emulations amongst the Senatours for though all agreed that it was necessary to have a King yet what Person or of what Nation was the dispute For those who had been builders of the City with Romulus though they had already yielded a share of their Lands and dwellings to the Sabines who were Aliens yet could not be perswaded to resign into their hands the Regal Authority On the other side the Sabines alledged that their King Tatius being deceased they had peaceably submitted to the obedience of Romulus so that now their turn was come to have a King chosen out of their own Nation nor did they esteem themselves inferiour to the Romans nor to have contributed less than they to the increase of Rome which without their numbers and association could never have merited the name of a City Thus did both parties argue and dispute their cause but lest in the mean time Sedition and discord should occasion Anarchy and confusion in the Common-wealth it was agreed and ordained That the hundred and fifty Senatours should interchangeably execute the Office of supreme Magistrate and with all the formalities and rites of Regality offer the solemn Sacrifices and dispatch judicial Causes for the space of six hours by day and six by night the which vicissitude and equal distribution of power would remove all emulation from amongst the Senatours and envy from the people when they could behold one elevated to the degree of a King levelled in a few hours after to the private condition of a Subject which Form of Government was termed by the Romans Interregnum Nor yet could this plausible and modest way of Rule escape the censure of the Vulgar who termed it a design of some few who to abolish the Kingly Government intended to get the power into their own hands and therefore to circumvent this plot they came at length to this conclusion that the party which did elect should choose one out of the body of the other that if the Romans were Electours they were to make choice of a Sabine and if the Sabines elected they were to choose a Roman this was esteemed the best expedient to reconcile all parties and interests for that the created Prince would be obliged to favour the one for their suffrages in his election as he was the other on score of relation and consanguinity In pursuance of this agreement the Sabines remitted the choice to the ancient Romans being more inclinable to receive a Sabine King elected by the Romans than to see a Roman exalted by the Sabines consultations being accordingly held Numa Pompilius of the Sabine race was elected a person so famous and of that high reputation that though he were not actually residing at Rome yet no sooner was he nominated than accepted by the Sabines with applause and acclamation equal to that freedom which the Romans shewed in his election The choice being declared and made publick principal men of both parties were appointed to compliment and intreat the Prince that he would be pleased to accept the administration of the Kingly Government Now this Numa resided at a famous City of the Sabines called Cures whence both the Romans and Sabines gave themselves the name of Quirites as a comprehensive name for both Associates Pomponius an illustrious person was his Father and he the youngest of his four Sons being by Divine Providence born on the eleventh of the Kalends of May which was the day on which the Foundation of Rome was laid he was endued with a Soul rarely tempered by Nature and disposed to Vertue and excellently improved by Learning Patience and the studies of Philosophy by which advantages of Art he regulated the disorderly motions of the Mind and rendred Violence and Oppression which had once an honourable esteem amongst the barbarous Nations to be vile and mean making it appear that there was no other Fortitude than that which subdu'd the Affections and reduc'd them to the terms and restraints of Reason Thus whilst he banished all luxury and softness from his own home he gave a clear and manifest indication to all Citizens and strangers of his sound and impartial judgment not delighting himself in divertisements or profitable acquisitions but in the worship of the immortal Gods and in the rational contemplation of their Divine Power and Nature to all which renown and fame he added this farther glory that he took Tatia for his Wife who was the Daughter of that Tatius whom Romulus had made his Associate in the Government nor yet did the advantage of this Marriage swell his vanity to such a pitch as to desire to dwell with his Father-in-law at Rome but rather to content himself to inhabit with hâ—s Sabines and cherish his own Father in his old Age the like inclinations had also Tatia who preferred the private condition of her Husband before the honours and splendour she might have enjoyed in her Father's Court. This Tatia as is reported after she had lived for the space of thirteen years with Numa in conjugal society dyed and then Numa leaving the conversation of the Town betook himself to a Country life and in a solitary manner dwelt in the Groves and Fields consecrated to the Gods where the common fame was he gained such acquaintance and familiarity with the Goddess Egeria that he lived in those retirements free from all disturbances and perturbations of mind and being inspired with the sublime and elevated pleasure of a celestial marriage he had arrived to a beatitude in this life and to a clear notion of Divine Sciences There is no doubt but that such fancies as these have had their original from ancient Fables such as the Phrygians recount of Atis the Bythinians of Herodotus the Arcadians of Endymion and a thousand other Demons which past Ages recorded for Saints that were beatified and beloved of the Gods nor doth it seem strange if God who places not his affection on Horses or Birds should not disdain to dwell with the vertuous and entertain a spiritual conversation