon their wounds and deaths, and exalts the nation to the sky. But, though his cold heart trembles with base fear, take my word for it, that the foe whom we are engaging is mortal. I was looking on, when Regulus, the hope and pride of Hector's race,** was dragged along amid the shouts of the populace to his dark dungeon, with both hands bound fast behind his back ; I was looking on, when he hung high upon the tree and saw Italy from his lofty cross. ^ Nor again do I dread the brows that wear the helmet in early boyhood, nor the heads that carry the steel cap before their time. The temper of our people is not so sluggish. Look at the Libyan squadrons : how many of them vie in exertions beyond their years, and go to war on bare-backed horses ! Look at Hannibal himself. When he was first able to utter speech from his childish lips, he pledged himself to war and the clarion's sound, and swore to consume the Phrygian people with fire, and fought in fancy the campaigns of his father, Hamilcar. Therefore, let the Alps soar to heaven, and the Apennines lift their glittering peaks to the stars : through rocks and snows — I will say it, that even an idle boast may sting a traitor's heart — through the sky itself our pioneer will find a way. Shameful is it to shun a path that Hercules trod and to shrink back from repeating his exploit. Hanno exaggerates the defeats of Libya and the conflagration of our first war with Rome, and for- bids us to bear hardship again in defence of freedom. Let Hanno still his agitation and fears, and keep his sobbing breath, like an unwarlike woman, behind the walls of his house. But we shall march against the VOL. I D 2 85

SILIUS ITALICUS

quis procul a Tyria dominos depellere Byrsa,

vel love non aequo, fixum est. sin fata repugnant,

et iam damnata cessit Carthagine Mavors, 365

occumbam potius nee te, patria inclita, dedam

aeternum famulam liberque Acheronta videbo.

nam quae, pro superi ! Fabius iubet ? ocius arma

exuite et capta descendite ab aree Sagunti.

turn delecta manus scutorum incendat acervos, 370

uranturque rates, ac toto absistite ponto.

di, procul o, merita est numquam si talia plecti

Carthago, prohibete nefas nostrique solutas

ductoris servate manus ! " ut deinde resedit

factaque censendi patrum de more potestas, 375

hie Hannon reddi propere certamine rapta

instat et auctorem violati foederis addit.

tum vero attoniti, ceu templo irrumperet hostis,

exsiluere patres, Latioque id verteret omen,

oravere deum. at postquam discordia sensit 380

pectora et infidas ad Martem vergere mentes,

non ultra patiens Fabius rexisse dolorem,

consilium propere exposcit, patribusque vocatis,

bellum se gestare sinu pacemque profatus,

quid sedeat, legere ambiguis neu fallere dictis 385

imperat ac, saevo neutrum renuente senatu,

ceu clausas acies gremioque effunderet arma :

" accipite infaustum Libyae eventuque priori

* The citadel of Carthage, built by Dido. The name is Semitic (Bozra = " a citadel "), but was corrupted by Greeks into Byrsa, " a bull's hide " ; and hence arose the legend that the settlers bought as much land as they could cover with a hide ; but they were ingenious people and cut up the hide into strips and surrounded with them as much space as they could. 86

PUNICA, II. 363-388

foe — we who are determined, even if Jupiter is not on our side, to drive foreign rulers far from Tyrian Byrsa.** But, if Fate fights against us and Mars has already condemned Carthage and departed from her, I shall choose rather to fall ; I shall not hand over my glorious fatherland to eternal slavery, and I shall go down free to Acheron.^ For, ye gods ! what are the demands of Fabius ? ' Lay down your arms at once and depart from the captured citadel of Saguntum. Next, your picked troops must pile their shields and burn them ; your ships must be burnt, and you must withdraw altogether from the sea.' Ye gods, if Carthage never deserved such punishment, prevent the abomination, and keep the hands of our general unfettered." Then he sat down, and the senators were permitted to vote according to custom. But Hanno insisted that the spoils of war should be at once given up, and also the first breaker <' of the treaty. Then indeed the senate, as excited as if the enemy Avere bursting into the temple, sprang up and prayed the gods to turn the evil omen against Latium. But when Fabius perceived the division of opinion, and that their disloyal minds were inclining to war, he could master his resentment no longer ; and he de- manded a swift decision. When the senate was sum- moned, he began thus : " I carry war and peace here in my lap ; choose which ye will have, and cheat me not by an ambiguous answer." The angry senators said they would accept neither. Then, as if he were pouring out battle and war enclosed in his armS; *' Take war," he cried, " a fatal war for Libya, and

'' Acheron, one of the rivers in Hades, is often used for Hades itself. * Hannibal.

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par," inquit, " bellum " — et laxos effundit amictus. turn patrias repetit pugnandi nuntius arces. 390

Atque ea dum profugae regnis agitantur Elissae, accisis velox populis, quis aegra lababat ambiguo sub Marte fides, praedaque gravatus ad muros Poenus revocaverat arma Sagunti.

Ecce autem clipeum saevo fulgore micantem 395 Oceani gentes ductori dona ferebant, Callaicae telluris opus, galeamque coruscis subnexam cristis, vibrant cui vertice coni albentis niveae tremulo nutamine pennae ; ensem, unam ac multis fatalem milibus hastam ; 400 praeterea textam nodis auroque trilicem loricam, nulli tegimen penetrabile telo. haec, aere et duri chalybis perfecta metallo atque opibus perfusa Tagi, per singula laetis lustrat ovans oculis et gaudet origine regni. 405

Condebat primae Dido Carthaginis arces, instabatque operi subducta classe inventus, molibus hi claudunt portus, his tecta domosque partiris, iustae Bitia venerande senectae. ostentant caput effossa tellure repertum 410

bellatoris equi atque omen clamore salutant. has inter species orbatum classe suisque Aenean pulsum pelago dextraque precantem cernere erat. fronte hunc avide regina serena infelix ac iam vultu spectabat amico. 415

« Dido.

* Gallicia is the northern part of Portugal, beyond the river Douro. The district was rich in metals, especially gold.

" In what follows Silius has in mind the shield of Achilles described by Homer {II. xviii. 478 foil.) and the shield of Aeneas described by Virgil {Aen. viii. Q2Q foil.).

^ The horse's head, supposed to be an omen of victory, appears on coins of Carthage. 88

PUNICA, II. 389-415

like in its issue to the last " — and therewith he shook loose the folds of his gown. Then he returned to his native city, a harbinger of war.

While this debate went on in the kingdom of the exile, Elissa," Hannibal swiftly despoiled those tribes whose loyalty was waxing faint as the war dragged on ; then, loaded with plunder, he took his army back to the walls of Saguntum.

