Africa and the Making of Classical Literature Seminar T1 Week 10 Imperial Visions of Africa (Lucan)
1. Hercules in Africa
Read the following passages on Hercules’ fight with Antaeus and on Hercules in the garden of the Hesperides (possibly with the notes of Susan Braund in the Oxford Scholarly edition) and think about the following: • What are the two names of the place where Curio has arrived? Is the change of name relevant to our story? • What are the connections between Hercules, Curio, and Scipio in the first passage? Is there a connection with Hercules and Cato in the second? • What does Antaeus symbolize? How is he characterized? • What does the garden of the Hesperides symbolize? • What is the function of these stories in their respective narratives?
Lucan 4.581-660 • Just as fierce as this warfare was that which then Non segnior illo blazed up in Libya's fields. For daring Curio Marte fuit, qui tum Libycis exarsit in arvis. unmoors his vessels from the Lilybaean Namque rates audax Lilybaeo litore solvit • shore, and with Aquilo gently filling the sails he Curio, nec forti velis Aquilone recepto reached the shores of the famous anchorage Inter semirutas magnae Carthaginis arces between Clipea and great Carthage's citadels, half Et Clipeam tenuit stationis litora notae, in ruins, and he places his first camp far from the Primaque castra locat cano procul aequore, qua se whitened sea, where leisurely Bagrada proceeds, Bagrada lentus agit siccae sulcator harenae. the furrower of the dry sand. From there he seeks Inde petit tumulos exesasque undique rupes, the hills and crags hollowed out all around which Antaei quas regna vocat non vana vetustas. antiquity not falsely calls the kingdom of Nominis antiqui cupientem noscere causas Antaeus. In his wish to learn the origins of the Cognita per multos docuit rudis incola patres: ancient name, a primitive inhabitant taught what “Nondum post genitos Tellus effeta gigantas he had learned through many forefathers: Terribilem Libycis partum concepit in antris. • 'After the Giants' birth, Earth not yet exhausted Nec tam iusta fuit terrarum gloria Typhon • mothered a dreadful offspring in Libyan caves. Aut Tityos Briareusque ferox; caeloque pepercit,• And not so justly was Typhon his mother's pride Quod non Phlegraeis Antaeum sustulit arvis. • or Tityos or fierce Briareus; she was merciful to Hoc quoque tam vastas cumulavit munere vires heaven in not raising Antaeus on the Phlegran Terra sui fetus, quod, cum tetigere parentem, fields. With this gift too did Earth enhance her Iam defecta vigent renovato robore membra. offspring's mighty strength—that his now tired Haec illi spelunca domus; latuisse sub alta limbs thrive with strength renewed when they Rupe ferunt, epulas raptos habuisse leones; touch their mother. This cave was his home: Ad somnos non terga ferae praebere cubile beneath the tall crag he lay hid, they say, and Adsuerunt, non silva torum, viresque resumit feasted on the lions he had caught; no wild beast's In nuda tellure iacens. Periere coloni skins used to offer him a bed for sleep, no forest Arvorum Libyae, pereunt quos appulit aequor; a couch, but lying on the naked earth he regained Auxilioque diu virtus non usa cadendi his strength. The farmers of Libya's fields Terrae spernit opes: invictus robore cunctis, perished; men brought to land by the sea perish; Quamvis staret, erat. Tandem volgata cruenti and for long his valour spurns the Earth's help, Fama mali terras monstris aequorque levantem not aiding himself by falling: he was utterly Magnanimum Alciden Libycas excivit in oras. invincible in strength, even when he stayed Ille Cleonaei proiecit terga leonis, standing. At last the rumour of the blood-stained Antaeus Libyci; perfundit membra liquore evil spread and summoned to the shores of Libya Hospes Olympiacae servato more palaestrae, • great-hearted Alcides, who was ridding land and Ille parum fidens pedibus contingere matrem sea of monsters. He threw down the skin of the Auxilium membris calidas infudit harenas. lion of Cleonae, Antaeus that of the lion of Libya; Conseruere manus et multo bracchia nexu; the stranger drenched his limbs with liquid,
