at all that he had cared litle for the ROMAINES he wēt and fought a battell in the meane time with the DARDANIANS where he slue tēne thousād of those barbarous people brought a maruelous great spoyle awaye with him Moreouer he procured the nation of the GAVLES dwelling vpō the riuer of Danubie which they call Bastarnae mē very warlike excellēt good horsemē did practise with the ILLYRIANS also by meane of their king Gētius to make thē ioyne with him in these warres so that there ranne a rumour all about that for money he had gotten these GAVLES to come downe into ITALIE from the highe contrie of GAVLE all alongest the Adriatick sea The ROMAINES being aduertised of these newes thought the time serued not now to dispose their offices in warres any more by grace fauour vnto those that sued for them but contrariwise that they should call some noble man that were very skilfull and a wise captaine and could discretly gouerne and performe things of great charge As Paulus AEmylius a man well stepped on in yeres being three score yere olde and yet of good power by reason of the lusty young men his sonnes sonnes in lawe besides a great number of his friends and kinsefolke So all that bare great authoritie dyd altogether with one consent counsaill him to obey the people which called him to the Consulshippe At the beginning in deede he delayed the people muche that came to importune him and vtterly denied them saying he was no meete man neither to desire nor yet to take vpon him any charge Howbeit in the ende seeing the people dyd vrge it apon him by knocking continually at his gates and calling him alowde in the streetes willing him to come into the market place and perceyuing they were angrie with him bicause he refused it he was content to be persuaded And when he stoode among them that sued for the Consulshippe the people thought straight that he stoode not there so muche for desire of the office as for that he put them in hope of assured victorie and happie successe of this begonne warre so great was their loue towardes him and the good hope they had of him that they chose him Consul againe the second time Wherefore so sone as he was chosen they would not proceede to drawing of lottes according to their custome which of the two Consuls should happen to goe into MACEDON but presently with a full and whole consent of them all they gaue him the whole charge of the warres of MACEDON So being Consul now and appointed to make warre apon king Perseus all the people dyd honorably companie him home vnto his house where a litle girle a daughter of his called Tertia being yet an infant came weeping vnto her father He making muche of her asked her why she wept The poore girle aunswered colling him about the necke and kissing him Alas father wote you what our Perseus is dead She ment it by a litle whelpe so called which was her playe fellowe In good hower my girle sayed he I like the signe well Thus doth Cicero the orator reporte it in his booke of diuinations The ROMAINES had a custome at that time that suche as were elected Consuls after that they were openly proclaimed should make an oration of thanckes vnto the people for the honour and fauour they had shewed him The people then according to the custome being gathered together to heare AEmylius speake he made this oration vnto them That the first time he sued to be Consul was in respect of him selfe standing at that time in neede of suche honour now he offred him selfe the second time vnto it for the good loue he bare vnto them who stoode in nede of a generall wherefore he thought him selfe nothing bounde nor beholding vnto them now And if they dyd thincke also this warre might be better followed by any other then by him selfe he would presently with all his harte resigne the place Furthermore if they had any trust or confidence in him that they thought him a man sufficient to discharge it then that they would not speake nor medle in any matter that concerned his duetie and the office of a generall sauing only that they would be diligent without any wordes to doe whatsoeuer he commaunded and should be necessarie for the warre and seruice they tooke in hande For if euery man would be a commaunder as they had bene heretofore of those by whom they should be commaunded then the world would more laughe them to scorne in this seruice then euer before had bene accustomed These wordes made the ROMAINES very obedient to him and conceyued good hope to come being all of thē very glad that they had refused those ambitious flatterers that sued for the charge had geuē it vnto a man that durst boldly franckly tell them the troth Marke how the ROMAINES by yelding vnto reason vertue came to comand all other to make them selues the mightiest people of the world Now that Paulus AEmylius setting forward to this warre had winde at will and fayer passage to bring him at his iorneis ende I impute it to good fortune that so quickly and safely conueyed him to his campe But for the rest of his exploytes he dyd in all this warre when parte of them were performed by his owne hardines other by his wisedome and good counsell other by the diligence of his friendes in seruing him with good will other by his owne resolute constancy and corage in extremest daunger and last by his maruelous skill in determining at an instant what was to be done I cannot attribute any notable acte or worthy seruice vnto this his good fortune they talke of so much as they maye doe in other captaines doings Onles they will saye peraduenture that Perseus couetousnes and miserie was AEmilius good fortune for his miserable feare of spending money was the only cause and destruction of the whole realme of MACEDON which was in good state and hope of continuing in prosperitie For there came downe into the countrie of MACEDON at king Perseus request tenne thousand Bastarnae a horse backe and as many footemen to them who allwayes ioyned with them in battell all mercenary souldiers depending vpon paye and enterteinment of warres as men that could not plowe nor sowe nor trafficke marchandise by sea nor skill of grasing to gaine their liuing with to be shorte that had no other occupation or marchādise but to serue in the warres and to ouercome those with whom they fought Furthermore when they came to incampe lodge in the MEDICA neere to the MACEDONIANS who sawe them so goodly great men and so well trained exercised in handling all kinde of weapons so braue and lustie in wordes and threates against their enemies they beganne to plucke vp their hartes to looke bigge imagining that the ROMAINES would neuer abide them but would be afeard to looke them
Pluto stande in dread that he vvould bravvle in hell although his bones vvere drie and dead on earth he vvas so fell Furthermore touchinge the disposition of his body he was maruelous stronge and lusty and all bicause he did vse to labor and toyle euen from his youth and to liue sparingly as one that was euer brought vp in the warres from his youth so that he was of a very good constitucion both for strength of body as for health also As for vtterance he esteemed it as a seconde body and most necessarie gift not onely to make men honest but also as a thinge very requisite for a man that should beare sway and authoritie in the common wealth He practised to speake well in litle villages neere home whether he went many times to plead mennes causes in courtes iudiciall that would retaine him of counsell so as in shorte time he became a perfect pleader and had tongue at will and in processe of time became an excellent orator After he was thus well knowen they that were familiar with him began to perceiue a graue manner and behauiour in his life and a certaine noble minde in him worthie to be employed in matters of state and great importance and to be called into the common wealth For he did not onely refuse to take fees for his pleading and following the causes he mainteined but furthermore made no reckening of the estimacion he wanne by that manner and practise as though that was not the only marke he shot at But his desire reached further rather to winne him selfe fame by seruice in the warres and by valliant fightinge with his enemie then with such a quiet and pleasing manner of life Insomuch as when he was but a younge striplinge in maner he had many cuttes apon his brest which he had receiued in diuerse battells and encounters against the enemies For he him selfe wryteth that he was but seuenteene yeare old when he went first vnto the warres which was about the time of Hanniballs chiefe prosperitie when he spoyled and destroyed all ITALIE So when he came to fight he would strike lustely and neuer sturre foote nor geue backe and woulde looke cruelly vppon his enemie and threaten him with a fearefull and terrible voyce which he vsed him selfe and wisely taught other also to vse the like for such countenaunces sayed he many times doe feare the enemies more then the sworde ye offer them When he went any iorney he euer marched a foote and caried his armour apon his backe and had a man waytinge on him that caried his vittells with him with whom he was neuer angry as they say for any thing he had prepared for his dinner or supper but did helpe to dresse it him selfe for the most parte if he had any leasure when he had done the duety of a priuate souldier in fortifying the campe or such other nedefull businesse All the while he was abroade in seruice in the warres he neuer drancke other then cleane water vnlesse it were when he founde he was not well and then he woulde take a litle vineger but if he saw he were weake he woulde then drinke a litle wine Now it fortuned that Manius Curius the ROMAINE who had triumphed thrise hadde a prety house and lande hard by Cato where he kept in times past which Cato for a walke would visite oft And he considering how litle lande he had to his house and what a litle house he had withall and how poorely it was built wondered with him selfe what maner of man Curius had bene that hauing bene the greatest man of ROME in his time and hauing subdued the mightiest â—aâ—â—es and people of all ITALIE and driuen kinge Pyrrus also out of the same yet him selfe with his owne handes did manure that litle patche of grounde and dwel in so poore and small a farme Whether notwithstaÌ„ding after his three triumphes the SAMNYTES sent their Ambassadors to visite him who founde him by the fyers side seething of perseneapes and presented him maruelous deale of golde from their state and communalty But Curius returned them againe with their gold and told them that such as were contented with that supper had no neede of gold nor siluer and that for his parte he thought it greater honor to commaunde them that had gold then to haue it him selfe Cato remembring these thinges to him selfe went home againe and beganne to thinke vpon his house of his liuinge of his family and seruauntes and also of his expences and to cut of all superfluous charges and fell him selfe to labor with his owne handes more then euer he hadde done before Furthermore when Fabius Maximus tooke the city of TARENTVM againe Cato serued vnder him being very younge where he fell into familiar acquaintaÌ„ce with Nearchus the PYTHAGORIAN philosopher in whom he tooke maruelous delight to heare him talke of Philosophy Which Nearchus held the same opinion of pleasure that Plato did by callinge it the sweete poyson and chiefest bayte to allure men to ill and saying that the body was the first plague vnto the soule and that her onely health remedy and purgation stoode apon rules of reason good examples and contemplations that driue sinful thoughts and carnall pleasures of the body farre of from her Cato moreouer gaue him selfe much to sobriety and temperaunce and framed him selfe to be contented with litle They say he fell in his very olde age to the study of the Greeke tongue and to reade Greeke bookes and that he profited somwhat by Thucydides but much more by Demosthenes to frame his matter and also to be eloquent Which plainly appeareth in all his bookes and writinges full of authorities examples stories taken out of Greeke authors and many of his sentences and moralls his adages quicke answers are translated out of the same word for word Now there was a noble man of ROME at that time one of great authoritie and a deepe wise man besides who coulde easily discerne buddes of vertue sprowtinge out of any towardly youth who was of a good and honorable disposition to helpe forwarde and to aduaunce such His name was Valerius Flaccus a neere neighboure vnto Cato who was informed by his seruaunts of Catoes straunge life how he would be doing in his ground with his owne hands and how he would be gone euery day betimes in the morning to litle villages thereabout to pleade mens causes that prayed his counsaill that when he had done he would come home againe and if it were in winter that he would but cast a litle coate on his shoulders and being sommer he would go out bare naked to the wast to worke in his ground among his seruaunts and other workemen would besides sit and eate with them together at one borde and drinke as they did Moreouer they told him also a world of such maners facions which he vsed that shewed to be a
Thelesinus had taken ROME Now about midnight came certaine souldeirs from Crassus to Syllaes campe asked for meate for Crassus supper and his mens who hauing chased his flying enemies whom he had ouerthrowen vnto the city of ANTEMNA which they tooke for refuge had lodged his campe there Sylla vnderstaÌ„ding that being aduertised that the most parte of his enemies were ouerthrowen at this battell went him selfe the next morning betimes vnto ANTEMNA where three thowsand of his enemies sent to know if he would receiue them to mercy if they yelded them selues vnto him His aunswer was that he would pardon their liues so as they would do some mischiefe to their fellowes before they came to him These three thowsand hereupon trusting to his promise fell apon their companions and for the most parte one of them killed an other NotwithstaÌ„ding Sylla hauing gathered all those together that remained of his enemies as wel the three thowsand as the rest amouÌ„ting in all to the number of six thowsand men within the show place where they vsed to run their horses whilest he him self held a counsell in the teÌ„ple of the goddesse Bellona was making his oratioÌ„ there he had appointed certeÌ„ to set vpoÌ„ those six thowsand put them to the sword euery man Great and terrible were the cries of such a number of men slaine in so small a roome as many may easily coniecture insomuch as the Senators sitting in counsell heard them very easily and marueled what the matter was But Sylla continuing on his oration which he had begon with a set steady countenance without chauÌ„ging of colour willed theÌ„ only to hearken what he sayd not to trouble them selues with any thing done abroade for they were but certen offenders lewd persons that were punished by his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t This was enough to shew the simplest ROMANE in ROME that they had but only chaunged the tryan but not the tyranny Now for Marius had bene euer of a churlish seuere nature euen from his childhood he neuer chauÌ„ged for any authority but did rather hardeÌ„ his natural stubbornes Where Sylla coÌ„trarily in the beginning was very modest ciuill in all his prosperity gaue great good hope that if he came to the authority of a prince he would fauor nobility wel yet loue notwithstanding the benefit of the people And being moreouer a man in his youth geueÌ„ all to pleasure deliting to laugh ready to pity weepe for tender hart in that he became after so cruell bloody the great alteracioÌ„ gaue manifest cause to condemne the increase of honor authority as thonly meanes wherby mens maners continue not such as they were at the first but still do chaunge vary making some fooles others vaine fantasticall others extreame cruel vnnaturall But whether that alteracion of nature came by chaunging his state condicion or that it was otherwise a violent breaking out of hidden malice which then came to shewe it selfe when they way of liberty was layed open this matter is to be decided in some other treatise So it came to passe that Sylla fell to sheading of blood filled all ROME with infinite vnspeakable murthers for diuerse were killed for priuate quarrels that had nothing to do with Sylla at any time who suffered his frends those about him to worke their wicked wills Vntil at the length there was a young man called Caius Metellus that was so bold to aske Sylla in open Senate when all these miseries should end and when they should know that all the mischieues were finished the which they dayly sawe For said he we will not intreate you to pardoÌ„ life where you haue threatned death but only to put theÌ„ out of dout whom you haue determined to saue Whereunto Sylla made aunswer that he was not resolued whom he would saue Metellus replied theÌ„ tell vs quod be who they are that shall dye Sylla aunswered he would Howbiet some say it was not Metellus but Aufidius one of his flatterers that spake this last word vnto him Wherefore Sylla immediatly without making any of the magistrats priuy caused foure score mens names to be set vp vpon postes whom he would put to death Euery maÌ„ being offeÌ„ded withal the next day following he set vp two hundred twenty mens names more likewise the third day as many more Hereupon making an oration to the people he told theÌ„ openly that he had appointed all them to dye that he could call to remeÌ„braunce howbiet that hereafter he would appoint them that should dye by daies as he did call them to minde Whosoeuer saued an outlaw in his house for reward of his kindnes he himselfe was condeÌ„ned to dye not excepting theÌ„ that had receiued their brothers their sonnes their fathers nor mothers And the reward of euery homycide murtherer that killed one of the outlawes was two talentes though it were a slaue that had killed his master on the sonne that had slaine the father But the most wicked vniust act of all was that he depriued the sonnes sonnes sonnes of them whom he had killed of all credit good name besides that had takeÌ„ all their goods as coÌ„fiscate And this was not only done in ROME but also in al the cities of ITALIE through out there was no reÌ„ple of any god whatsoeuer no aulter in any bodies house no liberty of hospital nor fathers house that was not embrued with blood horrible murder For the husbaÌ„ds were slaine in their wiues armes the childreÌ„ in their mothers laps and yet they which were slaine for priuate hatred malice were nothing in respect of those that were murdered only for their goods And they that killed them might well say his goodly great house made that man dye his goodly fayer garden the other and his hotte batheâ—â— other As amongest others Quintus Aurelius a man that neuer medled with any thinge and least looked that these euills should light vpon him and that only pitied those which he sawe so miserably murdered went one day into the market place and reading the bill set vp of the outlawes names found his owne name amongest the rest and cried outalowde alas the day that euer I was borne my house of ALEA maketh me to be put to death He went not fawe from the market place but met with one that killed him presently In the meane time Mariâ—â— the younger seeing he could by no meanes escape if he were taken slue him selfe And Sylla comming to PRAENESTE did first execute them by one and by one keeping a certaine forme of iustice in putting them to death but afterwardes as if he had no lenger leasure to remaine there he caused them all to be put in a place together to the number of twelue thowsandâ— men whom he caused to be put to the sword euery man sauing his host only vnto whom he sayd
he had not that shamefast modestie and lenitie which the other had but somewhat more sturring of nature and readier to put any good matter in execution So he thought it greate honestie to bringe the Citizens if he could to be contented to liue after an honest sorte but contrarily he thought it no dishonestie to bringe them vnto good life by compulsion also Furthermore the manners of the Citizens of SPARTA giuing them selues ouer to idlenes and pleasure did nothing like him at all neither that the king did suffer the common wealth to be ruled as they listed so no man impeached his pleasure and that they did let him alone insomuch no man regarding the profit of the common wealth euery man was for him self and his familie And contrarily it was not lawfull for any man to speake for the exercises of the youth for their education in temperancie and for the restoring a gaine of equality of life the preferment whereof was the only cause of the late death of Agis They say also that Cleomenes being a young stripling had heard some disputacion of Philosophie when the Philosopher Sphaerus of the contry of BORYSTHENES came to LACEDAEMON and louingly stayed there to teache younge men and children He was one of the chiefest schollers of Zenon CITIAN and delighted as it seemed in Cleomenes noble minde and had a great desire to pricke him forward vnto honor For as it is reported that the auncient Leonidas beeing demaunded what Poet he thought Tyrtaeus to be aunswered he was good to flatter younge mens myndes for he sette their hartes a fire by his verses when they beganne to fight any battell fearing no daunger they were so incoraged by them So the Stoicke discipline is somewhat daungerous for the stowte and valiant myndes which otherwise doth make them desperate but when they are ioyned vnto a graue and gentle nature first it lyfteth vp his hart and then maketh him taste the profit thereof Nowe Leonidas the father of Cleomenes beeing deceased and he him selfe comen vnto the crowne finding that the Citizens of SPARTA at that tyme were very dissolute that the riche men followed their pleasure and profit taking no care of the common weale that the poore men also for very want and neede went with no good life and courage to the warres nether cared for the bringing vp of their children and that he him selfe had but the name of a king and the Ephori the absolute authoritie to doe what they listed at his first comming to his kingdome he determined to alter the whole state and gouernment of the common wealth Who hauing a friend called Xenares that had beene his louer in his youth which the LACEDAEMONIANS called Empnistae as much as inspired he beganne to sownd his opinion asking what maner of man king Agis had bene and by what reason and whose aduise he had followed in his attempt for the reformation of the common wealth Xenares at the first did not willingly rehearse these things vnto him declaring euery thing what had passed But when he found that Cleomenes was affected vnto king Agis intent still desired to heare of it then Xenares sharply and angrily reproued him and tolde him he was not wise nor well aduised and at length would no more come and talke with him as he was wont yet making no man priuye why he absteyned from comming to him but told them that asked him he knewe a cause well enough why Xenares nowe hauing thus refused him and thinking all the rest woulde doe the like to bringe this matter to passe he tooke this resolution with him selfe Bicause he thought he might the rather doe it in warre then in peace he set the citie of SPARTA and the ACHAIANS at variance together who did them selues giue the first occasion to be complayned vppon For Aratus beeing President and chiefe of all the ACHAIANS had practised a longe tyme to bringe all PELOPONNESVS into one bodye and had therefore onely susteyned great troubles in warres and at home in peace thinking that there was no other waye to deliuer them from forreyne warres Nowe when he had wonne all the other people to be of his opinion there remained no more but the ELIANS the LACEDAEMONIANS and a few of the ARCHADIANS which were subiect vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS When king Leonidas was deade Aratus beganne to inuade the ARCHADIANS those specially that bordered apon the ARGIVES to proue how the LACEDAEMONIANS would take it making no accompt of Cleomenes being but a young king had no experience of warres Thereuppon the Ephori sent Cleomenes vnto ATHAENIVM a temple of Minerua hard by the citie of BELBINA with an armie to take it bicause it was a passage entry into the contry of LACONIA howbeit the place at that time was in question betwixt the MEGALOPOLITANES and the LACEDAEMONIANS Cleomenes got it and fortefied it Aratus making no complaint otherwise of the matter stale out one night with his army to set apon the TEGEANS and ORCHOMENIANS hoping to haue taken those cities by treason But the traitors that were of his confederacy their harts failed them when they should haue gonne about it so that Aratus returned hauing lost his iorney thinking that this secret attempt of his was not discouered But Cleomenes finely wrote vnto him as his friend and asked him whether he had led his armie by night Aratus returned aunswer againe that vnderstanding Cleomenes ment to fortifie BELBINA he went forth with his armye thinking to haue let him Cleomenes wrote againe vnto him and said he did beleeue that which he spake was true howbeit he earnestly requested him if it were no trouble to him to aduertise him why he brought schaling ladders and lightes after him Aratus smiling at this mocke asked what this young man was Democritus LACEDAEMONIAN being a banished man out of his cōtry aunswered if thou hast any thing to doe against the LACEDAEMONIANS thou hadst neede make haste before this young Cockerel haue on his spurres Then Cleomenes being in the field in the contry of ARCHADIA with a few horsemen and three hundred footemen onely the Ephori being affraid of warres sent for him to returne againe His backe was no sooner turned obeying their commaundement but Aratus sodainly tooke the citie of CAPHYES Thereuppon the Ephori incontinently sent Cleomenes backe againe with his armie who tooke the fort of Methydrium and burnt the borders of the ARGIVES The ACHAIANS came against him with an army of twenty thowsand footemen and a thowsand horsemen led by Aristomachus Cleomenes met with them by the city of PALANTIVM and offred battell But Aratus quaking at the hardines of this young man would not suffer Aristomachus to hazard battell but went his way derided by the ACHAIANS and despised by the LACEDAEMONIANS who in all were not aboue fiue thowsand fighting men Cleomenes corage beeing now lift vp and brauely speaking to his citizens he remembred them of a saying of one of
alwayes at iarre but yet coldly enough one of them taking heede of an other vntill that the young Caesar returning from the citie of APOLLONIA came as lawfull heire vnto Iulius Caesar Dictator and had contencion with Antonius for the summe of two thowsande fiue hundred Myriades the which Antonius kept in his handes of his fathers goodes Thereuppon Philip who had maried the mother of this young Caesar and Marcellus who had also maried his sister went with young Caesar vnto Cicero and there agreed together that Cicero should helpe young Caesar with the fauour of his authoritie and eloquence as well towardes the Senate as also to the people and that Caesar in recompence of his good will should stande by Cicero with his money and souldiers For this young Caesar had many of his fathers old souldiers about him that had serued vnder him Now there was an other cause that made Cicero glad to imbrace the frendshippe of this young Caesar and that was this Whilest Pompey and Iulius Caesar were aliue and in good case Cicero dreamed one night that the Senators sonnes were called into the Capitoll bicause Iupiter had appointed to shew them him that one day should come to be Lord and king of ROME and that the ROMANES being desirous to see who it should be ranne all vnto the temple and that all the children likewise were waiting there in their goodly garded gownes of purple vntill that sodainly the dores of the temple were open then that al the children rose one after an other went and passed by the image of Iupiter who looked vpon them all and sent them discontented sauing this young Caesar vnto whom he put foorth his hand as he passed by and sayd My Lordes of ROME this childe is he that shall end all your ciuill warres when he commeth to be Lord of ROME Some say that Cicero had this vision in his dreame and that he caried in good memory the looke of this child howbeit that he knew him not and that the next morning he went of purpose into the fielde of Mars where these young boyes did exercise them selues who when he came thither had broken vp from playing and were going home and that amongest them he first saw him whom he had dreamed of and knew him verie well and musing at him the more asked him whose sonne he was The boy aunswered that he was the sonne of one Octauius a man otherwise of no great calling of Accia the sister of Iulius Caesar who hauing no childe made him his heire by his last will and testament and left him all his landes and goodes After that time it is reported that Cicero was verie glad to speake to him when he met with him and that the boy also liked Ciceroes frendshippe and making of him for by good happe the boy was borne the same yeare that Cicero was Consul And these be the reasons alleaged why Cicero did fauor this young Caesar. But in truth first of all the great malice he bare vnto Antonius and secondly his nature that was ambitious of honor were in my opinion the chiefest causes why he became young Caesars frend knowing that the force and power of his souldiers would greatly strengthen his authority and countenance in manedging the affaires of the state besides that the young man coulde flatter him so well that he called him father But Brutus being offended with him for it in his Epistells he wrote vnto Atticus he sharply reproueth Cicero saying that for feare of Antonius he flattered this young Caesar whereby it appeared he did not so much seeke for the libertie of ROME as he did procure him selfe a louing and gentle maister This notwithstanding Brutus brought with him Ciceroes sonne that studied Philosophie at ATHENS and gaue him charge of men vnder him and imployed him in great affaires wherein he shewed him selfe verie forward and valliant Now Ciceroes authoritie and power grew againe to be so great in ROME as euer it was before For he did what he thought good and so vexed Antonius that he draue him out of the citie and sent the two Consuls Hircius and Pansa against him to fight with him and caused the Senate also to decree that young Caesar should haue sergeaunts to carie roddes and axes before him and all other furniture for a Praetor as a man that fighteth for his contry After that Antonius had lost the battell and that both the Consuls were slaine both the armies came vnto Caesar. The Senate then being affraied of this young man that had so great good fortune they practised by honors and gifts to call the armies from him which he had about him and so to minish the greatnes of his power saying that their contrie now stoode in no neede of force nor feare of defence sith her enemie Antonius was fled and gone Caesar fearing this sent men secretly vnto Cicero to pray him to procure that they two together might be chosen Consuls and that when they should be in office he should doe and appoint what he thought good hauing the young man at his commaundement who desired no more but the honor only of the name Caesar him selfe confessed afterwardes that being affrayed he should haue bene vtterly cast away to haue bene left alone he finely serued his turne by Ciceroes ambition hauing perswaded him to require the Consulship through the helpe and assistance that he would geue him But there was Cicero finely colted as old as he was by a young man when he was contented to sue for the Consulship in his behalfe and to make the Senate agreable to it wherefore his frendes presently reproued him for it and shortly after he perceiued he had vndone him selfe and together also lost the libertie of his contrie For this young man Octauius Caesar being growen to be verie great by his meanes and procurement when he saw that he had the Consulshippe vpon him he forsooke Cicero and agreed with Antonius and Lepidus Then ioyning his armie with theirs he deuided the Empire of ROME with them as if it had bene lands left in common betwene them and besides that there was a bill made of two hundred men and vpwards whom they had appointed to be slaine But the greatest difficultie and difference that fell out betwene them was about the outlawing of Cicero For Antonius woulde hearken to no peace betwene them vnlesse Cicero were slaine first of all Lepidus was also in the same mind with Antonius but Caesar was against them both Their meeting was by the citie of BOLONIA where they continued three dayes together they three only secretly consulting in a place enuironned about with a litle riuer Some say that Caesar stuck hard with Cicero the two first dayes but at the third that he yeelded and forsooke him The exchaunge they agreed vpon betwene them was this Caesar forsooke Cicero Lepidus his owne brother Paulus and Antonius Lucius Caesar
but much like as one should geue some easie medicine to purge an ouerthrowen bodye with all humours and disseases Therefore he thought first that all grosse superfluous humours were meete to be dissolued purged and then afterwardes to geue them a new forme and order of gouernment When he had thus determined with him self before he would take in haÌ„d to doe any thing he went to the citty of DELPHES where after he had sacrificed to Apollo he coÌ„sulted with him about his matters From whom he returned withthis glorious title by the oracle of Pythia ô beloued of the goddes and rather god then man Where when he craued grace of Apollo to establishe good lawes in his countrie it was aunswered him that Apollo graunted his petition and that he should ordaine the best and perfectest manner of a Common wealth that euer had or should be in the worlde This aunswer dyd comforte him very much so he beganne to breake his purpose to certen of the chief of the cittie secretly to praye exhorte them to helped him going first to those he knew to be his friends after by litle litle he wanne others to him who ioyned with him in his enterprise So when he saw the time fit for the matter he caused thirtie of the chiefest men of the cittie in a morning to come into the market place well appointed furnished to suppresse those that would atteÌ„pt to hinder their purpose Hermippus the historiographer rehearseth twentie of the chiefest but he that aboue all others dyd most assist him in his doings was the greatest ayde vnto the stablishing of his lawes was called Arithmiadas The king Charilaus hearing of this assembly dyd feare there had bene some conspiracie or insurrection against his person for his safety he fled into the temple of Iuno called Chalceoecos as much to saye as Iunos brasen teÌ„ple Howbeit afterwards when he knew the trothe he waxed bolde came out of the temple againe he him self fauored the enterpriso being a prince of a noble minde howbeit very soft by nature as witnesseth Archelaus that was then the other king of LACEDAEMON by telling how Charilaus aunswered one that praised him to his face in saying he was a good man And how should I not ê™ he be good when I cannot be euill to the euill In this chauÌ„ge of the state many things were altered by Lycurgus but his chiefest alteration was his lawe of the erection of a Senate which he made to haue a regall power equall authoritie with the Kings in matters of weight importance was as Plato sayeth to be the healthfull counterpease of the whole bodye of the CoÌ„mon weale The other state before was euer wauering somtime inclining to tyraÌ„nie when the Kings were to mightie somtime to coÌ„fusion when the people would vsurpe authoritie Lycurgus therfore placed betwene the Kings the people a counsaill of Senatours which was as a stronge beame that helde bothe these extreames in an euen ballance gaue sure footing ground to either parte to make strong the state of the comon weale For the eight twenty Senatours which made the whole bodye of the Senate tooke somtime the Kings parte when it by as nodefull so pull downe the furie of the people and contrarilie they held sometimes with the people against the Kings to bridle their tyrannicall gouernment Aristotle sayeth he ordeined the number of Senatours to be but eight and twenty bicause two of thirtie that ioyned with him a fore dyd for feare forsake him at his enterprise Howbeit Spharus writeth that from the beginning he neuer purposed to haue more then eight and twenty to be the Senate And perhappâ—s he had great regard to make it a perfect number considering it is compounded of the number of seuen multiplied by foure and is the first perfect number next to sixe being equall to all partes gathered together But as for me my opinion is he chose this number rather then any other bicause he ment the whole bodye of the counsaill should be but thing persones adding to that number the two Kinges Lycurgus tooke so great care to establishe well this counsell that he brought an oracle for it from Apolloes temple in DELPHES This oracle is called vnto this daye Retra as who would saye the statute oracle whereof the aunswer was When thou haft built a temple vnto Iupiter the Syllanian and to Manerus the Syllanian and deuided the people into lineages thou shalt stablishe a Senate of thirtie counsellers with the two Kings shalt assemble the people at times conuenient in the place betweene the bridge and the riuer Cnacion There the Senatours shall propound all matters and breake vp after their assemblies and it shall not be lawfull for the people to speake one worde In those dayes the people were euer assembled betweene two riuers for there was no hall to assemble a counsaill at large nor any other place prepared for them For Lycurgus thought no buylded place meete for men to geue good counsaill in or to determine causes but rather a hinderance bicause in such places men be drawen to muse on vaine things and their mindes be caried awaye with beholding the images tables and pictures comonly set vp for ornameÌ„t in such open places And if it be in a Theater then beholding the place where the playes and sportes be made they thincke more of them then any counsaill Againe if it be in a great hall then of the fayer embowed or vawted roofes or of the fretised feelings curiously wrought and sumptuously set forth and tend not still their busines they come for When the people were assembled in counsaill it was not lawfull for any of them to put forth matters to the counsell to be determined neither might any of them deliuer his opinion what he thought of any thinge but the people had onely authoritie to geue their assent if they thought good to the things propounded by the Senatours or the two Kings Howbeit afterwardes the two Kings Polydorus and Theopomous bicause the people dyd many times crosse and alter the determination of the Senate by taking away or adding some thing to it they dyd adde those wordes to the oracle aforesaid That if the people would not assent to any ordinaunce of the Senate then should it be lawfull for the Kings and Senate to breake vp the counsell and to frustrate all things done in the same the wise aduise of the Senate being encountered thus their meaning to the best so peruerted to the worse These two Kings persuaded the people that at the very first this addition came with the oracle of Apollo as the poet Tyrtaeus maketh mention in the place where he sayeth From Delphos I le this oracle is brought of Pythia into their country soyle The Kings euen they to vvhom of right there ought a louing care in princely breasts to boyle the Spartane vvealthe to