But behold ! the peoples who dwell by the Atlantic brought gifts to the general. They gave him a shield that glittered with cruel sheen, the work of Gallician *'' craftsmen; a helmet wreathed with flashing plumes, on the height of whose white crest snowy feathers nodded and waved ; a sword and a spear that, though it was but one, was to slay its thousands. There was also a cuirass wrought with triple bosses of gold, a defence that no weapon could pierce. This armour was wrought throughout of bronze and tough steel, and covered richly with the gold of the Tagus ; and Hannibal surveyed each part of it with joy and triumph in his eyes, and he delighted to see there depicted the beginnings of Carthage.*'

Dido was shown building th e city of infant Carthage ; her men had beached their ships and were busily en- gaged. Some were enclosing a harbour vdth piers ; to others dwellings were assigned by Bitias, a righteous and venerable old man. Men pointed to the head of a warhorse which they had found in the soil when digging, and hailed the omen with a shout."' Amid these scenes Aeneas was shown, robbed of his ships and men and cast up by the sea ; with his right hand he made supplication. The hapless queen looked eagerly upon him with unclouded brow and with looks already friendly. Next, the art of Gallicia had

89

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hinc et speluncam furtivaque foedera amantum Callaicae fecere manus ; it clamor ad auras latrat usque canum, subi toque exterrita nimbo occultant alae venantum corpora silvis. nee procul Aeneadum vacuo iam litore classis 420 aequora nequicquam revocante petebat Elissa. ipsa, pyram super ingentem stans, saucia Dido mandabat Tyriis ultricia bella futuris ; ardentemque rogum media spectabat ab unda Dardanus et magnis pandebat carbasa fatis. 425

parte alia supplex infernis Hannibal aris arcanum Stygia libat cum vate cruorem et primo bella Aeneadum iurabat ab aevo. at senior Siculis exultat Hamilcar in arvis — spirant em credas certamina anhela movere, 430

ardor inest oculis, torvumque minatur imago. Necnon et laevum clipei latus aspera signis implebat Spartana cohors ; hanc ducit ovantem Ledaeis veniens victor Xanthippus Amyclis. iuxta triste decus pendet sub imagine poenae 435 Regulus et fidei dat magna exempla Sagunto. laetior at circa facies, agitata ferarum agmina venatu et caelata mapalia fulgent, nee procul usta cutem nigri soror horrida Mauri assuetas mulcet patrio sermone leaenas. 440

it liber campi pastor, cui fine sine ullo invetitum saltus penetrat pecus ; omnia Poenum armenti vigilem patrio de more secuntur ;

" Dido and Aeneas. ^ Aeneas.

" See note to 1. 305. Amyclae is a city of Laconia, on the river Eurotas.

^ See note to 1. 344.

* This seems to refer to the tortures that preceded his crucifixion : see vi. 539 foil.

90

PUNICA, II. 416-443

fashioned the cave and the secret tryst of the lovers* ; high rose the shouting and the baying of hounds ; and the mounted huntsmen, alarmed by a sudden rainfall, took shelter in the forest. Not far away, the fleet of the Aeneadae had left the shore and was making for the open sea, while Elissa was calling them back in vain. Then Dido by herself was stand- ing wounded on a huge pyre, and charging a later generation of Tyrians to avenge her by war ; and the Dardan,^ out at sea, was watching the blazing pile and spreading his sails for his high destiny. On another part of the shield Hannibal prayed at the altars of the nether gods, and, with the Stygian priestess, made a secret libation of blood, and swore to fight against the Aeneadae from his youth up. And old Hamilcar was there, riding proudly over the Sicilian fields ; one might think that he was alive and rousing breathless conflict — fire shines in his eyes, and his image is grim with menace.

The left side also of the shield was filled with Spartan warriors, carved in high relief ; they were led in triumph by victorious Xanthippus,<^ who came from Amyclae, the city of Leda. Near them hung Regulus,** glorious in suffering, beneath a picture of his punishment,*' setting to Saguntum a noble example of loyalty. Hard by was a happier scene — herds of wild beasts chased by hunters, and African huts, carved in shining metal. Not far away the savage sunburnt sister of a blackamoor soothed lionesses, her companions, with her native speech. The shep- herd roamed free over the plains, and his flock, un- forbidden, made their way into pastures without limit ; the Punic guardian of the herd took all his possessions with him, according to the custom of his

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SILIUS ITALICUS

gaesaque latratorque Cydon tectumque focique in silicis venis et fistula not a iu vends. 445

eminet excelso consurgens colle Saguntos, quam circa immensi populi condensaque cingunt agmina certantum pulsantque trementibus hastis. extrema clipei stagnabat Hiberus in ora, curvatis claudens ingentem flexibus orbem. 450

Hannibal, abrupto transgressus foedere ripas, Poenorum populos Romana in bella vocabat. tali sublimis dono, nova tegmina latis aptat concutiens humeris celsusque profatur : " heu quantum Ausonio sudabitis, arma, cruore ! 455 quas, belli index, poenas mihi. Curia, pendes ! " lamque senescebat vallatus moenibus hostis, carpebatque dies urbem, dum signa manusque expectant fessi socias. tandem aequore vano avertunt oculos frustrataque litora ponunt 460

et propius suprema vident. sedet acta medullis iamdudum atque inopes penitus coquit intima pestis. est furtim lento misere durantia tabo viscera et exurit siccatas sanguine venas per longum celata fames ; iam lumina retro 465

exesis fugere genis, iam lurida sola tecta cute et venis male iuncta trementibus ossa extant, consumptis visu deformia membris. humentes rores noctis terramque madentem solamen fecere mali, cassoque labore 470

e sicco frustra presserunt robore sucos.

" This appears to mean that the Roman Senate claim a right to forbid Carthage making war on Saguntum. 92

PUNICA, II. 444-471

country — his javelins, his barking Cretan hound, his tent, his fire hidden in the veins of flint, and the reed- pipe vi^hich his steers know well. Conspicuous on the shield was Saguntum, rising on its lofty eminence ; and round it swarmed countless hosts and serried ranks of fighters, who assailed it with their quivering spears. On the outer rim of the shield flowed the Ebro, enclosing the vast circuit with its curves and windings. And there was Hannibal ; having broken the treaty by crossing the river, he was summoning the Punic nations to battle against Rome. Proud of such a gift, the leader fitted the new armour to his broad shoulders with a clang. Then, with head held high, he spoke thus : " Ah ! what torrents of Roman blood will drench this armour ! How great a penalty shall the Senate, the disposer of war,<^ pay to me ! "

By now the beleaguered enemy was growing feebler, and time sapped the strength of the citizens, while they looked in their extremity for the eagles and troops of their ally. At last they turned their gaze away from the delusive sea, and gave up the shore as hopeless, and saw their doom at hand. In- ward pangs, piercing to the marrow, had long been fixed there, utterly consuming the starving people. Famine,longconcealed, devoured theirmuch-enduring flesh with slow and secret poison, and burnt up their bloodless veins ; by now their eyes sank back from the emaciated cheeks ; the bones, a hideous sight when the flesh was gone, stuck out, covered only by the yellow skin and ill-joined by the shaking arteries. They tried to ease their suffering by the moist dews and damp soil of night, and with useless toil squeezed in vain the sap from dry wood. They shrank from

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SILIUS ITALICUS

nil temerare piget ; rabidi ieiunia ventris insolitis adigunt vesci ; resolutaque, nudos linquentes clipeos, armorum tegmina mandunt.

