woulues is as comon to the females as the males so it might perhappes be called by reason of the woulfe that brought vp Romulus For we see those which ronne vp down the cittie that daye they call Luperci doe beginne their course in the very place where they saye Romulus was cast out Howbeit many things are done whereof the originall cause were hard now to be coniectured For goates about a certaine time of the yere are killed then they bring two young boyes noble mens sonnes whose foreheads they touch with the knife bebloudied with the bloude of the goates that are sacrificed By by they drye their forheads with wolle dipped in milke Thē the yong boyes must laughe immediately after they haue dried their forheads That done they cut the goates skinnes make thongs of thē which they take in their hands ronne with them all about the cittie starck naked sauing they haue a clothe before their secrets and so they strike with these thonges all they mete in their waye The yonge wiues doe neuer shonne them at all but are well contēted to be striken with them beleeuing it helpeth them to be with childe and also to be easely deliuered There is another thing yet in this feast that these LVPERCIANS which ronne about the cittie doe also sacrifice a dogge Cōcerning this feast the Poet named Butas dothe write somewhat in his elegies where shewing the occasion of the fond customes and ceremonies of the Romaines he dothe saye that Romulus after he had slayne Amulius did runne straight with great ioye to the very place where the wolfe gaue him his brother sucke in memory of which rūning he sayeth this feast of Lupercalia was celebrated that the noble mens younger sonnes doe runne through the cittie striking laying on them which they meete in their way with their goate thongs in token that Remus and Romulus ranne from ALBA vnto that place with their drawen swordes in their hāds And that the touching of their forehead with a bloudy knife is in remēbrance of the daunger they stoode in at that time to haue bene slaine Last of all the drying of their foreheads with wolle dipped in milke is in memorie of the milke they sucked of the woulfes But Caius Acilius writeth that Remus and Romulus before Rome was built did happen to lose their beasts on a daye after they had made certaine prayers vnto Faunus for the finding of them they ranne here there starcke naked as they went a seeking of thē for feare they should haue bene troubled with ouermuch heate sweatīg And this is the cause he sayeth why the LVPERCIANS doe at this daye ronne about naked And if it be true they make this sacrifice for a purging a man might saye they might offer vp a dogge for that purpose like as the Graecians in their sacrifices of purgatiō doe vse to carie out all their doggs And in many places they doe obserue this ceremonie to driue out the doggs which they call Periscylacismes Otherwise if it be of a thanckfullnes to the woulfe that gaue Romulus sucke saued him from perishing that the Romaines doe solemnise this feast it is not impartinēt they sacrifice a dogge bicause he is enemie to the woulues Onles a man would saye it was to punishe this beast which troubleth and letteth the LVPERCIANS when they runne Some saye also it was Romulus who first instituted it a religion to kepe holy fire that first ordeined holie virgines which are called Vestales other doe ascribe it to Numa Pompilius Notwithstanding it is most certaine otherwise that Romulus was a very deuoute man greatly skilfull in telling of things to come by the flying of birds for which cause he did ordinarilie carie the augurs crooked staffe called in Latin Lituus It is a rodde crooked at the end wherewith the augurs or soothsayers when they sit down to behold the flying of birds doe poynte out marke the quarters of the heauen They carefully kept it within the pallace howbeit it was lost in the time of warres with the GAVLES when the cittie of ROME was taken Afterwards when these barbarous people were chased and driuen out it was founde againe as it is sayed all whole within a great hill or heape of ashes hauing no māner of hurte where all things els about it had bene consumed and marred with the fire He is sayd to haue made certaine lawes among which there is one that seemeth somewhat harde which is that the man is suffered to put awaye his wife and in some case to geue her nothing and like libertie is not geuen to the wife to put awaye her husband As if she maye be proued to haue consented to the poysoning of her children or to haue counterfaited her husbands keyes or to haue committed adulterie But if he put her awaye for any other cause then the one halfe of the goodes is adiuged to the wife and the other moytie to the goddesse Ceres and he that putteth away his wife after this sorte is commanded further to sacrifice to the goddes of the earth This also was notable in Romulus who hauing ordeined no payne nor punishement for parricides that is for those that kill their parents called yet all murder parricide to shewe how detestable that murder was and as for parricides he thought it vnpossible And it seemed a great while he had reason to thincke so that such wickednes would neuer happen in the worlde For in sixe hundred yeres together it was not knowen that any man in ROME committed suche an offence and the first parricide with them was Lucius Ostius after the warres of Hanniball But enough touching this matter Furthermore in the first yere of the reigne of Tatius some of his kynsemen and friendes met by chaunce on the waye certeine ambassadours comming from the citie of LAVRENTVM vnto ROME whom they set vpon and ment to haue robbed them The ambassadours resisting them and not willing to deliuer their money they made no more a doe but slewe them This haynous deede being thus committed Romulus was of opinion they shoulde be executed openly in the highe waye for example But Tatius deferred it still from daye to daye and dyd allwayes excuse the matter vnto him which was the only cause they fell out one with the other For in all things els they caried them selues as honestly as might be the one to the other ruling and gouerning together with a common consent and good accorde But the parents kynsefolkes of those who were murdered when they sawe they could haue no iustice bicause of Tatius watched him one daye as he sacrificed with Romulus in the cittie of Lauinium and stabbed him in without offering Romulus any violence but rather praysed him for a good and righteous prince Romulus caused the bodye of Tatius to be straight taken vp and buried him very honorably in mount Auentine about the
that Theseus also should enioye it after his death Whereupon they determined to make warre with them both and diuiding them selues into two partes the one came openly in armes with their father marching directly towardes the cittie the other laye close in ambushe in the village GARGETTVS meaning to geue charge vpon them in two places at one instant Nowe they brought with them an Heraulde borne in the towne of AGNVS called Leos who bewrayed vnto Theseus the secret and deuise of all their enterprise Theseus vpon this intelligence went forth and dyd set on those that laye in ambushe and put them all to the sworde The other which were in Pallas companie vnderstanding thereof dyd breake and disparse them selues incontinently And this is the cause as some saye why those of Pallena doe neuer make affinitie nor mariadge with those of AGNVS at this daye And that in their towne when any proclamation is made they neuer speake these wordes which are cryed euery where els through out the whole countrye of ATTICA Aconete Leos which is as muche to saye as Hearken O people they doe so extreamely hate this worde Leos for that it was the Herauldes name which wrought them that treason This done Theseus who woulde not liue idelly at home and doe nothing but desirous there withall to gratifie the people went his waye to fight with the bull of Marathon the which dyd great mischieues to the inhabitants of the countrye of TETRAPOLIS And hauing taken him aliue brought him through the citie of ATHENS to be seene of all the inhabitants Afterwardes he dyd sacrifice him vnto Apollo Delphias Nowe concerning Hecale who was reported to haue lodged him and to haue geuen him good enterteinment it is not altogether vntrue For in the olde time those townes and villages thereaboutes dyd assemble together and made a common sacrifice which they called Hecalesion in the honour of Iupiter Hecalian where they honoured this olde woman calling her by a diminutiue name Hecalena bicause that when she receyued Theseus into her house being then but very younge she made muche of him and called him by many prety made names as olde folkes are wont to call younge children And forasmuche as she had made a vowe to Iupiter to make him a solemne sacrifice if Theseus returned safe from the enterprise he went about and that she dyed before his returne in recompence of the good chere she had made him she had that honour done vnto her by Theseuscommaundement as Philochorus hathe written of it Shortely after this exployte there came certaine of King Minos ambassadours out of CRETA to aske tribute being nowe the thirde time it was demaunded which the ATHENIANS payed for this cause Androgeus the eldest sonne of king Minos was slayne by treason within the countrye of ATTICA for which cause Minos pursuing the reuenge of his death made very whotte and sharpe warres vpon the ATHENIANS and dyd them greate hurte But besides all this the goddes dyd sharpely punishe and scourge all the countrye aswell with barrennes and famine as also with plague and other mischieues euen to the drying vp of their riuers The ATHENIANS perceyuing these sore troubles and plagues ranne to the oracle of Apollo who aunswered them that they shoulde appease Minos and when they had made their peace with him that then the wrathe of the goddes woulde cease against them and their troubles should haue an ende Whereupon the ATHENIANS sent immediately vnto him and intreated him for peace which he graunted them with condition that they should be bounde to sende him yerely into CRETA seuen younge boyes and as many younge gyrles Nowe thus farre all the Historiographers doe very well agree but in the reste not And they which seeme furdest of from the trothe doe declare that when these yonge boyes were deliuered in CRETA they caused them to be deuowred by the Minotaure within the Laberinthe or els that they were shut within this Laberinthe wandring vp and downe and coulde finde no place to gett out vntill suche time as they dyed euen famished for hunger And this Minotaure as Euripides the Poet sayeth was A corps combynd vvhich monstrous might be deemd A Boye a Bull both man and beast it seemd But Philochorus writeth that the CRETANS doe not confesse that but saye that this Laberinthe was a gayle or prisone in the which they had no other hurre sauing that they which were kept there vnder locke and keye coulde not flye not starte awaye and that Minos had in the memorye of his sonne Androgeus instituted games and playes of prise where he gaue vnto them that wanne the victorie those younge children of ATHENS the which in the meane time notwithstanding were carefully kept and looked vnto in the prisone of the Laberinthe and that at the first games that were kept one of the Kings captaines called Taurus who was in best creditt with his master wanne the prise This Taurus was a churlishe and naughtie natured man of condition and very harde and cruell to these children of ATHENS And to verifie the same the philosopher Aristotle him selfe speaking of the common wealth of the BOTTIEIANS declareth very well that he neuer thought that Minos dyd at any time cause the children of ATHENS to be put to death but sayeth that they poorely toyled in CRETA euen to crooked age earning their liuing by true and painefull seruice For it is written that the CRETANS to satisfie an olde vowe of theirs which they had made of auncient time sent somtimes the first borne of their children vnto Apollo in the cittie of DELPHAS and that amongest them they also mingled those which were descended of the auncient prisoners of ATHENS and they went with them But bicause they coulde not liue there they directed their iorney first into ITALIE where for a time they remained in the realme of PVGLIA and afterwardes from thence went into the confines of THRACIA where they had this name of BOTTIEIANS In memory whereof the daughters of the BOTTIEIANS in a solemne sacrifice they make doe vse to singe the foote of this songe Lett vs to ATHENS goe But thereby we maye see howe perilous a thing it is to fall in displeasure and enmitie with a cittie which can speake well and where learning and eloquence dothe florishe For euer sence that time Minos was allwayes blased and disgraced through out all the Theaters of ATHENS The testimonie of Hesiodus who calleth him the most worthie King dothe nothing helpe him at all nor the prayse of Homer who nameth him Iupiters famillier friende bicause the tragicall Poets gott the vpper hande in disgracing him notwithstanding all these And vpon their stages where all the tragedies were played they still gaue forth many ill fauored wordes and fowle speaches of him as against a man that had bene most cruell and vnnaturall Yet most men thincke that Minos was the King which established the lawes and Radamanthus
score and three In the which is singularly to be noted for the commendation of Romulus that he him selfe dyd take then but onely one of the maydes named Hersilia that afterwardes was the only cause mediation of peace betwext the SABYNES and the ROMAINES Which argueth plainely that it was not to doe the SABYNES any hurte nor to satisfie any disordinate lust that they had so forcibly vndertaken this rauishement but to ioyne two peoples together with the straightest bondes that could be betweene men This Hersilia as some saye was maried vnto one Hostilius the noblest man at that time amongest the ROMAINES or as others write vnto Romulus him selfe which had two children by her The first was a daughter and her name was Prima bicause she was the first the other was a sonne whom he named Aollius bicause of the multitude of people he had assembled together in his cittie and afterwardes he was surnamed Abillius Thus Zenodotus the TROEZENIAN writeth wherein notwithstanding there be diuers that doe contrarie him Among those which rauished then the daughters of the SABYNES it is sayed there were founde certaine meane men carying away a marueilous passing fayer one These met by chaunce on the waye certaine of the chief of the cittie who would haue taken her by force from them which they had done but that they beganne to crye they caried her vnto Talassius who was a younge man marueilously well beloued of euery bodye Which when the others vnderstoode they were exceeding glad and they commended them in so much as there were some which sodainely turned backe againe and dyd accompanie them for Talassius sake crying out a lowde and often on his name From whence the custome came which to this daye the ROMAINES synge at their mariages Talassius like as the GRECIANS synge Hymeneus For it is sayed he was compted very happie that he met with this woman But Sextius Sylla a CARTHAGINIAN borne a man very wise and well learned tolde me once it was the crye and signe which Romulus gaue to his men to beginne the rauishement whereupon on those which caried them awaye went crying this worde Talassius and that from thence the custome hathe continued that they singe it yet at their mariages Neuertheles the most parte of authors specially Iuba thinckes it as a warning to remember the newe maried women of their worke which is to spinne which the GRECIANS call Talassia the Italian words at that time being not mingled with the Greeke And if it be true the ROMAINES vsed this terme of Talassia as we of GRECE doe vse we might by coniecture yeld another reason for it which should carie a better likelyhoode and proofe For when the SABYNES after the battell had made peace with the ROMAINES they put in an article in fauour of the women in the treatie that they should not be bounde to serue their husbands in any other worke but in spinning of wolle Euer since this custome hathe growen that those which geue their daughters in mariage and those who leade the bryde and such as are present at the wedding speake in sporte to the newe maried wife laughing Talassius in token that they doe not leade the bryde for any other work◠or seruice but to spinne wolle Thereof this hathe bene the vse to this daye that the bryde dothe not of her selfe come ouer the threshold of her husbands dore but she is hoysed pretely into the house bicause the SABYNE women at that time were so lift vp caried away by force They saye also that the manner of making the shed of the new wedded wiues heare with the Irō head of a Iaueling came vp then likewise this storie being a manifest token that these first mariages were made by force of armes and as it were at the swords poynte as we haue written more at large in the booke wherein we render and showe the causes of the ROMAINES facions and customes This rauishement was put in execution about the eightenth daye of the moneth then called Sextili◠and nowe named August on which daye they yet celebrate the feast they call Consalia Nowe the SABYNES were good men of warre and had great numbers of people but they dwelt in villages and not within inclosed walles being a thing fit for their noble courages that dyd feare nothing and as those who were descended from the LACEDAEMONIANS Neuertheles they seeing them selues bound tyed to peace by pledges hostages that were very neere allyed vnto them and seating their daughters should be ill intreated sent ambassadours to Romulus by whom they made reasonable offers and persuasions that their daughters might be deliuered vnto them againe without any force or violence and then afterwardes that he would cause them to be asked in mariage of their parents as bothe reason and lawe would require To thend that with good will and consent of all parties both peoples might contract amitie and alliance together Whereunto Romulus made aunswer he could not restore the maydes which his people had taken awaye and maried but most friendly he prayed the SABYNES to be contented with their alliance This aunswer being returned and not liked whilest the princes and communaltie of the SABYNES were occupied in consultation and about the arming of them selues Acron king of the CENINENSES a man exceeding couragious and skilfull in the warres and one that from the beginning mistrusted the ouer bolde stowte enterprises that Romulus was likely to attempt cōsidering the late rauishment of the SABYNES daughters and howe he was already greatly dreaded of his neighbours and somwhat vntolerable if he were not chasticed and brought lower first beganne to inuade him with a puissant armie and to make hotte and violent warres vpon him Romulus on th' other side prepared also and went forth to meete him When they were come so neere together that they might see one another they sent defiance to eache other prayed that two might fight man to man amiddest their armies neither of theirs to sturre a foote Bothe of them accepted of it and Romulus making his prayer vnto Iupiter dyd promise and made a vowe that if he dyd geue him the victorie to ouercome he would offer vp to him the armour of his enemie which he dyd For first he slew Acron in the field afterwards gaue battell to his men ouerthrew them also Lastely he tooke his cittie where he did no hurte nor yet displeasure to any sauing that he dyd commaūde them to pull downe their houses destroy them and to goe dwell with him at ROME where they should haue the selfe same rightes priuiledges which the first inhabitants did enioye There was nothing more enlarged the cittie of ROME then this manner of pollicie to ioyne allwayes vnto it those she had ouercome vancquished Romulus now to discharge his vowe in suche sorte that his offering might be acceptable to Iupiter and
we ought to consider in them the diuersities of manners and passions seeing anger is vnreasonable and wrathe rashe and passionate then can we not clere the one nor excuse the other of extreme rage and passion in the facte committed by the one against his brother and by the other against his naturall sonne Howbeit the occasion and beginning of anger doth muche excuse Theseus who moued with the greatest cause that might be was put into suche choller and passion But if Romulus variaunce with his brother had proceeded of any matter of counsell or cause of the common weales there is none so simple to thincke that his wisdome would so sodainely haue set vpon him Where as Theseus in contrarie manner killed his sonne prouoked by those passions that fewe men can auoyde to wit loue ielousie and false reporte of his wife Moreouer Romulus anger went to the effect whereof the issue fell out very lamentable Theseus anger stretched no further then to roughe wordes and olde folkes curses in their heate For it seemeth cursed fortune and nought els was the cause of his sonnes only mishappe as forespoken and wished for somewhat by his father These be the speciall things maye be alledged for Theseus But for Romulus this was a noble thing in him First his beginning being very lowe and meane and his brother and he taken for bonde men and the children of hoggeheards before they were them selues all free they set at libertie in manner all the LATINES winning at one instant many titles of glorie and honour as distroyers of their enemies defenders of their parents Kings of nations founders of newe citties and no ouerthrowers of the olde where as Theseus of many habitations and houses made onely one and dyd ouerthrowe and plucke downe diuers states bearing the names of auncient Kings princes and halfe goddes of ATTICA All these also dyd Romulus afterwards and compelled his enemies whom he had ouercome to distroye their owne houses and to come and dwell with their conquerours And in the beginning he neuer chaunged nor increased any cittie that was buylt before but buylt him selfe a newe cittie out of the grounde getting all together land countrie kingdome kinred and mariages without losing or killing any man and to the contrarie rather he dyd good to many poore vacabonds who had neither countrie lands nor houses and desired nothing els but to make a people amongest them and to become cittizens of some cittie Also Romulus bent not him selfe to follow theeues and robbers but subdued by force of armes many mightie and puissant people he tooke citties and triumphed ouer Kings and Princes which he had vanquished in battell And touching the murder of Remus it is not certainely knowen of whose hands he dyed The most parte of authors doe charge other with the death of him But it is certaine that Romulus deliuered his mother from apparant death and restored his grandfather to the royall throne of AEneas who before was deposed and brought from a King to seruill obedience without any regarde of honour or dignitie to whom he dyd many moe great pleasures and seruices Besides he neuer offended him willingly no not so muche as ignorantly Contrarylie I thincke of Theseus who fayling by negligence to put out his white sayle at his returne cannot be cleared of parricide howe eloquent an oration soeuer could be made for his excuse yea though it were before the most fauorable iudges that could be Wherefore an ATHENIAN very well perceyuing that it was an harde thing to excuse and defend so fowle a faulte dothe fayne that the good olde man AEgeus hauing newes brought him that his sonnes shippe was at hand dyd ronne in so great haste to his castell to see his sonne arriue a farre of that as he ranne his foote hit against some thing and ouerthrewe him as though he had none of his people about him or that neuer a man seeing him ronne so hastely to the sea side dyd make haste to attende and wayte vpon him Furthermore Theseus faults touching women and rauishements of the twaine had the lesse shadowe and culler of honestie Bicause Theseus dyd attempt it very often for he stale awaye Ariadne Antiope and Anaxo the Troezenian Againe being stepped in yeres and at later age and past mariage he stale awaye Helen in her minoritie being nothing neere to consent to marye Then his taking of the daughters of the TROEZENIANS of the LACEDAEMONIANS and the AMAZONES neither contracted to him nor comparable to the birthe and linadge of his owne countrie which were at ATHENS and descended of the noble race and progenie of Erichtheus and of Cecrops dyd geue men occasion to suspect that his womannishenes was rather to satisfie lust then of any great loue Romulus nowe in a contrarie manner when his people had taken eight hundred or thereabouts of the Sabyne women to rauishe them kept but onely one for him selfe that was called Hersilia as they saye and deliuered the reste to his best and most honest cittizens Afterwardes by the honour loue and good entertainment that he caused them to haue receyue of their husbands he chaunged this violent force of rauishement into a most perfect bonde and league of amitie which dyd so knyt and ioyne in one these two nations that it was the beginning of the great mutuall loue which grewe afterwards betwext those two people and consequently of the ioyning of their powers together Furthermore time hath geuen a good testimonie of the loue reuerence constancie kyndenes and all matrimoniall offices that he established by that meanes betwext man and wife For in two hundred and thirtie yeres afterwards there was neuer man that durst forsake or put awaye his wife nor the wife her husband And as among the GRECIANS the best learned men and most curious obseruers of antiquities doe knowe his name that was the first murderer of his father or mother euen so all the ROMAINES knewe what he was which first durst put away his wife It was one called Spurius Caruilius bicause his wife was barren and had no children The effects also doe agree with the testimonie of the time For the Realme was common vnto Kings of both nations and through the alliance of these mariages that beganne first of rauishements both nations liued peaciblie and in equalitie vnder one ciuill policie and well gouerned common weale The ATHENIANS contrariewise by Theseus mariages dyd get neither loue nor kynred of any one persone but rather they procured warres enmities the slaughter of their citizens with the losse in the ende of the cittie of APHIDNES and yet very hardely and by the mercie of their enemies whom they honored as godds they escaped for him the daunger which the TROIANS suffered afterwards for the self acte done by Alexander Paris So it fell out at the last that his mother was not only in daunger but euen feelingly suffered like miserie and captiuitie which Hecuba dyd
when an Orator of ATHENS sayed the LACEDAEMONIANS were vnlearned and ignorant thou sayest true q he for we only of all the GRAECIANS haue learned none of your ill conditions And Archidamidas to one that demaunded of him what number of fighting men there might be of the SPARTANS Enowe sayd he to driue awaye the wicked We maye coniecture also their manner of speaking by their wordes in mirthe which they spake sometimes playing wise for they dyd neuer vse to speake vaine wordes at randone but it had alwayes some secrete meaning in it which required anothers good obseruation that would finde it As he which was desired to goe heare the nightingall counterfeated naturally I haue sayed he heard the nightingall it selfe And another which hauing redde this inscription vpon a tumble VVhen as they had vvell quenched tyrannie throughout their lande by vvorthie vvarlike povver Their happe vvas yet in vvretched vvise to dye by sealing Selynuntaes ' strongest tovver They well deserued death sayed he that dyd but quenche tyrannie they should haue quite consumed it with fire And one younger boye to another promising to geue him suche hardie cockes of the game as should dye in the place where they fought O geue me not those said he which will dye but those which with fighting will kill others Another seeing men sitting in coches and litters as they went god forbid said he that I should euer sit in a chayer where I could not rise to my elders Suche were their aunswers encounters So that somme had reason which sayed heretofore to speake LACONIAN like was to be philosopher like as you would saye more to exercise the minde then the bodye Besides all this they dyd studie to singe well and to make goodly ditties and songes Then they spake most properly and feately There was in their songs also a certaine motion I wote not what which stirred vp the hearers hartes and dyd kindle desire in them to doe notable feates Their tongue was plaine without affectation their matter graue and morall conteining for the most parte the prayse of those which were slayne in battell for the defence of their countrie as being happy men a shame to those that liue which for fainte hartes refused so to dye to leade a miserable and vnfortunate life Or els they sange howe they were the patternes for time to come or the right glorie of the worlde and the true representation of vertuous men as the songe would best become their ages which dyd singe It shall not be impartinent for the better vnderstanding hereof to bring you here and exāple For in their open feasts there were alwayes three daūces according to the difference of the three ages The daunce of the olde men thus beganne first for to singe VVe haue bene young and strong yea valliant heretofore till crooked age did holde vs backe and bad vs doe no more The young men followed after singing VVe yet are young bolde strong and ready to maintaine that quarell still against all men that doe on earthe remaine The third was of children that came after the sayed And vve doe hope asvvell to passe you all at last and that the vvorlde shall vvitnes be ere many yeres be past To conclude who nerely will consider the worcks and makings of the LACON poets wherof some are yet extant and will marke also the notes and tunes of the pipe after the sound and measure whereof they marched in arraye going to charge the enemie he shall finde that Terpander and Pindarus had reason to ioyne hardynes with musicke For Terpander speaking of the LACEDAEMONIANS sayeth in a place This is that lande vvhere deedes of cheualrie did florishe most in many a martiall feate VVhere musicke made her choise of harmonie and iustice kept her stately royall seate And Pindarus speaking of them also sayeth There graue aduise is founde in aged braynes there gallant youthes are lusty ladds in dede VVhich can both singe and daunce in courtlike traines yet dant their foes vvith many a doughty dede By which testimonies it appeareth the one and the other made and describeth them to haue loued musicke and the warres together For as another LACON poet sayeth It sitteth vvell and is a semely thinge for such as spend their time in feats of vvarre To haue the skyll svvete sonets for to singe and touche the harpe vvithouten iangling iarre For this cause therefore in all their warres when they should geue battell the King dyd first sacrifice to the Muses to put his souldiers in minde as it should seeme of the discipline wisdome of the Muses that they had bene brought vp in to the end that when his souldiers were in the most extreme daunger the Muses should present them selues before the souldiers eyes to pricke then forward to doe some noble actes of worthy memorie In theirtime of warre they dyd tollerate their young men a litle of their hard old accustomed life suffered them then to crime their heares to haue braue armour to weare gay apparell tooke as great delight therein to seethem gallant lustie as to behold young neying snorting horse desirous for to fight And althoughe from the beginning of their youthe they dyd vse to weare longe heares yet were they neuer so carefull to combe brushe their heades as when they should to the battell For when they dyd nointe them selues with sweete oyles dyd shed their heare remembring Lycurgus saying who was wont to tell them that heares to them which were fayer dyd make them more fayer to them that were fowle they made them more ougly dredfull The exercises also of their bodies were more easie gentle not so hard straight in their warres as they were in a peace generally their whole manner of life was not then so straightly viewed nor yet controlled So as they only were the men of the world to whom warres were made a rest from labour which men ordinarylie doe endure to make them the fitter for the warres Afterwardes when their armie was set in battell raye euen in the face of the enemie the King dyd straight sacrifice a goate vnto the goddes forthwith commaunded all his souldiers to put their garlands of flowers on their heades willed that the pipes should sownd the songe of Castor at the noyse tune whereof he him selfe beganne first to marche forward So that it was a maruelous pleasure likewise a dredfull fight to see the whole battell marche together in order at the sound of the pipes and neuer to breake their pace nor confounde their ranckes nor to be dismayde nor amazed themselues but to goe on quietly ioyfully at the sounde of these pipes to hazard themselues euen to death For it is likely that such corages are not troubled with much feare nor yet ouercome with much furie but rather they haue an assured constancie vallianmes in good hope as
with expounding of the same by them Those which shal be founde attained and conuicted of any matter that hath bene heard before the counsaill of the Areopagites the Ephetes or the gouernours of the cittie when this lawe shall come forth shall stand condemned still and all other shal be pardoned restored and set at libertie Howsoeuer it is sure that was his intent and meaning Furthermore amongest the rest of his lawes one of them in deede was of his owne deuise for the like was neuer stablished els where And it is that lawe that pronounceth him defamed and vnhonest who in a ciuill vprore among the cittizens sitteth still a looker on and a neawter and taketh parte with neither side Whereby his minde was as it should appeare that priuate men should not be only carefull to put them selues their causes in safety nor yet should be careles for others mens matters or thincke it a vertue not to medle with the miseries and misfortunes of their countrie but from the beginning of euery sedition that they should ioyne with those that take the iustest cause in hande and rather to hazarde them selues with such then to tarie looking without putting themselues in daunger which of the two should haue the victorie There is another lawe also which at the first sight me thinketh is very vnhonest and fond That if any man according to the lawe hath matched with a riche heire inheritour and of him selfe is impotent and vnable to doe the office of a husband she maye lawfully lye with any whom she liketh of her husbands nearest kinsemen Howbeit some affirme that it is a wise made lawe for those which knowing themselues vnmeete to entertaine wedlocke will for couetousnes of landes marye with riche heires and possessioners and minde to abuse poore gentlewomen vnder the colour of lawe and will thincke to force and restraine nature For seeing the lawe suffereth an inheritour or possessioner thus ill bestowed at her pleasure to be bolde with any of her husbands kynne men will either leaue to purchase such mariages or if they be so careles that they will nedes marye it shal be to their extreme shame and ignominie and so shall they deseruedly paye for their greedy couetousnes And the lawe is well made also bicause the wise hath not scope to all her husbands kynsemen but vnto one choyce man whom she liketh best of his house to the ende that the children that shal be borne shal be at the least of her husbands bloude and kynred This also confirmeth the same that such a newe maryed wife should be shut vp with her husband and eate a quince with him and that he also which maryeth such an inheritour should of duety see her thryse a moneth at the least For although he get no children of her yet it is an honour the husband doth to his wife arguing that he taketh her for an honest woman that he loueth her and that he esteemeth of her Besides it taketh awaye many mislikings and displeasures which oftentimes happen in such cases and keepeth loue and good will waking that it dyenot vtterly betweene them Furthermore he tooke awaye all ioynters and dowries in other mariages and willed that the wiues should bring their husbands but three gownes only with some other litle moueables of small value and without any other thing as it were vtterly forbidding that they should buye their husbands or that they should make marchaundise of mariages as of other trades to gaine but would that man and woman should marye together for issue for pleasure and for loue but in no case for money And for proofe hereof Dionysius the tyranne of SICILE one daye aunswered his mother which would needes be maried to a young man of SYRACVSA in this sorte I haue power saieth he to breake the lawes of SYRACVSA by hauing the Kingdome but to force the law of nature or to make mariage without the reasonable compasse of age that passeth my reache and power So is it not tolerable and much lesse allowable also that such disorder should be in well ordered citties that such vncomely and vnfit mariages should be made betweene coples of so vnequall yeres considering there is no meete nor necessary ende of such matches A wise gouernour of a cittie or a iudge and reformer of lawes and manners might well saye to an olde man that should marye with a young mayde as the Poet sayeth of Philoctetes Ah seely vvretche hovv trymme a man arte thou at these young yeres for to be maryed novve And finding a young man in an olde riche womans house getting his liuing by riding of her errants and waxing fat as they saye the partridge doth by treading of the hennes he maye take him from thence to bestowe him on some young mayde that shall haue neede of a husband And thus much for this matter But they greatly commend another lawe of Solons which forbiddeth to speake ill of the dead For it is a good and godly thing to thinke that they ought not to touche the dead no more than to touche holy things and men should take great heede to offende those that are departed out of this world besides it is a token of wisedome and ciuillitie to beware of immortall enemies He commaunded also in the selfe same lawe that no man should speake ill of the liuing specially in Churches during diuine seruice or in counsaill chamber of the cittie nor in the Theaters whilest games were a playing vpon payne of three siluer Drachmes to be payed to him that was iniured two to the common treasurie For he thought it to much shameles boldnes in no place to keepe in ones choller and moreouer that such lacked ciuillitie and good manners and yet altogether to suppresse and smother it he knewe it was not only a harde matter but to some natures vnpossible And he that maketh lawes must haue regarde to the common possibilitie of men if he will punishe litle with profitable example and not much without some profit So was he maruelously well thought of for the lawe that he made touching willes and testaments For before men might not lawfully make their heires whom they would but the goodes came to the childrē or kynred of the testatour But he leauing it at libertie to dispose their goods where they thought good so they had no children of their owne dyd therein preferre friendship before kynred and good will and fauour before necessitie and constrainte and so made euery one lorde and master of his owne goodes Yet he dyd not simply and a like allowe all sortes of giftes howsoeuer they were made but those only which were made by men of sound memorie or by those whose wittes fayled them not by extreme sicknes or through drincks medicines poysonings charmes or other such violence and extraordinarie meanes neither yet through the intisements and persuasions of women As thincking very wisely there was no difference at all
vvith svvifter course This is vvithouten fayle The ATHENIANS had nine score in euery one of the which there were eightene souldiers whereof foure of them were archers and all the rest armed men Themistocles also did with no lesse skill wisedom choose his time place to fight forbearing to charge his enemies vntill the hower was come that of ordinarie custome the sea winde arose and brought in a rough tyde within the channell which dyd not hurt the GRAECIAN gallyes being made lowe and snugge but greatly offended the PERSIAN gallyes being highe cargged heauie not yare of steredge and made them lye sidelong to the GREECIANS who fiercely set vpon them hauing allwayes an eye to Themistocles direction that best foresawe their aduaÌ„tage At the same time Ariamenes Xerxes admirall a man of great valure and worthiest of the Kings brethern be stowed arrowes and dartes as it were from the walles of a castell charging the gallye of Aminias Decelian and Sosicles Pedian which were ioyned and grappled with him and fiercely entring the same was by them valliantly receyued vpon their pikes and thrust ouer borde into the sea Whose bodie floting amongest other shippewracks ARTEMISIA knowing caused to be caried to king Xerxes Nowe whilest this battell stoode in these termes they saye that there appeared a great flame in the element toward the cittie of ELEVSIN and that a lowde voyce was heard through all the plaine of THRIASIA vnto the sea as if there had bene a nuÌ„ber of men together that had songe out alowde the holy songe of Iacchus And it seemed by litle and litle that there rose a clowde in the ayer from those which sange that left the land came lighted on the gallyes in the sea Other affirmed that they sawe armed men which did reache out their hands from the I le of AEGINA towards the GREECIAN gallyes they thought they were the AEACIDES for whose helpe they all prayed before the battell was begonne The first man of the ATHENIANS that tooke any of the enemies shippes was Lycomedes a captaine of a gallye who hauing takeÌ„ very rich furniture flagges did afterwards coÌ„secrate them to Apollo laurell as ye would saye victorious The other GREECIANS in the fronte being equall in nuÌ„ber with the barbarous shipps by reason of the straightnes of the arme of the sea wherein they sought so straightned as they could not fight but by one one where by the BARBARIANS disorderly layed one another abourde that they did hinder them selues with their ouer multitude in the end were so sore pressed vpon by the GREECIANS that they were coÌ„strayned to flye by night after they had fought mainteined battell vntil it was very darke So the GRAECIANS wanne that glorious famous victorie of the which maye truly be affirmed that as Simonides sayeth VVas neuer yet nor Greeke nor Barbarous crevv that could by sea so many men subdevv Nor that obteind so famous victorie in any fight against their enemie Thus was the victorie wonne through the valliantnes and corage of those that fought that battell but especially through Themistocles great policie and wisdome After this battell Xerxes being mad for his losse thought to fill vp the arme of the sea and to passe his armie by lande vpon a bridge into the I le of SALAMINA Themistocles bicause he would feele Aristides opinion tolde him as they were talking together that he thought best to goe and occupie the straight of HELLESPONT with the armie by sea to breake the bridge of shippes which Xerxes had caused to be made to the ende said he that we maye take ASIA into EVROPE Aristides liked not this opinion for we haue said he fought all this while against this barbarous King who thought but to playe with vs But if we shut him within GREECE and bring him to fight of necessitie to saue his life such an enemie that commaundeth so great an armie will no more stand still as a looker on and set at his ease vnder his golden pauilion to see the pastime of the battell but will proue euerie waye and be him selfe in euery place at all assayes to taâ—e him self from such a straight daunger Thus with politicke care foresight he maye easely amend his former faulte committed by negligence and doe well enough when he shall see his life and Kingdome both depend vpon it Therefore Themistocles I would thincke not best to breake his bridge at all which he hath caused to be made but rather if we could to build another to it to driue him out of EVROPE as sone as we could Themistocles then replied Seeing you thincke this were good to be done we must all laye our heades together to deuise how he maye be forced to come out assone as we could They breaking of with this resolutioÌ„ Themistocles sent immediately one of the Kings enuches called Arsaces that was one of the gromes of his chaÌ„ber whom he found out amoÌ„gest the prisoners by him he sent this message vnto the king That the GREECIANS hauing woÌ„ne the battell of him by sea had decreed in their counsell how they would goe to the straight of HELLESPONT to breake the bridge of shippes he had caused to be made there Whereof he thought good to aduertise him for the goodwil he did beare him and to the ende he might bethincke him betimes to get him away to the sea within his own dominion and so passe backe againe into ASIA as sone as he could whilest he gaue order to his allies and confederates to staye following him at the poope The barbarous King vnderstading these newes was so affrayed that he hoysed away with all possible speede The further foresight and great wisdome of Themistocles and Aristides in marine causes dyd manifestly appeare afterwards in the battell the GREECIANS fought before the cittie of PLATEA against Mardonius king Xerxes lieutenante who hauing but a small power of the King his soueraines there dyd yet put the GREECIANS to great distresse and in hazard to haue lost all Of all the townes and citties that fought in this battel Herodotus writeth that the cittie of AEGINA wanne the same for valliantnes aboue the rest of priuate men among the GRECIANS Themistocles was iudged the worthiest man although it was sore against their willes bicause they enuied much his glory For after the battell done all the captaines being gotten into the straight of PELOPONNESVS and hauing sworne vpon the altar of their sacrifices that they would geue their voyces after their consciences to those they thought had best deserued it euery one gaue him selfe the first place for worthines and the seconde vnto Themistocles The LACEDAEMONIANS caried him into SPARTA where they iudged the honour and dignitie to their admirall Eurybiades but the wisedome and pollicie they attributed to Themistocles In token thereof they gaue him an oliue braunche and the goodliest coche that was in their cittie and moreouer they
