elbow defending of Domitius Pompey and Crassius being become Consuls after this sorte they ordered them selues nothing the more temperately not honestly For first of all the people being about to choose Cato Praetor Pompey being at thassembly of the election perceyuing that they would choose him brake vp the assembly falsely alleaging that he had noted certaine ill signes and afterwardes the tribes of the people being bribed and corrupted with money they chose Antias and Vatinius Praetors Afterthat by Trebonius tribune of the people they published edicts authorising Caesars charge for fiue yeares lenger according to the appointment they had made with Caesar. Vnto Crassus also they had appointed SYRIA and the warre against the PARTHIANS Vnto Pompey in like case all AFRICKE and both SPAYNES with foure Legions besides of the which at Caesars desire he lent him two legions to help him in his warre in GAVLE These thinges done Crassus departed to his Prouince at the going out of his Consulship and Pompey remayned at ROME about the dedicating of his Theater where he caused many goodly playes to be made both for exercise of person as also for learning and musicke and caused wilde beastes also to be baited and hunted and killed a fiue hundred lions But of all thinges there was no such fearefull sight and terrible fight as was betwene the elephantes This great charge and bowntifull expence defrayed by Pompey to shew the people pastime and pleasures made him againe to be very much esteemed of and beloued amongest the people But on thother side he wanne him selfe as much ill will and enuy in committing the gouernment of his Prouinces and Legions into the handes of his Lieutenants whilest he him selfe romed vp and downe the pleasaunt places of ITALY with his wife at his pleasure either by cause he was farre in loue with her or els for that she loued him so dearely that he could not finde in his harte to leaue her companie It was reported of her being knowen of many that this young lady Iulia loued her housband more dearely not for Pompeys florishing age but for his assured continencie knowing no other woman but her besides also he was no solemne man but pleasaunt of conuersation which made women loue him maruelously vnles we will reproue the curtisan Floraes false testimonie It is certaine that at an election of the AEdiles men rising sodainely in hurly burly drew their swordes and many were slaine about Pompey insomuch as his clothes being bloudyed he sent his men home in haste to fetche him other to chaunge him His young wife that was great with child seeing his clothes bloudie tooke such a flight vpon it that she fell downe in a sownde before them and they had much a doe to recouer her and yet she fell straight in labor apon it and was deliuered So that they themselues which blamed him most for his good will he bare vnto Caesar could not reproue the loue he bare vnto his wife An other time after that she was great with child againe whereof she died and the childe liued not many dayes after the mother As Pompey was about to carie her into the contrie to be buried to a house he had there neere vnto the citie of ALBA the people by force tooke her corse caried it into the field of Mars more for the pitie they tooke of the young Ladie then to pleasure either Caesar or Pompeys and yet what the people did for them it appeared rather they did it more for Caesars sake being absent them for Pompey that was present But straight when this alliāce was broken which rather couered then bridled their ambitious desire to rule there rose a new sturre in ROME immediatly and euery mans month was full of prittle prattle and seditious wordes Not longe after that also came newes that Crassus was ouerthrowen and slaine in PARTHIA who was a manifest staye and let to kepe them two from ciuill warres for that they both feared him therefore kept them selues in a reasonable sorte together But when fortune had taken awaie this third champion who could haue withstood the better of them both that had ouercome the other then might haue bene said of these two which remained as the comycall Poet said See hovv these Champions purposing eche others force to trie VVith nointed skin and dusty hands stand vaunting valliantly So litle can fortune preuaile against nature hauing no power to stoppe couetousnes fith so large and great an Empire and such a wide contrie besides could not containe the couetous desire of these two men But though they had often both heard and read Among the gods them selues all things by lot diuided are And none of them intrudes him selfe vvithin his neigbours share Yet they thought not that the Empire of ROME was enough for them which were but two But Pompey spake openly in an oration he made vnto the people that he euer came to office before he looked for it and also left it sooner then they thought he would haue done that he witnessed by discharging his armie so soone Then thinking that Caesar would not discharge his armie he sought to make him selfe strong against him by procuring offices of the citie without any other alteracion Neither would he seeme to mistrust him but he plainely shewed that he did despise and contemne him But when he sawe that he could not obtaine the offices of the citie as he would bicause the citizens that made the elections were bribed with money he then left it without a magistrate so that there was none either to commaund or that the people should obey Hereupon there ranne a brute straight that there must nedes be a Dictator made and the first man that propounded it was Lucilius tribune of the people who perswaded them to choose Pompey But Cato stucke so stowtely against it that the Tribune had like to haue lost his office euen in the market place But then many of Pompeys frendes stepped vp and excused him saying that he neither sought nor would haue the Dictatorship Then Cato commended him much and praying him to see good order kept in the common wealth Pompey being ashamed to denie so reasonable a request was carefull of it Thereupon two Consuls were chosen Domitius and Messala but afterwardes when the state beganne to chaunge againe by the death of one of the Consuls and that diuers were more earnestly bent to haue a Dictator than before Cato fearing it would breake out with furie determined to geue Pompey some office of reasonable authoritie to kepe him from the other more tyrannicall Insomuch Bibulus him selfe being chiefe of the Senate and Pompeys ennemie was the first that moued Pompey might be chosen Consul alone for said he by this meanes either the common wealth shal be ridde of the present trouble or els it shal be in bondage to an honest man This opinion was maruelled at in respect of him that spake it Whereupon
booke desired to read much He learned also the Iliades of Homer of Aristotles correction which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the corrected as hauing passed vnder the rule laid it euery night vnder his beds head with his dagger calling it as Onesicrates writeth the institution of martiall discipline And when he was in the high contries of ASIA where he coulde not readily come by other bookes he wrote vnto Harpalus to send them to him Harpalus sent him the histories of Philistus with diuers tragedies of Euripides Sophocles and AEschylus and certaine hymnes of Telestus and Philoxenus Alexander did reuerence Aristotle at the first as his father and so he tearmed him bicause from his natural father he had life but from him the knowledge to liue But afterwardes he suspected him somewhat yet he did him no hurt neither was he so frendly to him as he had bene whereby men perceiued that he did not beare him the good will he was wont to doe This notwithstanding he left not that zeale and desire he had to the studie of Philosophie which he had learned from his youth and still continued with him For he shewed diuers testimonies thereof As the honor he did vnto Anaxarchus the Philosopher The fiftie talentes which he sent vnto Xenocrates Dandamis and Calanus of whome he made great account When king Philip made warre with the BIZANTINES Alexander being but sixteene yeare olde was left his Lieutenaunt in MACEDON with the custodie and charge of his great seale at what time he also subdued the MEDARIANS which had rebelled against him and hauing wonne their citie by assault he draue out the barbarous people and made a Colonie of it of sundrie nations and called it ALEXANDROPOLIS to say the citie of Alexander He was with his father at the battell of CHAERONEA against the GRAECIANS where it was reported that it was he that gaue charge first of all apon the holie bande of the THEBANS Furthermore there was an old oke seene in my time which the contry men commonly call Alexanders oke bicause his tent or pauillion was fastned to it and not farre from thence is the charnell house where those MACEDONIANS were buried that were slaine at the battell For these causes his father Philip loued him very deerely and was glad to heare the MACEDONIANS call Alexander king him selfe their Captaine Howbeit the troubles that fell out in his court afterwards by reason of Philippes new mariages and loues bred great quarrell and strife amongest the women for the mischiefe of dissention gealozy of women doth separate the harts of kings one from an other whereof was chiefest cause the sharpenes of Olympias who being a gealous woman fretting and of a reuenging minde did incense Alexander against his father But the chiefest cause that prouoked Alexander was Attalus at the mariage of Cleopatra whom Philip maried a maiden falling in fancie with her when him selfe was past mariage This was the matter Attalus being vncle vnto this Cleopatra fell droncke at the mariage and hauing in his cuppes he perswaded the MACEDONIANS that were at the feast to pray to the goddes that they might haue a lawfull heire of Philippe and Cleopatra to succeede him in the kingdome of MACEDON Alexander being in a rage therewith threwe a cuppe at his head and sayd vnto him why traytor what am I dost thou take me for a bastard Philip seeing that rose from the bourd and drew out his sword but by good fortune for them both being troubled with choller and wine he fell downe on the grounde Then Alexander mockinge him loe sayd he to the MACEDONIANS here is the man that prepared to go out of EVROPE into ASIA and stepping onely from one bedde to an other ye see him layed alongest on the ground After this great insolency he tooke his mother Olympias away with him and carying her into his contrie of EPIRVS he left her there and him selfe afterwards went into ILLYRIA In the meane time Demaratus CORINTHIAN a frend of king Philippes and very familliar with him came to see him Philip when he had curteously welcommed him asked him howe the GRAECIANS did agree together Truely O king quod he it importes you much to inquier of the agreement of the GRAECIANS when your owne court is so full of quarrell contencion These words nipped Philip in such sorte caused him to know his fault that through Demaratus meanes whom he sent to perswade Alexander to returne Alexander was made to come backe againe Now whē Pexodorus a Prince of CARIA desiring for necessities sake to enter in league and frendship with Philip offred his eldest daughter in mariage vnto Aridaeus king Philips sonne had sent Aristocritus Ambassador into MACEDON for that purpose the frends of Alexander his mother began againe to inueigle him with new reports and suspicions how Philip by this great mariage would aduaunce Aridaeus to his vtter vndoing and leaue him his heire in the kingdom Alexander being nettled therwith sent one Thessalus a plaier of tragedies into CARIA to Pexodorus to perswade him to leaue Aridaeus that was a bastard a foole rather to make alliāce with Alexander This offer pleased Pexodorus far better to haue Alexander his sonne in law than Aridaeus Philip vnderstanding this went himself into Alexanders chāber taking Philotas with him the sonne of Parmenio one of his familliars bitterly tooke vp Alexander telling him that he had a base mind was vnworthy to be left his heire after his death if he would cast himselfe away marying the daughter of a CARIAN that was a slaue subiect of a barbarous king Therupō he wrote letters vnto CORINTH that they should send Thessalus boūd vnto him And furthermore he banished out of MACEDON Harpalus Nearchus Phrygius Ptolomy his sonnes companions whom Alexander afterwards called home againe placed them in great authority about him Shortly after Pausanias susteining villany by the counsell and commaundement of Attalus Cleopatra crauing Iustice of Philip and finding no amends he conuerted all his anger against him and for spight slue him him selfe Of this murther most men accused Quene Olympias who as it is reported allured this young man hauing iust cause of anger to kill him And Alexander also went not cleare from suspition of this murther For some say that Pausanias after this villanie was done him complained vnto Alexander and told him how he had bene abused who recited these verses to him of Euripides in the tragedie of Medea where she said in anger that she would be reuenged Both of the bridegroome and the bride And of the father in lavve Notwithstanding afterwardes he caused diligent searche to be made and all them to be seuerely punished that were of the conspiracie and was angrie also that his mother Olympias had cruelly slaine Cleopatra So he came to be king of MACEDON at twenty yeares of age and found his
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
teache him any thing only to checke his nature or to facion him with good manner and ciuilitie or to studie any matter for pleasure or honest pastime he would slowly and carelesly learne of them But if they deliuered him any matter of wit and things of weight concerning state they sawe he would beate at it maruelously and would vnderstande more then any could of his age and cariage trusting altogether to his naturall mother with This was the cause that being mocked afterwardes by some that had studied humanitie and other liberall sciences he was driuen for reuenge and his owne defence to aunswer with great and stowte wordes saying that in deede he could no skill to tune a harpe nor a violl nor to playe of a psalterion but if they dyd put a cittie into his handes that was of small name weake and litle he knewe wayes enough how to make it noble stronge and great Neuertheles Stesimbrotus writeth how he went to Anaxagoras schoole and that vnder Melissus he studied naturall philosophie But herein he was greatly deceaued for that he tooke no great hede vnto the time For Melissus was captaine of the SAMIANS against Pericles at what time he dyd laye seige vnto the cittie of SAMOS Now this is true Pericles was much younger then Themistocles and Anaxagoras dwelt with Pericles in his owne house Therefore we haue better reason and occasion to beleeue those that write Themistocles dyd determine to followe Mnesiphilus Phreari◠For he was no professed Orator nor naturall philosopher as they termed it in that time but made profession of that which then they called wisedome Which was no other thing but a certen knowledge to handle great causes and an indeuour to haue a good wit and iudgment in matters of state and gouernment which profession beginning in Solon dyd continue and was taken vp from man to man as a secte of philosophie But those that came sithence haue mingled it with arte of speache and by litle and litle haue translated the exercise of deedes vnto bare and curious wordes whereupon they were called Sophisters as who would saye counterfeate wise men Nothwithstanding when Themistocles beganne to medle with the gouernment of the common weale he followed much Mnesiphilus In the first parte of his youth his hehauiour and doings were very light and vnconstant as one caried awaye with a rashe head and without any order or discretion by reason whereof his manners conditions seemed maruelously to chaunge and oftimes fell into very ill fauored euents as him self dyd afterwards confesse by saying that a ragged colte oftimes proues a good horse specially if he be well ridden and broken as he should be Other tales which some will seeme to adde to this are in my opinion but fables As that his father dyd disinherite him and that his mother for very care and sorowe she tooke to see the lewde life of her sonne dyd kill her self For there are that write to the contrary that his father being desirous to take him from dealing in gouernment dyd goe and shewe him all alongest the sea shore the shippewracks and ribbes of olde gallyes cast here and there whereof no reckoning was made and sayed to him thus the people vse their gouernours when they can serue no lenger Howsoeuer it was it is most true that Themistocles earnestly gaue himself to state and was sodainely taken with desire of glorie For euen at his first entrie bicause he would set foote before the prowdest he stoode at pyke against the greatest and mightiest persones that bare the swaye and gouernment and specially against Aristides Lysimachus sonne who euer encountered him and was still his aduersarie opposite Yet it seemeth the euil will he conceyued toward him came of a very light cause For they both loued Stesilaus that was borne in the cittie of TEOS as Ariston the philosopher writeth And after this iealousie was kindled betweene them they allwayes tooke contrary parte once against another not only in their priuate likings but also in the gouernment of the cōmon weale Yet I am persuaded that the difference of their manners conditions did much encrease the grudge and discorde betwext them For Aristides being by nature a very good man a iust dealer honest of life and one that in all his doings would neuer flatter the people nor serue his owne glorie but rather to the contrary would doe would saye counsaill allwayes for the most benefit cōmoditie of the commō weale was oftentimes enforced to resist Themistocles disapoint his ambition being euer busilie mouing the people to take some new matter in hande For they reporte of him that he was so inslamed with desire of glorie to enterprise great matters that being but a very yoōg man at the battell of Marathon where there was no talke but of the worthines of captaine Miltiades that had wonne the battell he was found many times solitarilie there alone deuising with him self besides they saye he could then take no rest in the night neither would goe to playes in the daye time nor would keepe companie with those whom he was accustomed to be familiar withall before Furthermore he would tell them that woūdred to see him so in his muses and chaunged and asked him what he ayled that Miltiades victorie would not let him sleepe bicause other thought this ouerthrow at MARATHON would haue made an end of all warres Howbeit Themistocles was of a contrary opinion and that it was but a beginning of greater troubles Therefore he daylie studied howe to preuent them and how to see to the safetie of GREECE before occasion offered he did exercise his cittie in seats of warre foreseeing what should followe after Wherefore where the cittizēs of ATHENS before dyd vse to deuide among them selues the reuenue of their mines of siluer which were in a parte of ATTICA called LAVRION he alone was the first that durst speake to the people persuade them that from thenceforth they should cease that distribution among them selues employe the money of the same in making of gallyes to make warres against the AEGINETES For their warres of all GREECE were most cruell bicause they were lords of the sea had so great a nūber of shippes This persuasion drue the citizens more easely to Themistocles minde than the threatning them with king Darius or the Persians would haue done who were farre from them not feared that they would come neere vnto them So this oportunitie taken of the hatred iealousie betwene the ATHENIANS the AEGINETES made the people to agree of the said money to make an hundred gallyes with which they fought against king Xerxes did ouercome him by sea Now after this good beginning successe he wanne the cittizēs by degrees to bende their force to sea declaring vnto them howe by lande they were scant able to make heade against their equalles whereas by their
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
done vpon a brauery and certaine lustines as hauing layed a wager with his companions he would doe it and for no malice or quarrell that he bare the man This light parte was straight ouer all the cittie and euery one that heard it sayed it was lewdly done But Alcibiades the next morning went to his house and knocking at his gate was let in so he stripping him selfe before him deliuered him his bodie to be whipped and punished at his pleasure Hipponicus pardoned him and was friends with him and gaue him his daughter Hipparete afterwards in mariage Howbeit some saye it was not Hipponicus that gaue her to him but Callias sonne with tenne talēts of gold with her Afterwards at the birth of his first child he had by her he asked tenne talents more saying they were promised him vpon the contract if his wife had children But Callias fearing least this was an occasiō sought of him to lye in wayte to kill him for his goodes declared openly to the people that he made him his heire generall if he dyed without heires speciall of his bodie This gētlewoman Hipparete being an honest true wife to Alcibiades misliking her husband dyd so muche misuse her as to entertaine common light strumpers aswell cittizens as straungers she went abroad one day to her brothers house and tolde him of it Alcibiades passed not for it and made no further reckoning of the matter but only bad his wife if she would present her cause of diuorse before the iudge So she went thither her selfe to sue the diuorce betwene them according to the lawe but Alcibiades being there also tooke her by the hande caried her through the market place home to his house and no man durst medle betwene them to take her from him And so she continued with him all the dayes of her life which was not long after for she dyed when Alcibiades was in his iorney he made to EPHESVS This force Alcibiades vsed was not thought altogether vnlawfull nor vnciuill bicause it seemeth that the lawe was grounded vpon this cause that the wife which would be diuorced from her husband should goe her selfe openly before the iudge to put vp her complainte to the ende that by this meanes the husband might come to speake with his wife and seeke to staye her if he could Alcibiades had a maruelous fayer great dogge that cost him three score and tenne minas and he cut of his taile that was his chief beawtie When his friendes reproued him and tolde him how euery man blamed him for it he fell a laughing and tolde them he had that he sought For sayeth he I would haue the ATHENIANS rather prate vpon that then they should saye worse of me Moreouer it is sayed the first time that Alcibiades spake openly in the common weale and beganne to deale in matters was vpon a gifte of money he gaue to the people and not of any pretence or former purpose he had to doe it One daye as he came through the market place hearing the people very lowde he asked what the matter was they tolde him it was about money certen men had geuen to the people Then Alcibiades went to them and gaue them money out of his owne purse The people were so glad at that as they fell to showting and clapping of their handes in token of thankfullnes and him selfe was so glad for companie that he forgat a quayle he had vnder his gowne which was so afeard of the noyse that she tooke her flight away The people seeing the quayle made a greater noyse then before and many rose out of their places to runne after her so that in the ende it was taken vp by a master of a shippe called Antiochus who brought him the quayle againe and for that cause Alcibiades dyd loue him euer after Now albeit the nobilitie of his house his goodes his worthines the great number of his kinsemen friends made his waye open to take vpon him gouernment in the common weale Yet the only waye he desired to winne the fauour of the common people by was the grace of his eloquence To proue he was eloquent all the Comicall poets doe testifie it and besides them Demosthenes the prince of orators also doth saye in an oration he made against Midias that Alcibiades aboue all other qualities he had was most eloquent And if we maye beleeue Theophrastus the greatest searcher of antiquities best historiographer aboue any other philosopher he hath written that Alcibiades had as good a witte to deuise and consider what he would saye as any man that was in his time Howbeit somtimes studying what he should saye as also to deliuer good wordes not hauing them very readilie at his tongues ende he many times tooke breath by the waye and paused in the middest of his tale not speaking a worde vntil he had called it to minde that he would saye His charge was great and muche spoken of also for keeping of ronning horses at games not only bicause they were the best swiftest but for the number of coches he had besides For neuer priuate persone no nor any prince that euer sent seuen so well appointed coches in all furniture vnto the games Olympicall as he dyd nor that at one course hath borne awaye the first the second and the fourth prise as Thucydides sayeth or as Euripides reporteth the third For in that game he excelled all men in honour and name that euer striued for victorie therein For Euripides pronounced his praise in a songe he made of him as followeth O sonne of Clinias I vvill resounde thy praise for thou art bold in martiall dedes and ouercommest allvvayes Thy victories therevvith doe farre exceede the rest that euer vvere in Greece ygot therefore I compt them best For at thOlympike games thou hast vvith chariots vvonne the first price seconde thirde and all vvhich there in race vvere ronne VVith praise and litle payne thy head hath tvvise bene crovvnde vvith oliue boughes for victorie and tvvise by trumpets sounde The heraulds haue proclaimed thee victor by thy name aboue all those vvhich ranne vvith thee in hope to get the game Howbeit the good affection diuers citties did beare him contending which should gratifie him best dyd muche increase his fame and honour For the EPHESIANS dyd set vp a tente for him very sumptuously and richely furnished Those of the cittie of CHIO furnished him with prouinder for his horse and gaue him muttons besides and other beastes to sacrifice withall They of LESBOS also sent him in wine and other prouision for vittells to helpe him to defraye the great charges he was at in keeping open house feeding such a nūber of mouthes daylie Yet the spite they dyd beare him or rather his breache of promise which he often made with this magnificence and state he shewed gaue the people more cause to speake of him then before For they saye
the city of MILLAINE was taken After that all the other cities there about yelded of them selues without force of siege and the GAVLES wholly submitted them selues all that they had to the mercy of the ROMAINES who graunted them peace vppon easie condicions For these famous victories the Senate of ROME gaue all the honor of triumphe vnto Marcellus only and that was as wonderfull and worthy a sight as any that euer past before him what for the infinite spoyles and the numbers of great men taken prisoners and also for the exceeding sumptuousnes stately shew thereof But the goodliest sight of all for the rarenes was to behold Marcellus selfe carying on his shoulders the whole spoyle of the barbarous king to offer vp to Iupiter Feretrian For he had cut downe a goodly younge oke of the mountaine straight and shut vp very long which he had trimmed vp in forme of triumphe hanging all the armed peces he had wonne of the king very orderly rounde about it Then when all the show of his triumphe was past he him selfe tooke the oke on his shoulders and gotte vp vpon his triumphing charet and so marched through the city carying these signes thereupon which was the noblest sight and honorablest show of the whole triumphe His army followed after the charet singing verses and songes of victory in praise of the goddes and their Captaine and when he had passed through the whole city and was come to the temple of Iupiter called Feretrian there he set vp this young oke and token of triumphe This Marcellus is the third and last ROMAINE Captaine to whom happened this honor in our age For the first man that euer offered vp to Iupiter the spoyles of the general of their enemies was king Romulus who wanne the like spoyles of Acron king of the CAENINIANS The second was Cornelius Cossus who slue Tolemnius generall of the THVSCANS And the third was Marcellus who slue with his owne handes Britomarus king of the GAVLES and after him no man euer since could obtaine the like good fortune The god to whom these maner of spoyles are consecrated thus is called Iupiter Feretrian so tearmed as some write bicause they do cary this token of triumphe to him following the deriuation of this Greeke word Ferin which signifieth to cary for in those former times many Greeke words were mingled with the Latine Other affirme it is one of the surnames of Iupiter signifying as much as lightening for Ferire in the Latine tonge signifieth to strike And some say also in warres it is properly to hurt or kill with his owne handes for the ROMAINES do vse at this day when they geue a charge apon their enemies in battell or that they haue them in chase flying to crie incoraging one another Feri Feri which is as much as kill kill And the spoyles taken frō the enemies also are generally called Spolia but those which Lieutenantes generall or generalles do take from the generalles of their enemies when they haue slaine them they are called particulary Spolia opima Yet some hold opinion that kinge Numa Pompilius mencioning the rich spoyles or Spolia opima in his cōmentaries speaketh of the first the second and the third and commaundeth that the first spoyles which are wonne should be consecrated to Iupiter Feretrian the second vnto Mars and the third vnto Quirinus And that they should giue to him that had wonne the first spoyles three hundred Asses the second two hundred the third a hūdred But notwithstanding the best opinion vsuall taking of Spolia opima referreth them to be the first spoyles wonne in a foughten field those which the Lieutenāt of an army or a general doth take frō the general of the enemies after he hath slaine him with his owne handes And thus much for declaracion of this matter Furthermore the ROMAINES were so ioyfull of this victory of their good successe in this warre that they caused a massie cuppe of golde to be made of the spoyle they had gotten weyinge a hundred pounde weight which they sent to offer vp in the temple of Apollo Pythias in the city of DELPHES in token of thankes and they made liberall diuision besides of the spoyles vnto their frendes and confederates and sent a great parte of it vnto Hieron king of SYRACVSA who was their confederate Not lōg after Hanniball being entred ITALIE Marcellus was sent with an army by sea into SICILE And after the great ouerthrow was giuen at the battel of CANNES wherein there died so many thowsande ROMAINES and that very few of them saued them selues by flyinge into the city of CANNVSIVM they looked that Hanniball hauinge ouercome the flower of all the ROMAINES youth and their greatest force woulde not fayle to come straight to ROME Wherefore Marcellus first sent fifteene hundred of his men by sea to help to defende ROME and hauinge afterwardes receaued commaundement from the Senate he came to CANNVSIVM where he tooke such as were fled thither for succor after the battell so brought them out to the fielde to defende the countrie Now the ROMAINES hauing lost the most parte of all their best Captaines in diuerse sundry battells before of all those that remained Fabius Maximus was the onely able and reputed man for commendacion of his honesty and wisedom yet they misliked of him notwithstanding for a timerous man and of no corage as a man to ful of doubts and consideracion and loth to put any thing in hazard saying he was a good Captaine to defende but not to offende the enemy Whereupon they thought good to ioyne Marcellus liuely youth corage with Fabius feminine feare and wisedom and therefore some yeares they chose them both Consulls together or else they sent one of them as Consull and the other as Proconsull eche in his turne to the contrie where they hadde warres And for proofe hereof Posidonius wryteth that the ROMAINES at that time called Fabius Maximus their target and Marcellus their sword Therefore Hanniball him selfe sayed he feared Fabius Maximus as his gouernor and Marcellus as his enemy bicause the one kept him from hurting of others and the other did hurt to him selfe Immediatly after this great victory at CANNES Hannibals souldiers became so bolde so carelesse and disordered that they kept the fielde without feare of any thing and dispersed them selues farre from their campe wherefore Marcellus setting apon those stragglers he slue them euery man so by litle and litle did still lessen the power and strength of his enemy Afterwardes he aided the cities of BIZANTIVM and of NOLA and stablished the true deuotion and loue of the BIZANTINES towardes the ROMAINES from thence he went to NOLA found great sediton there betwixt the Senate people bicause the Senate coulde not keepe the people in obedience but they woulde needes take Hannibals parte The cause of the peoples stubbornnesse grewe by occasion of a
also one Philotas the sonne of Parmenio a man of great authority among the MACEDONIANS who next vnto Alexander was the most valliantest man the pacientest to abide paine the liberallest and one that loued his men frends better then any noble man in the campe whatsoeuer Of him it is reported that a frend of his came to him on a time to borrow money and he commaunded straight one of his men to let him haue it His purse bearer aunswered him that he had none Why sayd his master doest thou tell me so Hast thou not plate and apparell to sell or gage to helpe him to some Howbeit otherwise he had such a pride glory to shew his riches to apparell himselfe so sumptuously and to be more fine and princked then became a priuate man that this made him to be hated bicause he tooke vpō him to be a great man to looke bigge on the matter which became him ill fauoredly and therfore euery man through his owne folly fell in misliking with him Insomuch as his owne father said one day vnto him sonne I pray thee be more humble lowly This Philotas had long before bene cōplained vpon vnto Alexander bicause that when the cariage of king Darius armie which was in the citie of DAMAS was taken after the battell of CILICIA among many prisoners that were taken and brought vnto Alexanders campe there was one Antigona a passing fayer young curtisan borne in the citie of PIDNA Philotas founde meanes to gette her and like a young man that was in loue with her making merie with her at the table fondly lette fall braue wordes and boastes of a souldier saying that what notable thinges were done they were done by him selfe and his father and called Alexander at euerie worde young man and sayd that by their meanes he helde his name and kingdome This courtisan tolde one of his frendes what he sayd and that frede tolde an other frende and so went from man to man as commonly it doth till at the length it came to Craterus eares He tooke the courtisan and brought her vnto Alexander vnto whom she told as much as she had sayd before Alexander bad her still make much of Philotas and to tell him euery word what he sayd of him Philotas knowing nothing that he was thus circumuented did euer frequent her companie and would be bold commonly to speake many foolish and vndiscreete words against the king somtime in anger somtime againe in a brauery Alexander this notwithstanding though he had manifest proofe and cause to accuse Philotas yet he dissembled it for that time and would not be knowen of it either for that he knew Parmenio loued him or else for that he was affrayed of their great power and authoritie About that time there was one Limnus Chalaestrian a MACEDONIAN that layed great and secret waite to kill Alexander and being in loue with a young man called Nicomachus entised him to helpe him to doe this deede The young man wisely denied it told the same to his brother called Batinus He went vnto Philotas and prayed him to bring them both before Alexander for they had a matter of great importance to impart vnto him Philotas would not let him speake with the king but why no man could tell telling them that the king had greater matters in hande and was not at leasure Then they went vnto an other and he brought them vnto Alexander vnto whome first they opened the treason of Limnus conspired against him and by the way they tolde also how they had bene twise before with Philotas who would not let them come in nor speake with them That angred Alexander greatly and he was the more offended also when Limnus was slaine by him whome he sent to apprehende him resisting him for that he would not be taken and thought that by his death he had lost a great meanes to come to the light of this treason and conspiracie Then Alexander frowning vppon Philotas brought all his enemies vpon his backe that of long time had hated him For they beganne to speake boldly that it was time for the kinge to looke about him for it was not to be supposed that this Limnus Chalaestrian of him selfe durst haue entred into that treason but rather that he was a minister and a chiefe instrument set on by a greater personage then he and therefore that it stoode Alexander vpon to examine them straightly which had cause to keepe this treason secret After Alexander once gaue eare vnto such wordes and vehement presumptions there was straight brought in a thowsand accusations against Philotas Thereupon he was apprehended and in the presence of diuers Lordes and familliars of the king put to the torter Alexander selfe being behinde a hanginge to heare what he would say It is reported that when he hearde howe faintly and pitiefully he besought Hephaestion to take pitie of him he sayd vnto him selfe alas poore Philotas thou that hast so faint a hart howe durst thou take vppon thee so great matters In fine Philotas was put to death and immediatly after he was executed Alexander sent also with speede vnto the realme of MEDIA to kill Parmenio who was his Lieutenaunt there and one that had serued king Philippe his father in his greatest affayers and who onely of all other the olde seruauntes of his father had procured Alexander to take in hande the conquest of ASIA and who also of three sonnes which he brought out with him had seene two of them dye before him and afterwardes was slaine him selfe with the third This crueltie of Alexander made his frendes affrayed of him and specially Antipater who secretly sent Ambassadors vnto the AETOLIANS to make league with them bicause they them selues also were affrayed of Alexander for that they had put the Orniades to death Alexander hearing that sayd that he him selfe and not the sonnes of the Orniades would be reuenged of the AETOLIANS Not long after that followed the murther of Clitus the which to heare is simplie tolde would seeme much more cruell than the death of Philotas But reportinge the cause and the time together in which it chaunced it will be founde that it was not of sette purpose but by chaunce and vnfortunately that Alexander being ouercome with wine did vnluckely wreake his anger vpon Clitus The manner of his misfortune was this There came certaine men of the lowe contries from the sea side that brought apples of GRAECE 〈…〉 nto Alexander Alexander wondering to see them so greene and fayer sent for Clitus to shewe him them and to geue him some of them Clitus by chaunce did sacrifice at that time vnto the goddes and left his sacrifice to goe vnto Alexander howebeit there were three weathers that followed him on whome the accustomed sprincklinges had bene done alreadie to haue sacrificed them Alexander vnderstandinge that tolde it to his Soothsayers Aristander and Cleomantis LACONIAN who both did aunswere
determination For they brought him so many lyes and put so many examples of feare before him as if Caesar had bene already at their heeles and had wonne all so that in the ende he yelded vnto them and gaue place to their furie and madnes determining seeing all thinges in such tumult and garboyle that there was no way but to forsake the citie and thereuppon commaunded the Senate to follow him and not a man to tary there vnles he loued tyrannie more then his owne libertie and the common wealth Thus the Consuls them selues before they had done their common sacrifices accustomed at their going out of the citie fled euery man of them So did likewise the moste parte of the Senators taking their owne thinges in haste such as came first to hande as if by stealth they had taken them from another And there were some of them also that alwayes loued Caesar whose witts were then so troubled and besides them selues with the feare they had conceyued that they also fled and followed the streame of this tumult without manifest cause or necessitie But aboue all thinges it was a lamentable sight to see the citie it selfe that in this feare and trouble was left at all aduenture as a shippe tossed in storme of sea forsaken of her Pilots and dispairing of her safetie This their departure being thus miserable yet men esteemed their banishment for the loue they bare vnto Pompey to bee their naturall contry and reckoned ROME no better then Caesars campe At that tyme also Labienus who was one of Caesars greatest friendes and had bene alwayes vsed as his Lieuetenant in the warres of GAVLE and had valiantly fought in his cause he likewise forsooke him then and fled vnto Pompey But Caesar sent his money and cariage after him and then went and encamped before the citie of CORFINIVM the which Domitius kept with thirty cohorts or ensignes When Domitius sawe he was beseeged he straight thought him selfe but vndone and dispayring of his successe he bad a Phisition a slaue of his giue him poyson The Phisition gaue him a drinke which he dranke thinking to haue dyed But shortly after Domitius hearing them reporte what clemencie and wonderfull curtesie Caesar vsed vnto them he tooke repented him then that he had dronke this drinke and beganne to lament and bewayle his desperate resolucion taken to dye The Phisition did comfort him againe and tolde him that he had taken a drinke onely to make him sleepe but not to destroy him Then Domitius reioyced and went straight and yelded him selfe vnto Caesar who gaue him his life but he notwithstanding stale away immediatly and fled vnto Pompey When these newes were brought to ROME they did maruelously reioyce and comfort them that still remayned there and moreouer there were of them that had forsaken ROME which returned thither againe In the meane time Caesar did put all Domitius men in paye and he did the like through all the cities where he had taken any Captaines that leauied men for Pompey Now Caesar hauing assembled a great and dreadfull power together went straight where he thought to finde Pompey him selfe But Pompey taried not his comming but fled into the citie of BRVNDVSIVM from whence he had sent the two Consuls before with that armie he had vnto DYRRACHIVM and he him selfe also went thither afterwards when he vnderstoode that Caesar was come as you shall heare more amply hereafter in his life Caesar lacked no good will to follow him but wanting shippes to take the seas he returned forthwith to ROME So that in lesse then three skore dayes he was Lord of all ITALY without any bloodshed Who when he was come to ROME and found it much quietter then he looked for and many Senatours there also he curteously intreated them and prayed them to send vnto Pompey to pacifie all matters betweene them apon reasonable conditions But no man did attempt it eyther bicause they feared Pompey for that they had forsaken him or els for that they thought Caesar ment not as he spake but that they were wordes of course to culler his purpose withall And when Metellus also one of the Tribunes would not suffer him to take any of the common treasure out of the temple of Saturne but tolde him that it was against the lawe Tushe sayd he tyme of warre and lawe are two thinges If this that I doe q he doe offende thee then get thee hence for this tyme for warre can not abyde this francke and bolde speeche But when warres are done and that we are all quiet agayne then thou shalt speake in the pulpit what thou wilt and yet I doe tell thee this of fauor impayring so much my right for thou art myne both thou and all them that haue risen against me and whom I haue in my hands When he had spoken thus vnto Metellus he went to the temple dore where the treasure laye and finding no keyes there he caused Smythes to be sent for and made them breake open the lockes Metellus thereuppon beganne agayne to withstande him and certen men that stoode by praysed him in his doing but Caesar at length speaking biggely to him threatned him he would kill him presently if he troubled him any more and told him furthermore younge man q he thow knowest it is harder for me to tell it thee than to doe it That word made Metellus quake for feare that he gotte him away rowndly and euer after that Caesar had all at his commaundement for the warres From thence he went into SPAYNE to make warre with Petreius and Varro Pompeys Lieuetenants first to gette their armies and prouinces into his hands which they gouerned that afterwardes he might follow Pompey the better leauing neuer an enemie behinde him In this iorney he was oftentymes him selfe in daunger through the ambushes that were layde for him in diuers straunge sortes and places and likely also to haue lost all his armie for lacke of vittells All this notwithstanding he neuer left following of Pompeys Lieuetenants prouoking them to battell and intrenching them in vntill he had gotten their campe armies into his handes albeit that the Lieuetenants them selues fled vnto Pompey When Caesar returned agayne to ROME Piso his father in lawe gaue him counsell to sende Ambassadors vnto Pompey to treate of peace But Isauricus to flatter Caesar was against it Caesar beeing then created Dictator by the Senate called home againe all the banished men and restored their children to honor whose fathers before had beene slayne in Syllaes tyme and did somewhat cutte of the vsuries that did oppresse them and besides did make some such other ordinances as those but very fewe For he was Dictator but eleuen dayes onely and then did yeld it vppe of him selfe and made him selfe Consul with Seruilius Isauricus and after that determined to followe the warres All the rest of his armie he left comming on the way behind him and
vertue and honest behauior besides the great power of her brother Caesar she did adde thereunto her modest kind loue to please her husband that she would then be too stronge for her and in the end winne him away she suttelly seemed to languish for the loue of Antonius pyning her body for lacke of meate Furthermore she euery way so framed her countenaunce that when Antonius came to see her she cast her eyes vpon him like a woman rauished for ioy Straight againe when he went from her she fell a weeping and blubbering looked rufully of the matter and still found the meanes that Antonius should oftentynes finde her weeping and then when he came sodainely vppon her she made as though she dryed her eyes and turned her face away as if she were vnwilling that he should see her weepe All these tricks she vsed Antonius being in readines to goe into SYRIA to speake with the king of MEDES Then the flatterers that furthered Cleopatraes mind blamed Antonius and tolde him that he was a hard natured man and that he had small loue in him that would see a poore Ladye in such torment for his sake whose life depended onely vpon him alone For Octauia sayd they that was maryed vnto him as it were of necessitie bicause her brother Caesars affayres so required it hath the honor to be called Antonius lawefull spowse and wife and Cleopatra being borne a Queene of so many thowsands of men is onely named Antonius Leman and yet that she disdayned not so to be called if it might please him she might enioy his company and liue with him but if he once leaue her that then it is vnpossible she should liue To be short by these their flatteries and enticements they so wrought Antonius effeminate mind that fearing least she would make her selfe away he returned againe vnto ALEXANDRIA and referred the king of MEDES to the next yeare following although he receyued newes that the PARTHIANS at that tyme were at ciuill warres amonge them selues This notwithstanding he went afterwardes and made peace with him For he maried his Daughter which was very younge vnto one of the sonnes that Cleopatra had by him and then returned beeing fully bent to make warre with Caesar. When Octauia was returned to ROME from ATHENS Caesar commaunded her to goe out of Antonius house and to dwell by her selfe bicause he had abused her Octauia aunswered him againe that she would not forsake her husbands house and that if he had no other occasion to make warre with him she prayed him then to take no thought for her for sayd she it were too shamefull a thinge that two so famous Captaines should bringe in ciuill warres among the ROMANES the one for the loue of a womā the other for the ielously betwixt one an other Now as she spake the worde so did she also performe the deede For she kept still in Antonius house as if he had bene there and very honestly and honorably kept his children not those onely she had by him but the other which her husband had by Fuluia Furthermore more when Antonius sent any of his men to ROME to sue for any office in the cōmon wealthe she receiued him very curteously and so vsed her selfe vnto her brother that she obtained the thing she requested Howbeit thereby thinking no hurt she did Antonius great hurt For her honest loue and regard to her husband made euery man hate him when they sawe he did so vnkindly vse so noble a Lady but yet the greatest cause of their malice vnto him was for the diuision of lands he made amongst his children in the citie of ALEXANDRIA And to confesse a troth it was too arrogant and insolent a part and done as a man would say in derision and contempt of the ROMANES For he assembled all the people in the show place where younge men doe exercise them selues and there vpon a high tribunal siluered he set two chayres of gold the one for him selfe and the other for Cleopatra and lower chaires for his children then he openly published before the assembly that first of all he did establish Cleopatra Queene of AEGYPT of CYPRVS of LYDIA and of the lower SYRIA and at that time also Caesarion king of the same Realmes This Caesarion was supposed to be the sonne of Iulius Caesar who had left Cleopatra great with child Secondly he called the sonnes he had by her the kings of kings and gaue Alexander for his portion ARMENIA MEDIA and PARTHIA when he had conquered the contry and vnto Ptolomy for his portion PHENICIA SYRIA and CILICIA And therewithall he brought out Alexander in a long gowne after the facion of the MEDES with a high copped tanke hat on his head norrow in the toppe as the kings of the MEDES and ARMENIANS doe vse to weare them and Ptolomy apparelled in a cloke after the MACEDONIAN manner with slippers on his feete and a broad hat with a royall band or diademe Such was the apparell and old attyre of the auncient kinges and successors of Alexander the great So after his sonnes had done their humble duties and kissed their father and mother presently a company of ARMENIAN souldiers set there of purpose compassed the one about and a like company of the MACEDONIANS the other Now for Cleopatra she did not onely weare at that time but at all other times els when she came abroad the apparell of the goddesse Isis and so gaue audience vnto all her subiects as a new Isis. Octauius Caesar reporting all these thinges vnto the Senate and oftentimes accusing him to the whole people and assembly in ROME he thereby stirred vp all the ROMANES against him Antonius on thother side sent to ROME likewise to accuse him and the chiefest poyntes of his accusations he charged him with were these First that hauing spoyled Sextus Pompeius in SICILE he did not gaue him his parte of the I le Secondly that he did deteyne in his hands the shippes he lent him to make that warre Thirdly that hauing put Lepidus their companion and triumuirate out of his part of the Empire and hauing depriued him of all honors he retayned for him selfe the lands and reuenues thereof which had bene assigned vnto him for his part And last of all that he had in manner deuided all ITALY amongest his owne souldiers and had left no part of it for his souldiers Octauius Caesar aunswered him againe that for Lepidus he had in deede deposed him and taken his part of the Empire from him bicause he did ouercruelly vse hid authoritie And secondly for the conquests he had made my force of armes he was contented Antonius should haue his part of them so that he would likewise let him haue his part of ARMENIA And thirdly that for his souldiers they should seeke for nothing in ITALY bicause they possessed MEDIA and PARTHIA the which prouinces they had added to the Empire of ROME valliantly
Tenterides people of Germany Caesars horsemen put to flight The Ipes and Tenterides slaine by Caesar Sicambri a people of the Germaines Caesar made a bridge ouer the riuer of Rheyn Caesars iorney into England The death of Iulia Caesars Daughter The rebellion of the Gaules Cotta and Titurius with their armie slaine Caesar slue the Gaules led by Ambiorix The second rebellion of the Gaules against Caesar. Vercingentorix Captaine of the rebells against Caesar. * Some say that in this place is to be redde in the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the riuer Saone The Hedul rebell against the Romanes * Sequani Vercingentorix ouerthrowen by Caesar. The seege of Alexia Caesars daunger and wise policie Caesars great victorie at Alexie Alexia yelded vp to Caesar The discord betwixt Caesar and Pompey and the cause of the ciuill warres Caesars crassines The peoples voices bought at Rome for money Pompey gouerned Spain and Africk Caesar sueth the second time to be coÌ„sul and to haue his gouernment proroged Caesar bribeth the Magistrates at Rome Pompey abused by slauerers Caesars requests vnto the Senate Antonius Curio Tribunes of the people fly from Rome to Caesar Caesars doubtfull thoughts at the riuer of Rubicon The Greeke vseth this phrase of speech cast the dye Caesar tooke the citie of Arminum Caesars damnable dreame Rome in vprore with Caesars comming Pompey flyeth from Rome Labienus forsooke Caesar and fled to Pompey Domitius escaped from Caesar fled to Pompey Pompey flyeth into Epirus Silent leges inter arma Caesar taketh money out of the temple of Saturne Caesars iorney into Spayne against Pompeys Lieuetenants Caesar Dictator Caesar and Isauricus Consulls Caesar goeth into the kingdom of Epirus Complaints of the olde souldiers against Caesar. A great aduenture of Caesar. Anius â—â— Caesars daungers troubles in the Realme of Epirus Caesars armie fled from Pompey Caesars wordes of Pompeys victory Caesar troubled in mind after his losse Pompeys determination for the warre Pompey called Agamemnon and king of kings The citie of Gomphes in Thessaly Pompeys dreame in Pharsalia The securitie of the Pompeians Pompeys armie at great againe as Caesars A wonder seene in the element before the battell in Pharsalia Caesars armie and his order of battell in the fieldes of Pharsalia Pompeys army and his order of battell An ill counsel and fowle fault of Pompey The battell in the fieldes of Pharsalia Caesars strategeme Caesar ouercommeth Pompey Pompeys flight Brutus that slue Caesar taken prisoner at the battell of Pharsalia Signes tokens of Caesars victory A straunge tale of Cornelius an excellent Prognosticatos Caesars clemeÌ„cy in victory The cause of Caesars warre in Alexandria Pothinus the Euenuke caused Pompey to be slayne Cleopatra came to Caesar Cleopatra trussed vp in a mattresse and so brought to Caesar vpon Apollodorus backe The great library of Alexandria burnt Caesars swimming with bookes in his hand Caesar made Cleopatra Queene of AEgypt Caesarion Caesars sonne begotteÌ„ of Cleopatra Caesars victorie of king Pharnaces Caesar wyteth three wordes to certifie his victory Caesars iorney into Africke against Cato and Scipio Caesars troubles in Africke Alga and dogges tooth geuen to the horse to eate Caesars daungers in Africke Caesars great victorie and small losse Caesar trobled with the falling sickenes Caesar was sory for the death of Cato Caesar wrote against Cato being dead Cicero wrote a booke in praise of Cato being dead Iuba the sonne of king Iuba a famous historiographer Caesars feasting of the Romanes The muster taken of the Romanes Caesar Consull the fourth time Battell fought betwext Caesar and the young Pompeyes by the city of Mvnda Caesars victory of the sonnes of Pompey Caesar triumphe of Pompeis sonnes Caesar Dictator perpetuall The temple of clemency dedicated vnto Caesar for his curtesie Cassius and Brutus Praetors Caesars saying of death Good will of subiectes the best gard and safety for Palaces Caninius Rebilius Consull for one day Anienes Tiber flu Caesar reformed the inequality of the yeare * Mercedonius mensis intercularis VVhy Caesar was hated The feast Lipercalia Antonius being Consull was one of the Lupercalians Antonius presented the Diadeame to Caesar. Caesar saued Marcus Brutus life after the battell of Pharsalia Brutus conspireth against Caesar. Cassius stâ—roeth vp Brutus against Caesar. Predictions foreshewes of Caesars death Caesars day of his death prognosticased by a Soothsayeth The dreame of Calpurnia Caesars wife Decius Brutus Albinus perswasion to Caesar. Decius Brutus brought Caesar into the Senate house The tokens of the conspiracy against Caesar. The place where Caesar was slaine Antonius Caesars faithfull frend Casca the first that strake at Caesar. Caesar slaine and had 23. wounds apon him The murtherers of Caesar doe goe to the Capitall Caesars funeralls Cinnaes dreame of Caesar. The murther of Cinna Caesar 56. yere olde at his death The reuenge of Caesars death Cassius being ouerthrowen at the battell of Philippes slue himselfe with the selfe same sword wherewith he strake Caesar. VVonders seene in the element after Caesars death A great Comet Brutus vision A spirit appeared vnto Brutus The second appearing of the spirit vnto Brutus Demades arrogaÌ„t saying The power of vertue and fortune Aduersitie maketh men hasty Ciceroes saying of Cato the common wealth at Rome Catoes plaine maner became not the corrupt and suretie time The parâ—â—age of Phocion Phocion neuer wept nor laughed Phocions maners VVherein excellencie of speech consifieth Phocions first souldier saâ—e The victory of Chabrias and Phocion in the I le of Naxos Phocions notable sayings Aristogiton a Sycophant coward Phocion called by surname goâ—â— Phocions iorney into Euboâ—a Phocion perswadeth his Captaines to suffer the musinous souldiers cowards to depart the campe Phocions victory in Eubâ—â—a Phocion saued the citie of Byzantium PhocioÌ„ draws Philip out of Hellespont Phocion ioyned Megara vnto Athens To reioyce at any mans hurt sheweth a base mind vile nature Alexander pacified with the Athenians by Phocions meanes Phocions vertue and integrity refusing of Alexanders money Phocions house and wiues Phocus Phocions sonne what he was Phocion despiseth Harpalus money Phocion refused to defend his sonne in law in an ill cause Phocions victory of the Macedonians The Graecians ouercomeÌ„ by Antipater Phocion Ambassador vnto Antipater Xenocrates authoritie Xenocrates despised of Antipater Presages of the miseries of the Athenians The crueltie of Antipater Phocion refuseth Menyllus giftes Phocion loued pouertie The insolencie of Demades the Orator Cassander king Antipaters sonne The 〈…〉 end of Demades Polyperchon Generall of the armie of the Macedonians Polyperchon conspiracie against Phocion Nicanor to receiue then to offer an iniury Alexander the sonne of Polyperchon practiseth treason against the Athenians Phocion accused of treason Polyperchon did put Dinarchus to death Phocion sent prisoner to Athens to be condemned The furie of the Athenians against Phocion The crueltie of the Athenians vnto Phocion Phocion condemned to death The constancy and corage of Phocion being condemned
the modestie of your nature vvas not desirous of Souereintie though you haue alvvayes indeuored to deserue it by your honorable conuersation by reason vvhereof you have bene thought so much the vvorthier of it as you have bene founde the further of from all ambition And therefore I do novv reioice in your vertue my fortune if it be so great as to cause you to administer that thing vvith iustice vvhich you haue obtained by desert For othervvise I am sure you haue put your selfe in hazard of great daungers and me in perill of slaunderous tongues bicause Rome can not avvay vvith a vvicked Emperour and the common voyce of the people is alvvaies vvont to cast the faultes of the schollers in the teeth of their schoolemaisters as for example Seneca is railed vpon by slaunderous tonges for the faultes of his scholler Nero the scapes of Quintilians young schollers are imputed to Quintilian him selfe and Socrates is blamed for being too myld to his bearers But as for you there is hope you shall doe all things vvell enough so you keepe you as you are If you first set your selfe in order and then dispose all other things according to vertue all things shall fall out according to your desire I haue set you dovvne the meanes in vvriting vvhich you must observe for the vvell gouerning of your common vveale and haue shevved you of hovv great force your behauiour may be in that behalfe If you thinke good to follovv those thinges you haue Plutarke for the directer and guider of your life if not I protest vnto you by this Epistle that your falling into daunger to the ouerthrovv of the Empire is not by the doctrine of Plutarke This Epistle vvitnesseth plainly that he vvas the schoolemaister of Traian vvhich thing seemeth so be auovved by this vvriting of Suidas Plutarke being borne in the citie of Chaeronea in Boeotia vvas in the time of the Emperour Traian and somvvhat affore But Traian honored him vvith the dignitie of Consulship and commaunded the officers and Magistrates that vvere throughout all the contrie of Illyria that they should not do any thing vvithout his counsell and authoritie So doth Suidas vvrite of him And I am of opinion that Traian being so vvise an Emperour vvould neuer haue done him so great honor if he had not thought him selfe greatly beholding to him for some speciall cause But the thing that maketh me most to beleue it true is that the same goodnesse and iustice appeared to be naturally imprinted in most of Traians sayings and doings vvhereof the paterne and movvld as a man might terme it is cast and set dovvne in Plutarkes Moralls so as men may perceiue expressely that the one could vvell skill to performe rightly that vvhich the other had taught vvisely For Dion vvriteth that among other honors vvhich the Senate of Rome gaue by decree vnto Traian they gaue him the title of the Good Emperour And Eutropius reporteth that euen vnto his time vvhen a nevv Emperour came to be receiued of the Senate among the cries of good hansell and the vvishes of good lucke that vvere made vnto him one vvas happier be thou than Augustus and better than Traian Hovvsoeuer the case stoode it is very certaine that Plutarke dedicated the collection of his Apothegmes vnto him But vvhen he had liued a long time at Rome and vvas come home againe to his ovvne house he fell to vvriting of this excellent vvorke of Liues vvhich he calleth Parallelon as much to say as a cupling or matching together bicause he matcheth a Grecian vvith a Romane setting dovvne their liues ech after other and comparing them together as he founde any likenesse of nature condicions or aduentures betvvext them and examining vvhat the one of them had better or vvorser greater or lesser than the other vvhich things he doth vvith so goodly and graue discourse euery vvhere taken out of the deepest most hidden secrets of morall and naturall Philosophie vvith so sage precepts and frutefull instructions vvith so effectuall commendation of vertue and detestation of vice vvith so many goodly allegacions of other authors vvith so many fit comparisons vvith so many high inuentions that the booke may better be called by the name of the Treasorie of all rare and perfect learning than by any other name Also it is sayd that Theadorus Gaza a Grecian of singular learning and a vvorthie of the auncient Greece being asked on a time by his familiar frendes vvhich savv him so earnestly giuen to his studie that he forgate all other things vvhat author he had leuerest to thoose if he vvere at that poynt that he must needes choose some one to holde him to alone did aunsvvere that he vvould choose Plutarke bicause that if they vvere all put together there vvas no one both so profitable and so pleasaunt to read as be Sofuss Senecio to vvhom he dedicateth his vvorke vvas a Senator of Rome as vvitnesseth Dion vvho vvriteth that the three persons vvhom Traian most loued and honored vvere Sosius Parma and Celsus insomuch that he caused images of them to be set vp True it is that he vvrote the liues of many other men vvhich the spitefulnes of time hath bereft vs of among vvhich he himselfe maketh mention of the liues of Scipio Africanus Metellus Namedicus And I haue red a litle Epistle of a sonne of his vvhose name is not expressed copied out of an olde copie in the Librarie of S. Marke in White vvherein he vvriteth to a frende of his a register of all the bookes that his father made and there among the cupples of liues he setteth dovvne liues of Scipio and Epaminondas and lastly the liues of Augustus Caesar of Tiberius of Caligula of Clandius of Nero of Galba of Vitellius and of Otho But hauing vsed all the diligence that I could in serching the chiefe Libraries of Venice and Rome I could neuer find them out Onely I drevv out certaine diuersities of readinges and many corrections by conferring the old vvritten copies vvith the printed bookes vvhich haue stoode are in great stead to the vnderstanding of many hardplaces and there are a great number of them vvhich I haue restoâ—ed by coniecture by the iudgement helpe of such men of this age as are of greatest knovvledge in humane learning Yet for all this there remaine some places vnamended hovvbeit very fevve bicause some likes vvere vvanting in the originall copies vvhereof to my seeming it vvas better for me to vvitnesse the vvant by marking it vvith some starre than to gesse at it vvith all aduenture or to adde any thing to it Novv finally if I haue ouershot my selfe in any thing as it is verie easie to do in so hard and long a vvorke specially to a man of so small abilitie as I am I beseeche the Readers to vvouchsafe for my discharge to admit the excuse vvhich the Poet Horace giueth me vvhere he sayth A man may well be ouerseene In workes that long
should haue her with condition that whose lot it were to haue her he should take her to his wife should be bound also to helpe his companion to get him another It was Theseus happe to light vpon her who caryed her to the cittie of APHIDNES bicause she was yet to younge to be maried Whether he caused his mother to come to bring her vp gaue his friend called Aphidnus the charge of them both recoÌ„mending her to his good care to kepe it so secretly that no bodye should knowe what was become of her Bicause he would doe the like for Pirithous according to th'agremeÌ„t made betwext theÌ„ he went into EPIRVS with him to steale the daughter of Aidoneus king of the MOLOSSIANS who had surnamed his wife Proserpina his daughter Proserpina his dogg Cerberus with whom he made them fight which came to aske his daughter in mariage promising to geue her to him that should ouercome his Cerberus But the King vnderstaÌ„ding that Pirithous was come not to request his daughter in mariage but to steale her away he tooke him prisoner with Theseus as for Pirithous he caused him preseÌ„tly to be torne in peces with his dogge shut Theseus vp in close prison In this meane time there was one at ATHENS called Menestheus the sonne of Peteus which Peteus was the sonne of Orneus Orneus was the sonne of Erictheus This Menestheus was the first that beganne to flatter the people did seeke to winne the fauour of the coÌ„munaltie by sweete entising words by which deuise he stirred vp the chiefest of the cittie against Theseus who in deedelong before begaÌ„ne to be wearie of him by declaring vnto them howe Theseus had taken from them their royalties signiories had shut them vp in suche forte within the walles of a cittie that he might the better keepe them in subiection obedience in all things after his will. The poore inferiour sorte of people he dyd stirre vp also to rebellion persuading them that it was no other then a dreame of libertie which was promised them howe contrariwise they were clearely dispossest throwen out of their own houses of their teÌ„ples from their naturall places where they were borne to thend only that in liewe of many good louing lordes which they were wont to haue before they should now be compelled to serue one onely hedde a straunge lorde Euen as Menestheus was very hotte about this practise the warre of the Tyndarides fell out at that instant which greatly furthered his preteÌ„ce For these Tyndarides to wit the children of Tyndarus Castor Pollux came downe with a great armie against the cittie of ATHENS some suspect sore that Menestheus was cause of their comming thither Howbeit at the first entrie they dyd no hurte at all in the countrye but only demaunded restitution of their sister To whom the citizens made aunswer that they knewe not where she was left then the brethern beganne to make spoyle offer warre in deede Howbeit there was one called Academus who hauing knowledge I can not tell by what meane that she was secretly hidden in the cittie of APHIDNES reuealed it vnto them By reason whereof the Tyndarides did alwayes honour him very much so long as he liued afterwards the LACEDAEMONIANS hauing ofte burnt destroyed the whole countrye of ATTICA throughout they would yet neuer touch the Academy of ATHENS for Academus sake Yet Dicearchus sayeth that in the armie of the Tyndarides there were two Arcadians Echedemus Marathus and howe of the name of one of them it was then called the place of Echedemie which sithence hath bene called Academia after the name of the other there was a village called MARATHON bicause he willingly offered himself to be sacrificed before the battell as obeying the order coÌ„mandement of a prophecie So they went pitched their campe before the cittie of APHIDNES hauing woÌ„ne the battell taken the cittie by assault they raced the place They saye that Alycus the sonne of Sciron was slaine at this field who was in the hoaste of the Tyndarides that after his name a certaine quarter of the territorie of MEGARA was called Alycus in the which his bodye was buried Howbeit Here as writeth that Theseus self dyd kill him before Aphidnes In witnes whereof he alledgeth certain verses which speake of Alycus VVhile as he sought vvith all his might and mayne in thy defence â—ayer Hellen for to fight In Aphidnes vpon the pleasaunt playne bold Theseus to cruell deathe him dight Howbeit it is not likely to be true that Theseus being there the cittie of Aphidnes his mother also were taken But when it was wonne they of ATHENS beganne to quake for feare and Menestheus counselled them to receyue the Tyndarides into the cittie and to make them good chere so they would make no warres but vpon Theseus which was the first that had done them the wroÌ„g iniurie that to all other els they should showe fauour good will. And so it fell out For when the Tyndarides had all in their power to doe as they listed the demaunded nothing els but that they might be receiued into their corporatioÌ„ not to be reckoned for straungers no more then Hercules was the which was grauÌ„ted the Tyndarides Aphidnus dyd adopt them for his childreÌ„ as Pylius had adopted Hercules Moreouer they dyd honour them as if they had bene godds calling them Anaces Either bicause they ceased the warres or for that they ordered them selues so well that their whole armie being lodged within the cittie there was not any hurte or displeasure done to any persone but as it became those that haue the charge of any thing they did carefully watche to preserue the good quiet thereof All which this Greke word Anacos doth signifie wherof perchaunce it comes that they call the kings Anactes There are others also who holde opinion that they were called Anaces bicause of their starres which appeared in the ayer For the Attican tongue sayeth Anacas Anecathen where the comon people saye Ano Anothen that is to saye aboue Neuertheles AEthra Theseus mother was caried prisoner to LACEDAEMON from thence to TROIA with Hellen as some saye as Homer him self doth witnesse in his verses where he speaketh of the women that followed Hellen. AEthra the daughter deare of Pitheus aged Syre and vvith her fayer Clymene she vvhose eyes most men desire Yet there are other who aswell reiect these two verses mainteine they are not Homers as also they reproue all that is reported of Munychus To wit that Laodice being priuely coÌ„ceiued of him by Demophon he was brought vp secretly by AEthra within TROIA But Hister the historien in his thirtenth of his histories of ATTICA maketh a recitall farre coÌ„trary to other saying that some hold opinion that Paris Alexander was
exceedingly beloued of their companions and of those which were their inferiours As for the kings heardmen they passed not muche for them saying that they were euen like them selues and so seemed not to care a Pynne for their anger or displeasure but wholy gaue them selues to all gentlemanly exercises and trades thincking to liue idely at ease without trauell was neither comly nor conuenient but to exercise and harden their bodyes with hunting running pursuing murderers and theeues and to helpe those which were oppressed with wronge and violence shoulde be credit and commendation to them By reason whereof in very shorte time they grewe to great fame and renowne And it fell outby chaunce there rose some stryfe and variance betwene the heardmen of Amulius and the heardmen of Numitor in so muche as those that were Numitors caryed awaye by force some cattell of the others Thother side would not beare that but pursued fast after and beating them well fauoredly they made them take their legges and brought backe againe the greatest parte of the cattell they had caried away with them Wherat Numitor stormed marueilously but yet his men seemed to make but litle accoumpt of it and purposing reuenge they gathered about them a good companie of vacabonds that had neither home nor resting place and certaine fugitiue bonde men which they intised ill fauoredly incoraging them to steale awaye from their masters Thus one daye whilest Romulus was busie about some sacrifice being a deuoute man and religious and well geuen to serue the goddes and to learne to diuine and tell before hande what things should happen and come to passe it happened the heard men of Numitor to meete Remus very slenderly accompanied so they fell vpon him sodainely blowes were delt rowndely on bothe sides and men were hurte on either parte Howbeit Numitors men in the ende proued the stronger parte and dyd take Remus by force and caryed him straight before Numitor alledging many complaintes and matters against him Numitor durst not punish him of his owne authoritie bicause he feared his brother Amulius who was somewhat terrible but went vnto him and earnestly besought him to doe him iustice and not to suffer him being his owne brother to receyue such iniurye of his men There was not a man in the cittie of ALBA but dyd greatly mislike the iniurie done to Numitor and spake it openly that he was no persone to be offered such a wronge In so muche as Amulius moued herewith dyd deliuer Remus into his handes to punishe him as he thought good Whereupon Numitor caried him home with him But when he had him in his house he beganne to consider better of him with admiration howe goodly a younge man he was howe in height and strength of bodye he passed all the rest of his people and perceyuing in his face an assured constancie and bolde stedfast corage that yelded not nor was abashed for any daunger he sawe toward him and hearing also the reporte of his actes manhod to be aunswerable to that he sawe being chiefly moued in mine opinion by some secret inspiration of the goddes which ordaine the depthe of great matters beganne partely by coniecture and partely by chaunce to take a conceit of him So he asked him what he was who was his father and mother speaking to him in a more gentle wise and with a friendlier countenaunce then before to make him the bolder to answer be of better hope Remus boldly aunswered him Truely I will not hide the trothe from thee for thou seemest to me more worthie to be King then thy brother Amulius For thou enquierest and hearest first before thou condemnest and he condemneth before he examine or heare the parties Vntill nowe we thought we had bene the children of two of the Kings seruants to wit of Faustulus and of Laurentia I saye we bicause my brother and I are two twynnes But seeing we are nowe falsely accused vnto thee and by malicious surmised tales are wrongefully brought in daunger of our liues we intend to discouer ourselues and to declare straunge things vnto thee whereof the present perill we stande nowe in shall plainely proue the trothe Men saye that we haue bene begotten miraculously fostered and geuen sucke more straungely and in our tender yeres were fedd by birdes and wilde beasts to whom we were cast out as a praye For a woulfe gaue vs sucke with her teates and an hitwaw they saye brought vs litle crōmes and put them in our mouthes as we laye vpon the bancke by the riuer where we were put in a troughe that at this daye remaineth whole bounde about with plates of copper vpon the which are some letters engrauen halfe worne out which peraduenture one daye will serue for some tokens of knowledge vnprofitable for our parents when it shal be to late and after we are dead and gone Numitor then comparing these wordes with the age the younge man seemed to be of and considering well his face dyd not reiect the hope of his imagination that smiled on him but handled the matter so that he found meanes to speake secretly with his daughter notwithstanding at that time she was kept very straightly Faustulus in the meane time hearing that Remus was prisoner and that the King had deliuered him already into the hands of his brother Numitor to doe iustice went to praye Romulus to helpe him and tolde him then whose children they were for before he had neuer opened it to them but in darcke speaches and glawnsingwise and so muche as sufficed to put them in some hope So Faustulus taking the troughe with him at that time went vnto Numitor in great haste as marueilously affrayed for the present daunger he thought Remus in The Kings souldiers which warded at the gates of the cittie beganne to gather some suspition of Faustulus manner of comming and he made him selfe to be the more suspected being questioned with about the cause of his repaire thither that he faltred in his wordes besides they espied his troughe which he caried vnder his cloke Nowe amongest the warders there was by chaunce one that was the man to whom the children were committed to be cast awaye and was present when they were left on the bancke of the riuer to the mercie of fortune This man knewe the troughe by by as well by the facion as by the letters grauen vpon it who mistrusted straight that which was true in deede So he dyd not neglect the thing but went forthwith to the King to tell him the matter and led Faustulus with him to haue him confesse the trothe Faustulus being in this perplexitie could not kepe all close vpon examination but dyd vtter out somewhat of the matter and yet he tolde not all For he plainely iustified the children were aliue yet he sayed they were farre from the cittie of ALBA where they kept beastes in the fields And as for the troughe he was going to
conuenient number of their daughters and young widowes to marie with them they should haue peace as they had before time with the SABYNES vpon the like occasion The ROMAINES hereat were sore troubled thincking that to deliuer their women in such sorte was no better then to yelde and submit them selues to their enemies But as they were thus perplexed a wayting mayde called Philotis or as other call her Tutola gaue them counsell to doe neither the one nor the other but to vse a pollicy with them by meanes whereof they should scape the daunger of the warres and should also not be tyed nor bounde by any pledges The deuise was they should send to the LATINES her selfe and a certaine number of their fayrest bonde maydes trimmed vp like gentlewomen and the best citizens daughters and that in the night she would lifte them vp a burning torche in the ayer at which signe they should come armed and set vpon their enemies as they laye a sleepe This was brought to passe and the LATINES thought verely they had bene the ROMAINES daughters Philotis fayled not in the night to lyft vp her signe and to shewe them a burning torche in the toppe of a wilde figge tree and dyd hange certaine couerlets and clothes behinde it that the enemies might not see the light and the ROMAINES contrariwise might decerne it the better Thereupon so sone as the ROMAINES sawe it they ranne with all spede calling one another by their names and issued out of the gates of the cittie with great haste and so tooke their enemies vpon a sodaine and slewe them In memorie of which victorie they doe yet solemnise the feaste called the Nones of the goates bicause of the wilde figge tree called in Latine Caprificus And they doe feast the women without the cittie vnder shadowes made of the boughe of figge trees The wayting maydes they tonne vp and downe and playe here and there together Afterwards they seeme to fight and throwe stones one at another as then they dyd when they holpe the ROMAINES in their fight But fewe writers doe auowe this tale bicause it is on the daye time that they call so eche other by their names and that they goe to the place which they call the goates marshe as vnto a sacrifice It seemeth this agreeth better with the first historie when they called one another by their names in the night going against the LATINES onles peraduenture these two thinges after many yeres happened vpon one daye Furthermore they saye Romulus was taken out of the worlde when he was foure and fiftie yeres of age and had raigned eight and thirtie yeres by accompt THE COMPARISON OF Theseus vvith Romulus THVS haue we declared all things of Theseus and Romulus worthy memorie But to compare the one with the other it appeareth first that Theseus of his owne voluntarie will without compulsion of any when he might with safety haue reigned in the cittie of TROEZEN and succeeded his grandfather in no small kingdome dyd desire of him selfe and rather sought meanes to aspire to great things and that Romulus on the otherside to deliuer him self from bondage and seruitude that laye sore vpon him and to escape the threatned punishment which still dyd hange ouer his head was certainely compelled as Plato sayeth to shewe him selfe hardie for feare who seeing howe extremely he was like to be handled was of very force constrained to seeke aduenture and hazarde the enterprise of atteining highe and great things Moreouer the chiefest acte that euer he dyd was when he slewe one onely tyranne of the cittie of ALBA called Amulius where Theseus in his iorney only as he trauelled gaue his minde to greater enterprises and slewe Sciron Sinnis Procrustes and Corynetes And by ridding them out of the worlde he deliuered GRECE of all those cruell tyrranes before any of those knewe him whom he had deliuered from them Furthermore he might haue gone to ATHENS by sea and neuer needed to haue trauelled or put him selfe in daunger with these robbers considering he neuer receyued hurte by any of them where as Romulus could not be in safetie whilest Amulius liued Hereupon it maye be alledged that Theseus vnprouoked by any priuate wronge or hurte receyued dyd set vpon these detestable theues and robbers Remus and Romulus contrariwise so longe as the tyranne dyd them to harme dyd suffer him to oppresse and wronge all other And if they alledge these were noble dedes and worthy memorie that Romulus was hurte fighting against the SABYNES and that he slewe kings Acron with his owne handes and that he had ouercome and subdued many of his enemies Then for Theseus on thother side may be obiected the battell of the CENTAVRI the warres of the AMAZONES the tribute due to the king of CRETA and howe he ventered to goe himselfe thither with the other young boyes and wenches of ATHENS as willingly offering him selfe to be deuowred by a cruell beaste or els to be slayne and sacrificed vpon the tumbe of Androgeus or to become bondslaue tyed in captiuitie to the vile seruice of cruell men and enemies if by his corage and manhodde he could not deliuer him self This was such an acte of magnanimitie iustice glorie briefly of so great vertue that it is vnpossible truely to be set out Surely me thinckes the philosophers dyd not ill define loue when they sayd she was a seruitour of the goddes to saue younge folkes whom they thought meete to be preserued For the loue of Ariadne was in mine opinion the worke of some god and a meane purposely prepared for Theseus safety Therefore the woman is not to be reproached nor blamed for the loue she bare Theseus but rather it is muche to be wondred at that euery man and woman in like wise dyd not loue him And if of her selfe she fell in loue with him I saye and not without cause she afterwards deserued to be beloued of a god as one that of her owne nature loued valiantnes and honour and entertained men of singuler value But both Theseus and Romulus being naturally geuen to rule and raigne neither the one nor the other kept the true forme of a King but bothe of them dyd degenerate alike the one chaunging him self into a popular man the other to a very tyranne So that by sundrie humours they both fell into one mischief and errour For a prince aboue all things must keepe his estate which is no lesse preserued by doing nothing vncomely as by doing all things honorably But he that is more seuere or remisse then he should be remaineth now no more a King or a prince but becommeth a people pleaser or a cruell tyrante and so causeth his subiects to despise or hate him Yet me thinckes the one is an errour of to muche pittie and basenes and the other of to muche pryde and crueltie But if we maye not charge fortune with all mischaunces happening vnto men but that
we ought to consider in them the diuersities of manners and passions seeing anger is vnreasonable and wrathe rashe and passionate then can we not clere the one nor excuse the other of extreme rage and passion in the facte committed by the one against his brother and by the other against his naturall sonne Howbeit the occasion and beginning of anger doth muche excuse Theseus who moued with the greatest cause that might be was put into suche choller and passion But if Romulus variaunce with his brother had proceeded of any matter of counsell or cause of the common weales there is none so simple to thincke that his wisdome would so sodainely haue set vpon him Where as Theseus in contrarie manner killed his sonne prouoked by those passions that fewe men can auoyde to wit loue ielousie and false reporte of his wife Moreouer Romulus anger went to the effect whereof the issue fell out very lamentable Theseus anger stretched no further then to roughe wordes and olde folkes curses in their heate For it seemeth cursed fortune and nought els was the cause of his sonnes only mishappe as forespoken and wished for somewhat by his father These be the speciall things maye be alledged for Theseus But for Romulus this was a noble thing in him First his beginning being very lowe and meane and his brother and he taken for bonde men and the children of hoggeheards before they were them selues all free they set at libertie in manner all the LATINES winning at one instant many titles of glorie and honour as distroyers of their enemies defenders of their parents Kings of nations founders of newe citties and no ouerthrowers of the olde where as Theseus of many habitations and houses made onely one and dyd ouerthrowe and plucke downe diuers states bearing the names of auncient Kings princes and halfe goddes of ATTICA All these also dyd Romulus afterwards and compelled his enemies whom he had ouercome to distroye their owne houses and to come and dwell with their conquerours And in the beginning he neuer chaunged nor increased any cittie that was buylt before but buylt him selfe a newe cittie out of the grounde getting all together land countrie kingdome kinred and mariages without losing or killing any man and to the contrarie rather he dyd good to many poore vacabonds who had neither countrie lands nor houses and desired nothing els but to make a people amongest them and to become cittizens of some cittie Also Romulus bent not him selfe to follow theeues and robbers but subdued by force of armes many mightie and puissant people he tooke citties and triumphed ouer Kings and Princes which he had vanquished in battell And touching the murder of Remus it is not certainely knowen of whose hands he dyed The most parte of authors doe charge other with the death of him But it is certaine that Romulus deliuered his mother from apparant death and restored his grandfather to the royall throne of AEneas who before was deposed and brought from a King to seruill obedience without any regarde of honour or dignitie to whom he dyd many moe great pleasures and seruices Besides he neuer offended him willingly no not so muche as ignorantly Contrarylie I thincke of Theseus who fayling by negligence to put out his white sayle at his returne cannot be cleared of parricide howe eloquent an oration soeuer could be made for his excuse yea though it were before the most fauorable iudges that could be Wherefore an ATHENIAN very well perceyuing that it was an harde thing to excuse and defend so fowle a faulte dothe fayne that the good olde man AEgeus hauing newes brought him that his sonnes shippe was at hand dyd ronne in so great haste to his castell to see his sonne arriue a farre of that as he ranne his foote hit against some thing and ouerthrewe him as though he had none of his people about him or that neuer a man seeing him ronne so hastely to the sea side dyd make haste to attende and wayte vpon him Furthermore Theseus faults touching women and rauishements of the twaine had the lesse shadowe and culler of honestie Bicause Theseus dyd attempt it very often for he stale awaye Ariadne Antiope and Anaxo the Troezenian Againe being stepped in yeres and at later age and past mariage he stale awaye Helen in her minoritie being nothing neere to consent to marye Then his taking of the daughters of the TROEZENIANS of the LACEDAEMONIANS and the AMAZONES neither contracted to him nor comparable to the birthe and linadge of his owne countrie which were at ATHENS and descended of the noble race and progenie of Erichtheus and of Cecrops dyd geue men occasion to suspect that his womannishenes was rather to satisfie lust then of any great loue Romulus nowe in a contrarie manner when his people had taken eight hundred or thereabouts of the Sabyne women to rauishe them kept but onely one for him selfe that was called Hersilia as they saye and deliuered the reste to his best and most honest cittizens Afterwardes by the honour loue and good entertainment that he caused them to haue receyue of their husbands he chaunged this violent force of rauishement into a most perfect bonde and league of amitie which dyd so knyt and ioyne in one these two nations that it was the beginning of the great mutuall loue which grewe afterwards betwext those two people and consequently of the ioyning of their powers together Furthermore time hath geuen a good testimonie of the loue reuerence constancie kyndenes and all matrimoniall offices that he established by that meanes betwext man and wife For in two hundred and thirtie yeres afterwards there was neuer man that durst forsake or put awaye his wife nor the wife her husband And as among the GRECIANS the best learned men and most curious obseruers of antiquities doe knowe his name that was the first murderer of his father or mother euen so all the ROMAINES knewe what he was which first durst put away his wife It was one called Spurius Caruilius bicause his wife was barren and had no children The effects also doe agree with the testimonie of the time For the Realme was common vnto Kings of both nations and through the alliance of these mariages that beganne first of rauishements both nations liued peaciblie and in equalitie vnder one ciuill policie and well gouerned common weale The ATHENIANS contrariewise by Theseus mariages dyd get neither loue nor kynred of any one persone but rather they procured warres enmities the slaughter of their citizens with the losse in the ende of the cittie of APHIDNES and yet very hardely and by the mercie of their enemies whom they honored as godds they escaped for him the daunger which the TROIANS suffered afterwards for the self acte done by Alexander Paris So it fell out at the last that his mother was not only in daunger but euen feelingly suffered like miserie and captiuitie which Hecuba dyd
which had happened before to a most well beloued man of the goddes Some laye Lycurgus died in the cittie of CIRRHA But Apollothemis sayeth he died in ELIDA Timaeus and Aristoxenus write he ended his dayes in CRETA And Aristoxenus sayeth further that those of the I le of CRETA doe shewe his graue in the place which they call Pergami◠by the broade highe wayes side He left one onely begotten sonne named Antiorus who died without issue so that his house and name fayled with him But his neere kinsemen and famillier friendes did set vp a company or brotherhood in memorie of him which continued a long time and the dayes wherein they assembled were called the Lycurgides There is another Aristocrates the sonne of Hipparchus who sayeth that he being dead in CRETA his friendes burned his bodie and afterwardes threwe his ashes into the sea according as he had prayed and requested them For he feared that if any parte of him should at any time haue bene brought to SPARTA the inhabitans would haue sayed he was returned againe and thereby would haue thought them selues discharged of their othe and might haue lawfully altered the lawes which he had appointed And this is the discourse and ende of Lycurgus life The end of Lycurgus life THE LIFE OF Numa Pompilius THE Historiographers differ maruelously of the time in which Numa Pompilius raigned King albeit some will deriue from him many noble houses descēded in ROME For one Clodius who wrote the booke intituled the table of time affirmeth that the auncient registers of the cittie of ROME were lost when it was taken and sacked by the GAVLES and that those which are extant at this daye be not true but were only made by men desirous to gratifie some which haue thrust in auncient houses and families of the first ROMAINES that concerne nothing them whom they ment to represent On the other side although the common opinion be that Numa was as familier friend and scholler of Pythagoras the philosopher yet some saye he was neuer learned nor had any knowledge at all in the Greeke tongue And yet mainteining that it is possible enough that he was so well borne and had suche perfection in all kind of vertue that he neuer neded any master though he had neded they had rather attribute the honour of the instructing of this King vnto some other foreane person that was more excellent then Pythagoras Other saye that Phythagoras the philosopher was long time after the raigne of Numa well nighe fiue ages after him How beit other saye there was another Pythagoras borne in SPARTA who hauing wonne the pryse of running at the games Olympicall in the sixtenth Olympiade the third yere of Numaes raigne did come into ITALIE where he kept much about Numa did assist helpe him in the gouerning ordering of his Realme By meanes whereof there be many customes yet of the LACONIANS mingled with the ROMAINES which this second Pythagoras was sayed to haue taught him Neuertheles his not confessed that Numa was borne of the SABYNES which they saye are descended from the LACEDAEMONIANS So it falleth out very hard to agree certainly of the time when Numa was and chiefly for suche as will followe the rolle or table of those which from Olympiades to Olympiades haue wonne the pryses of games Olympicall considering the rolle or table that they haue at this present was very lately published by one Hippias an Elian who deliuereth no reason or argument of necessitie why it should be taken for an vndoubted trothe which he in that sorte hath gathered Yet we will not leaue to put in writing those things worthie of memorie which we could gather by any meanes of king Numa beginning at that place which we thought to be meetest It was nowe sithence ROME was buylt seuen and thirtie yeres for so long time raigned Romulus when Romulus the fifte of the moneth of Iuly which they call the Nones of the goates made a solemne sacrifice without the cittie neere to a certaine place commonly called the goate marshe As all the whole Senate with the most parte of the people were present at this sacrifice sodainely there rose in the ayer a very great tempest and a maruelous darcke thicke clowde which fell on the earthe with suche boysterous windes stormes lightnings and thunder that the poore common people being affrayed of so fore a tempest dispersed them selues sodainely running here and there for succour and therewithall king Romulus vanished awaye in suche sorte that he was neuer after seene aliue not dead This brought the Senatours and noble men whom they called Patricians into great suspition And there ranne a fowle tale among the common people howe they had a long time borne very impaciently to be subiects to a King bicause them selues would haue had and taken vpon them some soueraine authoritie and that for this cause they had killed king Romulus Adding somewhat more vnto it howe a litle before he had vsed them more roughely and commaūded them more straightly then he was wont or accustomed Neuertheles they found the meanes to quenche all these bruites and murmurings by doing diuine honour and sacrifice vnto him as one not dead but passed to a better life To confirme this one of the noblest men among them called Proclus came in and by othe affirmed before all the people that he sawe Romulus ascending vp into heauen armed at all peces and that he heard a voyce saye from thenceforth call him Quirinus This being thus appeased there sprange vp another trouble to knowe whom they should choose in his place For the straungers which were come then from other places to dwell in ROME were not yet throughly ioyned to the naturall borne ROMAINES in so muche as the common people dyd not only wauer and stagger vp and down in opinion but the Senatours also that were many of diuers nations did enter into a suspition one of another These things notwithstāding they all agreed in this that of necessitie they must choose a King howbeit in the rest they differed much not only whom they should choose but also of what nation he should be For those which were the first founders and buylders of the cittie of ROME with Romulus could in no wise abide norsuffer that the SABYNES to whom they had diuided parte of their landes and a moytie of their cittie should attempt and presume to commaund them whom they dyd receyue and associate into their company and felowshippe The SABYNES alledged on thother side for them a good reason and such as caried great probabilitie Which was that neuer sence the death of their king Tatius they neither had in any thing disobeyed nor disquieted king Romulus but had suffered him to raigne peaceably and therefore Romulus being nowe deceased reason would that the newe King should be chosen of their nation And that albeit the ROMAINES had receyued them into their cittie they could
