Flora resented not with the Levity of a Strumpet for that she languish'd afterwards under a tedious Sickness through Grief and Desire Now 't was said That this Flora became such a celebrated Beauty that Cecilius Metellus when he adorn'd the Temples of Castor and Pollux with divers rare Pictures and Images among the rest he dedicated hers for her singular Beauty But Pompey was quite besides his natural Temper in his Deportment towards the Wife of Demetrius his Franchis'd Servant who had a great Influence upon him in his Life-time and left an Estate of 4000 Talents where he demean'd himself neither gentilely nor ingeniously fearing lest he should fall under the common Censure of being enamour'd and charm'd with her Beauty which was incomparable and became famous every where Thus though herein he seem'd to be providently circumspect and Cautious yet even in Scandals of this Nature he could not avoid the Calumnies of his Enemies but that upon the score of Women his Wives at least they play'd the Sycophants with him and accus'd him as if he had Conniv'd at many Things and Imbezil'd the publick Revenue to gratifie their Luxury Then for his Sobriety and Temperance in Diet there was one remarkable passage in his Sickness when his Stomach nauseated common Meats his Physician prescrib'd him a Thrush to Eat but upon search there was none to be bought for they were not then in Season and one telling him They were to be had at Lucullus's who kept them all the year round Why then said he if it were not for Lucullus's Luxury should not Pompey live Thereupon wishing Health to his Physician he discharg'd him and accepted of what was in Season But of that hereafter Now Pompey being as yet a very young Man and upon an Expedition in which his Father was appointed General against Cinna had in his Tent with him one Lucius Terentius his Companion and Comrade who being corrupted by Cinna enter'd into an Engagement to kill Pompey as others had done to set the Generals Tent on Fire This Conspiracy being discovered to Pompey at Supper he seem'd no ways discompos'd at it but drank more liberally than usual and express'd an extraordinary Kindness to Terentius then about Bed-Time pretending to go to his Repose he stole away secretly out of his own Tent and setting a Guard about his Father went to his Rest Terentius now thinking his Enterprize ripe for Execution rose with his naked Sword and coming to Pompey's Bed-side stabb'd several Strokes through the Bed-Cloaths as if he were lying there Immediately upon this there was a great Uproar throughout all the Camp arising from the Hatred they bore to the General and an Universal Inclination of the Soldiers to Mutiny all tearing down their Tents and betaking themselves to their Arms the General himself all this while durst not venture out because of the Tumult but Pompey running into the midst of them beseech'd them with Tears and at last threw himself prostrate upon his Face before the door of the Trench and lay there in the passage as a Bar at their Feet bewailing his Fate and bidding those that were marching off if they would go to trample upon him whereupon every Man began to retreat and all except 800 either through Shame or Compassion repented of their Folly and were Reconcil'd to the General Immediately upon the Death of Strabo there was an Action commenc'd against Pompey as his Heir for that his Father had imbezil'd the publick Treasure But Pompey having well trac'd the Thief charg'd it upon one Alexander a franchis'd BondSlave of his Fathers and made an undoubted Evidence before the Judges that he had purloin'd and converted it to his own Use Afterwards he himself was Arraign'd for that he had seiz'd upon the Toils or Hunting Tackle and Books that were taken at Asculum To this he Confess'd thus far That he receiv'd them from his Father when he took Asculum but Pleaded farther That he had lost them since which happen'd upon Cinna's Return to Rome when his House was broke open and plunder'd by those of his Guards This Cause was notably managed with his Adversary in the Preparatories of Judgment in which he appearing strangely subtile and industrious beyond his years gain'd great Reputation and Favour insomuch that Antistius the Praetor and Judge of that Cause took a great Liking to Pompey and offer'd him his Daughter in Marriage having had some Treaties and Communications with his Friends about it Pompey accepted of the Conditions and they were privately Contracted together in Marriage However this Matter was not so closely convey'd as to escape the Multitude but it was discernible enough from the Favours that were shewn to him by Antistius in his Cause Whereupon at last when Antistius pronounc'd the absolutory Sentence of the Judges the People as if it had been upon a Signal given made the same Acclamation as was anciently us'd at Marriages Talassio the Original of which Custom is Reported to be this Upon a time when the Daughters of the Sabines came to Rome to see the Shews and Sports there and were violently seiz'd upon by the Nobles for Wives it happen'd that some Goatswains and Herdsmen of the meaner Rank were carrying off a beautiful and proper Damosel and lest any of the Nobles should meet them and take her away therefore as they ran they cry'd out with one Voice Talassio Now Talassius was an eminent and acceptable Person among them insomuch as all that heard the Name clapp'd their Hands for Joy and joyn'd with them in the Shout as applauding and congratulating the Choice Now say they because that prov'd a fortunate Match to Talassius hence 't is that this Acclamation is jocularly us'd as a Nuptial Song at all Weddings And this is the most credible Story that I can meet with touching what is related of Talassio Some few days after this Judgment Pompey Married Antistia and after that went to Cinna's Camp where finding some false Suggestions and Calumnies forg'd against him he began to be afraid and presently withdrew himself in disguise from the Camp this sudden disappearance occasion'd great Jealousies and there went a Rumour and Speech throughout all the Camp as if Cinna had Murder'd the young Man whereupon all that had been any ways disoblig'd and bore any Malice to him resolv'd to make an Assault upon him But he endeavouring to make his Escape was apprehended by a Centurian that pursu'd him with his naked Sword wherefore Cinna in this Distress fell upon his Knees and offer'd him a Seal of great value for his Ransom but the Centurian checked him very insolently saying I come not here to Seal a Covenant but to Chastise and be Reveng'd upon the Iniquity of a Lawless and Ungodly Tyrant and so dispatch'd him immediately Thus Cinna being slain Carbo a Tyrant more sensless than he took the Administration of the Government and all Things upon him But shortly after came Sylla a Man by