to GREECE not reuolted to the MEDES Afterwards the GRECIANS coming frō thence without any acte done and the THESSALIANS also being wonne somewhat on the Kings side for that all the whole country vnto BOEOTIA was at the deuotion goodwill of the barbarous people then the ATHENIANS beganne to finde howe Themistocles opinion to fight by sea was very good Wherupon they sent him with their nauie to the cittie of ARTEMISIVN to kepe the straight There the other GRECIANS would haue had the LACEDAEMONIANS their admirall Eurybiades to haue had the authoritie cōmaundement of the rest But the ATHENIANS would not set sayle vnder any other admirall then their own bicause theirs were the greatest number of shippes in the armie aboue all the other GRECIANS Themistocles foreseing the daunger that was likely to fall out amongest them selues dyd willingly yelde the whole authoritie vnto Eurybiades got the ATHENIANS to agree vnto it assuring them that if they behaued them selues valliātly in these warres the other GREECIANS of their own accorde would afterwards submit them selues vnto their obedience Hereby it appeareth that he only of all other was at that time the originall cause of the sauing of GREECE dyd most aduaunce the honour and glorie of the ATHENIANS by making them to ouercome their enemies by force their friēds allies with liberalitie In the meane time Eurybiades seing the barbarous flete riding atanker all alongest the I le of APHETES with such a great nūber of shippes in the vaward he begāne to be affrayed And vnderstāding moreouer there were other 200. sayle that wēt to cast about the I le of SCIATHE so to come in he presently would haue retired further into GREECE would haue drawē neerer vnto PELOPONNESVS to the end their army by sea might be neare their army by lāde as thinking it vnpossible to fight with king Xerxes power by sea Whereupō the inhabitants of the I le of EVBOEA fearing least the GRECIANS would to the spoyle of the enemy they caused Themistocles secretly to be spokē with all sent him a good some of money by one called Pelagon Themistocles tooke the money as Herodotus writeth gaue it to Eurybiades But there was one Architeles amōgest the ATHENIANS captaine of the galley called the holy galley that was much against Themistocles intended purpose who hauing no money to paye his mariners dyd what he could that they might departe with speede from thence Themistocles sturred vp then his souldiers more against him then before insomuch as they wēt aborde his galley tooke his supper from him Architeles being maruelous angrie offēded withall Themistocles sent him both bread meat in a pānier in the bottome thereof he had put a talent of siluer bidding him for that night to suppe with that and the next morning he should prouide for his mariners or els he would cōplaine accuse him to the cittizēs that he had takē money of the enemies Thus it is writtē by Phanias Lesbiā Moreouer these first fights in the straite of EVBOEA betweene the GREECIANS the barbarous people were nothing to purpose to end the warres betwene them For it was but a taste geuē vnto them which serued the GREECIANS turne very much by making them to see by experiēce the manner of the fight that it was not the great multitude of shippes nor the pōpe sumptuous setting out of the same nor the prowde barbarous showts songes of victorie that could stande them to purpose against noble harts valliāt minded souldiers that durst grapple with them come to hands strokes with their enemies that they should make no reckoning of all that brauery bragges but should sticke to it like men laye it on the iacks of them The which as it seemeth the poet Pindarus vnderstoode very well when he sayed touching the battell of ARTEMISIVM The stovvte Athenians haue novve foundation layed vnto the libertie of Greece by thes assaults assayed For out of doubt the beginning of victorie is to be hardie This place ARTEMISIVM is a parte of the I le of EVBOEA looking towards the North aboue the cittie of ESTIAEA lying directly ouer against the country which somtimes was vnder the obedience of the PHILOCTETES and specially of the cittie of OLIZON There is a litle temple of Diana surnamed Orienta 〈…〉 ound about the which there are trees and a compasse of pillers of white stone which when a man rubbes with his hande they shewe of the culler and sauour of safferne And in one of those pillers there is an inscription of lamentable verses to this effect VVhen boldest bloods of Athens by their might had ouercome the numbers infinite of Asia they then in memorie of all their dedes and valliant victorie beganne to builde this noble monument and to Diane the same they dyd present for that they had the Medes likevvise subdued vvith their bloud their hardy hands embrued There is a place seene also vpon that coast at this daye a good waye into the lande in the middest whereof are great sands full of blacke dust as ashes and they thincke that they burnt in that place all dead bodies and olde shippwracks Newes being brought what had bene done in the countrie of THERMOPYLES how that king Leonidas was dead and how that Xerxes had wonne that entry into GREECE by lande the GREECIANS then brought their whole army by sea more into GREECE the ATHENIANS being in the rereward in this retire as mē whose hartes were lifte vp with the glorie of their former valliant dedes Nowe Themistocles passing by those places where he knewe the enemies must of necessitie fall vpon the lee shore for harborow he dyd ingraue certen wordes spoken vnto the IONIANS in great letters in stone which he founde there by chaunce or purposely brought thither for that purpose where there was very good harber for shippes and fit places also to lye in These were the wordes that the IONIANS should take the GREECIANS partes being their founders and auncesters such as fought for their libertie or at the least they should trouble the armie of the barbarous people doe them all the mischief they could when the GREECIANS should come to fight with them By these words he hoped either to bring the IONIANS to take their parte or at the least he should make the barbarous people iealous mistrustfull of them Xerxes being already entred in the vppermost parte of the prouince of DORICA into the countrie of PHOCIDA burning destroying the townes citties of the PHOCIANS the other GREECIANS laye still suffered the inuasion notwithstanding the ATHENIANS did request them to mete with the barbarous armie in BOEOTIA to saue the countrie of ATTICA as before they had done when they wēt by sea to ARTEMISIVM But they would not hearkē to it in no wise all was bicause they were desirous they should drawe to the straite of
Senate in the ende turned ouer the ordering of the matter vnto the whole will and iudgment of the people before whom these priestes Faciales dyd also accuse Fabius Ambustus The people made so litle accōpt of their propounded religion honour of the godds in that case that in stede of deliuering of this Fabius vnto the enemy they dyd choose him for one of the Tribunes of the souldiers with his brothers The GAVLES vnderstanding this were so furious angrie thereat that they would no lenger linger their iourneis but marched with all spede vnto ROME The people that dwelt by the high wayes where they should passe by were maruelously affrayed to see the multitude of them their braue vniuersall furniture beginning to doubt the furie of their rage they imagined first of all that they would destroye all the chāpion country before them afterwardes would take all the strong citties They cōtrariwise dyd take nothing at all out of the fieldes neither dyd any hurte or displeasure vnto any bodie but passing by their citties cried out they went to ROME and would haue no warres but with the ROMAINES and howe otherwise they desired to be friendes with all the worlde These barbarous people marching on in this wise towards ROME the Tribunes of the souldiers brought their army to the field to encounter them They were no lesse in number then the GAVLES for they were fourty thousand footemen Howbeit most part of them were rawe souldiers that had neuer serued in the warres before They were very careles of the goddes dissolute in matters of religion for they passed neither for good signes in their sacrifices neither to aske coūsaill of their soothesayers which the ROMAINES were religiously wont to doe before they gaue any battaill To make the matter worse the number of the captaines hauing power and authoritie alike dyd asmuche or more then the rest disorder and confounde their doings For ofte times before in farre lesser matters and daungers then these they dyd vse to chuse speciall officers that had sole soueraine authoritie which they called Dictators knowing very well of how great importance it is in daungerous times to haue but one head generall to cōmaund all to haue supreme authoritie of iustice in his hands not to be bound to deliuer accōpt of his doings to any The iniury also which they had to vngratefully done to Camillus brought great mischief incōueniēce then vpon them For the captaines after him durst no more commaunde the people roughly but euer after dyd flatter them much When their army was nowe brought into the field they encamped them selues by a litle riuer called Allia about the eleuēth stone from ROME and not farre from the place where the same riuer falleth into Tyber Thither came the barbarous army to them who ouerthrew them in battell by their disorder lacke of gouernment For the left pointe or winge of their battell was broken of at the first by the GAVLES who charged them so furiously that they draue them hedlōg into the riuer The right wing then retiring out of the plain before they had any charge geuē hauing gotten certen hilles hard by them they had litle hurte most of them sauing them selues did recouer ROME again The rest that escaped after the enemies were weary of killing fled by night vnto the cittie of VEIES thinking ROME had bene lost all the cittie put to the sword This ouerthrowe was on the lōgest daye in sommer the moone being at the full the daye before fortuned the great slaughter of the Fabians of the which were slaine by the THVSCANS in one daye 300. all of a name The very daye it self was afterwards called Alliade of the name of the litle riuer by the which the 2. ouerthrow was geuen But for the differēce of dayes that some of thē are naturally vnfortunate or that Heraclitus the philosopher had reason to reproue the poet Hesiodus for makīg some days good some dayes ill as though he vnderstood they were not all of one nature we haue writtē declared our opinion therof in other places Yet bicause the matter deliuereth present occasiō to speake of the same peraduēture it wil not be amisse to alleage a few exāples of it only It fortuned the BOEOTIANS on a time to wīne two honorable victories on the first daye of the moneth they call Hippodromus and which the ATHENIANS call Hecatombaeon that is now the moneth of Iune by either of the which they did still restore the GRECIANS to their libertie The first was the battell of LEVCTRES The secōd was the battell of GERASTE which was two hūdred yeres before when they ouercame LATTAMIAS the THESSALIANS in battell The PERSIANS contrarily were ouercome in battail by the GRECIANS the sixt daye of August at the iorney of MARATHON The third day at the battell of PLATEES And on the selfe same daye neere vnto MYCALA On the fiue and twenty daye at the fight of ARBELES the ATHENIANS wanne the battell by sea neere vnto I le of NAXOS vnder the charge and gouernment of Chabrias about the full of the moone in the moneth of August And on the twenty of the same moneth they wanne the battell of SALAMINA as we haue written more amplie in our historie of difference of dayes The moneth of Aprill also brought to the barbarous people many notable losses For Alexander the great ouercame the generall of the king of PERSIA at the fielde of GRANICA in the sayed moneth The CARTHAGINIANS also were vanquished in SICILE by Timoleon on the seuen twenty daye thereof On which daye also it is thought the cittie of TROYE was taken as Ephorus Callisthenes Damastes and Phylarchus haue written in their histories Nowe contrariwise The moneth of Iulye which the BOEOTIANS call Panemus hath not bene gratious to the GRECIANS For on the seuen daye of the same they were ouerthrowen by Antipater at the battell of CRANON which was their vtter destruction They had before also lost a battell the same moneth neere vnto the cittie of CHAERONEA by king Phillippe On the same daye also and in the very self moneth and yere those which came into ITALIE with king Archidamus were slaine euery one of them by the barbarous people of the coūtry The CARTHAGINIANS also feare the seuen twenty daye of the same moneth as the daye which had before time brought them into many great and sorowfull calamities Contrarilie also I knowe very well how about the feast of mysteries the cittie of THEBES was destroyed by Alexander that the ATHENIANS were compelled to receyue a garrison of souldiers into their cittie about the twenty daye of August at which time they made the holie procession of the mysteries of Iacchus And on the self day the ROMAINES lost their armie their generall Capeio who was slaine by the CIMBRES And how afterwards vnder the leading of Lucullus they
he had sayed doing lesse hurte to Cimon then any other of his accusers How is Idomeneus to be credited nowe who accuseth Pericles that he had caused the orator Ephialtes to be slaine by treason that was his friende and dyd alwayes counsell him and take his parte in all kinde of gouernment of the common weale only for the iealousie and enuie he dyd beare to his glorie I can but muse why Idomeneus should speake so slaunderously against Pericles vnles it were that his melancholy humour procured suche violent speache who though peraduenture he was not altogether blameles yet he was euer nobly-minded and had a naturall desire of honour in which kinde of men such furious cruell passions are seldome seene to breede But this orator Ephialtes being cruell to those that tooke parte with the Nobilitie bicause he would spare nor pardone no man for any offence whatsoeuer committed against the peoples authoritie but dyd followe and persecute them with all rigour to the vttermost his enemies layed waite for him by meanes of one Aristodicus TANAGRIAN and they killed him by treason as Aristotle writeth In the meane time Cimon dyed in the I le of CYPRVS being generall of the armie of the ATHENIANS by sea Wherefore those that tooke parte with the Nobilitie seeing Pericles was nowe growen very great and that he went before all other citizens of ATHENS thincking it good to haue some one to sticke on their side against him and to lessen thereby somewhat his authoritie that he might not come to rule all as he would they raised vp against him one Thucydides of the towne of ALODECIA a graue wise man and father in lawe to Cimon This Thucydides had lesse skill of warres then Cimon but vnderstoode more in ciuill gouernment then he for that he remained most parte of his time within the cittie where continually inuaying against Pericles in his pulpit for orations to the people in shorte time he had stirred vp a like companie against the faction of Pericles For he kept the gentlemen and richer sorte which they call Nobilitie from mingling with the common people as they were before when through the multitude of the commnons their estate and dignitie was abscured and troden vnderfoote Moreouer he dyd separate them from the people and dyd assemble them all as it were into one bodie who came to be of equall power with the other faction and dyd put as a man will saye a counterpease into the ballance For at the beginning there was but a litle secret grudge only betwene these two factions as an artificiall flower set in the blade of a sworde which made those shewe a litle that dyd leane vnto the people and the other also somwhat that fauored the Nobilitie But the contention betwene these two persones was as a deepe cut which deuided the cittie wholy in two factions of the which the one was called the Nobilitie and the other the communaltie Therefore Pericles geuing yet more libertie vnto the people dyd all things that might be to please them ordeining continuall playes and games in the cittie many feastes banckets and open pastimes to entertaine the commons with suche honest pleasures and deuises and besides all this he sent yerely an armie of three score gallyes vnto the warres into the which he put a great number of poore cittizens that tooke paye of the state for nine moneths of the yere and thereby they dyd learne together and practise to be good sea men Furthermore he sent into the countrie of CHERRONESVS a thousand free men of the cittie to dwell there and to deuide the landes amongest them fiue hundred also into the I le of NAXOS into the I le of ANDROS two hundred fiftie into THRACIA a thousand to dwell with the BISALTES other also into ITALIE when the cittie of SYBARIS was built againe which afterwardes was surnamed the cittie of the THVRIANS All this he dyd to ryd the cittie of a number of idle people who through idlenes beganne to be curious and to desire chaunge of things as also to prouide for the necessitie of the poore townes men that had nothing For placing the naturall citizens of ATHENS neere vnto their subiects and friendes they serued as a garrison to keepe them vnder and dyd suppresse them also from attempting any alteration or chaunge But that which deliteth most and is the greatest ornament vnto the cittie of ATHENS which maketh straungers most to wonder and which alone doth bring sufficient testimonie to confirme that which is reported of the auncient power riches and great wealthe of GRECE to be true and not false are the stately and sumptuous buildings which Pericles made to be built in the cittie of ATHENS For it is the only acte of all other Pericles dyd and which made his enemies most to spight him and which they most accused him for crying out vpon him in all counsailles assemblies that the people of ATHENS were opēly defamed for carying awaye the ready money of all GRECE which was left in the I le of DELOS to be safely kept there And although they could with good honestie haue excused this facte saying that Pericles had taken it from them for feare of the barbarous people to the ende to laye it vp in a more stronger place where it should be in better safetie yet was this to ouer-great an iniurie offered vnto all the rest of GRECE and to manifest a token of tyrannie also to beholde before their eyes howe we doe employe the money which they were inforced to gather for the maintenaunce of the warres against the barbarous people in gilding building and setting forth our cittie like a glorious woman all to be gawded with golde and precious stones and howe we doe make images and build vp temples of wonderfull infinite charge Pericles replied to the contrarie and declared vnto the ATHENIANS that they were not bounde to make any accompt of this money vnto their friendes and allies considering that they fought for their safety that they kept the barbarous people farre from GRECE without troubling them to set out any one man horse or shippe of theirs the money only excepted which is no more theirs that payed it then theirs that receyued it so they bestowe it to that vse they receyued it for And their cittie being already very well furnished and prouided of all things necessary for the warres it was good reason they should employe and bestowe the surplus of the treasure in things which in time to come and being throughly finished would make their fame eternall Moreouer he sayed that whilest they continue building they should be presently riche by reason of the diuersitie of workes of all sortes and other things which they should haue neede of and to compasse these things the better and to set them in hande all manner of artificers and worke men that would labour should be set a worke So should all the townes men
the prisoners taken of either side For it was articled betweene them that they should chaunge prisoners deliuering man for man or els two hundred and fiftie siluer drachmas for a man if the one chaunced to haue moe prisoners then the other When exchaunge was made betweene them it appeared that Hannibal had left in his handes of ROMAINE prisoners two hundred and fortie moe then Fabius had to exchaunge of his The Senate cōmaunded there should be no money sent to redeeme them and greatly founde faulte with Fabius for making this accorde bicause it was neither honorable nor profitable for the common weale to redeeme men that cowardly suffered them selues to be taken prisoners of their enemies Fabius vnderstanding it dyd paciently beare this displeasure conceyued against him by the Senate Howbeit hauing no money and meaning to keepe his worde and not to leaue the poore citizens prisoners behinde him he sent his sonne to ROME with commission to sell his landes and to bring him money immediatly The young man went his waye to ROME and sold his fathers farmes and brought him money forthwith to the campe Fabius therewith redeemed the prisoners and sent their ransome vnto Hannibal Many of the prisoners whom he had redeemed offred to repaye him their ransome but he would neuer take any thing againe and gaue them all their ransome freely Afterwards being called to ROME by the priestes to doe certaine solemne sacrifices he left the armie in charge with Minutius to gouerne the same in his absence with condition not to set vpon the enemie nor to fight with him at all the which not only by his authoritie he dyd expressely forbid him but also as his very friende he dyd warne and intreate him in no wise to attempt Howbeit Minutius litle regarding his commaundementes or requestes so sorte as Fabius backe was turned beganne to be somewhat lustie and doing with his enemies So one daye amongest the rest Minutius perceyuing Hannibal had sent a great parte of his armie abroade to forrage and get vittells came and set vpon them that remained behinde and draue them into their campe with great slaughter and dyd put them in a maruelous feare that were saued as men that looked for no lesse but to haue bene besieged in their campe Afterwardes also when their whole armie came together againe he retired backe in spight of them all and lost not a man This exploite set Minutius in a pryde and brought the souldiers to be more rashe then they were before The newes of this ouerthrowe went with speede to ROME and there they made it a great deale more then it was Fabius hearing of it sayed he was more afeard of Minutius prosperitie then of his owne aduersitie But the common people reioyced maruelosly and made great shewe of ioye vp and downe the market place Whereupon Metellus one of the Tribunes going vp into the pulpit made an oration vnto the people in the which he highely magnified Minutius and commended his corage and contrarily charged Fabius no more of cowardlines but with flat treason Furthermore he dyd accuse the Nobilitie and greatest men of ROME saying that from the first beginning they had layed a platte to drawe these warres out at length only to destroye the peoples power and authoritie hauing brought the whole common weale to the state of a monarchy and into the handes of a priuate persone Who by his remissenes and delayes would geue Hannibal leysure to plante him selfe in ITALIE and by time geue open passage to the CARTHAGINIANS at their pleasure to send Hannibal a second ayde and armie to make a full conquest of all ITALIE Fabius hearing these wordes rose vp straight and spake to the people and taried not about the aunswering of the accusations the Tribune had burdened him withall but prayed them they would dispatche these sacrifices and ceremonies of the goddes that he might spedilie returne againe to the campe to punishe Minutius for breaking his commaundement in fighting with the enemie He had no soner spoken these wordes but there rose a maruelous tumulte and hurly burley presently among the people for the daunger Minutius stoode in then bicause the Dictator had absolute power and authoritie to imprisone and put to death whom he thought good without ordinary course of lawe or araynement Moreouer they dyd iudge since Fabius had alate left his accustomed mildnes and affabilitie that he would growe to such seueritie in his anger that it would be a hard thing to appease him Wherefore euery man held their peace for feare sauing only Metellus the Tribune He hauing authoritie by vertue of his office to saye what he thought good and who only of all other kept still his place and authoritie when any Dictator was chosen then all the officers that were put down instantly besought the people not to forsake Minutius nor to suffer the like to be done to him as Manlius Torquatus dyd alate to his sonne who strake of his head after he had valliantly fought with his enemies and ouercomed them for breaking his commaundement And beganne to persuade them further to take this tyrānicall power of the Dictatorshippe from Fabius and to put their affayers into the handes of him that would and could tell howe to bring them safely to passe The people were tickled maruelously with these seditious wordes but yet they durst not force Fabius to resigne his Dictatorshippe though they hare him great grudge and were angrie with him in their hartes Howbeit they ordeined that Minutius thenceforth should haue equall power and authoritie with the Dictator in the warres a thing that was neuer seene nor heard of before and yet the very same done in that sorte againe after the battell of Cannes For Marcus Iunius being at that time Dictator in the campe they dyd choose another Dictator at ROME which was Fabius Buteo to name and create newe Senators in the place of those that were slaine in the battell But after he had named them and restored the full number againe of the counsell of the Senate he discharged the selfe same daye the sergeants that caried the axes before him and sent awaye the traine that waited vpon him and dyd so put him selfe in prease of the people in the market place and followed his owne peculiar busines as a priuate persone Nowe the ROMAINES imagined that when Fabius should see howe they had made Minutius equall in authoritie with him it would greue him to harte for very anger but they came shorte to iudge of his nature for he dyd not thincke that their folly should hurte or dishonour him at all But as wise Diogenes aunswered one that sayed vnto him looke they mocke thee tushe sayd he they mocke not me Meaning thereby that he tooke them to be mocked that were offended with their mockes Thus Fabius tooke euery thing quietly that the people offered him and dyd comfort him selfe with the philosophers rules and examples who
a good rounde pace to embrace his sonne and sayed vnto him You haue reason sonne and doe well to shewe ouer whom you commaund vnderstanding the authoritie of a Consul which place you haue receiued For it is the direct course by the which we and our auncesters have increased the ROMAINE empire preferring euer the honour and state of our countrie aboue father mother or children And truely they saye that Fabius great grandfather being the greatest and most noble persone of ROME in his time hauing fiue times bene Consul and had obteined many triumphes for diuers honorable and sundrie victories he had wonne was contented after all these to be his sonnes lieutenaunt and to goe to the warres with him he being chosen Consul And last of all the Consul his sonne returning home to ROME a conquerour in his triumphing charret drawen with foure horses he followed him a horse backe also in troupe with the rest thinking it honour to him that hauing authoritie ouer his sonne in the right of a father and being also the noblest man of all the cittizens so taken and reputed neuertheles he willingly submitted him selfe to the lawe and magistrate who had authoritie of him Yet besides all this he had farre more excellent vertues to be had in admiration then those already spoken of But it fortuned that this sonne of Fabius died before him whose death he tooke paciētly like a wise man and a good father Now the custome being at that time that at the death of a noble man their neerest kinseman should make a funerall oration in their prayse at their obsequies he him selfe made the same oration in honour of his sonne and dyd openly speake it in the marketplace and moreouer wrote it and deliuered it out abroade About this time Cornelius Scipio was sent into SPAYNE who draue out the CARTHAGINIANS from thence after he had ouerthrowen them in many battells and had conquered many great citties and greately aduaunced the honour and estimation of the state of ROME for the which at his returne he was asmuche or rather more honoured beloued and esteemed then any other that was in the cittie of ROME Hereupon Scipio being made Consul considered that the people of ROME looked for some great matter at his handes aboue all other Therefore he thought to take vpon him to fight against Hannibal in ITALIE he should but followe the olde manner and treade to muche in the steppes of the olde man whereupon he resolued immediately to make warres in AFRICKE and to burne and destroye the countrie euen vnto CARTHAGE gates and so to transferre the warres out of ITALIE into LIBYA procuring by all possible deuise he could to put it into the peoples heades and to make them like of it But Fabius contrarilie persuading him selfe that the enterprise this young rashe youthe tooke in hande was vtterly to ouerthrowe the common weale or to put the state of ROME in great daunger deuised to put ROME in the greatest feare he could possible without sparing speache or dede he thought might serue for his purpose to make the people chaunge from that minde Now he could so cunningly worke his purpose what with speaking and doing that he had drawen all the Senate to his opinion But the people iudged it was the secret enuie he bare to Scipioes glorie that drue him to encounter this deuise only to bleamish Scipioes noble fortune fearing least if he should happen to doe some honorable seruice as to make an end altogether of this warre or otherwise to draw Hannibal out of ITALIE that then it would appeare to the world he had bene to softe or to negligent to drawe this warre out to suche a length For my parte me thinkes the only matter that moued Fabius from the beginning to be against Scipio was the great care he had of the safetie of the cōmon weale by reason of the great daūger depending vpon such a resolution And yet I doe thinke also that afterwards he went further then he should contending to sore against him whether it was through ambition or obstinacie seeking to hinder and suppresse the greatnes of Scipio considering also he dyd his best to persuade Crassus Scipioes companion in the Consulshippe that he should not graunte vnto him the leading of the armie but if he thought good to goe into AFRICKE to make warres vpon the CARTHAGINIANS that he should rather goe him self And moreouer he was the let that they gaue him no money for maintenaunce of these warres Scipio hereupon being turned ouer to his owne credit to furnish himselfe as he could he leauied great summes of money in the citties of THVSCAN who for the great loue they bare him made contribution towardes his iorney And Crassus remained at home both bicause he was a softe and no ambitious nor contentious man of nature as also bicause he was the chiefest Prelate and highe bishoppe who by the lawe of their religion was constrained to kepe ROME Fabius seeing his labour lost that waye tooke againe another course to crosse Scipio deuising to staye the young men at home that had great desire to goe this iorney with him For he cried out with open mouth in all assemblies of the Senate people that Scipio was not contented only to flye Hannibal but that he would carie with him besides the whole force of ITALY that remained alluring the youthe with sweete baytes of vaine hope and persuading them to leaue their wiues their fathers mothers and their countrie euen now when their enemie knocked at ROME gates who dyd euer conquer and was yet neuer conquered These wordes of Fabius dyd so dampe the ROMAINES that they appointed Scipio should furnishe his iorney only with the armie that was in SICILIA sauing that he might supply to them if he would three hundred of the best souldiers that had serued him faithfully in SPAYNE And so it doth appeare euen to this present that Fabius both dyd and sayed all things according to his wonted manner and naturall disposition Now Scipio was no sooner arriued in AFRICKE but newes were brought to ROME incontinently of wonderfull exploytes and noble seruice done beyond measure and of great spoyles taken by him which argued the trothe of the newes As the king of the NVNIDIANS taken prisoner two campes of the enemies burnt destroyed at a time with losse of a great number of people armour and horses that were consumed in the same letters and postes for life ronning in the necke one of another from CARTHAGE to call Hannibal home and to praye him to hunte no longer after vayne hope that would neuer haue ende hasting him selfe with all speede possible to come to the rescue of his countrie These wonderfull great fortunes of Scipio made him of suche renowme and fame within ROME that there was no talke but of Scipio Fabius notwithstanding desisted not to make a newe request being of opinion they should send him a successour alledging no other cause