Colla diu gravibus frustra temptata lacertis, following the custom of the Olympic wrestling- Inmotumque caput fixa cum fronte tenetur; place; the other, not confident enough in touching Miranturque habuisse parem. Nec viribus uti his mother with his feet, poured burning sand on Alcides primo voluit certamine totis, his limbs to help him. They linked hands and Exhausitque virum, quod creber anhelitus illi arms in many a clasp, long tested the other's neck Prodidit et gelidus fesso de corpore sudor. in vain with massive biceps, and each head is held Tum cervix lassata quati, tum pectore pectus unmoved with forehead rigid; and they are Urgueri, tunc obliqua percussa labare amazed to meet their match. Alcides, not wishing Crura manu. Iam terga viri cedentia victor • to use all his strength at the contest's start, wore Alligat et medium conpressis ilibus artat out his opponent, as the frequent gasps and cold Inguinaque insertis pedibus distendit et omnem sweat from his tired body revealed to him. Then Explicuit per membra virum. Rapit arida tellus his neck grows weak and trembles, then breast by Sudorem: calido conplentur sanguine venae, breast is shoved, then legs totter, struck by hand Intumuere tori, totosque induruit artus • aslant. Now the victor encircles his opponent's Herculeosque novo laxavit corpore nodos. • yielding back and crushes his sides and squeezes Constitit Alcides stupefactus robore tanto, his waist and by thrusting with his feet spreads Nec sic Inachiis, quamvis rudis esset, in undis wide the thighs and laid his man flat out from Desectam timuit reparatis anguibus hydram. head to toe. The dry earth drinks his sweat; his Conflixere pares, Telluris viribus ille, veins are filled with warm blood, his muscles Ille suis. Numquam saevae sperare novercae bulged, his entire frame grew tough, and with Plus licuit; videt exhaustos sudoribus artus body restored he loosened Hercules' hold. Cervicemque viri, siccam cum ferret Olympum. Alcides stood dazed by such great strength: not in Utque iterum fessis iniecit bracchia membris, the waters of Inachus, though then inexperienced, Non expectatis Antaeus viribus hostis did he fear so the Hydra with her snakes renewed Sponte cadit maiorque accepto robore surgit. where severed. They clashed as equals, one with Quisquis inest terris in fessos spiritus artus the strength of Earth, the other with his own. Egeritur, Tellusque viro luctante laborat. Never could his savage stepmother have higher Ut tandem auxilium tactae prodesse parentis hopes: she sees the hero's limbs and neck drained Alcides sensit, ‘Standum est tibi,’ dixit ‘et ultra by exertion, the neck which stayed dry when he Non credere solo, sternique vetabere terra. supported Olympus. And when again he grappled Haerebis pressis intra mea pectora membris: with the tired limbs, without waiting for his Huc, Antaee, cades.’ Sic fatus sustulit alte enemy's force, Antaeus fell voluntarily and rose Nitentem in terras iuvenem. Morientis in artus more mighty with added strength. All the power Non potuit nati Tellus permittere vires: of the land pours into his tired frame and Earth Alcides medio tenuit iam pectora pigro labours as her warrior wrestles. When at last Stricta gelu terrisque diu non credidit hostem. Alcides realized the help he gained from his Hinc, aevi veteris custos, famosa vetustas mother's touch, he said: "You must stand, no Miratrixque sui signavit nomine terras. more are you trusted to the soil, you will be Sed maiora dedit cognomina collibus istis forbidden to lie prostrate upon the earth. You will Poenum qui Latiis revocavit ab arcibus hostem stick with limbs crushed within my embrace: so Scipio; nam sedes Libyca tellure potito far only, Antaeus, shall you fall." So speaking he Haec fuit. En, veteris cernis vestigia valli. raised aloft the youth as he struggled for the Romana hos primum tenuit victoria campos.” Earth. She could not convey her strength into her dying son's frame: Alcides was in between them, holding his breast already tight in torpid chill and for a long time did not trust his enemy to the earth. That is how antiquity—the giver of renown, the guardian of ancient time and admirer of herself—marked the land with his name. But a greater name was given these hills by Scipio, who recalled the Carthaginian enemy from the citadels • of Latium; for this was his position when he reached the Libyan land. Look, you can see traces of the ancient rampart. These are the fields first held by Roman victory.'
