by them discomfited Afterward they gaue battell to Caesar and in that The Heluetians ouercome by Caesar battell they were ouercome and yeelding themselues to Caesars mercie they were enioyned to resort to their owne countrie and there to repaire their houses Then Caesar being mooued by the complaint of certaine Frenchmē addrest against Ariouista the king Caesar pursueth battell against Ariouista of the Germaines whome he did pursue in battell to the riuer of Rhenus In the second yeare he waged battell against Caesar fighteth against the Belgians Neruians the Belgians the most of which were slaine The like successe had he against the Neruians In the third yeare fighting on the sea against the Venetians he caused thē to yeeld and P. Crassus his Lieutenant did subdue almost all the countrie of Aquitania In the fourth yeare the Germaines passing with a great multitude ouer the riuer of Rhine arriued in Fraunce whom Caesar assaulting on the sudden did vtterly destroy then he made a bridge ouer Rhenus and determined to vexe and exagitate the Germaines in their Caesar ouerthroweth the Germaines owne countrie because France was so much disquieted and molested by them hauing Caesar burneth the villages of the Sicambrians burnt there many cities and villages of the Sicambrians being also certified that the Britanes did minister succour and gaue encouragement to the conspiracies of the French he sayled into Britaine and constrained the Britanes by sharpe onset to yeeld vnto him Caesar ouercommeth the Brittains Caesars nauie that transported his horse was shrewdly shaken with a tempest wherewith the Britaines being reuiued betooke themselues againe to weapons and fighting with Caesar were put to flight at length they sued to Caesar for peace which he taking hostage of them did easily graunt and returned into Caesar recōciled to the Britaines Fraunce and the same yeare the Morines Menapiās rebelling he reduced to obediēce In the fifth yeare Caesar returning from Illyrium to which place he went for the stopping and beating backe of an incursion made by the Pirustae came to his armie in Fraunce and addressed warre afresh against the Britaines hauing broken truce and enioying there a prosperous fight a great multitude of Caesar renueth his war against the Britaines the inhabitants being slaine and a great part of the Island brought into the power of the Romanes taking hostages and imposing tribute he set saile for Fraunce In the sixt yeare the Eburons did rebell against Caesar Ambiorix being their king and Captaine whō in many places Caesar fiercely The Eburons ouercome by Caesar and feruently pursuing put to the sword and dispersed the remnāt of that rebellious companie In the seuenth yeare Caesar went into Italy vpon occasion of a mutinie which there did befall The French thinking that he would be detained by domesticall warre and that it would be hard for him to returne to his armie during that dissention began now to take aduise of renewing warre against the Romanes The Carnutians professing that they would be leaders to that attempt bound others vnto them by oath and hauing appointed a day they repaired to Genabis where many of the Romanes did negociate were earnestly occupied and busied about their Treacherie against the Romanes in Fraunce trafique merchandise all which were slaine by the French which massacre being certainly reported at Aruernum and other parts of Fraunce the Pietons the Parisians the Cadurcians the Tureus the Aulerci the Lemonickes the Audians did ioyne in armour and did confederate with the Carnutians Caesar hearing of this new enterprise made speedie Caesar his reuenge vpon the reels returne into Fraunce and hauing placed seuerall garrisons in the cities of the Volscians of the Artonikes of the Tolossians in Narbo which were nearest vnto the enemies he tooke Vellannodunum the citie of the Senones Genabis the chiefe towne of the Carnutians which he spoiled and burnt and many other townes did he take and seised vpon many of the rebels receiuing some of them into his mercie punishing very sharply the most notorious offenders In the eight yeare he pursued the Carnutians to their vttermost ouerthrow the Bellofaci conducted by two valiant captaines Corbius and Comius were enforced to submit themselues and Corbius was then slaine by Caesars horsemen In the ninth yeare Caesar did not enterprise any warlike affaires but laboured specially to cut off all occasions of reuolting therfore honorably emparling with the magistrates of the cities bestowing vpon the gouernors great rewards and burdening them with no new taxes he brought Fraunce being wearied by many warres to a perfect and perpetuall peace and departed thence to Italie but was still garded with an armie of souldiers In the seuenth yeare of Caesars warfare in Fraunce Iulia Caesars daughter departed this world and Pompeis litle sonne which he had by her within a short space after died also which was a great cracke to the concord before continued Pompey had alreadie proroged his Praesidētship in the prouince of Spain Pompey his Presidentship in Spain proroged for fiue yeares but the people of Rome did exceedingly grudge that either Caesar Pōpey should in any forraine prouince haue an armie of souldiers at their commaund sith all warres both forreine and domesticall were ceassed determined because they thought by that meane some daunger might grow to the Citie for Pompey being now in Rome did rule Spaine by Affranius and Petreius his Lieutenants hauing in seuerall cities seuerall garrisons and C. Caesar had in the bosome of Italie an huge hoast had then a garrison at Rauenna where he was personally residēt this did seeme also inconuenient to many of the nobles and Pompey shewed himselfe very partiall for he did fawne vpon them which would haue had Caesars armie dismissed but was very aduerse to others who would haue measured him by the same compasse who if he had died in Campania two yeares before the ciuill wars where he was greatly assayed by sicknesse at which time all Italie did make speciall vowes for his health his glorie which was gained by sea and land he had caried vntouched to the graue Vpon these considerations L. Lentulus and C. Marcellus being Consuls a decree was made by the Senate A decree made by the Senate that Caesar shold dismisse his armie that within a time limited Caesar should discharge his armie and if he would not that he should be accompted an enemie for Caesar wold haue bene made Consul in his absence but M. Cato did well answere that no citizen ought to praescribe lawes to the common-weale wherefore it was ordained that Caesar contenting himselfe with one legion should beare only the title of the Presidēt of France and that he should come into the citie as a priuate man in his suite for the Consulship should wholly relye vpon the voices of the people C. Curio an impudent oratour a mā wickedly witted and eloquent for a publike mischiefe
whose mind no riches could satisfie nor any pleasures sufficiently please who first stood for PoÌ„pey as it was then accompted for the common weale which I do not speake to reprooue but that I might not be reprooued and now was in shew and apparance both against Pompey and Caesar but in deed and mind wholly for Caesar this Curio Tribune of the people posted in hast to Rauenna where Caesar was and signified vnto him the order of the Senate applying his eloquence as a brand to the inflaming of Caesars Caesar is incensed by Curio against the Senate furie Curio came to Caesar at the entrance of twilight when the cloud of vapours and exhalations is by nature disposed to turn men into melancholie which tooke so deepe hold on Caesar that making no answer to Curio but casting himselfe on his bed he did in this sort expostulate with the Romanes Thus is Caesar measured with a scantling The passionate speech of Caesar against the Senate dieted with a paring and rewarded with nothing Vanish from me thou sad and vgly coÌ„cubine of Erebus thou grimme and duskie night which with thy blacke circumference doest hood winke our sences driuing the day from vs before we can flesh our swords contracting our sinewes when they are but newly stretched causing vs to lurke in our cabbons when we should cleaue to the throats of our enemies vanish I say from me and delay not with thy lingering minutes my expeditioÌ„ against Rome Against Rome ô the eccho of my heart nay for Rome against the Romanes amongst whom is Cn. Pompeius Magnus but not yet Maximus for he lacketh a degree of that and before he can attaine to it there will be effusion of bloud by successioÌ„ But what careth he for that was he not one of Syllaes whelpes whose sword reaking with Italian bloud he so greedily licked that the tast thereof doth as yet relice in his rauenous and polluted lawes But learne of Sylla learn of thy Sylla Pompey that a tyrant bathing himselfe in goare shall at length sinke by the weight of his cruelties VVhat Caesar hath done I referre to the Oracle of Bellona what he will do I leaue to the concealed decree of sacred vengeance what he may do let the foredoming Parâ—ae praedestinate what he ought to do let warlike iustice pronounce VVas not Pompey made Consul without suing without seeking without speaking and shall I requesting yea and humbly requesting suffer a repulse Fortune thou mightie and miraculous Goddesse which