and whether it was that he relied on his Friendship and Kindness or that he hoped to find him satiated as a Lion glutted with slaughter he prevailed with him both to pardon the men and to be reconcil'd to their City Upon the departure of Alexander the Faction of Demades grew great in power and authority but Demosthenes was quite under Hatches Yet when Agis the Spartan made his insurrection he also for a short time attempted to raise some commotions in Attica but he soon shrunk back again seeing the Athenians would not rise with him and that Agis being slain the Lacedaemonians were vanquished At this time it was that the Indictment against Ctesiphon concerning the Crown was brought to Trial. The Action was commenced a little before the Battel in Cheronea when Charondas was Archon but it came not to Sentence till about ten years after Aristophon being then Archon Never was any publick cause more celebrated than this both for the fame of the Orators and for the generous courage of the Judges who though at that time the accusers of Demosthenes were men of the greatest power and supported by the favour of the Macedonians yet would not give Judgment against him but acquitted him so honourably that Aeschines had scarce the fifth part of their Suffrages on his side so that immediately he left the City and spent the rest of his Life in teaching Rhetorick about the Island of Rhodes and upon the Continent in Ionia It was not long after that Harpalus fled from Alexander and came to Athens out of Asia He was conscious to himself of many lewd practices occasion'd by his luxury and fear'd the King who was now grown terrible even to his best friends Yet this man had no sooner addressed himself to the people and delivered up his Goods his Ships and himself to their disposal but the other Orators of the Town had their Eyes quickly fix'd upon his money and came in to his assistance persuading the Athenians to receive and protect their Suppliant But Demosthenes at first gave advice to chase him out of the Country and to beware lest they involved their City in a war upon this so unnecessary and unjust an occasion Yet some few days after as they were taking an account of the Treasure Harpalus perceiving how much he was pleas'd with the King's Cup and how curioufly he survey'd the sculpture and fashion of it he desired him to poize it in his hand and consider the weight of the Gold Demosthenes being amazed to feel how heavy it was ask'd him what price it would come for To you Sir said Harpalus with a smiling countenance it shall come with 20 Talents And presently after when night drew on he sent him the Cup with so many Talents This Harpalus it seems was a person of good skill to discern a man's Covetousness by the air of his countenance and from the pleasant cast of his eyes to discover his Nature For Demosthenes could not resist the Temptation but receiving the Present like a Garrison into his house he was overcome and wholly surrendred himself up to the interest of Harpalus The next day he came into the Assembly with his Neck well swath'd about with Wooll and Rollers and when they called on him to rise up speak he made signs as if he had lost his voice But the Wits turning the matter to ridicule said that certainly the Orator had been seiz'd that night with no other than a Silver Squinzy And soon after the People being sensible of the Bribery grew angry and would not suffer him to speak or make any Apology for himself but run him down with noise Whereupon a certain Droll stood up saying O ye Men of Athens What Will you not hear the King's Cup-bearer So at length they banished Harpalus out of the City and fearing lest they should be call'd to account for the Treasure which the Orators had purloin'd they made a strict Enquiry going from house to house only Callicles the Son of Arrenidas who was newly married they would not suffer to be search'd out of respect as Theopompus writes to the Bride who was within But Demosthenes opposed the Inquisition and preferr'd a Decree to referr the business to the Court of Arieopagus and to punish those whom they should find guilty But he himself being one of the first whom the Court condemned when he came to the Bar was fined fifty Talents and committed to Prison where out of shame of the Crime for which he was condemned and through the weakness of his Body growing soon impatient and weary of his confinement without the privity of some and by the connivance of others of his Keepers he made his escape He had not fled far from the City when finding that he was pursued by some of those Citizens who had been his Adversaries he endeavoured to hide himself But when they call'd him by his Name and coming up nearer to him desired he would accept from them some Money which they had