sometime the conuersation of suche as be holye religious and deuoute But to beleeue the goddes haue carnall knowledge and doe delight in the outward beawtie of creatures that seemeth to carie a very harde beliefe Yet the wise EGYPTIANS thincke it probable enough and likely that the spirite of the goddes hath geuen originall of generation to women and doe beget fruite of their bodies howbeit they holde that a man can haue no corporall companie with any diuine nature Wherein they doe not cōsider that euery thing that ioyneth together doth deliuer againe a like substaūce to that wherewith it was ioyned This notwithstanding it is mete we should beleeue the godds beare good will to men and that of it doth spring their loue whereby men saye the goddes loue those whose manners they purifie and inspire with vertue And they doe not offende which fayne that Phorbas Hyacinthus and Admetus were sometimes the louers of Apollo and also Hippolytus the SICYONIAN of whom they reporte that euer when he passed ouer the arme of the sea which lieth betweene the citties of SICYONA and of CIRRAHA the god which knewe he came reioyced and caused Pythia the prophetesse to pronounce these heroycall verses I knovve full vvell my deare Hippolytus returnes by sea my minde diuineth thus It is sayd also that Pan was in loue with Pindarus and his verses and that the goddes honored the poets Hesiodus Archilocus after their death by the Muses They saye moreouer that AEsculapius laye with Sophocles in his life time and at this daye they doe yet showe many tokens thereof and after his death another god as it is reported made him to be honorably buried Nowe if they graunte that such things maye be true how can we refuse to beleeue that some goddes haue bene familliar with Zaleucus Minos Zoroastres Lycurgus Numa and such other like personages which haue gouerned kingdomes stablished common weales and it is not vnlike that the goddes in deede dyd company with them to inspire and teache them many notable things and that they did drawe neere vnto these Poets players of the harpe that made and played many dolefull and ioyfull ditties at the least for their sporte and pleasure onely if euer they came neere them Neuertheles if any man be of other opinion the waye is open and large as Bacchylides sayed to thincke and saye as he lust For my selfe I doe finde that which is written of Lycurgus Numa and other suche persones not to be without likelyhood and probabilitie who hauing to gouerne rude churlishe stiffe necked people and purposing to bring in straunge nouelties into the gouernments of their countries did fayne wisely to haue conference with the godds considering this fayning fell to be profitable beneficiall to those themselues whom they made to beleeue the same But to returne to our historie Numa was fourty yeres olde when the ambassadours of ROME were sent to present the Kingdome vnto him to intreate him to accept thereof Proclus and Velesus were the ambassadours that were sent One of the which the people looked should haue bene chosen for King bicause those of Romulus side did fauour muche Proclus and those of Tatius parte fauored Velesus Nowe they vsed no long speache vnto him bicause they thought he would haue bene glad of suche a great good fortune But contrarely it was in deede a very hard thing required great persuasions much intreatie to moue a man which had allwayes liued quietly at ease to accept the regiment of a cittie which as a man would saye had bene raysed vp and growen by warres and martiall dedes Wherfore he aunswered them in the presence of his father and one other of his kinsemen called Martius in this sorte Chaunge alteration of mans life is euer daungerous but for him that lacketh nothing necessarie nor hath cause to cōplaine of his present state it is a great follie to leaue his olde acquainted trade of life to enter into another newe and vnknowen if there were no other but this only respect that he leaueth a certaintie to venter vpon an vncertainty Howbeit there is further matter in this that the daūgers perills of this kingdom which they offer me are not altogether vncertain if we will looke backe what happened vnto Romulus Who was not vnsuspected to haue layed waite to haue had Tatius his fellow cōpanion murdered now after Romulus death the Senatours selues are mistrusted to haue killed him on the other side by treason And yet they saye it and singe in euery where that Romulus was the sonne of a god that at his birthe he was miraculously preserued and afterwardes he was as incrediblie brought vp Whereas for my owne parte I doe confesse I was begotten by a mortallman and was fostered brought vp and taught by men as you known and these fewe qualities which they prayse commend in me are conditions farre vnmoto for a man that is to raigne I euer loued a solitarie life quiet and studie and did exempt my selfe from worldly causes All my life time I haue sought and loued peace aboue all things and neuer had for doe with any warres My conuersation hath bene to companie with men which meete only to serue honour the goddes or to laughe and be merie one with another or els to spende their time in their priuate affayers or otherwise sometime to attend their pastures and feeding of their cattell Whereas Romulus my ROMAINE lordes hath left you many warres begonne which peraduenture you could be contented to spare yet now to mainteine the same your citie had neede of a martiall King actiue strong of bodye Your people moreouer through long custome and the great increase they are geuen vnto by feates of armes desire nought els perhappes but warres and it is plainely seene they seeke still to growe and commaund their neighbours So that if there were no other consideration in it yet were it a mere mockerie for me to goe to teache a cittie at this present to serue the goddes to loue iustice to hate warres and to flye violence when it rather hath neede of a conquering captaine then of a peaceable king These and suche other like reasons and persuasions Numa alleaged to discharge him selfe of the Kingdome which they offred him Howbeit the ambassadours of the ROMAINES most humbly besought and prayed him with all instance possible that he would not be the cause of another newe sturre and commotion among them seeing both partes in the cittie haue geuen their consent and liking to him alone and none other to be their king Moreouer when the ambassadours had left him vpon this sute his father and Martius his kinseman beganne also priuately to perswade him that he should not refuse so good and godly an offer And albeit he was contented with his present state and desired to be no richer than he was nor coueted no princely honour nor glorie bicause he sought only
most famous vertue yet he must needes thincke that to rule well was to doe the goddes good seruice whose will it was to employe the iustice they knewe in him and not to suffer it to be idle Refuse not therefore q they this royall dignitie which to a graue and wise man is a goodly field to bring forth many commendable workes and fruites There you maye doe noble seruice to the godds to humble the heartes of these martiall people and to bring them to be holy and religious for they readely turne and easely conforme them selues vnto the nature of their prince They dearely loued Tatius although he was a straunger they haue consecrated a memorie to Romulus with diuine honours which they make vnto him at this daye And it maye be that the people seeing them selues conquerers will be full enough of warres and the ROMAINES being nowe full of spoyles triumphes will be glad to haue a gentle prince and one that loueth iustice that they maye thenceforth liue in peace vnder good and holy lawes And yet if it be otherwise that their hartes be still full of heate and furie to fight is it not better to turne this their desire to make warres some other waye when a man hathe the bridle in his owne handes to doe it and to be a meane in the meane time to ioyne the countrie and all the nation of the SABYNES in perpetuall loue and amitie with so mighty and florishing a cittie besides all these persuasions and reasons there were many signes also as they saye which promised him good lucke together with the earnest affection and liking of his owne countrie cittizens Who so soone as they vnderstoode the coming and commission of the ambassadours of ROME they importunately desired him to goe thither and to accept the offer of the Kingdome that he might more straightly vnite and incorporate them together with the ROMAINES Whereupon Numa accepted the Kingdome Then after he had done sacrifice to the goddes he set forwardes on his iourney towardes ROME where the people and Senate went out to meete him with a wonderfull desire to see him The women at his entrie went blessing of him and singing of his prayses They dyd sacrifice for him in all the temples of the goddes There was neither man nor woman but seemed to be as ioyfull and glad as if a newe Realme and not a newe Kinge had bene come to the cittie of ROME Thus was he brought with this open ioye and reioycing vnto the market place where one of the Senatours which at that time was regent called Spurius Vettius made them pronounce his open election and so by one consent he was chosen King with all the voyces of the people Then were brought vnto him the tokens of honour and dignitie of the king But he him selfe commaunded they should be stayed a while saying He must first be confirmed King by the goddes Then he tooke the wise men priests with whom he went vp into the Capitoll which that time was yet called mounte Tarpeian And there the chiefest of the soothesayers called Augures turned him towardes the southe hauing his face couered with a veyle and stoode behinde him laying his right hande vpon his heade and praying to the goddes that it would please them to declare their willes by flying of birdes or some other token concerning this election and so the soothesayer cast his eyes all about as farre as he could possiblie discerne During all this time there was a maruelous silence in the market place although then an infinite number of people were assembled there together attending with great deuotion what the issue of this diuination would be vntill there appeared vnto them on the right hande good and lucky birdes which did confirme the election Then Numa putting on his regall robes came downe from mounte Tarpeian into the market place where all the people receyued him with wonderfull showtes of ioye as a man the most holy and best beloued of the goddes that they could haue chosen So hauing taken the royall seate of the Kingdome his first acte was this That he discharged the garde of the three hundred souldiers which Romulus had allwayes about his persone called Celeres saying he would not mistrust them which trusted him neither would he be King ouer people which should mistrust him His second acte was that he did adde to the two priests of Iupiter Mars a thirde in the honour of Romulus who was called Flamen Quirinalis For the auncient ROMAINES also called their priests instituted in the olde time Flamines by reason of certaine litle narrowe hattes which they did weare on their heades as if they had called them Pilamines for Pilos in Greeke signifieth a hatte And at that time as they saye there were many moe Greeke wordes mingled with the Latine then there are at this daye For they called the mantells the Kings did weare Loenas And Iuba sayeth that it is the very same which the GRECIANS call Chloenas and that the younge boye which was a seruaunte in the temple of Iupiter was called Camillus as some of the GRECIANS doe yet call the god Mercurie bicause he is seruaunt of the godds Now Numa hauing done these things at his first entrie into his Kingdome still to winne further fauour and goodwill of the people beganne immediately to frame his citizens to a certaine ciuilitie being as iron wrought to softenes and brought them from their violent and warlike desires to temperate and ciuill manners For out of doubt ROME was properly that which Plato ascribeth to a cittie full of trouble and pryde For first it was founded by the most coragious and warlike men of the worlde which from all partes were gathered there together in a most desperate boldnes and afterwards it increased and grewe strong by armes and continuall warres like as pyles driuen into the grounde which the more they are rammed in the further they enter and sticke the faster Wherefore Numa iudging it no small nor light enterprise to plucke downe the hawty stomacks of so fierce and violent a people and to frame them vnto a sobre and quiet life dyd seeme to worcke it by meanes of the goddes with drawing them on thereto by litle and litle and pacifying of their whotte and fierce corages to fight with sacrifices feastes dauncings and common processions wherein he celebrated euer him selfe In the which together with their duotion there was mingled nowe and then pastime and pleasure and sometimes he layed the terrour and feare of the goddes before their eyes making them beleeue that he had seene straunge visions or that he had heard voyces by which the goddes dyd threaten them with some great troubles and plagues allwayes to pull downe and humble their heartes vnto the feare of the goddes This was the cause why they thought afterwardes that he had learned his wisdome of Pythagoras the philosopher bicause the greatest parte of the philosophie of the one and
them neither haue they done any vnseemely thing but haue passed the rest of their life like wise constant and vertuous men For it is not loue but weaknes which breedeth these extreme sorowes and exceeding feare in men that are not exercised nor acquainted to fight against fortune with reason And this is the cause that plucketh from them the pleasure of that they loue and desire by reason of the continuall trouble feare and griefe they feele by thincking howe in time they maye be depriued of it Nowe we must not arme our selues with pouertie against the griefe of losse of goodes neither with lacke of affeâ—tion against the losse of our friendes neither with wante of mariage against the death of children but we must be armed with reason against misfortunes Thus haue we sufficiently enlarged this matter The ATHENIANS hauing nowe susteined a long and troublesome warre against the MEGARIANS for the possession of the I le of SALAMINA were in the ende wearie of it and made proclamation straightly commaunding vpon payne of death that no man should presume to preferre any more to the counsaill of the cittie the title or question of the possession of the I le of SALAMINA Solon could not beare this open shame and seeing the most parte of the lustiest youthes desirous still of warre though their tongues were tyed for feare of the proclamation he fayned him selfe to be out of his wittes and caused it to be geuen out that Solon was become a foole and secretly he had made certaine lamentable verses which he had cunned without booke to singe abroade the cittie So one daye he ranne sodainly out of his house with a garland on his head and gotte him to the market place where the people straight swarmed like bees about him and getting him vp vpon the stone where all proclamations are vsually made out he singeth these Elegies he had made which beganne after this sorte I here present my selfe an Heraulde in this case vvhich come from Salamina lande that noble vvorthy place My minde in pelting prose shall neuer be exprest But songe in verse Heroycall for so I thincke it best This Elegie is intituled SALAMINA and conteineth a hundred verses which are excellently well written And these being songe openly by Solon at that time his friendes incontinently praysed them beyond measure and specially Pisistratus and they went about persuading the people that were present to credit that he spake Hereupon the matter was so handled amongest them that by and by the proclamation was reuoked and they beganne to followe the warres with greater furie then before appointing Solon to be generall in the same But the common tale and reporte is that he went by sea with Pisistratus vnto the temple of Venus surnamed Coliade where he founde all the women at a solemne feast and sacrifice which they made of custome to the goddesse He taking occasion thereby sent from thence a trusty man of his owne vnto the MEGARIANS which then had SALAMINA whom he instructed to fayne him selfe a reuolted traytour that he came of purpose to tell them that if they would but goe with him they might take all the chief ladyes and gentle women of ATHENS on a sodaine The MEGARIANS easely beleeued him and shipped forthwith certaine souldiers to goe with him But when Solon perceyued the shippe vnder sayle comming from SALAMINA he commaunded the women to departe and in steade of them he put lusty beardles springalles into their apparell and gaue them litle shorte daggers to conuey vnder their clothes commaunding them to playe daunce together vpon the sea side vntill their enemies were landed and their shippe at anker and so it came to passe For the MEGARIANS being deceyued by that they sawe a farre of as sonne as euer they came to the shore side dyd lande in heapes one in anothers necke euen for greedines to take these women but not a man of them escaped for they were slayne euery mothers sonne This stratageame being finely handled to good effect the ATHENIANS tooke sea straight and costed ouer to the I le of SALAMINA which they tooke vpon the sodaine and wanne it without much resistaunce Other saye that it was not taken after this sorte but that Apollo Delphicus gaue Solon first such an oracle Thou shalt first vvinne by vovves and sacrifice the helpe of lordes an demy goddes full bright of vvhose dead bones the dust engraued lies in vvesterne soyle Asopia that hight By order of this oracle he one night passed ouer to SALAMINA dyd sacrifice to Periphemus to Cichris demy goddes of the countrie Which done the ATHENIANS deliuered him fiue hundred men who willingly offered them selues the cittie made an accorde with them that if they tooke the I le of SALAMINA they should beare greatest authoritie in the common weale Solon imbarked his souldiers into diuers fisher botes and appointed a galliot of thirtie owers to come after him he ankred hard by the cittie of SALAMINA vnder the pointe which looketh towards the I le of NEGREPONT The MEGARIANS which were within SALAMINA hauing by chaunce heard some inckling of it but yet knew nothing of certaintie ranne presently in hurly burley to arme them and manned out a shippe to descrie what it was But they fondly comming within daunger were taken by Solon who clapped the MEGARIANS vnder hatches fast bounde and in their roomes put aborde in their shippe the choycest souldiers he had of the ATHENIANS commaunding them to set their course direct vpon the cittie and to keepe them selues as close out of sight as could be And he him self with all the rest of his souldiers landed presently and marched to encounter with the MEGARIANS which were come out into the fielde Now whilest they were fighting together Solons men whom he had sent in the MEGARIANS shippe entred the hauen wanne the towne This is certainly true testified by that which is shewed yet at this daye For to keepe a memoriall hereof a shippe of ATHENS arriueth quietly at the first by by those that are in the shippe make a great showte and a man armed leaping out of the shippe ronneth showting towardes the rocke called Sciradion which is as they come from the firme lande and hard by the same is the temple of Mars which Solon built there after he had ouercome the MEGARIANS in battell from whence he sent backe againe those prisoners that he had taken which were saued from the slaughter of the battell without any ransome paying Neuertheles the MEGARIANS were sharpely bent still to recouer SALAMINA again Much hurte being done suffered on both sides both parts in the ende made the LACEDAEMONIANS iudges of the quarrell But vpon iudgement geuen common reporte is that Homers authoritie dyd Solon good seruice bicause he did adde these verses to the number of shippes which are in the Iliades of Homer which he rehearsed before the iudges as if they
indifferently to his will. As the offices of state common assemblies voyces in election iudgemēts in iustice and the bodie of the Senate And they gaue him also full power and authoritie to sesse and taxe any of them to appointe the number what time the sesse should continewe and to keepe confirme and disanull at his pleasure any of the auncient lawes and customes then in being To beginne withall he first tooke away all Dracons bloudy lawes sauing for murder and manslaughter which were to seuere cruell For almost he dyd ordaine but one kinde of punishment for all kinde of faultes and offences which was death So that they which were condemned for idlenes were iudged to dye And pety larceny as robbing mens horteyards gardens of fruite or erbes was as seuerely punished as those who had committed sacriledge or murder Demades therefore encountered it pleasauntly when he sayed that Dracons lawes were not written with incke but with bloud And Draco him selfe being asked one daye why his punishmēts were so vnequall as death for all kinde of faultes he aunswered Bicause he thought the least offence worthie so much punishment and for the greatest he found none more grieuous Then Solon being desirous to haue the chief offices of the cittie to remaine in riche mens handes as already they dyd and yet to mingle the authoritie of gouernment in such sorte as the meaner people might beare a litle swaye which they neuer could before he made an estimate of the goodes of euery priuate cittizen And those which he founde yerely worthe fiue hundred busshells of corne other liquide fruites and vpwards he called Pentacosiomedimnes as to saye fiue hundred busshell men of reuenue And those that had three hundred busshells a yere and were able to keepe a horse of seruice he put in the second degree and called them knightes They that might dispend but two hundred busshells a yere were put in the thirde place called Zeugites All other vnder those were called Thetes as ye would saye hyerlings or craftes men liuing of their labour whom he dyd not admit to beare any office in the cittie neither were they taken as free cittizens sauing they had voyces in elections and assemblies of the cittie and in iudgements where the people wholy iudged This at the first seemed nothing but afterwardes they felt it was to great purpose for hereby the most parte of priuate quarrells and strifes that grewe among them were in the ende layed open before the people For the suffered those to appeale vnto the people which thought they had wrong iudgement in their causes Furthermore bicause his lawes were written somewhat obscurely and might be diuersely taken and interpreted this dyd geue a great deale more authoritie and power to the iudges For considering all their controuersies could not be ended and iudged by expresse lawe they were driuen of necessitie allwayes to ronne to the iudges and debated their matters before them In so muche as the iudges by this meanes came to be somewhat aboue the lawe for they dyd euen expounde it as they would them selues Solon self doth note this equall diuision of the publicke authoritie in a place of his poesies where he sayeth Suche povver haue I geuen to common peoples hande as might become their meane estate vvith equity to stande and as I haue not pluct from them their dignitie so haue I not to much increast their small authoritie Vnto the riche likevvise I haue allovved no more then vvell might seeme in iust conceit sufficient for their store And so I have for both prouided in such vvise that neither shall eche other vvrong nor seeme for to despise Yet considering it was meete to prouide for the pouertie of the common sorte of people he suffered any man that would to take vpon him the defence of any poore mans case that had the wrong For if a man were hurte beaten forced or otherwise wronged any other man that would might lawfully sue the offendour and prosecute lawe against him And this was a wise lawe ordeined of him to accustome his cittizens to be sorie one for anothers hurte so to feele it as if any parte of his owne bodie had bene iniured And they saye he made an aunswer on a time agreable to this law For being asked what cittie he thought best gouerned he aunswered That cittie where such as receyue no wronge doe as earnestly defend wrōg offered to other as the very wrong iniurie had bene done vnto them selues He erected also the coūsaill of the Areopagites of those magistrates of the cittie out of which they did yerely choose their gouernour he him self had bene of that number for that he had bene gouernour for a yere Wherefore perceyuing now the people were growen to a stomake hawtines of minde bicause they were cleare discharged of their detts he set one vp for matters of state another counsell of an hundred chosen out of euery tribe whereof foure hūdred of them were to consult debate of all matters before they were propounded to the people that when the great counsell of the people at large should be assembled no matters should be put forth onles it had bene before well considered of digested by the counsell of the foure hundred Moreouer he ordeined the higher courte should haue the chiefe authoritie power ouer all things and chiefly to see the lawe executed and mainteined supposing that the common weale being settled and stayed with these two courtes as with two stronge anker holdes it should be the lesse turmoyled and troubled and the people also better pacified and quieted The most parte of writers holde this opinion that it was Solon which erected the counsaill of the Areopagites as we haue sayed and it is very likely to be true for that Dracon in all his lawes and ordinaunces made no manner of mention of the Areopagites but allwayes speaketh to the Ephetes which were iudges of life and death when he spake of murder or of any mans death Notwithstanding the eight law of the thirtenth table of Solon sayeth thus in these very words All such as haue bene banished or detected of naughty life before Solon made his laws shal be restored againe to their goodes and good name except those which were condemned by order of the counsaill of the Areopagites or by the Ephetes or by the Kings in open courte for murder and death of any man or for aspiring to vsurpe tyrannie These wordes to the contrarie seeme to proue and testifie that the counsell of the Areopagites was before Solon was chosen reformer of the lawes For howe could offenders and wicked men be condemned by order of the counsell of the Areopagites before Solon if Solon was the first that gaue it authoritie to iudge onles a man will saye peraduenture that he would a litle helpe the matter of his lawes which were obscure and darke and would supply that they lacked
man of the world that he was iustly driuen out of his countrie Tarquine sharpely aunswered that he would make no man his iudge and Porsena least of all other for that hauing promised him to put him againe in his Kingdome he was nowe gone from his worde and had chaunged his minde Porsena was very angrie with this aunswer iudging this a manifest token that his cause was ill Wherefore Porsena being solicited againe by his owne sonne Aruns who loued the ROMAINES dyd easely graunte them peace vpon condition that they should redeliuer backe againe to him the lands they had gotten before within the countrie of THVSCAN with the prisoners also which they had taken in this warre in liew thereof he offered to deliuer to them againe the ROMAINES that had fled from them vnto him To confirme this peace the ROMAINES deliuered him ostages tenne of the noblest mens sonnes of the cittie so many of their daughters emōg which was Valeria Publicolaes owne daughter Peace being thus concluded Porsena brake his armie withdrewe his strength trusting to the peace cōcluded The ROMAINES daughters deliuered for ostages came downe to the riuers side to washe them in a quiet place where the streame ranne but gently without any force or swiftnes at all When they were there and saw they had no garde about them nor any came that waye nor yet any botes going vp nor down the streame they had a desire to swime ouer the riuer which rāne with a swift streame was maruelous deepe Some saye that one Claelia swamme the riuer vpon her horse backe that she did imbolden incorage the other to swimme hard by her horse side recouering the other bancke and being past all daunger they went presented themselues before Publicola the Consul Who neither commended them nor liked the parte they had played but was maruelous sorie fearing least men would iudge him lesse carefull to keepe his faith then was king Porsena that he might suspect the boldnes of these maidens was but a crafty slight deuised of the ROMAINES Therefore he tooke them all againe sent them immediatly vnto king Porsena Whereof Tarquine hauing intelligence he layed an ambushe for them that had the conduction of them Who so soone as they were paste the riuer did shew them selues brake vpon the ROMAINES they being farre fewer in number that the other did yet very stowtely defend them selues Now whilest they were in earnest fight together Valeria Publicolaes daughter and three of her fathers seruants escaped through the middest of them and saued them selues The residue of the virgines remained in the middest among their swordes in great daunger of their liues Aruns king Porsenas sonne aduertised hereof ranne thither incōtinently to the rescue but when he came the enemies fled and the ROMAINES held on their iorney to redeliuer their ostages Porsena seeing them againe asked which of them it was that beganne first to passe the riuer and had encouraged the other to followe her One pointed him vnto her and told him her name was Claelia He looked vpon her very earnestly and with a pleasaunt countenaunce and commaunded they should bring him one of his best horse in the stable and the richest furniture he had for the same and so he gaue it vnto her Those which holde opinion that none but Claelia passed the riuer a horse backe doe alledge this to proue their opinion true Other doe denie it saying that this THVSCAN king did onely honour her noble courage Howsoeuer it was they see her image a horse backe in the holy streete as they goe to the palace some saye it is the statue of Valeria other of Claelia After Porsena had made peace with the ROMAINES in breaking vp his campe he shewed his noble minde vnto them in many other things and specially in that he commaunded his souldiers they should carie nothing but their armour and weapon only leauing his campe full of corne vittells and other kynde of goodes From whence this custome came that at this daye when they make open sale of any thing belonging to the common weale the sergeant or common crier crieth that they are king Porsenas goodes and taken of thankefullnes and perpetuall memorie of his bowntie and liberalitie towards them Further Porsenas image standeth adioyning to the palace where the Senate is vsed to be kept which is made of great antike worke Afterwardes the SABYNES inuading the ROMAINES territorie with a great force Marcus Valerius Publicolaes brother was then chosen Consul with one Posthumius Tubertus Howbeit all matters of weight and importaunce passed by Publicolaes counsell and authoritie who was present at any thing that was done and by whose meanes Marcus his brother wanne two great battells in the last whereof he slewe thirteene thousand of his enemies not losing one of his owne men For which his victories besides the honour of triumphe he had the people also at their owne charges built him a house in the streete of mounte Palatine and graunted him moreouer that his doore should open outwards into the streete where all others mens doores dyd open inwards into their house signifying by graunte of this honour and priuiledge that he should allwayes haue benefit by the common weale It is reported that the GRECIANS doores of their houses in olde time dyd all open outwards after that facion they doe cōiecture it by the comedies that are played Where those that would goe out of their houses dyd first knocke at their doores and make a noyse within the house least in opening their doore vpon a sodaine they might ouerthrowe or hurte him that taried at the streete doore or passed by the waye who hearing the noyse had warning straight to auoyde the daunger The next yere after that Publicola was chosen Consul the fourth time bicause they stoode in great doubt that the SABYNES and LATINES would ioyne together to make warres vpon them besides all this there was a certaine superstitious feare ranne through the cittie of some ill happe toward it bicause most parte of the women with childe were deliuered of vnperfect children lacking some one limme or other all of them came before their time Wherfore Publicola looking in some of Sybillaes books made priuate sacrifice vnto Pluto did set vp againe some feastes solemne games that were left of had bene commaunded before time to be kept by the oracle of Apollo These meanes hauing a litle reioyced the cittie with good hope bicause they thought that the anger of the goddes had bene appeased Publicola then begāne to prouide for the daūgers that they were threatned withall by men for that newes was brought him that their enemies were vp in all places made great preparation to inuade them Nowe there was at that time amongest the SABYNES a great riche man called Appius Clausus very strong and actiue of bodie otherwise a man of great reputation eloquence
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
vvith svvifter course This is vvithouten fayle The ATHENIANS had nine score in euery one of the which there were eightene souldiers whereof foure of them were archers and all the rest armed men Themistocles also did with no lesse skill wisedom choose his time place to fight forbearing to charge his enemies vntill the hower was come that of ordinarie custome the sea winde arose and brought in a rough tyde within the channell which dyd not hurt the GRAECIAN gallyes being made lowe and snugge but greatly offended the PERSIAN gallyes being highe cargged heauie not yare of steredge and made them lye sidelong to the GREECIANS who fiercely set vpon them hauing allwayes an eye to Themistocles direction that best foresawe their aduaÌ„tage At the same time Ariamenes Xerxes admirall a man of great valure and worthiest of the Kings brethern be stowed arrowes and dartes as it were from the walles of a castell charging the gallye of Aminias Decelian and Sosicles Pedian which were ioyned and grappled with him and fiercely entring the same was by them valliantly receyued vpon their pikes and thrust ouer borde into the sea Whose bodie floting amongest other shippewracks ARTEMISIA knowing caused to be caried to king Xerxes Nowe whilest this battell stoode in these termes they saye that there appeared a great flame in the element toward the cittie of ELEVSIN and that a lowde voyce was heard through all the plaine of THRIASIA vnto the sea as if there had bene a nuÌ„ber of men together that had songe out alowde the holy songe of Iacchus And it seemed by litle and litle that there rose a clowde in the ayer from those which sange that left the land came lighted on the gallyes in the sea Other affirmed that they sawe armed men which did reache out their hands from the I le of AEGINA towards the GREECIAN gallyes they thought they were the AEACIDES for whose helpe they all prayed before the battell was begonne The first man of the ATHENIANS that tooke any of the enemies shippes was Lycomedes a captaine of a gallye who hauing takeÌ„ very rich furniture flagges did afterwards coÌ„secrate them to Apollo laurell as ye would saye victorious The other GREECIANS in the fronte being equall in nuÌ„ber with the barbarous shipps by reason of the straightnes of the arme of the sea wherein they sought so straightned as they could not fight but by one one where by the BARBARIANS disorderly layed one another abourde that they did hinder them selues with their ouer multitude in the end were so sore pressed vpon by the GREECIANS that they were coÌ„strayned to flye by night after they had fought mainteined battell vntil it was very darke So the GRAECIANS wanne that glorious famous victorie of the which maye truly be affirmed that as Simonides sayeth VVas neuer yet nor Greeke nor Barbarous crevv that could by sea so many men subdevv Nor that obteind so famous victorie in any fight against their enemie Thus was the victorie wonne through the valliantnes and corage of those that fought that battell but especially through Themistocles great policie and wisdome After this battell Xerxes being mad for his losse thought to fill vp the arme of the sea and to passe his armie by lande vpon a bridge into the I le of SALAMINA Themistocles bicause he would feele Aristides opinion tolde him as they were talking together that he thought best to goe and occupie the straight of HELLESPONT with the armie by sea to breake the bridge of shippes which Xerxes had caused to be made to the ende said he that we maye take ASIA into EVROPE Aristides liked not this opinion for we haue said he fought all this while against this barbarous King who thought but to playe with vs But if we shut him within GREECE and bring him to fight of necessitie to saue his life such an enemie that commaundeth so great an armie will no more stand still as a looker on and set at his ease vnder his golden pauilion to see the pastime of the battell but will proue euerie waye and be him selfe in euery place at all assayes to taâ—e him self from such a straight daunger Thus with politicke care foresight he maye easely amend his former faulte committed by negligence and doe well enough when he shall see his life and Kingdome both depend vpon it Therefore Themistocles I would thincke not best to breake his bridge at all which he hath caused to be made but rather if we could to build another to it to driue him out of EVROPE as sone as we could Themistocles then replied Seeing you thincke this were good to be done we must all laye our heades together to deuise how he maye be forced to come out assone as we could They breaking of with this resolutioÌ„ Themistocles sent immediately one of the Kings enuches called Arsaces that was one of the gromes of his chaÌ„ber whom he found out amoÌ„gest the prisoners by him he sent this message vnto the king That the GREECIANS hauing woÌ„ne the battell of him by sea had decreed in their counsell how they would goe to the straight of HELLESPONT to breake the bridge of shippes he had caused to be made there Whereof he thought good to aduertise him for the goodwil he did beare him and to the ende he might bethincke him betimes to get him away to the sea within his own dominion and so passe backe againe into ASIA as sone as he could whilest he gaue order to his allies and confederates to staye following him at the poope The barbarous King vnderstading these newes was so affrayed that he hoysed away with all possible speede The further foresight and great wisdome of Themistocles and Aristides in marine causes dyd manifestly appeare afterwards in the battell the GREECIANS fought before the cittie of PLATEA against Mardonius king Xerxes lieutenante who hauing but a small power of the King his soueraines there dyd yet put the GREECIANS to great distresse and in hazard to haue lost all Of all the townes and citties that fought in this battel Herodotus writeth that the cittie of AEGINA wanne the same for valliantnes aboue the rest of priuate men among the GRECIANS Themistocles was iudged the worthiest man although it was sore against their willes bicause they enuied much his glory For after the battell done all the captaines being gotten into the straight of PELOPONNESVS and hauing sworne vpon the altar of their sacrifices that they would geue their voyces after their consciences to those they thought had best deserued it euery one gaue him selfe the first place for worthines and the seconde vnto Themistocles The LACEDAEMONIANS caried him into SPARTA where they iudged the honour and dignitie to their admirall Eurybiades but the wisedome and pollicie they attributed to Themistocles In token thereof they gaue him an oliue braunche and the goodliest coche that was in their cittie and moreouer they
to be strong by sea was it that dyd mainteine the authoritie of the popular state And that contrariwise they which liue by the labour and toyle of the earthe doe more willingly like the gouernment of Nobilitie Themistocles called to minde another matter also of greater importance to make the cittie of ATHENS of a greater power by sea For after the retire of Xerxes and that all the fleete and nauie of the GRAECIANS wintered in the hauen of PAGASES he sayed one daye in an open assembly of the people that he had thought of a thing which would be very profitable and beneficiall for them but it was not to be tolde openly The people willed him then to imparte it to Aristides and if he thought it good they would execute it speedely Themistocles then tolde Aristides the thing he had considered of was to burne the Arcenal where the GRAECIANS nauy laye and to set on fire all their shippes Aristides hearing his purpose returned to the people and tolde them howe nothing could be more profitable but with all more vniust then that which Themistocles had deuised The ATHENIANS then willed Aristides it should be let alone altogether Furthermore when the LACEDAEMONIANS had exhibited their petition to the counsell of the Amphictyons that is the generall counsaill of all the states of GRAECE assembled howe the townes and citties of GRAECE which had not bene parties with the GRAECIANS to the league against the barbarous people should be put of wholy from this counsaill Themistocles dowting of the ARGIVES the THESSALIANS and the THEBANS also should by this meanes be exempted that the LACEDAEMONIANS would be then the greater number in voyces and by this meanes might doe what they would in this counsell he spake so consideratly for the citties which they would haue thus discharged that he made the petitioners in the assembly vtterly to chaunge their opinion Declaring howe there were but one and thirtie citties comprised only the league and yet that some of them were very weake and small and howe it were no reason that reiecting all the rest of GRECE the greatest authoritie of this counsaill should fall into the handes of two or three of the chiefest citties alone For this cause chiefly the LACEDAEMONIANS dyd euer beare him extreme hatred and dyd set vp Cimon all they could to be allwayes aduersary opposite vnto him and as it were to bearde him in all matters of state and the gouernment of ATHENS They procured him besides the ill will and displeasure of all the friendes and confederates of the ATHENIANS for that he went sayling still to and fro alongest the Iles exacting money of the inhabitants of the same And this is to be knowen by the matter propounded by him to the ANDRIANS of whom he would haue had money and by the aunswer they made him as Herodotus writeth Which was howe he had brought them two mightie goddes Loue and Force And they aunswered him againe that they also had two great goddesses which kept them from geuing of him any money Pouertie and Impossibilitie And to make this good also Timocreon the Rhodian poet galled him to the quicke when he sharpely taunted him for calling many home againe for money that were banished and howe for couetousnes of money he had betrayed and forsaken his hoste and friende The verses wherein this matter is mentioned are to this effecte VVho list commend vvorthy Pausanias Xanthippus or good Leotychides yet shall I seeme but light thereof to passe compared vvith valliant Aristides For yet vvas naye the like in Athens tovvne nor neuer shall come none of like renovvne Themistocles by right and due deserte is hated of Latons for his lyes and for he bare a traitrous vvicked harte vvho like a vvretche nigard did deuise for small revvardes his host Timocreon to holde out of his countrie Ialison He tooke for bribe vniustly yet therevvhile of redy coyne three talents fayre and bright revoking such as pleased him from exile and banishing full many a vvorthy vvight Or putting them to death vvithout cause tolde he gate thereby great heapes of coyne and golde But in the ende ôright revvarde for such this bribing vvretch vvas forced for to holde a tipling bovvthe most like a clovvne or fâ—â—â—he at holy feastes and pastimes manifold vvhich vvere amongest the people in those dayes Istmiciane folke dyd vse the like allvvayes And there he serued his gests vvith cold meat still vvhilest they that tasted of his cookerie gan vvishe that they to ease their vveary vvill had neuer liued to see the treccherie of false Themistocles and that he might no longer liue vvhich vvrought them such despight After this he dyd more openly blase him to the worlde when he was banished and condemned in a songe that had beginning thus O Muse let these my verses be disperst throughout all Grace since they deserue no lesse and since the truthe vvhich is in them rehearst deserueth fame vvhom no man should suppresse They saye the cause was why this Timocreon was banished the friendshippe which he had with the Barbarous people and for geuing them intelligence Whereof Themistocles was one that iudicially condemned him Wherefore when Themistocles him selfe was accused afterwards of the same faulte Timocreon then made these verses following against him Timocreon vvas not vvithout his pheere vvhich did conferre vvith Medes priuely Since others mo the selfe same blame might beare mo foxes lurke in dennes as vvell as I. Besides these verses Themistocles owne citizens for the ill will they bare him were contented to heare him ill spoken of Therefore while he fought wayes to redresse all this he was driuen to vse such meane which more increased their hatred toward him For in his orations to the people he dyd ofte remember them of the good seruice he had done them and perceyuing howe they were offended withall he was driuen to saye Why are ye weary so ofte to receyue good by one man Many of them were very angry with him also when he surnamed Diana in the dedication of her temple he made vnto her Aristobule as much to saye as the good counseller meaning thereby howe he had geuen graue and wise counsell both vnto his cittie and to all the rest of the GRECIANS He built this temple also neere his house in a place called Melita where the hangemen doe cast the dead bodies of those that were executed and throwe the ragges and halters endes of those that were hanged or otherwise put to death by lawe There was also in our dayes in the temple of Diana Aristobule a litle image of Themistocles which shewed plainely that he was not only wise and of a noble minde but also of a great maiestie and countenaunce in face In the ende the ATHENIANS banished him ATHENS for fiue yere bicause they would plucke downe his ouergreat corage and authoritie as they dyd vse to serue those whose greatnes they thought to be more then common equalitie
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
the people of Themistocles which kept watche perceyuing them ranne vpon them and tooke them So Themistocles hauing escaped this daunger wondred greately at the fauour of the goddesse which had appeared vnto him In recompence whereof when he was in the cittie of MAGNESIA he built a temple vnto Dindymena and made his daughter Mnesiptolema prioresse of the same As he passed by the cittie of SARDIS for his recreation he went to visite the temples and offerings that had bene geuen there So he sawe an image of a mayden in copper in the temple of the mother of the goddes being two yeardes highe which they called the Hydrophora as much to saye as the water carier And it was a statue which him selfe had heretofore dedicated and caused to be made with the fines of those that had payed forfeytures for stealing or turning away the water course at ATHENS at suche time as he was master surueyer of the water workes and conduites there Wherfore whether Themistocles was sory to see this goodly image a prisoner in the handes of the Barbarous people or that he would showe vnto the ATHENIANS the greatnes of his credit and authoritie through all the Kings dominions he spake to the gouernour of LYDIA prayed him for his sake that he would send this image againe to ATHENS But this Barbarous gouernour was very angry with his request and tolde him he would aduertise the King thereof Then Themistocles beganne to be afeard was driuen to seeke to the gouernours women and concubines whom he got for money to intreate him and so made fayre weather againe with the gouernour But from thenceforth he tooke better garde of him selfe in all his doings greatly fearing the enuy of the Barbarous people For he progressed not vp and downe ASIA as Theopompus writeth but laye a long time in the cittie of MAGNESIA quietly enjoying the Kings gratious giftes bestowed on him where he was honoured reuerenced for one of the greatest persones of PERSIA whilest the King was els where occupied in the affayres of the highe prouinces of ASIA and had no leysure to thincke vpon those of GRECE But when newes was brought him that AEGYPT was rebelled by meanes of the fauour assistance of the ATHENIANS that the GRECIANS gallyes dyd scowre the seas euen vnto the I le of CYPRVS vnto the coastes of CILICIA that Cimon had all the sea in subiection that made him then to bende all his thoughts howe to resist the GRECIANS that their greatnes might not turne to his hurte Then commissions went out to leauy men to assemble captaines to dispatche postes vnto Themistocles at MAGNESIA with the Kings letters straightly charging him to haue an eye to the GRECIANS doings and moreouer that he should faithfully keepe his promise he had made to him But he to shewe that he neither maliced his citizens nor was moued with the desire of greatnes and authoritie he might haue growen vnto in those warres or els for that he thought the Kings expectation would proue to a greater matter then he could ende or wade through considering GRECE was full at that time of famous captaines and that Cimon amongest the rest had maruelous good fortune and that it should be a reproche to him to stayne the glorie of so many noble actes so many triumphes and so great victories as Cimon had done and wonne he tooke a wise resolution with him self to make suche an ende of his life as the same thereof deserued For he made a solemne sacrifice vnto the goddes and feasted at the same all his friends And after he had taken his leaue of them all he drancke bulles bloude as most men thincke or as other saye poyson which dispatcheth a man in foure and twenty howers and so ended his dayes in the cittie of MAGNESIA after he had liued threescore and fiue yeres and the most parte of them allwayes in office and great charge It is written that the king of PERSIA vnderstanding the cause and manner of his deathe dyd more esteeme him afterwards then he dyd before and that euer after he continued to vse his friends and familliars in very good sorte For he left children behinde him which he had of Archippa Lysanders daughter of the towne of ALOPECIA Archeptolis Polyeuctus and Cleophantus of whom Plato the philosopher maketh mētion saying that he was a good man at armes but otherwise that there was no goodnes in him His other sonnes that were elder as Neocles dyed being bitten with a horse and as for Diocles another sonne his grandfather Lysander dyd adopt him for his sonne He had many daughters of the which Mnesiptolema which he had by a seconde wife was maried vnto her halfe brother Archeptolis for they were not both of one venter An other called Italia was maried vnto one Panthides of CHIO Sybaris vnto Nicomedes an ATHENIAN And Nicomacha vnto Pharsicles Themistocles nephue vnto whom her brethern dyd mary her within the cittie of MAGNESIA after the death of their father This Pharsicles dyd bring vp ASIA which was the youngest of all his daughters Furthermore his sumptuous tumbe standeth yet in the market place of MAGNESIA But that Andocides writeth of his bones in a booke he made to his friendes is not to be credited which was that the ATHENIANS hauing founde the ashes of his bones dyd cast them vp into the ayer as a deuise to sturre vp the noble men against the people And Phylarchus in his historie much like vnto the fayned subtilties of a tragedie bringeth in I can not tell what Neocles and Demopolis for Themistocles sonnes to moue the readers with compassion Howbeit no man is so simple but will iudge it straight a very fayning and deuise Diodorus the cosmographer also in a booke he hath written of tumbes and monuments sayeth by coniecture rather then of any certen knowledge that alongest the hauen of PIROEA coming towardes the head of Alcimus there is a forelande in forme of an elbowe within the which when they haue doubled the pointe the sea is allwayes calme and there they finde a great and long foundation or base vpon the which there is as it were the forme of an altar and that is sayeth he Themistocles tumbe And he supposeth that Plato the comicall poet doth witnesse it in these verses Thy graue is set and plast comodiously vvhere passengers and marchants that come by maye visite thee and vvhere it maye regarde all such as seeke that porte to be their vvarde Somtimes also it maye reioyce to see the bloudy fights vpon the sea that be And furthermore those of MAGNESIA dyd institute certen honours vnto the issue of Themistocles which continew yet vnto this daye And in my time another Themistocles also of ATHENS dyd enjoy the same honours with whom I was familliarly conuersante in the house of Ammonius the philosopher The ende of Themistocles life THE LIFE OF Furius Camillus AMONGEST many great matters which
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
fortuned in the ende to taste of the wine which was first brought out of ITALIE vnto them Which drinke they found so good and were so delited with it that sodainely they armed themselues and taking their wiues and children with them they went directly towards the ALPES to goe seeke out the country that brought forth such fruite iudging all other countries in respect of that to be but wilde and barren It is sayed that the first man which brought wine vnto them and that dyd procure them to passe into ITALIE was a noble man of THVSCAN called Arron and otherwise of no ill disposed nature howbeit he was subiect to this misfortune following He was tutor vnto an orphan childe the richest that was at that time in all the countrie of THVSCAN and of complexion was wonderfull fayer he was called Lucumo This orphan was brought vp in Arrons house of a childe and though he was growen to mans state yet he would not goe from him fayning he was so well and to his liking But in deede the cause was that he loued his maistres Arrons wife whom secretly he had enioyed a long time and she him that made him like his continuance there Howbeit in the ende loue hauing so possessed them both that neither parte could withdrawe from other much lesse culler that they had long enioyed the young man stole her away from him and kept her still by force Arron put him in sute but he preuayled not for Lucumo ouerweyed him with friends money giftes and charges But he tooke it so greuously that he left his country and hauing heard talke of the GAVLES he went vnto them and was their guide to bring them into ITALIE So they conquered at their first coming all that country which the THVSCANS helde in olde time beginning at the foote of the mountaines and stretched out in length from one sea vnto the other which enuironneth ITALIE as the names them selues doe witnesse For they call yet that sea which looketh vnto the northe the Adriatick sea by reason of a cittie built sometime by the THVSCANS which was called Adria The other which lieth directly ouer against the South is called the THVSCAN sea All that countrie is well planted with trees hath goodly pleasaunt pastures for beastes and cattell to feede in is notably watered with goodly ronning riuers There was also at that time eighteene fayer great citties in that country all of them very strong and well seated aswell for to enriche the inhabitants thereof by traffike as to make them to liue delicately for pleasure All these citties the GAVLES had wonne and had expulsed the THVSCANS but this was done long time before Now the GAVLES being further entred into THVSCAN dyd besiege the cittie of CLVSIVM Thereupon the CLVSIANS seeking ayde of the ROMAINES besought them they would send letters and ambassadours vnto these barbarous people in their fauour They sent vnto them three of the best and most honorable persones of the cittie all three of the house of the Fabians The GAVLES receyued them very curteously bicause of the name of ROME and leauing to assaulte the cittie they gaue them audience The ROMAINE ambassadours dyd aske them what iniurie the CLVSIANS had done vnto them that they came to make warres with them Brennus king of the GAVLES hearing this question smiled and aunswered them thus The CLVSIANS doe vs wrong in this they being but fewe people together not able to occupie much lande doe notwithstanding possesse much and will let vs haue no parte with them that are straungers and out of our country and stande in neede of seate and habitation The like wrong was offered vnto you ROMAINES in old time by those of ALBA by the FIDENATES and the ARDEATES and not long sithence by the VEIANS the CAPENATES and partly by the FALISCES and the VOLSCES against whom ye haue taken doe take armes at all times And as ofte as they will let ye haue no parte of their goods ye imprison their persones robbe and spoyle their goodes and distroye their citties And in doing this ye doe them no wrong at all but followe the oldest lawe that is in the worlde which euer leaueth vnto the stronger that which the weaker can not keepe and enioye Beginning with the goddes ending with beastes the which haue this propertie in nature that the bigger and stronger haue euer the vauntage of the weaker and lesser Therefore leaue your pittie to see the CLVSIANS besieged least you teache vs GAVLES to take compassion also of those you haue oppressed By this aunswer the ROMAINES knewe very wel there was no waye to make peace with king Brennus Wherefore they entred into the cittie of CLVSIVM and incoraged the inhabitants to salye out with them vpon these barbarous people either bicause they had a desire to proue the valliantnes of the GAVLES or els to shewe their owne corage and manhoode So the cittizens went out and skirmished with them harde by the walles in the which one of the Fabians called Quintus Fabius Ambustus being excellently well horsed and putting spurres to him dyd set vpon a goodly bigge personage of the GAVLES that had aduaunced him selfe farre before all the troupe of his companions He was not knowen at the first encounter as well for the sodaine meeting and skirmishing together as for that his glistering armour dimmed the eyes of the enemies But after he had slaine the GAVLE and came to strippe him Brennus then knewe him and protested against him calling the goddes to witnesse howe he had broken the lawe of armes that coming as an ambassadour he had taken vpon him the forme of an enemie Hereupon Brennus forthwith left skirmishing and raising the seige from CLVSIVM marched with his army vnto ROME gates And to the ende the ROMAINES might knowe that the GAVLES were not well pleased for the iniurie they had receyued to haue an honest culler to beginne warres with the ROMAINES he sent an Herauld before to ROME to demaunde liuerie of the man that had offended him that he might punish him accordingly In the meane time he him selfe came marching after by small iourneys to receyue their aunswer The Senate hereupon assembled many of the Senatours blamed the rashnes of the Fabians but most of all the priestes called Faciales For they followed it very earnestly as a matter that concerned religion the honour of the godds declaring how the Senate in discharge of all the residue of the cittie of the offence cōmitted should laye the whole waight and burden of it vpon him alone that only had done the facte Numa Pompilius the iustest and most peaceable of all the kings of ROME that had bene was he that first erected the colledge of these Faciales and dyd ordeine that they should be the keepers of peace and the iudges to heare and allowe all the causes for the which they should iustely beginne any warres Neuertheles the
This fowle in deede naturally is very quicke of hearing so is she also very fearefull by nature being in manner famished with their harde allowance they were so much the more waking easier to be afrayed Vpō this occasion therfore they heard the cōming of the GAVLES also beganne to ronne vp downe crie for feare with which noyse they did wake those that were within the castell The GAVLES being bewrayed by these foolishe gese left their stealing vpon them came in with all the open noyse terrour they could The ROMAINES hearing this larum euery man tooke such weapon as came first to his hand they ranne sodainely to rescue that place from whence they vnderstoode the noyse among those the formest man of all was Marcus Manlius a man that had bene Cōsul who had a lusty bodye as stowte a harte His happe being to mete with two of the GAVLES together as one of them was lifting vp his axe to knocke him on the head he preuēted him strake of his hand with his sword and clapt his target on the others face so fiercely that he threwe him backward down the rocke cōming afterwards vnto the walle with others that ranne thither with him he repulsed the rest of the GAVLES that were gotten vp who were not many in nūber neither did any great acte Thus the ROMAINES hauing escaped this daūger the next morning they threw the captaine hedlong down the rocks from the castell who had charge of the watche the night before gaue Manlius in recompence of the good seruice he had done a more honorable then profitable rewarde which was this Euery man of them gaue him halfe a pound of the country wheate which they call Far and the fourth parte of the measure of wine which the GRECIANS call Cotile and this might be about a quarte being the ordinary allowance of euery man by the daye After this repulse the GAVLES beganne to be discoraged partely for that their vitailles fayled them and durst no more forage abroade in the fieldes for feare of Camillus and partly also for that the plague came amongest them being lodged amongest heapes of dead bodies lying in euery place aboue ground without buriall and amongest burnt houses destroyed where the ashes being blowen very high by the winde vehemēcy of heate dyd geue a drie persing ayer that dyd maruelously poyson their bodies when they came to drawe in the breathe of it But the greatest cause of all their mischief was the chaunge of their wonted dyet Who comming out of a freshe countrie where there were excellent pleasaunt places to retire vnto to auoyde the discommoditie of the parching heate of the sommer were nowe in a naughty plaine countrie for them to remaine in in the latter season of the yere All these things together dyd heape diseases vpon them besides the long continuaunce of the siege about the Capitoll for it was then about the seuenth moneth by reason whereof there grewe a maruelous death in their campe through the great numbers of them that dyed daylie and laye vnburied But notwithstanding all the death and trouble of the GAVLES the poore besieged ROMAINES were nothing holpen the more the famine still dyd growe so fast vpō them And bicause they could heare nothing of Camillus they were growen almost vnto a despaire and send vnto him they could not the GAVLES kept so straight watche vpon them in the cittie Whereupon both parties finding them selues in harde state first the watche of either side beganne to cast out wordes of peace amongest them selues and afterwards by cōsent of the heades Sulpitius Tribune of the souldiers came to parle with Brennus In which parle it was articled that the ROMAINES should paye a thousand pounde weight of golde and that the GAVLES should incontinently after the receipt of the same departe out of their cittie and all their territories This decree being passed by othe from both the golde was brought And whē it came to be weyed the GAVLES at the first priuely begāne to deale falsely with them but afterwardes they openly stayed the ballance and would not let them waye no more whereat the ROMAINES beganne to be angrie with them Then Brennus in scorne mockery to despight them more pluckt of his sworde girdell and all and put it into the ballance where the gold was wayed Sulpitius seeing that asked him what he ment by it Brennus aunswered him what canne it signifie els but sorrowe to the vanquished This worde euer after ranne as a common prouerbe in the peoples mouthes Some of the ROMAINES tooke this vile parte of theirs in such scorne that they would needes take the gold from them againe by force and so returne into their holde to abide the siege still as they had done before Other were of opinion to the contrary and thought it best with pacience to put vp this scorne of theirs and not to thincke it was a shame to paye more then they had promised but only to paye it by cōpulsion as they dyd by misfortune of time was to thincke it rather necessary then honorable And as they were debating the matter thus aswell amongest them selues as with the GAVLES Camillus came to ROME gates with his armie and vnderstanding all what had passed betweene them he commaunded the rest of the army to marche fayer and softely after him in good order and he in the meane season with the best choyse men he had went before with all speede Assone as the other ROMAINES within in the cittie had spied him they showted out for ioye and receaued him euery one with great reuerence without any more wordes as their soueraine captaine and prince who had power ouer them all And Camillus taking the golde out of the skales gaue it vnto his men and commaunded the GAVLES presently to take vp their skales and to get them going for sayeth he it is not the ROMAINES manner to keepe their countrie with golde but with the sworde Then Brennus beganne to be hotte and tolde him it was not honorably done of him to breake the accorde that had passed betweene them before by othe Whereunto Camillus stowtely aunswered him againe that accorde was of no validitie For he being created Dictator before all other officers and magistrates whatsoeuer their actes by his election were made of no authoritie and seeing therefore they had delte with men that had no power of them selues to accorde to any matter they were to speake to him if they required ought For he alone had absolute authoritie to pardone them if they repented and would aske it or els to punishe them and make their bodies aunswer the damages and losse his cuntry had by them susteyned These wordes made Brennus madde as a march hare that out went his blade Then they drew their swordes of all sides and layed lustely one at an other as they could within the houses and in open
and to let them in any case from putting their men in order of battell and he at the breake of daye came downe into the plaine and dyd set his other men being well armed in good arraye which were a great number and lustie fellowes and were not as the barbarous people thought fewe and fearefull This at the very first discoraged the hartes of the GAVLES maruelously bicause they thought them selues dishonored that the ROMAINES should charge vpon them first Afterwardes also Camillus vantgarde dyd set vpon the GAVLES and that on a sodaine before they had leysure to put them selues in battell or to order their troupes compelling them to fight without order as they met out of order by chaunce In the ende also Camillus came vpon the neckes of them with all his whole force and army together against whom they ranne notwithstanding holding vp their naked swordes alofte in their handes But the ROMAINES thrusting with their armed iauelinges receaued their enemies blowes vpon them and thereby so rebated the edges of their swordes their blades being very sharpe and thinne grounde and of so softe a temper that they bowed againe and stoode crooked vnreasonably and furthermore hauing persed their shieldes through with their punchingstaues the GAVLES armes were so clogd and wearied with them the ROMAINES plucking them backe to them againe that they threw away their swordes and shieldes and flying in closed with the ROMAINES and caught holde of their iauelines thincking by plaine force to haue wrested them out of their handes Howbeit they perceauing then the GAVLES were naked fell straight to their swordes and so was the slaughter of their first ranckes very great The other fled scatteringly here and there all about the plaine bicause Camillus had caused all the hilles and mountaines about them to be occupied and possessed Neither dyd they retire towardes their campe for that it was vnfortified and also knewe well enough it would be easely taken This battell as they saye was thirteene yeres after their taking of ROME before But after that fielde the ROMAINES corages were good enough against these barbarous GAVLES whom they stoode in feare of before thincking the first time they came that they had not ouercomed them by force but by reason of the plague that fell amongest them or through some other straunge chaunce For they dyd so feare them at that time that they made a lawe howe their priestes should be exempted from warres so it were not against the GAVLES This ouerthrowe was the last marshall acte Camillus dyd in the warres For the taking of the cittie of VELITRES was an accident depending vpon this iorney bicause they yelded straight vnto him without striking any stroke But the seditiousnes of the people of ROME about gouernment and the choosing of the yere Consuls was the hardest matter he euer had in hande For they returning home to ROME stronge and of greate power by their late obteined victorie woulde in any case haue one of the Consuls to be chosen of a commoner which was directly against their auncient custome But the Senate stowtely withstoode it and would not suffer Camillus to be put out of office hoping the better by meanes of his authoritie which was greate then that they should mainteine and continue their auncient dignitie and prerogatiue of their nobilitie But as Camillus was set in his chayer in the market place where he hearde and dispatched causes there came a sergeante to him sent from the Tribunes of the people who commaunded him to followe him and there withall layed violent handes vpon him as he woulde haue caried him awaye by force This made suche a terrible tumulte and vprore that the like was neuer seene before in the market place For Camillus friendes draue the sergeaunte backe behinde the chayer The common people cried out againe to the sergeant from beneath pull him out of his chayer This so amazed Camillus that he knew not well what to saye to the matter Notwithstanding he would not resigne vp his office but taking those Senatours he had about him he went vnto the place where the Senate was wont to be kept And there before he would goe into it he returned backe againe vnto the Capitoll made his prayer vnto the goddes that it would please them to bring his troubles againe to a quiet and so made a solemne vowe and promise if these tumultes and troubles might be pacified that he woulde builde a temple of Concorde When this matter came to debating before the Senate there fell great contention and diuersitie of opinions among them yet in the ende the easiest waye dyd carie it and that was to graunt the common peoples desire that a commoner should be chosen Consul with a noble man. The Dictator hauing openly published to the people the Senates decree confirming their desire the common people were so ioyfull that at that presence they let fall all their malice against the Nobilitie and Senate and brought Camillus home to his house with greate showtes of ioye and clapping of handes The next morning all the people being assembled together in the market place it was there decreed that the temple of concorde should be built at the common wealthes charge according to the vowe Camillus had made in such a place as it might be seene from the market place selfe where all the assemblies for matters of counsell were made And further it was ordered that one daye more should be added to the feastes of the LATINES that from thenceforth they should solemnise foure festiuall dayes should presently make generall sacrifices vnto the goddes in euerie temple of the cittie to geue them thanckes and in token of ioye they should all weare garlands vpon their heades for this reconciliation So Camillus proceeding to election there were chosen two Consuls Marcus AEmilius of the noble Patricians and Lucius Sextus of the Plebeians or commoners And this was the laste acte that euer Camillus dyd For the next yere after the plague was in ROME and tooke awaye an infinite number of people that dyed besides many magistrates and officers of the citie that departed among whom Camillus also left his life Who notwithstanding he had liued a long time and had ended a reasonable course of life yet he was as ready to dye and as paciently tooke his death as any man liuing could haue done Moreouer the ROMAINES made more mone and lamentation for his deathe alone then for all the rest the plague had already consumed The ende of Furius Camillus life THE LIFE OF Pericles CAESAR seeing in ROME one daye certen riche wealthy straūgers hauing litle dogges and munkeyes in their armes and that they made maruelous much of them he asked them if the women in their country had no children wisely reprouing them by his question for that they bestowed their naturall loue affection vpon brute beasts which they should with all kindnes and loue bestowe vpon creatures
Pericles the last man vnto him he sayed Truely thou hast novv brought vnto vs here that dvvell the chief of all the captaines that come from darksome hell And as for musicke the most authors write that Damon dyd teache him musicke of whose name as men saye they should pronounce the first syllable shorte Howbeit Aristotle sayeth that he was taught musicke by Pythoclides Howsoeuer it was it is certaine that this Damon was a man of deepe vnderstanding and subtill in matters of gouernment for to hide from the people his sufficiency therein he gaue it out he was a musitian and dyd resorte vnto Pericles as a master wrestler or fenser but he taught him howe he should deale in matters of state Notwithstanding in the ende he could not so conningly conuey this matter but the people sawe his harping and musicke was only a viser to his other practice wherefore they dyd banish him ATHENS for fiue yeres as a man that busilie tooke vpon him to chaunge the state of things and that fauored tyrannie And this gaue the Comicall poets matter to playe vpon him finely among which Plato in a comedie of his bringeth in a man that asketh him O Chiron tell me first art thou in deede the man vvhich dyd instruct Pericles thus make aunsvver if thou can He was somtime also scholler to the philosopher Zenon who was borne in the cittie of ELEA taught naturall philosophie as Parmenides dyd but his profession was to thwarte and contrary all men and to alledge a world of obiections in his disputation which were so intricate that his aduersarie replying against him knewe not howe to aunswer him nor to conclude his argument The which Timon Phliasius witnesseth in these wordes Zenon vvas subtill sure and very eloquent and craftilie could vvinde a man by vvaye of argument if so he vvere disposed his cunning to descrie or shovve the sharpenes of his vvitt to practise pollicie But Anaxagoras Clazomenian was he that was most familliar and conuersaunt with him and dyd put in him the maiestie and grauity he shewed in all his sayings and doings who dyd farre excell the common course of ordinarie Orators that pleaded before the people and to be shorte he it was that dyd facion his manners altogether to carie that graue countenaunce which he dyd For they called Anaxagoras in his time Nùśs as much to saye as vnderstanding Either bicause they had his singular wit and capacitie in suche great admiration being growen to searche out the cause of naturall things or that he was the first man who dyd ascribe the disposition and gouernment of this world not vnto fortune or faitall necessitie but vnto a pure simple and vnderstanding minde which doth separate at the first mouing cause the substaunce of suche like partes as are medled and compounded of diuers substaunces in all other bodies through the world Pericles made maruelous touche of Anaxagoras who had fully instructed him in the knowledge of naturall things and of those specially that worke aboue in the ayer and firmament For he grewe not only to haue a great minde and an eloquent tongue without any affectation or grosse countrie termes but to a but to a certen modest countenaunce that scantly smyled very sober in his gate hauing a kynde of sounde in his voyce that he neuer lost nor altered and was of very honest behauiour neuer troubled in his talke for any thing that crossed him and many other suche like things as all that sawe them in him and considered them could but wonder at him But for proofe hereof the reporte goeth there was a naughty busy fellowe on a time that a whole daye together dyd nothing but rayle vpon Pericles in the market place and reuile him to his face with all the villanous wordes he could vse But Pericles put all vp quietly and gaue him not a worde againe dispatching in the meane time matters of importaunce he had in hand vntill night came that he went softly home to his house shewing no alteration nor semblaunce of trouble at all though this lewde varlet followed him at the heeles with wordes of open defamation And as he was ready to enter in at his owne doores being darke night he commaunded one of his men to take a torche and to bring this man home to his house Yet the poet Ion sayeth that Pericles was a very prowde man and a stately and that with his grauity and noble minde there was mingled a certaine scorne and contempt of other and contrarilie he greatly prayseth the ciuillitie humanitie and curtesie of Cimon bicause he could facion him selfe to all companies But letting passe that which the poet Ion sayed who would that vertue should be full of tragicall discipline bringing in with it a certaine saryticall discourse to moue laughture Nowe Zennon contrariwise dyd counsell all those that sayd Pericles grauity was a presumption and arrogancie that they should also followe him in his presumption For to counterfeate in that sorte things honest and vertuous doth secretly with time breede an affection and desire to loue them and afterwardes with custome euen effectually to vse and followe them So Pericles by keeping Anaxagoras company dyd not onely profit him selfe in these things but he learned besides to put awaye all superstitious feare of celestiall signes and impressions seene in the ayer For to those that are ignoraunte of the causes thereof suche sights are terrible and to the godly also feareful as if they were vtterly vndone and all is bicause they haue no certaine knowledge of the reason that naturall philosophy yeldeth which in steade of a fearefull superstition would bring a true religion accompanied with assured hope of goodnes Some saye a man brought Pericles one daye from is farme out of the countrie a rammes head that had but one horne and that the prognosticator Lampon considering this head that had but one strong horne in the middest of his forehead interpreted that this was the signification thereof That being two tribes and seuerall factions in the cittie of ATHENS touching gouernment the one of Pericles and the other of Thucydides the power of both should be brought into one and specially into his parte in whose house this signe dyd happen Further it is sayed that Anaxagoras being present dyd cause the rammes head to be clouen in two peces and shewed vnto them that stoode by that the brayne of this ramme dyd not fill the panne of his naturall place but inclosed it selfe in all partes being narrowe like the poynte of an egge in that parte where the horne tooke his first roote of budding out So Anaxagoras was maruelously esteemed at that present by all those that stoode by but so was Lampon sone after that Thucydides was driuen awaye and that the gouernment of the whole common weale fell into the handes of Pericles alone And it is not to be wondred at in my opinion that the naturall philosopher and the
to laye a side their armes and to come and pleade their matter before them that the right might be decided but they refused it vtterly Wherefore Pericles went thither tooke awaye the gouernment of the small number of Nobilitie taking for ostages fiftie of the chiefest men of the cittie and so many children besides which he left to be kept in the I le of LEMNOS Some saye euery one of these ostages offered to geue him a talent and besides those many other offered him the like suche as would not haue the soueraine authoritie put into the handes of the people Moreouer Pissuthnes the PERSIAN lieutenant to the king of PERSIA for the good will he bare those of SAMOS dyd send Pericles tenne thousand crownes to release the ostages But Pericles neuer tooke pennie and hauing done that he determined at SAMOS and established a popular gouernment he returned againe to ATHENS Notwithstanding the SAMIANS rebelled immediatly after hauing recouered their ostages againe by meanes of this Pissuthnes that stale them awaye and dyd furnishe them also with all their munition of warre Whereupon Pericles returning against them once more he founde them not idle nor amazed at his coming but resolutely determined to receyue him and to fight for the seigniorie by sea So there was a great battell fought betwene them neere the I le of TRACIA And Pericles wanne the battell hauing with foure and fortie sayle only nobly ouercome his enemies which were three score tenne in number wherof twenty of them were shippes of warre And so following his victorie forthwith he wanne also the porte of SAMOS and kept the SAMIANS besieged within their owne cittie where they were yet so bolde as they would make falies out many times and fight before the walles of the cittie But when there arriued a newe supplie of shippes bringing a greater ayde vnto Pericles then were they shut vp of all sides Pericles then taking three score gallyes with him lanched out into the sea with intent as some saye to goe mete certen shippes of the PHOENICIANS that came to ayde the SAMIANS as farre from SAMOS as he could or as Stesimbrotus sayeth to goe into CYPRVS which me thinketh is not true But whatsoeuer was his intent he committed a foule fault For Melissus the sonne of Ithagenes a great philosopher being at that time generall of the SAMIANS perceyuing that sewe shippes were left behinde at the siege of the cittie and that the captaines also that had the charge of them were no very expert men of warre persuaded his citizens to make a salye vpon them Whereupon they fought a battell and the SAMIANS ouercame the ATHENIANS were taken prisoners and they suncke many of their shippes Nowe they being lordes againe of the sea dyd furnishe their cittie with all manner of munition for warres whereof before they had great want Yet Aristotle writeth that Pericles selfe was once ouercome in a battell by sea by Melissus Furthermore the SAMIANS to be euen with the ATHENIANS for the iniurie they had receyued of them before dyd brande them in the forehead with the stampe of an owle the owle being then the stampe of their coyne at ATHENS euen as the ATHENIANS had branded the SAMIAN prisoners before with the stāpe of Samaena This Samaena is a kynde of a shippe amongest the SAMIANS lowe afore and well layed out in the midde shippe so that it is excellent good to rise with the waues of the sea and is very swifte vnder sayle and it was so called bicause the first shippe that was made of this facion was made in the I le of SAMOS by the tyranne Polycrates It is sayed that the poet Aristophanes couertly conueying the stampe of the SAMIANS speaking merylie in a place of his comedies sayeth The Samians are great learned men Pericles being aduertised of the ouerthrowe of his armie returned presently to the rescue Melissus went to mete him and gaue him battell but he was ouerthrowen and driuen backe into his cittie where Pericles walled them in round about the cittie desiring victorie rather by time and charge then by daunger and losse of his souldiers But when he sawe that they were wearie with tract of time and that they would bring it to hazard of battell and that he could by no meanes withholde them he then deuided his armie into eight companies whom he made to drawe lots and that companie that lighted on the white beane they should be quiet make good cheere while the other seuen fought And they saye that from thence it came that when any haue made good cheere taken pleasure abroade they doe yet call it a white daye bicause of the white beane Ephorus the historiographer writeth that it was there where first of all they beganne to vse engines of warre to plucke down great walles and that Pericles vsed first this wonderfull inuention that Artemon an enginer was the first deuiser of them He was caried vp and downe in a chayer to set forward these workes bicause he had a lam◠legge and for this cause he was called Periphoretos But Heraclides Ponticus confuteth Ephorus therein by the verses of Anacreon in the which Artemon is called Periphoretos many yeres before this warre of SAMOS beganne sayeth that this Periphoretos was a maruelous tender man and so foolishly afeard of his owne shadowe that the most parte of his time he sturred not out of his house dyd sit allwayes hauing two of his men by him that held a copper target ouer his head for feare least any thing should fall vpon him And if vpon any occasion he were driuen to goe abroade out of his house he would be caried in a litle bed hanging neere the grounde for this cause he was surnamed Periphoretos At the last at nine moneths ende the SAMIANS were compelled to yeld So Pericles tooke the cittie rased their walles to the grounde he brought their shippes awaye and made them paye a maruelous great tribute whereof parte he receyued in hande the rest payable at a certen time taking ostages with him for assurance of payment But Duris the SAMIAN dilateth these matters maruelous pittiefully burdening the ATHENIANS and Pericles self with vnnaturall crueltie whereof neither Thucydides nor Ephorus nor Aristotle him selfe maketh mention And suer I cannot beleeue it is true that is writtē That he brought the captaines of the gallyes the souldiers them selues of SAMIA into the market place of the cittie of MILETVM where he made them to be bound fast vnto bordes for the space of tenne dayes at the ende of the same the poore men halfe dead were beaten downe with clubbes and their heads passhed in peces and afterwards they threw out their bodies to the crowes would not burie them So Duris being accustomed to ouerreach to lye many times in things nothing touching him seemeth in this place out of all reason to aggrauate
playe VVherevvith enraged all vvith pepper in the nose the provvde Megarians came to vs as to their mortall foes And tooke by stelthe avvaye of harlots eke a payer attending on Aspasia vvhich vvere both young and fayer But in very deede to tell the originall cause of this warre and to deliuer the trothe thereof it is very harde But all the historiographers together agree that Pericles was the chiefest author of the warre bicause the decree made against the MEGARIANS was not reuoked backe againe Yet some holde opinion that Pericles dyd it of a noble minde and iudgement to be constant in that he thought most expedient For he iudged that this commaundement of the LACEDAEMONIANS was but a triall to proue if the ATHENIANS would graunte them and if they yelded to them in that then they manifestly shewed that they were the weaker Other contrarilie saye that it was done of a selfe will and arrogancie to shewe his authoritie and power and howe he dyd despise the LACEDAEMONIANS But the shrowdest profe of all that bringeth best authoritie with it is reported after this sorte Phidias the image maker as we haue tolde you before had vndertaken to make the image of Pallas and being Pericles friende was in great estimation about him But that procured him many ill willers Then they being desirous to heare by him what the people would iudge of Pericles they intised Menon one of the worke men that wrought vnder Phidias and made him come into the market place to praye assurance of the people that he might openly accuse Phidias for a faulte he had committed about Pallas image The people receyued his obedience and his accusation was heard opeÌ„ly in the market place but no mention was made of any theft at all bicause that Phidias through Pericles counsell deuise had from the beginning so layed on the gold vpon the image that it might be taken of wayed euery whitte WhereupoÌ„ Pericles openly sayed vnto his accusers take of the golde way it The glorie of his works dyd purchase him this enuie For he hauing graueÌ„ vpon the scutchioÌ„ of the goddesse the battel of the AMAZONES had cut out the portraiture of him self maruelous liuely vnder the persone of an olde balde man lifting vp a great stone with both his handes Further he had cut out Pericles image excelleÌ„tly wrought artificially seeming in maÌ„ner to be Pericles self fighting with an AMAZON in this sorte The AMAZONES haÌ„d being lifte vp highe holdeth a darte before Pericles face so passing cunningly wrought as it seemed to shadowe the likenes resemblaunce of Pericles and yet notwithstanding appeareth plainely to be Pericles self on either side of the portraiture So Phidias was clapt vp in prisone there dyed of a sicknes or els of poyson as some saye which his enemies had prepared for him all to bring Pericles into further suspition to geue them the more cause to accuse him But howsoeuer it was the people gaue Menon his freedome set him free for paymeÌ„t of all subsidies following the order Glycon made and gaue the captaines charge they should see him safely kept and that he tooke no hurte And about the same time also Aspasia was accused that she dyd not beleeue in the goddess and her accuser was Hermippus maker of the comedies He burdened her further that she was a hawde to Pericles and receyued citizens wiues into her house which Pericles kept And Diopithes at the same time made a decree that they should make searche and enquirie for heretickes that dyd not beleeue in the goddes and that taught certaine newe doctrine and opinion touching the operations of things aboue in the element turning the suspition vpon Pericles bicause of Anaxagoras The people dyd receyue and confirme this inquisition and it was moued also then by Dracontides that Pericles should deliuer an accompt of the money he had spent vnto the handes of the Prytanes who were treasorers of the common fines and reuenues and that the iudges deputed to geue iudgement should geue sentence within the cittie vpon the altar But Agnon put that worde out of the decree and placed in stead thereof that the cause should be iudged by the fifteene hundred iudges as they thought good if any man brought this action for thefte for batterie or for iniustice As for Aspasia he saued her euen for the verie pittie and compassion the iudges tooke of him for the teares he shed in making his humble sute for her all the time he pleaded her case as AEschines writeth But for Anaxagoras fearing that he could not doe so muche for him he sent him out of the cittie and himselfe dyd accompany him And furthermore seeing he had incurred the ill will of the people for Phidias facte and for this cause fearing the issue of the iudgement he set the warres a fyre againe that allwayes went backeward and dyd but smoke a litle hoping by this meanes to weare out the accusations against him and to roote out the malice some dyd beare him For the people hauing waightie matters in hande and very daungerous also he knewe they would put all into his handes alone he hauing wonne already suche great authoritie and reputation among them And these be the causes why he would not as it is sayed suffer the ATHENIANS to yeld vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS in any thing howbeit the trothe cannot certenly be knowen But the LACEDAEMONIANS knowing well that if they could wede out Pericles and ouerthrowe him they might then deale as they would with the ATHENIANS they commaunded them they should purge their cittie of Cylons rebellion bicause they knew well enough that Pericles kynne by the mothers side were to be touched withall as Thucydides declareth But this practise fell out contrarie to their hope and expectation that were sent to ATHENS for this purpose For wening to haue brought Pericles into further suspition and displeasure the cittizens honoured him the more and had a better affiaunce in him then before bicause they sawe his enemies dyd so much feare and hate him Wherefore before king Archidâ—mus entred with the armie of the PELOPONNESIANS into the countrie of ATTICA he tolde the ATHENIANS that if king Archidamus fortuned to waste and destroye all the countrie about and should spare his landes and goodes for the olde loue and familiaritie that was betweene them or rather to geue his enemies occasion falsely to accuse him that from thenceforth he gaue all the landes and tenements he had in the countrie vnto the common wealthe So it fortuned that the LACEDAEMONIANS with all their friends and confederates brought a maruelous armie into the countrie of ATTICA vnder the leading of king Archidamus who burning spoyling all the countries he came aloÌ„gest they came vnto the towne of ACHARNES were they incamped supposing the ATHENIANS would neuer suffer them to approche so neere but that they would giue them battell for the honour and defence of their
enterprising great matters it is a thing passing mans nature but to take warning hereafter by faultes that are paste and done it is the parte of a wise and valliant man For my selfe I acknowledge I haue no lesse occasion to prayse fortune then I haue also cause to complaine of her For that which long time could neuer teach me I haue learned by experience in one litle pece of a daye and that is this That I am not able to commaunde but am my selfe fitter to be gouerned and commaunded by another and that I am but a foole to stande in mine owne conceipt thinking to ouercome those of whom it is more honour for me to confesse my selfe to be ouercome Therefore I tell you that the Dictator Fabius henceforth shal be he who alone shall commaund you in all things And to let him knowe that we doe all acknowledge the fauour which we haue presently receyued at his hands I will leade you to geue him thankes will may selfe be the first man to offer to obey him in all that he shall commaund me These wordes being spoken he commaunded his ensigne bearers to followe him he him selfe marched formest towards Fabius campe When he came thither he went directly to the Dictators tente whereat euery man wondered not knowing his intent Fabius came out to mete him Minutius after he had set downe his ensignes at his seete sayed with a lowde voyce O father and his souldiers vnto Fabius souldiers O masters which name the bondemen that are infranchesed doe vse to them that haue manumised them Afterwards euery man being silent Minutius beganne alowde to saye vnto him My lorde Dictator this daye you haue wonne two victories The one of Hannibal whom valliantly you haue ouercome the second of my selfe your companion whom also your wisedome and goodnes hath vanquished By the one you haue saued our liues and by the other you haue wisely taught vs So haue we also bene ouercome in two sortes the one by Hannibal to our shame and the other by your selfe to our honour and preseruation And therefore doe I nowe call you my father finding no other name more honorable to call you by wherewith I might honour you acknowledging my selfe more bounde vnto you for the present grace and fauour I haue receyued of you then vnto my naturall father that begatte me For by him only I was begotten but by you mine and all these honest cittizens liues haue bene saued And hauing spoken these wordes he embraced Fabius and so dyd the souldiers also hartely embrace together and kisse one another Thus the ioye was great through the whole campe and one were so glad of another that the teares trickled downe their chekes for great ioye Nowe when Fabius was afterwardes put out of his office of Dictatorshippe there were new Consuls chosen againe the two first followed directly Fabius former order he had begōne For they kept them selues from geuing Hannibal any battell and dyd allwayes send ayde to their subiects and friends to keepe them from rebellion vntill that Terentius Varro a man of meane birth and knowen to be very bold and rashe by flattering of the people wanne credit among them to be made Consul Then they thought that he by his rashnes and lacke of experience would incontinently hazard battell bicause he had cried out in all the assemblies before that this warre would be euerlasting so long as the people dyd chuse any of the Fabians to be their generalles and vawnted him selfe openly that the first daye he came to see his enemies he would ouerthrowe them In geuing out these braue wordes he assembled such a power that the ROMAINES neuer sawe so great a number together against any enemie that euer they had for he put into one campe foure score and eight thousand fighting men This made Fabius and the other ROMAINES men of great wisedome and iudgement greatly affrayed bicause they sawe no hope for ROME to rise againe if it fortuned that they should lose so great a number of goodly youth Therefore Fabius talked with the other Consul called Paulus AEmilius a man very skilfull and expert in warres but ill beloued of the common people whose furie he yet feared for that they had condemned him a litle before to paye a greatfine to the treasurie and after he had somwhat comforted him he beganne to persuade and encorage him to resist the fonde rashnes of his companion telling him that he should haue asmuch to doe with Terentius Varro for the preseruation and safety of his countrie as to fight with Hannibal for defence of the same For they were both Marshall men and had a like desire to fight the one bicause he knewe not wherein the vantage of his strength consisted and the other bicause he knewe very well his weaknes You shall haue reason to beleeue me better for matters touching Hannibal then Terentius Varro For I dare warrant you if you keepe Hannibal from battell but this yere he shall of necessitie if he tarie consume him self or els for shame be driuen to flye with his armie And the rather bicause hetherto though he seeme to be lorde of the field neuer one yet of his enemies came to take his parte and moreouer bicause there remaines at this daye in his campe not the third parte of his armie he brought with him out of his countrie Vnto these persuasions the Consul as it is reported aunswered thus When I looke into my selfe my lorde Fabius me thinkes my best waye were rather to fall vpon the enemies pikes then once againe to light into the hands voyces of our cittizens Therefore sith the estate of the common wealth so requireth it that it behoueth a man to doe as you haue sayed I will doe my best indeuour to shewe my selfe a wise captaine for your sake only rather then for all other that should aduise me to the cōtrarie And so Paulus departed from ROME with this minde But Terentius his companion would in any case they should cōmaund the whole armie by turnies eche his daye by him selfe and went to encampe harde by Hannibal by the riuer of Aufide neere vnto the village called CANNES Nowe when it came to his daye to cōmaund by turnes early in the mourning be caused the signall of battell to be set out which was a coate armour of skarlet in graine that they dyd laye out vpon the pauilion of the generall so that the enemies at the first sight begāne to be afeard to see the lustines of this newe come generall and the great number of souldiers he had also in his hoste in comparison of them that were not halfe so many Yet Hannibal of a good corage commaunded euery man to arme and to put them selues in order of battell and him selfe in the meane time taking his horse backe followed with a fewe gallopped vp to the toppe of a litle hill not very steepe from whence he might
