lye in wait for the Merchants that sail'd to the Bosphorus having prohibited all upon pain of Death that should attempt to carry Provisions or Merchandizes thither Then he set forward with the greatest part of his Army and in his March he casually happen'd upon several dead Bodies of the Romans uninterr'd which were of those Soldiers that were unfortunately slain with Triarius in the Wars against Mithridates these he buried all splendidly and honourably The neglect whereof 't is thought caus'd the first Hatred against Lucullus and alienated the Affections of the Soldiers from him Pompey having now by his Forces under the Command of Afranius subdued the Arabians that inhabit about the Mountain Amanus fell himself into Syria and finding it destitute of any natural and lawful Prince reduced it into the form of a Province as an Inheritance of the People of Rome He conquer'd Judaea and alter'd the form of Government there having taken King Aristobulus Captive Some Cities he built anew and others he set at liberty chastizing those Tyrants that brought them into Bondage The greatest time that he spent there was in the Administration of Justice deciding the Controversies of Kings and States and where he himself could not be present in Person he gave Commission to his Friends and sent them Thus when there arose a Difference betwixt the Armenians and Parthians touching the Title of a Country and the Judgment was referr'd to him he gave a Power by Commission to three Judges and Arbiters to hear and determine the Question For the Name of his Power indeed was great Neither were the Vertues of his Justice and Clemency inferiour to that of his Power whereby he cover'd a multitude of Crimes committed by his Friends and Familiars about him for although it was not in his Nature to check or chastise an Offender yet he would demean himself so to those that addressed with Complaints against them that the Party griev'd went always away contented forgetting the Injuries and patiently bearing even with their Covetousness and Oppression Among these Friends of his there was one Demetrius that had the greatest Power and Influence upon him of any he was a Bond-man infranchiz'd one of a very good Understanding however otherwise but a Youth and somewhat too insolent in his good Fortune of whom there goes this Story Cato the Philosopher being as yet a very young Man but of great Judgment and a noble Mind took a Journey of Pleasure to Antioch having a great desire in Pompey's absence to see the City He therefore as his Custom was walked on Foot and his Friends accompani'd him on Horseback But seeing before the Gates of the City a Multitude all in white Garments the young Men on one side of the Road and the Boys on the other he was somewhat offended at it imagining that it was officiously done in Honour of him which was more than he requir'd However he desired his Companions to alight and walk with him But when they drew near the Master of the Ceremonies in this Procession came out with a Garland and a Rod in his Hand and met them enquiring Where they had left Demetrius and when he would come Whereupon Cato's Companions burst out into a Laughter but Cato said only Alas poor City and passed by without any other Answer Now 't is clear that Pompey himself render'd Demetrius less odious to others by enduring his Sawciness and Insolence against himself For 't is reported how that Pompey when he had invited his Friends to an Entertainment would be very Ceremonious in attending till they came and were all plac'd whereas Demetrius would rudely seat himself at the Table with his Head cover'd even to his Ears before any one else could sit down Moreover before his return into Italy he had purchased the pleasantest Villa or Country-Seat about Rome with the fairest Walks and Places for Exercise and the most compleat Gardens call'd by the Name of Demetrius notwithstanding that Pompey his Master was contented with a mean and thrifty Habitation till his third Consulship Afterwards 't is true when he had erected that famous and stately Theater for the People of Rome he built as an Appendix to it an House for himself much more splendid than his former and yet as much beneath the stroke of Envy Insomuch as he that came to be Master of that House after Pompey could not but admire at it and seem very Inquisitive Where Pompey the Great us'd to Sup Thus are these things reported The King of Arabia Petraea who had hitherto despis'd the Power of the Romans now began to think it dreadful and therefore dispatch'd Letters to him wherein he promis'd to be at his Devotion and do what he would Command However Pompey having a desire to confirm and keep him in the same Mind marched forwards for Petra an Expedition not altogether irreprehensible in the opinion of many for by this 't was generally thought he did clearly decline the Chace of Mithridates whereas they thought themselves bound to turn their Arms against him as their inveterate Enemy who now had blown up the Coal again and reinforced his shattered Troops with fresh Preparations as 't was reported to lead his Army through Scythia and Pannonia into Italy Pompey on the other side judging it easier to break his Forces in Battel than seize his Person in Flight resolv'd not to tire himself out in a vain Pursuit but rather to spend his time in diverting the War upon another Enemy as a proper Digression in the mean while But Fortune resolv'd the Doubt for whilst he was yet not far from Petra and had pitch'd his Tents and encamped for that day as he was riding and managing his Horse without the Camp there came an Express by the flying Post out of Pontus with good News as was easily discernible a far off by the Heads of their Javelins that were crown'd with Branches of Laurel The Soldiers as soon as they saw them flocked immediately to Pompey who notwithstanding was minded to make an end of his Exercise but when they began to be clamorous and importunate he alighted from his Horse and taking the Letters went before them into the Camp Now there being no Tribunal erected there nor yet any military Hillock such as they use to make by cutting up thick Turfes of Earth and piling them one upon another they through eagerness and impatience heap'd up a pile of Pack-saddles and Pompey standing upon that told them the News of Mithridates his Death how that he had laid violent hands upon himself upon the Revolt of his Son Pharnaces and that Pharnaces had taken all things there into his hands and possession which he did as his Letters speak in right of himself and the Romans Upon this News the whole Army expressing their Joy as was fit fell to their Devotion in sacrificing to the Gods and Feasting as if in the Person of Mithridates alone there had died many thousands of
accusing them of the Murther of Archias and Leontidas who indeed were Tyrants though in Title Polemarchi or Generals made War upon them He sent Cleombrotus on that Errand who was now the other King in room of Agesipolis that was dead excusing himself by reason of his Age For it was 40 years since he had first born Arms and was consequently excused by the Law Mean while the true Reason why he withdrew himself from the War was that he was ashamed having so lately fought against the Tyranny of the Phliasians to fight now in defence of a Tyranny against the Thebans One Sphodrias of Lacedaemon being of a contrary Faction to Agesilaus was Governor of Thespiae a brisk daring Man one that had more of Courage than Wisdom This Action of Phaebidas fired him and incited his Ambition to attempt some great Enterprize which might render him as Famous as he perceived the taking of Cadmea had made Phaebidas He thought the taking of the Piraeum and the cutting off thereby the Athenians from the Sea a Matter of far more Glory 'T is said That Pelopidas and Gelon the Governors of Baeotia put him upon it they privily sent Men to him that pretended to be of the Spartan Faction who highly commending Sphodrias blew him up into a great Opinion of himself protesting him to be the only Man in the World that was fit for so great an Enterprize Being thus pricked forward he could hold no longer but soon engaged himself in a Business every whit as dishonourable and treacherous as that of Caâ—mea but attempted with less Valour and less Success for the day broke whilst he was yet in the Plains of Thriasium whereas he designed the whole Exploit to have been done in the Night As soon as the Soldiers perceived the Rays of Light reflecting from the Temples of Eleusine upon the first rising of the Sun it is said that their Hearts failed them nay he himself when he saw that he could not have the benefit of the Night had not Courage enough to go on with his Enterprize but having pillaged the Country he returned with Shame to Thespiae An Embassy was upon this sent from Athens to Sparta to complain of the breach of Peace but the Ambassadors found their Journey needless Sphodrias being then under Process by the Magistrates of Sparta Sphodrias durst not stay to expect Judgment which he found would be Capital the City being highly incensed against him out of the Shame they had of the Business and the Resolution they had to give the Athenians no cause of suspecting them to be any way consenting to so base an Action This Sphodrias had a handsome Youth to his Son named Cleonymus with whom Archidamus the Son of Agesilaus was deeply in Love With him did Cleonymus labour much for the preservation of his Father but Archidamus durst not appear publickly in his Assistance he being one of the professed Enemies of Agesilaus But Cleonymus having solicited him with Tears about it as knowing Agesilaus to be of all his Father's Enemies the most formidable the young Man did for two or three days follow his Father with such Shame and Confusion within himself that he durst not speak to him At last the day of Sentence being at hand he adventur'd to tell him that Cleonymus had entreated him to intercede for his Father Agesilaus though well aware of the Love between the Two young Men yet did not prohibit it because he looked upon Cleonymus as an extraordinary Youth and of great Hopes Yet he gave not his Son any kind Answer in the Case but coldly told him That he would consider what he could honestly and honourably do in it and so dismissed him Archidamus being ashamed of his want of Success did forbear the Company of Cleonymus for some days a thing not usual with him This made the Friends of Sphodrias to think his Case desperate till Etymocles one of Agesilaus's Friends did discover to them the King's Mind viz. That he abhorred the Fact but yet he thought Sphodrias a gallant Man such as the Commonwealth much wanted at that time These were the frequent Sayings of Agesilaus which gave Cleonymus sufficiently to understand that Archidamus had been just to him in using all his Interest with his Father and Sphodrias his Friends grew brisk in his Defence The truth is that Agesilaus was a very â—oâ—d Man of his Children insomuch that it is reported That when they were little ones he would make a Hobby-Horse of a Reed and ride with them Being catched at this Sport by a Friend he desired him to say nothing of it till he himself were the Father of Children Mean while Sphodrias being absolved of his Crime the Athenians betook themselves to Arms insomuch that Agesilaus fell into great Disgrace with the People that to gratifie the Amours of a Boy would pervert Justice and make the City accessory to the Crimes of Two private Men who by dishonourable Actions had broke the Peace of Greece He also found his Collegue Cleombrotus little inclined to the Theban War so that it became necessary for him to quit the Privilege of his Age which he before had claimed and to lead the Army himself which he did with variety of Success sometimes Conquering and sometimes Conquered insomuch that receiving a Wound in a Battel he was reproached by Antalcidas That the Thebans had made him a good Requital for teaching them to Fight And indeed they were now grown far better Soldiers than ever they had been being so much harassed and so much beaten into War by the frequency of the Lâ—cedâ—monian Expeditions against them Out of the foresight of which it was that anciently Lycurgus in three several Laws forbid them to make Wars often in one Place which would be to instruct their Enemies in the Art of it Mean while the Allies of Sparta were not a little discontented at Agesilaus that this War was commenced not from any just Offence taken but merely out of his Hatred to the Thebans and with Indignation grumbled that they being the Majority of the Army should from Year to Year be thus exposed to Danger and Hardship here and there at the Will of a few Persons Agesilaus being put to his Shifts to obviate the Objection devised this Expedient to try the numbers of both the Spartans and the Allies He gave Orders that all the Allies of what-ever Country should sit down promiscuously on one side and all the Lacedaemonians on the other which being done he Commanded an Herald to proclaim that all the Potters of both Squadrons should stand out then all the Blacksmiths then all the Masons next the Carpenters and so he went through all the Handicrafts By this time almost all the Allies were risen but of the Lacedaemonians very few they being by Law forbidden to learn any Handicraft-Trade whereupon Agesilaus fell on Laughing and told them â—e see Gentlemen how that our number of Soldiers is greater than yours When he
was appointed Syria and the Parthian War And to Pompey himself all Africa together with both Spains and four Legions of Soldiers whereof two he lent to Caesar upon his request for the Wars in Gaul Crassus upon the expiration of his Consulship departed forthwith into his Province But Pompey spent some time in Rome upon the opening or dedication of his Theater where he treated the People with all manner of Games Shews and Exercises as well Warlike as those of the Muses there was likewise the Hunting or Baiting of wild Beasts and Combats with them wherein 500 Lyons were slain But above all the Battel of Elephants was a Spectacle full of Horrour and Amazement These noble Entertainments brought him in great Esteem with the People whereby he was highly admired and beloved but on the other side he created no less Envy to himself in that he committed the Government of his Provinces and Legions into the Hands of Friends as his Lieutenants whilst he himself was wantonly rambling up and down and caressing his Wife throughout all the Delicacies of Italy whether he doated upon her as a real Lover or whether he could not find in his Heart to leave her who was such a Lover of him is somewhat doubtful But this is certain that there was nothing more famous and common in Discourse than the passion of this young Lady for her Husband not that she was in Love with Pompey for the flower of his Age but because of his assured Chastity as knowing no other Woman but that one he had Wedded Besides though in his Carriage he had a majestick Gravity yet his Conversation was not Morose but extremely agreeable and taking among the Women unless we will arraign the evidence of Flora the Curtezan Now it hapned in a publick Assembly as they were at an Election of the Aediles that the People came to Blows and divers about Pompey were slain so that he finding himself all bloody ordered a change of Apparel but the Servants who brought home his Cloaths making a great Buâ—tle and Hurry about the House it chanced that the young Lady who was then with Child saw his Gown all stained with Blood whereupon she dropt immediately into a Swoon and was hardly brought to Life again however what with her Fright and Passion together she fell in Labour and Miscarried Wherefore even those who chiefly censured Pompey for his Friendship to Caesar could not reprove him for his Affection to his Lady who had such a Passion for him Afterwards she was great again and brought to Bed of a Daughter but died in Child-bed neither did the Infant out-live her Mother many days Pompey had prepared all things for the Interment of her Corps at Alba but the People seized upon it by force and performed the Solemnities of her Funeral in the Field of Mars rather in Compassion to the young Lady than in Favour either of Pompey or Caesar and yet of these two the People seemed at that time to pay Caesar a greater share of Honour in his absence than to Pompey though he was present From hence the City began to waver and feel new Commotions for all things grew Tumultuous and every Body's Discourse tended to Sedition as soon as Death had put an end to that Relation which hitherto had been a Disguise rather than Restraint to the Ambition of these Men Besides not long after came an Express from Parthia with Intelligence of the Death of Crassus there whereby another manifest Obstacle of a Civil War was taken away for they had both an Eye thither and that awe of him kept them together in a fair Correspondence all his Life-time but when Fortune had taken away this Second whose Province it was to revenge the Quarrel of the Conquered you might then say with the Comedian See how the Combatants begin How they anoint each others Skin And chafe their hands in dust agen So inconsiderable a thing is Fortune in respect of humane Nature and so little Content can it give to a Covetous Mind That an Empire of that mighty Extent and Sway could not satisfie the Ambition of two Men and though they knew and had read The Gods when they divided out 'twixt Three This massie Universe Heav'n Hell and Sea Each God sate down contented on his Throne And undisturb'd each God enjoys his own Yet they thought the whole Roman Empire not sufficient to contain them though they were but Two But Pompey in an Oration to the People told them plainly that he ever came into Office before he expected he should and that he always left it sooner than they expected he would and indeed the disbanding of all his Armies always witnessed as much Yet when he perceived that Caesar would not so willingly discharge his Forces he then endeavour'd to strengthen himself against him by Offices and Commands in the City neither indeed did he attempt any other Innovation and yet all this while he would not seem to distrust but rather to despise and contemn him But when he saw how they bestowed the Places of Government quite contrary to his opinion because the Citizens were brib'd in their Elections he left the City without any Government at all Hereupon there was mention straightway made and the News ran current of a Dictator Now Lucilius a Tribune of the People was the bold Man that first adventur'd â—o propose it encouraging the People to make choice of Pompey for their Dictator but the Tribune was in danger of being turn'd out of his Office by the opposition that Cato made against it And for Pompey many of his Friends appear'd and pleaded his excuse alledging That he never was desirous of that Government neither would he accept of it Cato therefore making a large Harangue in commendation of Pompey and exhorting him to be careful of good Order in the Common-wealth he could not for shame but yield to it and so Domitius and Messala were elected Consuls Afterwards when there was another Anarchy or Vacancy in the Government and the Discourses of a Dictator were much hotter than before those of Cato's Party fearing lest they should make Pompey thought it Policy to keep him from that Arbitrary and Tyrannical Power by giving him an Office of more legal Authority Nay even Bibulus himself who was Pompey's Enemy first gave his Vote that Pompey should be created Consul alone alledging That by these means either the Commonwealth would be freed from its present Confusion or that its Bondage should be lessened by serving the worthiest This was looked upon as a very strange Opinion considering the Man that spoke it and therefore Cato standing up every body expected that he would have opposed it but after Silence made he told them plainly That for his own part he would never have been the Author of that Advice himself but since it was propounded by another his Advice was to follow it adding That any form of Government was better than none at
Conduct at a pinch but now to send Antiphilus with the Command of the Army This pleas'd the Generality but Phocion made it appear he was so far from having any friendship with him of old standing that he had not so much as the least familiarity with him Yet now Sir says he give me leave to put you down among the number of my Friends and Familiars having advised in my concerns so much to my advantage Still the Athenians being violent to engage against the Boeotians Phocion was the first oppos'd it and his Friends telling him the People would kill him for always running counter to them Truly says he it will be hard measure if I advise them honestly if not let me suffer Whilst they were loud and hot upon 't he commanded the Cryer to make Proclamation that all the Athenians from 16 to 60 should presently prepare themselves with 5 days provision and immediately follow him from the Assembly This caused a great tumult Those in years were startled and clamour'd against the Order he demanded wherein he injured them For I says he am now fourscore and am ready to lead you This divreted them and pacified them for the present in the mean time Micion with a great force of Macedonians and Mercenaries was ravaging and pillaging the Sea coast making a descent into Ramnunta and wasting the Country Against him Phocion was sent and drew out his Army where some stragglers pragmatically intermedling in the Marshalling of it would needs be tutoring him how he should possess himself of such an Hill and dispose of the Cavalry in such a place and so and so to range the Battalions to the best advantage O Hercules says he how many Generals have we here and how few Soldiers Afterward having form'd the Battle one that would seem forward advanc'd out of his Order before the rest but the Enemy approaching his heart fail'd him and he retired back into his rank Him he reproach'd telling him Youngster are you not asham'd twice in one day to desert your Station both where I had plac'd you and you had plac'd your self But falling on the Enemy with great bravery and resolution he routed them killing Micion and many more upon the spot and afterwards he overcame the Groecian Army that was in Thessaly wherein Leonatus had joyn'd himself with Antipater and the Macedonians that came out of Asia Leonatus was kill'd in the Fight Antiphilus commanding the Foot and Menon the Thessalian the Horse Not long after Craterus coming out of Asia with a great Force another skirmish hapned in Cranon wherein the Groecians were worsted but the loss was not very considerable nor the number of the slain yet with their restiveness to their Governors who were young men and too mild and indulgent Antipater in the mean season also under-hand tampering with the Cities the Groecians utterly lost themselves and shamefully betrayed the Liberty of their Country Upon the news of Antipater's approaching Athens with all his force Demosthenes and Hyperides deserted the City and Demades who was altogether insolvent for any part of the Fines that had been laid upon him by the City for he had been condemn'd no less than 7 times for false Judgments contrary to the known Laws and having lost his Reputation to that degree that he was not permitted to Vote in the Assembly laid hold on this favourable juncture to bring in a Bill for sending Embassadors with Plenipotentiary Power to Antipater to treat about a Peace but the people distrusting him and calling upon Phocion to give his opinion as the Person they only and entirely confided in he said My Masters if my former Counsels had been any thing prevalent with you we had not been reduc'd to such straits as we now labour under in our deliberations about these matters However the Vote pass'd and a Decree was made and he with others deputed to go to Antipater who lay now incamped in the Theban Territories but intended suddenly to dislodge and pass into Attica His first proposal was that the Treaty might begin whilst he staid in that Country This was cry'd out upon as unreasonably propounded by Phocion by Craterus to oppress the Country of their Friends and Allies by their stay since they might rather use that of their Enemies for provisions and support of their Army But Antipater taking him by the hand said 'T is true but let us grant this Boon out of respect to Phocion And for the rest he bid them return to their Principals and acquaint them that he would grant them no other Terms than what he himself had received from Leosthenes then General when he was shut up in Lamia When Phocion had return'd to the City and acquainted them with this answer they made a virtue of necessity at this Juncture and comply'd since it would be no better So Phocion return'd to Thebes with other Embassadors and among the rest Zenocrates the Philosopher the reputation of whose Prudence and Wisdom was so great and celebrated among the Athenians that they conceiv'd there could not be any thing of mankind so brutal and barbarous or devoid of common humanity that even his meen and aspect would not gain upon and create a respect for him But the contrary hapned by the insolence and ferity of Antipater's disposition who embracing all the rest of his Companions pass'd Zenocrates by not deigning so much as to salute him or take the least notice of him Upon which occasion Zenocrates said He was well satisfied he used him so scurvily since he had the same intentions to the whole City As soon as ever he began to speak Antipater thwarted and interrupted him not suffering him to proceed but enjoyned him silence But when Phocion had declar'd the purport of their Embassy he reply'd short and peremptorily he would make a League with the Athenians on these conditions and no others That Demosthenes and Hyperides be deliver'd up to him That the ancient way of Raising Taxes in the City be observ'd That they should receive a Garrison from him into Minichia Defray the Charges of the War and damages sustain'd and put themselves under Contribution for it As things stood these Terms were judg'd tolerable by the rest of the Embassadors Zenocrates said Truly if Antipater reputed them as already his Slaves they were indifferent but if he considered them still as Free they were insufferable Phocion press'd him with much earnestness only to spare the Garrison and used many Arguments and Intreaties Antipater reply'd He should find him compliant in any thing to his request that did not inevitably tend no the ruin of them both Others report it differently that Antipater should ask Phocion If he remitted the Garrison to the Athenians he would stand Surety for the City to demean themselves peaceably and endeavour no Innovations To which when he demurr'd and made no return on the sudden Callimedon the Carabian a hot man and a profess'd Enemy to Free States rose up asking Antipater if
Leotychides s Bastardy as a Bar to his Pretensions Many of the Citizens soon betook themselves to Agesilaus his Party being thereto induced by the Opinion they had of his Gallantry of which they themselves had been Spectators in the time that he had been bred up among them Yet was not his way so smooth as to be free from Rubs one he met with very considerable from a Fortune-teller named Diopithes who was of great Esteem among them for his Skill in Divination he alledged That it was unlawful to make a lame Man King of Lacedaemon citing to that purpose the following Oracle Great is thy Empire Sparta yet beware Lest thy Strength bend under an halting Heir Then Ills untry'd shall thy old Honour stain And Wars destructive Rage thro' thy whole Country reign But Lysander was not wanting of an Evasion alledging That if the Spartans made any conscience of the Oracle they must have a care of Leotychides for it was not the limping Foot of a King that the Gods were offended at but the bastardizing of the Herculean Family into whose Rights if a spurious Issue were admitted it would make the Kingdom to Halt indeed Agesilaus made Neptune also a Witness of the Bastardy of Leotychides proving that Agis was thrown out of Bed from his Wife by a violent Earthquake after which time he did not Cohabit with her yet Leotychides was born above ten Months after it Agesilaus was upon these Allegations declared King and soon possessed himself of the private Estate of Agis as well as his Throne Leotychides being wholly rejected as a Bastard Which being done he cast his Eye on the Kinred of Agis by the Mother's side whom he considered as Persons of good Worth and Vertue but very poor he gave them half his Brother's Estate and by this popular Act gained the good will not of them only but of the Spartans in general and stifled that Envy that was growing against him upon the account of his Success But whereas Xenophon saith of him That by complying with and as it were being ruled by his Country he grew into so great Power with them that he could do what he pleased This was by the Power he got with the Ephori and Senate these were of great Authority in the State the former were Officers annually chosen the Senators held their Places during Life both instituted as Bridles to restrain the Licentiousness of the Kings as it is already more fully discoursed in the Life of Lycurgus Hence it was that there was alway a Feud and Contention between them and the Kings But Agesilaus took another course instead of contending with them he courted them he alway acted by their Advice was alway ready to go nay almost to run when they called him If he were upon his Throne hearing of Causes and the Ephori came in he arose to them whenever any Man was elected into the Senate he did alway present him with a Gown and an Ox. Thus whilst he craftily made shew of Reverence to them and a Deference to their Power he secretly advanced his own Wealth and enlarged the Prerogatives of the Crown by several Liberties which their Friendship to his Person did grant him or at least did wink at To other Citizens he so behaved himself as to be less blameable in his Enmities than in his Friendships for towards his Enemy he behaved himself generously scorning to take any unjust Advantage against him but to his Friends he was partial even in things manifestly unjust If an Enemy had done any thing praise-worthy he scorned to retract any thing from his due Praises but his Friends he knew not how to reprove when they did ill nay he glory'd in bringing them off when they were obnoxious He thought all Offices of Friendship commendable let the Matter wherein they were employ'd be what it will Again when any of his Adversaries was overtaken in a Fault he would pity them and be soon entreated to Pardon them and shew them Kindness by which means he allured the hearts of all Men insomuch that his Popularity grew at last suspected by the Ephori who fined him as a Monopolizer of the Citizens who ought to be the common Goods of the Republick For as it is the Opinion of Philosophers that if you take away Strife and Opposition out of the Universe all the Bodies of it will stand still Generation and Motion will cease by reason of the mutual Consent and Agreement of all things So the Spartan Legislator did seem to have mingled Ambition and Emulation among the Ingredients of his Commonwealth as the Incentives of Vertue as thinking that mutual Compliance in winking at one another in Cases that deserved Rebuke was but a false sort of Concord no way useful to the Publick but rather a Corruption of it This some Men think Homer to have had an eye to when he introduceth Agamemnon well pleased with the Jars of Ulysses and Achilles and with the hard Words that passed between them which he would never have done unless he had thought that Dissentions and Factions of great Men had been of use to the State Yet this Maxim is not simply to be granted him without restriction for if the Heats grow too big they are very dangerous to Cities and of most pernicious consequence When Agesilaus was newly entred upon the Government there came News from Asia that the Persian King was making great Naval Preparations resolving with an high Hand to dispossess the Spartans of their Maritime Greatness Lysander was glad of this Occasion of Succouring his Friends in Asia whom he had there left Governours and Lords of Cities who for their Male-administration and Tyrannical Behaviour had been deposed and many of them put to death He therefore perswaded Agesilaus to undertake the Expedition and by translating the War from Greece to the Barbarous Country to prevent all the Designs of the Persian He also wrote to his Friends in Asia that by a Solemn Embassy they should demand Agesilaus for their Captain Agesilaus thereupon coming into the Publick Assembly offered his Service upon condition that he might have thirty eminent Captains adjoyned to him as Counsellors that he might also have 2000 of the newly Enfranchized Helots and of other Allies to the number of 6000. Lysander's Authority and Assistance soon obtained his Request so that he was sent away with thirty Spartan Captains of which Lysander was the Chief not only in Power and Reputation but also in Friendship with Agesilaus who esteemed his procuring him this Charge a greater Obligation than that of preferring him to the Kingdom Whilst the Army was drawing to the Rendezvous at Gerastus Agesilaus went with some of his Friends to Aulis where in a Dream he saw a Man approach him and speak to him after this manner O King of the Lacedaemonians you cannot but know that before yourself there hath been but one General Captain of the Greeks viz. Agamemnon now that you
succeed him in the same Office and Command of the same Men leading them out of the same Country to the War you ought also to offer such a Sacrifice as he made before he weighed Anchor Agesilaus soon remembred that the Sacrifice which Agamemnon offered was a Virgin he being so directed by the Oracle Yet was he not at all disturbed at it but as soon as he arose he telleth his Dream to his Friends adding withal That he would worship the Goddess with such Sacrifices as would be acceptable to her and not imitate the rude Barbarity of that General He therefore ordered an Hind to be crowned with Chaplets and delivered to his own Southsayer not to him whom the Baeotians did of course delegate to that Office When the Baeotian Governours understood it they were very much moved and sent Officers to Agesilaus to forbid his sacrificing contrary to the Laws of the Countrey These having deliver'd their Message to him immediately went to the Altar and threw down the Quarters of the Hind that lay upon it Agesilaus took this very ill and without further Sacrifice immediately hoised Sail being ever after a great Enemy to the Boeotians and much discouraged in his Mind at the bad Omen boading to himself an unsuccessful Voyage and a bad issue of the whole Expedition When he came to Ephesus he found the Power of Lysander grow very great and invidious all Applications made to him great Crowds of Suitors alway attending at his Door all Men following and worshipping of him at so high a rate as if nothing but the Name of Empire was left to Agesilaus the whole Power of it being devolved upon Lysander None of all the Commanders that were sent this Voyage into Asia was either so powerful or so formidable no one rewarded his Friends better or was more severe against his Enemies Which things made the greater Impression in Mens Minds because they observed the debonnair and popular Behaviour of Agesilaus whereas that of Lysander was high and rigid He took Men up short and by that fierceness of Carriage so subdued the Spirits of Men that they wholly submitted to him giving little Regard to Agesilaus This was first stomached by the other Captains who with Indignation resented it that they should be rather the Followers of Lysander than the Counsellors of Agesilaus At length Agesilaus himself though no envious Man in his Nature nor apt to be troubled at the Honours redounding upon other Men yet being highly jealous of his own Glory began to apprehend that Lysander's Greatness would soon eclipse his and carry away from him the Reputation of whatever great Action should happen He therefore went this way to work He first opposed him in all his Counsels whatever Lysander advised was rejected and other Proposals followed Then whoever made any Address to him if he found him a Retainer to Lysander certainly lost his Suit Whoever was prosecuted by him in Judiciary Matters was sure to get off with Victory and whoever was visibly favoured by him was used with all Severity and Rigor These things being not done by Chance but constantly and on set purpose Lysander was soon sensible of them and stuck not to tell his Friends that they suffered for his sake bidding them apply themselves to the King and such as were more powerful with him than he was Which Sayings of his when they seemed to be designed purposely to procure Envy to Agesilaus he stuck not to affront Lysander at a higher rate imposing upon him the Office of dividing the Flesh among the Souldiers and would in publick Companies speak scornfully of him bidding them go and pay their Observances to the Suttler of the Camp Lysander no longer able to brook these things complained at last to Agesilaus himself telling him That he knew very well how to Oppress his Friends To which Agesilaus answer'd I know who they be that pretend to more Power than myself That replied Lysander is rather said by you than done by me I desire onely this Favour of you that you will assign me some Office and Place in which I may serve you without incurring Envy Upon this Agesilaus sent him to the Hellespont on an Embassy whence he procured Mithridates a Persian of the Province of Pharnabazus to come to the Assistance of the Greeks with 200 Horse and a great Supply of Money Yet did not his Stomach so come down but he fell to forming a Design of wresting the Kingdom out of the Hands of the two Families which then enjoy'd it and make it wholly Elective and it is thought that he would have made a great Commotion in Sparta if he had not died in the Baeotian War Thus ambitious Spirits are apt to grow troublesom in a Common-wealth and when they transgress their Bounds do more harm than good Of this this Quarrel between two such great Men is an Example for though Lysander's Pride was unsufferable and his ambitious Projects very inconvenient to Agesilaus's Affairs yet might the King have found out many ways of taming him less reproachful to a Man of his Quality and ambitious Designs Indeed in my opinion they were both equally Guilty both blinded with the same Passion so as one not to know the Power of his Prince the other not to bear with the Imperfections of his Friend Tisaphernes being at first afraid of Agesilaus soon treated with him about setting the Grecian Cities at Liberty which was agreed on But soon after finding a sufficient Force drawn together he resolved upon War for which Agesilaus was not sorry For the Expectation of this Expedition was great and he did not think it for his Honour that Xenophon with 10000 Men should march through the heart of Asia to the Sea beating the King's Forces when and how he pleased and that Agesilaus in the Head of a Spartan Army so terrible both by Sea and Land should make so great a Voyage and raise no Monument of his Fame by any great Action Therefore to be even with Tisaphernes he revengeth his Perjury by a Stratagem he pretends to go to Caria whither when he had drawn Tisaphernes and his Army he suddenly turneth back and falleth upon Phrygia taking many of their Cities and carrying away great Booty He took this occasion of shewing that for Friends to break their Solemn Leagues and betray their Faith was a downright Contempt of the Gods but the Circumvention of an Enemy in War is not only Just but Honourable and of great Advantage to the Author of it Being weak in Horse and withal terrified by some ill Omen in the Sacrifices viz. a Calf's Liver wanted that little Lobe which the Southsayers call the Head he retired to Ephesus and there raised them He obliged the rich Men that were not minded to serve in Person to find Horse-men armed and mounted which being performed Agesilaus his Army was soon changed from shabby Foot into many gallant Regiments of Horse For
Exercises either of the young Men or of the Girls being alway ready to take his share in them but what many Men seemed to be highly taken with in these Games he seemed not at all concerned in Callipides the Stage-player being eminent in that Faculty through all Greece meeting this King did make his Obeisance of which when he found no notice taken he confidently thrust himself into his Train expecting that Agesilaus would take some notice and at least pass a Jest upon him When all that failed he boldly accosted him and asked him Whether he knew him not What said the King art thou Callipides the Scaramonchio and so turn'd from him Being invited once to hear a Man sing who did admirably imitate the Nightingale he refused and answered That he had heard the Nightingale her self There was one Menecrates a Physician in Laconia who having been famed for great Success in great and deplored Diseases was by way of Flattery called Jupiter He was so vain as to take it and having occasion to write a Letter to Agesilaus thus endorsed it Menecrates Jupiter to King Agesilaus Greeting The King returned Answer Agesilaus to Menecrates Healthâ— and a sound Mind Whilst Agesilaus was in the Corinthian Territories beholding his Soldiers Pillaging the Temple of Juno the Theban Ambassadors came to him to treat of Peace He having a great Aversion for that City and thinking it then advantageous to his Affairs publickly to slight them did it sufficiently for he would not seem either to see them or hear them speak But as if the express Vengeance of God had appeared against this Insolence before they parted from him he received News of the Overthrow of one of his Cohorts by Iphicrates with a greater Slaughter than he had received a long time and that the more grievous because it was a choice Regiment of Lacedaemonians well Armed but overthrown by a parcel of light-armed Mercenaries Agesilaus made all the haste he could to their Rescue but found it too late the Business being over He therefore retired to Juno's Temple and sent for the Theban Ambassadors to give them Audience They now resolved to be even with him for the Affront he gave them and without speaking one word of the Peace only desired leave to go into Corinth Agesilaus being nettled with this Overture told them in scorn That if they were minded to go and see how proud their Friends were of their Success they should do it to Morrow with safety Next Morning taking the Ambassadors with him he spoiled the Corinthian Territories up to the very Gates of the City where having made a Stand and let the Ambassadors see that the Corinthians durst not come out to defend themselves he dismissed them then gathering up the small remainders of the shattered Cohort he marched homewards alway removing his Camp before day and alway pitching his Tents after Night that he might prevent the Acardians from taking any opportunity of insulting over their loss After this at the Request of the Achaians he marched with them into Acarnania from whence he brought great Spoils and overcame the Acarnanians in Battel The Achaians would have persuaded him to keep his Winter-Quarters there to hinder the Acarnanians from sowing their Corn but he was of the contrary Opinion alledging that they would be more afraid of a War next Summer when their Fields were Sown than they would be if they lay Fallow The Event did justifie his Opinion for next Summer when the Achaians began their Expedition again the Acarnanians immediately made Peace with them When Conon and Pharnabazus were grown Masters of the Sea and had not only infested the Coast of Laconia but also rebuilt the Walls of Athens at the Cost of Pharnabazus the Lacedaemonians thought fit to Treat of Peace with the King of Persia To that end they sent Antalcidas to Teribazus about it basely betraying the poor Asiatick Greeks on whose behalf Agesilaus had made the War But no part of this Dishonour fell upon Agesilaus the whole being transacted by Antalcidas who was a bitter Enemy of Agesilaus and did therefore urge on the Peace because Agesilaus was so earnest for continuing the War it being his Talent in which he alway gain'd Reputation and Authority Yet as ill as he liked the Peace when once it was on foot he promoted it and being told by way of Reproach that the Lacedaemonians did now apply themselves to the Median Interest he replied No but the Medes applied themselves to the Interest of the Lacedaemonians And when the Grecians were backward to the Agreement he threatned them with War unless they came up to the King of Persia's Terms Agesilaus had a particular End in this viz. to weaken the Thebans for it was made one of the Articles of Peace that the Country of Baeotia should be set at liberty which was then under the Dominion of Thebes This Pique of his to Thebes appeared further afterwards when Phaebidas in full Peace did very dishonourably seize upon Cadmea a Castle belonging to Thebes The thing was much stomached by all Greece and not well liked of by the Laconians themselves those especially who were Enemies to Agesilaus did require an account of the Action and by whose Authority it was done laying the Suspicion of it at his door Agesilaus doubted not to answer on the behalf of Phaebidas that the profitableness of an Action was chiefly to be considered if it were for the Advantage of the Commonwealth it was no matter by whose Authority it was done This was the more remarkable in him because he was alway observed to be a great Lover of Justice and would in his private Discourses commend it as the chief of Vertues saying That Valour without Justice was useless and if all the World were Just there would be no need of Valour When any would say to him The Great King meaning the Persian will have it so he would smartly reply How is he greater than I unless he be Juster He took the truly Royal Measure of Greatness which is to be computed by Justice not by Force The Peace being concluded the King of Persia wrote to Agesilaus desiring a private Friendship and Correspondence but he refused it saying That the publick Friendship was enough whilst that lasted there was no need of private Yet was he not alway of that mind it plainly appearing That sometimes out of Ambition and sometimes out of private Pique he brake that Rule Particularly in this case of the Thebans he not only saved Phaebidas but perswaded the Lacedaemonians to take the Fault upon themselves and to retain Cadmea putting a Garison into it and to make Archias and Leontidas chief Governors of Thebes who had been Betrayers of the main Castle to them This gave strong Suspicion that what Phaebidas did was by Agesilaus's Order which was afterward made evident by the Consequences For when the Thebans had slain the Garison and asserted their Liberty he