brought from home as a small Provision for his Journey and to that purpose only had followed him when they intreated him to take Courage and without Passion to bear up against his Misfortune he burst out into much greater Lamentation saying But how is it possible to support my self under so heavy an affliction since I leave a City in which I have found such Enemies as in any other it is not easie to meet with Friends so generous and kind The Truth is he bore his banishment after an unmanly fashion settling for the most part in Aegina and Traezene and with Tears in his Eyes looking towards the Countrey of Attica Insomuch that there remain upon record some Sayings of his no way suitable to that generosity and bravery with which he used to express himself when he had the management of the Common-wealth For as he was departing out of the City it is reported that he lifted up his hands towards the Acropolis and said O Lady Minerva how is it that thou takest delight in three such fierce untractable Beasts the Owl the Dragon and the People The young men that came to visit and converse with him he deterr'd from medling with State-affairs telling them that if at first two ways had been propos'd to him the one leading to the Pulpit and the Assembly the other directly tending to Destruction and he could have foreseen the many Evils which attend those who deal in publick Business such as Fears Envies Calumnies and Contentions he would certainly have taken that which led straight on to his Death But now hapned the Death of Alexander while Demosthenes was in this kind of Banishment which we have been speaking of And the Grecians were once again up in Arms encouraged by the brave attempts of Leosthenes who was then drawing a circumvallation about Antipater whom he held close besieged in Lamia Pytheas therefore the Orator and Callimedon of Carabia fled from
Arm. Many and various are the reports of those who have writ concerning this matter which it is no way needful to recount Yet I must not omit what is said by Democharis a familiar intimate acquaintance of Demosthenes who is of opinion it was not by the help of Poyson that he met with so sudden and so easie a death but that by the singular favour and providence of the Gods he was thus rescued from the barbarous cruelty of the Macedonians He died the Sixteenth of October a day the most sad and solemn of all the year on which the Women celebrate the Thesmophoria of Ceres and fast all day in the Temple of that Goddess Soon after his death the People of Athens bestowed on him such honours as he had deserved They erected his Statue of Brass they decreed that the Eldest of his Family should be maintain'd in the Prytaneum and on the Base of his Statue was ingraven this famous Inscription If with the Wisdom of thy Mind An equal Courage had been joyn'd Greece ne'er had suffered so great harms Enslav'd by Macedonians Arms. For it is very ridiculous which by some Men is reported that Demosthenes should make these Verses himself in Calabria as he was about to take the Poyson A little before we came to Athens 't is said there hapned such an accident as this A Soldier being summon'd to appear before his superior Officer and to answer an Accusation brought against him put that little Gold which he had into the hands of Demosthenes his Statue The Fingers of this Statue were folded one within another and near it grew a small plane Tree from which many leaves either accidentally blown thither by the Wind or placed so on purpose by the Man himself falling together and lying round about the Gold concealed it for a long time At length the Soldier return'd and finding his Treasure entire the fame of this accident was spread abroad And many of the Wits upon this occasion strove to vindicate Demosthenes from corruption in several Epigrams which they made on the same subject M. TVLLIVS CICERO M Burghers sculp THE LIFE OF MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO Translated from the Greek By THO. FULLER D. D. VOLUME V. IT is generally said that Helvia the Mother of Cicero was both well Born and lived in good Fashion but of his Father nothing is reported but in extremes For whilst some would have him the Son of a Fuller and educated in that Trade others reduce the original of his Family to Tullius Attius an illustrious King of the Volsci Howsoever he who first of that House was sirnamed Cicero seems to have been a Person worthy to be remembred because those who succeeded him did not only not reject but were fond of that name though vulgarly made a matter of reproach For the Latins call a Vetch Cicer and a flat excrescence in the resemblance of a Vetch on the tip of his Nose gave him the sirname of Cicero But this Cicero whose story I am writing is said to have