between him and Pyrrhus for besides the inroads he made into Thessaly the innate disease of Princes Ambition of greater Empire rendred their Neighbourhood formidable and suspected especially since Deidamia's death and both having seiz'd Macedon they came foul upon the same thing and the difference between them had the fairer colours Demetrius having entred into a War with the Aetolians and subdu'd them and left Pantanchus there with a considerable Army march'd directly against Pyrrhus and Pyrrhus as he thought against him but by mistake of the ways they past by one another Demetrius falling into Epirus wasted the Country and Pyrrhus meeting with Pantanchus prepar'd for an Engagement The Soldiers falling in pell-mell there was a sharp and great Fight especially where the Generals were Pantanchus in courage dexterity and strength of body being confessedly the best of all Demetrius his Captains and having both Resolution and Conduct challeng'd Pyrrhus to fight hand to hand on the other side Pyrrhus not less than any of the Kings in Valour and Glory and esteeming the Honour of Achilles rather due to him for his Courage than his Blood advanc'd against Pantanchus through the Front of the Army First they us'd their Lances then came to a close Fight and manag'd their Swords both with Art and Force Pyrrhus receiving one wound but returning two for it one in the Thigh the other near the Neck repuls'd and overthrew Pantanchus but did not kill him outright for he was suddenly rescu'd by his Friends the Epirots rais'd with the Victory of their King and admiring his Courage forc'd through and cut in pieces the close Body of the Macedonians and pursuing those that fled kill'd many and took 5000 Prisoners This Fight did not so much exasperate the Macedonians with Anger for their Loss or with Hatred to Pyrrhus as it caus'd an Esteem and Admiration of his Virtue and a great Discourse among those that saw what he did and were engag'd against him in the Action They thought his Countenance and Swiftness and Motion exprest those of the Great Alexander and that in him they beheld Shadows and Resemblances of his Vivacity and Strength in Fight other Kings in Purple and Guards and a formal bending of their Necks and speaking in a lofty tone only Pyrrhus in Arms and Action representing Alexander Of his Knowledge in Military Order and Discipline and his Great ability that way we have the best information from the Commentaries he left behind him about this Argument Antigonus being ask'd who was the greatest Souldier said Pyrrhus if he liv'd to be old meaning those only of his own time Hannibal of great Commanders esteem'd Pyrrhus for Sufficiency and Conduct the first Scipio the second and himself the third as is reported in the Life of Scipio In a word he seem'd ever to make this all his Thought and Philosophy as the most Kingly part of Learning other Curiosities he held in no Account He is reported when ask'd at a Feast whether he thought Python or Caphisias the best Musician to have said Polysperchon was the best Souldier as becoming a King only to enquire and understand such things Towards his Familiars he was mild and not easily incensed forward and ready in answering Kindnesses so that when Aeropus was dead he could not bear it with moderation saying he indeed had suffer'd what was common to humane Nature but condemning and blaming himself that by puttings off and delays he had not return'd his kindness in time for our Debts may be satisfy'd to the Creditor's Heirs but the acknowledgement of receiv'd Favours not paid in while they to whom it is due can be sensible of it afflicts a good and a worthy Nature Some thinking it fit that Pyrrhus should banish a certain ill-tongu'd Fellow in Ambracia who had spoke very indecently of him let him rather said he spake against me here to a few than rambling about to a great many And others who in their Wine had made reflections upon him being afterward question'd for it he ask'd them whether they spoke such words one of the young Fellows told him Yes Sir those very words and should have said more if we had had more Wine at which smiling he discharg'd them After Antigone's death he married several Wives to enlarge his Interest and Power He had the Daughter of Antoleon King of Paeonia Barcenna Bardyllis the Illyrian's Daughter Lanassa Daughter of Agathocles the Syracusian who brought with her in Dowry the City of Cercyra taken by Agathocles By Antigone he had Ptolomee Alexander by Lanassa and Helenus the youngest by Barcenna he brought them up all in Arms hot and eager Youths and by him sharpned to war from their very Infancy 'T is said when one of them yet a child ask'd him to which he would leave his Kingdom he reply'd to him that had the sharpest Sword which was much like that Tragical Curse of Oedipus to his Sons Divide not as the Common Rout But with the Sword each cut his portion out So unsociable and brutal are the measures which Ambition takes After this Battle Pyrrhus returning gloriously home entertain'd himself with the sense of his own Honour and Greatness of Mind and being call'd Eagle by the Epirots By you says he I am an Eagle for how should I not be such while I am born up by your Arms as on Wings A little after having Intelligence that Demetrius was dangerously sick he fell on a sudden into Macedon intending only an Incursion and to harrass the Country but was very near seizing upon all and taking the Kingdom without a blow He march'd as far as Edessa unresisted great numbers deserting and coming in to him This danger excited Demetrius beyond his Strength and his Friends and Commanders in a short time got a considerable Army together and with all their Forces briskly attack'd Pyrrhus who comming only to pillage would not stand a Fight but retreating lost part of his Army as he went off by the close pursuit of the Macedonians Demetrius although he had easily and quickly forc'd Pyrrhus out of the Country yet did not slight him but having resolv'd upon great Designs and to recover his Father's Kingdom with an Army of 100000 men and 500 Sail of Ships would neither embroil himself with Pyrrhus nor leave the Macedonians so active and troublesome a Neighbour and since he had no leisure to continue the War with him was willing to treat and conclude a Peace and to turn his Forces upon the other Kings Articles being agreed upon the Designs of Demetrius quickly discover'd themselves by the greatness of his preparation And the other Kings being alarm'd sent to Pyrrhus Ambassadors and Letters expressing their wonder that he losing so fair an Occasion would rather stay till Demetrius was ready to fight and being now able to chase him out of Macedon involv'd in designs and disturb'd would expect till he were at Leisure and grown greater and
scattered them in that disorder and confusion Here the Gods fulfilled Sylla's Dream For the Soldiers stirred up with anger left off to work and sticking their Piles on the Bank with drawn Swords and a couragious Shout came to handy blows with the Enemy who made but small resistance and were miserably slain in the Flight Marius fled to Praeneste but finding the Gates shut tied himself round by a Rope that was thrown down to him and was taken up on the Walls Some there are as Fenestella for one who affirm that Marius knew nothing of the Fight but over-watch'd and spent with hard Duty had reposed himself when the Signal was given beneath some Shade and was hardly to be awakned at the Flight of his Men. Sylla according to his own account lost only three Men in this Brush having killed of the Enemy twenty thousand and taken alive eight thousand The like Success had others of his Commanders as Pompey Crassus Metellus Servilius who with little or no loss cut off vast numbers of the Enemy insomuch as Carbo the prime Supporter of the Cause fled by night from his Charge of the Army and sailed over into Libya In the last Encounter the Samnite Telesinus like to some Champion whose lot it is to enter last of all into the List and take up the wearied Conqueror came nigh to have foiled and overthrown Sylla before the Gates of Rome For Telesinus with his second Lamponius the Lucan having drawn together huge Levies of Men made all hast toward Praeneste to free Marius from the Siege but perceiving Sylla at the Head of him and Pompey in the Tail both making violently at him streightned thus before and behind he as a valiant and expert Soldier arose by night and marching directly with his whole Army had like to have fallen unexpectedly into Rome it self He lay that night before the City some ten Furlongs off from the Gate Collatina all jocund and swoln with further Hopes as having already bafled so many eminent Commanders by Stratagem At break of day being charged by the Noble Youth of the City among many others he overthrew Appius Claudius a Person renowned for Nobleness of Blood and Valour The City as it is easie to imagine was all in an Uproar the Women shrieking and running about as if he had been entred forcibly by Assault till at last Balbus advanced with seven hundred Horse on full speed and after some small halt made for rubbing and bridling again fell into skirmish with the Enemy In the mean time Sylla appeared and commanding the formost to take refreshment drew into order Dolabella and Torquatus were extreme earnest with him to desist a while and not with spent Forces to hazard the whole sum of Affairs having before them in the Field not Carbo or Marius but two warlike Nations bearing immortal hatred to Rome the Samnites and Lucans to grapple with but he put them by and commanded the Trumpets to sound a Charge about four a Clock in the afternoon In this Conflict which was the sharpest as ever was the Right-wing where Crassus stood embattelled had clearly the advantage the Left was overcharged and in a declining condition when Sylla came to its succour mounted on a white Courser full of mettle and exceeding swift of foot which two of the Enemy knowing him by had their Lances in a readiness to cast but this Gentleman giving the Horse a touch he was unknown to himself so far advanced as that the Points falling beside the Horse-tail stuck in the Ground There goes a Story That having a golden Image of Apollo from Delphos he was always wont in the day of Battel to carry it about him in his Bosom and that then he kissed it with these words O Apollo Pythius the Fortunate Cornelius Sylla whom in so many Battels thou hast raised to Honour and Greatness wilt thou now cast down bringing him before the Gate of his Country to perish shamefully with his Fellow Citizens After he had thus addressed himself to the God some of his Men he intreated some he threatned and others he laid hold on till at length the left Wing being wholly shattered he was forc'd in Company of the Rout to betake himself to the Camp having lost many of his Friends and Acquaintance many likewise of the City-spectators were trod to Death So as Common Fame gave the City for taken and had like to