their Gowns patched of divers Colours and to wear their Beards half shaved half unshaven To execute so rigid a Law as this in a Case where the Offenders were so many and of those many Men of great Families and Interest and that in a time when the Common-wealth wanted Soldiers so much as then it did was of dangerous Consequence Therefore they chose Agesilaus a Dictator or new Law-giver with full power of abrogating old Laws or making new ones as he pleased But he without adding to or diminishing from or any way changing the Law came out into the publick Assembly and said That the Law should lye dormant at present but be vigorously executed for the future By this means he at once preserved the Law from Abrogation and the Citizens from Infamy And that he might take off the Consternation that was upon the young Men he made an Inroad into Arcadia where avoiding Fight as much as he could he contented himself to spoil the Territory and to take a small Town belonging to the Mantineans thereby reviving the Hearts of Populace letting them see that they were not every where unsuccessful Upon this Epaminondas made an Inroad into Laconia with an Army of 40000. besides light-armed Men and others that follow'd the Camp only for Plunder so that in all they were at least 70000. It was now 600 Years since the Dorians had possessed Laconia and in all that time the Face of an Enemy had not been seen within their Territories no Man daring to Invade them But now they made their Incursions without Resistance as far as Eurotas and the very Suburbs of Sparta for Agesilaus would not permit them to engage against so impetuous a Torrent as Theopompus called it He contented himself to fortifie the chief Parts of the City and to place Guards conveniently enduring mean while the Taunts of the Thebans who reproached him as the Firebrand of the War and the Author of all that Mischief to his Country and bidding him defend himself if he could But this was not all He was greatly disturbed at home with the Tumults of the City the Outcries and running about of the Old Men who were highly enraged at their present condition and the Women much worse being terrifi'd by the Clamours and the Fires of the Enemy in the Field But that which cut him to the Heart was the sense of his lost Glory who having come to the Crown of Sparta when it was in its most flourishing Condition and highest Grandeur now lived to see it laid low in Esteem and all its great Vaunts derided even those which he himself had been accustom'd to use viz. That the Women of Sparta had never seen the Smoak of the Enemies Fire It is said that Antalcidas being in Dispute with an Athenian about the Valour of the Two Nations the Athenian bragged That they had oâ—ten driven the Spartans from the River Câ—phisus Yes said Antalcidas but we never had occasion to drive you from Eurotas A common Spartan of less Quality being in Company with an Argive who was vapouring how many Spartans lay buried in the Fields of Argus reply'd But you have â—â—â—e buried in the Country of Laconia Yet now the Case was so altered that Antalcidas being one of the Ephori out of Fear sent away his Children privately to the Island of Cythera When the Enemy essay'd to get over the River and thence to Attack the Town Agesilaus betook himself to the high Places and strong Holds of it But it happen'd that Eurotas at that time swelled to a great height by reason of the Snow that had fallen and made the Passage very difficult to the Thebans not only by its depth but much more by the Ice that was upon it Whilst this was doing Epaminondas every where appeared the foremost Man in the Army insomuch that Agesilaus viewing the whole Action fell into admiration of his Gallantry But when he came to the City and would fain have attempted something either upon it or within the Limits of it that might raise him a Trophy there he could not tempt Agesilaus out of his Hold but was fain to march off again wasting the Country as he went Mean while there did a dangerous Conspiracy happen in Sparta where 200 Men having gotten into a strong part of the Town called Issorion did seize upon the Temple of Diana and Garison it The Spartans were enraged at it and would have fallen upon them presently but Agesilaus not knowing how far the Sedition might reach did command them to forbear and going himself in his Cloak with but one Servant when he came near the Rebels called out and told them That they mistook their Orders that by his Order they were to go one part of them thither shewing them another Place in the City and part to another which he also shewed The Conspirators gladly heard this Discourse thinking themselves no way suspected of Treason and readily went off to the Places which he shewed them Whereupon Agesilaus placed in their room a Garison of his own Of the Conspirators he apprehended 15. and put them to death in the night After this a much more dangerous Conspiracy was discovered of Spartan Citizens who had privately met in each others Houses to cause a Disturbance It was equally dangerous by reason of the Greatness of the Party to prosecute them publickly according to Law and to connive at them Agesilaus took another course and by consent of the Ephori put them to death privately without Process a thing never before known in Sparta At this time also many of the Helots and other Hirelings that were listed in the Army ran away to the Enemy which was matter of great Consternation to the City He therefore caused some Officers of his every Morning before day to search the Quarters of the Soldiers and where any Man was gone to hide his Arms that so the greatness of the number might not appear Historians differ about the time of the Thebans Departure from Sparta Some say the Winter forced them as also that the Arcadian Soldiers Disbanding made it necessary for the rest to retire Others say that they stay'd there Three Months till they had laid the whole Country waste Theopompus is the only Author who gives out That when the Baeotarchae or Council of War of the Theban Army had resolved upon the Retreat Phrixus the Spartan came to them and offer'd them from Agesilaus Ten Talents to be gone so hiring them to do what they were already doing of their own accord How he alone should come to be aware of this I know not only in this all Authors agree That the saving of Sparta from Ruine was wholly due to the Wisdom of Agesilaus who in this Extremity of Affairs quitted all his Ambition and his Haughtiness and resolved to play a saving Game But all his Wisdom and Prowess was not sufficient to recover the Glory of it and to raise it
to its ancient Greatness For as we see in Bodies long used to strict and too exquisitely regular Diet if they commit any great Disorder it is usually fatal so in this City which by the strictness of her Laws and the severe Virtue and great Conduct of her Leaders had flourished so long one great mistake in Policy undid all Nor was this Fall wholly undeserved since they so much swerved from the Institutions of Lycurgus to which their Ancestors were sworn who had formed a Republick wholly fitted to the Ease and Peace and vertuous Life of the Inhabitants so that they might have lived happily within themselves without molesting their Neighbours or seeking Dominion over them Agesilaus being now very Aged gave over all Military Employments but his Son Archidamus having received help from Dionysius of Sicily did give a great Overthrow to the Arcadians in a Fight remarkably known by the Name of The tearless Battel wherein there was a great Slaughter of the Enemy without the loss of one Spartan This Victory did but too much discover the present Weakness of Sparta for heretofore Victory was esteemed so usual a thing with them that for their greatest Successes they seldom sacrificed any more than a Cock to the Gods Neither were the Soldiers much elated at the News when it came yea when the great Victory was obtained at Mantinea which is at large described by Thucidides the Messenger that brought the News had no other Reward than a good piece of Powdered Beef sent him to his Lodgings But at the News of this Arcadian Victory they were not able to contain themselves but the old King went out in Procession with Tears of Joy in his Eyes to meet and embrace his Son and all the Council attended him The Old Men and Women all marched out as far as the River Eurota lifting up their Hands and thanking the Gods that they had washed off the Stain that had lately stuck upon Sparta saying That now they could boldly appear in the Face of the Sun who before out of Shame and Confusion could not appear even to their own Wives When Epaminondas rebuilt Messene and recalled the ancient Citizens to it they were not able to obstruct the Design being not in condition of appearing in the Field against them But the Spartans were very much offended with Agesilaus when they found so large a Territory equal to their own in Compass and for Fertility the richest of all Greece taken from them in his Reign Therefore it was that the King broke off Treaty with the Thebans when they offered him Peace rather than set his Hand to the passing away of that Country though it was already taken from him Which Punctilio of Honour had like to have cost him dear for in the progress of the War he was over-reached by a Stratagem which had almost amounted to the loss of Sparta For when the Mantineans again revolted from Thebes to Sparta and Epaminondas understood that Agesilaus was come to their Assistance with a powerful Army he privately in the night quit his Quarters at Tegea and unknown to the Mantineans marched towards Sparta insomuch that he failed very little of taking it empty and unarmed Of this Agesilaus having Intelligence sent him by Euthymus the Thespian saith Callisthenes but by some Cretan saith Xenophon immediately dispatched a Post to Lacedaemon to advertise them of it and withal to let them know that he was hastening to them He did it with that Expedition that he prevented the Thebans who came over Eurotas after he was in the Town They notwithstanding made an Assault upon the Town and were received by Agesilaus with great Courage he bestirring himself much beyond what was to be expected in his years For he did not now Fight with that Caution and Cunning which he formerly made use of but put all upon a desperate push which though not his usual method succeeded so well that he rescued the City out of the Jaws of Epaminondas and forced him to retire This Action deserved a Trophy and had one at the erection of which Agesilaus encouraged the Citizens by shewing them how well they had paid their Debt to their Country in this Action and particularly took notice of the great Performances of his Son Archidamus who had that day made himself Illustrious both by his Courage and Agility of Body speedily shifting Places to all the dangerous Passes where the Enemy pressed hardest into the Town every where charging the Enemy though with but few in his Company But the grand Example of an Heroick Valour was given by Isadas the Son of Phaebidas to the Admiration of the Enemy as well as of his Friends He was a very comely handsom well-grown proper Youth just beginning to write Man He had no Arms upon him scarce Cloaths he had just anointed himself at home when upon the Alarm without further Ceremony in that Undress he snatched a Spear in one hand and a Sword in the other and brake into the thickest of his Enemies bearing down all before him He received no Wound whether that he were the particular Care of GOD who rewarded his Valour with an extraordinary Protection or whether his Shape being so large and beautiful and his Dress so unusual they thought him more than a Man The gallantry of the Action was so esteemed among the Spartans that the Ephori gave him a Garland but as soon as they had done they fined him 1000 Drachms for going out to Battel unarmed A few days after this there was another Battel fought near Mantinea wherein Epaminondas having routed the Van of the Lacedaemonians was eager in the pursuit of them when Anticrates the Laconian wounded him with a Spear saith Dioscorides but the Spartans to this day call the Posterity of this Anticrates Sword-men because that he wounded Epaminondas with a Sword They so dreaded Epaminondas when living that the Slayer of him was embraced and admired by all nay they decreed Honors to him and his Posterity to which latter they gave Immunity from all manner of Taxes This Priviledge Callicrates one of his Descendants now enjoyeth Epaminondas being Slain there was a general Peace again concluded from which Agesilaus's Party excluded the Messenians as Men that had no City and therefore would not let them Swear to the League to which when the rest of the Greeks admitted them the Lacedaemonians went off and continued the War alone in hopes of subduing the Messenians For this Reason was Agesilaus esteemed a stubborn refractory Man and insatiable of War who took such pains to hinder the League and to protract the War at a time when he had not Money wherewith to carry it on but was forced to borrow of the Citizens and to oppress them with heavy Taxes and all this to retrieve the poor City of Messenia after he had lost so great an Empire both by Sea and Land as the Spartans were possessed of
that great Army he commanded there Pompey reply'd as modestly That it could never be thought fair or honourable for him to extort a Province out of the hands of an ancient Captain and one of far greater Fame and Experience than himself however if Metellus were willing and would command his Service he should be very ready to accompany and assist him in the War Which when Metellus came to understand he approv'd of the Motion and accordingly invited him over by Letter Whereupon Pompey fell immediately like Lightning into Gaul where he did not only do wonderful Exploits of himself but also blew up and kindled anew that bold and warlike Spirit which old Age had in a manner extinguish'd in Metellus having the same operation with molten oâ— boyling Copper which being pour'd upon that that is cold and solid seems to dissolve and melt it faster than Fire it self But I must observe the same course here as is done with a famous Wrestler who though he has excelled all Men in those Games even from his Youth and always born away the Prize with Glory yet 't is not usual to account of his childish Victories or enter them upon record among the rest So for the Exploits of Pompey in his Minority though they were brave in themselves yet because they were obscur'd and buri'd in the multitude and greatness of his latter Wars and Conquests I dare not be particular in them lest by trifling away time in the lesser moments of his Youth I should casually omit those grander Actions and Enterprises which best discover the natural Disposition and singular Genius of the Man Now when Sylla had brought all Italy under his Dominion and was proclaim'd Dictator he began to reward the rest of his Followers enriching all his Captains and other Officers whereof some he advanc'd to Honour others to Places of Dignity and Profit in the Common-wealth largely and liberally gratifying every Man according to his Talent and Desire But for Pompey he was a great Admirer of his Valour and Conduct and thinking that he might prove a great Stay and Support to him hereafter in all his Affairs sought by all means to espouse and joyn him in Alliance to him and having likewise the Approbation of his Wife Metella they perswaded him to put away Antistia and Marry Aemylia the Daughter-in-law of Sylla by Metella and Scaurus her former Husband she being at that very time the Wife of another Man cohabiting with him and with Child by him These were the very Tyrannies of Marriage and much more agreeable to the Times under Sylla than to the Nature and Genius of Pompey That Aemylia great with Child should be as it were ravish'd from the Embraces of another for him and that Antistia should be divorc'd with dishonour and misery by him for whose sake she had but just before been bereft of her Father to be at once both a Widow and Fatherless by his means for her Father Antistius was Murder'd in the Senate because he was suspected to be a Favourer of Sylla for Pompey's sake and her Mother likewise after she had seen all these Indignities made away with her self These were the Tragedies that attended that unhappy Marriage and that there might be nothing wanting to compleat the last Act by Heavens even Aemylia her self not long after dy'd at Pompey's in Child-bed About this time an Express came to Sylla That Perpenna had possessed himself of Sicily whereby that Isle was now become a Refuge and Receptacle for the Reliques of the adverse Party That Carbo was hovering about those Seas with a Navy That Domitius was fallen in upon Africa and that many other likewise of the Nobles and great Men in Exile thinking to avoid his Proscriptions or Outlawries by Flight were daily flocking into those Parts Against these therefore was Pompey sent with a great Army and no sooner was he arrived in Sicily but Perpenna departed thence leaving the whole Island to him Wherefore Pompey received the distressed Cities into Favour and treated all with great Humanity except that of the Mamertines in Messene for when they protested against his Court and Jurisdiction alledging their Privilege and Exemption founded upon an ancient Charter or Grant of the Romans he replied as sharply What! will you ne'r leave prating of Laws to us that have Swords by our sides 'T is thought likewise That he shewed but little Humanity to Carbo seeming rather to insult over his Misfortunes than to chastize his Crime for if there had been a necessity as perhaps there was that he should be taken off that might have been done at first as soon as he was taken Prisoner for then it would have been the Act of him that commanded it and imputed to his Malice but here Pompey commands a Man that had been thrice Consul of Rome to be be brought in Fetters to the Bar he himself sitting upon the Bench in Judgment examining the Cause throughout all the Formalities of Law and pronouncing Sentence of Death as upon a common Malefactor to the Grief and Indignation of all that were present and afterwards he ordered him to be taken away and put to Death Now 't is reported of Carbo That as soon as he was brought to the Scaffold and saw the Sword drawn for Execution it wrought so with him that immediately he had a looseness or pain in his Belly insomuch that he desired a little respite of the Executioner and a convenient place to ease himself But yet farther C. Oppius a great Friend of Caesar's tells us That Pompey dealt as barbarously with Q. Valerius a Man of singular Learning especially in Philology and Mathematicks few like him for when he was brought to him he walk'd aside and discours'd with him and after a long Conference and full Resolution of all his Questions having learned what he could he ordered his Officers to take him away and put him to Death But we must not be too credulous in all the Narratives of Oppius especially when he undertakes to relate any thing touching the Friends or Foes of Caesar This is certain That there lay a necessity upon Pompey to be severe upon many of Sylla's Enemies those at leastwise that were eminent Persons in themselves and notoriously known to be taken but for the rest he dealt with them after his own natural Temper conniving at the Concealment of some and himself being the Instrument in the Escape of others And the like Argument of his Clemency was shewn in the Himeraeans for when Pompey had determined a sharp Revenge upon their City for that they had been stubborn Abettors of the Enemy there stept out one Sthenes a great Leader of the People there and craving audience of Pompey told him That what he was about to do was not at all consistent with Justice for that he would pass by the Guilty and destroy the Innocent Pompey demanding Who that guilty Person was that would father the Offences of them all Sthenes replied
whereby 't was suggested to Sylla That Pompey was up in Rebellion whereupon Sylla said to some of his Friends Well then I see 't is my destiny to contend with Children in my old Age reflecting likewise upon Marius for that he being but a meer Youth had found him Work enough and brought his Affairs into extreme Danger But Sylla being undeceived afterwards by a better Intelligence and hearing that the whole City in a manner had designed to meet Pompey and receive him with all Kindness and Honour he himself endeavoured to exceed them all in Civility and therefore going out foremost to meet him and embracing him with great joy he gave him his welcome aloud in the Title of Pompey the Great and commanded all those that were present to call him by that Name Others say That he had this Title first given him by a general Acclamation of all the Army in Africa but that it took its force and power from the ratification of Sylla but this is true That he himself was the last that owned the Title for 't was a long time after when he was sent Proconsul into Spain against Sertorius that he began to subscribe himself in his Letters and Commissions by the Name of Pompey the Great even then when the envy of the Title was worn off by being common and familiar Hence may the Wisdom of the ancient Romans be justly reverenced and had in Admiration That did not only reward the Successes of Action and Conduct in War with such honourable Titles but adorned likewise the Vertues and Services of eminent Men in the Civil Government with the same Distinctions and Characters of Honour and therefore the People stiled two by the Names of Maximi i. e. the Greatest Valerius for that he reconciled the Senate to the People when they were at Variance and Fabius Rullus for that he put out of the Senate certain Libertines that had been elected thither for their Riches Upon this Pompey desired the Honour of Triumph which Sylla opposed stifly alledging That the Law allowed that Honour to none but Consuls and Praetors and therefore Scipio the Elder who subdued the Carthaginians in Spain in far greater and nobler Conflicts never so much as Petitioned for Triumph because he had never attained to the Office of Consul or Praetor And if Pompey who had scarce a Hair in his Face nor yet of Age to be a Senator should enter the City in Triumph what a load of Envy would it cast at once upon Sylla's Government and Pompey's Honour These were the Arguments Sylla us'd against Pompey shewing that he should not by any means yield to his Request but if he would persist in his Ambition that he was resolved to interpose his Power and lay a Prohibition upon him as a Lover of Contention and Disobedience Pompey was no ways daunted at this but wished Sylla to recollect with himself That more worshipped the Rising than the Setting Sun intimating thereby That his Power was increasing and Sylla's in the wain Sylla did not perfectly hear the words but observing a sort of Amazement and Wonder in the Looks and Gestures of those that did hear them he asked What it was that he said When it was told him he seemed to be very much surprized with the Boldness of Pompey and cried out twice together E'ne let him Triumph But when others began to shew their Stomach and Disdain Pompey as t is said to gall and vex them the more designed to have his triumphant Chariot drawn with four Elephants having brought over several from the Spoils of those African Kings but the Gates of the City being too narrow he was forced to desist from that Project and make use of Horses in the next place some of his Soldiers who failed of some Rewards or been some way or other disappointed began to clamour and interrupt the Triumph but Pompey regarded these as little as the rest and plainly told them That he had rather lose the Honour of his Triumph than flatter them Whereupon Servilius a Person of great Quality and at first one of the chiefest Opposers of Pompey's Triumph said openly Now I perceive that Pompey is truly Great and worthy of Triumph 't is clearly manifest that he might easily have been a Senator if he would yet he did not sue for that esteeming Honour as a Paradox and hunting after it as 't is said not in the common Road but even there where no Man else ever did For what wonder had it been for Pompey in his nonage to sit in the Senate before his time but to triumph before he was of the Senate that was the excess of Glory to a Miracle This Contest of his with Sylla for Triumph did not a little ingratiate him in the good Will of the People for it could not but be extremely grateful for them to see one of their own Order in Triumph and then to return to them again and take his Place among the Roman Knights on the other side 't was no less ungrateful to Sylla to see how fast he came on and to what a height of Glory and Power he was advanced yet being ashamed to hinder him he smothered his Grief and lay quiet but when by plain force and in spite of him Pompey procured the Consulship for Lepidus having by his own Interest reconciled him to the Favour of the People Sylla could not contain himself any longer but spying him after the Election as he was crossing the Market-place with a great Train after him cried out to him Well Young-Man I see thou rejoycest in thy Conquest and for what cause I pritthee Is it not a generous and worthy Act think you that the priority of Consulship should be given to Lepidus the vilest of Men against Catulus the best and most deserving Man in all the City and all this forsooth by your Influence upon the People Well this I 'll advise thee and look to 't that thou dost not sleep but keep a vigilant Eye upon thy Affairs for thou hast raised up a dangerous Enemy to greater Power than thy self But that which gave the clearer demonstration of Sylla's Ill-will to Pompey and whereby his former Kindness appeared to have been specious only was his last Will and Testament for whereas he had bequeathed several Legaâ—ies to all the rest of his Friends and appointed some of them Guardians to his Son he passed by Pompey without the least remembrance however Pompey bore this with great Moderation and Civility insomuch that when Lepidus and others obstructed his Interment in the Campus Martius denying indeed any publick Solemnity of a Funeral he himself attended the Herse thereby giving both Honour and Security to it and having his Obsequies performed with all the Pomp and Solemnity of a Roman-General Shortly after the Death of Sylla that prophetick Speech of his to Pompey touching Lepidus came to pass for Lepidus usurping the Government and Authority that Sylla had did not go about
by Fetches nor yet colourably in specious Pretences but immediately took up Arms having stirred up again and guarded himself with the corrupted Remains of that Faction that had escaped the Vengeance of Sylla Now Catulus his Colleague who was followed by the sounder part of the Senate and People was a Man of the greatest Esteem among the Romans for his singular Wisdom and Justice but his Talent lay in the Government of the City rather than the Camp being no great Man of War whereas the exigency of Affairs in this Juncture required rather the Skill and Experience of Pompey Pompey therefore was not long in suspence which way to dispose of himself but joyning with the Nobility was presently appointed General of the Army against Lepidus who had already over-run the greatest part of Italy and likewise brought Gallia Cisalpina in Subjection with an Army under the Conduct of Brutus As for the rest of his Garisons Pompey subdued them with ease in his March but Mutina in Gaul engaged him in a formal Siege where he lay a long time encamped against Brutus In the mean time Lepidus marched in all haste against Rome and sitting down before it with a mighty Rabble of People demanded a second Consulship whereby he struck no small Terrour into the Besieged but that Fear quickly vanished upon some Letters sent from Pompey advertising That he had ended the War without a Battel for Brutus either betraying his Army or being betrayed by them upon the Revolt rendred himself to Pompey and taking a Guard of Horse was conducted to a little Village in that part of Gaul that lies upon the River Padu or Po where he was slain the next day by Geminius in execution of Pompey's Commands Upon this Pompey was grosly censured for having at the very beginning of the Revolt written to the Senate how that Brutus had voluntarily surrendred himself yet immediately afterwards he sent other Letters containing matter of Charge or Accusation against the Man after he was taken off which was somewhat unaccountable Now you must note that that Brutus who together with Cassius slew Caesar was Son to this Brutus a Man neither in War nor in his Death like his Father as we have describ'd at large in his Life Lepidus upon this being driven out of Italy fled to Sardinia where he fell sick and died having his Heart broken with Sorrow not for his Losses or Misfortunes as they say but upon the receipt of a Letter wherein he was assured that his Wife had played the Harlot There was yet remaining Sertorius in Spain a Man of War far different from Lepidus and much more formidable to the Romans to whom there resorted all the Fugitives and Male-contents of the Nation flowing thither as Humors to the last diseased part of a Civil-War This Man had already cut off divers inferior Commanders and was now buckling with Metellus Pius a Man of Honour and a Soldier though perhaps he might now seem too slow by reason of his Age to second and improve the happier moments of War and might be sometimes wanting to those Advantages which Sertorius by his Sharpness and Dexterity would wrest out of his hands For he was always hovering about and coming upon him unawares like a Captain of Thieves rather than Soldiers pestring him perpetually with Ambuscadoes and light Skirmishes wherereas Metellus like a good old Wrestler was accustomed to nothing but regular Conduct and fighting in Battel-array with his Legionary Soldiers well arm'd Pompey therefore having his Army in readiness made it his whole Court and Practice to be sent in Aid to Metellus neither would he be brought to Disband his Forces notwithstanding that Catulus had commanded it but by some colourable Device or other he still kept them in Arms about the City until the Senate at last thought fit upon the Report of L. Philippus to decree him that Government At that time they say one of the Senators there wondring at this Report demanded of Philip whether his meaning was That Pompey should be sent into Spain Proconsul i. e. instead of a Consul No replied Philip but Pro-consulibus i. e. instead of both Consuls meaning that neither of the Consuls for that Year was of any Value Now when Pompey was arrived in Spain as 't is usual upon the Fame of a new Governor Men began to be raised with new Hopes and those Nations that had not entred into a very strict League and Alliance with Sertorius began to waver and revolt whereupon Sertorius gave out very arrogant and scornful Speeches against Pompey saying in Derision That he should want no other Weapon but a Ferula and Rod to Chastise this Boy with if he were not afraid of that old Woman meaning Metellus Yet for all his proud Words in deed and reality he stood in Awe of Pompey as appeared by all his Actions and Conduct throughout the whole Management of the War wherein he was observed ever after to stand better upon his Guard and engage more warily than before for Metellus which one would not have imagined was grown very debauched in his Life having given himself over excessively to Riot and Pleasure and yet of a sudden there was wrought in him a mighty Change as well in respect of his Pride as his Luxury so that this very thing gained a wonderful Reputation and Honour to Pompey as an Example of Frugality although that Virtue was habitual in him and required no great Industry to exercise it for that he was naturally inclined to Temperance and no ways inordinate in his Affections Here Fortune as 't is common in War shewed variety of Changes but nothing came so near to Pompey as the taking of the City Lauron by Sertorius for when Pompey thought he had him safe inclosed and had boasted largely of raising the Siege he himself appeared of a sudden to be incompassed insomuch that he durst not move out of his Camp but was forced with sorrow to sit still whilst the City was taken and in Flames before his Face However afterwards in a Battel about Valentia he gave a great Defeat to Herennius and Perpenna two Commanders of those Fugitives who came to Sertorius and were now Lieutenants to him wherein he slew above 10000 Men. Pompey being exalted and puffed up with this Victory made all the haste imaginable to engage Sertorius himself and the rather lest Metellus should come in for a share in the Honour of the Victory so that in the Evening towards Sun-set they joyned Battel near the River Sucron both being in great fear lest Metellus should come Pompey that he might engage in the Combat alone Sertorius that he might engage but with one alone The Issue of the Battel proved doubtful for that a Wing of each side had the better but of the Generals Sertorius had the greater Honour for that he maintained his Post having slain and put to flight all that Battalion that was appointed against him whereas Pompey
for there was not any one thing that the People of Rome did so wildly doat on or more passionately desire than the Restauration of that Government insomuch that Pompey thought himself extreamly fortunate in this opportunity despairing ever if he were prevented in this of meeting with any other wherein he might express his Gratitude in Compensation of all those Favours which he had received from the People The Decree therefore passed for a second Triumph and the Consulship and yet for all this Power and Honour he did not seem to be admired or magnified for those things but this was the Signal and Test of his Grandeur that even Crassus himself the Wealthiest among all the Statesmen of his time the most Eloquent and Greatest too a Man of that Pride that he despised even Pompey himself and all others as beneath him durst not appear a Candidate for the Consulship before he had made his Address to Pompey which was done accordingly and as readily embraced by Pompey who had often sought an occasion to oblige him in some friendly Office so that he solicited for Crassus and entreated the People heartily declaring That their Favour would be no less to him in his Colleague than in his Consulship yet for all this when they were created Consuls they were always at variance and opposing one another now Crassus prevailed most in the Senate and Pompey's Power was no less with the People for that he restored to them the Office of Tribune and had suffered the Judicature again to be transferred upon the Knights by a Law But he himself afforded them the most grateful Spectacle when he appeared and craved his Discharge from the Wars for it was an ancient Custom among the Romans that the Knights when they had served out their legal time in the Wars should lead their Horse into the Market-place before two Censors and having given an account of the Commanders and Generals under whom they served as also of the Places and Actions in their Service they were discharged every Man with Honour or Disgrace according to his Deserts there were then sitting upon the Bench two reverend Censors Gellius and Catulus with great Gravity taking a View of the Roman Knights who were then in Muster and under Examination before them when Pompey was seen afar off to come into the Market-place adorned in all things else with all the Marks and Ensigns of a Consul but himself leading his Horse in his hand as he drew near he commanded the Vergers to make way and so he led his Horse to the Bench the People were all this while in a sort of Amaze and all in Silence and the Censors themselves shewed him great Reverence expressing a Modesty together with Joy in their Countenance Then the Senior Censor examined him Pompey the Great I demand of thee whether thou hast served out all that time in the Wars that is prescribed by the Law of Arms Yes replied Pompey with a loud Voice I have served all and all under myself as General The People hearing this gave a great Shout and made such an Out-cry for Joy that there was no appeasing it but the Censors rising from their Judgment-seat accompanied him home to gratifie the Multitude who followed after clapping their Hands and shouting with great signs of Joy Pompey's Consulship was now expiring and yet the Difference with Crassus increasing whereupon on Gaius Aurelius a Knight but one that declined Business all his Life-time stood up and addressed himself in an Oration to the Assembly declaring That Jupiter had appeared to him in a Dream commanding him to tell the Consuls That they should not leave their Charge of that Government until they were Friends After this was said Pompey stood silent but Crassus took him by the hand and spoke in this manner I do not think oh ye Romans that I shall do any thing mean or dishonourable in yielding first to Pompey even that Pompey whom you were pleased to Ennoble with the Title of Great when as yet he scarce had a Hair in his Face and granted the Honour of two Triumphs when as yet he had no Place in the Senate Hereupon they were Reconciled and laid down their Government Now Crassus kept on in his former manner of Life as he began pleading Causes but Pompey declined his Practice in a great measure taking the Patronage of some few Causes only so that by degrees he withdrew himself totally from the Courts and all Matters of Judgment coming but seldom in publick and whenever he did 't was with a great Train after him neither was it easie to meet or visit him without great Attendance but his delight was to appear guarded with such a Retinue designing thereby to advance the Reverence and Majesty of his Presence and preserve his Dignity as he ought to do entire from the Approaches and Conversation of the Multitude For Men that have risen and grown great by Arms are easily trayed into Contempt by a change of Life when they shall betake themselves to the Long-Robe and plead Causes in that they cannot fashion themselves to that popular Equality or Familiarity that 's common among Citizens expecting to be esteemed their Betters in the City as they were in Field whereas on the contrary the Pride and Folly of these Citizens is such That though they were Inferiours in the Camp yet they 'll contend for Precedence in the City which is intolerable and therefore 't is that when a noble Warrier crowned with Victories and Triumphs shall turn Advocate and ply the Courts among them they endeavour presently by a malicious Pedantry to obscure his Glory and depress him whereas if he quits a publick Patronage and retires they shall preserve his Honour and Authority beyond the reach of Envy as appeared not long after by the things themselves The Power of the Pirats first broke out of Cilicia having in truth but a rash and blind beginning but was animated and encouraged afterwards in the Wars of Mithridates where they hired themselves out and became Stipendiaires in the King's Service Afterwards whilst the Romans were embroiled in their Civil Wars being engaged against one another even before the very Gates of Rome the Seas lay waste and unguarded which by degrees enticed and drew them on not only to seize upon and spoil the Merchants and Ships upon the Seas but also to lay waste the Islands and Sea-Port Towns So that now there embarked with these Pirats Men of great Wealth and Nobility and of great Wisdom too being incorporated into their Society or Fellowship as into a commendable Faculty They had divers Arsenals or Piratick Harbours as likewise Watch-Towers and Beacons all along the Sea-Coast They had a mighty Fleet well Rigged and Furnished with Galliots of Oars and as well Mann'd too with all the Flower of Youth with expert Pilots and Mariners there were their Ships of swift Sail also and Pinnaces for Cruising and Discovery neither was it thus dreadful
appointed in the former Decree For there were compleately 500 Sail of Ships fitted out and he had an Army of 120000 Foot and 5000 Horse assigned for his Muster There were chosen likewise for his Lieutenants or Vice-Admirals 24 Senators that had been Consuls Praetors or Generals of Armies and to these were added two of the general Treasurers Now it happened within this time that the Prizes of Provisions were much abated which gave an occasion to the joyful People of saying That the very Name of Pompey had e'en ended the War However Pompey in pursuance of his Charge divided all the Sea with each distance between the Lands into thirteen Parts allotting a Squadron to each under the Command of his Vice-Admirals And having thus dispers'd his Power into all Quarters and encompassed the Pirats every where they began to fall into his Draggs by whole Shoals which he seiz'd and brought into his Harbours As for those that withdrew themselves betimes or otherwise escap'd his general Chace they all made to Cilicia where they hid themselves as in their Hives against whom Pompey design'd to go in Person with Sixty of his best Frigats But first he resolv'd to scour and clear all the Seas thereabout as that of Tuscany together with the Coasts of Africa Sardinia Corsica and Sicily All which he perform'd in the space of Forty days by his own indefatigable Industry and the Diligence of his Vice-Admirals Now Pompey met with some Diversion in Rome through the Malice and Envy of Piso the Consul who had put some stop to his Affairs by wasting his Stores and discharging his Seamen whereupon he sent his Fleet round to Brundusium himself going the next way by Land through Tuscany to Rome which as soon as it came to be known by the People they all flock'd out to meet him upon the way as if they had not sent him out but a little before But that which chiefly rais'd their Joy was the sudden and unexpected change in the Markets abounding now with exceeding Plenty So that Piso was in great danger to have been depriv'd of his Consulship Gabinius having a Law ready Penn'd for that purpose but Pompey forbid it behaving himself as in that so in all Things else with great Moderation whereby having brought to pass and obtain'd all that he wanted or desir'd he departed for Brundusium whence he set Sail in pursuit of the Pirats Now though he was straitned in time and his hasty Voyage forc'd him to Sail by several famous Cities without touching yet he would not pass by the City of Athens unsaluted but landing there after he had sacrificed to the Gods and made an Oration to the People as he was returning out of the City he Read at the Gates two Monosticks or single Epigrams writ in his own Praise One within the Gate Thy humbler Thoughts make thee a God the more The other without We wish'd and saw we Honour and Adore Now because that Pompey had shew'd himself merciful to some of that Swarm of Thieves that were yet roving in Bodies about the Seas having upon their Supplication ordered a Seizure of their Ships and Persons only without any farther Process or Severity therefore the rest of their Camrades in Hopes of Mercy too made their Escape from his other Commanders and surrender'd themselves with their Wives and Children into his Protection So thaâ— Pompey pardon'd all that came in and the rather because by them he might make a discovery of those who fled from his Justice as conscious that their Crimes were beyond an Act of Indemnity Whereof the greatest and chiefest part conveyed their Families and Treasures with all besides that were unfit for War into Castles and strong Forts about Mount Taurus but they themselves having well Mann'd their Gallies imbark'd for Coracesium in Cilicia where they receiv'd Pompey and gave him Battel Here they had a fatal Overthrow and thereupon they retir'd to their Cities where they were Besieg'd At last having dispatch'd their Heralds to him with a Submission they deliver'd up to his mercy themselves their Towns Islands and strong Holds all which they had fortified with Bulwarks and Rampiers whereby they became impregnable and almost inaccessible Thus was this War ended and the whole Power of the Pirats at Sea dissolved every where in the space of three Months Wherein besides a great number of other Vessels he took Ninety Men of War with brazen Beaks and likewise Prisoners of War to the number of no less than 20000 Souls Touching the disposal of these Prisoners he consider'd on one Hand that it would be barbarous to destroy them all and yet it might be no less dangerous on the other to disperse them for that they might reunite and make Head again being numerous poor and warlike Therefore well and wisely weighing with himself That Man by Nature is not a wild or savage Creature neither was he Born so but becomes a bruit Beast by Practice having chang'd his Nature by a rude and vicious Habit And again on the other side That he is civiliz'd and grows gentle by a change of Place Converse and manner of Life as Beasts themselves that are wild by Nature become tame and tractable to their Feeders by Housing and a gentler Usage Upon this Consideration he determin'd to translate these Pirates from Sea to Land and give them a taste of the true and innocent course of Life by living in Cities and manuring the Ground Some therefore were entertain'd in the small and unpeopl'd Towns of the Cilicians mixing and incorporating with those few Inhabitants there whereby they obtained an Enlargement of their Territories Others he planted in the City of the Solians that had been lately laid waste and drained by Tigranes King of Armenia he seated likewise divers in Dyme a City of Achaia a Place extreamly depopulated but of a large compass of Ground and as rich a Soyl. However these Proceedings could not escape the Envy and Censure of his Enemies but for his Practices against Metellus in Crete those were disapprov'd of even by the chiefest of his Friends For Metellus a Relation to him that was Colleague with Pompey in Spain was sent Praetor into Crete before this Province of the Seas was design'd for Pompey Now Crete was the second Den and Receptacle of Pirats next to Cilicia the Fountain there Metellus apprehended divers and put them to Death Wherefore those that were yet remaining and Besieg'd sent their Supplications to Pompey and invited him into the Island as a part of his Province alledging it to fall within that distance of the Sea limited in his Commission and so within the Precincts of his Charge Pompey receiving the Submission dispatch'd an Express to Metellus commanding him to leave off the War and another likewise to the Cities wherein he charged them not to yield any Obedience to the Commands of Metellus And after these he sent Lucius Octavius one of his Lieutenants who entring the Town together with the