a certen booke he wrote of the soule that there was newes come from the West parte that an armie which came from the HYPERBORIANS had taken a cittie of GRECE called ROME situated in that country neere the great sea But I wonder not that Heraclides who hath written so many other fables lyes dyd amplifie the true newes of the taking of ROME with adding to of his owne deuise of the HYPERBORIANS by the great sea It is a most true tale that Aristotle the philosopher had certain knowledge it was taken by the GAVLES howbeit he sayeth also it was recouered againe afterwards by one called Lucius where in deede it was by Marcus Camillus not by Lucius But all this in manner is spoken by cōiecture Moreouer Brennus being entred ROME dyd appointe parte of his souldiers to besiege those which were gotten into moūt Capitoll And he with the residue of his armie marched on towards the market place where when he saw the aunciēt Senatours set so grauely in their chayers spake neuer a word nor offered once to rise though they saw their enemies come armed towards them neither chaunged coūtenance nor culler at all but leaned softely on their staues they had in their hands seeming to be nothing affrayed nor abashed but looked one vpon another he maruelously wondred at it This their so straunge manner at the first dyd so dampe the GAVLES that for a space they stoode still and were in doubt to come neere to touche them fearing least they had bene some goddes vntill suche time as one of them went boldely vnto Marcus Papyrius layed his hand fayer softely vpon his lōg bearde But Papyrius gaue him such a rappe on his pate with his staffe that he made the bloud ronne about his eares This barbarous beaste was in such a rage with the blowe that he drue out his sworde and slewe him The other souldiers also killed all the rest afterwardes and so the GAVLES continued many dayes spoyling and sacking all thinges they founde in the houses and in the ende dyd set them all a fyer and destroyed them euery one for despite of those that kept the forte of the Capitoll that would not yeld vpon their summons but valliantly repulsed them when they scaled the walles For this cause they rased the whole cittie and put all to the sworde that came in their handes young and olde man woman and childe Nowe this siege continuing long and the ROMAINES holding them out very stowtely vittells beganne to growe scante in the campe of the GAVLES in so much as they were driuen of force to seeke it abroade without the cittie Hereupon they deuided them selues whereof some remained still with the King at the siege of the Capitoll and the rest went a forraging and spoyling all the champion countrie and villages thereaboutes scattered as it were by bandes companies some here some there fearing nothing nor passing vpon watch or warde they liued in suche securitie of their victorie Howbeit the greatest company amongest them went by fortune towardes the cittie of ARDEA where Camillus dwelt liuing like a priuate man medling with no matters of state from the time of his exile vntill that present time But then he beganne not to bethinke him self as a man that was in safety and might haue escaped the handes of his enemies but rather sought to deuise and finde out all the meanes he could to subdewe them if occasion were so offered Whereupon considering that the inhabitants of ARDEA where enough in number to set vpon them although saynte harted and cowardly by reason of the slouth and negligence of their gouernours and captaines who had no manner of experience in the warres he beganne to cast out these words among the young men That they should not thinke the ROMAINES misfortune fell vpon them through the valliantnes of the GAVLES nor that their calamitie who had refused good counsaill had happened vnto them by any worke or acte of the GAVLES hauing done nothing for their parte to make them carie awaye the victorie but that they should thinke it was no other thing but fortune alone that would needes shewe her power Therefore that it were nowe a notable and honorable enterprise although somewhat daungerous to driue these straungers and barbarous people out of their countrie considering that the only ende of their victorie was but to destroye and consume as fire all that fell into their hands Wherefore if they would but only take a good lusty harte and corage vnto them he would with opportunitie and place assure them the victorie without any daunger The young men were pleased with these words of life comforte Whereupon Camillus went to breake the matter also vnto the magistrates counsellours and hauing drawen them by persuasion vnto this enterprise he armed all that were of age to carie armor would not suffer a man to goe out of the cittie for feare least the enemies which were not farre of should haue intelligēce of the same Now after the GAVLES had rōne ouer all the chāpion countrie were loden with all sorts of spoyles they did encāpe them selues negligētly in open fields neuer charged watch nor warde but hauing their full cariage of wine layed them down to slepe made no noyse at all in their cāpe Camillus being aduertised therof by his seuerall skowtes caused the ARDEANS with as litle noyse as might be forthwith to goe out into the fields hauing marched somwhat roūdly the distance betwene the cittie the cāpe of the GAVLES they came thither much about midnight Then he made his soldiers make great showtes cries the trūpets to besoūded on euery side to put a feare in their enemies who yet with all the lowde noyse they made could hardly be made to wake they were so deadly drōke Yet there were some notwithstāding that for feare to be takē tardy dyd bustle vp at this sodaine noyse coming to them selues fell to their weapons to resist Camillus which were slayne by and by The rest the greatest number of them laye here there scattered in the middest of the field without any weapon dead a sleepe starcke droncke with wine were put to the sworde neuer strake stroke Those that fled out of the campe that night which were but fewe in number were ouerthrowen also the next daye by the horse men which followed killed them as they tooke them straggling here there in the fieldes The brute of this victorie was blowen abroade incontinently through all the townes and villages thereabouts which caused many young men to come ioyne them selues to Camillus but specially the ROMAINES desired the same that had saued thē selues in the cittie of VEIES after the battell lost at ALLIA who made their mones amongest them selues there saying O goddes what a captaine hath fortune taken from the cittie of ROME What honour hath the cittie of ARDEA by
ensigne bearer that went formest to staye and set downe his ensigne there for sayed he here is a very good place for vs to warde in These wordes being heard vp into the Senate house euen as they stoode all in a doubte maze what would be the resolution of this matter Lucretius beganne to saye that he most humbly thancked the goddes and allowed of the captaines iudgment and so euery one of the rest in their order sayed as much Moreouer there was a wonderfull chaunge and alteration of minde sodainely among the common people for euery man dyd persuade encorage his fellowe liuely to put his hand to this worke Insomuch as tarying for no diuision or appointing out of streetes nor setting out euery man his place he should builde in they fell to worke of all handes euerie one chosing that place he liked best was most cōmodious for their building without any other order or diuision amongest them Whereupon they ronning to this building on a head the streetes were cōfused on heapes together their houses all built out of order vniformitie For the reporte goeth that the whole cittie as well cōmon as priuate buildings was built vp new againe in a yere But the surueyours to whom Camillus had geuen charge to finde out all the holy places where the tēples had bene ouerthrowen as they went about mount Pallatine they came by chaunce to the place where the chappell of Mars had stoode which the GAVLES had wholy burnt and destroyed as they had done all the rest They making cleane the place and surueying euery corner dyd finde by chaunce Romulus augures crooked staffe hidden vnder a great mount of ashes This staffe is crooked at one of the endes and they call it Lituus which soothesayers doe vse to quarter out the regions of the element when they will beholde the flying of birdes to tell of things to come Romulus that was very skillfull in this arte dyd vse this staffe and after he was taken awaye from all mens sights the priests tooke it and kept it as a holy relicke suffering no creature to laye hands on it Nowe they founde this staffe whole and vnbroken where all things els were consumed and perished by fire they were in a maruelous ioye thereat For they intrepreted this to be a signe of the euerlasting continuaunce of the cittie of ROME But before they could make an ende of all their building there grewe a newe warre againe vpon them For at one very instante all the AEQVES the VOLSCES and the LATINES entred with all their might and mayne into the territories of the ROMAINES The THVSCANS also went then and besieged SVTRIVM that was in league amitie with the ROMAINES The Tribuni militares got them straight to the field with their armie and encamped about mount Martian The LATINES besieged them so straightely that their army stoode in great daunger to be ouerthrowen they were driuen to sende to ROME for a newe supplie Thereupon the ROMAINES dyd choose Camillus Dictator againe the third time The occasion of this warre is reported two manner of wayes whereof I will declare the first which I doe conceyue to be but a tale They saye the LATINES sent vnto the ROMAINES to demaunde some of their free maydes in mariage which they dyd either to make a quarell of warre or els as desirous in deede to ioyne both the people 's againe by newe mariages The ROMAINES were amased very much at this and sore troubled as not knowing howe to aunswer them they were so affrayed of warres For they were yet scante newe setled at home and dreaded much left this demaunde of their daughters was but a summons made to geue them hostages which they finely cloked vnder the name of alliāce in mariage Some saye that there was at that time a bonde mayde called Tutola or as some saye Philotis that went vnto the Senate and counselled them they should sende her awaye with some other fayer maydes slaues dressed vp like gentlewomen then let her alone The Senate liked very well of this deuise and chose such a number of bonde maydes as she desired to haue trimming them vp in fine apparell begawded with chaines of golde and iuells they sent them forth to the LATINES who were encamped not farre from the cittie When night was come the other maydes hyd their enemies swords But this Tutola or Philotis call her as you will dyd clime vp to the toppe of a wilde figge tree from which she shewed a burning torche vnto the ROMAINES hauing made thifte to hange somwhat behinde her to keepe the light from sight of the enemies For this signall the Senate of ROME had secretly appointed her to set vp which was the cause that the issuing out of the souldiers being commaunded to goe out in the night was full of trouble and tumulte For being pressed by their captaines they called one another and there was great a doe to put them into order of battell Thus they went to take their enemies sleeping who nothing mistrusting the same were slaine the most parte of them within their cāpe This was done on the fifte day of the moneth called then Quintilis now is named Iulye at which time they doe yet celebrate a certaine feast in remembraunce of that acte For first of all going out of the citie they call alowde many of their fellowes names which are most common as Caius Marcus and Lucius showing thereby howe one of them called another after that sorte as they went in great haste out of the cittie Afterwardes all the mayde seruauntes of the cittie being trimmely apparelled goe playing vp and downe the towne pleasauntly ieasting with those they mete and in the ende they make as though they fought together in token that they dyd helpe the ROMAINES at that time to destroye the LATINES Then they are feasted sitting vnder bowers made with wilde figge tree boughes and this feaste daye is called Nonae Capratinae by reason of the wilde figge tree as some thincke from the toppe whereof the bonde mayde shewed to the ROMAINES the burning torche For the ROMAINES call the wilde figge tree Caprificus Other saye that all these things are done and spoken in remembrance of the mischaūce that happened vnto Romulus whē he was taken out of their sight the same day without the gats of the citty at which time there rose a sodain miste darke clowd Or as some other saye that then was the eclypse of the sunne and they holde opinion that the day was named Nonae Capratinae bicause Capra in the ROMAIN tōgue signifieth a goate Romulus vanished out of mens sightes as he was making an oration vnto his people neere vnto the place which is called goate marshe as we haue mentioned more at large in his life The 2. occasion beginning of this warre according to the opinion of most writers was that Camillus being chosen Dictator the third
yet but a young man and was ruled altogether by Cleandrides counsell and direction whom the Ephores had placed about him to counsell direct him he sought priuilie to corrupt Cleandrides When he had wonne him sone with his money he persuaded him to drawe backe the PELOPONNESIANS out of their countrie of ATTICA and so he dyd But when the LACEDAEMONIANS sawe their armie cassed that the people were gone their waye euery man to his owne cittie or towne they were so mad at it that the King was condemned in a great some The King being vnable to aunswer his fine which was so extreme great he was driuen to absent him self from LACEDAEMON Cleandrides on the other side if he had not fled in time euen for spight had bene condemned to death This Cleandrides was Gylippus father that afterwards ouercame the ATHENIANS in SICILIA in whom it seemed nature bred couetousnes as a disease inheritable by succession from father to the sonne For he being shamefully conuicted also for certen vile partes he had played was likewise banished from SPARTA as we haue more amply declared in the life of Lysander And Pericles deliuering vp the accoÌ„pt of his charge and setting downe an article of the expense of renne talentes he had employed or should employe in needefull causes the people allowed them him neuer asking question how nor which waye nor whether it was true that they were bestowed Now there are certen writers amoÌ„g whom the philosopher Theophrastus is one who write that Pericles sent yerely vnto SPARTA tenne taleÌ„ts with the which he entertained those that were in authoritie there bicause they should make no warres with them not to buye peace of them but time that he might in the meane season with better commoditie and that leysure prouide to mainteine the warres After that as the armie of the PELOPONNESIANS were out of the countrie of ATTICA he returned again against the rebels passed into the I le of EVBOEA with fiftie sayle c fiue thousand footemen well armed there he ouercame all the citties that had taken armes against him and draue away the Hyppobates who were the most famous men of all the CHALCIDIANS aswell for their riches as for their valliantnes He draue awaye also all the HESTIAEIANS whom he chased cleane out of all the countrie and placed in their cittie only the citizens of ATHENS And the cause why he delt so rigorously with them was bicause they hauing taken a galley of the ATHENIANS prisoner had put all the men to death that were in her And peace being concluded afterwards betwene the ATHENIANS and LACEDAEMONIANS for thirtie yeres he proclaimed open warres against those of the I le of SAMOS burdening them that they being coÌ„maunded by the ATHENIANS to pacifie the quarrells which they had against the MILLESIANS they would not obaye But bicause some hold opinion that he tooke vpon him this warre against SAMOS for the loue of Aspasia it shall be no great digression of our storie to tell you by the waye what manner of woman she was what a maruelous gifte and power she had that she could entangle with her loue the chiefest rulers and gouernours at that time of the common weale and that the philosophers them selues dyd so largely speake write of her First of all it is certaine that she was borne in the cittie of MILETVM and was the daughter of one Axiochus she following the steppes and example of an olde curtisan of IONIA called Thargelia gaue her selfe only to entertaine the greatest persones chiefest rulers in her time For this Thargelia being passing fayer and carying a comely grace with her hauing a sharpe wit and pleasaunt tongue she had the acquaintaunce and friendshippe of the greatest persones of all GRECE and wanne all those that dyd haunte her company to be at the king of Persiaes commaundement So that she sowed through all the citties of GRECE great beginnings of the faction of the MEDES for they were the greatest men of power authoritie of euerie cittie that were acquainted with her But as for Aspasia some saye that Pericles resorted vnto her bicause she was a wise woman and had great vnderstanding in matters of state and gouernment For Socrates him selfe went to see her somtimes with his friends and those that vsed her company also brought their wiues many times with them to heare her talke though her traine about her were to entertaine such as would warme them by their fire AEschines writeth that Lysicles a grasier being before but a meane man and of a clubbishe nature came to be the chief man of ATHENS by frequenting the companie of Aspasia after the death of Pericles And in Platoes booke intituled Menexenus although the beginning of it be but pleasauntly written yet in that this storie is written truely that this Aspasia was repaired vnto by diuers of the ATHENIANS to learne the arte of rethorike of her Yet notwithstanding it seemeth most likely that the affection Pericles dyd beare her grewe rather of loue then of any other cause For he was maried vnto a kinsewoman of his owne and that before was Hipponicus wife by whom she had Callias surnamed the riche had afterwards by Pericles Xantippus and Paralus But not liking her companie he gaue her with her owne good will and consent vnto another and maried Aspasia whom he dearely loued For euer when he went abroad came home againe he saluted her with a kisse Whereupon in the auncient comedies she is called in many places the newe Omphale and somtimes Deianira and somtimes Iuno But Cratinus plainely calleth her whore in these verses His Iuno she him brought Aspasia by name vvhich vvas in deede an open vvhore and past all 〈…〉 of shame And it seemeth that he had a bastard for Eupotu in a comedie of his called Demosâ— bringeth him in asking Pyronides thus I praye thee is my bastard sonne yet alive And then Pyramides aunswered him A perfect man long sence he surely had bene founde if that this levvde and a naughty vvhore his vertue had not drovvnâ—e To conclude this Aspasia was so famous that Cyrus he that sought against king Artaxerxes his brother for the empire of PERSIA called Aspasia his best beloued of all his concubines which before was called Milto and was borne in PROCIDES being Hermotineus daughter And Cyrus being slayne in the field Aspasia was caried to the King his brother with whom afterwardes she was in great fauour As I was writing this life this storie came in my minde and me thought I should haue delt hardly if I should haue left it vnwritten But to our matter againe Pericles was charged that he made warres against the SAMIANS on the behalfe of the MILESIANS at the request of Aspasia for these two citties were at warres together for the cittie of Pâ—Iâ—NA but the SAMIANS were the stronger Now the ATHENIANS commaunded them
plainely discerne all the ROMAINES campe and sawe howe they dyd range their men in order of battell Nowe one Giscon a man of like state and nobilitie as him selfe being with him at that time tolde him that the enemies seemed a farre of to be a maruelous number But Hannibal rubbing his forehead aunswered him Yea sayed he but there is another thing more to be wondered at then you thinke of Giscon Giscon straight asked him What mary sayeth he this that of all the great number of souldiers you see yonder there is not a man of them called Giscon as you are This mery aunswer deliuered contrarie to their expectation that were with him looking for some great waightie matter made them all laughe a good So downe the hill they came laughing alowde and tolde this prety leaste to all they met as they rode which straight from one to another ranne ouer all the campe in so much as Hannibal him selfe could not holde from laughing The CARTHAGINIAN souldiers perceyuing this beganne to be of a good corage imagining that their generall would not be so merylie disposed as to fall a laughing being so neere daunger if he had not perceyued him selfe a great deale to be the stronger and that he had good cause also to make no reckoning of his enemies Furthermore he shewed two policies of a skilfull captaine in the battell The first was the situation of the place where he put his men in order of battell so as they had the winde on their backes which raging like a burning lightning raised a sharpe dust out of the open sandy valley and passing ouer the CARTHAGINIANS squadron blewe full in the ROMAINES faces with such a violence that they were compelled to turne their faces to trouble their owne rankes The seconde policie was the forme and order of his battell For he placed on either side of his winges the best and valliantest souldiers he had in all his armie and dyd fill vp the middest of his battell with the worste of his men which he made like a pointe and was farder out by a great deale then the two winges of the fronte of his battell So he commaunded those of the winges that when the ROMAINES had broken his first fronte and followed those that gaue backe whereby the middest of his battell should leaue an hollowe place and the enemies should come in still increasing within the compasse of the two winges that then they should set vpon them on both sides and charge their flanks immediatly and so inclose them in behind And this was cause of a greater slaughter For when the midle battell beganne to geue backe and to receyue the ROMAINES within it who pursued the other very whotly Hannibals battell chaunged her forme where at the beginning it was like a pointe it became nowe in the middest like a cressant or halfe moone Then the captaines of the chosen bandes that laye out in both the winges made their men to turne some on the left hand and some on the right and charged the ROMAINES on the flankes and behinde where they were all naked so they killed all those that could not saue them selues by flying before they were enuironned They saye also that there fell out another mischief by misfortune vnto the horsemen of the ROMAINES and by this occasion The horse of Paulus AEmilius the Consul being hurte dyd throwe his master on the grounde whereupon those that were next him dyd light from their horse backs to helpe him The residue of the horsemen that were a great waye behinde him seeing them light thought they had bene all commaunded to light hereupon euery man forsooke their horse and fought it out a foote Hannibal when he sawe that sayed yea marie I had rather haue them so then deliuered me bounde hande and foote But for those matters the historiographers doe dilate more at large Furthermore of the two Cōsuls Varro saued him selfe by his horse with a fewe following him within the cittie of VENVSA Paulus being in the middest of the throng of all the armie his bodie full of arrowes that stucke fast in his woundes and his harte sore loden with grieuous sorowe and anguishe to see the ouerthrowe of his men was set downe by a rocke looking for some of his enemies to come and ryd him out of his payne But fewe could knowe him his head and face was of such a gore bloude insomuch as his friends and seruants also passed by him and knewe him not And there was but one young gentleman of a noble house of the Patricians called Cornelius Lentulus that knewe him who dyd his best endeuour to saue him For he lighted a foote presently brought him his horse praying him to get vp vpon him to proue if he could saue him selfe for the necessitie of his countrie which nowe more then euer had neede of a good and wise captaine But he refused the gentlemans offer and his intreatie and compelled him to take his horse backe againe though the teares ranne downe his chekes for pittie and raising him selfe vp to take him by the hande he sayed vnto him I pray you tell Fabius Maximus from me and witnesse with me that Paulus AEmilius euen to his last hower hath followed his counsaill and dyd neuer swarue from the promise he made him but that first he was forced to it by Varro and afterwardes by Hannibal When he had deliuered these wordes he bad Lentulus farewell and ronning againe into the furie of the slaughter there he dyed among his slaine companions It is thought there were slaine at this battell fiftie thousand ROMAINES foure thousand taken prisoners and other tenne thousand that were taken prisoners in two campes after the battell When this noble victorie was gotten Hannibals friendes gaue him counsaill to followe his good fortune and to enter ROME after the scattered number that fled thither so as within fewe dayes following he might suppe in their capitoll A man cannot easely gesse what was the cause that stayed him that he went not vnles it was as I thinke some good fortune or fauorable God toward the ROMAINES that withstoode him and made him afeard and glad to retire Whereupon they saye that one Barca a CARTHAGINIAN in his anger sayed to Hannibal Syr you haue the waye to ouercome but you cannot vse victorie Notwithstanding this victorie made a maruelous chaunge for him For hereupon all ITALY in manner came in to submit them selues to him where before he had no towne at cōmaundemēt nor any storehouse or porte through all ITALIE yea he did maruelous hardly with much a doe vittell his armie with that he could daylie robbe spoyle hauing no certē place to retire vnto nor groūded hope to entertain these warres but kept the field with his armie remouing from place to place as they had bene a great number of murderers theeues together For the most parte of the coūtrie dyd yeld immediatly vnto
were priuie to the contentes of the same desired no other thing but his repaire thither These letters pretily quickned Fabius insomuch as he was determined one night to haue taken parte of his armie to haue gone to them But bicause the signes of the birdes dyd promise him no good successe he left of his purpose Sone after he vnderstoode they were counterfeate letters made by Hannibals fine deuise to haue drawen him out to haue intrapped him for whom him selfe laye in persone in ambushe neere the cittie looking and waiting for his comming but the goddes who would haue him saued were only to be thāked for his happy scape Furthermore concerning the reuolte of the citties that were subject vnto them and the rising of their allies friends against them Fabius thought it farre better to intreate them curteously making them ashamed without occasion to rebell against them rather then openly to suspect them and to deale straightly with those that were so to be suspected Now for this matter it is reported that Fabius had a souldier in his campe that was a MARSIAN borne by nation a valliant man of his persone also of as noble a house as any that were of all the allies of the ROMAINES who had practised with other his fellowes of the bande he serued in to goe serue the enemie Fabius hearing of this practise he went about gaue him no ill countenaunce for it but calling him to him he sayed I must confesse there is no reckoning made of you as your good seruice doth deserue wherefore for this time sayeth he I blame the pety captaines only which in such sorte doe bestowe their good will and fauour at aduenture and not by deserte But henceforth it shal be your owne faulte if you doe not declare your minde vnto me and betweene you and me make me priuie of your lacke necessitie When he had spoken these wordes to him he gaue him a very good horse for seruice and dyd rewarde him with other honorable giftes as men of good seruice desert haue commonly bestowed on them and this dyd so encorage the souldier thenceforth that he became a very faithfull and seruiceable souldier to the ROMAINES For Fabius thought it more fit that hunters riders of horses such like as take vpon them to tame brute beastes should sonner make them leaue their sauage churlishe nature by gentle vsage and manning of them then by beating and shackling of them And so a gouernour of men should rather correct his souldier by paciēce gentlenes and clemency then by rigour violence or seueritie Otherwise he should handle them more rudely and sharpely then husbandmen doe figge trees oliue trees wilde pomegarnets who by diligent pruning and good handling of them doe alter their harde and wilde nature cause them in the end to bring forth good figges oliues pomegarnets Another time certaine captaines of his brought him worde that there was one of their souldiers which would euer goe out of the cāpe leaue his ensigne He asked them what manner of man he was They aunswered him all together that he was a very good souldier and that they could hardly finde out suche another in all their bandes as he and therewithall they tolde him of some notable seruice they had seene him doe in persone Whereupon Fabius made a diligent enquierie to know what the cause was that made him goe so oft out of the campe in the end he founde he was in loue with a young woman and that to goe see her was the cause he dyd so ofte leaue his ensigne and dyd put his life in so great daunger for that she was so farre of When Fabius vnderstoode this he sent certaine souldiers vnknowing to the souldier to bring the woman awaye he loued and willed them to hyde her in his tente and then called he the souldier to him that was a LVCANIAN borne and taking him a side sayed vnto him thus My friend it hath bene tolde me how thou hast lyen many nightes out of the campe against the lawe of armes and order of the ROMAINES but therewithall I vnderstande also that otherwise thou art an honest man and therefore I pardone thy faultes paste in consideration of thy good seruice but from henceforth I will geue thee in custodie to such a one as shall make me accompt of thee The souldier was blancke when he heard these wordes Fabius with that caused the woman he was in loue with to be brought forth and deliuered her into his hands saying vnto him This woman hereafter shall aunswer me thy bodie to be forth comming in the campe amongest vs and from henceforth thy deedes shall witnesse for the reste that thy loue vnto this woman maye be no cloke of thy departing out of the campe for any wicked practise or intent Thus much we finde written concerning this matter Moreouer Fabius after suche a sorte recouered againe the cittie of TARENTVM and brought it to the obedience of the ROMAINES which they had lost by treason It fortuned there was a young man in his campe a TARENTINE borne that had a sister within TARENTVM which was very faithfull to him and loued him maruelous dearely now there was a captaine a BRVTIAN borne that fell in loue with her and was one of those to whom Hannibal had committed the charge of the cittie of TARENTVM This gaue the young souldier the TARENTINE very good hope and waye to bring his enterprise to good effect whereupon he reuealed his intent to Fabius and with his priuitie fled from his campe and got into the cittie of TARENTVM geuing it out in the cittie that he would altogether dwell with his sister Now for a fewe dayes at his first comming the BRVTIAN captaine laye alone by him selfe at the request of the mayde his sister who thought her brother had not knowen of her loue and shortely after the young fellowe tooke his sister aside and sayed vnto her My good sister there was a great speache in the ROMAINES campe that thou wert kept by one of the chiefest captaines of the garrison I praye thee if it be so let me knowe what he is For so he be a good fellowe and an honest man as they saye he is I care not for warres that turneth all things topsi turuey regardeth not of what place or calling he is of and still maketh vertue of necessitie without respect of shame And it is a speciall good fortune at such time as neither right nor reason rules to happen yet into the handes of a good and gratious lorde His sister hearing him speake these wordes sent for the BRVTIAN captaine to bring him acquainted with her brother who liked well of both their loues and indeuoured him self to frame his sisters loue in better sorte towards him then it was before by reason whereof the captaine also beganne to trust him very muche So this young TARENTINE sawe it was very easie to winne and
done vpon a brauery and certaine lustines as hauing layed a wager with his companions he would doe it and for no malice or quarrell that he bare the man This light parte was straight ouer all the cittie and euery one that heard it sayed it was lewdly done But Alcibiades the next morning went to his house and knocking at his gate was let in so he stripping him selfe before him deliuered him his bodie to be whipped and punished at his pleasure Hipponicus pardoned him and was friends with him and gaue him his daughter Hipparete afterwards in mariage Howbeit some saye it was not Hipponicus that gaue her to him but Callias sonne with tenne talēts of gold with her Afterwards at the birth of his first child he had by her he asked tenne talents more saying they were promised him vpon the contract if his wife had children But Callias fearing least this was an occasiō sought of him to lye in wayte to kill him for his goodes declared openly to the people that he made him his heire generall if he dyed without heires speciall of his bodie This gētlewoman Hipparete being an honest true wife to Alcibiades misliking her husband dyd so muche misuse her as to entertaine common light strumpers aswell cittizens as straungers she went abroad one day to her brothers house and tolde him of it Alcibiades passed not for it and made no further reckoning of the matter but only bad his wife if she would present her cause of diuorse before the iudge So she went thither her selfe to sue the diuorce betwene them according to the lawe but Alcibiades being there also tooke her by the hande caried her through the market place home to his house and no man durst medle betwene them to take her from him And so she continued with him all the dayes of her life which was not long after for she dyed when Alcibiades was in his iorney he made to EPHESVS This force Alcibiades vsed was not thought altogether vnlawfull nor vnciuill bicause it seemeth that the lawe was grounded vpon this cause that the wife which would be diuorced from her husband should goe her selfe openly before the iudge to put vp her complainte to the ende that by this meanes the husband might come to speake with his wife and seeke to staye her if he could Alcibiades had a maruelous fayer great dogge that cost him three score and tenne minas and he cut of his taile that was his chief beawtie When his friendes reproued him and tolde him how euery man blamed him for it he fell a laughing and tolde them he had that he sought For sayeth he I would haue the ATHENIANS rather prate vpon that then they should saye worse of me Moreouer it is sayed the first time that Alcibiades spake openly in the common weale and beganne to deale in matters was vpon a gifte of money he gaue to the people and not of any pretence or former purpose he had to doe it One daye as he came through the market place hearing the people very lowde he asked what the matter was they tolde him it was about money certen men had geuen to the people Then Alcibiades went to them and gaue them money out of his owne purse The people were so glad at that as they fell to showting and clapping of their handes in token of thankfullnes and him selfe was so glad for companie that he forgat a quayle he had vnder his gowne which was so afeard of the noyse that she tooke her flight away The people seeing the quayle made a greater noyse then before and many rose out of their places to runne after her so that in the ende it was taken vp by a master of a shippe called Antiochus who brought him the quayle againe and for that cause Alcibiades dyd loue him euer after Now albeit the nobilitie of his house his goodes his worthines the great number of his kinsemen friends made his waye open to take vpon him gouernment in the common weale Yet the only waye he desired to winne the fauour of the common people by was the grace of his eloquence To proue he was eloquent all the Comicall poets doe testifie it and besides them Demosthenes the prince of orators also doth saye in an oration he made against Midias that Alcibiades aboue all other qualities he had was most eloquent And if we maye beleeue Theophrastus the greatest searcher of antiquities best historiographer aboue any other philosopher he hath written that Alcibiades had as good a witte to deuise and consider what he would saye as any man that was in his time Howbeit somtimes studying what he should saye as also to deliuer good wordes not hauing them very readilie at his tongues ende he many times tooke breath by the waye and paused in the middest of his tale not speaking a worde vntil he had called it to minde that he would saye His charge was great and muche spoken of also for keeping of ronning horses at games not only bicause they were the best swiftest but for the number of coches he had besides For neuer priuate persone no nor any prince that euer sent seuen so well appointed coches in all furniture vnto the games Olympicall as he dyd nor that at one course hath borne awaye the first the second and the fourth prise as Thucydides sayeth or as Euripides reporteth the third For in that game he excelled all men in honour and name that euer striued for victorie therein For Euripides pronounced his praise in a songe he made of him as followeth O sonne of Clinias I vvill resounde thy praise for thou art bold in martiall dedes and ouercommest allvvayes Thy victories therevvith doe farre exceede the rest that euer vvere in Greece ygot therefore I compt them best For at thOlympike games thou hast vvith chariots vvonne the first price seconde thirde and all vvhich there in race vvere ronne VVith praise and litle payne thy head hath tvvise bene crovvnde vvith oliue boughes for victorie and tvvise by trumpets sounde The heraulds haue proclaimed thee victor by thy name aboue all those vvhich ranne vvith thee in hope to get the game Howbeit the good affection diuers citties did beare him contending which should gratifie him best dyd muche increase his fame and honour For the EPHESIANS dyd set vp a tente for him very sumptuously and richely furnished Those of the cittie of CHIO furnished him with prouinder for his horse and gaue him muttons besides and other beastes to sacrifice withall They of LESBOS also sent him in wine and other prouision for vittells to helpe him to defraye the great charges he was at in keeping open house feeding such a nūber of mouthes daylie Yet the spite they dyd beare him or rather his breache of promise which he often made with this magnificence and state he shewed gaue the people more cause to speake of him then before For they saye
other light armed men to the number of thirteene hundred sufficiently furnished of all warlicke and necessarie munition Now after they were arriued on the coaste of ITALIE they landed in the citie of RHEGIO where holding counsell in what sorte they should direct these warres it was resolued in the ende that they should goe straight vnto SICILIA This opinion was followed although Nicias dyd contrarie it when Lamachus gaue his consent thereunto and at his first comming he was the occasion of winning the cittie of CATANA But he neuer after dyd any exployte for he was called home immediatly by the ATHENIANS to come and aunswer certaine accusations layed to his charge For as we tolde you before there was at the beginning certaine light suspitions and accusations put vp against him by some slaues and straungers But afterwards when he was gone his enemies enforced them and burdened him more cruelly adding to his former faulte that he had broken the images of Mercurie and had committed sacriledge in counterfeating in ieast and mockery the holy ceremonies of the mysteries and blue into the â—ares of the people that both the one and the other proceeded of one set conspiracie to chaunge and alter the gouernment of the state of the citie Vpon these informations the people tooke it in so ill parte that they committed all to prisone that were in any sorte accused or suspected thereof and would neuer let them come to their aunswer and moreouer dyd much repent them that they had not condemned Alcibiades vpon so great complaintes and informations as were exhibited against him while his offense was in question before them And the furie and hatred of the people was such towards him that if any of Alcibiades friends and acquaintance came within their daunger they were the worse handled for his sake Thucydides dyd not name his accusers but some other doe name Dioclides and Teucer amongest whom Phrynicus the Comicall poet is one who discouereth it in his verses by bringing in one that speaketh thus to the image of Mercury My good friend Mercury I praye thee take good heede that thou fall not and breake thy necke for so thou mightst me breede both daunger and distrust and though I giltles be some Dioclides falsely might accuse and trouble me Mercury aunswereth Take thou no thought for me my selfe I shall vvell saue and vvill foresee full vvell therevvith that Teucer that false knaue shall not the money get vvhich he by lavve hath vvonne for his promovvters bribing parte and accusation And yet for all this these tokens doe showe no certaintie of any thing For one of them being asked howe he could knowe them by their faces in the night that had broken and defaced these images he aunswered that he knewe them well enough by the brightnes of the moone And hereby it appeareth playnely that he was periured bicause that the same night on the which this fact was committed there was a coniunction of the moone This dyd a litle trouble and staye men of iudgement howbeit the common sorte of people this notwithstanding dyd not leaue to be as sharpe set to receyue all accusations and informations that were brought in against him as euer they were before Now there was among the prisoners whose cause was hanging before them the orator Andocides whom Hellanicus the historiographer describeth to descend of the race of Vlysses whom they tooke to be a man that hated the gouernment of the common people and bent altogether to fauour the small number of the nobilitie But one of the chiefest occasions why he was suspected to be one of them that had broken the images was for that hard by his house there was a fayer great image set vp in olde time by the familie or tribe of the AEgeides and that alone amongest all the rest of so many famous images was lefte whole and vnbroken whereupon it is called at this daye the Mercury of Andocides and is so called generally of euery bodye albeit the inscription sheweth the contrarie Andocides being in prisone chaunced to fall in acquaintaunce with one Timaeus with whom he was more familliar then with all the rest who was also prisoner with him for the self cause This Timaeus was a man not so well knowen as he but besides a wise man and very hardie He persuaded him and put into his head that he should accuse him selfe and certaine other with him for taking the matter vpon him and confessing it he should receyue grace pardone according to the course and promise of the lawe Where contrarilie if he should stande vpon the curtesie of the iudges sentence he might easely endaunger him self bicause iudgements in such cases are vncertaine to all people and most to be doubted and feared toward the riche And therefore he told him it were his best waye if he looked into the matter wisely by lying to saue his life rather then to suffer death with shame and to be condemned apon this false accusation Also he sayed if he would haue regarde to the coÌ„mon wealth that it should in like case be wisely done of him to put in daunger a fewe of those which stood doubtfull whether in trothe they were any of them or not to saue from the furie of the people and terrour of death many honest men who in deede were innocent of this lewde fact Timaeus wordes and persuasions wrought such effect with Andocides that they made him yeld vnto them brought him to accuse him selfe certaine other with him by meanes whereof Alcibiades according to the lawe had his pardone But all suche as he named and accused were euery man put to death sauing suche as saued them selues by ronning awaye Furthermore to shadowe his accusation with some apparaunce of trothe Andocides among those that were accused dyd accuse also certen of his owne seruaunts Now though the people had no more occasion to occupie their busie heades about the breakers of these images yet was not their malice thus appeased against Alcibiades vntill they sent the galley called Salaminiana commaunding those they sent by a speciall coÌ„mission to seeke him out in no case to attempt to take him by force nor to laye holde on him by violence but to vse him with all the good wordes and curteous manner that they possibly could to will him only to appeare in persone before the people to aunswer to certaine accusations put vp against him If otherwise they should haue vsed force they feared muche least the armie would haue mutined on his behalfe within the countrie of their enemies and that there would haue growen some sedition amongest their souldiers This might Alcibiades haue easely done if he had bene disposed For the souldiers were very sorie to see him departe perceyuing that the warres should be drawen out now in length and be much prolonged vnder Nicias seeing Alcibiades was taken from them who was the only spurre that pricked Nicias forward to doe
