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
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
with the best of his men and the remaining Elephants marched streight through the Gates into the Town to assist his Father Pyrrhus was now making good his Retreat and while the Market-place afforded them Ground enough both to Retreat and Fight frequently repulsed the Enemy that bore upon him when he was forced out of that broad place into a narrow street leading to the Gate and fell in with those who came the other way to his assistance they not hearing him call out to them to give back and coming on very briskly of themselves were also pushed forward by others behind who poured in at the Gate Besides the largest of the Elephants falling down on his side in the very Gate and terribly braying lay in the way of those that would have got out Another of these already in the Town called Nicon striving to take up his Rider who after many wounds received was fallen off his back bore forward upon them that Retreated and thrusting as well Friends as Enemies tumbled them all confusedly upon one another till having found the Body and taken it up with his Trunk he carried it on his Tushes and returning in a great Rage trode down all before him Being thus pressed and crowded together not a man could do any thing singly but wedged so close as it were one Mass the whole multitude rolled and swayed this way and that altogether they did very little Execution upon the Enemy either in their Front or Rear but very much harm to one another for he who had either drawn his Sword or directed his Lance could neither advance it again nor put his Sword up but wounded their own men as by chance they were thrust together and so fell dead one among another Pyrrhus seeing the mighty Storm and Confusion of things took off the Crown he wore upon his Helmet by which he was distinguished and gave it to one nearest his Person and trusting to the goodness of his Horse rid in among the thickest of the Enemy and being wounded with a Lance through his Brest-plate but not dangerously nor indeed very much he turned about to him that struck him who was an Argive not a man of any Illustrious Birth but the Son of a poor old Woman She was looking upon the Fight among other Women from the top of an House and perceiving her Son engaged with Pyrrhus and affrighted at the danger he was in took up a Tile with both Hands and threw it at Pyrrhus which falling on his Head below his Helmet and bruising the Vertebres of the lower part of the Neck his Eye-sight was taken away his Hands let go the Reins and sinking down from his Horse fell just by the Tomb of Lycimnius the common Soldiers knew not who it was but one Zopyrus that served under Antigonus and two or three others running thither and knowing it was Pyrrhus dragg'd him to a Threshold hard by just as he was recovering a little from the blow Zopyrus drawing out an Illyrian Sword and ready to cut off his Head Pyrrhus gave him so fierce a Look that confounded with Terror and sometimes his Hands trembling and then again endeavouring to do it full of Fear and Confusion he could not strike him right but cutting over his Mouth and Chin it was a long time before he got off the Head This was quickly known to a great many and Alcyoneus hast'ning to the place desired to look upon the Head and see whether he knew it and taking it in his hand rid away to his Father and threw it at his feet while he was sitting with some of his particular Favourites Antigonus looking upon it and knowing it thrust his Son from him and struck him with his Cane calling him wicked and barbarous and covering his Eyes with his Robe fell a weeping when he reflected upon the instances of the change of Fortune in his own Family both in his Grandfather and his Father and caused the Head and Body of Pyrrhus to be burned with all due Solemnity after this Alcyoneus discovering Helenus under a mean disguise in a poor thred bare Coat used him very respectfully and brought him to his Father When Antigonus saw him This Son said he was done much more Nobly than before but yet there is a defect that you have not taken off that old Coat which is a Scandal to us who have got the Victory and then treating Helenus with great kindness and as became a Prince restored him to his Kingdom of Epirus and gave the same obliging Reception to all Pyrrhus his principal Commanders after he had reduced the whole Army under his Obedience THE LIFE OF CAIUS MARIUS Englished from the Greek By Miles Stapleton Fellow of All-Souls Colledge in Oxon. VOLUME III. CAIUS MARIUS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. We have seen Marius's Effigies in Stone at Ravenna in Gallia very agreeable to that roughness and Sowreness of his behaviour remarked by all Authors for being naturally valiant and warlike more acquainted also with the Discipline of the Camp than of the City he could not moderate his Passion when in Authority He is said neither to have much studied Greek nor ever to have made use of that Language in any matter of consequence as thinking it ridiculous to bestow time in that Learning the Teachers whereof were little better than their Slaves So after his second Triumph when at the Dedication of a Temple he presented some Shews after the Greek Fashion coming into the Theatre he only sate down and immediately departed Wherefore as Plato often used to say to Xenocrates the Philosopher who was seemingly of a more than ordinary rigid disposition Prethee good Xenocrates sacrifice to the Graces so if any could have perswaded Marius to pay his Devotions to the Greek Muses and Graces he had never brought those his incomparable Designs both in War and Peace to so unhappy a Conclusion or plunged himself into a turbulent and unpleasant old Age through his Passion ill tim'd Ambition and insatiable Avarice but this will farther appear by and by from his Actions 3. He was born of Parents altogether obscure indigent and that supported themselves by their daily labour his Father of the same name with himself his Mother called Fulcinia He had passed a considerable part of his Age before he saw and tasted the pleasures of the City at first he lived in Cirraeaton a Village in the Territory of Arpinum a life compared with the City delicacies harsh and rustical yet temperate and much resembling the ancient Roman severity He first listed himself in the War against the Celtiberes when Scipio Africanus besieged Numantia where he soon signalized himself to his General by his Courage very far above his Comrades and particularly by his so chearfully complying with Scipio's Reformation of his Army before almost ruined by Pleasures and Luxury 'T is reported too that he challenged or at least encountred and vanquished an Enemy in his General
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
