curiositie then offend or mislike them for their falsehood Nowe after he had founded his cittie he first and foremost dyd diuide in two coÌ„panies all those that were of age to carie armour In euery one of these companies there were three thousand footemen and three hundred horsemen and they were called Legions bicause they were sorted of the chosen men that were pyckt out amongest all the rest for to fight The remaine after these was called Populus which signifieth the people After this he made a hundred counsellers of the best and honestest men of the cittie which he called Patricians and the whole company of them together he called Senatus as one would saye the counsell of the auncients So they were called Patricians as some will saye the counsaill of the fathers lawfull children which fewe of the first inhabitants could shewe It may be some will saye this name was geuen them of Patrocinium as growing of the protection they had by the sanctuarie of their cittie which worde they vse at this daye in the selfe same signification as one that followed Euander into ITALIE was called Patron bicause he was pitiefull and relieued the poore and litle children and so got him selfe a name for his pitie and humanitie But me thinckes it were more like the trothe to saye that Romulus dyd call them so bicause he thought the chiefest men should haue a fatherly care of the meaner sorte considering also it was to teache the meaner sorte that they should not feare th' authoritie of the greater nor enuie at their honours they had but rather in all their causes should vse their fauour and good will by taking them as their fathers For euen at this present straungers call those of the Senate lordes or captaines but the naturall ROMAINES call them Patres Conscripti which is a name of fatherhed and dignitie without enuie It is true that the beginning they were only called Patres but sithence bicause they were many ioyned vnto the first they haue bene named Patres Conscripti as a man should saye fathers of recorde together which is the honorablest name he could haue deuised to make a difference betwext the Senatours and the people Furthermore he made a difference betweene the chiefer cittizens and the baser people by calling the better sorte Patroni as muche to saye as defenders and the meaner sorte Clientes as you would saye followers or men protected This dyd breede a marueilous great loue and good wil lamong them making the one much beholding to the other by many mutuall curtesies and pleasures for the Patrons dyd helpe the clients to their right defended their causes in iudgement dyd geue vnto them counsaill and dyd take all their matters in hande The clients againe enterchaungeably humbled them selues to their patrons not onely in outwarde honour and reuerence towardes them but otherwise dyd helpe them with money to marrie and aduance their daughters or els to paye their dettes and credit if they were poore or decayed There was no lawe nor magistrate that could compell the patron to be a witnes against his client nor yet the client to witnesse against his patron So they increased and continued all other rights and offices of amitie and friendshippe together sauing afterwards they thought it a great shame and reproache for the better and richer to take rewarde of the meaner and poorer And thus of this matter we haue spoken sufficieÌ„tly Moreouer foure moneths after the foundation of the cittie was layed Fabius writeth there was a great rauishement of women There are some which laye it vpon Romulus who being then of nature warlike and geuen to prophecies and aunswers of the goddes foretolde that his cittie should become very great and mightie so as he raysed it by warres and increased it by armes and he sought out this culler to doe mischief and to make warre vpon the SABYNES To proue this true some saye he caused certaine of their maydes by force to be taken awaye but not past thirtie in number as one that rather sought cause of warres then dyd it for neede of mariages which me thinckes was not likely to be true but rather I iudge the contrarie For seeing his cittie was incontinently repleanished with people of all sortes whereof there were very fewe that had wiues and that they were men gathered out of all countryes and the most parte of them poore and needâ—e so as their neighbours disdayned them much and dyd not looke they would longe dwell together Romulus hoping by this violent taking of their maydes and rauishing them to haue an entrie into alliance with the SABYNES and to entise them further to ioyne with them in mariage if they dyd gentely intreate these wiues they had gotten enterprised this violent taking of their maydes and rauishing of them in suche a sorte First he made it to be commonly bruited abroade in euery place that he had founde the altar of a god hidden in the grounde and he called the name of the god Consus either bicause he was a god of counsaill wherupon the ROMAINES at this daye in their tongue call Consilium which we call counsell and the chief magistrates of their cittie Consules as we saye counsellers Other saye it was the altar of the god Neptune surnamed the patron of horses For this altar is yet at this daye within the great listes of the cittie and euer couered and hidden but when they vse the running games of their horse race Other saye bicause counsell euer must be kept close and secret they had good reason to kepe the altar of this god Consus hidden in the grounde Nowe other write when it was opened Romulus made a sacrifice of wonderfull ioye and afterwardes proclaymed it openly in diuers places that at suche a daye there should be common playes in ROME and a solemne feast kept of the god Consus where all that were disposed to come should be welcome Great numbers of people repaired thither from all partes He him selfe was set in the chiefest seate of the showe place apparelled fayer in purple and accompanied with the chiefe of his cittie about him And there hauing purposed this rauishement you haue heard of he had geuen the signe before that the same should beginne when he should rise vp and folde a playte of his gowne and vnfolde the same againe Hereupon his men stoode attending with their swordes who so sone as they perceyued the signe was geuen with their swordes drawen in hande and with great showtes and cryes ranne violently on the maydes and daughters of the SABYNES to take them awaye and rauishe them and suffered the men to ronne awaye without doing them any hurte or violence So some saye there were but thirtie rauished after whose names were called the thirtie linages of the people of ROME Howbeit Valerius Antias writeth that there were fiue hundred and seuen and twentie and Iuba sixe hundred foure
but much like as one should geue some easie medicine to purge an ouerthrowen bodye with all humours and disseases Therefore he thought first that all grosse superfluous humours were meete to be dissolued purged and then afterwardes to geue them a new forme and order of gouernment When he had thus determined with him self before he would take in haÌ„d to doe any thing he went to the citty of DELPHES where after he had sacrificed to Apollo he coÌ„sulted with him about his matters From whom he returned withthis glorious title by the oracle of Pythia ô beloued of the goddes and rather god then man Where when he craued grace of Apollo to establishe good lawes in his countrie it was aunswered him that Apollo graunted his petition and that he should ordaine the best and perfectest manner of a Common wealth that euer had or should be in the worlde This aunswer dyd comforte him very much so he beganne to breake his purpose to certen of the chief of the cittie secretly to praye exhorte them to helped him going first to those he knew to be his friends after by litle litle he wanne others to him who ioyned with him in his enterprise So when he saw the time fit for the matter he caused thirtie of the chiefest men of the cittie in a morning to come into the market place well appointed furnished to suppresse those that would atteÌ„pt to hinder their purpose Hermippus the historiographer rehearseth twentie of the chiefest but he that aboue all others dyd most assist him in his doings was the greatest ayde vnto the stablishing of his lawes was called Arithmiadas The king Charilaus hearing of this assembly dyd feare there had bene some conspiracie or insurrection against his person for his safety he fled into the temple of Iuno called Chalceoecos as much to saye as Iunos brasen teÌ„ple Howbeit afterwards when he knew the trothe he waxed bolde came out of the temple againe he him self fauored the enterpriso being a prince of a noble minde howbeit very soft by nature as witnesseth Archelaus that was then the other king of LACEDAEMON by telling how Charilaus aunswered one that praised him to his face in saying he was a good man And how should I not ê™ he be good when I cannot be euill to the euill In this chauÌ„ge of the state many things were altered by Lycurgus but his chiefest alteration was his lawe of the erection of a Senate which he made to haue a regall power equall authoritie with the Kings in matters of weight importance was as Plato sayeth to be the healthfull counterpease of the whole bodye of the CoÌ„mon weale The other state before was euer wauering somtime inclining to tyraÌ„nie when the Kings were to mightie somtime to coÌ„fusion when the people would vsurpe authoritie Lycurgus therfore placed betwene the Kings the people a counsaill of Senatours which was as a stronge beame that helde bothe these extreames in an euen ballance gaue sure footing ground to either parte to make strong the state of the comon weale For the eight twenty Senatours which made the whole bodye of the Senate tooke somtime the Kings parte when it by as nodefull so pull downe the furie of the people and contrarilie they held sometimes with the people against the Kings to bridle their tyrannicall gouernment Aristotle sayeth he ordeined the number of Senatours to be but eight and twenty bicause two of thirtie that ioyned with him a fore dyd for feare forsake him at his enterprise Howbeit Spharus writeth that from the beginning he neuer purposed to haue more then eight and twenty to be the Senate And perhappâ—s he had great regard to make it a perfect number considering it is compounded of the number of seuen multiplied by foure and is the first perfect number next to sixe being equall to all partes gathered together But as for me my opinion is he chose this number rather then any other bicause he ment the whole bodye of the counsaill should be but thing persones adding to that number the two Kinges Lycurgus tooke so great care to establishe well this counsell that he brought an oracle for it from Apolloes temple in DELPHES This oracle is called vnto this daye Retra as who would saye the statute oracle whereof the aunswer was When thou haft built a temple vnto Iupiter the Syllanian and to Manerus the Syllanian and deuided the people into lineages thou shalt stablishe a Senate of thirtie counsellers with the two Kings shalt assemble the people at times conuenient in the place betweene the bridge and the riuer Cnacion There the Senatours shall propound all matters and breake vp after their assemblies and it shall not be lawfull for the people to speake one worde In those dayes the people were euer assembled betweene two riuers for there was no hall to assemble a counsaill at large nor any other place prepared for them For Lycurgus thought no buylded place meete for men to geue good counsaill in or to determine causes but rather a hinderance bicause in such places men be drawen to muse on vaine things and their mindes be caried awaye with beholding the images tables and pictures comonly set vp for ornameÌ„t in such open places And if it be in a Theater then beholding the place where the playes and sportes be made they thincke more of them then any counsaill Againe if it be in a great hall then of the fayer embowed or vawted roofes or of the fretised feelings curiously wrought and sumptuously set forth and tend not still their busines they come for When the people were assembled in counsaill it was not lawfull for any of them to put forth matters to the counsell to be determined neither might any of them deliuer his opinion what he thought of any thinge but the people had onely authoritie to geue their assent if they thought good to the things propounded by the Senatours or the two Kings Howbeit afterwardes the two Kings Polydorus and Theopomous bicause the people dyd many times crosse and alter the determination of the Senate by taking away or adding some thing to it they dyd adde those wordes to the oracle aforesaid That if the people would not assent to any ordinaunce of the Senate then should it be lawfull for the Kings and Senate to breake vp the counsell and to frustrate all things done in the same the wise aduise of the Senate being encountered thus their meaning to the best so peruerted to the worse These two Kings persuaded the people that at the very first this addition came with the oracle of Apollo as the poet Tyrtaeus maketh mention in the place where he sayeth From Delphos I le this oracle is brought of Pythia into their country soyle The Kings euen they to vvhom of right there ought a louing care in princely breasts to boyle the Spartane vvealthe to
and to supply the defect of the other they were both enforced to bring in a straunge manner of gouernment Furthermore touching their seuerall kinde of gouernment diuiding of their people into states and companies that of Numa was maruelous meane and base and framed to the liking of the meanest people making a bodie of a cittie and a people compounded together of all sortes as goldesmithes minstrells founders shoemakers and of all sortes of craftes men occupations together But that of Lycurgus was directly contrarie for his was more seuere and tyrannicall in gouerning of the nobility casting all craftes and base occupations vpon bondemen straungers and putting into the handes of his cittizens the shield and launce suffering them to exercise no other arte or science but the arte and discipline of warres as the true ministers of Mars which all their life time neuer knewe other science but only learned to obey their captaines and to commaund their enemies For to haue any occupation to buye and sell or to trafficke free men were expressely forbidden bicause they should wholy absolutely be free And all sciences to get money was lawfull for slaues and the ILOTES being counted for as vile an occupation as to dresse meate and to be a scullian of a kitchin Numa put not this difference amongest his people but only tooke away couetous desire to be riche by warres but otherwise he did not forbid them to get goodes by any other lawfull meanes neither tooke any regarde to bring all to equalitie and to be a like wealthy but suffered euery man to get what he could taking no order to preuēt pouertie which crept in spred farre in his cittie Which he should haue looked vnto at the beginning at that time when there was not too great an vnequalitie amongest them and that his cittizens for substaunce were in manner equall one with another for then was the time whē he should haue made head against auarice to haue stopped the mischieues inconueniences which fell out afterwards they were not litle For that only was the fountaine and roote of the most parte of the greatest euills mischieues which happened afterwardes in ROME And as touching the diuision of goodes neither ought Lycurgus to be blamed for doing it nor Numa for that he did it not For this equality vnto the one was a groūd foundation of his common wealth which he afterwards instituted and vnto other it could not be For this diuision being made not long before the time of his predecessour there was no great neede to chaunge the first the which as it is likely remained yet in full perfection As touching mariages their children to be in common both the one the other wisely sought to take awaye all occasion of iealousie but yet they tooke not both one course For the ROMAINE husband hauing children enough to his contentation if another that lacked children came vnto him to praye him to lende him his wife he might graunte her vnto him and it was in him to geue her altogether or to lende her for a time to take her afterwardes againe But the LACONIAN keeping his wife in his house the mariage remaining whole vnbroken might let out his wife to any man that would require her to haue children by her naye furthermore many as we haue told you before did them selues intreat men by whom they thought to haue a trimme broode of children layed them with their wiues What difference I praye you was betwene these two customes sauing that the custome of the LACONIANS shewed that the husbāds were nothing angrie nor grieued with their wiues for those things which for sorrowe and iealousie doth rent the hartes of most maried men in the world And that of the ROMAINES was a simplicitie somwhat more shamefast which to couer it was shadowed yet with the cloke of matrimonie and contract of mariage confessing that to vse wife children by halfes together was a thing most intollerable for him Furthermore the keeping of maidēs to be maried by Numaes order was much straighter more honorable for womanhed Lycurgus order hauing to much scope and libertie gaue Poets occasion to speake and to geue them surnames not very honest As Ibycus called them Phanomeridas to saye thighe showers and Andromanes to saye manhood And Euripides sayeth also of them Good nutbrovvne girles vvhich left their fathers house at large and sought for young mens companie tooke their vvare in charge And shevved their thighes all bare the taylour did them vvrong on eche side open vvere their cotes the slytts vvere all to long And in deede to saye truely the sides of their petticotes were not sowed beneath so that as they went they shewed their thighes naked and bare The which Sophocles doth easily declare by these verses The songe vvhich you shall singe shal be the sonnet sayde by Hermionè lusty lasse that strong and sturdy mayde VVhich trust her petticote about her midle shorte and set to shevve her naked hippes in francke and frendly sorte And therefore it is sayed the LACON wiues were bolde manly stowte against their husbands namely the first For they were wholy mistresses in the house and abroade yea they had law on their side also to vtter their mindes franckly cōcerning the chiefest matters But Numa euer reserued the honour and dignitie vnto the women which was left them by Romulus in his time when their husbands after they had taken them awaye perforce disposed them selues to vse them as gentely as possibly they could neuertheles he added otherwise thereto great honesty and tooke away all curiositie from them and taught them sobrietie did inure them to speake litle For he did vtterly forbid them wine and did prohibite them to speake although it were for things necessarie onles it were in the presence of their husbands In so much as it is reported that a woman chauncing one daye to pleade her cause in persone openly before the iudges the Senate hearing of it did send immediately vnto the oracle of Apollo to know what that did prognosticate to the cittie And therfore Numa thought the memorie of the naughty women would much commend the great humilitie gentlenes obedience of the good For like as our GRECIAN historiographers doe note those which were the first that killed any of their cittizēs or haue fought with their brethern or haue killed their fathers or mothers euen so the ROMAINES doe note that Spurius Caruilius was the first which forsooke his wife two hundred thirtie yeres after the first foundation of ROME which was neuer done by any before And that the wife of one Pinarius called Thalea was the first which euer brawled or quarrelled with her mother in lawe called Gegania in the time when Tarquine surnamed the provide raigned so well and honestly were the orders of Numa deuised concerning mariage Moreouer the age and time marying
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
GREECIANS vnto in the open assemblies and common feastes and plaies of GREECE out of the which fortune deliuered him safe and sound before the trouble of the ciuill warres that folowed sone after and moreouer he made a great proofe of his valliancie and knowledge in warres against the barbarous people and tyrannes and had shewed him selfe also a iust and merciful man vnto al his frendes and generally to al the GREECIANS And furthermore seeing he wonne the most part of all his victories triumphes with out the sheading of any one teare of his men or that any of them mourned by his meanes and also ryd all SICILE of all the miseries and calamities raigning at that time in lesse then eight yeeres space he beyng nowe growen olde his sight first beginning a litle to faile him shortly after he lost it altogether This happened not through any cause or occasion of sicknesse that came vnto him nor that fortune had casually done him that iniurie but it was in my opinion a disease inheritable to him by his parētes which by time came to laie hold on him also For the voyce wēt that many of his skin in like case had also lost their sight which by litle litle with age was cleane takē from thē Howbeit Athanis the Historiographer writeth that during the warres he had against Mamercus Hippon as he was in his campe at MYLLES there came a white spott in his eyes that dimmed his sight somwhat so that euery man perceiued that he should lose his sight altogether Notwithstanding that he did not raise his seige but continued his enterprise vntill he tooke both the tyrans at last so soone as he returned to SYRACVSA againe he did put him self out of his office of general praying the citizens to accept that he had already done the rather bicause things were brought to so good passe as they them selues could desire Now that he paciently tooke this misfortune to be blind altogether peraduenture men may somewhat maruel at it but this much more is to be wondred at that the SYRACVSANS after he was blind did so much honor him acknowledge the good he had done thē that they went them selues to visite him oft and brought straungers that were trauellers to his house in the city also in the contry to make them see their benefactor reioycing and thinking thēselues happy that he had chosē to end his life with thē that for this cause he had despised the glorious retorne that was prepared for him in GREECE for the great happy victories he had wōne in SICILE But amongest many other thinges the SYRACVSANS did ordeyned to honor him with this of all other me thinketh was the chiefest that they made a perpetuall lawe so oft as they should haue warres agaynst forreyne people not agaynst their owne contry men that they should euer choose a CORINTHIAN for their generall It was a goodly thing also to see how they did honor him in the assemblies of their councell For if any trifling matter fell in question among them they dispatched it of them selues but if it were a thing that required great counsaill and aduise they caused Timoleon to be sent for So he was brought through the market place in his litter into the Theater where all the assembly of the people was and caryed in euen so in his litter as he sate and then the people dyd all salute him with one voyce and he them in lyke case And after he had pawsed a while to heare the praises and blessinges the whole assembly gaue him they dyd propounde the matter doubtfull to him and he deliuered his opinion vpon the same which being passed by the voyces of the people his seruauntes caryed him backe againe in his litter through the Theater and the citizens dyd wayte on him a litle way with cryes of ioye and clapping of handes and that done they dyd repayre to dispatche common causes by them selues as they dyd before So his olde age being thus entertayned with suche honour and with the loue and good wyll of euery man as of a common father to them al in the ende a sicknesse tooke him by the backe whereof he dyed So the SYRACVSANS had a certen tyme appoynted them to prepare for his funeralles their neighbours also therabouts to come vnto it By reasō wherof his funeral was so much more honorably performed in al thinges specially for that the people apoynted the noblest younge gentelmen of the citie to carrie his coffyn vpon their shoulders rychely furnished and set forth whereon his body laye and so dyd conuey him through the place where the Palyce and Castell of the tyranne Dionysius had been which then was rased to the grounde There accompanied his body also many thowsandes of people all crowned with garlandes of flowers and apparreled in their best apparell so as it seemed it had been the procession of some solemne feast and all their woordes were praisinges and blessinges of the dead with teares ronnyng downe their cheekes which was a good testimonie they dyd not this as men that were glad to be discharged of the honor they dyd him neither for that it was so ordayned but for the iust sorowe and griefe they tooke for his death and for very hartie good loue they dyd beare him And lastly the coffin being put vppon the stacke of wod where it should be burnt Demetrius one of the heralds that had the lowdest voyce proclaymed the decree that was ordeined by the people the effect whereof was this The people of SYRACVSA hath ordained that this present body of Timoleon CORINTHIAN the sonne of Timodemus should be buried at the charges of the common weale vnto the summe of two hundred MINAS hath honored his memorie with playes and games of musicke with ronning of horses and with other exercises of the bodie whiche shal be celebrated yeerely on the day of his death for euermore and this bicause he dyd driue the tyrannes out of SICILE for that he ouercame the barbarous people and bicause he replenished many great cities with inhabitantes againe which the warres had left desolate and vnhabited lastly for that he had restored the SICILIANS againe to their libertie to liue after their owne lawes And afterwards his tombe was built in the market place about the which a certen time after they builded certen cloysters and gallaries to exercise the youth in with exercise of their bodyes and the places so walled in was called Timoleontium and so long as they dyd obserue the lawes and ciuill policie he stablished amongest them they liued long tyme in great continuall prosperitie THE COMPARISON OF Paulus AEmylius with Timoleon SYthe these two men were suche as the Historiographers haue described them to be it is certayne that comparing the one with the other we shall fynde no great oddes nor difference betweene them For fyrst of all the
gouernment as is sufficiency which beinge a contentacion in it selfe and desirous of no superfluous thing it neuer withdraweth a man from following his businesse in the common wealth that enioyeth the same For God is he alone who simply and absolutely hath no neede of any thinge at all wherefore the chiefest vertue that can be in man and that commeth nearest vnto God ought to be esteemed that which maketh man to haue neede of least thinges For like as a lusty body and well complexioned hath no neede of superfluous fare and curious apparell euen so a cleane life and sounde house is kept with a litle charge and so shoulde the goodes also be proportioned accordinge to vse and necessity For he that gathereth much and spendeth litle hath neuer enough But admit he hath no desire to spend much then he is a foole to trauell to get more then he needeth and if he do desire it and dare not for niggardlines spende parte of that he laboreth for then is he miserable Now woulde I aske Cato with a goodwill if riches be made but to vse them why do you boast then you haue gotten much together when a litle doth suffice you and if it be a commendable thing as in troth it is to be contented with the breade you finde to drinke of the same tappe workemen and laborers do not to care for purple dyed gownes nor for houses with plastered walles it followeth then that neither Aristides nor Epaminondas nor Manius Curius nor Caius Fabricius haue forgotten any parte of their dueties when they cared not for gettinge of that which they would not vse nor occupy For it was to no purpose for a man that esteemed rootes and parsenippes to be one of the best dishes in the worlde and that did seeth them him selfe in his chimney whilest his wise did bake his bread to talke so much of an Asse and to take paines to wryte by what arte and industry a man might quickely enrich him selfe For it is true that sufficiency and to be contented with a litle is a good and commendable thinge but it is bicause it taketh from vs all desire of vnnecessary thinges and maketh vs not to passe for them And therefore we finde that Aristides sayd when riche Callias case was pleaded that such as were poore against their willes might wel be ashamed of their pouerty but such as were willingly poore had good cause and might iustly reioyce at it For it were a mad parte to thinke that Aristides pouerty proceeded of a base minde slothfulnes since he might quickely haue made him selfe rich without any dishonesty at all by taking only the spoyle of some one of the barbarous people whome he had ouercome or any one of their tentes But enough for this matter Furthermore touching the victories and battells Cato had wonne they did in maner litle helpe to increase the Empire of ROME for it was already so great as it could almost be no greater But Aristides victories are the greatest conquestes and noblest actes that the GREECIANS euer did in any warres as the iorney of MARATHON the battell of SALAMINA and the battell of PLATâ—ES And yet there is no reason to compare king Antiochus with king Xerxes nor the walles of the citie of SPAYNE which Cato ouerthrewe and rased vnto so many thousands of barbarous people which were then ouerthrowen and put to the sword by the GREECIANS as well by lande as by sea In all which seruices Aristides was the chiefest before all other as touching his valliantnes in fighting notwithstanding he gaue other the glory of it that desired it more then him selfe as he did easily also leaue the gold siluer vnto those that had more neede of it then him selfe Wherein he shewed him selfe of a nobler minde then all they did Furthermore for my parte I will not reproue Catoes manner to commende and extoll him selfe so highly aboue all other since he him selfe sayth in an oration he made that to praise himself is as much folly as also to dispraise himselfe but this I thinke his vertue is more perfect that desireth other should not praise him then he that commonly doth vse to praise him selfe For not to be ambitious is a great shew of humanity necessary for him that will liue amongest men of gouernment and euen so ambition is hatefull and procureth great enuy vnto him that is infected withall Of the which Aristides was cleare and Cato farre gone in it For Aristides did help Themistocles his chiefest enemie in all his noblest actes and did serue him as a man would say like a priuate souldier that garded his persone when Themistocles was generall beinge the onely instrument and meane of his glory which was in deede the onely cause that the city of ATHENS was saued and restored againe to her former good state Cato contrariwise crossing Scipio in all his enterprises thought to hinder his voyage and iorney vnto CARTHAGE in the which he ouercame Hanniball who vntill that time was euer inuincible and so in the ende continuing him still in iealouzy with the state and euer accusinge of him he neuer left him till he had driuen him out of the city and caused his brother Lucius Scipio to be shamefully condemned for theft and ill behauiour in his charge Furthermore for temperaunce and modesty which Cato did euer commende so highly Aristides truely kept them most sincerely But Catoes seconde wife who maried a maide that was neither fit for his dignity and calling nor agreeable for his age made him to be thought a lecherous man and not without manifest cause For he can not be excused with honesty that beinge a man past mariage brought his sonne that was maried and his fayer daughter in lawe a steppe mother into his house and but a clearkes daughter whose father did wryte for money for any man that woulde hyer him Take it Cato maried her to satisfie his lust or else for spite to be reuenged of his sonne bicause his sonne coulde not abide his younge filth he had before either of these turneth still to his shame as wel the effect as also the cause Againe the excuse he made to his sonne why he maried was also a lye For if he had grounded his desire in deede to haue gotten other children as he sayd that might be as honest men as his eldest sonne then surely he had done well after the death of his first wife if he had sought him an other wife soone after that had bene of an honest house and not to haue lien with a young harlatry filth til his sonne had spied him and then when he saw it was knowen to goe and mary her and to make alliance with him not bicause it was honorable for him to do it but was easiest to be obtained The ende of Marcus Catoes life the Censor THE LIFE OF Philopoemen IN the city of MANTINEA there was a citizen in old time called Cassander one
it be a newter frend vnto them both King Antigonus agreed vnto it and gaue them his sonne for hostage Pyrrus also made theÌ„ fayer promise to do so too but bicause he gaue no caution nor sufficient pledge to performe it they mistrusted him the more Then there fel out many great wonderful tokens as wel vnto Pyrrus as vnto the ARGIVES For Pyrrus hauing sacrificed oxen their heades being striken of from their bodies they thrust out their tongues and licked vp their owne blood And within the city of ARGOS a sister of the temple of Apollo Lycias called Apollonide ranne through the streetes crying out that she saw the city full of murder and blood running all about and an Eagle that came vnto the fraye howbeit she vanished away sodainly and no body knewe what became of her Pyrrus then comminge hard to the walles of ARGOS in the night finding one of the gates called Diamperes opened by Aristeas he put in his GAVLES who possessed the market place before the citizens knew any thing of it But bicause the gate was too low to passe the elephantes through with their towers vpon their backes they were driuen to take them of afterwards when they were within to put them on in the darke in tumulte by reason whereof they lost much time so that the citizens in the ende perceiued it and ran incontinently vnto the castell of Aspides and into other strong places of the city And therewithall they sent with present speede vnto Antigonus to pray him to come and helpe them and so he did and after he was come hard to the walles he remained without with the skowtes in the meane time sent his sonne with his chiefest Captaines into the towne who brought a great number of good souldiers and men of warre with them At the same time also arriued Areus king of SPARTA with a thowsand of the CRETANS and most lusty SPARTANS all which ioyning together came to geue a charge vpoÌ„ the GAVLES that were in the market place who put them in a maruelous feare hazard Pyrrus entering on that side also of the city called Cylarabis with terrible noyse cries when he vnderstoode that the GAVLES aunswered him not lustely and coragiously he doubted straight that it was the voyce of men distressed and that had their handes full Wherefore he came on with speede to relieue them thrusting the horsemen forwards that marched before him with great daunger and paine by reason of holes and sinckes and water conduites whereof the city was full By this meane there was a wonderfull confusion amongest them as may be thought fightinge by night where no man saw what he had to doe nor could heare what was commaunded by reason of the great noyse they made straying here and there vp and downe the streetes thâ—ne scattered from the other neither could the Captaines set their men in order as wel for the darkenes of the night as also for the confused tumult that was all the city ouer for that the streetes also were very narrow And therefore they remained on both sides without doing any thing looking for day light at the dawning wherof Pyrrus perceiued the castel of Aspides ful of his armed enemies And furthermore sodainly as he was come into the market place amoÌ„gest many other goodly common workes sette out to beautifie the same he spied the images of a bull and a woulfe in copper the which sought one with an other This sight made him afrayed bicause at that present he remembred a prophecy that had bene tolde him that his end and death should be when he sawe a woulfe and a bull fight together The ARGIVES reporte that these images were set vp in the market place for the remembraunce of a certaine chaunce that had happened in their contrie For when Danaus came thither first by the way called Pyramia as one would say land sowen with corne in the contry of THYREATIDE he saw as he went a woulfe fight with a bull whereupon he stayed to see what the end of their fight would come to supposing the case in him selfe that the woulfe was of his side bicause that being a straunger as he was he came to set vppon the naturall inhabitantes of the contry The woulfe in the ende obtained the victory wherefore Danaus making his prayer vnto Apollo Lycias followed on his enterprise had so good successe that he draue Gelanor out of ARGOS who at that time was king of the ARGIVES And thus you heare the cause why they say these images of the woulfe and bull were set vp in the market place of ARGOS Pyrrus being halfe discoraged with the sight of them and also bicause nothinge fell out well according to his expectations thought best to retyre but fearing the straitenesse of the gates of the city he sent vnto his sonne Helenus whome he had left without the city with the greatest parte of his force and army commaunding him to ouerthrow a peece of the wall that his men might the more readily get out and that he might receiue them if their enemies by chaunce did hinder their comming out But the messenger whom he sent was so hasty and fearefull with the tumult that troubled him in going out that he did not well vnderstand what Pyrrus sayd vnto him but reported his message quite contrary Whereuppon they young prince Helenus taking the best foâ—â—â—sors he had with him and the rest of his elephantes entred into the city of helpe his father who was now geuing backe and so long as he had roome to fight at ease retyring still he valliantly repulsed those that set vpon him turning his face oft vnto them But when he was driuen vnto the streete that went from the market place to the gate of the city he was kept in with his owne men that entered at the same gate to helpe him But they coulde not heare when Pyrrus cried out and bad them go backe the noyse was so great and though the first had heard him and would haue gone backe yet they that were behinde and did stil thrust forward into the prease did not permit them Besides this moreouer the biggest of all the elephantes by misfortune fell downe ouerthwart the gate where he grindinge his teeth did hinder those also that would haue comen out and geuen backe Furthermore an other of the elephantes that were entred before into the city called Nicon as much to say as conquering seeking his gouernor that was striken downe to the ground from his backe with terrible blowes ran vpon theÌ„ that came backe vpon him ouerthrowing frendes and foes one in an others necke til at the length hauing founde the body of his master slaine he lift him vp from the ground with his troncke and carying him vpon his two tushes returned backe with great fury treading all vnder feete he found in his way Thus euery man being thronged and crowded
litle repulsed by reason of the hanging of the hill Marius gaue this order vnto his folke and therewithall was him selfe the first man that put it in execution for he was as trymme a warriour and as valliant a souldier as any man in all his army besides not one amongest them all would venter furder and be more bolde then him selfe So when the ROMAINES had resisted them and stayed them sodainely going with fury to haue wonne the hill perceiuing them selues to be repulsed they gaue backe by litle and litle vntill they came into the field and then beganne the formest of them to gather together and to put them selues in battell ray vppon the plaine when sodainly they heard the noyse and charging of them that were in the tayle of their army For Claudius Marcellus failed not to take the occasion when it was offered him bicause that the noyse of the first charge comming vp against the hills thereabouts vnder the which he lay in ambushe gaue him aduertisement thereof whereupon he caused his men presently to shew and running with great cryes came to geue a charge vpon those which were in the tayle of the barbarous people putting the hindemost to the sworde They made their fellowes whose backes were next vnto them to turne their faces so from man to man till at the length in shorte time all their battell beganne to wauer in disorder and they made no great resistaunce when they saw they were so charged before and behinde but beganne straight to flie for life The ROMAINES following them hard at the heeles killed and tooke prisoners aboue a hundred thowsande of them and tooke moreouer their cartes their tentes and all their cariage Which the whole army by consent agreed to present vnto Marius excepting nothing sauing that which was imbeaceled and conueyed away vnder hande Now though this was a maruelous honorable right noble present yet they thought it not a recompence sufficient for that he had deserued for the valure he had shewed of a famous Captaine in leading of his army for the good order he kept in this warre so happy thought they them selues to haue escaped so great a daunger Notwithstanding some wryters doe not agree that the spoyle of the barbarous people was geuen vnto Marius nor that there were also so great a number of men slaine as we haue spoken of But they say that after this battell the MARSSILIANS did inclose their vines with hedges made of dead mens bones and that the bodies being rotten and consumed vpon the fieldes through the great raine that fell vpon them the winter following the ground waxed so fatte and did soke the grease so deepe in the same that the sommer following they did beare an vncredible quantity of all sortes of frutes And by this meanes were Archilocus wordes proued true that the errable land doth waxe fat with such rottennesse or putrification And it is sayd aso that of ordinary after great battells there falleth great store of raine Either it is by meane of some god that powring downe pure raine water doth purifie wash and clense the grounde defiled and polluted with mans blood or else it happeneth by naturall cause For that the ouerthrow of so many dead bodies and of the blood split engendreth a moyst grosse and heauy vapoure which doth thicken the ayer that by nature is chaungeable and easie to alter from a very small or litle beginning vnto an exceeding great chaunge After this battell Marius caused the harnesse and spoyles of the barbarous people to be layed aside that were left whole and fayer to sight to beautifie enrich the pompe of his triumphe Then he caused the rest to be gathered together on a great heape and layed apon a stake of wodde to make a noble sacrifice vnto the gods all his army being armed about him crowned with garlandes of triumphe and him selfe apparelled in a long gowne of purple according to the custome of the ROMAINES in such a case and holding a torch burning in both his hands which he first lifted vp vnto heauen And as he was turning downe the torch to put fire to the stake of wood they saw some of his frends a good way of a horse backe comming post vnto him then sodainly there was a great silence made of all the assembly euery man desirous to heare what good newes they had brought When they were come and lighted of their horses they ranne straight to embrace Marius and brought him newes that he was chosen Consull the fift time and presented him the letters sent him from ROME confirming the same And thus this new ioy falling out besides the victory the priuate souldiers did shewe the great ioy and pleasure they tooke in both with great showtes and beating vpon their harnesse and the Captaines also they crowned Marius againe with new garlandes of laurell which they put about his head and that done he put fire vnder the stake of wodde and ended his sacrifice But that which neuer suffereth men quietly to enioy the good happe of any victory clearely but in this mortall life doth euer mingle the ill with the good be it either fortune or spight of fatall destenie or else the necessitie of the naturall causes of earthly thinges did shortely after this great ioy bring newes vnto Marius of his companion Catulus Luctatius the other Consull who was like a cloude in a fayer bright day and brought the city of ROME againe into a new feare and trouble For Catulus that went against the CIMBRES thought it was not for him to keepe the straightes of the mountaines in hope to let the barbarous people for passing bicause that in so doing he had bene compelled to deuide his army into many partes and had weakened him selfe very much if he had taken that course Wherefore comming a litle on this side the Alpes towardes ITALIE he planted him selfe vpon the riuer of Athesis and built a bridge apon it to passe and repasse ouer his men when he would and sette vp at either ende of the bridge two strong fortes well fortified that he might more cōmodiously helpe the places on the other side of the riuer if the barbarous people by chaūce would offer to force thē after they had gotten out of the straights of the mountaines Now these barbarous people had such a glory in them selues and disdained their enemies so much that more to shew their force and boldnes then of any necessity that compelled them or for any benefit they got by it they suffred it to snow apon them being starke naked and did clime vp to the toppe of the mountaines throw great heapes ofise and snow And when they were at the very toppe of all they layed their long broad targets vnder their bodies and lay all along apon them sliding downe the steepe high rockes that had certaine hanginges ouer of an infinito height In the ende they came to campe neere vnto the ROMAINES by
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
of his wit. For hauing better spirite and being more constant in his opinion than any of the other children striuing euer to excell in all things with such a vehemency he tooke all trauells in hande that it was vnpossible to ouercome him much lesse to compell him He was on thother side so milde gentle that euery curteous word wrought in him better obedience than any feare could doe bicause it grieued him more to be reproued then to take upon him any paine or labor And for the deformitie of his legge the one being shorter than the other in the flower of his youth through his pleasaunt wit he vsed the matter so pleasauntly and paciently that he would merily mocke him selfe which maner of mery behauior did greatly hide the blame of the bleamish Yea further his life corage was the more commendable in him for that men sawe that notwithstanding his lamenes he refused no paines nor labor Of his person we haue drawen no counterfeate bicause he woulde not in my wise haue it drawen and did expressely commaund by his will that they should neither draw his picture nor make any mowld or image of his body How beit we finde that he was of small stature wherby his presence promised no great matters to them that beheld him Yet for that he was euer mery and pleasaunt and neuer pensiue nor troublesome in word nor looke euen to the last ende of his life he was better loued then the most fayer creature that liued Notwithstanding the Ephori as Theophrastus writeth did condemne king Archidamus in a summe of money bicause he maried a litle woman saying that he would beget them demy kings no kinges in deede In the time that his eldest sonne Agis raigned king Alcibiades being banished ATHENS fled out of SICILE into LACEDAEMON and had not long remained in SPARTA before they suspected him that he kept king Agis wife called Timea for which cause Agis would not acknowledge the childe she brought to be his sonne saying that Alcibiades had begotten him But Timea cared not much for it as Duris wryteth for otherwhile as she fate amongest her women softly she called him Alcibiades not Leotychides On thother side they reporte that Alcibiades him selfe sayd it was for no hurt he ment to any man that he lay with Queene Timea but only for the desire he had that some of the kinges of LACEDAEMON should be begotten of his seede Neuertheles at the length he was driuen to forsake LACEDAEMON mistrusting king Agis who euer after douted of the childe thought him a bastard vntill such time as being on his death bed Leotychides falling on his knees wept and so behaued him selfe that Agis before many witnesses said he did acknowledge him for his sonne This notwithstanding when king Agis was dead Lysander that had then ouercomen the ATHENIANS by sea was more in credit authority in the city of SPARTA than any other practised to put the crowne apon Agesilaus head saying that Leotychides had no interest vnto it bicause he was a bastard The like did diuers other citizens say of him which loued Agesilaus vertue and liked him passingly for that he had bene brought vp from his childhood among them But on the contrary parte also there was a Soothsayer or wisard in SPARTA called Diopithes that had a number of old prophecies without booke was accounted a very skilfull man touching prophecies and diuinations He maintained that it was not lawfull for any lame man to be king of SPARTA and for proofe thereof he told this auncient oracle before the counsell As stately as thy stomake is o Sparta take good heede And stand vpon thy gard and looke about thee I thee reede For halting one day dovvne vvill cast thine Empire to the ground By meane of vvares and troubles great that shall inclose thee round Lysander replied against it saying that if the SPARTANS were afrayed of this oracle they should rather beware of Leotychides For the goddes cared not if any man lame of a foote aspired to be king but rather if he were a bastard and not lineally descended of the race of Hercules For that sayd he were to make the kingdom halte Agesilaus furthermore alleaged that the god Neptune him selfe had witnessed that Leotychides was a bastard for he draue Agis by an earthquake to runne out of his wiues chamber and that tenne monethes after that and more Leotychides was borne So was Agesilaus apon these allegacions not onely proclaimed king of SPARTA but he had geuen him moreouer as lawful heire all his brother Agis goods and Leotychides reiected as a bastard Notwithstanding considering that his parentes by his mothers side were very poore yet honest men he left them the moyty of all the goodes by which act Agesilaus wanne all their good willes where else they had enuied him for his succession in the kingdom And as Xenophon sayth by obeying his contrie he grew to such power that he might doe whatsoeuer he would The Ephori and Senatours at that time bare all the sway and gouernment of the common wealth the Ephores office chaunging yearely the other being for life the which Ephori were only ordained to bridle the insolency of the kings for that they should not as we haue more amply wrytten in Lycurgus life haue absolute power in their handes Vppon this occasion the kinges that succeeded in the gouernment had as it were by inheritaunce a present grudge and malice against them This notwithstanding Agesilaus tooke a contrary course to all his predecessors For where others presently quarelled with the Ephori and Senatours Agesilaus did honor and reuerence them and would neuer dispatche any matter without their priuity but was alwayes ready to goe when they did send him When he was set in his chaier of state to geue audience if any of the Ephori chaunsed to come in he would rise vp vnto them and at the election of any new Senatour he would for honors sake present him a gowne and an oxe And thus cunningly seeming to honor and increase the dignity of the Senatours winning their good wills he made his power great the realme much greater Furthermore his behauior towards the rest of his contrymen was such as his enmity was lesse faulty thē his frendship For he did neuer hurt his enemies without iust cause but he aided his frends euen in vniust causes And wheras he thought it a shame not to honor enemies when they had done well he could not finde in his hart to rebuke his frendes when they did amisse but rather gloried in succoring helping of them in their euill doings For he thought it no shame to serue his frendes turne howsoeuer it were Againe when any of his aduersaries offended he was as sory for it as any man and as readie to beare with it if he were intreated whereby he allured and wanne the hartes of all men The Ephori seeing that
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
slayne in battell by Achilles Patroclus in the coūtrye of THESSALIE neere to the riuer of Sperchius that his brother Hector tooke the cittie of TROEZEN from whence he brought awaye AEthrae in which there is no manner of apparance or likelihodde But AEdoneus king of the MOLOSSIANS feasting Hercules one daye as he passed through his realme descended by chaunce into talke of Theseus of Pirithous howe they came to steale away his daughter secretly after told how they were also punished Hercules was marueilous sorye to vnderstand that one of them was now dead the other in daunger to dye thought with him self that to make his mone to AEdoneus it would not helpe the matter he besought him only that he would deliuer Theseus for his sake And he graunted him Thus Theseus being deliuered of this captiuitie returned to ATHENS where his friends were not altogether kept vnder by his enemies at his returne he dyd dedicate to Hercules all the temples which the cittie had before caused to be built in his owne honour And where first of all they were called Thesea he did now surname thē all Hercules excepting foure as Philochorus writeth Nowe when he was arriued at ATHENS he would immediately haue cōmaunded and ordered things as he was wont to doe but he found him self troubled much with sedition bicause those who had hated him of long time had added also to their old canckered hate a disdain contēpt to feare him any more And the comō people now were become so stubborn that where before they would haue done all that they were cōmanded haue spoken nothing to the contrarie now they looked to be borne with flattered Whereupon Theseus thought at the first to haue vsed force but he was forced by the faction contētion of his enemies to let all alone in the end despairing he should euer bring his matters to passe to his desire he secretly sent away his children into the I le of EVBOEA to Elphenor the sonne of Chalcodias And himself after he had made many wishes curses against the Athenians in the village of Gargettus in a place which for that cause to this daye is called Araterion that is to saye the place of cursings he did take the seas wēt into the I le of SCIROS where he had goods thought also to haue founde friends Lycomedes raigned at that time was king of the I le vnto whom Theseus made request for some lande as intēding to dwell there albeit some saye that he required him to giue him ayde against the Atheniās Lycomedes were it that he douted to entertaine so great a personage or that he dyd it to gratifie Menestheus caried him vp to the high rocks faining as though he would from thence haue shewed him all his countrye round about But when he had him there he threw him downe hedlong from the toppe of the rocks to the bottome put him thus vnfortunately to death Yet other write that he fell down of him self by an vnfortunate chaunce walking one daye after supper as he was wont to doe There was no mā at that time that dyd followe or pursue his death but Menestheus quietly remained king of ATHENS and the children of Theseus as priuate souldiers followed Elphenor in the warres of TROIA But after the death of Menestheus who died in the iorney to TROIE Theseus sonnes returned vnto ATHENS where they recouered their state Sithence there were many occasiōs which moued the Athenians to reuerence honour him as a demy god For in the battell of Marathon many thought they sawe his shadow image in armes fighting against the barbarous people And after the warres of the Medes the yere wherein Phaedon was gouernour of ATHENS the nunne Pithea answered the Atheniās who had sent to the oracle of Apollo that they should bring backe the bones of Theseus putting them in some honorable place they should preserue honour them deuoutely But it was a harde matter to finde his graue if they had founde it yet had it bene a harder thing to haue brought his bones awaye for the malice of those barbarous people which inhabited that I le which were so wild fierce that none could trade or liue with them Notwithstanding Cimon hauing taken the Iland as we haue written in his life seeking his graue perceiued by good happe an eagle pecking with her beake scraping with her clawes in a place of some prety height Straight it came into his minde as by diuine inspiration to search digge the place where was founde the tumbe of a great bodye with the head of a speare which was of brasse a sword with it All which things were brought to ATHENS by Cimon in the admirall gallie The Atheniās receiued them with great ioye with processions goodly sacrifices as if Theseus him self had bene a liue had returned into the cittie againe At this daye all these relicks lye yet in the middest of the cittie neere to the place where the younge men doe vse all their exercises of bodye There is free libertie of accesse for all slaues poore men that are afflicted pursued by any mightier then themselues to pray sacrifice in remembraunce of Theseus who while he liued was protectour of the oppressed dyd curteously receiue their requests petitiōs that prayed to haue ayde of him The greatest most solemne sacrifice they doe vnto him is on the eight daye of October in which he returned from CRETA with the other younge children of ATHENS Howbeit they doe not leaue to honour him euery eight daye of all other moneths either bicause he arriued frō TROEZEN at ATHENS the eight daye of Iune as Diodorus the Cosmographer writeth or for that they thought that number to be meetest for him bicause the bruite ranne he was begotten of Neptune They doe sacrifice also to Neptune the eight daye of euery moneth bicause the nūber of eight is the first cube made of euen number the double of the first square which dothe represent a stedfastnes immoueable properly attributed to the might of Neptune whom for this cause we surname Asphalius and Gaiochus which by interpretation dothe signifie the safe keeper the stayer of the earthe The ende of Theseus life THE LIFE OF Romulus THE Historiographers doe not agree in their writings by whom not for what cause the great name of the cittie of ROME the glorie wherof is blowen abroad through all the worlde was first geuen vnto it For some thincke that the Pelasgians after they had ouercome the greatest parte of the world and had inhabited and subdued many nations in the ende dyd staye them selues in that place where it was newe buylded and for their great strength and power in armes they gaue the name of ROME vnto the cittie as signifying power in the Greeke tongue Other saye thatafter
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
their voyces also there in deede are they most bounde and subiect bicause they doe but obaye the rich in all they doe commaund But yet in this acte there is a thinge more wonderfull and worthie to be noted That commonly discharging of dettes was wont to breede great tumultes and seditions in common weales And Solon hauing vsed it is a very good time as the phisitian ventring a daungerous medecine dyd appease the sedition already begonne and did vtterly quenche through his glorie and the common opinion they had of his wisdome and vertue all the infamie and accusation that might haue growen of that acte As for their first entrie into the gouernment Solons beginning was farre more noble For he went before and followed not another and him selfe alone without any others helpe dyd put in execution the best and more parte of all his notable and goodly lawes Yet was Publicolaes ende and death much more glorious and happie For Solon before he dyed sawe all his comon wealthe ouerthrowen but Publicolaes common weale continued whole as he left it vntill the broyle of ciuill warres beganne againe among them Solon after he had made his lawes and written them in wodden tables leauing them without defence of any man went his waye immediatly out of the cittie of ATHENS Publicola abiding continually in ROME gouerning the state dyd throughly stablishe confirme the lawes he made Furthermore Solon hauing wisely forseene Pisistratus practises aspiring to make him selfe King he could neuer let him for all that but was himselfe ouercome and oppressed with they tyrannie he sawe stablished in his owne sight and in dispight of him Where Publicola ouerthrewe and dyd put downe a mightie Kingdome that had continued of long time and was throughly stablished his vertue and desire being equall with Solons hauing had besides fortune fauorable and sufficient power to execute his vertuous and well disposed minde But as for warres and marshall deedes there is no comparison to be made betweene them For Daimachus Plataian doth not attribute the warres of the MEGARIANS vnto Solon as we haue written it where Publicola being generall of an armie and fighting himselfe in persone hath wonne many great battels And as for matters of peace and ciuill gouernment Solon neuer durst present him self openly to persuade the enterprise of SALAMINA but vnder a counterfeat madnes and as a soole to make sporte Where Publicola taking his aduenture from the beginning shewed him selfe without dissimulation an open enemie to Tarquine and afterwardes he reuealed all the whole conspiracie And when he had bene the only cause and autor of punishing the traitours he dyd not only driue out of ROME the tyrannes selues in persone but tooke from them also all hope of returne againe Who hauing allwayes thus nobly valiantly behaued him self without shrinking backe or flying from ought that required force a manly corage or open resistaunce dyd yet shewe him selfe discreete where wisedome was requisite or reason and persuasion needefull As when he conningly wanne king Porsena who was a dredfull enemie vnto him and inuincible by force whom he handled in such good sorte that he made him his friend Peraduenture some might stand in this and saye that Solon recouered the I le of SALAMINA vnto the ATHENIANS which they would haue lost Publicola to the contrarie restored the lands vnto Porsena againe which the ROMAINES had conquered before within the countrie of THVSCAN But the times in which these things were done are allwayes to be considered of For a wise gouernour of a Realme and politicke man doth gouerne diuersely according to the occasions offred taking euery thing in his time wherein he will deale And many times in letting goe one thing he saueth the whole and in losing a litle he gayneth much As Publicola dyd who losing a litle pece of another mans countrie which they had vsurped saued by that meanes all that was assuredly his owne And whereas the ROMAINES thought he should doe very much for them to saue their cittie only he got them moreouer all the goodes that were in their enemies cāpe which dyd besiege them And in making his enemie iudge of his quarrell he wāne the victorie winning that moreouer which he would gladly haue geuen to haue ouercome and haue sentence passe of his side For the King their enemie dyd not only make peace with them but dyd also leaue them all his furniture prouision and munition for the warres euen for the vertue manhood and iustice which the great wisedome of this Consul persuaded Porsena to beleeue to be in all the other ROMAINES The end of Publicolaes life THE LIFE OF Themistocles THEMISTOCLES parentage dyd litle aduaunce his glorie for his father Neocles was of small reputation in ATHENS being of the hundred of Phrear tribe of Leontis of his mother an allien or straunger as these verses doe witnesse Abrotonon I am yborne in Thracia and yet this highe good happe I haue that into Grecia I haue brought forth a sonne Themistocles by name the glorie of the Greekishe bloods and man of greatest fame Howbeit Phanias writeth that his mother was not a THRACIAN but borne in the countrie of CARIA and they doe not call her Abrotonon but Euterpé And Neanthes sayeth furthermore that she was of HALICARNASSVS the chiefest cittie of all the Realme of CARIA For which cause when the straungers dyd assemble at Cynosargos a place of exercise without the gate dedicated to Hercules which was not a right god but noted an alien in that his mother was a mortall woman Themistocles persuaded diuers youthes of the most honourable houses to goe down with him to annointe them selues at Cynosargos conningly thereby taking away the differēce betwene the right alien sorte But setting a parte all these circumstaunces he was no doubt allied vnto the house of the Lycomedians for Themistocles caused the chappell of this familie which is in the village of PHLYES being once burnt by the barbarous people to be buylt vp againe at his owne charges and as Simonides sayeth he dyd set in forth and enriche it with pictures Moreouer euery man doth confesse it that euen from his childhood they dyd perceyue he was geuen to be very whotte headed sturring wise and of good spirite and enterprising of him selfe to doe great things and borne to rule weighty causes For at such dayes and howers as he was taken from his booke and had leaue to playe he neuer played nor would neuer be idle as other children were but they allwayes founde him conning some oration without booke or making it alone by him selfe and the ground of his matter was euer comonly either to defend or accuse some of his companions Whereupon his schoolemaster obseruing him ofte sayed vnto him suer some great matter hangeth ouer thy head my boye for it cannot be chosen but that one daye thou shalt doe some notable good thing or some extreme mischief Therefore when they went about to
cittie of CVMA he perceyued that all the coastes by sea were layed for him to apprehende him and that he had many spyalls vpon him among the which these were two speciall noted men Ergoteles and one Pythodorus the reward being very great for men that sought their gayne any waye they could For the king of PERSIA had proclaymed by sound of trūpet two hundred talēts to him that brought him Themistocles Whereupon he fled vnto a litle towne of AEOLIA called AEGES where no liuing bodie knewe him but his host only called Nicogenes who was the richest man of all the AEOLIANS and knewe all the noble men of authoritie that were about the king of PERSIA Themistocles continued hidden certen dayes in his house in which time on a night after the feast of a sacrifice one Olbius schoolemaster to Nicogenes children by some secret working of the goddes sodainely fell besides him selfe and beganne to singe these verses out alowde Doe thou beleeue vvhat so the night tells and geue thy voyce thy counsell and conceipts Vnto the night in darcksomnes that dvvells thereon also thy victorie avvaits The next night following Themistocles being fast asleepe in his bed dreamed that a snake wounde it selfe round about his bellie and glided vpwardes to his necke vntill it touched his face and sodainely then it became an eagle and imbraced him with his winges and so at length dyd lifte him vp into the ayer and caried him a maruelous waye of vntill he thought he sawe a golden rodde suche as Herauldes vse to carie in their handes whereupon the eagle dyd set him and so was deliuered of all this feare and trouble he thought him selfe in The trothe was Nicogenes had this deuise in his heade howe he might bring him safe to the king of PERSIAES courte The Barbarous nations for the most parte and specially the PERSIANS are of a very straunge nature and maruelous iealous ouer their women and that not onely of their wiues but also of their bonde women and concubines which they keepe so straightly locked vp that no man euer seeth them abroade at any time but are allwayes like housedoues kept within doores And when they haue any occasion to goe into the country they are caried in close coches couered all about that no man can looke into them Themistocles was conueyed into one of these coches drest after this manner and had warned his men to aunswer those they met by the waye that asked whom they caried howe it was a young GRECIAN gentlewoman of the countrie of IONIA which they caried to the courte for a noble man there Thucydides and Charon Lampsacenian saye he went thither after the death of Xerxes and spake with his sonne there But Ephorus Dino Clitarchus Heraclides and many other write that he spake with him selfe Yet notwithstanding it appeareth that Thucydides wordes doe best agree with the chronicles tables recording the succession of times although they be of no great certaintie Themistocles being come nowe to the swordes pointe as it were and to the extremitie of his daunger dyd first present him selfe vnto one Artabanus Colonell of a thousand footemen and sayed vnto him Syr I am a GRECIAN borne and desire to speake with the King I haue matters of importance to open to his maiestie and such as I knowe he will thanckefully receyue Artabanus aunswered him in this manner My friend syr straunger the lawes and customes of men are diuers and some take one thing for honest others some another thing but it is most honestly for all men to keepe and obserue the lawes and manners of their owne countrie For you GRECIANS haue the name to loue libertie and equalitie aboue all things for vs amongest all the goodly lawes and customes we haue we esteeme this aboue the rest to reuerence and honour our King as the image of the god of nature who keepeth all things in their perfect life and state Wherefore if thou wilt facion thy selfe after our manner to honour the King thou mayest both see him and speake with him but if thou haue another minde with thee then must thou of necessitie vse some thirde persone for thy meane For this is the manner of our countrie the King neuer geueth audience to any man that hath not first honoured him Themistocles hearing what he sayed aunswered him againe My lord Artabanus the great good will I bear vnto the King and the desire I haue to aduaunce his glorie and power is the only cause of my present repaire vnto his courte therefore I meane not only to obey your lawes since it hath so pleased the goddes to rayse vp the noble empire of PERSIA vnto this greatnes but will cause many other people also to honour the King more then there doe at this present Therefore let there be no staye but that my selfe in persone maye deliuer to the King that I haue to saye vnto him Well sayed Artabanus whom then shall we saye thou arte For by thy speache it seemeth thou art a man of no meane state and condition Themistocles aunswered him as for that Artabanus none shall knowe before the King him selfe Thus doth Phanias reporte it But Eratosthenes in his booke he wrote of riches addeth further howe Themistocles had accesse vnto this Artabanus being recommended to the King by a woman of ERETRIA whom the King kept Themistocles being brought to his presence after he had presented his humble duety and reuerence to him stoode on his feete and sayed neuer a worde vntill the King commaūded the interpreter to aske him what he was and he aunswered Maye it please your maiestie ô noble King I am Themistocles the Athenian a banished man out of my country by the GRECIANS who humbly repayreth to your highnes knowing I haue done great hurt to the PERSIANS but I persuade my self I haue done them farre more good then harme For I it was that kept the GRECIANS backe they dyd not follow you whē the state of GRECE was deliuered from thraldome and my natiue country from daunger and that I knew I stoode then in good state to pleasure you Nowe for me I finde all mens good willes agreable to my present misery and calamitie for I come determined most humbly to thancke your highnes for any grace and fauour you shall shewe me also to craue humble pardone if your maiesty be yet offended with me And therfore licence me most noble King to beseche you that taking mine enemies the GRECIANS for witnesses of the pleasures I haue done the PERSIAN nation you will of your princely grace vse my harde fortune as a good occasion to shewe your honorable vertue rather then to satisfie the passion of your heate and choller For in sauing my life your maiestie saueth an humble suter that put him selfe to your mercie and in putting me to death you shall ryd away an enemy of the GRECIANS Hauing spoken thus these words he sayed further That the goddes
nor reason but a common speache of euery bodie that it was a daungerous thing to commit to the fortune of one man alone so great exceeding prosperitie and good successe bicause it is a rare matter to see one man happie in all things These wordes dyd so muche mislike the people that they thought him an enuious troublesome man or els they thought his age had made him fearefull and that his corage failed with his strength fearing Hannibal more doubtfully then he needed For now though Hannibal was forced to leaue ITALIE and to returne into AFRICKE yet Fabius would not graunte that the peoples ioye and securitie they thought they were in was altogether cleare and without feare and mistruste but gaue it out that then they were in greatest daunger and that the common weale was breeding more mischief now then before For when Hannibal sayed he shall returne home into AFRICKE and come before CARTHAGE walles the ROMAINES shall be lesse able to abide him there then they haue bene before and Scipio moreouer shall meete with an armie yet warme and embrued with the bloude of so many Praetors Dictators and Consuls of ROME which they haue ouercome and put to the sword in ITALIE With these vncomfortable speaches he still troubled disquieted the whole cittie persuading them that notwithstanding the warre was transferred out of ITALIE into AFRICKE yet that the occasion of feare was no lesse neere vnto ROME then it was euer before But within shorte space after Scipio hauing ouercome Hannibal in plaine battell in the field and troden vnder foote the glory and pryde of CARTHAGE he brought a greater ioye to ROME then they euer looked for and by this noble victorie of his he shored vp again the declining state of the empire of ROME which a litle before was falling downe right Howbeit Fabius liued not to the ende of this warre nor euer heard while he liued the ioyfull newes of Hannibals happy ouerthrowe neither were his yeres prolonged to see the happy assured prosperitie of his countrie for about that time that Hannibal departed out of ITALIE a sicknes tooke him whereof he dyed The stories declare that the THEBANS buried Epaminondas at the common charges of the people bicause he dyed in so great pouertie that when he was dead they founde nothing in the house but a litle iron spit Now the ROMAINES buried not Fabius so at the common charge of the cittie but euery man of beneuolence gaue towards his funerall charges a pece of coyne that caried the least value of their currant money not for that he lacked abillitie to bring him to the grounde but only to honour his memorie in making his obsequies at their charges as of one that had bene their common father So had his vertuous life an honorable ende and buriall THE COMPARISON OF Pericles with Fabius HERE haue you heard what is written of thesetwo great persones And forasmuche as they haue both left behinde them many noble examples of vertue aswell in martiall matters as in ciuill gouernmēt let vs beginne to compare them together First of all Pericles begāne to gouerne the common weale at what time the people of ATHENS were in their chiefest prosperitie and of greater power and wealth then euer they had bene of before or since The which might seeme to be a cause of the continuall maintenance of the same in securitie without daunger of falling not so muche for their worthines as for their common power and felicitie where contrariwise Fabius acts fell out in the most dishonorable vnfortunate time that euer happened to his countrie in the which he dyd not only keepe the cittie in good state from declining but raised it vp and deliuered it from calamitie and brought it to be better then he found it Furthermore Cimons great good fortune and successe the victories and triumphes of Myronides and of Leocrates and many notable valliant dedes of armes of Tolmides gaue good cause to Peritles to entertaine his cittie in feastes and playes whilest he dyd gouerne the same and he dyd not finde it in such ill case and distresse that he was driuen to defend it by force of armes or to cōquer that againe which he had lost But Fabius in contrary manner when he sawe before him many ouerthrowes great flying awaye muche murder great slaughters of the generalles of the ROMAINE armies the lakes the playnes the woddes filled with scattered men the people ouercome the flouds and riuers ronning all a gore bloude by reason of the great slaughter and the streame carying downe the dead bodies to the mayne sea dyd take in hande the gouernment of his countrie and a course farre contrarie to all other so as he dyd vnderproppe and shore vp the same that he kept it from flat falling to the grounde amongest those ruines and ouerthrowes other had brought it to before him Yet a man maye saye also that it is no great matter of difficultie to rule a cittie already brought lowe by aduersitie and which compelled by necessitie is contented to be gouerned by a wise man as it is to bridle and keepe vnder the insolencie of a people pufte vp with pryde and presumption of long prosperitie as Pericles founde it amongest the ATHENIANS The great multitude also of so many grieuous calamities as lighted on the ROMAINES neckes at that time dyd playnely shewe Fabius to be a graue and a constant man which would neuer geue waye vnto the importunate cries of the common people nor could euer be remoued from that he had at the first determined The winning recouering againe of TARENTVM maye well be compared to the taking of SAMOS which Pericles wanne by force and the citties of CAMPANIA vnto the I le of EVBOEA excepting the cittie of CAPVA which the Consuls Faluius and Appius recouered againe But it seemeth that Fabius neuer wanne battell saue that only for which he triumphed the first time where Pericles set vp nine triumphes of battels and victories he had wonne aswell by sea as by lande And so also they cannot alledge such an acte done by Pericles as Fabius dyd when he rescued Minutius out of the handes of Hannibal and saued a whole armie of the ROMAINES which doubtles was a famous acte and proceeded of a noble minde great wisdome and an honorable harte But Pericles againe dyd neuer commit so grosse an errour as Fabius dyd when he was outreached deceyued by Hannibals fine stratageame of his oxen who hauing founde his enemie by chaunce to haue shut him selfe vp in the straight of a vallye dyd suffer him to escape in the night by a subtiltie in the daye by playne force For he was preuented by ouermuch delaye and fought withall by him he kept inclosed Now if it be requisite a good captaine doe not only vse well that he hath in his handes but that he wisely iudge also what will followe after then the warres of the ATHENIANS fell out in suche sorte
a lyon Another time being but a litle boye he played at skayles in the middest of the streete with other of his companions and when his turne came about to throwe there came a carte loden by chaunce that waye Alcibiades prayed the carter to staye a while vntill he had played out his game bicause the skailes were set right in the high way where the carte should passe ouer The carter was a stubborne knaue and would not staye for any request the boye could make but draue his horse on still in so much as other boyes gaue backe to let him goe on but Alcibiades fell flat to the grounde before the carte and bad the carter driue ouer and he durste The carter being afeard plucked backe his horse to staye them the neighbours flighted to see the daunger ranne to the boye in all hast crying out Afterwards when he was put to schoole to learne he was very obedient to all his masters that taught him any thing sauing that he disdained to learne to playe of the flute or recorder saying that it was no gentlemanly qualitie For sayed he to playe on the vyoll with a sticke doth not alter mans fauour nor disgraceth any gentleman but otherwise to playe on the flute his countenaunce altereth and chaungeth so ofte that his familliar friends can scant knowe him Moreouer the harpe or vyoll doth not let him that playeth on them from speaking or singing as he playeth where he that playeth on the flute holdeth his mouth so harde to it that it taketh not only his wordes from him but his voyce Therefore sayed he let the children of the THEBANS playe on the flute that cannot tell howe to speake as for vs ATHENIANS we haue as our forefathers tell vs for protect ours and patrones of our countrie and goddesse Pallas and the god Apollo of the which the one in olde time as it is sayed brake the flute and the other pulled his skinne ouer his eares that played vpon the flute Thus Alcibiades alledging these reasons partely in sporte and partely in good earnest dyd not only him selfe leaue to learne to playe on the flute but he turned his companions mindes also quite from it For these wordes of Alcibiades ranne from boye to boye incontinently that Alcibiades had reason to despise playing of the flute and that he mocked all those that learned to play of it So afterwards it fell out at ATHENS that teaching to playe of the flute was put out of the number of honest and liberall exercises and the flute it selfe was thought a vile instrument and of no reputation Furthermore in the accusations Antiphon wrote against Alcibiades it is declared that when he was a boye he fled out of his tutours house into the house of Democrates one of his louers and howe Ariphron one of his tutours thought to haue made a beadle crie him through the cittie But Pericles would not suffer him saying that if he were dead they should knowe it but one daye sooner by crying of him and if he were aliue that it would be such a shame to him while he liued that he had bene better he had neuer bene heard of againe The same Antiphon accuseth him further that he had killed a seruaunt of his that attended on him in the wrestling place of Sibyrtius with a blowe of a staffe But there is no reason to credit his writing who confesseth he speaketh all the ill he can of him for the ill will he dyd beare him Now straight there were many great riche men that made muche of Alcibiades and were glad to get his good will. But Socrates loue vnto him had another ende and cause which witnessed that Alcibiades had a naturall inclination to vertue Who perceyuing that vertue dyd appeare in him and was ioyned with the other beawtie of his face and bodye and fearing the corruption of riches dignitie and authoritie and the great number of his companions aswell of the chiefest of the cittie as of straungers seeking to entise him by flatterie and by many other pleasures he tooke vpon him to protect him from them all and not to suffer so goodly an ympe to lose the hope of the good fruite of his youthe For fortune doth neuer so intangle nor snare a man without with that which they commonly call riches as to let hinder him so that philosophie should not take holde on him with her free severe and quicke reasons So Alcibiades was at the beginning assayed with all delightes and shut vp as it were in their companie that feasted him with all pleasures only to turne him that he should not hearken to Socrates wordes who sought to bring him vp at his charge and to teach him But Alcibiades notwithstanding hauing a good naturall wit knewe that Socrates was and went to him refusing the companie of all his riche friendes and their flatteries and fell in a kinde of familliar friendshippe with Socrates Whom when he had heard speake he noted his wordes very well that they were no persuasions of a man seeking his dishonesty but one that gaue him good counsell went about to reforme his faultes and imperfections and to plucke downe the pride and presumption that was in him then as the common prouerbe sayeth Like to the crauen cocke he drovvped dovvne his vvinges vvhich covvardly doth ronne avvaye or from the pit out flinges And dyd thinke with selfe that all Socrates loue and following of young men was in dede a thing sent from the goddes and ordeined aboue for them whom they would haue preserued put into the pathe waye of honour Therefore be beganne to despise him selfe and greatly to reuerēce Socrates taking pleasure of his good vsing of him much imbraced his vertue so as he had he wist not howe an image of loue grauen in his harte or rather as Plato sayeth a mutuall loue to wit an holy honest affection towards Socrates Insomuch as all the world wondred at Alcibiades to see him commonly at Socrates borde to playe to wrestle to lodge in the warres with Socrates and contrarily to chide his other well willers who could not so much as haue a good looke at his handes and besides became daungerous to some as it is sayed he was vnto Anytus the sonne of Anthemion being one of those that loued him well Anytus making good cheere to certen straungers his friendes that were come to see him went and prayed Alcibiades to come and make merie with them but he refused to goe For he went to make merie with certen of his companions at his own house and after he had well taken in his cuppes he went to Anytus house to counterfeate the foole amongest them and staying at the halle doore and seeing Anytus table and cubberd full of plate of siluer gold he commaunded his seruants to take awaye half of it and carie it home to his house But when he had thus taken his pleasure he would come