the Sports many offer'd their service to treat his Son with the usual Complements to the Victor which Honour he refused to all except one Gentleman When he came to the Treat and found it very extravagant upon all accounts even the Water brought to wash the Guests Feet mingled with Wine and Spices he reprimanded his Son asking him Why he would so far permit his Friend to sully the Honour of his Victory and endeavouring wholly to wean the youngster from such courses and company he sent him to Lacedoemon and plac'd him among the Youth that were educated according to the custom of that Country This the Athenians took offence at as though he slighted and contemned the Education at home and Demades twitted him with it publickly telling him Why Phocion do not we perswade the Athenians to receive the Laconian Manners and Discipline If you please to have it so I am ready to propound such a Law Yes indeed said Phocion it would exceedingly become you that are so pouder'd and perfum'd with that Revelling Habit on your back to Speech it in praise of Lycurgus and invite the Athenians to Colledge Commons When Alexander had demanded the Galleys they had agreed to furnish him withal the Orators opposed the sending them and the Council demanding Phocion's sence he told them freely Sirs I would either have you make sure of a Victory or a Friend of the Victor About that time one Pytheas a confident talking Fellow begun to be very impertinent and troublesom with his often prating Him Phocion check'd telling him That it would be better manners for him to be silent who was but of yesterday among them At that time Harpalus came from Alexander out of Asia into Attica with a vast sum of Money at whose arrival the little people of those that use to be hangers on upon the Court flock'd about him to get something of him amongst whom he scattered some small largesses to gain them and tye them by the teeth But to Phocion he made an offer of no less than 700 Talents and all manner of other advantages he pleas'd to demand with the Complement from Alexander that he would entirely commit himself and all his affairs to his disposal To which Phocion answer'd sharply That if he took such measures he should dearly repent his projects of corrupting and debauching the Citizens Upon which he desisted with regret After while the Athenians were deliberating in Council about him he found those that had received Pensions from him to be his greatest enemies urging and aggravating matters against him to prevent themselves being discover'd But Phocion who had clean hands and whose chief aim was always the Weal-publick to have some regard also to his particular security This encourag'd him once more to feel his pulse and attack him but he found him like a strong Fortress every way so defended that even the Golden Key could gain no admittance on all sides inaccessible and impregnable Yet having made a particular Friendship with Phocion's Son in Law Charicles and using him with entire confidence in all his affairs he brought him into some suspicion Upon the occasion of Pythonica the Courtesans dying who was Harpalus's Mistress for whom he had a great fondness and had a Child by her he resolv'd to build her a sumptuous Monument and committed the care of it to his Friend Charicles This design vain enough in it self was yet further disparag'd by the workmanship after it was finished for it is yet to be seen in Hermio as we go from Athens to Eleusina there appearing nothing answerable to the sum of 30 Talents said to be accounted by Charicles as expended about it After Harpalus his own decease his Daughter was educated by Phocion and Charicles with great care but Charicles being question'd by some of Harpalus his Relations about his concerns and intreating his Father in Law 's Protection and that he would appear for him in the Court Phocion refused him peremptorily telling him He would espouse his cause as his Son in Law only in things worthy and honourable About this time Asclepiades the Son of Hipparchus brought the first tidings of Alexander's Death to Athens which Demades told them was not to be credited for were it true the whole World would feel the stink of the dead Carkase Phocion perceiving his design of innovating and stirring the People to Sedition endeavoured to prevent and restrain them but many of them crowding up to the Bench and crying aloud that it was true what Asclepiades had related Well then suppose it says he if it be true to day it will be as true to morrow and the next day so that we have leisure quietly and treatably to consult our security Leosthenes had a design of imbarquing the Athenians in the Groecian War which Phocion could not brook nor forbear him He ask'd Phocion scoffingly what the State had been benefited by his Ministry now so many years Truly not a little said he methinks that the Citizens have been quietly laid up in their own Sepulchres But Leosthenes continuing to huff and swagger in the Assembly Young man says Phocion your Language is like the Cypress Trees tall and topping but without Fruit. After him Hyperides set upon him demanding of Phocion when the time would come he would advise the Athenians to make War Why truly says he when I shall find the younger sort tractable and observant of Discipline the Wealthy forward in their Contributions and the Lawyers forbear pillaging and robbing the Publick Exchequer After when many admired the Forces raised and the Preparations for War that were made by Leosthenes they ask'd Phocion how he approved of the new Levies Very well says he for a course but I apprehend the success of a War the Common-wealth being wholly destitute both of Treasure Shipping and Seamen for the expedition And the event justify'd his prognostick yet at first all things appear'd fair and promising Leosthenes gain'd Reputation by worsting the Boeotians in Battel and driving Antipater within the Walls of Lamia and the Citizens were so transported with the first successes that they kept solemn Festivities for them and instituted publick Sacrifices to the Gods of Victory So that some to reproach Phocion for being of contrary sentiments ask'd him whether now he would not willingly be Author of this successful Action to the Publick Yes verily says he most gladly but also of the former Counsel When one Express after another came from the Camp confirming and magnifying the Victories Nay then says he sure we shall never have done killing and slaying Leosthenes died soon after and those that feared lest if Phocion obtain'd the Command he would put an end to the War dealt with an obscure Fellow in the Assembly who should stand up and pretend himself to be a Friend and old Crony of Phocion's and perswade the People to spare him at this time and reserve him for a more pressing occasion having none comparable to him for