to these Barbarians and that they came down from those Mountains that run along by the River Thermodon for that after the Battel when the Romans were taking the Spoil and Plunder of the Field they met with several Targets and Buskins of the Amazons but there was not the Body of a Woman to be seen among all the dead They inhabit those Parts of Mount Caucasus that look towards the Hyrcanian Sea not bordering upon the Albanians for that the Territories of the Gelae and the Leges lye betwixt And with these People do they yearly two Months only accompany themselves and cohabit Bed and Board near the River Thermodon after that they retire to their own Habitations and live alone all the rest of the Year After this Engagement Pompey was resolutely bent with his Forces upon the Country of Hyrcania and the Caspian Sea but was forc'd to retreat after three days March by reason of the Venemous Serpents that were infinitely numerous in those Countries And so he fell into Armenia the Less Whilst he was there the Kings of the Elymaeans and Medes dispatch'd Ambassadors to him which he accepted of and made his Returns as amicacably by Letter But for the King of Parthia who had made Incursions upon Gordyne and despoil'd the Subjects of Tygranes he an Army against him under the Command of Afranius who put him to the Rout and follow'd him in Chace as far as Arbelitis Among all the Concubines of King Mithridates that were brought before Pompey he had not the Carnal knowledge of any one but sent them all away to their Parents and Relations for that most of them were either the Daughters or Wives of Princes and great Commanders excepting only Stratonice who of all the rest had the greatest Power and Influence upon him and to whom he had committed the Custody of his best and richest Fortress She it seems was the Daughter of a certain Musician an ancient Man and of no great Fortune but she happening to sing one night before Mithridates at a Banquet struck his Fancy so that immediately he took her to Bed with him whereby he sent away the old Man much dissatisfy'd in that he had taken his Daughter without one kind word to himself But when he arose in the Morning and saw the Tables within richly cover'd with Plate of Gold and Silver a great Retinue of Servants Eunuchs and Pages attending him with rich Garments and withal a Horse standing before the door richly caparison'd in all things as 't was usual with the King's Favourites he look'd upon it all as a piece of Pageantry and thinking himself mock'd and abus'd in it attempted to have slip'd out of doors and run away but the Servants laying hold upon him and informing him really that the King had bestow'd on him the House and Furniture of a rich Nobleman lately Deceased and that these were but the first Fruits or small Earnests of greater Riches and Possessions that were to come he was perswaded at last with much difficulty to believe them Thereupon putting on his Purple Robes and mounting his Horse he rode through the City crying out All this is mine And to those that laugh'd at him he said There was no such wonder in this but rather that he did not throw Stones at all he met he was so transported with Joy Such was the Parentage and Blood of Stratonice Now she deliver'd up this Castle into the hands of Pompey and offer'd him many Presents of great Value whereof he receiv'd only such as he thought might serve to adorn the Temples of the Gods and add to the Splendor of his Triumph the rest he left to Stratonice's Disposal bidding her to please her self in the enjoyment of them And in this manner did he deal with the Presents sent from the King of Iberia who presented him with a Bedstead Table and a Chair of State all beaten Gold desiring him to accept of them but he deliver'd them all into the Custody of the publick Treasurers for the use of the Common-wealth In another Castle call'd Caenon or New-Fort Pompey seiz'd upon several secret Writing of Mithridates which he perus'd with no small delight in that they discover'd in a great measure the King's Nature and Inclination For there were Memoirs whereby it appear'd That besides divers others he had made away his Son Ariarathes by Poyson as also Alcaeus the Sardian for that he had gotten the better of him in a Horse-Race There were likewise several Judgments upon the Interpretations of Dreams some of his own Visions and some of his Mistresses and besides these there was a pleasant Intercourse of wanton Love-Letters with his Concubine Monime Now Theophanes tells us That there was found likewise a sharp Oration of Rutilius wherein he attempted to exasperate him even to the slaughter of all the Romans in Asia Though most Men justly conjecture this to be a malicious Device of Theophanes who hated Rutilius for that he himself in comparison was but a Counterfeit to him or perhaps it might be to gratifie Pompey whose Father is describ'd by Rutilius in his History to be the vilest Man alive From thence Pompey came to the City of Amisus where his Ambition led him to such odious Acts as he himself had condemn'd in others before For whereas he had often and sharply reproach'd Lucullus in that while the Enemy was yet in being he had taken upon him to establish Laws and distribute Rewards and Honours as Conquerors use to do only when the War was brought to an end yet now was he himself while Mithridates was Paramount in the Realm of Bosphorus at the Head of a puissant Army as if all were ended just doing the same thing regulating the Provinces and distributing Rewards Many great Commanders and Princes having flock'd to him together with no less than 12 barbarous Kings Insomuch as to gratifie these other Kings when he wrote to the King of Parthia he would not condescend as others us'd to do in the Superscription of his Letter to give him his Title of King of Kings Moreover he had a great Desire and Emulation to take in Syria and to march through Arabia to the Red-Sea that he might extend his Conquest every way to the great Ocean that does encompass the whole Earth For in Africa he was the first Roman that advanced his Victories to the Ocean and again in Spain he enlarg'd the Roman Empire extending its bounds to the Atlantick Sea Then thirdly in his late pursuit of the Albanians he wanted but little of reaching the Hyrcanian Sea Wherefore he rais'd his Camp designing to bring the Red-Sea within the Circuit of his Expedition especially for that he saw how difficult it was to hunt after Mithridates with an Army and that he would prove a worse Enemy flying than fighting But yet he declar'd That he would leave a sharper Enemy behind him than himself to wit Famine and therefore he appointed a Guard of Ships to
their Enemies Pompey by this occasion having brought this War to an end with much more ease than was expected departed forthwith out of Arabia and passing cursorily through the intermediate Provinces he came at length to the City Amisus There he receiv'd many Presents brought from Pharnaces and several Bodies of the Royal Blood together with the Corps of Mithridates himself which was not easie to be known by the Face for the Chyrurgion that embalm'd him had not dry'd up his Brain but those who were very curious to see him knew him by the Scars there Pompey himself would not endure to see him but to expiate the Wrath of the Gods he sent it away to the City of Sinope He admir'd the Riches of his Robes no less than the greatness and splendor of his Armour The Scabbard of his Sword that cost 400 Talents was stolen by Publius and sold to Ariarathes His Cidaris also or Crown a piece of admirable Workmanship being begg'd of Caius the Foster Brother of Mithridates was given secretly to Faustus the Son of Sylla All which Pompey was ignorant of but afterwards when Pharnaces came to understand it he severely punish'd those that imbezell'd them Pompey now having order'd all things and established that Province he took his Journey homewards in greater Pomp and State than ever for when he came to Mitylene he gave the City their freedom upon the Intercession of Theophanes and was present at certain Anniversary Games or Exercises where the Poets in a vertuous Contention rehearse their Works having at that time no other Theam or Subject than the Actions of Pompey but he was exceedingly pleas'd with the Theater it self and drew a Model or Platform of it intending to erect one in Rome after the same form but larger and with more Magnificence When he came to Rhodes he heard the Disputes of the Sophisters or Logicians there and gave to every one of them a Talent And Posidonius has written the Disputation which he held before him against Hermagoras the Rhetorician wherein he was Opponent upon the Question touching Universale At Athens also he did the like and shew'd his Munificence among the Philosophers there as he did likewise in bestowing 50 Talents towards the repairing and beautifying the City So that now by all these Acts he well hoped to return into Italy in the greatest Splendor and Glory of any Mortal Man having likewise a passionate desire to be seen of his Family where he thought he was equally desired But that God whose Province and Charge it is always to mix some Ingredient of Evil even with the greatest and most glorious Goods of Fortune had privily provided a bitter Potion at home for him whereby to make his Return more sorrowful for Mutia during his absence had dishonour'd his Bed Whilst he was abroad at a distance he gave little heed to the Report but when he drew nearer to Italy where the Report grew warmer and that his Thoughts were at leisure to muse upon the Crime and Reproach then he sent he a Bill of Divorce but neither then in Writing nor afterwards in Discourse did her ever give a Reason why he discharged her but the Cause is mention'd in Cicero's Epistles Now there were various Rumours scattered abroad touching Pompey and were carried to Rome before him so that there was a great Tumult and Stir as if he design'd forthwith to march with his Army directly into the City and establish himself in a Monarchy Thereupon Crassus withdrew himself together with his Children and Fortunes out of the City either that he was really afraid or that he counterfeited rather as was most probable to give credit to the Calumny and exasperate the malice of the People Pompey therefore as soon as he enter'd into Italy called a general Muster of the Army and having made an Oration suitable to the Genius of the Time and his Soldiers and rewarded them liberally he commanded them to depart every Man to his Country and place of Habitation only with this Memento that they would not fail to meet again at his Triumph Thus the Army being disbanded and the News of it commonly reported there happened out an admirable Passage For when the Cities saw Pompey the Great unarm'd and with a small Train of Familiar Friends only as if he was returning from a Journey of Pleasure not from his Conquests they came pouring in upon him out of pure Affection and Reverence attending and conducting him to Rome with far greater Forces than he disbanded insomuch that if he had design'd any Stirs or Innovation in the State he might have done it without the Assistance of his Army Now because the Law permitted no Man to enter into the City before the Triumph therefore he sent to the Senate entreating them to prorogue the Election of Consuls and grant him the favour that with his presence he might countenance Piso one of the Candidates at that time but this was sharply oppos'd by Cato whereby he fail'd of his Design However Pompey could not but admire that liberty and boldness of Speech in Cato wherewith he alone above all others durst openly engage in the maintenance of Law and Justice he therefore had a great desire to win him over and purchase his Friendship at any rate and to that end Cato having two Neeces Daughters of his Sister Pompey propos'd one in Marriage for himself the other for his Son But Cato suspected the Motion as a colourable design of corrupting and bribing his Justice by Alliance and therefore would not hearken to it which was hainously resented by his Wife and Sister that he should reject an Affinity with Pompey the Great About that time Pompey having a design of setting up Afranius for the Consulship gave a Sum of Money among the Tribes for their Voices some whereof was receiv'd even in his own Gardens insomuch that when this Practice came to be bruited abroad Pompey was very ill spoken of for that he who had had the Honour of that Government as a just Reward of his greater Merits should now make Merchandize of that very Honour for one that had neither Vertue or Courage to deserve it Whereupon Cato took occasion to tell the Ladies Now said he had we contracted an Alliance with Pompey we had been allied to this Dishonour too which when they heard they could not but acknowledge and subscribe to him as one of a more piercing Judgment in Matters of Prudence and Morality than themselves The Splendor and Magnificence of Pompey's Triumph was such That though it held the space of two days yet they were extremely straitned in Time so that of what was prepared for that Pageantry there was as much subducted as would have set out and adorn'd another Triumph But in the first place there were Tables carried wherein were written the Names and Titles of all those Nations over whom he triumph'd such as were The Kingdoms of Pontus Armenia Cappadocia Paphlagonia Media
Colchis Iberia Albania Syria Cilicia and Mesopotamia together with the Countries about Phaenicia and Palaestine Judaea Arabia and all the Power of the Pirates subdued by Sea and Land And in these Countries there appeared the taking of no less than 1000 Castles nor much less than 900 Cities together with 800 Ships of the Pirates and the Peopling of 39 Towns that lay desolate and depopulated Besides there was set forth in these Tables an account of all the Tributes throughout the Roman Empire and how that before these Conquests the Revenue amounted but to 5000 Myriads whereas by his Acquisitions 't was advanced to 8500 and withal that for Advance at present he brought into the common Treasury of ready Money Gold and Silver Plate and Jewels to the value of 20000 Talents over and above that which had been distributed among the Soldiers whereof he that had least had 1500 Drachma's for his share The Prisoners of War that were led in Triumph besides the Arch-Pirates were the Son of Tigranes King of Armenia with his Wife and Daughter as also Zosime the Wife of King Tigranes himself and Aristobulus King of Judaea The Sister of King Mithridates and her five Sons and some Ladies of Scythia There were likewise the Hostages of the Albanians and Iberians and the King of Comagena besides a vast number of Trophies answering directly and deciphering out each particular Battel in which he was Conqueror either himself in Person or by his Lieutenants But that that seem'd to be his greatest Glory and that no other Roman ever attain'd to was this That he made his third Triumph over the third part of the World For many among the Romans had the Honour of Triumphing thrice but his first Triumph was over Africa his second over Europe and this last over Asia so that he seem'd in these three Triumphs to have led the whole World in Chains As for Pompey's Age those who affect to make the Paralel exact in all things betwixt Him and Alexander the Great would not allow him to be quite 34 whereas in truth at that time he was near 40 Oh that he had crowned his days and breath'd out his last even then when with Alexander's Age he had his Fortune too But all the remainder of his Life-time was extremely unfortunate wherein his Prosperity became odious and his Adversity incurable For that great Power and Authority which he had gain'd in the City by his greater Merits even that was made use of only in Patronizing the Iniquities of others so that by advancing their Fortunes he detracted from his own Glory till at last he was dashed in pieces by the force and greatness of his own Power And as the strongest Citadel or Fort in a Town when it is attack'd and taken by an Enemy does then afford the same Strength to the Foe as it had done to Friends before so Caesar being exalted in the State by the Power of Pompey overthrew and ruin'd him by the same Force and Arts by which he had trampled down others And thus it came to pass Lucullus when he return'd out of Asia where he had been despitefully treated by Pompey met with an honourable Reception from the Senate and much more when Pompey was present for then they encourag'd him to reassume his Authority in the administration of the Government whereas he was now grown old and unactive in Business having given himself over to his softer Pleasures and then enjoyment of a splendid Fortune Hereupon he began presently to bear up against Pompey and took him up sharply whereby he obtain'd those Acts and Decrees of his which were repealed by Pompey to be re-established insomuch that by the Assistance of Cato he had a greater Interest in the Senate than Pompey Now Pompey having fallen from his Hopes in such an unworthy Repulse was forced to fly to the Tribunes of the People for Refuge and make his Interest with the light young Men of the Town Among whom there was one Clodius the vilest and most impudent Wretch alive undertook him and expos'd him as a Tool to the Rabble for he had him always at his Elbow even beneath his Dignity carrying him up and down among the Throngs in the Market-place to countenance those Laws and Speeches which he made to cajole the People and ingratiate himself And at last for his Reward he demanded of Pompey as a thing no way dishonourable but beneficial That he should forsake Cicero his great Friend and one that had highly deserv'd of him as an Advocate in defending his Causes and Affairs in the Common-wealth Which he obtain'd afterwards for when Cicero happen'd to be in some Danger and implored his Aid he would not so much as admit him into his presence but shutting up his Gates against those that came to mediate for him slipt himself out at a Back-door whereupon Cicero fearing the extremity of Judgment departed privately from Rome About that time Caesar returning from his Province hapned upon a politick Device that brought him into great Favour at present and much increased his Power for the future but in the event prov'd extremely destructive both to Pompey and the Common-wealth For now he stood Candidate for his first Consulship and therefore well observing the Enmity betwixt Pompey and Crassus and finding how that in applying himself and joyning with one he should make the other his Enemy he endeavour'd by all means to reconcile them a Design in appearance very specious savouring of great Honesty and Civility but in truth a very subtil and treacherous Practice in him for he well knew that opposite Parties or Factions in a Common-wealth like Passengers in a Boat serve to trim and ballance the unsteady motions of Power there whereas if they combine and run all over to one side they make a dead unweildy Weight whereby it oversets and all falls to wreck and therefore Cato wisely told them who charg'd all the Calamities of Rome upon the Civil Wars betwixt Pompey and Caesar That they were in a great Error in charging all the Crime upon the last Cause For 't was not their Discord and Enmity but their Unanimity and Friendship that gave the first and greatest Wound to the Commonwealth Caesar being thus elected Consul began straightways to grow popular and make an Interest with the poor and meaner sort by preferring and establishing Laws for the planting of Colonies and for dividing of Lands whereby he debased the Grandeur of his Magistracy and turn'd his Consulship in a manner to a meer Democracy himself appearing rather a Tribune of the People than Consul Now when Bibulus his Colleague oppos'd him and that Cato was prepared to second Bibulus and assist him vigorously Caesar to be even with them brought Pompey into the open Court and there directing his Speech to him befor the Tribunal demanded his Opinion touching those Laws who gave his Approbation Why then said Caesar in case any Man
Others look'd upon it as a Politick Device of Spinther the Cousul whose Design it was to oblige Pompey with a greater Authority that he himself might be sent in Assistance to King Ptolomy However this is undoubtedly true That Canidius the Tribune preferr'd a Law to dispatch Pompey in the Nature of an Ambassador without an Army attended only with two Lictors or Vergers as a Mediator betwixt the King and his Subjects of Alexandria Neither did this Law seem ungrateful to Pompey though indeed the Senate cast it out upon a specious Pretence That they were unwilling to hazard the Person of so brave a Man However there were found several Pamphlets scattered about the Market Place and Senate-House intimating how grateful it would be to Ptolemy to have Pompey appointed for his General instead of Spinther But Timagenes relates it otherwise as if Ptolomy went away and left Egypt not out of necessity but purely upon the perswasion of Theophanes who designed an Advantage to Pompey laying a Foundation for him of Wealth and a new Command Yet for all this the crafty Practices of Theophanes could not make this Report so credible but that it was render'd much more incredible by that nobler Genius of Pompey which would never allow of such base and disingenious Arts even in favour of his Ambition Thus Pompey being appointed chief Provedore and having within his Administration and Management all the Corn Trade sent abroad his Factors and Agents into all Quarters and he himself sailing into Sicily Sardinia and Africa made up vast Stores of Corn. And now being just ready to set Sail upon his Voyage homeward bound there arose a mighty Storm of Wind upon the Sea which raised a Doubt even among the Commanders themselves whether it were safe to break Ground or no wherefore Pompey himself went first aboard and commanded the Mariners to weigh Anchor declaring with a loud Voice That there was a necessity for them to Sail but no necessity to Live So that he by his Spirit and Courage having met with that Fortune which favours the Bold made a prosperous Return whereby his Granaries were stor'd the Markets all filled with Corn and the Sea with Ships Insomuch that this great plenty and abundance of Provisions yielded a sufficient Supply not only to the City of Rome but even Foreigners too dispersing it self like a lively Fountain through many Rivulets into all Quarters of Italy All this time Caesar grew great and was highly extoll'd for his Wars and Conquests in Gaul and when in appearance he seem'd farthest distant from Rome as if he had been intangled in the Affairs of Belgia Suevia and Britany than in truth was he working craftily by secret Practices in the midst of the People and countermining Pompey in his chiefest Designs For having his Army always about him as his Body 't was not his Design to weaken or impair it in a formal War against the barbarous Enemy but by light Skirmishes only no otherwise than in Sports of Hunting or Hawking to exercise and harden it whereby he made it invincible and dreadful to the World Then for his Gold and Silver which was infinite together with those incredible Spoils and other Treasures which he had taken from the Enemy in his Conquests all those he sent to Rome in Presents and Bribes tempting and corrupting the Aediles Praetors and Consuls together with their Wives whereby he purchased to himself a multitude of Friends Insomuch that when he passed back again over the Alpes and took up his Winter-Quarters in the City of Luca there flocked to him an infinite number of the common People Men and Women even in Strife and likewise 200 Senators at least among whom were Pompey and Crassus so that there were to be seen at once before Caesar's Gates no less than sixscore Rods or Maces of Proconsuls and Praetors As for the rest of his Addressors he sent them all away full fraught with Hopes and Money but for Crassus and Pompey he enter'd into private Covenants and Articles of Agreement with them That they should stand Candidates for the Consulship next Year That Caesar on his part should send a good Company of Soldiers to give their Votes at the Election That as soon as they were Elected they should use their Interest to have the Government of some Provinces and Legions assigned to themselves and that Caesar should have his Charge now in being confirmed to him for five Years more But afterwards when these Designs came to be discovered and noised abroad the Matter was hainously resented by many Persons of the greatest Quality in Rome and therefore Marcellinus once in an open Assembly of the People demanded of them both Whether they designed to Sue for the Consulship or no And being urged by the People for their Answer Pompey spake first and told them Perhaps he would Sue for it perhaps he would not But Crassus was somewhat more politick and said That for his part he would be ready to do what should be judg'd most agreeable with the Interest of the Commonwealth However Marcellinus still inveighing against Pompey and seeming to reflect upon him more bitterly Pompey replied as sharply That this Marcellinus was a most ungodly Wretch without either Gratitude or Honour for that by him he was made an Orator of a Mute and of a poor Starvling one glutted even to a Vomit Now notwithstanding divers fell off from their Pretences and forsook their Canvas for the Consulship yet Cato perswaded and encouraged Lucius Domitius not to desist For that said he the Contest now is not for Government but for liberty against Tyrants and Usurpers Wherefore those of Pompey's Party fearing that inflexible Constancy in Cato whereby he ruled and governed the whole Senate lest by that likewise he should pervert and draw after him all the well-affected part of the Commonalty resolved to withstand Domitius at first and prevent his entrance into the Market-place To this end therefore they sent in a Band of armed Men who at the first Onset slew the Torch-bearer of Domitius as he was leading the way before him and immediately put all the rest to Flight last of all Cato himself retired having received a Wound upon his right Arm in defence of Domitius Thus by these means and practices they obtained the Government neither indeed did they behave themselves with more decency throughout all the rest of their Actions But in the first place when the People were choosing Cato Praetor and just ready with their Votes for the Poll Pompey broke up the Assembly charging his Reasons upon the Augury as if there had appeared something inauspicious in the Heavens and thereupon having corrupted the Tribes they publickly proclaimed Antias and Vatinius Praetors Then in pursuance of their Covenants with Caesar they published several Edicts by Trebonian the Tribune whereby they made an Enlargement of Caesar's Commission according to Agreement measuring out another five years Charge to his former Province To Crassus there
thought that this very thing was not one of the least Causes and Occasions of the Civil War for Pompey judging of the Peoples Affections by their Actions together with the greatness of their Joy was grown to that height of Pride and Conceit that having laid aside that prudent Conduct and Caution which had hitherto secured and crowned all his Actions with good Success he entertained a most extravagant Confidence of his own and Contempt of Caesar's Power insomuch that he thought neither Force nor Care necessary against him but that he could pull him down much easier than he had set him up Besides this there was Appius under whose Command those Legions which Pompey lent to Caesar were returned coming lately out of Gaul very much vilified Caesar's Actions there and gave out scandalous Reports in derogation of his Honour telling Pompey That he was unacquainted with his own Strength and Reputation if he made use of any other Forces against Caesar than his own for such was the Soldiers Hatred to Caesar and their Love to Pompey so great that they would all come over to him upon his first Appearance By these Flatteries was Pompey strangely pufft up and his Confidence had wrought him into such a careless Security that he could not choose but laugh at those who seem'd to fear a War And when some were saying That if Caesar should bend his Forces against the City they could not see what Power was able to resist him he reply'd with a scornful Smile bidding them take no care of that for said he Whene'er I stamp with my Foot in any part of Italy there will rise up Forces enough in an instant both Horse and Foot Now Caesar on the other side was more vigorous in his Proceedings himself always at hand hovering about the Frontiers of Italy and sending some of his Soldiers continually into the City to attend all Elections with their Votes Besides this he corrupted divers of the Magistrates and brought them over to his Party by Pensions whereof Paulus the Consul was one who was wrought over by a Bribe of 1500 Talents And Curio a Tribune of the People by a discharge of all his Debts which he had contracted without number together with Mark Anthony who out of Friendship to Curio became bound with him in the same Obligations for them all And 't is undoubtedly true That a Centurion of Caesar's waiting at the Senate-House and hearing that the Senate refused to give him a larger term in the continuance of his Government clapt his Hand upon his Sword and said But this shall give it and indeed all his Practices and Preparations were in order to this end Now Curio's Demands and Request in favour of Caesar were much more popular in appearance for he desir'd one of these two things either That Pompey should put away his Army or that Caesar's should not be taken away from him For if both of them were private Persons common Humanity would keep them within the bounds of their Duty or if they were of equal Authority they would be a ballance to each other and sit down contented with their Lot but he that weakens one does at the same time strengthen the other and so doubles that very Strength and Power which he stood in fear of before Marcellus the Consul reply'd nothing to all this but that Caesar was a Thief and should be proclaimed an Enemy to the State if he did not disband his Army However Curio with the Assistance of Anthony and Piso prevail'd that the Matter in Debate should be put to the Question and decided by Vote in the Senate So that it being order'd upon the Question for those to withdraw who were of opinion That Caesar only should lay down his Army and Pompey command the Majority withdrew But when 't was order'd again for those to withdraw whose Vote was That both should lay down their Arms and neither command there were but 22 for Pompey all the rest remained of Curio's side Whereupon he as one proud of his Conquest leapt out for Joy among the People who received him with as great tokens of Joy clapping their Hands and crowning him with Garlands and Flowers Pompey was not then present in the Senate because it is not lawful for the General of an Army to come into the City But Marcellus rising up said That he would not sit there hearing Speeches when he saw that ten Legions had already pass'd the Alpes in their March toward the City but that he would send a Man of equal Authority against them in defence of their Country Upon this the City went into Mourning as in a publick Calamity and Marcellus accompanied by the Senate went solemnly through the City towards Pompey and spoke thus to him Pompey I command thee to appear in defence of thy Country with those Forces thou hast at present in readiness and to raise more with all speed Lentulus the Consul elect for the Year following spoke much to the same purpose But Anthony contrary to an Order of Senate in a publick Assembly read a Letter of Caesar's containing many fair Overtures at leastwise very obliging to the common People wherein he desir'd That both Pompey and he quitting their Governments and dismissing their Armies should submit to the Judgment of the People and give an account of their Actions before them insomuch that when Pompey began to make his Levies and muster up his new-rais'd Soldiers he found himself disappointed in his Expectations Some few indeed came in but those very unwillingly others would not answer to their Names and the generality cry'd out for Peace Lentulus notwithstanding he was now enter'd upon his Consulship would not assemble the Senate but Cicero who was lately return'd from Cilicia labour'd for a Reconciliation proposing That Caesar should leave his Province of Gaul and Army reserving two Legions only together with the Government of Illyricum and to be had in nomination for a second Consulship Pompey disliking this motion Caesar's Friends were contented that he should quit one of his Legions too but Lentulus still opposing and Cato crying out That Pompey did ill to be deceived again the Reconciliation did not take effect In the mean time News was brought That Caesar had taken Ariminum a great City in Italy and was marching directly towards Rome with all his Forces but this latter was altogether false for he had no more with him at that time than 300 Horse and 5000 Foot and would not tarry for the Body of his Army which lay beyond the Alpes choosing rather by surprize to fall in of a sudden upon his Enemies while they were in Confusion and did not expect him than to give them time to make Preparations for War For when he came to the Bank of Rubicon a River that made the bounds of his own Province towards Italy there he made a Halt pausing a little and considering with himself the greatness of that Enterprize which he had undertaken
Shipping he was forc'd to divert his course and march into Spain designing to joyn those Forces of Pompey there to his own In the mean time Pompey had rais'd a mighty Army both by Sea and Land As for his Navy 't was altogether invincible for there were 500 Men of War besides an infinite company of Galliots Foists and Pinaces Then for his Land-Forces the Cavalry made up a Body of 7000 Horse the very flower of Rome and Italy Men of Honour Wealth and Courage but the Infantry was a mixture of raw and unexperienc'd Soldiers and therefore he exercised and train'd them up daily near the City Beraea where he had quarter'd and lodg'd his Army himself no ways slothful but performing all his Exercises as if he had been in the flower of his Youth This exemplary Conduct raised the Spirits of his Soldiers extremely for it was no small Encouragement for them to see Pompey the Great 60 Years of Age wanting two one while trailing a Pike and handling his Arms among the Foot in all his Postures then again mounted among the Horse drawing out his Sword with ease in full career and sheathing it up as easily And in darting the Javelin there he shew'd not only his skill and dexterity in hitting the Mark but his strength and activity in throwing it so far that few of the youngest went beyond him Several Kings and Princes of other Nations came thither to him but there was a glorious appearance of Roman Magistrates and so numerous that they made up a compleat Senate Labienus forsook his old Friend Caesar whom he had serv'd throughout all his Wars in Gaul and came over to Pompey And Brutus Son to that Brutus that was put to Death in Gaul a Man of great Spirit and one that to that day had never so much as saluted or spoke to Pompey looking upon him as the Murderer of his Father came then and submitted himself to him as the defender of their Liberty Cicero likewise though he wrote and advis'd otherwise yet was asham'd not to be accounted in the number of those that would hazard their Lives and Fortunes for the safeguard of their Country And last of all there came to him even into Macedonia Tidius Sextus a Man extremely Old and Lame of one Leg others indeed mock'd and laugh'd at the Spectacle but Pompey as soon as he saw him rose and ran to meet him esteeming it no small assurance of their Good-will when Men of such Age and Infirmities should rather choose to be with him in danger than in safety at home Afterwards in a Council of War there passed a Decree which was pronounced by Cato as President That no Roman Citizen should be put to Death but in Battel and that they should not Sack or Plunder any City that was subject to the Roman Empire By these means Pompey's Party grew into greater Reputation insomuch that they who were no ways at all concern'd in the War either because they dwelt afar off or were thought incapable by reason of their Infirmities were yet in their opinions of his side and did in all their Discourses even fight for his Cause calling it the good or just Cause esteeming those as Enemies to the Gods and Men that wished not Victory to Pompey Neither was Pompey's Clemency such but that Caesar likewise shew'd himself as merciful a Conqueror for when he had taken and overthrown all Pompey's Forces in Spain he gave them Quarter leaving the Commanders at their Liberty and taking the common Soldiers into his own Pay Then repassing the Alpes and making a running March through Italy he came to Brundusium about the Winter Solstice and crossing the Sea there landed at the Port of Oricum Now Caesar having Jubius an intimate Friend of Pompey's with him as his Prisoner dispatch'd him to Pompey in an Embassage entreating That they meeting together in a Conference as one should disband both their Armies within three days and renewing their former Friendship with solemn Oaths should return together into Italy Pompey look'd upon this again as some new Stratagem or Device and therefore marching down in all haste towards the Sea-Coast possessed himself of all Forts and Places of Strength fit to encamp in and secure his Land-Forces as likewise of all Ports and Harbours commodious to receive any that came by Sea so that what Wind soever blew it must needs in some way or other be favourable to him bringing in either Provision Men or Money But Caesar on the contrary was so distressed both by Sea and Land that he was forc'd to desire Battel daily provoking the Enemy and assailing them in their very Forts and in these light Skirmishes for the most part had the better only once he was dangerously overthrown and likely to have lost his whole Army For Pompey having valiantly re-inforced the Battel made a desperate Charge upon him even to a total Rout of all his Army and the Slaughter of 2000 upon the Place but either he was not able to force their Camp or he was afraid to fall in pell-mell together with them Insomuch as Caesar told some of his Friends How that day had given an absolute Conquest to the Enemy if they had had but a Man that knew how to Conquer Pompey's Soldiers were so mightily encourag'd by this Victory that they would needs have it put to the decision of a Battel but Pompey himself though he wrote to Foreign Kings Princes and States in Confederacy with him as a Conqueror yet was afraid to hazard the Success of a Battel choosing rather by delays and distress of Provisions to tire out those who had never yet been Conquer'd by force of Arms but had always when they fought in a body been accustom'd to Victory Besides the Infirmities of their Age which now made them quickly weary of those other Hardships of War such as were long Marches and frequent Decampings making of Trenches and building of Fortifications made them willing to fight and venture the Battel with all speed Pompey had all along hitherto by his Perswasions pretty well quieted his Soldiers but after this last Engagement when Caesar for want of Provisions was forc'd to raise his Camp and had passed through Athamania into Thessaly it was impossible to curb or allay the heat of their Spirits any longer For all crying out with a general Voice That Caesar is fled some were for pursuing and pressing upon him others for returning into Italy some there were that sent their Friends and Servants before hand to Rome to hire Houses near the Forum or Market-place whereby they might be in a readiness to sue for Offices and Places in the Government But several were so vain as to sail for Lesbos in a Compliment to Cornelia with this joyful News That the War was brought to an end for Pompey had privately convey'd her thither from the Tumults in Rome Hereupon a Council of War was call'd and the Matter being under debate Afranius was
of Opinion That Italy should first be regain'd for that it was the grand Prize and Crown of all the War and withal they who were Masters of that would quickly have at their Devotion all the Provinces of Sicilia Sardinia Corsica Spain and Gaul but what was of greatest weight and moment 't was his own native Country that lay near reaching out her Hand for his Help and certainly it could not be consistent with Pompey's Honour to leave her thus expos'd to all Indignities and in Bondage under Slaves and the Flatterers of a Tyrant But Pompey himself on the contrary thought it neither honourable to fly a second time before Caesar and be pursued when Fortune had given him the Advantage of a Pursuit nor indeed lawful before the Gods to forsake Scipio and divers other Men of consular Dignity dispers'd throughout Greece and Thessaly who must necessarily fall into Caesar's Hands together with all their Wealth and greater Forces Then as to his Care for the City of Rome that would most eminently appear by removing the Scene of War to a greater distance whereby she being every way insensible of those Calamities that attend a War might in Peace expect the Return of her Conqueror With this determination Pompey march'd forwards in pursuit of Caesar firmly resolv'd with himself not to give him Battel but rather to Besiege and distress him by keeping close at his heels straitning his Quarters and cutting off all necessary Reliefs Now there were other Reasons that made him continue this Resolution but especially a Combination among the Roman Knights that came to his Ear wherein they design'd as soon as Caesar was overthrown to humble him too and therefore some report it was for this Reason that Pompey never employ'd Cato in any Matter of consequence during the whole War yet now when he pursued Caesar he left him to guard his Baggage by Sea fearing if Caesar should be taken off lest by Cato's means he likewise not long after should be forc'd to lay down his Commission Whilst he was thus slowly attending the Motions of the Enemy his Friends began to charge upon him many Reproaches and Imputations as if he did not use this Stratagem to deceive Caesar but his Country and the Senate that he might always continue in Authority and never cease to keep those for his Guards and Servants who themselves were worthy to govern the World besides that scoffing way of Domitius Aenobarbus continually calling him Agamemnon and King of Kings render'd him very odious And Favonius his unseasonable Raillery did him no less injury than those that took upon them a greater liberty of Speech when in Drollery he cry'd out My Masters you must not expect to gather any Figs in Tusculan this year But Lucius Afranius who had lain under an imputation of Treachery in Betraying the Army in Spain when he perceiv'd that Pompey did industriously decline an Engagement declar'd openly That he could not but admire why those who were so ready to accuse him did not go themselves and fight that Merchant of their Provinces With these and many such like Speeches they wrought upon Pompey a Man of that Honour and Modesty that he could not bear a Reproach neither would he disoblige his Friends and forc'd him to break his Measures so that he forsook his own prudent Resolution only to follow their vain Hopes and Desires Now if such an unsteady Conduct is blameable in the Pilot of a Ship how much more in an Emperor or the Soveraign Commander of such an Army and so many Nations but he though he has often commended those Physicians who did not comply with the humorous Appetites of their Patients yet himself could not but yield to the Diseased part of his Army rather than he would use any severity in the Cure and indeed who would not judge it Insanity and want of a Cure in those Men who went up and down the Camp suing already for the Consulship and Office of a Praetor Nay Spinther Domitius and Scipio made Friends rais'd Factions and even quarrell'd among themselves who should succeed Caesar in the Dignity of his High-Priesthood esteeming all as lightly as if they were to engage only with Tigranes King of Armenia or some petty Naâ—athaean King not with that Caesar and his Army that had Storm'd a 1000 Towns and subdued more than 300 several Nations that had fought innumerable Battels with the Germans and Gauls and always carried the Victory that had taken a Million of Men Prisoners and Slain as many upon the Spot in pitcht Battels But as soon as they came to the Fields of Pharsalia they grew very tumultuous so that they forced him by their Pressures and Importunities to call a Counsel of War where Labienus General of the Horse stood up and first took the Sacrament swearing That he would not return out of the Battel until he had seen the Backs if his Enemies and all the rest took the same Oath That Night Pompey Dream'd That as he went into the Theater the People receiv'd him with great Applause and that he himself adorn'd the Temple of Venus the Conqueress with many Spoils This Vision partly encourag'd and partly disheartned him â—â—â—â—ing lest that Splendor and Ornament to Venus should be made with Spoils taken from himself by Caesar who deriv'd his Family from that Goddess besides there was a certain Panick Fear run through the Camp with such a Noise that it awak'd him out of his Sleep And about the time of renewing the Watch towards Morning there appear'd a great Light over Caesar's Camp whilst they were all at rest and from thence a Ball of flaming Fire was carried into Pompey's Camp which Caesar himself said he saw as he was walking his Rounds Now Caesar having designed to raise his Camp before break of day whilst the Soldiers were busie in pulling down their Tents and sending away their Cattle and Servants before them with all their Bag and Baggage there came in Scouts who brought word that they saw several Arms carried to and fro in the Enemies Camp and heard a noise and running up and down as of Men preparing for Battel Not long after there came in other Scouts with farther Intelligence That the first Ranks were already set in Battel Array Thereupon Caesar when he had told them That the wish'd for day was come at last wherein they should Fight with Men not with Hunger and Famine he presently gave Orders for the Red Colours to be set up before his Tent for that was usually the Signal of Battel among the Romans As soon as the Soldiers saw that they left their Tents and with great Shouts of Joy ran to their Arms The Officers likewise on their parts drawing up their Squadrons in order of Battel every Man fell inâ—o his proper Rank without any trouble or noise as quietly and orderly as if they had been in a Dance Pompey himself led up the right Wing of his Army against Anthony