had bene violently caried with the furie of a most swift running streame After he had thus louingly receiued them and perceiuinge that his mother Volumnia would beginne to speake to him he called the chiefest of the counsell of the VOLSCES to heare what she would say Then she spake in this sorte If we helde our peace my sonne and determined not to speake the state of our poore bodies and present sight of our rayment would easely bewray to thee what life we haue led at home since thy exile and abode abroad But thinke now with thy selfe howe much more vnfortunatly then all the women liuinge we are come hether considering that the sight which should be most pleasaunt to all other to beholde spitefull fortune hath made most fearefull to vs making my selfe to see my sonne and my daughter here her husband besieging the walles of his natiue countrie So as that which is thonly comforte to all other in their aduersitie and miserie to pray vnto the goddes and to call to them for aide is the onely thinge which plongeth vs into most deepe perplexitie For we can not alas together pray both for victorie for our countrie and for safety of thy life also but a worlde of grieuous curses yea more then any mortall enemie can heape vppon vs are forcibly wrapt vp in our prayers For the bitter soppe of most harde choyce is offered thy wife children to forgoe the one of the two either to lose the persone of thy selfe or the nurse of their natiue contrie For my selfe my sonne I am determined not to tarie till fortune in my life time doe make an ende of this warre For if I cannot persuade thee rather to doe good vnto both parties then to ouerthrowe and destroye the one preferring loue and nature before the malice and calamitie of warres thou shalt see my sonne and trust vnto it thou shalt no soner marche forward to assault thy countrie but thy foote shall treade vpon thy mothers wombe that brought thee first into this world And I maye not deferre to see the daye either that my sonne be led prisoner in triumphe by his naturall country men or that he him selfe doe triumphe of them and of his naturall countrie For if it were so that my request tended to saue thy countrie in destroying the VOLSCES I must cōfesse thou wouldest hardly and doubtfully resolue on that For as to destroye thy naturall countrie it is altogether vnmere and vnlawfull so were it not iust and lesse honorable to betraye those that put their trust in thee But my only demaunde consisteth to make a gayle deliuerie of all euills which deliuereth equall benefit and safety both to the one and the other but most honorable for the VOLSCES For it shall appeare that hauing victorie in their handes they haue of speciall fauour graunted vs singular graces peace and amitie albeit them selues haue no lesse parte of both then we Of which good if so it came to passe thy selfe is thonly authour and so hast thou thonly honour But if it faile and fall out contrarie thy selfe alone deseruedly shall carie the shamefull reproche and burden of either partie So though the ende of warre be vncertaine yet this notwithstanding is most certaine that if it be thy chaunce to conquer this benefit shalt thou reape of thy goodly cōquest to be chronicled the plague destroyer of thy countrie And if fortune also ouerthrowe thee then the world will saye that through desire to reuenge thy priuate iniuries thou hast for euer vndone thy good friendes who dyd most louingly and curteously receyue thee Martius gaue good eare vnto his mothers wordes without interrupting her speache at all and after she had sayed what she would he held his peace a prety while and aunswered not a worde Hereupon she beganne againe to speake vnto him and sayed My sonne why doest thou not aunswer me doest thou thinke it good altogether to geue place vnto thy choller and desire of reuenge and thinkest thou it not honestie for thee to graunt thy mothers request in so weighty a cause doest thou take it honorable for a noble man to remember the wronges and iniuries done him and doest not in like case thinke it an honest noble mans parte to be thankefull for the goodnes that parents doe shewe to their children acknowledging the duety and reuerence they ought to beare vnto them No man liuing is more bounde to shewe him selfe thankefull in all partes and respects then thy selfe who so vnnaturally sheweth all ingratitude Moreouer my sonne thou hast sorely taken of thy countrie exacting grieuous payments apon them in reuenge of the iniuries offered thee besides thou hast not hitherto shewed thy poore mother any curtesie And therefore it is not only honest but due vnto me that without compulsion I should obtaine my so iust and reasonable request of thee But since by reason I cannot persuade thee to it to what purpose doe I deserre my last hope And with these wordes her selfe his wife and children fell downe vpon their knees before him Martius seeing that could refraine no lenger but went straight and lifte her vp crying out Oh mother what haue you done to me And holding her hard by the right hande oh mother sayed he you haue wonne a happy victorie for your countrie but mortall and vnhappy for your sonne for I see my self vanquished by you alone These wordes being spoken openly he spake a litle a parte with his mother and wife and then let them returne againe to ROME for so they dyd request him and so remaining in campe that night the next morning he dislodged and marched homewardes into the VOLSCES countrie againe who were not all of one minde nor all alike contented For some misliked him and that he had done Other being well pleased that peace should be made sayed that neither the one nor the other deserued blame nor reproche Other though they misliked that was done dyd not thincke him an ill man for that he dyd but sayed he was not to be blamed though he yelded to suche a forcible extremitie Howbeit no man contraried his departure but all obeyed his commaundement more for respect of his worthines and valiancie then for feare of his authoritie Now the cittizens of ROME plainely shewed in what feare and daunger their cittie stoode of this warre when they were deliuered For so sone as the watche vpon the walles of the cittie perceyued the VOLSCES campe to remoue there was not a temple in the cittie but was presently set open and full of men wearing garlands of flowers vpon their heads sacrificing to the goddes as they were wont to doe vpon the newes of some great obteined victorie And this common ioye was yet more manifestly shewed by the honorable curtesies the whole Senate and people dyd bestowe on their ladyes For they were all throughly persuaded and dyd certenly beleeue that the ladyes only were cause of the sauing of the cittie and deliuering
so much as it was for spite and displeasure he thought to doe them Antipater in a letter of his writing of the death of Aristotle the philosopher doth not without cause commend the singular giftes that were in Alcibiades and this inespecially that he passed all other for winning mens good willes Wheras all Martius noble actes and vertues wanting that affabilitie became hatefull euen to those that receiued benefit by them who could not abide his seueritie and selfe will which causeth desolation as Plato sayeth and men to be ill followed or altogether forsaken Contrariwise seeing Alcibiades had a trimme entertainment and a very good grace with him and could facion him selfe in all companies it was no maruell if his well doing were gloriously commended and him selfe much honoured and beloued of the people considering that some faultes he did were oftetimes taken for matters of sporte and toyes of pleasure And this was the cause that though many times he did great hurte to the common wealth yet they did ofte make him their generall and trusted him with the charge of the whole citie Where Martius suing for an office of honour that was due to him for the sundrie good seruices he had done to the state was notwithstanding repulsed and put by Thus doe we see that they to whome the one did hurte had no power to hate him and thother that honoured his vertue had no liking to loue his persone Martius also did neuer any great exployte beinge generall of his contry men but when he was generall of their enemies against his naturall contrie whereas Alcibiades being both a priuate persone and a generall did notable seruice vnto the ATHENIANS By reason whereof Alcibiades wheresoeuer he was present had the vpper hande euer of his accusers euen as he would him selfe and their accusations tooke no place against him onlesse it were in his abscence Where Martius being present was condemned by the ROMAINES and in his person murdered and slaine by the VOLSCES But here I can not say they haue done well nor iustly albeit him selfe gaue them some colour to doe it when he openly denied the ROMAINE Ambassadors peace which after he priuatly graunted at the request of women So by this dede of his he tooke not away the enmity that was betwene both peoples but leauing warre still betwene them he made the VOLSCES of whome he was generall to lose the oportunity of noble victory Where in deede he should if he had done as he ought haue withdrawen his armie with their counsaill consent that had reposed so great affiance in him in making him their generall if he had made that accompt of them as their good will towards him did in duety binde him Or else if he did not care for the VOLSCES in the enterprise of this warre but had only procured it of intent to be reuenged and afterwards to leaue it of when his anger was blowen ouer yet he had no reason for the loue of his mother to pardone his contrie but rather he should in pardoning his contrie haue spared his mother bicause his mother wife were members of the bodie of his contrie and city which he did besiege For in that he vncurteously reiected all publike petitions requestes of Ambassadors intreaties of the bishoppes priestes to gratifie only the request of his mother with his departure that was no acte so much to honour his mother with as to dishonour his contrie by the which was preserued for the pitie and intercession of a woman not for the loue of it selfe as if it had not bene worthie of it And so was this departure a grace to say truly very odious and cruell and deserued no thankes of either partie to him that did it For he withdrew his army not at the request of the ROMAINES against whom he made warre nor with their consent at whose charge the warre was made And of all his misfortune and ill happe the austeritie of his nature and his hawtie obstinate minde was the onely cause the which of it selfe being hatefull to the worlde when it is ioyned with ambition it groweth then much more churlish fierce and intollerable For men that haue that fault in nature are not affable to the people seeming thereby as though they made no estimacion or regard of the people and yet on thother side if the people should not geue them honour and reuerence they would straight take it in scorne and litle care for the matter For so did Metellus Aristides and Epaminondis all vsed this manner not to seeke the good will of the common people by flatterie and dissimulation which was in deede bicause they despised that which the people coulde geue or take awaye Yet would they not be offended with their citizens when they were amerced and set at any fines or that they banished them or gaue them any other repulse but they loued them as wel as they did before so soone as they shewed any token of repentaunce that they were sorie for the wrong they had done them and were easely made frendes againe with them after they were restored from their banishment For he that disdaineth to make much of the people and to haue their fauour shoulde much more scorne to seeke to be reuenged when he is repulsed For to take a repulse and deniall of honour so inwardly to the hart commeth of no other cause but that he did too earnestly desire it Therefore Alcibiades did not dissemble at all that he was not very glad to see him selfe honored and sory to be reiected and denied any honour but also he sought all the meanes he could to make him selfe beloued of those amongest whome he liued Whereas Martius stowtnes and hawry stomake did stay him from making much of those that might aduaunce and honour him and yet his ambition made him gnawe him selfe for spite and anger when he sawe he was despised And this is all that reasonably may be reproued in him for otherwise he lacked no good commendable vertues and qualities For his temperaunce and cleane handes from taking of bribes and money he may be compared with the most perfect vertuous and honest men of all GRAECE but not with Alcibiades who was in that vndoutedly alwayes too licentious losely geuen and had too small regard of his credit and honestie The end of Caius Martius Coriolanus life THE LIFE OF Paulus AEmilius WHEN I first beganne to write these liues my intent was to profit other but since continuing and going on I haue muche profited my self by looking into these histories as if I looked into a glasse to frame and facion my life to the mowld and patterne of these vertuous noble men For ronning ouer their manners in this sorte and seeking also to describe their liues me thinkes I am still conuersaunt and familliar with them and doe as it were lodge them with me one after another And when I come to peruse their histories and to waye
the vpper hand of Scipio and that Scipio bare it paciently and left not of walking for that neither shewed any countenaunce of misliking And in entring into discourse of many matters they discended in the ende to talke of auncient Captaines and Hanniball gaue iudgement that Alexander the great was the famousest Captaine Tyrrus the second and him selfe the thirde Then Scipio smilinge gently asked him what wouldest thou say then if I had not ouercome thee Truely quod Hanniball I would not then put my selfe the third man but the first and aboue all the Captaines that euer were So diuers greatly cōmending the goodly sayinges and deedes of Scipio did maruelously mislike Titus for that he had as a man may say layed his handes vpon the death of an other man Other to the contray againe sayd it was well done of him sayinge that Hanniball so longe as he liued was a fire to the Empire of the ROMAINES which lacked but one to blow it and that when he was in his best force and lusty age it was not his hande nor body that troubled the ROMAINES so much but his great wisedome and skill he had in the warres and the mortall hate he bare in his hart towardes the ROMAINES which neither yeares neither age would diminishe or take away For mens naturall condicions do remaine still but fortune doth not alwayes keepe a state but chaungeth stil and then quickeneth vp our desires to set willingly vppon those that warre against vs bicause they hate vs in their hartes The thinges which fell out afterwards did greatly proue the reasons brought out for this purpose in discharge of Titus For one Aristonicus sonne of a daughter of a player vpon the citherne vnder the fame and glory of Enmenes whose bastard he was filled all ASIA with warre rebellion by reason the people rose in his fauor Againe Mithridates after so many losses he had receiued against Sylla and Eimbria and after so many armies ouerthrowen by battell and warres and after so many famous Captaines lost and killed did yet recouer againe and came to be of great power both by sea and land against Lucullus Truely Hannibal was no lower brought then Caius Marius had bene For he had a king to his frend that gaue him entertainment for him and his family and made him Admirall of his shippes and Generall of his horsemen and footemen in the field Marius also went vp and downe AFRICKE a begging for his liuing insomuch as his enemies at ROME mocked him to scorne soone after notwithstanding they fell downe at his feete before him when they saw they were whipped murthered and slaine within ROME by his commaundement Thus we see no man can say certainely he is meane or great by reason of the vncertainty of thinges to come consideringe there is but one death and chaunge of better life Some say also that Titus did not this act alone and of his owne authority but that he was sent Ambassador with Lucius Scipio to no other end but to put Hanniball to death by what meanes soeuer they could Furthermore after this Ambassade we do not finde any notable thing written of Titus worthy of memory neither in peace nor in warres For he died quietely of naturall death at home in his contrie THE COMPARISON OF Titus Quintius Flaminius with Philopoemen IT is time nowe we come to compare them together Therefore as touchinge the great benefits that came to the GREECIANS neither Philopoemen nor all the other former Captaines are to be compared with Titus For all the auncient Captaines almost being GREECIANS made warres with other GREECIANS but Titus beinge a ROMAINE and no GREECIAN made warres for the liberty of GREECE When Philopoemen was not able to helpe his poore citizens distressed sore vexed with warres he sayled away into CRETA Titus hauing ouercome Philip kinge of MACEDON in battell did restore againe to liberty all the people and cities of the same which were kept before in bondage And if any will narrowly examine battells of either partie they shall finde that Philopoemen being Generall of the ACHAIANS made more GREECIANS to be slaine then Titus did of the MACEDONIANS fightinge with them for the liberty of the GREECIANS And for their imperfections the one of them was ambitious the other was as obstinate the one was quicke and sodainly angered the other was very hard to be pacified Titus left kinge Philip his realme and crowne after he had ouercome him and vsed great clemency towardes the AETOLIANS where Philopoemen for spite malice tooke townes and villages from his owne natiue contry and city wherein he was borne that had alwayes payed them tribute Furthermore Titus continued a sounde frend to them to whome he had once professed frendshippe and done pleasure vnto and Philopoemen in a geare and anger was ready to take away that he had giuen and to ouerthrow the pleasure and good turne he had shewed For Philopoemen when he had done the LACEDAEMONIANS great pleasure did afterwards rase the walls of their city and spoyled and destroyed all their contry and lastly ouerthrew their whole gouernment It seemeth also by reason of his immoderate choller he was him selfe cause of his owne death for that he made more hast then good speede to go out of time to set vpon those of MASSINA and not as Titus who did all his affaires with wisedome and euer considered what was best to be done But if we looke into the number of battells and victories the warre which Titus made against Philip was ended with two battells Whereas Philopoemen in infinite battells in which he had the better neuer left it doutfull but that his skill did euer helpe him the more to victory then the good fortune he had Moreouer Titus wanne honor by meanes of the power of ROME when it florished most and was in best prosperitie Philopoemen made him selfe famous by his deedes when GREECE beganne to stoupe and fall all together So that the deedes of the one were common to all the ROMAINES the dedes of the other were priuate to himselfe alone For Titus was General ouer good and valliant souldiers that were already trained to his hand and Philopoemen being chosen Generall did traine his men him selfe made them afterwards very expert and valliant that were but meane and greene souldiers before And whereas Philopoemen had continuall warres with the GREECIANS it was not for any good fortune he had but that it made a certaine proofe of his valliantnesse For where all other thinges are aunswerable to his there we must iudge that such as ouercome haue the most corage Now Philopoemen making warres with the most warlike nations of all GREECE as the CRETANS and the LACEDAEMONIANS did ouercome the subtillest of them by finenesse and policy and the most valliant by prowes and hardinesse But Titus ouercame by putting that only in practise which was already found and stablished as
they had made solemne sacrifice vnto Iupiter Martiall in a certaine place in the prouince of MOLOSSIDE called PASSARON to take their othe and to be sworne to the EPIROTES that they would raigne well and iustly accordinge to the lawes and ordinaunces of the contry and to receiue the subiectes othes interchaungeably also that they would defend and maintaine them in their kingdome according to the lawes in like maner This ceremony was done in the presence of both the kinges and they with their frendes did both geue and receiue presentes eche of other At this meetinge and solemnity amonge other one Gelon a most faithfull seruaunt and assured frend vnto Neoptolemus who besides great showes of frendshippe and honor he did vnto Pyrrus gaue him two payer of draught oxen which one Myrtilus a cuppebearer of Pyrrus beinge present and seeinge did craue of his master But Pyrrus denyed to geue them vnto him whereat Myrtilus was very angry Gelon perceiuinge that Mytilus was angry prayed him to suppe with him that night Now some say he sought to abuse Myrtilus bicause he was fayer and younge and beganne to perswade him after supper to take parte with Neoptolemus and to poyson Pyrrus Myrtilus made as though he was willing to geue care to this perswasion and to be well pleased withall But in the meane time he went and tolde his master of it by whose commaundement he made Alexicrates Pyrrus chiefe cuppebearer to talke with Gelon about this practise as though he had also geuen his consent to it and was willinge to be partaker of the enterprise This did Pyrrus to haue two witnesses to proue the pretended poysoninge of him Thus Gelon beinge finely deceiued and Neoptolemus also with him both imagininge they had cunningly sponne the threde of their treason Neoptolemus was so glad of it that he could not kepe it to him selfe but told it to certaine of his frendes And on a time going to be mery with his sister he could not keepe it in but must be pratling of it to her supposing no body had heard him but her selfe bicause there was no liuing creature neere them sauing Phoenareta Samons wife the kinges chiefe heardman of all his beastes and yet she was layed apon a litle bed by and turned towards the wall so that she seemed as though she had slept But hauing heard all their talke and no body mistrusting her the next morning she went to Antigona king Pyrrus wife and told her euery worde what she had heard Neoptolemus say to his sister Pyrrus hearing this made no countenaunce of any thing at that time But hauinge made sacrifice vnto the goddes he bad Neoptolemus to supper to his house where he slue him being well informed before of the good will the chiefest men of the realme did beare him who wished him to dispatch Neoptolemus not to content him selfe with a peece of EPIRVS only but to follow his naturall inclination being borne to great thinges and for this cause therefore this suspition fallinge out in the meane while he preuented Neoptolemus and slue him first And furthermore remembringe the pleasures he had receiued of Ptolomie and Berenice he named his first sonne by his wife Antigona Ptolomie and hauing built a city in the PRESCQVE an I le of EPIRVS did name it BERENICIDA When he had done that imagining great matters in his head but more in his hope he first determined with him selfe howe to winne that which lay neerest vnto him and so tooke occasion by this meanes first to set foote into the Empire of MACEDON The eldest sonne of Cassander called Antipater put his owne mother Thessalonica to death and draue his brother Alexander out of his owne contry who sent to Demetrius for helpe and called in Pyrrus also to his ayde Demetrius being troubled with other matters could not so quickely go thither And Pyrrus being arriued there demaunded for his charge susteined the citie of NYMPHAEA with all the seacoastes of MACEDON and besides all that certaine landes also that were not belonginge to the auncient crowne and reuenues of the kinges of MACEDON but were added vnto it by force of armes as Ambracia Acarnania and Amphilochia All these the young king Alexander leauinge vnto him he tooke possession thereof and put good garrisons into the same in his owne name and conquering the rest of MACEDON in the name of Alexander put his brother Antipater to great distresse In the meane time kinge Lysimachus lacked no good will to helpe Antipater with his force but being busied in other matters had not the meane to doe it Howbeit knowinge very well that Pyrrus in acknowledginge the great pleasures he had receiued of Ptolomie woulde deny him nothinge he determined to wryte counterfeate letters to him in Ptolomies name and thereby instantly to pray and require him to leaue of the warres begonne against Antipater and to take of him towardes the defrayinge of his charges the sumine of three hundred talentes Pyrrus opening the letters knew straight that this was but a fetch and deuise of Lysimachus For king Ptolomies common manner of greeting of him which he vsed at the beginning of his letters was not in them obserued To my sonne Pyrrus health But in those counterfeate was king Ptolomie vnto king Pyrrus health Whereupon he presently pronounced Lysimachus for a naughty man neuerthelesse afterwardes he made peace with Antipater and they met together at a day appointed to be sworne vpon the sacrifices vnto the articles of peace There were three beastes brought to be sacrificed a goate a bul and a ramme of the which the ramme fell downe dead of him selfe before he was touched whereat all the standers by fell a laughinge But there was a Soothsayer one Theodotus that perswaded Pyrrus not to sweare saying that this signe and token of the gods did threaten one of the three kings with sodaine death For which cause Pyrrus concluded no peace Now Alexanders warres beinge ended Demetrius notwithstanding came to him knowing well enough at his comming that Alexander had no more neede of his aide and that he did it only but to feare him They had not bene many dayes together but th one beganne to mistrust thother and to spie all the wayes they could to intrappe eche other but Demetrius embracing the first occasion offered preuented Alexander and slue him being a young man and proclaimed him selfe king of MACEDON in his roome Now Demetrius had certaine quarrells before against Pyrrus bicause he had ouertunne the contry of THESSALIE and furthermore greedy couetousnes to haue the more which is a common vice with princes and noble men made that being so neere neighbours the one stoode in feare and mistrust of the other and yet much more after the death of Deidamia But now that they both occupied all MACEDON betwene them and were to make diuision of one selfe kingdome Now I say began the matter and occasion of quarrell to grow the greater betwene them
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
vvarres His ambition notwithstanding couetous desire of rule did nothing benefit the ROMANES For the ATHENIANS sent Nicias to the warre against his will but Crassus led the ROMANES thither against their willes So that the common wealth fell into miserie by the one and the other through the common wealth was brought into miserie and yet therein there is rather cause to praise Nicias than to blame Crassus For Nicias like a wise man a Captaine of great experience could neuer so much as be brought to thinke they should conquer SICILE and therfore disswaded his contrymen from the iorney would geue no place to the vaine hope of the people of ATHENS But Crassus taking apon him to make warres with the PARTHIANS as though it had bene an easie matter to ouercome them found him selfe deceiued yet did he aspire to great thinges For as Iulius Caesar had conquered subdued to the Imperiall crowne of ROME all the contries of the West partes to say the GAVLES the GERMAINES and ENGLANDE euen so did Crassus desire to goe towardes the East partes to conquer all to the great west sea of the INDIANS and to subdue all the regions of ASIA whereunto Pompey and Lucullus aspired being both very noble personages and such as euer curteously behaued them selues to all men notwithstanding prouoked thereunto with the like desire that Crassus had For wheÌ„ the charge of the warres in the East partes was assigned to Pompey by decree order of the people the Senate vtterly misliked it and were against it all they could When newes were brought to ROME that Iulius Caesar in battell had ouerthrowen and slaine three hundred thowsand GERMAINES Cato perswading with the Senate was yet stil of this minde that Caesar should be deliuered into the handes of his enemies whom he had ouercomen for to be puâ—isned thereby to turne the sharpe reuenge and wrathe of the goddes from ROME apon him only that was the vniust breaker of the peace This notwithstaÌ„ding the people making none account of Catoes perswasions made common feastes processions fifteene dayes together and open sacrifices to the goddes with great ioy through the citie to thanke them for this famous victory How glad may we thinke would they haue bene and howe many dayes would they haue feasted and sacrificed if Crassus had wrytten from BABYLON of his victory and that he had conquered all the realmes of the MEDES of the PERSIANS of the HYRCANIAMS of SVSE and of the BACTRIANS and that he had made new gouernments and prouinces to the Empire of ROME If a man vvill needes doe vvrong and iniustice As Euripides sayth to them that can not liue in peace and be contented with their owne he must not then sticke at trifles as rasing of a castell of Scandia or of a citie of MENDA or chasing of the AEGINETES being out of their owne naturall contrie and hiding them selues like birdes without neastes in an other birdes hole but must dearely sell the wrong he doth and not lightly contemne iustice as a thing of small account For they that will commend the intent of Alexander the great in his voyage for the conquestes he made in the East and doe dispraise Crassus voyage doe not well to iudge of the beginning by the euentes and successe of the end For executing of their offices Nicias did many noble exploytes For he ouerthrew his enemies in diuers battell and had almost taken the citie of SYRACVSA and sure they can not iustely blame him for all the misfortunes that chaunced in the warre of SICILIA but partely the plague was a cause of it and partely also the enuie of those towardes him that remainde at ATHENS Where as Crassus ranne into so many errors and committed such foule partes in all his voyage that he gaue fortune no leasure to do him good so that I wonder not so much that his folly was ouercome by the power of the PARTHIANS as that it could ouercome the good fortune of the ROMANES Sithens it so falleth out theÌ„ that they both came to 〈…〉 vnfortunate end Nicias prognosticating before what thinges should happen by arte and rule of diuination and Crassus contrarily disdaining to obserue any thing sure it falleth out hard in iudgement which of them two proceeded with most safety Yet according to the best approued opinions a fault committed of feare is more excusable then of rashnes and folly to breake any auncient law or custome For their deathes Crassus end deserued least reproache For he against his will did yeelde him selfe and was neither bound nor mocked but only perswaded by his frendes and through his enemies frawde and treason most traiterously deceiued where Nicias cowardly and dishonorably hoping to saue his life trusting to the mercy of his enemies made his death more infamous THE LIFE OF Sertorius PEraduenture it is not to be maruelled at if in long proces of time fortune altering her effectes dayly these worldly euentes fall often out one like an other For whether it be that the variety of thinges are infinite fortune hath store of matter apt enough to worke to likenes or be it that worldly matters be compreheÌ„ded within determinate number of necessitie one thing must fall out like an other since they proceede from one cause tyed to the same meanes it before did vse But bicause men doe delight to compare such chaunces together as they haue seene or heard to haue happened so like as if they had bene done of purpose th one by the example of the other as that of two men being both named Attis both of them commen of noble houses th one in SYRIA and the other in ARCADIA both the one and the other were slaine with a wild bore That of two called Actaeon the one was torne a peeces by his dogges the other by his louers That of the two famous Scipioes CARTHAGINIANS were first ouercomen by the one and afterwards vtterly destroyed by the other That the citie of TROYE was first taken by Hercules for the horses that Laomedon had promised him the seconde time by Agamemnon by meanes of the great wodden horse and the third time by Charidemus by meanes of a horse that fell within the gate kept the TTROYANS that they could not shutte it in time And that of two sweete smelling plantes IOS and SMYENA two cities were named the one signifying the Violet and the other Myrre it is supposed that the Poet Homer was borne in the one and that he dyed in the other we may also adde to this example that amongest the auncient Captaines the greatest warriers and that haue done the noblest exploytes by wit and warlike stratageames had but one eye as Philip Antigonus Hanniball and Sertorius also whom we wryte of at this present Whom we may truely reporte to haue bene more chast than Philip more faithfull to his frend than Antigonus more curteous to his enemies than Hannibal and for wisdom and
is the wisedom of the auncient ROMANES to be both commended had in admiration which did not only reward seruice in the field with such honorable names titles but ciuill seruice and good gouernment also in peace at home For there were two whom the people at ROME called Maximi to say very great of the which Valerius was the one for that he made peace and agreement betwext the people and Senate The other was Fabius Rullus for that he put from the Senate certaine bondmen infranchised who through their riches and fauor had obtained that place After that Pompey required the honor of triumphe but Sylla denied it alleaging that none could enter in triumphe into ROME but Consulls or Praetors For sith Scipio the first who in SPAYNE had ouercome the CARTHAGINIANS neuer desired this honor of triumphe being neither Consull nor Praetor much lesse should he stande apon demaund of triumphe into ROME when that through his young yeares he was not yet a Senator and besides it would purchase him enuy of his honor and greatnes These reasons did Sylla alleage against Pompey and told him plainly that if he were bent to stand in it he would resist him All this blanked not Pompey who told him frankely againe how men did honor the rising not the setting of the sunne meaning thereby how his owne honor encreased and Syllaes diminished Sylla heard him not very perfectly what he sayd but perceiuing by their countenaunces that stoode by that they wondred at it he asked what it was he sayd When it was tolde him he maruelled at the boldnes of so young a man and then cried out twise together let him then triumphe a Gods name Many being offended therewith Pompey as it is reported to anger them more would needes be brought in in triumphant charriot drawen with foure Elephants for he had taken many of them from those kings and Princes which he had subdued Howbeit the gate of the city being too narrowe he was driuen to leaue the Elephantes and was contented to be drawen in with horses Now his souldiers that had not all things as they looked for and which was promised them going about to trouble and hinder his triumphe he sayd he passed not for it that he would rather let alone all his preparation of triumphe then once to yeeld to flatter them Whereuppon there was a famous man at that time called Seruilius who at the first was one of the chiefest against Pompeys triumphe who sayd openly now I know that Pompey in deede is great deserueth triumphe Being euident enough that if he would he might then haue easily bene made Senator he sued not for that but as they say sought honor by a straunger meane lesse honorable For if he had bene made Senator so young it had not bene so great a matter but to haue such honor before he was Senator that was maruelously to be noted But this wanne him the more fauor and good will still amongest the common people for they were glad when after his triumphe they saw him in companie amongest the ROMANE Knights On thother side it spighted Sylla to see him come so fast forward and to rise to so great credit notwithstanding being ashamed to hinder him he was contented to kepe it to him selfe vntill that Pompey by force against Syllaes will had brought Lepidus to be Consull by the helpe and good will of the people that furdered his desire Theruppon Sylla seeing Pompey returning ouerthwart the market place from the election with a great traine of followers to honor him he sayd vnto him O young man I see thou art glad of this victory and so hast thou cause for it is a goodly thing out of doubt to haue had such fauor of the people as for thy sake to haue made Lepidus Consull the vilest person of all men before Catulus the honestest man of the citie But I will tell thee one thing see that thou sleepe nor and looke well to thy busines for thou hast aduaunced a daungerous enemy to thy selfe Now the chiefest thing wherein Sylla discouered most his ill will vnto Pompey was in his last will and testament for he gaue legacies vnto euery one of his frendes and some of them he made tutors ouerseers of his sonne but he made no mencion of Pompey at all This notwithstanding Pompey tooke it well enough And where Lepidus and some other would haue kept Syllaes body from buriall in the field of Mars and that his funeralls should not be openly solemnised he contrarywise brought him very honorably and safely to the ground Shortly after Syllaes death his wordes of prophecie vnto Pompey concerning Lepidus proued true For Lepidus vsurping the authoritie which Sylla had before not colourablie but openly entred straight in armes sturring vp againe those of Marius faction whom Sylla could not be reuenged of and which lay lurking a long time spying for occasion to rise againe True it is that his colleague and fellow Consull Catulus whom the best and soundest parte of the people followed was thought a maruelous honest man both iust and modest howbeit a better Gouernor in peace then a good man of warre insomuch as time required Pompeys skill and experience So Pompey stoode not doubtfull which way he would dispose him selfe but tooke parte straight with the nobility and honestest men was presently chosen Captaine of their armie against Lepidus who had already wonne the greatest parte of ITALIE and with an army vnder the conduct of Brutus kept GAVLE on this side the mountaines called GALLIA CISALPINA And for the rest Pompey easily ouercame it howbeit he lay a long time before MODONA besieging of Brutus In the meane season Lepidus came to ROME being hard at the walls demaunding the second Consulship made them affrayed in the city with the great numbers of men he had about him gathered together of all sortes Howebeit this feare was cooled straight by a letter which Pompey wrote to ROME aduertising how he had ended this warre without any bloodshed for Brutus either betraying his army or being betrayed of it yeelded him selfe vnto Pompey who gaue him a certaine number of horsemen that conducted him to a litle towne apon the riuer of Poe where the next day after Geminius being sent by Pompey slue him But hereof Pompey was greatly blamed for that he had wrytten letters to the Senate from the beginning of the chaunge how Brutus had put him selfe into his handes and afterwardes wrote letters to the contrary which burdened him for putting of him to death This Brutus was father of that Brutus which afterwardes with the helpe of Cassius slue Iulius Caesar howbeit he shewed not him selfe so like a coward neither in warres nor in his death as his father did As we haue declared more at large in his life Furthermore Lepidus being driuen to forsake ITALIE fled into SARDINIA where he dyed as it is reported of a
Cato stāding vp it was thought straight he would haue spoken against him But silence being made him he plainely tolde them that for his owne parte he would not haue bene the first man to haue propounded that was spoken but sithence it was spoken by another that he thought it reasonable and meete to be followed And therefore said he it is better to haue an office to commaund whatsoeuer he be rather then none that he saw no man fitter to commaund then Pompey in so troublesome a time All the Senate liked his opinion and ordained that Pompey should be chosen sole Consul and that if he sawe in his discretion he should neede the assistance of an other companion he might name any whome he thought good but not till two monethes were past Thus was Pompey made Consul alone by Sulpitius regent for that daie Then Pompey made very frendly countenance vnto Cato and thanked him for the 〈…〉 he had done him praying him priuately to assist him with his counsell in the Consulshippe◠Cato aunswered him that there was no cause why he should thanke him for he had spoken nothing for his sake but for respect of the common wealth only and for his counselle if he would aske it he should priuately haue it if not yet that he would openly saie that which he thought Such a man was Cato in all his doinges Now Pompey retorning into the citie maried Cornelia the daughter of Metellus Scipio not a maiden but late the widow of Publius Crissus the sonne that was slaine in PARTHIA to whom she was maried a maiden This Ladie had excellent giftes to be beloued besides her beautie For she was properly learned could play and on the harpe was skilfull in musicke and geometrie and tooke great pleasure also in philosophie and not vainely without some profit For she was very modest and sober of behauior without brawling foolish curiositie which commonly young women haue that are indeed with such singular giftes Her father also was a noble man both in bloud and life Notwithstanding these vnlike mariages did nothing please some for Cornelia was young enough to haue bene his sonnes wife Now the best citizens thought that therein he regarded not the care of the common wealth being in such a troublesome time which had chosen him onely as her remedie to redresse the same and that he in the meane time gaue him selfe ouer to marying and seasting where rather he should haue bene carefull of his Consulshippe which was disposed apon him against the lawe for common calamities sake that otherwise he had not come by if all had bene quiet Furthermore he sharpely proceeded against them which by briberie and vnlaufull meanes came to office and hauing made lawes and ordinaunces for the administration of Iustice otherwise he delt iustly and vprightly in all thinges geuing safetie order silence and grauitie to matters of Iudgement with force of armes himselfe being present sauing that when his father in lawe was also accused among other he sent for the three hundred three score Iudges home to his house praying them to helpe him Whereupon when the accuser saw Scipio accompanied by the Iudges them selues retorning into the market place he let fall his sute This made Pompey againe be condemned and blamed also more then before for that he hauing made a lawe that no man should praise the offendors whilest their matter was a hearing came him selfe and openly praised Plancus being accused Thereupon Cato being one of the Iudges stopped his eares with both his handes saying that he might not heare an offendor praised seeing it was forbidden by lawe But therefore he was refused for a Iudge before they gaue sentence Notwithstanding Plancus was condemned by all the rest of the Iudges to Pompeys great shame and reproache Shortly after Hypseus one that had bene Consul being likewise accused watching Pompey on a time as he came out of his bathe to goe to supper vpon his knees he besought Pompeys fauor and helpe But he stately passed by him and gaue him no other aunswere but told him he marred his supper and said nothing els to him This inconstancy was much reproued in Pompey Howbeit otherwise he set all thinges in good order and chose his father in lawe Scipio for his colleague and fellow in the Consulshippe for the fiue last monethes After that he caused the gouernment of his prouinces to be appointed him for foure yeares more with commission to take yearely out of the treasure a thowsand talentes to defraye the charges of this warre Caesars friend seeing that stepped vp for him and prayed that there might also be had some consideracion of him that had likewise great warres for the Empire of ROME saying that his good seruice deserued either that they should make him Consul againe or els that they should prolonge his charge and gouernment so as he might yet peacibly enioye the honor to commaund that which he had conquered to th end that no other successor might reape the frute of his labor Much sturre and contention being about this matter at ROME Pompey as though for goodwill he ment to excuse the enuie they might haue borne Caesar said that he had receyued lettres from him by the which he requested a successor and to be discharged of this warre and furthermore that he thought it good they should graunt him priuiledge to demaund the second Consulshippe although he were absent Which Cato stowtely withstoode saying that he must retorne home as a priuate man and leauing his armie should come in person craue recompence of his contrie But by cause Pompey made no replie nor aunswere to the countrie men suspected straight that he had no great good liuing of Caesar and the rather bycause he had sent vnto him for the two legions which he had lon◠him vnderooller of his warre against the PARTHIANS But Caesar though he smelt him wherefore he sent for his souldiers retorned them home with liberall reward About that time Pompey fell sicke at NAPLES of a daungerous disease whereof notwithstanding he recouered againe The NEAPOLITANS thereupon by perswasion of Praxagoras one of the chiefest men of their citie did sacrifice to the goddes for his recouerie The like did also their neighbours round about and in fine it ranne so generally through all ITALY that there was no citie or towne great or small but made open feast and reioycing for many dayes together Besides the infinite nomber of people was such that went to meete him out of all partes that there was not place enough for them all but the high wayes cities townes and ports of the sea were all full of people feasting and sacrificing to the gods reioycing for his recouerie Diuers also went to meete him crowned with garlandes and so did attend on him casting nosegayes and flowers apon him Thus was his Iorney the noblest sight that euer was all the way as he came howbeit men thought
weying with him selfe the great enterprise he tooke in hand At the last as men that being of a maruelous height from the ground do hedlong throw themselues downe closing of their eyes and withdrawing their mindes from the thought of the daunger crying out these wordes only vnto them that were by in the greeke tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in english let the dye be cast meaning hereby to put all in hasard and according to our prouerbe to see all on six and seuen he passed ouer with his armie Now the newes of his comming being caried to ROME they were in such a maruelous feare as the like was neuer seene For all the Senate ranne immediatly vnto Pompey and all the other magistrates of the citie fled vnto him also Tullus asking Pompey what power he had to resist them he aunswered him faltring somewhat in his speach that he had the two legions ready which Caesar sent him backe againe and that he thought with the number of them which he had leauied in hast he should make vp the nomber of thirtie thowsand fighting men Then Tullus cryed out openly ah thou hast mocked vs Pompey â—e thereupon gaue order they should send ambassadors vnto Caesar. There was one Phaonius in the companie who otherwise was no ill man sauing that he was somewhat to bolde thinking to counterfeate Catoes plaine maner of speach he bad Pompey then stampe his foote apon the ground make those souldiers come which he had promised the Pompey gently bare with Phaonius mocke But wheÌ„ Cato told him also what he had prophecied before hand of Caesar he aunswered him againe in deed thou hast prophecied more truly then I but I haue delte more frendly then he Then Cato thought good that they should make him lieutenant generall of ROME with full and absolute power to commaund all saying that the selfe same men which doe the greatest mischiefe know best also how to remedie the same So he immediatly departed into SICILE hauing the charge and gouernment of that contrie and also euery one of the other Senators went vnto the charge they were appointed Thus all ITALY being in armes no man knew what was best to be done For they that were out of ROME came flying thither from all partes and those on thother side that were within ROME went out as fast and forsooke the citie in this trouble and disorder That which might seâ—ue being willing to obeye was found very weake and that on thother side which by disobedience did hurte was to stronge and ill to be gouerned by the magistrates hauing lawe to commaund For there was no possibilitie to pracifie their feare neitherwould they suffer Pompey to offer thinges as he would but euery man followed his owne fancie euen as he found him selfe greiued affraid or in doubt and in one daie they were in diuers mindes Pompey could heare nothing of certaintie of his enemies For some one while would bring him newes one way and then againe another way and then if he would not credit them they were angry with him At the length when he saw the tumult confusion so great at ROME as there was no meane to pacifie it he commaunded all the Senators to follow him telling all them that remained behinde that he would take them for Caesars frendes and so at night departed one of the citie Then the two Consuls fled also without doing any sacrifice to the goddes and they were wont to do before they went to make any warres So Pompey euen in his greatest trouble and most daunger might thinke him selfe happy to haue euery mans good will as he had For though diuers misliked the cause of this warre yet no man hated the captaine but there were moe found that could not forsake Pompey for the loue they bare him then there were that followed him to fight for their libertie Shortly after Pompey was gone out of ROME Caesar was come to ROME who possessing the citie spake very gently vnto all them he found there and pacified their feare sauing that he threatned Metellus one of the Tribunes of the people to put him to death bycause he would not suffer him to take any of the treasure of the common wealth Vnto that cruell threate he added a more bitter speach also saying that it was not so hard a thing for him to doe it as to speake it Thus hauing put downe Metellus and taken that he needed to serue his turne he tooke apon him to follow Pompey thinking to driue him out of ITALY before that his armie he had in SPAYNE should come to him Pompey in the meane time hauing taken the citie of BRVNDVSIVM and gotten some shippes together he made the two Consuls presently imbarke with thirtie enseignes of footemen which he sent beyond the sea before vnto DYRRACHIVM And incontinently after that he sent his father in lawe Scipio and Câ—â—us Pompey his sonne into SYRIA to prouide him shippes Him selfe on thother side fortified the rampers of the citie and placed the lightest souldiers he had vpon the walles and coÌ„maunded the BRVNDYSINIANS not to sturre out of their houses further he cast trenches within the citie at the ende of the streetes in diuers places and filled those trenches with sharpe pointed stakes sauing two streetes onely which went vnto the hauen Then the third day after hauing imbarked all the rest of his souldiers at his pleasure be sodainly liking vp â— signe into the ayer to geue them warning which he had left to gard the rampers they straight ranne to him with speede and quickly receyuing them into his shippes he wayed ancker and hoysed saile Caesar perceyuing the walles naked without ward he straight mistrusted that Pompey was fled who hasting after him had almost ronne vpoÌ„ the sharpe stakes and fallen into the trenches had not the BRVNDVSINIANS geuen him warning of them So he stayed and ranne not ouerthwart the citie but fetched a compasse about to goe to the hauen where he found that all the shippes were vnder saile two shippes onely excepted vpon the which were left a few souldiers Some thinke that this departure of Pompey was one of the best stratageames of warre that euer he vsed Nothwithstanding Caesar maruelled much that he being in a strong citie and looking for his armie to come out of SPAYNE and being master of the sea besides that he would euer forsake ITALY Cicero also reproued him for that he rather followed Themisâ—ocles couÌ„sell theÌ„ Pericles considering that the troublesome time was rather to be likened 〈…〉 Pericles theÌ„ Themisâ—ocles time Yea Caesar him selfe shewed that he was affraid of the time For when he had taken Numerius one of Pompeys frends he sent him vnto Pompey at BRVNDVSIVM to offer him reasonable coÌ„dicioÌ„s of peace But Numerius followed Pompey failed away with him By this meanes Caesar in three score dayes being lord of all ITALIE without any bloodshed he was very desirous to follow with
feared Yet all the time he was officer he neuer sought any alteracion in the common wealth but contrarily he him selfe had a great misfortune fell in his owne house which was this There was a young nobleman of the order of the PATRICIANS called Publius Clodius who lacked neither wealth nor eloquence but otherwise as insolent and impudenta person as any was else in ROME He became in loue with Pompeia Caesars wife who misliked not withall notwithstanding she was so straightly looked to and that Aurelia Caesars mother an honest gentlewoman had such an eye of her that these two louers could not meete as they would without great perill and difficultie The ROMANES doe vse to honor a goddesse which they call the good goddesse as the GRAECIANS haue her whom they call Gynacia to wit the goddesse of women Her the PHRYGIANS doe claime to be peculiar vnto them saying that she is king Midas mother Howbeit the ROMANES hold opinion that it is nimphe of wodde maried vnto god Faunus The GRAECIANS they say also that she was one of the mother of the god Bacchus whom they dare not name And for proofe hereof on her feast day the wommen make certaine tabernacles of vine twigges and leaues of vine braunches and also they make as the tale goeth a holie dragon for this goddesse and doe set it by her besides it is now lawful for any man to be present at their sacrifices no not within in the house it selfe where they are made Furthermore they say that the women in these sacrifices do many things amongest theÌ„selues much like vnto the ceremonies of Orpheus Now when the time of this feast came the husband whether he were Praetor or Consul and all his men the boyes In the house doe come out of it and leaue it wholly to his wife to order the house at her pleasure there the sacrifices and ceremonies are done the most parte of the night and they doe besides passe the night away in songes and musicke Pompeia Caesars wife being that yeare to celebrate this feast Clodius who had yet no heare on his face therby thought he should not be bewrayeth disguised him selfe in a singing wenches apparell bicause his face was verie like vnto a young wenche He finding the gates open being secretly brought in by her chamber made that was made priuie vnto it she left him and ranne to Pompeia her mistres to tell her that he was come The chamber maide taried long before she came againe insomuch as Clodius being wearie waiting for her where she left him he tooke his pleasure and went from one place to another in the house which had very large roomes in it still shunning the higheâ— and wasby chaunce met withall by one of Aurelias maides who taking him for a woman prayed her to play Clodius refusing to play the maide pulled him forward and asked him what he was Clodius then answered her that he taried for Abra one of Pompeiaes women So Lâ—â—â—tiâ—eâ— aide knowing him by his voyce ranne straight where the lightes and Ladies were and cried out that there was a man disguised in womans apparell The women therewith were so amazed that Aurelia caused them presently to leaue of the â—â—reâ—lomes of the sacrifice and to hide their secret thinges and hauing seene the gates fast locked went immediatly â—plaind downe the house with torche light to seeke out this man who at the last was found out in the chamber of Pompeiaes maide with whom he hidde him selfe Thus Clodius being found out knowen of the women they thrust him out of the dores by the shoulders The same night 〈…〉 women tolde their husbandes of this chaunce as soone as they came home The next morning there ranne a great rumor through the citie how Clodius had attempted a great villany and that he deserued not only to be punished of them whom he had slaundred but also of the common wealth and the goddes There was one of the Tribunes of the people that did indire him accuse him of high treason to the gods Furthermore there were also of the chiefest of the nobilitie and Senate that came to depose against him and burdened him with many horrible and detestable facts and specially with incest committed with his owne sister which was maried vnto Lucullus Notwithstanding the people stowtly defended Clodius against their accusations and this did helpe him much against the Iudges which were amazed affraid to stirre the people This notwithstanding Caesar presently put his wife away and thereupon being brought by Clodius accuser to be a witnes against him he aunswered he knew nothing of that they obiected against Clodius This aunswere being cleane contrarie to their expectacion that heard it the accuser asked Caesar why then he had put away his wife bicause I will not sayd he that my wife be so much as suspected And some say that Caesar spake truely as he thought But others thinke that he did it to please the common people who were very desirous to saue Clodius So Clodius was discharged of this accusation bicause the most parte of the Iudges gaue a confused iudgement for the feare they stoode one way of the daunger of the common people if they condemned him and for the ill opinion of another side of the nobilitie if they did quit him The gouernment of the prouince of SPAYNE being fallen vnto Caesar for that he was Praetor his creditors came and cried out apon him and were importunate of him to be payed Caesar being vnable to satisfie them was compelled to goe vnto Cressus who was the richest man of all ROME and that stoode in neede of Caesars boldnes and corage to withstand Pompeys greatnes in the common wealth Crassus became his suretie vnto his greediest creditors for the summe of eight hundred and thirtie talentes whereuppon they suffered Caesar to departe to the gouernment of his prouince In his iorney it is reported that passinge ouer the mountaines of the Alpes they came through a litle poore village that had not many householdes and yet poore cotages There his frendes that did accompanie him asked him merily if there were any contending for offices in that towne and whether there were any strife there amongest the noble men for honor Caesar speaking in good earnest aunswered I can not tell that said he but for my parte I had rather be the chiefest man herd then the second person in ROME An other time also when he was in SPAYNE reading the history of Alexanders actes when he had red it he was sorowfull a good while after then burstâ—â—â— in weeping His frends seeing that marueled what should be the cause of his sorow He aunswered them doe ye not thinke sayd he that I haue good cause to be heauie when king Alexander being no older than my selfe is now had in old time wonne so many nations and contries and that I hithervnto haue done nothing worthy
had bene enemies open warre proclaimed Contrarily also if Phocion had bene Capteine and generall they would send out their shippes to the sea to meete him farre of crowned with garlands in token of common ioy and so would bringe him to their cities King Philip secretly seking to winne the I le of EVZOEA sent an armie thither out of MACEDON and intised the townes by tyrannes to rebell whereuppon Plutarke ERETRIAN praied in ayde of the ATHENIANS to take this Iland from the MACEDONIANS which they daily wanne more and more if they came not presently to ayde them So Phocion was sent general thither but with a fewe men onely bicause they made account the men of that contry would straight ioyne with him for the good will they bare him But when he came thither he found them all traytors and rebells and brybed with king Philippes money which he lauished out amonge them so that he was brought into great daunger Thereupon he retyred to a litle hill that is seuered from the fieldes of Tamynes with a great large valley and there fortified him selfe with that litle armie he had Then he perswaded his Captaines not to care for all those rebels pratlers and cowards which fled out of their tents and forsooke their ensignes and Captaines but that they should let them goe out of the campe where they would For sayd he such disobedient souldiers here will doe vs no seruice and moreouer will hinder them that haue good will to serue well and at home also knowing them selues in faulte for that they forsooke the campe without licence they dare not complayne apon vs Afterwards when the enemies came to set apon him he commaunded his men to arme and put them selues in readines and not to sturre vntill he had done sacrifice but he stayed long before he came either bicause he could haue no lucky signes of the sacrifices or els for that he would draw his enemies nearer Thereuppon Plutarke ERETRIAN supposing he deferred to marche for feare went him selfe first into the field with certen light horsemen he had in pay Then the men of armes seeing them giue charge could hold no longer but followed him also stragling out of the campe one after an other disorderly and so did set apon their enemies The first being ouerthrowen all the other dispersed them selues and Plutarke him self fled Then certen bandes of the enemies thinking all had bene theirs followed them euen into their campe and came to throw downe their rampiers In the meane time Phocion hauing ended his sacrifice the ATHENIANS came out of their campe and set apon them and made part of them flie immediatly and part of them also they slue hard by the trenches of their campe Then Phocion commaunded that the battell should stand still to receiue their men that were scattered vp and downe the fieldes and in the meane space he him selfe with the choycest men of his armie gaue charge apon the enemies The fight was cruell betwene them For the ATHENIANS sought very valiantly ventring their persons but of them all two young men fighting by their generall Glaucus the sonne of Polymedes and Thâ—llus the sonne of Cineas caried the praise away And so did Cleophanes that daye also shewe him selfe very valiant For the crying out still apon the horsemen that fled perswading them to come and helpe their generall that was in daunger brought them backe againe and thereby goâ—â— the footemen the victorie After this battell he draue Plutarke out of ERETRIA and tooke the castell of ZARETRA standing in a very commodious place for this warre where the I le draweth to a straightnes enuyronned on either side with the sea and would not suffer his men to take any GRAECIANS prisoners fearing least the Orators at ATHENS might moue the people sodeinly in a rage to put them to death After all these thinges were done Phocion returned backe to ATHENS But then did the confederats of the ATHENIANS straight wishe for his iustice and curtesie and the ATHENIANS them selues also knewe his skilfulnes and manhood For his successor Molossus that was generall for the rest of the warre delt so vndiscreetelye that he him selfe was taken prisoner there Then king Philip beeing put in maruailous great hope went with all his armie into HELLESPONT perswading him selfe that he should straight take all CHERRONESVS the cities of PERINTHE and BYZANTIVM The ATHENIANS thereuppon determining to send ayde to preuent king Philips comming the Orators made great sute that Chares might be chosen Captaine But he being sent thither with a good number of shippes did no seruice worthy commendacion neither would the cities receiue his nauie into their hauens but being suspected of euery man and despised of his enemies he was driuen to sayle vp and downe and to get money of the allyes The people being incensed by the Orators were maruelously offended repented them selues that they had sentayde vnto the BIZANTINES Then Phocion rising vp spake vnto the people told them that it was no reason that mistrusting their confederats they should be offended with them but to be angry with their Captaines that deserued to be mistrusted For they said he doe make your confederats affraide of you who without you notwithstanding can not saue themselues The people chaunging their mindes by his oration made Phocion againe their Captaine and sent him with an armie into HELLESPONT to helpe their confederats there which was of great importance to saue the citie of BYZANTIVM Furthermore Phocions fame was so great that Cleon the greatest man of vertue and authoritie in BYZANTIVM and had before bene Phocions companion and familiar in the Academy he made sute for him vnto the citie Then the BYZANTINES would not suffer him though he desired it to campe without the walls of their citie but opening their gates receiued him in and mingled the ATHENIANS amongest them Who perceiuing how much the Citizens trusted them did so honestly behaue them selues in their conuersation amongest them that they gaue them no maner of cause to complaine of them and shewed them selues so valiant besides in all battells and conflicts that Philip which before was thought dreadfull and inuincible euery man beeing affraid to fight any battell with him returned out of HELLESPONT without any thing done and to his great discredit where Phocion wanne some of his shippes and recouered againe the strong holdes in the which he had placed his garrisons Furthermore making diuers inuasions into his contries he destroyed his borders till that at length he was sore hurt there and so driuen to returne home againe by meanes of a great armie that came against him to defend the contry Shortly after the MEGARIANS secretly sent vnto him to deliuer their citie into his hands Phocion fearing if the BOBOTIANS vnderstood it that they would preuent him he called a common assembly earely in the morning told the people what message the MAGARIANS had sent vnto
curtesie of Pompey as could be deuised and in th end after he had geuen him great thankes for the honors he had done him he prayed him to afford him his aduise and counsell in his gouernment Cato answered him thus that he had not spoken any thing before that time in respect of any ill will he bare him neither that he deliuered this last opinion of his in respect of his frendshippe but wholly for the common wealthes sake howbeit otherwise that for his owne priuate affaires if he thought good to vse his aduise whensoeuer it pleased him to aske his opinion he would tell him the best he could But for common causes that he would alwayes tell what he thought though he neuer asked him and in fine he performed all he sayd For first of all when Pompey did set grieuous penalties new fines apon their heades which had bought the peoples voyces for money Cato counselled him to prouide for thinges to come and to let that alone which was already past For sayd he it is a hard thing to determine any certaine time in the which a man should seeke to reforme the faults that are past and furthermore if the punishments appointed were newer then the offences committed then they shoulde doe wrong vnto them that were already accused to punish them by a new law which they had not offended Afterwards also certaine men of good calling Pompeis frends being accused Cato perceiuing that Pompey grew remisse and yeelded in many things the sharply reproued and reformed him Furthermore where Pompey had by law taken away the praises which were wont to be spoken of the offenders that were accused he him selfe notwithstanding hauing wrytten an oration in the praise of Munatius Plancus sent it vnto the Iudges whilest his cause was a bearing Cato being one of the Iudges at that time stopped his eares with both his hands and would not haue it red Wherefore Plancus refused him for one of his Iudges after his cause was pleaded vnto howbeit he was condemned notwithstanding To conclude Cato was such a griefe and trouble vnto them that were accused that they coulde not tell well howe so deale with him For once they durst not lette him be any of their Iudges neither could they well also refuse him For there were many that were condemned which refusing Cato seemed vnto others that they were giltie many also were shamefully reproued bicause they would not accept Cato for their Iudge when he was offered them Thinges proceeding in this sorte at ROME Caesar remained in GAVLE with his armie where he made warres neuerthelesse betwenne him frends still in ROME by gifts and money and made him selfe very strong Now appeared Catoes predictions and forewarnings true vnto Pompey and began to quicken his spirits which had slept so long and made him then to consider of the daunger the which before he could not be perswaded to beleue But perceiuing his slackenes and feare withall douting howe to proceede to preuent Caesars practises Cato determined to sue to be Consul with intent either to make him leaue his army or else to finde out the practise he entended Catoes competitors they were both of theÌ„ very honest men also of the which Sulpitius had receiued great honor preferrement by Catoes credit and authoritie in respect whereof many thought that it was scant honestly done of Sulpitius to shew himselfe so vnthankfull as to stand against Cato in this sute Howbeit Cato neuer complained of the matter but sayd that it was no maruell he would geue place to no man in that sith it was the greatest good happe that euer came vnto him This notwithstanding he perswaded the Senate to make a law that from thence forth such as sued for any office they should them selues be suters to the people and not preferre their sute by others This caused the people to be more offended with him then before bicause thereby he did not only take away their fingering of money which they got by their voyces in elections but tooke from them the meanes they had also to pleasure many bringing them now into pouertie and contempt He therefore hauing no face to flatter the people and to curâ—ie fauor with them but rather sticking to his graue maner and modest life then to seeke the dignitie of a Consul by suche meanes made sute him selfe in person and would not suffer his frends to take the ordinary course which might win the peoples harts whereupon he was put from his Consulshippe This denyall was wont not only to haue made the parties refused very sorowfull but their frendes and kinsemen also greatly ashamed a long time after Howbeit Cato made no reckoning of that but went the next morning and played at tennis with his frends in the field of Mars and after he had dyned walked againe in the market place as his maner was without shooes on his feete and coate But Cicero blamed him much for that bicause the common wealth requiring then such a Consul as he he had not carefully endeuored him selfe by curtesie and gentle meanes to winne the fauor of the people neither woulde euer after make sute for it although at an other time he sued to be Praetor Thereunto Cato aunswered that for the Praetorship he was not denyed it by the good will of the people but rather for that they were bribed with money And for the election of the Consuls where there was no deceit vsed he knew plainly he went without it for his maners which the people misliked the which he thought were no wise mans parte to chaunge for any mans pleasure nor yet by making the like sute again to hazard the refusall Furthermore Caesar making warre with very stowt nations hauing with no small daunger trauell subdued them and hauing also set vpon the GERMAINES with whom the ROMANES were at peace and also slaine three huÌ„dred thowsand persons his frends made sute that the people should do solemne sacrifice to geue thankes vnto the gods But Cato in open Senate was of opinion that they should deliuer Caesar into their handes whome he had iniured to receiue such punishment as they thought good to thend the whole offence for the breach of peace might be cast vpon him that the citie might be no partaker of it sith they could not do withall Neuerthelesse sayd he we are to doe sacrifices vnto the goddes to geue them thankes for that they turned not the reuenge of the fury and rashnes of the Captaine apon our poore souldiers which were in no fault but haue pardoned the common wealth Caesar being aduertised thereof wrote a letter vnto the Senate contayning many accusations against Cato The letter being red Cato rose not as a man put in a chase with choller nor pricked with enuie but coldly and quietly as if he had long before premeditated what he would say declared that the accusations which Caesar heaped against him in his letters were but pretie
and vprore it was thought then that Brutus woulde take parte with Caesar bicause Pompey not long before had put his father vnto death But Brutus preferring the respect of his contrie and common wealth before priuate affection and perswading himselfe that Pompey had iuster cause to enter into armes then Caesar he then tooke parte with Pompey though oftentimes meting him before he thought scorne to speake to him thinking it a great sinne and offence in him to speake to the murtherer of his father But then submitting him selfe vnto Pompey as vnto the head of the common wealth he sailed into SICILIA Lieutenant vnder Sestius that was Gouernor of that prouince But when he saw that there was no way to rise nor to do any noble exployts and that Caesar Pompey were both camped together and fought for victory he went of him selfe vnsent for into MACEDON to be partaker of the daunger It is reported that Pompey being glad and wondering at his comming when he sawe him come to him he rose out of his chaire and went and imbraced him before them all and vsed him as honorablie as he could haue done the noblest man that tooke his parte Brutus being in Pompeys campe did nothing but studie all day long except he were with Pompey not only the dayes before but the selfe same day also before the great battell was fought in the fieldes of PHARSALIA where Pompey was ouerthrowen It was in the middest of sommer and the sunne was verie hotte besides that the campe was lodged neere vnto marishes and they that caried his tent taried long before they came whereuppon being verie wearie with trauell scant any meate came into his mouth at dinner time Furthermore when others slept or thought what woulde happen the morrowe after he fell to his booke and wrote all day long till night wryting a breuiarie of Polybius It is reported that Caesar did not forgette him and that he gaue his Captaines charge before the battell that they shoulde beware they killed not Brutus in fight and if he yeelded willinglie vnto them that then they shoulde bring him vnto him but if he resisted and woulde not be taken then that they shoulde lette him goe and doe him no hurte Some saye he did this for Seruiliaes sake Brutus mother For when he was a young man he had bene acquainted with Seruilia who was extreamelie in loue with him And bicause Brutus was borne in that time when their loue was hottest he perswaded him selfe that he begat him For proofe hereof the reporte goeth that when the waightiest matters were in hande in the Senate about the conspiracie of Catiline which was likelie to haue vndone the citie of ROME Caesar and Cato sate neere together and were both of contrarie mindes to eache other and then that in the meane time one deliuered Caesar a letter Caesar tooke it and red it softlie to him selfe but Cato cried out vpon Caesar and sayd he did not well to receiue aduertisementes from enemies Whereuppon the whole Senate beganne to murmure at it Then Caesar gaue Cato the letter as it was sent him who red it and founde that it was a loue letter sent from his sister Seruilia thereuppon he cast it againe to Caesar and sayde vnto him holde dronken soppe When he had done so he went on with his tale and maintayned his opinion as he did before so commonlie was the loue of Seruilia knowen which she bare vnto Caesar. So after Pompeys ouerthrowe at the battell of PHARSALIA and that he fledde to the sea when Caesar came to beseege his campe Brutus went out of the campe gates vnseene of any man and lept into a marishe full of water and reedes Then when night was come he crept out and went vnto the citie of LARISSA from whence he wrote vnto Caesar who was verie glad that he had scaped and sent for him to come vnto him When Brutus was come he did not onelie pardon him but also kept him alwayes about him and did as muche honor and esteeme him any man he had in his companie Nowe no man coulde tell whether Pompey was fledde and all were maruelous desirous to knowe it wherefore Caesar walking a good waye alone with Brutus he did aske him which way he thought Pompey tooke Caesar perceiuing by his talke that Brutus gessed certainlie whether Pompey shoulde be fledde he left all other wayes and tooke his iorney directlie towardes AEGYPT Pompey as Brutus had coniectured was in deede fledde into AEGYPT but there he was villanouslie slayne Furthermore Brutus obteyned pardon of Caesar for Cassius and defending also the king of LYBIAES cause he was ouerlayed with a worlde of accusacions against him howebeit intreating for him he saued him the best parte of his realme and kingdome They say also that Caesar sayd when he hearde Brutus pleade I knowe not sayd he what this young man woulde but what he woulde he willeth it vehementlie For as Brutus grauetie and constant minde woulde not graunt all men their requests that sued vnto him but being moued with reason and discretion did alwayes encline to that which was good and honest euen so when it was moued to followe any matter he vsed a kinde of forcible and vehement perswasion that calmed not till he had obteyned his desire For by flattering of him a man coulde neuer obteyne any thing at his handes nor make him to doe that which was vniust Further he thought it not meete for a man of calling and estimacion to yeelde vnto the requestes and intreaties of a shamelesse and importunate suter requesting thinges vnmeete the which notwithstanding some men doe for shame bicause they dare deny nothing And therefore he was wont to say that he thought them euill brought vp in their youth that coulde deny nothing Nowe when Caesar tooke sea to goe into AFRICKE against Cato and Scipio he left Brutus Gouernment of GAVLE in ITALIE on this side of the Alpes which was a great good happe for that prouince For where others were spoyled and polled by the insolencie and couetousnesse of the Gouernours as if it had bene a contrie conquered Brutus was a comforte and rest vnto their former troubles and miseries they susteyned But he referred it whollie vnto Caesars grace and goodnesse For when Caesar returned out of AFRICKE and progressed vp and downe ITALIE the things that pleased him best to see were the cities vnder Brutus charge and gouernment and Brutus him selfe who honored Caesar in person and whose companie also Caesar greatlie esteemed Now there were diuers sortes of Praetorshippes at ROME and it was looked for that Brutus or Cassius would make sute for the chiefest Praetorshippe which they called the Praetorshippe of the citie bicause he that had that office was as a Iudge to minister iustice vnto the citizens Therefore they stroue one against the other though some say that there was some litle grudge betwext them for other matters before and