only but as gloriously set out too so that they were more to be envyed in their Pride than feared in their Force having the Poops and Decks of their Galliots all guilded and the Oars plated with Silver together with their Purple Sails as if their delight were to glory in their Iniquity There was nothing but Musick and Dancing Banquetting and Revels all along the Shore together with the Prizes of Kings in Captivity and Ransoms of sackt Cities to the Reproach and Dishonour of the Roman Empire There were of these Corsairs above 1000 Sail and they had taken no less than 400 Cities committing Sacriledge upon the Temples of the Gods and enriching themselves with the Spoils of divers undefiled before such as were those of Claros Didyme and Samothrace and the Temple of Tellus or the Earth in Hermione and that of Aeseulapius in Epidaurium Those of Neptune in Isthmus Taenarus and Calauria Those of Apollo in Actium and the Isle of Leucades and those of Juno in Samos Argos and Leucania They offered likewise strange Sacrifices upon Mount Olympus and performed certain secret Rites or Religious Mysteries whereof that to the Sun which they called by the Name of Mithres was preserved down to our Age having its Original and first Institution from them But besides these Piracies and Insolencies by Sea they were yet more injurious to the Romans by Land for they would often go ashore and Rob upon the High-ways plundring and destroying their Villages and Country-Houses near the Sea And once they seized upon two Roman Praetors Sextilius and Bellinus in their Purple Robes and carried them off together with their Serjeants and Vergers The Daughter also of Antonius a Man that had the Honour of Triumph taking a Journey into the Country was seized upon and Redeemed afterwards with an excessive Ransom But this was the most spiteful and abusive of all That when any of the Captives declared himself to be a Roman and told his Name they seemed to be surprized and straightway feigning a Fear smote their Thighs and fell down at his Feet humbly beseeching him to be gracious and forgive them The credulous Captive seeing them so humble and supplicant believed them to be in earnest for some were so officious as to put on his Shooes others helpt him on with his Gown lest his Quality should be mistaken again After all this Pageantry when they had thus deluded and mockt him long enough at last casting out a Ships Ladder when they were even in the midst of the Sea they bid him march off and farewel if he refused they threw him over-board and drowned him This Piratick Power having got the Dominion and Soveraignty of all the Mâ—diterranean and perpetually roving up and down there was left no place for Navigation or Commerce insomuch that no Merchant durst venture out to Traffick The Romans therefore finding themselves to be extreamly straitned in their Markets and considering that if this scarcity of Corn should continue there would be a Dearth and Famine in the Land determined to send out Pompey to recover their Seigniory of the Seas from the Pirates Wherefore Gabinius a great Creature of Pompey's preferred a Law whereby there was granted to him not only the Government of the Seas as Admiral but even the Monarchy of Rome as Soveraign having an Arbitrary and Unlimited Power over all Men The sum of that Decree gave him the absolute Power and Authority of all the Seas even from the Streights-Mouth or Hercules-Pillars together with the Continent or Mainland all along for the space of 400 Furlongs or 50 Miles from the Sea Now there were but few Regions in the World under the Roman Empire of a larger Extent and in that compass too there were comprehended great Nations and mighty Kings Moreover by this Decree he had a Power of electing fifteen Lieutenants out of the Senate and of assigning to each his Province in Charge Then he might take likewise out of the Treasury and of the Publicans what Monies he pleas'd as also 200 Sail of Ships with a Power to Press and Levy what Soldiers and Seamen he thought fit together with Galliots of Oars and Mariners When this Law was Read the common People approved of it exceedingly but the chiefest and most powerful of the Senate looked upon it as an exorbitant Power even beyond the reach of Envy and was now become worthy of their Fears therefore concluding with themselves that such an infinite and boundless Authority was dangerous they agreed unanimously to oppose the Bill and all were against it except Caesar who gave his Vote for the Law not so much to gratifie Pompey as the People whose Favour he had courted under-hand from the beginning and hoped thereby to compass such a Power for himself The rest inveighed bitterly against Pompey insomuch as one of the Consuls told him sharply That if he followed the Footsteps of Romulus he would scarce avoid his End but he was in danger of being torn in pieces by the Multitude for his Speech Yet when Catulus stood up to speak against the Law the People in Reverence to him were very silent and attentive He therefore after he had without the least shew of Envy made large Harangues in Honour of Pompey began to advise the People in kindness to spare him and not to expose a Man of his Value to such a Chain of Dangers and Wars For said he Where could you find out another Pompey or whom would you have in case you should chance to lose him They all cry'd out with one Voice Your self wherefore Catulus finding all his Rhetorick ineffectual desisted Then Roscius attempted to speak but could have no Audience wherefore he made Signs with his Fingers intimating Not him alone but that there might be a second Pompey or Colleague in Authority with him Upon this 't is said the Multitude being extreamly incens'd made such an horrid Exclamation that a Crow flying over the Market-Place at that instant was struck blind and dropt down among the Rabble whereby it appears That the Cause of Birds falling down to the Ground is not by any rupture or division of the Air when it has received any such Impression or Force but purely by the very stroak of the Voice which being shot up by a Multitude with great Violence raises a sort of Tempest and Billows in the Air. The Assembly therefore broke up for that day And when the day was come wherein the Bill was to pass by Suffrage into a Decree Pompey went privately into the Country but hearing that it was passed and confirmed he returned again into the City by Night to avoid the Envy that might arise from that Concourse of People that would meet and congratulate him The next Morning he came abroad and sacrificed to the Gods and having Audience at an open Assembly he handled the Matter so as that they enlarged his Power giving him many Things besides what was already granted and almost doubling the Preparation
