dye only to prolong thy days having a heart inferior to a womans before thou hadst tryed the indulgence of thy parents 2. A meaner Victime to Misfortune than T. Gracchus though of the Senatorian order was C. Plaucius the Numidian yet as to affection of the same nature equal to him in affection For hearing news of the death of his Wife impatient of grief he stab'd himself with his Sword but by the timely coming in of hâ—s Servants being hindred from executing his purpose and the wound being dressed and bound up he no sooner found his oportunity but cutting his Swathes and tâ—aring open the wound again he would not endure his soul opprest with grief to remain in his Bowels Testifying by the violence of his death what a Conjugal flame he had shut up in his brest 3. As of the same name so endued with the same love was M. Plautius Who being commandâ—d to return with the Confederate Navy into Asia and putting into Brundusium whither his Wife Orestella coming to visit him fell sick and dyed after she was laid upon the Funeral pile betwixt the last duties of anointing and kissing her he fell upon his naked Sword whom his friends as he was in his Military Coat and Booted laid by his Wife Whose Monument is yet to be seen at Tarentum with this Inscription THE LOVERS TOMB And it is not to be question'd but that if there were any sence left in departed Souls that they enter'd Elysium joyful of each others company 4. The same Affection is noted in Iulia the daughter of C. Caesar. Who when she saw the Garment of her Husband Pompey the Great brought home sprinkled with Blood from the Common-Hall where the Aedils were chosen swounded away and with the suddainess of the fright miscarried and presently expired to the great detriment of the whole world Whose tranquility had not been disturb'd with so severe a fury of so many Civil Wars if the Amity of Caesar and Pompey had remained linâ—'d with the Bonds of common Affinity 5. All Ages will also with due admiration reverence thy most chast fires O Porcia Daughter of Marcus Cato who understanding that her Husband Brutus was overthrown and slain at the Battle of Philippi not having a weapon ready didst swallow burning Coals thy feminine Soul imitating the masculine Death of thy Countries welfare FORRAIGN 1. There are some Forraign Amours just and honest not shadow'd nor obscur'd with the vail of Ignorance of which it will be sufficient to touch upon a few How much Artemisia Queen of Caria bewailed the Death of her Husband Mausolus might seem a light thing to the most exquisite honours of all sorts which she did him and the Magnificence of that Monument which became one of the Seven Wonders of the World For why shouldst thou labour to recount all those Honours or insist upon the Glory of that Monument when she her self would not be satisfied without being the living and breathing Sepulchre of Mausolus by the testimony of those who repoâ—t that she drank up his Ashes mixt in a certain drink 2. Hipsicratea also the Queen so entirely loved Mithridates her Husband that she let go all the reins of Affection For whose love she apparell'd her beauty in Mans Apparel and accustom'd her self to manlike Exercises cutting her Hair and betaking her self to her Horse and Arms that she might the more easily partake of his labours and dangers and not only so but after he was overcome by Pompey following him with an indefatigable Body and Minde in his flight through many rough and barbarous Nations Whose faithful society was a great comfort and asswagement of the Misfortunes and Calamities of distressed Mithridates For with his Court and Family he seem'd to wander but with hâ—s Wife only to live in Exile 3. But why should I rummage Asia why the immense Solitudes of Barbarous Countries why the lurking Holes of the Pontic Sea When Lacedemon the most splendid glory of Greece lays before our eyes a principal Exemplar of Conjugal Fidelity to be compared for the wonder of the action with the most and greatest Miracles of that City 4. The Minyans setled in the Island of Lemnos and drawing their Original from the antient Companions of Iason through success of time expell'd by the Pelasgi wanting the wealth of others seated themselves in the high Taygetan Mountains whom at length the Spartans entertained as descended from the Tyndaridae which noble pair of Brothers had displayed their splendour in that renowned Ship translated to the Stars and thus mingled among them they enjoyed the same Laws and Priviledges But this good turn they turned to the injury of the well deserving City affecting the Kingdome and therefore committed to the publick Prison they were reserv'd for publick punishment Which when they were to suffer according to the Custome of the Lacedaemonianâ— in the Night-time their Wives of noble Race desiring leave of the Keepers to take leave of their dying Husbands entred the Prison and changing their Habits gave their Husbands liberty having covered their Faces under pretenc of sorrow to depart Now what shall I adde more in this place but that theâ— were Wives worthy for the Minyans to marry CHAP. VII Of the Bond of Friendship Among the ROMANS 1. T. Sempronius Gracchus with C. Blosius 2. Sempronius Gracchus with Pomponius and Lucretius 3. Lucius Rheginus with Servilius Caepio 4. T. Volumnius with M. Lucullus 5. Lucius Petronius with P. Caelius 6. Servius Terentius with D. Brutus 7. C. Laelius with Scipio and M. Agrippa with Augustus FORRAINERS 1. Damon and Pythias 2. Alexander the Great with Ephestion LEt us now consider the Bond of Friendship potent and mighty and no way inferiour to the strength and force of the Blood In this more certain and demonstrable that this the chance of birth a forâ—uitous work produces the other the uncompell'd Will contracts upon grounds and reasons of solid judgment And therefore it is an easier thing and less subject to reprehension to slight a Kinsman than a Friend For the one betokens a wicked ingratefull disposition the other only a levity of minde For when the life of man lies as it were in a solitude without the guard of Friendship so necessary an assistance ought not unadvisedly to be chosen but being once approved ought not in any measure to be despised But the most sincere Friendship always appears in Adversity where whatever good offices are performed proceed from a constant kindness and affection The adoration of Felicity being to be attributed more to Flattery than Love is full of Suspicion and still desires more than it expends For men of unshaken fortunes more desire friends either for a guard or for their society For affairs that go well and prosperously as being favour'd with heavenly Success have the less need of other assistance And therefore their Memories have lasted longer in the Book of Mâ—moires who have deserted their Friends in Adversity than theirâ— who have only been