hauing soone recouered his helth he discharged his Phisitions vvith such vvords as these Feast me no more vvith your Hippocrates and Galene sith they can no skill to helpe me to recouer my helth but vvell fare Quintus Curtius that could so good skill to helpe me to recouer my helth Novv if the reading and knovvledge of histories be delightfull and profitable to all other kind of folke I say it is much more for great Princes and Kings bicause they haue to do vvith charges of greatest vveight and difficultie to be best stored vvith giftes and knovvledge for the discharge of their dueties seeing the ground of stories is to treate of all maner of high matters of state as vvarres battells cities contries treaties of peace and alliances and therefore it seemeth more fit for them than for any other kinde of degrees of men bicause they being bred and brought vp tenderly and at their ease by reason of the great regard and care that is had of their persons as meete is for so great states to haue they take not so great paines in their youth for the learning of things as behoueth those to take vvhich vvill learne the noble auncient languages and the painfull doctrine comprehended in Philosophie Againe vvhen they come to mans state their charge calleth them to deale in great affaires so as there remaineth no exercise of vvit more conuenient for thē than the reading of histories in their ovvne tunge vvhich vvithout paine is able to teache them euen vvith great pleasure and ease vvhatsoeuer the painfull vvorkes of the Philosophers concerning the gouernment of common vveales can shevve them to make them skilful in the vvell ruling and gouerning of the people and contries that God hath put vnder their subiection But the vvorst is that they euer or for the most part haue such maner of persons about them as seeke nothing els but to please them by all the vvayes they can and there are very few that dare tell them the truth freely in all things vvhere as on the contrary part an history flattereth with them not but layeth open before their eyes the faults and vices of such as vvere like them in greatnesse of degree And therefore Demetrius Phalereus a man renovvmed as vvell for his skill in the good gouernment of a common vveale as for his excellent knovvledge othervvise counselled Ptolomy first king of AEgypt after the death of Alexander the great that he should often and diligently reade the bookes that treated of the gouernment of kingdomes bicause sayd he thou shalt finde many things there vvhich thy seruaunts and familiar friendes dare not tell thee Moreouer this is another thinge that suche great personages can not easily trauell out of the bounds of their dominions to goe vievv straunge contries as priuate persons doe bicause the ielousie of their estate and the regarde of their dignitie requires that they should neuer be in place vvhere another man might cōmaund them And often times for vvant of hauing seene the contries and knovven the people and Princes that are their neighbours they haue aduentured vppon attempts vvithout good ground to anoyde the vvhich the instruction they may haue by the reading of histories is one of the easiest and fittest remedies that can be found And though there vvere none other cause then onely this last surely it ought to induce Princes to the often and diligent reading of histories vvherein are vvritten the heroicall deedes of vvise and valiant men specially of kings that haue bene before them the considering vvhereof may cause them to be desirous to become like them specially vvhich vvere of stately and noble courage bicause the seedes of Princely vertues that are bred vvith them selues doe then quicken them vp vvith an emulacion tovvards those that haue bene or are equall in degree vvith them asvvell in respect of noblenes of bloud as of greatnes of state so as they be loth to giue place to any person and much lesse can find in their harts to be outgone in glory of vertuous doinges VVhereof innumerable examples might be alleaged if the thing vvere not so vvelknovven of it self that it vvere much more against reason to doubt of it than needefull to proue it Therefore a man may truely conclude that an historie is the scholemistresse of Princes at vvhose hand they may vvithout payne in vvay of pastyme vvith singular pleasure learne the most part of the things that belonge to their office Novv according to the diuersitie of the matter that it treateth of or the order and manner of vvriting that it vseth it hath sondry names giuen vnto it But yet among the rest there are tvvo chiefe kinds The one vvhich setteth dovvne mens doings and aduentures at length is called by the common name of an historie the other vvhich declareth their natures sayings and maners is properly named their liues And although the ground of them both doe cloze very neare in one yet doth the one respect more the things and the other the persons the one is more common and the other more priuate the one concerneth more the things that are vvithout the man and the other the things that proceede from vvithin the one the euents the other the consultacions betvvene the vvhich there is oftentymes great oddes according to this aunsvver of the Persian Siramnes to such as maruelled hovv it came to passe that his deuises being so politike had so vnhappy sucesse It is quod he bicause my deuises are vvholly from my ovvn inuention but the effects of them are in the disposition of fortune and the king And surely amonge all those that euer haue taken vppon them to vvrite the liues of famous men the chiefe prerogatiue by the iudgement of such as are clearest sighted is iustly giuen to the Greeke Philosopher Plutarke borne in the citie of Chaeronea in the contry of Baeotia a noble man perfect in all rare knovvledge as his vvorkes may vvell put men out of doubt if they lyst to read them through vvho all his life long euen to his old age had to deale in affayres of the common vveale as he him selfe vvitnesseth in diuers places specially in the treatise vvhich he intitled VVhether and olde man ought to meddle with the gouernment of a common weale or not and vvho had the hap honor to be schoolemaster to the Emprour Traian as is commonly beleeued and as is expressely pretended by a certaine Epistle se◠before the Latin translation of his matters of state vvhich to say the truth seemeth in my iudgement to be somevvhat suspicious bicause I find it not among his vvorkes in Greeke besides that is speaketh as though the booke vvere dedicated to Traian vvhich thinge is manifestly disproued by the beginning of the booke and by diuers other reasons Yet not vvithstanding bicause me thinkes it sagely grauely vvritten and vvell be seeming him I haue set it dovvne here in this place Plutarke vnto Traeian sendeth greeting I knovv vvell that
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
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
to be but hauing supped soberly at his ordinarie came home secretly to the house where the bride was and there vntied his wiues girdell tooke her in his armes layed her vpon a bed and talked together a while and afterwards fayer softely stole awaye to the place where he was wonte to sleepe with other young men And so from thenceforth he continued allwayes to doe the like being all the daye time and sleeping most of the night with his companions onles he sometime stale to see his wife being affrayed and ashamed euer to be seene by any of the house where she was And hereunto his younge wife did helpe for her parte to spye meanes and occasions howe they might mete together and not be seene This manner endured a great while and vntill somme of them had children before they boldely met together and sawe eache other on the daye time This secret meeting in this sorte did serue to good purposes not only bicause it was some meane of continencie and shamefastnes but also it kept their bodies in strength and better state to bring forth children It continued also in both parties a still burning loue and a newe desire of the one to the other not as it were luke warme nor wearie as theirs commonly be which haue their bellies full of loue and as muche as they lust but they euer parted with an appetite one from another keeping still a longing desire to deuise howe to mete againe Nowe when he had stablished suche a continencie and so kynde a framed honestie in mariage he tooke no lesse care to driue awaye all foolishe iealousie therein thinking it very good reason to beware there should be no violence nor confusion in mariage and yet as reason would they should suffer those which were worthie to get children as it were in common laughing at the mad follie of them which reuenge such things with warre and bloudshed as though in that case men in no wise should haue no fellowshippe together Therefore a man was not to be blamed being stepped in yeres and hauing a young wife if seeing a fayer young man that liked him and knowen with all to be of a gentle nature he brought him home to get his wife with childe and afterwardes would auowe it for his as if him selfe had gotten it It was lawfull also for an honest man that loued another mans wife for that he sawe her wise shamefast and bringing forth goodly children to intreate her husband to suffer him to lye with her and that he might also plowe in that lustie grounde and cast abroade the seede of well fauored children which by this meanes came to be common in bloude and parentage with the most honorable and honestest persones For first of all Lycurgus did not like that children should be priuate to any men but that they should be common to the common weale by which reason he would also that such as should become cittizens should not be begotten of euery man but of the most honestest men only So Lycurgus thought also there were many foolishe vaine toyes and fansies in the lawes and orders of other nations touching mariage seeing they caused their bitches and mares to be limed and couered with the fayrest dogges and goodliest stalons that might be gotten praying or paying the masters and owners of the same and kept their wiues notwithstanding shut vp safe vnder locke and key for feare least other then them selues might get them with childe although they were sickely feeble brayned and extreme olde As if it were not first of all and chiesly a discommoditie to the fathers and mothers and likewise to those that bring them vp to haue vnperfect and feeble children borne as it were begotten of drie and withered men and then to the contrarie what pleasure and benefit is it to those that haue fayer and good children borne as gotten of like seede and men These things were done then by naturall and ciuill reason neuertheles they saye women were so farre of then from intreatie as euer they were before so as in olde time in SPARTA men knew not what adulterie ment For proofe whereof the aunswer made by Geradas one of the first auncient SPARTANS vnto a straunger maye be alledged that asked him what punishement they had for adulterers My friend q he there be none here But if there were replied the straunger againe Marye sayed he then he must paye as great a bull as standing vpon the toppe of the mountaine Taygetus maye drincke in the riuer of Eurotas Yea marye but howe is it possible q the straunger to finde such a bull Geradas laughing aunswered him againe And howe were it possible also to finde an adulteretin SPARTA And this is that which is found of Lycurgus lawes touching mariages Furthermore after the birthe of euery boye the father was no more master of him to cocker and bring him vp after his will but he him selfe caried him to a certaine place called Lesché where the eldest men of his kinred being set did viewe the childe And if they founde him fayer and well proportioned of all his limmes and stronge they gaue order he should be brought vp and appointed him one of the nine thousand partes of inheritaunce for his education Contrariwise if they founde him deformed misshapen or leane or pale they sent him to be throwen in a deepe pyt of water which they commonly called Apothetes and as a man would saye the common house of office holding opinion it was neither good for the childe nor yet for the common weale that it should liue considering from his birthe he was not well made nor geuen to be stronge healthfull nor lustie of bodie all his life longe For this cause therefore the nurce after their birthe did not washe them with water simply as they doe euery where at that time but with water mingled with wine and thereby did they prooue whether the complexion or temperature of their bodies were good or ill For they suppose that children which are geuen to haue the falling sicknes or otherwise to be full of rewmes sicknesses cannot abide washing with wine but rather drye and pyne awaye as contrarilie the other which are healthfull become thereby the stronger and the lustier The nurces also of SPARTA vse a certaine manner to bring vp their children without swadling or binding them vp in clothes with swadling bandes or hauing on their heades any crosse clothes so as they made them nimbler of their limmes better shaped and goodlier of bodie Besides that they acquainted their children to all kinde of meates and brought them vp without muche tendaunce so as they were neither fine nor licorous nor fearefull to be lefte alone in the darcke neither were they criers wrallers or vnhappy children which be all tokens of base and cowardly natures So that there were straungers that of purpose bought nources out of LACONIA to bring vp their children as they
saye Amycla was one of them which nourced Alcibiades But Pericles his tutor gaue him afterwardes a bonde man called Zopyrus to be his master and gouernour who had no better propertie in him then other common slaues This did not Lycurgus For he did not put the education and gouernment of the children of SPARTA into the handes of hyered masters or slaues bought with money neither was it lawfull for the father him selfe to bring vp his owne childe after his owne manner and liking For so soone as they came to seuen yeres of age he tooke and diuided them by companies to make them to be brought vp together and to accustome them to playe to learne and to studie one with another Then he chose out of euery company one whom he thought to haue the best wit and had most courage in him to fight to whom he gaue the charge and ouersight of his owne companie The reste had their eyes waiting allwayes on him they did obey his commaundementes willingly they did abide paciently all corrections he gaue them they did suche taskes and worckes as he appointed them so that all their studie was most to learne to obey Furthermore the olde graye headed men were present many times to see them playe and for the most parte they gaue them occasions to fall out and to fight one with another that they might thereby the better knowe and discerne the naturall disposition of euery one of them and whether they gaue any signes or tokens in time to come to become cowardes or valliant men Touching learning they had as muche as serued their turne for the reste of their time they spent in learning howe to obey to awaye with payne to indure labour to ouercome still in fight According to their groweth and yeres they dyd chaunge the exercises of their bodyes they dyd shaue their heads they went barelegged they were constrained to playe naked together the most parte of their time After they were past twelue yeres of age they ware no lenger coates and they gaue them yerely but one seely gowne This was the cause they were alwayes so nasty sluttishe they neuer vsed to bathe or noynte themselues sauing only at certaine dayes in the yere when they were suffered to rast of this refreshing They laye and slept together vpon beddes of straw which they themselues dyd make of the toppes of reedes or canes that grewe in the riuer of Eurotas which they were forced to goe gather and breake them selues with their handes without any toole or iron at all In the winter they dyd mingle thistle downe with these which is called Lycophonas bicause that stuffe seemeth somewhat warme of it selfe About this time the fauorers and likers of this prety youthe which were commonly the lustiest and best disposed youthes of the cittie beganne to be ofter in their companie and then the olde men tooke the better regarde vnto them and frequented more commonly the places of their daylie exercises where their vse was to fight together helping them when they played how one should mocke another This dyd their olde men notby waye of pastime only but with suche care and harcy loue towards them as if they had bene altogether their fathers masters gouernours while they were boyes in so much as there was neuer time nor place where they had not allwayes some to admonishe reproue or correct them if they dyd a faulte Notwithstanding all this there was euer one of the honestest men of the cittie who had expressely the charge and gouernaunce of these boyes He dyd diuide them in companies and afterwards gaue the ouersight of them to suche a one of the boyes as was discreetest the manliest the most hardie and of the best corage amongest them They called the children that were past infancie two yeres Irenes and the greatest boyes Melirenes as who would saye ready to goe out of boyerie This boye who was made ouerseer of them was commonly twenty yeres of age He was their captaine when they fought and did commaunde them as his seruaunts when they were in the house and willed them which were strongest and the most growen to carie wodde when they should prepare dinner or supper and those which were least and weakest to goe gather erbes which they must steale or lacke them So they went out to steale some in gardens some at the markets other in the halles where the feastes were kept and men did eate together into the which they conueyed them selues as closely and cunningly as they could deuise for if they were taken with the manner they were scourged terriblie bicause they were so grosse and necligent and not fine and cunning in their facultie They stole also all other kinde of meate whatsoeuer they could get or laye hands on They pried and sought all occasions howe to take and steale meate handsomely bothe when men were a sleepe or els that they were careles or did not geue good hede vnto them But he that was taken with the manner had his payment roundely and was punished with fasting besides for they had but a slender pittaunce bicause necessity should driue them to venter boldely and wit should finde out all the deuises to steale finely This was the chiefest cause why they gaue them so small a diet The seconde cause was that their bodies might growe vp higher in height For the vitall spirites not being occupied to concoct and disgest much meate nor yet kept downe or spread abroade by the quantitie or ouerburden thereof doe enlarge them selues into lengthe and shoote vp for their lightnes and for this reason they thought the bodie did growe in height and lengthe hauing nothing to let or hinder the rising of the same It seemeth that the same selfe cause made them fayerer also For the bodies that are leane and slender doe better and more easely yeld to nature which bringeth a better proportion and forme to euery member and contrariwise it seemeth these grosse corpulent and ouersedde bodies doe encounter nature and be not so nimble and pliant to her by reason of their heauy substaunce As we see it by experience the children which women bring a litle before their time and be somwhat cast before they should haue bene borne be smaller and fayerer also and more pure commonly then other that goe their time bicause the matter whereof the bodie is formed being more supple and pliant is the easelier welded by nature which geueth them their shape and forme Touching the naturall cause of this effect let vs geue place to other to dispute it that will without our further deciding of the same But to returne to the matter of the LACEDAEMONIANS children They dyd robbe with so great care and feare to be discouered that they tell of one which hauing stolen a litle foxe dyd hyde him vnder his cloke and suffered him with his teethe and clawes to teare out all his bellie and neuer cryed for feare
the election of the number of the three hundred Who departing home to his house mery and iocond as might be sayed It did him good to see there were three hundred founde better in the cittie than him selfe Pisistratidas also being sent ambassadour with certen other to the lieutenants of the king of PERSIA the PERSIAN lordes asked him if they came of their owne desire or whether they were sent from the whole state if we obtaine sayed he it is from the state if we be denied then we come of our selues And Argileonida the mother of Brasidas asked some that went to visite her after they were returned home to LACEDAEMON from their iorney to AMPHIPOLIS if her sonne died like a man and a worthy SPARTAN And they straight did commend him highely saying there was not left in all LACEDAEMON suche a valliant man She replied vnto them Saye not so my friends I praye you for Brasidas was in dede a valliant man but the country of LACONIA hath many moe yet vallianter than he was Now touching their Senate Lycurgus was the first that erected it among them The first that were thereof were Lycurgus chief ayders assisters of that erection as we haue declared before but afterwards he ordeined that when any of those first should happen to dye they should choose in his place the most honest reported man in the cittie so he were three score yere olde and aboue This was the noblest glorie that could be among men when a man bare the bell and prise not that he was swiftest among the swift nor strongest amongest the strong but that he among the honest was honestest He had the reward of his vertue as for libertie to speake soueraine authoritie to gouerne and princely power ouer the common weale the honour the life and the goodes of the whole cittizens howbeit the election was made after this sorte The people first assembled in the marketplace where there were some appointed and shut vp thereabout in a house from whēce they could neither see nor be seene of those that were assembled but onely they might heare the noyse which they made there For the people by their crye and showte did declare whom they did choose and whom they did refuse of the competitours as they vsed to shewe their liking by the like crye in other things The competitours were not brought in and presented all together but one after another in order as by lot did fall out He on whom the lot fell passed through the middest of the assemblie of the people and sayed neuer a worde The people straight that liked made a crye or showte alowde The men appointed which were locked vp had bookes or tables in which they wrote and noted the greatnes of the crye and showte the people made as euery competitour passed by not knowing nor seing who he was These hidden men did onely set downe in their bookes the first the second the thirde and so many more as by showtes and cryes they perceyued dyd passe thus through the assemblie They noted also in their said bookes which of these had the greatest crye and showte of people at their passing thorough and him they came and declared to be Senatour chosen Then he wearing a garland of flowers on his head went to all the temples of the goddes in the cittie to geue thankes hauing a great traine of young men following and praysing of his vertues There went also with him a maruelous company of women singing songes of his prayse and howe blessed he was that he had liued so vertuously Then euery one of his kinne prepared a bancket for him at home at their houses and as he entred the house they sayed vnto him The cittie honoreth thee vvith this bancket That done he repayred afterwards to the ordinarie place of their eating where he dyd in all things as he was accustomed sauing he was serued nowe at his table with a double allowance whereof he reserued the one After supper all his kinsewomen stoode in the entrie of the hall where they had eaten so he called her whom he loued best and gaue her his allowaunce he had saued and sayed to her This was geuen me in token I was this daye rewarded for my vertue and euen so I geue it thee for a like token of rewarde for thy vertue Then was she brought home by all the women there to her house euen in like sorte as he was by the men Touching burialles Lycurgus made a wise order For first of all to cut of all superstition of burying places he commaunded they should burie their dead within the cittie that their graues should be round about their temples that young persones might haue them allwayes in their eyes not be affrayed to see a deadbodye as if to touche a corse or to passe by their graues it should defile a man Then did he forbid them to burie any thing with the corse and willed they should only lappe it vp in a redde clothe with oliue leaues It was not lawfull to graue the name of any dead bodye vpon his graue but only of suche a man as died in the warres or of some holy woman professed into their temples Furthermore the time appointed to mourne in was very shorte For it lasted not but a eleuen dayes and on the twelft daye they must doe sacrifice to Proserpina and so leaue of their mourning To conclude he left nothing idle or vnworking in his citizens for to all necessarie things which men can not lacke Lycurgus ioyned euer a certaine emulation of men As to desire vertue and to contemne vice and furnished his cittie with many good preceptes and examples emong which his cittizens being still borne and bred vp and hauing the same in euery place before their eyes where they went they came to passe in time to be framed after the very patterne and moulde of vertue it selfe For this cause he did not suffer any to trauell out of the countrie or to goe abroad as he would without speciall licence for feare least those which trauelled abroad for their pleasure should bring home straunge facions and manners and a corrupt disordered life which by litle and litle might get waye and bring an alteration and chaunge of the whole state Furthermore he kept out of SPARTA all straungers except those which had necessarie busines there or were come thither for some profit to the countrie not that he was affrayed they should learne some thing whereby to loue vertue or that they should desire to followe his facion and manner of gouernment as Thucydides was but rather fearing they should teache his citizens some naughty manners or some ill fauored vice For it must needes be that straungers bring euerstraunge and newe deuises with them which newe deuises bring with them also newe opinions and newe opinions beget newe affections and mindes that many times are repugnant to the lawe and to the forme of the
not say therefore that in time of this association they were lesse to be reckoned of in any thing than them selues Further they added that in ioyning with them the ROMAINES had doubly increased their might and power and had made a bodie of a people which deserued the honour and title of a cittie These were the causes of their contention But to preuent that of this contention there might growe to confusion in the cittie if it should remaine without an head to commaund the Senatours which were a hundred and fiftieth number gaue counsell that euery one of them by turnes one after another should carie the royall state of the King and all the showes and ornaments of his maiestie and should doe the ordinarie sacrifices of the King and dispatche all causes sixe howers in the daye and sixe howers in the night as the King before had vsed Thus they thought it best to deuide the rule that one might haue asmuch power as the other aswell in respect of them selues as also for regarde of the people For they imagined that the chaunging and remouing thus of this regall dignitie and passing it from man to man would clene take awaye enuie among them and make euery of them to rule temperately and vprightly see that in one and that selfe same daye and night euery of them should be a King and priuate persone also The ROMAINES call this manner of regiment in vacation Interregnum as you would saye rule for the time Nowe albeit their gouernment was very modest and ciuill yet they could not for all that keepe them selues from falling into the suspition and slaunder of the people who gaue it out straight that this was a fine deuise of theirs to chaunge by this meanes the rule of the Realme into a fewe noble mens handes to the ende that the whole authoritie and gouernment of all publicke causes should remaine still in them selues bicause it grieued them to be subiect to a king And in the ende the two partes of the cittie came to this agreement that the one parte should choose one of the bodie of the other to be the king This course they liked very well aswell for the pacification of present sturre and dissention amongest them selues as for procuring equalitie of affection and sturring vp a likenes of goodwill in the King that thus indifferently should be chosen whereby he should loue the one parte for that they had chosen him and likewise the other parte for that he was of their nation The SABYNES were the first which referred the election to the ROMAINES choyse and the ROMAINES thought it better to chuse one of the nation of the SABYNES then to haue a ROMAINE chosen by the SABYNES After they had consulted they determined amongest them selues and did choose Numa Pompilius one of the bodye of the SABYNES to be King who was none of the number of them which came to dwell at ROME howbeit he was a man so famous for his vertue that the SABYNES so soone as they named him did receyue him more willingly then they who had chosen him After they had thus published their election the first and chiefest persones of the one the otherside were chosen out to goe vnto him Now Numa Pompilius was borne in one of the chiefest and best citties which the SABYNES had called Cures whereupon the ROMAINES and their fellowes the SABYNES were called afterwardes Quirites and he was the sonne of Pomponius a noble man the youngest of foure brethern being by the secret worcking of the goddes borne on the very daye on the which ROME was first founded by Romulus which was the one and twenty daye of Aprill This man being naturally geuen and inclined vnto all vertue did yet increase the same by studie and all kynde of good discipline and by the exercise thereof and of true pacience and right philosophie he did maruelously adorne him selfe and his manners For he did not only clere his soule and minde of all passions and vices commonly vsed in the worlde but he conquered in him selfe all heates violence couetousnes And would neither seeke nor vsurpe that which was an other mans a thing at that time honoured among the most barbarous people but thought that to be the true and right victorie in man first to conquer and commaund him selfe by iudgement reason then to subdue all couetousnes greedines Hauing therfore this opinion he would in no wise haue in his house any superfluity or finenes He became to euery man that would employe him aswell straunger as his owne countrie man a wise coūsaillour an vpright iudge He bestowed his leysure not to followe his owne delight or to gather goods together but to serue the goddes to behold their celestiall nature and power as much as mans reason vnderstāding could cōprehend Thereby he got so great a name reputation that Tatius which was king of ROME with Romulus hauing but one onely daughter called Tatia made him his sonne in law Howbeit this mariage put him in no such iolity that he would dwel at ROME with his father in lawe but rather kept at home at his own house in the countrie of the SABYNES there to serue cherishe his olde father with his wife Tatia who for her parte also liked better to liue quietly with her husbād being a priuate mā then to goe to ROME where she might haue liued in much honour and glorie by meanes of the King her father She died as it is reported 13. yeres after she was maried After her deathe Numa leauing to dwell in the cittie was better contēted to liue in the country alone solitarie gaue himself to walke much in the fields woddes consecrated to the godds as one desirous to leade alone life farre from the cōpanie of men Whereupon was raised in my opiniō that which is spoken of him of the goddesse Egeria That it was not for any straungenes or melancholines of nature that Numa withdrew him self from the cōuersation cōpany of men but bicause he had found another more honorable holy society of the Nymphe goddesse Egeria who had done him as they saye that honour as to make him her husbād with whō as his beloued darling it is sayed he enjoyed happy dayes by dayly frequenting of her company he was inspired with the loue knowledge of all celestiall things Surely these deuises are much like vnto certain old fables of the Phrygiās which they hauing learned from the father to the sonne doe loue to tell of one Atis of the Bithynians of one Herodotus of the ARCADIANS of one Endymion and of many other such like men who in their liues were taken for sayntes and beloued of the goddes Notwithstanding it is likely that the goddes loue neither birdes nor horse but men and haue sometimes a liking to be familliar with perfect good men and doe not disdaine
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
are spoken of this Furius Camillus this seemeth most straunge and wonderfull aboue the rest That he hauing borne the chiefest offices of charge in his countrie and hauing done many notable and worthy deedes in the same as one that was chosen fiue times Dictator and had triumphed foure times and had wonne him selfe the name title of the seconde founder of ROME and yet neuer came to be Consul But the only cause thereof was that the common weale of ROME stoode then in such state and sorte The people were then at dissention with the Senate They would chuse no more Consuls but other kynde of gouernours whom they called Tribuni militares these dyd all things with like power authoritie as the Consuls yet were they nothing so odious vnto the people by reason of the number that was of them For it was some hope to them that could ill beare the rule of the small number of nobilitie that the gouernment of the state being put into sixe and not into two officers hands their rule would be the easier and tollerabler Nowe Camillus being at that time in his best credit and authoritie and in the prime and glorie of his doings dyd not desire to be made Consul without the good-will of the people although whilest he was in authoritie there were many times Consuls created But to all other offices and dignities he was called and chosen He behaued him selfe in such sorte that when he was alone he made his authoritie comon to other and when he had companions associates the glorie of all redounded to him self alone The cause whereof was his modestie on the one side for he commaunded euer without enuie and his great wisedome and sufficiencie on the other side for the which all others willingly gaue him place and yelded to him The house of the Furians being at that time of no great fame he was the first that beganne to set him self forwards For in a great battell which was fought against the AEques and Volsces he being but a priuate man at armes vnder the Dictator Posthumius Tubertus was the first that riding out of the army aduaunced him selfe and gaue the charge And being ronne into the thighe at that time with a staffe broken vpon his thighe he plucked the trunchen out and retired not for all that but geuing chardge againe vpon the stowest of the enemies he fought it out so valliantly to the encoraging of other that he was the chief cause they turned their backes Whereupon to requite his seruice done at that time besides other honours they dyd him they made him Censor an office at that time of great preheminence dignitie In his office of Censorshippe he dyd two notable acts The one very honest when he brought men that were not maried to marie the women whom the warres had left widows which were in nūber many To this he got them partly be persuasion partly by threatnings to set roūd fines vpō their heads that refused The other very necessary in that he brought the orphanes to be cōtributories vnto taxes subsidies which before payed nothing The cause thereof was the continuall warres about the which the common weale susteined great charges but specially about the siege of the citie of the VEIANS which some call VENETANIANS that was a very sore burden to thē at that time For it was the capitall cittie of all THVSCAN the which for store of armour nūber of souldiers was nothing inferiour vnto the cittie of ROME For the VEIANS being growē to stomake corage in time by reason of their wealth prosperitie for the sundry great battells they had fought against the ROMAINES that contēded with them for glory and empire now it fell so out that they finding them selues weakened by many great ouerthrowes which they had receyued of the ROMAINES they did let fall their former peacokes brauery ambition to byd them battell any more in the fielde Howbeit the inhabitants of the cittie of VEIES hauing raised the walles made very great high rāpers beganne to fortifie them selues made good prouision for armour munition besides store of corne shotte other necessary things they valliantly without feare of any thing defended the siege of the ROMAINES that cōtinued long time was no lesse hard painefull vnto thē that did besiege then it was vnto those that were besieged For where the ROMAINES were wōt before time to keepe their houses in the winter season and the field ony in the sommer time that was the first time they were compelled by the captaines and Tribuni militares to buylde fortes and to intrenche their campe with a wall euen in their enemies countrie and to winter abroade as they were wont to lye in the campe in sommer Nowe this siege had continued seuen whole yeres together The captaines were burdened that they dyd not their dueties nor stoode manfully to their charge whereupon in the end they were discharged and other captaines placed in their roomes to followe the siege Among those Camillus was one whom then the seconde time they created Tribunus militaris Who notwithstanding dyd nothing then in that siege bicause it was his happe by lot to make warres vpon the PHALERIANS and the CAPENATES These people whilest the ROMAINES were occupied other where had inuaded their countrie and done them great harme during the time of their warre with the THVSCANS But Camillus hauing ouerthrowen a great number of them in the fielde had the rest in chase and draue them to take their cittie and dyd shut them vp within their owne walles The chaunce that happened at the lake of ALBANVS about the time the THVSCAN warres were greatest dyd maruelously amate the ROMAINES being no lesse wounderfull then the most straunge and vncrediblest thing that could be tolde by man For they could not finde out the cause of it by common reason nor any naturall grounde considering it was in the later end of Autumne and sommer was ended and that there had not bene much rayne nor notable sowthewinds And although there are many lakes many brooks riuers many springs and other waters in ITALIE yet some of them dried vp altogether other ranne but faintely by reason of the drought and all the riuers then were as they are wont to be commonly in sommer very lowe and there was scante any water But the lake ALBANVS contrariwise that cometh from no other place neither runneth any whether out of him selfe being enuironned all about with hilles and mountaines and where the earthe is good beganne to swell and rise to euery mans sight wihtout any cause at all but secret and hidden vnto the goddes alone and went allwayes increasing alongest those hilles sides vntill suche time as it came to be euen with the height of the highest mountaine gathering vpwardes still without any waues or tempest of weather at all This at the first made poore
mens good and ill worckes you knowe right well that we haue not willingly without wrong and cause offered vs begonne this warre but iustly and by compulsion to be reuenged of a cittie our enemie which hath done vs great iniuries But if to conteruayle this our great good prosperitie and victorie some bitter aduersitie and ouerthrowe be predestined vnto vs I beseeche you then most mercifull goddes in sparing our cittie of ROME and this her army you will with as litle hurte as maybe be let it all fall and light vpon my persone alone And as he had spoken these wordes and was turning on his right hande according to the manner of the ROMAINES after they haue prayed vnto the goddes he fell downe flat before them all The standers by taking this fall for an ill token were somwhat troubled with the matter but after he got vp on his feete againe he tolde them that the thing he requested of the goddes was happened vnto him And that was a litle hurte in exchaunge of a great good fortune So the whole cittie being spoyled and rifled he was also desirous to carie Iunos image to ROME to accomplishe the vowe he had made And hauing sent for worckemen for this purpose he dyd sacrifice first vnto the goddesse beseching her to accept well of the ROMAINES good will that she would willingly vowchesafe to come and dwell with the other goddes who had the protection of the cittie of ROME Some saye that the image aunswered she was contented But Liuius writeth that Camillus made this prayer as he touched the image and that the assistants aunswered she was contented and would goe with a goodwill Yet they which doe affirme it was the image selfe that spake doe fauour this miracle grounding their proofe vpon the opinion of the fortune of ROME the which from so base and meane beginning had impossibly attained vnto so highe glorie and power as it had without the singular fauour of the goddes and that hath manifestly appeared vnto the world by sundry great proofes and examples They bring forth also such other like wonders As that images haue heretofore let fall droppes of swet from them that they haue bene heard to sighe that they haue turned and that they haue made certen signes with their eyes as we finde written in many auncient stories And we could our selues also tell such like wonders which we haue heard men of our time affirme which are not vncredible nor lightly to be condemned But for such matters it is as daungerous to geue to much credit to them as also to discredit them to much by reason of the weaknes of mans nature which hath no certen boundes nor can rule it self but ronneth somtimes after vanitie and superstition and otherwhile also dispiseth and contemneth holy and diuine matters and therefore the meane is the vertue not to goe to farre in this as in all other things besides it is the best Nowe Camillus whether his late enterprise performed in winning a cittie that stoode out with ROME helde siege with them tenne yeres together had put him into an ouerwening or conceipt of him selfe or that the wordes of the people which dyd blesse and prayse him had made him looke highe and presume vpon him selfe more then became the modestie of a ciuill magistrate and gouernour of the common weale one that was subiect to the lawe he shewed a stately triumphe set forth with all riche furniture specially for that him self was caried through ROME vpon his triumphant charret drawen with foure fayer white coursers This neuer captaine nor generall before him durst vndertake to doe neither any euer after him attēpted it for they thinke it is a sacred cariage and only mete for the King and father of the goddes This bred him much enuy amongest the citizēs which had not bene acquainted with so great statelynes There was another occasion also that made them mislike him much which was bicause he stood against the lawe put forth that they should deuide the cittie of ROME For the Tribunes of the people dyd set out an Edict that the Senate people of ROME should be deuided into two partes and that those on whom the lotte should fall should abide still in ROME and the other should goe dwell in the newe wonne cittie of VEIES These were the reasons to persuade this that both the one and the other sorte should be richer then they were before should more easely keepe their lands and goodes from the inuasion of their enemies by meanes of these two great citties The people which were multiplied nowe into great numbers had serued duetifully daūgerously thought it the best waye in the worlde Therefore they still cried out and thronged with great tumulte about their pulpit for orations praying that this lawe might be put vnto the voyces of the people But the whole Senate and wisest citizens among them iudging this motion of the Tribunes would be the destruction and not the diuision of the cittie of ROME could in no wise abide it should goe any further Whereupon they went prayed Camillus helpe who fearing to bring it to the pointe whether the lawe should passe or no dyd allwayes seeke new occasions and letts still to delaye put of the matter staye the confirmation of this lawe For these causes he was hated of the common people But the originall apparant cause of the peoples ill will towards him was for taking from them the tenth parte of their spoyles and it was not altogether without some reason and to saye truely the people dyd him much wrong to beare him such malice for that For before he went to the cittie of VEIES he made a solēne vowe to offer the tenth parte vnto the goddes of the spoyles of the cittie if he wāne the same But when it was taken and sacked whether it was that he was lotheto trouble the cittizens or hauing a worlde of busines in his head that he easely forgate his vowe he suffered the souldiers to deuide the spoyle amongest them to take the benefit to them selues Shortely after he was discharged of his charge he dyd enforme the Senate of his vowe Furthermore the soothesayers made reporte at that very time howe they know by certaine signes and tokens of their sacrifices that the goddes were offended for somwhat and howe they must of necessitie be pacified againe Whereupon the Senate presently made an order where it was vnpossible euery man should bring in againe the selfe same things he had gotten to make a new diuision of euery mans share that euery one therefore vpon his othe should present the tenthe parte of his gaynes he had gotten by that bootie There was great trouble about it They were driuen to vse great extremitie to the poore souldiers which had traueled sore and taken great paynes in the warres to make them to restore backe such a coloppe out of their gaine and
which they were neuer wont to doe but in great and common calamities But the Senate fearing least some cōmotion would ryse hereupon they dyd set him at libertie againe He being thus out of prison was no whit the better nor wiser thereby but dyd still stirre vp the commons more boldely and seditiously then before Then was Camillus chosen againe Tribunus militaris and Manlius was accused in his time of office But when this matter came to pleading the sight of the Capitoll troubled his accusers much For the very place it selfe where Manlius had repulsed the GAVLES by night and defended the Capitoll was easely seene from the market place where the matter was a hearing and he him selfe pointing with his hande shewed the place vnto the goddes and weeping tenderly he layed before them the remembraunce of the hazarde of his life in fighting for their safety This dyd moue the iudges hartes to pittie so as they knew not what to doe but many times they dyd put ouer the hearing of his case vnto another daye and neither would they geue iudgement knowing he was conuicted by manifest proofes neither could they vse the seueritie of the lawe vpon him bicause the place of his so notable good seruice was euer still before their eyes Wherefore Camillus finding the cause of delaye of iustice dyd make the place of iudgement to be remoued without the cittie into a place called the wodde Petelian from whence they could not see the Capitoll And there the accusers gaue apparent euidence against him and the iudges considering all his wicked practises conceaued a iust cause to punishe him as he had deserued So they gaue sentence of death against him that he should be caried to the mount Capitoll and there to be throwen downe hedlonge the rockes thereof Thus one and the selfe place was a memory of his notable good seruice and also a memoriall of his miserable and vnfortunate end Besides all this they rased his house and built in the same place a temple to the goddesse they call Moneta◠and made a lawe also that no Patrician from thenceforth should dwell any more in the mount Capitoll Camillus after this being called againe to take the office of Tribunus militaris the sixt time he sought to excuse him selfe as well for that he sawe he was well stepte in yeres as also for that he feared fortunes spight or some mishappe after he had obteined such glorie for his noble actes and seruice Howbeit the most apparent cause of his excuse was his sickenes which troubled him much at that time But the people would allowe no excuse by any meanes but cried out they dyd not desire he should fight a foote nor a horse backe but that he should only geue counsaill and commaunde and therefore they compelled him to take the charge and to leade the armie with one of his companions named Lucius Furius against their enemies the PRAENESTINES and the VOLSCES who ioyning together dyd inuade the confines of the ROMAINES friendes So he led his army out immediately to the field and camped as neere the enemy as he could being minded for his parte to drawe the warres out in length that he might fight afterwards if neede required when he had recouered strength But Furius contrarilie coueting glorie was whottely bent to hazarde the battell whatsoeuer perill came of it and to this ende he sturred vp and incoraged the captaines of euerie priuate bande Wherefore Camillus fearing least they should thinke for ill will he bare the young men that he went about to hinder and take awaye the meanes to winne their honour and to doe some noble acte suffered Furius against his will to put his men in order of battell and he in the meane season by reason of his sicknes remained with a fewe about him in the campe So went Lucius vpon a head to present battell to the enemie so was he as headilie also ouerthrowen But Camillus hearing the ROMAINES were ouerthrowen sicke as he was vpon his bedde got vp and taking his householde seruantes with him he went in haste to the gates of the campe and passed through those that fled vntill he came to mete with the enemies that had them in chase The ROMAINES seeing this that were already entred into the campe they followed him at the heeles forthwith and those that fled also without when they sawe him they gathered together and put them selues againe in arraye before him and persuaded one another not to forsake their captaine So their enemies hereupon stayed their chasing and would pursue no further that daye But the next morning Camillus leading his armie into the fielde gaue them battell and wanne the field of them by plaine force and following the victorie harde he entred amongest them that fled into their campe pelmel or hand ouerheade and slue the most parte of them euen there After this victorie he was aduertised howe the THVSCANS had taken the cittie of SVTRIVM and had to the sworde all the inhabitants of the same which were the ROMAINES cittizens Whereupon he sent to ROME the greatest parte of his army and keeping with him the lightest and lustiestmen went and gaue assaulte vnto the THVSCANS that nowe were harbored in the cittie of SVTRIVM Which when he had wonne againe he slue parte of them and the other saued them selues by flight After this he returned to ROME with an exceeding spoyle confirming by experience the wisedome of the ROMAINES who dyd not feare the age nor sicknes of a good captaine that was experte and valliant but had chosen him against his will though he was both olde and sicke and preferred him farre before the younger and lustier that made sute to haue the charge Newes being brought vnto the Senate that the THVSCVLANIANS were reuolted they sent Camillus thither againe willing him of fiue other companions to take out one he liked best euery of the which desired to be chosen and made their sute vnto him for the same But he refusing all other dyd chose againe Lucius Furius beyounde all expectation of men seeing not long before he needes would against his will hazarde battell in which he was ouerthrowen Howbeit Camillus hauing a desire as I thincke to hyde his faulte and shame he had receaued dyd of curtesie preferre him before all other Nowe the THVSCVLANIANS hearing of Camillus coming against them subtilly sought to culler the faulte they had already committed Wherefore they put out a great number of people into the fields some to plowe other to keepe the beastes as if they had bene in best peace and dyd set the gates of the cittie wide open sent their children openly to schoole their artificers wrought their occupation in their shoppes the men of hauiour honest cittizens walked in the market place in their long gownes the officers and gouernours of the cittie went vp and downe to euery house commaunding them to prepare lodgings for the ROMAINES
prognosticator dyd rightly mere together in trothe the one directly telling the cause and the other the ende of the euent as it fell out For the profession of the one is to knowe howe it commeth and of the other wherefore it commeth and to foretell what it betokeneth For where some saye that to shewe the cause is to take awaye the signification of the signe they do not consider that in seeking to abolishe by this reason the wonderfull tokens and signes in the ayer they doe take awaye those also which are done by arte As the noyse of basons the lightes of fyre by the sea side and the shadowes of nedles or pointes of dyalles in the sunne all which things are done by some cause and handyworke to be a signe and token of something But this argument peraduenture maye serue better in another booke And nowe againe to Pericles Whilest he was yet but a young man the people stoode in awe of him bicause he somwhat resembled Pisistratus in his countenaunce and the auncientest men of the cittie also were muche afeard of his softe voyce his eloquent tongue and ready vtteraunce bicause in those he was Pisistratus vp and downe Moreouer he was very riche and wealthy and of one of the noblest families of the cittie and those were his friendes also that caried the only swaye and authoritie in the state whereupon fearing least they would banishe him with the banishment of Ostracismon he would not medle with gouernment in any case although otherwise he shewed him selfe in warres very valliant and forward and feared not to venter his persone But after that Aristides was dead that Themistocles was driuen awaye and that Cimon being euer in seruice in the warres as generall in forreine countries was a long time out of GRECE then he came to leane to the tribe of the poore people preferring the multitude of the poore communaltie aboue the small number of Nobilitie and riche men the which was directly against his nature For of him selfe he was not popular nor meanely geuen but he dyd it as it should seeme to auoyde suspition that he should pretend to make him selfe king And bicause he sawe Cimon was inclined also to take parte with the Nobilitie and that he was singularly beloued and liked of all the honester sorte he to the contrarie enclined to the common people purchasing by this meanes safety to him selfe and authoritie against Cimon So he presently beganne a newe course of life since he had taken vpon him to deale in matters of state for they neuer sawe him afterwardes at any time goe into the cittie but to the market place or to the Senate house He gaue vp going to all feastes where he was bidden and left the entertainment of his friendes their company and familiaritie So that in all his time wherein he gouerned the common weale which was a long time he neuer went out to supper to any of his friendes vnles it were that he was once at a feast at his nephew Euryptolemus mariage and then he taried there no longer but while the ceremonie was a doing when they offer wine to the goddes and so he rose from the table For these friendly meetings at suche feastes doe much abase any counterfeate maiestie or set countenaunce and he shall haue much a doe to keepe grauity and reputation shewing familiaritie to euery knowen friende in such open places For in perfect vertue those things truly are euer most excellent which be most common and in good and vertuous men there is nothing more admirable vnto straungers then their dayely conuersation is to their friendes Pericles nowe to preuent that the people should not be glutted with seeing him to ofte nor that they should come much to him they dyd see him but at some times and then he would not talke in euery matter neither came muche abroade among them but reserued him selfe as Critolaus sayed they kept the SALAMINIAN galley at ATHENS for matters of great importaunce And in the meane season in other matters of small moment he delt by meanes of certaine orators his familliar friendes amongest whom Ephialtes as they saye was one he who tooke awaye the authoritie and power from the courte of Areopagus and dyd geue to muche libertie to the people as Plato sayed Vpon which occasion as the Comicall poets saye he became so stowte and head strong that they could no more holde him backe then a younge vnbrideled colte and tooke such a corage vpon him that he would obaye no more but inuaded the I le of EVBOEA and set vpon the other Ilandes Pericles also bicause he would facion a phrase of speache with a kynde of style altogether agreable to the manner of life and grauitie he had taken vpon him he gaue him selfe to all matters which he had learned of Anaxagoras shadowing his reasons of naturall philosophie with artificiall rethoricke For hauing obteined a deepe vnderstanding by studying of philosophie and a ready waye effectually to ende any matter he vndertoke to proue besides that nature had endued him with an excellent witte and capacitie as the diuine Plato doth write to bring any thing to serue his purpose he dyd so artificially compasse it with eloquence that he farre passed all the orators in his time And for this cause was he as they saye surnamed Olympius as muche to saye as heauenly or diuine But some are of opinion he had that surname by reason of the common buildings and stately workes he raysed vp in the cittie of ATHENS that dyd muche set forth the same Other thinke it was geuen him for his great authoritie and power he had in gouernment aswell in warres as in peace But it is no maruaill that this glorie was geuen him considering the many other qualities and vertues that were in him Howbeit the comedies the Poetes caused to be played in those times in which there were many wordes spoken of him some in earnest some in sporte and ieast doe witnesse that he had that surname geuen him chiefly for his eloquence For it is reported that he thundered and lightened in his oration to the people that his tongue was a torrible lightning And touching this matter they tell of an aunswer Thucydides Milesius sonne should pleasauntly make concerning the force of Pericles eloquence Thucydides was a noble man and had long time contented against Pericles in matters of the common weale Archidamus king of LACEDAEMON asked Thucydides on a time whether he or Pericles wrestled best Thucydides made him aunswer When I haue geuen him an open fall before the face of the world he can so excellently deny it that he maketh the people beleeue he had no fall at all and persuadeth them the contrarie of that they sawe Notwithstanding he was euer very graue and wise in speaking For euer when he went vp into the pulpit for orations to speake to the people he made his prayers vnto the goddes that nothing
the calamities of his countrie only to accuse the ATHENIANS and to make them odious to the world Pericles hauing woÌ„ne the cittie of SAMOS he returned againe to ATHENS where he dyd honorably burie the bones of his slaine citizens in this warre and him self according to their manner custome made the funerall orations for the which he was maruelously esteemed In suche sorte that after he came downe from the pulpit where he made his oration the ladies gentlewomen of the cittie came to salute him brought him garlaÌ„ds to put vpon his head as they doe to noble coÌ„querers when they returne from games where they haue wonne the price But Elpinieé coming to him sayed Surely Pericles thy good seruice done deserueth garlands of triumphe for thou hast lost vs many a good and valliant citizen not fighting with the MEDES the PHOENICIANS and with the barbarous people as my brother Cimon dyd but for destroying a cittie of our owne nation and â—ynâ—ed Pericles to these wordes softely aunswered Elpinice with Archilocus verse smyling VVhen thou art olde painte not thy selfe But Ion writeth that he greatly gloried and stoode muche in his owne conceipt after he had subdued the SAMIANS saying Agamemnon was tenne yeres taking of a cittie of the barbarous people and he in nine moneths only had wonne the strongest cittie of the whole nation of IONIA In deede he had good cause to glorie in his victorie for truely if Thucydides reporte be true his conquest was no lesse doubtfull then he founde it daungerous For the SAMIANS had almost bene lordes of the sea and taken the seigniorie thereof from the ATHENIANS After this the warres of PELOPONNESVS being whotte againe the CORINTHIANS inuading thilanders of CORPHV Pericles dyd persuade the ATHENIANS to send ayde vnto the CORPHIANS and to ioyne in league with that Iland which was of great power by sea saying that the PELOPONNESIANS before it were long would haue warre with them The ATHENIANS consented to his motion to ayde those of CORPHV Whereupon they sent thither Lacedaemonius Cimons sonne with tenne gallyes only for a mockery for all Cimons familie and friendes were wholy at the LACEDAEMONIANS deuotion Therefore dyd Pericles cause Lacedaemonius to haue so fewe shippes deliuered him and further sent him thither against his will to the ende that if he dyd no notable exploite in this seruice that they might then the more iustly suspect his goodwill to the LACEDAEMONIANS Moreouer whilest he liued he dyd euer what he could to keepe Cimons children backe from rysing bicause that by their names they were no naturall borne ATHENIANS but straungers For the one was called Lacedaemonius the other Thessalus and the third Elius and the mother to all them three was an ARCADIAN woman borne But Pericles being blamed for that he sent but renne gallyes only which was but a sleÌ„der ayde for those that had requested them and a great matter to them that spake ill of him he sent thither afterwardes a great number of other gallyes which came when the battell was fought But the CORINTHIANS were maruelous angrie and went complained to the counsell of the LACEDAEMONIANS where they layed open many grieuous complaints and accusations against the ATHENIANS and so dyd the MEGARIANS also alledging that the ATHENIANS had forbidden them their hauens their staples and all trafficke of marchaundise in the territories vnder their obedience which was directly against the common lawes and articles of peace agreed vpon by othe among all the GRECIANS Moreouer the AEGINETES finding them selues very ill and cruelly handled dyd send secretly to make their moue complaintes to the LACEDAEMONIANS being afeard openly to complaine of the ATHENIANS While these things were a doing the cittie of POTIDAEA subiect at that time vnto the ATHENIANS and was built in olde time by the CORINTHIANS dyd rebell and was besieged by the ATHENIANS which dyd hasten on the warres Notwithstanding this ambassadours were first sent vnto ATHENS vpon these complaints Archidamus king of the LACEDAEMONIANS dyd all that he could to pacifie the most parte of these quarrells and complaints intreating their friendes and allies So as the ATHENIANS had had no warres at all for any other matters wherewith they were burdened if they would haue graunted to haue reuoked the decree they had made against the MEGARIANS Whereupon Pericles that aboue all other stood most against the reuocation of that decree that dyd sturre vp the people made theÌ„ to stand to that they had once decreed ordered against the MEGARIANS was thought the only original cause author of the PELOPONNESIAN warres For it is sayed that the LACEDAEMONIANS sent ambassadours vnto ATHENS for that matter only And when Pericles alledged a lawe that dyd forbid them to take away the table whereupon before time had bene written any coÌ„mon law or edict Polyarces one of the LACEDAEMON Ambassadours sayed vnto him Well said he take it not awaye then but turne the table onely your lawe I am suer forbiddeth not that This was pleasauntly spoken of the ambassadour but Pericles could neuer be brought to it for all that And therefore it seemeth he had some secret occasion of grudge against the MEGARIANS yet as one that would finely conuey it vnder the coÌ„moÌ„ cause cloke he tooke froÌ„ them the holy laÌ„ds they were breaking vp For to bring this to passe he made an order that they should send an herauld to summone the MEGARIANS to let the land alone that the same herauld should goe also vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS to accuse the MEGARIANS vnto theÌ„ It is true that this ordinance was made by Pericles meanes as also it was most iust reasonable but it fortuned so that the messenger they sent thither dyed and not without suspition that the MEGARIANS made him awaye Wherefore Charinus made a lawe presently against the MEGARIANS that they should be proclaimed mortall enemies to the ATHENIANS for euer without any hope of after reconciliation And also if any MEGARIAN should once put his foote within the territories of ATTICA that he should suffer the paynes of death And moreouer that their captaines taking yerely their ordinary othe should sweare among other articles that twise in the yere they should goe with their power and destroy some parte of the MEGARIANS lande And lastly that the heraulde Anthemocritus should be buried by the place called then the gates Thriasienes and nowe called Dipylon But the MEGARIANS stowtely denying that they were any cause of the death of this Anthemocritus dyd altogether burden Aspasia and Pericles with the same alledging for proofe thereof Aristophanes verses the Poet in his comedie he intituled the Acharnes which are so common as euery boye hath them at his tongues ende The young men of our lande to dronken bybbing bent ranne out one daye vnrulily and tovvards Megara vvent From vvhence in their outrage by force they tooke avvaye Simatha noble curtisan as she dyd sporte and
playe VVherevvith enraged all vvith pepper in the nose the provvde Megarians came to vs as to their mortall foes And tooke by stelthe avvaye of harlots eke a payer attending on Aspasia vvhich vvere both young and fayer But in very deede to tell the originall cause of this warre and to deliuer the trothe thereof it is very harde But all the historiographers together agree that Pericles was the chiefest author of the warre bicause the decree made against the MEGARIANS was not reuoked backe againe Yet some holde opinion that Pericles dyd it of a noble minde and iudgement to be constant in that he thought most expedient For he iudged that this commaundement of the LACEDAEMONIANS was but a triall to proue if the ATHENIANS would graunte them and if they yelded to them in that then they manifestly shewed that they were the weaker Other contrarilie saye that it was done of a selfe will and arrogancie to shewe his authoritie and power and howe he dyd despise the LACEDAEMONIANS But the shrowdest profe of all that bringeth best authoritie with it is reported after this sorte Phidias the image maker as we haue tolde you before had vndertaken to make the image of Pallas and being Pericles friende was in great estimation about him But that procured him many ill willers Then they being desirous to heare by him what the people would iudge of Pericles they intised Menon one of the worke men that wrought vnder Phidias and made him come into the market place to praye assurance of the people that he might openly accuse Phidias for a faulte he had committed about Pallas image The people receyued his obedience and his accusation was heard opeÌ„ly in the market place but no mention was made of any theft at all bicause that Phidias through Pericles counsell deuise had from the beginning so layed on the gold vpon the image that it might be taken of wayed euery whitte WhereupoÌ„ Pericles openly sayed vnto his accusers take of the golde way it The glorie of his works dyd purchase him this enuie For he hauing graueÌ„ vpon the scutchioÌ„ of the goddesse the battel of the AMAZONES had cut out the portraiture of him self maruelous liuely vnder the persone of an olde balde man lifting vp a great stone with both his handes Further he had cut out Pericles image excelleÌ„tly wrought artificially seeming in maÌ„ner to be Pericles self fighting with an AMAZON in this sorte The AMAZONES haÌ„d being lifte vp highe holdeth a darte before Pericles face so passing cunningly wrought as it seemed to shadowe the likenes resemblaunce of Pericles and yet notwithstanding appeareth plainely to be Pericles self on either side of the portraiture So Phidias was clapt vp in prisone there dyed of a sicknes or els of poyson as some saye which his enemies had prepared for him all to bring Pericles into further suspition to geue them the more cause to accuse him But howsoeuer it was the people gaue Menon his freedome set him free for paymeÌ„t of all subsidies following the order Glycon made and gaue the captaines charge they should see him safely kept and that he tooke no hurte And about the same time also Aspasia was accused that she dyd not beleeue in the goddess and her accuser was Hermippus maker of the comedies He burdened her further that she was a hawde to Pericles and receyued citizens wiues into her house which Pericles kept And Diopithes at the same time made a decree that they should make searche and enquirie for heretickes that dyd not beleeue in the goddes and that taught certaine newe doctrine and opinion touching the operations of things aboue in the element turning the suspition vpon Pericles bicause of Anaxagoras The people dyd receyue and confirme this inquisition and it was moued also then by Dracontides that Pericles should deliuer an accompt of the money he had spent vnto the handes of the Prytanes who were treasorers of the common fines and reuenues and that the iudges deputed to geue iudgement should geue sentence within the cittie vpon the altar But Agnon put that worde out of the decree and placed in stead thereof that the cause should be iudged by the fifteene hundred iudges as they thought good if any man brought this action for thefte for batterie or for iniustice As for Aspasia he saued her euen for the verie pittie and compassion the iudges tooke of him for the teares he shed in making his humble sute for her all the time he pleaded her case as AEschines writeth But for Anaxagoras fearing that he could not doe so muche for him he sent him out of the cittie and himselfe dyd accompany him And furthermore seeing he had incurred the ill will of the people for Phidias facte and for this cause fearing the issue of the iudgement he set the warres a fyre againe that allwayes went backeward and dyd but smoke a litle hoping by this meanes to weare out the accusations against him and to roote out the malice some dyd beare him For the people hauing waightie matters in hande and very daungerous also he knewe they would put all into his handes alone he hauing wonne already suche great authoritie and reputation among them And these be the causes why he would not as it is sayed suffer the ATHENIANS to yeld vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS in any thing howbeit the trothe cannot certenly be knowen But the LACEDAEMONIANS knowing well that if they could wede out Pericles and ouerthrowe him they might then deale as they would with the ATHENIANS they commaunded them they should purge their cittie of Cylons rebellion bicause they knew well enough that Pericles kynne by the mothers side were to be touched withall as Thucydides declareth But this practise fell out contrarie to their hope and expectation that were sent to ATHENS for this purpose For wening to haue brought Pericles into further suspition and displeasure the cittizens honoured him the more and had a better affiaunce in him then before bicause they sawe his enemies dyd so much feare and hate him Wherefore before king Archidâ—mus entred with the armie of the PELOPONNESIANS into the countrie of ATTICA he tolde the ATHENIANS that if king Archidamus fortuned to waste and destroye all the countrie about and should spare his landes and goodes for the olde loue and familiaritie that was betweene them or rather to geue his enemies occasion falsely to accuse him that from thenceforth he gaue all the landes and tenements he had in the countrie vnto the common wealthe So it fortuned that the LACEDAEMONIANS with all their friends and confederates brought a maruelous armie into the countrie of ATTICA vnder the leading of king Archidamus who burning spoyling all the countries he came aloÌ„gest they came vnto the towne of ACHARNES were they incamped supposing the ATHENIANS would neuer suffer them to approche so neere but that they would giue them battell for the honour and defence of their
worthie man of charge but rather of a base minded persone to seeke to please those whom he ought to commaunde and gouerne bicause they are but fooles After this Hannibal chaunced to fall into a great errour For intending to leaue Fabius to bring his armie into the playnes where there was plentie of vittells and store of pasture to feede his horse and cattell he commaunded his guydes to bring him straight after supper into the playne of CASINVM They mistaking his wordes and not vnderstanding well what he sayed bicause his ITALIAN tongue was but meane tooke one thing for another and so brought him and his armie to the ende of a feild neere the cittie of CASILINVM through the middest of the which ronneth a riuer the ROMAINES call Vulturnus Nowe the countrie lying by it was a valley compassed in with mountaines round about sauing that the riuer went to the sea where leauing his owne banckes it spreadeth abroade into the marisses and banckes of sande very deepe and in the ende fell into that parte of the sea which is most daungerous and there was neither succour nor couert Hannibal being now fallen as it were into the bottome of a sacke Fabius that knewe the countrie and was very perfect in all the wayes thereaboutes followed him steppe by steppe and stopped his passage where he should haue come out of the valley with foure thousand footemen which he planted there to keepe the straight and disposed the rest of his armie vpon the hanginges of the hilles in the most apt and fit places all about Then with his light horse men he gaue a charge vpon the rereward of his enemies battell which put all Hannibals armie by and by out of order and so there were slaine eight hundred of his men Whereupon Hannibal would haue remoued his campe thence immediatly and knowing then the faulte his guydes had made taking one place for another and the daunger wherein they had brought him he roundely trussed them vp and honge them by the neckes Now to force his enemies to come downe from the toppes of the hilles and to winne them from their strength he sawe it was vnpossible and out of all hope Wherefore perceyuing his souldiers both afrayed and discouraged for that they sawe them selues hemmed in on all sides without any order to escape Hannibal determined to deceyue Fabius by a deuise He caused straight two thousand oxen to be chosen out of the heard which they had taken before in their spoyles and tyed to their hornes light bundells of reedes and sallowe faggottes or bunches of the dead cuttings of vines and commaunded the drouers that had the charge of them that when they sawe any signall or token lift vp in the ayer in the night they should then straight set fire on those bundels and bunches and driue vp the beastes to the hilles toward the wayes where the enemies laye Whilest these things were a preparing he on the other side ranged his armie in order of battell and when night came caused them to marche fayer and softely Now these beastes whilest the fyre was but litle that burnt vpon their hornes went but fayer and softly vp the hill from the foote of the mountaines from whence they were driuen In so muche as the heard men that were on the toppe of the mountaines wondred maruelously to see suche flames and fires about the hornes of so many beastes as if it had bene an armie marching in order of battell with lightes and torches But when their hornes came to be burnt to the stumpes and that the force of the fyre dyd frye their very fleshe then beganne the oxen to fight together and to shake their heades wherby they dyd set one another a fyre Then left they their softe pace went no more in order as they dyd before but for the extreme payne they felt beganne to runne here and there in the mountaines carying fyre still about their hornes and in their tayles and set fyre of all the boughes and coppesies they passed by This was a straunge sight to looke vpon and dyd muche amase the ROMAINES that kept the passages of the mountaines for they thought they had bene men that ranne here and there with torches in their handes Whereupon they were in a maruelous feare and trouble supposing they had bene their enemies that ranne thus towards them to enuironne them of all sides so as they durst no more keepe the passages which they were commaunded but forsaking the straightes beganne to flye towards their mayne and great campe Thereupon Hannibals light horse men immediatly possessed the straights that were kept by reason whereof all the rest of his armie matched out at their ease and leysure without feare or daunger notwithstanding that they were loden and troubled with maruelous great spoyles and of all kynde of sortes Fabius then perceyued very well the same night that it was but a slight of Hannibal for some of the oxen that sled here and there fell vpon his armie Whereupon fearing to fall vpon some ambushe by reason of the darke night he kept his men in battell raye without sturring or making any noise The next morning by breake of daye he beganne to followe his enemie by the tracke and fell vpon the tayle of the rereward with whom he skirmished within the straites of the mountaines and so dyd distresse somewhat Hannibals armie Hannibal thereupon sent out of his vauntgarde a certaine number of Spaniards very lusty and nymble fellowes that were vsed to the mountaines and acquainted with climing vp vpon them who comming downe and setting vpon the ROMAINES that were heauy armed slue a great number of them and made Fabius to retire Thereupon they despised Fabius the more and thought worse of him then they dyd before bicause his pretence and determination was not to be brought to fight with Hannibal but by wisedome and policie to ouerthrowe him where as he him selfe by Hannibal was first finely handled and deceyued Hannibal then to bring Fabius further in disliking and suspition with the ROMAINES commaunded his souldiers when they came neere any of Fabius landes that they should burne and destroye all round about them but gaue them in charge in no wise to medle with Fabius landes nor any thing of his and dyd purposely appointe a garrison to see that nothing of Fabius should miscarie nor yet take hurte This was straight caried to ROME which dyd thereby the more incense the people against him And to helpe it forward the Tribunes neuer ceased crying out vpon him in their orations to the people and all by Metellus speciall procurement and persuasion who of him selfe had no cause to mislike with Fabius but only bicause he was Minutius kinseman generall of the horsemen and thought that the ill opinion they bare to Fabius would turne to the prayse and aduauncement of Minutius The Senate also were muche offended with Fabius for the composition he made with Hannibal touching
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
as Pericles sayed they would come to passe for with ambition to imbrace to muche they ouerthrewe their estate But the ROMAINES contrariwise hauing sent Scipio into AFRICKE to make warres with the CARTHAGINIANS wanne all that they tooke in hande where their generall dyd not ouercome the enemie by fortune but by valliantnes So that the wisedome of the one is witnessed by the ruine of his countrie and the errour of the other testified by the happy euent of that he would haue let Now the faulte is a like in a generall to fall into daunger for lacke of forecaste as for cowardlines to let slippe a fit oportunitie offred to doe any notable pece of seruice For like defaulte and lacke of experience maketh the one to hardie and the other to fearefull And thus muche touching the warres Now for ciuill gouernment it was a fowle blotte to Pericles to be the author of warres For it is thought that he alone was the cause of the same for that he would not haue them yeld to the LACEDAEMONIANS in any respect And yet me thinkes Fabius Maximus also would no more geue place vnto the CARTHAGINIANS but stood firme bold in all dauÌ„ger to mainteine thempire of his countrie against them But the goodnes clemency Fabius shewed vnto Minutius doth much condeÌ„ne Pericles accusations practises against Cimon and Thucydides bothe of them being noble good men taking parte with the Nobilitie whoÌ„ he expulsed out of ATHENS banished for a time So was Pericles power authoritie in the coÌ„mon weale greater by reason whereof he dyd euer foresee that no generall in all his time dyd rashely attempt any thing hurteful vnto the coÌ„mon weale except Tolmides onely who fled from him in despight of him went to fight with the BOEOTIANS where he was slaine As for all other generals they wholy put theÌ„selues into his haÌ„ds dyd obey him for the greatnes of his authoritie But Fabius although for his parte he neuer committed any faulte and that he went orderly to worke in all gouernment yet bicause he was not of power to keepe other from doing ill it seemeth in this respect he was defectiue For if Fabius had caried like authoritie in ROME as Pericles dyd in ATHENS the ROMAINES had not fallen into so great miserie as they dyd And for liberalitie the one shewed it in refusing the money offred him and the other in geuing vnto those that needed and redeeming his poore captiue contry men And yet Fabius might dispend no great reuenue for his whole receiptes came only to sixe talents But for Pericles it is hard to saye howe riche he was who had comming in to him great presents by his authoritie aswel of the subiects as of the friends and allies of the ATHENIANS as also of Kings and straunge Princes yet he neuer tooke bribe for all that of any persone liuing And to conclude as for the sumptuous building of temples the stately workes and common buildings put all the ornaments together that euer were in ROME before the times of the Caesars they are not to be compared with those wherewith Pericles dyd beawtifie adorne the cittie of ATHENS For neither in qualitie nor quantitie was there any proportion or like comparison betweene the exceeding sumptuousnes of the one and of the other The ende of Fabius Maximus life THE LIFE OF Alcibiades ALCIBIADES by his fathers side was aunciently descended of Eurysaces that was the sonne of Aiax and by his mothers side of Alemaeon for his mother Dinomacha was the daughter of Megacles His father Clinias hauing armed and set forth a gallye at his owne proper costes and charges dyd winne great honour in the battell by sea that was fought alongest the coaste of ARTEMISIVM and he was slaine afterwardes in another battell fought at CORONEA against the BOEOTIANS His sonne Alcibiades tutours were Pericles and Ariphroa Xanthippus sonnes who were also his neere kinsemen They saye and truely that Socrates good will and friendshippe dyd greatly further Alcibiades honour For it appeareth not neither was it euer written what were the names of the mothers of Nicias of Demosthenes of Lamachus of Phormion of Thrasibulus of Theramenes all which were notable famous men in their time And to the contrarie we finde the nource of Alcibiades that she was a LACEDAEMCNIAN borne and was called Amicla and that his schoolemaster was called Zopyrus of the which Antisthenes mentioneth the one and Plato the other Now for Alcibiades beawtie it made no matter if we speake not of it yet I will a litle touche it by the waye for he was wonderfull fayer being a child a boye and a man and that at all times which made him maruelous amiable and beloued of euery man For where Euripides sayeth that of all the fayer times of the yere the Autumne or latter season is the fayrest that commonly falleth not out true And yet it proued true in Alcibiades though in fewe other for he was passing fayer euen to his latter time of good temperature of bodie They write of him also that his tongue was somewhat fatte and it dyd not become him ill but gaue him a certen naturall pleasaunt grace in his talke which Aristophanes mentioneth mocking one Theorus that dyd counterfeat a lisping grace with his tongue This Alcibiades vvith his fat lisping tongue into mine eares this trusty tale and songe full often songe Looke upon Theolus ê™ he lo there he bovves beholde his comely crovvebright face vvith fat and flatling blovves The sonne of Clinias vvould lispe it thus somevvhiles and sure he lisped neuer a lye but rightly hyt his vviles And Archippus another poet also mocking the sonne of Alcibiades sayeth thus Bicause he vvould be like his father euerie vvaye in his long trayling govvne he vvould goe ietting daye by daye And counterfeate his speache his countenaunce and face as though dame nature had him geuen therein a perfect grace To lispe and looke aside and holde his head avvrye even as his father lookt and lispt so vvould he prate and prye For his manners they altered and chaunged very oft with time which is not to be wondred at seing his maruelous great prosperitie as also aduersitie that followed him afterwards But of all the great desiers he had and that by nature he was most inclined to was ambition seeking to haue the vpper hand in all things and to be taken for the best persone as appeareth by certaine of his dedes and notable sayings in his youthe extant in writing One daye wrestling with a companion of his that handled him hardly and thereby was likely to haue geuen him the fall he got his fellowes arme in his mouth and bit so harde as he would haue eaten it of The other feeling him bite so harde let goe his holde straight and sayed vnto him what Alcibiades bitest thou like a woman No mary doe I not ê™ he but like