in a moment doest procure a world of varieties whetting with thine anger the points of our launces shaking crownes and kingdomes with the spurne of thy foote triumphing ouer our victories with the speckled wheeles of thy voluble chariot controlling our hope with thy frowning countenance thou knowest great goddesse that if Rome hath at any time flourished if it hath at any times tasted the pure and vnmingled extract of sincere happinesse if it were euer caried on the brode wings of fame if it did euer swim in a floud of plentie it was through Caesar and his fortune yet we are now dispised and yet we will not be despised fortune is able to reuenge the iniurie done to Caesar and Caesar will alwaies fight for the praeheminence of his fortune Therefore for the honour of Aeneas against the defacers of his race for the credit of mount Palatine against the vniust magistrates of Rome for the glorie of Romulus who shineth in the heauens like a giant-starre against the seditious repugnants I will shoot the sting of my wrath and they shall well perceiue that Caesar aesteemes no better of his enemies then if a sort of hares should be harnessed which would trust rather to their feete then to their force auaunt froÌ„ me pitie thou feminine passion for I will deriue my name of a martiall act and wil be called à caedendo Caesar possesse therfore my heart thou dreadfull Nemesis ransacke my vaines rage within me wrath assist me fiends furies and ye deformed ghosts subiect to the seuere edict of the baser destinie make your seats and circles in the wast of Italie and neuer forsake that place till the fierie brightnesse of Caesars supremacie do deterre you from thence Caesar in this rage of mind carried away with the whirlewind of his turbulent spirit left Rauenna and passed ouer Rubicon the Senate hearing of his rebellion decreed that Pompey should be Generall that he shold Pompey is appointed by the Senat Generall against Caesar haue monie out of the common treasurie There was present choise made of souldiers throughout all Italie warres were proclaimed and taxes were imposed vpon the confines suburbes and considerate cities Caesar hauing passed Rubicon seized vpon diuerse townes of Italie Pisaurum Fanum Ancona Tignium and Auximon and he ran ouer all the Picene prouince with his armie which was forsaken of Lentulus Spinther the gouernour there and from thence he went to Corfinium which was held of L. Domitius Ahenobarbus which he enioyed hauing Domitius also in his power a most constant friend to Pompey whose standard was at no time aduaunced but it was worshipped and followed by Domitius whome Caesar did in this maner greet Domitius I do franckly pardon Caesar pardoneth Domitius thee all those which beloÌ„g to thy charge with these words I make a perfect disclaime of anger and emnitie I giue thee also free choise and election whether thou wilt be a captaine in Caesars campe or still adhere to Pompey Domitius not demurring vpon Caesars offer did incontinent fly to Pompey Domiâ—iâ—s flyeth to Pompey who was then at Brundusium and there were many at that time which did obserue the like faithfulnesse to Pompey to whom Caesar did more plentifully offer the benefite of life theÌ„ they did thankfully receiue it Caesar hasted to Brundusium to assault the Consuls in that place but failing of his purpose he addressed toward Rome there was then in the citie great feare and amazednesse the people calling to memorie the crueltie of Marius the matrons with their rented haire did display their fearefulnesse the young damsels with salt teares did blemish their faces their skriking voices deepe drawne sighs did moue the heauens to a sympathie The silly babes flying as it were from the face of Caesar did cleaue to the breasts of their parents the sturdiest necks did then begin to stoope and the strongest hearts to melt and nothing could be seene in Rome but signes of sorrow for as the earth when she is disrobed of her budding and fructifying trees and of her amiable verdure which is her onely grace and garment roiall is like a naked table wherein nothing is painted so was Rome at that instant being bereaued of her young and lustie gentlemen euen as if the springtide should be taken from the yeare and a great deformitie did then also arise by the absence of the graue and auncient fathers who with their spreading shadow did shield and protect
cōdemned by Senate of two hundred Senators at one Session and this notwithstanding was absolued so that I do greatly doubt whether the Consuls that did absolue him or Clodius that was absolued did more deserue punishment for by that meane such a window of impunitie was then opened as could not be shut in the space of many yeares ensuing But Clodius because he was Tribune and because he was Clodius did thinke all time lost wherein Cicero was safe He was then in great fauour both with the people and Consuls for when any commoditie was sought for by the Consuls which could not be preiudiciall to the people he would labour earnestly for the Consuls and when the people would haue had any benefite which did not concerne the Consuls he was wholly for the people so that by displeasing neither he pleased them both Vpon this ground he aduentured to make lawes amōgst which one was enacted against thē who had put a Romane citizen to death without the iudgement of the people of Rome which lawe though it ranne in generall termes yet in sence and meaning it was directly leuelled against Cicero who in his Consulship had by Senate condemned the confederates of Catiline Cicero perceiuing this did clad himselfe Cicero mourneth with mourning roabes the Senators also were attired with blacke as the associates of his sorrow the Romane knights did weare his colour the inconsolate citie did droope and deplore his state and the forreiners that heard thereof did enlarge the griefe For the redressing of this maladie meanes were made to Crassus Caesar and Pompey But Caesar denyed to stand against Clodius because he feared that the lawes and decrees made by him the yeare next before when he was Consul should be disanulled and abrogated by Clodius if he maintained hatred against him M. Crassus was monies weathercocke and an hungrie cormorant of coyne and therefore refused to meddle in this matter because they that craued the assistance of his authoritie came not to him with golden faces only Pōpey did helpe countenance comfort him and protested openly that himselfe would rather be slaine by Clodius then Cicero shold be abused but the Consuls commanding the Senators and others to lay aside their mournfull sable did so firmely lincke themselues to Clodius both against Cicero and Pompey that neither could Pompey profite him neither would Cicero stay in the citie For how could he expect any better successe L. Piso A. Gabinius being Consuls men of notorious naughtinesse and raked out of the scum of Senators VVherefore Cicero left the city Cicero committeth himselfe to voluntarie exile and in the very day of his departure his house that stoode on mount Palatine was burnt by Clodius and the soile was consecrated to Libertie his goods were confiscated his lordships and farmes bestowed vpon others there was a lawe also made touching his banishment wherby it was prohibited that he shold A sharpe law made concerning Cicero his banishment not haue the vse of water and fire within the citie that none within fiue hundred miles of Italie should receiue him into his house that none should make any motion for him to the Senate that none should deliuer his opinion of Cicero that none should dispute of that which was done that none should speake of it that none should go vnto him that none should write vnto him But in the end Cn. Pompeius hauing vndertaken emnitie with Clodius being vrged by the earnest petition of Titus Annius Milo and moued by the abundant kindnesse of his heroicall nature did in his mind make speciall election of this care to reduce Cicero from banishment VVherefore the yeare next ensuing P. Lentulus and Q. Metellus being Consuls Cicero by a Senatorie decree was recalled from banishmēt Cicero recalled from banishment with the great desire of the Senate and the great reioycing of Italie The ground whereon his house stoode was exempted from religious consecration and his house was not so shamefully throwne downe by Clodius as it was sumptuously reedified by the Senate his possessions were restored vnto him and all the acts which Clodius made in his Tribuneship Clodius perfisteth to be an enemie to Cicero were adiudged to be void Clodius did greatly indignate at the returne of Cicero hauing aggregated vnto him a rascall route of thristlesse and vnconscionable ruffians he partly draue away and did partly maime and murder the carpenters and workmen that were busied about the renewing of Ciceroes house he burnt beside the house of Q. Cicero Clodius burneth the house of Cicero he fought with Milo many times in the streets he pursued Cicero with stones clubs and swords arming all his men with brāds of fire in the one hand and swords in the other led them to the burning of Miloes house but this tempest and trouble of the citie who did bestow kingdomes and take them away and deuided the world at his pleasure which burnt the temple of the Nimphes that he might scorch the rowle in which his shame was enregistred which with masons