to be but becommeth dismembred in two factions which mainteines allwayes ciuill dissention and discorde betwene vs and will neuer suffer vs againe to be vnited into one bodie Martius dilating the matter with many such like reasons wanne all the young men and almost all the riche men to his opinion in so much they range it out that he was the only man and alone in the cittie who stoode out against the people neuer flattered them There were only a fewe olde men that spake against him fearing least some mischief might fall out apon it as in dede there followed no great good afterward For the Tribunes of the people being present at this consultation of the Senate when they sawe that the opinion of Martius was confirmed with the more voyces they left the Senate and went downe to the people crying out for helpe and that they would assemble to saue their Tribunes Hereupon the people ranne on head in tumult together before whom the wordes that Martius spake in the Senate were openly reported which the people so stomaked that euen in that furie they were readie to flye apon the whole Senate But the Tribunes layed all the faulte and burden wholy vpon Martius and sent their sergeantes forthwith to arrest him presently to appeare in persone before the people to aunswer the wordes he had spoken in the Senate Martius stowtely withstoode these officers that came to arrest him Then the Tribunes in their owne persones accompanied with the AEdiles went to fetche him by force and so layed violent hands vpon him Howbeit the noble Patricians gathering together about him made the Tribunes geue backe and layed it sore apon the AEdiles so for that time the night parted them the tumult appeased The next morning betimes the Consuls seing the people in an vprore ronning to the market place out of all partes of the cittie they were affrayed least all the cittie would together by the eares wherefore assembling the Senate in all hast they declared how it stoode them vpon to appease the furie of the people with some gentle wordes or gratefull decrees in their fauour and moreouer like wise men they should consider it was now no time to stande at defence and in contention nor yet to fight for honour against the communaltie they being fallen to so great an extremitie and offering such imminēt daunger Wherefore they were to consider temperately of things to deliuer some present and gentle pacification The most parte of the Senatours that were present at this counsaill thought this opinion best gaue their consents vnto it Whereupon the Consuls rising out of counsaill went to speake vnto the people as gently as they could and they dyd pacifie their furie anger purging the Senate of all the vniust accusations layed vpon them and vsed great modestie in persuading them and also in reprouing the faultes they had committed And as for the rest that touched the sale of corne they promised there should be no disliking offred them in the price So the most parte of the people being pacified and appearing so plainely by the great silence and still that was among them as yelding to the Consuls and liking well of their wordes the Tribunes then of the people rose out of their seates and sayed Forasmuche as the Senate yelded vnto reason the people also for their parte as became them dyd likewise geue place vnto them but notwithstanding they would that Martius should come in persone to aunswer to the articles they had deuised First whether he had not solicited and procured the Senate to chaunge the present state of the common weale and to take the soueraine authoritie out of the peoples handes Next when he was sent for by authoritie of their officers why he dyd contemptuously resist and disobey Lastely seeing he had driuen and beaten the AEdiles into the market place before all the worlde if in doing this he had not done as muche as in him laye to raise ciuill warres and to set one cittizen against another All this was spoken to one of these two endes either that Martius against his nature should be constrained to humble him selfe and to abase his hawty and fierce minde or els if he continued still in his stowtnes he should incurre the peoples displeasure and ill will so farre that he should neuer possibly winne them againe Which they hoped would rather fall out so then otherwise as in deede they gest vnhappely considering Martius nature and disposition So Martius came and presented him selfe to aunswer their accusations against him the people held their peace and gaue attentiue eare to heare what he would saye But where they thought to haue heard very humble and lowly wordes come from him he beganne not only to vse his wonted boldnes of speaking which of it selfe was very rough and vnpleasaunt and dyd more aggrauate his accusation then purge his innocencie but also gaue him selfe in his wordes to thunder and looke there withall so grimly as though he made no reckoning of the matter This stirred coales emong the people who were in wonderfull furie at it their hate and malice grewe so toward him that they could holde no lenger beare nor indure his brauery and careles boldnes Whereupon Sicinius the cruellest and stowtest of the Tribunes after he had whispered a litle with his companions dyd openly pronounce in the face of all the people Martius as condemned by the Tribunes to dye Then presently he commaunded the AEdiles to apprehend him and carie him straight to the rocke Tarpeian and to cast him hedlong downe the same When the AEdiles came to laye handes vpon Martius to doe that they were commaunded diuers of the people them selues thought it to cruell and violent a dede The noble men also being muche troubled to see such force and rigour vsed beganne to crie alowde helpe Martius so those that layed handes of him being repulsed they compassed him in rounde emong them selues and some of them holding vp their handes to the people besought them not to handle him thus cruelly But neither their wordes nor crying out could ought preuaile the tumulte and hurly burley was so great vntill suche time as the Tribunes owne friendes and kinsemen weying with them selues the impossiblenes to conuey Martius to execution without great slaughter murder of the nobilitie dyd persuade and aduise not to proceede in so violent and extraordinary a sorte as to put such a man to death without lawfull processe in lawe but that they should referre the sentence of his death to the free voyce of the people Then Sicinius bethinking him self a litle dyd aske the Patricians for what cause they tooke Martius out of the officers handes that went to doe execution The Patricians asked him againe why they would of them selues so cruelly and wickedly put to death so noble and valliant a ROMAINE as Martius was and that without lawe or iustice Well then sayed Sicinius if
GRAEKE tongue For he dyd not only retaine Grammarians Rethoricians and Logitians but also painters grauers of images riders of horses and huntes of GRAECE about his children and he him selfe also if no matters of common wealth troubled him was euer with them in the schoole when they were at their bookes and also when they otherwise dyd exercise them selues For he loued his children as much or more then any other ROMAINE Now concerning the state of the commō wealth the ROMAINES were at warres with king Perseus they much blamed the captaines they had sent thither before for that for lacke of skill and corage they had so cowardly behaued them selues as their enemies laughed them to scorne and they receyued more hurte of them then they dyd vnto the king For not long before they had driuen king Antiochus beyound mount Taurus and had made him forsake the rest of ASIA and had shut him vp within the borders of SYRIA who was glad that he had bought that contrie with fifteene thousand talēts which he payed for a fine A litle before also they had ouercome Philip king of MACEDON in THESSALY and had deliuered the GRAECIANS from the bondage of the MACEDONIANS And moreouer hauing ouercome Hannibal vnto whom no Prince nor King that euer was in the worlde was comparable either for his power or valliantnes they thought this to great a dishonour to them that this warre they had against king Perseus should hold so long of euen hande with them as if he had bene an enemie equall with the people of ROME considering also that they fought not against them but with the refuse and scattered people of the ouerthrowen armie his father had lost before and knew not that Philip had left his armie stronger and more experte by reason of his ouerthrowe then it was before As I will briefly reherse the storie from the beginning Antigonus who was of the greatest power of all the captaines successours of Alexander the great hauing obteined for him self his posteritie the title of a King had a sonne called Demetrius of whō came Antigonus the second that was surnamed Gonatas whose sonne was also called Demetrius that raigned no long time but dyed and left a young sonne called Philippe By reason whereof the Princes and Nobilitie of MACEDON fearing that the Realme should be left without heire they preferred one Antigonus cosin to the last deceased King and made him marie the mother of Philip the lesse geuing him the name at the first of the Kings protectour only and lieutenaunt generall of his maiestie But after when they had founde he was a good and wise prince and a good husband for the Realme they then gaue him the absolute name of a King and surnamed him Doson to saye the giuer for he promised muche and gaue litle After him reigned Philip who in his grene youth gaue more hope of him selfe then any other of the Kings before in so much they thought that one daye he would restore MACEDON her auncient fame and glorie and that he alone would plucke downe the pride and power of the ROMAINES who rose against all the world But after that he had lost a great battell and was ouerthrowen by Titus Quintus Flaminius neere vnto the cittie of SCOTVSA then he beganne to quake for feare and to leaue all to the mercie of the ROMAINES thinking he escaped good cheape for any light ransome or tribute the ROMAINES should impose apon him Yet afterwards comming to vnderstād him selfe he grewe to disdaine it much thinking that to reigne through the fauour of the ROMAINES was but to make him selfe a slaue to seeke to liue in pleasure at his ease not for a valliāt noble prince borne Whereupon he set all his minde to studie the discipline of warres and made his preparations as wisely and closely as possiblie he could For he left all his townes alongest the sea coast stāding vpon any high wayes without any fortification at all in manner desolate without people to the ende there might appeare no occasion of doubt or mistrust in him in the meane time in the highe countries of his Realme farre from great beaten wayes he leauied a great number of men of warre replenished his townes strong holdes that laye scatteringly abroad with armour weapon money men prouiding for warre which he kept as secretly as he could For he had prouision of armour in his armorie to arme thirtie thousand men eight million busshels of corne safely lokt vp in his fortes strōger places ready money as much as would serue to entertaine tenne thousand straungers in paye to defend his countrie for the space of tenne yeres But before he could bring that to passe he had purposed he dyed for grief sorowe after he knewe he had vniustly put Demetrius the best of his sonnes to death apon the false accusation of the worst that was Perseus who as he dyd inherite the Kingdom of his father by succession so dyd he also inherite his fathers malice against the ROMAINES But he had no shoulders to beare so heauy a burden and especially being as he was a man of so vile and wicked nature for among many lewde naughty conditions he had he was extreme couetous miserable They saye also that he was not legitimate bicause Philippes wife had taken him from Gnathainia a tailours wife borne at ARGOS immediatly after he was borne dyd adopt the child to be hers And some thinke that this was the chiefest cause why he practised to put Demetrius to death fearing least this lawful sonne would seeke occasiō to proue him a bastard Notwithstanding simple though he was of vile base nature he found the strength of his Kingdom so great that he was contented to take vpon him to make warre against the ROMAINES which he mainteined a long time and fought against their Consuls that were their generalles and repulsed great armies of theirs both by sea and lande and ouercame some As Publius Licinius among other the first that inuaded MACEDON was ouerthrowen by him in a battell of horsemen where he slewe at that time two thousand fiue hundred good men of his and tooke sixe hundred prisoners And their armie by sea riding at ancker before the cittie of OREVM he dyd so dainly set apon and tooke twenty great shippes of burden and all that was in them and soncke the rest which were all loden with corne tooke of all sortes besides about foure fiftie foystes and galliots of fiftie owers a pece The second Consul generall he fought with all was Hostilius whom he repulsed attempting by force to inuade MACEDON by waye of the cittie of ELVMIA Another time again whē he entred in by stelth vpō the coast of THESSALY he offred him battel but the other durst not abide it Furthermore as though the warre troubled him nothing
Hanniball who was a dreadfull and a violent enemy so were the THEBANS also at that very time with the LACEDAEMONIANS who notwithstanding were ouercome of Pelopidas at the battells of TEGYRA and of LEVCTRES Whereas Marcellus did neuer so much as once ouercome Hanniball as Polybius wryteth but remained vnconquered alwayes vntill that Scipio ouercame him in battell Notwithstandinge we do geue best credit to the reportes of Caesar Liuie Cornelius Nepos and of king Iuba among the GREECIANS who wryte that Marcellus otherwhile did ouerthrow certaine of Hanniballs companies howebeit they were neuer no great ouerthrowes to speake of it seemeth rather it was through some mockerie or deceite of that AFRICAN then otherwise Yet sure it was a great matter and worthy much cōmendacion that the ROMAINES were brought to that corage as they durst abide to fight with the CARTHAGINIANS hauing lost so many great ouerthrowes hauing so many generalls of their armies slaine in battell and hauing the whole Empire of ROME in so great daunger of vtter destruction For it was Marcellus only of all other generalls that put the ROMAINES in hart againe after so great and longe a feare thorowly rooted in them and incoraged the souldiers also to longe to fight with their enemy and not onely to hope but to assure them selues of victory For where by reason of their continuall losses and fearefull ouerthrowes they hadde they thought them selues happy men to escape Hannibals handes by runninge away he taught them to be ashamed to flie like cowardes to confesse they were in distresse to retyre leaue the fielde before they had ouercome their enemies And where Pelopidas was neuer ouercome in battell beinge generall and Marcellus did ouercome more then any generall in his time it might seeme therefore that the great number of the victories of the one should compare with the good happe of the other that was neuer ouercome It is true that Marcellus tooke the city of SYRACVSA Pelopidas failed of taking the city of SPARTA but yet do I thinke that it was more valliantly done of Pelopidas to come so neere SPARTA as he did and that he was the first that passed the riuer of EVROTAS with an army which neuer enemy did before him than it was of Marcellus to winne all SICILE Vnles some paraduenture will say againe this was Epaminondas not Pelopidas acte as also in the victorie of LEVCTRES where no man liuing can pretend any parte of glory to the doinges of Marcellus For he tooke SYRACVSA being onely generall alone and did ouerthrow the GAVLES without his fellow Consull and fought with Hanniball without any mans helpe or incoragement for all other were against it and perswaded the contrary and he was the first that altered the maner of warres the ROMAINES vsed then and that trained his souldiers that they durst fight with the enemy For their death I neither commend the one nor the other and the straungenesse of either of their deathes doth greue me maruelously as I do greatly wonder also how Hanniball in so many battells as he fought which are innumerable could alwayes scape vnhurt I can not but greatly commende also the valliantnes of one Chrysantas whom Xenophon speaketh of in his booke of the institucion of Cyrus saying that he hauing lift vp his sword in his hand ready to kill one of his enemies and hearing the trompet sound the retreate he softly retyred would not strike him Howbeit it seemeth Pelopidas is more to be excused for beside that he was very hot and desirous of battel yet his anger was honorable and iust and moued him to seeke reuenge For as the Poet Euripides sayth The best that may betyde is vvhen a captaine likes and doth suruiue the victories vvhich he vvith force achieues But if he needes must fall then let him valliantly euen thrust amid the thickest throng and there vvith honor dye For so becometh his death famous not dishonorable But now besides Pelopidas iust cause of anger yet was there an other respect that most pricked him forward to do that he did for he saw his victorie ended in the death of the tyran Otherwise he shoulde hardly haue founde so noble an occasion to haue shewed his valliantnesse as in that And Marcellus contrarily without any instant necessity and hauinge no cause of heate or choller which putteth all men valliant in fight besides them selues that they know not what they do did rashly and vnaduisedly thrust him selfe into the middest of the daunger where he dyed not as a generall but as a light horseman and skowt forsaking his three triumphes his fiue Consullshippes and his spoyles and tokens of triumphe which he had gotten of kinges with his owne hands among venturous SPANIARDS and NVMIDIANS that folde their blood and liues for pay vnto the CARTHAGINIANS so that I imagine they were angry with thē selues as a man would say for so great and happy a victory to haue slaine amongest FREGELLANIAN skowtes and light horsemen the noblest and worthiest person of the ROMAINES I would no man should thinke I speake this in reproch of the memory of these two famous men but as a griefe onely of them and their valliantnes which they imployed so as they bleamished all their other vertues by the vndiscrete hazarding of their persones and liues without cause as if they woulde and shoulde haue dyed for them selues and not rather for their contry and frendes And also when they were dead Pelopidas was buried by the allies confederats of the city of THEBES for whose cause he was slaine and Marcellus in like maner by the enemies selues that hadde slaine him And sure the one is a happy thing and to be wished for in such a case but the other is farre aboue it and more to be wondered at That the enemy him selfe shoulde honor his valliantnesse and worthinesse that hurt him more then the office of frendshippe performed by a thankefull frende For nothing moueth the enemy more to honor his deade enemy then the admiration of his worthines and the frende sheweth frendeship many times rather for respect of the benefit he hath receiued then for the loue he beareth to his vertue The ende of Marcellus life THE LIFE OF Aristides ARistides the sonne of Lysimachus was certeinly of the tribe of Antiochides and of the towne of ALOPECIA But for his goodes and wealth they diuersely write of him For some say he liued poorely all the daies of his life and that he left two daughters which by reason of their pouerty liued vnmaried many yeres after their fathers death And many of the oldest writers do cōfirme that for troth Yet Demetrius Phalerius in his booke intituled Socrates wryteth the contrary that he knew certeine landes Aristides had in the village of PHALERIA which did yet beare the name of Aristides lands in the which his body is buried And furthermore to shew that he was well to liue and that his
taking away his horse to put any of the Senate whom they saw liue dissolutely and disorderly It was their office also to ceasse and rate euery citizen accordinge to the estimacion of their goodes to note the age genealogie and degrees of euery man and to kepe bookes of them besides many other prerogatiues they had belonging to their office Therefore when Cato came to sue for this office among other the chiefest Senators were all bent against him Some of them for very enuy thinkinge it shame and dishonor to the nobility to suffer menne that were meanely borne and vpstartes the first of their house and name that euer came to beare office in the state to be called preferred vnto the highest offices of state in all their common wealth Other also that were ill liuers knowing that they had offended the lawes of their contry they feared his cruelty to much imagining he would spare no man nor pardon any offence hauing the law in his owne hands So when they had consulted together about it they did set vp seuen competitors against him who flattered the people with many fayer wordes and promises as though they had neede of magistrates to vse them gently and to doe thinges for to please them But Cato contrariwise shewinge no countenaunce that he would vse them gently in the office but openly in the pulpit for orations threatning those that had liued naughtily and wickedly he cried out that they must reforme their citie and perswaded the people not to choose the gentlest but the sharpest phisitions and that him selfe was such a one as they needed among the PATRICIANS Valerius Flaccus an other in whose company he hoped they two beinge chosen Censors to do great good vnto the common wealth by burninge and cutting of like Hydras heades all vanity and voluptuous pleasures that were crept in amongest them and that he sawe well enough how all the other suters sought the office by dishonest meanes fearing such officers as they knew would deale iustly vprightly Then did the people of ROME shew them selues nobly minded and worthy of noble gouernours For they refused not the sowernesse of seuerity of Cato but reiected these meale mouthed men that seemed ready to please the people in all thinges and thereupon chose Marcus Cato Censor and Valerius Flaceus to be his fellow and they did obey him as if he hadde bene present officer and no suter for the office being in themselues to giue it to whom they thought good The first thing he did after he was stalled in his Censorship was that he named Lucius Valerius Flaccus his frend and fellow Censor with him prince of the Senate among many other also whom he thrust out of the Senate he put Lucius Quintius Flaminius of the Senate that had bene Consull seuen yeares before and was brother also vnto Titus Quintius Flaminius that ouercame Philip king of MACEDON in battell which was greater glory to him then that he had bene Consull But the cause why he put him of the Senate was this This Lucius Quintius caried euer with him a younge boy to the warres whom he gaue as good countenaunce and credit vnto as to any of his best familiar frendes he had about him It fortuned on a time whilest Lucius Quintius was Consull and gouernour of a prouince that he made a feast and this boy being set at his table hard by him as his maner was he beganne to flatter him knowing how to handle him when he was pretily mery soothing him told him he loued him so dearely that vpon his departing from ROME when the Swordeplaiers were ready to fight for life and death with vnrebated swords to shew the people pastime he came his way and left the sight of that he neuer saw that was very desirous to haue seene a man killed Then this Lucius Quintius to make him see the like sayed care not for the sight thou hast lost boy for I will let thee see as much And when he had spoken these wordes he commaunded a prisoner condemned to dye to be fetched and brought into his hall before him and the hangman with his axe Which was forthwith done according to his commaundement Then asked he the boy if he would straight see the man killed yea sir sayd the boy and with that he bad the hangman strike of his head Most wryters reporte this matter thus And Cicero to confirme it also wrote in his booke de Senectute that the same was wrytten in an oration Cato made before the people of ROME Now Lucius Quintius beinge thus shamefully put of the Senate by Cato his brother Titus beinge offended withall coulde not tell what to doe but besought the people they woulde commaunde Cato to declare the cause why he brought such shame vnto his house Whereuppon Cato openly before the people made recitall of all this feast And when Lucius denied it affirminge it was not so Cato would haue had him sworne before them all that it was not true they had burdened him withall But Lucius prayed them to pardon him who sayed he woulde not sweare Whereupon the people iudged straight that he deserued well that shame So not longe after certaine games beinge shewed in the Theater Lucius came thither and passinge beyonde the ordinary place that was appointed for those that had bene Consuls he went to sit aloofe of amongest the multitude The people tooke pity on him and made such a do about him as they forced him to rise and to go sit among the other Senators that had bene Consuls saluing the best they could the shame and dishonor happened vnto so noble a house Cato put out of the Senate also one Manilius who was in great towardnes to haue bene made Consull the next yere following only bicause he kissed his wife to louingly in the day time before his daughter and reprouing him for it he tolde him his wife neuer kissed him but when it thundered So when he was disposed to be mery he would say it was happy with him when Iupiter thundered He tookeaway Lucius Scipioes horse from him that had triumphed for the victories he had won against the great king Antiochus which wan him much ill wil bicause it appeared to the world he did it of purpose for the malice he did beare Scipio the AFRICAN that was dead But the most thing that greeued the people of all other extreamities he vsed was his putting downe of all feastes and vaine expences For a man to take it cleane away and to be openly seen in it it was vnpossible bicause it was so common a thinge and euery man was giuen so to it Therefore Cato to fetche it about indirectly did praise euery citizens goodes and rated their apparell their coches their litters their wiues chaines and iuells and all other moueables and household stuffe that had cost aboue a thousand fiue hundred Drachmes a peece a tenne times as
the discipline of the warres and order of battell in the which his souldiers had longe before bene trained Whereas Philopoemen brought into his contry both the one and the other and altered all the order which before they were accustomed vnto So that the chiefest point how to winne a battell was found out a new and brought in by the one into a place where it was neuer before and onely employed by the other which could very good skill to vse it and had founde it out already before Againe touching the valliant actes done in the person of them selues many notable actes may be told of Philopoemen but none of Titus but rather to the contrary For there was one Archedâ—mus an AETOLIAN who flowtinge Titus one day sayd in his reproche that at a day of battell when Philopoemen ranne with his sword in his hande to that side where he saw the MACEDONIANS fighting making hed against the enemy Titus held vp his hands vnto heauen and was busie at his prayers to the gods not stirring one foote when it was more time to handle the sword to sight of all handes All the goodly deedes Titus euer did were done alwaies as a Consul or Lieutenant or a Magistrate whereas Philopoemen shewed him selfe vnto the ACHAIANS a man no lesse valliant and of execution being out of office then when he was a Generall For when he was a Generall he did driue Nabis the tyran of the LACEDAEMONIANS out of MESSINA and deliuered the MASSENIANS out of bondage and being a priuate man he shut the gates of the city of SPARTA in the face of Diophanes Generall of the ACHAIANS and of Titus Quintius Flaminius and kept them both from comminge in and thereby saued the city from sacking Thus being borne to commaunde he knew not only how to commaunde according to the law but could commaund the law it selfe apon necessity when the common wealth required it For at such a time he would not tary while the Magistrates which should gouerne him did geue him authority to commaund but he tooke it of him selfe and vsed them when the time serued esteeming him in deede their Generall that knew better then they what was to be done then him whom they chose of them selues And therefore they doe well that doe commende Titus actes for his clemency and curtesie vsed to the GREECIANS but much more the noble and valliant actes of Philopoemen vnto the ROMAINES For it is much easier to pleasure and gratifie the weake then it is to hurt and resist the strong Therefore â—ithence we haue throughly examined and compared the one with the other it is very harde to iudge altogether the difference that is betwene them Peraduenture therefore the iudgement woulde not seeme very ill if we doe geue the GREECIAN for discipline of warre the preheminence and praise of a good Captaine and to the ROMAINE for iustice and clemency the name and dignity of a most iust and curteous gentleman The ende of Titus Quintius Flaminius life THE LIFE OF Pyrrus IT is writteÌ„ that since Noes floud the first king of the THESPROTIANS and of the MOLOSSIANS was Phaëton one of those who came with Pelasgus into the realme of EPIRVS But some say otherwise that Deucalion and his wife Pyrra remained there after they had built and founded the temple of Dodone in the contry of the MOLOSSIANS But howsoeuer it was a great while after that Neoptolemus the sonne of Achilles bringing thither a great number of people with him conquered the contry and after him left a succession of kinges which were called after his name the Pyrrides bicause that from his infancy he was surnamed Pyrrus as much to say as redde and one of his legittimate sonnes whom he had by Lanassa the daughter of Cleodes the sonne of Hillus was also named by him Pyrrus And this is the cause why Achilles is honored as a god in EPIRVS beinge called in their language Aspetos that is to say mighty or very great But from the first kinges of that race vntill the time of Tharrytas there is no memory nor mencion made of them nor of their power that raigned in the meane time bicause they all became very barbarous and vtterly voyde of ciuility Tharrytas was in deede the first that beautified the cities of his contry with the GRECIAN tongue brought in ciuill lawes and customes and made his name famous to the posterity that followed This Tharrytas left a sonne called Alcetas of Alcetas came Arymbas of Arymbas and Troiade his wife came AEacides who maried Phthia the daughter of Menon THESSALIAN A famous man in the time of the warres surnamed Lamiacus and one that had farre greater authority then any other of the confederates after Leosthenes This AEacides had two daughters by his wife Phthia to say Deidamia and Troiade and one sonne called Pyrrus In his time the MOLOSSIANS rebelled draue him out of his kingdome put the crowne into the hands of the sonnes of Neoptolemus Whereupon all the frends of AEacides that could be taken were generally murdered and slaine outright Androclides Angelus in the meane time stale away Pyrrus being yet but a suckling babe whome his enemies neuerthelesse egerly sought for to haue destroyed and fled away with him as fast as possibly they might with few seruauntes his nurses and necessary women only to looke to the childe and giue it sucke by reason whereof their flight was much hindered so as they could go no great iorneys but that they might easily be ouertaken by them that followed For which cause they put the childe into the handes of Androclion Hippias and Neander three lusty young men whome they trusted with him and commaunded them to runne for life to a certaine citie of MACEDON called MEGARES and they them selues in the meane time partely by intreaty partely by force made stay of those that followed them till night So as with much a doe hauinge driuen them backe they ranne after them that caried the childe Pyrrus whom they ouertooke at sunne set And now wening they had bene safe and out of all daunger they found it cleane contrary For when they came to the riuer vnder the towne walles of MEGARES they saw it so rough and swift that it made them afrayed to beholde it and when they gaged the sorde they found it vnpossible to wade through it was so sore risen and troubled with the fall of the raine besides that the darkenesse of the night made euery thing seeme feareful vnto them So as they now that caried the child thought it not good to venter the passage ouer of them selues alone with the women that tended the childe but hearing certaine contrymen on the other side they prayed and besought them in the name of the goddes that they would helpe them to passe ouer the child showing Pyrrus vnto them a farre of But the contrymen by reason of the roaringe of the riuer vnderstoode them not
was slaine at that time moe Captaines than in all the other warres of GREECE together all which were at the length brought to ende and determined by the good wisedome and conduction of one onely man And therefore some thought that this great ouerthrowe was geuen by the gods and sayd that at the departure of Lysanders fleete out of the hauen of LAMPSACVS to get set apon the fleete of the enemies they perceaued ouer Lysanders galley the two fires which they call the starres of Castor and Pollux the one on the toneside of the galley and the other on thother side They say also that the fall of the stone was a token that did signifie this great ouerthrow For about that time as many hold opinion there fell out of the ayer a maruelous great stone in the place they call the goates riuer which stone is seene yet vnto this day holden in great reuerence by the inhabitauntes of the citie of CHERRONESVS It is sayd also that Anaxagoras did prognosticate that one of the bodies tyed vnto the vaulte of the heauen should be pluckt away and should fall to the ground by a slyding shaking that should happen For he sayd that the starres were not in their proper place where they were first created considering that they were heauy bodies and of the nature of stone howebeit that they did shine by reflection of the fire elementory had bene drawen vp thither by force where they were kept by the great violēce of the circuler motion of the element euen as at the beginning of the world they had bene stayed let from falling downe beneath at that time when the separation was made of the colde and heauy bodies from the other substaunce of the vniuersal world There is an other opinion of certaine Philosophers where there is more likelyhoode then in that For they say that those which we call falling starres be no fluxions nor deriuacions of the fire elementorie which are put out in the ayer in a manner so soone as they be lighted nor also an inflammation or cōbustion of any parte of the ayer which by her to ouermuch quantity doth spread vpwardes but they are celestiall bodies which by some slackenes of strength or falling from the ordinary course of heauen are throwen and cast downe here beneath not alwayes in any parte of the earth inhabited but more ofter abroade in the great Occean sea which is the cause that we do not see them Notwithstanding Anaxagoras words are confirmed by Damachus who writeth in his booke of religion that the space of three score and fifteene yeares together before that this stone did fall they saw a great lumpe of fier continually in the ayer like a clowde inflamed the which taried not in any one place but went and came with diuerse broken remouings by the driuing whereof there came out lightnings of fire that sell in many places and gaue light in falling as the starres do that fall In the end when this great body of fire fell in that parte of the earth the inhabitants of the contrie after that they were a litle boldened from their feare and wonder came to the place to see what it was and they found no manner of shew or appearaunce of fire but only a very great stone lying vpon the ground but nothing in comparison of the least parte of that which the compasse of this bodie of fire did shew if we may so name it Sure herein Damachus wordes had neede of fauorable hearers But againe if they be true then he vtterly comuteth their argumentes that maintaine that it was a peece of a rocke which the force of a boysterous winde did teare from the toppe of a mountaine and caried in the ayer so long as this hurle winde continued but so soone as that was downe and calme againe the stone fell immediatly Neither doe we say that this lightning bodie which appeared so many dayes in the element was very fire in deede which comming to dissolue and to be put out did beget this violent storme and boysterous wind in the element that had the force to teare the stone in sunder to cast it downe Neuertheles this matter requireth better discourse in some other booke then this But now to our story Whē the three thowsand ATHENIANS that were taken prisoners at that ouerthrow were condemned by the counsell to be put to death Lysander calling Philocles one of the Captaines of the ATHENIANS asked him what paine he would iudge him worthy of that gaue the citizens so cruell wicked counsell Philocles being nothing abashed to see him selfe in that miserie aunswered him Accuse not them that haue no iudge to heare their cause but since the goddes haue geuen thee grace to be conqueror doe with vs as we would haue done with thee if we had ouercome thee When he had sayd so he went to washe him selfe and then put on a fayer cloke vpon him as if he should haue gone to some feast and went lustely the formest man to execution leading his contrie men the way as Theophrastus wryteth After this done Lysander with all his fleete went by all the cities of the sea coast where he commaūded so many ATHENIANS as he founde that they should get them to ATHENS letting them vnderstand that he would not pardone a man of them but put them all to death as many as he found out of their city And this he did of policie to bring them all within the precinct of the walles of ATHENS bicause he might so much the sooner famish them for lacke of vittells for otherwise they would haue troubled him sore if they had had wherewithall to haue maintayned a long siege But in all the cities as he passed by if they were gouerned by the authority of the people or if that there were any other kinde of gouernment he left in euery one of them a LACEDAEMONIAN Captaine or gouernor with a counsell of tenne officers of them that had bene before in league and amity with him the which he did as well in the cities that had euer bene confederates and frendes vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS as in them that not long before had bene their enemies So he went sayling all alongest the coastes fayer and softely making no haste stablishing in manner a generall principality ouer all GREECE For he did not make them officers that were the richest the noblest or honestest men but such as were his frendes out of those tribes which he had placed in euery citie to them he gaue authority to punish and reward such as they liked of and would be present him selfe in persone to helpe them to put those to death whome they would execute or otherwise expulse or banish their contrie But this gaue the GREECIANS small hope of good or gratious gouernment vnder the rule of the LACEDAEMONIANS Wherefore me thinkes that Theopompus the comicall Poet doted when he compared the
him selfe to that pinch that of necessity he must betray the one or the other after he had taken good breath to resolue which of the two he should deale withall in th end went on with his first plat deuise of treason and so deliuered Iugurthe into Syllaes handes In deede Marius triumphed for taking of king Iugurthe but his euill willers for the spight and grudge they bare him did attribute the glory and honor of Iugurthes taking wholy vnto Sylla That secretly went to Marius harte and specially for that Sylla being high minded by nature comming then but newly from a base obscure and vnknowen life to be knowen well accepted of the people in ROME and to east also what honorment became so ambitious and couetous of glory that he caused the story to be grauen in a ring which he did euer after vse to weare seale withall Where king Bocchus was deliuering of Iugurthe vnto Sylla and Sylla also receiuing Iugurthe prisoner These thinges misliked Marius much but notwithstanding iudging that Sylla was not so much enuied as him selfe he tooke him with him vnto the warres Marius his seconde Consulship made Sylla one of his Lieutenauntes and in his third Consulshippe he had charge vnder him of a thowsand footemen and did many notable and profitable exploytes for him When Sylla was his Lieutenaunt he tooke one Copillus a generall of the GAVLES Tecto sages And when he was Colonell of a thowsande footemen he brought the MARSIANE a maruelous great contry of people in ITALIE and perswaded them to remaine good frendes and consederates of the ROMAINES For this his good seruice he founde that Marius grewe in great misliking with him bicause from thence forth he neuer gaue him any honorable charge or occasion to shewe good seruice but to the contrary did what he could to hinder his rising Wherefore Sylla afterwardes tooke Catulus Luctatuâ—â— parte who was companion with Marius in his Consulshippe This Catulus was a very honest man but somwhat slacke and colde in marshall matters which was the cause that in deede he did committe vnto Sylla all the speciall seruice and matters of weight in his charge whereuppon he gaue him occasion not onely to increase his estimacion but also his credit and power For by force or armes he conquered the most parte of the barbarous people which inhabited the mountaines of the Alpes and Catulus campe lacking vittells hauing commission he made a maruelous great quantity of prouision to be brought thither insomuch as Catulus campe being plentifully vittelled they sent their store surplusage vnto Marius souldiers the which Sylla him selfe wryteth did much mislike Marius And this is the first cause of their enmity The which being grounded vpon so light occasion was followed with ciuill warres great effusion of blood and with incurable factions and dissentions that it ended at the length with a cruell tyranny and confusion of all the ROMAINE state and Empire This doth proue that Euripides the Poet was a wise man and one that foresaw the ruines of common weales when he counselled and also commaunded gouernors to lie ambition as a most pestilent and mortall furie vnto them that are once infected withall Now Sylla thinking that the reputation he had gotten already in the warres would haue made his way open to preferre him to some honorable office in the city of ROME he was no sooner returned from the warres but he would needes proue the peoples good willes vnto him and procured his name to be billed among them that sued for the Praetorshippe of the city that is to say the office of the ordinary iudge that ministreth iustice vnto the citizens but he was reiected by the voyce of the people For the which he layed the faulte vppon the meaner sorte saying that the communalty knew well enough the frendshippe he had with king Boccâ—uâ— and that therefore they hopinge that if he were made AEdilis before he came to be Praetor â—â—â— would make them see noble huntinges and great fightinges of wilde beastes of LIBYA And that therefore they did choose other Praetors and put him by his sute in hope to compel hiâ— by this meanes to be first of all AEdilis Howbeit it seemeth that he doth not confesse the troâ—â— of his refusall for his owne act doth condemne him selfe bicause the next yere following he was chosen Praetor partely for that he wan the people with curtesie and partely with monâ—y So he fallinge out with Caesar apon that occasion in his angerthreatned him that he woulde vse the power and authority of his office apon him But Caesar smiling aunswered him thou hast reason to call it thine office for in deede it is thine bicause thou hast bought it But â—â—ter the time of his Praetorshippe was expired he was sent with an army into CAPPADOCIA colouring his voyage thither with commission to restore Ariobarzanes into his kingdom againâ—â— howbeit thonly cause of his iorney was in deede to suppresse kinge Mithridates a litle who tooke too many thinges in hande and increased his power and dominion with a new sigâ—â—ory of no lesse greatnes then that which he had before In troth he brought no great army oâ— of ITALIE with him but he was faithfully holpen by the confederates of the ROMAINES mouery place through whose aide he ouerthrewe a great number of the CAPPADOCIANS and afterwardes also a greater number of the ARMENIANS which came in like case to aide them so that he expulsed Gordius king of PHRYGIA out of CAPPADOCIA and restored Ariobarzanes to his realme againe After which victory Sylla remained by the riuer of Euphrates and thither came vnto him one Orobazus a PARTHIAN Ambassador of the Arsaces king of the PARTHIANS Now these two nations the ROMAINES and the PARTHIANS were neuer frendes before and that with other thinges shewed the great good fortune Sylla had that the PARTHIANS came first to him by his meanes to seeke frendshippe with the ROMAINES They say that receiuing this Ambassador Orobazus he made three chayres to be brought out the one for king Ariobarzanes the other for Orobazus the Ambassador and the third for him selfe which he placed in the middest betwene them both and sitting downe in the same gaue audience vnto the Ambassador for which cause the king of PARTHIA afterwardes put Orobazus to death Some doe commend Sylla for this acte for that he kept his state in such maiesty among the barbarous people Other do reproue his ambition in it shewing him selfe stately out of time and to no purpose We doe read that a soothsayer of CHALDEA being in Orobazustraine hauing diligently viewed and considered the phisiognomy of Sylla and all his other mouinges and gestures of minde and body to iudge not by the clymate of the contry but acording to the rules of his arte what his nature should be all well considered of he sayed that Sylla one day must needes come to be a great man and that
