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Shapur Falls on Caesar's Sleeping Camp

Shapur Falls on Caesar's Sleeping Camp

From D8.1.7, Shapur Attacks and Captures Caesar. It illustrates D8.1.7.17–28 (to D8.1.7.32):

  • D8.1.7.17
    Three watches passed; he reached the camp that night,And feared no strength of Caesar’s in the fight.
  • D8.1.7.18
    No watchman’s cry, no drumbeat reached his ear;Nor any cockcrow could the monarch hear.
  • D8.1.7.19
    Pavilions spread across the desert space;None dreamed Shapur would come upon that place.
  • D8.1.7.20
    The camp was packed with soldiers everywhere;In his tent Caesar lay, drunk, free of care.
  • D8.1.7.21
    Shapur gave rein at once to his swift steed,And led his warriors on with royal speed.
  • D8.1.7.22
    He gripped his heavy gorz and spurred his horse;Behind him thundered all his charging force.
  • D8.1.7.23
    The karnays and the Indian bells rang round;The clouds rang back with clashing gorzes’ sound.
  • D8.1.7.24
    The battle cries rose loud on every side;The clash of weapons echoed far and wide.
  • D8.1.7.25
    One would have thought the vault of heaven tore,And from the sun red drops began to pour.
  • D8.1.7.26
    Kaveh’s bright banner blazed through smoky gloom;The violet swords flashed, heralding their doom.
  • D8.1.7.27
    As though the air rained swords, the blades flashed bright;The world was wrapped in mist throughout the fight.
  • D8.1.7.28
    The army’s dust concealed the mountain height;The stars drew in their skirts and hid their light.

In the picture

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