no disturbance during his Praetorship only what misfortune he met with in his own Domestick Affairs P. Clodius was a Person well descended eminent both for his Riches and Eloquence but in Lewdness and Impudence exceeded the very worst of those who were remarkable for their Debauchery He was in love with Pompeja Caesar's Wife and she had no aversion to him But there were strict Guards on her Apartment and Caesar's Mother Aurclia who was a discreet Woman being continually about her made an Interview very dangerous and difficult The Romans have a Goddess which they call Bona the same which the Greeks call Gynaecea The Phrygians who claim a peculiar Title to her say she was Mother to Midas The Romans pretend she was one of the Dryads and Married to Faunus The Grecians affirm that she is that Mother of Bacchus whose Name is not to be utter'd For this Reason the Women who celebrate her Festival cover the Tents with Vine-branches and according to the Fable a Consecrated Dragon is plac'd by the Goddess It is not lawful for a Man to be bye nor so much as in the House whilst the Sacred Rites are celebrated but the Women by themselves perform such Holy Offices as are much aâ—kin to those us'd in the Solemnities sacred to Orpheus When the Festival comes the Husband who is always either Consul or Praetor and with him every Male-creature quits the House the Wife then taking it under her care sets it in order and there are great Solemnities all night attended with Dancing and several sorts of Musick As Pompeja was at that time celebrating this Feast Clodius who as yet had no Beard and so thought to pass undiscover'd took upon him the Habit and Disguise of a Singing-Woman having the Air of a young Girl and so came thither Finding the Doors open he was without any stop introduc'd by a young Maid who was in the Intrigue She presently ran to tell Pompeja but being from him a great while he grew uneasie in waiting for her and therefore left his Post and travers'd the House from one Room to another still taking care to avoid the Lights till at last Aurelia's Woman met him and invited him to such Recreations as the Women use among themselves He refus'd to comply but the presently pull'd him forward and ask'd him who he was and whence Clodius told her he waited for Aura one of Pompeja's Maids and as he said so betray'd himself by his Voice Upon which the Woman shrieking ran into the Company where there were Lights and cried out she had discovered a Man The Women were all in a fright Aurelia presently threw a Vail over the Ceremonies put a stop to the Orgia and having order'd the Doors to be shut ran about with Lights to find Clodius who was got into the Maids Room that he had come in with and was seiz'd there The Women knew him and drave him out of Doors and presently thô it was yet night went home to tell their Husbands the Story In the morning it was all about Town what an impious attempt Clodius had made and all agreed he ought to be punish'd as an Offender not only against those whom he had affronted but also against the Publick and the Gods Upon which one of the Tribunes accus'd him of profaning the Holy Rites and some of the Principal Senators came in and witness'd against him that besides many other horrible Crimes he had been guilty of Incest with his own Sister who was Married to Lucullus But the People set themselves against the Interest of the Nobility and defended Clodius which was of great service to him with the Judges who were at a stand being afraid to provoke the Commonalty Caesar presently dismist Pompeja but being summon'd as a Witness against Clodius said He had nothing to charge him with This looking like a Paradox the Accusers ask'd him why he parted with his Wife Caesar replied Because I can't bear that my Wife should be so much as suspected Some say that Caesar spake this as his thoughts Others that he did it to gratifie the People who were very earnest to save Clodius So Clodius got clear of the Indictment most of the Judges giving their Opinions in confus'd terms that they might not be in danger from the People by condemning him nor in disgrace with the Nobility by acquitting him Caesar in the mean time being out of his Praetorship had got the Province of Spain but was in ill Circumstances with his Creditors who as he was going off came upon him and were very pressing and importunate which made him apply himself to Crassus who was the richest Man in Rome but wanted Caesar's vigor and warmth to set up against Pompey Crassus took upon him to satisfie those Creditors which were most uneasie to him and would not be put off any longer and engag'd himself to the value of 830 Talents Upon which Caesar was now at Liberty to go to his Province In his Journey as he was crossing the Alps and passing by a small Village of the Barbarians which was stock'd with but few Inhabitants and those wretchedly poor his Friends smil'd and ask'd him by way of raillery If there were any canvasing for Offices there any contention which should be uppermost or fewds of great Men one against another To which Caesar made answer very seriously For my part I had rather be the first Man among these Fellows then the second Man in Rome 'T is said that another time being retir'd from Business and reading the History of Alexander he sat a great while very thoughtful and at last burst out into Tears His Friends were surpris'd and ask'd him the Reason of it Do you think said he I have not just cause to weep when I consider that Alexander at my Age had conquer'd so many Nations and I have all this time done nothing that is memorable As soon as he came into Spain he was very active and in a few days had got together 10 new Companies of Foot to those 20 which were there before With these he march'd against the Gallaeci and Lusitani conquer'd them and advancing as far as the Ocean subdu'd those Nations which never before had been subject to the Romans Having manag'd his Military Affairs with good success he was equally happy in the Course of his Civil Government For he establish'd a good Understanding amongst the several States and took especial Care to heal the differences betwixt Debtors and Creditors He order'd that the Creditor should receive two parts of the Debtor's yearly Income and that the other part should be manag'd by the Debtor himself till by this method the whole Debt was at last discharg'd This Conduct made him leave his Province with a fair reputation being rich himself and having enrich'd his Soldiers who therefore Complimented him with the Title of Emperor There is a Law among the Romans that whoever desires the Honor of a Triumph must stay without the City and expect
