in great disorder For Antigonus had placed the GAVLES in the rereward of his army to close it in which were a conuenient number and did valliantly defend the first charge and the skirmishe was so hotte that the most of them were slaine After them the leaders of the elephantes perceiuing they were enuironned on euery side yelded them selues and their beastes Pyrrus seeing his power to be now increased with such a supply trusting more to his good fortune then any good reason might moue him thrust further into the battel of the MACEDONIANS who were all afrayed and troubled for the ouerthrowe of their rereward so as they would not once base their pykes not fight against him He for his parte holdinge vp his hande and callinge the Captaines of the bandes by their names straight wayes made all the footemen of Antigonus turne wholly to his side who flying saued him selfe with a few horsemen and kept certaine of the cities in his realme apon the sea coast But Pyrrus in all his prosperity iudging nothing more toâ—edownde to his honor and glory then the ouerthrow of the GAVLES layed aside their goodliest and richest spoyles and offred vp the same in the temple of Minerua Itonida with this inscription VVhen Pyrrus had subdude the puisant Gaules in fields He caused of their spoyles to make these targets armes and shields The vvhich he hanged vp intemple all on high Before Minerua goddesse here in signe of victory VVhen he had ouercome the vvhole and hugie hoast The vvhich Antigonus did bring into his contries coast Ne maruell should it seeme though victory he vvonne Since valliantnes bringes victory and euermore hath done And valliantnes alvvayes hath constantly kept place From age to age and time to time in AEacus his race Immediatly after this battell all the cities of the realme of MACEDON yelded vnto him but when he had the citie of AEGES in his power he vsed the inhabitantes thereof very hardly specially bicause he left a great garrison of the GAVLES there which he had in pay This nation is extreame couetous as then they shewed them selues for they spared not to breake vp the tombes wherein the kinges of MACEDON lay buried there tooke away all the gold and siluer they could finde and afterwards with great insolency cast out their bones into the open winde Pyrrus was tolde of it but he lightly passed it ouer and made no reckening of it either bicause he deferred it till an other time by reason of the warres he had then in hande or else for that he durst not meddle with punishing of these barbarous people at that time But whatsoeuer the matter was the MACEDONIANS were very angry with Pyrrus blamed him greatly for it Furthermore hauing not yet made all thinges sure in MACEDON nor being fully possest of the same new toyes and hope came into his head and mocking Antigonus sayd he was a mad man to goe apparrelled in purple like a king when a poore cloke might become him like a priuate man Now Cleonymus king of SPARTA being come to procure him to bring his army into the contry of LACEDAEMON Pyrrus was very willing to it This Cleonymus was of the blood royall of SPARTA but bicause he was a cruell man and would do all thinges by authority they loued him not at SPARTA nor trusted him at all and therefore did they put him out made Areus king a very quiet man. And this was the oldest quarrell Cleonymus had against the coÌ„mon wealth of SPARTA but besides that he had an other priuate quarrel which grewe vppon this cause In his olde yeares Cleonymus had maried a fayer younge Lady called Chelidonide which was also of the blood royall and the daughter of Leotychides This Lady being fallen extreamely in loue with Acrotatus king Areus sonne a goodly young gentleman and in his lusty youth she greatly vexed and dishonored her husbande Cleonymus who was ouer heade and eares in loue and iealousie with her for there was not one in all SPARTA but plainely knewe that his wife made none accompt of him And thus his home sorowes being ioyned with his outwarde common greues euen for spight desiring a reuenge in choller he went to procure Pyrrus to come vnto SPARTA to restore him againe to his kingdome Hereupon he brought him into LACEDAEMONIA forthwith with fiue and twenty thowsand footemen two thowsand horse and foure and twenty elephantes by which preparacion though by nothing else the worlde might plainely see that Pyrrus came with a minde not to restore Cleonymus againe vnto SPARTA but of intent to conquer for him selfe if he could all the contrie of PELOPONNESVS For in wordes he denied it to the LACEDAEMONIANS them selues who sent Ambassadors vnto him when he was in the city of MEGALIPOLIS where he tolde them that he was come into PELOPONNESVS to sette the townes and cities at libertie which Antigonus kept in bondage that his true intent and meaning was to send his young sonnes into SPARTA so they would be contented to the end they might be trained after the LACONIAN manner and from their youth haue this aduantage aboue all other kinges to haue bene well brought vp But faining these thinges and abusing those that came to meete him on his way they tooke no heede of him till he came within the coast of LACONIA into the which he was no sooner entred but he beganne to spoyle and wast the whole contry And when the Ambassadors of SPARTA reproued and founde fault with him for that he made warres vpon them in such sorte before he had openly proclaimed it he made them aunswer no more haue you your selues vsed to proclaime that which you purposed to do to others Then one of the Ambassadors called Mandricidas replied againe vnto him in the LACONIAN tongue If thou be a god thou wilt doe vs no hurt bicause we haue not offended thee and if thou be a man thou shalt meete with an other that shal be better then thy selfe Then he marched directly to SPARTA where Cleonymus gaue him counsell euen at the first to assault it But he would not so do fearing as they sayd that if he did it by night his souldiers would sacke the city and sayd it should be time enough to assault it the next day at broad day light bicause there were but few men within the towne and beside they were very ill prouided And furthermore king Areus him selfe was not there but gone into CRETA to aide the GORTYNIANS who had warres in their owne contry And doutlesse that only was the sauing of SPARTA from taking that they made no reckening to assault it hotly bicause they thought it was not able to make resistaunce For Pyrrus camped before the towne throughly perswaded with him selfe that he should finde none to fight with him and Cleonymus frends and seruauntes also did prepare his lodging there as if Pyrrus should haue come to supper to him
vp together in this sorte there was not one that could helpe him selfe for it seemed to be masse and heape of a multitude and one whole body shut together which sometime thrust forward and sometimes gave backe as the sway went They fought not so much against their enemies who set apon them behinde but they did them selues more hurt then their enemies did For if any drew out his sword or based his pyke he could neither scabard th one againe nor lift vp thother but thrust it full vpon his owne fellowes that came in to helpe them and so killed them selues one thrusting vpon an other Wherefore Pyrrus seeing his people thus troubled and harried to fro tooke his crowne from his heade which he ware apon his helmet that made him knowen of his men a farre of and gaue it vnto one of his familiars that was next vnto him and trusting then to the goodnes of his horse flewe vpon his enemies that followed him It fortuned that one hurt him with a pyke but the wound was neither daungerous nor great wherfore Pyrrus set vpon him that had hurt him who was an ARGIAN borne a man of meane condition and a poore olde womans sonne whose mother at that present time was gotten vp to the toppe of the tyles of a house as all other women of the city were to see the fight And she perceiuing that it was here sonne whome Pyrrus came apon was so afrighted to see him in that daunger that she tooke a tyle and with both her handes cast it apon Pyrrus The tyle falling of from his head by reason of his head peece lighted full in the nape of his neck brake his necke bone a sunder wherewith he was sodainly so benummed that he lost his fight with the blow the raines of his bridle fell out of his hande and him selfe fell from his horse to the ground by Licymmias tombe before any man knew what he was at the least the common people Vntill at the last there came one Zopyrus that was in pay with Antigonus and two or three other souldiers also that ran straight to the place and knowing him dragged his body into a gate euen as he was comming againe to him selfe out of this traunse This Zopyrus drewe out a SLAVON sword he wore by his side to strike of his head But Pyrrus cast such a grimme countenance on him betwene his eyes that made him so afrayed his hand so to shake therewith that being thus amazed he did not strike him right in the place where he should haue cut of his head but killed him vnder his mouth about his chinne so that he was a great while ere he could strike of his head The matter was straight blowen abroade amongest diuerse whereupon Alcyoneus running thither asked for the head that he might know it againe But when he had it he ranne presently vnto his father withall and found him talking with his familiar frends and cast Pyrrus head before him Antigonus looking vpon it when he knew it layed apon his sonne with his staffe and called him cruell murderer and vnnaturall barbarous beast and so hyding his eyes with his cloke wept for pity remembring the fortune of his grandfather Antigonus and of his father Demetrius and then caused Pyrrus head body to be honorably burnt buried Afterwards Alcyoneus meeting Helenus king Pyrrus sonne in very poore state mufled vp with a poore shorte cloke vsed him very curteously with gentle wordes and brought him to his father Antigonus seeing his sonne bringing of him sayd vnto him this parte now my sonne is better then the first and pleaseth me a great deale more But yet thou hast not done all thou shouldest for thou shouldest haue taken from him his beggerly cloke the weareth which doth more shame vs that are the gainers then him that is the loser After he had spoken these wordes Antigonus embraced Helenus and hauing apparelled him in good sorte sent him home with honorable conuoy into his realme of EPIRVS Furthermore seasing all Pyrrus campe and army he curteously receiued all his frendes and seruauntes The end of Pyrrus life THE LIFE OF Caius Marius IT is not knowen what was the third name of Caius Marius no more then of Quintius Sertorius who had all SPAYNE in his handes at one time nor of Lucius Mummius he that destroyed the citie of CORINTHE For this name of Achaicus that was geuen vnto Mummius of Africanus vnto Scipio and of Numidicus vnto Metellus were all surnames geuen them by reason of the conquestes they wan By this reason Posidonius thinketh to ouercome them that say that the third name the ROMAINES haue is their proper name as Camillus Marcellus Cato For if it fell out so sayd he then it must needes follow that they which haue two names should haue no proper name But on the otherside also he doth not consider that by the like reason he should say that women haue no names for there is not a woman in ROME that is called by her first name which Posidonius iudgeth to be the proper name of the ROMAINES And that of the other two the one is the common name of all the house of family as or the POMPEIANS of the MANLIANS and of the CORNELIANS like us the HERACLIDES and the PELOPIDES are amongest the GREECIANS and the other is a surname taken of the deedes or of the nature forme or shape of the body or of some other like accident as are these surnames Macrinus Torquatus Sylla Euen as amongest the GREECIANS likewise Mnemon which signifieth hauing good memory Grypos hauing a crooked noâ—eâ— Callinicos conquering But as for that the diuersitie of custome would deliuer obiection sufficient to the contrary to him that lifted And furthermore as touching the fauor of Marius face we haue seene an image of his in marbell at RAVENNA a city of the GAVLES which doth liuely represent that rough seuerity of nature and maner which they say was in him For being borne a rough man by nature and geuen to the warres and hauing followed the same altogether from his youth more then the ciuill life when he came to authority he could not bridle his anger and chollericke nature And they say furthermore that he neuer learned the Greeke tongue nor vsed it in any matters of weight as though it had been a mockery to study to learne the tongue the masters whereof liued in bondage vnder others After his second triumphe in the dedication of a certaine temple he made Greeke playes to shewe the ROMAINES pastime and came into the Theater how beit he did but sit downe only and went his way straight Wherfore me thinkes that as Plato was wont to say oft vnto Xenocrates the Philosopher who was of a currish nature had his head euer occupied and so seuere Xenocrates my frend I pray thee doe sacrifice to the Graces So if any man could haue perswaded Marius to haue
vnto whome I might compare Lucullus I thought it best to compare him with Cimon bicause they haue bene both valliant souldiers against their enemies hauing both done notable exploytes in warres against the barbarous people and moreouer they haue both bene curteous mercifull vnto their citizens were both the only men that pacified the ciuill warres and dissention in their contrie and both the one the other of them wan notable victories of the babarous people For there was neuer GREECIAN Captaine before Cimon nor ROMANE Captaine before Lucullus that had made warres so farre of from their contrie leauing a parte the deedes of Bacchus and of Hercules and the deedes also of Perseus against the AETHIOPIANS the MEDES and the ARMENIANS and the deedes of Iason also if there remaine any monument extant since their time worthie of credit in these our dayes Furthermore herein they are to be likened together that they neuer ended their warres they only ouerthrewe their enemies but neuer ouercame them altogether Againe they may note in them a great resemblaunce of nature for their honestie curtesie and humanitie which they shewed vnto straungers in their contrie and for the magnignificence and sumptuousnes of their life and ordinarie expence It may be we doe leaue on some other similitudes betwene them howbeit in the discourse of their liues they will easily appeare Cimon was the sonne of Miltiades and of Hegesipyle a THRACIAN woman borne and the daughter of king Olorus as we finde wrytten in certaine poeticall verses which Melanthiusâ— and Archelaus haue wrytten of Cimon The father of Thucydides the historiographer him selfe who was of kinne also vnto Cimon was called in like manner Olorus showing by the agreeing of the name that this king Olorus was one of his auncesters and did also possesse mines of gold in the contry of THRACIA It is sayd moreouer that he dyed in a certaine place called the ditchie forrest where he was slaine howbeit that his ashes and bones were caried into the contrie of ATTICA where his tombe appeareth yet to this day amongest the tombes of them of the house and family of Cimon neere vnto the tombe of Cimons owne sister called Elpinicè Notwithstanding Thucydides was of the village of ALIMVS and Miltiades of the village of LACIA This Miltiades Cimons father being condemned by the state to pay the summe of fifty talentes was for non payment cast into prison and there dyed and left Cimon and his sister Elpinicè aliue both Orphanes and very young Now Cimon in his first young yeares had a very ill name and reporte in the city being counted a riotous young man a great drinker following his grandfather Cimons facions vp and downe as he had also his name sauing that his grandfather for his beastlines was surnamed Coalemos as much to say as foole Stesimbrâ—tâ—â— THASIAN who was about Cimons time wryteth that Cimon neuer learned musike nor any other of the liberall sciences accustomably taught to young noble mens sonnes of GREECE that he had no sharpe wit nor good grace of speaking a vertue proper vnto children borne in the contry of ATTICA howbeit that he was of a noble minde and plaine without dissimulacion so that he rather liued PELOPONNESIAN like then like an ATHENIAN For he was euen such as the Poet Euripides described Hercules to be A simple man he vvas and could not vvell disguise As honest eke in thinges of vveight as vvit could vvell deuise This serued fitly to be applied vnto Stesimbrotus wordes wrytten of him but notwithstanding in his first younge yeares he was suspected of incontinency with his sister who in deede otherwise had no very good name For she was very familiar with the painter Polygnotus who painting the TROIAN Ladies prisoners vpon the walls of the gallery called the Plesianaction and now Poecile to say set out and beawtified with diuers pictures he drue as they say LAOPICES face vpon Elpinices picture This painter Polygnotus was no common artificer nor hierling that painted this gallery for moneys sake but gaue his labor franckely to the common wealth as all the historiographers that wrote in that time do witnesse and as the Poet Melanthius also reciteth in these verses At his ovvne proper charge great cost he hath bestovved In decking vp our temples here vvith gilted roofes embovved For honor of the goddes And in our tovvne likevvise He hath adornd the common place vvith many a fine deuise Painting and setting forth in stately shovv to see The images of demy goddes that here amongest vs be Yet some say that Elpinicè did not secretly companie with her brother Cimon but lay with him openly as his lawfull maried wife bicause she could not for her pouerty haue a husband of like nobilite and parentage to her selfe Howbeit that a certaine man called Callias being one of the richest men of the citie did afterwardes fall in fansie with her and desired to mary her offering to pay her father Miltiades fine of fiftie talents wherein he stoode condemned a debter to the state so that he might haue her to his wife Cimon was contented and vppon that condicion maried his siste Elpinicè vnto Callias This notwithstandinge it is certaine that Cimon was somewhat amorous and geuen to loue women For Melanthius the Poet in certaine of his elegies maketh mencion for his pleasure of one Asteria borne at SALAMINA and of an other called Muestra as if Cimon had bene in loue with them But vndoutedly he loued his lawefull wife Isodice maruelous well the daughter of Euryptolemus Megaetes sonne and tooke her death very grieuouslie as we may coniecture by the elegies that were wrytten vnto him to comforte him in his sorowe Panaetius the Philosopher is of opinion that Archelaus the Phisitian wrote those elegies and sure it is not vnlikely considering the time in which they were wrytten But furthermore Cimons nature and condicions deserued great commendacion For his valliantnesse he gaue no place vnto Miltiades and for his wisedome and iudgement he was not inferior vnto Themistocles and it is out of all doubt that he was a iuster and honester man then either of them both For he was equall with the best of either of both in the discipline of warres and for the valliantnesse of a noble Captaine and he did much excell them both in the properties of a good gouernor and in thadministracion of the affayres of a citie when he was but a younge man and had no experience of warres For when Themistocles at the comminge in of the MEDES counselled the people of ATHENS to goe out of the citie to leaue their landes and contrie and to shippe into gallies and fight with the barbarous people by sea in the straight of SALAMINA as euerie man was wonderinge at his bolde and venturous counsell Cimon was the first man that went with a life and iolitie through the streete Ceramious
SESTOS and of BIZANTIVM the confederates to honor him withall gaue him the preheminence to deuide the spoyle amongest them Whereuppon he made the diuision and set out the bodies of the barbarous peole all naked by them selues and layed the spoyles and their apparell by them selues The confederates founde this distribution very vnequall but neuerthelesse Cimon gaue them the choyce to choose which of the two would and that the ATHENIANS should be contented with that which they left So there was a SAMIAN Captaine called Herophytus that gaue the confederats counsel rather to take the spoiles of the PERSIANS then the PERSIANS them selues and so they did for they tooke the spoile of the prisoners goodes and apparell and left the men vnto the ATHENIANS Whereupon Cimon was thought at that time of the common souldiers to be but an ill deuider of spoyle bicause that the confederats caried away great store of chaines karkanets and braselets of gold goodly rich purple apparell after the PERSIAN facion and the ATHENIANS brought away naked bodies of men very tender and vnacquainted with paine and labor But shortly after the parentes and frendes of these prisoners came out of PHRYGIA and LYDIA and redeemed euery man of them at a great raunsome so that Cimon gathered such a masse of readie money together by their raunsome as he defrayed the whole charges of all his gallies with the same for the space of foure monethes after and left a great summe of money besides in the sparing treasure of ATHENS Cimon by this meanes being nowe become riche bestowed the goodes which he had thus honorably gotten from the barbarous people more honorably againe in relieuing his poore decayed citizens For he brake vp all his hedges and inclosures and layed them plaine and open that trauellers passing by and his owne poore citizens might take as much frute thereof as they would without any maner daunger And furthermore kept a continuall table in his house not furnished with many dishes but with meate sufficient for many persons and where his poore contrie men were dayly refreshed that would come vnto that ordinary so as they needed not otherwise care to labor for their liuing but might be the readier haue the more leasure to serue the common wealth Yet Aristotle the Philosopher wryteth that it was not for all the ATHENIANS indifferently that he kept this ordinarie table but for his poore townes men onely in the village of LACIA where he was borne Furthermore he had alwayes certaine young men waiting on him of his household seruauntes well appartelled if he met by chaunce as he went vp and downe the citie any olde citizen poorely arrayed he made one of these younge men strip him selfe and chaunge apparell with the olde man and that was very well thought of and they all honored him for it Moreouer these young men caried euer good store of money about them and when they met with any honest poore citizen in the market place or else where knowinge his pouertie they secretly gaue him money in his hande and sayd neuer a worde Which the Poet selfe Cratinus seemeth to speake of in a comedie of his intituled the Archiloches I am Metrobius the secretarie he VVhich did my selfe assure in age vvell cherished to be At vvealthie Cimons borde vvhere vvant vvas neuer found VVhose distributions and his almes did to the poore abound There thought I for to passe myne aged yeares avvay VVith that right noble godly man vvhich vvas the Greecians stay Furthermore Gorgias Leontine sayd that Cimon got goodes to vse them and that he vsed them to be honored by them And Critias that was one of the thirty tyrannes of ATHENS he wisheth and desireth of the goddes in his elegies The goddes of Scopas heyres the great magnificence And noble hart of Cimon he vvho spared none expence The glorious victories and high triumphant shovves Of good Agesilaus king good goddes oh graunt me those The name of Lichas SPARTAN hath bene famous amongest the GREECIANS and yet we know no other cause why sauing that he vsed to feast straungers that came to LACEDAEMON on their festiuall day to see the sportes and exercises of the young men daunsing naked in the city But the magnificence of Cimon did farre exceede the auncient liberality curtesie and hospitalitie of the ATHENIANS for they of all other were the first men that taught the GREECIANS through out all GREECE how they should sow corne and gather it to maintaine them selues withall and also shewed them the vse of welles and howe they should light and keepe fire But Cimon makinge an hospitall of his owne house where all his poore citizens were sad and relieued and permittinge straungers that trauelled by his groundes to gather such frutes there as the time and season of the yeare yelded he brought againe as it were into the world the goodes to be in common amongest them as the Poets say they were in the old time of Saturnes raigne And now where some accused this honest liberality of Cimon obiecting that it was but to flatter the common people withall and to winne their good willes by that meanes the maner of life he led accompanying his liberality did vtterly confute and ouerthrow their opinions that way of him For Cimon euer tooke parte with the nobilitie and liued after the LACEDAEMONIANS manner as it well appeared in that he was alwayes against Themistocles who without all compasse of reason encreased the authority and power of the people and for this cause he ioyned with Aristides and was against Ephialtes who would for the peoples sake haue put downe and abolished Ariopagus courte And where all other gouernors in his time were extorcioners and bribetakers Aristides and Ephialtes only excepted he to the contrarie led an vncorrupt life in administracion of iustice euer had cleane hands whatsoeuer he spake or did for the state and common wealth and would therefore neuer take money of any man liuing And for proofe hereof we finde it wrytten that a noble man of PERSIA called Resaces being a traitor to his master the king of PERSIA fled on a time vnto ATHENS where being continually bayted and wearied with the common accusations of these tale bearers picke thanks that accused him to the people he repayred at the length vnto Cimon brought him home to his owne dore two bowles th one full of darickes of gold and the other of darickes of siluer which be peeces of money so called bicause that the name of Darius was written vpon them Cimon seeing this offer fell a laughing and asked him whether of the two he would rather choose to haue him his frende or his hierling The barbarous noble man aunswered him that he had rather haue him his frend Then sayd Cimon to him againe away with thy golde and siluer and get thee hence for if I be thy frend that gold and siluer shall