ATHENIANS that he dyd the best he could to let them if the LACEDAEMONIANS had no liking of the matter Now as Nicias was thus in disgrace with the people for the causes aboue sayd in the middest of this sturre ambassadours came by chaunce from LACEDAEMON to ATHENS who at their comming gaue very good wordes saying they had full power and commission to compound all controuersies vnder reasonable and equall conditions The Senate heard them and receaued them very curteously and the people the next daye should assemble in counsell to geue them audience which Alcibiades fearing muche he went to labour the ambassadours and spake with them aparte in this sorte What meane you my Lordes of SPARTA doe ye not knowe that the Senate hath allwayes accustomed to be gracious and fauorable vnto those that sue vnto them for any matter and that the people contrarilie are of a prowde nature and desirous to imbrace all great matters If therefore at the first sight ye doe geue them to vnderstand that you are come hither with full power to treate freely with them in all manner of causes doâ— you not thinke that they make you stretche your authoritie farre to graunte them all that they will demaunde Therefore my Lordes ambassadours if you looke for indifferencie at the ATHENIANS handes and that they shall not prease you to farre against your willes to graunte them any thing of aduantage I would wishe you a litle to couer your full commission and in open manner to propound certen articles and reasonable capitulations of peace not acquainting them otherwise with your full power to agree in all things and for my parte I will assure you of my good will in fauour of the LACEDAEMONIANS When he had tolde them this tale he gaue them his faithfull promise and vowed as it were to performe his worde Hereupon Alcibiades turned the Ambassadourâ— from the trust they reposed in Nicias and wanne them on his side in so muche as they gaue credit to no man but to him wondering muche at his great wisedome and readye wit and they thought him a rare and notable man The next morning the people were assembled to geue the ambassadours audience They were sent for and brought into the market place There Alcibiades gently asked them what was the cause of their comming They aunswered that they were come to treate of peace but they had no power to determine any thing Then beganne Alcibiades to be angrie with them as if they had done him wrong and not be any to them calling them vnfaithfull vnconstant and fickle men that were come neither to doe nor saye any thing worth the hearing The Senate also were offended with them and the people rated them very roughely whereat Nicias was so ashamed and amased withall that he could not tell what to saye to see so sodaine a chaunge knowing nothing of Alcibiades malice and subtill practise with the ambassadours So the ambassadours of LACEDAEMON were dispatched without any thing done and Alcibiades chosen generall who presently brought the ARGIVES the ELIANS and the MANTINIANS in league with the ATHENIANS Though no man dyd commend this practise of his in working it after this sorte yet was it a maruelous thing of him to deuise to put all PELOPONNESVS in armes and to procure such a number of souldiers against the LACEDAEMONIANS as he dyd before the cittie of MANTINEA and to shifte of the miseries of warre and hazard of battell so farre from ATHENS Which if the LACEDAEMONIANS dyd winne could not profit them muche and if they lost it they could hardely saue their cittie of SPARTA After this battell of MANTINEA the thousand men whom the cittie by an auncient order dyd keepe continually in paye aswell in peace as in warre within the cittie of ARGOS thinking now oportunietie serued them very trimly attempted to take the soueraine authoritie from the common people and to make them selues Lords of the cittie And to bring this to passe the LACEDAEMONIANS comming in the meane time dyd ayde them in their purpose and so dyd put downe the gouernment of the people notwithstanding immediatly after the people tooke armes againe and became the stronger Alcibiades comming thither euen at that time dyd warrant them the victorie and to set vp againe the authoritie of the people Then he persuaded them to make their walles longer to ioyne their cittie to the sea to the ende they might more easely be ayded by sea by the ATHENIANS He brought them also from ATHENS many carpinters masons stone hewers and other workemen and to conclude he shewed them by all the meanes and wayes he could that he dyd beare good will vnto them and thereby wanne him selfe no lesse fauour particularly emong them then generally he dyd good vnto his countrie He dyd persuade also the cittizens of PATRAS to ioyne their towne to the sea by making long walles which they built out euen to the clyffes of the sea And when one sayed vnto them alas poore people of PATRAS what doe ye meane the ATHENIANS will eate you out Alcibiades aunswered him it maye well be but it shalâ—â— by litle and litle beginning first at the feete but the LACEDAEMONIANS will deuoure you all at once and beginne at the head Now although Alcibiades dyd make the cittie of ATHENS strong by sea yet he dyd not leaue to persuade the ATHENIANS also to make them selues strong by lande For he dyd put the young men oftentimes in minde of the othe they were made to sweare in AGRAVLOS and dyd aduise them to accomplishe it in deede Which was that they should take all corne fields vines and olyue trees to be the borders and confines of ATTICA whereby they were taught to reckon all lande theirs that was manâ—red and dyd bring forth fruite Yet with all these goodly dedes and fayer wordes of Alcibiades and with this great corage and quicknes of vnderstanding he had many great faultes and imperfections For he was to daintie in his fare wantonly geuen vnto light women riâ—tous in bankets vaine and womanishe in apparell he ware euer a long purple gowne than swopt the market place as he walked vp and downe it had suche a traine and was to riâ—â—â—â— and costely for him to weare And following these vaine pleasures and delightes when he was in his galley he caused the planckes of the poope thereof to be cutte and broken vp that he might lye the softer for his bed was not layed apon the ouerloppe but laye vpon giâ—heâ— strained ouer the hole cut out and fastened to the sides and he caried to the warres with him a gilded scurchion wherein he had no cognizaunce nor ordinary deuise of the ATHENIANS but only had the image of Cupids in iâ— holding lightning in his hande The noble men and best cittizens of ATHENS perdeyuing this they hated his facions and conditions and were muche offended at him and were afeard withall of his rashnes and insolencie he dyd so contemne
and disobedient souldiers he kept vp thereby the state of the common weale the better iudging to ouercome the enemie by force was but an accessorie as a man maye terme it in respect of well training and ordering his cittizens by good discipline While the ROMAINES were in warres against king Antiochus surnamed the great in the South partes all the chiefest captaines of ROME being employed that wayes there fell out another in the necke of that in the West partes towardes SPAYNE where they were all vp in armes Thither they sent AEmylius Praetor not with sixe axes as the other Praetors had borne before them but with twelue so that vnder the name of Praetor he had the authoritie and dignitie of a Consul He twise ouercame the barbarous people in mayne battell and slue a thirtie thousand of them and got this victorie through his great skill and wisedome in choosing the aduantage of place and time to fight with his enemies euen as they passed ouer a riuer which easely gaue his souldiers the victorie Moreouer he tooke there two hundred and fiftie citties all which dyd open and gladly receyue him in So leauing all that countrie quiet and in good peace and hauing receaued their fealtie by othe made betweene his handes he returned againe to ROME not enriched the value of a Drachma more then before For then he tooke litle regard to his expences he spent so franckly neither was his purse his master though his reuenue was not great to beare it out as it appeared to the world after his death for all that he had was litle enough to satisfie his wifes ioynter His first wife was Papyria the daughter of a noble Consul Papyrius Masso and after they had liued a long time together he was diuorsed from her notwithstanding he had goodly children by her For by her he had that famous Scipio the second and Fabius Maximus The iust cause of the diuorse betweene them appeareth not to vs in writing but me thinckes the tale that is tolde concerning the separation of a certaine mariage is true That a certen ROMAINE hauing forsaken his wife her friendes fell out with him and asked him what fault dost thou finde in her is she not honest of her bodie is she not fayer doth she not bring thee goodly children But he putting forth his foote shewed them his shooe and aunswered them Is not this a goodly shooe is it not sinely made and is it not newe yet I dare saye there is neuer a one of you can tell where it wringeth me For to saye truely great and open faultes are commonly occasions to make husbands put awaye their wiues but yet oftentimes household wordes ronne so betweene them proceeding of crooked conditions or of diuersitie of natures which straungers are not priuie vnto that in processe of time they doe beget suche a straunge alteration of loue and mindes in them as one house can no lenger holde them So AEmylius hauing put awaye Papyria his first wife he maried another that brought him two sonnes which he brought vp with him selfe in his house and gaue his two first sonnes to wit Scipio the second and Fabius Maximus in adoption to two of the noblest and richest families of the cittie of ROME The elder of the twaine vnto Fabius Maximus he that was fiue times Consul and the younger vnto the house of the Cornelians whom the sonne of the great Scipio the AFRICAN dyd adopt being his cosin germaine and named him Scipio Concerning his daughters the sonne of Cato maried the one and AElius Tubero the other who was a maruelous honest man and dyd more nobly mainteine him selfe in his pouertie then any other ROMAINE for they were sixteene persones all of one name and of the house of the AElians very neere a kynne one to the other who had all but one litle house in the cittie and a small farme in the countrie wherewith they enterteined them selues and liued all together in one house with their wiues and many litle children Amongest their wiues one of them was the daughter of Paulus AEmylius after he had bene twise Consul and had triumphed twise not being ashamed of her husbands pouertie but wondering at his vertue that made him poore Whereas brethern and kynsemen as the world goeth now if they dwell not farre a sonder and in other countries not one neere another and that riuers parte them not or walles deuide their landes leauing great large wastes betweene them they are neuer quiet but still in quarrell one with another Goodly examples doth this storie laye before the wise and well aduised readers to learne thereby howe to frame their life and wisely to behaue them selues Now AEmylius being chosen Consul went to make warre with the LIGVRIANS who dwelled in the ALPES which otherwise are called LIGVSTINES These are very valliāt warlike men were very good souldiers at that time by reason of their cōtinual warres against the ROMAINES whose neere neighbours they were For they dwelt in the furdest parte of ITALIE that bordereth vpon the great ALPES the rowe of ALPES whereof the foote ioyneth to the THVSCAN sea pointeth towards AFRICKE and are mingled with the GAVLES SPANYARDS neighbours vnto that sea coast who scowring all the Mediterranian sea at that time vnto the straight of Hercules pillers dyd with their litle light pinnases of pirats let all the trafficke entercourse of marchaundise AEmylius being gone to seeke them in their countrie they taried his comming with an armie of forty thousand men neuertheles though he had but eight thousand men in all and that they were fiue to one of his yet he gaue the onset apon them and ouerthrew them and draue them into their citties Then he sent to offer them peace for the ROMAINES would not altogether destroye the LIGVRIANS bicause their countrie was as a rampeyr or bullwarke against the inuasion of the GAVLES who laye lurking for oportunitie and occasion to inuade ITALIE whereupon these LIGVRIANS yelded them selues vnto him and put all their fortes and shippes into his handes AEmylius deliuered vnto them their holdes againe without other hurte done vnto them sauing that he rased the walles of their fortifications howbeit he tooke all their shippes from them leauing them litle botes of three owers only and no greater set all the prisoners at libertie they had taken both by sea and by lande aswell ROMAINES as other which were a maruelous number These were all the notable acts he dyd worthie memorie in the first yere of his Consulshippe Afterwards he oftentimes shewed him self very desirous to be Consul againe dyd put forth him selfe to sue for it but when he was denied it he neuer after made sute for it againe but gaue him selfe only to studie diuine things and to see his children vertuously brought vp not only in the ROMAINE tongue which him selfe was taught but also a litle more curiously in the
at all that he had cared litle for the ROMAINES he wēt and fought a battell in the meane time with the DARDANIANS where he slue tēne thousād of those barbarous people brought a maruelous great spoyle awaye with him Moreouer he procured the nation of the GAVLES dwelling vpō the riuer of Danubie which they call Bastarnae mē very warlike excellēt good horsemē did practise with the ILLYRIANS also by meane of their king Gētius to make thē ioyne with him in these warres so that there ranne a rumour all about that for money he had gotten these GAVLES to come downe into ITALIE from the highe contrie of GAVLE all alongest the Adriatick sea The ROMAINES being aduertised of these newes thought the time serued not now to dispose their offices in warres any more by grace fauour vnto those that sued for them but contrariwise that they should call some noble man that were very skilfull and a wise captaine and could discretly gouerne and performe things of great charge As Paulus AEmylius a man well stepped on in yeres being three score yere olde and yet of good power by reason of the lusty young men his sonnes sonnes in lawe besides a great number of his friends and kinsefolke So all that bare great authoritie dyd altogether with one consent counsaill him to obey the people which called him to the Consulshippe At the beginning in deede he delayed the people muche that came to importune him and vtterly denied them saying he was no meete man neither to desire nor yet to take vpon him any charge Howbeit in the ende seeing the people dyd vrge it apon him by knocking continually at his gates and calling him alowde in the streetes willing him to come into the market place and perceyuing they were angrie with him bicause he refused it he was content to be persuaded And when he stoode among them that sued for the Consulshippe the people thought straight that he stoode not there so muche for desire of the office as for that he put them in hope of assured victorie and happie successe of this begonne warre so great was their loue towardes him and the good hope they had of him that they chose him Consul againe the second time Wherefore so sone as he was chosen they would not proceede to drawing of lottes according to their custome which of the two Consuls should happen to goe into MACEDON but presently with a full and whole consent of them all they gaue him the whole charge of the warres of MACEDON So being Consul now and appointed to make warre apon king Perseus all the people dyd honorably companie him home vnto his house where a litle girle a daughter of his called Tertia being yet an infant came weeping vnto her father He making muche of her asked her why she wept The poore girle aunswered colling him about the necke and kissing him Alas father wote you what our Perseus is dead She ment it by a litle whelpe so called which was her playe fellowe In good hower my girle sayed he I like the signe well Thus doth Cicero the orator reporte it in his booke of diuinations The ROMAINES had a custome at that time that suche as were elected Consuls after that they were openly proclaimed should make an oration of thanckes vnto the people for the honour and fauour they had shewed him The people then according to the custome being gathered together to heare AEmylius speake he made this oration vnto them That the first time he sued to be Consul was in respect of him selfe standing at that time in neede of suche honour now he offred him selfe the second time vnto it for the good loue he bare vnto them who stoode in nede of a generall wherefore he thought him selfe nothing bounde nor beholding vnto them now And if they dyd thincke also this warre might be better followed by any other then by him selfe he would presently with all his harte resigne the place Furthermore if they had any trust or confidence in him that they thought him a man sufficient to discharge it then that they would not speake nor medle in any matter that concerned his duetie and the office of a generall sauing only that they would be diligent without any wordes to doe whatsoeuer he commaunded and should be necessarie for the warre and seruice they tooke in hande For if euery man would be a commaunder as they had bene heretofore of those by whom they should be commaunded then the world would more laughe them to scorne in this seruice then euer before had bene accustomed These wordes made the ROMAINES very obedient to him and conceyued good hope to come being all of thē very glad that they had refused those ambitious flatterers that sued for the charge had geuē it vnto a man that durst boldly franckly tell them the troth Marke how the ROMAINES by yelding vnto reason vertue came to comand all other to make them selues the mightiest people of the world Now that Paulus AEmylius setting forward to this warre had winde at will and fayer passage to bring him at his iorneis ende I impute it to good fortune that so quickly and safely conueyed him to his campe But for the rest of his exploytes he dyd in all this warre when parte of them were performed by his owne hardines other by his wisedome and good counsell other by the diligence of his friendes in seruing him with good will other by his owne resolute constancy and corage in extremest daunger and last by his maruelous skill in determining at an instant what was to be done I cannot attribute any notable acte or worthy seruice vnto this his good fortune they talke of so much as they maye doe in other captaines doings Onles they will saye peraduenture that Perseus couetousnes and miserie was AEmilius good fortune for his miserable feare of spending money was the only cause and destruction of the whole realme of MACEDON which was in good state and hope of continuing in prosperitie For there came downe into the countrie of MACEDON at king Perseus request tenne thousand Bastarnae a horse backe and as many footemen to them who allwayes ioyned with them in battell all mercenary souldiers depending vpon paye and enterteinment of warres as men that could not plowe nor sowe nor trafficke marchandise by sea nor skill of grasing to gaine their liuing with to be shorte that had no other occupation or marchādise but to serue in the warres and to ouercome those with whom they fought Furthermore when they came to incampe lodge in the MEDICA neere to the MACEDONIANS who sawe them so goodly great men and so well trained exercised in handling all kinde of weapons so braue and lustie in wordes and threates against their enemies they beganne to plucke vp their hartes to looke bigge imagining that the ROMAINES would neuer abide them but would be afeard to looke them
I passed ouer the gulfe of the Adriatike sea from BRINDES vnto CORFV in one daye And from thence in fiue dayes after I arriued in the cittie of DELPHES where I dyd sacrifice vnto Apollo And within fiue other dayes I arriued in my cāpe where I found mine armie in MACEDON And after I had done the sacrifice due ceremonies for purifying of the same I presently begāne to followe the purpose cause of my cōming so as in 15. dayes after I made an honorable ende of all those warres But yet mistrusting fortune allwayes seing the prosperous course of my affaires cōsidering that there were no other enemies nor daūgers I neded to feare I feared sorely she would chaunge at my returne when I should be vpon the sea bringing home so goodly victorious an armie with so many spoiles so many Princes and Kings taken prisoners And yet when I was safely arriued in the hauen seing all the cittie at my returne full of ioye of feastes sacrifices I still suspected fortune knowing her manner well enough that she vseth not to gratifie men so franckly nor to graunt them so great things clearly without some certen sparke of enuie waiting on them Neither dyd my minde being still occupied in feare of some thing to happen to the cōmon wealth shake of this feare behind me but that I sawe this home mishappe miserie lighted vpō me enforcing me with mine owne hands in these holy dayes of my triūphe to burie my two young sonnes one after another which I only brought vp with me for the succession of my name house Wherefore me thinkes now I may saye I am out of all daūger at the least touching my chiefest greatest misfortune doe beginne to stablish my selfe with this assured hope that this good fortune henceforth shall remaine with vs euermore without feare of other vnlucky or sinister chaunce For she hath sufficiently contervailed the fauorable victorie she gaue you with the enuious mishappe wherewith she hath plagued both me and mine shewing the cōquerour triūpher as noble an exāple of mans miserie weaknes as the party cōquered that had bene led in triūphe Sauing that Perseus yet conquered as he is hath this cōforte left him to see his childrē liuing that the cōquerour AEmylius hath lost his And this was the summe of AEmylius notable oration he made vnto the people of ROME proceeding of a noble honorable disposed minde And though it pittied him in his harte to see the straunge chaunge of king Perseus fortune and that he hartely desired to helpe him and to doe him good yet he could neuer obtaine other grace for him but only to remoue him from the common prisone which the ROMAINES call Carcer into a more clenly and sweter house where being straitly garded and looked vnto he killed him selfe by abstinence from meate as the most parte of historiographers doe write Yet some writers tell a maruelous straunge tale and manner of his death For they saye the souldiers that garded him kept him from sleepe watching him straightly when sleepe tooke him and would not suffer him to shut his eye liddes only apon malice they dyd beare him bicause they could not otherwise hurte him keeping him awake by force not suffering him to take rest vntill suche time as nature being forced to geue ouer he gaue vp the ghoste Two of his sonnes dyed also but the third called Alexander became an excellent turner and ioyner and was learned and could speake the ROMAINE tongue very well and dyd write it so trimly that afterwards he was chauncelour to the magistrates of ROME and dyd wisely and discretly behaue him selfe in his office Furthermore they doe adde to this goodly conquest of the realme of MACEDON that AEmylius conquered another speciall good thing that made him maruelously well liked of the common people that is that he brought so muche gold and siluer vnto the treasurie store of ROME as the common people needed neuer after to make contribution for any thing vntill the very time and yere that Hircius and Pansa were Consuls which was about the beginning of the first warres of Augustus and Antonius And yet AEmylius had one singular good gift in him that though the people dyd greatly loue and honour him yet he euer tooke parte with the Senate and nobilitie and dyd neuer by worde nor dede any thing in fauour of the people to flatter or please them but in matters concerning gouernment he dyd euer leane to the nobilitie and good men And this dyd Appius afterwards cast in his sonnes teethe Scipio Africanus For both of them being two of the chiefest men of their time and contending together for the office of Censor Appius had about him to fauour his sute all the Senate and Nobilitie as of auncient time the familie of the Appians had euer held on their parte And Scipio Africanus though he was a great man of him selfe yet he was in all times fauoured and beloued of the common people Whereupon when Appius sawe him come into the market place followed with men of small qualitie and base condition that had bene slaues before but otherwise could skilfully handle suche practises bring the people together and by oportunitie of cries and lowde voyces if neede were obteine what they would in the assemblies of the cittie he spake out alowde and sayed O Paulus AEmylius now hast thou good cause to sighe and mourne in thy graue where thou lyest if the dead doe know what we doe here on earth to see AEmylius a common sergeant and Licinius a pratling fellowe howe they bring thy sonne vnto the dignitie of a Censor And as for Scipio he was allwayes beloued of the common people bicause he dyd fauour them in all things But AEmylius also although he tooke euer the noble mens parte he was not therefore lesse beloued of the common people then those that allwayes flattered them doing all things as the people would to please them which the common people did witnesse aswell by other honours offices they offred him as in the dignitie of the Censor which they gaue him For it was the holiest office of all other at that time and of greatest power and authoritie specially for inquierie and reformation of euery mans life and manners For he that was Censor had authoritie to put any Senatour of the counsell and to disgrade him if he dyd not worthely behaue him selfe according to his place and calling and might name and declare any one of the Senate whom he thought to be most honest and fittest for the place againe Moreouer they might by their authoritie take from licentious young men their horse which was kept at the charge of the common weale Furthermore they be the sessours of the people and the muster masters keping bookes of the number of persones at euery mustering So there appeared numbred in the register booke AEmylius made then of
that this dyd muche discorage those that were besieged But whilest he sported thus with his fonde deuise the two thousand CORINTHIANS being arriued through the countrie of the BRVTIANS in the citie of RHEGIO perceyuing the coaste cleare and that the passage by sea was not kept that the raging seas were by miracle as it were made of purpose calme for them they tooke seas forthwith in such fisher boates passengers as they found readie in the which they went into SICILE in suche good safety as they drue their horse holding them by the raynes a longest their boares with them When they were all passed ouer Timoleon hauing receiued them went immediatly to take MESSINA and marching thence in battell raye tooke his way towards SYRACVSA trusting better to his good fortune then to his force he had for his whole number in all were not aboue foure thowsand fighting men Notwithstanding Mago hearing of his comming quaked for feare dowted the more vpon this occasion About SYRACVSA are certeyne marishes that receiue great quantitie of sweete fresh water aswell of fountaynes and springes as also of litle ronning brookes lakes riuers which ronne that wayes towards the sea and therefore there are great store of eeles in that place and the fishing is great there at all tymes but specially for such as delite to take eeles Whereuppon the GRAECIANS that tooke paye on both sides when they had leysure and that all was quiet betwene them they intended fishing Now they being all contrey men and of one language had no priuate quarrell one with an other but when tyme was to fight they did their duties and in tyme of peace also frequented familiarly togither and one spake with an other and specially when they were busie fishing for eeles saying that they maruelled at the scituacion of the goodly places the reabouts and that they stoode so pleasauntly and commodious apon the sea side So one of the souldiers that serued vnder the CORINTHIANS chaunced to say vnto them Is it possible that you that be GRAECIANS borne and haue so goodly a citie of your owne full of so many goodly commodities that ye will giue it vppe vnto these barbarous people the vile CARTHAGINIANS and most cruell murderers of the worlde where you should rather wishe that there were many SICILIES betwixt them and GREECE Haue ye so litle consideration or iudgement to thinke that they haue assembled an armie out of all AFRICKE vnto Hercules pillers and to the sea ATLANTICKE to come hether to fight to stablish Icetes tyrannie who if he had bene a wise and skilfull Captaine would not haue cast out his auncestors founders to bringe into his contrye the auncient enemies of the same but might haue receiued such honor and authoritie of the CORINTHIANS and Timoleon as he could reasonably haue desired and that with all their fauor and good wil. The souldiers that heard this tale reported it agayne in their campe Insomuch they made Mago suspect there was treason in hand and so sought some culler to be gon But hereuppon notwithstanding that Icetes prayed him all he could to tary declaring vnto him how much they were stronger then their enemies and that Timoleon did rather preuayle by his hardines and good fortune then exceede him in number of men yet he hoysed sayle and returned with shame enough into AFRICKE letting slyppe the conquest of all SICILE out of his handes without any sight of reason or cause at all The next day after he was gone Timoleon presented battell before the citie when the GRAECIANS and he vnderstoode that the CARTHAGINIANS were fled and that they saw the hauen ryd of all the shippes and then beganne to ieast at Magoes cowardlines and in derision proclaymed in the citie that they would giue him a good reward that could bringe them newes whether the armie of the CARTHAGINIANS were fled But for all this Icetes was bent to fight woulde not leaue the spoyle he had gotten but defende the quarters of the citie he had possessed at the swordes poynt trusting to the strength and scituacion of the places which were hardly to be approached Timoleon perceyuing that deuided his armie and he with one parte thereof did sett vpon that side which was the hardest to approache and did stand vpon the riuer of ANAPVS then he appoynted an other part of his armie to assault all at one time the side of ACHADINA whereof Isias CORINTHIAN had the leading The thirde parte of his armie that came last from CORINTHE which Dinarchus and Demaratus led he appoynted to assault the quarter called EPIPOLES Thus assault being giuen on all sides at one time Icetes bandes of men were broken and ranne their way Now that the citie was thus wonne by assault and come so sodaynely to the handes of Timoleon and the enemies being fled it is good reason we ascribe it to the valiantnes of the souldiers and the captaines great wisedom But where there was not one CORINTHIAN slayne nor hurt in this assault sure me thinkes herein it was onely the worke and deede of fortune that did fauor and protect Timoleon to contende against his valiantnes To the ende that those which should hereafter heare of his doings should haue more occasion to wonder at his good happe then to prayse and commend his valiantnes For the fame of this great exployte did in few dayes not onely ronne through all ITALYE but also through all GREECE Insomuch as the CORINTHIANS who could scant beleeue their men were passed with safetie into SICILE vnderstoode with all that they were safely arriued there and had gotten the victorie of their enemies so prosperous was their iorney fortune so spedely did fauor his noble actes Timoleon hauing now the castell of SYRACVSA in his hands did not followe Dion For he spared not the castell for the beawtie and stately building thereof but auoyding the suspicion that caused Dion first to be accused and lastly to be slayne he caused it to be proclaymed by trompett that any SYRACVSAN whatsoeuer should come with crowes of iron and mattocks to helpe to digge downe and ouerthrow the forte of the tyrans There was not a man in all the citie of SYRACVSA but went thither straight and thought that proclamacion and day to be a most happy beginning of the recouerie of their libertie So they did not onely ouerthrowe the castell but the pallace also and the tombes and generally all that serued in any respect for the memorie of any of the tyrans And hauing cleared the place in fewe dayes and made all playne Timoleon at the sute of the Citizens made counsell halls and places of iustice to be built there and did by this meanes stablish a free state and popular gouernment and did suppresse all tyrannicall power Nowe when he sawe he had wonne a citie that had no inhabitants which warres before had consumed and feare of tyrannie had emptied so as grasse
hundred horsemen vnder the conduct of Malcitas and of Diogiton They findinge Alexanders army ouerthrowen that he had lost the most parte of his strength did compel him to geue vp the THESSALIANS townes he kept by force against thē to set the MAGNESIANS the PHTHIOTES the ACHAIANS at liberty withdrawinge his garrisons he had placed in their strong holdes and therewithall to sweare that from thence forth he would marche vnder the THEBANS against any enemy they should leade him or commaunde him to go against So the THEBANS were pacified apon these conditions Now will I tell you how the gods plagued him soone after for Pelopidas death who as we haue tolde you before had pretily instructed THEBE his wife that she shoulde not feare the outward appearance nor power of his tyranny although she were enuironed with souldiers of banished mē whom the tyran enterteined to gard his person He self on the other side fearing his falshode as also hating his cruelty conspired her husbands death with her three brethren Tisiphomus Pytholaus Lycophron executed her cōspiracy after this sorte The tyrans palice where he lay was straightly garded euery where with souldiers who nightly watched his persone but their bed chamber which they cōmonly vsed to lie in was in the top of al his palice where they kept a dog tyed at the chamber dore to giue warninge which was a terrible dog and knewe none but the tyran and his wife and his keeper that gaue him meate Nowe when Thebe purposed to worke her feate she locked vp her three brethren a whole day neere vnto their bed chamber So when night was come and being bed time The went her selfe alone according to her maner into Alexanders chamber and finding him a sleepe she stale out straight againe and bad the keeper of the dogge to cary the dogge away for her husbande was disposed to take rest and would haue no noyse There was no way to get vp to this chamber but by a ladder which she let downe and fearing least her brethren should make a noyse she had coueted the ladder staues with wolle before she let it fall downe When she had gotten them vp with their swordes and had set them before the dore she went first her selfe into the chamber tooke away the tyrans sword that hong at his beds head and shewed it them as a token geuen them that he was a sleepe When it came to the pinche to do the deede these young men were afrayed and their heartes beganne to faile them But she tooke on with them and called them cowardly boyes that would not stande to it when it came to the point with all sware in her rage that she woulde goe wake the tyran and open all the treason to him So partely for shame and partely for feare she compelled them to come in and to step to the bed her selfe holding a lampe to light them Then one of them tooke him by the feete and bounde them hard an other caught him by the heare of his head and pulled him backewards the third thrust him through with his sword So by chaunce he dyed sooner then he should haue done and otherwise then his wicked life deserued for the maner of his death So Alexander was the first tyran that was euer slaine by the treason of his wife whose body was most villanously dispitefully vsed after his death For when the townes men of PHERES had drawen him through the city in myer and durt they cast him out at length to the dogs to deuore The ende of Pelopidas life THE LIFE OF Marcellus MArcus Claudius that was fiue times Consull at ROME was the sonne as they say of an other Marcus and as Posidonius wryteth he was the first of his house surnamed Marcellus as who would say a marshall warlike man by nature For he was cunninge at weapons skilfull in warres stronge and lusty of body hardy and naturally geuen to fight Yet was he no quarreler nor shewed his great corage but in warres against the enemy otherwise he was euer gentle and fayer condicioned He loued learning and delited in the Greeke tongue and much esteemed them that could speake it For he him selfe was so troubled in matters of state that he could not study and follow it as he desired to haue done For it God as Homer sayth did euer make men To vse their youth in vvarres and battells fierce and fell till crooked age came creeping on such feates for to expell They were the noblest and chiefest men of ROME at that time For in their youth they fought with the CARTHAGINIANS in SICILE in their midle age against the GAVLES to kepe them from the winning of all ITALIE againe in their old age against Hanniball the CARTHAGINIANS For their age was no priuiledge for them to be dispenced with in the seruice of their warres as it was else for common citizens but they were bothe for their nobilitie as also for their valliantnes and experience in warres driuen to take charge of the armies deliuered them by the Senate people Now for Marcellus there was no battell could make him giue grounde beinge practised in all fightes but yet he was more valliant in priuate combate man for man then in any other fight Therefore he neuer refused enemie that did chalenge him but slue all those in the fielde that called him to the combat In SICILE he saued his brother Octacilius life being ouerthrowen in a skirmishe for with his shielde he couered his brothers body slue them that came to kill him These valliant partes of him being but a young man were rewarded by the generalles vnder whom he serued with many crownes and warlike honors vsually bestowed apon valliant souldiers Marcellus increasing still his valliantnes and good seruice was by the people chosen AEdilis as of the number of those that were the worthiest men and most honorable and the Priestes did create him Augure which is a kinde of Priesthoode at ROME hauing authority by law to consider and obserue the flying of birds to diuine and prognosticate thinges thereupon But in the yere of his office of AEdile he was forced against his wil to accuse Capitolinus his brother in office with him For he being a rash and dissolute man of life fell in dishonest loue with his colleagues sonne Marcellus that bare his owne name who beinge a goodly younge gentleman and newly come to mans state was as well thought of and taken of euery man for his manhoode and good qualities as any way for his beawty and personage The first time Capitolinus moued this dishonesty to him he did of him selfe repulse his shameles offer without any others priuitie but when he saw he came againe to tempt him the seconde time he straight reuealed it to his father Marcellus his father beinge maruelously offended withall as he had good cause went and accused Capitolinus before
maruelous plaine man without pride and of a good nature Then they tolde him what notable wise sayinges and graue sentences they heard him speake Valerius Flaccus hearing this reporte of him willed his men one day to pray him to come to supper to him Who falling in acquaintance with Cato and perceiuing he was of a very good nature and wel giuen that he was a good griffe to be set in a better ground he perswaded him to come to ROME and to practise there in the assembly of the people in the common causes and affayres of the common weale Cato followed his counsail who hauing bene no long practiser among them did grow straight into great estimacion and wanne him many frends by reason of the causes he tooke in hand to defend and was the better preferred and taken also by meanes of the speciall fauour and countenaunce Valerius Flaccus gaue him For first of all by voyce of the people he was chosen Tribune of the souldiers to say colonell of a thousand footemen afterwards was made treasorer and so went forwards and grew to so great credit authority as he became Valerius Flaccus cōpanion in the chiefest offices of state being chosen Consul with him then Censor But to begin withal Cato made choise of Quintus Fabius Maximus aboue all the Senators of ROME gaue him selfe to follow him altogether not so much for the credit estimacion Fabius Maximus was of who therein exceded all the ROMAINES of that time as for the modesty and discrete gouernment he sawe in him whome he determined to followe as a worthy myrror and example At which time Cato passed not for the malice and euil will of Scipio the great who did striue at that present being but a young man with the authoritie and greatnesse of Fabius Maximus as one that seemed to enuy his risinge and greatnesse For Cato being sent treasorer with Scipio when he vndertooke the iorney into AFRIKE and perceiuing Scipioes bountifull nature and disposition to large giftes without meane to the souldiers he tolde him plainly one day that he did not so much hurt the common wealth in wasting their treasure as he did great harme in chaūging the auncient maner of their auncesters who vsed their souldiers to be contented with litle but he taught them to spende their superfluous money all necessaries prouided for in vaine toyes and trifles to serue their pleasure Scipio made him aunswere he woulde haue no treasorer shoulde controll him in that sorte nor that should looke so narrowly to his expences for his intent was to go to the wars with full sayles as it were and that he woulde and did also determine to make the state priuie to all his doinges but not to the money he spent Cato hearing this aunswer returned with spede out of SICILE vnto ROME crying out with Fabius Maximus in open Senate that Scipio spent infinitely and that he tended playes commedies and wrestlinges as if he had not bene sent to make warres inuasions and attemptes apon their enemies Apon this complaint the Senate appointed certeine Tribunes of the people to goe and see if their informations were true and finding them so that they should bring him backe againe to ROME But Scipio shewed farre otherwise to the commissioners that came thither and made them see apparaunt victorie through the necessary preparacion and prouision he had made for the warres and he confessed also that when he had dispatched his great businesse and was at any leasure he would be priuately mery with his frends and though he was liberall to his souldiers yet that made him not negligent of his duety and charge in any matter of importance So Scipio tooke shippinge and sayled towards AFRIKE whether he was sent to make warre Now to returne to Cato He daily increased still in authority and credit by meanes of his eloquence so that diuerse called him the Demosthenes of ROME howbeit the maner of his life was in more estimacion then his eloquence For all the youth of ROME did seeke to attaine to his eloquence and commendacion of wordes and one enuied an other which of them should come nearest but few of them woulde fyle their handes with any labor as their forefathers did and make a light supper and dinner without fire or prouision or woulde be content with a meane gowne and a poore lodging finally woulde thinke it more honorable to defye fansies pleasures then to haue and enioy them Bicause the state was waxen now of such power wealth as it could no more retaine the auncient discipline and former austeritie and straitnes of life it vsed but by reason of the largenes of their dominion and seigniory and the numbers of people and nations that were become their subiects it was euen forced to receiue a medley of sundry contry facions examples and maners This was a cause why in reason men did so greatly wonder at Catoes vertue when they sawe other straight wearyed with paines and labor tenderly brought vp like pulers and Cato on the other side neuer ouercommen either with the one or with the other no not in his youth when he most coueted honor nor in his age also when he was gray headed and balde after his Consullship and triumphe but like a conqueror that had gotten the maistery he would neuer geue ouer labor euen vnto his dying day For he writeth him selfe that there neuer came gowne on his backe that cost him aboue a hundred pence that his hyndes and worke men alwayes dronke no worse wine when he was Consull and generall of the armie then he did him selfe and that his cater neuer bestowed in meate for his supper aboue thirty Asses of ROMAINE money and yet he sayed it was bicause he might be the stronger and apter to do seruice in the warres for his contry and the common wealth He sayd furthermore that being heire to one of his frends that dyed he had a peece of tapestry by him with a deepe border which they called then the babilonian border and he caused it straight to be solde and that of all his houses he had abroade in the contry he had not one wall-plastered nor rough cast Moreouer he would say he neuer bought bondeman or slaue dearer then a thowsande fiue hundred pence as one that sought not for fine made men and goodly personages but strong fellowes that could away with paynes as carters horsekepers neatheardes and such like and againe he woulde sell them when they were olde bicause he would not keepe them when they coulde do no seruice To conclude he was of opinion that a manne bought any thinge deere that was for litle purpose yea though he gaue but a farthing for it he thought it to much to bestow so litle for that which needed not He would haue men purchase houses that hadde more store of errable lande and pasture then of fine orteyardes or gardeins
to take their course And when he saw that they were gone a good way from their footemen he made his men marche apon the LACEDAEMONIANS whose sides were naked hauing no horesemen to gard them and so did set vpon them on the one side and ranne so hastely on them to winne one of their flancks that he made them flie and slue withall a great number of them For it is said there were foure thousand LACEDAEMONIANS slaine in the field bicause they had no man to leade them and moreouer they say they did not looke to fight but supposed rather they had wonne the fielde whē they saw Machanidas chasing stil those vpon the spurre whom he had ouerthrowē After this Philopoemen retyred to mete Machanidas who came backe from the chase with his straungers But by chaunce there was a great broade ditch betwene them so as both of them rode vpon the banckes sides of the same a great while together one against an other of them th one side seking some conuenient place to get ouer and flie the other side seking meanes to kepe them from starting away So to see the one before the other in this sorte it appeared as they had bene wild beastes brought to an extreamity to defend them selues by force from so fierce a hunter as Philopoemen was But whilest they were striuing thus the tyrans horse that was lusty and coragious and felt the force of his masters spurres pricking in his sides that the blood followed after did venter to leape the ditche comminge to the banckes side stoode apon his hindemost legges and aduaunced forward with his foremost feete to reach to the other side Then Simmias and Polyaenus who were about Philopoemen when he fought ran thither straight to kepe him in with their bore slaues that he should not leape the ditche But Philopoemen who was there before thē perceiuing that the tyrans horse by lifting vp his head so high did couer all his maisters body forsooke by and by his horse and tooke his speare in both his hands and thrust at the tyran with so good a will that he slue him in the ditch In memory whereof the ACHAIANS that did highly esteeme this valliant acte of his and his wisedome also in leadinge of the battell did set vp his image in brasse in the temple of Apollo in DELPHES in the forme he slue the tyran They say that at the assembly of the common games called Nemea which they solemnise in honor of Hercules not farre from the citie of ARGOS and not long after he had wonne this battell of MANTINEA being made Generall the seconde time of the tribe of the ACHAIANS and beinge at good leasure also by reason of the feast he first shewed all the GREECIANS that were come thither to see the games and pastimes his army raunging in order of battell and made them see how easily they remoued their places euery way as necessity and occasion of fight required without troublinge or confoundinge their ranckes and that with a maruelous force redines When he had done this he went into the Theater to heare the musitians play and sing to their instrumentes who should winne the best game being accompanied with lusty young gentlemen apparrelled in purple clokes and in skarlet coates cassockes they ware apon their armor being all in the flower of their youth and well giuen disposed who did greatly honor reuerence their Captaine besides that shewed thēselues inwardly of noble hartes being incoraged by many notable battells they had fought in which they had euer attained the victory gotten the vpper hand of their enemies And by chaūce as they were entred into the Theater Pylades the musitian singinge certaine poemes of Timotheus called the Perses fell into these verses O Greekes it is euen he vvhich your prosperity Hath giuen to you and therevvithall a noble liberty When he had sweetely song out alowde these noble verses passingly well made the whole assembly of the GREECIANS in the Theater that were gathered thither to see the games cast all their eyes straight vpon Philopoemen and clapped their handes one to an other for ioy bicause of the great hope they had in him that through him they shoulde soone recouer their auncient reputacion and so imagined they possessed already the noble and worthy mindes of their auncesters And as younge horse that doe alwayes looke to be ridden by their ordinarie riders if any straunger get vp on their backes do straight waxe straunge to be handeled and make great a do euen so when the ACHAIANS came to any daungerous battell their hartes were euen done if they had any other Generall or leader then Philopoemen on whom still they depended and looked And when they sawe him euer the whole army reioyced and desired straight to be at it they had such confidence in his valliantnesse and good fortune and truely not without cause For of all men their enemies did feare him most and durst not stande before him bicause they were afrayed to heare his name only as it seemed by their doings For Philip kinge of MACEDON imagining that if he could finde meanes to dispatche Philopoemen out of the way howsoeuer it were the ACHAIANS would straight take parte againe with him sent men secretly into the city of ARGOS to kill him by treason Howbeit the practise was discouered and the king euer after was mortally hated of all the GREECIANS generally and taken for a cowardly and wicked Prince It fortuned one day when the BOEOTIANS layed siege to the city of MEGARA and thought certainly to haue wonne it at the first assault there rose a rumor sodainely amongest them that Philopoemen came to aide the city and was not farre from it with his army But it was a false reporte Notwithstandinge the BOEOTIANS were so scared that for feare they left their scaling ladders behinde them which they had set against the walls to haue scaled the towne and fled straight to saue them selues An other time when Nabis the tyran of LACEDAEMON that succeeded Machanidas had taken the city of MESSINA vppon the sodaine Philopoemen being then a priuate man and hauinge no charge of souldiers went vnto Lysippus General of the ACHAIANS that yere to perswade him that he would send present aide vnto them of MESSINA Lysippus told him it was to late now to goe thither and that it was but a lost towne not to be holpen considering the enemies were in it already Philopoemen perceiuing he could not procure him to go went thither him selfe with the force of MESSINA only not staying for the assembly of the MEGALOPOLITANS that were in coūsell about it to giue him commission by voyces of the people to take them with him but they all willingly followed him as if he had bene their continuall Generall and the man that by nature was worthiest of all other to commaunde them Now when he came neere vnto MESSINA Nabis hearinge of his comminge
imposition which the straungers inhabiting within the citie of ATHENS were to pay he rescued him from them by force and moreouer prosecuted law so hard against them that he made them pay a fyne for the iniury they had done vnto so worthy a person And they tell how the same Philosopher afterwardes meeting Lycurgus children in the city sayed vnto them I doe wel requite your fathers good turne he did me for I am the cause that he is praised and commended of euery man for the kindenesse he shewed on my behalfe So the good deedes of the ROMAINES and of Titus Quintius Flaminius vnto the GREECIANS did not only reape this benefit vnto them in recompence that they were praised and honored of all the worlde but they were cause also of increasinge their dominions and Empire ouer all nations and that the worlde afterwardes had great affiance and trust in them and that most iustly So that the people and cities did not onely receiue the Captaines and gouernors the ROMAINES sent them but they also went to ROME vnto them and procured them to come and did put them selues into their handes And not only the cities and communalties but kings princes also which were oppressed by other more mighty than them selues had no other refuge but to put them selues vnder their protection by reason whereof in a very shorte time with the fauor and helpe of the goddes as I am perswaded all the world came to submit them selues to their obedience and vnder the protection of their Empire Titus also did glory more that he had restored GREECE againe vnto liberty then in any other seruice or exployte he had euer done For when he offered vp vnto the temple of Apollo in the citie of DELPHES the targets of siluer with his owne shielde he made these verses to be grauen vpon them in effect as followeth O noble tvvynnes Tyndarides Dan loue his children deare Throvv out lovvde shovtes of ioy and mirth reioyce and make good cheare O noble kings of Spartan soyle vvhich take delight to ryde Your trampling steedes vvith fomy byt and trappings by their side Reioyce you novv for Titus he the valliant Romaine knight These giftes so great to you hath got euen by his force and might That hauing taken cleane avvay from of the Greekishe neckes The heauy yoke of seruitude vvhich held them thrall to checkes Vnto their former liberty he hath restorde them free VVhich altogether perisht vvas as men might plainely see He gaue a crowne of massie gold vnto Apollo vppon the which he made this inscription to be wrytten A valliant Romaine knight euen Titus by his name A captaine vvorthy by desert of high renovvne and fame To thee Apollo god this crovvne of pure fine golde Hath geuen thy godhead to adorne vvith iuells manifolde Therefore let it thee please Apollo god of grace VVith fauor to requite this loue to him and to his race That his renovvmed fame and vertue may be spred And blased through the vvorlde so vvide to shevv vvhat life he led So hath the city of CORINTHE enioyed this good happe that the GREECIANS haue bene twise proclaimed to be set at liberty the first time by Titus Quintius Flaminius and the second time by Nero in our time and at the selfe same instant when they solemnly kept the feast called Isthmia Howebeit the first proclamation of their liberty as we haue tolde ye before was done by the voyce of a herauld and the seconde time it was done by Nero him selfe who proclaimed it in an oration he made vnto the people in open assembly in the market place of the city of CORINTHE But it was a longe time after Furthermore Titus beganne then a goodly and iust warre against Nabis the cursed and wicked tyran of LACEDAEMON Howebeit in the ende he deceaued the expectation of GREECE For when he might haue taken him he would not doe it but made peace with him forsakinge poore SPARTA vnworthily oppressed vnder the yoke of bondage either bicause he was afrayed that if the warre helde on there shoulde come a successor vnto him from ROME that should cary the glory away to ende the same or else he stoode Iealous and enuious of the honor they did vnto Philopoemen Who hauing shewed him selfe in euery place as excellent a Captaine as euer came in GREECE and hauinge done notable actes and famous seruice both of great wisedome and also of valliantnesse and specially in the ACHAIANS warre he was as much honored reuerenced of the ACHAIANS in the Theaters and common assemblies euen as Titus was Whereat Titus was maruelously offended for he thought it vnreasonable that an ARCADIAN who had neuer bene generall of an army but in small litle warres against his neighbours should be as much esteemed and honored as a Consull of ROME that was come to make warres for the recouery of the libertie of GREECE But Titus alleaged reasonable excuse for his doinges saying that he saw very well he coulde not destroy this tyran Nabis without the great losse and misery of the other SPARTANS Furthermore of all the honors the ACHAIANS euer did him which were very great me thinkes there was none that came neere any recompence of his honorable and well deseruing but one onely present they offered him and which he aboue all the rest most esteemed and this it was Duringe the seconde warres of AFRICEE which the ROMAINES had against Hanniball many ROMAINES were taken prisoners in the sundry battells they lost and beinge solde here and there remained slaues in many contries and amongest other there were dispersed in GREECE to the number of twelue hundred which from time to time did moue men with pitie and compassion towardes them that saw them in so miserable chaunge and state of fortune But then much more was their miserie to be pitied when these captiues found in the ROMAINES army some of them their sonnes other their brethren and the rest their fellowes and frendes free and conquerours and them selues slaues and bondemen It grieued Titus much to see these poore men in such miserable captiuity notwithstanding he would not take them by force from those that had them Whereupon the ACHAIANS redeemed and bought them for fiue hundred pence a man and hauinge gathered them together into a troupe they presented all the ROMAINE captiues vnto Titus euen as he was ready to take ship to returne into ITALIE which present made him returne home with greater ioy and contentacion hauing receiued for his noble deedes so honorable a recompence and worthy of him selfe that was so louing a man to his citizens and contry And surely that onely was the ornament in my opinion that did most beautifie his triumphe For these poore redeemed captiues did that which the slaues are wont to doe on that day when they be set at liberty to witte they shaue their heades and doe weare litle hattes apon them The ROMAINES that were thus redeemed did
in like maner and so followed Titus charret on the day of his triumphe and entrie made into ROME in the triumphing manner It was a goodly sight also to see the spoyles of the enemies which were caried in the show of this triumphe as store of helmets after the GREECIANS facion heapes of targets shieldes and pykes after the MACEDONIAN manner with a wonderfull summe of gold and siluer For Itanus the historiographer writeth that there was brought a maruelous great masse of treasure in niggots of golde of three thousand seuen hundred and thirteene pounde weight and of siluer of forty three thousande two hundred three score and tenne pound weight and of gold ready coyned in peeces called Philips foureteene thousand fiue hundred and foureteene besides the thousand talents king Philip should pay for a raunsome The which summe the ROMAINES afterwardes forgaue him chiefly at Titus sute and intercession who procured that grace for him and caused him to be called a frend and confederate of the people of ROME and his sonne Demetrius to be sent vnto him againe who remained before as an hostage at ROME Shortely after king Antiochus went out of ASIA into GREECE with a great fleete of shippes and a very puisant army to stirre vp the cities to forsake their league and allyance with the ROMAINES and to make a dissention amongest them To further this his desire and enterprise the AETOLIANS did aide and backe him which of long time had borne great and secrete malice against the ROMAINES and desired much to haue had warres with them So they taught king Antiochus to say that the warre which he tooke in hande was to set the GREECIANS at liberty whereof they had no neede bicause they did already enioy their liberty but for that they had no iust cause to make warre they taught him to cloke it the honestest way he coulde Wherefore the ROMAINES fearinge greatly the rising of the people the rumor of the power of this great king they sent thither Manius Acilius their generall and Titus one of his Lieutenaunts for the GREECIANS sakes Which arriuall did the more assure them that already bare good will to the ROMAINES after they had once seene Manius and Titus and the rest that beganne to flie out and to shrinke from them those Titus kept in obedience from starting remembringe them of the frendship and good will they had borne him euen like a good skilfull phisitian that coulde geue his pacient phisicke to preserue him from a contageous disease In deede there were some but fewe of them that left him which were won and corrupted before by the AETOLIANS and though he had iust cause of offence towardes them yet he saued them after the battell For king Antiochus being ouercome in the contry of THERMOPYLES fled his way and in great hast tooke the sea to returne into ASIA And the Consull Manius following his victory entred into the contry of the AETOLIANS where he tooke certaine townes by force and left the other for a pray vnto kinge Philip. So Philip kinge of MACEDON on the one side spoyled and sacked the DOLOPIANS the MAGNESIANS the ATHAMANIANS and the APERANTINES and the Consull Manius on the other side destroyed the city of HERACLEA and layed siege to the citie of NAVPACTVN which the AETOLIANS kept But Titus takinge compassion of them to see the poore people of GREECE thus spoiled and turned out of all went out of PELOPONNESVS where he was then vnto Manius Acilius campe and there reproued him for suffering king Philip to vsurpe the benefit and reward of his honorable victory still conqueringe many people kings and contries whilest he continued siege before a city and only to wreake his anger vpon them Afterwardes when they that were besieged saw Titus from their walles they called him by his name and helde vp their handes vnto him prayinge him he would take pitie vpon them but he gaue them neuer a word at that time and turning his backe vnto them he fell a weeping Afterwards he spake with Manius and appeasing his anger got him to graunt the AETOLIANS truce for certaine dayes in which time they might sende Ambassadors to ROME to see if they could obtaine grace and pardon of the Senate But the most trouble and difficulty he had was to intreate for the CHALCIDIANS with whome the Consull Manius was more grieuously offended then with all the rest bicause that kinge Antiochus after the warres was begonne had maried his wife in their citie when he was past yeares of mariage and out of all due time For he was now very olde and beinge in his extreame age and in the middest of his warres he fell in dotage with a yoūg gentlewoman the daughter of Cleoptolemus the fayrest woman that was at that time in all GREECE Therefore the CHALCIDIANS were much affected vnto king Antiochus and did put their city into his handes to serue him in this warre for a strong safe retyring place Wherupō whē Antiochus had lost the battel he came thither with all possible speede and takinge from thence with him his passinge fayer younge Queene which he had maried and his golde his siluer and frendes he tooke the seaes incontinently and returned into ASIA For this cause the Consull Manius hauing wonne the battell did marche straight with his army towardes the citie of CHALCID◠in a greate rage and fury But Titus that followed him did alwayes lye vppon him to pacifie his anger and did so much intreate him together with the other ROMAINES of state and authoritie in counsell that in the ende he gotte him to pardone them of CHALCIDE also Who bicause they were preserued from perill by his meanes they to recompence this fact of his did consecrate vnto him all their most stately and sumptuous buildinges and common workes in their citie as appeareth yet by the superscriptions remaininge to be seene at this day As in the show place of exercises The people of CHALCIDE did dedicate this show place of exercises vnto Titus Hercules And in the temple called Delphinium The people of CHALCIDE did consecrate this temple vnto Titus and vnto Apollo And furthermore vnto this present time there is a priest chosen by the voyce of the people purposely to do sacrifice vnto Titus in which sacrifice after that the thing sacrificed is offered vp and wine powred apon it the people standing by do sing a song of triumphe made in praise of him But bicause it were to long to wryte it all out we haue only drawen in briefe the latter end of the same and this it is The cleare vnspotted faith of Romaines vve adore And vovv to be their faithfull frendes both novv and euer more Sing out you Muses nyne to loues eternall fame Sing out the honor due to Rome and Titus vvorthy name Sing out I say the praise of Titus and his faith By vvhom you haue preserued bene from ruine dole and death Now the
Thus they continued a longe space the one cryinge the other lystning yet could they not vnderstand one an other til at the last one of the company bethought him selfe to pill of a peece of the barke of an oke vpon that he wrote with the tongue of a buckle the hard fortune and necessity of the childe Which he tyed to a stone to geue it weight and so threw it ouer to the other side of the riuer other say that he did pricke the barke through with the point of a dart which he cast ouer The contrymen on the otherside of the riuer hauinge red what was wrytten and vnderstanding thereby the present daunger the childe was in felled downe trees in all the hast they could possibly bounde them together and so passed ouer the riuer And it fortune that the first man of them that passed ouer and tooke the child was called Achilles the residue of the contrymen passed ouer also and tooke the other that came with the childe and conueyed them ouer as they came first to hand And thus hauing escaped their haÌ„ds by easie iorneys they came at the length vnto Glaucias king of ILLYRIA whom they found in his house sitting by his wife and layed downe the childe in the middest of the flower before him The king hereuppon stayed a long time without vttering any one word waying with him selfe what was best to be done bicause of the feare he had of Cassander a mortall enemy of AEacides In the meane time the childe Pyrrus creeping of all foure tooke hold of the kinges gowne and scrawled vp by that and so got vp on his feete against the kings knees At the first the king laughed to see the childe but after it pitied him againe bicause the child seemed like an humble suter that came to seeke sanctuary in his armes Other say that Pyrrus came not to Glaucias but vnto the alter of the familiar gods alongest the which he got vp on his feete and embraced it with both his hands Which Glaucias imagining to be done by gods prouidence presently deliuered the childe to his wife gaue her the charge of him and willed her to see him brought vp with his owne Shortely after his enemies sent to demaunde the childe of him and moreouer Cassander caused two hundred talents to be offered him to deliuer the childe Pyrrus into his handes Howebeit Glaucias would neuer graunt thereunto but contrarily when Pyrrus was comen to twelue yeares olde brought him into his contry of EPIRVS with an army and stablished him king of the realme againe Pyrrus had a great maiesty in his countenaunce but yet in deede more fearefull then frendly He had also no teeth in his vpper iawe that stoode distinctly one from an other but one whole bone through out his gomme marked a litle at the top only with certaine riftes in the place where the teeth should be deuided Men helde opinion also that he did heale them that were sicke of the splene by sacrificinge a white cocke and touchinge the place of the splene on the left side of them that were sicke softely with his right foote they lying on their backes and there was not so poore nor simple a man that craued this remedy of him but he gaue it him and tooke the cocke he sacrificed for reward of the remedy which pleased him very well They say also that the great toe of his right foote had some secrete vertue in it For when he was dead and that they had burnt all partes of his body and consumed it to ashes his great toe was whole and had no hurt at all But of that we will wryte more hereafter Now when he was seuenteene yeares of age thinking him selfe sure enough of his kingdome it chaunced him to make a iorney into ILLYRIA where he maried one of Glaucias daughters with whom he had bene brought vp But this backe was no sooner turned but the MOLOSSIANS rebelled againe against him draue out his frends seruaunts and destroyed all his goods and yelded themselues vnto his aduersary Neoptolemus King Pyrrus hauing thus lost his kingdom seeing himself forsaken on all sides went to Demetrius Antigonus sonne that had maried his sister Deidamia who in her young age was assured to Alexander the sonne of Alexander the great and of Roxane and was called his wife But when all that race was brought to wicked ende Demetrius then maried her being come to full and able age And in that great battell which was striken neere to the citie of HIPSVS where all the kinges fought together Pyrrus being then but a young man and with Demetrius put them all to flight that fought with him and was worthely reputed for the valliantest prince amongest them all Furthermore when Demetrius was ouercome and had lost the battell Pyrrus neuer forsooke him but faithfully did keepe for him the cities of GREECE which he put into his hands And afterwards when peace was concluded betwixt Demetrius and Ptolomie Pyrrus was sent an ostage for Demetrius into the realme of AEGIPTE where he made Ptolomie know both in huntinge and in other exercises of his persone that he was very strong harde and able to endure any labor Furthermore perceiuing that Berenice amongest all king Ptolomies wiues was best beloued and esteemed of her husbande both for her vertue and wisedome he beganne to entertaine and honor her aboue all the rest For he was a man that could tell how to humble him selfe towardes the great by whom he might winne benefit and knewe also how to creepe into their credit and in like manner was he a great scorner and despiser of such as were his inferiors Moreouer for that he was found maruelous honorable and of fayer condicion he was preferred before all other young princes to be the husbande of Antigona the daughter of Queene Berenice whom she had by Philip before she was maried vnto Ptolomie From thenceforth growing through the allyance of that mariage more and more into estimacion and fauor by meanes of his wife Antigona who shewed her selfe very vertuous and louing towardes him he found meanes in the ende to get both men and money to returne againe into the realme of EPIRVS and to conquer it so was he then very well receiued of the people and the better for the malice they bare to Neoptolemus bicause he deâ—â— both hardly and cruelly with them That notwithstandinge Pyrrus fearinge least Neoptolemus would repaire vnto some of the other kings to seeke ayde against him thought good to make peace with him Whereupon it was agreed betwene them that they should both together be kinges of EPIRVS But in processe of time some of their men secretly made strife againe betwene them and set them at defyance one with an other and the chiefest cause as it is sayed that angered Pyrrus most grew apon this The kinges of EPIRVS had an auncient custome of great antiquity after
they made request vnto him either to remaine in their contry to maintaine warres with them against the ROMAINES which was their meaning why they sent for him or else if he would needes go at the least wise to leaue their city in as good state as he founde it But he aunswered them againe very roughly that they shoulde speake no more to him in it and that they should not choose but tary his occasion And with this aunswere tooke shippe and sailed towardes SICILIA where so soone as he was arriued he founde all that he hoped for for the cities did willingely put them selues into his handes And where necessity of battell was offered him to employ his army nothing at the beginning could stande before him For with thirty thowsande footemen two thowsande fiue hundred horsemen and two hundred sayle which he brought with him he draue the CARTHAGINIANS before him and conquered all the contry vnder their obedience Nowe at that time the city of ERIX was the strongest place they had and there were a great number of good souldiers within it to defende it Pyrrus determined to proue the assault of it and when his army was ready to geue the charge he armed him selfe at all peeces from toppe to toe and approching the walls vowed vnto Hercules to geue him a solemne sacrifice with a feast of common playes so that he would graunt him grace to shew him selfe vnto the GREECIANS inhabiting in SICILIA worthy of the noble auncesters from whence he came and of the great good fortune he had in his handes This vowe ended he straight made the trompettes sound to the assault caused the barbarous people that were on the walles to retyre with force of his shot Then when the scaling ladders were set vp him selfe was the first that mounted on the walle where he found diuerse of the barbarous people that resisted him But some he threw ouer the walles on either side of him and with his sword slew many dead about him himselfe not once hurt for the barbarous people had not the harte to looke him in the face his countenaunce was so terrible And this doth proue that Homer spake wisely and like a man of experience when he sayd that valliantnesse onely amongest all other morall vertues is that which hath somtimes certaine furious motions and diuine prouocations which make a man besides him selfe So the city being taken he honorably performed his vowed sacrifice to Hercules kept a feast of all kindes and sortes of games and weapons There dwelt a barbarous people at that time about MESSINA called the MAMERTINES who did much hurt to the GREECIANS therabouts makinge many of them pay taxe and tribute for they were a great number of them and all men of warre and good souldiers and had their name also of Mars bicause they were marshall men and geuen to armes Pyrrus led his army against them and ouerthrew them in battell and put their collectors to death that did leauy and exact the taxe and rased many of their fortresses And when the CARTHAGINIANS required peace and his frendship offering him shippes and money pretending greater matters he made them a shorte aunswere that there was but one way to make peace and loue betwene them to forsake SICILIA altogether and to be contented to make Mare Libycum the border betwixt GREECE and them For his good fortune and the force he had in his handes did set him aloft and further allured him to follow the hope that brought him into SICILIA aspiring first of all vnto the conquest of LIBYA Now to passe him ouer thither he had ships enough but he lacked owers mariners wherefore when he would presse them then he began to deale roughly with the cities of SICILIA and in anger compelled and seuerely punished them that would not obey his commaundement This he did not at his first comminge but contrarily had wonne all their good wills speaking more curteously to them then any other did and shewing that he trusted them altogether and troubled them in nothing But sodainly being altered from a populer prince vnto a violent tyran he was not only thought cruell and rigorous but that worst of all is vnfaithfull and ingratefull neuerthelesse though they receiued great hurt by him yet they suffered it and graunted him any needefull thing he did demaund But when they saw he began to mistrust Thaenon and Sostratus the two chiefe Captaines of SYRACVSA and they who first caused him to come into SICILIA who also at his first arriuall deliuered the city of SYRACVSA into his hands had bene his chiefe aiders in helping him to compasse that he had done in SICILIA when I say they saw he would no more cary them with him nor leaue them behinde him for the mistrust he had of them and that Sostratus fled from him and absented him selfe fearing least Pyrrus would doe him some mischiefe and that Pyrrus moreouer had put Thaenon to death mistrusting that he would also haue done him some harme Then all things fell out against Pyrrus not one after an other nor by litle and litle but all together at one instant and all the cities generally hated him to the death and did againe some of them confederate with the CARTHAGINIANS and others with the MAMERTINES to set vpon him But when all SICILIA was thus bent against him he receiued letters from the SAMNITES TARENTINES by which they aduertised him how they had much a doe to defende them selues within their cities and strong holdes and that they were wholly driuen out of the field wherfore they earnestly besought him speedily to come to their aide This newes came happely to him to cloke his flying that he might say it was not for dispaire of good successe in SICILIA that he went his way but true it was in dede that when he saw he could no longer keepe it then a shippe could stand still among the waues he sought some honest shadow to colour his departing And that surely was the cause why he returned againe into ITALIE Neuerthelesse at his departure out of SICILE they say that looking backe apon the I le he said to those that were about him O what a goodly field for a battell my frendes doe we leaue to the ROMAINES and CARTHAGINIANS to fight th one with thother And verily so it fell out shortely after as he had spoken But the barbarous people conspiringe together against Pyrrus the CARTHAGINIANS on the one side watching his passage gaue him battel on the sea in the very straight it selfe of MESSINA where he lost many of his ships and fled with the rest tooke the coast of ITALIE And there the MAMERTINES on the other side being gone thither before to the number of eighteene thowsande fighting men durst not present him battell in open fielde but taried for him in certaine straites of the mountaines in very hard places and so set vpon his rereward and