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
a good rounde pace to embrace his sonne and sayed vnto him You haue reason sonne and doe well to shewe ouer whom you commaund vnderstanding the authoritie of a Consul which place you haue receiued For it is the direct course by the which we and our auncesters have increased the ROMAINE empire preferring euer the honour and state of our countrie aboue father mother or children And truely they saye that Fabius great grandfather being the greatest and most noble persone of ROME in his time hauing fiue times bene Consul and had obteined many triumphes for diuers honorable and sundrie victories he had wonne was contented after all these to be his sonnes lieutenaunt and to goe to the warres with him he being chosen Consul And last of all the Consul his sonne returning home to ROME a conquerour in his triumphing charret drawen with foure horses he followed him a horse backe also in troupe with the rest thinking it honour to him that hauing authoritie ouer his sonne in the right of a father and being also the noblest man of all the cittizens so taken and reputed neuertheles he willingly submitted him selfe to the lawe and magistrate who had authoritie of him Yet besides all this he had farre more excellent vertues to be had in admiration then those already spoken of But it fortuned that this sonne of Fabius died before him whose death he tooke paciētly like a wise man and a good father Now the custome being at that time that at the death of a noble man their neerest kinseman should make a funerall oration in their prayse at their obsequies he him selfe made the same oration in honour of his sonne and dyd openly speake it in the marketplace and moreouer wrote it and deliuered it out abroade About this time Cornelius Scipio was sent into SPAYNE who draue out the CARTHAGINIANS from thence after he had ouerthrowen them in many battells and had conquered many great citties and greately aduaunced the honour and estimation of the state of ROME for the which at his returne he was asmuche or rather more honoured beloued and esteemed then any other that was in the cittie of ROME Hereupon Scipio being made Consul considered that the people of ROME looked for some great matter at his handes aboue all other Therefore he thought to take vpon him to fight against Hannibal in ITALIE he should but followe the olde manner and treade to muche in the steppes of the olde man whereupon he resolued immediately to make warres in AFRICKE and to burne and destroye the countrie euen vnto CARTHAGE gates and so to transferre the warres out of ITALIE into LIBYA procuring by all possible deuise he could to put it into the peoples heades and to make them like of it But Fabius contrarilie persuading him selfe that the enterprise this young rashe youthe tooke in hande was vtterly to ouerthrowe the common weale or to put the state of ROME in great daunger deuised to put ROME in the greatest feare he could possible without sparing speache or dede he thought might serue for his purpose to make the people chaunge from that minde Now he could so cunningly worke his purpose what with speaking and doing that he had drawen all the Senate to his opinion But the people iudged it was the secret enuie he bare to Scipioes glorie that drue him to encounter this deuise only to bleamish Scipioes noble fortune fearing least if he should happen to doe some honorable seruice as to make an end altogether of this warre or otherwise to draw Hannibal out of ITALIE that then it would appeare to the world he had bene to softe or to negligent to drawe this warre out to suche a length For my parte me thinkes the only matter that moued Fabius from the beginning to be against Scipio was the great care he had of the safetie of the cōmon weale by reason of the great daūger depending vpon such a resolution And yet I doe thinke also that afterwards he went further then he should contending to sore against him whether it was through ambition or obstinacie seeking to hinder and suppresse the greatnes of Scipio considering also he dyd his best to persuade Crassus Scipioes companion in the Consulshippe that he should not graunte vnto him the leading of the armie but if he thought good to goe into AFRICKE to make warres vpon the CARTHAGINIANS that he should rather goe him self And moreouer he was the let that they gaue him no money for maintenaunce of these warres Scipio hereupon being turned ouer to his owne credit to furnish himselfe as he could he leauied great summes of money in the citties of THVSCAN who for the great loue they bare him made contribution towardes his iorney And Crassus remained at home both bicause he was a softe and no ambitious nor contentious man of nature as also bicause he was the chiefest Prelate and highe bishoppe who by the lawe of their religion was constrained to kepe ROME Fabius seeing his labour lost that waye tooke againe another course to crosse Scipio deuising to staye the young men at home that had great desire to goe this iorney with him For he cried out with open mouth in all assemblies of the Senate people that Scipio was not contented only to flye Hannibal but that he would carie with him besides the whole force of ITALY that remained alluring the youthe with sweete baytes of vaine hope and persuading them to leaue their wiues their fathers mothers and their countrie euen now when their enemie knocked at ROME gates who dyd euer conquer and was yet neuer conquered These wordes of Fabius dyd so dampe the ROMAINES that they appointed Scipio should furnishe his iorney only with the armie that was in SICILIA sauing that he might supply to them if he would three hundred of the best souldiers that had serued him faithfully in SPAYNE And so it doth appeare euen to this present that Fabius both dyd and sayed all things according to his wonted manner and naturall disposition Now Scipio was no sooner arriued in AFRICKE but newes were brought to ROME incontinently of wonderfull exploytes and noble seruice done beyond measure and of great spoyles taken by him which argued the trothe of the newes As the king of the NVNIDIANS taken prisoner two campes of the enemies burnt destroyed at a time with losse of a great number of people armour and horses that were consumed in the same letters and postes for life ronning in the necke one of another from CARTHAGE to call Hannibal home and to praye him to hunte no longer after vayne hope that would neuer haue ende hasting him selfe with all speede possible to come to the rescue of his countrie These wonderfull great fortunes of Scipio made him of suche renowme and fame within ROME that there was no talke but of Scipio Fabius notwithstanding desisted not to make a newe request being of opinion they should send him a successour alledging no other cause
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
ATHENIANS that he dyd the best he could to let them if the LACEDAEMONIANS had no liking of the matter Now as Nicias was thus in disgrace with the people for the causes aboue sayd in the middest of this sturre ambassadours came by chaunce from LACEDAEMON to ATHENS who at their comming gaue very good wordes saying they had full power and commission to compound all controuersies vnder reasonable and equall conditions The Senate heard them and receaued them very curteously and the people the next daye should assemble in counsell to geue them audience which Alcibiades fearing muche he went to labour the ambassadours and spake with them aparte in this sorte What meane you my Lordes of SPARTA doe ye not knowe that the Senate hath allwayes accustomed to be gracious and fauorable vnto those that sue vnto them for any matter and that the people contrarilie are of a prowde nature and desirous to imbrace all great matters If therefore at the first sight ye doe geue them to vnderstand that you are come hither with full power to treate freely with them in all manner of causes doâ— you not thinke that they make you stretche your authoritie farre to graunte them all that they will demaunde Therefore my Lordes ambassadours if you looke for indifferencie at the ATHENIANS handes and that they shall not prease you to farre against your willes to graunte them any thing of aduantage I would wishe you a litle to couer your full commission and in open manner to propound certen articles and reasonable capitulations of peace not acquainting them otherwise with your full power to agree in all things and for my parte I will assure you of my good will in fauour of the LACEDAEMONIANS When he had tolde them this tale he gaue them his faithfull promise and vowed as it were to performe his worde Hereupon Alcibiades turned the Ambassadourâ— from the trust they reposed in Nicias and wanne them on his side in so muche as they gaue credit to no man but to him wondering muche at his great wisedome and readye wit and they thought him a rare and notable man The next morning the people were assembled to geue the ambassadours audience They were sent for and brought into the market place There Alcibiades gently asked them what was the cause of their comming They aunswered that they were come to treate of peace but they had no power to determine any thing Then beganne Alcibiades to be angrie with them as if they had done him wrong and not be any to them calling them vnfaithfull vnconstant and fickle men that were come neither to doe nor saye any thing worth the hearing The Senate also were offended with them and the people rated them very roughely whereat Nicias was so ashamed and amased withall that he could not tell what to saye to see so sodaine a chaunge knowing nothing of Alcibiades malice and subtill practise with the ambassadours So the ambassadours of LACEDAEMON were dispatched without any thing done and Alcibiades chosen generall who presently brought the ARGIVES the ELIANS and the MANTINIANS in league with the ATHENIANS Though no man dyd commend this practise of his in working it after this sorte yet was it a maruelous thing of him to deuise to put all PELOPONNESVS in armes and to procure such a number of souldiers against the LACEDAEMONIANS as he dyd before the cittie of MANTINEA and to shifte of the miseries of warre and hazard of battell so farre from ATHENS Which if the LACEDAEMONIANS dyd winne could not profit them muche and if they lost it they could hardely saue their cittie of SPARTA After this battell of MANTINEA the thousand men whom the cittie by an auncient order dyd keepe continually in paye aswell in peace as in warre within the cittie of ARGOS thinking now oportunietie serued them very trimly attempted to take the soueraine authoritie from the common people and to make them selues Lords of the cittie And to bring this to passe the LACEDAEMONIANS comming in the meane time dyd ayde them in their purpose and so dyd put downe the gouernment of the people notwithstanding immediatly after the people tooke armes againe and became the stronger Alcibiades comming thither euen at that time dyd warrant them the victorie and to set vp againe the authoritie of the people Then he persuaded them to make their walles longer to ioyne their cittie to the sea to the ende they might more easely be ayded by sea by the ATHENIANS He brought them also from ATHENS many carpinters masons stone hewers and other workemen and to conclude he shewed them by all the meanes and wayes he could that he dyd beare good will vnto them and thereby wanne him selfe no lesse fauour particularly emong them then generally he dyd good vnto his countrie He dyd persuade also the cittizens of PATRAS to ioyne their towne to the sea by making long walles which they built out euen to the clyffes of the sea And when one sayed vnto them alas poore people of PATRAS what doe ye meane the ATHENIANS will eate you out Alcibiades aunswered him it maye well be but it shalâ—â— by litle and litle beginning first at the feete but the LACEDAEMONIANS will deuoure you all at once and beginne at the head Now although Alcibiades dyd make the cittie of ATHENS strong by sea yet he dyd not leaue to persuade the ATHENIANS also to make them selues strong by lande For he dyd put the young men oftentimes in minde of the othe they were made to sweare in AGRAVLOS and dyd aduise them to accomplishe it in deede Which was that they should take all corne fields vines and olyue trees to be the borders and confines of ATTICA whereby they were taught to reckon all lande theirs that was manâ—red and dyd bring forth fruite Yet with all these goodly dedes and fayer wordes of Alcibiades and with this great corage and quicknes of vnderstanding he had many great faultes and imperfections For he was to daintie in his fare wantonly geuen vnto light women riâ—tous in bankets vaine and womanishe in apparell he ware euer a long purple gowne than swopt the market place as he walked vp and downe it had suche a traine and was to riâ—â—â—â— and costely for him to weare And following these vaine pleasures and delightes when he was in his galley he caused the planckes of the poope thereof to be cutte and broken vp that he might lye the softer for his bed was not layed apon the ouerloppe but laye vpon giâ—heâ— strained ouer the hole cut out and fastened to the sides and he caried to the warres with him a gilded scurchion wherein he had no cognizaunce nor ordinary deuise of the ATHENIANS but only had the image of Cupids in iâ— holding lightning in his hande The noble men and best cittizens of ATHENS perdeyuing this they hated his facions and conditions and were muche offended at him and were afeard withall of his rashnes and insolencie he dyd so contemne
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
iudging the ill successe not in that he could not but for that he would not and that where he vndertooke any enterprise nothing could withstand or lye in his waye Hereupon the people persuading them selues that immediatly after his departure they should heare that the I le of CHIO was taken with all the countrie of IONIA they were angrie they could haue no newes so sodainely from him as they looked for Moreouer they dyd not consider the lacke of money he had and specially making warre with suche enemies as were euer relieued with the great king of PERSIAES ayde and that for necessities sake he was sundrie times driuen to leaue his campe to seeke money where he could get it to paye his souldiers and to mainteine his armie Now for testimony hereof the last accusation that was against him was only for this matter Lysander being sent by the LACEDAEMONIANS for admirall and generall of their armie by sea vsed suche policie with Cyrus the king of PERSIAES brother that he got into his handes a great some of money by meanes whereof he gaue vnto his mariners foure oboles a daye for their wages where before they were wont to haue but three and yet Alcibiades had muche a doe to furnishe his with three only a daye For this cause to get money Alcibiades sailed into CARIA But in the meane time Antiochus whom Alcibiades had left his lieutenaunt behind him and had geuen him charge of all the shippes in his absence being a very skilfull sea man but otherwise a hastie harebraynd foole and of small capacitie he being expressely commaunded by Alcibiades not to sight in any case though the enemies offred him battell was so foolishe rashe and made so litle reckoning of his straight commaundement that he armed his owne gallye whereof him selfe was captaine and another besides and went to the cittie of EPHESVS passing all alonge his enemies gallyes reuiling offering villany to those that stoode apon the hatches of their gallyes Lysander being maruelously prouoked by those wordes went and encountered him at the first with a fewe shippes The other captaines of the gallyes of the ATHENIANS seeing Antiochus in daunger went to ayde him one after another Then Lysander of his parte also set out all his whole fleete against him and in the end ouercame them Antiochus self was killed in the conflict and many gallyes and men were taken prisoners wherefore Lysander set vp shewes of triumphe in token of victorie Alcibiades hearing these ill fauored newes returned presently with all possible speede to SAMOS and when he came thither he went with all the rest of his fleete to offer Lysander battell But Lysander quietly contenting him selfe with his first victorie went not out against him Now this victorie was no soner wonne but one Thrasybulus the sonne of Thrason Alcibiades enemie went incontinently from the campe and got him to ATHENS to accuse Alcibiades to the people whom he informed how all went to wracke and that he had lost many shippes for that he regarded not his charge carelesly putting men in truste whom he gaue to great credit to bicause they were good fellowes and would drincke droncke with him were full of mariners mockes and knauishe ieastes such as they vse commonly amongest them selues And that he in the meane time tooke his pleasure abroade here and there scraping money together where he could come by it keeping good cheere and feasting of the ABYDENIAN and IONIAN courtisans when the enemies armie was so neere theirs as it was Moreouer they layed to his charge that he dyd fortifie a castell in the countrie of THRACIA neere vnto the cittie of BISANTHE for a place to retire him selfe vnto either bicause he could not or rather that he would not liue any lenger in his owne countrie Vpon those accusations the ATHENIANS geuing ouer credit to the reporte dyd immediatly choose newe captaines and thereby declared their misliking Alcibiades hearing of this and fearing least they would doe him some worse harme dyd leaue straight the ATHENIANS campe and gathering a certaine number of straungers together went of him selfe to make warre apon certaine free people of the THRACIANS who were subiect to no prince nor state where he got a maruelous masse of money together by meanes whereof he dyd assure the GRAECIANS inhabiting those marches from all inuasion of forreine enemies Now Tydeaus Menander and Adimanthus the ATHENIANS captaines being afterwards in a place commonly called the goates riuer with all the gallyes the cittie of ATHENS had at that time apon that coast vsed euery morning commonly to goe to the sea to offer battell to Lysander who rode at an ancker before the cittie of Lampsacus with all the LACEDAEMONIANS armie by sea and commonly returned againe to the place from whence they came in very ill order without either watche or warde as men that were careles of their enemies Alcibiades being on the lande nor farre of and finding their great faulte and negligence tooke his horse went to them and told them that they laye on an ill shore where there was no good rode nor towne and where they were driuen to seeke their vittells as farre as to the cittie of SESTOS that they suffered their mariners to leaue their shippes goe a lande when they laye at ancker straggling vp and downe the countrie as they would them selues without regarde that there laye a great armie of their enemies before them readie to be set out at their generalles commaundement and therefore he aduised them to remoue thence and to goe cast ancker before the cittie of SESTOS Howbeit the captaines would not be aduised by him and that which was worst of all Tydeus one of the captaines stowtely commaunded him to get him awaye as one that had nothing to doe with the matter that other had charge of the armie Whereupon Alcibiades fearing they would purpose some treason against him dyd departe presently from them And as he went his waye he sayed to some of his friendes which accompanied him out of the campe at his returne that if the captaines of the ATHENIANS had not bene so rounde with him he would haue forced the LACEDAEMONIANS to haue come to the battell in despight of their beardes or els he would haue driuen them to forsake their shippes Some tooke this for a glorious bragge other thought he was like enough to haue done it bicause he could haue brought from lande a great number of THRACIANS both archers and horsemen with whom he might haue geuen a charge vpon the LACEDAEMONIANS and done great mischief vnto their campe But now how wisely Alcibiades dyd foresee the faultes he tolde the ATHENIANS captaines of their great misfortune losse that followed incontinently did to plainely witnesse it to the worlde For Lysander came so fiercely apon them on a sodaine that of all the shippes they had in their whole fleete only eight gallyes were saued with whom
authoritie and destroyed common wealth But this pestilence crept in by litle and litle and dyd secretly winne ground still continuing a long time in ROME before it was openly knowen and discouered For no man can tell who was the first man that bought the peoples voyces for money nor that corrupted the sentence of the iudges Howbeit at ATHENS some holde opinion that Anytus the sonne of Anthemion was the first man that fedde the iudges with money about the ende of the warres of PELOPONNESVS being accused of treason for yelding vp the forte of PYLE at that time when the golden and vnfoiled age remained yet whole in iudgement at ROME Now Martius following this custome shewed many woundes and cuttes apon his bodie which he had receyued in seuenteene yeres seruice at the warres and in many sundrie battells being euer the formest man that dyd set out feete to fight So that there was not a man emong the people but was ashamed of him selfe to refuse so valliant a man and one of them sayed to another we must needes chuse him Consul there is no remedie But when the daye of election was come and that Martius came to the market place with great pompe accompanied with all the Senate and the whole Nobilitie of the cittie about him who sought to make him Consul with the greatest instance and intreatie they could or euer attempted for any man or matter then the loue and good will of the common people turned straight to an hate and enuie toward him fearing to put this office of soueraine authoritie into his handes being a man somewhat partiall toward the nobilitie and of great credit and authoritie amongest the Patricians and as one they might doubt would take away alltogether the libertie from the people Whereupon for these cōsiderations they refused Martius in the ende and made two other that were suters Consuls The Senate being maruelously offended with the people dyd accompt the shame of this refusall rather to redownd to them selues then to Martius but Martius tooke it in farre worse parte then the Senate and was out of all pacience For he was a man to full of passion and choller and to muche geuen to ouer selfe will and opinion as one of a highe minde and great corage that lacked the grauity and affabilitie that is gotten with iudgment of learning and reason which only is to be looked for in a gouernour of state and that remembred not how wilfulnes is the thing of the world which a gouernour of a cōmon wealth for pleasing should shōne being that which Plato called solitarines As in the ende all men that are wilfully geuen to a selfe opinion obstinate minde and who will neuer yeld to others reason but to their owne remaine without cōpanie forsaken of all men For a man that will liue in the world must nedes haue patience which lusty bloudes make but a mocke at So Martius being a stowte man of nature that neuer yelded in any respect as one thincking that to ouercome allwayes and to haue the vpper hande in all matters was a token of magnanimitie and of no base and fainte corage which spitteth out anger from the most weake and passioned parte of the harte much like the matter of an impostume went home to his house full fraighted with spite and malice against the people being accompanied with all the lustiest young gentlemen whose mindes were nobly bent as those that came of noble race and commonly vsed for to followe and honour him But then specially they floct about him and kept him companie to his muche harme for they dyd but kyndle and inflame his choller more and more being sorie with him for the iniurie the people offred him bicause he was their captaine and leader to the warres that taught them all marshall discipline and stirred vp in them a noble emulation of honour and valliantnes and yet without enuie praising them that deserued best In the meane season there came great plenty of corne to ROME that had bene bought parte in ITALIE and parte was sent out of SICILE as geuen by Gelon the tyranne of SYRACVSA so that many stoode in great hope that the dearthe of vittells being holpen the ciuill dissention would also cease The Senate sate in counsell apon it immediatly the common people stoode also about the palice where the counsell was kept gaping what resolution would fall out persuading them selues that the corne they had bought should be solde good cheape and that which was geuen should be deuided by the polle without paying any pennie and the rather bicause certaine of the Senatours amongest them dyd so wishe and persuade the same But Martius standing vp on his feete dyd somewhat sharpely take vp those who went about to gratifie the people therein and called them people pleasers and traitours to the nobilitie Moreouer he sayed they nourrished against them selues the naughty seede and cockle of insolencie and sedition which had bene sowed and scattered abroade emongest the people whom they should haue cut of if they had bene wise and haue preuented their greatnes and not to their owne destruction to haue suffered the people to stablishe a magistrate for them selues of so great power and authoritie as that man had to whom they had graunted it Who was also to be feared bicause he obtained what he would and dyd nothing but what he listed neither passed for any obedience to the Consuls but liued in all libertie acknowledging no superiour to commaund him sauing the only heades and authours of their faction whom he called his magistrates Therefore sayed he they that gaue counsell and persuaded that the corne should be geuen out to the common people gratis as they vsed to doe in citties of GRAECE where the people had more absolute power dyd but only nourishe their disobedience which would breake out in the ende to the vtter ruine and ouerthrowe of the whole state For they will not thincke it is done in recompēse of their seruice past sithence they know well enough they haue so ofte refused to goe to the warres when they were cōmaunded neither for their mutinies when they wēt with vs whereby they haue rebelled forsaken their coūtrie neither for their accusations which their flatterers haue preferred vnto them they haue receyued and made good against the Senate but they will rather iudge we geue and graunt them this as abasing our selues and standing in feare of them glad to flatter them euery waye By this meanes their disobedience will still growe worse and worse and they will neuer leaue to practise newe sedition and vprores Therefore it were a great follie for vs me thinckes to doe it yea shall I saye more we should if we were wise take from them their Tribuneshippe which most manifestly is the embasing of the Consulshippe the cause of the diuision of the cittie The state whereof as it standeth is not now as it was wont
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
hartely wished him aliue againe For first of all they fell out with the AEQVES who were their friendes and confederates touching preheminence and place and this quarrell grew on so farre betwene them that frayes and murders fell out apon it one with another After that the ROMAINES ouercame them in battell in which Tullus was slaine in the field and the flower of all their force was put to the sworde so that they were compelled to accept most shamefull conditions of peace in yelding them selues subiect vnto the conquerers promising to be obedient at their commandement THE COMPARISON OF ALcibiades with Martius Coriolanus NOW that we haue written all the dedes of worthie memorie done by either of them both we maye presently discerne that in matters of warre the one hath not greatly exceeded the other For both of them in their charge were a like hardie valliant for their persones as also wise and politike in the warres vnles they will saye that Alcibiades was the better captaine as he that had foughten more battells with his enemies both by sea and lande then euer Coriolanus had done and had allwayes the victorie of his enemies For otherwise in this they were much a like that where they were both present had charge and power to commaund all things prospered notably and with good successe on the parte they were of and also when they tooke the contrary side they made the first haue the worse euery waye Now for matters of gouernment the noble men and honest cittizens dyd hate Alcibiades manner of rule in the common weale as of a man most dissolute and geuen to flatterie bicause he euer studied by all deuise he could to currie fauour with the common people So dyd the ROMAINES malice also Coriolanus gouernment for that it was no arrogant prowde and tyrannicall whereby neither the one nor the other was to be commended Notwithstanding he is lesse to be blamed that seeketh to please and gratifie his common people then he that despiseth and disdaineth them and therefore offereth them wrong and iniurie bicause he would not seeme to flatter them to winne the more authoritie For as it is an euill thing to flatter the common people to winne credit euen so is it besides dishonesty and iniustice also to atteine to credit and authoritie for one to make him selfe terrible to the people by offering them wrong and violence It is true that Martius was euer counted an honest natured man plaine and simple without arte or cunning Howbeit Alcibiades merely contrarie for he was fine subtill and deceiptfull And the greatest faulte they euer burdened Alcibiades for was his malice and deceipt wherewith he abused the ambassadours of the LACEDAEMONIANS that he was a let that peace was not cōcluded as Thucydides reporteth Now though by this acte he sodainly brought the cittie of ATHENS into warres yet he brought it thereby to be of greater power and more fearefull to the enemies by making alliance with the MANTINIANS and the ARGIVES who by Alcibiades practise entred into league with the ATHENIANS And Martius as Dionysius the historiographer writeth dyd by craft and deceipt bring the ROMAINES into warres against the VOLSCES causing the VOLSCES maliciously and wrongfully to be suspected that went to ROME to see the games played But the cause why he dyd it made the fact so much more fowle and wicked For it was not done for any ciuill dissention nor for any ielouzy and contention in matters of gouernment as Alcibiades dyd but only following his cholerike moode that would be pleased with no thing as Dion sayed he would needes trouble and turmoile the most parte of ITALIE and so beinge angrie with his countrie he destroyed many other townes and cities that could not helpe it nor doe with all This is true also that Alcibiades spite and malice did worke great mischiefe and miserie to his countrie but when he saw they repented them of the iniurie they had done him he came to him selfe and did withdrawe his armie An other time also when they had banished Alcibiades he would not yet suffer the captaines of the ATHENIANS to runne into great errours neither would he see them cast away by followinge ill counsell which they tooke neither would he forsake them in any daunger they put them selues into But he did the very same that Aristides had done in olde time vnto Themistocles for which he was then and is yet so greatly praised For he went vnto the captaines that had charge then of the armie of the ATHENIANS although they were not his friendes and tolde them wherein they did amisse and what they had further to doe Where Martius to the contrarie did first great hurte vnto the whole citie of ROME though all in ROME had not generally offended him yea and when the best and chiefest parte of the citie were grieued for his sake and were very sorie and angrie for the iniurie done him Furthermore the ROMAINES sought to appease one onely displeasure and despite they had done him by many ambassades petitions and requestes they made whereunto he neuer yelded while his mother wife and children came his harte was so hardned And hereby it appeared he was entred into this cruell warre when he would harken to no peace of an intent vtterly to destroy and spoyle his countrie and not as though he ment to recouer it or to returne thither againe Here was in deede the difference betwene them that spialls being layed by the LACEDAEMONIANS to kill Alcibiades for the malice they did heare him as also for that they were affrayed of him he was compelled to returne home againe to ATHENS Where Martius contrariwise hauing bene so honorably receiued and entertained by the VOLSCES he could not with honestie forsake them consideringe they had done him that honour as to choose him their generall and trusted him so farre as they put all their whole armie and power into his handes and not as thother whome the LACEDAEMONIANS rather abused then vsed him suffering him to goe vp and downe their citie and afterwardes in the middest of their campe without honour or place at all So that in the ende Alcibiades was compelled to put him selfe into the handes of Tisaphernes vnlesse they will say that he went thither of purpose to him with intent to saue the citie of ATHENS from vtter destruction for the desire he had to returne home againe Moreouer we read of Alcibiades that he was a great taker and would be corrupted with money and when he had it he would most licentiously and dishonestly spend it Where Martius in contrarie maner would not so much as accept giftes lawefully offered him by his Captaines to honour him for his valliantnesse And the cause why the people did beare him such ill will for the controuersie they had with the Nobilitie about clearing of dettes grew for that they knewe well enough it was not for any gayne or benefit he had gotten thereby
the vertues and qualities they haue had and what singularitie eche of them possessed and to choose and culle out the chiefest things of note in them and their best speaches and doings most worthie of memorie Then I crie out O godds can there be more passing pleasure in the vvorlde Or is there any thing of more force to teach man ciuill māners a ruled life or to reforme the vice in man Democritus the philosopher writeth that we should praye we might euer see happy images and sightes in the ayer and that the good which is meete and proper to our nature maye rather come to vs then that is euill and vnfortunate presupposing a false opinion and doctrine in philosophie which allureth men to infinite superstitions That there are good and bad images flying in the ayer which geue a good or ill impression vnto men and incline men to vice or to vertue But as for me by continuall reading of auncient histories and gathering these liues together which now I leaue before you and by keeping allwayes in minde the actes of the most noble vertuous and best geuen men of former age and worthie memorie I doe teache and prepare my selfe to shake of banishe from me all lewde and dishonest condition if by chaunce the companie and conuersation of them whose companie I keepe and must of necessitie haunte doe acquainte me with some vnhappie or vngratious touche This is easie vnto me that doe dispose my quiet minde not troubled with any passion vnto the deepe consideration of so many noble examples As I doe present vnto you now in this volume the liues of Timoleon the CORINTHIAN and of Paulus AEmilius the ROMAINE who had not only a good an vpright minde with them but were also fortunate and happie in all the matters they both did take in hand So as you shall hardly iudge when you haue red ouer their liues whether wisedome or good fortune brought them to atchieue to suche honorable actes and exploytes as they dyd Many the most parte of historiographers doe write that the house and familie of the AEmilians in ROME was allwayes of the most auncient of the nobilitie which they call Patricians Some writers affirme also that the first of the house that gaue name to all the posteritie after was Marcus the sonne of Pythagoras the wise whom king Numa for the sweetnes and pleasaunt grace of his tongue surnamed Marcus AEmilius and those specially affirme it that saye king Numa was Pythagoras scholler Howsoeuer it was the most parte of this familie that obteined honour and estimation for their vertue were euer fortunate also in all their doings sauing Lucius Paulus only who dyed in the battell of CANNES But his misfortune doth beare manifest testimonie of his wisedome and valliancy together For he was forced to fight against his will when he sawe he could not bridle the rashnes of his fellowe Consul that would nedes ioyne battell and to doe as he dyd sauing that he fled not as the other who being first procurer of the battell was the first that ranne awaye where he to the contrarie to his power dyd what he could to let him and dyd sticke by it fought it valliantly vnto the last gaspe This AEmylius left a daughter behind him called AEmylia which was maried vnto Stipio the great and a sonne Paulus AEmylius being the same man whose life we presently treate of His youth fortunately fell out in a florishing time of glorie and honour through the sundrie vertues of many great and noble persones liuing in those dayes emong whom he made his name famous also and it was not by that ordinarie arte and course which the best esteemed young men of that age dyd take and followe For he dyd not vse to pleade priuate mens causes in lawe neither would creepe into mens fauour by fawning vpon any of them though he sawe it a common practise policie of men to seeke the peoples fauour and good willes by suche meanes Moreouer he refused not that common course which other tooke for that it was contrarie to his nature or that he could not frame with either of both if he had bene so disposed but he rather sought to winne reputation by his honestie his valliantnes and vpright dealing as choosing that the better waye then either of thother two in so much as in maruelous shorte time he passed all those that were of his age The first office of honour he sued for was the office of AEdilis in which sute he was preferred before twelue other that sued for the selfe same office who were men of no small qualitie for they all came afterwardes to be Consuls After this he was chosen to be one of the number of the priestes whom the ROMAINES call Augures who haue the charge of all the diuinations and soothe sayings in telling of things to come by flying of byrdes signes in the ayer He was so carefull and tooke suche paynes to vnderstand how the ROMAINES dyd vse the same with suche diligence sought the obseruation of the auncient religion of ROMAINES in all holie matters that where that priesthood was before esteemed but a title of honour desired for the name only he brought it to passe that it was the most honorable science best reputed of in ROME Wherein he confirmed the philosophers opinion that religion is the knowledge how to serue God. For when he dyd any thing belonging to his office of priesthood he dyd it with great experience iudgment and diligence leauing all other thoughtes without omitting any auncient ceremonie or adding to any newe contending oftentimes with his companions in things which seemed light and of small moment declaring vnto them that though we doe presume the goddes are easie to be pacified and that they readilie pardone all faultes scapes committed by negligence yet if it were no more but for respect of common wealths sake they should not slightly not carelesly dissemble or passe ouer faultes committed in those matters For no man sayeth he at the first that committeth any faulte doth alone trouble the state of the common wealth but withall we must thincke he leaueth the groundes of ciuill gouernment that is not as carefull to keepe the institutions of small matters as also of the great So was he also a seuere captaine and strict obseruer of all marshall discipline not seeking to winne the souldiers loue by flatterie when he was generall in the field as many dyd in that time neither corrupting them for a second charge by shewing him selfe gentle and curteous in the first vnto those that serued vnder him but him selfe dyd orderly shewe them the very rules and preceptes of the discipline of warres euen as a priest that should expresse the names and ceremonies of some holy sacrifice wherein were daunger to omit any parte or parcell Howbeit being terrible to execute the lawe of armes apon rebellious
their lawes paying yerely to the ROMAINES for tribute a hundred talents where before they were wont to paye vnto their Kings tenne times as muche And he made playes and games of all sortes and dyd celebrate sumptuous sacrifices vnto the goddes He kept open courte to all commers and made noble feastes and defrayed the whole charge thereof with the treasure Perseus had gathered together sparing for no coste But through his care and foresight there was suche a speciall good order taken euery man so curteously receyued and welcommed and so orderly marshalled at the table according to their estate and calling that the GRAECIANS wondred to see him so carefull in matters of sporte and pleasure and that he tooke as great paynes in his owne persone to see that small matters should be ordered as they ought as he tooke great regard for discharge of more weighty causes But this was a maruelous pleasure to him to see that among such sumptuous sightes prepared to shewe pleasure to the persones inuited no sight nor stately shewe dyd so delight them as to enioye the sight and company of his persone So he told them that seemed to wonder at his diligence and care in these matters that to order a feast well required as great iudgement and discretion as to set a battell to make the one fearefull to the enemies and the other acceptable to his friendes But men esteemed his bountie and magnanimitie for his best vertue and qualitie For he dyd not only refuse to see the Kings wonderful treasure of golde and siluer but caused it to be told and deliuered to the custodie of the treasurers to carie to the coffers of store in ROME and only suffered his sonnes that were learned to take the bookes of the Kings librarie When he dyd rewarde the souldiers for their valliant seruice in this battell he gaue his sonne in lawe AEmylius Tubero a cuppe â—â—g fiue talents It is the same Tubero we tolde you of before who liued with sixteene oâ—â— of his kynne all in one house and of the only reuenue they had of a litle farme in the countrie Some saye that cuppe was the first pece of plate that euer came into the house of the AElians and yet it came for honour and reward of vertue but before that time neither them selues nor their wiues would euer haue or weare any gold or siluer After he had wery well ordered and disposed all things at the last he tooke leaue of the GRAECIANS and counselled the MACEDONIANS to remember the libertie the ROMAINES had geuen them and that they should be carefull to keepe it by their good gouernment and concorde together Then he departed from them and tooke his iorney towardes the countrie of EPIRVS hauing receyued commission from the Senate of ROME to suffer his souldiers who had done seruice in the battell and ouerthrowe of king Perseus to spoyle all the citties of that countrie Wherefore that he might surprise them on a sodaine and that they should mistrust nothing he sent to all the citties that they should send him by a certaine daye tenne of the chiefest men of euery cittie Who when they were come he commaunded them to goe and bring him by suche a daye all the golde and siluer they had within their citties aswell in their priuate houses as in their temples and churches and gaue vnto euerie one of them a captaine and garrison with them as if it had bene only to haue receaued and searched for the gold and siluer he demaunded But when the daye appointed was come the souldiers in diuers places and all at one time set vpon their enemies and dyd rifle and spoyle them of that they had and made them also paye ransome euery man So as by this policie there were taken and made slaues in one daye a hundred and fiftie thousand persones and three score and tenne citties spoyled and sacked euery one And yet when they came to deuide the spoyle of this generall destruction of a whole Realme by the polle it came not to euery souldiers parte aboue eleuen siluer Drachmes a pece Which made euery one to wonder greatly and to feare also the terrour of the warres to see the wealthe and riches of so great a Realme to amowunte to so litle for euery mans share When AEmylius had done this facte against his owne nature which was very gentle and curteous he went vnto the sea syde to the citty of ORICA and there imbarked with his armie bownde for ITALIE Where when he was arriued he went vp the riuer of Tyber against the streame in king Perseus chief galley which had sixteene owers on a side richely set out with the armour of the prisoners riche clothes of purple culler and other suche spoyles of the enemies so that the ROMAINES ronning out of ROME in multitudes of people to see this galley and going side by side by her as they rowed softely AEmylius tooke as great pleasure in it as in any open games or feastes or triumphe that had bene shewed in deede But when the souldiers sawe that the golde and siluer of king Perseus treasure was not deuided amongest them according vnto promise and that they had a great deale lesse then they looked for they were maruelously offended and inwardly grudged AEmylius in their hartes Neuertheles they durst not speake it openly but dyd accuse him that he had bene to straight vnto them in this warre and therefore they dyd shewe no great desire nor forwardnes to procure him the honour of triumphe Which Seruius Galba vnderstanding that had bene an olde enemie of his notwithstanding he had the charge of a thousand men vnder him in this warre he like an enuious viper tolde the people howe AEmylius had not deserued the honour of triumphe and sowed seditious wordes against him among the souldiers to aggrauate their ill will the more against him Moreouer he craued a daye of the Tribunes of the people to haue respit to bring forth suche matter as they determined to obiect against him saying the time then was farre spent the sunne being but foure howers highe and that it would require lenger time and leysure The Tribunes made him aunswer that he should speake then what he had to saye against him or otherwise they would not graunte him audience Hereupon he begganne to make a long oration in his dispraise full of railing wordes and spent all the rest of the daye in that rayling oration Afterwardes when night came on the Tribunes brake vp the assembly and the next morning the souldiers being incoraged by Galbaes oration and hauing confedered together dyd flocke about Galba in the mount of the Capitoll where the Tribunes had geuen warning they would 〈…〉 e their assembly Now being broade daye AEmylius triumphe was referred to the m 〈…〉 umber of voyces of the people and the first tribe slattly dyd denie his triumphe The Senate and the residue of the people hearing that
it were with a certaine compassion considering what great power secret and diuine causes haue ouer mens weakenes and frailtie and those thinges that daily passeth ouer our heades For the world then did neuer bring forth any worke of nature or of mans hand so wonderful as was this of fortune Who made the world see a man that before was in maner Lorde and King of all SICILE sit then commonly in the cittie of CORINTHE talking with a vitailer or sitting a whole day in a perfumers shoppe or commonly drinking in some celler or tauerne or to brawle and scolde in the middest of the streetes with common whores in face of the world or els to teach common minstrels in euery lane alley and to dispute with them with the best reason he had about the harmony musike of the songs they sang in the THEATERS Now some say he did this bicause he knew not els how he should driue the time away for that in dede he was of a base mynde and an effeminate person giuen ouer to all dishonest lusts and desires Other are of opiniō he did it to be the lesse regarded for feare lest the CORINTHIANS should haue him in gealouzy and suspicion Imagining that he did take the chaunge and state of his lyfe in grieuous part and that he should yet looke backe hoping for a tyme to recouer his state againe and that for this cause he did it and of purpose fained many thinges against his nature seeming to be a starke nideotte to see him do those thinges he did Some notwithstanding haue gathered together certaine of his answers which doe testifie that he did not all these thinges of a base brutish mynde but to fitte himselfe onely to his present misery and misfortune For when he came to LEVCADES an auncient cittie built by the CORINTHIANS as was also the citty of SYRACVSA he told the inhabitants of the same that he was like to yong boyes that had done a fault For as they flye from their fathers being ashamed to come in their sight are gladder to be with their brethrē euē so is it with me said he for it would please me better to dwell here with you then to go to CORINTHE our head citty Another tyme being at CORINTHE a stranger was very busie with him knowing how familiar Dionysius was with learned men and Philosophers while he raigned in SYRACVSA and asked him in the ende in derision what benefite he got by Platoes wisedome and knowledge he answered him againe how thinkest thou hath it done me no good whē thou seest me beare so paciently this change of fortune Aristoxenus a musitian and other asking him what offence Plato had done vnto him he answered That tyrans state is euer vnfortunate and subiect to many euills but yet no euill in their state was comparable to this That none of all those they take to be their most familiars dare once tell them truely any thing and that through their fault he left Platoes company Another tyme there commeth a pleasaunt fellow to him and thinking to mocke him fiuely as he entred into his chamber he shooke his gowne as the manner is when they come to tyrans to shewe that they haue no weapons vnder their gownes But Dionysius encountred him as pleasantly saying to him do that whē thou goest hēce to se if thou hast stollē nothing And again Philip King of MACEDON at his table one day discēding into talke of songs verse and tragedies which Dionysius his father had made making as though he wondred at thē how possibly he could haue leisure to do them he answered him very trimly and to good purpose He did them euen at such tymes quod he as you and I and all other great Lordes whom they recken happy are disposed to be drunke play the fooles Now for Plato he neuer saw Dionysius at CORINTHE But Diogenes Sinopian the first tyme that euer he met with Dionysius sayd vnto him O how vnworthy art thou of this state Dionysius stayed sodainely and replied Truly I thanke thee Diogenes that thou hast compassion of my misery Why sayd Diogenes againe Doest thou thinke I pitty thee Nay it spiteth me rather to see such a slaue as thou worthy to dye in the wicked state of a tyrant like thy father to lyue in such securitie and idle lyfe as thou leadest amongst vs When I came to compare these wordes of Diogenes with Philistus wordes the Historiographer bewailing the harde fortune of the daughters of the LEPTINES saying that they were brought from the toppe of all worldly felicity honor and goodes whereof tyrannicall state aboundeth vnto a base priuate and humble life me thinkes they are the proper lamentations of a woman that soroweth for the losse of her boxes of painting cullers or for her purple gownes or for other suche prety fine trimmes of golde as women vse to weare So me thinkes these things I haue intermingled concerning Dionysius are not impartinent to the description of our liues neither are they troublesom not vnprofitable to the hearers oneles they haue other hasty busines to let or trouble them But now if the tyraunt Dionysius wretched state seeme straunge Timoleons prosperitie then was no lesse wonderfull For within fiftie dayes after he had set foote in SICILE he had the castel of SYRACVSA in his possession and sent Dionysius as an exile to CORINTHE This did set the CORINTHIANS in suche a iollitie that they sent him a supply of two thousand footemen and two hundred horsemen which were appointed to land in ITALIE in the countrie of the THVRIANS And perceyuing that they could not possiblie goe from thence into SICILE bicause the CARTHAGINIANS kept the seas with a great nauie of shippes and that thereby they were compelled to staye for better oportunitie in the meane time they bestowed their leysure in doing a notable good acte For the THVRIANS being in warres at that time with the BRVTIANS they dyd put their cittie into their hands which they kept very faithfully and friendly as it had bene their owne natiue countrie Icetes all this while dyd besiege the castel of SYRACVSA preuenting all he could possible that there should come no corne by sea vnto the CORINTHIANS that kept within the castell and he had hiered two straunge souldiers which he sent vnto the cittie of ADRANVS to kill Timoleon by treason who kept no garde about his persone and continued amongest the ADRANITANS mistrusting nothing in the world for the trust and confidence he had in the safegard of the god of the ADRANITANS These souldiers being sent to do this murther were by chaunce enformed that Timoleon should one day do sacrifice vnto this god So apon this they came into the temple hauing daggers vnder their gownes by litle and litle thrust in through the prease that they got at the length hard to the aulter But at the present time as one encoraged another
warres they made haue been agaynst great and famous enemies the one against the MACEDONIANS and the other agaynst the CARTHAGINIANS and both their victories very notable For the one of them conquered the realme of MACEDON whiche he tooke from the seuenth kyng that raigned by succession from the father to the sonne since the tyme of the great Antigonus and the other draue al the tyrannes out of SICILE and restored the whole Ile Cities therin vnto their former libertie Vnles some wil alledge perhappes that there was this difference betweene them that AEmylius fought agaynst kyng Perseus when he had all his power whole and entier and had fought with the ROMANS many tymes before and had the better of them in all conflictes where Timoleon set vppon Dionysius when he was in greatest dispayre and in maner vtterly cast away On the contrarie syde it may be obiected for Timoleon that he ouercame manie tyrannes and a myghtie great armie of the CARTHAGINIANS with a verie small number of men and yet men of all sortes not as AEmylius with a great armie of well trayned and expert souldiers in warres but with men gathered togeather at aduenture of all sortes being mercenarie hierlings and fighting men for paie lose people and men vnruly in warres that woulde doo but what they listed For where the goodly deeds are like and the meanes vnequall there we must confesse that the praise is due vnto the generall Bothe the one and the other kept their handes cleane from corruption in the charge which they tooke vpon them But it seemeth that AEmylius came so facioned and prepared by the good ciuill lawe and moral disciplyne of his countrie and that Timoleon came rawly thither and afterwards facioned him selfe to be that he was And this is to be proued for that al the ROMAINS in that time were so ciuilly brought vp and exceeded al other in straight keeping the lawes of their countrie Where to the cōtrarie there was not one of the captaines of the GREECIANS that came then or were sent into SICILE but fell straight to corruption when he had put his foote in SICILE Dion onely excepted and yet they had a certaine suspicion of him that he aspired to the kingdome and imagined in his head to stablishe a certaine Empire at SIRACVSA like vnto that of LACEDAEMON TIMAEVS the Historiographer writeth that the SIRACVSANS sent Gilippus with shame backe againe into his countrie for his vnsaciable greedy couetousnes and for his great theftes and bribes taken in his charge Diuers other haue also writtē the great treasons falsehoddes Pharax SPARTAN Calippus ATHENIAN did cōmit both of them seeking to make them selues lordes of SIRACVSA and yet what men were they and what meanes had they to haue suche a foolishe vaine hope fancie in their heades Considering that the one dyd folowe and serue Dionysius after that he was driuen out of SIRACVSA and the other also was but a priuate captaine of a bande of footemen of those that came in with Dion Timoleon in contrary maner was sent to be generall of the SIRACVSANS vpon their great instance and sute And he hauing no neede to seeke or hunte after it but onely to keepe the power and authoritie they dyd willingly put into his handes so soone as he had destroyed and ouerthrowen all suche as woulde vniustly vsurpe the gouernment he dyd immediately of his owne good wyll franckly resigne vp his office and charge And sure so is this a notable thyng to be commended and estemed in Paulus AEmylius who hauing conquered so great and riche a realme he neuer increased his goodes the value of one farthing nether dyd see nor handle any mony at all although he was very liberall and gaue largely vnto others I meane not in speaking this to vpbrayde or detect Timoleon for that he accepted a fayre house the SIRACVSANS gaue him in the citie and a goodly mannor also in the countrie for in such cases there is no dishonesty in receiuing but so is it greater honesty to refuse then to take But that vertue is most rare and singuler where we see they will receiue nor take nothing though they haue iustly deserued it And if it be so that the body is stronger better cōpoūded which best abideth chaunge of parching heate and nipping cold and that the mynde is much more stronger and stable that swelleth not vp with pride of prosperitie nor drowpeth for sorowe in aduersitie Then it appeareth that AEmylius vertue was so much more perfect in that he shewed him selfe of no lesse graue and constant a mynde in the pacience he endured for his losse and sorowe happened vnto him losyng at one tyme in manner both his children then he had done before in al his triumphe and greatest felicitie VVhere Timoleon to the contrarye hauing done a worthie act against his brother could with no reasone suppresse the griefe and sorowe he felt but ouercome with bitter griefe and repentaunce continued the space of twentie yeeres togeather and neuer durst once only shewe his face againe in the market place nor deale any more in matters of the common weale Truely for a man to beware to doo euil and to shonne from euil it is a verie good and comely thyng so also to be sorie and a fearde of euerye reproche and ill opinion of the worlde it sheweth a simplenesse of nature and a good and well disposed minde but no manly corage The ende of Timoleons life THE LIFE OF Pelopidas CAto the elder aunswered certaine on a time that maruelously commended a bolde a venturous and desperate man for the warres that there was great oddes to esteeme manhodde so muche and lyfe so litle And surely it was wisely spoken of him The report goeth that king Antigonus gaue paye to a souldier among other that was very hardie and venturous but he had a noughtie sickly bodye The king asked him one day what he ayled to be so pale and euill cullered The souldier told him he had a secret disease vpon him that he might not tell him with reuerence The king hearing him say so commaunded his Phisitions and Surgeons to looke to him and if he were curable that they should heale him with all possible speede and so they dyd After the souldier had his health againe he would venter no more so desperately in the warres as he dyd before Insomuch king Antigonus selfe perceiuing his slacknes and drawing backe rebuked him and said vnto him that he wondred to see so great a chaunge and alteration in him The souldier neuer shrinking at the matter told him the troth plainely Your selfe and it please your maiestie is cause of my cowardlynes now by healing my disease that made my life lothsome to me Much like were a SIBARITANS wordes towching the life and manner of the LACEDAEMONIANS That it was no maruaill they had such a desire to die in the warres seeing they did it to ridde
them selues of their troubles and most miserable and straight life But we must not wonder though the SYBARITANS being womanish men and altogeather geuen to pleasure did so thinke that those men hated their liues who feared not death for the desire they had to doo good and goodwill they had to doo their duetie Which was contrarie in the LACEDAEMONIANS For they were of opinion that to liue and die willingly was a vertue as these funerall verses doo witnesse The dead vvhich here doe rest did not in life esteeme that life or death vvere of them selues or good or bad to deme But euen as life did end or death vvas brought to passe so life or death vvas good or bad this their opinion vvas And in deede to flye death is no shame so it proceede not of a cowardly hart nether to desire death is commendable if it be with contempt and hate of life This is the reason why Homer saith the valliantest men are euer best armed when they come to battaile The lawe makers among the GREECIANS doo euer punishe him that castes away his target but neuer him that casteth away his sworde or lawnce For euery man must first thinke to defende him selfe before he seeke to hurt his enimie and specially such as haue the whole state of a realme in their handes and be generalles of the feeld For if the comparison be true that Iphicrates the ATHENIAN captaine made that in an armie of men the light horsemē resemble the handes the men of armes the feete the battaill of footemen the stomake brest the captaine the head of a mans body it seemeth then that the venturous captaine putting him selfe in daunger with out cause is not onely careles of his owne life but also of all theirs whose liues depende vpon his saftie As contrarily he being carefull of his owne person cannot but be carefull of his souldiers that serue vnder him Therefore Callicratidas a LACEDAEMONIAN captaine and a woorthie man otherwise did vnwisely aunswere a soothsaier that bad him take hede to him selfe for the signes and tokens of the sacrifices did threaten his death Sparta said he standeth not vpon one man alone It is true that to fight by sea or by land man for man Callicratidas was but one man of him selfe but as captaine or lieuetenaunt generall he had the whole power and force of the armie in his person For he was not a man alone when so manie mens liues were lost with his Now olde Antigonus was of a contrary minde For he being redie to geue battell by sea about the I le of ANDRO's made a better aunswer to one that said vnto him his enemies had moe shippes then him selfe For how many shippes doest thou recken then my selfe said he Therein he did wisely to make great accompt of the worthines of a generall specially when it is ioyned with hardines and experience For the chiefest poynte of seruice is to saue him that saueth all other For when Chares on a time shewed the ATHENIANS openly the sundrie woundes and cuttes he had receiued apō his body his target also thrust through with many piks Timotheus straight said vnto him Chares I am not of thy minde For when I did besege the citie of SAMOS I was ashamed to see a darte throwne from the walles light hard by me for that I shewed my selfe a rashe young man and more venturous then became a generall of so great an armie For when it standeth much apon the whole armie and that it is necessarie the generall thereof doo put him selfe in daunger then he should put him selfe forwarde and occupie both handes and body without respect not regarding their wordes that say a good wise captaine should die for age or at the least old But where there is smal honor to be woone by very good successe and contrariewise muche losse and distruction by great misfortune no man of wisedome or iudgement would wish a generall to fight as a priuate souldier to hazard the losse of a generall I thought good therefore to make this preface before the liues of Pelopidas and of Marcellus both which were woorthie men and died otherwise then they shoulde For they both were valliant souldiers in the fielde and did both of them honor their contrie with famous victories and specially against great and dreadfull enemies For the one was the first as they saie that ouerthrewe Hanniball who was neuer ouercome by any before And the other also ouercame the LACEDAEMONIANS in battell that ruled al GREECE at that time both by sea and by land Yet they both carelesly lost their liues by venturing to boldely when their contrie stoode in greatest neede of suche men and captaines as they were This is the cause why we folowing the resemblaunce that was betweene them haue compared their liues together Pelopidas the sonne of Hippoclus came of one of the noblest houses of the citie of THEBES as Epaminondas did He being brought vp in great wealth his father left him heire of all his landes and goodes being but a young man So he straight shewed him selfe willing to doo good with his monie to those that needed helpe and were worthie to let the worlde see that his monie was not his maister For as Aristotle saith of these rich men the most part of them do not vse their goods for extreame couetousnes other againe doo abuse them as being geuen to ouermuche pleasures So riche men became slaues all their life time some to pleasure other to profit Now al Pelopidas other frendes woulde be beholding to him and take very thanckfully his curtesie and liberalitie towardes them But Epaminondas could neuer be brought to any thing at his handes Howbeit Pelopidas selfe folowed Epaminondas maner for he tooke a pride and pleasure to goe simply appareled to fare meanely to labor willingly and to make warres openly as he did He was euen such another as Euripides the Poet described Capaneus to be when he said of him He rich and vvelthie vvas yet vvas he there vvithall no vvight that purchast vvorldly hate nor insolent at all For he would haue been ashamed that the poorest man of the cittie of THEBES shoulde haue worne meaner apparell apon his backe then himselfe As for Epaminondas his pouertie was not daintie to him bicause his parentes were euer poore and yet for all that he passed it ouer more easely by studie of Philosophie which he gaue him selfe vnto and for that from his youth he liked to leade a spare life without excesse Where Pelopidas matched in a noble house and maryed highly and had two children by his wife neuerthelesse he had no minde to keepe or increase his goodes the more for that but gaue him selfe altogeather to serue the common weale as long as he liued By reason whereof his wealth decaied and his best frendes grewe angrie with him telling him how he did not well to make no more reckoning of a thing that was
bed his dores were shut vp and they knocked long before any man came to the dore At the length one of his men that hearde them rappe so hard with much a do came to open the dore but he had no sooner thrust backe the bolt of the dore and beganne to open it but they pushed it from them with such a force apon him altogether that they layed him on the grounde and went straight to his maisters chamber Leontidas hearing the noyse of them that ranne vppe to him in such hast presently mistrusted the marter and leaping out of his bed tooke his sworde in his hande but did forget to put out the lampes that burned in his chamber all night for if they hadde beene out they might easily haue hurt one an other in the darke But the lampes giuinge cleare light in the chamber he went to the chamber dore and gaue Cephisodorus the first man that pressed to enter apon him such a blowe with his sword that he dropped downe dead at his feete Hauinge slaine the first man he dealt with the seconde that came after him and that was Pelopidas The fight went hard betwene them two bothe for that the chamber dore was verie straight as also for that Cephisodorus body lying on the ground did choke the comming in at the chamber Notwithstanding Pelopidas ouercame him in the ende and slue him and went from thence with his companie straight to Hypates house where they got in as they did into Leontidas house before But Hypates knewe presently what it was and thought to saue him selfe in his neighbours houses Howbeit the conspirators followed him so harde that they cutte him of before he coulde recouer their houses Then they gathered together and ioyned with Melons company and sent immediatly with all possible speede to ATHENS to the banished THEBANS there cried through the city liberty liberty arming those citizens that came to them with the armor spoyles of their enemies that were hanged vp in common vawtes armorers shope about Charons house which they brake open or caused to be opened by force On the other side Epaminondas and Gorgidas came to ioyne with them with a company of young men honest olde men well appointed whom they had gathered together Hereupon the whole citie was straight in an vprore tumult euery house was full of lights one running to an other to know what the matter was Neuertheles the people did not yet assemble together but eueryone being amazed musing at this stur not vnderstāding the troth staied vntill day came on that they might call a counsell But truely herein me thinkes the Captaines of the garrison of the LACEDAEMONIANS were greatly in fault that they did not sturre betimes set vpon thē incontinently consideringe they were xv hundred souldiers besides a great number of citizens that would haue come one after an other to take their partes But the great noyse they heard made them afeard to see lights in euery mans house the people running vp down the streets in great multitudes to fro wherupon they stirred not but only kept thē within the castel of CADMEA The next morninge by breake of day came the other banished THEBANS from ATHENS very wel armed al the people of THEBES drew together in counsail Thither did Epaminondas and Gorgidas bring Pelopidas his cōsorts presented thē before the people cōpassed about with priests the professed of the city offering them crownes to put vpon their heads they praied the assembly of the citizens that they would help their gods their contrie Al the people that were present whē they saw them rose vp stoode on their feets with great showtes clapping of hands receiued thē as their sauiours that had deliuered their contry frō bondage restored them again to liberty therupon before them al euen in the market place by the whole voice consent of the people they chose Pelopidas Melon Charon gouernors captaines of all BOEOTIA Pelopidas then immediatly made them besiege the castell of CADMEA about with trenches force of wod doing al he could possible to winne it to expulse the LACEDAEMONIANS before any supply aide came to them frō SPARTA So he did preuēted it so sodainly that the garrison being departed out of the castel by cōposition as they returned towards LACEDAEMONIA they found Cleombrotus king of SPARTA in the contry of MEGARA comming towards thē with a great army to help thē Afterward of the three captaines which had charge of their garrison that lay at THEBES the SPARTANS condēned two of them to death Hermippidas Artissus were presently executed the third captaine Dysaoridas they set so greeuous a fyne on his head that he wēt out of PELOPONESVS This enterprise being attēpted executed with the like valiantnes the same daūger trouble that Thrasybulus practise was whē he deliuered ATHENS from the slauery of the thirty gouernors tyrans hauing the like fortune happy ende the GRAECIANS termed it cosyn german to Thrasybulus act And in deede it were a harde matter to find two other such besides thē two that with so few mē ouercame their enemies being many moe in nōber then thēselues or that with so small help did ouercome those that were of so great force or that performed their enterprise with their only valiantnes wisedō were cause besides of so great blessing benefit to their contry as Pelopidas Thrasybulus attēpt was But the great chaūge alteracion of the state afterwards did make their actes farre more noble famous For the warre that ouerthrew the maiestie of SPARTA that tooke away al the seigniorie rule of the LACEDAEMONIANS bothe by sea by land beganne the very same night when Pelopidas him self making the twelut person entring into a priuate house taking nether citie nor castel nor stronger hold to tel truly by figuratiue speach did breake cut in sonder the linkes chaynes that lincked straight together strēgthened the LACEDAEMONIANS whole empire monarchie ouer al GREECE who vntil that presēt time were thought so strong as no possibilitie could breake or sonder them Now the LACEDAEMONIANS fortuning afterwards to inuade the cōtry of BOEOTIA with a mighty army the ATHENIANS trēbling for feare of their great power did vtterly leaue to protect thē renownced the league alliance they had made before with them And moreouer they did straightly prosecute law against those that were accused to take part with the BOEOTIANS wherof some of thē were put to death other were banished from ATHENS the rest condēned in great summes of money To be short euery man sayd the THEBANS were but vndone considering they had no help were beloued besides of none At that presēt time it fel out Pelopidas Gorgidas were generals ouer al BOEOTIA for that yere who deuising to throw a
in the turning of a hand spoyled and brought to nought For it is sayd that the riches and goodes taken away at the sacke of SYRACVSA were nothinge inferior to the spoyles of CARTHAGE which was also sacked not longe after that for the other parte of the city of SYRACVSA called ACRADINA was soone after also taken by treason and spoyled against the Captaines willes sauinge the kinges treasure which was reserued to be caried to the common treasure of ROME SYRACVSA beinge taken nothinge greued Marcellus more then the losse of Archimedes Who beinge in his studie when the citie was taken busily seekinge out by him selfe the demonstracion of some Geometricall proposition which he hadde drawen in figure and so earnestly occupied therein as he neither sawe nor hearde any noyse of enemies that ranne vppe and downe the citie and much lesse knewe it was taken He wondered when he sawe a souldier by him that bad him go with him to Marcellus Notwithstandinge he spake to the souldier and bad him tary vntill he had done his conclusion and brought it to demonstracion but the souldier being angry with his aunswer drew out his sword and killed him Other say that the ROMAINE souldier when he came offered the swords poynt to him to kill him and that Archimedes when he saw him prayed him to hold his hand a litle that he might not leaue the matter he looked for vnperfect without demonstracion But the souldier makinge no reckening of his speculation killed him presently It is reported a third way also sayinge that certeine souldiers met him in the streetes going to Marcellus carying certeine Mathematicall instrumentes in a litle pretie coffer as dialles for the sunne Sphaeres and Angles wherewith they measure the greatnesse of the body of the sunne by viewe and they supposing he hadde caried some golde or siluer or other pretious Iuells in that litle coffer slue him for it But it is most true that Marcellus was maruelous sorie for his death and euer after hated the villen that slue him as a cursed and execrable persone and howe he made also maruelous much afterwards of Archimedes kinsemen for his sake The ROMAINES were estemed of at that time by all nations for maruelous expert souldiers and taken for verie vallyant and daungerous men to be dealt with but they neuer shewed any example of their clemencie and curtesie and least of all of any ciuill manner to any straungers vntill Marcellus taught the way whose actes did shewe the GREECIANS then that the ROMAINES were more gratious and mercifull then they For he did so curteouslie intreate those that hadde to do with him and shewed such fauour to priuate persones and also to whole citties that if there were any crueltie shewed in the citties of ENNA or at MEGARES or against the SYRACVSANS it was rather through their owne fault and follie that were hurt then theirs that didde them the hurte And for profe hereof I will recite you one example onely amongest many There is a citie in SICILE called ENGYIVM it is no great thinge but a verie auncient citie of name by reason of the trafficke thither for that there are certeine goddesses to be seene whome they worship called the mothers Some say the CRETANS were the first builders and founders of the temple there where you shall see speares and helmets of copper and apon them are grauen the name of Meriones and apon others Vlysses name also which are consecrated to these goddesses This citie stoode altogether at the deuotion of the CARTHAGINIANS and Nicias beinge the chiefest man of the same was all he might against it and perswaded them openlie in all their counsailles to take parte with the ROMAINES prouinge it by many reasons that his enemies counsaylinge the contrarie were vnprofitable members of the common wealth Whereuppon Nicias enemies fearinge his greatnesse and authoritie they did conspyre amonge them selues to apprehende him and to deliuer him to the CARTHAGINIANS But Nicias hearinge of such a matter and findinge that they laye in wayte to take him vsed this pollicie to preuent their treason He gaue out openlie very ill speeches against the goddesses and did many things in derogation of their honor and sayd the sight of them which was a matter of great credit was but deuise and that there was no credit to be geuen to them These words tickled his enemies imagining that the common people would lay the mischiefe they pretended against him to him selfe as the only causes of his owne hurt So they hauinge appointed a day to apprehende him by chaunce a common counsaill was kept that day they hadde determined of where Nicias speaking to the people about matter of counsaill in the middest of his oration fell to the grounde to the great wonder of the whole assembly as euery man may coniecture Howbeit neuer a man sturred a prety while after he beganne to lift vppe his head a litle and to looke gastely about him with a faint trembling voyce which he still gathered higher and lowder by litle and litle vntill he sawe all the people wonderously afrayed and amazed that not one of them durst speake Then throwing his gowne from him and renting his coate he got vpon his feete halfe naked and ranne towardes the gate of the Theater cryinge out that the goddesses mothers did torment him and not a man durst once come neere him nor offer to stoppe him they were so supersticious and foolishly afrayed of the goddesses imagining it was some diuine punishment But by this meanes he easily got to the gates of the city and fled from them all and he was neuer seene after that time to do or speake like a madde man in any thing His wife that was made priuy to his deuise and furthered his intent went first and fell downe on her knees before the goddesses mothers in their temple as she had hartily prayed vnto them faining afterwards she would go seeke her husbande that ranne vp and downe the fieldes like a madde man she went out of the city with her litle children and no body troubled her Thus did they escape without daunger and went vnto Marcellus to SYRACVSA The ENGIENIANS afterwards played such insolent partes that Marcellus in the ende went thither and caused them all to be taken and bounde as though he woulde haue put them to execution But Nicias came to him with the teares in his eyes and embracing his knees and kissinge his handes besought him to take pitie of his poore citizens beginning first with those that were his greatest enemies This good nature of Nicias so pacified Marcellus wrath that he pardoned them all did no hurt to the city and gaue Nicias certeine land besides many other rich giftes he bestowed apon him Thus it is reported in the history of Posidonius the Philosopher Now Marcellus being sent for home by the ROMANES bicause they had warres in their owne contrie and euen at ROME gates he departed out of
Pluto stande in dread that he vvould bravvle in hell although his bones vvere drie and dead on earth he vvas so fell Furthermore touchinge the disposition of his body he was maruelous stronge and lusty and all bicause he did vse to labor and toyle euen from his youth and to liue sparingly as one that was euer brought vp in the warres from his youth so that he was of a very good constitucion both for strength of body as for health also As for vtterance he esteemed it as a seconde body and most necessarie gift not onely to make men honest but also as a thinge very requisite for a man that should beare sway and authoritie in the common wealth He practised to speake well in litle villages neere home whether he went many times to plead mennes causes in courtes iudiciall that would retaine him of counsell so as in shorte time he became a perfect pleader and had tongue at will and in processe of time became an excellent orator After he was thus well knowen they that were familiar with him began to perceiue a graue manner and behauiour in his life and a certaine noble minde in him worthie to be employed in matters of state and great importance and to be called into the common wealth For he did not onely refuse to take fees for his pleading and following the causes he mainteined but furthermore made no reckening of the estimacion he wanne by that manner and practise as though that was not the only marke he shot at But his desire reached further rather to winne him selfe fame by seruice in the warres and by valliant fightinge with his enemie then with such a quiet and pleasing manner of life Insomuch as when he was but a younge striplinge in maner he had many cuttes apon his brest which he had receiued in diuerse battells and encounters against the enemies For he him selfe wryteth that he was but seuenteene yeare old when he went first vnto the warres which was about the time of Hanniballs chiefe prosperitie when he spoyled and destroyed all ITALIE So when he came to fight he would strike lustely and neuer sturre foote nor geue backe and woulde looke cruelly vppon his enemie and threaten him with a fearefull and terrible voyce which he vsed him selfe and wisely taught other also to vse the like for such countenaunces sayed he many times doe feare the enemies more then the sworde ye offer them When he went any iorney he euer marched a foote and caried his armour apon his backe and had a man waytinge on him that caried his vittells with him with whom he was neuer angry as they say for any thing he had prepared for his dinner or supper but did helpe to dresse it him selfe for the most parte if he had any leasure when he had done the duety of a priuate souldier in fortifying the campe or such other nedefull businesse All the while he was abroade in seruice in the warres he neuer drancke other then cleane water vnlesse it were when he founde he was not well and then he woulde take a litle vineger but if he saw he were weake he woulde then drinke a litle wine Now it fortuned that Manius Curius the ROMAINE who had triumphed thrise hadde a prety house and lande hard by Cato where he kept in times past which Cato for a walke would visite oft And he considering how litle lande he had to his house and what a litle house he had withall and how poorely it was built wondered with him selfe what maner of man Curius had bene that hauing bene the greatest man of ROME in his time and hauing subdued the mightiest â—aâ—â—es and people of all ITALIE and driuen kinge Pyrrus also out of the same yet him selfe with his owne handes did manure that litle patche of grounde and dwel in so poore and small a farme Whether notwithstaÌ„ding after his three triumphes the SAMNYTES sent their Ambassadors to visite him who founde him by the fyers side seething of perseneapes and presented him maruelous deale of golde from their state and communalty But Curius returned them againe with their gold and told them that such as were contented with that supper had no neede of gold nor siluer and that for his parte he thought it greater honor to commaunde them that had gold then to haue it him selfe Cato remembring these thinges to him selfe went home againe and beganne to thinke vpon his house of his liuinge of his family and seruauntes and also of his expences and to cut of all superfluous charges and fell him selfe to labor with his owne handes more then euer he hadde done before Furthermore when Fabius Maximus tooke the city of TARENTVM againe Cato serued vnder him being very younge where he fell into familiar acquaintaÌ„ce with Nearchus the PYTHAGORIAN philosopher in whom he tooke maruelous delight to heare him talke of Philosophy Which Nearchus held the same opinion of pleasure that Plato did by callinge it the sweete poyson and chiefest bayte to allure men to ill and saying that the body was the first plague vnto the soule and that her onely health remedy and purgation stoode apon rules of reason good examples and contemplations that driue sinful thoughts and carnall pleasures of the body farre of from her Cato moreouer gaue him selfe much to sobriety and temperaunce and framed him selfe to be contented with litle They say he fell in his very olde age to the study of the Greeke tongue and to reade Greeke bookes and that he profited somwhat by Thucydides but much more by Demosthenes to frame his matter and also to be eloquent Which plainly appeareth in all his bookes and writinges full of authorities examples stories taken out of Greeke authors and many of his sentences and moralls his adages quicke answers are translated out of the same word for word Now there was a noble man of ROME at that time one of great authoritie and a deepe wise man besides who coulde easily discerne buddes of vertue sprowtinge out of any towardly youth who was of a good and honorable disposition to helpe forwarde and to aduaunce such His name was Valerius Flaccus a neere neighboure vnto Cato who was informed by his seruaunts of Catoes straunge life how he would be doing in his ground with his owne hands and how he would be gone euery day betimes in the morning to litle villages thereabout to pleade mens causes that prayed his counsaill that when he had done he would come home againe and if it were in winter that he would but cast a litle coate on his shoulders and being sommer he would go out bare naked to the wast to worke in his ground among his seruaunts and other workemen would besides sit and eate with them together at one borde and drinke as they did Moreouer they told him also a world of such maners facions which he vsed that shewed to be a
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
taking away his horse to put any of the Senate whom they saw liue dissolutely and disorderly It was their office also to ceasse and rate euery citizen accordinge to the estimacion of their goodes to note the age genealogie and degrees of euery man and to kepe bookes of them besides many other prerogatiues they had belonging to their office Therefore when Cato came to sue for this office among other the chiefest Senators were all bent against him Some of them for very enuy thinkinge it shame and dishonor to the nobility to suffer menne that were meanely borne and vpstartes the first of their house and name that euer came to beare office in the state to be called preferred vnto the highest offices of state in all their common wealth Other also that were ill liuers knowing that they had offended the lawes of their contry they feared his cruelty to much imagining he would spare no man nor pardon any offence hauing the law in his owne hands So when they had consulted together about it they did set vp seuen competitors against him who flattered the people with many fayer wordes and promises as though they had neede of magistrates to vse them gently and to doe thinges for to please them But Cato contrariwise shewinge no countenaunce that he would vse them gently in the office but openly in the pulpit for orations threatning those that had liued naughtily and wickedly he cried out that they must reforme their citie and perswaded the people not to choose the gentlest but the sharpest phisitions and that him selfe was such a one as they needed among the PATRICIANS Valerius Flaccus an other in whose company he hoped they two beinge chosen Censors to do great good vnto the common wealth by burninge and cutting of like Hydras heades all vanity and voluptuous pleasures that were crept in amongest them and that he sawe well enough how all the other suters sought the office by dishonest meanes fearing such officers as they knew would deale iustly vprightly Then did the people of ROME shew them selues nobly minded and worthy of noble gouernours For they refused not the sowernesse of seuerity of Cato but reiected these meale mouthed men that seemed ready to please the people in all thinges and thereupon chose Marcus Cato Censor and Valerius Flaceus to be his fellow and they did obey him as if he hadde bene present officer and no suter for the office being in themselues to giue it to whom they thought good The first thing he did after he was stalled in his Censorship was that he named Lucius Valerius Flaccus his frend and fellow Censor with him prince of the Senate among many other also whom he thrust out of the Senate he put Lucius Quintius Flaminius of the Senate that had bene Consull seuen yeares before and was brother also vnto Titus Quintius Flaminius that ouercame Philip king of MACEDON in battell which was greater glory to him then that he had bene Consull But the cause why he put him of the Senate was this This Lucius Quintius caried euer with him a younge boy to the warres whom he gaue as good countenaunce and credit vnto as to any of his best familiar frendes he had about him It fortuned on a time whilest Lucius Quintius was Consull and gouernour of a prouince that he made a feast and this boy being set at his table hard by him as his maner was he beganne to flatter him knowing how to handle him when he was pretily mery soothing him told him he loued him so dearely that vpon his departing from ROME when the Swordeplaiers were ready to fight for life and death with vnrebated swords to shew the people pastime he came his way and left the sight of that he neuer saw that was very desirous to haue seene a man killed Then this Lucius Quintius to make him see the like sayed care not for the sight thou hast lost boy for I will let thee see as much And when he had spoken these wordes he commaunded a prisoner condemned to dye to be fetched and brought into his hall before him and the hangman with his axe Which was forthwith done according to his commaundement Then asked he the boy if he would straight see the man killed yea sir sayd the boy and with that he bad the hangman strike of his head Most wryters reporte this matter thus And Cicero to confirme it also wrote in his booke de Senectute that the same was wrytten in an oration Cato made before the people of ROME Now Lucius Quintius beinge thus shamefully put of the Senate by Cato his brother Titus beinge offended withall coulde not tell what to doe but besought the people they woulde commaunde Cato to declare the cause why he brought such shame vnto his house Whereuppon Cato openly before the people made recitall of all this feast And when Lucius denied it affirminge it was not so Cato would haue had him sworne before them all that it was not true they had burdened him withall But Lucius prayed them to pardon him who sayed he woulde not sweare Whereupon the people iudged straight that he deserued well that shame So not longe after certaine games beinge shewed in the Theater Lucius came thither and passinge beyonde the ordinary place that was appointed for those that had bene Consuls he went to sit aloofe of amongest the multitude The people tooke pity on him and made such a do about him as they forced him to rise and to go sit among the other Senators that had bene Consuls saluing the best they could the shame and dishonor happened vnto so noble a house Cato put out of the Senate also one Manilius who was in great towardnes to haue bene made Consull the next yere following only bicause he kissed his wife to louingly in the day time before his daughter and reprouing him for it he tolde him his wife neuer kissed him but when it thundered So when he was disposed to be mery he would say it was happy with him when Iupiter thundered He tookeaway Lucius Scipioes horse from him that had triumphed for the victories he had won against the great king Antiochus which wan him much ill wil bicause it appeared to the world he did it of purpose for the malice he did beare Scipio the AFRICAN that was dead But the most thing that greeued the people of all other extreamities he vsed was his putting downe of all feastes and vaine expences For a man to take it cleane away and to be openly seen in it it was vnpossible bicause it was so common a thinge and euery man was giuen so to it Therefore Cato to fetche it about indirectly did praise euery citizens goodes and rated their apparell their coches their litters their wiues chaines and iuells and all other moueables and household stuffe that had cost aboue a thousand fiue hundred Drachmes a peece a tenne times as
caused thē to be taken which afterwards were put to death with all kind of tormēts That done they burnt Philopoemenes body and did put his ashes into a pot Then they straight departed from MESSINA not in disorder one apon an others necke as euery man listed but in such an order and ray that in the middest of these funeralles they did make a triumphe of victorie For the souldiers were all crowned with garlandes of lawrell in token of victory notwithstanding the teares ranne downe their cheekes in token of sorowe and they led their enemies prisoners shackled and chained The funerall pot in the which were Philopoemenes ashes was so couered with garlandes of flowers nosegaies and laces that it could scant be seene or discerned and was caried by one Polybius a young man the sonne of Lycortas that was Generall at that time to the ACHAIANS about whom there marched all the noblest and chiefest of the ACHAIANS and after them also followed all the souldiers armed and their horses very well furnished The rest they were not so sorowfull in their countenance as they are commonly which haue great cause of sorow nor yet so ioyful as those that came conquerers from so great a victory Those of the cities townes and villages in their way as they past came and presented them selues vnto them to touche the funerall pot of his ashes euen as they were wont to take him by the hande and to make much of him when he was returned from the warres and did accompany his conuoy vnto the city of MEGALIPOLIS At the gates whereof were olde men women and children which thrustinge them selues amongest the souldiers did renewe the teares sorowes and lamentacions of all the miserable and vnfortunate city who tooke it that they had lost with their citizen the first and chiefest place of honor among the ACHAIANS So he was buried very honorably as appertained vnto him and the other prisoners of MESSINA were all stoned to death about his sepulchre All the other cities of ACHAIA besides many other honors they did vnto him did set vp statues and as like to him as could be counterfeated Afterwards in the vnfortunate time of GREECE when the city of CORINTHE was burnt and destroied by the ROMAINES there was a malicious ROMAINE that did what he could to haue the same pulled downe againe by burdening accusing Philopoemen as if he had bene aliue that he was alwaies enemy to the ROMAINES and enuied much their prosperity and victories But after Polybius had aunswered him neither the Consul Mummius nor his counsellers nor lieutenaunts would suffer them to deface take away the honors done in memory of so famous worthy a mā although he had many waies done much hurt vnto Titus Quintius Flaminius vnto Manius So these good men then made a differēce betwene duety profit did thinke honesty profit two distinct things and so separated one from the other according to reason and iustice Moreouer they were perswaded that like as men receiue curtesie and goodnes of any so are they bound to require them againe with kindenes and duety And as men vse to acknowledge the same euen so ought men to honor and reuerence vertue And thus much for the life of Philopoemen The ende of Philopoemenes life THE LIFE OF Titus Quintius Flaminius IT is easie to see Titus Quintius Flaminius forme and stature by Philopoemenes statue of brasse to whome we compare him the which is now set vppe at ROME neere to great Apollo that was brought from CARTHAGE and is placed right against the comming in to the show place vnder which there is an inscription in Greeke letters But for his nature and conditions they say of him thus he would quickely be angry and yet very ready to pleasure men againe For if he did punish any man that had angered him he would do it gently but his anger did not long continew with him He did good also to many and euer loued them whom he had once pleasured as if they had done him some pleasure was ready to do for them still whom he founde thankefull bicause he would euer make them beholding to him and thought that as honorable a thinge as he could purchase to him selfe Bicause he greatly sought honor aboue all thinges when any notable seruice was to be done he would do it him selfe and no man should take it out of his hand He would euer be rather with them that needed his helpe then with those that could helpe him or do him good For the first he esteemed as a meane to exercise his vertue with the other he tooke them as his fellowes and followers of honor with him He came to mans state when the citie of ROME had greatest warres and trouble At that time all the youth of ROME which were of age to cary weapon were sent to the warres to learne to traile the pyke and how to become good Captaines Thus was he entred into marshall affaires and the first charge he tooke was in the warre against Hanniball of CARTHAGE where he was made Colonell of a thousande footemen vnder Martellus the consull who being slaine by an ambush Hanniball had layed for him betwene the cities of BANOIA and VENVSA then they did choose Titus Quintius Flaminius gouernor of the prouince and city of TARENTVM which was now taken againe the seconde time In this gouernment of his he wanne the reputacion as much of a good and iust man as he did of an expert and skilfull Captaine By reason whereof when the ROMAINES were requested to send men to inhabite the cities of NARNIA COSSA he was appointed the chiefe leader of them which chiefely gaue him hart and corage to aspire at the first to the Consulshippe passinge ouer all other meane offices as to be AEdile Tribune or Praetor by which as by degrees other younge men were wont to attaine the Consulshippe Therefore when the time came that the Consulls should be elected he did present him selfe amonge other accompanied with a great number of those he hadde brought with him to inhabite the two newe townes who did make earnest sute for him But the two Tribunes Fuluius and Manlius spake against him and sayed it was out of all reason that so younge a man should in such manner prease to haue the office of the highest dignitie against the vse and custome of ROME before he hadde passed through the inferior offices of the commonwealth Neuertheless the Senate preferred it wholly to the voyces of the people who presently pronounced him Consull openly with Sextius AElius although he was not yet thirtie yeare olde Afterwardes AElius and he deuidinge the offices of the state by lotte it fell apon T. Quintius to make warre with Philip kinge of MACEDON In the which me thinkes fortune greatly fauored the ROMAINES affaires that made such a man Generall of these warres for to haue pointed a Generall that by force and violence woulde haue
