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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
plainely discerne all the ROMAINES campe and sawe howe they dyd range their men in order of battell Nowe one Giscon a man of like state and nobilitie as him selfe being with him at that time tolde him that the enemies seemed a farre of to be a maruelous number But Hannibal rubbing his forehead aunswered him Yea sayed he but there is another thing more to be wondered at then you thinke of Giscon Giscon straight asked him What mary sayeth he this that of all the great number of souldiers you see yonder there is not a man of them called Giscon as you are This mery aunswer deliuered contrarie to their expectation that were with him looking for some great waightie matter made them all laughe a good So downe the hill they came laughing alowde and tolde this prety leaste to all they met as they rode which straight from one to another ranne ouer all the campe in so much as Hannibal him selfe could not holde from laughing The CARTHAGINIAN souldiers perceyuing this beganne to be of a good corage imagining that their generall would not be so merylie disposed as to fall a laughing being so neere daunger if he had not perceyued him selfe a great deale to be the stronger and that he had good cause also to make no reckoning of his enemies Furthermore he shewed two policies of a skilfull captaine in the battell The first was the situation of the place where he put his men in order of battell so as they had the winde on their backes which raging like a burning lightning raised a sharpe dust out of the open sandy valley and passing ouer the CARTHAGINIANS squadron blewe full in the ROMAINES faces with such a violence that they were compelled to turne their faces to trouble their owne rankes The seconde policie was the forme and order of his battell For he placed on either side of his winges the best and valliantest souldiers he had in all his armie and dyd fill vp the middest of his battell with the worste of his men which he made like a pointe and was farder out by a great deale then the two winges of the fronte of his battell So he commaunded those of the winges that when the ROMAINES had broken his first fronte and followed those that gaue backe whereby the middest of his battell should leaue an hollowe place and the enemies should come in still increasing within the compasse of the two winges that then they should set vpon them on both sides and charge their flanks immediatly and so inclose them in behind And this was cause of a greater slaughter For when the midle battell beganne to geue backe and to receyue the ROMAINES within it who pursued the other very whotly Hannibals battell chaunged her forme where at the beginning it was like a pointe it became nowe in the middest like a cressant or halfe moone Then the captaines of the chosen bandes that laye out in both the winges made their men to turne some on the left hand and some on the right and charged the ROMAINES on the flankes and behinde where they were all naked so they killed all those that could not saue them selues by flying before they were enuironned They saye also that there fell out another mischief by misfortune vnto the horsemen of the ROMAINES and by this occasion The horse of Paulus AEmilius the Consul being hurte dyd throwe his master on the grounde whereupon those that were next him dyd light from their horse backs to helpe him The residue of the horsemen that were a great waye behinde him seeing them light thought they had bene all commaunded to light hereupon euery man forsooke their horse and fought it out a foote Hannibal when he sawe that sayed yea marie I had rather haue them so then deliuered me bounde hande and foote But for those matters the historiographers doe dilate more at large Furthermore of the two Cōsuls Varro saued him selfe by his horse with a fewe following him within the cittie of VENVSA Paulus being in the middest of the throng of all the armie his bodie full of arrowes that stucke fast in his woundes and his harte sore loden with grieuous sorowe and anguishe to see the ouerthrowe of his men was set downe by a rocke looking for some of his enemies to come and ryd him out of his payne But fewe could knowe him his head and face was of such a gore bloude insomuch as his friends and seruants also passed by him and knewe him not And there was but one young gentleman of a noble house of the Patricians called Cornelius Lentulus that knewe him who dyd his best endeuour to saue him For he lighted a foote presently brought him his horse praying him to get vp vpon him to proue if he could saue him selfe for the necessitie of his countrie which nowe more then euer had neede of a good and wise captaine But he refused the gentlemans offer and his intreatie and compelled him to take his horse backe againe though the teares ranne downe his chekes for pittie and raising him selfe vp to take him by the hande he sayed vnto him I pray you tell Fabius Maximus from me and witnesse with me that Paulus AEmilius euen to his last