Asdrubal to the Deceit of Salinator 5. Memorable also was the Counsel of Q. Metellus who together with the Proconsul warring against the Celtiberians in Spain and finding himself too weak to force Contrebia the Metropolis of that Countrey revolving many thoughts in his minde at length he found a way to bring his business to perfection He made tedious marches sometimes he fell upon this Province sometimes upon another sometimes he assail'd these Passages of the Mountains and sometimes others and all this while as well his own Officers as the Enemy were amazed to see him whirl from one place to another in that manner For which reason being ask'd by one of his intimate friends why he made such a loose and scatter'd kind of War Forbear to enquire said he for if I thought my shirt knew the meaning of this designe of mine I would cause it to be burnt How far did this dissimulation extend Or what was the issue of it But when he had involv'd both his own Army and the Enemy in the same errour faining to march another way he suddainly turn'd back upon Contrebia and so surpriz'd it unawares So that if he had not suffer'd his thoughts to search after Wiles and Stratagems he might have lain before Contrebia all the days of his life FORRAIGNERS 1. Agathocles King of the Syracusans was boldly cunning For when the Carthaginians had possess'd the greatest part of his City he transported his Army into Africa to dispel fear by fear and force by force and not without success For the Carthaginians affrighted at his suddain coming willingly redeem'd their own security by the safety of the enemy So that it was agreed that at the same time Africa should be freed from the Sicilians and Sicily from the Carthaginians For had he persever'd to preserve the Walls of Syracuse they had been still vex'd with the miseries of War while Carthage had enjoyned the benefits of Peace But now threatning her with the same ruine while he rather invades the wealth and fortunes of others than defends his own the more justly he deserted his Kingdom the more safely he receiv'd it again 2. What did Hannibal at the Battle of Cannae Had he not ensnar'd the Roman Army in many intanglements of subtle Stratagem before he went to fight In the first place he took care to get the Sun and Wind and so to secure himsâ—lf from the flying of the Dust Then in the very time of fight he caus'd great part of his Army to counterfeit a flight which when the Roman Legion follow'd as it was divided from the rest of the Army he provided that they should be cut to pieces by the Ambush which he had laid to entrap them Then he order'd four hundred Horse to go to the Consul like Revolters who being commanded to lay aside their Weapons and to retire into the Rear of the Army in the heat of the Fight drawing their Swords which they privately conceal'd between their Vests and Armour cut the Hams of the engaged Romans Thus was the Punic Fortitude furnish'd with Deceit Ambushment and Fallacy Which excuses our Courage for being so circumvented Since we were rather deceiv'd then overcome CHAP. V. Of Repulses 1. Aelius Tubero 2. Scipio Nasica 3. Aemilius Paulus 4. Metellus the Macedonian 5. Cornelius Sylla 6. Cato of Utica THe Condition of the Field of Mars well represented may also instruct the ambitious more strenuously to sustain the less prosperous events of the Elections While the repulses of eminent and famous men being set before their eyes they may stand for honour not with less hope than judicious ones of mind and may remember that it is no crime for something to be deny'd by all to one man when sometimes single persons have thought it lawful to resist the wills of all Knowing that what cannot be obtained by Favour must be sought by Patience 1. Q. Aelius Tubero being desired to spread the Dining-Chamber by Fabius Maximus who was to feast the people in the name of P. Africanus his Uncle spread the Punic Beds with the Skins of Kâ—ds and instead of Silver Dishes brought forth Samian By which unsâ—emliness he so offended all the company that when he stood for Praetor depending upon L. Paulus his Grandfather and P. Africanus his Uncle he was forc'd to suffer the shame of a repulse For though privately they approved thriftiness yet publickly they were very curious to be splendid And therefore the City not believing the Guests of one Banquet but that all her Inhabitants had layn upon Goat-skins reveng'd the discredit of the Banquet by the shame of not giving him their voices Pub. Scipio Nasica the glory of the Gown who being Consul pronounced War against Jugurth whose holy hands receiv'd the Idaean Maâ—ron leaving Phrygia to grace our Altars and our Habitations who by the strength of his authority suppress'd many fatal Seditions who was Prince of the Senate for many years when he was a young man and stood to be the Aedil in the Running-chair took a certain person by the hand whom he grasp'd with his own and finding his friends hand to be hard'ned with labour he asked him whether he us'd to walk upon his hands Which question being heard by the standers by came to be in the mouths of all the People and occasion'd Scipio to be repuls'd For all the People thinking he had upbraided them with the poverty of the Rustick Tribe discharg'd their anger upon his contumelious Jeast Thus our City by recalling the Wits of the Noble Youth from Insolence made many and profitable Citizens and added the due weight to honour not suffering them to be sought for by those that were secure of them beforehand 3. There was no such Errour to be found in Aemilius Paulus and yet sometimes he stood for the Consulship in vain However the same person when he had wearied the field with his repulses being afterwards made twice Consul and Censor arriv'd to the highest degree of Honour Whose Vertue injuries did not break but sharpen for being incens'd at the dishonour he carried to the field a more eager desire of the Supreme Dignity that he might overcome the People by his perseverance since he could not stir them by the splendour of his Nobility and the endowments of his Minde 4. Only a â—â—w and those disconsolate Friends accompanied Quint. Caecilius home asham'd and full of grieâ— whom afterwards the whole Senate and People follow'd brisk and jovial to the Capitol having triumph'd over the false Philip. The greatest part also of the Achaean War to which Mummius lent his helping hand was compleated by this person Could the people then deny the Consulship to him to whom they owed or were likely to owe two most famous Provinces And yet that act made him a better Citizen for he thought he was to carry himself the more industriously in that Consulship which he found so hard to be obtain'd 5. Who more powerful who more opulent than L. Sylla
as a reward of that Victory whereby he preserved the Laws Peace and Liberty of his Countrey was not permitted to live in the City and therefore weaâ—iâ—d with envy and slaunder he begg'd a Lieutâ—nancy of the Senate and having made a set Speech wherein he prayed to the Immortal Gods that his ingratetul Countrey might never have occasion to use him again he went into Sicily and there spent the remainder of his days 3. But what Satyr can be sharp enough what words severe enough to express the Ingratitude of P. Sextilius who being defended and fairly brought off from an Accusation highly Criminal by C. Caesar yet betrayed and delivered him up to the cruelty of his enemy coming to his house tor shelter in the time of Cinna's proscription Had his accuser implored the same kindness upon his knees it had bin inhumane to have denied him For those that injuries do cause us to hate misery makes us to compassionate But Sextilius betrayed not his Accuser but his Protector to the cut-throat hand of his most inveterate adversary if for fear of death unworthy of life if for hope of reward most worthy of death 4. To repeat another Example of the same nature M. Cicero had defended C. Popilius Lenas of the Countrey of Picena with no less Care than Eloquence when his Cause was very doubtful This Popilius afterwards being neither in word or deed injur'd by Cicero of his own accord begg'd of M. Antonius that he might be the person to be sent by him to cut his Throat in his Banishment and having obtain'd that detestable Commission away he flew over-joy'd to Cajeta and that very person I need not say who was the author of his dignity and safety but also one who ought to have been respected by him to the utmost that very person did he command patiently to lie down and have his head struck off And thus laden with the head of the Roman Eloquence and the most famous right hand of Peace he return'd with joy to the City as if he had brought along with him the Spoils of some Enemy Letters are too imperfect to set forth this Monster seeing there is not another Cicero living to bewail his unhappy fate 5. What shall I say of thee Great Pompey I know not While I consider the vastness of thy great Fortune and Renown that once orespread the Sea as well as the Land But though we should be silent the Death of Cn. Carbo by whom thou wert protected in thy youth when contesting in the Forum for thy estate slain by thy command will never be forgotten by which ingrateful fact thou didst seem to stand more in awe of Sylla's Power than to consult thine own Honour FORRAIGNERS 1. But lest other Cities should insult after we have confess'd our own Infirmities we finde that the Carthaginians had an intention to have kill'd or banish'd Hannibal after that for their honour and for the enlargement of their Empire he had slain so many of our Generals and cut to pieces so many of our Armies that had he but slain so many common Souldiers of his Enemies it had won him renown sufficient 2. Lacedaemon never bred a greater or more profitable Citizen than Lycurgus being a person that the Pythian Apollo did not disdain to speak to when he consulted the Oracle and told him He knew not whether he were to be accompted a Man or a God Yet neither the Integrity of his Life nor the constant Love which he bare his Countrey nor all the wholesome Laws which he had made could preserve him from the hatred of his Citizens For sometimes they threw stones at him in the Streets they put out one of his Eyes and at last utterly banish'd him out of his Countrey What may we think of other Cities when a City so famous as this for Constancy Moderation and Gravity proved so ungrateful against a Citizen so well deserving 3. Take Theseus from Athens and either there would have been no such thing as Athens or else not half so famous For he reduced his scatter'd Countreymen into one City and gave the shape and form of a City to a wild and clownish People before When he was but a Youth he quelâ—'d the usurping Tyranny of Minos He tam'd the boundless insolency of the Thebans He assisted the Sons of Hercules and where-ever Enormity was grown headstrong and monstrous he overcame it by his Vertue and his Power Yet was he banished by the Athenians and the Island Scyros less than the Exile became only famous for his Tomb. Solon also that made such wholesome Laws and so famous withal that had the Athenians used them still they had been still the Lords of great Territories Who took Salamine a strong Fortress that threatned their ruine and was but a little distance from them Who foresaw the Tyranny of Pisistratus and was the first that durst advise the People to resist him by force of Arms in his old age lived an Exile in Cyprus Nor was it his hap to be buried in his own Countrey of which he had so well deserved The Athenians had dealt well by Miltiades had they after the Battle of Marathon wherein he overcame the Persians with their loss of three hundred thousand Men sent him presently into Exile and not kept him in prison till he died Nay more than that they would not suffer his Body to be buried till Cimon his Son had surrender'd himself into the same place A sad Inheritance for the Son of so great a Captain who was himself afterwards one of the greatest Captains of that Age. Aristides also who was the Rule of Justice all over Greece and the greatest example of Continence that ever was was commanded to depart his Countrey Happy Athens could they have found out any one that had been either a Good Man or a Lover of his Countrey after this man was gone with whom Sanctity itself seem'd to go along Themistocles was a notable example of all that had experience of the Ingratitude of their Countrey For when he had setled Athens in Peace and raised it to be the most famous the most wealthy the Mistriss of all Greece he found his Countrey-men so incens'd against him that he was forc'd to flie to the mercy of Xerxes whom he had ruin'd before Phocion who was endow'd with two qualities which are the best to appease Wrath and Fury I mean Eloquence and Integrity was forced by the Athenians to fly his Countrey and when he was dead he was not permitted so much as one turf of Athenian land to cover his bones Certainly then it must be lookt upon as a publick piece of Madness by common consent to punish the greatest Vertues as the greatest Crimes which not being to be any where endured ought to have been more especially exploded and abominated in Athens where there is a Law against Ingratitude And not without reason because he looses and abolishes the commerce of doing and receiving Benefits which is the
upraided him in these words What need have I then of thy friendship if thou wilt not do for me what I desire made this answer What need I of thine if for thy sake I should do any unhandsome action To these words were agreeable those deeds when rather through the dissention of the two Orders than for any fault of his own he was arraign'd he neither put on sorry Cloaths nor laid aside the Senatorian Ornaments nor made any Supplication to the Judges nor spoke any thing unworthy the splendour of his past years But so order'd it that his Tryal was rather an Experiment than any Impediment of his Gravity And when Sylla's Victories gave him liberty to return into his own Countrey he rather chose to tarry in Banishment than to do any thing against the Laws And therefore more justly might we have given the Title of Happy to the Manners of so grave a Man than to the prosperous Arms of the other more potent Conquerour Which Sylla usurp'd but Rutilius deserv'd 5. M. Brutus the Murtherer of his own Virtues before he was the Parricide of the Parent of his Countrey for by one foul deed he overthrew them all and defil'd his memory with an unexpiable detestation as he was going in to his last Battle to some that told him it was not convenient to fight Boldly said he I go into the Battle for this day either all things will be well or I shall have nothing to care for For he presum'd he could not live without Victory nor dye without Security FORRAIGNERS 1. The person beforementioned puts me in mind to relate what was said to Decius Brutus in Spain For when all Lusitania had surrendred it self to him and only the City of Cinninia obstinately held out and that the Consul thought to have bought them out they presently made answer to his Commissioners That their Ancestors had only left them their Swords to defend their City but no Money to purchase their Liberty from a covetous General A Saying more noble for Romans to have spoken than to have heard from others 2. Nature led them into these paths of Severity But Socrates the most famous Pillar of the Grecian Learning when he was to plead his own Cause at Athens and that Lycias had repeated to him an Oration compos'd by himself for him to make use of in the Court of Judicature humble suppliant and accommodated to the danger that threatned him Take it away said he for if I could be brought where I might repeat it in the farthermost deserts of Scythia there I should think I deserved death He contemn'd Life that he might not want Gravity choosing rather to dye like Socrates than to live like Lysias 3. As great as he in Wisdome Alexander as great in War shewed himself to be of the same mind For Darius having tried his force in two Battles and therefore offering him a part of his Kingdome and his Daughter in Marriage with Ten Hundred thousand Talents when Parmenio told him that if he were Alexander he would accept the Condition He made answer And so would I were I Parmenio An expression worthy of the two Victories and deserving the third which he obtain'd 4. This was the effect of a magnanimous Minde in Prosperity That more generous whereby the Lacedaemonian Ambassadors testified to his Father the miserable condition of their fortune For when he impos'd most intolerable Burthens upon their City they made him answer That if he should persist to command them things more grievous than Death they would prefer Death before his Commands 5. No less grave was the Saying of that Spartan who excelling both in Nobility and Sanctity of Mind being put by the Magistracy which he petition'd for I rejoyce exceedingly said he that my Countrey produces men more worthy than my self By which Speech he equall'd the honour he was put by CHAP. V. Of Justice ROMANS 1. The People of Rome 2. The four Tribunes of the People 3. Ti. Gracchus Censor 4. Colledge of Tribunes of the People 5. Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus 6. Licinius Crassus the Oratour 7. Cor. Sylla Consul FORRAIGNERS 1. Pittacus of Mitylene 2. Aristides the Athenian 3. Zeleucus the Locrian 4. Charundas the Thurian 'T Is now time to enter the sacred recesses of Justice where alwaies the respect of just and honest Actions is conversant with Religious Observation Where Modesty is studied and Desire gives way to Reason there nothing is reputed profitable that is not honest Of which our City among all Nations is the most certain and principal Example 1. When Camillus the Consul besieg'd the Falisci a School-master brought over to the Roman Camp several Youths and those the most noble in the City under pretence of taking them to walk abroad Not questioning but they being in the power of the Romans that the Falisci would submit themselves to our General Upon which affair after consultation the Senate decreed that the Youths should be sent home lashing their Master all the way while his hands were tyed behind him Which Justice of theirs overcame the Minds of those whose Walls they were not able to expugn For the Falisci overcome by their Kindnesses not by their Arms open'd their Gates to the Romans The same City oftentimes rebelling but alwaies broken by adverse Fortune was at length constrained to yield to Q. Lutatius the Consul Against which when the Roman People desir'd to have shewn the extremity of their Revenge when they understood from Papyrius who by the Consuls command had writ the Articles of Surrender that the Falisci had surrender'd themselves to the Faith not to the Power of the Romans they laid aside all their Anger lest they should be wanting to their Justice suppressing the force of their Hatred which is not easily overcome and the pride of Victory which easily begets Licentiousness Another time when P. Claudius having by his prosperous conduct taken the Camerini had sold them under the Spear according to custome though thereby they saw their Exchequer filled with Money and their Empire enlarged yet because it did not seem to be done according to the Rules of Honour and Justice they sought them diligently out and redeemed them again assigning them a place of habitation in Aventinum and restoring them their Lands They gave them Money also to build Chappels and purchase Sacrifices and by their Justice gave the miserable an occasion to rejoyce in their destruction being so rais'd again What I have related was confin'd within our own Walls and the neighbouring parts what I now relate has flown over all the world Timochares the Ambracian promis'd Fabritius the Consul that he would poyson Pyrrhus by the assistance of his Son who was his Cupbearer Notice whereof being given to the Senate they sent Embassadors to give Pyrrhus intelligence of it admonishing him to be careful against such kind of treachery Remembring that their City was built by the Son of Mars and that War was to be carried on by Arms and
coming home he presently call'd a Hall and forgetting himself enter'd the Hall with his Sword on Whereupon being minded of the breach of his own Law by one that stood next him Well said he the same person shall establish it and immediately drawing his Sword fell upon it and died When it was lawful for him to have defended or excused his errour he rather chose to make the punishment publick than put a slur upon Justice CHAP. VI. Of Publick Faith Among the Romans 1. The Roman Senate 2. L. Manlius M. At ilius Cos 3. The Roman Senate 4. The Elder Africanus 5. The Roman Senate FORRAIGNERS 1 The Saguntines 2. The Petellines WHen this Image is set before our eyes the venerable Divinity of Truth stretches out her right hand the most certain pledg of human Safety Which how it has flourished in our City all Nations have been sensible of and we shall make evident in a few Examples 1. When Ptolomey the King had left the People of Rome to take the tuition of his Son upon them the Senate appointed M. Aemilius Lepidus the High-Priest to be Guardian to the young Infant and sent him to Alexandria for that purpose making use of the sanctity of a famous and most upright person whose publick Abilities had been sufficienty known among them lest the credit and dignity of the City should have been any way injur'd This became not only the preservation but the ornament of the Royal Infancy so that when he came of age he knew not of which he had most to boast whether in the Fortune of his Father or the Majesty of his Tator 2. Famous also was the succeeding piece of Roman Integrity A great Navy of the Carthaginians being overthrown near the Coast of Sicilia the Captains of the Enemies quite out of heart began to think of making some overtures of Peace But when it was argued who should go Amilcar refus'd for fear lest the Romans should serve him as the Carthaginians had served Cor. Asina the Consul whom they had detainâ—d a Prisoner in Chains But Hanno better understanding the Roman Faith very confidently profer'd himself To whom as he was in treaty when a Tribune of the People spoke and bid him take heed he had not the same usage as the Consul Cornelius had had both the Consuls commanding the Tribune to be silent Hanno cryed they from that fear the reputation of our City frees thee It had made them famous that they could be Masters of so great a Captain of their Enemies but much more famous that they would not 3. The same reputation the Conscript Fathers observ'd in defending the Priviledges of Embassadors For when M. Aemilius Lepidus and C. Flaminius were Consuls Culeo the Praetor by an order of the Senate caus'd L. Minutius and L. Manlius to be deliver'd to the Carthaginian Embassadors by the Heralds themselves because they had laid violent hands upon them The Senate regarding more their own Honour than the persons for whose sake they did the Justice 4. These Examples the Elder Africanus following when he had taken a Vessel wherein were several persons and many of the chiefest among the Carthaginian Nobility yet he dismiss'd them all untoucht because they told him they were sent as Embassadors to him though he knew it to be an excuse of their own framing to avoid the present danger that the Faith of the Roman General might rather seem to be deceiv'd than implor'd in vain 5. Let us not forget that noble Act of the Senate by no means to be omitted Q. Fabius and Cn. Apronius Aediles by reason of a Tumult that happen'd had sent away the Embassadours that came from Apollonia to Rome Which so soon as the Senate understood they caus'd them to be deliver'd up to the Embassadours by the hands of the Heralds and sent a Questor to convoy them to Brundusium lest they should receive any injury in their passage Could such a Court as that be said to be a Council of mortal Men and not rather the Temple of Faith Which was no less admir'd by our Allies than it was religiously observ'd in our City FORRAIGNERS 1. For before the miserable slaughter of the two Scipio's in Spain and the destruction of as many Armies of the Roman Nation the Saguntines being restrain'd within their own Walls by the victorious Arms of Hannibal when they could no longer resist the Carthaginian power they brought forth all their most precious things into the Market-place and kindling the Pile threw themselves into the common and publick fire that they might not be accompted false to our Alliance I cannot but believe that Faith her self surveying humane affairs lookt with a sorrowful countenance beholding such a religious observance of her Laws condemn'd by such a fatal Event to the Arbitration of unjust Fortune 2. By an act of the same nature the Petellines obtain'd the same applause Who being besieg'd by Hannibal because they would not forsake our Alliance sent Ambassadours to the Senate imploring relief But the Romans because of their losses at Cannae not being able to succour them gave them liberty to provide the best they could for their own safety So that they were free to accept of Conditions from the Carthaginians However they turning their Women aged and infirm people out of the City obstinately defended their Walls to the last So that their whole City expir'd before they would lay aside their respect to the Roman Alliance Nor did Hannibal take Petellia but the sepulchre of the Petellian Faith CHAP. VII Of the Truth of Wives to their Husbands 1. Aemilia the Wife of the Elder Scipio 2. Thuria the Wife of Q. Lucretius Vespillo 3. Sulpitia the Wife of Lentulus 1. THat we may not omit the Truth of Women in Matrimony Aemilia the Wife of the Elder Africanus the Mother of Cornelia Mother of the Gracchi was so dutiful and patient that though she knew her Husband had a kindness for one of her Maids she took no notice of it because she would not blemish the Conquerour of Africa with the guilt of Unchastity And so far she was from revenge that after her Husbands death she set her Maid free and gave her in marriage to a Freed man of his 2. When Q. Lucretius was banished by the Triumvirs Thuria his Wife kept him out of harms way between the head of the Bed and the ceiling of the Chamber not without great danger to her self And so true she was to him that while others that were banished as he was wander'd in pinching extremity in remote Countries among Enemies he all the while lay safe in the bosome of his Wife 3. Sulpitia being kept up very strictly by her Mother Julia for â—ear she should follow hâ—r Husband Lentulus Crustellio banish'd by the Triumvirs into Sicily nevertheless made her escape in a disguise and with only two Maid-servants and two Men-servants got safe to him Banishing her self that she might not fail in her duty toward her Husband CHAP.