Luc. 9.348-67 This lake, the legend goes, is dear to the god Hanc, ut fama, deus, quem toto litore pontus heard by ocean all along the shore as he blows Audit ventosa perflantem marmora concha, across the surface with his windy shell; this lake Hanc et Pallas amat, patrio quae vertice nata is dear to Pallas too, who when born from her Terrarum primam Libyen—nam proxima caelo est, father's head alighted upon Libya first of lands Ut probat ipse calor—tetigit, stagnique quieta (since it is nearest to the sky, as by its heat alone Voltus vidit aqua posuitque in margine plantas is proved) and in the pool's calm water saw her Et se dilecta Tritonida dixit ab unda. face and set her footsteps on its edge and called Quam iuxta Lethon tacitus praelabitur amnis, herself 'Tritonis' from the water that she loved. Infernis, ut fama, trahens oblivia venis, Next to it the silent river Lethon glides along, Atque, insopiti quondam tutela draconis, carrying oblivion, the legend goes, from Hesperidum pauper spoliatis frondibus hortus. channels of the underworld; and the garden of Invidus, annoso qui famam derogat aevo, the Hesperides, once guarded by unsleeping Qui vates ad vera vocat. Fuit aurea silva dragon, poor now its branches have been Divitiisque graves et fulvo germine rami robbed. Spiteful is anyone who takes away from Virgineusque chorus, nitidi custodia luci, aged time its glory, who summons poets to the Et numquam somno damnatus lumina serpens truth. There was once a golden wood, its Robora conplexus rutilo curvata metallo. branches heavy with their riches and with tawny Abstulit arboribus pretium nemorique laborem shoots, a band of virgins, guardians of the Alcides, passusque inopes sine pondere ramos shining grove, and the snake with eyes Rettulit Argolico fulgentia poma tyranno. condemned never to sleep curled round the timbers bent down by ruddy metal. Alcides took from the trees their prize and from the grove its task, when he left the branches destitute without their load and carried back to Argos' tyrant gleaming apples.
2. The Psylli
Read the following passage of Lucan’s Book 9 and answer the following questions:
• What are the main characteristics of the Psylli? • Do they remind you of other people so far encountered in the course? If so, how?
Luc. 9.890-937 • A single race inhabits earth unharmed by the savage serpents' bite—the Psylli of Marmarica. Vix miseris serum tanto lassata periclo Their tongues are as effective Auxilium Fortuna dedit. Gens unica terras • as potent drugs, their blood itself is safe with Incolit a saevo serpentum innoxia morsu, power to resist the venom, even without Marmaridae Psylli. Par lingua potentibus herbis, incantation. The nature of their soil has bidden Ipse cruor tutus nullumque admittere virus them live free among the serpents. They benefit Vel cantu cessante potens. Natura locorum from placing their abode in the midst of poison: Iussit, ut inmunes mixtis serpentibus essent. that peace with death is given them. So great is Profuit in mediis sedem posuisse venenis. their reliance on their blood that, when a little Pax illis cum morte data est. Fiducia tanta est toddler falls down upon the ground, in their Sanguinis: in terras parvus cum decidit infans, dread of any adulteration caused by union with a Ne qua sit externae Veneris mixtura timentes stranger, they test the suspect offspring with a Letifica dubios explorant aspide partus. deadly Asp. And as the bird of Jupiter, when it Utque Iovis volucer, calido cum protulit ovo has brought forth from the warm egg Inplumes natos, solis convertit ad ortus: unfeathered young, turns them towards the Qui potuere pati radios et lumine recto rising of the sun: Sustinuere diem, caeli servantur in usus, • those which can endure the rays and undergo the Qui Phoebo cessere, iacent: sic pignora gentis daylight with direct glance are kept for heaven's