have raised the Siege of Praeneste many who escaped by Flight posting thither and advising Lucretius Offella who was appointed to keep on the Siege to rise in all haste for that Sylla was defeated and Rome fallen into the Hands of the Enemy About Midnight there came into Sylla's Camp Messengers from Crassus to fetch Provision for him and his Soldiers for having vanquish'd the Enemy they pursu'd him to the Walls of Antemna and had sat down there Sylla hearing this and that most of the Enemy were destroyed came to Antemna by break of day where three Thousand of the Besieged having sent forth a Herald he promis'd to receive them to Mercy on condition they did the Enemy mischief in their coming over Trusting to his Word they fell foul on the rest of their Companions and made a great Slaughter one of another but however Sylla gathered together in the Cirque as well those as others of the remaining party to the number of seven Thousand and as he was speaking to the Senate in the Temple of Bellona causeth them all to be slain by Men appointed for that Service The cry as must needs be of so vast a multitude put to the Sword in so narrow a space flying abroad and startling the Senators he as he was speaking with a secure unconcern'd Countenance bad them listen to what he had to say and not busie themselves with what was a doing without doors for himself had ordered the Chastisement of a few naughty People This gave the most stupid of the Romans to understand that they had made an exchange only of Tyrannical Government not a change Marius being in himself austere altered not but confirmed Nature by Authority whereas Sylla behaving himself moderately and prudently at first and giving good hopes of a true Patriot firm to the Interests both of the Nobility and Commonalty being moreover of a gay pleasant humour from his youth and of such a melting compassionate disposition as to weep easily has perhaps deservedly cast a Blemish upon the higher Offices of State as if these put us beside our former course of Life and were occasion of Folly Pride Inhumanity This whether it be real change and new frame of Mind arising from Fortune or rather a malicious sly Nature discovering it self in Authority to decide were matter of another sort of Disquisition Now that Sylla was wholly bent upon slaughter and filled the Town incessantly with infinite Executions many disinteressed Persons falling a Sacrifice to private Enmity through his permission and indulgence to a Party Cajus Metellus one of
time by Charidemus by occasion of a Horse falling down at the Gate which hindred the Trojans so as they could not shut them soon enough and of two Cities which take their Names from most delightful odoriferous Plants Jos and Smyrna the one from a Violet the other from Myrrh the Poet Homer is reported to have been born in the one and to have died in the other To these Remarks if it may be permitted we may further observe that the most warlike Commanders who have perform'd the greatest exploits and carried on the most notable Stratagems by their Courage and Skill in Martial Affairs have had but one Eye as Philip Antigonus and Hannibal and Sertorius also whose Life and Actions we describe at present and who far surpassed the other in all noble Vertues for we may give this true report of him That he was more Temperate Sober and Continent than Philip more Faithful to his Friend than Antigonus and more Merciful and Courteous to his Enemies than Hannibal for Prudence Wisdom and Judgment he gave place to none of them but in Fortune was inferiour to them all who though she was every where more severe and cruel to him than to all his Illustrious Enemies yet for Skill and Experience in War he made himself equal to Metellus for bold Attempts Valour and Bravery he might compare with Pompey and in Success he no ways yielded to Sylla and for Power and Force he made himself a March for the whole Roman Empire and fought gloriously against the united Arms of Rome when he was a Banished Man and a Stranger amongst Barbarous People Of all the Grecian Commanders Eumenes of Cardia may be best compared with him for they were both of them great Generals both Valiant and Politick Commanders making use of Deceit intricate designs and cunning Stratagems in War they were both Aliens and Strangers Banished from their Countries and had the Command of Foreign Forces both had Fortune for their Adversary and so extravagantly injurious to them in the end that they were both betrayed and villainously murdered by those who served them and by whom they had formerly overcome their Enemies Quintus Sertorius was of a noble Family he was born in the City of Nursia in the Country of the Sabines his Father died when he was young he was carefully and decently educated by his Mother whose Name was Rhea and whom he extreamly loved and honoured he exercised himself in Oratory and pleading in his Youth which he performed so judiciously that he acquired no small Reputation and Power in Rome by the force of his Eloquence but the splendor of his glorious Actions in Arms and his successful Atchievments in the Wars induced him to alter his Ambition and to seek for Honour wholly in martial Affairs At his first entring the Field he served under Scipio when the Cimbri and Teutones invaded Gaul where the Romans fighting unfortunately and being put to flight he was wounded in many parts of his Body and thrown from his Horse yet nevertheless he swam cross the River Rhosne in his Armour with his Breast-plate and Shield bearing himself up against one of the swiftest Rivers in the World and breaking through its furious Waves by clear strength so strong a Body he had inur'd to hardship and by long exercise brought to endure all Labour The second time that the Cimbri and Teutones came down with some hundreds of thousands threatning death and destruction to all when it was no small piece of Service for a Roman Souldier to keep his Rank and obey his Commander Sertorius undertook to view the enemies camp and to discover their utmost Forces and Designs and to this intent having learned the manner of their Salutations and the ordinary expressions of their Language he threw himself in amongst the Barbarians dressed in the Habit of a Celtick Gaul where having carefully seen with his own Eyes or having been fully informed by Persons upon the place of all their most important Concerns and Affairs of greatest Moment he returned to Marius General of the Roman Army from whose hands he received the honourable Rewards of his Valour And afterwards giving frequent Demonstrations both of his Conduct and Courage in all the following War he was advanced to Places of Honour and Trust under his General who highly esteemed and consided in him After the Wars with the Cimbri and Teutones he was sent into Spain having the Command of a thousand Men under Didius the Roman General and wintered in the Country of the Celtiberians in the City of Castulo where the Souldiers enjoying great plenty of all things grew insolent and continually drinking the Inhabitants despised them and sent for aid by Night to the Gyrisenaeans their near Neighbours who sell upon the Romans in their Lodgings and slew a great Number of them but Sertorius being alarm'd withdrew out of the City with a few of his Souldiers and rallying together the rest who had slipp'd out he marched round about the Walls and finding the Gate open by which the Gyrisaenians privately entring had set upon the Romans he gave not them the same opportunity but placing a Guard at the Gate and seizing upon all Quarters of the City he slew those who were of age to bear arms and then ordering his Souldiers to lay aside their weapons and put off their own Cloaths and put on the accoutrements of the Barbarians he commanded them to follow him to the City from whence those were sent who fell upon the Romans by Night and deceiving the Gyrisaenians with the sight of their own Armour and Equipage he found the gates of their City open and took great Numbers of them Prisoners who came out thinking to meet their Friends and Fellow-Citizens coming from performing a worthy piece of Service Many also were slain by the Romans at their own Gates and the rest within yielded up themselves and were sold for Slaves This action made Sertorius to be highly renowned throughout all Spain and as soon as he returned to Rome he was constituted Treasurer General of Gallia Cisalpina on both sides of the River Po very advantageously for the Roman Affairs at that time for the War with the Marsi being unanimously resolved upon Sertorius was ordered to raise Souldiers and provide Arms which he performed with such Diligence Speed and Alacrity contrary to the languishing feebleness and slothfulness of his Companions that he got the repute of a man of Life and Spirit in Business nor did he any ways desist from his Milirary Boldness and Bravery when he arrived at the Dignity of a great Commander but performed Wonders with his own hands and never sparing himself but exposing his Body freely in all Conflicts he lost one of his Eyes which was cut out of his head and yet continued to have a chearful Look and always esteemed it an honour to him For others do not continually carry about with them the marks
it by Storm The Army being in readiness to give the Assault he put on his Arms and coming into the head of his men made a Vow of Plays and Sacrifices to Hercules in Honour if he signaliz'd himself in that day's Action before the Greeks that dwelt in Sicily as became his great Descent and his Fortunes The Sign being given by sound of Trumpet he dissipated first the Barbarians with his Shot and then brought his Ladders to the Wall and was the first that mounted upon it himself and the Enemy appearing in great Numbers he beat them back some he threw down from the Walls on each side others he laid dead in a heap round about him with his Sword nor did he receive the least wound but seem'd very terrible in his Aspect to the Enemy and gave a clear Demonstration that Homer was in the right and pronounc'd according to the truth of Fact that Fortitude alone of all the Virtues is often inspir'd with Furious and Enthusiastick Transports The City being taken he offer'd to Hercules most magnificently and exhibited all Varieties of Shows and Plays A sort of Barbarâ—us People about Mesena call'd Mamertines gave much trouble to the Greeks and put several of them under Contribution These being numerous and valiant from whence they had their Name as much as to say Martial in the Latin Tongue he first intercepted the Collectors of the Contribution Money and cut them off then beat them in open Fight and destroy'd many of their Places of Strength The Carthaginians being now inclin'd to Composition and offering him a round Summ of Money and to furnish him with Shipping if a Peace were concluded he told them plainly aspiring still to greater things there was one way for a Friendship and right understanding between them if they wholly abandoning