his own The young Lady hearing this fell down all along in a Swoon and continu'd so a long time sensless and speechless she was scarce well recover'd of her Senses again but being conscious to her self that this was no time for Lamentation and Tears she started up and ran through the City towards the Sea-side where Pompey meeting and embracing her in his Arms as she was just fainting away and falling into a Swoon she vented her passion in this manner This is the effect of my Fortune dear Sir not of yours that I see you thus dejected and reduced to one poor Vessel who before your Marriage with the unfortunate Cornelia was wont to ride Admiral of these Seas with a Fleet of 500 Sail why therefore should you come to see me or why not rather have left her to a severer Fate who has been the Cause and Author of all your Misfortunes How happy a Woman had I been if I had breath'd out my last before that fatal News from Parthia of the Death of Publius to whom I was wedded in my Virginity and how prudent if I had follow'd his Destiny as I design'd But I was reserv'd for a greater Mischief even the ruine of Pompey the Great Thus they say Cornelia spoke to him and this was Pompey's Reply Dear Cornelia Thou hast hitherto known only one kind Fortune which perhaps has deceiv'd thee in this that she has been constant to me beyond her usual Custom but it behoves us who are Mortals born to bear with these Afflictions and try our Fortune once again neither ought we to despond and rest hopeless for that 't is as possible to retrieve our former Happiness from this unlucky state as it was to fall from that into this present Calamity Thereupon she sent for her Goods and Servants out of the City the Citizens also of Mitylene came out to salute and invite Pompey into the City but he refused advising them to be obedient to the Conqueror and fear not for that Caesar was a Man of great Goodness and Clemency Then turning to Cratippus the Philosopher who came among the rest out of the City to visit him he began to repine and argue somewhat with him touching the Dispensations of Providence but Cratippus very modestly declin'd the Dispute putting him in better Hopes only lest by opposing he might seem too sharp or unseasonable For when Pompey had put him a certain Question touching Providence and demonstrated how necessary it was that the Commonwealth should be turn'd into a Monarchy because of their ill Government in the State he return'd the Question But how oh Pompey and by what token or assurance may we be induc'd to believe that if the Victory had been thine thou wouldst have us'd thy Fortune better than Caesar But Providence is a point of Divinity belonging to the Gods and ought to be let alone to act after its own method Thus Pompey having taken his Wife and Friends aboard set Sail making no Port nor touching any where but when he was necessitated to take in Provisions or fresh Water The first Place he arriv'd at was Attalia a City in Pamphylia and whilst he was there there came some Gallies thither to him out of Cilicia together with a few Bands of Soldiers and there he had almost 60 Senators with him again Then hearing that his Navy was safe too and that Cato had rallied a considerable Body of Soldiers after their Overthrow and pass'd with them over into Africa he began to complain and blame himself and his Friends too in that they had forc'd him to engage by Land without making use of his other Forces in which he was undoubtedly the stronger and had not kept near enough to his Fleet that failing by Land he might have reinforced his Troops from the Sea and presently drawn out a Power equal and able enough to encounter the Enemy so that in truth neither did Pompey during all the War commit a greater Oversight nor Caesar use a more subtil Stratagem than by drawing the Fight so far off from their Naval Forces Now Pompey being at present constrain'd to attempt and act somewhat according to his small Ability he dispatch'd his Agents as Ambassadors to some of the neighbouring Cities and himself sail'd about in Person to others requiring their Aid in Money and Soldiers to Victual and Man out his Ships however fearing lest the sudden Approach of the Enemy might prevent his Preparations he began to consider what Place would yield him the safest Refuge and Retreat at present Thereupon a Consult being held it was generally agreed upon That no Province of the Romans was secure enough and touching Foreign Kingdoms he himself was of opinion That Parthia must needs be the fittest both to receive and defend them in their present Distress as well as to aid and furnish them with the greatest Forces Others of the Council were for going into Africa and to King Juba but Theophanes the Lesbian thought it madness to leave Aegypt that was but a Voyage of three days Sailing and forsake Ptolomy who was just come of Age and highly oblig'd to him for that Friendship and Favour which he had lately shewn to his Father only to put himself under the Parthian and trust the most Treacherous Nation in the World Or what is worse to subject himself to the Tyranny of Arsaces the King of Parthia and make him his Lord a Power which he was not able to compass in the Life-time of Crassus rather than try the Clemency of a Generous Roman and one that had been his Father-in-Law to whom if he would but yield to be Second he might assure himself to be the first and chief over all the rest Besides he thought it would be great Cruelty to expose a young Lady descended from the Noble Family of the Scipio's among such a barbarous People who govern by their Lusts and measure their Greatness by their Power to commit Affronts and Insolencies from whom though she suffer no Dishonour yet it would be thought she did being in the Hands of those who had the power to do it This Argument alone they say was so perswasive as to divert his Course that was design'd towards Euphrates if it were so indeed that any Counsel of Pompey's and not his own Fate made him take this other way As soon therefore as 't was resolv'd upon that he should fly into Aegypt he setting Sail from Cyprus in a Galley of Seleucia together with Cornelia and the rest of his Company some in Long-Boats and others in Ships of Burthen sailing by pass'd over the Sea without danger But when he understood that King Ptolomy was sate down with his Army in the City of Pelusium making War against his Sister he steer'd his Course that way and sent a Messenger before to acquaint the King with his Arrival and humbly crave his Protection Ptolomy himself was a very young Man and therefore Pothinus the principal Minister of State having
old Man that before he was aware he was gotten a great way from his Army with a slender attendance and forc'd to pass an extream cold Night in the dark and in a very ill place Till seeing a great many scattered Fires of the Enemy at some distance and trusting to his Agility of Body and constant Indefatigableness with which he was wont to relieve and support the Macedonians in their Distress he ran strait to one of the nearest Fires and with his Dagger dispatching two of the Barbarians that sate by it snatch'd up a lighted Brand and return'd with it to his own Men who immediately made a great Fire which so terrified the Enemy that most of them fled and those that assaulted them were soon routed by which means they lodg'd securely the rest of the Night Thus Chares gives an account of this Action But to return to the Siege it had this Issue Alexander that he might refresh his Army harass'd with many former Encounters drew out a small Party rather to keep the Enemy upon Duty than with any prospect of much Advantage It happen'd at this time that Aristander after he had sacrific'd upon view of the Intrails affirm'd confidently to those who stood by that the City should be certainly taken that very Month which made them laugh at and mock him exceedingly because that was the last day of it But the King taking notice of his Perplexity and emulous Zeal ever ambitious to have his Predictions take place commanded they should not account that the 30th but the 3d day of the expiring Month and ordering the Trumpets to sound attack'd the Walls with more Fury than he at first intended The briskness of the Assault so inflam'd the rest of his Forces who were left in the Camp that they could not hold from advancing to second it which they perform'd with so much Vigour that the Tyrians retir'd and the Town was carried that very day The next Place he sate down before was Gaza the Metropolis of Syria where this Accident befel him A great Fowl flying over him let a Clod of Earth fall upon his Soulder and then settling upon one of the battering Engines was suddenly intangled and caught in the Nets composed of Sinews which protected the Ropes with which the Machine was manag'd This fell out exactly according to Aristander's Prediction which was that Alexander should be wounded and the City reduc'd From hence he sent great part of the Spoils to Olympias Cleopatra and the rest of his Friends not omitting his Praeceptor Leonidas on whom he bestowed five hundred Talents worth of Frankincense and an hundred of Myrrh prompted to it by the remembrance of his forward hopes of him when he was but a Child For Leonidas it seems standing by him one day while he was sacrificing and seeing him take both his hands full of Gums to throw into the Fire told him it became him to be more sparing in his Offerings then and not be so profuse till he was Master of the Countries where those sweet Gums and Spices were produc'd Upon this account Alexander wrote him word he had sent him a large quantity of Myrrh and Frankincense that for the future he might not be so niggardly to the Gods Among the Treasures and other Booty that was taken from Darius there was a very curious little Box which being presented to Alexander for a great Rarity he ask'd those about him what they thought fittest to be laid up in it and when they had delivered their opinions he told them he esteem'd nothing so worthy to be preserv'd in it as Homer's Iliads This passage is attested by many credible Authors and if what those of Alexandria relying upon the credit of Heraclides tell us be true Homer was neither an idle nor an unprofitable Companion to him in his expedition For when he was Master of Aegypt designing to settle a Colony of Grecians there he resolv'd to build a large and populous City and give it his own Name In order to which after he had measur'd and stak'd out the Ground with with the advice of the best Workmen he chanc'd one Night in his sleep to see a wonderful Vision A gray-headed Old Man of a venerable Aspect appear'd to stand by him and pronounce these Verses Girt with the surging Main there lies an Isle Not far from Egypt which they Pharos stile Alexander upon this immediately rose up and went to Pharos which at that time was an Island lying a little above the Canobique Mouth of the River Nilus tho' it be now joyn'd to the Continent by a straight Causey As soon as he saw the commodious scituation of the place it being a long neck of Land of a proportionable breadth having a great Lake on one side and the Sea on the other at the end of it making a spacious Hrrbour he said Homer besides his other Excellencies was a very good Architect and ordered the Plot of a City to be drawn answerable to the place To do which for want of Chalk the Soil being black they set out their Lines with Flower taking in a pretty large compass of ground in a circular Figure the inside of whose circumference was equally terminated by Right Lines like the edges of a Cloak While he was pleasing himself with his design on a sudden an infinite number of great Birds of several kinds rising like a black Cloud out of the River and the Lake devoured all the Flower that was used in setting out the Lines at which Omen Alexander was much troubled till the Augur's incouraging him again by telling him It was a sign the City he was about to build would not only abound in all things within it self but also be the Nurse of many Nations he commanded the Workmen to proceed while he went to visit the Temple of Jupiter Hammon This was a long painful and dangerous Journey in two respects First if their Provision of Water should fail in so wide a Desart And Secondly If a violent South-Wind should rise upon them while they were Travelling through the deep gaping Sands as it did heretofore upon Cambyses his Army blowing the Sands together in heaps and then rowling it in Waves upon his Men till 50000 were swallowed up and destroyed by it All these difficulties were weighed and represented to him but Alexander was not easily to be diverted from any thing he was bent upon For Fortune having hitherto seconded him in his designs made him resolute and firm in his Opinions and the greatness of his Mind raised a confidence in him of surmounting almost invincible difficulties as if it were not enough to be always victorious in the Field unless Places and Seasons and Nature her self submitted to him In this Voyage the Relief and Assistance the Gods afforded him in his Distresses were more wonderful and worthy of belief than the Oracles he received afterwards which were valued and credited the more upon this occasion For first
the plentiful Rains that fell preserv'd them from perishing by drought and allaying the extreme driness of the Sand which now became moist and firm to Travel on clear'd and purified the Air. Besides this when they were out of their way and were wandring up and down by reason the marks which were wont to direct the Guides were disordered and lost they were set right again by some Ravens who flew before them in their March and would wait for those who lagg'd or were left behind But the greatest Miracle as Calisthenes tells us was That if any of the Company went astray in the Night they never left croking and making a noise till by that means they had brought them into the right way again Having passed through the Wilderness they came to the City where the High-Priest at the first salute bade Alexander welcom from his Father Ammon And being ask'd by him whether any of his Father's Murderers had escaped punishment he charg'd him to speak with more respect for his Father was not Mortal Then Alexander more plainly desired to know of him if any of those who murder'd Philip were yet unpunish'd and further concerning Dominion whether the Empire of the World was reserv'd for him This the God answered he should obtain and that Philip's Death was fully reveng'd which gave him so much satisfaction that he made splendid Offerings to Jupiter and gave the Priests very rich Presents This is the substance of what Answers he receiv'd from the Oracle Although Alexander in a Letter to his Mother tells her there were some secret Predictions which at his return he would communicate to her only Others say That the Priest desirous to express himself more kindly and to call him in the Greek Tongue Paidion which signifies my Son to avoid the barbarism as he thought of the N used the S instead of it and said Paidios or Son of Jupiter which mistake of his Speech Alexander was well enough pleas'd with and it went for currant that the Oracle had call'd him so Among the Sayings of one Psammon a Philosopher whom he heard in Aegypt he most approved of this That all Men are govern'd by God because in every thing that which is Chief and Commands is Divine But what he pronounc'd himself upon this Subject was more like a Philosopher for he said God was the common Father of us all but more particularly of Good Men. To the Barbarians he carried himself very insolently as if he were fully perswaded of his Divine Original but to the Grecians more moderately and with less affectation of Divinity Except it were writing to the Athenians concerning Samos where he tells them they held not that free and glorious City by vertue of his Gift but from the Bounty of him who at that time was call'd his Lord and Father meaning Philip. However afterwards being wounded with an Arrow and feeling much pain he turn'd to those about him and told them it was common Humane Blood that fell from him and not the Ichor Such as th' Immortal Gods were wont to shed And another time when it Thundred so much that every body was afraid and Anaxarchus the Sophist ask'd him if he who was Jupiter's own Son were so too Yes that I am answer'd Alexander laughing for I would not be formidable to my Friends as you would have me be who despis'd my Table for being furnish'd with Fish and not with the Heads of Governors of Provinces For it is certain That Anaxarchus seeing a Present of small Fishes which the King sent to Hephaestion did express himself to this purpose to shew his contempt and derision of those who take mighty pains and run desperate hazards in pursuit of great matters and yet after all if we examine things closely have little more of Pleasure or Enjoyment than other People For what I have said upon this Subject it is apparent that Alexander in himself was not foolishly affected or had the Vanity to think himself really a God but his Followers were captivated with an overweaning opinion of his Divinity At his return out of Aegypt into Phoenicia he Sacrific'd and made solemn Processions to which were added circular Dances and Acting of Tragedies whose splendor appear'd not only in the Furniture and Ornaments but in the noble Zeal and Contention of those who acted them For no less Persons than two Kings of Cyprus were at the charge of them in the same manner as it is perform'd at Athens by those who are chosen by Lot out of the Tribes And indeed they strove with wonderful emulation to out-vie each other Chiefly Nicocreon King of Salamis and Pasicrates of Soli who were appointed to furnish and defray the expence of Athenodorus and Thessalus two of the most celebrated Actors of that Age. Thessalus was most favour'd by Alexander though it appear'd not till Athenodorus was declar'd Victor by the plurality of Suffrages For then at his going away he said the Judges deserv'd to be commended for what they had done but that he would willingly have lost part of his Kingdom rather than to have seen Thessalus overcome However when he understood Athenodorus was Fin'd by the Athenians for being absent at the Festivals celebrated in Honour of Bacchus tho' he refus'd his request of Writing in his behalf yet he was so generous as to give him wherewithal to satisfie the Penalty Another time Lycon of Scarphia happened to Act with great Applause in the Theatre and in a Verse inserted in his part cunningly begg'd Ten Talents of Alexander who was so pleas'd with his Ingenuity that he freely gave him the Money About this time Darius wrote to him and his Friends to intercede with him to accept 10000 Talents as a Ransom for what Prisoners he had in his hands And to purchase his Amity and Alliance offer'd him all the Countries on this side the River Euphrates together with one of his Daughters in Marriage These Propositions he communicated to his Friends and when Parmenio told him that for his part if he were Alexander he should readily embrace them So would I too you may be sure said the King if I were Parmenio Accordingly his Answer to Darius was That if he would yield himself up into his Power he would treat him with all imaginable Kindness if not he was resolv'd immediately to advance towards him But the Death of Darius his Wife in Child-birth made him soon after repent of this Resolution not without evident marks of Grief for being so depriv'd of a further opportunity of exercising his Clemency and good Nature which he shew'd to the last by the great Expence he was at in her Funeral Among the Eunuchs who waited in the Queen's Chamber and were taken Prisoners with the Women there was one Tyreus who getting out of the Camp fled away on Horseback to Darius to inform him of his Wives Death which as soon as he heard he could not forbear beating his
I have not learn'd to Swim and then was hardly disswaded from endeavouring to pass it upon his Shield Here after the Aslault was over the Ambassadors who from several Towns which he had block'd up came to submit to him and make their Peace were surpriz'd to find him rough and arm'd at all Points without any Pomp or ceremony about him and when his Attendants brought him a Cushion he made the eldest of them nam'd Acuphis take it and sit down upon it The old Man charm d with his Magnanimity and Courtesie ask'd him What his Countreymen should do to merit his Friendship I would have them said Alexander choose you to govern them and send 100 of the most considerable and most worthy men among them to remain with me as Hostages I shall govern them with more ease Sir replied Acuphis smiling if I send you so many of the worst rather than the best of my Subjects The Extent of King Taxiles his Dominions in India was thought to be as large as Aegypt abounding in good Pastures and above all in excellent Fruits The King himself had the reputation of a wise Man and at his first Interview with Alexander he spoke to him in these terms To what purpose said he should we make War upon one another if the design of your coming into these Parts be not to râ—b us of our Water or our necessary Food which are the only things that wise men are indispensably oblig'd to fight for As for other Riches and Possessions as they are accounted in the eye of the World if I am better provided of them than you I am ready to let you share with inâ— but if Fortune has been more liberal to you than me I will not decline your Favours but accept them with all the grateful Acknowledgements that are due to a Benefactor This Discourse pleas'd Alexander so much that embracing him Do you think said he to him your fair Speeches and affable Behaviour will bring you off in this Interview without fighting No you shall not escape so for as to matter of Benefits I will contend with you so far that how obliging soever you are you shall not have the better of me Then receiving some Presents from him he return'd him others of greater value and to compleat his Bounty gave him in Money ready coin'd 1000 Talents at which his old Friends were exceedingly displeas'd but it gain'd him the hearts of many of the Barbarians The valiantest of the Indians now taking Pay of several Cities undertook to defend them and did it so bravely that they put Alexander to a great deal of Trouble and Fatigue till having made an agreement with him upon the surrender of a Place he fell upon them as they were marching away and put them all to the Sword This one breach of his word was a perpetual Blemish to him tho on all other occasions he had manag'd his Wars with that Justice and Honour that became a King Nor was he less incommoded by the Indian Philosophers who inveigh'd bitterly against those Princes who were of his Party and solicited the free Cities â—â— oppose him therefore he took several of them and caus'd them to be hang'd 〈…〉 〈…〉 in his own Letters has given us â—â— account of his War with Porus He says The 〈…〉 Aâ—mies were seperated by the River Hydaspes on whose opposite Bank Porus continually kept his Elephants in order of Batâ—â—l with their Heads towards their Enemies to guard the Passage That he was forc'd every day to make great noises in his Camp and give his Men constant Alarms to accâ—stoâ— them by degrees not to be afraid of the Barbarians That one cold dark Night he pass'd the River above the Place where the Enemy lay into a little Island with part of his Foot and the best of his Horse Here there fell so violent a Shower of Rain accompanied with Lightning and fier'y Whirlwinds that seeing some of his Men burnt and destroy'd by the Lightning he quiâ—ted the Island and made over to the other side The Hydaspes now after the Storm was so swolo and grown so rapid as to make a Breach in the Bank at which part of the River ran out so that when he came to land he found very ill standing for his Men the place being extream slippery and undermin'd and ready to be blown up by the Currents on both sides In this Distâ—ess Onâ—â—â—critâ—â— tells us He was heard to say Oh ye Athenians to what incredible Dangers do I my self to merit your Praises But to proceed Alexander says here they left their little Boats and pass'd the Bteach in their Armour up to the Breast in Water and then he advanc'd with his Horse about 20 Furlongs before his Foot concluding that if the Enemy charg'd him with their Cavalry he should be too strong for them ' if with their Foot his own would come up time enough to his Assistance Nor did he judge amiss for being charg'd by 1000 Horse and 60 arm'd Chariots which advanc'd before their main Body he took all the Chariots and kill'd 400 Horse upon the Place Porus by this smart Execution guessing that Alexander himself was gotten over came on with his whoie Army except a Party which he left behind to hold the rest of the Macedonians in Play if they should attempt to pass the River But Alexander apprehending the multitude of the Enemie and to avoid the shock of their Elephants would not joyn Battel with them in Front but dividing his Forces attack'd their left Wing himself and commanded Coenus to fall uppon the right which was perform'd with good Success For by this means both Wings being broken they retir'd when they found themselves press'd close to their Elephants and then rallying renew'd the Fight so obstinately that it was three hours after Noon before they were entirely defeated This description of the Battel the Conqueror has left us in his own Epistles Almost all Writers agree That Porus was four Cubits and an half high and that when he was upon his Elephant which was of the largest size his Stature and Bulk were so answerable that he appear'd to be but proportionably mounted This Elephant during the whole Battel gave many proofs of wonderful Understanding and a particular Care of the King whom as long as he was strong and in condition to Fight he defended with great Courage repelling those who set upon him and as soon as he perceiv'd him ready to faint by reason of his many Wounds and multitude of Darts that were thrown at him to prevent his falling off he softly kneel'd down then with his Probosois gently drew every Dart out of his Body When Porus was taken Prisoner and Alexander ask'd him How he expected to be us'd he answer'd As a King ought to be for that expression he said when the same Question was put to him a second time comprehended every thing And Alexander indeed dealt very
generously with him for he not only suffer'd him to govern his own Kingdom as his Lieutenant but added to it a large Province of some free People whom he had newly subdued which consisted of 15 several Nations and contain'd 5000 considerable Towns besides abundance of Villages Another Government three times as large as this he bestow'd on Philip one of his Friends Some time after the Battel with Porus most Authors agree that Bucephalus died under cure of his Wounds or as Onesicritus says of Fatigue and Age being 30 years old Alexander was no less concern'd at his Death than if he had lost an old Companion or an intimate Friend and built a City which he nam'd Bucephalia in memory of him on the Bank of the River Hydaspes and another in remembrance of his beloved favorite Dog Peritas as Sotion assures us he was inform'd by Potamon of Lesbos But this last Combat with Porus took off the edge of the Macedonians Courage and hindred their farther progress in India For having with much ado defeated him who brought but 20000 Foot and 2000 Horse into the Field they thought they had Reason to oppose Alexander's Design of obliging them to pass the Ganges too which they were told was Four Miles over and an hundred fathom deep and the Banks on the farther side cover'd with multitudes of Enemies For they had intelligence that the Kings of the Gandaritans and Persians expected them there with 80000 Horse 200000 Foot 8000 arm'd Chariots and 6000 fighting Elephants Nor was this a false vain Report spread on purpose to discourage them for Androcottus who not long after reign'd in those Parts made a Present of 500 Elephants at once to Seleucus and with an Army of 600000 Men subdued all India Alexander at first was so griev'd and enrag'd at his Mens Reluctancy that he shut himself up in his Tent and in a desponding manner threw himself upon the Ground declaring if they would not pass the Ganges he ow'd them no thanks for any thing they had hitherto done and that to retreat now was plainly to confess himself vanquish'd But at last the prudent Remonstrances and Perswasions of his Friends who inform'd him truly how the Case stood and the Tears and Lamentations of his Soldiers who in a suppliant manner crowded about the entrance of his Tent prevail'd with him to think of returning Yet before he decamp'd he would needs impose upon Posterity by leaving behind some fictitious Monuments of his Glory such as Arms of an extraordinary bigness and Mangers for Horses with Bits of Bridles above the usual size which he set up and distributed in several Places He erected Altars also to the Gods which the Kings of the Persians even in our Time highly reverence and often pass the River to sacrifice upon them after the Graecian manner Androcottus then a Youth saw Alexander there and has often afterwards been heard to say That he miss'd but little of making himself Master of those Countries their King who then reign'd was so hated and despis'd for the viciousness of his Life and the meanness of his Extraction Alexander decamping from hence had a mind to see the Ocean to which purpose he caus'd a great many Vessels with Oars and small Boats to be built in which he fell gently down the Rivers making Merry as he went and order'd it so that his Navigation was neither unprofitable nor unactive for by making several Descents he took in the Fortifi'd Towns and consequently the Country on both sides But at the Siege of a City of the Mallians who are the valiantest People of India he ran great danger of his Life for having beaten off the Defendants with showers of Arrows he was the first Man that mounted the Wall by a scaling Ladder which as soon as he was up broke and left him almost alone exposed to the Darts which the Barbarians threw at him in great numbers from below In this Distress turning himself as well as he could he leaped down in the midst of his Enemies and had the good Fortune to light upon his Feet The brightness and clattering of his Armour when he came to the Ground made the Barbarians think they saw Rays of Light or some Phantom playing before his Body which frighted them so at first that they ran away and dispers'd themselves till seeing him seconded but by two of his Guards they fell upon him Hand to Hand and though he defended himself very bravely wounded him through his Armour with their Swords and Spears One who stood farther off drew a Bow with such just Strength that the Arrow finding its way through his Cuirass stuck in his Ribs under the Breast This stroke was so violent that it made him give back and set one Knee to the Ground which as soon as he that Shot him perceiv'd he came up to him with his drawn Scimitar thinking to dispatch him and had done it if Peucestes and Limnaeus had not interpos'd who were both wounded Limnaeus mortally but Peucestes stood his Ground while Alexander kill'd the Barbarian But this did not free him from danger for besides many other Wounds at last he receiv'd so weighty a stroke of a Club upon his Neck that he was forc'd to lean his Body against the Wall yet still look'd undauntedly upon the Enemy When he was reduc'd to this Extremity the Macedonians breaking in to his Assistance very opportunely took him up just as he was fainting away having lost all sense of what was done near him and convey'd him to his Tent upon which it was presently reported all over the Camp that he was dead But when they had with great difficulty and pains saw'd out the Shaft of the Arrow which was of Wood and so with much ado got off his Cuirass they came to cut the Head of it which was three fingers broad and four long and stuck fast in the Bone During the Operation he was taken with almost mortal Swoonings but when it was out he came to himself again Yet though all Danger was past he continued very weak and confin'd himself a great while to a regular Diet and the method of his Cure till one day hearing the Macedonians were so desirous to see him that they were ready to mutiny he put on his Robe and when he had shew'd himself to them and sacrific'd to the Gods without more delay he went on Board again and as he coasted along subdued a great deal of the Country on both sides and took in several considerable Cities In this Voyage he took 10 of the Indian Philosophers Prisoners who had been most active in perswading Sabbas to Rebel and besides that had done the Macedonians abundance of Mischief These Men because they go stark naked are call'd Gymnosophists and are reputed to be extremely sharp and succinct in their Answers to whatsoever is propounded to them which he made tryal of by putting difficult Questions to them withal
were searching those parts in order to apprehend such as had absconded Coesar by a Bribe of two Talents prevailed with Cornelius their Captain to let him go and was no sooner dismist but he put to Sea and made for Bithynia After a short stay there with Nicomedes the King in his passage back he was taken near the Island Pharmacusa by some Pirates who at that time with some great Ships and a vast number of smaller Vessels infested those Seas When at first they demanded of him 20 Talents for his Ransom he smiled at them as not understanding the value of their Prisoner and voluntarily engaged to give 'em 50. He presently dispatched those about him to several places to raise the Money till at last he was left among those bloody Villains the Cilicians only with one Friend and two Attendants Yet he made so little of them that when he had a mind to sleep he would send to them and command silence For 38 days with all the freedom in the World he used Exercise and Gamed amongst them as if they had not been his Keepers but his Guards He wrote Verses and Speeches and made them his Auditors and those who did not admire them he called to their faces illiterate and barbarous and would often in raillery threaten to hang ' em They were mightily taken with this and attributed his free way of talking to a kind of Simplicity and Juvenile Humor As soon as his Ransom was come from Miletus he paid it and was discharged soon after which he Mann'd some Ships at the Milesian Port and went in pursuit of the Pirates whom he surprized as they were yet at an Anchor and took most of them Their Money he made Prize and the Men he secured in Prison at Pergamus and presently applied himself to Junius who was then Governor of Asia to whose Office it belonged as Praetor to determine their Punishment Junius having his Eye upon the Money for the Sum was considerable said He would think at his leisure what to do with the Prisoners upon which Caesar took his leave of him and went for Pergamus where he ordered the Pirates to be brought forth and Crucified the Punishment he had often threatened them with whilst he was in their hands and they little dream't he was in earnest In the mean time Sylla's Power declined and Caesar's Friends advised him to return to Rome but he went off to Rhodes and entred himself in the School of Apollonius Molon's Son a famous Rhetorician one who had the reputation of a well-tempered Man and had Cicero at that time for his Auditor Caesar was by Nature excellently framed for a perfect States-Man and Orator and took such pains to improve his Genius this way that without dispute he might challenge the second place amongst Men of that Character More he did not aim at as chusing to be first rather amongst Men of Arms and Power and therefore never rose up to that pitch of Eloquence to which Nature would have carried him being diverted by those Expeditions and Designs which at length gain'd him the Empire And he himself in his Answer to Cicero's Panegyric on Cato desires his Reader not to compare the plain Discourse of a Soldier with the Harangues of an Orator who had not only fine Parts but had employed his whole Life in this one Study When he was returned to Rome he accused Dolabella of Male-Administration and many Cities of Greece came in to attest it Dolabella was acquitted and Caesar in return of the favours he had received from the Grecians assisted them in their prosecution of P. Antonius for Bribery before M. Lucullus Praetor of Macedonia In this Cause he prevailed so far that Antonius was forced to appeal to the Tribunes at Rome alledging that in Greece he could not have fair play against Grecians In his Pleadings at Rome he appeared with all the graces of an Orator and gained much upon the Affections of the People by the easiness of his Address and Conversation in which he was accomplisht beyond what could be expected from his Age. His Interest grew still insensibly greater by the open House he kept and the magnificence of his Entertainments His Enemies slighted the growth of it at first in expectation it would soon fail when his Money was gone whilst in the mean time it was firmly setled among the Common People When his Power at last was fixt and not to be controll'd and now openly tended to the altering of the whole Constitution they were aware too late that there is no beginning so mean which continued application will not make considerable and that small dangers by being despised at first become at last irresistible Cicero was the first who had any suspicions of his designs upon the Government and as a good Pilot is apprehensive of a Storm when the Sea is calmest saw the designing temper of the Man thrô this disguise of good humor and affability and said upon it In all his other actions and intrigues I plainly discover the air of a Tyrant but when I see his Hair lie in so exact order and him so often adjusting it I cannot imagine it should enter into such a Man's thoughts to subvert the Roman State But of this more hereafter The first Proof he had of the People's good Will to him was when he carried a Tribuneship in the Army against C. Popilius A second and clearer instance of their Favour appeared upon his making an Excellent Oration in praise of his Aunt Julia Wife to Marius publickly in the Forum at whose Funeral he was so bold as to bring forth the Images of Marius which no Body durst produce since the Government came into Sylla's Hands Marius's Party having from that time been declared Enemies to the State For when some upon this Occasion exclaimed against Caesar the People on the other side were taken with the Action and received it with very great applause admiring him for having revived in the City those Honors of Marius which for so long time had been buried It had always been the custom at Rome to make Funeral Orations in praise of Ancient Matrons but there was no precedent of any upon young Women till Caesar first made one upon the death of his own Wife This also procured him Favour and by this shew of Affection he got the Hearts of the People who lookt upon him as a Man of great Tenderness and extraordinary good Nature When he had buried his Wife he went Quaestor into Spain under one Votus who was Praetor whom he Honoured ever after and made his Son Quaestor when he himself came to be Praetor When he was out of that Office he Married Pompeja his third Wife having then a Daughter by Cornelia his first Wife whom he afterwards match'd to Pompey the Great He was so profuse in his Expences that before he had any publick Employment he was in debt 1300 Talents Some thought that by being at so great a charge to be
popular he changed a real and solid good for what was short and uncertain But in truth he purchased what was of the greatest value at an inconsiderable rate When he was made Surveyor of the Appian Way he disburst besides the publick Moneys a great Sum out of his private Purse and when he was Aedile he provided such a number of Gladiators that he entertain'd the People with 320 several Duels and by his great liberality and magnificence in Shews in Pomps and publick Feastings obscured the glory of all who went before him and gain'd so much upon the People that every one was ready to invent new Offices and new Honors for him in return to his Munificence There being two Factions in the City one for Sylla which was very powerful the other for Marius which was then broken and in a very low condition he was desirous to raise it again and to bring it over to his Interest To this end whilst he was in the heighth of his Repute with the People for the magnificent Shews he gave as Aedile he ordered Images and Statues with Ensigns of Victory to be carried privately in the night and placed in the Capitol Next morning when some saw them glittering with Gold and curiously wrought with Inscriptions of Marius's Exploits over the Cimbrians they were surprized at the boldness of him who had set them up nor was it difficult to guess who it was The fame of this soon spread and brought together a great Concourse of People Some presently cried out that Caesar had designs upon the Government because he had revived those Honors which were buried by the Laws and Decrees of the Senate that this was done to sound the temper of the People whom he had prepared before and to try whether they were tame enough to bear his Humor and would quietly give way to his Innovations However Marius's Party took courage and 't is incredible what a multitude of them appeared on a sudden and came shouting into the Capitol Many of them when they saw Marius's Picture cried for Joy and Caesar was highly extoll'd as the only Person who was a Relation worthy of Marius Upon this the Senate met and Catulus Luctatius one of the most eminent Romans of that time stood up and accused Caesar closing his Speech with this remarkable saying Caesar no longer undermines the Government but openly plants his Batteries against it But when Caesar had made an Apology for himself and satisfied the Senate his Admirers were very much animated and advised him not to depart from his own thoughts for any one since he was likely to get the better of them all in a little time and to be the first Man in the State with the Peoples Consent At the same time Metellus the High-Priest died and Catulus and Isauricus Persons of known Reputation and who bore a great weight in the Senate were Competitors for the Office yet Caesar would not give way to them but presented himself to the People as a Candidate against them The several Interests seeming very equal Catulus who because he had the most Honor to lose was the most apprehensive of the event sent to Caesar to buy him off with Offers of a great Sum of Money But he said He would provide a larger Sum then that to carry on the Competition Upon the day of Election as his Mother conducted him out of doors with tears he saluted her and said Well Mother to day you 'l see me either High-Priest or Banished When the Votes were taken after a great struggle he carried it and by that gave the Senate and Nobility reason to fear he might now draw on the People to the greatest height of Arrogance Whereupon Piso and Catulus found fault with Cicero for letting Caesar escape when in the Conspiracy of Catiline he had given the Government such advantage against him For Catiline who had designed not only to change the present State of Affairs but to subvert the whole Constitution and confound all had himself escaped by reason the Evidence was not full against him they having not yet gone to the bottom of his Design But he had left Lentulus and Cethegus in the City to supply his place in the Conspiracy Whether they had any secret Encouragement and Assistance from Caesar is uncertain This is certain that they were fully convicted in the Senate and when Cicero the Consul askâ— the several Opinions of the Senators how they would have them punish'd all who spake before Caesar sentenced them to Death but Caesar stood up and made a set Speech wherein he told them That he thought it without Precedent and not just to take away the Lives of two Persons of their Birth and Quality before they were fairly tried unless there was an absolute necessity for it but that if they were kept confin'd in any Town which Cicero himself should chuse till Catiline was defeated then the Senate might in peace and at their leisure determine what was best to be done This Sentence of his carried so much appearance of Humanity and he gave it so good an air by his Speech that not only those who spoke after him closed with it but even they who had before given a contrary Opinion now came over to his till it came about to Catulus and Cato's turn to speak They warmly opposed it and Cato insinuated in his Speech some suspicions of Caesar himself and prest the matter so far that the Criminals were given up to suffer Execution As Caesar was going out of the Senate many of the young Men who guarded Cicero ran in with their naked Swords to assault him But Curio as it is said threw his Gown over him and convey'd him out and Cicero himself gave a Sign to his Guards who watch't the motions of his Eye not to kill him either for fear of the People or because he thought the Murder unjust and illegal If this be true I wonder how Tully came to omit it in the Book which he wrote concerning his Consulship Cicero was blam'd afterwards for not making use of so good an opportunity against Caesar out of fear of the Populace who mightily favourd him Sometime after when Caesar went into the Senate to clear himself of some Suspicions he lay under he found great clamours rais'd against him whereupon the Senate sitting longer then ordinary the People went up to the House in a Tumult and beset it demanding Caesar and requiring them to dismiss him Upon this Cato much fearing a Mutiny from the poorer sort who are always the Incendiaries in a Rebellion and who now plac'd all their hopes in Caesar persuaded the Senate to give them a Monthly allowance of Corn which put the Commonwealth to the extraordinary charge of 55000 Crowns a year This Expedient remov'd all fears for the present and very much weaken'd Caesar's power who at that time was just going to be made Praetor and consequently would have been more formidable by his Office But there was