architectes and measurers of ground did suruey almost euery close and plot that lay neare vnto him hoping in the end to make it his own purchase and to dilate and extend his demeasnes from the gate of Ianus to the top of the Alpes which threatned death to Sanctia Clodius threatneth death to Sanctia a matron as holy in her manners as in her name and to Apronius a young gentleman vnlesse they would sell vnto him their inheritance who told Furfonius in plaine termes that if he would not lend him so much mony as he required he would carie him dead into his house This enemie I say to all good men to his neighbors to forreyners to his friends to his kinsmen was shortly after slaine by Milo Clodius is slaine by Milo for whose death he did lye in awaite and his bodie being conueyed to Rome was loathed of the beholders for it was the harbour of a foule ostridge Caesar was now in hot warres against the French of whose exploits as they did happē in nine yeares space whilst he was President there by the commission of the Senate I will make a brief rehearsall as the times did yeeld them In the first yeare the Heluetians when Caesar had scarcely set foote in France burnt The Heluetians flye before Caesar their houses and leauing their countrie dispersed themselues in the fields of the Sequani and so came to the coast of the Tolossians Caesar perceiuing that their abode in that place would be dangerous to the citie of Tolossa and being earnestly intreated by the petition of the Ambarrians and the Allobroges who did complaine themselues to be greatly vexed and disturbed by the Heluetians remoouing his tents and hauing ouertaken them at the riuer of Arraris destroyed in pursuite all the villages of the Tigurines Caesars horsemen which were sent before to obserue what waies and pathes the Heluetians did take were
the bodie of the citie and did nourish the rising plants of the generous brasill gathering strength and soliditie vnder the curtaine of their boughs Caesar hauing entred Rome vsed all sorts of men with great kindnesse and curtesie and hauing conuocated an assemblie declaring and aggrauating vnto them the iniuries of his enemies he transferred all the blame vpon Pompey and made a notable pretence that he was desirous of vnitie and that peace was the virgin of his heart But Caesars Diamond was nothing else but glasse and his words nothing but wind which at that present was clearely and euidently perceiued for he went in great hast to the temple of Saturne where the treasurie of Rome was before his ransack inuiolably kept and at the gates of the temple L. Metellus Tribune of the people did boldly resist him and with these words entertained him Caesar the lawes of Rome haue made this Metellus his speech to Caesar place sacred thou shalt not enter into this temple but through the sides of Metellus no coine shalt thou carrie from hence without bloudshed vnsheath therefore thy blade and feare not lest thy wrongs be espied for alas we are now in a desolate citie there be so few to condemne thy doings that there be almost none to see them thy priuate and rebellious souldiers shall not haue their pay out of the treasurie of Rome and if thou woldest be rich by violence there be strange wals for thee to batter Caesar in this sort replied vnto him Shamelesse churle as thou art this right-hand shall not vouchsafe thee so much honor as that thy bloud may shine vpon a souldiers steele Metellus thou art not worthie of my wrath and where thou hoissest vp the saile of lawes and customes assure thy selfe Tribune that the lawes of Rome had rather be cancelled by Caesar then confirmed by Metellus In the end by the earnest intreatie of his friends who were addicted to Caesar rather for feare then contrarietie of opinion Metellus gaue place to Caesar and he rushing suddenly into Caesar seizeth the treas urie the temple caused the treasurie which in many yeares space was leuied by polles which was gained in the Carthaginian war and in the victories had against Philip Perseus and Pirrhus together with the tribute of Asia of Creet and the wealth which Cato brought from Cypris and which Pompey purchased by his warres being caried before him when he triumphed to be laid on asses backes and to be caried as the sinew and supporter of his warres This was thought the fowlest act that euer was committed by Caesar and it was neuer feared that Rome shold be poore by Caesar This captaine being as glad for this new bootie as some of his friends were sorie led his souldiers toward Spaine where Afranius Caesar marcheth toward Spaine and Petreius did rule the affaires vnder Pompey but he did so masserate them with famine that he possest the greatest part of Spaine without shedding many drops of bloud then he went into that part of Spaine which is now called Andeluzia where M. Varro captaine to a great number of Veteranes did hold a forcelet but he being daunted with the presence of Caesar resigned all the prouince into his hands thē he marched toward Dirrachio taking by the way Orichum and Apollonia an Vniuersitie towne where his Nephew Octauius was taught at that time in the liberall artes and sciences who is said to haue accōpanied his vncle in the warres following but because it is a tradition of more antiquitie then credit I do rather note it then affirme it The fortune that Caesar had and the credite which Pompey enioyed in forraine nations were two enticing lures that drew to their seueral campes a great multitude of forrainers To the assistance of Pompey from the coast of The forreiners which were readie in armes for the assistāce of Pompey Greece which lyeth about the rockes of Cyrrha and the clouen hill of Parnassus came a great armie of the Phocenseans from Thebes and the regions thereabout came the Baeotians the Pisaeans and the Sicanians from the townes that lye vnder Maenalus and Oete came the Dryopes the Threspoti and the Sellians from Creet and Gortyna a number of good archers did present themselues to Pompey from Dardania from Colchis and the shore of the Adriaticke sea the Athamāts Enchelians and diuerse others besides these flocked vnto him thousands from Babylon Damascus and Phrygia together with the Idumaeans Tyrians Sidonians and Phaenicians there came also from Tarsus from Cilicia from India Persia Armenia Arabia and Aethiopia For the aide of Caesar there came The straungers which were assistāt to Caesar many Scythians Hircanians and from diuerse regions beyond the hill Taurus likewise the Laced aemonians the Sarmatians the Lydians the Essedones the Arimaspians the Massagites the Mores the Gelonians the Marmarians the Memnonians and they that dwell beyond the pillers of Hercules were readie in armour and shewed themselues seruiceable to Caesars commaund Cn. Pompeius partly to welcome the straungers that came to Dirrachio and partly to encourage the Romanes which did follow him and to make the cause of the vndertaken warre manifest to them all the Nobles and Senators sitting round about him in harnesse vsed this speech vnto them Let it not any whit dismay you friendly Pompey his oration to his souldiers forreiners and faithfull harted Romanes that you are now farre from the wals of the taken citie and if the Italian ingenuitie and the heate of the Romane bloud be as yet warme within the Romanes let them not marke vpon what earth they stand so they stand vpon the ground of a good and lawfull quarrell It is I trust euident to you all that we are the Senate for if we were in the vtmost climate of the world and directly vnder the freezing waine of the Northerne Beare yet in our hands should be the administration and regiment of the affaires of Italie VVhen Camillus was at Veios Rome was there also and the Romanes forsaking their houses did neuer chaunge their lawes Now is Rome Caesars captiue and a sort of sorrowfull hearts hath he there in hold emptie houses silent lawes and close courts we are here as the punishers of Caesars faults and the armor which we now beare is but onely the wrath of reuengefull Rome Caesars warfare is as iust as Catilines and when he should be like to the Scipioes and the Marcelli he falleth into the rebellious faction of C. Marius Lepidus Carbo Sertorius and yet in truth I honour him too much to consort him with these He maketh accompt of me as of one withered halfe dead and foredone with yeares but it is better for you to haue an ancient captaine then for Caesar to leade an armie of spent and outworne Veteranes And though the age which hope doth follow be farre more plausible and acceptable then that which death doth pursue yet wisedome and experience proceede from elder times