with wise and devout Souls though it be altogether irrational to believe that the Divine Essence of any God or Demon is capable of a sensual or carnal love or passion for humane Beauty And yet the wise Egyptians did not conceive it an absurd fancy to imagin that a Divine Essence might by a certain spiritual impulse apply it self to the nature of a Woman and lay the first beginnings of generation though on the other side they concluded it impossible for the Male-kind to have any congress or mixture with a Goddess not considering that there can be no real coition but where there is a mutual communication of one to the other The truth of the matter is this those men are onely dear to the Gods who are vertuous and those are beloved by them whose actions are regulated by the rules of Divine Wisedom and therefore it was no errour of those who feigned that Phorbas Hyacinthus
where a little mount of Earth is raised called in Latin Agger under it is a narrow Room to which a descent is made by Stairs here they prepare a Bed and light up a Lamp and provide a small quantity of Victuals such as Bread Water in a Bottle Milk and Oil that so that Body which had been consecrated and devoted to the most divine and mysterious service might not be said to perish by a death so detestable as that of Famine The party thus condemned is carried to execution through the Market-place in a Litter wherein she is covered and bound with Cords so that the voice of her cries and laments cannot be heard all people with silence go out of the way as she passes and such as follow accompany the Bier with solemn and tacite sorrow and indeed such is the sadness which the City puts on on this occasion that there is no spectacle of grief which appears of more common and general concernment than this When they come to the place of Execution the Officers loose the Cords and then the High Priest lifting his hands to Heaven murmures some certain prayers to himself then the Prisoner being still covered is brought forth and led down by the steps unto her House of darkness which being done the Priests retire and the Stairs being drawn up the Earth is pressed and crouded in untill the Vault is filled And this was the punishment of those who broke their Vow of Virginity It is said also that Numa built the Temple of Vesta which was intended for a conservatory of the Holy Fire in an orbicular form to represent perhaps the Frame of the Universe in the centre of which the Pythagoreans place the element of Fire and give it the name of Vesta and Unity and yet they do not hold that the Earth is immovable or that it is situated in the middle region of the Globe but keeps a circular motion about the seat of Fire nor do they account the Earth amongst the chief or primary Elements following the opinion of Plato who they say in his mature and philosophical age held that the Earth had a lateral position for that the middle or centre was reserved for some more noble and refined Body There was yet a farther use of the High Priest and that was to order the Procession at funeral Rites according to the method prescribed by Numa who taught that there was no uncleanness in the contact of dead Corpses but a part of the service owing to the subterranean Gods amongst which they worshipped the Goddess Libitina as the chief of those who presided over the Ceremonies performed at Burials whether they meant hereby Persephone or as some of the learned Romans will have it Venus for they not without good reason attributed the beginning and end of Man's lise to the same original cause and virtue of a Deity Numa also prescribed Rules for regulating the days of Mourning according to certain times and ages As for example a Child of three years and so upwards to ten was to be mourned for for so many months as it was years old and the longest time of mourning for any person whatsoever was not to exceed the term of ten months which also was the time appointed unto Widows to lament the loss of their deceased Husbands before which they could not without great indecency pass unto second Marriages but in case their incontinence was such as could not admit so long an abstinence from the Marriage-bed they were then to sacrifice a Cow with Calf for expiation of their fault Numa also was Founder of several other Orders of Priests two of which are worthy to be here mentioned namely the Salii and the Feciales which with other instances are clear proofs of the great devotion and sanctity of this Person These Feciales whose name in my opinion is derived from their Office were the Arbitratours to whom all Controversies were referred relating to War and Peace for it was not allowable to take up Arms untill they had declared all hopes and expedients rejected which tended to an accommodation by the word Peace we mean a determination of matters in dispute by Law and not by Violence or Force The Romans commonly dispatched the Feciales who were properly Heralds to those who had offered them injury requiring satisfaction and in case they made not restitution or just returns they then called the Gods to witness against them and their Country and so denounced War the sense of the Feciales in this case was of absolute necessity for without their consent it was neither lawfull for the Roman King nor yet for the people to take up Arms and from them the General took his rules concerning the justice of his cause which being adjudged and the War determined the next business was to deliberate of the manner and ways to manage and carry it on It is believed that the slaughter and destruction which the Gauls made of the Romans was a just judgment on the City for neglect of this religious proceeding for that when a foreign Nation besieged the Clusinians Fabius Ambustus was dispatched to their Camp with Propositions of Peace but they returning a rude and peremptory Answer thereunto Fabius imagined that his