Psyllus habet, si quis tactos non horruit angues, use; but those who flinch from Phoebus lie Si quis donatis lusit serpentibus infans. neglected: so the Psyllus has a guarantee of Nec solum gens illa sua contenta salute origin if a baby does not shudder when he Excubat hospitibus, contraque nocentia monstra touches snakes or plays with serpents handed Psyllus adest populis. Qui tum Romana secutus him. That people, not content with their own Signa, simul iussit statui tentoria ductor, safety only, keeps watch for strangers, and Primum, quas valli spatium conprendit, harenas against the deadly creatures the Psyllus gives Expurgat cantu verbisque fugantibus angues. assistance to mankind. At that time they were Ultima castrorum medicatus circumit ignis. following the Roman standards and as soon as Hic ebulum stridet peregrinaque galbana sudant, the commander ordered shelters to be erected, Et tamarix non laeta comas Eoaque costos first the sand surrounded by the rampart's length Et panacea potens et Thessala centaurea they purify with incantation and with words Peucedanonque sonant flammis Erycinaque thapsos, which drive away the snakes. The camp's Et larices fumoque gravem serpentibus urunt extremities are enclosed by a medicated fire. Habrotonum et longe nascentis cornua cervi. Here elder hisses, foreign galbanum sweats Sic nox tuta viris. At si quis peste diurna Fata moisture; and tamarisk, not blessed in foliage, trahit, tunc sunt magicae miracula gentis and eastern costos and powerful panacea and Psyllorumque ingens et rapti pugna veneni. Thessalian centaury and sulphur-wort and Nam primum tacta designat membra saliva, thapsos from Mount Eryx crackle in the flames; Quae cohibet virus retinetque in volnere pestem; and larch they burn and abrotonum, troublesome Plurima tunc volvit spumanti carmina lingua to serpents with its smoke, and the horns of stag Murmure continuo, nec dat suspiria cursus born far away. So the night is made safe for the Volneris, aut minimum patiuntur fata tacere. warriors. But, if anyone draws on his doom by Saepe quidem pestis nigris inserta medullis daytime plague, then are the marvels of the Excantata fugit; sed, si quod tardius audit magic people seen: Virus et elicitum iussumque exire repugnat, • a mighty battle of the Psylli and the poison Tum super incumbens pallentia volnera lambit gulped. For first he marks the limbs by touching Ore venena trahens et siccat dentibus artus, with saliva—it checks the venom and confines Extractamque potens gelido de corpore mortem destruction in the wound; Expuit; et cuius morsus superaverit anguis, • then many a spell does he recite with foaming Iam promptum Psyllis vel gustu nosse veneni. tongue in continuous murmur, and the speed of the wound gives no time for breath nor does death allow even the shortest silence. And often the destruction, though lodged within the black marrow, • is charmed away by incantation; but if the venom heeds more slowly and when summoned out and told to leave resists, • then leaning over the pale wounds he licks them, sucking out the poison with his mouth, and, biting, drains the frame and efficaciously from the icy body draws forth death and spits it out; and for the Psylli it is easy even by the poison's taste to know which serpent's bite he has overcome.
3. Alexander the Great
Read the following passages from Lucan; how does the character of Alexander the Great compare/contrast with the main characters of this epic?
Lucan 8.692-99 • Last offspring, soon to perish, of the stock of Ultima Lageae stirpis perituraque proles, Lagus, degenerate and soon to yield the sceptre Degener, incestae sceptris cessure sorori, to your impure sister, though you preserve the
Cum tibi sacrato Macedon servetur in antro Macedonian in consecrated cave, and the ashes Et regum cineres extructo monte quiescant, of the kings find rest beneath a piled-up Cum Ptolemaeorum manes seriemque pudendam mountain, though shades of Ptolemies and their Pyramides claudant indignaque Mausolea, disgraceful line are enclosed in Pyramids and Litora Pompeium feriunt, truncusque vadosis Mausoleums too good for them, the shores strike Huc illuc iactatur aquis. Pompey, and his headless corpse is tossed this way and that by shallow waters.