and lodged with him When night was come the LACEDAEMONIANS counselled together secretly determined to send away their wiues and litle children into CRETA But the women them selues were against it and there was one amonge them called Archidamia who went into the Senate house with a sword in her hand to speake vnto them in the name of all the rest and sayd that they did their wiues great wronge if they thought them so fainte harted as to liue after SPARTA were destroyed Afterwards it was agreed in counsell that they should cast a trenche before the enemies campe and that at both the endes of the same they should bury cartes in the ground vnto the middest of the wheeles to the end that being fast set in the ground they should stay the elephantes and kepe them from passing further And when they beganne to go in hand withall there came wives and maides vnto them some of them their clothes girte vp round about them and others all in their smockes to worke at this trenche with the old men aduising the young men that should fight the next morning to rest them selues in the meane while So the women tooke the third parte of the trenche to taske which was six cubittes broade foure cubits deepe and eight hundred foote long as Philarchus sayth or litle lesse as Hieronymus wryteth Then when the breake of day appeared the enemies remoued to come to the assault the women them selues fetched the weapons which they put into the young mens hands and deliuered them the taske of the trenche ready made which they before had vndertaken praying them valliantly to keepe and defend it tellinge them withall howe great a pleasure it is to ouercome the enemies fighting in view and sight of their natiue contry and what great felicity and honor it is to dye in the armes of his mother and wife after he hath fought valliantly like an honest man and worthy of the magnanimity of SPARTA But Chelidonida being gone a side had tyed a halter with ariding knot about her necke ready to strangle hang her selfe rather theÌ„ to fall into the hands of Cleonymus if by chaunce the city should come to be taken Now Pyrrus marched in person with his battell of footemen against the fronte of the SPARTANS who being a great number also did tary his comming on the other side of the trenche the which besides that it was very ill to passe ouer did let the souldiers also to fight steadely in order of battell bicause the earth being newly cast vp did yeld vnder their feete Wherefore Ptolomie king Pyrrus sonne passing all alongest the trench side with two thowsand GAVLES all the choyce men of the CHAONIANS assayed if he could get ouer to the other side at one of the endes of the trenche where the cartes were which being set very deepe into the ground and one ioyned vnto an other they did not only hinder thassaylants but the defendants also Howbeit in the end the GAVLES began to plucke of the wheeles of these cartes and to draw them into the riuer But Acrotatus king Areus sonne a young man seeing the daunger ranne through the city with a troupe of three hundred lusty youthes besides went to inclose Ptolomie behinde before he espied him for that he passed a secret hollow way till he came even to geue the charge vpon them whereby they were enforced to turne their faces towardes him one runninge in an others necke and so in great disorder were thrust into the trenches and vnder the cartes insomuch as at the last with much a doe and great bloodshed Acrotates and his company draue them backe and repulsed them Now the women and old men that were on thother side of the trenche saw plainly before their face howe valliantly Acrotatus had repulsed the GAVLES Wherefore alter Acrotatus had done this exployte he returned againe through the city vnto the place from whence he came all on a goare blood coragious and liuely for the victory he came newly from The women of SPARTA thought Acrotatus farre more noble and fayrer to beholde then euer he was so that they all thought Chelidonida happy to haue such a frend and louer And there were certaine olde men that followed him crying after him goe thy way Acrotatus and enioy thy loue Chelidonida beget noble children of her vnto SPARTA The fight was cruell on that side where Pyrrus was and many of the SPARTANS fought very valliantly Howbeit amongest other there was one named Phillius who after he had sought long and slaine many of his enemies with his owne handes that forced to passe ouer the trenche perceiuing that his hart fainted for the great number of woundes he had apon him called one of them that were in the rancke next behinde him and geuing him his place fell downe deade in the armes of his frendes bicause his enemies shoulde not have his body In the ende the battell hauinge continued all the day longe the night did separate them and Pyrrus being layed in his bed had this vision in his sleepe He thought he â—â—rake the city of LACEDAEMON with lightning and that he vtterly consumed it whereat he was so passing glad that euen with the very ioy he awaked And thereuppon foorthwith commaunded his Captaines to make their men ready to the assault and told his dreame vnto his familiers supposing that out of dout it did betoken he should in that approache take the citie All that heard it beleued it was so sauing one Lysimachus who to the contrary sayed that this vision like him not bicause the places smitten with lightning are holy and it is noâ— lawfull to enter into them by reason wherof he was also affraied that the goddes did signifie vnto him that he should not enter into the citie of SPARTA Pyrrus aunswered him that saied he is a matter disputable to fro in an open assembly of people for there is no maner of certainty in it But furthermore euery man must take his weapon in his hand set this sentence before his eyes A right good signe it is that he vvould hazard life In iust defence of masters cause vvith speare and bloody knife Alludinge vnto Homers verses which he wrote for the defence of his contry And saying thus he rose and at the breake of day led his army vnto the assault On thother side also the LACEDAEMONIANS with a maruelous corage magnanimity farre greater then their force bestirred them selues wonderfully to make resistaunce hauing their wiues by them that gaue them their weapons wherewith they fought and were ready at hand to geue meate drinke to them that needed and did also withdrawe those that were hurt to cure them The MACEDONIANS likewise for their parte endeuored them selues with all their might to fill vppe the trenche with wodde and other thinges which they cast vpon the dead bodies and armors lying in the bottome of the ditche the
and those that are ill fauored mere ougly and fearefull to see to And furthermore it is sayd that Aristoclitus the father of Lysander was not of the royall blood of the kinges of SPARTA though he came of the race of the Heraclides and that his sonne Lysander was very meanely and poorely brought vp being as obedient to the lawes and statutes of his contrie as any other man was showing him selfe alwayes very strong and constant against all vanitie and pleasure sauing only in matters of honor and curtesie which they offer vnto those that deserue well For they thinke it no shame nor dishonesty in SPARTA that the young men doe suffer them selues to be ouercome with that delite and pleasure but doe so bring vp their children that from their youth they would haue them to haue some tast and seeling of honor deliting to be praised and sorie to be discoÌ„mended For they make no accompt of him that is not moued with the one nor the other but take him to be of a base cowardly nature that hath no manner of minde to doe good And therefore it is to be thought that the ambition and stowtnesse that was bred in Lysander proâ—ceded of the LACONICALL discipline and education he had and not so much of his owne nature But in dede of his owne nature he was a right courtier could tell how to entertaine and flatter great states and nobility farre better then the common maner of the natural SPARTANS and moreouer for his priuate benefit he could easily beare with the stowtnes of greater men of authority then him selfe which some iudge to be a great poynt of wisedome to know how to deale in matters of state Aristotle in a place where he sayeth that the greatest wittes commonly are subiect vnto melancholye as Socrates Plato and Hercules were wryteth that Lysander in his later age fell into the melancholy disease but not in his youth He had also this singular gift aboue all other that in his pouerty he alwayes kept that honest modesty with him as he would neuer be ouercome nor corrupted with gold nor siluer and yet be filled his contrie with riches and couetousnes which lost him the reputacion he had wonne bicause him selfe made none accompt of riches nor getting For bringing store of golde and siluer into his contrie after he had ouercomen the ATHENIANS he reserued not vnto him selfe one Drachima only And furthermore when Dionysius the tyran of SYRACVSA had on a time sent goodly riche gownes out of SICILIA to his daughters he refused them saying that he was afrayed such gownes would make them fowler Neuertheless shortly after being sent Ambassador out of his contrie vnto the same tyranne Dionysius sending him two gownes praying him to choose which of the two he would cary to his daughter he answered that she her selfe could best choose which was the fitter and so caried both with him But now to come to his doings in warlike causes the warres of PELOPONNESVS fell out maruelous long For after the ouerthrow of the armie which the ATHENIANS had sent into SICILIA when euery man thought they had vtterly lost all their force by sea and that by all coniecture they shoulde soone after loose all by lande also Alcibiades returning from his exile to deale againe in matters of the state made an exceding great chaunge and alteration For he set the ATHENIANS a flote againe and made them as strong by sea as the LACEDAEMONIANS who thereupon beganne to quake for feare and to looke estsoones for a freshe warre perceiuinge that they stoode in neede of a greater power and of a better Captaine then euer they had before Whereuppon they made Lysander their Admirall who arriuing in the citie of EPHESVS founde them very well affected towardes him and maruelous willing and ready to take the LACEDAEMONIANS parte howbeit otherwise in very poore state and ready almost to take vp all the barbarous maners and facions of the PERSIANS bicause they did continually frequent them being enuironned round about with the contry of LYDIA where the king of PERSIANS Captaines were euer resident Wherefore hauing planted his campe there he brought thither marchauntes shippes out of all partes and sette vp an arsenall or store house to builde gallies in so that in shorte space by oft recourse of marchauntes that beganne to trade thither he quickened their hauens and set vp their staple againe for trafficke of marchaundise and filled euery priuate artificers house with an honest trade to make them riche by so that euer after it grewe in continuall hope to come vnto that florishinge state and greatnes in the which we see it at this present Furthermore Lysander being aduertised that Cyrus one of the great king of PERSIANS sonnes was come vnto the city of SARDIS he went thither to speake with him and to complaine of Tisaphernes who hauing commaundement geuen him from the king to aide the LACEDAEMONIANS and to helpe to expulse the ATHENIANS and to driue them from the sea seemed to deale but coldly and faintly against them for the fauor he bare to Alcibiades For furnishing the LACEDAEMONIANS very scantly with money was an occasion that all their armie by sea went to wracke Cyrus for his owne parte was very glad that he heard complaintes of Tisaphernes and that they spake against him bicause he was an ill man and the rather for that he had him selfe a litle odde grudge to him Wherfore he loued Lysander maruelous well as well for the complaintes he made of Tisaphernes as also for the pleasure he tooke in his companie bicause he was a man that could wonderfully please delite noble men by which meanes hauing wonne the fauor of this young Prince he did perswade and also incorage him to follow this warre And when Lysander was vpon his departure to take his leaue of him Cyrus feasted him and afterwardes prayed him not to refuse the offer of his liberalitie and that was that he would freely aske him what he would assuring him he should not be denied any thing Wherunto Lysander answered him Sithence I see Cyrus you are so willing to pleasant vs I beseeche you and doe also counsell you then to increase the ordinarie pay of our maryners one halfe penny a day to the end that where now they haue but three halfe pence they may thenceforth receaue two pence a day Cyrus was glad to heare Lysanders bounty and the increase that he would make and caused tenne thowsande Darickes to be deliuered him by meane whereof he added to the ordinary pay of the maryners the increase of a halfe penny day This liberality within few dayes after emptied all their enemies gallies of their men For the most parte of their maryners galley men went where they might haue the best paye and such as remained behinde became very dull lasie and seditious dayly troubling their Captaines and gouernors Now though Lysander had
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
great while together before any man marked it Cimon at the last spied it by chaunce and as he was looking of them to marke what they did the minister of the sacrifice brought the beastes liuer that was sacrificed to shew him whereof the biggest end that they call the head was lacking and this they iudged for a very ill token Notwithstanding hauing all things readie for preparation of this iorney so as he could not well goebacke he launched into the sea and hoysed sayle and sending three score of his gallies into EGYPT sayled with the rest vpon the coast of PAMPYTLIA Where he wanne a battell by sea of the king of PERSIA ouercomming the gallies of the PHENICIANS and the CILICIANS and conquered all the cities thereabouts making the way very open to enter into EGYPT For he had no small thoughtes in his minde but reached to high enterprises and determined vtterly to destroy the whole Empire of the mighty kinge of PERSIA and specially for that he vnderstoode Themistocles was in maruelous credit and reputacion amōgest the barbarous people bicause he had promised the king of PERSIA to lead his armie for him and to doe him notable seruice whensoeuer he shoulde haue occasion to warre with the GRAECIANS It is thought this was the chiefe cause that made Themistocles poison himselfe bicause he dispaired that he could not performe that seruice against GRAECE which he had promised assuring him selfe that it was no easie matter to vanquishe Cimon corage and good fortune who lay at that time with his armie all alongest the I le of CYPRVS promising him selfe great matters at that instant But in the meane season Cimon sent certaine of his men vnto the oracle of Iuppiter Ammon to aske him some secret question for no man euer knew neither then nor since for what cause he had sent them thither neither did they also bring backe any aunswere For they were no sooner come thither but the oracle commaunded them straight to returne saying vnto them that Cimon was then comming to him So Cimons men receiuing this aunswere left the oracle and tooke their iorney backe to the seawardes Now when they were commen againe to the GRAECIANS campe which at that present lay in EGYPT they heard that Cimon was departed this worlde and reckoninge the dayes sence his death with the instant of their aunswere receiued by the oracle that Cimon was then comming vnto him they knew straight that darkely he had signified his death vnto them and that at that very time he was with the goddes He dyed at the siege of the citie of CITIVM in CYPRVS as some reporte or else of a hurte he receiued at a skirmishe as other holde opinion When he dyed he commaunded them that were vnder his charge to returne into their contry againe and in no case to publishe his death which commaundement was so wisely and cunningly handeled that they all came home safe and not an enemie nor any of their confederates that once vnderstoode any thing of it So was the armie of the GRAECIANS gouerned and led by Cimon though him selfe was dead the space of thirtie dayes as Phanodemus wryteth But after his death there was no GRAECIAN Captaine that did any notable thing worthie of fame against the barbarous people bicause the Orators and gouernors of the chiefest cities of GRAECE stirred them vp one against an other and there was no man that would once steppe in as a mediator to make peace betwene them And thus the GRAECIANS now did one destroy and spoyle an other by ciuill warre amongest them selues which happely gaue the king of PERSIA leasure and time to restore him selfe againe and contrarily was cause of such vtter ruine and destruction of the whole power and force of GRAECE as no tongue can well expresse In deede a long time after kinge Agesilaus came with an armie of the GRAECIANS into ASIA and beganne a small warre against the Lieutenauntes of the king of PERSIAES gouernors of the lower contries of ASIA But before he could doe any notable exployte he was called home againe by occasion of newe troubles and ciuill warres risinge amonge the GRAECIANS and compelled to returne into his contrie leauing the treasorers of the king of PERSIA raising of subsidies and taxes vpon the cities of the GRAECIANS in ASIA although they were confederates of the LACEDAEMONIANS Whereas in the time that Cimon gouerned they neuer sawe any of the kinges sergeauntes at armes or commissioner that brought any letters pattentes or commaundement from the king or any souldier that durst come neere the sea by fortie furlonges The tombes which they call vnto this present day Cimonia doe witnesse that his ashes and bones were brought vnto ATHENS Neuerthelesse they of the citie of CITIVM doe honor a certaine tombe which they say is Cimons tombe bicause that in a great dearth and barrennes of the earth they had an oracle that commaunded them not to neglect Cimons as the Orator Nansicrates writeth it but to honor and reuerence him as a god Such was the life of this GRAECIAN Captaine The end of Cimons life THE LIFE OF Lucius Lucullus AS for Lucullus his grandfather was a Consull and so was Metellus surnamed Numidirus bicause of his conquest of NVMIDIA his vncle by the mothers side His father notwithstanding was conuict of fellony for robbing the treasure of the state whilest he was officer and Caecilia his mother was reported to haue led an vnchast life But for Lucullus selfe before he bare office or rule in matters of state the first thing he towched and tooke in hande for the cause of his contrie was thaccusation of Seruilius the soothsayer who before had accused his father for that he also had delt falsely in his office and deceiued the common wealth And this the ROMANES thought very well handled of him insomuch as a pretie while after there was no other talke in ROME but of that matter as though it had bene a notable valliant acte done by him For otherwise though priuately they had no iust occasion yet they thought it a noble deede to accuse the wicked and it pleased them as much to see the young men put lawe breakers in sute as to see a notable good course of a dogge at a hare Howebeit there followed such sturre and bandinge vppon this sute that some were verie sore hurte and other slaine in the market place but in fyne Seruilius was cleared and quite dimissed Lucullus was verie eloquent well spoken and excellently well learned in the Greeke and Latin tongue insomuch as Sylla dedicated vnto him the commentaries of all his doings which himselfe had collected as to one that could better frame a whole historie thereof and cowche it more eloquētly together in wryting For he had not only a ready tongue to vtter that he would speake and pleade his matters with great eloquence as other be seene to doe hauing matters of
sute or open audience Like tonny fishe they be vvhich svviftly diue and doppe Into the depth of Occean sea vvithouten stay or stoppe But afterwardes also when ye take them out of their common practise and pleadinges Then are they graueld straight vvithouten grace or skill Their eloquence lyes then in dyke and they them selues be still For Lucullus had studied humanitie from his youth and was well learned in all the liberall sciences but when he came to elder yeares to refreshe his witte after great troubles he fell to the studie of Philosophie which quickened the contemplatiue parte of his soule mortified or at the least betimes brideled the ambitious and actiue parte specially after the dissention betwixt him and Pompey But to acquaint you better with his learning yet it is said that when he was a young man he layed a great wager with Hortensius the Orator and Sisenna the historiographer in iest as it were at the first but afterwardes it fell to good earnest that he would write the breuiary of the warres of MARSICVM in verse or profe in the Latin or Greeke tongue which soeuer fell to his lotte and I thinke his happe was to doe it in prose in the Greeke tongue bicause we finde a litle Greeke storie extant of the warres of the ROMANES against the MARSIANS He dearely loued his brother Marcus Lucullus as appeared by many manifest proofes but the chiefest and most noted proofe among the ROMANES was this Him selfe was elder then his brother Marcus and yet for all that would neuer sue to beare office in the common wealth nor accept any before his brother but taried alwayes till he should be chosen and let his owne time passe ouer This great curtesie to his brother so wanne the peoples hartes as Lucius being absent they chose him AEdilis and his brother Marcus with him for his sake He was in the flower of his youth in the time of the MARSIANS warres wherein he did many wise and valliant deedes The cause notwithstanding that moued Sylla to make choyce of him was rather for his constancy good curteous nature then for any other respect For when Sylla had once wonne him he euer after employed him continually in his most weightie causes as in a commission specially he gaue him to coyne money For in deede parte of the money that Sylla spent in the warres against king Mithridates was coyned by Lucullus commaundement within the contrie of PELOPONNESVS whereupon they were called Lucullian peeces and were currant a longe time amongest the souldiers to buy such things as they stoode in nede of and neuer refused by any Sylla being afterwards at ATHENS the stronger by land but the weaker by sea so as his enemies cut of his vittells from him sent Lucullus into EGYPT and LIBYA to bring him such shippes as he found in those partes It was in the deepe of winter and yet he spared not to sayle with three brigantines of GREECE and as many galliots of the RHODIANS putting him selfe not only to the daunger of the sea in so long a voyage but of his enemies in like maner who knowing them selues to be the stronger went sayling euery where with a great nauie But for all these daungers he first arriued in the I le of CRETA and wanne their goodwilles From thence went to the citie of CYRENE where he found the inhabitaunts turmoyled with ciuil warres and continuall oppressions of tyrans from which troubles he deliuered them and gaue them lawes to establishe gouernment amongest them putting them in remembraunce of Platoes wordes spoken to their auncesters in old time in the spirite of a prophecie For when they prayed Plato to write them lawes and to appoint them some forme of gouernment for their common wealth he made them aunswere it was a hard thing to geue lawes to so riche and fortunate people as they were For to say truely as nothing is harder to be ruled then a rich man so contrarily nothing readier to receiue counsell and gouernment then a man in aduersity This lesson framed the CYRENIANS at that time to be more ciuill and obedient to the lawes Lucullus gaue them When he departed thence he coasted towardes EGYPT where he lost the more parte of his shippes by pyrates but for his owne person scaping their handes he was very honorably receiued in the citie of ALEXANDRIA For all the kinges armie came to meete him at sea gallantly trimmed and appointed as they were wont to welcome home the kinge when he returned from any voyage by sea and king Ptolomye him selfe being very young at that time gaue him as honorable entertainment as he possible could For amongest other honors that he did him he lodged him in his courte and defrayed his ordinarie dyet where neuer straunge Captaine was lodged before and did not only spend the ordinary allowance in feasting of him which he vsed vnto others but commaunded foure times as much prouision more to be made as he had before Notwithstanding Lucullus tooke no more then reasonable was for his person nor yet would he receiue any maner gift althogh the king had sent him presents to the value of foure score talentes And which more is would not so much as go see the citie of MEMPHIS nor any other of the famous monumentes and wonderfull sightes in EGYPT saying that it was for a man that trauelled vp and downe for his pleasure and had leasure withall to see such thinges but not for him that had left his Captaine in the field at the siege of the walles of his enemies To conclude this young king Ptolomye would in no case fall in frendshippe with Sylla fearing least he should thereby put him selfe into warres but gaue him men and shippes 〈…〉 bring him into CYPRVS And as he was ready to imbarke the king bidding him farewell and embracing him gaue him a goodly rich emerod set in gold which Lucullus at the first refused vntill the king shewed him his picture grauen in it and then accepted the gift fearing least the vtter refusall might cause the king thinke he went away discontented and should perhaps therefore lay an ambushe by sea for him Thus hauing gotten a certaine number of shippes together of the porte townes thereaboutes ouer and besides such as the pyrates and sea rouers had hidden being parte of their spoyles and bestowed with their receitors went on with them into CYPRVS where he vnderstoode that his enemies lay close in certaine creekes under the foreland watching to bourde him as he sayled by Whereuppon he vnrigged and bestowed his shippes in docks and sent worde to all the porte townes thereabouts that he was determined to winter there and therefore willed them to prouide him vittells other necessarie munition to be in readines against the spring But in the meane while when he saw time conuenient he put his whole fleete againe to the sea with all possible speede
loued and esteemed that they called him the kinges father Mithridates at the beginning of his warres had sent him Ambassador vnto Tigranes to pray ayde of him against the ROMANES At which time Tigranes sayd vnto him â—â—â— what sayest thou to it Metrodorus what aduise wilt thou geue me Metrodorus either bicause he had regard vnto Tigranes profit or else bicause he was loth Mithridates should escape aunswered him againe As Ambassador O king I would wish you should do it but as a counsellor that you should not do it Tigranes now reported this speache vnto Mithridates not the king he would haue hurt Metrodorus for it though in deede he presently put him to death vpon it Whereat Tigranes was hartely sorie and repented him greatly to haue tolde him so much although he was not altogether the occasion of his casting away hauing but only â—uiued Mithridates euill will before conceiued against him For he had borne him displeasure of a long time as appeared amongst his secret papers and writings that were taken from him where he had ordained that Metrodorus should be put to death but in recompence thereof Tigranes buried his body honorably sparing no cost at all vnto the dead body of him whom liuing he had betrayed There dyed in king Tigranes courte also an Orator called Amphicrates if he deserue that mention should be made of him for the citie of ATHENS sake whereof he was borne for it is sayd that when he was banished out of his contrie he fled into the city of SELEVCIA which standeth vpon the riuer of Tigris When the inhabitaÌ„ts of the same praied him to teache them the arte of eloquence in their contrie he would not vowchesaue it but aunswered them prowdly that a platter was too litle to holde a Dolphine in meaning that their citie was too small a thing to containe it From thence he went vnto Cleopatra Mithridates daughter and king Tigranes wife where he was quickely suspected and accused so that he was forbidden to frequent the GRAECIANS coÌ„pany any more which grieued him so much that he famished him selfe to death and would eate no meate And that man was also very honorably buried by the Queene Cleopatra nere vnto a place called Sapha as they call it in that contry Now when Lucullus had quieted all thinges in ASIA and had established good laâ—â—â— among them he was not carelesse also of games and pleasaunt pastimes but while he was at leasure in the city of EPHESVS he made many games feastes wrestlinges and fence playes at the sharpe for ioy of his victory delighting all the cities of ASIA with them the which in recompence therof did institute a solemne feast also in the honor of him which they called Lucullea and did celebrate it with great ioy shewing a true and no fained frendshippe and good will towardes him which pleased him better and was more to his contentation then all the honor they could deuise to geue him But after that Appius Clodius was returned from his Ambassade and had tolde Lucullus that he must make warres with Tigranes Lucullus went backe againe vnto the realme of PONTVS where he tooke his armie which he had left in garrison and brought it before the city of SINOPE to lay siege vnto it or rather to besiege certaine CILICIANS that were gotten into the city in the behalfe of Mithridates But when they sawe Lucullus come against them they slue a great number of the citizens and setting fire on the city fled their way by night Lucullus being aduertised of it entred the citie put eight thowsande of the CILICIANS to the sword which he found there and restored the naturall citizens and inhabitantes thereof to all that was theirs But the originall cause that made him to be carefull to preserue the city was this vision he had He thought in his nightes dreame that one came to him and sayd goe a litle further Lucullus for Autolycus commeth who is desirous to speake with thee This dreame awaked him but being awake could not imagine what the vision ment It was the selfe same day on the which he tooke the city of SINOPE where following the CILICIANS that escaped by flying he found an image lying on the ground vpon the sea side which the CILICIANS would haue caried away but they were taken and followed so neere that they had no leasure to shippe it This statue as it is reported was one of the goodliest and notablest workes of Sthenis the Image grauer And some say that it was the image of Autolycus who founded the city of SINOPE For Autolycus was one of the princes that went out of THESSALIE with Hercules to go against the AMAZONES and he was the sonne of Deimachus And they reporte that at the returne from this voyage the shippe in the which Autolycus was imbarked with Demoleon Phlogius made shippewracke vpon a rocke on the coast of CHERRONESVS where she was cast away howbeit that he his meÌ„ scaping with all their furniture came to the city of SINOPE which he tooke from certaine SYRIANS who came as they say of one Syrus the sonne of Apollo and of the nimphe Sinope Asopus daughter Lucullus vnderstanding this matter called a saying of Sylla to minde which he wrote in his commentaries that nothing is more certaine nor that we may geue more credit vnto then that which is signified to vs by dreames In the meane season he was aduertised that Tigranes Mithridates were ready to come downe into LYCAONIA and CILICIA bicause they might first enter ASIA Lucullus marueled much at Tigranes counsell that sithence he was minded to warre with the ROMANES he did not vse Mithridates ayde in his warres at such time as when he was in his best strength and force and that he did not then ioyne his power with Mithridates rather then suffer him to be destroyed and ouerthrowen and afterwards with a cold hope go now to begin a new warre hazarding him selfe with those that could not helpe them selues While these thinges paffed in this sorte Machares king Mithridates sonne that kept the realme of BOSPHORVS sent a crowne of golde vnto Lucullus of the waight of a thowsande crownes praying him that he would name him a frende and confederate of the ROMANES Whereupon Lucullus thought he was then at the very last ende of his first warre and leauing Sornatius with sixe thowsand men to keepe the realme of PONTVS he departed with twelue thowsand footemen and lesse then three thowsand horsemen to go to the second warres And herein all the world condemned him and thought it too rash and light a parte of him to goe with so small a company to fight with so many warlike nations and to put him selfe vnto the hazard of so many thowsandes of horsemen in a maruelous large contry and of a wonderfull length enuironned round about with deepe riuers and mountaines couered with snowe all the yeare through so
vsed delay of time to execute and valliant expedition to winne the victory This was the cause why Mithridates made no hast to come to the battel thinking still that Lucullus had vsed his wonted policy to delay and geue backe alwaies and therefore he came by small iorneys vnto Tigranes campe But meeting at the first with a fewe of the ARMENIANS that fled as he came on his way like men that had bene frayed he straight mistrusted the ouerthrow but afterwards meeting greater troupes of them naked sore wounded then he knew how the matter went So he went to seeke out Tigranes whom he found alone forsaken of his men and in very poore estate yet did not he requite Tigranes in aduersity with that pride and disdaine he had vsed him before in his miserie but lighted of his horse to be waile with him their common misfortune and gaue him all his officers and traine of a kings court that followed him to serue him comforting him exhorting him to plucke vp his hart againe and to be coragious thenceforth Hereupon they both leauied a freshe the whole force power they could from all the partes of their dominions In the meane season there fell out great sedition in the city of TIGRANOCERTA betwene the GRAECIANS and the barbarous people for the GRAECIANS they would haue yeelded vp the towne into Lucullus hands Whereupon Lucullus geuing an assault to the city at that very instant wanne it seased vpon the kings treasure there leauing all the rest to the spoile of the souldiers in the which besides all other riches there was eight thowsand talents in ready money And yet besides all that he gaue of the spoile that was won apâ—n the enemies eight huÌ„dred Drachmas vnto euery souldier And vnderstanding that there were diuers musitians common players minstrels and such kinde of people meete for feastes and sporte whom Tigranes had sent for thither from all partes to dedicate the Theater he had made in his city he caused all theÌ„ to serue at the sports and feastes of this victory After the solempnization whereof he sent the GRAECIANS home againe vnto their contry and gaue them money to defraye their charges by the way and the barbarous people also that were brought thither by force from their natiue contries And so it fortuned that by the desolation and destruction of a city forsaken many others were built againe and stored with people bicause those cities had thereby recouered their naturall inhabitants againe who euer after did loue honor Lucullus as their benefactor and founder All other things prospered also according to his vertue and merites For Lucullus liked better the praise that came of bounty of iustice and of clemencie then that that came by force of marshall prowes cheualry For in deedes of armes he sayd his army partly deserued praise and fortune also caried the best parte away but the praise of the other were onely due vnto him selfe Whereby he shewed the valor of an excellent good man well taught and trained vp in vertue and so reaped the frute of his worthy deserts For by those good partes he wanne the hartes of the barbarous people in such sorte that the kinges of the ARABIANS came of good will to put them selues and their goods into his hands So did the nation of the SOPHENIANS also yeld them selues vnto him The GORDIAENIANS in like maner they liked Lucullus so well that they would willingly haue forsaken their cities houses contry to follow him with their wiues children vpon this occasion Zarbienus king of these GORDIAENIANS as we haue recited before had priuily entred amity with Lucullus by meanes of Appius Clodius who could no lenger away with the tyranny of Tigranes This practise was bewrayed vnto Tigranes who put Zarbienus his wife children to death before the ROMANES maine army came into the contry of ARMENIA Howbeit Lucullus did not forget it but passing through his realme gaue him very royall funeralles For hauing heaped vp a huge pyle of wodde sumptuously set out with cloth of gold and siluer other rich spoiles of Tigranes he him selfe in person would needes set it a fire and made the funerall effusions and accustomed sprincklinges at burialles with his frendes and kinsemen doing him this honor as to call him frend and confederate of the ROMANE people appointed also a great summe of money besides to erect a sumptuous tombe for him For they found great store of gold and siluer in the kinges castell and there was plenty of prouision also of three hundred thowsand bushells of wheate the which did enriche his souldiers maruelously and made Lucullus to be wondered at that hauinge receiued not one Drachma from the sparing coffers at ROME he had notwithstanding made the warre entertaine it selfe About the self same time also the king of the PARTHIANS sent Ambassadors vnto him to offer him his frendshippe and allyance which Lucullus willingly accepted and sent Ambassadors froÌ„ him also of acceptation who made reporte to Lucullus at their returne that the king of the PARTHIANS stoode doubtfull how to resolue which parte he should take and that secretly he sent vnto Tigranes to aske the realme of MESOPOTAMIA for his reward to aide him against the ROMANES Lucullus being truly enformed of the king of PARTHIAES double dealing determined to leaue Tigranes and Mithridates as two enemies wearied ouercome a litle to proue the force power of the PARTHIANS by making warres vpon theÌ„ thinking it great honor vnto him if he might discomfit and ouerthrow three so mighty kings one after an other like a valliant conqueror that had ouercome three famous Captaines together and had passed through the contries of three of the greatest Princes vnder the sunne alwayes a conqueror and neuer conquered Hereupon he wrote immediatly vnto Sornatius and other of his Captaines which he had left to keepe the realme of PONTVS that they should repayne to him with all speede with the bandes they had vnder their charge for that he was determined to departe out of the contry of GORDIAENA to go against the PARTHIANS howbeit his purpose altered by occasion For his Lieutenauntes that had many times before founde their souldiers mutinous and rebelling at their commaundements knew plainly then their cancred stomakes incorrigible disobedience For they could not possibly get them from thence by any compulsion or perswasions they could vse but contrarily they cryed out and tolde them plainly that they would no lenger tary where they were but would goe home to their contry and leaue the realme of PONTVS without gard or garrison at all And further that worst of all was when these newes were brought to Lucullus campe they gaue a full example of boldnes to his souldiers there to mutiny in such sorte hauing good will and disposition thereunto of themselues before For their purses being full and they acquainted with finenes were become so dull
fugitiue slaues Shall we then sayd he cary harnesse on our backes all the dayes of our life Is it not better that we which are escaped vntil this present reserue our selues our bodies liues for that noble Captaine who esteemeth the greatest honor and glory he can atchieue vnto is to make his souldiers rich that serue vnder him Lucullus army was so seduced and corrupted with these mutinous and seditious accusations that the souldiers would no lenger follow him neither against Tigranes nor against Mithridates who went presently out of ARMENIA into his realme of PONTVS and beganne to conquer it againe whilest the ROMANE souldiers mutining against their General remained idle in the prouince of GORDIAENA excusing them selues by the winter season tarying vntill Pompey or some other Captaine should quickely come to raise the siege and succeede Lucullus Notwithstanding when they vnderstoode that Mithridates had ouerthrowen Fabius one of Lucullus Lieutenaunts and that he went against Surnatius Triarius they were then ashamed of them selues and became contented to be led by Lucullus But Triarius in a brauery when he heard that Lucullus drew neere made hast to winne the victory as if it had bene cocke sure before Lucullus came and was him selfe ouerthrowen in a great battell where some say there dyed aboue seuen thowsande ROMANES amongest the which were a hundred and fifty centurions foure and twenty Captaines or Collonells of a thowsand men a peece and yet besides Mithridates tooke their campe also Shortly after this ouerthrow Lucullus came thither who hid Triarius whom the souldiers sought in their anger by all the meanes they could to kill Now when Lucullus was come he prooued sundrie meanes to procure Mithridates to battell but Mithridates would not once sturre abroade bicause he looked for Tigranes that came downe with a mighty power Whereuppon he determined againe to goe against Tigranes to fight with him before Mithridates and he ioyned forces together But as he was in his iorney towardes him the FIMBRIAN bandes beganne to rebell a new and would not follow his ensignes saying and alleaging of them selues that by decree of the people they had leaue to departe and were discharged from their othe and furthermore that Lucullus had no more to do to commaund them considering that the gouernment of the prouinces which he had was geuen vnto others Lucullus perceiuing this did so humble him selfe vnto them supposing that way to winne them as there was no kinde of vncomely humility but he submitted him selfe vnto it insomuch as he went into their tentes to pray and intreate them one after an other with water in his eyes and with so great lowlinesse as euen to shake handes with them But they fiercely reiected all his curtesies and fayer intreaties casting their pennylesse purses before him and angrily bad him fight with his enemies alone since he had with the spoile of them all so well enriched him selfe alone Neuerthelesse at the intercession and earnest request of the other soldiers these FIMBRIAN bands were compelled to promise that they would yet tary all that sommer so that if no mā in the meane time offred them battell at the ende of the tearme they might go where they would Lucullus was forced to accept this condicion or else to remaine alone consequently to forsake the contry of the barbarous people With much a do thus he kept them together but in such sorte as he durst no more venter to compell them to come to battell contenting him selfe that they were willing onely to stay with him being forced to suffer Tigranes in the meane time to destroy and ouerrunne the contry of CAPPADOCIA Mithridates also to bragge againe of whom he had before wrytten to the Senate that he had vtterly ouercome him insomuch as there came commissioners deputies from ROME by his owne procurement to order the state of the realme of PONTVS with him as of a kingdom already wonne to the ROMANE Empire But whē they were comen they found him not master of him selfe that his owne souldiers flowted him and did him all the spight and iniury they could For they were so vntruly towardes their Captaine and did so much disdaine him that when the end of the sommer was come they armed them selues with armor and weapon and drawing out their swordes in mockery challenged their enemies to battell which were gone out of the fielde and after they had made the noyse and eryes accustomed when they ioyned battel and made as though they fought hurling and swinging their swords in the ayer they went from the campe declaring openly that their time was expired which they promised Lucullus to tary On thother side Pompey had wrytten vnto the other souldiers that were yet in campe to come vnto him for through the peoples fauor at ROME the practises and flatteries of the common counsellers there he was substituted Generall in Lucullus place Which much misliked the Senate and nobility for they thought Lucullus greatly wronged to haue a successor sent not to succeede him in troubles and daungers but in honor and glory of triumphe And that they should compell him not onely to resigne vp the office of a Generall to an other but for the good seruice he long time had done the reward of his honor due for the same and this also more misliked them that were then about him That so soone as Pompey was arriued in ASIA he tooke all power authority from Lucullus to punishe or reward any man for good or ill seruice done to the common wealth in those warres did moreouer prohibite by publicke bills set vp in euery common place that they should no more repayre vnto him nor obey ought that he or any of the ten cōmissioners sent to dispose of the state of the prouinces wonne by him should commaund or ordaine and bicause Pompey came with a greater power and army then his he was in some feare of him Their frends thought good neuerthelesse they should meete together and so they did incontmently in a village of GALATIA where at their first meeting they saluted ech other very curteously reioycing together of the noble victories that either had wonne Lucullus was the elder man but Pompey of greater dignity bicause he had bene Generall of the ROMANE people in many warres had already triumphed twise The bundells of roddes which the sergeaunts caried before them were wreathed about with law rell braunches for the victories they had both atchieued but Pompeys bundells were withered away bicause they had comen a longe iorney through hotte and drye contries Lucullus officers seeing theirs withered curteously gaue them of theirs fresh and new gathered which Pompeys frendes tooke for a signe of good lucke For to say truely the thinges that Lucullus did in the time of his charge were cause of the honor that Pompey afterwardes wanne Howbeit in the end for all their talke they were no whit the better
shielde but worse then that a voluntary forsaking of his prouince apon a base timerous minde geuing his enemy occasion thereby to doe some noble exployt depriuing him selfe of his honorable charge Wherefore Aristophanes mocketh him againe in his comedy of birdes saying It is no time to slepe and linger still As Nicias doth vvithout good cause or skill Also in an other place of his comedy of plowmen he sayth I faine vvould follovv husbandry VVho lets thee Mary you A thovvsand Dragmaze I vvill geue to be discharged novv Of office in the common vveale Content so shall vve haue Tvvo thovvsand Dragmaze iust vvith those that Nicias lately gaue But herein Nicias did great hurt to the cōmon wealth suffering Cleon in that sorte to grow to credit estimacion For after that victory Cleon grew to so hautie a minde pride of him selfe that he was not to be delt withall wherupon fel out the occasiō of the great miseries that happened to the city of ATHENS which most grieued Nicias of all other For Cleon amongst other thinges tooke away the modesty and reuerence vsed before in publicke Orations to the people he of all other was the first that cried out in his Orations that clapped his hand on his thigh threw open his gowne floong vp downe the pulpit as he spake Of which exāple afterwardes followed all licentiousness and contempt of honesty the which all the Orators counsellors fell into that delt in matters of state cōmon wealth was in the end the ouerthrow of all together In that very time began Alcibiades to grow to credit by practise in the state who was not altogether so corrupt neither simply euill but as they say of the lande of EGYPT that for the fatnes and lustines of the soyle It bringeth forth both holsome herbes and also noysome vveedes Euen so Alcibiades wit excelling either in good or ill was the cause and beginning of great chaunge and alteracion For it fell out that after Nicias was ridde of Cleon he could not yet bring the citie of ATHENS againe to peace and quietnes For when the common wealth began to grow to some rest and reasonable good order then was it againe brought into warres through Alcibiades extreame fury of ambition And thus it beganne The only peacebreakers and disturbers of common quiet generally throughout GRAECE were these two persones Cleon and Brasidas for warre cloked the wickednes of the one and aduaunced the valiantnes of the other geuing to either occasion to doe great mischiefe and also oportunity to worke many noble exploytes Now Cleon and Brasidas being both slaine together at a battell fought by Armphipolis Nicias straight perceiuing the SPARTANS had long desired peace and that the ATHENIANS were no more so hottely geuen to the warres but that both the one the other had their handes full were willing to be quiet deuised what meanes he might vse to bring SPARTA and ATHENS to reconciliation againe and to rid all the cities of GRAECE also from broyle and misery of warre that thenceforth they might all together enioy a peaceable and happy life The riche men the olde men and the husbandmen he found very willing to hearken to peace and talking priuately also with diuers others he had so perswaded them that he cooled them for being desirous of warres Whereupon putting the SPARTANS in good hope that all were inclined to peace if they sought it the SPARTANS beleued him not onely for that they had founde him at other times very soft and curteous but also bicause he was carefull to see that their prisoners of SPARTA who had bene taken at the forte of Pyle were gently intreated and had made their miserable captiuity more tollerable So peace was concluded betwene the SPARTANS and the ATHENIANS for a yeare during which abstinence they frequenting one an other againe and beginning to taste the sweetnes and pleasures of peace and the safety of free accesse one to see an others frendes that were staungers began then to wishe that they might still continue in peace and amity together without effusion of blood of either partie and tooke great delight in their daunces to hear them singe such songes And let my speare lye outgrovven vvith dusty spyders vvebbes They did also with great ioy gladnes remember him which sayd that in peace no sound of trompet but the crowing of the cocke doth wake them that be a sleepe and on the other side they cursed and tooke on with them that sayd it was predestined the warre should continue thrise nine yeares And so vpon a meeting together to talke of many matters they made an vniuersall peace throughout all GRAECE Now most men thought that surely all their sorrowes and miseries were come to an ende and there was no talke of any man but of Nicias saying that he was a man beloued of the goddes who for his deuotion towardes them had this speciall gift geuē him that the greatest blessing that could come vnto the world was called after his name For to confesse a troth euery man was certainly perswaded that this peace was Nicias worke as the warre was Pericles procurement who vpon light causes perswaded the GRAECIANS to runne headlong into most grieuous calamities and Nicias on the other side had brought them to become frends and to forget the great hurtes the one had receiued of the other in former warres And euē to this present day that peace is called Nicium as who would say Nicias peace The capitulacions of the peace were thus agreed vpon that of either side they should alike deliuer vp the cities and landes which eche had taken from other in time of warres together with the prisoners also and that they should first make restitution whose lot it was to beginne Nicias according to Theophrastus reporte for ready money secretly bought the lot that the LACEDAEMONIANS might be the first that should make restitution And when the CORINTHIANS and BOBOTIANS that disliked of this peace sought by the complaintes they made to renue the warre againe Nicias then perswaded both the ATHENIANS and LACEDAEMONIANS that they should adde for strength vnto their contry the allyance peace offensiue and defensiue made betwene them for a more sure knot of frendshippe wherby they might be the better assured the one of the other and also the more dredfull to their enemies that should rebell against them These thinges went cleane against Alcibiades minde who besides that he was ill borne for peace was enemy also vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS for that they sought to Nicias and made none accompt of him but despised him Here was thoccasion that caused Alcibiades to proue from the beginning what he could doe to hinder this peace wherein he preuailed nothing Yet shortly after Alcibiades perceiuing that the ATHENIANS liked not so well of the LACEDAEMONIANS as they did before and that they thought themselues iniuried by thē bicause they
any companion in great hope notwithstanding to do some good diuers cities of SICILE yelded vnto him shippes fraught with corne came out of euery quarter to his campe and many submitted them selues for the good successe he had in all his doings Furthermore the SYRACVSANS also sent to parse with him of peace being out of hope that they were able to defende their city any lenger against him Gylippus also a Captaine of the LACEDAEMONTANS comming to aide the SYRACVSANS vnderstanding by the way howe the city of SYRACVSA was shut in with a wall round about and in great distresse helde on his voyage notwithstanding not with any hope to defend SICILE supposing the ATHENIANS had wonne the whole contry but with intent neuerthelesse to helpe the cities of ITALIA if he could possibly For it was a common rumor abroade that the ATHENIANS had wonne all and that their Captaine for his wisedome and good fortune was inuincible Nicias him selfe now contrary to his wonted wisedom and foresight trusting altogether to the good successe which he saw to follow him but specially beleuing the reportes that were told him of SYRACVSA the newes that were brought him thence by some of them selues which came secretly vnto him perswading him selfe that within few dayes he should haue SYRACVSA by composition tooke no care to withstand Gylippus comminge hether neither sent any men to kepe him from landinge in SICILE By which negligence Gylippus landed in a passenger without Nicias knowledge SOSâ—â—â— reckoning they made of him and so much did they fondly despise him Gylippus being 〈…〉 landed farre from SYRACVSA beganne to gather men of warre together before the SYRACVSANS them selues knew of his landing or looked for his comming insomuch as they had alreadie appointed the assemblie of a counsell to determine the articles and capitula lions of peace which they should conclude vpon with Nicias Moreouer there were some that perswaded they should doe well to make hast to conclude the peace before the inclosure of Nicias walle was altogether finished which then lacked not much to performe hauinge all stuffe for the purpose brought euen ready to the place But as these thinges were euen thuâ—â— doing arriued one Gongylus at SYRACVSA that came from CORINTHE with a gally At which landing the people apon the peere flocking about him to heare what newes he tolde them that Gylippus would be there before it were long and that there came certaine other gallies after to their aide The SYRACVSANS would hardly beleue him vntill there came an other messanger also sent from Gylippus selfe of purpose that willed them to aripe and come to him into the fielde Thereupon the SYRACVSANS being maruelously reuiued went all straight armed them selues And Gylippus was no sooner come into SYRACVSA but he presently put his men in battell ray to set apon the ATHENIANS Nicias for his parte had likewise also set the ATHENIANS in order of battell and ready to fight When both tharmies were now approached neere eche to other Gylippus threw downe his weapons and sent a Heraulde vnto Nicias to promise them life and bagage to departe safely out of SICILE But Nicias would make the Herauld none aunswere to that message Howbeit there were certaine of his souldiers that in mockerie asked the Heraulde if for the comming of a poore cape and wande of LACEDAEMON the SYRACVSANS thought theÌ„ selues strengthened so much that they should despise the ATHENIANS which not long before kept three hundred LACEDAEMONIANS prisoners in irons farre stronger and more heare on their heades then Gylippus had and had also sent them home to their citizens at LACEDAEMON And Timaeus wryteth also that the SICILIANS them selues made no reckoning of Gylippus neither then nor at any time after After bicause they sawe his extreame couetousnesse and miserie and then for that he came so meanely apparelled with a threede bare cape and a long bush of heare which made them scorne him Yet in another place he sayth that so soone as Gylippus arriued in SICILE many came to him out of euery quarter with very good will like birdes wondering at an owle This second reporte seemeth truer then the first for they swarmed about him bicause in this cape wand they saw the tokens of the maiesty of the city seigniory of SPARTA Thucydides also saith that it was Gylippus only that did all there And much like doth Philistus selfe a SYRACVSAN confesse who was present then in prison saw all thinges that were done Notwithstanding at the first battel the ATHENIANS had the vpper hand slue a number of the SYRACVSANS among the which Gongylus the CORINTHIAN was one But the next morning following Gylippus made them know the skill and experience of a wise Captaine For with the selfe same weapons with the same men with the same horses and in the same places chaunging only the order of his battell he ouerthrew the ATHENIANS and fighting with them still hauing driuen them euen into their campe he set the SYRACVSANS a worke to build vp a walle ouerthwarte with the very selfe same stones and stuffe which the ATHENIANS had brought and layed there for the finishing of their inclosure to cut of the other and to kepe it from going forward that it ioyned not together So all that the ATHENIANS had done before vntill that present was vtterly to no purpose Things standing in these tearmes the SYRACVSANS being coragious againe beganne to arme gallies and running vp and downe the fieldes with their horsemen and slaues tooke many prisoners Gylippus on thother side went in persone to and fro through the cities of SICILE perswading and exhortinge the inhabitantes in such sorte that they all willingly obeyed him and tooke armes by his procurement Nicias seeing thinges thus falle out fell to his olde trade againe and consideringe the chaunge of his stage and former good lucke his hart beginning to fainte wrote straight to the ATHENIANS to send an other army into SICILE or rather to call that home which he had there but in any case to geue him leaue to returne and to discharge him of his office for cause of this sickenes The ATHENIANS were in different before he wrote to send aide thither how beit to enuy the nobility bare vnto Nicias good fortune did euer cause some delay that they sent not vntil than and then they determined to send with spede So Demosthenes was named to be sent away immediately after winter a great nauy In the middest of winter Euramedam word to Nicias caried him both money newes that the people had chosen some of them for his companions in the charge which were already in seruice with him to wit Euthydemus and Menander Now Nicias in the meane time being sodainly assailed by his enemies both by sea and lande though at the first he had fewer gallies in number than they yet he budged diuers of theirs and suncke them But by lande againe he
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
withall but two dishefulls of barley for their breade and one of water for eche man a day In deede many of them were conueyed away and sold for slaues and many also that scaped vnknowen as slaues were also solde for bondmen whom they branded in the forehead with the printe of a horse who notwithstanding besides their bondage endured also this paine But such their humble pacience and modesty did greatly profit them For either shortly after they were made free men or if they still continued in bondage they were gently intreated and beloued of their masters Some of them were saued also for Euripides sake For the SICILIANS liked the verses of this Poet better than they did any other GRAECIANS verses of the middest of GRAECE For if they heard any rimes or songes like vnto his they would haue them by hart one would present thē to an other with great ioy And therfore it is reported that diuers escaping this bondage and returning againe to ATHENS went very louingly to salute Euripides to thanke him for their liues and told him how they were deliuered from slauery only by teaching them those verses which they remembred of his workes Others tolde him also how that after the battel they scaping by flight wandering vp and downe the fieldes met with some that gaue them meate drinke to sing his verses And this is not to be maruelled at weying the reporte made of a shippe of the city of CAVNVS that on a time being chased in thether by pyrates thinking to saue thē selues within their portes could not at the first be receiued but had repulse howbeit being demaunded whether they could sing any of Euripides songes and aunswering that they could were straight suffered to enter and come in The newes of this lamentable ouerthrow was not beleued at the first when they heard of it at ATHENS For a straunger that landed in the hauen of PIRAEA went and sat him downe as the maner is in a barbers shoppe thinking it had bene commonly knowen there beganne to talke of it The barber hearing the straunger tell of such matter before any other had heard of it ranne into the city as fast as he could and going to the gouernors tolde the newes openly before them all The magistrates thereupon did presently call an assembly and brought the barber before them who being demaunded of whom he heard these newes could make no certaine reporte Whereupon being taken for a forger of newes that without ground had put the city in feare and trouble he was presently bound and layed on a wheele wheron they vse to put offenders to death and so was there tormented a great time vntill at last there arriued certaine men in the city who brought too certaine newes thereof and told euery thing how the ouerthrow came So as in fine they found Nicias wordes true which now they beleued when they sawe all those miseries light fully apon them which he long before had prognosticated vnto them The end of Nicias life THE LIFE OF Marcus Crassus MArcus Crassus was the sonne of a Censor who had also receiued the honor of triumphe but him selfe was brought vp in a litle house with two other of his brethren which were both maried in their fathers mothers life time and kept house together Whereuppon it came to passe that he was a man of such sober and temperate dyet that one of his brethrē being deceased he maried his wife by whom he had children For women he liued as continent a life as any ROMANE of his time notwithstanding afterwardes being of riper yeares he was accused by Plotinus to haue deflowred one of the Vestall Nunnes called Licinia But in troth the cause of that suspicion grew thus Licinia had a goodly pleasaunt garden hard by the suburbes of the city wherewith Crassus was maruelously in loue and would faine haue had it good cheape and vpon this only occasion was often seene in speeche with her which made the people suspect him But foras much as it seemed to the iudges that his couetousnes was the cause that made him follow her he was clered of thincest suspected but he neuer lest followinge of the Nunne till he had got the garden of her The ROMANES say there was but that only vice of couetousnes in Crassus that drowned many other goodly vertues in him for mine owne opinion me thinkes he could not be touched with that vice alone without others since it grew so great as the note of that only did hide and couer all his other vices Nowe to set out his extreame couetous desire of getting naturally bred in him they proue it by two manifest reasons The first his maner and meanes he vsed to get and the seconde the greatnes of his wealth For at the beginning he was not left much more worthe then three hundred talentes And during the time that he delt in the affayers of the common wealth he offered the tenthes of all his goodes wholly vnto Hercules kept open house for all the people of ROME and gaue also to euery citizen of the same as much corne as would kepe him three monethes yet when he went from ROME to make warre with the PARTHIANS himselfe being desirous to know what all he had was worth founde that it amounted to the summe of seuen thowsande one hundred talentes But if I may with license vse euill speeche wryting a troth I say he got the most parte of his wealth by fire and blood raising his greatest reuenue of publicke calamities For when Sylla had takē the citie of ROME he made portesale of the goods of them whom he had put to death to those that gaue most tearming them his booty onely for that he would the nobility and greatest men of power in the citie should be partakers with him of this iniquity and in this open sale Crassus neuer lest taking of giftes nor bying of thinges of Sylla for profit Furthermore Crassus perceiuinge that the greatest decay commonly of the buildinges in ROME came by fire and falling downe of houses through the ouermuch weight by numbers of stories built one apon an other bought bondme that were masons carpinters and these deuisours and builders of those he had to the number of fiue hundred Afterwardes when the fire tooke any house he would buy the house while it was a burning and the next houses adioyning to it which the owners folde for litle being then in daunger as they were and a burning so that by proces of time the most parte of the houses in ROME came to be his But notwithstanding that he had so many slaues to his workemen he neuer built any house from the ground sauing his owne house wherein he dwelt◠saying that such as delighted to builde vndid them selues without helpe of any enemy And though he had many mynes of siluer many ploughes and a number of hyndes and plowmen to followe the
same yet all that commoditie was nothing in respect of the profit his slaues and bondemen brought him dayly in As readers seriueners gold smythes bankers receiuers stewards of householde caruers and other such officers at the table taking paines himselfe to helpe them when they were learners and to instruct them what they should doe◠and to be shorte he thought the greatest care a good householder ought to haue was to see his slaues or seruauntes well taught being the most liuely cattell and best instruments of a mans house And surely therein his opinion was not ill at the least if he thought as he spake that all thinges must be done by seruauntes and his seruauntes must be ruled by him For we see that the arte and skill to be a good husbande when it consisteth in gouernment of thinges without life or sence is but a base thing only tending to gaine but when it dependeth apon good order and gouernment of men me thinkes then it is to knowe how to gouerne well a common wealth But as his iudgement was good in the other so was it very bad in this that he thought no man riche and wealthie that could not maintaine a whole army with his owne proper goods For the warre as king Archidamus was wont to say is not made with any certainty of expence and therefore there must no sufficiency of riches be limited for the maintenance of the same But herein Marius and he differed farre in opinion who hauinge allowed euery ROMANE foureteene akers lande called with them Iugera vnderstanding that some were not pleased but would haue more made them this aunswer The gods forbid any ROMANE should thinke that land litle which in deede is enough to suffise for his maintenance This notwithstanding Crassus was curteous to straungers for his house was open to them all and he lent his frendes money without interest but when they brake day of payment with him then would he roūdly demaunde his money of them So his curtesie to lende many times without interest did more trouble them than if he had taken very great vsery In deede when he had any man to come to his table his fare was but euen ordinary without all excesse but his fine and cleanly seruice the good entertainment he gaue euery man that came to him pleased them better than if he had bene more plentifull of dyet and dishes As for his learning and study he chiefly studied eloquence and that sorte specially that best would serue his turne to speake in open presence so that he became the best spoken man in ROME of all his time and by his great industry and diligent indeuor excelled all them that euen by nature were most apt vnto it For some say he had neuer so small nor litle a cause in hande but he alwayes came prepared hauing studied his case before for pleading and oftentimes also when Pompey Caesar and Citero refused to rise and speake to matters Crassus would defend euery cause if he were requested And therfore was he generally beloued well thought of bicause he shewed him selfe painfull willing to helpe euery man Likewise was his gentlenes maruelously esteemed bicause he saluted euery body courteously and made much of all men for whom so euer he met in the streetes that spake to him as he passed and saluted him were he neuer so meane he woulde speake to him againe and call him by his name It is sayd also he was very well studied in stories and indifferently seene in Philosophy specially in Aristotels workes which one Alexander did read vnto him a man that became very gentle and pacient of nature by vsing of Crassius company for it were hard to say whether Alexander was poorer when he came to Crassus or made poorer while he was with him Of all his frendes he would euer haue Alexander broade with him and while they were abroade would lend him a hat to couer his head by the way but so soone as they were returned he would call for it againe O wonderull pacient of a man to see that he making profession of Philosophie as he did the poore man being in great pouerty did not place pouerty in thinges indifferent But hereof we will speake not hereafter Cinna and Marius being now of greater power and comming on directly towards ROME euery man suspected straight their cōming was for no good to the common wealth but as appeared plainly for the death and destruction of the noblest men of ROME For it so fell out in deede that they slue all the chiefe men they found in the city among whom Crassus father his brother were of the number and him selfe being at that time but young escaped the present daunger only by flight Furthermore Crassus hearing that they layed waite to take him that the tyrannes sought him in euery place tooke three of his frends in his company and tenne seruauntes only and fled into SPAYNE with all possible speede where he had bene with his father before and had got some frendes when he was Praetor and ruled that contrie Neuerthelesse seeing euery body afrayed and mistrusting Marius cruelty as if he had beene at their dores he durst not bewray him selfe to any man but went into the fieldes and hid him in a great caue being within the lande of one Vibius Pitiacus by the sea side from whence he sent a man of his to this Piciacus to feele what good will he bare him but specially for that his vittells beganne to faile him Vibius hearing that Crassus was safe and had scaped became very glad of it and vnderstanding how many persones he had with him and into what place he was gotten went not him selfe to see him but called one of his slaues who was his receiuer and occupied that ground for him bringing him neere the place where Crassus was commaunded him euery night to prouide meate for supper to bring it ready dressed to this rode whereunder was the caue make no wordes of it neither be inquisitiue for whom it was for if he did he should dye for it otherwise for keping the thing secret as he commaunded he promised to make him a free man. This caue is not farre from the sea side is closed in round about with two rockes that mete together which receiue a soft coole winde into them Whē ye are entred into the caue it is of a great height within and in the hollownes thereof are many other caues of great receite one within an other and besides that it neither lacketh light nor water for there is a well of passing good water running hard by the rocke and the naturall riftes of the rockes also receiuing the light without where they mete together do send it inward into the caue So that in the day time it is maruelous light and hath no dampe ayer but very pure and drye by reason of the thickenes of the
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
this matter as we went for the honor of Iuba the noblest historiographer that euer came of royall blood for it is thought his auncesters were lineally discended from Sophax and this Diodorus Sertorius as conquerour now hauing the whole contry in subiection did in no wise hurt them that yeelded vnto him put trust in him but restored them their goodes cities and gouernment againe contenting him selfe with that they offered him of their good willes But then standing doubtfull what way to determine the LVSITANIANS sent Ambassadors vnto him to intreate him to be their chiefetaine For they stoode in great neede of a worthy personage and a man expert in warres to defende them against the furie of the ROMANES and therefore they only trusted him hearing of his honorable behauiour by them that were conuersaunt with him Whose qualities as we finde wrytten were these He was neuer greatly moued with feare nor ioy but as he was a resolute man without feare in most daunger so was he most temperate in greatest prosperitie In valliantnes inferior to no Captaine of his time and very quicke of execution in euery imminent daunger For where any present exployt was to be done any strong place of a aduantage to lodge or fight in to be taken or that he was to passe ouer any riuer or scape any instant daunger where it stoode apon speedy execution and to shew some stratageame or policie in time and place to supplant the enemie in those matters he passingly excelled Furthermore he was both bountifull in rewarding good seruice and mercifull in punishing of offenders but this notwithstanding the fowle murder he did in his latter dayes apon certaine younge children that were pledges with him which doutlesse was an act of great cruelty and anger that could not forgeue doth manifestlie proue that he was neither mercifull nor curteous of nature but that he manie times did finely counterfeat it when both the time and the warres did so require it But for mine opinion sure I am perswaded that no misfortune can haue power to make perfite vertue grounded vpon good reason to worke in any sorte contrarie to it selfe neither doe I thinke it impossible also but that mens good willes and gentle natures being iniured without cause may peraduenture chaunge their naturall dispositions Which then proued true in Sertorius who finding fortune contrary vnto him his good happe chaunged into ill grewed so crabbed and fierce of nature that he would take cruell reuenge of them which had villanously betraied him But now to our matter where we left Sertorius departed out of AFRICKE apon the LVSITANIANS offer who chose him for their General geuing him absolute power and authoritie and so soone as he arriued he straight leauied men of warre and with them subdued the people of SPAYNE fronting apon their marches of which the more parte did willingly submit them selues apon the brute that ranne of him to be mercifull and curteous and a valliant man besides in present daunger Furthermore he lacked no fine deuises suttelties to winne their good willes as amonge others the policie and deuise he had of the hynde which was this There was a poore man of the contrie called Sparius who meeting by chaunce one day with a hynde in his way that had newly calued flying from the hunters he let the damme goe not being able to take her and running after her calfe tooke it which was a young hynde and of a straunge heare for she was all milke white It chaunced so that Sertorius was at that time in those partes who was alwayes very glad when any man offered him such maner of presentes as frutes fowle or venison would make very much of them that brought them to him and also reward them well for the same So this poore man presented Sertorius with his younge hynde which he gladly receiued and which with time he made so came that she would come to him when he called her and followe him where euer he went being nothing the wilder for the dayly sight of such a number of armed souldiers together as they were nor yet afrayed of the noyse and tumult of the campe Insomuch as Sertorius by litle litle made it a miracle making the simple barbarous people beleue that it was a gift that Diana had sent him by the which she made him vnderstande of many and sundrie things to come knowing wel enough of him selfe that the barbarous people were men easily deceiued and quickely caught by any subtill superstition besides that by arte also he brought them to beleue it as a thinge very true For when he had any secret intelligence geuen him that the enemies would inuade some parte of the contries and prouinces subiect vnto him or that they had taken any of his fortes from him by any intelligence or sodaine attempt he straight told them that his hynde spake to him as he slept and had warned him both to arme his men and put him selfe in strength In like maner if he had heard any newes that one of his Lieutenauntes had wonne a battell or that he had any aduantage of his enemies he would hide the messenger and bring his hynde abroade with a garland and coller of nosegayes and then say it was a token of some good newes comming towardes him perswading them with all to be of good cheare and so did sacrifice to the goddes to geue them thankes for the good tidings he should heare before it were long Thus by putting this superstitioÌ„ into their heades he made them the more tractable and obedient to his will insomuch as they thought they were not now gouerned any more by a straunger wiser than them selues but were stedfastly perswaded that they were rather led by some certaine god and so much the more bicause that his deedes confirmed their opinions seeing his power so dayly to increase beyonde the hope and expectation of man For with two thowsand fiue hundred souldiers which he called ROMANES although the most of them in deede were AFRIKANS which came ouer with him out of AFRICKE into SPAYNE foure thowsand LVSITANIANS with seuen hundred horsemen also he made warre against foure great Captaines of ROME which had the leading of sixe score thowsand footemen two thowsand archers and slingmen with a world of cities and contries besides Where Sertorius at the first had not aboue twenty at the mostâ—â— and yet with this small power to maintaine this warre withall he did not only conquer great contries and many goodly cities but tooke some of the Captaines prisoners also whome the ROMANES sent against him Of which company Cotta was one whome he ouerthrew in battel by sea not farre from the citie of MELLARIA He also ouercame Fidius in battell being gouernor of SPAYNE BAETICA by the riuer of Baetis where he slue two thowsand ROMANES By his treasorer likewise he ouercame Lucius Domitius Proconsull of the other prouince of SPAYNE And
and fearing his power punished him in mony for that he made the common loue of his contrie priuate to him selfe For as naturall Philosophers holde opinion that if contention and strife were taken out of nature it would come to passe that the heauenly bodies should stand still and also that the generation of all thinges should be at a stay by reason of the mutuall agreement betwene the worlde and them euen so the lawemaker of LACEDAEMON seemeth to haue allowed ambition strife in the common wealth as a spurre to vertue by procuring alwayes some contencion and emulacion amonge great persones And his reason was that this base and effeminate fauor in winking one at an other when men are to be rebuked ought not of right to be called by the name of concorde And sure some thinke that Homer also saw the same for he would neuer else haue made Agamemnon to haue reioyced to see Vlysses and Achilles at great wordes together if he had not bene of opinion that enuy and contencion among great men were very auailable for the common wealth Yet is not this thus simply to be allowed for contentions are hurtfull to cities where they are violent and doe bring great daungers with them Nowe when Agesilaus was entred into his kingdome of LACEDAEMON newes were brought him out of ASIA that the king of PERSIA prepared a great nauy to conquer the LACEDAEMONIANS signory by sea Lysander being glad of this occasion longing to be sent againe into ASIA to succour his frends whom he had left there as Gouernors Lieutenants of cities prouinces of the which some of them were driuen away by their citizens others also put to death for abusing of their authority ruling ouercruelly perswaded Agesilaus goe into ASIA to make warre apon this barbarous king farre from GRAECE before his army were gathered together And to cōpasse this the easilier he wrote vnto his frends in ASIA that they should send vnto SPARTA to require Agesilaus for their Captaine and so they did Thereupon Agesilaus going to the assembly of the people accepted the charge with condition that they would geue him thirtie Captaines of the SPARTANS to be counsellers assistants to him in these warres two thowsand free ILOTES six thowsand of the confederates of LACEDAEMON All this was immediatly graunted through Lysanders frendshippe towards him and he was sent away straight with the thirty Captaines which he had requested of the which Lysander was the chiefest not only for his riches and authoritie but also for the good will he bare vnto Agesilaus who thought him selfe more beholding to him for procuring him this charge than for his frendship he shewed him in bringing him to be king Now Agesilaus army being assembled at the hauen of Geraeste him selfe with certaine of his frends went vnto the citie of AVLIDE where in his sleepe he drempt that one sayd vnto him O king of the LACEDAEMONIANS thou knowest that neuer none but Agamemnon now thy selfe was chosen Generall of all GREECE considering therefore that thou commaundest the same people he did that thou makest warres with the selfe same enemies departing from the selfe same place to goe thither it is reason that thou make the selfe same sacrifice vnto the goddesse the which he made at his like departure Agesilaus straight apon this vision remembred that Agamemnon though the perswasion of the Soothsayers did sacrifice his owne daughter in the same place Yet this made him not afrayed but the next day he told it to his frendes and said he would sacrifice that vnto the goddesse which he thought woulde please her well enough and that he would not followe that cruell deuotion of this auncient Captaine Agamemnon And with that he brought a hynde crowned with a garland of flowers and commaunded his Soothsayer to sacrifice her and would not suffer him to haue the honor to doe the sacrifice that was appointed for the same purpose by the Gouernors of BOEOTIA according to the custome of that place The Gouernors of BOEOTIA vnderstanding it were much offended and sent their officers to will Agesilaus not to doe any sacrifice there contrarie to the law and custome of their contrie The officers that were sent performed their commission and finding that the beast was slaine the quarters of it apon the aulter they tooke and flong them of the aulter euery way This vexed Agesilaus being readie to imbarke and departed thence in choller against the THEBANS and mistrusted much his good successe by this vnluckie prediction which seemed to prognosticate vnto him that he should not preuaile according to his desire Furthermore when he was arriued at EPHESVS he presently misliked the honor he saw done vnto Lysander and the great traine that waited on him For all the contriemen there repaired continually to his house that when he came abroade they all followed him whensoeuer he went as though Lysander had in deede bene in authority to doe what he would and that Agesilaus only had but the name to be general so appointed by the law of LACEDAEMON For in troth there was neuer GRAECIAN Captaine in those partes that had won him such estimation nor that was more feared than he nor there was neuer man that was more beneficial to his frends neither also that was more hurtfull to his enemies All these thinges being fresh in memorie the contriemen of that contrie perceiuing the simplicity of Agesilaus and howe he was geuen to please the people and caried no great maiestie nor countenaunce with him and obseruing in Lysander that wonted roughnes and sharpe speech wherewith they had bene acquainted before euery man obeied him and nothing was done but what he commaunded This first to all made the other SPARTANS angrie for that it appeared they were come as it were to serue Lysander and not as to counsell the king but after that Agesilaus him selfe also grew miscontented although of his owne nature he was not enuious nor sorie to see others honored besides him selfe Yet being a man ambitiously geuen and of a noble corage fearing if he should doe any noble exployt in his warre that they would impute it vnto Lysander for the great estimation he was of he first beganne to deale in this sorte with him First he contraried all his counsells and what matters soeuer he preferred which he was desirous should haue taken effect Agesilaus would none of that but tooke some other in hand Furthermore if any of Lysanders followers came to make sure to him for his fauor perceiuing that they did leane vnto Lysander he sent them away without any thing done for them In like case also in matters of iudgements if Lysander were against any they were sure to haue the matter passe on their side On the contrarie parte also if Lysander bare good will to the partie and fauored the cause to gratifie him they hardly escaped from setting a fine of their heades Agasilaus continuing