he marueled how he could further it that he was not euen then the cheifest man of the worlde When Sylla was returned againe to ROME one Censorinus accused him of extorcion that he had caried away a great summe of money with him contrary to the lawe out of one of their confederates contry howebeit he prosecuted not his accusation but gaue it ouer In the meane time the enmity begonne betwixt him and Marius kindled againe vppon a new occasion of king Bocchus ambition who partely to creepe further into the peoples fauor of ROME and partely also for to gratifie Sylla gaue and dedicated certaine images of victory carying tokens of triumphe vnto the temple of Iupiter Capitolin and next vnto them also the image of Iugurthe which he deliuered into the handes of Sylla being all of pure golde This did so offende Marius that he attempted to take them away by force but others did defend the cause of Sylla So that for the quarrell of these two the city of ROME taking armes had like to haue brought all to ruine had not the warres of the confederats of ITALIE bene which of longtime did kindle and smoke but at the length brake out into open flame and sedition for that time In this maruelous great warre which fell out very daungerous by sundry misfortunes and great losses to the ROMAINES Marius did no notable exployte whereby it appeareth that the vertue of warlike discipline hath neede of a strong and lusty and able body For Sylla to the contrary hauing done notable seruice and obtained many profitable victories wanne the fame and estimacion among the ROMAINES of a noble souldier and worthy Captaine and among thenemies them selues of a most fortunate man Notwithstanding Sylla did not as Timotheus ATHENIAN the sonne of Conon had done Who when his aduersaries and ill willers did attribute his noble deedes vnto the fauor of foretune and did painte fortune tables that brought him all the cities taken and snared in neâ—â— whilest he slept he tooke in very ill parte and was maruelous angrie with them that did it saying that they robbed him of the glory that iustly belonged vnto him Wherefore one day when this Timotheus was returned from the warres with the great victories after he had openly acquainted the ATHENIANS with the whole discourse of his doings in his voyage he sayd vnto them my Lordes of ATHENS fortune hath had no parte in all this which I haue told vnto you Hereupon the goddes it should seeme were so angry with this foolish ambition of Timotheus that he neuer afterwardes did any worthy thing but all went vtterly against the heare with him vntill at the length he came to be so hated of the people that in th end they banished him form ATHENS But Sylla to the contrary did not only paciently abide their wordes that sayed he was a happy man and singularly beloued of fortune but also increasinge this opinion and glorying as at a speciall grace of the goddes did attribute the honor of his doings vnto fortune either for a vaine glory or for that he had in fansy that the goddes did prosper him in all his doinges For he wrote him selfe in his commentaries that the enterprises which he hazarded most hottely according to the sodaine occasion offered did better prosper with him then those which by good aduise he had determined of Furthermore when he sayd that he was a better borne vnto the fortune then to the warres it seemeth that he confessed all his prosperity came rather by fortune then by his worthinesse And to conclude it appeareth that he did wholly submit him selfe vnto fortune acknowledging that he did altogether depend vpon her considering that he did attribute it to the speciall grace and fauor of the goddes that he neueâ— disagreed with Metellus his father in law who was a man of like dignitie and authoritie as him selfe was For where it was thought he woulde haue bene a greate hinderer of his doings he found him verie curteous and gentle in his behalfe in all that they had to deale in together by reason of the societie of their office And furthermore in his coÌ„mentaries which he dedicated vnto Lucullus he counselled him to thincke nothing more certaine and assured then that which the goddes should reueale vnto him and commaunde him in his nightes dreame He wryteth also that when he was sent with an army vnto the warres of the confederates the earth sodainly opened about LAVERNA out of the which immediatly came a maruelous bright flame of fire that ascended vp to the element The wise men being asked their opinions about the same made aunswere that a very honest and also a maruelous fayer man of complexion taking soueraine authoritie in his handes should pacifie all tumultes and sedition which were at that time in ROME Whereupon Sylla sayed it was him selfe whome the goddes ment bicause that amongest other things he had that singular gift of beawty that his heare was yellow as golde and he was not ashamed to name him selfe an honest man after he had wonne so many notable great victories Thus haue we sufficiently spoken of the trust he had in the fauor of the goddes And furthermore he seemed to be very contrary in his manners and vnlike to him selfe For if he tooke away much in one place he gaue as much more also in an other Some he preferred without cause and others he put downe without reason He would be very gentle to them of whome he would haue oughtâ— and vnto those that sought of him he would stand much apon his honor and looke for great reuerence Wherby men could hardly decerne his nature whether pride or flattery did more abound in him And as for the inequality he vsed in punishing of them that had offended him sometimes he hanged vp men for very small and light causes Some other times againe to the contrary he paciently aboade the most grieuous offences in the worlde and lightly pardoned and forgaue such faultes as were in no wife to be forgiuen And afterwards againe would punish right small crimes with murders effusion of blood and confiscation of goodes This iudgement may be geuen of him that by nature he had a malicious and a reuenging minde yet notwithstanding he qualified that naturall bitternes with reason geuing place to necessary and his benefit For in this warre of the confederates his souldiers slue Albinus one of his Lieutenauntes beating him to death with staues and stones being a man of good quality and one that had bene Praetor This great offence he passed ouer with silence vsing no manner of punishment and turned it to a boast in the end saying that his men were the more obedient and diligent in any peece of seruice that was to be done and that he made them amende 〈…〉 faultes by worthy seruice And furthermore he did not regarde them that he did reproue 〈…〉 but hauinge determined with him selfe to destroy
SESTOS and of BIZANTIVM the confederates to honor him withall gaue him the preheminence to deuide the spoyle amongest them Whereuppon he made the diuision and set out the bodies of the barbarous peole all naked by them selues and layed the spoyles and their apparell by them selues The confederates founde this distribution very vnequall but neuerthelesse Cimon gaue them the choyce to choose which of the two would and that the ATHENIANS should be contented with that which they left So there was a SAMIAN Captaine called Herophytus that gaue the confederats counsel rather to take the spoiles of the PERSIANS then the PERSIANS them selues and so they did for they tooke the spoile of the prisoners goodes and apparell and left the men vnto the ATHENIANS Whereupon Cimon was thought at that time of the common souldiers to be but an ill deuider of spoyle bicause that the confederats caried away great store of chaines karkanets and braselets of gold goodly rich purple apparell after the PERSIAN facion and the ATHENIANS brought away naked bodies of men very tender and vnacquainted with paine and labor But shortly after the parentes and frendes of these prisoners came out of PHRYGIA and LYDIA and redeemed euery man of them at a great raunsome so that Cimon gathered such a masse of readie money together by their raunsome as he defrayed the whole charges of all his gallies with the same for the space of foure monethes after and left a great summe of money besides in the sparing treasure of ATHENS Cimon by this meanes being nowe become riche bestowed the goodes which he had thus honorably gotten from the barbarous people more honorably againe in relieuing his poore decayed citizens For he brake vp all his hedges and inclosures and layed them plaine and open that trauellers passing by and his owne poore citizens might take as much frute thereof as they would without any maner daunger And furthermore kept a continuall table in his house not furnished with many dishes but with meate sufficient for many persons and where his poore contrie men were dayly refreshed that would come vnto that ordinary so as they needed not otherwise care to labor for their liuing but might be the readier haue the more leasure to serue the common wealth Yet Aristotle the Philosopher wryteth that it was not for all the ATHENIANS indifferently that he kept this ordinarie table but for his poore townes men onely in the village of LACIA where he was borne Furthermore he had alwayes certaine young men waiting on him of his household seruauntes well appartelled if he met by chaunce as he went vp and downe the citie any olde citizen poorely arrayed he made one of these younge men strip him selfe and chaunge apparell with the olde man and that was very well thought of and they all honored him for it Moreouer these young men caried euer good store of money about them and when they met with any honest poore citizen in the market place or else where knowinge his pouertie they secretly gaue him money in his hande and sayd neuer a worde Which the Poet selfe Cratinus seemeth to speake of in a comedie of his intituled the Archiloches I am Metrobius the secretarie he VVhich did my selfe assure in age vvell cherished to be At vvealthie Cimons borde vvhere vvant vvas neuer found VVhose distributions and his almes did to the poore abound There thought I for to passe myne aged yeares avvay VVith that right noble godly man vvhich vvas the Greecians stay Furthermore Gorgias Leontine sayd that Cimon got goodes to vse them and that he vsed them to be honored by them And Critias that was one of the thirty tyrannes of ATHENS he wisheth and desireth of the goddes in his elegies The goddes of Scopas heyres the great magnificence And noble hart of Cimon he vvho spared none expence The glorious victories and high triumphant shovves Of good Agesilaus king good goddes oh graunt me those The name of Lichas SPARTAN hath bene famous amongest the GREECIANS and yet we know no other cause why sauing that he vsed to feast straungers that came to LACEDAEMON on their festiuall day to see the sportes and exercises of the young men daunsing naked in the city But the magnificence of Cimon did farre exceede the auncient liberality curtesie and hospitalitie of the ATHENIANS for they of all other were the first men that taught the GREECIANS through out all GREECE how they should sow corne and gather it to maintaine them selues withall and also shewed them the vse of welles and howe they should light and keepe fire But Cimon makinge an hospitall of his owne house where all his poore citizens were sad and relieued and permittinge straungers that trauelled by his groundes to gather such frutes there as the time and season of the yeare yelded he brought againe as it were into the world the goodes to be in common amongest them as the Poets say they were in the old time of Saturnes raigne And now where some accused this honest liberality of Cimon obiecting that it was but to flatter the common people withall and to winne their good willes by that meanes the maner of life he led accompanying his liberality did vtterly confute and ouerthrow their opinions that way of him For Cimon euer tooke parte with the nobilitie and liued after the LACEDAEMONIANS manner as it well appeared in that he was alwayes against Themistocles who without all compasse of reason encreased the authority and power of the people and for this cause he ioyned with Aristides and was against Ephialtes who would for the peoples sake haue put downe and abolished Ariopagus courte And where all other gouernors in his time were extorcioners and bribetakers Aristides and Ephialtes only excepted he to the contrarie led an vncorrupt life in administracion of iustice euer had cleane hands whatsoeuer he spake or did for the state and common wealth and would therefore neuer take money of any man liuing And for proofe hereof we finde it wrytten that a noble man of PERSIA called Resaces being a traitor to his master the king of PERSIA fled on a time vnto ATHENS where being continually bayted and wearied with the common accusations of these tale bearers picke thanks that accused him to the people he repayred at the length vnto Cimon brought him home to his owne dore two bowles th one full of darickes of gold and the other of darickes of siluer which be peeces of money so called bicause that the name of Darius was written vpon them Cimon seeing this offer fell a laughing and asked him whether of the two he would rather choose to haue him his frende or his hierling The barbarous noble man aunswered him that he had rather haue him his frend Then sayd Cimon to him againe away with thy golde and siluer and get thee hence for if I be thy frend that gold and siluer shall
whither to the warres then the common people hauing no bodie to gainesay them turned and altered the gouernment of the citie topsie turuey and confounded all the auncient lawes and customes which they had obserued of long time and that by the procurement and setting on of Ephialtes For they tooke away all hearing of causes in maner from the court of Areopagus put all authoritie of matters iudiciall into the handes of the people and brought the state of the citie into a pure Democratia to say a common weale ruled by the sole and absolute power of the people Pericles being then in great credit who altogether fauored the peoples faction Wherefore Cimon at his returne finding thauthority of the Senate and counsell so shamefully defaced and troden vnder foote was maruelously offended withall and sought to restore thauncient state of iudgement againe as it was before and set vp the gouernment of the nobility called Optimacia that was established in the time of Clisthenes But then beganne his enemies againe with open mouth to crye out vpon him reuiuing the olde former naughty rumor that ranne of him before that he kept his owne sister furthermore accusing him that he did fauor the LACEDAEMONIANS And amongest other thinges there ranne in the peoples mouthes the verses of the Poet Eupolis which were made against Cimon No vvicked man he vvas but very negligent And therevvithall to vvyne much more then vnto money bent He stale somtimes avvay at Sparta for to sleepe And left poore Elpinicè his vvife at home alone to vveepe And if it be so that being thus negligent geuen to wyne he haue gotten so many cities and wonne such sundry great battells it is out of doubt then that if he had bene sober carefull there had neuer bene before him nor since any GRAECIAN Captaine that had passed him in glorie of the warres In deede it is true that from the beginning he euer loued the manner of the LACEDAEMONIANS for of two twynnes which he had by his wife Clitoria he named th one of them Lacedaemonius and thother Eleus as Stesimbrotus wryteth saying that for that cause Pericles did euer twit them in the teeth with their mothers stocke Howbeit Diodorus the Geographer wryteth that both those two and an other third called Thessalus were borne of Isodice the daughter of Euryptolemus the sonne of Megacles How soeuer it was it is certaine that Cimons credit grew the greater by the fauor and countenaunce which the LACEDAEMONIANS gaue him who had hated Themistocles of long time and for the malice they bare him were glad that Cimon being but a yoūg man did beare more sway in ATHENS then he Which the ATHENIANS perceiued well enough and were not offended withall at the beginning bicause the goodwill of the LACEDAEMONIANS towardes him did bring them great commodity For when the ATHENIANS beganne to growe of great power and to practise secretly that the confederats of the GRAECIANS should forsake the LACEDAEMONIANS to ioyne with them the LACEDAEMONIANS were not angrie withall for the honor and loue they bare vnto to Cimon who did alone in maner manedge all th affayres of GRAECE at that time bicause he was very curteous vnto the confederates and also thankefull vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS But afterwardes when the ATHENIANS were aloft and of great power and that they saw Cimon stucke not for a litle matter with the LACEDAEMONIANS but loued them more then they would haue had him they beganne then to enuy him bicause in all his matters he had to do he euer highly praised and extolled the LACEDAEMONIANS before them But specially when he would reproue them of any fault they had committed or that he would perswade them to do any thing the LACEDAEMONIANS sayd he I warrant ye do not so That as Stesimbrotus sayth made him maruelously to be maliced of the people But the chiefest thing they accused him of and that most did hurt him self out vpon this occasion The fourth yeare of the raigne of Archidamus the sonne of Zeuxidamus king of SPARTA there fortuned the wonderfullest and most fearefull earthquake in the citie of LACEDAEMON and thereabouts that ouer was heard of For the earth in many places of the contrie opened and fell as into a bottomlesse pit The mountaine Taygetum shooke so terribly that points of rockes fell downe from it All the citie was layed on the ground and ouerthrowen fiue houses only excepted the rest being wholy destroied And it is said also that a litle before this earthquake came the young men of that citie were playing with the young boyes exercising thē selues starke naked vnder a great galery couered ouer as they were sporting together there started vp a hare hard by them The young men spying her ranne after the hare starke naked and oyled as they were with great laughter They were no sooner gone thence but the top of the gallery fell downe apon the boyes that were left and squashed them all to death And in memorie of the same the tombe where they were afterwardes buried is called vnto this day Sismatias as much to say as the tombe of those which the earthquake had slaine But king Archidamus foreseeing straight vppon the sodaine the daunger that was to come by that he saw present perceiuing his citizens busie in sauing their householde stuffe and that they were running out of their houses made the trompetters to sound a hotte alarome vpon it as if their enemies had come stealingly vpon them to take the citie to th ende that all the inhabitantes should presently repayre vnto him settinge all busines aparte with armor and weapon That sodaine alarome doubtlesse saued the citie of SPARTA at that time for the ILOTAE which are their slaues and bondmen in the contrie of LACONIA and the contrie clownes of litle villages there aboutes came running armed out of all partes to spoyle and robbe them vpon the sodaine that were escaped from this earthquake But when they found them well armed in order of battell they returned backe againe as they came and then beganne afterwardes to make open warres vpon them when they had drawen certaine of their neighbors vnto their confederacie specially the MESSENIANS who made hotte warres vpon the SPARTANS Whereupon the LACEDAEMONIANS sent Periclidas vnto ATHENS to demaunde ayde whome Aristophanes the Poet mocking sayed VVith visage pale and vvanne he on the aulter sate In skarlet govvne requiring ayde to succor their estate Against whom Ephialtes also spake very much protesting that they should not ayde nor relieue a city that was an enemy vnto ATHENS but rather suffer it to fall to the ground and to spurne the pride and arrogancy of SPARTA vnder their feete But Cimon as Cricias saieth being more carefull for the benefit of SPARTA then for thenlarging and encreasing of his contry brought it to passe by his perswasion that the ATHENIANS sent him thither with a great power to helpe them And
a very hotte and fertile soyle where there is a great city and maruelously replenished with inhabitauntes who call it NISIBIS and the GRAECIANS call it ANTIOCH of MYGDONIA In that city Gouras was Gouernor who was Tigranes owne brother but for experiēce in engines of battery and for sufficiencie and skill in such matters there was Callimachus also he that so maruelously troubled Lucullus before at the siege of the city of AMISVS Lucullus placing his campe before this city besieged the same by all such meanes as might enforce it and that so valliantly that in very shorte time he tooke it by assault And as for Gouras who submitted him selfe to Lucullus mercie he was very curteously intreated But for Callimachus he would not once heare him speake notwithstanding that he promised if they would saue his life he would tell them of coffers full of great treasure hidden which no man knew but him selfe onely But Lucullus commaunded them to bring him with gyues to receive the punishment he had iustly deserued for setting the city of AMISVS a fire and taking from him the meane to shewe the GRAECIANS his goodnesse affection and liberality towardes them Vntill this present time it might be truely sayd that good fortune euer fauored followed Lucullus in all his enterprises and affayres but from that time forwards it was quickely seene that the fauorable blast of fortune failed him he did all his things with so great payne and all that he did fell out contrarie vnto him and to very ill purpose In deede he did euer shew the valiancy pacience and great corage that should be in a valliant Generall or Lieutenaunt of an armie But his exployts and doinges had neuer after that easie grace nor shining glory they were wont to haue but to the contrary he was like to haue lost all that he had wonne before through the misfortunes that fell vpon him and for the brawles and vaine contention he had with his people to no purpose But the worst was that they make him selfe thonly author of all these euills bicause he could not or would not entertaine the goodwill of the multitude of his souldiers thinking that whatsoeuer a Generall or any other officer of state or calling doth to please and content them he hath vnder his charge is to dishonor him selfe and to geue cause vnto his souldiers to despise his authoritie But that which made most against him was this that he gaue no estimation to gentlemen and men of like quality to him selfe but disdained them and thought them vnworthy to be equall with him For these they say were his faultes and imperfections but otherwise that he wanted no vertues nor naturall giftes good condicions that could be possibly wished for or desired For he was a talle gentleman of goodly presence well spoken wise and discreete as well in matters of gouernment as in warres and as well to perswade the people in peace as to encorage his souldiers in warre Salust wryteth of him that his souldiers began to mislike with him euen from the first entry into these warres bicause he made them lye out two winters together in the field one after an other the one before the city of CIZICVS and the other before the city of AMISVS And euen as much did the other winters following vexe and trouble them For either they lay in their enemies contry or else if they lay in their frendes yet he made them campe abroade in the field and shrowd them selues in their tentes for Lucullus neuer entred with his army into any city or confederate towne of GRAECE Now if the souldiers of them selues misliked Lucullus the coūsellers at ROME that were his enemies and enuied his prosperity and glory gaue them yet greater occasions to mutine against him For they cōtinually accused him to the people in their orations that he drew out this warre in length purposely bicause he would alwayes haue occasion to rule meanes to get hauing in his hands in maner all CILICIA ASIA BITHYNIA PAPHLAGONIA GALATIA PONTVS ARMENIA and all the prouinces and regions as farre as to the riuer of Phasis and yet he had not long before spoyled the Princely houses of Tigranes as if he had bene sent thither only to sack and spoyle and not to destroy ouercome those kings And they say that it was Lucius Quintius one of the Praetors that spake these wordes It was he also that most moued the people to take order that Lucullus should be called home other sent to succeede him in the charge gouernmēt of the contries he had subdued By the selfe same meane it was also ordained that diuers which were vnder his charge should be dispersed with all for their othes and licenced to leaue the warres when they thought good But besides those such like great causes there was yet an other more daungerous plague that most ouerthrew Lucullus proceedings passing all the other euills being put together and that was Publius Clodius a wicked licentious and a harebrainde man He was Lucullus wiues brother and she was so light of her body that Clodius her brother was accused of incontinencie with her This Clodius being at that time in Lucullus campe caried not that estimacion and credit he thought him selfe worthy of For he tooke him selfe equall with the best and would needes haue bene holden for chiefe when in deede there were many of farre better desert he being noted both for a vitious and ill disposed person Whereupon he beganne for spight to suborne the bandes called FIMBRIANS and to stirre them vp against Lucullus sowing sweete and pleasaunt wordes amongest the souldiers which being wonted therunto looked still to be flattered For they were those whom Fimbria had procured to kill the Consull Flaccus and choose him in his steede for their Captaine By reason whereof they gaue good care to Clodius words and called him a noble Captaine and a louer of souldiers For when he spake vnto them he made as though he had pittied them for that they should neuer see an end of their great paynes and warres but should miserably consume their dayes in fighting continually sometime with one nation and sometime with an other and that they wandered through all the contries of the world receiuing no worthy reward of so long and painfull seruice seruing only to gard Lucullus cartes camells loden with plate and vessell of golde and siluer and other pretious stones Where the souldiers that had serued vnder Pompey tooke nowe their ease at home in their contry with their wiues and children and were landed men dwelling in goodly fayer cities as rich burgeses and wealthy citizens and yet they had not driuen Mithridates and Tigranes out of their kingdomes into desert places vnhabitable nor had destroyed the Princely houses of ASIA but only made a litle warre in SPAYNE against those that were banished in ITALIE against
fauor the SYRACVSANS by reason of the goddesse Proserpina protector and defendor of the citie of SYRACVSA to requite her for that she gaue him Cerberus the dogge porter of hell and that he did malice the ATHENIANS besides bicause they tooke the AEGESTAENS partes who came of the TROYANS whom he much hated for breaking their promise and saith with him whose city him selfe had ouerthrowen in reuenge of the wrong that Laomedon king of TROY had offered him Howbeit Timaeus shewes as much wit and iudgement in deliuering vs such toyes in an history as he doth in correcting the stile of Philistus or in condēning and railing of Plato and Aristotle But in my fansie this ambition contention to wryte or to speake more clerkely then others sheweth alwayes a base enuious minde like a scholler full of his schoole pointes But when it striueth with thinges that are past all chalenge correcting then is it extreame follie and madnes Sence therefore I may not passe ouer nor omit certaine thinges which Thucydides and Philistus haue already set downe and especially those wherein they lay open Nicias nature and qualities which the variety of his successes and fortune did couer I must lightly touch them and reporte so much as is necessary conuenient least men condemne me for slouth and negligence And in the rest I haue endeuored to gather and propounde thinges not commonly marked and knowen which I haue collected as well out of sundry mens workes auncient recordes as out of many olde antiquities and of them all compiled a narration which will serue I doubt not to decipher the man and his nature Of Nicias therefore may be sayd that which Aristotle hath wrytten of him that there were three famous citizens of ATTHENS very honest men which fauored the cōmunalty with a naturall fatherly loue Nicias the sonne of Niceratus Thucydides the sonne of Milesus and Theramenes the sonne of Agnon But of the three this last was of smallest accompt for he is flowted as a forrenner borne in the I le of CEOS and chalenged besides for inconstant inresolute in matters of state and gouernment and inclining somtimes to one faction sometime to an other he was called Cothurnus a kinde of buskin indifferently seruing for both legges and in old time was vsed of common players of tragedies Of the other two Thucydides being the elder did many good actes in fauor of the nobility against Pericles who alwaies tooke parte with the inferior sorte Nicias that was the younger had reasonable estimation in Pericles life time for he was ioyned Captaine with him and oftentimes also had charge by him selfe alone without him After Pericles death the nobility raised him to great authoritie to be as a strong bulwarke for them against Cleons insolency boldnes and with all he had the loue of the people to aduaunce and preferre him Now this Cleon in troth could do much with the people he did so flatter and dandle them like an olde man still feeding their humor with gaine but yet they them selues whome he thus flattered knowing his extreame courtousnes impudency and boldnes preferred Nicias before him bicause his grauity was not seuere nor odious but mingled with a kinde of modesty that he seemed to feare the presence of the people which made them thereby the more to loue and esteeme him For being as he was of a fearefull mistrustfull nature disposition in warres he cloked his feare with good fortune which euer fauored him alike in all his iorneys and exploytes that he tooke in hande where he was Captaine Now being much affrayed of accusers this timorous manner of his proceeding in the citie was founde to be popular whereby he wanne him the good will of the people and by meanes thereof rose daily more and more bicause the people commonly feare those that hate them aduaunce them that feare them For the greatest honor nobility can doe to the communalty is to shewe that they doe not despise them Nowe Pericles who through his perfit vertue only and force of his great eloquence ruled the whole state common wealth of ATHENS he needed no counterfeate colour nor artificiall flattering of the people to winne their fauor and good willes but Nicias lacking that and hauing wealth enough sought thereby to creepe into the peoples fauor And where Cleon would entertaine the ATHENIANS with pleasaunt toyes and deuises and could feede the people humor that way Nicias finding him selfe no fit man to worke by such encounter crept into the peoples fauor with liberality with charges of common playes and with such like sumptuousnes exceeding in cost and pleasaunt sportes not only all those that had bene before him but such also as were in his time There yet remaine monuments of his consecrating vnto the goddes as the image of Pallas in the castell of ATHENS the gilt being worne of and the chappell which is vnder the festiuall table of Bacchus for he many times had the chiefe prise in Bacchus daunses neuer went away without some game And touching this matter there goeth a reporte that at certaine playes whereof Nicias defrayed the charges one of his men came forth apon the players stage before the people apparelled like Bacchus being a goodly tall young man without any heare on his face the ATHENIANS tooke such pleasure to see him so attired that they made a clapping of their hands a long time together for ioy Therewithall Nicias stoode vp and told them that it were a shame for him to leaue the body of a man in bondage that openly was esteemed as a god and thereupon foorthwith made this young slaue a free man Men wryte also of certaine sumptuous and deuout acts he did in the I le of DELOS where the daunsers and singers which the cities of GRAECE sent thither to singe rimes and verses in the honor of Apollo were wont before to arriue disorderly and the cause was for the numbers of people that ranne to see them who made them singe straight without any order and landing in hast out of their shippes they left their apparell and put on such vestements as they should weare in procession and their garlands of flowers on their heades all at one present time But Nicias being commaunded to go thither to present the singers of ATHENS landed first in the I le of RENIA hard adioyning to the I le of DELOS with his singers his beastes for sacrifice and with all the rest of his traine carying a bridge with him which he had caused to be made at ATHENS vpon measure taken of the channell betwext the one and thother I le set out with pictures and tables with gilding with nosegayes and garlandes of triumphe and with excellent wrought tapistry which in the night he set vp vpon the channell being not very broade and the next morning by breake of the day caused his singers to passe ouer apon it singing all
and others also brake their neckes falling from the rockes The rest that were dispersed abroade in the fieldes were the next morning euery man of them put to the sworde by the horsemen So the account made two thowsand ATHENIANS were slaine and very few of them escaped by flight that brought their armors backe againe Wherefore Nicias that alwayes mistrusted it would thus come to passe was maruelously offended with Demosthenes and condemned his rashnes But he excusing him selfe as well as he could thought it best to imbarke in the morning betimes and so to hoyse sayle homewardes For sayd he we must looke for no new aide from ATHENS neither are we strong enough with this armie to ouercome our enemies and though we were yet must we of necessity auoide the place we are in bicause as it is reported it is alwayes vnholsome for an army to campe in and then specially most contagious by reason of the automne and season of the yeare as they might plainly see by experience For many of their people were already sicke and all of them in maner had no minde to tary Nicias in no case liked the motion of departing thence bicause he feared not the SYRACVSANS but rather the ATHENIANS for their accusations condemnation And therefore in open counsell he told them that as yet he saw no such daunger to remaine and though there were yet that he had rather dye of his enemies hands than to be put to death by his owne contrymen Being therin of a contrary minde to Leo BIZANTINE who after that sayd to his citizens I had rather suffer death by you than to be slaine with you And furthermore as for remouing their campe to some other place they should haue leasure enough to determine of that matter as they thought good Now when Nicias had deliuered this opinion in counsell Demosthenes hauing had ill lucke at his first cōming durst not contrary it And the residue also supposing that Nicias stucke not so hard against their departure but that he relied apon the dust and confidence he had of some within the city they all agreed to Nicias But when newes came that there was a new supply come vnto the SYRACVSANS and that they saw the plague encreased more and more in their campe then Nicias selfe thought it best to departe thence and gaue notice to the souldiers to prepare them selues to shippe away Notwithstanding when they had put all thinges in readines for their departure without any knowledge of sthenemy or suspicion thereof the moone beganne to eclipse in the night and sodainly to lose her light to the great feare of Nicias and diuers others who through ignoraunce and supersticion quaked at such sightes For touching the eclipse and darkening of the sunne which is euer at any coniunction of the moone euery common person then knew the cause to be the darkenes of the body of the moone betwixt the sunne and our sight But the eclipse of the moone it selfe to know what doth darken it in that sorte and howe being at the full it doth sodainly lose her light and chaunge into so many kinde of colours that was aboue their knowledge and therfore they thought it very straunge perswading them selues that it was a signe of some great mischiefes the goddes did threaten vnto men For Anaxagoras the first that euer determined and deliuered any thing for certaine and assured concerning the light and darkenesse of the moone his doctrine was not then of any long continuance neither had it the credit of antiquity nor was generally knowē but only to a few who durst not talke of it but with feare euen to thē they trusted best And the reason was for that the people could not at that time abide them that professed the knowledge of natural Philosophy inquired of the causes of things for them they called then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much to say as curious inquirers and tatlers of things aboue the reach of reason done in heauen and in the ayer Bicause the people thought they ascribed that which was done by the goddes only vnto certaine naturall and necessarie causes that worke their effectes not by prouidence nor will but by force and necessary consequences For these causes was Protagoras banished from ATHENS and Anaxagoras put in prison frō whence Pericles had much a do to procure his deliuery And Socrates also though he did not medle with that parte of Philosophy was notwithstanding put to death for the suspicion thereof In fine the doctrine of Plato being receiued and liked as well for his vertuous life as also for that he submitted the necessity of naturall causes vnto the controlement disposition of diuine power as vnto a more excellent and supreame cause tooke away all the ill opinion which the people had of such disputations and gaue open passage and free entry vnto the Mathematicall sciences And therefore Dion one of Platoes schollers and frendes an eclipse of the moone chaunsing euen at the very same time that he was weying vp his anckers to sayle from ZACYNTHE to make warre with the tyran Dionysius being nothing a frayed nor troubled therewithall made sayle notwithstanding and when he came to SYRACVSA draue out the tyran But then it fell out vnfortunatly for Nicias who had no expert nor skilful soothsayer for the party which he was wont to vse for that purpose and which tooke away much of his superstition called Stilbides was dead not long before For this signe of the eclipse of the moone as Philochorus sayth was not hurtfull for men that would flie but contrarily very good for sayd he thinges that men doe in feare would be hidden and therefore light is an enemy vnto them But this notwithstanding their custome was not to kepe them selues close aboue three dayes in such eclipses of the moone and sunne as Autoclides selfe prescribeth in a booke he made of such matters where Nicias bare them in hande that they should tary the whole and full reuolution of the course of the moone as though he had not seene her straight cleere againe after she had once passed the shadow and darkenes of the earth But all other thinges layed a side and forgotten Nicias disposed him selfe to sacrifice vnto the gods vntil such time as the enemies came againe as well to besiege their fortes and all their campe by lande as also to occupy the whole hauen by sea For they had not onely put men aborde into their gallies able to weare armor but moreouer young boyes into fisher botes and other light barkes with the which they came to the ATHENIANS and shamefully reuiled them to procure them to fight among the which there was one of a noble house called Heraclides whose bote being forwarder than his companions was in daunger of taking by a gallie of the ATHENIANS that rowed against him Pollichus his vncle being afrayed of it launched forward with tenne gallies of
them howbeit they gaue no credit vnto him Yet Cicero in an oration of his doth plainly accuse Crassus Caesar as confederats with Catiline howbeit this oration came not forth till they were both dead And in the oration he made also when his office and authority of Consul ceased he sayd that Crassus came one night to him shewed him a letter touching Catiline certainly confirming the conspiracy then in examination For which cause Crassus euer after hated him and that he did not openly reuenge it the let was by meane of his sonne For Publius Crassus much fauoring eloquence and beinge geuen to his booke bare great good will vnto Cicero in such sorte that apon his banishment he put on chaunged garmentes as Cicero did and procured many other youthes to do the like also and in fine perswaded his father to become his frend Caesar now returning to ROME from the prouince he had in gouernment intended to sue for the Consulshippe and perceiuing that Pompey Crassus were againe at a iarre thought thus with him selfe that to make the one of them his frend to further his sute he should but procure thother his enemy and minding therfore to attaine his desire with the fauor of them both sought first the meanes to make thē frendes perswaded with them that by their controuersie th one seeking thothers vndoing they did thereby but make Cicero Catulus and Cato of the greater authority who of them selues were of no power if they two ioyned in frendshippe together for making both their frendes and factions one they might rule the state and common wealth euen as they would Caesar hauing by his perswasion reconciled Crassus and Pompey ioyning their three powers in one made them selues vnuincible which afterwardes turned to the destruction of the people and Senate of ROME For he made them not only greater than they were before the one by the others meanes but him selfe also of great power through them For when they beganne to fauor Caesar he was straight chosen Consull without any deniall and so behaued him selfe in the Consulship that at the length they gaue him charge of great armies and then sent him to gouerne the GAVLES which was as a man may say euen them selues to put him into the castell that should kepe all the citie in subiection imagining that they two should make spoyle and good booty of the rest sithence they had procured him such a gouernment Now for Pompey the cause that made him commit this error was nothing els but his extreame ambition But as for Crassus besides his old vice of couetousnes rooted in him he added to that a newe a uarice and desire of triumphes and victories which Caesars fame for prowes and noble actes in warres did throughly kindell in him that he being otherwise his better in all thinges might not yet in that be his inferior which furie tooke such holde as it neuer left him till it brought him vnto an infamous end and the common wealth to great misery Thus Caesar being come out of his prouince of GAVLE vnto LVCA diuers ROMANES went thither to see him and among other Pompey and Crassus They hauing talked with him in secret agreed among them to deuise to haue the whole power of ROME in their handes so that Caesar should kepe his armie together and Crassus and Pompey should take other prouinces and armies to them Now to attaine to this they had no way but one that Pompey and Crassus should againe sue the second time to be Consulls and that Caesars frendes at ROME should stand with them for it sending also a sufficient number of his souldiers to be there at the day of choosing the Consulls Thereupon Pompey and Crassus returned to ROME to that ende but not without suspicion of their practise for there ranne a rumor in the citie that their meeting of Caesar in LVCA was for no good intent Whereupon Marcellinus and Domitius asked Pompey in open Senate if he ment to make sute to be Consull Pompey aunswered them peraduenture he did peraduenture he did not They asking him againe the same question he aunswered he would sue for the good men not for the euill Pompeyes answers were thought very prowde hawty Howbeit Crassus aunswered more modestly that if he saw it necessary for the common wealth he would sue to be Consull if not that he would nor stand for it Vpon these words some were so bold to make sute for the Consulshippe as Domitius among other But afterwardes Pompey and Crassus standing openly for it all the rest left of their sute for feare of them Domitius only excepted whom Cato so prayed and intreated as his kinseman and frend that he made him to seeke it For he perswaded him that it was to fight for the defense of their libertie and how that it was not the Consulshippe Crassus and Pompey looked after but that they went about to bring in a tyranny that they sued not for the office but to get such prouinces and armies into their handes as they desired vnder colour and countenaunce of the Consulship Cato ringing these words into their eares beleuing it certainly to be true as he sayd brought Domitius as it were by force into the market place where many honest men ioyned with thē bicause they wondred what the matter ment that these two noble men should sue the second time to be Consulls and why they made sute to be ioyned together and not to haue any other with them considering there were so many other worthy men meete to be companion with either of them both in that office Pompey fearing he should be preuented of his purpose fell to commit great outrage and violence As amongest other when the day came to choose the Consulls Domitius going earely in the morning before day accōpanied with his frends to the place where the electiō should be his man that caried the torch before him was slaine by some whom Pompey had layed in waite many of his companie hurt and among others Cato And hauing thus dispersed them he beset a house rounde about whether they fled for succour and inclosed them there vntill they were both chosen Consulls together Shortly after they came with force to the pulpit for orations and draue Cato out of the market place slue some of them that resisted would not flye They also then prolonged Caesars gouernment of the GAVLES for fiue yeres more and procured for them selues by decree of the people the contries of SYRIA and SPAYNE Againe when they drew lottes together SYRIA fell to Crassus and SPAYNE to Pompey Euery man was glad of their fortune For the people on the one side were loth Pompey should goe farre from ROME him selfe also louing his wife well was glad he had occasion to be so neere her that he might remaine the most of his time at ROME But Crassus of all other reioyced