Desuper haec caelo spectans Tirynthius alto 475 illacrimat fractae nequicquam casibus urbis. namque metus magnique tenent praecepta parentis, ne saevae tendat contra decreta novercae. sic igitur, coepta occultans, ad limina sanctae contendit Fidei secretaque pectora tentat. 480

arcanis dea laeta polo turn forte remoto caelicolum magnas volvebat conscia curas ; quam tali alloquitur Nemeae pacator honore : ** ante lovem generata, decus divumque hominumque, qua sine non tellus pacem, non aequora norunt, 485 iustitiae consors tacitumque in pectore numen, exitiumne tuae dirum spectare Sagunti et tot pendentem pro te, dea, cernere poenas urbem lenta potes ? moritur tibi vulgus, et unam te matres, vincente fame, te maesta virorum 490

ora vocant, primaque sonant te voce minores. fer caelo auxilium et fessis da surgere rebus."

Haec satus Alcmena ; contra cui talia virgo : " cerno equidem, nee pro nihilo est mihi foedera

rumpi ; statque dies, ausis olim tarn tristibus ultor. 495

sed me, pollutas properantem linquere terras, sedibus his tectisque novis succedere adegit fecundum in fraudes hominum genus ; impia liqui

" Juno.

* By killing the lion of Nemea, whose skin he wore ever after.

" This is said more often of Astraea, the goddess of Justice — that she was forced to leave the earth because of the wicked- ness of men.

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PUNICA, II. 472-498

no pollution ; their fierce hunger forced them to eat strange food ; they stripped their shields bare and gnawed the loosened coverings of their bucklers.

Hercules looked down from high heaven and beheld these things and wept over the calamities of the stricken town ; but he was helpless, and respect for the bidding of his mighty sire hindered him from opposing the decrees of his cruel stepmother.** Therefore, hiding his intent, he took his way to the abode of sacred Loyalty, seeking to discover her hidden purpose. It chanced that the goddess, who loves solitude, was then in a distant region of heaven, pondering in her heart the high concerns of the gods. Then he who gave peace to Nemea^ accosted her thus with reverence : " Goddess more ancient than Jupiter, glory of gods and men, without whom neither sea nor land finds peace, sister of Justice, silent divinity in the heart of man, canst thou look on un- moved at the awful doom of thine own Saguntum, and watch the city while it suffers so many penalties in thy defence ? For thy sake the people die ; the matrons, conquered by famine, call on thee alone ; the pitiful cries of the men invoke thee ; thy name is heard in the first utterance of their little ones. Bring help from heaven, and grant that the fallen may rise."

Thus spoke Alcmena's son, and the goddess made answer: " I see it indeed, and the breaking of treaties is not disregarded by me : the day is fixed that shall hereafter punish such evil deeds. But, when I hastened to leave the sin-stained earth, I was forced to settle here and change my habitation, because the human race was so fertile in wickedness '^ ; I fled from

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et, quantum terrent, tantum metuentia regna

ac furias auri nee vilia praemia fraudum 600

et super haec ritu horrificos ac more ferarum

viventes rapto populos luxuque solutum

omne decus multaque oppressum nocte pudorem.

vis colitur, iurisque locum sibi vindioat ensis,

et probris cessit virtus, en, aspice gentes ! 505

nemo insons ; pacem servant commercia culpae.

sed, si cura tua fundata ut moenia dextra

dignum te servent memorando fine vigorem,

dedita nee fessi tramittant corpora Poeno,

quod solum nunc fata sinunt seriesque futuri, 610

extendam leti decus atque in saecula mittam

ipsaque laudatas ad manes prosequar umbras."

Inde severa levi decurrens aethere virgo luctantem fatis petit inflammata Saguntum. invadit mentes et pectora nota pererrat 615

immittitque animis numen ; turn, fusa medullis, implicat atque sui flagrantem inspirat amorem. arma volunt tentantque aegros ad proelia nisus. insperatus adest vigor, interiusque recursat dulcis honor divae et sacrum pro virgine letum. 620 it tacitus fessis per ovantia pectora sensus, vel leto graviora pati saevasque ferarum attentare dapes et mensis addere crimen. 96

PUNICA, 11. 499-523

wicked kings, who themselves fear as much as they are feared, and the frenzy for gold, and the rich rewards of wickedness. I fled also from nations hate- ful in their customs and living by violence like wild beasts, where all honour is undermined by luxury, and where shame is buried in deep darkness. Force is worshipped, and the sword usurps the place of justice, and virtue has given place to crime. Behold the nations ! no man is innocent ; fellowship in guilt alone preserves peace. But, if thou desirest the walls built by thy hand to keep a manhood worthy of thee by a noble ending, and not, worn out as they are, surrender themselves as prisoners to the Carthaginian, I will grant the only boon now allowed by fate and by the chain of coming events : I will prolong the renown of their death and send it down to posterity ; and I myself will follow their glorious spirits to the nether world."

Then the austere goddess sped down the light ether and, burning with anger, made for Saguntum and found it struggling with doom. Taking possession of their minds and pervading their breasts, her familiar habitation, she instilled her divine power into their hearts. Then, piercing even to their marrow, she filled them with a burning passion for herself. They call for arms and put forth their feeble efforts in battle. Strength beyond their hopes is forthcoming ; to honour their loved goddess, and to die nobly in her defence — this purpose comes still closer to their hearts. An unspoken resolve fills the triumphant hearts of the sufferers — to endure things even worse than death, to imitate the diet of wild beasts, and make their meals an abomination. But stainless

97

SILIUS ITALICUS

sed prohibet culpa pollutam extendere lucem

casta Fides paribusque famem compescere membris.

Quam simul invisae gentis conspexit in arce, 526 forte ferens sese Libycis Saturnia castris, virgineum increpitat miscentem bella furorem atque, ira turbata gradum, ciet ocius atram Tisiphonen, imos agitantem verbere manes, 530

et palmas tendens : " hos," inquit, " Noctis alumna, hos muros impelle manu populumque ferocem dextris sterne suis ; luno iubet, ipsa propinqua efFectus studiumque tuum de nube videbo. ilia deos summumque lovem turbantia tela, 535

quis Acheronta moves, flammam immanesque chely-

dros stridoremque tuum, quo territa comprimit ora Cerberus, ac, mixto quae spumant felle, venena et quicquid scelerum, poenarum quicquid et irae pectore fecundo coquitur tibi, congere praeceps 540 in Rutulos totamque Erebo demitte Saguntum. hac mercede Fides constet delapsa per auras."

