132
LATIN POEM ON
time of the arrival of Augustus in Egypt. Antony
kills himself; and Cleopatra, by likewise com-
mitting suicide, avoids the disgrace of slavery.
Even by consulting Plutarch and Dion, it
is scarcely possible to supply the rest of the sub-
ject ; for they only describe the principal facts.
In the first columns, the poet speaks of the arri-
val of Octavianus and his army. He advances
towards Alexandria, while the main body of the
army proceeds by the Hippodrome. Antony
attacks the cavalry of Octavianus with success,
and causes his fleet to advance. On the second
charge, he is betrayed, and his fleet is dispersed.
This was the signal for his overthrow; and to
this event the following verses of the fourth
column appear to relate :
Qualis, ad instantis acies cum bella parantur,
Signa tubse classesque, simul terrestribus armis,
Est facies ea visa loci; cum sseva coirent
Instrumenta necis, multo congesta paratu,
Vindique ; sic illuc deforme coactum
Omne vagabatur leti genus, omne timoris.
In his despair, Antony calls for Octavianus,
that he may be witness to his deplorable end.
( Ut) praberetque sure spectacula tristria mortis /
Then follows the description of the dismay and
confusion which prevail among the queen’s cour-
LATIN POEM ON
time of the arrival of Augustus in Egypt. Antony
kills himself; and Cleopatra, by likewise com-
mitting suicide, avoids the disgrace of slavery.
Even by consulting Plutarch and Dion, it
is scarcely possible to supply the rest of the sub-
ject ; for they only describe the principal facts.
In the first columns, the poet speaks of the arri-
val of Octavianus and his army. He advances
towards Alexandria, while the main body of the
army proceeds by the Hippodrome. Antony
attacks the cavalry of Octavianus with success,
and causes his fleet to advance. On the second
charge, he is betrayed, and his fleet is dispersed.
This was the signal for his overthrow; and to
this event the following verses of the fourth
column appear to relate :
Qualis, ad instantis acies cum bella parantur,
Signa tubse classesque, simul terrestribus armis,
Est facies ea visa loci; cum sseva coirent
Instrumenta necis, multo congesta paratu,
Vindique ; sic illuc deforme coactum
Omne vagabatur leti genus, omne timoris.
In his despair, Antony calls for Octavianus,
that he may be witness to his deplorable end.
( Ut) praberetque sure spectacula tristria mortis /
Then follows the description of the dismay and
confusion which prevail among the queen’s cour-