the head whose haires resemble the feathers of the swan is a Senatehouse to a good armie And if I may not be a souldier yet I will be the example of a souldier vnto you The aestimation that I haue alwaies had amongst you Romanes by whose meanes I haue bene extolled to that honour aboue which neuer any Romane citizen did ascend may warrant my warfare VVith vs also are both the Cōsuls with vs the armies of many forraine kings potentates Is Caesar trow you so venturous because he warred so lōg against the vnruly French why it was but a sporting practise more fit to traine his souldiers then to merite triumph or hath his fortune against the Germaines raised his courage he went not so speedily to the Germaines as he departed from them and rather fearing them then feared of them he called the Germaine sea the whirlepit of hell or doth his bloud begin to boile within him because the fame of his furie did suddēly driue the Senators out of their houses and harbours VVhen I displayed my blazing ensigne vpon the Ponticke sea the Ocean was no more traced with the pirate ships but they did all crowd into a narrow corner of the earth Mithridates that vntamed prince who long expected when victorie should flie from Rome I enforced to take his pauillion in which he died like a fugitiue coward therin I was more fortunate then the most fortunate Sylla There is no part of the world without my trophees and what land soeuer lyeth vnder the sunne hath either bene vanquished or terrified by Pompey and I haue left no warre for Caesar but this which now he maintaineth in which though he ouercome yet he shall neuer triumph VVherefore the nearer Caesar doth approch vnto you the more let your courage rise or if words cannot preuaile imagine that you are now vpon the banckes of Tiber and that the Romane matrons standing vpon the wals of the citie with streaming teares and dispersed hairelockes do exhort you and intreate you to fight Imagine that out of the gates of the citie the old and grayheaded fathers that are not able to weild weapons do prostrate vnto your feete their hoarie heades requiring succour and defence of you and thinke that Rome her self fearing a tyrant boweth vnto you thinke that the infants which are alreadie borne which hereafter shall be borne haue mingled their common teares and that they which as yet neuer saw the light desire to be borne free and they which do now liue desire to dy free and if all this will not serue then Pompey if he may so debase the maiestie of a Generall with his wife and children will fal before your feet But this is my last behest that I require of you let not Pompey who in his youth hath alwaies honored you be dishonored through your default in his dying yeares for your selues for your kindred your freedome and good estate I protest thus much that I will neuer returne to Rome but I will carrie peace in my hand and the Oliue braunch shall be my ensigne The Romanes were greatly emboldened hearing these words seeing their Generall so youthfully minded as it were refined in the mould of Mars VVherefore they expected Caesar with prepared minds And Caesar hauing now praefected gouernors ouer Orichum and Apollonia made great hast to Dirrachio in which place at his first comming Pompey gaue him the onset and Pompey putteth Caesar to flight made him to flie hauing lost a great part of his armie and though M. Antonius came not M. Antonius helpeth Caesar long after to Caesar with a fresh supply ready to face and brest the enemie yet Pompey did so plague thē with continuall warring against them when he saw cōuenient time that Caesars victuals being almost wasted he was faine through penurie of corne to flye into Thessali and Pompey speedily pursuing him in the champion plaine of Pharsalia pitched his tents directly against Caesars In Pompeis campe all things were glorious magnificent and glittering in shew in Caesars all things powerfull actiue and strong The Romanes being thus deuided both parties were greatly enflamed with desire of fight Pompeis souldiers were readie to depriue him of the ensignes and to enter the field without a Generall so deliberatiue was that noble Captaine of their welfar and so desperate were they and carelesse what befell vpon them In Pompey there was this desire and thought to ouercome with as little bloudshed as might be But what fiends and damned spirits diddest thou inuocate Caius Caesar what Stygian furies what infernall hagges and what nightly terrors didest thou intreat to what Eumenides diddest thou sacrifice intending such a generall slaughter Pompey being earnestly vrged by his souldiers thought good to marshall his men and to set the armie as might be most conuenient for the soile whereon they were to combate The left wing of the armie Pompey marshalleth his armie was committed to L. Lentulus the leading of the right wing had L. Domitius the strength and middest of the battell did wholly relie vpon P. Scipio vpon the bankes and sides of the riuers did march the Cappadocians Ponticke horsemen in the brode field were Tetrarches Kings and Princes and all the purpled Lords that were tributarie to Rome Pompeis squadrons were furnished with many Romanes Italians and Spaniards Caesar seeing his enemies to haue discended into the plaine was heartily glad that so good occasion was offred him and that the day was come which with a million of wishes he called for wherefore departing out of his tents and marshalling his souldiers he made toward Pompey In this battell the fathers face was directly against the sonnes the brother was preparing himselfe against his brother the vncle was the first that leuelled at the nephew and he that did slay most of his kindred was accompted most couragious VVhen the trūpets denounced the warres and gaue a signe of fight the Caesarians did fiercely giue assault The Caesarians giue the first assault to the Pompeians The force and vigor of the warre did consist in the launces speares and swords which Pompey had well prouided against by ioyning the targets one with another so that Caesar had much ado to breake the array but fearing lest his foremen should faint he caused the transuers legions to follow his ensigne who as it were with a side-wind aduenturing vpon Pōpeis armie stroke them downe on each side so fast as they went The barded horse being incensed with the heate of the warre his heart being boared with the point of the speare exempted himselfe from the reine The Barbarians being not able to restraine them gaue way to Caesar and the foming steede being now the regent of the field the fight was confused and disordered for vpon whom the dart did vncertainly light leauing their horses perforce they lay groning and groueling on the earth till the hoofes of the arrearing coursers did crush the veile of their braines
but rare is that bird whose feathers do not moult and happie is that man whose glorie doth not eclipse Caesar made hast after Pompey with an hote and earnest pursuite not knowing that he was praeuented of the prize which he aimed at and as the beasts which nature hath placed in the wildernesse when poore pilgrimes walke by their solitarie and vncouth dens runne all together with one rage hunting their footsteps euery one thinking to purchase the pray the Lion the Leopard the Beare the Beuer the Tiger the Luzerne and the VVolfe making the woods to ring with hollow outcries So the Caesarians did enquire and make after Pompey amazing the seas with sounding trumpets drums fifes and shawmes and neuer ceassed their pursuite till they were arriued in Egipt where they were roially entertained of Cleopatra Caesar entertained of Cleopatra the Egyptian princesse who with complaint and mournfull melodie did allure Caesar admiring her singular beautie to tame and suppresse the pride of Ptolome who had then deforced her from her soueraigne estate Caesar did not deny this faire Oratresse hauing alreadie perswaded him if her toung had bin silent Mars spent a long time with Venus and before his departure from thence Cleopatra was another Calphurnia vnto him But why do I name Calphurnia For what proportion can there be betwixt a chast matron and a shamelesse curtizan Caesar labouring to restore Cleopatra to her former dignitie was suddenly assaulted by the king of Egypt with Caesar is assaulted by the king of Egypt an huge armie and in that warre he was driuen to many extremities the conduit pipes were cut a sunder and he was besieged on euery side being as yet in Cleopatraes pallace but in the end wrastling out of these misfortunes he gaue battell to the Egyptians at Pharoes and conueying himselfe into a gallie for the defence and safegard of his fleete which was grieuously tost he was so vexed and shaken by his enemies that he was faine to leaue his gally and swimming a great way in the riuer of Nilus returned with great difficultie Caesar swimmeth in the riuer of Nilus to his armie but at the last encountring the Egyptians at Alexandria he put the king and his whole armie to the sword and in these warres was burnt the notable librarie of Ptolomeus Philadelphus but much against Caesars mind who as he was specially learned so he made speciall accompt of that monument of learning Caesar hauing raised Cleopatra to her pristinate roialtie departed from Egypt and hastened toward Vtica but in the way being enformed that Pharnaces the son of Mithridates whome Pompey when he had finished the warre against Mithridates had made king of Bosphorus had subtracted from the Romanes and atchieued to himself Cappadocia Colchis Armenia and part of Pontus Caesar sent against him Domitius Caluinus Caesar addresseth against Pharnaces whose armie was discomfited by Pharnaces Caesar did then in person make expedition against him and assaulting him at Zelia caused him at the first ioyning of battell to flye and hauing entred Bosphorus he was Caesar putteth Pharnaces to flight slaine of Asander the author of his inuasions VVhilest Caesar was marching toward Vtica M. Cato disdaining to receiue life at the hāds of Caesar and greatly perplexed in mind that a man so rebelliously bent should