be the better beliked and to be fine and trimme in his apparell and to cast vpon him a plaine spanish cape taking pleasure in the dyet bathes and manner of the auncient LACONIAN life and openly boasted besides that he would not desire to be king but onely for the hope he had to restore the auncient LACONIAN life by his authority Then began the state of LACEDAEMON first to be corrupted and to leaue her auncient discipline when the LACEDAEMONIANS hauing subdued the Empire of the ATHENIANS stored them selues contry both with plenty of gold siluer But yet reseruing still the lands left vnto them by succession from their fathers according vnto Lycurgus first ordinaunce institucion for diuision of the landes amongest them which ordinaunce and equalitie being inuiolably kept amongest them did yet preserue the common wealth from defamation of diuers other notorious crimes Vntil the time of the authoritie of Epitadeus one of the Ephores a seditious man and of prowde conditions who bitterly falling out with his own sonne preferred a law that euery man might lawfully giue his landes and goods whilest he liued or after his death by testament vnto any man whom he liked or thought well of Thus this man made this law to satisfie his anger others also did confirme it for couetousnes sake and so ouerthrew a noble ordinaunce For the riche men then began to buy lands of numbers and so transferred it from the right lawful heires whereby a few men in short time being made very riche immediatly after there fell out great pouertie in the citie of SPARTA which made all honest sciences to cease brought in thereuppon vnlawfull occupacions who enuyed them that were wealthy Therefore there remayned not aboue seuen hundred naturall Citizens of SPARTA in all of them not aboue a hundred that had lands and inheritance for all the rest were poore people in the citie and were of no countenaunce nor calling besides that went vnwillingly to the warres against their enemies looking euery day for sturre and chaunge in the citie Agis therefore thinking it a notable good acte as in deede it was to replenish the citie of SPARTA againe and to bringe in the old equalitie he moued the matter vnto the Citizens He found the youth against all hope to giue good eare vnto him and very well giuen vnto vertue easily chaunging their garments life to recouer their libertie againe But the oldest men which were now euen rotten with couetousnes and corruption they were affraid to returne againe to the straight ordinaunces of Lycurgus as a slaue and ronneagate from his Maister that trembleth when he is brought back againe vnto him Therefore they reproued Agis when he did lament before them their present miserable estate and wishe also for the former auncient honor and true dignitie of SPARTA Howbeit Lysander the sonne of Lybis and Mandroclidas the sonne of Esphanes and Agesilaus also greatly commended his noble desire and perswaded him to goe forward withall This Lysander was of great authoritie and estimation amongest them in the citie Mandroclidas was also very wise and carefull about any matter of counsell and with his wisedom and policy very valiant Agesilaus in like manner the kings Vncle and an eloquent man was very effeminate and couetous and yet prickt forward to giue his furtherance to this attempt as it appeared by his sonne Hippomedon who was a notable good souldier and could doe very much by meanes of the loue and good will the younge men did beare him But in deede the secret cause that brought Agesilaus to consent vnto this practise was the greatnes of his dette which he ought of the which he hoped to be discharged by chaunging of the state and common wealth Now when Agis had wonne him he fought by his meanes to drawe his mother also vnto the matter which was Agesilaus sister She could doe very much by the number of her friendes followers and detters in the citie by whose meanes she ruled the most part of the affayres of the citie after her owne pleasure But the young man Hippomedon making her priuie vnto it at the first she was amased withall and bad him hold his peace if he were wise and not medle in matters vnpossible and vnprofitable But when Agesilaus had told her what a notable acte it would be and how easily it might be brought to passe with maruelous great profit and that king Agis beganne also to strayne her with great intreatie that she would willingly depart with her goods to winne her sonne honor and glory who though he could not in money and riches come to be like vnto other kinges bicause the slaues and factors onely of the kinges Seleucus and Ptolomy had more money then all the kings of SPARTA had together that euer raigned yet if in temperance thriftines noble mind exceeding all their vanities he could come to restore the LACEDAEMONIANS againe vnto equalitie that then in deede he should be counted a noble king These women being stirred vp with ambition by these perswasions of the younge man seeing him so nobly bent as if by the goddes their mindes had secretly bene inflamed with the loue of vertue did presently alter their mindes in such sort that they them selues did pricke forward Agis and sent for their friends to pray and intreate them to fauor his enterprise and furthermore they brought on other women also knowing that the LACEDAEMONIANS did euer heare and beleeue their wiues suffering them to vnderstand more of the affayres of the state then they them selues did of their priuate estate at home Herein is to be considered that the most part of the riches of LACEDAEMON was in the handes of the women and therefore they were against it not onely bicause thereby they were cut of from their finenes and excesse in the which being ignorant of the true good in deede they put all their felicitie but also bicause they sawe their honor and authoritie which they had by their riches cleane troden vnder foote Therefore they comming to Leonidas they did perswade him to reproue Agis bicause he was elder man then he and to let that this enterprise went not forward Leonidas did what he could in fauour of the riche but fearing the common people who desired nothing but alteracion he durst not openly speake against him but secretly he did the best he could to hinder Agis practise talking with the Magistrates of the citie and accusing Agis vnto them he told them how he did offer the riche mens goods vnto the poore the diuision of their landes and the abolishing of all detts for rewarde to put the tyrannie into his handes and that thereby he got him a stronge gard vnto him selfe but not many Citizens vnto SPARTA This notwithstanding king Agis hauing procured Lysander to be chosen one of the Ephores he presently preferred his lawe vnto the counsell The articles whereof were these
one Varius a companion of his that would drinke lustely with him and therefore in mockery was surnamed Cotylon to wit a bibber So Octauius Caesar would not leane to Cicero when he saw that his whole trauail and endeuor was onely to restore the common wealth to her former libertie Therefore he sent certaine of his friends to Antonius to make them friends againe and thereuppon all three met together to wete Caesar Antonius Lepidus in an Iland enuyroned round about with a litle riuer there remayned three dayes together Now as touching all other matters they were easily agreed did deuide all the Empire of ROME betwene them as if it had bene their owne inheritance But yet they could hardly agree whom they would put to death for euery one of them would kill their enemies and saue their kinsmen and friends Yet at length giuing place to their gredy desire to be reuenged of their enemies they spurned all reuerence of bloud and holines of friendship at their feete For Caesar left Cicero to Antonius will Antonius also forsooke Lucius Caesar who was his Vncle by his mother and both of them together suffred Lepidus to kill his owne brother Paulus Yet some writers affirme that Caesar Antonius requested Paulus might be slain that Lepidus was contēted with it In my opinion there was neuer a more horrible vnnatural crueller chaunge then this was For thus chaunging murther for murther they did aswel kill those whom they did forsake leaue vnto others as those also which others left vnto them to kil but so much more was their wickednes cruelty great vnto their friends for that they put them to death being innocents hauing no cause to hate them After this plat was agreed vpon betwene thē the souldiers that were thereabouts would haue this friendship league betwixt them cōfirmed by mariage that Caesar should mary Claudia the daughter of Fuluiae Antonius wife This mariage also being vpon they condēned three hūdred of the chiefest citizens of ROME to be put to death by proscriptiō And Antonius also cōmaūded thē to whō he had geuen cōmission to kil Cicero that they should strik of his head right hand with the which he had written the inuectiue Orations called Philippides against Antonius So whē the murtherers brought him Ciceroes head hand cut of he beheld them a long time with great ioy laughed hartily that oftentimes for the great ioy he felt Then when he had taken his pleasure of the sight of them he caused them to be set vp in an open place ouer the pulpit for Orations where when he was aliue he had often spoken to the people as if he had done the dead man hurt and not bleamished his owne fortune shewing him selfe to his great shame and infamie a cruell man and vnworthie the office and authoritie he bare His vncle Lucius Caesar also as they sought for him to kill him and followed him hard fledde vnto his sister The murtherers comming thither forcing to breake into her chamber she stoode at her chamber dore with her armes abroade crying out still you shall not kill Lucius Caesar before you first kill me that bare your Captaine in my wombe By this meanes she saued her brothers life Now the gouernment of these Triumuiri grewe odious and hatefull to the ROMANES for diuers respects but they most blamed Antonius bicause he being elder then Caesar and of more power and force then Lepidus gaue him selfe againe to his former riot and excesse when he left to deale in the affaires of the common wealth But setting aside the ill name he had for his insolencie he was yet much more hated in respect of the house he dwelt in the which was the house of Pompey the great a man as famous for his temperaunce modestie and ciuill life as for his three triumphes For it grieued them to see the gates commonly shut against the Captaines Magistrates of the citie and also Ambassadors of straunge nations which were sometimes thrust from the gate with violence and that the house within was full of tomblers anticke dauncers iuglers players ieasters and dronkards quaffing and goseling and that on them he spent and bestowed the most parte of his money he got by all kind of possible extorcions briberie and policie For they did not onely sell by the crier the goods of those whom they had outlawed and appointed to murther slaunderously deceiued the poore widowes and young orphanes also raised all kind of imposts subsidies and taxes but vnderstanding also that the holy vestall Nunnes had certaine goods money put in their custodie to keepe both of mens in the citie and those also that were abroade they went thither and tooke them away by force Octauius Caesar perceiuing that no money woulde serue Antonius turne he prayed that they might deuide the money betwene them and so did they also deuide the armie for them both to goe into MACEDON to make warre against Brutus and Cassius and in the meane time they left the gouernment of the citie of ROME vnto Lepidus When they had passed ouer the seas and that they beganne to make warre they being both camped by their enemies to wit Antonius against Cassius and Caesar against Brutus Caesar did no great matter but Antonius had alway the vpper hand and did all For at the first battell Caesar was ouerthrowen by Brutus and lost his campe and verie hardly saued him selfe by flying from them that followed him Howebeit he writeth him selfe in his Commentaries that he fled before the charge was geuen bicause of a dreame one of his frends had Antonius on the other side ouerthrewe Cassius in battell though some write that he was not there him selfe at the battell but that he came after the ouerthrowe whilest his men had the enemies in chase So Cassius at his earnest request was slaine by a faithfull seruaunt of his owne called Pindarus whom he had infranchised bicause he knewe not in time that Brutus had ouercomen Caesar. Shortly after they fought an other battell againe in the which Brutus was ouerthrowen who afterwardes also slue him selfe Thus Antonius had the chiefest glorie of all this victorie specially bicause Caesar was sicke at that time Antonius hauing found Brutus body after this battel blaming him muche for the murther of his brother Caius whom he had put to death in MACEDON for reuenge of Ciceroes cruell death and yet laying the fault more in Hortensius then in him he made Hortensius to be slaine on his brothers tumbe Furthermore he cast his coate armor which was wonderfull rich and sumptuous vpon Brutus bodie and gaue commaundement to one of his slaues infranchised to defray the charge of his buriall But afterwards Antonius hearing that his infranchised bondman had not burnt his coate armor with his bodie bicause it was verie riche and worth a great summe of
to it through Scipioes liberalitie or else bicause he thought the time was come that it was the surest way to take part with the ROMANES which were the conquerors It is that Masinissa that afterwards through the goodnes of the ROMANES became the great and mighty king of NVMIDIA and in deede he was diuers wayes a profitable frende vnto the ROMANES Furthermore the selfe same yeare which was the fourteenth of the seconde warre with the AFRICANS SPAYNE was the first nation and people of the vpland men dwelling in the hart of the realme that was conquered vnder the happie conduct of the Viceconful Scipio howbeit it was the last realme that was made a prouince long time after by Augustus Caesar. Now Scipio not contenting him self with the great victories he had obteined in verie short time in SPAYNE for he had an imagination good hope also to cōquer AFRICKE he thought that his best way to make all the meanes he could possible to get Syphax king of the MASAESYLIANS a frend to the ROMANES Wherefore after he had felt the kinges minde perceiuing that he was well inclined to make league with the ROMANES he presently set all his other affaires aside and sailed into AFRIKE with two gallies onely at fiue owers to a bancke At the selfe same time also came Hasdrubal the sonne of Gisgo thither from GADES so that both these valliant lusty Captaines came of purpose to the king enuying one the other to craue the kinges good will vnto their contrie and common wealth Syphax welcomed them both into his Court and did vse them verie honorably and curteouslie and appointed that they should both eate at one table and lye in one selfe chamber bicause the one shoulde not thinke his enterteinment better then the other It is reported that Hasdrubal wondering at the magnanimity and great wisedom of Scipio that was present he considered with him selfe the great daunger the citie of CARTHAGE and all AFRIKE besides was in through that mans meanes for he saw him yet a young man quicke and excellent in all manner of great vertues and that had continuallie obtained such victories and therefore considering the lustie youth of this gentleman he imagined that it was vnpossible to perswade him to imbrace peace rather then warre Besides he was affraied also that Syphax moued by the personage and authoritie of him that was present would take parte with the ROMANES and in deede his minde gaue him rightlie for so it happened For though Syphax at the first shewed him selfe in different to them both and had moued talke to end the warre betwext the ROMANES and the CARTHAGINIANS yet afterwards when Scipio tolde him he coulde conclude no peace without consent of the Senate of ROME he reiected Hasdrubal and inclining to Scipioes request he made league with the people of ROME So Scipio being returned againe into SPAYNE him self partely by force and partely also by L. Martius meanes conquered ILITVRGIVM CASTVLO and certaine other places that refused to yeeld them selues vnto the ROMANES And to the end nothing should be lacking for all kinde of sports and pleasures after he had so fortunatelie obtained so many famous victories when he was come to newe CARTHAGE he caused the fensers to prepare them selues to fight with great pompe where there were many great estates not only to see that pastime but also they them selues to handle the weapons in person But amongest other SPANYARDES of noble houses there were two called Corbis Orsua which were at strife together for the kingdom but that day they ended their quarrell the one being slaine by the others hand The fight was verie lamentable grieuous to the beholders but the death of him that was slaine troubled them much more for they were both cousin germaines After all this Scipio hauing his mind still occupied in matters of greater waight and importance then those which he had already brought to passe he fell sicke His sickenes being caried through all SPAYNE and as it happeneth often his disease being reported to be muche greater and daungerous then it was in deede thereuppon not only the nations of SPAYNE beganne to rise in hope of chaunge but the armie selfe also of the ROMANES the which he had left at SVCRO First of all martiall discipline was corrupted through the absence of the Generall Afterwardes also the report of his sickenes and daunger of his life being spred abroad in the armie raised suche a rebellion among them that some of them litle regarding the authoritie and commaundement of the head Captaines of the bands they draue them away and chose two meane souldiers for their Captaines who presumptuouslie tooke vpon them the name geuen vnto them by men of no authority and yet with more arrogancie made the bundells of roddes and axes to be caried before them Such follie doth furie and vaine ambicion oftentimes worke in mens minds On the other side the SPANYARDS slept not and specially Mandonius and Indibilis who aspiring to the kingdom of SPAYNE came to Scipio when he was conqueror after he had taken newe CARTHAGE But afterwards being offended to see the power of the ROMANES increase daily they sought occasion to make some alteracion So after they had heard not onely of Scipioes sicknes but also how he was at deathes dore and did beleue it they presentlie leauied an armie and went and made warre with the SVBSSITANS which were confederates of the ROMANES But Scipio being recouered againe of his sickenes like as vpon the false rumor of his death euery man beganne to rise euen so after the truth was knowen in deede of his recouerie they were all put downe againe and not a man of them durst proceede any further in their rebellion Scipio being more skilfull in martiall discipline then acquainted with sedition and rebellion although he was maruelously offended with the souldiers that had committed this follie yet in the end least following his anger men should haue thought him to haue exceeded all boundes of reason in punishing of them he referred all vnto the counsell The most parte of them gaue aduise that the authors of the rebellion shoulde be punished and all the rest pardoned for by this meanes sayd they the punishment shall light vpon a few that haue deserued it and all the rest shall take example by them Scipio followed that aduise and presently sent for all the seditious bands to come to new CARTHAGE to receiue their pay The souldiers obeyed his commaundement some of them making their fault lesse then it was as men doe often flatter them selues others also trusting to the Captaines clemencie as knewing him not to be extreame in punishment For Scipio was wont to say that he had rather saue the life of one ROMANE citizen then to kill a thowsand enemies The rumor ranne also that Scipio had an other armie readie the which he looked for to ioyne with them and then
make them gouernors and heades of the same Pitheus grandfather to Theseus on the mothers side was one of his sonnes and founded the litle city of TROEZEN and was reputed to be one of the wisest men of his time But the knowledge and wisedom which onely caried estimacion at that time consisted altogether in graue sentences and morall sayinges As those are which wanne the Poet Hesiodus such fame for his booke intituled The workes and dayes in the which is read euen at this present this goodly sentence which they father vpon Pitheus Thou shalt performe thy promise and thy pay to hyred men and that vvithout delay And this doth Aristotle the Philosopher himselfe testifie and the Poet Euripides also calling Hippolytus the scholler of the holy Pitheus doth sufficiently declare of what estimacion he was But AEgeus desiring as they say to know how he might haue children went vnto the city of DELPHES to the oracle of Apollo where by Apolloes Nunne that notable prophecy was geuen him for an aunswer The which did forbid him to touch or know any woman vntill he was returned againe to ATHENS And bicause the words of this prophecy were somewhat darke hard he tooke his way by the city of TROEZEN to tell it vnto Pitheus The wordes of the prophecy were these O thou vvhich art a gemme of perfect grace plucke not the tappe out of thy trusty toonne Before thou do returne vnto thy place in Athens tovvne from vvhence thy race doth roonne Pitheus vnderstanding the meaning perswaded him or rather cunningly by some deuise deceiued him in such sorte that he made him to lye with his daughter called AEthra AEgeus after he had accompanied with her knowing that she was Pitheus daughter with whom he had lyen and douting that he had gotten her with child left her a sword and a payer of shoes the which he hidde vnder a great hollow stone the hollownes wherof serued iust to receiue those things which he layed vnder it and made no liuing creature priuy to it but her alone straightly charging her that if she happened to haue a sonne when he were come to mans state of strength to remoue the stone and to take those things from vnder it which he left there that she should then sende him vnto him by those tokens as secretly as she could that no body els might knowe of it For he did greatly feare the children of one called Pallas the which laye in wayte and spyall by all the meanes they could to kill him only of despight bicause he had no children they being fiftie brethern and all begotten of one father This done he departed from her And AEthra within fewe moneths after was deliuered of a goodly sonne the which from that time was called Theseus and as some say so called bicause of the tokens of knowledge his father had layed vnder the stone Yet some others write that it was afterwardes at ATHENS when his father knewe him and allowed him for his sonne But in the meane time during his infancie childehood he was brought vp in the house of his grādfather Pitheus vnder the gouernmēt teaching of one called Cōnidas his schoolemaster in honour of whom the ATHENIANS to this daye doe sacrifice a weather the daye before the great feaste of Theseus hauing more reason to honour the memorye of this gouernour then of a Silanion and of a Parrhesius to whom they doe honour also bicause they paynted and caste mowldes of the images of Theseus Now there was a custome at that time in GRECE that the yong men after their infancie and growth to mans state went vnto the cittie of DELPHES to offer parte of their heares in the temple of Apollo Theseus also went thither as other did and some saye that the place where the ceremonie of this offering was made hath euer sence kept the olde name and yet continueth Theseia Howbeit he dyd not shaue his head but before only as Homer sayeth like the facion of the ABANTES in olde time and this manner of shauing of heares was called for his sake Theseida And as concerning the ABANTES in trothe they were the very first that shaued them selues after this facion neuertheles they learned it not of the ARABIANS as it was thought of some neither dyd they it after the imitation of the MISSIANS But bicause they were warlike and valliant men which did ioyne neere vnto their enemie in battell and aboue all men of the worlde were skilfullest in fight hande to hande and woulde keepe their grounde as the Poet Archilochus witnesseth in these verses They vse no slynges in foughten fields to have nor bended bovves but svvords and trenchant blades For vvhen fierce Mars beginneth for to raue in bloody field then euery man inuades His fiercest foe and fighteth hand to hand then doe they deeds right cruell to reconpt For in this vvise the braue and vvarlike bande Doe shevv their force vvhich come from Negrepont The cause why they were thus shauen before was for that their enemies should not haue the vauntage to take them by the heares of the head while they were fighting And for this selfe same consideration Alexander the great commaunded his captaines to cause all the MACEDONIANS to shaue their beards bicause it is the easiest holde and readiest for the hande a man can haue of his enemie in fighting to holde him fast by the same But to returne to Theseus AEthra his mother had euer vnto that time kept it secret from him who was his true father And Pitheus also had geuen it out abroade that he was begotten of Neptune bicause the TROEZENIANS haue this god in great veneration and doe worshippe him as patron and protector of their cittie making offerings to him of their first fruites and they haue for the marke and stampe of their money the three picked mace which is the signe of Neptune called his Trident But after he was comen to the prime and lustines of his youth and that with the strength of his bodie he shewed a great courage ioyned with a naturall wisedome and stayednes of wit then his mother brought him to the place where this great hollowe stone laye and telling him truely the order of his birth and by whom he was begotten made him to take his fathers tokens of knowledge which he had hidden there gaue him counsell to goe by sea to ATHENS vnto him Theseus easilye lyft vp the stone and tooke his fathers tokens from vnder it Howbeit he answered playnely that he would not goe by sea notwithstanding that it was a great deale the safer waye and that his mother and grandfather both had instantly intreated him bicause the waye by lande from TROEZEN to ATHENS was very daungerous all the wayes being besett by robbers and murderers For the worlde at that time brought forth men which for strongnesse in their armes for swyftnes of feete and for
curiositie then offend or mislike them for their falsehood Nowe after he had founded his cittie he first and foremost dyd diuide in two coÌ„panies all those that were of age to carie armour In euery one of these companies there were three thousand footemen and three hundred horsemen and they were called Legions bicause they were sorted of the chosen men that were pyckt out amongest all the rest for to fight The remaine after these was called Populus which signifieth the people After this he made a hundred counsellers of the best and honestest men of the cittie which he called Patricians and the whole company of them together he called Senatus as one would saye the counsell of the auncients So they were called Patricians as some will saye the counsaill of the fathers lawfull children which fewe of the first inhabitants could shewe It may be some will saye this name was geuen them of Patrocinium as growing of the protection they had by the sanctuarie of their cittie which worde they vse at this daye in the selfe same signification as one that followed Euander into ITALIE was called Patron bicause he was pitiefull and relieued the poore and litle children and so got him selfe a name for his pitie and humanitie But me thinckes it were more like the trothe to saye that Romulus dyd call them so bicause he thought the chiefest men should haue a fatherly care of the meaner sorte considering also it was to teache the meaner sorte that they should not feare th' authoritie of the greater nor enuie at their honours they had but rather in all their causes should vse their fauour and good will by taking them as their fathers For euen at this present straungers call those of the Senate lordes or captaines but the naturall ROMAINES call them Patres Conscripti which is a name of fatherhed and dignitie without enuie It is true that the beginning they were only called Patres but sithence bicause they were many ioyned vnto the first they haue bene named Patres Conscripti as a man should saye fathers of recorde together which is the honorablest name he could haue deuised to make a difference betwext the Senatours and the people Furthermore he made a difference betweene the chiefer cittizens and the baser people by calling the better sorte Patroni as muche to saye as defenders and the meaner sorte Clientes as you would saye followers or men protected This dyd breede a marueilous great loue and good wil lamong them making the one much beholding to the other by many mutuall curtesies and pleasures for the Patrons dyd helpe the clients to their right defended their causes in iudgement dyd geue vnto them counsaill and dyd take all their matters in hande The clients againe enterchaungeably humbled them selues to their patrons not onely in outwarde honour and reuerence towardes them but otherwise dyd helpe them with money to marrie and aduance their daughters or els to paye their dettes and credit if they were poore or decayed There was no lawe nor magistrate that could compell the patron to be a witnes against his client nor yet the client to witnesse against his patron So they increased and continued all other rights and offices of amitie and friendshippe together sauing afterwards they thought it a great shame and reproache for the better and richer to take rewarde of the meaner and poorer And thus of this matter we haue spoken sufficieÌ„tly Moreouer foure moneths after the foundation of the cittie was layed Fabius writeth there was a great rauishement of women There are some which laye it vpon Romulus who being then of nature warlike and geuen to prophecies and aunswers of the goddes foretolde that his cittie should become very great and mightie so as he raysed it by warres and increased it by armes and he sought out this culler to doe mischief and to make warre vpon the SABYNES To proue this true some saye he caused certaine of their maydes by force to be taken awaye but not past thirtie in number as one that rather sought cause of warres then dyd it for neede of mariages which me thinckes was not likely to be true but rather I iudge the contrarie For seeing his cittie was incontinently repleanished with people of all sortes whereof there were very fewe that had wiues and that they were men gathered out of all countryes and the most parte of them poore and needâ—e so as their neighbours disdayned them much and dyd not looke they would longe dwell together Romulus hoping by this violent taking of their maydes and rauishing them to haue an entrie into alliance with the SABYNES and to entise them further to ioyne with them in mariage if they dyd gentely intreate these wiues they had gotten enterprised this violent taking of their maydes and rauishing of them in suche a sorte First he made it to be commonly bruited abroade in euery place that he had founde the altar of a god hidden in the grounde and he called the name of the god Consus either bicause he was a god of counsaill wherupon the ROMAINES at this daye in their tongue call Consilium which we call counsell and the chief magistrates of their cittie Consules as we saye counsellers Other saye it was the altar of the god Neptune surnamed the patron of horses For this altar is yet at this daye within the great listes of the cittie and euer couered and hidden but when they vse the running games of their horse race Other saye bicause counsell euer must be kept close and secret they had good reason to kepe the altar of this god Consus hidden in the grounde Nowe other write when it was opened Romulus made a sacrifice of wonderfull ioye and afterwardes proclaymed it openly in diuers places that at suche a daye there should be common playes in ROME and a solemne feast kept of the god Consus where all that were disposed to come should be welcome Great numbers of people repaired thither from all partes He him selfe was set in the chiefest seate of the showe place apparelled fayer in purple and accompanied with the chiefe of his cittie about him And there hauing purposed this rauishement you haue heard of he had geuen the signe before that the same should beginne when he should rise vp and folde a playte of his gowne and vnfolde the same againe Hereupon his men stoode attending with their swordes who so sone as they perceyued the signe was geuen with their swordes drawen in hande and with great showtes and cryes ranne violently on the maydes and daughters of the SABYNES to take them awaye and rauishe them and suffered the men to ronne awaye without doing them any hurte or violence So some saye there were but thirtie rauished after whose names were called the thirtie linages of the people of ROME Howbeit Valerius Antias writeth that there were fiue hundred and seuen and twentie and Iuba sixe hundred foure