as Pericles sayed they would come to passe for with ambition to imbrace to muche they ouerthrewe their estate But the ROMAINES contrariwise hauing sent Scipio into AFRICKE to make warres with the CARTHAGINIANS wanne all that they tooke in hande where their generall dyd not ouercome the enemie by fortune but by valliantnes So that the wisedome of the one is witnessed by the ruine of his countrie and the errour of the other testified by the happy euent of that he would haue let Now the faulte is a like in a generall to fall into daunger for lacke of forecaste as for cowardlines to let slippe a fit oportunitie offred to doe any notable pece of seruice For like defaulte and lacke of experience maketh the one to hardie and the other to fearefull And thus muche touching the warres Now for ciuill gouernment it was a fowle blotte to Pericles to be the author of warres For it is thought that he alone was the cause of the same for that he would not haue them yeld to the LACEDAEMONIANS in any respect And yet me thinkes Fabius Maximus also would no more geue place vnto the CARTHAGINIANS but stood firme bold in all dauÌ„ger to mainteine thempire of his countrie against them But the goodnes clemency Fabius shewed vnto Minutius doth much condeÌ„ne Pericles accusations practises against Cimon and Thucydides bothe of them being noble good men taking parte with the Nobilitie whoÌ„ he expulsed out of ATHENS banished for a time So was Pericles power authoritie in the coÌ„mon weale greater by reason whereof he dyd euer foresee that no generall in all his time dyd rashely attempt any thing hurteful vnto the coÌ„mon weale except Tolmides onely who fled from him in despight of him went to fight with the BOEOTIANS where he was slaine As for all other generals they wholy put theÌ„selues into his haÌ„ds dyd obey him for the greatnes of his authoritie But Fabius although for his parte he neuer committed any faulte and that he went orderly to worke in all gouernment yet bicause he was not of power to keepe other from doing ill it seemeth in this respect he was defectiue For if Fabius had caried like authoritie in ROME as Pericles dyd in ATHENS the ROMAINES had not fallen into so great miserie as they dyd And for liberalitie the one shewed it in refusing the money offred him and the other in geuing vnto those that needed and redeeming his poore captiue contry men And yet Fabius might dispend no great reuenue for his whole receiptes came only to sixe talents But for Pericles it is hard to saye howe riche he was who had comming in to him great presents by his authoritie aswel of the subiects as of the friends and allies of the ATHENIANS as also of Kings and straunge Princes yet he neuer tooke bribe for all that of any persone liuing And to conclude as for the sumptuous building of temples the stately workes and common buildings put all the ornaments together that euer were in ROME before the times of the Caesars they are not to be compared with those wherewith Pericles dyd beawtifie adorne the cittie of ATHENS For neither in qualitie nor quantitie was there any proportion or like comparison betweene the exceeding sumptuousnes of the one and of the other The ende of Fabius Maximus life THE LIFE OF Alcibiades ALCIBIADES by his fathers side was aunciently descended of Eurysaces that was the sonne of Aiax and by his mothers side of Alemaeon for his mother Dinomacha was the daughter of Megacles His father Clinias hauing armed and set forth a gallye at his owne proper costes and charges dyd winne great honour in the battell by sea that was fought alongest the coaste of ARTEMISIVM and he was slaine afterwardes in another battell fought at CORONEA against the BOEOTIANS His sonne Alcibiades tutours were Pericles and Ariphroa Xanthippus sonnes who were also his neere kinsemen They saye and truely that Socrates good will and friendshippe dyd greatly further Alcibiades honour For it appeareth not neither was it euer written what were the names of the mothers of Nicias of Demosthenes of Lamachus of Phormion of Thrasibulus of Theramenes all which were notable famous men in their time And to the contrarie we finde the nource of Alcibiades that she was a LACEDAEMCNIAN borne and was called Amicla and that his schoolemaster was called Zopyrus of the which Antisthenes mentioneth the one and Plato the other Now for Alcibiades beawtie it made no matter if we speake not of it yet I will a litle touche it by the waye for he was wonderfull fayer being a child a boye and a man and that at all times which made him maruelous amiable and beloued of euery man For where Euripides sayeth that of all the fayer times of the yere the Autumne or latter season is the fayrest that commonly falleth not out true And yet it proued true in Alcibiades though in fewe other for he was passing fayer euen to his latter time of good temperature of bodie They write of him also that his tongue was somewhat fatte and it dyd not become him ill but gaue him a certen naturall pleasaunt grace in his talke which Aristophanes mentioneth mocking one Theorus that dyd counterfeat a lisping grace with his tongue This Alcibiades vvith his fat lisping tongue into mine eares this trusty tale and songe full often songe Looke upon Theolus ê™ he lo there he bovves beholde his comely crovvebright face vvith fat and flatling blovves The sonne of Clinias vvould lispe it thus somevvhiles and sure he lisped neuer a lye but rightly hyt his vviles And Archippus another poet also mocking the sonne of Alcibiades sayeth thus Bicause he vvould be like his father euerie vvaye in his long trayling govvne he vvould goe ietting daye by daye And counterfeate his speache his countenaunce and face as though dame nature had him geuen therein a perfect grace To lispe and looke aside and holde his head avvrye even as his father lookt and lispt so vvould he prate and prye For his manners they altered and chaunged very oft with time which is not to be wondred at seing his maruelous great prosperitie as also aduersitie that followed him afterwards But of all the great desiers he had and that by nature he was most inclined to was ambition seeking to haue the vpper hand in all things and to be taken for the best persone as appeareth by certaine of his dedes and notable sayings in his youthe extant in writing One daye wrestling with a companion of his that handled him hardly and thereby was likely to haue geuen him the fall he got his fellowes arme in his mouth and bit so harde as he would haue eaten it of The other feeling him bite so harde let goe his holde straight and sayed vnto him what Alcibiades bitest thou like a woman No mary doe I not ê™ he but like
a lyon Another time being but a litle boye he played at skayles in the middest of the streete with other of his companions and when his turne came about to throwe there came a carte loden by chaunce that waye Alcibiades prayed the carter to staye a while vntill he had played out his game bicause the skailes were set right in the high way where the carte should passe ouer The carter was a stubborne knaue and would not staye for any request the boye could make but draue his horse on still in so much as other boyes gaue backe to let him goe on but Alcibiades fell flat to the grounde before the carte and bad the carter driue ouer and he durste The carter being afeard plucked backe his horse to staye them the neighbours flighted to see the daunger ranne to the boye in all hast crying out Afterwards when he was put to schoole to learne he was very obedient to all his masters that taught him any thing sauing that he disdained to learne to playe of the flute or recorder saying that it was no gentlemanly qualitie For sayed he to playe on the vyoll with a sticke doth not alter mans fauour nor disgraceth any gentleman but otherwise to playe on the flute his countenaunce altereth and chaungeth so ofte that his familliar friends can scant knowe him Moreouer the harpe or vyoll doth not let him that playeth on them from speaking or singing as he playeth where he that playeth on the flute holdeth his mouth so harde to it that it taketh not only his wordes from him but his voyce Therefore sayed he let the children of the THEBANS playe on the flute that cannot tell howe to speake as for vs ATHENIANS we haue as our forefathers tell vs for protect ours and patrones of our countrie and goddesse Pallas and the god Apollo of the which the one in olde time as it is sayed brake the flute and the other pulled his skinne ouer his eares that played vpon the flute Thus Alcibiades alledging these reasons partely in sporte and partely in good earnest dyd not only him selfe leaue to learne to playe on the flute but he turned his companions mindes also quite from it For these wordes of Alcibiades ranne from boye to boye incontinently that Alcibiades had reason to despise playing of the flute and that he mocked all those that learned to play of it So afterwards it fell out at ATHENS that teaching to playe of the flute was put out of the number of honest and liberall exercises and the flute it selfe was thought a vile instrument and of no reputation Furthermore in the accusations Antiphon wrote against Alcibiades it is declared that when he was a boye he fled out of his tutours house into the house of Democrates one of his louers and howe Ariphron one of his tutours thought to haue made a beadle crie him through the cittie But Pericles would not suffer him saying that if he were dead they should knowe it but one daye sooner by crying of him and if he were aliue that it would be such a shame to him while he liued that he had bene better he had neuer bene heard of againe The same Antiphon accuseth him further that he had killed a seruaunt of his that attended on him in the wrestling place of Sibyrtius with a blowe of a staffe But there is no reason to credit his writing who confesseth he speaketh all the ill he can of him for the ill will he dyd beare him Now straight there were many great riche men that made muche of Alcibiades and were glad to get his good will. But Socrates loue vnto him had another ende and cause which witnessed that Alcibiades had a naturall inclination to vertue Who perceyuing that vertue dyd appeare in him and was ioyned with the other beawtie of his face and bodye and fearing the corruption of riches dignitie and authoritie and the great number of his companions aswell of the chiefest of the cittie as of straungers seeking to entise him by flatterie and by many other pleasures he tooke vpon him to protect him from them all and not to suffer so goodly an ympe to lose the hope of the good fruite of his youthe For fortune doth neuer so intangle nor snare a man without with that which they commonly call riches as to let hinder him so that philosophie should not take holde on him with her free severe and quicke reasons So Alcibiades was at the beginning assayed with all delightes and shut vp as it were in their companie that feasted him with all pleasures only to turne him that he should not hearken to Socrates wordes who sought to bring him vp at his charge and to teach him But Alcibiades notwithstanding hauing a good naturall wit knewe that Socrates was and went to him refusing the companie of all his riche friendes and their flatteries and fell in a kinde of familliar friendshippe with Socrates Whom when he had heard speake he noted his wordes very well that they were no persuasions of a man seeking his dishonesty but one that gaue him good counsell went about to reforme his faultes and imperfections and to plucke downe the pride and presumption that was in him then as the common prouerbe sayeth Like to the crauen cocke he drovvped dovvne his vvinges vvhich covvardly doth ronne avvaye or from the pit out flinges And dyd thinke with selfe that all Socrates loue and following of young men was in dede a thing sent from the goddes and ordeined aboue for them whom they would haue preserued put into the pathe waye of honour Therefore be beganne to despise him selfe and greatly to reuerēce Socrates taking pleasure of his good vsing of him much imbraced his vertue so as he had he wist not howe an image of loue grauen in his harte or rather as Plato sayeth a mutuall loue to wit an holy honest affection towards Socrates Insomuch as all the world wondred at Alcibiades to see him commonly at Socrates borde to playe to wrestle to lodge in the warres with Socrates and contrarily to chide his other well willers who could not so much as haue a good looke at his handes and besides became daungerous to some as it is sayed he was vnto Anytus the sonne of Anthemion being one of those that loued him well Anytus making good cheere to certen straungers his friendes that were come to see him went and prayed Alcibiades to come and make merie with them but he refused to goe For he went to make merie with certen of his companions at his own house and after he had well taken in his cuppes he went to Anytus house to counterfeate the foole amongest them and staying at the halle doore and seeing Anytus table and cubberd full of plate of siluer gold he commaunded his seruants to take awaye half of it and carie it home to his house But when he had thus taken his pleasure he would come
them and made an oration wherein he first lamented all his mishappes and founde him selfe grieued a litle with the wronges they had offred him yet he imputed all in the ende to his cursed fortune and some spightfull god that enuied his glorie and prosperitie Then he dilated at large the great hope their enemies had to haue aduantage of them and therewithall persuaded the people to be of good corage and afeard of nothing that was to come And to conclude the people crowned him with crownes of golde and chose him generall againe of ATHENS with soueraine power and authoritie both by lande as by sea And at that very instant it was decreed by the people that he should be restored againe to all his goodes and that the priestes Eumolpides should absolue him of all their curses and that the herauldes should with open proclamation reuoke the execrations and cursinges they had thundered out against him before by commaundement of the people Whereto they all agreed and were very willing sauing Theodorus the bishoppe who sayed I dyd neither excommunicate him nor curse him if he hath done no hurte to the common wealth Now Alcibiades florished in his chiefest prosperitie yet were there some notwithstanding that misliked very muche the time of his landing saying it was very vnluckie and vnfortunate For the very daye of his returne and arriuall fell out by chaunce on the feast which they call Plynteria as you would saye the washing daye which they celebrate in honour of Minerua on the which daye the priestes that they call Praxiergides doe make certen secret and hidden sacrifices and ceremonies being the fiue and twenty daye of the moneth of September and doe take from the image of this goddesse all her rayment and iuells and keepe the image close couered ouer Hereupon the ATHENIANS doe ascribe that daye for a most vnfortunate daye are very circumspect to doe any matter of importance on it Moreouer it was commonly scanned abroade of euery bodye that it seemed the goddesse was not content nor glad of Alcibiades returne and that she dyd hide her selfe bicause she would not see him nor haue him come neere her Notwithstanding all these toyes and ceremonies when Alcibiades found euery thing fall out well at his returne and as he would haue wished it he armed a hundred gallyes presently to returne againe to the warres Howbeit he wisely regarded the time and solemnitie of celebration of these mysteries and considerately stayed vntill they had finished all And it fell out that after the LACEDAEMONIANS had taken and fortified the cittie of DECELEA within the territorie of ATTICA and that the enemies being the stronger in the field dyd keepe the waye going from ATHENS to ELEVSIN so as by no possible meanes they could make their solemne procession by lande with such honour and deuotion as they were before accustomes to doe and thereby all the sacrifices dawnces and many other holy deuowte ceremonies they were wonte to doe by the waye in singing the holy songe of Iacchus came of very necessitie to be left of and cleane layed a side Then Alcibiades thought he should doe a meritorious dede to the godds and an acceptable to men to bring the olde ceremonies vp againe vpon the said feast and thereupon purposed to accompanie the procession defend it by power against all inuasion disturbaunce by the enemies As one that foresawe one of those two things would come to passe Either that Agis king of the LACEDAEMONIANS would not sturre at all against the sacred ceremonies and by this meanes should much imbase and diminishe his reputation and glorie or if he dyd come out to the field that he would make the battell very gratefull to the goddes considering it should be in defence of their most holy feast and worshippe and in the sight of his countrie where the people should see and witnesse both his valliantnes and also his corage Alcibiades being fully resolued apon this procession went and made the priestes Eumolpides their vergers and other their ministers and officers of these mysteries priuie to his determination Then he sent out skowtes to watche on the side of the hilles thereabouts and to viewe waye of their perambulation The next morning very early he sent out light horsemen also to scowre the countrie Then he made the priestes the professed and all the ministers of religion goe in procession together with those that followed the same and he him selfe compassed them about with his armie on euery side marching in battell raye and very good order and with great silence This was an honorable and deuoute leading of an armie and suche as if his greatest enemies would confesse a trothe they could not but saye Alcibiades had as muche shewed the office of a highe bishoppe as of a noble souldier and good captaine So he ended this procession returning to ATHENS in all safe order againe and not an enemie that durst once looke out into the field to set vpon him Now this dyd more increase the greatnes of his minde and therewith the peoples good opinion of his sufficiencie and wise conduction of an armie in so much as they thought him vnuincible hauing the soueraine power and authoritie of a generall Furthermore he spake so fayer to the poore people and meaner sorte that the chiefly wished and desired he would take vpon him like a King yea and many went to him to persuade him in it as though he should thereby withstand all enuie and driue awaye the lawes and customes of trying of matters by the voyces of the people and all suche fond deuises as dyd destroye the state of the common weale And furthermore they sayed it was very needefull that he alone should take vpon him the whole rule and gouernment of the cittie that he might dispose all things according to his will and not stande in feare of slaunderous and wicked tongues Now whether Alcibiades euer had any minde to vsurpe the Kingdome the matter is somewhat doubtfull But this is certaine the greatest men of the cittie fearing least in deede he ment some suche thing dyd hasten his departure as sone as they could possible doing all other things according to his minde and dyd assigne him suche associates in his charge of generall as he him selfe best liked So in the ende he departed with a fleete of a hundred gallyes and first of all he fell with the I le of ANDROS where he ouercame by fight the inhabitantes of the said I le and certaine LACEDAEMONIANS that were amongest them but he tooke not the cittie which was one of the first matters his enemies dyd accuse him for For if euer man was ouerthrowen and enuied for the estimation they had of his vallure and sufficiency truely Alcibiades was the man For the notable and sundry seruices he had done wanne him suche estimation of wisedome and valliantnes that where he slacked in any seruice whatsoeuer he was presently suspected
authoritie and destroyed common wealth But this pestilence crept in by litle and litle and dyd secretly winne ground still continuing a long time in ROME before it was openly knowen and discouered For no man can tell who was the first man that bought the peoples voyces for money nor that corrupted the sentence of the iudges Howbeit at ATHENS some holde opinion that Anytus the sonne of Anthemion was the first man that fedde the iudges with money about the ende of the warres of PELOPONNESVS being accused of treason for yelding vp the forte of PYLE at that time when the golden and vnfoiled age remained yet whole in iudgement at ROME Now Martius following this custome shewed many woundes and cuttes apon his bodie which he had receyued in seuenteene yeres seruice at the warres and in many sundrie battells being euer the formest man that dyd set out feete to fight So that there was not a man emong the people but was ashamed of him selfe to refuse so valliant a man and one of them sayed to another we must needes chuse him Consul there is no remedie But when the daye of election was come and that Martius came to the market place with great pompe accompanied with all the Senate and the whole Nobilitie of the cittie about him who sought to make him Consul with the greatest instance and intreatie they could or euer attempted for any man or matter then the loue and good will of the common people turned straight to an hate and enuie toward him fearing to put this office of soueraine authoritie into his handes being a man somewhat partiall toward the nobilitie and of great credit and authoritie amongest the Patricians and as one they might doubt would take away alltogether the libertie from the people Whereupon for these cōsiderations they refused Martius in the ende and made two other that were suters Consuls The Senate being maruelously offended with the people dyd accompt the shame of this refusall rather to redownd to them selues then to Martius but Martius tooke it in farre worse parte then the Senate and was out of all pacience For he was a man to full of passion and choller and to muche geuen to ouer selfe will and opinion as one of a highe minde and great corage that lacked the grauity and affabilitie that is gotten with iudgment of learning and reason which only is to be looked for in a gouernour of state and that remembred not how wilfulnes is the thing of the world which a gouernour of a cōmon wealth for pleasing should shōne being that which Plato called solitarines As in the ende all men that are wilfully geuen to a selfe opinion obstinate minde and who will neuer yeld to others reason but to their owne remaine without cōpanie forsaken of all men For a man that will liue in the world must nedes haue patience which lusty bloudes make but a mocke at So Martius being a stowte man of nature that neuer yelded in any respect as one thincking that to ouercome allwayes and to haue the vpper hande in all matters was a token of magnanimitie and of no base and fainte corage which spitteth out anger from the most weake and passioned parte of the harte much like the matter of an impostume went home to his house full fraighted with spite and malice against the people being accompanied with all the lustiest young gentlemen whose mindes were nobly bent as those that came of noble race and commonly vsed for to followe and honour him But then specially they floct about him and kept him companie to his muche harme for they dyd but kyndle and inflame his choller more and more being sorie with him for the iniurie the people offred him bicause he was their captaine and leader to the warres that taught them all marshall discipline and stirred vp in them a noble emulation of honour and valliantnes and yet without enuie praising them that deserued best In the meane season there came great plenty of corne to ROME that had bene bought parte in ITALIE and parte was sent out of SICILE as geuen by Gelon the tyranne of SYRACVSA so that many stoode in great hope that the dearthe of vittells being holpen the ciuill dissention would also cease The Senate sate in counsell apon it immediatly the common people stoode also about the palice where the counsell was kept gaping what resolution would fall out persuading them selues that the corne they had bought should be solde good cheape and that which was geuen should be deuided by the polle without paying any pennie and the rather bicause certaine of the Senatours amongest them dyd so wishe and persuade the same But Martius standing vp on his feete dyd somewhat sharpely take vp those who went about to gratifie the people therein and called them people pleasers and traitours to the nobilitie Moreouer he sayed they nourrished against them selues the naughty seede and cockle of insolencie and sedition which had bene sowed and scattered abroade emongest the people whom they should haue cut of if they had bene wise and haue preuented their greatnes and not to their owne destruction to haue suffered the people to stablishe a magistrate for them selues of so great power and authoritie as that man had to whom they had graunted it Who was also to be feared bicause he obtained what he would and dyd nothing but what he listed neither passed for any obedience to the Consuls but liued in all libertie acknowledging no superiour to commaund him sauing the only heades and authours of their faction whom he called his magistrates Therefore sayed he they that gaue counsell and persuaded that the corne should be geuen out to the common people gratis as they vsed to doe in citties of GRAECE where the people had more absolute power dyd but only nourishe their disobedience which would breake out in the ende to the vtter ruine and ouerthrowe of the whole state For they will not thincke it is done in recompēse of their seruice past sithence they know well enough they haue so ofte refused to goe to the warres when they were cōmaunded neither for their mutinies when they wēt with vs whereby they haue rebelled forsaken their coūtrie neither for their accusations which their flatterers haue preferred vnto them they haue receyued and made good against the Senate but they will rather iudge we geue and graunt them this as abasing our selues and standing in feare of them glad to flatter them euery waye By this meanes their disobedience will still growe worse and worse and they will neuer leaue to practise newe sedition and vprores Therefore it were a great follie for vs me thinckes to doe it yea shall I saye more we should if we were wise take from them their Tribuneshippe which most manifestly is the embasing of the Consulshippe the cause of the diuision of the cittie The state whereof as it standeth is not now as it was wont
to wrath he neither regarded his persone nor the intent of his iorney but runninge farre before his men he cried with a lowde voyce to the tyran and chalenged the combat of him The tyran woulde not abide him nor come out to fight with him but fled and hid him selfe amongest his souldiers But for his souldiers the first that thought to set apon Pelopidas were slaine by him and many left dead in the fielde The residue standing stowtly to it and close together did passe his curaces through with their long pykes and thrust him into the brest The THESSALIANS seeinge him thus sore handled and distressed for pities sake came runninge from the toppe of those hilles to the place where Pelopidas was to helpe him But euen as they came he fell downe deade before them Then did they together with their horsemen so fiercely sette apon them that they made the whole battell of the enemies to flye and followinge them in chase a great waye from that place they couered the valley with deade bodies for they slue aboue three thowsande men It is no maruell if the THEBANS that were at Pelopidas death tooke it very heauilie and lamented bitterly callinge him their father their sauiour and maister as one that hadde taught them the worthiest thinges that might be learned of any But the THESSALIANS and other frendes and confederates also of the citie of THEBES besides their excedinge in setting out their common proclamations and edictes in prayse of his memorie and doing him all the honor that could be due to the most rare and excellent persone that euer was they did yet more shewe their loue and affection towardes him by their passinge great sorowe and mourning they made for him For it is sayed that they that were at the battell did not put of their armor nor vnbridle their horses nor woulde dresse their woundes hearinge tell of his death before they went first and sawe his body not yet colde with fightinge laying great heapes of the enemies spoyles about it as if he coulde haue tolde what they had done nor before they hadde clipped of their owne heares and the heare of their horses in token of sorowe And many of them also when they were come into their tentes and pauilions woulde neither haue fier eate nor drinke and all the campe was full of sorowe and mourninge as if they hadde not wonne a notable victorie but hadde beene ouerthrowen and made subiect by the tyranne Afterwardes when the newes of his deathe was spread through all the contrie the Magistrates of euerie cittie through which Pelopidas bodie was conueyed went to receaue it verie honorablie accompanied with all the younge menne Priestes and children caryinge tokens and crownes of triumphe and other ornamentes of golde And when his funerall daye came that his bodie shoulde be caried to be buried the oldest and noblest persones of the THESSALIANS went to the THEBANS and prayed them that they might haue the buryinge of him and one amonge them beinge the mowthe of the reste spake in this manner to the THEBANS My Lordes of THEBES our good beloued frendes and confederates we onely craue this good turne at your handes wherin you shal much honor vs in our great calamity somwhat also cōfort vs For we shall neuer more accōpany Pelopidas aliue nor requite his honorable deserts to vs that he shal euer know them But if it please you to let vs handle his body with our handes and that we may bury him and set forth his obsequies we will imagine then at the least that you doe thinke that which we our selues do certainly beleue that we THESSALIANS not you THEBANS haue receiued the greatest losse of both For you haue lost in deede a worthy Captaine and we haue not only receaued that like losse with you but the hope also of recoueringe of our liberty For how dare we againe sende to you for an other Captaine when we can not redeliuer you Pelopidas The THEBANS hearing their peticion graunted their desire and in mine opinion no funeralles could be done with greater pompe and honor then the THESSALIANS performed his being men that recken not dignity magnificence pompe to consist in ornaments of Iuory nor of purple As Philistus doth set it out who praiseth to the moone the buryinge of Dionysius the tyran of SYRACVSA which was the ende of his tyranny as a sumptuous conclusion of a stately tragedy And Alexander the great at the death of Ephestion did not only clippe his horse heares mules but plucked downe also the battellments of the wals of the city bicause it shoulde appeare that the very walles them selues did mourne for his death shewinge that deformitie in steede of their former beawtie But all such thinges are done only by force and compulsion apon the Lordes commaundementes which doe but raise vp enuy against their memorie for whom they are done and hatred of them that are against their willes constrained to do the thing they misliked are no iust proofes of honor nor good will but rather vaine showes of barbarous pompe and pride in him that disposeth his authority and plenty of goodes in trifling toyes not to be desired Where contrariwise it plainely appeareth that a priuate man dying in a foreine contry by reason should be accompted most happy of all other creatures that hauing neither his wife kinne nor his children by him he should be conueyed to his funerals accompanied with such multitudes of crowned people and number of cities enuying one an other who should most honor the funerals as being vnrequested least of all compelled For saith Esope the death of a happy man is not greuous but most blessed seeing it bringeth all good mens doinges to happines and leaueth fortune to her fickle chaunge and sportinge pleasure But in my iudgement a LACEDAEMONIAN spake better when he sayd to Diagoras an old man that had him selfe in old time gotten victory in the games Olympicall had sene besides his own childrē his childrens childrē both sonnes daughters crowned with victories also in the self same games O Diagoras die presently els thou shalt neuer come to heauen But these victories of the Olympicall Pythian games whosoeuer should put thē al together are not to be cōpared with one of the battels only that Pelopidas hath foughten wonne hauing spent the most parte of his time in great calling and dignity lastly ended the same beinge gouernor of BOEOTIA the third time which was the highest office of state in all his contry when he had distroied the tyrans that kept the THEBANS in bondage and was also slaine himselfe valiantly fighting for the recouery of the THESSALIANS liberty But as Pelopidas death was greuous to the THEBANS frends confederats so fell it out very profitable for them For the THEBANS hearinge of Pelopidas death did not delay reuenge but sent an army forthwith of seuen thowsande footemen and seuen
hundred horsemen vnder the conduct of Malcitas and of Diogiton They findinge Alexanders army ouerthrowen that he had lost the most parte of his strength did compel him to geue vp the THESSALIANS townes he kept by force against thē to set the MAGNESIANS the PHTHIOTES the ACHAIANS at liberty withdrawinge his garrisons he had placed in their strong holdes and therewithall to sweare that from thence forth he would marche vnder the THEBANS against any enemy they should leade him or commaunde him to go against So the THEBANS were pacified apon these conditions Now will I tell you how the gods plagued him soone after for Pelopidas death who as we haue tolde you before had pretily instructed THEBE his wife that she shoulde not feare the outward appearance nor power of his tyranny although she were enuironed with souldiers of banished mē whom the tyran enterteined to gard his person He self on the other side fearing his falshode as also hating his cruelty conspired her husbands death with her three brethren Tisiphomus Pytholaus Lycophron executed her cōspiracy after this sorte The tyrans palice where he lay was straightly garded euery where with souldiers who nightly watched his persone but their bed chamber which they cōmonly vsed to lie in was in the top of al his palice where they kept a dog tyed at the chamber dore to giue warninge which was a terrible dog and knewe none but the tyran and his wife and his keeper that gaue him meate Nowe when Thebe purposed to worke her feate she locked vp her three brethren a whole day neere vnto their bed chamber So when night was come and being bed time The went her selfe alone according to her maner into Alexanders chamber and finding him a sleepe she stale out straight againe and bad the keeper of the dogge to cary the dogge away for her husbande was disposed to take rest and would haue no noyse There was no way to get vp to this chamber but by a ladder which she let downe and fearing least her brethren should make a noyse she had coueted the ladder staues with wolle before she let it fall downe When she had gotten them vp with their swordes and had set them before the dore she went first her selfe into the chamber tooke away the tyrans sword that hong at his beds head and shewed it them as a token geuen them that he was a sleepe When it came to the pinche to do the deede these young men were afrayed and their heartes beganne to faile them But she tooke on with them and called them cowardly boyes that would not stande to it when it came to the point with all sware in her rage that she woulde goe wake the tyran and open all the treason to him So partely for shame and partely for feare she compelled them to come in and to step to the bed her selfe holding a lampe to light them Then one of them tooke him by the feete and bounde them hard an other caught him by the heare of his head and pulled him backewards the third thrust him through with his sword So by chaunce he dyed sooner then he should haue done and otherwise then his wicked life deserued for the maner of his death So Alexander was the first tyran that was euer slaine by the treason of his wife whose body was most villanously dispitefully vsed after his death For when the townes men of PHERES had drawen him through the city in myer and durt they cast him out at length to the dogs to deuore The ende of Pelopidas life THE LIFE OF Marcellus MArcus Claudius that was fiue times Consull at ROME was the sonne as they say of an other Marcus and as Posidonius wryteth he was the first of his house surnamed Marcellus as who would say a marshall warlike man by nature For he was cunninge at weapons skilfull in warres stronge and lusty of body hardy and naturally geuen to fight Yet was he no quarreler nor shewed his great corage but in warres against the enemy otherwise he was euer gentle and fayer condicioned He loued learning and delited in the Greeke tongue and much esteemed them that could speake it For he him selfe was so troubled in matters of state that he could not study and follow it as he desired to haue done For it God as Homer sayth did euer make men To vse their youth in vvarres and battells fierce and fell till crooked age came creeping on such feates for to expell They were the noblest and chiefest men of ROME at that time For in their youth they fought with the CARTHAGINIANS in SICILE in their midle age against the GAVLES to kepe them from the winning of all ITALIE againe in their old age against Hanniball the CARTHAGINIANS For their age was no priuiledge for them to be dispenced with in the seruice of their warres as it was else for common citizens but they were bothe for their nobilitie as also for their valliantnes and experience in warres driuen to take charge of the armies deliuered them by the Senate people Now for Marcellus there was no battell could make him giue grounde beinge practised in all fightes but yet he was more valliant in priuate combate man for man then in any other fight Therefore he neuer refused enemie that did chalenge him but slue all those in the fielde that called him to the combat In SICILE he saued his brother Octacilius life being ouerthrowen in a skirmishe for with his shielde he couered his brothers body slue them that came to kill him These valliant partes of him being but a young man were rewarded by the generalles vnder whom he serued with many crownes and warlike honors vsually bestowed apon valliant souldiers Marcellus increasing still his valliantnes and good seruice was by the people chosen AEdilis as of the number of those that were the worthiest men and most honorable and the Priestes did create him Augure which is a kinde of Priesthoode at ROME hauing authority by law to consider and obserue the flying of birds to diuine and prognosticate thinges thereupon But in the yere of his office of AEdile he was forced against his wil to accuse Capitolinus his brother in office with him For he being a rash and dissolute man of life fell in dishonest loue with his colleagues sonne Marcellus that bare his owne name who beinge a goodly younge gentleman and newly come to mans state was as well thought of and taken of euery man for his manhoode and good qualities as any way for his beawty and personage The first time Capitolinus moued this dishonesty to him he did of him selfe repulse his shameles offer without any others priuitie but when he saw he came againe to tempt him the seconde time he straight reuealed it to his father Marcellus his father beinge maruelously offended withall as he had good cause went and accused Capitolinus before