legal sort of Monarchy They over and above voted him the continuance of his Provinces for he had two Spain and all Afric which he govern'd by his Deputies and maintain'd Armies under him at the yearly charge of 10000 Talents out of the publick Treasury Upon this Caesar also by his Proxies demanded the Consulate and the continuance of his Provinces Pompey at first did not stir in it but Marcellus and Lentulus oppos'd it who had always hated Caesar and now did every thing whether fit or unfit which â—â—â—ht disgrace and expose him For they took away the freedom of Rome from the Neocomians who were a Colony that Caesar had lately planted in Gaul and Marcellus who was then Consul order'd one of the Senators of that City then at Rome to be whipt and told him he laid that mark upon him to signifie he was no Citizen of Rome bidding him when he went back again to shew it Caesar After Marcellus's Consulate Caesar presented largely all the great Statesmen out of the Riches he had taken from the Gauls discharg'd Curio the Tribune from his great Debts gave Paulus then Consul 1500 Talents with which he built a noble Palace joining to the Forum in the place where that of Fulvius had stood Pompey jealous of these Preparations did now openly practise both by himself and his Friends to have a Successor declar'd to Caesar and sent to redemand those Souldiers whom he had lent him to carry on the Wars in Gaul Caesar return'd them and gave each Souldier 250 Drachms Those who conducted them to Pompey spread amongst the People no very favourable report of Caesar and flatter'd Pompey himself with false suggestions that he was wish'd for by Caesar's Army and though his Affairs here were in an ill posture thrô the envy of some and the ill state of the Government yet there the Army was at his Command and if they might pass into Italy would presently declare for him so uneasie were they under Caesar who had engag'd them in so many Expeditions and so suspicious of him as aspiring to the Monarchy Upon this Pompey grew careless and neglected all Warlike Preparations as fearing no danger but attack'd him with Words only and Speeches thinking to conquer by a Majority of Votes which Caesar slighted For 't is said that one of his Captains who was sent by him to Rome standing before the Senate-house one day and being told that the Senate would not give Caesar a longer time in his Government clapt his Hand on the Hilt of his Sword and said But this shall Yet the demands which Caesar made had the fairest colours of Equity imaginable for he proposed to lay down his Arms and that Pompey should do the same and both together should become private Men and each expect a Reward of his Services from the Publick for that those who went to disarm him and at the same time confirm'd Pompey's Power only supprest the one to establish the other in his Tyranny When Curio made these Proposals to the People in Caesar's Name he was mightily applauded and some threw Garlands towards him and dismist him as they do Wrestlers crown'd with Flowers Antony being Tribune produced a Letter sent from Caesar on this Occasion and read it though the Consuls did what they could to oppose it But Scipio Pompey's Father-in-Law propos'd in the Senate that if Caesar did not lay down his Arms within such a time he should be voted an Enemy and the Consuls putting it to the Question whether Pompey should dismiss his Soldiers and again whether Caesar should disband his very few assented to the first but almost all to the latter But Antony proposing again that both should lay down their Commissions all unanimously agreed to it Scipio was upon this very violent and Lentulus the Consul cried aloud that they had need of Arms and not of Suffrages against a Robber so that they were adjourn'd and chang'd their Robes in token of grief for the Dissention Afterwards there came other Letters from Caesar which seem'd yet more moderate for he proposed to quit every thing else and only to have Gallia Cisalpina Illyricum and two Legions till he should stand a second time for Consul Cicero the Orator who was lately return'd from Cilicia endeavour'd to reconcile differences and soften'd Pompey who was willing to comply in other things but not to allow him the Soldiers At last Cicero prevail'd with Caesar's Friends who were now more flexible to accept of the Provinces and 6000 Soldiers only and so to make up the Quarrel Pompey gave way to this but Lentulus the Consul would not hearken to it but drove Antony and Curio out of the House with disgrace by which they afforded Caesar the handsomest pretence that could be to enflame the Soldiers by shewing them two Persons of such Worth and Authority who were forc'd to escape in a common Hackney-Coach in the Habits of Slaves for so they were glad to disguise themselves when they fled out of Rome Now there were not about him at that time above 300 Horse and 5000 Foot for the rest of his Army which was left behind the Alps was to be brought after him by Persons Commission'd for that purpose But he thought the first Motion towards the design which he had then on foot did not require many Forces at present and that he ought to make his first step so suddenly as to surprize the adverse Party into an admiration of his Courage for he esteem'd it easier to astonish them if he came unawares then fairly to conquer them if he had alarm'd them by his Preparations and therefore he commanded his Captains and other Officers to go only with their Swords in their Hands without any other Arms and make themselves Masters of Ariminum a great City of Gaul with as little Noise and Bloodshed as possible He committed the Care of the Army to Hortensius and spent the day in publick as a Stander by and Spectator of the Gladiators who exercis'd before him A little before night he bath'd and then went into the Hall and converst for some time with those he had invited to Supper till it began to grow dusky when he rose from Table and having complimented the Company and desir'd 'em to stay till he came back gave private Orders to some of his Confidents that they should follow him not all the same way but some one way some another He himself got into an Hackney Coach and drove at first another way but presently turn'd towards Ariminum When he came to the River Rubicon which parts Gaul that is within the Alps from the rest of Italy his thoughts began to work now he was just entring upon danger and he waver'd much in his mind when he consider'd coolly the difficulty of the attempt This stopt his career for a while and made him halt while he revolv'd with himself and often chang'd his Opinion one way and the other without speaking a word When he could not
fix his Resolution he discust the matter very particularly with his Friends which were about him of which number Asinius Pollio was one computing how many Calamities his passing that River would bring upon Mankind and what a Relation of it would be transmitted to Posterity At last carried on by an extraordinary Impulse he lost of reasoning and trusted to the event using the Proverb frequent in their Mouths who enter upon dangerous and bold attempts The die is cast with which words he took the River When he was over he us'd all expedition possible and before it was day reach'd Ariminum and took it 'T is said that the night before he past the River he had an impious dream that he was unnaturally familiar with his own Mother As soon as Ariminum was taken there was as it were a wide Gate open'd to a War by Sea as well as Land and with the limits of the Provinces the boundaries of the Laws were transgrest Nor would one have thought that the Inhabitants only as at other times fled from one place to another in great consternation but that the very Towns themselves left their stations and fled for succor into each other so that the City of Rome was over run as it were with a Doluge by the conflux of neighbouring People from all parts round about and was neither easie under the Government of its Magistrates nor to be quiered by the Eloquence of any Orator in this great hurry and confusion but was in danger of sinking by its own weight For contrary passions and violent motions possest all places nor were those who were interested in these Changes wholly at peace but frequently meeting as in so great a City they needs must with such as shew'd themselves fearful and dejected brought quarrels on themselves by their great confidence and presumption Pompey sufficiently of himself disturb'd was yet more perplex'd by the clamors of others some telling him that he justly suffer'd for having arm'd Caesar against himself and the Government others blaming him for permitting Caesar to be insolently us'd by Lentulus when he made so large Concessions and offer'd such reasonable Proposals towards an Accommodation Favonius bad him now stamp upon the Ground for once talking big in the Senate he desir'd them not to trouble themselves about making any preparations for the War for that he himself with one stamp of his Foot would fill all Italy with Soldiers Yet still Pompey had more Forces then Caesar but he was not permitted to pursue his own thoughts but being continually alarm'd with frightful and false reports as if the Enemy was just upon him and Master of all was forc'd to give way and was born down by the common cry In this distraction it is resolved to leave the City and the Senators are commanded to follow him with an Order that no one should stay behind who did not prefer Tyranny to their Countrey and Liberty The Consuls presently fled without making the usual Sacrifices the same did most of the Senators carrying off their own Goods in as much hast as if they had been robbing their Neighbours Some who had formerly much favour'd Caesar's Cause out of fear quitted their own Sentiments and without any prospect of good to themselves were carried along by the common stream It was a very melancholy view to see the City tost in these Tumults like a Ship whose Pilot has given her over and despairs of hindring her from being struck on the next Rock Those who left the City though their departure was on so sad an occasion yet esteem'd the place of their Exile to be their Countrey for Pompey's sake and fled from Rome as if it had been Caesar's Camp At the same time Labienus a Person who had been one of Caesar's best Friends and his Lieutenant and one who had fought by him very vigorously in the Gallic Wars deserted him and went over to Pompey Caesar sent all his Money and Equipage after him and then sat down before Corfinium which was Garison'd with 30 Soldiers under the command of Domitius He in despair order'd a Physician who attended him to give him Poison and taking the Dose drunk it in hopes of being dispatch'd by it but soon after when he was told that Caesar us'd a wonderful Clemency towards those he took Prisoners lamented his misfortune and blam'd the hastiness of his own Resolution His Physician comforted him when he acquainted him that he had took a sleeping not a mortal Poison with this he was very much pleased and rising from his Bed went presently over to Caesar and kist his Hand but afterwards revolted to Pompey The report of these things at Rome sweetned those who were there and some who had fled thence return'd Caesar took into his Army Domitius's Soldiers as he did all those whom he found in any Town listed for Pompey's Service Being now strong and formidable enough he advanc'd against Pompey himself who did not stay to receive him but fled to Brundusium having sent the Consuls before with the Army to Dyrrachium Soon after upon Caesar's approach he set to Sea as shall be more particularly related in his Life Caesar would have immediately pursu'd him but wanted Shipping and therefore went back to Rome having made himself Master of all Italy in the space of 60 days When he came thither he found the City more quiet then he expected and many Senators upon the place to whom he addrest himself with great courtesie and deference desiring them to send to Pompey about any reasonable Accommodations towards a Peace But no body complied with this Proposal whether out of fear of Pompey whom they had deserted or that they thought Caesar did not mean what he said but thought it his interest to talk plausibly Afterwards when Metellus the Tribune would have hinder'd him from taking Money out of the publick Treasury and produc'd some Laws against it Caesar replied That Arms and Laws did not well agree and if you are displeas'd with what I do at present Sir retreat quietly for War doth not admit long Speeches When I have laid down my Arms and entred into Terms of Peace then come and Harangue as you please and this I tell you in diminution of my own just Right for indeed you are my Subject as are all those who have appear'd against me and are now in my power Having said this to Metellus he went to the Doors of the Treasury and the Keys being not to be found sent for Smiths to force them open Metellus again making resistance and some encouraging him in it Caesar threatned to kill him if he gave him any farther disturbance And this saith he you know young Man is harder for me to say then to do These words made Metellus withdraw for fear and at the same time gave way to Caesar's being easily and readily supplied with all things necessary for the War He was now going to make War in Spain with a Resolution first to remove Afranius and
the Enemy in a sharp and bloody Fight in which all of them behaved themselves with remarkable Courage and Gallantry Thallus the Son of Cineas and Glaucus of Polymedes that fought near the General signalized themselves so did also Cleophanes merit the Reputation of a brave man having every where laid about him and call'd upon the Horse that were wheeling to succour the General who was in danger he made them face about so as to confirm the Victory already obtained by the Infantry By which means Plutarch was driven out of Eretria and the commodious Castle of it was taken being situate in that part of the Island where it is narrowed into a small neck of Land the rest of the Island being surrounded other-where by the Sea He would not permit them to take any of the Greeks Prisoners for fear the Orators at Athens should inflame the People against them to determine something to their prejudice This Affair thus dispatch'd and settled Phocion set Sail homewards having given most manifest tokens of his Justice and Humanity to the Allies and to the Athenians indisputable proofs of his Courage and Conduct His Successor Molossus had worse fate to fall alive into the Enemies hands which inspired Philip with great thoughts and designs to move with all his force into the Hellespont so to the Chersonesus and Perinthus and on to Byzantium The Athenians raising Recruits to relieve them the Demagogues made it their business to preferr Chares to be General who sailing thither effected nothing worthy of such an Equipage nor would the Confederates harbour his Fleet having jealousie of him so that he did nothing but pirate about pillaging their Friends and despised by their Enemies Upon this occasion the People being chased by the Orators were in great Ferment and highly enraged they had been so fool'd to send any Succour to the Byzantines whereupon Phocion rising up told them My Masters you have not so much reason to be concern'd at the Jealousies of your Friends as the Vnfaithfulness of your own Generals who render you suspected even to those who yet can't possibly subsist without your Succours The Assembly being moved with this Speech of his chang'd their minds on the sudden and commanded him immediately to raise more Force and assist their Confederates in the Hellespont which would be of the greatest moment for the security of Byzantium At this time Phocion's Name was up and an old Acquaintance of his who had been his fellow-Student in the Academy Cleon a man of highest renown for Virtue among the Byzantines having vouch'd for Phocion to the City they opened their Gates to receive him not permitting him though he desired it to incamp without the Walls but entertained him and all the Athenians with entire Respect and they to requite their Considence conversed with their new Hosts not only soberly and inoffensively but behaved themselves on all occasions with great chearfulness and resolution for their detence Thus came King Philip to be driven out of the Hellespont and despised to boot who was till now thought impossible to be match'd and even apprehended invincible Phocion also took some of his Ships and retook some of the Places he had garrison'd making besides several Inrodes into the Countrey which he plunder'd and over-run untill such time as he happen'd to be wounded by some of them that came to his Assistance he made off towards home The Megareans at this time privately praying Aid of the Athenians Phocion fearing lest the Boeotians being aware of it should prevent them call'd an Assembly very early in the morning and backing the Boeotians Petition it was put to the Question and voted in their favour As soon as ever it was done he made Proclamation immediately by sound of Trumpet and led them off straight from the Assembly to arm and put themselves in posture The Megareans received them joyfully they help'd them to fortifie Nisoea and build two new Bulwarks on each side from the City to the Haven and so joyn'd it to the Sea so that being sufficiently defended on the Land side from the Assailants it was secured to the Athenians Now was the time that the Liberty of Greece was openly disputed with King Philip and at Athens such Chiefs chosen in Phocion's absence that at his arrival from the Islands he dealt earnestly with the Athenians being deeply possess'd what danger might ensue that since Philip show'd some peaceable Inclinations towards them they would consent to a Treaty being contradicted in this by a prating pick-thank Fellow of those sort of Vermin that haunt the Places of publick Assembly this was a famous Place of the Athenians meeting open to the Air. This sawcy Companion asking Phocion if he durst presume to perswade the Athenians to Peace now their Swords were in their hands Yes said he I dare though I 'm satisfied I shall be thy Master in time of War and thou perhaps mine in time of Peace Since he could not prevail and Demosthenes's opinion carry'd it advising them to make War as far off home as possible that was to the far side of Attica Phocion argued that in these Matters the Place was not so much to be considered as the probability of Success for by this the distance of War was to be measured to be sure those that were worsted would have it quickly brought home to theirs doors Accordingly Matters succeeding ill the Innovators and Incendiaries haling up Charidemus to the Tribunal to be nominated to the Command the best of the Senators were in a panick fear and call'd a Meeting of the People at Areopagus where with Entreaties and Tears they hardly prevail'd to have Phocion preferr'd and intrusted with the care of the City He was of opinion that the fair Terms Philip proposed were to be accepted yet after demades had propounded that the City should receive the self same conditions that were tender'd to the rest of the States of Greece he opposed it till it were known what the Particulars were King Philip had demanded Being overborn in this Advice at that juncture of time presently after the Athenians sufficiently repented it when they understood that by them Articles they were obliged to furnish Philip both with horse and Shipping This Gentlemen says he I foresaw and therefore opposed but since you have now articled make the best on 't be courageous and bear it as well as you can remembring that your Ancestors using their Fortune indifferently sometimes giving Laws at other times truckling perform'd each part with decorum and perserved not only their own City but the rest of Greece Upon the news of Philip's Death he would not suffer the People to make Bonfires or other publick demonstrations of Joy and Jubilee minding them how ungenerous it was to insult upon such an occasion and that the Army that had fought them at Cheronoea was lessened by one man only When Demosthenes made Invectives against Alexander who was now set down before Thebes he repeated those
he would suffer himself to be juggled withal and have his confidence abused so far as not to act what he thought most expedient So the Athenians receiv'd the Garrison and Menyllus for the Governor a fair condition'd man and one of Phocion's Acquaintance This proceeding seem'd sufficiently imperious and arbitrary indeed rather a spiteful insulting and ostentation of power than that the possessing himself of that Fortress would be of any real advantage to his affairs The resentment of this usage was heightned by the time it happened in For it fortun'd the Garrison was brought in in the Month of August just at the time of the great Festival when Bacchus was carried with solemn Pomp from the City to Eleusina so that the Solemnity being disturb'd many began to recollect what had happen'd at the time of those Rites both anciently and modernly For of old in their greatest prosperity there had been odd appearances seen and Voices heard at the time of their Celebration which struck terror and amazement into their Enemies but now at the same season the Gods themselves stood Wittnesses of the extream oppressions of Greece the Holy time being prophan'd and their greatest Jubilee made the unlucky date of their most extream calamity Not many years before they had brought an Advertisement from the Oracle at Dodona That they should carefully Guard the Promontory of Diana's Temple and secure it from the possession of Strangers And about the same time when they dyed the Ribbonds and Garlands with which they adorn'd the Pageants in devotion to her instead of a Purple they receiv'd only a faint dead colour and which added to the Omen all those things that were dyed for common use took the natural colour Also a Sacrificer washing a Porket in the Haven whilst it was calm a Shark seiz'd on him bit off all his hinder parts to the Belly and devoured them by which they imagin'd the God gave them apparently to understand that having already lost the lower parts of their Territories towards the Sea coast they should more carefully guard those towards the City Now the Garrison under Menyllus was no ways offensive to those of the better sort but of the meaner sort the number of whom who by reason of their poverty were not taxed were reckon'd in the City to be above 12000 those that remain'd in the City thought themselves oppress'd and affronted and those that had gone away into Thrace on whom Antipater had bestow'd a Town and some Territories to inhabit accounted themselves only as a Colony of Slaves and Exiles Demosthenes dyed at that time in Calabria and Hyperides at Cleona a City of Greece as we have else-where related which put the Citizens in mind of the death of Philip and Alexander and almost wishing the return of those times Just as after Antigonus was slain and those that had taken him off afterwards more grievously afflicting and oppressing the People a Countryman in Phrygia digging in the Fields was ask'd what he was doing I am says he fetching a deep sigh searching again for Antigonus So said many that remembred those days and the disputes they had with those Kings whose anger however great was yet generous and placable whereas Antipater with the counterfeit humility of appearing like a private man in the meanness of his Habit and homely Fare covered the haughtiness of his Mind and insolently abusing his power was indeed insufferable to those under his Command being extream Lordly and Tyranical Yet Phocion had interest with him to recal many from Banishment by his intreaty and prevail'd also for those that fled away that they might not like others be hurried beyond Foenarus and the Mountains of Ceraunia but remain in Greece and plant themselves in Peloponnesus of which number was Agnonides the Sycophant He no less studiously manag'd the affairs within the City with signal Equity and Moderation preferring constantly those that were Men of Worth and Temper to the Magistracy keeping out the factious and turbulent lest they should abuse their power to raise stirs and those that were decayed he advis'd to retire into the Country and mind tillage Observing that Zenocrates payed his Assessments as a Foreigner he would have perswaded him to accept of his freedom which he refus'd saying He could not receive it from that City whose Liberties and Franchises were doomed when he himself was one of the Embassadors Menyllus offered Phocion a considerable Sum of Mony who thanking him said Neither was he greater than Alexander nor his own occasions more urgent to receive it now who then refused it from him But still pressing him to permit his Son Phocus to receive it he replyed If my Son returns to his right mind his Patrimony is sufficient if not in the courses he now takes all supplies will be insignificant But to Antipater he answered more tartly who would have him engaged in something dishonourable Antipater says he can't use me both as a Friend and a Flatterer And indeed Antipater was wont to say he had two Friends at Athens Phocion and Demades the one would never suffer him to gratifie him at all the other would never be satisfied For Phocion's Virtue made his Poverty appear reputable having so oft been Commander in Chief of the Athenians and admitted to the Friendship of so many Potentates he had yet grown old and poor in the service of the Common-wealth But Demades prided himself by lavishing his Wealth to break in upon the Publick Constitutions and affront them For there having been an Order that no Foreigner should be entertain'd to Dance at the Publick Shows on the penalty of 1000 Drachma's to be levied on him that should exhibit them his vanity was so great to hire 100 Strangers and paid the Fine for them all in ready Cash upon the Stage Marrying his Son Demeas at that time he told him with the like vanity Son when I married your Mother it was done so privately it was not known to the next Neighbours but Kings and Princes show themselves forward to present you at your Nuptials Still this Garrison was a grievous eye-sore to the Commonalty among the Athenians and they ceased not clamouring upon Phocion to prevail with Antipater for its removal but when he despair'd of effecting it or rather observed the People more governable and behaving themselves more orderly by the Awe that was upon them he constantly declined that Office yet as to the Money-matter effectually obtained of him not to demand the Subsidy agreed on but prolonged the time of its payment So the People leaving him off apply'd themselves to Demades who readily undertook the Employment and took along with him his Son also into Macedonia the Devil as it seem'd owing him a shame he came just at that nick of time when Antipater was seized with Sickness and Cassander taking upon himself the Command had found a Letter of Demades's formerly writ by him to Antigonus in Asia moving him to take upon himself the
Empire of Greece and Macedonia which now stood upon an old and rotten Stalk so rallying Antipater So when Cassander heard of his coming he seized him and having caused his Son to be brought before his Face slew him so ordering it that the Son's Blood should fly upon the Father and bedawb him after bitterly taunting and upbraiding him with his Ingratitude and Treachery he dispatch'd him Antipater having nominated Polyperchon General and Cassander Colonel being dead Cassander presently set up for himself and immediately dispatch'd Nicanor to Menyllus to be his Successor in the Athenian Garrison commanding him to possess himself of it before the News of Antipater's Death should be bruited abroad Which being done and some days after the Athenians hearing the Report of it Phocion was taxt as privy to it before and censured heavily for dissembling it as a Friend and Confederate of Nicanor's but he slighted their tittle tattle and meeting oft and conferring with Nicanor made it his business to render him civil and obliging to the Athenians and not only so but perswaded him to some Expence upon them and have some Shows at his own charge to entertain the People In the mean time Polyperchon to whose Care the chief Affairs were committed to countermine Cassander writ a cunning Letter to the City declaring that they were restored to their ancient Privileges and Immunities and were at entire liberty to govern their Commonwealth according to their ancient Customs and Constitutions The bottom of these Pretences was meer Stratagem and Trick levell'd principally against Phocion as the Event manifested it self for Polyperchon's design being to possess himself of the City he despaired altogether of bringing it to pass whilst Phocion lived and in Credit but the most certain way to ruine him would be again to bring into play the Demagogues who had been put out of Office for seditious Practices and restore them to their Places of Trust both in the Courts of Judicature and their Votes in Common-Council Thus the Populace being let loose presently great Commotions happen'd in Athens which Nicanor endeavouring to compose call'd the Senate together into the Pyroeum and came thither himself committing himself to Phocion for his security but one Dercyllus a Captain of the Train-bands in the Suburbs attempting to seize him he having some hint of it withdrew himself giving out that he would suddenly right himself upon the City for this Affront Phocion was accused for being near him and not seizing him as he was required but he defended himself saying that he had no manner of mistrust of Nicanor nor the least reason to expect any mischief from him but should it prove otherways for his part he would have them all know he had rather receive than do an ill thing to any Man This Carriage of Phocion's fairly and simply considered would appear extream generous and Gentleman-like yet looking upon a man standing in relation to his Countrey now endanger'd and that in the highest station of Power and Authority there is something methinks of prior Consideration and original Obligation of Justice in discharging the trust reposed in him to be regarded much rather than such Points of Honour for it is not a satisfactory pretence to say that he dreaded the involving the City in War by seizing Nicanor nor that in Honour and Justice he could not lay hands on a man who had given him all the assurance and security in the world that he would no ways molest or disturb the Athenian State but it was indeed his Credulity and Confidence in him and an over-weening opinion of his Sincerity that imposed upon him so that notwithstanding the sundry Intimations he had from those that accused him of having Designs on the Pyroeum and sending numbers of Mercenaries into Salamina besides his tampering with and endeavouring to corrupt those of Pyroeum where his Garrison stood he would notwithstanding all this Evidence never be perswaded to belive it Nay further although Philomedes the Son of Lampres had got a Decree pass'd that all the Athenians should stand to their Arms and be ready to follow Phocion their General he yet sate still and secure till such time as Nicanor had actually brought down Arms and Ammunition from Minichia to Pyroeum and begun to draw Trenches round it Whilst these things were transacted when Phocion at last would have led out the Athenians they mutined against him and slighted his Orders Alexander the Son of Polyperchon was at hand with a considerable Force pretended to be for succour of the City against Nicanor but intended nothing less if possible than to surprize the City whilst they were in Tumult and divided among themselves for those that had been banished getting into the City to whom the Foreigners joyned themselves and all the Rabble rout thronging in to them they made up an odd irregular mixt Convention wherein they presently divested Phocion of all Power and chose to themselves other Commanders and if by chance Alexander had not been spy'd from the Walls alone and in close Consult with Nicanor and given the Athenians just cause of Suspicion certainly the City at that moment had run a great Risque Immediately the Orator Agnonides fell foul upon Phocion and impeacht him of Treason Callimedon and Pericles fearing the worst consulted their own security by flying from the City Phocion with a few of his Friends that stay'd with him went over to Polyperchon and out of Respect Solon of Platoea and Dinarchus of Corinth accompany'd him being reputed Friends and Confidents of Polyperchon But Dinarchus enjoying ill Health they remained many days in Elatoea a City of Phocis situate near the Mountain Acrorium During which time Agnonides promoting it Archestratus procured a Decree that thâ— People should send Delegates thither to accuse Phocion so both of them waited upon Polyperchon who was with the King viewing the Countrey and was then at a small Village of Phocis Pharygas now call'd Galate There Polyperchon having pitch'd a Royal Tent of Cloth of Gold for the King and his Friends caused Dinarchus to be brought without further Ceremony and having first tormented him caused him to be slain then he gave Audience to the Ambassadors who filled the Place with Noise and Tumult peaching and accusing one another Agnonides approaching entreated they might all be shut up together in an iron Grate and convey'd to Athens there to decide the Controversie At that the King could not forbear smiling but the Company that attended Macedonians and Strangers that now had leisure enough were eager to see the Scuffle and hear them pelt one another made Signs to the Delegates to go on with their Accusations But it was far from a fair Hearing nothing equitable could be obtained Polyperchon frequently interrupted Phocion and at last knocking with his Battoon on the Ground refused him absolutely and commanded him Silence Hegemon appeal'd to Polyperchon himself as one that well knew how studious he had been of the Interest of the People
and gave no disturbance to any body but if there were no Inn they went to the Magistrates and desired them to help them to Lodgings and were always satisfied with what was allotted to them His Servants thus behaving themselves toward the Magistrates without noise and threatning were often not credited or neglected by them so that Cato did many times arrive before any thing was provided for him And indeed he himself was often despised and made little account of for sitting silent by himself on his Carriages he was looked upon as a contemptible Man and one of a mean Spirit therefore he would sometimes call the Townsmen together and say Ye ill-natured Men lay aside this inhospitable Humour you should by Courtesie endeavour to break the power of those Men who desire but a pretence to take from you by force what you give with such Reluctance While he travelled in this manner a pleasant Accident befell him in Syria As he was going into Antioch he saw a great multitude of People without the Gates ranked in order on either side the way here the young Men with long Cloaks there the Children decently dress'd others wore Crowns and white Garments which were the Priests and Magistrates Cato presently imagining all this was to do him Honour and for his Reception began to be angry with his Servants that were sent before for suffering it to be done then making his Friends alight he walked along with them on Foot As soon as he came near the Gate a reverend old Man who seemed to be Master of these Ceremonies with a Staff and a Crown in his Hand comes up to Cato and without shewing him any respect ask'd him Where he had left Demetrius and how soon he thought he would be there This Demetrius was Pompey's Servant and by all those who hoped for any Favour from Pompey he was highly honoured not for his own Desert but for his great Power with his Master Upon this Cato's Friends fell out into such a Laughter that they could not restrain themselves while they passed through the Crowd he himself much out of Countenance cryed O unhappy City and said no more yet afterward he used to tell this Story and laugh at it himself Pompey likewise after that made the People ashamed of their Ignorance and Folly for Cato in his Journey to Ephesus went to pay his Respects to him who was the elder Man had gained much Honour and was then General of a great Army Yet Pompey would not receive him sitting but as soon as he saw him rose up and going to meet him as the more honourable Person gave him his Hand and embraced him very kindly He said many things also in commendation of Cato's Virtue both in his presence and when he was gone away So that now all men began to respect Cato and admired him for the same things for which they despised him before having well considered the mildness of his Temper and the greatness of his Spirit Moreover the Civility that Pompey himself shewed him appeared to come from one that rather honoured than loved him For it was observed he was very kind to Cato while he was present with him but very glad when he was gone from him And when other young men came to see him he usually importuned and entreated them to continue with him Now he did not at all invite Cato to stay but as if his own Power were lessened by the other's Presence he very willingly dismiss'd him Yet to Cato alone of all those that went for Rome he recommended his Children and his Wife who was also her self allied to Cato After this all the Cities through which he passed strove and emulated each other in shewing him Respect and Honour They invited him to great Entertainments at which he desired his Friends to be present and take care of him lest he should make good what was said by Curio who tho' he were his familiar Friend yet disliking the austerity of his Temper asked him one day If when he left the Army he designed to see Asia And Cato answering Yes by all means You do well replied Curio and I hope you will return thence a litle more softned and less an Enemy to Pleasure Those were his words Deiotarus being now an old Man had sent for Cato with design to recommend his Children and Family to his Protection and as soon as he came brought him Presents of all sorts of things which he begg'd and entreated him to accept This so displeased Cato that tho' he came but in the evening he stay'd only that night and went away early the next morning After he was gone one days Journey he found at Pessinuns a greater number of Presents provided for him there and also Letters from Deiotarus entreating him to receive them or at least to permit his Friends to take them who for his sake deserved something And indeed Cato's own Estate was not very great yet he would not suffer it tho' he saw some of them were willing to receive such Gifts and ready to complain of his Severity But he told them That at this rate Corruption would never want pretence and for his Friends they should share with him in what-ever he could get justly and honestly so he returned the Presents to Deiotarus When he took Ship for Brundusium his Friends would have perswaded him to put his Brother's Ashes into another Vessel but he said He would sooner part with his Life than leave them and so he set Sail. 'T is said he passed the Sea not without some danger tho' others at the same time went over very safely After he was returned to Rome he spent his Time for the most part either at home in Conversation with Athenodorus or at the Forum in the service of his Friends When the Office of Quoestor was allotted to him he would not take the Place till he had perfectly studied the Laws concerning it and diligently enquired of experienced Men the Duty and Authority belonging to it Being thus instructed as soon as he came into the Office he made a great Reformation among the Clerks and under-Officers of the Treasury For they being well versed in the Records and Methods of the Office into which continually succeeded new Quoestors who for their Ignorance and Unskilfulness were fit only to learn and not able to manage the Business These Officers therefore had taken to themselves all the Power and were in effect the Treasurers Till Cato applying himself roundly to the Work had not only the Title and Honour of a Quoestor but an insight and understanding of whatever belonged to the Office So that he used the Clerks and under-Officers like Servants as they were reprehending them that were corrupt and instructing those that were Ignorant Yet being bold impudent Fellows they flattered the other Quoestors his Collegues and by their means made great opposition against Cato But he caught the chiefest of them dealing dishonestly in the division of an Estate and turned