of SPARTA blessed to haue had such a kinge that so much reuerenced his contrie and obeyed the lawe as receiuing onely a litle scrolle of parchement commaunding him to returne he forsooke a worlde of goodes and wealth that he quietly enioyed with assured hope and certaintie of more and imbarked foorthwith leauing all the alies and confederates of his contrie verie sorowefull for that he had geuen ouer so noble an enterprise which he had so happely begonne Yes sure Nay furthermore he passed not for the saying of Demostratus PHAEACIAN who sayd that the LACEDAEMONIANS in publicke matters were the worthiest men and the ATHENIANS in priuate causes For as he had shewed him selfe a good king and an excellent Captaine to the common wealth so was he alwayes curteous priuately to his familiar frendes And bicause the PERSIAN coyne was stamped on the one side with the print of an archer Agesilaus being readie to departe sayd that tenne thowsand archers draue him out of ASIA For so much was brought vnto THEBES and ATHENS and distributed among the Orators and Gouernours there who through their Orations made both those great cities to rise and make warre against the SPARTANS In his return Agesilaus hauing passed the straight of HELLESPONT tooke his way through the contrie of THRACIA and neuer intreated barbarous kinge nor people to suffer him to passe but only sent vnto them to know whether they would be should passe through their contries as a frende or an enemie All contries and nacions else receiued him very honorably to their power saue the people called the TROCHALIANS vnto whom king Xerxes him selfe gaue presentes that he might passe frendly through their contry who sent vnto Agesilaus to demaund a hundred siluer talentes and a hundred women to suffer him to passe through their contrie But Agesilaus laughing them to scorne aunswered againe why how chaunceth it that they came not them selues to receiue them So therewithall he marched forwarde against these barbarous people who were ranged in battell raye to stoppe his passage howebeit he ouerthrewe them and flue a great number of them in the fielde The like demaund he made vnto the kinge of MACEDON whether he should passe through his contrie as a frende or an enemie The king made him aunswere he would consider of it Well let him thinke of it quod Agesilaus we will goe on in the meane time The king then wondering at his great boldenes and fearing least he would doe him some hurte as he went sent to pray him that he woulde passe through his contrie as a frend Now it chaunced so that the THESSALIANS at that time were in league with the enemies of the LACEDAEMONIANS therefore as he passed through their contrie he did spoyle and forage it as his enemies contrie and sent Xenocles and Scytha to the citie of LARISSE hopinge to perswade them to take parte with the LACEDAEMONIANS These two Ambassadours were retained there as prisoners The SPARTANS were maruelously offended withall and thought good that Agesilaus should besiege LARESSE with his army But he aunswered them he would not lose one of those men to winne all THESSAINE and therefore found meanes that he redeemed them againe by composition Peraduenture this is not to be marueled at in Agesilaus that newes being brought him on a time that in a great battell fought by the citie of CORINTHE where were many worthie and valliant Captaines slaine of the enemies and but few of the SPARTANS he seemed not to reioice at it but rather to fetche a grieuous sigh saying O poore GRAECE how vnfortunate art thou to haue slaine with thine owne handes so many valliant Captaines of thine owne people as ioyning together might at one field haue ouercome all the barbarous people The PHARSALIANâ— harying and troubling the rereward of Agesilaus armie he put foorth fiue hundred horsemen which gaue them so lustie a charge that he ouerthrew them by force For this victorie be set vp tokens of triumphe apon the mountaine called Narthacium and this victory pleased him aboue all the rest bicause with the small number of horsemen which he had gotten together of him selfe he had ouerthrowen the glory pride of the enemies horsemen in battell wherof they had vaunted many yeares before Thither came Diphridas one of the Ephores vnto him sent of purpose from SPARTA to commaund him immediatly to inuade BOROTIA with his armie Nowe though Agesilaus intended some other time with a greater power to enter BOEOTIA yet bicause he would not disobey the counsells commaundement of SPARTA he told his men straight that the battell for the which they returned out of ASIA was at hande and therefore he sent for two companies of them which lay in campe by CORINTHE The LACEDAEMONIANS that were at SPARTA to honor Agesilaus for that he had obeyed their commaundement so readily proclaimed in the citie that as many young men as were desirous to goe aide the king should come and enter their names Notwithstanding they onely chose but fiftie of the valliantest among them and sent them vnto him In the meane time Agesilaus passed through the contrie of THERMOPYLES and coasting ouer the lande of PHOCYDE consederates to the LACEDAEMONIANS he entred into BOEOTIA and camped by the citie of CHAERONEA where immediatly after his arriuall he sodainly saw the sonne eclipsed and darkened in the facion of a new moone Euen withall came the newes of the death of Pisander vnto him who was slaine in a battell which he lost by sea fighting against Pharnabazus and Conon hard by the I le of GNIDOS These newes were very heauie vnto him both for respect of the person his kinseman whom he lost as also for the great losse that happened to the common wealth Neuerthelesse fearing his souldiers would be discoraged with the newes and become faint harted being ready to ioyne battell he commaunded them that came from the sea to brute abroade a contrarie tale to that they tolde him and he him selfe to make good their speache came out among them with a garland of flowers on his head and did sacrifice to the goddes as thanking them for the good newes sending to euery one of his frends a peece of flesh sacrificed as he commonly vsed to doe in any publicke cause of ioy Then marching forward he straight discouered his enemies farre of and they likewise him therupon put his men in battell ray and gaue the left wing vnto the ORCHOMENIANS leading him selfe the right wing The THEBANS of thother side placed them selues in the right wing of their armie and gaue the left vnto the ARGIVES Xenophon being at that battell on Agesilaus side wryteth that he neuer knewe of the like fielde fought At the first onset the conflict was not great betwene both neither helde long bicause the THEBANS brake the ORCHOMENIANS straight and Agesilaus the ARGIVES But when either side vnderstoode that the left winges of their battells were
though his master Pompey was but meanly housed till his third Consullshippe Howbeit afterwardes he built that famous stately Theater called Pompeys Theater and ioyned vnto that also an other house as a penthouse to his Theater farre more sumptuous and stately then the first and yet no more then needed Insomuch as he that was owner of it after him when he came into it he marueled and asked where abouts it was that Pompey dyned supped These thinges are reported thus Now the king of the ARABIANS that dwelt also at the castell called Petra hauing neuer vntill that time made any accompt of the ROMANES army was 〈…〉 greatly affrayed of them and wrote vnto Pompey that he was at his deuotion to doe what he would commaunde him Pompey thereuppon to proue him whether he ment as he 〈…〉 brought his army before this castell of Petra Howebeit this voyage was not liked of many men bicause they iudged it was an occasion found out to leaue following of Mithridates against whom they would haue had him rather haue bent his force being an auncient enemy to ROME and that beganne to gather strength againe and prepared as they heard say to lead a great army through SCYTHIA and PANNONIA into ITALIE But Pompey thinking he should sooner minishe his power by suffering him to goe on with warres then that he should otherwise be able to take him flying would not toyle to follow him in vaine And for these causes he would needes make warres in other places and linger time so long that in the end he was put by his hope For when he was not farre from the castell of Petra had lodged his campe for that day as he was riding and managing his horse vp and downe the campe postes came stinging to him from the realme of PONTVS and brought him good newes as was easily to be discerned a farre of by the heades of their iauelings which were wreathed about with laurell boughes The souldiers perceiuing that flocked straight about him but Pompey would make an ende of his riding first before he red these letters Howbeit they crying to him and being importunate with him he lighted from his horse and returned into his campe where there was no stone high enough for him to stand vppon to speake vnto them and againe the souldiers would not tary the making of one after the manner of their campe which men of warre doe make them selues with great turnes of earth laying one of them vppon an other but for hast earnest desire they had to heare what newes there was in the letters they layed together a heape of saddells one apon an other and Pompey geuing vp of them colde howe Mithridates was dead and had killed him selfe with his owned handes bicause his sonne Pharnaces did rebell against him and had wonne all that which his father possessed wryting vnto him that he kept it for him selfe and the ROMANES Vpon these newes all the campe ye may imagine made wonderfull ioy and did sacrifice to the goddes geuing them thankes were as mery as if in Mithridates person alone there had dyed an infinite number of their enemies Pompey by this occasion hauing brought this warre more easily to passe then he hoped for departed presently out of ARABIA and hauing speedily in few dayes passed through the contries lying by the way he came at length to the city of AMISVS There he founde great presents that were brought vnto him from Pharnaces and many dead bodies of the kinges blood and amongest the rest Mithridates corse which could not well be discerned by his face bicause they that had the carying of his body had forgotten to drie vp the braine neuerthelesse such as desired to see him knew him by certaine skarres he had in his face For Pompey would is no wise see him but to auoide enuy sent him away vnto the city of SYNODE He wondred much at the maruelous sumptuons riche apparell and weapons that he ware The scaberd of his sword which cost foure hundred talents was stolen by Publius and sold to Ariarathes Also a hatte of Mithridates of wonderfull workemanshippe being begged of Carus his foster brother was secretly geuen to Faustus the sonne of Sylla without Pompeys priuity But afterwards when Pharnaces vnderstoode of it he punished the parties that had imbezelled them Pompey hauing ordered all things and established that prouince went on his iorney homewards with great pompe and glory So comming vnto MITYLENE he released the city of all taxes and paymentes for Theophanes sake was present at a certaine play they yearely make for gain or where the Poets report their workes contending one with an other hauing at that time no other matter in hande but Pompeys actes and ieâ—stes Pompey like exceeding well the Theater where these playes were made and drew a modell or platforme of it to make a statelye then that in ROME As he passed by the city of RHODES he would nedes heare all the Rethoritians dispute and gaue euery one of them a talent Posidonius hath written the disputation he made before Pompey against Hermagoras the Rethoritian vpon the theame and proposition Pompey selfe did geue them touching the generall question Pompey did the like at ATHENS vnto the Philosophers there For he gaue towards the reedifying of the city againe fifty talents So he thought at his returne home into ITALIE to haue bene very honorably receiued and longed to be at home to see his wife and children thinking also that they long looked for him that the god that hath the charge geuen him to mingle fortunes prosperity with some bitter soppe of aduersity layed a blocke in his way at home in his owne house to make his returne more sorowfull For Mutia his wife had in his abscence played false at tables But Pompey being then farre of made no account of the reportes nor tales that were tolde him Howbeit when he drewe neerer into ITALIES and that he was more attentiue to geue eare to the ill reportes he heard then he sent vnto her to tell her that he refused her for his wife wryting nothing to her at that time neither euer after told the cause why he had forsaken her Notwithstanding in Ciceroes Epistles the cause appeareth Furthermore there were rumors ranne abroade in ROME which troubled them sore being geuen out that he would bring his armie straight to ROME and make him selfe absolute Lord of all the ROMANE Empire Crassus thereuppon either for that he beleued it in deede to be true or as it was thought to make the accusation true and the entry towardes Pompey the greater conueyed him selfe his family and goodes sodainely out of ROME So Pompey when he came into ITALIE called all his souldiers together and after he had made an oration vnto them as time occasion required he commanded them to feuer them selues euery man to repaire home to apply his busines remeÌ„bring to mete at
Alexander to pray him to come and aide him bicause there was yet a great squadron whole together that made no countenaunce to flie Somewhat there was in it that they accused Parmenio that day to haue delt but stackely and cowardly either bicause his age had taken his corage from him or else for that he enuied Alexanders greatnes and prosperity who against his will be dame ouer great as Callisthenes sayd In fine Alexander was angry with the second message and yet told not his men truely the cause why but faining that he would haue them leaue killing and bicause also night came on he caused the trompet sound retreate and so went towards his army whom he thought to be in distresse Notwithstanding newes came to him by the way that in that place also they had geuen the enemies the ouerthrowe and that they fled euery way for life The battell hauing this successe euery man thought that the kingdom of the PERSIANS was vtterly ouerthrowen and that Alexander likewise was become only king of all ASIA whereupon he made sumptuous sacrifices vnto the goddes and gaue great riches houses lands and possessions vnto his frendes and familliars Furthermore to shewe his liberalitie also vnto the GRAECIANS he wrote vnto them that he would haue all tyrannies suppressed through out all GRAECE and that all the GRAECIANS should liue at libertie vnder their owne lawes Particularly also he wrote vnto the PLATAEIANS that he woulde reedifie their citie againe bicause their predecessors in time past had geuen their contrie vnto the GRAECIANS to fight against the barbarous people for the defence of the common libertie of all GRAECE He sent also into ITALIE vnto the GROTONIANS parte of the spoyle to honor the memory of the valliantnes and good will of Phayllus their citizen who in the time of the warres with the MEDES when all the GRAECIANS that dwelt in ITALIE had forsaken their naturall contrie men of GRAECE it selfe bicause they thought they could not otherwise scape went with a shippe of his vnto SALAMINA which he armed and set forth at his owne charges bicause he would be at the battell and partake also of the common daunger with the GRAECIANS such honor did Alexander beard vnto prowes that he loued to reward remember the worthy deedes of men Then Alexander marching with his army into the contry of BABYLON they all yeolded straight vnto him When he came into the contrie of the ECEATANIANS he marueled when he saw an opening of the earth out of the which there came continuall sparkes of fire as out of a well that hard by also the earth spued out continually a kinde of mawnd or chalkie clay somwhat lyquid of such aboundaunce as it seemed like a lake This maund or chalke is like vnto a kind of lyme or clay but it is so easie to be sette a fire that not touching it with any flame by the brightnes only of the light that commeth out of the fire it is set afire doth also set the ayer a fire which is betwene both The barbarous people of that contrie being desirous to shewe Alexander the nature of that Naptha scattered the streete that led to his lodging with some of it Then the day being shut in they fired it at one of the endes and the first droppes taking fire in the twinckling of an eye all the rest from one end of the streete to the other was of a flame and though it was darke and within night lightned all the place thereabout Alexander being in bath at that time and waited apon by a page called Steuen a hard fauored boy but yet that had an excellent sweete voyce to sing one Athenophanes an ATHENIAN that alwayes nointed bathed the king much delighted him with his pleasaunt conceites asked him if he would see the triall of this Naptha apon Steuen for if the fire tooke and went not out then he would say it had a wonderfull force and was vnquencheable The page was contented to haue it proued apon him But so soone as they had layed it on him and did but touche it only it tooke straight of such a flame and so fired his body that Alexander him selfe was in a maruelous perplexitie withall And sure had it not bene by good happe that there were many by ready with vessells full of water to put into the bath it had bene vnpossible to haue saued the boy from being burnt to nothing and yet so he escaped narrowly and besides was sicke long after Now some apply this Naptha vnto the fable of Medea saying that therwith she rubbed the crowne and lawne she gaue vnto the daughter of Creon at her mariage so much spoken of in the tragedies For neither the crowne nor the lawne could cast fire of them selues neither did the fire light by chaunce But by oyling them with this Naptha she wrought a certain aptnes to receiue more forcibly the operation of the fire which was in place where the bridesate For the beames which the fire casteth out haue ouer some bodies no other force but to heet and lighten them But such as haue an oyly drie humor and thereby a simpathy and proportionable conformitie with the nature of the fire it easily enflameth and setteth a fire by the forcible impression of his beames Howbeit they make a great question of the cause of this naturall force of Naptha or whether this liquid substance and moyst humor that taketh fine so easily doth come of the earth that is fatty and apt to conceiue fire For this contrie of BABYLON is very hot insomuch as oftentimes batley being put into the ground it bloweth it vp againe as if the earth by vehement inflammacion had a strong blast to cast it out and men in the extreamest heate of the sommer doe sleepe there vpon great leather budgets filled full of fresh water Harpalus whom Alexander left there his Lieutenaunt Gouernor of that contry desiring to set forth and beawtifie the gardens of the kings pallace walkes of the same with all maner of plantes of GRAECE he brought all the rest to good passe sauing Iuie only which the earth could neuer abide but it euer dyed bicause the heate and temper of the earth killed it and the Iuie of it selfe liketh fresh ayer and a cold ground This digression is somwhat from the matter but peraduenture the reader will not thinke it troublesome howe hard soeuer he finde it so it be not ouer tedious Alexander hauing wonne the city of SVSA he found within the castell foure thowsand talentes in ready coyne gold and siluer besides other infinite treasure and inestimable amongest the which it is sayd he found to the value of fiue thowsand talentes weight of purple HERMIONA silke which they had safe locked vp kept that â—â—ace of two hundred yeres saue ten and yet the colour kept as freshe as if it had bene newly 〈…〉 Some say that the
also one Philotas the sonne of Parmenio a man of great authority among the MACEDONIANS who next vnto Alexander was the most valliantest man the pacientest to abide paine the liberallest and one that loued his men frends better then any noble man in the campe whatsoeuer Of him it is reported that a frend of his came to him on a time to borrow money and he commaunded straight one of his men to let him haue it His purse bearer aunswered him that he had none Why sayd his master doest thou tell me so Hast thou not plate and apparell to sell or gage to helpe him to some Howbeit otherwise he had such a pride glory to shew his riches to apparell himselfe so sumptuously and to be more fine and princked then became a priuate man that this made him to be hated bicause he tooke vpō him to be a great man to looke bigge on the matter which became him ill fauoredly and therfore euery man through his owne folly fell in misliking with him Insomuch as his owne father said one day vnto him sonne I pray thee be more humble lowly This Philotas had long before bene cōplained vpon vnto Alexander bicause that when the cariage of king Darius armie which was in the citie of DAMAS was taken after the battell of CILICIA among many prisoners that were taken and brought vnto Alexanders campe there was one Antigona a passing fayer young curtisan borne in the citie of PIDNA Philotas founde meanes to gette her and like a young man that was in loue with her making merie with her at the table fondly lette fall braue wordes and boastes of a souldier saying that what notable thinges were done they were done by him selfe and his father and called Alexander at euerie worde young man and sayd that by their meanes he helde his name and kingdome This courtisan tolde one of his frendes what he sayd and that frede tolde an other frende and so went from man to man as commonly it doth till at the length it came to Craterus eares He tooke the courtisan and brought her vnto Alexander vnto whom she told as much as she had sayd before Alexander bad her still make much of Philotas and to tell him euery word what he sayd of him Philotas knowing nothing that he was thus circumuented did euer frequent her companie and would be bold commonly to speake many foolish and vndiscreete words against the king somtime in anger somtime againe in a brauery Alexander this notwithstanding though he had manifest proofe and cause to accuse Philotas yet he dissembled it for that time and would not be knowen of it either for that he knew Parmenio loued him or else for that he was affrayed of their great power and authoritie About that time there was one Limnus Chalaestrian a MACEDONIAN that layed great and secret waite to kill Alexander and being in loue with a young man called Nicomachus entised him to helpe him to doe this deede The young man wisely denied it told the same to his brother called Batinus He went vnto Philotas and prayed him to bring them both before Alexander for they had a matter of great importance to impart vnto him Philotas would not let him speake with the king but why no man could tell telling them that the king had greater matters in hande and was not at leasure Then they went vnto an other and he brought them vnto Alexander vnto whome first they opened the treason of Limnus conspired against him and by the way they tolde also how they had bene twise before with Philotas who would not let them come in nor speake with them That angred Alexander greatly and he was the more offended also when Limnus was slaine by him whome he sent to apprehende him resisting him for that he would not be taken and thought that by his death he had lost a great meanes to come to the light of this treason and conspiracie Then Alexander frowning vppon Philotas brought all his enemies vpon his backe that of long time had hated him For they beganne to speake boldly that it was time for the kinge to looke about him for it was not to be supposed that this Limnus Chalaestrian of him selfe durst haue entred into that treason but rather that he was a minister and a chiefe instrument set on by a greater personage then he and therefore that it stoode Alexander vpon to examine them straightly which had cause to keepe this treason secret After Alexander once gaue eare vnto such wordes and vehement presumptions there was straight brought in a thowsand accusations against Philotas Thereupon he was apprehended and in the presence of diuers Lordes and familliars of the king put to the torter Alexander selfe being behinde a hanginge to heare what he would say It is reported that when he hearde howe faintly and pitiefully he besought Hephaestion to take pitie of him he sayd vnto him selfe alas poore Philotas thou that hast so faint a hart howe durst thou take vppon thee so great matters In fine Philotas was put to death and immediatly after he was executed Alexander sent also with speede vnto the realme of MEDIA to kill Parmenio who was his Lieutenaunt there and one that had serued king Philippe his father in his greatest affayers and who onely of all other the olde seruauntes of his father had procured Alexander to take in hande the conquest of ASIA and who also of three sonnes which he brought out with him had seene two of them dye before him and afterwardes was slaine him selfe with the third This crueltie of Alexander made his frendes affrayed of him and specially Antipater who secretly sent Ambassadors vnto the AETOLIANS to make league with them bicause they them selues also were affrayed of Alexander for that they had put the Orniades to death Alexander hearing that sayd that he him selfe and not the sonnes of the Orniades would be reuenged of the AETOLIANS Not long after that followed the murther of Clitus the which to heare is simplie tolde would seeme much more cruell than the death of Philotas But reportinge the cause and the time together in which it chaunced it will be founde that it was not of sette purpose but by chaunce and vnfortunately that Alexander being ouercome with wine did vnluckely wreake his anger vpon Clitus The manner of his misfortune was this There came certaine men of the lowe contries from the sea side that brought apples of GRAECE 〈…〉 nto Alexander Alexander wondering to see them so greene and fayer sent for Clitus to shewe him them and to geue him some of them Clitus by chaunce did sacrifice at that time vnto the goddes and left his sacrifice to goe vnto Alexander howebeit there were three weathers that followed him on whome the accustomed sprincklinges had bene done alreadie to haue sacrificed them Alexander vnderstandinge that tolde it to his Soothsayers Aristander and Cleomantis LACONIAN who both did aunswere
the gate Thereuppon the gates were opened they comming in their gownes went vnto his bed side to see him That selfe day Python Seleucus were appointed by the kings friends to go to the temple of the god Serapis to knowe if they should bringe king Alexander thither The god aunswered them that they should not remoue him from thence The eight and twenty day at night Alexander dyed Thus it is written word for word in manner in the houshold booke of remembrance At that present tyme there was no suspition that he was poysoned Yet they say that six yeares after there appeared some proofe that he was poisoned Whereupon his mother Olympias put many men to death and cast the ashes of Iolas into the wind that was dead before for that it was said he gaue him poyson in his drinke They that thinke it was Aristotle that counselled Antipater to do it by whose meane the poyson was brought they say that Agnothemis reporred it hauing heard it of king Antigonus owne mouth The poyson as some say was cold as Ise and falleth from a rocke in the territory of the citie of NONACRIS it is gathered as they would gather a deawe into the horne of the foote of an asse for there is no other kinde of thinge that wil keepe it it is so extreme cold percing Others defend it say that the report of his poysoning is vntrue for proofe therof they alleage this reason which is of no smal importance that is That the chiefest Capteines fel at great variance after his death so that the corps of Alexander remained many dayes naked without buriall in a whot dry contry yet there neuer appeared any signe or token apon his body that he was poysoned but was still a cleane and faire corps as could be Alexander left Roxane great with childe for the which the MACEDONIANS did her great honor but she did malice Statira extreamely did finely deceiue her by a counterfeat letter she sent as if it had comen from Alexander willing her to come vnto him But when she was come Roxane killed her and her sister and then threw their bodies into a well and filled it vp with earth by Perdiccas helpe and consent Perdiccas came to be king immediatly after Alexanders death by meanes of Aridaeus whom he kept about him for his gard and safety This Aridaeus beeing borne of a common strumpet and common woman called Philinna was halfe lunaticke not by nature nor by chaunce but as it is reported put out of his wits when he was a young towardly boy by drinkes which Olympias caused to be geuen him and thereby continued franticke The end of Alexanders life THE LIFE OF Iulius Caesar. AT what time Sylla was made Lord of all he would haue had Caesar put away his wife Cornelia the daughter of Cinna Dictator but when he saw he could neither with any promise nor threate bring him to it he tooke her ioynter away from him The cause of Caesars ill will vnto Sylla was by meanes of mariage for Marius thelder maried his fathers own sister by whom he had Marius the younger whereby Caesar he were cosin germaines Sylla being troubled in waightie matters putting to death so many of his enemies when he came to be cōqueror he made no reckoning of Caesar but he was not contented to be hidden in safety but came and made sute vnto the people for the Priesthoodshippe that was voyde when he had scant any heare on his face Howbeit he was repulsed by Syllaes meanes that secretly was against him Who when he was determined to haue killed him some of his frendes told him that it was to no purpose to put so young a boy as he to death But Sylla told them againe that they did not consider that there were many Marians in that young boy Caesar vnderstanding that stale out of ROME and hidde him selfe a long time in the contrie of the SABINES wandring still from place to place But one day being caried from house to house he fell into the handes of Syllaes souldiers who searched all those places and tooke them whom they found hidden Caesar bribed the Captaine whose name was Cornelius with two talentes which he gaue him After he had escaped them thus he went vnto the sea side and tooke shippe and sailed into BITHYNIA to goe vnto king Nicomedes When he had bene with him a while he tooke sea againe and was taken by pyrates about the I le of PHARMACVSA for those pyrates kept all vppon that sea coast with a great fleete of shippes and botes They asking him at the first twentie talentes for his ransome Caesar laughed them to scorne as though they knew not what a man they had taken of him selfe promised them fiftie talents Then he sent his men vp and downe to get him this money so that he was left in maner alone among these theeues of the CILICIANS which are the cruellest butchers in the world with one of his frends and two of his slaues only and yet he made so litle reckoning of them that when he was desirous to sleepe he sent vnto them to commaunde them to make no noyse Thus was he eight and thirtie dayes among them not kept as prisoner but rather waited vppon by them as a Prince All this time he woulde boldly exercise him selfe in any sporte or pastime they would goe to And other while also he woulde wryte verses and make orations and call them together to say them before them and if any of them seemed as though they had not vnderstoode him or passed not for them he called them blockeheades and brute beastes and laughing threatned them that he would hang them vp But they were as merie with the matter as could be and tooke all in good parte thinking that this his bold speach came through the simplicity of his youth So when his raunsome was come from the citie of MILETVM they being payed their money and he againe set at libertie he then presently armed and manned out certaine ships out of the hauen of MILETVM to follow those theeues whom he found yet riding at ancker in the same Iland So he tooke the most of them had the spoile of their goods but for their bodies he brought them into the city of PERGAMVM there committed thē to prison whilest he him selfe went to speake with Iunius who had the gouernment of ASIA as vnto whom the execution of these pirats did belong for that he was Praetor of that contrie But this Praetor hauing a great fancie to be fingering of the money bicause there was good store of it answered that he would consider of these prisoners at better leasure Caesar leauing Iunius there returned againe vnto PERGAMVM and there hung vp all these theeues openly vpon a crosse as he had oftentimes promised them in the I le he would doe when they thought he did but ieast
settinge agreement betwixt them he returned into CYPRVS There he founde a maruailous greate treasure and plate bothe of golde and siluer tables precious stones hanginges and purple silkes all the which he was to make readye money of There he tooke greate care and paynes to rayse all thinges to the vtmoste and dearest pryces that coulde bee and he him selfe was present at all to keepe reckoning of the laste penney Wherefore to bringe this to passe he woulde not stande to the common vse of the sale of the cryer but suspected them all bothe cryers praysers and his owne friendes and therefore talled him selfe with the praysers and made them sette highe pryses vppon euery thinge that was to bee solde And thus were the moste parte of the goodes solde and caryed awaye at the dearest pryces This did maruelously offende the moste of his friendes when they sawe that he did mistruste them but Munatius specially his dearest friende tooke is so inwardely that he thought neuer to bee friendes with him agayne Insomuche as in the booke Caesar wrote agaynst Cato in this place he forceth moste the accusation agaynst him Munatius notwithstanding wryteth that he was not angrye so muche with Cato for that he mystrusted him but for a certayne disdayne he had him selfe of Cato and for the emulacion betwixt him and Canidius For Munatius wrote a booke of Catoes deedes and sayinges whome Thraseas in his historye chiefly followed In this booke he sheweth that he came late into CYPRVS and was very ill lodged And furthermore also that when he woulde haue comen into Catoes house they kept him out of the gates for that Cato was busie doing some thinge with Canidius He modestly complayning of it vnto Cato had this churlish aunswer ouermuch loue sayth Theophrastus oftentimes causeth hate So fareth it with thee who ouerlouing me doest thinke that I esteeme thee not as thou deseruest and therefore art angry with me And for Canidius I must tell thee truely I doe rather employe him for his skill and faithfulnes in thinges then any man els for that he hath beene with me from the beginning and as farre as I learne was neuer brybed but cleane handed still These wordes Cato tolde Munatius secretly betweene them two but afterwardes he knewe that he had also reported them vnto Canidius When he sawe that be would no more go and suppe with Cato as he was wont and when he was also called to counsell he would not come there nether Wherefore Cato threatned him that he would sease vpon all his goods and cariage as they vse to handle them that are disobedient vnto iustice This notwithstanding Munatius cared not for it but tooke sea and returned againe to ROME bearing Cato grudge a long time Then Martia being at that time Catoes wife spake with him and were both bidden to supper together vnto a friend of theirs called Barca Thereuppon Cato also arriued and came thither when they were all sette at supper and asked where he should sit Barea tolde him agayne where it pleased him Then casting his eyes about he sayd he would sitte by Munatius and so fetching a compasse about the borde he went and sate by him but offered him no friendshippe and familiaritie all supper tyme Afterwardes notwithstanding at the request of Martia that was earnestly in hande with Cato for him he wrote vnto him and willed him to come and speake with him Munatius went to Catoes house in the morning where Martia stayed him and kept him companie vntill all the rest that came to salute Cato were departed Then Cato comming to him embraced him in his armes and made very muche of him We haue the willinglier dilated this matter at length bicause mens natures and manners might be discerned euen in these small matters of friendshippe priuately as otherwise in the greatest publicke causes Now touching Catoes commission he gotte together litle lesse then seuen thowsand siluer talents Furthermore fearing the farrenesse of the iorney he had to goe by sea he made diuers litle cofers and put into euery one of them two talents and fiue hundred Drachmas and tyed vnto eache of them a longe rope and a greate peece of corcke bicuase that if the shippe should fortune to miscarye those corckes might shewe where the chestes with money laye in the bottome of the sea Thus was all the money saued sauing a litle and brought safely to ROME Cato hauing made two bookes wherin he had noted all thinges done in his iorney he could neither saue th one nor thother of them For one of his bondmen made free called Philargyrus tooke the one away who taking shippe at the hauen of Cenchrees was him selfe drowned and the booke he had also lost with him The other booke which he him selfe had kept vntill he came vnto CORFOV he lying in the market place of the citie in his tents which he caused to be set vppe the Mariners being very cold in the night made so great a fire that it burnt the tents stuffe booke and all Notwithstanding he brought certaine of the late king Ptolomyes slaues with him who while he liued had the charge and custodie of all his treasure and riches the which he brought as witnesses to stoppe the mouthes of his malicious enemies that would haue accused him in any thinge But yet the losse of them did grieue him not so much for the great care and paynes he had taken in setting downe the accompt of his charge for the iustification and proofe of his fidelitie and good seruice but also for that they might haue serued for a good memoriall and example vnto all others to haue bene a like carefull in their charge as him self But the goddes denyed him this good happe Newes beeing brought that he was come to ROME by water when they vnderstood that he was at hand by and by all the Magistrats the Priestes the Senate the most part of the people also went out to meete him by the riuers side so that both sides of the riuer of Tyber were full of people and the receiuing of him in seemed not inferior to the entry of a triumphe Notwithstanding some thought him very presumptuous that the Consuls and Praetors comming out to meete him he did nor stay his gally but rowed still vp the streame beeing in a kinges galley of six owers to euery bancke and neuer stayed vntill all his fleete arryued in the hauen This notwithstanding when the cofers with mony were caried thorough the market place into the treasure chamber the people wondred to see so great a quantitie of it And thereuppon the Senate being assembled with great and honorable words they gaue Cato extraordinary Praetorship and priuiledge also at any common sports to weare a purple gowne Cato refused all these honours and onely besought the Senate to make Nicias a free man Steward of the late diseased king Ptolomy being a witnes of his faith and great paynes he had taken in this
against him he allured Cleombrotus his sonne in law being also of the kings blood to make title to the crowne Leonidas being affraid of the successe hereof tooke sanctuary in the temple of Iuno surnamed Chalceoecos his Daughter with him who forsooke her husband Cleombrotus Leonidas then being cited to appeare in person making default they deposed him made Cleombrotus king In the meane time Lysanders office expired the new Ephori which succeded him deliuer Leonidas againe and accused Lysander Mandroclidas because against the law they had abolished all debts had againe made newe diuision of lands When they sawe they were openly accused they incensed both the kinges that ioyning together they shoulde make the Ephores ordinaunces of no effect declaring that their authority was onely erected for the discord of the two kings bicause they should giue their voices vnto that king that had the best iudgemēt reason whē the other would wilfully withstand both right reason And therfore that they two agreing together might lawfully do what they would without cōtrolment of any person that to resist the kings was a breaking of the lawe sith that by right the Ephori had no other priuileage authority but to be iudges arbitrators betwene thē when there was any cause of iarre or controuersie Both the kings being caried away by this perswasion went into the market place accōpanied with their frends plucked the Ephores from their seates put others in their roomes of the which Agesilaus was one Furthermore they armed a great number of yong men opening the prisons did set the prisoners as liberty the which made their aduersaries affraid of thē doubting some great murther would haue followed vpon it howbeit no man had any hurt For Agesilaus being bent to kill Leonidas who fled vnto the city of TEGEA hauing also laid men in waite for him by the way king Agis hearing of it sent thither other frends of his in whom he put great confidence they did accōpany Leonidas brought him safely vnto the city of TEGEA Thus their purpose taking effect no man cōtrarying thē one man only Agesilaus ouerthrew all dashed a noble LACONIAN law by a shamful vice which was couetousnes For he being a great landed man hauing the best lands of any man in the contry owing a great summe of money besides would nether pay his detts nor let go his land Wherfore he perswaded king Agis that if he wēt about to stablish both together he should raise a great vptore in the city withall if he did first winne them that were landed men preferring at the beginning the cutting of of dets only then that they would easily willingly also accept the law for partition of lands Lysander was also of his opinion wherby king Agis he both were deceiued by Agesilaus subtlety So they cōmaunded al the creditors to bring their bonds obligations bils of det which the LACEDAEMONIANS do cal Claria into the market place and there laying them on a heape together they did set fire of them When the vsurers creditors saw their writings obligatory afire they departed thence with heauy harts but Agesilaus mocking thē said he neuer saw a brighter fire in his life The people then requiring that the lands also should be presently deuided the kings likewise commaūding in Agesilaus stil interposing some cause of lex delaied time vntill oportunitye serued that king Agis should go to the warres for that the ACHAIANS their confederats had praied aide of LACEDAEMON being bound thereunto by the league confirmed betwene them bicause they looked daily that the AETOLIANS cōming through the contry of MEGARA would inuade PELOPONNESVS Aratus general of the ACHAIANS had leauied a great army to withstād their inuasion had also written vnto the Ephores that they should send thē aide Wheruppon they presently sent king Agis perceiuing also the readines and good wil of the souldiers which were appointed to go with him For the most of thē were young men needy who seing thē selues discharged of the feare of their dets hoping also at their return that the lāds likewise should be deuided among thē they went with glad harts were obedient vnto king Agis So that the cities where through they passed wondred how they came through all PELOPONNESVS from the one side to the other very quietly without noyse or offence to any man Likewise many GRAECIANS calling to mind the aūcient times told one another that it was a noble fight then to see the army of LACEDAEMON whē they were led by Agesilaus Lysander Leonidas famous captaines sith now they saw so great obedience vnto Agis by his souldiers who was in maner the yōgest mā of all his campe Who also glorying to be cōtēt with litle to away with paines not to be more costly apparelled armed thē any priuat souldier he had he wanne him self therby a maruelous loue of the people Howbeit the rich mē liked not this chaung were affraid lest Agis should giue other people example to rise also to do the like with theirs as he had done Agis meting with Aratus by the city of CORINTHE euen as he was consulting whether he should fight with his enemy or not shewed him self in his coūsel then no rash but a resolute valiant man. For he told him that for his opinion he thought it better to fight not to suffer the warre to come any futher leauing the entry into PELOPONNESVS free to their enemy neuertheles that he would do what Aratus thought good bicause he was the elder and general also of the ACHAIANS whom he came not to cōmaund but to aide thē But Baton SINOPIAN writeth that king Agis would not fight though Aratus was willing howbeit he had not red that which Aratus had writtē for his excuse iustificatiō alleaging there that the farmers husbādmē hauing brought all the corne into their barnes he thought it better to suffer the enemies to come further into the contry rather then to hazard battel to the losse of the whole cōtry of PELOPONNESVS that therfore he licenced al the confederats to depart brake vp his army So king Agis returned home again greatly honored of al thē that serued with him in this iorney finding the city of SPARTA thē in great broile trouble For Agesilaus at that time being one of the Ephores finding him self rid of the feare which before kept him vnder cared not what iniury or mischief he did to any citizen so he might get money For amongest other things that very yere he made thē pay beyond al reason the tallages taxes due vnto the cōmō wealth for thirtene moneths adding to the thirtenth moneth aboue the ordinary time of the yere Wherfore perceiuing euery mā hated him being affraid of thē he had offended he kept souldiers about him