Sic voce instimulans dextra dea concita saevam Eumenida incussit muris ; tremuitque repente mons circum, et gravior sonuit per litora fluctus. 545 sibilat insurgens capiti et turgentia circa multus colla micat squalenti tergore serpens. Mors graditur, vasto cava pandens guttura rictu, casuroque inhiat populo : tunc Luctus et atri

" They were willing to prolong their lives by cannibalism ; but Loyalty forbade this. ^ Juno.

* The Furies, called Eumenides by the Greeks, were three in number. Their names were Alecto, Megaera, and Tisi- phone. They lived in Hades, where they tormented the wicked spirits ; and they could also appear on earth, where they invariably spread terror and madness.

<* The hound of Hades had three mouths.

PUNICA, II. 524-549

Loyalty forbids them to prolong a life defiled by crime, and to stay their hunger with the flesh of fellow-creatures."

It chanced that Saturn's daughter ^ was repairing to the Carthaginian camp ; and, soon as she saw the maiden. Loyalty, in the citadel of the hated people, she rebuked her eagerness to stir up war, and, stumbling in her rage, summoned at once dark Tisi- phone '^ who drives with her scourge the spirits in the depths of hell. Stretching out her hands she said : " Daughter of Night, use your power to overthrow yonder walls, and lay the proud people low by their own hands. This is Juno's bidding ; I myself shall keep near and watch from a cloud your handiwork and your zeal. Take up the weapons that confound the gods and even supreme Jupiter, and that make Acheron tremble — flame and hideous serpents and that hissing which belongs to you alone and makes Cerberus shut his mouths ^ for fear ; take frothing venom mixed with gall ; take all the crime and punishment and wrath that are nursed in your teeming breast, and heap them headlong upon the Rutulians,^ and send all Saguntum down to Erebus. Let this be the price they pay for Loyalty's descent from heaven."

With these words the angry goddess spurred on the ruthless Fury, and hurled her with her own hand against the walls ; and suddenly the mountain shook all round, and the waves along the shore made a deeper sound. Upon the Fury's head and round her swollen neck a brood of scaly-backed serpents glit- tered and hissed. Opening wide his hollow jaws. Death stalked abroad and gaped for the doomed citizens ; and round him stood Mourning and Wailing • Saguntines.

99

SILIUS ITALICUS

pectora circumstant Planctus Maerorque Dolorque,

tque omnes adsunt Poenae, formaque trifauci 55i personat insomnis lacrimosae lanitor aulae. protinus assimulat faciem mutabile monstrum Tiburnae gressumque simul sonitumque loquentis. haec bello vacuos et saevi turbine Martis 555

lugebat thalamos, Murro spoliata marito ; clara genus Daunique trahens a sanguine nomen. cui vultus induta pares disiectaque crinem Eumenis in medios irrumpit turbida coetus et maestas lacerata genas, " quis terminus ? " in- quit, 560 ** sat Fidei proavisque datum ! vidi ipsa cruentum, ipsa meum vidi lacerato vulnere nostras terrentem Murrum noctes et dira sonantem : eripe te, coniux, miserandae casibus urbis et fuge, si terras adimit victoria Poeni, 565 ad manes, Tiburna, meos ; cecidere penates, occidimus Rutuli, tenet omnia Punicus ensis. mens horret, nee adhue oculis absistit imago, nullane iam posthac tua tecta, Sagunte, videbo ? felix, Murre, neeis patriaque superstite felix. 570 at nos, Sidoniis famulatum matribus actas, post belli casus vastique pericula ponti Carthago aspiciet victrix ; tandemque suprema nocte obita, Libyae gremio captiva iacebo. sed vos, o iuvenes, vetuit quos conscia virtus 575 posse capi, quis telum ingens contra aspera mors est, vestris servitio manibus subducite matres.

" These are often identified with the Furies.

^ Cerberus.

'^ See i. 376 foil.

^ Her name, Tiburna, suggests that her ancestors came rom Tibur, the city in Latium. 100

PUNICA, II. 550-577

with blackened breast and Grief and Pain ; and all the Avengers ^ were there ; and the sleepless guardian ^ of the dismal dwelling bayed from his triple throat. At once the Fiend changed her shape and took the likeness of Tiburna and her gait withal and the sound of her voice. Tiburna, robbed of her husband, Murrus,^ was mourning for her marriage-bed made empty by war and the fierce blast of battle ; she was of noble birth and derived her name from the blood of Daunus.^ The Fury assumed her likeness and then, with hair dishevelled and cheeks torn in sign of mourning, rushed wildly into the midst of the crowd. " How long ? " she cried. " We have done enough for the sake of Loyalty and our forefathers ; my own eyes have seen the bleeding form of my loved Murrus, have seen him startling my nights with his mangled body, and speaking fearful words ; ' Save yourself, dear wife, from the calamities of this hapless city ; and, if the victory of the Carthaginian leaves no land for refuge, seek safety, Tiburna, with my ghost. Our gods are overthrown, we Rutulians are undone, the Punic sword is master of all.' My heart quakes with fear, and his ghost is still before my eyes. Shall I then see the dwellings of Saguntum vanish utterly ? Fortunate Murrus, to die and leave his country still alive ! But as for us — we shall be carried off to wait on the women of Carthage ; and, after the calamities of war and the dangers of the great deep, victorious Carthage will behold us ; and at last, when the final darkness of death comes, I shall be laid a captive in the lap of Libya. But you, young men, whose con- scious valour has denied that you can ever be taken captive, you who have in death a mighty weapon against misfortune, rescue your mothers from slavery

101

SILIUS ITALICUS

ardua virtutem profert via. pergite primi

nee facilem populis nee notam invadere laudem.**

His ubi turbatas hortatibus impulit aures, 580

inde petit tumulum, summo quern vertice mentis Amphitryoniades speetandum ex aequore nautis struxerat et grato cineres deeorarat honore. exeitus sede, horrendum ! prorumpit ab ima eaeruleus maeulis auro squalentibus anguis ; 585

ignea sanguinea radiabant lumina flamma, oraque vibranti stridebant sibila lingua ; isque inter trepidos coetus mediamque per urbem volvitur et muris propere delabitur altis ac similis profugo vieina ad litora tendit 590

spumantisque freti praeeeps immergitur undis.