haue so prosperous fortune did with violent hands M. Cato killeth himselfe determine his daies Caesar hauing taken Vtica as he was returning to Rome did encounter P. Scipio on the seas who seeking by Caesar encountreth P. Scipio all warlike meanes to preserue the slender sparckle of his dying life was at length slaine and Caesar sayling from thence enshoared in Sardinia and making no long tarriance in that place came the fiue and twentieth day of that moneth which beares his name at this day to the citie of Rome where he was welcomed with such applause such gratulation with such melodie with so rare banquets and with so gorgious shewes that Pompeis death was not bewailed with halfe so many teares as he was entertained with ioyes and for the sealing of their good affection towards him they did grant to him by a fourefold triumph to enlarge his fame A triumph was a most excellent What thing a triumph was amongst the Romans how performed honour which the captaine who by battell had ouercome his enemies returning with his armie into the citie did at the first enioy by the decree of the Senate and afterward by the consent of the people It was called a triumph because the souldiers did crye along the streete as they went to the Capitolle Io triumph Surely the Romanes did greatly aduantage themselues by the vsing of these triumphes for by them men were animated to warlike exploits But many thinke a common-weale then onely to flourish whē it hath peace and plentie but being moued with the present face of things and not forecasting the sequele they slip into errour and foster in their minds fond opinions for plentie breedeth securitie securitie warre warre desolation The state of a countrey is then to be tearmed prosperous when it is throughly furnished with men able and sufficient to repulse forreine forces with the prouentions of the earth and other treasures of husbandrie But how canst thou assure thy selfe of free and peaceable inioying of the riches of thy countrey the space of one moneth without militarie discipline For all regions except those which are situate vnder the extremitie of the climates are enuironed with the circumference of other nations from which warre may arise as easily as the winde bloweth from the foure quarters of the world in which dangerous accident the first and last refuge of humane helpes is the soldiers arme Doubtlesse the Romanes were exquisite in all heroicall desert but in their bountie and beneficence to souldiers incomparably excellent for they knew that the prouinces and Ilands adiacent could not be wonne by home-sitting or by a treatie of words but they must gird their armour confront their enemies and exchange bloud for bloud and when these countreyes were conquered they had tasted the sweet of the vintage which the souldiers had gathered they did not reward them with sower grapes neither powred they vineger into their wounds but assigned vnto them pensionarie lands for their maintenance and making thē franke allowance of ample rewards encouraged them with crownes of glorie triumphs honors and dignities so that victorie flourished there where armes were fauoured Surely Princes potentates ought with tender indulgence to respect the infatigable paines of the souldier lest he murmur and say when he goeth to the fight I shall either be ouercome or slaine and so be wholly subiect to the will and disposall of mine enemie or else be partaker of the victorie and returne into my country as into a pitched field where I shall fight with penurie contempt and vnthankfulnesse the last of which being either in the enemies chaines or in the number
of his dead men I should neuer haue felt But if the souldiers industrie be not quickened and stirred vp by bountie and reward he hath no more will to performe any part of martial seruice then a dead coarse hath power to arise out of the graue For what can be more precious to a man then his bloud being the foūtaine and nurse of his vitall spirits and the ground of his bodily substance which no free and ingenuous nature will loose or hazard for nothing And in truth there is great ods in the euent for the souldier may either be slaine and so die without receiuing of his salarie or else be wounded and die vnder the cure and so receiue his stipend to the halfe part This account being thus cast it falleth out that the souldier looseth all or some part the Prince who is his pay-maister saueth either all or some part And whosoeuer shall argument or discourse vpon sound reason and infallible experience may easily proue and conuince that these commō weales haue most prospered which haue liberally maintained and had in singular regard militarie artes The mentioning of Caesars triumph hath occasioned me to vse this digression This word Triumphus is deriued of the Greeke name of Bacchus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who hauing subdued India was the first inuenter of this honor Of triumphs there were two sorts obserued of the Romans one the graund triumph which by praeheminence was called Triumphus the other was the pettie triumph and was commonly called Ouatio of these triumphs some were done on land some on sea some in the citie some on mount Albane It was therefore called Ouatio because the victoriate souldiers returning from the fight did showte and double the letter O. An Ouation did much differ frō a triumph because he which came into the citie by way of Ouation was neither caried in chariot nor cladde with robe triumphall nor with any ornament of estate neither did his armie march before him when he was entred the citie neither was he crowned with laurel nor brought in with sound of trumpets but walked through the citie on foot his head being adorned with a mirtle crowne his souldiers following him and the shawmes onely sounding How the great triumph was celebrated may be perceiued by this of Caesars which was thus performed Caius Caesar sitting in a rich and sumptuous Caesar his triumphs deseribed chariot bordred round about with the crownes of Princes his vpper garment being of purpled tissue and bespanged with lines of gold his victorious armie marching before him garnished with the spoiles of Europa and Affrick his captiues being boūd with chaines which were tied to his chariots taile did represent a wonderfull maiestie to the gazing people the trumpets and the clarions did sound on each side His first triumph displaied Caesars first triumph with a most radiant standerd the spoiles and conquests which he had in Fraunce the images of Rhodanus and Rhene were wrought in siluer the streames were curiously deciphered and the waues did seeme to rise with a naturall and reall flowing In the second triumph Caesars second triūph stood the citie of Alexandria and after it the armes of vanquished Ptolome were blazed the riuer of Nilus was painted with a faire caelestiall blew the azured waues being compacted of costly glasse In the third triumph Caesars third triumph was a maske of Ponticke mourners the coarse of Pharnaces was then caried in triumph vpō the top of the coffin stood a triple plume on the one part of which was written VENI on the other VIDI on the third VICI In the fourth triumph Affrike went as captiue Caesars fourth triumph and the person of Iuba king of Mauritania his armes pictured as hauing mannacles of them was then also resembled For his victorie at Pharsalia there was no triumph because Pōpey was a Romane VVhen Rome with smiling countenance had beheld these shewes Caesar accompanied with the Romane nobilitie entred the Capitolle and there with spiced fires and fragrant odours did sacrifice to Iupiter After his thankes vowes and prayers perfourmed he returned with the great applause and admiration of men and amiddest other solemnities Crispus Salustius did greet him with this Oration I know that it is a difficult and hard matter Salustes oration to Caesar to giue counsell to a king or Emperour or to any man that is highly aduaunced because they haue store of counsellers there is none so wise and warie who can giue certaine aduise of that which is to come Againe bad counselles are manie times better liked then good because fortune dallieth in things and fancy in men according to their pleasure But I had a great minde in my youth to handle matters of state and in knowing of them I bestowed great labour and trauell not to this end onely that I might obtaine some place of dignitie in the common-weale which manie by euill artes and vnlawfull meanes haue cōpassed but that I might also fully know the estate of the common-weale as well in peace as in warre and how much by munition by men and by monie it could do Therefore tossing many things in my mind this was my resolution to praeferre thy dignitie Caesar before mine owne fame and modestie and to put any thing in practise so I might procure glorie to thee And this I did not rashly or to flatter thee but because in thee amongst the rest I find one skill very maruellous that thy mind hath bene greater in aduersitie then in prosperitie But with others it is a matter of more accompt and reckening that men be sooner wearie with praising thy valor then thy self art wearied with doing things worthie of praise Surely I hold it for a rule that nothing can be fet from the depth of inuention which is not readie to thy thought And if this purpose should onely raigne in thy brest to deliuer thy selfe from the furie of enimies and how thou maiest retaine the fauour and good liking of the people thou should do a thing vnworthie of thy vertue But if that mind be as yet resident in thee which from the beginning disturbed the faction of seditious men which brought the Romanes from the heauie yoake of seruitude vnto libertie which without weapons did confound the armies of thine enemies whereof haue ensued so many and so glorious actes both at home and abrode that thy foes cannot complaine of any thing but of thine excellencie then receiue from me such things as of the summe or state of the common-weale I shall deliuer which doubtlesse thou shalt either find to be true or else certainly not farre from the truth There is no man brought vp in a free estate who doth willingly yeeld superioritie to another and though the mightier man be by nature of a good and mild disposition yet because when he will he may be wicked and iniurious he is therefore feared which hapneth because many great men are