leaue to exercise their office for the time But thou the riche men that were of great liuings chaunged their apparell and walked very sadly vp and downe the market place and layed secret wayre to take Tiberius hauing by â—â—d men to kill him which caused Tiberius him selfe openly before them all to weare a shorte dagger vnder his longe gowne properly called in Latine Dolon When the day came that this lawe should be established Tiberius called the people to giue their voyces and the riche men on thother side they make away the pots by force wherein the papets of mans voyces were throwen so that there was like to fall out great sturre vpon it For the section Tiberius was the strongerside by the number of people that were gathered about him for that purpose had it not bene for Manlius Fabtius both the which had ben Consuls who went into him besought him with the teares in their eies holding vp their hands that he would let the lawe alone Tiberius thereuppon foreseeing the instant daunger of some great mischief as also for the reuerence he bare vnto two such noble persons he stayed a litle asked them what they would haue him to doe They made aunswer that they were not able to counsel him in a matter of so great waight but they praied him notwithstanding he would be contented to referre it to the iudgement of the Senate Thereuppon be graunted them presently But afterwards perceiuing that the Senate sate apon it had determined nothing bicause the rich men were of too great authoritie he entred into another deuise that was nether honest nor meete which was to deprime Octauius of his Tribuneship knowing that otherwise he could not possibly come to passe the law But before he tooke that course he openly intreated him in the face of the people with curteous words and tooke him by the hand and prayed him to stand no more against him to doe the people this pleasure which required a manner iust reasonable onely requested this smal recompence for the great paines they tooke in seruice abroad for their contry Octauius denied him plainely Then said Tiberius openly that both of them being brethren in one selfe place and authoritie contrary one to another in a matter of so great waight this contencion could not be possibly ended without ciuill warre and that he could see no way to remedy it vnles one of them two were deposed from their office Thereuppon he bad Octauius begin first with him he would rise from the benche with a good will and become a priuate man if the people were so contented Octauius would doe nothing in it Tiberius then replyed that he would be doing with him if he altered not his mind apon a better breathe and consideracion and so dismissed the assemblye for that daye The next morning the people being againe assembled Tiberius going vp to his feare attempted agayne to perswade Octauius to leaue of In fine finding him still a man vnremoueable he referred the matter to the voyce of the people whether they were contended Octauius should be deposed from his office Nowe there were fiue and thirtie trybes of the people of the which seuenteene of them had already passed their voyces agaynst Octauius so that there remayned but one trybe more to put him out his office Then Tiberius made them staye for proceeding any further and prayed Octauius agayne imbracing him before all the people with all the intreatye possible that for selfe will take he would not suffer such an open shappe to be done vnto him as to be put out of his office neither also to make him the occasion and instrument of so pitifull a deede They saye that Octauius at this last intreatie was somewhat moued and wonne by his perswasions and that weeping be stayed a longe tyme and made no aunswer But when he looked apon the riche men that stoode in a great company together he was ashamed I thinke to haue their all willes and rather betooke him selfe as the losse of his office and so bad Tiberius doe what he would Thereuppon he beeing depriued by voyces of the people Tiberius commaunded one of his infranchised bondmen to pull him out of the pulpit for orations for he vsed his infranchised bondmen in steede of Sengeaunes This made the sight so much more lamentable to see Octauius thus shamefully plucke away by force Yea furthermore the common people would haue norme apon him but the riche men came to rescue him and woulde not suffer him to doe him further home So Octauius saued him selfe tonning away alone after he had bene rescued thus from the fury of the people Moreouer there was a faithfull seruaunt of Octauius who stepping before his Maister to saue him from hurt had his eyes pulled out against Tiberius minde who ranne to the rescue with all speede when he heard the noyse After that the lawe Agraria passed for diâ—ision of landes and three Commissioners were appoynted to make inquirie and distribution thereof The Commissioners appoynted were these Tiberius him selfe Appius Clodius his father in lawe and Caius Graecchus his brothers who was not at that ryme in ROME but in the campe with Scipio AFRICAN at the seege of the citie of NVMANTIA Thus Tiberius very quietly passed ouer these matters and no man durst withstand him and furthermore he subtituted in Octauius place no man of qualitie but onely one of his followers called Mutius Wherewith the noble men were so sore offended with him that fearing the more use of his greatnes they being in the Senate house did what they could possible to doe him despyte and shame For when Tiberius demaunded a tent at the charge of the common wealth when he should goe abroad to make diuision of these landes as they vsually graunted vnto others that many tymes went in farre meaner commissions they flatly denyed him and through the procurement of P. Nasica who being a great landed man in his contry shewed himselfe in this action his mortall enemie taking it greeuously to be compelled to depart from his land onely graunted him nyne of their obuli a day for his ordinarye allowance But the people on thother side were all in an vprore against the riche Insomuch as one of Tiberius friendes beeing deade vppon the sodaine vppon whose body beeing deade there appeared very ill signes the common people ranne sodainely to his buriall and cryed out that he was poysoned And so taking vppe the beere whereon his bodie laye vppon their showlders they were present at the fire of his funeralls where immediatly appeared certaine signes to make them suspect that in deede there was vehement cause of presumption he was poysoned For his belly burst whereout there issued such aboundance of corrupt humors that they put out the first fire and made them fetche another the which also they could not make to burne vntil that they were compelled to cary the bodie into some other
that caried away the sacrifices vpon the aulters and blew them quite out of the circuite which was marked out for the compasse of the city Furthermore the woulues came and tooke away the markes which they had set downe to limite the bonds of their circuite caried him quite away This notwithstanding Caius hauing dispatched all things in the space of three score ten daies he returned incontinently to ROME vnderstanding that Fuluius was oppressed by Drusus and that those matters required his presence For Lucius Hostilius that was all in all for the nobility a man of great credit with the Senate being the yeare before put by the Consulshippe by Caius practise who caused Fannius to be chosen he had good hope this yere to speede for the great number of frends that furthered his sute So that if he could obtaine it he was fully bent to set Caius beside the saddle the rather bicause his estimacion and countenaunce he was wont to haue among the people began now to decay for that they were ful of such deuises as his were bicause there were diuers others that preferred the like to please the people withal yet with the Senates great good will fauor So Caius being returned to ROME he remoued from his house and where before he dwelt in mount Palatine he came now to take a house vnder the market place to shew him selfe therby the lowlier more popular bicause many of the meaner sorte of people dwelt thereaboutes Then he purposed to goe forward with the rest of his lawes to make the people to estabish thē a great number of people repairing to ROME out of all parts for the furtherance thereof Howbeit the Senate counselled the Consul Fannius to make proclamacion that al those which were no natural ROMANES resident abiding within the city self of ROME that they should depart out of ROME Besides all this there was a straūge proclamacion made and neuer seene before that none of all the frends confederats of the ROMANES for certaine daies should come into ROME But Caius on thother side set vp bills on euery post accusing the Consul for making so wicked a proclamaciō further promised the confederates of ROME to aide them if they would remaine there against the Consuls proclamacion But yet he performed it not For when he saw one of Fannius sergeaūts cary a frend of his to prison he held on his way would see nothing neither did he helpe him either of likelyhoode bicause he feared his credit with the people which began to decay or else bicause he was loth as he said to picke any quarrell with his enemies which sought it of him Furthermore he chaunced to fall at variance with his brethren the Tribunes about this occasion The people were to see the pastime of the sword plaiers or sensers at the sharp within the very market place and there were diuers of the officers that to see the sport did set vp scaffoldes rounde about to take money for the standing Caius cōmaunded them to take them downe again bicause the poore men might see the sport without any cost But not a man of thē would yeeld to it Wherefore he staid till the night before the pastime should be then he tooke all his laborers he had vnder him went ouerthrew the scaffolds euery one of thē so that the next morning all the market place was clere for the cōmon people to see the pastime at their pleasure For this fact of his the people thanked him maruelously tooke him for a worthie man Howbeit his brethren the Tribunes were very much offended with him tooke him for a bold presumptuous man This seemeth to be the chiefe cause why he was put from his third Tribuneship where he had the most voices of his side bicause his colleagues to be reuēged of the part he had plaied thē of malice spight made false report of the voices Howbeit there is no great troth in this It is true that he was very angry with this repulse it is reported he spake somwhat too prowdly to his enemies that were mery with the matter laughed him to scorne that they laughed a SARDONIANS laugh not knowing how darkely his deedes had wrapt them in Furthermore his enemies hauing chosen Opimius Consul they began immediatly to reuoke diuers of Caius lawes as among the rest his doings at CARTHAGE for the reedifying of that city procuring thus all the waies they could to anger him bicause they might haue iust occasion of anger to kil him Caius notwithstanding did paciently beare it at the first but afterwards his frends specially Fuluius did encorage him so that he began againe to gather men to resist the Consul And it is reported also that Cornelia his mother did help him in it secretly hyring a great number of straungers which she sent vnto ROME as if they had bene reapers or haruest men And this is that she wrote secretly in her letter vnto her sonne in ciphers And yet other write to the contrary that she was very angry he did attēpt those things When the day came that they should proceede to the reuocation of his lawes both parties met by breake of day at the Capitoll There when the Consul Opimius had done sacrifice one of Caius sergeaunts calle Quintus Antyllius carying the intrals of the beast sacrificed said vnto Fuluius and others of his tribe that were about him giue place to honest men vile citizens that ye be Some say also that besides these iniurious wordes in skorne contempt he held out his naked arme to make thē ashamed Whereupon they slue him presently in the field with great botkins to wryte with which they had purposely made for that intent Hereupon the cōmon people were maruelously offended for this murther the chiefe men of both sides also were diuersly affected For Caius was very sory for it bitterly reproued them that were about him saying that they had giuen their enemies the occasion they looked for to set vpon thē Opimius the Consul in contrary maner taking this occasion rose apon it did stirre vp the people to be reuenged But there fell a shower of raine at that time that parted them The next morning the Consul hauing assembled the Senate by breake of day as he was dispatching causes within some had takē the body of Antyllius layed it naked vpon the beere so caried it through the market place as it was agreed vpon before amongst thē brought it to the Senate dore where they began to make great mone lamētacion Opimius knowing the meaning of it but yet he dissembled it seemed to wonder at it Wherupon the Senators went out to see what it was finding this beere in the market place some fell a weeping for him that was dead others cried out that it was a shamefull act in no wise to be
accused did nether did he weare any mourning gowne the which was as it seemed one of the chiefest causes that condemned him Yet many held opinion that this timerousnes of Cicero came rather of the goodwill he bare vnto his friends then of any cowardly minde of him selfe He was also chosen one of the Priestes of the Soothesayers which they call Augures in the roome of P. Crassus the younger who was slayne in the Realme of PARTHIA Afterwardes the prouince of CILICIA being appoynted to him with an armie of twelue thowsand footemen and two thowsand fiue hundred horsemen he tooke the sea to goe thither So when he was arriued there he brought CAPPADOCIA agayne into the subiection and obedience of king Ariobarzanes according to his commission and commaundement giuen by the Senate moreouer both there and elsewhere he tooke as excellent good order as could be deuised in reducing of thinges to quietnes without warres Furthermore finding that the CILICIANS were growen somewhat stowt and vnruly by the ouerthrowe the ROMANES had of the PARTHIANS and by reason of the rising and rebellion in SYRIA he brought them vnto reason by gentle perswasions and neuer receiued giftes that were sent him no not from Kinges and Princes Furthermore he did disburden the prouinces of the feastes and banckets they were wont to make other gouernors before him On the other side also he woulde euer haue the company of good and learned men at his table and would vse them well without curiositie and excesse He had neuer porter to his gate nor was seene by any man in his bed For he would alwayes rise at the breake of daye and would walke or stande before his dore He would curteously receiue all them that came to salute and visite him Further they report of him that he neuer caused man to be beaten with roddes nor to teare his owne garments In his anger he neuer reuiled any man nether did dispightfully set fine vpon any mans heade Finding many thinges also belonging to the common wealth which priuate men had stollen and imbecelled to their owne vse he restored them agayne vnto the cities whereby they grewe very riche and wealthie and yet did he saue their honor and credit that had taken them away and did them no other hurte but onely constrayned them to restore that which was the common wealthes He made a litle warre also and draue away the theeues that kept about the Mountayne Amanus for the which exployte his souldiers called him Imperator to saye chiefe Captaine About that tyme there was an Orator called Caecilius who wrote vnto him from ROME to praye him to sende him some Leoperds or Panthers out of CILICIA bicause he woulde shewe the people some pastyme with them Cicero boasting of his doinges wrote to him agayne that there were no more Leoperds in CILICIA but that they were all fledde into CARIA for anger that seeing all thinges quiet in CILICIA they had leasure now to hunte them So when he returned towardes ROME from the charge of his gouernment he came by RHODES and stayed a few dayes at ATHENS with great delight to remember how pleasauntly he liued there before at what time he studied there Thither came to him the chiefest learned men of the citie and his frendes also with whom he was acquainted at his first being there In fine hauing receiued all the honorable enterteinment in GRAECE that could be he returned vnto ROME where at his arriuall he found great factions kindled the which men saw plainly would growe in the ende to ciuill warre Thereuppon the Senate hauing decreed that he should enter in triumphe into the citie he aunswered that he would rather all parties agreed follow Caesars coche in triumphe So he trauelled verie earnestly betwene Pompey and Caesar eftsoones wryting vnto Caesar and also speaking vnto Pompey that was present seeking all the meanes he coulde to take vp the quarrell and misliking betwext them two But it was so impossible a matter that there was no speeche of agreement woulde take place So Pompey hearing that Caesar was not farre from ROME he durst no lenger abide in ROME but fled with diuers of the greatest men in ROME Cicero would not followe him when he fled and therefore men thought he would take parte with Caesar but this is certaine that he was in a maruelous perplexitie and could not easely determine what way to take Whereuppon he wrote in his Epistells what way should I take Pompey hath the iuster and honester cause of warre but Caesar can better execute and prouide for him selfe and his frendes with better safetie so that I haue meanes enow to flie but none to whome I might repaire In all this sturre there was one of Caesars frendes called Trebatius which wrote a letter vnto Cicero and told him that Caesar wished him in any case to come to him and to run with him the hope fortune he vndertooke but if he excused him selfe by his age that then he should get him into GRAECE and there to be quiet from them both Cicero marueling that Caesar wrote not to him him selfe aunswered in anger that he would doe nothing vnworthie of his actes all the dayes of his life thitherto to this effect he wrote in his letters Now Caesar being gone into SPAYNE Cicero imbarked immediatly to go to Pompey So when he came vnto him euery man was very glad of his comming but Cato Howbeit Cato secretly reproued him for comming vnto Pompey saying that for him selfe he had bene without all honestie at that time to haue forsaken that parte the which he had alwayes taken and followed from the beginning of his first practise in the common wealth but for him on thother side that it had bene better for the safetie of his contrie and chiefly for all his frendes that he had bene a newter to both and so to haue taken thinges as they had fallen out and that he had no maner of reason nor instant cause to make him to become Caesars enemie and by comming thither to put him selfe into so great perill These perswasions of Cato ouerthrewe all Ciceroes purpose and determination besides that Pompey him selfe did not employe him in any matter of seruice or importance But hereof him selfe was more in fault then Pompey bicause he confessed openly that he did repent him he was come thither Furthermore he scorned and disdained all Pompeys preparacions and counsells the which in deede made him to be had in gealousie and suspicion Also he would euer be steering and gybing at those that tooke Pompeys parte though he had no list him selfe to be merie He would also goe vp and downe the campe very sad and heauy but yet he woulde euer haue one geast or other to make men laugh although they had as litle lust to be merie as he and surely it shall doe no hurte to call some of them to minde in this place Domitius being verie desirous to
GRAECIANS doings adding thereunto all the fables and deuises which they doe write and reporte he was hindered of his purpose against his will by many open and priuate troubles that came vpon him at once whereof notwithstanding he him selfe was cause of the most of them For first of all he did put away his wife Terentia bicause she had made but small accompt of him in all the warres so that he departed from ROME hauing no necessarie thing with him to enterteine him out of his contrie and yet when he came backe againe into ITALIE she neuer shewed any sparke of loue or good will towardes him For she neuer came to BRVNDVSIVM to him where he remeyned a long time and worse then that his daughter hauing the hart to take so long a iorney in hand to goe to him she neither gaue her company to conduct her nor money or other furniture conuenient for her but so handled the matter that Cicero at his returne to ROME founde bare walles in his house and nothing in it and yet greatly brought in det besides And these were the honestest causes alleaged for their diuorse But besides that Terentia denyed all these Cicero him selfe gaue her a good occasion to cleere her selfe bicause he shortly after maried a young maiden being fallen in fancie with her as Terentia sayd for her beawtie or as Tyro his seruaunt wrote for her riches to th ende that with her goods he might pay his dets For she was very rich Cicero also was appointed her gardian she being left sole heire Now bicause he ought a maruelous summe of money his parents and frends did counsell him to mary this young maiden notwithstanding he was too olde for her bicause that with her goodes he might satisfie his creditors But Antonius speaking of this mariage of Cicero in his aunswers Orations he made against the PHILIPPIANS he doth reproue him for that he put away his wife with whome he was growen olde being merie with him by the way for that he had bene an idle man and neuer went from the smoke of his chimney nor had bene abroade in the warres in any seruice of his contrie or common wealth Shortly after that he had maried his second wife his daughter dyed in labor of child in Lentulus house whose seconde wife she was being before maried vnto Piso who was her first husband So the Philosophers and learned men came of all sides to comfort him but he tooke her death so sorowfully that he put away his second wife bicause he thought she did reioyce at the death of his daughter And thus muche touching the state and troubles of his house Nowe touching the conspiracie against Caesar he was not made priuie to it although he was one of Brutus greatest frendes and that it grieued him to see thinges in that state they were brought vnto and albeit also he wished for the time past as much as any other man did But in deede the conspirators were affrayed of his nature that lacked hardinesse and of his age the which oftentimes maketh the stowtest and most hardiest natures faint harted cowardly Notwithstanding the conspiracie being executed by Brutus and Cassius Caesars frendes beinge gathered together euerie man was affrayed that the citie woulde againe fall into ciuill warres And Antonius also who was Consul at that time did assemble the Senate and made some speache and mocion then to draw things againe vnto quietnes But Cicero hauing vsed diuers perswasions fit for the time in the end he moued the Senate to decree following the example of the ATHENIANS a generall obliuion of thinges done against Caesar and to assigne vnto Brutus and Cassius some gouernmentes of prouinces Howbeit nothing was concluded for the people of them selues were sorie when they sawe Caesars bodie brought through the market place And when Antonius also did shew them his gowne all be bloodied cut throst through with swordes then they were like madde men for anger and sought vp and downe the market place if they coulde meete with any of them that had slaine him and taking fire brandes in their handes they ranne to their houses to set them a fire But the conspirators hauing preuented this daunger saued them selues and fearing that if they taried at ROME they should haue many such alaroms they forsooke the citie Then Antonius began to looke aloft and became fearefull to all men as though he ment to make him selfe king but yet most of all vnto Cicero aboue all others For Antonius perceiuing that Cicero began againe to increase in credit and authoritie and knowing that he was Brutus very frend he did mislike to see him come neere him and besides there was at that time some gealousie betwext them for the diuersitie and difference of their manners and disposicions Cicero being affrayed of this was first of all in minde to go with Dolabella to his prouince of SYRIA as one of his Lieutenaunts But they that were appointed to be Consuls the next yeare following after Antonius two noble citizens Ciceroes great frends Hircius Pansa they intreated him not to forsake them vndertaking that they would plucke downe this ouergreat power of Antonius so he would remaine with them But Cicero neither beleuing not altogether mistrusting them forsooke Dolabella and promised Hircius and Pansa that he would spend the sommer at ATHENS and that he would returne againe to ROME so soone as they were entred into their Consulship With this determination Cicero tooke sea alone to goe into GRAECE But as it chaunceth oftentimes there was some let that kept him he could not saile and newes came to him daily from ROME as the manner is that Antonius was wonderfully chaunged and that nowe he did nothing any more without the authoritie consent of the Senate that there lacked no thing but his person to make all things well Then Cicero condemning his dastardly feare returned foorthwith to ROME not being deceiued in his first hope For there came suche a number of people out to meete him that he coulde doe nothing all day long but take them by the handes and imbrace them who to honor him came to meete him at the gate of the citie as also by the way to bring him to his house The next morning Antonius assembled the Senate and called for Cicero by name Cicero refused to goe and kept his bedde fayning that he was werie with his iorney and paines he had taken the day before but in deede the cause why he went not was for feare and suspicion of an ambushe that was layed for him by the way if he had gone as he was informed by one of his verie good frends Antonius was maruelously offended that they did wrongfully accuse him for laying of any ambush for him and therefore sent souldiers to his house and commaunded them to bring him by force or else to sette his house a fire After that time Cicero and he were
Tribunes of the people might not speake their mindes and were driuen away in great daunger of their liues as many as stoode with lawe and iustice Hereuppon Caesar incontinently went into ITALY with his army which made Cicero say in his Philippides that as Hellen was cause of the warre of TROY so was Antonius the author of the ciuill warres which in deede was a starke lye For Caesar was not so fickle headed nor so easily caried away with anger that he would so sodainly haue gone and made warre with his contry vpon the sight onely of Antonius and Cassius being fled vnto him in miserable apparell and in a hyered coche had he not long before determined it with him selfe But sith in deed Caesar looked of long time but for some culler this came as he wished and gaue him iust occasion of warre But to say truely nothing els moued him to make warre with all the world as he did but one selfe cause which first procured Alexander and Cyrus also before him to wit an insatiable desire to raigne with a senseles couetousnes to be the best man in the world the which he could not come vnto before he had first put downe Pompey and vtterly ouerthrowen him Now after that Caesar had gotten ROME at his commaundement had driuen Pompey out of ITALY he purposed first to goe into SPAYNE against the legions Pompey had there and in the meane time to make prouision for shippes and marine preparacion to follow Pompey In his absence he left Lepidus that was Praetor gouernor of ROME and Antonius that was Tribune he gaue him charge of all the souldiers and of ITALY Then was Antonius straight maruelously commended and beloued of the souldiers bicause he commonly exercised him self among them and would oftentimes eate and drinke with them and also be liberall vnto them according to his abilitie But then in contrary manner he purchased diuers other mens euill willes bicause that through negligence he would not doe them iustice that were iniuried delt very churlishly with them that had any sute vnto him and besides all this he had an ill name to intise mens wiues To conclude Caesars friends that gouerned vnder him were cause why they hated Caesars gouernment which in deede in respect of him selfe was no lesse then a tyrannie by reason of the great insolencies outragious parts that were committed amongst whom Antonius that was of greatest power and that also committed greatest faultes deserued most blame But Caesar notwithstanding when he returned from the warres of SPAYNE made no reckoning of the complaints that were put vp against him but contrarily bicause he found him a hardy man a valliant Captaine he employed him in his chiefest affayres and was no whit deceiued in his opinion of him So he passed ouer the IONIAN sea vnto BRVNDVSIVM being but slenderly accompanied sent vnto Antonius Gabinius that they should imbarke their men as soone as they could and passe them ouer into MACEDON Gabinius was affrayd to take the sea bicause it was very roughe and in the winter time therefore fetched a great compasse about by land But Antonius fearing some daunger might come vnto Caesar bicause he was compassed in with a great number of enemies first of all he draue away Libo who roade at ancker with a great armie before the hauen of BRVNDVSIVM For he manned out such a number of pynnasies barks and other small boates about euery one of his gallies that he draue him thence After that he imbarked into shippes twenty thowsand footemen and eyght hundred horsemen and with this armie he hoysed sayle When the enemies sawe him they made out to followe him but the sea rose so highe that the billowes put backe their gallies that they could not come neare him and so he scaped that daunger But withall he fell vppon the rockes with his whole fleete where the sea wrought very highe so that he was out of all hope to saue him selfe Yet by good fortune sodainely the winde turned South-west and blewe from the gulffe driuing the waues of the riuer into the mayne sea Thus Antonius loosing from the lande and sayling with safetie at his pleasure soone after he sawe all the coastes full of shippewracks For the force and boysterousnes of the winde did cast away the gallies that followed him of the which many of them were broken and splitted and diuers also cast away and Antonius tooke a great number of them prisoners with a great summe of money also Besides all these he tooke the citie of LYSSVS and brought Caesar a great supplie of men and made him coragious comming at a pynche with so great a power to him Now there were diuers hotte skytmishes and encownters in the which Antonius sought so valliantly that he caried the prayse from them all but specially at two seuerall tymes when Caesars men turned their backes and fled for life For he stepped before them and compelled them to returne againe to fight so that the victorie fell on Ceasars side For this cause he had the seconde place in the campe amonge the souldiers and they spake of no other man vnto Caesar but of him who shewed playnely what opinion he had of him when at the last battell of PHARSALIA which in deede was the last tryall of all to giue the Conqueror the whole Empire of the worlde he him selfe did leade the right wing of his armie and gaue Antonius the leading of the left wing as the valliantest man and skilfullest souldier of all those he had about him After Caesar had wonne the victorie and that he was created Dictator he followed Pompey steppe by steppe howbeit before he named Antonius generall of the horsemen and sent him to ROME The generall of the horsemen is the second office of dignitie when the Dictator is in the citie but when he is abroad he is the chiefest man and almost the onely man that remayneth and all the other officers and Magistrates are put downe after there is a Dictator chosen Notwithstanding Dolabella being at that tyme Tribune and a younge man desirous of chaunge and innouation he preferred a law which the ROMANES call Nouas tabulas as much to saye as a cutting of and cancelling of all obligacions and specialties were called the newe tables bicause they were driuen then to make bookes of daily receit and expence and perswaded Antonius his friend who also gaped for a good occasion to please and gratifie the common people to aide him to passe this lawe But Trebellius Asinius disswaded from it al they could possible So by good hap it chaunced that Antonius mistrusted Dolabella for keeping of his wife and tooke suche a conceite of it that lie thrust his wife out of his house being his Cosin Germane the daughter of C. Antonius who was Consul with Cicero ioyning with Asinius he resisted Dolabella fought with him Dolabella had
it For after he had made peace with the PARTHIANS he was loth to geue them cause to thinke he mistrusted them and on thother side also he would gladly shorten his way and passe by places wel inhabited where he might be prouided of al things necessary therfore he asked the MARDIAN what pledge he would put in to performe that he promised The MARDIAN gaue himself to be bound hand and foote till he had brought his army into the contry of ARMENIA So he guided the army thus bound two dayes together without any trouble of sight of enemy But the third day Antonius thinking the PARTHIANS would no more follow him trusting therin suffered the souldiers to march in disorder as euery mā listed The MARDIAN perceiuing that the dammes of a riuer were newly broken vp which they should haue passed ouer that the riuer had ouerflowen the bankes and drowned all the way they shoulde haue gone he gessed straight that the PARTHIANS had done it and had thus broken it open to stay the ROMANES for getting too farre before them Therupon he bad Antonius looke to him selfe and told him that his enemies were not farre from thence Antonius hauing set his men in order as he was placing of his archers sling men to resist the enemies to driue them backe they discried the PARTHIANS that wheeled round about the army to compasse them in on euery side to breake their rankes their light armed men gaue charge apon them So after they had hurt many of the ROMANES with their arrowes and that they them selues were also hurt by them with their dartes and plummets of leade they retyred a litle and then came againe and gaue charge Vntill that the horsemen of the GAVLES turned their horses fiercely gallopped towards them that they dispersed them so as al that day they gathered no more together Therby Antonius knew whatto do and did not only strengthen the rereward of his army but both the flanks also with darters and sling men and made his army march in a square battell commaunding the horsemen that when the enemies should come to assaile them they shoulde driue them backe but not follow them too farre Thus the PARTHIANS foure daies after seeing they did no more hurte to the ROMANES then they also receiued of them they were not so hotte vpon them as they were commaunded but excusing them selues by the winter that troubled them they determined to returne backe againe The fist day Flauius Gallus a valliant man of his handes that had charge in the armie came vnto Antonius to pray him to let him haue some moe of his light armed men then were alreadie in the rereward and some of the horsemen that were in the voward hoping thereby to doe some notable exploite Antonius graunting them vnto him when the enemies came according to their maner to set vpon the taile of the army and to skirmish with them Flauius coragiously made them retire but not as they were wont to doe before to retire and ioyne presently with their army for he ouerrashly thrust in among them to fight it out at the sword The Capteines that had the leading of the rereward seeing Flauius stray too farre from the army they sent vnto him to will him to retire but he would not harken to it And it is reported also that Titius himselfe the Treasorer tooke the ensignes did what he could to make the ensigne bearers returne backe reuiling Flauius Gallus bicause that through his folly and desperatnes he caused many honest and valliant men to be both hurt slaine to no purpose Gallus also fel out with him and commaunded his men to stay Wherefore Titius returned againe into the army and Gallus stil ouerthrowing and driuing the enemies backe whom he met in the voward he was not ware that he was compassed in Then seeing him selfe enuironned of all sides he sent vnto the army that they should come and aide him but there the Captaines that led the legions among the which Canidius a man of great estimacion about Antonius made one committed many faults For where they should haue made head with the whole army vpon the PARTHIANS they sent him aide by small cōpanies and when they were slaine they sent him others also So that by their beastlinesse and lacke of consideracion they had like to haue made all the armie flie if Antonius him selfe had not come frō the front of the battell with the third legion the which came through the middest of them that fled vntill they came to front of the enemies that they stayed them from chasing any further Howbeit at this last conflict there were slaine no lesse thē three thowsand men and fiue thowsande besides brought sore hurt into the campe and amongest them also Flauius Gallus whose body was shot through in foure places whereof he died Antonius went to the tents to visite comfort the sicke wounded and for pities sake he could not refraine from weeping and they also shewing him the best countenaunce they coulde tooke him by the hand and prayed him to go and be dressed and not to trouble him selfe for them most reuerently calling him their Emperour Captaine that for them selues they were whole safe so that he had his health For in deede to say truly there was not at that time any Emperour or Captaine that had so great puisant an army as his together both for lusty youths corage of the souldiers as also for their pacience to away with so great paines trouble Furthermore the obedience reuerēce they shewed vnto their captaine with a maruelous earnest loue good wil was so great all were indifferētly as wel great as smal the noble men as meane men the Captaines and souldiers so earnestly bent to esteeme Antonius good will fauor aboue their owne life safety that in this point of marshall discipline the auncient ROMANES could not haue don any more But diuers things were cause therof as we haue told you before Antonius nobility ancient house his eloquence his plaine nature his liberality magnificence his familiarity to sport to be mery in company but specially the care he tooke at that time to help visite lament those that were sicke woūded seing euery man to haue that which was meete for him that was of such force effect as it made them that were sicke wounded to loue him better were more desirous to do him seruice then those that were whole soūd This victory so encoraged the enemies who otherwise were weary to follow Antonius any further that all night longe they kept the fieldes and houered about the ROMANES campe thinking that they would presently flie then that they should take the spoile of their campe So the next morning by breake of daye there were gathered together a farre greater nūber of the PARTHIANS then they were
kill him a thing so damnable wicked and cruell of it selfe that he hardlie deserued to haue bene pardoned though he had killed Cicero to haue saued his Vncles life Nowe where they falsefied and brake their othes the one making Artabazus prisoner and the other killing of Alexander Antonius out of doubt had best cause and iustest colour For Artabazus had betrayed him and forsaken him in MEDIA But Demetrius as diuers doe reporte deuised a false matter to accuse Alexander to cloke the murther he had committed and some thinke he did accuse him to whom he him selfe had done iniurie vnto and was not reuenged of him that woulde doe him iniurie Furthermore Demetrius him selfe did many noble feates in warre as we haue recited of him before and contrarilie Antonius when he was not there in person wanne many famous and great victories by his Lieutenauntes and they were both ouerthrowen being personallie in battell but yet not both after one sorte For the one was forsaken of his men being MACEDONIANS and the other contrarily forsooke his that were ROMANES for he fled left them that ventred their liues for his honor So that the fault the one did was that he made them his enemies that fought for him and the fault in the other that he so beastlie left them that loued him best and were most faithfull to him And for their deathes a man can not praise the one not the other but yet Demetrius death the more reproachefull For he suffered him selfe to be taken prisoner and when he was sent away to be kept in a straunge place he had the hart to liue yet three yeare longer to serue his mouth and bellie as brute beastes doe Antonius on the other side slue him selfe to confesse a troth cowardly and miserably to his great paine and griefe and yet was it before his bodie came into his enemies hands THE LIFE OF Artaxerxes ARtaxerxes the first of this name of all the kinges of PERSIA a noble and curteous Prince as any of all his house was surnamed long hand bicause his right hand was longer then his left and he was the sonne of king Xerxes But the seconde whose life we presentlie intend to wryte was surnamed Mnemon as muche to say great memorie and he was the sonne of the daughter of the first Artaxerxes For king Darius and his wife Parysatis had foure sonnes of the which the eldest was this Artaxerxes the seconde Cyrus and two other younger Ostanes and Oxathres Cyrus from the beginning bare the name of the former auncient Cyrus which in the PERSIAN tongue signifieth the sunne But Artaxerxes was called before Arsicas although Dinon wryteth that he was called Oarses Howebeit it is vnlikelie that Ctesias although his bookes otherwise be full of fables and as vntrue as they are founde should forget the name of the Prince with whom he dwelt whom he serued and continuallie followed both him his wife and children Cyrus from his cradell was of a hotte sturring minde and Artaxerxes in contrarie manner more mylde and gentle in all his actions and doinges He was maried to a verie fayer Ladie by his father and mothers commaundement afterwards kept her against their wills being forbidden by them For king Darius his father hauing put his sonnes wiues brother to death he woulde also haue put her to death but her husband with teares made suche humble sute to his mother for her that with muche a doe he did not onely gette pardon for her life but graunt also that she shoulde not be put from him This notwithstanding his mother alwayes loued Cyrus better then him and praied that he might be king after his fathers death Wherefore Cyrus being in his prouinces of ASIA by the sea side when he was sent for to come to the Court at what time his father lay sicke of the disease he dyed he went thither in good hope his mother had preuailed with his father that in his will he would make him his heire of the realme of PERSIA For his mother Parysatis alleaged a matter very probable and the which in old time did helpe king Xerxes in the like case through Demaratus counsell She said that Arsicas was borne before her husband Darius was king Cyrus after he was crowned king All this could not preuaile For her eldest sonne Arsicas surnamed Artaxerxes was assigned king of PERSIA Cyrus gouernor of LYDIA and the kings Lieutenant generall of all the low contries of ASIA toward the sea side Shortly after king Darius death the new king Artaxerxes went vnto Pasargades there to be consecrated and annoynted king by the Priestes of the contrie of PERSIA The place of this Pasargades is a temple dedicated vnto Minerus the goddesse of battells as I take it where the newe king must be consecrated and when he commeth into the temple he putteth of his gowne and putteth on that which the old auncient Cyrus ware before he was king Furthermore he must eate of a certaine tart or fricacie made of figges with turpentine and then he must drinke a drinke made with vineger and milke There are also certeine other secret ceremonies which they must keepe and none doe know but the verie Priestes them selues Now Artaxerxes being readie to enter into all these ceremonies Tisaphernes came vnto him brought him one of the Priestes that had bene Cyrus schoolemaister in his youth and had taught him magicke who by reason shoulde haue bene more offended then any man else for that he was not appointed king And this was the cause why they beleued him the better when he accused Cyrus For he layd that Cyrus had conspired treason against the king his brothers owne person that he ment traiterously to kill him in the temple when he should put of his gowne Some doe reporte that Cyrus was apprehended vpon this simple accusacion by word of mouth Others write also that Cyrus came into the temple and hiding him selfe he was taken with the maner and bewraied by the priest So as he going to suffer death his mother tooke Cyrus in her armes and wounde the heare of her heade about his necke and tyed him straightly to her and withall she wept so bitterly and made suche pitiefull mone vnto the king her sonne that through her intercession the king graunted him his life sent him againe into his contrie and gouernment But this satisfied not Cyrus neither did he so muche remember the king his brothers fauor vnto him in graunting him his life as he did the despite he had offred him to be made prisoner Insomuch that for this grudge and euill will he euer after had a greater desire then before to be king Some wryters alleage that he entred into actuall rebellion against his brother by force of armes bicause he had not sufficient reuenue to defray the ordinary expence of his house howbeit it is a meere folly to say so For though he had
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