or in my House and I command him forthwith to get out of my sight Silanus struck with the sharp and cruel Sentence of his Father would not endure to live any longer but the next night hang'd himself Now had Torquatus done the part of a severe Judge he had made satisfaction to the Common-wealth the Macedonians had their revenge and one would have thought that the Fathers rigour might have bin mollified by the unfortunate end of his Son But he would neither be present at his Funeral nor listen to them that came to consult him about his Burial 4. But M. Seaurus the Light and Ornament of his Countrey when the Roman Cavalry was worsâ—ed by the Cimbrians and deserting the Proconsul Câ—tulâ—â— took their flight toward the City sent one to tell his Son who was one of those that fled that he had rather meet with his carcass slain in the field than see him guilty of such a shameful flight And therefore if there were any shame remaining in his breast degenerate as he was he should shun the sight of his enraged Father For by the remembrance of his youth he was admonish'd what kind of Son was to be owned or contemned by such a Father as Scaurus Which message being deliver'd him the young man was forced to make a more fatal use of his Sword against himself than against his enemies 5. No less imperiously did A. Fulvius one of the Senatorian Order keep back his Son from going into the field than Scaurus chid his for running away For he caus'd his Son eminent among his equals for his Wit Learning and Beauty to be put to death because he took part with Catiline being seduced by ill counsel having brought him back by force as he was going to Catiline's Army and uttering these words before his death That he did not beget him to join with Catiline against his Countrey but to serve his Countrey against Catiline He might have kept him in till the heat of the War had been over but that would have bin only the act of a cautious this was the deed of a severe Father CHAP. IX Of those that us'd Moderation toward their suspected Children 1. L. Gellius Publicola 2. Q. Hortensius the Oraâ—or 3. One Fulvius 4. A certain Parent BUt to temper this incensed and sharp Severity with a mixture of Clemency let us joyn acts of Pardon to exactness of Punishment 1. L. Gellius a person that had gone through all the Offices of Honour even to the Censorship when he had almost discovered his Son to be guilty of most â—ainous Crimes as lying with his Mother-in-law and plotting with her to take away his Fathers Life did â—ot presently run to revenge himself but after he had consulted almost the whole Senate after he had charged him gave him the liberty to speak for himself and after a strict Examination and Trial he acquitâ—ed him Had he hasted to cruelty out of the motions of Anger he had committed a greater crime than that which he sought to punish 2. Quintus Horâ—ensius who in his time was â—he Ornament of the Roman Eloquence shew'd a singular example of Patience to his Son For when he knew him to be so debauch'd that he could not endure his impiety and for that reason being about to make Messala his Sisters Son his Heir he told the Senate while he was defending him from an accusation of bribing the Peoples voices that if they condemn'd him he should have nothing left but the Kiss of his Nephews Intimating by those words which he inserted in his Oration that he reserv'd his Son rather in the torment of his minde than among his pleasures Yet that he might not invert the order of Nature he left his Estate to his Son and not to his Nephews Moderately using his Affections For that in his life he gave an impartial testimony of his manners and being dead he did him the honour which was due to his blood 3. The same thing did Fulvius a man of great Fame and Dignity For when he had besought the Senate that his Son being suspected of Parricide might be sought for by the Triumvir and apprehended by the Senaâ—es Warrant he not only surceas'd to prosecute him but also left him all his Estate after his decease Constituting the person whom he had begot not the person whose wickedness he had experienc'd for his Heir 4. To these merciful Acts of great men I will adde one new and unusual Example of an unknown Parent Who finding that his Son lay in wait for his life and not believing that any true-born and truely-begotâ—en Child could ever harbour such lewd and wicked thoughts took his Wife one day aside and asked her very seriously whether the Child were supposititious or whether she had conceived him by another But being assured by her Oaths and Asseverations that he had noâ— any reason to be in that manner jealous he at length took his Son with him into a private place deliver'd him a Sword which he had secretly brought along wiâ—h him and bid him cut his throat telling him withal that he needed make use neither of Poyson nor Thieves to compleat his Parricide The immediate thought of which act not by degrees but so suddainly possâ—ss'd the breast of the young man that flinging away his Sword Live Father said he live and if you are so dutiful as to permit such a Son to pray may you excel me in length of days But I beseech you withal let not this my Love seem the more ignoble because it proceeds from penitence O Solitude more sacred than Bloodshed O Woods more free from cruelty than home it self O Sword more kinde than nourishment O more happy benefit of Death offer'd than of Life bestow'd CHAP. X. Of those who have couragiously born the Death of their Children ROMANS 1. M. Horatius Pulvillus Cos. 2. 2. L. Aemilius Paulus 3. Q. Marcius Rex FORREIGNERS 1. Pericles the Athenian 2. Xenophon 3. Anaxagoras HAving made a relation of such Parents as patiently brooked the Injuries of their Children let us speak of such as have born their Death couragiously 1. Horatius Pulvillus being to dedicate a Temple in the Capitol of Iupiter as he was holding the post and ready to pronounce certain solemn words news was brought him that his Son was dead But he neither took his hand off the post nor made the least interruption in the Dedication of the Temple nor altered his countenance from the publick Ceremony to his private Grief lest he might seem rather to have acted the part of a Father than a High-priest Bury the carcass then said he 2. A great Example and no less renowned than the former is that which follows Aemilius Paulus the pattern of a most happy yet a most unfortunate Father of four Sons which he had all hopeful and beautiful youths had translated two into the Cornelian Family by right of Adoption and only reserved two to himself One of which died four daies before