Lucan 10.1-52 • As soon as Caesar, in pursuit of Pompey's head, Ut primum terras Pompei colla secutus reached land and trod the dreadful sands, the Attigit et diras calcavit Caesar harenas, general's fortune and the destiny of guilty Egypt Pugnavit fortuna ducis fatumque nocentis fought: would Lagus' kingdom be subdued by Aegypti, regnum Lagi Romana sub arma Roman force or would the sword of Memphis Iret, an eriperet mundo Memphiticus ensis remove the head of conqueror and conquered Victoris victique caput. Tua profuit umbra, from the world? Your ghost assisted him, Magne, tui socerum rapuere a sanguine manes, Magnus: your shade rescued your father-in-law Ne populus post te Nilum Romanus amaret. from bloodshed, to stop the Roman people Inde Paraetoniam fertur securus in urbem loving Nile after your death. From there he Pignore tam saevi sceleris sua signa secutam. passes untroubled into the Paraetonian city, Sed fremitu volgi fasces et iura querentis which was following his standards through the Inferri Romana suis discordia sensit bond of such a savage crime. Pectora et ancipites animos, Magnumque perisse• But from the growling of the crowd, Non sibi. Tum voltu semper celante pavorem complaining that the Rods and Roman power are Intrepidus superum sedes et templa vetusti invading their own, he sensed discordant breasts Numinis antiquas Macetum testantia vires and feelings unreliable: not for him had Magnus Circumit, et nulla captus dulcedine rerum, died. Then with his face always concealing fear, Non auro cultuque deum, non moenibus urbis, undeterred he visits the gods' abodes and Effossum tumulis cupide descendit in antrum. temples of ancient deity which declare the Illic Pellaei proles vaesana Philippi, Macedonians' might of old, and charmed by no Felix praedo, iacet terrarum vindice fato delights, not by gold or by adornment of the Raptus: sacratis totum spargenda per orbem gods, not by city-walls, Membra viri posuere adytis; fortuna pepercit • he eagerly descends into the cavern hollowed Manibus, et regni duravit ad ultima fatum. out for a burial-place. There the crazy offspring Nam sibi libertas umquam si redderet orbem, of Pellaean Philip lies, the lucky bandit, seized Ludibrio servatus erat, non utile mundo by destiny avenging the earth: in a sacred shrine Editus exemplum, terras tot posse sub uno they laid the warrior's limbs which should have Esse viro. Macetum fines latebrasque suorum been dispersed through all the world; Fortune Deseruit victasque patri despexit Athenas, spared his shade, and to the last his kingdom's Perque Asiae populos fatis urguentibus actus destiny endured. For if Liberty had ever restored Humana cum strage ruit gladiumque per omnes the world to itself, he had been kept for Exegit gentes; ignotos miscuit amnes mockery, born as an example not serviceable to Persarum Euphraten, Indorum sanguine Gangen: the world—to show that lands so many could be Terrarum fatale malum fulmenque, quod omnes under one man's sway. He left the bounds and Percuteret pariter populos, et sidus iniquum hiding-places of his Macedonians, despising Gentibus. Oceano classes inferre parabat Athens conquered by his father, and, driven by Exteriore mari. Non illi flamma nec undae the thrust of Fate through Asia's peoples, rushed Nec sterilis Libye nec Syrticus obstitit Hammon. on amid human devastation and drove his sword Isset in occasus mundi devexa secutus through all the nations; unfamiliar rivers he Ambissetque polos Nilumque a fonte bibisset: disturbed—Euphrates with the blood of Occurrit suprema dies, naturaque solum Persians, Ganges with the blood of Indians: an Hunc potuit finem vaesano ponere regi; evil deadly to the earth, a thunderbolt which Qui secum invidia, quo totum ceperat orbem, struck all the peoples equally, a star baneful to Abstulit imperium, nulloque herede relicto humankind. He was preparing to advance his Totius fati lacerandas praebuit urbes. fleet to Ocean by the outer sea. No obstacle to Sed cecidit Babylone sua Parthoque verendus. him was flame or waves or barren Libya or