we ought to consider in them the diuersities of manners and passions seeing anger is vnreasonable and wrathe rashe and passionate then can we not clere the one nor excuse the other of extreme rage and passion in the facte committed by the one against his brother and by the other against his naturall sonne Howbeit the occasion and beginning of anger doth muche excuse Theseus who moued with the greatest cause that might be was put into suche choller and passion But if Romulus variaunce with his brother had proceeded of any matter of counsell or cause of the common weales there is none so simple to thincke that his wisdome would so sodainely haue set vpon him Where as Theseus in contrarie manner killed his sonne prouoked by those passions that fewe men can auoyde to wit loue ielousie and false reporte of his wife Moreouer Romulus anger went to the effect whereof the issue fell out very lamentable Theseus anger stretched no further then to roughe wordes and olde folkes curses in their heate For it seemeth cursed fortune and nought els was the cause of his sonnes only mishappe as forespoken and wished for somewhat by his father These be the speciall things maye be alledged for Theseus But for Romulus this was a noble thing in him First his beginning being very lowe and meane and his brother and he taken for bonde men and the children of hoggeheards before they were them selues all free they set at libertie in manner all the LATINES winning at one instant many titles of glorie and honour as distroyers of their enemies defenders of their parents Kings of nations founders of newe citties and no ouerthrowers of the olde where as Theseus of many habitations and houses made onely one and dyd ouerthrowe and plucke downe diuers states bearing the names of auncient Kings princes and halfe goddes of ATTICA All these also dyd Romulus afterwards and compelled his enemies whom he had ouercome to distroye their owne houses and to come and dwell with their conquerours And in the beginning he neuer chaunged nor increased any cittie that was buylt before but buylt him selfe a newe cittie out of the grounde getting all together land countrie kingdome kinred and mariages without losing or killing any man and to the contrarie rather he dyd good to many poore vacabonds who had neither countrie lands nor houses and desired nothing els but to make a people amongest them and to become cittizens of some cittie Also Romulus bent not him selfe to follow theeues and robbers but subdued by force of armes many mightie and puissant people he tooke citties and triumphed ouer Kings and Princes which he had vanquished in battell And touching the murder of Remus it is not certainely knowen of whose hands he dyed The most parte of authors doe charge other with the death of him But it is certaine that Romulus deliuered his mother from apparant death and restored his grandfather to the royall throne of AEneas who before was deposed and brought from a King to seruill obedience without any regarde of honour or dignitie to whom he dyd many moe great pleasures and seruices Besides he neuer offended him willingly no not so muche as ignorantly Contrarylie I thincke of Theseus who fayling by negligence to put out his white sayle at his returne cannot be cleared of parricide howe eloquent an oration soeuer could be made for his excuse yea though it were before the most fauorable iudges that could be Wherefore an ATHENIAN very well perceyuing that it was an harde thing to excuse and defend so fowle a faulte dothe fayne that the good olde man AEgeus hauing newes brought him that his sonnes shippe was at hand dyd ronne in so great haste to his castell to see his sonne arriue a farre of that as he ranne his foote hit against some thing and ouerthrewe him as though he had none of his people about him or that neuer a man seeing him ronne so hastely to the sea side dyd make haste to attende and wayte vpon him Furthermore Theseus faults touching women and rauishements of the twaine had the lesse shadowe and culler of honestie Bicause Theseus dyd attempt it very often for he stale awaye Ariadne Antiope and Anaxo the Troezenian Againe being stepped in yeres and at later age and past mariage he stale awaye Helen in her minoritie being nothing neere to consent to marye Then his taking of the daughters of the TROEZENIANS of the LACEDAEMONIANS and the AMAZONES neither contracted to him nor comparable to the birthe and linadge of his owne countrie which were at ATHENS and descended of the noble race and progenie of Erichtheus and of Cecrops dyd geue men occasion to suspect that his womannishenes was rather to satisfie lust then of any great loue Romulus nowe in a contrarie manner when his people had taken eight hundred or thereabouts of the Sabyne women to rauishe them kept but onely one for him selfe that was called Hersilia as they saye and deliuered the reste to his best and most honest cittizens Afterwardes by the honour loue and good entertainment that he caused them to haue receyue of their husbands he chaunged this violent force of rauishement into a most perfect bonde and league of amitie which dyd so knyt and ioyne in one these two nations that it was the beginning of the great mutuall loue which grewe afterwards betwext those two people and consequently of the ioyning of their powers together Furthermore time hath geuen a good testimonie of the loue reuerence constancie kyndenes and all matrimoniall offices that he established by that meanes betwext man and wife For in two hundred and thirtie yeres afterwards there was neuer man that durst forsake or put awaye his wife nor the wife her husband And as among the GRECIANS the best learned men and most curious obseruers of antiquities doe knowe his name that was the first murderer of his father or mother euen so all the ROMAINES knewe what he was which first durst put away his wife It was one called Spurius Caruilius bicause his wife was barren and had no children The effects also doe agree with the testimonie of the time For the Realme was common vnto Kings of both nations and through the alliance of these mariages that beganne first of rauishements both nations liued peaciblie and in equalitie vnder one ciuill policie and well gouerned common weale The ATHENIANS contrariewise by Theseus mariages dyd get neither loue nor kynred of any one persone but rather they procured warres enmities the slaughter of their citizens with the losse in the ende of the cittie of APHIDNES and yet very hardely and by the mercie of their enemies whom they honored as godds they escaped for him the daunger which the TROIANS suffered afterwards for the self acte done by Alexander Paris So it fell out at the last that his mother was not only in daunger but euen feelingly suffered like miserie and captiuitie which Hecuba dyd
garde from euery spoyle ◠Shal be the chief graue causes to decyde vvith Senatours vvhose sounde aduise is tride And next to them the people shall fulfill as muche as seemes to please their princes vvill Lycurgus now hauing thus tempered the forme of his comon weale it seemed notwithstanding to those that came after him that this small number of thirtie persones that made the Senate was yet to mightie of to great authoritie Wherefore to bride them no litle they gaue them as Plato sayeth a bytte in their mouths that was the authoritie of the Ephores which signifie as much as comptrollers and were erected about a hundred and thirtie yeres after the death of Lycurgus The first which was chosen of these was Elatus and it was in the time of king Theopompus whose wife on a daye in her anger sayed howe throughe his negligence he would leaue lesse to his successours then he had receyued of his predecessours To whom he aunswered againe not lesse but more for that it shall continue lenger and with a more sweete For in losing thus their too absolute power that wrought them great enuie hatred amōg their citizens they dyd escape the daūger mischief that their neighbours the AXOTVES and MUNSENIANS dyd feele who would not geue ouer the soueraine authoritie which they had gotten once This example maketh Lycurgus great wisdome and foresight manifestly knowen who so will deeply consider the seditions ill gouernements of the ARGIVES MESSENEANS their neere neighbours and kinsemen aswell from the people as from the Kings Who from the beginning had all things alike to the SPARTANS in deuiding of their lands a farre better order then theirs This notwithstanding they dyd not prosper longe but through the pryde of their Kings and the disobedience of their people they entred into ciuill warres one against another shewing by their disorders misfortunes the speciall grace the godds dyd beare to SPARTA to geue them such a reformer as dyd so wisely temper the state of their common weale as we will shewe hereafter The second lawe that Lycurgus made and the boldest and hardest he euer tooke in hande was the making of a newe diuision of their lands For he sawe so great a disorder vnequality among the inhabitants as well of the countrie as of the citie LACEDEAMON by reason some and the greatest number of them were so poore that they had not a handfull of grounde and other some being least in number were very riche that had all he thought with him self to banishe out of the cittie all insolencie enuie couetousnes deliciousnes and also all riches and pouertie which he tooke the greatest and the most continuall plagues of a cittie or common weale For this purpose he imagined there was none so ready and necessarie a meane as to persuade his citizens to suffer all the landes possessions and inheritance of their countrie to ronne in common together and that they should make a newe diuision equally in partition amongest them selues to liue from thenceforth as it were like brothers together so that no one were richer thē another none should seeke to go before eache other any other waye then in vertue only thincking there should be no difference or vnequalitie among inhabitants of one cittie but the reproaches of dishonestie the prayses of vertue Thus Lycurgus following his determination dyd out of hande make a lawe of the diuision of their lands For first he dyd deuide all the countrie of LACONIA into thirtie thousand equall partes the which he dyd set out for those that inhabited about SPARTA and of those landes that ioyned next to the cittie of SPARTA that was the chief metropolitan cittie of LACONIA he made other nine thousand partes which he deuided to the naturall citizens of SPARTA who be those that are properly called Spartans Howbeit some will saye he made but sixe thousand parts that king Polydorus afterwards dyd adde to other three thousand partes Other saye also that Lycurgus of these nine thousand partes made but the halfe onely Polydorus the rest Euery one of these partes was such as might yelde vnto the owner yerely three score and tenne bushels of barley for a man and twelue bushels for the woman and of wine other liquide fruites much like in proportion which quantitie Lycurgus iudged to be sufficiēt to kepe the bodye of a man in health to make him stronge lustie without any further allowance They saye after this as he returned home one day out of the fields and came ouer the lands where wheate had bene reaped not long before and sawe the number of sheaues lying in euery shocke together no one shocke bigger then another he fell a laughing told them that were with him me thinks all LACONIA is as it were an inheritance of many brethern who had newly made partition together He gaue an attempt to haue deuided also moueables to haue made a common partition betwene them to th end he would haue vtterly taken away all vnequalitie But finding the citizens tooke it very impatiently that openly that which they had should be taken awaye he went about to doe it more secretly and in a conninger wise to take away that couetousnes For first of all he dyd forbid all coyne of golde and syluer to be currant then he dyd set out certaine coynes of iron which he commaunded only to be currant whereof a great weight and quantitie was but litle worthe So as to laye vp therof the value of tenne Minas it would haue occupied a whole celler in a house besides it would haue neded a yoke of oxen to carie it any where Nowe golde siluer being thus banished out of the countrie many lew departes faultes must needes cease thereby For who would robbe steale picke take awaye hyde procure or whorde vp any thing that he had no great occasion to desire nor any profit to possesse nor would be any pleasure to vse or employe For the iron they occupied for their coyne they cast vineger vpon it while it was redde hotte out of the fire to kill the strength working of it to any other vse for thereby it was so eger brickle that it would byde no hammer nor could be made beaten or forged to any other facion By this meanes he banished also all superfluous vnprofitable sciences which he knew he should not neede to doe by any proclamation bicause they would fall awaye or the most parte of them euen of them selues when the baseries of the money they should take for their worke should vndoe them For their iron moneys were not currant els where in the citties of GRECE but euery bodye made a ieste of it there By this occasion the LACEDAEMONIANS could buye no forrein wares nor marchandises neither came there any shippe into their hauen to trafficke with them neither any fine curious Rethorician dyd
repaire into their countrie to teache them eloquence the cunning cast of lying nor yet came there to them any wysard to tell them their fortune nor any Pander to keepe any brothell house nor yet goldsmithe or iueller to make or sell any toyes or trifles of golde or siluer to set forth women considering all these things are vsed to be made to get money and to hourd vp that they had not After this sorte delicatenes that wanted many things that entertained it beganne by litle and litle to vanishe awaye lastely to fall of from them selues when the most riche men had no more occasion then the poorest and riches hauing no meane to shewe her selfe openly in the worlde was fayne to remaine shut at home idely as not able to doe her master any seruice Thereupon moueables and householde stuffe which a man cannot be without and must be daylie occupied as bedsteades tables chayers and suche like necessaries for house were excellently well made and men dyd greatly prayse the facion of the LACONIAN cuppe which they called Cothon and specially for a souldier in the warres as Critias was wont to saye For it was made after such a facion that the culler of it dyd let the eye to discerne the fowle vnwholsome water which men are driuen oftetimes to drinke in a campe and goeth many times against ones stomake to see it and if by chaunce there was any filth or mudde in the bottome it would cleaue and sticke fast vpon the ribbes of the bellie and nothing came through the necke but cleane water to his mouth that drancke it The reformer of their state was the cause of all this bicause their artificers tending now no superfluous works were occupied about the making of their most necessary things Further nowe to driue awaye all superfluitie and deliciousnes and to roote out vtterly desire to get and gather he made another thirde lawe for eating and drincking and against feastes and banckets First he willed and commaunded the cittizens that they should eate together all of one meate and chiefly of those he had permitted by his ordinance Then he dyd expressely forbid them to eate alone or a parte or secretly by them selues vpon riche tables and sumptuous beddes abusing the labour of excellent worcke men and the deuises of likerous cookes to cramme them selues in corners as they doe fatte vp beastes and poultrie which doth not only breede ill conditions in the minde but dothe marre the complexions of men and the good states of their bodie when they giue them selues ouer to such sensualitie and gluttonie Whereof it followeth in the ende that men must needes sleepe muche to helpe to disgest the excesse of meates they haue taken and then must they goe to the whotte houses to bathe them selues and spend long time about the ordinarie attendance of their sickely bodyes This was a marueilous thing for him to bring to passe but much more to make riches not to be stolen and least of all to be coueted as Theophrastus sayd of him which by this meanes of making them eate together with all sobriety at their ordinarie dyet was brought to passe For there was no more meane to the riche then to the poore to vse to playe or shewe riches sithe both of them were forced to be together in one place and to eate all of one meate so as that which is commonly spoken that Pluto the god of riches is blinde was truely verified only in the cittie of SPARTA aboue all other places of the worlde For there riches was layed on the grounde like a corse without a soule that moueth no whit at all considering it was not lawfull for any man to eate at home secretly in his house before he came to their open halles nor might not come thither for a countenance only to his meales being already fedde and full fraight For euery mans eye was vpon those specially which did not eate drincke with a good stomake amongest them it was the vse to reproche them as gluttons and dayntie mouthed men which refused to eate as it were in common together So as this was the ordinance they saye that grieued most the riche aboue all that Lycurgus made and whereat they were most madde and angrie with him in so muche as on a daye they all setting vpon him to alter it he was compelled to tonne out of the market place and getting grounde of them he recouered the liberties of a churche before any could ouertake him sauing one young man called Alcander who otherwise had no ill nature in him but that he was somewhat quicke of his hande and cholericke with all Who following Lycurgus nerer then any other dyd geue him a blowe ouerthwart the face with a staffe and strake out one of his eyes as Lycurgus turned toward him Yet for all this Lycurgus neuer bashed or made worde at the matter but dyd lifte vp his head to those that followed him and shewed them his face all a gore bloude and his eye put out cleane whereof they were all so sore ashamed that there was not a man that durst once open his mouth against him but to the contrarie they seemed to pittie him and dyd deliuer Alcander into his handes that had done the dede to punishe him as him selfe pleased And so they all brought him to his house and shewed they were right hartely sorie for his hurte Lycurgus thancking them returned them all backe againe saue that he made Alcander to goe with him into his house where he neuer hurte him nor gaue him fowle worde but commaunded him onely to waite vpon him and made his other ordinarie seruaunts to withdraw their waiting This young man who now beganne to spye his owne faulte dyd most willingly attend vpon him and neuer spake worde to the contrarie When he had serued him a certaine time being very nere continually about him he beganne to feele and taste of his naturall liberalitie and sawe of what affection and intention Lycurgus was moued to doe all he dyd he perceyued what was the seueritie of his ordinary life and what his constancy was to endure labour without wearines Alcander then beganne to loue and honour Lycurgus from his harte and tolde his parents and friends howe he was no suche seuere man as he seemed but was of so kynde and gentle a nature to all men as might be See I praye you howe Alcander was transformed by Lycurgus and his punishement also which he should haue receyued for of a fierce rashe and a lewde conditioned youth he was before he became nowe a very graue and wise man But for memorie of this his misfortune Lycurgus built a temple to Minerua which he surnamed Optiletide bicause the DORIANS which dwell in those partes of PELOPONNESVS doe call the eyes optiles There are other writers as Dioscorides for one which saye Lycurgus had a blowe with a staffe but he had not his eye striken
he should haue bene betrayed vntill he fell downe dead in the place where he stoode This is not vncredible by that we see younge boyes doe abide at this daye for we haue seene diuers which haue bidden whipping euen to death vpon the altar of Diana surnamed Orthia Nowe this vnder master who had the charge of euery companie of these boyes vsed after supper sitting yet at the table to byd one of them singe a songe to another he put forth a question who was to be well aduised of his aunswer as for example Who is the honestest man in the cittie or howe thinckest thou by that such a one dyd By this exercise they were cnured from boyes state to iudge of things well or ill done and to vnderstand the life and gouernment of their cittizens For which of them dyd not aunswer quickly and directly to these questions who is a good man who is an honest cittizen and who not they thought it was a signe of a dulle wit and careles nature not geuen to any vertue for desire of honour and estimation Furthermore this vnder master was euer to waite for his aunswer and to see it should be brief and well knyt vp in wordes otherwise his punishement that aunswered crossely or to litle purpose was that his master byt him by the thumbe This he dyd many times in the presence of the olde men and magistrates of the cittie that they might see whether he punished them with reason or not and according to their deserning And though he dyd hurte him they dyd not by and by reproue him but when the children were gone awaye then was he him selfe rebuked and punished if he had corrected them to sore or contrarylie had fauored them to muche Moreouer they dyd ascribe the good or ill opinion conceaued of the children vnto euery of their fauorers and louers which dyd affect and entertaine them in asmuch as they saye a young boye vpon a time fighting with another and a crye scaping out of his mouthe which his fainte cowardly harte dyd yelde his fauorer louer was straight condemned by the officers of the cittie to a fine Albeit this loue was a thing euen incorporated into them that the most honest and vertuousest women loued the young maydes thus also yet was there no iealousie nor suspition that grewe hereof but rather to the contrarie there grewe a maruelous mutuall loue and kyndnes betweene them which loued in one selfe place For either of them by all the meanes they could dyd deuise howe to make the childe they loued in common the wisest the gentlest and the best conditioned aboue all other They taught these children to speake in suche sorte that their speache had euer in it a pleasaunt grace and in fewe wordes comprehended much matter For Lycurgus ordained a great masse and weight of iron money should be but litle worthe and of a small value as we haue tolde you before and contrarilie that speache in fewe wordes without any affectation should holde much deepe and graue matter wherewith the children being acquainted after long silence should be brief and pitthie in their aunswers For as the seede of incontinent men which are to busie with euery ragge and colman hedge can take no roote to bringe forth fruite euen so immoderate speache full of wordes and busie tattle bringeth sorth as litle sense Hereof it commeth that the aunswers of the LACONIANS were so shorte witty As they saye king Agis aunswered on a daye an ATHENIAN who iesting at the swords the LACEDAEMONIANS dyd were sayed they were so shorte that these tumblers and iugglers dyd swallowe them downe in the sight of all the world and yet sayed Agis we hurte our enemies with them for all that For mine owne opinion I like well of the LACONIANS manner of speaking which is not to speake much but when they speake to touch the matter effectually and to make the hearers vnderstand them I thincke also that Lycurgus selfe was shorte and quicke in his talke For so a man maye coniecture by his aunswers which are written as that which he made to one who earnestly prayed him to stablishe a popular state in LACEDAEMON that the basest might haue as great authoritie as the highest Beginne q he to doe it first in thine owne house And as that also which he aunswered another who asked him why he had appointed so small things and so little of value to be offered to the goddes Bicause q he we should neuer cease to honour them And as that which he spake another time touching fightes and frayes which was that he dyd neuer forbid his citizens any of them but those wherein they vse to geue their hande as you would saye to yeld Men finde also suche like aunswers in some of his letters written to his cittizens as when they asked him Howe can we defende our selues against our enemies He aunswered If ye be poore and one doe couet no more then another And in another letter that was sent where he discourseth whether it were requisite to inclose the cittie with walles he sayeth can that cittie be without walles which is enuironned with men thought it be vncompassed with stone Neuertheles it is harde to resolue whether those letters and other suche like that are shewed be to be beleeued or discredited to be his But that long speache was much disliked and reproued among the LACEDAEMONIANS it is manifestly to be seene by the words which somme amōgest them haue heretofore aunswered As king Leonidas sayed one daye to one that discoursed with him many good things but out of season friend thou speakest many good wordes but to litle purpose And Charilaus nephew to Lycurgus being asked why his vncle made so fewe lawes bicause sayed he to men of fewe wordes fewe lawes will serue And Archidamidas sayed thus to somme which reproued Hetataeus the Orator for that being bidden to supper at one of their feasts he spake not a worde all supper time He who can speake well knoweth also when to speake And where I haue tolde before that in their feare and quicke aunswers commonly there was some prety grace it maye be well seene and knowen by these that followe Demaratus aunswered a busie fellowe who troubled him to much with vaine importunate questions asking him still who was the honestest man of LACEDAEMON euen he that is least like thy selfe And Agis sayed to somme which highely praysed the ELIANS for their vpright iudgement iust dealing in the games Olympicall What wonder make ye of it q he if in fiue yeres space the ELIANS one daye doe good iustice And Theopompus likewise to a straunger who as desirous to shew his affection he bare the LACADAEMONIANS told him how euery bodye called him Philolaecon as to saye a louer of LACEDAEMON It were more honestie for thee sayed he to be named Philopolites a louer of her citizens And Plistonax the sonne of Pausanias