hower hath followed his counsaill and dyd neuer swarue from the promise he made him but that first he was forced to it by Varro and afterwardes by Hannibal When he had deliuered these wordes he bad Lentulus farewell and ronning againe into the furie of the slaughter there he dyed among his slaine companions It is thought there were slaine at this battell fiftie thousand ROMAINES foure thousand taken prisoners and other tenne thousand that were taken prisoners in two campes after the battell When this noble victorie was gotten Hannibals friendes gaue him counsaill to followe his good fortune and to enter ROME after the scattered number that fled thither so as within fewe dayes following he might suppe in their capitoll A man cannot easely gesse what was the cause that stayed him that he went not vnles it was as I thinke some good fortune or fauorable God toward the ROMAINES that withstoode him and made him afeard and glad to retire Whereupon they saye that one Barca a CARTHAGINIAN in his anger sayed to Hannibal Syr you haue the waye to ouercome but you cannot vse victorie Notwithstanding this victorie made a maruelous chaunge for him For hereupon all ITALY in manner came in to submit them selues to him where before he had no towne at cōmaundemēt nor any storehouse or porte through all ITALIE yea he did maruelous hardly with much a doe vittell his armie with that he could daylie robbe spoyle hauing no certē place to retire vnto nor groūded hope to entertain these warres but kept the field with his armie remouing from place to place as they had bene a great number of murderers theeues together For the most parte of the coūtrie dyd yeld immediatly vnto
were priuie to the contentes of the same desired no other thing but his repaire thither These letters pretily quickned Fabius insomuch as he was determined one night to haue taken parte of his armie to haue gone to them But bicause the signes of the birdes dyd promise him no good successe he left of his purpose Sone after he vnderstoode they were counterfeate letters made by Hannibals fine deuise to haue drawen him out to haue intrapped him for whom him selfe laye in persone in ambushe neere the cittie looking and waiting for his comming but the goddes who would haue him saued were only to be thāked for his happy scape Furthermore concerning the reuolte of the citties that were subject vnto them and the rising of their allies friends against them Fabius thought it farre better to intreate them curteously making them ashamed without occasion to rebell against them rather then openly to suspect them and to deale straightly with those that were so to be suspected Now for this matter it is reported that Fabius had a souldier in his campe that was a MARSIAN borne by nation a valliant man of his persone also of as noble a house as any that were of all the allies of the ROMAINES who had practised with other his fellowes of the bande he serued in to goe serue the enemie Fabius hearing of this practise he went about gaue him no ill countenaunce for it but calling him to him he sayed I must confesse there is no reckoning made of you as your good seruice doth deserue wherefore for this time sayeth he I blame the pety captaines only which in such sorte doe bestowe their good will and fauour at aduenture and not by deserte But henceforth it shal be your owne faulte if you doe not declare your minde vnto me and betweene you and me make me priuie of your lacke necessitie When he had spoken these wordes to him he gaue him a very good horse for seruice and dyd rewarde him with other honorable giftes as men of good seruice desert haue commonly bestowed on them and this dyd so encorage the souldier thenceforth that he became a very faithfull and seruiceable souldier to the ROMAINES For Fabius thought it more fit that hunters riders of horses such like as take vpon them to tame brute beastes should sonner make them leaue their sauage churlishe nature by gentle vsage and manning of them then by beating and shackling of them And so a gouernour of men should rather correct his souldier by paciēce gentlenes and clemency then by rigour violence or seueritie Otherwise he should handle them more rudely and sharpely then husbandmen doe figge trees oliue trees wilde pomegarnets who by diligent pruning and good handling of them doe alter their harde and wilde nature cause them in the end to bring forth good figges oliues pomegarnets Another time certaine captaines of his brought him worde that there was one of their souldiers which would euer goe out of the cāpe leaue his ensigne He asked them what manner of man he was They aunswered him all together that he was a very good souldier and that they could hardly finde out suche another in all their bandes as he and therewithall they tolde him of some notable seruice they had seene him doe in persone Whereupon Fabius made a diligent enquierie to know what the cause was that made him goe so oft out of the campe in the end he founde he was in loue with a young woman and that to goe see her was the cause he dyd so ofte leaue