danger Cato boldly opposed him and made him appear so infamous that he was forc'd to leave the Town and when Cicero came to thank him for what he had done You must thank the Commonwealth said he for whose sake alone it was that he did every thing Thus he gained a great and wonderful Reputation so that a certain Advocate in a Cause where there was only one Witness against him told the Judges They ought not to rely upon a single Witness though it were Cato himself And it was grown proverbial among the People if any very unlikely and incredible thing were asserted to say They would not believe it though Cato himself should affirm it One day a debauched Prodigal talking in the Senate about Frugality and Temperance Amnoeus standing up cryed Who can endure this Sir to hear you that feast like Crassus and build like Lucullus talk like Cato So likewise those who were wild and dissolute in their Manners yet affected to seem grave and severe in their Discourses were in derision called Cato's At first when his Friends would have perswaded him to stand to be Tribune of the People he thought it not convenient for that the Power of so great an Office ought to be imployed only as the strongest Medicines when things are brought to the last necessity But afterward in Vacation-time as he was going accompanied with his Books and Philosophers to Leucania where he had a pleasant Seat by the way they met a great many Horses Carriages and Attendants of whom they understood that Metellus Nepos was going to Rome to stand to be Tribune of the People Hereupon Cato stopp'd and after a little pause gave Orders to return immediately At which the Company seeming to wonder Don't you know said he how dangerous of it self the Madness of Metellus is but now he comes assisted with the Counsel of Pompey he will fall like Lightning on the State and bring it to utter ruine wherefore this is no time for Idleness and Diversion but we must go and prevent this man in his Designs or bravely die in defence of our Liberty Nevertheless by the Perswasion of his Friends he went first to his Countrey-house where he stay'd but a very little time and then returned to Town He arrived in the Evening and went straight the next Morning to the Forum where he began to sollicit for the Tribuneship in opposition to Metellus The Power of this Office consists rather in controuling than performing any Business for tho' all the rest except any one Tribune should be agreed yet his denial or intercession could put a stop to the whole Matter Cato at first had not many that appeared for him but as soon as his Design was known all Persons of the best Quality and of his own Acquaintance took part with him for they looked upon him not as one that desired a Favour of them but one that sought to do a great Kindness to his Countrey and all honest men Who had many times refused the same Office when he might have had it without trouble but now sought it with danger that he might defend their Liberty and their Government It is reported that so great a number flock'd about him that he was like to be stifled amidst the Press and could scarce get through the Crowd He was declared Tribune with several others among whom was Metellus Now when Cato was chosen into this Office having observed that the Election of Consuls was grown very mercenary he sharply rebuked the People for this Corruption and in the conclusion of his Speech protested he would accuse whom ever he should find giving Money yet Passed by Silanus by reason of his Alliance for he had married Servilia Cato's Sister so that he did not prosecute him but Lucius Murena who was chosen Consul with Silanus he accused of Bribery There was a Law That the Party accused might set a Guard upon his Accuser to watch him lest he should use any indirect means in preparing the Accusation He that was set upon Cato by Murena at first followed and observed him strictly yet never found him dealing any way unfairly or unjustly but always generously and candidly going on in the just and open Methods of Proceeding So that he much admired Cato's great Spirit and noble Nature and easily trusted to his Integrity for meeting him abroad or going to his House he would ask him if he designed to do any thing that day in order to the Accusation and if Cato said No he went away freely relying on his Word When the Cause was pleaded Cicero who was then Consul and defended Murena did so wittily expose Cato and the Stoick Philosophers and their Paradoxes that he raised great Laughter in his Judges Whereupon Cato smiling said to the Standers by Sirs we have a very pleasant Consul Murena was acquitted and afterward shewed himself no passionate but a very prudent Man for when he was Consul he always took Cato's Advice in the most weighty Affairs and in all the time of his Office gave him much Honour and Respect Of which not only Murena's Prudence but also Cato's obliging Humour was the Cause for tho' he were terrible and severe as to Matters of Justice in the Senate and at the Bar yet he was very courteous and good-natured to all men in private Before Cato took upon him the Office of Tribune he assisted Cicero at that time Consul in many things that concerned his Office but most especially in prosecuting Catiline's Conspiracy which he did with great Courage and Success This Catiline had plotted a dreadful and entire Subversion of the Roman State contriving to raise great Seditions and drive them into a Civil War but being detected by Cicero was forced to fly the City Yet Lentulus and Cethegus conspired with several others and blaming Catiline as one that wanted Courage and had too much Caution for such desperate Designs they themselves resolved to set the whole Town on fire and utterly to ruine the Empire of the World by Tumults at home and War from abroad But the Design was discovered by Cicero as we have written in his Life and the Matter brought before the Senate Silanus who spoke first delivered his opinion That the Conspirators ought to suffer the last of Punishments and was therein followed by all that spoke after him till it came to Coesar who was very eloquent and looking upon all Changes and commotions in the State as Matter for him to work upon desired rather to increase than extinguish them Wherefore standing up he made a very merciful and perswasive Speech That they ought not to suffer otherwise than according to Law by which they could not be put to death and moved that they might be kept in Prison Thus was the House almost wholly turned by Coesar They were also afraid of the People insomuch that Silanus retracted and said he did not mean Death but Imprisonment for that was the utmost of what a Roman could suffer Upon this
they were all inclined to the milder opinion when Cato standing up began to speak with great Passion and Eloquence blaming Silanus for his change of Opinion and reflecting on Caesar for his affectation of Popularity who he said would ruine the Common-wealth by mild words and plausible speeches yet endeavoured to frighten the Senate where he himself ought to fear for he might take it kindly if he escaped unpunished or unsuspected who did thus openly and boldly dare to protect the Enemies of the State seemed to have no compassion for so great and glorious an Empire brought so near its utter ruine yet was full of pity for those men who had better never been born and whose death must deliver the Commonwealth from danger and destruction This only of all Cato's Speeches 't is said was preserved for Cicero the Consul had dispersed about the Senate house several expert Writers whom he had taught to make certain figures which did in little and short strokes express a great many words till that time they had not used those we call Short-hand Writers who then first as 't is said laid the foundation of that Art Thus Cato carried it and so turned the House again that it was decreed The Conspirators should be put to death Not to omit any the least strokes that may shew Cato's Temper and contribute to draw the Image of his Mind it is reported that while Coesar and he were disputing very earnestly in this Business and the whole Senate regarding them two a little Note was brought in to Coesar which Cato presently declared to be suspicious and some of the Senators moved it might be read Whereupon Coesar delivered the Letter to Cato who discovering it to be a Love letter from his Sister Servilia to Coesar by whom she had been debauched he threw it to him again crying Take it you Sot and so went on with his Discourse In short it seems Cato had but ill Fortune in Women for this Lady was ill-spoken of for her Familiarity with Coesar and another Servilia Cato's Sister also was yet more infamous for being married to Lucullus one of the greatest Men in Rome and having brought him a Son she was afterward divorced for Incontinency But what was worst of all Cato's own Wife Atilia was not free from the same Fault and after she had born him two Children he was forc'd to put her away for her ill Conduct After that he married Martia the Daughter of Philip a Woman of good Reputation who yet has occasioned much Discourse for this Passage in the Life of Cato looks like a Fable in a Play and is very difficult to be cleared or made out with any certainty It is thus related by Thraseas who refers to the Authority of Munatius Cato's Friend and constant Companion Among many that loved and admired Cato some were more remarkable and conspicuous than others of these was Quintus Hortensius a Man of signal Worth and approved Virtue who desired not only to live in Friendship and Familiarity with Cato but also to be united to his Family by some Alliance in Marriage Therefore he set himself to perswade Cato that his Daughter Porcia who was already married to Bibulus and had born him two Children might nevertheless be given to him as a fruitful Field from which he might raise an Off-spring For said he tho' this in the opinion of men may seem strange yet in Nature 't would be honest and profitable for the Publick that a Woman in the prime of her youth should not lie useless and lose the Fruit of her Womb nor on the the other side would it be convenient she should burthen and impoverish one Man by bringing him too many Children Also by this Communication of Families among worthy Men Virtue would increase and be diffused through their Posterity and the Common-wealth would be united and cemented by their Alliances Yet if Bibulus would not part with his Wife altogether he would restore her as soon as she had brought him a Child whereby he might be united to both their Families Cato answered That he loved Hortensius very well and did much approve of uniting their Houses but he thought it very strange to speak of marrying his Daughter which was already given to another Then Hortensius turning the Discourse did not stick to acknowledge that 't was Cato's own Wife which he desired for she was young and fruitful and he had already Children enough Neither can it be thought that Hortensius did this as imagining Cato did not love Martia for 't is said she was then with Child Cato perceiving his earnest desire did not deny his Request but said that Philip the Father of Martia ought also to be consulted Philip therefore being sent for came and finding they were well agreed gave his Daughter Martia to Hortensius in the presence of Cato who himself also assisted at the Marriage These things were done afterward but since I was speaking of Women I thought fit to make mention thereof in this Place Lentulus and the rest of the Conspirators were put to death but Coesar by reason of what was said against him in the Senate betook himself to the People and stirred up the most corrupt and dissolute Members of the State to follow him Cato apprehensive of what might ensue thereupon perswaded the Senate to win over the poor and disorderly Rabble by a distribution of Corn the Charge of which amounted to twelve hundred and fifty Talents This Liberality did in appearance dissipate the present Danger But Metellus coming into his Office of Tribune began to hold tumultuous Assemblies and had prepared a Decree That Pompey the Great should presently be called into Italy with all his Forces to preserve the City from the danger of Catiline's Conspiracy This was the fair pretence but the true design was to deliver all into the hands of Pompey and give him an absolute Power Upon this the Senate was assembled and Cato did not fall sharply upon Metellus as he used to do but spoke many things full of great Reason and Moderation At last he descended even to Entreaty and extolled the House of Metellus as having always taken part with the Nobility At this Metellus grew the more insolent and despising Câ—to as if he yielded and were afraid let fall many audacious Speeches openly threatning to do whatever he pleased in spite of the Senate Hereupon Cato changed his Countenance his Voice and his Language and after many sharp Expressions boldly concluded That while he lived Pompey should never come armed into the City The Senate thought them both extravagant and not well in their Wits for the Design of Metellus seemed to be the effect of his Rage who out of excess of Malice would bring all to Ruine and Confusion and Cato's Virtue look'd like a kind of Ecstasie while he with so great heat and passion contended for what was good and just Afterward when the People were to give their Voices for the passing this
Decree Metellus before-hand possessed the Forum with armed Men Strangers Gladiators and Slaves and all those that in hopes of Change followed Pompey which was no small part of the People besides they had great Assistance from Coesar who was then Proetor The best and chiefest Men of the City were no less offended at these Proceedings than Cato but they seemed rather likely to suffer with him than able to assist him In the mean time Cato's whole Family were in dreadful Fear and Apprehension for him some of his Friends did neither eat nor sleep all the night continuing in very great Perplexity his Wife and Sisters also bewailed and lamented him but he himself void of all Fear and full of Assurance did comfort and encourage them by his own Discourse After Supper he went to rest at his usual hour and was the next day waked out of a profound Sleep by Minutius Thermus one of his Collegues So soon as he was up they two went together into the Forum accompanied by very few but met by a great many who bid them have a care of themselves Cato when he saw the Temple of Castor and Pollux incompassed with armed Men and the ascent to it guarded by Gladiators at the top whereof sate Metellus and Caesar together turning to his Friends Behold said he that couragious Fellow who has raised so great Forces against one unarmed naked man and so he went on with Thermus They who kept the Passages gave way to those two but would not let any body else pass yet Cato taking Munatius by the Hand with much difficulty pull'd him thorow along with him Then going directly to Metellus and Caesar he sate himself down between them to prevent their talking to one another at which they were both amazed And those of the honest Party observing the Countenance and admiring the Spirit and Boldness of Cato went nearer and cry'd out to him to have Courage exhorting one another to stand together and not betray their Liberty nor the Defender of it Then the Clerk took out the Bill but Cato forbade him to read it whereupon Metellus took it and would have read it himself but Cato snatch'd away the Book Yet Metellus having the Decree by heart began to recite it without book but Thermus clapp'd his Hand to his Mouth and stopp'd his Speech Metellus seeing them fully bent to withstand him and the People inclining to their side sent to his House for armed Men who rushing in with great noise and terrour they all dispers'd and run away except Cato who alone stood still while the other Party threw Sticks and Stones at him from below Murena whom he had formerly accused could not brook this but came to him and holding his Gown before him cryed out to them to leave off throwing in â—ine perswading and pulling him along he forc'd him into the Temple of Caster and Pollux Metellus now seeing the Place clear and all the adverse Party fled out of the Forum thought he might easily carry his Point so he commanded the Souldiers to retire and going orderly to work he began to proceed in passing the Decree But the other side having recollected themselves returned very boldly and with great shouting insomuch that Metellus his Adherents were utterly dismayed and fled every one out of the Place They being thus dispersed Cato came in again and confirmed the Courage and commended the Resolution of the People so that now the Multitude were by all means for deposing Metellus from his Office The Senate also being presently assembled gave Orders to stand by Cato and to oppose this Decree which would certainly raise great Disturbance and perhaps Civil War in the Common wealth But Metellus continued still very bold and resolute and seeing his Party stood greatly in fear of Cato whom they look'd upon as invincible he flung out of the Senate and going into the Forum he assembled the People to whom he made a bitter and invidious Speech against Cate crying out He was forc'd to fly from his Tyranny and this Conspiracy against Pompey that the City would soon repent their having dishonoured so great a Man Cato was highly magnified for having thus delivered the State from the dangerous Tribuneship of Metellus and thereby in some measure diminished the Power of Pompey But he was more commended for that the Senate intending to disgrace Metellus and depose him from his Office Cato did altogether oppose and at length divert that Design For which the Common People admired his Moderation and Humanity in not insulting on an Enemy whom he had overthrown but wise Men acknowledged his Prudence and Policy in not exasperating Pompey After this Lucullus returned from the War in Asia the finishing of which and thereby the Glory of the whole would in all appearance fall to Pompey Lucullus also was like to lose his Triumph for Câ—ius Memmius traduced him to the People and threatned to accuse him which he did rather out of Love to Pompey than for any particular Enmity to Lucullus But Cate being related to Lucullus who had married his Sister Servilia and also thinking this design very unjust opposed Memmius and thereby underwent many Slanders and false Accusations insomuch that they would have turned him out of his Office pretending that he used his Power tyrannically Yet at length Cato so far prevailed against Memmius that he was forc'd to let fall the Accusations and to desist from his Design Lucullus having thus obtained his Triumph did yet more carefully cultivate Cato's Friendship which he look'd upon as a great guard and defence against Pompey's Power Pompey the Great also returning from the Army and considing in the Glory of his Actions and the Good-will of the People thought he should be denied nothing Therefore he sent to the Senate to put off the Assembly for the choice of Consuls till he could be present to assist Piso who stood for that Office To this most of the Senate presently yielded only Cato not thinking that this delay would be of any great importance but desiring to lessen and cut off the Hopes and Designs of Pompey withstood his Request and so over-ruled the Senate that 't was carried against him This did not a little trouble Pompey who found he should very often fail in his Designs unless he could bring over Cato to his Interest Therefore he sent for his Friend Munatius and Cato having two Neeces that were marriageable he offered to marry the eldest himself and take the youngest for his Son Some say they were not his Neeces but his Daughters whom Pompey would have thus married Munatius proposed the Matter to Cato in presence of his Wife and Sisters the Women very much desired the Alliance of so great and worthy a Person but Cato without delay or balancing presently answered Go Munatius go tell Pompey that Cato is not to be wrought upon by Women tho' otherwise I very much value his Kindness And while he deals uprightly in the State he shall find
Legions for the space of five years Tho' Cato still cry'd out they were placing a Tyrant in their Citadel Publius Clodius who illegally of a Patrician became a Plebeian was declared Tribune of the People And he had promised to do all things according to their pleasure on condition he might banish Cicero For Consuls they set up Calpurnius Piso the Father of Coesar's Wife and Aulus Gabinius a Man wholly at Pompey's Devotion as they Write who best knew his Life and Manners Yet when they had thus firmly established all things having mastered one part of the City by Favour and the other by Fear they themselves were still afraid of Cato For they well considered with how much pains and difficulty they had oppressed him and what disgrace they suffered when they did violence to him This made Clodius despair of driving Cicero out of Italy while Cato stay'd at home Therefore having first laid his Design as soon as he came into his Office he sent for Cato and told him That he look'd upon him as the most uncorrupt Man of all the Romans and was ready by deeds to make good the truth of his words For whereas said he many have sought to command the Expedition to Cyprus and have much sollicited to be sent thither I think you only deserve it and therefore to you I will freely give that Command Cato presently cry'd out This was a design upon him and no Favour but an Injury Then Clodius proudly and fiercely answered If you will not take it as a Kindness yet you shall go tho' never so unwillingly and immediately going into the Assembly of the People he made them pass a Decree that Cato should be sent to Cyprus But they ordered him neither Ships nor Souldiers nor any Officers only two Secretaries one of which was a very Rascal and the other a Retainer to Clodius Besides as if the gaining of Cyprus and conquering Ptolemy were not Work sufficient he was ordered also to restore the Fugitives of Byzantium For Clodius was resolved to keep him far enough off whilst himself continued Tribune Cato being in this necessity of going away advised Cicero who was next to be set upon to make no Resistance lest he should throw the State into Civil War and Confusion but to give way to the Times And thus he might become once more the Preserver of his Countrey Cato sent Canidius one of his Friends to Cyprus to perswade Ptolemy to yield without being forc'd which if he did he should want neither Riches nor Honour For the Romans would give him the Priesthood of Venus in the Isle of Paphos He himself stay'd at Rhodes making some Preparations and expecting an Answer from Cyprus In the mean time Ptolemy King of Aegypt who had left Alexandria upon some quarrel between him and his Subjects was sailing for Rome in hopes that Pompey and Coesar would by their Power restore him again to his Kingdom in his way he desired to see Cato to whom he sent supposing he would come to him Cato was about his necessary Affairs when the Messenger came to whom he made Answer That Ptolemy might come to him if he thought fit When he came Cato neither went forward to meet him nor so much as rose up to him but saluting him as an ordinary Person bid him sit down This at first amazed Ptolemy who admired to see such Greatness and stately Carriage in a Man of common Birth and mean Appearance But afterward when he began to talk about his affairs Ptolemy no less wonder'd at the Wisdom and freedom of his Discourse for Cato blamed his Design and shew'd him the Honour and Happiness he had fallen from the Disgrace and Troubles he would run himself into told him what great Gifts and Presents he must bestow on the leading Men at Rome whom all Aegypt turn'd into Silver would scarcely satisfie he therefore advised him to return home and be reconciled to his Subjects offering to go along with him and assist him in composing the Differences Upon this Discourse Ptolemy came to himself as one recovered from a Fit of Madness and acknowledging the Wisdom and Sincerity of Cato was resolved to follow his Advice But he was again over-perswaded by his Friends to the contrary and so according to his first Design went to Rome When he came there and was forced to wait at the Gate of one of the Magistrates he began to repent of his folly in having rejected the Counsel of so good a Man or rather the Oracle of a God In the mean time the other Ptolemy that was in Cyprus very luckily for Cato poyson'd himself It was reported he had left great Riches therefore Cato designing to go first to Byzantium sent his Nephew Brutus to Cyprus for he would not wholly trust Canidius Then having reconciled the Fugitives and the People of Byzantium he left the City in peace and quietness and thence sail'd to Cyprus where he found a Royal Treasure in Plate Tables precious Stones and purple all which was to be turn'd into ready Money Cato resolved to examine all very exactly and to raise the price of every thing to the utmost to which end he was always present at selling the things and took the Accounts himself Nor would he trust to the usual Customs of the Market but suspected all the Officers Cryers Prizers and even his own Friends therefore he himself talk'd with the Buyers and urged them to bid up so that most of the things were sold at great Rates This Mistrustfulness of Cato's offended most of his Friends but especially Munatius the most intimate of them all became almost irreconcilable And this afforded Caesar a plentiful Subject for Railing in his Book against Cato Yet Munatius himself relates that this falling out was not so much occasioned by Cato's mistrust as by his neglect of him and by his own jealousie of Canidius for Munatius writ a Book concerning Cato which is chiefly follow'd by Thraseas Now Munatius says That coming last to Cyprus and having a very ill Lodging provided for him he thereupon went to Cato's House but was not admitted because he was in private with Canidius of which he afterward very mildly complain'd to Cato but received a very harsh Answer for he told him That too much Love according to Theophrastus often causes Hatred and you said he because you bear me much Love think you receive too little Honour and presently grow angry but as to Canidius I will imploy him both for hîs Industry and his Fidelity â—e has been always with me and I have always found him free from corruption These things were said in private between them two but Cato afterward told Canidius what had passed which Munatius understanding would no more go to sup with him and when he was called to Council refused to come Then Cato threatned to seize his Goods as was the custom to deal with those who were disobedient but Munatius not regarding his Threats returned to Rome and continued
always speak his Opinion And he did accordingly for first when Pompey made severe Laws for punishing and laying great Fines on those who had corrupted the People with Gifts Cato advised him To let alone what was already pass'd and to provide for the future for if he should seek into past Crimes it would he difficult to know where to stop and if he would ordain new Penalties it would be unreasonable to punish Men by a Law which they had never broken Afterward when many considerable Men and some of Pompey's own Relations were accused he grew remiss and let fall the Prosecution but Cato sharply reprov'd him and urg'd him to proceed Pompey had made a Law also to forbid the custom of making commendatory Orations on behalf of those that were accused yet he himself writ one for Munatius Flaccus and sent it while the Cause was pleading which Cato seeing he stopt his Ears with his Hands and would not hear it read for he was one of the Judges Whereupon Flaccus before Sentence was given excepted against him but was condemned notwithstanding And indeed Cato was the occasion of great Trouble and Perplexity to almost all that were accused of any thing for they fear'd to have him one of their Judges yet did not dare to reject him and many had been condemned because refusing him they seemed not to trust their own Innocence To others it was objected as a great Reproach the not accepting Cato for their Judge In the mean while Caesar lay with his Forces in Gaul where he continued in Arms and at the same time by his Gifts his Riches and his Friends increas'd his Power in the City Hereupon Cato forewarn'd Pompey and rouz'd him out of the negligent Security in which he lay not imagining any Danger near but seeing Pompey very slow and unwilling or afraid to undertake any thing against Caesar Cato resolved himself to stand for the Consulship and presently force Caesar either to lay down his Arms or discover his Intentions Both Cato's Competitors were persons very much beloved by the People Sulpitius who was one had by Cato's means acquired great Credit and Authority in the City therefore it was thought unhandsom and ungratefully done to stand against him but Cato did not take it ill For 't is no wonder said he if a man will not yield to another in that which he esteems the greatest Good Now he perswaded the Senate to make an Order That those who stood for Offices should themselves ask the People for their Votes and not sollicite by others This very much offended the common People for it took from them not only the means of receiving Money but also the opportunity of obliging several Persons and so rendred them both poor and less regarded Besides Cato himself was by nature altogether unfit for the business of Canvassing for he took more care to preserve the dignity of his Character than to obtain the Office Thus by following his own way of Solliciting and not suffering his Friends to do those things which take with the Multitude he lost the Consulship Whereas upon such like Occasions not only those who miss'd the Office but even their Friends and Relations used to be much griev'd and out of Countenance for several days after yet Cato took it so unconcernedly that he anointed himself and play'd at Ball in the Field and after Dinner went into the Forum as he used to do without his Shooes or his Coat and there walked about with his Acquaintance But Cicero Blamed him for that when Affairs required such a Consul he would not take any Care nor shew the People any Civility as also that he afterward neglected to try again whereas he had stood a second time to be chosen Praetor Cato answer'd That he lost the Praetorship the first time not by any dislike of the People but by the power and corruption of his Adversaries whereas in the Election of Consuls there had been no foul dealing So that he plainly saw the People were offended at his Manners which an honest man ought not to alter for their sake nor yet would a wise man attempt the same thing again while he lies under the same Prejudices Caesar was then fighting with many warlike Nations whom he very bravely subdued Among the rest it seems he had set upon the Germans who yet were in Peace with the Romans and slew three hundred thousand of them Upon which some of his Friends moved the Senate for a publick Thanksgiving but Cato declared They ought to deliver Caesar into the hands of those who had been thus unjustly assaulted that they might expiate the Offence and not bring a Curse upon the City yet we have reason said he to thank the Gods for that they spared the Commonwealth and did not take Vengeance upon the Army for the Madness and Folly of the General Hereupon Caesar writ a Letter to the Senate which was read openly 't was full of reproachful Language and Accusations against Cato who standing up seemed not at all concern'd and without any Heat or Passion but with a calm and as it were premeditated Discourse expos'd the Scurrility and Folly of Caesar making it evident that the Accusations he had heap'd together against him were nothing but abusive and ridiculous Railing Then he began to rip up all Caesar's Practices and laid open his Designs from the beginning as clearly as if he never had been an Enemy to him but a constant Confederate with him and told the Senate That if they were wise they would not fear the Britains and Gauls but Caesar himself This Discourse so mov'd and awaken'd the Senate that Caesars Friends repented they had made the Letter be read which had given Cato opportunity of many reasonable things and such severe Truths against him However nothing was then concluded only 't was hinted that they would do well to send him a Successor Hereupon Caesar's Friends required That Pompey also should lay down his Arms and resign his Provinces or else that Caesar might not be obliged to either Then Cato cry'd out What he had foretold was come to pass now'twas manifest he would come upon them with his Forces and turn against the State those Armies he had got by deceitfully imposing on them Yet Cato could not prevail much out of the Senate-house for the People always magnified Caesar And the Senate were convinced by Cato but were afraid of the People When News was brought That Caesar had taken Ariminum and was coming on with his Army toward Rome then all men even Pompey and the common People too cast their eyes on Cato who had alone foreseen and first clearly discover'd Caesar's Intentions He therefore told them If you had believ'd me or regarded my Advice you would not now have been reduc'd to stand in fear of one Man and also to put all your Hopes in one alone Then Pompey acknowledg'd That Cato indeed had spoken most like a Prophet and that himself had acted
too much like a Friend Now Cato advised the Senate to put all into the hands of Pompey for those who can raise up great Evils said he can best allay them Pompey finding he had not sufficient Forces and that those he could raise were not very resolute he forsook the City Cato resolving to follow Pompey sent his younger Son to Munatius who was then in the Countrey of Brutium and took his eldest with him But wanting some body to keep his House and take care of his Daughters he took Martia again who was now a rich Widow for Hortensius was dead and had left her all his Estate Caesar afterward made use of this Action also to reproach him with Covetousness and a mercenary Design in his Marriage For says he if he had need of a Wife why did he part with her and if he had not why did he take her again unless he gave her only as a Bait to Hortensius and lent her when she was young to have her again when she was rich But in Answer to this we may apply the Saying of Euripides First for Absurdities and surely none Will Hercules for want of Courage blame Now 't is alike absurd to reproach Hercules for Cowardice and to accuse Cato of Covetousness Though otherwise whether he did altogether right in this Marriage might be disputed for as soon as he had again taken Martia he committed his House and his Daughters to her and himself followed Pompey 'T is said that from that day he never cut his Hair nor shav'd his Beard nor wore a Garland but always full of sadness grief and dejectedness for the Calamities of his Countrey he continually bore the same Habit to the last whatever Party had Misfortune or Success The Government of Sicily being allotted to him he pass'd over to Syracuse where understanding that Asinius Pollio was arrived at Messana with Forces from the Enemy Cato sent to him to know the reason of his coming thither Pollio on the other side demanded of him the cause of these Commotions Cato also hearing that Pompey had quite abandon'd Italy and lay incamp'd at Dyrrachium he cry'd out How dark and uncertain is the Will of Heav'n Pompey when he did nothing wisely nor honestly was always successful and now that he would preserve his Countrey and defend her Liberty he is altogether unfortunate As for Asinius he said he could easily drive him out of Sicily but there coming greater Forces to his Assistance he would not engage the Island in a War wherefore he advised the Syracusians to submit to the Conqueror and provide for their own safety Then he set Sayl from thence When he came to Pompey he constantly gave Advice to prolong the War for he always hoped to compose Matters and would by no means that they should come to Action For the Commonwealth would suffer extreamly and be the certain cause of its own Ruine whoever were the Conqueror Moreover he persuaded Pompey and the Council of War to ordain That no City should be sack'd that was subject to the People of Rome and that no Roman should be kill'd but in the heat of Battel Thereby he got himself great Honour and brought over many to the Party of Pompey who were much taken with the Moderation and Humanity of Cato Afterward being sent into Asia to assist those who were raising Men and preparing Ships in those Parts he took with him his Sister Servilia and a little Boy which she had by Lucullus For since her Widowhood she had lived with her Brother and very much recover'd her Reputation having put her self under his Care follow'd him in his Voyages and comply'd with his severe way of Living yet Caesar did not fail to asperse him upon her account also Pompey's Officers in Asia it seems had no great need of Cato But he brought over the People of Rhodes by his Perswasions and leaving his Sister Servilia and her Child there he returned to Pompey who had now gotten together very great Forces both by Sea and Land And here Pompey clearly betray'd his own Intentions For at first he design'd to give Cato the Command of the Navy which consisted of no less than five hundred Ships of War besides a vast number of Pinaces Scouts and Tenders But presently bethinking himself or put in mind by his Friends that Cato's principal and only aim being to free his Countrey from all Usurpation if he were Master of so great Forces as soon as ever Caesar should be conquered he would certainly oblige Pompey to lay down his Arms and be subject to the Laws Therefore Pompey chang'd his Mind and tho' he had before mentioned it to Cato yet he made Bibulus Admiral Notwithstanding this it appear'd Cato's Affection to the publick Good was no way diminish'd For when they were ready to engage in a Battle at Dyrrachium Pompey himself encouraged the Army and commanded all the Officers to do the like yet the Souldiers hearkened to them but coldly and with silence Cato spoke last of all and discours'd to them out of the Principles of Philosophy such things as the Occasion required concerning Liberty Valour Death and Glory all which he delivered with great vehemence of Affection and concluded with an Invocation of the Gods to whom he directed his Speech as if they were present to behold them fight for their Countrey At this the Army gave such a Shout as fill'd all their Leaders with Hope and made them fall on without fear of Danger Caesar's Party were routed and put to flight yet his good Fortune took such advantage of Pompey's Cautiousness and Diffidence as rendred the Victory incompleat But of this we have spoken in the Life of Pompey Now while all the rest rejoyc'd and magnified their Success Cato alone bewail'd his Countrey and curs'd that fatal Ambition which made so many brave Romans murther one another After this Pompey following Caesar into Thessaly left at Dyrrachium a great quantity of Munition store of Riches and many of his Domesticks and Relations the charge of all which he gave to Cato with the Command only of fifteen Cohorts for tho' he trusted him much yet he was afraid of him too knowing full well that if he succeeded not Cato would never forsake him but if he conquer'd would never let him use his Victory at his pleasure There were likewise many Persons of eminent Quality that stay'd with Cato at Dyrrachium When they heard of the Overthrow at Pharsalia Cato resolv'd with himself that if Pompey were slain he would conduct those that were with him into Italy and then retire as fâ—r from the Tyranny of Caesar as he could and live in Exile but if Pompey were safe he would keep the Army together for him With this Resolution he pass'd over to Corcyra where the Navy lay There he would have resign'd his Command to Cicero because he had been Consul and himself only a Proetor but Cicero refus'd it and was going for Italy At which
Pompey's Son being incens'd would rashly and in a heat have punish'd all those who were going away and in the first place have laid hands on Cicero but Cato reprehended him in private and diverted him from that Design Thus apparently he sav'd the Life of Cicero and preserv'd several others besides Now understanding that Pompey the Great was fled toward Aegypt or Lybia Cato resolved to hasten after him and having taken all his Men aboard he set Sail but first to those who were not willing to engage he gave free liberty to depart When they came to the Coast of Africk they met with Sextus Pompey's younger Son who told them of the Death of his Father in Aegypt at which they were all exceedingly griev'd and declared that after Pompey they would follow no other Leader but Cato Out of compassion therefore to so many worthy Persons who had given such testimones of their Fidelity and whom he could not for shame leave in a desart Countrey amidst so many Difficulties he took upon him the Command and march'd toward the City of Cyrene which presently received him tho' not long before they had shut their Gates against Labienus Here he was inform'd that Scipio Pompey's Father-in-law was received by King Juba and that Appius Varus whom Pompey left Governour of Lybia had joyn'd them with his Forces Cato therefore resolved to march toward them by land it being Winter and having got together a great many Asses to carry Water he furnished himself likewise with plenty of all other Provision and a number of Carriages he took also with him some of those they call Pssilli who cure the biting of Serpents by sucking out the Poyson with their Mouths and have likewise certain Charms by which they stupifie and lay asleep the Serpents Thus they marched seven days together Cato all the time went on Foot at the Head of his Men and never made use of any Horse or Chariot Ever since the Battel of Pharsalia he used to sit at Table and added this to his other ways of Mourning that he never lay down but to sleep Having pass'd the Winter in Lybia Cato drew out his Army which amounted to little less than ten thousand The Affairs of Scipio and Varus went very ill by reason of their Dissentions and Quarrels among themselves and their Submissions and Flatteries to King Juba who was insupportable for his Vanity and the Pride he took in his Strength and Riches The first time he came to a conference with Cato he had ordered his own Seat to be placed in the middle between Scipio and Cato which Cato observing took up his Chair and set himself on the other side of Scipio to whom he thus gave the Honour of sitting in the middle tho' he were his Enemy and had formerly published a scandalous Libel against him There are some who approve not this Action of Cato's and yet on the other side blame him for that in Sicily walking one day with Philostratus he gave him the middle Place out of the Respect he bore to Philosophy Thus did Cato pull down the Spirit of Juba who before treated Scipio and Varus no better than his own Subjects he reconciled them also to one another All the Army desired Cato to be their Leader Scipio likewise and Varus gave way to it and Offer'd him the Command but he said He would not break those Laws which he fought to defend and he being but Pro-proetor ought not to command in the presence of a Pro-Consul for Scipio had been created Pro-Consul besides that the People would take it as a good Omen to see a Scipio command in Africk and the very Name would give Courage to the Souldiers Scipio having taken upon him the Command presently resolv'd at the Instigation of Juba to put all the Inhabitants of Vtica to the Sword and to raze the City for having as they pretended taken part with Coesar Cato would by no means suffer this but invoking the Gods exclaiming and protesting against it in the Council of War he with much difficulty delivered the poor People from their Cruelty Afterward upon the Entreaty of the Inhabitants and at the Instance of Scipio Cato took upon himself the Government of Vtica lest it should fall into Coesar's hands for it was a strong Place and very advantageous for either Party yet it was better provided and more fortified by Cato who brought in great store of Corn repair'd the walls erected Towers made deep Trenches and Out-works round the Town The young Men of Vtica he lodg'd in the Trenches having first taken their Arms from them the rest of the Inhabitants he kept within the Town and took great care that no Injury should be done nor Affront offer'd them by the Romans From hence he sent great quantity of Arms Money and Provision to the Camp and made this City their chief Magazine He advis'd Scipio as he had before done Pompey by no means to hazard a Battel against a Man experienc'd in War and encourag'd with Success but to use delay for time would cool the Heats and Passions of men which are the chief support and strength of Vsurpers But Scipio out of Pride rejected this Counsel and writ a Letter to Cato in which he reproach'd him with Cowardice and that he could not content himself to lie secure within Walls and Trenches but he must hinder others that they might not make use of the Courage and Reason they have to lay hold an Occasions In Answer to this Cato writ word again That he would take the Horse and Foot which he had brought into Africk and go over into Italy to give Caesar some Diversion there But Scipio derided this Proposition also Then Cato openly avow'd He was sorry he had yielded the Command to Scipio who he saw would not use his Power wisely in the War and if contrary to all appearance he should succeed doubtless he would use his Success as unjustly at home For Cato did then think and so he told his Friends That he could have but slender Hopes in those Generals that had so much Boldness and so little Conduct Yet if any thing should happen beyond Expectation and Caesar should be overthrown for his part he would not stay at Rome but would retire from the Cruelty and Inhumanity of Scipio who had already given out fierce and proud Threats against many But what Cato had look'd for fell out sooner than he expected For about midnight came one from the Army who brought word There had been a great Battel near Thapsus that all was utterly lost Caesar had taken both the Camps Scipio and Juba were fled with a few only and the rest cut to pieces This News as 't is usual in War and coming in the night too did so frighten the People that they were almost out of their Wits and could scarce keep themselves within the Walls of the City but Cato went out and meeting the People in this Hurry and Clamour did comfort and