Turn vero exeussae mentes, ceu prodita teeta expulsi fugiant manes, umbraeque recusent eaptivo iaeuisse solo, sperare saluti pertaesum, damnantque eibos, agit abdita Erinnys. haud gravior duris divum inclementia rebus. 596

quam leti proferre moras ; abrumpere vitam oeius attoniti quaerunt lucemque gravantur. certatim struetus surrectae molis ad astra in media stetit urbe rogus ; portantque trahuntque longae paeis opes quaesitaque praemia dextris, 601 Callaieo vestes distinetas matribus auro armaque Dulichia proavis portata Zaeyntho et prisca adveetos Rutulorum ex urbe penates ;

** Hercules.

* Zacynthus : see i. 276 foil.

" So the spirit of Anchises appeared to Aeneas in the form of a serpent {Aen. v. 84 foil.).

^ This snake might be supposed to be the soul of Zacynthus who was buried on the top of the hill.

^ See note to i. 379. 102

PUNICA, IT. 578-604

with your swords. Steep is the path that makes virtue seen. Hasten to be the first to snatch a glory that few can attain to, a glory unknown till now ! "

When she had stirred up her hearers' troubled minds with this appeal, next she sought the mound which Amphitryon's son** had built on the topmost peak of the mountain, as a sea-mark for sailors and a welcome tribute of honour to the dead.^ Then — dreadful to behold — a snake burst forth at her sum- mons from its abode in the depths of the mound ; its body was dark-green and rough with spots of gold ; its fiery eyes glittered with blood-red flame ; and the mouth with its flickering tongue made a loud hissing. Between the terrified groups its coils moved on through the centre of the city, and swiftly it glided down from the high walls ; then, as if escaping, it made its way to the shore near the town, and plunged headlong into the waves of the foaming sea."

Then indeed men's reason tottered : it seemed that the dead were fleeing forth from abodes no longer safe, and that their ghosts refused to lie in con- quered soil.*^ They were sick with disappointed hope of deliverance ; they refused food ; the disguised Fury possessed them. To postpone the date of death is as grievous as Heaven's refusal to pity their suffer- ing ; in their frenzy they find existence a burden and long to snap the thread of life instantly. Built by many hands, a pyre whose height rose to heaven was erected in the centre of the city. Hither they dragged or carried the wealth of a long peace, the prizes won by valour, robes embroidered with Gal- lician gold by their matrons, weapons brought by their ancestors from Dulichian^ Zacynthus, and the household gods that came across the sea from the

103

SILIUS ITALICUS

hue, quicquid superest captis, clipeosque simulque 605 infaustos iaciunt enses et condita bello effodiunt penitus terrae gaudentque superbi victoris praedam flammis donare supremis.

Quae postquam congesta videt feralis Erinnys, lampada flammiferis tinctam Phlegethontis in undis quassat et inferna superos caligine condit. 611

inde opus aggressi, toto quod nobile mundo aeternum invictis infelix gloria servat. princeps Tisiphone, lentum indignata parentem, pressit ovans capulum cunctantemque impulit ensem et dirum insonuit Stygio bis terque flagello. 616

invitas maculant cognato sanguine dextras miranturque nefas aversa mente peractum et facto sceleri illacrimant. hie, turbidus ira et rabie eladum perpessaeque ultima vitae, 620

obliquos versat materna per ubera visus ; hie, raptam librans dileetae in eolla seeurim eoniugis, inerepitat sese mediumque furorem proieeta damnat stupef actus membra bipenni. nee tamen evasisse datur ; nam verbera Erinnys 625 ineutit atque atros insibilat ore tumores. sic thalami fugit omnis amor, duleesque marito effluxere tori, et subiere oblivia taedae. ille iaeit, totis connisus viribus, aegrum in flammas corpus, densum qua turbine nigro 630 exundat fumum piceus caligine vertex.

<» Ardea.

^ One of the rivers in Hades, a river not of water but of fire. The other three rivers, often mentioned in Silius, are Acheron, Cocytus, and Styx.

" The father is trying to kill his own child.

^ He intends to kill his mother but finds it impossible to look straight at her. 104

PUNICA, II. 605-631

ancient city of the Rutulians." They throw on the pile all that the conquered still possess, and their shields too and swords that could not save ; and they dig up from the bowels of the earth hoards buried in time of war, and with joy and pride consign the conqueror's booty to the all-devouring flames.

When the fatal Fury saw this pile, she brandished the torch that w^as dipped in the fiery waves of Phlege- thon ^ ; and she hid the gods above with the darkness of Hell. Then the people, ever unconquered, began a work, which glory in defeat keeps famous for ever throughout the world. First Tisiphone, resenting a father's ^ half-hearted stroke, pushed the hilt forward in triumph and drove in the reluctant sword, and cracked her hellish scourge again and again with hideous noise. Against their will men stain their hands with kindred blood ; they marvel at the crime they have committed with loathing, and weep over the wickedness they have wrought. One man, dis- traught with rage and the madness of disaster and extreme suffering, turns a sidelong glance** at the breast of his mother. Another, snatching an axe and aiming it at the neck of his loved wife, reproaches himself and curses his unfinished crime, and, as if paralysed, throws his weapon down. Yet he is not suffered to escape ; for the Fury repeats her blows, and breathes black passion into him with her hissing mouth. Thus there is an end of all wedded love : the husband has forgotten the joys of his marriage- bed, and remembers his bride no more. Another, ' exerting all his strength, throws a suffering body into the flames where the crest of the dark- rolling fire sends up thick smoke and pitchy black- ness.

105

SILIUS ITALICUS

At medios inter coetus pietate sinistra, infelix Tymbrene, furis, Poenoqiie parentis dum properas auferre neeem, reddentia formam ora tuam laceras temerasque simillima membra. 635 vos etiam primo gemini cecidistis in aevo, Eurymedon fratrem et fratrem mentite Lycorma, cuncta pares ; dulcisque labor sua nomina natis reddere et in vultu genetrici stare suorum. iam fixus iugulo culpa te solverat ensis, 640

Eurymedon, inter miserae lamenta senectae, dumque malis turbata parens deceptaque visis *' quo ruis ? hue ferrum," clamat, " converte,

Lycorma," ecce simul iugulum perfoderat ense Lycormas. sed magno, " quinam, Eurymedon, furor iste ? " sonabat 645

cum planctu, geminaeque nota decepta figurae, funera mutato revocabat nomine mater, donee, transacto tremebunda per ubera ferro, tunc etiam ambiguos cecidit super inscia natos.

Quis diros urbis casus laudandaque monstra 650 et Fidei poenas ac tristia fata piorum imperet evolvens lacrimis ? vix Punica fletu cessassent castra ac miserescere nescius hostis. urbs, habitata diu Fidei caeloque parentem murorum repetens, ruit inter perfida gentis 655

Sidoniae tela atque immania facta suorum, iniustis neglecta deis ; furit ensis et ignis,

<• By suicide he escaped the guilt of matricide, and was Innocent, compared with Tymbrenus who had killed his own father.