Pro pudor! Eoi propius timuere sarisas Ammon of the Syrtes. Following the world's Quam nunc pila timent populi. Licet usque sub Arcton slope, he would have gone into the west and past Regnemus Zephyrique domos terrasque premamus the poles and drunk Nile from his source: his Flagrantis post terga Noti, cedemus in ortus final day blocked his path and only Nature could Arsacidum domino. Non felix Parthia Crassis impose this limit on the crazy king; jealously he Exiguae secura fuit provincia Pellae. took away with him the power with which he had captured all the world, and, leaving none as heir of his entire fortune, he exposed the cities to be torn apart. But in his own Babylon he fell, dreaded by the Parthian. How disgraceful! the people of the east more closely feared the pikes than now they fear the javelins. Although we rule as far as Arctos and the homes of Zephyr, although we dominate the lands beyond the back of blazing Notus, in the east we shall yield to the master of the Arsacids. Parthia, not lucky for the Crassi, was a quiet province of tiny Pella.
4. Cleopatra VII Philopator
Read Lucan’s introduction to Cleopatra. How does she compare to the female characters you have encountered in this course so far? Think especially of Dido and Sophonisba. You can also compare Horace’s Ode 1.37.
Lucan 10.53-154 • Now coming from Nile's Pelusian flood, Iam Pelusiaco veniens a gurgite Nili • the unwarlike boy-king had allayed his people's Rex puer inbellis populi sedaverat iras, wrath. With him as hostage, Caesar was secure Obside quo pacis Pellaea tutus in aula in the Pellaean court, when Cleopatra bribed the Caesar erat, cum se parva Cleopatra biremi guard to undo the chains of Pharos, and in a Corrupto custode Phari laxare catenas little two-oared boat she entered the Emathian Intulit Emathiis ignaro Caesare tectis, halls without Caesar's knowledge—the disgrace Dedecus Aegypti, Latii feralis Erinys, of Egypt, deadly Erinys of Latium, promiscuous Romano non casta malo. Quantum inpulit Argos Iliacasque domos facie Spartana nocenti, to the harm of Rome. As much as the Spartan Hesperios auxit tantum Cleopatra furores. woman with her harmful beauty knocked down Terruit illa suo, si fas, Capitolia sistro Argos and the homes of Ilium, so Cleopatra Et Romana petit inbelli signa Canopo swelled the madness of Hesperia. With her rattle Caesare captivo Pharios ductura triumphos; she alarmed the Capitol, if such a thing can be, Leucadioque fuit dubius sub gurgite casus, and she attacked the Roman standards with An mundum ne nostra quidem matrona teneret. unwarlike Canopus, in her intent to lead a Hoc animi nox illa dedit, quae prima cubili Pharian triumph with Caesar as a captive; and Miscuit incestam ducibus Ptolemaida nostris. doubtful was the outcome on the Leucadian Quis tibi vaesani veniam non donet amoris, flood: would a woman—not even Roman—rule Antoni, durum cum Caesaris hauserit ignis the world? This spirit she acquired from that Pectus? et in media rabie medioque furore night which first in bed united Ptolemy's impure Et Pompeianis habitata manibus aula daughter with Roman generals. Who would not Sanguine Thessalicae cladis perfusus adulter Admisit Venerem curis, et miscuit armis excuse your crazy love, Inlicitosque toros et non ex coniuge partus. • Antony, when fire devoured Caesar's stubborn Pro pudor! oblitus Magni tibi, Iulia, fratres heart? Even in the midst of madness, in the Obscaena de matre dedit, partesque fugatas midst of frenzy Passus in extremis Libyae coalescere regnis • and in the court inhabited by Pompey's shade, Tempora Niliaco turpis dependit amori, while drenched with blood of the Thessalian Dum donare Pharon, dum non sibi vincere mavolt. slaughter, adulterously he shared his anxieties