the ACHAIANS the PATHIOTES the MAGNESIANS the THESSALIANS and the PERRHOEDEIANS At the first time of the proclamation all the people could not heare the voice of the heraulde and the most parte of those that hearde him coulde not tell distinctly what he sayed for there ranne vp and downe the shewe place where the games were played a confused brute and tumult of the people that wondered and asked what the matter ment so as the heraulde was driuen againe to make the proclamation Whereupon after silence made the herauld puttinge out his voice farre lowder then before did proclaime it in such audible wise that the whole assembly heard him and then rose there such a lowde showte and crie of ioy through the whole people that the sound of it was heard to the sea Then all the people that had taken their places were set to see the Swordplayers play rose vp all on their feete lettinge the games alone and went together with great ioy to salute to embrace and to thanke Titus the recouerer protector and patrone of all their liberties of GREECE Then was seene which is much spoken of the power of mens voyces for crowes fel downe at that present time among the people which by chaunce flew ouer the show place at that time that they made the same out showte This came to passe by reason the ayer was broken and cut a sunder with the vehemency and strength of the voyces so as it had not his naturall power in it to keepe vp the flying of the birdes which were driuen of necessity to fall to the grounde as flyinge through a voide place where they lacked ayer Vnlesse we will rather say that it was the violence of the crie which strooke the birdes passinge through the ayer as they had bene hit with arrowes and so made them fall downe dead to the earth It may be also that there was some hurlinge winde in the ayer as we doe see sometime in the sea when it riseth high and many times turneth about the waues by violence of the storme So it is that if Titus hadde not preuented the whole multitude of people which came to see him and that he had not got him away betimes before the games were ended he had hardly scaped from being stifled amongest them the people came so thicke about him from euery place But after that they were weary of crying and singing about his pauillion vntill night in the ende they went their way and as they went if they met any of their kinne frendes or citizens they did kisse and embrace one an other for ioy and so supped and made mery together In their more reioycinge yet as we may thinke full well they had no other talke at the table but of the warres of GREECE discoursing amongest them what sundry great warres they had made what they had endured heretofore and all to defend and recouer their liberty And yet for all that they coulde neuer so ioyfully nor more assuredly obtaine it then they did euen at that present receiuing the honorablest reward that which deserued greatest fame through the worlde that by the valliantnesse of straungers who fought for the same without any spilt blood of their owne in comparison or that they lost the life of any one man whose death they had cause to lament they were so restored to their auncient freedome and liberty It is a very rare thinge amongest men to finde a man very valliant and wise withall but yet of all sortes of valliant men it is harder to finde a iust man For Agesilaus Lysander Nicias Alcibiades and all other the famous Captaines of former times had very good skill to lead an army and to winne the battell as well by sea as by lande but to turne their victories to any honorable benefit or true honor among men they could neuer skill of it And if you doe except the battell against the barbarous people in the plaine of MARATHON the battell of SALAMINA the iorney of PLATEES the battell of THERMOPYLES the battell Cimon fought about CIPRVS and vpon the riuer of Eurymedon all the other warres battels of GREECE that were made fell out against them selues and did euer bringe them into bondage and all the tokens of triumphe which euer were set vp for the same was to their shame and losse So that in the end GREECE was vtterly destroyed and ouerthrowen and that chiefly through the wickedness and selfe will of her gouernors and captaines of the cities one enuying an others doing Where a straunge nation the which as it should seeme had very small occasion to moue them to do it for that they haue had no great familiarity with auncient GREECE through the counsel good wisedome of the which it should seeme very straunge that GREECE coulde receiue any benefit haue notwithstanding with daungerous battels and infinite troubles deliuered it from oppression and seruitude of violent Lordes and tyrans This and such like talke did at that time occupy the GREECIANS heades and moreouer the deedes following did aunswer and performe the words of the proclamatiō For at one selfe time Titus sent Lentulus into ASIA to set the BARGYLIANS at liberty and Titillius into THRACIA to remoue the garrisons out of the Iles cities which Philip had kept there and Publius Iulius was sent also into ASIA vnto king Antiochus to speake vnto him to set the GREECIANS at liberty which he kept in subiection And as for Titus he went him selfe vnto the city of CHALCIDE where he tooke sea and went into the prouince of MAGNESIA out of the which he tooke all the garrisons of the cities and redeliuered the gouernment of the common wealth vnto the citizēs of the same Afterwards when time came that the feast of Nemea was celebrated in the citie of ARGOS in the honor of Hercules Titus was chosen iudge rector of the games that were plaied there where after he had set all thinges in very good order pertaining vnto the solemnity of the feast he caused againe solemne proclamation to be made openly for the generall liberty of all GREECE Furthermore visiting the cities he did stablish very good lawes reformed iustice and did set the inhabitants and citizens of euery one of them in good peace amity and concord one with an other and did call home also all those that were outlawes and banished men and pacified all olde quarrells and dissentions amonge them The which did no lesse please and content him that by perswasions he could bring the GREECIANS to be reconciled one with the other then if he had by force of armes ouercome the MACEDONIANS Insomuch as the recouery of the libertie which Titus had restored vnto the GREECIANS seemed vnto them the least parte of the goodnesse they had receiued at his handes They say that Lycurgus the orator seeinge the collectors of taxes cary Zenocrates the Philosopher one day to prison for lacke of payment of a certaine
the vpper hand of Scipio and that Scipio bare it paciently and left not of walking for that neither shewed any countenaunce of misliking And in entring into discourse of many matters they discended in the ende to talke of auncient Captaines and Hanniball gaue iudgement that Alexander the great was the famousest Captaine Tyrrus the second and him selfe the thirde Then Scipio smilinge gently asked him what wouldest thou say then if I had not ouercome thee Truely quod Hanniball I would not then put my selfe the third man but the first and aboue all the Captaines that euer were So diuers greatly cōmending the goodly sayinges and deedes of Scipio did maruelously mislike Titus for that he had as a man may say layed his handes vpon the death of an other man Other to the contray againe sayd it was well done of him sayinge that Hanniball so longe as he liued was a fire to the Empire of the ROMAINES which lacked but one to blow it and that when he was in his best force and lusty age it was not his hande nor body that troubled the ROMAINES so much but his great wisedome and skill he had in the warres and the mortall hate he bare in his hart towardes the ROMAINES which neither yeares neither age would diminishe or take away For mens naturall condicions do remaine still but fortune doth not alwayes keepe a state but chaungeth stil and then quickeneth vp our desires to set willingly vppon those that warre against vs bicause they hate vs in their hartes The thinges which fell out afterwards did greatly proue the reasons brought out for this purpose in discharge of Titus For one Aristonicus sonne of a daughter of a player vpon the citherne vnder the fame and glory of Enmenes whose bastard he was filled all ASIA with warre rebellion by reason the people rose in his fauor Againe Mithridates after so many losses he had receiued against Sylla and Eimbria and after so many armies ouerthrowen by battell and warres and after so many famous Captaines lost and killed did yet recouer againe and came to be of great power both by sea and land against Lucullus Truely Hannibal was no lower brought then Caius Marius had bene For he had a king to his frend that gaue him entertainment for him and his family and made him Admirall of his shippes and Generall of his horsemen and footemen in the field Marius also went vp and downe AFRICKE a begging for his liuing insomuch as his enemies at ROME mocked him to scorne soone after notwithstanding they fell downe at his feete before him when they saw they were whipped murthered and slaine within ROME by his commaundement Thus we see no man can say certainely he is meane or great by reason of the vncertainty of thinges to come consideringe there is but one death and chaunge of better life Some say also that Titus did not this act alone and of his owne authority but that he was sent Ambassador with Lucius Scipio to no other end but to put Hanniball to death by what meanes soeuer they could Furthermore after this Ambassade we do not finde any notable thing written of Titus worthy of memory neither in peace nor in warres For he died quietely of naturall death at home in his contrie THE COMPARISON OF Titus Quintius Flaminius with Philopoemen IT is time nowe we come to compare them together Therefore as touchinge the great benefits that came to the GREECIANS neither Philopoemen nor all the other former Captaines are to be compared with Titus For all the auncient Captaines almost being GREECIANS made warres with other GREECIANS but Titus beinge a ROMAINE and no GREECIAN made warres for the liberty of GREECE When Philopoemen was not able to helpe his poore citizens distressed sore vexed with warres he sayled away into CRETA Titus hauing ouercome Philip kinge of MACEDON in battell did restore againe to liberty all the people and cities of the same which were kept before in bondage And if any will narrowly examine battells of either partie they shall finde that Philopoemen being Generall of the ACHAIANS made more GREECIANS to be slaine then Titus did of the MACEDONIANS fightinge with them for the liberty of the GREECIANS And for their imperfections the one of them was ambitious the other was as obstinate the one was quicke and sodainly angered the other was very hard to be pacified Titus left kinge Philip his realme and crowne after he had ouercome him and vsed great clemency towardes the AETOLIANS where Philopoemen for spite malice tooke townes and villages from his owne natiue contry and city wherein he was borne that had alwayes payed them tribute Furthermore Titus continued a sounde frend to them to whome he had once professed frendshippe and done pleasure vnto and Philopoemen in a geare and anger was ready to take away that he had giuen and to ouerthrow the pleasure and good turne he had shewed For Philopoemen when he had done the LACEDAEMONIANS great pleasure did afterwards rase the walls of their city and spoyled and destroyed all their contry and lastly ouerthrew their whole gouernment It seemeth also by reason of his immoderate choller he was him selfe cause of his owne death for that he made more hast then good speede to go out of time to set vpon those of MASSINA and not as Titus who did all his affaires with wisedome and euer considered what was best to be done But if we looke into the number of battells and victories the warre which Titus made against Philip was ended with two battells Whereas Philopoemen in infinite battells in which he had the better neuer left it doutfull but that his skill did euer helpe him the more to victory then the good fortune he had Moreouer Titus wanne honor by meanes of the power of ROME when it florished most and was in best prosperitie Philopoemen made him selfe famous by his deedes when GREECE beganne to stoupe and fall all together So that the deedes of the one were common to all the ROMAINES the dedes of the other were priuate to himselfe alone For Titus was General ouer good and valliant souldiers that were already trained to his hand and Philopoemen being chosen Generall did traine his men him selfe made them afterwards very expert and valliant that were but meane and greene souldiers before And whereas Philopoemen had continuall warres with the GREECIANS it was not for any good fortune he had but that it made a certaine proofe of his valliantnesse For where all other thinges are aunswerable to his there we must iudge that such as ouercome haue the most corage Now Philopoemen making warres with the most warlike nations of all GREECE as the CRETANS and the LACEDAEMONIANS did ouercome the subtillest of them by finenesse and policy and the most valliant by prowes and hardinesse But Titus ouercame by putting that only in practise which was already found and stablished as
the discipline of the warres and order of battell in the which his souldiers had longe before bene trained Whereas Philopoemen brought into his contry both the one and the other and altered all the order which before they were accustomed vnto So that the chiefest point how to winne a battell was found out a new and brought in by the one into a place where it was neuer before and onely employed by the other which could very good skill to vse it and had founde it out already before Againe touching the valliant actes done in the person of them selues many notable actes may be told of Philopoemen but none of Titus but rather to the contrary For there was one Archedâ—mus an AETOLIAN who flowtinge Titus one day sayd in his reproche that at a day of battell when Philopoemen ranne with his sword in his hande to that side where he saw the MACEDONIANS fighting making hed against the enemy Titus held vp his hands vnto heauen and was busie at his prayers to the gods not stirring one foote when it was more time to handle the sword to sight of all handes All the goodly deedes Titus euer did were done alwaies as a Consul or Lieutenant or a Magistrate whereas Philopoemen shewed him selfe vnto the ACHAIANS a man no lesse valliant and of execution being out of office then when he was a Generall For when he was a Generall he did driue Nabis the tyran of the LACEDAEMONIANS out of MESSINA and deliuered the MASSENIANS out of bondage and being a priuate man he shut the gates of the city of SPARTA in the face of Diophanes Generall of the ACHAIANS and of Titus Quintius Flaminius and kept them both from comminge in and thereby saued the city from sacking Thus being borne to commaunde he knew not only how to commaunde according to the law but could commaund the law it selfe apon necessity when the common wealth required it For at such a time he would not tary while the Magistrates which should gouerne him did geue him authority to commaund but he tooke it of him selfe and vsed them when the time serued esteeming him in deede their Generall that knew better then they what was to be done then him whom they chose of them selues And therefore they doe well that doe commende Titus actes for his clemency and curtesie vsed to the GREECIANS but much more the noble and valliant actes of Philopoemen vnto the ROMAINES For it is much easier to pleasure and gratifie the weake then it is to hurt and resist the strong Therefore â—ithence we haue throughly examined and compared the one with the other it is very harde to iudge altogether the difference that is betwene them Peraduenture therefore the iudgement woulde not seeme very ill if we doe geue the GREECIAN for discipline of warre the preheminence and praise of a good Captaine and to the ROMAINE for iustice and clemency the name and dignity of a most iust and curteous gentleman The ende of Titus Quintius Flaminius life THE LIFE OF Pyrrus IT is writteÌ„ that since Noes floud the first king of the THESPROTIANS and of the MOLOSSIANS was Phaëton one of those who came with Pelasgus into the realme of EPIRVS But some say otherwise that Deucalion and his wife Pyrra remained there after they had built and founded the temple of Dodone in the contry of the MOLOSSIANS But howsoeuer it was a great while after that Neoptolemus the sonne of Achilles bringing thither a great number of people with him conquered the contry and after him left a succession of kinges which were called after his name the Pyrrides bicause that from his infancy he was surnamed Pyrrus as much to say as redde and one of his legittimate sonnes whom he had by Lanassa the daughter of Cleodes the sonne of Hillus was also named by him Pyrrus And this is the cause why Achilles is honored as a god in EPIRVS beinge called in their language Aspetos that is to say mighty or very great But from the first kinges of that race vntill the time of Tharrytas there is no memory nor mencion made of them nor of their power that raigned in the meane time bicause they all became very barbarous and vtterly voyde of ciuility Tharrytas was in deede the first that beautified the cities of his contry with the GRECIAN tongue brought in ciuill lawes and customes and made his name famous to the posterity that followed This Tharrytas left a sonne called Alcetas of Alcetas came Arymbas of Arymbas and Troiade his wife came AEacides who maried Phthia the daughter of Menon THESSALIAN A famous man in the time of the warres surnamed Lamiacus and one that had farre greater authority then any other of the confederates after Leosthenes This AEacides had two daughters by his wife Phthia to say Deidamia and Troiade and one sonne called Pyrrus In his time the MOLOSSIANS rebelled draue him out of his kingdome put the crowne into the hands of the sonnes of Neoptolemus Whereupon all the frends of AEacides that could be taken were generally murdered and slaine outright Androclides Angelus in the meane time stale away Pyrrus being yet but a suckling babe whome his enemies neuerthelesse egerly sought for to haue destroyed and fled away with him as fast as possibly they might with few seruauntes his nurses and necessary women only to looke to the childe and giue it sucke by reason whereof their flight was much hindered so as they could go no great iorneys but that they might easily be ouertaken by them that followed For which cause they put the childe into the handes of Androclion Hippias and Neander three lusty young men whome they trusted with him and commaunded them to runne for life to a certaine citie of MACEDON called MEGARES and they them selues in the meane time partely by intreaty partely by force made stay of those that followed them till night So as with much a doe hauinge driuen them backe they ranne after them that caried the childe Pyrrus whom they ouertooke at sunne set And now wening they had bene safe and out of all daunger they found it cleane contrary For when they came to the riuer vnder the towne walles of MEGARES they saw it so rough and swift that it made them afrayed to beholde it and when they gaged the sorde they found it vnpossible to wade through it was so sore risen and troubled with the fall of the raine besides that the darkenesse of the night made euery thing seeme feareful vnto them So as they now that caried the child thought it not good to venter the passage ouer of them selues alone with the women that tended the childe but hearing certaine contrymen on the other side they prayed and besought them in the name of the goddes that they would helpe them to passe ouer the child showing Pyrrus vnto them a farre of But the contrymen by reason of the roaringe of the riuer vnderstoode them not
they had made solemne sacrifice vnto Iupiter Martiall in a certaine place in the prouince of MOLOSSIDE called PASSARON to take their othe and to be sworne to the EPIROTES that they would raigne well and iustly accordinge to the lawes and ordinaunces of the contry and to receiue the subiectes othes interchaungeably also that they would defend and maintaine them in their kingdome according to the lawes in like maner This ceremony was done in the presence of both the kinges and they with their frendes did both geue and receiue presentes eche of other At this meetinge and solemnity amonge other one Gelon a most faithfull seruaunt and assured frend vnto Neoptolemus who besides great showes of frendshippe and honor he did vnto Pyrrus gaue him two payer of draught oxen which one Myrtilus a cuppebearer of Pyrrus beinge present and seeinge did craue of his master But Pyrrus denyed to geue them vnto him whereat Myrtilus was very angry Gelon perceiuinge that Mytilus was angry prayed him to suppe with him that night Now some say he sought to abuse Myrtilus bicause he was fayer and younge and beganne to perswade him after supper to take parte with Neoptolemus and to poyson Pyrrus Myrtilus made as though he was willing to geue care to this perswasion and to be well pleased withall But in the meane time he went and tolde his master of it by whose commaundement he made Alexicrates Pyrrus chiefe cuppebearer to talke with Gelon about this practise as though he had also geuen his consent to it and was willinge to be partaker of the enterprise This did Pyrrus to haue two witnesses to proue the pretended poysoninge of him Thus Gelon beinge finely deceiued and Neoptolemus also with him both imagininge they had cunningly sponne the threde of their treason Neoptolemus was so glad of it that he could not kepe it to him selfe but told it to certaine of his frendes And on a time going to be mery with his sister he could not keepe it in but must be pratling of it to her supposing no body had heard him but her selfe bicause there was no liuing creature neere them sauing Phoenareta Samons wife the kinges chiefe heardman of all his beastes and yet she was layed apon a litle bed by and turned towards the wall so that she seemed as though she had slept But hauing heard all their talke and no body mistrusting her the next morning she went to Antigona king Pyrrus wife and told her euery worde what she had heard Neoptolemus say to his sister Pyrrus hearing this made no countenaunce of any thing at that time But hauinge made sacrifice vnto the goddes he bad Neoptolemus to supper to his house where he slue him being well informed before of the good will the chiefest men of the realme did beare him who wished him to dispatch Neoptolemus not to content him selfe with a peece of EPIRVS only but to follow his naturall inclination being borne to great thinges and for this cause therefore this suspition fallinge out in the meane while he preuented Neoptolemus and slue him first And furthermore remembringe the pleasures he had receiued of Ptolomie and Berenice he named his first sonne by his wife Antigona Ptolomie and hauing built a city in the PRESCQVE an I le of EPIRVS did name it BERENICIDA When he had done that imagining great matters in his head but more in his hope he first determined with him selfe howe to winne that which lay neerest vnto him and so tooke occasion by this meanes first to set foote into the Empire of MACEDON The eldest sonne of Cassander called Antipater put his owne mother Thessalonica to death and draue his brother Alexander out of his owne contry who sent to Demetrius for helpe and called in Pyrrus also to his ayde Demetrius being troubled with other matters could not so quickely go thither And Pyrrus being arriued there demaunded for his charge susteined the citie of NYMPHAEA with all the seacoastes of MACEDON and besides all that certaine landes also that were not belonginge to the auncient crowne and reuenues of the kinges of MACEDON but were added vnto it by force of armes as Ambracia Acarnania and Amphilochia All these the young king Alexander leauinge vnto him he tooke possession thereof and put good garrisons into the same in his owne name and conquering the rest of MACEDON in the name of Alexander put his brother Antipater to great distresse In the meane time kinge Lysimachus lacked no good will to helpe Antipater with his force but being busied in other matters had not the meane to doe it Howbeit knowinge very well that Pyrrus in acknowledginge the great pleasures he had receiued of Ptolomie woulde deny him nothinge he determined to wryte counterfeate letters to him in Ptolomies name and thereby instantly to pray and require him to leaue of the warres begonne against Antipater and to take of him towardes the defrayinge of his charges the sumine of three hundred talentes Pyrrus opening the letters knew straight that this was but a fetch and deuise of Lysimachus For king Ptolomies common manner of greeting of him which he vsed at the beginning of his letters was not in them obserued To my sonne Pyrrus health But in those counterfeate was king Ptolomie vnto king Pyrrus health Whereupon he presently pronounced Lysimachus for a naughty man neuerthelesse afterwardes he made peace with Antipater and they met together at a day appointed to be sworne vpon the sacrifices vnto the articles of peace There were three beastes brought to be sacrificed a goate a bul and a ramme of the which the ramme fell downe dead of him selfe before he was touched whereat all the standers by fell a laughinge But there was a Soothsayer one Theodotus that perswaded Pyrrus not to sweare saying that this signe and token of the gods did threaten one of the three kings with sodaine death For which cause Pyrrus concluded no peace Now Alexanders warres beinge ended Demetrius notwithstanding came to him knowing well enough at his comming that Alexander had no more neede of his aide and that he did it only but to feare him They had not bene many dayes together but th one beganne to mistrust thother and to spie all the wayes they could to intrappe eche other but Demetrius embracing the first occasion offered preuented Alexander and slue him being a young man and proclaimed him selfe king of MACEDON in his roome Now Demetrius had certaine quarrells before against Pyrrus bicause he had ouertunne the contry of THESSALIE and furthermore greedy couetousnes to haue the more which is a common vice with princes and noble men made that being so neere neighbours the one stoode in feare and mistrust of the other and yet much more after the death of Deidamia But now that they both occupied all MACEDON betwene them and were to make diuision of one selfe kingdome Now I say began the matter and occasion of quarrell to grow the greater betwene them
the Senate by the next Censors and many iudge that he was worthy of this infamy for that he was periured in iudgement or bicause he was so subiect and geuen to his pleasure Caius Herennius was also called for a witnesse against Marius but he did alleage for his excuse that the law and custome did dispense with the Patrone to be a witnesse against his follower client and he was quit by the iudges For the ROMAINES alwayes call those Patrons who take the protection of meaner then them selues into their handes saying that Marius predecessors and Marius him selfe had euer bene followers of the house of the HERENNIANS The iudges receiued his aunswere and allowed thereof But Marius spake against it alleaging that since he had receiued this honor to beare office in the common wealth he was now growen from this base condicion to be any more a follower of any man the which was not true in all For euery office of a Magistrate doth not exempt him that hath the office nor yet his posterity to be vnder the patronage of an other nor doth discharge him from the duety of honoring them but of necessity he must be a Magistrate which the law doth permit to sit in the crooked chayer called Curulis that is to say caried vppon a charet through the city But notwithstanding that at the first hearing of this cause Marius had but ill successe and that the iudges were against him all they could yet in the ende for all that at the last hearing of his matter Marius contrary to all mens opinions was discharged bicause the iudges opinions with and against him fell to be of like number He vsed him selfe very orderly in his office of Praetorshippe and after his yeare was out when it came to deuide the prouinces by lot SPAINE fell vnto him which is beyond the riuer of Baetis where it is reported that he skowred all the contrie thereabouts of theeues and robbers which notwithstanding was yet very cruell and sauage for the rude barbarous and vnciuill manner and facion of life of the inhabitantes there For the SPANYARDS were of opinion euen at that time that it was a goodly thinge to liue apon thefte and robbery At this returne to ROME out of SPAYNE desiring to deale in matters of the common wealth he saw that he had neither eloquence nor riches which were the two meanes by the which those that were at that time in credit and authority did cary the people euen as they would Notwithstanding they made great accompt of his constancy and noble minde they found in him of his great paynes and trauell he tooke continually and of the simplicity of his life which were causes to bring him to honor and preferment insomuch as he maried very highly For he maried Iulia that was of the noble house of the Caesars and aunte vnto Iulius Caesar who afterwardes came to be the chiefest man of all the ROMAINES and who by reason of that allyance betwene them seemed in some thinges to followe Marius as we haue wrytten in his life Marius was a man of great temperaunce and pacience as may be iudged by an acte he did puttinge him selfe into the handes of surgeons For his shanckes and legges were full of great swollen veynes and being angrie bicause it was no pleasaunt thinge to beholde he determined to put him selfe into the handes of surgeons to be cured And first laying out one of his legges to the surgeon to worke vpon he would not be bound as others are in the like case but paciently abode all the extreame paines a man must of necessity feele being cut without sturring groning or sighing still keeping his countenaunce and sayed neuer a word But when the surgeon had done with his first legge and would haue gone to the other he would not geue it him nay sayd he I see the cure is not worth the paine I must abide Afterwardes Caecilius Metellus the Consull being appointed to go into AFRICKE to make warre with king Iugurthe tooke Marius with him for one of his Lietenauntes Marius being there seeing notable good seruice to be done and good occasion to shew his manhoode was not of minde in this voyage to increase Metellus honor and reputacion as other Lieutenauntes did and thought that it was not Metellus that called him forth for his Lieutenaunt but fortune her selfe that presented him a fit occasion to raise him to greatnes and as it were did lead him by the hand into a goodly field to put him to the proofe of that he coulde doe And for this cause therefore he endeuored him selfe to shew all the possible proofes of valliantnesse and honor he could For the warres being great continually there he neuer for feare refused any attempt or seruice how daungerous or painfull so euer it were neither disdained to take any seruice in hand were it neuer so litle but exceeding all other his fellowes and companions in wisedome and foresight in that which was to be done and striuing with the meanest souldiers in liuing hardly and painefully wanne the goodwill and fauor of euery man For to say truely it is a great comforte refreshing to souldiers that labor to haue companiōs that labor willingly with them For they thinke that their company laboring with them doth in manner take away the compulsion and necessity Furthermore it pleaseth the ROMAINE souldier maruelously to see the Generall eate openly of the same bread he eateth or that he lyeth on a hard bed as he doth or that him selfe is the first man to set his hande to any worke when a trenche is to be cast or their campe to be fortified For they doe not so much esteeme the Captaines that honor and reward them as they doe those that in daungerous attempts labor and venture their liues with them And further they do farre better loue them that take paines with them then those that suffer them to liue idlely by them Marius performing all this and winning thereby the loue and goodwills of his souldiers he straight filled all LIBYA and the city of ROME with his glory so that he was in euery manns mouth For they that were in the campe in AFRICKE wrote vnto them that were at ROME that they should neuer see the ende of these warres against this barbarous king if they gaue not the charge vnto Marius and chose him Consull These thinges misliked Metellus very much but specially the misfortune that came apon Turpilius did maruelously trouble him which fell out in this sorte Turpilius was Metellus frende yea he and all his parentes had followed Metellus in this warre being master of the workes in his campe Metellus made him gouernor ouer the city of VACCA a goodly great city and he vsing the inhabitantes of the same very gently and curteously mistrusted nothing till he was fallen into the handes of his enemies through their treason For they had brought king
hands And this was the first originall cause of the pestilent and mortall enmitie that grew afterwardes betwixt Marius and Sylla and was like to haue vtterly ouerthrowen the citie of ROME and to haue rased the foundation of the empyre vnto the grounde For many enuyinge the glorie of Marius gaue it out euery where that this acte of the taking of king Iugurthe appertained only vnto Sylla and Sylla him selfe caused a ring to be made which he ware cōmonly and had grauen vpon the stone of the same how Bocchus deliuered Iugurthe into his handes And afterwardes he made it allwayes his seale to dispite Marius with all who was an ambitious and proude man and coulde abide no companion to be partaker of the glorie of his doings and Sylla did it specially at the procurement of enemies ill willers who gaue the glory of the beginning chiefe exployts of this warre vnto Metellus and the last and finall conclusion vnto Sylla to the ende that the people should not haue Marius in so great estimacion and good opinion as they had before But all this enuy detraction and hatred against Marius was soone after extinguished and troden vnder foote by reason of the great daunger that fell apon all ITALIE out of the West and they neuer spake of it afterwardes knowing that the common wealth stoode in neede of a good Captaine and that they beganne to looke about and consider who should be that great wise Pylot that might saue and preserue it from so exceding daungerous storme of warres For there was not a noble man of all the auncient houses of ROME that durst vndertake to offer him selfe to demaunde the Consullshippe but Marius being absent was chosen Consull the second time For Iugurthe was no sooner taken but newes came to ROME of the cōming downe of the TEVTONS and of the CIMBRES the which would not be beleued at the first by reason of the infinite number of the fighting men which was sayd to be in their company and for the vncredible force and power of armies which was iustified to come also but afterwardes they knew plainely that the rumor that ranne abroade was lesse then the troth fell out in deede For they were three hundred thowsand fighting men all armed who brought with them also an other multitude as great or more of women and children which wandered vp and downe seeking contries and townes to dwell and liue in as they heard say the GAVLES had done in olde time who leauing their owne contry came and had possessed the best parte of ITALIE which they had taken away from the THVSCANS Now to say truely no man knewe of what nation they were not from whence they came as well for that they had no frendshippe with any other people as also bicause they came out of a farre contry as a clowde of people that was spred all ouer GAVLE ITALIE It was doubted much that they came out of GERMANYE dwelling about the north sea and this they coniectured by viewe of the greatnes of their bodies and also for that they had darke blew eyes and redde besides that the GERMANES in their tongue doe call theeues and robbers Cimbri Other say that Celtica for the great length and largenes of the contry stretching it selfe from the coast of the great Occean sea and from the north partes drawing towards the marisses Moeorides and the East runneth into SCYTHIA or TARTARIA PONTICA and that for neighbourhood these two nations ioyned together and went out of their contrie not that they made this great voyage all at one time but at many sundry times marching yearely in the spring further and further into the contry And thus by continuance of time they passed by force of armes through all the firme lande of EVROPE and that for this cause although they had many particular names according to the diuersitie of their nations yet all this masse and multitude of people gathered together were called notwithstanding the army of the CELTOSCYTHES as who would say the CELTOTARTARES Other hold opinion that the nation of the CIMMERIANS who were knowen in old time for auncient GREECIANS the one parte of them were not very great in respect of the whole the which being fled or driuen out of their contrie for some ciuill dissention were compelled by the TARTARES to passe beyond the marisses Moeotides into the contries of ASIA vnder the conduction of a Captaine called Ligdamis But the residue of them which were a farre greater number and more warlike men they dwelt in the furdest partes of the earth adioyning vnto the great Occean sea in a darke shadowed contrie couered with wonderfull forrestes of such length and so great and thicke and the trees so high that the sunne can haue no power vpon the ground and they ioyne hard vpon the great sorrest of Hercynia And furthermore they are vnder such a climate where the pole is of such a height by the inclination of the circles equidistant which they call Parallelles that it is not farre from the poynte that aunswereth directly to the plummet vppon the head of the inhabitantes and where the dayes are equinoctiall they doe deuide all their time in two partes the which geueth Homer occasion to fayne that when Vlisses would call vpon the dead he went into the contry of the CIMMERIANS as into the contry of hell And this is the cause why they say these barbarous people left their owne contries to come into ITALIE which from the beginning were called CIMMERIANS and afterwardes they say and not without great likely hoode that they were surnamed CIMBRES howebeit that is spoken rather by a likely coniecture then by any assured troth of history And as for the multitude of men the most parte of historiographers doe wryte that they were rather moe then lesse then we haue spoken of and that they were so hardy and valliant that nothing coulde stande before them they did so great thinges by the strength of their handes where they fought with any so violently and so sodainely that they seemed to be like a lightninge fire all about where they came By meanes whereof they met with no man that durst resist them but scraped together and caried away all that they found hande ouer head and there were many ROMAINE Captaines appointed gouernors to keepe that which the ROMAINES held in GAVLE beyonde the mountaines who with great armies were shamefully ouerthrowē by them The cowardlynes of those whom they had ouercome was the chiefest cause that moued them to direct their iorney to ROME For when they had vanquished the first they fought withall and gotten great richesse also they were so fleshed by this that they determined to stay no where before they had first destroyed ROME sacked all ITALIE The ROMAINES hearing of this out of all partes sent for Marius to geue him the conduction and leading of these warres and chose him Consull the seconde time notwithstanding
litle repulsed by reason of the hanging of the hill Marius gaue this order vnto his folke and therewithall was him selfe the first man that put it in execution for he was as trymme a warriour and as valliant a souldier as any man in all his army besides not one amongest them all would venter furder and be more bolde then him selfe So when the ROMAINES had resisted them and stayed them sodainely going with fury to haue wonne the hill perceiuing them selues to be repulsed they gaue backe by litle and litle vntill they came into the field and then beganne the formest of them to gather together and to put them selues in battell ray vppon the plaine when sodainly they heard the noyse and charging of them that were in the tayle of their army For Claudius Marcellus failed not to take the occasion when it was offered him bicause that the noyse of the first charge comming vp against the hills thereabouts vnder the which he lay in ambushe gaue him aduertisement thereof whereupon he caused his men presently to shew and running with great cryes came to geue a charge vpon those which were in the tayle of the barbarous people putting the hindemost to the sworde They made their fellowes whose backes were next vnto them to turne their faces so from man to man till at the length in shorte time all their battell beganne to wauer in disorder and they made no great resistaunce when they saw they were so charged before and behinde but beganne straight to flie for life The ROMAINES following them hard at the heeles killed and tooke prisoners aboue a hundred thowsande of them and tooke moreouer their cartes their tentes and all their cariage Which the whole army by consent agreed to present vnto Marius excepting nothing sauing that which was imbeaceled and conueyed away vnder hande Now though this was a maruelous honorable right noble present yet they thought it not a recompence sufficient for that he had deserued for the valure he had shewed of a famous Captaine in leading of his army for the good order he kept in this warre so happy thought they them selues to haue escaped so great a daunger Notwithstanding some wryters doe not agree that the spoyle of the barbarous people was geuen vnto Marius nor that there were also so great a number of men slaine as we haue spoken of But they say that after this battell the MARSSILIANS did inclose their vines with hedges made of dead mens bones and that the bodies being rotten and consumed vpon the fieldes through the great raine that fell vpon them the winter following the ground waxed so fatte and did soke the grease so deepe in the same that the sommer following they did beare an vncredible quantity of all sortes of frutes And by this meanes were Archilocus wordes proued true that the errable land doth waxe fat with such rottennesse or putrification And it is sayd aso that of ordinary after great battells there falleth great store of raine Either it is by meane of some god that powring downe pure raine water doth purifie wash and clense the grounde defiled and polluted with mans blood or else it happeneth by naturall cause For that the ouerthrow of so many dead bodies and of the blood split engendreth a moyst grosse and heauy vapoure which doth thicken the ayer that by nature is chaungeable and easie to alter from a very small or litle beginning vnto an exceeding great chaunge After this battell Marius caused the harnesse and spoyles of the barbarous people to be layed aside that were left whole and fayer to sight to beautifie enrich the pompe of his triumphe Then he caused the rest to be gathered together on a great heape and layed apon a stake of wodde to make a noble sacrifice vnto the gods all his army being armed about him crowned with garlandes of triumphe and him selfe apparelled in a long gowne of purple according to the custome of the ROMAINES in such a case and holding a torch burning in both his hands which he first lifted vp vnto heauen And as he was turning downe the torch to put fire to the stake of wood they saw some of his frends a good way of a horse backe comming post vnto him then sodainly there was a great silence made of all the assembly euery man desirous to heare what good newes they had brought When they were come and lighted of their horses they ranne straight to embrace Marius and brought him newes that he was chosen Consull the fift time and presented him the letters sent him from ROME confirming the same And thus this new ioy falling out besides the victory the priuate souldiers did shewe the great ioy and pleasure they tooke in both with great showtes and beating vpon their harnesse and the Captaines also they crowned Marius againe with new garlandes of laurell which they put about his head and that done he put fire vnder the stake of wodde and ended his sacrifice But that which neuer suffereth men quietly to enioy the good happe of any victory clearely but in this mortall life doth euer mingle the ill with the good be it either fortune or spight of fatall destenie or else the necessitie of the naturall causes of earthly thinges did shortely after this great ioy bring newes vnto Marius of his companion Catulus Luctatius the other Consull who was like a cloude in a fayer bright day and brought the city of ROME againe into a new feare and trouble For Catulus that went against the CIMBRES thought it was not for him to keepe the straightes of the mountaines in hope to let the barbarous people for passing bicause that in so doing he had bene compelled to deuide his army into many partes and had weakened him selfe very much if he had taken that course Wherefore comming a litle on this side the Alpes towardes ITALIE he planted him selfe vpon the riuer of Athesis and built a bridge apon it to passe and repasse ouer his men when he would and sette vp at either ende of the bridge two strong fortes well fortified that he might more cōmodiously helpe the places on the other side of the riuer if the barbarous people by chaūce would offer to force thē after they had gotten out of the straights of the mountaines Now these barbarous people had such a glory in them selues and disdained their enemies so much that more to shew their force and boldnes then of any necessity that compelled them or for any benefit they got by it they suffred it to snow apon them being starke naked and did clime vp to the toppe of the mountaines throw great heapes ofise and snow And when they were at the very toppe of all they layed their long broad targets vnder their bodies and lay all along apon them sliding downe the steepe high rockes that had certaine hanginges ouer of an infinito height In the ende they came to campe neere vnto the ROMAINES by
was slaine at that time moe Captaines than in all the other warres of GREECE together all which were at the length brought to ende and determined by the good wisedome and conduction of one onely man And therefore some thought that this great ouerthrowe was geuen by the gods and sayd that at the departure of Lysanders fleete out of the hauen of LAMPSACVS to get set apon the fleete of the enemies they perceaued ouer Lysanders galley the two fires which they call the starres of Castor and Pollux the one on the toneside of the galley and the other on thother side They say also that the fall of the stone was a token that did signifie this great ouerthrow For about that time as many hold opinion there fell out of the ayer a maruelous great stone in the place they call the goates riuer which stone is seene yet vnto this day holden in great reuerence by the inhabitauntes of the citie of CHERRONESVS It is sayd also that Anaxagoras did prognosticate that one of the bodies tyed vnto the vaulte of the heauen should be pluckt away and should fall to the ground by a slyding shaking that should happen For he sayd that the starres were not in their proper place where they were first created considering that they were heauy bodies and of the nature of stone howebeit that they did shine by reflection of the fire elementory had bene drawen vp thither by force where they were kept by the great violēce of the circuler motion of the element euen as at the beginning of the world they had bene stayed let from falling downe beneath at that time when the separation was made of the colde and heauy bodies from the other substaunce of the vniuersal world There is an other opinion of certaine Philosophers where there is more likelyhoode then in that For they say that those which we call falling starres be no fluxions nor deriuacions of the fire elementorie which are put out in the ayer in a manner so soone as they be lighted nor also an inflammation or cōbustion of any parte of the ayer which by her to ouermuch quantity doth spread vpwardes but they are celestiall bodies which by some slackenes of strength or falling from the ordinary course of heauen are throwen and cast downe here beneath not alwayes in any parte of the earth inhabited but more ofter abroade in the great Occean sea which is the cause that we do not see them Notwithstanding Anaxagoras words are confirmed by Damachus who writeth in his booke of religion that the space of three score and fifteene yeares together before that this stone did fall they saw a great lumpe of fier continually in the ayer like a clowde inflamed the which taried not in any one place but went and came with diuerse broken remouings by the driuing whereof there came out lightnings of fire that sell in many places and gaue light in falling as the starres do that fall In the end when this great body of fire fell in that parte of the earth the inhabitants of the contrie after that they were a litle boldened from their feare and wonder came to the place to see what it was and they found no manner of shew or appearaunce of fire but only a very great stone lying vpon the ground but nothing in comparison of the least parte of that which the compasse of this bodie of fire did shew if we may so name it Sure herein Damachus wordes had neede of fauorable hearers But againe if they be true then he vtterly comuteth their argumentes that maintaine that it was a peece of a rocke which the force of a boysterous winde did teare from the toppe of a mountaine and caried in the ayer so long as this hurle winde continued but so soone as that was downe and calme againe the stone fell immediatly Neither doe we say that this lightning bodie which appeared so many dayes in the element was very fire in deede which comming to dissolue and to be put out did beget this violent storme and boysterous wind in the element that had the force to teare the stone in sunder to cast it downe Neuertheles this matter requireth better discourse in some other booke then this But now to our story Whē the three thowsand ATHENIANS that were taken prisoners at that ouerthrow were condemned by the counsell to be put to death Lysander calling Philocles one of the Captaines of the ATHENIANS asked him what paine he would iudge him worthy of that gaue the citizens so cruell wicked counsell Philocles being nothing abashed to see him selfe in that miserie aunswered him Accuse not them that haue no iudge to heare their cause but since the goddes haue geuen thee grace to be conqueror doe with vs as we would haue done with thee if we had ouercome thee When he had sayd so he went to washe him selfe and then put on a fayer cloke vpon him as if he should haue gone to some feast and went lustely the formest man to execution leading his contrie men the way as Theophrastus wryteth After this done Lysander with all his fleete went by all the cities of the sea coast where he commaūded so many ATHENIANS as he founde that they should get them to ATHENS letting them vnderstand that he would not pardone a man of them but put them all to death as many as he found out of their city And this he did of policie to bring them all within the precinct of the walles of ATHENS bicause he might so much the sooner famish them for lacke of vittells for otherwise they would haue troubled him sore if they had had wherewithall to haue maintayned a long siege But in all the cities as he passed by if they were gouerned by the authority of the people or if that there were any other kinde of gouernment he left in euery one of them a LACEDAEMONIAN Captaine or gouernor with a counsell of tenne officers of them that had bene before in league and amity with him the which he did as well in the cities that had euer bene confederates and frendes vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS as in them that not long before had bene their enemies So he went sayling all alongest the coastes fayer and softely making no haste stablishing in manner a generall principality ouer all GREECE For he did not make them officers that were the richest the noblest or honestest men but such as were his frendes out of those tribes which he had placed in euery citie to them he gaue authority to punish and reward such as they liked of and would be present him selfe in persone to helpe them to put those to death whome they would execute or otherwise expulse or banish their contrie But this gaue the GREECIANS small hope of good or gratious gouernment vnder the rule of the LACEDAEMONIANS Wherefore me thinkes that Theopompus the comicall Poet doted when he compared the
him selfe to that pinch that of necessity he must betray the one or the other after he had taken good breath to resolue which of the two he should deale withall in th end went on with his first plat deuise of treason and so deliuered Iugurthe into Syllaes handes In deede Marius triumphed for taking of king Iugurthe but his euill willers for the spight and grudge they bare him did attribute the glory and honor of Iugurthes taking wholy vnto Sylla That secretly went to Marius harte and specially for that Sylla being high minded by nature comming then but newly from a base obscure and vnknowen life to be knowen well accepted of the people in ROME and to east also what honorment became so ambitious and couetous of glory that he caused the story to be grauen in a ring which he did euer after vse to weare seale withall Where king Bocchus was deliuering of Iugurthe vnto Sylla and Sylla also receiuing Iugurthe prisoner These thinges misliked Marius much but notwithstanding iudging that Sylla was not so much enuied as him selfe he tooke him with him vnto the warres Marius his seconde Consulship made Sylla one of his Lieutenauntes and in his third Consulshippe he had charge vnder him of a thowsand footemen and did many notable and profitable exploytes for him When Sylla was his Lieutenaunt he tooke one Copillus a generall of the GAVLES Tecto sages And when he was Colonell of a thowsande footemen he brought the MARSIANE a maruelous great contry of people in ITALIE and perswaded them to remaine good frendes and consederates of the ROMAINES For this his good seruice he founde that Marius grewe in great misliking with him bicause from thence forth he neuer gaue him any honorable charge or occasion to shewe good seruice but to the contrary did what he could to hinder his rising Wherefore Sylla afterwardes tooke Catulus Luctatuâ—â— parte who was companion with Marius in his Consulshippe This Catulus was a very honest man but somwhat slacke and colde in marshall matters which was the cause that in deede he did committe vnto Sylla all the speciall seruice and matters of weight in his charge whereuppon he gaue him occasion not onely to increase his estimacion but also his credit and power For by force or armes he conquered the most parte of the barbarous people which inhabited the mountaines of the Alpes and Catulus campe lacking vittells hauing commission he made a maruelous great quantity of prouision to be brought thither insomuch as Catulus campe being plentifully vittelled they sent their store surplusage vnto Marius souldiers the which Sylla him selfe wryteth did much mislike Marius And this is the first cause of their enmity The which being grounded vpon so light occasion was followed with ciuill warres great effusion of blood and with incurable factions and dissentions that it ended at the length with a cruell tyranny and confusion of all the ROMAINE state and Empire This doth proue that Euripides the Poet was a wise man and one that foresaw the ruines of common weales when he counselled and also commaunded gouernors to lie ambition as a most pestilent and mortall furie vnto them that are once infected withall Now Sylla thinking that the reputation he had gotten already in the warres would haue made his way open to preferre him to some honorable office in the city of ROME he was no sooner returned from the warres but he would needes proue the peoples good willes vnto him and procured his name to be billed among them that sued for the Praetorshippe of the city that is to say the office of the ordinary iudge that ministreth iustice vnto the citizens but he was reiected by the voyce of the people For the which he layed the faulte vppon the meaner sorte saying that the communalty knew well enough the frendshippe he had with king Boccâ—uâ— and that therefore they hopinge that if he were made AEdilis before he came to be Praetor â—â—â— would make them see noble huntinges and great fightinges of wilde beastes of LIBYA And that therefore they did choose other Praetors and put him by his sute in hope to compel hiâ— by this meanes to be first of all AEdilis Howbeit it seemeth that he doth not confesse the troâ—â— of his refusall for his owne act doth condemne him selfe bicause the next yere following he was chosen Praetor partely for that he wan the people with curtesie and partely with monâ—y So he fallinge out with Caesar apon that occasion in his angerthreatned him that he woulde vse the power and authority of his office apon him But Caesar smiling aunswered him thou hast reason to call it thine office for in deede it is thine bicause thou hast bought it But â—â—ter the time of his Praetorshippe was expired he was sent with an army into CAPPADOCIA colouring his voyage thither with commission to restore Ariobarzanes into his kingdom againâ—â— howbeit thonly cause of his iorney was in deede to suppresse kinge Mithridates a litle who tooke too many thinges in hande and increased his power and dominion with a new sigâ—â—ory of no lesse greatnes then that which he had before In troth he brought no great army oâ— of ITALIE with him but he was faithfully holpen by the confederates of the ROMAINES mouery place through whose aide he ouerthrewe a great number of the CAPPADOCIANS and afterwardes also a greater number of the ARMENIANS which came in like case to aide them so that he expulsed Gordius king of PHRYGIA out of CAPPADOCIA and restored Ariobarzanes to his realme againe After which victory Sylla remained by the riuer of Euphrates and thither came vnto him one Orobazus a PARTHIAN Ambassador of the Arsaces king of the PARTHIANS Now these two nations the ROMAINES and the PARTHIANS were neuer frendes before and that with other thinges shewed the great good fortune Sylla had that the PARTHIANS came first to him by his meanes to seeke frendshippe with the ROMAINES They say that receiuing this Ambassador Orobazus he made three chayres to be brought out the one for king Ariobarzanes the other for Orobazus the Ambassador and the third for him selfe which he placed in the middest betwene them both and sitting downe in the same gaue audience vnto the Ambassador for which cause the king of PARTHIA afterwardes put Orobazus to death Some doe commend Sylla for this acte for that he kept his state in such maiesty among the barbarous people Other do reproue his ambition in it shewing him selfe stately out of time and to no purpose We doe read that a soothsayer of CHALDEA being in Orobazustraine hauing diligently viewed and considered the phisiognomy of Sylla and all his other mouinges and gestures of minde and body to iudge not by the clymate of the contry but acording to the rules of his arte what his nature should be all well considered of he sayed that Sylla one day must needes come to be a great man and that
he marueled how he could further it that he was not euen then the cheifest man of the worlde When Sylla was returned againe to ROME one Censorinus accused him of extorcion that he had caried away a great summe of money with him contrary to the lawe out of one of their confederates contry howebeit he prosecuted not his accusation but gaue it ouer In the meane time the enmity begonne betwixt him and Marius kindled againe vppon a new occasion of king Bocchus ambition who partely to creepe further into the peoples fauor of ROME and partely also for to gratifie Sylla gaue and dedicated certaine images of victory carying tokens of triumphe vnto the temple of Iupiter Capitolin and next vnto them also the image of Iugurthe which he deliuered into the handes of Sylla being all of pure golde This did so offende Marius that he attempted to take them away by force but others did defend the cause of Sylla So that for the quarrell of these two the city of ROME taking armes had like to haue brought all to ruine had not the warres of the confederats of ITALIE bene which of longtime did kindle and smoke but at the length brake out into open flame and sedition for that time In this maruelous great warre which fell out very daungerous by sundry misfortunes and great losses to the ROMAINES Marius did no notable exployte whereby it appeareth that the vertue of warlike discipline hath neede of a strong and lusty and able body For Sylla to the contrary hauing done notable seruice and obtained many profitable victories wanne the fame and estimacion among the ROMAINES of a noble souldier and worthy Captaine and among thenemies them selues of a most fortunate man Notwithstanding Sylla did not as Timotheus ATHENIAN the sonne of Conon had done Who when his aduersaries and ill willers did attribute his noble deedes vnto the fauor of foretune and did painte fortune tables that brought him all the cities taken and snared in neâ—â— whilest he slept he tooke in very ill parte and was maruelous angrie with them that did it saying that they robbed him of the glory that iustly belonged vnto him Wherefore one day when this Timotheus was returned from the warres with the great victories after he had openly acquainted the ATHENIANS with the whole discourse of his doings in his voyage he sayd vnto them my Lordes of ATHENS fortune hath had no parte in all this which I haue told vnto you Hereupon the goddes it should seeme were so angry with this foolish ambition of Timotheus that he neuer afterwardes did any worthy thing but all went vtterly against the heare with him vntill at the length he came to be so hated of the people that in th end they banished him form ATHENS But Sylla to the contrary did not only paciently abide their wordes that sayed he was a happy man and singularly beloued of fortune but also increasinge this opinion and glorying as at a speciall grace of the goddes did attribute the honor of his doings vnto fortune either for a vaine glory or for that he had in fansy that the goddes did prosper him in all his doinges For he wrote him selfe in his commentaries that the enterprises which he hazarded most hottely according to the sodaine occasion offered did better prosper with him then those which by good aduise he had determined of Furthermore when he sayd that he was a better borne vnto the fortune then to the warres it seemeth that he confessed all his prosperity came rather by fortune then by his worthinesse And to conclude it appeareth that he did wholly submit him selfe vnto fortune acknowledging that he did altogether depend vpon her considering that he did attribute it to the speciall grace and fauor of the goddes that he neueâ— disagreed with Metellus his father in law who was a man of like dignitie and authoritie as him selfe was For where it was thought he woulde haue bene a greate hinderer of his doings he found him verie curteous and gentle in his behalfe in all that they had to deale in together by reason of the societie of their office And furthermore in his coÌ„mentaries which he dedicated vnto Lucullus he counselled him to thincke nothing more certaine and assured then that which the goddes should reueale vnto him and commaunde him in his nightes dreame He wryteth also that when he was sent with an army vnto the warres of the confederates the earth sodainly opened about LAVERNA out of the which immediatly came a maruelous bright flame of fire that ascended vp to the element The wise men being asked their opinions about the same made aunswere that a very honest and also a maruelous fayer man of complexion taking soueraine authoritie in his handes should pacifie all tumultes and sedition which were at that time in ROME Whereupon Sylla sayed it was him selfe whome the goddes ment bicause that amongest other things he had that singular gift of beawty that his heare was yellow as golde and he was not ashamed to name him selfe an honest man after he had wonne so many notable great victories Thus haue we sufficiently spoken of the trust he had in the fauor of the goddes And furthermore he seemed to be very contrary in his manners and vnlike to him selfe For if he tooke away much in one place he gaue as much more also in an other Some he preferred without cause and others he put downe without reason He would be very gentle to them of whome he would haue oughtâ— and vnto those that sought of him he would stand much apon his honor and looke for great reuerence Wherby men could hardly decerne his nature whether pride or flattery did more abound in him And as for the inequality he vsed in punishing of them that had offended him sometimes he hanged vp men for very small and light causes Some other times againe to the contrary he paciently aboade the most grieuous offences in the worlde and lightly pardoned and forgaue such faultes as were in no wife to be forgiuen And afterwards againe would punish right small crimes with murders effusion of blood and confiscation of goodes This iudgement may be geuen of him that by nature he had a malicious and a reuenging minde yet notwithstanding he qualified that naturall bitternes with reason geuing place to necessary and his benefit For in this warre of the confederates his souldiers slue Albinus one of his Lieutenauntes beating him to death with staues and stones being a man of good quality and one that had bene Praetor This great offence he passed ouer with silence vsing no manner of punishment and turned it to a boast in the end saying that his men were the more obedient and diligent in any peece of seruice that was to be done and that he made them amende 〈…〉 faultes by worthy seruice And furthermore he did not regarde them that he did reproue 〈…〉 but hauinge determined with him selfe to destroy
very well armed wearing a lawrell garland and Sylla after he had saluted him and his souldiers made an oration vnto them exhorting them to do their duty in fighting And as he was in his oration there came two citizens of CHAERONEA to him one his name was Omoloichus and the other Anaxidemus who promised him to driue the enemies from mount Thurium which they had taken if he would but geue theÌ„ some small number of souldiers For there was a litle path way which the barbarous peoples mistrusted not beginning at a place called Petrochus hard by the temple of the Muses by the which they might easily go to the toppe of this mountaine Thuriumâ— so that following that pathe it would bring them ouer the barbarous people heads and they might easily kill them with stones or at the least they should driue them mawgre their heads downe into the valley Gabinius assuring Sylla that they were both very valliant men and such as he might boldly trust vnto Sylla gaue them men and commaunded them to execute their enterprise and he him selfe in the meane season went and set his men in order of battell in the plaine deuiding his horsemen on the winges placed him selfe in the right wing appointinge the left vnto Muraena Galba Hortensius his Lieutenauntes were placed in the tayle with certaine bandes of the reregard which they kept vpon the hils to watch and let that the enemies should not inclose them behinde bicause they perceiued a farre of that the enemies put forth a great number of horsemen and footemen light armed in the wings to th end that the poyms of their battell might the more easily bowe and enlarge them selues to compasse in the ROMAINES on the backe side Now in the meane time these two CHAERONEIANS whome Sylla had sent vnder Hircius their Captaine hauing compassed about the mountaine Thurium before the enemies were aware of them sodainly came to shew them selues vppon the toppe of the mountaine which did so feare the barbarous people that they began immediatly to â—iâ— one of them for the most parte killing an other There was no resistaunce but flying downe the mountaine fell apon the pointes of their owne partisans and pykes and one of them thrusting in an others necke tombled hedlong downe the mountaine together hauing their enemies besides on their backes which draue them from the hill and strake them behinde where they lay open vnto them so as they were slaine a three thowsande of them about this mountaine Thurium And as for them that sought to saue them selues by flight Muraena that was already set in battell ray met with some cut them of by the way and slue them downe right The other fled directly to their campe and came in great companies thrusting into the battell of their footemen put the most parte of them quite out of order maruelously troubled their Captaines before they could set them againe in order which was one of the chiefest causes of their ouerthrowe For Sylla went and gaue a charge vppon them in this trouble and disorder and had quickely wonne the ground that was betwene both armies wherby he tooke away the force of all their armed cartes with sythes which are then of greatest force when they haue the longest course to geue them a swift and violent stroke in their chase whereas when their course is but short the blow is so much the weaker and of lesse strength euen as arrowes are that a farre of enter not deepe into the thing they be shot at as at that time it fell out with the barbarous people For their first cartes set foorth so faintly and came on with so feeble a force that the ROMAINES sent them backe easily repulsed them with great slaughter and clapping of handes one to an other as they commonly vse in the ordinarie games of horse running at ROME When they had thus repulsed the cartes the battell of Syllaes footemen beganne to charge the barbarous people who basing their pykes stoode close one to an other bicause they would not be taken the ROMAINES on thother side bestowed first their dartes among them and then sodainly drewe out their swordes in the heate they were in and put a side the enemies pykes whereby they might come neerer to their bodies There were fifteene thowsand slaues in the fronte of the battell of the barbarous people whom Mithridates Lieutenaunt had made free by open proclamation and had deuided them by bandes amongest the other footemen By occasion whereof there was a ROMAINE Centurion spake pleasauntly at that time saying that he neuer saw slaues before haue liberty to speake and do like free men but only at Saturnes feastes Neuerthelesse they against the nature of slaues were very valliant to abide the shocke and the ROMAINE footemen could not so readily breake not enter into them nor make them geue backe bicause they stoode very close one to an other and their ranckes were of such a length besides vntill such time as the ROMAINES that were behinde the first ranckes did so pelt them with their slinges hurling stones bestowing their dartes arrowes apon them that in th end they compelled them all to turne their backes and â—ie a maine And when Archelaus did first thrust out the right wing of his army supposing to inclose the ROMAINES behinde Hortensius straight wayes caused the bands he had with him to run charge vpon the flanckes Which Archelaus perceiuing made the horsemen he had about him turne their faces forthwith which were in nuÌ„ber aboue two thowsand insomuch as Hortensius being set apon with all his trowpe was compelled to retyre by litle and litle towardes the mountaine perceiuing him selfe farre from the battell of his footemen and enuironned round about with his enemies Sylla seeing that being in the right wing of his battell and hauing not yet fought went straight to the rescue of Hortensius But Archelaus coniecturing by the dust which the horses raised what the matter was left Hortensius there and with speede returned againe towardes the right wing of his enemies from whence Sylla was gone hoping he had left it vnfurnished of a sufficient Captaine to coÌ„maund them Taxilles on thother side caused his copper targets also to march against Muraena so as the noyse they made on both sides caused the mountaines to ring againe wherewithall Sylla stayed standing in dout which way to take At the last he resolued to returne to the place froÌ„ whence he came sent Hortensius with foure ensignes to aide Muraena and him selfe with the fift in great speede went towardes the right wing of his army the which was now already bickering and ioyned with their enemies fighting hand to hand with Archelaus By reason whereof when Sylla as comen with his aide they did easily distresse them and after they had broken their array they chased them flying for life to the riuer vnto the mountaine Acontium But Sylla notwithstanding forgate
Thelesinus had taken ROME Now about midnight came certaine souldeirs from Crassus to Syllaes campe asked for meate for Crassus supper and his mens who hauing chased his flying enemies whom he had ouerthrowen vnto the city of ANTEMNA which they tooke for refuge had lodged his campe there Sylla vnderstaÌ„ding that being aduertised that the most parte of his enemies were ouerthrowen at this battell went him selfe the next morning betimes vnto ANTEMNA where three thowsand of his enemies sent to know if he would receiue them to mercy if they yelded them selues vnto him His aunswer was that he would pardon their liues so as they would do some mischiefe to their fellowes before they came to him These three thowsand hereupon trusting to his promise fell apon their companions and for the most parte one of them killed an other NotwithstaÌ„ding Sylla hauing gathered all those together that remained of his enemies as wel the three thowsand as the rest amouÌ„ting in all to the number of six thowsand men within the show place where they vsed to run their horses whilest he him self held a counsell in the teÌ„ple of the goddesse Bellona was making his oratioÌ„ there he had appointed certeÌ„ to set vpoÌ„ those six thowsand put them to the sword euery man Great and terrible were the cries of such a number of men slaine in so small a roome as many may easily coniecture insomuch as the Senators sitting in counsell heard them very easily and marueled what the matter was But Sylla continuing on his oration which he had begon with a set steady countenance without chauÌ„ging of colour willed theÌ„ only to hearken what he sayd not to trouble them selues with any thing done abroade for they were but certen offenders lewd persons that were punished by his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t This was enough to shew the simplest ROMANE in ROME that they had but only chaunged the tryan but not the tyranny Now for Marius had bene euer of a churlish seuere nature euen from his childhood he neuer chauÌ„ged for any authority but did rather hardeÌ„ his natural stubbornes Where Sylla coÌ„trarily in the beginning was very modest ciuill in all his prosperity gaue great good hope that if he came to the authority of a prince he would fauor nobility wel yet loue notwithstanding the benefit of the people And being moreouer a man in his youth geueÌ„ all to pleasure deliting to laugh ready to pity weepe for tender hart in that he became after so cruell bloody the great alteracioÌ„ gaue manifest cause to condemne the increase of honor authority as thonly meanes wherby mens maners continue not such as they were at the first but still do chaunge vary making some fooles others vaine fantasticall others extreame cruel vnnaturall But whether that alteracion of nature came by chaunging his state condicion or that it was otherwise a violent breaking out of hidden malice which then came to shewe it selfe when they way of liberty was layed open this matter is to be decided in some other treatise So it came to passe that Sylla fell to sheading of blood filled all ROME with infinite vnspeakable murthers for diuerse were killed for priuate quarrels that had nothing to do with Sylla at any time who suffered his frends those about him to worke their wicked wills Vntil at the length there was a young man called Caius Metellus that was so bold to aske Sylla in open Senate when all these miseries should end and when they should know that all the mischieues were finished the which they dayly sawe For said he we will not intreate you to pardoÌ„ life where you haue threatned death but only to put theÌ„ out of dout whom you haue determined to saue Whereunto Sylla made aunswer that he was not resolued whom he would saue Metellus replied theÌ„ tell vs quod be who they are that shall dye Sylla aunswered he would Howbiet some say it was not Metellus but Aufidius one of his flatterers that spake this last word vnto him Wherefore Sylla immediatly without making any of the magistrats priuy caused foure score mens names to be set vp vpon postes whom he would put to death Euery maÌ„ being offeÌ„ded withal the next day following he set vp two hundred twenty mens names more likewise the third day as many more Hereupon making an oration to the people he told theÌ„ openly that he had appointed all them to dye that he could call to remeÌ„braunce howbiet that hereafter he would appoint them that should dye by daies as he did call them to minde Whosoeuer saued an outlaw in his house for reward of his kindnes he himselfe was condeÌ„ned to dye not excepting theÌ„ that had receiued their brothers their sonnes their fathers nor mothers And the reward of euery homycide murtherer that killed one of the outlawes was two talentes though it were a slaue that had killed his master on the sonne that had slaine the father But the most wicked vniust act of all was that he depriued the sonnes sonnes sonnes of them whom he had killed of all credit good name besides that had takeÌ„ all their goods as coÌ„fiscate And this was not only done in ROME but also in al the cities of ITALIE through out there was no reÌ„ple of any god whatsoeuer no aulter in any bodies house no liberty of hospital nor fathers house that was not embrued with blood horrible murder For the husbaÌ„ds were slaine in their wiues armes the childreÌ„ in their mothers laps and yet they which were slaine for priuate hatred malice were nothing in respect of those that were murdered only for their goods And they that killed them might well say his goodly great house made that man dye his goodly fayer garden the other and his hotte batheâ—â— other As amongest others Quintus Aurelius a man that neuer medled with any thinge and least looked that these euills should light vpon him and that only pitied those which he sawe so miserably murdered went one day into the market place and reading the bill set vp of the outlawes names found his owne name amongest the rest and cried outalowde alas the day that euer I was borne my house of ALEA maketh me to be put to death He went not fawe from the market place but met with one that killed him presently In the meane time Mariâ—â— the younger seeing he could by no meanes escape if he were taken slue him selfe And Sylla comming to PRAENESTE did first execute them by one and by one keeping a certaine forme of iustice in putting them to death but afterwardes as if he had no lenger leasure to remaine there he caused them all to be put in a place together to the number of twelue thowsandâ— men whom he caused to be put to the sword euery man sauing his host only vnto whom he sayd
that he shewed him specially fauor to saue his life But his host aunswered him stowtly againe that he would not be beholding vnto him for his life seeing he had slaine all the reâ—t of his contry men and so thrusting in amongest the citizens was willingly slaine with them They thought the act of Lucius Catiline also very straunge who had slaine his owne brother before the ciuill warre was ended and then prayed Sylla to put him in the number of the outlawes as if his brother had bene aliue Sylla performed his desire Catiline thereuppon to shewe his thankefulnesse for the pleasure Sylla had done him went presently and slue Marem Marius who was of the contrary faction and brought him his head for a present before all the people in the middest of the market place where he was sitting When he had so done be went and washed his handes all bloodied in the hollowed font of the temple of Apollo that was hard by But besides so many murders coÌ„mitted yet were there other things also that grieued the people maruelously For the proclaimed him selfe Dictator which office had not bene of six score yeares before in vse and made the Senate discharge him of all that was past geuing him free liberty afterwardes to kill whom he would and to confiscate their goodes to destroy cities and to build vp new as he listed to take away kingdomes and to geue them where he thought good And furthermore he openly sold the goodes confiscate by the crier sitting so prowdly and stately in his chayer of state that it grieued the people more to see those goodes packt vp by them to whome he gaue and disposed them then to see them taken from those that had forfeited them For somtimes he would geue a whole contry or the whole reuenues of certaine cities vnto women for their beawty or vnto pleasaunt ieasters minstrells or wicked slaues made free and vnto some he would geue other mens wiues by force and make them to be maried against their willes For he desiring howesoeuer it happened to make alliance with Pompey the great coÌ„maunded him to put away his wife he had maried and taking AEmylia the daughter of AEmylius Scaurus of Metella his wife from the great Glabrio caused him to mary her great with childe as she was by Glabrio but she dyed in childbed in Pompeyis house Lucretius Offella also that had brought Marius the younger to that distresse at the city of PRAENESTE suing to be Consull Sylla commaunded him to cease his But he notwithstandinge that expresse commaundement went one day into the market place with great traine of men following him that fauored his cause Whither Sylla sent one of his Centurions that slue Offella before all the people him selfe sitting in a chayer of estate in the temple of Castor and Pollux and seeing from aboue the murder done The people that were about Offella layed hold of the murderer straight brought him before Sylla But Sylla bad them be quiet that brought the Centurion with tumult and that they should let him goe bicause he commaunded him to do it Furthermore as touching his triumphe it was a sumptuous sight to behold for the rarenes of the riches and princely spoyles which were shewed at the same But yet was it so much the better set out and worth the sight to see the banished ROMANES who were the chiefest noble men of all the city of ROME following his charet triumphant wearing garlandes of flowers on their heades calling Sylla their father and sauior bicause that by his meanes they returned to their contry and recouered their goods waiues and children In the end of his triumphe he made an oration in open assembly of the people of ROME in the which he did not only declare vnto theÌ„ according to the custome what thinges he had done but did as carefully tell them also as well of his good fortune and successe as of his valliant deedes besides and to conclude his oration told them that by reason of the great â—auor fortune had shewed him he would from thenceforth be called by theÌ„ Felix to say happy or fortunate And he him selfe when he wrote vnto the GREECIANS or that he had any thing to do with them surnamed him selfe Epaphroditus as who would say a pleasaunt man beloued and fauored of Venus His tokens of triumphe which are yet in our contry haue this superscription Lucius Cornelius Sylla Epaphroditus And when his wife Metella had brought him two twinnes a sonne and a daughter he named his sonne Faustus signifying fortunate and his daughter Fausta bicause the ROMANES call Faustum that which falleth out prosperously and happely To be short he trusted so much vnto his good fortune and doinges that notwithstanding he had killed and put so many men to death and had made so great a chauÌ„ge and innouation in the common wealth yet of him selfe he left of his office of Dictator and restored the people to the authority of election of Consulls againe without his presence at the election and frequented the market place as a priuate man among the citizens offering him selfe to euery man that would aske him accompt of his doings past It happened that a stowt and rash enemy of his was Chosen Consull against his will called Marcus Lepidus not for any deuotion the people had to Lepidus but onely to gratifie Pompey who gaue countenaunce and fauor vnto him Sylla seeing Pompey come mery homewardes from the election and ioyfull that he had obtained his frendes sute from all other suters tooke him a side told him In deede thou hast great cause to reioyce young man my frende for thou hast done a goodly acte to choose Marcus Lepidus Consull the veriest asse in all ROME before Catulus the honestest man But I tell thee one thing thou haddest not nede to sleepe for thou hast strengthened an enemy that will be thine owne destruction And Sylla proued a true prophet for Lepides being bent to all cruelty immediatly after flatly fell at defiaunce with Pompey Now Sylla consecratinge the dismes of all his goodes vnto Hercules made exceeding sumptuous feastes vnto the ROMANES the prouision whereof was so vnreasonable great that euery day they threwe a great deale of meate into the riuer and they dranke wine of forty yeares olde and aboue During these feastes which continued many dayes his wife Metella sickened and dyed and in her sickenes the Priestes and Soothsayers willed Sylla he should not come neere her nor suffer his house to be polluted and defiled with mourning for the dead Whereupon Sylla was diuorsed from her in her sickenes and caused her to be caried into an other house whilest she liued And thus did Sylla curiously obserue the supersticion and ordinaunce of the Soothsayers but yet he brake the law which he made him selfe touching the order of funeralls sparinge no cost at Metellaes buriall So did he also breake an other
burnt at a tryce and the fire going out fell a great shower of raine that held on till night so that it seemed good fortune following him euen to his ende did also helpe his obsequies after his death His tombe is to be seene in the fielde of Mars and they say that he him selfe made his owne epitaphe that is wrytten vpon it which was that no man did euer passe him neither in doing good to his frendes nor in doing mischiefe to his enemies THE COMPARISON OF Sylla with Lysander NOw that we haue at large also set forth the life of the ROMANE let vs come to compare them both together In this they are both a like that both of them grew to be great men rising of thē selues through their owne vertue but this only is proper to Lysander that all the offices dignities which he attained vnto in the common wealth were layed apon him through the peoples good wills and consents For he compelled them to nothinge neither vsurped he any extraordinarie authoritie vppon them contrarie to lawe for as the common saying is VVhere partialitie and discorde once doe raigne There vvicked men are most esteemde and rule vvith greatest gaine As at that time in ROME the people being corrupted and the state of gouernment vtterly subuerted and brought to nought to day there rose vp one tyranne to morow an other And therefore we may not wonder if Sylla vsurped and ruled all when such fellowes as Glaucia and Saturninus did both banish and driue out of ROME such men as Metellus was and where also in open assembly they slue Consuls sonnes in the market place and where force of armes was bought sold for gold and siluer with the which the souldiers were corrupted where they made new lawes with fire and sword and forced men to obey the same Yet I speake not this in reproache of him that in such troublesome times founde meanes to make him selfe the greatest man but to shew that I measure not his honesty by the dignity he grew vnto in so vnfortunate a city although he became the chiefe And as touching him that came from SPARTA at what time it florished most and was the best gouerned common weale he in all great causes and in most honorable offices was reputed for the best of all bests and the chiefe of all chiefes Wherefore it happened that the one resigned vp the authority to his contry men the citizens which they had geuen him who also restored it to him againe many and sundry times for the honor of his vertue did alwayes remaine and made him iustly accompted for the worthiest man Where the other being once only chosen generall of an army remained tenne yeares continually in warres and hostilitie making him selfe by force sometime Consull somtime vice Consull and somtime Dictator but alwayes continued a tyranne In ede Lysander attempted to chaunge and alter the state of gouernment in his contrie howbeit it was with greater lenity and more lawfully then Sylla did For he sought it by reason and good perswasion not by the sword neither would he make a chaunge of the whole at one selfe time as Sylla did but sought only to reforme the election of kinges The which thing according to nature doubtlesse seemed very iust that he which was the best amongest good men should be chosen king of that citie which was the chiefe ouer all GREECE not for her nobility but for her vertue only For like as a good hunter doth not seeke for the whelpe of a good dogge but for the good dogge him selfe not a wise man of armes also the colte that commeth of a good horse but the good horse him selfe Euen so he that taketh vpon him to stablish a civill gouernment committeth a fowle fault if he looke of whom his Prince should be borne and not what the Prince him selfe should be considering that the LACEDAEMONIANS them selues haue depriued diuerse of their kinges from their crowne and realme bicause they were not Princely but vnprofitable and good for nothing Vice although it be in a noble man yet is it alwayes ill of it selfe but vertue is honored for her selfe alone and not bicause she is placed with nobility Now for the wronges and iniuries they both committed the one did worke only to pleasure his frendes and the other to offend them to whom he was bounden For it is certaine that Lysander did great wronges to gratifie his familliars and the most parte of them whom he put to death was to establish the tyrannicall power of certaine his frendes Where Sylla sought for spite to take away his army from Pompey and the Admirality from Dolobelle which he him selfe geuen caused Lucretius Offella to be slaine openly in his owne sight bicause he sought to be Consull for recompence of the good seruice he had done for which cruelty of his causinge his owne frendes to beslaine in such sorte he made euery man a feard of him Furthermore their behauiors touching couetousnes and pleasure doth shew that the intent of the one was the desire of a good Prince and the other that of a tyranne For we doe not finde that Lysander for all his great Princely authority did euer vse any insolency or lasciuiousnes in his deedes but alwayes auoyded as much as a man might the reproache of this common prouerbe Lyons at home and Foxes abroade He led such a true LACONIAN life straightly reformed in all poyntes Where Sylla could neuer moderate his vnlawfull lustes neither for pouerty when he was young nor yet for age when it came vpon him But whilest he gaue lawes to the ROMANES touching matrimoniall honestie and chastitie him selfe in the meane time did nothing but follow loue and commit adultries as Salust wryteth By meanes whereof he so much impouerished ROME and left it so voyde of gold and siluer that for ready money he sold absolute freedome vnto the cities their confederates yet was it his dayly study to confiscate and take for forfeit the richest and most wealthiest houses in all the whole citie of ROME But all this spoyle and hauoke was nothing in comparison of that which he dayly cast away vpon his ieasters flatterers What sparing or measure may we thinke he kept in his giftes at priuate banckets when openly in the day time all the people of ROME being present to see him sell the goodes which he had caused to be confiscate he made one of his frendes and familiars to trusse vp a great deale of household stuffe for a very litle price And when any other had out bidden his price that the crier had cried it out a lowde then was he angry and sayd My frendes I haue great wrong done me here not to suffer me sell the spoile I haue gotten at mine owne pleasure and dispose it as I list my selfe Where Lysander contrarily sent to the common wealth of SPARTA with other money the very presentes that were geuen to
SESTOS and of BIZANTIVM the confederates to honor him withall gaue him the preheminence to deuide the spoyle amongest them Whereuppon he made the diuision and set out the bodies of the barbarous peole all naked by them selues and layed the spoyles and their apparell by them selues The confederates founde this distribution very vnequall but neuerthelesse Cimon gaue them the choyce to choose which of the two would and that the ATHENIANS should be contented with that which they left So there was a SAMIAN Captaine called Herophytus that gaue the confederats counsel rather to take the spoiles of the PERSIANS then the PERSIANS them selues and so they did for they tooke the spoile of the prisoners goodes and apparell and left the men vnto the ATHENIANS Whereupon Cimon was thought at that time of the common souldiers to be but an ill deuider of spoyle bicause that the confederats caried away great store of chaines karkanets and braselets of gold goodly rich purple apparell after the PERSIAN facion and the ATHENIANS brought away naked bodies of men very tender and vnacquainted with paine and labor But shortly after the parentes and frendes of these prisoners came out of PHRYGIA and LYDIA and redeemed euery man of them at a great raunsome so that Cimon gathered such a masse of readie money together by their raunsome as he defrayed the whole charges of all his gallies with the same for the space of foure monethes after and left a great summe of money besides in the sparing treasure of ATHENS Cimon by this meanes being nowe become riche bestowed the goodes which he had thus honorably gotten from the barbarous people more honorably againe in relieuing his poore decayed citizens For he brake vp all his hedges and inclosures and layed them plaine and open that trauellers passing by and his owne poore citizens might take as much frute thereof as they would without any maner daunger And furthermore kept a continuall table in his house not furnished with many dishes but with meate sufficient for many persons and where his poore contrie men were dayly refreshed that would come vnto that ordinary so as they needed not otherwise care to labor for their liuing but might be the readier haue the more leasure to serue the common wealth Yet Aristotle the Philosopher wryteth that it was not for all the ATHENIANS indifferently that he kept this ordinarie table but for his poore townes men onely in the village of LACIA where he was borne Furthermore he had alwayes certaine young men waiting on him of his household seruauntes well appartelled if he met by chaunce as he went vp and downe the citie any olde citizen poorely arrayed he made one of these younge men strip him selfe and chaunge apparell with the olde man and that was very well thought of and they all honored him for it Moreouer these young men caried euer good store of money about them and when they met with any honest poore citizen in the market place or else where knowinge his pouertie they secretly gaue him money in his hande and sayd neuer a worde Which the Poet selfe Cratinus seemeth to speake of in a comedie of his intituled the Archiloches I am Metrobius the secretarie he VVhich did my selfe assure in age vvell cherished to be At vvealthie Cimons borde vvhere vvant vvas neuer found VVhose distributions and his almes did to the poore abound There thought I for to passe myne aged yeares avvay VVith that right noble godly man vvhich vvas the Greecians stay Furthermore Gorgias Leontine sayd that Cimon got goodes to vse them and that he vsed them to be honored by them And Critias that was one of the thirty tyrannes of ATHENS he wisheth and desireth of the goddes in his elegies The goddes of Scopas heyres the great magnificence And noble hart of Cimon he vvho spared none expence The glorious victories and high triumphant shovves Of good Agesilaus king good goddes oh graunt me those The name of Lichas SPARTAN hath bene famous amongest the GREECIANS and yet we know no other cause why sauing that he vsed to feast straungers that came to LACEDAEMON on their festiuall day to see the sportes and exercises of the young men daunsing naked in the city But the magnificence of Cimon did farre exceede the auncient liberality curtesie and hospitalitie of the ATHENIANS for they of all other were the first men that taught the GREECIANS through out all GREECE how they should sow corne and gather it to maintaine them selues withall and also shewed them the vse of welles and howe they should light and keepe fire But Cimon makinge an hospitall of his owne house where all his poore citizens were sad and relieued and permittinge straungers that trauelled by his groundes to gather such frutes there as the time and season of the yeare yelded he brought againe as it were into the world the goodes to be in common amongest them as the Poets say they were in the old time of Saturnes raigne And now where some accused this honest liberality of Cimon obiecting that it was but to flatter the common people withall and to winne their good willes by that meanes the maner of life he led accompanying his liberality did vtterly confute and ouerthrow their opinions that way of him For Cimon euer tooke parte with the nobilitie and liued after the LACEDAEMONIANS manner as it well appeared in that he was alwayes against Themistocles who without all compasse of reason encreased the authority and power of the people and for this cause he ioyned with Aristides and was against Ephialtes who would for the peoples sake haue put downe and abolished Ariopagus courte And where all other gouernors in his time were extorcioners and bribetakers Aristides and Ephialtes only excepted he to the contrarie led an vncorrupt life in administracion of iustice euer had cleane hands whatsoeuer he spake or did for the state and common wealth and would therefore neuer take money of any man liuing And for proofe hereof we finde it wrytten that a noble man of PERSIA called Resaces being a traitor to his master the king of PERSIA fled on a time vnto ATHENS where being continually bayted and wearied with the common accusations of these tale bearers picke thanks that accused him to the people he repayred at the length vnto Cimon brought him home to his owne dore two bowles th one full of darickes of gold and the other of darickes of siluer which be peeces of money so called bicause that the name of Darius was written vpon them Cimon seeing this offer fell a laughing and asked him whether of the two he would rather choose to haue him his frende or his hierling The barbarous noble man aunswered him that he had rather haue him his frend Then sayd Cimon to him againe away with thy golde and siluer and get thee hence for if I be thy frend that gold and siluer shall