maruelous plaine man without pride and of a good nature Then they tolde him what notable wise sayinges and graue sentences they heard him speake Valerius Flaccus hearing this reporte of him willed his men one day to pray him to come to supper to him Who falling in acquaintance with Cato and perceiuing he was of a very good nature and wel giuen that he was a good griffe to be set in a better ground he perswaded him to come to ROME and to practise there in the assembly of the people in the common causes and affayres of the common weale Cato followed his counsail who hauing bene no long practiser among them did grow straight into great estimacion and wanne him many frends by reason of the causes he tooke in hand to defend and was the better preferred and taken also by meanes of the speciall fauour and countenaunce Valerius Flaccus gaue him For first of all by voyce of the people he was chosen Tribune of the souldiers to say colonell of a thousand footemen afterwards was made treasorer and so went forwards and grew to so great credit authority as he became Valerius Flaccus cōpanion in the chiefest offices of state being chosen Consul with him then Censor But to begin withal Cato made choise of Quintus Fabius Maximus aboue all the Senators of ROME gaue him selfe to follow him altogether not so much for the credit estimacion Fabius Maximus was of who therein exceded all the ROMAINES of that time as for the modesty and discrete gouernment he sawe in him whome he determined to followe as a worthy myrror and example At which time Cato passed not for the malice and euil will of Scipio the great who did striue at that present being but a young man with the authoritie and greatnesse of Fabius Maximus as one that seemed to enuy his risinge and greatnesse For Cato being sent treasorer with Scipio when he vndertooke the iorney into AFRIKE and perceiuing Scipioes bountifull nature and disposition to large giftes without meane to the souldiers he tolde him plainly one day that he did not so much hurt the common wealth in wasting their treasure as he did great harme in chaūging the auncient maner of their auncesters who vsed their souldiers to be contented with litle but he taught them to spende their superfluous money all necessaries prouided for in vaine toyes and trifles to serue their pleasure Scipio made him aunswere he woulde haue no treasorer shoulde controll him in that sorte nor that should looke so narrowly to his expences for his intent was to go to the wars with full sayles as it were and that he woulde and did also determine to make the state priuie to all his doinges but not to the money he spent Cato hearing this aunswer returned with spede out of SICILE vnto ROME crying out with Fabius Maximus in open Senate that Scipio spent infinitely and that he tended playes commedies and wrestlinges as if he had not bene sent to make warres inuasions and attemptes apon their enemies Apon this complaint the Senate appointed certeine Tribunes of the people to goe and see if their informations were true and finding them so that they should bring him backe againe to ROME But Scipio shewed farre otherwise to the commissioners that came thither and made them see apparaunt victorie through the necessary preparacion and prouision he had made for the warres and he confessed also that when he had dispatched his great businesse and was at any leasure he would be priuately mery with his frends and though he was liberall to his souldiers yet that made him not negligent of his duety and charge in any matter of importance So Scipio tooke shippinge and sayled towards AFRIKE whether he was sent to make warre Now to returne to Cato He daily increased still in authority and credit by meanes of his eloquence so that diuerse called him the Demosthenes of ROME howbeit the maner of his life was in more estimacion then his eloquence For all the youth of ROME did seeke to attaine to his eloquence and commendacion of wordes and one enuied an other which of them should come nearest but few of them woulde fyle their handes with any labor as their forefathers did and make a light supper and dinner without fire or prouision or woulde be content with a meane gowne and a poore lodging finally woulde thinke it more honorable to defye fansies pleasures then to haue and enioy them Bicause the state was waxen now of such power wealth as it could no more retaine the auncient discipline and former austeritie and straitnes of life it vsed but by reason of the largenes of their dominion and seigniory and the numbers of people and nations that were become their subiects it was euen forced to receiue a medley of sundry contry facions examples and maners This was a cause why in reason men did so greatly wonder at Catoes vertue when they sawe other straight wearyed with paines and labor tenderly brought vp like pulers and Cato on the other side neuer ouercommen either with the one or with the other no not in his youth when he most coueted honor nor in his age also when he was gray headed and balde after his Consullship and triumphe but like a conqueror that had gotten the maistery he would neuer geue ouer labor euen vnto his dying day For he writeth him selfe that there neuer came gowne on his backe that cost him aboue a hundred pence that his hyndes and worke men alwayes dronke no worse wine when he was Consull and generall of the armie then he did him selfe and that his cater neuer bestowed in meate for his supper aboue thirty Asses of ROMAINE money and yet he sayed it was bicause he might be the stronger and apter to do seruice in the warres for his contry and the common wealth He sayd furthermore that being heire to one of his frends that dyed he had a peece of tapestry by him with a deepe border which they called then the babilonian border and he caused it straight to be solde and that of all his houses he had abroade in the contry he had not one wall-plastered nor rough cast Moreouer he would say he neuer bought bondeman or slaue dearer then a thowsande fiue hundred pence as one that sought not for fine made men and goodly personages but strong fellowes that could away with paynes as carters horsekepers neatheardes and such like and againe he woulde sell them when they were olde bicause he would not keepe them when they coulde do no seruice To conclude he was of opinion that a manne bought any thinge deere that was for litle purpose yea though he gaue but a farthing for it he thought it to much to bestow so litle for that which needed not He would haue men purchase houses that hadde more store of errable lande and pasture then of fine orteyardes or gardeins
not obey his commaundement all those he solde for slaues and with the money he made of them to spight them the more he built a goodly fayer walke within the citie of MEGALIPOLIS Yet furthermore to do the LACEDAEMONIANS all the mischiefe he coulde and as it were to treade them vnder the feete in their most grieuous misery he did a most cruell and vniust acte towarde them For he compelled them to leaue the discipline and maner of education of their children which Lycurgus had of olde time instituted and made them to follow the maner the ACHAIANS vsed in liew of their olde grounded contry custome bicause he sawe they would neuer be humble minded so long as they kept Lycurgus order and institucion Thus were they driuen to put the heades in the choller by the miserable mishappe that befell them and in all despight to suffer Philopoemen in this maner to cut a sunder as it were the sinewes of their common wealth But afterwardes they made sure to the ROMAINES that they might be suffered to enioy their auncient discipline againe which being graunted them they straight left the maner of the ACHAIANS and did set vp againe as much as was possible after so great miserie and corruption of their maners their olde auncient customes and orders of their contry Now about the time the warres beganne in GREECE betwene the ROMAINES and king Antiochus Philopoemen was then a priuate man and without any authority He seeinge that kinge Antiochus lay still in the citie of CHALCIS and did nothing but feast and loue and had maried a younge maide farre vnmeete for his yeres and perceiuing that his SYRIAN souldiers wandered vp and downe the townes in great disorder playing many lewde partes without guide of Captaines he was very sory he was not at that time Generall of the ACHAIANS and tolde the ROMAINES that he enuied their victory hauing warres with enemies that were so easily to be ouercome For sayd he if fortune fauored me that I were Generall of the ACHAIANS at this present I woulde haue killed them euery man in the cellers and tippling houses Now when the ROMAINES had ouercome Antiochus they beganne to haue surer footing in GREECE and to compasse in the ACHAIANS of all sides and specially by reason the heades and gouernors of the cities about them did yeelde to the ROMAINES to winne their fauor And now their greatnesse grewe in hast by the fauor of the goddes so as they were become the monarche of the whole worlde who brought them nowe to the ende that fortune had determined Philopoemen in the meane time did like a good pylot bare hard against the billowes and roughnesse of their waues and though for the time he was forced to giue place and to let things passe yet for all that he was against the ROMAINES and did withstande them in the most parte of their proceedinges by seeking euer to defend the liberty of those who by their eloquence well doing caried great authority among the ACHAIANS And when Aristaenetus MEGALOPOLITAN a man of great authority among the ACHAIANS and one that euer bare great deuotion to the ROMAINES sayd in open Senate among the ACHAIANS that they should deny the ROMAINES nothinge nor shew them selues vnthankefull to them Philopoemen hearing what he sayd held his peace a while and suffered him to speake though it boyled in his hart he was so angry with him and in the ende breaking all pacience and as one ouercome with choller he sayd O Aristaenetus why haue you such hast to see the vnfortunate ende of GREECE Another time when Manius Consull of ROME after he had conquered king Antiochus did make request to the counsell of the ACHAIANS that such as were banished from LACEDAEMON might returne home into their contry againe and that Titus Quintius Flaminius also did earnestly intreate them Philopoemen was against it not for any hatred he bare vnto the banished men but bicause he would haue done it by his owne meane and the only grace of the ACHAIANS to the ende they shuld not be beholding for so good a turne neither vnto Titus nor yet to the ROMAINES Afterwardes he him selfe being Generall of the ACHAIANS did restore them wholly to their owne againe Thus was Philopoemen somtime a litle to bolde and quarrellous by reason of his great stomake and specially when any man of authority sought for to haue thinges Lastely beinge three score and tenne yeares of age he was the eight time chosen Generall of the ACHAIANS and hoped well not only to passe the yeare of his charge in peace and quietnes but also all the rest of his life without any sturre of new warres he saw the affaires of GREECE take so good successe For like as the force strength of sickenes declineth as the naturall strength of the sickely body empaireth so through all the cities and people of GREECE enuy of quarrell and warres surceased as their power diminished Neuerthelesse in the end of his yeares gouernment the goddes diuine who iustly punish all insolent wordes and deedes threw him to the grounde as they suffer a ryder vnfortunately to take a fall of his horse beinge come almost to the ende of his cariere For they wryte thar he beinge in a place on a time amongest good companie where one was maruelously praised for a good Captaine sayed vnto them why masters can ye commende him that was contented to be taken prisoner aliue of his enemies Shortely after came newes that Dinocrates MESSENIAN a priuate enemy of Philopoemenes for certaine controuersies past betwene them and a man generally hated besides of all honorable and vertuous men for his licentious wicked life had withdrawen the city of MESSINA from the deuotion of the ACHAIANS and moreouer that he came with an army to take a towne called COLONIDE Philopoemen was at that time in the city of ARGOS sicke of an agew and yet hearing these newes tooke his iorney toward MEGALIPOLIS making al the hast he could possible so that he came aboue foure hundred furlongs that day Straight he departed thence toward MESSINA and taried not but tooke with him a company of men at armes of the lustiest and wealthiest MEGALOPOLITANS who were all young noble men of the city and willingly offered them selues to goe with him for the goodwill they bare him and for the desire they had to follow his valliantnes Thus went they on their way towards the city of MESSINA and marched so longe that they came nere vnto the hill of Euander where they met with Dinocrates his cōpany gaue so fierce an onset on them that they made them all turne taile howbeit in the meane while there came a reliefe of fiue hūdred men to Dinocrates which he had left to keepe the contry of MESSINA The flying men that were scattered here there seeing this supply gathered them selues againe together and shewed vpon the hills Philopoemen fearinge to be enuironned and being
that he shewed him specially fauor to saue his life But his host aunswered him stowtly againe that he would not be beholding vnto him for his life seeing he had slaine all the reâ—t of his contry men and so thrusting in amongest the citizens was willingly slaine with them They thought the act of Lucius Catiline also very straunge who had slaine his owne brother before the ciuill warre was ended and then prayed Sylla to put him in the number of the outlawes as if his brother had bene aliue Sylla performed his desire Catiline thereuppon to shewe his thankefulnesse for the pleasure Sylla had done him went presently and slue Marem Marius who was of the contrary faction and brought him his head for a present before all the people in the middest of the market place where he was sitting When he had so done be went and washed his handes all bloodied in the hollowed font of the temple of Apollo that was hard by But besides so many murders coÌ„mitted yet were there other things also that grieued the people maruelously For the proclaimed him selfe Dictator which office had not bene of six score yeares before in vse and made the Senate discharge him of all that was past geuing him free liberty afterwardes to kill whom he would and to confiscate their goodes to destroy cities and to build vp new as he listed to take away kingdomes and to geue them where he thought good And furthermore he openly sold the goodes confiscate by the crier sitting so prowdly and stately in his chayer of state that it grieued the people more to see those goodes packt vp by them to whome he gaue and disposed them then to see them taken from those that had forfeited them For somtimes he would geue a whole contry or the whole reuenues of certaine cities vnto women for their beawty or vnto pleasaunt ieasters minstrells or wicked slaues made free and vnto some he would geue other mens wiues by force and make them to be maried against their willes For he desiring howesoeuer it happened to make alliance with Pompey the great coÌ„maunded him to put away his wife he had maried and taking AEmylia the daughter of AEmylius Scaurus of Metella his wife from the great Glabrio caused him to mary her great with childe as she was by Glabrio but she dyed in childbed in Pompeyis house Lucretius Offella also that had brought Marius the younger to that distresse at the city of PRAENESTE suing to be Consull Sylla commaunded him to cease his But he notwithstandinge that expresse commaundement went one day into the market place with great traine of men following him that fauored his cause Whither Sylla sent one of his Centurions that slue Offella before all the people him selfe sitting in a chayer of estate in the temple of Castor and Pollux and seeing from aboue the murder done The people that were about Offella layed hold of the murderer straight brought him before Sylla But Sylla bad them be quiet that brought the Centurion with tumult and that they should let him goe bicause he commaunded him to do it Furthermore as touching his triumphe it was a sumptuous sight to behold for the rarenes of the riches and princely spoyles which were shewed at the same But yet was it so much the better set out and worth the sight to see the banished ROMANES who were the chiefest noble men of all the city of ROME following his charet triumphant wearing garlandes of flowers on their heades calling Sylla their father and sauior bicause that by his meanes they returned to their contry and recouered their goods waiues and children In the end of his triumphe he made an oration in open assembly of the people of ROME in the which he did not only declare vnto theÌ„ according to the custome what thinges he had done but did as carefully tell them also as well of his good fortune and successe as of his valliant deedes besides and to conclude his oration told them that by reason of the great â—auor fortune had shewed him he would from thenceforth be called by theÌ„ Felix to say happy or fortunate And he him selfe when he wrote vnto the GREECIANS or that he had any thing to do with them surnamed him selfe Epaphroditus as who would say a pleasaunt man beloued and fauored of Venus His tokens of triumphe which are yet in our contry haue this superscription Lucius Cornelius Sylla Epaphroditus And when his wife Metella had brought him two twinnes a sonne and a daughter he named his sonne Faustus signifying fortunate and his daughter Fausta bicause the ROMANES call Faustum that which falleth out prosperously and happely To be short he trusted so much vnto his good fortune and doinges that notwithstanding he had killed and put so many men to death and had made so great a chauÌ„ge and innouation in the common wealth yet of him selfe he left of his office of Dictator and restored the people to the authority of election of Consulls againe without his presence at the election and frequented the market place as a priuate man among the citizens offering him selfe to euery man that would aske him accompt of his doings past It happened that a stowt and rash enemy of his was Chosen Consull against his will called Marcus Lepidus not for any deuotion the people had to Lepidus but onely to gratifie Pompey who gaue countenaunce and fauor vnto him Sylla seeing Pompey come mery homewardes from the election and ioyfull that he had obtained his frendes sute from all other suters tooke him a side told him In deede thou hast great cause to reioyce young man my frende for thou hast done a goodly acte to choose Marcus Lepidus Consull the veriest asse in all ROME before Catulus the honestest man But I tell thee one thing thou haddest not nede to sleepe for thou hast strengthened an enemy that will be thine owne destruction And Sylla proued a true prophet for Lepides being bent to all cruelty immediatly after flatly fell at defiaunce with Pompey Now Sylla consecratinge the dismes of all his goodes vnto Hercules made exceeding sumptuous feastes vnto the ROMANES the prouision whereof was so vnreasonable great that euery day they threwe a great deale of meate into the riuer and they dranke wine of forty yeares olde and aboue During these feastes which continued many dayes his wife Metella sickened and dyed and in her sickenes the Priestes and Soothsayers willed Sylla he should not come neere her nor suffer his house to be polluted and defiled with mourning for the dead Whereupon Sylla was diuorsed from her in her sickenes and caused her to be caried into an other house whilest she liued And thus did Sylla curiously obserue the supersticion and ordinaunce of the Soothsayers but yet he brake the law which he made him selfe touching the order of funeralls sparinge no cost at Metellaes buriall So did he also breake an other
burnt at a tryce and the fire going out fell a great shower of raine that held on till night so that it seemed good fortune following him euen to his ende did also helpe his obsequies after his death His tombe is to be seene in the fielde of Mars and they say that he him selfe made his owne epitaphe that is wrytten vpon it which was that no man did euer passe him neither in doing good to his frendes nor in doing mischiefe to his enemies THE COMPARISON OF Sylla with Lysander NOw that we haue at large also set forth the life of the ROMANE let vs come to compare them both together In this they are both a like that both of them grew to be great men rising of thē selues through their owne vertue but this only is proper to Lysander that all the offices dignities which he attained vnto in the common wealth were layed apon him through the peoples good wills and consents For he compelled them to nothinge neither vsurped he any extraordinarie authoritie vppon them contrarie to lawe for as the common saying is VVhere partialitie and discorde once doe raigne There vvicked men are most esteemde and rule vvith greatest gaine As at that time in ROME the people being corrupted and the state of gouernment vtterly subuerted and brought to nought to day there rose vp one tyranne to morow an other And therefore we may not wonder if Sylla vsurped and ruled all when such fellowes as Glaucia and Saturninus did both banish and driue out of ROME such men as Metellus was and where also in open assembly they slue Consuls sonnes in the market place and where force of armes was bought sold for gold and siluer with the which the souldiers were corrupted where they made new lawes with fire and sword and forced men to obey the same Yet I speake not this in reproache of him that in such troublesome times founde meanes to make him selfe the greatest man but to shew that I measure not his honesty by the dignity he grew vnto in so vnfortunate a city although he became the chiefe And as touching him that came from SPARTA at what time it florished most and was the best gouerned common weale he in all great causes and in most honorable offices was reputed for the best of all bests and the chiefe of all chiefes Wherefore it happened that the one resigned vp the authority to his contry men the citizens which they had geuen him who also restored it to him againe many and sundry times for the honor of his vertue did alwayes remaine and made him iustly accompted for the worthiest man Where the other being once only chosen generall of an army remained tenne yeares continually in warres and hostilitie making him selfe by force sometime Consull somtime vice Consull and somtime Dictator but alwayes continued a tyranne In ede Lysander attempted to chaunge and alter the state of gouernment in his contrie howbeit it was with greater lenity and more lawfully then Sylla did For he sought it by reason and good perswasion not by the sword neither would he make a chaunge of the whole at one selfe time as Sylla did but sought only to reforme the election of kinges The which thing according to nature doubtlesse seemed very iust that he which was the best amongest good men should be chosen king of that citie which was the chiefe ouer all GREECE not for her nobility but for her vertue only For like as a good hunter doth not seeke for the whelpe of a good dogge but for the good dogge him selfe not a wise man of armes also the colte that commeth of a good horse but the good horse him selfe Euen so he that taketh vpon him to stablish a civill gouernment committeth a fowle fault if he looke of whom his Prince should be borne and not what the Prince him selfe should be considering that the LACEDAEMONIANS them selues haue depriued diuerse of their kinges from their crowne and realme bicause they were not Princely but vnprofitable and good for nothing Vice although it be in a noble man yet is it alwayes ill of it selfe but vertue is honored for her selfe alone and not bicause she is placed with nobility Now for the wronges and iniuries they both committed the one did worke only to pleasure his frendes and the other to offend them to whom he was bounden For it is certaine that Lysander did great wronges to gratifie his familliars and the most parte of them whom he put to death was to establish the tyrannicall power of certaine his frendes Where Sylla sought for spite to take away his army from Pompey and the Admirality from Dolobelle which he him selfe geuen caused Lucretius Offella to be slaine openly in his owne sight bicause he sought to be Consull for recompence of the good seruice he had done for which cruelty of his causinge his owne frendes to beslaine in such sorte he made euery man a feard of him Furthermore their behauiors touching couetousnes and pleasure doth shew that the intent of the one was the desire of a good Prince and the other that of a tyranne For we doe not finde that Lysander for all his great Princely authority did euer vse any insolency or lasciuiousnes in his deedes but alwayes auoyded as much as a man might the reproache of this common prouerbe Lyons at home and Foxes abroade He led such a true LACONIAN life straightly reformed in all poyntes Where Sylla could neuer moderate his vnlawfull lustes neither for pouerty when he was young nor yet for age when it came vpon him But whilest he gaue lawes to the ROMANES touching matrimoniall honestie and chastitie him selfe in the meane time did nothing but follow loue and commit adultries as Salust wryteth By meanes whereof he so much impouerished ROME and left it so voyde of gold and siluer that for ready money he sold absolute freedome vnto the cities their confederates yet was it his dayly study to confiscate and take for forfeit the richest and most wealthiest houses in all the whole citie of ROME But all this spoyle and hauoke was nothing in comparison of that which he dayly cast away vpon his ieasters flatterers What sparing or measure may we thinke he kept in his giftes at priuate banckets when openly in the day time all the people of ROME being present to see him sell the goodes which he had caused to be confiscate he made one of his frendes and familiars to trusse vp a great deale of household stuffe for a very litle price And when any other had out bidden his price that the crier had cried it out a lowde then was he angry and sayd My frendes I haue great wrong done me here not to suffer me sell the spoile I haue gotten at mine owne pleasure and dispose it as I list my selfe Where Lysander contrarily sent to the common wealth of SPARTA with other money the very presentes that were geuen to
made poore ITALIE suffer euen then when he was occupied in the warres of ASIA and yet notwithstanding his absence he was in as good credit and fauor with Sylla as any of his frendes about him For as we haue sayd before he dedicated his commentaries vnto him for the goodwill he bare him and by his last will and testament appointed him Tutor vnto his sonne leauing Pompey out which seemeth to be the first occasion of the quarrell and grudge that fell out afterwardes betwene them bicause they were both young men and vehemently desirous of honor Shortly after the death of Sylla Lucullus was chosen Consull with Marcus Cotta about the three score Olympiade and then they began to reuiue the matter againe that it was very needefull to make warres against Mithridates and specially Marcus Cotta who gaue out that it was not ended but only slept for a while Wherefore when the Consulls came to draw lottes what prouinces they should take charge of Lacullus was maruelous sorie that the prouince of GAVLE lying betwene the Alpes and ITALIE fell to his lotte bicause he thought it no contrie wherein any great exploytes were to be done and againe the glorie of Pompey grieued him greatly whose honor dayly increased by the famous battells he wan in SPAINE So that it was most certaine that so soone as Pompey had ended the warres there they would haue chosen him generall in the warres against Mithridates Wherefore when Pompey sent to ROME in earnest maner to require money to make pay to his souldiers wryting to the Senate that if they did not send him money the sooner he would leaue Sertorius there SPAINE behinde him and bring his army backe into ITALIE Lucullus made all the meanes he could to haue it quickely sent him fearing least he should returne into ITALIE vpon any occasion while he was Consul For he thought that if he returned againe to ROME with so great an armie he would easily do what him list and the rather bicause that Cethegus and he could not agree who at that time bare all the sway and rule at ROME bicause he spake and did all that pleased the common people being a vitious liuer and dissolutely geuen for which cause Lucullus hated him But there was an other common Orator among the people called Lucius Quintius and he would haue had all Syllas doinges reuoked and broken a matter to alter euen the whole state of the common wealth and to turmoyle the citie of ROME againe with ciuill dissention which then liued quietly and in good peace This Lucius Quintius Lucullus talked withall a parte to perswade him and openly reproued him with such words that he was disswaded from his euell purpose by reason ruled his rash ambition handling it both wisely and as cunningly as he could possible for the safety of the common wealth bicause it was the beginning of a disease from whence infinite troubles were like to growe While these thinges were thus in hande newes came that Octanius the gouernor of CILICIA was dead Straight whereuppon many put forward them selues to sue for this charge to courte Cethegus as the only man who aboue all other might make any man officer whom he thought good Now for Lucullus he made no great reckening of the gouernment of CILICIA in respect of the contry but bicause CAPPADOCIA was hard adioyning to it and perswading him selfe that if he could obtaine the gouernment thereof they would geue none other but him selfe the authoritie to make warres with Mithridates he determined to procure all the meanes he could that none should haue it but him selfe And hauing proued sundry wayes was compelled in the ende against his owne nature to practise a meane neither comely nor honest and yet the readiest way he could possibly deuise to obtaine his desire There was a woman in ROME at that time called Praecia very famous for her passing beawty and also for her pleasaunt grace in talke and discourse howbeit otherwise vnchast after curtisan manner But bicause she employed the credit fauor of them that frequented her companie to the benefit and seruice of the common wealth and of them that loued her she wanne the reporte besides her other excellent commendable graces to be a very louinge woman and readie to fauor and further any good enterprise and it wanne her great fame and reputacion But after she had once wonne Cethegus who ruled all the common wealth at his pleasure and brought him to be so farre in fancie with her that he could not be out of her sight then had she all the whole power authority of ROME in her hands for the people did nothing but Cethegus preferred it and Cethegus did what euer Praecia would will him to Thus Lucullus sought to come in fauor with her sending her many presentes and vsing all other curtesies he could offer vnto her besides that it seemed a great reward for so prowde ambitious a woman as she to be sued vnto by such a man as Lucullus was who by this meanes came to haue Cethegus at his cōmaundement For Cethegus did nothing but cōmend Lucullus in all assemblies of the people to procure him the gouernment of CICILIA who after it was once graunted him had then no neede of the helpe neither of Praecia nor yet of Cethegus For the people wholly of them selues with one cōsent did graunt him the charge to make warre with Mithridates bicause he knew better how to ouercome him then any other Captaine and bicause that Pompey was in the warres with Sertorius in SPAINE and Metellus also growen too olde both which two were the onely men that could deseruedly haue contented for this office with him Neuertheles Marcus Cotta his fellow Consull made such sute to the Senate that they sent him also with an armie by sea to keepe the coastes of PROPONTIDE and to defende the contrie of BITHYNIA Thus Lucullus hauing his commission went into ASIA with one legyon only the which he leauied a new at ROME when he was come thither he tooke the rest of the strength he founde there which were men marred and corrupted altogether of long time through couetousnes and delicacie of the contrie For amongest others were the bandes which they called the Fimbrian bandes men geuen ouer to selfe will and very ill to be ruled by marshall discipline bicause they had liued a long time at their owne libertie without all obedience to any man They were those selfe souldiers that together with Fimbria slue their generall Flaccus Consull of the ROMANE people and that afterwardes betrayed Fimbria him selfe and forsooke him leauing him vnto Sylla being mutiners traitors and wicked people howbeit otherwise very vallyant well trayned and painefull souldiers Nothwithstanding Lucullus in shorte time brideled their boldnes meetely well and reformed the others also who before had neuer proued in my opinion what the value of a good Captaine and