peruersly minded and thinke themselues so much the safer by how much more they do permit other mē ouer whom they rule to be wicked vniust But surely a contrarie course should be taken when the Prince is good himselfe to labour and indeuour likewise to make the people good For euery bad fellow doth most vnwillingly beare a gouernour but this to thee Caesar is of greater difficultie then to others who haue ruled before thee thy warre hath bene more mild then the peace of other mē besides they which did ouercome do demaund the spoile they which are ouercome are their fellow citizens Through these difficulties must thou passe And strengthen the common-weale for succeeding posteritie not by weapons nor as against enemies but which is farre greater and more difficult by peaceable meanes Therefore to this point the state of things doth call euery man either of great or of meane wisedome to vtter as much good as he can concerning this matter For mine owne part this I thinke that as by thee the victorie shall be qualified and ordered so shall all things follow Thou diddest wage battell noble Caesar with an excellent man of great power and desirous of glorie a man of greater fortune then wisedome followed by some few enemies both to thee to themselues such as either affinitie did draw vnto him or some other bond of dutie for none of them was partaker of his dominatiō which he could not tollerate For if he could Pompey could not brooke an equall haue brooked an equall the world had not bene set on fire with warre but because thou art desirous to establish peace and vpon this anuill thou and thy friends do continually beate consider I pray thee of what nature the thing is whereof you consult Certainly I haue this conceit that because all things which haue beginning must haue end when the fate and determined lot of destruction shall fall vpon this citie that our citizens will contend and make warre against their fellow citizens and so being wearied and consumed will become a pray to some forraigne king or nation otherwise not the whole world nor all the people vnder the arch of the heauens being mustred or assembled together shall be able to shake or crush this flourishing common-weale Therefore the good effects of concord are to be maintained and the euils of discord to be banished and driuen away that may easily come to passe if thou abridge the licence of riotous spending and iniurious extorting because young gentlemen in these times are inured to such a fashion that they thinke it a glorious matter vainly to mispend their owne goods and the goods of other mē denying nothing to their owne lust nor to the shamelesse request of their leud companions and their restlesse mind hauing entred into a crooked way and dissolute course whē their maintenance faileth them and wonted supplies are wanting do conceiue a burning indignation against their fellow citizens and turne all things out of course In that commō-weale all things are well ordered where offices and dignities are not sold and where ambition enioyeth not the rewards of vertue this and all other euils shall cease when mony shall cease to be honoured where riches are precious there all good things are vile faith honestie modestie chastitie because there is but one way to vertue and that is hard and rough but to mony there be many smooth waies it is gained as well by euill as by good meanes Couetousnesse is a sauage and deuouring beast immane intollerable which way so euer it wendeth it wasteth destroyeth townes fields temples and houses it mingleth holy and humane things together neither armes nor wals can stop the course of it It spoileth and bereaueth men of fame children countrie and parents but if thou debase the high accompt of monie the force of couetousnesse by good manners will be abated I haue by reading found that all kingdomes cities and nations haue so long enioyed a prosperous estate whilst true aduise did preuaile in them but whensoeuer fauour feare or pleasure was the sterne or motiue of their counsels then their wealth was first diminished next their dominion abridged and lastly their libertie impeached VVherefore I beseech and exhort thee renowned Caesar that thou wouldest not suffer such a goodly dominion as this to be tainted with rust or by discord rented in peeces If that thing happen neither night nor day will appease the storms of thy mind but by dreames being rowzed from thy bed thou shalt be chased and pursued with continuall cares I haue dispatched in few such things as I accompted honorable for thee Caesar and necessarie for this common-weale The most part of men to iudge of others haue sufficient conceit at least in their owne conceit and to reprooue an other mans deeds or words euery mans mind doth burne with desire They thinke their throat is not wide enough nor their toung glib enough to poure out of their breasts their malicious exceptions to whose censure that I am subiect doth so little shame me that it would haue grieued me to haue bene silent for whether it shall please thee to follow this course or some better I shall not be mooued sith I haue spoken as much as my barrennesse could bring foorth It remaineth for me and for vs'all to wish that such things as thou shalt in wisedome effect the gods would prosper Caesar afterward to match his foure triumphs was made the fourth time Consul his statue also was placed amongst the statues of the The great honors bestowed vpon Caesar auncient kings in the Senat-house there was a throne of iuorie made for him in the theater his roome was such as it contained pleasure pompe and cost his image was exquisitly painted in the Orchester a place wherein the Romaine gentlemen did vse to daunce and vaut the moneth of Iuly was then also cōsecrated to Iulius as the moneth of March is to Mars Caesar did not rest in these honors but thought still to propagate his fame by warlike exploits VVherefore hearing that Pōpeis sons did raise great tumults vprores in Spaine he made great hast thitherward at the towne of Siuill opposed himselfe to Cn. Caesar fighteth with Cn. Pōpeius the younger at the citie of Siuill Pompeius one of the sonnes of Pompey the Great who was constrained to flye but Labienus met him at vnawares and hauing slaine him brought his head to Caesar Sex Pompeius his brother escaped by flight ATROPOS Or the third Booke THe warre in Spaine being quickly dispatched Caesar returned to Rome and the Romanes did redouble his honours for he was Presently The Romans bestow many honors vpon Caesar made Dictator perpetuall Censor perpetuall Consull for ten yeares and Emperour of Rome he was called also the father of his countrie But Caesars fortunes did soone after begin to decline and these diuerse coloured titles were but as reinebowes which do glitter gallantly for a time but
cruelly reuenged or dissolutely remitted Of our future affaires this is my determinate resolution so it may obtaine thy approbation if things happen to be in better plight we will returne to Rome if the estate be as now it is we will liue as now we do in voluntarie exile if it decline frō bad to worse we must flie to armes as our last and worst refuge wherefore Cassius do not faint nor dispaire let the hope of good things encourage thee vertue onely is confident From Smyrna 17. Kalend. April Caesar when by no meane he could be reuenged of Brutus who was Praesident of Macedonia and Cassius who had the regiment of Syria he sent for M. Antonius and M. Lepidus who were then in France and they three meeting at Bononia had conference of ordering and disposing the common affaires and there they agreed to be Treuiri for the constitution of the common-weale for fiue years space To the charge of Lepidus Spaine and Gallia Narbonensis were alotted to M. Antonius the other parts of Fraunce to Caesar Libia Sicilia and Sardinia After these consultations they came to Rome and assigned offices to whom it pleased them asking no leaue either of people or Senate At that time many excellent Lords and Gentlemen were proscribed together with an hundred and thirtie Senators among whom was L. Paulus the brother of M. Lepidus L. Caesar the vncle of Antonius and he who did so much praise Octauius M. Cicero But that was done by Cicero is put to death the venimous rancor of Antonius by whose meanes he was beheaded and the head was serued