and Marius greedily drank Civil Blood but did not presently apply themselves to the Altars and Temples of the Gods Sylla also who made the greatest Civil Wars and whose Success was most cruel and inhumane though he triumpht in the height of his power yet as he carried many Cities of Greece and Asia so shew'd not one Town of the Roman Citizens I am grieved and weary of ripping up the Wounds of the Common-wealth The Senate never gave to any one nor did any one desire it while the Fathers of the City wept But every one stretched out his hand for the Oaken Garland which was the Reward of him that had saved the Life of a Citizen Afterwards the eternal glory of the Imperial Family CHAP. IX Of the Severity of the Censors 1. Of Camillus and Posthumius towards the Batchelours 2. Of Valerius Maximus and C. Junius Brutus toward Antonius 3. Of Cato toward Flaminius 4. Of Fabricius toward Rufinus 5. Of M. Ant. and L. Flaccus toward Domitius 6. Of Nero and Salmator to themselves and to the People of Rome 7. Of Mâ—ssaâ—a and Semproniâ—s to the four hundred Knights 8. Of M. Regulus and P. Poâ—lius toward the remains at Cannae 9. Who after they were blemisht came to the Censorship THe most indissoluble Cord of Military Discipline and the strict observation of the same admonish me to pass from thence to the Censorship the Mistriss and Guardian of Peace For as the wealth of the People of Rome by vertue of their Commanders increast to such a vastness so their Modesty Continency and Conversations were examin'd by the Censors Severity A work equalling the glory of Military Actions For what avails it to be couragious abroad and live ill at home To take Cities conquer Nations and lay violent hands on Kingdoms unless there be Reverence Justice and Honour in the Courts of Law and Council For unless that be Riches heaped unto the Sky will have no stable Foundation Necessary it is therefore to know these things and to record the Acts of the Censors Authority 1. Camillus and Posthumius being Censors commanded them that lived unmarried till they were old to bring a sum of Money into the Treasury by way of Penalty deeming them worthy of further punishment if they should complain of so just a Constitution Justly taxing them for not observing the Law of Naâ—ure in begetting seeing they had receiv'd Natures benefit in being born Seeing also that their Parents by bringing them up had oblig'd them to a debt of continuing thâ—ir Off-spring To this they added that Fortune had given um a long time to exercise that Duty and yet they to deprive themselves of the name both of a Father and a Husband Go therefore said they and pay that which may be useful to the numerous Posterity of others 2. This Severity M. Valerius Maximus and C. Iunius Bubulcus Brutus imitating in a punishment of the same nature put L. Antonius out of the Senate for that he had repudiated a Virgin whom he had married without consulting any of his Friends But whether this Crime were greater than the former I know not well to determine though this may â—e said that by the former the sacred Rites of Matrimony were only contemn'd by the latter injur'd With great prudence therefore the Censors thought him â—nworthy to have admission into the Senate 3. Thus Portius Cato removed L. Flaminius out of the number of the Senators for that he had in his Province caus'd a condemn'd person to loose his Head choosing the time of execution at the will and for the sight of a Woman with whom he was in love He might have been forborn in respect of the Consulship which he had born and the authority of his Brother T. Flaminius But the Censor and Cato to shew a double example of Severity thought him the rather to be degraded because he had with so notorious and foul a crime defil'd the Majesty of so great and high an Authority and that he had thought it a slight matter to give the same respect to the eyes of an Harlot delighted with humane Blood and the suppliant hands of King Philip. 4. Why should I mention the Censorship of Fabricius Luscinus All ages have told us and will still declare to us that Cornelius Rufinus was by him turn'd out of the Senate because he had bought some Silver Houshold-stuff to the value of ten Pounds as affording a bad example of Luxury 5. M. Antonius and L. Flacâ—us remov'd Duronius from the Senate because he had abrogated a Law whereby the costs of Banquets was limited with very good reason for so doing For how impudently did Duronius in the Pulpits for Orations utter these words There are bridles put into your mouths most worthy Senators by no means to be endured Ye are bound and bâ—mper'd in the bitter shackles of Servitude For there is a Law made that ye ought to be frugal Let us abrogate therefore that command so deformed with the rust of nasty Antiquity For what need of Liberty if they that will kill themselves with Luxury may not 6. Let us now produce a pair linked together with the same Chain of Vertue and society in goodness yet dissenting when they came to be struck with the hook of Emulation Claudius-Nero and Livius Salinator in the second Punick-war strong supports of the Commonwealth yet how divided was their Censorship For when they numbered the Centuries of the Horse of which number by reason of the strength of their years they themselves were when they came to the Polian Tribe the Cryer seeing the name of Salinator bâ—gan to doubt with himself whether he should call him or no which when Nero understood he caused his Colleague not onely to be cited but to fell his horse because he was condemned by the judgement of the people Salinator also prosecuted Nero with the same severity giving this for a reason Because he had not sincerely returned into Friendship with him To whom if any of the Celestial Deities had signified that they in a long series of posterity should lay the foundation of our Guardian Princes Family they would soon have entered into a strict League of indissoluble kindness being such as were to leave their preserved Country to thirty divided Off-spring But Salinator advâ—ntured to cast thirty four Tribes among the Aerarii because that having condemned him they afterwards made him Consul and Censor pretending they must either be guilty of very great rashness or perjury The Moetian Tribe onely he left void of disgrace who by their Suffrages judged him neither to merit Condemning or worthy of Honour How constant and resolute a Genius had that man who neither by the sad event of Condemnation nor by the multiplication of Honour could be brought to carry himself otherwise than severely in the Administration of the Commonwealth 7. Four hundred Young-men also of the Order of Knighthood being a great part thereof patiently underwent the Censors Mark of disgrace all which