Sicily he would consent the African Sea should be the limit between them and the Greeks And being heightned with his good Fortune and the Strength of his Forces and pursuing those hopes in prospect of which he first sail'd thither his chief aim was at Africk He had abundance of Shipping but very ill Equipp'd and when he began to press Seamen not carrying himself fairly and obligingly towards the Cities but forcing them in an haughty and insolent way and menacing them with punishments whereas at first he was not so but more winning than any other by a sweet manner of Converse ready to believe and uneasie to none now of a Popular Prince becoming a Tyrant by this severe proceeding he got the name of an ungrateful and a faithless man However they gave way to these things as necessary although they took them very ill from him and especially when he entertain'd a Suspicion of Thion and Sostratus men of the first Quality in Syracuse who invited him over into Sicily and when he was come put the Cities into his power and were most instrumental in all he had done there since his Arrival and would neither suffer them to be about his Person nor leave them at home Sostratus out of fear withdrew himself then he charg'd Thion as in a Conspiracy with t'other and put him to death and now the Scene of his Affairs was chang'd not by little and little nor yet all at once but a mortal hatred being rais'd in the Cities against him some fell off to the Carthaginians others call'd in the Mamertines and seeing Revolts in all places and desires of Alteration and a Potent Faction against him he receiv'd Letters from the Samnites and Tarentines who were beaten quite out of the Field and scarce left able to secure their Towns against the War earnestly begging his help This serv'd as a Colour to make his relinquishing Sicily no Flight nor a Despair of good Success but in truth not being able to keep it which was as a Ship labouring in a Storm and willing to be out of her he suddenly threw himself over into Italy 'T is reported that at his going off he look'd back upon the Island and said to those about him How brave a Field of War do we leave my Masters for the Romans and Carthaginians to fight in which as he then conjectur'd fell out indeed not long after When he was just ready to Sail the Barbarians having conspir'd together he was forc'd to a Fight with the Carthaginians in the very Road and lost many of his Ships with the rest he fled into Italy There were about 1000 Mamertines had cross'd the Sea a little before but afraid to engage him in open Field only setting upon him where the Passages were difficult put the whole Army in Confusion two Elephants fell and a great part of his Rear was cut off he therefore coming up in Person repuls'd the Enemy but was hugely in danger among men train'd long in War and enrag'd his being wounded in the Head with a Sword and retiring a little out of the Fight had heightned the Enemy one of which advancing a good way before the rest large of Body and in bright Armour with an haughty voice challeng'd him to come forth if he were alive Pyrrhus in a great rage violently turn'd himself among his Guards towards him and storming and beswear'd with Bloud he was terrible to look upon and breaking through his own men got afore and stroke the Barbarian on the Head with his Sword such a blow as with the strength of his Arm and the excellent temper of the Weapon pass'd downward so far that in a moment his Body being cut asunder fell in two pieces this stop'd the course of the Barbarians amaz'd and confounded at Pyrrhus as one more than man So that continuing his March all the rest of the way undisturb'd he arriv'd at Tarentum with 20000 Foot and 3000 Horse where reinforcing himself with the choicest Troops of the Tarentines he advanc'd immediately against the Romans who then lay encamp'd in the Territories of the Samnites whose Affairs were extreamly shatter'd and their Councils broken having been in many Fights beaten by the Romans There was also a discontent among them at Pyrrhus for his Expedition into Sicily so that not many came in to join him But he divided his Army in two Parts and commanded the first into Leucania to oppose one of the Consuls there that he should not come in to assist the other the rest he led against Manius Curius who had posted himself very advantageously near Beneventum and expected the other Consul's Forces and partly because the Priests had frighted him with ominous Birds and Sacrifices he resolv'd to remain there Pyrrhus hast'ning to attack these before the other could arrive with his best men and the most courageous Elephants march'd in the Night toward their Camp but being forc'd to go round about and through a very woody Country their Flambeaus fail'd them and their Soldiers lost their way a Council of War being call'd while they were in debate the Night was spent and at the break of Day
unavoidable and a great Feud happ'ning at Argos between Aristeus and Aristippus two principal Citizens after Aristippus had resolved to make use of the Friendship of Antigonus Aristeus to prevent him invited Pyrrhus thither and he always revolving hopes upon hopes and taking advantage from good successes to embrace occasions of more and when things went unprosperously to make up those defects by doing better another time he neither made Losses nor Victories the bounds of his receiving or giving Trouble and so presently went for Argos Areus by frequent Ambushes and lining the Hedges where the ways were most unpracticable cut off many of the Gauls and Molossians that brought up the Rear It was told Pyrrhus by one of the Priests that found the Liver of the sacrificed Beast imperfect that some of his near Relations would be lost in this Tumult and Disorder of his Rear forgetting the Prediction he commanded out his Son Ptolomee with some of his Guards to their assistance who quickly getting out of the narrow ways march'd up to them and the Fight being very warm where he was for the most select men of the Lacedaemonians commanded by Evalcus were there engaged one Oraesus of Aptera in Creet a stout man and very swift running on the one side of the young Prince as he was fighting bravely gave him a mortal wound and slew him he falling those about him turned their backs the Lacedaemonian Horse pursuing and cutting off many were got into the open Field engaged with the Enemy before they were aware without the Infantry Pyrrhus who had received the ill news of his Son and was infinitely afflicted at it drew out his Molossian Horse against them and charging in the Head of his men satiated himself with the Blood and Slaughter of the Lacedaemonians always indeed appearing an invincible Hero and mighty in Arms but now exceeded all he had ever done before in Courage and Force Then riding up furiously to Evalcus he declining a little to one side had almost cut off Pyrrhus his Hand in which he held the Reins but lighting on the Reins only cut them at the same instant Pyrrhus running him through with his Spear fell from his Horse and on foot as he was cut in pieces all those choice men that fought about the Body of Evalcus and the obstinate fury of the Commanders on both sides brought this great loss to Sparta even when the War was now at an end Pyrrhus having thus offered so many as it were in Sacrifice to the Ghost of his Son and made his Fight a kind of Funeral Show converting much of his Grief into Rage against the Enemy marched away to Argos And having Intelligence that Antigonus kept the high Grounds he encamped about Nauplia the next day he dispatched an Herauld to Antigonus calling him persidious and challenging him to descend into the plain Field and fight with him for the Kingdom he answered his Conduct should be measured by Times as well as by Arms and that if Pyrrhus had no leisure to live there were ways enough open to death To both the Kings also came Ambassadours from Argos desiring each Party to retreat and not suffer the City to fall into the hands of any one of them that had a great honour for both Antigonus was perswaded and sent his Son an Hostage to the Argives but Pyrrhus although he promised a recess yet sending no Hostage he was much suspected At this time a great Prodigy happen'd to Pyrrhus for the Heads of the Sacrificed Oxen lying apart from the Bodies were seen to thrust out their Tongues and lick up their own gore And in the very City of Argos a Priestess of Apollo Lycius ran about the Streets crying She saw the City full of Carcasses and Slaughter and an Eagle coming out to fight and presently vanishing again In the dead of the Night Pyrrhus approaching the Walls and finding the Gate called Diamperes set open for them by Aristeas was undiscovered till such time as all his Gauls had entred and took possession of the Market place but the Gate being too low to let in the Elephants they were fain to take down their Towers and put them on again in the dark and in disorder so that time being lost the City took the Alarm and the People some run to Aspis the chief Citadel and others to other Places of Defence and sent away to Antigonus to assist them who coming pretty near made an halt but sent in some of his principal Commanders and his Son with a very considerable Force Areus came thither too with 1000 Cretans and some of the briskest of the Spartans and all falling on at once upon the Gauls put them in great disorder Pyrrhus entring in with a mighty Noise and Shout at a place called Cylabaris when the Gauls returned another Cry to them it did not express Courage and Assurance but the Voice of men distressed and that had their hands full Therefore Pyrrhus in haste pushed on the van of his Horse that marched but slowly and dangerously by reason of the Drains and Sinks of which the City was full In this Night-Engagement there was infinite confusion both in those that acted and those that commanded mistaking and stragling in the narrow Streets it was impossible to make use of Conduct or Order in that darkness and variety of Noises and strait Passages so both sides continued without doing any thing and expecting Day-light At the first dawn Pyrrhus seeing the great Citadel Aspis full of Men was disturbed and remarking among many Figures dedicated to the Market-place a Wolf and Bull of Brass as it were ready to attack one another he was struck with horrour reflecting upon the memory of an Oracle that formerly predicted Fate had determined his Death when he should see a Wolf fighting with a Bull. The Argives report these Figures were placed in memory of a thing that fell out anciently there For Danaus when he first invaded those Parts passing by the ways called Pyramia in Thyreatis as he marched towards Argos espied a Wolf fighting with a Bull and imagining the Wolf to represent him for this Stranger fell upon a Native as he designed to do stay'd to see the Issue of the Fight and the Wolf prevailing after he had offered his Devotions to Apollo Lycius he assaulted and carried the Town Gelanor who was then King being displac'd by a Faction And this was the Cause of dedicating those Figures Pyrrhus quite out of heart at this Sight and seeing none of his Designs succeed thought best to retreat but fearing the strait Passage at the Gates sent to his Son Helenus who was left without the Town with a great part of his Forces commanding him to break down part of the Wall and assist the retreat if the Enemy pressed hard upon them But what with the hast and confusion of the Person that was sent he delivered nothing clearly so that quite mistaking the Young Prince