Treaty was at an end and that he had fully complied with the duty of his Embassie and therefore rashly engaging in a War challenged the stoutest and bravest of the enemy to a single Combat It was the fortune of Fabius to kill his adversary and to take his spoils which when the Gauls understood they sent a Herald to Rome to complain against Fabius who before a War was published had against the Law of Nations made a breach of the Peace The matter being debated in the Senate the Feciales were of opinion that Fabius ought to be consigned into the hands of the Gauls but he being pre-advised of this judgment fled to the people by whose protection and favour he was secured on this occasion the Gauls marched with their Army to Rome where having taken the Capitol they sacked the City The particulars of all which are at large related in the History of Camillus Now the original of the Salii is this In the eighth year of the reign of Numa that terrible Pestilence which was spread over all Italy did likewise miserably infest the City of Rome at which the Citizens being greatly affrighted and despairing of health were again comforted by the report of a brazen Target which they say fell from Heaven into the hands of Numa and of which they relate strange effects operated by the virtue of this miraculous Buckler and that Numa having had conference with the Nymph Egeria and some of the Muses he was assured that that Target was sent from Heaven for the cure and safety of the City and that because on the conservation thereof the common health and benefit depended he was ordered by them to make eleven others so like in all dimensions and form to
others they were to present themselves before the Gods to obtain their blessings and success on that which was to follow And this form of Ceremony did very well sute with the preceding Doctrine which taught that men ought not to approach the Gods in a transitory way and with distracted minds but laying aside all worldly cares and wandring fancies should then onely pray when their thoughts are possessed with Divine Meditation By such Discipline as this recommended by the constant practice and example of the Legislatour the City did so insensibly pass into a religious temper and frame of devotion and stood in that awe and reverence of the vertue of Numa that they received and believed with an undoubted assurance whatsoever he delivered though never so fabulous his authority being sufficient to make the greatest absurdities and impossibilities to pass for matters and points of Faith There goes a story That he once invited a great number of Citizens to an entertainment at which the Dishes in which the Meat was served were very homely and plain and the Commons short and the Meat ill dressed the Guests being sate he began to tell them that the Goddess which was his familiar Spirit and always conversant with him was then at that time present when on a sudden the Room was furnished with all sorts of pretious Pots and Dishes and the mean Fare converted into a most magnificent Feast adorned with all sorts of the most delicious Viands But the Dialogue which is reported to have passed between him and Jupiter surpasses all the fabulous Legends that were ever invented They say that before Mount Aventine was inhabited or inclosed within the Walls of the City that two Demi-gods which were Picus and Faunus did usually frequent the Fountains and close shades of that place which some will have to be two Satyrs of the Titanian race who being expert in the faculty of Physick and dexterous in legerdemain and magical spells like the Dactyli of Mount Ida made a Journey through all the parts of Italy Numa contriving one day to surprise these Demi-gods mingled the Waters of the Fountain of which they did usually drink with Wine and Honey which so pleased these liquorish Deities that he easily ensnared and took them but then they changed themselves into many various forms and shapes intending under horrid and unknown transmutations to make their escape but finding themselves entrapped in inextricable toils and in no possibility to get free revealed unto him many secrets and future events and particularly a charm against Thunder and Lightning which they composed of Onions and Hair and the Bones of a Fish but some deny and say that these Demi-gods did not discover the secret of this charm to Numa but that they by the force of their Magick Art and Spells had constrained Jove himself to descend from Heaven to satisfie the demands of Numa and that he then in an angry manner answering his enquiries told him that if he would charm the Thunder and Lightning he must doe it with Heads How said Numa with the Heads of Onions No reply'd Jupiter of Men. But Numa willing to divert the cruelty of this Receipt turned it another way saying Your meaning is the Hairs of Mens Heads No reply'd Jupiter of living Men then Numa being instructed by the Goddess Egeria seemed to mistake and say How with the Bones of the Fish Maena which being the three ingredients that compose the charm so operated on Jupiter that he returned again to Heaven pacified and well-pleased This place was ever afterwards called Elicium or Ilicium from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies propitious or mercifull and in this manner this Magick Spell was effected Such was the superstitious humour of that Age which the example of the Prince had wrought in the Minds of the Vulgar that nothing was so absurd and ridiculous in Religion which gain'd not belief and Numa himself was said to have been possessed with such a confidence and fiducial trust in the Gods that when it was told him that the Enemy was near at hand he smilingly answered That he feared them not let them come at their peril for he was then sacrificing to the Gods It was he also that built the Temples of Faith and Terminus and taught the Romans such respect to Faith that