in mease vnto him which when Fuluia Fuluiaes de spiteful dealing with Ciceroes tong the impudent wife of Antonius had espied plucking and renting from the chaps his golden tongue she distained it with the spittle fome of her mouth she pricked it with needles launced it with her nailes brayed it with her first racked it with her armes and stamped it with her feete Foolish and senslesse anger to inflict reuenge vpon a thing that was senslesse and for the misliking of the man to hate the dead part of his body But thou didst nothing Antonius for the indignation of posteritie will rise against thee thou didst nothing by taking away the publike voice of the City and that all-pleasing tongue Thou hast dispoiled Cicero of a poore remnant of dayes thou hast pared away his old age thou hast caused him to be slaine when he wished for death but his fame and the glorie of his vertues and excellent learning thou art so farre from abridging that thou hast augmented it he liueth and shall liue by the memorie of all ages and whilst the frame of this world shall stand and this bodie of nature shal continue which that onely Romane did in minde contemplate by wit vnderstand by eloquence describe the commendation of Cicero shall alway accompanie it the succeding wits shall wonder at his writings euery mans doome shall condemne thy cruelty But the miserie of these times none can sufficiently deplore so vnpossible it is to expresse it by words But this is to be noted that the care of wiues toward their husbands that were proscribed was maruellous in the highest degree the fidelitie of their free-men but in different the loyaltie of their bond-men very slender the loue of their children none at all so grisly and loathsome is aduersity to a mans owne bowels Cassius hearing of the great tumults of Rome went from Syria to Smyrna in Asia where M. Brutus was to take aduise of the ordering of the battel against M. Antonius C. Octauius who they heard did make expedition against them VVherefore Cassius hauing ouercome the Rhodians and Ariobarzanes and Brutus hauing subdued the Patareans the Lycians and other nations of Asia which did before molest them they hasted to Macedonia that they might there wage battell And thither not long after came Caesar and M. Antonius with a huge host and before the citie of Philippi they faced their enemies with the tents That fight was verie fierce and very doubtful for Brutus put Caesar to flight and Antonius Cassius and each of their tents was ransacked of the victor C. Cassius when Brutus who he feared was slaine returned a farre off with his horsemen thinking that they were the enemies that pursued him did worke his owne death by the hand of one of his retinue VVithin a few dayes after M. Brutus being ouercome in another battell and ouerborne with despaire enforced Strabo that fled with him to slay him with his sword which act many noble Romanes to the number of fortie did imitate There were neuer anie to whom fortune did sooner approch thē to Brutus and Cassius and neuer anie from whom she did more suddenly flie Cassius was the better Captaine Brutus the better Counseller Brutus was more to be loued Cassius to be feared because the one excelled in vertue the other in valor VVho if they had conquered in this fight it would haue bene more expedient for the Romanes to haue bene ruled by Brutus then Cassius by how much it was more safe to them in the end to be gouerned by Octauius then Antonius The yeare following there grew discord betweene Caesar and L. Antonius Consul and Fuluia wife to M. Antonius They were offended with Caesar because he shared that part of Macedonia to his souldiers which M. Antonius should haue had Fuluia was the more earnest against Octauius because he had cōceiued a deep displeasure against her daughter and had thereupon diuorced her Caesar was likewise licensed against Antonius because he would not send to him that supply of souldiers which he ought to haue Antonius therefore in his brothers quarell maintained warre Fuluia leagued vnto him held Praeneste and there she behaued her selfe as the other Consul cōtemning P. Seruilius who was indeed Consul being like to a woman in nothing but onely in sexe L. Antonius with an hostile inuasion entred the citie of Rome the armie of M. Lepidus who was left there as warden of the Citie being discomsited and afterward departing thence toward Fraunce was intetcepted by Caesar who besieged him a long time at Perusia in the countrey of Hetruria Caesar besiegeth Perusia and oftentimes making an eruption suffering a repulse he was constrained to submit him selfe whom Caesar pardoned but many of the Senators and Romane Knights were sacrified vpon the altar of Iulius Cęsar He destroyed Perusia and hauing brought into his power all the armie of the contrarie side ended that warre Cn. Domitius Caluinus and C. Asinius Pollio being Consuls Pollio was a man of notable gifts who howsoeuer The praise of A sinius Pollio matters befell was loued of all sortes of men Iulius Caesar did make great reckening and accompt of him after his death the enemies of Caesar did greatly fauour him M. Antonius had him in singular aestimation Octauius held him neare vnto his heart an excellent scholer and a
worthie souldier the onely obiect of the learned whom both in prose poemes they haue condignely commended so that I need not to proceede in his praises this is my only doubt whether he were more to be extolled for his laudable qualities then admired for his rare and wonderfull fortune he was not long before with Antonius in Aegypt but seeing him so vainely besotted with the loue of Cleopatra seeing him knight of the Cannapee who was earst Lord of the field being ashamed of him as he was a Romane ashamed of him as a General ashamed of him as now an vnworthie companion for Pollio he left him in Aegypt with his concubine and came to Rome Afterward Caesar and Lepidus fell at variance so that Lepidus was compelled to surrender all his authority and to stand to Caesars mercie for his life Cęsar did then fight with Sex Pompeius on the Octauius Caesar fighteth with Sex Pōpeius sea Pompey being there ouercome fled to Sicilie and afterward into Asia and as he was preparing warre against Antoni he was takē of M. Titius Antonius his Lieutenant by whō he was slaine The last ciuill warre which was betwixt the Romaines was that which was fought by Caesar against Antoni at Actium The occasion of emnitie betwixt them was thus Antonius did reproue Caesar because he had taken to himself the armie of Lepidus that which followed of Sex Pompeius which ought to haue bene common to them three Caesar did obiect to Antonius that he did keepe Aegypt without lawfull commission that he caused Sex Pompeius to be slaine without his consent that he cast Artauasdes a Prince leagued with the Romans and taken by trecherie into prison dishonored him with gyues and fetters to the great infamie of the Romanes that he was more familiar with Cleopatra then became an honest man that he had bestowed too great giftes vpon her that he had called Caesars surmised bastard begotten of Cleopatra Cęsarion to the great disgrace of that house These things priuately by letters and publikely by messengers were mentioned by mutuall obiection Caesar afterward did reade Antonius his testament Octauius readeth the testament of M. Antonius in the open Senate which came to his hands by this meane Certaine souldiers which did flie frō Antonius to him told him that the authentike will or testament of M. Antonius did remaine in the custodie of the Virgins vestall of whom Caesar did obtaine it the tenor and forme whereof was thus I M. Antonius one of the three states of The testamēt of M. Antonius Rome and the sonne of M. Antonius do by this my last will and testament make and ordaine Philadelphus Alexander my sonnes by Cleopatra the heires of all my wealth and substance which I had by descent from M. Antonius my father but with this clause and vpon this condition that if I die in Rome or elsewhere they shall solemnely conuey my bodie to Alexandria in Aegypt and bestow it there in a marble sepulcher which by this my will shall be made for my selfe and Cleopatra the Queene of Aegypt But if they faile of this or do otherwise without lawfull or vrgent cause then I will that all these things which I leaue vnto my aforesaid sons be conuerted to the vse behoofe of the Nuns of Vesta my ghost shal implore the assistāce of the Pōtifex-Maximus the priests of Iupiter which are in the Capitol to solicit the spirits of vengeance to punish the vnthankfulnesse of my sons then I ordaine wil that the Pontifex Maximus shall cause my bodie to be reposed in a conuenient sepulcher within the walles of this citie and I will also that as many bondslaues as be now in my power shall presently after my death be manumitted made free by the Praetor and to euerie of my other seruants I bequeath a Sestertian a mourning garment Lastly I do pronounce by this my last will and testament that Caesarion the son of Cleopatra is the true certaine and vndoubted sonne of C. Iulius Caesar And to the aforesaid Cleopatra I giue all my wealth and treasure that I haue gained purchased and atchieued either in warre or in peace Done by me M. Antonius vj. kal. Iul. Ap. Claudius C. Norbanus Coss VVhen the people of Rome had heard the purport of this testament they thought