![]() ![]() Of Leucas ( Lefkada), lord of the Cilicians and of He whose oars stillīeat the waters off Corcyra ( Corfu), and the bays From there a boat vulnerable to the windsĪnd waves, barely safe in the shallows, bore him,Īpprehensive, over the deep. ![]() With blood from Pharsalia’s slaughter, flowed to Reached the shore where the Peneus, already dyed Without the means of death at hand? Pompey had Should any man dare to trust good fortune, Past greatness is a mockery unless our lifeĪnd happiness end together, a swift death averting Years destroy mighty hearts, and life may outlast Of Cilician pirates, his armies in Pontus. His fall he hates to remember his fleet’s pursuit Of his triumphant youth in Sulla’s day now in Honours came too swiftly, and curses those acts His weight of fame against him, and burdening Through cities safely under an obscure identity,īut Fortune who had long favoured him, nowĮxacted a penalty from the wretched, bringing He sought to be unrecognised by all, and pass The presence ofĪny witness to his woe was galling to Pompey. Were amazed to meet their general, astoundedĪt his loss, and he was barely believed though While rumour had not yet spread of his defeat Would not allow him to hide from fate in a safe Yet knew that his noble and powerful features Would earn as great a reward as he would giveįor Caesar’s severed head. He knew there was no trivial price on his head,Īnd, remembering his past, believed his death Of his comrades falling back to join him rousedįear and agitation. Of the wind in the swaying trees, while the sound Masking the confused traces of his retreat withĪ wandering labyrinth trail. Wearied by flight and unresponsive to the spur, Of Hercules, wooded Tempe, urging on a horse The forested wastes of Thessaly beyond that vale Meanwhile, by winding tracks, Pompey made for
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