fugitiue slaues Shall we then sayd he cary harnesse on our backes all the dayes of our life Is it not better that we which are escaped vntil this present reserue our selues our bodies liues for that noble Captaine who esteemeth the greatest honor and glory he can atchieue vnto is to make his souldiers rich that serue vnder him Lucullus army was so seduced and corrupted with these mutinous and seditious accusations that the souldiers would no lenger follow him neither against Tigranes nor against Mithridates who went presently out of ARMENIA into his realme of PONTVS and beganne to conquer it againe whilest the ROMANE souldiers mutining against their General remained idle in the prouince of GORDIAENA excusing them selues by the winter season tarying vntill Pompey or some other Captaine should quickely come to raise the siege and succeede Lucullus Notwithstanding when they vnderstoode that Mithridates had ouerthrowen Fabius one of Lucullus Lieutenaunts and that he went against Surnatius Triarius they were then ashamed of them selues and became contented to be led by Lucullus But Triarius in a brauery when he heard that Lucullus drew neere made hast to winne the victory as if it had bene cocke sure before Lucullus came and was him selfe ouerthrowen in a great battell where some say there dyed aboue seuen thowsande ROMANES amongest the which were a hundred and fifty centurions foure and twenty Captaines or Collonells of a thowsand men a peece and yet besides Mithridates tooke their campe also Shortly after this ouerthrow Lucullus came thither who hid Triarius whom the souldiers sought in their anger by all the meanes they could to kill Now when Lucullus was come he prooued sundrie meanes to procure Mithridates to battell but Mithridates would not once sturre abroade bicause he looked for Tigranes that came downe with a mighty power Whereuppon he determined againe to goe against Tigranes to fight with him before Mithridates and he ioyned forces together But as he was in his iorney towardes him the FIMBRIAN bandes beganne to rebell a new and would not follow his ensignes saying and alleaging of them selues that by decree of the people they had leaue to departe and were discharged from their othe and furthermore that Lucullus had no more to do to commaund them considering that the gouernment of the prouinces which he had was geuen vnto others Lucullus perceiuing this did so humble him selfe vnto them supposing that way to winne them as there was no kinde of vncomely humility but he submitted him selfe vnto it insomuch as he went into their tentes to pray and intreate them one after an other with water in his eyes and with so great lowlinesse as euen to shake handes with them But they fiercely reiected all his curtesies and fayer intreaties casting their pennylesse purses before him and angrily bad him fight with his enemies alone since he had with the spoile of them all so well enriched him selfe alone Neuerthelesse at the intercession and earnest request of the other soldiers these FIMBRIAN bands were compelled to promise that they would yet tary all that sommer so that if no mā in the meane time offred them battell at the ende of the tearme they might go where they would Lucullus was forced to accept this condicion or else to remaine alone consequently to forsake the contry of the barbarous people With much a do thus he kept them together but in such sorte as he durst no more venter to compell them to come to battell contenting him selfe that they were willing onely to stay with him being forced to suffer Tigranes in the meane time to destroy and ouerrunne the contry of CAPPADOCIA Mithridates also to bragge againe of whom he had before wrytten to the Senate that he had vtterly ouercome him insomuch as there came commissioners deputies from ROME by his owne procurement to order the state of the realme of PONTVS with him as of a kingdom already wonne to the ROMANE Empire But whē they were comen they found him not master of him selfe that his owne souldiers flowted him and did him all the spight and iniury they could For they were so vntruly towardes their Captaine and did so much disdaine him that when the end of the sommer was come they armed them selues with armor and weapon and drawing out their swordes in mockery challenged their enemies to battell which were gone out of the fielde and after they had made the noyse and eryes accustomed when they ioyned battel and made as though they fought hurling and swinging their swords in the ayer they went from the campe declaring openly that their time was expired which they promised Lucullus to tary On thother side Pompey had wrytten vnto the other souldiers that were yet in campe to come vnto him for through the peoples fauor at ROME the practises and flatteries of the common counsellers there he was substituted Generall in Lucullus place Which much misliked the Senate and nobility for they thought Lucullus greatly wronged to haue a successor sent not to succeede him in troubles and daungers but in honor and glory of triumphe And that they should compell him not onely to resigne vp the office of a Generall to an other but for the good seruice he long time had done the reward of his honor due for the same and this also more misliked them that were then about him That so soone as Pompey was arriued in ASIA he tooke all power authority from Lucullus to punishe or reward any man for good or ill seruice done to the common wealth in those warres did moreouer prohibite by publicke bills set vp in euery common place that they should no more repayre vnto him nor obey ought that he or any of the ten cōmissioners sent to dispose of the state of the prouinces wonne by him should commaund or ordaine and bicause Pompey came with a greater power and army then his he was in some feare of him Their frends thought good neuerthelesse they should meete together and so they did incontmently in a village of GALATIA where at their first meeting they saluted ech other very curteously reioycing together of the noble victories that either had wonne Lucullus was the elder man but Pompey of greater dignity bicause he had bene Generall of the ROMANE people in many warres had already triumphed twise The bundells of roddes which the sergeaunts caried before them were wreathed about with law rell braunches for the victories they had both atchieued but Pompeys bundells were withered away bicause they had comen a longe iorney through hotte and drye contries Lucullus officers seeing theirs withered curteously gaue them of theirs fresh and new gathered which Pompeys frendes tooke for a signe of good lucke For to say truely the thinges that Lucullus did in the time of his charge were cause of the honor that Pompey afterwardes wanne Howbeit in the end for all their talke they were no whit the better
market place and was easie to be repayred vnto by any man that required his helpe dayly following those exercises in deuoring him selfe to pleasure euery man so that by this easie accesse and familiaritie for fauor and good will be grew to exceede the grauety and maiesty of Pompey But as for the worthines of their persone their eloquence of speeche their good grace countenaunce in all those it is sayd Pompey and Crassus were both alike And this enuy and emulation neuer carried Crassus away with any open malice and ill will. For though he was sory to see Pompey and Caesar honored about him yet the worme of ambition neuer bred malice in him No though Caesar when he was taken by pyrates in ASIA as he was once and being kept prisoner cryed out alowde O Crassus what ioy will this be to thee when thou shalt heare I am in prison This notwithstanding they were afterwardes good frendes as it appeareth For Caesar being ready on a time to depart out of ROME for Praetor into SPAYNE and not being able to satisfie his creditors that came flocking all at once about him to stay arrest his cariage Crassus in that time of neede forsooke him not but became his surety for the summe of eight hundred and thirty talentes In fine all ROME being deuided into three factions to wit of Pompey Caesar and Crassus for as for Cato the estimacion they had of his fidelity was greater than his authority and his vertue more wondered at then practised insomuch as the grauest and wisest men tooke parte with Pompey The liueliest youthes and likeliest to runne into desperate attemptes they followed Caesars hope Crassus keeping the middest of the streame was indifferent to them both and oftentimes chaunged his minde and purpose For in matters of gouernment in the common weale he neither shewed him selfe a constant frend nor a daungerous enemy but for gaine was easily made frend or foe So that in a moment they saw him praise and reproue defende and condemne the same lawes and the same men His estimacion grewe more through the peoples feare of him than for any good will they bare him As appeareth by the aunswere that one Sicinius a very busie headed man and one that troubled euery gouernor of the common weale in his time made to one that asked him why he was not busie with Crassus amongest the rest and howe it happened that he so scaped his handes O sayd he he caries haye on his home The maner was then at ROME if any man had a curst bullocke that would strike with his horne to winde haye about his heade that the people might beware of him when they met him The commocion of fensers which some call Spartacus warre their wasting and destroying of ITALIE came apon this occasion In the citie of CAPVA there was one Lentulus Batistus that kept a great number of fensers at vnrebated foyles whom the ROMANES call Gladiatores whereof the most parte were GAVLES and THRACIANS These men were kept locked vp not for any fault they had coÌ„mitted but only for the wickednes of their master that had bought them and compelled them by force one to fight with an other at the sharpe On a time two hundred of them were minded to steale away but their conspiracy being bewrayed three score and eighteene of them entred into a cookes house and with the spittes and kitching kniues which there they got went quite out of the city By the way they fortuned to meete with cartes loden with fensers weapons that were brought from CAPVA going to some other city those they also tooke by force and arming them selues therewith got them then to a strong place of scituacion Where amongest them selues they chose three Captaines and one Spartacus a THRACIAN borne and of those contrymen that go wandring vp and downe with their heards of beastes neuer staying long in a place they made their Generall This Spartacus was not onely valliant but strong made withall and endned with more wisedom and honesty than is commonly found in men of his state and condicion and for ciuility and good vnderstanding a man more like to the GRAECIANS than any of his coâ—â—â—â—emen coÌ„monly be It is reported that when Spartacus came first to ROME to be sold for a slain there was founde as he slept a snake wound about his face His wise seeing it being his 〈…〉 contry woman a wise woman besides possest with Bacchus spirite of diuination said planely that it did signifie that one day he shoulde be of great power much dread and haue very good successe This same woman prophetesse was then with him and followed him likewise when he fled Now first they ouerthrewe certaine souldiers that came out of CAPVA against them thinking to take them and stripping them of their armor weapons made them glad to take the sensers weapons which they threw away as vile vnseemely After that the ROMANES sent Clodius Praetor against them with three thowsand men Who besieged them in their sorte scituate apon a hill that had a verie steepe and narowe ascent vnto it and kept the passage vp to them all the rest of the grounde rounde about it was nothing but high rockes hanging ouer apon theÌ„ great store of wilde vines Of them the bondmen cut the strongest stirppes and made thereof ladders like to these shippe ladders of ropes of such a length and so strong that they reached from the toppe of the hill euen to the very bottome apon those they all came safely downe sauing one that taried aboue to throwe downe their armor after them who afterwards by the same ladder saued him selfe last of all The ROMANES mistrusting no such matter these bondmen compassed the hill round assailed them behinde put them in such a feare with the sodaine onset as they fled apon in euery man and so was their campe taken Thereupon diuers heardmen and sheapherds that kept cattell hard by the hill ioyned with the ROMANES that fled being strong and hardy men of which some they armed and others they vsed as scowtes and spialls to discouer Apon this ouerthrowe was sent an other Captaine from ROME called Publius Varinus against these bondmen who first ouercame Furius The Lieutenant of Varinus in battell two thowsand of his men after that againe they slue one Cossinius and ouerthrew a great army of his being ioyned with P. Varinus as his fellow counseller Spartacus hauing intelligence that Cossinius was bathing him selfe at a place called the salte pittes had almost taken him tardy hauing much a do by flight to saue himselfe notwithstanding Spartacus wanne all his cariage at that time and hauing him hard in chase tooke his whole caÌ„pe with great slaughter of his men among whom Cossinus selfe was slaine Spartacus hauing thus now in sundry battells and encounters ouercome the Praetor him selfe P. Varinus and at the length taken his
and alteration was gathering men together to set vp Marius faction that was in manner vnder footee Sertorius tooke his parte bicause he saw that Octauius was but a slow and lither man and did not besides trust any of Marius frendes So was there a cruell conflict betwene them euen in the market place within the city selfe where Octauius had the vpper hand And Cinna Sertorius scaped by flying hauing lost few lesse then ten thowsand men in this only ouerthrowâ— Neuerthelesse afterwardes through practise and policy they got those souldiers together againe that were dispersed here and there through ITALIE so as in shorte time they made their power equall with Octauius force Marius also being aduertised of the same tooke the sea incontinently and returned into ITALIE out of AFRICKE and came to Cinna to serue as a priuate souldier vnder his Captaine and Consull Now they all liked well that Marius should be receiued sauing Sertorius who was against him all he could â—fearing that either his credit and estimation should diminish Cinna hauing a worthier Captaine then himselfe to serue him â—â— else that Marius cruelty and seuerity who pardoned none offence would â—arre all togetherâ—â— hauing no stay in his anger but bent vtterly to all kinde of cruelty to his enemies if Cinna fortuned to haue the victorie And thereunto he added this further that nowe they had the victory in maner in their hands if they once receiued Marius vnto them he would robbe them of all the honor of ending this warre and being also in authority he was neither to be trusted nor commaunded Whereunto Cinna aunswered thus that he thought the words he had alleaged to be true howbeit that he was ashamed and besides could not see with honesty how he might refuse Marius or send him backe sithens he had purposely sent for him to commit parte of the charge of these warres vnto him Sertorius againe replied Sure I thought Marius had come of his owne good will vnsent for therfore as for the best in mine owne opinion I gaue aduise not to receiue him but sithence it is so that you sent for him before and that he is now comen vpon your coÌ„maundement you were much to blame to aske counsell whether you should now receiue him or not And therefore you must needes accept his seruice that is comen apon your worde for the bonde of your promes past you doth now cut of all counsell or other resolution Thereupon Marius was called for and when he came they deuided their whole army into three partes and then beganne to charge apon their enemies of all handes so as they obteined victorie Howbeit Cinna and Marius committed as horrible cruelty in this victory as could possibly be shewed insomuch as the ROMANES thought all the miseries they had endured in time of this warre nothing and but a play as it were in respect of the great calamities they sell into afterwardes Nowe Sertorius on thother side neuer caused man to be slaine for any priuate malice or quarrell he had with any person neither did he hurte any man when he had ouercomen but was much offended with Marius insolency cruell murders and when he had good oportunity to speake with Cinna a parte he did qualifie him the best he could and made him more milde and tractable through his perswasion In fine Sertorius seeing Marius garded with a great number of bondmen for lacke of other souldiers in this warre whom he vsed as executioners of his slaughter and butchery alwayes attending about his person as a garde and suffering them also to make them selues riche partly with that he gaue them or commaunded them to spoyle and partely also with that they violently tooke without his commaundement of their owne masters killing them when they had done rauishing their mistresses defiling their children he could no lenger abide such wickednes and villany but made them all to be slaine in their campe where they lay together being no lesse then foure thowsand persones Afterwardes when he saw that the elder Marius was deade and that soone after Cinna was slaine the younger Marius his sonne against his counsell and contrary to the lawes of ROME had by force made him selfe Consull and that Carbo Scipio and Norbanus which had bene ouercomen by Sylla were comen out of GRâ—ECE to ROME wards partely through the cowardlines of their Captaines and partely also bicause they were betrayed and solde of their owne men and further considering therewithall that his person could doe no good in those affayers which waxed worse and worse by meanes of thauthoritie of such as had least wit and vnderstanding and specially also seeing Sylla campe hard by Scipio making much of him and feeding him with hope of a good peace whilest vnderhand he wanne his souldiers from him notwithstanding that he was certainly warned and told of it before Sertorius then vtterly dispairing of ROMES prosperity and wellfare departed from ROME to go towardes SPAYNE thinking that if he could get the first possession and gouernment of that realme it would at the least be a refuge and receit for all those of their tribe that should chaunce to be banished out of their contrie Howbeit in his voyage thitherward he met with foule and rough weather and passing through a contry of mountaines the barbarous people inhabiting the same demaunded tribute of him for licence to passe through their territories Thereat the souldiers of his company were maruelously offended saying that it were too much shame and dishonor for a Proconsull of ROME to pay tribute to vile barbarous people NotwithstaÌ„ding Sertorius passed not for the shame they sayd it would to be him but aunswered them thus that he bought time which thing he should most recken of than aspireth to haughtie enterprises and so pleased the barbarous people with money And thus he made such speede as he quickely recouered SPAYNE which he found greatly replenished with people and specially of young men able to weare armor But now Sertorius perceiuing that they had bene hardly delt withall before through the insolency pride and couetousnes of the ROMANE Gouernors whom they ordinarily sent from ROME and that therefore they hated all manner of gouernment first of all sought to winne the good willes of all the whole contrymen one and other Of the noble men by being familiar and conuersaunt with them and of the common people by easing them of their taxe and subsidies But that which bred him most loue of all men generally was this that he dispensed with them for lodging of souldiers and receiuing of any garrison within their cities compelling his souldiers to set vp their tentes and to make their cabines without the suburbes of great cities to winter there causing also his owne pauillion to be first set vp and lay in it him selfe in persone This notwithstanding he pleased not these barbarous people in all things to win their fauor for he armed
hurt and if he would not goe of him selfe then they cast him ouer the bord by force and sent him packing These rouers and sea pirates had all the sea Mediterraneum at commaundement insomuch there durst not a marchant looke out nor once traffique that sea And this was the only cause that moued the ROMANES fearing scarsity of vittells and a great dearth to send Pompey to recouer the signory againe of the sea from these pirates The first man that moued it might be decreed that Pompey should not be only Admirall or Generall by sea but should haue absolute power to commaunde all manner of persons as he thought good without any account to be made of his doinges in his charge was Gabinius Pompeys frend The summe to this decree gaue him full power and absolute authority of all the sea from Hercules pillers and of the maine land the space of foure hundred furlong from the sea For the ROMANES dominions at that time in few places went further then that notwithstanding within that compasse were many great nations mighty kings Furthermore it gaue him power to choose of the Senate fifteene Lieutenauntes to geue vnto euery one of them seuerall prouinces in charge according to his discretion and also to take money out of the treasure of the Generall receiuers of the state to defray the charges of a fleete of two hundred saile with full power besides to leauy what men of warre he thought good and as many galliots and mariners as he listed This law when it had bene read once ouer among them the people confirmed it with very good will. Yet the noble men and chiefe of the Senate thought that this authority did not only exceede all enuy but also that it gaue them apparant cause of feare to geue such absolute power vnto a priuate person Whereupon they were all against it but Caesar who fauored the decree not so much to pleasure Pompey as the people whose fauor he sought The noble men fell maruelously out with Pompey and at the length one of the Consulls was very hotte with him and told him he looked to follow Romulus steppes but peraduenture he would come shorte of that end he made Thereupon the people thought to haue killed him After that Catulus stoode vp to speake against this edict The people at the first heard him quietly bicause he was a worthy man Then he began without any shew of enuy to speake many goodly thinges in the praise of Pompey and in fine aduised the people to spare him and not to venter in such daungerous warres one after an other a man of so great accompt as they ought to make of him If ye chaunce to loose him sayd he whom haue you then to put in his place The people then cried out your selfe Then perceiuing that he lost his labor seeking to turne the people from their determination he left it there and sayd no more Roscius rose next after him to speake but he could haue no audience When he saw that he coulde not be heard he made a signe with his fingers that they shoulde not geue Pompey alone this authority but ioyne an other with him The people being offended withall made such an outcrie vppon it that a crow flying ouer the market place at that instant was striken blinde fell downe amongest the people Whereby it appeareth that fowle falling out of the ayer to the ground do not fall for that the ayer is broken or pearced with any force or fury but bicause the very breath of the voice when it commeth with such a violence as it maketh a very tempest in the ayer doth strike ouercome them Thus for that day the assembly brake vp and nothing past and at the day appointed when this decree should passe by voyces of the people Pompey went abroad into the contry There being aduertised that the decree was past for the cōfirmation of his charge he returned againe that night into the citie bicause he would auoyde the enuie they would haue borne him to haue seene them run out of all partes of the city vnto him to haue waited on him home The next morning he came abroad and sacrificed to the goddes and audience being geuen him at an open assembly he handled the matter so that they gaue him many thinges besides to enlarge his power almost doubling the preparation set downe and appointed at the first decree For he ordained that the common wealth should arme him fiue hundred shippes they leauied for him sixe score thowsand footemen and fiue thowsand horsemen and chose besides foure and twenty Senators which had euery one of them bene Generalls of armies and two generall Treasorers also While thinges were thus a preparing the price of vittels fell by chaunces which reioyced the people so much that they stucke not to say that the name of Pompey only had already ended this warre This notwithstanding he deuided all the sea betwene the lands into thirteene regions and in euery of them he appointed a certaine number of his shippes and moreouer one of his Lieutenauntes ouer them Thus hauing dispersed his power all abroade he brought all the pirates shippes that were in a fleete together within his daunger and when he had taken them he brought them all into a docke Now for them that had dispersed them selues betimes or that otherwise could scape his generall chase they fled all into CILICIA as bees into the beehiue against whom he would needes go him selfe in person with three score of his best shippes Howbeit he cared not though he went not before he had scoored all the THVSCANE sea the coastes of LYBIA SARDINIA SICILE and of CORSICA of all these theeues which are wont to keepe thereabouts and this he did within forty dayes space taking infinite paines both him selfe and his Lieutenaunts Now when one of the Consulls called Piso did all the best he could to hinder Pompeys preparation and had discharged his ower men for that he enuied Pompeys prosperity Pompey sent his shippes before to make towardes ITALIE to arriue at the city of BRVNDVSIM He in the meane time went through TEVSCANE to ROME where so soone as his comming was knowen all the people ran out to meete him as if he had bene absent a long time and that which made the people more ioyfull to see him was the sodaine chaunge of victals vnlooked for that dayly came to the towne out of all partes But Piso went neere to be depriued of his Consulshippe for Gabinius had the decree wrytten and ready to present to the people But Pompey would not suffer it So hauing gently brought all to passe as he desired he went vnto the city of BRVNDVSIVM and there tooke sea and hoysed sayle Now though his hasty voyage and shortnesse of time made him passe by many good cities without comming into them notwithstanding he would not so passe by the city of ATHENS but landed there and after he had
his hand very neere vnto Pompey making this his colour but otherwise fearing Clodius insolency prowde words he would neuer after come into the market place as long as Clodius was Tribune but kept at home still consulting with his frendes what way he should take to appease the anger of the Senate against him Thereuppon one of his frendes called Culeo perswaded him to put away his wife Iulia and vtterly to refuse Caesars frendshippe and to sticke againe to the Senate but he would none of that Notwithstanding he was contented to hearken vnto them that gaue him counsell to call Cicero home againe who was Clodius mortall enemie and in great fauor with the Senate Thereuppon he brought Ciceroes brother into the market place to moue the matter to the people with a great number of men about him where they fell to blowes and diuers were slaine of either side notwithstanding he ouer came Clodius Thus Cicero being called home by decree of the people when he was come he brought Pompey againe in fauor with the Senate and standing with the lawe propounded to geue Pompey authoritie to cause corne to be brought to ROME he once againe made him haue power both by land and sea ouer all the territories of the ROMANES For all the hauens martes fayres all store houses for corne yea moreouer all the trade of marchandise and tillage came vnder Pompeys hands Then Clodius accusing him sayd that the Senate had not made this law for the dearth of vittells but that they made a dearth of vittells bicause the lawe should passe to reuiue Pompeys power and authority againe that was almost vnder foote Other say that this was a deuise of Leutulus Spinther the Consull who gaue Pompey the greater authoritie bicause he might be sent to put king Ptolomy againe into his kingdom This notwithstanding Canidius the Tribune preferred an other law to send Pompey without an army with two sergeaunts only to cary the axes before him to bring Ptolomy in fauor againe with the ALEXANDRIANS This law seemed not to mislike Pompey but the Senate with honest colour put by this lawe as being affrayed least Pompeys person should miscary in so doing Neuerthelesse litle papers were found throwen about the market place and the Senate house declaringe that Ptolomy desired Pompey might come to aide him in Spinthres stead Timagenes wryteth notwithstanding that Ptolomy went vnto ROME left AEGYPT without any occasion geuen him at the perswasion of Theophanes who perswaded him to doe so bicause he would geue Pompey occasion to make newe warres But Theophanes craft and suttilty made not this matter so credible as Pompeys wit and good nature made it altogether vntrue for his ambitiō was nothing so vile nor ill as that was So Pompey hauing now full authority to cause corne to be brought to ROME he sent then his Lieutenauntes and frendes abroade and him selfe in person went into SICILE Nowe being ready to returne againe there rose such a storme of winde in the sea that the mariners were in dout to way their anckers But him selfe first imbarked and commaunded them straight to hoyse sayle crying out alowde it is of necessitie I must goe but not to liue So through his boldnes and good spirite vsing the good fortune he had he filled all the places of marte and markets with come and all the sea besides with shippes insomuch the plenty he brought did not only furnishe the city of ROME but all their neighbours also about them and came like a liuely spring that dispersed it selfe through all ITALIE About that time the great conquestes that Caesar made in GAVLE did set him aloft For when they thought that he was occupied in warres farre from ROME with the BELGEANS SWISSES and Englishmen ◠he by secret practise was in the middest among the people at ROME most against Pompey in the waightiest affayres of the common wealth For he had the power of an armie about his person which he did harden with paines and continuall practise not with intent to fight onely against the barbarous people for the battells he had with them were in maner but as a hunting sporte by the which he made him selfe inuincible and dreadfull to the worlde But furthermore by the infinite gold siluer and the incredible spoiles and treasure which he wan apon the enemies whom he had ouercome and by sending great presentes also to ROME to the Ediles Praetors Consulls and their wiues he purchased him many frendes Therefore after he had passed ouer the Alpes againe and was come to winter in the city of LVCA ◠world of people both men and women and of the Senate them selues almost two hundred persons and amongest them Crassus and Pompey by name went out of ROME vnto him Furthermore there were seene at Caesars gate sixe score sergeauntes carying axes before Praetors or Proconsulls So Caesar sent euery one backe againe either full of money or good wordes but with Pompey and Crassus he made a matche that they two together should sue to be Consulls and that he him selfe would send them good aide to ROME at the daye of election to geue their voyces And if they were thosen that they should then practise by decree of the people to haue the gouernmentes of some newe prouinces and armies assigned them and withall that they should adiorne the gouernment of those prouinces he had for fiue yeares more This packe being bewrayed and spred abroad through ROME the honestest sorte misliked much thereof Wherupon Marcellinus at an open assembly of the people did aske them both if they would sue for the Consulship at the next election So they being vrged by the people to make aunswere Pompey spake first and said peraduenture he would peraduenture not Crassus aunswered more gently that he would doe that which should be best for the common wealth Then Marcellinus sharpely inueying against Pompey he angrily againe cast him in the teeth said that Marcellinus was the ranckest churle and the vnthankefullest beast in the world for that of a dumme man he had made him eloquent and being in maner starued and famished many a time he had filled his bellie This notwithstanding diuers that before were determined to sue for the Consulship went no further in it sauing Lucius Domitius whom Cato counselled and incoraged not to geue it ouer for said he thou doest not contend for the Consulship but to defend the common libertie of thy contry against two tyrannes Pompey therefore fearing Catoes faction least that hauing all the Senates good willes he should drawe also the best parte of the people after him thought it not good to suffer Domitius to come into the market place To this ende therefore he sent men armed against him who at the first onset slue the torche bearer that caryed the torche before him and made all the rest flie amongest whom also Cato was the last man that retired who was hurt in his
greatest ruffe he secretly caused images of Marius to be made and of victories that caried triumphes and those he set vp one night within the Capitol The next morning when euery man saw the glistering of these golden images excellently well wrought shewing by the inscriptions that they were the victories which Marius had wonne apon the CIMBRES euery one marueled much at the boldnes of him that durst set them vp there knowing well enough who it was Hereuppon it ranne straight through all the citie and euerie man came thither to see them Then some cried out apon Caesar and sayd it was a tyranny which he ment to set vp by renuing of such honors as before had bene troden vnder foote and forgotten by common decree and open proclamation and that it was no more but a baite to gage the peoples good wils which he had set out in the stately shewes of his cōmon playes to see if he had brought them to his lure that they would abide such partes to be played and a new alteracion of things to be made They of Marius faction on thother side incoraging one an other shewed them selues straight a great nūber gathered together and made the mount of the Capitoll ring againe with their cries and clapping of handes insomuch as the teares ranne downe many of their cheekes for very ioy when they sawe the images of Marius and they extolled Caesar to the skies iudging him the worthiest man of all the kinred of Marius The Senate being assembled thereuppon Catulus Luctatius one of the greatest authoritie at that time in ROME rose and vehemently inueyed against Caesar and spake that then which euer since hath bene noted much that Caesar did not now couertly go to worke but by plaine force sought to alter the state of the common wealth Neuerthelesse Caesar at that time aunswered him so that the Senate was satisfied Thereupon they that had him in estimacion did grow in better hope then before perswaded him that hardily he shoulde geue place to no man and that through the good will of the people he should be better than all they and come to be the chiefest man of the citie At that time the chiefe Bishoppe Metellus dyed and two of the notablest men of the citie and of greatest authoritie Isauricus and Catulus contended for his roome Caesar notwithstanding their contention would geue neither of them both place but presented him selfe to the people and made sute for it as they did The sute being equall betwext either of them Catulus bicause he was a man of greater calling and dignitie than the other doubting the vncertaintie of the election sent vnto Caesar a good summe of money to make him leaue of his sute But Caesar sent him word againe that he would lend a greater summe then that to maintaine the sute against him When the day of thelection came his mother bringing him to the dore of his house Caesar weeping kissed her and sayd Mother this day thou shalt see thy sonne chiefe Bishoppe of ROME or banished from ROME In fine when the voyces of the people were gathered together and the strife well debated Caesar wanne the victorie and made the Senate and noble men all affrayed of him for that they thought that thenceforth he would make the people do what he thought good Then Catulus and Piso fell flatly out with Cicero and condemned him for that he did not bewray Caesar when he knew that he was of conspiracie with Catiline and had oportunitie to haue done it For when Catiline was bent and determined not onely to ouerthrow the state of the common wealth but vtterly to destroy the Empire of ROME he scaped out of the handes of iustice for lacke of sufficient proofe before his full treason and determination was knowen Notwithstanding he left Lentulus and Cethegus in the citie companions of his conspiracie vnto whom whether Caesar did geue any secret helpe or comfort it is not well knowen Yet this is manifest that when they were conuinced in open Senate Cicero being at that time Consul asking euery mans opinion in the Senate what punishment they should haue and euery one of them till it came to Caesar gaue sentence they should dye Caesar then rising vp to speake made an oration penned and premeditated before and sayd that it was neither lawefull nor yet their custome did beare it to put men of such nobilitie to death but in an extremitie without lawefull inditement and condemnation And therefore that if they were put in prison in some citie of ITALIE where Cicero thought best vntill that Catiline were ouerthrowen the Senate then might at their pleasure quietly take such order therein as might best appeare vnto their wisedoms This opinion was thought more gentle and withall was vttered with such a passing good grace and eloquence that not only they which were to speake after him did approue it but such also as had spoken to the contrarie before reuoked their opinion and stucke to his vntil it came to Cato and Catulus to speake They both did sharpely inuey against him but Cato chiefly who in his oration made Caesar suspected to be of the conspiracie and stowtly spake against him insomuch that the offenders were put into the hands of the officers to be put to death Caesar comming out of the Senate a company of young men which garded Cicero for the safetie of his person did sette apon him with their swordes drawen But some say that Curio couered Caesar with his gowne and tooke him one of their handes And Cicero selfe when the young men looked apon him beckened with his head that they should not kil him either feating the fury of the people or els that no thought it too shamefull and wicked a parte But if that were true I maruell why Cicero did not put in into his booke he wrote of his Consulshippe But certainly they blamed him afterwards for that he tooke not the oportunitie offered him against Caesar onely for ouermuch feare of the people that loued him verie dearely For shortly after when Caesar went into the Senate to cleere him selfe of certaine presumptions and false accusations obiected against him and being bitterly taunted among them the Senate keeping him lenger then they were wont the people came about the counsell house and called out alowde for him hidding them let him out Cato then fearing the insurrection of the poore needie persons which were they that put all their hope in Caesar and did also mone the people to sturre did perswade the Senate to make a franke distribucion of corne vnto them for a moneth This distribucion did put the common wealth to a new charge of fiue hundred fiftie Myriades This counsell quenched a present great feare and did in happie time scatter and disperse abroade the best parte of Caesars force and power at such time as he was made Praetor and that for respect of his office he was most to be