with his single right hand as would have serv'd five Souldiers for a Battle of a whole days continuance at length drawing his Sword and beating back his Enemies sometimes with the Point and sometimes with tâ—e Hilt he became such a spectacle of Wonder not only to the Romans but to the Britains also which none but those that beheld it could have imagin'd At length Anger and Shame forc'd them that were tir'd to do their utmost when he run through the Thigh his Face batter'd with Stones his Head-piece bruised in several places commits himself to the Sea and laden with two Coats of Mail escap'd through the Waves which he had dyed with the Blood of his Enemies Coming to his General not having lost his Arms but well bestow'd um when he deserv'd his praise he begg'd his pardon Great in fight but greater in the remembrance of Military Discipline Therefore by the best Esteemer and Discerner of Virtue both thy deeds and words were rewarded with the honour oâ— a Centurions command 24. But let the Memory of Luc. Sicinius Dentatus conâ—lude all the Roman Examples of the Fortitude of the Roman Warriours whose Deeds and the Rewards of his Actions may be thought to exceed the limits of belief but for the credit of the Authors among whom we finde M. Varro who attest the same in their Memorials whom they affirm to have been in an Hundred and Twenty pitch'd Battels being endued with that Courage of Mind and Strength of Body that he seem'd to carry away the greatest share of the Victory And of these Battles there were Eight wherein he fought upon Challenges while both Armies lookt on He is said to have saved fourteen Citizens to have received â—orty five Wounds upon his Breast not having one Scar upon his Back He followed nine several Triumphal Chariots of several Generals drawing the eyes of the whole City that beheld the multitude and pompous glory of his Rewards For he had eight Golden Crowns fourteen City-Crowns and three Mural-Crowns together with one Obsidional Garland Chains one hundred eighty three Bracelets one hundred and sixty Spears eighteen Trappings twenty five Ornamâ—nts sufficient for a Legion rather than for the use of a private Souldier FORREIGN 1. That Blood was also confounded out of many Bodies into one with great admiration in the Town of the Calibes where Fulvius Flaccus having condemn'd the chief of the City to loose their Heads for their Perfidiousness in Campania and that he was by Letters from the Senate order'd to see execution done Iuâ—ellius Taurea a Campanian freely offer'd himself to him crying out as loud as he could Because said he O Fulvius thou art so desirous of shedding blood why dost thou delay to sheath thy Sword in my Bowels that thou maist have an occasion to boast that thou didst once kill a stâ—uter man than thy self Who replying that he would gladly do it but that he was otherwise orderâ—d by the Senate Beâ—old me then replyed the other upon whom the Conscript Fathers have laid no commands â—utwardly quiet enough but meditating a great work in my mind and immediately killing his Wife and Children fell upon his own Sword What kind of person must we believe him to be who was so willing with the slaughter of himself and his Relations to testifie that he would rather delude the Cruelty of Fulvius than make use of the Mercy of the Senate 2. Again how great was the Courage of Gobrias who when he freed the Persians from the sordid and cruel Tyranny of the Magi having thrown one of the Magi down in a dark place and lying with all his weight upon him and perceiving that one of his Compâ—nions in his noble enterprize was afraid to kill the Tyrant for fear of hurting him cryed out Vse not thy Sword ere a whit the less timorously for fear of me rather thrust it through us both that this fellow may die the more speedily 3. In this place we meet with Leonidâ—s a Noble Spartan than whose Designe Enterprize and Issue there was nothing more courageous For being placed in the Streights of Thermopylae against the whole force of Asia only with Three Hundred of his Citizens through the obstinacy of his Virtue he drave Xerxes to despâ—ir who a little before was a burâ—hen both to Sea and Land not only terrible to Men but one that threatned to chain the Sea and â—etter the Heavens but being through the perfidiousnâ—ss of the Inhabitants of that Country deprived of the advantage of the place he resolv'd to fall rather than leave the station where his Countâ—y had set him And therefore he exhorted his people with so much chearfulness to that Battle where they were sure to perish crying out Fellow-souldiers let us Dine like such as are to Sup in the other world Death was all their hopes yet fearless they obeyed their Leader as sure of Victory 4. The glorious Battle and Death of Oâ—hryades is only seen in the praise rather than in the larger space of Thyarete Who spoiling the enemy of Victory by Letters written with his own Blood after his own fate would not carry into the bosome of his Country the bloody superscripâ—ions of his Trophies 5. But a most sad effort follows the most excellent effects of the Spartan Vertue Epaminondas the chief Felicity of Thebes and the first scourge of the Lacedemonian Valour when he had broken the antient glory and till that time invincible publick glory of that City in the two Battles of Mantinea and Leuctra being run throâ—gh with a Spear and fainting for want of Blood and Breath ask'd those who endeavour'd to recover him First whether his Shield were safe and next whether the Enemy was quite vanquish'd Which when he found according to his desire Fellow-Souldiers said he this is not the end but a fortunate and anspicious beginning of my life For your Epaminondas u now born because he thus dyes I see Thebes by my Conduct and Command the head of all Greece The strong and courageous City of Sparta submits vanquish'd by our Arms and Greece freed from her bitter Tyranny Not having Children yet I die not without Children I leave Leuctra and Mantinea behind me Then commanâ—ing the Spear to be pull'd out of his Body he expir'd Whom if the Immortal Gods had suffâ—r'd to enjoy his Victories a more glorious Redeemer had never enter'd the Walls of any City 6. Nor was the Constancy of Theramenes the Athenian inconsiderable being compell'd to die in Prison where without any signe of fear he drank the Potion prepar'd for him by the thirty Tyrants and smiling upon the publick Officer that brought it Tell Critias quoth he I drink to him and therefore take care that thou carry him the Cup assoon as thou canst Now this Critias was the cruellest of all the Tyrants Certainly it is as easie to free a mans self from punishment as to endure punishment and thus Theramenes as if he had died in his Bed departed this