106

PUNICA, II. 632-657

Again, in the midst of the crowd, ill-starred Tym- brenus, distraught with love assuming strange dis- guise, and eager to rob the Carthaginian of his father's death, mutilates the features that resemble his own, and desecrates a body that is the image of himself. Twin brethren also, alike in every point, Eurymedon and Lycormas, each an exact likeness of the other, were slain there in their prime. To their mother it had been a sweet perplexity to name her sons aright, and to be uncertain of her own children's features. The sword that pierced the throat of Eurymedon, while the poor old mother lamented, had already cleared him of guilt " ; and while she, distraught with sorrow and mistaking whom she saw, cried out, " What mean you, madman ? Turn your sword against me, Lycormas," lo ! Lycormas had already stabbed himself in the throat. But she cried aloud : ** Eurymedon, what madness is this ? " — and the mother, misled by the likeness of the twins, called back her dead sons by wrong names ; at last, driving the steel through her own quivering breast, she sank down over the sons whom even then she could not distinguish.

Who could command his tears when recounting the dreadful fate of the city, the crimes that deserve praise, the penalty paid by Loyalty, and the piteous doom of pious souls } Even the Punic army, enemies incapable of pity, could scarce have refrained from weeping. A city, that was long the abode of Loyalty and that claimed a god as the founder of her walls, is falling now, disregarded by the injustice of Heaven, amid the treacherous warfare of Carthaginians and horrors committed by her own citizens ; fire and sword run riot, and any spot that is not burning is

107

SILIUS ITALICUS

quique caret flarnma, scelerum est locus, erigit atro nigrantem funio rogus alta ad sidera nubem. ardet in excelso proceri vertice montis 660

arx, intacta prius bellis (hinc Punica castra litoraque et totam soliti spectare Saguntum) ardent tecta deum ; resplendet imagine flammae aequor, et in tremulo vibrant incendia ponto.

Ecce inter medios caedum Tiburna furores, 665 fulgenti dextram mucrone armata mariti et laeva infelix ardentem lampada quassans squalentemque erecta comam ac liventia planctu pectora nudatis ostendens saeva lacertis, ad tumulum Murri super ipsa cadavera fertur. 670 qualis, ubi inferni dirum tonat aula parentis, iraque turbatos exercet regia manes, Alecto solium ante dei sedemque tremendam Tartareo est operata lovi poenasque ministrat. arma viri, multo nuper defensa cruore, 675

imponit tumulo illacrimans ; manesque precata, acciperent sese, flagrantem lampada subdit. tunc rapiens letum : " tibi ego haec," ait, ** op time

coniux, ad manes, en, ipsa fero." sic ense recepto arma super ruit et flammas invadit hiatu. 680

Semiambusta iacet nullo discrimine passim infelix obitus, permixto funere, turba. ceu, stimulante fame, cum victor ovilia tandem faucibus invasit siccis leo, mandit hianti ore fremens imbelle pecus, patuloque redundat 685

" These are names for Pluto, or Dis, the Ruler of Hades. For Alecto, see note to 1. 530. 108

PUNICA, II. 658-685

IBl scene of crime. The pyre sends up aloft a sable ' cloud of black smoke. On the high top of the lofty mountain the citadel that former wars had spared I is blazing — from this point the citizens were wont to see the Punic camp and the shore and the whole of Saguntum, — the temples of the gods are blazing. The sea is lit up by the reflection of the fire, and the conflagration quivers on the restless water.

Lo ! in the midst of madness and murder, unhappy Tiburna was seen. Her right hand was armed with her husband's bright sword, and in her left she brand- ished a burning torch ; her disordered hair stood on end, her shoulders were bare, and she displayed a breast discoloured by cruel blows. She hurried right over the corpses to the tomb of Murrus. Such seems Alecto, when the palace of the Infernal Father ^ thunders doom, and the monarch's wrath troubles and vexes the dead ; then the Fury, standing before the throne and terrible seat of the god, does service to the Jupiter of Tartarus "• and deals out punishments. Her husband's armour, lately rescued with much bloodshed, she placed on the mound with tears ; then she prayed to the dead to welcome her, and applied her burning torch to the pile. Then, rushing upon death, " Best of husbands," she cried, " see, I myself carry this weapon to you in the shades." And so she stabbed herself and fell down over the armour, meeting the fire with open mouth.

Unhappy in their death, half-consumed by the fire, without distinction or order, the bodies of the people lay pell-mell, one upon another. Even so, when a lion, driven by hunger, has at last prevailed and stormed the sheepfold with parched gorge, he roars with gaping jaws and devours the helpless sheep, and VOL. I E 109

SILIUS ITALICUS

gutture ructatus large cruor ; incubat atris semesae stragis cumulis, aut, murmure anhelo infrendens, laceros inter spatiatur acervos. late fusa iacent pecudes custosque Molossus pastorumque cohors stabulique gregisque magister, totaque vastatis disiecta mapalia tectis. 691

irrumpunt vacuam Poeni tot cladibus arcem. turn demum ad manes, perfecto munere, Erinnys lunoni laudata redit magnamque superba exultat rapiens secum sub Tartara turbam. 695

At vos, sidereae, quas nulla aequaverit aetas, ite, decus terrarum, animae, venerabile vulgus, Elysium et castas sedes decorate piorum. cui vero non aequa dedit victoria nomen' (audite, o gentes, neu rumpite foedera pacis 700

nee regnis postferte fidem) vagus exul in orbe errabit toto, patriis proiectus ab oris, tergaque vertentem trepidans Carthago videbit. saepe Saguntinis somnos exterritus umbris optabit cecidisse manu ; ferroque negato, 705

invictus quondam Stygias bellator ad undas deformata feret liventi membra veneno.

«• At the battle of Zama (202 b.c.) Hannibal was utterly defeated by Scipio.

* Hannibal, fearing to be given up to the Romans, escaped from Africa in 193 b.c. and went from place to place — Tyre, Ephesus, Crete, Bithynia. It was in Bithynia that he swallowed poison which he carried in a ring. The year of his death is uncertain ; but it was probably 182 b.c.

110

I

PUNICA, II. 686-707

streams of blood are vomited forth from his vast gape ; he couches down on dark heaps of victims half- devoured, or, gnashing his teeth with panting and roaring, stalks between the piles of mangled carcasses. Around him in confusion lie the sheep with the Molossian dog that guarded them, and the band of shepherds with the owner of the flock and fold ; and their huts are utterly destroyed and their dwellings demolished. The Carthaginians rushed into the citadel which so many disasters had left undefended. And then at last the Fiend, her duty done, returned, with thanks from Juno, to the nether world, proud and triumphant that she carried with her to Tartarus a multitude of victims.