danger Cato boldly opposed him and made him appear so infamous that he was forc'd to leave the Town and when Cicero came to thank him for what he had done You must thank the Commonwealth said he for whose sake alone it was that he did every thing Thus he gained a great and wonderful Reputation so that a certain Advocate in a Cause where there was only one Witness against him told the Judges They ought not to rely upon a single Witness though it were Cato himself And it was grown proverbial among the People if any very unlikely and incredible thing were asserted to say They would not believe it though Cato himself should affirm it One day a debauched Prodigal talking in the Senate about Frugality and Temperance Amnoeus standing up cryed Who can endure this Sir to hear you that feast like Crassus and build like Lucullus talk like Cato So likewise those who were wild and dissolute in their Manners yet affected to seem grave and severe in their Discourses were in derision called Cato's At first when his Friends would have perswaded him to stand to be Tribune of the People he thought it not convenient for that the Power of so great an Office ought to be imployed only as the strongest Medicines when things are brought to the last necessity But afterward in Vacation-time as he was going accompanied with his Books and Philosophers to Leucania where he had a pleasant Seat by the way they met a great many Horses Carriages and Attendants of whom they understood that Metellus Nepos was going to Rome to stand to be Tribune of the People Hereupon Cato stopp'd and after a little pause gave Orders to return immediately At which the Company seeming to wonder Don't you know said he how dangerous of it self the Madness of Metellus is but now he comes assisted with the Counsel of Pompey he will fall like Lightning on the State and bring it to utter ruine wherefore this is no time for Idleness and Diversion but we must go and prevent this man in his Designs or bravely die in defence of our Liberty Nevertheless by the Perswasion of his Friends he went first to his Countrey-house where he stay'd but a very little time and then returned to Town He arrived in the Evening and went straight the next Morning to the Forum where he began to sollicit for the Tribuneship in opposition to Metellus The Power of this Office consists rather in controuling than performing any Business for tho' all the rest except any one Tribune should be agreed yet his denial or intercession could put a stop to the whole Matter Cato at first had not many that appeared for him but as soon as his Design was known all Persons of the best Quality and of his own Acquaintance took part with him for they looked upon him not as one that desired a Favour of them but one that sought to do a great Kindness to his Countrey and all honest men Who had many times refused the same Office when he might have had it without trouble but now sought it with danger that he might defend their Liberty and their Government It is reported that so great a number flock'd about him that he was like to be stifled amidst the Press and could scarce get through the Crowd He was declared Tribune with several others among whom was Metellus Now when Cato was chosen into this Office having observed that the Election of Consuls was grown very mercenary he sharply rebuked the People for this Corruption and in the conclusion of his Speech protested he would accuse whom ever he should find giving Money yet Passed by Silanus by reason of his Alliance for he had married Servilia Cato's Sister so that he did not prosecute him but Lucius Murena who was chosen Consul with Silanus he accused of Bribery There was a Law That the Party accused might set a Guard upon his Accuser to watch him lest he should use any indirect means in preparing the Accusation He that was set upon Cato by Murena at first followed and observed him strictly yet never found him dealing any way unfairly or unjustly but always generously and candidly going on in the just and open Methods of Proceeding So that he much admired Cato's great Spirit and noble Nature and easily trusted to his Integrity for meeting him abroad or going to his House he would ask him if he designed to do any thing that day in order to the Accusation and if Cato said No he went away freely relying on his Word When the Cause was pleaded Cicero who was then Consul and defended Murena did so wittily expose Cato and the Stoick Philosophers and their Paradoxes that he raised great Laughter in his Judges Whereupon Cato smiling said to the Standers by Sirs we have a very pleasant Consul Murena was acquitted and afterward shewed himself no passionate but a very prudent Man for when he was Consul he always took Cato's Advice in the most weighty Affairs and in all the time of his Office gave him much Honour and Respect Of which not only Murena's Prudence but also Cato's obliging Humour was the Cause for tho' he were terrible and severe as to Matters of Justice in the Senate and at the Bar yet he was very courteous and good-natured to all men in private Before Cato took upon him the Office of Tribune he assisted Cicero at that time Consul in many things that concerned his Office but most especially in prosecuting Catiline's Conspiracy which he did with great Courage and Success This Catiline had plotted a dreadful and entire Subversion of the Roman State contriving to raise great Seditions and drive them into a Civil War but being detected by Cicero was forced to fly the City Yet Lentulus and Cethegus conspired with several others and blaming Catiline as one that wanted Courage and had too much Caution for such desperate Designs they themselves resolved to set the whole Town on fire and utterly to ruine the Empire of the World by Tumults at home and War from abroad But the Design was discovered by Cicero as we have written in his Life and the Matter brought before the Senate Silanus who spoke first delivered his opinion That the Conspirators ought to suffer the last of Punishments and was therein followed by all that spoke after him till it came to Coesar who was very eloquent and looking upon all Changes and commotions in the State as Matter for him to work upon desired rather to increase than extinguish them Wherefore standing up he made a very merciful and perswasive Speech That they ought not to suffer otherwise than according to Law by which they could not be put to death and moved that they might be kept in Prison Thus was the House almost wholly turned by Coesar They were also afraid of the People insomuch that Silanus retracted and said he did not mean Death but Imprisonment for that was the utmost of what a Roman could suffer Upon this