observed them to be religiously sincere Who as he had nothing while he lived that could be publikly taxed yet being deceas'd had the Concord and Unity of the City for his Patrimony 3. I cannot deny but that there was Silver in the Houses of Caius Fabricius and Q. Emilius Papus the most principal men of their times But Fabricius seem'd the more prodigal because he had a Horn-foâ—t to his Drinking-cup But Papus seem'd more head-strong who having received his Goods as hereditary would not alienate them for religions sake 4. They were also certainly very rich who were call'd from the Plough to be made Consuls for pleasures sake they plough'd the sandy and barren Soil of Pupinia and ignorant of delicacy scatter'd those vast clods with câ—ntinued sweat and labour so that those whom the dangers of the Common wealth call'd to be Emperours and Generals their want at home for why should truth conceal a Sirname compell'd to follow the call of Cowherds 5. They who were sent by the Senate to call Atilius to undertake the Government of the Roman People found him sowing in his Garden but those hands hardned with Countrey-labour establish'd the safety of the Common-wealth and defeated mighty Armies of the Enemies and those hands that lately held the Plough now hold the reins of the Triumphant Chariot Nor was he asham'd when he had laid down his Ebony Staff to return again to the Plough Tail Well may Atilius comfort the Poor but much more instruct the Rich how little the troublesome care of gathering Riches advantages the true desire of purchasing solid Honour 6. Of the same name and blood Atilius Regulus the greatest glory and the greatest calamity of the Punic War when he had ruin'd the wealth of the most insolent Carthaginian by the success of many Victories and understood that his authority was continued for the next year upon considâ—ration of his worthy deeds he wrote to the Consuls that his Bayly of his little Farm that he had in the Countrey of Popinia was deâ—d and that one that he had hired was gone away with his Utensils of Agriculture and therefore desired that a Succâ—ssour might be sent him left his land lying untill'd his Wife and Children should want Bread Which when the Consuls had râ—lated to the Senate they caus'd his ground to be let and setled a Livelihood upon his Wife and Children and ordered those things that he had lost to be redeem'd Such was the Example of Atilius's vertue to our Treasury that every Age will boast of among the Romans 7. Equally large were the Farms of L. Quinctius Cincinnâ—â—us For he possâ—ssed only seven Acres of Land and of these he had lost three forfeited for a Fine being bound to the Treasury and with the rest of this little Land he paid another Forfeiture for his Son Caeso for not appearing when he was call'd to answer the Law And yet when he was ploughing only four Acres of this Land he not only upheld the dignity of his Family but had the Dictatorship conferr'd upon him He accompts himself to live splendidly now whose House stands upon as much ground as all Cincinnatus Fâ—rm contain'd 8. What shall I say of the Aelian Family How â—icâ— were they There were Sixteen of that name whosâ— little Cottage stood where now the Marian Monuments stand and a small Farm in the Countrey of thâ— Veii that needed fewer men to till it than it had Owners and in the Parishes call'd Mâ—ximus and Flaminia they had the ground where the Theater stood bestowed upon them for their vertue by the Publick 9. That Family had not one scruple of Silver before that Paulus after he had utterly defeated Perses gave to Aelius Tubero his Son-in-Law five Pounâ— weight of Gold out of the Spoils that were taken I omit that the chief person of the City gave his Daughter in marriage to one whose â—amily and Estate was so exceeding low And he himself died so vâ—ry poor that unless he had sold one Farm which he had left there had not been sufficient for thâ— Dowry of his Wife The minds of Men and Women were then most noble in the City and the worth of every Man was then in all things weighed against his Goods and Estate For every one made it his business to serve his Country not himself And they rather chose poverty in a rich Empire than riches in a poor Empire And to this noble resolution that reward was given that it was not lawful to buy any of those things which were due to Vertue and the wants of Illustrious Men were supply'd out of the publick Stock 10. And therefore when Cneus Scipio had written out of Spain to the Senate desiring that a successor might be sent him for that he had a daughter now fit for marriage and that no portion could be provided for her without he were present The Senate lest the Commonwealth should loose a good Captain performed the office of a Father and having with the advice of his Wife and Relations agreed upon the Portion caused it to be paid out of the publick Treasury The Portion was two thousand pieces of brass mony whereby not only appears the kindness of the Conscript Fathers but the usual measure of the ancient Estates may be guessed at For they were so small that Tatia the daughter of Cato was said to have brought her Husband an exceeding Portion when she brought him ten thousand pieces of brass mony And Megullia that entred her husbands house with fifty thousand pieces of brass mony was called for that reason the Maid with the Portion And therefore the Senate vindicated the daughters of Fabricius Luscinus and Scipio from being portionless by their own Liberality seeing their Parents had nothing to give them but their wealthy honours 11. What inheritance M. Scaurus received from his Father he himself relates in the first Book that he hath wrote concerning his Life For saith he he had but ten Slaves and the whole value ef his Estate was but thirty five thousand pieces of mony These Examples therefore we ought to regard and quiet our minds with the Consolation thereof who are always complaining of the scantiness or our own Fortunes We find no Silver or a very small quantity few Servants seven Acres of barren Land domestick Indigency Funeral expences publickly defray'd Daughters without Portions But we behold famous Consulships wonderful Dictatorships and innumerable Triumphs Why do we therefore with continual reproaches torment a mean Fortune as the chief evil of human kind Who though with not superfluously flowing yet with faithful breasts nourished the Poplicolae the Emilii the Fabricii the Curii the Scipio's the Scauri and all those other supports of Vertue equal to these Let us â—ather pull up our spirits and comfort our minds debilitated with the sight of mony with the memory of former times CHAP. I. Of Bashfulness or Modesty 1. Of the people of Rome 2. C. Terentius Varro Cos. 3. C. Cicereius