Action was so surprizing that 't was thought a particular Providence was concern'd in it Some say Castor and Pollux plac'd themselves on each side Lysander's Ship and attended this affair with extraordinary influence Others fansi'd a stone that seem'd to fall from Heaven to be an Omen of this overthrow 'T was of a vast bigness and fell by the River Egus The Peloponnesians esteem it very much and show it among their Curiosities to this day Theophrastus tells us that Lysander when the three Thousand Athenians which he took prisoners were condemned by the Council call'd Philocles and asked him What punishment he thought that man deserv'd who advis'd the Citizens to proceed so severely against the Grecians Philocles not at all daunted in his Adversity reply'd You are no judge in this Case but do you use your Prisoners as I wou'd have us'd you if you had been mine After this bold answer with all gayety and cheerfulness he led on his Country-men as if he had been going rather to a Triumph than his Execution When this Tragedy was over Lysander visited all the neighbouring Cities and Commanded all the Athenians he found upon pain of death to repair to Athens His design was this That the City being thus throng'd might soon be reduc'd to Famine and glad to surrender upon discretion as soon as he open'd the Siege Where-ever he came he chang'd the present Government of the place and put in a Lacedaemonian as Chief with ten other Assistants Thus he dealt not only with his Enemies but his Allies and by this means had in a manner engross'd to himself the whole Empire of Greece He did not employ the Nobility or the wealthy Citizens in any part of the Government but put it into the hands either of private Friends or strangers and entrusted 'em with full power of Life and Death Many were executed whilst he was present and whoever exprest any dislike of his Friends proceedings were sure to meet with very hard usage This management gave the Greeks an ill Opinion of the Lacedaemonian Government From hence Theopompus took occasion by way of drollery to compare the Lacedaemonians with Vint'ners who whilst they pretend to entertain us with sweet Wine give it a dash of Vinegar for though Lysander openly profess'd he allow'd 'em all their Freedom and privileges yet he oppress'd 'em so much by his Ambitious and Tyrannical Officers that no Slavery cou'd be more uneasie to 'em than what he call'd Liberty Having settled Affairs here according to his mind and dispatch'd Messengers to tell the Lacedaemonians that he shou'd return to them with two hundred Sail in a very short time he appear'd before Attica with such assurance as if he thought of nothing less than the immediate surrender of the City But when he found the Athenians made a vigorous defence beyond his expectation he retreated into Asia and made the same alteration in other Cities as he had done in those we mentioned before putting some to death who did not submit to his Tyranny and forcing others to quit their Country He utterly routed the Samians and gave Fugitives the possession of their Cities He us'd the same Barbarity to the Inhabitants of Sestos which was then in the hands of the Athenians and divided it among his Sea-men The Lacedaemonians themselves were displeas'd at these inhumane proceedings though against their Enemies and re-establish'd the Sestians The Greecians were well satisfi'd with Lysander's Conduct for by his means the Aeginites were restor'd to their own Cities of which the Athenians had injustly possess'd themselves By this time Lysander had intelligence that there was a Famine in Athens upon which he sail'd to the Piraeum and had no sooner began his siege but the City surrendred submitting to whatever Terms he demanded 'T is reported among the Lacedaemonians that Lysander wrote to the Magistrates thus Athens is taken To which they return'd this Answer in the same way You say 't is taken we are satisfi'd But this was recorded rather as Laconick than true for they commanded him to observe these orders They run thus Know this is the decree of the Lacedaemonians Pull down the Piraeum and the long Wall Divide their Lands among the neighbouring Cities Allow 'em what 's necessary and set the Captives at liberty When you have perform'd this enjoy that peace which you have so well deserv'd As for the number of Ships use your own discretion in that matter When these orders came to the Athenians they took Theramenes his advice thereupon whom Cleomenes one of the young Councellors ask'd why he acted contrary to the intention of Themistocles and gave those Walls into the hands of the Lacedaemonians which he built in defiance of ' em Youth says he I have my eye upon Themistocles his design He rais'd these Walls for the preservation of the City and I for the very same reason wou'd have 'em destroy'd and if Walls only secure a City Sparta which has none is in a very ill condition Lysander as soon as the Ships and Fortifications of the Athenians were deliver'd into his hands attempted the same alteration among them as he had made in the other parts of Greece but finding 'em more stubborn than he expected he complain'd to the Lacedaemonians that their orders were not observ'd by the Athenians that the Walls were yet standing after the time fix'd for their pulling down was expir'd and now since they had broke their first Articles he declar'd he wou'd not enter into new conditions with ' em Some say he mov'd in Council that they might be reduc'd to Slavery when at the same time Erianthus the Theban propos'd wholly to destroy the City and leave the Country desolate but a little afterwards at an entertainment of the Captains one of 'em repeated some verses out of Eurypides's Electra They begun thus Electra O unhappy Queen Whither wou'd you fly return Your absence the forsaken Groves And desert Palace seem to mourn This struck 'em and gave 'em occasion to reflect how barbarous 't wou'd appear to lay that City in ruine which had been renown'd for the birth and education of so many famous men However Lysander the Athenians entirely submitting to him call'd a great consort of Musick both out of the City and Camp and whilst he pull'd down the Walls and burn'd the Ships his associates dancing and Crown'd with Garlands express'd as much joy as if the end of other men's happiness had been the beginning of their own After this according to his usual way of dealing with Conquer'd People he alter'd their Government appointed thirty Rulers over the City and ten over the Piraeum plac'd a strong Garrison in the Tower and made Callibius a Spartan the Governour who upon some slight occasion offer'd to strike Autolycus a famous wrestler the same whom Xenophon mentions in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the young Gentleman avoided the blow and gave Callibius a fall Lysander though this reflected upon one of his Officers
Letters to Pausanias that he shou'd remove from Platea and make haste to join Forces with him at Haliartus where he himself wou'd certainly meet him by break of day These Letters fell into the hands of the Enemies Spies and were brought to the Thebans Upon the opening of 'em they entrusted their City with the Athenians and they sallying out at the first Watch arriv'd at Haliartus and put part of their Forces into the City a little before Lysander came Lysander had at first resolv'd to pitch his Tents upon the side of an Hill and wait for Pausanias but day drawing on he grew impatient and led his Soldiers out in a direct line along the Road to the Walls of the City There is a Fountain call'd Cisseusa in which they say Bacchus was wash'd immediately after his birth for the Water is like Wine of a bright Colour and a pleasant taste not far off grows the Cretian Storax by which the Haliartians guess Radamanthus dwelt there and the rather because his Sepulchre too which they call Alea is seen in this place The monument of Alcmena is hard by where they pretend she was buri'd when after Amphitryo's death she marri'd Radamanthus 'T was here about on the left side of Haliartus that those Thebans who had not entred the City were plac'd from whence with great fierceness they fell upon the Enemies Rear In the mean time those within the City putting themselves into one body with the Haliartians kept their order in quiet But assoon as Lysander appear'd with his Van-Guard before the Gates they rush'd out killed him and one of his Priests with some few more for the greater part made their escape to the main Army but the Thebans pursu'd 'em so closely that they all soon dispers'd and fled to the Hills A Thousand of them were kill'd in this pursuit and 300 of the Thebans fell by chasing 'em too rashly into craggy and dangerous places These 300 had been suspected of correspondence with the Lacedaemonians which made 'em so rash and desperate that they were resolv'd to wipe off this disgrace though with the loss of their Lives The news of this defeat came to Pausanias as he was going from Platea to Thespias He presently put his Army in order and made towards Haliartus where about the same time Thrasybulus was arriv'd with a party of the Athenians under his Command Pausanias wou'd have articled with 'em upon terms for the dead but the Spartan Magistrates wou'd not consent to it and were angry with him for offering such mean proposals They declar'd Lysander's body shou'd not be redeem'd by conditions but if they fought it out and Conquer'd they might carry it off honourably if they happen'd to be overcome themselves 't wou'd however be more glorious to die upon the spot with their Commander The Magistrates carrying it thus high with the usual haughtiness of Spartans Pausanias who was more calm saw 't was too difficult a matter to think of routing the Thebans who were just now flush'd with Victory besides if this cou'd have been done the body lay so near the Walls that it cou'd not easily be bore off without a truce so he immediately dispatch'd an Herauld obtain'd a Treaty drew back his Forces carri'd away Lysander and buri'd him in the Country of his Friends the Panopeans His Monument is still to be seen in the Road from Delphos to Chaeronea where the Lacedaemonians for some time took up their quarters and while they staid there one of Phocis giving an account of the Battel to one of his Companions said The Enemy fell upon 'em after Lysander had pass'd Ophlites A Spartan Lysander's Friend that