in me a Friendship more firm than any Alliance but I will not give Hostages to Pompey's Glory against my Countrey 's safety This Answer was very grating to the Women and to all his Friends it seemed somewhat harsh and haughty Afterwards when Pompey endeavouring to get the Consulship for one of his Friends did give Money to the People for their Voices and the Bribery was notorious for the Money was told out in Pompey's own Gardens Cato then said to the Women They must necessarily have been concerned in these Faults of Pompey if they had been allied to his Family and they acknowledged that he did best in refusing it But if we may judge by the Event Cato seems much to blame for rejecting that Alliance which thereby fell to Caesar And then that Match was made which uniting his and Pompey's Power had well-nigh ruined the Roman Empire and did at last utterly destroy the Commonwealth Nothing of which perhaps had come to pass but that Cato was too apprehensive of Pompey's least Faults and did not consider how he forced him into a condition of committing much greater however these things were yet to come Now Lucullus and Pompey had a great Dispute concerning what had been established in Pontus each endeavouring that his own Ordinances might stand Cato took part with Lucullus who was apparently injured and Pompey finding himself the weaker in the Senate took to the People To gain them he proposed a Law for dividing the Lands among the Souldiers Cato opposing him in this also made the Law be rejected Hereupon Pompey joyned himself with Clodius at that time the most violent of all the popular Men and was likewise united to Caesar upon this occasion of which Cato himself was the Cause For Caesar returning from his Government in Spain at the same time sued to be chosen Consul and yet desired not to lose his Triumph Now the Law requiring That those who stood for any Office should be present and yet that whoever expected a Triumph should continue without the Walls Caesar requested the Senate that his Friends might be permitted to canvass for him in his absence Many of the Senators where willing to consent to it but Cato opposed it and perceiving them inclined to favour Caesar spent the whole day in speaking and so prevented the Senate that they could come to no conclusion Caesar therefore resolving to let fall his Pretensions to the Triumph came into the Town and immediately made a Friendship with Pompey and stood for the Consulship so soon as he was declared Consul elect he married his Daughter Julia to Pompey Having thus combined themselves together against the Commonwealth the one proposed the Agrarian Laws for dividing the Lands among the poor People and the other was present to second the Proposal Against them Lucullus Cicero and their Friends joyned with Bibulus the other Consul and did all they could to hinder the passing those Laws Among these none was more remarkable than Cato who look'd upon the Friendship and Alliance of Pompey and Caesar as very dangerous and declared he did not so much dislike the Advantage the People should get by this division of the Lands as he fear'd the Reward these men would gain by thus cheating the People And in this the Senate was of his opinion as likewise many honest men without who were very much offended at Caesar's ill Conduct That he now bearing the Authority of Consul should thus basely and dishonourably flatter the People practising to win them by the same means that were wont to be used only by the most rash and heady Tribunes Caesar therefore and his Party fearing they should not carry it by fair dealing fell to open force First a Basket of Dung was thrown upon Bibulus as he was going to the Forum then they set upon his Lictors and broke their Rods at length several Darts were thrown and many men wounded so that all that were against those Laws fled out of the Forum the rest making what hast they could but Cato last of all walking out very slowly often turned back and cursed those Citizens Now the other Party did not only carry this Point of dividing the Lands but also ordained that all the Senate should swear to confirm this Law and to defend it against whoever should attempt to alter it inflicting great Penalties on those that should refuse the Oath All the Senators seeing the necessity they were in took the Oath remembring the Example of old Metellus who refusing to swear upon the like occasion was forc'd to fly out of Italy As for Cato his Wife and Children with Tears besought him his Friends and Familiars perswaded and entreated him to yield and take the Oath but he that principally prevailed with him was Cicero the Orator who urged and remonstrated How unreasonable it was that a private man alone should oppose what the Publick had decreed That the thing being already past remedy it would look like folly and madness to run himself into danger where 't is impossible to do his Countrey any good Besides it would be the greatest of all Evils to abandon the Commonwealth for whose sake he did every thing and to let it fall into the hands of those who designed nothing but its ruine This would look as if he were glad of an opportunity to retire from the trouble of defending his Countrey For said he tho' Cato have no need of Rome yet Rome has need of Cato and so likewise have all his Friends Of whom Cicero profess'd himself the chief being at that time aimed at by Clodius who openly threatned to fall upon him as soon as ever he should get to be Tribune Thus Cato they say moved by the Entreaties of his Family and the Persuasions of his Friends went unwillingly to take the Oath which he did the last of all except only Favonius one of his intimate Acquaintance Coesar exalted with this Success proposed another Law for dividing almost all the Countrey of Campania among the poor and needy Citizens No body durst speak against it but Cato whom therefore Coesar pull'd from the Rostra and dragg'd to Prison yet Cato did not at all remit his freedom of Speech but as he went along continued to speak against the Law and advised the People to put a stop to these Proceedings The Senate and the best of the Citizens followed him with sad and dejected Looks showing their Grief and Indignation by their Silence so that Coesar could not be ignorant how much they were offended but being one of a fierce contentious Spirit he still persisted expecting Cato should either supplicate him or appeal to the People Afterwards when he saw that Cato would do neither Coesar himself asham'd of what he had done privately sent one of the Tribunes to take him out of Prison Thus having won the Multitude by these Laws and Gratifications they decreed That Coesar should have the Government of Illyricum and all Gaule with an Army of four