aduersitie in their teeth and he that telleth them plainly of their faultes seemeth also to despise them For like as honnie sweete by nature applied vnto woundes doth bring both smart and paine euen so sharpe wordes though profitable doe bite the vnfortunate man if they be not tempered with discretion curtesie And therefore Homer the Poet calleth swete and pleasaunt thinges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as yeelding and not striuing with contrariety against that parte of the minde whereby we be angrie and froward For euen as sore eyes doe like to looke on blacke and darke colours and can not abide the bright and glaring so in a city where for want of foresight and gouernment things goe not well men be so diuers and vnwilling to heare of their owne fault and estate that they had rather continue in their follie and daunger then by sharpnes of words to be rebuked and restored So that it being impossible to amend one fault with a greater that common wealth must be in great daunger that when it hath most nede of helpe is lothest to receiue any and he also hazardeth him selfe that plainly telleth them their faultes Like as therefore the Mathematician sayth that the sunne doth not altogether follow the motion of the highest heauen nor yet is moued directly contrary but fetching a compase a litle ouerthwart maketh an oblique circle and by variety of approching and departing preserueth all things kepeth the world in good temperature Euen so too seuere gouernment contrarying the peoples mindes in all things is not good as also it is maruelous daungerous not to correct offendors when they offend for feare of the peoples displeasure But the meane sometime to yeelde vnto the people to make them the more willing to obey and to graunt them things of pleasure to demaund of them againe things profitable that is a good way to gouerne men the better by For by gentle meanes they are brought to doe many profitable things when they seeke it not of them by rigor authority In deede this meane is very hard to be obserued bicause authority is hardly tempered with lenity But when they meete together there is no harmony more musicall nor concordance more perfit then that and therfore it is said that thereby God doth gouerne the world working rather a voluntary then a forced obediēce in men But this fault of seuerenes was in Cato the younger for he could not fashion him selfe to the peoples maners neither did they like his neither did he win his estimacion in the common wealth by flattering of them And therefore Cicero sayd that he was put by the Consulship for that he behaued him selfe as though he liued in the common wealth deuised by Plato not amongest the disordered and corrupt posterity of Romulus Me thinketh I can liken him properly vnto vntimely frute the which though men doe take pleasure to see and wonder at yet they eate them not Euen so the auncient simplicity of Catoes maner hauing so long time bene out of vse comming then to shew it selfe in that corrupt time ill maners of the city was in deede much praiseworthy but yet not the conuenientest nor the fittest for him bicause it aunswered nor respected not the vse and maners of his time For he found not his contry as Phocion did vtterly destroyed but tossed in a daungerous tempest being not of authority like the pilot to take the sterne in hand gouerne the shippe he tooke him selfe to tricking the failes and preparing the tacle so to assist men of greater power And yet being in no greater place he so thwarted fortune which seemed to haue sworne the ouerthrowe of the estate of ROME that with much a doe with great difficulty a long time after she executed her malice And yet the common wealth had almost gotten the victory of her by meanes of Cato his vertue with whom I doe compare the vertue of Phocion who yet in my opinion were not in all thinges alike neither in their honesty nor policy of gouernment For there is difference betwext manhood manhood as there was betwext that of Alcibiades and that of Epaminondas betwext wisedom wisedom as betwext that of Aristides that of Themistocles betwext iustice iustice as betwext that of Numa that of Agesilaus But the vertues of these men to him that shall superficially regard slightly consider them seeme all one in quality in maner vse both alike in temperance of curtesie with seuerity manhood with wisdom a vigilant care for others with presence of corage security of mind for them selues abhorting all filthines corruption imbrasing cōstancy loue of iustice that for any man to discerne the difference betwene thē it requireth an excellent good wit iudgement Now touching Cato euery man knoweth that he was of a noble house as we wil shew you hereafter in his life but for Phocion I gesse he came of no base parentage For if he had bene the sonne of a spoonemaker as Idomeneus testifieth Glancippus the sonne of Hyperides hauing in an inuectiue he wrote against him rehersed all the mischiefes he could of him he would not haue forgotte to haue vpbraid him with his base parētage neither he him self also if that had bene true had bene so well brought vp as he was For when he was but a young man he was Platoes scholler and afterwards Xenocrates scholler in the schoole of Academia and so euen from his first beginning he gaue him selfe to followe them that were learned For as Duris writeth neuer ATHENIAN saw him weepe nor laugh nor washe him selfe in any common bathe nor his hands out of his sleeues when he ware a long gowne For when he went to the warres he would alwaies goe afoote and neuer wore gowne vnles it were extreame cold and then the souldiers to mocke him withall would say it was a signe of a sharpe winter when they sawe Phocion in his gowne Nowe though in deede he was very curteous and gentle of nature yet he had such a grymme looke withall that no man had any desire to talke with him but such as were of his familliar acquaintance And therefore when Chares the Orator one day mocked him for the bending of his browes and that the ATHENIANS fell in a laughter withall My Maisters q Phocion the bending of my browes haue done you no hurt but the foolery and laughing of these flatterers haue made ye oftentymes to weepe Furthermore his maner of speech was very profitable for the good sentences and counsells he vttered but it was mixed with an imperious austere and bitter shortnes For as Zeno the Philosopher sayeth that the wise man should temper his wordes with witte and reason before he vtter them euen so was Phocions speech the which in few words comprehended much matter And thereupon it seemeth that Polyeuctus SPHETTIAN sayd that Demosthenes was an excellent Orator but
seruice Philip the father of Martia was that yeare Consul so that after a sorte the authoritie of the Consul was in Cato bicause Lentulus colleague and fellowe Consul with Philip did no lesse reuerence Cato for his vertues then Philip did for his allyance with him Furthermore when Cicero was restored agayne from his banishment the which Fublius Clodius beeing then Tribune of the people had put apon him and beeing agayne growen to great credit he went one day into the Capitoll in the absence of Clodius by force to take awaye the tables which Clodius had consecrated there in the which were comprised all his doings during the tyme he was Tribune Thereuppon the Senate beeing assembled Clodius did accuse Cicero of this violent facte Cicero aunswered him agayne that bicause Clodius was chosen Tribune directly against the lawe therefore all his doings were voyde and of no validitie Then stoode vppe Cato and sayde he knewe that all that which Clodius did when he was Tribune was scantly good and allowable but yet if generally any man shoulde vndoe all that he had passed by that authoritie then all that he him selfe had done likewise in CYPRVS must of necessitie bee reuoked For the commission that was graunted vnto him by vertue whereof he had done thinges shoulde be vnlawfull bicause the Tribune also that did graunt it him was not lawfully chosen And therefore that Publius Clodius was not made Tribune agaynst the lawe who by consent of the lawe was taken out from a noble house and made a populer person howbeit if he had behaued him selfe vnduetifully in his office as other men that happely had offended then he was to be accused to make him mend his faulte and not to destroye the authoritie of the officer which in it selfe was lawfull After that there sell misliking betwixt Cicero and Cato for this counter buffe he had giuen him and Cicero continued a long tyme after before he did shewe him any countenaunce of friendshippe as he had at other tymes done But afterwardes they were reconciled together agayne by this occasion Pompey and Craessus hauing bene with Caesar to talke with him who for that purpose came out of GAVLE beyond the Alpes made an agreement there betwixt them to demaund the second Consulship together and when they had it then to proroge Caesars gouernment for fiue yeares more and also they woulde haue the best prouinces and greatest for them selues with great armies and money enough to paye them with This was in deede a playne conspiracie to deuide the Empire of ROME betweene them and vtterly to ouerthrow the state of the common wealth At that time there were many noble men which came to make sute for the Consulship But when they sawe Pompey and Craessus offer to make sute for it all the reste gaue ouer but Lucius Domitius that had maryed Porcia Catoes sister through whose perswasion he woulde not relinguishe his sute considering that it was not the office onely of the Consulship that was the chiefest matter of importance but the libertie of the Senate and people Straight there ranne a rumor through the most parte of the people that they were not to suffer Pompeys power to be ioyned with Craessus by meanes of this office for then his authoritie woulde bee too great and stronge and therefore that of necessitie one of these two were to bee denyed For this cause therefore the good men tooke Domitius parte and did encourage him to goe on with his sute assuring him of ayde vnder hande of diuers which durst not bee seene openly for feare of those two great men who at the daye of the election would procure him voyces in his fauour Pompey and Craessus mistrusting this made Domitius bee sette vppon going with torche light before daye into the fielde of Mars where the election was alwayes made and firt striking the torche bearer that went before him they hurt him so sore that he fell downe deade at his feete Then they layed at the rest in like case who finding them selues cruelly hurt ranne awaye euery man of them and left Domitius and Cato post alone But Cato notwithstanding he was hurt in one of his armes still helde Domitius fast and prayed him to tary and not to leaue to defende the libertie of their contrie agaynst tyrants which playnely shewed after what manner they woulde gouerne sithe by suche wicked meanes they aspyred to tyrannicall gouernment All this notwithstanding Domitius woulde tarye no lenger but betooke him to his legges and raune home Thus were Craessus and Pompey without deny all proclaymed Consuls Cato neuer yeelded therefore but came and sued to bee Praetor bicause that thereby he might yet make it some strength and countenaunce to him against their Consulshippe that beeing no priuate person he shoulde haue some better authoritie to resist them that were the chiefest persons But they fearing that the Praetorshippe by the estimacion of Cato woulde come to equall their authoritie of the Consulshippe first assembled the Senate the most parte of the Senators not hearing of it and in that assemblye caused the Senate to decree that all suche as were chosen Praetors shoulde presently goe to their charge not attending the tyme and libertie appoynted by the lawe during which tyme men might accuse those which had bought the voyces of the people with money Then hauing by this culler and decree sette yll doers at libertie without feare of punishment they pretending to vse corruption did preferre some of their owne Ministers to make sute for the Praetorshippe them selues giuing money to corrupt the people and beeing present also at the election But notwithstanding all these practises the vertue and reputacion of Cato ouercame them For the people had him in so great reuerence that they thought it too shamefull a parte to sell Cato by voyces who deserued rather to bee hyered to take the Praetorshippe apon him Then the first Tribe beeing called to giue their voyces declared him Praetor Pompey seeing that straight brake of the assemblye making a shamefull lye telling that he heard it thunder the which the ROMANES doe maruelously detest and will conclude nothing when it thundereth Howebeit afterwardes they gaue more money then they had done before and thereby draue awaye the chiefest men out of the fielde of Mars and by practise obtayned that Vatinius was chosen Praetor for Cato And the reporte went that they that had so wickedly giuen their voyces feeling them selues pricked in conscience fledde immediatly out of the fielde and the honest men that remayned were both very sory and angrie for the iniurie they had offered Cato At that tyme one of the Tribunes keeping an assemblye of the citie Cato stoode vppe and tolde as if he had prophecied before them all what woulde happen to the common wealth by these practises and stirred vppe the people agaynst Pompey and Caesar saying that they were giltye of those thinges and therefore procured them to bee done bicause they were
be the better beliked and to be fine and trimme in his apparell and to cast vpon him a plaine spanish cape taking pleasure in the dyet bathes and manner of the auncient LACONIAN life and openly boasted besides that he would not desire to be king but onely for the hope he had to restore the auncient LACONIAN life by his authority Then began the state of LACEDAEMON first to be corrupted and to leaue her auncient discipline when the LACEDAEMONIANS hauing subdued the Empire of the ATHENIANS stored them selues contry both with plenty of gold siluer But yet reseruing still the lands left vnto them by succession from their fathers according vnto Lycurgus first ordinaunce institucion for diuision of the landes amongest them which ordinaunce and equalitie being inuiolably kept amongest them did yet preserue the common wealth from defamation of diuers other notorious crimes Vntil the time of the authoritie of Epitadeus one of the Ephores a seditious man and of prowde conditions who bitterly falling out with his own sonne preferred a law that euery man might lawfully giue his landes and goods whilest he liued or after his death by testament vnto any man whom he liked or thought well of Thus this man made this law to satisfie his anger others also did confirme it for couetousnes sake and so ouerthrew a noble ordinaunce For the riche men then began to buy lands of numbers and so transferred it from the right lawful heires whereby a few men in short time being made very riche immediatly after there fell out great pouertie in the citie of SPARTA which made all honest sciences to cease brought in thereuppon vnlawfull occupacions who enuyed them that were wealthy Therefore there remayned not aboue seuen hundred naturall Citizens of SPARTA in all of them not aboue a hundred that had lands and inheritance for all the rest were poore people in the citie and were of no countenaunce nor calling besides that went vnwillingly to the warres against their enemies looking euery day for sturre and chaunge in the citie Agis therefore thinking it a notable good acte as in deede it was to replenish the citie of SPARTA againe and to bringe in the old equalitie he moued the matter vnto the Citizens He found the youth against all hope to giue good eare vnto him and very well giuen vnto vertue easily chaunging their garments life to recouer their libertie againe But the oldest men which were now euen rotten with couetousnes and corruption they were affraid to returne againe to the straight ordinaunces of Lycurgus as a slaue and ronneagate from his Maister that trembleth when he is brought back againe vnto him Therefore they reproued Agis when he did lament before them their present miserable estate and wishe also for the former auncient honor and true dignitie of SPARTA Howbeit Lysander the sonne of Lybis and Mandroclidas the sonne of Esphanes and Agesilaus also greatly commended his noble desire and perswaded him to goe forward withall This Lysander was of great authoritie and estimation amongest them in the citie Mandroclidas was also very wise and carefull about any matter of counsell and with his wisedom and policy very valiant Agesilaus in like manner the kings Vncle and an eloquent man was very effeminate and couetous and yet prickt forward to giue his furtherance to this attempt as it appeared by his sonne Hippomedon who was a notable good souldier and could doe very much by meanes of the loue and good will the younge men did beare him But in deede the secret cause that brought Agesilaus to consent vnto this practise was the greatnes of his dette which he ought of the which he hoped to be discharged by chaunging of the state and common wealth Now when Agis had wonne him he fought by his meanes to drawe his mother also vnto the matter which was Agesilaus sister She could doe very much by the number of her friendes followers and detters in the citie by whose meanes she ruled the most part of the affayres of the citie after her owne pleasure But the young man Hippomedon making her priuie vnto it at the first she was amased withall and bad him hold his peace if he were wise and not medle in matters vnpossible and vnprofitable But when Agesilaus had told her what a notable acte it would be and how easily it might be brought to passe with maruelous great profit and that king Agis beganne also to strayne her with great intreatie that she would willingly depart with her goods to winne her sonne honor and glory who though he could not in money and riches come to be like vnto other kinges bicause the slaues and factors onely of the kinges Seleucus and Ptolomy had more money then all the kings of SPARTA had together that euer raigned yet if in temperance thriftines noble mind exceeding all their vanities he could come to restore the LACEDAEMONIANS againe vnto equalitie that then in deede he should be counted a noble king These women being stirred vp with ambition by these perswasions of the younge man seeing him so nobly bent as if by the goddes their mindes had secretly bene inflamed with the loue of vertue did presently alter their mindes in such sort that they them selues did pricke forward Agis and sent for their friends to pray and intreate them to fauor his enterprise and furthermore they brought on other women also knowing that the LACEDAEMONIANS did euer heare and beleeue their wiues suffering them to vnderstand more of the affayres of the state then they them selues did of their priuate estate at home Herein is to be considered that the most part of the riches of LACEDAEMON was in the handes of the women and therefore they were against it not onely bicause thereby they were cut of from their finenes and excesse in the which being ignorant of the true good in deede they put all their felicitie but also bicause they sawe their honor and authoritie which they had by their riches cleane troden vnder foote Therefore they comming to Leonidas they did perswade him to reproue Agis bicause he was elder man then he and to let that this enterprise went not forward Leonidas did what he could in fauour of the riche but fearing the common people who desired nothing but alteracion he durst not openly speake against him but secretly he did the best he could to hinder Agis practise talking with the Magistrates of the citie and accusing Agis vnto them he told them how he did offer the riche mens goods vnto the poore the diuision of their landes and the abolishing of all detts for rewarde to put the tyrannie into his handes and that thereby he got him a stronge gard vnto him selfe but not many Citizens vnto SPARTA This notwithstanding king Agis hauing procured Lysander to be chosen one of the Ephores he presently preferred his lawe vnto the counsell The articles whereof were these
onely temples of feare and death but also of laughter and of many other such passions of the minde They do worshippe Feare not as other spirites and deuills that are hurtfull but bicause they are perswaded that nothing preserueth a common wealth better then feare Wherefore the Ephori as Aristotle witnesseth when they are created doe by publicke proclamacion commaunde all the SPARTANS to shaue their chinnes and to obey the law least they should make them feele the rigour of the law They brought in the shauing of their chinnes in my opinion to inure yoūg men to obey the Magistrates euen in trifles Moreouer it seemes that men in olde time did esteeme fortitude to be no taking away of feare but rather a feare lothnes to incurre shame For commonly those that are most affrayed to offend the law are in the field most valliant against their enemie and shunne no perill to winne fame and honest reputacion And therefore it was wisely sayd of one That feare can not be vvithout shamefastnes And so Homer in a certaine place made Hellen say vnto king Priamus Of trueth I doe confesse deere father in lavv You are the man of vvhom I stand in avv And reuerence most of all that ere I savv And in an other place speaking of the GRAECIAN souldiers he sayth thus For feare of their Captaines they spake not a vvord For men do vse to reuerence them whom they feare And this was the cause why the chappell of Feare was by the halle of the Ephores hauing in maner a princely and absolute authoritie The next morning Cleomenes banished by trompet foure score citizens of SPARTA and ouerthrew all the chaires of the Ephores but one only the which he reserued for him selfe to sit in to geue audience Then calling the people to counsell he gaue them an account of his doings and told them that Lycurgus had ioyned the Senators with the kings how the citie had bene gouerned a long time by them without helpe of any other officers Notwithstanding afterwards the city hauing great warres with the MESSENIANS the kings being alwaies employed in that warre whereby they could not attend the affaires of the common wealth at home did choose certaine of their frendes to sitte in iudgement in their steades to determine controuersies of lawe which were called Ephores and did gouerne long time as the kinges ministers howbeit that afterwards by litle and litle they tooke apon them absolute gouernment by thēselues And for manifest proofe hereof you see that at this present time when the Ephori do send for the king the first and second time they refuse to come but the third time he riseth and goeth vnto them The first man that gaue the Ephores this authoritie was Asteropus one of the Ephores many yeares after the first institucion of the kinges and yet if they had gouerned discreetely peraduenture they might haue continued lenger But they licentiously abusing their authoritie by suppressing the lawfull Gouernors instituted of old time taking apon them to banish some of their kings and putting other of them also to death without law and iustice and threatning others that desire to restore that noble and former blessed gouernment vnto SPARTA againe all these things I say are in no wise to be suffered any lenger And therefore if it had bene possible to haue banished all these plagues of the common wealth out of SPARTA brought from forreine nations I meane pleasures pastimes money dets and vsuries and others yet more auncient pouerty and riches he might then haue esteemed him selfe the happiest king that euer was if like a good Phisitian he had cured his contrie of that infection without griefe or sorrow But in that he was constrained to beginne with blood he followed Lycurgus example who being neither king nor other Magistrate but a priuate citizen only taking apon him the authoritie of the king boldly came into the market place with force and armed men and made king Charilaus that then raigned so affrayed that he was driuen to take sanctuarie in one of the temples But the king being a Prince of a noble nature and louing the honor of his contrie tooke parte with Lycurgus adding to his aduise and counsell for the alteracion of the state of the gouernment of the common wealth which he did confirme Hereby then it appeareth that Lycurgus saw it was a hard thing to alter the common wealth without force and feare the which he notwithstanding had vsed with as great modestie and discretion as might be possible banishing them that were against the profit and wealth of LACEDAEMON geuing all the lands of the contrie also to be equally deuided amongest them and setting all men cleere that were in dette And furthermore that he would make a choyse and proofe of the straungers to make them free citizens of SPARTA whom he knew to be honest men thereby to defende their citie the better by force of armes to th end that from henceforth we may no more see our contrie of LACONIA spoyled by the AETOLIANS and ILLYRIANS for lacke of men to defende them selues against them Then he beganne first him selfe to make all his goods common and after him Megistonus his father in law and consequently all his other frendes Then he caused the lands also to be deuided and ordeined euery banished man a part whom he him selfe had exiled promising that he would receiue them againe into the city when he had established all things So when he had replenished the number of the citizens of SPARTA with the choycest honest men their neighbours he made foure thowsand footemen well armed and taught them to vse their pykes with both handes in steade of their dartes with one hande and to carie their targets with a good strong handle and not buckled with a leather thong Afterwardes he tooke order for the education of children and to restore the auncient LACONIAN discipline againe and did all these things in maner by the helpe of Sphaerus the Philosopher Insomuch as he had quickely set vp againe schoole houses for children and also brought them to the old order of dyet and all but a very fewe without compulsion were willing to fall to their old institucion of life Then bicause the name of one king should not offend any man he made his brother Euclidas king with him But this was the first time that euer the two kings were of one house but then Furthermore vnderstanding that the ACHAIANS and Aratus were of opinion that he durst not come out of LACEDAEMON for feare to leaue it in perill of reuolting bicause of the late chaunge and alteracion in the common wealth he thought it an honorable attempt of him to make his enemies see the readines and good will of his armie Thereupon he inuaded the territories of the MEGALOPOLITANS and brought away a great praye and booty after he had done great hurt vnto his enemies Then hauing taken certaine players
yet I am forbidden and kept from tearing murdering this captiue body of mine with blowes which they carefully gard and keepe onely to triumphe of thee looke therefore henceforth for no other honors offeringes nor sacrifices from me for these are the last which Cleopatra can geue thee sith nowe they carie her away Whilest we liued together nothing could seuer our companies but now at our death I feare me they will make vs chaunge our contries For as thou being a ROMANE hast bene buried in AEGYPT euen so wretched creature I an AEGYPTIAN shall be buried in ITALIE which shall be all the good that I haue receiued by thy contrie If therefore the gods where thou art now haue any power and authoritie sith our gods here haue forsaken vs suffer not thy true frend and louer to be caried away aliue that in me they triumphe of thee but receiue me with thee and let me be buried in one selfe tombe with thee For though my griefes and miseries be infinite yet none hath grieued me more nor that I could lesse beare withall then this small time which I haue bene driuē to liue alone without thee Then hauing ended these doleful plaints and crowned the tombe with garlands and sundry nosegayes and maruelous louingly imbraced the same she commaunded they should prepare her bath and when she had bathed and washed her selfe she fell to her meate and was sumptuously serued Nowe whilest she was at dinner there came a contrieman and brought her a basket The souldiers that warded at the gates asked him straight what he had in his basket He opened the basket and tooke out the leaues that couered the figges and shewed them that they were figges he brought They all of them maruelled to see so goodly figges The contrieman laughed to heare them and bad them take some if they would They beleued he told them truely and so bad him carie them in After Cleopatra had dined she sent a certaine table written and sealed vnto Caesar and commaunded them all to go out of the tombes where she was but the two women then she shut the dores to her Caesar when he receiued this table and began to read her lamentation and petition requesting him that he would let her be buried with Antonius founde straight what she ment and thought to haue gone thither him selfe howbeit he sent one before in all hast that might be to see what it was Her death was very sodaine For those whom Caesar sent vnto her ran thither in all hast possible found the souldiers standing at the gate mistrusting nothing nor vnderstanding of her death But when they had opened the dores they founde Cleopatra starke dead layed vpon a bed of gold attired and araied in her royall robes and one of her two women which was called Iras dead at her feete and her other woman called Charmion halfe dead and trembling trimming the Diademe which Cleopatra ware vpon her head One of the souldiers seeing her angrily sayd vnto her is that well done Charmion Verie well sayd she againe and meete for a Princes discended from the race of so many noble kings She sayd no more but fell downe dead hard by the bed Some report that this Aspicke was brought vnto her in the basket with figs that she had cōmaunded them to hide it vnder the figge leaues that when she shoulde thinke to take out the figges the Aspicke shoulde bite her before she should see her howbeit that when shew would haue taken away the leaues for the figges she perceiued it and said art thou here then And so her arme being naked she put it to the Aspicke to be bitten Other say againe she kept it in a boxe and that she did pricke and thrust it with a spindell of golde so that the Aspicke being angerd withall lept out with great furie and bitte her in the arme Howbeit sewe can tell the troth For they report also that she had hidden poyson in a hollow raser which she caried in the heare of her head and yet was there no marke seene of her bodie or any signe discerned that she was poysoned neither also did they finde this serpent in her tombe But it was reported onely that there were seene certeine fresh steppes or trackes where it had gone on the tombe side toward the sea and specially by the dores side Some say also that they found two litle pretie bytings in her arme scant to be discerned the which it seemeth Caesar him selfe gaue credit vnto bicause in his triumphe he caried Cleopatraes image with an Aspicke byting of her arme And thus goeth the report of her death Now Caesar though he was maruelous sorie for the death of Cleopatra yet he wondred at her noble minde and corage and therefore commaunded she should be nobly buried and layed by Antonius and willed also that her two women shoulde haue honorable buriall Cleopatra dyed being eight and thirtie yeare olde after she had raigned two and twenty yeres and gouerned aboue foureteene of them with Antonius And for Antonius some say that he liued three and fiue yeares and others say six and fiftie All his statues images and mettalls were plucked downe and ouerthrowen sauing those of Cleopatra which stoode still in their places by meanes of Archibius one of her frendes who gaue Caesar a thowsande talentes that they should not be handled as those of Antonius were Antonius left seuen children by three wiues of the which Caesar did put Antyllus the eldest sonne he had by Fuluia to death Octauia his wife tooke all the rest and brought them vp with hers and maried Cleopatra Antonius daughter vnto king Iuba a maruelous curteous goodly Prince And Antonius the sonne of Fuluia came to be so great that next vnto Agrippa who was in greatest estimacion about Caesar and next vnto the children of Liuia which were the second in estimacion he had the third place Furthermore Octauia hauing had two daughters by her first husband Marcellus and a sonne also called Marcellus Caesar maried his daughter vnto that Marcellus and so did adopt him for his sonne And Octauia also maried one of her daughters vnto Agrippa But when Marcellus was deade after he had bene maried a while Octauia perceiuing that her brother Caesar was very busie to choose some one among his frends whom he trusted best to make his sonne in law she perswaded him that Agrippa should mary his daughter Marcellus widow and leaue her owne daughter Caesar first was contented withall and then Agrippa and so she afterwards tooke away her daughter and maried her vnto Antonius and Agrippa maried Iulia Caesars daughter Now there remained two daughters more of Octauia and Antonius Domitius AEnobarbus maried the one and the other which was Antonia so fayer and vertuous a young Ladie was maried vnto Drusus the sonne of Liuia and sonne in law of Caesar. Of this mariage came Germanicus and Clodius of the which Clodius afterwards