great while together before any man marked it Cimon at the last spied it by chaunce and as he was looking of them to marke what they did the minister of the sacrifice brought the beastes liuer that was sacrificed to shew him whereof the biggest end that they call the head was lacking and this they iudged for a very ill token Notwithstanding hauing all things readie for preparation of this iorney so as he could not well goebacke he launched into the sea and hoysed sayle and sending three score of his gallies into EGYPT sayled with the rest vpon the coast of PAMPYTLIA Where he wanne a battell by sea of the king of PERSIA ouercomming the gallies of the PHENICIANS and the CILICIANS and conquered all the cities thereabouts making the way very open to enter into EGYPT For he had no small thoughtes in his minde but reached to high enterprises and determined vtterly to destroy the whole Empire of the mighty kinge of PERSIA and specially for that he vnderstoode Themistocles was in maruelous credit and reputacion amōgest the barbarous people bicause he had promised the king of PERSIA to lead his armie for him and to doe him notable seruice whensoeuer he shoulde haue occasion to warre with the GRAECIANS It is thought this was the chiefe cause that made Themistocles poison himselfe bicause he dispaired that he could not performe that seruice against GRAECE which he had promised assuring him selfe that it was no easie matter to vanquishe Cimon corage and good fortune who lay at that time with his armie all alongest the I le of CYPRVS promising him selfe great matters at that instant But in the meane season Cimon sent certaine of his men vnto the oracle of Iuppiter Ammon to aske him some secret question for no man euer knew neither then nor since for what cause he had sent them thither neither did they also bring backe any aunswere For they were no sooner come thither but the oracle commaunded them straight to returne saying vnto them that Cimon was then comming to him So Cimons men receiuing this aunswere left the oracle and tooke their iorney backe to the seawardes Now when they were commen againe to the GRAECIANS campe which at that present lay in EGYPT they heard that Cimon was departed this worlde and reckoninge the dayes sence his death with the instant of their aunswere receiued by the oracle that Cimon was then comming vnto him they knew straight that darkely he had signified his death vnto them and that at that very time he was with the goddes He dyed at the siege of the citie of CITIVM in CYPRVS as some reporte or else of a hurte he receiued at a skirmishe as other holde opinion When he dyed he commaunded them that were vnder his charge to returne into their contry againe and in no case to publishe his death which commaundement was so wisely and cunningly handeled that they all came home safe and not an enemie nor any of their confederates that once vnderstoode any thing of it So was the armie of the GRAECIANS gouerned and led by Cimon though him selfe was dead the space of thirtie dayes as Phanodemus wryteth But after his death there was no GRAECIAN Captaine that did any notable thing worthie of fame against the barbarous people bicause the Orators and gouernors of the chiefest cities of GRAECE stirred them vp one against an other and there was no man that would once steppe in as a mediator to make peace betwene them And thus the GRAECIANS now did one destroy and spoyle an other by ciuill warre amongest them selues which happely gaue the king of PERSIA leasure and time to restore him selfe againe and contrarily was cause of such vtter ruine and destruction of the whole power and force of GRAECE as no tongue can well expresse In deede a long time after kinge Agesilaus came with an armie of the GRAECIANS into ASIA and beganne a small warre against the Lieutenauntes of the king of PERSIAES gouernors of the lower contries of ASIA But before he could doe any notable exployte he was called home againe by occasion of newe troubles and ciuill warres risinge amonge the GRAECIANS and compelled to returne into his contrie leauing the treasorers of the king of PERSIA raising of subsidies and taxes vpon the cities of the GRAECIANS in ASIA although they were confederates of the LACEDAEMONIANS Whereas in the time that Cimon gouerned they neuer sawe any of the kinges sergeauntes at armes or commissioner that brought any letters pattentes or commaundement from the king or any souldier that durst come neere the sea by fortie furlonges The tombes which they call vnto this present day Cimonia doe witnesse that his ashes and bones were brought vnto ATHENS Neuerthelesse they of the citie of CITIVM doe honor a certaine tombe which they say is Cimons tombe bicause that in a great dearth and barrennes of the earth they had an oracle that commaunded them not to neglect Cimons as the Orator Nansicrates writeth it but to honor and reuerence him as a god Such was the life of this GRAECIAN Captaine The end of Cimons life THE LIFE OF Lucius Lucullus AS for Lucullus his grandfather was a Consull and so was Metellus surnamed Numidirus bicause of his conquest of NVMIDIA his vncle by the mothers side His father notwithstanding was conuict of fellony for robbing the treasure of the state whilest he was officer and Caecilia his mother was reported to haue led an vnchast life But for Lucullus selfe before he bare office or rule in matters of state the first thing he towched and tooke in hande for the cause of his contrie was thaccusation of Seruilius the soothsayer who before had accused his father for that he also had delt falsely in his office and deceiued the common wealth And this the ROMANES thought very well handled of him insomuch as a pretie while after there was no other talke in ROME but of that matter as though it had bene a notable valliant acte done by him For otherwise though priuately they had no iust occasion yet they thought it a noble deede to accuse the wicked and it pleased them as much to see the young men put lawe breakers in sute as to see a notable good course of a dogge at a hare Howebeit there followed such sturre and bandinge vppon this sute that some were verie sore hurte and other slaine in the market place but in fyne Seruilius was cleared and quite dimissed Lucullus was verie eloquent well spoken and excellently well learned in the Greeke and Latin tongue insomuch as Sylla dedicated vnto him the commentaries of all his doings which himselfe had collected as to one that could better frame a whole historie thereof and cowche it more eloquētly together in wryting For he had not only a ready tongue to vtter that he would speake and pleade his matters with great eloquence as other be seene to doe hauing matters of
out to the sea By reason whereof Mithridates was compelled to goe abord a litle pinase of pyrates and to put him selfe and his life into their handes by whose helpe in the ende beyond all expectation but not without great daunger he got to lande and recouered the citie of HERACLEA in the realme of PONTVS Now here is to be noted that the great brauerie Lucullus shewed vnto the Senate of ROME fell out according to his imagination by the fauor of the goddes For when the Senate had appointed for ending of these warres to prepare a great nauie of shippes and therewithall had geuen order also for three thowsande talentes Lucullus stayed them by letters that they should not doe it wryting brauely vnto them that without all this charge and great preparation he would be strong enough to driue Mithridates from the sea with the onely shippes he would borrowe of their frendes and confederates And in deede through the speciall fauor of the goddes he brought it so to passe for they say that this terrible storme that destroyed the armie of Mithridates was raised vp by Diana being offended with the men of the realme of PONTVS bicause they had destroyed her temple in the citie of PRIAPOS and had caried away her image Now there were diuers that counselled Lucullus to deferre the rest of this warre vntill an other season but notwithstanding all their perswasions he went through the contrie of GALATIA and BITHYNIA to inuade the realme of Mithridates In the which voyage at the first beginning he lacked vittells so that there were thirty thowsand men of GALATIA following his campe that caried euery one of them a bushell of wheate on their shoulders howbeit entring further into the contrie and conquering the whole there was such exceeding plenty of all thinges that an oxe was sold in his campe but for a Drachma a slaue at foure times as much And of all other spoyle there was such great store that either they made no reckening of it or else they made hauoke of it bicause there was no man to sell it vnto euery man hauing so much of his owne For they ranne ouer all the contrie vnto the citie of THEMISCYRA and to the vallies that lay apon the riuer of Thermodon and stayed no where lenger then they were a spoyling Thereupon the souldiers beganne to murmure at Lucullus bicause he assured all the cities vpon composition and neuer tooke any of them by force nor gaue them any meanes to enrich them selues by spoyle and yet sayd they he would make vs now go further and leaue AMISVS a great rich citie which we might easily take by force if it were but a litle straightly besieged and lead vs into the desertes of the TIBARENIANS and the CHALDAEIANS to fight against Mithridates Lucullus passed ouer all these complaints and made no reckening of them bicause he would neuer haue thought that they would haue fallen into such mutinie and furie as afterwards they did and contrarily excused him selfe the more carefully to them that blamed reproued him for his long tarying vpon townes and villages that were not worth the reckening and suffering Mithridates in the meane time to gather a new force and armie together at his pleasure For said he that is the marke I shotte at and that maketh me linger time vp and downe as I doe wishing nothing more then that he might once againe make him selfe strong and bring a second armie to the field that might embolden him to come eftsoones to the fight with vs and runne away no more Doe you not see sayd he that at his backe he hath an infinite number of desert contries where it is vnpossible euer to follow him by the tracke and hard by him also the mounte Caucasus and many other vnpassable places which are sufficient not only to hide him alone but infinite number of other princes and kings besides that would flie battell and not come to fight Furthermore it is but a litle way from the contrie of the CABIRENIANS vnto the realme of ARMENIA where Tigranes the king of kinges inhabiteth whose power is so great that he driueth the PARTHIANS out of ASIA and carieth whole townes and cities of GRAECE vnto the realme of MEDIA who hath all SYRIA and PALAESTINE in his handes and hath slaine and rooted out the kinges and successors of the great Seleucus and hath caried away their wiues and daughters prisoners by force This great and mightie kinge is allyed vnto Mithridates for he maried Mithridates daughter and it is not likely that when Mithridates shall come and intreate him to helpe him in his distresse that Tigranes will con refuse him but rather we must thinke certainly that he will make warres vpon vs in his defence And thus in making hast to driue out Mithridates we shall bring our selues into great daunger to prouoke a new enemie euen Tigranes against vs who of long time hath lurked fora iust occasion to make warres with vs and he can haue no honester cause to take armes then to defend and kepe a king his neighbour and so neere a kinseman from vtter destruction and one that is compelled to seeke vpon him for succor What neede we then to prouoke him to procure it and teache Mithridates which he purposeth not to whom he should repayre for aide to make warres against our selues and pricke him forward or to say better put him with our owne handes into the way to go seeke aide of Tigranes which of him selfe he will neuer doe thinking it a dishonor vnto him onlesse we driue him to it for very necessitie Is it not better for vs to geue him leasure and time to gather a second force againe of him selfe and his owne people that we might rather fight with the COLCHIANS TIBARENIANS CAPPADOCIANS and with such other people whome we haue so many times ouercome then with the MEDES and ARMENIANS With this determination Lucullus taried a great while before the citie of AMISVS continuing this siege of purpose without distressing them at all Afterwardes when winter was past he left Murena there to continue the siege and him selfe with the rest of his armie went to meete Mithridates who had planted his campe neere vnto the citie of CABIRA determining to tarie the ROMANES comming hauing gathered together againe a new armie of fortie thowsand footemen and foure thowsand horsemen in the which he put his most confidence and trust so that he passed ouer the riuer of Lycus went and presented battell to the ROMANES in the plaine field There the horsemen skirmished the ROMANES had the worse for there was one Pomponius a ROMANE taken of great estimacion who was brought vnto king Mithridates hurt as he was Mithridates asked him if in sauing his life and healing his woundes he would become his seruaunt and frend Straight tcplyed Pomponius with all my hart quod he so that thou make peace
a very hotte and fertile soyle where there is a great city and maruelously replenished with inhabitauntes who call it NISIBIS and the GRAECIANS call it ANTIOCH of MYGDONIA In that city Gouras was Gouernor who was Tigranes owne brother but for experiēce in engines of battery and for sufficiencie and skill in such matters there was Callimachus also he that so maruelously troubled Lucullus before at the siege of the city of AMISVS Lucullus placing his campe before this city besieged the same by all such meanes as might enforce it and that so valliantly that in very shorte time he tooke it by assault And as for Gouras who submitted him selfe to Lucullus mercie he was very curteously intreated But for Callimachus he would not once heare him speake notwithstanding that he promised if they would saue his life he would tell them of coffers full of great treasure hidden which no man knew but him selfe onely But Lucullus commaunded them to bring him with gyues to receive the punishment he had iustly deserued for setting the city of AMISVS a fire and taking from him the meane to shewe the GRAECIANS his goodnesse affection and liberality towardes them Vntill this present time it might be truely sayd that good fortune euer fauored followed Lucullus in all his enterprises and affayres but from that time forwards it was quickely seene that the fauorable blast of fortune failed him he did all his things with so great payne and all that he did fell out contrarie vnto him and to very ill purpose In deede he did euer shew the valiancy pacience and great corage that should be in a valliant Generall or Lieutenaunt of an armie But his exployts and doinges had neuer after that easie grace nor shining glory they were wont to haue but to the contrary he was like to haue lost all that he had wonne before through the misfortunes that fell vpon him and for the brawles and vaine contention he had with his people to no purpose But the worst was that they make him selfe thonly author of all these euills bicause he could not or would not entertaine the goodwill of the multitude of his souldiers thinking that whatsoeuer a Generall or any other officer of state or calling doth to please and content them he hath vnder his charge is to dishonor him selfe and to geue cause vnto his souldiers to despise his authoritie But that which made most against him was this that he gaue no estimation to gentlemen and men of like quality to him selfe but disdained them and thought them vnworthy to be equall with him For these they say were his faultes and imperfections but otherwise that he wanted no vertues nor naturall giftes good condicions that could be possibly wished for or desired For he was a talle gentleman of goodly presence well spoken wise and discreete as well in matters of gouernment as in warres and as well to perswade the people in peace as to encorage his souldiers in warre Salust wryteth of him that his souldiers began to mislike with him euen from the first entry into these warres bicause he made them lye out two winters together in the field one after an other the one before the city of CIZICVS and the other before the city of AMISVS And euen as much did the other winters following vexe and trouble them For either they lay in their enemies contry or else if they lay in their frendes yet he made them campe abroade in the field and shrowd them selues in their tentes for Lucullus neuer entred with his army into any city or confederate towne of GRAECE Now if the souldiers of them selues misliked Lucullus the coūsellers at ROME that were his enemies and enuied his prosperity and glory gaue them yet greater occasions to mutine against him For they cōtinually accused him to the people in their orations that he drew out this warre in length purposely bicause he would alwayes haue occasion to rule meanes to get hauing in his hands in maner all CILICIA ASIA BITHYNIA PAPHLAGONIA GALATIA PONTVS ARMENIA and all the prouinces and regions as farre as to the riuer of Phasis and yet he had not long before spoyled the Princely houses of Tigranes as if he had bene sent thither only to sack and spoyle and not to destroy ouercome those kings And they say that it was Lucius Quintius one of the Praetors that spake these wordes It was he also that most moued the people to take order that Lucullus should be called home other sent to succeede him in the charge gouernmēt of the contries he had subdued By the selfe same meane it was also ordained that diuers which were vnder his charge should be dispersed with all for their othes and licenced to leaue the warres when they thought good But besides those such like great causes there was yet an other more daungerous plague that most ouerthrew Lucullus proceedings passing all the other euills being put together and that was Publius Clodius a wicked licentious and a harebrainde man He was Lucullus wiues brother and she was so light of her body that Clodius her brother was accused of incontinencie with her This Clodius being at that time in Lucullus campe caried not that estimacion and credit he thought him selfe worthy of For he tooke him selfe equall with the best and would needes haue bene holden for chiefe when in deede there were many of farre better desert he being noted both for a vitious and ill disposed person Whereupon he beganne for spight to suborne the bandes called FIMBRIANS and to stirre them vp against Lucullus sowing sweete and pleasaunt wordes amongest the souldiers which being wonted therunto looked still to be flattered For they were those whom Fimbria had procured to kill the Consull Flaccus and choose him in his steede for their Captaine By reason whereof they gaue good care to Clodius words and called him a noble Captaine and a louer of souldiers For when he spake vnto them he made as though he had pittied them for that they should neuer see an end of their great paynes and warres but should miserably consume their dayes in fighting continually sometime with one nation and sometime with an other and that they wandered through all the contries of the world receiuing no worthy reward of so long and painfull seruice seruing only to gard Lucullus cartes camells loden with plate and vessell of golde and siluer and other pretious stones Where the souldiers that had serued vnder Pompey tooke nowe their ease at home in their contry with their wiues and children and were landed men dwelling in goodly fayer cities as rich burgeses and wealthy citizens and yet they had not driuen Mithridates and Tigranes out of their kingdomes into desert places vnhabitable nor had destroyed the Princely houses of ASIA but only made a litle warre in SPAYNE against those that were banished in ITALIE against
shielde but worse then that a voluntary forsaking of his prouince apon a base timerous minde geuing his enemy occasion thereby to doe some noble exployt depriuing him selfe of his honorable charge Wherefore Aristophanes mocketh him againe in his comedy of birdes saying It is no time to slepe and linger still As Nicias doth vvithout good cause or skill Also in an other place of his comedy of plowmen he sayth I faine vvould follovv husbandry VVho lets thee Mary you A thovvsand Dragmaze I vvill geue to be discharged novv Of office in the common vveale Content so shall vve haue Tvvo thovvsand Dragmaze iust vvith those that Nicias lately gaue But herein Nicias did great hurt to the cōmon wealth suffering Cleon in that sorte to grow to credit estimacion For after that victory Cleon grew to so hautie a minde pride of him selfe that he was not to be delt withall wherupon fel out the occasiō of the great miseries that happened to the city of ATHENS which most grieued Nicias of all other For Cleon amongst other thinges tooke away the modesty and reuerence vsed before in publicke Orations to the people he of all other was the first that cried out in his Orations that clapped his hand on his thigh threw open his gowne floong vp downe the pulpit as he spake Of which exāple afterwardes followed all licentiousness and contempt of honesty the which all the Orators counsellors fell into that delt in matters of state cōmon wealth was in the end the ouerthrow of all together In that very time began Alcibiades to grow to credit by practise in the state who was not altogether so corrupt neither simply euill but as they say of the lande of EGYPT that for the fatnes and lustines of the soyle It bringeth forth both holsome herbes and also noysome vveedes Euen so Alcibiades wit excelling either in good or ill was the cause and beginning of great chaunge and alteracion For it fell out that after Nicias was ridde of Cleon he could not yet bring the citie of ATHENS againe to peace and quietnes For when the common wealth began to grow to some rest and reasonable good order then was it againe brought into warres through Alcibiades extreame fury of ambition And thus it beganne The only peacebreakers and disturbers of common quiet generally throughout GRAECE were these two persones Cleon and Brasidas for warre cloked the wickednes of the one and aduaunced the valiantnes of the other geuing to either occasion to doe great mischiefe and also oportunity to worke many noble exploytes Now Cleon and Brasidas being both slaine together at a battell fought by Armphipolis Nicias straight perceiuing the SPARTANS had long desired peace and that the ATHENIANS were no more so hottely geuen to the warres but that both the one the other had their handes full were willing to be quiet deuised what meanes he might vse to bring SPARTA and ATHENS to reconciliation againe and to rid all the cities of GRAECE also from broyle and misery of warre that thenceforth they might all together enioy a peaceable and happy life The riche men the olde men and the husbandmen he found very willing to hearken to peace and talking priuately also with diuers others he had so perswaded them that he cooled them for being desirous of warres Whereupon putting the SPARTANS in good hope that all were inclined to peace if they sought it the SPARTANS beleued him not onely for that they had founde him at other times very soft and curteous but also bicause he was carefull to see that their prisoners of SPARTA who had bene taken at the forte of Pyle were gently intreated and had made their miserable captiuity more tollerable So peace was concluded betwene the SPARTANS and the ATHENIANS for a yeare during which abstinence they frequenting one an other againe and beginning to taste the sweetnes and pleasures of peace and the safety of free accesse one to see an others frendes that were staungers began then to wishe that they might still continue in peace and amity together without effusion of blood of either partie and tooke great delight in their daunces to hear them singe such songes And let my speare lye outgrovven vvith dusty spyders vvebbes They did also with great ioy gladnes remember him which sayd that in peace no sound of trompet but the crowing of the cocke doth wake them that be a sleepe and on the other side they cursed and tooke on with them that sayd it was predestined the warre should continue thrise nine yeares And so vpon a meeting together to talke of many matters they made an vniuersall peace throughout all GRAECE Now most men thought that surely all their sorrowes and miseries were come to an ende and there was no talke of any man but of Nicias saying that he was a man beloued of the goddes who for his deuotion towardes them had this speciall gift geuē him that the greatest blessing that could come vnto the world was called after his name For to confesse a troth euery man was certainly perswaded that this peace was Nicias worke as the warre was Pericles procurement who vpon light causes perswaded the GRAECIANS to runne headlong into most grieuous calamities and Nicias on the other side had brought them to become frends and to forget the great hurtes the one had receiued of the other in former warres And euē to this present day that peace is called Nicium as who would say Nicias peace The capitulacions of the peace were thus agreed vpon that of either side they should alike deliuer vp the cities and landes which eche had taken from other in time of warres together with the prisoners also and that they should first make restitution whose lot it was to beginne Nicias according to Theophrastus reporte for ready money secretly bought the lot that the LACEDAEMONIANS might be the first that should make restitution And when the CORINTHIANS and BOBOTIANS that disliked of this peace sought by the complaintes they made to renue the warre againe Nicias then perswaded both the ATHENIANS and LACEDAEMONIANS that they should adde for strength vnto their contry the allyance peace offensiue and defensiue made betwene them for a more sure knot of frendshippe wherby they might be the better assured the one of the other and also the more dredfull to their enemies that should rebell against them These thinges went cleane against Alcibiades minde who besides that he was ill borne for peace was enemy also vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS for that they sought to Nicias and made none accompt of him but despised him Here was thoccasion that caused Alcibiades to proue from the beginning what he could doe to hinder this peace wherein he preuailed nothing Yet shortly after Alcibiades perceiuing that the ATHENIANS liked not so well of the LACEDAEMONIANS as they did before and that they thought themselues iniuried by thē bicause they
and others also brake their neckes falling from the rockes The rest that were dispersed abroade in the fieldes were the next morning euery man of them put to the sworde by the horsemen So the account made two thowsand ATHENIANS were slaine and very few of them escaped by flight that brought their armors backe againe Wherefore Nicias that alwayes mistrusted it would thus come to passe was maruelously offended with Demosthenes and condemned his rashnes But he excusing him selfe as well as he could thought it best to imbarke in the morning betimes and so to hoyse sayle homewardes For sayd he we must looke for no new aide from ATHENS neither are we strong enough with this armie to ouercome our enemies and though we were yet must we of necessity auoide the place we are in bicause as it is reported it is alwayes vnholsome for an army to campe in and then specially most contagious by reason of the automne and season of the yeare as they might plainly see by experience For many of their people were already sicke and all of them in maner had no minde to tary Nicias in no case liked the motion of departing thence bicause he feared not the SYRACVSANS but rather the ATHENIANS for their accusations condemnation And therefore in open counsell he told them that as yet he saw no such daunger to remaine and though there were yet that he had rather dye of his enemies hands than to be put to death by his owne contrymen Being therin of a contrary minde to Leo BIZANTINE who after that sayd to his citizens I had rather suffer death by you than to be slaine with you And furthermore as for remouing their campe to some other place they should haue leasure enough to determine of that matter as they thought good Now when Nicias had deliuered this opinion in counsell Demosthenes hauing had ill lucke at his first cōming durst not contrary it And the residue also supposing that Nicias stucke not so hard against their departure but that he relied apon the dust and confidence he had of some within the city they all agreed to Nicias But when newes came that there was a new supply come vnto the SYRACVSANS and that they saw the plague encreased more and more in their campe then Nicias selfe thought it best to departe thence and gaue notice to the souldiers to prepare them selues to shippe away Notwithstanding when they had put all thinges in readines for their departure without any knowledge of sthenemy or suspicion thereof the moone beganne to eclipse in the night and sodainly to lose her light to the great feare of Nicias and diuers others who through ignoraunce and supersticion quaked at such sightes For touching the eclipse and darkening of the sunne which is euer at any coniunction of the moone euery common person then knew the cause to be the darkenes of the body of the moone betwixt the sunne and our sight But the eclipse of the moone it selfe to know what doth darken it in that sorte and howe being at the full it doth sodainly lose her light and chaunge into so many kinde of colours that was aboue their knowledge and therfore they thought it very straunge perswading them selues that it was a signe of some great mischiefes the goddes did threaten vnto men For Anaxagoras the first that euer determined and deliuered any thing for certaine and assured concerning the light and darkenesse of the moone his doctrine was not then of any long continuance neither had it the credit of antiquity nor was generally knowē but only to a few who durst not talke of it but with feare euen to thē they trusted best And the reason was for that the people could not at that time abide them that professed the knowledge of natural Philosophy inquired of the causes of things for them they called then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much to say as curious inquirers and tatlers of things aboue the reach of reason done in heauen and in the ayer Bicause the people thought they ascribed that which was done by the goddes only vnto certaine naturall and necessarie causes that worke their effectes not by prouidence nor will but by force and necessary consequences For these causes was Protagoras banished from ATHENS and Anaxagoras put in prison frō whence Pericles had much a do to procure his deliuery And Socrates also though he did not medle with that parte of Philosophy was notwithstanding put to death for the suspicion thereof In fine the doctrine of Plato being receiued and liked as well for his vertuous life as also for that he submitted the necessity of naturall causes vnto the controlement disposition of diuine power as vnto a more excellent and supreame cause tooke away all the ill opinion which the people had of such disputations and gaue open passage and free entry vnto the Mathematicall sciences And therefore Dion one of Platoes schollers and frendes an eclipse of the moone chaunsing euen at the very same time that he was weying vp his anckers to sayle from ZACYNTHE to make warre with the tyran Dionysius being nothing a frayed nor troubled therewithall made sayle notwithstanding and when he came to SYRACVSA draue out the tyran But then it fell out vnfortunatly for Nicias who had no expert nor skilful soothsayer for the party which he was wont to vse for that purpose and which tooke away much of his superstition called Stilbides was dead not long before For this signe of the eclipse of the moone as Philochorus sayth was not hurtfull for men that would flie but contrarily very good for sayd he thinges that men doe in feare would be hidden and therefore light is an enemy vnto them But this notwithstanding their custome was not to kepe them selues close aboue three dayes in such eclipses of the moone and sunne as Autoclides selfe prescribeth in a booke he made of such matters where Nicias bare them in hande that they should tary the whole and full reuolution of the course of the moone as though he had not seene her straight cleere againe after she had once passed the shadow and darkenes of the earth But all other thinges layed a side and forgotten Nicias disposed him selfe to sacrifice vnto the gods vntil such time as the enemies came againe as well to besiege their fortes and all their campe by lande as also to occupy the whole hauen by sea For they had not onely put men aborde into their gallies able to weare armor but moreouer young boyes into fisher botes and other light barkes with the which they came to the ATHENIANS and shamefully reuiled them to procure them to fight among the which there was one of a noble house called Heraclides whose bote being forwarder than his companions was in daunger of taking by a gallie of the ATHENIANS that rowed against him Pollichus his vncle being afrayed of it launched forward with tenne gallies of
same yet all that commoditie was nothing in respect of the profit his slaues and bondemen brought him dayly in As readers seriueners gold smythes bankers receiuers stewards of householde caruers and other such officers at the table taking paines himselfe to helpe them when they were learners and to instruct them what they should doe◠and to be shorte he thought the greatest care a good householder ought to haue was to see his slaues or seruauntes well taught being the most liuely cattell and best instruments of a mans house And surely therein his opinion was not ill at the least if he thought as he spake that all thinges must be done by seruauntes and his seruauntes must be ruled by him For we see that the arte and skill to be a good husbande when it consisteth in gouernment of thinges without life or sence is but a base thing only tending to gaine but when it dependeth apon good order and gouernment of men me thinkes then it is to knowe how to gouerne well a common wealth But as his iudgement was good in the other so was it very bad in this that he thought no man riche and wealthie that could not maintaine a whole army with his owne proper goods For the warre as king Archidamus was wont to say is not made with any certainty of expence and therefore there must no sufficiency of riches be limited for the maintenance of the same But herein Marius and he differed farre in opinion who hauinge allowed euery ROMANE foureteene akers lande called with them Iugera vnderstanding that some were not pleased but would haue more made them this aunswer The gods forbid any ROMANE should thinke that land litle which in deede is enough to suffise for his maintenance This notwithstanding Crassus was curteous to straungers for his house was open to them all and he lent his frendes money without interest but when they brake day of payment with him then would he roūdly demaunde his money of them So his curtesie to lende many times without interest did more trouble them than if he had taken very great vsery In deede when he had any man to come to his table his fare was but euen ordinary without all excesse but his fine and cleanly seruice the good entertainment he gaue euery man that came to him pleased them better than if he had bene more plentifull of dyet and dishes As for his learning and study he chiefly studied eloquence and that sorte specially that best would serue his turne to speake in open presence so that he became the best spoken man in ROME of all his time and by his great industry and diligent indeuor excelled all them that euen by nature were most apt vnto it For some say he had neuer so small nor litle a cause in hande but he alwayes came prepared hauing studied his case before for pleading and oftentimes also when Pompey Caesar and Citero refused to rise and speake to matters Crassus would defend euery cause if he were requested And therfore was he generally beloued well thought of bicause he shewed him selfe painfull willing to helpe euery man Likewise was his gentlenes maruelously esteemed bicause he saluted euery body courteously and made much of all men for whom so euer he met in the streetes that spake to him as he passed and saluted him were he neuer so meane he woulde speake to him againe and call him by his name It is sayd also he was very well studied in stories and indifferently seene in Philosophy specially in Aristotels workes which one Alexander did read vnto him a man that became very gentle and pacient of nature by vsing of Crassius company for it were hard to say whether Alexander was poorer when he came to Crassus or made poorer while he was with him Of all his frendes he would euer haue Alexander broade with him and while they were abroade would lend him a hat to couer his head by the way but so soone as they were returned he would call for it againe O wonderull pacient of a man to see that he making profession of Philosophie as he did the poore man being in great pouerty did not place pouerty in thinges indifferent But hereof we will speake not hereafter Cinna and Marius being now of greater power and comming on directly towards ROME euery man suspected straight their cōming was for no good to the common wealth but as appeared plainly for the death and destruction of the noblest men of ROME For it so fell out in deede that they slue all the chiefe men they found in the city among whom Crassus father his brother were of the number and him selfe being at that time but young escaped the present daunger only by flight Furthermore Crassus hearing that they layed waite to take him that the tyrannes sought him in euery place tooke three of his frends in his company and tenne seruauntes only and fled into SPAYNE with all possible speede where he had bene with his father before and had got some frendes when he was Praetor and ruled that contrie Neuerthelesse seeing euery body afrayed and mistrusting Marius cruelty as if he had beene at their dores he durst not bewray him selfe to any man but went into the fieldes and hid him in a great caue being within the lande of one Vibius Pitiacus by the sea side from whence he sent a man of his to this Piciacus to feele what good will he bare him but specially for that his vittells beganne to faile him Vibius hearing that Crassus was safe and had scaped became very glad of it and vnderstanding how many persones he had with him and into what place he was gotten went not him selfe to see him but called one of his slaues who was his receiuer and occupied that ground for him bringing him neere the place where Crassus was commaunded him euery night to prouide meate for supper to bring it ready dressed to this rode whereunder was the caue make no wordes of it neither be inquisitiue for whom it was for if he did he should dye for it otherwise for keping the thing secret as he commaunded he promised to make him a free man. This caue is not farre from the sea side is closed in round about with two rockes that mete together which receiue a soft coole winde into them Whē ye are entred into the caue it is of a great height within and in the hollownes thereof are many other caues of great receite one within an other and besides that it neither lacketh light nor water for there is a well of passing good water running hard by the rocke and the naturall riftes of the rockes also receiuing the light without where they mete together do send it inward into the caue So that in the day time it is maruelous light and hath no dampe ayer but very pure and drye by reason of the thickenes of the
rocke which sendeth all the moistnesse and vapour into that springinge well Crassus keeping close in this caue Vibius receiuer brought vittells thither dayly to relieue him and his company but saw not them he brought it to nor could vnderstand what they were and yet they saw him plainly obseruing the noure time of his comming when he brought the same He prouided them no more then would euen necessarily serue their turne and yet plenty sufficient to make good cheare withall for Vibius was bent to entertaine Crassus as honorably as he could possible in so much as he considered he was a younge man and therefore reason woulde he shoulde offer him some occasion to take such pleasure and delight as his youth required For to relieue his necessity only he thought that rather a parte of feare than any shew of loue towards him One day he tooke two fayer young damsells and brought them with him to the sea side and when he came to the caue shewed them where they should get vp and bad them not be afrayed Crassus at the first when he saw the young wenches was afrayed he had bene betrayed yet he asked them what they were and whome they sought They being instructed by Vibius what they should say aunswered that they sought their master that was hidden there Then Crassus knew this was Vibius mirth to shew him curtesie so he receiued them into his caue and kept them as long as he lay there letting Vibius vnderstand by them what he lacked Fenestella wryteth that he saw one of them when she was an old woman and that he had heard her tell him this tale many a time with great delight In fine Crassus after he had lyen hidden in this caue eight monethes vnderstanding that Cinna was dead came out and so soone as he made him selfe to be knowen there repayred a great number of souldiers vnto him of whom he only chose two thowsand fiue hundred and with them passed by many cities and sucked one called MALACA as diuers doe wryte but he flatly denied it and stowtly contraried them that affirmed it And afterwardes hauing gotten shippes together went into AFRICKE to Metelluss Pius a man of great fame and that had already gotten a great army together Howbeit he caried not long with Metellus but iarring with him went vnto Sylla who welcomed and honored him as much as any that he had about him Sylla afterwardes arriuing in ITALIE intending to imploy all the young nobility he had in his cōpany gaue euery one of them charge vnder him and sent Crassus into the contry of the MARSIANS to leauy men of warre there Crassus desiring certaine bandes of Sylla to aide him being driuen to passe by his enemies Sylla aunswered him angrely againe I geue thee thy father thy brother thy frendes and kinsemen to aide thee whom they most wickedly haue slaine and murdered and whose deathes I pursue with hot reuenge of maine army apon those bloody murtherers that haue slaine them Crassus being netled with these wordes departed thence presently and stowtly passing through his enemies leauied a good number of souldiers was euer after ready at Syllaes commaundement in all his warres Here began first as they say the strife and contention betwext him and Pompey For Pompey being younger than Crassus and borne of a wicked father in ROME whom the people more hated thā euer they did man came yet to great honor by his valliancy by the notable acts he did in the warres at that time So that Sylla did Pompey that honor many times which he seldom did vnto them that were his elders not yet vnto those that were his equalls as to rise vp when he came towardes him to put of his cappe to call him Imperator as much as Lieutenant generall And this galled Crassus to the hart although he had no wrong in that Pompey was taken before him bicause he had no experience in matters of warre at that time and also bicause these two vices that were bred in him misery and couetousnes drowned all his vertue and well doing For at the sacke of the city of TVDER which he tooke he priuely got the most parte of the spoyle to him selfe wherof he was accused before Sylla Yet in the last battell of all this ciuill warre which was the greatest and most daungerous of all other euen before ROME it selfe the wing that Sylla led was repulsed and ouerthrowen but Crassus that led the right wing ouercame his enemies followed them in chase till midnight sent Sylla word of his victory and demaunded vittells for his men But then againe he ranne into as great defame for buying or begging the confiscate goodes of the outlawes appointed to be slaine for litle or nothing And it is sayd also that he made one an outlaw in the contry of the BRVTIANS without Syllaes priuitie or commaundement only to haue his goodes But Sylla being told of it would neuer after vse him in any open seruice Surely this is a straunge thing that Crassus selfe being a great flatterer of other could creepe into any mans fauor was yet himselfe easie to be won through flattery of any man that would seeke him that way Furthermore it is sayd of him that he had this property that though him selfe was as extremely couetous as might be yet he bitterly reproued and vtterly misliked them that had his owne humor of auarice Pompeyes honor that he attained vnto dayly by bearing great charge and rule in the warres did greatly trouble Crassus both bicause he obtained the honor of triumphe before he came to be Senatour and also for that the ROMANES commonly called him Pomperus Magnus to say Pompey the great Crassus beinge in place on a time when one sayd that sawe Pompey comming see Pompey the great is come And how great I pray ye sayd he scornefully howbeit dispayring that he could not attaine to match him in the warres he gaue him selfe vnto the affayers of the city and by his paines and industry of pleading and defending mens causes by lending of money to them that needed and by helping of them that sued for any office or demaunded any thing els of the people he attained in the end to the like estimacion and authoritie that Pompey was come vnto by his many noble victories And there was one notable thing in either of them For Pompeyes fame power was greater in ROME when him selfe was absent and contrary wise when he was there present Crassus oftentimes was better esteemed than he Pompey caried a great maiesty and grauity in his maner of life would not be seene often of the people but kept from repayring to open places and would speak but in fewe mens causes and that vnwillingly all to keepe his fauor and credit whole for him selfe when he stoode in neede to employ the same Where Crassus diligence was profitable to many bicause he kept continually in the
few scaped with life Other being followed and pursued by the ARABIANS were all put to the sword So as it is thought there were slaine in this ouerthrow about twentie thowsand men and tenne thowsande taken prisoners Surena had now sent Crassus head and his hand vnto Hyrodes the king his master into ARMENIA and gaue out a brute as farte as the citie of SELEVCIA that he brought Crassus to liue that he had prepared a sight to laugh at which he called his triumph Among the Romanes prisoners there was one called Caius Pacianus who was very like Crassus him they clothed in womans apparell of the PARTHIANS and had taught him to aunswere when any called him Crassus or Lord captaine Him they put a horse backe and had many trompets before him and sergeauntes apon camells backes that caried axes before them and bundells of roddes and many purses tyed to the bundell of roddes and ROMANES heades newly cut of tyed to the axes and after him followed all the strumpets women minstrells of SELEVCIA who went singing of songes of mockery and derision of Crassus womanish cowardlines Now for these open showes euery one might see them but besides that sight Surena hauing called the Senate of SELEVCIA together layed before them Aristides bookes of ribaldrie intituled the Milesians which was no fable for they were found in a ROMANES fardell or trusse called Rustius This gaue Surena great cause to scorne and despise the behauiour of the ROMANES which was so farre out of order that euen in the warres they could 〈…〉 ine from doing euill and from the reading of such vile bookes Then the Senatours of SELEVCIA found that AEsope was a wise man who sayd that euery man caried a sacke on his necke and that they put other mens faultes at the sackes mouth and their owne towardes the bottome of the sacke When they considered that Surena had put the booke of the lasciuiousnes of the MILESIANS at the sackes mouth and a long tayle of the PARTHIANS vaine pleasures and delightes in the bottome of the sacke carying such a number of cartes loden with naughtie packes in his army as he did which seemed an army of ermites and fielde myse For in the voward and foremest ranckes all appeared terrible and cruell being onely launces pykes bowes and horse but all they ended afterwards in the rereward with a traine of harlots instruments of musicke daunsing singing bancketing and ryoting all night with Curtisans I will not deny but Rustius deserued blame but yet withall I say that the PARTHIANS were shamelesse to reproue these bookes of the vanities of the MILESIANS considering that many of their kinges and of the royal blood of the Arsacides were borne of the IONIAN and MILESIAN curtisans Things passing thus in this sorte king Hyrodes had made peace league with Artabazes king of ARMENIA who gaue his sister in mariage vnto Pacorus king Hyrodes sonne made great feastes ode to an other in the which were many Greeke verses song Hyrodes selfe vnderstanding well the Greeke tongue and Artabazes was so perfit in it that he him selfe made certaine tragedies orations and stories whereof some are yet extant at this day The same night Crassus head was brought the tables being all taken vp Iason a common player of enterludes borne in the city of TRALLES came before the kinges recited a place of the tragedy of the BACCHANTES of Euripides telling of the misfortune of Agaue who strake of his sonnes heade And as euery man tooke great pleasure to heare him Sillaces comming into the hall after his humble duty first done to the king deliuered him Crassus head before them all The PARTHIANS seeing that fell a clapping of their handes and made an outcrie of ioy The gentlemen hushers by the kinges commaundement did set Sillaces at the table Iason casting of his apparell representing Pentheus person gaue it to an other player to put on him counterfeating the BACCHANTES possest with furie beganne to rehearse these verses with a ieasture tune and voyce of a man madde and beside him selfe Behold vve from the forest bring a stag novv nevvly slaine A vvorthy booty and revvard beseeming vvell our paine This maruelously pleased the companie and specially singinge these verses afterwardes where the Chorus both asked and aunswered him selfe VVho strake this stag None else but I thereof may brag Pomaxathres hearing them dispute about the matter being set at the table with others rose straight and went and tooke the head him selfe to whome of right it belonged to say those wordes and not vnto the player that spake them King Hyrodes liked this sporte maruelously and rewarded Pomaxathres according to the maner of the contrie in such a case and to Iason he also gaue a talent Such was the successe of Crassus enterprise and voyage much like vnto the end of a tragedy But afterwardes Hyrodes cruelty and Surenaes fowle periury and craft were in the end iustly reuenged apon them both according to their deserres For king 〈…〉 enuying Surenaes glorie put Surena to death And Hyrodes fell into a disease that became dropsy after he had lost his sonne Pacorus who was slaine in a battel by the ROMANES Phâ—â—â—â— his second sonne thinking to set his father forwardes gaue him drinke of the iuice of Aâ—â—â—tum The dropsie received the poison and one draue the other out of Hyrodes bodie and set him a foote againe Phreates perceiuing his father to amende apon it to make shorte worâ—â— with his owne handes strangled him THE COMPARISON OF Crassus with Nicias BVt nowe to proceede to the comparison first Nicias goodes were more iustely gotten and with lesse reproach than Crassus wealth for otherwise a man can not geue any great praise to minerall workes the which are wrought by lewde and ill disposed barbarous fellowes him in irons and toyled to death in vnholsome and pestilent places But being compared vnto Crassus buying of confiscate goodes at Syllia handes and vngentle manly bargaines of houses a fire or in damage thereof surely Nicias trade will appeare the better way of getting For as openly did Crassus auow vsery as tillage And againe for other faultes wherewith Crassus many times was burdened and which he stowtly denied as that he tooke money of men hauing matters before the Senate at ROME to winne fauour for their side and that he preferred matters to the preiudice of the confederates of the ROMANES only for his priuate profit and therefore curried fauor with Ladies generally sought to cloke all fowle offenders of all these faultes was Nicias neuer so much as once suspected For he the contrarie mocked of euery bodie bicause for feare he maintained wicked doers by giftes which perhappes would not haue becommed Pericles nor Aristides and yet was mete for Nicias who was borne a timerous natured man and neuer had corage in him Whereof Lycurgus the Orator did vaunte afterwardes to the people being
of his wit. For hauing better spirite and being more constant in his opinion than any of the other children striuing euer to excell in all things with such a vehemency he tooke all trauells in hande that it was vnpossible to ouercome him much lesse to compell him He was on thother side so milde gentle that euery curteous word wrought in him better obedience than any feare could doe bicause it grieued him more to be reproued then to take upon him any paine or labor And for the deformitie of his legge the one being shorter than the other in the flower of his youth through his pleasaunt wit he vsed the matter so pleasauntly and paciently that he would merily mocke him selfe which maner of mery behauior did greatly hide the blame of the bleamish Yea further his life corage was the more commendable in him for that men sawe that notwithstanding his lamenes he refused no paines nor labor Of his person we haue drawen no counterfeate bicause he woulde not in my wise haue it drawen and did expressely commaund by his will that they should neither draw his picture nor make any mowld or image of his body How beit we finde that he was of small stature wherby his presence promised no great matters to them that beheld him Yet for that he was euer mery and pleasaunt and neuer pensiue nor troublesome in word nor looke euen to the last ende of his life he was better loued then the most fayer creature that liued Notwithstanding the Ephori as Theophrastus writeth did condemne king Archidamus in a summe of money bicause he maried a litle woman saying that he would beget them demy kings no kinges in deede In the time that his eldest sonne Agis raigned king Alcibiades being banished ATHENS fled out of SICILE into LACEDAEMON and had not long remained in SPARTA before they suspected him that he kept king Agis wife called Timea for which cause Agis would not acknowledge the childe she brought to be his sonne saying that Alcibiades had begotten him But Timea cared not much for it as Duris wryteth for otherwhile as she fate amongest her women softly she called him Alcibiades not Leotychides On thother side they reporte that Alcibiades him selfe sayd it was for no hurt he ment to any man that he lay with Queene Timea but only for the desire he had that some of the kinges of LACEDAEMON should be begotten of his seede Neuertheles at the length he was driuen to forsake LACEDAEMON mistrusting king Agis who euer after douted of the childe thought him a bastard vntill such time as being on his death bed Leotychides falling on his knees wept and so behaued him selfe that Agis before many witnesses said he did acknowledge him for his sonne This notwithstanding when king Agis was dead Lysander that had then ouercomen the ATHENIANS by sea was more in credit authority in the city of SPARTA than any other practised to put the crowne apon Agesilaus head saying that Leotychides had no interest vnto it bicause he was a bastard The like did diuers other citizens say of him which loued Agesilaus vertue and liked him passingly for that he had bene brought vp from his childhood among them But on the contrary parte also there was a Soothsayer or wisard in SPARTA called Diopithes that had a number of old prophecies without booke was accounted a very skilfull man touching prophecies and diuinations He maintained that it was not lawfull for any lame man to be king of SPARTA and for proofe thereof he told this auncient oracle before the counsell As stately as thy stomake is o Sparta take good heede And stand vpon thy gard and looke about thee I thee reede For halting one day dovvne vvill cast thine Empire to the ground By meane of vvares and troubles great that shall inclose thee round Lysander replied against it saying that if the SPARTANS were afrayed of this oracle they should rather beware of Leotychides For the goddes cared not if any man lame of a foote aspired to be king but rather if he were a bastard and not lineally descended of the race of Hercules For that sayd he were to make the kingdom halte Agesilaus furthermore alleaged that the god Neptune him selfe had witnessed that Leotychides was a bastard for he draue Agis by an earthquake to runne out of his wiues chamber and that tenne monethes after that and more Leotychides was borne So was Agesilaus apon these allegacions not onely proclaimed king of SPARTA but he had geuen him moreouer as lawful heire all his brother Agis goods and Leotychides reiected as a bastard Notwithstanding considering that his parentes by his mothers side were very poore yet honest men he left them the moyty of all the goodes by which act Agesilaus wanne all their good willes where else they had enuied him for his succession in the kingdom And as Xenophon sayth by obeying his contrie he grew to such power that he might doe whatsoeuer he would The Ephori and Senatours at that time bare all the sway and gouernment of the common wealth the Ephores office chaunging yearely the other being for life the which Ephori were only ordained to bridle the insolency of the kings for that they should not as we haue more amply wrytten in Lycurgus life haue absolute power in their handes Vppon this occasion the kinges that succeeded in the gouernment had as it were by inheritaunce a present grudge and malice against them This notwithstanding Agesilaus tooke a contrary course to all his predecessors For where others presently quarelled with the Ephori and Senatours Agesilaus did honor and reuerence them and would neuer dispatche any matter without their priuity but was alwayes ready to goe when they did send him When he was set in his chaier of state to geue audience if any of the Ephori chaunsed to come in he would rise vp vnto them and at the election of any new Senatour he would for honors sake present him a gowne and an oxe And thus cunningly seeming to honor and increase the dignity of the Senatours winning their good wills he made his power great the realme much greater Furthermore his behauior towards the rest of his contrymen was such as his enmity was lesse faulty thē his frendship For he did neuer hurt his enemies without iust cause but he aided his frends euen in vniust causes And wheras he thought it a shame not to honor enemies when they had done well he could not finde in his hart to rebuke his frendes when they did amisse but rather gloried in succoring helping of them in their euill doings For he thought it no shame to serue his frendes turne howsoeuer it were Againe when any of his aduersaries offended he was as sory for it as any man and as readie to beare with it if he were intreated whereby he allured and wanne the hartes of all men The Ephori seeing that
Thereupon Pharnabazus told him his minde plainly surely sayd he if the king doe sende hither any other Captaine to be his Lieutenaunt be sure I will then take your parte straight But on thother side if he make me his Lieutenaunt in this warre trust to it I will do him the best seruice I can against you This aunswere passingly pleased Agesilaus who taking him by the hand and rising vp with him sayd vnto him I would wish my Lord Pharnabazus hauing so noble a minde as thou hast that thou were rather our frend then an enemy So Pharnabazus departing from thence with his men his sonne being left behinde ranne to Agesilaus and smiling told him King Agesilaus I will make thee my frend and therewith gaue him a dart he had in his hande Agesilaus tooke it of him and liking well the beawtie of the young youth and the curtesie he had offred him looked about him if any man in his company had any proper thing that he might bestow on him At the last he spied his secretarie Adeus horse which had a rich caparisson on he straight tooke it from him and gaue the horse furniture to this liuely youth Pharnabazus sonne who neuer after forgate it For it chaunsed afterwardes that being driuen out of his contrie by his brethren and flying into PELOPONNESVS Agesilaus made very much of him and did not sticke to further him in his loue abroade For he had a great fancie and liking to a boy of ATHENS whome they brought vp in wrestling one day to play for the best games But when he was growen a bigge man and strong and that he came to offer him selfe to be billed with them that should wrastle at the games Olympicall being in some perill to be vtterly refused this PERSIAN that loued him went vnto Agesilaus and besought his helpe that this wrastler might not receiue the foyle to be reiected Agesilaus being desirous to pleasure him performed his request with some difficultie Thus Agesilaus in all thinges else was a straight obseruer of the law but in his frendes causes to be straight laced in matters of iustice he sayd that was but an excuse for them that would do nothing for their frendes To this effect they finde a letter of his wrytten vnto Idrian Prince of CARIA for the deliuerie of his frende If Nicias haue not offended lette him goe if he haue offended then pardon him for my sake But howesoeuer it be let him goe This was Agesilaus manner in the most parte of his frends causes Notwithstanding occasions fell out oftentimes that he rather inclined to the benefit of the common wealth As appeared one day when he was driuen to remoue in haste on a sodaine and to leaue one sicke behinde him whome he loued deerelie the sicke man callinge him by his name as he was going his way besought him that he would not forsake him Agesilaus as Hieronymus the Philosopher reporteth turned backe againe and sayed O howe hard is it both to loue and to be wise Nowe had Agesilaus spent two yeares in this warre and was spoken of throughout ASIA beinge maruelously commended to the kinge him selfe for his great honestie his continencie his curtesie and plaine dealing For when he rode out into the contrie with his owne trayne onely he would euer lye in the holyest temples of the goddes bicause he woulde the goddes them selues shoulde be witnesses of his priuate doinges whereas commonly we are lothe that men shoulde see what we doe Furthermore amongest so many thowsande souldiers as were in his campe there coulde hardlie be founde a worse mattrisse then that him selfe did lye apon euerie night And as for heate and colde he coulde as easilie awaie with either of both as if by constitution of bodie he had bene borne to abide anie weather and season But aboue all it was a pleasaunt sight to the GRAECIANS that dwelt in ASIA when they sawe the great Lordes the kinges Lieutenauntes of PERSIA which before were prowde cruell riche and geuen to all lust and pleasure to honor and feare a man that went vp and downe in a poore cape beinge affrayed of euerie shorte worde that he spake like a LACONIAN insomuch as many of them called to minde Timotheus the Poetes verses who sayd As Mars hath no mercie so Greece skorneth gold Now all ASIA being vp and in garboile they willingly yelding to him in euery place after he had taken order with the cities had stablished the liberty of their cōmon weale without any bloodshed or banishment of any person he determined to goe further into the land and transporting the warres from the sea coastes of GRAECE to fight with the king of PERSIA in proper person and with the wealth happines of the ECBATANIANS and the SVSIANIANS and by that meanes to take his leasure from him who sitting stil before made the GRAECIANS make warre one with an other by force of money corrupting the Gouernours of euery citie In the meane time came Epycidas LACONIAN vnto him and brought him newes how SPARTA was grieuously troubled with warres enforced on them by the other GRAECIANS that therefore the Ephori did send for him home and commaunded him to returne to defend his contrie Ah vvretched Greece hovv cruell slaughters hast Thou brought vpon thee for to lay thee vvest For how should a man otherwise call this enuie treason and ciuill conspiracie among the GRAECIANS Who ouerthrew their good fortune that made them happy before turning their warres against the barbarous people out of GRAECE and now to bring it against themselues I am not of Demaratus opinion the CORINTHIAN that sayd the GRAECIANS delight was taken from them which sawe not Alexander the great sitting in Darius royall throne but rather I would thinke they should haue wept to haue left this honor vnto Alexander and the MACEDONIANS fondly losing so many famous Captaines of GRAECE at the battells of LENOTRES of CORONEA of CORINTHE and of ARCADIA Neuerthelesse Agesilaus neuer did better acte in his life nor euer shewed better example of obedience and iustice due to his contrie than he did in his returne home For sithe Hanniball that beganne to haue ill successe in his warres being in manner driuen out of ITALIE thought neuer but compelled to returne againe into his contrie to obey his contriemen which called him home to defend the warre the ROMANES made at their owne dores and that Alexander the great also being sent for home vppon the like occasion did not onely refuse to returne into MACEDON but made a ieast at it when newes was brought him of the great battell which his Lieutenaunt Antipater had fought with kinge Agis saying me thinkes when I heare these newes whilest we are ouercomming of kinge Darius here there hath bene a battell of rattes fought in ARCADIA Sith then I say these two famous Captaines haue made so litle account of their contrie may we not thinke the citie
to Cleonymus where before he would see him oftentimes in a day This made Sphodrias frendes dispaire of his life more then before vntill Etymocles one of Agesilaus familiars talking with them tolde them that for the facte it selfe Agesilaus thought it a shamefull deede and as much misliked it as might be but for Sphodrias selfe that he tooke him for a valliant man saw that the common wealth had neede of men of such seruice This was Agesilaus common talke to please his sonne when any man came to speake to him of Sphodrias accusation Insomuch that Cleonymus found straight that Archidamus had delt as faithfully and frendly for him as might be and then Sphodrias frendes also tooke hart againe vnto them to solicite his cause and to be earnest suters for him Agesilaus among other had this speciall propertie that he loued his children deerely and a tale goeth on him that he would play with them in his house when they were litle ones and ride apon a litle cocke horse or a reede as a horsebacke Insomuch as a frende of his taking him one day with the maner playing among his children he prayed him to say nothing till he had litle children him selfe In fine Sphodrias was quit by his iudges The ATHENIANS vnderstanding it sent to proclaime warre with the LACEDAEMONIANS Whereupon Agesilaus was much reproued bicuase that to please the fonde affection of his sonne he had hindered iustice brought his citie to be accused among the GRAECIANS for such grieuous crimes Agesilaus perceiuing that king Cleombrotus his companion went with no verie good will to make warre with the THEBANS he breaking the order set downe for leading of the army which was kept before went to the warres him selfe in person so inuading BOEOTIA he both receiued and did great hurt Wherupon Antalcidas seeing him hurt one day now truely sayd he the THEBANS haue paide you your deserued hier for teaching them against their wills to be souldiers that neither had will nor skill to fight For in dede they say the THEBANS became better souldiers and warriours than they were before being dayly trained and exercised in armes through the continuall inuasions of the LACEDAEMONIANS Loe this was the reason why the olde father Lycurgus in his lawes called Rhetra did forbid them to make warre too oft with one selfe people bicause that by compulsion they should not be made expert souldiers For this cause did the confederats of LACEDAEMON hate Agesilaus saying that it was not for any knowen offence to the state but for very spite priuate malice of his owne that he sought to vndoe the THEBANS in this maner and that to follow his humor they consumed them selues going yearely to the warres one while this way an other while that way without any necessitie at all following a few LACEDAEMONIANS them selues being alwayes the greater number Then it was that Agesilaus desiring to make thē see what number of men of warre they were vsed this deuise On a time he commaunded all the allies to sit downe together one with an other by them selues the LACEDAEMONIANS also by them selues Then he made a herauld proclaime that all pottemakers should stand vp on their feete When they were vp he made him crie to the brasiers to rise also After them in like maner the carpinters then the masons so consequently all occupations one after an other So that at the length the confederates obeying the proclamacion were all in maner on their feete The LACEDAEMONIANS not one of them rose bicause all base mechanicall craftes were forbidden them to occupie Then Agesilaus laughing at them loe my frendes sayd he doe ye not see now that we bring moe souldiers to the field than ye doe At his returne from this iorney of THEBES passing by the city of MEGARA as he went vp into the counsell house within the castell there sodainly tooke him a great crampe in his left legge that swelled extreamely and put him to great paine men thinking that it was but blood which had filled the vaine a Phisitian of SYRACVSA in SICILE being there straight opened a vaine vnder the ankle of his foote which made the paine to cease notwithstanding there came such aboundance of blood that they could not stanche it so that he sounded oft was in great daunger of present death In fine a way was found to stoppe it and they caried him to LACEDAEMON where he lay sicke along time so that he was past going to the warres any more The SPARTANS in the meane time receiued great ouerthrowes both by sea and land and among other their greatest ouerthrow was at the battell of LEVCTRES where the THEBANS ouercame and slue them in plaine battell Then the GRAECIANS were all of one minde to make a generall peace and thereuppon came Ambassadors and the Deputies from all the cities of GRAECE met at LACEDAEMON to that ende One of these Deputies was Epaminondas a notable learned man and a famous Philosopher but as yet vnskilfull in warres He seeing how the other Ambassadors curried fauor with Agesilaus only he of the rest kept his grauety to speake freely and made an Oration not for the THEBANS alone but for all GRAECE in generall declaring to them all how warres did only increase the greatnes power of the citie of SPARTA and contrarily did minish and decay all other cities and townes of GRAECE and for this cause that he did counsell them all to conclude a good and perfit peace indifferently for all to the ende it might continewe the lenger when they were all alike Agesilaus perceiuing then that all the GRAECIANS present at the assemblie gaue him good eare and were glad to heare him speake thus boldely of peace asked him openly if he thought it mete and reasonable that all BOEOTIA should be set clere at libertie againe Epaminondas presently boldly againe asked him if he thought it iust and requisite to set all LACONIA clere againe at liberty Agesilaus being offended therwith stoode vpon his feete and commaunded him to aunswere plainly whether they would set all BOEOTIA at libertie or not Epaminondas replied vnto him with the selfe speache againe and asked him whether they would set all LACONIA at liberty or not That nettled Agesilaus so that besides he was glad of such a cloke for the old grudge he euer bare vnto the THEBANS he presently put the name of the THEBANS out of the bill of those which should haue bene comprised within the league and cried open warres apon them in the market place For the rest he licensed the other Deputies and Ambassadors of the people of GRAECE to departe with this conclusion that they should louingly take order among thē selues for the controuersies betwext them if they could peaceably agree together and they that could not fall to such agreement that then they should trie it by warres for that it was a hard thing to take vp
ouerthrowen and all went to wracke By this time Agesilaus was growen olde and could no more goe to the warres for verie age but his sonne Archidamus with the aide which Dionysius the tyranne of SYRACVSA sent vnto them wanne a battell against the ARCADIANS called the tearelesse battell for there dyed not one of his men and they slue a great number of their enemies This victorie plainely shewed the great weakenesse and decaie of the citie of SPARTA For in former times it was so common a thing vnto them to ouercome their enemies in battell that they did sacrifice nothinge else to the goddes in token of thankes within the citie but a poore cocke and they that had fought the battell made no boast of it neither did they that hard the newes reioice greatly at it For when they had wonne that great battell at the citie of MANTINEA which Thucydides describeth the Ephori only sent the messenger that brought the newes for reward a peece of powdered meate and no other thing But then when newes was brought of this victorie and that they vnderstoode Archidamus came home victorious neither man nor woman could keepe the citie but the father him selfe went first of all to meete him with the teares in his eyes for ioy and after him all the other Magistrates and officers of the citie and a swarme of old folke both men women came downe to the riuers side holding vp their hands to heauen thanking the goddes as if their citie had redeemed and recouered her shame and lost honor and beganne nowe to rise againe as before it did For vntill that time some say that the husbandes durst not boldly looke their wiues in the faces they were so ashamed of their great losses and miserable estate Now the citie of MESSINA being by Epaminondas reedified and replenished with people he called home againe out of all partes the naturall inhabitants of the same The SPARTANS durst not fight with him not to hinder his purpose though it spighted them to the hartes and were angrie with Agesilaus for that in his raigne they had lost all that territory which was as great as all LACONIA selfe and that for goodnesse and fertilitie compared with the best partes of all GRAECE the which they had quietly possessed many yeares before And this was the cause why Agesilaus would not agree to the peace which the THEBANS sent to offer him and all bicause he would not relinquish that in wordes which the enemies kept in deedes Therfore being wilfully bent once more to fight with them he went not only without recouering the thing he looked for but had in maner also lost the citie of SPARTA by a warlike stratageame in the which he was deceiued For the MANTINIANS being newly reuolted againe from the alliance of the THEBANS and hauing sent for the LACEDAEMONIANS Epaminondas receiuing intelligence that Agesilaus was departed from SPARTA with all his power to aide the MANTINIANS marched away secretly by night from TEGEA without the priuitie of the MANTINIANS and went straight to SPARTA the which he had almost surprised on the sodaine going an other way then Agesilaus came being in manner without men to defende it Howebeit a THESPIAN called Euthynus as Callisthenes sayth or as Xenophon wryteth a CRETAN brought Agesilaus newes of it who dispatched a horseman straight to aduertise them of the citie of SPARTA and marching forward him selfe to returne stayed not longe after before he arriued He was no sooner come but incontinently also came the THEBANS who passing ouer the riuer of Eurotas gaue assault to the city Then Agesilaus perceiuing that there was no more place nor time of securitie as before but rather of desperation and courage he valliantlie defended it more then an olde mans yeares coulde beare Thus through corage and desperate minde whereto he was neuer brought before neither did euer vse it he put by the daunger and saued the citie of SPARTA from Epaminondas handes setting vp markes of triumphe for repulsing of the enemies and making the women and children of SPARTA to see the LACEDAEMONIANS how honorablie they rewarded their nurse and contrie for their good education but Archidamus chiefely of all other fought wonderfully that day running into euerie parte of the citie with a fewe about him to repulse the enemies wheresoeuer the daunger was greatest It is sayd also that at that time there was one Isadas the sonne of Phaebidas that did maruelous straunge thinges to beholde both in the face of his enemies as also in the sight of his frendes He was of goodly personage and at that time in the prime of his youth and being starke naked and vnarmed his bodie noynted with oyle hauing in one hande a borestaffe and in the other a sworde in this maner he went out of his house and ranne amongest them that fought killinge and ouerthrowing his enemies that withstoode him and was not once hurt either for that the goddes preserued him for his manhoodes sake or else bicause men thought him more then a man The Ephori immediatly gaue him a crowne in honor and reward of his valliantnesse but withall they set a fine on his head to pay a thowsand siluer Drachmas for his rashe attempt to hasard him selfe in battell vnarmed for defense Shortly after they fought an other great battell before the citie of MANTINEA There Epaminondas hauing ouerthrowen the first ranckes of the LACEDAEMONIANS and coragiously distressing the rest valliantly following the chase there was one Anticrates a LACONIAN who receiuing him as Dioscorides writeth slue him with his borespeare The LACEDAEMONIANS to this day notwithstanding doe call the ofspring of this Anticrates Machariones as much to say as swordmen as though he had slaine him with a sword The LACEDAEMONIANS did esteeme this Anticrates so much for that deadly stroke he gaue bicause they were afrayed of Epaminondas while he liued that they gaue him that slue him great honors dignities and discharged all his ofspring kinred from payment of subsidie and common contribucions which priuiledge one Callicrates a kinseman of this Amicrates enioyed euen in our time After this battell and death of Epaminondas the GRAECIANS hauing taken peace generally amongest them Agesilaus would needes exclude the MESSENIANS from being sworne to this peace saying that they neede not sweare bicause they had no city Now forasmuch as all the GRAECIANS els did receiue them as amongest the number tooke their othe vnto this peace the LACEDAEMONIANS brake of from this general peace and none but they onely made warre in hope to recouer the MESSENIANS contrie and all through the allurement of Agesilaus who for this cause was thought of the GRAECIANS a cruell and vnsatiable man for warres to deale so craftily and all to breake this generall league Againe he brought him selfe in discredit with all men beinge compelled to make his citie bare of money borowing of them still and
this warre against ignoraunt men that had no skill to fight but yet for their ouermultitude might intrenche him rounde about and preuent him in diuers thinges then he beganne to feare and suspect him more and thereuppon retyred into a great citie well walled about and of great strength Agesilaus beinge offended that he mistrusted him thus tooke it inwardlie but being ashamed to turne againe vnto the third and also to departe without any exployte done he followed him and enclosed him selfe within those walles The enemies pursuinge him hard came vnto the citie and beganne to entrenche it rounde to keepe him in Then the EGYPTIAN Nectanebos fearing a longe siege determined to geue them battell Thereto the hyered GRAECIANS gaue consent as desiringe no better matche and the rather also for that there was but small store of corne within the citie But Agesilaus perswadinge the contrarie would in no wise consent to it whereuppon the EGYPTIANS thought worse of him then before and plainely called him traytor to their kinge Howebeit he did pacientlie beare all their accusations expectinge time to performe an exployte he entended which was this The enemies had cast a deepe trenche without to compasse them in When this trenche drewe neere to ende and that both endes lacked not much of meetinge tarryinge till night came on he commaunded the GRAECIANS to arme and to put them selues in readinesse then he came vnto the EGYPTIAN and sayed vnto him Loe here is an excellent occasion presented to saue thee which I would not acquaint thee withall till I saw it brought to the perfection I looked for fearing least otherwise we shoulde haue lost it Nowe sith the enemies them selues haue with their owne handes geuen vs the way to saue our selues by this trenche they haue cast the which as muche as is finished thereof dothe hinder their great multitude to helpe them selues and that which is yet left vnfinished dothe geue vs oportunitie to fight with them of euen hande determine to shewe thy valure and followinge vs saue they selfe and thy people For the enemies which we shall assayle before vs shall neuer be able to abide vs and the other by meanes of the trenche which defendeth vs on our side can no way hurte vs Nectanebos hearinge his wordes wondered at his great wisedome and so thrustinge in amonge the GRAECIANS did assayle the enemies the which were soone ouerthrowen and put to flight as many as durst resist and make heade against them Agesilaus hauinge wonne Nectanebos againe to trust him he once againe deceiued his enemies with the like subtiltie wherewith he had first beguiled them and which they knewe not howe to auoyde For one while he made as though he fled and intised them to followe him sodainely againe he woulde turne this waye and that waye In fine he brought all this great multitude into a straight sluce walled about of either side with great broade ditches full of runninge water so that when they were euen in the middest of it he sodainely stopped their passage with the fronte of his battell which he cast to the breadthe of the sluce and thus made his number of fighting men equall with the multitude of his enemies which could neither compasse him in behinde nor flanke him on the sides They hauing in this sorte made some small resistaunce in the ende turned their backes and fled and left a great number slaine in the fielde the residue after that last ouerthrowe forsooke their Captaines and fled straglingly here and there Thus the affaires of this EGYPTIAN king after that time had good successe and was quietly stablished in his kingdom making much of Agesilaus and doing him all honor possible prayed him to tarie with him all that winter Howbeit he would needes hasten home to his contrie which was in warre with others knowing that his citie of SPARTA was without money bicause they were driuen to geue pay vnto straungers Thereuppon Nectanebos in th ende tooke his leaue of him very honorably presenting him a gift besides all other honors he did him of two hundred and thirtie siluer tallentes in readie money to defray the charges of the warre in his contrie Howbeit the sea being rough in the winter quarter he died by the way hauing notwithstanding recouered land with his shippes in a desert place of the coast of LYBIA which was called the hauen of Menelaus after he was foure score foure yeare old of the which he had raigned one and fortie yeares king of SPARTA and thirty yeares thereof and more he was alwayes taken and reputed for the greatest person and in manner Chiefetaine generall of all GRAECE vntill the battell of LEVCTRES Now the LACEDAEMONIANS hauing a custome to burie the dead bodies of their citizens that died out of their contrie in the same place where they departed the bodies of their kinges excepted the SPARTANS which were at that time about Agesilaus annoynted his bodie with waxe for lacke of honny and caried him home to SPARTA in this maner His sonne Archidamus succeded him in the kingdom whose issue successiuely raigned continually after him vnto the time of Agis who was the fift king in succession after Agesilaus whom in deede Leonidas put to death bicause he sought to restore the LACEDAEMONIANS auncient discipline and forme of life The end of the life of Agesilaus THE LIFE OF Pompey THe ROMANES seeme to haue loued Pompey from his childhoode with the selfe affection that Frometheus in the tragedie of AEschylus appeareth to haue borne vnto Hercules after that he was deliuered by him when he sayd So great a hate I bare not to the father But that I loue the sonne of him much rather For the ROMANES neuer shewed more bitter hate against any other Captaine than they did vnto Strabo Pompeys father Truely so long as he liued they feared his greatnesse obtained by armes for in deede he was a noble Captaine but being striken with a thunderbolt and dead they tooke him from the beare whereon his bodie lay as they caried him to buriall and did thereto great villannie Contrariewise neuer any other ROMANE but Pompey had the peoples earnest goodwilles so soone nor that in prosperitie and aduersity continued lenger constant then vnto Pompey One only cause procured the fathers hate and that was an vnsatiable and greedy desire of money But Pompey his sonne was for many occasions beloued As for temperance of life aptnesse to armes eloquence of tongue faithfulnes of word and curtesie in conuersation so that there was neuer man that requested any thing with lesse ill will then he nor that more willingly did pleasure any man when he was requested For he gaue without disdaine and tooke with great honor Furthermore being but a childe he had a certaine grace in his looke that wan mens good willes before he spake for his countenaunce was sweete mixed with grauetie being come to mans state there appeared in his
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
though his master Pompey was but meanly housed till his third Consullshippe Howbeit afterwardes he built that famous stately Theater called Pompeys Theater and ioyned vnto that also an other house as a penthouse to his Theater farre more sumptuous and stately then the first and yet no more then needed Insomuch as he that was owner of it after him when he came into it he marueled and asked where abouts it was that Pompey dyned supped These thinges are reported thus Now the king of the ARABIANS that dwelt also at the castell called Petra hauing neuer vntill that time made any accompt of the ROMANES army was 〈…〉 greatly affrayed of them and wrote vnto Pompey that he was at his deuotion to doe what he would commaunde him Pompey thereuppon to proue him whether he ment as he 〈…〉 brought his army before this castell of Petra Howebeit this voyage was not liked of many men bicause they iudged it was an occasion found out to leaue following of Mithridates against whom they would haue had him rather haue bent his force being an auncient enemy to ROME and that beganne to gather strength againe and prepared as they heard say to lead a great army through SCYTHIA and PANNONIA into ITALIE But Pompey thinking he should sooner minishe his power by suffering him to goe on with warres then that he should otherwise be able to take him flying would not toyle to follow him in vaine And for these causes he would needes make warres in other places and linger time so long that in the end he was put by his hope For when he was not farre from the castell of Petra had lodged his campe for that day as he was riding and managing his horse vp and downe the campe postes came stinging to him from the realme of PONTVS and brought him good newes as was easily to be discerned a farre of by the heades of their iauelings which were wreathed about with laurell boughes The souldiers perceiuing that flocked straight about him but Pompey would make an ende of his riding first before he red these letters Howbeit they crying to him and being importunate with him he lighted from his horse and returned into his campe where there was no stone high enough for him to stand vppon to speake vnto them and againe the souldiers would not tary the making of one after the manner of their campe which men of warre doe make them selues with great turnes of earth laying one of them vppon an other but for hast earnest desire they had to heare what newes there was in the letters they layed together a heape of saddells one apon an other and Pompey geuing vp of them colde howe Mithridates was dead and had killed him selfe with his owned handes bicause his sonne Pharnaces did rebell against him and had wonne all that which his father possessed wryting vnto him that he kept it for him selfe and the ROMANES Vpon these newes all the campe ye may imagine made wonderfull ioy and did sacrifice to the goddes geuing them thankes were as mery as if in Mithridates person alone there had dyed an infinite number of their enemies Pompey by this occasion hauing brought this warre more easily to passe then he hoped for departed presently out of ARABIA and hauing speedily in few dayes passed through the contries lying by the way he came at length to the city of AMISVS There he founde great presents that were brought vnto him from Pharnaces and many dead bodies of the kinges blood and amongest the rest Mithridates corse which could not well be discerned by his face bicause they that had the carying of his body had forgotten to drie vp the braine neuerthelesse such as desired to see him knew him by certaine skarres he had in his face For Pompey would is no wise see him but to auoide enuy sent him away vnto the city of SYNODE He wondred much at the maruelous sumptuons riche apparell and weapons that he ware The scaberd of his sword which cost foure hundred talents was stolen by Publius and sold to Ariarathes Also a hatte of Mithridates of wonderfull workemanshippe being begged of Carus his foster brother was secretly geuen to Faustus the sonne of Sylla without Pompeys priuity But afterwards when Pharnaces vnderstoode of it he punished the parties that had imbezelled them Pompey hauing ordered all things and established that prouince went on his iorney homewards with great pompe and glory So comming vnto MITYLENE he released the city of all taxes and paymentes for Theophanes sake was present at a certaine play they yearely make for gain or where the Poets report their workes contending one with an other hauing at that time no other matter in hande but Pompeys actes and ieâ—stes Pompey like exceeding well the Theater where these playes were made and drew a modell or platforme of it to make a statelye then that in ROME As he passed by the city of RHODES he would nedes heare all the Rethoritians dispute and gaue euery one of them a talent Posidonius hath written the disputation he made before Pompey against Hermagoras the Rethoritian vpon the theame and proposition Pompey selfe did geue them touching the generall question Pompey did the like at ATHENS vnto the Philosophers there For he gaue towards the reedifying of the city againe fifty talents So he thought at his returne home into ITALIE to haue bene very honorably receiued and longed to be at home to see his wife and children thinking also that they long looked for him that the god that hath the charge geuen him to mingle fortunes prosperity with some bitter soppe of aduersity layed a blocke in his way at home in his owne house to make his returne more sorowfull For Mutia his wife had in his abscence played false at tables But Pompey being then farre of made no account of the reportes nor tales that were tolde him Howbeit when he drewe neerer into ITALIES and that he was more attentiue to geue eare to the ill reportes he heard then he sent vnto her to tell her that he refused her for his wife wryting nothing to her at that time neither euer after told the cause why he had forsaken her Notwithstanding in Ciceroes Epistles the cause appeareth Furthermore there were rumors ranne abroade in ROME which troubled them sore being geuen out that he would bring his armie straight to ROME and make him selfe absolute Lord of all the ROMANE Empire Crassus thereuppon either for that he beleued it in deede to be true or as it was thought to make the accusation true and the entry towardes Pompey the greater conueyed him selfe his family and goodes sodainely out of ROME So Pompey when he came into ITALIE called all his souldiers together and after he had made an oration vnto them as time occasion required he commanded them to feuer them selues euery man to repaire home to apply his busines remeÌ„bring to mete at
weying with him selfe the great enterprise he tooke in hand At the last as men that being of a maruelous height from the ground do hedlong throw themselues downe closing of their eyes and withdrawing their mindes from the thought of the daunger crying out these wordes only vnto them that were by in the greeke tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in english let the dye be cast meaning hereby to put all in hasard and according to our prouerbe to see all on six and seuen he passed ouer with his armie Now the newes of his comming being caried to ROME they were in such a maruelous feare as the like was neuer seene For all the Senate ranne immediatly vnto Pompey and all the other magistrates of the citie fled vnto him also Tullus asking Pompey what power he had to resist them he aunswered him faltring somewhat in his speach that he had the two legions ready which Caesar sent him backe againe and that he thought with the number of them which he had leauied in hast he should make vp the nomber of thirtie thowsand fighting men Then Tullus cryed out openly ah thou hast mocked vs Pompey â—e thereupon gaue order they should send ambassadors vnto Caesar. There was one Phaonius in the companie who otherwise was no ill man sauing that he was somewhat to bolde thinking to counterfeate Catoes plaine maner of speach he bad Pompey then stampe his foote apon the ground make those souldiers come which he had promised the Pompey gently bare with Phaonius mocke But wheÌ„ Cato told him also what he had prophecied before hand of Caesar he aunswered him againe in deed thou hast prophecied more truly then I but I haue delte more frendly then he Then Cato thought good that they should make him lieutenant generall of ROME with full and absolute power to commaund all saying that the selfe same men which doe the greatest mischiefe know best also how to remedie the same So he immediatly departed into SICILE hauing the charge and gouernment of that contrie and also euery one of the other Senators went vnto the charge they were appointed Thus all ITALY being in armes no man knew what was best to be done For they that were out of ROME came flying thither from all partes and those on thother side that were within ROME went out as fast and forsooke the citie in this trouble and disorder That which might seâ—ue being willing to obeye was found very weake and that on thother side which by disobedience did hurte was to stronge and ill to be gouerned by the magistrates hauing lawe to commaund For there was no possibilitie to pracifie their feare neitherwould they suffer Pompey to offer thinges as he would but euery man followed his owne fancie euen as he found him selfe greiued affraid or in doubt and in one daie they were in diuers mindes Pompey could heare nothing of certaintie of his enemies For some one while would bring him newes one way and then againe another way and then if he would not credit them they were angry with him At the length when he saw the tumult confusion so great at ROME as there was no meane to pacifie it he commaunded all the Senators to follow him telling all them that remained behinde that he would take them for Caesars frendes and so at night departed one of the citie Then the two Consuls fled also without doing any sacrifice to the goddes and they were wont to do before they went to make any warres So Pompey euen in his greatest trouble and most daunger might thinke him selfe happy to haue euery mans good will as he had For though diuers misliked the cause of this warre yet no man hated the captaine but there were moe found that could not forsake Pompey for the loue they bare him then there were that followed him to fight for their libertie Shortly after Pompey was gone out of ROME Caesar was come to ROME who possessing the citie spake very gently vnto all them he found there and pacified their feare sauing that he threatned Metellus one of the Tribunes of the people to put him to death bycause he would not suffer him to take any of the treasure of the common wealth Vnto that cruell threate he added a more bitter speach also saying that it was not so hard a thing for him to doe it as to speake it Thus hauing put downe Metellus and taken that he needed to serue his turne he tooke apon him to follow Pompey thinking to driue him out of ITALY before that his armie he had in SPAYNE should come to him Pompey in the meane time hauing taken the citie of BRVNDVSIVM and gotten some shippes together he made the two Consuls presently imbarke with thirtie enseignes of footemen which he sent beyond the sea before vnto DYRRACHIVM And incontinently after that he sent his father in lawe Scipio and Câ—â—us Pompey his sonne into SYRIA to prouide him shippes Him selfe on thother side fortified the rampers of the citie and placed the lightest souldiers he had vpon the walles and coÌ„maunded the BRVNDYSINIANS not to sturre out of their houses further he cast trenches within the citie at the ende of the streetes in diuers places and filled those trenches with sharpe pointed stakes sauing two streetes onely which went vnto the hauen Then the third day after hauing imbarked all the rest of his souldiers at his pleasure be sodainly liking vp â— signe into the ayer to geue them warning which he had left to gard the rampers they straight ranne to him with speede and quickly receyuing them into his shippes he wayed ancker and hoysed saile Caesar perceyuing the walles naked without ward he straight mistrusted that Pompey was fled who hasting after him had almost ronne vpoÌ„ the sharpe stakes and fallen into the trenches had not the BRVNDVSINIANS geuen him warning of them So he stayed and ranne not ouerthwart the citie but fetched a compasse about to goe to the hauen where he found that all the shippes were vnder saile two shippes onely excepted vpon the which were left a few souldiers Some thinke that this departure of Pompey was one of the best stratageames of warre that euer he vsed Nothwithstanding Caesar maruelled much that he being in a strong citie and looking for his armie to come out of SPAYNE and being master of the sea besides that he would euer forsake ITALY Cicero also reproued him for that he rather followed Themisâ—ocles couÌ„sell theÌ„ Pericles considering that the troublesome time was rather to be likened 〈…〉 Pericles theÌ„ Themisâ—ocles time Yea Caesar him selfe shewed that he was affraid of the time For when he had taken Numerius one of Pompeys frends he sent him vnto Pompey at BRVNDVSIVM to offer him reasonable coÌ„dicioÌ„s of peace But Numerius followed Pompey failed away with him By this meanes Caesar in three score dayes being lord of all ITALIE without any bloodshed he was very desirous to follow with