be some help to him in his design of opposing them that he might not act as a private Man when he was to contend with publick Magistrates Pompey and Crassus apprehended this and fearing that the Office of Praetor in the Person of Cato might be equal in Authority to that of Consul they assembled the Senate unexpectedly without giving any notice to a great many of the Senators and made an Order That those who were chosen Praetors should immediately enter upon their Office without attending the usual time in which according to Law they might be accused if they had corrupted the People with Gifts When by this Order they were secure from being called to account they set up their own Friends and Dependants to stand for the Praetorship giving Money and solliciting the People for their Voices Yet the Vertue and Reputation of Cato was like to triumph over all these Stratagems for many of the People abhorred that Cato should be sold who ought rather to be hired to take upon him the Office so he carried it by the Voices of the first Tribe Hereupon Pompey immediately frames a Lye crying out It thunder'd and straight broke up the Assembly For the Romans religiously observed those things and never concluded any Matter after it had thunder'd Against the next time they had distributed larger Bribes and did also keep the best Men out of the Field By these foul means they procured Vatinius to be chosen Praetor instead of Cato 'T is said that those who had thus corruptly and dishonestly given their Voices made what hast they could out of the Field but the others staying together and much grieving at what was done one of the Tribunes continued the Assembly and Cato standing up did as it were by Inspiration foretell all the Miseries that afterward befell the State then he exhorted them to beware of Pompey and Crassus who were guilty of such things and had laid such Designs that they might well fear to have Cato their Proetor When he had ended this Speech he was followed to his House by a greater number of People than all the Proetors together Caius Trebonius proposed the Law for alloting Provinces to the Consuls whereby one was to have Spain and Lybia the other Aegypt and Syria with full power of making War and Peace both by Sea and Land as they should think fit When this was proposed all men despaired of putting any stop to it and therefore said nothing against it But Cato before they began Voting went up into the Rostra and desired to be heard they would scarce allow him two hours to speak Having spent that time in declaring many things that were passed and foretelling many that were to come they would not suffer him to speak any longer but as he was going on a Serjeant came and pull'd him down yet when he was down he still continued his Discourse and many there were who hearkened to him and were much concern'd for him Then the Serjeant took him and forc'd him out of the Forum but as soon as he got loose he returned again crying out to the People to stand by him Cato having done thus several times Trebonius grew very angry and commanded him to be carried to Prison but the Multitude followed him and hearkened to him who made a Speech to them as he went along Whereupon Trebonius was afraid and ordered him to be released thus was all that day spent and the Business driven off by Cato But afterward many of the Citizens being over-aw'd by Fears and Threats and others won by Gifts and Favours Aquilius one of the Tribunes they shut into the Senate house Cato who cry'd It thundered they drove out of the Forum many were wounded and some slain at length by open force they passed the Law At this many were so incensed that they got together and resolved to throw down the Statues of Pompey but Cato went and diverted them from that Design Again another Law was proposed concerning the Provinces and Legions for Coesar Upon this occasion Cato did not apply himself to the People but to Pompey and told him He did not consider now that he took Caesar upon his own Shoulders who would shortly grow too weighty for him and at length not able to lay down the burthen nor yet to bear it any longer he would fall with it upon the Commonwealth and then he would remember Cato's Advice which was no less advantageous to him than just and honest in it self Thus was Pompey often warned but still went on never mistrusting Coesar's Change and always confiding in his own Power and good Fortune Cato was made Proetor the following year but it seems he did not more honour and credit the Office by his signal Integrity than he did disgrace and diminish it by his strange Behaviour for he would often come to the Court without his Shooes and sit upon the Bench without his Gown and in this Habit give Judgment in the greatest Causes and upon Persons of the best Quality 'T is said also he would dispatch Business after Dinner when he had drunk Wine but this was wrongfully reported of him The People were at that time extreamly corrupted by the Bribes of those who sought Offices and many made a constant Trade of selling their Voices Cato was resolved utterly to root this Corruption out of the Commonwealth therefore he perswaded the Senate to make an Order That those who were chosen into any Office tho' no body did accuse them should be obliged to come into the Court and give account upon Oath how they had dealt in their Election This very much displeased those who stood for the Offices but much more those who took the Bribes insomuch that one Morning as Cato was going to the Place where he kept Court a great multitude of People flocked together and with a mighty uproar fell to reviling him and threw Stones at him Those that were about the Tribunal presently fled Cato himself being forc'd thence and justled about in the Throng very narrowly escaped the Stones that were thrown at him and with much difficulty got into the Rostra where standins up with a bold and undaunted Countenance he appeas'd the Tumult and silenced the Clamour then he began to speak and was heard with great attention so that he perfectly quelled the Sedition Afterward the Senate commending him for this But I don't commend you said he for abandoning your Praetor in Danger and bringing him no Assistance In the mean time the Candidates were in great perplexity for every one dreaded to give Money himself and yet feared lest his Competitors should At length they all agreed to lay down an hundred and twenty five thousand Drachma's apiece and then go on to canvass fairly and honestly on condition that if any one was found to make use of Bribery he should forfeit the Money Being thus agreed they chose Cato to keep the Stakes and arbitrate the Matter to him therefore they brought the Sum