might appear the more faithful to the ashes of the slain Sertorius being besieg'd by Pompey having devoured all other creatures in their City fell to feast upon their Wives and Children And to the end the Armed Youth might nourish their Bowels with their own bowels the longer they were not afraid to salt up the unfortunate remainders of the dead bâ—dies Think you it would be an exhortation prevalent enough in the field to exhort such Souldiers to sight for the safety of their Wives and Children It had bin more proper for so great a Captain to have punisht such an Enemy than to seek for Victory For Revenge would have purchased them more Liberty than Victory could win them Honour in comparison of whom Serpents and wild beasts were gentle and merciful creatures For those dear pledges of Life dearer to them than their lives themselves were the Dinners and Suppers of the Catagurritans CHAP. VII Of Wills cancell'd 1. A Father that disinherited his Son 2. M. Anneius Carsâ—olanus 3. C. Tettius 4. Sulpitia the mother of the Trachali 5. Terentius 6. Naevianus 7. Juventius LEt us now go to that sort of business which among all the actions of Men is the last thing done and their chiefest care And let us consider what Wills have bin cancell'd after they were legally made or might have bin cancell'd when they stood firm and transferr'd the honour of Inheritance to others than those that expected it 1. Which that I may do according to the order which I have proposed I will begin with the Father of a certain Souldier who hearing a false report of the death of his Son from the Camp made other Heirs in his Will and died The Youngman returning home after the war Was ended found the dores shut against him by the errour of his Father and the impudence of his Friends For how could they shew themselves more shameless than they did The Souldier had spent the flower of his youth in his Countries Service had undergone most dreadful Labours and Dangers shewed the Wounds which he had received in Battle and only begg'd that lazy Drones a very burthen to the very City it self might not possess his Ancestors Inheritance Therefore laying aside his Armes he was forced to commence a Gown-war in the Court of Justice A hard case while he is forc'd to contend for his Fathers estate with wicked Heirs before the Centumviri though they could not choose but give their Opinions for him while the Sentence of the Court gave him the day 2. Marcus Anneius the Son of M. Carseolanus a famous Roman Knight adopted by Sufenas his Uncle cancell'd his Fathers Will who had left him out of it by the Sentence of the Centumviri before whom he tryed the Cause though Tullianus the familiar Friend of Pompey the Great who was a witness to it were made Heir Therefore he had more to do with the power of a person potent in Court than with the ashes of his Father Yet though both did what they could to hinder him he obtain'd his fathers Goods For L. Sextilius and P. Popilius whom M. Anncius as being his nearest Relations had made Heirs of the same part which was given to Tullianus durst not contend by their Otahs with the young man Though they might have bin sent for at that time by the highest Authorities then in being to have defended the Will And it was some pretence for the Heirs that M. Anneius was translated into the Family of Sufenas But the strong tye of procreation overcame both the Fathers Will and the Authority of so great a Personage 3. C. Tettius an Infant born of Petronia the Wife as Tettius as long as he liv'd being disinherited by his Father was restor'd to his Inheritance by the Decree of the divine Augustus doing like a Father of his Countrey In regard that Tettius had so unjustly abrogated the paternal Name by giving away his estate from a Son so legally born to his own Right 4. Septicia also the Mother of the Trachali of Ariminum being angry with her Sons out of spite when she was now past child-bearing married Publicius an old man and lâ—ft both her Children out of her Will Who appealing to the divine Augustus he disapprov'd both the Marriage and disannul'd the Will For he order'd that the Sons should have their Mothers estate and commanded the Husband to restore her Dower because she did not marry out of hopes of having Children If Justice her self had given sentence in this case could she have pronounc'd a juster Sentence Thou despisest those whom thou hast begot thou marriest past Child-bearing thou breakest the order of Wills out of a violent humour and dost not blush to give all thy Patrimony to a person to whose feeble body thou hast prostituted thy old Age. And therefore while thou thus behavest thy self thou art cast down to Hell by the voice of heavenly Thunder 5. Famous is the Constitution of C. Calpurnius Piso Praetor of the City For when Terentius complain'd before him together with his eight Sons whom he had bred up to be men that one of his Sons whom he had parted with in Adoption had disinherited him gave him the possession of the young mans estate and would not suffer the Heirs to go to Law The Paternal Majesty of the man mov'd Calpurnius doubtless together with the gift of Life and the benefit of Education but that which more moved him was the number of his other Children that stood by seeing seven Brothers and a Father disinherited by one Child 6. How prudent was the Decree of Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus the Consul Genucius a certain Priest of Cybele besought the Praetor of the City Cn. Orestes that the goods of Naevianus might be restor'd to him the possâ—ssion whereof he had by Will obtain'd Mamercus being thereupon appeal'd to by Surdinius whose Freed-man had left Genucius his Heir disannull'd the Praetors Sentence saying That Genucius who had of his own accord suffered himself to be gelt for so are all the Priests of Cybele was not to be reckon'd either a man or woman A Decree befitting Mamercus befitting the Prince of the Senate whereby he provided that the Tribunals of Magistrates should not be polluted by the obscence presence and scandalous voice of Eunuchs 7. Q. Metellus was a much more severe Praetor than Orestes Who would not give Vecilius the Pandar the possession of the Goods of Juventius left him by Will For that noble and grave Personage did not think the condition of a Court of Judicature and a Brothel-house to be the same Neither would he approve the fact of that man who had thrown away his estate upon an unclean stable nor give the same right to one that made a publick profession of Dishonesty as to a Citizen of a good Conversation CHAP. VIII Of Testaments confirm'd and unlookt for Inheritances Of the ROMANS 1. Sempronius Tuditanus 2. Aebucia 3. Q. Metellus 4. The Brother of Pompeius of Rhegium 5. Q.
to obey in Sacred things believing they should the more easily obtain the sole command of humane things if they were constantly and truly obedient to the Divine power 10. Which resolution hath been also bred up in the breasts of private persons For when the City was taken by the Gauls and that the Quirinal Flamen and the Vestal Virgins were forced to carry the Sacred things taking every one a share of the burthen having now pals'd the Sublician Bridge and ready to descend the Rock that leads to Janiculum they were spied by Alvanius who was driving a Cart wherein he had put his Wife and Children who no sooner saw them in that condition but regarding publick Religion more than private Charity commanded them to alight and then placing the Holy things and ordering the Vestal to get in he left his own intended Journey and drave them till he came to the Town of Caere where because they were curteously and reverently received we testifie our thanks and honour the memory of their Humanity for thence it came to be instituted that those Sacred Rites were called Ceremonies because the Ceretans worshipped and observed them as well in the low as flourishing state of the Commonwealth And that Mean and Country Cart on a sudden the receptacle of so much Honour came to equal if not out-vie the glory of a Triumphal Chariot 11. About the same time memorable was the Example of observ'd Religion which Caius Fabius Dorso gave us for when the Gauls besieged the Capitol lest the accustomed Sacrifice of the Fabii should be put by clad in a Gabin habit and carrying the Sacred things in his hands and upon his shouldiers he at length pass'd through the midst of the Enemy to the Quirinal-Hill where having performed what was to be done he returned to the Capitol with Divine Adoration of his victorious Atchievement as if he had been a Victor indeed 12. Great also was the care of preserving Religion among our Ancestors where Publius Cornelius and Baebius Tamphilus were Consuls For the Labourers that were digging a Field of Petillius the Scribe at the foot of Janiculum delving somewhat deeper than ordinary found two little Stone-chests in one whereof was a Writing declaring That it was the body of Numa Pompilius Son of Pomponius In the other were seven Books in the Latine Tongue treating of the right of the High-Priest and as many in Greek discoursing of Wisdom For the preservation of the Latine Books they took especial care but the Greek one for there seemed to be some things therein prejudicial to their Religion Lucius Petillius the Pretor by decree of Senate caus'd to be burnt in a publick Fire made by the Officers belonging to the Sacrifices for the antient Romans could not endure that any thing should be reserved in the City which might he a means to draw the minds of men from the worship of the Gods 13. Tarquinius the King caus'd Marcus Tullius the Duumvir to be fow'd in a Sack after the antient manner and to be thrown into the Sea for that he had for a Bribe delivered to Petronius Sabinus a certain Book containing the Mysteries of the Civil Sacred things committed to his keeping Most justly seeing that violation of Trust deserves the same punishment among men as from the Gods 14. But as to those things which concern the Observation of Religion I know not whether Atilius Regulus have not excelled all that ever went before him who of a famous Conquerour being now become a Captive through the wiles and ambushments of Hannibal and Xantippus the Lacedaemonian he was to the Senate and people of Rome to try if he could get himself being but one and old redeemed for several young and noble Carthaginians who when he came advised the Senate to the contrary and went back to Carthage well knowing to what cruel and inveterate Enemies he returned but he had sworn so to do if he could not obtain the release of their Captives Surely the Immortal Gods had reason to have mitigated their fury but that the glory of Atilius might be the greater they permitted the Carthagians to take their own inhumane courses As they who in the third Punick War would severely recompence the death of so noble a Soul with the destruction of their City 15. How much more religious toward the Gods did our Senate shew themselves which after the fatal overthrow of Cannae decreed that no women should mourn longer than thirty days to the end the Rites of Ceres might be by them performed For now the greatest part of the men lying slain upon the bloody accursed Earth there was no Family in the City that did not partake of the general Calamity And therefore the Mothers and Daughters Wives and Sisters of the slain were compelled to put off their Mourning-weeds and put on their White-garments and to perform the office of Priests Through which constancy of observing Religion forc'd the Deities themselves to blush and be ashamed of raging any more against such a Nation that could not be drawn from adoring them that with so much cruelty destroy'd them NEGLECTED 16. It is believ'd that the reason why Varro fought with so much ill success at Cannae against the Carthaginians was through the wrath of Juno for when he made publick the Circensian Games being Aedil he set a young Player of extraordinary beauty to watch in the Temple of Jupiter which Fact being call'd to mind after some years was expiated with Sacrifices 17. Hercules also is reported to have very severely revenged the abuse of his Worship for when the Family of the Potitii had intrusted his Ceremonies the Ministry whereof belonged to them as it were by inheritance to be performed by servants and persons of mean degree of which Appius the Censor was the occasion all the flower of the Family who were above thirty young men di'd within the space of one year and the Name of the Potitii that was branch'd into twelve Families was almost extinct Appius also the Censor was stricken blinde 18. A sharp Revenger also was Apollo of an injury done to himself who at the Sack of Carthage being spoil'd of his Rode of Gold never ceas'd till the hands of the sacrilegious Souldier were sound cut off among the broken pieces of his Image Brennus Captain of the Gauls entering into the Temple of Delphos by Destiny was compelled to lay violent hands upon himself 19. Nor was his Son Aesculapius a less violent Revenger of contemned Religion who not enduring to behold a Wood consecrated to his Temple cut down by Turullius to build Ships for the use of M. Antonie by a strange power so ordered it that Turullius was by the command of Caesar being judged to death while he was in the midst of his business executed in the very Wood And so the God ordain'd it that being there remarkably slain by Caesar's Souldiers that with the same death he expiated the loss of those Trees that were cut down and secured
understood by the Letters from Paulus that Perseus was taken the same day he was not only delivered out of custody but honoured with a gift of Land and vacancy from bearing Office It was also farthâ—r found that Castor and Pollux did watch oâ—er the safety of the Common-wealth and travail'd hard for the good of the same for that they were sâ—en to wash themselves and their hoâ—ses in the Lake of Juturna and their Temple adjoyning to the Fountain open'd of it self nor being unlockt by the hand of any person 2. But then we may relate how favourable the rest of the Gods were to our City For when our City was visited with a triennial Pestilence and that neither through divine Compassion or humane Aid any remedy could be found â—or so long and lâ—sting a Calamity the Priests looking into the Sibyls Books observ'd that therâ— was no other way to restore the City to its â—â—â—mâ—â— health but by â—â—tching the Image of Esculapius from Epidaurus The City therefore sending their Ambassadours thither hop'd that by its authoâ—â—ty the greatest then in the world they might prâ—vail to obtain the only remedy against their fatal misery Neither did her hope deceive her For her desire was granted with as much willingness as it was râ—quested with earnestnâ—ss For immediately the Epidaurians carrying the Ambassâ—dours to the Temple of Esculapius distant from the City sâ—me five miles desired tâ—â—m to take out of it whatever they thought convenient for the preservation of Rome whose free benignity the god himself imitating by his celestial obedience approv'd the courtesie of mortals For that Snake which but seldom or never seen but to their great benefit the Epidaurians worshipt equal to Esculapius bâ—gan to glide with a mild aspect and gentle motion through the chief parts of the City and being three days seen to the religious admiration of all men without doubt taking in good part the change of a more noble Seat hasted to the Roman Galley and while the Martiners stood affrighted at so unusual a sight crept aboard the Ship and peaceably folding its self into several rings quietly remain'd in the Cabbin of Q. Ogulnius one of the Ambassadours The Legats having return'd due thanks and being instructed by the skilful in the due worship of the Serpent like men that had obtain'd their hearts desire joyfully departed and after a prosperous Voyage putting in at Antium the Snake which had remained in the Ship glided to the Porch of the Temple of Esculapius adorn'd with Myrtle and other Boughs and twisted itself about a Palm-tree of a very great height staying for three days in the Temple of Antium the Ambassadours with great care setting by these things wherewith he used to be fed for fear he should be unwilling to return to the Ship after which he patiently suffer'd himself to be transported to our City The Ambâ—ssadours landing upon the shore of Tiber the Snake swam to the Island where the Temple was dedicated and by his coming dispell'd the Calamity for remedy whereof he was sought 3. Not less voluntary was the coming of Juno to our City The Veientes being taken by Furius Camillus the Souldiers by command of the General going about to remove the Image of Juno Moneta which was there in principal adoration endeavour'd to remove it from the place where it stood Among the rest one of the Souldiers asked the Goddess in sport whether she would go to Rome to which the Goddess replying she would the jest was turn'd into admiration And now believing that they did not only carry the Image but Juno her self with great joy they placed her in that part of the Aventine Mountain where now we see her Temple stand 4. The Image also of the Womens Fortune about four miles from the City upon the Latine Road consecrated together with her Temple at the same time that Coriolanus was diverted from the destruction of the City by his Mothers tears was heard not once but twice to speak these words In due manner have you seen me Matrons and in due manner dedicated me 5. But Valerius Publicola Consul after the expulsion of the Kings waged War with the Veientes and Hetrurians while the one sought to restore Tarquinius to his Kingdome the other sought to retain their new-recover'd Liberty At which time while the Hetrurians and Tarquinius had the upper hand in the Right Wing there hapned such a sudden Consternation that not only the Victors began to fly but also drew the Veientes struck with the same fear along with them On a sudden a loud voice was heard from the adjoining Arsian Wood said to be uttered from the mouth of a Sylvan But one more of the Hetrurians shall fall The Roman Host shall obtain the Conquest The truth of the Miracle appeared by the number of the dead Bodies told 6. What say ye to the Assistance of Mars which facilitated the Victory of the Romans is it not worthy of lasting memory When the Brutians and Lucans with most inveterate Hatred and great Forces sought the destruction of the City of Thurinum C. Fabricius Luscinus Consul on the other side endeavouring with all his might to preserve the same and that the event of things seemed dubious the Forces of both sides being met in one place and the Romans not daring to venture battle a young man of a comely stature began to exhort them to take courage and finding them not very forward laying hold of a Ladder he posted through the middle of the Enemies body to the opposite Camp and setting up his Ladder scal'd the fortification and then crying out with a loud voice that there was a step to Victory rais'd he drew ours to assail the Lucans and Brutians to defend their own Camp where after a sharp Conflict they were utterly overthrown For by the impulse of his own Arms he deliver'd um over to be slain and taken by the Romans Twenty Thousand being slain Five Thousand taken togethâ—r with Statius Statilius General of both People and Twenty Military Ensignes The next day when the Consul told the Souldiers that he had reserv'd a Crown for him who had shewed so much Courage in taking the Camp and no young man was to be found to claim it it was then known and believed that Mars had taken the Romans part And among other demonstrations of the truth of the thing there was a Head-piece found with two Plumâ—s which had covered his sacred Head Therefore by command of Fabricius there was a Supplication to Mars proclaim'd and thanks return'd to him with great joy by the Souldiers crown'd with Lawrel in testimony of the assistance which they had received from him 7. I shall relate now what being known in that age was faithfully deliverâ—d to those which succeeded Aeneas bringing his houshold-gods with him from Troy placed them in Lavinium From thence they were by his Son Ascanius remov'd to Alba which himself had built which lest it should seem a force put upon them
of the Latine Tongue might be spread with greater veneration among other Nations Not but that they had their Schools of Learning but that they did not hold it convenient that the Gown should in any thing be subject to the Cloak Believing it a poor and low thing that the weight and authority of Government should be tam'd by the charms of Eloquence 3. And therefore Caius Marius thou art not to be condemn'd of clownish Rigour not to let thy old age crown'd with a double Lawrel illustrious with German and Numidian Trohies be softned and overcome by the Eloquence of a vanquish'd Nation Perhaps lest while he appear'd a forrainer in the exercises of his Wit he might seem a Runagate from his native Rites and Customes Who therefore open'd the way to the Greek Pleadings that now deafen our ears Molo the Rhetorician as I am perswaded who likewise sharpned the studies of M. Cicero For he was the first Stranger that was ever heard in the Senate without an Interpreter which Honour he receiv'd not undeservedly having mainly advanc'd the force of the Roman Eloquence Of conspicuous felicity is Arpinum whether you respect the one as a great contemner of Learning or the other as the abounding Fountain thereof 4. With great diligence this Custome also was observed by our Ancestors that no person might walk between the Consul and the last Lictor though he went along by vertue of his Office unless he were a Child and the Son of the Consul Which Custome was so obstinately maintain'd that Q. Fabius Maximus five times Consul and besides in prime Authority and honour'd with Age being requested to go between him and the Lictor for fear of being overborn by the crowd of Samnites with whom he was going to treat yâ—t refus'd the Courtesie The like did that same Fabius when he was sent by the Senate to his Son Consul at Suessa For as his Son was dispatching Causes without the City he took his Horse to ride through the prease but his Son seeing him afar off sent a Lictor to him commanding him to alight and come afoot if he had any thing to say to the Consul Whom Fabius readily obeyed saying Son I did not this in contempt of thy Authority but only to try whether thou knewest how to behave thy self like a Consul or no Nor am I ignorant what is my Duty to my Countrey but I prefer publike Institutions before private Piety 5. Having done with the Fabii Men of an admirable Constancy offer themselves who being sent to Tarentum by the Senate to demand certain things after they had received many Injuries one of them having a Pisspot thrown upon his Cloaths they were brought to the Theater or place of Audience and finished the whole business of the Embassie but as to what they had suffered they uttered not a word lest they might seem to talk more than what they had given them in charge for it was impossible that â—â—y vexation at the affronts which they had received could make them alter the respect which they had to Antient Custome 6. But I will pass from Customes grown obsolete through Vice to the most severe Institutions of our Ancestours before the Senate sate continually in that place which was call'd the Little Senate-House they never were assembled by Edict but bâ—ing cited thâ—y came immediatly For they thought the praise of that Citizen much to be call'd in question that was to be compell'd to shew his Duty to his Country For whatever is forc'd by Compulsion is lookâ— upon as rather done by Constraint than Duty 7. We are likewise to remember that it was not lawful for the Tribunes of the people to be admitted into the Senate but being plac'd upon Seats before the Doors there iâ— behov'd 'um diligently to hâ—ar and examine the Decrees that were under Vote that if there were any thing which they misliked they might hinder them from passing And therefore the Letter T was wont to be subscrib'd at the bottome of all the antient Decrees of the Senate by which Mark it was understood that the Tribunes had consented Who although it were their business to lie peâ—du for the good of the People and to suppress the growth of ambitious attempts yet they suffer'd them to use Silver Vessels and to wear Gold Rings given them at the publick charge by the sight of such things to render the authority of their Magistracy the more conspicuous 8. Whose Authority as it increased so their abstinence was most strictly commanded For the Enâ—raâ—is of the Sacrifices offered by the Tribunes were brought to the Questors of the Treasury The worship of the Gods and humane Continence was shewn in those Sacrifices of the Roman people our Captains learning at those Altars what holy hands they ought to come prepared with And such honour they gave to Continence that many times the Debts of those that had well behaved themselves in the government of the Republick were paid by the Senate For they esteemed it an unworthy thing that the dignity of those men should suffer at home by whose industry the Common-wealth had obtained splendor abroad 9. The Youth of the Order of Knighthood twice every year were wont to shew themselves in a publick Spectacle at the charge of some great Person upon the day of the Lupercal Feasts which was the time of the approbation of Knights The Custome of the Lupercals were begun by Romulus and Remus at such a time as they were making merry for that their Uncle Numitor had permitted them to build a City in the place where they were bred up under Mount Palatine which Evander the Argive had consecrated by advice of Faustulus their Foster-father For thereupon they made a Sacrifice and having slain several Goats and eat and drank somewhat more largely than ordinary they divided themselves and in their jollity made a sportive Combat together the memory of which Pastime is celebrated with annual succession of Holidaies As for the Knights which were named Trabeati Quintus Fabius appointed their publike Shew upon the Ides of July He also being Censor with Pub. Decius in commemoration of a Sedition which he had appeas'd when the Comitia or publick choice of Magistrates was almost fallen into the hands of the meanest people divided the whole Rout into four Tribes which he called City-Tribes by means of which wholesome act being a man otherwise famous in Warlike Acts he obtain'd the name of Maximus or Greatest CHAP. III. Of Military Institutions 1. Souldiers first tax'd by Pole 2. Military Exercise 3. The first use of the Velites or light-armed THe Modesty of the People is also to be commended who by freely offering themselves to the labours and dangers of War prevented their Commanders from putting those that were tax'd by Pole to their Oaths whose extreme poverty being suspected made them incapable of being trusted with the Publick Arms. 1. This Custome confirm'd by long use C. Marius first brake making Souldiers of those