Alexander to pray him to come and aide him bicause there was yet a great squadron whole together that made no countenaunce to flie Somewhat there was in it that they accused Parmenio that day to haue delt but stackely and cowardly either bicause his age had taken his corage from him or else for that he enuied Alexanders greatnes and prosperity who against his will be dame ouer great as Callisthenes sayd In fine Alexander was angry with the second message and yet told not his men truely the cause why but faining that he would haue them leaue killing and bicause also night came on he caused the trompet sound retreate and so went towards his army whom he thought to be in distresse Notwithstanding newes came to him by the way that in that place also they had geuen the enemies the ouerthrowe and that they fled euery way for life The battell hauing this successe euery man thought that the kingdom of the PERSIANS was vtterly ouerthrowen and that Alexander likewise was become only king of all ASIA whereupon he made sumptuous sacrifices vnto the goddes and gaue great riches houses lands and possessions vnto his frendes and familliars Furthermore to shewe his liberalitie also vnto the GRAECIANS he wrote vnto them that he would haue all tyrannies suppressed through out all GRAECE and that all the GRAECIANS should liue at libertie vnder their owne lawes Particularly also he wrote vnto the PLATAEIANS that he woulde reedifie their citie againe bicause their predecessors in time past had geuen their contrie vnto the GRAECIANS to fight against the barbarous people for the defence of the common libertie of all GRAECE He sent also into ITALIE vnto the GROTONIANS parte of the spoyle to honor the memory of the valliantnes and good will of Phayllus their citizen who in the time of the warres with the MEDES when all the GRAECIANS that dwelt in ITALIE had forsaken their naturall contrie men of GRAECE it selfe bicause they thought they could not otherwise scape went with a shippe of his vnto SALAMINA which he armed and set forth at his owne charges bicause he would be at the battell and partake also of the common daunger with the GRAECIANS such honor did Alexander beard vnto prowes that he loued to reward remember the worthy deedes of men Then Alexander marching with his army into the contry of BABYLON they all yeolded straight vnto him When he came into the contrie of the ECEATANIANS he marueled when he saw an opening of the earth out of the which there came continuall sparkes of fire as out of a well that hard by also the earth spued out continually a kinde of mawnd or chalkie clay somwhat lyquid of such aboundaunce as it seemed like a lake This maund or chalke is like vnto a kind of lyme or clay but it is so easie to be sette a fire that not touching it with any flame by the brightnes only of the light that commeth out of the fire it is set afire doth also set the ayer a fire which is betwene both The barbarous people of that contrie being desirous to shewe Alexander the nature of that Naptha scattered the streete that led to his lodging with some of it Then the day being shut in they fired it at one of the endes and the first droppes taking fire in the twinckling of an eye all the rest from one end of the streete to the other was of a flame and though it was darke and within night lightned all the place thereabout Alexander being in bath at that time and waited apon by a page called Steuen a hard fauored boy but yet that had an excellent sweete voyce to sing one Athenophanes an ATHENIAN that alwayes nointed bathed the king much delighted him with his pleasaunt conceites asked him if he would see the triall of this Naptha apon Steuen for if the fire tooke and went not out then he would say it had a wonderfull force and was vnquencheable The page was contented to haue it proued apon him But so soone as they had layed it on him and did but touche it only it tooke straight of such a flame and so fired his body that Alexander him selfe was in a maruelous perplexitie withall And sure had it not bene by good happe that there were many by ready with vessells full of water to put into the bath it had bene vnpossible to haue saued the boy from being burnt to nothing and yet so he escaped narrowly and besides was sicke long after Now some apply this Naptha vnto the fable of Medea saying that therwith she rubbed the crowne and lawne she gaue vnto the daughter of Creon at her mariage so much spoken of in the tragedies For neither the crowne nor the lawne could cast fire of them selues neither did the fire light by chaunce But by oyling them with this Naptha she wrought a certain aptnes to receiue more forcibly the operation of the fire which was in place where the bridesate For the beames which the fire casteth out haue ouer some bodies no other force but to heet and lighten them But such as haue an oyly drie humor and thereby a simpathy and proportionable conformitie with the nature of the fire it easily enflameth and setteth a fire by the forcible impression of his beames Howbeit they make a great question of the cause of this naturall force of Naptha or whether this liquid substance and moyst humor that taketh fine so easily doth come of the earth that is fatty and apt to conceiue fire For this contrie of BABYLON is very hot insomuch as oftentimes batley being put into the ground it bloweth it vp againe as if the earth by vehement inflammacion had a strong blast to cast it out and men in the extreamest heate of the sommer doe sleepe there vpon great leather budgets filled full of fresh water Harpalus whom Alexander left there his Lieutenaunt Gouernor of that contry desiring to set forth and beawtifie the gardens of the kings pallace walkes of the same with all maner of plantes of GRAECE he brought all the rest to good passe sauing Iuie only which the earth could neuer abide but it euer dyed bicause the heate and temper of the earth killed it and the Iuie of it selfe liketh fresh ayer and a cold ground This digression is somwhat from the matter but peraduenture the reader will not thinke it troublesome howe hard soeuer he finde it so it be not ouer tedious Alexander hauing wonne the city of SVSA he found within the castell foure thowsand talentes in ready coyne gold and siluer besides other infinite treasure and inestimable amongest the which it is sayd he found to the value of fiue thowsand talentes weight of purple HERMIONA silke which they had safe locked vp kept that â—â—ace of two hundred yeres saue ten and yet the colour kept as freshe as if it had bene newly 〈…〉 Some say that the
Afterwardes when Syllaes power beganne to decay Caesars frendes wrote vnto him to pray him to come home againe But he sailed first vnto RHODES to studie there a time vnder Apollonius the sonne of Molon whose scholler also Cicero was for he was a very honest man an excellent good Rethoritian It is reported that Caesar had an excellent naturall gift to speake well before the people besides that rare gift he was excellently well studied so that doutlesse he was counted the second man for eloquence in his time and gaue place to the first bicause he would be the first and chiefest man of warre and authoritie being not yet comen to the degree of perfection to speake well which his nature coulde haue performed in him bicause he was geuen rather to followe warres and to mannage great matters which in th ende brought him to be Lord of all ROME And therefore in a booke he wrote against that which Cicero made in the praise of Cato he prayeth the readers not to compare the stile of a souldier with the eloquence of an excellent Orator that had followed it the most parte of his life When he was returned againe vnto ROME he accused Dolabella for his ill behauior in the gouernment of his prouince and he had diuers cities of GRAECE that gaue in euidence against him Notwithstanding Dolabella at the length was dismissed Caesar to requite the good will of the GRAECIANS which they had shewed him in his accusation of Dolabella tooke their cause in hand when they did accuse Publius Antonius before Marcus Lucullus Praetor of MACEDON and followed it so hard against him in their behalfe that Antonius was driuen to appeale before the Tribunes at ROME alleaging to colour his appeale withall that he coulde haue no iustice in GRAECE against the GRAECIANS Now Caesar immediatly wan many mens good willes at ROME through his eloquence in pleading of their causes and the people loued him maruelously also bicause of the curteous manner he had to speake to euery man and to vse them gently being more ceremonious therein then was looked for in one of his yeres Furthermore he euer kept a good bourde and fared well at his table and was very liberall besides the which in deede did aduaunce him forward and brought him in estimacion with the people His enemies iudging that this fauor of the common people would soone quaile when he could no longer hold out that charge and expence suffered him to runne on till by litle and litle he was growen to be of great strength power But in fine when they had thus geuen him the bridell to grow to this greatnes and that they could not then pull him backe though in dede in sight it would turne one day to the destruction of the whole state and common wealth of ROME too late they found that there is not so litle a beginning of any thing but continuaunce of time will soone make it strong when through contempt there is no impediment to hinder the greatnes Thereuppon Cicero like a wise shipmaster that feareth the calmnes of the sea was the first man that mistrusting his manner of dealing in the common wealth found out his craft malice which he cunningly cloked vnder the habit of outward curtesie and familliaritie And yet sayd he when I consider howe finely he combeth his faire bush of heare and how smooth it lyeth and that I see him scrat his head with one finger only my minde giues me then that such a kinde of man should not haue so wicked a thought in his head as to ouerthrow the state of the common wealth But this was long time after that The first shewe and proofe of the loue and good will which the people did beare vnto Caesar was when he sued to be Tribune of the souldiers to wit Colonell of a thowsand footemen standding against Caius Pompilius at what time he was preferred and chosen before him But the second more manifest proofe then the first was at the death of his aunt Iulia the wife of Marius the elder For being her nephew he made a solemne oration in the market place in commendacion of her and at her buriall did boldly venter to shew foorth the images of Marius the which was the first time that they were seene after Syllaes victorie bicause that Marius and all his confederates had bene proclaimed traitors and enemies to the common wealth For when there were some that cried out apon Caesar for doing of it the people on thother side kept a sturre and reioyced at it clapping of their handes and thanked him for that he had brought as it were out of hell the remembraunce of Marius honor againe into ROME which had so long time bene obscured buried And where it had bene an auncient custom of long time that the ROMANES vsed to make funerall orations in praise of olde Ladies and matrons when they dyed but not of young women Caesar was the first that praised his owne wife with funerall oration when she was deade the which also did increase the peoples good willes the more seeing him of so kinde gentle nature After the buriall of his wife he was made Treasorer vnder Antistius Vetus Praetor whom he honored euer after so that when him selfe came to be Praetor he made his sonne to be chosen Treasorer Afterwardes when he was come out of that office he maried his thirde wife Pompeia hauing a daughter by his first wife Cornelia which was maried vnto Pompey the great Now for that he was very liberal in expences bying as some thought but a vaine and short glorie of the fauor of the people where in deede he bought good cheape the greatest thinges that coulde be Some say that before he bare any office in the common wealth he was growen in debt to the summe of thirteene hundred talentes Furthermore bicause he was made ouerseer of the worke for the high way going vnto Appius he disbursed a great summe of his owne money towardes the charges of the same And on the other side when he was made AEdilis for that he did show the people the pastime of three hundred twentie cople of sword players and did besides exceede all other in sumptuousnes in the sportes and common feastes which he made to delight them withall and did as it were drowne all the stately shewes of others in the like that had gone before him he so pleased the people wan their loue therwith that they deuised daily to giue him new offices for to requite him At that time there were two factions in ROME to wit the faction of Sylla which was very strong and of great power the other of Marius which then was vnder foote durst not shew it selfe But Caesar bicause he would renue it again euen at that time when he being AEdilis all the feasts and common sports were in their
better then I can doe for the gods doe promise vs a maruelous great chaunge and alteracion of thinges that are now vnto an other cleane contrary For if thou beest wel now doest thou thinke to haue worse fortune hereafter and if thou be ill assure thy self thou shalt haue better The night before the battell as he went about midnight to visite the watch men saw a great firebrand in the element all of a light fire that came ouer Caesars campe and fell downe in Pompeys In the morning also when they releeued the watche they heard a false alarom in the enemies campe without any apparant cause which they commonly call a sodaine feare that makes men besides them selues This notwithstāding Caesar thought not to fight that day but was determined to haue raised his camp from thence and to haue gone towards the citie of SCOTVSA and his tents in his campe were already ouerthrowen when his skowtes came in with great speede to bringe him newes that his enemies were preparing them selues to fight Then he was very glad after he had made his prayers vnto the gods to helpe him that day he set his men in battell ray deuided them into three squadrons giuing the middle battell vnto Domitius Caluinus and the left winge vnto Antonius and placed him selfe in the right winge choosing his place to fight in the tenth legion But seeing that against that his enemies had set all their horsemen he was halfe affraid when he saw the great number of them and so braue besides Wherefore he closely made six ensignes to come from the rerewarde of his battell whom he had layd as an ambushe behind his right winge hauing first appointed his souldiers what they should do when the horsemen of the enemies came to giue them charge On thother side Pompey placed him self in the right winge of his battell gaue the left winge vnto Domitius and the middle battell vnto Scipio his father in law Now all the ROMANE knightes as we haue told you before were placed in the left winge of purpose to enuyrone Caesars right wing behinde and to giue their hottest charge there where the generall of their enemies was making their accompt that there was no squadron of footemen how thicke soeuer they were that could receiue the charge of so great a trowpe of horsemen and that at the first onset they should ouerthrow them all and marche vpon their bellies When the trompets on either side did sound the alarom to the battell Pompey commaunded his footemen that they should stande still without sturring to receyue the charge of their enemies vntill they came to throwing of their darts Wherefore Caesar afterwardes sayde that Pompey had committed a fowle faulte not to consider that the charge which is giuen ronning with furie besides that it giueth the more strength also vnto their blowes doth sette mens hartes also a fire for the common hurling of all the souldiers that ronne together is vnto them as a boxe of the eare that settes men a fire Then Caesar making his battell marche forwarde to giue the onsette sawe one of his Captaines a valiant man and very skillfull in warre in whome he had also greate confidence speaking to his souldiers that he had vnder his charge encouraging them to fight lyke men that daye So he called him alowde by his name and sayde vnto him well Caius Crassinius what hope shall we haue to day how are we determined to fight it out manfully Then Crassinius casting vp his hand aunswered him alowd this day O Caesar we shall haue a noble victory and I promise thee ere night thou shalt prayse me alyue or dead When he had told him so he was him selfe the foremost man that gaue charge vpon his enemies with his band following of him beeing about six score men and making a lane through the foremost ranckes with great slaughter he entred farre into the battell of his enemies vntill that valiantly fighting in this sort he was thrust in at length in the mouth with a sworde that the poynt of it came out agayne at his necke Nowe the footemen of both battells being come to the sworde the horsemen of the left winge of Pompey did marche as fiercely also spreading out their trowpes to compasse in the right winge of Caesars battell But before they beganne to giue charge the six ensignes of footemen which Caesar had layed in ambushe behinde him they beganne to runne full apon them not throwing away their dartes farre of as they were wont to doe neyther striking their enemies on the thighes nor on the legges but to seeke to hit them full in the eyes and to hurt them in the face as Caesar had taught them For he hoped that these lusty younge gentlemen that had not bene often in the warres nor were vsed to see them selues hurt the which beeing in the pryme of their youth and beautie would be affrayd of those hurtes aswell for the feare of the present daunger to be slayne as also for that their faces should not for euer be deformed As in deede it came to passe for they coulde neuer abyde that they shoulde come so neare their faces with the poyntes of their dartes but honge downe their heades for feare to be hitte with them in their eyes and turned their backes couering their face bicause they shoulde not be hurt Then breaking of them selues they beganne at length cowardly to flye and were occasion also of the losse of all the rest of Pompeys armie For they that had broken them ranne immediatly to sette vpon the squadron of the footemen behind and slue them Then Pompey seeing his horsemen from the other winge of his battell so scattered and dispersed flying away forgate that he was any more Pompey the great which he had bene before but rather was like a man whose wittes the goddes had taken from him being affrayde and amazed with the slaughter sent from aboue and so retyred into his tent speaking neuer a worde and sate there to see the ende of this battell Vntill at length all his army beeing ouerthrowen and put to flight the enemies came and gotte vp vpon the rampers and defence of his campe and fought hande to hande with them that stoode to defende the same Then as a man come to him selfe agayne he spake but this onely worde What euen into our campe So in haste casting of his coate armor and apparell of a generall he shifted him and put on such as became his miserable fortune and so stale out of his campe Furthermore what he did after this ouerthrowe and howe he had put him selfe into the handes of the AEGYPTIANS by whome he was miserably slayne we haue sette it forthe at large in his life Then Caesar entring into Pompeys campe and seeing the bodies layed on the grounde that were slayne and others also that were a killing sayde fetching a great sighe it was their owne doing and against
at ROME for any victorie that he had euer wonne in all the ciuill warres but did alwayes for shame refuse the glorie of it This notwithstanding the ROMANES inclining Caesars prosperity and taking the bit in the mouth supposing that to be ruled by one man alone it would be a good meane for them to take breth a litle after so many troubles and miseries as they had abidden in these ciuill warres they chose him perpetuall Dictator This was a plaine tyranny for to this absolute power of Dictator they added this neuer to be affraied to be deposed Cicero propounded before the Senate that they should geue him such honors as were meete for a man howbeit others afterwardes added to honors beyonde all reason For men striuing who shoulde most honor him they made him hatefull and troublesome to them selues that most fauore him by reason of the vnmeasurable greatnes and honors which they gaue him Thereuppon it is reported that euen they that most hated him were no lesse fauorers and furtherers of his honors then they that most flattered him bicause they might haue greater occasions to rise and that it might appeare they had iust cause and colour to attempt that they did against him And now for him selfe after he had ended his ciuill warres he did so honorably behaue him selfe that there was no fault to be founde in him and therefore me thinkes amongest other honors they gaue him he rightly deserued this that they should builde him a temple of clemency to thanke him for his curtesie he had vsed vnto them in his victorie For he pardoned many of them that had borne armes against him and furthermore did preferre some of them to honor and office in the common wealth as amongest others Cassius and Brutus both the which were made Praetors And where Pompeys images had bene throwen downe he caused them to be set vp againe whereupon Cicero sayd then that Caesar setting vp Pompeys images againe he made his owne to stand the surer And when some of his frends did counsell him to haue a gard for the safety of his person and some also did offer them selues to serue him he would neuer consent to it but sayd it was better to dye once then alwayes to be affrayed of death But to win him selfe the loue and good will of the people as the honorablest gard and best safety he could haue he made common feasts againe generall distributions of come Furthermore to gratifie the souldiers also he replenished many cities againe with inhabitantes which before had bene destroyed and placed them there that had no place to repaue vnto of the which the noblest chiefest cities were these two CARTHAGE CORINTHEâ— and it chaunced so that like as aforetime they had bene both taken and destroyed together euen so were they both set a foote againe and replenished with people at one selfe time And as for great personages he wanne them also promising some of them to make them Praetors and Consulls in time to come and vnto others honors and preferrements but to all men generally good hope seeking all the wayes he coulde to make euerie man contented with his raigne Insomuch as one of the Consulls called Maximus chauncing to dye a day before his Consulshippe ended he declared Caninius Rebilius Consull onely for the day that remained So diuers going to his house as the manner was to salute him to congratulate with him of his calling and preferrement being newly chosen officer Cicero pleasauntly sayd come let vs make hast and be gone thither before his Consulshippe come out Furthermore Caesar being borne to attempt all great enterprises hauing an ambitious desire besides to couet great honors the prosperous good successe he had of his former conquestes bred no desire in him quietly to enioy the frutes of his labours but rather gaue him hope of thinges to come still kindling more and more in him thoughts of greater enterprises and desire of new glory as if that which he had present were stale and nothing worth This humor of his was no other but an emulation with him selfe as with an other man and a certaine contencion to ouercome the thinges he prepared to attempt For he was determined made preparacion also to make warre with the PERSIANS Then when he had ouercome them to passe through HYRCANIA compassing in the sea Caspium and mount Caucasus into the realme of PONTVS and so to inuade SCYYHIA and ouerrunning all the contries and people adioyning vnto high GERMANY and GERMANY it selfe at length to returne by GAVLE into ITALIE and so to enlarge the ROMANE Empire round that it might be euery way compassed in with the great sea Oceanum But whilest he was preparing for this voiage he attempted to cut the barre of the straight of PELOPONNESVS in the place where the city of CORINTHE standeth Then he was minded to bring the riuers of Anienes and Tiber straight from ROME vnto the citie of GLVCEES with a deepe channell and high banckes cast vp on either side and so to fall into the sea at TEREACINA for the better safety and commodity of the marchants that came to ROME to trafficke there Furthermore he determined to draine and seawe all the water of the marisses betwext the cities of NOMENTVM and SETIVM to make it firme land for the benefit of many thowsandes of people and on the sea coast next vnto ROME to cast great high bankes and to clense all the hauen about OSTIA of rockes and stones hidden vnder the water and to take away all other impedimentes that made the harborough daungerous for shippes and to make new hauens and arsenalls meete to harbor such shippes as did continually trafficke thither All these thinges were purposed to be done but tooke no effecte But the ordinaunce of the kalender and reformation of the yeare to take away all confusion of time being exactly calculated by the Mathematicians and brought to perfection was a great commoditie vnto all men For the ROMANES vsing then the auncient computacion of the yeare had not only such incertainty and alteracion of the moneth and times that the sacrifices and yearely feasts came by litle and litle to seasons contrary for the purpose they were ordained but also in the reuolution of the sunne which is called Annus Solaris no other nation agreed with them in account and of the ROMANES them selues only the priests vnderstood it And therefore when they listed they sodainly no man being able to controll them did thrust in a moneth aboue their ordinary number which they called in old time Mercedonius Some say that Numa Pompilius was the first that deuised this way to put a moneth betwene but it was a weake remedy and did litle helpe the correction of the errors that were made in the account of the yeare to frame them to perfection But Caesar committing this matter vnto the Philosophers and best expert Mathematicians
and affectation but stout full of wit and vehemency and yet in the shortnes of his sentences he had such an excellent grace withall that he maruelously delighted the hearers and furthermore shewing in nature a certaine grauetie besides it did so please them that he made them laugh He had a very full and audible voyce that might be heard of a maruelous number of people and such a strong nature besides that he neuer fainted nor brake his speache for many times he would speake a whole day together and was neuer wearie So when he had obtained his cause against the Tribunes he returned againe to keepe his former great silence and to harden his bodie with painefull exercises as to abide heate frost and snow bare headed and alwayes to goe a foote in the fielde where his frendes that did accompany him to rode a horsebacke and sometime he would come and talke with one somtime with an other as he went a foote by them He had a wonderfull pacience also in his sickenes For when he had any agew he would be alone all day long and suffer no man to come and see him vntill he perceiued his sit was of him and that he founde he was better When he supped with his frendes and familiars they drewe lottes who should choose their partes If he chaunced not to choose his frendes notwithstanding gaue him the preferrement to choose but he refused it saying it was no reason sith the goddesse Venus was against him At the first he did not vse to sitte long at the table but after he had dronke one draught only he would straight rise But when he came to be elder he sate long at the table so that oftentimes he would sit it out all night with his frends till the next morning But they seeking to excuse it sayd that his great busines and affaires in the common wealth was the cause of it For following that all the day long hauing no leasure nor time to studie when night came he delighted to talke with learned men and Philosophers at the bord Wherefore when Memmius on a time being in company sayed the Cato did nothing but drinke all night Cicero taking his tale out of his mouth aunswered him thou doest not adde this vnto it that all the day he doth nothing but play at dyse To be short Cato thinking that the maners and facions of mens liues in his time were so corrupt and required such great chaunge and alteracion that to goe vprightly he was to take a contrarie course in all thinges For he saw that purple red the lightest colours were best esteemed of he in contrarie maner desired to weare blacke And many times also after dinner he would goe abroade bare footed without shooes and without any gowne not bicause he would be wondered at for any suche straungenes but to acquaint him selfe to be ashamed only of shameles and dishonest things and to despise those which were not reproued but by mens opinions Furthermore land being left him to the value of an hundred talentes by the death of a cousin of his that likewise was called Cato he put it all into ready money to lend to his frendes that lacked and without vsury And there were some of his frends also that would morgage his land or his slaues to the chamber of the city for their owne priuate busines the which he him selfe would either giue thē to morgage or else afterwards confirme the morgage of them Furthermore when he was comen of age to marry hauing neuer knowen womā before he was made sure to Lepida This Lepida had bene precontracted vnto Metellus Scipio but afterwardes the precontract being broken he forsooke her so that she was free when Cato was contracted to her Notwithstanding before Cato maried her Scipio repenting him that he had refused her made all the meanes he could to haue againe so he had Cato tooke it so grieuously that he thought to goe to lawe for her but his frendes disswaded him from it Then seeing no other remedie to satisfie his angrie minde he wrote verses against Scipio in the which he reuiled him all he coulde vsing the bitter tauntes of Archilocus verses but not suche impudent lewde and childishe reproaches as be there After that he maried Attilia Soranus daughter being the first woman he euer knewe yet not the onely woman whome he did knowe as is reported of Lalius Scipioes frende who therein was counted the happier bicause all that long time wherein he liued he neuer knewe other woman but his first wife Furthermore in the warre of the bondemen otherwise called Spartacus warre one Gellius was chosen Praetor of the armie vnder whom Cato serued of his owne good will for the loue he bare vnto his brother Capio who in that armie had charge of a thowsand footemen Now Cato could not as he wished shewe his valliantnesse and good seruice bicause of the insufficiencie of the Praetor that gaue ill direction This notwithstanding in the middest of al the riot insolency of them in the campe he shewing him selfe a stayed man in all his doinges valliant where neede was and very wise also all men esteemed him to be nothing inferior vnto Cato the elder Whereuppon Gellius the Praetor gaue him many honors in token of his valliantnes which are giuen in reward of mens good seruice howebeit Cato refused them and sayd that he was nothing worthie of those honors These thinges made him to be thought a maruelous straunge man Furthermore when there was a lawe made forbidding all men that sued for any office in the common wealth that they should haue no prompters in any of the assemblies to blowe into their eares the names of priuate citizens he alone making sute to be Colonell of a thowsand footmen was obedient to the law committed all the priuate citizens names to memory to speake vnto euery one of them and to call them by their names so that he was enuied euen of them that did commend him For by how much they knew his deedes praiseworthie by so muche more were they grieued For that they could not followe them So Cato being chosen Colonell of a thowsande footemen he was sent into MACEDON vnto Rubrius Praetor there Some say that at his departure from thence his wise lamenting and weeping to see him go one Munatius a frend of his sayd vnto her take no thought Attilia and leaue weeping for I promise thee I will kepe thy husband for thee It is well sayd aunswered Cato Then when they were a dayes iorney srō ROME Cato after supper said vnto this Munatius thou must looke well to thy promesse thou hast made Attilia that thou wouldest keepe me for her therefore forsake me not night nor day Thereupon he commaunded his men that from thence forth they should prepare two beds in his chamber that Munatius also might lye there who was rather pleasantly him selfe looked vnto
and neuer once repyned against that he had done neither then nor at any one after but continued still friendshippe with him as he had done before But now though Cato was out of his office of Quaestor he was not without spialls of his men in the treasure chamber who marked alwayes and wrote what was done and passed in the treasurie And Cato him self hauing bought the bookes of accompt for the summe of fiue talents conteyning the reuenue of the whole stare of the common wealth from Syllaes time vntill the very yeare of his Quaestorshippe he euer had them about him and was the first man that came to the Senate and the last that went out of it There many times the Senators tarying long before they came he went and sate downe in a corner by him selfe and red closely the booke he had vnder his gowne clapping his gowne before it and would neuer bee out of the citie on that day when he knew the Senate should assemble After that Pompey and his conforts perceiuing that it was vnpossible to compell Cato and much lesse to winne or corrupt him to fauor their must doings they sought what meanes they could to keepe him from comming to the Senate and defending certeine of his friends causes to occupy him some other wayes about matters of arbitrement But Cato finding their wiles and craft to encounter them he tolde his friendes once for all whom he would pleasure that when the Senate did sit no mans cause could make him be absent from thence For he came not to serue the common wealth to enrich him selfe as many did neither for any glorye or reputacion nor yet at all aduenture but that he had aduisedly chosen to serue the common wealth like a iust and honest man therefore thought him selfe bound to be as carefull of his dutie as the bee working her waxe in the honny combe For this respect therefore to performe his dutie the better by the meanes of his friendes which he had in euery prouince belonging to the Empire of ROME he gotte into his handes the copies of all the chiefest actes edicts decrees sentences the notablest iudgements of the gouernors that remayned in recorde Once Cato perceiuing that Publius Clodius a seditious Orator amongest the people did make great sturte and accused diuers vnto the assembly as the Priestes and Vestall Nunnes amonge the which Pâ—bia Terentia Citeroes wiues sister was accused he taking their cause in hand did so disgrace Clodius their accuser that he was driuen to flie the citie Cicero therefore giuing Cato thankes Cato tolde him that he must thanke the common wealth not him for whose sake onely he both sayd and did that he had done Hereby Cato wanne him great fame For when a certein Orator or common counseller preferred one witnes vnto the Iudges the counseller on thother side tolde them that one witnes was not to be credited though it were Cato him selfe Insomuch as the people tooke it vp for a prouerbe among them that when any man spake any straunge and vnlikely matter they would say Nay though Cato him selfe said it yet were it not to be beleued When on a time a certaine prodigall man had made a long oration in the Senate in praise and commendacion of sobrietie temperaÌ„ce thriftines one Amnaus a Senator rising vp said vnto him alas frend what thinkest thou who can abide to heare thee any lenger with pacience that farest at thy table like Crassus buildest like Lacullus speakest to vs like Cato So men commonly in sport called them Catoes which were graue and seuere in their wordes and dissolute in their deedes When diuers of his friends were in hand with him to sue to be Tribune of the people he told them he thought it not meete at that time for such an office q he of great authoritie as that is not to be imployed but like a stronge medicine in time of neede So the tearme and matters of lawe ceassing for that tyme Cato went into the contry of LVKE to take his pleasure there where he had pleasant houses and tooke with him both his bookes Philosophers to keepe him company Bicause meeting as he went with diuers sumpters and great cariage and a great traine of men besides he asked them whose cariage it was they told him it was Metellus Nepos that returned to ROME to make sute to be Tribune Thereuppon Cato stayed sodainely and bethinking him selfe commaunded his men to returne backe againe His friends maruailing at it he aunswered them Doe not you know that Metellus is to be feared of him selfe for his rashnes and folly now that he commeth instructed by Pompey like a lightning he would set all the common wealth a fire for this cause therefore we must not now goe take out pleasure in the contry but ouercome his folly or otherwise dye honorably in defence of our libertie Yet at his friendes perswasions he went first vnto his house in the contry but taried not long there and returned straight againe to ROME When he came thither ouernight the next morning betimes he went into the market place sued to be Tribune of the people purposely to crosse Metellus enterprise bicause the power authoritie of the Tribune coÌ„sisteth more in hindring then doing any thing for if all men els were agreed of a matter and that he onely were against it the Tribune would cary it from them all Cato at the first had not many of his friendes about him but when they heard of his intent why he made sute for the Tribuneship all his friends and noble men straight tooke part with him confirmed his determination and incoraged him to go on withall for that he did it rather to serue the common wealth then his owne turne considering that where many times before he might without resistance or deniall haue obteined the same the state being toward no trouble he then would neuer sue for it but now that he saw it in daunger where he was to fight for the common wealth and the protection of her libertie It is reported that there was such a number of people about him to fauor his sute that he was like to haue ben stifled among them thought he should neuer haue comen to the market place for the preasse of people that swarmed about him Thus when he was chosen Tribune with Metellus and others he perceiued how they bought sold the voyces of the people when the Consuls were chosen whereupon he made an oration sharply tooke them vp for this detestable marchaÌ„dise and after his oration ended solemnly protested by othe that he would accuse him bewray his name which had giuen money to be chosen Consul Howbeit he spake nothing of Syllanus whose sister Seruilia he had maried but he flatly accused Lucius Muraena that had obtained to be CoÌ„sul with Syllanus by meanes of his money Now a law being prouided that the
with the motion aunswered him presently Munatius goe thy way vnto Pompey againe and tell him that Cato is not to be wonne by women though otherwise I mislike not of his friendship and withall that so long as he shall deale vprightly in all causes none otherwise that he shall find him more assuredly his friend then by any alliance of mariage yet that so satisfie Pompeys pleasure and will against his contry he wil neuer giue him such pledges The women and his friends at that time were angry with his aunswer refusall saying it was too stately and vncurteous But afterwardes in chaunced that Pompey suing to haue one of his friendes made Consul he sent a great summe of money to brybe the voyces of the people which liberalitie was noted spoken of bicause the money was told in Pompeys owne garden Then did Cato tell the women of his house that if he had now bene bound by allyance of mariage vnto Pompey he should then haue bene driuen to haue bene partaker of Pompeys shamefull acts When they heard what he had told them they all confessed then that he was wiser to refuse such alliance then they were that wished and desired it And yet if men should iudge of wisedom by the successe and euent of things I must needes say that Cato was in great fault for refusing of this allyance For thereby he was the cause of Pompeys matching with Caesar who ioyning both their powers together was the whole destruction of the Empire of ROME Whereas peraduenture it had not fallen out so if Cato fearing Pompeys light faultes had not caused him by increasing his power with another to commit farre greater faultes Howbeit those thinges were yet to come Furthermore Pompey being at iarre with Lucullus touching certain ordinances which he had made in the Realme of PONTVS bicause both the one and the other would haue their ordinances to take place Cato fauoured Lucullus who had open wronge Pompey therefore seeing that he was the weaker in the Senate tooke parte with the people and put forthe the lawe for diuiding of the landes amongest the souldiers But Cato stowtly resisting that lawe agayne he put it by and made Pompey thereby in a rage to acquaynte him selfe with Publius Clodius the moste seditious and boldest person of all the Tribunes and besides that made allyance euen at that tyme with Caesar whereof Cato him selfe was the onely Author Caesar returning out of SPAYNE from his Praetorshippe requyred the honour of tryumphe and withall made sute to bee Consull But beeing a lawe to the contrary that they that sued to bee Consulls shoulde bee present them selues in the citie and suche also as desired honour of triumphe shoulde bee without the citie he earnestly required the Senate that he myght sue for the Consulshippe by his friendes The moste parte of the Senate were willing vnto it but Cato was flatly agaynst it He perceyuing that the other Senatours were willing to gratifie Caesar when it came to him to deliuer his opinion he spent all the whole daye in his oration and by this pollicie preuented the Senate that they coulde not conclude any thinge Then Caesar letting fall his tryumphe made sute to be Consull and entring the citie ioyned friendshippe with Pompey Hereuppon he was chosen Consull and immediatly after maryed his Daughter Iulia vnto Pompey and so hauing made in manner a conspyracie agaynst the common wealth betweene them selues Caesar preferred the lawe Agraria for distributing the landes vnto the Citizens and Pompey was present to mainteyne the publicacion thereof Lucullus and Cicero on thother side taking parte with Bibulus the other Consull did what they coulde agaynst it but specially Cato who fearing muche this allyance of Caesar and Pompey that it was a pacte and conspirancie to ouerthrowe the common wealth sayde that he cared not so muche for this lawe Agraria as he feared the rewarde they looked for who by suche meanes dyd intise and please the common people Therewithall the Senate were wholly of his opinion and so were many other honest men of the people besides that were none of the Senate and tooke his parte maruailing muche and also beeing offended with Caesars greate vnreasonablenes and importunitie who by the authoritie of his Consulshippe did preferre suche thinges as the moste seditiousest Tribunes of the people were wont commonly to doe to currye fauour with the people and by suche vile meanes sought to make them at his commaundement Wherefore Caesar and his friends fearing so greate enemies fell to open force For to beginne withall as the Consul Bibulus was going to the market place there was a basket of donge powred vppon his heade and furthermore the Officers roddes were broken in their handes which they caryed before him In fine dartes were throwen at them out of euery corner and many of them beeing hurt they all at length were driuen to flye and leaue the market place But Cato he came laste of all keeping his wonted pace and often cast backe his heade and cursed such Citizens So they did not onely passe this lawe Agraria by voyces of the people but furthermore they added to it that all the Senate shoulde bee sworne to stablishe that lawe and bee bounde to defende the same if any attempted the alteracion thereof vppon greate penalties and fines to bee sette on his heade that shoulde refuse the othe All the other Senators sware agaynst their wills remembring the example of the mischiefe that chaunced vnto the olde Metellus who was banished out of ITALY bicause he would not sweare to suche a like lawe Whereuppon the women that were in Catoes house besought him with the teares in their eyes that he woulde yeelde and take the othe and so did also diuers of his friendes besides Howebeit he that moste inforced and brought Cato to sweare was Cicero the Orator who perswaded him that peraduenture he woulde bee thought vnreasonable that beeing but one man he shoulde seeme to mislike that which all other had thought meete and reasonable and that it were a fonde parte of him wilfully to put him selfe in so greate daunger thinking to hynder a matter already paste remedie But yet that besides all this a greater inconuenience would happen if he forsooke his contrye for whose sake he did all these thinges and left it a praye vnto them which sought the vtter subuersion of the same as if he were glad to bee ridde from the trouble of desending the common wealth For sayde he though Cato haue no neede of ROME yet ROME hath neede of Cato and so haue all his friendes of the which Cicero sayde he was the chiefe and was moste maliced of P. Clodius the Tribune who sought to driue him out of the contrye It is sayde that Cato beeing wonne by these like wordes and perswasions at home and openly in the market place they so sofetned him that he came to take his othe laste of all men but one
settinge agreement betwixt them he returned into CYPRVS There he founde a maruailous greate treasure and plate bothe of golde and siluer tables precious stones hanginges and purple silkes all the which he was to make readye money of There he tooke greate care and paynes to rayse all thinges to the vtmoste and dearest pryces that coulde bee and he him selfe was present at all to keepe reckoning of the laste penney Wherefore to bringe this to passe he woulde not stande to the common vse of the sale of the cryer but suspected them all bothe cryers praysers and his owne friendes and therefore talled him selfe with the praysers and made them sette highe pryses vppon euery thinge that was to bee solde And thus were the moste parte of the goodes solde and caryed awaye at the dearest pryces This did maruelously offende the moste of his friendes when they sawe that he did mistruste them but Munatius specially his dearest friende tooke is so inwardely that he thought neuer to bee friendes with him agayne Insomuche as in the booke Caesar wrote agaynst Cato in this place he forceth moste the accusation agaynst him Munatius notwithstanding wryteth that he was not angrye so muche with Cato for that he mystrusted him but for a certayne disdayne he had him selfe of Cato and for the emulacion betwixt him and Canidius For Munatius wrote a booke of Catoes deedes and sayinges whome Thraseas in his historye chiefly followed In this booke he sheweth that he came late into CYPRVS and was very ill lodged And furthermore also that when he woulde haue comen into Catoes house they kept him out of the gates for that Cato was busie doing some thinge with Canidius He modestly complayning of it vnto Cato had this churlish aunswer ouermuch loue sayth Theophrastus oftentimes causeth hate So fareth it with thee who ouerlouing me doest thinke that I esteeme thee not as thou deseruest and therefore art angry with me And for Canidius I must tell thee truely I doe rather employe him for his skill and faithfulnes in thinges then any man els for that he hath beene with me from the beginning and as farre as I learne was neuer brybed but cleane handed still These wordes Cato tolde Munatius secretly betweene them two but afterwardes he knewe that he had also reported them vnto Canidius When he sawe that be would no more go and suppe with Cato as he was wont and when he was also called to counsell he would not come there nether Wherefore Cato threatned him that he would sease vpon all his goods and cariage as they vse to handle them that are disobedient vnto iustice This notwithstanding Munatius cared not for it but tooke sea and returned againe to ROME bearing Cato grudge a long time Then Martia being at that time Catoes wife spake with him and were both bidden to supper together vnto a friend of theirs called Barca Thereuppon Cato also arriued and came thither when they were all sette at supper and asked where he should sit Barea tolde him agayne where it pleased him Then casting his eyes about he sayd he would sitte by Munatius and so fetching a compasse about the borde he went and sate by him but offered him no friendshippe and familiaritie all supper tyme Afterwardes notwithstanding at the request of Martia that was earnestly in hande with Cato for him he wrote vnto him and willed him to come and speake with him Munatius went to Catoes house in the morning where Martia stayed him and kept him companie vntill all the rest that came to salute Cato were departed Then Cato comming to him embraced him in his armes and made very muche of him We haue the willinglier dilated this matter at length bicause mens natures and manners might be discerned euen in these small matters of friendshippe priuately as otherwise in the greatest publicke causes Now touching Catoes commission he gotte together litle lesse then seuen thowsand siluer talents Furthermore fearing the farrenesse of the iorney he had to goe by sea he made diuers litle cofers and put into euery one of them two talents and fiue hundred Drachmas and tyed vnto eache of them a longe rope and a greate peece of corcke bicuase that if the shippe should fortune to miscarye those corckes might shewe where the chestes with money laye in the bottome of the sea Thus was all the money saued sauing a litle and brought safely to ROME Cato hauing made two bookes wherin he had noted all thinges done in his iorney he could neither saue th one nor thother of them For one of his bondmen made free called Philargyrus tooke the one away who taking shippe at the hauen of Cenchrees was him selfe drowned and the booke he had also lost with him The other booke which he him selfe had kept vntill he came vnto CORFOV he lying in the market place of the citie in his tents which he caused to be set vppe the Mariners being very cold in the night made so great a fire that it burnt the tents stuffe booke and all Notwithstanding he brought certaine of the late king Ptolomyes slaues with him who while he liued had the charge and custodie of all his treasure and riches the which he brought as witnesses to stoppe the mouthes of his malicious enemies that would haue accused him in any thinge But yet the losse of them did grieue him not so much for the great care and paynes he had taken in setting downe the accompt of his charge for the iustification and proofe of his fidelitie and good seruice but also for that they might haue serued for a good memoriall and example vnto all others to haue bene a like carefull in their charge as him self But the goddes denyed him this good happe Newes beeing brought that he was come to ROME by water when they vnderstood that he was at hand by and by all the Magistrats the Priestes the Senate the most part of the people also went out to meete him by the riuers side so that both sides of the riuer of Tyber were full of people and the receiuing of him in seemed not inferior to the entry of a triumphe Notwithstanding some thought him very presumptuous that the Consuls and Praetors comming out to meete him he did nor stay his gally but rowed still vp the streame beeing in a kinges galley of six owers to euery bancke and neuer stayed vntill all his fleete arryued in the hauen This notwithstanding when the cofers with mony were caried thorough the market place into the treasure chamber the people wondred to see so great a quantitie of it And thereuppon the Senate being assembled with great and honorable words they gaue Cato extraordinary Praetorship and priuiledge also at any common sports to weare a purple gowne Cato refused all these honours and onely besought the Senate to make Nicias a free man Steward of the late diseased king Ptolomy being a witnes of his faith and great paynes he had taken in this
seruice Philip the father of Martia was that yeare Consul so that after a sorte the authoritie of the Consul was in Cato bicause Lentulus colleague and fellowe Consul with Philip did no lesse reuerence Cato for his vertues then Philip did for his allyance with him Furthermore when Cicero was restored agayne from his banishment the which Fublius Clodius beeing then Tribune of the people had put apon him and beeing agayne growen to great credit he went one day into the Capitoll in the absence of Clodius by force to take awaye the tables which Clodius had consecrated there in the which were comprised all his doings during the tyme he was Tribune Thereuppon the Senate beeing assembled Clodius did accuse Cicero of this violent facte Cicero aunswered him agayne that bicause Clodius was chosen Tribune directly against the lawe therefore all his doings were voyde and of no validitie Then stoode vppe Cato and sayde he knewe that all that which Clodius did when he was Tribune was scantly good and allowable but yet if generally any man shoulde vndoe all that he had passed by that authoritie then all that he him selfe had done likewise in CYPRVS must of necessitie bee reuoked For the commission that was graunted vnto him by vertue whereof he had done thinges shoulde be vnlawfull bicause the Tribune also that did graunt it him was not lawfully chosen And therefore that Publius Clodius was not made Tribune agaynst the lawe who by consent of the lawe was taken out from a noble house and made a populer person howbeit if he had behaued him selfe vnduetifully in his office as other men that happely had offended then he was to be accused to make him mend his faulte and not to destroye the authoritie of the officer which in it selfe was lawfull After that there sell misliking betwixt Cicero and Cato for this counter buffe he had giuen him and Cicero continued a long tyme after before he did shewe him any countenaunce of friendshippe as he had at other tymes done But afterwardes they were reconciled together agayne by this occasion Pompey and Craessus hauing bene with Caesar to talke with him who for that purpose came out of GAVLE beyond the Alpes made an agreement there betwixt them to demaund the second Consulship together and when they had it then to proroge Caesars gouernment for fiue yeares more and also they woulde haue the best prouinces and greatest for them selues with great armies and money enough to paye them with This was in deede a playne conspiracie to deuide the Empire of ROME betweene them and vtterly to ouerthrow the state of the common wealth At that time there were many noble men which came to make sute for the Consulship But when they sawe Pompey and Craessus offer to make sute for it all the reste gaue ouer but Lucius Domitius that had maryed Porcia Catoes sister through whose perswasion he woulde not relinguishe his sute considering that it was not the office onely of the Consulship that was the chiefest matter of importance but the libertie of the Senate and people Straight there ranne a rumor through the most parte of the people that they were not to suffer Pompeys power to be ioyned with Craessus by meanes of this office for then his authoritie woulde bee too great and stronge and therefore that of necessitie one of these two were to bee denyed For this cause therefore the good men tooke Domitius parte and did encourage him to goe on with his sute assuring him of ayde vnder hande of diuers which durst not bee seene openly for feare of those two great men who at the daye of the election would procure him voyces in his fauour Pompey and Craessus mistrusting this made Domitius bee sette vppon going with torche light before daye into the fielde of Mars where the election was alwayes made and firt striking the torche bearer that went before him they hurt him so sore that he fell downe deade at his feete Then they layed at the rest in like case who finding them selues cruelly hurt ranne awaye euery man of them and left Domitius and Cato post alone But Cato notwithstanding he was hurt in one of his armes still helde Domitius fast and prayed him to tary and not to leaue to defende the libertie of their contrie agaynst tyrants which playnely shewed after what manner they woulde gouerne sithe by suche wicked meanes they aspyred to tyrannicall gouernment All this notwithstanding Domitius woulde tarye no lenger but betooke him to his legges and raune home Thus were Craessus and Pompey without deny all proclaymed Consuls Cato neuer yeelded therefore but came and sued to bee Praetor bicause that thereby he might yet make it some strength and countenaunce to him against their Consulshippe that beeing no priuate person he shoulde haue some better authoritie to resist them that were the chiefest persons But they fearing that the Praetorshippe by the estimacion of Cato woulde come to equall their authoritie of the Consulshippe first assembled the Senate the most parte of the Senators not hearing of it and in that assemblye caused the Senate to decree that all suche as were chosen Praetors shoulde presently goe to their charge not attending the tyme and libertie appoynted by the lawe during which tyme men might accuse those which had bought the voyces of the people with money Then hauing by this culler and decree sette yll doers at libertie without feare of punishment they pretending to vse corruption did preferre some of their owne Ministers to make sute for the Praetorshippe them selues giuing money to corrupt the people and beeing present also at the election But notwithstanding all these practises the vertue and reputacion of Cato ouercame them For the people had him in so great reuerence that they thought it too shamefull a parte to sell Cato by voyces who deserued rather to bee hyered to take the Praetorshippe apon him Then the first Tribe beeing called to giue their voyces declared him Praetor Pompey seeing that straight brake of the assemblye making a shamefull lye telling that he heard it thunder the which the ROMANES doe maruelously detest and will conclude nothing when it thundereth Howebeit afterwardes they gaue more money then they had done before and thereby draue awaye the chiefest men out of the fielde of Mars and by practise obtayned that Vatinius was chosen Praetor for Cato And the reporte went that they that had so wickedly giuen their voyces feeling them selues pricked in conscience fledde immediatly out of the fielde and the honest men that remayned were both very sory and angrie for the iniurie they had offered Cato At that tyme one of the Tribunes keeping an assemblye of the citie Cato stoode vppe and tolde as if he had prophecied before them all what woulde happen to the common wealth by these practises and stirred vppe the people agaynst Pompey and Caesar saying that they were giltye of those thinges and therefore procured them to bee done bicause they were
affrayde that if Cato had beene Praetor he would too narrowly haue sifted out their deuises In fine Cato going home to his house had more companye to wayte vppon him alone then all the other Praetors that had beene chosen When Caius Trebonius Tribune of the people had preferred a lawe for the deuiding of the prouinces vnto the newe Consuls SPAYNE and AFRICKE vnto the one and AEGYPT and SYRIA vnto the other with full power to make warre as they thought good bothe by sea and lande all other men hauing no hope to keepe it backe did let it alone and spake nothing to contrarye it Then Cato getting vppe into the pulpit for orations before the people beganne to giue their voyces coulde hardely haue two howers space speake but at length they perceyuing that he delayed tyme by foretelling thinges to come woulde suffer him to speake no longer but sent a Sergeaunt to him and plucked him by force out of the pulpit But when he was beneath and cryed out notwithstanding and diuers gaue good eare vnto him the Sergeaunt went to him agayne and tooke him and caryed him out of the market place Howebeit the Officer had no sooner left him but he went strayght towardes the pulpit for orations and there cryed out more vehemently then before and willed the people to haue an eye to ayde the libertie of their common wealth which went to ruine When he oftentymes together did this Trebonius the Tribune being madde withal commaunded his Sergeaunt to cary him to prison The people followed him hard notwithstanding to heare what he sayd vnto them Whereuppon Trebonius fearing some sturre was forced to commaund his Sergeaunt to let Cato goe So Cato draue of all that day without any matter concluded The next morning notwithstanding the contrary faction hauing partly put the ROMANES in feare and wonne the other parte also by fayre wordes and money and by force of armes likewise kept Aquilius one of the Tribunes from comming out of the Senate and after they had also violently driuen Cato out of the market place for saying that it thundred and hauing hurt many men and also slayne some out of hande in the market place in the ende they forcibly passed the decree by voyces of the people Many beeing offended therewith went a company of them together to plucke downe Pompeys images but Cato would not suffer them And afterwardes also when they preferred an other law for the prorogacion of the prouinces armies which Caesar demaunded Cato would speake no more to the people to hinder it but protested vnto Pompey him selfe that he saw not how he plucked Caesar apon him and that he should feele the weight of his force before he looked for it and then when he could neither suffer nor remedy it he would euen cast his burden and him selfe apon the common wealth and too late would remember Catoes warnings which were priuately as profitable for Pompey as openly iust and reasonable for the cōmon wealth Cato vsed many of these perswasions sundry times vnto him but Pompey neuer made accompt of them for he woulde not be perswaded that Caesar would euer chaunge in that sorte and besides he trusted too much to his owne power and prosperitie Furthermore Cato was chosen Praetor for the next yeare following in the which it appeared though he ministred iustice vprightly that he rather defaced and impaired the maiestie and dignitie of his office then that he gaue it grace and countenaunce by his doings for he would oftentimes go a foote barelegged and without any coate vnto his Praetors chaire and there geue sentence of life and death otherwhiles of men of great account And some report that he would geue audience when he had dyned and dronke wine but that is vntrue Now Cato perceiuing that the citizens of ROME were marred by bribes and gifts of those which aspired vnto offices and that the people made it an arte and facultie to gaine by to roote this vice altogether out of the common wealth he perswaded the Senate to make a law that such as hereafter should be chosen Consulls or Praetors should if there were no man to accuse them come and offer them selues before the iudges and taking their othe should truely declare what meanes they had vsed to attaine to their office This offended the suters for the offices but muche more the mercenarie multitude Whereuppon a great number of them went in a morning together where he kept his audience and all cried out vpon him reuiled him and threw stones at him insomuch as they that were there were forced to flie thence and him selfe also was driuen out of the place by the preafe of people and had much a doe to get to the pulpit for orations where standing on his feete he presently pacified the tumult of the people by the boldnes and constancie of his countenaunce only Then when all was pacified by the present perswasions he vsed aptly spoken to purpose for the instant they geuing attentiue eare without sturre or vprore The Senate geuing him great commendacion therefore he told them roundly and plainly but I haue no cause to praise you to leaue a Praetor in such daunger of his life offering no aide to helpe him But the suters for the offices they were in a maruelous case for one way they were affrayed to geue money to buy the peoples voyces and on thother side they were affraied also if any other did it that they should go without their sute So they were all agreed together euery man to put downe twelue Myriades a halfe a peece and then they should make their sute iustly vprightly and whosoeuer were taken fauty and that had otherwise made his way by corruption that he should lose the money he had layed downe This agreement being concluded betwene them they chose Cato as it is reported for their arbitrator and keeper of all the same money This match was made in Catoes house where they all did put in caution or sureties to aunswere the money the which he tooke but would not meddle with the money The day being come Cato assisting the Tribune that gouerned the election and carefully marking howe they did geue their voyces he spied one of the suters for the office breake the accord agreed vpon and condemned him to pay the forfeiture vnto the rest But they greatly commending his iustice and integritie forgaue the forfeiture thinking it punishment enough vnto him that had fofeited to be condemned by Cato But therby Cato procured him selfe the displeasure of the other Senators for that he seemed therein to take apon him the power and authoritie ouer the whole court and election For there is no vertue whereof the honor and credit doth procure more enuy then iustice doth bicause the people doe commonly respect and reuerence that more then any other For they doe not honor them as they doe valliant men nor haue them in admiration as they do wise
and minstrells that came from MESSINA he sette vp a stage within the enemies contrie made a game of 40. Minas for the victor and sate a whole day to looke apon them for no pleasure he tooke in the sight of it but more to despite the enemies withall in making them see how muche he was stronger then they to make such a Mayegame in their owne contrie in despite of them For of all the armies otherwise of the GRAECIANS or kinges in all GRAECE there was no armie onely but his that was without players minstrells fooles and iugglers for his campe only was cleane of such rabble and foolerie and all the young men fell to some exercise of their bodies and the old men also to teache them And if they chaunced to haue any vacant time then they would pleasauntly be one merie with an other in geuing some pretie fine mocke after the LACONIAN manner And what profit they got by that kinde of exercise we haue written it at large in Lycurgus life But of all these things the king him selfe was their schoolemaister and example shewing him selfe very temperate of life and plaine without curiositie no more then any priuate souldier of all his campe the which were great helpes vnto him in his enterprises he made in GRAECE For the GRAECIANS hauing cause of sute and negociacion with other kings and Princes did not wonder so much at their pompe and riches as they did abhorre and detest their pride and insolencie so disdainfully they would aunswere them that had to doe with them But contrarily when they went vnto Cleomenes who was a king in name and deede as they were finding no purple robes nor stately mantells nor rich imbrodered beddes nor a Prince to be spoken to but by messengers gentlemen vshers and supplications and yet with great a doe and seeing him also come plainly apparelled vnto them with a good countenaunce and curteously aunswering the matters they came for he thereby did maruelously win their harts and good wills that when they returned home they said he only was the worthy king that came of the race of Hercules Now for his dyet at his bord that was very straight and LACONIAN like keping only three bords and if he chaunced to feast any Ambassadors or other his frendes that came to see him he then added to two other bords and besides made his men to see that his fare should be amended not with pastrie and conserues but with more store of meate and some better wyne then ordinarie For he one day reproued one of his frendes that bidding straungers to supper he gaue thē nothing but blacke broth browne bread only according to their LACONIAN maner Nay said he we may not vse straungers so hardly after our maner The bord being taken vp an other litle table was brought with three feete whereupon they set a bolle of copper full of wyne and two siluer cuppes of a pottell a peece and certaine other fewe siluer pottes besides so euery man dranke what they lifted and no man was forced to drinke more then he woulde Furthermore there was no sporte nor any pleasaunt song soung to make the companie merie for it needed not For Cleomenes selfe would entertaine them with some pretie questions or pleasaunt tale whereby as his talke was not seuere and without pleasure so was it also pleasaunt without insolencie For he was of opinion that to winne men by gifts or money as other kings and Princes did was but base and cloynelike but to seeke their good wills by curteous meanes and pleasauntnes and therewith to meane good faith that he thought most fit and honorable for a Prince For this was his minde that there was no other difference betwext a frend and hyerling but that the one is wonne with money and the other with ciuility good entertainment The first therefore that receiued king Cleomenes into their citie were the MANTINIANS who opened him the gates in the night and helping him to driue out the garrison of the ACHAIANS they yeelded them selues vnto him But he referring them to the vse and gouernment of their owne lawes and libertie departed from thence the same day and went vnto the citie of TEGEA Shortly after he compassed about ARCADIA and came vnto PHERES in ARCADIA determining one of the two either to geue the ACHAIANS battell or to bring Aratus out of fauor with the people for that he had suffred him to spoyle and destroy their contry Hyperbatas was at that time Generall of the ACHAIANS but Aratus did beare all the sway and authoritie Then the ACHAIANS comming into the field with all their people armed and encamping by the citie of DYMES neere vnto the temple of Hecatombaum Cleomenes going thither laye betwext the citie of DYMES that was against him and the campe of his enemies which men thought a verie vnwise parte of him Howebeit valliantly prouoking the ACHAIANS he procured them to the battell ouerthrew them made them flie and slue a great number in the field and tooke many of them also prisoners Departing from thence he went and set apon the citie of LANGON and draue the garrison of the ACHAIANS out of it and restored the citie againe vnto the ELIANS The ACHAIANS being then in verie hard state Aratus that of custome was wont to be their Generall or at the least once in two yeares refused now to take the charge notwithstanding the ACHAIANS did specially pray and intreate him the which was in ill act of him to let an other steere the rudder in so daungerous a storme and tempest Therefore the ACHAIANS sent Ambassadors vnto Cleomenes to treate peace vnto whome it seemed he gaue a verie sharpe aunswere After that he sent vnto them and willed them only to resigne the signiorie of GRAECE vnto him and that for all other matters he would deale reasonably with them and presently deliuer them vp their townes prisoners againe which he had taken of theirs The ACHAIANS being glad of peace with these condicions wrote vnto Cleomenes that he shoulde come vnto the citie of LERNA where the dyet and generall assemblie shoulde be kept to consult thereupon It chaunced then that Cleomenes marching thither being very hotte dranke cold water and fell of suche a bleeding withall that his voyce was taken from him and he almost stifled Wherefore he sent the ACHAIANS their chiefest prisoners home againe proroging the parlament till an other time and returned backe to LACEDAEMON It is supposed certainly that this let of his comming to the dyet was the onely cause of the vtter destruction of GRAECE the which otherwise was in good way to haue risen againe and to haue bene deliuered from the present miseries and extreame pride and couetousnes of the MACEDONIANS For Aratus either for that he trusted not Cleomenes or for that he was affrayed of his power or that he otherwise enuied his honor prosperitie to see him risen to such
in any daunger of warres And likewise their fortunes seeme to me to be both much alike For it is harde to finde two Orators againe that being so meanely borne as they haue comen to be of so great power and authoritie as they two nor that haue deserued the ill will of kings noble men so much as they haue done nor that haue lost their Daughters nor that haue bene banished their contries that haue bene restored againe with honor and that againe haue fled and haue bene taken againe nor that haue ended their liues with the libertie of their cōtry So that it is hard to be iudged whether nature haue made them liker in manners or fortune in their doings as if they had both like cunning workemaisters striued one with the other to whome they should make them best resemble But first of all we must write of the elder of them two Demosthenes the father of this Orator Demosthenes was as Theopompus writeth one of the chiefe men of the citie and they called him Machaeropoeus to wete a maker of sworde blades bicause he had a great shoppe where he kept a number of slaues to forge them But touching AEschynes the Orators report of his mother who said that she was the Daughter of one Gelo◠that fled from ATHENS beeing accused of treason and of a barbarous woman that was her mother I am not able to say whether it be true or deuised of malice to doe him despite Howsoeuer it was it is true that his father died leauing him seuen yeare olde and left him reasonable wel for his goods came to litle lesse then the value of fifteene talents Howbeit his gardians did him great wronge for they stale a great parte of his goods them selues and did let the rest runne to naught as hauing litle care of it for they would not pay his schoolemaisters their wages And this was the cause that he did not learne the liberall sciences which are vsually taught vnto honest mens sonnes and to further that want also he was but a weakling very tender and therefore his mother would not much let him goe to schoole nether his masters also durst keepe him too hard to it bicause he was but a sickly childe at the first and very weake And it is reported also that the surname of Battalus was giuen him in mockery by other schooleboyes his companions bicause of his weaknes of bodye This Battalus as diuers men doe report was an effeminate player on the flute against whom the Poet Antiphanes to mocke him deuised a litle play Others also doe write of one Battalus a dissolute Orator and that wrote lasciuious verses and it seemeth that the ATHENIANS at that time did call a certaine part of mans body vncomely to be named Battalus Now for Argas which surname men say was also giuen him he was so called either for his rude and beastly maners bicause some Poets doe call a snake Argas or els for his maner of speech which was very vnpleasant to the eare for Argas is the name of a Poet that made alwayes bawdy ill fauored songs But hereof enough as Plato said Furthermore the occasion as it is reported that moued him to giue him selfe to eloquence was this Calistratus the Orator was to defend the cause of one Oropus before the Iudges and euery man longed greatly for this daye of pleading both for the excellencie of the Orator that then bare the bell for eloquence as for the matter and his accusation which was manifestly knowen to all Demosthenes hearing his schoolemasters agree together to goe to the hearing of this matter he prayed his schoolemaster to be so good as to let him goe with him His Maister graunted him and being acquainted with the keepers of the hal dore where this matter was to be pleaded he so intreated them that they placed his scholler in a very good place where being set at his ease he might both see and heare all that was done and no man could see him Thereuppon when Demosthenes had heard the case pleaded he was greatly in loue with the honor which the Orator had gotten when he sawe howe he was wayted vpon home with such a trayne of people after him but yet he wondred more at the force of his great eloquence that could so turne and conuey all thinges at his pleasure Thereuppon he left the studie of all other sciences and all other exercises of witte and bodye which other children are brought vp in and beganne to labor continually and to frame him selfe to make orations with intent one day to be an Orator amonge the rest His Maister that taught him Rethoricke was Isaeus notwithstanding that Isocrates also kept a schoole of Rethoricke at that time either bicause that beeing an orphane he was not able to paye the wages that Isocrates demaunded of his schollers which was ten Minas or rather for that he founde Isaeus manner of speeche more propper for the vse of the eloquence he desired bicause it was more finer sutler Yet Hermippus writeth notwithstanding that he had red certayne bookes hauing no name of any author which declared that Demosthenes had bene Platoes scholler and that by hearing of him he learned to frame his pronunciation and eloquence And he writeth also of one Cresibius who reporteth that Demosthenes had secretly redde Isocrates workes of Rethoricke and also Alcidamus bookes by meanes of one Callias SYRACVSAN and others Wherefore when he came out of his wardeshippe he beganne to put his gardians in sute and to write orations and pleas against them who in contrary manner did euer vse delayes and excuses to saue them selues from giuing vp any accompt vnto him of his goods and patrimony left him And thus following this exercise as Thucydides writeth it prospered so well with him that in the ende he obtayned it but not without great paynes and daunger and yet with all that he could doe he could not recouer all that his father left him by a good deale So hauing now gotten some boldnes and being vsed also to speake in open presence and withall hauing a feeling and delight of the estimation that is wonne by eloquence in pleading afterwards he attempted to put forward him selfe and to practise in matters of state For as there goeth a tale of one Laomedon an ORCHOMENIAN who hauing a grieuous paine in the splene by aduise of the Phisitions was willed to runne long courses to helpe him and that following their order he became in the end so lusty nymble of body that afterwards he would needes make one to ronne for games in deede grew to be the swiftest runner of all men in his time Euen so the like chaunced vnto Demosthenes For at the first beginning to practise oratorie for recouerie of his goods and thereby hauing gotten good skill and knowledge how to pleade he afterwards tooke apon him to speake to the people
as if he had red some historie poynted as it were with his finger vnto all the whole assembly the notable great seruice worthy deedes the which the CHALCIDIANS had done in former times for the benefit and honor of GRAECE And in contrary maner also what mischief inconuenience came by meanes of the flarterers that altogether gaue them selues to curry fauor with the MACEDONIANS With these and such like perswasions Demosthenes made such sturre amongest the people that the Orator Lamachus being affraid of the sodaine vprore did secretly conuey him selfe out of the assembly But yet to tell you what I thinke Demosthenes in my opinion facioning him selfe euen from the beginning to followe Pericles steppes and example he thought that for other qualities he had they were not so requisite for him and that he would counterfeate his grauitie and sober countenance and to be wise not to speake ouer lightly to euery matter at all aduentures Iudging that by that manner of wisedom he came to be great And like as he would not let slippe any good occasion to speake where it might be for his credit so would he not likewise ouer rashely hazard his credit and reputacion to the mercy of fortune And to proue this true the orations which he made vppon the sodaine without premeditation before doe shewe more boldnes and courage then those which he had written and studied long before if we may beleeue the reports of Eratosthenes Demetrius PHALERIAN and of the other comicall Poets For Eratosthenes sayd that he would be often caried away with choller aud sutie Demetrius also sayth that speaking one daye to the people he sware a great othe in ryme as if he had bene possessed with some diuine spirit and sayd By sea and land by riuers springes and Ponds There are also certaine comicall Poets that doe call him Ropoperperethra as who would say a great babbler that speaketh all thinges that commeth to his tongues ende Another mocked him for too much affecting a figure of Rethoricke called Antitheton which is opposicion with saying Sic recepit sicut cepit which signifieth he tooke it as he found it In the vse of this figure Demosthenes much pleased him selfe vnles the poet Antiphanes speaketh it of pleasure deriding the coūsel he gaue the people not to take the I le of HALONESVS of king Philip as of gift but to receiue it as their owne restored And yet euery body did graunt that Demades of his owne naturall wit without arte was inuincible and that many times speaking vpon the sodaine he did vtterly ouerthrow Demosthenes long studied reasons And Aristo of the I le of CHIO hath written Theophrastus iudgement of the Orators of that time Who being asked what maner of Orator he thought Demosthenes he aūswered worthy of this citie Then again how he thought of Demades aboue this citie said he The same Philosopher writeth also that Polyeuctus SPHETTIAN one of those that practised at that time in the common wealth gaue this sentence that Demosthenes in deede was a great Orator but Phocions tongue had a sharper vnderstanding bicause in fewe wordes he comprehended much matter And to this purpose they say that Demosthenes him selfe said also that as oft as he saw Phocion get vp into the pulpit for orations to speake against him he was wont to say to his friends see the axe of my words riseth And yet it is hard to iudge whether he spake that in respect of his tongue or rather for the estimacion he had gotten bicause of his great wisedome thinking as in deede it is true that one word only the twinckling of an eye or a nod of his head of such a man that through his worthines is attained to that credit hath more force to perswade then all the fine reasons deuises of Rethoricke But now for his bodily defects of nature Demetrius PHALERIAN writeth that he heard Demosthenes him selfe say being very olde that he did helpe them by these meanes First touching the stammering of his tongue which was very fat and made him that he could not pronounce all syllables distinctly he did helpe it by putting of litle pybble stones into his mouth which he found vpon the sands by the riuers side so pronounced with open mouth the orations he had without booke And for his smal and soft voice he made that lowder by running vp steepe and high hills vttering euen with full breath some orations or verses that he had without booke And further it is reported of him that he had a great looking glasse in his house and euer standing on his feete before it he would learne and exercise him selfe to pronounce his orations For proofe hereof it is reported that there came a man vnto him on a time and prayed his helpe to defend his cause and tolde him that one had beaten him and that Demosthenes sayd agayne vnto him I doe not beleeue this is true thou tellest me for surely the other did neuer beate thee The playntif then thrusting out his voyce alowde sayde what hath he not beaten me yes in deede q Demosthenes then I beleeue it now for I heare the voyce of a man that was beaten in deede Thus he thought that the sound of the voyce the pronunciation or gesture in one sort or other were thinges of force to beleeue or discredit that a man sayth His countenance when he pleaded before the people did maruailously please the common sorte but the noble men and men of vnderstanding found it too base and meane as Demetrius Phaleritus sayde amonge others And Hermippus writeth that one called AEsion beeing asked of the auncient Orators and of those of his tyme aunswered that euery man that had seene them would haue wondred with what honor reuerence and modestie they spake vnto the people howbeit that Demosthenes orations whosoeuer red them were too artificiall and vehement And therefore we may easily iudge that the orations Demosthenes wrote are very seuere and sharpe This notwithstanding otherwhile he would giue many pleasant and witty aunswers apon the sodain As when Demades one day sayd vnto him Demosthenes will teach me after the common prouerbe the sowe will teach Minerua He aunswered straight againe This Minerua not long since was in Collytus streete taken in adulterie A certain theefe also called Chaleus as much to say as of copper stepping forth to saye somewhat of Demosthenes late sitting vp a nights and that he wrote and studied the most part of the night by lampe light in deede q Demosthenes I know it grieues thee to see my lampe burne all night And therefore you my Lords of ATHENS me thinkes you should not wonder to see such robberies in your citie considering we haue theeues of copper and the walles of our houses be but of claye We could tell you of diuers others of his like wittie and pleasant aunswers but these may suffice for this present and therefore we
preferre a gentleman to haue charge of men to recommende him he sayd he was an honest wise and sober man Whereto Cicero presently answered Why doest thou not kepe him then to bring vp thy children An other time when they commended Theophanes LESBIAN that was maister of all the artificers of the campe bicause he had notablie comforted the RHODIANS when they had receiued a greate losse of their nauy see sayd Cicero what a goodly thing it is to haue a GRAECIAN master of artificers in the campe When both battells came to ioyne together and that Caesar had in manner all the aduauntage kept them as good as besieged Lentulus told him on a time that he heard say all Caesars frendes were madde and melancholy men Why q Cicero to him againe doest thou say that they doe enuie Caesar An other called Martius comming lately out of ITALIE sayd that there ranne a rumor in ROME that Pompey was besieged What q Cicero to him againe and diddest thou take shippe to come and see him thy selfe bicause thou mightest beleue it when thou haddest seene it Pompey being ouerthrowen one Nonius sayed there was yet good hope left bicause they had taken seuen Eagles within Pompeys campe Thy perswasion were not ill q Cicero so we were to fight but with pyes or dawes Labienus reposed all his trust in certaine Oracles that Pompey of necessitie must haue the vpper hand Yea sayd Cicero but for all this goodly stratageame of warre we haue not longe since lost our whole campe After the battell of Pharsalia where Cicero was not by reason of his sickenesse Pompey being fled and Cato at that time at DYRRACHIVM where he had gathered a great number of men of warre had also prepared a great nauie he prayed Cicero to take charge of all this army as it perteyned vnto him hauing bene Consul Cicero did not only refuse it but also tolde them he would meddle no more with this warre But this was enough to haue made him bene slaine for the younger Pompey and his frendes called him traitor and drewe their swordes vpon him to kill him which they had done had not Cato stepped betwene them and him and yet had he muche a doe to saue him and to conuey him safely out of the campe When Cicero came to BRVNDVSIVM he stayed there a certaine time for Caesars comming who came but slowly by reason of his troubles he had in ASIA as also in AEGYPT Howbeit newes being brought at length that Caesar was arriued at TARENTVM and that he came by lande vnto BRVNDVSIVM Cicero departed thence to goe meete him not mistrusting that Caesar woulde not pardon him but rather being ashamed to come to his enemie being a conqueror before such a number of men as he had about him Yet he was not forced to doe or speake any thing vnseemely to his calling For Caesar seeing him comming towardes him farre before the rest that came with him he lighted from his horse and imbraced him and walked a great way a foote with him stil talking with him only and euer after he did him great honor and made much of him Insomuche as Cicero hauing written a booke in praise of Cato Caesar on the other side wrote an other and praised the eloquence and life of Cicero matching it with the life of Pericles and Theramenes Ciceroes booke was intituled Cato Caesars booke called Anticato as much to say as against Cato They say further that Quintus Ligarius being accused to haue bene in the field against Caesar Cicero tooke vpon him to defend his cause and that Caesar sayd vnto his frendes about him what hurte is it for vs to heare Cicero speake whome we haue not heard of long time For otherwise Ligarius in my opinion standeth already a condemned man for I know him to be a vile man and mine enemie But when Cicero had begonne his Oration he moued Caesar maruelously he had so sweete a grace and suche in force in his words that it is reported Caesar chaunged diuers colours and shewed plainly by his countenance that there was a maruelous alteracion in all the partes of him For in th end when the Orator came to touche the battell of Pharsalia then was Caesar so troubled that his bodie shooke withall and besides certaine bookes he had fell out of his handes and he was driuen against his will to set Ligarius at libertie Afterwardes when the common wealth of ROME came to be a kingdom Cicero leauing to practise any more in the state he gaue him selfe to reade Philosophie to the young men that came to heare him by whose accesse vnto him bicause they were the chiefest of the nobilitie in ROME he came againe to beare as great sway and authoritie in ROME as euer he had done before His studie and endeuour was to wryte matters of Philosophie dialogue wise and to translate out of Graeke into Latin taking paynes to bring all the Graeke wordes which are proper vnto logicke and naturall causes vnto Latin. For he was the first man by report that gaue Latin names vnto these Graeke words which are proper vnto Philosophers as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he termed Visio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Assensus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Assensus cohibitio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comprehensio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Corpus indiuiduum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Corpus simplex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vacuum and many other suche like wordes But though he were not the first yet was it he that most did deuise and vse them and turned some of them by translation others into proper termes so that at length they came to be well taken knowen and vnderstanded of euerie man And for his readinesse in wryting of verses he would vse them many times for his recreation for it is reported that whensoeuer he tooke in hand to make any he would dispatch fiue hundred of them in a night Nowe all that time of his recreacion and pleasure he woulde commonly be at some of his houses in the contrie which he had neere vnto THVOCVLVM from whence he would wryte vnto his frends that he led Laertes life either spoken merily as his maner was or else pricked forward with ambition desiring to returne againe to be a practiser in the common wealth being wearie with the present time and state thereof Howsoeuer it was he came oftentimes to ROME onely to see Caesar to keepe him his frend and would euer be the first man to confirme any honors decreed vnto him and was alwayes studious to vtter some newe matter to praise him and his doinges As that was he sayd touching the statues of Pompeys the which being ouerthrowen Caesar commaunded them to be set vp againe and so they were For Cicero sayd that by that curtesie in setting vp of Pompeys statues againe he did establishe his owne So Cicero being determined to wryte all the ROMANE historie and to mingle with them many of the
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
that praised be the goddes he should not now neede his presence to aide him After these words the one began to mistrust the other So it chaunced one day that as Demetrius went to Alexanders lodging where the feast was prepared there came one to him to tell him of an ambush that was layed for him and how they had determined to kill him when he should thinke to be merie at the banker But Demetrius was nothing abashed at the newes and only went a litle softlier not making such hast as he did before and in the meane time sent to commaunde his Captaines to arme their men and to haue them in readines and willed his gentlemen and all the rest of his officers that were about him which were a greater number by many than those of Alexanders side euery man of them to go in with him into the hall and to tarie there till he rose from the table By this meanes the men whome Alexander had appointed to assault him they durst not being affrayed of the great traine he had brought with him Furthermore Demetrius faining that he was not well at ease at that time to make merie he went immediatly out of the hall and the next morning determined to depart making him beleue that he had certaine newes brought him of great importaunce and prayed Alexander to pardon him that he could no lenger keepe him companie for that he was driuen of necessitie to depart from him and that an other time they woulde meete together with better leasure and libertie Alexander was verie glad to see that Demetrius went his way out of MACEDON not offended but of his owne good will whereuppon he brought him into THESSALY and when they were come to the citie of LARISSA they began againe to feast one an other to intrappe eche other the which offered Demetrius occasion to haue Alexander in his hand as he would wish him selfe For Alexander of purpose would not haue his gard about him fearing least thereby he should teach Demetrius also to stand vpon his gard Thus Alexander turned his practise for an other vpon him selfe for he was determined not to suffer Demetrius to scape his handes if he once againe came within daunger So Alexander being bidden to supper to Demetrius he came accordingly Demetrius rising from the borde in the middest of supper Alexander rose also being affrayed of that straunge manner and followed him foote by foote to the verie dore Then Demetrius sayd but to his warders at the gate kill him that followeth me With those wordes he went out of the dores and Alexander that followed him was slaine in the place and certaine of his gentlemen with him which came to rescue him of the which one of them as they killed him sayd that Demetrius had preuented them but one day All that night as it is no other likely was full of vprore and tumult Howbeit the next morning the MACEDONIANS being maruelously troubled affrayed of Demetrius great power when they saw that no man came to assaile them but that Demetrius in contrarie maner sent vnto them to tell them that he would speake with them and deliuer them reason for that he had done then they all began to be bolde againe and willingly gaue him audience Nowe Demetrius needed not to vse many wordes not to make any long Orations to win them vnto him for bicause they hated Antipater as a horrible manqueller and murderer of his mother and bicause they had no better man to preferre they easely chose Demetrius king of MACEDON and thereuppon brought him backe into MACEDON to take possession of the kingdom This chaunge was not misliked of the other MACEDONIANS that remained at home in their contrie for that they yet remembred the traiterous and wicked fact of Cassander against Alexander the great for which cause they vtterly hated detested all his issue posteritie And furthermore if there were any sparke of remembrance in their harts of the bounty goodnes of their grandfather Antipater Demetrius receiued the frute and benefit for his wife Philaes sake by whom he had a sonne that should succeede him in the kingdom and was a proper youth in campe with his father Demetrius hauing this great good happe and fortune comen vnto him he receiued newes also that Ptolomy had not onely raised his siege from the citie of SALAMINA where he kept his mother and children straightly besieged but further that he had done them great honor and bestowed great giftes vpon them On the other side also he was aduertised that his daughter Stratonice who had before bene maried vnto Seleucus was now maried againe vnto Antiochus the sonne of the sayd Seleucus and how that she was crowned Queene of all the barbarous nations inhabiting in the high prouinces of ASIA and that came to passe in this maner It chaunced that this young Prince Antiochus as loue ouercommeth all men became in loue with his mother in law Stratonice who alredie had a sonne by Seleucus his father She being young passing fayer he was so rauished with her that though he proued all the wayes possible to maister his furie and passion that way yet he was still the weaker So that in the end condemning him selfe to death bicause he found his desire abhominable his passion incurable his reason vtterly ouercome he resolued to kill him selfe by litle and litle with abstinence from meate and drinke and made no other reckoning to remedie his griefe faining to haue some secret inward disease in his body Yet could he not so finely cloke it but that Erasistratus the Phisitian easely found his griefe that loue not sicknes was his infirmitie howbeit it was hard for him to imagine with whom he was in loue Erasistratus being earnestly bent to finde out the partie he loued he sate by this young Prince all day long in his chamber and when any sayer young boy or wife came to see him he earnestly looked Antiochus in the face carefully obserued all the partes of the bodie and outward mouings which do commonly bewray the secret passions affections of the mind So hauing marked him diuers times that when others came to see him whatsoeuer they were he still remeined in one selfe state and that when Stratonice his mother in lawe came alone or in companie of her husband Seleucus to visite him he commonly perceiued those signes in him which Sappho wryteth to be in louers to wit that his words and speech did faile him his colour became red his eyes still rowled to and fro and then a sodaine swet would take him his pulse would beate fast and rise high and in the end that after the force and power of his hart had failed him and shewed all these signes he became like a man in an extasie traunse white as a kearcher he then gathering a true coniecture by these so manifest signes and declaracions that it was only Stratonice