stood by having not heard of that name ask'd what Ophlites he meant and yet says the Phocian that's the place where we lost our bravest men 't is the River that runs by the City The Spartan immediately wept and broke out into this expression O how unavoidable are the decrees of Fate For it seems the Oracle had pronounced this to Lysander Take care to shun Ophlites watery Field And him who bears a Dragon in his Shield Some indeed say Ophlites doth not run to Haliartus but is a River near Coronea which mix'd with the River Phliarus passes along to that City 'T was formerly call'd Oplias but now 't is known by the name of Isomantus Neocorus the Haliartian who kill'd Lysander bore a Dragon in his Shield and 't is probable that this was signifi'd by the Oracle 'T is reported there was an Oracle concerning the Thebans in the Peloponnesian War which foretold the Battel at Delium and this at Haliartus though this hapned thirty years after The Oracle runs thus Don't follow in your chase the eager Hound Vpon the Confines fly th ' Orchalian Ground That den of Foxes This place about Delium he calls the Confines where Baeotia borders upon Attica and the Hill Orchalides which now they call Alopecon lies in that part of Haliartus which is towards Helicon The Lacedaemonians look'd upon Pausanias his proceedings as so dishonourable to a Spartan General that they wou'd have tri'd him for his Life but he durst not venture to appear so fled into Tegaea where he devoted himself to a private Life in the Temple of Minerva Lysander's poverty which was discover'd at his death made his virtue more admir'd when it appear'd that from so much plenty and power such rich presents from so many Cities which were under his Government he had not at all encreas'd the wealth of his own private Family This is observ'd by Theopompus whom we may sooner believe when he commends than when he finds fault for men are more apt to discommend than praise Ephorus says that upon some dispute between the Confederates with Sparta when Lysander's writings were to be examin'd Agesilaus was order'd to make the search who finding a discourse of Lysander's concerning the Government where he endeavour'd to show how advantageous 't wou'd be to the Commonwealth if the right of succession which the Family of the Eureutiontidae and Agiadae pretended to was broke and the Kingdom made elective This discourse Agesilaus design'd to publish and discover by that means what sort of a Friend Lysander was to 'em in private But Lacratidas a wise man and at that time President of the Council wou'd not suffer him so basely to abuse a great General 's memory and told him that these papers which were so plausibly and ingeniously writ deserv'd to rest honourably with their Author and that 't was inhumane to dig Lysander out of his Grave The Spartans bestow'd many honours on him after his death amongst which this was none of the least There were some who had engag'd themselves to Lysander's Daughters while every thing about him appear'd Rich and Splendid but when they saw how poor and honest he died they broke off their contract These in respect to Lysander's memory the Spartans severely fin'd For there was it seems in Sparta a Law which punish'd as
Circumventing of Philocles the Atheninian Orator Sharp only at inglorious point of Tongue both whom Mithridates would have scorned to compare with the Master of his Horse or Marius with his Lictor But of all the Grandees Consuls Commanders and Daemagogues to pass by others who opposed themselves to Sylla who amongst the Romans so formidable as Marius What King more powerfull than Mithridates Who of the Italians sturdier than Lamponius and Telesinus Yet of these one he drove into Banishment one he quelled and the others he slew Now the greatest of all which has been as yet related in my judgment was That Lysander had the Assistance of the State in all his Archievements whereas Sylla besides that he was a Banish'd Person and sorely overcharged by a Faction at what time his Wife was driven from home his Houses demolished and Adherents slain himself then in Baeotia stood Embattelled against infinite Numbers of the Enemy and adventuring all for the sake of his Country erected a Trophie Nor when Mithridates came with Proposals of Alliance and Aid against his Enemies would he shew any the least Compliance or so much as Civil Respect either by greeting or vouchsafing him his Hand till such time that he had it from the Kings own Mouth that he was willing to quit Asia surrender the Navy and restore Bithynia and Cappadocia to the two Kings than which Action Sylla never performed a braver or with a Nobler Courage when preferring the Publick Good to the Private and like a generous Dog where he had once fix'd never letting go his hold till he had conquered the Enemy he then set himself to revenge his own private Quarrels We may perhaps make a better estimate of their Manners by weighing both their Athenian Actions in the Ballance Sylla when he had made himself Master of that City which had upheld the Dominion and Power of Mithridates in opposition to him restored her to Liberty and the free Exercise of her own Laws Lysander on the contrary when she had fell from such a vast height of Dignity and Rule unmercifully took away the Democracy imposing on her the most Cruel and Lawless Tyrants It 's now time to consider whether we should swerve from the Truth or no by declaring that Sylla performed the more Glorious Deeds but Lysander committed the fewer Faults as likewise by giving to one the Preheminence for Moderation and Abstinence to the other for Conduct and Valour THE LIFE OF CIMON Englished from the Greek By Mat. Morgan A. M. of St. John's College in Oxford VOLUME III. PEripoltas the Diviner having brought the King Opheltas and those under his Command from Thessaly into Baeotia left there a Family which flourish'd a long time after the greatest part of them inhabited Chaeronea the first City out of which they expelled the Barbarians The Descendants of this Race being men of bold Attempts exposed themselves to so many CIMON This was the valiant and obliging Greeke Who Conqver'd when he acted or did speake His Courage and his Courtesy were greate The haughty Persian bravely did defeate Gott in one day a double Victory And so 〈◊〉 Triumph'd over earth 〈…〉 Dangers in the Incursions the Medes made upon them and in Exploits against the Gauls that at last they were almost wholly consumed There was left one Orphan of this House called Damon surnamed Peripoltas for Beauty and greatness of Spirit surpassing all of his Age but of Temper fierce and untractable A Roman Captain of a Foot-Company that Wintered in Chaeronea fell in love with this Youth but since he could not obtain his infamous Desires either by Gifts or Entreaties 't was much feared that he would proceed to Violence The Suspicion was made more probable by the condition of Chaeronea which was then so weak that it had not power either to prevent the Attempt or punish the Commission of the Crime Of which Damon being sensible and looking upon his Sollicitations as Injuries resolved to be revenged of him Accordingly he and sixteen of his Companions conspired against the Captain but that the Design might be managed without any danger of being discovered they all daubed their Faces with Soot Thus disguised and inflamed with Wine they set upon him by break of day as he was sacrificing and having killed him and not a few of those that were with them they fled out of the City which was extreamly alarmed and troubled at the Murder The Council Assembled immediately and pronounced Sentence of Death against Damon and all his Accomplices This they did to justifie the City to the Romans But that evening as the Magistrates were at Supper together according to Custom Damon and his Confederates breaking into the Room killed them all and then again fled out of the Town About this time Lucius Lucullus passing that way with his Forces upon some Expedition and this disaster having but newly hapned he staid to examine the matter Upon enquiry he found the City was in no wise faulty but rather that they themselves had suffered therefore he drew out the Soldiers and carried them away with him Yet Damon continuing to ravage the Country all about the Citizens by Messages and Decrees in appearance favourable enticed him into the City and upon his return made him Gymnasiarque but afterward as he was suppling himself with Oyl in the Baigno they set upon him and kill'd him For a long while after Apparitions being seen and lamentable Groans heard in that place as our Fathers have told us they ordered the Gates of the Baigno to be made up and even to this day those who dwell about that place affirm that they sometimes see Spectres and hear terrible Voices The posterity of Damon of which some remain in the Country of Phocide near the City Stiris living after the manner of the Aeolians are called Asbolomenoi that is Men dawbed with Soot Because with that Damon was besmeared when he committed this Murther But there being a Quarrel betwixt those of Chaeronea and the Orchomeniens who bordered upon them they hired an Informer a Roman to excuse the Community of Chaeronea as if it had been a single Person of the Murther of the Romans of which only Damon and his Ruffians were guilty accordingly the process was formed and the cause pleaded before the Petor of Macedon for as yet the Romans had not sent Governours into Greece The Advocates who defended the Inhabitants appealed to the Testimony of Lucullus who in answer to a Letter the Pretor writ to him returned a true account of the matter of Fact By this means the Town gain'd their Cause which otherwise they were in great danger of losing The Citizens thus preserved erected a Statue to Lucullus in the Forum next to that of the God Bacchus We also have the same Impressions of Gratitude and tho removed from them by the distance of so many Ages yet we think our selves obliged by that Act. And as to draw the Genius and Noble Inclinations of a great