briskly reply'd to some of his Friends judging it fit to lay aside or change that Name when he first stood for publick Office and engaged in Affairs of State that he would make it his utmost endeavor to render the Name of Cicero more glorious than that of the Scauri and Catulli and therefore when being Questor of Sicily he had made an Oblation of Silver Plate to the Gods and had inscribed thereon the Initial Letters of his two names Marcus and Tullius instead of the Third he merrily commanded the Artificer to engrave the Figure of a Vetch by them These things are related of his Name Of Cicero's Birth it is reported that his Mother was delivered without pain or labour on the Third of the Nones of January that Day on which now the Magistrates of Rome Pray and Sacrifice for the Emperor it is said also that a Spectre appear'd to his Nurse and foretold the Child she then suckled should afterwards become a great Benefit to the Roman State which things would otherwise have appear'd dreams and trifles had not himself soon demonstrated the truth of the Prediction for when he came to the age of going to School he was of such eminent Pregnancy and had such Fame and Glory amongst the Boys that their Fathers would often visit the School that they themselves might behold that Cicero and as Eye Witnesses report his quickness and aptness in Learning so much celebrated but the ruder sort of them were angry with their Children to see them as they walked together receiving Cicero with respect into the middle place Now he being as Plato would have the Scholar-like and Philosophical Temper to be disposed to all manner of Learning and neglectful of no Art or Science had a more peculiar propensity to Poetry and there is a Poem now extant made by him when a Boy in Tetrameter Verse call'd Pontius Glaucus In progress of time applying himself more generally to those Studies he became not only an excellent Orator but also one of the most eminent amongst the Roman Poets and the Glory of his Rhetorick still remains notwithstanding the many new Modes in Speaking since his time but his Poetry is become wholly obsolete and without Fame by reason of those many witty Poets which have since succeeded and surpassed him Leaving his Juvenile studies he became an Auditor of Philo the Academick whom the Romans above all the other Scholars of Clitomachus admired for his Eloquence and lov'd for his pleasant Conversation He also apply'd himself to Mutius Scaevola an eminent Statesman and as they term'd it Prince of the Senate of whom he acquir'd knowledge of the Laws For some time he served in Arms under Sylla in the Marsian War but perceiving the Commonwealth running into Factions and from Faction all things tending to an absolute Monarchy he again betook himself to his retired and contemplative Life and conversing with the Learned Greeks wholly apply'd to his Study till Sylla had obtain'd the Government and the Commonwealth was in some kind of settlement About this time Chrysogonus Scylla's emancipated Slave being informed by some body of an Estate belonging to one who was said to be put to death by proscription had bought it himself for two thousand Drachma's of which when Roscius the Son and Heir of the dead complained and demonstrated the Estate to be worth two hundred and fifty Talents Sylla took it so heinously to have his Actions question'd that he preferr'd a Process against Roscius for the murther of his Father Chrysogonus managing the evidence None of the Advocates durst assist him but fearing the cruelty of Sylla avoided the Cause The young Man being thus deserted fled for refuge to Cicero His Friends encouraged him as never being like again to have a fairer and more honourable introduction to Glory he therefore undertakes the defence carries the Cause and was admired for it But fearing Sylla he travelled into Greece
chiefest Dignity which is call'd the Praetorship of the City would be conferr'd either upon Brutus or Cassius and some say that there having been some little difference upon former Accounts between them this Competition set them much more at variance tho' they were related to each other Cassius having married Junia the Sister of Brutus Others say that this Contention was rais'd between them by Caesar's means who had privately given each of them such hopes of his favouring their Pretensions as made them break out into this open Competition and Tryal of their Interest Brutus had only the Reputation of his Honour and virtue to oppose to the many and gallant Actions perform'd by Cassius in his Youth against the Parthians But Caesar having heard each side and deliberating about the Matter among his Friends said Cassius indeed pleads with most Justice but Brutus must have the first Praetorship So another Praetorship