so strange a sight departed with tears however in their Eyes 9. But to return to the City of the Massilians from whence this Digression made us wander There is no person to enter their City with a Dart But going forth again he that received it is ready to return it again endeavouring thereby to make their Entertainment as safe as courteous 10. Going out of their Walls we meet an antient Custome of the Gauls who were wont to lend Money to receive it again in the other World being perswaded of the truth of the Immortality of the Soul I should call them fools but that they were of the same opinion as Pythagoras 11. The Philosophy of the Gauls was covetous and usurious that of the Cimbrians and Celtiberians couragious and resolute who in Battle-array rejoyced that they should gloriously and happily die but upon their Death-beds lamented that they should perish poorly in shame and misery For the Celtiberians thought it a crime to survive in Battle when any Friend was slain for whose preservation he had devoted his life 12. But the People of Thrace deservedly challenge to themselves the praise of Wisdome who at the Birth of Children weep at the Funerals of Men rejoyce taught by no other Precepts than the true condition of Human Nature And therefore let all Creatures but extinguish in themselves the love of Life which compels them to act and suffer many ugly things especially when it lies in their power to make a happy and blessed end of living 13. Wherefore the Lycians when they have any occasion of lamentation put on Womens Apparel 〈◊〉 that being moved with the deformity of the Habit it might be a motive to them to make a quicker end of their sorrow 14. But why should I insist longer upon the praise of Men though most couragious in this kind of prudence Let us observe the Indian Women where it was the Custome for one Man to have many Wives Among whom so soon as the Husband died there us'd to be great strife and contention which was the best belov'd by the dead She that gets the Victory triumphing for joy is led by her Kindred to her Husbands Funeral Pile which being set on fire with a chearful and smiling Countenance the throws herself into the midst of the flames and is burnt with her Husband accounting herself most happy in her end Bring forth the Cimbrian boldness adde to that the Celtiberian faith to this joyn the generous wisdom of Thrace not forgetting the cunning custome of the Lycians in Mourning there is none of these that excels the Indian Funeral into which the pious Wife assured to die enters as into her Nuptial Bed 15. To their glory I will adde the infamy of the Carthaginian Dames that by comparison it may appear more odious They had among um the Temple of Dry Venus where the Matrons were wont to meet There by the injury of their Bodies they were wont to raise themselves Portions accounting it no dishonour to tie the honest Marriage-Knot with such a dishonest Band. 16. But the Custome of the Persians was more laudable who were never wont to see their Children till they were Seven Years old that so they might the more easily brook their loss if they died in their Infancy 17. Nor was the Custome of the Numidian Kings to be blam'd who were never accustom'd to give a Kiss to any Mortal Esteeming it fitting that Soveraign Authority should be void of all common and familiar Customes that might lessen the Reverence due to Majesâ—y CHAP. VII Of Military Discipline Observed by the Romans 1. P. Scipio Emilianus Cos. 2. Q. Metellus Numidicus 3. P. Rupilius Cos. 4. Caius Cotta 5. Q. Fulvius Flaccus Censor 6. A. Posthumius Tubertus Dictator and T. Manlius Torquatus 7. Quintus Cincinnatus Dictator 8. Q. Papirius Cursor Dict. 9. L. Calpurnius Piso Cos. 10. Q. Metellus Proconsul 11. Q. Fabius Maximus Proconsul 12. P. African the Greater 13. P. African the Less 14. L. Emilius Paulus Proc. 15. The Roman Senate External 1. The Carthaginian Senate 2. Clearchus Captain of the Spartans I Now come to the principal Glory and chief establishment of the Roman Empire remaining to this day in a healthy continuance of inviolable Liberty knit together with most firm and lasting cords of her Military Discipline in the safeguard of whose bosome Peace and Tranquillity securely repose 1. Pub. Cornelius Scipio who received his Sirname from the ruine of Carthage being sent Consul into Spain that he might curb the insolent spirit of the Citizens of Numantium grown proud and lofty through the râ—â—nisness of the Captains his Predecessors the same moment that he entred the Camp made a Law that they should throw away all things whatsoever which they had about them that was only for bravery and pleasure and otherwife unnecessary Whereupon there were above two thousand Whores Sutlers and Hucksters turn'd out of the Camp Upon which the Army being clear'd of all that luggage and filth that lately for fear of death had sham'd themselves with an ignomimous Truce now refresh'd and recovering new vigour and courage in a short time laid the fierce and haughty Numantium level with the ground Thus Mancinus miserably surrendring himself was an argument of Discipline Neglected Scipio gloriously triumphing publish'd the reward of Discipline Revived 2. Metellus following his example when in the War with Jugurth he took the command of the Army as Consul corrupted through the Lenity of Albinus labour'd with all his might to recover the antient Discipline Nor did he aim at particular parts but immediately reduced the whole into Order First he remov'd the Sutlers out of the Camp and forbid Meat ready drest to be fold He permitted none of the Souldiers to have Servants or Horses to carry their Arms or to fetch or provide um Victuals Then he changed the place of the Camp and fortified himself in the same manner as if Jugurth had been at hand with Ditch and Breast-work Now what was the event of Continence restored and Industry revived It obtain'd frequent Victories and innumerable Trophies from that Enemy whose back under an ambitious Commander it had not been the good fortune of the Roman Souldiers to see before 3. Nor did they a little countenance Military Discipline who not regarding the affectionate ties of Kindred did not refuse to revenge the breach and neglect thereof to the infamy of their Families For Publius Rupilius the Consul in that War which he wag'd in Sicily against the Fugitives banished his Son-in-Law out of his Province for loosing negligently the Castle of Taurominitanum 4. Caius Cotta caus'd Pub. Aurelius Pecuniola his near Relation to be publickly whipt or rather run the Gauntlet to serve as a common Souldier afterwards for that through his fault in the absence of the Consul who going to Messana to consult the Auguries had left him in command of the Army the Fortification was burnt and the Camp almost taken 5. Quintus
Fulvius Censor turn'd his Brother out of the Senate for that he had presumed to sâ—nd home a Cohort of the Legion wherein he was a Tribune without the leave of the Consul What more difficult for a man to do than to send back with ignominy to his Country a person nearly related by Family and Marriage or to use the severity of Stripes to a person allied in a long series of Blood and Kindred or to bend his Censors frown upon the dear Relation of a Brother 6. But our City which hath fill'd the world with wonderful Examples of all sorts with a double face beholds her Axes reeking with the Blood of her Commanders lest the disturbance of Military Discipline should go unpunish'd pompous abroad but the cause of private grief enough uncertain whether to perform the office of congratulating or comforting And therefore with doubtful thoughts have I coupled you two together most severe observers of Warlike Discipline Posthumus Tubertus and Manlius Torquatus For I apprehend a fear of sinking under that weight of Praise which ye have merited and discovering the weakenss of my Wit while I presume to represent your Vertue as it should be For thou O Posthumus Dictator didst cause thy victorious Son Aulus Posthumus to be beheaded thy Son whom thou didst beget to propagate the succession of thy renowned Race and the secret instructions of thy most sacred traditions the allurements of whose infancy thou hadst cherish'd in thy Bosome and with thy Kisses whom a Child thou hadst instructed in Learning a Man in Arms good couragious and obedient both to thee and to his Countrey only because without thy command without thy leave he had overthrown his enemies thy fatherly command was the Executioner For I am certain thine eyes orewhelm'd with darkenss in the brightest light could not behold the great work of thy mind But thou Manlius Torquatus Consul in the Latine War didst command thy Son to be carried away by the Officer and to be slain like a Sacrifice though he obtain'd a noble Victory for that he had presum'd to fight with Geminius Metius Captain of the Tuscans when provoked to the Combat by him Esteeming it better that a Father should want a couragious Son than thy Countrey want Military Discipline 7. Again of what spirit think ye was Quintus Cincinnatus the Dictator at that time when the Aequi being vanquished he compelled Minutius to lay down the Consulship because the Enemies had besieged his Camp For he thought him unworthy the greatest command whom â—ot his Virtue but his Trenches and his Breastworks secur'd and who was not ashamed to see the Roman Arms trembling for fear shut up in their Turn-pikes Thus the most commanding twelve Fasces with whom remain'd the chief honour of the Senate of the Order of Knighthood of all the People with whose Nod all Latium and all the strength of Italy was govern'd now shatter'd and broken submitted to the punishing authority of the Dictatorship And lest the breach of Military Honour should go unpunish'd the Consul punisher of all Crimes must himself be punished By these Propitiatory Sacrifices as I may so say O Mars the Father of our Empire when we degenerated from thy auspicious Discipline thy Deity was appeas'd By the infamy of Kindred Relations and Brothers by the murder of Sons and the ignominious degrading of Consuls 8. To the same purpose is that which follows Papirius Cursor Dictator when Q. Fabius Rullianus Master of the Horse had contrary to his command brought forth the Army to Battle though he return'd a Victor over the Samnites yet neither mov'd with his Virtue with his Success nor with his Nobility he caus'd the Rods to be made ready and the Conquerour to be stript A spectacle of wonder to behold Rullianus Master of the Horse and a victorious General his Cloaths pull'd off his Body naked to be lacerated with the stripes of an Executioner to no other end than to sprinkle the glorious honour of his Victories so lately obtain'd with the fresh Blood of those Wounds which he had received in the Field drawn from his Body by the knotted stripes of the Lictor At length the Army mov'd by his Prayers gave him the Opportunity of flying into the City where in vain he implored the aid of the Senate for Papirius notwithstanding persever'd in requiring his punishment Wherefore his Father after having been Dictator and three times Consul was compell'd to appeal to the People and upon his Knees to beg the assistance of the Tribunes in the behalf of his Son Neither by this means could the Severity of Papirius be restain'd but being intreated by the whole City and by the Tribunes themselves made a protestation that he forgave the Punishment mot to Fabius but to the City of Rome and the Authority of the Tribunes 9. L. Calpurnius Piso also being Consul being in Sicily making war against the Fugitives when C. Titius Commander of the Horse being environ'd and oppress'd by the multitude of the Enemy had with the rest of his Souldiers deliver'd their Arms to the Enemy he punisht him with several marks of Ignominy He commanded him to march barefoot in the first Ranks from Morning till Night with a Jacket the skirts whereof were cut off and his Cloak slit from top to bottom he forbad him also the converse of Men and use of Baths and the Troops which he commanded having taken away their Horses he divided them among the Slingers Thus to his great honour did Piso revenge the great dishonour of his Countrey having brought it so to pass that they who out of a desire of Life and deserving to be hanged had suffer'd their Arms to become the Trophies of Fugitives and were not ashamed to permit the ignominious youk of Servitude to be laid upon their Liberty by the hands of Slaves might experience the bitter enjoyment of Life and covet that Death which they had so effeminately avoided 10. Not less than that of Piso was the proceeding of Q. Metellus who at the Battle of Contrebia having placed five Cohorts in a certain station and seeing them retire through the multitude of their Enemies he commanded them immedâ—â—â—â—â—y to endeavour to recover their ground again withal severely adding that is any of them flying were found in the Camp he should be used as an Enemy not hoping by this means to regain what they had lost but to punish them with the manifest hazards of the ensuing Combat Yet they having received this check weary as they were having no other encouragement but Despair renewed the fight and with the slaughter of their Enemies recover'd their station So that there is nothing like Necessity to harden humane imbecillity 11. In the same Province Q. Fabius the Great being desirous to bring down the fierce pride of a most haughty Pâ—ople forc'd his gentle disposition for a time to lay aside all Clemency and to use himself to utmost Rigour and Severity For he cut â—ff tâ—e hands of
shewed so much trouble in his Countenance Who replying that he had by command of the City built the Out-gates of the Castle of Minerva and was not able to give any accompt of the vast Treasure spent in the service and that therefore he was troubled Rather should you endeavour said the Boy to finde out a way how you should give no accompt Thus a most great and wise man not able to counsel himself follows the advice of a Child and so order'd it that the Athenians engaged in a sharp War with their Neighbours had no time to look after Accompts But let the Athenians consider whether they had most reason to lament or be glad for the Birth of Alcibiades whose Stories fluctuate in a doubtful opinion between admimiration and detestation of the person CHAP. II. Of Fortitude ROMAN Examples whereof are 1. M. Horatius Cocles 2. Clelia the Virgin 3. Romulus 4. A. Cornelius Cossus 5. M. Marcellus 6. The Duellers T. Manlius Torquatus M. Valerius Corvus and P. Scipio Aemilianus 7. C. Atilius 8. The Roman Knights at the Battle of Verrugo 9. The same in the Fight against the Samnites 10. The Roman Souldiers in holding in the Punic Fleet. 11. A Roman Souldier at the Battle at Cannae 12. Q. Licinius Crassus Procons 13. Q. Metellus Scipio Procons 14. M. Cato of Uâ—ica 15. Porcia 16. M. Cato Son of the great Cato 17. Scipio Nasica 18. Emilius Scaurus 19. Julius Caesar Procons 20. Three Soldiers Vibâ—us Acceus Valeriuâ— Flaccus T. Pâ—denius 21. Q. Cotius Achilles 22. C. Attilius 23. Coesius Scaeva 24. L. Sicinius Dentatus FORRAIN 1. Jubâ—llius of Campania 2. Gobrias the Persian 3. Leonidas the Spartan 4. Othryadas the Spartan 5. Epaminondas a Theban 6. Theramenes of Athens 7. Theogenes of Numantium 8. The Wife of Asdrubal 9. Harmonia the Daughter of King Gelo. HAving done with the beginnings and growth of Vertue we will now prosecute the act it self whose most ponderous force and efficacious nerves consist in Fortitude Nor am I ignorant Great Founder of our City Romulus that the first honour of this nature ought to be assign'd to thee but first suffer me I beseech thee to prevent thee with an Example to which thou thy self dost owe something of admiration seeing that without the benefit thereof Rome it self thy own work had not become so famous 1. The Hetrurians making an irruption into the City over the Sublician Bridge Horatius Cocles kept the farther end thereof and with an indefatigable Fight sustain'd the whole body and force of the Enemy till the Bridge was broken behind him and when he saw his Countrey freed from imminent danger flung himself armed into Tibur whose Fortitude the Immortal Gods admiring rewarded him with a safe coming off Being neither hurt with the height of the Fall nor the weight of his Armour nor touch'd with the Darts that flew upon every side of him And thereby he drew the eyes of alt his Fellow-citizens of all his Enemies upon his own single person the one amazed with admiration the other in a trance between joy and fear And separated two great Armies closely engaged repelling one and defending the other And lastly by his single Strength was as great a guard to our City with his Shield as Tibur with her Channel And therefore the Hetrurians departing might well say They had vanquish'd the Romans but were beaten by one Horatius 2. Clelia makes me almost forgetful of my purpose Daring a most noble Enterprize at the fame time against the same Enemy and in the fame Tibur For being given in Hostage among other Virgins to Forsenna she escap'd the Watch in the Night-time and getting a horse me presently got to the River which she swam over freeing her Country not onely from a Siege but from fear of danger holding out a Light of Vertue to men 3. I now return to Romulus who being provoked to Combat by Acro King of the Cenicenses though he believed himself Superiour both in the number and courage of his Souldiers and that it was safer for him to fight with his whole Army than in single Combat with his own right hand he snatch'd away the Omen of Victory nor did fortune fall his undertaking for having slain Acro and vanquishâ—d his Enemies he brought away rich spoils and trophies which he offer'd to Jupiter Feretrius For which let this suffice for Vertue cousecrated by publick Religion needs no private praise 4. Next to Romulus is Cornelius Cossus who consecrated his spoils to the same Deâ—â—y when being Master of the Horse when he had slain the Captain of the Fidenates in battel Great was Romulus in the beginning of this commenced Glory and much was gained by Cossus for that he would imitate Romulus 5. Nor ought we to separate the memory of M. Marcellus from these Examples in whom there was so great a courage that he set upon the King of the Gauls environ'd with a great Army neer the River Po onely with a few Horsemen whose head he presently cut off and spoil'd him of his arms which he dedicated to Jupiter Feretrius 6. The same Vertue and the same manner of Combat T. Manlius Torquatus Valerius Corvus and Emilianus Scipio made use of for they voluntarily challeng'd the Captains of the Enemy and slew them but because they did those actions under the command of others they did not dedicate their spoils to Jupiter Feretrius The same Scipio Emilianus bring in Spain under the command of Lucullus at the same time that Intercaria a strong Town was besieged was the first that got upon the Walls Neither was there any person in the whole Army considering his Nobility his hopeful Youth and future Acts whose safety ought to have been more regarded and consulted But then the most noble Young men to enlarge and defend their Country sustain'd the greatest pains and perils deeming it below themselves to excel in Dignity and not in Vertue Therefore Emilianus chose a Warlike life which others tor the hazard thereof avoid 7. Among these Antiquity offers a most famous Example of Fortitude The Romans being overthrown by the Army of the Gauls and forced to retire into the Capitol and well knowing the Walls of their Fortresses not able to receive their whole number took a necessary resolution to leave their old people in the open City that the young men might be the better enabled to defend what was left Yet at that most miserable and calamitous season was not our City forgetful of their pristine Vertue for though deprived of their Honour they sate with their doors open in their Running-chairs with the Habits of their Magistracy and Priesthood that in their night of sorrow they might retain the Splendor and Ornaments of their past life and might encourage the people more couragiously to undergo the burthen of their Calamity Their Aspect was Venerable in the sight of their Enemies who were not a little moved at the Novelty of what they saw considering the magnificence of
thought to have been punish'd in his own opinion yielding only to common fate 7. But Theramenes receiv'd his Constancy from Learning and Education But the natural Ferity of the people taught Theogenes the Numantine to take the same course For the affairs of Numantium being in a low and lost condition himself excelling aâ— others in Wealth Honour and Nobility getting a great quantity of combustible matter together he set his own Street which was the fairest in the whole City on fire and laying a naked Sword in the midst of it he commanded two persons to fight together that the Head of him that was kill'd might be cast upon the flames and having by this strong engagement consum'd everybody else at length he threw himself into the fire 8. And that I may rehearse the destruction of a City at equal enmity with ours when Carthage was taken the wife of Asdrubal upbraiding him with Impiety for bâ—gging onely his own life at Scipio's hands taking her Children which she had by him in her right and left hand willing to die the flung her self into the flaming Ruines of her Country 9. To this Example of Female-fortitude I will adde one stout Casualty of two Virgins Whâ—n through the most pestiferous Sedition of the Syracusans the whole Family of King Gelo afflicted with eneless Calamities was reduced to one Virgin-daughter named Harmonia and that the Enemy made several offers of violence upon her Her Nurse took a Childe somewhat like her and having dress'd it in royal Apparel exposed her to the fury of her Enemies who when she was about to be slain would not declare her condition Harmonica admiring her condition and not willing to outlive so much Faith called back the Murtherers and confessing who she was was the cause of her own death Thus a covert Lye was the bane of the one the open truth the destruction of the other CHAP. III. Of Patience ROMAN Examples whereof are two 1. C. Mutius Cordus first called Scaevola 2. Pompey Embassadour to King Gentius FORRAIGN 1. A Macedonian Youth 2. Zeno Eleatean 3. The other Zeno. 4. Anaxarchus Abderite 5. Theodorus of Syracuse 6. The Indians 7. The African slave contemning Death and Torments FOrtitude hath been apparent to the eyes of men by the famous Deeds both of men and women and by her incitement Patience appears grounded upon as firm foundations not being endued with a less generous Soul but so like the one co the other that she seems to have received her birth either with her or from her 1. For what has a greater resemblance to what I have formerly related than the Act of Mutius who grieving to see our City vexed with a long and grievous War by Porsenna King of the Heturians privately got armed into the Camp endeavour'd to have slain him as he was sacrificing before the Altar But failing in the Enterprize and being laid hold on he neither concealed the cause of his coming and besides that with a wonderful patience shew'd how little he fear'd any torment they could put him to For as it were out of an enmity to his right hand because he could not use it in the slaughter of the King he held it in the fire enduring it to be burnt off Certainly the Immortal Gods never beheld with more heedful eyes any Offering made them And it forced Porsenna himself forgetful of the danger to turn his Revenge into Admiration Return quoth he to thy own Friends and tell them how I have given thee thy life for seeking mine Whose Clemency Mutius no way flattering more sorry to see him live than glad of his own life return'd to the City with a sirname of eternal glory being called Scaevola 2. Most approved also is the Vertue of Pompey who being sent upon an Embassie and taken by the way by King Gentius and commanded to reveral the Counsels of the Senate thrust his finger into a burning Candle which patience of his made the King not onely despair of getting any thing out of him by force but also very desirous of the friendship of the Romans But lest while I strive to enumerate more Domestick Examples of this sort I should be forced to embroyl my self in the relations and stories of our civil Discords which as they contain the Relation of most famous men so they renew the publick Grief I shall pass to those of Forraign Nations EXTERNAL According to the ancient Custome of Greece the most eminent Noblemens Sons did always attend upon King Alexander when he sacrificed Among which there was one who while he stood before the King holding the Censer a live cole fell upon his arm which though it burnt his flesh so vehemently that the stink thereof offended the nostrils of all the standers by yet the Lad would by no means discover his pain fearing to disturb the Sacrifice by letting fall the Censer or to offend the Kings ears by complaining The King pleased with the patience of the Youth and willing to make a mere certain tryal thereof prolong'd the Sacrifice beyond his wonted time yet nothing would alter the constancy of the Lad. Had Darius cast his eyes upon this wonder he would have known that Souldiers of such a race were not to be overcome while in their tender age he beheld them endu'd with such a strength There is that vehement and constant Discipline of the Minde I mean Philosophy excelling in Learning ruler of the venerable Mysteries of Doctrne which being receiv'd into the breast of men they presently lay aside all dishonest and unworthy affections and being armed with the true weapons of Vertue advance themselves above all fear and thought of pain 2. I will begin from Zeno of Eleas who being a most wise observer of the nature of things and most sedulous to kindle Courage and Vigour in the minds of Youth purchased Credit to his Precepts by Examples of his own Vertue For departing his Country where he might have lived secure in Libâ—rty he went to Agrigentum then groaning under a most miserable servitude confiding in his Conversation and Manners that he was in good hopes to work the Tyrant though a Phalaris out of the ferity of his rude nature After some time observing that the Custome of Dominion was more prevalent than wholsome Counsels he stirr'd up and inflam'd the minds of the most noble Youth with a desire of recovering their Liberty Which being reveal'd to the Tyrant he call'd the People into the Market-place and in their presence began to punish Zeno with most exquisite torments oftentimes asking him who were his Confederates in the Conspiracy Zeno would name none of them but only those that were the Tyrants chiefest Friends and Relations and then upbraiding the Agrigentines with their sloath and fear rais'd such a suddain commotion in their minds that they fell upon the Tyrant and stoned him to death It was not the suppliant Voice the miserable Cries of an Old-man upon the Rack but his strong and serious exhortation
