Bare down to hell her son, the pledge of peace, And all bands of that death-presaging alli‡nce. Julia, had heaven given thee longer life, Thou hadst restrain'd thy headstrong husband's rage, Yea, and thy father too, and, swords thrown down, Made all shake hands, as once the Sabines did: Thy death broke amity, and train'd to war These captains emulous of each other's glory. 120 Thou fear'd'st, great Pompey, that late deeds would dim Old triumphs, and that CÊsar's conquering France Would dash the wreath thou war'st for pirates' wreck: Thee war's use stirr'd, and thoughts that always scorn'd A second place. Pompey could bide no equal, Nor CÊsar no superior: which of both Had justest cause, unlawful 'tis to judge: Each side had great partakers; CÊsar's cause The gods abetted, Cato lik'd the other.[591] Both differ'd much. Pompey was struck in years, 130 And by long rest forgot to manage arms, And, being popular, sought by liberal gifts To gain the light unstable commons' love, And joy'd to hear his theatre's applause: He lived secure, boasting his former deeds, And thought his name sufficient to uphold him: Like to a tall oak in a fruitful field, Bearing old spoils and conquerors' monuments, Who, though his root be weak, and his own weight Keep him within the ground, his arms all bare, 140 His body, not his boughs, send forth a shade; Though every blast it nod,[592] and seem to fall, When all the woods about stand bolt upright, Yet he alone is held in reverence. CÊsar's renown for war was loss; he restless, Shaming to strive but where he did subdue; When ire or hope provok'd, heady and bold; At all times charging home, and making havoc; Urging his fortune, trusting in the gods, Destroying what withstood his proud desires, 150 And glad when blood and ruin made him way: So thunder, which the wind tears from the clouds, With crack of riven air and hideous sound Filling the world, leaps out and throws forth fire, Affrights poor fearful men, and blasts their eyes With overthwarting flames, and raging shoots Alongst the air, and, not resisting it, Falls, and returns, and shivers where it lights. Such humours stirr'd them up; but this war's seed Was even the same that wrecks all great dominions. 160 When Fortune made us lords of all, wealth flow'd, And then we grew licentious and rude; The soldiers' prey and rapine brought in riot; Men took delight in jewels, houses, plate, And scorn'd old sparing diet, and ware robes Too light for women; Poverty, who hatch'd Rome's greatest wits,[593] was loath'd, and all the world Ransack'd for gold, which breeds the world['s] decay; And then large limits had their butting lands;