Tribunes of the people might not speake their mindes and were driuen away in great daunger of their liues as many as stoode with lawe and iustice Hereuppon Caesar incontinently went into ITALY with his army which made Cicero say in his Philippides that as Hellen was cause of the warre of TROY so was Antonius the author of the ciuill warres which in deede was a starke lye For Caesar was not so fickle headed nor so easily caried away with anger that he would so sodainly haue gone and made warre with his contry vpon the sight onely of Antonius and Cassius being fled vnto him in miserable apparell and in a hyered coche had he not long before determined it with him selfe But sith in deed Caesar looked of long time but for some culler this came as he wished and gaue him iust occasion of warre But to say truely nothing els moued him to make warre with all the world as he did but one selfe cause which first procured Alexander and Cyrus also before him to wit an insatiable desire to raigne with a senseles couetousnes to be the best man in the world the which he could not come vnto before he had first put downe Pompey and vtterly ouerthrowen him Now after that Caesar had gotten ROME at his commaundement had driuen Pompey out of ITALY he purposed first to goe into SPAYNE against the legions Pompey had there and in the meane time to make prouision for shippes and marine preparacion to follow Pompey In his absence he left Lepidus that was Praetor gouernor of ROME and Antonius that was Tribune he gaue him charge of all the souldiers and of ITALY Then was Antonius straight maruelously commended and beloued of the souldiers bicause he commonly exercised him self among them and would oftentimes eate and drinke with them and also be liberall vnto them according to his abilitie But then in contrary manner he purchased diuers other mens euill willes bicause that through negligence he would not doe them iustice that were iniuried delt very churlishly with them that had any sute vnto him and besides all this he had an ill name to intise mens wiues To conclude Caesars friends that gouerned vnder him were cause why they hated Caesars gouernment which in deede in respect of him selfe was no lesse then a tyrannie by reason of the great insolencies outragious parts that were committed amongst whom Antonius that was of greatest power and that also committed greatest faultes deserued most blame But Caesar notwithstanding when he returned from the warres of SPAYNE made no reckoning of the complaints that were put vp against him but contrarily bicause he found him a hardy man a valliant Captaine he employed him in his chiefest affayres and was no whit deceiued in his opinion of him So he passed ouer the IONIAN sea vnto BRVNDVSIVM being but slenderly accompanied sent vnto Antonius Gabinius that they should imbarke their men as soone as they could and passe them ouer into MACEDON Gabinius was affrayd to take the sea bicause it was very roughe and in the winter time therefore fetched a great compasse about by land But Antonius fearing some daunger might come vnto Caesar bicause he was compassed in with a great number of enemies first of all he draue away Libo who roade at ancker with a great armie before the hauen of BRVNDVSIVM For he manned out such a number of pynnasies barks and other small boates about euery one of his gallies that he draue him thence After that he imbarked into shippes twenty thowsand footemen and eyght hundred horsemen and with this armie he hoysed sayle When the enemies sawe him they made out to followe him but the sea rose so highe that the billowes put backe their gallies that they could not come neare him and so he scaped that daunger But withall he fell vppon the rockes with his whole fleete where the sea wrought very highe so that he was out of all hope to saue him selfe Yet by good fortune sodainely the winde turned South-west and blewe from the gulffe driuing the waues of the riuer into the mayne sea Thus Antonius loosing from the lande and sayling with safetie at his pleasure soone after he sawe all the coastes full of shippewracks For the force and boysterousnes of the winde did cast away the gallies that followed him of the which many of them were broken and splitted and diuers also cast away and Antonius tooke a great number of them prisoners with a great summe of money also Besides all these he tooke the citie of LYSSVS and brought Caesar a great supplie of men and made him coragious comming at a pynche with so great a power to him Now there were diuers hotte skytmishes and encownters in the which Antonius sought so valliantly that he caried the prayse from them all but specially at two seuerall tymes when Caesars men turned their backes and fled for life For he stepped before them and compelled them to returne againe to fight so that the victorie fell on Ceasars side For this cause he had the seconde place in the campe amonge the souldiers and they spake of no other man vnto Caesar but of him who shewed playnely what opinion he had of him when at the last battell of PHARSALIA which in deede was the last tryall of all to giue the Conqueror the whole Empire of the worlde he him selfe did leade the right wing of his armie and gaue Antonius the leading of the left wing as the valliantest man and skilfullest souldier of all those he had about him After Caesar had wonne the victorie and that he was created Dictator he followed Pompey steppe by steppe howbeit before he named Antonius generall of the horsemen and sent him to ROME The generall of the horsemen is the second office of dignitie when the Dictator is in the citie but when he is abroad he is the chiefest man and almost the onely man that remayneth and all the other officers and Magistrates are put downe after there is a Dictator chosen Notwithstanding Dolabella being at that tyme Tribune and a younge man desirous of chaunge and innouation he preferred a law which the ROMANES call Nouas tabulas as much to saye as a cutting of and cancelling of all obligacions and specialties were called the newe tables bicause they were driuen then to make bookes of daily receit and expence and perswaded Antonius his friend who also gaped for a good occasion to please and gratifie the common people to aide him to passe this lawe But Trebellius Asinius disswaded from it al they could possible So by good hap it chaunced that Antonius mistrusted Dolabella for keeping of his wife and tooke suche a conceite of it that lie thrust his wife out of his house being his Cosin Germane the daughter of C. Antonius who was Consul with Cicero ioyning with Asinius he resisted Dolabella fought with him Dolabella had
gotten the market place where the people doe assemble in counsel had filled it ful of armed men intending to haue this law of the newe tables to passe by force Antonius by cōmaundement of the Senate who had giuen him authoritie to leauy men to vse force against Dolabella he went against him sought so valliantly that men were slaine on both sides But by this meanes he got the il will of the cōmon people on the other side the noble men as Cicero saith did not only mislike him but also hate him for his naughty life for they did abhot his banckets dronkē feasts he made at vnseasonable times his extreme wastful expences vpon vaine light huswiues then in the day time he would sleepe or walke out his dronkennes thinking to weare away the fume of the aboundaunce of wine which he had taken ouer night In his house they did nothing but feast daunce maske and him selfe passed away the time in hearing of foolish playes or in marrying these plaiers tomblers ieasters such sort of people As for prose hereof it is reported that at Hippias mariage one of his ieasters he drank wine so lustely all night that the next morning when he came to pleade before the people assembled in counsel who had sent for him he being quesie stomaked with his surfet he had takē was compelled to lay all before them one of his friends held him his gowne in stead of a basen He had another pleasaunt player called Sergius that was one of the chiefest men about him a woman also called Cytheride of the same profession whom he loued derely he caried her vp downe in a litter vnto all the townes he went had as many men waiting apon her litter she being but a player as were attending vpon his owne mother It greued honest men also very much to see that when he went into the contry he caried with him a great number of cubbords ful of siluer gold plate openly in the face of the world as it had ben the pompe or shewe of some triumphe that estsoones in the middest of his iorney he would set vp his hales and tents hard by some greene groue or pleasaunt riuer and there his Cookes should prepare him a sumptuous dinner And furthermore Lyons were harnesed in trases to drawe his carts and besides also in honest mens houses in the cities where he came he would haue common harlots curtisans these tumbling gillots lodged Now it greued men much to see that Caesar should be out of ITALY following of his enemies to end this great warre with such great perill and daunger and that others in the meane time abusing his name and authoritie should commit such insolent and outragious parts vnto their Citizens This me thinkes was the cause that made the conspiracie against Caesar increase more and more and layed the reynes of the brydle vppon the souldiers neckes whereby they durst boldlier commit many extorsions cruelties and robberies And therefore Caesar after his returne pardoned Dolabella being created Consul the third time he tooke not Antonius but chose Lepidus his colleague and fellow Consul Afterwards when Pompeys house was put to open sale Antonius bought it but when they asked him money for it he made it very straung and was offended with them and writeth him selfe that he would not goe with Caesar into the warres of AFRICK bicause he was not well recompenced for the seruice he had done him before Yet Caesar did somewhat bridle his madnes and insolencie not suffering him to passe his faulte so lightly away making as though he sawe them not And therefore he left his dissolute manner of life and married Fuluia that was Clodius widowe a woman not so basely minded to spend her time in spinning and housewiuery and was not contented to master her husband at home but would also rule him in his office abroad and commaund him that commaunded legions and great armies so that Cleopatra was to giue Fuluia thankes for that she had taught Antonius this obedience to women that learned so well to be at their commaundement Nowe bicause Fuluia was somewhat sower and crooked of condition Antonius deuised to make her pleasaunter somewhat better disposed and therefore he would playe her many prety youthfull partes to make her mery As he did once when Caesar returned the last time of all Conqueror out of SPAYNE euery man went out to meete him and so did Antonius with the rest But on the sodeine there ranne a rumor through ITALY that Caesar was dead and that his enemies came againe with a great armie Thereuppon he returned with speede to ROME and tooke one of his mens gownes and so apparelled came home to his house in a darkenight saying that he had brought Fuluia letters from Antonius So he was let in and brought to her muffled as he was for being knowen but she taking the matter heauily asked him if Antonius were well Antonius gaue her the letters and sayd neuer a word So when she had opened the letters and beganne to read them Antonius ramped of her necke and kissed her We haue told you this tale for examples sake onely and so could we also tell you of many such like as these Nowe when Caesar was returned from his last warre in SPAYNE all the chiefest nobilitie of the citie road many dayes iorney from ROME to meete him where Caesar made maruelous much of Antonius aboue all the men that came vnto him For he alwayes tooke him into his coche with him through out all ITALY and behind him Brutus Albinus and Octauius the sonne of his Nece who afterwards was called Caesar and became Emperor of ROME long time after So Caesar being afterwards chosen Consul the fift time he immediatly chose Antonius his colleague and companion and desired by deposing him selfe of his Consulship to make Dolabella Consul in his roome and had already moued it to the Senate But Antonius did stowtly withstand it and openly reuiled Dolabella in the Senate and Dolabella also spared him as litle Thereuppon Caesar being ashamed of the matter he let it alone Another time also when Caesar attempted againe to substitute Dolabella Consul in his place Antonius cryed out that the signes of the birdes were against it so that at length Caesar was compelled to giue him place and to let Dolabella alone who was maruelously offended with him Now in truth Caesar made no great reckoning of either of them both For it is reported that Caesar aunswered one that did accuse Antonius and Dolabella vnto him for some matter of conspiracie tushe said he they be not those fat fellowes and fine comed men that I feare but I mistrust rather these pale and leane men meaning by Brutus and Cassius who afterwards conspired his death and slue him Antonius vnwares afterwards gaue Caesars enemies iust occasion and culler to doe as they did as you
one Varius a companion of his that would drinke lustely with him and therefore in mockery was surnamed Cotylon to wit a bibber So Octauius Caesar would not leane to Cicero when he saw that his whole trauail and endeuor was onely to restore the common wealth to her former libertie Therefore he sent certaine of his friends to Antonius to make them friends againe and thereuppon all three met together to wete Caesar Antonius Lepidus in an Iland enuyroned round about with a litle riuer there remayned three dayes together Now as touching all other matters they were easily agreed did deuide all the Empire of ROME betwene them as if it had bene their owne inheritance But yet they could hardly agree whom they would put to death for euery one of them would kill their enemies and saue their kinsmen and friends Yet at length giuing place to their gredy desire to be reuenged of their enemies they spurned all reuerence of bloud and holines of friendship at their feete For Caesar left Cicero to Antonius will Antonius also forsooke Lucius Caesar who was his Vncle by his mother and both of them together suffred Lepidus to kill his owne brother Paulus Yet some writers affirme that Caesar Antonius requested Paulus might be slain that Lepidus was contēted with it In my opinion there was neuer a more horrible vnnatural crueller chaunge then this was For thus chaunging murther for murther they did aswel kill those whom they did forsake leaue vnto others as those also which others left vnto them to kil but so much more was their wickednes cruelty great vnto their friends for that they put them to death being innocents hauing no cause to hate them After this plat was agreed vpon betwene thē the souldiers that were thereabouts would haue this friendship league betwixt them cōfirmed by mariage that Caesar should mary Claudia the daughter of Fuluiae Antonius wife This mariage also being vpon they condēned three hūdred of the chiefest citizens of ROME to be put to death by proscriptiō And Antonius also cōmaūded thē to whō he had geuen cōmission to kil Cicero that they should strik of his head right hand with the which he had written the inuectiue Orations called Philippides against Antonius So whē the murtherers brought him Ciceroes head hand cut of he beheld them a long time with great ioy laughed hartily that oftentimes for the great ioy he felt Then when he had taken his pleasure of the sight of them he caused them to be set vp in an open place ouer the pulpit for Orations where when he was aliue he had often spoken to the people as if he had done the dead man hurt and not bleamished his owne fortune shewing him selfe to his great shame and infamie a cruell man and vnworthie the office and authoritie he bare His vncle Lucius Caesar also as they sought for him to kill him and followed him hard fledde vnto his sister The murtherers comming thither forcing to breake into her chamber she stoode at her chamber dore with her armes abroade crying out still you shall not kill Lucius Caesar before you first kill me that bare your Captaine in my wombe By this meanes she saued her brothers life Now the gouernment of these Triumuiri grewe odious and hatefull to the ROMANES for diuers respects but they most blamed Antonius bicause he being elder then Caesar and of more power and force then Lepidus gaue him selfe againe to his former riot and excesse when he left to deale in the affaires of the common wealth But setting aside the ill name he had for his insolencie he was yet much more hated in respect of the house he dwelt in the which was the house of Pompey the great a man as famous for his temperaunce modestie and ciuill life as for his three triumphes For it grieued them to see the gates commonly shut against the Captaines Magistrates of the citie and also Ambassadors of straunge nations which were sometimes thrust from the gate with violence and that the house within was full of tomblers anticke dauncers iuglers players ieasters and dronkards quaffing and goseling and that on them he spent and bestowed the most parte of his money he got by all kind of possible extorcions briberie and policie For they did not onely sell by the crier the goods of those whom they had outlawed and appointed to murther slaunderously deceiued the poore widowes and young orphanes also raised all kind of imposts subsidies and taxes but vnderstanding also that the holy vestall Nunnes had certaine goods money put in their custodie to keepe both of mens in the citie and those also that were abroade they went thither and tooke them away by force Octauius Caesar perceiuing that no money woulde serue Antonius turne he prayed that they might deuide the money betwene them and so did they also deuide the armie for them both to goe into MACEDON to make warre against Brutus and Cassius and in the meane time they left the gouernment of the citie of ROME vnto Lepidus When they had passed ouer the seas and that they beganne to make warre they being both camped by their enemies to wit Antonius against Cassius and Caesar against Brutus Caesar did no great matter but Antonius had alway the vpper hand and did all For at the first battell Caesar was ouerthrowen by Brutus and lost his campe and verie hardly saued him selfe by flying from them that followed him Howebeit he writeth him selfe in his Commentaries that he fled before the charge was geuen bicause of a dreame one of his frends had Antonius on the other side ouerthrewe Cassius in battell though some write that he was not there him selfe at the battell but that he came after the ouerthrowe whilest his men had the enemies in chase So Cassius at his earnest request was slaine by a faithfull seruaunt of his owne called Pindarus whom he had infranchised bicause he knewe not in time that Brutus had ouercomen Caesar. Shortly after they fought an other battell againe in the which Brutus was ouerthrowen who afterwardes also slue him selfe Thus Antonius had the chiefest glorie of all this victorie specially bicause Caesar was sicke at that time Antonius hauing found Brutus body after this battel blaming him muche for the murther of his brother Caius whom he had put to death in MACEDON for reuenge of Ciceroes cruell death and yet laying the fault more in Hortensius then in him he made Hortensius to be slaine on his brothers tumbe Furthermore he cast his coate armor which was wonderfull rich and sumptuous vpon Brutus bodie and gaue commaundement to one of his slaues infranchised to defray the charge of his buriall But afterwards Antonius hearing that his infranchised bondman had not burnt his coate armor with his bodie bicause it was verie riche and worth a great summe of
it For after he had made peace with the PARTHIANS he was loth to geue them cause to thinke he mistrusted them and on thother side also he would gladly shorten his way and passe by places wel inhabited where he might be prouided of al things necessary therfore he asked the MARDIAN what pledge he would put in to performe that he promised The MARDIAN gaue himself to be bound hand and foote till he had brought his army into the contry of ARMENIA So he guided the army thus bound two dayes together without any trouble of sight of enemy But the third day Antonius thinking the PARTHIANS would no more follow him trusting therin suffered the souldiers to march in disorder as euery mā listed The MARDIAN perceiuing that the dammes of a riuer were newly broken vp which they should haue passed ouer that the riuer had ouerflowen the bankes and drowned all the way they shoulde haue gone he gessed straight that the PARTHIANS had done it and had thus broken it open to stay the ROMANES for getting too farre before them Therupon he bad Antonius looke to him selfe and told him that his enemies were not farre from thence Antonius hauing set his men in order as he was placing of his archers sling men to resist the enemies to driue them backe they discried the PARTHIANS that wheeled round about the army to compasse them in on euery side to breake their rankes their light armed men gaue charge apon them So after they had hurt many of the ROMANES with their arrowes and that they them selues were also hurt by them with their dartes and plummets of leade they retyred a litle and then came againe and gaue charge Vntill that the horsemen of the GAVLES turned their horses fiercely gallopped towards them that they dispersed them so as al that day they gathered no more together Therby Antonius knew whatto do and did not only strengthen the rereward of his army but both the flanks also with darters and sling men and made his army march in a square battell commaunding the horsemen that when the enemies should come to assaile them they shoulde driue them backe but not follow them too farre Thus the PARTHIANS foure daies after seeing they did no more hurte to the ROMANES then they also receiued of them they were not so hotte vpon them as they were commaunded but excusing them selues by the winter that troubled them they determined to returne backe againe The fist day Flauius Gallus a valliant man of his handes that had charge in the armie came vnto Antonius to pray him to let him haue some moe of his light armed men then were alreadie in the rereward and some of the horsemen that were in the voward hoping thereby to doe some notable exploite Antonius graunting them vnto him when the enemies came according to their maner to set vpon the taile of the army and to skirmish with them Flauius coragiously made them retire but not as they were wont to doe before to retire and ioyne presently with their army for he ouerrashly thrust in among them to fight it out at the sword The Capteines that had the leading of the rereward seeing Flauius stray too farre from the army they sent vnto him to will him to retire but he would not harken to it And it is reported also that Titius himselfe the Treasorer tooke the ensignes did what he could to make the ensigne bearers returne backe reuiling Flauius Gallus bicause that through his folly and desperatnes he caused many honest and valliant men to be both hurt slaine to no purpose Gallus also fel out with him and commaunded his men to stay Wherefore Titius returned againe into the army and Gallus stil ouerthrowing and driuing the enemies backe whom he met in the voward he was not ware that he was compassed in Then seeing him selfe enuironned of all sides he sent vnto the army that they should come and aide him but there the Captaines that led the legions among the which Canidius a man of great estimacion about Antonius made one committed many faults For where they should haue made head with the whole army vpon the PARTHIANS they sent him aide by small cōpanies and when they were slaine they sent him others also So that by their beastlinesse and lacke of consideracion they had like to haue made all the armie flie if Antonius him selfe had not come frō the front of the battell with the third legion the which came through the middest of them that fled vntill they came to front of the enemies that they stayed them from chasing any further Howbeit at this last conflict there were slaine no lesse thē three thowsand men and fiue thowsande besides brought sore hurt into the campe and amongest them also Flauius Gallus whose body was shot through in foure places whereof he died Antonius went to the tents to visite comfort the sicke wounded and for pities sake he could not refraine from weeping and they also shewing him the best countenaunce they coulde tooke him by the hand and prayed him to go and be dressed and not to trouble him selfe for them most reuerently calling him their Emperour Captaine that for them selues they were whole safe so that he had his health For in deede to say truly there was not at that time any Emperour or Captaine that had so great puisant an army as his together both for lusty youths corage of the souldiers as also for their pacience to away with so great paines trouble Furthermore the obedience reuerēce they shewed vnto their captaine with a maruelous earnest loue good wil was so great all were indifferētly as wel great as smal the noble men as meane men the Captaines and souldiers so earnestly bent to esteeme Antonius good will fauor aboue their owne life safety that in this point of marshall discipline the auncient ROMANES could not haue don any more But diuers things were cause therof as we haue told you before Antonius nobility ancient house his eloquence his plaine nature his liberality magnificence his familiarity to sport to be mery in company but specially the care he tooke at that time to help visite lament those that were sicke woūded seing euery man to haue that which was meete for him that was of such force effect as it made them that were sicke wounded to loue him better were more desirous to do him seruice then those that were whole soūd This victory so encoraged the enemies who otherwise were weary to follow Antonius any further that all night longe they kept the fieldes and houered about the ROMANES campe thinking that they would presently flie then that they should take the spoile of their campe So the next morning by breake of daye there were gathered together a farre greater nūber of the PARTHIANS then they were
him not presently for the blood stinted a litle when he was layed and when he came somwhat to him selfe againe he praied them that were about him to dispatch him But they all fled out of the chamber and lest him crying out tormenting him selfe vntill at last there came a secretarie vnto him called Diomedes who was commaunded to bring him into the tombe or monument where Cleopatra was When he heard that she was aliue he verie earnestlie prayed his men to carie his bodie thither and so he was caried in his mens armes into the entry of the monument Notwithstāding Cleopatra would not open the gates but came to the high windowes and cast out certaine chaines and ropes in the which Antonius was trussed and Cleopatra her owne selfe with two women only which she had suffered to come with her into these monumentes trised Antonius vp They that were present to behold it said they neuer saw to pitiefull a sight For they plucked vp poore Antonius all bloody as he was and drawing on with pangs of death who holding vp his hands to Cleopatra raised vp him selfe as well as he could It was a hard thing for these women to do to lift him vp but Cleopatra stowping downe with her head putting to all her strength to her vttermost power did lift him vp with much a doe and neuer let goe her hold with the helpe of the women beneath that bad her be of good corage and were as sorie to see her labor so as she her selfe So when she had gotten him in after that sorte and layed him on a bed she rent her garments vpon him clapping her brest and scratching her face stomake Then she dried vp his blood that had berayed his face and called him her Lord her husband and Emperour forgetting her owne miserie and calamity for the pitie and compassion she tooke of him Antonius made her ceasse her lamenting and called for wine either bicause he was a thirst or else for that he thought thereby to hasten his death When he had dronke he earnestly prayed her and perswaded her that she would seeke to saue her life if she could possible without reproache and dishonor and that chiefly she should trust Proculeius aboue any man else about Caesar. And as for him selfe that she should not lament nor sorowe for the miserable chaunge of his fortune at the end of his dayes but rather that she should thinke him the more fortunate for the former triumphes honors he had receiued considering that while he liued he was the noblest and greatest Prince of the world that now he was ouercome not cowardly but valiantly a ROMANE by an other ROMANE As Antonius gaue the last gaspe Proculeius came that was sent from Caesar. For after Antonius had thrust his sworde in him selfe as they caried him into the tombes and monuments of Cleopatra one of his gard called Dercetaeus tooke his sword with the which he had striken him selfe and hidde it then he secretly stale away and brought Octauius Caesar the first newes of his death shewed him his sword that was bloodied Caesar hearing these newes straight withdrewe him selfe into a secret place of his tent and there burst out with teares lamenting his hard and miserable fortune that had bene his frende and brother in law his equall in the Empire and companion with him in sundry great exploytes and battells Then he called for all his frendes and shewed them the letters Antonius had written to him and his aunsweres also sent him againe during their quarrell and strife how fiercely and prowdly the other answered him to all iust and reasonable matters he wrote vnto him After this he sent Proculeius and commaunded him to doe what he could possible to get Cleopatra aliue fearing least otherwise all the treasure would be lost and furthermore he thought that if he could take Cleopatra and bring her aliue to ROME she would maruelously beawtifie and sette out his triumphe But Cleopatra would neuer put her selfe into Proculeius handes although they spake together For Proculeius came to the gates that were very thicke strong and surely barred but yet there were some cranewes through the which her voyce might be heard and so they without vnderstoode that Cleopatra demaunded the kingdome of AEGYPT for her sonnes and that Proculeius aunswered her that she should be of good cheere and not be affrayed to referre all vnto Caesar. After he had viewed the place verie well he came and reported her aunswere vnto Caesar. Who immediatly sent Gallus to speake once againe with her and bad him purposely hold her with talke whilest Proculeius did set vp a ladder against that high windowe by the which Antonius was trised vp and came downe into the monument with two of his men hard by the gate where Cleopatra stoode to heare what Gallus sayd vnto her One of her women which was shut in her monumēts with her saw Proculeius by chaunce as he came downe and shreeked out O poore Cleopatra thou art taken Then when she sawe Proculeius behind her as she came from the gate she thought to haue stabbed her selfe in with a short dagger she ware of purpose by her side But Proculeius came sodainly vpon her and taking her by both the hands said vnto her Cleopatra first thou shalt doe thy selfe great wrong and secondly vnto Caesar to depriue him of the occasion and oportunitie openly to shew his bountie and mercie and to geue his enemies cause to accuse the most curteous and noble Prince that euer was and to appeache him as though he were a cruell and mercielesse man that were not to be trusted So euen as he spake the word he tooke her dagger from her and shooke her clothes for feare of any poyson hidden about her Afterwardes Caesar sent one of his infranchised men called Epaphroditus whom he straightly charged to looke well vnto her and to beware in any case that she made not her selfe away and for the rest to vse her with all the curtesie possible And for him selfe he in the meane time entred the citie of ALEXANDRIA and as he went talked with the Philosopher Arrius and helde him by the hande to the end that his contrie men should reuerence him the more bicause they saw Caesar so highly esteeme and honor him Then he went into the show place of exercises and so vp to his chaire of state which was prepared for him of a great height and there according to his commaundement all the people of ALEXANDRIA were assembled who quaking for feare fell downe on their knees before him and craued mercie Caesar bad them all stande vp and told them openly that he forgaue the people and pardoned the felonies and offences they had committed against him in this warre First for the founders sake of the same citie which was Alexander the great secondly for the beawtie of the citie which he muche esteemed and wondred
had no other helpe but his mother he might haue had of her what he would haue taken and desired Againe to shew that of him selfe he had abilitie enough we neede but alleage the souldiers and straungers he gaue pay vnto in diuers places as Xenophon wryteth For he brought them not all together into one armie bicause he desired to kepe his enterprise as secret as he could but he had frendes and seruaunts that leauied them in diuers places and vnder diuers colours And furthermore he had his mother alway about the king that cleered all suspicions conceiued against him He him selfe also on the other side whilest he made these preparacions wrote verie humbly vnto his brother somtime asking somwhat of him and an other time accusing Tisaphernes all to blinde the king to make him thinke that he bent all his malice and spite against him besides that the king of his owne nature was somwhat dull and slow which the common people thought to proceede of his curtesie and good nature At his first comming to the crowne he followed the first Artaxerxes goodnes and curtesie by whom he had his name For he gaue more easie audience vnto suters he did also more honorably reward recompence those that had deserued well he vsed such moderacion in punishing offendors that it appeared he did it not of any malicious minde and desire of reuenge nor yet of will to hurte any man When he had any thing geuen him he tooke it as thankefully as they offered it him and did as willingly and frankely also geue againe For how litle a thing soeuer was offered him he tooke it well And it is reported that one Romises on a time presented him a maruelous fayer pomegarnet By the sunne sayd he this man in a short time of a litle towne would make a great citie he that would make him gouernor of it Another time there was a poore laborer seing euery mā giue the king a present some one thing some another as he passed by them he hauing nothing at hand to giue him ranne to the riuers side tooke both his hands full of water and came and offred it him King Artaxerxes was so glad of it that he sent him in a cuppe of massy gold a thowsand Darecks which were peeces of gold so named bicause the image of Darius was stamped vpon them And vnto one Euclidas a LACEDAEMONIAN that presumed to giue him bold words it pleased him to aunswer him by one of his Captaines thou mayst say what thou lyst and I as king may say and doe what I lyst Another time as he was a hunting Tiribazus shewed the king his gowne that was all to tattered well sayd the king and what wouldest thou haue me to doe Tiribazus aunswered him I praye your grace take another and giue me that you haue on The king did so and told him Tiribazus I giue thee my gowne but I commaund thee not to weare it Tiribazus tooke it and cared not for the kings commaundement that he should not weare it not that he was any euill disposed man but bicause he was a fond light headed fellowe that cared for nothing thereuppon he straight put the kings gowne on his backe and not contented therewith he did besides set on many iewells of gold which kings onely are wont to weare and womens trinckets and ornaments Therewithal euery man in the Court murmured at him bicause it was a presumption directly against the lawes and ordinaunces of PERSIA Howbeit the king did but laugh at it tolde him I giue thee leaue Tiribazus to weare those womens gawdes as a woman and the kings robe as a foole Furthermore where the manner was in PERSIA that no person sate at the kings bord but his mother and wife of the which his mother sate vppermost his wife lowermost Artaxerxes made his two brethren Ostanes and Oxathres sit at his owne bord But yet he pleased the PERSIANS best of all bicause was content his wife Statyra should sit openly in her charter and that she might be seene and reuerenced by the other Ladyes of the contry And this made him singularly beloued of the people Now such as desired innouation and chaunge and that could not away with quite life they gaue out that the Realme of PERSIA required such a Prince as Cyrus that was liberall of nature giuen to armes greatly rewarded his seruaunts and that the greatnes of the Empire of PERSIA stoode in neede of a king whose mind was bent to high attempts and noble enterprises So. Cyrus thereuppon began to make warre vpon his brother not onely trusting vnto them that were of the lowe contries about him but hoping of those also in the high prouinces neare vnto the king Furthermore he wrote also vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS to pray them to send him men of warre promising to giue the footemen they sent horses and the horsemen coches landed men whole villages and to those that had villages to giue them cities Besides all this that for the ordinary wages of them that should serue him in this warre he would not pay them by accompt but by full measure and boasting largely of him selfe he sayd he had a greater mind then his brother that he could better away with hardnes then he that he vnderstoode magick better then he and that he could drinke more wine then he and cary it better And that the king his brother in contrary manner was so womanishe and fearefull that when he went a hunting he durst scarce get vp vpon his horse backe and when he went to the warres he would hardly take his charriot When the LACEDAEMONIANS had red his letters they sent a litle scrowle vnto Clearchus commaunding him to obey Cyrus in any thing he would commaund him So Cyrus did set forward to make warre against his brother hauing leauied a great number of fighting men of barbarous nations and of GRAECIANS litle lesse then thirteene thowsand men sometime aduertising one cause sometime another why he leauied such a multitude of men But his purpose could not be long dissembled for Tisaphernes went him selfe vnto the Court to bringe newes of his attempt Then all the Court was straight in an vprore withall Many men also did accuse the Queene mother for the practise of this warre all her friends seruaunts were vehemently suspected to be conspyrators with Cyrus but the greatest thing that troubled Parysatis most was Queene Statyra her Daughter in lawe who stormed maruelously to see this warre begon against king Artaxerxes her husband and incessantly cryed out on her O where is the faith thou vowedst by othe whereto are thy intercessions come thou madest for the pardon of his life who now conspyreth his brothers death By sauing of his life art not thou now the cause of this warre and troubles we see at hand After this reproch and shame receiued by Statira Parysatis being a cruell and malicious woman of nature
glad of it passed it ouer with laughing and told him that had brought them vnto him doest thou not see that of all these thou hast brought me there is not an honest woman but she After that Cyrus began to make muche of her and loued her better continually then all the rest called her Aspasia the wise This Aspasia was taken among the spoiles of Cyrus campe after he was ouerthrowen and Darius as we haue told ye did begge her of his father who was verie angrie with it in his mind For the barbarous people of all other things are maruelous gealous of their women so that not onely he should be put to death that durst but speake to or touch any concubine of the kings but in sport but also whosoeuer came nere them or neere their coches as they trauelled The kings daughter Atossa whom he had maried against all lawe was yet liuing and besides her he had also three hundred and three score passing fayer concubines and yet when his sonne Darius asked Aspasia of him the king aunswered she was a free woman borne and therefore if she woulde he was content he should haue her but if she were vnwilling to goe to him then he would not haue him force her by no meanes So Aspasia was sent for and she was asked with whom she had rather be She answered with Darius contrarie to king Artaxerxes expectacion who both by the custome and also the law was compelled to let him haue her But shortly after he tooke her from him againe saying that he woulde place her in a Nunrie of Diana in the contrie of ECBATANE where they call her Anitis there to serue the goddesse and to liue chast all the daies of her life supposing by this meanes to punish his sonne not rigorously but moderatly with griefe mixt with sporte and earnest Howebeit his sonne tooke it not so pacientlie either bicause he was deepelie in loue with Aspasia or else for that he saw his father mocked him in that point Tiribazus finding this and perceiuing that Darius tooke it verie grieuouslie he aggrauated his anger against his father knowing the passion of loue in Darius by his owne vpon the like occasion King Artaxerxes had many daughters and had promised Pharnabazus one of them called Apama vnto Orontes Rodogoune and to Tiribazus Amestris The king performed the other two mariages did put Tiribazus by his wife For the king him selfe maried his owne daughter Amestris and for her he promised Tiribazus the younger Atossa with whom also he him selfe fell in loue and maried her Tiribazus hereupon was in such a rage with the king that he hated him to the death not bicause he was any traitor or seditious man in nature but a madde harebrained fellow For sometime he was aloft and in as good credit and authoritie as the best sodainly againe he woulde play some madde parte to anger the king and then he was in as much disgrace and out of countenaunce and could not away with neither fortune For when he was in authoritie he made euerie man hate him for his pride and being in disgrace he could not humble him selfe but looke bigger then before Nowe there was fire and brimstone met when Tiribazus tooke parte with Darius For he dayly blewe into his eares that it was to no purpose for him to weare his hat right vp if his affaires also went not rightly forward and that he deceiued him selfe much if he did not know that his brother by meanes of the women he kept secretlie aspired to the crowne and that his father being so vnconstant as he was he must not trust in any sorte to succeede his father in the kingdome what proclamation soeuer he hath made in his behalfe to the contrarie For sayd he he that for a GRAECIAN woman hath broken and violated the holiest lawe that was in PERSIA thou must not looke that he will performe that he hath promised thee And furthermore he perswaded him that it was not a like repulse vnto Ochus to be denied that which he looked for as it was for him to be turned out of all that euer he had gotten For sayd he if it please Ochus to liue like a priuate man he may safelie doe it and no man will trouble him but for him selfe that was alreadie proclaimed king he must of necessitie make him selfe king or else he must not liue So the Poet Sophocles his saying most commonly proueth true Ill counsell eazly takes place For the way is large and plaine for a man to beleeue as he lyst and men commonly are giuen rather to beleue the euill then the good bicause most men know not what goodnes meaneth But now beside these perswasions the greatnes of the kingdome and the feare Darius stoode in of his brother Ochus tooke great force and effect with him and it may be also that Venus her selfe did somewhat in the matter for the malice and spight that Aspasia was taken from him But whatsoeuer the cause was thus was it handled that Darius flatly conspired against his father Artaxerxes together with Tiribazus Now they hauing gotten many conspirators to ioyne with them one of the kings Euenukes perceiuing it ranne and told the king of it and howe they had sodainly determined to assaile him knowing certainly that it was agreed among them selues that they should kill him in his bedde in the night Artaxerxes receiuing this aduertisement thought it was not good to be carelesse of a matter of so great importaunce as his life and also that it were too great lightnes in him so sodainly to beleue his Euenuke without better proofe or knowledge So he tooke this way with him selfe He commaunded the Euenuke that had geuen him this informacion to keepe companie still with the conspirators to follow them wheresoeuer they went to see their doings and in the meane time he bet downe his wall behind his bed and made a dore thorowe and set vp a hanging of tapistrie before it When the time was come as the Euenuke had aduertised the king that the traitors ment to doe their feate Artaxerxes being layed on his bedde rose not vp till he had seene euerie traitor of them in the face that came to kill him Then when he sawe them comming towards him with their swords drawen he sodainly lift vp the hanging and got in to his inner chamber shut the dore after him making an outcrie murder murder So the traitors being plainly seene and knowen by the king fled the same way they came and failed of their purpose and bad Tiribazus saue him selfe bicause he was knowen So they dispersed them selues and scaped by flying But Tiribazus was taken tardie although he had slaine diuers of the kings gard valliantly defending him selfe yet they tooke him not till he was striken with a dart a good way of which slewe him Darius was also taken and apprehended and brought prisoner with his sonnes and
time he prayed to haue pacience and not to attempt any sturre or alteracion against him nor to speake euill of him among the GRAECIANS This Plato sought to bring to passe and brought Dion to studie Philosophie and kept him in the Academy at ATHENS Dion lay in the citie of ATHENS with one Callippus whome he had knowen of long time howbeit he bought him a house in the contrie to lye there sometime for his pleasure the which he gaue afterwards at his returne into SICILIA vnto Speusippus that kept him company and was continually with him more then with any other frend he had in ATHENS through Platoes counsell who to soften and recreate Dions maners gaue him the company of some pleasaunt conceited man knowing that this Speusippus coulde modestlie obserue time and place to be pleasaunt and merie for which respect Timon in his Satyricall ieasts calleth Speusippus a good ieaster Nowe Plato him selfe hauing vndertaken to defray the charges of common playes in the dauncings of young children Dion tooke the paines to teache and exercise them and moreouer was him selfe at the whole charge of these playes Plato suffering him to bestowe that liberality and curtesie vpon the ATHENIANS the which wanne Dion a great deale more good will then Plato honor Dion kept not still at ATHENS but went also to see the other good cities of GRAECE passing his time away He being at common feastes and assemblies with the chiefest men and best learned in matters of state and gouernment neuer shewing any light partes nor signe of tyrannicall pride in his maner of life nor of a man that had bene brought vp with all pompe and pleasure but like a graue vertuous man and well studied in Philosophie whereby he grew to be generallie beloued and esteemed of all men the cities graunted him publike honors and sent him decrees of his glorie made in their counsells assemblies Furthermore the LACEDAEMONIANS made him a SPARTAN burges of the city not passing for Dionysius displeasure though at that time he had geuen them great aide in the warre they made against the THEBANS Some report that Dion on a time was intreated by Ptaeodorus MEGARIAN to come and see him at his house and Dion went thither This Ptaeodorus was a maruelous great rich man therefore Dion seeing a great number of people standing at his gates and that it was a hard thing to come and speake with him he had such great busines he turned vnto his frends that did accompanie him who were angrie they made him tarie so long at the gate and sayd vnto them what cause haue we to thinke euill of him sith we did the like when we were at SYRACVSA But Dionysius being incensed with enuie against him and fearing the good will the GRAECIANS bare him he kept backe his reuenue and would no more sende it him and seased all his goodes the which he gaue to his receiuers to keepe Furthermore bicause he would cleere him selfe of the infamie he had gotten amongest the Philosophers for Platoes sake he sent for diuers wise and learned men and vainly coueting to excell them all in wisedome he was driuen improperlie and out of time to alleage many wise sayinges he had learned of Plato Thereuppon he beganne againe wish for him and to condemne him selfe for that he had no wit to vse him well when he had him at his commaundement and that he had not heard so muche as he should haue done of him and like a tyranne as he was madlie caried away with light desires and easilie chaunging minde from time to time a sodaine vehement desire tooke him in the heade to haue Plato againe So he sought all the meanes and waies he could deuise to pray Archytas the Pythagorian Philosopher to tel him that he might boldly come and to be his surety vnto him for that he would promise him for first of all they were acquainted together by his meanes Therefore Archytas sent thither Archidamus the Philosopher Dionysius also sent certeine gallies and some of his frendes thither to pray Plato to come to him and he him selfe wrote speciallie and plainly that it should not goe well with Dion if Plato came not into SICILIA but if he would be perswaded to come that then he would doe what he would haue him Many letters and requests came vnto Dion from his wife and sister insomuche as Dion so vsed the matter that Plato obeyed Dionysius without making any excuse at all So Plato wryteth him selfe that he was driuen to come againe the third time into the straight of SICILIA To trie if once againe he could Charibdis daungers passe Nowe Plato being arriued in SICILIA he made Dionysius a great ioyfull man and filled all SICILIA againe with great good hope for they were all verie desirous and did what they could to make Plato ouercome Philistus and the tyrannie with his Philosophie The women of Dionysius Court did entertaine Plato the best they could but aboue all Dionysius seemed to haue a maruelous trust and affiance in him and more then in any other of all his frendes For he suffred Plato to come to him without searching of him and oftentimes offred to geue him a great summe of money but Plato would take none of it Therefore Aristippus CYRENIAN being at that time in the tyrannes Court in SICILIA sayd that Dionysius bestowed his liberalitie surelie For to vs that aske much he geueth litle and much vnto Plato that requireth nothing After Dionysius had geuen Plato his welcome he beganne to moue him againe of Dion Dionysius on the other side at the first did vse him with fine delayes but afterwards he shewed him selfe angrie in deede and at length fell out with Plato but yet so couertlie that others saw it not For Dionysius dissembled that and otherwise in all other things he did him as much honor as he could deuise practising thereby to make him to forsake Dions frendshippe Now Plato found him at the first that there was no trust to be geuen to his wordes and that all were but lyes and deuises he either sayd or did howebeit he kept it to him selfe and euer paciently bare all things hoping for the best and made as though he beleued him They two thus finelie dissembling with eache other thinking to deceiue all men and that none shoulde vnderstande their secrets Helycon CYZICENIAN one of Platoes frendes did prognosticate the eclipse of the sunne The same falling out as he had prognosticated the tyran esteemed maruelously of him and gaue him a siluer talent for his labor Then Aristippus sporting with other Philosophers sayd he could tell them of a straunger thing to happen then that So when they prayed him to tell them what it was I do prognosticate sayd he that Plato and Dionysius will be enemies ere it be long In th end it came to passe that Dionysius made porte sale of all Dions goodes and kept the
So when he had thus openly shewed him selfe an enemy vnto Dion he came no more that daye into the market place but the next morning he was seene ronning vp and downe the citie naked his head and face all of a gore bloud as if he had bene followed by men to haue slayne him Thus Sosis comming in this manner into the middest of the market place cryed out that Dions straungers had lyen in wayte for him and had handled him in this sort shewing his wound on his head Many of the people tooke this matter very grieuously and cried out vpon Dion and sayd it was vilely and tyrannically done of him by feare of murther and daunger to take away the libertie from the Citizens to speake Nowe though the whole assembly hereuppon fell into an vprore withall Dion notwithstanding came thither to cleare him selfe of these accusations and made them presently see that this Sosis was brother to one of Dionysius gard who had put into his head in this sort to put the citie of SYRACVSA in an vprore bicause Dionysius had no other hope nor meanes to escape but by stirring vp faction and sedition amonge them to make one of them fall out with another The Surgions were sent for forthwith to searche the wounde of this Sosis who founde that it was rather a litle scratche then any violent wound giuen him For the woundes or cuts of a sword are euer deepest in the middest and Sosis cut was but very litle and not deepe hauing had many beginnings and giuen him as it seemed at sundry times that for very paine the party that cut him was driuen to leaue of so came to cut him at diuers times Furthermore there came certaine of his friends in the meane time that brought a raser before the assembly and reported that as they came they met Sosis by the way all bloudied who sayd that he fled from Dions souldiers which had but newly hurt him Whereuppon they presently followed them but found no man and onely they saw a raser which some bodye had cast vpon a hollow stone thereabout where they first saw him comming vnto them Thus Sosis deuise had but euill successe For beside all these proofes and tokens Dions houshold seruaunts came to be a witnes against him that very earely in the morning he went abroad alone with a raser in his hand Then they that before did burden and accuse Dion knewe not what to say the matter but shroncke away whereuppon the people condēning Sosis to death they were quiet againe with Dion Yet were they alwaies affraid of these souldiers that were straungers specially when they saw the greatest conflicts they had with the tyranne was by sea after that Philistus was come from the coast of APVGLIA with a great number of gallies to ayde the tyranne For then they thought that these souldiers the straungers being armed at all partes to fight by land they would do them no more seruice by sea bicause the Citizens them selues were they that kept them in safetie for that they were men practised to fight by sea and were also the stronger by meanes of their ships But beside all this the onely thing that made them to be coragious again was the good fortune they had at the battel by sea in the which when they had ouercome Philistus they cruelly and barbarously vsed him Truely Ephorus saith that Philistus slue him selfe when he sawe his galley taken Howbeit Timonides who was alway with Dion from the first beginning of this warre writing vnto Speusippus the Philosopher saith that Philistus was taken aliue bicause his galley ranne a land and that the SYRACVSANS first tooke of his curaces and stripped him naked and after they had done him all the villanie and spight they could they cut of his head and gaue his body vnto boyes commaunding them to dragge it into that part of the citie called ACRADINE and then to cast it into the common priuie Timaus also to spight him the more sayth that the boyes tyed the deade bodye by his lame legge and so dragged him vp and downe the citie where all the SYRACVSANS did what villanie to it they could being glad to see him dragged by the legge that had sayd Dionysius should not flie from the tyranny vpon a light horse but that they should pull him out by the legge against his will. Now Philistus reporteth this matter thus not as spoken to Dionysius by him selfe but by some other But Timaus taking a iust occasion and culler to speake euil of the good will fidelitie and care that Philistus had alwayes seemed to shew in the confirmation defence of the tyrannie doth liberally bestow iniutious wordes on him in this place Nowe for them whome he had in deede offended if they of malice and spight to be reuenged did offer him crueltie peraduenture they were not much to be blamed but for them that since his death haue written the ieasts who were neuer offended by him in his life time and who ought to shewe them selues discreete in their writing me thinkes that if they had regarded their owne credit and estimation they should not so fondly and outragiously haue reproued the aduersities and misfortunes which by fortune may as well chaunce to the honestest man as vnto him Thus fondely doth Ephorus prayse Philistus who though he haue an excellent fine wit to counterfeate goodly excuses and cunningly to hide wicked and dishonest partes and eloquently to deuise by honest words to defend an euill cause yet can not he with all the fiue wits he hath excuse him self that he hath not bene the onely man of the world that hath most fauored tyrannes and that hath euer loued and specially desired power wealth and alliance with tyrannes But he in my opinion taketh the right course of an Historiographer that nether doth commend Philistus doings nor yet casteth his aduersities in his teeth to his reproche After Philistus death Dionysius sent vnto Dion to make him an offer to deliuer him the castell armor munition and souldiers that were in it with money also to paye them for fiue monethes space For him selfe he prayed that he might be suffered to goe safely into ITALY and to lye there to take the pleasure of the frutes of the contry called GYARTA which was within the territorie of SYRACVSA and lyeth out from the sea towardes the mayne land Dion refused this offer and aunswered the Ambassadors that they must moue the SYRACVSANS in it They supposing they should easily take Dionysius aliue would not heare the Ambassadors speake but turned them away Dionysius seeing no other remedie left the castell in the handes of his eldest sonne Apollocrates and hauing a lusty gale of winde he secretly imbarked certaine of his men he loued best with the richest thinges he had and so hoysed sayle vnwares to Heraclides the Admirall of SYRACVSA The people were maruelously offended with Heraclides for it and beganne to mutine
that this contencion did sette them further out though they were allyed together For Cassius had maried Iunia Brutus sister Others say that this contencion betwext them come by Caesar himselfe who secretly gaue either of them both hope of his fauour So their sute for the Praetorshippe was so followed and laboured of either partie that one of them put an other in sute of lawe Brutus with his vertue and good name contended against many noble exploytes in armes which Cassius had done against the PARTHIANS So Caesar after he had heard both their obiections he told his frendes with whom he consulted about this matter Cassius cause is the iuster sayd he but Brutus must be first preferred Thus Brutus had the first Praetorshippe and Cassius the second who thanked not Caesar so much for the Praetorshippe he had as he was angrie with him for that he had lost But Brutus in many other thinges tasted of the benefite of Caesars fauour in any thing he requested For if he had listed he might haue bene one of Caesars chiefest frendes and of greatest authoritie and credit about him Howebeit Cassius frendes did disswade him from it for Cassius and he were not yet reconciled together sithence their first contencion and strife for the Praetorship and prayed him to beware of Caesars sweete intisements and to flie his tyrannicall fauors the which they sayd Caesar gaue him not to honor his vertue but to weaken his constant minde framing it to the bent of his bowe Now Caesar on the other side did not trust him ouermuch nor was not without tales brought vnto him against him howbeit he feared his great minde authority frends Yet on the other side also he trusted his good nature fayer condicions For intelligence being brought him one day that Antonius and Dolabella did conspire against him he aunswered that these fat long heared men made him not affrayed but the leane and whitely faced fellowes meaning that by Brutus and Cassius At an other time also when one accused Brutus vnto him and bad him beware of him What sayd he againe clapping his hand on his brest thinke ye that Brutus will not tarie till this bodie dye Meaning that none but Brutus after him was meete to haue suche power as he had And surelie in my opinion I am perswaded that Brutus might in dede haue come to haue bene the chiefest man of ROME if he could haue contented him selfe for a time to haue bene next vnto Caesar to haue suffred his glorie and authoritie which he had gotten by his great victories to consume with time But Cassius being a chollericke man and hating Caesar priuatlie more then he did the tyrannie openlie he incensed Brutus against him It is also reported that Brutus coulde euill away with the tyrannie and that Cassius hated the tyranne making many complayntes for the iniuries he had done him and amongest others for that he had taken away his Lyons from him Cassius had prouided them for his sportes when he should be AEdilis and they were found in the citie of MEGARA when it was wonne by Calenus and Caesar kept them The rumor went that these Lyons did maruelous great hurt to the MAGARIANS For when the citie was taken they brake their cages where they were tied vp and turned them loose thinking they would haue done great mischiefe to the enemies and haue kept them from setting vppon them but the Lyons contrarie to expectacion turned vpon them selues that fled vnarmed did so cruelly tare some in peces that it pitied their enemies to see them And this was the cause as some do report that made Cassius conspire against Caesar. But this holdeth no water For Cassius euen frō his cradell could not abide any maner of tyrans as it appeared when he was but a boy went vnto the same schoole that Faustus the sonne of Sylla did And Faustus bragging among other boyes highly boasted of his fathers kingdom Cassius rose vp on his feete and gaue him two good wlirts on the eare Faustus gouernors would haue put this matter in sute against Cassius But Pompey woulde not suffer them but caused the two boyes to be brought before him and asked them howe the matter came to passe Then Cassius as it is wrytten of him sayd vnto the other goe to Faustus speake againe and thou darest before this noble man here the same wordes that made me angrie with thee that my fistes may walke once againe about thine eares Suche was Cassius hotte stirring nature But of Brutus his frendes and contrie men both by diuers procurementes and sundrie rumors of the citie and by many bills also did openlie call and procure him to doe that he did For vnder the image of his auncester Iunius Brutus that draue the kinges out of ROME they wrote O that it pleased the goddes thou wert nowe aliue Brutus and againe that thou wert here amonge vs nowe His tribunall or chaire where he gaue audience duringe the time he was Praetor was full of suche billes Brutus thou art a sleepe and art not Brutus in deede And of all this Caesars flatterers were the cause who beside many other exceeding and vnspeakeable honors they dayly deuised for him in the night time they did put Diadeames vppon the heades of his images supposinge thereby to allure the common people to call him kinge in steade of Dictator Howebeit it turned to the contrarie as we haue wrytten more at large in Iulius Caesars life Nowe when Cassius felt his frendes and did stirre them vp against Caesar they all agreed and promised to take parte with him so Brutus were the chiefe of their conspiracie For they told him that so high an enterprise and attempt as that did not so muche require men of manhoode and courage to drawe their swordes as it stoode them vppon to haue a man of suche estimacion as Brutus to make euerie man boldlie thinke that by his onelie presence the fact were holie and iust If he tooke not this course then that they shoulde goe to it with fainter hartes and when they had done it they shoulde be more fearefull bicause euerie man woulde thinke that Brutus woulde not haue refused to haue made one with them if the cause had bene good and honest Therefore Cassius considering this matter with him selfe did first of all speake to Brutus since they grewe straunge together for the sute they had for the Praetorshippe So when he was reconciled to him againe and that they had imbraced one an other Cassius asked him if he were determined to be in the Senate house the first day of the moneth of Marche bicause he heard say that Caesars frendes shoulde moue the counsell that day that Caesar shoulde he called king by the Senate Brutus aunswered him he would not be there But if we be sent for sayd Cassius howe then For my selfe then sayd Brutus I meane not to holde my peace but to
withstande it and rather dye then lose my libertie Cassius being bolde and taking holde of this worde why ê™ he what ROMANE is he aliue that will suffer thee to dye for the libertie What knowest thou not that thou art Brutus Thinkest thou that they be cobblers tapsters or suche like base mechanicall people that wryte these billes and scrowles which are founde dayly in thy Praetors chaire and not the noblest men and best citizens that doe it No be thou well assured that of other Praetors they looke for giftes common distribucions amongest the people and for common playes and to see fensers fight at the sharpe to shew the people pastime but at thy handes they specially require as a due det vnto them the taking away of the tyranny being fully bent to suffer any extremity for thy sake so that thou wilt shew thy selfe to be the man thou art taken for and that they hope thou art Thereuppon he kissed Brutus and imbraced him and so each taking leaue of other they went both to speake with their frendes about it Nowe amongest Pompeys frendes there was one called Caius Ligarius who had bene accused vnto Caesar for taking parte with Pompey and Caesar discharged him But Ligarius thanked not Caesar so muche for his discharge as he was offended with him for that he was brought in daunger by his tyrannicall power And therefore in his hearte he was alway his mortall enemie and was besides verie familiar with Brutus who went to see him beinge sicke in his bedde and sayed vnto him O Ligarius in what a time art thou sicke Ligarius risinge vppe in his bedde and taking him by the right hande sayed vnto him Brutus sayed he if thou hast any great enterprise in hande worthie of thy selfe I am whole After that time they beganne to feele all their acquaintaunce whome they trusted and layed their heades together consultinge vppon it and did not onelie picke out their frendes but all those also whome they thought stowt enough to attempt any desperate matter and that were not affrayed to loase their liues For this cause they durst not acquaint Cicero with their conspiracie although he was a man whome they loued dearelie and trusted best for they were affrayed that he being a coward by nature and age also hauing increased his feare he woulde quite turne and alter all their purpose and quenche the heate of their enterprise the which speciallie required hotte and earnest execucion seeking by perswasion to bring all thinges to suche safetie as there should be no perill Brutus also did let other of his frendes alone as Statilius EPICVRIAN and Faonius that made profession to followe Marcus Cato Bicause that hauing cast out wordes a farre of disputing together in Philosophie to feele their mindes Faonius aunswered that ciuill warre was worse then tyrannicall gouernment vsurped against the lawe And Statilius tolde him also that it were an vnwise parte of him to put his life in daunger for a sight of ignoraunt fooles and asses Labeo was present at this talke and maintayned the contrarie against them both But Brutus helde his peace as though it had bene a doubtfull matter and a harde thing to haue decided But afterwardes being out of their companie he made Labeo priuie to his intent who verie readilie offered him selfe to make one And they thought good also to bring in an other Brutus to ioyne with him surnamed Albinus who was no man of his handes him selfe but bicause he was able to bring good force of a great number of slaues and sensers at the sharpe whome he kept to shewe the people pastime with their fighting besides also that Caesar had some trust in him Cassius and Labeo tolde Brutus Albinus of it at the first but he made them no aunswere But when he had spoken with Brutus him selfe alone and that Brutus had tolde him he was the chiefe ringleader of all this conspiracie then he willinglie promised him the best aide he coulde Furthermore the onlie name and great calling of Brutus did bring on the most of them to geue consent to this conspiracie Who hauing neuer taken others together nor taken or geuen any caution or assuraunce nor binding them selues one to an other by any religious others they all kept the matter so secret to them selues and coulde so cunninglie handle it that notwithstanding the goddes did reueale it by manifest signes and tokens from aboue and by predictions of sacrifices yet all this woulde not be beleued Nowe Brutus who knewe verie well that for his sake all the noblest valliantest and most couragious men of ROME did venter their liues waying with him selfe the greatnesse of the daunger when he was out of his house he did so frame and facion his countenaunce and lookes that no man coulde discerne he had any thing to trouble his minde But when night came that he was in his owne house then he was cleane chaunged For either care did wake him against his will when he woulde haue slept or else oftentimes of him selfe he fell into suche deepe thoughtes of this enterprise casting in his minde all the daungers that might happen that his wife lying by him founde that there was some maruelous great matter that troubled his minde not beinge wont to be in that taking and that he coulde not well determine with him selfe His wife Porcia as we haue tolde you before was the daughter of Cato whome Brutus maried being his cosin not a maiden but a younge widowe after the death of her first husbande Bibulus by whome she had also a younge sonne called Bibulus who afterwardes wrote a booke of the actes and ieastes of Brutus extant at this present day This young Ladie being excellentlie well seene in Philosophie louing her husbande well and being of a noble courage as she was also wise bicause she woulde not aske her husbande what he ayled before she had made some proofe by her selfe she tooke a litle rasor suche as barbers occupie to pare mens nayles and causinge all her maydes and women to goe out of her chamber gaue her selfe a greate gashe withall in her thigh that she was straight all of a goare bloode and incontinentlie after a vehement feuer tooke her by reason of the payne of her wounde Then perceiuing her husbande was maruelouslie out of quiet and that he coulde take no rest euen in her greatest payne of all she spake in this sorte vnto him I being O Brutus sayed she the daughter of Cato was maried vnto thee not to be thy beddefellowe and companion in bedde and at borde onelie like a harlot but to be partaker also with thee of thy good and euill fortune Nowe for thy selfe I can finde no cause of faulte in thee touchinge our matche but for my parte howe may I showe my duetie towardes thee and howe muche I woulde doe for thy sake if I can not constantlie beare a secret mischaunce or griefe with thee
which requireth secrecy and fidelity I confesse that a womans wit commonly is too weake to keepe a secret safely but yet Brutus good educacion and the companie of vertuous men haue some power to reforme the defect of nature And for my selfe I haue this benefit moreouer that I am the daughter of Cato wife of Brutus This notwithstanding I did not trust to any of these things before vntill that now I haue found by experience that no paine nor griefe whatsoeuer can ouercome me With those wordes she shewed him her wounde on her thigh and tolde him what she had done to proue her selfe Brutus was amazed to heare what she sayd vnto him and lifting vp his handes to heauen he besought the goddes to geue him the grace he might bring his enterprise to so good passe that he might be founde a husband worthie of so noble a wife as Porcia so he then did comfort her the best he coulde Now a day being appointed for the meeting of the Senate at what time they hoped Caesar woulde not faile to come the conspirators determined then to put their enterprise in execucion bicause they might meete safelie at that time without suspicion and the rather for that all the noblest and chiefest men of the citie woulde be there Who when they should see suche a great matter executed would euerie man then set to their handes for the defence of their libertie Furthermore they thought also that the appointment of the place where the counsell shoulde be kept was chosen of purpose by diuine prouidence and made all for them For it was one of the porches about the Theater in the which there was a certaine place full of seates for men to sit in where also was set vp the image of Pompey which the citie had made and consecrated in honor of him when he did beawtifie that parte of the citie with the Theater he built with diuers porches about it In this place was the assembly of the Senate appointed to be iust on the fifteenth day of the moneth of March which the ROMANES call Idus Martias so that it seemed some god of purpose had brought Caesar thither to be slaine for reuenge of Pompeys death So when the day was come Brutus went out of his house with a dagger by his side vnder his long gowne that no bodie sawe nor knewe but his wife onelie The other conspirators were all assembled at Cassius house to bring his sonne into the marketplace who on that day did put on the mans gowne called Toga Virilis and from thence they came all in a troupe together vnto Pompeys porche looking that Caesar woulde straight come thither But here is to be noted the wonderfull assured constancie of these conspirators in so daungerous and waightie an enterprise as they had vndertaken For many of them being Praetors by reason of their office whose duetie is to minister iustice to euerie bodie they did not onelie with great quietnesse and curtesie heare them that spake vnto them or that pleaded matters before them and gaue them attentiue eare as if they had had no other matter in their heades but moreouer they gaue iust sentence and carefullie dispatched the causes before them So there was one among them who being condemned in a certaine summe of money refused to pay it and cried out that he did appeale vnto Caesar Then Brutus casting his eyes vppon the conspirators sayd Caesar shall not lette me to see the lawe executed Notwithstanding this by chaunce there fell out many misfortunes vnto them which was enough to haue marred the enterprise The first and chiefest was Caesars long tarying who came verie late to the Senate for bicause the signes of the sacrifices appeared vnluckie his wife Calpurnia kept him at home and the Soothsayers bad him beware he went not abroade The seconde cause was when one came vnto Casca being a conspirator and taking him by the hande sayd vnto him O Casca thou keptest it close from me but Brutus hath tolde me all Casca being amazed at it the other went on with his tale and sayd why howe nowe howe commeth it to passe thou art thus riche that thou doest sue to be AEdilis Thus Casca being deceiued by the others doubtfull wordes he tolde them it was a thowsand to one he blabbed not out all the conspiracie An other Senator called Popilius Lana after he had saluted Brutus and Cassius more frendlie then he was wont to doe he rounded softlie in their eares and told them I pray the goddes you may goe through with that you haue taken in hande but withall dispatche I reade you for your enterprise is bewrayed When he had sayd he presentlie departed from them and left them both affrayed that their conspiracie woulde out Nowe in the meane time there came one of Brutus men post hast vnto him and tolde him his wife was a dying For Porcia being verie carefull and pensiue for that which was to come and being too weake to away with so great and inward griefe of minde she coulde hardlie keepe within but was frighted with euerie litle noyse and crie she hearde as those that are taken and possest with the furie of the Bacchantes asking euery man that came from the market place what Brutus did and still sent messenger after messenger to knowe what newes At length Caesars comming being prolonged as you haue heard Porciaes weakenesse was not able to holde out any lenger and thereuppon she sodainlie swounded that she had no leasure to goe to her chamber but was taken in the middest of her house where her speache and sences failed her Howbeit she soone came to herselfe againe and so was layed in her bedde and tended by her women When Brutus heard these newes it grieued him as it is to be presupposed yet he left not of the care of his contrie and common wealth neither went home to his house for any newes he heard Nowe it was reported that Caesar was comming in his litter for he determined not to stay in the Senate all that day bicause he was affrayed of the vnluckie signes of the sacrifices but to adiorne matters of importaunce vnto the next session and counsell holden faining him selfe not to be well at ease When Caesar came out of his litter Popilius Laena that had talked before with Brutus and Cassius and had prayed the goddes they might bring this enterprise to passe went vnto Caesar and kept him a long time with a talke Caesar gaue good eare vnto him Wherefore the conspirators if so they shoulde be called not hearing what he sayd to Caesar but coniecturing by that he had tolde them a litle before that his talke was none other but the verie discouerie of their conspiracie they were affrayed euerie man of them and one looking in an others face it was easie to see that they all were of a minde that it was no tarying for them till they were apprehended but rather that they
the people dwelling alongest the sea coast commonlie called the riuer of CORINTHE who yeelded vp them selues holdes and townes into his hands he then intreuched in the castell of the Acrocorinthe with a great trench Furthermore when Aratus came to the citie of SICYONE many of the ACHAIANS gathered about him and holding a counsell and assemblie he was chosen their Lieutenaunt generall hauing absolute power and authoritie to doe what he would and gaue him of their owne citizens to gard his person So he hauing managed the affaires of the state and common wealth of the ACHAIANS the space of three and thirtie yeares together and hauing all that time bene counted of all men the chiefest man of power and authoritie in GRAECE he then found him selfe in poore estate forsaken and in great miserie as in the shippewracke of his contrie beaten with storme and in great daunger of him selfe For when he sent vnto the AETOLIANS for aide they flatly denied him and would send him none Furthermore the ATHENIANS being verie desirous to send aide for Aratus sake were disswaded from it through the practise of Euclidas Micion Aratus also had a house in CORINTHE where all his money was the which king Cleomenes at the first meddled not withall neither would suffer any other to touche it but sent for his frendes and officers and charged them to looke well to it to geue Aratus a good accompt of it afterwardes Furthermore he priuately sent Tripylus vnto him and his father in law Megistonus and offered him great gifts and speciallie an annuall pencion of twelue talents which was double as much as king Ptolomy gaue him who sent him yearely six talents Besides he only prayed the ACHAIANS that they would make him their Lieutenāt general also that the garrison in the castel of the Acrocorinthe might be deuided in common betwene them Aratus made aunswere that he had no absolute power in his hands and that it was in the ACHAIANS not in him Cleomenes thinking this but a deuise and excuse of Aratus he presentlie inuaded the contrie of the SICYONIANS and destroyed all as he came and continued the space of three moneths Aratus in the meane time stoode doutfull how to determine whether he should receiue king Antigonus or not bicause Antigonus would not aide him before he deliuered him the castell of the Acrocorinthe into his handes So the ACHAIANS meeting at the citie of AEGIVM to consult vpon it they sent for Aratus thither Howebeit it was daungerous comming thither bicause Cleomenes campe lay hard by the citie of SICYONE besides also that the citizens kept Aratus and helde him by force saying that they would not let him venter him selfe in such apparaunt daunger their enemies being so neere vnto them Moreouer the women and litle children hong about him weeping and compassing him about as their common father and sauior But Aratus comforting them bad them not be affrayed and so tooke his horse with ten of his frends and his sonne that was a young stripling growen and went towards the sea and imbarked in certaine shippes that roade at ancker Thence he sailed vnto AEGIVM where the diet or parlament was kept and there it was resolued that they should sende for Antigonus and deliuer the castell of the Acrocorinthe into his hands And so it was performed for Aratus sent thither his owne sonne among the other ostages The CORINTHIANS were so sore offended withall that they made hauocke of his goods and gaue his house he had in CORINTHE vnto king Cleomenes So king Antigonus being onwardes on his way to come into PELOPONNESVS with his armie bringing with him twentie thowsand footemen all MACEDONIANS foure hundred horsemen Aratus with the greatest states and officers of the ACHAIANS vnwitting to their enemies went to meete him as farre as the citie of PEGES hauing no great trust nor confidence in Antigonus nor the MACEDONIANS For he remembred verie well that he came first to his greatnes by the iniuries he had offered them and howe that the chiefest cause of his rising was the malice he bare vnto olde Antigonus Howbeit making vertue of necessitie and weying the instant occasion of their present extremitie of Gouernors to be driuen to be subiects he put him selfe in aduenture So when Antigonus was tolde that Aratus was comen in person to him hauing with good countenance after a common sort saluted those that came in his companie to Aratus selfe at his first comming he gaue him an honorable welcome and enterteinment Afterwardes also finding him a good and discreete man he fell into inward frendshippe and familiaritie with him For Aratus was not onely skilfull to geue direction in matters of state touching good order and gouernment but moreouer his companie conuersation was verie pleasaunt to entertaine a Princes leasure with Wherefore though Antigonus was but young at that time yet seeing throughly into Aratus nature and that he was a meete man to be well thought of and esteemed about a Prince he vsed his counsell and aduise more then any other mans in all matters not onely touching the affaires of the ACHAIANS but of the MACEDONIANS also And so all things came to passe which the goddes had promised in their sacrifices For in a beast that was sacrificed there were two galles wrapped in one selfe cawle the which the Soothsayers interpreted did prognosticate that two which before were mortall enemies should nowe become assured frendes But Aratus made no account of their prediction neither did also geue any credit to the sacrifices but trusted more to his owne determination So the warres afterwardes hauing good successe and Antigonus making a feast in the citie of CORINTHE where he had bidden many ghests he would nedes haue Aratus lye vpon him at the table and a litle while after commaunded his men to bring him a couerlet and turning to him asked him if he were not a colde Aratus aunswered him it freezed Then Antigonus bad him come neerer him when the seruaunts brought a couerlet for the king they cast it ouer them both Then Aratus remēbring the sacrifice fell a laughing and told their king what a wonder he had seene in the sacrifice what interpretation the Soothsayers made of it This was long after So Antigonus and Aratus being at that time in the citie of PEGES they were sworne brethren together and then went both with all speede against the enemies Thus there fell out hot skirmishes betwene them hard by the citie of CORINTHE For Cleomenes was verie well fortified and the CORINTHIANS valliantly defended them selues In the meane time Aristoteles of ARGOS Aratus frend secretlie sent him word that he would make the citie rebell if he came him selfe with any number of souldiers Aratus tolde it vnto king Antigonus who gaue him fifteene hundred men with the which he imbarked and passed ouer with great speede from the Isthmus or barre in the straight vnto the
And this was the chiefest cause of all their disorder being â—â—â—dy to ioyne battell Furthermore on the enemies side also all was out of order for the beasts of cariage ranne in amongest them that fought and so did put them maruelously out of order Besides that also the disaduauntage of the place where they fought did compell them to disperse one from another bicause of sundry ditches and trenches that were betwene them whereby they were compelled to fight in diuers companies together So there were but two legions onely the one of Vitellius called the deuowrer and the other of Otho called the helper which getting out of these holes and ditches a part by them selues in a good plaine euen ground fought it out so a long time together in good order of battel Othoes souldiers were men of goodly personages strong and valliant of their handes howbeit they had neuer serued in the warres not had euer soughten battell but that And Vitellius men on the other side were olde beaten souldiers and had serued all their youth and knew what warres battells ment So when they came to ioyne Othoes men gaue such a lusty charge vpon the first onset that they ouerthrew flue all the first rancke and also wanne the enseigne of the eagle Vitellius men were so ashamed of it and therewith in such a rage that they tooke hart againe vnto them and ranne in so desperately vpon their enemies that at the first they slue the colonell of all their legion and wanne diuers ensignes And furthermore against Othoes sensers which were accompted the valliantest men and readiest of hande Varus Alphenus brought his men of armes called the BATTAVIâ— which are GERMAINES in the lower parte of GERMANY dwelling in an Iland compassed about with the riuer of Rhein There were few of his Fensers that stocke by it but the most of them ranne away towards the riuer where they sounde certeine ensignes of their enemies set in battell ray who put them all to the sworde and not a man of them scaped with life But aboue all other none proued more beasts cowards then the Praetorian gard For they would not tary till the enemies came to giue them charge but cowardly turned their backs and fled through their owne men that were not ouerthrowen and so did both disorder them and also make them affrayd This notwithstanding there were a great number of Othoes men who hauing ouerthrowen the voward of them that made head against them they forced a lane through their enemies that were Conquerors and so valliantly returned back into their campe But of their Captaines nether Proclus nor Paulinus durst returne backe with them but fled another way being affraid of the furye of the souldiers that they would lay all the fault of their ouerthrow vpon their Captaines Howbeit Annius Gallus receiued them into the citie of BEBRIACVM that came together after this ouerthrow told them that the battell was equall betwixt them and that in many places they had had the better of their enemies But Marius Celsus gathering the noble men and gentlemen together that had charge in the army he fell to consultacion what they should do in so great a calamitie extreame slaughter of the ROMANE Citizens For if Otho him selfe were an honest man he should no more attempt fortune considering that Cato and Scipio were both greatly blamed for that they were the cause of casting away many men in AFRICK to no purpose though they fought for the libertie of the ROMANES and onely of selfe will for that they would not yeld to Iulius Caesar after he had wonne the battell of PHARSALIA For though fortune in all other things haue power ouer men yet extremities happening to good men she can not preuent them to determine the best for their safetie These perswasions straight caried away the Captaines who went presently to feele the mindes of the priuate souldiers whom they found all of them desirous of peace So Titianus perswaded them to send Ambassadors vnto the enemies to treate of peace and Celsus and Gallus tooke vpon them the charge to goe thither to breake the matter vnto Cecinna and Valens But by the way they met with certen Centurions who told them how all the army of the enemies were comming onwards on their way to come directly to the citie of BEBRIACVM and that their chieftaines had sent before to offer treaty of peace Celsus and his companion Gallus being glad of this prayed the Centurions that they would returne with them vnto Cecinna But when they were come neate vnto him Celsus was in great daunger of his life bicause the men of armes which he had ouerthrowen certen dayes before in an ambushe comming before when they spyed him they flew vpon him with great showres Howbeit the Centurioâ—s that were in his companye stepped before him and closed him in and so did the other Captenies that cryed vnto them they should do him no hurt Cecinna vnderstanding what the matter was reade thither and pacified the tumult of these men of armes and then saluting Celsus very curteously he went with him towardes BEBRIACVM But nowe Titianus in the meane time repentinge him selfe that he had sent Ambassadors vnto the enemies he placed the desperatest souldiers he had vpon the walls of the citie and incoraged the rest also to doe the like and to stand to the defense But Cecinna came to the wal being a horsebacke held vp his hand vnto them Then they made no more resistance but those that were vpon the walles saluted the souldiers and they that were within the citie opened the gates and thrust in amongest Vitellius men who 〈…〉 them and did no man any hurt but curteously imbraced them and saluted eche other Then they all sware and tooke their othes to be true to Vitellius and so yelded them selues vnto him So doe the most part of those that were at this battell report the successe thereof graunting notwithstanding that they knew not euery thing that was done bicause of the great disorded among them But as I trauelled on a time through the field where the battell was striken with Metrius Florus that had beene Consul he shewed me an olde man that when the field was fought in that place was younge and against his will was at the same battell on Othoes parte Who told vs that after the battell was fought he came into the field to suruey the number of those that were dead and he found the dead bodies piled on a heape of the height of those that came to view them And sayd moreouer that he made inquierie of the matter but he nether could imagine it him selfe nor be satisfied by others Now in deede it is likely that in ciuil warres betwene contry men of one self citie where one of the two armies is ouerthrowen that there should be greater slaughter among them then against the other enemies bicause they take no prisoners
of them had the better Howbeit in the end the ROMANES seeing the Consul hurt and also that the horsemen of the NVMIDIANS by litle and litle came to compasse them in they were driuen to geue ground and so pretily retyred defending the Consul the best they could to saue him and so at length recouered their campe It is reported that Publius Cornelius Scipio was saued at that time through his sonnes helpe who afterwardes was called AFRICAN and at that time was but a young stripling whose praise though it was wonderfull in so greene a youth yet it is likelie to be true bicause of the famous and valliant actes he did afterwardes Nowe Scipio hauing proued how much his enemie was stronger then him selfe in horsemen he determined to place his campe so as his footemen might be in best safety also fight with greatest aduantage And therefore the next night following he passed the riuer of Po and made as litle noyse as he coulde and went vnto PLACENTIA The like shortlie after did T. Sempronius Longus who had bene restored from banishment by the Senate and sent for out of SICILIA bicause both the Consuls should gouerne the common wealth by one selfe authoritie Annibal also followed them both with all his armie and pitched his campe neere vnto the riuer of Trebia hoping that bicause both campes lay so neere together some occasion would be offred to fight the which he chieflie desired both bicause he coulde not long maintaine warre for lacke of vittells as also that he mistrusted the fickelnes of the GAVLES Who like as they soone fell in league and frendship with him drawen vnto it with hope of chaunge and with the same also of his victorie obtained so he mistrusted that vpon any light occasion as if the warre should continue any long time in their contrie they would turne all the hate they bare vnto the ROMANES against him as the only author of this warre For these respectes therefore he deuised all the meanes he could to come to battell In the meane time Sempronius the other Consul met with a troupe of the enemies loden with spoyle stragling vp and downe the fieldes whom he charged and put to flight So imagining the like successe of all battell by this good fortune he had met withall he had good hope of victorie if once both the armies might come to fight Therefore being maruelous desirous to doe some noble enterprise before Scipio were recouered of his hurt and that the new Consul should be chosen he determined to ioyne battell against the will of his other colleague and fellowe Consul Scipio who thought nothing could be to lesse purpose then to put all the state and common wealth in ieopardie speciallie hauing all the whole GAVLES in maner in the field against him Now Annibal had secret intelligence of all this variance by spialls be had sent into the enemies campe Wherefore he being politike and suttle as he was found out a place straight betwene both campes couered ouer with bushes and briers and there he placed his brother Mago to lye in ambush with a companie of chosen men Then he commaunded the horsemen of the NVMIDIANS to scurrie to the trenches of the ROMANES to intise him to come to battell and thereupon made the residue of his armie to eate and so put them in verie good order of battell to be readie vpon any occasion offered Now the Consul Sempronius at the first tumult of the NVMIDIANS sodainly sent his horsemen to encounter them and after them put our six thowsande footemen and in the ende came him selfe out of his campe with all his armie It was then in the middest of winter and extreame cold and speciallie in the places inclosed about the Alpes and the mountaine Appenine Nowe the NVMIDIANS as they were commaunded intised the ROMANES by litle and litle on this side the riuer of Trebia vntill they came to the place where they might discerne their ensignes and then they sodainlie turned vpon the enemies which wereout of order For it is the manner of the NVMIDIANS oftentimes to flie of set purpose and then to stay vpon the sodaine when they see time to charge their enemie more hottely and fiercely then before Whereuppon Sempronius incontinently gathered his horsemen together and did set his men in battell ray as time required to geue charge vpon his enemie that stayed for him in order of battell For Annibal had cast his men into squadrons readie vpon any occasion The skirmish beganne first by the light horsemen afterwards increased hotter by supplie of the men of armes howbeit the ROMANE Knights being vnable to beare the shocke of the enemies they were quickelie broken So that the legions maintained the battell with such furie noble cotage that they had bene able to haue resisted so they had fought but with footemen onely But on the one side the horsemen and Elephants made them affraied and on the other side the footemen followed them â—â—â— lusâ—ely and fought with great furie against famished and frozen men Wherefore the ROMANES notwithstanding suffring all the miseries that vexed them on euerie side with an vnspeakable corage and magnanimitie such as was aboue their force and strength they fought still vntill that Mago comming out of his ambush came and sodainly assailed them with great show â—â—s and cries and that the middle squadron of the CARTHAGINIANS also through Annibals coÌ„maundement flew vpon the CENOMANIANS Then the ROMANES seeing their confederats flie their harts were done and vtterly discoraged It is sayd that there were tenne thowsande footemen of the ROMANES got to PLACENTIA and came through the enemies The rest of the armie that fledde were most parte of them slaine by the CARTHAGINIANS The Consul Sempronius also scaped verie narowlie from the enemies The victorie cost Annibal the setting on also for he lost a great number of his men and the most parte of all his Elephantes were slaine After this battell Annibal ouercame all the contrie and did put all to fire and sworde and tooke also certaine townes and with a few of his men made a great number of the contrie men flie that were disorderlie gathered together in battell Then at the beginning of the spring he brought his army into the field sooner then time required meaning to goe into THVSCAN he was driuen backe by a great tempest at the verie toppe of the height of the Appenine and so compelled to bring his armie about PLACENTIA howbeit shortly after he put him selfe againe into the fields for diuers vrgent necessary causes For had he not saued him selfe by that policie he had almost bene taken tardie by the ambush of the GAVLES who being angry with him that the warre continued so long in their contry they sought to be reuenged of him as the only author occasion of the warre Therefore perceiuing it was time for him to auoyde this daunger he made all the hast
that he was affrayde they woulde deliuer him into Scipioes hands that perhaps might demaund him of them But whether that was done sodainely or some time after the battel was lost at ZAMA it makes no great matter considering that all the world knoweth that when he sawe things brought to extremitie he presently fled into ASIA vnto king Antiochus So is it most true that king Antiochus receiued him with great curtesie and vsed him very honorably insomuch as he made him of counsell with him all in all both in priuate and publike causes For the name of Annibal caried great reputacion with all men besides that he had a common and mortal hate to the ROMANES which was a pricking spurre still to moue warre against them And therefore it seemeth that he came in happy hower into that contry not onely to pricke forward the courage of the king against them but also to set warres at libertie against the ROMANES So he tolde him that the onely way to make warre with the ROMANES was to goe into ITALY to leauy ITALIAN souldiers by whome onely that victorious contry of all other nations might be subdued He requested of the king a hundred shippes sixteene thowsand footemen and a thowsand horsemen onely With this smallarmy he promised to inuade ITALY and that he would maruelously trouble the ITALIANS whome he knew yet to stand in no small feare of him for the very sound of his name onely bicause of the late warres he had made there so freshe yet in memorie Furthermore he tooke hart againe vnto him to renew the warres of AFRICK if the king would licence him to sende men vnto CARTHAGE to stirre vp the BARCINIAN faction whome he knew hated the ROMANES to death When he had gotten the king to graunt him his request he called Ariston TYRIAN vnto him a fine suttell fellowe and meete for such a purpose to whome he made large promises and perswaded him to goe to CARTHAGE to his friends and to cary them letters from him Thus Annibal being a banished man and fled out of his contry raysed warre in all partes against the ROMANES And surely his counsell had taken good effect had king Antiochus rather followed his aduise as he did at the first then the vaine perswasions of his fine Courtiers But enuy a common plague frequenting Princes Courts bred Annibal great enemies For they beeing affrayd that by his counsells he should growe in great fauor with the king for he was a wise and politike Captaine and that thereby he should beare great sway and authoritie to preuent it they lacked no deuise to bringe him in disgrace with the king And it so chaunced at that time that P. Villius who came Ambassador vnto EPHESVS he had often conference with Annibal Hereuppon his priuie enemies tooke occasion to accuse him and withall the king him selfe became so ielous of it that from thence forth he neuer more called him to counsell At the selfe same time also as some doe report P. Cornelius Scipio AFRICAN who was one of the Ambassadors sent vnto king Antiochus talking famillierly with Annibal prayed him amongest other thinges to tell him truely whome he thought the worthiest Captaine of all others Annibal aunswered him First he thought Alexander king of MACEDON the chiefest next vnto him Pyrrhus king of the EPIROTES and thirdly him selfe The Scipio AFRICAN smyling asked him what wouldest thou saye Annibal if thou haddest ouercome me Truely sayd he then I would be chiefest my selfe This aunswer pleased Scipio maruelous well bicause he saw he was nether dispised nor yet brought to be compared with the other but left alone as peereles by some secret flattery of Annibal After these things Annibal found occasion to talke with king Antiochus and beganne to lay open his life vnto him from his youth and to bewray the malice he had alwayes borne vnto the ROMANES whereby he so satisfied the king that he was againe receiued into his grace and fauor which he had almost vtterly lost Thereuppon the king was determined to haue made him Admirall of his armye by sea the which he had put in readines for ITALY and also to make proofe of his great corage and seruice whome he knewe to be a worthy man and a mortall enemy to the ROMANES But one Thoas Prince of the AETOLIANS thwarting this opinion either for malice or els for that his fancye was such he altered the kinges minde and cleane changed his purpose the which was a matter of greate importance for the warre he pretended to make For he gaue counsell vnto Antiochus that he should goe him selfe into GRAECE and direct his owne affayres and that he should not suffer another to cary away the honor glory of this warre So king Antiochus shortly after went into GRAECE to make warre with the ROMANES Within fewe dayes after when he consulted whether he shoulde make league with the THESSALIANS Annibals opiniō was specially asked who spake so wisely touching the state of the THESSALIANS the chiefest matter of importance that they all went with his opinion and gaue their consents vnto it Now his opinion was that they should not neede much to care for the THESSALIANS but rather to make all the meanes they could to get king Philip of MACEDON to take their part or els to perswade him to be a Newter and to take nether parte Furthermore he gaue counsell to make warre with the ROMANES in their owne contry offred him selfe to ayde him the best he could Euery man gaue good eare to his words but his opinion was rather cōmended then followed Wherefore euery man maruelled that such a Captaine as he that had so many yeares made warre with the ROMANES who had in manner cōquered all the world should then be so light set by of the king when it specially stood him vpon to haue such a mans help coūsel For what captaine liuing could a man haue foūd more skilful or politike or meter to make war with the ROMANES then him Howbeit the king made no reckoning of him at the first beginning of this warre but shortly after disdaining al their coūsell he cōfessed that Annibal only saw what was to be done For after the ROMANES had obtained victory in the war he made in GRAECE Antiochus fled out of EVROPE into EPHESVS where making mery there following pleasure he hoped to liue in peace litle thinking the ROMANES would come with any army into ASIA Now these flattering courtiers stil fed his humor a perpetual plague to kings Princes that suffer them selues to be flattered are cōtēted to be deceiued bicause they giue good eare to that that pleaseth them But Annibal who knewe the power and ambition of the ROMANES perswaded the king to hope for any thing rather then peace and bad him trust to it that the ROMANES would neuer stay till they had proued whether they could enlarge the dominions of their Empire into the