only to spoyle ouerrun the kinges contry at their pleasure but also to see the reuenge taken of Tisaphernes that was a vile man and a cruell enemie to the GRAECIANS For the king of PERSIA made an other his Lieutenaunt immediatly in his roome called Tithraustes who strake of Tisaphernes head and sent vnto Agesilaus to pray him to take peace with them and to offer him store of golde and siluer to departe out of his contrie Thereto Agesilaus aunswered that for peace it was not in him to make it but in the LACEDAEMONIANS and that for his owne parte it was an easier maner to enriche his souldiers than him selfe And furthermore that the GRAECIANS thought it dishonor to them to take any gift of their enemies other then spoyles This notwithstanding to gratifie Tithraustes somewhat for that he had taken reuenge of a common enemy of all the GRAECIANS for the summe of thirtie talentes geuen him to defray his charges he withdrue his army out of LYDIA and went into PHRYGIA In his iorney he receiued from the counsell of LACEDAEMON the Scytala or scrolle of parchement wreathed about aduertising him that the citizens had made him also their Generall by sea as he was by lande Agesilaus onely of all men obtained this honor who without cōparison was of all other the worthiest man of fame in his time as Theopompus witnesseth and yet gloried rather to be commended for his vertue than for the greatnes of his authority In this notwithstanding he was to be blamed when he made choyse of one Pisander his wiues brother to be Lieutenaunt of the nauy forsooke other Captaines of better experience and elder yeares seeking rather to please his wife and to aduaunce one of his kinne than to regarde the weale and safety of his contrie Afterwardes he led his army into Pharnabazus contrie which he had in charge where he founde not onely plenty of all sortes of vittells but gathered together also a wonderfull masse of money From thence he went into the realme of PAPHLAGONIA and made league there with kinge Cotys who for his vertue and constant fidelity was very desirous of his frendship The like did Spathridates forsaking Pharnabazus and came vnto Agesilaus and after he was come to him he neuer went from him but alwayes followed him wheresoeuer he went Spithridates had a young sonne that was passing faier called Megabetes of whom Agesilaus had great liking and likewise a fayer young woman to his daughter of age to be maried whom Agesilaus caused king Cotys to marry So taking of king Cotys a thowsand horsemen and two thowsand footemen light armed he returned backe into PHRYGIA and there destroyed Pharnabazus contrie which he had in gouernment who durst not meete him in the fielde nor trust to his holdes but still fed from him carying all his chiefest thinges with him flitting from place to place vntill that Spithridates accompanied with Erippidas the SPARTAN followed him so neere that he tooke his campe and all his treasure in it But there did Erippidas shewe him selfe so hard and cruell ouerstraightly searching our parte of the spoyle that had bene imbeaceled compelling the barbarous people to deliuer it againe ransacking euery corner for it that Spithridates was so offended withall that on a sodaine he tooke the PAPHLAGONIANS with him and went backe vnto the citie of SARDIS This more grieued Agesilaus than any thing that happened to him in all his iorney for that he had lost so valliant a man as Spithridates and such a number of good souldiers as he caried away with him Moreouer he was afrayed least they would detect him of miserable couetousnes a thing which he euer was carefull to auoid not onely in his owne persone but also to keepe all his contriemen from it But besides these knowen causes the loue he bare to Spithridates sonne pinched him neerely though when the boy was with him he striued with his owne nature to subdue that naughty affection and desire he had of him For when Megabates on a time came to make much of him to kisse him Agesilaus turned his face from the boy The boy being ashamed of the repulse durst no more come so familiarly but saluted him aloofe of Agesilaus then repenting him that he had not suffered Megabates to kisse him made as though he marueled why he did not kisse him as he was wont to doe Then aunswered some of his familiars about him your selfe O king is in faulte bicause you durst not tarie but were afrayed to kisse so fayer a boy For if he knewe your minde he would come againe so that you turned your face no more away When Agesilaus had heard them he pawsed a while and said neuer a word but in fine aunswered them It shall nor neede you say any thing to him for it would doe me more good I could refuse such an other kisse againe then if all that I see before me were golde Thus was Agesilaus disposed whē Megabates was with him but in his absence he did so loue him that I dare scantly say that if the boy had come againe into his presence he would haue refused a kisse at his hands After that Pharnabazus sought to speake with him and one Apollophanes a CYZICENIAN brought them together that was a frende vnto them both Agesilaus was the first that met at the place appointed with his frends and tarying for Pharnabazus comming he layed him downe vpon the depe grasse in the shadow vnder a fayer great tree Pharnabazus also came thither they spred soft skinnes long heared and tapestry excellently wrought of diuers colours for him to sit on apon the grounde But being ashamed to see Agesilaus laied on the bare grounde in that sorte he also lay downe by him though he had vppon him a maruelous riche gowne of excellent tissue passing colour Now when they had embraced one an other Pharnabazus began first to speake and lacked no good perswasions iust complaints for that he hauing bene as he was a frende vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS in the warre against the ATHENIANS was then spoyled and sacked by them Agesilaus then finding that the SPARTANS that were about him at that meting hong downe their heades for shame not knowing how to aunswere him considering that Pharnabazus had iniuty offered him began to speake in this maner Heretofore when we were frendes with the king my Lord Pharnabazus we haue vsed his goodes like frends but now that we are his enemies like enemies we vse them and sence we see that thou wilt needes be a slaue of his maruell not though we hurt thee for his sake But when thou shalt like rather to be a frend of the GRAECIANS then a slaue to the king of PERSIA then make account that all these souldiers this armor our shippes and all we are to defend thy goodes and liberty against him without which nothing that is honest can be looked for of mortall men
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
ouerthrowen and all went to wracke By this time Agesilaus was growen olde and could no more goe to the warres for verie age but his sonne Archidamus with the aide which Dionysius the tyranne of SYRACVSA sent vnto them wanne a battell against the ARCADIANS called the tearelesse battell for there dyed not one of his men and they slue a great number of their enemies This victorie plainely shewed the great weakenesse and decaie of the citie of SPARTA For in former times it was so common a thing vnto them to ouercome their enemies in battell that they did sacrifice nothinge else to the goddes in token of thankes within the citie but a poore cocke and they that had fought the battell made no boast of it neither did they that hard the newes reioice greatly at it For when they had wonne that great battell at the citie of MANTINEA which Thucydides describeth the Ephori only sent the messenger that brought the newes for reward a peece of powdered meate and no other thing But then when newes was brought of this victorie and that they vnderstoode Archidamus came home victorious neither man nor woman could keepe the citie but the father him selfe went first of all to meete him with the teares in his eyes for ioy and after him all the other Magistrates and officers of the citie and a swarme of old folke both men women came downe to the riuers side holding vp their hands to heauen thanking the goddes as if their citie had redeemed and recouered her shame and lost honor and beganne nowe to rise againe as before it did For vntill that time some say that the husbandes durst not boldly looke their wiues in the faces they were so ashamed of their great losses and miserable estate Now the citie of MESSINA being by Epaminondas reedified and replenished with people he called home againe out of all partes the naturall inhabitants of the same The SPARTANS durst not fight with him not to hinder his purpose though it spighted them to the hartes and were angrie with Agesilaus for that in his raigne they had lost all that territory which was as great as all LACONIA selfe and that for goodnesse and fertilitie compared with the best partes of all GRAECE the which they had quietly possessed many yeares before And this was the cause why Agesilaus would not agree to the peace which the THEBANS sent to offer him and all bicause he would not relinquish that in wordes which the enemies kept in deedes Therfore being wilfully bent once more to fight with them he went not only without recouering the thing he looked for but had in maner also lost the citie of SPARTA by a warlike stratageame in the which he was deceiued For the MANTINIANS being newly reuolted againe from the alliance of the THEBANS and hauing sent for the LACEDAEMONIANS Epaminondas receiuing intelligence that Agesilaus was departed from SPARTA with all his power to aide the MANTINIANS marched away secretly by night from TEGEA without the priuitie of the MANTINIANS and went straight to SPARTA the which he had almost surprised on the sodaine going an other way then Agesilaus came being in manner without men to defende it Howebeit a THESPIAN called Euthynus as Callisthenes sayth or as Xenophon wryteth a CRETAN brought Agesilaus newes of it who dispatched a horseman straight to aduertise them of the citie of SPARTA and marching forward him selfe to returne stayed not longe after before he arriued He was no sooner come but incontinently also came the THEBANS who passing ouer the riuer of Eurotas gaue assault to the city Then Agesilaus perceiuing that there was no more place nor time of securitie as before but rather of desperation and courage he valliantlie defended it more then an olde mans yeares coulde beare Thus through corage and desperate minde whereto he was neuer brought before neither did euer vse it he put by the daunger and saued the citie of SPARTA from Epaminondas handes setting vp markes of triumphe for repulsing of the enemies and making the women and children of SPARTA to see the LACEDAEMONIANS how honorablie they rewarded their nurse and contrie for their good education but Archidamus chiefely of all other fought wonderfully that day running into euerie parte of the citie with a fewe about him to repulse the enemies wheresoeuer the daunger was greatest It is sayd also that at that time there was one Isadas the sonne of Phaebidas that did maruelous straunge thinges to beholde both in the face of his enemies as also in the sight of his frendes He was of goodly personage and at that time in the prime of his youth and being starke naked and vnarmed his bodie noynted with oyle hauing in one hande a borestaffe and in the other a sworde in this maner he went out of his house and ranne amongest them that fought killinge and ouerthrowing his enemies that withstoode him and was not once hurt either for that the goddes preserued him for his manhoodes sake or else bicause men thought him more then a man The Ephori immediatly gaue him a crowne in honor and reward of his valliantnesse but withall they set a fine on his head to pay a thowsand siluer Drachmas for his rashe attempt to hasard him selfe in battell vnarmed for defense Shortly after they fought an other great battell before the citie of MANTINEA There Epaminondas hauing ouerthrowen the first ranckes of the LACEDAEMONIANS and coragiously distressing the rest valliantly following the chase there was one Anticrates a LACONIAN who receiuing him as Dioscorides writeth slue him with his borespeare The LACEDAEMONIANS to this day notwithstanding doe call the ofspring of this Anticrates Machariones as much to say as swordmen as though he had slaine him with a sword The LACEDAEMONIANS did esteeme this Anticrates so much for that deadly stroke he gaue bicause they were afrayed of Epaminondas while he liued that they gaue him that slue him great honors dignities and discharged all his ofspring kinred from payment of subsidie and common contribucions which priuiledge one Callicrates a kinseman of this Amicrates enioyed euen in our time After this battell and death of Epaminondas the GRAECIANS hauing taken peace generally amongest them Agesilaus would needes exclude the MESSENIANS from being sworne to this peace saying that they neede not sweare bicause they had no city Now forasmuch as all the GRAECIANS els did receiue them as amongest the number tooke their othe vnto this peace the LACEDAEMONIANS brake of from this general peace and none but they onely made warre in hope to recouer the MESSENIANS contrie and all through the allurement of Agesilaus who for this cause was thought of the GRAECIANS a cruell and vnsatiable man for warres to deale so craftily and all to breake this generall league Againe he brought him selfe in discredit with all men beinge compelled to make his citie bare of money borowing of them still and
hurt and if he would not goe of him selfe then they cast him ouer the bord by force and sent him packing These rouers and sea pirates had all the sea Mediterraneum at commaundement insomuch there durst not a marchant looke out nor once traffique that sea And this was the only cause that moued the ROMANES fearing scarsity of vittells and a great dearth to send Pompey to recouer the signory againe of the sea from these pirates The first man that moued it might be decreed that Pompey should not be only Admirall or Generall by sea but should haue absolute power to commaunde all manner of persons as he thought good without any account to be made of his doinges in his charge was Gabinius Pompeys frend The summe to this decree gaue him full power and absolute authority of all the sea from Hercules pillers and of the maine land the space of foure hundred furlong from the sea For the ROMANES dominions at that time in few places went further then that notwithstanding within that compasse were many great nations mighty kings Furthermore it gaue him power to choose of the Senate fifteene Lieutenauntes to geue vnto euery one of them seuerall prouinces in charge according to his discretion and also to take money out of the treasure of the Generall receiuers of the state to defray the charges of a fleete of two hundred saile with full power besides to leauy what men of warre he thought good and as many galliots and mariners as he listed This law when it had bene read once ouer among them the people confirmed it with very good will. Yet the noble men and chiefe of the Senate thought that this authority did not only exceede all enuy but also that it gaue them apparant cause of feare to geue such absolute power vnto a priuate person Whereupon they were all against it but Caesar who fauored the decree not so much to pleasure Pompey as the people whose fauor he sought The noble men fell maruelously out with Pompey and at the length one of the Consulls was very hotte with him and told him he looked to follow Romulus steppes but peraduenture he would come shorte of that end he made Thereupon the people thought to haue killed him After that Catulus stoode vp to speake against this edict The people at the first heard him quietly bicause he was a worthy man Then he began without any shew of enuy to speake many goodly thinges in the praise of Pompey and in fine aduised the people to spare him and not to venter in such daungerous warres one after an other a man of so great accompt as they ought to make of him If ye chaunce to loose him sayd he whom haue you then to put in his place The people then cried out your selfe Then perceiuing that he lost his labor seeking to turne the people from their determination he left it there and sayd no more Roscius rose next after him to speake but he could haue no audience When he saw that he coulde not be heard he made a signe with his fingers that they shoulde not geue Pompey alone this authority but ioyne an other with him The people being offended withall made such an outcrie vppon it that a crow flying ouer the market place at that instant was striken blinde fell downe amongest the people Whereby it appeareth that fowle falling out of the ayer to the ground do not fall for that the ayer is broken or pearced with any force or fury but bicause the very breath of the voice when it commeth with such a violence as it maketh a very tempest in the ayer doth strike ouercome them Thus for that day the assembly brake vp and nothing past and at the day appointed when this decree should passe by voyces of the people Pompey went abroad into the contry There being aduertised that the decree was past for the cōfirmation of his charge he returned againe that night into the citie bicause he would auoyde the enuie they would haue borne him to haue seene them run out of all partes of the city vnto him to haue waited on him home The next morning he came abroad and sacrificed to the goddes and audience being geuen him at an open assembly he handled the matter so that they gaue him many thinges besides to enlarge his power almost doubling the preparation set downe and appointed at the first decree For he ordained that the common wealth should arme him fiue hundred shippes they leauied for him sixe score thowsand footemen and fiue thowsand horsemen and chose besides foure and twenty Senators which had euery one of them bene Generalls of armies and two generall Treasorers also While thinges were thus a preparing the price of vittels fell by chaunces which reioyced the people so much that they stucke not to say that the name of Pompey only had already ended this warre This notwithstanding he deuided all the sea betwene the lands into thirteene regions and in euery of them he appointed a certaine number of his shippes and moreouer one of his Lieutenauntes ouer them Thus hauing dispersed his power all abroade he brought all the pirates shippes that were in a fleete together within his daunger and when he had taken them he brought them all into a docke Now for them that had dispersed them selues betimes or that otherwise could scape his generall chase they fled all into CILICIA as bees into the beehiue against whom he would needes go him selfe in person with three score of his best shippes Howbeit he cared not though he went not before he had scoored all the THVSCANE sea the coastes of LYBIA SARDINIA SICILE and of CORSICA of all these theeues which are wont to keepe thereabouts and this he did within forty dayes space taking infinite paines both him selfe and his Lieutenaunts Now when one of the Consulls called Piso did all the best he could to hinder Pompeys preparation and had discharged his ower men for that he enuied Pompeys prosperity Pompey sent his shippes before to make towardes ITALIE to arriue at the city of BRVNDVSIM He in the meane time went through TEVSCANE to ROME where so soone as his comming was knowen all the people ran out to meete him as if he had bene absent a long time and that which made the people more ioyfull to see him was the sodaine chaunge of victals vnlooked for that dayly came to the towne out of all partes But Piso went neere to be depriued of his Consulshippe for Gabinius had the decree wrytten and ready to present to the people But Pompey would not suffer it So hauing gently brought all to passe as he desired he went vnto the city of BRVNDVSIVM and there tooke sea and hoysed sayle Now though his hasty voyage and shortnesse of time made him passe by many good cities without comming into them notwithstanding he would not so passe by the city of ATHENS but landed there and after he had
his hand very neere vnto Pompey making this his colour but otherwise fearing Clodius insolency prowde words he would neuer after come into the market place as long as Clodius was Tribune but kept at home still consulting with his frendes what way he should take to appease the anger of the Senate against him Thereuppon one of his frendes called Culeo perswaded him to put away his wife Iulia and vtterly to refuse Caesars frendshippe and to sticke againe to the Senate but he would none of that Notwithstanding he was contented to hearken vnto them that gaue him counsell to call Cicero home againe who was Clodius mortall enemie and in great fauor with the Senate Thereuppon he brought Ciceroes brother into the market place to moue the matter to the people with a great number of men about him where they fell to blowes and diuers were slaine of either side notwithstanding he ouer came Clodius Thus Cicero being called home by decree of the people when he was come he brought Pompey againe in fauor with the Senate and standing with the lawe propounded to geue Pompey authoritie to cause corne to be brought to ROME he once againe made him haue power both by land and sea ouer all the territories of the ROMANES For all the hauens martes fayres all store houses for corne yea moreouer all the trade of marchandise and tillage came vnder Pompeys hands Then Clodius accusing him sayd that the Senate had not made this law for the dearth of vittells but that they made a dearth of vittells bicause the lawe should passe to reuiue Pompeys power and authority againe that was almost vnder foote Other say that this was a deuise of Leutulus Spinther the Consull who gaue Pompey the greater authoritie bicause he might be sent to put king Ptolomy againe into his kingdom This notwithstanding Canidius the Tribune preferred an other law to send Pompey without an army with two sergeaunts only to cary the axes before him to bring Ptolomy in fauor againe with the ALEXANDRIANS This law seemed not to mislike Pompey but the Senate with honest colour put by this lawe as being affrayed least Pompeys person should miscary in so doing Neuerthelesse litle papers were found throwen about the market place and the Senate house declaringe that Ptolomy desired Pompey might come to aide him in Spinthres stead Timagenes wryteth notwithstanding that Ptolomy went vnto ROME left AEGYPT without any occasion geuen him at the perswasion of Theophanes who perswaded him to doe so bicause he would geue Pompey occasion to make newe warres But Theophanes craft and suttilty made not this matter so credible as Pompeys wit and good nature made it altogether vntrue for his ambitiō was nothing so vile nor ill as that was So Pompey hauing now full authority to cause corne to be brought to ROME he sent then his Lieutenauntes and frendes abroade and him selfe in person went into SICILE Nowe being ready to returne againe there rose such a storme of winde in the sea that the mariners were in dout to way their anckers But him selfe first imbarked and commaunded them straight to hoyse sayle crying out alowde it is of necessitie I must goe but not to liue So through his boldnes and good spirite vsing the good fortune he had he filled all the places of marte and markets with come and all the sea besides with shippes insomuch the plenty he brought did not only furnishe the city of ROME but all their neighbours also about them and came like a liuely spring that dispersed it selfe through all ITALIE About that time the great conquestes that Caesar made in GAVLE did set him aloft For when they thought that he was occupied in warres farre from ROME with the BELGEANS SWISSES and Englishmen ◠he by secret practise was in the middest among the people at ROME most against Pompey in the waightiest affayres of the common wealth For he had the power of an armie about his person which he did harden with paines and continuall practise not with intent to fight onely against the barbarous people for the battells he had with them were in maner but as a hunting sporte by the which he made him selfe inuincible and dreadfull to the worlde But furthermore by the infinite gold siluer and the incredible spoiles and treasure which he wan apon the enemies whom he had ouercome and by sending great presentes also to ROME to the Ediles Praetors Consulls and their wiues he purchased him many frendes Therefore after he had passed ouer the Alpes againe and was come to winter in the city of LVCA ◠world of people both men and women and of the Senate them selues almost two hundred persons and amongest them Crassus and Pompey by name went out of ROME vnto him Furthermore there were seene at Caesars gate sixe score sergeauntes carying axes before Praetors or Proconsulls So Caesar sent euery one backe againe either full of money or good wordes but with Pompey and Crassus he made a matche that they two together should sue to be Consulls and that he him selfe would send them good aide to ROME at the daye of election to geue their voyces And if they were thosen that they should then practise by decree of the people to haue the gouernmentes of some newe prouinces and armies assigned them and withall that they should adiorne the gouernment of those prouinces he had for fiue yeares more This packe being bewrayed and spred abroad through ROME the honestest sorte misliked much thereof Wherupon Marcellinus at an open assembly of the people did aske them both if they would sue for the Consulship at the next election So they being vrged by the people to make aunswere Pompey spake first and said peraduenture he would peraduenture not Crassus aunswered more gently that he would doe that which should be best for the common wealth Then Marcellinus sharpely inueying against Pompey he angrily againe cast him in the teeth said that Marcellinus was the ranckest churle and the vnthankefullest beast in the world for that of a dumme man he had made him eloquent and being in maner starued and famished many a time he had filled his bellie This notwithstanding diuers that before were determined to sue for the Consulship went no further in it sauing Lucius Domitius whom Cato counselled and incoraged not to geue it ouer for said he thou doest not contend for the Consulship but to defend the common libertie of thy contry against two tyrannes Pompey therefore fearing Catoes faction least that hauing all the Senates good willes he should drawe also the best parte of the people after him thought it not good to suffer Domitius to come into the market place To this ende therefore he sent men armed against him who at the first onset slue the torche bearer that caryed the torche before him and made all the rest flie amongest whom also Cato was the last man that retired who was hurt in his
of an armie may easily be brought from his wife and safe counsell with rumor and tumult of a few fearefull men that should perswade him it were a shame and dishonor for him if he did otherwise yet were this no straunge matter but a fault to be pardoned But for Pompey the great whose campe the ROMANES called their contrie and his tent the Senate and called all the Praetors and Consuls that gouerned at ROME rebells and traitors to the common wealth of ROME who coulde excuse him who was neuer seene commaunded by other then him selfe but had bene alwayes chiefe Captaine and Generall in any warre he made and euer had the vpper hand but that he was drawen on by the scoffes of Faonius and Domitius to hazard battell to endaunger the whole Empire and liberty of ROME only for feare they should call him king Agâ—memnon Who if he had so much regarded present infamie he should haue fought from the beginning for defence of the citie of ROME and not to haue taken example of Themistocles policie by flying and afterwards to thinke it a shame as he did to lye in THESSALIE a time without fighting Neither did God appoint them the fieldes of Pharsalia for a Theater or close campe of necessitie to fight which of them shoulde haue the Empire of ROME Further there was no Heraulde to summone him to fight as there are at games of price where he must aunswere to his name and come and fight or else to loose the honor of the crowne vnto an other But there were infinite other fieldes and townes and as a man woulde say the whole earth which the commoditie of his armie by sea gaue him choyse to conquer if he would rather haue followed the steppes of Fabius Maximus of Marius of Lucullus or of Agesilaus him selfe who did paciently abide no lesse tumultes within the citie selfe of SPARTA when the THEBANS went to summone him to come out to fight for all the rest of his contrie And in AEGYPT also he did abide many false accusations against him wherewith the king him selfe did burden him praying him alwayes to haue a litle pacience In fine hauing followed the best counsell which he had determined with him selfe from the beginning he saued the AEGYPTIANS against their willes and furthermore he did not only keepe the citie of SPARTA from so great a daunger but did also set vp tokens of triumphe in the same against the THEBANS whereby he was not compelled at that time to lead them out to the slaughter and besides that gaue his citizens occasion to obtaine victorie afterwardes Hereupon Agesilaus was highly praised of them whose liues he had saued against their wills And Pompey contrarily was blamed by them selues through whom he had offended yet some say that he was deceiued by his father in law Scipio For he meaning to keepe the most parte of the money to him selfe which he had brought out of ASIA did hasten and perswade Pompey to geue battell telling him that there was no money left The which though it had bene true a worthie Captaine should not so lightly haue bene brought into error vpon a false accompt to hazard him selfe to loose all Thus may we see what both of them were by comparing them together Furthermore for their iorneys into AEGYPT the one fled thither by force the other willingly went thither with small honor for moneys sake to serue the barbarous people with intent afterwards to make warre with the GRAECIANS Lastly in that which we accuse the AEGYPTIANS for Pompeys sake for the like matter doe they againe accuse Agesilaus For the one was cruelly put to death betrayed by them whom he trusted Agesilaus forsooke them which trusted him and went to the enemies hauing brought aide to fight against them The end of Pompeys life THE LIFE OF Alexander the great HAuing determined in this volume to write the life of king Alexander of Iulius Caesar that ouercame Pompey hauing to speake of many things I will vse none other preface but only desire the readers not to blame me though I do not declare al things at large but briefly touch diuers chiefly in those their noblest acts most worthy of memory For they must remember that my intent is not to write histories but only liues For the noblest deedes doe not alwayes shew mens vertues and vices but ofteÌ„times a light occasion a word or some sporte makes mens naturall dispositions and maners appeare more plaine then the famous battells wonne wherein a slaine tenne thowsand men or the great armies or cities wonne by siege or assault For like as painters or drawers of pictures which make no accompt of other partes of the bodie do take resemblaunces of the face and fauor of the countenauce in the which consisteth the iudgement of their maners disposition euen so they must geue vs leaue to seeke out the signes and tokens of the minde only and thereby shewe the life of either of them referring you vnto others to wryte the warres battells and other great thinges they did It is certaine that Alexander was discensed from Hercules by Caranus and that of his mothers side he came of the blood of the AEacides by Neoptolemus They say also that king Philip his father when he was a young man fell in fancie with his mother Olympias which at that time also was a younge maiden and an orphane without father or mother in the I le of SAMOTHRACIA where they were both receiued into the misterie and fraternity of the house of the religious and that afterwards he did aske her in mariage of her brother Arymbas with whose consent they were maried together The night before they lay in wedded bed the bride dreamed that lightning fell into her belly and that withall there was a great light fire that dispersed it selfe all about into diuers flames King Philip her husband also shortly after he was maried dreamed that he did seale his wiues belly and that the seale wherewith he sealed left behinde the printe of a Lyon. Certaine wisards and soothsayers tolde Philip that this dreame gaue him warning to looke straightly to his wife But Aristander TELMECIAN aunswered againe that it signified his wife was conceiued with childe for that they doe not seale a vessell that hath nothinge in it and that she was with childe with a boy which should haue a Lions hart It is reported also that many times as she lay asleepe in her bed there was seene a serpent lying by her the which was the chiefest cause as some presuppose that withdrewe Philips loue and kindnes from her and caused him that he lay not so oft with her as before he was wont to doe either for that he feared some charme or enchauntment or else for that he thought him selfe vnmeete for her company supposing her to be beloued of some god Some do also report this after an other sort as in this
maner That the women in those parts of long time haue bene commonly possest with the spirite of Orpheus and the diuine fury of Bacchus whereupon they are called Clodones Mimallones as much as warlicke fierce and doe many things like vnto the women of EDONIA and THRACIA dwelling about the mountaine AEmus Hereby it appeareth that this word Threskeuin signifying in the Greeke tongue too superstitiously geuen to the ceremonies of the gods came from them For Olympias aboue other womē louing to be inspired with such diuine madnes fury did celebrate their solemne sacrifices with a certaine horrible barbarous maner For in these daunces to Bacchus she caried a great number of tame snakes about her the which gliding apon the Iuie wherewith the women were dressed in those ceremonies winding thē selues about the litle iauelings they had in their hands the garlands about their heades therby they made men the more afraid of them Whereupon Philip after this dreame sent Ghaero MEGALOPOLITAN vnto the oracle of Apollo at DELPHES to inquier what it signified Answere was geuen him that he should do sacrifice vnto Iupiter Hammon honor him aboue all gods that he had lost one of his eyes with the which he peeping in at a crany of his chamber dore saw the god in forme of a snake lye by his wife Furthermore Olympias as Eratosthenes writeth bidding her sonne farewel whē he went to conquer ASIA after she had secretly tolde him alone by whom he was begotten she prayed him to be valliant to shew himselfe worthy his sonne that begat him Others tel also that she was angry with this report saying will Alexander neuer leaue to make me suspected of Iuno So it is that Alexander was borne on the sixt day of the moneth of Hecatombaeon in english Iune which the MACEDONIANS call Lous On the very same day the temple of Diana in the city of EPHESVS was burnt as Hegesias MAGNESIAN doth witnesse whose crie exclamation was so terrible cold that it was enough to haue quenched that fire It is not to be wondred at that Diana suffred her temple to be burnt being like a midwife busie about Alexanders birth But this is true that all the priests magitians and soothsayers which were at that time in EPHESVS iudging that this did prognosticate some maruelous great misfortune to come like men bestraught of their wits they ran vp downe the city smiting of their faces crying that some great plague mischief was borne that day vnto ASIA Shortly after that king Philip had wonne the city of POTIDAEA three messengers came to him the same day that brought him great newes The first that Parmenio had wonne a notable battell of the ILLYRIANS the second that his horse only wan the bell price at the Olympian games the third that his wife had brought him a sonne called Alexander Philip being maruelous glad to heare these newes the soothsayers did make his ioy yet greater assuring him that his sonne which was borne with three victories all together should be inuincible Now for his stature personage the statues and images made of him by Lysippus doe best declare it for that he would be drawen of no man but him only Diuers of his successors frends did afterwards counterfeat his image but that excellent workeman Lysippus only of all other the chiefest hath perfectly drawen and resembled Alexanders maner of holding his necke somwhat hanging downe towards the left side also the sweete looke cast of his eyes But when Apelles painted Alexander holding lightning in his hand he did not shew his fresh colour but made him somewhat blacke and swarter then his face in deede was for naturally he had a very fayre white colour mingled also with red which chiefly appeared in his face in his brest I remember I red also in the cōmentaries of Aristoxenus that his skin had a maruelous good sauor that his breath was very swete insomuch that his body had so swete a smell of it selfe that all the apparell he wore next vnto his body tooke thereof a passing delightfull sauor as if it had bene perfumed And the cause hereof peraduenture might be the very temperature constitucion of his body which was hot and burning like fire For Theophrastus is of opinion that the sweete sauor commeth by meanes of the heate that dryeth vp the moisture of the bodie By which reason also it appeareth that the drie hot contries pearched with heate of the sunne are those that deliuer vnto vs the best spices bicause that the sunne drieth vp the moysture of the outward parts as a matter of corruption This natural heate that Alexander had made him as it appeareth to be giuen to drinke to be hasty Euen from his childhood they saw that he was giuen to be chast For though otherwise he was very hot hasty yet was he hardly moued with lust or pleasure of the body would moderately vse it But on thother side the ambition desire he had of honor snewed a certaine greatnes of minde noble corage passing his yeares For he was not as his father Philip desirous of all kind of glory who like a Rethoritian had a delite to vtter his eloquence stamped in his coynes the victories he had wonne at the Olympian games by the swift running of his horse coches For when he was asked one day bicause he was swift of foote whether he would assay to run for victory at the Olympian games I could be content said he so I might run with kings And yet to speake generally he misliked all such contention for games For it seemeth that he vtterly misliked all wrestling other exercise for prise where men did vse all their strength but otherwise he him self made certen festiual daies games of prise for common stage plaiers musitians singers for the very Poets also He delighted also in hunting of diuers kindes of beastes and playing at the staffe Ambassadors being sent on a time from the king of PERSIA whilest his father was in some iorney out of his realme Alexander familliarly entertaining of them so wan them with his curteous entertainment for that he vsed no childish questions vnto them nor asked them trifling matters but what distance it was frō one place to an other which way they went into the high contries of ASIA of the king of PERSIA him selfe how he was towards his enemies what power he had that he did rauish them with delight to heare him insomuch that they made no more account of Philips eloquence sharpe wit in respect of his sonnes corage noble minde to attempt great enterprises For when they brought him newes that his father had taken some famous city or had won some great battell he was nothing glad to heare it but would say to his playfellowes sirs my father will
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
Afterwardes when Syllaes power beganne to decay Caesars frendes wrote vnto him to pray him to come home againe But he sailed first vnto RHODES to studie there a time vnder Apollonius the sonne of Molon whose scholler also Cicero was for he was a very honest man an excellent good Rethoritian It is reported that Caesar had an excellent naturall gift to speake well before the people besides that rare gift he was excellently well studied so that doutlesse he was counted the second man for eloquence in his time and gaue place to the first bicause he would be the first and chiefest man of warre and authoritie being not yet comen to the degree of perfection to speake well which his nature coulde haue performed in him bicause he was geuen rather to followe warres and to mannage great matters which in th ende brought him to be Lord of all ROME And therefore in a booke he wrote against that which Cicero made in the praise of Cato he prayeth the readers not to compare the stile of a souldier with the eloquence of an excellent Orator that had followed it the most parte of his life When he was returned againe vnto ROME he accused Dolabella for his ill behauior in the gouernment of his prouince and he had diuers cities of GRAECE that gaue in euidence against him Notwithstanding Dolabella at the length was dismissed Caesar to requite the good will of the GRAECIANS which they had shewed him in his accusation of Dolabella tooke their cause in hand when they did accuse Publius Antonius before Marcus Lucullus Praetor of MACEDON and followed it so hard against him in their behalfe that Antonius was driuen to appeale before the Tribunes at ROME alleaging to colour his appeale withall that he coulde haue no iustice in GRAECE against the GRAECIANS Now Caesar immediatly wan many mens good willes at ROME through his eloquence in pleading of their causes and the people loued him maruelously also bicause of the curteous manner he had to speake to euery man and to vse them gently being more ceremonious therein then was looked for in one of his yeres Furthermore he euer kept a good bourde and fared well at his table and was very liberall besides the which in deede did aduaunce him forward and brought him in estimacion with the people His enemies iudging that this fauor of the common people would soone quaile when he could no longer hold out that charge and expence suffered him to runne on till by litle and litle he was growen to be of great strength power But in fine when they had thus geuen him the bridell to grow to this greatnes and that they could not then pull him backe though in dede in sight it would turne one day to the destruction of the whole state and common wealth of ROME too late they found that there is not so litle a beginning of any thing but continuaunce of time will soone make it strong when through contempt there is no impediment to hinder the greatnes Thereuppon Cicero like a wise shipmaster that feareth the calmnes of the sea was the first man that mistrusting his manner of dealing in the common wealth found out his craft malice which he cunningly cloked vnder the habit of outward curtesie and familliaritie And yet sayd he when I consider howe finely he combeth his faire bush of heare and how smooth it lyeth and that I see him scrat his head with one finger only my minde giues me then that such a kinde of man should not haue so wicked a thought in his head as to ouerthrow the state of the common wealth But this was long time after that The first shewe and proofe of the loue and good will which the people did beare vnto Caesar was when he sued to be Tribune of the souldiers to wit Colonell of a thowsand footemen standding against Caius Pompilius at what time he was preferred and chosen before him But the second more manifest proofe then the first was at the death of his aunt Iulia the wife of Marius the elder For being her nephew he made a solemne oration in the market place in commendacion of her and at her buriall did boldly venter to shew foorth the images of Marius the which was the first time that they were seene after Syllaes victorie bicause that Marius and all his confederates had bene proclaimed traitors and enemies to the common wealth For when there were some that cried out apon Caesar for doing of it the people on thother side kept a sturre and reioyced at it clapping of their handes and thanked him for that he had brought as it were out of hell the remembraunce of Marius honor againe into ROME which had so long time bene obscured buried And where it had bene an auncient custom of long time that the ROMANES vsed to make funerall orations in praise of olde Ladies and matrons when they dyed but not of young women Caesar was the first that praised his owne wife with funerall oration when she was deade the which also did increase the peoples good willes the more seeing him of so kinde gentle nature After the buriall of his wife he was made Treasorer vnder Antistius Vetus Praetor whom he honored euer after so that when him selfe came to be Praetor he made his sonne to be chosen Treasorer Afterwardes when he was come out of that office he maried his thirde wife Pompeia hauing a daughter by his first wife Cornelia which was maried vnto Pompey the great Now for that he was very liberal in expences bying as some thought but a vaine and short glorie of the fauor of the people where in deede he bought good cheape the greatest thinges that coulde be Some say that before he bare any office in the common wealth he was growen in debt to the summe of thirteene hundred talentes Furthermore bicause he was made ouerseer of the worke for the high way going vnto Appius he disbursed a great summe of his owne money towardes the charges of the same And on the other side when he was made AEdilis for that he did show the people the pastime of three hundred twentie cople of sword players and did besides exceede all other in sumptuousnes in the sportes and common feastes which he made to delight them withall and did as it were drowne all the stately shewes of others in the like that had gone before him he so pleased the people wan their loue therwith that they deuised daily to giue him new offices for to requite him At that time there were two factions in ROME to wit the faction of Sylla which was very strong and of great power the other of Marius which then was vnder foote durst not shew it selfe But Caesar bicause he would renue it again euen at that time when he being AEdilis all the feasts and common sports were in their
determination For they brought him so many lyes and put so many examples of feare before him as if Caesar had bene already at their heeles and had wonne all so that in the ende he yelded vnto them and gaue place to their furie and madnes determining seeing all thinges in such tumult and garboyle that there was no way but to forsake the citie and thereuppon commaunded the Senate to follow him and not a man to tary there vnles he loued tyrannie more then his owne libertie and the common wealth Thus the Consuls them selues before they had done their common sacrifices accustomed at their going out of the citie fled euery man of them So did likewise the moste parte of the Senators taking their owne thinges in haste such as came first to hande as if by stealth they had taken them from another And there were some of them also that alwayes loued Caesar whose witts were then so troubled and besides them selues with the feare they had conceyued that they also fled and followed the streame of this tumult without manifest cause or necessitie But aboue all thinges it was a lamentable sight to see the citie it selfe that in this feare and trouble was left at all aduenture as a shippe tossed in storme of sea forsaken of her Pilots and dispairing of her safetie This their departure being thus miserable yet men esteemed their banishment for the loue they bare vnto Pompey to bee their naturall contry and reckoned ROME no better then Caesars campe At that tyme also Labienus who was one of Caesars greatest friendes and had bene alwayes vsed as his Lieuetenant in the warres of GAVLE and had valiantly fought in his cause he likewise forsooke him then and fled vnto Pompey But Caesar sent his money and cariage after him and then went and encamped before the citie of CORFINIVM the which Domitius kept with thirty cohorts or ensignes When Domitius sawe he was beseeged he straight thought him selfe but vndone and dispayring of his successe he bad a Phisition a slaue of his giue him poyson The Phisition gaue him a drinke which he dranke thinking to haue dyed But shortly after Domitius hearing them reporte what clemencie and wonderfull curtesie Caesar vsed vnto them he tooke repented him then that he had dronke this drinke and beganne to lament and bewayle his desperate resolucion taken to dye The Phisition did comfort him againe and tolde him that he had taken a drinke onely to make him sleepe but not to destroy him Then Domitius reioyced and went straight and yelded him selfe vnto Caesar who gaue him his life but he notwithstanding stale away immediatly and fled vnto Pompey When these newes were brought to ROME they did maruelously reioyce and comfort them that still remayned there and moreouer there were of them that had forsaken ROME which returned thither againe In the meane time Caesar did put all Domitius men in paye and he did the like through all the cities where he had taken any Captaines that leauied men for Pompey Now Caesar hauing assembled a great and dreadfull power together went straight where he thought to finde Pompey him selfe But Pompey taried not his comming but fled into the citie of BRVNDVSIVM from whence he had sent the two Consuls before with that armie he had vnto DYRRACHIVM and he him selfe also went thither afterwards when he vnderstoode that Caesar was come as you shall heare more amply hereafter in his life Caesar lacked no good will to follow him but wanting shippes to take the seas he returned forthwith to ROME So that in lesse then three skore dayes he was Lord of all ITALY without any bloodshed Who when he was come to ROME and found it much quietter then he looked for and many Senatours there also he curteously intreated them and prayed them to send vnto Pompey to pacifie all matters betweene them apon reasonable conditions But no man did attempt it eyther bicause they feared Pompey for that they had forsaken him or els for that they thought Caesar ment not as he spake but that they were wordes of course to culler his purpose withall And when Metellus also one of the Tribunes would not suffer him to take any of the common treasure out of the temple of Saturne but tolde him that it was against the lawe Tushe sayd he tyme of warre and lawe are two thinges If this that I doe q he doe offende thee then get thee hence for this tyme for warre can not abyde this francke and bolde speeche But when warres are done and that we are all quiet agayne then thou shalt speake in the pulpit what thou wilt and yet I doe tell thee this of fauor impayring so much my right for thou art myne both thou and all them that haue risen against me and whom I haue in my hands When he had spoken thus vnto Metellus he went to the temple dore where the treasure laye and finding no keyes there he caused Smythes to be sent for and made them breake open the lockes Metellus thereuppon beganne agayne to withstande him and certen men that stoode by praysed him in his doing but Caesar at length speaking biggely to him threatned him he would kill him presently if he troubled him any more and told him furthermore younge man q he thow knowest it is harder for me to tell it thee than to doe it That word made Metellus quake for feare that he gotte him away rowndly and euer after that Caesar had all at his commaundement for the warres From thence he went into SPAYNE to make warre with Petreius and Varro Pompeys Lieuetenants first to gette their armies and prouinces into his hands which they gouerned that afterwardes he might follow Pompey the better leauing neuer an enemie behinde him In this iorney he was oftentymes him selfe in daunger through the ambushes that were layde for him in diuers straunge sortes and places and likely also to haue lost all his armie for lacke of vittells All this notwithstanding he neuer left following of Pompeys Lieuetenants prouoking them to battell and intrenching them in vntill he had gotten their campe armies into his handes albeit that the Lieuetenants them selues fled vnto Pompey When Caesar returned agayne to ROME Piso his father in lawe gaue him counsell to sende Ambassadors vnto Pompey to treate of peace But Isauricus to flatter Caesar was against it Caesar beeing then created Dictator by the Senate called home againe all the banished men and restored their children to honor whose fathers before had beene slayne in Syllaes tyme and did somewhat cutte of the vsuries that did oppresse them and besides did make some such other ordinances as those but very fewe For he was Dictator but eleuen dayes onely and then did yeld it vppe of him selfe and made him selfe Consul with Seruilius Isauricus and after that determined to followe the warres All the rest of his armie he left comming on the way behind him and
better then I can doe for the gods doe promise vs a maruelous great chaunge and alteracion of thinges that are now vnto an other cleane contrary For if thou beest wel now doest thou thinke to haue worse fortune hereafter and if thou be ill assure thy self thou shalt haue better The night before the battell as he went about midnight to visite the watch men saw a great firebrand in the element all of a light fire that came ouer Caesars campe and fell downe in Pompeys In the morning also when they releeued the watche they heard a false alarom in the enemies campe without any apparant cause which they commonly call a sodaine feare that makes men besides them selues This notwithstāding Caesar thought not to fight that day but was determined to haue raised his camp from thence and to haue gone towards the citie of SCOTVSA and his tents in his campe were already ouerthrowen when his skowtes came in with great speede to bringe him newes that his enemies were preparing them selues to fight Then he was very glad after he had made his prayers vnto the gods to helpe him that day he set his men in battell ray deuided them into three squadrons giuing the middle battell vnto Domitius Caluinus and the left winge vnto Antonius and placed him selfe in the right winge choosing his place to fight in the tenth legion But seeing that against that his enemies had set all their horsemen he was halfe affraid when he saw the great number of them and so braue besides Wherefore he closely made six ensignes to come from the rerewarde of his battell whom he had layd as an ambushe behind his right winge hauing first appointed his souldiers what they should do when the horsemen of the enemies came to giue them charge On thother side Pompey placed him self in the right winge of his battell gaue the left winge vnto Domitius and the middle battell vnto Scipio his father in law Now all the ROMANE knightes as we haue told you before were placed in the left winge of purpose to enuyrone Caesars right wing behinde and to giue their hottest charge there where the generall of their enemies was making their accompt that there was no squadron of footemen how thicke soeuer they were that could receiue the charge of so great a trowpe of horsemen and that at the first onset they should ouerthrow them all and marche vpon their bellies When the trompets on either side did sound the alarom to the battell Pompey commaunded his footemen that they should stande still without sturring to receyue the charge of their enemies vntill they came to throwing of their darts Wherefore Caesar afterwardes sayde that Pompey had committed a fowle faulte not to consider that the charge which is giuen ronning with furie besides that it giueth the more strength also vnto their blowes doth sette mens hartes also a fire for the common hurling of all the souldiers that ronne together is vnto them as a boxe of the eare that settes men a fire Then Caesar making his battell marche forwarde to giue the onsette sawe one of his Captaines a valiant man and very skillfull in warre in whome he had also greate confidence speaking to his souldiers that he had vnder his charge encouraging them to fight lyke men that daye So he called him alowde by his name and sayde vnto him well Caius Crassinius what hope shall we haue to day how are we determined to fight it out manfully Then Crassinius casting vp his hand aunswered him alowd this day O Caesar we shall haue a noble victory and I promise thee ere night thou shalt prayse me alyue or dead When he had told him so he was him selfe the foremost man that gaue charge vpon his enemies with his band following of him beeing about six score men and making a lane through the foremost ranckes with great slaughter he entred farre into the battell of his enemies vntill that valiantly fighting in this sort he was thrust in at length in the mouth with a sworde that the poynt of it came out agayne at his necke Nowe the footemen of both battells being come to the sworde the horsemen of the left winge of Pompey did marche as fiercely also spreading out their trowpes to compasse in the right winge of Caesars battell But before they beganne to giue charge the six ensignes of footemen which Caesar had layed in ambushe behinde him they beganne to runne full apon them not throwing away their dartes farre of as they were wont to doe neyther striking their enemies on the thighes nor on the legges but to seeke to hit them full in the eyes and to hurt them in the face as Caesar had taught them For he hoped that these lusty younge gentlemen that had not bene often in the warres nor were vsed to see them selues hurt the which beeing in the pryme of their youth and beautie would be affrayd of those hurtes aswell for the feare of the present daunger to be slayne as also for that their faces should not for euer be deformed As in deede it came to passe for they coulde neuer abyde that they shoulde come so neare their faces with the poyntes of their dartes but honge downe their heades for feare to be hitte with them in their eyes and turned their backes couering their face bicause they shoulde not be hurt Then breaking of them selues they beganne at length cowardly to flye and were occasion also of the losse of all the rest of Pompeys armie For they that had broken them ranne immediatly to sette vpon the squadron of the footemen behind and slue them Then Pompey seeing his horsemen from the other winge of his battell so scattered and dispersed flying away forgate that he was any more Pompey the great which he had bene before but rather was like a man whose wittes the goddes had taken from him being affrayde and amazed with the slaughter sent from aboue and so retyred into his tent speaking neuer a worde and sate there to see the ende of this battell Vntill at length all his army beeing ouerthrowen and put to flight the enemies came and gotte vp vpon the rampers and defence of his campe and fought hande to hande with them that stoode to defende the same Then as a man come to him selfe agayne he spake but this onely worde What euen into our campe So in haste casting of his coate armor and apparell of a generall he shifted him and put on such as became his miserable fortune and so stale out of his campe Furthermore what he did after this ouerthrowe and howe he had put him selfe into the handes of the AEGYPTIANS by whome he was miserably slayne we haue sette it forthe at large in his life Then Caesar entring into Pompeys campe and seeing the bodies layed on the grounde that were slayne and others also that were a killing sayde fetching a great sighe it was their owne doing and against
at ROME for any victorie that he had euer wonne in all the ciuill warres but did alwayes for shame refuse the glorie of it This notwithstanding the ROMANES inclining Caesars prosperity and taking the bit in the mouth supposing that to be ruled by one man alone it would be a good meane for them to take breth a litle after so many troubles and miseries as they had abidden in these ciuill warres they chose him perpetuall Dictator This was a plaine tyranny for to this absolute power of Dictator they added this neuer to be affraied to be deposed Cicero propounded before the Senate that they should geue him such honors as were meete for a man howbeit others afterwardes added to honors beyonde all reason For men striuing who shoulde most honor him they made him hatefull and troublesome to them selues that most fauore him by reason of the vnmeasurable greatnes and honors which they gaue him Thereuppon it is reported that euen they that most hated him were no lesse fauorers and furtherers of his honors then they that most flattered him bicause they might haue greater occasions to rise and that it might appeare they had iust cause and colour to attempt that they did against him And now for him selfe after he had ended his ciuill warres he did so honorably behaue him selfe that there was no fault to be founde in him and therefore me thinkes amongest other honors they gaue him he rightly deserued this that they should builde him a temple of clemency to thanke him for his curtesie he had vsed vnto them in his victorie For he pardoned many of them that had borne armes against him and furthermore did preferre some of them to honor and office in the common wealth as amongest others Cassius and Brutus both the which were made Praetors And where Pompeys images had bene throwen downe he caused them to be set vp againe whereupon Cicero sayd then that Caesar setting vp Pompeys images againe he made his owne to stand the surer And when some of his frends did counsell him to haue a gard for the safety of his person and some also did offer them selues to serue him he would neuer consent to it but sayd it was better to dye once then alwayes to be affrayed of death But to win him selfe the loue and good will of the people as the honorablest gard and best safety he could haue he made common feasts againe generall distributions of come Furthermore to gratifie the souldiers also he replenished many cities againe with inhabitantes which before had bene destroyed and placed them there that had no place to repaue vnto of the which the noblest chiefest cities were these two CARTHAGE CORINTHEâ— and it chaunced so that like as aforetime they had bene both taken and destroyed together euen so were they both set a foote againe and replenished with people at one selfe time And as for great personages he wanne them also promising some of them to make them Praetors and Consulls in time to come and vnto others honors and preferrements but to all men generally good hope seeking all the wayes he coulde to make euerie man contented with his raigne Insomuch as one of the Consulls called Maximus chauncing to dye a day before his Consulshippe ended he declared Caninius Rebilius Consull onely for the day that remained So diuers going to his house as the manner was to salute him to congratulate with him of his calling and preferrement being newly chosen officer Cicero pleasauntly sayd come let vs make hast and be gone thither before his Consulshippe come out Furthermore Caesar being borne to attempt all great enterprises hauing an ambitious desire besides to couet great honors the prosperous good successe he had of his former conquestes bred no desire in him quietly to enioy the frutes of his labours but rather gaue him hope of thinges to come still kindling more and more in him thoughts of greater enterprises and desire of new glory as if that which he had present were stale and nothing worth This humor of his was no other but an emulation with him selfe as with an other man and a certaine contencion to ouercome the thinges he prepared to attempt For he was determined made preparacion also to make warre with the PERSIANS Then when he had ouercome them to passe through HYRCANIA compassing in the sea Caspium and mount Caucasus into the realme of PONTVS and so to inuade SCYYHIA and ouerrunning all the contries and people adioyning vnto high GERMANY and GERMANY it selfe at length to returne by GAVLE into ITALIE and so to enlarge the ROMANE Empire round that it might be euery way compassed in with the great sea Oceanum But whilest he was preparing for this voiage he attempted to cut the barre of the straight of PELOPONNESVS in the place where the city of CORINTHE standeth Then he was minded to bring the riuers of Anienes and Tiber straight from ROME vnto the citie of GLVCEES with a deepe channell and high banckes cast vp on either side and so to fall into the sea at TEREACINA for the better safety and commodity of the marchants that came to ROME to trafficke there Furthermore he determined to draine and seawe all the water of the marisses betwext the cities of NOMENTVM and SETIVM to make it firme land for the benefit of many thowsandes of people and on the sea coast next vnto ROME to cast great high bankes and to clense all the hauen about OSTIA of rockes and stones hidden vnder the water and to take away all other impedimentes that made the harborough daungerous for shippes and to make new hauens and arsenalls meete to harbor such shippes as did continually trafficke thither All these thinges were purposed to be done but tooke no effecte But the ordinaunce of the kalender and reformation of the yeare to take away all confusion of time being exactly calculated by the Mathematicians and brought to perfection was a great commoditie vnto all men For the ROMANES vsing then the auncient computacion of the yeare had not only such incertainty and alteracion of the moneth and times that the sacrifices and yearely feasts came by litle and litle to seasons contrary for the purpose they were ordained but also in the reuolution of the sunne which is called Annus Solaris no other nation agreed with them in account and of the ROMANES them selues only the priests vnderstood it And therefore when they listed they sodainly no man being able to controll them did thrust in a moneth aboue their ordinary number which they called in old time Mercedonius Some say that Numa Pompilius was the first that deuised this way to put a moneth betwene but it was a weake remedy and did litle helpe the correction of the errors that were made in the account of the yeare to frame them to perfection But Caesar committing this matter vnto the Philosophers and best expert Mathematicians
men but they loue and trust them better As for the two first the one they are affrayed of and the other they distrust beside they suppose that valliancy and wisdom commeth rather by the benefite of nature then of our intent and choyce esteeming wisedome as a readines of conceit and fortitude a presence and courage of the minde For euery man may be iust that will and therefore iniustice is of all otherwices most shamefull for it is a wilfull and malicious defaut and therefore can not be excused Loe this was the cause why all the noble men in manner were against Cato as though he only had ouercome them Pompey he thought that the estimacion of Cato was altogether the discountenaunce of his power and greatnesse and therefore did dayly raise vp many railers against him Of them Publius Clodius that seditious Tribune who was againe fallen in frendship with Pompey he accused Cato and cried out vpon him how he had robbed the common wealth of a wonderfull treasure by his commission in CYPRVS and that be was enemy vnto Pompey bicause he did refuse to marry his daughter Cato thereto made aunswer◠that he had brought more golde and siluer out of CYPRVS into the treasure of ROME without the allowance of either horse or souldier then Pompey had done with all his triumphes and warres with the which he had troubled all the world And moreouer that he did neuer seeke alliance with Pompey not that he thought him vnworthie of it but bicause he saw he delt not as vprightly in the common wealth as he him selfe did I sayd he haue refused a prouince offred me when I came out of my Praetorshippe but Pompey hath taken some by force and geuen away vnto others And to conclude he lent Caesar not long since an armie of six thowsand men to serue him in the warres in GAVLE the which he neuer required of vs nor Pompey graunted them him by our consent But we see that so many armies armors and weapon so many men and horses by common pleasures of our priuate citizens geuen and lent at our charge And Pompey him selfe reseruing onely the name of Emperour and Lieutenaunt generall assigneth ouer his armies and prouinces to the gouernment of others whilest he him selfe besiegeth here the walls of the citie with seditious tumultuous election of officers craftily vnderminding therby the state of the common wealth to bring all to confusion that he him selfe might be absolute Prince and rule alone Thus was he reuenged of Pompey Among Catoes frends he had one called Marcus Faonius such a one as Apollodorus PHALERIAN was sayd to be in old time vnto Socrates who did counterfeate to be an other him selfe in doing all thinges as he did This man would be farre out of reason and passionate in his talke storming like a dronkard He one yere made sute to be AEdilis but he was reiected Howbeit Cato that furthered his sute marked that the tables wherein the voyces were wrytten were all one hande So he finding out the falsehoode appealed thereuppon vnto the Tribunes and made the election voyde for that time After that Faonius was created AEdilis Cato did helpe him forth in all the other charges of his office and specially in setting foorth playes in the Theater◠which are customably done at the comming in of euery such new officer to geue the people pastime and gaue vnto the common players and dauncers in those playes no golden crownes as other AEdiles did but crownes of wilde oliue twigges as they commonly vse in GRAECE at the Olympian games And where others gaue vnto the poore rich gifts he gaue the GRAECIANS leekes lettises radishes and peares and vnto the ROMANES they had earthen pottes full of wine porke figges cowcombres and fagots of wodde of small value Insomuch as some thought scorne of thē they were so meane others were verie glad of them seeing that Cato which was seuere and hard of nature had a doing in them and by litle and litle they turned this austeritie of his into pleasure In fine Faonius him selfe sitting downe amongest the people which looked apon the players clapped his hands for ioy at Cato and cried out to him that he should geue them good rewardes that played well alluring them also about him to doe the like and told them that he had made Cato the whole ruler of thoses sportes At the selfe same time Curio Faonius colleague and companion in the office of AEdilis had likewise goodly playes in an other Theater but all the people forsooke his and went to see Faonius playes who sate among them like a priuate man and Cato as the maister of the playes Cato did this in scorne and mockerie of vaine charge and expences which men are wont to bestow in such trifles shewing thereby that whosoeuer will make any playes he should make the charge but a sport also furnishing it only with a conuenient grace but with no vaine expence or charge about such a trifle Shortly after when Scipio Hypseus and Milo sued all three together to be Consuls not only by briberie of money a common fault then in suing for any of the offices in the common wealth but by plaine force of armes slaying and killing as in a ciuill warre they were so desperat and insolent some preferred a lawe that they should make Pompey President in these elections bicause men should moue their sute after a lawfull sorte But Cato straight was against it saying that the law could haue no safety by Pompey but Pompey might haue safety by the lawe Notwithstanding when he sawe this trouble continewe of a long time without any Consuls in ROME and that dayly there were three campes in the market place that it was almost impossible to preuent the mischiefe at hand and to stay that it should goe no further then he thought it better that the Senate of their owne good willes rather then by compulsion should put the gouernment of the state into Pompeis hands alone choosing the lesser euill to withstand the greater and so to yeeld to the absolute gouernment without constraint which the sedition would bring it vnto Therefore Bibulus Catoes frend kinseman made a motion to the Senate that they would choose Pompey sole Consul For sayd he either the common wealth shall be well gouerned by him or else ROME shall serue an ill lord Cato then rising vp beyonde all mens expectacion confirmed Bibulus opinion and sayd that the citie were better to haue one soueraine Magistrate then none and that he hoped Pompey could geue present order for the pacifying of this confusion and that he would be carefull to preserue the citie when he sawe that they trusted him with the gouernment thereof Thus was Pompey by Catoes meanes chosen sole Consull Then he sent for Cato to come to his gardens to him which were in the suburbes of the citie Cato went thither and was receiued with as great honor
be the better beliked and to be fine and trimme in his apparell and to cast vpon him a plaine spanish cape taking pleasure in the dyet bathes and manner of the auncient LACONIAN life and openly boasted besides that he would not desire to be king but onely for the hope he had to restore the auncient LACONIAN life by his authority Then began the state of LACEDAEMON first to be corrupted and to leaue her auncient discipline when the LACEDAEMONIANS hauing subdued the Empire of the ATHENIANS stored them selues contry both with plenty of gold siluer But yet reseruing still the lands left vnto them by succession from their fathers according vnto Lycurgus first ordinaunce institucion for diuision of the landes amongest them which ordinaunce and equalitie being inuiolably kept amongest them did yet preserue the common wealth from defamation of diuers other notorious crimes Vntil the time of the authoritie of Epitadeus one of the Ephores a seditious man and of prowde conditions who bitterly falling out with his own sonne preferred a law that euery man might lawfully giue his landes and goods whilest he liued or after his death by testament vnto any man whom he liked or thought well of Thus this man made this law to satisfie his anger others also did confirme it for couetousnes sake and so ouerthrew a noble ordinaunce For the riche men then began to buy lands of numbers and so transferred it from the right lawful heires whereby a few men in short time being made very riche immediatly after there fell out great pouertie in the citie of SPARTA which made all honest sciences to cease brought in thereuppon vnlawfull occupacions who enuyed them that were wealthy Therefore there remayned not aboue seuen hundred naturall Citizens of SPARTA in all of them not aboue a hundred that had lands and inheritance for all the rest were poore people in the citie and were of no countenaunce nor calling besides that went vnwillingly to the warres against their enemies looking euery day for sturre and chaunge in the citie Agis therefore thinking it a notable good acte as in deede it was to replenish the citie of SPARTA againe and to bringe in the old equalitie he moued the matter vnto the Citizens He found the youth against all hope to giue good eare vnto him and very well giuen vnto vertue easily chaunging their garments life to recouer their libertie againe But the oldest men which were now euen rotten with couetousnes and corruption they were affraid to returne againe to the straight ordinaunces of Lycurgus as a slaue and ronneagate from his Maister that trembleth when he is brought back againe vnto him Therefore they reproued Agis when he did lament before them their present miserable estate and wishe also for the former auncient honor and true dignitie of SPARTA Howbeit Lysander the sonne of Lybis and Mandroclidas the sonne of Esphanes and Agesilaus also greatly commended his noble desire and perswaded him to goe forward withall This Lysander was of great authoritie and estimation amongest them in the citie Mandroclidas was also very wise and carefull about any matter of counsell and with his wisedom and policy very valiant Agesilaus in like manner the kings Vncle and an eloquent man was very effeminate and couetous and yet prickt forward to giue his furtherance to this attempt as it appeared by his sonne Hippomedon who was a notable good souldier and could doe very much by meanes of the loue and good will the younge men did beare him But in deede the secret cause that brought Agesilaus to consent vnto this practise was the greatnes of his dette which he ought of the which he hoped to be discharged by chaunging of the state and common wealth Now when Agis had wonne him he fought by his meanes to drawe his mother also vnto the matter which was Agesilaus sister She could doe very much by the number of her friendes followers and detters in the citie by whose meanes she ruled the most part of the affayres of the citie after her owne pleasure But the young man Hippomedon making her priuie vnto it at the first she was amased withall and bad him hold his peace if he were wise and not medle in matters vnpossible and vnprofitable But when Agesilaus had told her what a notable acte it would be and how easily it might be brought to passe with maruelous great profit and that king Agis beganne also to strayne her with great intreatie that she would willingly depart with her goods to winne her sonne honor and glory who though he could not in money and riches come to be like vnto other kinges bicause the slaues and factors onely of the kinges Seleucus and Ptolomy had more money then all the kings of SPARTA had together that euer raigned yet if in temperance thriftines noble mind exceeding all their vanities he could come to restore the LACEDAEMONIANS againe vnto equalitie that then in deede he should be counted a noble king These women being stirred vp with ambition by these perswasions of the younge man seeing him so nobly bent as if by the goddes their mindes had secretly bene inflamed with the loue of vertue did presently alter their mindes in such sort that they them selues did pricke forward Agis and sent for their friends to pray and intreate them to fauor his enterprise and furthermore they brought on other women also knowing that the LACEDAEMONIANS did euer heare and beleeue their wiues suffering them to vnderstand more of the affayres of the state then they them selues did of their priuate estate at home Herein is to be considered that the most part of the riches of LACEDAEMON was in the handes of the women and therefore they were against it not onely bicause thereby they were cut of from their finenes and excesse in the which being ignorant of the true good in deede they put all their felicitie but also bicause they sawe their honor and authoritie which they had by their riches cleane troden vnder foote Therefore they comming to Leonidas they did perswade him to reproue Agis bicause he was elder man then he and to let that this enterprise went not forward Leonidas did what he could in fauour of the riche but fearing the common people who desired nothing but alteracion he durst not openly speake against him but secretly he did the best he could to hinder Agis practise talking with the Magistrates of the citie and accusing Agis vnto them he told them how he did offer the riche mens goods vnto the poore the diuision of their landes and the abolishing of all detts for rewarde to put the tyrannie into his handes and that thereby he got him a stronge gard vnto him selfe but not many Citizens vnto SPARTA This notwithstanding king Agis hauing procured Lysander to be chosen one of the Ephores he presently preferred his lawe vnto the counsell The articles whereof were these