that Antonius his drift was to giue Rome to Cleopatra for a speciall fauour for which cause they were maruellously moued against Antonius Caesar did behaue him self in this matter very wisely and warily for in wordes he praetended warre against Cleopatra only and caused it to be proclaimed by the heralt that the Aegyptian Queene did intend the suppressing of the Romanes That was done by Caesar to the end that he might auoyd the hatred of manie noble men who did rather affect Antonius then him But whē Antonius for the loue of Cleopatra wold neither come into the citie to render account of his doings nor depose his Triumuiracie but was wholly busied in praeparing warre against Italie Caesar did furnish himselfe as well for sea as for land he therefore gathered manie souldiers out of Spaine Fraunce Lybia Sardinia and Sicilia Antonius likewise did make an armie of Asians Thracians Macedonians Graeciās Aegyptians and Cyrenians And in the yeare following C. Caesar and M. Messalla being Confuls Antonius and Cleopatra at Actium a promontorie of Epirus encountred Caesar who hauing prosperous successe in many battels against them as well on sea as on land they being at length ouercome fled to Alexandria in Aegypt Caesar did sacrifice all the pinasses which he had taken in warre to Apollo Octauius Caesar sacrifiseth all the Pinnases to Apollo who was worshipped at Actium as a monument of thankfulnesse for his victorie and did also institute a fiue yeres solemnitie which was called the solemnitie of Actium besides this he built a faire temple to Apollo and in the place where his tents were pitched Octauius buildeth Nicopolis he founded a great city called Nicopolis the citie of victorie Asinius Pollio did still praeserue the auncient amitie that was betwixt him and M. Antonius for when Caesar at his departing from Rome requested him that he would ioyne with him in his warres against Antonius he made this answer The benefites of Antonius towards me will not permit me to be an enemie vnto him and my merites at the hands of Antonius be farre otherwise thē that Antonius should be an enemie vnto me wherefore leauing both and leaning to neither I wil stay here in Italie and be the spoile of the conqueror Caesar did afterward besiege Antonius Cleopatra at Alexandria where Antonius being in a most desperate plight being in no possibilitie to recouer Cęsars fauour and hearing by a false rumor that Cleopatra was slaine did suddenly stab himselfe Caesar tooke Alexandria and with it Cleopatra but because she would not grace Octauius so much as to be led in triumph by Cleopatra
killed by Aspwormes him she put Aspes to her breasts and was by them done to death though her keeper had praecise charge to looke carefully vnto her Aegypt was then brought by Caesar into the forme of a prouince and hauing made Cornelius Gallus Praesident there he came to Rome where he had a triple triumph the one of Dalmatia which he brought to conformitie after his warre finished against Sex Pompeius the other of Actium the third of Alexandria VVhen Cęsar with the great applause and gratulation of the Romanes had pacified the whole praecinct of the world and for that cause had shut the temple of Ianus the third time and an augurie of safetie was celebrated which two things were neuer done but when the whole Empire was in quietnesse he purposed to depose the Empirie to bring the common-weale to a good perfect constitution To depose the Empirie M. Agrippa did perswade him but Męcęnas did disswade him whose opinion he yeelded vnto VVherfore endeuoring by law to confirme the Empirie and to win the fauour and good ęstimation as well of the Nobles and Senators as of the people he burnt all the letters which the citizens that were then in Rome or out of Rome had writtē to Antonius lest any Senator who did follow Antonius his faction should thinke himselfe to be hated of Caesar for that cause so should attempt some mischiefe against him he releeued the common stocke which was greatly wasted by ciuill warres with his owne priuate wealth them that were indebted to the common treasurie the billes of debt being burnt with his owne handes he did free from the daunger of the rolle And whereas many things were done in the tumults and seditions of the citizens against law and custome by Lepidus and Antonius he did repeale them by an Edict and made his sixth Consulship which he then enioyed to be the death-day of these lawes by which meanes when he had worthily drawne vnto him the hearts of the people yet in one thing he pleased them aboue the rest which was done rather of pollicie thē of plaine meaning for hauing singled out a great number of Senators whose loue toward him was specially approued in a very frequent Senate he did offer to surrender the Empire into the hands of the Senators and people But some of the Senators because they suspected that his wordes differed from his meaning some because they did feare greater daunger by a popular estate others because they feared his displeasure if they should agree vnto it they did with one voice refuse the offer and ioyned in earnest sute and humble petition vnto him that he would be the sole gouernour and absolute Emperour of Rome and for that cause they did decree that the stipēd of those who did guard his person should be doubled that he might be in more safetie by that meane both to his friends and to the cōmonweale VVhen by the franke assent of the Senate and people he had thus not confirmed the auncient Empirie but in deed created a new Monarchie that he might seeme popular he was content to charge him selfe with the weightie affaires of the Empire but the authoritie and dignitie thereof he did cōmunicate with the people and therefore vnto the Senate and people he did all to Numidia Asia Graecia Epirus Dalmatia Macedonia Sicilia Creta Cyrene Bythinia Pontus Sardinia and Hispania Betica which were the more peaceable and quiet countries To him selfe he tooke the other parts of Spaine and all Fraunce Narbonesis Lugdunensis Aquitanica Celtica likewise Germania Coelosyria Phoenicia Cyprus and Aegypt And that he might void out of their minds all suspition of Monarchie the supreme authoritie that was assigned to him he did only restraine to ten yeres continuance The Romanes did bestow diuerse honors vpon Caesar planting before the doore of his Court a Bay tree on The Romans plant a bay tree before Octauius his doore the top whereof they set a wreath of oaken boughs signifying that he was the man that had both ouercome their enemies and set their citie in safetie They decreed also that his Court should be called a Pallace so that in what region soeuer the Romane Emperor did soiourne his Court was called a Pallace and that he should be called Augustus For when many would haue adorned him with some title of excellencie Caesar had a great desire to be called Romulus secundus but because that did resemble too much the title of a king he was content to be called Augustus that is maiesticall or diuine Thus had Caesar the power of a king the stile only foreprised In him all the dignities and magistracies did meete he was sole Consul in determining iudicially of publike affaires sole Pōtifex for he had that speciall title sole Censor in taxing the Romanes by poales and fining them for faults sole Tribune in abrogating these lawes voiding these acts which were made and done by other magistrates which though in shew they were maine yet in deed there was now but one Magistrate in Rome one Emperour one Augustus but these honors did not warrant Caears quietnesse for he was endangered by many trecheries and being thereby too seuere in punishing both the worthie and vnworthie vpon suspition surmise without anie formall proceeding against them he did indeed minister oile vnto the flame of their malice Amongst the rest Cn. Cornelius whose grandfather was Cn. Pompeius Magnus did with his complices imagine and conspire the death of Augustus whom Cesar would not put to death because he thought by that meane he should gaine no great securitie neither would he deliuer them from imprisonment lest others might take courage counsell to attempt the like VVith this doubt perplexitie he was grieuously troubled and cares did torments his mind both in the night and in the day time wherefore walking alone in his garden and musing what to do Liuia the Empresse came vnto him and prayed him of all loues to reueale vnto her what griefe had encroched vpon his heart and what was the cause of his vnusuall dumpes to whom Caesar made this answer Can any man Liuia be of a calme and contented mind against whom on euery side are layd the snares of treason Seest thou not how manie doe besiege my quietnesse whom the punishment of condemned persons doth not only not deterre but as if there were some hope of reward others rush desperatly forward to vnlawfull attempts Liuia when she heard this did thus reply It is no maruel my Lord if you be beset with dāgers partly because you are a man and therefore borne to casualtie partly an Emperour by whose authoritie because manie are put to death many that liue do conceiue hatred against you for a Prince cānot only not please all but though he gouerne in most orderly and peaceable maner it cannot be otherwise but he should haue many foes For there be not so many iust as iniurious whose humours can neuer be satisfied