actes to haue their death extolled for worthines So he imagined that his death would be the perfection and crowne of his felicitie after he had made and ordeined so many good and notable lawes for the honour and benefit of his countrie and should be as a seale of confirmation of his lawe and the continuall preseruitour of his cittie considering all his cittizens had sworne to keepe them all inuiolably vntill he were returned He was not deceaued of his hope for his cittie was the chiefest of the worlde in glorie and honour of gouernment by the space of fiue hundred yeres For so long his cittie kept his lawes without any chaunge or alteration by any of the Kings successours vntill king Agis the sonne of Archidamus beganne to reigne For the creation of the Ephores did not breake not discontinewe any of the lawes of Lycurgus but reduced them rather to a more straight and strickt order although it seemed at the first that the Ephores were ordeined for the maintenaunce defence of the libertie of the people whereas in deede they did also strengthen the authoritie of the Kings and Senate Nowe in the raigne of king Agis gold and siluer beganne first to creepe in againe to the cittie of SPARTA by meanes of Lysander With money there came in straight couetousnes and gredines to get and gather And although Lysander was not desirous to get it nor would be corrupted for any money yet he brought riches and couetousnes into the countrie and filled the same with all finenes by bringing in great store of golde and siluer from the warres directly against the lawes and ordinaunces of Lycurgus The which so long as they were in force and vse it appered that the gouernment of SPARTA seemed not to be a pollicy or common weale but rather a certaine holy place order of religion And euen as the Poets fayne the Hercules went through the world with his clubbe and lyons skynne punishing cruell robbers and vnnaturall tyrannes so in like case with a litle scrowe of parchement and a poore cape did the SPARTANS commaund and geue lawes to all the rest of GRECE euen with their good liking and consent And they chased the tyrannes awaye which vsurped tyrannicall power ouer any of their citties and did decide all controuersies and oftentimes pacified their seditions without sending out one souldier but only a simple poore ambassadour At whose commaundement the people presently assembled like the bees which gather together about their King so soone as they spye him they did then so greatly reuerence the good gouernment iustice of the SPARTANS Therefore I can but wonder much at those which saye the cittie of LACEDAEMON could obey well but not commaunde and for proofe they alleage wordes of king Theopompus who aunswered one which sayd that SPARTA was mainteined bicause the Kings could commaund well Naye the rather sayd he bicause the cittizens can obey well For men commonly disdaine to obey those which are not wise in commaunding So that the faithfull obedience of the subiectes dependeth much vpon the sufficient commaundement of the wise prince For he that directeth well must needes be well obeyed For like as the arte of a good rider is to make his horse gentle and ready at commaundement euen so the chiefest pointe belonging to a prince is to teach his subiects to obey Wherefore the LACEDAEMONIANS procured that not onely other people did willingly obey them but also desired to be ruled and commaunded by them For they asked them neither shippes nor money nor yet did send them any number of men of warre to compell them but onely they sent one cittizen of SPARTA to gouerne them to whom all the other people submitted them selues and were holpen by him in their necessitie as fearing and reuerencing him In this wise the SICILIANS were holpen by Gysippus the CHALCIDIANS by Brasidas and all the GRECIANS inhabiting ASIA by Lysander Callicratidas and by Agesilaus who were called the reformers and directers of princes peoples and Kings vnto whom they were sent here and there but euer they had their eye vpon the cittie of SPARTA as vpon the most perfect patterne to order mans life by and to gouerne a common weale after To this effect tended the mery worde spoken in iest by Stratonâ—â—eâ—â— Who said he did order the ATHENIANS to tend their sacrifices and the ELIANS to tende their games and if they made any faulte therein the LACEDAEMONIANS should be well whipped That was merely spoken and in a iesting manner But Antisthenes the philosopher and one of Socrates scholers seeing the THEBANS growen very hawtie glorious after that they had conquered the LACEDAEMONIANS in the iorney of LEVCTRES me thinketh sayed he these THEBANS here doe like the schoole boyes which bragge and reioyce when they haue a litle beaten their master But this was not Lycurgus meaning to haue his cittie to commaunde many But he thought the felicitie of a cittie as of a priuate man consisted chiefly in the exercise of vertue and in the vnitie of the inhabitants thereof He framed his common wealth to this ende that his cittizens should be nobly minded content with their owne and temperate in their doings that thereby they might mainteine and keepe them selues long in safetie The self same intention had Plato Diogenes and Zenon in setting forth their bookes which they wrote of the gouernment of common weales and so had likewise many other great and learned men which haue written of the same matter Howbeit they only left behinde them wordes and written bookes but Lycurgus contrariwise left no written bookes nor pamplets but stablished and left behinde him a royall forme of gouernment which no man euer before had inuented nor neuer after could be followed He hath made them plainely see a whole cittie liue together and gouerne it selfe philosophically according to the true rules and preceptes of perfect wisdome which imagined that true wisedome was a thing hanging in the ayer and could not visible be seene in the worlde Whereby he hath worthily excelled in glorie all those which euer tooke vpon them to write or stablishe the gouernment of a common weale And therefore sayeth Aristotle that after his death they did him lesse honour in LACEDAEMONIA then he had deserued albeit they did him all the honour they possibly could deuise And yet they buylt a temple for him and made solemne sacrifice to him euery yere as vnto a god More they saye that when the ashes of his bodie were brought to SPARTA there fell straight lightning vpon his tumbe where they were put which they had not often seene to happen to other men of name after their decease sauing only to the poet Eurâ—pides who dying in MACEDONIA was buried neere the cittie of ARETHVSA The which is some manifest argument for suche as loue the Poet to laye against those which somewhat depraue him seing this signe came to him after his death
them neither haue they done any vnseemely thing but haue passed the rest of their life like wise constant and vertuous men For it is not loue but weaknes which breedeth these extreme sorowes and exceeding feare in men that are not exercised nor acquainted to fight against fortune with reason And this is the cause that plucketh from them the pleasure of that they loue and desire by reason of the continuall trouble feare and griefe they feele by thincking howe in time they maye be depriued of it Nowe we must not arme our selues with pouertie against the griefe of losse of goodes neither with lacke of affeâ—tion against the losse of our friendes neither with wante of mariage against the death of children but we must be armed with reason against misfortunes Thus haue we sufficiently enlarged this matter The ATHENIANS hauing nowe susteined a long and troublesome warre against the MEGARIANS for the possession of the I le of SALAMINA were in the ende wearie of it and made proclamation straightly commaunding vpon payne of death that no man should presume to preferre any more to the counsaill of the cittie the title or question of the possession of the I le of SALAMINA Solon could not beare this open shame and seeing the most parte of the lustiest youthes desirous still of warre though their tongues were tyed for feare of the proclamation he fayned him selfe to be out of his wittes and caused it to be geuen out that Solon was become a foole and secretly he had made certaine lamentable verses which he had cunned without booke to singe abroade the cittie So one daye he ranne sodainly out of his house with a garland on his head and gotte him to the market place where the people straight swarmed like bees about him and getting him vp vpon the stone where all proclamations are vsually made out he singeth these Elegies he had made which beganne after this sorte I here present my selfe an Heraulde in this case vvhich come from Salamina lande that noble vvorthy place My minde in pelting prose shall neuer be exprest But songe in verse Heroycall for so I thincke it best This Elegie is intituled SALAMINA and conteineth a hundred verses which are excellently well written And these being songe openly by Solon at that time his friendes incontinently praysed them beyond measure and specially Pisistratus and they went about persuading the people that were present to credit that he spake Hereupon the matter was so handled amongest them that by and by the proclamation was reuoked and they beganne to followe the warres with greater furie then before appointing Solon to be generall in the same But the common tale and reporte is that he went by sea with Pisistratus vnto the temple of Venus surnamed Coliade where he founde all the women at a solemne feast and sacrifice which they made of custome to the goddesse He taking occasion thereby sent from thence a trusty man of his owne vnto the MEGARIANS which then had SALAMINA whom he instructed to fayne him selfe a reuolted traytour that he came of purpose to tell them that if they would but goe with him they might take all the chief ladyes and gentle women of ATHENS on a sodaine The MEGARIANS easely beleeued him and shipped forthwith certaine souldiers to goe with him But when Solon perceyued the shippe vnder sayle comming from SALAMINA he commaunded the women to departe and in steade of them he put lusty beardles springalles into their apparell and gaue them litle shorte daggers to conuey vnder their clothes commaunding them to playe daunce together vpon the sea side vntill their enemies were landed and their shippe at anker and so it came to passe For the MEGARIANS being deceyued by that they sawe a farre of as sonne as euer they came to the shore side dyd lande in heapes one in anothers necke euen for greedines to take these women but not a man of them escaped for they were slayne euery mothers sonne This stratageame being finely handled to good effect the ATHENIANS tooke sea straight and costed ouer to the I le of SALAMINA which they tooke vpon the sodaine and wanne it without much resistaunce Other saye that it was not taken after this sorte but that Apollo Delphicus gaue Solon first such an oracle Thou shalt first vvinne by vovves and sacrifice the helpe of lordes an demy goddes full bright of vvhose dead bones the dust engraued lies in vvesterne soyle Asopia that hight By order of this oracle he one night passed ouer to SALAMINA dyd sacrifice to Periphemus to Cichris demy goddes of the countrie Which done the ATHENIANS deliuered him fiue hundred men who willingly offered them selues the cittie made an accorde with them that if they tooke the I le of SALAMINA they should beare greatest authoritie in the common weale Solon imbarked his souldiers into diuers fisher botes and appointed a galliot of thirtie owers to come after him he ankred hard by the cittie of SALAMINA vnder the pointe which looketh towards the I le of NEGREPONT The MEGARIANS which were within SALAMINA hauing by chaunce heard some inckling of it but yet knew nothing of certaintie ranne presently in hurly burley to arme them and manned out a shippe to descrie what it was But they fondly comming within daunger were taken by Solon who clapped the MEGARIANS vnder hatches fast bounde and in their roomes put aborde in their shippe the choycest souldiers he had of the ATHENIANS commaunding them to set their course direct vpon the cittie and to keepe them selues as close out of sight as could be And he him self with all the rest of his souldiers landed presently and marched to encounter with the MEGARIANS which were come out into the fielde Now whilest they were fighting together Solons men whom he had sent in the MEGARIANS shippe entred the hauen wanne the towne This is certainly true testified by that which is shewed yet at this daye For to keepe a memoriall hereof a shippe of ATHENS arriueth quietly at the first by by those that are in the shippe make a great showte and a man armed leaping out of the shippe ronneth showting towardes the rocke called Sciradion which is as they come from the firme lande and hard by the same is the temple of Mars which Solon built there after he had ouercome the MEGARIANS in battell from whence he sent backe againe those prisoners that he had taken which were saued from the slaughter of the battell without any ransome paying Neuertheles the MEGARIANS were sharpely bent still to recouer SALAMINA again Much hurte being done suffered on both sides both parts in the ende made the LACEDAEMONIANS iudges of the quarrell But vpon iudgement geuen common reporte is that Homers authoritie dyd Solon good seruice bicause he did adde these verses to the number of shippes which are in the Iliades of Homer which he rehearsed before the iudges as if they
come For if the ATHENIANS sayed he knew what hurt this hauen would bring thē they would eate it as they saye with their teethe It is sayed also that Thales did prognosticate such a like thing who after his deathe commaunded they should burie his bodie in some vile place of no reckoning with in the territorie of the MILESIANS saying that one daye there should be the place of a cittie Epimenides therfore being maruelously esteemed of euery man for these causes was greatly honoured of the ATHENIANS and they offered him great presents of money and other things but he would take nothing and only prayed them to geue him a boughe of the holy olyue which they graunted him and so he returned shortely home into CRETA Nowe that this sedition of Cylon was vtterly appeased in ATHENS for that the excommunicates were banished the countrie the citty fell againe into their olde troubles and dissentions about the gouernment of the common weale they were devided into so diuers partes and factions as there were people of sundry places territories within the countrie of ATTICA For there were the people of the mountaines the people of the vallies and the people of the sea coaste Those of the mountaines tooke the cōmon peoples parte for their liues Those of the valley would a fewe of the best cittizens should carie the swaye The coaste men would that neither of thē should preuaile bicause they would haue had a meane gouernmēt mingled of them both Furthermore the faction betwene the poore riche proceeding of their vnequalitie was at that time very great By reason whereof the cittie was in great daunger and it seemed there was no waye to pacifie or take vp these controuersies vnles some tyraunt happened to rise that would take vpon him to rule the whole For all the cōmon people were so sore indetted to the riche that either they plowed their landes yelded them the sixt parte of their croppe for which cause they were called Hectemorij and seruants or els they borowed money of them at vsurie vpon gage of their bodies to serue it out And if they were not able to paye them then were they by the law deliuered to their creditours who kept them as bonde men slaues in their houses or els they sent them into straunge coūtries to be sold many euen for very pouertie were forced to sell their owne children for there was no lawe to forbid the contrarie or els to forsake their cittie countrie for the extreme cruelty hard dealing of these abominable vsurers their creditours Insomuch as many of the lustiest stowtest of them banded together in cōpanies incoraged one another not to suffer beare any lenger such extremitie but to choose them a stowte trusty captaine that might set them at libertie and redeeme those out of captiuity which were iudged to be bondmen seruants for lacke of paying of their detts at their dayes appointed so to make againe a newe diuision of all landes and tenements and wholy to chaunge and turne vp the whole state gouernment Then the wisest men of the cittie who sawe Solon only neither partner with the riche in their oppression neither partaker with the poore in their necessitie made sute to him that it would please him to take the matter in hande to appease and pacifie all these broyles and sedition Yet Phanias Lesbian writeth that he vsed a subtiltie whereby he deceiued both the one and the other side concerning the cōmon weale For he secretly promised the poore to deuide the lands againe the riche also to confirme their couenants bargaines Howsoeuer it fell out it is very certain that Solon frō the beginning made it a great matter was very scrupulous to deale betwene them fearing the couetousnes of the one arrogancie of the other Howbeit in the end he was chosen gouernour after Philōbrotus was made reformer of the rigour of the lawes the tēperer of the state cōmō weale by cōsent agreemēt of both parties The rich accepted him bicause he was no begger the poore did also like him bicause he was an honest man They saye moreouer that one word sentēce which he spake which at that present was rife in euery mans mouthe that equalitie dyd breede no stryfe did aswell please the riche and wealthie as the poore and needie For the one sorte conceyued of this worde equalitie that he would measure all things according to the qualitie of the man the other tooke it for their purpose that he would measure things by the number by the polle only Thus the captaines of both factions persuaded prayed him boldly to take vpon him that soueraigne authoritie sithence he had the whole cittie nowe at his commaundement The neawters also of euery parte when they sawe it very harde to pacifie these things with lawe and reason were well content that the wisest and honestest man should alone haue the royall power in his handes Some saye also that there was such an oracle of Apollo Sitt thou at helme as gouernour to steere to guyde our course and rule the rovvling shippe for thou shalt see full many Athenians there vvill take thy parte and after thee vvill trippe But his familier friendes aboue all rebuked him saying he was to be accompted no better then a beast if for feare of the name of tyranne he would refuse to take vpon him a Kingdome which is the most iust and honorable state if one take it vpon him that is an honest man As in olde time Tynnondas made him selfe King of those of Negrepont with their consent and as Pittacus was then presently of those of METELIN Notwithstanding all these goodly reasons could not make him once alter his opinion And they saye he aunswered his friendes that principalitie and tyrannie was in deede a goodly place howbeit there was no way for a man to get out whē he was once entered into it And in certen verses that he wrote to Phocus thus he sayed I neither blushe nor yet repent my selfe that haue preserude my natiue soyle allvvayes and that therein to hourde vp trashe and pelfe no tyrants thought could once eclypse my prayse No might could moue my minde to any vvronge vvhich might beblot the glory of my name for so I thought to liue in honour longe and farre excell all other men for fame Hereby appeareth plainely that euen before he was chosen reformer of the state to stablish newe lawes he was then of great countenaunce and authoritie But he him selfe writeth that many sayed of him thus after he had refused the occasion of vsurping of this tyrannie Suer Solon vvas a foole and of a bashefull minde that vvould refuse the great good happe vvhich goddes to him assignde The praye vvas in his handes yet durst he neuer dravve the net therefore but stoode abasht and like a dastarde davve
their voyces also there in deede are they most bounde and subiect bicause they doe but obaye the rich in all they doe commaund But yet in this acte there is a thinge more wonderfull and worthie to be noted That commonly discharging of dettes was wont to breede great tumultes and seditions in common weales And Solon hauing vsed it is a very good time as the phisitian ventring a daungerous medecine dyd appease the sedition already begonne and did vtterly quenche through his glorie and the common opinion they had of his wisdome and vertue all the infamie and accusation that might haue growen of that acte As for their first entrie into the gouernment Solons beginning was farre more noble For he went before and followed not another and him selfe alone without any others helpe dyd put in execution the best and more parte of all his notable and goodly lawes Yet was Publicolaes ende and death much more glorious and happie For Solon before he dyed sawe all his comon wealthe ouerthrowen but Publicolaes common weale continued whole as he left it vntill the broyle of ciuill warres beganne againe among them Solon after he had made his lawes and written them in wodden tables leauing them without defence of any man went his waye immediatly out of the cittie of ATHENS Publicola abiding continually in ROME gouerning the state dyd throughly stablishe confirme the lawes he made Furthermore Solon hauing wisely forseene Pisistratus practises aspiring to make him selfe King he could neuer let him for all that but was himselfe ouercome and oppressed with they tyrannie he sawe stablished in his owne sight and in dispight of him Where Publicola ouerthrewe and dyd put downe a mightie Kingdome that had continued of long time and was throughly stablished his vertue and desire being equall with Solons hauing had besides fortune fauorable and sufficient power to execute his vertuous and well disposed minde But as for warres and marshall deedes there is no comparison to be made betweene them For Daimachus Plataian doth not attribute the warres of the MEGARIANS vnto Solon as we haue written it where Publicola being generall of an armie and fighting himselfe in persone hath wonne many great battels And as for matters of peace and ciuill gouernment Solon neuer durst present him self openly to persuade the enterprise of SALAMINA but vnder a counterfeat madnes and as a soole to make sporte Where Publicola taking his aduenture from the beginning shewed him selfe without dissimulation an open enemie to Tarquine and afterwardes he reuealed all the whole conspiracie And when he had bene the only cause and autor of punishing the traitours he dyd not only driue out of ROME the tyrannes selues in persone but tooke from them also all hope of returne againe Who hauing allwayes thus nobly valiantly behaued him self without shrinking backe or flying from ought that required force a manly corage or open resistaunce dyd yet shewe him selfe discreete where wisedome was requisite or reason and persuasion needefull As when he conningly wanne king Porsena who was a dredfull enemie vnto him and inuincible by force whom he handled in such good sorte that he made him his friend Peraduenture some might stand in this and saye that Solon recouered the I le of SALAMINA vnto the ATHENIANS which they would haue lost Publicola to the contrarie restored the lands vnto Porsena againe which the ROMAINES had conquered before within the countrie of THVSCAN But the times in which these things were done are allwayes to be considered of For a wise gouernour of a Realme and politicke man doth gouerne diuersely according to the occasions offred taking euery thing in his time wherein he will deale And many times in letting goe one thing he saueth the whole and in losing a litle he gayneth much As Publicola dyd who losing a litle pece of another mans countrie which they had vsurped saued by that meanes all that was assuredly his owne And whereas the ROMAINES thought he should doe very much for them to saue their cittie only he got them moreouer all the goodes that were in their enemies cāpe which dyd besiege them And in making his enemie iudge of his quarrell he wāne the victorie winning that moreouer which he would gladly haue geuen to haue ouercome and haue sentence passe of his side For the King their enemie dyd not only make peace with them but dyd also leaue them all his furniture prouision and munition for the warres euen for the vertue manhood and iustice which the great wisedome of this Consul persuaded Porsena to beleeue to be in all the other ROMAINES The end of Publicolaes life THE LIFE OF Themistocles THEMISTOCLES parentage dyd litle aduaunce his glorie for his father Neocles was of small reputation in ATHENS being of the hundred of Phrear tribe of Leontis of his mother an allien or straunger as these verses doe witnesse Abrotonon I am yborne in Thracia and yet this highe good happe I haue that into Grecia I haue brought forth a sonne Themistocles by name the glorie of the Greekishe bloods and man of greatest fame Howbeit Phanias writeth that his mother was not a THRACIAN but borne in the countrie of CARIA and they doe not call her Abrotonon but Euterpé And Neanthes sayeth furthermore that she was of HALICARNASSVS the chiefest cittie of all the Realme of CARIA For which cause when the straungers dyd assemble at Cynosargos a place of exercise without the gate dedicated to Hercules which was not a right god but noted an alien in that his mother was a mortall woman Themistocles persuaded diuers youthes of the most honourable houses to goe down with him to annointe them selues at Cynosargos conningly thereby taking away the differēce betwene the right alien sorte But setting a parte all these circumstaunces he was no doubt allied vnto the house of the Lycomedians for Themistocles caused the chappell of this familie which is in the village of PHLYES being once burnt by the barbarous people to be buylt vp againe at his owne charges and as Simonides sayeth he dyd set in forth and enriche it with pictures Moreouer euery man doth confesse it that euen from his childhood they dyd perceyue he was geuen to be very whotte headed sturring wise and of good spirite and enterprising of him selfe to doe great things and borne to rule weighty causes For at such dayes and howers as he was taken from his booke and had leaue to playe he neuer played nor would neuer be idle as other children were but they allwayes founde him conning some oration without booke or making it alone by him selfe and the ground of his matter was euer comonly either to defend or accuse some of his companions Whereupon his schoolemaster obseruing him ofte sayed vnto him suer some great matter hangeth ouer thy head my boye for it cannot be chosen but that one daye thou shalt doe some notable good thing or some extreme mischief Therefore when they went about to