was given to Cassius but the gaining of this could not so much oblige him as he was incens'd for the loss of the other And in all other things Brutus was partaker of Caesar's Power as much as he desir'd for he might if he had pleas'd been the chief of all his Friends and had Authority and Command beyond them all but Cassius by his Conversation drew him off from Caesar and turn'd him to himself Indeed he was not yet wholly reconcil'd to Cassius since that Competition which was between them but yet he gave ear to Cassius his Friends who were perpetually advising him not to be so blind as to suffer himself to be soften'd and won upon by Caesar but to shun the Kindness and Favours of a Tyrant which they intimated that Caesar shew'd him not to express any Honour to his Merit or Virtue but to unbend his Strength and slacken the vigour of his Mind Neither was Caesar wholly without suspicion of him nor wanted Informers that accus'd Brutus to him but he fear'd indeed the high Spirit and the great Authority and the many Friends that he had but thought himself secure in his Honesty and Virtue When it was told him first that Antony and Dolabella design'd some Disturbance It is not said he the fat and the long-hair'd men that I fear but the pale and the lean meaning Brutus and Cassius Afterwards when some accus'd Brutus to him and advis'd him to beware of him taking hold of his Flesh with his Hand he said What do ye think that Brutus will not wait out the time of this little Body as if he thought none fit to succeed him in so great Power but only Brutus And indeed it seems to be without doubt that Brutus might have been the first Man in the Common-wealth if he could have had patience but a little time to be second to Caesar if he would have suffer'd his Power insensibly to decay after it was come to its highest pitch and the fame of his great Actions to die and wither away by degrees But Cassius a Man of a fierce Disposition and one that out of private Malice rather than Love of the Publick hated Caesar not the Tyrant continually fir'd him and stirr'd him up Brutus could not endure the Imperial Power but Cassius hated the Emperor and among other Reasons on which he grounded his Quarrel against Caesar the loss of his Lions which he had procur'd when he was design'd Aedile was not the least for these Caesar finding in Megara when that City was taken by Calenus seized to himself These Beasts they say were a great mischief to the Megarians for when their City was taking they broke open the Lions Dens and pull'd off their Chains and let them loose that they might run upon the Enemy that was entring the City but the Lions turn'd upon them themselves and running wildly about tore a great many of them to pieces so that it was a miserable spectacle even to their enemies to behold And this some say was the chief provocation that stirr'd up Cassius to conspire against Caesar but they are much in the wrong for Cassius had from his Youth a natural Hatred and Rancour against the whole race of Tyrants which he shew'd when he was but a Boy and went to the same School with Faustus the Son of Sylla for he speaking great words among the Boys and extolling the unlimited command of his Father Sylla Cassius rose up and struck him two or three Boxes on the Ear which when the Tutors and Relations of Faustus design'd to enquire into and to prosecute Pompey forbad them and sending for both the Boys together examin'd the matter himself And Cassius then is reported to have said thus Come on Faustus dare to speak before this man those words that provok'd me that I may strike you again as I did before Such was the Disposition of Cassius But Brutus by many Perswasions of his familiar Friends and many Letters from unknown Citizens was rouz'd up and push'd on to this Undertaking For under the Statue of his Ancestor Brutus that overthrew the Kingly Government they writ these words O that we had a Brutus now And O that Brutus were alive And Brutus his own Tribunal on which he sate as Praetor was fill'd each Morning with such Inscriptions as these You are asleep Brutus And You are not a true Brutus Now the Flatterers of Caesar were the occasion of all this who among other invidious Honours which they strove to fasten upon Caesar crown'd his Statues by night with an imperial Crown with a design to stir up the People to salute him King instead of Dictator But the quite contrary came to pass as I have more particularly shewn in the Life of Caesar When Cassius went about solliciting Friends to engage in this Design against Caesar all whom he try'd readily consented if Brutus would be Head of the Conspiracy for their opinion was that for this Enterprize they wanted not Hands or Resolution but the Reputation and Authority of a Man such