of Government like a Mist a fading Triumph and his Off-spring a Sojourner in a strange City 6. But the beginnings of Porcius Cato were searched for out by publick Vote Who render'd his name most famous at Rome which was scarcely known in Tusculum The lasting Monuments of the Latin Tongue were by him adorn'd Military Discipline reform'd the Majesty of the Senate increased his Family establish'd to which the last Cato was no small honour FORRAIGN 1. But to joyn Forraign Examples to the Romans Socrates not onely by common consent of all persons but by the Oracle of Apollo judg'd to be the wisest among men was born of Phanarete a Midwife and Sophroniscus a Stone-cutter yet he came to be one of the most resplendent Lights of Glory and not undeservedly For when the Wits of most learned men were busied in blinde Disputations and endeavoured to set down and prove the measures of the Sun Moon and the rest of the Stars rather by multiplicity of words than certain Arguments for they undertook to tell the compass of the whole World he diverted men from these unlearned and unnecessary questions and taught them to dive into the nature of Man and the secret Affections that lay hidden in his breast So that if Vertue be esteem'd for its self much more such a Master as teacheth the best Rules of life 2. What Mother Euripides had or what Father Domesthenes had was unknown to the Age they lived in Yet the most certain opinion of the Learned is That the Mother of the one sold Pot-herbs and the Father of the other dealt in Knives However what can be more famous than the Tragedies of the one and the Orations of the other CHAP. V. Of those who have degenerated being born of Noble Ancestors 1. The Son of Scipio Africanus 2. Q. Fabius the Son of him sirnamed Allobrogicus 3. The Son of Clodius and Fulvia 4. Marcus Hortensius Corbio HEre follows the second part of a double promise to be made good by relating the blemishes in the Coats of Illustrious men Because we are now to relate the stories of those that have degenerated from the glory of their Ancestors 1. For what could be more like a Monster than the Son of the Elder Scipio Africanus who receiving his beginning from so Illustrious a Family could endure to suffer himself to be taken by a small party of King Antiochus when it had been better for him to have died a voluntary death than between two the most famous Sirnames the one obtained by the destruction of Africk and the other got by the Conquest of Asia to suffer his hands to be bound by the Enemy and to be beholding co his mercy tor a pitiful life over whom Scipio was to obtain in a small time a Triumph most glorious in the sight of Gods and men Coming to claim the Pretorship he appeared in the field with such a spotted and bedaub'd white Gown that had it not been for the courtesie of Cicereus who was his Father's Secretary he would not have obtain'd the honour Though it had been no great matter whether he had a Repulse or a Pretorship so obtain'd for when the standers by saw what a soul Garment he had on they were the occasion that he neither durst place his Chair nor hear Causes Moreover they took a Ring off his singer upon which the head of Alexander was engrav'd Good Gods from what Thunder did ye suffer so much Darkness to proceed 2. Again Q. Fabius Maximus the Son of Q. Fabius Maximus sirnamed Allobrogicus what a luxurious and dissolute life did he lead whose other Vices to obliterate yet might his Manners be seen by one act of disgrace that Q. Pompey the City-Pretor would not let him meddle with his Father's goods Neither was there any person in so great a City that would speak against the Decree For men grived to see that that money which was to maintain the splendour of the Fabian Family should be spent in Riot and Excess Thus he whom his Father's indulgence left his Hâ—ir the publick severity dis-inherited 3. Clodius the fair was in great favour with the people yet his Wife Fulvia wearing a Dagger shew'd that he suffered his warlike Spirit to be subject to the commands of a Woman Their Son called also by the name of Clodius the Fair beside that he had led a slothful and effeminate life in his Youth was also infamous for his egregious dotage upon the most common Whores and died a most shameful death For his belly being eaten up he surrender'd his life to the greedy appetite of his own foul intemperance 4. Hortensius Corbio also the Nephew of Quintus Hortensius who in the greatest plenty of ingenious and illustrious Citizens attain'd the highest degree of Eloquence and Authority led a life more obscure and sordid than all the Strumpets put together At length his Tongue was as common at the pleasure and lust of every one in the Bawdy-houses as his Fathers Oratory was diligently employ'd for the good of his Fellow-Citizens CHAP. VI. Of Illustrious men that delighted more than ordinary in rich Apparel and sumptuous adorning themselves 1. Scipio the Greater 2. Asiatic Scipio 3. Cornelius Sylla 4. C. Duilius 5. C. Papirius Maso 6. C. Marius 7. M. Cato of Uâ—ica I Am not ignorant what a dangerous Journey I have undertaken Therefore I will recall my self lest while I continue to pursue the remaining Shipwracks and Miscarriages of the same nature I should intrigue my self in useless Relations I will therefore retreat and suffer those deformed shadows to lie hid in the deep Abyss of their own shame thinking it more to the purpose to declare what illustrious Personages have given themselves an unusual liberty in their Habits and Dresses the Authors of new Customs 1. P. Scipio being in Sicily there intent upon the reinforcing and transporting his Army into Africa as he that minded nothing more than the ruine of Carthage was at the same time accustomed to the Gymnasium and wore a Pallium or long Mantle and those finer sort of shoes called Crepidae Yet did he handle the Carthaginians never a whit the more softly for that For his Divertisement made him more eager seeing that strong and active Wits the more they use Retirement the more vehement they are in Command Thereby pâ—rhaps he also thought to win the favour of the young Gentry while he followed their Customes of Habit and Diet. For to those Exercises he applied himself when he had much and long tired himself and had constrained his other Limbs to prove their Strength by Military Labours wearied with the one recreated with the other 2. We likewise behold the Statue of Lucius Scipio with a Chlaâ—ys or a short Cloak about his Shoulders and embroidered Slippers In which Habit as he was wont to wear it alive they cloathed his Effigies 3. Lucius Cornelius Sylla also when he was Emperour thought it no disgrace to walk the streets of Naples mantled in a
Fortune doth not therefore want a just confidence in its self 3. But Zeuxis having painted Helen thought it not fit to expect what men would say of his Work but presently added these Verses out of Homer Iliad 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I cannot blame the man that for her strives Like an Immortal God she is So that the Painter did not arrogate so much to his Art to think he had drawn so much Beauty as Leda might assume through her Celestial Birth or Homer express by his divine Wit 4. Phidias also alluded to the Verses of Homer in a notable Saying For having finish'd the Statue of Jupiter Olympic than which never humane hand did make a more famous Piece being ask'd by his Friend whither he directed his mind when he form'd the Face of Jupiter of Ivory as if he had seem'd to fetch it from Heaven reply'd that he made use of these following Verses Iliad 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With his black brows he to her nodded Wherewith displayed were his Locks Divine Olymyus shook at stirring of his Godhead 5. But now the most renowned Captains suffer me no longer to insist upon mean Examples For Epaminondas when his Citizens in anger commanded him in contempt to take care of paving the Streets in the Town which was one of the lowest Offices among them without any hesitation took it upon him promising in a short time to make the City most beautiful By his wonderful Industry making the most vile Office to be coveted for a great honour 6. But Hannibal remaining in Exile with King Prusias and being the occasion of his giving Battle though the other told him that the Entrails portended no good Success made this reply Hadst thou rather said he believe a little Calves flesh than an old General A brief and concise Answer considering the number of the Words considering the sence a copious reply and of great authority For he that had wrung out of the hands of the Romans both Spains and having reduc'd the force of Gallia and Liguria under his subjection had open'd a new Passage through the Alps laying at the Kings feet the dire memory of the Thrasymene Lake the famous monument of the Punic Victory at Cannae Capua taken and all Italy rent and torn could not endure that his glory witnessed by long experiment should be put in competition with the Liver of one Sacrifice And certainly as to what concern'd the exploring of Military Sacrifices and making conjectures of Warlike Conducts the breast of Hannibal was far above all the little fires all the Altars of Bithynia in the judgment of Mars himself 7. That saying also of King Cotys was the mark of a most generous Spirit who so soon as he understood that the Athenians had given him a City made answer that he would give them the Law of his Nation Thereby equalling Thrace to Athens lest by accounting himself unable to requite such a benefit he should have been esteem'd to have thought too meanly of his Original 8. Nobly was it said also of both the Spartans one of whom being reproved that he went to battle being lame reply'd That it was his intention to fight and not to run The other being told that the Sun us'd to be obscur'd with the Darts of the Persians A very good story quoth he for we shall fight the better in the shade Another Person of the same City and Courage made answer to his Host shewing him the high and broad Walls of his City If ye made um for your Women said he ye did well if for your Men 't was ignominiously done CHAP. VIII Of Constancy ROMANS 1. Q. Fulvius Flaccus 2. Q. Fabius Maximus 3. Q. Calpurnius Piso 4. Metellus Numidia 5. Scaevola the Elder 6. Sempronia Sister of the Gracchi 7. Pontius the Centurion 8. Mevius the Centurian FORRAIGN 1. Blassius the Salapian 2. Phocion the Athenian 3. Socrates the Athenian 4. Ephialtes the Athenian 5. Dion of Syracuse 6. Alexander the Great THere remains the labour of Constancy as it were due to him that has demonstrated an open and couragious breast endued with good Confidence For Nature has provided that whoever believes himself to have comprehended any thing orderly and rightly in his minde should stifly defend it and put it into act against opposition or if not done should bring it to effect without delay maugre all resistance 1. But while I seek for an Example of what I propound looking about me at a distance before all the rest the Constancy of Fulvius Flaccus offers it self He at that time held Capua which through the fallacious promises of Hannibal had resolv'd by their vile Revolt to put the Kingdom of Italy into the Conquerours hands Having therefore made a true value of the Enemies Crime he purposed with himself wholly to extirpate the Senate of Capua who were the Authors of that wicked Decree To this intent he sent them all to Theana and Calena laden with Chains into two several Prisons resolving to execute his purpose when he had done some other things which required a more necessary speed In the mean time a Rumour being spread of more favourable Proceedings being intended toward them lest they should escape their deserved punishment he took horse in the night-time posts to Theana where he put to death all that were in custody there thence hasting to Calena he finish'd the work of his severe Resolution For though while yet the Campanians were bound to the stake he had received Letters in favour of them he notwithstanding kept the Letters as he received them in his left hand commanding the Lictor to do his duty nor would he open them till he knew it was too late to obey them By which Constancy of his he surmounted the glory of a Victory For if we make his Estimate by dividing the praise between himself we shall finde him greater in Capua punish'd than in Capua taken 2. This was a Constancy in Severity that which follows a most admirable Constancy in piety which Fabius Maximus render'd indefatigable for the good of his Country He told out the Money to Hannibal for the Captives being publickly defrauded of it he said nothing The Senate had made Minutius Master of the Horse equal to him in Authory he held his tongue And although provoked with many other injuries he persisted in the same habit of minde nor would ever give his pâ—ssion liberty to be angry with the Commonwealth so stedfast was the love he bare to his Citizens In his managing the War was not his Constancy the same The Roman Empire broken at the overthrow at Cannae seem'd scarce able to provide another Army and therefore believing it to be better to delay and weary the force of the Carthaginians than to come to Handy-blows with all his power though provoked with the frequent taunts of Hannibal though he had many times
that he had spoken ill of him many times He without hesitation slighted the accusation The Informer very seriously asked him Why he did not believe him who replied That it was not credible that he whom he loved so well should not love him as well again At length when the envie of the Make-bate confirm'd his story with Oaths he affirm'd That he did not believe him perjur'd however if Zenocrates did say such things of him he would not have said them but that he thought it convenient to speak so One would have thought his Soul had not kept her Station in a Mortal Body but in a Celestial Tower and as it were armed that could so invincibly keep off the Incursions of Humane Vices keeping the whole number of Vertues in the close Fortress of the breast 3. Dion of Syracuse could not deserve equal Commendation with Plato for Learning but of his Moderation he gave a larger Experiment He being expelled his Country by Dionysius the Tyrant went to Megara where coming to give the King of that City a Visit but not finding admittance after a long and tedious waiting said he to his friend This is patiently to be endured for perhaps when we were in Authority we our selves did something like this By wtveh tranquillity of Minde he made his own Exile more pleasing to himself 4 Thrasibulus is next to be recorded who when the people of Athens were forced to leave their Country through the Cruelty of the Thirty Tyrants and to live miserably dispersed and wandering without any home brought them back to their own Country However he made the victorious Restoration of their Liberty more renowned by his most applauded Moderation For he made a Law That no mention should be made of things past This Act of Oblivion which the Athenians call Amnestia restored the shaken and decaying State of the City to its former condition of Honour 5. Not less admirable is this that follows Stasippus of Tegea when his friends advised him by any means to kill or remove a person that was his Rival in the Administration of the Commonwealth though otherwise a very just and upright person denied to do any such act scaring that the place in Government which a good man now enjoyed should be possessed by one of a perverse and evil disposition coming in his room 6. The breast of Pittacus was well endued with Moderation who being become an absolute Tyrant over his Country when Alcaeus the Poet not onely prosecuted him with an inveterate hatred but with the strength of his sharp Wit onely gave him to understand what was in his power to do 7. The mention which I have made of this man brings to our consideration the Moderation of the seven Wise men A certain person had bought a Draught of certain Fishâ—rmen in the Country ot Miâ—esium who bringing up a golden Table of Delphos of a very exceeding great weight a very great Dispute arose these affirming the sale onely of Fish the person affirming he bought the Draught in general By reason of the novelty of the Accident and the value of the Treasure the business was referred to the judgment of all the City they thought it convenient to consult the Oracle to whom the Table belonged the God answered that it was to be given to him that excelled in Wisdom in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who first in Wisdom all excells to him the Tripos give Thereupon the Milesians by consent gave the Table to Thales he yielded it to Byas Byas to Pittacus and so from one to another at length it came to Solon who gave the attribute of chiefest Wisdom as also the reward to Apollo himselt 8. And to witness the Moderation of Theopompus King of the Lacedaemonians who being the first Author of the creation of the Ephori which were to be a Curb to the Kingly power in Laâ—edaemon as the Tribunes were a Curb to the Consular Authority in Rome and for that cause reprehâ—nded by his wife that be had done that which would lessen the grandeur of his Children I shall leave it less said he but more lasting Rightly said for that power is most lasting that gâ—ves limits to it self Therefore Theopompus by binding a Kingdom in legal Fetters the more he withdrew it from Licentious power the more he fixed it in the good will of his Subjects 9. But Antiochus being driven by L. Scipio to the utmost limits of the Kingdom beyond the Mountain Taurus having lost Asia and all the adjacent Kingdoms thought himself bound without dâ—ssimulation to return thanks to the Romans that being freed from great Cares they had confirm'd him to govern a moderate Territory And indeed there is nothing so Illustrious or Magnificent which may not be tempeted by Moderation CHAP. II. Of Reconciliation 1. M. Aemilius Lepidus and M. Fâ—lvius Flaccus Censors 2. M. Livius Salinator and C. Claudius Nero Coss 3. The Elder Africanus and T. Sempronius Gracchus 4. M. Tullius Cicero and A. Gabinius 5. P. Clodius Pulcher and T. Cornelius Lentulus 6. L. Caninius Gallus and C. Antonius 7. M. Caelius Rufus and Q. Pompey WHich being demonstrated by many and most renowned presidents let us pass to a most rare Affection of the Mind or the course of Hatred to Friendship and let us pursue it in a pleasant Style For it the boisterous Sea prove calm and the stormy Sky appear with a serene aspect and War making a change for Peace be no small cause of comfort the asswagement of the bitterness of Hatred is to be celebrated with a candid Narration 1. Marcus Aemilius Lepidus twice Consul and high Priest equal in the Splendour of his Honours to the Gravity of his Life bare an inveterate and continued Hatred to Fulvius Flaceus a person of the same dignity which assoon as they were both declared Censors together he laid aside in the Field Believing it unreasonable for those to be at private difference who were coupled together in Supreme publick Authority That judgment of his mind the present Age hath approved and the old Writers of Annals have recorded to us as a thing most worthy of applause 2. Nor would they let the illustrious advice of Livius Salinator for the ending of Quarrels be unknown to Posterity For though he went into Exile with a burning hatred against Claudius Nero anger'd at the testimony which he gave against him yet when the People had recall'd him and made him Partner with Nero in the Consulship he commanded himself to forget his own disposition which was most fiery and the heavy injury which he had received Lest by denying to take the Consorship of Government through the inward disaffection of his mind he should have acted the part of an evil Consul by shewing his hatred to his Enemy Which inclination of his mind to a better disposition in an unsafe and difficult conjuncture of affairs wrought no small advantage to the City and all Italy while they supported with an equal strength of
vertue were the first that broke the force and turn'd the fortune of the Carthaginians 3. A fair Example also we finde in the Elder African and T. Gracchus of Enmity laid aside For at the sacred Rites of that Table to which they came with a boyling Hatred each to other from the same Table they departed entire Friends For Scipio at the mediation of the Senate not contented to enter into Friendship with Gracchus in the Capitol at the Feast of Jupiter he there also espoused his Daughter Cornelia to him 4. This gentile humour appear'd chiefly in M. Cicero For he most vehemently defended A. Gabinius accus'd of Bribery who had expell'd him out of the City in his Consuship And the same person preserv'd P. Vatinius from two publick Judgements though he were alwaies an enemy to his Dignity As without any imputation of Levity so with some Praise For with better pretence Injuries are overcome by Benefits than retaliated with obstinate Animosity 5. Which act of Cicero's seem'd so laudable that P. Pulcher his utter Enemy did not disdain to follow it Who being accus'd of Incest by the three Lentuli received one of them into his protection at the same time accused for corrupting the People to obtain an Office and gave his mind wholly beholding the Judge the Praetor and the Temple of Vesta to act all Friendship for the same Lentulus though the other at the same time endeavoured to ruine his reputation with a soul crime 6. Caninius Gallus also shew'd himself wonderful in Courtesie both toward the Criminal and to his Accuser For to Antonius whom he had condemn'd he gave his Daughter and Colonius by whom he was accused he made Overseer of his Estate 7. As for Caelius Rufus though his Life were infamous yet the Pity that he shewed to Q. Pompeius was to be applauded who being cast at a publick Trial by himself when his Mother Cornelia would not restore the Farms which he had conveyed to her in trust at the request of Lentulus in a Letter he with great fervency made a Journey to her He shewed the Letter which testified the Necessity of Pompey whereby he overcame the impious Covetousness of Cornelia A deed for its most compassionate Humanity to be applauded even in Caelius himself and to be imitated though Rufus were the Author CHAP. III. Of Abstinence and Continence ROMAN Examples 1. Scipio African the Elder 2. Cato of Utica 3. Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia 4. Cn. Marrius Coriolarus 5. Curius Dentatus Cos 6. C. Fabricius Lusenus â—os 7. Q. Aelius Tubero Cos 8. L. Aemiliâ—s Paulus â—rocos 9. The Roman Ambassâ—dours Fabius Gunges Cn. Fabii Pictores and Q. Ogulnius 10. L. Calpurnius Piso 11. Cato the Elder 12 Cato of Utica 13. P. Scipio Emâ—lianus 14. The People of Rome FORRAIGN 1. Pericles the Athenian 2. Sâ—phocles the Athenian 3. Xenocrates the Academic 4. Dâ—â—gâ—nâ—s the Cynic WIth great care and most deliberate study are we now to relate how those impetuous desires of Lust and Avarice have by Reason and Councel been remov'd from the breasts of great Persons For that City that Family that Kingdom easily remains in a lasting and firm degree of Establishment where Lust and Avarice challenge the least prerogative For where those Plagues of Humane kinde have gotten sooting there Injury prevails and Infamy rages But forgetting those let us call to minde Customes contrary to those most pestilent Vices 1. Scipio in the twenty fourth year of his Age having taken New Carthage in Spain and conceiving in his mind prosperous hopes of taking the greater Carthage had regained into his power many Hostages which the Carthaginians kept close in that Town and among the rest a Virgin of most surpassing Beauty mature in years though he were young unmarried and a Conquerour yet understanding that she was of a Noble Family among the Celtiberians and affianced to Indibilis one of the Princes of that Countrey he sent for her Parents and her Spouse and delivered untouch'd to her own Friends adding to her Dowry the Gold that was brought for her Ransome Which Continency and Bounty of his so moved Indibilis that he wrought with the Celtiberians to take part with the Romans thereby approving himself truly grateful for so great a favour 2. As Spain was a witness of this mans Abstinence so did Epirus Achaia the Cyclade Islands the Sea-Coast of Asia and Cyprus give testimony to the Continence of Cato From whence when he had the charge of sending great sums of Money he carried himself as free from Wantonness as from desire of Gain though he had opportunity enough to have been intemperate in both For the Royal Treasure was all at his charge and he was forced every where to take up his Lodgings in Cities the most fruitful of all pleasures And this is testified in writing by Minatius Rufus his faithful Companion in the Cyprian Expedition Though I rely not altogether upon his testimony the subject it self is a sufficient proof seeing that Cato and Continence were both born from the same Womb of Nature 3. Most certain it is that Drusus Germanicus the glory of the Claudian Family a rare Ornament of his Countrey and which is above all the rest for the greatness of his Actions considering his Age near approaching to the Grandeur of his Imperial Father-in-Law and Brother was eminently known to have confin'd his love of Women within the particular and single affection to his own Wife Antonia also a woman surpassing in Praise the Masculine Renown of her Family recompensed the love of her Husband with a Fidelity answerable And after his decease in the Flower of his Age and Beauty espoused her self to the House of her Mother-in-law so that in the same bed the Vigorous Youth of the one extinguished the experienced Widowhood of the other grew aged And so let this Chamber put an end to these Examples 4. Let us now spend some time upon Examples of those who never car'd for money Caius Marcius a young Gentleman of the Porcian Family descended from the Renowned Progeny of King Ancus who had their sirname from Coriolum a Town of the Volsci by them taken when for his noble acts of Fortitude he was praised at the head of the Army by Posthumius Cominius the Consul and reward given him of Military gifts besides a hundred Acres of Land his choice of ten Captives as many Horses with their Trappings a Herd of a hundred Oxen and a great weight of Silver yet he refused all accepting of nothing but the liberty of one Captive that was his Host and one Horse for service Through which circumspect Moderation of minde it is hard to judge whether he merited most in deserving of refusing those Rewards 5. But M. Curius a most exact Rule of Roman Frugality as well as a perfect President of Fortitude was not asham'd to shew himself sitting upon a Country-form before the fire at Supper in a Wooden platter You may guess at his Dainties He