But you, ye star-like souls, whom no succeeding age shall ever match — go, glory of the earth, a worship- ful company, and adorn Elysium and the pure abodes of the righteous. Whereas he, who gained glory by an unjust victory — hear it, ye nations, and break not treaties of peace nor set power above loyalty ! — banished from his native land he shall wander, an exile, over the whole earth ; and terrified Carthage shall see him in full retreat.'* Often, startled in his sleep by the ghosts of Saguntum, he shall wish that he had fallen by his own hand ; but the steel will be denied him, and the warrior once invincible in earlier years shall carry down to the waters of Styx a body disfigured and blackened by poison.*

Ill

LIBER TERTIUS

ARGUMENT

After the taking of Saguntum, Bostar is sent to Africa to consult Jupiter Ammon (1-13). Hannibal goes to GadeSj where he is shown the famous temple of Hercules and marvels at the tides of the Atlantic (14-60). He sends his wife, Himilce, and his infant son to Carthage (61-157). He dreams of the coming campaign (158-213). He sets off : a catalogue of his forces (214-405). He crosses the Pyrenees

Postquam rupta fides Tyriis, et moenia castae, non aequo superum genitore, eversa Sagunti, extemplo positos finiti cardine miindi victor adit populos cognataqiie limina Gades. nee vatum mentes agitare et praescia corda 6

cessatum super imperio. citus aequore Bostar vela dare et rerum praenoscere fata iubetur. prisca fides adytis longo servatur ab aevo, qua sublime sedens, Cirrhaeis aemulus antris, inter anhelantes Garamantas corniger Hammon 10 fatidico pandit venientia saecula luco. hinc omen coeptis et casus scire futuros ante diem bellique vices novisse petebat. Exin clavigeri veneratus numinis aras

<• A common description of Spain.

^ Gades (now Cadiz) was a colony from Tyre and the chief Phoenician settlement outside the Mediterranean.

" For Jupiter Ammon see note to i. 415. 112

BOOK III

ARGUMENT {continued)

(406-441). He crosses the Rhone and the Durance (442-476). Tlie Alps are described (477-499). After frightful hardships he pitches a camp on the summit of the mountains (500-556). Venus and Jupiter converse concerning the destiny of Rome (557-629). Hannibal encamps in the country of the Taurini (630-646). Bostar brings back from Africa the response of Jupiter Ammon (647-714).

After the Carthaginians had broken faith, and the walls of faithful Saguntum, frowned on by the Father of Heaven, had been overthrown, the conqueror at once visited the peoples who dwell at the limit where the world ends,** and Gades,^ the home of a race akin to Carthage. Nor did he omit to consult the wisdom and foresight of prophets concerning the struggle for power. Bostar was ordered to set sail at once and to inquire into the future before it came. From early times men have always trusted the shrine where horned Ammon^ sits on high, a rival of the Delphian'^ caves, and reveals future ages in his pro- phetic grove among the thirsty Garamantes. From there Hannibal sought a good omen for his enterprise ; he sought to know coming events before their date and to learn the changing fortunes of the war. Thereafter he worshipped at the altars of the god «* See note to 1. 98.

113

SILIUS ITALICUS

captivis onerat donis, quae nuper ab arce 15

victor fumantis rapuit semusta Sagunti. vulgatum, nee cassa fides, ab origine fani impositas durare trabes solasque per aevum condentum novisse manus. hinc credere gaiident consedisse deum seniumque repellere templis. 20

turn, quis fas et honos adyti penetralia nosse, femineos prohibent gressus ac limine curant saetigeros arcere sues ; nee discolor ulli ante aras cultus ; velantur corpora lino, et Pelusiaco praefulget stamine vertex. 25

discinctis mos tura dare atque e lege parentum sacrificam lato vestem distinguere clavo. pes nudus tonsaeque comae castumque cubile ; irrestincta focis servant altaria flammae. sed nulla effigies simulacrave nota deorum 30

maiestate locum et sacro implevere timore. In foribus labor Alcidae : Lernaea recisis anguibus hydra iacet, nexuque elisa leonis ora Cleonaei patulo caelantur hiatu. at Stygius, saevis terrens latratibus umbras, 35

ianitor, aeterno tum primum tractus ab antro, vincla indignatur, metuitque Megaera catenas, iuxta Thraces equi pestisque Erymanthia et altos

<• The temple of Hercules at or near Gades was very ancient, greatly venerated, and immensely wealthy. The timber that never decayed is mentioned by other writers. Silius gives more details about the ritual than any other extant author.

* The priests are meant.

« Pelusium is a district near one mouth of the Nile.

<* Cleonae was a little town near Nemea.

« Cerberus, whom Hercules chained and brought up from Hades. 114

PUNICA, III. 16-38

who bears the club," and loaded them with offerings lately snatched by the conqueror from the fire and smoke of the citadel of Saguntum. Men said — and it was no idle tale — that the timber, of which the temple was built at first, never decayed, and for ages never felt the handiwork of any others than the first builders. Hence men take pleasure in the belief that the god has taken up his abode there and defends his temple from decay. Further, those who are per- mitted and privileged to have access to the inner shrine ^ forbid the approach of women, and are careful to keep bristly swine away from the threshold. The dress worn before the altars is the same for all : linen covers their limbs, and their foreheads are adorned with a head-band of Pelusian^ flax. It is their custom to offer incense with robes ungirt ; and, following their fathers' rule, they adorn the garment of sacrifice with a broad stripe. Their feet are bare and their heads shaven, and their bed admits no partner ; the fires on the hearth-stones keep the altars alight perpetually. But no statues or familiar images of the gods filled the place with solemnity and sacred awe.

The doors displayed the Labours of Hercules. The Hy dra of Lerna lay there with her snakes lopped off, and the strangled head of the Nemean'* lion was carved there with jaws agape. There too the door- keeper of the Styx,* who terrifies the dead by his savage barking, raged at his bonds, when dragged for the first time from his everlasting cavern ; and Megaera stood by, fearing to be fettered too. Near by were the Thracian horses,^ and the bane of Ery-

^ The horses which Diomede, king of Thrace, fed on human flesh.

115

SILIUS ITALICUS

aeripedis ramos superantia cornua cervi. nee levior vinci Libycae telluris alumnus 40

matre super stratique genus deforme bimembres Centauri frontemque minor nune amnis Acarnan. inter quae fulget sacratis ignibus Oete, ingentemque animam rapiunt ad sidera flammae.