glad of it passed it ouer with laughing and told him that had brought them vnto him doest thou not see that of all these thou hast brought me there is not an honest woman but she After that Cyrus began to make muche of her and loued her better continually then all the rest called her Aspasia the wise This Aspasia was taken among the spoiles of Cyrus campe after he was ouerthrowen and Darius as we haue told ye did begge her of his father who was verie angrie with it in his mind For the barbarous people of all other things are maruelous gealous of their women so that not onely he should be put to death that durst but speake to or touch any concubine of the kings but in sport but also whosoeuer came nere them or neere their coches as they trauelled The kings daughter Atossa whom he had maried against all lawe was yet liuing and besides her he had also three hundred and three score passing fayer concubines and yet when his sonne Darius asked Aspasia of him the king aunswered she was a free woman borne and therefore if she woulde he was content he should haue her but if she were vnwilling to goe to him then he would not haue him force her by no meanes So Aspasia was sent for and she was asked with whom she had rather be She answered with Darius contrarie to king Artaxerxes expectacion who both by the custome and also the law was compelled to let him haue her But shortly after he tooke her from him againe saying that he woulde place her in a Nunrie of Diana in the contrie of ECBATANE where they call her Anitis there to serue the goddesse and to liue chast all the daies of her life supposing by this meanes to punish his sonne not rigorously but moderatly with griefe mixt with sporte and earnest Howebeit his sonne tooke it not so pacientlie either bicause he was deepelie in loue with Aspasia or else for that he saw his father mocked him in that point Tiribazus finding this and perceiuing that Darius tooke it verie grieuouslie he aggrauated his anger against his father knowing the passion of loue in Darius by his owne vpon the like occasion King Artaxerxes had many daughters and had promised Pharnabazus one of them called Apama vnto Orontes Rodogoune and to Tiribazus Amestris The king performed the other two mariages did put Tiribazus by his wife For the king him selfe maried his owne daughter Amestris and for her he promised Tiribazus the younger Atossa with whom also he him selfe fell in loue and maried her Tiribazus hereupon was in such a rage with the king that he hated him to the death not bicause he was any traitor or seditious man in nature but a madde harebrained fellow For sometime he was aloft and in as good credit and authoritie as the best sodainly againe he woulde play some madde parte to anger the king and then he was in as much disgrace and out of countenaunce and could not away with neither fortune For when he was in authoritie he made euerie man hate him for his pride and being in disgrace he could not humble him selfe but looke bigger then before Nowe there was fire and brimstone met when Tiribazus tooke parte with Darius For he dayly blewe into his eares that it was to no purpose for him to weare his hat right vp if his affaires also went not rightly forward and that he deceiued him selfe much if he did not know that his brother by meanes of the women he kept secretlie aspired to the crowne and that his father being so vnconstant as he was he must not trust in any sorte to succeede his father in the kingdome what proclamation soeuer he hath made in his behalfe to the contrarie For sayd he he that for a GRAECIAN woman hath broken and violated the holiest lawe that was in PERSIA thou must not looke that he will performe that he hath promised thee And furthermore he perswaded him that it was not a like repulse vnto Ochus to be denied that which he looked for as it was for him to be turned out of all that euer he had gotten For sayd he if it please Ochus to liue like a priuate man he may safelie doe it and no man will trouble him but for him selfe that was alreadie proclaimed king he must of necessitie make him selfe king or else he must not liue So the Poet Sophocles his saying most commonly proueth true Ill counsell eazly takes place For the way is large and plaine for a man to beleeue as he lyst and men commonly are giuen rather to beleue the euill then the good bicause most men know not what goodnes meaneth But now beside these perswasions the greatnes of the kingdome and the feare Darius stoode in of his brother Ochus tooke great force and effect with him and it may be also that Venus her selfe did somewhat in the matter for the malice and spight that Aspasia was taken from him But whatsoeuer the cause was thus was it handled that Darius flatly conspired against his father Artaxerxes together with Tiribazus Now they hauing gotten many conspirators to ioyne with them one of the kings Euenukes perceiuing it ranne and told the king of it and howe they had sodainly determined to assaile him knowing certainly that it was agreed among them selues that they should kill him in his bedde in the night Artaxerxes receiuing this aduertisement thought it was not good to be carelesse of a matter of so great importaunce as his life and also that it were too great lightnes in him so sodainly to beleue his Euenuke without better proofe or knowledge So he tooke this way with him selfe He commaunded the Euenuke that had geuen him this informacion to keepe companie still with the conspirators to follow them wheresoeuer they went to see their doings and in the meane time he bet downe his wall behind his bed and made a dore thorowe and set vp a hanging of tapistrie before it When the time was come as the Euenuke had aduertised the king that the traitors ment to doe their feate Artaxerxes being layed on his bedde rose not vp till he had seene euerie traitor of them in the face that came to kill him Then when he sawe them comming towards him with their swords drawen he sodainly lift vp the hanging and got in to his inner chamber shut the dore after him making an outcrie murder murder So the traitors being plainly seene and knowen by the king fled the same way they came and failed of their purpose and bad Tiribazus saue him selfe bicause he was knowen So they dispersed them selues and scaped by flying But Tiribazus was taken tardie although he had slaine diuers of the kings gard valliantly defending him selfe yet they tooke him not till he was striken with a dart a good way of which slewe him Darius was also taken and apprehended and brought prisoner with his sonnes and
one called Sophrosynè and the other Areté Of them Dionysius eldest sonne maried Sophrosynè and Areté was maried vnto his brother Thearides after whose death Dion maried her being his Nece Now when Dionysius her father fell sicke not likely to escape Dion would haue spoken with him for his children he had by his sister Aristomaché Howbeit the Phisitions about him to currie sauor with the next heire and successor of the tyrannie would neuer let him haue any time or oportunitie to speake with him For as Timaus writeth they gaue Dionysius the elder as he had commaunded them a strong opiat drinke to cast him in a sleepe and so thereby they tooke from him all his sences and ioyned death with his sleepe Notwithstanding in the first counsell and assemblie holden by his frendes to consult about the state and affaires of the younger Dionysius Dion moued matter so necessarie and profitable for that present time that by his wisedom he shewed they were all but children and by his bold and franke speach made them know that they were but slaues of the tyranny bicause they beastly and cowardly gaue suche counsell and aduise as might best please and feede the young tyrannes humor But he made them most to wonder at him when they fearing aboue all other thinges the daunger Dionysius state was in by reason of CARTHAGE he did promise them that if Dionysius would haue peace he would then goe foorthwith into AFRICKE and finde the meanes honorablie to quenche the warres or if otherwise he better liked of warre that he woulde furnishe him at his owne proper costes and charges fiftie gallies readie to rowe Dionysius wondered greatlie at the noble minde of Dion and thanked him muche for the good will he bare vnto him touching his estate But all men else taking Dions noble offer to be a reproach of their auarice and his credit and authoritie and impaire vnto theirs they presentlie vpon this liberall offer tooke occasion to accuse him not sparing any reproachefull wordes against him to moue Dionysius to be offended with him For they complayned of him and sayd that he cunninglie practised to possesse the tyrannie making him selfe strong by sea going about by his gallies to make the tyrannie fall into the handes of the children of Aristomaché his sister But the chiefest cause of all why they did malice and hate him was his straunge manner of life that he neither woulde keepe companie with them nor liue after their manner For they that from the beginning were crept in fauour and frendshippe with this younge euill brought vp tyranne by flattering of him and feeding him with vaine pleasures studied for no other thing but to enterteine him in loue matters and other vaine exercises as to riot and bancket to keepe light women companie and all suche other vile vicious pastimes and recreacions by the which the tyrannie became like iron softened by fire and seemed to be verie pleasaunt vnto the subiectes bicause the ouergreat Maiestie and seueritie thereof was somewhat milder not so muche by the bountie and goodnesse as by the follie and rechlesnes of the Lorde Thus this litle care and regarde increasing more and more still winning way with the young tyran did at length melt and breake a sunder those strong diamond chaines with the whiche Dionysius the elder made his boast that he left his Monarchie and tyrannie chained to his sonne For sometime he would be three dayes together without intermission still banketing and being dronke and all that time his Court gates were kept shut vnto graue and wise men and for all honest matters and was then full of dronkards of common playes dauncinges maskes and mommeries and full of all suche tromperie and dissolute pastimes And therefore Dion vndoubtedlie was muche enuied of them bicause he gaue him selfe to no sport nor pleasure whereupon they accused him and misnamed his vertues vices being somwhat to be resembled vnto them As in calling his grauetie pride his plainnes and boldnesse in his Oration obstinacie if he did perswade them that he accused them and bicause he would not make one in their fonde pastimes that therefore he despised them For to say truelie his manners by nature had a certeine hawtinesse of minde and seueritie and he was a sower man to be acquainted with whereby his companie was not onely troublesome but also vnplesaunt to this younger Dionysius whose eares were so fine that they could not away to heare any other thing but flatterie And furthermore diuers of his verie frendes and familiars that did like and commend his plaine manner of speache and noble minde they did yet reproue his sternenes and austere conuersation with men For it seemed vnto them that he spake too roughlie and delt ouerhardlie with them that had to doe with him and more then became a ciuill or curteous man And for proofe hereof Plato him selfe sometime wrote vnto him as if he had prophecied what shoulde happen that he should beware of obstinacie the companion of solitarinesse that bringeth a man in the ende to be forsaken of euerie one This notwithstanding they did more reuerence him at that time then any man else bicause of the state and gouernment and for that they thought him the onely man that coulde best prouide for the safetie and quietnesse of the tyrannie the which stoode then in tickle state Now Dion knew well enough that he was not so well taken and esteemed through the good will of the tyran as against his will and for the necessitie of the state and time So Dion supposing that ignoraunce and want of knowledge in Dionysius was the cause he deuised to put him into some honest trade or exercise and to teache him the liberall sciences to frame him to a ciuill life that thencefoorth he shoulde no more be affrayed of vertue and shoulde also take pleasure and delight in honest thinges For Dionysius of his owne nature was none of the worst sort of tyrans but his father fearing that if he came once to haue a feeling and conceite of him selfe or that he companied with wise and learned men he would go neere to enter into practise and put him out of his feate he euer kept him locked vp in a chamber and woulde suffer no man to speake with him Then the younger Dionysius hauing nothing else to do gaue himselfe to make litle chariots candlesticks chaires stooles and tables of wodde For his father Dionysius was so fearefull and mistrustfull of euerie bodie that he would suffer no man with a paire of barbers sissers to polle the heares of his head but caused an image maker of earth to come vnto him and with a hotte burning cole to burne his goodly bush of heare rounde about No man came into his chamber where he was with a gowne on his backe no not his owne brother nor sonne but he was driuen before he coulde come in to put of his gowne and
should kill them selues with their owne hands And when Cassius and certeine other clapped their handes on their swordes vnder their gownes to draw them Brutus marking the countenaunce and gesture of Laena and considering that he did vse him selfe rather like an humble and earnest suter then like an accuser he sayd nothing to his companion bicause there were many amongest them that were not of the conspiracie but with a pleasaunt countenaunce encouraged Cassius And immediatlie after Laena went from Caesar and kissed his hande which shewed plainlie that it was for some matter concerning him selfe that he had held him so long in talke Nowe all the Senators being entred first into this place or chapter house where the counsell should be kept all the other conspirators straight stoode about Caesars chaire as if they had had some thing to haue sayd vnto him And some say that Cassius casting his eyes vpon Pompeys image made his prayer vnto it as if it had bene aliue Trebonius on thother side drewe Antonius atoside as he came into the house where the Senate sate and helde him with a long talke without When Caesar was come into the house all the Senate rose to honor him at his comming in So when he was set the conspirators flocked about him amongst them they presented one Tullius Cimber who made humble sute for the calling home againe of his brother that was banished They all made as though they were intercessors for him and tooke him by the handes and kissed his head and brest Caesar at the first simplie refused their kindnesse and intreaties but afterwardes perceiuing they still pressed on him he violently thrust them from him Then Cimber with both his hands plucked Caesars gowne ouer his shoulders and Casca that stoode behinde him drew his dagger first and strake Caesar vpon the shoulder but gaue him no great wound Caesar feeling him selfe hurt tooke him straight by the hande he held his dagger in and cried out in Latin O traitor Casca what doest thou Casca on thother side cried in Graeke and called his brother to helpe him So diuers running on a heape together to flie vppon Caesar he looking about him to haue fledde sawe Brutus with a sworde drawen in his hande readie to strike at him then he let Cascaes hande goe and casting his gowne ouer his face suffered euerie man to strike at him that woulde Then the conspirators thronging one vpon an other bicause euerie man was desirous to haue a cut at him so many swords and daggers lighting vpon one bodie one of them hurte an other and among them Brutus caught a blowe on his hande bicause he would make one in murdering of him and all the rest also were euery man of them bloudied Caesar being slaine in this maner Brutus standing in the middest of the house would haue spoken and stayed the other Senators that were not of the conspiracie to haue tolde them the reason why they had done this facte But they as men both affrayd and amazed fled one vpon anothers necke in haste to get out at the dore and no man followed them For it was set downe and agreed betwene them that they should kill no man but Caesar onely and should intreate all the rest to looke to defend their libertie All the conspirators but Brutus determining vpon this matter thought it good also to kill Antonius bicause he was a wicked man and that in nature fauored tyranny besides also for that he was in great estimation with souldiers hauing bene conuersant of long time amongest them and specially hauing a mind bent to great enterprises he was also of great authoritie at that time being Consul with Caesar But Brutus would not agree to it First for that he sayd it was not honest secondly bicause he told them there was hope of chaunge in him For he did not mistrust but that Antonius being a noble minded and coragious man when he should knowe that Caesar was dead would willingly helpe his contry to recouer her libertie hauing them an example vnto him to follow their corage and vertue So Brutus by this meanes saued Antonius life who at that present time disguised him selfe and stale away But Brutus his consorts hauing their swords bloudy in their handes went straight to the Capitoll perswading the ROMANES as they went to take their libertie againe Now at the first time when the murther was newly done there were sodaine outcryes of people that ranne vp downe the citie the which in deede did the more increase the feare and tumult But when they saw they slue no man nether did spoyle or make hauock of any thing then certaine of the Senators many of the people imboldening them selues went to the Capitoll vnto them There a great number of men being assembled together one after another Brutus made an oration vnto them to winne the fauor of the people and to iustifie that they had done All those that were by sayd they had done well and cryed vnto them that they should boldly come downe from the Capitoll Whereuppon Brutus and his companions came boldly downe into the market place The rest followed in trowpe but Brutus went formost very honorably compassed in round about with the noblest men of the citie which brought him from the Capitoll thorough the market place to the pulpit for orations When the people saw him in the pulpit although they were a multitude of rakehells of all sortes and had a good will to make some sturre yet being ashamed to doe it for the reuerence they bare vnto Brutus they kept silence to heare what he would say When Brutus began to speake they gaue him quiet audience howbeit immediatly after they shewed that they were not all contented with the murther For when another called Cinna would haue spoken and began to accuse Caesar they fell into a great vprore among them and maruelously reuiled him Insomuch that the conspirators returned againe into the Capitol There Brutus being affrayd to be beseeged sent back againe the noble men that came thither with him thinking it no reason that they which were no partakers of the murther should be partakers of the daunger Then the next morning the Senate being assembled and holden within the temple of the goddesse Tellus to wete the earth and Antonius Plancus and Cicero hauing made a motion to the Senate in that assembly that they should take an order to pardon and forget all that was past and to stablishe friendship and peace againe it was decreed that they should not onely be pardoned but also that the Consuls should referre it to the Senate what honors should be appoynted vnto them This being agreed vpon the Senate brake vp and Antonius the Consul to put them in hart that were in the Capitoll sent them his sonne for a pledge Vpon this assurance Brutus and his companions came downe from the Capitoll where euery man saluted and imbraced eche other
multitude of souldiers they gathered together was to subdue the tyrannes that would keepe them in slauery and subiection Wherefore regarding their chiefe purpose and intent they should not be farre from ITALY as heare as they could possible but should rather make all the haste they could to helpe their contry men Cassius beleued him returned Brutus went to meete him and they both met at the citie of SMYRNA which was the first time that they saw together since they tooke leaue eche of other at the hauen of PIRAEA in ATHENS the one going into SYRIA and the other into MACEDON So they were maruelous ioyfull and no lesse coragious when they saw the great armies together which they had both leauied considering that they departing out of ITALY like naked and poore banished men without armor and money nor hauing any shippe ready nor souldier about them nor any one towne at their commaundement yet notwithstanding in a short time after they were now met together hauing shippes money and souldiers enowe both footemen horsemen to fight for the Empire of ROME Now Cassius would haue done Brutus as much honor as Brutus did vnto him but Brutus most commonly preuented him and went first vnto him both bicause he was the elder man as also for that he was sickly of bodye And men reputed him commonly to be very skilfull in warres but otherwise maruelous chollerick and cruell who sought to rule men by feare rather then with lenitie and on the other side he was too famillier with his friends and would iest too brodely with them But Brutus in contrary manner for his vertue and valliantnes was wellbeloued of the people and his owne esteemed of noble men and hated of no man not so much as of his enemies bicause he was a maruelous lowly and gentle person noble minded and would neuer be in any rage nor caried away with pleasure and couetousnes but had euer an vpright mind with him and would neuer yeeld to any wronge of iniustice the which was the chiefest cause of his fame of his rising and of the good will that euery man bare him for they were all perswaded that his intent was good For they did not certainly beleue that if Pompey him selfe had ouercome Caesar he would haue resigned his authoritie to the law but rather they were of opinion that he would still keepe the souerainty and absolute gouernment in his hands taking onely to please the people the title of Consul or Dictator or of some other more ciuill office And as for Cassius a hot chollerick cruell man that would oftentymes be caried away from iustice for gayne it was certainly thought that he made warre and put him selfe into sundry daungers more to haue absolute power and authoritie then to defend the libertie of his contry For they that will also consider others that were elder men then they as Cinna Marius and Carbo it is out of doubt that the ende and hope of their victorie was to be Lordes of their contry and in manner they did all confesse that they fought for the tyranny and to be Lordes of the Empire of ROME And in contrary manner his enemies them selues did neuer reproue Brutus for any such chaunge or desire For it was sayd that Antonius spake it openly diuers tymes that he thought that of all them that had slayne Caesar there was none but Brutus only that was moued to doe it as thinking the acte commendable of it selfe but that all the other conspirators did conspire his death for some priuate malice or enuy that they otherwise did beare vnto him Hereby it appeareth that Brutus did not trust so much to the power of his army as he did to his owne vertue as is to be seene by his writings For approaching neare to the instant daunger he wrote vnto Pomponius Atticus that his affayres had the best happe that could be For sayd he eyther I will set my contry at libertie by battell or by honorable death rid me of this bondage And furthermore that they being certeine and assured of all thinges els this one thing onely was doubtfull to them whether they should liue or dye with libertie He wrote also that Antonius had his due paiment for his folly For where he might haue bene a partner equally of the glory of Brutus Cassius and Cato haue made one with them he liked better to choose to be ioyned with Octauius Caesar alone with whome though now he be not ouercome by vs yet shall he shortly after also haue warre with him And truely he proued a true Prophet for so came it in deede to passe Now whilest Brutus and Cassius were together in the citie of SMYRNA Brutus prayed Cassius to let him haue some part of his money whereof he had great store bicause all that he could rappe and rend of his side he had bestowed it in making so great a number of shippes that by meanes of them they should keepe all the sea at their commaundement Cassius friendes hindered this request and earnestly disswaded him from it perswading him that it was no reason that Brutus should haue the money which Cassius had gotten together by sparing and leauied with great euill will of the people their subiects for him to bestowe liberally vppon his souldiers and by this meanes to winne their good willes by Cassius charge This notwithstanding Cassius gaue him the thirde parte of his totall summe So Cassius and Brutus then departing from eche other Cassius tooke the citie of RHODES where he too dishonestly cruelly vsed him selfe although when he came into the citie he aunswered some of the inhabitants who called him Lord and king that he was nether Lord nor king but he onely that had slaine him that would haue bene Lord and king Brutus departing from thence sent vnto the LYCIANS to require money and men of warre But there was a certaine Orator called Nauâ—rates that made the cities to rebell against him insomuch that the contry men of that contry kept the straights and litle mountaines thinking by that meanes to stoppe Brutus passage Wherefore Brutus sent his horsemen against them who stale vppon them as they were at dinner and slue six hundred of them and taking all the small townes and villages he did let all the prisoners he tooke goe without payment of ransome hoping by this his great curtesie to winne them to drawe all the rest of the contry vnto him But they were so fierce and obstinate that they would mutyne for euery small hurt they receyued as they passed by their contry and did despise his curtesie and good nature vntill that at length he went to beseege the citie of the XANTHIANS within the which were shut vppe the cruellest and moste warrelikest men of LYCIA There was a ryuer that ranne by the walls of the citie in the which many men saued them selues swymming betweene two waters and fledde howbeit they
bringing in as he did the garrison of the MACEDONIANS filling the castell of the Acrocorinthe with GAVLES and ILLYRIAN souldiers and making them his Lordes and masters whom he had so often ouercomen in warres and deceiued of their gouernment and of whom he also spake so muche euill in his Commentaries nor to haue put them into townes and calling them frends and confederates to thinke thereby to colour and disguise his wicked practise Admit Cleomenes had bene a tyran and a cruell man if I should so teaâ—me him yet came he of the blood of Hercules and was borne in SPARTA from whence they should rather haue chosen the meanest man Gouernor then the greatest king of MACEDON and those speciallie that preferre the honor and glorie of GRAECE before straungers Yet king Cleomenes required no more of all the ACHAIANS but the name onely to be their Lieutenaunt generall and so they woulde graunt him that honor he promised he would be verie good vnto the cities confederats ACHAIA Where Antigonus notwithstanding when they had chosen him their Lieutenaunt generall with absolute power and authoritie both by sea and by lande refused the charge vnlesse they would let him haue the castell of the Acrocorinthe for his hyer The which was euen like to Esopes hunter that brideled his horse For he would not get vp vpon the ACHAIANS that requested him and that by their Ambassadors and decrees of counsell did referre all to him selfe before be had first saddled and brideled them by the garrison he made them receiue and the pledges he caused them to geue him and yet he spake as much as might be to cleere him selfe of the accusacion against him bearing them in hande that he was forced to it Howbeit Polybius wryteth that long time before he was compelled being affrayed of Cleomenes valliantnes he had secretly practised that with Antigonus which he was openlie seene in afterwards and that he had intised the MEGALOPOLITANS who were the first that moued it to the counsell of the ACHAIANS to call king Antigonus to their aide bicause they were neerest neighbours to the fire and continually harried with Cleomenes warre that alwaies knocked at their gates to come and spoyle them Thus muche is affirmed by Phylarchus in his historie who were hardlie to be credited notwithstanding had not Polybius confirmed it For he loued Cleomenes so well that it seemed he was rauished with some spirite as often as he spake of him and frameth his historie as a common counseller that should pleade a case in lawe before the Iudges still accusing the one and defending the other The ACHAIANS lost the citie of MEGALIPOLIS againe the which king Cleomenes tooke of them and ouercame them in a great battell by Hecatombaeon Wherewithall they were so amazed that they sent Ambassadors presentlie vnto him prayed him to come to the citie of ARGOS there they would make him their Lieutenant generall But when Aratus heard he came in deede and that he was not farre from the citie of LEENA with his armie being affrayed he sent other Ambassadors to tell him that he should safelie come with three hundred men only as vnto his frends and confederats and yet if he mistrusted craft and euill dealing that then they woulde geue him pledges for the safetie of his person Cleomenes aunswered him that was a plaine mockerie and an iniurie they offered him Wherefore he presentlie departed thence and sent a letter before to the counsell of the ACHAIANS full of fowle words and reproaches he gaue vnto Aratus Who likewise replied to him againe bitterlie taunting eache other that they came to talke of their mariage and wiues After this letter Cleomenes sent defyance by a Heraulde vnto the ACHAIANS and proclaimed open warre against them insomuche as he had almost gotten the citie of SICYONE by practise of traitors Howbeit failing of his purpose he returned sodainly and went vnto the city of DALLENA which he tooke and draue out the Generall of the ACHAIANS thence and immediatlie after he wanne the cities also of PHENEA and PENTELION After that the ARGIVES and PHLIASIANS willinglie yeelded vnto him so that of all that which the ACHAIANS had conquered and ioyned vnto their tribe they could reckon of nothing else of certeinty vnto them Then Aratus was maruelouslie troubled in his mind to see all PELOPONNESVS in tumâ—â—le and vprore and that all the cities fell to open rebellion by those that practised chaunge and alteracion For no man was contented with the state and gouernment at that time but diuers of the SICYONIANS CORINTHIANS both were bewrayed which had secretlie practised with Cleomenes and that of long time maliced the gouernment of the ACHAIANS desiring them selues to be Lords and Gouernors of their cities Aratus hauing full commission and with â—â—tie from the counsell of the ACHAIANS to make inquierie of them and to put them to death without further triall of law he did execute them accordingly whom he found faultie in the city of SICYONE Furthermore attempting to do the like at CORINTHE he made inquiery of them put them to death wherby he made the common people very angry with him who otherwise of themselues were weary of the gouernment subiection of the ACHAIANS The CORINTHIANS therfore gathering together in the temple of Apollo they sent for Aratus in adding to make him prisoner before they would openly enter into actuall rebellion Aratus went thither to shewe that he neither feared nor mistrusted them but yet he helde his horse in his hand following of him Then many rose vp against him and did both reproue iniuriously intreate him But Aratus with a stayed countenaunce and gentle words prayed them to keepe their places and not to crie out in suche rage vpon their feete and withall caused them also to come in that were at the temple dore But as he spake vnto them by litle and litle he drew backe out of the presse as though he ment to haue geuen his horse to some bodie to hold So being gotten out of the presse he gently spake without any feare vnto the CORINTHIANS he met and bad them goe to the temple of Apollo When he was come to the castell he then sodainly tooke his horse backe and commaunded Cleopater Captaine of the garrison of the ACHAIANS there to looke well to the safe keping of the castell Then he set spurres to his horse and gallopped towardes the citie of SICYONE for life being followed onely by thirtie of his souldiers all the rest hauing forsaken him and dispersed them selues here and there Shortly after the CORINTHIANS vnderstanding that Aratus was gone they followed after but could neuer ouertake him whereupon they straight sent for king Cleomenes and deliuered the citie of CORINTHE into his hands the gaine whereof pleased him not so much as he was sorie for the losse of Aratus whom they had let go So king Cleomenes ioyning vnto him all
all the other Captaines and to bring him to a quiet and peaceable life in his age Furthermore Ambassadors were sent from the Senate and met with Galba at NARBONA a citie of GAVLE where after they had presented their humble duetie they perswaded him to make all the haste he could possible to shew him selfe to the people of ROME who were maruelous desirous to see him Galba receiued them very graciously and curteously made them great chere howbeit very modestly notwithstanding For notwithstanding that Nymphidius had sent him diuers Officers and store of Neroes moueables yet he would neuer be serued with any of them at any feasts or bankets he made with other then his owne stuffe wherein he shewed his noble mind and how he could master all vanitie But Titus Iunius shortly after told Galba that this noble mind and ciuill moderation without pride or pompe was to lowly a manner to flatter the people and that it was a certaine respect of honestie that knewe not it selfe and became not his greatnes and maiestie So he perswaded him to vse Neroes money stuffe and to be sumptuous and princely in his feasts without niggardlines To conclude the olde man Galba began plainely to shew that he would be ruled by Titus Iunius who aboue all other was extreame couetous and besides too much giuen to women For when he was a young man the first time he went to the warres vnder Caluisius SABINE he brought his Captaines wife which liked good felowshippe disguised like a souldier into the campe into his generalls tent which the ROMANES called Principia and there was somewhat bold with her Wherefore Caius Caesar committed him to prison but he escaped at his death Another time when he supped with Clodius Caesar he stale a siluer pot Clodius hearing of it bad him againe to supper the next night but he commaunded his men they should giue him drinke in an earthen cruse Thus this thest through Caesars pleasantnes seemed rather a matter of sport then of anger howbeit the faultes which he committed afterwards through extreame couetousnes of money at what time he ruled Galba and bare all the swaye about him gaue vnto some iust cause and vnto others apparant culler of tragicall mischieues and greeuous calamities For Nymphidius so soone as Gellianus was returned out of SPAYNE whome he had sent thither to see what Galba did he enforming him that Cornelius Lacon was Captaine of the gard and house of the Emperor and that Titus Iunius did all in all about him and that he could neuer be suffred to come neare Galba nor to speake with him a part bicause those which were about Galba did mistrust him euer had an eye to him to see what he did he was maruelously perplexed withall Thereuppon he called for all the Centurions Captaines and pety Captaines of the campe of the PRAETORIAN army and perswaded them that Galba touching his owne person was a good old and discreete man howbeit that he did not follow his owne adulse counsell but was ruled altogether by Iunius and Lacon who marred all and therefore that it were good before they came to be of greater power and to haue such great authoritie in maneging the affayres of the Empire as Tigellinus had before to send Ambassadors to the Emperor in the name of all the campe to tell him that in putting those two men from about him he should be the better welcome vnto ROME and to all men els besides The Captaines vtterly misliked this deuise For they thought it too straunge and beyond all reason to seeme to teache an old Emperor as if he were but a child that did not know what it was to gouerne to appoynt him what seruaunts and friends he should keepe and whome he should trust or mistrust Nymphidius perceiuing this tooke another course and wrote letters vnto Galba to terrifie him one tyme sending him word that he was maruelous euill beloued of many in ROME and that they were ready to rebell against him an other tyme also that the legions of GERMANY were reuolted and that he vnderstoode the like from the legions in IVRY and SYRIA And another tyme also that Clodius Macer in AFRICA stayed all the shippes fraighted with corne that were bownd for ROME But in the ende finding that Galba made no accompt of him and that he gaue no credit to his words nor writings he determined first of all to set vpon him Howbeit Clodius Celsus borne in the citie of ANTIOCH a wise man and his faithfull friend disswaded him maruelously not to doe it declaring vnto him that he thought there was no one house nor family in ROME that would call Nymphidius Caesar. Howbeit in contrary manner diuers others mocked Galba and specially one Mithridates of the Realme of PONâ— that sayd he was a bald writhen man For the ROMANES sayd he haue him in deede now in some estimation but when they haue once seene him they will thinke it a perpetuall shame and reproche to our tyme that he was called Caesar. So they thought it good to bring Nymphidius about midnight into the campe and there openly to proclayme him Emperor Howbeit the chiefe Tribune of the souldiers called Antonius Honoratus gathered his souldiers together in the night and before them all did first openly reproue him selfe and then them for that they had so often turned and chaunged in so short time without any wit or discretion hauing no iudgement to chuse the best way but to be pricked forward and caried headlong in that sort by some wicked spirit which brought them out of one treason into another And yet sayd he our first chaunge had some countenaunce of reason to wete the horrible vices and faultes of Nero but now wherein can we accuse Galba to haue any countenaunce to falsifie our faith vnto him hath he slayne his mother hath he put her to death hath he shamefully played the tumbler or common player vpon a scaffold in the Theater And yet for all these vile parts we neuer durst once beginne to forsake Nero but gaue credit to Nymphidius words who told vs that Nero had first forsaken vs and that he was fled into AEGYPT What shall we doe Shall we kill Galba after Nero what shall we kill him that is a kinne to Liuia to make the sonne of Nymphidia Emperor as we haue already slayne the sonne of Agrippina or shall we rather kill him that hath rashly entred into this enterprise and thereby to reuenge the death of Nero and to shewe our selues faithfull souldiers vnto Galba All the souldiers yelded straight to the Colonells words and therewith went to their other companions to perswade them to keepe their saith promise they auowed vnto the Emperor so that they made many of them reuolt againe from Nymphidius Thereuppon the noyse and cryes beeing great Nymphidius supposing as some thought that the souldiers did call for him or els hoping betymes to quenche this tumult