contemn'd the Riches ot the Samnites the Samnites admir'd his Poverty For when they brought him a great weight of Gold sent him by their Country-men for a Present and kindly desired him to accept of it he fell into a laughter and presently quoth he You that are come hither upon a needless if I may not all it idle Embassie go tell the Samnites That Curius had rather command rich men than be rick himself and carry back that pretious gift invented to the evil of mankind and remember that I can neither be overcome in Battle nor be corrupted with Money The same person when he had driven Pyrrhus out of Italy nevertheless would nor touch the least part of all those Royal spoils that did so inrich the City Moreover he would not exceed the usual measure of Popular assignement though the Senate gave to himself Fifty Acres of Land to the people but Seven Acres esteeming him no good Citizen that could not be contented with what was given to others 6. Of the same opinion was Fabricius Luscinus greater than any person of his time in Honour and Authority in Estate not above the meanest Who when the Samnites who were under his protection sent him a Present of Ten pound of coyned Silver Five pound weight of Gold and as many Servants he sent them back to Samnium by the advantage or his Continency rich without Money and attended without a Family so much did he abound in Honour purchased by the contempt of those things Nor was the expectation of Fabricius unanswered in the refusal of those Presents For the Embassadour returning so Pyrrhus and hearing Cyrnas the Thessalian telling the King of a certain Athenian famous for his Wisdom who was of opinion that men should do nothing but for pleasure's sake look'd upon it as a monstrous saying and immediately decri'd that kind of Wisdom both before Pyrrhus and the Samnites For though the Athenians did glory in their Learning yet there was no prudent person but would rather chuse to follow the self-denâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Fabricius than the Precepts of Epicurus which the event prov'd true For that City which indulged so much pleasure lost a very large Dominion but an industrious and laborious Country holds its own And this City could bestow that Liberty which the other valu'd not 7 One might easily conjecture Elius Tubero sirnamed Carus to have been the Disciple of Curius and Fabricius to whom being then Consul when the Etolians sent a vast present of Silver Plate not onely of a very great weight but also most exquisitely wrought by reason that their Embassadours whom they had formerly sent to congratulate him upon their return had related how they saw him feeding onely in Earthen Dishes He immediately bid them be gone with their Baggage admonishing them withal that they should not think that Continency and Poverty wanted the same supply How well did he prefer his own Domestick meanness before the Etolian Splendour if the succeeding Ages would have followed his Example But now to what a height are we grown that Servants refuse to make use of that Houshold-stuff which would serve a Consul before 8. But after the overthrow of Perseus Paulus had so glutted the old Hereditary poverty of our City with Wealth that at that time the Roman people first began to think of laying Taxes yet no way enriched his own Family accompting it enough that he by his Victories got Honour while others got the money 9. To this sound judgment of his Q. Fabius Gurges Cn. Fabius Pictores and Ogulnius subscribed who being sent Embassadours to King Ptolomy sent those Gifts which they had privately receiv'd from the King into the publick Treasury before they would give an account of their Embassie to the Senate judging that there was nothing due for faithful service to the publick but the reward of Praise But now the Senate shew'd their gratitude and the exact discipline of our Ancestors For what they had laid up in the Treasury was restor'd to the Embassadours not only by the Decree of the Senate but by the consent of the People which was by the Questors with the same willingness paid Thus the Liberality of Ptolomy the Abstinence of the Embassadours the Equity of the Senate and People had in all an equal share of applause 10. That Calpurnius Piso was an Imitator of the Fabii and Ogulnii the Story makes manifest The Consul having freed Sicily from the bloody War of the Fugitives like a Commander rewarded those with Gifts whose assistance he had made most use of among the rest he gave to his Son who had behaved himself valiantly a Crown of Three Pound weight of Gold saying withal That the chief Magistrate should not take out of the publick Treasure to expend upon his own Family and that therefore he would leave so much Gold over and above to the Young man in his Will to pay for it that though he received his Honour publickly he should receive the price privately from his Father 11. Let us see if we can finde any great person in this age that makes use of Goatskins for his Coverlid and while he rules all Spain has but three Servants to attend him that spent no more than Five Hundred Farthings and somewhat over in his preparation for his Journey that drank the same Drink and eat the same Meat which the Mariners fed upon would not that be wonderful indeed Yet all this did the Elder Cato patiently endure confining himself with an extraordinary delight to a pleasing custome of Frugality 12. The Younger Cato was born at a great distance from the Continence of the antient times coming into the world at such a time when the City abounded in Riches and all manner of Voluptuousness Yet he having a command in the Civil Wars and having his Son along with him nevertheless had but twelve Servants with him in number more than the former Cato used but the alteration of the times being consider'd fewer 13. I am not a little delighted in repeating the Acts of Illustrious Heroes Scipio Aemilianus after he had born two Consulships and been eminent for two Triumphs of his own Conquests yet went upon a great Embassie accompanied with no more than Seven Attendants And yet 't is believed he might have purchas'd more with the Spoils of Carthage and Numantium but that the praise of his great deeds should accrew to himself the Spoils to his Countrey And therefore when he travell'd through the Countries of his Associates and Allies and other forraign Nations they were not accompted his Slaves but his Victories Nor did men consider how much Gold and Silver but how much weight of worth he bare about him 14. This Continence appear'd in the very breasts of the generality of the People but it shall suffice to relate two Examples of ages far distant one from another Pyrrhus when he saw the violence of his fury at a stand that the hearts of his Epirotes began to fail designing to
had nothing while he lived that could be publikly taxed yet being deceas'd had the Concord and Unity of the City for his Patrimony 3. I cannot deny but that there was Silver in the Houses of Caius Fabricius and Q. Emilius Papus the most principal men of their times But Fabricius seem'd the more prodigal because he had a Horn-foot to his Drinking-cup But Papus seem'd more head-strong who having received his Goods as hereditary would not alienate them for religions sake 4. They were also certainly very rich who were call'd from the Plough to be made Consuls s for pleasures sake they plough'd the sandy and barren Soil of Pupinia and ignorant of delicacy scatter'd those vast clods with c ntinued sweat and labour so that those whom the dangers of the Common wealth call'd to be Emperours and Generals their want at home for why should truth conceal a Sirname compell'd to follow the call of Cowherds 5. They who were sent by the Senate to call Atilius to undertake the Government of the Roman People found him sowing in his Garden but those hands hardned with Countrey-labour establih'd the safety of the Common-wealth and defeated mighty Armies of the Enemies and those hands that lately held the Plough now hold the reins of the Triumphant Chariot Nor was he asham'd when he had laid down his Ebony Staff to return again to the Plough Tail Well may Atilius comfort the Poor but much more instruct the Rich how little the troublesome care of gathering Riches advantages the true desire of purchasing solid Honour 6. Of the same name and blood Atilius Regulas the greatest glory and the greatest calamity of the Punic War when he had ruin'd the wealth of the most insolent Carthaginian by the success of many Victories and understood that his authority was continued for the next year upon consideration of his worthy deeds he wrote to the Consuls that his Bayly of his little Farm that he had in the Countrey of Popinia was dead and that one that he had hired was gone away with his Utensils of Agriculture and therefore desired that a Successour might be sent him lest his land lying untill'd his Wife and Children should want Bread Which when the Consuls had related to the Senate they caus'd his ground to be let and setled a Livelihood upon his Wife and Children and ordered those things that he had lost to be redeem'd Such was the Example of Atilius's vertue to our Treasury that every Age will boast of among the Romans 7. Equally large were the Farms of L. Quinctius Cincinnatus For he possessed only seven Acres of Land and of these he had lost three forfeited for a Fine being bound to the Treasury and with the rest of this little Land he paid another Forfeiture for his Son Caeso for not appearing when he was call'd to answer the Law And yet when he was ploughing only four Acres of this Land he not only upheld the dignity of his Family but had the Dictatorship confetr'd upon him He accompts himself to live splendidly now whose House stands upon as much ground as all Cincinnatus Farm contain'd 8. What shall I say of the Aelian Family How rich were they There were Sixteen of that name whose little Cottage stood where now the Marian Monuments stand and a small Farm in the Countrey of the Veii that needed fewer men to till it than it had Owners and in the Parishes call'd Maximus and Flaminia they had the ground where the Theater stood bestowed upon them for their vertue by the Publick 9. That Family had not one scruple of Silver before that Paulus after he had utterly defeated Perses gave to Aelius Tubero his Son-in-Law five Pound weight of Gold out of the Spoils that were taken I omit that the chief person of the City gave his Daughter in marriage to one whose Family and Estate was so exceeding low And he himself died so very poor that unless he had sold one Farm which he had left there had not been sufficient for the Dowry of his Wife The minds of Men and Women were then most noble in the City and the worth of every Man was then in all things weighed against his Goods and Estate For every one made it his business to serve his Country not himself And they rather chose poverty in a rich Empire than riches in a poor Empire And to this noble resolution that reward was given that it was not lawful to buy any of those things which were due to Vertue and the wants of Illustrious Men were supply'd out of the publick Stock 10. And therefore when Cneus Scipio had written out of Spain to the Senate desiring that a successor might be sent him for that he had a daughter now fit for marriage and that no portion could be provided for her without he were present The Senate lest the Commonwealth should loose a good Captain performed the office of a Father and having with the advice of his Wife and Relations agreed upon the Portion caused it to be paid out of the publick Treasury The Portion was two thousand pieces of brass mony whereby not only appears the kindness of the Conscript Fathers but the usual measure of the ancient Estates may be guessed at For they were so small that Tatia the daughter of Cato was said to have brought her Husband an exceeding Portion when she brought him ten thousand pieces of brass mony And Megullia that entred her husbands house with fifty thousand pieces of brass mony was called for that reason the Maid with the Portion And therefore the Senate vindicated the daughters of Fabricius Luscinus and Scipio from being portionless by their own Liberality seeing their Parents had nothing to give them but their wealthy honours 11. What inheritance M. Scaurus received from his Father he himself relates in the first Book that he hath wrote concerning his Life For saith he he had but ten Slaves and the whole value ef his Estate was but thirty five thousand pieces of mony These Examples therefore we ought to regard and quiet our minds with the Consolation thereof who are always complaining of the scantiness of our own Fortunes We find no Silver or a very small quantity few Servants seven Acres of barren Land domestick Indigency Funeral expences publickly defray'd Daughters without Portions But we behold famous Consulships wonderful Dictatorships and innumerable Triumphs Why do we therefore with continual reproaches torment a mean Fortune as the chief evil of human kind Who though with not superfluously flowing yet with faithful breasts nourished the Poplicolae the Emilii the Fabricii the Curii the Scipio's the Scauri and all those other supports of Vertue equal to these Let us rather pull up our spirits and comfort our minds debilitated with the sight of mony with the memory of former times CHAP. I. Of Bashfulness or Modesty 1. Of the people of Rome 2. C. Terentius Varro Cos 3. C. Cicereius Candidate 4. L. Licinius Crassus Candidate 5.
Pompey the Great 6. C. Julius Caesar Dict. FORRAIGN 1. Spurina the Hetrurian 2. The Spartan Embassadors FRom whence it seems seasasonable to pass away to Bashfulness for this instructed the most just men to neglect their own private Estates and to have regard only to the publick A vertue worthy that to her should be Temples rear'd and consecrated as to a Celestial Numen as being the Parent of all good Counsel the Guardianess of the most solemn Offices the Mistress of Innocency dear to her own acceptable to Strangers and in all places and at all times carrying a favourable Aspect 1. But that we may return from the praises to the actions thereof from the first building of the City to the time that Africanus and T. Longus were Consuls the Senate and People sate at the beholding all Spectacles and shews promiscuously together yet not one of the people would venture to take place before any of the Senate So circumspect was the modesty of our Citizens a most certain experiment whereof appear'd on that day when T. Flaminius being by the Censor removed from the Senate was contented to stand in the hindermost part of the Theater though he had been Consul and was the brother of Flaminius the Vanquisher of Philip King of Macedon Which the people no sooner beheld but they compelled him to take that place which his Dignity required 2. Terentius Varro gave a great wound to the Commonwealth by his rash giving battle at Cannae Yet by his refusing to take upon him the Dictatorship which after that was decreed him by the full consent of the Senate and People by his bashful modesty made satisfaction for the fault of a most fatal overthrow and through his modest behaviour made men impute the publick Calamity not to him but to the anger of the Gods 3. Let us behold a more famous piece of Modesty Fortune not without great envy had brought Cn. Scipio the son of the elder Africanus together with Cicereius the Scribe into the Common Hall for Election of Pretors and very much reprehended he was that he had abused the Nobility and authority of so great a person by appearing at such an Assembly But Cicereius turned his crime to his praise For when he saw himself preferr'd by all the Centuries before Scipio he went out of the Temple and throwing off his Candidates Garment came in again and gave his voice for Scipio Being more willing to yield the Pretorship to the memory of Africanus than to Challenge it for himself Nor was the reward of his Modesty small for though Scipio obtained the Pretorship yet Cicereius was more applauded 4. And that we may not presently leave the Common-Hall when L. Crassus stood for the Consulship and was by all perswaded after the manner of the Candidates to go round the Forum and beg the voices of the people he could by no perswasions be induced to do it though Q. Scaevola his Father in law a most wise and grave person were present with him whom he therefore desired to depart as â—â—ne who proffered his service in vain more regardful of the modesty of his dignity than mindful of the respect of his white Robe 5. Pompey the Great being overthrown at the Battle of Pharsalia when all the people came forth to meet him as he was entring into the City of Larissa Go said He and perform this office to the Victor A person not deserving to be overcome had he not been vanquished by Caesar most gentle in Calamity who because he could not use his authority made use of his modesty 6. Which as it often appear'd most eminent in Caius Caesar so most remarkably at his death For being assail'd with the points of many parracidical weapons when his divine Soul was separated from his mortal Body could not be frighted after he had received above twenty three wounds from his obedience to Modesty For he let down the lower part of his Gown with both hands that he might fall with the lower part of his Body covered In this manner not men but the Immortal Gods recover their own habitations FORRAIGNERS That which follows I will ascribe to Forraigners as happening before any City was given to Hetruria There was in that Country one Spurina a young man of surpassing beauty whose lovely aspect alluring the eyes of the most Illustrious Ladies and who therefore believing himself to be suspected of unchastity by the Husbands and Parents of those women with many wounds gash'd and spoyl'd the beauty of his Countenance choosing rather deformity for the Guardian of his fidelity than that his beauty should be the Incitement of others Lust 2. At Athens a very aged person coming into the Theater when there were none that would rise to give him place he came at length where sate the Embassadors of the Lacedemonians Who being moved with the age of the person not only by rising up shew'd their reverence to his aged years but also gave him leave to sit in the most honourable place among them Which when the people beheld with great applause they approved the modesty of a Forraign City And it is reported that one of the Embassadors should say That the Athenians knew what was well done but neglected to do it themselves CHAP. VI. Of Conjugal Love Among the ROMANS 1. T. Gracchus the Elder 2. C. Plautius Numidian 3. M. Plautius 4. Julia the Daughter of Caesar 5. Porcia the Daughter of M. Cato FORRAIGN 1. Artemisia wife of Mausolus 2. Hipsicratea Daughter of Mithridates 3. Lacaena Of the Family of the Minye FRom a gentle and mild Affection I will proceed to another as equally honest yet somewhat more fervent and of a more vehement Nature and offer not without greatest Veneration as it were certain Images of lawful love to the Contemplation of the Reader effectually relating the actions of established and firm fidelity between married people difficult to imitate but profitable to be known seeing that when a man knows the most excellent Examples it will be a shame to him to follow the meanest 1. Titus Gracchus having caught two snakes in his own house a Male and Female and being told by the Soothsayer that if he let go the Male it portended the death of his Wife if he let go the Female his own suddain decease following that part of the prediction that portended his own rather than the death of his Wife he caused the Female Snake to be let go and was so hardy as to behold his own destruction in the death of the Snake kill'd before his face And therefore I cannot determine whether Cornelia were more happy that she had such a Husband or more miserable in his loss O Admetus cruel king of Thessalia and by a great Judg condemned of an unpardonable crime who wert so content to change thy own life for the death of thy Wife and couldst enjoy the comfort of this light after she had voluntarily submitted to dye only to prolong thy days having
sum of Money rendr'd Fabius Maximus highly applauded so many Ages since He had received the Captives from Hannibal upon a Contract for so much Money Which when the Senate would not stand to sending his Son to the City he sold the only Farm which he had in the world and presently sent Hannibal the Money If we consider the Sum but small as being the price but of seven Acres of Land and those lying in Pupinia but considering the Soul of the Giver a most large sum and far exceeding the Money For he would rather want his Patrimony than that his Countrey should be poor in Credit So much the more to be commended as it is a more certain signe of a real meaning to stretch beyond ability rather than to do the same act out of superfluity For the one can do what he performs the other more than he is able 2. Therefore a Woman of the same time Busa by name the richest in the Countrey of Apulia won her self an ample testimony of Liberality though perhaps not so great if we compare her flowing Riches to the Poverty of the Fabians For though she relieved about Ten Thousand of our Citizens the remains of the Battle of Cannae within the Walls of Canusium yet she shewed her self munificent to the Romans without prejudice to her Estate But Fabius for the good of his Countrey exchang'd Poverty for Want 3. We finde also in Quinctus Considius a most wholesome Example of Liberality not without some profit to himself Who when the Fury 〈◊〉 Catiline had put all the Commonwealth into such a tumult that the Rich themselves the Rents of Possessions falling were not able to pay their Creditors he having the Sum of one Hundred and Fifty Thousand Sesterces at use would not suffer any of his Debtors to be call'd upon either for Principal or Interest and as much as in him lay sweetned the bitterness of publick Confusion by his own private Quiet opportunely testifying that he made profit only of his Money not of Civil Blood Now they who act with rigour in business of this nature when they carry bloody Money home may hence learn to know with what an accursed and impious joy they rejoyce if they do not loath to read the Decree of the Senate which gave Considius publick thanks 4. Methinks the People of Rome seem to complain of me that while I am reporting the Munificence of particular persons I am silent of theirs For it redounds to their great praise that it should be reported what noble minds they have born to Kings Cities and Countries For the glory of all renowned acts flourishes and revives by often rehearsal After they had conquer'd Asia they gave it as a Giâ—t to King Atâ—alus to possess believing the future Empire of our City would be more high and splendid if they should lay up the richâ—st part of the World rather in the Treasury of their Gratitude than Profit A Gift more happy than the Victory it self For to have possess'd much might procure Envy to have given away so much could never want a glorious estâ—em 5. It is impossible to praise sufficiently in writing the divine spirit of the Roman People For aâ—ter Philip King of Macedon was vanquish'd when all Greece flock'd to behold the Isthmian Games T. Quincius Flaminius having caus'd silence to be made by sound of Trumpet commanded a Crier to proclaim these words The Senate and People of Rome and Q. Flamimus their General command all the Cities of Greece that were under the Iurisdiction of King Philip to be free Which being heard the People were at first struck with a sudden unexpected joy and not believing what they had heard were for a while silent But upon the second Proclamation of the Crier they fill'd the Skie with such a chearful din that it is certainly reporâ—ed that the Biâ—ds which at that instant were flying that way â—ell down amaz'd and â—errâ—â—â— d with the noise They had great Souls to take off the yoke of Servitude from the necks of so many Captives and to give Liberty to so many noble and opulent Cities To whose Majesty it belongs tâ—aâ— not onely what they freely give but also their giving of it be memorably eterniz'd There being the celebration of gain'd applause here of applause repeated FORRAIGN 1. Hiero King of Syracuse hearing of the overthrow which the Romans receiv'd at the Lake of Thrasymene sent to Rome three hundred thousand Bushels of Wheat two hundred thousand Bushels of Barley and two hundred and fourty Pound weight of Gold And not being ignorant of the Modesty of the Romans in receiving such Gifts he made as if he had presented them a Congratulation of Victory that he might compel them moved by Religion to accept of his Munificence Libâ—ral first in his ready will to send and prudent in taking care that it should not be sent back 2. I will adde to him Gillias of Agrigentum who may be thought to have had the very bowels of Liberality He was potent in Wealth but more wealthy in the Generosity of his Mind than in his Riches and always more busily employed in spending and finding waies to bestow than in getting Money So that his House seem'd to be a kind of Shop of Magnificence For there all Monuments â—it for Publick Use were erected there all Plays were set out for the delight of the People there were all preparations for Feasting and thence the scarcity of Corn was supplied This to the gâ—nerality privately the Sick were reliev'd Portions given to poor Maids and comfortable Supplies to them that were broken by Misfortune Guests and Strangers courteously received both in City and Countrey and liberally presented at their departure One time among the rest he fed and clad Five Hundred Gelâ—â—â—siâ—n Horsemen who were by Tempest forced upon his Territories What more You would have said he had no Mortal Bosome but the very Breasts of propitious Fortune herself For what Gillias possess'd seemed to be the common Patrimony of all Men. For whose Prosperity and increase of Wealth not only the City of Agrigentum but all the neighbouring Regions continually praid Place on the other side the Chests of some shut up with Locks inexorable to all Pity do you not think this expense far more laudable than that wary Parsimony LIB V. CHAP. I. Of Humanity and Clemency ROMANS 1. The Roman Senate 2. L. Cornelius Scipio Cos 3. T. Quinctius Câ—ispinus 4. M. Claudius Marcellus Procos 5. Q. Metellus Macedonicus Proconsul 6. P. Scipio Aemilianus 7. The Elder Africanus Procos 8. L. Aemilius Paulus Cos 2. 9. Cn. Pompey the Great Procos 10. Julius Caesar Cos 2. 11. Mark Antony Triumvir FORRAIGNERS 1. Alexander the Great 2. Pisistratus the Athenian 3. Pyrrhus King of Epirus 4. Antigonus King of Macedon 5. The Campanians 6. Hannibal the Carthaginian WHat better Companions could I have found out for Liberality than Humanity and Clemency The first of which shews it self in want the second