as he was to lead them on and by his presence justifie the Undertaking that without him they should go about this Action with less heart and should lie under greater Suspicions when they had done it for if their Cause were just and honourable they were sure Brutus would not refuse it Cassius having consider'd these things with himself went to Brutus and made him the first Visit after their falling out and after the Complements of Reconciliation pass'd and former Kindnesses renew'd between them he ask'd him if he design'd to be present at the Senate on the Calends of March for it was discours'd he said that Caesar's Friends intended then to move that he might be made King When Brutus answer'd That he would not be there But what says Cassâ—s if they should send for us It is my Business then reply'd Brutus not to hold my peace but to stand up boldly and dâ—e for the Liberty of my Country To which Cassius with some Concern answer'd But what Roman will suffer you to
present the Conspirators agreed to make use of that Opportunity For then they might appear all together without suspition and besides they had hopes that all the noblest and leading Men of the Common-wealth that would be then assembled as soon as the great Deed was done would immediately appear for them and assert the common Liberty The very Place too where the Senate was to meet seem'd to be by divine appointment favourable to their purpose it was a Porch that had one Nich towards the Theatre in which there stood a Statue of Pompey erected to him by the Common-wealth when it adorn'd that part of the City with the Portico's and the Theatre To this place it was that the Senate was call'd on the Ides of March so that some God seem'd to bring Caesar thither to revenge upon him the Death of Pompey As soon as it was Day Brutus taking with him a Dagger which none but his Wife knew of went abroad the rest met together at Cassius his House and brought forth his Son that was that day to put on the Manly Gown as it was call'd into the Forum and from thence going all to Pompey's Porch stay'd there and expected the coming of Caesar to the Senate Here it was chiefly that any one who had known what they had purpos'd would have admir'd the unconcern'd Temper and the steady Resolution of these men in the most dangerous Undertaking for many of them being Praetors and by their Office oblig'd to judge and determine Causes did not only hear calmly all that made any Application to them or had any Suits depending before them as if they were free from all other Thoughts but decided Causes with as much Accuracy and Judgment as they had heard them with Attention and Patience And when one Person refus'd to stand to the Award of Brutus and with great Clamor and many Attestations appeal'd to Caesar Brutus looking round about him upon those that were present said Caesar does not hinder me nor shall he hinder me from doing according to the Laws Yet there were many unusual Accidents that disturb'd them and by meer chance were thrown in their way The first and chiefest was The long stay of Caesar tho' the Day was far spent and his being detain'd at home by his Wife and forbidden by the Soothsayers to go forth upon some Defect that appear'd in his Sacrifice Another was this There came a Man up to Casca one of the Conspirators and taking him by the Hand You conceal'd said he the Secret from us but Brutus has told me all At which words when Casca was surpriz'd the other said laughing How come you to be so rich of a sudden that you should stand to be chosen Aedile So near was Casca to have discover'd the Secret being deceiv'd by the Ambiguity of the others Discourse Then Popilius Lena a Senator having saluted Brutus and Cassius very obligingly whisper'd them softly in the Ear and said My Wishes are with you that you may accomplish what you design and I advise you to make no delay for the thing is now no Secret This said he parted and left them in a great Consternation suspecting that the Design had taken Vent In the mean while there came one in all hast from Brutus his House and brought him News that his Wife was dead For Porcia being extremely disturb'd with Expectation of the Event and not able to bear the greatness of her Cares could scarce keep her self within Doors and at every little Noise or Voice she heard leaping forth and starting suddenly like one of the mad Priestesses of Bacchus ask'd every one that came to the Forum What Brutus was doing and continually sent one Messenger after another to enquire At last after long Expectation the strength of her Body could hold out no longer but overcome with her Doubts and Fears she fainted away She had not time to betake her self to her Chamber for as she was sitting amongst her Women a sudden want of Spirits and