armed with their swords so came downe into the market place among thē And for the two kings he made no accōpt of the one but of the other that was Agis he semed outwardly to make good accōpt rather for kinreds sake thē for his dignity of a king furthermore gaue it out abroad that he would also be one of the Ephores the next yere following Wheruppō his enemies spedely to preuent the daūger gathered force together opēly brought king Leonidas from TEGEA to restore him again to his kingdō The people were glad to see that bicause they were angry they had bene mocked in that sort for that the landes were not deuided according vnto promise Furthermore Hippomedon was so welbeloued for his valiantnes of euery mā that intreating the people for his father Agesilaus he saued his life got him out of the city But for the two kings Agis tooke sanctuary in the tēple of Iuno Chalceoecos And Cleōbrotus the other king fled into the tēple of Neptume for it semed that Leonidas being much more offēded with him did let king Agis alone wēt against him with certē soldiers armed Thē he sharply taunted him that being his sonne in law he had conspired against him to depriue him of his kingdō had driuē him out of his contry But then Cleombrotus not hauing a word to say sate stil made him no answer Wheruppō his wife Chelonis the daughter of Leonidas who before was offended for the iniury they did her father had left her husband Cleōbrotus that had vsurped the kingdō from him to serue her father in his aduersity and while he was in sanctuary tooke part with him also of his misery afterwards whē he wēt vnto the city of TEGEA were blacks for sorow being offēded with her husbād she contrarily thē chaūging her anger with her husbāds fortune misery became also an hūble suter with him sitting down by him imbracing him hauing her two litle sonnes on either side of them All mē wōdering weping for pity to see the goodnes natural loue of this Lady who shewing her mourning apparell heare of her head flaring about her eyes bare headed she spake in sort vnto her father O father mine this sorowfull garmēt countenance is not for pity of Cleombrotus but hath long remained with me lamenting sore your former misery exile but now which of the two should I rather choose either to cōtinue a mourner in this pitiful state seing you again restored to your kingdom hauing ouercome your enemies or els putting on my princely apparel to see my husband slain vnto whom you maried me a maid who if he can not moue you to cōpassion of him and to obtein mercy by the teares of his wife and childrē he shal then abide more bitter paine of his euil counsel then that which you intend to make him suffer For he shal see his wife die before him whom he loueth more derely then any thing in the world Also with what face can I loke apon other ladies whē I could neuer bring my father to pity by any intercessiō I could make for my husband neither my husband intreating him for my father that my hap is to be borne a daughter wife alwaies most vnfortunat despised of mine owne And for my husbād if he had any reason to do that he did I thē tooke it from him by taking your parte and protesting against him and contrarily your selfe doth giue him honest culler to excuse his faulte when he seeth in you the desire of the kingdom so great that for the loue thereof you thinke it lawfull to kill your sonnes in law and also not to regard the children he hath gotten for her sake Chelonis pitifully complayning in this sorte putting her sade vpon Cleombrotus head cast her swollen and blubbering eyes apon the standers by Wherefore Leonidas after he had talked a litle with his friends he commaunded Cleombrotus to get him thence and to leaue the citie as an exile and prayed his Daughter for his sake to remayne with him and not to forsake her father that did so dearely loue her as for her sake he had saued her husbands life This notwithstanding she would not yeelde to his request but rising vp with her husband gaue him one of his sonnes and her self tooke the other in her armes and then making her prayer before the altar of the goddesse she went as a banished woman away with her husband And truely thexample of her vertue was so famous that if Cleombrotus mind had not bene too much blinded with vain glory he had cause to thinke his exile farre more happy to enioye the loue of so noble a wife as he had then for the kingdom which he possessed without her Then Leonidas hauing banished king Cleombrotus out of the city remouing the first Ephores had substituted other in their place he presētly bethought him howe he might craftily come by king Agis First he perswaded him to come out of the sanctuary to gouerne the kingdom safely with him declaring vnto him that his citizens had forgiuen him all that was past bicause they knew he was deceiued subtely circumuented by Agesilaus craft being a young man ambitious of honor Agis would not leaue the sanctuary for Leonidas cunning perswasion but mistrusted all that he said vnto him Wherefore Leonidas would no more be guile him with faire words But Amphares Demochares Arcesilaus did oftētimes go to visit king Agis otherwhile also they got him out of the sanctuary with them vnto the bath brought him backe againe into the temple when he had bathed But Amphares hauing borowed not long before certein rich apparel plate of Agesistrata bicause he would not redeliuer thē againe he determined to betray king Agis his mother grandmother And it is reported that he chiefly did serue Leonidas turne prouoked the Ephores of which number he was one against Agis Now therefore Agis keping all the rest of his time within the tēple sauing when he went apon occasion to the bath they determined to intercept him by the way to take him when he was out of the sanctuary So they watched him one day when he bathed came saluted him as their maner was seemed to accompany him sporting being mery with him as with a young man their famillier But when they came to the turning of a streete that went towardes the prison Amphares laying hold on him beeing one of the Ephores said vnto him I arrest thee Agis wil bring thee before the Ephores to giue accompt of thy doings in the common wealth Then Demochares which was a great mighty man cast his gowne ouer his eares pulled him forward others also thrust him forward behind him as they had agreed together So no man being neare them to help Agis they got him into prison Then came
he had not that shamefast modestie and lenitie which the other had but somewhat more sturring of nature and readier to put any good matter in execution So he thought it greate honestie to bringe the Citizens if he could to be contented to liue after an honest sorte but contrarily he thought it no dishonestie to bringe them vnto good life by compulsion also Furthermore the manners of the Citizens of SPARTA giuing them selues ouer to idlenes and pleasure did nothing like him at all neither that the king did suffer the common wealth to be ruled as they listed so no man impeached his pleasure and that they did let him alone insomuch no man regarding the profit of the common wealth euery man was for him self and his familie And contrarily it was not lawfull for any man to speake for the exercises of the youth for their education in temperancie and for the restoring a gaine of equality of life the preferment whereof was the only cause of the late death of Agis They say also that Cleomenes being a young stripling had heard some disputacion of Philosophie when the Philosopher Sphaerus of the contry of BORYSTHENES came to LACEDAEMON and louingly stayed there to teache younge men and children He was one of the chiefest schollers of Zenon CITIAN and delighted as it seemed in Cleomenes noble minde and had a great desire to pricke him forward vnto honor For as it is reported that the auncient Leonidas beeing demaunded what Poet he thought Tyrtaeus to be aunswered he was good to flatter younge mens myndes for he sette their hartes a fire by his verses when they beganne to fight any battell fearing no daunger they were so incoraged by them So the Stoicke discipline is somewhat daungerous for the stowte and valiant myndes which otherwise doth make them desperate but when they are ioyned vnto a graue and gentle nature first it lyfteth vp his hart and then maketh him taste the profit thereof Nowe Leonidas the father of Cleomenes beeing deceased and he him selfe comen vnto the crowne finding that the Citizens of SPARTA at that tyme were very dissolute that the riche men followed their pleasure and profit taking no care of the common weale that the poore men also for very want and neede went with no good life and courage to the warres nether cared for the bringing vp of their children and that he him selfe had but the name of a king and the Ephori the absolute authoritie to doe what they listed at his first comming to his kingdome he determined to alter the whole state and gouernment of the common wealth Who hauing a friend called Xenares that had beene his louer in his youth which the LACEDAEMONIANS called Empnistae as much as inspired he beganne to sownd his opinion asking what maner of man king Agis had bene and by what reason and whose aduise he had followed in his attempt for the reformation of the common wealth Xenares at the first did not willingly rehearse these things vnto him declaring euery thing what had passed But when he found that Cleomenes was affected vnto king Agis intent still desired to heare of it then Xenares sharply and angrily reproued him and tolde him he was not wise nor well aduised and at length would no more come and talke with him as he was wont yet making no man priuye why he absteyned from comming to him but told them that asked him he knewe a cause well enough why Xenares nowe hauing thus refused him and thinking all the rest woulde doe the like to bringe this matter to passe he tooke this resolution with him selfe Bicause he thought he might the rather doe it in warre then in peace he set the citie of SPARTA and the ACHAIANS at variance together who did them selues giue the first occasion to be complayned vppon For Aratus beeing President and chiefe of all the ACHAIANS had practised a longe tyme to bringe all PELOPONNESVS into one bodye and had therefore onely susteyned great troubles in warres and at home in peace thinking that there was no other waye to deliuer them from forreyne warres Nowe when he had wonne all the other people to be of his opinion there remained no more but the ELIANS the LACEDAEMONIANS and a few of the ARCHADIANS which were subiect vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS When king Leonidas was deade Aratus beganne to inuade the ARCHADIANS those specially that bordered apon the ARGIVES to proue how the LACEDAEMONIANS would take it making no accompt of Cleomenes being but a young king had no experience of warres Thereuppon the Ephori sent Cleomenes vnto ATHAENIVM a temple of Minerua hard by the citie of BELBINA with an armie to take it bicause it was a passage entry into the contry of LACONIA howbeit the place at that time was in question betwixt the MEGALOPOLITANES and the LACEDAEMONIANS Cleomenes got it and fortefied it Aratus making no complaint otherwise of the matter stale out one night with his army to set apon the TEGEANS and ORCHOMENIANS hoping to haue taken those cities by treason But the traitors that were of his confederacy their harts failed them when they should haue gonne about it so that Aratus returned hauing lost his iorney thinking that this secret attempt of his was not discouered But Cleomenes finely wrote vnto him as his friend and asked him whether he had led his armie by night Aratus returned aunswer againe that vnderstanding Cleomenes ment to fortifie BELBINA he went forth with his armye thinking to haue let him Cleomenes wrote againe vnto him and said he did beleeue that which he spake was true howbeit he earnestly requested him if it were no trouble to him to aduertise him why he brought schaling ladders and lightes after him Aratus smiling at this mocke asked what this young man was Democritus LACEDAEMONIAN being a banished man out of his cōtry aunswered if thou hast any thing to doe against the LACEDAEMONIANS thou hadst neede make haste before this young Cockerel haue on his spurres Then Cleomenes being in the field in the contry of ARCHADIA with a few horsemen and three hundred footemen onely the Ephori being affraid of warres sent for him to returne againe His backe was no sooner turned obeying their commaundement but Aratus sodainly tooke the citie of CAPHYES Thereuppon the Ephori incontinently sent Cleomenes backe againe with his armie who tooke the fort of Methydrium and burnt the borders of the ARGIVES The ACHAIANS came against him with an army of twenty thowsand footemen and a thowsand horsemen led by Aristomachus Cleomenes met with them by the city of PALANTIVM and offred battell But Aratus quaking at the hardines of this young man would not suffer Aristomachus to hazard battell but went his way derided by the ACHAIANS and despised by the LACEDAEMONIANS who in all were not aboue fiue thowsand fighting men Cleomenes corage beeing now lift vp and brauely speaking to his citizens he remembred them of a saying of one of
ouerthrowe of king Cleomenes so muche more lamentable For if he had delayed battell but two dayes lenger when the MACEDONIANS had bene gone he might haue made what peace he would with the ACHAIANS but for lacke of money he was driuen as Polybius wryteth to geue battell with twentie thowsande men against thirtie thowsande where he shewed him selfe an excellent and skilfull Captaine and where his citizens also fought like valliant men and the straungers in like case did shewe them selues good souldiers But his onely ouerthrowe was by the manner of his enemies weapons and the force of their battell of footemen But Phylarchus wryteth that treason was the cause of his ouerthrowe For Antigonus had appointed the ACARNANIANS and the ILLYRIANS which he had in his armie to steale vppon the winge of his enemies armie where Euclidas king Cleomenes brother was to compasse him in behinde whilest did sette the rest of his men in battell When Cleomenes was got vp vpon some hill to looke about him to see the countenaunce of the enemie and seeing none of the ACARNANIANS nor of the ILLYRIANS he was then affrayed of Antigonus that he went about some stratageame of warre Wherefore he called for Demoteles whose charge was to take heede of stratageames and secret ambushes and commaunded him to looke to the rerewarde of his armie and to be verie circumspect all about Demoteles that was bribed before as it is reported with money tolde him that all was cleere in the rerewarde and bad him looke to ouerthrowe his enemies before him Cleomenes trusting this reporte sette forward against Antigonus and in the ende his citizens of SPARTA which he had about him gaue suche a fierce charge apon the squadron of the MACEDONIAN footemen that they draue them backe fiue furlonges of But in the meane time Euclidas his brother in the other wing of his armie being compassed in behinde Cleomenes turning him backe and seeing the ouerthrowe cried out alowde alas good brother thou art but slaine yet thou dyest valliantlie and honestlie and thy death shall be a worthie example vnto all posteritie and shall be song by the praises of the women of SPARTA So Euclidas and his men being slaine the enemies came straight to sette vpon Cleomenes winge Cleomenes then seeing his men discouraged and that they durst no lenger resist the enemie fledde and saued him selfe Many of the straungers also that serued him were slaine at this battell and of sixe thowsande SPARTANS there were left aliue but onely two hundred Now Cleomenes being returned vnto SPARTA the citizens comming to see him he gaue them counsell to yeeld them selues vnto Antigonus the conqueror and for him selfe if either aliue or dead he could doe any thing for the honor and benefit of SPARTA that he would willingly doe it The women of the citie also comming vnto them that flying had escaped with him when he saw them vnarme the men and bring them drinke to refresh them with he also went home to his owne house Then a maide of the house which he had taken in the citie of MEGALIPOLIS and whom he had enterteined euer since the death of his wife came vnto him as her maner was to refresh him comming hot from the battell howbeit he would not drinke though he was extreame drie nor sit being verie wearie but armed as he was layed his arme a crosse apon a piller and leaning his head apon it reposed himselfe a litle and casting in his minde all the wayes that were to be thought of he tooke his frendes with him and went to the hauen of Gythium and there hauing his shippes which he had appointed for the purpose he hoysted sayle and departed his way Immediatly after his departure came Antigonus into the citie of SPARTA and curteously intreated the citizens and inhabitants he found and did offend no man nor prowdly despise the auncient honor and dignitie of SPARTA but referring them to their owne lawes and gouernment when he had sacrificed to the goddes for his victorie he departed from thence the thirde daye newes being brought him that the warre was verie great in MACEDON and that the barbarous people did spoyle his contrie Now a disease tooke him whereof he dyed afterwards which appeared a tisicke mixt with a sore catarre but yet he yeelded not to his disease and bare it out that fighting for his contrie and obteyning a famous victorie with great slaughter of the barbarous people he might yet dye honorably as in deede he did by Phylarchus testimonie who sayth that with the force of his voyce fiercely crying out in the middest of his fight he tare his lunges and lightes worse then they were before Yet in the schooles it is sayd that after he had wonne the battell he was so ioyfull of it that crying out O blessed day he brake out into a great bleeding at the mouth and a great feuer tooke him withall that he dyed of it Thus much touching Antigonus Now Cleomenes departing out of the Isle of CYTHERA went and cast ancker in an other Iland called AEGIALIA Then determining to saile ouer to the citie of CYRENA Therycion one of Cleomenes frendes a man that in warres shewed him selfe verie valliant but a boaster besides of his owne doinges tooke Cleomenes aside and sayd thus vnto him Truely O king we haue lost an honorable occasion to dye in battell though euery man hath heard vs vaunt and say that Antigonus should neuer ouercome the king of SPARTA aliue but dead A seconde occasion yet is offered vs to dye with much lesse honor and fame notwithstanding then the first Whether doe we saile to no purpose Why doe we flie the death at hand and seeke it so farre of If it be no shame nor dishonor for the posteritie race of Hercules to serue the successors of Philip and Alexander let vs saue then our labor and long daungerous sailing and goe yeelde our selues vnto Antigonus who in likelyhoode will better vse vs then Ptolomy bicause the MACEDONIANS are farre more nobler persons then the AEGYPTIANS And if we disdaine to be commaunded by them which haue ouercommen vs in battell why then will we make him Lord of vs that hath not ouercomen vs in steade of one to make vs inferior vnto both flying Antigonus and seruing king Ptolomy Can we say that we goe into AEGYPT in respect to see your mother there A ioyfull sight no doubt when she shall shew king Ptolomyes wiues her sonne that before was a king a prisoner fugitiue now Were it not better for vs that hauing yet LACONIA our contrie in sight and our swordes besides in our owne hands to deliuer vs from this great miserie so doing to excuse our selues vnto them that are slaine at SELASIA for defence of SPARTA then cowardly loosing our time in AEGYPT to inquire whom Antigonus left his Lieutenaunt and Gouernor in LACEDAEMON Therycion ending his oration Cleomenes aunswered him thus Doest thou
of Philosophie he dedicated vnto him And some also do accuse their mother Cornelia who did twit her sonnes in the teeth that the ROMANES did yes call her Scipioes mother in law and not the mother of the GRACCHI Other say it was Spurius Posthumius a companion of Tiberius and one that contended with him in eloquence For Tiberius returning from the warres and finding him farre beyond him in fame and reputacion and well beloued of euery one he sought to excell him by attempting this noble enterprise and of so great expectacion His owne brother Caius in a certaine booke wrote that as he went to the warres of NVMANTIA passing through THVSCAN he founde the contrye in manner vnhabited and they that did followe the ploughe or keepe beastes were the moste of them slaues and barbarous people comen out of a straunge contrie Whereuppon euer after it ranne in his minde to bringe this enterprise to passe which brought great troubles to their house But in fine it was the people onely that moste set his harte afire to couet honor and that hastened his determinacion first bringing him to it by bylles sette vppe on euery wall in euery porche and vppon the tombes praying him by them to cause the poore Citizens of ROME to haue their landes restored which were belonging to the common wealth This notwithstanding he him selfe made not the lawe alone of his owne head but did it by the counsell and aduise of the chiefest men of ROME for vertue and estimation Amonge the which Craessus the high Bishoppe was one and Mutius Scaeuola the Lawyer that then was Consul and Appius Clodius his father in lawe And truely it seemeth that neuer lawe was made with greater fauor then that which he preferred against so great in iustice and auarice For those that should haue bene punished for transgressing the lawe and should haue had the landes taken from them by force which they vniustly kept against the lawe of ROME and that should also haue bene amersed for it he ordeyned that they should be payed by the common wealth to the value of the landes which they held vniustly and so should leaue them to the poore Citizens againe that had no land and lacked helpe and reliefe Now though the reformation established by this lawe was done with such great fauor the people notwithstanding were contented and would forget all that was past so that they might haue no more wronge offred them in time come But the rich men and men of great possessions hated the law 〈…〉 their auarice and for spight and selfwill which would not let them yeeld they were at dead foode with the Lawyer that had preffered the lawe and sought by all deuise they could to diswade the people from it telling them that Tiberius brought in this law Agraria againe to disturbe the common wealth and to make some alteracion in the state But they preuailed not For Tiberius defending the matter which of it selfe was good and iust with such eloquence so might haue iustified an euill cause was inuincible and no man was able to argue against him to confute him when speaking in the behalfe of the poore Citizens of ROME the people being gathered round about the pulpit for orations he told them that the wild beastes through ITALY had their dennes and caues of abode and that the men that sought and were slaine to their contrey had nothing els but ayer and light so were compelled to wander vp downe with their wiues children hauing no resting place nor house to put their heads in and that the Captaines do but mocke their souldiers when they encorage them in battel to fight valiantly for the graues the temples their owne houses their predecessors For said he of such◠number of poore Citizens as there be there can not a man of them she any auncient house be tombe of their auncestors bicause the poore men doe go to the warres be slaine for the rich mens pleasures and wealth besides they falsely cal them Lordes of the earth where they haue not a handfull of ground that is theirs These such other like wordes being vttered before all the people with such vehemency trothe did so moue the common people withall and put them in such a rage that there was no aduersarye of his able to withstand him Therefore leauing to contrary and deny the lawe by argument the rich men did put all their trust in Marcus Octauius colleague and fellow Tribune with Tiberius in office who was graue and wise young man and Tiberius very famillier friend So that the first time they came to him to oppose him against the confirmation of this lawe he prayed them to holde him excused bicause Tiberius was his very friend But in the ende being compelled vnto it through the great number of the riche men that were importunate with him the did withstands Tiberius lawe the which was enoughe to ouerthrowe it For if any one of the Tribunes speake against it though all the other passe with it he ouerthroweth it bicause they all can doe nothing if one of them be against it Tiberius being very much offended with it proceeded no further in this first fauorable law and in a rage preferred an other more gratefull to the common people as also more extreme against the riche In that law he ordeyned that whoseouer had any lande contrary to the auncient lawes of ROME that he should presently depart from them But thereuppon there fel out cōtinual brawles in the pulpit for orations against Octauius in the which though they were very earnest and vehement one against another yet there passed no fowle words from them how hot soeuer they were one with another that should shame his companion Whereby it appeareth that to be well brought vp breedeth such a stay knowledge in a man not onely in things of pleasure to make him regard his credit both in word deedes but in passion and anger also in their greatest ambition of glory Thereuppon Tiberius finding that this lawe among others touched Octauius bicause he enioyed a great deale of lande that was the common wealthes he prayed him secretly to contend no more against him promising him to giue him of his owne the value of those lands which he should be driuen to forsake although he was not very able to performe it But when he sawe Octauius would not he perswaded he them preferred a law that all Magistrats and Officers should cease their authoritie till the law were either past or reiected by voices of the people thereuppon he set his own seale vpon 〈…〉 of the example of Saturne where the cofers of the treasure lay bicause the treasorer them selues during that time should neither take out nor put in any thing 〈…〉 great pennalties to be forfited by the Praetors or any other Magistrat of authority that should breake this order Hereuppon all the Magistrates fearing this pennaltie did
will proceede to consider further of his nature and conditions by his actes and deedes in the affaires of the common wealth Now Demosthenes first beginning when he came to deale in the affaires of the state was in the time of the warre made with the PHOCIANS as him selfe reporteth and as appeareth further in his orations which he made against Philip of the which the last were made after the warre was ended the first doe touch also some particuler doings of the same He made the oration against Midias when he was but 32. yeare old and was of small countenance reputacion in the common wealth the want whereof was the chiefest cause as I thinke that induced him to take money for the iniury he had done him to let his action fall against him He vvas not of a meeld and gentle mind But feerce and hastie to reuenge by kind But knowing that it was no small enterprise nor that could take effect by a man of so small power authoritie as him selfe to ouerthrow a man so wealthy so befriended so eloquent as Midias he therfore yelded him selfe vnto those that did speake intreate for him Nether do I think that the three thowsand Drachmas which he recieued could haue brideled the bitternes of his nature if otherwise he had seene any hope or likelihood that he could haue preuailed against him Now at his first cōming vnto the common wealth taking a noble matter in hād to speake against Philip for the defence maintenāce of the lawes liberties of the GRAECIANS wherein he handled him self so worthely that in short space he wanne him maruelous same for his great eloquence and plaine manner of speech Thereby he was maruelously honored also through all GRAECE and greatly esteemed with the king of PERSIA and Philip him self made more accompt of him then of all the Orators in ATHENS his greatest foes which were most against him were driuen to confesse that they had to doe with a famous man For in the orations which AEschines Hyperides made to accuse him they write thus of him And therefore I maruell what Theopompus ment when he wrote that Demosthenes had a sutell vnconstant mind could not long continue with one kind of men nor in one mind for matters of state For in contrary maner in my iudgement he continued constant still to the end in one selfe maner order vnto the which he had betaken him self at the beginning that not only he neuer chaunged all his life time but to the contrary he lost his life bicause he would be no chaungeling For he did not like Demades who to excuse him self for that he had oft turned coate in matters of gouernment said that he went oftentimes against his own sayings as matters fel out but neuer against the benefit of the common wealth And Melanopus also who was euer against Callistratus hauing his mouth stopped many times with money he would vp to the pulpit for orations tel the people that in deede Callistratus which mainteineth the contrary opinion against me is mine enemy yet I yeld vnto him for this time for the benefit of the common wealth must cary it And another also Nicodemus MESSENIAN who being first of Cassanders side toke part afterwards with Demetrius then said that he did not speake against him selfe but that it was meete he should obey his superiors They can not detect Demosthenes with the like that he did euer halt or yeld either in word or deed For he euer continued firme and constant in one mind in his orations Insomuch that Panatius the Philosopher sayth that the most part of all his orations are grounded vpon this maxime and principle that for it selfe nothing is to be taken or accepted but that which is honest As the oration of the crowne the which he made against Aristocrates that also which he made for the franches and freedom and in fine all his orations against Philip of MACEDON And in all those he doth not perswade his contry men to take that which is most pleasant easiest or most profitable but he proueth that oftentimes honestie is to be preferred aboue safetie or health So that had he in all his orations and doings ioyned to his honestie curtesie and francke speeche valliantnes in warres and cleane hands from briberye he might deseruedly haue bene compared not with Myrocles Polyeuctus Hyperides and such other Orators but euen with the highest with Cimon Thucydides and Pericles For Phocion who tooke the worst way in gouernment of the common wealth bicause he was suspected that he tooke part with the MACEDONIANS yet for valliantnes wisedom and iustice he was euer thought as honest a man as Ephialtes and Aristides But Demosthenes on thother side as Demetrius sayth was no man to trust to for warres nether had he any power to refuse gifts and bribes For though he would neuer be corrupted with Philip king of MACEDON yet he was bribed with gold and siluer that was brought from the cities of SVSA ECBATANA was very ready to praise commend the deeds of their auncestors but not to follow them Truely yet was he the honestest man of all other Orators in his time excepting Phocion And besides he did euer speake more boldely and plainely to the people then any man els and would openly contrary their mindes and sharpely reproue the ATHENIANS for their faultes as appeareth by his orations Theopompus also writeth that the people on a time would haue had him to accuse a man whome they would needes haue condemned But he refusing to doe it the people were offended and did mutine against him Thereuppon he rising vp sayd openly vnto them my Lordes ATHENIANS I will alwayes counsell ye to that which I thinke best for the benefit of the common wealth although it be against your mindes but falsely to accuse one to satisfie your minds though you commaund me I will not do it Furthermore that which he did against Antiphon sheweth plainly that he was no people pleaser and that he did leane more vnto the authoritie of the Senate For when Antiphon was quit by the people in an assemblie of the citie Demosthenes notwithstanding tooke him called him againe into the Court of the Areopagites ahd did not passe vpon the peoples ill will but there conuinced him for promising Philip of MACEDON to burne the arsenall of ATHENS so by sentence of that court he was condemned suffred for it He did also accuse the Nunne Theorides for many lewd parts committed amongst others for that she taught slaues to deceiue their maisters so following the matter against her to death she was condemned and executed It is thought also that he made the oration Apollodorus spake against the Praetor Timotheus proued thereby that he was a detter to the common wealth so a naughty man that he wrote those orations also
ROMANES Nowe Cicero being verie well disposed to goe with good hope to practise at ROME he was a litle discouraged by an Oracle that was tolde him For inquiring of the god Apollo DELPHIAN howe he might doe to winne fame and estimacion â— the Nunne Pythias aunswered him he shoulde obtayne it so that in his doinges he woulde rather followe the disposicion of his owne nature then the opinion of the common people Wherefore when he came to ROME at the first he proceeded verie warely and discreetely and did vnwillinglie seeke for any office and when he did he was not greatlie esteemed for they commonlie called him the GRAECIAN and scholler which are two wordes the which the artificers and suche base mechanicall people at ROME haue euer readie at their tongues ende Nowe he beinge by nature ambicious of honour and pricke forward also by the perswasion of his father and frendes in the ende he beganne to pleade and there obteyned not the chiefest place by litle and litle but so soone as he fell to practise he was immediatly esteemed aboue all the other Orators and pleaders in his time and did excell them all Yet it is reported notwithstanding that for his gesture and pronunciacion hauing the selfe same defectes of nature at the beginning which Demosthenes had to reforme them he carefully studied to counterfeate Roscius an excellent commediant and AEsope also a player of tragedies Of this AEsope men wryte that he playing one day Atrius parte vpon a stage who determined with him selfe how he might be reuenged of his brother Thyestes a seruaunt by chaunce hauing occasion to runne sodainly by him he forgetting him selfe striuing to shewe the vehement passion and furie of this king gaue him suche a blowe on his head with the scepter in his hand that he slue him dead in the place Euen so Ciceroes words were of so great force to perswade by meanes of his grace and pronunciacion For he mocking the Orators that thrust out their heades and cried in their Orations was wont to say that they were like to lame men who were driuen to ryde bicause they coulde not goe a foote euen so sayed he they crie out bicause they can not speake Truely pleasaunt tawntes doe grace an Orator and sheweth a fine witte but yet Cicero vsed them so commonly that they were offensiue vnto many and brought him to be counted a malicious scoffer and spightfull man He was chosen Treasorer in the time of dearth when there was great scarcetie of corne at ROME and the prouince of SICILE fell to his lotte At his first comming thither the SICILIANS misliked him verie muche bicause he compelled them to sende corne vnto ROME but after they had founde his diligence iustice and lenitie they honored him aboue any Gouernor that euer was sent from ROME Nowe there were diuers young gentlemen of ROME of noble houses who being accused for sundrie faultes committed in warres against their honor and martiall discipline had bene sent backe againe vnto the Praetor of SICILE for whome Cicero pleaded and did so excellently defende their cause that they were pardoned euerie man Thereuppon thinking well of him selfe when his time expired he went to ROME and by the way there happened a prety ieast vnto him As he passed through the contrie of CAMPANIA otherwise called the lande of labor he met by chaunce with one of the chiefest ROMANES of all his frends So falling in talke with him he asked him what they sayd of him at ROME and what they thought of his doinges imagining that all ROME had bene full of the glorie of his name and deedes His frende asked him againe and where hast thou bene Cicero all this while that we haue not seene thee at ROME This killed his hart straight when he sawe that the reporte of his name and doinges entring into the citie of ROME as into an infinite sea was so sodainely vanquished away againe without any other same or speach But after that when he looked into him selfe and sawe that in reason he tooke an infinite labor in hande to attaine to glorie wherein he sawe no certaine ende whereby to attaine vnto it it cut of a great parte of the ambicion he had in his head And yet the great pleasure he tooke to heare his owne praise and to be ouermuche geuen to desire of honor and estimacion those two thinges continued with him euen to his dying day and did estsoones make him swarue from iustice Furthermore when he beganne thorowely to practise in the affaires of the state he thought it an ill thing that artificers and craftes men shoulde haue many sortes of instrumentes and tooles without life to knowe the names of euerie one of them the places where they shoulde take them and the vse whereto they shoulde employ them and that a man of knowledge and qualitie who doth all thinges with the helpe and seruice of men shoulde be slothfull and carelesse to learne to knowe the names of his citizens Therefore he gaue him selfe to knowe not onely mens names of qualitie but the streetes also they dwelt in what parte of the citie soeuer it was their goodly houses in the contrie the frendes they made of and the neighbours whome they companied with So that when he went abroade into ITALIE wheresoeuer he became Cicero coulde shewe and name his frendes houses He was not verie riche and yet he had enough to serue his turne the which made men muse the more at him and they loued him the better bicause he tooke no see nor gifte for his pleading what cause soeuer he had in hande but then speciallie when he defended a matter against Verres This Verres had bene Praetor of SICILIA and had committed many lewde partes there for the which the SICILIANS did accuse him Cicero taking apon him to defende their cause made Verres to be condemned not by pleading but in manner without pleading and in this sorte The Praetors being his Iudges and fauoring Verres had made so many reiornementes and delayes that they had driuen it of to the laste day of hearing Cicero perceiuing then he shoulde not haue day light to speake all that he had to say against him and that thereby nothing shoulde be done and iudged he rose vp and sayed that there needed no further plea in this matter but onely brought foorth the witnesses before the Iudges and hauing caused their deposicions to be taken he prayed they woulde proceede to sentence according to their euidence geuen on that behalfe Yet some doe reporte that Cicero gaue many pleasaunt tawntes and girdes in pleading the accusacion of the SICILIANS against Verres The ROMANES doe call a bore Verres There was one Caecilius the sonne of a freed bondman who was suspected to holde with the supersticion of the IEWES This Caecilius woulde haue put by the SICILIANS from following the accusacion of Verres and woulde haue had the matter of his accusacion only
referred to him for the prosecuting of it against him Cicero skorning his sute sayd vnto him what hath a IEWE to doe with a swine This Verres had a sonne somewhat aboue twentie yeares of age who as the reporte went had a verie ill name for his beawtie And therefore when Verres one day thought to mocke Cicero saying that he was too womanly his children sayd he are to be reproued of that secretly at home In this accusacion Hortensius the Orator durst not directly defende Verres but touching the condemnacion of his fine he was then contented to aunswere for him for he had a Sphinx of Yuory geuen him by Verres for his reward Thereuppon Cicero gaue him a pretie nippe by the way but Hortensius not vnderstanding him sayd he coulde no skill of darke speaches Well sayd Cicero yet hast thou a sphinx in thy house In the ende Verres being condemned and a fine fette on his heade to the value of seuentie fiue Myriades Cicero notwithstandinge was suspected to be bribed with money for agreeing to cast him in so small a summe But yet when he came to be AEdilis the SICILIANS to shew them selues thankefull to him both brought and sent him many presentes out of SICILE Of all that he tooke nothing to his owne vse but onely bestowed their liberalitie in bringing downe the prises of vittells at ROME He had a goodly house within the confines of the citie of ARPOS a farme also by NAPLES and an other about the citie of POMPEII but all these were no great thinges Afterwardes also he had the ioynter of his wife Terentia which amounted to the summe of twelue Myriades and besides all this there came to him by inheritaunce eleuen Myriades of their Denarij Thereuppon he liued verie honestly and soberly without excesse with his familiar frendes that loued him both GRAECIANS and ROMANES and woulde neuer goe to supper till after sunne set not so muche for any great businesse he had as for the weakenesse of his stomake But otherwise he was verie curious and carefull of his person and woulde be rubbed and noynted and he would vse also to walke a certaine number of turnes by proporcion and so exercising his bodie in that sorte he was neuer sicke and besides was alwayes verie strong and lustie of bodie able to abide great paines and sorowes which he fell into afterwardes He gaue his fathers chiefe mansion house to his brother and went to dwell him selfe in the mount Palatine bicause suche as came to waite vpon him to doe him honor shoulde not take the paines to goe so farre to see him For he had as many men dayly at his gate euerie morning as either Crassus had for his wealth or Pompey for his estimacion among the souldiers both of them being at that time the chiefest men of ROME Yea furthermore Pompeys selfe came vnto Cicero bicause his Orations stoode him to great purpose for thincrease of him honor and authoritie Nowe when Cicero came to make sute to be Praetor which is to be as an ordinarie iudge though he had many competitors and fellowe suters with him yet was he first chosen affore them all and he did so honestly behaue him selfe in that office that they did not so muche as once suspect him of briberie or extorcion And for proofe hereof it is reported that Licinius Macer a man that of him selfe was of great power and yet fauored and supported besides by Crassus was accused before Cicero of theft and extorcion in his office but he trustinge muche to his supposed credit and to the greate foâ— and labour his frendes made for him went home to his house before sentence proceeded against him the Iudges being yet to geue their opinions and there speedely trimmed his beard and put a newe gowne vppon his backe as though he had bene sure to haue bene quite of his accusacion and then returned againe into the market place But Crossus wene to meete him and tolde him all the Iudges had condemned him Licinius Macer tooke suche a griefe and conceite vpon it that he went home to his house againe layed him downe on his bedde and neuer rose after This iudgement wanne Cicero greate fame for they praised him exceedingly for the great paines he tooks to see iustice duely executed An other called also Vatinius a bedlem fellowe and one that behaued him selfe verie vnreuerently to the Magistrates in his pleadinge and besides had a swollen necke came verie arrogantly one day vnto Cicero being in his Praetoriall seate and asked him a thing which Cicero woulde not graunte him there but woulde thinke of it at better leasure Thereuppon Vatinius tolde him that he would not be scrupulous to graunt that if he were Praetor Cicero turning to him aunswered him againe no more haue I sayd he suche a swollen necke as thou hast Towardes the ende of his office two or three dayes before his time expired there was one accused Manilius before him that he also had robbed the common wealth This Manilius was verie well beloued of the common people who were perswaded that he was put in sute not for any fault he had committed but onely to despight Pompey with whose familiar frende he was So he required certaine dayes to aunswere the matter he was accused of but Cicero woulde geue him no further respit but to aunswere at the next day The people therewith were maruelously offended bicause the other Praetors in suche like cases were wont to geue tenne dayes respit to others The next morninge when the Tribunes had brought him before the Iudges and also accused him vnto them he besought Cicero to heare him pacientlie Cicero made him aunswere that hauinge alwayes vsed as muche fauour and curtesie as he possiblie might by lawe vnto those that were accused he thought he shoulde offer Manilius too great wrong if he shoulde not doe the like to him wherefore bicause he had but one day more to continewe Praetor in office he had purposely geuen him that day to make his aunswere before him For he thought that to leaue his accusacion to the hearing of an other Praetor he coulde not haue bene thought a man that had borne him good will and ment to pleasure him These wordes did maruelouslie chaunge the peoples opinion and affection towardes him and euerie man speaking well of him they prayed him to defend Manilius cause He willingly graunted them and comming from the benche standing at the barre like an Orator to pleade for him he made a notable Oration and spake both boldly and sharpely against the chiefe men of the citie and those speciallie that did enuie Pompey This notwithstanding when he came to sue to be Consul he founde as great fauour amongest the Nobilitie as he did with the communaltie For they did further his sute for the common wealthes sake vpon this occasion The chaunge and alteracion of gouernment the which Sylla brought in was thought straunge at the first
by this meanes he got him out of the daunger of his office of Tribuneship for that yeare he made fayer weather with him as though he ment to reconcile him selfe vnto him and tolde him that he had cause rather to thinke ill of Terentia for that he had done against him then of him selfe and alwayes spake very curteously of him as occasion fell out and sayde he did thinke nothing in him nether had any malice to him howbeit it did a litle grieue him that being a friend he was offered vnkindnes by his friend These sweete wordes made Cicero no more affraied so that he gaue vp his Lieuetenancie vnto Caesar and beganne againe to pleade as he did before Caesar tooke this in such disdaine that he hardened Clodius the more against him and besides made Pompey his enemie And Caesar him selfe also sayd before all the people that he thought Cicero had put Lentulus Cethegus and the rest vniustly to death and contrary to lawe without lawfull tryall and condemnation And this was the fault for the which Cicero was openly accused Thereuppon Cicero seeing him selfe accused for this facte he chaunged his vsuall gowne he wore and put on a mourning gowne and so suffering his beard and heare of his head to growe without any coeming he went in this humble manner and sued to the people But Clodius was euer about him in euery place and streete he went hauing a sight of raskalls and knaues with him that shamefully mocked him for that he had chaunged his gowne and countenance in that sort and oftentimes they cast durt and stones at him breaking his talke and requests he made vnto the people This notwithstanding all the knights of ROME did in manner chaunge their gownes with him for companie and of them there were commonly twenty thowsand younge gentlemen of noble house which followed him with their heare about their eares were suters to the people for him Furthermore the Senate assembled to decree that the people should mourne in blacks as in a common calamitie But the Consuls were against it And Clodius on thother side was with a band of armed men about the Senate so that many of the Senators ranne out of the Senat crying tearing their clothes for sorow Howbeit these men seeing all that were nothing the more moned with pity and shame but either Cicero must needes absent him selfe or els determine to fight with Clodius Then went Cicero to intreat Pompey to ayde him But he absented him selfe of purpose out of the citie bicause he would not be intreated and laye at one of his houses in the contry neare vnto the citie of ALBA So he first of all sent Piso his sonne in lawe vnto 〈…〉 to intreate him and afterwardes went him selfe in person to him But Pompey beeing tolde that he was come had not the harte to suffer him to come to him to looke him in the face for he had bene past all shame to haue refused the request of so worthy a man who had before shewed him suche pleasure and also done and sayde so many thinges in his fauor Howbeit Pompey beeing the sonne in lawe of Caesar did vnfortunately at his request forsake him at his neede vnto whome he was bownde for so many infinite pleasures as he had receyued of him afore and therefore when he hearde saye he came to him he went out at his backe gate and woulde not speake with him So Cicero seeing him selfe betrayed of him and nowe hauing no other refuge to whome he might repayre vnto he put him selfe into the handes of the two Consuls Of them two Gabinius was euer cruell and churlishe vnto him But Piso on thother side spake alwayes very curteously vnto him and prayed him to absent him selfe for a tyme and to giue place a litle to Clodius furie and paciently to beare the chaunge of the tyme For in so doing he might come agayne another tyme to be the preseruer of his contry which was nowe for his sake in tumult and sedition Cicero vpon this aunswer of the Consul consulted with his friendes amonge the which Lucullus gaue him aduise to tary and sayd that he should be the stronger But all the rest were of contrary opinion and would haue him to get him away with speede for the people would shortly wishe for him agayne when they had once bene beaten with Clodius furie and folly Cicero liked best to followe this counsell Whereuppon hauing had a statue of Minerua a long tyme in his house the which he greatly reuerenced he caried her him selfe and gaue her to the Capitoll with this inscription Vnto Minerua Protector of ROME So his friends hauing giuen him safe conduct he went out of ROME about midnight and tooke his way through the contry of LVKE by lande meaning to goe into SICILE When it was knowen in ROME that he was fledde Clodius did presently banishe him by decree of the people and caused billes of inhibition to be sette vppe that no man should secretly receiue him within fiue hundred myles compasse of ITALY Howbeit diuers men reuerencing Cicero made no reckoning of that inhibition but when they had vsed him with all manner of curtesie possible they did conduct him besides at his departure sauing one citie onely in LVKE called at that tyme HIPPONIVM and nowe VIBONE where a SICILIAN called Vibius vnto whome Cicero before had done many pleasures and specially amonge others had made him Maister of the workes in the yeare that he was Consul would not once receyue him into his house but promised him he woulde appoynt him a place in the contry that he might goe vnto And Caius Virgilius also at that tyme Praetor and gouernor of SICILE who before had shewed him selfe his very greate friende wrote then vnto him that he shoulde not come neare vnto SICILE This grieued him to the harte Thereuppon he went directly vnto the citie of BRVNDVSIVM and there imbarked to passe ouer the sea vnto DYRRACHIVM and at the first had winde at will but when he was in the mayne sea the winde turned and brought him backe agayne to the place from whence he came But after that he hoysed sayle agayne and the reporte went that at his arryuall at DYRRACHIVM when he tooke lande the earth shooke vnder him and the sea gaue backe together Whereby the Soothesayers enterpreted that his exile shoulde not be longe bicause both the one and the other was a token of chaunge Yet Cicero notwithstanding that many men came to see him for the goodwill they bare him and that the cities of GRAECE contended who shoulde most honor him he was alwayes sadde and could not be merie but cast his eyes still towardes ITALY as passioned louers doe towardes the women they loue shewing him selfe faynte harted and tooke this aduersitie more basely then was looked for of one so well studied and learned as he And yet he oftentimes praied his friends not to call him Orator
alwayes at iarre but yet coldly enough one of them taking heede of an other vntill that the young Caesar returning from the citie of APOLLONIA came as lawfull heire vnto Iulius Caesar Dictator and had contencion with Antonius for the summe of two thowsande fiue hundred Myriades the which Antonius kept in his handes of his fathers goodes Thereuppon Philip who had maried the mother of this young Caesar and Marcellus who had also maried his sister went with young Caesar vnto Cicero and there agreed together that Cicero should helpe young Caesar with the fauour of his authoritie and eloquence as well towardes the Senate as also to the people and that Caesar in recompence of his good will should stande by Cicero with his money and souldiers For this young Caesar had many of his fathers old souldiers about him that had serued vnder him Now there was an other cause that made Cicero glad to imbrace the frendshippe of this young Caesar and that was this Whilest Pompey and Iulius Caesar were aliue and in good case Cicero dreamed one night that the Senators sonnes were called into the Capitoll bicause Iupiter had appointed to shew them him that one day should come to be Lord and king of ROME and that the ROMANES being desirous to see who it should be ranne all vnto the temple and that all the children likewise were waiting there in their goodly garded gownes of purple vntill that sodainly the dores of the temple were open then that al the children rose one after an other went and passed by the image of Iupiter who looked vpon them all and sent them discontented sauing this young Caesar vnto whom he put foorth his hand as he passed by and sayd My Lordes of ROME this childe is he that shall end all your ciuill warres when he commeth to be Lord of ROME Some say that Cicero had this vision in his dreame and that he caried in good memory the looke of this child howbeit that he knew him not and that the next morning he went of purpose into the fielde of Mars where these young boyes did exercise them selues who when he came thither had broken vp from playing and were going home and that amongest them he first saw him whom he had dreamed of and knew him verie well and musing at him the more asked him whose sonne he was The boy aunswered that he was the sonne of one Octauius a man otherwise of no great calling of Accia the sister of Iulius Caesar who hauing no childe made him his heire by his last will and testament and left him all his landes and goodes After that time it is reported that Cicero was verie glad to speake to him when he met with him and that the boy also liked Ciceroes frendshippe and making of him for by good happe the boy was borne the same yeare that Cicero was Consul And these be the reasons alleaged why Cicero did fauor this young Caesar. But in truth first of all the great malice he bare vnto Antonius and secondly his nature that was ambitious of honor were in my opinion the chiefest causes why he became young Caesars frend knowing that the force and power of his souldiers would greatly strengthen his authority and countenance in manedging the affaires of the state besides that the young man coulde flatter him so well that he called him father But Brutus being offended with him for it in his Epistells he wrote vnto Atticus he sharply reproueth Cicero saying that for feare of Antonius he flattered this young Caesar whereby it appeared he did not so much seeke for the libertie of ROME as he did procure him selfe a louing and gentle maister This notwithstanding Brutus brought with him Ciceroes sonne that studied Philosophie at ATHENS and gaue him charge of men vnder him and imployed him in great affaires wherein he shewed him selfe verie forward and valliant Now Ciceroes authoritie and power grew againe to be so great in ROME as euer it was before For he did what he thought good and so vexed Antonius that he draue him out of the citie and sent the two Consuls Hircius and Pansa against him to fight with him and caused the Senate also to decree that young Caesar should haue sergeaunts to carie roddes and axes before him and all other furniture for a Praetor as a man that fighteth for his contry After that Antonius had lost the battell and that both the Consuls were slaine both the armies came vnto Caesar. The Senate then being affraied of this young man that had so great good fortune they practised by honors and gifts to call the armies from him which he had about him and so to minish the greatnes of his power saying that their contrie now stoode in no neede of force nor feare of defence sith her enemie Antonius was fled and gone Caesar fearing this sent men secretly vnto Cicero to pray him to procure that they two together might be chosen Consuls and that when they should be in office he should doe and appoint what he thought good hauing the young man at his commaundement who desired no more but the honor only of the name Caesar him selfe confessed afterwardes that being affrayed he should haue bene vtterly cast away to haue bene left alone he finely serued his turne by Ciceroes ambition hauing perswaded him to require the Consulship through the helpe and assistance that he would geue him But there was Cicero finely colted as old as he was by a young man when he was contented to sue for the Consulship in his behalfe and to make the Senate agreable to it wherefore his frendes presently reproued him for it and shortly after he perceiued he had vndone him selfe and together also lost the libertie of his contrie For this young man Octauius Caesar being growen to be verie great by his meanes and procurement when he saw that he had the Consulshippe vpon him he forsooke Cicero and agreed with Antonius and Lepidus Then ioyning his armie with theirs he deuided the Empire of ROME with them as if it had bene lands left in common betwene them and besides that there was a bill made of two hundred men and vpwards whom they had appointed to be slaine But the greatest difficultie and difference that fell out betwene them was about the outlawing of Cicero For Antonius woulde hearken to no peace betwene them vnlesse Cicero were slaine first of all Lepidus was also in the same mind with Antonius but Caesar was against them both Their meeting was by the citie of BOLONIA where they continued three dayes together they three only secretly consulting in a place enuironned about with a litle riuer Some say that Caesar stuck hard with Cicero the two first dayes but at the third that he yeelded and forsooke him The exchaunge they agreed vpon betwene them was this Caesar forsooke Cicero Lepidus his owne brother Paulus and Antonius Lucius Caesar
rashe of nature and as insolent and braue in his doinges as in his wordes that thereby he stirred vppe and brought vppon him as his enemies many great and mighty Princes For euen at that present time he said that he would as easely disperse and scatter a sunder that conspiracie against him as chowghes or other litle birdes comming to pecke vp the corne newly sowen are easely scared awaye with a stone or making any litle noyse So he caried to the field with him aboue three score and tenne thowsand footemen tenne thowsand horsemen and three score and fifteene Elephantes His enemies had three score and foure thowsande footemen and fiue hundred horsemen more then he with foure hundred Elephants and six score cartes of warre When the two armies were one neere vnto the other me thinkes he had some imaginacion in his head that chaunged his hope but not his corage For in all other battells and conflictes hauing commonly vsed to looke bigge of the matter to haue a lowde high voyce and to vse braue wordes and sometime also euen in the chiefest of all the battell to geue some pleasant mocke or other shewing a certaine trust he had in him selfe and a contempt of his enemie then they sawe him oftentimes alone and verie pensiue without euer a word to any man One day he called all his armie together and presented his sonne vnto the souldiers recommending him vnto them as his heire and successor and talked with him alone in his tent Whereat men maruelled the more bicause that he neuer vsed before to imparte to any man the secrets of his counsell and determination no not to his owne sonne but did all things of him selfe and then commaunded that thing openly to be done which he had secretly purposed For proofe hereof it is said Demetrius being but a young man asked him on a time when the campe should remoue and that Antigonus in anger aunswered him art thou affrayed thou shalt not heare the sownd of the trompet Furthermore there fell out many ill signes and tokens that killed their harts For Demetrius dreamed that Alexander the great appeaâ—ed armed vnto him at all peeces and that he asked him what word or signall of battell they were determined to geue at the day of the battell He aunswered that they were determined to geue Iupiter and Victorie Then said Alexander I will goe to thine enemies that shall receiue me And afterwardes at the very day of the ouerthrow when all their armie were set in battell ray Antigonus comming out of his tent had such a great fall that he fell flat on his face on the ground and hurte him selfe verie sorely So when he was taken vp then lifting vp his handes to heauen he made his prayers vnto the goddes that it would please them to graunt him victorie or sodaine death without great paine before he shoulde see him selfe vanquished and his armie ouerthrowen When both battells came to ioyne and that they fought hand to hand Demetrius that had the most parte of the horsemen with him went and gaue charge vpon Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus and fought it out so valliantly on his side that he ouerthrewe his enemies and put them to flight But too fondly following the chase of them that fledde and out of time he marred all and was the occasion of the losse of his victorie For when he returned from the chase he could not ioyne againe with their footemen bicause the Elephants were betwene both Then Seleucus perceiuing Antigonus battell was naked of horsemen he did not presently set vpon them but turned at one side as though he woulde enuiron them behinde and made them affrayed yet making head as he would charge them only to geue them leasure to come on their side as they did For the most parte of Antigonus hoast did forsake him and yeelded vnto his enemies the rest of them fled euery man And when a great trowpe of men together went with great furie to geue charge on that side where Antigonus was one of them that were about him sayd vnto him your grace had neede take heede for these men come to charge vs He aunswered againe but how should they know me And if they did my sonne Demetrius will come and helpe me This was his last hope and still he looked euerie way if he could see his sonne comming towards him vntill at length he was slaine with arrowes darts pikes For of all his frendes and souldiers there taried not one man by his bodie but Thorax of the citie of LARISSA in THESSALIE Now the battell hauing suche successe as you haue heard the Kings and Princes that had won so glorious a victorie as if they had cut a great bodie into sundrie peeces they deuided Antigonus kingdome among them and euerie man had his part of all the prouinces and contries which Antigonus kept adding that vnto their other dominions which they possessed affore Nowe Demetrius flying with all possible speede that might be with fiue thowsand footemen and foure thowsand horsemen he got to the citie of EPHESVS where euerie man mistrusted that being needie of money as he was he would not spare the temple of Diana in EPHESVS but would rifle all the gold and siluer in it And in contrarie maner also Demetrius being affrayed of his souldiers least they would spoyle it against his will he sodainly departed thence and sayled towardes GRAECE putting his greatest confidence affiance in the ATHENIANS bicause he had left his wife Deidamia at ATHENS with shippes and some money supposing he could goe no whether with better safety in his aduersitie then to ATHENS of whose good wills he thought him selfe assured Wherefore when Ambassadors of the ATHENIANS came vnto him and found him not farre from the Iles CYCLADES as he sailed with great speede towardes ATTICA and that they had declared vnto him he should forbeare to come vnto their citie bicause the people had made an ordinance to suffer no moe kings to come into ATHENS and that they had sent Deidamia his wife honorablie accompanied vnto the citie of MEGARA then was Demetrius for verie anger passion of minde cleane out of countenaunce although vntill that time he had paciently borne his aduersitie and his hart had neuer failed him But this nipped him to the harte when he sawe that contrarie to exspectacion the ATHENIANS had deceiued and failed him in his greatest neede and that in his aduersitie he found their former frendshippe counterfeate and altogether dissembled Whereby most plainly appeareth that the most vncerteine and deceiueable prose of peoples good wills and cities towardes Kings and Princes are the immesurable and extreame honors they doe vnto them For sith it is so that the trueth and certainty of honor proceedeth from the good will of those that giue it the feare which the common people commonly stand in of the power of kings is sufficient cause for them to
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
losse So she prayed him also to play one of his Euenukes with her the king was well contented with it But before they would play they agreed betwene theÌ„ that they should both name except fiue of the trustiest chiefest Euenukes they had then which of them lost should presently deliuer vnto the winner his choyce of all the other Euenukes he would demaund Thus they fel to play she imploying all the cunning she had playing as warely as she could possible besides that the dyce ranne of her side her luck serued her so that she wanne then she required Mesabates for her winnings being none of those the king had excepted WheÌ„ she had him deliuered her she gaue him to the hangmen willed theÌ„ to flea him aliue then that they should crucifie him naile him to a crosse hang his skin vpon an other peece of tymber by him the which was done accordingly The king was maruelous angry withall when he knew it greeuously offended with his mother Howbeit she sported it out laughing told him in deed it becomes thee wel to be angry for losing an old gelded Villain where I lost a thowsand Darecks quietly said neuer a word So there came no other thing of it sauing that the king was a litle angry repented him that he had plaied so fondly was so finely mocked But Queene Statira on the other side besids that she was against her in al other things she spared not to tel Queene mother plainly that it was wickedly done of her to put the kings good faithful seruaunts so cruelly to death for Cyrus sake But now after that Tisaphernes king Artaxerxes Lieuetenant had deceiued Clearchus other captaines of GRAECE detestably falsifying his word he had giuen theÌ„ that he had sent them bound vnto the king Ctesiaes sayth that Clearchus praied him to helpe him to a combe that hauing had one by his meanes and also comed his head it pleased him so wel that to requite his good wil he gaue him his seale of armes from his finger wherewith he sealed his letters for a witnes of the great friendship that was betwene them two He sayth also that in the stone of this ring there was grauen the daunce of the CARYATIDES And furthermore that the other souldiers which were prisoners with Clearchus did take away the moste part of the vittells that were sent to him and left him litle or nothing and that he did remedye all this procuring a greater quantitie to be sent vnto them that they should put Clearchus portion apart and all the other souldiers part also by them selues This he did as he sayth by Parysatis consent commaundement who knowing that amongest other vittells they dayly sent Clearchus a gammon of bacon she tolde him one day he should doe well to hide a litle knife in this gammon of bacon and to send it him to th end that the life of so noble valliant a man as he was should not fall to the crueltie of the king Howbeit that he was affrayd to meddle withall and durst not doe it that the king sware promised his mother who was an earnest suter to him for Clearchus that he would not put him to death This notwithstanding the king being afterwards procured and perswaded to the contrary by Queene Statira his wife he put them all to death but Menon Therefore Parysatis Queene mother after that time sayth Ctesias deuised all the wayes she could to poyson Queene Statira and to make her out of the way But me thinketh this smelleth like a lye that Parysatis should entend so wicked and daungerous an acte as to put the kinges lawfull wife to death by whome he had sonnes that were to inherite the crowne onely for the loue and respect of Clearchus and it is too plaine that he coyned that to honor and magnifie Clearchus memorie the more But to proue it a man may easily find it by the lyes he addeth afterwards vnto it saying that after the Captaines were slayne all the bodies of the rest were torne a peeces by dogges fowles and also that there came a boysterous winde and couered all Clearchus body with a great hill of dust and that out of this hill of dust shortly after there spronge vp many palme trees which made a prety thicke groue that it shadowed all that place Insomuch that the king him selfe did afterwards maruelously repent him for putting of him to death for that he was an honest man beloued of the gods This was not for Clearchus sake but for an olde canckered malice Parysatis had long time borne in her hart against Queene Statira bicause she saw wel enough that the credit authoritie herself had with the king was in respect of a sonnes duty obedieÌ„ce to his mother in contrary maner Statiraes credit authoritie had a better ground fouÌ„dacioÌ„ bicause it came of the loue good wil the king did beare her And this is the onely cause that made her to practise the death of Quene Statira hauing determined that her self or daughter in law must nedes dye Now Quene mother had one of the women of her chamber called Gigis that was of great credit about her whome she onely trusted Diâ—on writeth that this Gigis did help Parysatis to make the poyson But Ctesias writeth contrarily saith that she onely knew it but otherwise that it was against her will that he that made the poyson was one Belitaras but Dinon calleth him Melantas Now though in outward semblance and shew Queene mother Statira semed to haue forgotteÌ„ all malice betwene them that they begaÌ„ again one of them to keepe company with the other did eate drinke together yet one of them mistrusted the other tooke great heede to them selues both of them eating one selfe meate in one dishe together and were both serued with one self officers men In PERSIA there is a litle bird of the which all the parts of it is excellent good to eate is ful of fat within so that it is thought it liueth by ayer dewe and in the PERSIAN tongue they cal it Ryntaces Parysatis as Ctesias sayth tooke one of these birdes and cut it in the middest with a litle knife the which was poysoned onely on one of the sides and gaue that halfe which was poysoned vnto Statira Yet Dinon writeth that it was not Parysatis her selfe that gaue it her but her caruer Melantas that carued her meate still gaue Queene Statyra of that meate which the side of his poisoned knife had touched So Quene Statira preseÌ„tly fel sick of the dissease wherof she died with greuous panges gripings in her bowels found plainly that she was poysoned by Parysatis meanes wheruppoÌ„ she told the king as much who was of the same opinion thought it was his mother
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
the garde of his chamber to strippe him naked whatsoeuer he was and then they gaue him an other gowne to cast vpon him but not his owne One day his brother Leptines going about to describe vnto him the scituacion of some place he tooke a halberd from one of the garde and with the point thereof beganne to drawe out a platte of the same vpon the ground Dionysius was terriblie offended with him and did put the souldier to death that gaue him his halberd He sayed he was affrayed of his frendes yea and of the wisest of them bicause he knewe that they desired rather to rule then to be ruled and to commaunde then to obey He flewe one of his Captaines called Marsyas whome he had preferred and had geuen him charge of men bicause he dreamed that he killed him saying that he dreamed of this in the night bicause that waking in the day he had determined to kill him Now Dionysius that was so timerous and whose mind through fearefulnes was still miserablie occupied he was notwithstanding maruelouslie offended with Plato bicause he did not iudge him to be the noblest and valliantest man aliue Dion therefore seeing as we haue sayd the younger Dionysius cleane marred and in manner cast away for lacke of good education perswaded him the best he coulde to geue him selfe vnto studie and by the greatest intreatie he coulde possiblie make to pray the Prince of all Philosophers to come into SICILE And then when through his intreatie he were come that he woulde referre him selfe whollie vnto him to th ende that reforming his life by vertue and learning and knowing God thereby the best example that can be possible and by whom all the whole world is ruled and gouerned which otherwise were out of all order and confused he shoulde first obteine great happines to him selfe and consequently vnto all his citizens also who euer after through the temperance and iustice of a father would with good will doe those thinges which they presentlie vnwillingly did for the feare of a Lorde and in doing this from a tyran he should come to be a king For the chaines of a diamant to keepe a realme in safetie were not force and feare as his father Dionysius helde opinion neither the great multitude of young souldiers nor the garde of ten thowsand barbarous people but in contrarie manner that they were the loue and good will of their subiectes which the Prince obteineth through vertue and iustice the which chaines though they be slacker then the other that are so hard and stiffe yet are they stronger and will last longer time to keepe a realme and kingdom in safetie And furthermore the Prince sayd he is not desirous of honor neither is a man that deserueth greatly to be praised and commended that onely studieth to weare sumptuous apparell and that glorieth to see his Court richelie furnished and him selfe curiouslie serued and in the meane time doth not frame him selfe to speake better to be wiser and to carie a greater maiesty then any other meane or common person not esteeming to adorne and beawtifie the Princely pallace of his minde as becommeth the royall maiestie of a king Dion oftentimes rehearsing these exhortacions vnto Dionysius and otherwhile enterlacing betwene some reasons he had learned of Plato he graffed in him a wonderfull and as it were a vehement desire to haue Plato in his companie and to learne of him So sundry letters came from Dionysius vnto ATHENS diuers requestes from Dion and great intreaty made by certaine Pythagorian Philosophers that prayed and perswaded Plato to come into SICILE to bridle the light disposition of this young man by his graue and wise instructions who without regard of reason led a dissolute and licentious life Therefore Plato as him selfe reporteth blushing to him selfe and fearing least he should geue men cause to thinke that it was but the opinion men had of him and that of him selfe he was vnwilling to do any worthie act and further hoping that doing good but vnto one man alone who was the only guide of all the rest he should as it were recouer all SICILIA from her corruption and sickenes he performed their requests that sent vnto him But Dions enemies fearing the chaunge and alteracion of Dionysius they perswaded him to call Philistus the Historiographer home againe from banishment who was a learned man and had bene brought vp and acquianted with the tyrans facions to th end he should serue as a counterpeace to withstande Plato and his Philosophie For this Philistus from the first time that the tyrannie beganne to be established did shew him selfe verie willing and conformable to the stablishment thereof and had of long time kept the castell and the voyce went that he kept the mother of Dionysius the elder and as it was supposed not altogether without the tyrans knowledge But afterwardes Leptines hauing had two daughters by one woman whom he intised to follie being an other mans wife he maried one of these his daughters vnto Philistus and made not Dionysius priuie to it before The tyranne therewith was so offended that he put Leptines woman in prison fast locked vp and draue Philistus out of SICILIA He being banished thus repayred vnto some of his frendes that dwelt about the Adriaticke sea where it seemeth he wrote the most parte of all his historie being then at good leasure For he was not called home againe during the life of Dionysius the elder but after his death the malice the Courtiers bare vnto Dion caused them to procure Philistus calling home againe as we haue told you as the man they thought would sticke stowtly in defense of the tyranny So Philistus no sooner returned but he stowtly began to defend the tyranny others in contrary maner deuised accusations to the tyran against Dion accusing him that he had practised with Theodotes and Heraclides to ouerthrowe the tyrannie of Dionysius For Dion in my opinion hoped by Platoes comming to bridle and lessen a litle the ouerlicentious and imperious tyrannie of Dionysius and thereby to frame Dionysius a wise and righteous gouernor But on the other side if he saw he would not follow his counsell and that he yeelded not to his wise instructions he then determined to put him downe to bring the gouernment of the common wealth into the handes of the SYRACVSANS not that he allowed of Democratia to wit where the people gouerne but yet certainly thinking that Democratia was much better then the tyrannie when they could not come vnto Aristocratia to wit the gouernment of a few of the nobilitie Now things being in this state Plato arriued in SICILE where he was maruelously receiued and honored by Dionysius For when he landed on the shoare leauing his galley that brought him there was readie for him one of the kings rich and sumptuous chariots to conuey him to the castell and the tyran made sacrifice
time he prayed to haue pacience and not to attempt any sturre or alteracion against him nor to speake euill of him among the GRAECIANS This Plato sought to bring to passe and brought Dion to studie Philosophie and kept him in the Academy at ATHENS Dion lay in the citie of ATHENS with one Callippus whome he had knowen of long time howbeit he bought him a house in the contrie to lye there sometime for his pleasure the which he gaue afterwards at his returne into SICILIA vnto Speusippus that kept him company and was continually with him more then with any other frend he had in ATHENS through Platoes counsell who to soften and recreate Dions maners gaue him the company of some pleasaunt conceited man knowing that this Speusippus coulde modestlie obserue time and place to be pleasaunt and merie for which respect Timon in his Satyricall ieasts calleth Speusippus a good ieaster Nowe Plato him selfe hauing vndertaken to defray the charges of common playes in the dauncings of young children Dion tooke the paines to teache and exercise them and moreouer was him selfe at the whole charge of these playes Plato suffering him to bestowe that liberality and curtesie vpon the ATHENIANS the which wanne Dion a great deale more good will then Plato honor Dion kept not still at ATHENS but went also to see the other good cities of GRAECE passing his time away He being at common feastes and assemblies with the chiefest men and best learned in matters of state and gouernment neuer shewing any light partes nor signe of tyrannicall pride in his maner of life nor of a man that had bene brought vp with all pompe and pleasure but like a graue vertuous man and well studied in Philosophie whereby he grew to be generallie beloued and esteemed of all men the cities graunted him publike honors and sent him decrees of his glorie made in their counsells assemblies Furthermore the LACEDAEMONIANS made him a SPARTAN burges of the city not passing for Dionysius displeasure though at that time he had geuen them great aide in the warre they made against the THEBANS Some report that Dion on a time was intreated by Ptaeodorus MEGARIAN to come and see him at his house and Dion went thither This Ptaeodorus was a maruelous great rich man therefore Dion seeing a great number of people standing at his gates and that it was a hard thing to come and speake with him he had such great busines he turned vnto his frends that did accompanie him who were angrie they made him tarie so long at the gate and sayd vnto them what cause haue we to thinke euill of him sith we did the like when we were at SYRACVSA But Dionysius being incensed with enuie against him and fearing the good will the GRAECIANS bare him he kept backe his reuenue and would no more sende it him and seased all his goodes the which he gaue to his receiuers to keepe Furthermore bicause he would cleere him selfe of the infamie he had gotten amongest the Philosophers for Platoes sake he sent for diuers wise and learned men and vainly coueting to excell them all in wisedome he was driuen improperlie and out of time to alleage many wise sayinges he had learned of Plato Thereuppon he beganne againe wish for him and to condemne him selfe for that he had no wit to vse him well when he had him at his commaundement and that he had not heard so muche as he should haue done of him and like a tyranne as he was madlie caried away with light desires and easilie chaunging minde from time to time a sodaine vehement desire tooke him in the heade to haue Plato againe So he sought all the meanes and waies he could deuise to pray Archytas the Pythagorian Philosopher to tel him that he might boldly come and to be his surety vnto him for that he would promise him for first of all they were acquainted together by his meanes Therefore Archytas sent thither Archidamus the Philosopher Dionysius also sent certeine gallies and some of his frendes thither to pray Plato to come to him and he him selfe wrote speciallie and plainly that it should not goe well with Dion if Plato came not into SICILIA but if he would be perswaded to come that then he would doe what he would haue him Many letters and requests came vnto Dion from his wife and sister insomuche as Dion so vsed the matter that Plato obeyed Dionysius without making any excuse at all So Plato wryteth him selfe that he was driuen to come againe the third time into the straight of SICILIA To trie if once againe he could Charibdis daungers passe Nowe Plato being arriued in SICILIA he made Dionysius a great ioyfull man and filled all SICILIA againe with great good hope for they were all verie desirous and did what they could to make Plato ouercome Philistus and the tyrannie with his Philosophie The women of Dionysius Court did entertaine Plato the best they could but aboue all Dionysius seemed to haue a maruelous trust and affiance in him and more then in any other of all his frendes For he suffred Plato to come to him without searching of him and oftentimes offred to geue him a great summe of money but Plato would take none of it Therefore Aristippus CYRENIAN being at that time in the tyrannes Court in SICILIA sayd that Dionysius bestowed his liberalitie surelie For to vs that aske much he geueth litle and much vnto Plato that requireth nothing After Dionysius had geuen Plato his welcome he beganne to moue him againe of Dion Dionysius on the other side at the first did vse him with fine delayes but afterwards he shewed him selfe angrie in deede and at length fell out with Plato but yet so couertlie that others saw it not For Dionysius dissembled that and otherwise in all other things he did him as much honor as he could deuise practising thereby to make him to forsake Dions frendshippe Now Plato found him at the first that there was no trust to be geuen to his wordes and that all were but lyes and deuises he either sayd or did howebeit he kept it to him selfe and euer paciently bare all things hoping for the best and made as though he beleued him They two thus finelie dissembling with eache other thinking to deceiue all men and that none shoulde vnderstande their secrets Helycon CYZICENIAN one of Platoes frendes did prognosticate the eclipse of the sunne The same falling out as he had prognosticated the tyran esteemed maruelously of him and gaue him a siluer talent for his labor Then Aristippus sporting with other Philosophers sayd he could tell them of a straunger thing to happen then that So when they prayed him to tell them what it was I do prognosticate sayd he that Plato and Dionysius will be enemies ere it be long In th end it came to passe that Dionysius made porte sale of all Dions goodes and kept the