was the Justice of the four Tribunes of the People at the same time For when L. Hortensius their Colleague had cited C. Atratinus under whose comand they had rallyed the Roman Army and restor'd the Battle against the Volsci at the Lake Verrugo to appear before the People they swore that it would be a shame to them if their General should be guilty For those noble Gentlemen would not endure to behold him as a Gown-man under the last extremity whose Life when in Arms they had defended with their own Wounds and Blood Which Justice of theirs so moved the Assâ—mbly that they caus'd Hortensius to desist 3. Nor did they shew themselves less noble in that which follows When Titus Graccbus and C. Claudius had exasperated the greatest part of the City by carrying themselves so severely in the Censorship Rutilius the Tribune accus'd them before the People of High-Treason moved not only by the publick consternation but his own private interest because they had order'd a part of his wall to be pulled down for the benefit of some Publick-place In which Judicature while many Centuries of the first Classis openly condemn'd Claudius but all consented to quit Graccbus Graccbus cried out aloud That if his Colleague suffered he would undergo the same punishment as he did Which Justice of his diverted the storm from both their heads and fortunes For the People absolved Claudius and Rutilius releas'd his Action against Graccâ—us 4. The Colledge of Tribunes also got great applause for when one of them L. Cotta by name under the protection of his sacred Authority denyed to pay his Creditors they decreed that if he would neither pay his Debts nor give Security they would assist the Creditors in their Appeal thinking it unjust that the publick Majesty should be a protection to private Knavery Thus the Tribunitial Justice drew out Cotta lurking in the Sanctuary of his employment 5. Of which to come to another Example Cn. Domitius Tribune of the People cited Marc. Scaurus before the People being then Prince of the City to ruine him if fortune had favour'd him or at least to eclipse his renown by a Criminal Accusation While he was thus eagerly thirsting after the blood of Scaurus a Servant of Scaurus came to him by night and promis'd him to discover many great and hainous Crimes to advance his Accusation As a Master and an Enemy he consider'd and weigh'd in his mind the Impeachment with different thoughts Justice overcame his Hatred For immediately shutting his own ears and the Impeachers mouth he caus'd him to be carried to Scaurus An Accuser I will not say to be belov'd but rather to be applauded by the person accus'd whom the People as well for his other Vertues as also for this reason created Consul Censor and High-Priest 6. Nor did L. Crassus behave himself otherwise as to the same Example of Justice He had alwaies born a most perfect hatred against the Name of Carbo as his profest Enemy and yet when a Servant of Carbo's brought him a Cabinet of his Masters conteining several Writings which he might have made use of to his ruine he sent the Cabinet lockt as it was and his Servant bound to his Master What Justice may we conjecture then flourished among Friends when Enemies and Impeachers one of another so nobly behav'd themselves 7. Sylla desired not so much his own safety as the ruine of Sulpitius Rufus whose Tribunitial rage continually vex'd him But when he was banish'd and that he understood that he was betray'd by his own Servant where he lay skulking that the Fidelity and Justice of his Decree might be permanent he caus'd the Freed-man for his perfidiousness to be thrown down the Tarpeian Rock together with his freed-mans Cap which he had purchased by his Treachery A most insolent Victor at other timeâ— now most just in his Authority FORRAIGNERS 1. But that we may not seem to forget the Justice of Forreigners Pittacus of Mitylene was one to whose merits his Citizens were either so much engaged or else had so much confidence in his Vertues that they offer'd him the Soveraign Authority of their City which he so long kept as the War continued with the Athenians about the Sygaeum or possession of a piece of ground so called But after he had by a Victory setled Peace he presently resign'd his Authority against the will of the Mitylenians that he might not be the Lord of his City any longer than the necessity of affairs requir'd And when by the consent of all the People the half of the Land was offered him he utterly refus'd the Gift esteeming it below himself to lessen the glory of his Vertue by the greatness of his Prey 2. I must now relate the Prudence of another that I may also relate the Justice of another When Themistocles had given the Athenians wholesom advice to betake themselves to their Vessels and after that Xerxes and his Army were driven out of Greece went about to restore the antient dignity of the City and laid up Treasure secretly to raise his City to the Dominion over all Greece he told the People in publick that he had found out something which if fortunâ— would suffer it to be brought to pass there could nothing happen greater or more for the honour of the Athenian People but that it was not a thing to be divulged and therefore desired them to appoint some person to whom he might privately reveal it Aristides was deputed Who when he understood thâ—â— Themistocles intended to have burnt all the Lacedaemonian Navy that lay in the Road of Gytheum that it being destroyed the Dominion of the Sea might belong to them return'd to his fellow Citizens and told them That Themistocles was hammering that which was very profitable but very unjust Presently the whole Assembly when they heard it was unjust bid him say no more of it and commanded Themistocles to desist from his Enterprize 3. Nothing more prevalent than the following Examples of Justice Zaleucus the Locrian having strengthend his City with most profitable and wholesome Laws when his Son condemn'd for Adultery according to the Law made by himself was to have lost both his Eyes and all the City interceded for the Son for some time he obstinately refus'd it but at length constrain'd by the intreaty of the People first putting out one of his own Eyes and then one of his Sons he left the use of fight to both Thus he rendered to the Law the punishment which it claimed with a most admirable mixture of Justice dividing himself into a merciful Father and a just Legislator 4. But something more severe was the Justice of Charundas the Thurian He had pacified the Harangues of his Citizens that were seditious even to blood and violence making a Law that if any person entred the Common-hall with his Sword on he should be presently put to death Some time after having been in the Countrey and coming home he presently call'd