a great Stupidness seiz'd her and her Colour chang'd and her Speech was quite lost At this Sight her Women made a great and lamentable Out-cry and many of the Neighbours running to Brutus his House to know what was the matter the Report was soon spread abroad that Porcia was dead tho' she recover'd in a little while and came to her self again When Brutus receiv'd this News he was extremely troubled nor without Reason yet was not so carry'd away by his private Grief as to neglect the publick Concern for now News was brought that Caesar was coming carry'd in a Sedan for being discouraged by the ill Omens that attended his Sacrifice he had determin'd to undertake no Affairs of any great Importance that day but to defer them till another time pretending that he was sick As soon as he came out of his Sedan Popilius Laena he who but a little before had wish'd Brutus good Success in his undertaking coming up to him discours'd a great while with him Caesar standing still all the while and seeming to be very attentive The Conspirators not being able to hear what he said but guessing by what themselves were conscious of that this Conference was the discovery of their Treason were strangely dejected and looking upon one another agreed from each others Countenances that they should not stay to be taken but should all kill themselves And now when Cassius and some others were laying hands upon their Daggers under their Robes and were drawing them out Brutus viewing narrowly the Looks and Gesture of Laena and finding that he was earnestly petitioning and not accusing said nothing because there were many Starngers to the Conspiracy mingled amongst them but with a chearful Countenance encourag'd Cassius And after a little while Laena having kiss'd Caesar's Hand went away shewing plainly that all his Discourse was about some particular Business relating to himself Now when the Senate was gone in before to the Place where they were to sit some of the Conspirators got close to Caesar's Chair pretending they had some Suit to make to him and Cassius turning his Face to Pompey's Statue is said to have invok'd it as if it had been sensible of his Prayers Trebonius in the mean while drew Antony towards the Door and kept him in Talk without the Court Caesar now enter'd and the whole Senate rose up to him As soon as he was sate down they all seemingly very officious crowded round about him and set Tullius Cimber one of their own Number to intercede in behalf of his Brother that was banish'd they all joyn'd their Prayers with his and took Caesar by the Hand and kiss'd his Head and his Breast But he rejecting at first their Supplications and afterwards when he saw they would not desist violently rising up Tullius with both Hands catch'd hold of his Robe and pull'd it off from his Shoulders and Casca that stood behind him drawing his Dagger gave him the first but a slight Wound about the
the Islands of the Rhine in the Low Countries A few of the Gladiators stood their ground but the gross making away for the River fell into an Ambuscade which cut them off every man But of the whole Army none came near the Praetorians for Cowardice they took their heels without a stroke struck and flying through their own Men with trouble and affright routed the Squadrous that stood firm They did not all so indeed for many of the Othonians bare down their Opposites and by fine force making way through the Conquerors repass'd to their Camp which neither Proculus nor Paulinus durst retreat to fearing the Souldiers who already turn'd the fault upon them Annius Gallus received the flying Troops into the Town and heartened them up with comfortable Assurances that the Victory was not clear to the Enemy but that in several parts the advantage was on their side But Marius calling the Officers to a Council required them to take care of the Common-wealth That after such a blow and such a slaughter of Roman Citizens Otho himself having any goodness left would not further tempt Fortune in a Case where Cato and Scipio who by not submitting to Caesar after the Pharsalian Victory are charged to have thrown away the Lives of many good men in Africa without reason even when the Liberty of Rome was at Stake For though otherwise Fortune make sport with all men alike yet one thing a good man can never be deprived of even in adversity to take good Counsel against Accidents These Reasons weighed first with the Commanders and after upon trial with the Souldiers no less urgent for an Accommodation Titianus then moved for Commissioners to be sent with Proposals of accord whereupon it was thought fit that Celsus and Gallus should go to treat with Caecinna and Valens Being on the Rode they were met by certain of Vitellius's Centurions who told them that their