the Noble Youths made bold in the Senate to ask him what ends was there of those Evils and where he intended to stop We pray thee not said he to pardon such as thou hast resolved to destroy but to free from doubt such as it hath pleased thee to save Sylla answering That he knew not as yet whom to spare Why then said he tell us whom thou wilt punish This Sylla said he would do Those last Words as some Authors would have it were spoken not by Metellus but by Offidius one of Sylla's fawning Companions Immediately upon this without imparting the matter to the Magistracy Sylla proscrib'd eighty Persons and notwithstanding the generality of Men stomach'd it after one days respite he posted two hundred and twenty more and on the third again as many In an Harangue to the People on this occasion he told them he had put up as many Names as he could think of and those who had escaped his memory he should hereafter proclaim He publish'd an Edict likewise making Death the Punishment of Humanity to any one who should dare to receive and cherish an Outlaw without exception to Brother Son or Parents And to him who should slay any one proscribed Person he ordained two Talents as a Reward of Parricide whether it were a Slave who had beat out the Brains of his Master or a Son his Fathers But what was most unjust of all he cause'd the Attainder to pass upon their Sons and Sons Sons and made open sale of the Goods of them all nor reign'd the Proscription only at Rome but throughout all the Cities of Italy where the Effusion of Blood was such as neither the Temples of the Gods nor Sanctuaries nor private Houses escaped clear Men were butchered in the Embraces of their Wives Children in the Arms of their Mothers They who fell thus through publick hatred or private spleen were nothing in comparison of the numbers of those who suffer'd for their Riches The Assassin might safely say A fair House killed this Man a Garden that a third his Hot Baths Quintus Aurelius a quiet peaceable Man and one who thought it his Duty to bear a part in the common Calamity so far as to condole the Misfortunes of others coming into the Forum and finding himself among those who were set up cried out Woe 's me my Alban Mannor has informed against me He had not gone far before he was dispatched by a Ruffian sent on that Errand In the mean time Marius on the point of being taken killed himself Sylla at his first coming to Praeneste proceeded judicially against each particular Person till at last finding it a Work of too much time he cooped them up close together in one place to the number of two and twenty thousand Men and gave order for the Execution of them all his Hoast only excepted but he brave Man scorning the Obligation of Life it self from the Hands of one who had been the Ruine of his Country plung'd into the Herd and submitted willingly to the Stroke That of Lucius Catilina was a rare Contrivance For before Matters came to an issue having made away his Brother he beseeched Sylla to clap him into the List of Outlawry as living and was so wherefore Catiline to return the kind Office assassinated Marius one of the adverse Party and brought the Head to Sylla as he was sitting in the Court of Judicature then going to the Holy Water of Apollo which was nigh wash'd his Hands There were other things beside matter of Tragedy which gave offence for Sylla had declared himself Dictator whereas that Form of Government had then been laid aside for the space of one hundred and twenty years There was likewise an Act of Grace passed on his behalf granting Impunity for what was past and for the future entrusting him with the Power of the Sword Confiscations Trasplanting of Colonies erecting and demolishing of Cities taking away of Kingdoms and bestowing them at pleasure He managed the Sale of Conficsated Goods after such an arbitrary imperious way seated on a Chair of State amidst beautiful Women Mimicks Fidlers and such like rascally People on whom he squandred away the Revenues of whole Countries and Cities bestowing on some of them Ladies in Marriage against their will so as his Gratuities were much more intolerable than his Usurpations Having a mind to assure Pompey the Great by a nearer Tie of Bloud he commanded him to make void the Nuptial Bed and forcing Aemilia the Daughter of Scaurus and Metella his own Wife from Marcus Glabrio he bestowed her great with Child on him but she died in Labour at Pompey's House When Lucretius Offella the same who reduced Marius by Siege put in and push'd his Fortune hard for the Consulship he first forbad him then seeing he could not restrain him from coming down into the Forum with a numerous Train of followers he commanded a Centurion of the Guards out and slew him himself sitting on the Bench in the Temple of Castor and beholding the Murder from above The Citizens apprehending the Centurion and dragging him to the Tribunal he bad them cease tumultuous clamouring and let go the Centurion for he had commanded it His Triumph tho' of it self exceeding stately and set off with the unusual Pomp and Magnificence of Royal Spoils was yet further illustrated and drew after it a goodly Spectacle the Exiles For in the Reer followed the most eminent and most potent of the Citizens Crowned with Garlands and calling Sylla Saviour and Father by whose means they were restored to their own Country and again enjoyed their Wives and Children When the Solemnity was over and the time come to render an Account of his Actions in a Publick Assembly he was as punctual in innumerating the lucky hits of War as any of his own Military Vertues And from his Faelicity it was that he made choice to be Surnamed Felix In his Addresses and Answers to the Graecians he styled himself Epaphroditus or Beloved of Venus His Trophies which are still extant with us bear this Inscription Lucius Cornelius Sylla Epaphroditus Moreover when his Wife had brought him forth twins he named the Male Faustus and the Female Fausta by which words the Romans understand Success and Good Omen The Confidence which he reposed in his good Genius rather than in any Abilities of his own emboldned him though deeply engaged in Blood after such great Changes and Revolutions of State to lay down his Authority and settle the Right of Consular Elections once more on the People So that he not only came abroad but on the Forum exposed his Person publickly to the People walking up and down as a private Man And whereas contrary to his will a certain bold Man and his Enemy Marcus Lepidus was in Election to be Consul not by his own Interest but by the Power and Sollicitation of Pompey who was extream gracious with the People when the business was over seeing Pompey going home
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
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