Political part of Government he excelled them and every one else And this too when he was very young his years not yet confirmed by any experience For when Themistocles upon the Medes threatning them with an Invasion advised the Athenians to forsake their Town and the Country about it and to carry all their Arms on Ship board and in the Streights of Salamis dispute the Dominion of the Sea with their Enemies When all the World stood amazed at the Confidence and Rashness of this advice Cimon only was not at all surprised but chearfully passed through the Street of Ceramicon accompanied with other young Men toward the Castle carrying a Bridle in his hand to offer to the Goddess Minerva by this intimating that there was no more need of Horsemen now but Mariners Thus after he had paid his Devotions to the Goddess and offer'd up the Bridle he took down the Bucklers that hung upon the Walls of the Temple and so went down to the Port. By this Example he encouraged the Citizens to follow him in order to their Embarking Besides he was an handsome Person of a just Stature his Hair thick and curled After he had acquitted himself gallantly in this Battle of Salamis he obtained a great Reputation among the Athenians and they not only admired his Actions but loved his Person So that they were continually enflaming him with Emulation to perform Deeds as Famous as that of Marathon that entertaining great Conceptions of things he might act sutably thereunto The People were very glad when they saw him applying himself to matters of State for they were disgusted with Themistocles In opposition to whom and because of the Candor and Freeness of Cymon's Temper which was agreeable to every one they advanced him to the highest Employments in the Government The man that contributed most to his Promotions was Aristides who still cultivated that honest Genius he saw in him And purposely raised him that he might be a Counterpoise to the Craft and repress the insolence of Themistocles But when the Medes were driven out of Greece Cimon being Admiral though the Athenians had not yet attained the Chief Dominion but still followed Pausanias and the Lacedaemonians he kept his Citizens in Heart and by the Goodness of their Order and Equipage but chiefly by their Valour they were distinguished from the rest Besides he perceiving that Pausanias managed an intelligence with the King of Persia to betray Greece to the Barbarians and puft up with Arrogance and Success treated his Allies haughtily and committed Insolencies upon them Cimon taking this advantage robbed him of the Esteem and Command of the Greeks before he was aware This he did not by open Enmity but by affable Discourse and the Obligingness of his Conversation So that the Allies no longer able to endure the Sourness and Pride of Pausanias revolted all from him to Cimon and Aristides Who having gain'd such a Party from him writ to the Ephori of Sparta and sent particular Messengers to complain of him desiring them to recall a Man who was a dishonour to Sparta and a trouble to Greece They report of Pausanias that when he was in Bysantium he sollicited a young Lady of a noble Family in the City whose name was Cleonice to debauch her Her Parents dreading the cruel Humour of the Man were forced to consent and so abandon'd their Daughter to his Embraces Cleonice commanded the Servants to put out all the Lights So that approaching silently and in the dark towards his Bed she stumbled upon the Lamp which she overturned and spilled Pausanias who was fallen asleep awaked and startled with the noise thought an assassin had taken that dead time of the Night to murder him so that hastily snatching up his Poinard that lay by him he wounded his supposed Enemy to Death After this he never enjoyed himself but was disturbed in his Thoughts For his Dear Mistress haunted his Bed and would not let him Sleep but interrupted his repose with these Angry Words Villain be just at last and so repent Or see the hand that brings thy Punishment This Tragical Accident gave the last stroke to his Ruin For after this the Allies joyning their Resentments and Forces with Cimon's besieged him in Byzantium but he escaped out of their Hands and fled to Heraclea Here coming to a place which might be called the Oracle of the Dead where they raise up Spirits to know future Events he solemnly invoked Cleonice and intreated her Ghost to be reconciled Accordingly she appeared to him and answered him in these Words As soon as thou comest to Sparta thou shalt be freed from all the Misfortunes which now afflict thee Hereby obscurely foretelling in my opinion that imminent Death he was to suffer This is the Story that is told of him Cimon strengthned with this accession of the Allies went General into Thrace For he was told that some great Men among the Persians of the Kings Kindred having possessed themselves of Eione a City situated upon the River Strymon infested the Greeks which confin'd upon them First he defeated these Persians and shut them up within the Walls of their Town Then he fell upon the Thracians themselves who were Borderers because they supply'd those of Eione with Victuals he drove them entirely out of the Country and took possession of it as Conqueror By this means he reduced the Besieged to such straights that Butes who Commanded there for the King in a desperate resolution set fire to the Town and burned himself his Goods and all his Relations in one common Flame By this means Cimon got the Town but no great Booty for these Barbarians not only consumed themselves in the Fire but the richest of their Moveables However the Country about it he gave the Athenians which was a pleasant and fruitful Soil For this Action the People permitted him to erect Stone Mercuries upon the First of which was this Inscription Those were the valiant Heros who in Thrace Did Conquering the Persians them disgrace By Sword and Famine made them all to die And unto Death as to a refuge fly Upon the Second was this This Monument did grateful Athens raise To give to her Commanders lasting Praise That this might make her Emulous Sons contend Encountring Death their Country to defend This was the Inscription of the Third Since Mnestheus to Atrides Succours led From Athens by whose Hands his Foes lay dead And as old Homer doth report the same All Troy did tremble at this Warriour's Name Then no one justly ought for to admire That Athens to this Honour doth aspire None are so Wise and Valiant as They As Chiefs to Lead as Soldiers to Obey Tho' the Name of Cimon is not mention'd in these Inscriptions yet his Contemporaries do assert them wholly as erected to his Honour and being so it was a peculiar one to him For Miltiades and Themistocles could never obtain the like And when Miltiades desired a Crown of Olive one
most ungovernable of all humane Passions could then yield to the necessities of the State Cimon as soon as he returned put an end to the War and reconciled the two Cities Peace thus establish'd seeing the Athenians impatient of being Idle and eager after the Honour and Spoils of War lest they should set upon the Grecians themselves or with so many Ships cruising about the Isles and Peloponnesus they should give Occasions to intestine Wars or Complaints of their Allies against them He equipped two hundred Galleys with design to make an attempt upon Aegypt and Cyprus by this means to use the Athenians to fight against the Barbarians and enrich themselves by spoiling those who are by nature Enemies to Greece But when all things were prepared and the Army ready to imbark Cimon had this Dream It seemed to him an angry Bitch bark'd at him and a kind of humane voice mixt with barking uttered these Words Go on for shortly thou shalt be A Friend to my young Whelps and me This Dream was hard to interpret yet Astyphylus of Posidonium a man skilled in Divinations and intimate with Cimon told him that his Death was presaged by this Vision which he thus explained A Dog is Enemy to him he barks at and one is always most a friend to ones Enemies when one is dead that mixture of humane Voice with barking signifies the Modes for the Army of the Medes is mixt of Greeks and Barbarians But after this Dream as he was sacrificing to Bacchus and the Priest cutting up the Victim a great number of Emmets taking up the little congealed particles of the blood laid them about Cimon's great Toe This was not observed a good while but as soon as Cimon spied it the Priest came and shewed him the Liver of the Sacrifice imperfect wanting that part of it which they called the head of the Entrail But he could not then recede from the Enterprize so he set sail sixty of his Ships he sent toward Aegypt with the rest he went and fought the King of Persia's Fleet composed of Phaenician and Cilician Sail subdued all the Cities thereabout and threatned Aegypt designing no less than the entire Ruin of the Persian Empire And the rather for that he was informed Themistocles was in great repute among the Barbarians and had promised the King to lead his Army whenever he should make War upon Greece but they say Themistocles losing all hopes of compassing his designs and despairing to equal the Vertue and good fortune of Cimon dyed a voluntary Death Cimon still framing great designs and keeping his Navy about the Isle of Cyprus sent Messengers to Consult the Oracle of Jupiter Hammon upon some secret matter for 't is not known about what they were sent the God would give them no Answer but commanded them to return again for that Cimon was already with him Hearing this they returned to Sea and as soon as they came to the Grecian Army which was then about Aegypt they understood that Cimon was dead and computing the time of the Oracle they found that his Death was meant by it as being then with the Gods Some say he died of Sickness at Citium in Cyprus and others of a wound he received in a Skirmish with the Barbarians when he perceived he should dye he commanded those under his charge to return to their Country and by no means to spread the news of his Death by the way this they did with such secrecy that they all came home safe and neither their Enemies nor Allies knew what had hapned Thus as Phaenodemus relates the Grecian Army was as it were conducted by Cimon thirty days after he was dead But with him perished all the good fortune of Greece for after his Death there was not a Commander that did any thing considerable or which might deserve the name of a great action and instead of uniting against their common Enemies they who bore sway in the Principal Cities animated them against one another to that degree that none durst or would interpose their good Offices to reconcile them Thus by mutual discord ruining themselves the Persians had time to recover Breath and repair all their losses 'T is true indeed Agesilaus made some shew of the Grecian Forces in Asia but 't was a long time after he seemed to revive some little appearances of a War against the Kings Lieutenants in the Provinces but they all quickly vanisht for before he could perform any thing of moment he was recalled by civil Dissentions at home So that he was forced to leave the Persian Kings Officers to impose what Tribute they pleased on the Grecian Cities in Asia tho under the Dominion of the Lacedaemonians Whereas in the time of Cimon no Officer of What Quality or Character soever could Command there nor durst any Souldier in Arms come within four hundred furlongs of the Sea The Monuments called Cimonian to this day in Athens shew that to be the place of his Burial yet the Inhabitants of the City Citium pay particular honour to a certain Tomb which they call the Tomb of Cimon according to Nausicrates the Rhetorician who also reports that in a Famine when there necessities were very great they sent to the Oracle which commanded them to honour Cimon as a God Thus have I drawn the Life of this Famous Captain and by these Proportions judge of him LUCULLUS See siere Lucullus sues He humbly bends Of PRISCA bvys his Honors and his friends The way is base but thus hard state commands For ffortune still is in a Womans hands THE LIFE OF LUCULLUS Translated by Giles Thornburgh A. M. VOLUME III. LVCVLLVS his Grandfather had been Consul his Uncle by the Mothers Sister was Metelius surnamed Numidicus As for his Parents his Father was convict of Extortion and his Mother Caecilia's Reputation was blasted by her loose Life The first thing that Lucullus did before ever he came to any Office or medled with the Affairs of State being then but a Youth was to accuse the Accuser of his Father Servilius the Augur having caught him in a Publick Trespass This thing was much taken notice of among the Romans who commended his Justice therein as an Act of singular Vertue Even without the Provocation the Accusation was esteem'd no unbecoming Action for they delighted to see young Men as eagerly pursuing injustice as good Dogs do wild Beasts But when great Animosities arose thereupon insomuch that some were wouned and killed in the Fray Servilius fled Lucullus followed his Study and became Master of the Greek and Latin Tongues which made Sylla dedicate to him the commentaries of his Life which he wrote himself that the History thereof might be more methodically ordered and digested His Speech was not Elegant and ready for Gain only like one That disturbs the Hall as a mad Thynnus doth the Waters Out of it altogether as dry illiterate and mute For in his younger days he chiefly addicted himself to the