it was the greatest Oath and the most obligatory that they could swear and to the God Terminus they offer unto this day the bloud of Beasts both in publick and private Sacrifices upon the borders and stone marks of their Land though anciently those Sacrifices were solemnized without bloud it being the Precept and Doctrine of Numa to offer nothing to the God Terminus but what was pure and free of bloudy cruelty for that he whose incumbence it was to fix boundaries was thereby constituted an Arbiter of Peace and Justice punishing those who removed their neighbours Land-mark or invaded his right It is very clear that it was this King who first prescribed bounds to the jurisdiction of Rome for Romulus would have betrayed his own cause and plainly discovered how much he had encroached on his neighbours Lands had he ever set limits to his own which as they are fences and curbs against arbitrary invasions to those who observe them so they serve for evidences to arise in judgment against those who break over and violate the borders with which they are circumscribed The truth is the portion of Lands which the Romans possessed at the beginning was very narrow untill Romulus by War enlarged them and which Numa afterwards divided amongst the indigent Commonalty that he might ward them against violent necessity which always puts men upon injurious designs and shifts and that by placing them in Farms he might accustom them to a desire of property and a regular way of living for as there is nothing that so reconciles the minds of men to Peace as Husbandry and a Country lise so it makes them abhorr all violence and gives them courage and resolution to defend their sowed Lands and Pastures from the encroachment of their neighbours Wherefore Numa that he might take and amuse the hearts of his Citizens with Agriculture or Husbandry which is an employment that rather begets civility and a peaceable temper than great opulency and riches he divided all the Lands into several parcels to which he gave the name of Pagus or Borough and over every one of them he ordained a Chief or Arbitrator in judicial causes and taking a delight sometimes to survey his Colonies in person he made judgment of every man's inclinations and manners by his industry and the improvements he had made of which being witness himself he preferred those to honours and authority who had merited most and on the contrary reproached the sluggishness of such who had given themselves over to a careless and a negligent life But above all which was a principal point of his Politicks he divided the
these and dissolve or continue any of the present Constitutions according to his pleasure First then he repeal'd all Draco's Laws except those concerning Murther because they were too severe and their punishments too great for Death was appointed for almost all offences insomuch that those that were convicted of Idleness were to dye and those that stole a Cabbage or an Apple to suffer as the Villains that committed Sacrilege or Murther And therefore Demades is famous for saying that Draco's Laws were not writ with Ink but Bloud and he himself being once ask'd Why he made Death the punishment of most offences reply'd Small ones deserve that and I have no higher for the greater Crimes Next Solon being willing to continue the Magistracy in the hands of the rich Men and yet receive the People into the other part of the Government he took an account of the Citizens Estates and those that were worth five hundred Measures of Wet and Dry he plac'd in the first rank calling them Pentacosiomedimnoi those that could keep an Horse or were worth three hundred Measures were nam'd Hippada telountes and made the second Class the Zeugitae that had two hundred Measures were in the third and all the others were call'd Thetes who were not admitted to any Office but could come to the Assembly and give their Voices which at first seem'd nothing but afterwards appear'd a considerable privilege for most of the Controversies came to their hearing because in all matters that were under the cognizance of the other Magistrates there lay an appeal to that Assembly Beside 't is said that he was obscure and ambiguous in the wording of his Laws on purpose to encrease the honour of his Courts for since their differences could not be adjusted by the Letter they were to bring all their Causes to the Judges who were as Masters and interpreters of the Laws and of this Equality he himself makes mention in this manner What power was fit I did on all bestow Not rais'd the Poor too high nor prest too low The Rich that rul'd and every Office bore Confin'd by Laws they could not press the Poor Both parties I secur'd from lawless might So none prevail'd upon another's right And for the greater security of the weak Commons he gave all liberty to enter an Action against another for an injury so that if one was beaten maim'd or suffer'd any violence any man that would and was able might prosecute the injurious intending by this to accustom the Citizens like members of the same Body to resent and be sensible of one anothers injuries and there is a saying of his agreeable to this Law for being ask'd what City was best modell'd That says he where those that are not injur'd equally prosecute the unjust with those that are when he had constituted the Areopagus of the yearly Magistrates of which he himself being Archon was a member still observing that the People now free from their Debts grew proud and imperious he settled another Court of four hundred a hundred out of each of the four Tribes which were to inspect all matters before they were to be propounded to the People and to take care that nothing but what had been diligently examin'd should be brought before the general Assembly The upper Council he made inspectours and keepers of the Laws supposing that the Commonwealth held by these two Councils as