condemned 1. M. Horatius being condemned by Tullus the King for having slain his Sister was acquitted by appealing to the people The one was incens'd by thâ— Cruelty of the Murther the other by the reason of the fact enclin'd to Mercy believing the immature love of the Virgin more severely than impiously punish'd And thus the brothers arm being sav'd by so stout a correction reap'd as much honour from the blood of his near relation as from the blood of an enemy 2. Before the Roman people shewed themselves fierce preservers of Chastity afterwards more mild Judges than Justice it self required For when Servius Galba was severely accused by Libo a Tribune of the People for that being a Praetor in Spain he had put to death a great number of the Luftâ—anians contrary to his Faith given them and that Cato at that time very aged in an Oration upon publick Record had made good what the Tribune had done so that the party accused had not a word to say for his own defence yet when with tears in his eyes he only recommended to the Assembly his little Children and the young Son of Sulpitius Gallus neerly related to him he so appeas'd the wrath of his Judges that he who was but just now ready to be condemn'd by the Vote of all had hardly in an instant one Vote to his prejudice Pitie not Equity rul'd that Inditement since that Absolution that could not be granted to Innocency was given out of respect to the Children 3. Like to this was that which follows Aulus Gabinius in the height of Infamy being by the accusation of C. Memmius expos'd to the suffrages of the People seem'd to be past all hope For the Inditement was full the Defence weak and his Judges such as with a precipitate malice desired his punishment The Officers and Imprisonment hovered before his eyes and yet all vanished away by the interposition of propitious Fortune For Sisenna the Son of Gabinius by an impulse of consternation throwing himself a Suppliant at the feet of Memmius besought there some asswagement of the Tempest where the whole fury of the Storm first arose Whom the Victor beholding with a stern countenance and tearing his Ring from his finger suffer'd for some time to lye groveling upon the ground Which sad spectacle wrought that effect that Laelius the Tribune by a general consent order'd the prisoner to be set at liberty Teaching us that no man ought insolently to abuse the successes of Prosperity nor over-weakly to be cast down by Adversity 4. Which is made manifeâ—t by the next Example Publius Claudius I cannot tell whether to the greater detriment of Religion or his Countrey in regard he contemn'd the antient Customes of the one and lost a noble Navy of â—other being expos'd to the anger of the People when it was thought he could no way avoid the punishment that he deserv'd saved himself from Condemnation by the benefit of a suddain storm By which means the Trial being laid aside it pleased the People never to bring it on again as if the Gods themselves had forbid it Thus was he saved by a Land-storm whom a Sea-tempest had like to have brought to condemnation 5. By the same sort of assistance the Chastity of Tuccia a Vetal Virgin and accuâ—'d of Incest escaped out of a black cloud of Infamy Who trusting to the fincerity of her Innocency ventur'd the hope of her safety upon a doubtful argument For snatching up a sieve Vesta said she If I have always attended thy Rites with clean and chast hands grant that I may take up water out of Tiber in this and carry it to thy Temple Nature gave way to the â—ash ' and bold Imprecation of the Priestess 6. Lucius Piso also being accused by Claudius Pulcher â—or having done great and intolerable injuries to the Roman Alties by a lucky chance escaped the fear of an unquestioned ruine For at the same time that they were about to give severe Judgment against him there fell a sudden shower which filled his mouth full of duâ—t as he lay prostrate at the feet of his Judges Which Spectacle changed the whole Trial from Severity into Pity and Clemency For they believ'd he had given full satisfaction to their Allies by being compell'd to prostrate himself so submissively and rise again with so much deformity 7. I will adde two that escaped by their Accusers own fault Quintus Flavius the Augur was accused by Valerius the Aedil and proved guilty to the People and being condemn'd by the Votes of fourteen Tribes cryed out he was innocently condemn'd To whom Valerius made answer with a loud voice that he car'd not whether he werâ— put to death Guilty or Innocent so he were put to death Which violent speech brought over the rest of the Tribes to his Adversaries side He had cast his enemy when he certainly thought him ruin'd he restor'd him and lost the victory even in the victory it self 8. C. Cosconius sound guilty by the Servilian Law and for many evident and notorious crimes condemned was sav'd by one Verse recited in the Sessions-House by Valâ—â—ius Valenâ—inus his Adversary signifying by a Poetical Joke that he had defil'd a noble Youth and a free Virgin For they thought it unjust that he should go away Victor who rather deserv'd to give the Palm from himself than to take it from another Therefore was Valerius rather condemn'd by the Absolution of Cosconius than Coseonius freed at his Trial. 9. I will touch upon those also whose Crimes having ruin'd all their hopes have been pardon'd for the renown of their Relations A. Attilius Calatinus being condemn'd for having betrayed the Town of Sora and a person otherwise infamous only a few words of Q. Maximus his Father-in-law sav'd from the threatning danger wherein he affirmed that if he sound him guilty of that crime he would break off his affinity Presently the People yielded up their own to the judgment of one man believing it an unworthy thing not to believe his Testimony whom they had entrusted in the greatest Dangers of the Commonwealth 10. M. Aemilius Scourus also guilty of Bribery made so lame and pitiful defence at his Trial that his Accuser said openly that he should have liberty to name an hundred and twenty witnesses for himself and that he would be content to have the prisoner acquitted if he could produce so many in the Province from whom he had never taken any thing Yet though he could not make use of so fair a condition he was freed for the sake of his Nobility and the fresh memory of his Father 11. But as the Fame of Great men has prevailed to protect the Guilty so has it as little avail'd to oppress them rather it has bin a safeguard to them in the height of Prosecution P. Scipio Aemilianus accused L. Cotta to the Praetor whose cause though it were full of deep crimes was seven times delayed and the eighth judgment acquitted him For those