in business the third in doubtful Fortune Now when we know not which to esteem best yet the commendation of that seems to crave precedency which takes its denomination from the Godhead it self 1. I will begin with the most humane and merciful Acts of the Senate Who when the Embassadors of the Carthaginians came to the City about the Redemption of Captives immediately without receiving their Money restor'd them above two thousand seven hundred and fourty young men I may well think that the Ambassadours themselves were amazed to see such an Army of Enemies set at Liberty so much Money despised and so many Carthaginian Injuries forgiven and that they thus said to themselves O Munificence equal to the favour of the Gods of the Romans and happy our Embassie beyond our wishes For we have received a kindness which we never deserved Nor was this a smaller testimony of the Senate who when Syphax formerly a most opulent King of Numidâ—â— their Captive was dead in the Prison of Tibur order'd him to be inter'd at the Publick Expence that to whom they had given Life they mâ—ght also adde the honour of Burial The same Clemency they us'd toward Perseus who dying at Alba where he was kept in safe custody sent down a Questor to bury him at the Publick Charge not permitting his Royal Reliques to lye dishonour'd These things they perform'd to Enemies and Captives after their Death The nâ—xt were their Favours shewn to their Friends in prosperity and living After the end of the Macedonian War Musicrates Massinissa's Son being senâ— back to Paulus with those Horsemen which which he â—ad brought to the assistance of the Romans to his Fathâ—â— his Fleet being scatter'd by Tempest and himsâ—lf putting in sick at Brundusium The Senate no soonâ—â— had news thereof but they sent a Questor thither not only to defray the Expences of him and his Retinue but also to take care for the providing all things necessary for the restoration of his Health â—nd that they might not want Ships to carry them sâ—â—e and well into Africa they ordered to be given to each Horseman a Pound weight of Silver and to every Footman fâ—ve Hundred Sesterces Which so ready and compleat Humanity of the Conscript Fathers might perhaps have so far prevail'd upon Massinissa that had his Son died in the Expedition he had the less grieved for it The same Senate when they heard that Prusias King of Bithynia was come to congratulate their Victory over Perseus sent Cornelius Scipio then Questor to meet him as far as Capua and ordered that the best House in Rome should be hired for him and that he and his Retinue should be entertain'd at the Publick Charge And indeed in the reception of that great King the whole City seem'd to have the countenance but of one entire Friend So that he who came an entire friend to our City return'd with a double affection for us Neither was Egypt ignorant of the Roman Clemency For King Ptolomy being thrown out of his Kingdom by his younger Brother and coming to Rome with a small Attendance and in a mean Habit to crave aid of the Senate took a Lodging in the house of an Alexandrian Painter Which when the Senate understood sending for the Young man they made a very great excuse for not having sent the Questor to meet him after the antient Custome and for not providing entertainment for him as not happening through their negligence but through his suddain and private Entry After which they accompanied him to a publick House desiring him to lay by his mean Habit and fix them a day to wait on him They also took care to send him Gifts by the Questor every day and by these degrees of kindness advanced him from Expulsion to the Royal Throne So that he had more hope in the assistance of the Roman People than fear of his own Misfortune 2. To come now from the Conscript Fathers in general to particular Senators Lucius Cornelius the Consul in the first Punic War when he had taken the City Olbia for the relief of which Anno Captain of the Carthaginians valiantly fighting was slain buried his Body out of his own Tent bestowing a noble Funeral upon it Nor was he asham'd to appear at the Exequies of an Enemy believing that his Victory would be the less envied both by Gods and Men when there was so much of Humanity mix'd with it 3. What shall I say of Quinctius Crispinus whose Gentleness and mild Disposition the potent Affections of Anger and Glory could not disturb He had entertain'd with great civility Badius of Campania at his house and with great care recovered him from a dangerous Sickness Who after the revolt of the Campanians provoking Crispinus to fight with him at the head of the Army Crispinus who knew himself to be above him both in Strength and Courage chose rather to give him good councel than to overcome him What dost thou go about to do Madman said he Or whither do thy foolish desires carry thee Must thou needs rage with a publick Impiety that art fallen from private Charity Couldst thou finde none among all the Romans upon whom to exercise thy villanous arms but only Quinctius to whose Houshold-gods thou owest both a return of honour and safety The League of Friendship and our Hospitable Gods with us sacred Pledges though with you of no accompt will not suffer me to combat with thee Nay if in the shock of both Armies I should have known thee overturned by the force of my Buckler I would have recalled my Sword from thy Neck And therefore it is thy crime that thou didst intend to kill a Guest but the Death of a Guest shall not be mine And therefore seek out some body else for the courage of thy right hand for mine has learnt to save But Heaven gave to both a deserved Issue for Badius was slain in the fight Quinctius valiantly fighting came safe off with honour 4. And now the Clemency of M. Marcellus how famous and how memorable an Example ought we to accompt it Who after he had taken Syracuse from the Castle took a view of the City below once flourishing now almost ruin'd in Misery he beholding the miserable state thereof could not refrain from Tears So that if some person that knew him not had beheld him he might have been thought the Looser not the Victor This consolation hadst thou in thy calamity fair City that though it was not lawful for thee to stand safe yet thy fall was gentle under such a Conquerour 5. Quintus Metellus warring in Spain against the Celtiberians lying at the Siege of Centobricum when the Engine was fix'd and he was just ready to beat down that part of the Wall which was fittest to be batter'd preferr'd Clemency before an approaching Victory For when the Centobricenses had opposed the Sons of Rhetogenes who had fled to him against all the shot of the Engine lest the Children should be
support of human Life that neglects to return Kindness for Kindness How severely therefore are they to be reprehended who having most just Laws but being very wickedly enclined rather choose to obey their deprav'd manners than their Laws So that if it could happen that those great Persons whose misfortunes I have related could appeal to any other Cities d' ye think they would not quickly have silenced those talkative People as ingenious as they were Marathon glitters with the Persian Trophies Salamis and Artemisium beheld the Ruine of Xerxes Navy Those Walls that were pull'd down rise more glorious from their ruines But what are become of all those great Men that did these great things Answer Athens for thy self Thou hast suffer'd Theseus to be buried in a little Rock Miltiades to die in Prison and Cimon his Son to wear his Fathers chains Themistocles a Victor to prostrate himself at the Knees of that very person whom he had vanquished Phocion also Solon and Aristides to forsake their Houshold-gods when at the same time ye give divine Honour to the Bones of Oâ—dipus infamous for the Death of his Father and for marrying his Mother Read therefore thy own Law which thou art bound by oath to observe and since thou wouldst not give due Reward â—o Vertue make just atonements to their injured Ghosts They are silent but whoever reads the ungratetul acts of the Athenians will be severe and free to eternity to reproach so great a Crime CHAP. IV. Of Piety toward Parents ROMAN Examples 1. Cn. Marcius Coriolanus 2. Scipio Africanus the Great 3. T. Manlius Torquatus 4. M. Aurelius Cotta 5. C. Flaminius Tribune 6. Claudia a Vestal 7. A Daughter that gave her Mother suck in Prison External Examples 1. Pero a Daughter gave her father suck in Prison 2. Cimon the Athenian 3. Two Brothers Spaniards 4. Cleobis and Bython Amphinomus and Anapus 5. Scythians 6. Croesus 's dumb Son 7. Pulto BUt leave these Ingrates and talk of those that have been accompted pious for honest subjects are more pleasing than Stories of the wicked Let us come then to those who have been so fortunate in their Offspring as never to repent the promotion of Generation 1. Coriolanus a person of a vast Courage and deep in Counsel and well deserving of his Countrey yet almost ruin'd under the oppression of an unjust Sentence fl d to the Volsci who were Enemies to the Romans For Vertue gets esteem wherever it goes So that where he only sought for refuge in a short time he obtain'd the chief command of all things And it hapned that he who was by the Romans refused for their Leader had like to have proved their most fatal Enemy For the Volsci having often overcome our Armies by his Conduct and Valour came up and begirt the very walls of Rome For this reason the People that were so haughty as not to value their own happiness were forced to supplicate an Exile whose offence they would not pardon before Embassadors were sent to appease him but they could do no good the Priests went in their religious Habits but returned without obtaining any favour The Senators were at their Wits end the People trembled both Men and Women bewail'd their approaching Calamity But then Veturia Coriolanus's Mother taking along with her Volumnia his Wife and Children also went to the Camp of the Volsci Whom assoon as h r Son espied O my Countrey thou hast overcome my anger said he by vertue of this Womans tears and for the Wombs sake that bare me I forgive thee though my enemy and immediately he withdrew his Army from the Roman Territories And his Piety encountred and overcame all Obstacles as well his revengâ— of the Injury received the hopes of Victory as the fear of Death upon his return And thus the sight of one Parent changed a most severe War into a timely Peace 2. The same Piety inflam'd the Elder Africanus hardly past the age of Childhood to the succour of his Father and arm'd him with manly strength in the midst of the Battle For he saved the Consul being despâ—rately wounded in the Battle which he lost to Hannibal upon the River Ticinus nothing terrified either by the weakness of his Age the rawness of skill in War or the event of an unfortunate Fight which would have dauâ—tâ—d an old Soldier he thereby merited a Crown conspicuous for its double Honour he having recover'd from the jaws of death a Father and a General 3. Those famous Examples the City only received by hearsay these they beheld with their eyes Pomponius the Tribune had accused T. Manlius Imperiossus to the People for that he had exceeded his Commission out of hopes of making an end of the War and for sending away his Son which was a person of very great hopes from publick employment to follow his own counâ—â—ey-affairs Which when Manlius understood he came to the City and went by break of day to Pomponius's House who believing that he came to aggravate his Fathers Crimes by whom he had been 〈◊〉 used commanded all the people out of the Chamber that he might the more freely take his Examination The Son having thereby got an opportunity so sit for his turn drew his Sword which he had brought privately under his Coat compell'd the threatned and terrified Consul to swear that he would forbear any farther prosecution of his Father So that Imperiossus never came to his Trial. Piety toward mild Parents is commendable But Manlius the more severe to him â—is Father was the greater praise he merited by the assistance which he gave him being invited by no allurement of Indulgence but only natural Affection to love him 4. This sort of Piety did M. Cotta imitate the very same day that he put on the Coat of Manhood when assoon as he descended out of the Capitol he accused Carbo who had condemn'd his Father and being condemn'd prosecuted him to punishment ennobling his early Youth and first attempt in publick business with a famous action 5. Paternal Authority was equally reverenced by C. Flaminius For when he being a popular Tribune had publish'd a Law for dividing the Gallick Land to every particular man in opposition to the Senate and quite against their wills contemning both their threats and entreaties and not at all terrified with the threats of an Army which they menaced to raise against him if he persisted in his obstinacy was got into the Pulpit for Orations reading his Law to the People yet when his Father pull'd him away he came down obedient to Paternal Command no man murmuring in the least to see him break off in the midst of his Speech 6. These were great effects of Manly Piety but I cannot tell whether the act of Claudia the Vestal Virgin were not as forcible and as couragious Who when she saw her Father pull'd out of his Triumphal Chariot by the rude hand of a Tribune with a wonderful celerity interposing her self between them appeased
death for drinking Wine For which fact he was so far from being accus'd that he was not so much as reprehended every one believing that for good examples sake she had undergone the punishment of violated Sobriety very justly For indeed whatever woman covets the immoderate use of Wine shuts the door to all Virtues and opens it to all Vices 10. Terrible also was the Matrimonial frown of C. Sulpitius Gallus who divorc'd his Wife because he understood that she went abroad with her head unvail'd A rigid Sentence and yet there was some reason for it For the Law said he confines thee to have no other Judges of thy Beauty but my eyes for these adorn thy self be thou only fair to these and do thou believe their judgment The farther sight of thee where it was needless must of necessity be suspicious and criminal 11. Nor did Qu. Antistius Vetus think otherwise who divorc'd his Wife because he saw her talking in the street with a certain ordinary freed Woman for being incens'd at the fault he prevented the crime and avoided the injury that he might not revenge it 12. To these we must adde P. Sempronius Sophus who divorc'd his Wife because she went to see a Play without making him acquainted therewith While this care was taken of old to prevent the Crimes of Women they were free from offending FORRAIGNERS 1. But though the Roman Examples might suffice to instruct the whole world yet will it not be irksome to know what Forraigners have done The Lacedaemonians caus'd the Books of Archilochus to be thrown out of their City because they thought them not modest and chast enough to be read For they would not have the minds of their Children season'd with those things which would be a greater mischief to their Manners than a profit to their Ingenuities And therefore they punish'd the greatest Poet or the next to the greatest in the world by exiling his Verses because he made smutty Satyrs against Lycambis who had injur'd him 2. But the Athenians put Timagoras to death because that in the Salutation which he gave Darius he flatter'd him after the manner of his own Countrey taking it in indignation that the honour of their whole City should be as it were submitted to the Persian Slavery by the flatteries of one single Citizen 3. But the Severity of Cambyses was more than extraordinary who caus'd the Skin of a certain corrupt Judge to be flea'd from his body and nail'd upon the Seat where he commanded his Son to succâ—ed him CHAP. IV. Of things gravely said or done ROMANS 1. T. Manlius Torquatus 2. P. Scipio Aemilianus 3. C. Popilius Laenas 4. P. Rutilius Rufus 5. M. Junius Brutus Proconsul FORREIGNERS 1. The Cinninienses 2. Socrates the Athenian 3. Alexander the Great 4. The Lacedaemonians 5. Paedaretus the Spartan TEnacious Memory keeps in strict remembrance the great and most excellent part of applause which those things deserve among renowned men which were gravely said or done by them Among the plentiful Examples whereof let us select neither with too sparing or too liberal a hand those which may rather satisfie than satiate expectation 1. When our City was in a strange confusion upon the Overthrow of Cannae when the Safety of the Commonwealth hung with a slender thread upon the fidelity of our Allies That they might continue the more stedfast in the defence of the Roman Empire the greatest part of the Senate moved that the Princes of the Latins might be admitted among them As Annius formerly and the Campanians averi'd that one of the Consuls ought to belong to Capua and the other to Rome so sick was then the condition of the Roman Empire Then Manlius Torquatus of the race of him who had overthrown the Latins near the River Veseris in a memorable Battle with a loud voice declared That if any of the Associates durst come to give his vote among the Conscript Fathers he would kill him with his own hand The threats of this one single person both restor'd the pristine heat to the languishing spirits of the Romans and hinder'd Italy from advancing themselves to equal Priviledges with our City For as before they were broken by the Arms of the Roman People so now they gave over vanquish'd by this mans words Equal to this was the Gravity of Manlius For when the Consulship was conferr'd upon him by the consent of all men and that he refus'd it by reason of the Infirmity of his Eyes yet for all that was vehemently urged to accept it Choose said he some other person upon whom to confer this Honour for if ye compel me to take it upon me neither shall I endure your Customes neither will you endure the Severity of my Government If the voice of a private person was so heavy what would the Fasces of the Consul have bin 2. No less mean was the Gravity of Scipio Aemilianus both in the Court and in his Assembly-Speeches Who when Mummius was his companion in the Censorship though noble yet effeminate and weak declar'd in a publick Speech before the Rostra that he would have acted for the Majesty of the Common-wealth whether his Citizens had given him a Companion or not The same person when Ser. Sulpicius Galba and Aurelius Cotta Consuls contended in the Senate whether of the two should be sent against Viriatus into Spain and that there hapned to be a great dissention among the Fathers while they all expected him to declare his opinion I think it not fit that either of them should be sent said he in regard the one has nothing and the other never knows when he has enough Believing that want and covetousness were Mistresses both alike unâ—iâ—â—o â—each good government By which saying he obtain'd that neither were sent into the Province 3. But C. Popilius being sent Embassadour to Antiochus to command him to surcâ—ase the War which he wag'd against Ptolomy when he came to him and that the King with a chearful and friendly Countenance held him out his right Hand he would not give him his own again but deliver'd him the Senates Letters which when Antiochus had read he told him he would consult his Friends But Popilius incens'd at his delay Before thou goest out of this circle said he give me the answer which I shall return to the Senate You would not have thought him an Embassadour that spoke but the whole body of the Senate For immediately the King affirm'd that he would give no farther occasion for Ptolomie to complain And then at length Popilius took him by the hand as an Associate Behold the force of a concise and efficacious Gravity of Mind and Speech At the same time it terrified the Kingdom of Syria and protected Egypt 4. But I cannot tell whether I should first consider the Words or Deeds of P. Rutilius for there lies an admirable stress in both When he withstood the urgent request of a certain Friend and the other very much offended
Maximus 5. Q. Lutatius Catulus 6. L. Cornelius Scylla the Happy 7. T. Aufidius 8. P. Rupilius 9. P. Ventidius Bassus 10. L. Cornelius Lentulus Lupus 11. Cn. Cornelius Scipio Asina 12. Licinius Crassus the Rich. 13. Q. Servilius Caepio 14. C. Marius 15. C. Julius Caesar FORRAIGNERS 1. Polemon the Atheman 2. Themistocles the Athenian 3. Conon the Athenian 4. Alcibiades 5. Polycrates 6. Dionysius of Syracuse 7. Syphax King of the Numidians A Considerate Change can either adde much to the Trust or diminish the Care of worthy men whether we consider our own condition or the nature of others For when we perceive some to have risen from low and contemptible beginnings why should we not then have better thoughts of our selves Knowing that it is a foolish thing to forejudge ones self of perpetual infelicity and to change our hope which sometimes rightly favours uncertain things into certain desperation 1. Manlius Torquatus when he was a Youth was look'd upon to be of so dull and heavy a disposition that he was sent into the Countrey by his Father Lucius Manlius a person of great worth to follow the Plow as bring unfit either for publick or private business Afterwards he pleaded for his Father being accus'd for some misdeameanour and carried the Cause for him He cut off his Sons head though a Victor because he had fought against his command with the Enemy and with a most splendid Triumph he reviv'd his Countrey groaning under the Latin War Thus his adverse Fortune clouded him in his Youth that he might shine more glorious in his Elder Years 2. Scipio Africanus the Elder whom the Immortal Gods decreed to be born that there might be a person in whom Vertue might shew it self in all its variety is reported to have led a debauch'd life in his younger years remote from the crime of Luxury yet more soft and idle than his Punic Trophies or his yoaking the conquer'd Carthaginians 3. C. Valerius Flaccus also in the time of the Second Punic War began with a lewd course of life But being chosen Flamen by P. Licinius the High-Priest to the end he might reclaim him applying himself to the care of the sacred things and the observation of the religious Rites and guided by Religion it self the Captain of Frugality he became as great an Example of Sobriety and Piety as he was before of Luxury 4. No person led a more debauch'd Life than Q. Fabius Maximus who afterwards by the signal Victory which he obtain'd against the Gauls purchas'd to himself and his posterity the Sirname of Allobrogicus Yet in his elder years our City could boast of no such Ornament as he was nor was any person so renowned as he 5. Who is ignorant how highly the Authority of Q. Catulus was advanc'd at that very rime when there was a crowd of famous men living Whose younger years you will finde to have been guilty of much Luxury and Softness Which however was no impediment to him but that he became the Prince of his Countrey had the honour to have his name shine in the Capitol and by his own courage to bury a Civil War that was rising with a mighty force to seize the Commonwealth 6. But L. Sylla till he came to be Questor led a life infamous for his Whoring Gaming and Drinking Whereupon it was reported that Marius being engag'd in a very smart War in Africa complain'd that they had sent him such an effeminate Questor But his Vertue having as it were broken down the fences of wickedness made a shift to chain the hands of Jugurth quell Mithridates withstand the billows of the War of our Allies break the power of Cinna and compel him that had despis'd him when his Questor in Africa to fly a proscrib'd Exile into the same Province for safety Which so various and so contrary acts he that shall with a serious minde consider would believe there were two Sylla's in one man I would have call'd him a vicious youth but a brave man had he not himself assum'd the title of Happy 7. And as we have admonish'd Nobility to regard itself by the benefit of repentance let us adde a few Examples of those that dar'd aspire from meaner beginnings T. Aufidius who once had the gathering but of a small pittance of the Asiatic Tribute afterwards rul'd all Asia as Consul Nor did our Allies disdain to obey his Fasces whom they had seen flattering the Tribunals of Forreignâ—rs For he behavd himself faithfully and nobly plainly demonstrating that his former way of living was only the effect of Fortune but that the present advancement of his Dignity was to be attributed to the greatness of his parts 8. Publius Rupilius was no Toll-gatherer in Sicilia but only a mean Officer under them so miserable poor that he had nothing to keep Life and Soul together but a small Office that depended upon the leave of the vanquish'd Yet from him Consul afterwards all Sicilia receiv'd their Laws after he had freed them from the terrors of a smart War of the Pirats and Fugitives I believe that the very Ports themselves if there be any sence in mute things admir'd the wonderful change in the Condition of that man For the same person that they had teen exacting the dayly Customs the same person they saw giving Laws to Navies and Armies 9. To this increase of Dignity I will adde a greater When Asculum was taken Cn. Pompeius the Father of Pompey the Great prostituted to the eyes of the People P. Ventidius a beardless Youth in the Triumph that he had obtain'd Yet this was that Ventidius who afterwards triumph'd at Rome over the Parthians and reveng'd the death of Crassus miserably foyl'd in a strange Countrey Thus he that a Captive dreaded imprisonment now a Victor crowns the Capitol with his success And this is farther remarkable of the same person that he was made Pretor and Consul both in one and the same year 10. Now let us consider the diversities of Chance L. Lentulus was depos'd by the Caecilian Law of his Consulship being convicted of Bribery and yet was created Censor with L. Censorinus Thus Fortune shufflâ—d him between Honour and Disgrace condemning him in his Consulship and honouring him with the Office of Censor when he was condemn'd neither suffering him to enjoy a lasting happiness nor long to abide in a miserable condition 11. Thus Fortune shew'd her power also in Cn. Cornelius Scipio Asina Who when he was Consul being taken by the Carthaginians at Liparae and had lost all by the right of War yet by the favour of Fortune recovered all and was again created Consul Who would have thought he should have been brought from the Fasces to the Fetters of the Carthaginians Who would have thought again that from the Punic chains he should have advanc'd himself to the highest degrees of Honour But yet he was from a Consul made a Captive and from a Captive became Consul 12. What Did not the