the valliantnes and worthy deedes of Camillus and in the meane season his naturall cittie that brought him forth is now lost vtterly destroyed We for lacke of a captaine to leade vs are shut vp here within others walles doe nothing but suffer ITALIE in the meane space to goe to ruine vtter destruction before our eyes Why then doe we not send to the ARDEANS for our captaine or why doe we not arme our selues to goe vnto him For he is nowe no more a banished man nor we poore cittizens since our cittie is possessed with the forein power of our hatefull enemies So they all agreed to this counsaill sent vnto Camillus to beseche him to be their captaine and leade them But he made aunswer he would in no case consent vnto it vnles they that were besieged in the Capitoll had lawfully first confirmed it by their voyces For those sayed he so long as they remaine within the cittie doe represent the state bodie thereof Therefore if they cōmaunded him to take this charge vpon him he would most willingly obey them if otherwise they misliked of it that thē he would not medle against their good willes cōmaundement They hauing receaued this aunswer there was not a ROMAINE amongest them but greatly honored extolled the wisedome iustice of Camillus But nowe they knewe not how to make them priuie to it that were besieged in the Capitoll for they sawe no possibilitie to conuey a messenger to them considering the enemies were lordes of the cittie layed seige to it Howbeit there was one Pontius Cominius amōgest the young men a man of a meane house but yet desirous of honour glory that offered him self very willingly to venter to get in if he could So he tooke no letters to cary to them which were besieged for feare least they might be intercepted so they should discouer Camillus intētion but putting on an ill fauoured gowne vpon him he cōueyed certen peces of corcke vnder it traueling at none dayes kept on his waye without feare vntill he came to ROME bringing darke night with him And bicause he could not passe ouer the bridge for that the Barbarous people kept watche vpō it he wrapped such clothes as he had about his necke which where not many nor heauy tooke the riuer swimming with these corcks he had brought at the length he got ouer to the other side where the cittie stoode Then taking vp those lanes allwayes where he thought the enemies were not seeing fire hearing noyse in other places he wēt to the gate Carmentale where he found more silēce then in other places on the which side also the hill of the Capitoll was more stepe and vpright by reason of the great rocks that were harde to clime vp vpon But he digged crept vp so long amongest them that he got vp with great payn vnto the wall of the fortresse on the which side also the enemie kept no watch saluting the watche of the Capitoll he told them what he was So they plucked him vp vnto them brought him to the magistrates that ruled then Who caused the Senate to assemble presently vnto whom he told the newes of Camillus victorie which they had not heard of before therewith also he dyd declare vnto thē the determination of the ROMAINE souldiers that were abroade which was to make Camillus their captaine general did persuade them also to graūt him the charge for that he was the only man abroad whō the cittizēs gaue their consents to obey When they heard this all that were within the Capitoll consulted thereupon amōgest them selues so did chuse Camillus Dictator returned the messenger Pōtius Cominius backe againe the self same way he came vnto them His fortune in returning backe was like vnto his coming thither for the enemies neuer sawe him And so he brought reporte vnto thē that were abroad of the Senates decree consent whereof they all were maruelous glad Thus came Camillus to take this charge of generall vpon him found there were twēty thousand good fighting men abroade and well armed Then got he further ayde also of their allies and confederates and prepared daylie to goe and set vpon the enemies So was Camillus chosen nowe Dictator the seconde time and went vnto the cittie of VEIES where he spake with the ROMAINE souldiers that were there and leauied a great number of the allies besides to goe fight with the enemies as sone as he could But whilest Camillus was thus a preparing certen of the Barbarous people in ROME walking out by chaunce on that side of the Capitoll where Pontius Cominius had gotten vp the night before spied in diuers places the printes of his feete and hands as he had griped gotten holde still digging to get vp sawe the weedes and erbes also growing vpon the rocks the earth in like manner flat troden down Whereupon they went presently vnto the King to let him vnderstāde the same who forth with came to vewe the place And hauing considered it well he dyd nothing at that time but when darke night was come he called a companie of the lightest GAVLES together and that vsed most to digge in mountaines sayed vnto them Our enemies them selues doe shew vs the waye how to take them which we could not haue founde out but by them selues For they hauing gone vp before vs doe geue vs easely to vnderstāde it is no impossible thing for vs to clime vp also Wherefore we were vtterly shamed hauing already begōne well if we should fayle also to end well to leaue this place as vnuincible For if it were easie for one man alone by digging to clime vp to the height thereof much lesse is it harde for many to get vp one after another so that one doe helpe another Therefore Syrs I assure you those that doe take paynes to get vp shal be honorably rewarded according to their iust deserte When the King had spoken these wordes vnto the GAVLES they fell to it lustely euery man to get vp about midnight they beganne many of them to digge make stepps vp to the rocke one after another as softly as could possibly with catching holde the best they could by hāging of the rocke which they found very steepe but neuertheles easier to clime then they tooke it at the beginning So that the formest of them being come to the toppe of the rocke were now ready to take the walle to set vpon the watche that slept for there was neither man nor dogge that heard them It chaūced then there were holy gese kept in the temple of Iuno which at other times were wont to be fed till their croppes were full but vittells being very straite scante at that time euen to finde the men the poore gese were so hard handled so litle regarded that they were in māner starued for lacke of meate
This fowle in deede naturally is very quicke of hearing so is she also very fearefull by nature being in manner famished with their harde allowance they were so much the more waking easier to be afrayed Vpō this occasion therfore they heard the cōming of the GAVLES also beganne to ronne vp downe crie for feare with which noyse they did wake those that were within the castell The GAVLES being bewrayed by these foolishe gese left their stealing vpon them came in with all the open noyse terrour they could The ROMAINES hearing this larum euery man tooke such weapon as came first to his hand they ranne sodainely to rescue that place from whence they vnderstoode the noyse among those the formest man of all was Marcus Manlius a man that had bene Cōsul who had a lusty bodye as stowte a harte His happe being to mete with two of the GAVLES together as one of them was lifting vp his axe to knocke him on the head he preuēted him strake of his hand with his sword and clapt his target on the others face so fiercely that he threwe him backward down the rocke cōming afterwards vnto the walle with others that ranne thither with him he repulsed the rest of the GAVLES that were gotten vp who were not many in nūber neither did any great acte Thus the ROMAINES hauing escaped this daūger the next morning they threw the captaine hedlong down the rocks from the castell who had charge of the watche the night before gaue Manlius in recompence of the good seruice he had done a more honorable then profitable rewarde which was this Euery man of them gaue him halfe a pound of the country wheate which they call Far and the fourth parte of the measure of wine which the GRECIANS call Cotile and this might be about a quarte being the ordinary allowance of euery man by the daye After this repulse the GAVLES beganne to be discoraged partely for that their vitailles fayled them and durst no more forage abroade in the fieldes for feare of Camillus and partly also for that the plague came amongest them being lodged amongest heapes of dead bodies lying in euery place aboue ground without buriall and amongest burnt houses destroyed where the ashes being blowen very high by the winde vehemēcy of heate dyd geue a drie persing ayer that dyd maruelously poyson their bodies when they came to drawe in the breathe of it But the greatest cause of all their mischief was the chaunge of their wonted dyet Who comming out of a freshe countrie where there were excellent pleasaunt places to retire vnto to auoyde the discommoditie of the parching heate of the sommer were nowe in a naughty plaine countrie for them to remaine in in the latter season of the yere All these things together dyd heape diseases vpon them besides the long continuaunce of the siege about the Capitoll for it was then about the seuenth moneth by reason whereof there grewe a maruelous death in their campe through the great numbers of them that dyed daylie and laye vnburied But notwithstanding all the death and trouble of the GAVLES the poore besieged ROMAINES were nothing holpen the more the famine still dyd growe so fast vpō them And bicause they could heare nothing of Camillus they were growen almost vnto a despaire and send vnto him they could not the GAVLES kept so straight watche vpon them in the cittie Whereupon both parties finding them selues in harde state first the watche of either side beganne to cast out wordes of peace amongest them selues and afterwards by cōsent of the heades Sulpitius Tribune of the souldiers came to parle with Brennus In which parle it was articled that the ROMAINES should paye a thousand pounde weight of golde and that the GAVLES should incontinently after the receipt of the same departe out of their cittie and all their territories This decree being passed by othe from both the golde was brought And whē it came to be weyed the GAVLES at the first priuely begāne to deale falsely with them but afterwardes they openly stayed the ballance and would not let them waye no more whereat the ROMAINES beganne to be angrie with them Then Brennus in scorne mockery to despight them more pluckt of his sworde girdell and all and put it into the ballance where the gold was wayed Sulpitius seeing that asked him what he ment by it Brennus aunswered him what canne it signifie els but sorrowe to the vanquished This worde euer after ranne as a common prouerbe in the peoples mouthes Some of the ROMAINES tooke this vile parte of theirs in such scorne that they would needes take the gold from them againe by force and so returne into their holde to abide the siege still as they had done before Other were of opinion to the contrary and thought it best with pacience to put vp this scorne of theirs and not to thincke it was a shame to paye more then they had promised but only to paye it by cōpulsion as they dyd by misfortune of time was to thincke it rather necessary then honorable And as they were debating the matter thus aswell amongest them selues as with the GAVLES Camillus came to ROME gates with his armie and vnderstanding all what had passed betweene them he commaunded the rest of the army to marche fayer and softely after him in good order and he in the meane season with the best choyse men he had went before with all speede Assone as the other ROMAINES within in the cittie had spied him they showted out for ioye and receaued him euery one with great reuerence without any more wordes as their soueraine captaine and prince who had power ouer them all And Camillus taking the golde out of the skales gaue it vnto his men and commaunded the GAVLES presently to take vp their skales and to get them going for sayeth he it is not the ROMAINES manner to keepe their countrie with golde but with the sworde Then Brennus beganne to be hotte and tolde him it was not honorably done of him to breake the accorde that had passed betweene them before by othe Whereunto Camillus stowtely aunswered him againe that accorde was of no validitie For he being created Dictator before all other officers and magistrates whatsoeuer their actes by his election were made of no authoritie and seeing therefore they had delte with men that had no power of them selues to accorde to any matter they were to speake to him if they required ought For he alone had absolute authoritie to pardone them if they repented and would aske it or els to punishe them and make their bodies aunswer the damages and losse his cuntry had by them susteyned These wordes made Brennus madde as a march hare that out went his blade Then they drew their swordes of all sides and layed lustely one at an other as they could within the houses and in open
he had sayed doing lesse hurte to Cimon then any other of his accusers How is Idomeneus to be credited nowe who accuseth Pericles that he had caused the orator Ephialtes to be slaine by treason that was his friende and dyd alwayes counsell him and take his parte in all kinde of gouernment of the common weale only for the iealousie and enuie he dyd beare to his glorie I can but muse why Idomeneus should speake so slaunderously against Pericles vnles it were that his melancholy humour procured suche violent speache who though peraduenture he was not altogether blameles yet he was euer nobly-minded and had a naturall desire of honour in which kinde of men such furious cruell passions are seldome seene to breede But this orator Ephialtes being cruell to those that tooke parte with the Nobilitie bicause he would spare nor pardone no man for any offence whatsoeuer committed against the peoples authoritie but dyd followe and persecute them with all rigour to the vttermost his enemies layed waite for him by meanes of one Aristodicus TANAGRIAN and they killed him by treason as Aristotle writeth In the meane time Cimon dyed in the I le of CYPRVS being generall of the armie of the ATHENIANS by sea Wherefore those that tooke parte with the Nobilitie seeing Pericles was nowe growen very great and that he went before all other citizens of ATHENS thincking it good to haue some one to sticke on their side against him and to lessen thereby somewhat his authoritie that he might not come to rule all as he would they raised vp against him one Thucydides of the towne of ALODECIA a graue wise man and father in lawe to Cimon This Thucydides had lesse skill of warres then Cimon but vnderstoode more in ciuill gouernment then he for that he remained most parte of his time within the cittie where continually inuaying against Pericles in his pulpit for orations to the people in shorte time he had stirred vp a like companie against the faction of Pericles For he kept the gentlemen and richer sorte which they call Nobilitie from mingling with the common people as they were before when through the multitude of the commnons their estate and dignitie was abscured and troden vnderfoote Moreouer he dyd separate them from the people and dyd assemble them all as it were into one bodie who came to be of equall power with the other faction and dyd put as a man will saye a counterpease into the ballance For at the beginning there was but a litle secret grudge only betwene these two factions as an artificiall flower set in the blade of a sworde which made those shewe a litle that dyd leane vnto the people and the other also somwhat that fauored the Nobilitie But the contention betwene these two persones was as a deepe cut which deuided the cittie wholy in two factions of the which the one was called the Nobilitie and the other the communaltie Therefore Pericles geuing yet more libertie vnto the people dyd all things that might be to please them ordeining continuall playes and games in the cittie many feastes banckets and open pastimes to entertaine the commons with suche honest pleasures and deuises and besides all this he sent yerely an armie of three score gallyes vnto the warres into the which he put a great number of poore cittizens that tooke paye of the state for nine moneths of the yere and thereby they dyd learne together and practise to be good sea men Furthermore he sent into the countrie of CHERRONESVS a thousand free men of the cittie to dwell there and to deuide the landes amongest them fiue hundred also into the I le of NAXOS into the I le of ANDROS two hundred fiftie into THRACIA a thousand to dwell with the BISALTES other also into ITALIE when the cittie of SYBARIS was built againe which afterwardes was surnamed the cittie of the THVRIANS All this he dyd to ryd the cittie of a number of idle people who through idlenes beganne to be curious and to desire chaunge of things as also to prouide for the necessitie of the poore townes men that had nothing For placing the naturall citizens of ATHENS neere vnto their subiects and friendes they serued as a garrison to keepe them vnder and dyd suppresse them also from attempting any alteration or chaunge But that which deliteth most and is the greatest ornament vnto the cittie of ATHENS which maketh straungers most to wonder and which alone doth bring sufficient testimonie to confirme that which is reported of the auncient power riches and great wealthe of GRECE to be true and not false are the stately and sumptuous buildings which Pericles made to be built in the cittie of ATHENS For it is the only acte of all other Pericles dyd and which made his enemies most to spight him and which they most accused him for crying out vpon him in all counsailles assemblies that the people of ATHENS were opēly defamed for carying awaye the ready money of all GRECE which was left in the I le of DELOS to be safely kept there And although they could with good honestie haue excused this facte saying that Pericles had taken it from them for feare of the barbarous people to the ende to laye it vp in a more stronger place where it should be in better safetie yet was this to ouer-great an iniurie offered vnto all the rest of GRECE and to manifest a token of tyrannie also to beholde before their eyes howe we doe employe the money which they were inforced to gather for the maintenaunce of the warres against the barbarous people in gilding building and setting forth our cittie like a glorious woman all to be gawded with golde and precious stones and howe we doe make images and build vp temples of wonderfull infinite charge Pericles replied to the contrarie and declared vnto the ATHENIANS that they were not bounde to make any accompt of this money vnto their friendes and allies considering that they fought for their safety that they kept the barbarous people farre from GRECE without troubling them to set out any one man horse or shippe of theirs the money only excepted which is no more theirs that payed it then theirs that receyued it so they bestowe it to that vse they receyued it for And their cittie being already very well furnished and prouided of all things necessary for the warres it was good reason they should employe and bestowe the surplus of the treasure in things which in time to come and being throughly finished would make their fame eternall Moreouer he sayed that whilest they continue building they should be presently riche by reason of the diuersitie of workes of all sortes and other things which they should haue neede of and to compasse these things the better and to set them in hande all manner of artificers and worke men that would labour should be set a worke So should all the townes men
a lyon Another time being but a litle boye he played at skayles in the middest of the streete with other of his companions and when his turne came about to throwe there came a carte loden by chaunce that waye Alcibiades prayed the carter to staye a while vntill he had played out his game bicause the skailes were set right in the high way where the carte should passe ouer The carter was a stubborne knaue and would not staye for any request the boye could make but draue his horse on still in so much as other boyes gaue backe to let him goe on but Alcibiades fell flat to the grounde before the carte and bad the carter driue ouer and he durste The carter being afeard plucked backe his horse to staye them the neighbours flighted to see the daunger ranne to the boye in all hast crying out Afterwards when he was put to schoole to learne he was very obedient to all his masters that taught him any thing sauing that he disdained to learne to playe of the flute or recorder saying that it was no gentlemanly qualitie For sayed he to playe on the vyoll with a sticke doth not alter mans fauour nor disgraceth any gentleman but otherwise to playe on the flute his countenaunce altereth and chaungeth so ofte that his familliar friends can scant knowe him Moreouer the harpe or vyoll doth not let him that playeth on them from speaking or singing as he playeth where he that playeth on the flute holdeth his mouth so harde to it that it taketh not only his wordes from him but his voyce Therefore sayed he let the children of the THEBANS playe on the flute that cannot tell howe to speake as for vs ATHENIANS we haue as our forefathers tell vs for protect ours and patrones of our countrie and goddesse Pallas and the god Apollo of the which the one in olde time as it is sayed brake the flute and the other pulled his skinne ouer his eares that played vpon the flute Thus Alcibiades alledging these reasons partely in sporte and partely in good earnest dyd not only him selfe leaue to learne to playe on the flute but he turned his companions mindes also quite from it For these wordes of Alcibiades ranne from boye to boye incontinently that Alcibiades had reason to despise playing of the flute and that he mocked all those that learned to play of it So afterwards it fell out at ATHENS that teaching to playe of the flute was put out of the number of honest and liberall exercises and the flute it selfe was thought a vile instrument and of no reputation Furthermore in the accusations Antiphon wrote against Alcibiades it is declared that when he was a boye he fled out of his tutours house into the house of Democrates one of his louers and howe Ariphron one of his tutours thought to haue made a beadle crie him through the cittie But Pericles would not suffer him saying that if he were dead they should knowe it but one daye sooner by crying of him and if he were aliue that it would be such a shame to him while he liued that he had bene better he had neuer bene heard of againe The same Antiphon accuseth him further that he had killed a seruaunt of his that attended on him in the wrestling place of Sibyrtius with a blowe of a staffe But there is no reason to credit his writing who confesseth he speaketh all the ill he can of him for the ill will he dyd beare him Now straight there were many great riche men that made muche of Alcibiades and were glad to get his good will. But Socrates loue vnto him had another ende and cause which witnessed that Alcibiades had a naturall inclination to vertue Who perceyuing that vertue dyd appeare in him and was ioyned with the other beawtie of his face and bodye and fearing the corruption of riches dignitie and authoritie and the great number of his companions aswell of the chiefest of the cittie as of straungers seeking to entise him by flatterie and by many other pleasures he tooke vpon him to protect him from them all and not to suffer so goodly an ympe to lose the hope of the good fruite of his youthe For fortune doth neuer so intangle nor snare a man without with that which they commonly call riches as to let hinder him so that philosophie should not take holde on him with her free severe and quicke reasons So Alcibiades was at the beginning assayed with all delightes and shut vp as it were in their companie that feasted him with all pleasures only to turne him that he should not hearken to Socrates wordes who sought to bring him vp at his charge and to teach him But Alcibiades notwithstanding hauing a good naturall wit knewe that Socrates was and went to him refusing the companie of all his riche friendes and their flatteries and fell in a kinde of familliar friendshippe with Socrates Whom when he had heard speake he noted his wordes very well that they were no persuasions of a man seeking his dishonesty but one that gaue him good counsell went about to reforme his faultes and imperfections and to plucke downe the pride and presumption that was in him then as the common prouerbe sayeth Like to the crauen cocke he drovvped dovvne his vvinges vvhich covvardly doth ronne avvaye or from the pit out flinges And dyd thinke with selfe that all Socrates loue and following of young men was in dede a thing sent from the goddes and ordeined aboue for them whom they would haue preserued put into the pathe waye of honour Therefore be beganne to despise him selfe and greatly to reuerēce Socrates taking pleasure of his good vsing of him much imbraced his vertue so as he had he wist not howe an image of loue grauen in his harte or rather as Plato sayeth a mutuall loue to wit an holy honest affection towards Socrates Insomuch as all the world wondred at Alcibiades to see him commonly at Socrates borde to playe to wrestle to lodge in the warres with Socrates and contrarily to chide his other well willers who could not so much as haue a good looke at his handes and besides became daungerous to some as it is sayed he was vnto Anytus the sonne of Anthemion being one of those that loued him well Anytus making good cheere to certen straungers his friendes that were come to see him went and prayed Alcibiades to come and make merie with them but he refused to goe For he went to make merie with certen of his companions at his own house and after he had well taken in his cuppes he went to Anytus house to counterfeate the foole amongest them and staying at the halle doore and seeing Anytus table and cubberd full of plate of siluer gold he commaunded his seruants to take awaye half of it and carie it home to his house But when he had thus taken his pleasure he would come