Quem formae confisa suae Cleopatra sine ullis with Venus and combined with war illicit union Tristis adit lacrimis, simulatum compta dolorem and progeny not born from wife. O the shame! Qua decuit, veluti laceros dispersa capillos, Forgetting Magnus, he gave you brothers, Et sic orsa loqui: “Si qua est, o maxime Caesar, • Julia, from a loathsome mother, and he let Nobilitas, Pharii proles clarissima Lagi, • the routed party gather strength in Libya's Exul, in aeternum sceptris depulsa paternis, furthest realms while he spends time Ni tua restituit veteri me dextera fato, disgustingly on love beside the Nile, since he Conplector regina pedes. Tu gentibus aequum Sidus ades nostris. Non urbes prima tenebo prefers to make a gift of Pharos, not to conquer Femina Niliacas: nullo discrimine sexus for himself. Relying on her looks, Cleopatra Reginam scit ferre Pharos. Lege summa perempti comes to him, gloomy without tears, adorned Verba patris, qui iura mihi communia regni with simulated grief as far as was attractive, her Et thalamos cum fratre dedit. Puer ipse sororem, hair spread out as if torn, and she began to speak Sit modo liber, amat; sed habet sub iure Pothini like this: 'O most mighty Caesar, if nobility is Adfectus ensesque suos. Nil ipsa paterni anything, I, the most illustrious daughter of Iuris inire peto: culpa tantoque pudore Pharian Lagus, driven from my father's sceptre, Solve domum, remove funesta satellitis arma an exile for eternity unless your hand restores Et regem regnare iube. Quantosne tumores me to my destiny of old, I as queen embrace Mente gerit famulus! Magni cervice revolsa your feet. Come to our people as a favourable Iam tibi—sed procul hoc avertant fata—minatur. star. I shall not be the first woman to rule the Sat fuit indignum, Caesar, mundoque tibique Pompeium facinus meritumque fuisse Pothini.” Nile's cities: with no distinction of sex Pharos Nequiquam duras temptasset Caesaris aures: knows how to bear a queen. Read my dead Voltus adest precibus faciesque incesta perorat. father's final words: shared rights to power he Exigit infandam corrupto iudice noctem. gave me and a marriage-chamber with my Pax ubi parta ducis donisque ingentibus empta est, brother. The boy himself loves his sister, if only Excepere epulae tantarum gaudia rerum, he were free; but his emotions and his swords Explicuitque suos magno Cleopatra tumultu are subject to Pothinus' sway. Nothing of my Nondum translatos Romana in saecula luxus. father's power do I seek to gain myself: free our Ipse locus templi, quod vix corruptior aetas house from guilt and shame so great, remove the Extruat, instar erat; laqueataque tecta ferebant minion's murderous forces Divitias, crassumque trabes absconderat aurum. • and tell the king to be a king. How great the Nec summis crustata domus sectisque nitebat swelling which the slave bears in his mind! He Marmoribus, stabatque sibi non segnis achates tore off Magnus' head and now he threatens Purpureusque lapis, totaque effusus in aula you—but may the Fates avert this far away! It Calcabatur onyx; hebenus Meroitica vastos Non operit postes, sed stat pro robore vili, was scandalous enough for the world and for Auxilium non forma domus. Ebur atria vestit, you, Caesar, that Pompey was the crime and the Et suffecta manu foribus testudinis Indae credit of Pothinus.' Uselessly she would have Terga sedent, crebro maculas distincta zmaragdo. tried to influence the stubborn ears of Caesar: Fulget gemma toris, et iaspide fulva supellex her face supports her prayers, her impure beauty Stat mensas onerans, variaque triclinia veste finishes her speech. She bribes the judge and Strata micant, Tyrio cuius pars maxima fuco spends an unspeakable night. Once the general's Cocta diu virus non uno duxit aeno, truce was gained and bought by mighty gifts, a Pars auro plumata nitet, pars ignea cocco, banquet celebrated the joys of such great events Ut mos est Phariis miscendi licia telis. and with a huge