being asked why he carried away nothing of his own Goods I said he carry all my Goods about me For he carried them in his Breast not upon his Shoulders not to be seen by the Eye but to be prized by the Minde Which being preserv'd in the little Sanctuary of the Minde are not to be injur'd by the hands either of Gods or Mortals and as they are always at hand with them that tarry so they never desert them that flie 4. Short in words but abounding in sence was the Sentence of Plato who said The world would then be happy when wise men reigned or Kings began to be wise 5 Of a piercing judgment also was that King to whom as they report when the Diadem was brought before he put it upon his Head he held it in his hand and having a long time paus'd upon it Oh noble rather than fortunate Linnen cryed he which he that knew with what cares dangers and miseries it was attended would not take it up from the ground 6. How much to be applauded was the answer of Xeâ—â—crates who being present at the reviling speeches of another with a seal'd-up silence and ask'd why he curb'd his tongue so being alone made answer Because he had once repented him of speaking but never of bâ—lding his tongue 7. The Precept also of Aristophanes is more exaltedly prudent who in one of his Comedies brings in Pericles the Athenian sent back from Hell and prophecying that a Bear was not to be cherish'd in the City Admonishing that the active Wits of noble and stirring youth ought to be curb'd but being red with over-much savour and profuse indulgence let them not be hinder'd from gaining the Supreme Power For it is a vain and unprofitable thing to resist that force which is foster'd by thy self 8. Wonderfully Thales who being asked whether the deeds of men escap'd the knowledg of the Gods Not their premeditated acts said he Intimating that we ought not only to preserve our hands clean but our minds pure if we believe our thoughts to be known to the Gods No less prudent is that which follows The Father of an only Child consuited Themistocles whether he should marry her to a poor learned Man or a rich Man of no esteem To whom I had rather choose a man said he wanting Money than Money wanting a Man By which saying he admonish'd a fool to choose a Son-in-Law before the Wealth of a Son-in-Law Much to be applaudâ—d was that Epistle of Philip wherein he chides Alexander endeavouring to ingratiate himself with large gifts into the hearts of some of the Macedonians What reason Son perswaded thee to this vain hope That thou shouldst think those persons will be faithful to thee whose kindness thou art forced to purchase with Money Love only breeds love Yet was Philip rather a Purcâ—aser than a Victor of Greece But Aristotle when he sent his Disciple Callisthenes to Alexander admonish'd him either to say nothing to the King or else to talk pleasantly But he for reproving him because he prided himself to hear the Macedons salute him after the manner of Persian flattery and for that he sought to reclaim him against his will to the anâ—ient â—usâ—omes of his Forefathers being commanded to be put to death too late repented his neglect of the wholesome counsel that had bin given him Thus Aristotle taught that it became not him to speak either way of himself For to praise himself was a vanity to speak ill of himself a folly A most wholesome Precept was it of his likewise That we should consider Pleasures that were passing off Which by so representing he diminish'd for so he exposed them fainting and full of repentance which render'd them the less desirable 9. No less prudence was it in Anaxagoras who being ask'd whom he thought the happiâ—st person None of those said he whom thou imagin'st happy but thou shalt finde him among the number of those whom thou accomptest unfortunate Not the person that abounds in Riâ—â—es but the manurer of a small Farm or the faithful and persevering observer of unambitious Mâ—ximes more happy in retirement than in outward shew 10. Wise was the saying of Demas also For the Athenians denying to attribute divine Honours to Alexander Take heed said he lest while you are so careful to keep Heaven you loose the Earth 11. How subtily did Anacharsis compare the Laws to Spiders Webs For as they detain'd the weaker Animals and let go the stronger so the other bound the poor and needy and let go the rich and potent 12. Nothing more prudent than that act of Agesilaus For having discovered a Conspiracy against the Lacedaemonians by night he presently abrogated the Laws of Lycurgus that forbid the punishment of those that were not condemn'd But having apprehended and put to death the Offenders he presently restor'd thâ—m again providing both ways that wholesome punishment should not be thought uâ—just nor be prevented by Law Therefore that thâ—y might be always it was necessary that for some time they should not he 13. But I cannot tell whether the Counsel of Hanno were not more eminently prudent For when Mago related the event of the Battle of Cannae to the Senate of Carthage and produced three Bushels of Gold Rings in testimony of the success he demanded whether any of their Allies had revolted from the Romans after so great a defeat When he heard that none were fallen off to Hannibal he presently advis'd that Embassadâ—urs should be sent to Rome to treat of Peace whâ—â— Counsel had it bin follow'd neither had Carthage 〈◊〉 overcome in the Second nor ruin'd in the Third Pâ—nic War 14. Neither did the Samnites pay less severely for the same Errour when they neglected the wholesome Counsel of Herennius Pontius who excelling the rest in Authority and Prudence being consulted by the Army and the Commander thereof his own Son what they should do with the Roman Souldiers taken at the Caudine Forks answer'd That they should be sent home untouch'd The next day being asked the same question he made answer That they should be all destroy'd Either that they mighâ— merit the good will of an Enemy by an extraordinary Benefit or impair his force by a considerable loss But the improvident rashness of the Victors despising both counsels of profit and advantage by putting them under the Yoak incens'd them to their ruine To many and great examples of Prudence I will adde one small one The Crâ—tans when they would most vehemently curse those they hâ—te wish they may take pleasâ—re in an ill Costume and in the Modesty of their Wish finde a most efficacious event of their revenge For to desire any thing in vain and to persevere in that earnest desire is a pleasure next to ruine CHAP. III Of things craftily spoken or done Among the ROMANS 1. The President of Diana 's Temple 2. L. Junius Brutus 3. P. Scipio Africanus the Elder 4. Q. Fabius Lubeo 5. Antonius the Orator
he dispos'd of Empires and Kingdomes he abrogated old Laws and made new and yet in that field of which he was afterwards Master he lost the Praetorship which he stood for 6. But to relate the greatest crime of the Elections M. Portius Cato who was more likely to grace the Praetorship with the gravity of his manners than to receive addition of splendour from it could not once obtain it at the peoples hands Voices of Madmen how well were they paid for the errour they committed For the honour which they denied to Cato they were forced to give to Vatinius And therefore to speak the truth the Praetorship was not then denied to Cato but Cato was denied to the Praetorship CHAP. VI. Of Necessity 1. The People of Rome after the overthrow at Cannae 2. The Casilinates in their Siege 3. The Praenestines besieged 4. The People of Rome in the Wars of Marius 5. C. Caesar at Munda 6. The Asiaticks in the Parthian War FORRAIGNERS 1. The Cretans besieged by Q. Metellus 2. The Numantines besieged by P. Scipio 3. The Calaguritans MOst bitter are the Laws of abominable Necessity and most severe her Commands which have compell'd not only our City but also forraign Nations to suffer many things grievous not only to the understanding but also to the hearing 1. For in the Second Punic War the Youth of Rome being exhausted the Senate at the motion of Titus Gracchus Consult elect order'd that Servants might be publickly bought to serve against the Enemy Which being reported by the Tribunes to the people three persons were chosen out to buy four and twenty thousand Servants who swearing them to be true faithful and courageous while the Carthaginians continued in Italy sent them away to the Camp Out of Apulia also and the Territories of Fidicule two hundred and seventy Horsemen were bought to supply the Horse How great is the violence of bitter Chance That City which till that time loath'd to have Souldiers whose heads were never tax'd that very City is now constrain'd to hale the bodies of Slaves from their servile dens and Freemen from the Cottages of Shepherds to be the chief strength of their Army Generous spirits therefore must sometimes give way to convenience and submit to the power of Fortune where he that chooses not the safest Counsel yields to him that follows the most specious Advice But the slaughter of Cannae so amaz'd our City that by the industry of Marcus Junius then ordering the affairs of the Common-wealth as Dictator the spoils of the Enemies fix'd in the Temples consecrated to the Gods were taken down for the service of the Wars and the youth of the Nobility were forced to take Arms and six Thousand condemn'd persons were also listed our of necessity Which things consider'd in themselves seem to look somewhat odly but weighed in the balance of necessity they appear to be helps fit for the severity of the times By reason of the same Overthrow the Senate wrote back in answer to Otacilius and Cornelius Mammula the one Propraetor of Sicily the other of Sardignia who both complain'd that they had neither Money nor Provisions for their Armies That they had not Money in the Treasury for distant expences and therefore bid them take the best course they could to provide for themselves Whereby the Senate put the Government quite out of their own hands aâ—d abandon'd Sicily and Sardignia two the kâ—â—â—â—st Nurses of our City the strâ—â—gth and support of â—â—eiâ— Wars subdu'd with so much blood and sweat in a few words to the severe command of Necessity 2. The Casilinates wanting Victuals and being closely besieg'd by Hannibal took all the Leathern Thongs from their necessary uses and the Leather Covers from their Targets and boyling them in water were forc'd to feed upon them Consider but the bitterness of the Calamity and what could be more miserable If you consider their Constancy what greater mark of Fidelity Who rather than they would desert the Romans maintain'd themselves with such a sort of Diet when such fat Fields and such a fertile Soyls joyn'd so close to their Walls 3. When that Town was so besieg'd and so faithfully held out it hapned that one among Three Hundred Praenestines having taken a Mouse would rather sell it for Two Hundred Denaries than eat it himself notwithstanding the famishing condition he was in But Providence allotted both to the Buyer and the Seller the end which they both deserv'd For the covetous person being starv'd to death enjoy'd not the spoils of his Avarice but he that was at so great an expence for his own preservation though he bought it dear yet since it was out of Necessity liv'd 4. In the Consulship of C. Marius and Cn. Carbo who contended in a Civil War with Sylla and at what time the Commonwealth did not seek for Victory but that the Publick was to be the Victors reward by a Decree of the Senate the Gold and Silver Ornaments of the Temples were melted down to pay the Souldiers For it was a worthy contention whether the one should be permitted to satiate his Cruelty with the banishment of the Citizens or whether the Immortal Gods should be rob'd But it was not the will of the Conscript Fathers but thine Dire Necessity that occasion'd that order to be made 5. When the divine Juâ—ius's Army besieged Munda and that they wanâ—ed matter to raise their Battery they made up the height which they wanted with the Bodies of dead Mâ—n And because they wanted Stakes they drave in their Piles and French-Darts to strengthen 'em Necessity teaching them a new way of Fortification 6. And that I may adde the heavenly mention of the Son to the remembrance of the celestial Father when Phraates King of the Parthians threatned to break in upon our Provinces and that the adjoyning Regions were terrified at the news of their coming there was such a Famine in the Region of Bosphorus that the Souldiers exchang'd so many Slaves for a single Vessel of Oyle and so many Slaves for a Bushel of Wheat But the care of Augustus under whose Protection the world then was soon provided a Remedy for that Calamity RORRAIGNERS 1. The Cretans had no such help who being besieged by Metellus and reduced to the utmost Extremity rather tormented than quench'd their thirst with their own and the Urine of their Cattle For fearing to be overcome they suffer'd that which the Victors would not have forced them to have endur'd 2. The Numantines being besieged by Scipio when they had consum'd all other things at length were constrain'd to feed upon Mans-flesh So that when their City was taken there were many found with the joynts and members of the slain in their bosomes But Necessity has no excuse for this for there was no necessity for them to live to whom it was so lawful to dye 3. But the horrid impiety of the Calagurritans exceeded the obstinacy of the former who to the end they
had lived as her Gallant With this designe that if he died she might claim that sum of the Heirs colouring the Liberality of his Lust under the title of a Debt After that Visellius contrary to Otacilia's wishes recovers Who offended that she had lost her prey by his recovery from a close Friend began to act like an open Usurer challenging the Money which as shamelesly as vainly she gap'd for by a void contract Which Aquillius a man of great authority and knowledge in the Civil Law being chosen to be Judge of consulting with the Principal Men of the City by his Prudence and good Conscience foyled the woman And if by the same form Varro might have been condemned and the adversary absolved no question but he would have willingly punish'd his foâ—l and unwarrantable folly Now he stifled the calumny of a private Action and left the crime of Adultery to publick Justice 3. Much more stoutly and with a souldierlike Gallantry did Marius behave himself in a Judgment of the same nature For when T. Titinius or Minturnum married Fannia his wise because he knew her to be unchast and having divorc'd her for the same crime would have kept her Dower he bâ—ing chosen Judge and having examined the business took Titinius aside and perswaded him to proceed no farther but to return the woman her Dower but finding that all his perswasions were in vain and being forced to pronounce Sentence he fin'd the woman for Adultery a Sesterce and Titinius the whole summ of the Portion Telling them that therefore he had observed that method of judgment because it seemd to him apparent that he had married Fannia whom he knew to be a lewd woman that he might cheat her of her estate This Fannia was she who afterwards when Marius was proclaimed an Enemy received him into her house at Minturnum all bedaubed with mud and durt and assisted him what lay in her power remembring that he had adjudged her for Unchastity out of his rigorous manner of life but that he had saved her Dower out of his Religion and Piety 4. That Judgment was also much talked of by which a certain person was condemned for theft because having borrowed a Horse to carry him to Aricia he rode him to the furthermost cliff of that City What can we do here but praise the Modesty of that Age wherein such minute excesses from Honesty were punished CHAP. III. Of Women that pleaded Causes before Magistrates 1. Amasia Sentia 2. Afrania the wife of Licinius Buccio 3. Hortensia Q. F. NOr must we omit those Women whom the condition of their Sex and the Garments of Modesty could not hinder from appearing and speaking in publick Courts of Judicature 1. Amaesia Sentia being guilty before a great concourse of people pleaded her own cause Titius the Praetor then sitting in Court and observing all the parts and elegancies of a true Defence not onely diligently but stoutly was quitted in her first Action by the sentences of all And because that under the shape of a woman she carried a manly resolution they called her Androgynon 2. Afrania the wife of Licinius Buccio the Senator being extremely affected with Law-suits always pleaded for herself before the Praetor Not that she wanted Advocates but because she abounded in Impudence So that for her perpetual vexing the Tribunal with her bawling to which the Court was unaccustomed she grew to be a noted Example of Female Calumnie So that the name of Afrania was given to all contentious Women She dyed when Caesar was Consul with Servilius For it is better to remember when such a Monster went out of the world than when she came in 3. Hortensia the daughter of Q. Hortensius when the order of Matrons was too heavily taxed by the Triumvirs and that none of the Men durst undertake to speak in their behalfs she pleaded the Matrons cause before the Triumvirs not only with boldness but with success For the image of her fathers Eloquence obtained that the greatest part of the Imposition was remitted Q. Hortensius then revived in the Female Sex and breath'd in the words of his Daughter Whose force and vigour if his Posterity of the Male Sex would follow so great an inheritance of Hortensian Eloquence would not be cut off by one action of a woman CHAP. IV. Of Rackings Endured by 1. The Servant of M. Agrius 2. Alexander the Servant of Fannius 3. Philip Servant to Ful. Flaccus ANd that we may finish all sorts of Judgments let us recite those Tortures to which either no credit at all was given or else rashly too much faith 1. The Servant of M. Agrius was accused to have murthered the servant of C. Fannius and for that reason being rack'd by his Master he constantly affirmed that he did commit the fact Thereupon being delivered up to Fannius he was put to death In a little while after he that was thought to be slain returned home 2. On the other side Alexander the Servant of Fannius being suspected to have murthered C. Fl. a Roman Knight being six times tortur'd denied that he was any way concerned in it But as if he had confessed it he was condemned by the Judges and by Calpurnius the Triumvir crucified 3. Fulvius Flaccus the Consul pleading Philip his Servant upon whom the whole testimony lay being eight times tortur'd would not utter a word to his Masters prejudice And yet he was condemned as guilty when one eight times tortur'd had given a more certain argument of Innocence than eight once tormented had afforded CHAP. V. Of Testimonies void or confirmed 1. Of the Caepio ' s and Metelli's against Q. Pompey 2. Of Aemilius Scaurus against several 3. Of L. Crassus against M. Marcellus 4. Of Q. Metellus the Luculli Hortensii and Lepeius against Gracchus 5. Of M. Cicero against P. Clodius 6. Of P. Servilius Isauricus against a certain person 1. IT follows that I relate pertinent Examples concerning Witnesses Cneus and Servilius Caepio born both of the same Parents and having â—â—â—â—ted through all the degrees of Honour to the height of Greatness Also the two Brothers Q. and L. Metellus of the Consular and Censors Dignity and the other that had triumphed giving in severe testimony against Q. Pompey A. F. who stood accused of Bribery the credit of their testimony was not quite abrogated by the acquittal of Pompey but it was done so that an Enemy might not seem to be oppressed by power 2. M. Aemilius Scaurus Prince of the Senate prosecuted C. Memmius for Bribery with smart testimony He followed Flavius accused by the same Law with the same fierceness he profestly endeavoured to ruine C. Norbanus for Treason put to the publick rack yet neither by his Authority which was very great nor by his Piety of which no man doubted could he do any of them any harm 3. L. Crassus also as great among the Judges as Scaurus among the Conscript Fathers For he governed their Opinions and Judgments by the