to neerer into the house but went his waye home Anytus friendes and guestes misliking this straunge parte of Alcibiades sayed it was shamefully and boldly done so to abuse Anytus Nay gently done of him sayed Anytus for he hath left vs some where he might haue taken all All other also that made much of him he serued after that sorte Sauing a straunger that came to dwell in ATHENS who being but a poore man as the voyce went sold all that he had whereof he made about a hundred stateres which he brought vnto Alcibiades prayed him to take it at his handes Alcibiades beganne to be merie and being very glad to vnderstand his good will towards him tooke his honest offer and prayed him to come to supper to him so he welcomed him very hartely and made him good cheere When supper was done he gaue him his money againe and commaunded him not to faile the next morning to meete him where the farmes and landes of the cittie are wont to be let out to those that byd most and charged him he should out byd all The poore man would fayne haue excused him self saying the farmes were to great for him to hyre but Alcibiades threatned to whippe him if he would not doe it For besides the desire he had to pleasure him he bare a priuate grudge against the ordinary farmers of the cittie The next morning the straunger was ready in the market place where they dyd crie out the letting of their farmes and he raised one to a talent more then all other dyd offer The other farmers were as mad with him as they could be that they all dyd set vpon him crying out let him put in suertie straight supposing he could haue founde none The straunger was maruelous blancke thereat and beganne to shrincke backe Then cried Alcibiades out alowde to the officers that sate there to take the best offers I will be his suertie sayeth he put me in the booke for he is a friend of mine The farmers hearing him saye so were at their wittes ende and wiste not what to doe For they being allwayes accustomed to paye their yerely rent as it went before by the helpe of the rest of the yeres that followed after perceyuing now that they should not be able to paye the arrerages of the rentes due to the common weale and seeing no other remedie they prayed him to take a pece of money and to leaue the bargaine Then Alcibiades would in no wise he should take lesse then a talent which they gaue him willingly So Alcibiades suffered the straunger then to departe and made him gaine by his deuise Now Socrates loue which he bare him though it had many mightie and great aduersaries yet it dyd staye much Alcibiades somtime by his gentle nature somtime by his graue counsell and aduise so as the reason thereof tooke so deepe roote in him and dyd so pearce his harte that many times the teares ranne downe his cheekes Another time also being caried awaye with the intisement of flatterers that held vp his humour with all pleasure and delightes he stale awaye from Socrates and made him ronne after him to fetche him againe as if he had bene a slaue that had ronne awaye from his masters house for Alcibiades stoode in awe of no man but of Socrates only and in deede he dyd reuerence him and dyd despise all other And therefore Cleanthes was wont to saye that Alcibiades was held of Socrates by the eares but that he gaue his other louers holde which Socrates neuer sought for for to saye truely Alcibiades was muche geuen ouer to lust and pleasure And peraduenture it was that Thucydides ment of him when he wrote that he was incontinent of bodie and dissolute of life Those that marred Alcibiades quite dyd still pricke forward his ambition and desire of honour and dyd put him in the head to thrust him selfe into great matters betimes making him beleeue that if he dyd but once beginne to shewe him selfe to deale in matters of state he would not only bleamishe and deface all other gouernours but farre excell Pericles in authoritie and power among the GRAECIANS For like as iron by fire is made softe to be wrought in to any forme and by colde also doth shut and harden in againe euen so Alcibiades being puffed vp with vanitie opinion of him self as ofte as Socrates tooke him in hande was made faste firme againe by his good persuasions insomuch that when he sawe his owne faulte and follie and how farre wide he had strayed from vertue he became sodainely very humble and lowly againe Now on a time when he was growen to mans state he went into a grammer schoole and asked the schoolemaster for one of Homers bookes The schoolemaster aūswered him he had none of thē Alcibiades vp with his fiste gaue him a good boxe on the eare went his waye Another grammarian tolde him on a time he had Homer which he had corrected Alcibiades replied why what meanest thou to stand teaching litle children their abce when thou art able to correct Homer and to teache young men not boyes Another time he came and knocked at Pericles gate desirous to speake with him aunswer was made him he was not at leysure now for that he was busilie occupied by him self thinking on his reckonings he had to make with the ATHENIANS Why sayed he going his waye it were better he were occupied thinking how to make no accompt at all Moreouer being but a young boye he was at the iorney of POTIDAEA where he laye still with Socrates who would neuer let him be from him in all battells and skirmishes he was in among which there was one very whotte bloody where they both fought valliantly and Alcibiades was hurte But Socrates stepped before him and dyd defend him so valliantly before them all that he saued him and his weapon out of the enemies handes So the honour of this fight out of doubt in equitie and reason was due vnto Socrates but yet the captaines would faine haue iudged it on Alcibiades side bicause he was of a noble house But Socrates bicause he would increase his desire of honour would pricke him forward to honest and commendable things was the very first that witnessed Alcibiades had deserued it and therefore prayed the captaines to iudge him the crowne and complet armour Afterwards in the battell of DELION the ATHENIANS hauing receyued the ouerthrowe Socrates retired with a fewe other a foote Alcibiades being a horse backe and ouertaking him would not goe from him but kept him company and defended him against a troupe of his enemies that followed him and slue many of his company But that was a prety while after and before he gaue a boxe of the eare vnto Hipponicus Callias father who was one of the greatest men of power in the cittie being a noble man borne and of great possessions which was
any seruice and that Lamachus also though he were a valliant man of his handes yet he lacked honour and authoritie in the armie bicause he was but a meane man borne and poore besides Now Alcibiades for a farewell disapointed the ATHENIANS of winning the cittie of MESSINA for they hauing intelligence by certaine priuate persones within the cittie that it would yeld vp into their handes Alcibiades knowing them very well by their names bewrayed them vnto those that were the SYRACVSANS friendes whereupon all this practise was broken vtterly Afterwards when he came to the cittie of THVRIES so sone as he had landed he went and hid him selfe incontinently in suche sorte that such as sought for him could not finde him Yet there was one that knewe him where he was and sayed Why how now Alcibiades darest thou not trust the iustice of thy countrie Yes very well q he and it were in another matter but my life standing vpon it I would not trust mine own mother fearing least negligeÌ„tly she should put in the blacke beane where she should cast in the white For by the first condemnation of death was signified and by the other pardone of life But afterwards hearing that the ATHENIANS for malice had condemned him to death well q he they shall knowe I am yet aliue Now the manner of his accusation and inditement framed against him was found written in this sorte Thessalus the sonne of Cimon of the village of LACIADES hath accused and doth accuse Alcibiades the sonne of Clinias of the village of SCAMBONIDES to haue offended against the goddesses Ceres Proserpina counterfeating in mockery their holy mysteries shewing them to his familliar friends in his house him selfe apparrelled and arrayed in a long vestemeÌ„t or cope like vnto the vestemeÌ„t the priest weareth when he sheweth these holy sacred mysteries naming him selfe the priest Polytion the torche bearer and Theodorus of the village of PHYGEA the verger the other lookers on brethern and fellowe scorners with them all done in manifest conteÌ„pt derision of holy ceremonies and mysteries of the Eumolpides the religious priests ministers of the sacred teÌ„ple of the cittie of ELâ—VSIN So Alcibiades for his conteÌ„pt not appearing was condeÌ„ned and his goodes confiscate Besides this condemnation they decreed also that all the religious priestes women should baÌ„ne accurse him But hereunto aunswered one of the Nunnes called Theano the daughter of Menon of the village of AGRAVLA saying that she was professed religious to praye and to blesse not to curse and banne After this most grieuous sentence and condemnation passed against him Alcibiades departed out of the cittie of THVRIES went into the countrie of PELOPONNESVS where he continued a good season in the citie of ARGOS But in the ende fearing his enemies and hauing no hope to returne againe to his owne countrie with any safety he sent vnto SPARTA to haue safe conduct and licence of the LACEDAEMONIANS that he might come and dwell in their countrie promising them he would doe them more good being now their friend then he euer dyd them hurte while he was their enemie The LACEDAEMONIANS graunted his request receyued him very willingly into their cittie where euen vpon his first comming he dyd three things The first was That the LACEDAEMONIANS by his persuasion procurement dyd determine speedily to send ayde to the SYRACVSANS whom they had long before delayed so they sent Gylippus their captaine to ouerthrowe the ATHENIANS armie which they had sent thither The secoÌ„d thing he did for them was That he made them of GREECE to beginne warre apon the ATHENIANS The third greatest matter of importance was That he dyd counsell them to fortifie the cittie of DECELEA which was within the territories of ATTICA selfe which consumed and brought the power of the ATHENIANS lower then any other thing whatsoeuer he could haue done And if he were welcome well esteemed in SPARTA for the seruice he dyd to the coÌ„mon wealth muche more he wanne the loue good willes of priuate men for that he liued after the LACONIAN manner So as they that sawe his skinne scraped to the fleshe sawe him washe him selfe in cold water howe he dyd eate browne bread suppe of their blacke brothe would haue doubted or to saye better neuer haue beleeued that suche a man had euer kept cooke in his house nor that he euer had seene so muche as a perfuming panne or had touched clothe of tissue made at MILETVM For among other qualities properties he had wherof he was full this as they saye was one whereby he most robbed mens hartes that he could frame altogether with their manners and factions of life transforming him selfe more easely to all manner of shapes then the camelion For it is reported that the Camelion cannot take white culler but Alcibiades could put apon him any maners customes or facions of what nation soeuer could followe exercise counterfeate them when he would as well the good as the bad For in SPARTA he was very paynefull in continuall exercise he liued sparingly with litle led a straight life In IONIA to the coÌ„trary there he liued daintely superfluously gaue him self to all mirthe pleasure In THRACIA he dranke euer or was allwayes a horse backe If he came to Tissaphernes lieutenaunt of the mightie king of PERSIA he farre exceeded the magnificence of PERSIA in pompe sumptuousnes And these things notwithstanding neuer altered his naturall condition from one facion to another neither dyd his manners to saye truely receyue all sortes of chaunges But bicause peraduenture if he had shewed his naturall disposition he might in diuers places where he came haue offended those whose companie he kept he dyd with such a viser cloke disguise him selfe to fit their manners whom he companied with by transforming him selfe into their naturall countenaunce As he that had seene him when he was at SPARTA to haue looked apon the outward man would haue sayed as the common prouerbe sayeth It is not the sonne of Achilles but Achilles selfe Euen so it is euen he whom Lycurgus brought vp But he that had inwardly seene his naturall doings and good will in deede lye naked before him would haue sayed contrarilie as they saye commonly in another language This vvoman is no chaungeling For he entertained Queene Timaea King Agis wife of SPARTA so well in his absence he being abroade in the warres that he got her with childe she her selfe denied it not For she being brought a bed of a sonne who was named Leotychides openly to the world called him by that name but when she was amongest her familliars very friends she called him sofetly Alcibiades she was so farre in loue with him And Alcibiades ieasting out the matter sayed he had done it for no hurte nor for any lust of fleshe to satisfie his desire but
honour And as for other the only respect that made them valliant was they hoped to haue honour but touching Martius the only thing that made him to loue honour was the ioye he sawe his mother dyd take of him For he thought nothing made him so happie and honorable as that his mother might heare euery bodie praise and commend him that she might allwayes see him returne with a crowne vpon his head and that she might still embrace him with teares ronning downe her cheekes for ioye Which desire they saye Epaminondas dyd auowe and confesse to haue bene in him as to thinke him selfe a most happie and blessed man that his father and mother in their life time had seene the victorie he wanne in the plaine of LEVCTRES Now as for Epaminondas he had this good happe to haue his father and mother liuing to be partakers of his ioye and prosperitie But Martius thinking all due to his mother that had bene also due to his father if he had liued dyd not only content him selfe to reioyce and honour her but at her desire tooke a wife also by whom he had two children and yet neuer left his mothers house therefore Now he being growen to great credit authoritie in ROME for his valliantnes it fortuned there grewe sedition in the cittie bicause the Senate dyd fauour the riche against the people who dyd cōplaine of the sore oppression of vserers of whom they borowed money For those that had litle were yet spoyled of that litle they had by their creditours for lacke of abilitie to paye the vserie who offered their goodes to be solde to them that would geue most And suche as had nothing left their bodies were layed holde of and they were made their bonde men notwithstanding all the woundes and cuttes they shewed which they had receyued in many battells fighting for defence of their countrie and common wealth of the which the last warre they made was against the SABYNES wherein they fought apon the promise the riche men had made them that from thenceforth they would intreate them more gently and also vpon the worde of Marcus Valerius chief of the Senate who by authoritie of the counsell and in the behalfe of the riche sayed they should performe that they had promised But after that they had faithfully serued in this last battell of all where they ouercame their enemies seeing they were neuera whit the better not more gently intreated and that the Senate would geue no eare to them but make as though they had forgotten their former promise and suffered them to be made slaues and bonde men to their creditiours and besides to be turned out of all that euer they had they fell then euen to flat rebellion and mutine and to sturre vp daungerous tumultes within the cittie The ROMAINES enemies hearing of this rebellion dyd straight enter the territories of ROME with a maruelous great power spoyling and burning all as they came Whereupon the Senate immediatly made open proclamation by sounde of trumpet that all those which were of lawfull age to carie weapon should come and enter their names into the muster masters booke to goe to the warres but no man obeyed their commaundement Whereupon their chief magistrates and many of the Senate beganne to be of diuers opinions emong them selues For some thought it was reason they should somewhat yeld to the poore peoples request and that they should a litle qualifie the seueritie of the lawe Other held hard against that opinion and that was Martius for one For he alleaged that the creditours losing their money they had lent was not the worst thing that was thereby but that the lenitie that was fauored was a beginning of disobedience and that the prowde attempt of the communaltie was to abolish lawe and to bring all to confusion Therefore he sayed if the Senate were wise they should betimes preuent quenche this ill fauored worse ment beginning The Senate met many dayes in consultation about it but in the end they concluded nothing The poore cōmon people seeing no redresse gathered them selues one daye together one encoraging another they all forsooke the cittie encamped them selues vpon a hill called at this daye the holy hill alongest the riuer of Tyber offering no creature any hurte or violence or making any shewe of actuall rebellion sauing that they cried as they went vp and down that the riche men had driuen them out of the cittie and that all ITALIE through they should finde ayer water ground to burie them in Moreouer they sayed to dwell at ROME was nothing els but to be slaine or hurte with continuall warres and fighting for defence of the riche mens goodes The Senate being afeard of their departure dyd self vnto them certaine of the pleasauntest olde men and the most acceptable to the people among them Of those Menentius Agrippa was he who was sent for chief man of the message from the Senate He after many good persuasions and gentle requestes made to the people on the behalfe of the Senate knit vp his oration in the ende with a notable tale in this manner That on a time all the members of mans bodie dyd rebell against the bellie complaining of it that it only remained in the middest of the bodie without doing any thing neither dyd beare any labour to the maintenaunce of the rest whereas all other partes and members dyd labour paynefully was very carefull to satisfie the appetites and desiers of the bodie And so the bellie all this notwithstanding laughed at their follie and sayed It is true I first receyue all meates that norishe mans bodie but afterwardes I send it againe to the norishement of other partes of the same Euen so q he ó you my masters and cittizens of ROME the reason is a like betweene the Senate you For matters being well digested their coūsells throughly examined touching the benefit of the common wealth the Senatours are cause of the common cōmoditie that cōmeth vnto euery one of you These persuasions pacified the people conditionally that the Senate would graunte there should be yerely chosen fiue magistrates which they now call Tribuni Plebis whose office should be to defend the poore people from violence and oppression So Iunius Brutus and Sicinius Vellutus were the first Tribunes of the people that were chosen who had only bene the causers procurers of this sedition Hereupon the cittie being growen againe to good quiet and vnitie the people immediatly went to the warres shewing that they had a good will to doe better then euer they dyd and to be very willing to obey the magistrates in that they would commaund concerning the warres Martius also though it liked him nothing to see the greatnes of the people thus increased considering it was to the preiudice and imbasing of the nobilitie and also sawe that other noble Patricians were troubled as
againe without any newe occasion or iust matter offered of complainte For they dyd grounde this seconde insurrection against the Nobilitie and Patricians apon the peoples miserie misfortune that could not but fall out by reason of the former discorde and sedition betweene them and the Nobilitie Bicause the most parte of the errable lande within the territorie of ROME was become heathie and barren for lacke of plowing for that they had no time nor meane to cause corne to be brought them out of other countries to sowe by reason of their warres which made the extreme dearth they had emōg them Now those busie pratlers that sought the peoples good will by suche flattering wordes perceyuing great scarsitie of corne to be within the cittie and though there had bene plenty enough yet the common people had no money to buye it they spread abroad false tales and rumours against the Nobilitie that they in reuenge of the people had practised and procured the extreme dearthe emong them Furthermore in the middest of this sturre there came ambassadours to ROME from the cittie of VELITRES that offered vp their cittie to the ROMAINES and prayed them they would send newe inhabitants to replenishe the same bicause the plague had bene so extreme among them had killed such a number of them as there was not left aliue the tenth persone of the people that had bene there before So the wise men of ROME beganne to thincke that the necessitie of the VELITRIANS sell out in a most happy hower and howe by this occasion it was very mete in so great a scarsitie of vittailes to disburden ROME of a great number of cittizens and by this meanes as well to take awaye this newe sedition and vtterly to ryd it out of the cittie as also to cleare the same of many mutinous and seditious persones being the superfluous ill humours that greuously fedde this disease Hereupon the Consuls prickt out all those by a bill whom they intended to sende to VELITRES to goe dwell there as in forme of a colonie and they leauied out of all the rest that remained in the cittie of ROME a great number to goe against the VOLSCES hoping by the meanes of forreine warre to pacifie their sedition at home Moreouer they imagined when the poore with the riche and the meane sorte with the nobilitie should by this deuise be abroad in the warres in one campe and in one seruice and in one like daunger that then they would be more quiet and louing together But Sicinius and Brutus two seditious Tribunes spake against either of these deuises and cried out apon the noble men that vnder the gentle name of a colonie they would cloke and culler the most cruell and vnnaturall facte as might be bicause they sent their poore cittizens into a sore infected cittie and pestilent ayer full of dead bodies vnburied and there also to dwell vnder the tuytion of a straunge god that had so cruelly persecuted his people This were said they euen as muche as if the Senate should hedlong cast downe the people into a most bottomles pyt And are not yet contented to haue famished some of the poore cittizens hertofore to death to put other of them euen to the mercie of the plague but a freshe they haue procured a voluntarie warre to the ende they would leaue behind no kynde of miserie and ill wherewith the poore syllie people should not be plagued and only bicause they are werie to serue the riche The common people being set on a broyle and brauerie with these wordes would not appeare when the Consuls called their names by a bill to prest them for the warres neither would they be sent out to this newe colonie in so muche as the Senate knewe not well what to saye or doe in the matter Martius then who was now growen to great credit and a stowte man besides and of great reputation with the noblest men of ROME rose vp and openly spake against these flattering Tribunes And for the replenishing of the cittie of VELITRES he dyd compell those that were chosen to goe thither and to departe the cittie apon great penalties to him that should disobey but to the warres the people by no meanes would be brought or constrained So Martius taking his friendes and followers with him and such as he could by sayer wordes intreate to goe with him dyd ronne certen forreyes into the dominion of the ANTIATES where he met with great plenty of corne and had a maruelous great spoyle aswell of cattell as of men he had taken prisoners whom he brought awaye with him and reserued nothing for him selfe Afterwardes hauing brought backe againe all his men that went out with him safe and sounde to ROME and euery man riche and loden with spoyle then the hometarriers and housedoues that kept ROME still beganne to repent them that it was not their happe to goe with him and so enuied both them that had sped so well in this iorney and also of malice to Martius they spited to see his credit and estimation increase still more and more bicause they accompted him to be a great hinderer of the people Shortely after this Martius stoode for the Consulshippe and the common people sauored his sute thinking it would be a shame to them to denie and refuse the chiefest noble man of bloude and most worthie persone of ROME and specially him that had done so great seruice and good to the common wealth For the custome of ROME was at that time that suche as dyd sue for any office should for certen dayes before be in the market place only with a poore gowne on their backes and without any coate vnderneath to praye the cittizens to remember them at the daye of election which was thus deuised either to moue the people the more by requesting them in suche meane apparell or els bicause they might shewe them their woundes they had gotten in the warres in the seruice of the cōmon wealth as manifest markes testimonie of their valliantnes Now it is not to be thought that the suters went thus lose in a simple gowne in the market place without any coate vnder it for feare and suspition of the common people for offices of dignitie in the cittie were not then geuen by fauour or corruption It was but of late time and long after this that buying and selling fell out in election of officers and that the voyces of the electours were bought for money But after corruption had once gotten waye into the election of offices it hath ronne from man to man euen to the very sentence of iudges and also emong captaines in the warres so as in the ende that only turned common wealthes into Kingdomes by making armes subiect to money Therefore me thinckes he had reason that sayed he that first made banckets and gaue money to the common people was the first that tooke awaye
them three hundred seuen and thirtie thousand foure hundred and two and fiftie men and Marcus AEmylius Lepidus named president of the Senate who had that honour foure times before and dyd put of the counsell three Senatours that were but meane men And the like meane and moderation he his companion Martius Philippus kept vpon viewe and muster taken of the ROMAINE horsemen And after he had ordered and disposed the greatest matters of his charge and office he fell sicke of a disease that at the beginning seemed very daungerous but in the ende there was no other daunger sauing that it was a lingring disease and hard to cure So following the counsell of phisitians who willed him to goe to a cittie in ITALY called VELIA he tooke sea and went thither and continued there a long time dwelling in pleasaunt houses vpon the sea side quietly and out of all noyse But during this time of his absence the ROMAINES wished for him many a time and ofte And when they were gathered together in the Theaters to see the playes and sportes they cried out diuers times for him whereby they shewed that they had a great desire to see him againe Time being come about when they vsed to make a solemne yerely sacrifice and AEmylius finding him selfe also in good perfect health he returned againe to ROME where he made the sacrifice with the other priestes all the people of ROME gathering about him reioycing muche to see him The next daye after he made another particular sacrifice to geue thankes vnto the goddes for recouerie of his healthe After the sacrifice was ended he went home to his house sate him downe to dinner he sodainly fell into a rauing without any perseuerance of sicknes spied in him before or any chaunge or alteration in him and his wittes went from him in suche sorte that he dyed within three dayes after lacking no necessarie thing that an earthly man could haue to make him happy in this world For he was euen honoured at his funeralles and his vertue was adorned with many goodly glorious ornaments neither with gold siluer nor iuorie nor with other suche sumptuousnes or magnificence of apparell but with the loue and good will of the people all of them confessing his vertue and well doing and this dyd not only his naturall country men performe in memorie of him but his very enemies also For all those that met in ROME by chaunce at that time that were either come out of SPAYNE from GENVA or out of MACEDON all those that were young and strong dyd willingly put them selues vnder the coffin where his bodie laye to helpe to carie him to the churche and the olde men followed his bodie to accompany the same calling AEmylius the benefactour sauiour and father of their countrie For he dyd not only intreate them gently and graciously whom he had subdued but all his life time he was euer ready to pleasure them and to set forwardes their causes euen as they had bene his confederates very friends and neere kinsemen The inuentorie of all his goodes after his death dyd scant amownte vnto the summe of three hundred three score and tenne thousand siluer Drachmes which his two sonnes dyd inherite But Scipio being the younger left all his right vnto his elder brother Fabius bicause he was adopted into a very riche house which was the house of the great Scipio Africanus Suche they saye was Paulus AEmylius conditions and life The ende of Paulus AEmylius life THE LIFE OF Timoleon BEFORE Timoleon was sent into SICILE thus stoode the state of the SYRACVSANS After that Dion had driuen out the tyranne Dionysius he him selfe after was slaine immediatly by treason and those that ayded him to restore the SYRACVSANS to their libertie fell out and were at dissention among them selues By reason whereof the cittie of SYRACVSA chaunging continually newe tyrannes was so troubled and turmoiled with all sorte of euills that it was left in manner desolate and without inhabitants The rest of SICILE in like case was vtterly destroyed and no citties in manner left standing by reason of the long warres and those fewe that remained were most inhabited of forreine souldiers straungers a company of lose men gathered together that tooke paye of no prince nor cittie all the dominions of the same being easely vsurped and as easie to chaunge their lorde In so muche Dionysius the tyranne tenne yeres after Dion had driuen him out of SICILE hauing gathered a certen number of souldiers together againe and through their helpe driuen out Niseus that raigned at that time in SYRACVSA he recouered the Realme againe and made him selfe king So if he was straungely expulsed by a small power out of the greatest Kingdome that euer was in the worlde likewise he more straungely recouered it againe being banished and very poore making him selfe King ouer them who before had driuen him out Thus were the inhabitants of the cittie compelled to serue this tyranne who besides that of his owne nature he was neuer curteous nor ciuill he was now growen to be farre more dogged and cruell by reason of the extreme miserie and misfortune he had endured But the noblest cittizens repaired vnto Icetes who at that time as lorde ruled the cittie of the LEONTINES and they chose him for their generall in these warres not for that he was any thing better then the open tyrannes but bicause they had no other to repaire vnto at that time they trusted him best for that he was borne as them selues within the cittie of SYRACVSA bicause also he had men of warre about him to make head against this tyranne But in the meane time the CARTHAGINIANS came downe into SICILE with a great armie and inuaded the countrie The SYRACVSANS being afrayed of them determined to send ambassadours into GRAECE vnto the CORINTHIANS to praye ayde of them against the barbarous people hauing better hope of them then of any other of the GRAECIANS And that not altogether bicause they were lineally descended from them and that they had receyued in times past many pleasures at their handes but also for that they knewe that CORINTHE was a cittie that in all ages and times dyd euer loue libertie and hate tyrannes and that had allwayes made their greatest warres not for ambition of Kingdomes nor of couetous desire to conquer and rule but only to defend and mainteine the libertie of the GRAECIANS But Icetes in another contrarie sorte he tooke apon him to be generall with a minde to make him selfe king of SYRACVSA For he had secretly practised with the CARTHAGINIANS and openly notwithstanding in words he commended the counsell and determination of the SYRACVSANS and sent ambassadours from him selfe also with theirs vnto PELOPONNESVS not that he was desirous any ayde should come from them to SYRACVSA but bicause he hoped if the CORINTHIANS refused to send them ayde as it was very likely they would