Rome day after day who out of a true Grecian Principal being ashamed and refusing the invitation where so great an expence was every day caused for them he with a pleasing Countenance told them Some of this indeed my Grecian Friends is for your sakes but more for Lucullus his own Once when he supped alone there being only one table and that but moderately furnisht he called his Steward and reproved him who imagining that there would be no need of any great Entertainment when no Body was invited was answered What do you not know that to day Lucullus is to eat with Lucullus Which being noised about the City Cicero and Pompey one day met him loitering in the Market-place one a principal Friend and Acquaintance but there had been some falling out between Pompey and him about the Command of the Army but however they used civilly to discourse and talk together Cicero saluted him and asked him How he stood affected to disputing Who answering Very well and inviting them to it We said he will eat with you to day if there shall be no more than what is already provided Lucullus being surprised and requested a days time they refused to grant it neither suffered him to talk with his Servants for fear he should give order for more than what was appointed before But thus much they consented to that before their Faces he might tell his Servant That to day he would sup in the Apollo for so one of his best dining Rooms was called and by this evasion impos'd upon his Guests To every Room as it seems was allotted a proportion of Diet having its proper Costs and Furniture belonging to it so that the Servants knowing where he would dine knew also how much was to be expended and how the Supper was to be prepared The expence for the Apollo was fifty thousand pence which being that day consumed the greatness thereof did not so much amaze Pompey as the haste in dressing He insulted over Money as Captive and Barbarian as indeed it was But however his furnishing a Library deserved praise and thanks for he collected very many and choice Manuscripts but the use they were put to was more commendable than the purchase The Library being always open and the Walks and Schools about it free to all Greeks who from business came thither as to the habitation of the Muses walking about and diverting one another He himself often studied there disputing with the learned in the Walks and giving his advice to States-Men who required it insomuch that his House was altogether a Receptacle and a Greek Prytaneum to all that came to Rome He understood all sorts of Philosophy and was well read and expert in them all But he always favoured and valued the Academy from the beginning Not the new one which at that time under Philo flourish'd with the Precept of Carneades but the old one then under the Government of Ascalonites Antiochus a learned and eloquent Man Lucullus with great labour made him his Friend and Companion and set him up on purpose against Philo's Auditors among whom Cicero was one who Wrote an excellent Book in defence of his Sect wherein he hath made a discourse for Lucullus about apprehension contrary to his own opinion The Book is called Lucullus For as 't is said they were good Friends and acted jointly in the publick Concern For Lucullus did not wholly retire from the Republick but from Ambition and desire of Superiority and Greatness equally dangerous and troublesome which he left to Crassus and Cato To whom the Senate who suspected Pompey's greatness joined themselves when Lucullus refused to head them For his Friends he came into the Forum and into the Senate to curb the Ambition and Pride of Pompey whose orders after his Conquests over the King 's he annull'd and by the assistance of Cato hindred a division of Lands to the Soldiers which he proposed Which made Pompey go over to Crassus and Caesars Friendship or rather Conspiracy and then by filling the City with Armed Men to establish his Decrees by force and drive Cato and Lucullus away Which being resented by the Nobility Pompey's party produc'd one Vectius pretending they apprehended him in a design against Pompey's Life Who in the Senate-house accused others but among the People named Lucullus as if he had been suborned by him to kill Pompey No Body gave heed to what he said and it soon appeared that they had produced a Man with a false charge and accusation After a few days the whole Intrigue was discover'd the Carcase of the accuser being thrown out of Prison reported indeed to have died a natural Death but carrying marks of a Halter and blows about him and seeming rather to have been taken off by those who suborned him These things kept Lucullus at a greater distance from the Republick But when Cicero left the City and Cato was banished to Cyprus he became altogether sottish it is reported that before his Death his parts fail'd him by degrees But Cornelius Nepos denies that either Age or Sickness impair'd his Mind which was rather doz'd by a Potion given him by Callisthenes his Freeman The Potion given him by Callisthenes was to endear him to him being so prepared but it acted quite otherwise and so disabled and intoxicated his Mind that even while he was alive his Brother ordered his Affairs At his Death which was the Death of one taken off in the very flower of Martial and Civil Discipline the People were much concerned and flockt together and even by force would have taken his Corps as it was carried into the Market-place by young Men of the best Quality and have Buried it in the Martian field where they buried Sylla Which being altogether unexpected and Necessaries not easily to be procured on a sudden his Brother after much intreaty and sollicitation prevailed upon them to suffer him to be buried in the Tusculan field as was appointed He himself surviv'd him but a small time coming not far behind in Death as he did in Age and Renown being a most loving Brother The Comparison of Lucullus with Cimon ONe might bless the End of Lucullus who died before the great Alteration of Affairs which Fate by intestine Wars was bringing on and left this Life in a free though troubled State wherein above all other things Cimon and he agreed For he died also when the state of Greece was free and flourished though in the Field at the Head of his Army not recalled nor disgraced nor sullying the Glory of his Wars Engagements and Conquests with Feastings and Debauches As Plato reprehended Orpheus for saying That an eternal Debauch hereafter was the Reward of those who lived well here Indeed ease and Quiet and the Study of pleasant and speculative Learning to an old Man unfit for War or State is a most ornamental and comfortable thing but to misguide vertuous Actions to Pleasure as their utmost End and to leave the Wars for
Corps was effectually full threescore Cubits long he was infinitely astonished and immediately offered up Sacrifice to the Gods and closed up the Tomb again whereby he confirmed the report of the Inhabitants increased the Fame of the Sepulchre and added new honours to the Memory of Antaeus The Africans further alledge that after the Death of Antaeus his Wife Tinga lived with Hercules and had a Son by him called Sophax who was King of these Countries and gave his Mothers name to this City whose Son also was Diodorus a great Conqueror who subdued many other Regions and brought the greatest part of Africa under his Subjection with an Army of Greeks which he raised out of the Colonies of the Olbianians and Myceneans placed here by Hercules I mention these passages for the sake of King Juba the most excellent Historian of any Prince that ever yet hath honoured History with his own Pen and who numbers for his Progenitors a long Race of Mauritanian Kings Who derive their Genealogies from Diodorus and Sephax and are lineally descended from Hercules When Sertorius had made himself absolute Master of the whole Country he was very just to those who had confided in him and shew'd not the least unkindness to others who yielded to his Mercy but restored to them their Estates their Cities their Laws and Priviledges accepting only of such acknowledgments as they themselves freely offered And whilst he considered which way next to turn his Arms the Lusitanians sent Ambassadors to desire him to be their General for being terrified with the Roman Power and finding the necessity of having a Commander of great Authority and experience in war being also sufficiently informed of his Worth and Valour by those who had formerly served him they were extremely desirous to commit themselves and their Fortunes wholly to his care and humbly beseeched him to accept of the Command And to give a true Character of Sertorius he was of a temper not to be surprized with fear nor easie to be Captivated with pleasure in Adversity and Dangers undaunted and no ways puffed up with Prosperity but of an even Mind Courteous and Obliging Upon a sudden Assault or dangerous Attempt no Commander in his time was more bold and daring for whatever was to be performed in War by Deceit Circumvention or Surprize or if any strong place was to be taken in any pass to be gained speedily any sudden Invasion or Inroad to be made he was a most notable Contriver and politick Advancer of all such intricate and difficult Designs in bestowing Rewards and conferring Honours upon those who had performed good service in the Wars He was Bountifull and Magnificent even to Prodigality but very sparing and