by firm Anchors would be less liable to be tost by tumults and the People be more at quiet Thus most deliver that Solon instituted the Areopagus which seems to be confirm'd because Draco makes no mention of the Areopagites but in all capital Causes applies himself to the Ephetae Yet Solon's thirteenth Table contains the eighth Law set down in these words Whoever before Solon's Archonship were disgrac'd let them be restor'd except those that being condemn'd by the Areopagites Ephetae or the Kings for Murther or designs against the Government had fled their Country when this Law was made and these words seem to shew that the Areopagus was before Solon's Laws for who could be condemn'd by that Council before his time if he was the first that instituted the Court unless which is probable there is some defect and obscurity in this Table and it should run thus Those that are convicted of such offences as belong to the cognizance of the Areopagites Ephetae or the Prytanes when this Law was made should remain still in disgrace whilst others are restor'd and this was his meaning Amongst his other Laws that is very peculiar and surprising which makes all those infamous who stand Neuters in a Sedition for it seems he would not have any one insensible and regardless of the Publick and securing his private affairs glory that he had no feeling of the distempers of his Country but presently joyn with the good party and those that had the right upon their side assist and venture with them rather than shift out of harms way and watch who would get the better But that seems an absurd and foolish Law which permits an Hieress if her lawfull Husband prove impotent to lye with his nearest Kinsman yet some say this Law was well contriv'd against those who conscious of their own inability yet for the sake of the portion would match with Hieresses and make use of Law to put a violence upon Nature for now since she can lye with whom she please they must either abstain from such Marriages or continue them with disgrace and suffer for their covetousness and design'd affront besides 't is well done to confine her to her Husband 's nearest Kinsman that the Children may be of the same Family and agreeable to this is the Law that the Bride and Bridegroom shall be shut into a Chamber and eat a Quince together and that her Husband is oblig'd to go in to such an Heiress thrice a Month for though he gets no Children yet 't is an honour and due affection which an Husband ought to pay to a vertuous chaste Wife it takes off all petty differences and will not permit their little quarrels to proceed to a rupture In all other Marriages he forbad Dowries to be given the Wife was to have three suits of Clothes a little inconsiderable Houshold-stuff and that was all for he would not have Marriages contracted for gain or an Estate but for pure Love kind Affection and to get Children Dionysius when his Mother advis'd him to marry one of his Citizens Indeed says he by my Tyranny I have broken my Country's Laws but cannot put a violence upon those of Nature by an unseasonable Marriage Such disorder is never to be suffer'd in a Commonwealth nor such unseasonable and unperforming Marriages which neither attain their due end nor fruit but any provident Governour or Law-giver might say to an old Man that takes a young Wife what is spoken to Philoctetes in the Tragedy Poor Wretch in what a
they invited any considerable Grecian into their service to encourage him they would signifie to him by Letters that he should be as great with them as Themistocles was with Xerxes They relate also how Themistocles when he was in great prosperity and courted by many seeing himself splendidly served at his Table he turned to his Children and said Children we had been undone if we had not been undone Most Writers say that he had three Cities given him Magnesia Myus and Lampsacus to maintain him in Bread Meat and Wine Neanthes of Cyzicus and Phanias add two more the City of Percotes to provide him with Clothes and Palaescepsis with Bedding and Furniture for his House As he went down towards the Sea side to provide against the attempts and practices of the Greeks a Persian whose name was Epixyes Governour of the upper Phrygia laid wait to kill him having for that purpose provided a long time before a crew of Pisidian murtherers who were to set upon him when he came to reside in a City that is called Lyons-head but Themistocles sleeping in the middle of the day the Mother of the Gods appeared to him in a Dream and said unto him Themistocles never come at the Lyon's-head for fear you fall into the Lyon's Jaws for this advice I expect that your Daughter Mnesiptolema should be my servant Themistocles was much astonished and when he had poured forth his prayers and made his vows to the Goddess he left the great Road and taking a compass about went another way changing his intended station to avoid that place and at night took up his rest in the Fields but one of the Sumpter-horses which carried part of the Furniture for his Tent having fallen that day into a River his Servants spread out the Tapestry which was wet and hanged it up to drie it in the mean time the Pisidians made towards them with their Swords drawn and not discerning exactly by the Moon what it was that was stretched out to be dried they thought it was the Tent of Themistocles and that they should find him resting himself within it but when they came nigh and lifted up the Hangings those who watched there fell upon them and took them Themistocles having escaped this great danger was in admiration of the goodness of the Goddess that appeared to him and in memory of it he built a Temple in the City of Magnesia which he dedicated to Cybele Dindymene Mother of the Gods wherein he consecrated and devoted his Daughter Mnesiptolema unto her service When he came to Sardis he visited the Temples of the Gods and