to march thither to oppose him Cleomenes return'd That he believed it but desir'd him to give him an account if it stood with his Convenience why he carry'd those Torches and Ladders with him Aratus laughing at the Jeer and asking what manner of Youth this was Democrites a Spartan Exile reply'd If you have any Designs upon the Lacedaemonians begin before this young Eagle's Talons are grown Presently after this Cleomenes being in Arcadia with a few Horse and 300 Foot the Ephori fearing to engage in the War commanded him home but upon his Retreat Aratus taking Caphuoe they commission'd him again In this Expedition he took Methudrium and spoiled the Countrey of the Argives and the Achaians to stop his Victory and secure their Friends sent 20000 Foot and 1000 Horse against him under the Command of Aristomachus Cleomenes fac'd them at Palantium and offer'd Battle But Aratus being dash'd at his Bravery would not suffer the General to engage but retreated being curst by the Achoeans and hooted at and scorn'd by the Spartans who were not above 5000 for a Coward Cleomenes encouraged by this Success began to vaunt among the Citizens a Sentence of one of their ancient Kings who said The Spartans seldom enquired how many their Enemies were but where they were After this marching to the Assistance of the Eleans upon whom the Achaians warr'd and about Lycoeum falling upon the Enemy in their Retreat he routed their whole Army taking a great number of Captives and leaving many dead upon the Place so that it was commonly reported amongst the Greeks that Aratus was slain But Aratus making the best Advantage of the Opportunity presently after the Defeat march'd to Mantinoea and before any body suspected it took the City and put a new Garrison into it Upon this the Lacedoemonian s being quite discouraged and opposing Cleomenes's Design of carrying on the War he was eager to send for Archidamus Agis's Brother from Mesena for he of the other Family had a Right to the Kingdom and beside Cleomenes thought that the Power of the Ephori would be abated when the Kingly State was fill'd up and equally poised between the two Families But those that were concern'd in the Murder of Agis understanding the Design and fearing that upon Archidamus's Return they should be call'd to an Account receiv'd him coming privately into Town waited on him and presently after murder'd him but whether Cleomenes was against it as Phylarchus imagines or whether he was perswaded by his Friends and winck'd at the Contrivance is uncertain however they were most blam'd as having forc'd his Consent But he still resolving to new-model the State brib'd the Ephori to make him General and won the Affections of many others by means of his Mother Cratesicloea who spared no Cost and was very zealous to promote the same Interest and though of her self she had no Inclination to marry yet for her Son's sake she wedded one of the chiefest Citizens for Wealth and Power Cleomenes marching forth with the Army now under his Command took Leuctra a place belonging to Megalopolis and the Achoeans quickly facing him with a good body of Men commanded by Aratus in a Battle under the vety Walls of the City some part of his Army was routed But Aratus commanding the Achoeans not to pass a deep Hollow and stopping the Pursuit Lydiadas the Megalopolitan fretting at the Orders encouraging the Horse which he led and pursuing the routed Enemy fell into a place full of Vines Hedges and Ditches and being forc'd to break his Ranks was put into a great Disorder Cleomenes observing the Advantage commanded the Tarentines and Cretans to engage him by whom after a brave Dispute he was routed and slain The Lacedoemonians thus encouraged with a great shout fell upon the Archoeans and routed their whole Army Of the slain which were very many some Cleomenes delivered upon Articles but the Body of Lydiadas he commanded to be brought to him and then putting on it a purple Robe and a Crown upon its Head sent a Convoy with it to the Gates of Megalopolis This Lydiadas was the Man that resign'd his Crown restor'd Liberty to the Citizens and joyn'd the City to the Achoean Interest Cleomenes being very much raised by this Success and perswaded that if matters were wholly at his Disposal he should quickly be too hard for the Achoeans He taught Megistones his Mother's Husband That 't was expedient for the State to shake off the Power of the Ephori and to put all their Wealth into one common Stock for the whole Body That Sparta being restor'd to its old Equality might be rais'd up to be Mistriss of all Greece Megistones liked the Design and engag'd two or three more of his Friends About that time one of the Ephori sleeping in Phasiphae's Temple dream'd a very surprizing Dream for he thought he saw the four Chairs removed out of the place where the Ephori used to sit and hear Causes and one only set there and whilst he wondred he heard a Voice out of the Temple saying This is best for Sparta The Person telling Cleomenes this Dream he was a little troubled at first fearing that he us'd this as a Trick to sift him upon some Suspicion of his Design but when he was satisfied that the Relater spoke truth he took heart again and taking with him those whom he thought would be against his model he took Eroea and Alcoea two Cities of the Achoeans furnish'd Orchomenium with Provisions besieg'd Mantinoea and with long marches so harass'd the Lacedoemonians that many of them desir'd to be left in Arcadia and he satisfy'd their Request With the Mercenaries he march'd to Sparta and by the way communicated his Design to those whom he thought fittest for his Purpose and march'd slowly that he might catch the Ephori at Supper When he was come near the City he sent Eurycleidas to the Sussitium the eating-place of the Ephori under pretence of carrying some Message from him from the Army Threicion Phoebis and two of those which were bred with Cleomenes which they call Samothracoe follow'd with a few Souldiers And whilst Eurycleidas was delivering his Message to the Ephori they ran upon them with their drawn Swords and slew them Agesilaus as soon as he was run through fell and lay as dead but in a little time he rose silently convey'd himself out of the Room and crept undiscover'd into a little House which was the Temple of Fear and which always us'd to be shut but was then by chance open being got in he shut the Door and lay close the other four were kill'd and above ten more that came to their Assistance to those that were quiet they did no harm stopt none that fled the City and spar'd Agesilaus who came out of the Temple the next day The Lacedoemonians have not only Temples dedicated to Fear but also to Death Laughter and the like Passions now they worship Fear not as they do
to him in his Designs on Greece for Men when they waited upon other Kings did not so much admire their Wealth costly Furniture and numerous Attendance as they hated their Pride and State their difficulty of Access and scornful commanding Answers to their Petitions But when they came to Cleomenes who was both really a King and bore that Title and saw no Purple no Robes of State upon him no Chairs and Couches about him for his ease and that he did not receive Petitions and return Answers after a long delay by a number of Messengers Waiters or by Bills but that he rose and came forward to meet those that came to wait upon him staid talk'd freely and graciously with all that had Business they were extreamly taken won to his Service and profess'd that he alone was the true Son of Hercules His common every days Meal was in a mean Room very sparing and after the Laconick manner and when he entertain'd Ambassadors or Strangers two more Beds were added and a little better Dinner provided by his Servants but no Fricacies no Dainties only the dishes were larger and the Wine more plentiful for he reprov'd one of his Friends for entertaining some Strangers with nothing but Pulse and black Broth such Diet as they usually had in their Phiditia saying That upon such occasions and when they treat Strangers 't was not requisite to be too exact Laconians After Supper a Stand was brought in with a brass Vessel full of Wine two silver Pots which held almost a Quart apiece a few silver Cups of which he that pleas'd might drink but no Liquor was forc'd on any of the Guests There was no Musick nor was any requir'd for he entertain'd the Company sometimes asking Questions sometimes telling Stories And his Discourse was neither too grave and unpleasantly serious nor vain and abusive but merrily facetious for he thought those ways of catching Men by Gifts and Presents which other Kings use to be mean and inartificial and it seem'd to him to be the most glorious method and most suitable to a King to win the Affections of those that came near him by pleasant Discourse and unaffected Conversation for a Friend and Mercenary differ only in this that the one is made by Conversation and agreeableness of Humour and the other by Reward The Mantinoeans were the first that oblig'd him for getting by night into the City and driving out the Achoean Garrison they put themselves under his Protection he restor'd them their Polity and Laws and the same day march'd to Tegea and a little while after fetching a Compass through Arcadia he made a Descent upon Pheroe in Achaia intending to force Aratus to a Battle or bring him into Disrepute for refusing to engage and suffering him to waste the Countrey Hyperbatus at that time commanded the Army but Aratus had all the Power amongst the Achoeans The Achoeans marching forth with their whole Strength and incamping in Dumoeoe about Hecatomboeum Cleomenes came up and thinking it not advisable to pitch between Dumoeoe a City of the Enemies and the Camp of the Achoeans he boldly dar'd the Achoeans and forc'd them to a Battle and routing the Phalanx slew a great many in the Fight and took many Prisoners thence marching to Lagon and driving out the Achoean Garrison he restor'd the City to the Eloeans The Affairs of the Achoeans being in this desperate condition Aratus who was wont to continue in his Government above a year refus'd the Command though they entreated and urg'd him to accept it and this was ill done when the Storm was high to put the Power out of his own hands and set another to the Helm Cleomenes at first propos'd fair and easie Conditions by his Ambassadors to the Achoeans but afterward he sent others and requir'd the chief Command to be settled upon him and in other Matters he promis'd to agree to reasonable terms and to restore their Captives and their Countrey The Achoeans were willing to come to an Agreement upon those terms and invited Cleomenes to Lerna where an Assembly was to be held but it hapned that Cleomenes hastily marching on and unreasonably drinking Water brought up abundance of Blood and lost his Voice therefore being unable to continue his March he sent the chiefest of the Captives to the Achoeans and putting off the Meeting for some time retir'd to Lacedoemon This ruin'd the Affairs of Greece which was just then ready to recover it self out of its Disasters and avoid the insulting and Covetousness of the Macedonians for Aratus whether fearing or distrusting Cleomenes or envying his unlook'd-for Success or thinking it a disgrace for him who had commanded 33 years to have a young Man succeed to all his Glory and his Power and be Head of that Government which he had been raising and settling so many years he first endeavour'd to keep the Achoeans from closing with Cleomenes but when they would not hearken to him fearing Cleomenes s daring Spirit and thinking the Lacedoemonian's Proposals to be very reasonable who design'd only to reduce Peloponnesus to its old Model he took his last Refuge in an Action which was unbecoming any of the Greeks most dishonourable to him and most unworthy his former Bravery and Exploits for he call'd Antigonus into Greece and fill'd Peloponnesus with Macedonians whom he himself when a Youth having beaten their Garrison out of the Castle of Corinth had driven from the same Countrey beside he declar'd himself an Enemy to all Kings and hath left many dishonourable Stories of this same Antigonus in those Commentaries which he wrote Aud though he declares that he suffer'd considerable Losses and underwent great Dangers that he might free Athens from the Power of the Macedonians yet afterward he brought the very same Men arm'd into his own Countrey and his own House even to the Womens Apartment He would not endure that one of the Family of Hercules and King of Sparta and one that had reform'd the Polity of his Countrey as it were a disorder'd Harmony and tun'd it to the plain Dorick measure of Lycurgus to be styl'd Head of the Triccoeans and Sicyonians and whilst he fled the Pulse and short Coat and which were his chief Accusations against Cleomenes the extirpation of Wealth and reformation of Poverty he basely subjected himself together with Achoea to the Diadem and Purple to the imperious Commands of the Macedonians and their Satrapoe That he might not seem to be under Cleomenes he sacrific'd the Antigoneia Sacrifices in Honour of Antigonus and sung Poeans himself with a Garland on his Head to the Honour of a rotten consumptive Macedonian I write this not out of any Design to disgrace Aratus for in many things he shew'd himself vigorous for the Grecian Interest and a great Man but out of pity to the weakness of Humane Nature which in such a Person so excellent and so many ways dispos'd to Vertue cannot attain to a State irreprehensible The Achoeans
from Sicyon came to his Assistance Cleomenes heard the News about the second Watch of the Night and sending for Megistones angrily commanded him to go and set things right at Argos This Megistones was the Man who pass'd his word for the Argives Loyalty and perswaded him not to banish the suspected This Megistones he dispatch'd with two thousand Souldiers and observ'd Antigonus himself and encouraged the Corinthians pretending that there was no great matter in the Stirs at Argos but only a little Disturbance rais'd by a few inconsiderable Persons But when Megistones entring Argos was slain and the Garrison could scarce hold out and frequent Messengers came to Cleomenes for Succours he fearing lest the Enemy having taken Argos should shut up the Passes and securely waste Laconia and besiege Sparta it self which he had left without Forces he dislodg'd from Corinth and presently lost that City for Antigonus entred it and garrison'd the Town He turn'd aside from his direct March and assaulting the Wall of Argos endeavour'd to break in and having clear'd a way under the quarter called Aspis he joyn'd the Garrison which still held out against the Achoeans some parts of the City he scal'd and took and his Cretan Archers clear'd the Streets But when he saw Antigonus with his Phalanx descending from the Mountains into the Plain and the Horse on all sides entring the City he thought it impossible to maintain his Post and therefore with all his Men made a safe Retreat behind the Wall Having in a short time rais'd himself to a considerable height and in one March made himself Master of almost all Peloponnesus and lost all again in as short a time For some of his Allies presently forsook him and others not long after put themselves under Antigonus's Protection His Army thus defeated as he was leading back the Relicks of his Forces some from Lacedoemon met him in the Evening at Tegea and brought him News of as great a Misfortune as that which he had lately suffer'd and that was the Death of his Wife whom he doted on so much that when he was most prosperous he would ever now and then make a step to Sparta to visit his beloved Aegiatis This News afflicted him extreamly and he griev'd as a young Man would do for the loss of a very beautifull and excellent Wife yet his passion did not debase the greatness of his Mind but keeping his usual Voice his Countenance and his Habit he gave necessary Orders to his Captains and took care to secure the Tegeans The next day he retir'd to Sparta and having at home with his Mother and Children bewail'd the loss and finish'd his Mourning he presently appear'd about the publick Affairs of the State Now Ptolemy the King of Aegypt promis'd him Assistance but demanded his Mother and Children for Hostages this for some considerable time he was asham'd to discover to his Mother and though he often went to her on purpose and was just upon the Discourse yet still refrain'd and kept it to himself so that she began to suspect somewhat and ask'd his Friends Whether Cleomenes had somewhat to say to her which he was afraid to speak At last Cleomenes venturing to tell her she laugh'd heartily and said Was this the thing that you had often a mind to tell me and was afraid Why do not you put me on ship board and send this Carkase where it may be most servicable to Sparta before Age wastes it unprofitably here Therefore all things being provided for the Voyage thy went to Toenarus on Foot and the Army waited on them Cratesicloea when she was ready to go on Board took Cleomenes aside into Neptune's Temple and embracing him who was very much dejected and extreamly discompos'd she said thus Go to King of Sparta when we are without door let none see us weep or show any Passion below the Honour and Dignity of Sparta for that alone is in our own power as for Success or Disappointments those wait on us as the Deity decrees Having said thus and compos'd her Countenance she went to the Ship with her little Grandson and bad the Pilot put presently out to Sea When she came to Aegypt and understood that Ptolemy entertain'd Proposals and Overtures of Peace from Antigonus and that Cleomenes though the Achoeans invited and urg'd him to an Agreement was afraid for her sake to come to any without Ptolemy's consent she wrote to him advising him to do that which was most becoming and most profitable for Sparta and not for the sake of an old Woman and a little Child always stand in fear of Ptolemy this Character she maintain'd in her Misfortunes Antigonus having taken Tegea and plunder'd Orchomenum and Mantinoea Cleomenes was shut up within the narrow Bounds of Laconia and made such of the Heilots as could pay five Attick pounds free of Sparta and by that means got together 500 Talents and arming 2000 after the Macedonian fashion that he might make a Body fit to oppose Antigonus's Leucaspidoe white-Shields he undertook a very considerable and very surprising Enterprize Megalopolis was at that time a City of it self as big and as powerful as Sparta and had the Forces of the Achoeans and Antigonus incamping on its sides and it was chiefly the Megalopolitans doing that Antigonus was call'd in to assist the Achoeans Cleomenes having a design upon this City no Action was ever more sudden and more unexpected order'd his Men to take five days Provision and so march'd to Sellasia as if he intended to spoil the Countrey of the Argives but from thence making a descent into the Territories of Megalopolis and refreshing his Army about Rhoetium he march'd through Helicon directly to the City When he was not far off the Town he sent Panteus with two Regiments to surprize the Mesopyrgion the Quarter between the two Towers which he understood to be the most unguarded Quarter of the Megalopolitans Fortifications and with the rest of his Forces he follow'd leisurely Panteus not only surpriz'd that Place but finding a great part of the Wall without Guards he pull'd down some places and demolish'd others and kill'd all the Defenders that he found Whilst he was thus busied Cleomenes came up to him and was got with his Army within the City before the Megalopolitans knew of the Surprize At last as soon as it was discover'd some left the Town immediately taking with them what Money they had ready some arm'd and engag'd the Enemy and though they were not able to beat them out yet they gave their Citizens time and opportunity safely to retire so that there were not above 1000 Persons left in the Town all the rest flying with their Wives and Children and escaping to Messena A great number of those that arm'd and fought the Enemy were sav'd and very few taken amongst whom were Lysandridas and Thearidas two Men of great Power and Reputation amongst the Megalopolitans and therefore the Souldiers as soon as they were
taken brought them to Cleomenes And Lysandridas as soon as he saw Cleomenes afar off cry'd out Now King of Sparta 't is in your power by doing a most Kingly and braver Action than you have already perform'd to purchase a considerable Glory And Cleomenes guessing at his meaning reply'd What do you say Lysandridas sure you will not advise me to restore your City to you again 'T is that which I mean Lysandridas reply'd and I advise you not to ruine so brave a City but to fill it with faithful and stedfast Friends and Allies by restoring their Countrey to the Megalopolitans and being the Saviour of so considerable a People Cleomenes paus'd a while and then said 'T is very hard to trust so far in these Matters but with us let Profit always yield to Glory Having said this he sent the two Men to Messena with a Trumpeter from himself offering the Megalopolitans their City again if they would forsake the Achoean Interest and be on his side Though Cleomenes made these kind and obliging Proposals yet Philopoemen would not suffer them to break their League with the Achoeans and accusing Cleomenes to the People as if his design was not to restore the City but to take the Citizens too he forc'd Thearidas and Lysandridas to leave Messena This was that Philopoemen who was afterward Chief of the Achoeans and a Man of the greatest Reputation amongst the Greeks as I have made it appear in his own Life This News coming to Cleomenes though he had before taken such strict care that the City should not be plunder'd yet then being in a Fury and put out of all patience he rifled them of all their Coin Plate and Jewels and sent their Statues and Pictures unto Sparta and demollishing a great part of the City he march'd away for fear of Antigonus and the Achoeans but they never stirr'd for they were in Aegium at a Council of War There Aratus mountted the Desk wept along while and held his Mantle before his Face and at last the Company being amaz'd and commanding him to speak he said Megalopolis is ruin d by Cleomenes The Assembly was presently dissolv'd the Achoeans being extreamly surpriz'd at the suddenness and greatness of the loss and Antigonus intending to send speedy Succours when he found his Army to gather very slowly out of their Winter-quarters he sent them Orders to continue there still and he himself march'd to Argos with a considerable Body of Men. The second enterprize of Cleomenes seem'd to be carry'd on by extream Boldness and unaccountable Madness but yet in Polybius's opinion was done upon mature Deliberation and exact Fore-sight for knowing very well that the Macedonians were dispers'd into their Winter-quarters and that Antigonus with his Friends and a few Mercenaries about him winter'd in Argos upon these Considerations he invaded the Countrey of the Argives hoping to shame Antigonus to a Battle upon unequal terms or else if he did not dare to Fight to bring him into Disrepute with the Achoeans And this accordingly hapned for Cleomenes wasting plundring and spoyling the whole Countrey the Argives vex'd at the loss ran in Troops to the Palace of the King and clamour'd that he should either fight or surrender his Command to better and braver Men. But Antigonus as became an experienc'd Captain accounting it dishonourable foolishly to hazzard his Army and quit his Security and not so to be abus'd and rail'd at by the Rabble would not march out against Cleomenes but stood fix'd to the Designs which he had laid Cleomenes in the mean time brought his Army up to the very Walls and having uncontroul'dly spoil'd the Countrey and insulted o'er his Enemies drew off again A little while after being advertis'd that Antigonus design'd for Tegea and thence to make an Incursion into Laconia he hastily march'd with his Army another way and appear'd early in the morning before Argos and wasted the Fields about it the Corn he did not cut down with Reaping hooks and Sythes as Men usually do but beat it down with great Staves made like Scymetars as if with a great deal of Contempt and wanton Scorn he spoyl'd the Fields and wasted the Countrey in his March yet when his Souldiers would have set Cyllabaris the School of Exercise on fire he hindred the Attempt reflecting upon serious consideration that the Outrages committed at Megalopolis were the effects of his Passion rather than his Wisdom He pretended to make such little account of and so much to despise Antigonus who first retir'd to Argos and afterwards plac'd Garrisons on all the Mountains round about that he sent a Trumpeter to desire the Keys of the Heroeum Juno's Temple that he might sacrifice to the Goddess Thus with a Scoff and bitter Reflection on Antigonus and having sacrific'd to the Goddess under the Walls of the Temple which was shut he march'd to Phlius and from thence driving out those that garrison'd Hologountum he march'd down to Orchomenum And these Enterprizes not only encouraged the Citizens but made him appear to the very Enemies to be an experienc'd Captain and very worthy of Command for with the Strength of one City not only to fight the Power of the Macedonians and all the Peloponnesians not only to preserve Laconia from being spoyl'd but to waste the Enemies Countrey and to take so many and such considerable Cities is an Argument of no common Bravery He that first said That Money was the sinews of Affairs seem'd chiefly in that saying to respect War And Demades when the Athenians had voted that a Navy should be made ready but had no Money said They should make Bread before they thought of Sayling And the old Archidamus in the beginning of the Peloponnesian War when the Allies desir'd that each Parties share of Contributions for the War should be determin'd is reported to have said War cannot be kept to a set Diet For as well-breath'd Wrestlers do in time weary and tire out the most active and most skilful Combatant so Antigonus coming to the War with a great stock of Wealth weary'd out Cleomenes whose Poverty made it difficult for him either to provide Pay for the Mercenaries or Provisions for the Citizens For in all other Respects the time favour'd Cleomenes for Antigonus's Affairs at home began to be disturb'd for the Barbarians wasted and over-ran Macedonia whilst he was absent and at that time a vast Army of the Illyrians came down to be freed from whose Outrages the Macedonians sent for Antigonus and the Letters had almost been brought to him before the Battel was fought upon the receipt of which he presently dislodg'd and left the Achoeans Affairs to themselves But Fortune that loves to determine the greatest Affairs by a Minute in this Conjuncture show'd such an exact niceness of Time that immediately after the Battel in Sellasia was over and Cleomenes had lost his Army and his City the Messengers reach'd Antigonus And this made Cleomenes's Misfortune more to
grievous and dishonourable for Cleomenes who had scorn'd to come to Terms with Antigonus a brave Warriour and a Man of Action to wait an effeminate King's leisure till he should lay aside his Fiddle and end his Dance and then kill him These Courses being resolv'd on and Ptolomy hapning at the same time to make a Progress to Canopus they first spread abroad a Report that his Freedom was order'd by the King and it being the King's custom to send Presents and an Entertainment to those whom he would free Cleomenes's Friends made that provision and sent it into the Prison thereby deceiving the Keepers who thought it had been sent by the King for he sacrific'd and gave them large Portions and with a Crown upon his Head feasted and made merry with his Friends 't is said that he began the Action sooner than he design'd having understood that a Servant of one of the Accomplices lay abroad with a Mistress that he lov'd This made him afraid of a Discovery and therefore as soon as it was full Noon and all the Keepers drunk and fast asleep he put on his Coat and opening the Seam on his right Shoulder with his drawn Sword in his hand he issued forth together with his Friends provided in the same manner making 13 in all One of them by Name Hippotas was lame he follow'd the first Onset very well but when afterward he perceiv'd that they were more slow in their Advances for his sake he desir'd them to run him through and not ruine their Enterprize by staying for an useless unprofitable Man By chance an Alexandrian was then riding by the Door him they threw off and setting Hippotas on Horseback ran through the narrow Lanes and proclaim'd Liberty to the People but they it seems had Courage enough to praise and admire Cleomenes's Daring but not one had the heart to follow and assist him Three of them fell on Ptolomy the Son of Chrysermas as he was coming out of the Palace and kill'd him Another Ptolomy the Lieutenant of the City advancing against them in a Chariot they set upon dispers'd his Guards and Attendants and pulling him out of the Chariot kill'd him upon the Place Then they made toward the Castle designing to break open the Prison and take the Prisoners to their Assistance but the Keepers were too quick for them and secur'd the Passages Being baffled in this Attempt Cleomenes with his Company roam'd about the City none joyning with him but all retreating from and flying his Approach therefore despairing of Success and saying to his Friends That it was no wonder that Women rul'd o'er those Men that fled Liberty he excited them all to die as bravely as became his Followers and Men of their glorious Performances This said Hippotas was first as he desir'd run through by one of the young Men and then each of them readily and resolutely fell upon his own Sword except Panteus that Panteus that first surpriz'd Megalopolis This Man being a very handsom Person and a better Companion than any of the Youth the King lov'd and bad him when he had seen him and the rest fall'n die by their Example Panteus walk'd over them as they lay and prick'd every one with his Dagger to try whether any was alive when he prick'd Cleomenes in the Leg and saw him turn upon his Back he kiss'd him sate down by him and when he was quite dead cover'd his Carkase and then kill'd himself upon his Body Thus fell Cleomenes that great brave Man after he had been King of Sparta sixteen Years The News of their Fall being nois'd through the City Cratesiclaea though a Woman of a great Spirit could not bear up against the insupportable weight of this Affliction but embracing Cleomenes's Children made grievous Lamentations but the eldest Boy none suspecting such a Spirit in a Child threw himself headlong from the top of the House he was bruis'd very much but not kill'd by the Fall and was taken up crying and expressing his Resentments for not being permitted to destroy himself Ptolomy as soon as an Account of the Action was brought him gave order that Cleomenes's Body should be flea'd and hung up that his Children Mother and the Women that were with her should be kill'd Amongst those was Panteus's Wife a very fair Women and of a stately Carriage who had been but newly married and suffer'd these Disasters in the height of her Love Her Parents would not let her embark with Panteus presently after they were married though she eargerly desir'd it but shut her up and kept her by Violence at home yet a few days after she got an Horse and a little Money and escaping by Night made speed to Taenarus where she embark'd for Aegypt came to her Husband and with him chearfully endur'd to live in a foreign Country She led Cratesiclaea as she was going with the Souldiers to Execution held up her Train and begg'd her to be courageous who of her self was not in the least afraid of Death and desir'd nothing else but only to be kill'd before the Children When they were come to the Place of Execution the Children were first kill'd before Cratesiclaea's Eyes and afterwards she her self with only these words in her Mouth O Children whither are you gone But Panteus's Wife girded her Garments close to her and being a strong Women without any Noise or Lamentation lookt after every one that was slain and wound them up as well as her present Circumstances would permit and after all were kill'd dressing her self bound her clothes close about her and suffering none to come near or be an Eye-witness of her Fall besides the Executioner she courageously submitted to the stroak and wanted no Body to look after her or wind her up after she was dead Thus in her Death the Modesty of her Mind appear'd and set that Guard upon her Body which she always kept when alive And she in the declining Age of the Spartans shew'd that Women were no unequal Rivals of the Men and was on Instance of such a Courage as would not sneak to the Affronts of Fortune A few days after those that watch'd the hanging Body of Cleomenes saw a very great Snake winding about his Head and covering his Face so that no Bird of Prey would fly at it This made the King superstitiously afraid and set the Women upon several Lustrations as if he had been an extraordinary Man and one belov'd by the Gods that had been slain And the Alexandrians made Processions to the Place and gave Cleomenes the Title of Hero and Son of the Gods till the Philosophers satisfied them by saying That as Oxen breed Bees putrifying Horses Breed Hornets and Beetles rise from the Carkasses of dead Asses so the Humours and Juices of the Marrow of a Man's Body coagulating produce Serpents And this the Ancients observing appropriated a Serpent rather than any other Creature to Hero's THE LIVES OF THE GRACCHI TIBERIUS and CAIUS English'd from
the greatest Authority in the City the common People durst not obstruct their going thither but were rather so careful in avoiding 'em that they tumbled over one another in haste Some had furnish'd themselves with Clubs others got up the feet of Stools and Chairs which were broken by the hasty flight of the common People Thus armed they made towards Tiberius knocking down all those whom they happen'd to meet with so that the People were soon wholly dispersed and many slain as they endervour'd to make their escape Tiberius seeing these things thought it his best way to save himself by flight as he was running he chanc'd to be stopp'd by one who catch'd him hold by the Grown but he presently getting clear of that fled in his under-Garments only In this hasty flight it happened that falling over those who before had been knock'd down as he was endeavouring to recover himself one Publius Satureius a Tribune was observed to give him the first fatal stroke by hitting him upon the Head with the foot of a Stool the next Man who struck him was Lucius Rufus who afterwards boasted of it as an honourable Exploit In this Tumult there were above 300 Men slain with Clubs and Staves only there being no Warlike Instruments made use of This was the first Insurrection amongst the Romans that ended with the effusion of Blood since the abrogation of Kingly Government for all former Seditions which were neither small nor about trivial Matters were always amicably composed the two Parties constantly submitting to one another either the Senate for fear of the Commons or the Commons out of respect to the Senate And it 's probable indeed that Tiberius himself might then have been easily brought to submission if he had not been proceeded against in such a rigorous manner for he had not at that time above 3000 Men of his Party but it 's evident that this Conspiracy was fomented against him more out of an aversion and malice which the rich Men had to his Person than for the Reasons which they commonly pretended against him in testimony whereof we may alledge the Cruelty and unnatural Insultings which they used to his dead Body for they would not suffer his own Brother tho' he earnestly begg'd the favour to bury his Corps in the Night but threw it together with other Carkases into the River Neither did their Cruelty stop here for they banished some of his Friends without legal Process and slew as many of the others as they could lay their hands on amongst whom Diophanes the Orator was slain they murder'd one Caius Billius by shutting him up close in a large Tun with Vipers and Serpents Blossius of Cuma indeed was carried before the Consuls and examin'd touching what had happen'd who freely confessed That he had never failed to execute what ever Tiberius commanded him What reply'd Nasica then if Tiberius had commanded that you should burn the Capitol would you have burnt it His First Answer was That Tiberius never commanded any such thing but being pressed with the same Question by several others he declared That if Tiberius had commanded it he would not have thought it an inglorious action to have done it for he never commanded any thing but what he thought for the Peoples Advantage Blossius at this time was pardoned and afterwards fled to Aristonicus in Asia whose Fortune being then reduced to a desperate condition he kill'd himself However the Senate to mollifie the People after these Transactions did not oppose the division of the publick Lands and permitted them to choose another Commissioner for that Business in the room of Tiberius so they elected Publius Crassus who was Gracchus's near Kinsman because his Daughter Licinia was married to Caius Gracchus altho Cornelius Nepos says that she was not the Crassus's Daughter whom Caius married but Brutus's that triumph'd for his Conquests in Portugal but most Historians are of the same opinion with us Afterwards the People were much concern'd for the loss of Tiberius and it was apparent that they wanted nothing but a convenient opportunity to be revenged and already threatn'd to bring Nasica to his Trial The Senate fearing lest some Mischief should befal Nasica sent him Ambassador into Asia tho' there was no other occasion for his going thither The common people did not conceal their Indignation even in the open Streets but rail'd at him when-ever they met him abroad calling him a Murderer and a Tyrant one who had polluted even the Temple it self with the blood of a Tribune Upon this Consideration Nasica left Italy altho' he was obliged being the Chief-Priest to officiate in all Principal Sacrifices thus wandring full of Discontent and Affliction from one Place to another he died in a short time after not far from Pergamus It is no wonder that the People had such an aversion to Nasica when even Scipio Africanus who though deservedly belov'd by the Romans was in danger of quite losing the good opinion which the people had of him only for repeating when the News of Tiberius's Death was first brought to Numantia this Verse out of Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So may he perish who such Crimes commits And afterwards being ask'd by Caius and Fulvius in a great Assembly what he thought of Tiberius's Death he answer'd That he did not at all approve Tiberius's way of Proceeding Upon which account the People would begin to interrupt him with their Hissings in the middle of his Orations which they never presumed to do before that time and he on the other hand was so incensed at it that upon this account he reflected very smartly upon the People This is a full Account of the most material Passages in the Life of Tiberius THE LIFE OF CAIUS CAius Gracchus at first either for fear of his Brother's Enemies or designing to render them more odious to the People absented himself from their publick Assemblies and quietly retired to his own House as if he was a Person to whom such private Circumstances were not only very agreeable at present but that he was content also to pass the remainder of his Life without affecting any publick Action which made some imagine that he abhorred and detested the Transactions of Tiberius however he was now but very young being not so old as his Brother by nine years who was scarce thirty when he was slain It was not long before he plainly discover'd his Temper having a natural antipathy to a lazy Retirement and Effeminacy nor in the least inclin'd to any sort of Luxury or Covetousness but wholly addicted himself to the study of Eloquence as Wings whereby he might easily aspire to publick Business and Government and it was very apparent that he did not intend to pass his days in obscurity When Bettius a Friend of his was impeach'd of high Misdemeanors and he undertaking publickly to defend his Cause the People were in an Extasie and transported with Joy to find him at the
Bar and Master of such Eloquence that the other Orators seem'd to talk like Children in comparison to him This created new Jealousies and Fears amongst those in Authority and their great design was how to hinder Caius from being made Tribune But soon after it happen'd that he was elected Quoestor and obliged to attend Orestes the Consul into Sardinia This as it pleased his Enemies so it was not ungratefull to him for â—eing naturally a stout Man his Fame was equally remarkable in the Camp as at the Bar. And besides as yet he very much dreaded medling with State-affairs and appearing publickly in the Rostrâ—â— which because of the Importunity of Friends he could no otherwise avoid than by taking this Voyage therefore readily embraced the opportunity of absenting himself Notwithstanding which many are of opinion that he was an humble flatterer of the common People and more ambitious than ever Tiberius had been of popular Applause but it 's certain that he was forc'd upon not that he courted publick Business And Tully relates this of him That when he declin'd all those Concerns and would have liv'd privately his Brother appear'd to him in a Dream and calling him by his Name said To what purpose Caius are all these delays there is no possibility of avoiding that Fate which is destin'd for us two both to live and die alike in vindication of the Peoples Right Caius was no sooner arrived in Sardinia but he gave exemplary Proofs of his true Valour for he not only excelled all the young Men of his Age in his early Actions in doing justice to his Inferiors and in shewing all Obedience and Respect to his superior Officer but likewise in Discretion Frugality and Industry he surpassed even those who were much elder than himself It happen'd to be a sharp and sickly Winter in Sardinia insomuch that the General was forc'd to lay an Imposition upon several Towns to supply the Souldiers ' with necessary Cloths the Cities sent an Express to Rome with a Petition to be excused from that Burthen the Senate found their Request reasonable and order'd the General to find some other way of new cloathing the Army While he was long contriving what course to take in this Affair the Souldiers were reduced to great Extremities but Caius went from one City to another and by laying before them the reasonableness of that Demand he so far prevailed with them that of their own accord they cloathed the Roman Army These Transactions being carried to Rome and seeming to be only the forerunners of popular Ambition rais'd new Jealousies amongst the Senators and besides this there came Ambassadors out of Africa from King Micipsa to acquaint the Senate that their Master out of Respect to Caius Gracchus had sent a considerable quantity of Corn to the General in Sardinia at which the Senators were so much offended that they turn'd the Ambassadors out of the Senate-house and made an Order that the common Souldiers should be relieved by sending others in their room but that Orestes should continue upon the Place and Caius also upon the account of his being Treasurer But he soon finding how things were carried fell into a great passion and immediately took Shipping for Rome his Appearance there was so unexpected that he was generally censur'd not only by his Enemies but also by the Commons who thought it an unreasonable thing that he being Quoestor should desert the Army before his Commander When this Misdemeanor came to be tryed before the Censors he desired leave to make his Apology which he did so effectually that his Auditors quickly entertain'd a better opinion of him believing that he had been very much injured He made it then appear that he had serv'd 12 years in the Army whereas others are obliged to serve only 10 that he had continued Questor to the General three years whereas he might by Law have return'd at the end of one year that none but he in that Expedition carried his own Money to the Army whereas others first took care to drink off the Vessels of Wine which they carried with them and then to have them better fill'd with the Riches and Spoyl of the Countrey After this they brought other Accusations and Writs against him for creating Differences among the Allies and being engaged in the Conspiracy that was discover'd about Fregella but he having clear'd himself of these things he not only appear'd wholly innocent of the Crimes laid to his charge but made what Interest he could to be elected Tribune in which tho' he was generally opposed by all Persons of Quality yet there came such infinite numbers of People from all Parts of Italy to vote for Caius that many wanted Lodgings in the City and the Field being not large enough to contain the Company there were several who gave their Votes from Roofs and Battlements of Houses however the Nobility did so influence the People and cross Caius's Expectations that he was not return'd the first as was expected but the fourth Tribune When he came once to the execution of his Office it was seen presently who deserv'd to have been the first Tribune for he was a much better Orator than any of his Co-temporaries and the Concern which he still retain'd for the Murder of his Brother made him the bolder in speaking He us'd on all occasions to remind the People of what had happen'd in that Tumult and laid before them the Examples of their Ancestors how they declared War against the Falisci only for giving scurrilous Language to one Genutius a Tribune of the People and sentenced C. Vulturius to death for taking the Wall of a Tribune in the Streets Whereas said he these Persons did in the presence of you all murther Tiberius with Clubs and dragg'd the slaughter'd Body through the middle of the City to be cast into the River even his Friends as many as could be taken were put to death immediately without any tryal notwithstanding that just and ancient Custom which was always observed among our Forefathers that when-ever any one was accused of a capital Crime and did not make his personal appearance in Court a Trumpet was sent in the Morning to his Lodging to summon him by sound of Trumpet to appear and before this Ceremony was duely performed the Judges would never proceed to pass Sentence so cautious and reserv'd were our Ancestors about Business of Life and Death Caius having moved the People with such Speeches for his Voice was loud and strong he proposed two Laws The first was That who-ever was turn'd out of any publick Office by the People he should be thereby render'd incapable of bearing any Office afterwards The second was that if any Magistrate shall condemn a Roman to be banished without a legal Trial the People shall be authorized to take cognizance thereof One of these Laws did manifestly reflect upon M. Octavius who at the Instigation of Tiberius had been depriv'd of his