Army was already in motion for Bebriacum and that they themselves were sent by the Generals with like overtures of Peace Celsus commending the Design entreated their company back to meet Caecinna As they drew near Celsus ran no small Risk for the Vant-Couriers happening to be the same Horse that had been worsted at the Ambuscade upon the first sight of Celsus with a loud cry they spurr'd up against him But while the Centurions stepp'd between to restrain them and their Captains also called out to forbear Caecinna gallopp'd up to know the cause of that Tumult which having appeas'd he caressed Celsus as a Friend and rode with him to Bebriacum In the mean time Titianus repenting of his motion for Amity placed the most resolute of his Men upon the Walls and exhorted the rest to assist them But Caecinna rode up and reach'd out his right hand all resistance laid aside they that stood upon the Ramparts saluted his Souldiers the rest opening the Gates went out and mixed with the new-comers There was then no further outrage nothing but friendship and embraces for all the Town swore Fealty to Vitellius and went over to him Such was the issue of the Battel as it is related by most of the present Actors therein yet confessing themselves in such Tumult and Confusion to have no clear account of Particulars So as I was afterward travelling over the Field Mestrius Florus of the Consular Degree shew'd me an old Man who was then press'd for Otho among the Youths who declared that going out after the Action was over he saw a heap of Bodies as high as a man but the cause of it he could neither find out nor learn by Enquiry Only it is probable that in Civil Wars more perish in the Chase than are taken where there is no benefit by Captives Therefore all we can have either of these Matters amounts to no more than Conjecture Otho at first as it is usual received a dubious relation of the Success but after that the wounded which escaped out of the Fight brought him certain news of the Defeat a man would admire what pains they took to encourage and keep him from despair But the passion of the Guards surmounts all Credit that they should neither leave him nor fall off to the Conqueror nor seem to provide for themselves in their Prince's extremity but all together came to the door of his Aâ—artment stiling him Emperour When he came abroad they followed him with acclamations as if he went in Triumph they kissed his hands after the manner of Petitioners they threw themselves at his feet they shed tears and with all the force of an humble and dutiful importunity they besought him not to forsake them not to betray them to the Enemy but while they had breath to employ their Souls and their Bodies in his Cause Thus did they generally assault him with supplications In particular one of the lowest rank who has not so much as a Name in History drew out his Sword and calling aloud to him Behold Caesar an Example of our Fidelity thus are we all resolved to serve thee he ran himself through Yet none of all this made any impression upon Otho who with a serene and composed aspect casting his eyes round about upon them all This my Fellow Souldiers this day wherein you do your selves and me such honour is much more fortunate of much greater account to me than that wherein you first saluted me Emperour One thing only I prefer which I beseech you with-hold not from me to sacrifice my Life for the safety of such brave Men. If ever I was worthy of the Roman Empire it becomes me to 〈…〉 evote my Life for it I know the Enemies Victory to be neither compleat nor assured I have Intelligence that the Mysian Army is within a few days March Asia Syria Egypt are in their descent to the Coast of Adria With us is the Army that wars in Judea with us is the Senate with us are the Wives and Children of the Enemies But alas this is no defensive War this is not to save Italy from Hannibal or Pyrrhus or the Cimbri but here Romans encounter Romans and both alike the Conquerors and the Conquered tear up their Mothers Bowels for where indeed the success of the Vanquisher brings Affliction to the Re-publick believe it there can be nothing so much honour in my Reign as in dying often if I could do it for my Country Neither can I apprehend how a Victory on my side can be of such advantage to Rome as to give up my self an Offering for Peace and Concord and that Italy may not se such another day When he had said this and set himself against all Entreaty and Mediation he desired his Friends and the Senators that were present to leave him He wrote also to the absent and sent Letters to the Cities to let them pass with Honour and Security Then calling to him 〈…〉 cceius his Nephew yet a youth he counselled him to take heart and not to be afraid of Vitellius whose