observing at his leisure their Buildings Ornaments and the number of their Offerings he saw in the Temple of the Mother of the Gods the Statue of a Virgin in Brass two Cubits high called the Water-bringer or she that brought the Water back again into its right Chanel Themistocles had caused this to be made and set up when he was Surveyor of the Aquaeducts at Athens out of the Fines and Forfeitures of those whom he had discovered to have taken away the Water or to have turned it out of its due course by other Pipes fitted for their private use and whether he had some regret to see this fair Image in Captivity and the Statue of a Grecian Virgin kept Prisoner in Asia or whether he was desirous to let the Athenians see in what great credit he was with the King and what authority he had in all the Persian affairs he entred into discourse with the Governour of Lydia to persuade him to send this Statue back to Athens which so enraged the Persian Officer that he told him he would write the King word of it Themistocles being affrighted hereat got access to his Wives and Concubines whom he gained with money and by their means mitigated the fury of the Governour and afterwards carried himself more reservedly and circumspectly fearing the envy of the Persians and gave over travelling about Asia and lived quietly in his own House in Magnesia where for a long time he passed his days in great security as Theopompus writes being courted by all and presented with rich Gifts and honoured equally with the greatest persons in the Persian Empire the King at that time not minding his concerns with Greece being incessantly busied about the affairs of the upper Provinces But when Aegypt revolted being assisted by the Athenians and the Grecian Galleys roved about as far as Cyprus and Cilicia and Cimon had made himself master of the Seas the King turned his thoughts and bending his mind chiefly to resist the Grecians and to hinder their increasing power against him raised Forces sent out Commanders and dispatched Mâ—ssengers to Themistocles at Magnesia to put him in mind of his promise and to incense him and irritate him against the Greeks yet this did not increase his hatred nor exasperate him against the Athenians neither was he any ways elevated with the thoughts of the honour and powerfull command he was to have in this War but either imagining that this undertaking could not prosperously be carried on nor the King easily compass his designs the Greeks having at that time great Commanders and amongst them Cimon wonderfully successfull in the affairs of Greece or chiefly being ashamed to sully the glory of his former great actions and of his many Victories and Trophies he determined to put a conclusion to his days sutable to his former great deeds and to make an end agreeable to the whole course of his life he sacrificed to the Gods and invited his Friends and having kindly entertained them and shaked hands with them he drank Bulls Bloud as the general report goes but some say he took poison which dispatched him in a short time and ended his days in the City of Magnesia having lived sixty five years most of which he had spent in the State and in the Wars in governing of Countries and commanding of Armies The King being informed of the cause and manner of his death admired him more than ever and continued to shew kindness to his Friends and Relations Themistocles left three Sons by Archippa Daughter to Lysander of Alopece Archeptolis Polyeuctus and Cleophantus Plato the Philosopher mentions the latter as a most excellent Horseman but relates nothing else of him worthy of memory of his eldest Sons Neocles and Diocles Neocles died when he was young by the bite of a Horse and Diocles was adopted by his Grandfather Lysander to be his Heir He had many Daughters of which Mnesiptolema whom he had by a second Marriage was Wife to Archeptolis her Brother-in-law by another Mother Italia was married to Panthedes of the Island of Scio Sybaris to Nicomedes the Athenian After the death of Themistocles his Nephew Phrasicles set sail for Magnesia and married his Daughter Nicomachia receiving her from the hands of her Brothers and brought up her Sister Asia the youngest of all the Children The Magnesians possess the splendid Sepulchre
unrevenged The first token that seemed to threaten some mischief to ensue was the death of the Censor in the Month of July for the Romans have a religious reverence for the office of a Censor and esteem it a sacred thing The second was That just before Camillus went into exile Marcus Cedicius a person of no great quality or of the rank of Senatours but esteemed a sober and creditable man reported to the Military Tribunes a thing worthy their consideration That going along the Night before in that Street which is called the new Way and being called by some body in a huge voice he turned about but could see no body but heard a voice bigger than a Man's which said these words Go Marcus Cedicius and early in the morning tell the Military Tribunes that suddenly they are to expect the Gauls But the Tribunes made a mock and sport with the story and a little after Camillus his business fell out The Gauls are descended originally of the Celtae and are reported by reason of their vast numbers to have left their Country not able to sustain them all and to have gon in search of other places to inhabit And being many thousands of them young Men and able to bear Arms and carrying with them a greater number of Women and young Children some of them passing the Riphaean Mountains fell upon the Northern Ocean and possessed the uttermost bounds of Europe others seating themselves between the Pyrenaean Mountain and the Alpes for a long time lived near to the Sennones and Celtorii But afterwards tasting of the Wine which was then first brought them out of Italy they were all so much taken with the Liquor and transported