that this contencion did sette them further out though they were allyed together For Cassius had maried Iunia Brutus sister Others say that this contencion betwext them come by Caesar himselfe who secretly gaue either of them both hope of his fauour So their sute for the Praetorshippe was so followed and laboured of either partie that one of them put an other in sute of lawe Brutus with his vertue and good name contended against many noble exploytes in armes which Cassius had done against the PARTHIANS So Caesar after he had heard both their obiections he told his frendes with whom he consulted about this matter Cassius cause is the iuster sayd he but Brutus must be first preferred Thus Brutus had the first Praetorshippe and Cassius the second who thanked not Caesar so much for the Praetorshippe he had as he was angrie with him for that he had lost But Brutus in many other thinges tasted of the benefite of Caesars fauour in any thing he requested For if he had listed he might haue bene one of Caesars chiefest frendes and of greatest authoritie and credit about him Howebeit Cassius frendes did disswade him from it for Cassius and he were not yet reconciled together sithence their first contencion and strife for the Praetorship and prayed him to beware of Caesars sweete intisements and to flie his tyrannicall fauors the which they sayd Caesar gaue him not to honor his vertue but to weaken his constant minde framing it to the bent of his bowe Now Caesar on the other side did not trust him ouermuch nor was not without tales brought vnto him against him howbeit he feared his great minde authority frends Yet on the other side also he trusted his good nature fayer condicions For intelligence being brought him one day that Antonius and Dolabella did conspire against him he aunswered that these fat long heared men made him not affrayed but the leane and whitely faced fellowes meaning that by Brutus and Cassius At an other time also when one accused Brutus vnto him and bad him beware of him What sayd he againe clapping his hand on his brest thinke ye that Brutus will not tarie till this bodie dye Meaning that none but Brutus after him was meete to haue suche power as he had And surelie in my opinion I am perswaded that Brutus might in dede haue come to haue bene the chiefest man of ROME if he could haue contented him selfe for a time to haue bene next vnto Caesar to haue suffred his glorie and authoritie which he had gotten by his great victories to consume with time But Cassius being a chollericke man and hating Caesar priuatlie more then he did the tyrannie openlie he incensed Brutus against him It is also reported that Brutus coulde euill away with the tyrannie and that Cassius hated the tyranne making many complayntes for the iniuries he had done him and amongest others for that he had taken away his Lyons from him Cassius had prouided them for his sportes when he should be AEdilis and they were found in the citie of MEGARA when it was wonne by Calenus and Caesar kept them The rumor went that these Lyons did maruelous great hurt to the MAGARIANS For when the citie was taken they brake their cages where they were tied vp and turned them loose thinking they would haue done great mischiefe to the enemies and haue kept them from setting vppon them but the Lyons contrarie to expectacion turned vpon them selues that fled vnarmed did so cruelly tare some in peces that it pitied their enemies to see them And this was the cause as some do report that made Cassius conspire against Caesar. But this holdeth no water For Cassius euen frō his cradell could not abide any maner of tyrans as it appeared when he was but a boy went vnto the same schoole that Faustus the sonne of Sylla did And Faustus bragging among other boyes highly boasted of his fathers kingdom Cassius rose vp on his feete and gaue him two good wlirts on the eare Faustus gouernors would haue put this matter in sute against Cassius But Pompey woulde not suffer them but caused the two boyes to be brought before him and asked them howe the matter came to passe Then Cassius as it is wrytten of him sayd vnto the other goe to Faustus speake againe and thou darest before this noble man here the same wordes that made me angrie with thee that my fistes may walke once againe about thine eares Suche was Cassius hotte stirring nature But of Brutus his frendes and contrie men both by diuers procurementes and sundrie rumors of the citie and by many bills also did openlie call and procure him to doe that he did For vnder the image of his auncester Iunius Brutus that draue the kinges out of ROME they wrote O that it pleased the goddes thou wert nowe aliue Brutus and againe that thou wert here amonge vs nowe His tribunall or chaire where he gaue audience duringe the time he was Praetor was full of suche billes Brutus thou art a sleepe and art not Brutus in deede And of all this Caesars flatterers were the cause who beside many other exceeding and vnspeakeable honors they dayly deuised for him in the night time they did put Diadeames vppon the heades of his images supposinge thereby to allure the common people to call him kinge in steade of Dictator Howebeit it turned to the contrarie as we haue wrytten more at large in Iulius Caesars life Nowe when Cassius felt his frendes and did stirre them vp against Caesar they all agreed and promised to take parte with him so Brutus were the chiefe of their conspiracie For they told him that so high an enterprise and attempt as that did not so muche require men of manhoode and courage to drawe their swordes as it stoode them vppon to haue a man of suche estimacion as Brutus to make euerie man boldlie thinke that by his onelie presence the fact were holie and iust If he tooke not this course then that they shoulde goe to it with fainter hartes and when they had done it they shoulde be more fearefull bicause euerie man woulde thinke that Brutus woulde not haue refused to haue made one with them if the cause had bene good and honest Therefore Cassius considering this matter with him selfe did first of all speake to Brutus since they grewe straunge together for the sute they had for the Praetorshippe So when he was reconciled to him againe and that they had imbraced one an other Cassius asked him if he were determined to be in the Senate house the first day of the moneth of Marche bicause he heard say that Caesars frendes shoulde moue the counsell that day that Caesar shoulde he called king by the Senate Brutus aunswered him he would not be there But if we be sent for sayd Cassius howe then For my selfe then sayd Brutus I meane not to holde my peace but to
owne money that should haue kept him in his banishment Furthermore Brutus and Cassius were compelled of necessity to make warres bicause they coulde not haue liued safelie in peace when they were driuen out of ROME for that they were condemned to death and pursued by their enemies And for this cause therefore they were driuen to hazard them selues in warre more for their owne safetie then for the libertie of their contrie men Whereas Dion on the other side liuing more merily and safelie in his banishment then the tyranne Dionysius him selfe that had banished him did put him selfe to the daunger to deliuer SICILE from bondage Nowe the matter was not a like vnto the ROMANES to be deliuered from the gouernment of Caesar as it was for the SYRACVSANS to be ridde of Dionysius tyrannie For Dionysius denyed not that he was not a tyranne hauing filled SICILE with suche miserie and calamitie Howebeit Caesars power and gouernment when it came to be established did in deede much hurt at his first entrie and beginning vnto those that did resist him but afterwardes vnto them that being ouercome had receiued his gouernment it seemed he rather had the name and opinion onely of a tyranne then otherwise that he was so in deede For there neuer followed any tyrannicall nor cruell act but contrarilie it seemed that he was a mercifull Phisition whom God had ordeyned of speciall grace to be Gouernor of the Empire of ROME and to set all thinges againe at quiet stay the which required the counsell and authoritie of an absolute Prince And therefore the ROMANES were maruelous sorie for Caesar after he was slaine and afterwardes would neuer pardon them that had slaine him On the other side the cause why the SYRACVSANS did most accuse Dion was bicause he did let Dionysius escape out of the castell of SYRACVSA and bicause he did not ouerthrow and deface the tombe of his father Furthermore towching the warres Dion alway shewed him selfe a Captaine vnreprouable hauing wiselie and skilfullie taken order for those things which he had enterprised of his owne head and counsell and did amende the faults others committed and brought things to better state then he found them Where it seemeth that Brutus did not wisely to receiue the second battell considering his rest stoode vpon it For after he had lost the battell it was vnpossible for him euer to rise againe therefore his hart failed him and so gaue vp all and neuer durst striue with his euill fortune as Pompey did considering that he had present cause enough in the field to hope of his souldiers and being beside a dreadfull Lorde all the sea ouer Furthermore the greatest reproache they could obiect against Brutus was that Iulius Caesar hauing saued his life and pardoned all the prisoners also taken in battell as many as he had made request for taking him for his frende and honoring him aboue all his other frends Brutus notwithstanding had imbrued his hands in his blood wherewith they could neuer reproue Dion For on the contrarie side so long as Dion was Dionysius frende and kinseman he did alway helpe him to order and gouerne his affaires But after he was banished his contrie and that his wife was forciblie maried to an other man and his goodes also taken from him then he entred into iust and open warres against Dionysius the tyranne But in this poynt they were contrarie together For wherein their chiefest praise consisted to witte in hating of tyrannes and wicked men it is most true that Brutus desire was most sincere of both For hauing no priuate cause of complaint or grudge against Caesar he ventred to kill him onely to set his contrie againe at libertie Where if Dion had not receiued priuate cause of quarrell against Dionysius he woulde neuer haue made warre with him The which Plato proueth in his Epistells where is plainlie seene that Dion being driuen out of the tyrans Court against his will and not putting him selfe to voluntarie banishment he draue out Dionysius Furthermore the respect of the common wealth caused Brutus that before was Pompeys enemie to become his frende and enemie vnto Caesar that before was his frend only referring his frendshippe and enmitie vnto the consideracion of iustice and equitie And Dion did many things for Dionysius sake and benefit all the while he trusted him and when he beganne to mistrust him then for anger he made warre with him Wherefore all his frendes did not beleue but after he had driuen out Dionysius he would stablish the gouernment to him selfe flattering the people with a more curteous and gentle title then the name of a tyranne But for Brutus his verie enemies them selues confessed that of all those that conspired Caesars death he only had no other ende and intent to attempt his enterprise but to restore the Empire of ROME againe to her former state gouernment And furthermore it was not all one thing to deale with Dionysius as it was to haue to doe with Iulius Caesar. For no man that knew Dionysius but would haue despised him considering that he spent the most parte of his time in drinking dycing and in haunting lewde womens company But to haue vndertaken to destroy Iulius Caesar and not to haue shroncke backe for feare of his great wisedom power and fortune considering that his name only was dreadfull vnto euerie man and also not to suffer the kings of PARTHIA and INDIA to be in rest for him this could not come but of a maruelous noble minde of him that for feare neuer fainted nor let fall any part of his corage And therefore so sone as Dion came into SICILIA many thowsands of men came and ioyned with him against Dionysius But the fame of Iulius Caesar did set vp his frends againe after his death and was of suche force that it raised a young stripling Octauius Caesar that had no meanes nor power of him selfe to be one of the greatest men of ROME and they vsed him as a remedie to encounter Antonius malice and power And if men will say that Dion draue out the tyran Dionysius with force of armes and sundrie battells and that in contrarie maner Brutus slue Caesar being a naked man and without gard then doe I aunswere againe that it was a noble parte and of a wise Captaine to choose so apt a time and place to come vppon a man of so great power and to finde him naked without his gard For he went not sodainlie in a rage and alone or with a small companie to assaile him but his enterprise was long time before determined of and that with diuers men of all the which not a man of them once fayled him but it is rather to be thought that from the beginning he chose them honest men or else that by his choyse of them he made them good men Whereas Dion either from the beginning made no wise choyse in trusting of euill men or else bicause he could not
the people dwelling alongest the sea coast commonlie called the riuer of CORINTHE who yeelded vp them selues holdes and townes into his hands he then intreuched in the castell of the Acrocorinthe with a great trench Furthermore when Aratus came to the citie of SICYONE many of the ACHAIANS gathered about him and holding a counsell and assemblie he was chosen their Lieutenaunt generall hauing absolute power and authoritie to doe what he would and gaue him of their owne citizens to gard his person So he hauing managed the affaires of the state and common wealth of the ACHAIANS the space of three and thirtie yeares together and hauing all that time bene counted of all men the chiefest man of power and authoritie in GRAECE he then found him selfe in poore estate forsaken and in great miserie as in the shippewracke of his contrie beaten with storme and in great daunger of him selfe For when he sent vnto the AETOLIANS for aide they flatly denied him and would send him none Furthermore the ATHENIANS being verie desirous to send aide for Aratus sake were disswaded from it through the practise of Euclidas Micion Aratus also had a house in CORINTHE where all his money was the which king Cleomenes at the first meddled not withall neither would suffer any other to touche it but sent for his frendes and officers and charged them to looke well to it to geue Aratus a good accompt of it afterwardes Furthermore he priuately sent Tripylus vnto him and his father in law Megistonus and offered him great gifts and speciallie an annuall pencion of twelue talents which was double as much as king Ptolomy gaue him who sent him yearely six talents Besides he only prayed the ACHAIANS that they would make him their Lieutenāt general also that the garrison in the castel of the Acrocorinthe might be deuided in common betwene them Aratus made aunswere that he had no absolute power in his hands and that it was in the ACHAIANS not in him Cleomenes thinking this but a deuise and excuse of Aratus he presentlie inuaded the contrie of the SICYONIANS and destroyed all as he came and continued the space of three moneths Aratus in the meane time stoode doutfull how to determine whether he should receiue king Antigonus or not bicause Antigonus would not aide him before he deliuered him the castell of the Acrocorinthe into his handes So the ACHAIANS meeting at the citie of AEGIVM to consult vpon it they sent for Aratus thither Howebeit it was daungerous comming thither bicause Cleomenes campe lay hard by the citie of SICYONE besides also that the citizens kept Aratus and helde him by force saying that they would not let him venter him selfe in such apparaunt daunger their enemies being so neere vnto them Moreouer the women and litle children hong about him weeping and compassing him about as their common father and sauior But Aratus comforting them bad them not be affrayed and so tooke his horse with ten of his frends and his sonne that was a young stripling growen and went towards the sea and imbarked in certaine shippes that roade at ancker Thence he sailed vnto AEGIVM where the diet or parlament was kept and there it was resolued that they should sende for Antigonus and deliuer the castell of the Acrocorinthe into his hands And so it was performed for Aratus sent thither his owne sonne among the other ostages The CORINTHIANS were so sore offended withall that they made hauocke of his goods and gaue his house he had in CORINTHE vnto king Cleomenes So king Antigonus being onwardes on his way to come into PELOPONNESVS with his armie bringing with him twentie thowsand footemen all MACEDONIANS foure hundred horsemen Aratus with the greatest states and officers of the ACHAIANS vnwitting to their enemies went to meete him as farre as the citie of PEGES hauing no great trust nor confidence in Antigonus nor the MACEDONIANS For he remembred verie well that he came first to his greatnes by the iniuries he had offered them and howe that the chiefest cause of his rising was the malice he bare vnto olde Antigonus Howbeit making vertue of necessitie and weying the instant occasion of their present extremitie of Gouernors to be driuen to be subiects he put him selfe in aduenture So when Antigonus was tolde that Aratus was comen in person to him hauing with good countenance after a common sort saluted those that came in his companie to Aratus selfe at his first comming he gaue him an honorable welcome and enterteinment Afterwardes also finding him a good and discreete man he fell into inward frendshippe and familiaritie with him For Aratus was not onely skilfull to geue direction in matters of state touching good order and gouernment but moreouer his companie conuersation was verie pleasaunt to entertaine a Princes leasure with Wherefore though Antigonus was but young at that time yet seeing throughly into Aratus nature and that he was a meete man to be well thought of and esteemed about a Prince he vsed his counsell and aduise more then any other mans in all matters not onely touching the affaires of the ACHAIANS but of the MACEDONIANS also And so all things came to passe which the goddes had promised in their sacrifices For in a beast that was sacrificed there were two galles wrapped in one selfe cawle the which the Soothsayers interpreted did prognosticate that two which before were mortall enemies should nowe become assured frendes But Aratus made no account of their prediction neither did also geue any credit to the sacrifices but trusted more to his owne determination So the warres afterwardes hauing good successe and Antigonus making a feast in the citie of CORINTHE where he had bidden many ghests he would nedes haue Aratus lye vpon him at the table and a litle while after commaunded his men to bring him a couerlet and turning to him asked him if he were not a colde Aratus aunswered him it freezed Then Antigonus bad him come neerer him when the seruaunts brought a couerlet for the king they cast it ouer them both Then Aratus remēbring the sacrifice fell a laughing and told their king what a wonder he had seene in the sacrifice what interpretation the Soothsayers made of it This was long after So Antigonus and Aratus being at that time in the citie of PEGES they were sworne brethren together and then went both with all speede against the enemies Thus there fell out hot skirmishes betwene them hard by the citie of CORINTHE For Cleomenes was verie well fortified and the CORINTHIANS valliantly defended them selues In the meane time Aristoteles of ARGOS Aratus frend secretlie sent him word that he would make the citie rebell if he came him selfe with any number of souldiers Aratus tolde it vnto king Antigonus who gaue him fifteene hundred men with the which he imbarked and passed ouer with great speede from the Isthmus or barre in the straight vnto the
Ocean sea to be Gouernour of LVSITANIA And there he gouerned so wisely that he was nothing chargeable nor troublesome vnto the contry knowing that this honorable charge was geuen him only to mitigate and hide his banishent Afterwards when Galba had rebelled he was the first of all the Gouernours of the prouinces that ioyned with him and bringing with him all his plate both golde and siluer vnto the mynt maister he gaue it him to put into bullion and so to be conuerted into currant coyne Moreouer he gaue of his officers vnto Galba those which he thought the meetest men to serue a Prince and otherwise when he was tried he shewed him selfe as faithfull and skilfull in matters of state as any one that followed the Emperours traine Insomuch as all the way he went many dayes iorney in coch with Galba him selfe and did maruelouslie currie fauour with Titus Iunius bestowing great gifts vpon him and also enterteining him with pleasant speches but specially bicause he willingly gaue him the vpper had wherby he was assured to be the secōd person in credit about Galba So in all that he did he fat excelled Iunius for that he graūted mens sutes frāckly frely without one penny taking was besids easy to be spokē with of euery man that had any sute to him but specially of the souldiers whom he did greatly help further caused diuers also to be called to honorable office he himself partly mouing the Emperor for thē without any labor or sute made vnto him partly also obteining thē at Iunius hāds of the two infrāchised bond me of Galba Icellus Africus For these three men did beare all the sway credit aboue the Emperor in the court Moreouer alwaies whē he inuited the Emperor to his house he bribed the Praetorian gard that waited vpō him gaue euery souldier a crown Now this in sight semed chiefly to be done to honor the Emperor with though in deede it was a fine deuise to ouerthrow him to bribe the souldiers in that sort as he did So Galba cōsulting whom he should make his successor T. Iunius preferred Otho vnto him the which he did not simply of himselfe nor without reward but only with promise that Otho should marcy his daughter if Galba did adopt him his sonne proclaime him successor in the Empire Howbeit Galba did alway specially regard the comon wealth before his priuat liking sought to adopt such a one as should not so much please himself as otherwise he should be proffitable meete for the Empire But surely in my opinion Galba would not make Otho his heire of his goods cōsidering what an vnreasonable spēder he was how sumptuous in al his things besides far gone in det for he ought aboue fiue thowsand Myriades So when he had heard Iunius coūsell about this adoptiō he gētly without other answer did put ouer his determinatio vntil another time made Otho only Cōsul at that time T. Iunius Cōsul with him whereby it was straight supposed that at the beginning of the new yere he would proclaime him his successor in the Empire Which was the thing the souldiers most desired of all other But now delaying stil his determination the legions of the ROMANES in GERMANY did rise rebel against him al at an instant For he was generally hated of al his souldiers bicause he paid thē not the gift he had promised them So they particularly to cloke their malicious intent alleaged For their cause of rising that he had dishonorably reiected Verginius Rusus and that the GAVLES which had fought against thē were rewarded with great rich priuiledges they that tooke not part with Vindex had bene grieuously punished put to death Moreouer that Galba did only honor Vindex death after he was dead as acknowledging his goodwil vnto him offring publike oblatiōs funeral sacrifices for him as if by him only he had bene proclaimed Emperor Now such speches rumors ran through the cāpe amōgst thē whē the first day of the yere came which the ROMANES cal the calends of Ianuary on which day whē Flaccus had called the souldiers together to sweare them to the Emperor according to the custome they plucked down Galbaes images sware only in the name of the people the Senate of ROME The captaines seing what course they tooke were as much affraid of the daūger to be without a head as they stood doutful of the mischief of their rebelliō So there stept vp one amōgst thē said My fellowes in armes what do we meane We neither choose any other Emperor nor yet do allow of him that is Emperor at this present wherby we shew plainly that we do not only refuse Galba but also all other to be our head Emperor that may commaund vs Now for Flaccus Ordeonius that is but Galbaes shadow and image I would wish we should let him alone there as he is And for Vitellius gouernor of the lower GERMANIE he is not farre from vs but one daies iorney only whose father was Censor at ROME and thrise also Consul and that was in a maner a Peere and companion of Clodius Caesar in the gouernment of the Empire whose pouerty if any man mislike in him is a manifest proofe of his goodnes and magnanimity Him therefore let vs choose let the world know that we can tell how to choose an Emperor better then the SPANYARDS or LVSITANIANS Some of the souldiers that stoode by confirmed these words but others also misliked of thē insomuch that amōg the rest there was an ensigne bearer that stale secretly out of the cāpe to cary Vitellius newes hereof who that night made a great supper had great store of good cōpany with him These newes rūning straight through his cāpe Fabius Valés colonel of a legiō came the next morning with a great nūber of horsemē was the first mā that named Vitellius Emperor who before semed to refuse that name as one that was affraid to take the charge of so great an Empire vpon him but after dinner being full of wine meate he came out amōg thē accepted the name of Germanicus which they gaue him refused the name of Caesar. But there withal incōtinently after Flaccus souldiers leauing their goodly popular oth which they had sworne in the name of the people Senate they all then tooke their othes faithfully to doe what it should please the Emperour Vitellius to commaund them Thus Vitellius was chosen Emperor in GERMANY So Galba hearing of this new chaūge thought it not good to deferre time any lēger for the adoptiō he had intended wherfore certainly vnderstanding that those whom he trusted most about him were parties in this matter some taking part with Dolabella the most part of thē with Otho he neither liking the one nor the other sodainly without any word spokē to any man he sent for
them that to delay time was for their auaile considering that they had plentie and store of all maner of prouision where the enemies on thother side being also in their enemies contrie their vittells would quickely faile them Marius Celsus liked verie well of these perswasions And so did Annius Gallus who was not present at this counsell but gone from the campe to be cured of a fall he had from his horse but he was wrytten to by Otho to haue his opinion also So Annius Gallus returned aunswere that he thought it not best to make hast but to stay for the armie that came out of MYSIA considering they were onwardes on their way Howbeit Otho woulde not hearken to this counsell but followed their mindes that concluded of battell for the which were alleaged diuers occasions But the chiefest and likeliest cause of all was that the souldiers which are called the Praetorian gard being the dayly gard about the Emperours person finding then in effect what it was to professe to be a souldier and to liue like a souldier they lamented their continuing in ROME where they liued at ease pleasure feasting and banketing neuer feeling the discommodities and bitter paines of warre and did therefore so earnestly crie out to fight that there was no staying of them as if they should at their first crie and setting forward haue ouerthrowen their enemies Moreouer it seemed also that Otho him selfe could no more away with the feare and dout of the vncertaine successe to come neither could any lenger abide the grieuous thoughts of the daunger of his estate he was so effeminate and vnacquainted with sorowe and paines This was the cause that caried him on headlong as a man that shutteth his eyes falling from a high place and so to put all at aduenture The matter is thus reported by Secundus the Orator and Othoes secretarie Others also doe report that both armies had diuers determinations and mindes as to ioyne all together in one campe and ioyntly to choose among them if they could agree the worthiest man of all the Captaines that were there if not then to assemble the whole Senate in a place together there to suffer the Senators to choose such one Emperour as they liked best of And sure it is verie likely it was so considering that neither of them both which were then called Emperours was thought meete for the place they had and therefore that these counsells and consideracions might easely fall into the ROMANE souldiers heades who were wise men and expert souldiers that in deede it was a thing for them iustly to mislike to bring them selues into the like miserable time and calamitie which their predecessors before them had caused one an other to suffer first for Sylla and Marius sakes and afterwards for Caesar and Pompey and now to bestow the Empire of ROME either vpon Vitellius to make him the abler to follow his dronkennes and gluttony or else vpon Otho to maintaine his wanton and licentious life This was the cause that moued Celsus to delay time hoping to end the warres without trouble and daunger and that caused Otho also to make the more hast being affrayed of the same Howebeit Otho returning backe againe to BRESSELLES he committed an other fault nor only bicause he tooke his mens good wils from thē to fight the which his presence and the reuerence they bare vnto him did put in them but bicause also he caried away with him for the gard of his person the valliantest souldiers most resolute men of all his host About that time there chaunced a skirmish to fall out by the riuer of Po bicause Cecinna built a bridge ouer it Othoes men did what they could to hinder them Howbeit when they saw they preuailed not they laded certaine barges with faggots and drie wodde all rubbed ouer with bunistone and pitche and setting them a fire they sent them downe the streame When the barges were in the middest of the streame there sodainlie rose a winde out of the riuer which blewe vppon this woddestake they had prepared to cast among the enemies workes of this bridge that first made it smoke and immediatly after fell all on a great flame which did so trouble the men in the barges that they were driuen to leape into the riuer to saue them selues and so they lost their barges and became them selues also prisoners to their enemies to their great shame and mockerie Furthermore the GERMAINES vnder Vitellius fighting with Othoes fensers which of them should winne a litle Iland in the middest of the riuer they had the vpper hand and slue many of the sensers Thereuppon Othoes souldiers which were in BERRIACVM being in a rage withall and would nedes fight Proclus brought them into the fielde and went and camped about fiftie furlong out of the citie so fondly and to so litle purpose that being the spring of the yeare and all the contrie thereabout full of brookes and riuers yet they notwithstanding lacked water The next morning they raised their campe to meete with their enemies the same day and were driuen to march aboue a hundred furlong Now Paulinus perswaded them to go fayer and softly and not to make more hast then neded and would not so soone as they should come being wearied with their iorney and trauell set vpon their enemies that were weil armed and besides had leasure time enough to set their men in battell ray whilest they were cōming so long a iorney with all their cariage Now the Captaines being of diuers opinions about this matter there came a horseman from Otho one of those they call the Nomades that brought them letters in the which Otho commaunded them to make all the hast they could and to loose no time but to marche with all speede towards the enemie So when these letters were red the Captaines presently marched forward with their armie Cecinna vnderstanding of their comming was astonied at the first and sodainlie forsooke the worke of his bridge to returne to his campe where he founde the most parte of his souldiers alreadie armed and Valens had geuen them their signall word of battell And in the meane time whilest the legions were taking their places to set them selues in battell ray they sent out before the choycest horsemen they had to skirmish Now there ran a rumor no man knew how nor vpon what cause that Vitellius Captaines would turne on Othoes side in battell Insomuch that when these men of armes came neare to meete with the voward of Othoes armie Othoes men did speake very gently to them and called them companions Vitellina man on the other side tooke this salutacion in euill parte and aunswered them againe in rage as men that were willing to fight Insomuch that those that had spokē to them were quite discoraged cragede and the residue also beganne to suspect their companions which had spoken to them and mistrusted them to be traytors
And this was the chiefest cause of all their disorder being â—â—â—dy to ioyne battell Furthermore on the enemies side also all was out of order for the beasts of cariage ranne in amongest them that fought and so did put them maruelously out of order Besides that also the disaduauntage of the place where they fought did compell them to disperse one from another bicause of sundry ditches and trenches that were betwene them whereby they were compelled to fight in diuers companies together So there were but two legions onely the one of Vitellius called the deuowrer and the other of Otho called the helper which getting out of these holes and ditches a part by them selues in a good plaine euen ground fought it out so a long time together in good order of battel Othoes souldiers were men of goodly personages strong and valliant of their handes howbeit they had neuer serued in the warres not had euer soughten battell but that And Vitellius men on the other side were olde beaten souldiers and had serued all their youth and knew what warres battells ment So when they came to ioyne Othoes men gaue such a lusty charge vpon the first onset that they ouerthrew flue all the first rancke and also wanne the enseigne of the eagle Vitellius men were so ashamed of it and therewith in such a rage that they tooke hart againe vnto them and ranne in so desperately vpon their enemies that at the first they slue the colonell of all their legion and wanne diuers ensignes And furthermore against Othoes sensers which were accompted the valliantest men and readiest of hande Varus Alphenus brought his men of armes called the BATTAVIâ— which are GERMAINES in the lower parte of GERMANY dwelling in an Iland compassed about with the riuer of Rhein There were few of his Fensers that stocke by it but the most of them ranne away towards the riuer where they sounde certeine ensignes of their enemies set in battell ray who put them all to the sworde and not a man of them scaped with life But aboue all other none proued more beasts cowards then the Praetorian gard For they would not tary till the enemies came to giue them charge but cowardly turned their backs and fled through their owne men that were not ouerthrowen and so did both disorder them and also make them affrayd This notwithstanding there were a great number of Othoes men who hauing ouerthrowen the voward of them that made head against them they forced a lane through their enemies that were Conquerors and so valliantly returned back into their campe But of their Captaines nether Proclus nor Paulinus durst returne backe with them but fled another way being affraid of the furye of the souldiers that they would lay all the fault of their ouerthrow vpon their Captaines Howbeit Annius Gallus receiued them into the citie of BEBRIACVM that came together after this ouerthrow told them that the battell was equall betwixt them and that in many places they had had the better of their enemies But Marius Celsus gathering the noble men and gentlemen together that had charge in the army he fell to consultacion what they should do in so great a calamitie extreame slaughter of the ROMANE Citizens For if Otho him selfe were an honest man he should no more attempt fortune considering that Cato and Scipio were both greatly blamed for that they were the cause of casting away many men in AFRICK to no purpose though they fought for the libertie of the ROMANES and onely of selfe will for that they would not yeld to Iulius Caesar after he had wonne the battell of PHARSALIA For though fortune in all other things haue power ouer men yet extremities happening to good men she can not preuent them to determine the best for their safetie These perswasions straight caried away the Captaines who went presently to feele the mindes of the priuate souldiers whom they found all of them desirous of peace So Titianus perswaded them to send Ambassadors vnto the enemies to treate of peace and Celsus and Gallus tooke vpon them the charge to goe thither to breake the matter vnto Cecinna and Valens But by the way they met with certen Centurions who told them how all the army of the enemies were comming onwards on their way to come directly to the citie of BEBRIACVM and that their chieftaines had sent before to offer treaty of peace Celsus and his companion Gallus being glad of this prayed the Centurions that they would returne with them vnto Cecinna But when they were come neate vnto him Celsus was in great daunger of his life bicause the men of armes which he had ouerthrowen certen dayes before in an ambushe comming before when they spyed him they flew vpon him with great showres Howbeit the Centurioâ—s that were in his companye stepped before him and closed him in and so did the other Captenies that cryed vnto them they should do him no hurt Cecinna vnderstanding what the matter was reade thither and pacified the tumult of these men of armes and then saluting Celsus very curteously he went with him towardes BEBRIACVM But nowe Titianus in the meane time repentinge him selfe that he had sent Ambassadors vnto the enemies he placed the desperatest souldiers he had vpon the walls of the citie and incoraged the rest also to doe the like and to stand to the defense But Cecinna came to the wal being a horsebacke held vp his hand vnto them Then they made no more resistance but those that were vpon the walles saluted the souldiers and they that were within the citie opened the gates and thrust in amongest Vitellius men who 〈…〉 them and did no man any hurt but curteously imbraced them and saluted eche other Then they all sware and tooke their othes to be true to Vitellius and so yelded them selues vnto him So doe the most part of those that were at this battell report the successe thereof graunting notwithstanding that they knew not euery thing that was done bicause of the great disorded among them But as I trauelled on a time through the field where the battell was striken with Metrius Florus that had beene Consul he shewed me an olde man that when the field was fought in that place was younge and against his will was at the same battell on Othoes parte Who told vs that after the battell was fought he came into the field to suruey the number of those that were dead and he found the dead bodies piled on a heape of the height of those that came to view them And sayd moreouer that he made inquierie of the matter but he nether could imagine it him selfe nor be satisfied by others Now in deede it is likely that in ciuil warres betwene contry men of one self citie where one of the two armies is ouerthrowen that there should be greater slaughter among them then against the other enemies bicause they take no prisoners
against offices of perpetuity Cato woulde punish him selfe for offending That is to say vnderstanding For they iudged that the seate of reason was placed in the hart following Aristotles opinion Blushinge in younge man is a better taken then palenes A louer liueth in an other body Cato and Valerius Flaccus Consuls Catoes doings in Spayne Catoes abstinence from spoyle and bribery Discorde betwext Cato Scipio Cato ouercame the Lacetanians Catoes actes after his Consullshippe and triumphe The power of Antiochus the great Cato mocked Posthumius Albinus a Romaine for writing a story in the Greeke tongue Kinge Antiochus army Catoes doings against king Antiochus Mount Callidromus Catoos oration to his souldiers The boldenes and valliant attempt of Catoes souldiers Cato advertised of the streÌ„gth of king Antiochus campe Cato tooke the straight of Thermopyles Kinge Antiochus hurt in the face with a stone Catoes victory of kinge Antiochus Cato woulde praise his owne doings Manius sendeth Cato to Rome to cary newes of the victory Cato an accuser of men Cato fifty times accused The dignity and office of the Consor How the Censors were chosen The Senators and nobility bent all against Catoes sute Cato chosen Censor Catoes acts in his censorship Cato put Lucius Quintius Flaminius of the Senate The cause why Cato put Quintius of the Senate Lucius Quintius Flaminius wickednes cruelty Manilius put of the Senate for kissing his wife before his daughter Mery with maried men when Iupiter shundereth Banketing feastes put downe by Cato Catoes counsel for reforminge excesse at Rome Superfluous things reckened for riches Scopas goodes were all in toyes that did him no good Basilica Porcia built by Cato Catoes image set vp in the temple of the goddesse of health Honor chaungeth condition No maÌ„ should abide to be praised how for the common wealth VVhat Cato was at home in his house and towarded his wife and children Cato iudgeth the noble borne gentlewomen the best wiues Socrates patience commended bearinge with the sherwduts of his wife Catoes wife was nource to her owne childe Cato taught his sonne Chilo a grammarian VVhat exercises Cato brought vp his sonne in Catoes sonne was valiant Cato and younger maried Tertia Paulus AEmylius daughter Scipio the second was AEmylius naturall sonne Catoes discipline to his slaues Catoes opinion for sleepy meÌ„ Note how Cato altered his maner and opinion by wealth Catoes good husbandry for increasing his wealth Cato a great vserer He tooke extreame vsery by sea Carneades Diogenes Philosophers sent Ambassadors to Rome Cato misliked the Greeke tongue Catoes Phisicall booke Cato talketh with Salonius his clarke about the mariage of his daughter Catoes aunswere to his sonne of his seconde mariage Cato maried Salonius daughter being a very old man and had a sonne by her How Cato passed his age Catoes wrytinges and monuments Catoes reuenue Catoes company pleasant both to old young The table a good meane to procure loue and how table talke should be vsed Cato author of the last warres against the Carthaginians Scipio Nasica against Cato for the destroying of Carthage Catoes death Catoes posterity Aristides and Catoes accesse to the common wealth Cato in marshall affaires excelled Aristides Aristides and Catoes displeasures in the common wealth The power of innocency eloquence Oeconomia houserule The nature of oyle No man wise that is not wise to him selfe VVhether pouerty be an ill thing VVhether Aristides factes or Catoes did most benefit their contry Ambition a hatefull thing in the commoÌ„ wealth Cato reproued for his second wife Crausis Philopoemenes father Cassander Philopoemenes schoolemaister Ecdemus and Demophanes red Philosophy to Philopoemen Philopoemen the last famous maÌ„ of Greece Philopoemen taken for a seruinge man. Philopoemen hasty and wilfull Philopoemen delighted in warre martiall exercises Philopoemen did reproue wrestling Philopoemenes gaines how they were employed Philopoemenes study and care in tillage Philopoemenes delite to read Euangelus bookes of the discipline of warres Philopoemen saued the Megalopolitans from Cleomenes king of Sparta Philopoemen very sore hurt King Antigonus came to aide the Achaiads against Cleomenes king of Lacedaemon Philopoenes noble fact in the 〈…〉 against kinge Cleomenes Philopoemen hurt in fight Antigonus saying of Philopoemenes skill of a souldier Philopoemen chosen Generall of the horsemen of the Achaians Philopoemen slue Demophantus Generall of the horsemen of the AEtolians The praise of Philopoemen Aratus raised Achaia to greatnes Philopoemen and Aratus compared Aratus a sofe man in warres Philopoemen chaungeth tho Achaians order and discipline of wars Philopoemen turned all curiosity and dainty fare into braue riche armors Brauet armor incorageth mens mindes to serue nobly Philopoemen made warres with Machanidas tyran of Lacedaemon Battell fought betwene Philopoemen and Machanidas Philopoemen ouercame Machanidas army tyran of the Lacedaemonians Philopoemen slue Machanidas The onely name of Philopoemen made the Boeotians flee for feare Nabis tyran of Lacedaemon wanne the city of Messina Nabis fleeth Philopoemen Philopoemen deliuered the city of Messina from Nabis the tyran of Lacedaemon Philopoemenes seconde iorney into Creta discommanded Philopoemen made diuerse cities to rebell against the Achaians The Cretans politicke men of warre Philopoemen made Generall of the Achaians against Nabis Philopoemen ouercome by sea Nabis besiegeth the city of Gythium Philopoemen ouer came Nabis tyran of Lacedaemon in battell Titus Quintius emâ—ieth Philopoemen Nabis slaine by the AEtolians Philopoemen free from couetousnes Philopoemenes wise counsell to the Lacedaemonians howe they should bestowe their giftes Diophanes T. Quintius Flaminius do inuade Lacedaemonia Philopoemenes noble act Philopoemenes cruelty to the Spartans Philopoemen made the Spartans forsake Lycurgus law Antiochus solace and mariage as Chalcis Philopoemenes counsell against the Romaines Philopoemen chosen the eight time Generall of the Achaians being 70. yere olde Philopoemenes iorney against Dinocrates Mons Euander Philopoemenes misfortune Philopoemen taken Philopoemen poysoned by Dinocrates Philopoemenes last words Philopoemenes death The AchaiaÌ„s did reuenge Philopoemenes death Dinocrates slue him selfe Philopoemenes funerall Note the humanity of the Romaines keepinge their enemies monuments from defacing Titus Quintius first charge in warre Degrees of offices before one came to be Consull T. Q. Flaminius Sextius AElius Consulls T. Q. Flaminius maketh warre with Philip king of Macedon Titus curtesie ranne the Greecians more than his force T. Q. landed in Epirvs Apsus fâ—â— The descriptioÌ„ of the contry of Epirvs Charopus Machatas sonne the chiefe man of the Epirots T. Q. possessed the straightes of the mouÌ„taine The Macedonians flee Philips flying king of Macedon T. Q. Flaminius modesty sorbearing spoyle wanne him many frendes Pyrrus saying of the Romaines army King Attalus death The Boeotians yeld vnto the Romaines Quintius army King Philip and Quintius met with their armies neere Scotvsa Battell betwene Quintius and Philip kinge of Macedon The propertie of the Macedonian battell Quintius overcome Philippes army Mutinie betwixt the AEtolians the Romaines Alcaeus verses in disgrace of