grewe so highe and rancke in the great markett place of SYRACVSA as they grased their horses there and the horsekeepers laye downe by them on the grasse as they fed and that all the cities a fewe excepted were full of redde deare and wilde bores so that men geuen to delite in hunting hauing leysure might finde game many tymes within the suburbes and towne dytches hard by the walles and that such as dwelt in castells and stronge holdes in the contrye would not leaue them to come and dwell in cities by reason they were all growen to stowte and did so hate and detest assemblies of counsell orations and order of gouernment where so many tyrans had reigned Timoleon thereuppon seeing this desolacion and also so fewe SYRACVSANS borne that had escaped thought good and all his Captaines to write to the CORINTHIANS to send people out of GREECE to inhabite the citie of SYRACVSA agayne For otherwise the contrye would growe barren and vnprofitable if the grounde were not plowed Besides that they looked also for great warres out of AFRICKE being aduertised that the CARTHAGINIANS had honge vp the body of Mago their general vpon a crosse who had slayne him selfe for that he could not aunswere the dishonor layed to his charge and that they did leauy another great mightie armie to returne againe the next yere following to make warres in SICILE These letters of Timoleon being brought vnto CORINTHE and the Embassadors of SYRACVSA being arriued with them also who besought the people to take care and protection ouer their poore citie and that they would once againe be fownders of the same the CORINTHIANS did not gredily desire to be Lordes of so goodly and great a citie but first proclaymed by the trompett in all the assemblies solemne feastes and common playes of GREECE that the CORINTHIANS hauing destroyed the tirannie that was in the citie of SYRACVSA and driuen out the tyrannes did call the SYRACVSANS that were fugitiues out of their contrye home againe and all other SICILIANS that liked to come and dwell there to enioy all freedom and libertie with promise to make iust and equall diuision of the landes among them the one to haue as much as the other Moreouer they sent out postes and messengers into ASIA and into all the Ilands where they vnderstoode the banished SYRACVSANS remayned to perswade and intreat them to come to CORINTHE and that the CORINTHIANS would giue them shippes Captaines and meanes to conduct them safely vnto SYRACVSA at their owne proper costes and charges In recompence whereof the citie of CORINTHE receaued euery mans most noble praise and blessing as well for deliuering SICILE in that sorte from the bondage of tyrannes as also for keeping it out of the handes of the barbarous people and restored the naturall SYRACVSANS and SICILIANS to their home and contrye againe Neuertheles such SICILIANS as repayred to CORINTHE apon this proclamacion them selues being but a small number to inhabite the contrye besought the CORINTHIANS to ioyne to them some other inhabitantes aswell of CORINTHE it selfe as out of the rest of GREECE the which was performed For they gathered together about tenne thowsand persons whom they shipped and sent to SYRACVSA Where there were already a great number of other comen vnto Timoleon aswell out of SICILE it self as out of al ITALYE besides so that the whole number as Athâ—nis writeth came to three score thowsand persons Amongst them he deuided the whole contrye and sold them houses of the citie vnto the value of a thowsand talents And bicause he would leaue the olde STRACVSANS able to recouer their owne and make the poore people by this meanes to haue money in common to defraye the common charges of the citie as also their expences in time of warres the statues or images were solde and the people by the most voyces did condemne them For they were solemly indited accused arraigned as if they had bene men aliue to be condemned And it is reported that the SYRACVSANS did reserue the statue of Gelon an auncient tyranne of their citie honoring his memorie bicause of a great victorie he had wonne of the CARTHAGINIANS neare the citie of HIMERA and condemned all the rest to be taken away out of euery corner of the citie and to be sold. Thus beganne the citie of SYRACVSA to replenishe againe and by litle and litle to recouer it selfe many people comming thither from all partes to dwell there Thereupon Timoleon thought to set all other cities at libertie also and vtterly to roote out all the tyrans of SICILE and to obteyne his purpose he went to make warres with them at their owne dores The first he went against was Icetes whome he compelled to forsake the league of the CARTHAGINIANS and to promise also that he would rase all the fortresses he kept and to liue like a priuate man within the citie of the LEONTINES Leptines in like maner that was tyran of the citie of APOLLONIA and of many other litle villages thereabouts when he saw him selfe in daunger to be taken by force did yeld him selfe Whereupon Timoleon saued his life and sent him vnto CORINTHE thinking it honorable for his contrye that the other GRAECIANS should see the tyrans of SICILE in their chiefe citie of fame liuing meanely and poorely like banished people When he had brought this to passe he returned forthwith to SYRACVSA about the stablishment of the common weale assisting Cephalus and Dionysius two notable men sent from CORINTHE to reforme the lawes and to helpe them to stablishe the goodliest ordinaunces for their common weale And now in the meane time bicause the souldiers had a minde to get some thing of their enemies and to auoydidlenes he sent them out abroade to a contrye subiect to the CARTHAGINIANS vnder the charge of Dimarchus and Demaratus Where they made many litle townes rebell against the barbarous people and did not onely liue in all aboundance of wealth but they gathered money together also to mainteyne the warres The CARTHAGINIANS on thother side while they were busy about the matters came downe into LILYBEA with an armie of three score and tenne thowsand men two hundred gallyes and a thowsand other shippes and vessells that caried engines of batterie cartes vittells municion and other necessary prouision for a campe intending to make sporting warres no more but at once to driue all the GRAECIANS againe quite out of SICILE For in deede it was an able armie to ouercome all the SICILIANS if they had bene whole of them selues and not diuided Now they being aduertised that the SICILIANS had inuaded their contrye they went towards them in great furie led by Asdrubal Amilcar generalls of the armie This newes was straight brought to SYRACVSA and the inhabitants were so striken with feare of the report of their armie that being a maruelous great number of them within the citie scant three thowsand of them had the hartes to arme them selues
them selues of their troubles and most miserable and straight life But we must not wonder though the SYBARITANS being womanish men and altogeather geuen to pleasure did so thinke that those men hated their liues who feared not death for the desire they had to doo good and goodwill they had to doo their duetie Which was contrarie in the LACEDAEMONIANS For they were of opinion that to liue and die willingly was a vertue as these funerall verses doo witnesse The dead vvhich here doe rest did not in life esteeme that life or death vvere of them selues or good or bad to deme But euen as life did end or death vvas brought to passe so life or death vvas good or bad this their opinion vvas And in deede to flye death is no shame so it proceede not of a cowardly hart nether to desire death is commendable if it be with contempt and hate of life This is the reason why Homer saith the valliantest men are euer best armed when they come to battaile The lawe makers among the GREECIANS doo euer punishe him that castes away his target but neuer him that casteth away his sworde or lawnce For euery man must first thinke to defende him selfe before he seeke to hurt his enimie and specially such as haue the whole state of a realme in their handes and be generalles of the feeld For if the comparison be true that Iphicrates the ATHENIAN captaine made that in an armie of men the light horsemē resemble the handes the men of armes the feete the battaill of footemen the stomake brest the captaine the head of a mans body it seemeth then that the venturous captaine putting him selfe in daunger with out cause is not onely careles of his owne life but also of all theirs whose liues depende vpon his saftie As contrarily he being carefull of his owne person cannot but be carefull of his souldiers that serue vnder him Therefore Callicratidas a LACEDAEMONIAN captaine and a woorthie man otherwise did vnwisely aunswere a soothsaier that bad him take hede to him selfe for the signes and tokens of the sacrifices did threaten his death Sparta said he standeth not vpon one man alone It is true that to fight by sea or by land man for man Callicratidas was but one man of him selfe but as captaine or lieuetenaunt generall he had the whole power and force of the armie in his person For he was not a man alone when so manie mens liues were lost with his Now olde Antigonus was of a contrary minde For he being redie to geue battell by sea about the I le of ANDRO's made a better aunswer to one that said vnto him his enemies had moe shippes then him selfe For how many shippes doest thou recken then my selfe said he Therein he did wisely to make great accompt of the worthines of a generall specially when it is ioyned with hardines and experience For the chiefest poynte of seruice is to saue him that saueth all other For when Chares on a time shewed the ATHENIANS openly the sundrie woundes and cuttes he had receiued apō his body his target also thrust through with many piks Timotheus straight said vnto him Chares I am not of thy minde For when I did besege the citie of SAMOS I was ashamed to see a darte throwne from the walles light hard by me for that I shewed my selfe a rashe young man and more venturous then became a generall of so great an armie For when it standeth much apon the whole armie and that it is necessarie the generall thereof doo put him selfe in daunger then he should put him selfe forwarde and occupie both handes and body without respect not regarding their wordes that say a good wise captaine should die for age or at the least old But where there is smal honor to be woone by very good successe and contrariewise muche losse and distruction by great misfortune no man of wisedome or iudgement would wish a generall to fight as a priuate souldier to hazard the losse of a generall I thought good therefore to make this preface before the liues of Pelopidas and of Marcellus both which were woorthie men and died otherwise then they shoulde For they both were valliant souldiers in the fielde and did both of them honor their contrie with famous victories and specially against great and dreadfull enemies For the one was the first as they saie that ouerthrewe Hanniball who was neuer ouercome by any before And the other also ouercame the LACEDAEMONIANS in battell that ruled al GREECE at that time both by sea and by land Yet they both carelesly lost their liues by venturing to boldely when their contrie stoode in greatest neede of suche men and captaines as they were This is the cause why we folowing the resemblaunce that was betweene them haue compared their liues together Pelopidas the sonne of Hippoclus came of one of the noblest houses of the citie of THEBES as Epaminondas did He being brought vp in great wealth his father left him heire of all his landes and goodes being but a young man So he straight shewed him selfe willing to doo good with his monie to those that needed helpe and were worthie to let the worlde see that his monie was not his maister For as Aristotle saith of these rich men the most part of them do not vse their goods for extreame couetousnes other againe doo abuse them as being geuen to ouermuche pleasures So riche men became slaues all their life time some to pleasure other to profit Now al Pelopidas other frendes woulde be beholding to him and take very thanckfully his curtesie and liberalitie towardes them But Epaminondas could neuer be brought to any thing at his handes Howbeit Pelopidas selfe folowed Epaminondas maner for he tooke a pride and pleasure to goe simply appareled to fare meanely to labor willingly and to make warres openly as he did He was euen such another as Euripides the Poet described Capaneus to be when he said of him He rich and vvelthie vvas yet vvas he there vvithall no vvight that purchast vvorldly hate nor insolent at all For he would haue been ashamed that the poorest man of the cittie of THEBES shoulde haue worne meaner apparell apon his backe then himselfe As for Epaminondas his pouertie was not daintie to him bicause his parentes were euer poore and yet for all that he passed it ouer more easely by studie of Philosophie which he gaue him selfe vnto and for that from his youth he liked to leade a spare life without excesse Where Pelopidas matched in a noble house and maryed highly and had two children by his wife neuerthelesse he had no minde to keepe or increase his goodes the more for that but gaue him selfe altogeather to serue the common weale as long as he liued By reason whereof his wealth decaied and his best frendes grewe angrie with him telling him how he did not well to make no more reckoning of a thing that was
the city of MILLAINE was taken After that all the other cities there about yelded of them selues without force of siege and the GAVLES wholly submitted them selues all that they had to the mercy of the ROMAINES who graunted them peace vppon easie condicions For these famous victories the Senate of ROME gaue all the honor of triumphe vnto Marcellus only and that was as wonderfull and worthy a sight as any that euer past before him what for the infinite spoyles and the numbers of great men taken prisoners and also for the exceeding sumptuousnes stately shew thereof But the goodliest sight of all for the rarenes was to behold Marcellus selfe carying on his shoulders the whole spoyle of the barbarous king to offer vp to Iupiter Feretrian For he had cut downe a goodly younge oke of the mountaine straight and shut vp very long which he had trimmed vp in forme of triumphe hanging all the armed peces he had wonne of the king very orderly rounde about it Then when all the show of his triumphe was past he him selfe tooke the oke on his shoulders and gotte vp vpon his triumphing charet and so marched through the city carying these signes thereupon which was the noblest sight and honorablest show of the whole triumphe His army followed after the charet singing verses and songes of victory in praise of the goddes and their Captaine and when he had passed through the whole city and was come to the temple of Iupiter called Feretrian there he set vp this young oke and token of triumphe This Marcellus is the third and last ROMAINE Captaine to whom happened this honor in our age For the first man that euer offered vp to Iupiter the spoyles of the general of their enemies was king Romulus who wanne the like spoyles of Acron king of the CAENINIANS The second was Cornelius Cossus who slue Tolemnius generall of the THVSCANS And the third was Marcellus who slue with his owne handes Britomarus king of the GAVLES and after him no man euer since could obtaine the like good fortune The god to whom these maner of spoyles are consecrated thus is called Iupiter Feretrian so tearmed as some write bicause they do cary this token of triumphe to him following the deriuation of this Greeke word Ferin which signifieth to cary for in those former times many Greeke words were mingled with the Latine Other affirme it is one of the surnames of Iupiter signifying as much as lightening for Ferire in the Latine tonge signifieth to strike And some say also in warres it is properly to hurt or kill with his owne handes for the ROMAINES do vse at this day when they geue a charge apon their enemies in battell or that they haue them in chase flying to crie incoraging one another Feri Feri which is as much as kill kill And the spoyles taken frō the enemies also are generally called Spolia but those which Lieutenantes generall or generalles do take from the generalles of their enemies when they haue slaine them they are called particulary Spolia opima Yet some hold opinion that kinge Numa Pompilius mencioning the rich spoyles or Spolia opima in his cōmentaries speaketh of the first the second and the third and commaundeth that the first spoyles which are wonne should be consecrated to Iupiter Feretrian the second vnto Mars and the third vnto Quirinus And that they should giue to him that had wonne the first spoyles three hundred Asses the second two hundred the third a hūdred But notwithstanding the best opinion vsuall taking of Spolia opima referreth them to be the first spoyles wonne in a foughten field those which the Lieutenāt of an army or a general doth take frō the general of the enemies after he hath slaine him with his owne handes And thus much for declaracion of this matter Furthermore the ROMAINES were so ioyfull of this victory of their good successe in this warre that they caused a massie cuppe of golde to be made of the spoyle they had gotten weyinge a hundred pounde weight which they sent to offer vp in the temple of Apollo Pythias in the city of DELPHES in token of thankes and they made liberall diuision besides of the spoyles vnto their frendes and confederates and sent a great parte of it vnto Hieron king of SYRACVSA who was their confederate Not lōg after Hanniball being entred ITALIE Marcellus was sent with an army by sea into SICILE And after the great ouerthrow was giuen at the battel of CANNES wherein there died so many thowsande ROMAINES and that very few of them saued them selues by flyinge into the city of CANNVSIVM they looked that Hanniball hauinge ouercome the flower of all the ROMAINES youth and their greatest force woulde not fayle to come straight to ROME Wherefore Marcellus first sent fifteene hundred of his men by sea to help to defende ROME and hauinge afterwardes receaued commaundement from the Senate he came to CANNVSIVM where he tooke such as were fled thither for succor after the battell so brought them out to the fielde to defende the countrie Now the ROMAINES hauing lost the most parte of all their best Captaines in diuerse sundry battells before of all those that remained Fabius Maximus was the onely able and reputed man for commendacion of his honesty and wisedom yet they misliked of him notwithstanding for a timerous man and of no corage as a man to ful of doubts and consideracion and loth to put any thing in hazard saying he was a good Captaine to defende but not to offende the enemy Whereupon they thought good to ioyne Marcellus liuely youth corage with Fabius feminine feare and wisedom and therefore some yeares they chose them both Consulls together or else they sent one of them as Consull and the other as Proconsull eche in his turne to the contrie where they hadde warres And for proofe hereof Posidonius wryteth that the ROMAINES at that time called Fabius Maximus their target and Marcellus their sword Therefore Hanniball him selfe sayed he feared Fabius Maximus as his gouernor and Marcellus as his enemy bicause the one kept him from hurting of others and the other did hurt to him selfe Immediatly after this great victory at CANNES Hannibals souldiers became so bolde so carelesse and disordered that they kept the fielde without feare of any thing and dispersed them selues farre from their campe wherefore Marcellus setting apon those stragglers he slue them euery man so by litle and litle did still lessen the power and strength of his enemy Afterwardes he aided the cities of BIZANTIVM and of NOLA and stablished the true deuotion and loue of the BIZANTINES towardes the ROMAINES from thence he went to NOLA found great sediton there betwixt the Senate people bicause the Senate coulde not keepe the people in obedience but they woulde needes take Hannibals parte The cause of the peoples stubbornnesse grewe by occasion of a
in the turning of a hand spoyled and brought to nought For it is sayd that the riches and goodes taken away at the sacke of SYRACVSA were nothinge inferior to the spoyles of CARTHAGE which was also sacked not longe after that for the other parte of the city of SYRACVSA called ACRADINA was soone after also taken by treason and spoyled against the Captaines willes sauinge the kinges treasure which was reserued to be caried to the common treasure of ROME SYRACVSA beinge taken nothinge greued Marcellus more then the losse of Archimedes Who beinge in his studie when the citie was taken busily seekinge out by him selfe the demonstracion of some Geometricall proposition which he hadde drawen in figure and so earnestly occupied therein as he neither sawe nor hearde any noyse of enemies that ranne vppe and downe the citie and much lesse knewe it was taken He wondered when he sawe a souldier by him that bad him go with him to Marcellus Notwithstandinge he spake to the souldier and bad him tary vntill he had done his conclusion and brought it to demonstracion but the souldier being angry with his aunswer drew out his sword and killed him Other say that the ROMAINE souldier when he came offered the swords poynt to him to kill him and that Archimedes when he saw him prayed him to hold his hand a litle that he might not leaue the matter he looked for vnperfect without demonstracion But the souldier makinge no reckening of his speculation killed him presently It is reported a third way also sayinge that certeine souldiers met him in the streetes going to Marcellus carying certeine Mathematicall instrumentes in a litle pretie coffer as dialles for the sunne Sphaeres and Angles wherewith they measure the greatnesse of the body of the sunne by viewe and they supposing he hadde caried some golde or siluer or other pretious Iuells in that litle coffer slue him for it But it is most true that Marcellus was maruelous sorie for his death and euer after hated the villen that slue him as a cursed and execrable persone and howe he made also maruelous much afterwards of Archimedes kinsemen for his sake The ROMAINES were estemed of at that time by all nations for maruelous expert souldiers and taken for verie vallyant and daungerous men to be dealt with but they neuer shewed any example of their clemencie and curtesie and least of all of any ciuill manner to any straungers vntill Marcellus taught the way whose actes did shewe the GREECIANS then that the ROMAINES were more gratious and mercifull then they For he did so curteouslie intreate those that hadde to do with him and shewed such fauour to priuate persones and also to whole citties that if there were any crueltie shewed in the citties of ENNA or at MEGARES or against the SYRACVSANS it was rather through their owne fault and follie that were hurt then theirs that didde them the hurte And for profe hereof I will recite you one example onely amongest many There is a citie in SICILE called ENGYIVM it is no great thinge but a verie auncient citie of name by reason of the trafficke thither for that there are certeine goddesses to be seene whome they worship called the mothers Some say the CRETANS were the first builders and founders of the temple there where you shall see speares and helmets of copper and apon them are grauen the name of Meriones and apon others Vlysses name also which are consecrated to these goddesses This citie stoode altogether at the deuotion of the CARTHAGINIANS and Nicias beinge the chiefest man of the same was all he might against it and perswaded them openlie in all their counsailles to take parte with the ROMAINES prouinge it by many reasons that his enemies counsaylinge the contrarie were vnprofitable members of the common wealth Whereuppon Nicias enemies fearinge his greatnesse and authoritie they did conspyre amonge them selues to apprehende him and to deliuer him to the CARTHAGINIANS But Nicias hearinge of such a matter and findinge that they laye in wayte to take him vsed this pollicie to preuent their treason He gaue out openlie very ill speeches against the goddesses and did many things in derogation of their honor and sayd the sight of them which was a matter of great credit was but deuise and that there was no credit to be geuen to them These words tickled his enemies imagining that the common people would lay the mischiefe they pretended against him to him selfe as the only causes of his owne hurt So they hauinge appointed a day to apprehende him by chaunce a common counsaill was kept that day they hadde determined of where Nicias speaking to the people about matter of counsaill in the middest of his oration fell to the grounde to the great wonder of the whole assembly as euery man may coniecture Howbeit neuer a man sturred a prety while after he beganne to lift vppe his head a litle and to looke gastely about him with a faint trembling voyce which he still gathered higher and lowder by litle and litle vntill he sawe all the people wonderously afrayed and amazed that not one of them durst speake Then throwing his gowne from him and renting his coate he got vpon his feete halfe naked and ranne towardes the gate of the Theater cryinge out that the goddesses mothers did torment him and not a man durst once come neere him nor offer to stoppe him they were so supersticious and foolishly afrayed of the goddesses imagining it was some diuine punishment But by this meanes he easily got to the gates of the city and fled from them all and he was neuer seene after that time to do or speake like a madde man in any thing His wife that was made priuy to his deuise and furthered his intent went first and fell downe on her knees before the goddesses mothers in their temple as she had hartily prayed vnto them faining afterwards she would go seeke her husbande that ranne vp and downe the fieldes like a madde man she went out of the city with her litle children and no body troubled her Thus did they escape without daunger and went vnto Marcellus to SYRACVSA The ENGIENIANS afterwards played such insolent partes that Marcellus in the ende went thither and caused them all to be taken and bounde as though he woulde haue put them to execution But Nicias came to him with the teares in his eyes and embracing his knees and kissinge his handes besought him to take pitie of his poore citizens beginning first with those that were his greatest enemies This good nature of Nicias so pacified Marcellus wrath that he pardoned them all did no hurt to the city and gaue Nicias certeine land besides many other rich giftes he bestowed apon him Thus it is reported in the history of Posidonius the Philosopher Now Marcellus being sent for home by the ROMANES bicause they had warres in their owne contrie and euen at ROME gates he departed out of