with the unusual delight that snatching up their Arms and taking their Parents along with them they marched directly to the Alpes to find out that Country which yielded such Fruit esteeming all others barren and unpleasant He that first brought Wine among them and was the chief instigatour to draw them into Italy is said to be one Arron a Tuscan a man of noble extraction by nature not evil but happened to be in these untoward circumstances he was Guardian to an Orphan one of the richest of that Country and much admired for his beauty his name Lucumo From his Childhood he had been bred up with Arron in his Family and now grown up he left not the House pretending to take great delight in his conversation thus for a great while together he secretly enjoyed Arron's Wife corrupting and being corrupted by her But when they were both so far gone on in their passions that they could neither refrain their lust or conceal it the young Man seised the Woman and openly carried her away The Husband going to Law and overpower'd in multitude of Friends and Money left his own Country and hearing of the state of the Gauls went to them and was Conductour of that Expedition into Italy At first coming they presently possessed themselves of all that Country which anciently the Tuscans inhabited reaching from the Alpes to both the Seas as the names themselves witness for the North Sea Adria is so called from the Tuscan City Adria and that which lies on the other side to the South is called the Tuscan Sea All the Country is well planted with Trees has pleasant and rich Pasture and well watered with Rivers It had eighteen fair and stately Cities excellently seated for industry and Trade and plentifully provided for all pleasures and delights The Gauls casting out the Tuscans seated themselves in them but these things were done long before But the Gauls at this time were besieging Clusium a Tuscan City The Clusians sent to the Romans for succour desiring them to interpose with the Barbarians by their Letters and Ambassadours There were sent three of the Family of the Fabii persons of the greatest quality and most honourable in the City The Gauls received them courteously in respect to the name of Rome and giving over the assault which was then making upon the Walls came to conference with them where the Ambassadours asking what injury they had received of the Clusians that they thus invaded their City Brennus King of the Gauls smiling made answer The Clusians doe us injury in that not able to till a small parcel of ground they must needs possess a great Territory and will not communicate any part to us who are strangers many in number and poor In the same nature O Romans formerly the Albanes Fidenates and Ardeates and now lately the Veiens and Capenates and many of the Falisces and Volsces did you injury upon whom ye make War if they do not yield you part of what they possess ye make Slaves of them ye waste and spoil their Country and ruin their Cities neither in so doing are ye cruel or unjust but follow that most ancient of all Laws which gives the things of the feeble to the strong beginning from God and ending in the Beasts for all these by nature seek the stronger to have advantage over the weaker Leave off therefore to pity the Clusians whom we besiege lest ye teach the Gauls to be good and compassionate to those that are oppressed by you By this answer the Romans perceived that Brennus was not to be treated with so they went into Clusium and encouraged and stirr'd up the inhabitants to make a sally with them upon the Barbarians which they did either to try the strength of the Clusians or to shew their own The sally being made and the fight growing hot about the Walls one of the Fabii Quintus Ambustus being well mounted and setting Spurs to his Horse made full against a Gaul a man of huge bulk and stature whom he saw was rode out a great distance from the rest At the first he was not perceived through the sharpness of the encounter and the glittering of his Armour that hindred the sight of him but when he had overthrown the Gaul and was going to gather the Spoils Brennus knew him and invoking the Gods to be witnesses that contrary to the known and common Law of Nations which is holily observed by all mankind that he who came an Ambassadour should act hostility against him he drew off his men and bidding the Clusians farewell led his Army directly to Rome But not willing it should look as if they took advantage of that injury and were ready to embrace any slight occasion and pretence of quarrel he sent a Herald to demand the man in punishment and in the mean time marched leasurely on The Senate being met at Rome among many others that spoke against the Fabii the Priests called Feciales were the most violent prosecutours who laying Religion before the Senate advised them that they would lay the whole guilt and expiation of the fact upon him that committed it and so acquit the rest These Feciales Numa Pompilius the mildest and justest of Kings constituted the Conservatours of Peace and the