his ensigne and dyd put his life in so great daunger for that she was so farre of When Fabius vnderstoode this he sent certaine souldiers vnknowing to the souldier to bring the woman awaye he loued and willed them to hyde her in his tente and then called he the souldier to him that was a LVCANIAN borne and taking him a side sayed vnto him thus My friend it hath bene tolde me how thou hast lyen many nightes out of the campe against the lawe of armes and order of the ROMAINES but therewithall I vnderstande also that otherwise thou art an honest man and therefore I pardone thy faultes paste in consideration of thy good seruice but from henceforth I will geue thee in custodie to such a one as shall make me accompt of thee The souldier was blancke when he heard these wordes Fabius with that caused the woman he was in loue with to be brought forth and deliuered her into his hands saying vnto him This woman hereafter shall aunswer me thy bodie to be forth comming in the campe amongest vs and from henceforth thy deedes shall witnesse for the reste that thy loue vnto this woman maye be no cloke of thy departing out of the campe for any wicked practise or intent Thus much we finde written concerning this matter Moreouer Fabius after suche a sorte recouered againe the cittie of TARENTVM and brought it to the obedience of the ROMAINES which they had lost by treason It fortuned there was a young man in his campe a TARENTINE borne that had a sister within TARENTVM which was very faithfull to him and loued him maruelous dearely now there was a captaine a BRVTIAN borne that fell in loue with her and was one of those to whom Hannibal had committed the charge of the cittie of TARENTVM This gaue the young souldier the TARENTINE very good hope and waye to bring his enterprise to good effect whereupon he reuealed his intent to Fabius and with his priuitie fled from his campe and got into the cittie of TARENTVM geuing it out in the cittie that he would altogether dwell with his sister Now for a fewe dayes at his first comming the BRVTIAN captaine laye alone by him selfe at the request of the mayde his sister who thought her brother had not knowen of her loue and shortely after the young fellowe tooke his sister aside and sayed vnto her My good sister there was a great speache in the ROMAINES campe that thou wert kept by one of the chiefest captaines of the garrison I praye thee if it be so let me knowe what he is For so he be a good fellowe and an honest man as they saye he is I care not for warres that turneth all things topsi turuey regardeth not of what place or calling he is of and still maketh vertue of necessitie without respect of shame And it is a speciall good fortune at such time as neither right nor reason rules to happen yet into the handes of a good and gratious lorde His sister hearing him speake these wordes sent for the BRVTIAN captaine to bring him acquainted with her brother who liked well of both their loues and indeuoured him self to frame his sisters loue in better sorte towards him then it was before by reason whereof the captaine also beganne to trust him very muche So this young TARENTINE sawe it was very easie to winne and
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
the lawes and customes of their countrie being manifest tokens of a man that aspired to be King and would subuert and turne all ouer hand And as for the good will of the common people towards him the poet Aristophanes doth plainely expresse it in these wordes The people most desire vvhat most they hate to haue and vvhat their minde abhorres euen that they seeme to craue And in another place he sayed also aggrauating the suspition they had of him For state or common vveale muche better should it be to keepe vvithin the countrie none suche lyons lookes as he But if they nedes vvill keepe a lyon to their cost then must they nedes obeye his vvill for he vvill rule the roste For to saye truely his curtesies his liberallities and noble expences to shewe the people so great pleasure and pastime as nothing could be more the glorious memorie of his auncesters the grace of his eloquence the beawtie of his persone the strength and valliantnes of his bodie ioyned together with his wisedome and experience in marshall affayers were the very causes that made them to beare with him in all things and that the ATHENIANS dyd paciently endure all his light partes and dyd couer his faultes with the best wordes and termes they could calling them youthfull and gentlemens sportes As when he kept Agartharchus the painter prisoner in his house by force vntill he had painted all his walles within and when he had done dyd let him goe and rewarded him very honestly for his paines Againe when he gaue a boxe of the eare to Taureas who dyd paye the whole charges of a companie of common players in spite of him to carie awaye the honour of the games Also when he tooke awaye a young woman of MELIA by his authoritie that was taken among certaine prisoners in the warres and kept her for his concubine by whom he had a childe which he caused to be