accompâ— made of it that it was esteemed for a victorie and the common people were so ioyfull of it that they straight made the power of the Lieutenant equall with the Dictator Fabius the which was neuer heard of beforeâ— Fabius paciently bearing this extreame iniurie with a noble to courage hauing no way de feared inâ— the returned againe vnto the campe Thus there were two Dictators at one selfe time a thing neuer seene nor heard of before who after they had deuided the army betwene them other of them commaunded his army a parte as the Consuls were wont to doe before Marcus Minutius thereupon grew to such a pride and hawtie mind that one day he ventred to geue battell and made not his companion Fabius counsell withall the which Annibal hauing so often ouercome durst scantly haue enterprised So he led his army into such a place where the enemie had compassed them in insomuche that Annibal slue them at his pleasure without any hope left them to escape if Fabius had not comen in time as he did to aide them rather bea specting the honor of his contrie then remembring the priuate iniurie he had receiued For he comming fresh with his armie to the battell made Annibal affrayed that the ROMANE legions had libertie to retire with safetie Whereby Fabius wanne great fame for his wisedome and valliantnesse both of his owne souldiers as also of the enemies themselues For it was reported that Annibal should say returning into his campe that in this battell he had ouer comen M. Minutius but withall that he was also ouercomen by Fabius And Minutius selfe also confessing Fabius wisedom considering that according to Hesiodus saying it was good reason to obey a better man then him selfe he came with all his armie vnto Fabius campe renouncing his authority came and humbly saluted Fabius as his father and all that day there was great ioy and reioycing among the souldiers So both the armies being placed in garrison for the winter time after great contention about it at length there were two newe Consuls created L. Paulus AEmylius and C. Terentius Varro one that of a meane man through the fauour of the common people was brought to be Consul So they had libertie and commission to leauie a greater armie then the Generalls before them had done Whereby the legions were newly supplied and also others added vnto them more then were before Now when the Consuls were come into the armie as they were of seuerall dispositions so did they also obserue diuers manners in their gouernment Lucius Paulus who was a wise graue man and one that purposed to followe Fabius counsell and facions he did desire to drawe out the warre in length and to stay the enemie without fighting Varro on the other side was hastie man and venturous and desired nothinge but to fight So it chaunced that now longe after it was knowen to the great cost and daunger of the citie of ROME what difference there was betwext the modestie of AEmilius and the foolehardinesse of Varro For Annibal beinge affrayed of some sturre and tumult in his campe for lacke of vituells he departed from GLERENVM and goinge into the warmest places of APVLIA came and camped with all his armie by a village called CANNES So he was followed with both the Consulls who came and camped seuerallie harde by him but so neere one to an other that there was but the riuer of Aufide that parted them This riuer as it is reported doth alone deuide the mowntayne of the Appenine and taketh his heade on that side of the mountayne that lyeth to the sea side from whence it runneth to the sea Adriaticum Nowe Lucius Paulus findinge that it was impossible for Annibal beinge in a straunge countrey to mayntayne so greate an armie of suche sundrie nations together her was fullie bent to tracte time and to auoyde battel perswadinge him selfe that it was the right and onelie way to ouercome him being as muche to the enemies disaduantage as also maruelous proffitable and beneficiall for the common wealth And sure if C. Torrentius Varro had cared that minde it had bene out of all doubt that Annibals armie had bene ouerthrowen by the ROMANES without stroke striking Howebeit he had suche a light head of his owne and was so sickle minded that he neither regarded wise counsell not Paulus AEmylius authoritie but in countrie him not woulde fall out with him and also complayned before the souldiers for that he kept his men pent vp and idle whilest the enemie did put sooâ—â—h his men to the field to battell ray So when his turne came that he was absolutelie to commaunde the whole armie for they both had absolute power by turnes he passed ouer the riuer of Auside by breake of day and gaue the signall of battell without the priuilie of his companion AEmylius who rather followed him against his will then willinglie bicause he coulde doe none otherwise So he caused a skarlet coate of armes to be put out verie earlie in the morning for signall of battell Annibal on the other side as glad of it as might be possible that he had occasion offered him to fight considering that the continuall delaying of battell did altered his purpose he passed his armie ouer the riuer and had straight put them in verie good order For he had taken great spoyles of his enemies to furnishe him selfe verie brauelie Nowe the armie of the ROMANES stoode Southward insomuche that the South winde which the men of the contrie call Vulturnus blewe full in their faces whereas the enemies contrarie matiner had the vauntage of the winde and Sunne vpon their backes and then battell stoode in this manner The AFRIKANS were placed in both the winges and the GAVLES and SPANYARDES set in squadron in the middest The light horsemen first beganne the skirmishe and after them followed the men of armes and bicause the space betwext the riuer and the footemen was verie narrow so as they could not well take in any more ground it was a cruell fight for the time though it lasted not long So the horsemen of the ROMANES being ouerthrowen the footemen came with suche a lustie corage to receiue the charge that they thought they shoulde not haue day enough to fight Howbeit the ouer earnest desire they had to ouercome their enemies made their ouerthrowe more miserable then their ioy and good happe was great at the beginning For the GAVLES and SPANYARDES who as we haue sayd before kept the battell not being able any longer to withstand the force of the ROMANES they retired towardes the AFRIKANES in the wings The ROMANES perceiuing that ran vpon the enemy with all the fury they could and had them in chase and fought with them till they were gotten in the middest of them Then the CARTHAGINIANS that were in both wings came compassed them in before they were aware Moreouer there were fiue hundred of the NVMIDIAN horsemen
Annibal for that Annibal hated him as he did bicause he followed Decius Magius who alwayes tooke the ROMANES parte But now let vs consider a litle I pray you how great men sometime vnwares are subiect to great daungers and misfortunes For this young man dissembling his reconciliacion with Annibal watching time occasion notwithstanding to do him some displeasure in the time of this feast while they were making merie he tooke his father aside into a secret corner of the house and prayed him together with him by a great good turne to redeeme the fauor and good will againe of the ROMANES the which they had lost through their great wickednesse Then he tolde him howe he was determined to kill Annibal the enemy of his contrie and all ITALIA besides His father that was a man of great countenance and authoritie was maruelously amazed withall to heare what his sonne said wherfore imbracing him with the teares running downe his cheekes he praied him to leaue of his sword and to let his ghest be safe in his house The which his sonne in the end yeelded to with great a doe Thus Annibal hauing before with stoode all the force of his enemies the ambushes of the GAVLES and hauing brought with him also a great army from the sea and the furdest parte of SPAYNE through so many great and mightie nations he scaped killing verie narrowlie by the hande a young man whilest he was at the table making merie The next morning Annibal had audience in open Senate where he made great and large promises and tolde them many thinges which the CAMPANIANS easelie beleued and therefore flattered them selues that they should be Lords of all ITALIE howbeit they reckoned beside their hoast And to conclude they did so cowardly submit them selues to Annibal that it seemed they had not onely suffered him to come into their citie but that they had also made him their absolute Lord like men that neither remembred nor regarded their libertie And this appeareth plainlie by one example I will shew you amongest many Annibal willed them to deliuer him Decius Magius the head of the contrarie faction to him Whereunto the Senate not only obeyed with all humilitie but worst of all suffered him to be brought bound into the market place in the presence of all the people who bicause he woulde not forsake the auncient league and frendshippe with the ROMANES had shewed him selfe a more faithfull citizen to his contrie and common wealth then vnto the barbarous people Now whilest these thinges passed thus in CAPVA Mago Annibals brother went to CARTHAGE to report the newes of his happie victorie to his contrie men which they had wonne of the enemies and with all before the Senate to declare the noble exploytes of armes done by Annibal and to proue the words true he spake be poored out at the comming in of the Senate house the golden rings which had bene taken from the ROMANE Knightes of the which there were as some doe report aboue a bushell full and as other some doe wryte aboue three bushells and a halfe After that he praied a new supply for Annibals army the which was graunted him by the Senate with greater ioy thē afterwards it was sent For the CARTHAGINIANS perswading them selues by the things present that the warre would fall out as fortunate as the beginning was fayer they thereuppon decreed to continue the warre and to aide Annibals attempts by leauying of souldiers Now no mā withstood this new supply to be sent to Annibal but Hanno a perpetuall enemie of the Barcinian faction Howbeit the CARTHAGINIANS wayed not his counsell and aduise then though it tended to peace and was good counsel for them as oftentimes before he had vsed the like So when Annibal had made league with the CAMPANIANS he led his campe before the citie of NOLA hoping they would yeeld of them selues without compulsion And certainelie so had it come to passe had not the sodaine comming thither of Marcellus the Praetor bene who both kept the people in pacified the sedition repulsed the enemy that was comming into the citie by a saily he made vpon him at three seuerall gates chasing killing them euen to their campe with great losse This is that noble Captaine and valliant souldier Marcellus who with a noble corage made the world knowe that Annibal was not inuincible Annibal perceiuing that there was no other way but to let NOLA alone till an other time he came to ACERRES and tooke and spoiled it without resistance Then going on further with greater power vnto CASILINVM a sit place to offend the CAPVANS he went about to win them that lay there in garrison but when he saw that neither his fayer promises nor otherwise his threates coulde preuaile he left parte of his armie to besiege the citie and bestowed the residue in garrisons before the winter season Howbeit he chose for his chiefest seate and strength the citie of CAPVA which stoode verie pleasauntlie and had plentie of all thinges There it was that Annibals souldiers being vsed to lye hard and easely to away with colde hunger and thirst became then of valliant men rancke cowardes of strong men weaklings and of seruiceable and ready men timerous and effeminate persons through the daily pleasures they enioyed at will. For sweete intising pleasures do corrupt the strength and corage of the mind and mans disposition also vnto vertue moreouer they spoile his wit and take all good counsell from him all which thinges are daungerous for men And therefore Plato rightlie calleth pleasure the bayte of all euils And doubtlesse in this case the pleasures of CAMPANIA did hurt the CARTHAGINIANS more then otherwise the highest Alpes and all the armies of the ROMANES did For one onelie winter passed ouer in suche pleasure and wantonnes was of such great force to extinguish the vehement corage in the souldiers that when they were brought into the fielde at the beginning of the spring sure you would rightlie haue sayd that they had forgotten all martiall discipline Thus the winter being passed ouer Annibal returned againe to CASILINVM hoping that the citizens within would willingly yeelde vnto him after they had abidden so long a siege Howbeit they were bent to abide all extreamity before they would yeeld to their so cruell an enemy although they lacked vittells Wherefore liuing first by spelt or beere barley and afterwards with nuts which they had receiued of the ROMANES by the riuer of Vulturnus they held it out so long that Annibal in the end being angry with the continuance of the siege he was content to take the citie vpon composition the which he had refused before Now this warre in the which the CARTHAGINIANS had alwayes had great victories and good fortune and receiued any losse worthy of memorie began at that time to decline and to fall to great chaunge and alteracion For the league that was made with Philip
the Megarians Athenians for Salamina Iliad lib. 2. The manner of burial with the MegariaÌ„ the Athenians Solon defendeth the cause of the teÌ„ple of Delphes Epimenides Phaestus taken for one of the 7. sages excluding Periander Solon pacified the sedition at Athens The miserie of dett and vsurie Solons equitie and vprightnes Solon by subtiltie set order betwext the poore rich Solon chosen reformer of the lawe and chief gouernour Salt refuseth to be a tyranne Tynnondas and Pittacus tyrannes Solens aunswere for tyrannie Excellent temperature Things hatefull made pleasaunt with sweete wordes Cleering of detts Solons first lawe Vsurie forbidden vpon gage of the bodie The value of money cried vp by Solon Lawes would be kept secret till they be published Ill consciences by craft preuent LaweÌ„ A good lawemaker beginneth to doe iustice in him selfe Solons absolute authority in the common weale Solon tooke awaye all DracoÌ„s lawes Solon â—ateth euerie citizen at a certen surname Pentacosiomedimnes Zeugite Thetes The darknes of the lawe increased the authoritie of the iudge The counsell of the Areopagites 3 Counsells erected in Athens Other lawes of Solon A lawe against neawters An acte for matching with inheritoâ—s Solon forbiddeth iointers and dowries Dionysius saying of mariages A law forbidding to speake euill of the dead * Drachmeâ— A lawe for willes and testaments marg A lawe for womens going abroade Craftes and occupations aduaunced The authoritie of the courte and counsaile of the Areopagites * Drachmae The tribes of the AtheniaÌ„s howe they were called An acte for welles An acte for planting and setting of trees Drachmae Feasts for townes men in the towne hall of AtheÌ„s Axones Cyrbes Thesmothetes SoloÌ„s trauell Clarius fl AEpia called Soles Solon saâ—e king Croesus in the cittie of Sardis Croesus question to Solon touching happines Solon esteemed Tellus a happie man. Cleobis Biton happy meÌ„ Solon commeÌ„deth the meane No man happie before his endâ— AEsope saying to Solon Solons aunswer to AEsope King Croesus wordes of Solon hanging vpoÌ„ a gibbeâ— to be bâ—ant Riches are but wordes opinion Sedition as AtheÌ„s in Solons absence Solon returneth to Athens Pisistratus wicked crasie subtiltie Thespis a maker of tragedies Solon reproued Thespis for lying Solons libertie constancie A good lawe for reward of seruice The house of P. Valerius Tarquinine Superbus Valerius Brutus companion in expulsing the Kings Lucius Brutus Tarquinius Collatinus Consuls The first embasâ—iâ—e of king Tarquine for recouering his Realme Another embasstate from Tarquine demaunding his goodes Good counsell of Minutius Tarquines ambassadours practise treason The Aquilij and Vitellij with Brutus sonnes traytours to their countrie The confederacy coÌ„firmed with drinking of maÌ„s bloud Vindicius heareth all their treason The conclusion of their treason Vindicius bewrayeth the treason vnto Valerius Titus Valerius Brutus sonnes Brutus seeth his â—ame sonnes punished executed Brutus praised reproued for the death of his sonnes Collatinus softnes perileus Valerius boldly appeacheth Collatinus of iniustice Collatinus resigneth his Consulshippe 〈…〉 departeth 〈…〉 S. Vindicta so called by reason of Vindicius Tarquines flied coÌ„secrated to Mars Vhereof the holy Iland came in Rome that lieth betwene both bridges Tarquine coÌ„meth with a great power of the Thuscans to wage battell with the Romaines Arsia silua AruÌ„s Brutus encountered and slue eche other The victory of the Romaines against the Thuscans Valerius the first Consul that euer triumphed vpon a cherres The first beginning of funerall oration amoÌ„g the Romaines Anaximenes sayeth Solon was the first that instituted prayses for the dead Valerius stately house staÌ„ding on mouÌ„t Velia Valerius a good example for magistrates Valerius ouerthrew his stately house The temple called Vicus Publicus VVhy Valerius was surnamed Publicola Publicolath actes and lawes VVhereof Peculium was called The first Quastores Publius Veturius Marc. Minutius Lucretius Publicola Consuls Publicola Marcus Horatius CoÌ„suls How oft a Iupiter Capitolins temple was burnt and built againe How much was spent in building the Capitoll Domitians mad building humor Personae proclaimeth warres with Rome Publicola Thus Lucretius Consuls Horatius Cocles why so called Good seruice rewarded Publicola Consul The noble acte of Mutius Secuola How Mutius come by the name of Secuola Publicolae maketh Porsena iudge betwext them and the Tarquines Peace graunted the Romaines by Porsena The boldenes of Claelia and other Romaine virgines The liberalitie of king Persona to the Romaines Marcus Valerius Posthumius Tubertus Consuls Marcus Valerius the brother of Publicola triumpheth of the Sabynes Appius Clausus goeth to dwel at Rome The familie of the Claudians The Sabynes slaine The death of Publicola His funeralles Publicola happie Publicola erected the office of Quaestores A politicke precepâ— Cynosargos a place of exercise dedicated to Hercules Thermistocles towardness Themistocles was Anaxagoras Melissus schollar Mnesiphilus Phrearian VVhat wisedome at in olde time Nowe the name of Sophisters came â—â— Themistocles youthe The priuie grudge betwext Themistocles and Aristides Aristides a iust man. Themistocles ambition Themistocles persuaded his contriemen to make gallyes The AtheniaÌ„s beÌ„t their force to sea by Themistocles persuasion Themistocles a good husbaÌ„d to looke for his profit Themistocles extremely ambitious A wise saying of Themistocles Themistocles made Aristides to be banished Epicydes an orator sued to be generall Arthmius defamed for bribing Themistocles generall of the AtheniaÌ„s against Xerxes The coast of Aretemisivm Themistocles straâ—ageame VVodden walles signifie shipps The Athenians forsake Athens by Themistocles persuasion doe goe to the sea Xanthippus dogge The dog goe graue Aristides renorneth from banishement by Themistocles decree Notable aunswers of Themistocles The Sleue is a fishe facioned like a sworde Themistocles stratageame by the which he wanne the ba'tell at Salamina Themistocles Aristides consent together to geue battell Xerxes king of Persia had a thousand ships Ariamenes Xerxes admirall The Grecians victorie of the Persians â—aâ—y by sea Aristides counsell vnto Themistocles for the breaking of Xerxes bridge Themistocles stratageame Themistocles honored aboue all the Grecians Themistocles ambition noted A prety tale of Themistocles Themistocles saying of his sonne Themistocles buylt againe the walles of the cittie of Athens A subtle fetche of Themistocles The hauen of Piraea fortified The equitie of the Athenians Themistocles goddes Loue and Force The AndriaÌ„s goddesses Pouertie Impossibilitie Themistocles banished for fiue yers Pausanias reuealeth his reason vnto Themistacles Themistocles suspected of treason Themistocles fled into the I le of Corphv The manner of supplicatioÌ„ among the Molossians Themistocles dreame The Persian iealous of their wiues Howe Themistocles was conueyed to the king of Persias courte The Persians honour their King as the image of the god of nature Themistocles talke with the â—ing of Persia An excellent comparison of Themistocles Themistocles honoured of the king of Persia. Demaratus fond demaÌ„do of the King. Themistocles had the reuenue of three citties allowed him for his dyet Themistocles escaped murder by a
warning he had in his sleepe Themistocles loue to his country The manner of Themistocles death Themistocles children Themistocles tumbe and relickes Honour done to Themistocles after his death VVhy Camillus neuer came to be Consul The authoritie of a fewe odious to the common people Camillus wisedome and modestie Camillus hearte Camillus acts in his Censorshippe The cittie of Veies besieged The siege coÌ„tinued seuen yeres together Camillus twise chosen Tribune of the souldiers The wonderfull ouerflowing of the lake Albanus The crafte of a Romaine An oracle brought from Delphes Camillus chosen Dictator Matuta Leucothea The cittie of Veies taken by mining Camillus prayer when Veies was taken Fayned wonders of images Plutarches iudgement of miracles Camillus stately triumphe of the Veians A lawe for the people of Rome to dwell as Veies The chiefest cause of the peoples malice against Camillus A cuppe of golde sent to Delphes The ladyes of Rome giue their iuells towards the making of it VVhat time womens prayses beganne at funeralle in Rome Camillus chosen Tribune of the souldiers Camillus besiegeth the Falerians Camillus worthie acte to the schoolemaster betraying the FaleriaÌ„s children A noble saying of Camillus and wise precept for warres Valiantnes to be preferred before vilanie The Falisciäs by their ambassadours doe yelde theÌ„ selues and goodes vnto Camillus The message of the ambassadours of the FalisciaÌ„s vnto the Romaines Camillus tooke a summe of money of the Falerians and made peace with all the rest of the Falisces Lucius Apuleius accused Camillus The equitie of the Romaines who would not peruers the Lawe though they dearely loued Camillus but willingly offered to paye his fine Camillus prayer before his departure one of Rome Camillus exileth him selfe from Rome Tokens of the warres of the Gaules The originall beginning of the Gaules ArroÌ„ a Thuscan the procurer of the Gaules comming into Italie Lacke of iustice the cause of the destruction conquest of Thuscan by the Gaules The power of the Thuscans in olde time Clusium a cittie of ThuscaÌ„ besieged by the Gaules Brennus king of the Gaules Fabius Ambustus a Romaine breaketh the common laze of all nations Brennus reproueth Fabius for breaking the lawe of armes Numa Pompilius erected the colledge of the Faciales The Gaules marche towards Rome The Romaines armie were 40000 footemen To many rulers of an armie doe confound all order and putteth the army in perill Allia fl The battell at the riuer of Allia where the Gaules wanne the field of the Romaines 300. of a name slaine in one daye The Romaines superstition in obseruing of dayes The holy fier The force of fyer Fabius chief bishoppe of Rome Rome taken of the Gaules Aristotles testimonie of the taking of Rome The maiestie of the olde Senatours set in the market place of Rome The cittie of Rome rased by the Gaules The citie of Ardea Camillus wordes vnto the Ardeans in excuse of the Romaines Camillus persuadeth the Ardeans to take armes against the Gaules Camillus slue the Gaules haâ—d by Ardea PoÌ„tius Cominius got â—p into the Capitoll at Rome Camillus chosen Dictator the second time The Gaules clime vp to the Capitoll in the night The holy gese saued the Capitoll Marcus Manlius rebulsed the Gaules from the Capitoll The Gaules vexed with the plague as Rome The Romaines went about to redeeme their libertie of the Gaules with golde Camillus came to Rome with his army Camillus speaketh stowtely to Brennus king of the Gaules Camillus ouerthroweth the armie of the Gaules Rome was 7. moneths in the hardes of the Gaules Camillus triumphed of the Gaules The busie headed Orators stirre the people is tumulte against Camillus Camillus Dictacorshippe proreged Camillus persuaded the people that he could â—â— dwelâ— in Rome 〈…〉 leous Viâ—â—â—â— Rome is buildâ— againe Rome was nowe built againe in a yere Romulus augures staffe founde hole after Rome was burnt Camillus chosen Dictator the third time Tutola or Philotis craf subtiltie Rome deliuered froÌ„warres by Tutola the bondmayde The maydens seaâ—â—e called Nonae Capratinae Camillus stratageame against the Latines and Volsces Camillus slue the Latines Camillus tooke the citie of Aeques Camillus wonne the citie of Sutrium Marcus MaÌ„lius Capitolinus maneth sedition Flattery and hypocrisie sinneth the multitude common people MaÌ„lius clapt in prison by Q. Capitolinus Dictator Camillus cosen againe Tribunus militaris Marcus MaÌ„lius Capitolinus put to death Lucius Furius gaue battell to the Praenestines men and Volsces and was ouerthrowen Camillus wanne the fielde of the Praenestines and Volsces Camillus slue the Thuscans as Sutrium Camillus s 〈…〉 again against the Thusculanians The crafte of the Thusculanians Great seditioÌ„ moued in Rome by Licinius Stolo Camillus created Dictator the fourth time Licinius Stolo made a laâ—e for enioying of landes Stolo the first offender of the same law The Gaules come againe to Rome Camillus chosen Dictator the 5 time Heâ—â— Camillus appointed his souldiers with armour weapon to fight with advantage against the Gaules Anias st Camillus slue the Gaules againe The Romaines have they exempted priestes from the warres Sedision as Rome about choosing of Consuls Policy to yeld so necessitie A commoner chosen Consul with a noble man. Marcus AEmilius Lucius Sextus consuls Camillus died of the plague VVit allwayes to be employed to good things Antisthenes saying of a flute player The power of vertue Pericles stacke Pericles mothers dreame Pericles had a long head Pericles studies and teachers Zenon Eleatean Pericles â—â—â—ners and behaviour Pericles pacience The benefits of naturall philosophie VVhat was signified by the rammes head that had but one horne was found in Pericles grounde Pericles likened as Pisistratus Pericles first beginning to deale in the coÌ„moÌ„ wealth To much familiaritie breedeth contempt Ephialtes an orator VVhy Pericles was surnamed Olympius Thucydides Pericles aduersarie Pericles sayings Pericles common wealthe The good deedes of Cimon Pericles large distribution diminished the Areopagit authoritie Pericles causeth Cimon to be banished Athens The Ostracismon Pericles calleth Cimon from exile Pericles moderation vnto Cimon The murther of Ephialtes Thucydides Pericles aduersary in the coÌ„moÌ„ wealth A politicke care for idle persones Sumptuous buildings erected by Pericles Diuers artificers at AtheÌ„s The Odeon Pericles erected games for musicke The Poets raise vp slauÌ„ders against Pericles The noble saying of Pericles Thucydides banished by Pericles Pericles power Pericles somwhat altereth the common weale The force of eloquence Pericles commended for his good life worthines Pericles free from giftes taking Pericles good husbandrie Anaxagoras a mathematician Great diuersitie betwext contemplatiue and ciuill life Anaxagoras determined to furnish him self to death Anaxagoras saying to Pericles Pericles appointeth a generall councell to be holden as AtheÌ„s Pericles loued the safry of his men in warres Time the best counseller Tolmides slaine in the field Pericles iâ—rneyes Achelous â—â— Pericles would not followe the couetousnes of the people The enterprise of Siciliae Pericles an enemie to the Lacedaemonians Plistonax king of Lacedaemon
of Brutus actes Porcia studied in Philosophie The corage of Porcia Great difference betwext a wise and a harlot Porciaes words vnto her husband Brutus The wonderfull constancy of the conspirators in killing of Caesar. Sundrie misfortunes to haue broken of the enterprise The weakenes of Porcia notwithstanding her former corage Brutus with his countenaunce encoraged his fearefull consories * In Caesars life it is sayd it was Decius Brutus Albinus that kept Antonius with a talke without * In Caesars life he is called Metellus Cimber The mother of Caesar. Casca the first that wounded him VVhy Antonius was not slayne with Ceasar Brutus with his consorts went vnto the Capitoll Honors decreed for the murtherers of Caesar. Caesars will funeralls Brutus committed two great faults after Caesars death Antonius funerall oration for Caesar. The straunge dreame of Cinna the Poet The murder of Cinna the Poet being mistaken for an other of that name Brutus and his consorts doe flye from Rome Brutus playes and sportes at Rome in his absence Octauius Caesar comming to Rome Brutus reproued Cicero for taking part with Octauius Caesar. Porciaes sorowfull returne to Rome for the absence of her husband Brutus The story of Hector and Andromachè set forth in painted tables How Brutus bestowed his time at Athens Brutus commendeth Ciceroes sonne Brutus prepareth him selfe to warre A strange disease tooke Brutus at Dyrrachium VVho by snow this hungry disease taketh men that are wearied with trauaile Brutus thankfulnes and clemency C. Antonius yelded vnto Brutus Octauius Caesar ioyneth with Antonius Brutus senteÌ„sed and condemned by Octauius Caesars meanes for the death of Iulius Caesar. The Triumuirate C. Antonius murdered Brutus and Cassius doe ioyne armies together The sharpe and cruell condicions of Cassius Brutus gentle and â—aâ—er condicions Brutus intent good if he had ouercomen Antonius testimonie of Brutus Brutus to his mind to his contry Brutus a true Prophet of Antonius Cassius wanne the citie of Rhodes Brutus â—eâ—ts in Lycia The citie of Xanethus set a fire The desperat ende of the Xanthians The Palareâ—ans doe yeld them selues vnto Brutus The extreme couetousnes and crueltie of Cassius to the Rhodians Brutus clemeÌ„cy vnto the Lycians Theodotus borne in Chio a Rethoritian Scholemaister is Ptolomy the young king of AEgypt Theodotus saying a dead man biteth not Theodotus Chian the Rethoritian that gaue counsell to kill Pompeys was put to death by Brutus Brutus and Cassius doe meete at the citie of Sardis Brutus and Cassius complaints one vnto the other M. Phaonius a follower of Cato Cynick Philosophers cowÌ„red dogges Iulius Caesar slayne at the Ides of March. The wonderfull constency of Brutus in matters of iustice and equitie Brutus care and watching A spirit appeared vnto Brutus in the citie of Sardis Cassius opinion of spirits after the Epicurians sect The cause of dreames A wonderfull signe by two Eagles Brutus and Cassius camps before the citie of Philippes against Octauius Caesar Antonius Brutus souldiers brauely armed Brutus opinion for the brauery of souldiers in their armor and weapons Vnlucky signes vnto Cassius Cassius and Brutus opinions about battell Atellius opinion for the battell Cassius words vnto Messala the night before the battell Brutus and Cassius talke before the battell Brutus aunswer to Cassius The battell at Philippes against Octauius Caesar and Antonius Octavius Caesar falsely reported to be slaine at the battell of Philippes Cassius misfortune Cassius offended with the sundrie errous Brutus and his men committed in battell Cassius valliantnes in warres The importance of error mistaking in warres Cassius slaine by his man Pindarus The death of Titinnius The number of men slaine at the battell of Philippes Brutus clemeÌ„cy courtesie Brutus fault wisely excused by Plutarke Brutus victorie by sea VVonderfull famine amoÌ„g Caesars souldiers by sea The ignoraÌ„ce of Brutus victorie by sea was his vtter destruction The euill spirit appeared againe vnto Brutus Straunge fightes before Brutus second battell Brutus second battell Brutus valliantnes and great skill in warres The death of the valliant young man Cato the sonne of Marcus Cato The fidelitie of Lucilius vnto Brutus Brutus flying Appian meaneth this by Antonius The death of Statilius Brutus saying of flying with hands not with feete Brutus slue him selfe Strato Brutus familiar and frend Strato receiued into Caesars frendship Messala Coruinus Brutus frend Brutus funeralls Porcia Brutus wife killed her selfe with burning coles In what things Dion was inferior vnto Brutus Brutus hoâ—â—aved of his enemies after his death Brutus image or statue standing in brasse in Milleine was preserued and kept by Octauius Caesar The example of our auncesters wherein profitable to their posteritie The common weale of the Sicyonians commersed into tyrannie Abantidas â—â—ran of Sicyone Aratus the sonne of Clinias scaped the handes of the tyran Abantidas Aratus malice against tyrannes Aratus fauor Aratus wrote a booke of CoÌ„mentaries Abantidas the tyran slaine Aristotle the Logitian Aratus goeth about to deliuer his contry from the tyrannie * In an other place he calleth him Ecdemus Aristomachus and Ecdelus doe ioine with Aratus Aratus preparacioÌ„ to deliuer his contrie from tyrannie Aratus policy to deceiue Nicocles spialls Aratus daungers in deliuering of his contrie from the tyranny of Nicocles Aratus was the citie of Sicyone without bloodshed Nicocles the tyrant flyeth Aratus ioyneth the citie of Sicyone vnto the Achaians Aratus referred all things to the common wealth VVhy owles set best by night and not by day Management of Philosophy be likined unto owles Aratus taketh sea to go to king Ptolomy into AEgypt The pictures and paynted tables made in the citie of Sicyone did passe all the other paintings in Graece The excelleÌ„cy of Aristratus picture the tyran of Sicyone painted by all Melanthus scholers and Apelles help Aratus consultation for the defacing of it The saying of Nealces the paynter touching tyraÌ„ne The great liberalitie of Ptolomey vnto Aratus Aratus temperances Aratus doings in his first Praetorship Presche an Island of Peloponnesus Acto or inthus means Young king Philips saying of the castell of Corinth Antigunus wife and dauise Antigonus craftily taketh the castell of the Acrocorinthe Ouergreat as lay to a simple man maketh him mad Perceiue the Philisopher made captaine of the Acrocorinthe Aratus determination for the taking of the Acrocorinthe The error and daunger by likenes of men one vnto another Aratus great daunger in taking of the castell of the Acrocorinthe The happy benefit of the Moone Aratus taketh the Acrocorinthe Aratus ioyneth the city of Corinthe vnto Achaia Zenoes opinion that a man could not be a good Captaine vnles he were a perfit wise man. Persaus aunswer to Zenoes opinion Philopaemen the last famous man of the Graecians Aratus power and authority with the Achaians Aratus gaeth about to set Argos at libertie Aratus prepared litle short daggers against the tyrants decree ordinance Aristippus tyrant of the citie of Argos Aristippus layed man to kill Aratus No