Judges and Determiners of all Causes by which War may justifiably be made The Senate referring the whole matter to the People and the Priests there as well as in the Senate pleading against Fabius the multitude did so little regard their authority that in scorn and contempt of it they chose Fabius and the rest of his Brethren Military Tribunes The Gauls hearing this in great rage would no longer delay their march but hastned on with all the speed they could make The places through which they marched terrified with their numbers and such dreadfull preparations of War and considering the violence and fierceness of their natures began to give their Countries for lost not doubting but their Cities would quickly follow but contrary to expectation they did no injury as they passed or drove any thing from the Fields and when they went by any City they cried out That they were going to Rome that the Romans onely were their Enemies and that they took all others for their Friends Thus whilst the Barbarians were hastening with all speed the Military Tribunes brought the Romans into the Field to be ready to engage them being not inferiour to the Gauls in number for they were no less than forty thousand Foot but most of them raw Souldiers and such as had never handled a Weapon before besides they had neglected to consult the Gods as they ought and used to do upon all difficulties especially War but ran on without staying for Priest or Sacrifice No less did the multitude of Commanders distract and confound their proceedings for before upon less occasions they chose a single person called Dictatour being sensible of what great importance it is in times of danger to have the Souldiers united under one General who had absolute and unaccountable power in his hands Add to all that the remembrance of Camillus his case was no small hinderance to their affairs it being grown a dangerous thing to command without humouring and courting the Souldiers In this condition they left the City and encamped by the River Allia about eleven miles from Rome and not far from the place where it falleth into the Tyber where the Gauls coming upon them and they shamefully engaging without Order or Discipline were miserably defeated The left Wing was immediately driven into the River and there utterly destroyed the Right had less damage by declining the shock and from the low grounds getting to the tops of Hills from whence many of them afterwards drop'd into the City the rest as many as escaped the Enemy being weary of the slaughter stole by night to Veii giving Rome for gone and all that was in it for lost This Battel was fought about the Summer Solstice the Moon being at full the very same day in which formerly happened that sad misfortune to the Fabii when three hundred of that name and Family were at one time cut off by the Tuscans But from this second loss and defeat the day got the name of Alliensis from the River Allia and still retaineth it But concerning unlucky days whether we should esteem any such or no or whether Heraclitus did well in upbraiding Hesiod for distinguishing them into fortunate and unfortunate as one ignorant that the nature of every day is the same I have discoursed in another place but upon occasion of this present subject I think it will not be amiss to annex a few examples relating to this matter On the fifth of June the Boeotians happened to get two signal Victories the one about Leuctra the other at Gerastus about three hundred years before when they overcame Lattamyas and the Thessalians and asserted the liberty of Greece Again on the sixth of August the Persians were worsted by the Grecians at Marathon on the third at Plataeae as also at Mycale on the twenty fifth at Arbeli The Athenians about the full Moon in August got a Sea Victory about Naxus under the Conduct of Chabrias about the twentieth at Salamin as we have shewn in our Book of Days April was very unfortunate to the Barbarians for in that Month Alexander overcame Darius his General at Granicum and the Carthaginians on the twenty seventh were beaten by Timoleon about Sicily on which same Day and Month Troy seems to have been taken as Ephorus Callisthenes Damastes and Phylarchus have related On the other hand the Month July was not very lucky to the Grecians for on the seventh day of the same they were defeated by Antipater at the Battel in Cranon and utterly ruin'd and before that in Chaeronea they were defeated by Philip and on the very same Day same Month and same Year they that went with Archidamus into Italy were there cut off by the Barbarians The Carthaginians also observe the twenty seventh of the same Month as bringing with it the most and greatest of their losses I am not ignorant that about the Feast of Mysteries Thebes was destroyed by Alexander and after that upon the same twentieth of August on which day they celebrate the Mysteries of Bacchus the Athenians received a Garrison of the Macedonians on the self same day the Romans lost their Camp under Scipio by the Cimbrians and under the conduct of Lucullus overcame the Armenians and Tigranes King Attalus and Pompey died both on their birth days I could reckon up several that have had variety of fortune on the same day This day called Alliensis is one of the unfortunate ones to the Romans and for its sake other two in every Month Fear and Superstition as the custom of it is more and more encreasing But I have discoursed this more accurately in my Book of Roman Causes And now after the Battel had the Gauls immediately pursued those that fled there had been no remedy but Rome must have wholly been ruined and all those who remained in it utterly destroyed such was the terrour that those who escaped the Battel had struck into the City at their return and so great afterwards was the distraction and confusion But the Gauls not imagining their Victory to be so considerable and overtaken with the present joy fell to feasting and dividing the Spoil by which means they gave leisure to those who were for leaving the City to make their escape and to those that remained to provide and prepare for their coming For they who resolved to stay at Rome quitting the rest of the City betook themselves to the Capitol which they fortified with strong Rampiers and Mounds and all sort of Slings and Darts in order to hold out a Siege But their first and principal care was of their Holy Things most of which they conveyed into the Capitol But as for the consecrated Fire the Vestal Virgins took it up and fled away with it as likewise with other Holy Relicks Some write that they preserved nothing but that ever-living Fire which Numa had ordained to be worshipped as the Principle of all things for Fire is the most active thing in