Battel began they had made Proclamation that who ever should bring the Heads either of Caius or Fulvius he should as a Reward receive their weight in Gold Septimuleius therefore having fix'd Caius's Head upon the top of his Spear came and presented it to Opimius the Consul They presently brought the Scales and it was found to weigh above 17 pounds But in this Affair Septimuleius gave as great signs of his Knavery as he had done before of his Cruelty for having taken out the Brains he fill'd the Scull with Lead There were others who brought the Head of Fulvius too but being mean inconsiderable Persons were turn'd away without the promis'd Reward The Bodies of these two Persons as well as of the rest who were slain to the number of 3000 Men were all thrown into the River their Goods were forfeited and their Widows forbidden to put themselves into Mourning but they dealt more severely with Licinia Caius's Wife and wrong'd her even of her Joynture and as an addition still to all their Inhumanity they barbarously murder'd Fulvius's youngest Son his Crime was not that he took up Arms against 'em or that he was present in the Battel but because he had proposed Articles of Agreement for this he was first imprison'd then slain But that which enraged the common People beyond all these things was because at this time in memory of his Success Opimius built the Temple of Concord as if he glory'd and triumph'd in the Slaughter of so many Citizens wherefore some body in the Night time under the Inscription of the Temple added this Verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Folly and Discord Concords Temple built Opimius was the first who being Consul presumed to usurp the Power of a Dictator and condemned without any Trial not only 3000 Citizens but Caius Gracchus and Fulvius Flaccus One of whom had triumph'd and been Consul the other far excell'd all his Co temporaries in Virtue and Honour Notwithstanding this Opimius could not restrain himself from Extortion and Bribery for when he was sent Ambassador to Jugurtha King of Numidia he was there corrupted by Presents and at his Return being shamefully convicted of it he was hated and reproach'd by the common People so that growing melancholy and his Spirits Sinking his Infamy still increas'd with his years It quickly now appear'd to the World what Respect and Veneration they had for the memory of the Graccki They order'd their Statues to be made and fix'd up in publick view they consecrated the Places where they were slain and thither brought the first Fruits of every thing according to the season of the Year for to make their Offerings Many came likewise thither to their Devotions and daily worship'd there as formerly at the Temples of the Gods It 's reported that as Cornelia their Mother bore the loss of her two Sons with a noble and undaunted Spirit so in reference to the Temples where they lay interr'd she only said Their Memory deserved such Monuments She removed afterwards and dwelt near the Mount Mycene not at all altering her former way of Living She was very much respected and beloved and kept open house for the Entertainment of all Strangers having daily a great number of Grecians and learned Men who resorted thither nor was there any foreign Prince but received Gifts from her and presented her again Those who were most conversant with her were much diverted when er'e she pleased to entertain 'em with any Relation concerning her Father Scipio African or his way of Living But it was very surprizing to have her make mention of her Sons without any Tears or Sign of Grief and to give a full Account of all their Deeds and Misfortunes as unconcern'd as if she had been relating the History of some ancient Heroes This made some imagine that Age or the greatness of her Afflictions had made her delirous and wholly insensible of all her Calamities but they who were of that opinion had no Notion at all how much a noble Birth or a good Education could conquer any Affliction and tho' envious Fortune may often be more successful and may smother virtuous Actions yet with the worser Calamities she can't bereave us of that tranquillity of Mind by which we generously bear them The End of the Lives of the Gracchi Tiberius and Caius THE COMPARISON OF TIBERIUS CAIUS GRACCHI with AGIS and CLEOMENES WE having given an Account severally of these Persons it remains only that he should take a View of them in Comparison with one another As for the Gracchi the greatest Detracters and their worst Enemies could not but allow that they had a Genius to Virtue beyond all other Romans which was inproved also by a generous Education Agis and Cleomenes seem'd to have had better natural Parts and a more solid Judgment for tho' they wanted all the Advantages of good Literature and were neither instructed in Morality nor the well management of their Affairs from which even those who were elder than they had already much degenerated yet they were publick Examples of Temperance and Frugality Besides the Gracchi happening to live when Rome had her greatest repute for Honour and virtuous Actions might justly have been ashamed if they had not inherited the Virtues of their Ancestors whereas the other two had Parents of different Morals and tho' they found their Countrey in a sinking condition and debauch'd yet that did not quench their forward Zeal to what was just and honourable The Generosity and the Integrity of the two Romans was chiefly remarkable in this That in the administration of publick Affairs they kept themselves from the imputation of Bribery whereas Agis might justly be offended if he had only that mean Commendation given him that he took nothing wrongfully from any Man being he distributed his own Fortunes which amounted in ready Money to the value of 600 Talents amongst his fellow-Citizens and surely extortion must appear a Crime of a strange nature to him who esteem'd it a piece of Covetousness to possess tho nee'r so justly gotten greater Riches than his Neighbours Their Politicks likewise and Transactions in reference to State-affairs were of a very different nature The chiefest things in general that the two Romans commonly aim'd at was the repairing of Cities and mending of High-ways and in particular the most generous Design which Tiberius is fam'd for was his division of the Lands amongst the poor People and Caius gain'd his greatest Reputation by the addition of 300 of the Commonalty to the same number of Senators investing them with an equal Authority Whereas the Alteration which Agis and Cleomenes made was in a quite different manner They did not redress things by little and little and cure small Distempers for that would have been according to Plato like cutting off one of the Hydra's Heads which was the only means to increase the number but they made a thorough Reformation and at once freed their Countrey from all Grievances or
Fortune any more which he would certainly do if he could impute his Overthrow to the disadvantage of the Night as he did before to the Mountains the narrow Passages and the Sea For it was not to be imagin'd that he who had still such Forces and large Dominions left should give over the War for want of Men or Arms till he had first lost all Courage and Hope by the conviction of an undeniable and manifest Defeat After they were gone from him with this Answer he laid himself down in his Tent and slept the rest of the Night soundlier than he was wont to do to the astonishment of the Commanders who came to him early in the Morning and were fain themselves to give order that the Soldiers should Dine But at last time not giving them leave to wait any longer Parmenio went to his Bed-side and call'd him twice or thrice by his Name till he wak'd him and then ask'd him How it was possible when he was to fight the most important Battel of all he could sleep so securely as if he were already Victorious So I am said Alexander smiling since I am now no more put to the trouble of wandring after and pursuing Darius as long as he pleases to decline Fighting in a Country of so large extent and so wasted And not only before the Engagement but likewise in the extreamest danger of it he shew'd the greatness of his Courage in Action and the solidity of his Judgment in Counsel For the left Wing which Parmenio commanded was so violently charg'd by the Bactrian Horse that it was disorder'd and forc'd to give Ground at the same time that Mazeus had sent a Party round about to fall upon those who guarded the Baggage which so disturb'd Parmenio that he sent Messengers to acquaint Alexander that the Camp and Baggage would be all lost unless he immediately reliev'd the Rear by a considerable Reinforement drawn out of the Front This Message being brought him Just as he was giving the Signal to those about him for the Onset he bade them tell Parmenio That sure he was mad and had lost the use of his Reason and that the Consternation he was in had made him forget that Conquerors always become Masters of their Enemies Baggage whereas those who were defeated instead of taking care of their Wealth or their Slaves had nothing more to do but to fight gallantly and die with Honour When he had said this he put on his Helmet having the rest of his Arms on before he came out of his Tent which were a short Coat of the Sicilian fashion girt close about him and over that a Breast-piece of Linnen often folded and plaited which was taken among other Booty at the Battel of Issus The Helmet which was made by Theophilus though of Iron was so well wrought and polish'd that it was as bright as the most refin'd Silver To this was fitted a Gorget of the same metal set with precious stones His Sword which was the weapon he most us'd in Fight was given him by the King of the Citieans and was of an admirable temper and lightness But the Belt which he wore also in all Engagements was of much richer Workmanship than the rest of his Armour it was made by old Helicon and presented him by the Rhodians as a mark of their Respect to him When-ever he drew up his Men or rode about to give Orders or instruct or view them he favour'd Bucephalus by reason of his Age and made use of another Horse but when he was to fight he sent for him again and as soon as he was mounted presently fell upon the Enemy After he had made a long Oration to the Thessalians and the rest of the Graecians who encourag'd him with loud Outcries desiring to be led on to the Charge he shifted his Javeling into his left Hand and with his right lifted up towards Heaven besought the Gods that if he was of a truth the Son of Jupiter they would be pleas'd to assist and strengthen the Graecians At the same time the Augur Aristander who had a white Mantle about him and a Crown of Gold on his Head rode by and shew'd them an Eagle that soar'd just over Alexander and directed his flight towards the Enemy which so animated the Beholders that after mutual Encouragements and Exhortations the Horse charg'd at full speed and were vigourously seconded by the Foot But before they could well come to Blows with the first Ranks the Barbarians shrunk back and were hotly pursued by Alexander who drave those that fled before him into the middle of the Battel where Darius himself was in Person whom he saw over the foremost Ranks conspicuous in the midst of his Life-Guard for he was an handsom proper Man and drawn in a lofty Chariot defended by abundance of the best Horse who stood close in order about it ready to receive the Enemy But Alexander's approach was so terrible forcing those who gave back upon those who yet maintain'd their Ground that he beat down and dispers'd them almost all but a few of the bravest and valiantest who were slain in their King's presence falling in heaps upon one another and in the very pangs of Death striving by catching hold of the Men and Horses to stop the Macedonians pursuit Darius now seeing all was lost that those who were plac'd in Front to defend him were broken and beat back upon him that he could not turn or disengage his Chariot without great difficulty the Wheels were so clogg'd and intangled among the dead Bodies which lay in such heaps as not only stopt but almost cover'd the Horses and made them bound and grow so unruly that the frighted Charioter could govern them no longer In this extremity he was glad to quit his Chariot and his Arms and mounting as they say upon a Mare that had newly foal'd betook himself to flight But he had not escap'd so neither if Parmenio had not sent fresh Messengers to Alexander to desire him to return and assist him against a considerable Body of the Enemy which yet stood together and would not give ground Upon this Parmenio was on all hands accus'd of Dulness and Sloth whether Age had impair'd his Courage or that as Callisthenes says he inwardly griev'd at and envied his Masters growing Greatness Alexander though he was not a little vex'd to be so recall'd and hindred from pursuing his Victory yet conceal'd the true Reason from his Men and causiing a Retreat to be sounded as if it were too late to continue the Execution any longer march'd back towards the place of danger and by the way met with the News of the Enemies total overthrow and flight This Battel being thus over seem'd to put a period to the Persian Empire and Alexander who was now proclaim'd King of Asia return'd thanks to the Gods in magnificent Sacrifices and rewarded his Friends and Followers with great sums of
Mony and Palaces and Governments of Provinces To ingratiate himself with the Grecians he wrote to them that he would have all Tyrannies abolish'd that they might live free according to their own Laws more particularly to the Plataeans that their City should be reedified because their Ancestors permitted their Countrymen to make their Territories the Seat of the War when they fought with the Babarians for their common Liberty He sent also part of the Spoils into Italy to the Crotonians to honour the Zeal and Courage of their Citizen Phaylus the Wrestler who in the Median War when the other Grecian Colonies in Italy disown'd Greece that he might have a share in the danger joyn'd the Fleet at Salamis with a Vessel set forth at his own charge So affectionate was Alexander to all kind of Virtue and so desirous to preserve the memory of laudable Actions From hence he march'd through the Province of Babylon which immediately submitted to him and in that of Ecbatane was mightyly surpris'd to see Fire continually break like a spring out of a cleft of the Earth and not far from that a Foutain of Naptha which stagnated in great abundance This Naptha in other respects resembling Bitumen is so subject to take fire that before it touches the flame it will kindle at the very light that surrounds it and often inflame the interjacent Air also The Barbarians to shew the Power and Nature of it sprinkled the street that led to the Kings Lodgings with little drops of this Liquor and when it was almost night stood at the further end with Torches which being applied to the moistned Places the first presently taking fire in less than a minute it caught from one end to the other in that manner that the whole Sreet was but one continued flame Among those who us'd to wait on the King when he anointed and wash'd himself and divert his Mind with pleasant discourses there was one Athenophanes an Athenian who desired him to make an Experiment of the Naptha upon Stephanus who stood by in the Bathing place a very ugly ridiculous Youth whose Talent was Singing well For said he if it take hold of him and cannot be quenched it must undeniably be allow'd to be of great and invincible strength The Youth readily consented to undergo the Tryal and as soon as he was anointed and rubb'd with it his whole Body broke out into such a flame and was so seiz'd by the fire that Alexander was exceedingly perplex'd and concern'd for him and not without Reason for nothing could have prevented his being consum'd by it if by good chance there had not been People at hand with a great many Vessels of Water for the service of the Bath with all which they had much ado to extinguish the Fire and his Body was so burn'd all over that he was not our'd of it a good while after Not absurdly therefore do they endeavour to reconcile the Fable to Truth who say this was the Drug mention'd by the Poets with which Medea anointed the Crown and Veil which she gave to Creon's Daughter For neither the things themselves nor the fire could kindle of its own accord but being prepar'd for it by the Naptha they imperceptibly attracted and caught the flame For the rays and emanations of Fire at a distance have no other effect upon some bodies than bare light and heat but in others where they meet with aiery dryness and also sufficient fat moisture they collect themselves and soon prey upon and alter the matter However the production of Naptha admits of divers opinions Whether this liquid Substance that feeds the flame does not rather proceed from a Soil that is unctuous and productive of Fire as that of the Province of Babylon is where the Ground is so very hot that oftentimes the Grains of Barly leap up and are thrown out as if the violent Inflammation had given the Earth a pulse And in extreme heats the Inhabitants are wont to sleep upon Skins fill'd with Water Harpalus who was left Governor of this Country and was desirous to adorn the Palace Gardens and Walks with Grecian Plants succeeded in the raising of all but Ivy which the Earth would not bear but constantly kill'd For being a Plant that loves a cold Soil the temper of that mold which was violently hot was improper for it Such digressions as these the nicest Readers may endure provided they are not too tedious At the taking of Susa Alexander found in the Palace 40000 Talents in Money ready coyn'd besides an unspeakable quantity of other Furniture and Treasure amongst which was 5000 Talents worth of Hermionique Purple that had been laid up there an hundred and ninety nine Years and yet kept its colour as fresh and lively as at first The reason of which they say is that in Dying the Purple they made use of Honey and of white Oyl in the white Tincture both which being of equal Age still preserv'd their lustre clean and refulgent Dimon also relates That the Kings of Persia had Water fetch'd them from the Nile and the Danubius which they laid up in their Treasuries using it as an Argument of the Greatness of their Power and Universal Empire But the entrance into Persia being very difficult by reason of the enevenness of the Ways and that the Passes to secure Darius who was retired thither were guarded by the best of his Forces Alexander happened upon a Guide exactly correspondent to what the Pythia had foretold when he was a Child That a Lycian should conduct him in his Journey into Persia for by such an one whose Father was a Lycian and his Mother a Persian and who spoke both Languages he was led into the Country by a way something about yet without fetching any considerable compass Here a great many of the Prisoners were put to the Sword of which himself gives this account That he commanded them to be kill'd out of an apprehension it would be advantageous to his Affairs Nor was his Booty in Money less here than at Susa besides other Moveables and Treasure as much as 10000 pair of Mules and 5000 Camels could well carry away When Alexander saw a vast Statue of Xerxes thrown down on a sudden by the multitudes of Solers that broke into the Palace he stood still and accosting it as if it had been alive Shall we said he neglectfully pass thee by now thou art prostrate on the Ground because thou once invadest Greece or shall we erect thee again in consideration of the Greatness of thy Mind and thy other Vertues But at last after he had paus'd a pretty while he went on without taking any further notice of it In this place he took up his Winter-Quarters and staid four Months to refresh his Soldiers The first time he sate on the Royal Throne of Persia under a Canopy of Gold Demaratus the Corinthian a well-wisher to Alexander and
he engag'd he kill'd one and took a second He was so much Master of the good Will and hearty service of his Soldiers that those who in other Expeditions were but ordinary Men carried with them a force not to be resisted or shaken when they went upon any danger where Caesar's glory was concern'd Such an one was Acilius who in a Sea-fight before Marseilles had his Right Hand struck off with a Sword yet did not quit his Buckler out of his Left but gaul'd the Enemies in the Face with it till he defeated them and made himself Master of the Vessel Such another was Cassius Scaera who in a Battle near Dyrrhachium had one of his Eyes pick'd out with an Arrow his Shoulder pierc'd with one Javelin and his Thigh with another and having receiv'd 130 Darts upon his Target call'd to the Enemy as thô he would surrender himself but when two of them came up to him he cut off the Shoulder of one with a Sword and by a blow over the Face forc'd the other to retire whilst with the Assistance of his own Party he made his escape Again in Britain when some of the chief Officers were accidentally faln into a Morass full of Water and there assaulted by the Enemy a common Soldier whilst Caesar stood and look'd on threw himself into the midst of them and after many and signal demonstrations of his Valour rescu'd the Officers and beat off the Barbarians At last he took the Water and with much ado partly by swimming partly by wading pass'd it but in the passage lost his Shield Caesar admir'd him and went to meet him with joy and acclamation but the Soldier very much dejected and in tears threw himself down at Caesar's feet and beg'd his pardon that he had let go his Buckler Another time in Afric Scipio having taken a Ship of Caesar's in which Granius Petronius one lately made Questor was passing he gave the other Passengers as free prize to his Soldiers but thought fit to give the Questor his Life But he said it was not usual for Caesar's Soldiers to take but give Life and having said so â—an upon his Sword and kill'd himself These Principles and Notions of Honour were inspir'd into them and cherish'd in them by Câ—sar himself who by his liberal distribution of Money and Honours shew'd them that he did not from the Wars heap up Wealth for his own Luxury or the gratifying his private Pleasure but that he took care to settle a sure Fund for the reward and encouragement of Valour and that he look'd upon himself only rich in that which he gave to deserving Soldiers There was no danger to which he did not willingly expose himself no labour from which he pleaded an exemption His contempt of danger was not so much admir'd by his Soldiers because they knew how much he lov'd Honour But his enduring so much hardship which he did to all appearance beyond his Natural Strength very much astonish'd them For he was a spare Man had a soft and white Skin was distemper'd in the Head and subject to an Epilepsie which 't is said first seiz'd him at Corduba But he did not make the weakness of his Constitution a pretext for his Ease but us'd War as the best Physick against his Indispositions whilst by unwearied Travels course Diet and frequent lodging in the Fields he strugled with his Diseases and prepar'd his Body against all attacks He slept generally in his Chariots or Litters and employ'd even his Rest in pursuit of Action In the day he was carried to Castles Garisons or Fortifications in his Chariot one Servant riding with him who us'd to write down what he dictated as he went and a Soldier attending behind with his Sword drawn He drove so briskly that when he first set out from Rome he arriv'd at the River Rhoan within 8 days He had been an expert Rider from his Childhood for it was usual with him to hold his hands close behind him and to put his Horse to full speed But in the Wars he had improv'd himself so far as to dictate Letters from on Horseback and to direct himself to two who took Notes at the same time or as Oppius saith to more And 't is thought that he was the first who found out a new way of Conversing with his Friends by Cyphers when either through multitude of business or the large extent of the City he had not time for a Personal Conference about such Incidents as requir'd a sudden dispatch How little nice he was in his Diet we have this remarkable Instance When Valerius Leo invited him one night to Supper and Treated him with a Sparagus upon which in stead of Oyl he had pour'd a sweet Oyntment Caesar fed on it without any disgust and reprimanded his Friends for finding fault with it For it was enough said he not to eat what you did not like but he who reflects on another Man's want of breeding shews he wants it as much himself Another time upon the Road he was driven by a Storm into a poor Man's Cottage where he found but one Room and that such as would afford but a mean Reception to a single Person and therefore he told his Companions that the most Honourable Places ought to be given to the best Men but the most Necessary Accommodations to the weakest and accordingly order'd that Oppius who was infirm should lodge within whilst he and the rest slept under a Shed at the Door His first War in Gaul was against the Helvetians and Tigurines who having burnt 12 of their own Towns and 400 Villages would have march'd forward through that part of Gaul which was under the Roman Province as the Cimbrians and Teutons formerly had done Nor were they inferior to these in Courage and in Numbers they were equal being in all Three hundred thousand of which One hundred and ninety thousand were fighting Men. Caesar did not engage the Tigurines in Person but Latienus who was Commission'd by him routed them about the River Arar But the Helvetians surpriz'd Caesar and unexpectedly set upon him as he was conducting his Army to a Confederate Town However he manag'd it so as to get into a place well fortified where when he had muster'd and marshal'd his Men his Horse was brought to him upon which he said When I have won the Battel I 'le use my Horse for the Chase but at present let us go against the Enemy Accordingly he charged them furiously on foot After a long and sharp Engagement he drove the main Army out of the Field but found the toughest work at their Carriages and Ramparts where not only the Men stood and fought but the Women also and Children defended themselves till they were cut to pieces insomuch that the Fight was scarce ended till midnight This Action in it self very great Caesar crown'd with another more glorious by gathering in a Body all the Barbarians that had escap'd out of the Battel above
100000 in number and obliging them to repair to the Countrey which they had deserted and the Cities which they had burnt Which he did for fear the Germans should pass the Rhine and possess themselves of the Country whilst it lay uninhabited His second War was in favour of the Gauls against the Germans thô sometime before he had made Ariovistus their King own'd at Rome as an Allie But they were very insufferable Neighbours to those under his Obedience and it was probable when Occasion shew'd they would be uneasie under their present posture and would make Incursions into Gaul and seize it But finding his Commanders timorous and especially those of the young Nobility and Gentry who came along with him in hopes of making use of that Expedition to their Pleasure or Profit he call'd them together and advis'd them to march off and not to run the hazard of a Battel against their Inclinations since they were so effeminately and cowardly disposed telling them withall that he would take only the 10th Legion and march against the Barbarians whom he did not expect to find an Enemy more formidable than the Cimbri nor should they find him a General inferior to Marius Upon this the 10th Legion deputed some of their Body to pay him their Compliments of Thanks and the other Legions blam'd their Officers and with great vigor and zeal follow'd him many days Journey till they encamp'd within 200 furlongs of the Enemy Ariovistus's Courage was cool'd upon their very approach for not expecting the Romans should attack the Germans who were known to be Men likely to stand a Charge he admir'd Caesar's Conduct and saw his own Army under a great Consternation They were still more discourag'd by the Prophesies of their Holy Women who by observing the Whirl-pools of Rivers and taking Omens from the windings and noise of Brooks foretold strange Events and warn'd them not to engage before the next New Moon appear'd Caesar having had intimations of this and seeing the Germans lie still thought it expedient to attack them whilst they were under these Apprehensions rather then sit still and wait their Time Accordingly he made his approaches to their Fortifications and Outworks within which they were intrench'd and so gall'd and fretted them that at last they came down with great fury to engage But he gain'd a glorious Victory and pursu'd them for 300 furlongs as far as the Rhine all which space was cover'd with Spoils and Bodies of the Slain Ariovistus made shift to pass the Rhine with the small Remains of an Army for it is said the number of the slain amounted to 80000. After this Action Caesar left his Army at their Winter-Quarters in the Country of the Sequani and in order to attend his Affairs at Rome went into that part of Gaul which lies on the Po and was part of his Province for the River Rubicon divides Gaul which is on this side the Alps from the rest of Italy There he sat down and gain'd the favour of the People who made their Court to him frequently and always found their Requests answer'd for he never fail'd to dismiss any without present pledges of his favour in hand and farther hopes for the future During all this time of the War in Gaul Pompey never discover'd how on one side Caesar conquer'd his Enemies with the Arms of Rome and on the other side gain'd upon the Romans and captivated them with the Money which he had got from his Enemies But when Caesar heard that the Belgae who were the most powerful of all the Gauls and inhabited a third part of the Country were revolted and that they had got together a great many thousand Men in Arms he immediately directed his Course that way with great expedition and falling upon the Enemy as they were ravaging the Gauls his Allies he soon defeated them and put them to flight For though their numbers were great yet they made but a slender defence so that the Marshes and deep Rivers were made passable to the Roman Foot by the vast quantity of dead Bodies Of those who revolted all that liv'd near the Ocean came over without fighting and therefore he led his Army against the Nervi who are the most unciviliz'd and most warlike People of all in those parts These live in a close Woody Countrey and having lodg'd their Children and their Goods in a deep hollow within a large Forest fell upon Caesar with a Body of 60000 Men before he was prepar'd for them and while he was making his Encampment They soon routed his Cavalry and having surrounded the 12th and 7th Legions kill'd all the Officers and had not Caesar himself snatch'd up a Buckler and forced his way through his own Men to come up to the Barbarians or had not the 10th Legion when they saw him in danger ran in from the tops of the Hills where they lay and broke through the Enemies Ranks to rescue him in all probability his Army had been entirely cut off But through the Influence of Caesars Valour the Romans in this Conflict exerted more then their ordinary Courage yet with the utmost streins of their Valour they were not able to beat the Enemy out of the Field but cut them off fighting in their own defence For out of 60000 Soldiers not above 500 survived the Battle and of 400 of their Senators not above three When the Roman Senate had received News of this they voted Sacrifices and Festivals to the Gods to be strictly observed for the space of 15 days which is a longer space then ever was observed for any Victory before For the danger appear'd great because they were engag'd with so many States at once and the favour of the People to Caesar made the Victory more esteem'd because he was Conqueror He was now retir'd to his Winter-Quarters by the Po where after he had setled the Affairs of Gaul he resided in order to the forming his designs at Rome All who were Candidates for Offices us'd his Assistance and were supplied with Money from him to corrupt the People and buy their Votes in return of which when they were chose they did all things to advance his Power But what was more considerable the most eminent and powerful Men in Rome in great Numbers made their Court to him at Lucca as Pompey and Crassus and Appius the Praetor of Sardinia and Nepos the Proconsul of Spain so that there were upon the place at one time 120 Lictors and more then 200 Senators who held a Council and then parted There it was decreed that Pompey and Crassus should be Consuls again for the following year that Caesar should have a fresh supply of Money and that his Command should be renew'd to him for 5 years more It seem'd very extravagant to all thinking Men that those very Persons who had receiv'd so much Money from Caesar should persuade the Senate to grant him more as if he wanted though indeed they did not so much persuade
encourage them what he could and something appeas'd the Fear and Amazement they were in telling them That very likely things were not so bad in truth but more than half augmented by Report thus he pacified the Tumult for the present The next morning he assembled the three hundred which he used as his Council these were Romans who traffick'd there in Merchandize and exchange of Money there were also several Senators and their Sons While they were coming together Cato walked about very quietly and unconcern'd as if nothing new had happen'd He had a Book in his Hand which he was reading in this Book was an account of what provision he had for War Armour Corn Weapons and Souldiers When they were assembled he began his Discourse First with the three hundred themselves and very much commended the Courage and Fidelity they had shown and their having very well served their Countrey with their Persons Money and Counsel Then he entreated them by no means to separate as if each single man could hope for any safety in forsaking his Companions on the contrary while they kept together Caesar would have less reason to despise them if they fought against him and be more forward to pardon them if they submitted to him Therefore he advis'd them to consult among themselves nor would he dislike whatever they should propose if they thought fit to submit to Fortune he would impute their Change to Necessity but if they resolved to stand to it and undergo some Danger for the sake of Liberty he should not only commend but admire their Valour And would himself be their Leader and Companion too till they had try'd the utmost Fortune of their Countrey which was not Utica or Adrumetum but Rome and she had often by her own strength rais'd her self out of greater Difficulties Besides as there were many things that would conduce to their Safety so chiefly this that they were to fight against one who by his Affairs would be much distracted and by several Occasions called into many several Places Spain was already revolted to the younger Pompey Rome was unaccustomed to the Bridle and impatient of it would therefore be ready for Commotions and Insurrections upon every Turn of Affairs As for themselves they ought not to shrink from any Danger and in this might take Example from their Enemy Who does so freely expose his Life to compass his unjust Designs yet never can hope for so happy a conclusion as they may promise themselves for notwithstanding the uncertainty of War they will be sure of a most happy Life if they succeed or a most glorious Death if they miscarry However he said they ought to deliberate among themselves and pray to the Gods that in recompence of their former Courage and Good-will they would direct their future Designs When Cato had thus spoken many were moved and encouraged by his Speech but the greatest part were so animated by his Valour Generosity and Goodness that they forgot the present Danger And as if he were the only invincible Leader and above all Fortune they entreated him To imploy their Persons Arms and Estates as he thought fit for they esteem'd it far better to meet Death in following his Counsel than to find their safety in betraying one of so great Virtue One of the Assembly propos'd the making a Decree to set the Slaves at Liberty and most of the rest approved the Motion Cato said That ought not to be done for it was neither just nor lawful but if any of their Masters would willingly set them free those that were fit for Service should be received Which divers promised to do whose Names he order'd to be enroll'd and then withdrew Presently after this he received Letters from Juba and Scipio Juba with some few of his Men was retired to a Mountain where he waited to hear what Cato would resolve upon and intended to stay there for him if he thought fit to leave Vtica or to relieve him with an Army if he were besieged Scipio also lay at Anchor under a certain Promontory not far from Vtica expecting an Answer upon the same account but Cato thought fit to retain the Messengers till the three hundred should come to some Resolution As for the Senators that were there they shew'd great forwardness and did presently set free their Slaves and furnish them with Arms. But the three hundred being Men that dealt in Merchandice and Usury much of their Substance also consisting in Slaves the Heat that Cato's Speech had rais'd in them did not long continue As some Bodies that easily admit Heat and as suddenly lose it when the Fire is removed so these Men were heated and inflamed while Cato was present But when they began to reason among themselves the Fear they had of Coesar soon overcame the Reverence they bore to Cato For who are we said they and who is it we refuse to obey Is it not that Caesar to whom all the Power of Rome has submitted And which of us is a Scipio a Pompey or a Cato But now that all Men make their Honour give way to their Fear shall we alone engage for the Liberty of Rome And in Utica declare War against him from whom Cato and Pompey the great fled out of Italy Shall we set free our Slaves against Caesar who have our selves no more Liberty than he is pleas'd to allow No let us poor Creatures know our selves submit to the Victor and send Deputies to implore his Mercy Thus said the most moderate of them but the greatest part were for seizing the Senators that by securing them they might appease Coesar's Anger Cato though he perceiv'd the Change took no notice of it but writ to Juba and Scipio to keep away from Vtica because he mistrusted the three hundred A considerable Body of Horse which had escaped from the late Fight were coming toward Vtica and had sent three Men before to Cato which yet did not all bring the same Message for some were for going to Juba others for joyning with Cato and some also were afraid to go into Vtica When Cato heard this he ordered Marcus Rubrius to attend upon the three hundred and quietly take the Names of those who of their own accord set their Slaves at Liberty but by no means to force any body Then taking with him the Senators he went out of the Town and met the principal Officers of those Horsemen whom he entreated not to abandon so many worthy Roman Senators nor to prefer Juba for their Commander before Cato but to seek the mutual safety of one another and to come into the City which was impregnable and well furnish'd with Corn and other Provision sufficient for many years the Senators likewise with Tears besought them to stay Hereupon the Officers went to consult their Souldiers and Cato with the Senators sate down upon the Works expecting their Resolution In the mean time comes Rubrius in great Disorder crying out The three hundred were
all in Commotion and raising Tumults in the City At this all the rest fell into Despair lamenting and bewailing their condition but Cato endeavour'd to comfort them and sent to the three hundred desiring them to have a little patience Then the Officers of the Horse returned with no very reasonable Demands They said they did not desire to serve Juba for his Pay nor should they fear Caesar while they follow'd Cato but they dreaded to be shut up with the Uticans Men of a traiterous Nature and Carthaginian Race for tho' they were quiet at present yet as soon as Caesar should appear without doubt they would conspire together and betray the Romans Therefore if he expected they should joyn with him he must drive out of the Town or destroy all the Uticans that he might receive them into a Place void both of Enemies and Barbarians This Cato thought very cruel and barbarous but he mildly answered He would consult the three hundred Then he returned to the City where he found the Men not framing Excuses or dissembling out of Reverence to him but openly refusing to make War against Coesar which they said they were neither able nor willing to do And some there were who muttered out something about retaining the Senators till Coesar's coming but Cato seemed not to hear this for he was a little deaf At the same time came one to him and told him The Horse were going away Cato fearing least the three hundred should take some desperate Resolution concerning the Senators he presently went out with some of his Friends and seeing they were gone some way he took Horse and rid after them They when they saw him coming were very glad and receiv'd him very kindly entreating him to save himself with them At this time 't is said Cato shed Tears while earnestly begging for the Senators and stretching out his Hands some of their Horses he stopp'd and hung upon their Arms till he had prevailed with them out of Compassion to stay only that one day to procure a safe Retreat for the Senators Having thus persuaded them to go along with him some he plac'd at the Gates of the Town and to others gave the charge of the Citadel Now the three hundred began to fear they should suffer for their Inconstancy and sent to Cato entreating him by all means to come to them but the Senators flocking about him would not suffer him to go and said They would not trust their Guardian and Saviour to the Hands of perfidious Traitors At this instant in my opinion did most evidently appear to all in Vtica the Excellence the Clearness and admirable Simplicity of Cato's Virtue how sincere untainted and free it was from any mixture of Self-regard that he who had long before resolv'd on his own Death should take such extream pains toil and care only for the sake of others that when he had secured their Lives he might put an end to his own for 't was easily perceived that he had determined to die tho' he did endeavour not to let it appear Therefore having pacified the Senators he hearkened to the Request of the three hundred and went to them alone without any Attendance They gave him many thanks and entreated him to imploy and trust them for the future but in that they were not Cato ' s and could not come up to his greatness of Courage they begg'd he would pity their weakness and told him they had decreed to send to Caesar and entreat him chiefly and in the first place for Cato and if they could not prevail for him they would not accept of pardon for themselves but as long as they had breath would fight in his defence Cato commended their good Intentions and advised them to send speedily for their own safety but by no means to ask any thing in his behalf for those who are conquer'd must submit and those who have done wrong beg pardon for himself he was never overcome in all his Life but rather so far as he thought fit had got the Victory and had conquered Caesar in what was just and honest And indeed Caesar might be look'd upon as one surpriz'd and vanquish'd for he was now forc'd to discover and own those Designs which he had so long deny'd and always practised against his Countrey When he had thus spoken he went out of the Assembly and being informed that Coesar was coming with his whole Army Alas said he does he come against us as against men Then he went to the Senators and urged them to make no delay but hasten to be gone while the Horsemen were yet in the City So ordering all the Gates to be shut except one toward the Sea he appointed Ships for those that were to depart and gave Money and Provision to those that wanted All which he did with great Order and Exactness taking care to suppress all Tumults and that no wrong should be done to the People Marcus Octavius coming with two Legions encamped near Vtica and sent to Cato to treat about the chief Command Cato return'd him no Answer but said to his Friends No wonder all goes ill with us who are so much taken up with Ambition even upon the point of our Ruine In the mean time word was brought him that the Horse were going away and about to spoyl and plunder the Vticans Cato ran to them and from the first he met snatch'd what they had taken the rest threw down all they had gotten and went away silent and asham'd of what they had done Then he called together the Citizens of Vtica and requested them in behalf of the three hundred not to exasperate Coesar against them but all to seek their common Safety together with them After that he went again to the Port to see those who were about to imbark and there he embrac'd and dismiss'd those of his Friends and Acquaintance whom he had persuaded to go As for his Son he did not counsel him to be gone nor did he think fit to persuade him to forsake his Father But there was one Statyllius a young Man in the flower of his Age one of a brave Spirit and very desirous to imitate the invincible Constancy of Cato who entreated him to go away for he was a noted Enemy to Coesar but he refused to go Then Cato looking upon Apollonides the Stoick Philosopher and Demetrius the Peripatetick It belongs to you said he to bring down this young man's Spirit and to make him know what is good for him Thus having dismiss'd all the rest he returned to his Affairs gave Audience and dispatch'd Business in which he spent that night and the greatest part of the next day Lucius Coesar a Kinsman of Julius Coesar's being appointed to go Deputy for the three hundred came to Cato and desired he would assist him to make a persuasive Speech for them And as to you your self said he I shall not scruple to kiss the Hands and fall at the Knees of