of the Argiues Helenus Pyrrus sâ—nne The straunge loue of an Elephant to his keeper Kinge Pyrrus slaine with a tyle throwen by a woman Alcyoneus king Antigonus sonne Antigonus courtesie towards Pyrrus body and frendes Of the names of the Romaines Marius fauor Marius could no skill of the Greeke tongue Platoes saying to Xenocrates Marius parents maners and contry Marius first iorney vnto the warres Scipio Asricous iudgement of Marius Marius Tribune of the people Costa Consull Two sortes of AEdiles AEdilitas Curulis AEdilitas popularis Marius denyed to be AEdilis Marius chosen Praetor Sabacon put of the Senate Caius Herennius pleaded in Marius behalfe touching the patron client Marius actes in Spayne The opinioÌ„ of Spanyards in olde time Eloquence riches raised men to authority How Marius credit and estimacion grew Iulia Marius wife Marius temperaunce and pacience Caecilius Metellus Consull The Labours presence of the Generall maketh the souldiers worke willingly Marius the author of Turpilius false accusation death Vacca a great city The cause of the supposed treason against Turpilius Turpilius wrongfully put to death Displeasure betwixt Metellus Marius Marius first time of being Consull Marius offended the nobility Marius depriued Metellus of the honor of conquering of king Iugurthe Bocchus kinge of Numidia deliuereth Iugurthe vnto Sylla Lucius Sylla Quaestor vnder Marius The originall cause of the ciuill warres betwixt Marius and Sylla The comming into Italie of the Teutons and Cimbres The army of the Tevtons and Cimbres 300000 men Cimbri Cimmerij Marius chosen Consull the second time against the law Law must giue place for common benefit Marius triumphe into Rome for king Iugurthe How Marius trained his souldiers Marius moyles Marius commended for his iustice Marius third Consullshippe Manius Acilius Lieutenant of the army vnder Marius Lucius Saturninus Tribune Marius fourth Consullshippe with Catulus Luctatius Rhodanus fl Marius channell The Cimbres went through Germanie into Italie The Teutons and Ambrons fall apon Marius to passe into Italie through the territory of Genua Martha a wise woman or prophetesse The attier of Martha in time of sacrifice A wonder of the Vultures shewed to Marius VVonders seene Batabaces the priest of the mother of the goddes Aulus Pompeius Tribune The enemies campe were removing sixe dayes together Marius bolde wordes to his souldiers and their aunswer Battell betwixt the Ambrons Marius Marius ouercome the Ambrons The mannishnes of the women Marius seconde battell with the Teutons Marius victory of the Teutons and Ambrons Much veine followeth after great battells Marius the fift time Consull Athesis flu Catulus Luctatius the Consull flieth from the Cimbres Marius refused to enter in triumphe Marius goeth towardes Catulus Luctatius to helpe him Po flu Marius mocke to the Cimbres The Cimbres march against Marius Marius deuise for alteringe the darte in fight Baeorix king of the Cimbres Two and fiftie thowsand and three hundred men betwene Marius and Catulus The Romaines battell The battell of the Cimbres A dust raised that neither army could see one another The sunne ful in the Cimbres faces The fielde fought the 27. of Iuly Horrible cruelty of women Prisoners 60. thowsand Men slaine six score thowsand Might ouercoÌ„meth right Metellus against people pleasers Valerius Flaccus Consull with Marius the sixt time Valerius Coruinus sixe times Consull The law Agraria An article for the othes of the Senate to confirme what the people should passe by voyce Marius duble dealing To lye cunningly Marius taketh it for a vertue Timorous policy causeth periury Metellus constant in vertue Metellus wise saying touching well doing Metellus banishment Marius doble dealing betwene the nobilitie and people Marius procureth sedition at Rome No trust on the faith of the coÌ„mon people Metellus returne from banishement Marius iorney into Cappadocia and Galatia Marius prowd wordes to Mithridates The cause of the dissension betwene Marius Sylla The warre of the confederates Siloes stowts chalenge and Marius answer Mons Misenum Marius ambition Sulpitius gard of sixe hundred knightes Sulpitius boldness Marius sedition Marius flieth from Rome Marius the sonne flieth into Africke Marius found an ayrie of Eagles How many egges the Eagle layeth Liris fl Marius set a land and forsaken of the mariners Marine hidden in the marisses Marius takeÌ„ Fanniaes curtesie vnto Marius One hiered to kill Marius The Minturnians suffered Marius to go his way with sefety Marica Sylua Marius the elder flieth into Africke Marius wise answere of surtimes inconstancy Marius the younger esâ—apeth Hyempsals hands Cinna driuen out of Rome by Octauius Marius ioyneth force with Cinna Octauius negligence in defence of the citie of Rome against Cinna Marius Octauius too much geuen to Southsaiere Octauius vertue and imperfection Octauius slaine by Marius souldiers Agreas contrariety in astronomy Cinna and Marius entry into Rome Bardini Marius caused great murder in Rome Marius crueltie Small trust of frendes in aduersitie The faithfulnes of Cornutus seruaunts to their master M. Antonius the Orator betrayed by a tauerner The force of eloquence Catulus Luctatius killed himselfe The Bardiaeians slaine of their Captaines for their crueltie Marius seuenth Consulship Marius thoughtes and feare Deuise to winne sleepe Marius the fathers death Marius mad ambition a note against the ambitious Platoes words at his death note that in Syllaes life following to appeareth that Marius the younger was besieged in the city of Preneste and not in Perusia as ye rende here So as the city seemeth to be mistakeÌ„ in one of these liues Lysanders image Licurgus the anchor of wearing longe heare The commoditie of wearing longe heare Lysanders kinred The education of the Laconian children Lysanders manners VVise man he euer melancholye Lysander a despisor of riches Lysanders words of Dionysuis liberalitie Lysander admirall for the Lacedaemonians by sea Lysander enlargeth the citie of Ephesus Sardis a citie in Lydia Lysander tooke money for paye of his souldiers Lysanders victorie of the Athenians by sea Cherronesus a contrye in Thracia Callicratidas Lysanders successor in his office of admyraltie Playnenes coÌ„mended for a vertue but liked as an olde image of a god that had bene excellent faier The spighte of Lisander to Callicratidas Nothing estemed with the Barbarians but money Callicratidas pacience The death of Callicratidas Lysander crafty and deceitfull A wise saying of Lysander The wicked dissembling and double dealing of Lysander Lysander regarded no periâ—rie following the example of Polycrates the tyran of Somos Cyrus liberaâ—itie to Lysanders Lysanders artes by sea Philocles cruel advise vnto the Athenians Lysanders craft in marine fight Alcibiades gaue good aduise to the Captaines of the AtheniaÌ„s A copper target lift vp the signe of battell by sea Conon Admirall of the Athenians Lysanders victory of the Athenians Paralos the holy galley of Athens The starres of Castor and Pollux A stone fell out of the element AEgos st Anaxagoras opinion of the starres VVhat falling starres be Damachus testimonie of the fiery stone seene in the element
An other opinion of the stone that fell Philocles coÌ„stancy Captaine of the Athenians Lysanders cruelty Theopompus the Comicall Poets sayinge of the Lacedaemonians The Athenians yeelde vp Athens_to Lysander The maner of peace offered by the Lacedaemonians to the AtheniaÌ„s A notable saying for the walle of cities Erianthus cruell aduise against the Athenians The sweete musicke so frened their cruell hearts and moued them in pity Lysander ouerthrew the walles of the city of AtheÌ„s Callibius Captaine of the Castell of Athens Autolycus as cunninge wrestler Autolycus pus to death Lysander sent money to Sparta by Gylippus Gylippus robbed parte of the money be caried to Sparta The Grekishe coyne was marked with an owle Gyllippus banishment Couetousnes of money corrupted Gylippus one of the chiefest men of LacedaemoÌ„ The iron money of Lacedaemonia At what time the Lacedaemonians receiued gold and siluer againe The ill life of the Magistrate the cause of disorder in a commoÌ„ weale A galley of gold and Iuory Lysanders honors and pride Platoes saving of the ignorant Ignoraunce coÌ„pared with blindenes Lysanders ambition pride and 〈…〉 Lysander brake his word othe and procured the deads of eight hundred people 〈…〉 Eteocles wordes of Lysander Thorax put to death for offending the law The LaconiaÌ„ Scytala what maner thing it is and how vsed Lysander carieth letters against him selfe Lysander goeth to Iupiter Ammon King Pausanias reconciled the Athenians with the Spartans Lysanders terrible words The death of king Agis Lysander depriueth Leotychides of his kingedomes Through Lysanders working Agesilaus â— was made king Ambition abideth no equalles Agesilaus priâ—ie grudge to Lysander Lysanders wisedome Lysander surueiour of the vittells Lysanders talke with king Agesilaus after the Laconian maner of speaking Lysander seeketh innouation in the state of Sparta The Families of the kinges of Lacedamon Lysander deuiseth false oracles corrupted soathsayers with money Lysanders fained deuise to possesse the kingdome The warres of Boeotia Diuers causes sâ—â—â—â—used of the beginning of these wars An edict against the banished men from Athens An edict made by the Thebans in fauor of the banished meÌ„ Lysanders iorney vnto Boeotia Cithaeron mons Cissusa sons Lysander staine by the Thebans To aske leaue of thenemie to burye the deade is dishonorable Lysanders tombe Oplites A. destinie menitable Phliarus A. Hoplia Isomantus Neochorus slâ—e Lysander Orchalide â—â—â—s Helicon moons Pausanias exile Lysanders cleane handes and pouertie commended after his deathe Lysanders counsell for altering of the kingdom Lacratidas wisdom forbearing to shewe extremitie to the deade Lysander honored by the Spartans after his death Singlenes of life late mariage and ill mariage punished by the Lacedaemonians Syllaes kinred Syllaes honesty reproued by meanes of his great wealth Syllaes flauore That is bicause that Syl in laten signifieth oker which becometh red when it is put to the fire and therfore Syllaceus color in virusâ—ia signifieth purple colour Syllace skeffing Syllaes voluptuosnes Sylla Quaestor The cause of Bocchus freÌ„dshippe vnto Sylla Iugerthe deliuered vnto Sylla by kinge Bocchus Thenor of Iugurthes takinge ascribed vnto Sylla Syllaes noble deedes vnder Marius Sillaes doings vnder Catulus Ambition is to be fled as a mortall furie Sylla chosen Praetor Orobazus Ambassador from the king of the Parthians vnto Sylla Sylla accused of extorcion Ciuill warres Timotheus Athenians would not tribune the glory of his doinges to fortune Sylla gaue fortune the honor of all his doinges Syllaes belefe in dreames A straunge fight appeared to Sylla Sylla straunge of conditions Sylla chosen Consull Metellus chiefe bishop of Rome a maried Syllaes wiues Marius fonde ambition VVonderfull signes seene before the ciuill warres The ThuscaÌ„s opinion of eight worldes The wickednes of Sulpitius the Tribune Marius and Sulpitius sedition All lawe ceased for a time by reason of Sulpitius oppressions and wicked lawes Sylla marcheth towards Rome with six legions Posthomius the deuine did prognosticate victory vnto Sylla Syllas vision on his dreams Sylla set the houses a fire in Rome Marius and Sulpitius condemned to death Treason lustly rewarded The ingrailtude of Sylla reproved Lucius Cinna Consull Cinna sware to be Syllaes frende Sylla went against Mithridates Mithridates power Sylla befiegeth the city of Athens Sylla tooke the smells and roady money out of all the temples of Greece and brought it to him to AtheÌ„s Caphis supersticion for touching the holy thinges The commendacion of the auncient Romaine Captaines for ordering of their souldiers and also for their modest expences Sylla the first man that spob led all good seruice of souldiers by ouermuch libertie and sufferauoco The wickednes of the tyran Arision The greue valianmes of Marcus Teius Athens taken by Sylla The slaughter of the Athenians after the taking of the eisit Anthesterion Marche The time of Noes flood Aristion the tyran yeelded The hauen of Piraea wonne Philoes armory burnt by Sylla Taxilles army a hundred thowsande footemen Tenne thowsand horsemen Foure score ten thowsand cartes with Sythes The force of the BarbariaÌ„s consisted in horsemen and in their carts with Sythes The straight of Thermopyles Pqrnassus hill The city of Tithora Sylla Hortensius met at Patronide The plaine of Elatea Philobaeotus mont Their whole army together 1500. horse 15000. footemen The braue armor and furniture of the Thracians MacedoniaÌ„s seruing vnder Taxilles king Mithridates lieutenaunt Many commanders make disobediens souldiers Cephisus fl Syllaes straightnes to his souldiers A good policie to weary feare full souldiers with extreame labor whereby to make them desirous to fight Edylium moÌ„t Assus fl Sylla sendeth Gabinius with a legion to aide Chaeronea Oldeles met propheths of victory vnto Sylla Saluenius aSouldiers Iupiter Olympias Acotuim Edylium mountaines Thurium mons aliue Orthopagues Morion fl Apollo Thurial Chaeron the founder of the city of Charonea Sylla ordereth his battell Sylla droue Archelaus aide from the hill The force of the armed cartes with Sythes consist in long course Syllaes conflict with Archelaus as Thurium Slaues made free by authority of the Lieutenaunts in the fielde Syllaâ—â— victory of Mithridates Lieutenauntes The field was wonne in the plaine of Elatea Molus fl Apollo Pythias Iupiter Olympias Flaccus Consull went against Sylla Dorylaus Mithridates generall against Sylla The goodly plaine before the city of Orchomene The riuer of Melas and nature therof Syllaes words to animate his souldiers Diogenes slaine Syllae victory of Mithridates Lieutenauntes as Orchomene Sylla â—â—revâ—â—â—ne â—trelâ—â— Live in the famous battells at Chaeronea and at Orchomene Talke betwixt Sylla and Archelaus at the meeting Peace concluded betwext Sylla Archelaus in Mithridates behalfe apon condicions Archelaus suspected of treason Aristion tyran of Athens poysoned by Sylla Mithridates exception to the condicioÌ„s Archelaus sene from Sylla to Mithridates Sylla Mithridates meete at DARDANE The stowtnes of Sylla Mithridates excuseth him selfe to Sylla Syllaes aunswer to Mithridates Nicomedes king of Bithynia Ariobarzanes king of Coppadocia A hundred fifty thowsand Romanes slaine in one day
deuise of Artaxerxes how to preuent the conspirators and to saue him selfe Tiribazus the traitor slaine Darius condemned to dye and executed King Artaxerxes sonne The death of king Artaxerxes Artaxerxes was 94 yeres olde at his death Dion Brutus both Platonians Plato de virtute How mens acts should be famous in the coÌ„mon wealth A wicked spirite appeared vnto Dion Brutus Dionysius maried Hermocrates daughter Dionysius wiues Doride of Locres Aristomaché of Syracvsa Hipparinus daughter and Dions sister Dion kindred with Dionysius Plato came out of Italie vnto Syracvsa Dion Platoes schollar Plato and Dionysius the elder talke together Dionysius malice vnto Plato Plato solde in the I le of AEgina Dions boldnes in speaking plainly to the tyran Gelon signifieth laughture Sophrosynè and Areté the daughters of Dionysius by Aristomaché Dion marieth his Nece Areté the daughter of Dionysius of his sister Aristomaché The death of Dionysius the elder Flattering Courtiers do intense Dionysius the younger to hate Dion The vices of Dionysius the younger Dions maners too graue and seuere Obstinacie follow and companion of solitarines Dionysius the elder a maruelous timerous suspitious man. Dionysius dreame Dion persuadeth the younger Dionysius to fall to study The assured gard of Princes is the loue of their subiects Plaâ—â— goâ—th into Sicilia to teach Dionysius the youngeâ— Philistus the Historiographer Philistus the Historiographer banished out of Sicilia by Dionysius the elder Democratia the gouernment of the people Dion allowed not popular state Aristocratia the gouernment of a few of the nobilitie Plato came into Sicilia vnto Dionysius the younger The chaunge of Dionysius vpon Platoes comming Philistus accusations against Dion Dions letters vnto Carthage Dion sent away by Dionysius into Italie Dions wealth Dionysius tyrannicall loâ—â— to Plato Dionysius sent Plato from home Dions life in Graece Dions vertues and honors done vnto him by the Graecians Archytas a Pythagorian Philosopher Dionysius sendeth againe for Plato to come into Sicilia Platoes third iorney into Sicilia Aristippus saying of Dionysius Helycon a Mathematician Aristippus diuination Architas requireth Plato of Dionysius Dionysius maried Dions wife to an other man. Polyxenus maried Thesta his father Dionysius sister The noble answere of Thesta vnto her brother Dionysius the elder Dion beginneth to make warre against Dionysius The Philosophers aduanced Dions warre Aristotles dialogue de anima Dions army Dions sumptuous fare in feasting The eclipse of the Moone and cause of the eclipse VVonders shewed vnto Dion VVonders appearing vnto Dionysius Dions preparation Pachynus the foreland of Sicilia A tempest on the sea against Dion Synalus Captaine of Minoa for the Carthaginians Dion wanne Minoa Dion goeth to Syracusa A straunge chaunce happened vnto the Messenger sent to Dionysius A woulfe caried away the Messengers portmanteau Anapus ti Dionysius picke thankes slayne Dion receiued into Syracusa Dion restoreth the Syracusans to libertie Dionysius clocke The predictions of the Soothsayers Dionysius seÌ„t Ambassadors vnto Dion Dion fighteth with Dionysius Dion hurt Dions victory of Dionysius Hipparinus Dions sonne Dionysius craft vnto Dion Heraclides what he was Heraclides returneth to Syracusa The Syracusans do choose Heraclides Admirall to spight Dion Heraclides a dissembler practising to make the people to rebell against Dion Sosis a wicked man moueth sedition against Dion Dion cleareth Sosis accusation against him Sosis condemned to death Philistus slain Timaus and Ephorus the Historiographers reproued Dionysius flyeth from Syracusa Apollocrates the eldest sonne of Dionysius the yonger Signes appearing to the Syracusans Dion departeth out of Syracusa The cowardlines of the Syracusans The Leontines doe receiue Dion The negligence and troubles of the Syracusans The Syracusans doe send for Dion againe Dions oration vnto his souldiers perswading them to ayde the Syracusans The inconstancy of the Syracusans Syracusa set a fire by Dionysius souldiers Dions fight in the citie of Syracusa Nypsius compelled by Dion to flie into the castell Dions mercy to his enemies the great profit he tooke by study in the Academy at Athens No maÌ„ should be worse by an others wickednes The frowardnes of the Syracusans against Dion Heraclides againe stirreth vp the Syracusans to rebell against Dion Gaesylus Lacedaemonian commeth to Syracusa to be generall of the Syracusans Gaesylus maketh Dion Heraclides friends again The castell of Syracusa surrendred vnto Dion The words of Aristomaché vnto Dion at his entry into the castell of Syracusa Dion taketh his wife Areta againe which had forcibly bene maried vnto another man. Dions temperance and thriftines Heraclides conspireth againe against Dion Dion sent to the Corinthians to stablish a common wealth to the Syracusans Dion ment to abolish Democratia and to aduaunce Aristocratia The authoritie of the people resembled by Plato to a fayer or market The common wealth of the Corinthians The murther of Heraclides Callippus Athenian conspireth against Dion Note the suttletie of tale bearers A spirite appeared vnto Dion The lamentable death of Dions sonne Apollocrates Dionysius sonne The great oth of the Syracusant Dion slaine by Callippus Athenian Dions wife brought to bed of a sonne in prison The punishment of Callippus * 〈…〉 in corrupt speech signifieth a knife to scrape or cut cheese which it truelier called 〈…〉 Iulius Pollux lib. 10 cap. 24. Callippus slaine with the same dagger that slue Dion The crueltie of the Syracusans vnto Dion and his posterity The pareÌ„tage of Brutus Brutus maners Seruilia M. Brutus mother Brutus parentage by his father Seruilia Catoes sister Brutus studies Brutus followed the olde Academyks Empylus an Orator wrote a booke of Caesars death and intituled it Brutus Brutus maner of wryting his Epistels in Graeke A briefe letter to the Samians Brutus followed Cato into Cyprus * Or Canidius Brutus taketh parte with Pompey Brutus exercise in Pompeys campe Brutus studied in Pompeis campe Iulius Caesar carefull of Brutus safary Iulius Caesar loued Seruilia Brutus mother Brutus saued by Iulius Caesar after the battell of Pharsalia * This king was Iuba howbeit it is true also that Brutus made intercession for Deiotarus king of Galatia who was depriued notwithstanding of the most parte of his contrie by Caesar and therefore this place were best to be vnderstanded by Deiotorus Caesar made Brutus Gouernor of Gaule on this side the mouÌ„taines Brutus and Cassius contend for the Praetorship of the citie Cassius maried Iunia Brutus sister The first cause of Cassius malice against Caesar. Caesar suspected Brutus Caesar saying of Brutus Cassius incenseth Brutus against Caesar. Cassius Lions at Megara Cassius an enemie of tyranâ— How Brutus was incensed against Caesar. Cassius praieth Brutus first to helpe him to put downe the tyran * In an other place they cal him Quintus Brutus maketh Ligarius one of the coÌ„spiracie They do hide the conspiracy against Caesar from Cicero Ciuill warre worse then tyrannicall gouernment The wonderfull faith and secrifie of the Conspirators of Casars death Porcia Catoes daughter wife vnto Brutus Bibulus booke
most famous vertue yet he must needes thincke that to rule well was to doe the goddes good seruice whose will it was to employe the iustice they knewe in him and not to suffer it to be idle Refuse not therefore q they this royall dignitie which to a graue and wise man is a goodly field to bring forth many commendable workes and fruites There you maye doe noble seruice to the godds to humble the heartes of these martiall people and to bring them to be holy and religious for they readely turne and easely conforme them selues vnto the nature of their prince They dearely loued Tatius although he was a straunger they haue consecrated a memorie to Romulus with diuine honours which they make vnto him at this daye And it maye be that the people seeing them selues conquerers will be full enough of warres and the ROMAINES being nowe full of spoyles triumphes will be glad to haue a gentle prince and one that loueth iustice that they maye thenceforth liue in peace vnder good and holy lawes And yet if it be otherwise that their hartes be still full of heate and furie to fight is it not better to turne this their desire to make warres some other waye when a man hathe the bridle in his owne handes to doe it and to be a meane in the meane time to ioyne the countrie and all the nation of the SABYNES in perpetuall loue and amitie with so mighty and florishing a cittie besides all these persuasions and reasons there were many signes also as they saye which promised him good lucke together with the earnest affection and liking of his owne countrie cittizens Who so soone as they vnderstoode the coming and commission of the ambassadours of ROME they importunately desired him to goe thither and to accept the offer of the Kingdome that he might more straightly vnite and incorporate them together with the ROMAINES Whereupon Numa accepted the Kingdome Then after he had done sacrifice to the goddes he set forwardes on his iourney towardes ROME where the people and Senate went out to meete him with a wonderfull desire to see him The women at his entrie went blessing of him and singing of his prayses They dyd sacrifice for him in all the temples of the goddes There was neither man nor woman but seemed to be as ioyfull and glad as if a newe Realme and not a newe Kinge had bene come to the cittie of ROME Thus was he brought with this open ioye and reioycing vnto the market place where one of the Senatours which at that time was regent called Spurius Vettius made them pronounce his open election and so by one consent he was chosen King with all the voyces of the people Then were brought vnto him the tokens of honour and dignitie of the king But he him selfe commaunded they should be stayed a while saying He must first be confirmed King by the goddes Then he tooke the wise men priests with whom he went vp into the Capitoll which that time was yet called mounte Tarpeian And there the chiefest of the soothesayers called Augures turned him towardes the southe hauing his face couered with a veyle and stoode behinde him laying his right hande vpon his heade and praying to the goddes that it would please them to declare their willes by flying of birdes or some other token concerning this election and so the soothesayer cast his eyes all about as farre as he could possiblie discerne During all this time there was a maruelous silence in the market place although then an infinite number of people were assembled there together attending with great deuotion what the issue of this diuination would be vntill there appeared vnto them on the right hande good and lucky birdes which did confirme the election Then Numa putting on his regall robes came downe from mounte Tarpeian into the market place where all the people receyued him with wonderfull showtes of ioye as a man the most holy and best beloued of the goddes that they could haue chosen So hauing taken the royall seate of the Kingdome his first acte was this That he discharged the garde of the three hundred souldiers which Romulus had allwayes about his persone called Celeres saying he would not mistrust them which trusted him neither would he be King ouer people which should mistrust him His second acte was that he did adde to the two priests of Iupiter Mars a thirde in the honour of Romulus who was called Flamen Quirinalis For the auncient ROMAINES also called their priests instituted in the olde time Flamines by reason of certaine litle narrowe hattes which they did weare on their heades as if they had called them Pilamines for Pilos in Greeke signifieth a hatte And at that time as they saye there were many moe Greeke wordes mingled with the Latine then there are at this daye For they called the mantells the Kings did weare Loenas And Iuba sayeth that it is the very same which the GRECIANS call Chloenas and that the younge boye which was a seruaunte in the temple of Iupiter was called Camillus as some of the GRECIANS doe yet call the god Mercurie bicause he is seruaunt of the godds Now Numa hauing done these things at his first entrie into his Kingdome still to winne further fauour and goodwill of the people beganne immediately to frame his citizens to a certaine ciuilitie being as iron wrought to softenes and brought them from their violent and warlike desires to temperate and ciuill manners For out of doubt ROME was properly that which Plato ascribeth to a cittie full of trouble and pryde For first it was founded by the most coragious and warlike men of the worlde which from all partes were gathered there together in a most desperate boldnes and afterwards it increased and grewe strong by armes and continuall warres like as pyles driuen into the grounde which the more they are rammed in the further they enter and sticke the faster Wherefore Numa iudging it no small nor light enterprise to plucke downe the hawty stomacks of so fierce and violent a people and to frame them vnto a sobre and quiet life dyd seeme to worcke it by meanes of the goddes with drawing them on thereto by litle and litle and pacifying of their whotte and fierce corages to fight with sacrifices feastes dauncings and common processions wherein he celebrated euer him selfe In the which together with their duotion there was mingled nowe and then pastime and pleasure and sometimes he layed the terrour and feare of the goddes before their eyes making them beleeue that he had seene straunge visions or that he had heard voyces by which the goddes dyd threaten them with some great troubles and plagues allwayes to pull downe and humble their heartes vnto the feare of the goddes This was the cause why they thought afterwardes that he had learned his wisdome of Pythagoras the philosopher bicause the greatest parte of the philosophie of the one and
of the gouernment of the other consisted in suche ceremonies and diuine studies They reporte also that Numa dyd put on the outwarde showe and semblaunce of Pythagoras holines as following his intention and example For Pythagoras as they saye made an eagle so tame and gentle that she would stoupe and come downe to him by certaine voyces as she flewe in the ayer ouer his head And that passing through the assembly of the games Olympicall he shewed her thighe of golde and many other prety feates and deedes they tell of which seemed to be wonderfull and for which Timon Phliasian hath written these verses of him Pythagoras vvhich loued to dvvell in dignitie and had an harte to glorie bent and past in pollecie Muche like a man vvhich sought by charming to enchaunte did vse this arte to vvinne mens mindes vvhich vnto him did haunte His graue and pleasaunt tongue in sugred speache did flovve vvhereby he drevve most mindes of men to bent of his ovvne bovve Euen so the sayned fable of Numa which he so cunningly disguised was about the loue of a goddesse or some Nymphe of the mountaine with whom he seemed to haue certaine secret meetings and talke whereof we haue spoken before And it is sayed he muche frequented the Muses in the woddes For he would saye he had the most parte of his reuelations of the Muses and he taught the ROMAINES to reuerence one of them aboue all the rest who was called Tacita as ye would saye ladye silence It seemeth he inuented this after the example of Pythagoras who did so specially commaund and recomend silence vnto his schollers Againe if we consider what Numa ordeined concerning images and the representation of the goddes it is alltogether agreable vnto the doctrine of Pythagoras who thought that god was neither sensible nor mortall but inuisible incorruptible and only intelligible And Numa dyd forbid the ROMAINES also to beleeue that god had euer forme or likenes of beast or man So that in those former times there was in ROME no image of god either painted or grauen and it was from the beginning a hundred three score tenne yeres that they had buylt temples chappels vnto the godds in ROME and yet there was neither picture nor image of god within them For they tooke it at the first for a sacriledge to present heauenly things by earthely formes seeing we cannot possibly any waye attaine to the knowledge of god but in minde and vnderstanding The very sacrifices which Numa ordeined were altogether agreable like vnto the manner of seruing of the goddes which the Pythagorians vsed For in their sacrifices they spilt not the bloude but they did theirs commonly with a litle meale a litle sheading of wine and milke and with suche other light things Suche as affirme that those two men did much company and were famillier together doe laye further proofes arguments for the same The first is this That the ROMAINES did make Pythagoras a free man of the cittie of ROME as Epicharmus the Comicall poet an auncient writer and sometimes one of Pythagoras schollers sayeth in a booke he wrote dedicated vnto Antenor The other proofe is That Numa hauing had foure children called one of them Mamercus after Pythagoras sonnes name from whom they saye is discended the house of the AEmylians which is the noblest of the Patricians for the King gaue him the surname of AEmylius bicause of this sweete tongue and pleasaunt voyce Furthermore I my self haue heard saye many times in ROME that the ROMAINES hauing receyued an oracle which commaunded them to set vp images in their cittie to the wisest and valliantest man that euer was amongest the GRAECIANS caused two statues of brasse to be set vp in their market place the one of Pythagoras and the other of Alcibiades Howbeit to striue about this matter any further seeing there are so many doubtes me thincketh it were but vaine Moreouer they attribute to Numa the first erection of the colledge pontificall and saye he him selfe was the first Pontifex that euer was But touching the name of Pontifex some will saye they were so called bicause they chiefly were ordeined appointed for the seruice of the almightie for this worde Potens in the ROMAINE tongue betokeneth mightie Other thincke this name was geuen to them by their founders as to exempt persones out of the worlde who enioyned them to doe all the seruices and sacrifices to the goddes they could possibly yet notwithstanding if they had any other lawfull let or impediment thereof they were not straight condemned for omitting the same Howbeit the most parte doe bring out another deriuation of this name wherein me thinckes there is litle reason As that they should be called Pontifices bicause they had the charge of maintenaunce of the bridge For that which the GRECIANS call Gephyran the LATINES call Pontem that is a bridge And to saye truely the charges of repairing the bridge belongeth to the bishoppes aswell as the keeping of the most holy and vnchaungeable ceremonies For the ROMAINES thought it not only a thing vnlawfull but tooke it for a most damnable wicked acte to destroye or breake the bridge of wodde which was only ioyned together as they saye with pinnes of wodde without any iron at all by the commaundement of an olde oracle But the stone bridge was buylt long time after the raigne of Numa and in the time of the raigne of his nephewe Martius Nowe the first and chiefest of these bishoppes which they call the great Pontifex hath the place authoritie and dignitie of the highe prieste and master of their pontificall lawe who should be carefull not only about all publicke sacrifices and ceremonies but also about suche as were priuate and to see that no man priuately should breake the auncient ceremonies nor bring in any newe thing into religion but rather euery man should be taught by him how and after what sorte he should serue and honour the goddes He also hath the keping of the holy virgines which they call Vestales For they doe geue Numa the first foundation and consecrating of them and the institution also of keeping the immortall fire with honour and reuerence which these virgines haue the charge of Either for that he thought it meete to commit the substaunce of fire being pure and cleane vnto the custodie of cleane and vncorrupt maydes or els bicause he thought the nature of fire which is barren and bringeth forth nothing was fittest and most proper vnto virgines For in GRECE where they kept continuall fire likewise as in the temple of Apollo in DELPHES and at ATHENS the maydens doe not keepe the same but olde women which are past mariage And if this fire chaunce to faile as they saye in ATHENS the holy lampe was put out in the time of the tyrannie of Aristion and in the cittie of DELPHES it was put out when the temple of Apollo
had no other helpe but his mother he might haue had of her what he would haue taken and desired Againe to shew that of him selfe he had abilitie enough we neede but alleage the souldiers and straungers he gaue pay vnto in diuers places as Xenophon wryteth For he brought them not all together into one armie bicause he desired to kepe his enterprise as secret as he could but he had frendes and seruaunts that leauied them in diuers places and vnder diuers colours And furthermore he had his mother alway about the king that cleered all suspicions conceiued against him He him selfe also on the other side whilest he made these preparacions wrote verie humbly vnto his brother somtime asking somwhat of him and an other time accusing Tisaphernes all to blinde the king to make him thinke that he bent all his malice and spite against him besides that the king of his owne nature was somwhat dull and slow which the common people thought to proceede of his curtesie and good nature At his first comming to the crowne he followed the first Artaxerxes goodnes and curtesie by whom he had his name For he gaue more easie audience vnto suters he did also more honorably reward recompence those that had deserued well he vsed such moderacion in punishing offendors that it appeared he did it not of any malicious minde and desire of reuenge nor yet of will to hurte any man When he had any thing geuen him he tooke it as thankefully as they offered it him and did as willingly and frankely also geue againe For how litle a thing soeuer was offered him he tooke it well And it is reported that one Romises on a time presented him a maruelous fayer pomegarnet By the sunne sayd he this man in a short time of a litle towne would make a great citie he that would make him gouernor of it Another time there was a poore laborer seing euery mā giue the king a present some one thing some another as he passed by them he hauing nothing at hand to giue him ranne to the riuers side tooke both his hands full of water and came and offred it him King Artaxerxes was so glad of it that he sent him in a cuppe of massy gold a thowsand Darecks which were peeces of gold so named bicause the image of Darius was stamped vpon them And vnto one Euclidas a LACEDAEMONIAN that presumed to giue him bold words it pleased him to aunswer him by one of his Captaines thou mayst say what thou lyst and I as king may say and doe what I lyst Another time as he was a hunting Tiribazus shewed the king his gowne that was all to tattered well sayd the king and what wouldest thou haue me to doe Tiribazus aunswered him I praye your grace take another and giue me that you haue on The king did so and told him Tiribazus I giue thee my gowne but I commaund thee not to weare it Tiribazus tooke it and cared not for the kings commaundement that he should not weare it not that he was any euill disposed man but bicause he was a fond light headed fellowe that cared for nothing thereuppon he straight put the kings gowne on his backe and not contented therewith he did besides set on many iewells of gold which kings onely are wont to weare and womens trinckets and ornaments Therewithal euery man in the Court murmured at him bicause it was a presumption directly against the lawes and ordinaunces of PERSIA Howbeit the king did but laugh at it tolde him I giue thee leaue Tiribazus to weare those womens gawdes as a woman and the kings robe as a foole Furthermore where the manner was in PERSIA that no person sate at the kings bord but his mother and wife of the which his mother sate vppermost his wife lowermost Artaxerxes made his two brethren Ostanes and Oxathres sit at his owne bord But yet he pleased the PERSIANS best of all bicause was content his wife Statyra should sit openly in her charter and that she might be seene and reuerenced by the other Ladyes of the contry And this made him singularly beloued of the people Now such as desired innouation and chaunge and that could not away with quite life they gaue out that the Realme of PERSIA required such a Prince as Cyrus that was liberall of nature giuen to armes greatly rewarded his seruaunts and that the greatnes of the Empire of PERSIA stoode in neede of a king whose mind was bent to high attempts and noble enterprises So. Cyrus thereuppon began to make warre vpon his brother not onely trusting vnto them that were of the lowe contries about him but hoping of those also in the high prouinces neare vnto the king Furthermore he wrote also vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS to pray them to send him men of warre promising to giue the footemen they sent horses and the horsemen coches landed men whole villages and to those that had villages to giue them cities Besides all this that for the ordinary wages of them that should serue him in this warre he would not pay them by accompt but by full measure and boasting largely of him selfe he sayd he had a greater mind then his brother that he could better away with hardnes then he that he vnderstoode magick better then he and that he could drinke more wine then he and cary it better And that the king his brother in contrary manner was so womanishe and fearefull that when he went a hunting he durst scarce get vp vpon his horse backe and when he went to the warres he would hardly take his charriot When the LACEDAEMONIANS had red his letters they sent a litle scrowle vnto Clearchus commaunding him to obey Cyrus in any thing he would commaund him So Cyrus did set forward to make warre against his brother hauing leauied a great number of fighting men of barbarous nations and of GRAECIANS litle lesse then thirteene thowsand men sometime aduertising one cause sometime another why he leauied such a multitude of men But his purpose could not be long dissembled for Tisaphernes went him selfe vnto the Court to bringe newes of his attempt Then all the Court was straight in an vprore withall Many men also did accuse the Queene mother for the practise of this warre all her friends seruaunts were vehemently suspected to be conspyrators with Cyrus but the greatest thing that troubled Parysatis most was Queene Statyra her Daughter in lawe who stormed maruelously to see this warre begon against king Artaxerxes her husband and incessantly cryed out on her O where is the faith thou vowedst by othe whereto are thy intercessions come thou madest for the pardon of his life who now conspyreth his brothers death By sauing of his life art not thou now the cause of this warre and troubles we see at hand After this reproch and shame receiued by Statira Parysatis being a cruell and malicious woman of nature
so hated her that from thenceforth she sought all the wayes she could to put her to death And Dinon the Historiographer sayth that during this warre she did execute her wicked purpose vpon her but Ctesias writeth that it was after the warre And therfore it is liker that he being daily in the king of PERSIAES Court should certainely knowe the tyme when she did execute her treason against her and also there is no cause why he should rather write it in any other time then in that in the which the facte was done although in many other places he commonly vseth to fitten and to write deuises of his owne head Therefore let vs leaue the report of this fact to the selfe same time and place as he hath written it Now when Cyrus drew neare vnto his brothers contry he had newes and a rumor ranne through his campe that the king was not determined to come and fight with him so soone and that he ment first to goe further into PERSIA and to tary there til he had gathered his army together out of all parts And for proofe hereof the king hauing cast a great trenche of ten yardes broad and as many high the space of foure hundred furlong in length he left it without gard and let Cyrus winne it who came on further without any resistaunce euen to the very citie selfe of BABYLON Howbeit in the ende Tiribazus as it is reported was the first man that durst tell the king that he should not flie fight in that sort nor hide him selfe in the furdest part of PERSIA leauing his enemy the Realmes of MEDIA BABYLON and SVSA considering also that he had many moe souldiers in readines then his enemye and an infinite number of Captaines more skilfull and abler to giue counsell and to fight then he was These words of Tiribazus made the king alter his mind and to determine to giue battell as soone as he could Thereuppon he marched forward against his enemie with nyne hundred thowsand fighting men excellently well armed and marching in very good order That maruelously astonied Cyrus men and made them affrayd at the first when they saw them in so excellent good order before them for that they were dispersed stragling here and there without any order and men vnarmed trusting too much in them selues in despising of their enemie so that Cyrus had much a doe to set his men in battell raye and yet was it with great noyse and tumult But the GRAECIANS wondred most of all other when they sawe the kinges armye marche in so good order of battell without any noyse For they thought to haue seene a wonderfull great disorder and confusion in such an infinite multitude of people and supposed they would haue made such a noyse that one of them should not haue heard another Where in deede to the contrary all was so well marshalled specially bicause he had placed before his battell the best carts he had armed with siethes and drawen with the strongest and biggest great horse he had in all his armie hoping by the fiercenes and furye of their careere to breake into the ranckes of the enemies before they could come to ioyne with theirs But sith this battell is described by diuers Historiographers but specially by Xenophon who hath as a man would say liuely set it out to the eye setteth it forth to the Reader not as a battell already fought but presently a fighting stirring vp their mindes as if them selues were in the action and instant daunger he hath so passingly set it downe it were but a folly therefore of me to take vppon me to make any further description of it sauing to touch some speciall poynts worthy of note which he peraduenture hath left out As the place where the battell was fought is called COVNAXA fiue hundred furlongs from BABYLON and how that before the battell Clearchus gaue Cyrus counsell to keepe behind the squadron of the GRAECIANS and not to hazard his person among the first and that Cyrus aunswered him what sayest thou Clearchus wouldest thou haue me that striues to be king to shew my selfe vnworthy to be a king But Cyrus hauing made this fault not standing vpon his safetie and garde but ouer rashely thrusting him selfe into great daunger Clearchus selfe also committed as great a fault if it were not worse when he would not set his men in order directly against the battell of the enemies where the kings person stoode but went and pent them vp by the riuers side being affrayd least they should haue bene compassed in behind For if he would haue looked so straightly to him selfe and haue prouided euery way for his safetie that no man might come to hurt him he should haue kept him selfe at home and not haue sturred one foote out of the dotes But sith he had comen so farre as from the low contries of ASIA vnto the place where the field was fought and vncompelled onely to put Cyrus in his fathers seate imperiall crowne to goe choose a place in the battell not where he might doe his Lord best seruice that had hyered him but rather where he might fight more at his ease and at lesse daunger it was euen as much as if through cowardlines his wits had bene taken from him when he should haue fought or that through treason he had forsaken his enterprise For to proue that the trowpes which where about the kinges person had neuer bene able to haue receiued the charge of the GRAECIANS and that those being ouerthrowen the king had bene slayne in the field or els forced to flie and that Cyrus had wonne the field and by this victorie had bene king the successe of this battell doth plainely shewe it And therefore Clearchus ouer curious respect deserued more blame for the losse of this battell then Cyrus ouerhardines For if king Artaxerxes would haue chosen or wished a place where the GRAECIANS might haue done him lesse hurt he could not haue deuised a fitter place that was so farre from him and from whence the GRAECIANS could neither see nor heare what was done where he was as it fell out in sequell For Cyrus was slayne before he could preuaile by Clearchus victorie he was so farre from him and furthermore Cyrus therein knew before what was meetest to be done For he commaunded Clearchus to place him selfe with his company in the middest of the battell who aunswered him he should take no thought for nothing for he would see all things well ordered And when he had sayd so he marred all afterwardes For where the GRAECIANS were they ouerthrewe the barbarous people that made head against them had thē in chase while they were weary of following of them Cyrus being mownted vpon a whot stirring horse that had a hard head and was very fierce and dogged called Pasacas as Ctesias writeth Artagerses the gouernor of the prouince of the CADVSIANS spyed him a farre of and