Cassius therefore believing him to have been taken by the Enemy and that they were absolute Masters of the field hasten'd to end his life when Brutus's forces were in part safe and Masters of the Enemies Camp But the Courage of Titinius is not to be forgot who stood a while astonish'd at the unexpected sight of his Captain wallowing in his own blood then bursting into tears Though imprudenâ—ly General said he I was the cause of thy death this imprudence shall not go unpunish'd receive me a companion to thy fate and do saying threw himself upon the liveless trunk with his Sword up to the Hilts in his own Body And intermixing blood with blood they lay a double sacrifice the one of Piety the other of Errour 3. But certainly Mistake did a great injury to the family of Lartis Talumnius King of the Veieâ—tâ—s who after he had through a lucky cast at Dice cried to his Play-mate Kill the Guard mistaking the word fell upon the Roman Embassadours and slew them as they were just entring the Room interpreting Play as a Command CHAP. X. Of Revenge In ROMANS 1. Of the Papyrian Tribe of the Tusculans against Polias 2. Of the people of Utica against Fabius Adrianus FORRAIGNERS 1. Thamyâ—is and Berenices Queens 2. Certain Youths of Thessaly THe Stings of Revenge as they are sharp so they are just while they meditate to repay received Injuries Of which a few Examples will serve 1. M. Flavius Tribune of the People reported to the People against the Tusculans that by their advice the Privernates and Veliterni would rebel Who when they came to Rome in a most miserable and supplianâ— manner with their Wives and Children it hapned that all the rest of the Tribes being Mercy the Polian Tribe alone gave judgment that they should be first whipp'd and then put to death and the multitude of Women and Children to be sold for Slaves For which reason the Papyrian Tribe in which the Tusculans being received into the City had a strong Vote never made afterwards any Candidate of the Polian Tribe a Magistrate that no Honour might â—ome to that Tribe which as much as in them lay had endeavoured to deprive them of their Lives and Liberty 2. But this Revenge both the Senate and the consent of all men approved For when Adrianus had sordidly tyrannized over the Roman Citizens at Uâ—ica and was therefore by them burâ—t alive the matter was never question'd in the City nor any complaint made against it FORREIGNERS 1. Famous Examples of Revenge were both Queens Thamyris who having caused the Head of Cyrus to be cut off commanded it to be thrown into a Tub of humane Blood upbraiding him with his insatiable thirst after Blood and revenging upon him the Death of her Son who waâ— slain by him And Berenice who taking heavily the loss of her Son entrapped by the snares of Laodice got arm'd into her Chariot and following the King Life-guard-man that had done the Mischief after she had miss'd him with her Spear she â—elâ—'d him with a Stone and driving her Horses over his Body rid directly through the bands of the adverse party to the house where she thought the body of the slain Child lay 2. It is a hard thing to judge whether a just Revenge or not were the ruine of Iason of Thessaly preparing to make war against the King of Persia. For he gave leave to Taxillus the Master of his Games complaining that he had been abused by certain young men that he should either require thirty Drachma's from them or to give them ten Stripes Which last revenge when he used they that were lash'd kill'd Iason valuing the measure of the punishment by the pain of the Minde and not of the Body Thus by a small provocation of ingenious Shame a great Undertaking was subverted Because that in the opinion of Greece there was as much expected from Iason as from Alexander CHAP. XI Of things naughtily said and wickedly done ROMANS 1. Tullia Servilia 2. C. Fimbria Tribune of the People 3. L. Catiline 4. Magius Chilo 5. C. Toranius 6. Villius Annalis 7. The wife of Vettius Salassus FORREIGNERS 1. Two Spanish Brothers 2. Mithridates the King 3. Sariaster the Son of Tigranes 4. L. Aelius Sejanus NOw because we pursue the good and bad things of humane Life let us go on with what hath been naughtily said and wickedly done 1. But where shall I better begin than from Tullia as being he ancientest in time the wickedest and most monstrous Example of Impiety Who when her Charioteer as she was riding in her Chariot stopp'd his Horses upon her enquiry finding that the dead body of her Father Servius Tullius lay in the way caus'd the Charioteer to drive over it that she might hasten to the embraces of Tarquinius who had slain him By which impious and shameful haste she not only stain'd herself with eternal Infamy but also the very Village it self which was called The wicked Village after that 2. Not so horrible was the Act and Saying of C. Fimbria though consider'd by themselves both very abominable He had order'd it that Scavola should be killed at the Funeral of C. Marius whom after he found to be recovered of his Wound He resolv'd â—o accuse to the People Being then ask'd what he could say truely of him whose conversation was not to 〈◊〉 blamed answered that he would accuse him Fâ—â— not receiving the Dart any further into his Body 3. L. Catiline Cicero saying in the Senate that there was a great fire kindled by him I perceive iâ— said he and if I could not â—uench it with Water I would with Ruine What can we think but that the stings of his Conscience moved him to finish the act of Parricide which he began 4. The Breast of Magius Chilo was deeply troubled with Madness Who with his own hand snatch'd away Marcellus's Life that Caesar had given him For being an old Souldier under Pompey he took it ill that any of Pompey's friends should be preferr'd before him For as he was upon his return from Mitylene to thâ— City he stabb'd him with a Dagger in the Port of Athens An Enemy of Friendship an Intercepter of divine Favour and the Ignominy of publick Faith which had promis'd the Life of so great a person 5. To this Cruelty to which there seems no addition to be made C. Caius â—oranius exceeds in heinousness of Parricide For adhering to the Faction â—f the Triumviri he described to the Centurions the marks the age and lurking places of his proscrib'd Father a famous person and of the Praetorian Order to thâ— end they might finde him out The Old-man moâ—â— concerned for the life and advancement of his Son than for the remainder of his days enquired of the Centurions whether his Son were safe and whether he pleas'd his Generals One of which made answer Being shewed by him said he whom thou so 〈◊〉 lovest we are come to be thy Execâ—tioneâ—s and preseâ—tly