money to him selfe and lodged Plato that before lay the next Court to his pallace among the souldiers of his gard whom he knewe maliced him of long time and sought to kill him bicause he did perswade Dionysius to leaue his tyranny and to liue without his gard Plato being in this instant daunger Archytas sent Ambassadors foorthwith vnto Dionysius in a galley of thirtie owers to demaund Plato againe declaring that Plato came againe to SYRACVSA vppon his worde and caution Dionysius to excuse him selfe and to shewe that he was not angrie with him at his departure from him he made him all the great cheere and feastes he coulde and so sent him home with great shewes of good will. One day among the rest he sayd vnto Plato I am affrayed Plato sayd he that thou wilt speake euill of me when thou art among thy frendes and companions in the Academy Then Plato smiling aunswered him againe the goddes forbidde that they shoulde haue suche scarcetie of matter in the Academy as that they must needes talke of thee Thus was Platoes returne as it is reported although that which he him selfe wryteth agreeth not much with this reporte These things went to Dions harte so that shortly after he shewed him selfe an open enemie vnto Dionysius but specially when he heard how he had handled his wife Plato vnder couert words sent Dionysius worde of it by his letters And thus it was After Dion was exiled Dionysius returning Plato backe againe he willed secretlie to feele Dions minde whether he woulde not be angrie that his wife should be maried to an other man bicause there ranne a rumor abroade whether it were true or inuented by Dions enemies that he liked not his mariage and coulde not liue quietlie with his wife Therefore when Plato was at ATHENS and had tolde Dion of all thinges he wrote a letter vnto Dionysius the tyranne and did sette all other thinges downe so plainelie that euerie man might vnderstande him but this one thing only so darkelie that he alone and none other coulde vnderstande him but him to whom he had wrytten declaring vnto him that he had spoken with Dion about the matter he wore of and that he did lette him vnderstande he woulde be maruelous angrie if Dionysius did it So at that time bicause there was great hope of reconciliacion betwene them the tyranne did nothing latelie touching his sister but suffered her still to remaine with Dions sonne But when they were so farre out that there was no more hope to returne in fauour againe and that he had also sent home Plato in disgrace and displeasure then he maried his sister Aretè Dions wife against her will vnto one of his frends called Timocrates not following therin his fathers iustice and lenitie For Polyxenus that had maried his fathers sister Thesta being also become his enemie he fled out of SICILIA Dionysius the elder sent for his sister Thesta and tooke her vp verie sharpely for that she knowing her husbande would flie she did not come and tell him of it Thesta noblie aunswered him againe and neuer was affrayed nor abashed why Dionysius doest thou thinke me a woman so faint harted and beastlie that if I had knowen my husband would haue gone his way and left me that I would not haue taken the sea with him and both haue runne one fortune together Truely I knew not of his departure till he was gone for it had bene more for mine honor to haue bene called the wife of the banished Polyxenus then the sister of thee a tyran Dionysius maruelled to heare his sister speake thus boldly and the SYRACVSANS wondred at her noble corage insomuch that when the tyrannie was vtterly destroyed they did not refuse to doe her all the honor they could deuise as vnto a Queene And when she was deade also all the citizens of SYRACVSA by a common decree did accompanie her bodie at her buriall This litle digression from our historie is not altogether vnprofitable But now againe to our matter Dion from thenceforth disposed him selfe altogether vnto warre against Platoes counsell and aduise who did his best endeuour to disswade him from it both for the respect of Dionysius good enterteinment he had geuen him as also for that Dion was of great yeares Howbeit on the other side Speusippus and his other frendes did prouoke him vnto it and did perswade him to deliuer SICILIA from the slauerie and bondage of the tyran the which helde vp her handes vnto him and woulde receiue him with great loue and good will. For whilest Plato lay at SYRACVSA Speusippus keeping the citizens companie more then Plato did he knew their minds better then he For at the first they were affrayed to open them selues vnto him and frankelie to speake what they thought mistrusting he was a spie vnto the tyran sent amongest them to feele their mindes but within a short time they beganne to trust him and were all of one minde for they prayed and perswaded Dion to come and not to care otherwise for bringing of shippes souldiers nor horses with him but onely to hyre a shippe and to lend the SICILIANS his bodie and name against Dionysius Speusippus reporting these newes vnto Dion did put him in good hart againe wherupon he began secretly to leauie men by other mens meanes to hide his purpose and intent The Philosophers doe set forward Dions warres Many citizens dealing in the affaires of the common wealth did aide him and diuers of them also that onely gaue their mindes to the studie of Philosophie and among them Eudemus CYPRIAN on whose death Aristotle wrote his dialogue of the soule and Timonides LEVCADIAN went with him Furthermore there ioyned also with him Miltas THESSALIAN a Soothsayer and that had bene his companion in studie in the Academy Nowe of all them whom the tyran had banished which were no lesse then a thowsande persons there were but onely fiue and twentie that durst accompanie him in this warre For all the other were suche dastardes that they forsooke him and durst not goe with him The place where they appointed to meete was the I le of ZACYNTHE where they leauied all their souldiers that were not aboue eight hundred in all but all of them braue souldiers and valliant men and excellentlie well trained in warres and to conclude such lustie men as would incorage all the armie Dion hoped of at his ariuall in SICILE to fight like valliant men with them These hyered souldiers the first time that they vnderstoode it was to go into SICILIA to make warre with Dionysius they were amased at the first and misliked the iorney bicause it was vndertaken rather of malice and spite that Dion had to be reuenged then otherwise of any good cause or quarrell who hauing no better hope tooke vppon him desperate and impossible enterprises Therefore the souldiers were offended with their Captaines that had pressed them bicause they had not
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
withstande it and rather dye then lose my libertie Cassius being bolde and taking holde of this worde why ê™ he what ROMANE is he aliue that will suffer thee to dye for the libertie What knowest thou not that thou art Brutus Thinkest thou that they be cobblers tapsters or suche like base mechanicall people that wryte these billes and scrowles which are founde dayly in thy Praetors chaire and not the noblest men and best citizens that doe it No be thou well assured that of other Praetors they looke for giftes common distribucions amongest the people and for common playes and to see fensers fight at the sharpe to shew the people pastime but at thy handes they specially require as a due det vnto them the taking away of the tyranny being fully bent to suffer any extremity for thy sake so that thou wilt shew thy selfe to be the man thou art taken for and that they hope thou art Thereuppon he kissed Brutus and imbraced him and so each taking leaue of other they went both to speake with their frendes about it Nowe amongest Pompeys frendes there was one called Caius Ligarius who had bene accused vnto Caesar for taking parte with Pompey and Caesar discharged him But Ligarius thanked not Caesar so muche for his discharge as he was offended with him for that he was brought in daunger by his tyrannicall power And therefore in his hearte he was alway his mortall enemie and was besides verie familiar with Brutus who went to see him beinge sicke in his bedde and sayed vnto him O Ligarius in what a time art thou sicke Ligarius risinge vppe in his bedde and taking him by the right hande sayed vnto him Brutus sayed he if thou hast any great enterprise in hande worthie of thy selfe I am whole After that time they beganne to feele all their acquaintaunce whome they trusted and layed their heades together consultinge vppon it and did not onelie picke out their frendes but all those also whome they thought stowt enough to attempt any desperate matter and that were not affrayed to loase their liues For this cause they durst not acquaint Cicero with their conspiracie although he was a man whome they loued dearelie and trusted best for they were affrayed that he being a coward by nature and age also hauing increased his feare he woulde quite turne and alter all their purpose and quenche the heate of their enterprise the which speciallie required hotte and earnest execucion seeking by perswasion to bring all thinges to suche safetie as there should be no perill Brutus also did let other of his frendes alone as Statilius EPICVRIAN and Faonius that made profession to followe Marcus Cato Bicause that hauing cast out wordes a farre of disputing together in Philosophie to feele their mindes Faonius aunswered that ciuill warre was worse then tyrannicall gouernment vsurped against the lawe And Statilius tolde him also that it were an vnwise parte of him to put his life in daunger for a sight of ignoraunt fooles and asses Labeo was present at this talke and maintayned the contrarie against them both But Brutus helde his peace as though it had bene a doubtfull matter and a harde thing to haue decided But afterwardes being out of their companie he made Labeo priuie to his intent who verie readilie offered him selfe to make one And they thought good also to bring in an other Brutus to ioyne with him surnamed Albinus who was no man of his handes him selfe but bicause he was able to bring good force of a great number of slaues and sensers at the sharpe whome he kept to shewe the people pastime with their fighting besides also that Caesar had some trust in him Cassius and Labeo tolde Brutus Albinus of it at the first but he made them no aunswere But when he had spoken with Brutus him selfe alone and that Brutus had tolde him he was the chiefe ringleader of all this conspiracie then he willinglie promised him the best aide he coulde Furthermore the onlie name and great calling of Brutus did bring on the most of them to geue consent to this conspiracie Who hauing neuer taken others together nor taken or geuen any caution or assuraunce nor binding them selues one to an other by any religious others they all kept the matter so secret to them selues and coulde so cunninglie handle it that notwithstanding the goddes did reueale it by manifest signes and tokens from aboue and by predictions of sacrifices yet all this woulde not be beleued Nowe Brutus who knewe verie well that for his sake all the noblest valliantest and most couragious men of ROME did venter their liues waying with him selfe the greatnesse of the daunger when he was out of his house he did so frame and facion his countenaunce and lookes that no man coulde discerne he had any thing to trouble his minde But when night came that he was in his owne house then he was cleane chaunged For either care did wake him against his will when he woulde haue slept or else oftentimes of him selfe he fell into suche deepe thoughtes of this enterprise casting in his minde all the daungers that might happen that his wife lying by him founde that there was some maruelous great matter that troubled his minde not beinge wont to be in that taking and that he coulde not well determine with him selfe His wife Porcia as we haue tolde you before was the daughter of Cato whome Brutus maried being his cosin not a maiden but a younge widowe after the death of her first husbande Bibulus by whome she had also a younge sonne called Bibulus who afterwardes wrote a booke of the actes and ieastes of Brutus extant at this present day This young Ladie being excellentlie well seene in Philosophie louing her husbande well and being of a noble courage as she was also wise bicause she woulde not aske her husbande what he ayled before she had made some proofe by her selfe she tooke a litle rasor suche as barbers occupie to pare mens nayles and causinge all her maydes and women to goe out of her chamber gaue her selfe a greate gashe withall in her thigh that she was straight all of a goare bloode and incontinentlie after a vehement feuer tooke her by reason of the payne of her wounde Then perceiuing her husbande was maruelouslie out of quiet and that he coulde take no rest euen in her greatest payne of all she spake in this sorte vnto him I being O Brutus sayed she the daughter of Cato was maried vnto thee not to be thy beddefellowe and companion in bedde and at borde onelie like a harlot but to be partaker also with thee of thy good and euill fortune Nowe for thy selfe I can finde no cause of faulte in thee touchinge our matche but for my parte howe may I showe my duetie towardes thee and howe muche I woulde doe for thy sake if I can not constantlie beare a secret mischaunce or griefe with thee
side For nothing vndid them but that Brutus went not to helpe Cassius thinking he had ouercome them as him selfe had done and Cassius on the other side taried not for Brutus thinking he had bene ouerthrowen as him selfe was And to proue that the victorie fell on Brutus side Messala confirmeth it that they wanne three Eagles and diuers other ensignes of their enemies and their enemies wanne neuer a one of theirs Now Brutus returning from the chase after he had slaine and sacked Caesars men he wondred muche that he coulde not see Cassius tent standing vp high as it was wont neither the other tentes of his campe standing as they were before bicause all the whole cāpe had bene spoiled and the tentes throwen downe at the first comming in of the enemies But they that were about Brutus whose sight serued them better tolde him that they sawe a great glistering of harnes and a number of siluered targets that went came into Cassius campe and were not as they tooke it the armors nor the number of men that they had left there to gard the campe and yet that they saw not such a number of dead bodies and great ouerthrow as there should haue bene if so many legions had bene slaine This made Brutus at the first mistrust that which had hapned So he appointed a number of men to keepe the campe of his enemie which he had taken and caused his men to be sent for that yet followed the chase and gathered them together thinking to leade them to aide Cassius who was in this state as you shall heare First of all he was maruelous angrie to see how Brutus men ranne to geue charge vpon their enemies and taried not for the word of the battell nor commaundement to geue charge and it grieued him beside that after he had ouercome them his men fell straight to spoyle and were not carefull to compasse in the rest of the enemies behinde But with tarying too long also more then through the valliantnesse or foresight of the Captaines his enemies Cassius founde him selfe compassed in with the right wing of his enemies armie Whereuppon his horsemen brake immediatly and fled for life towardes the sea Furthermore perceiuing his footemen to geue ground he did what he could to kepe them from flying and tooke an ensigne from one of the ensigne bearers that fled and stucke it fast at his feete although with much a do he could scant keepe his owne gard together So Cassius him selfe was at length compelled to flie with a few about him vnto a litle hill from whence they might easely see what was done in all the plaine howbeit Cassius him selfe sawe nothing for his sight was verie bad sauing that he saw and yet with much a doe how the enemies spoiled his campe before his eyes He sawe also a great troupe of horsemen whom Brutus sent to aide him and thought that they were his enemies that followed him but yet he sent Titinnius one of them that was with him to goe and know what they were Brutus horsemen sawe him comming a farre of whom when they knewe that he was one of Cassius chiefest frendes they showted out for ioy and they that were familiarly acquainted with him lighted from their horses and went and imbraced him The rest compassed him in rounde about a horsebacke with songs of victorie and great rushing of their harnes so that they made all the field ring againe for ioy But this marred all For Cassius thinking in deede that Titinnius was taken of the enemies he then spake these wordes desiring too much to liue I haue liued to see one of my best frendes taken for my sake before my face After that he gotte into a tent where no bodie was and tooke Pyndarus with him one of his freed bondmen whom he reserued euer for suche a pinche since the cursed battell of the PARTHIANS where Crassus was slaine though he notwithstanding scaped from that ouerthrow but then casting his cloke ouer his head holding out his bare neck vnto Pindarus he gaue him his head to be striken of So the head was found seuered from the bodie but after that time Pindarus was neuer seene more Wherupon some tooke occasion to say that he had slaine his master without his cōmaundement By by they knew the horsemen that came towards them might see Titinnius crowned with a garland of triumphe who came before with great speede vnto Cassius But when he perceiued by the cries and teares of his frends which tormented them selues the misfortune that had chaunced to his Captaine Cassius by mistaking he drew out his sword cursing him selfe a thowsand times that he had taried so long and so slue him selfe presentlie in the fielde Brutus in the meane time came forward still and vnderstoode also that Cassius had bene ouerthrowen but he knew nothing of his death till he came verie neere to his campe So when he was come thither after he had lamented the death of Cassius calling him the last of all the ROMANES being vnpossible that ROME should euer breede againe so noble valliant a man as he he caused his bodie to be buried and sent it to the citie of THASSOS fearing least his funerals within the campe should cause great disorder Then he called his souldiers together did encorage them againe And when he saw that they had lost all their cariage which they could not brooke well he promised euerie man of them two thowsand Drachmas in recompence After his souldiers had heard his Oration they were al of them pretily cheered againe wondering much at his great liberalitie and waited vpon him with great cries when he went his way praising him for that he only of the foure Chieftaines was not ouercome in battell And to speake the trueth his deedes shewed that he hoped not in vaine to be conqueror For with fewe legions he had slaine and driuen all them away that made head against him and yet if all his people had fought and that the most of them had not ouergone their enemies to runne to spoyle their goods surely it was like enough he had slaine them all and had left neuer a man of them aliue There were slaine of Brutus side about eight thowsand men coūting the souldiers slaues whom Brutus called Brigas and of the enemies side as Messala wryteth there were slaine as he supposeth more then twise as many moe Wherefore they were more discoraged then Brutus vntill that verie late at night there was one of Cassius men called Demetrius who went vnto Antonius and caried his maisters clothes whereof he was stripped not long before and his sword also This encoraged Brutus enemies and made them so braue that the next morning betimes they stoode in battell ray againe before Brutus But on Brutus side both his campes stoode wauering and that in great daunger For his owne campe being full of prisoners required a good garde to looke
honor and the slaue enfranchised had priuiledge giuen him to weare ringes of gold and he was called Martianus Vicellus who afterwards of all the infranchised bond men became the chiefest man about his Master Galba In the meane tyme Nymphidius SABINE began at ROME not couertly but with open sorce to take vpon him the absolute gouernment of the Empire perswading him self that Galba was so old that he could hardly be brought in a lytter vnto ROME being at the least three score and thirteene yeare olde besides also that the army of the PRAETORIANS which were in ROME did beare him good will of long tyme and then acknowledged none other Lord but him onely for the large promise he had made them for the which he receiued the thankes and Galba remained the debter So he presently commaunded Tigellinus his companion and Captaine with him of the army of the PRAETORIANS to leaue of his sword and disposing him selfe to bancketing and feasting he sent for all those that had bene Consuls Praetors or Proconsuls of prouinces and made them all to be inuited in the name of Galba So there were certaine souldiers gaue out this rumor in the campe that they should doe well to send Ambassadors vnto Galba to praye him that Nymphidius might be their onely Captaine still without any companion ioyned with him Furthermore the honor and good will the Senate bare him calling Nymphidius their benefactor and going dayly to visite him in his house procuring him to be Author of all their decrees passed in Senate and that he should authorise them this made him hie minded and the bolder by much insomuch that shortly after they that came to honor him in this sort did not onely hate and mislike his doings but moreouer he made them affrayd of him Furthermore when the Consuls had giuen to commoÌ„ purseuants any commissions vnder seale or letters pattents signifying the decrees of the Senate to cary them to the Emperor by vertue of which letters pattents when the officers of the citie doe see the seale they straight prouide the purseuants of coches and â—reshe horses to further their speede and hasty iorney Nymphidius was very angrye with them bicause they did not also come to him for his letters sealed by him and his souldiers to sende likewise vnto the Emperor But besides all this it is also reported that he was like to haue deposed the Consuls howbeit they excusing them selues vnto him and crauing pardon did appease his anger And to please the Commons also he suffred them to put any of Neroes friends to death they could meete withall Amonge other they slue a Fenser called Spicillus whome they put vnder Neroes statues which they dragged vp and downe the citie Another also called Aponius one of Neroes accusers they threw him to the ground and draue carts ouer him loden with stones And diuers others also whom they slue in that manner of the which some had done no maner of offence Hereuppon one Mauriseus one of the noblest men of the citie so esteemed sayd openly in the Senate I feare me we shall wish for Nero againe before it be long So Nymphidius being comen in manner to the fulnes of his hope he was very glad to heare that some repyned at him bicause he was the sonne of Caius Caesar that was the next Emperor after Tiberius For this Caius Caesar when he was a young man had kept Nymphidius mother which had bene a fayer young woman and the Daughter of one Callistus one of Caesars infranchised bond men whome he had gotten of a Laundres he kept Howbeit it is found contrary that this Nymphidius was borne before Caius Caesar coulde knowe his mother and men thought that he was begotten by a Fenser called Martianus with whome his mother Nymphidia fell in fancie for that he had a great name at that time in ROME and in deede Nymphidius was liker to him in fauor then vnto any other So he confessed that he was the sonne of this Nymphidia how beit he did ascrybe the glory of the death of Nero vnto him selfe and thought him selfe not sufficiently recompensed with the honors they gaue him nether also with the goods he enioyed nether for that he lay with Sporus whome Nero loued so dearely whome he sent for to Neroes funeralls whilest his bodye was yet a burning and kept him with him as if he had bene his wife and called him Poppaeus Furthermore all this did not content him but yet secretly he aspyred to be Emperor partly practising the matter in ROME it selfe by the meanes of certaine women and Senators which were secretly his friends and partly also through one Gellianus whome he sent into SPAYNE to see how all thinges went there Howbeit after the death of Nero all things prospered with Galba sauing Verginius Rufus only who stoode doubtfull yet and made him sorely mistrust him for that he was affrayd besides that he was generall ouer a great and puisant army hauing also newly ouerthrowen Vindex and secretly ruling the best parte of the Empire of ROME which was all GAVLE and then in tumult and vprore ready to rebell lest he would harken vnto them that perswaded him to take the Empire to him selfe For there was no Captaine of ROME at that tyme so famous and of so great estimation as Verginius and that deseruedly for that he had done great seruice to the Empire of ROME in tyme of extreamitie hauing deliuered ROME at one selfe tyme from a cruell tyranny and also from the daunger of the warres of the GAVLES This notwithstanding Verginius persiâ—ting still in his first determination referred the election of the Emperor vnto the Senate although that after the death of Nero was openly knowen the common sort of souldiers were earnestly in hand with him and that a Tribune of the souldiers otherwise called a Colonel of a thowsand men went into his tent with a sword drawen in his hand and bad Verginius either determine to be Emperor or els to looke to haue the sworde thrust into him Yet after that Fabius Vaelens Captaine of a legion was sworne vnto Galba and that he had receiued letters from ROME aduertising him of the ordinaunce and decree of the Senate in th end with much a doe he perswaded the souldiers to proclayme Galba Emperor who sent Flaceus Ordeonius to succeede him vnto whome he willingly gaue place So when Verginius had deliuered vp his army vnto him he went to meete with Galba on whome he wayted comming on still towards ROME And Galba all that time neither shewed him euill countenance nor yet greatly esteemed of him Galba him selfe being cause of the one who feared him and his friends of the other but specially Titus Iunius who for the malice he bare vnto Verginius thinking to hinder his rising did vnwittingly in deede further his good happe and deliuered him occasion to draw him out of the ciuill warres and mischieues the which lighted afterwards vpon
of the Generalls for the king So Antiochus being ouercome and his armie discomfited perceiuing that there was no helpe in his affaires he came vnto the AFRICAN who being newlie recouered of his sickenes came to the campe within a litle after the field was wonne and by his meanes obtayned of the Consul to be contented to talke of peace When Antiochus Ambassadors were come to the campe and that they had humblie craued pardon in the behalfe of their king and also prayed that they would geue them suche condicions of peace as they best liked of Scipio AFRICAN with the consent of them all aunswered them that it was not the manner of the ROMANES to yeeld to aduersitie neither also to be prowde in prosperitie and therefore that he nowe made him the selfe same offers and condicions of peace which he did before the victorie That the king shoulde not meddle with EVROPE that he should surrender vp all he had in ASIA from the mountaine Taurus vnto the riuer of Tanais that he shoulde pay tribute twentie yeres together that he shoulde also put in suche ostages as the Consul would choose out and that specially aboue all the rest they should deliuer Annibal CARTHAGINIAN vnto the Consul who was the only author and procurer of this warre But he as we haue wrytten in his life perceiuing that king Antiochus armie was ouerthrowen both by sea and by lande escaped the ROMANES handes and went vnto Prusias king of BITHYNIA Antiochus hauing accepted the offers and condicions of peace sayd that the ROMANES vsed him verie fauourablie to ridde him of so great care and to appoint him so small a kingdome For great kingdomes and ouermuch wealth which euerie man coueteth are full of great and sundrie troubles insomuch that Theocritus wordes are as true as otherwise excellently written The things I vvish are nother vvelth nor Scepter Robe nor Crovvne Nor yet of svviftnes and of strength to beare avvay renovvne But singing vvish a mery hart in simple shed to looke Aloofe vpon the troublous seas that are so hard to brooke So when the mightie king of ASIA was ouercomen and that so great a warre was so easelie ended beyonde all mens opinion the Consul L. Scipio returned to ROME and made his entrie into the citie shewing a great and honorable triumphe He also deserued the surname of the prouince and contrie subdued by him So that as his elder brother before was called AFRICAN for that he had conquered AFRIKE euen so was Lucius Scipio surnamed ASIAN for conquering ASIA vnto ROME And P. Scipio through whose counsell his brother Lucius had brought his warres to happie ende he went not cleere without honor also For shortlie after two noble Censors T. Q. Flaminius and Marcus Claudius Marcellus chose him Prince of the Senate the thirde time Nowe at that time the house and familie of the Scipioes and Cornelians florished with supreame degree of honor and the authoritie of Scipio AFRICAN was growen to such height and greatnes as no priuate man could wishe to be any greater in a free citie Howbeit the secret malice of wicked harts which could no lenger abide this greatnes and authoritie began at length to burst out and to light vpon those that were the authors of so great things For two Tribunes of the people suborned as it is reported by Porcius Cato they accused P. Scipio AFRICAN for keeping backe king Antiochus money and bicause he brought it not into the common chamber or treasurye Scipio AFRICAN knowing his innocencie being called by the Magistrate shewed him selfe obedient and came into the market place with a bold coutenaunce and there made an oration declaring what thinges he had done for the benefit and commoditie of his contry and common wealth The rehersal of these thinges did not mislike the common people that were present bicause he did it rather to auoyd the daunger prepared for him then otherwise for any vaine glory or oftentation Howbeit the Tribunes not being so contented were vehement against him and spared no iniurious words but accused him as though he had in deede bene in fault howbeit vpon suspition rather then of any due proofe The next morning being commaunded to come before them againe he appeared at the hower appoynted and being well accompanied with his friends he came through the whole assembly and went vp to the pulpit for orations When he saw that euery man kept silence then he spake in this manner I remember my Lordes that on such a day as this I wanne that famous victory of Annibal and the CARTHAGINIANS and therefore leauing a side this contention I thinke it good we go vnto the Capitol to giue God thankes for the victorie So he departed thence and all the whole assembly followed him not onely to the Capitoll but also to all the other temples of the citie leauing the two Tribunes all alone with their Sergeaunts That daye was the very last daye of all the AFRICANS good fortune for the great assembly and multitude of people that wayted vpon him and for the great good will they bare him For from that day forward he determined to get him into the contry farre from all ambition and the company of people and so went vnto LINTERNVM in a maruelous rage that for reward of his so great seruice and so sundry benefits as he had brought vnto his contry he receiued but shame and reproache or els for that in deede being as he was of a noble minde he thought it more honor willingly to giue place to his enemies then to seeke to mainteyne his greatnes by force of armes So when the Tribunes did accuse him of contempt and that his brother Lucius did excuse his absence by reason of his sickenes Tiberius Gracchus one of the Tribunes that was against the AFRICAN tooke his excuse beyond all mens opinions for good payment and did so well defende Scipioes cause sometime honorably praysing him another time also threatning his enemies that the Senate afterwards thanked him very greatly for it For they were maruelously offended for the great iniurie they did him Some doe write that P. Scipio him selfe before he went vnto LINTERNVM did with his owne hands teare the booke his brother had brought vnto the Senate to deliuer the accompt of his charge and that he did it not for any deceit nor pride but with that selfe boldnes of mind he had aforetime vsed to the treasurers when he did against the law require the keyes of the common treasure to supply the present neede of the state â— Nowe some there be also that saye it was not the AFRICAN but Scipio ASIAN that was accused needed before the Tribunes and that Scipio AFRICAN was sent in commission at that time into THYSCAN Who vnderstanding of his brothers accusation at his returne to ROME and finding his brother Lucius condemned and the Sergeaunts wayting on him to cary him being bound into prison he
Irenes Melirenes The â—â—eeuerie of the Lacedaemonians Straight dyet causeth groeth and height Childrens exercise afect their supper The LacedamoniaÌ„s manner of liuing Short speache taught among the Lacedaemonians Lycurgus wise aunswere Lycurgus loue to god To geue a haÌ„d is to consesse him self ouercome Shorte sentences of certaint Laconians Leonidus Charilaus Archidamidas Shaâ—e sentences of the Laconians Demaratus Agis Theopompus Plistonax Pausanias sonne Archidamidas In the life of Agesilous The Lacedaemonians songes Three daunces among the Lacedaemonians Terpander of the Lacedaemonians Pyndarus of the Lacedaemonians The longe bushes and beare of the Laconians How the Laconians beganne battell The LaconiaÌ„s songe when they marched Eust. Ilia 15. How save the Lacedaemonians dyd pursue their enemies Lycurgus a very good captaine Oulames The LaconiaÌ„s opinion to serue their countrie The rest and leysure of the Lacedaemonians Idie liuers punished at Athens Sutes in lawe went aways with golde siluer that was banished How they spâ—o the time in Sparta The Lacedaemonians liued not priuately to them selues in the comm'd weale Paedaretus saying The manner of choosing the Senate in Sparta VVhat was done the Senatour being chosen The manner of buriall with the Lacedaemonians The time of mourning None allowed to trauell into other couÌ„tries without licence No straungers suffered to dwell in Sparta Cryptia with the Lacedaemonians The cruelty of the Lacedaemonians against the Ilotes Diodorus lib. 2. Plato in Timaeo Lycurgus wonderfull counsell in stablishing his lawes Lycurgus death Sparta florished fiue hundred yeres Lycurgus lawes were broke in king Agis time by Lysanders meanes Money corrupteth Lycurgus Lawes See more in Lysaders life Lysander brought in richer againe into Sparta Theopompus wordes of obeying and commauÌ„ding Good gouernmeÌ„t breedeth due obedieÌ„ce Antisthenes Socrates schollers wordes The foundation of a common weale Diuine honours to Lycurgus after his death Antiorus Lycurgus â—â—â—â—â— In what time Numa â—â—â— Cicero de Or. 2. Tuscâ—l 4. Lius Hâ—lic lib. 2. VVhether Pythagoras had any conversation with Numa Pythagoras the seconde a Spartan borne taught Numa at Rome The death of Romulus In the life of Romulus he is named Trocolus â— Dissention as Rome about choosing of their King. Liuie sayeth but a hundred Dionysius 200. Plutar. in the life of Romulus agreeth with Dionysius Interregnum Numa chosen King. Numa borne in the cittie of Cures Quirites why so called The life and manners of Numa before his raigne Tatia the wife of Numa Numa conuersant with the goddesse Egeria Goddes familliar with men VVho are beloued of the goddes Proclus and Velesus ambassadours to offer Numa the kingdom The orasion of Numa to the abassadours refusing to be King. Numa beginneth his kingdome with seruice of the goddes Numa was consecrated by the Augures The garde of Celeres discharged by Numa Flamen Quirinalis instituted of Numa Numa inducent ciuill quiet life Plato de Rep. lib. 2. Numa and Pythagoras institutions muche a like Numa worshipped Tacita one of the Muses Pythagoras taught his schollers to kept silence Pythagoras opinion of god Numa forbad images of God. Proofes for the conuersation of Numa and Pythagoras Numa instituteth Bishoppes Pontifices why so called The wodden bridge as Rome The highe bishoppe The institution of the Vestall Nunnes The holy and immortal fire How the holy fire is drawen from the pure flame of the sunne See the life of Camillus touching the Vestall Nunnes The Vestalls prerogatius The punishment of the Vestall Nunnes The temple of Vesta represenseth the figure of the worlde VVhere the fire abideth The manner of buriall Libitina honored at funeralls The time of mourning Salâ—i Feciales Pluto Probl. 62. Gell. lib. 16 c.4 Feciales called Irenophylaces Irenen a quarrell pacified with reason without the sword Rome taken by the Gaules See Camillus Life The institution of the Salij A target from heauen VVhereof they were called Salij Ancylia whereof so called Regia the Kings palace The manner of the Romaines worshipping of the goddes The Pythagorians opinion touching prayer Hoc age a watcheword to tend diuine seruice The similitude of Numa and Pythagoras precepts By what means Numa made the Romaines quiet and gentle The wonders of Numa Numaes speaking with Iupiter Picus Fannus The purifying of thunder Ilicium the name of the place Numa buylded temples to Faythe and Terme Numa made the boundes of the territorie of Rome Numa aduaunceth jillage Numa deuided his people into sundrie occupations Numa tooke away the factions of Romulus and Tatius The ordinaunce of the moneths of Numaes institution Macrob. 1. Sarâ—r 13. The yere diuersely counted * Peraduenture ye must read in the Greke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to saye of the name of Iuno * Some olde Grecian copies saye in this place marg 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much to saye as for the deade VVhy Ianus is painted with two faces At what time the temple of Ianus is thus in Rome Liu. lib. 1. The Romains had us warres in al Nunaes time Platoes saying concerning the felicitie of a coÌ„mon weale Numaes tiues and posteritie Pompilia Numaes daughter Pompilia maried to Caius Martius Corislanus Martius the Sabyne made Sunatouar at Rome Ancus Martius the sonne of Caius Martius Coviolanus The death of Numa Numaes bookes VVhy the Pythagoriâ—agrave left nothing in writing 12. bookes of priesthood 12. bookes of philosophie Good men praysed after their death The misfortunes of Numaes successours Hostilius The vertues of Numa and Lycurgus were alike but their deeds diuers VVhat things were harde to Lycurgus Slaues sai with their master as Saturnes feasts Macrob. Satur lib. 1. Diuers causes of the diuersitie of institutions of Numa and Lycurgus Description of their people Reason for mariages Numaes order for maidens the better The Laconians were to manly The Romaine women very modest The first diuorce aâ— Rome Howe much education and discipline is worthe Arist. polit 8. How Lycurgus lawes were stablished VVhy Numaes orders dyed Why Numa is to be preferred before Lycurgus Solons linage Great friendshipp betâ—ixâ— Solon Pisistratus A statute for bondmen Solon gaue him selfe in youth to trade marchauÌ„dise Solons iudgemeÌ„t of riches The commodities of merchandise A marchauns builded Massilia Thales Hippocrates Plato all marchaunts Pouerty with vertue better than riches How Solon vsed his poetrie Solon delited in morall but not in naturall philosophie Hellens three footed stoole of gold draweÌ„ vp in a drag net The rare modesty of the wise men Anacharsis and Solons meeting Anacharsis saying of Solons written lawes Solons talke with Thales at Miletum about mariage for hauing of children VVe should not let to get things necessarie fearing to lose them Cybistus Thales adopted sonne The instinct of naturall loue Proclamation vpon paâ—ne of death no man so moâ—e the counsell for the title of Salamina Solon fained madnes to recouer Salamina Solons Elegies of the Salaminians Of the temple of Venus Coliade Sâ—ab lib 4. â—â—rsan of the Athenians Solons stratageames Solon wanne Salamina Great stryfe betwext
in Asia by Mithridates commaundement Fimbria camped as Thyatira Fimbria slain Sylla very hardly inreated them of Asia Aristotle and Theophrastus backes Sylla went to the bathes as Adipsum for the gowte in his legges Bubbles of fire rising out of a meadow by Dyrrachivm A Satyre takeÌ„ sleeping and brought to Sylla Sylla went against fifteene Generalls foure hundred and fiftie ensignes Syllaes returne into Italie Ephewn mons Sylla ouerthrew the CoÌ„sull Norbanus and Marius the younger neere to the mountaine Epheum A slaue foreshewed Syllaes victory and the burning of the Capitoll which fell out truely A winde that blewe flowers out of a meadow vpon Lucullus souldiers by the city of Fidentia Lucullus victory as Fidenâ—a Syllaes policie with Scipio Sylla wanne 40 ensignes from Scipio by policie Carboes saying of Sylla touching the foxe and lyon Marius the younger with 85. ensignes presenteth Sylla baâ—tell by the city of Signium Syllaes vision in his dreame Marius fled to Praenesta Carbo fled into Africke Thelesinus the Samnyte faâ— Sylla in great danÌ„ger Syllaes daunger Sylla fled Lucretius Offella besieged Marius in Praeneste In the ende of Marius life it is reported contrarie that Sylla besieged Marius the younger in Perusia and not in Praeneste â—doo saued themselues in Antemna and yelded to Sylla vpon promise of life Sylla against the law of armes and his promise caused sixe thowsand men to be slaine Honor chaungeth condicions Sylla the example Infinite murthers committed in Rome by Sylla and his fauorers The boldnes of Caius Metellus to tell Sylla his cruelty in open Senate Syllaes prosâ—iripsion 〈…〉 The murder of outlawes generall through Italy Quintus Aurelius a quiet men that medled not slaine for his house Marius the younger slue him selfe as Praeneste being put all into one place together Lucius Catilinae slue his owne brother Sylla Dictator Lucretius Offella slaine Syllaes twinnes named Faustus and Fausta Sylla leaueth his Dictatorshippe Marcus Lepidus chosen Consull Sylla feasted the people VVine of forty yeres olde vpward Sylla brake his owne lawes he made Valeria desirous to be partaker of Syllaes happines Sylla maried Valeria the sister of Hottensius the Orator Syllaes impostume turned to lyce Diuers famous men that dyed of lyce Syllaes commentaries containe 22. bookes Syllaes sonne that was dead appeared to him in his dreams in ill fauored apparell Granius strangeled in Syllaes fight by his arme commaundements Syllaes death Posthumi Syllaes funeralls Syllaes epitaphe The chiefe person is not alwayes the honestest Lysander Syllaes faults Lysanders temperance and moderate life Syllaes licensious and prodigall life Syllaes tyrannicall saying Sylla for ware to be preferred before Lysander Sylla fought with men of greatest power and ouercome them Syllaes magnanimity Plutarkes iudgement of Sylla and Lysander Peripoltas his posterity The manners leud partes of Damon Peripoltas Lucius Lucullus examâ—nesh the truth of the murther Damon slaine by treason Asbolomeni who they were and why so called Chaeronea indited for the murther Lucullus called for a witnesse of the troth Historie is a certaine image of mens manners and wisedom A pretty similitude Howe to describe the life of a man. Cimon Lucullus in what thinges they were like Cimons linadge Thucidydes linadge Miltiades died in prison Cimon defamed in his youth Coalemos foole Cimons condicions Elpinicè Cimons sister vnchast Polygnotus the painter Elpinicè being poore had regarde to matche ccording to her state calling Cimon subiect to lasciuious life The praise of Cimons conditions Cimons personage commended Cimon Generall for the Athenians by sea King Pausanias through his insolency and pride lost the Lacedaemonians all their rule of Greece Pausanias killed the young Bizantine virgine Cimon iorney and victorie in Thracia Butes burneth him selfe city and frendes for feare of Cimon Statues of Mercury Sochares Decelean spake against Miltiades request for the garland of Olyue boughes Cimon wanne the I le of Scyros The counsell of the Amphictyons Theseus bones brought to Athens 400. yeres after his death by Cimon Sophocles and AEschylus contention for victory AEschylus ouercome by Sophocles dwelleth in Sicilia and dyeth there Cimon sang passing sweety Cimons cunning diuision of the spoyle Herophytus Samian gaue Counsell to choose the spoyle Cimons liberality and hospitality Cimons charity How Cimon vsed his goode The hospitality of Lichas Spartan Cimons godly actes CimoÌ„ brought the golden world againe Cimons integrity and cleane hands Resaces attempted to bribe Cimon Darickes whereof so called A noble saying of Cimon The benefit of paines seruice and the discommodity of case and idlenes CimoÌ„ plagued the Persians Chio an Ile Cimon wanne the city of Faselia Ariomandes the kinges Lieutenant of his whole army by sea ryding at ancher before the riuer of Eurymedon Cimons victory of the Persians both by sea and land Cimon tooke two hundred sayle prisoners at the battell fought by the riuer of Eurymedon Cimon ouercame the battell of the barbarous people also by lands Cimon brought the king of Persia to conditioÌ„ of peace Callias sent Ambassador to take the othe of the king of Persia Cimon was at the charge of certaine commoÌ„ buildings Cimon draue the Persians out of Thracia Cimon accussed and discharged CimoÌ„ praiseth the temperate life of the Lacedaemonians Stesimbrotus the historian * Areopagus was a village of Mars by Athens where the iudges called Areopagitae did sit to iudge causes of murder and other waightie matters concerning the common wealth Democratia rule of communalty Pericles in Cimons absence reduceth the common wealth vnto the state Democratia Optimacia the gouernment of the nobility CimoÌ„ followed the Lacedaemonians maner A maruelous great earthquake in Lacedaemon Taygetum â—â—nâ— Archidamus sodaine policy saued the city Ilotae slaues bondmen to the Lacedaemonian Cimon procured ayde for the Lacedaemonians Cimon banished for 10. yeares Cimon called from exile Cimons dreame The interpretation of the dreame Cimons death prognosticated The cause of Themistocles willing death The death of Cimon Cimons death kept very secret No famous act done by any Graecians to the barbarous people after Cimons death Cimons monuments at Athens Lucullus parents Lucullus accuseth Seruilius the Soothsayer The Romanes thought it a noble dede to accuse the wicked Lucullus eloquence Lucullus studied Philosophy in his latter time Lucullus booke of the warre of the Marsians in Greeke Lucullus loue to his brother Marcus. Lucius M. Luculâ—us both chosen AEdiles Sylla gaue Lucullus commission to coyne money in Peloponnesus Lucullus geueth lawes to the CyreniaÌ„â— A notable saying of Plato Lucullus iorney into Egypt A notable rich entered geuen Lucullus by kinge Ptolomye Lucullus doinges vnder Sylla by sea Lucullus stratageame Fimbria besieged Mithridates in Pitane Lucullus would not aide Fimbria in besieging Mithridates Neoptolemus king Mithridates Lieutenant by sea Lucullus put to flight Neoptolemus Mithridates Lieutenaunt by sea Lucullus stratageaâ—ia as the siege of the Mitylenians Lucullus honored of Sylla The first occasioÌ„ of quarrell bentwext Pompey and Lucullus Lucullus M. Cossa
Consuls Cethegus a vitious liuer Lucius Quintius a seairious Orator at Rome Lucullus ambition to make warres against king Mithridates Praecia a famous curtisan of Rome Cethegus ruled all Rome The gouernment of Cilicia the warres against king Mithridates were geuen to Lucullus FimbriaÌ„ souldiers very dissolute and corrupted Mithridates armie against Lucullus Mithridates armie Asia fell know former miseries by the Romane vserers Cotta the CoÌ„sull ouercome by Mithridates in battell The godly saying of Lucullus for the sauing of a citizen Lucullus army A flame of fire fall betwene both armies out of the element Lucullus politicke consideration to dissipher the enemy Mithridates besiegeth Cyzicus The stratageame of Mithridates souldiers A wonderfull token of a cow that came to offer her selfe to the Cizicenians to be sacrificed Aristagoras vision Extreame famine in Mithridates campe Prouerbe He lept on his belly with both his feete Rindacus fl Lucullus ouerthrew Mithridates horsemen Mithridates fled by sea Granicus fl Lucullus ouerthroweth Mithridates footemen by the riuer of Granicus Lucullus dreame Lucullus ouercame Mithridates nauy by sea Mithridates in great dauÌ„ger apon the sea by tempest Lucullus ambition commendable Lucullus iorney into Pontus An oxe bought for a Drachma The mutiny of Lucullus souldiers Lucullus oration excuse to his souldiers Tigranes king of Armenia maried Mithridates daughter Mithridates camped as Cabira Mithridates arms Lycus fl The constancy of a Romane souldier Lucullus flieth Mithridates horsemen The fight of a Generall in a battell is of maruelous force A politicke deuise of the Romanes to punishe cowardly souldiers The Dardarians what people they be Lucullus dauÌ„ger by Olthacus conspiracy Olthacus prince of the Dardarians Lucullus life saued by sleepe Lucullus victory of certaine of Mithridates Captaines Mithridates noble men familiars cause of mutiny ouerthrowe of his whole army Mithridates flieth Couetousnes the ouerthrow of souldiers A stratageama of Mithridates Mithridates slue his sisters and wives The corage of Monimé Mithridates wife Monimé her throte was cut Berenicè straÌ„gled her selfe The corage of Statira Mithridates sister Appius Clodius sent vnto Tigranes from Lucullus Callimachus gouernor of â—misus Lucullus wâ—â— Amisus Callimachus setteth fire of Amisus and flieth Lucullus curtesie towardes the citie of Amisus Lucullus gentle saying TyrannioÌ„ the graâ—â—arian taken Lucullus relieueth Asia from extreame vsery That is after the raâ—e ofâ—â— in the huÌ„dred for the yéare Lawes set downe for vserers Appius Clodius Lucullus wiues brother Euphrates fl Zarbienus king of Gordiaena Tigranes pride and power The boldnes of Appius Clodius Lucullus Ambassador vnto Tigranes Appius abstineÌ„ce from taking of giftes Tigranes and Mithridates meeting Metrodorus praise and death Amphicrates an Orator of Athens dyed in king Tigranes courte Seleucia a city standing apon Tigris fl A platter too litle to holde a Dolphin in pâ—â—an Lucullus taketh Sinope in Pontus Lucullus dreame A statue made by Sthenis Autolycus founder of the city of Sinope The Syrians why so called Syllaes note for dreames Machares Mithridates sonne pusyâ—â—b frendshippe of Lucullus Lucullus goeth against Tigranes with a small company The quarrellings counsellors at Rome enuy Lucullus prosperity Lucullus came to the riuer of Euphrates found it very high and rough The straunge and sodaine fall of the riuer of Euphrates from her great swelling Diana Persica Kyne consecrated to Diana Persica A straunge thing of a cow that came to offer her selfe to Lucullus to be sacrificed The contry of Sophene Tigris fl Tigranes slue the first messenger that brought the newes of Lucullus approach Tigranes sendeth Mithrobarzanes against Lucullus Lucullus sendeth Sextilius against Mithrobarzanes Sextilius slow Mithrobarzanes and ouerthrewe hâ— force The city of Tigranocerta built by Tigranes Lucullus besiegeth Tigranocerta Taxiles perswadeth Tigranes not to fight with the Romanes The proude saying of Tigranes Tigranes whole armie two hundred three score thowsand men Lucullus army against Tigranes The ordering of Tigranes battell Atri blacke or vnfortunate dayes Lucullus battell with Tigranes Lucullus armor Lucullus famous victorie of Tigranes Tigranes flight Tigranes diadeame taken by Lucullus Lucullus praise Two puysans kinges ouercome by contrary meanes Lucullus tooke Tigranocerta Lucullus iâ—stâ—e and clemency Zarbienus king of the Gordiaenians slaine by Tigranes Lucullus prepareth to goe against the Parthians Lucullus souldiers fall to mutiny Full purses ease maketh mutinous souldiers Lucullus besiegeth Artaxata the chief city of Armenia Artaxes king of Armenia Hanniball builded Artaxata Arsanias fl Lucullus order of his army Other do read in this place against the Astopatenians miou which are people of Media Three kinges ranged in battell Lucullus maketh Tigranes flye againe The country of Mygdonia Nisibis alias Antiochia a city of Mygdonia Lucullus taketh Nisibis by assault Callimachus did set the city of Amisus a fire Thalteracion of Lucullus good fortune Lucullus cause of all his misfortune Lucullus faults Lucullus vertues The cause why Lucullus souldiers misliked with him Lucullus army euer lay in the fielde winter and summer Phasis fl Publius Clodius a wicked man. Publius Clodius stirred vp the souldiers against Lucullus Mithridates victory of Lucullus Lieutenauntes Mithridates ouercame Triarius Lucullus Captaine The Fimbrian souldiers forsooke Lucullus Lucullus forced to humble him selfe to his mutinous souldiers The Fimbrian souldiers tarie out the sommer vpon oldiâ— lon to departe when sommer was done Pompey Lucullus successor in Asia Iniuries offered Lucullus by Pompey Lucullus and Pompeys mating Mislikinges betwene Pompey and Lucullus Lucullus â—uâ— beloued of his souldiers Crassus desire to conquer Asia apon sight of Lucullus triumphe See the life of Crassus what successe he had Lucullus returne to Rome Lucullus triumphe Lucullus forsaketh Clodia and marieth Seruilia Catoes sister as vnchast as Clodia Lucullus geueth ouer gouernment of the common wealth Lucullus buildinges and pleasures Lucullus gardens of great estimacion Lucullus called Xerxes the gowne-man Xerxes â—uâ— through the mountaine Atho made â— channell for his shippes to passe thorow Lucullus curiosity excesse in meanes and seruice Catoes saying of Lucullus Certain sayinges of Lucullus Lucullus hauing diuers hallos had appointed euery hall his certen rasâ— charge of dyes VVhat Lucullus supper was in Apollo Lucullus library Lucullus loued Philosophie Antiochus of Ascalon an eloquent to theâ—uian The opinion of the Academickes Marcus Crassus Cato Lucullus against Pompey Lucullus and Cato against Pompey Pompey Crassus Caesar conspired together against the flaâ—e * Cicero calleth him Luâ—ius Vestius howbeit it may be that he was a Brutianborne Lucullus fell out of his witâ— before his death Callisthenes poysoned Lucullus whereof he dyed Lucullus death Lucullus death blessed A good gift oâ— decay vice to â—ncrease vertue Cimons two victories obtained in one day Great difference betwext Cimon Lucullus Graue magistrates resembled by similitude vnto good SurgeoÌ„â— Mithridates king of Pontus dyed in the realme of Bosphorus Tigranes king of Armenia submitteth him selfe to Pompey The praise of Thucydides Timaeus reproueth Plato and Aristotle Nicias equalls Nicias a timerous
vnto the gods Darius army of tenne hundred thowsand fighting men against Alexander at the riuer of Euphrates The magnanimity of Alexander Alexanders third battell with Darius The armor of Alexander An Eagle flewouer Alexanders head when he went so fight with Darius The flying of Darius Alexanders third victory of Darius and liberalithe of all men * The strength and power of Nepina in the contry of Ecbatania VVhat Medaes enchantment was * In this place there lacke certaine lynes in the Greeks originall No lâ—â—e in the countrie of Babylon Tresure found by Alexander at the citie of Susa. * Is seemeth that he meaneth of silke dyed in purple whereof the best that was in Europe was made in the citie of Hermiona in Laconia Alexanders iorney into Persia. Alexander found a maruelous measure in Persia The insoleus boldnes of Thais the herles Persopolls set a fire by Alexander Alexanders prodigalitie reproued by his mother Olympias Alexander reproueth the finenes and curiositie of his frendes Alexander enemy to idlenes Alexanders care of his frendes and wonderfull curtesie towards them Alexander keps one eare for the condeÌ„med person Alexander would not pardon ill wordes spoken of him Alexanders painefull iorney in following of Darius The loue of Alexander to his souldiers and abstinence Alexander regarded not the spoyle of gold siluer in respect of pursuing his flying enemy The death of Darius The punishment and execution of Bessus The sea Hyrcanium or Caspium Alexander goeth after the maner of the Persians Some faultes are to be borne with in a man of great vertues Orexartes fl Alexander with one word of his mouth brought the Macedonians to obedience Alexander maried Roxane a Persian Quarrell betwext Hephaestion and Craterus VVhy Philotas was suspected and enuied of Alexander Limnus traizerously seeketh to kill Alexander Philotas and his father Partmenio put to death Antipater was affrayed of Alexander VVVhy Alexander slue Clitus Alexanders dreame of Clitus The malapertnes of Clitus against Alexander Alexander slue Clitus grieuously repented him Callisthenes and Anaxarchus do comfort Alexander The cause why Callisthenes was envyed Aristotle thought Callisthenes eloquent but not wise Callisthenes suspected of treasoÌ„ against Alexander Alexander offended with Aristotle The death of Callisthenes the rethoritian The iourney of Demaratus CorinthiaÌ„ vnto Alexander and his death Alexanders iourney into India Alexander burnt his cariages The crueltie of Alexander towardes his men A monsterous lamme appeared vnto Alexander A spring of oyle found by the riuer of Oxus Oyle refresheth wearynes The citie of Nisa Acuphis wise aunswer vnto Alexander King Taxiles talke with Alexander Alexanders aunswer to Taxiles Alexander dishonorably brake the peace he had made Alexanders actes against king Porus. Hydaspes fl The statute of king Porus. The quick-wit and catâ— of the ElephaÌ„t to saue the king his master Alexanders conquests in the Indiaes The death of Bucephal Alexanders horse Bucephalia a great citie built by Alexander apon the riuer of Hydaspes why so named Peritas Alexanders dogge Ganges fl Gangaridae and Prosij people of India Alexanders returne out of India Alexanders vaine deuises to make him selfe immortall King Androcottus Alexander in daunger at the citie of the Mallians The wise men of India Alexanders questions propounded to the ten Philosophers of India Alexander rewarded the ten wise men and did let them goe Onesicritus a Philosopher Calanus other wise called Sphines Dandamis Calanus a wise man of India The 〈…〉 of a kingdom shewed by a peece of leather Psitulcis an Iland Alexanders nauie in the sea Oceanum Alexanders armie going in to India Sheepe fed with fishe The contry of Gedrosia The contry of Carmania The riot of Alexanders souldiers The citie of Thapsacus The prouinces conquered by Alexanders rebelled against him The death of Polymachus Pelleian Calanus the Indian did sacrifice him selfe aliue Alexander made men drinke to wyn a game and price The Macedonians maried vnto the Persians The wonderfull giftes of Alexander Alexander payed the soldiers dets Antigenes with one eye a valiant Captaine banished the court for making a lye Thirty thowsand boyes of the Persians taught the discipline of wars by Alexanders commauÌ„dement The clemencie and liberalitie of Alexander vnto his soldiers The death of Hephaestion Alexanders sorow for the death of Hephaestion Stasicrates an excellent image maker Diuers signes before Alexanders death Alexander feared Antipater Alexander fell sicke of an agew Arsitobulus report of the sicknes and death of Alexander The death of Alexander the great Aristotle suspected for the poysoning of Alexander Statira slaine by Roxane Aridaeus Alexanders bastard brother Caesar ioyned with Cinna Marius Caesar tooke sea and went vnto Nicomedes king of Bithynia Caesar taken of pirate Iunius Praetor of Asia Caesar eloquence Caesar loued hospitalitie Caesar a follower of the poeple Ciceroes iudgement of Caesar. The loue of the people in Rome was Caesar. Caesar chosen Tribunus militum Caesar made the funerall oration at the death of his aunt Iulia. Caesar the first that praised his wife in funerall oration Caesar made Questor Pompeia Caesars third wife Caesars prodigality Caesar accused to make a rebellion in the state The death of Metellus chiefe Bishop of Rome Caesar made chiefe Bishop of Rome Caesar suspected to be coÌ„federate with Catiline in his conspiracy Caesar went about to deliuer the conspirators Catoes oration against Caesar. The loue of P. Clodius vnto Pompeia Caesars wife The good goddesse what she was and her sacrifices Clodius taken in the sacrifices of the good goddesse Clodius accused for prophaning the sacrifices of the good goddesse Caesar putteth away his wife Pompeia Clodius quit by the Iudges for prophaning the sacrifices of the good goddesse Caesar Praetor of Spaine Crassus surety for Caesar to his creditors Caesars actes in Spayne Caesar order betwext the creditor and detter Caesar souldiers called him Imperator Caesar reconÌ„cileth Pompey and Crassus together Catoes foresight and prophecy Caesars first Consulship with Calphurnius Bibulus Caesars lawes Lex agraria Caesar maried his daughter Iulia vnto Pompey Caesar maried Calphurnia the daughter of Piso. Pompey by force of armes authorised Caesars lawes Caesar sent Cato to prison Caesar by Clodius draue Cicero out of Italy Caesar a valliant souldier and a skillfull Captaine Caesars conquestes in Gaule The loue and respect of Caesars souldiers vnto him The wonderfull valliantnes of Acilius Cassius Scaua diuers others of Caesars souldiers Granius Petronius Caesar had the falling sickenes The temperance of Caesar in his dyet Caesar ciuilitie not to blame his frend The Tigurinians slaine by Labienus Arax fl Caesar refused his horse wheÌ„ he sought a battell The Heluetians slaine by Caesar. Rheynus fl Caesar made warre with king Ariouistus The wise women of Germany how they did foretell thinges to come King Ariouistus ouerthrowen by Caesar. The Belgae ouercome by Caesar. Neruij the slowtest warriers of all the Belgae The Neruij slaine by Caesar The great Lordes of Rome come to Luca to Caesar Ipes
hartely wished him aliue againe For first of all they fell out with the AEQVES who were their friendes and confederates touching preheminence and place and this quarrell grew on so farre betwene them that frayes and murders fell out apon it one with another After that the ROMAINES ouercame them in battell in which Tullus was slaine in the field and the flower of all their force was put to the sworde so that they were compelled to accept most shamefull conditions of peace in yelding them selues subiect vnto the conquerers promising to be obedient at their commandement THE COMPARISON OF ALcibiades with Martius Coriolanus NOW that we haue written all the dedes of worthie memorie done by either of them both we maye presently discerne that in matters of warre the one hath not greatly exceeded the other For both of them in their charge were a like hardie valliant for their persones as also wise and politike in the warres vnles they will saye that Alcibiades was the better captaine as he that had foughten more battells with his enemies both by sea and lande then euer Coriolanus had done and had allwayes the victorie of his enemies For otherwise in this they were much a like that where they were both present had charge and power to commaund all things prospered notably and with good successe on the parte they were of and also when they tooke the contrary side they made the first haue the worse euery waye Now for matters of gouernment the noble men and honest cittizens dyd hate Alcibiades manner of rule in the common weale as of a man most dissolute and geuen to flatterie bicause he euer studied by all deuise he could to currie fauour with the common people So dyd the ROMAINES malice also Coriolanus gouernment for that it was no arrogant prowde and tyrannicall whereby neither the one nor the other was to be commended Notwithstanding he is lesse to be blamed that seeketh to please and gratifie his common people then he that despiseth and disdaineth them and therefore offereth them wrong and iniurie bicause he would not seeme to flatter them to winne the more authoritie For as it is an euill thing to flatter the common people to winne credit euen so is it besides dishonesty and iniustice also to atteine to credit and authoritie for one to make him selfe terrible to the people by offering them wrong and violence It is true that Martius was euer counted an honest natured man plaine and simple without arte or cunning Howbeit Alcibiades merely contrarie for he was fine subtill and deceiptfull And the greatest faulte they euer burdened Alcibiades for was his malice and deceipt wherewith he abused the ambassadours of the LACEDAEMONIANS that he was a let that peace was not cōcluded as Thucydides reporteth Now though by this acte he sodainly brought the cittie of ATHENS into warres yet he brought it thereby to be of greater power and more fearefull to the enemies by making alliance with the MANTINIANS and the ARGIVES who by Alcibiades practise entred into league with the ATHENIANS And Martius as Dionysius the historiographer writeth dyd by craft and deceipt bring the ROMAINES into warres against the VOLSCES causing the VOLSCES maliciously and wrongfully to be suspected that went to ROME to see the games played But the cause why he dyd it made the fact so much more fowle and wicked For it was not done for any ciuill dissention nor for any ielouzy and contention in matters of gouernment as Alcibiades dyd but only following his cholerike moode that would be pleased with no thing as Dion sayed he would needes trouble and turmoile the most parte of ITALIE and so beinge angrie with his countrie he destroyed many other townes and cities that could not helpe it nor doe with all This is true also that Alcibiades spite and malice did worke great mischiefe and miserie to his countrie but when he saw they repented them of the iniurie they had done him he came to him selfe and did withdrawe his armie An other time also when they had banished Alcibiades he would not yet suffer the captaines of the ATHENIANS to runne into great errours neither would he see them cast away by followinge ill counsell which they tooke neither would he forsake them in any daunger they put them selues into But he did the very same that Aristides had done in olde time vnto Themistocles for which he was then and is yet so greatly praised For he went vnto the captaines that had charge then of the armie of the ATHENIANS although they were not his friendes and tolde them wherein they did amisse and what they had further to doe Where Martius to the contrarie did first great hurte vnto the whole citie of ROME though all in ROME had not generally offended him yea and when the best and chiefest parte of the citie were grieued for his sake and were very sorie and angrie for the iniurie done him Furthermore the ROMAINES sought to appease one onely displeasure and despite they had done him by many ambassades petitions and requestes they made whereunto he neuer yelded while his mother wife and children came his harte was so hardned And hereby it appeared he was entred into this cruell warre when he would harken to no peace of an intent vtterly to destroy and spoyle his countrie and not as though he ment to recouer it or to returne thither againe Here was in deede the difference betwene them that spialls being layed by the LACEDAEMONIANS to kill Alcibiades for the malice they did heare him as also for that they were affrayed of him he was compelled to returne home againe to ATHENS Where Martius contrariwise hauing bene so honorably receiued and entertained by the VOLSCES he could not with honestie forsake them consideringe they had done him that honour as to choose him their generall and trusted him so farre as they put all their whole armie and power into his handes and not as thother whome the LACEDAEMONIANS rather abused then vsed him suffering him to goe vp and downe their citie and afterwardes in the middest of their campe without honour or place at all So that in the ende Alcibiades was compelled to put him selfe into the handes of Tisaphernes vnlesse they will say that he went thither of purpose to him with intent to saue the citie of ATHENS from vtter destruction for the desire he had to returne home againe Moreouer we read of Alcibiades that he was a great taker and would be corrupted with money and when he had it he would most licentiously and dishonestly spend it Where Martius in contrarie maner would not so much as accept giftes lawefully offered him by his Captaines to honour him for his valliantnesse And the cause why the people did beare him such ill will for the controuersie they had with the Nobilitie about clearing of dettes grew for that they knewe well enough it was not for any gayne or benefit he had gotten thereby
accused that he redeemed detractours with money I am glad sayd he that hauing delt thus long in affayers of the state it is found I haue rather geuen than taken And now touching expences Nicias was thought the better and more ciuill citizen For his charge and cost was in dedicating some goodly image to the goddes or in making of publicke playes or pastimes to recreate the people But all the money he spent that way and all that he was worth besides was nothing comparable and but a small parte of that Crassus bestowed in an open feast he made at ROME feasting so many thowsandes at one time and did finde and maintaine them also for a certaine time after Now I can not but wonder at those men that deny vice to be an inequality and disagreement of maners repugnant in it selfe seeing men may honestly spend that which is naughtily gotten Thus much for their goodes For Nicias doinges in the common weale he did nothing maliciously cruelly nor vniustly neither any thing of selfe will or stomake but rather delt plainly and simply For he was deceiued by trusting of Alcibiades and neuer came to speake before the people but with great feare Crassus on thother side was reproued for his vnconstancie and lightnes for that he would easily chaunge frendes or enemies and he him selfe denied not that he came to be Consull the seconde time by plaine force and cruelty hauing hiered two murderers to kill Cato and Domitius And in the assembly the people held for deuiding of the prouinces many men were hurte and foure were slaine in the market place and more then that Crassus him selfe which we haue forgotten to wryte in his life gaue one Lucus Aunalius so sore a blow on the face with his fist for speaking against him that he sent him going with blood about his eares But as Crassus in those thinges was very fierce and cruell so Nicias womanish behauior on thother side and faint hart in matters of the common wealth humbling him selfe to the meanest and most vile persones deserueth great reproache Where Crassus in this respect shewed himselfe assuredly of a noble minde not cōtending with men of small accompt as with Cleon or Hyperbolus but would geue no place to Caesars fame and glory nor yet to Pompeyes three triumphes but sought to goe euen with them in power and authority and had immediatly before exceeded Pompeyes power in the dignity of Censor For Magistrates and Gouernors of the common weale should make them selues to be honored but not enuied killing enuy by the greatnes of their power But if it were so that Nicias preferred quietnes and the safety of his persone aboue all things else and that he feared Alcibiades in the pulpit for orations the LACEDAEMONIANS in the forte of Pyle and Perdiccas in THRACIA he had liberty scope enough to repose him selfe in the city of ATHENS might haue forborne the dealing in matters as Rhethoricians say haue put a hoode of quietnes apon his heade very well For doubtlesse concerninge his desire to make peace it was a godly minde in him and an act worthy of a noble person to bring that to passe he did appeasing all warre wherein Crassus certainely was not to be compared to him though he had ioyned all the prouinces to the Empire of ROME that reach vnto the Caspian sea and to the great Occean of the INDIANS But on the other side also when one hath to deale with people that can discerne when a man ruleth according to equity and iustice and that he seeth he is in the prime of his credit and authoritie he must not then for lacke of corage suffer wicked men to steppe in his roome nor geue occasion to preferre such to authoritie in the common weale as are vnworthie for that place and countenaunce neither should allowe such any credit as are altogether of no credit nor trust as Nicias did who was the only occasion that Cleon being before but a pratling Orator was chosen Generall Neither doe I also commend Crassus for that in the warre against Spartacus he made hast to geue him battell more rashely then safely or considerately For his ambition spurred him forwarde bicause he was afrayed least Pompeyes comming should take from him the glorie of all that he had done in that warre as Mumius tooke from Metellus thonor of the winning of CORINTHE But besides all this Nicias fact therein was without the compasse of reason and can no way be excused For he did not resigne his honor office of Generall to Cleon his enemy when there was hope of good successe or litle perill but fearing the daunger of the iorney he was contented to saue one and tooke no care besides for the common wealth Which Themistocles shewed not in the time of the warre against the PERSIANS For he to keepe Epicydes an Orator a man of no reckoning beside his eloquence and extreamely couetous from being chosen Generall of ATHENS least he should haue ouerthrowen the common weale secretly brided him with money to leaue of his sute And Cato also when he saw the state of ROME in greatest daunger sued to be Tribune of the people for the common wealthes sake And Nicias in contrary maner reseruing him selfe to make warre with the city of MINOA or with the I le of CYTHERA or with the poore vnfortunate MELIANS if there fell out afterwards occasion to fight against the LACEDAEMONIANS then away went his Captaines cloke and he left the shippes the armie and munition to the charge and gouernment of Cleons rashnes and small experience of warre when the necessitie of the seruice required the wisest and most expert Captaine The which he did not despising the meanes to make him honored but it was a plaine drawing backe at time of neede to defend his contrie Wherefore afterwardes he was compelled against his will to be Generall to make warres in SICILIA with the SYRACVSANS bicause the people thought he was not so earnest to disswade the iorney for that he thought it not 〈…〉 for the common wealth but bicause through his sloth and cowardlinesse he would make his contrie lose so good an oportunity to conquer SICILE Yet was this a great testimony of his honesty and trust they had in him who though he euer hated warre did flie from the offices of honor and charge in the common wealth his contriemen notwithstanding did alwayes choose him as the most experienced persone and meetest man of the citie Now Crassus in contrarie maner desiring nothing else but to be Generall could neuer attaine to it but in the warre of the bondmen and yet was it for lacke of an other for Pompey Metellus and both the Lucullus were then abroade in the warres although he was otherwise of great estimation and authoritie Howbeit it seemeth to me that his frendes that loued him best thought him as the comicall Poet sayth A good man any vvay else but in
vnto them and Cassius campe on the other side tooke the death of their Captaine verie heauilie and beside there was some vile grudge betwene them that were ouercomen and those that did ouercome For this cause therefore Brutus did set them in battell ray but yet kept him selfe from geuing battell Now for the slaues that were prisoners which were a great number of them went came to and fro amongst the armed men not without suspicion he commaunded they shoulde kill them But for the freemen he sent them freely home and said that they were better prisoners with his enemies then with him For with them they were slaues and seruauntes and with him they were free men and citizens So when he saw that diuers Captaines and his frendes did so cruelly hate some that they would by no meanes saue their liues Brutus him selfe hid them and secretlie sent them away Among these prisoners there was one Vulumnius 2 ieaster and Secculio a common player of whom Brutus made no accompt at all Howbeit his frends brought them vnto him and did accuse them that though they were prisoners they did not let to laugh them to scorne and to ieast broadly with them Brutus made no aunswere to it bicause his heade was occupied other wayes Whereupon Messala Coruinus sayd that it were good to whippe them on a skaffold and then to sende them naked well whipped vnto the Captaines of their enemies to shewe them their shame to keepe suche mates as those in their campe to play the fooles to make them sport Some that stoode by laughed at his deuise But Publius Casca that gaue Iulius Caesar the first wounde when he was slaine sayd then It doth nor become vs to be thus merie at Cassius funeralls and for thee Brutus thou shalt showe what estimacion thou madest of suche a Captaine thy compere by putting to death or sauing the liues of these bloodes who hereafter will mocke him and defame his memorie Brutus aunswered againe in choller why then doe you come to tell me of it Casca and doe not your selues what you thinke good When they hearde him say so they tooke his aunswere for a consent against these poore vnfortunate men to suffer them to doe what they thought good and therefore they caried them away slue them Afterwards Brutus performed the promise he had made to the souldiers and gaue them the two thowsand Drachmas a peece but yet he first reproued them bicause they went gaue charge vpon the enemies at the first battell before they had the word of battell geuen them and made them a new promise also that if in the second battell they fought like men he would geue them the sacke and spoyle of two cities to wit THESSALONICA and LACEDAEMON In all Brutus life there is but this only fault to be found and that is not to be gainesaid though Antonius and Octauius Caesar did reward their souldiers farre worse for their victory For when they had driuen all the naturall ITALIANS out of ITALIE they gaue their souldiers their landes and townes to the which they had no right and moreouer the only marke they shot at in all this warre they made was but to ouercome and raigne Where in contrarie manner they had so great an opinion of Brutus vertue that the common voyce and opinion of the world would not suffer him neither to ouercome nor to saue him selfe otherwise then iustlie and honestly and speciallie after Cassius death whome men burdened that oftentimes he moued Brutus to great crueltie But nowe like as the mariners on the sea after the rudder of their shippe is broken by tempest do seeke to naile on some other peece of wodde in liew thereof and doe helpe them selues to keepe them from hurt as much as may be vpon that instant daunger euen so Brutus hauing such a great armie to gouerne and his affaires standing verie tickle and hauing no other Captaine coequall with him in dignitie and authoritie he was forced to imploy them he had and likewise to be ruled by them in many things was of mind him selfe also to graunt them any thing that he thought might make them serue like noble souldiers at time of neede For Cassius souldiers were verie euill to be ruled and did shewe them selues verie stubborne and lustie in the campe bicause they had no Chieftaine that did cōmaund them but yet rancke cowards to their enemies bicause they had once ouercome them On the other side Octauius Caesar and Antonius were not in much better state for first of all they lacked vittells And bicause they were lodged in low places they looked to abide a hard and sharpe winter being camped as they were by the marish side and also for that after the battell there had fallen plentie of raine about the autumne where through all their tents were full of myre and durt the which by reason of the colde did freeze incontinentlie But beside all these discommodities there came newes vnto them of the great losse they had of their men by sea For Brutus shippes met with a great aide and supplie of men which were sent them out of ITALIE and they ouerthrewe them in suche sorte that there scaped but few of them and yet they were so famished that they were compelled to eate the tackle and sailes of their shippes Thereuppon they were verie desirous to fight a battell againe before Brutus should haue intelligence of this good newes for him for it chaūced so that the battell was fought by sea on the selfe same day it was fought by lande But by ill fortune rather then through the malice or negligence of the Captaines this victory came not to Brutus eare till twentie dayes after For had he knowen of it before he would not haue bene brought to haue fought a second battell considering that he had excellent good prouision for his armie for a long time and besides lay in a place of great strength so as his campe could not be greatly hurt by the winter nor also distressed by his anemies and further he had bene a quiet Lord being a conqueror by sea as he was also by land This would haue maruelously encoraged him Howbeit the state of ROME in my opinion being now brought to that passe that it could no more abide to be gouerned by many Lordes but required one only absolute Gouernor God to preuent Brutus that it shoulde not come to his gouernment kept this victorie from his knowledge though in deede it came but a litle too late For the day before the last battell was geuen verie late in the night came Clodius one of his enemies into his campe who told that Caesar hearing of the ouerthrow of his armie by sea desired nothing more then to fight a battell before Brutus vnderstoode it Howebeit they gaue no credit to his words but despised him so muche that they would not vouchsafe to bring him vnto Brutus bicause they thought