brought vp Which they called a worke of charitie albeit afterwards they burdened him that he was the only cause of murdering of the poore MELIANS sauing the litle children bicause he had fauored and persuaded that vnnaturall and wicked decree which another had propounded Likewise where one Aristophon a painter had painted a curtisan named Nemea holding Alcibiades in her armes and sitting in her lappe which all the people ranne to see and tooke great pleasure to behold it the graue and auncient men were angrie at these foolishe partes accompting them impudent things and done against all ciuill modestie and temperancie Wherefore it seemed Archestratus words were spoken to good purpose when he sayed that GREECE could not abide two Alcibiades at once And on a daye as he came from the counsaill and assembly of the cittie where he had made an excellent oration to the great good liking and acceptation of all the hearers and by meanes thereof had obteined the thing he desired and was accompanied with a great traine that followed him to his honour Timon surnamed Misanthropus as who would saye Loup-garou or the manhater meeting Alcibiades thus accompanied dyd not passe by him nor gaue him waye as he was wont to doe to all other men but went straight to him and tooke him by the hande and sayed O thou dost well my sonne I can thee thancke that thou goest on and climest vp still for if euer thou be in authoritie woe be vnto those that followe thee for they are vtterly vndone When they heard these wordes those that stoode by fell a laughing other reuiled Timon other againe marked well his wordes and thought of them many a time after suche sundry opinions they had of him for the vnconstantie of his life and way wardnes of his nature and conditions Now for the taking of SICILIA the ATHENIANS dyd maruelosly couer it in Pericles life but yet they dyd not medle withall vntill after his death and then they dyd it at the first vnder coller of friendshippe as ayding those citties which were oppressed and spoyled by the SYRACVSANS This was in manner a plaine bridge made to passe afterwardes a greater power and armie thither Howbeit the only procurer of the ATHENIANS and persuader of them to send small companies thither no more but to enter with a great armie at once to conquer all the countrie together was Alcibiades who had so allured the people with his pleasaunt tongue that vpon his persuasion they built castells in the ayer and thought to doe greater wonders by winning only of SICILIA For where other dyd set their mindes apon the conquest of SICILIA being that they only hoped after it was to Alcibiades but a beginning of further enterprises And where Nicias commonly in all his persuasions dyd turne the ATHENIANS from their purpose to make warres against the SYRACVSANS as being to great a matter for them to take the cittie of SYRACVSA Alcibiades againe had a further reache in his head to goe conquer LIBYA and CARTHAGE and that being conquered to passe from thence into ITALIE and so to PELOPONNESY's so that SICILIA should serue but to furnishe them with vittells and to paye the souldiers for their conquestes which he had imagined Thus the young men were incontinently caried awaye with a maruelous hope and opinion of this iorney and gaue good care to olde mens tales that tolde them wonders of the countries insomuche as there was no other pastime nor exercise among the youth in their meetings but companies of men to set rounde together drawe plattes of SICILE and describe the situation of LIBYA and CARTHAGE And yet they saye that neither Socrates the philosopher nor Meton the astronomer dyd euer hope to see any good successe of this iorney For the one by the reuealing of his familliar spirite who tolde him all things to come as was thought had no great opinion of it Meton whether it was for the feare of the successe of the iorney he had by reason or that he knew by diuination of his arte what would followe he coūterfeated the mad man holding a burning torche in his hand made as though he would haue set his house a fyer Other saye that he dyd not coūterfeate but like a mad mā in deede dyd set his house a fyre one night and that the next morning betimes he went into the market place to praye the people that in consideration of his great losse and his grieuous calamitie so late happened him it would please them to discharge his sonne for going this voyage So by this mad deuise he obteined his request of the people for his sonne whom he abused much But Nicias against his will was chosen captaine to take charge of men in these warres who misliked this iorney aswell for his companion and associate in the charge of these warres as for other misfortunes he foresawe therein Howbeit the ATHENIANS thought the warre would fall out well if they dyd not commit it wholy to Alcibiades rashnes and hardines but dyd
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
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
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
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