Sempronius Longus the sonne of that Sempronius whome Annibal ouercame in that great ouerthrow at the battell by the riuer of Trebia They two were the first as it is reported that deuided the noble men and Senators from the people in the showe place to see pastime This separation was verie odious to the people of ROME and they were maruelouslie offended with the Consuls for it bicause they tooke it that increasing the honor of the state of the Senators they thereby did discountenaunce and imbase them Some say also that Scipio AFRICAN afterwardes repented him selfe that he had taken away the olde custome and brought in a newe At that time there fell out greate variaunce betwext Masinissa and the CARTHAGINIANS touching their borders and confines Whereuppon the Senate sent Scipio thither with two other commissioners who after they had hearde the cause of their quarrell they left the matter as they founde it and would proceede no further it And this they did bicause that the CARTHAGINIANS being troubled with ciuil warres at home should take vpon them no other warres abroade neither shoulde haue leasure to attempt any alternacion otherwise For the ROMANES had great warre with king Antiothus Annibal CARTHAGINIAN was there with him who still stirred vp the olde enemies against the ROMANES and practised to raise vp new enemies against them in all thinges to counsell the CARTHAGINIANS to cast away the yoke of bondage which the ROMANES had brought them into vnder the title of peace to proue the frendship of the kings Howbeit shortly after the ROMANES hauing obtained victorie and driuen king Antiochus out of GRAECE they intended also to conquer ASIA and therefore all their hope was in Scipio AFRICAN as a man that was borne to ende warres of great importaunce Howbeit Lucius Scipio and Caius Lalius were Consuls either of them made sute for the gouernment of ASIA The matter being consulted vpon the Senate stoode doubtfull what iudgement they should geue betwext two so famous men Howbeit bicause Laelius was in better fauour with the Senate and in greater estimacion the Senate beganne to take his parte But when P. Cornelius Scipio AFRICAN the elder brother of Lucius Scipio prayed the Senate that they would not dishonor his house so and tolde them that his brother had great vertues in him and was besides verie wise and that he him selfe also woulde be his Lieutenaunt he had no sooner spoken the wordes but the Senators receiued him with great ioy and presentlie did put them all out of doubt So it was ordayned in open Senate that Lucius Scipio should goe into GRAECE to make warre with the AETOLIANS and that from thence he shoulde goe into ASIA if he thought good to make warre with king Antiochus and also that he shoulde take his brother Scipio AFRICAN with him bicause he shoulde goe against Annibal that was in Antiochus armie Who can but wonder at the loue and naturall affection of Publius Cornelius Scipio AFRICAN the which he first shewed from his youth vnto his father Cornelius and afterwardes also vnto his brother Lucius Scipio considering the great thinges he had done For notwithstanding he was that AFRICAN by name that had ouercomen Annibal that had triumphed ouer the CARTHAGINIANS and excelled all others in praise of martiall discipline yet of his owne good nature he made him selfe inferiour to his younger brother bicause he might haue the honour of obtayninge the gouernment of that prouince from his fellowe Consul Laelius that was so well beloued and of so great estimacion Lucius Scipio the Consul brought great honor to his contrie by that warre for that he followed the sownde and faithfull counsell of his brother For first of all goinge into GRAECE he tooke truce for sixe monethes with the AETOLIANS through the aduise of his brother AFRICAN who counselled him that setting all thinges a parte he shoulde straight goe into ASIA where the warre was ryfest Afterwards also he wanne Prusias king of BITHYNIA from Antiochus frendshippe who before was wauing vp downe doutfull which side to take and all through his brother AFRICANS meanes and practise So the authoritie of the AFRICAN was verie great and all those that woulde obtaine any thing of the Consul came first to the AFRICAN to be their meane and intercessor Nowe when he came into ASIA Antiochus Ambassador and Heraclides BIZANTINE came vnto him to offer to make peace and after they had openly tolde their message perceiuing that they could not obtaine reasonable condicions of peace they priuately talked with Scipio AFRICAN as they were commaunded and practised the best they coulde to make him king Antiochus frende For they tolde him that Antiochus would sende him his younger sonne which he had taken and furthermore that he woulde willinglie make him his companion in the gouernment of all his realme only reseruing the name and title of the king Howebeit P. Scipio excelling no lesse in faithfulnesse and bountie then in many other vertues after he had aunswered them to all other matters he tolde them that for his sonne he woulde take him for a maruelous frendlie gifte and that for a priuate good turne he would doe the best he could to requite him with the like Howbeit that he would counsell the king aboue all things to leaue of thought of warre and to receiue those offers and condicions of peace which the Senate and people of ROME would offer him Shortly after Antiochus sent P. Scipio his sonne according to his promise who as it is reported had bene taken prisoner from the first beginning of the warre as he went from CHALCIDE vnto ORICVM or as other wryters say as he passed by in a pinnase Yet some holde opinion that he was taken as he went to discouer the counsell of the enemies and that he was then sent againe vnto his father lying sicke at the citie of ELEA This great curtesie of king Antiochus was maruelous well thought of of the AFRICAN and not without cause for to see his sonne after he had bene away so long it did greatlie lighten his spirites and diseased bodie But P. Scipio to shewe some token of a thankefull minde prayed the Ambassadors that came vnto him greatlie to thanke king Antiochus for the exceeding pleasure he had done him to sende him his sonne Afterwardes he gaue Antiochus aduise also that he should not geue battell till he vnderstoode of his returne from ELEA to the campe So Antiochus being perswaded by the authoritie of so worthie a man he kept close in his campe for a certaine time and determined to drawe the warre out at length hoping in the ende that he might come to speake with the Consul by the AFRICANS meanes But afterwardes the Consul camping hard by MAGNESIA did so vexe and prouoke the enemie that the king came out to battell and sette his men in battell ray It is reported that Annibal him selfe was present at the battell being one
not otherwise thinke of him but that he was a great and valiant Captaine Others also speaking of Scipio doe greatly prayse and commend him for the foure Chieftaines he ouercame and for the foure great armies which he defeated and put to flight in SPAINE and also for that he over came and tooke that great king Syphan prisoner In fine they come to prayse that famous battell in the which Scipio ouer came Annibal ZAMA For if Fabius sayd they were praysed bicause he was not ouercome by Annibal what estimation will they make of the AFRICAN that in a pitched battell ouercame that so famous dreadfull Captaine Annibal and also did ende so daungerous a warre Besides alfeo that Scipio did alwayes make open warre and commonly fought with the enemy in plaine field Where Annibal in contrary manner did alwayes vse craft and sâ—â—elry and was full of stratageames policie And therefore all Authors both Graeke and Laâ—yâ—y doe count him very fine and suttell Furthermore they greatly commend Annibal for than he maynteyned his army of so sundry nations so long time in peace as he had warre with the ROMANES and yet that there was neuer any mutinie of rebellion in his campe On the other side they blame him againe bicause he did not follow his victory when he had ouercomen the ROMANES at that famous battell of CANNES and also bicause he spoyled his souldiers with too much ease and the pleasures of CAMPANTA and APVLIA whereby they were so chaunged that they seemed to be other souldiers then those that had ouercomen the ROMANES at the sundry battells of TREBIA THRASYMENE and CANNES All writers doe reproue these thinges in Annibal but specially his crueltie For amongest other thinges what crueltie was it of him to make a woman with her children to come from ARPIto his campe and afterwardes to burne them aliue What shall a man say of them whome he cruelly put to death in the temple of Iuno Lacinia when he departed out of ITALY For Scipio AFRICAN on the other side if we shall rather credit the best authors that write then a number of other detracters and malitious writers we may say he was a bountifull and temperate Captaine and not onely liuely and valiant in fight but also curteous and mercifull after victorye For oftentimes his enemies proued his valiantnes the vanquished his mercy and clemency all others men his faithfulnes Now therfore let vs tel you what his continency liberalitie was the which he shewed in SPAYNE vnto a young Lady taken prisoner and vnto Luceius Prince of the CELTIBERIANS doth it not deserue great prayse Nowe for their priuate doings they were both vertuously brought vp and both of them imbraced learned men For as it is reported Annibal was very famillier with Socillus LACEDAEMONIAN as the AFRICAN was with Ennius the Poet. Some saye also that Annibal was so wel learned in the Graeke tongue that he wrote an historie in Graeke touching the deedes of Manlius Volso Now truely I doe agree with Citero that sayd in his booke de Oratore that Annibal heard Phormio PERIPATETICIAN in EPHESVS discoursing very largely of the office and duety of a Chieftaine and generall and of the martiall lawes ordinaunces and that immediatly after being asked what he thought of that Philosopher he should aunswer in no very perfit Graeke but yet in Graeke that he had seene many old doting fooles but that he had neuer seene a greater doterd then Phormio Furthermore both of them had an excellent grace in their talke Annibal had a sharpe tawnting wit in his aunswers When king Antiochus on a time prepared to make warre with the ROMANES and had put his army into the field not so well furnished with armor and weapon as with gold and siluer he asked Annibal if he thought his army sufficient for the ROMANES yea Sir ê™ he that they be were the enemies neuer so couetous This may truely be sayd of Annibal that he obtayned many great victories in the warres but yet they turned to the destruction of his contry Scipio in contrary manner did preserue his contry in such safetie and also did so much increase the dominions thereof that as many as shall looke into his desert they can not but call ROME vnthankefull which liked rather that the AFRICAN preseruer of the citie should goe out of ROME then that they would represse the fury and insolency of a few And for myne owne opinion I can not thinke well of that citie that so vnthankfully hath suffred so worthy and innocent a person to be iniured and so would I also haue thought it more blame worthy if the citie had bene an ayder of the iniurye offred him In fine the Senate as all men doe report gaue great thankes vnto Tiberius Gracchus bicause he did defend the Scipions cause and the common people also following the AFRICAN when he visited all the temples of ROME and left the Tribunes alone that accused him did thereby shewe how much they did loue and honor the name of the Scipioes And therefore if we should iudge the Citizens harts and good wills by those things men would rather condemne them for cowards to haue suffered such outrage then vnthankfull forforgetting of his benefits for there were very few that consented to so wicked a deede and all of them in manner were very sory for it Howbeit Scipio that was a man of a great minde not much regarding the malice of his enemies was content rather to leaue the citie then by ciuill warres to destroy it For he would not come against his contry with ensignes displaied nether would he solicite straunge nations and mighty kings to come with force and their ayde to destroy the citie thew which he had beautified with so many spoyles and triumphes as Martius Coriolanus Alcibiades and diuers others did by record of auncient stories For we may easily perceiue howe carefull he was to preserue the libertie of ROME bicause when he was in SPAYNE he refused the title and name of king which was offred him and for that he was maruelous angry with the people of ROME bicause they would haue made him perpetuall Consul and Dictator and considering also that he commaunded they should set vp no statue of him nether in the place of the assembly nor in the iudgement seate nor in the Capitoll All which honors afterwardes were giuen by the Citizens vnto Caesar that had ouercomen Pompey These were the ciuill vertues of the AFRICAN which were great and true prayses of continency Now therefore to deliuer you the summe and effect of all these thinges these two so famous Captaines are not so much to be compared together in their ciuill vertues in the which Scipio chiefly excelled as in the discipline of warres and in the glory of their famous victories To conclude their deathes were somewhat a like for they both dyed out of their contries although Scipio was not condemned by his contry as
kinge Philip Philips verses against Alcaeus Priuy grudge betwixt Quintius and the AEtoliaÌ„s T. Quintius graunted Philip peace Hannibal was with kinge Antiochus Chalcide Corinthe Demetriade called by Philip of Macedon the Chaines of Greece Isthmia Crowes flying fell downe by the sounde of mens voices Quintinâ—care to stablish the liberty of the Greecians The feast Nemea kept at Argos Lycurgus the orator rescued Zenocrates the Philosopher saued him from prison Nero did set Greece at liberty VVhy Quintius made peace with Nabis the tyran of Lacedaemon The honor of Philopoemen Twelue hundred Romaines solde for slaues The Achaians redeemed the Romaines that were solde for slaues in Greece The ceremony of slaues maâ—onised T. Quintius triumphe Manius Acilius Consud T. Quintius Lieutenaunt sene into Greece Antiochus ouerthrowen in Thermopyles by Manius the Consull Quintius intreateth for the AEtoliaÌ„s King Antiochus maried Cleoptolemus daughter in the city of Chalcide Honors done vnto T. Quintius for sauing the Chilcidians and the Greecians Quintius curtesie and good nature Emulation betwixt T. Quintius and Philopoemen T. Quintius sayinges Antiochus Ambassadors doe boast of their kinges great army Titus Quintius witty ansâ—ere to the Ambassadors braggeâ— T. Quintius chosen Censor with Marcellus P. Scipio and M. P. Cato great enemies Secret grudge betwixt Titus and Cato A cruell dede of Lucius Quintius Cato beinge Censor did put Lucius Quintius Flaminius of the Senate T. Quintius vnworthy acts against Caro. Lucius Quintius restored to his place by the people T. Quintius ambition T. Quintius cause of Hanniballs death Titus sent Ambassador vnto Prusias king of Bithynia Hannibal deceiued by an oracle concerning his death Hanniball kept at Libyssa in Bithynia Hanniballs death Midas and Themistocles poysoned them selues Hanniballs last wordes Looke in Pyrrus life for the story as large Scipio Africans clemency commended Talke betwixt Scipio African Hannibal Hannibals iudgement of Captaines Aristonicus Mithridates Marius To be meane or great in this life is nothing but death bringeth the estimacion T. Quintius benefits vnto Greece Philopoemenes malice Titus Quintius wiser theÌ„ Philopoemen Quintius coÌ„maunded good souldiers Philopoemen made good souldiers A Generall must nes be at his prayers wheÌ„ he should occupy his sword Quintius clemency to the Greecians Philopoemenes liue to the Romaines Pyrrus kinred and beginning of the kingdome of Epirus Pyrrus redd How Pyrrus being an infant was saued Megares a city of Macedon Glaucias king of Illyria Pyrrus countenaunce and teeth Pyrrus healed them that were sicke of the splene The fier could not burnt Pyrrus great set Pyrrus realme taken froÌ„ him in his absence Pyrrus valliantnes at the battell of Hipsus Pyrrus behauior Pyrrus maried to Antigona the daughter of Philip king of Macedon and of his wife a Berenice Pyrrus restored to his kingdome againe Pyrrus deuideth the realme of Epirus with Neopulemus Pyrrus slue Neoptolemus Berenicida a city of Epirus in the I le of Preseque Pyrrus first iorney into Macedon King Lysimachus craft to deceiue Pyrrus Theodotus iudgement a Soothsayer Pyrrus quarrell and warre with Demetrius Pantauchus Demetrius Lieutenant in AErolis Pyrrus fight with Pantauchus Pyrrus victory of Pantauchus Pyrrus likened to Alexander the great Pyrrus skil in warlike discipline Hanniballs iudgement of Captaines Pyrrus wise answer Pyrrus goodnes and curtesie Certaine witty sayinges of Pyrrus Pyrrus wiues and children Pyrrus called an Eagle Pyrrus inuadeth Macedon Demetrius army both by land and sea Demetrius maried Lanassa Pyrrus wife Pyrrus dreame Pyrrus secoÌ„de iorney into Macedon Pyrrus praises Her Pyrrus ware his head peece Pyrrus proclaimed kinge of Macedon Macedon deuided betwene Pyrrus and Lysimachus Couetousnes hath no ende Peace and warre vsed lyke money Pyrrus ayded the Graecians against Demetrius Lysimachus maketh warre with Pyrrus The Tarentines hauinge a warre wish the Romaines determine to make king Pyrrus their Generall Meton counterfeating the foole wisely perswaded the Tarentines not to send for Pyrrus Tarentum a city in Italie Metons counsell to the Tarentines The Tarentines sende Ambassadors to Pyrrus Cineas the orator a Thessalian borne and attending in Pyrrus courte Cineas great talke with Pyrrus to moderate his ambitious minde Pyrrus iudgemeÌ„t of orators corruption A daungerous thing to withstande the Princes mind Pyrrus iorney into Italy Pyrrus daunger by tempest on the sea Pyrrus cast on shoare apon the contry of the Messapians Pyrrus being receiued of the TereÌ„tines reformed their vaine voluptoâ—s life Marshall discipline Leuinus Consul sent against Pyrrus Pyrrus camped in the plaine betwene Pandosia and Heraclea Siris fl Pyrrus Battel Pyrrus first conflict with the Romaines Pyrrus wisedom foresight in battell Pyrrus changed his armor cloke Megacles slaine taketh for Pyrrus Pyrrus victory of Leuinus the Consull Cineas sent Ambassador to Rome The noble minde of the Romaines Appius Claudius disswated the Romaines from making peace with Pyrrus Appius Claudius oration to the Senate The maiestie of the Senate at Rome Caius Fabricius Ambassador to Pyrrus Caius Fabricius a noble Captaine but very poore Fabricius refused king Pyrrus giftes The opinion of the EpicuriaÌ„s touchinge felicity King Pyrrus Phisitian wryeth to Fabricius offereth to poyson his master Fabricius letter to Pyrrus aduertising him of his Phisitians treason Pyrrus sendeth the Romaines their prisoners without raunsome Pyrrus second battel with the Romaines by the caty of Asculum Pyrrus victory of the Romaines The wyters agree not about Pyrrus battell Ambassadors out of Sicilia to pray aide of Pyrrus Pyrrus iorney into Sicilia Pyrrus wanne the city of Erix in Sicilia Homer of valliantnes The Mamertines why so called Pyrrus cruelty in Sicilia The Samnites and Tarentines sone ser Pyrrus to returne into Italie Pyrrus returne into Italy out of Sicile Pyrrus hurt on his head with a sworde Pyrrus with a blow of his sword claue his enemies head in the middest and layed it on his shoulders Manius Curius Consull Pyrrus thirde battell with the Romaines Pyrrus ouerthrowen by Manius Curius in battell Pyrrus compared to a dyce player Pyrrus returne into Epirus out of Halie Pyrrus victory of Antigonus king of Macedon Antigonus flieth from kinge Pyrrus The couetousnesse of the Gaules Areus made king of Sparta and Cleonymus pus downe The cause of Pyrrus inuading Peloponnesus Pyrrus stratageame to the Spartans Mandricidas stowe aunswer to king Pyrrus Pyrrus besiegeth Lacedaemon The corage of the women of Sparta VVomen wrought in the trench VVomen encoraged their men to fight Pyrrus battel Acrotatus valliantnes Pyrrus dreame Pyrrus in daunger of his life at the siege of Sparta King Areus arriued in Sparta with new aide Sedition in the city of Argos Pyrrus repulsed from Sparta goeth to Argos Ptolomie kinge Pyrrus sonne slaine by Oraesus Cretan Pyrrus slue Eualcus Antigonus aunswere to Pyrrus chalenge Tokens of Pyrrus death Pyrrus fight in the city of Argos Aspides the Castell in Argos A bull and wolfe in copper set up in the â—ity of Argos fighting together Danaus wan the â—â—ty of Argos from king Gelanor Apollo Lycias Gelanor king
of the Argiues Helenus Pyrrus sâ—nne The straunge loue of an Elephant to his keeper Kinge Pyrrus slaine with a tyle throwen by a woman Alcyoneus king Antigonus sonne Antigonus courtesie towards Pyrrus body and frendes Of the names of the Romaines Marius fauor Marius could no skill of the Greeke tongue Platoes saying to Xenocrates Marius parents maners and contry Marius first iorney vnto the warres Scipio Asricous iudgement of Marius Marius Tribune of the people Costa Consull Two sortes of AEdiles AEdilitas Curulis AEdilitas popularis Marius denyed to be AEdilis Marius chosen Praetor Sabacon put of the Senate Caius Herennius pleaded in Marius behalfe touching the patron client Marius actes in Spayne The opinioÌ„ of Spanyards in olde time Eloquence riches raised men to authority How Marius credit and estimacion grew Iulia Marius wife Marius temperaunce and pacience Caecilius Metellus Consull The Labours presence of the Generall maketh the souldiers worke willingly Marius the author of Turpilius false accusation death Vacca a great city The cause of the supposed treason against Turpilius Turpilius wrongfully put to death Displeasure betwixt Metellus Marius Marius first time of being Consull Marius offended the nobility Marius depriued Metellus of the honor of conquering of king Iugurthe Bocchus kinge of Numidia deliuereth Iugurthe vnto Sylla Lucius Sylla Quaestor vnder Marius The originall cause of the ciuill warres betwixt Marius and Sylla The comming into Italie of the Teutons and Cimbres The army of the Tevtons and Cimbres 300000 men Cimbri Cimmerij Marius chosen Consull the second time against the law Law must giue place for common benefit Marius triumphe into Rome for king Iugurthe How Marius trained his souldiers Marius moyles Marius commended for his iustice Marius third Consullshippe Manius Acilius Lieutenant of the army vnder Marius Lucius Saturninus Tribune Marius fourth Consullshippe with Catulus Luctatius Rhodanus fl Marius channell The Cimbres went through Germanie into Italie The Teutons and Ambrons fall apon Marius to passe into Italie through the territory of Genua Martha a wise woman or prophetesse The attier of Martha in time of sacrifice A wonder of the Vultures shewed to Marius VVonders seene Batabaces the priest of the mother of the goddes Aulus Pompeius Tribune The enemies campe were removing sixe dayes together Marius bolde wordes to his souldiers and their aunswer Battell betwixt the Ambrons Marius Marius ouercome the Ambrons The mannishnes of the women Marius seconde battell with the Teutons Marius victory of the Teutons and Ambrons Much veine followeth after great battells Marius the fift time Consull Athesis flu Catulus Luctatius the Consull flieth from the Cimbres Marius refused to enter in triumphe Marius goeth towardes Catulus Luctatius to helpe him Po flu Marius mocke to the Cimbres The Cimbres march against Marius Marius deuise for alteringe the darte in fight Baeorix king of the Cimbres Two and fiftie thowsand and three hundred men betwene Marius and Catulus The Romaines battell The battell of the Cimbres A dust raised that neither army could see one another The sunne ful in the Cimbres faces The fielde fought the 27. of Iuly Horrible cruelty of women Prisoners 60. thowsand Men slaine six score thowsand Might ouercoÌ„meth right Metellus against people pleasers Valerius Flaccus Consull with Marius the sixt time Valerius Coruinus sixe times Consull The law Agraria An article for the othes of the Senate to confirme what the people should passe by voyce Marius duble dealing To lye cunningly Marius taketh it for a vertue Timorous policy causeth periury Metellus constant in vertue Metellus wise saying touching well doing Metellus banishment Marius doble dealing betwene the nobilitie and people Marius procureth sedition at Rome No trust on the faith of the coÌ„mon people Metellus returne from banishement Marius iorney into Cappadocia and Galatia Marius prowd wordes to Mithridates The cause of the dissension betwene Marius Sylla The warre of the confederates Siloes stowts chalenge and Marius answer Mons Misenum Marius ambition Sulpitius gard of sixe hundred knightes Sulpitius boldness Marius sedition Marius flieth from Rome Marius the sonne flieth into Africke Marius found an ayrie of Eagles How many egges the Eagle layeth Liris fl Marius set a land and forsaken of the mariners Marine hidden in the marisses Marius takeÌ„ Fanniaes curtesie vnto Marius One hiered to kill Marius The Minturnians suffered Marius to go his way with sefety Marica Sylua Marius the elder flieth into Africke Marius wise answere of surtimes inconstancy Marius the younger esâ—apeth Hyempsals hands Cinna driuen out of Rome by Octauius Marius ioyneth force with Cinna Octauius negligence in defence of the citie of Rome against Cinna Marius Octauius too much geuen to Southsaiere Octauius vertue and imperfection Octauius slaine by Marius souldiers Agreas contrariety in astronomy Cinna and Marius entry into Rome Bardini Marius caused great murder in Rome Marius crueltie Small trust of frendes in aduersitie The faithfulnes of Cornutus seruaunts to their master M. Antonius the Orator betrayed by a tauerner The force of eloquence Catulus Luctatius killed himselfe The Bardiaeians slaine of their Captaines for their crueltie Marius seuenth Consulship Marius thoughtes and feare Deuise to winne sleepe Marius the fathers death Marius mad ambition a note against the ambitious Platoes words at his death note that in Syllaes life following to appeareth that Marius the younger was besieged in the city of Preneste and not in Perusia as ye rende here So as the city seemeth to be mistakeÌ„ in one of these liues Lysanders image Licurgus the anchor of wearing longe heare The commoditie of wearing longe heare Lysanders kinred The education of the Laconian children Lysanders manners VVise man he euer melancholye Lysander a despisor of riches Lysanders words of Dionysuis liberalitie Lysander admirall for the Lacedaemonians by sea Lysander enlargeth the citie of Ephesus Sardis a citie in Lydia Lysander tooke money for paye of his souldiers Lysanders victorie of the Athenians by sea Cherronesus a contrye in Thracia Callicratidas Lysanders successor in his office of admyraltie Playnenes coÌ„mended for a vertue but liked as an olde image of a god that had bene excellent faier The spighte of Lisander to Callicratidas Nothing estemed with the Barbarians but money Callicratidas pacience The death of Callicratidas Lysander crafty and deceitfull A wise saying of Lysander The wicked dissembling and double dealing of Lysander Lysander regarded no periâ—rie following the example of Polycrates the tyran of Somos Cyrus liberaâ—itie to Lysanders Lysanders artes by sea Philocles cruel advise vnto the Athenians Lysanders craft in marine fight Alcibiades gaue good aduise to the Captaines of the AtheniaÌ„s A copper target lift vp the signe of battell by sea Conon Admirall of the Athenians Lysanders victory of the Athenians Paralos the holy galley of Athens The starres of Castor and Pollux A stone fell out of the element AEgos st Anaxagoras opinion of the starres VVhat falling starres be Damachus testimonie of the fiery stone seene in the element
An other opinion of the stone that fell Philocles coÌ„stancy Captaine of the Athenians Lysanders cruelty Theopompus the Comicall Poets sayinge of the Lacedaemonians The Athenians yeelde vp Athens_to Lysander The maner of peace offered by the Lacedaemonians to the AtheniaÌ„s A notable saying for the walle of cities Erianthus cruell aduise against the Athenians The sweete musicke so frened their cruell hearts and moued them in pity Lysander ouerthrew the walles of the city of AtheÌ„s Callibius Captaine of the Castell of Athens Autolycus as cunninge wrestler Autolycus pus to death Lysander sent money to Sparta by Gylippus Gylippus robbed parte of the money be caried to Sparta The Grekishe coyne was marked with an owle Gyllippus banishment Couetousnes of money corrupted Gylippus one of the chiefest men of LacedaemoÌ„ The iron money of Lacedaemonia At what time the Lacedaemonians receiued gold and siluer againe The ill life of the Magistrate the cause of disorder in a commoÌ„ weale A galley of gold and Iuory Lysanders honors and pride Platoes saving of the ignorant Ignoraunce coÌ„pared with blindenes Lysanders ambition pride and 〈…〉 Lysander brake his word othe and procured the deads of eight hundred people 〈…〉 Eteocles wordes of Lysander Thorax put to death for offending the law The LaconiaÌ„ Scytala what maner thing it is and how vsed Lysander carieth letters against him selfe Lysander goeth to Iupiter Ammon King Pausanias reconciled the Athenians with the Spartans Lysanders terrible words The death of king Agis Lysander depriueth Leotychides of his kingedomes Through Lysanders working Agesilaus â— was made king Ambition abideth no equalles Agesilaus priâ—ie grudge to Lysander Lysanders wisedome Lysander surueiour of the vittells Lysanders talke with king Agesilaus after the Laconian maner of speaking Lysander seeketh innouation in the state of Sparta The Families of the kinges of Lacedamon Lysander deuiseth false oracles corrupted soathsayers with money Lysanders fained deuise to possesse the kingdome The warres of Boeotia Diuers causes sâ—â—â—â—used of the beginning of these wars An edict against the banished men from Athens An edict made by the Thebans in fauor of the banished meÌ„ Lysanders iorney vnto Boeotia Cithaeron mons Cissusa sons Lysander staine by the Thebans To aske leaue of thenemie to burye the deade is dishonorable Lysanders tombe Oplites A. destinie menitable Phliarus A. Hoplia Isomantus Neochorus slâ—e Lysander Orchalide â—â—â—s Helicon moons Pausanias exile Lysanders cleane handes and pouertie commended after his deathe Lysanders counsell for altering of the kingdom Lacratidas wisdom forbearing to shewe extremitie to the deade Lysander honored by the Spartans after his death Singlenes of life late mariage and ill mariage punished by the Lacedaemonians Syllaes kinred Syllaes honesty reproued by meanes of his great wealth Syllaes flauore That is bicause that Syl in laten signifieth oker which becometh red when it is put to the fire and therfore Syllaceus color in virusâ—ia signifieth purple colour Syllace skeffing Syllaes voluptuosnes Sylla Quaestor The cause of Bocchus freÌ„dshippe vnto Sylla Iugerthe deliuered vnto Sylla by kinge Bocchus Thenor of Iugurthes takinge ascribed vnto Sylla Syllaes noble deedes vnder Marius Sillaes doings vnder Catulus Ambition is to be fled as a mortall furie Sylla chosen Praetor Orobazus Ambassador from the king of the Parthians vnto Sylla Sylla accused of extorcion Ciuill warres Timotheus Athenians would not tribune the glory of his doinges to fortune Sylla gaue fortune the honor of all his doinges Syllaes belefe in dreames A straunge fight appeared to Sylla Sylla straunge of conditions Sylla chosen Consull Metellus chiefe bishop of Rome a maried Syllaes wiues Marius fonde ambition VVonderfull signes seene before the ciuill warres The ThuscaÌ„s opinion of eight worldes The wickednes of Sulpitius the Tribune Marius and Sulpitius sedition All lawe ceased for a time by reason of Sulpitius oppressions and wicked lawes Sylla marcheth towards Rome with six legions Posthomius the deuine did prognosticate victory vnto Sylla Syllas vision on his dreams Sylla set the houses a fire in Rome Marius and Sulpitius condemned to death Treason lustly rewarded The ingrailtude of Sylla reproved Lucius Cinna Consull Cinna sware to be Syllaes frende Sylla went against Mithridates Mithridates power Sylla befiegeth the city of Athens Sylla tooke the smells and roady money out of all the temples of Greece and brought it to him to AtheÌ„s Caphis supersticion for touching the holy thinges The commendacion of the auncient Romaine Captaines for ordering of their souldiers and also for their modest expences Sylla the first man that spob led all good seruice of souldiers by ouermuch libertie and sufferauoco The wickednes of the tyran Arision The greue valianmes of Marcus Teius Athens taken by Sylla The slaughter of the Athenians after the taking of the eisit Anthesterion Marche The time of Noes flood Aristion the tyran yeelded The hauen of Piraea wonne Philoes armory burnt by Sylla Taxilles army a hundred thowsande footemen Tenne thowsand horsemen Foure score ten thowsand cartes with Sythes The force of the BarbariaÌ„s consisted in horsemen and in their carts with Sythes The straight of Thermopyles Pqrnassus hill The city of Tithora Sylla Hortensius met at Patronide The plaine of Elatea Philobaeotus mont Their whole army together 1500. horse 15000. footemen The braue armor and furniture of the Thracians MacedoniaÌ„s seruing vnder Taxilles king Mithridates lieutenaunt Many commanders make disobediens souldiers Cephisus fl Syllaes straightnes to his souldiers A good policie to weary feare full souldiers with extreame labor whereby to make them desirous to fight Edylium moÌ„t Assus fl Sylla sendeth Gabinius with a legion to aide Chaeronea Oldeles met propheths of victory vnto Sylla Saluenius aSouldiers Iupiter Olympias Acotuim Edylium mountaines Thurium mons aliue Orthopagues Morion fl Apollo Thurial Chaeron the founder of the city of Charonea Sylla ordereth his battell Sylla droue Archelaus aide from the hill The force of the armed cartes with Sythes consist in long course Syllaes conflict with Archelaus as Thurium Slaues made free by authority of the Lieutenaunts in the fielde Syllaâ—â— victory of Mithridates Lieutenauntes The field was wonne in the plaine of Elatea Molus fl Apollo Pythias Iupiter Olympias Flaccus Consull went against Sylla Dorylaus Mithridates generall against Sylla The goodly plaine before the city of Orchomene The riuer of Melas and nature therof Syllaes words to animate his souldiers Diogenes slaine Syllae victory of Mithridates Lieutenauntes as Orchomene Sylla â—â—revâ—â—â—ne â—trelâ—â— Live in the famous battells at Chaeronea and at Orchomene Talke betwixt Sylla and Archelaus at the meeting Peace concluded betwext Sylla Archelaus in Mithridates behalfe apon condicions Archelaus suspected of treason Aristion tyran of Athens poysoned by Sylla Mithridates exception to the condicioÌ„s Archelaus sene from Sylla to Mithridates Sylla Mithridates meete at DARDANE The stowtnes of Sylla Mithridates excuseth him selfe to Sylla Syllaes aunswer to Mithridates Nicomedes king of Bithynia Ariobarzanes king of Coppadocia A hundred fifty thowsand Romanes slaine in one day
in Asia by Mithridates commaundement Fimbria camped as Thyatira Fimbria slain Sylla very hardly inreated them of Asia Aristotle and Theophrastus backes Sylla went to the bathes as Adipsum for the gowte in his legges Bubbles of fire rising out of a meadow by Dyrrachivm A Satyre takeÌ„ sleeping and brought to Sylla Sylla went against fifteene Generalls foure hundred and fiftie ensignes Syllaes returne into Italie Ephewn mons Sylla ouerthrew the CoÌ„sull Norbanus and Marius the younger neere to the mountaine Epheum A slaue foreshewed Syllaes victory and the burning of the Capitoll which fell out truely A winde that blewe flowers out of a meadow vpon Lucullus souldiers by the city of Fidentia Lucullus victory as Fidenâ—a Syllaes policie with Scipio Sylla wanne 40 ensignes from Scipio by policie Carboes saying of Sylla touching the foxe and lyon Marius the younger with 85. ensignes presenteth Sylla baâ—tell by the city of Signium Syllaes vision in his dreame Marius fled to Praenesta Carbo fled into Africke Thelesinus the Samnyte faâ— Sylla in great danÌ„ger Syllaes daunger Sylla fled Lucretius Offella besieged Marius in Praeneste In the ende of Marius life it is reported contrarie that Sylla besieged Marius the younger in Perusia and not in Praeneste â—doo saued themselues in Antemna and yelded to Sylla vpon promise of life Sylla against the law of armes and his promise caused sixe thowsand men to be slaine Honor chaungeth condicions Sylla the example Infinite murthers committed in Rome by Sylla and his fauorers The boldnes of Caius Metellus to tell Sylla his cruelty in open Senate Syllaes prosâ—iripsion 〈…〉 The murder of outlawes generall through Italy Quintus Aurelius a quiet men that medled not slaine for his house Marius the younger slue him selfe as Praeneste being put all into one place together Lucius Catilinae slue his owne brother Sylla Dictator Lucretius Offella slaine Syllaes twinnes named Faustus and Fausta Sylla leaueth his Dictatorshippe Marcus Lepidus chosen Consull Sylla feasted the people VVine of forty yeres olde vpward Sylla brake his owne lawes he made Valeria desirous to be partaker of Syllaes happines Sylla maried Valeria the sister of Hottensius the Orator Syllaes impostume turned to lyce Diuers famous men that dyed of lyce Syllaes commentaries containe 22. bookes Syllaes sonne that was dead appeared to him in his dreams in ill fauored apparell Granius strangeled in Syllaes fight by his arme commaundements Syllaes death Posthumi Syllaes funeralls Syllaes epitaphe The chiefe person is not alwayes the honestest Lysander Syllaes faults Lysanders temperance and moderate life Syllaes licensious and prodigall life Syllaes tyrannicall saying Sylla for ware to be preferred before Lysander Sylla fought with men of greatest power and ouercome them Syllaes magnanimity Plutarkes iudgement of Sylla and Lysander Peripoltas his posterity The manners leud partes of Damon Peripoltas Lucius Lucullus examâ—nesh the truth of the murther Damon slaine by treason Asbolomeni who they were and why so called Chaeronea indited for the murther Lucullus called for a witnesse of the troth Historie is a certaine image of mens manners and wisedom A pretty similitude Howe to describe the life of a man. Cimon Lucullus in what thinges they were like Cimons linadge Thucidydes linadge Miltiades died in prison Cimon defamed in his youth Coalemos foole Cimons condicions Elpinicè Cimons sister vnchast Polygnotus the painter Elpinicè being poore had regarde to matche ccording to her state calling Cimon subiect to lasciuious life The praise of Cimons conditions Cimons personage commended Cimon Generall for the Athenians by sea King Pausanias through his insolency and pride lost the Lacedaemonians all their rule of Greece Pausanias killed the young Bizantine virgine Cimon iorney and victorie in Thracia Butes burneth him selfe city and frendes for feare of Cimon Statues of Mercury Sochares Decelean spake against Miltiades request for the garland of Olyue boughes Cimon wanne the I le of Scyros The counsell of the Amphictyons Theseus bones brought to Athens 400. yeres after his death by Cimon Sophocles and AEschylus contention for victory AEschylus ouercome by Sophocles dwelleth in Sicilia and dyeth there Cimon sang passing sweety Cimons cunning diuision of the spoyle Herophytus Samian gaue Counsell to choose the spoyle Cimons liberality and hospitality Cimons charity How Cimon vsed his goode The hospitality of Lichas Spartan Cimons godly actes CimoÌ„ brought the golden world againe Cimons integrity and cleane hands Resaces attempted to bribe Cimon Darickes whereof so called A noble saying of Cimon The benefit of paines seruice and the discommodity of case and idlenes CimoÌ„ plagued the Persians Chio an Ile Cimon wanne the city of Faselia Ariomandes the kinges Lieutenant of his whole army by sea ryding at ancher before the riuer of Eurymedon Cimons victory of the Persians both by sea and land Cimon tooke two hundred sayle prisoners at the battell fought by the riuer of Eurymedon Cimon ouercame the battell of the barbarous people also by lands Cimon brought the king of Persia to conditioÌ„ of peace Callias sent Ambassador to take the othe of the king of Persia Cimon was at the charge of certaine commoÌ„ buildings Cimon draue the Persians out of Thracia Cimon accussed and discharged CimoÌ„ praiseth the temperate life of the Lacedaemonians Stesimbrotus the historian * Areopagus was a village of Mars by Athens where the iudges called Areopagitae did sit to iudge causes of murder and other waightie matters concerning the common wealth Democratia rule of communalty Pericles in Cimons absence reduceth the common wealth vnto the state Democratia Optimacia the gouernment of the nobility CimoÌ„ followed the Lacedaemonians maner A maruelous great earthquake in Lacedaemon Taygetum â—â—nâ— Archidamus sodaine policy saued the city Ilotae slaues bondmen to the Lacedaemonian Cimon procured ayde for the Lacedaemonians Cimon banished for 10. yeares Cimon called from exile Cimons dreame The interpretation of the dreame Cimons death prognosticated The cause of Themistocles willing death The death of Cimon Cimons death kept very secret No famous act done by any Graecians to the barbarous people after Cimons death Cimons monuments at Athens Lucullus parents Lucullus accuseth Seruilius the Soothsayer The Romanes thought it a noble dede to accuse the wicked Lucullus eloquence Lucullus studied Philosophy in his latter time Lucullus booke of the warre of the Marsians in Greeke Lucullus loue to his brother Marcus. Lucius M. Luculâ—us both chosen AEdiles Sylla gaue Lucullus commission to coyne money in Peloponnesus Lucullus geueth lawes to the CyreniaÌ„â— A notable saying of Plato Lucullus iorney into Egypt A notable rich entered geuen Lucullus by kinge Ptolomye Lucullus doinges vnder Sylla by sea Lucullus stratageame Fimbria besieged Mithridates in Pitane Lucullus would not aide Fimbria in besieging Mithridates Neoptolemus king Mithridates Lieutenant by sea Lucullus put to flight Neoptolemus Mithridates Lieutenaunt by sea Lucullus stratageaâ—ia as the siege of the Mitylenians Lucullus honored of Sylla The first occasioÌ„ of quarrell bentwext Pompey and Lucullus Lucullus M. Cossa
man. The nature of the people Nicias liberality magnificence Nicias superstitions Nicias mynes of siluer Nicias for feare gaue to the wicked Nicias warenes to offende Nicias Hierons schoole master Dionysius Chalcus founder of the city of Thuries Nicias life Notable actes done by Nicias The lawe of armes A least of Cleon. Cleons victory of the Lacedaemonians The immoderate liberty of Cleon. Cleons lewd and light ieastures in his Orations Alcibiades diuers wit. Cleon Brasidas the two peacebreakers generally of all Graece Nicias reconcileth the Spartans with the AtheniaÌ„s Nicias peace Ambassadors sent froÌ„ Spartan to Athens Alcibiades craft and deceit The earthquake holpe Nipias Nicias sent Ambassador vnto Sparta The vse of the Ostracismon Hyperbolus Nicias and Alcibiades ioyned tribes against Hyperbolus Hyperbolus banished for tenne yeares The taking away of tenne yeres banishment Nicias chosen Captaine for the warres of Sicila Signerâ—o feare the AtheniaÌ„s not to attempt the enterprise of Sicile Statues mangled AtheÌ„s The madness of Meton the Astronomer Nicias foolish fearefullnes Nicias counsell for inuading the Syracusans Lamachus valliant buâ— simple Lais the courtisan caried out of Sicile into Peloponnesus Nicias notable strategeame Nicias winneth the hauen of Syracvsa Nicias forbeareth to spoyle the temple of Iupiter Nicias besiegeth Syracvsa Nicias wall as the siege of Syracvsa The death of Lamachus Nicias sole Captaine of the whole army Gyllipus a Lacedaemonian aideth the Syracusans Gongylus a Corinthian Gylippus arriuall at Syracvsa Gongylus the Corinthian slaine Nicias good fortune chauÌ„ged Euthydemus and Menander chosen Captaines with Nicias Demosthenes arriuall at Syracvsa Demosthenes rashnes Nicias counsell vnto Demosthenes Demosthenes rashnes The slaughter of the Athenians as Syracusa The corage of Leo Bizantine The eclipse of the moone The eclipse of the moone not knoweÌ„ of long time Anaxagoras the first that wrote of the eclipse of the moone The Athenians do persecute the Philosophers Socrates put to death for Philosophy Dyon very skilfull in naturall causes Nicias ignorant of naturall causes The Syracusans ouercome the AtheniaÌ„s by sea The soothsayers do promise victory to the Syracusans The Athenians againe ouercome on the sea by the Syracvsans Nicias deceiued by Hermocrates The miserable state of the Athenians departing from Syracusa Nicias extreame misery Demosthenes taken of the Syracusans Nicias moueth treaty of peace Nicias army ouercome at the riuer of Asinarus Nicias words yelding him selfe vnto Gylippus Gylippus sheweth mercy to Nicias The Syracusans enter into the Syracusa with triumphe Asinarus feast The Captaines of the Athenians coÌ„demned to dye Gylippus a couetous man. Cleandrides condemned for extorcion Nicias and Demosthenes slue them selues Euripides verses saued many of the Athenians liues The AtheniaÌ„s doe torment the bringer of the newes of their ouerthrow Nicias foreshewed the miseries of the AtheniaÌ„s Marcus Crassus kinred youth Crassus couetousnes Crassius riches How Crassus came by his goodes Crassus saying of builders Crassus care about seruauntes VVhat belongeth to good husbandry and in whom it consistes Crassus iudgement who was a riche man. Archidamus saying of warre Crassus faâ—â—â— at his boâ—â—de Crassus eloquence Crassus flieth Marius and Cinna Vibius curtesie â—â—to Crassus Crassus came Crassus viage into Africke Crassus sent by Sylla into the contry of the Marsians The emulation beâ—â—â—â—â— Crassus and Pompey Sylla called Pompey Imperator Crassus tooke the city of Tvder The valliantnes of Crassus Crassus enuieth Pompey The Romanes called Pompey the great Crassus industry and cause of rising in the common wealth Three factioÌ„s at Rome Crassus inconstancies Sicinius prouerbe The warre of the bondmen called Spartacus warre The wit and behauior of Spartacus the chiefe Captaine of the bondemens warre Clodius a Romane Praetor sent against Spartacus with 3000 men Clodius the Preator ouercome of Spartacus Publius Varinus Praetor sent against Spartacus Spartacus victory of P. Varinus Gellius and Lentulus both Consulls sent against Spartacus Cassius ouercomen by Spartacus Crassus sent against Spartacus Mummius Crassus Lieutenant Mummius ouerthrowen by Spartacus The Romanes maner of punishinge cowardly souldiers Crassus wonderfull trench and wall A wonderfull nature of the water of the lake of Lucania Ambush laied by Crassus The valiaÌ„tnes of Spartacus souldiers Spartacus retyred to the mountaines of Petelie The noble corage of Spartacus Spartacus slaine Pompeyes triumphe for Spayne Ouatio see Marcellus life Crassus made Consull with Pompey Crassus great feasting of the people of Rome The dreame of Onatius Aurelius Crassus and Pompey made frendes Crassus Censor with Catulus Crassus suspected for Catilines conspiracie Crassus and Caesar confederates with Catiline Crassus Cicero as enemie Caesar reconciled Crassus and Pompey together Pompey Crassus and Caesar al three ioyned in frendshippe Pompey and Crassus did meete with Caesar at Luca Pompeyes stout aunswer Crassus modest aunswere Pompey made him selfe and Crassus Consulls by force Pompey and Crassus Consulls the second time Crassus had the gouernment of Syria Atteius the Tribune against Crassus departure Obseruations of cursinges among the Romanes Crassus iorney into Syria Deiotarus king of Galatia Crassus passeth ouer the riuer of Euphrates Zenodotia taken by Crassus Publius Crassus came to his father in Syria Great faultes committed by Crassus The first signes of Crassus ill luâ—ke This name of Arsaces or Arsacides was common to all the kings of the Parthians Ambassadors of the Parthians sent to Crassus Vagises words shewing Crassus the palme of his hande Hyrodes king of the Parthians Cassius treasorer vnder Crassus Crassus forewarned by the Soothsayers of his ill successe Artabazes king of Armenia came to Crassus campe VVonderfull signes and tokens to Crassus Crassus armie was fifty thousand men Ariamnes a Captaine of the Arabians Ariamnes deceiueth Crassus Surena and Sillaces Arsaâ—es Lieutenauntes Surena sent against Crassus Surena what he was Surenaes courte and traine Surena a young man but very wise Artabazes sent an Eâ—bassage vnto Crassus Crassus wilfulnes Crassus army against the Parthians Sureâ—â—s stratageame for the hiding of his great army Crassus battell with the Parthians The ParthiaÌ„s kettle droÌ„mes The person of Surena Generall of the Parthians described The ParthiaÌ„s fought veryrâ—ng The maner of the Parthians fight The praise of Censorinus Megabacchus The miserable fight of the Romanes against the Parthians Carres a city of Mesopotamia Ischnes a citie The death of Publius Crassus Crassus oration to his souldiers wiâ—â— his bare was full of sorrow Crassus an example of fortunes inconstancie Crassus flying Coponius Gouernor of Carres in Mesopotamia The valliantnes of twentie Romanes A stratageame of Surena Andromachus treason to Crassus The ParthiaÌ„s do noâ—refight by night Cassius gentle aunswere in the straightes The worthines of the Romane souldiers to their chiefetaine An other stratageame of Surena Surenaes crafty speeche to Crassus Crassus words to the Romanes going to his death Surenaes craft to Crassus Octauius slaine Crassus slaine The number of the Romanes that were slaine and taken Sureneth triumph of Crassus Aristides bookes intituled the Milesians AEsope wise saying
then power to ayde him The army power of Octauius Caesar against Antonius Antonius dominions Octauius Caesars dominions Antonius we which ruled by Cleopatra Antonius rode at anker at the head of ActioÌ„ where the citie of Nicopolis standeth * The grace of this taâ—â—â—it can not properly be expressed in any other tongue bicause of the equivocation of this word Toryne which signifieth citie Albania and also a Ladell to scoome the pot with as if she ment Caesar sat by the fire side scomming of the pot Domitius forsaketh Antonius goeth vnto Octauius Caesar. Amyntas and Deiotarus do both reuolt from Antonius and goe vnto Caesar. Antonius in daunger of taking as Actâ—um Antonius regardeth not the good counsell of his souldier Battel by sea as Actium betwixt Antonius and Caesar. A lucky signe vnto Octauius Caesar. Eutychus Nicon fortunate Conquerer Cleopatra flyâ—th The soule of a louer liueth in another body Antonius flyeth after Cleopatra Antonius lycenceth his friends to depart and giueth there a shippe loden with gold and siluer Antonius nauy ouerthrowen by Caesar. Antonius legions doe yeld them selues vnto Octauius Caesar Lucilius spokâ— of in Brutus life The fidelitie of Lucilius vnto Antonius The wonderful attempt of Cleopatra Antonius followeth the life and example of TimoÌ„ Misanthropus the Athenian Plato Aristophanes testimony of Timon Misanthropus what he was The epitaphe of Timon Misanâ—hropus Antonius rioting in Alexandria after his great losse ouerthrew Toge virilis Antillus the eldest sonne of Antonius by his wife Fuluia An order erected by Antonius and Cleopatra called Synapothanumenon reuoking the former called Amimetobion Cleopatra verie busie in prouing the force of poyson The property of the biting of an Aspick Antonius and Cleopatra send Ambassadors vnto Octauius Caesar Alexas treason iustly punished Pelusium was yeelded vp to Octauius Caesar. Cleopatraes monuments set vp by the temple of Isis. Straunge noises heard and nothing seene Antonius nauie doe yeeld them selues vnto Caesar. Antonius ouerthrowen by Octauius Caesar. Cleopatra flieth into her tombe or monument Eros Antonius seruant slue him selfe Antonius did thrust his sword into him selfe but died not presently Antonius caried vnto Cleopatraes tombe A lamentable sight to see Antonius and Cleopatra The death of Antonius Octauius Caesar lamenteth Antonius death Proculeius sent by Octauius Caesar to bring Cleopatra aliue Cleopatra taken Caesar tooke the citie of Alexandria Caesar greatly honored Arrius the Philosopher Philostratus the eloquentest Orator in his time for present speech vpon a sodaine Antyllus Antonius eldest sonne by Fuluia slaine The saying of Arrius the Philosopher CaesarioÌ„ Cleopatraes sonne put to death Cleopatra burieth Antonius Olympus Cleopatraes Phisition Caesar came to see Cleopatra Cleopatra a martired creature through her owne fassion and fury Seleucus out of Cleopatraes Treasorers Cleopatra bet her treasorer before Octauius Caesar Cleopatraes wordes vnto Caesar. Cleopatra finely deceiueth Octauius Caesar although she desired to liue Cleopatraes lamentation ouer Antonius tombe The death of Cleopatra Cleopatraes two waiting woman dead with her Cleopatra killed with the biting of an Aspicke The image of Cleopatra caried in triumphe at Rome with an Aspicke biting of her arme The age of Cleopatra and Antonius Of Antonius issue came Emperors The power of Demetrius Antonius Demetrius Antonius ambition to gouerne The liberalitie and bountie of Demetrius and Antonius Demetrius Antonius time Canobus and Taphosiris fl Demetrius Antonius wiues Antonius the first Romane that euer maried two wiues together Demetrius lasciuiousnes Dogges not suffred in Athens castle bicause of bitcherie The loue and impietie the faith falsehoode of Demetrius and Antonius Demetrius Antonius acts in warres The pareÌ„tage of Artaxerxes Mnemon The diuersâ—â— of natures betwixt Cyrus and Artaxerxes Arsicas surnamed Artaxerxes assigned to be king of Persia The maner of the consecrating of the kings of Persia as Pasargades Cyrus accused vnto his brother Artaxerxes Cyrus lay in waite to kill Artaxerxes Note the flatterie and dissimulation of a woman Antaxerxes curteous and easie to haue accesse vnto Artaxerxes liberalitie to apoore man that gaue him a litle water Tiribazus lightnes and Artaxerxes liberalitie Statira king Artaxerxes wife Cyrus maketh warre against his brother Artaxerxes Cyrus wonderfull promises Artaxerxes army of nyne hundred thowsand fighting men against his brother Cyrus Xenophon the Historiographer excellently describeth this battell betwixt Artaxerxes and his brother Cyrus Safetie in a generall requisite in battell Clearchus cowardlines reproued Pasacas Cyrus horse Artagerses the gouernor of the prouince of Cadusia giueth charge vpon Cyrus Cyrus slue Artagerses Dinons report of Cyrus death The Cariens be called cocks bicause they weare crests on their headpeeces Ctesias report of Cyrus death Artaxerxes hurt by Cyrus Cyrus hurt Cyrus miserable destiny King Artaxerxes being a thirst dranke stincking puddle water and sayd he neuer tasted sweeter The manner of the Persians in 〈…〉 against a traitor to the king Plutarch reproueth Ctesias for a lyer How Artaxerxes 〈…〉 the good and also punished the euill The punishment of them that slue Cyrus Parysatis straunge crueltie praising the Carian in 〈…〉 See the perill of bastâ—es rash aunswer The terrible death of offenders in boates or troughes among the Persians The miserable death of Mithridates The deuelish craft of Parysatis her great skill cunning at dyce Parysatis craft and cruelâ—ie Tisaphernes betrayeth the Captaines of Graece Clearchus other Captaines of Graece put to death by king Artaxerxes Ctesias vanity The cause of Parysatis hate vnto her Daughter in law Statyra Parysatis practiseth to poyson Queene Statira Ryntaces a bird of Persia that hath no excrements How Statira was poysoned The punishment for poysoners in Persia Agesilaus king of Lacedaemon maketh warre with the Persians The Persian coyne how it is stamped Artaxerxes dâ—aue the Lacedantonians from all their dominion by sea Gnidus Ins. Antalcidas peace Antalcidas Lacedaemonian greatly esteemed of Artaxerxes The persians full of vanitie and curiositie The death of Antalcidas Lacedaemonian Timagoras Athenian brybed by king Artaxerxes Timagoras was put to death for taking brybes and gifts of the king of Persia. King Artaxerxes killeth Tisaphernes Artaxerxes fell in againe with his mother Parysatis sent for her to come to the Court. Artaxerxes maried his eldest Daughter Atossa King Artaxerxes iorney against the Cadusians The contry of the Cadusians very barren Great famyne in Artaxerxes army Tiribazus stratageame saued Artaxerxes and all his army Note that soft apparell and riches maketh not a men cowardly and effeminate but a vile base mind that followeth euill aduise and counsell The corage of king Artaxerxes his great paynes in marching King Artaxerxes curtesie to his souldiers Darius and Ochus king Artaxerxes sonnes Artaxerxes proclaymeth his sonne Darius king Aspasia IuniaÌ„ one of Artaxerxes concubines The barbarous people can not 〈…〉 with â—inalitie in loue Tiribazus incruseth Darius against his father Artaxerxes Tiribazus maners and condicions Darius conspireth against Artaxerxes his father A
Captaines and leaders of men of warre to the deathe and specially for the tretcherie of Calippus and Pharax whereof the one was an ATHENIAN and the other a LACEDAEMONIAN Both of them sayed they came to set SICILE at libertie and to driue out the tyrans and yet neuertheles they had done so much hurte vnto the poore SICILIANS that the miserie and calamitie which they had suffered vnder the tyrans seemed all to be golde vnto them in respect of that which the Captaines had made them to abyde And they did not thinke them more happy that had willingly submitted them selues vnto the yoke of seruitude then those which they sawe restored and set at libertie Therefore perswading them selues that this CORINTHIAN woulde be no better vnto them then the other had bene before but supposing they were the selfe same former craftes and alluring baytes of good hope and fayer wordes which they had tasted of before to drawe them to accept newe tyrans they did sore suspect it and reiected all the CORINTHIANS perswasions Sauing the ADRANITANS onely whose litle citie being consecrated to the god Adranus and greatly honored and reuerenced through all SICILE was then in dissention one against an other in so muche as one parte of them tooke parte with Icetes and the CARTHAGINIANS and an other side of them sent vnto Timoleon So it fortuned that bothe the one and the other making all the possible speede they coulde who shoulde come first arriued bothe in manner at one selfe tyme. Icetes had about fiue thowsande souldiers Timoleon had not in all aboue twelue hundred men with the which he departed to goe towards the citie of ADRANVS distant from TAVROMENION about three hundred and fortie furlonges For the first dayes iorney he went no great way but lodged betymes but the next morning he marched very hastely had maruelous ill way When night was come and day light shut in he had newes that Icetes did but newyly arriue before ADRANVS where he encamped When the priuate captaines vnderstood this they caused the voward to stay to eate repose a litle that they might be the lustier the stronger to fight But Timoleon did set still forwards prayed them not to stay but to goe on with all the speede they could possible that they might take their enemies out of order as it was likely they should being but newly arriued troubled with making their cabbons preparing for supper Therewithall as he spake these wordes he tooke his target on his arme and marched him selfe the formost man as brauely and coragiously as if he had gon to a most assured victorie The souldiers seeing him marche with that life they followed at his heeles with like corage So they had not passing thirty furlonges to goe which when they had ouercomen they straight set apon their enemies whome they found all out of order and began to flye so soone as they saw they were vpon their backes before they were aware By this meanes there were not aboue three hundred men slayne and twise as many moe taken prisoners and so their whole campe was possessed Then the ADRANITANS opening their gates yelded vnto Timoleon declaring vnto him with great feare and no lesse wonder how at the very time when he gaue charge apon the enemies the dores of the temple of their god opened of them selues that the Iaueling which the Image of their god did hold in his hand did shake at the very ende where the iron head was and how all his face was seene to sweate This in my opinion did not onely signifie the victorie he had gotten at that time but all the notable exploytes he did afterwardes vnto the which this first encounter gaue a happye beginning For immediatly after many cities sent vnto Timoleon to ioyne in league with him And Mamercus the tyran of CATANA a souldier and very full of money did also seeke his friendship Furthermore Dionysius the tyran of SYRACVSA being weary to follow hope any longer and finding him selfe in maner forced vnto it by long continuance of seige made no more reckoning of Icetes when he knewe that he was so shamefully ouertrowen And contrariwise much esteeming Timoleons valiantnes he sent to aduertise him that he was contented to yelde him selfe and the castell into the handes of the CORINTHIANS Timoleon being glad of this good happe vnlooked for sent Euclides and Telemachus two Captaines of the CORINTHIANS to take possession of the castell with fowre hundred men not all at a tyme nor openly for it was vnpossible the enemies lying in wayte in the hauen but by small companies and by stelthe he conueyed them all into the castell So the souldiers possessed the castell and the tyrans pallace with all the moueables and municion of warres within the same There were a great number of horse of seruice great store of staues and weapons offensiue of all sortes and engynes of batterie to shoote farre of and sundry other weapons of defence that had bene gathered together of long tyme to arme threescore and tenne thowsand men Moreouer besides all this there were two thowsand souldiers whome with all the other thinges rehearsed Dionysius deliuered vp into the handes of Timoleon and he him selfe with his money and a few of his friendes went his way by sea Icetes not knowing it and so came to Timoleons campe This was the first tyme that euer they sawe Dionysius a priuate man in base and meane estate And yet within fewe dayes after Timoleon sent him from thence vnto CORINTHE in a shippe with litle store of money Who was borne and brought vp in the greatest and most famous tyrannie and kingdome conquered by force that euer was in the world and which him selfe had kept by the space of tenne yeares after the death of his father Since Dion draue him out he had bene maruelously turmoyled in warres by the space of twelue yeares in which time although he had done muche mischiefe yet he had suffered also a great deale more For he sawe the death of his sonnes when they were men growen and able to serue and cary armor He saw his daughters rauished by force deflowred of their virginitie He saw his owne sister who was also his wife first of all shamed cruelly handled in her person with the greatest villanies most vile partes done vnto her that his enemies could deuise afterwards horribly murdered with his childrē their bodies in the end throwen into the sea as we haue more amply declared in the life of Dion Now when Dionysius was arryued in the cittie of CORINTHE euery GRAECIAN was wonderfull desirous to go see him and to talke with him And some went thither very glad of his ouerthrow as if they had troden him downe with their feete whom fortune had ouerthrowen so bitterly did they hate him Other pittiyng him in their heartes to see so great a chaunge did behold him as
with some forde hasting to get ouer Tigranes thought he had marched away and called for Taxiles and sayd vnto him laughing Doest thou see Taxiles those goodly ROMANE legyons whom thou praisest to be men so inuincible howe they flie away now Taxiles aunswered the king againe I would your good fortune O king might worke some miracle this day for doutlesse it were a straunge thing that the ROMANES should flie They are not wont to weare their braue cotes and furniture vppon their armos when they meane onely but to marche in the fieldes neither doe they carie their shieldes and targets vncased nor their burganets bare on their heades as they doe at this present hauing throwen away their leather cases and coueringes But out of doubt this goodly furniture we see so bright and glistering in our faces is a manifest signe that they intend to fight and that they marche towardes vs Taxiles had no sooner spoken these wordes but Lucullus in the view of his enemies made his ensigne bearer turne sodainly that caried the first Eagle the bands tooke their places to passe the riuer in order of battell Then Tigranes secretly comen to him selfe as out of dronkennes cried out alowde twise or thrise come they then to vs But then was there no small sturre and tumult to put such a world of people into battell The king Tigranes him selfe vndertooke to leade the midle battell gaue the left wing vnto the king of the ADIAEENIANS and the right vnto the king of the MEDES in the which were the most parte of the complete armed men who made the first front of all the battell But as Lucullus was ready to passe the riuer there were certaine of his Captaines that came vnto him to wish him to take heede that he fought not that day bicause it was one of those which the ROMANES thought vnfortunate and call them Atri to say blacke for vpon one of those dayes one Caepio was ouerthrowen in a set battell with all his army by the CIMBRES But Lucullus gaue theÌ„ a prety aunswere againe which is not forgotten to this day I will make this a happy day sayd he for the ROMANES It was the sixteenth day of the moneth of October And so with those wordes encoraging his men passed ouer the riuer and went him selfe the foremost man and marched directly towardes his enemy armed with an anima of steele made with scalloppe shelles shining like the sunne vpon that an arming coate fringed round about holding his sword drawen in his hand to let his men vnderstand that they must sodainly ioyne with their enemies and fight at the swordes pointe that were not acquainted to fight but a farre of with shotte and slinges and that he would so quickely winne the distaunce of grounde they had to marche ere they could ioyne that they should haue no leasure to shoote And furthermore perceiuing that the strength of their men of armes wherof they made so great accompt was ranged in battell vnder a hill the toppe whereof was very plaine and euen and the way vp the hill not passing foure furlonges trauaill and not very hard nor steepe to clime he sent thither certaine horsemen of the THRACIANS and GAVLES which he had in pay and commaunded them to geue a charge on the flancke to disorder them assay to cut their launces with their swordes For all the strength of these men of armes consisteth in their launces and they can do nothing for them selues nor against their enemies they are so heauely armed and lodenâ— so as it seemeth they are locked vp in their armor as in an iron prison And he him selfe therewithall taking two ensignes of footemen stroue also to gaine the toppe of the hill his souldiers following him hard at the heeles with a notable corage bicause they saw him the formost man trauailing a foote and digging against the height of the hill When he had gotten vp to the toppe he stayed a litle in the highest place he could finde and then cried out with a lowd voyce oh companions the victory is ours And as he spake those wordes he ledde them against these men of armes commaunding them they should not medle with throwing of their dartes but taking their swordes in their handes they should strike at their thighes and legges bicause they haue no other partes of their bodies naked Howbeit there was no neede of such fight for they taried not the ROMANES but with great crying out turned their horse heades immediatly and ranne cowardly them selues and their horses heauie armed as they were through the middest of the bandes of their footemen before they had striken a stroke And thus were so many thowsandes of men broken without any stroke striken or any man hurt or one droppe of blood seene to be spilt But the great slaughter was when they beganne to flie or to say better when they thought to flie for they could not flie they ranne so one apon an others necke by reason of the maruelous length and bredth of their battells Tigranes amongest the rest was one of the first that dislodged with a small company seeing his sonne running the same fortune flying as him selfe did tooke of his diadeame or royall bande from his head and gaue it him weeping commaunding him to saue him selfe as well as he could by some other way But the young prince durst not put it on his head but gaue it to one of his trusty seruauntes to keepe who by chaunce was taken and brought vnto Lucullus so that amongest the other spoyle and prisoners there was taken Tigranes diadeame It is thought that there were slaine at this ouerthrow aboue a hundred thowsand footemen and very few of all the horsemen saued On the ROMANES side there were about a hundred hurt and fiue slaine Antiochus the Philosopher speaking of this battell in a treatise he made of the gods wryteth that the sunne neuer saw the like ouerthrowe And Strabo an other Philosopher in a certaine abridgement he made of stories sayd that the ROMANES were ashamed and laughed at them selues that they had drawen their swordes against such dastardly slaues And Titus Liâ—ius declareth also that the ROMANES were neuer in any battell with so small a number of fighting men against so great a multitude of enemies for the conquerers were not in all the world the twentith parte nothing like of those that were ouercome Wherefore the oldest and best experienced Captaines of the ROMANES did highly commende Lucullus bicause he had ouercome two of the greatest most mighty Princes of the world by two sundry coÌ„trary mâ—â—â—â— the one by tract and delay and the other by spede and swiftnes For he vndermyned and consumed Mithridates by holding backe delaying at that time when all his streÌ„gth was whole and to the contrary he destroyed Tigranes with great speede and haste And thus did he that which few Captaines could euer do that is
vsed delay of time to execute and valliant expedition to winne the victory This was the cause why Mithridates made no hast to come to the battel thinking still that Lucullus had vsed his wonted policy to delay and geue backe alwaies and therefore he came by small iorneys vnto Tigranes campe But meeting at the first with a fewe of the ARMENIANS that fled as he came on his way like men that had bene frayed he straight mistrusted the ouerthrow but afterwards meeting greater troupes of them naked sore wounded then he knew how the matter went So he went to seeke out Tigranes whom he found alone forsaken of his men and in very poore estate yet did not he requite Tigranes in aduersity with that pride and disdaine he had vsed him before in his miserie but lighted of his horse to be waile with him their common misfortune and gaue him all his officers and traine of a kings court that followed him to serue him comforting him exhorting him to plucke vp his hart againe and to be coragious thenceforth Hereupon they both leauied a freshe the whole force power they could from all the partes of their dominions In the meane season there fell out great sedition in the city of TIGRANOCERTA betwene the GRAECIANS and the barbarous people for the GRAECIANS they would haue yeelded vp the towne into Lucullus hands Whereupon Lucullus geuing an assault to the city at that very instant wanne it seased vpon the kings treasure there leauing all the rest to the spoile of the souldiers in the which besides all other riches there was eight thowsand talents in ready money And yet besides all that he gaue of the spoile that was won apâ—n the enemies eight huÌ„dred Drachmas vnto euery souldier And vnderstanding that there were diuers musitians common players minstrels and such kinde of people meete for feastes and sporte whom Tigranes had sent for thither from all partes to dedicate the Theater he had made in his city he caused all theÌ„ to serue at the sports and feastes of this victory After the solempnization whereof he sent the GRAECIANS home againe vnto their contry and gaue them money to defraye their charges by the way and the barbarous people also that were brought thither by force from their natiue contries And so it fortuned that by the desolation and destruction of a city forsaken many others were built againe and stored with people bicause those cities had thereby recouered their naturall inhabitants againe who euer after did loue honor Lucullus as their benefactor and founder All other things prospered also according to his vertue and merites For Lucullus liked better the praise that came of bounty of iustice and of clemencie then that that came by force of marshall prowes cheualry For in deedes of armes he sayd his army partly deserued praise and fortune also caried the best parte away but the praise of the other were onely due vnto him selfe Whereby he shewed the valor of an excellent good man well taught and trained vp in vertue and so reaped the frute of his worthy deserts For by those good partes he wanne the hartes of the barbarous people in such sorte that the kinges of the ARABIANS came of good will to put them selues and their goods into his hands So did the nation of the SOPHENIANS also yeld them selues vnto him The GORDIAENIANS in like maner they liked Lucullus so well that they would willingly haue forsaken their cities houses contry to follow him with their wiues children vpon this occasion Zarbienus king of these GORDIAENIANS as we haue recited before had priuily entred amity with Lucullus by meanes of Appius Clodius who could no lenger away with the tyranny of Tigranes This practise was bewrayed vnto Tigranes who put Zarbienus his wife children to death before the ROMANES maine army came into the contry of ARMENIA Howbeit Lucullus did not forget it but passing through his realme gaue him very royall funeralles For hauing heaped vp a huge pyle of wodde sumptuously set out with cloth of gold and siluer other rich spoiles of Tigranes he him selfe in person would needes set it a fire and made the funerall effusions and accustomed sprincklinges at burialles with his frendes and kinsemen doing him this honor as to call him frend and confederate of the ROMANE people appointed also a great summe of money besides to erect a sumptuous tombe for him For they found great store of gold and siluer in the kinges castell and there was plenty of prouision also of three hundred thowsand bushells of wheate the which did enriche his souldiers maruelously and made Lucullus to be wondered at that hauinge receiued not one Drachma from the sparing coffers at ROME he had notwithstanding made the warre entertaine it selfe About the self same time also the king of the PARTHIANS sent Ambassadors vnto him to offer him his frendshippe and allyance which Lucullus willingly accepted and sent Ambassadors froÌ„ him also of acceptation who made reporte to Lucullus at their returne that the king of the PARTHIANS stoode doubtfull how to resolue which parte he should take and that secretly he sent vnto Tigranes to aske the realme of MESOPOTAMIA for his reward to aide him against the ROMANES Lucullus being truly enformed of the king of PARTHIAES double dealing determined to leaue Tigranes and Mithridates as two enemies wearied ouercome a litle to proue the force power of the PARTHIANS by making warres vpon theÌ„ thinking it great honor vnto him if he might discomfit and ouerthrow three so mighty kings one after an other like a valliant conqueror that had ouercome three famous Captaines together and had passed through the contries of three of the greatest Princes vnder the sunne alwayes a conqueror and neuer conquered Hereupon he wrote immediatly vnto Sornatius and other of his Captaines which he had left to keepe the realme of PONTVS that they should repayne to him with all speede with the bandes they had vnder their charge for that he was determined to departe out of the contry of GORDIAENA to go against the PARTHIANS howbeit his purpose altered by occasion For his Lieutenauntes that had many times before founde their souldiers mutinous and rebelling at their commaundements knew plainly then their cancred stomakes incorrigible disobedience For they could not possibly get them from thence by any compulsion or perswasions they could vse but contrarily they cryed out and tolde them plainly that they would no lenger tary where they were but would goe home to their contry and leaue the realme of PONTVS without gard or garrison at all And further that worst of all was when these newes were brought to Lucullus campe they gaue a full example of boldnes to his souldiers there to mutiny in such sorte hauing good will and disposition thereunto of themselues before For their purses being full and they acquainted with finenes were become so dull
from an other not straggling out of order and shaking their pikes speaking neuer a word But so soone as the allarom was giuen the horsemen sodainly turned head vpon the PARTHIANS and with great cries gaue charge on them who at the first receiued their charge coragiously for they were ioined nerer thē within an arrowes shoote But when the legions also came to ioine with them showting out alowde ratling of their armors the PARTHIANS horses and them selues were so affrayed and amazed withall that they all turned taile and fled before the ROMANES could come to the sword with them Then Antonius followed thē hard in chase being in great good hope by this conflict to haue brought to end all or the most part of this warre But after that his footemen had chased them fiftie furlonges of and the horsemen also thrise as farre they found in all but thirty prisoners taken and about foure score men only slaine But this did much discorage them when they cōsidered with them selues that obtaining the victory they had slaine so few of their enemies and where they were ouercome they lost as many of their men as they had done at the ouerthrow when the cariage was taken The next morning Antonius army trussed vp their cariage and marched backe towards their campe and by the way in their returne they met at the first a fewe of the PARTHIANS then going further they met a few moe So at length when they all came together they reuiled them troubled them on euery side as freshly coragiously as if they had not bene ouerthrowen so that the ROMANES very hardly got to their campe with safety The MEDES on the other side that were besieged in their chiefe city of PHRAATA made a saly out vpon them that kept the mount which they had forced and cast against the wall of the city and draue them for feare from the mount they kept Antonius was so offended withall that he executed the Decimation For he deuided his men by ten legions and then of them he put the tenth legion to death on whom the lot fell and to the other nine he caused them to haue barley giuen them in stead of wheate Thus this warre fell out troublesome vnto both parties and the ende thereof muche more fearefull For Antonius could looke for no other of his side but famine bicause he could forrage no more nor fetche in any vittells without great losse of his men Phraortes on the other side he knew well enough that he could bring the PARTHIANS to any thing els but to lye in campe abroad in the winter Therefore he was affrayed that if the ROMANES continued their siege all winter long made warre with him still that his mē would forsake him specially bicause the time of the yere went away apace the ayer waxed clowdy cold in the equinoctiall autumne Thereupon he called to mind this deuise He gaue the chiefest of his gentlemē of the PARTHIANS charge that when they met the ROMANES out of their campe going to forrage or to water their horse or for some other prouision that they should not distresse them too muche but should suffer them to carie somewhat away and greatly commend their valliantnes and hardines for the which their king did esteeme them the more and not without cause After these first baytes and allurements they beganne by litle and litle to come neerer vnto them and to talke with them a horsebacke greatly blaming Antonius selfewill that did not geue their king Phraortes occasion to make a good peace who desired nothing more then to saue the liues of so goodly a companie of valliant men but that he was too fondly bent to abide two of the greatest and most dreadfull enemies he could haue to wit winter and famine the which they should hardly away withall though the PARTHIANS did the best they could to aide accompany them These words being oftentimes brought to Antonius they made him a litle pliant for the good hope he had of his returne but yet he woulde not sende vnto the king of PARTHIA before they had first asked these barbarous people that spake so curteously vnto his men whether they spake it of them selues or that they were their maisters words When they told them the king him selfe sayd so and did perswade them further not to feare or mistrust them then Antonius sent some of his frends vnto the king to make demaund for the deliuery of the ensignes and prisoners he had of the ROMANES since the ouerthrow of Crassus to the ende it should not appeare that if he asked nothing they shoulde thinke he were glad that he might only scape with safety out of the daunger he was in The king of PARTHIA answered him that for the ensignes prisoners he demaunded he should not breake his head about it notwithstāding that if he would presently depart without delay he might depart in peaceable maner and without daunger Wherefore Antonius after he had giuen his men some time to trusse vp their cariage he raised his campe tooke his way to depart But though he had an excellent tongue at will and very gallant to enterteine his souldiers and men of warre and that he could passingly well do it as well or better then any Captaine in his time yet being ashamed for respects he would not speake vnto them at his remouing but willed Domitius AEnobarbus to do it Many of them tooke this in very ill parte thought that he did it in disdaine of them but the most part of them presently vnderstoode the truth of it and were also ashamed Therefore they thought it their dueties to carie the like respect vnto their Captaine that their Captaine did vnto them and so they became the more obedient vnto him So Antonius was minded to returne the same way he came being a plaine barren contry without wodde But there came a souldier to him borne in the contry of the MARDIANS who by oft frequenting the PARTHIANS of long time knew their facions very wel and had also shewed him selfe very true faithfull to the ROMANES in the battell where Antonius engines of battery and cariage were taken away This man came vnto Antonius to counsell him to beware how he went that way and to make his army a pray being heauily armed vnto so great a number of horsemen all archers in the open field where they should haue nothing to let them to compasse him round about and that this was Phraortes fetch to offer him so frendly cōdicions curteous words to make him raise his siege that he might afterwards meete him as he would in the plaines howbeit that he would guide him if he thought good an other way on the right hand through woddes mountaines a farre neerer way and where he should finde great plenty of all things needefull for his army Antonius hearing what he said called his counsel together to consult vpon
Irenes Melirenes The â—â—eeuerie of the Lacedaemonians Straight dyet causeth groeth and height Childrens exercise afect their supper The LacedamoniaÌ„s manner of liuing Short speache taught among the Lacedaemonians Lycurgus wise aunswere Lycurgus loue to god To geue a haÌ„d is to consesse him self ouercome Shorte sentences of certaint Laconians Leonidus Charilaus Archidamidas Shaâ—e sentences of the Laconians Demaratus Agis Theopompus Plistonax Pausanias sonne Archidamidas In the life of Agesilous The Lacedaemonians songes Three daunces among the Lacedaemonians Terpander of the Lacedaemonians Pyndarus of the Lacedaemonians The longe bushes and beare of the Laconians How the Laconians beganne battell The LaconiaÌ„s songe when they marched Eust. Ilia 15. How save the Lacedaemonians dyd pursue their enemies Lycurgus a very good captaine Oulames The LaconiaÌ„s opinion to serue their countrie The rest and leysure of the Lacedaemonians Idie liuers punished at Athens Sutes in lawe went aways with golde siluer that was banished How they spâ—o the time in Sparta The Lacedaemonians liued not priuately to them selues in the comm'd weale Paedaretus saying The manner of choosing the Senate in Sparta VVhat was done the Senatour being chosen The manner of buriall with the Lacedaemonians The time of mourning None allowed to trauell into other couÌ„tries without licence No straungers suffered to dwell in Sparta Cryptia with the Lacedaemonians The cruelty of the Lacedaemonians against the Ilotes Diodorus lib. 2. Plato in Timaeo Lycurgus wonderfull counsell in stablishing his lawes Lycurgus death Sparta florished fiue hundred yeres Lycurgus lawes were broke in king Agis time by Lysanders meanes Money corrupteth Lycurgus Lawes See more in Lysaders life Lysander brought in richer againe into Sparta Theopompus wordes of obeying and commauÌ„ding Good gouernmeÌ„t breedeth due obedieÌ„ce Antisthenes Socrates schollers wordes The foundation of a common weale Diuine honours to Lycurgus after his death Antiorus Lycurgus â—â—â—â—â— In what time Numa â—â—â— Cicero de Or. 2. Tuscâ—l 4. Lius Hâ—lic lib. 2. VVhether Pythagoras had any conversation with Numa Pythagoras the seconde a Spartan borne taught Numa at Rome The death of Romulus In the life of Romulus he is named Trocolus â— Dissention as Rome about choosing of their King. Liuie sayeth but a hundred Dionysius 200. Plutar. in the life of Romulus agreeth with Dionysius Interregnum Numa chosen King. Numa borne in the cittie of Cures Quirites why so called The life and manners of Numa before his raigne Tatia the wife of Numa Numa conuersant with the goddesse Egeria Goddes familliar with men VVho are beloued of the goddes Proclus and Velesus ambassadours to offer Numa the kingdom The orasion of Numa to the abassadours refusing to be King. Numa beginneth his kingdome with seruice of the goddes Numa was consecrated by the Augures The garde of Celeres discharged by Numa Flamen Quirinalis instituted of Numa Numa inducent ciuill quiet life Plato de Rep. lib. 2. Numa and Pythagoras institutions muche a like Numa worshipped Tacita one of the Muses Pythagoras taught his schollers to kept silence Pythagoras opinion of god Numa forbad images of God. Proofes for the conuersation of Numa and Pythagoras Numa instituteth Bishoppes Pontifices why so called The wodden bridge as Rome The highe bishoppe The institution of the Vestall Nunnes The holy and immortal fire How the holy fire is drawen from the pure flame of the sunne See the life of Camillus touching the Vestall Nunnes The Vestalls prerogatius The punishment of the Vestall Nunnes The temple of Vesta represenseth the figure of the worlde VVhere the fire abideth The manner of buriall Libitina honored at funeralls The time of mourning Salâ—i Feciales Pluto Probl. 62. Gell. lib. 16 c.4 Feciales called Irenophylaces Irenen a quarrell pacified with reason without the sword Rome taken by the Gaules See Camillus Life The institution of the Salij A target from heauen VVhereof they were called Salij Ancylia whereof so called Regia the Kings palace The manner of the Romaines worshipping of the goddes The Pythagorians opinion touching prayer Hoc age a watcheword to tend diuine seruice The similitude of Numa and Pythagoras precepts By what means Numa made the Romaines quiet and gentle The wonders of Numa Numaes speaking with Iupiter Picus Fannus The purifying of thunder Ilicium the name of the place Numa buylded temples to Faythe and Terme Numa made the boundes of the territorie of Rome Numa aduaunceth jillage Numa deuided his people into sundrie occupations Numa tooke away the factions of Romulus and Tatius The ordinaunce of the moneths of Numaes institution Macrob. 1. Sarâ—r 13. The yere diuersely counted * Peraduenture ye must read in the Greke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to saye of the name of Iuno * Some olde Grecian copies saye in this place marg 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much to saye as for the deade VVhy Ianus is painted with two faces At what time the temple of Ianus is thus in Rome Liu. lib. 1. The Romains had us warres in al Nunaes time Platoes saying concerning the felicitie of a coÌ„mon weale Numaes tiues and posteritie Pompilia Numaes daughter Pompilia maried to Caius Martius Corislanus Martius the Sabyne made Sunatouar at Rome Ancus Martius the sonne of Caius Martius Coviolanus The death of Numa Numaes bookes VVhy the Pythagoriâ—agrave left nothing in writing 12. bookes of priesthood 12. bookes of philosophie Good men praysed after their death The misfortunes of Numaes successours Hostilius The vertues of Numa and Lycurgus were alike but their deeds diuers VVhat things were harde to Lycurgus Slaues sai with their master as Saturnes feasts Macrob. Satur lib. 1. Diuers causes of the diuersitie of institutions of Numa and Lycurgus Description of their people Reason for mariages Numaes order for maidens the better The Laconians were to manly The Romaine women very modest The first diuorce aâ— Rome Howe much education and discipline is worthe Arist. polit 8. How Lycurgus lawes were stablished VVhy Numaes orders dyed Why Numa is to be preferred before Lycurgus Solons linage Great friendshipp betâ—ixâ— Solon Pisistratus A statute for bondmen Solon gaue him selfe in youth to trade marchauÌ„dise Solons iudgemeÌ„t of riches The commodities of merchandise A marchauns builded Massilia Thales Hippocrates Plato all marchaunts Pouerty with vertue better than riches How Solon vsed his poetrie Solon delited in morall but not in naturall philosophie Hellens three footed stoole of gold draweÌ„ vp in a drag net The rare modesty of the wise men Anacharsis and Solons meeting Anacharsis saying of Solons written lawes Solons talke with Thales at Miletum about mariage for hauing of children VVe should not let to get things necessarie fearing to lose them Cybistus Thales adopted sonne The instinct of naturall loue Proclamation vpon paâ—ne of death no man so moâ—e the counsell for the title of Salamina Solon fained madnes to recouer Salamina Solons Elegies of the Salaminians Of the temple of Venus Coliade Sâ—ab lib 4. â—â—rsan of the Athenians Solons stratageames Solon wanne Salamina Great stryfe betwext
the Megarians Athenians for Salamina Iliad lib. 2. The manner of burial with the MegariaÌ„ the Athenians Solon defendeth the cause of the teÌ„ple of Delphes Epimenides Phaestus taken for one of the 7. sages excluding Periander Solon pacified the sedition at Athens The miserie of dett and vsurie Solons equitie and vprightnes Solon by subtiltie set order betwext the poore rich Solon chosen reformer of the lawe and chief gouernour Salt refuseth to be a tyranne Tynnondas and Pittacus tyrannes Solens aunswere for tyrannie Excellent temperature Things hatefull made pleasaunt with sweete wordes Cleering of detts Solons first lawe Vsurie forbidden vpon gage of the bodie The value of money cried vp by Solon Lawes would be kept secret till they be published Ill consciences by craft preuent LaweÌ„ A good lawemaker beginneth to doe iustice in him selfe Solons absolute authority in the common weale Solon tooke awaye all DracoÌ„s lawes Solon â—ateth euerie citizen at a certen surname Pentacosiomedimnes Zeugite Thetes The darknes of the lawe increased the authoritie of the iudge The counsell of the Areopagites 3 Counsells erected in Athens Other lawes of Solon A lawe against neawters An acte for matching with inheritoâ—s Solon forbiddeth iointers and dowries Dionysius saying of mariages A law forbidding to speake euill of the dead * Drachmeâ— A lawe for willes and testaments marg A lawe for womens going abroade Craftes and occupations aduaunced The authoritie of the courte and counsaile of the Areopagites * Drachmae The tribes of the AtheniaÌ„s howe they were called An acte for welles An acte for planting and setting of trees Drachmae Feasts for townes men in the towne hall of AtheÌ„s Axones Cyrbes Thesmothetes SoloÌ„s trauell Clarius fl AEpia called Soles Solon saâ—e king Croesus in the cittie of Sardis Croesus question to Solon touching happines Solon esteemed Tellus a happie man. Cleobis Biton happy meÌ„ Solon commeÌ„deth the meane No man happie before his endâ— AEsope saying to Solon Solons aunswer to AEsope King Croesus wordes of Solon hanging vpoÌ„ a gibbeâ— to be bâ—ant Riches are but wordes opinion Sedition as AtheÌ„s in Solons absence Solon returneth to Athens Pisistratus wicked crasie subtiltie Thespis a maker of tragedies Solon reproued Thespis for lying Solons libertie constancie A good lawe for reward of seruice The house of P. Valerius Tarquinine Superbus Valerius Brutus companion in expulsing the Kings Lucius Brutus Tarquinius Collatinus Consuls The first embasâ—iâ—e of king Tarquine for recouering his Realme Another embasstate from Tarquine demaunding his goodes Good counsell of Minutius Tarquines ambassadours practise treason The Aquilij and Vitellij with Brutus sonnes traytours to their countrie The confederacy coÌ„firmed with drinking of maÌ„s bloud Vindicius heareth all their treason The conclusion of their treason Vindicius bewrayeth the treason vnto Valerius Titus Valerius Brutus sonnes Brutus seeth his â—ame sonnes punished executed Brutus praised reproued for the death of his sonnes Collatinus softnes perileus Valerius boldly appeacheth Collatinus of iniustice Collatinus resigneth his Consulshippe 〈…〉 departeth 〈…〉 S. Vindicta so called by reason of Vindicius Tarquines flied coÌ„secrated to Mars Vhereof the holy Iland came in Rome that lieth betwene both bridges Tarquine coÌ„meth with a great power of the Thuscans to wage battell with the Romaines Arsia silua AruÌ„s Brutus encountered and slue eche other The victory of the Romaines against the Thuscans Valerius the first Consul that euer triumphed vpon a cherres The first beginning of funerall oration amoÌ„g the Romaines Anaximenes sayeth Solon was the first that instituted prayses for the dead Valerius stately house staÌ„ding on mouÌ„t Velia Valerius a good example for magistrates Valerius ouerthrew his stately house The temple called Vicus Publicus VVhy Valerius was surnamed Publicola Publicolath actes and lawes VVhereof Peculium was called The first Quastores Publius Veturius Marc. Minutius Lucretius Publicola Consuls Publicola Marcus Horatius CoÌ„suls How oft a Iupiter Capitolins temple was burnt and built againe How much was spent in building the Capitoll Domitians mad building humor Personae proclaimeth warres with Rome Publicola Thus Lucretius Consuls Horatius Cocles why so called Good seruice rewarded Publicola Consul The noble acte of Mutius Secuola How Mutius come by the name of Secuola Publicolae maketh Porsena iudge betwext them and the Tarquines Peace graunted the Romaines by Porsena The boldenes of Claelia and other Romaine virgines The liberalitie of king Persona to the Romaines Marcus Valerius Posthumius Tubertus Consuls Marcus Valerius the brother of Publicola triumpheth of the Sabynes Appius Clausus goeth to dwel at Rome The familie of the Claudians The Sabynes slaine The death of Publicola His funeralles Publicola happie Publicola erected the office of Quaestores A politicke precepâ— Cynosargos a place of exercise dedicated to Hercules Thermistocles towardness Themistocles was Anaxagoras Melissus schollar Mnesiphilus Phrearian VVhat wisedome at in olde time Nowe the name of Sophisters came â—â— Themistocles youthe The priuie grudge betwext Themistocles and Aristides Aristides a iust man. Themistocles ambition Themistocles persuaded his contriemen to make gallyes The AtheniaÌ„s beÌ„t their force to sea by Themistocles persuasion Themistocles a good husbaÌ„d to looke for his profit Themistocles extremely ambitious A wise saying of Themistocles Themistocles made Aristides to be banished Epicydes an orator sued to be generall Arthmius defamed for bribing Themistocles generall of the AtheniaÌ„s against Xerxes The coast of Aretemisivm Themistocles straâ—ageame VVodden walles signifie shipps The Athenians forsake Athens by Themistocles persuasion doe goe to the sea Xanthippus dogge The dog goe graue Aristides renorneth from banishement by Themistocles decree Notable aunswers of Themistocles The Sleue is a fishe facioned like a sworde Themistocles stratageame by the which he wanne the ba'tell at Salamina Themistocles Aristides consent together to geue battell Xerxes king of Persia had a thousand ships Ariamenes Xerxes admirall The Grecians victorie of the Persians â—aâ—y by sea Aristides counsell vnto Themistocles for the breaking of Xerxes bridge Themistocles stratageame Themistocles honored aboue all the Grecians Themistocles ambition noted A prety tale of Themistocles Themistocles saying of his sonne Themistocles buylt againe the walles of the cittie of Athens A subtle fetche of Themistocles The hauen of Piraea fortified The equitie of the Athenians Themistocles goddes Loue and Force The AndriaÌ„s goddesses Pouertie Impossibilitie Themistocles banished for fiue yers Pausanias reuealeth his reason vnto Themistacles Themistocles suspected of treason Themistocles fled into the I le of Corphv The manner of supplicatioÌ„ among the Molossians Themistocles dreame The Persian iealous of their wiues Howe Themistocles was conueyed to the king of Persias courte The Persians honour their King as the image of the god of nature Themistocles talke with the â—ing of Persia An excellent comparison of Themistocles Themistocles honoured of the king of Persia. Demaratus fond demaÌ„do of the King. Themistocles had the reuenue of three citties allowed him for his dyet Themistocles escaped murder by a