﻿112 THE AGE OF PETRONIUS ARBITER. 



The poem of Eumolpus contains less than three hundred* Imes; while that of Lucan, 

 even in the incomplete condition in Avhich it has come down to us, contains above 

 eight thousand. This difference of size indicates such a difference of plan and scope 

 of the two works, and necessarily implies such a difference in the treatment of the 

 subject, that from this point of new alone a comparison of the two appears almost 

 an absurdity. Sujiposing the general character of the Pharsalia of Lucan, and the 

 mode of his treatment of the subject, to be familiar to the reader, I shall confine myself 

 here to a brief account of the poem of Eumolpus. It opens with a rapid sketch of the 

 moral condition of the Roman people, the restlessness of avarice, the eagerness of pos- 

 sessing distant lands, the importation of foreign animals for the purpose of exhibiting 

 them at the combats of the arena, the appearance and development of unnatural lusts 

 leading to a perversion of nature itself, the excess in eating and drinking, the venality 

 of the people in the exercise of their political power, the increasing abuse of usury, 

 and points out that, in this state, the people looked upon war as their only rescue. 

 The leaders themselves, Crassus, Pompey, and Caesar, are mentioned as the victims of 

 the war, destined to fall in different distant parts of the empire. Pluto is introduced 

 addressing Fate, and calling upon her to do her work, saying that Rome, no longer 

 able to endure herself, must perish. Fate replies, saying that his desires shall be grati- 

 fied, — the power which she herself has reared is to perish ; and urges Pluto to prepare 

 for the reception in his realm of the multitudes which are to fall in the coming battles 

 which she foretells. Then follows a description of the signs and portents revealing the 

 anger of the Gods. Caesar is next introduced, commencing the war and his march 

 over the Alps; when he reaches the summit, he addresses the soldiers, justifying his 

 undertaking, and throwing the blame upon his opponents. The appearance of a bird 

 is received as a happy omen. Then follows a description of the laborious descent from 

 the Alps, which is unable to stay Csesar. In the mean time, Rumor, moving with 

 mysterious rapidity, reaches Rome, and creates a general consternation ; all are ready to 

 flee, — they only differ as to the mode. The flight from Rome is described, in which 

 even the consuls and Pompey himself jom. The Gods themselves leave their abodes. 

 Among them Discord appears, exhorting the raging nations to war, and calling upon 

 Csesar to complete his work and hasten to the slaughter in the fields of Thessaly. The 

 poem then closes with the declaration, that all which Discoid commanded was done on 



earth : 



" Factum est in terris, quidquid Discordia jussit." 



This is the i^oem of Eumolpus, in two hundred and ninety-five lines, on the Civil 



* Two hundred and ninety-five. 