those Deities which they dread esteeming it hurtful but thinking their Polity is chiefly kept up by Law and therefore the Ephori Aristotle is my Author when they enter upon their Government make Proclamation to the People That they should shave their Whiskers and be obedient to the Laws that they might not be forc'd to be severe using this trivial Particular in my opinion to accustom their Youth to Obedience even in the smallest Matters And the Ancients I think did not imagine Fortitude to be plain Fearlessness but a cautious Fear of Infamy and Disgrace for those that show most Fear towards the Laws are most bold against their Enemies and those are least afraid of any Danger who are most afraid of a just Reproach Therefore he said well A Reverence still attends on Fear And Homer Fear'd you shall be dear Vncle and rever'd And again In silence fearing those that bore the sway For 't is very commonly seen that Men reverence those whom they fear and therefore the Lacedoemonians plac'd the Temple of Fear by the Sussitium of the Ephori having rais'd their Power to almost absolute Monarchy The next day Cleomenes proscrib'd 80 of the Citizens whom he thought necessary to banish and remov'd all the Seats of the Ephori except one in which he himself design'd to sit and hear Causes and calling the Citizens together he made an Apology for his Proceedings saying That by Lycurgus the Senate was joyn'd to the Kings and that that model of Government had continued a long time and needed no other sort of Magistrates to give it perfection But afterward in the long War with the Messenians when the Kings being to command the Army had no time to attend civil Causes they chose some of their Friends and left them to determine the Suits of the Citizens in their stead These were call'd Ephori and at first behav'd themselves as Servants to the Kings but afterward by degrees they appropriated the Power to themselves and erected a distinct sort of Magistracy An evidence of the Truth of this may be taken from the usual Behaviour of the Kings who upon the first and second Message of the Ephori refuse to go but upon the third readily attend them And Asteropus the first that rais'd the Ephori to that height of Power liv'd a great many years after their Institution therefore whilst they modestly contain'd themselves within their own proper Sphere 't was better to bear with them than to make a disturbance But that an upstart introduc'd Power should so far destroy the old model of Government as to banish some Kings murder others without hearing their defence and threaten those who desir'd to see the best and most divine Constitution restor'd in Sparta was unsufferable Therefore if it had been possible for him without Bloodshed to have freed Lacedaemon from those foreign Plagues Luxury Vanity Debts and Usury and from those more ancient Evils Poverty and Riches he should have thought himself the happiest King in the World having like an expert Physician cur'd the Diseases of his Countrey without pain But now in this necessity Lycurgus's Example favour'd his Proceedings who being neither King nor Magistrate but a private Man and aiming at the Kingdom came arm'd into the Market-place and for fear of the King Carileus fled to the Altar but he being a good Man and a lover of his Countrey readily consented to Lycurgus's Project and admitted an Alteration in the State Thus by his own Actions Lycurgus show'd That it was difficult to correct the Government without Force and Fear in using which he said he would be so moderate as never to desire their Assistance but either to terrifie or ruine the Enemies of Sparta's Happiness and Safety He commanded that all the Land should be left in common and private Claims laid aside That Debtors should be discharged of their Debts and a strict search made who were Foreigners and who not That the true Spartans recovering their Courage might defend the City by their Arms and that we may no longer see Laconia for want of a sufficient number to secure it wasted by the Aetolians and Illyrians Then he himself first with his Father-in-law Megistones and his Friends brought all their Wealth into one publick Stock and all the other Citizens follow'd the example the Land was divided and every one that he had banish'd had a share assign'd him for he promis'd to restore all as soon as things were settled and in quiet and compleating the common number of Citizens out of the best and most agreeable of the neighbouring Inhabitants he rais'd a Body of 4000 Men and instead of a Spear taught them to use a Sarissa a long Pike with both hands and to carry their Shields by a String fastned round their Arms and not by a Handle as before After this he began to consult about the exercising and breeding of the Youth many Particulars of which Sphoerus being then at Sparta directed and in a short time the Schools of Exercise and their Syssitia common eating Places recover'd their ancient Decency and Order a few out of necessity but the most voluntarily applying themselves to that generous and Laconick way of Living besides that the Name of Monarch might give them no jealousie he made Eucleidas his Brother Partner in the Throne and that was the only time that Sparta had two Kings of the same Family Then understanding that the Achoeans and Aratus imagin'd that this Change had disturb'd and shaken his Affairs and that he would not venture out of Sparta and leave the City now unsettled by so great an Alteration he thought it great and serviceable to his Designs to convince his Enemies that he was eagerly desirous of a War And therefore making an Incursion into the Territories of Megalopolis he wasted the Countrey very much and got a considerable Booty And at last taking those that us'd to act in the publick Solemnities travelling from Messena and building a Theater in the Enemies Countrey and setting a Prize of 40 l. value he sate Spectator a whole day not that he either desir'd or needed such a Divertisement but as it were insulting o'er his Enemies and that by thus manifestly despising them he might show that he had more than conquer'd the Achaeans for that alone of all the Greek or Kings Armies had no Stage-players no Jugglers no dancing or singing Women attending it but was free from all sorts of Loosness Wantonness and Foppery the young Men being for the most part upon Duty and the old Men teaching them at leisure-time to apply themselves to their usual Drollery and to rally one another facetiously after the Laconick fashion the Advantages of which I have discover'd in the Life of Lycurgus He himself instructed all by his Example he was a living Pattern of Temperance before every bodies eyes and his course of Living was neither more stately nor more expensive than any of the Commons And this was a considerable Advantage