Postquam oculos varia implevit virtutis imago, 45 mira dehinc cernit : surgentis mole profundi iniectum terris subitum mare nullaque circa litora et infuso stagnantes aequore campos. nam qua caeruleis Nereus evolvitur antris atque imo freta contorquet Neptunia fundo, 50

proruptum exundat pelagus, caecosque relaxans Oceanus fontes torrentibus ingruit undis. tum vada, ceu saevo penitus permota tridenti, luctantur terris tumef actum imponere pontum. mox remeat gurges tractoque relabitur aestu, 55

ac ratis erepto campis deserta profundo, et fusi transtris expectant aequora nautae. Cymothoes ea regna vagae pelagique labores Luna movet, Luna, immissis per caerula bigis, fertque refertque fretum, sequiturque reciproca Tethys. 60

Haec propere spectata duci ; nam multa fatigant. curarum prima exercet, subducere bello

<* A wild boar that laid waste Erymanthus in Arcadia.

'' A stag (or hind) sacred to Diana, which Hercules hunted for a whole year in Arcadia.

" Antaeus, who gained fresh strength every time that he touched his mother, Earth.

^ The Achelous, which lost a horn in contest with Hercules. When ancient rivers are personified, they generally have a bull's head and horns.

^ The mountain in Thrace on which Hercules was cremated.

116

PUNICA, III. 39-62

manthus,** and the antlers of the brazen-footed stag " that rose above tall trees. And the child of the Libyan land, no easy conquest when he stood upon his mother,*' lay low, and low lay the ungainly race of Centaurs, half men and half horses, and the river of Acarnania,*^ now robbed of one horn. Amid these figures Oeta * shines with sacred fires, and the flames carry the hero's soul up to Heaven.

When Hannibal's eyes were sated with the picture of all that valour, he saw next a marvellous sight ^ — the sea suddenly fiung upon the land with the mass of the rising deep, and no encircling shores, and the fields inundated by the invading waters. For, where Nereus rolls forth from his blue caverns and churns up the waters of Neptune from the bottom, the sea rushes forward in flood, and Ocean, opening his hidden springs, rushes on with furious waves. Then the water, as if stirred to the depths by the fierce trident,^ strives to cover the land with the swollen sea. But soon the water turns and glides back with ebbing tide ; and then the ships, robbed of the sea, are stranded, and the sailors, lying on their benches, await the waters' return. It is the Moon that stirs this realm of wandering Cymothoe ^ and troubles the deep ; the Moon, driving her chariot through the sky, draws the sea this way and that, and Tethys * follows with ebb and flow.

Hannibal viewed these things in haste ; for he had much to trouble him. His first anxiety was to remove

' To the Greeks and ancient Ron ans, accustomed only to the Mediterranean, the tides of the Atlantic Ocean, visible at Gades, were a marvellous sight.

" The trident is the sceptre with which Neptune rules the sea. '^ One of the Nereids, or sea-nymphs.

* The wife of Oceanus and mother of the sea-nymphs. VOL.1 e2 117

I

SILIUS ITALICUS

consortem thalami parvumque sub ubere natum.

virgineis iuvenem taedis primoque Hymenaeo

imbuerat coniux memorique tenebat amore. 65

at puer, obsessae generatus in ore Sagunti,

bissenos lunae nondum compleverat orbes.

quos ut seponi stetit et secernere ab armis,

affatur ductor : " spes o Carthaginis altae,

nate, nee Aeneadum levior metus, amplior, oro, 70

sis patrio decore et factis tibi nomina condas,

quis superes bellator avum ; iamque aegra timoris

Roma tuos numerat lacrimandos matribus annos.

ni praesaga meos ludunt praecordia sensus,

ingens hie terris ereseit labor ; ora parentis 75

agnosco torvaque oeulos sub fronte minaees

vagitumque gravem atque irarum elementa mearum.

si quis forte deum tantos ineiderit actus

et nostro abrumpat leto primordia rerum,

hoc pignus belli, coniux, servare labora. 80

cumque datum fari, due per cunabula nostra ;

tangat Elissaeas palmis puerilibus aras

et cineri iuret patrio Laurentia bella.

inde ubi flore novo pubescet firmior aetas,

emicet in Martem et, calcato foedere, victor 85

in Capitolina tumulum mihi vindicet arce.

tu vero, tanti felix quam gloria partus

expectat, veneranda fide, discede periclis

incerti Martis durosque reUnque labores.

' This tomb must have been a cenotaph. 118

PUNICA, III. 63-89

from war the sharer of his bed and their Httle son, an infant at his mother's breast. She was a maiden and he a youth, when they first were wedded ; and she clung to him with a love full of memories. But the child, born in front of besieged Saguntum, had not yet completed twelve circuits of the moon. When he had resolved to send off mother and child and remove them from the army, Hannibal addressed them thus : " O my son, hope of high Carthage, and dread, no less, of the Aeneadae, may you, I pray, be more glorious than your father and make a name for yourself by works of war which shall surpass your grandsire's. Rome, sick with fear, already reckons up your years — years that shall make mothers weep. If my prophetic soul does not deceive my feehng, vast suffering for the world is growing up in you ; I recognize my father's countenance, and the defiant eyes beneath a frowning brow ; I note the depth of your infant cries and the beginnings of a fierceness like my own. If haply some god shall check my great career and nip my glory in the bud by death, then be it your task, my wife, to keep safe this pledge of war. And, when he is able to speak, lead him through the scenes of my childhood : let him lay his baby hands on the altar of Elissa, and vow to his father's ashes that he will fight against Rome. Then, when his riper age shall put on the down of youth, let him rush forth to war, treading the treaty under foot ; and let him, when victorious, demand a tomb" for me upon the Capitoline hill. But you, whose love deserves my worship, you who can look forward to the glory and happiness of so mighty a son, depart from the dangers and uncertainty of war, and turn away from hardship. We men must face heights

119

SILIUS ITALICUS

nos clausae nivibus rupes suppostaque caelo 90

saxa manent ; nos Alcidae, mirante noverca, sudatus labor et, bellis labor acrior, Alpes. quod si promissum vertat Fortuna favorem laevaque sit coeptis, te longa stare senecta aevumque extendisse velim ; tua iustior aetas, 95 ultra me improperae ducant cui fila sorores." Sic ille. at contra Cirrhaei sanguis Imilce Cast alii, cui materno de nomine dicta Castulo Phoebei servat cognomina vatis, atque ex sacrata repetebat stirpe parentes ; 100

tempore quo Bacchus populos domitabat Hiberos, concutiens thyrso atque armata Maenade Calpen, lascivo genitus Satyro nymphaque Myrice, Milichus indigenis late regnabat in oris, cornigeram attollens genitoris imagine frontem. 105 hinc patriam clarumque genus refer ebat Imilce, barbarica paulum vitiato nomine lingua, quae tunc sic lacrimis sensim manantibus infit : " mene, oblite tua nostram pendere