commotion Cleopatra displayed Tum famulae numerus turbae populusque minister. her own extravagance, not yet transferred to Discolor hos sanguis, alios distinxerat aetas; Roman generations. The place itself was equal Haec Libycos, pars tam flavos gerit altera crines, Ut nullis Caesar Rheni se dicat in arvis to a temple which an age more corrupt would Tam rutilas vidisse comas; pars sanguinis usti hardly build; the panelled ceilings showed her Torta caput refugosque gerens a fronte capillos; riches, thick gold concealed the beams. The Nec non infelix ferro mollita iuventus house shone, not encrusted with veneers of Atque exsecta virum: stat contra fortior aetas marble on the surface; in its own right, not Vix ulla fuscante tamen lanugine mala. useless, stood the agate and the purple stone; in Discubuere illic reges maiorque potestas, all the palace onyx in abundance was trodden Caesar; et inmodice formam fucata nocentem, on; ebony of Meroë does not veil the door-posts Nec sceptris contenta suis nec fratre marito, huge but stands in place of ordinary timber, the Plena maris rubri spoliis, colloque comisque support, not the adornment, of the house. The Divitias Cleopatra gerit cultuque labora. halls are clothed by ivory, and Indian tortoise-
Candida Sidonio perlucent pectora filo, shells, stained by hand, are inlaid in the doors, Quod Nilotis acus conpressum pectine Serum their spots embellished with abundant emeralds. Solvit et extenso laxavit stamina velo. Jewels glitter on the couches and the furnishings Dentibus hic niveis sectos Atlantide silva are tawny with jasper. The coverlets are Inposuere orbes, quales ad Caesaris ora gleaming: most of them, long steeped in Tyrian Nec capto venere Iuba. Pro caecus et amens dye, took on their stain from more than a single Ambitione furor, civilia bella gerenti cauldron; some shine embroidered with golden Divitias aperire suas, incendere mentem Hospitis armati. Non sit licet ille nefando feathers, some blaze with cochineal, following Marte paratus opes mundi quaesisse ruina; the method of mingling heddles on Pharian Pone duces priscos et nomina pauperis aevi, looms. Then the numerous servant crowd and Fabricios Curiosque graves, hic ille recumbat multitude of attendants: some were marked out Sordidus Etruscis abductus consul aratris: by their blood of different colour, others by their Optabit patriae talem duxisse triumphum. age; this group had Libyan locks, another locks so blond that Caesar said that in no fields of the Rhine had he seen such glowing hair; some were of a scorched complexion with curly heads and wore their hair receding from the forehead; and there were boys unfortunate, enfeebled by the sword, castrated of their manhood: opposite there stands a stronger age-group, yet with hardly any down darkening their cheeks. There the rulers took their places; so does Caesar, power greater than they; and with excessive make-up on her harmful beauty, not content with her own sceptre nor with her brother- husband, loaded with the Red Sea's booty, on her neck and in her hair Cleopatra wears a fortune and she strains beneath her finery. Her white breasts shine through the Sidonian thread which, tightly made by Seres' comb, the Nile's needle loosens, opening up the strands by stretching out the cloth. Then they set on snowy tusks round tables cut in Atlas' forest, such as Caesar never saw, not even when he captured Juba. O what madness, blind and frantic with ostentation—to reveal one's treasures to a man waging civil war, to inflame the mind of a guest bearing weapons. Even though it were not he, ready in abominable warfare to seek riches in the ruin of the world; put there the generals of old, names of an age of poverty, Fabricii and solemn Curii, let here recline that consul brought grimy from his Etruscan plough: he will wish to lead a triumph like this for his fatherland.
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