of the Curii while our City and Judgment-Seat beheld the rigid Brow of the Father and the high Debt of six hundred Sesterces of the Son contracted by the ignominious Injury done to the Noble Youth of Rome Therefore at the same Time and under the same Roof two several Ages lived the one of Frugality the other of vitious Prodigality 7. By the Sentence against P. Clodius what strange Luxury appeared in him what a savage Lust Who though guilty of Incest that he might be acquitted bought whole nights of the Matrons and noble Youth at vast rates to pleasure his Judges withal In which horrid and abominable Crime I know not which first to detest whether him that first invented that way of Corruption or they that suffer'd their Chastity to mediate to Perjury or they that valued Adultery beyond Justice 8. Equally abominable was that Banquet which Gemellus a Tribunitian Traveller of good Parents but one that had betaken himself to a Servile employment prepar'd for Metellus Scipio Consul and the Tribunes of the People to the great scandal of the City For having set up a Stew in his own House he prostituted therein Mucia and Fulvia both taken away from Father and Mother and Saturninus a Youth of a Noble Family Bodies of infamous suffering brought to be the scorn of drunken Lust Banquets not to be celebrated by Consuls and Tribunes but to have been punish'd 9. But enormous was the Lust of Catiline For being mad in love with Aurelia Orestilla when he saw one Impediment to hinder him from being married to her poyson'd his own and only Son almost of age and presently kindled the Nuptial Torch at his Funeral-Pile bequeathing his want of Children as a gift to his new Bride But behaving himself at length with the same minde as a Citizen as he had shewed himself a Father he fell a just Sacrifice to the Ghost of his Son and his impiously-invaded Country STRANGERS 1. But the Campanian Luxury how profitable was it to our Country For embracing invincible Hannibal in the arms of her Allurements she fitted him to be vanquished by the Roman Souldier She called forth a vigilant Captain she invited a couragious Army to long Banquets and with plenty of Wine the fragrancy of Oyntments and the lascivious softness of Venery inveagl'd them to Sleep and Pleasure And then was the Punie fierceness broken when it lay encamped among the Perfumers of Capua What then more ignominious than these Vices what more hurtful by which Vertue is worn out Victories languish Honour stupified is turn'd to Infamy and the vigour of Body and Minde quite weakned and broken So that it is hard to say which is worst to be subdued by them or by the Enemy 2. Which infested the City of the Volsinians with sad and direful slaughters It was rich it was adorn'd with Customes and Laws it was the Head and Metropolis of Hetruria But when once Luxury crept in it fell into an Abyss of Injuries and Infamy till she became subjected to the insolent power of her Servants Who at first in a small number daring to enter the Senate-House in a short time overturn'd and master'd the whole Commonwealth They order'd Wills to be made at their own pleasure They forbad the Meetings and Feastings of the Free-men and married their Masters Daughters Lastly they made a Law that their Adulteries committed with Widows and Married-women should go unpunished and that no Virgin should marry a Freeman unless some of them before had had her Virginity 3. Xerxes out of the proud imitation of his vast wealth grew to that height of Luxury that he propounded Rewards to them that should invent any new Pleasure What a ruine befel a most wide Empire too deeply plunged in Pleasure and Voluptuousness 4. Antiochus the King not a whit the more continent whose blinde and mad Luxury the Army imitating had most of them Golden Nails under the soles of their Shoes and bought Silver Dishes for their Kitchins and bad their Tents of Tapestry-work adorn'd with Gold and Silver A booty more desireable by a needy Enemy than any delay to a stout Souldier from Victory 5. Ptolomey the King liv'd by the accession of his Vices and was therefore call'd Physcon Than whose Wickedness there could be nothing more wicked He married his eldest Sister married before to their common Brother then having vitiated her Daughter he divorced the Sister that he might marry the Daughter 6. Like to their Kings were the People of Egypt who under the command of Archelaus sallying out of their City against A. Gabinius when thâ—â— were commanded to entrench themselves cry'd out That that was a work to be done at the publick Charge And therefore their Courages weakned with the softness of Pleasures could not stand the fury of our Army 7. But more effeminate were the Cyprians who suffer'd their Women to lye upon the ground for their Queens to tread upon when they ascended into their Chariots For for men if men they were it had been better not have lived at all than to live obedient to such a soft Command CHAP. II. Of Cruelty In ROMANS 1. Cor. Sylla Dictator 2. C. Marius seven times Consul 3. L. Junius Damasippus 4. Munatius Flac us STRANGERS 1. Carthaginians 2. Hannibâ—l 3. Mithridates 4. Numulizinthes King of Thrace 5. Ptolomey Physcon 6. Darius Ochus 7. Artaxerxes Ochus 8. The Athenians 9. Perillus of Sicily 10. Hetrurians 11. Certain Barbarians THis last Society of men carried a lascivious Countenance Eyes greedy after Novelty of delight and a Minde transported through all the allurements of Pleasure But the horrid habit of Cruelty is of another naâ—â—re savage Countenance violent Minds terrible Utterance Mouths full of Threats and bloody Commands to which being silent is but to increase its fury For how shall she set bounds to her self unless she were recall'd by the bridle of reprehension In short since it is her business to make herself dreaded let it be ours to have her in abomination 1. L. Sylla whom no man can either sufficiently praise or dispraise who while he seeks after Victory represents himself a Scipio to the Roman People while he exercises Cruelty a meer Hannibal For having egregiously defended the cause of the Nobility cruelly he overflow'd the whole City and every part of Italy with rivers of Civil Blood Four Legions of the adverse party trusting to his Faith and following his Banners in a publick Village in vain imploring the compassion of his faithless arm he caused to be cut in pieces Whose lamentable cries pierc'd the ears of the trembling City and Tibur was compelled to waft away their memberless Bodies impatient of so heavy a burthen Five thousand Praenestines hope of safety being granted them by Cethegus being call'd forth without the Walls of the Free-town after they had thrown away their Armes and lay prostrate upon the ground he caus'd to be slain and their Bodies to be thrown about the fields He caused a Record
Conful then for the Consul had subdued almost all Spain and understood that Pompey the Consul his enemy would be sent to succeed him he dismissed all that pretended to be acquitted from service gave licence to the Souldiers to go take their pleasure never setting any time for their coming again He left the Magazines upon the Borders free to the plunder of the Enemy He ordered the Cretans Bows and Arrows to be broken and thrown into the River He forbid any Victuals to be given to the Elephants By which acts as he gratified his Passion so he sufficiently sullied the glory of his great Deeds and lost the honour he had won being a greater Vanquisher of the Enemy than of his own Passion 8. What became of Sylla too obedient to this Vice After he had shed the blood of others did he not shed his own For burning with indignation at Puteoli because that Granius Prince of the Colony did not pay in so quickly the Money to the Decurio's which he had promis'd for the repair of the Capitol with a concitation of minde more than ordinary and an immoderate force of speaking he vomited up his last breath mixed with blood and threats Not failing by old Age as not being above threescore but raging with an Impotency nourished by the miseries of the Commonwealth So that it is a doubt whether Sylla or Sylla's Anger were first extinguished FORRAIGNERS Now it behoves us to fetch Examples from unknown persons yet there is something of shame in reproaching the Vices of great men But since the faith of our designe admonishes us to comprehend every thing the Will must give way to the Work that the Considence of declaring necessary things may not be wanting while we justifie the proof of great things 1. Alexander was kept from Heav'n by his own Anger For what hinder'd but that he might have risen thither had not Lysimachus thrown to a Lion Elytus run through with a Spear Callisthenes put to death lost him the fame of three of his greatest Victories by the unjust slaughter of so many friends 2. How excessive the Hatred of Amilear toward the Roman People For beholding four Sons of tender Age and the same number of Lions whelps He bred them he said to the ruine of our Empire Fairly brought up as it hapned to the ruine of their own Country n 3 3. Of which Sons Hannibal so followed his Fathers steps that when he was about to cross the Army over into Spain and sacrificing for good success the Son then but nine years of age holding his hand upon the Altar swore that assoon as his Age would permit him he would be a most bitter Enemy to the Romans that he might express to his father how willingly he accompanied him in the War then afoot The same person that he might shew the Hatred between Rome and Carthage happening to stumble and raise the dust with his foot Then said he there will be an end of the War between these two Cities when one of them is reduced into dust at this is 4. In the breast of a Boy the Force of Hatred was not so prevalent but that it equally prevailed in a Womans breast For Semiramis Queen of the Assyrians when it was related to her as she was combing her hair that Babylon was revolted with one part of her hair loose and dishevell'd she hasted to its recovery nor would she bring her hair till she had reduced the City into order And therefore her Statue is placed in Babylon in the same posture as she hasten'd to her Revenge CHAP. IV. Of Covetousness ROMANS 1. M. Crassus and Q. Hortensius 2. Q. Cassius Longinus 3. L. Septimuleius FORRAIGNERS 1. Ptolomey King of Cyprus LEt Avarice be brought forth that lurks in hidden places but a devourer of open prey unhappy in enjoyment but most through Insatiability 1. When certain persons had suborn'd a false testimony against Minucius Basilius in Greece who was very rich to confirm it they put into his Will as Heirs two of the most potent men of our City M. Crassus and Q. Hortensius to whom Minutius was altogether unknown Though the fraud were evident yet both covetous after the Estate neither refus'd the gift of a Forreign Crime How great an offence have I slightly related The Lights of the Court and Ornaments of the Seat of Judicature what they ought to have punish'd invited by the bait of dishonest gain they protected by their Authority 2. But it was of greater force in Q. Cassius who let go M. Silius and A. Calpurnius being apprehended in Spain with daggers on purpose to have kill'd him having agreed with the one for fifty with the other for sixty Sesterces It may be a question whether if they had given him as much more he would not have offer'd them his throat also 3. But above all the Avarice of L. Septimuleius was most notorious Who being a familiar Friend of Gracchus not only cut off his Head but carried it fix'd upon a pole through the City because Opimius the Consul had promis'd a reward in Gold to him that should do it Some report that he filled the hollow part of his Sâ—ull with melted Lead that it might be the heavier Whether he were seditious or died for a good Example yet the wicked hunger of his friend should not have bin so greedy after such injuries to the dead FORREIGNERS 1. The Covetousness of Septimuleius deserved hatred but the Avarice of Ptolomey King of the Cyprians is to be laught at For having by mean devices scrap'd together great Riches and saw that he was like to perish for their sake and for that reason having shipped all his Wealth was got out to Sea that by bulging the Vessels he might perish at his own leasure and frustrate his Enemies hopes could not endure the sinking of his Gold and Silver but carried back the future reward of his own Death Surely he did not possess but was possess'd by Wealth being in his minde a miserable slave to Money CHAP. V. Of Pride and excess of Power ROMANS 1. M. Fulvius Flaccus Cos 2. M. Livius Drusus Tribune of the People 3. C. Pompey the Great three times Consul 4. M. Antonie Triumvir FORREIGNERS 1. Alexander the Great 2. Xerxes King of Persia 3. Hannibal the Carthaginian 4. The Carthaginian and Campanian Senate 1. NOw that Pride and Excess in Power may be brought upon the Stage Fulvius Flaccus Consul Colleague with M. Plautius Hypsaeus being about to make Laws very pernicious to the Common-wealth of making free Citizens of Rome and citing such before the People who would not change their City could hardly be perswaded to come into Court Then when the Senate partly admonish'd him partly besought him to desist he gave them no answer He might be accompted a Tyrannical Consul who had thus carried himself against one Senator as Flaccus did against the whole Body of so Majestick an Assembly 2. Whose Majesty was no less affronted by the
contumely of M. Drusus a Tribune of the People who made nothing because Philip the Consul interrupted him in his Speech to take him by the throat and to hale him to Prison not by the hands of an Officer but of a Client with that violence that the Blood gush'd out of his Mouth Also when the Senate sent to him to come into Court Rather said he why doth not the Senate come to the Hostilia to me I am ashamed to adde the rest The Tribune despis'd the Authority of the Senate the Senate obey'd the Tribunes words 3. How insolently Pompey who coming out of the Bath left Hypsaeus prostrate at his feet accused of bribing for Voices a Nobleman and his Friend upbraiding him withal with a contumelious Scoff telling him that he came to spoil his Supper Yet he was not ashamed to require Scipio his Sons Father-in-law condemned by certain Laws which he had made himself to the ruine of many Noblemen governing the Commonwealth according to the caresses of his Nuptial Bed 4. Vile was the Scoff of M. Antonie both in word and deed For when the Head of Caestius Rufus a Senator was brought him being a Triumvir the rest turning aside he caus'd it to be brought near and diligently viewed it And when all the standers by listned to hear what he would say This fellow saies he I never knew A haughty scorn of a Senator but the excess of pride toward a man slain FORREIGNERS 1. Enough of our own now for Forreigners The Vertue and Felicity of Alexander the Great was eclips'd by three most evident degrees of Insolence For contemning his Father Philip he acknowledged none bat Jupiter Ammon for his Father Laying aside the Customes and Manners of the Macedonians he assumed the Garments and Laws of the Persians despising Mortals he emulated to be a God Nor was he ashamed to deny himself to be a Son a fellow-Countryman and a Mortal 2. Xerxes in whose name Pride and Impotency inhabit how insolently did he use his own power when being to proclaim War against the Grecians and calling the Princes of Asia together That I might not seem said he to take my own advice I have assembled you But remember that it is your part rather to obey than to give Counsel Arrogantly said had he return'd a Victor to his Countrey But so shamefully beaten I know not whether more insolently or arrogantly 3. Hannibal puft up with the success of the Battle of Cannae neither admitted any of his Country-men into his Tents nor gave answer to any but by an Interpreter and despis'd Maharbal affirming with a loud voice before his Tent that he saw a way how he might sup in a few days in the Capitol So unusual a thing it is for Happiness and Moderation to lodge together 4. There was a kind of emulation between the Carthaginian and Campanian Senate for Insolencie For the one wash'd in a Bath apart from the Vulgar the other made use of a different Judgment-Seat Which Custome retain'd in Capua is evident in an Epistle of C. Gracchus written to Plautius CHAP. VI. Of Perfidiousness ROMANS 1. T. Tatius King of the Sabines 2. Ser. Sulpitius Galba 3. Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus 4. Q. Servilius Caepio Cos FORREIGNERS 1. The Carthaginians 2. Hannibal the Carthaginian LEt Perfidiousness a close and crafty Mischief be fetch'd out of its lurking holes Whose most efficacious properties are to lye and deceive the fruit it reaps from some crime committed then certain when it holds Cruelty in bonds bringing as much mischief to Mankinde as Faith and Truth afford quiet and safety Therefore let it be as much dispraised as the other praised 2. In the reign of Romulus Sp. Tarpeius was Governour of the Tower whose Daughter a Virgin going to fetch Water for the Ceremonies without the Walls Tatius corrupted with Money to let in his armed Sabines into the Castle promising as a Reward what they woreupon their left hands which were Bracelets and Rings of Gold of a considerable weight The Sabines having got into the place when the Virgin demanded her reward they killed her with the weight of their Armes As it were performing their promise in regard they also carried their Armes on their left hand Let there be no blame while impious Treason was reveng'd with a quick Punishment 2. Servius Galba was a man highly perfidious For having assembled together the people of several Cities of Portugal upon pretence of treating for their good he partly kill'd and partly sold seven thousand of them among which were the flower of their Youth after he had pickt them out and disarmed them Thus the greatness of his Crâ—me exceeded the Calamity of the Barbarians 3. Too great a desire of Glory made Cn. Domitius a person of Noble Extraction and Merit to become perfidious For being offended at Betultus King of the Arverni for that he had perswaded both his own people and the Allobroges while he was in the Province to flie to the Protection of Fabius his Successor Sending for him under pretence of speaking with him and having received him under his roof he caus'd him to be fetter'd and sent him away by Sea to Rome Which act of his the Senate could neither approve nor disannul lest Besultus being sent back into his Countrey should raise a new War Therefore they sent him to Alba to be secur'd 4. The slaughter of Viriatus admits a double accusation of Perjury as to his friends because he was killed in their hands in Q. Servilius Caepio the Consul because he was the Author of the fact and promis'd impunity not deserving but buying his Victory FORREIGNERS 1. But that we may take a view of the Fountain of Perfidie it self The Carthaginians pretending to send Xanthippus the Lacedaemonian home who had served them and by whose assistance they had taken Atilius Regulus sunk him in the midst of the Sea What was the aim of so much Villany That the companion of their Victory should not live He lives however to their reproach whom they might have left untouch'd without any loss of their Honour 2. Hannibal also by strangling in the smoak and steam of Baths the Nucerini who upon his Faith given came out of an impregnable City and by throwing the Senate of the Acerrani into Wells while he profess'd War against the People of Rome and Italy did he not wage a more severe war against Faith and Honesty making use of lies and deceits as of famous and noble Arts. By which means though he might have otherwise left a real fame behinde him it is now to be question'd which was most eminent his Greatness or his Wickedness CHAP. VII Of Seditions The Roman People against 1. C. Marius 6 times Cos 2. Q. Metellus the Censor 3. A. Numius the Candidate 4. A. Sempronius Asellio The Roman Souldiers against 1. Gratidius the Legate 2. Q. Pompey the Consul 3. C. Carbo the Legate BUt let the Acts of violent Sedition among the Gownmen as well
bewail'd others to deplore his own condition Happy rather in the multitude of his Riches than in the deep Reflexion of his thoughts For who but meanly prudent would bewail that he was born mortal 2. I will relate others now who having others in suspicion fought to have a more exquisite care of themselves Nor will I begin from the most miserable but one that was accompted the most happy among a few Massinissa the King reposing but little faith in Men secur'd himself with a guard of Dogs What meant so large an Empire What so great a number of Children What the Roman Friendship so strictly allied to him If to secure all these he thought nothing more powerful than the barking and biting of Dogs 3. Alexander was more unhappy than this King whose minde on the one side Love on the other Fear tormented For being infinitely enamour'd of his Wife Thebe going to her from a Banquet into her Chamber he caus'd a Barbarian Fugitive to go before him with his Sword drawn Nor did he put himself to bed till he was diligently search'd by those about him A mix'd Punishment through the anger of the Gods that he could neither command his Lust nor his Fear Of whose Fear the cause and end was the same For Thebe slew Alexander provoked by his Adultery 4. Dionysius Tyrant of Syracuse how long a story might he make of this fear Who prolonged a Tyranny of two and forty years in this manner He removed his Friends and substituted in their places men brought from the most fierce of Nations and stout Servants pick'd out of wealthy Families for his Guard and out of fear of a Barber taught his Daughters to shave into whose hands when they came to ripe Age not daring to commit Iron he order'd his Beard and Hair to be burnt off with the flame of the skins of Walnuts Nor was he a more secure Husband than he was a Father For having married at the same time Aristomache of Syracuse and Cloris of Locris he never lay with either till they were searched And he entrench'd his Bed like a Camp into which he went over a wooden Bridge leaving the outward Chamber-door open to his Guards and carefully locking the inner himself CHAP. XIV Of Similitude of Form ROMANS 1. Cn. Pompey the Great with Vibius and Publicius 2. Cn. Pompey Strabo with Menogenes the Cook 3. P. Scipio Nasica with Serapius 4. P. Lentulus and Qu. Metellus Consuls with Spinther and Pamphilus the Players 5. M. Messala and C. Curio with Menoges and Bubuleius Scenics FORREIGNERS 1. Antiochus King of Syria with Artemon 2. Hybras the Orator with a Servant of the Cymaeans 3. A Sicilian Fisher with a Roman Praetor COncerning the likeness of Countenance and Proportion the more Learned dispute subtily And some are of opinion that it answers to the original and composition of the blood Nor do they draw a mean Argument from other Creatures which are like those that beget them Others deny this to be the Constitution of Nature but an Accidental Chance of Conception And therefore many times the beautiful bring forth deformed the strong produce weak Children But because the Question is doubtful let us produce a few Examples of noted Likeness 1. Vibius of a good Family and Publicius the Freed-man were so like Pompey the Great that changing their condition they might have been saluted for him and he for them Certainly wherever Vibius or Publicius came all mens eyes were upon them every one remarking the form of a mighty Citizen in persons of mean degree Which kind of Mockery became almost hereditary to him 2. For his Father also was so exceeding like Menogenes his Cook that a man fierce in Courage and potent in Arms could not avoid that sordid name upon himself 3. Cornelius Scipio a young man illustrious for his Nobility abounding in many famous Sirnames of his Family could not scape the servile Appellation of Scrapio being so like a Killer of the Sacrifices who was of that Name Nor could the Probity of his Life nor the Antiquity of his Family any way prevail against the Scandal 4. A most generous Colleagueship was that of Lentulus and Metellus Yet both were look'd upon as Players so like they were to two Histrio's upon the Stage For the one got the sirname of Spinther an Actor of the Second Parts and if the other had not had the sirname of Nepos from his Ancestors he had had the sirname of Pamphilus an Actor of Third Parts whom he so much resembled 5. But M. Messala of Consular Dignity was forced to receive the sirname of Menogenes and Curio abounding in wealth that of Barbuleius the one by reason of the likeness of their Faces the other because of the likeness of their Gate FORREIGNERS 1. These are enough for Domesticks because they are particularly remarkable in reference to the persons and not obscure in relation to common knowledge There was one Artemon by name and related to the Royal Family who was affirm'd to be very like to King Antiochus Whom Laodice having murder'd her Husband to conceal the fact laid in her Husbands Bed to counterfeit the King as sick And by his Countenance and Voice deceived all people that were admitted to see him and believed that Laodice and her Children were recommended by dying Antiochus to their care 2. Hybreas of Mylasa an Oratour of a smart and copious Eloquence was so like a Servant of the Cymaeans that swept the Wrastling-School that all the eyes of Asia took him for his own Brother so like he was in all the Lineaments of Face and Members 3. But he that was in Sicily so like the Praetor was of a petulant disposition For the Proconsul saying That be wonder'd how he should come to be so like him when his Father had never been in that Countrey But mine answered the other went frequently to Rome Revenging by that means the Injury done to his Mothers Chastity by a Suspition thrown upon the Mother of the Proconsul yet more boldly than became a man that was under the Lash and Axe of Authority Chap. XV. Of those who by lying have thrust themselves into Families which they never belong'd to 1. L. Equitius Firmanus 2. Erophilus the Farrier 3. The false son of Octavia Augustus 's Sister 4. The false son of Sertorius 5. Trebellius Calca 6. C. Asinius Dio false FORREIGNERS 1. Rubria of Millain false 2. Ariarathes the false King of Cappadocia THe former was a tolerable piece of Impudence and only dangerous to himself That which follows is no way to be endur'd and not only privately but publickly dangerous 1. For that I my not omit Equitius a Monster out of Firmum in Piceni whose manifest lye in counterfeiting himself the Son of T. Gracchus by the turbulent mistake of the Vulgar was defended by the power of the Tribune 2. Herophilus the Farrier by claiming Marius seven times Consul for his Grandfather so set himself forth that most of the Colonies of the Veterane Souldiers and noble free Towns adopted him for their Patron Nay when Caesar having overcome young Pompey in Spain had admitted the people into his Gardens he was saluted in the next space between the Pillars by the Multitude And had nor Caesar prudently prevented the storm the Commonwealth had suffer'd as much by him as by Equitius But being banished out of Italy by him after he was taken into Heaven the other return'd into the City and durst attempt to plot the killing of the Senate For which reason being by the command of the Fathers put to Death in Prison he had the late reward of a quick intention to do mischief 3. Neither was the Deity of the World Augustus himself ruling the world exempt from this kinde of Imposture There being a certain person that durst to affirm himself born of the womb of his most dear Sister Octavia saying that for the infirmity of his body he was put out to the person that bred him and his Son taken in in his stead Thus at the same time endeavouring to deprive a most sacred Family of the Memory of their true Blood and to contaminate it with the contagion of a Lye But while he soar'd to the utmost degree of boldness he was by Caesar condemn'd to the Gallies 4. There was also one who affirm'd himself to be the Son of Q. Sertorius whose Wife would by no means be compell'd to acknowledge him 5. Trebellius Calca how stedfastly did he justifie himself to be Clodius And while he contended for his Estate was so favourably receiv'd by the Court of Judicature that the tumult of the people would hardly give way for a just and legal Sentence However the Constancy of the Judges would not give way either to the Calumnies of the Claimer nor the fury of the People 6. Much more stoutly was that done by him who when L. Sylla rul'd in chief brake into the house of Asinius Dio and expell'd his Son out of doors clamouring that it was he that was Dio's Son But when Caesar's Equity had freed the Commonwealth from Sylla's Tyranny a juster Prince steering the helm of Government the Impostor died in Jail FORREIGNERS 1. While the same Prince governed the Rashness of a Woman was punish'd at Milan upon account of the same Imposture For attesting herself to be one Rubria and claiming by that means an Estace that belong'd not to her though she wanted neither favour nor Witnesses yet the invincible Constancy of Caesar disappointed her of her hopes The same person compell'd to just punishment a Barbarian affecting the Kingdom of Cappadocia and affirming himself to be Ariarathes who was certainly known to have been slain by Mark Antony though at the same time he had deluded most of the Cities and People of the East FINIS