backward in punishing Crimes and Mild and Mercifull to Offenders yet that piece of Harshness and Cruelty which he executed in the latter part of his Days upon the Spanish Hostages seems to argue that his Clemency was not Natural but only acted and handsomely dissembled as his Occasions or Necessity required and as to my own Opinion I am perswaded that sincere Vertue established by Reason and Mature Judgment can never be totally Perverted or Extirpated by any Misfortune whatever Not that I think it impossible but that great Indignities offered without cause and frequent Abuses put upon those of the best Nature and most vertuous Inclinations may make some impression and alteration in their Temper and thus I suppose it happened to Sertorius who being exasperated by the repeated Injuries of ungratefull Persons he was at last severe to those who had unworthily injured him The Lusitanians having sent for Sertorius he left Africa and being made General with absolute Power and Authority he ordered all things for the best Advantage and brought the Neighbouring Parts of Spain under his Subjection many Countries also voluntarily submitted themselves won by the Fame of his Clemency and of his Martial Performances Upon some Occasions also he would not fail to invent strange Artifices to please the People and to make use of alluring Devices and even of deluding Impostures amongst which certainly that of the Hind was none of the least Spanus a Country-man who lived in those Parts meeting by chance a Hind that had newly Calved flying from the Hunters he let the Dam go and pursuing the Hind-calf took it being wonderfully pleased with the Rarity of it and the strangeness of the Colour which was all milk-white and at the same time Sertorius keeping his Court in those Parts and receiving courteously such Presents of Fruit Fowl or Venison as the Country afforded and rewarding liberally those who presented them the Country-man brought him his young Hind which he kindly accepted and was much taken with it at the first sight but when in time he had made it so tame and gentle that it would come when he called and follow him wheresoever he went and could endure the Noise and Tumult of the Camp knowing well that Barbarous People are naturally prone to Superstition by Degrees he gave out that it was inspired with a Deity that it was given him by the Goddess Diana that it discovered to him hidden Mysteries and revealed to him what was to come to pass hereafter To which also he added these further Contrivances if he had received at any time private Intelligence that the Enemies had made an Incursion into those Provinces which were under his Command or had sollicited any City to revolt he pretended that the Hind had informed him of it in his sleep and charged him to keep his Forces in readiness or if otherwise he had notice that any of the Commanders under him had got a Victory he would hide the Messengers and bring forth the Hind crowned with flowers for joy of the good News that was to come and would encourage them to Rejoyce and Sacrifice to the Gods for the good account they should soon receive of their Prosperous Success and by those Inventions filling their Heads with strange Imaginations and the thoughts of Miracles he brought them to be more Tractable and Obedient in all things for now they thought themselves no longer to be led by a Stranger but rather conducted by a Hero or one nearly related to a God Considering also that his Power dayly encreased contrary to all Humane Reason or Probability For with two thousand five hundred which for Honour's sake he called Romans joyned with seven hundred Africans who landed with him when he first entred Lusitania together with four thousand foot and seven hundred Horse he made War with four Roman Generals who commanded a hundred and twenty thousand Foot six thousand Horse two thousand Archers and Slingers and Cities innumerable whereas at the first he had not above twenty Cities in all and from this weak and slender beginning he became afterwards so considerable that he took many good Cities and overcame Great and Powerfull Countries Of the Roman Commanders which were sent against him he overthrew Cotta in a Sea-fight
him What evil Genius would he often say hurries us perpetually from worse to worse and we who disdained to obey the Dictates of Sylla the great Ruler of Sea and Land and might have lived at home in Peace and Quiet are come hither to our destruction hoping to enjoy Liberty where most wretchedly we have made our selves Slaves of our own accord and are become the contemptible Guards and Attendants of the banished Sertorias who that he may expose us the further gives us a name that renders us ridiculous to all that hear it and calls us the Senate when at the same time he makes us undergo more hard Labour and forces us to be more subject to his haughty Commands and Insolencies than the poor Spaniards and Lusitanians With these mutinous Discourses he continually seduced them and many who could not be brought to fall into Rebellion openly against Sertorius fearing his great Power and Authority were prevailed with to endeavour to destroy his Interest secretly and by many ways to ruin his Affairs For by abusing the Lusitanians and Spaniards by inflicting severe Punishments upon them by raising exorbitant Taxes and by pretending that all this was done by the strict Command of Sertorius they caused great Troubles and made many Cities to revolt and those who were sent to mitigate and heal these Differences did rather exasperate them and encrease the Number of his Enemies and left them at their return more obstinate and rebellious than they found them Which so highly incensed Sertorius and caused so great an alteration in his former Clemency and Goodness towards the Spaniards Sons educated in the great City of Osca that coontrary to all Civil Justicie he cruelly put some of them to Death and sold others In the mean time Perpenna having encreased the Number of his Conspirators drew in Manlius a Commander in the Army who at that time loved a Youth and to endear him the more discovered the Confederacy to him perswading him to neglect his other Lovers and to be constant to him alone who in a few days was to be a person of great Power and Authority but the Youth having a greater Inclination for Aufidius disclosed all to him which much surprized and amazed him for he was also one of the Confederacy but knew not that Manlius was any ways engaged therein but when the Youth began to name Perpenna Gracinus and others which he knew very well were sworn Conspirators he was very much terrified and astonished but made slight of it to the youth and bid him not regard what Manlius said a vain boasting fellow but however went presently to Perpenna and giving him notice of the danger they were in and of the shortness of their time desired him immediately to put their designs in Execution and when all the Confederates had consented to it they provided a Messenger who brought feigned Letters to Sertorius in which he had notice of a Victory obtained by one of his Lieutenants and of the great slaughter of his Enemies and as Sertorius being extreamly well pleased was Sacrificing and giving thanks to the Gods for his prosperous Success Perpenna invited him and those with him who were also of the Conspiracy to an Entertainment and being very importunate prevailed with him to come At all Suppers and Entertainments where Sertorius was present great Order and Decency was wont to be observed for he would not endure to hear or see any thing that was rude or unhandsome and their Freedom and Mirth was Modest and Inoffensive but in the middle of this Entertainment those who sought occasion to quarrel fell into dissolute Discourses openly and making as if they were very Drunk committed many Insolencies on purpose to provoke him and Sertorius being Offended with their ill behaviour or perceiving the unquietness of their Minds by their muttering and sudden disrespect changed the posture of his lying and leaned backward as one that neither heard nor regarded them When Perpenna took a Cup full of Wine and as he was drinking let it fall out of his hand and made a noise which was the sign agreed on between them and Antonius who was next to Sertorius immediately wounded him with his Sword and whilst Sertorius upon receiving the Wound turned himself and strove to get up Antonius threw himself upon his Breast and held both his hands whereby not being able to free himself he was exposed to the fury of the rest of the Confederates who killed him upon the place with many Wounds Upon the first News of his Death most of the Spaniards left the Conspirators and sent Embassadors to Pompey and Metellus and yielded themselves up to them Perpenna attempted to do something with those that remained but he made so ill use of Sertorius's Arms and Preparations for War that he soon made it evident to all that he understood no more how to Command than he knew how to Obey and when he came against Pompey he was soon overthrown and taken Prisoner neither did he bear this last affliction with any bravery of Mind but having torius's Papers and Writings in his hands he offered to shew Pompey Letters from Persons of Consular Dignity and of the highest Quality in Rome written with their own hands expresly to call Sertorius into Italy and to let him know what great Numbers there were that did earnestly desire to alter the present State of Affairs and to introduce another manner of Government Upon this occasion Pompey behaved himself not like a young Man or one of a light inconsiderate Mind but as a Generous Commander of a confirmed mature solid Judgment whereby he freed Rome from great Fears and Innovations for he put all Sertorius's Writings together and read not one of them nor suffered any one else to read them but burnt them all and caused Perpenna immediately to be put to Death lest by discovering their Names further Troubles and Revolutions might ensue Of the rest of the Conspirators with Perpenna some of them were taken and slain by the Command of Pompey others fled into Africa and were set upon by the Moors and run through with their Darts and in a short time not one of them was left alive except only Aufidius the Rival of Manlius who hiding himself or not being much enquired after dyed an Old Man in an obscure Village in Spain in extreme Poverty and hated by all The Comparison of Sertorius with Eumenes THese are the most Remarkable Passages that are come to our knowledge concerning Eumenes and Sertorius In comparing their Lives we may observe that this was common to them both that being Aliens Strangers and banished Men they came to be Commanders of Powerful Forces and had the leading of Numerous and Warlike Armies made up of divers Nations This was peculiar to Sertorius that the Chief Command was by his whole Party freely yielded to him as to the Person undoubtedly of the greatest merit and of the highest Worth and Renown whereas many