henceforth indeuor my selfe to excede you in continuing this your desire After which aunswere he told Aristides now he purposed to mocke the barbarous kinge and prayed him to intreate Eurybiades to yelde to his deuise to perswade him that there was no other way to saue GREECE but to fight by sea for Eurybiades gaue more creditte to Aristides perswasions then he did to Themistocles wordes For when all the Captaines were called to counsell to determine whether they should geue battell or not one Cleocritus CORINTHIAN sayd to Themistocles that his counsell did not like Aristides at all as it seemed bicause he spake neuer a worde to it being present Aristides answered him straight that he vtterly mistooke him For quod he if I did not thinke his counsell good I would not hold my peace as I do but now I am mute not for any good will I beare him but bicause I finde his counsell wise and sounde While the Captaines of the GREECIANS were reasoning in this sorte Aristides seeing PSYTTALEA a litle Ilande before SALAMINA within the straight full of men of warre of their enemies imbarked immediatly the valliantest and lustiest souldiers he hadde of all his contry men into the least foystes or pynnasies he had among all his gallyes and went with them and landed in that I le and ouerthrewe all the barbarous people he founde there and put them to the sworde euery man taking the chiefest of them only prisoners among which were three sonnes of Sandauce the kinges sister whome he sent vnto Themistocles These three Lordes were all slaine by the commaundement of Euphrantidas the Soothsayer and sacrificed to Bacchus Omestes as to say the cruell Bacchus and eater of raw flesh and all vpon an oracle they had receiued That done Aristides dispersed his souldiers about the I le to receiue all such as were by fortune of watre or of the sea cast into the Ilande to the end that no enemy of theirs should scape their hands nor any of his frendes should perish For the greatest fleete of all their shippes and the sharpest encounter of the whole battell was about this little Ilande and therefore the tokens of triumphe were set there After the battell was wonne Themistocles to feele Aristides opinion sayed vnto him we haue done a good peece of seruice but yet there is an other behinde of greater importance and that is this We must bringe all ASIA into EVROPE which we may easily do if we saile with all speede to the straight of HELLESPONT and go breake the bridge the king hath made there Then Aristides cried out stay there neuer speake of that but I pray you let vs rather seeke al the wayes we can how to driue this barbarous king out of GREECE least if we kepe him in still with so great an army and he shall see no way before him to escape out we driue him then to fight like a desperate man and perill our selues we can not tell to what When Themistocles had hearde his opinion he secretely sent the euenuke Arnaces his prisoner vnto kinge Xerxes to aduertise him from him that he had altered the GREECIANS purpose which was fully bent to haue broken vp the bridge he hadde made at the straight of HELLESPONT to passe ouer his army and that he was the willinger to let him vnderstande it that he might the better prouide for the safety of his person King Xerxes being netled with this aduertisement tooke straight his iorney and with all speede went to recouer the straight of HALLESPONT and left Mardonius his Lieutenant general in GREECE with three hundred thowsand of the best souldiers of his army This Mardonius was maruelously dreaded of all the GREECIANS for the wonderfull great army he hadde by lande and he did threaten them also by his letters he wrote vnto them You haue sayed he with your shippes by sea ouercome men acquainted to fight by lande and that neuer handeled ower but now the plaines of THESSALIE or the fieldes of BOEOTIA are very fayer and large for horsemen and footemen to make proofe of their valliantnes if you will come to the battell in the field He wrote letters to the ATHENIANS by the kinge his maisters commaundement of other effect and offered them from him to builde vp their city againe to geue them a great pencion and furthermore to make them Lordes of all GREECE so they woulde geue ouer and leaue of these warres The LACEDAEMONIANS beinge forthwith aduertised of his letters wrytten to the ATHENIANS and fearing least they would haue bene perswaded by them sent their Ambassadors with al speede to ATHENS to pray them to send their wiues and children vnto SPARTA and also to offer them vittailles to relieue their poore olde people bicause of the great scarcity that was at ATHENS for that their city was burnt and rased and all their contry besides destroyed by the barbarous people The ATHENIANS hauing heard the offers of the Ambassadors of LACEDAEMON made them a maruelous answer through Aristides counsell and this it was That they bare with the barbarous people though they thought all thinges were to be sold for gold siluer bicuase they esteemed nothing more pretious nor better in this world then to be riche and wealthy but on the other side they were greatly offended with the LACEDAEMONIANS that they only regarded the present pouerty and necessity of the ATHENIANS and did forget their vertue and noble corage thinking to make them fight more valliantly for the preseruation of GREECE by offering them vittells to liue withall The people approuing this aunswere Aristides then caused the Ambassadors of SPARTA to come to the assembly and commaunded them to tell the LACEDAEMONIANS by worde of mouth that all the golde aboue or vnder the grounde coulde not corrupt the ATHENIANS to make them take any summe of money or reward to leaue the defence of the liberty of GREECE to the herauld that came from MARDONIUS he shewed him the sunne and sayd vnto him so long as yonder sunne keepeth his course about the worlde so long will the ATHENIANS be mortall enemies vnto the PERSIANS bicause they haue spoyled and destroyed all their contry and haue defiled and burnt the temples of their goddes Besides he willed that the Priestes by commaundement of the people shoulde excommunicate and curse him that woulde procure them to sende vnto the PERSIANS to make peace with them and to breake their league and allyance with the other GREECIANS Hereupon when Mardonius came againe the seconde time to ouerrunne the contry of ATTICA the ATHENIANS got thē againe into the I le of SALAMINA and then they sent Aristides Ambassador vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS He sharpely tooke then vp and reproued their sloth and negligence bicause they had againe forsaken ATHENS and left it to the spoyle of the barbarous people and prayed them yet they woulde looke to saue the rest of GREECE The Ephori which were
no more then if he had neuer enuied him in his prosperity And touching Aristides death some write he dyed in the realme of PONTVS being sent thither about matters of the state other thinke he dyed an old man in the citie of ATHENS greatly honored and beloued of all the citizens But Craterus the MACEDONIAN wryteth of his death in this sorte After that Themistocles sayeth he was fled the people of ATHENS became very stubborne and insolent whereupon many lewde men grew to be common appeachers and accusers of the noble men and chiefest citizens and to stirre vp the malice and ill will of the common people against them who were waxen proude by reason of their prosperity and dominion that was enlarged Amonge the rest Aristides was condemned for extorcion and ill behauiour in the common wealth apon one Diophantes accusation of the village of AMPHITROPE who burdened him that he tooke money of the IORIANS to make the annuell tribute cease which they payed vnto ATHENS and so Craterus sayth that bicause Aristides was not able to pay the fine they set apon his heade which was fiue Minas he was driuen to forsake ATHENS and to gette him into IONIA where he dyed Yet doth not Craterus bring foorth any probable matter to proue this true he wryteth as his pleadinge his sentence and condemnation or any decree passed against him although he vsed great diligence else in collectinge all such matters and vowchinge his authors Furthermore all other wryters that haue specially noted the faultes and offences committed by the people of ATHENS in former times against their Captaines and gouernors they do declare Themistocles exile Miltiades captiuity that dyed in prison Pericles fine wherein he was condemned and Paches death that slue him selfe in the pulpit for orations when he sawe he was condemned and tell diuerse such stories addinge to also Aristides banishment but yet they make no maner of mencion of the condemnation which Craterus speaketh of Moreouer Aristides tombe is to be seene at this day apon the hauen of Phalerus which was set vp for him at the charge of the common wealth as it is reported bicause he dyed so poore a manne as they founde nothing in his house to bury him with Other go further and say that his daughters were maried by decree of the people at the charge of the common wealth and that the citie gaue euery one of them three thowsande Drachmas and his sonne Lysimachus a hundred Minas of siluer and a hundred Iugera and at Alcibiades request who was the author of the decree they gaue him foure Drachmas a day besides of ordinarie allowance Furthermore when this Lysimachus dyed he left aliue one onely daughter called Polycrite whom the people appointed as Callisthenes wryteth as much prouisino to liue withall as they gaue to any that wanne the Olympian games And sithence Demetrius PHALERIAN Hieronymus RHODIAN Aristoxenus the musitian and Aristotle the Philosopher at the least if the booke intituled of Nobilitie be any of Aristotles workes all these agree together that one Myrto Aristides daughters daughter was maried to the wise Socrates who tooke her to his wife hauing a wife already bicause she was a poore widdow could not be maried for her pouerty hauing much a do to liue Yet Panaetius doth wryte against them in his booke of Socrates life But Demetrius PHALERIAN wryteth in his booke he intituled Socrates that he could remember very well he had seene one Lysimachus Aristides sonnes sonne or his daughters sonne that was very poore and liued of that he could get to interpret dreames by certaine tables wherin was wrytten the arte to interpret the signification of dreames and that he kept commonly about the temple of Bacchus called Iacchion vnto whom together with his mother and his sister he sayd he had caused the people to geue them a Triobolum a peece euery day towards their liuinge It is very true that the selfe same Demetrius PHALERIAN when he reformed the state of ATHENS ordained that his mother and sister should haue ech of them a Drachma by the day to finde them withall out of the common chamber of the city And it is no new nor straunge thing that the people of ATHENS were so carefull to helpe and to relieue the women that dwelt in the citie considering that in times past Aristogiton hauing a litle daughter in the I le of LEMNOS in very hard and poore state and that coulde not be bestowed in mariage for her pouerty they caused her to be brought to ATHENS and maried her in one of the noblest houses of the city and made her a ioynter besides in the village of POTAMOS Which great curtesy humanity of theirs hath euer deserued great fame and commendacion yet cōtinueth euen vntil this day in that noble city of ATHENS in the mouth of euery man there THE LIFE OF Marcus Cato the Censor MArcus Cato and his auncesters were as they say of the city of TUVSCVLVM but before he went vnto the warres and delt in matters of the common wealth he dwelt liued in the contry of the SABYNES vpon certeine land his father left him And though to many his auncesters were knowen to haue bene obscure yet he him self did highly commende his father Marcus by bearing his name and saying he was a souldier and had serued valliantly in the fielde And he telleth also of an other Cato that was his great grandfather who for his valliant seruice had bene oft rewarded of the generals with such honorable giftes as the ROMAINES did vse to geue vnto them that had done some famous act in any battell and how that he hauinge lost fiue horses of seruice in the warres the value of the fame were restored to him againe in money of the common treasure bicause he had shewed himselfe trusty and valliant for the common wealth And where they had a common speeche at ROME to call them vpstartes that were no gentlemen borne but did rise by vertue it fortuned Cato to be called one of them And for his parte he did confesse it that he was of the first of the house that euer had honor and office of state but by reason of the noble actes and good seruice of his auncestors he maintained he was very auncient He was called at the beginning after his third name Priscus but afterwardes by reason of his great wisedom and experience he was surnamed Cato bicause the ROMAINES call a wise man and him that hath seene much Cato He was somewhat geuen to be redde faced and had a payer of staring eyes in his heade as this man telleth vs that for ill will wrote these verses of him after his death Pluto the god vvhich rules the furies infernall vvill not receiue the damned ghost of Porcius in his hall his saucy coppered nose and fiery staring eyes his common slaunderous tales vvhich he did in this vvorld deuise made
this young maide went somewhat boldly by the chamber of young Cato to go into his father the young man sayd neuer a word at it yet his father perceiued that he was somewhat ashamed and gaue the maide no good countenaunce Wherefore findinge that his sonne and daughter in lawe were angry with the matter sayinge nothinge to them of it nor shewinge them any ill countenaunce he went one morninge to the market place as his maner was with a traine that followed him amongest whome was one Salonius that had bene his clearke and wayted vpon him as the rest did Cato calling him out alowde by his name asked him if he hadde not yet bestowed his daughter Salonius aunswered him he had not yet bestowed her nor woulde not before he made him priuie to it Then Cato tolde him againe I haue founde out a husbande for her and a sonne in lawe for thee and it will be no ill matche for her vnlesse she mislike the age of the man for in deede he is very olde but otherwise there is no faulte in him Salonius tolde him againe that for that matter he referred all to him and his daughter also prayinge him euen to make what matche he thought good for her for she was his humble seruaunt and relyed wholly vppon him standinge in neede of his fauor and furtheraunce Then Cato beganne to discouer and tolde him plainely he woulde willingely mary her him selfe Salonius therewith was abashed bicause he thought Cato was too olde to mary then and him selfe was no fitte manne to matche in any honorable house speciallie with a Consull and one that hadde triumped howebeit in the ende when he sawe Cato ment good earnest he was very glad of the matche and so with this talke they went on together to the markette place and agreed then vpon the mariage Now while they went about this matter Cato the sonne taking some of his kinne and frendes with him went vnto his father to aske him if he had offended him in any thinge that for spight he shoulde bringe him a steppe mother into his house Then his father cried out sayd O my sonne I pray thee say not so I like well all thou doest and I finde no cause to complaine of thee but I do it bicause I desire to haue many children and to leaue many such like citizens as thou art in the common wealth Some say that Pisistratus the tyran of ATHENS made such a like aunswere vnto the children of his first wife which were men growen when he maried his seconde wife Timonassa of the towne of ARGOS of whom he had as it is reported Iophon and Thessalus But to returne againe to Cato he had a sonne by his second wife whom he named after her name Cato SALONIAN and his eldest sonne died in his office beinge Praetor of whome he often speaketh in diuerse of his bookes commendinge him for a very honest man And they say he tooke the death of him very paciently and like a graue wise man not leauing therefore to do any seruice or businesse for the state otherwise then he did before And therein he did not as Lucius Lucullus Metellus surnamed Pius did afterwards who gaue vp medling any more with matters of gouernment and state after they were waxen olde For he thought it a charge and duety wherevnto euery honest man whilest he liued was bounde in all piety Nor as Scipio AFRICAN hadde done before him who perceiuing that the glory fame of his doings did purchase him the ill will of the citizens he chaunged the rest of his life into quietnes and forsooke the citie and all dealings in common wealth and went dwelt in the contry But as there was one that told Dionysius the tyran of SYRACVSA as it is wrytten that he could not die more honorably then to be buried in the tyranny euen so did Cato thinke that he could not waxe more honestlie olde then in seruing of the common wealth vnto his dying day So at vacant times when Cato was desirous a litle to recreate and refresh him selfe he passed his time away in makinge of bookes and lookinge vppon his husbandry in the contry This is the cause why he wrote so many kindes of bookes and stories But his tillage and husbandry in the contry he did tende and followe all in his youth for his profit For he sayed he had but two sortes of reuenue tillage and sparinge but in age whatsoeuer he did in the contry it was all for pleasure and to learne some thinge euer of nature For he hath wrytten a booke of the contry life and of tillage in the which he sheweth howe to make tartes and cakes and how to keepe frutes He woulde needes shew such singularity and skill in all thinges when he was in his house in the contry he fared a litle better then he did in other places and would oftentimes bid his neighbours and such as had lande lying about him to come and suppe with him and he would be mery with them so that his company was not onely pleasaunt and likinge to olde folkes as him selfe but also to the younger sorte For he had seene much and had experience in many thinges and vsed much pleasaunt talke profitable for the hearers He thought the bord one of the chiefest meanes to breede loue amongest men and at his owne table woulde alwayes praise good men and vertuous citizens but would suffer no talke of euill men neither in their praise nor dispraise Now it is thought the last notable acte and seruice he did in the common wealth was the ouerthrow of CARTHAGE for in deede he that wanne it and rased it vtterly was Scipio the seconde but it was chiefely through Catoes counsell and aduise that the last warre was taken in hand against the CARTHAGINIANS and it chaunced apon this occasion Cato was sent into AFRICKE to vnderstande the cause and controuersie that was betwene the CARTHAGINIANS and Massinissa kinge of NVMIDIA which were at great warres together And he was sent thither bicause king Massinissa had euer bene a frend vnto the ROMAINES and for that the CARTHAGINIANS were become their confederates since the last warres in the which they were ouerthrowen by Scipio the first who tooke for a fyne of them a great parte of their Empire and imposed apon them besides a great yearely tribute Now when he was come into that contrie he founde not the citie of CARTHAGE in miserie beggerie and out of harte as the ROMAINES supposed but full of lusty youthes very riche and wealthie and great store of armour and munition in it for the warres so that by reason of the wealth thereof CARTHAGE caried a high sayle and stowped not for a litle Wherefore he thought that it was more then time for the ROMAINES to leaue to vnderstande the controuersies betwext the CARTHAGINIANS and Massinissa and rather to prouide betimes to destroye CARTHAGE that hadde beene euer an
durst not tary him though he had his army within the city but stale out at an other gate and marched away in all the hast he could thinking him selfe a happy man and he could so escape his handes and retyre with safety as in dede he did And thus was MESSINA by his meanes deliuered frō captiuity All that we haue written hitherto concerning Philopoemen falleth out doutlesse to his great honor and glory but afterwardes he was greatly dispraised for a iorney he made into CRETA at the request of the GORTYNIANS who sent to pray him to be their Captaine being sore troubled with warres at that time Bicause Philopoemen went then to serue the GORTYNIANS when the tyranne Nabis had greatest warres with the MEGALOPOLITANS in their owne contry they laid item to his charge either that he did it to flie the warres or else that he sought honor out of season with foreine nations when his poore citizens the MEGALOPOLITANS were in such distresse that their contry being lost and destroyed they were driuen to keepe them within their city and to sow all their voide groundes and streetes in the same with corne to susteine them withall when their enemies were encamped almost hard at their towne gates And the rather bicause him selfe making warres with the CRETANS and seruing straungers beyonde the sea in the meane time gaue his enemyes occasion of slaunder him that he fled that he would not tary to fight for defence of his contry Againe there were that sayd bicause the ACHAIANS did choose other for their Generall that he being a priuate man and without charge was the rather contented to be Generall of the GORTYNIANS who had maruelously intreated him to take the charge for he was a man that coulde not abide to liue idlely and that desired specially aboue all things to serue continually in the warres and to put in practise his skil and discipline in the leading of an army The wordes he spake one day of king Ptolomie doth witnesse as much For when there were some that praised king Ptolomie highly saying that he trained his army well and that he still continued his persone in exercise of armes It is not commendable for a king sayd he of his yeares to delite in traininge his men to exercise armes but to doe some act◠him selfe in persone Well in the ende the MEGALOPOLITANS tooke his abscence in such euill parte that they thought it a peece of treason and would needes haue banished him and put him from the freedome of the citie had not the ACHAIANS sent their Generall Aristaenetus vnto them who would not suffer the sentence of banishment to passe against him although otherwise there was euer contention betwene them about matters of the common wealth Afterwards Philopoemen perceiuing his contrymen made no more accompt of him to spight them withall he made diuerse small villages and cities rebell against them taught them to say to giue it out that they were not their subiects neither payed them tribute from the beginning and he made them stande to it openly and maintaine their sedition against the city of MEGALIPOLIS before the councell of the ACHAIANS These things happened shortly after But whilest he made warres in CRETA for the GORTYNIANS he shewed not himself a PELOPONNESIAN not like a man borne in ARCADIA to make plaine open warres but he had learned the maner of the CRETANS to vse their owne policies fine deuises ambushes against them selues And made them know also that all their crafts were but childish sportes as it were in respect of those that were deuised and put in execution by a wise experienced Captaine and skilfull to fight a battell So Philopoemen hauing wonne great fame by his actes done in CRETA returned againe to PELOPONNESVS where he founde that Philip kinge of MACEDON had bene ouercome in battell by Titus Quintius Flaminius and that the ACHAIANS ioyning with the ROMAINES did make warre against the tyran Nabis against whome he was made Generall immediatly vpon his returne and gaue him battell by sea In the which it seemed he fell into like misfortune as Epaminondas did the euent of this battell fallinge out much worse with him then was looked for in respect of his former corage and valliantnesse But as for Epaminondas some say he returned willingly out of ASIA and the Iles without any exployte done bicause he would not haue his contrymen fleshed with spoyle by sea as fearing least of valliant souldiers by lande they would by litle and litle as Plato sayd become dissolute mariners by sea But Philopoemen contrariwise presuming vpon the skill he had to set the battell in good order by lande woulde needes take vppon him to do the same by sea But he was taught to his cost to knowe what exercise and experience ment and howe stronge it maketh them that are practised in thinges For he lost not onely the battell by sea beinge vnskilfull of that seruice but he committed besides a fowler errour For that he caused an old shippe to be rigged which had bene very good of seruice before but not occupied in forty yeares together and imbarked his contrymen into the same which were all likely to perish bicause the shippe had diuerse leakes by fault of good calking This ouerthrow made his enemies despise him vtterly who perswaded them selues he was fled for altogether and had giuen them sea roome whereupon they layed siege to the citie of GYTHIVM Philopoemen beinge aduertised thereof imbarked his men sodainely and set vpon his enemies ere they wist it or had any thought of his comming and founde them straggling vp and downe without watch or garde by reason of the victory they had lately wonne So he landed his men closely by night and went and set fyre vppon his enemies campe and burnt it euery whitte and in this feare and hurly burly slue a great number of them Shortely after this stealing apon them the tyran Nabis also stole apon him againe vnwares as he was to goe through a maruelous ill and daungerous way Which made the ACHAIANS amazed at the first thinkinge it vnpossible for them that they could euer scape that daunger considering their enemies kept all the wayes thereabouts But Philopoemen bethinking him selfe and considering the nature scituacion of the place after he had viewed it well he shewed them plainly then that the chiefest point of a good souldier and man of warre was to know how to put an army in battell accordinge to the time and scituacion of the place For he did but alter the forme of his battell a litle and sorted it according to the scituacion of the place wherein he was compassed and by doinge this without trouble or busines he tooke away all feare of daunger and gaue a charge vpon his enemies in such fierce wise that in a shorte time he put thē all to flight And when he perceiued that they did not flie all in troupes together
caused thē to be taken which afterwards were put to death with all kind of tormēts That done they burnt Philopoemenes body and did put his ashes into a pot Then they straight departed from MESSINA not in disorder one apon an others necke as euery man listed but in such an order and ray that in the middest of these funeralles they did make a triumphe of victorie For the souldiers were all crowned with garlandes of lawrell in token of victory notwithstanding the teares ranne downe their cheekes in token of sorowe and they led their enemies prisoners shackled and chained The funerall pot in the which were Philopoemenes ashes was so couered with garlandes of flowers nosegaies and laces that it could scant be seene or discerned and was caried by one Polybius a young man the sonne of Lycortas that was Generall at that time to the ACHAIANS about whom there marched all the noblest and chiefest of the ACHAIANS and after them also followed all the souldiers armed and their horses very well furnished The rest they were not so sorowfull in their countenance as they are commonly which haue great cause of sorow nor yet so ioyful as those that came conquerers from so great a victory Those of the cities townes and villages in their way as they past came and presented them selues vnto them to touche the funerall pot of his ashes euen as they were wont to take him by the hande and to make much of him when he was returned from the warres and did accompany his conuoy vnto the city of MEGALIPOLIS At the gates whereof were olde men women and children which thrustinge them selues amongest the souldiers did renewe the teares sorowes and lamentacions of all the miserable and vnfortunate city who tooke it that they had lost with their citizen the first and chiefest place of honor among the ACHAIANS So he was buried very honorably as appertained vnto him and the other prisoners of MESSINA were all stoned to death about his sepulchre All the other cities of ACHAIA besides many other honors they did vnto him did set vp statues and as like to him as could be counterfeated Afterwards in the vnfortunate time of GREECE when the city of CORINTHE was burnt and destroied by the ROMAINES there was a malicious ROMAINE that did what he could to haue the same pulled downe againe by burdening accusing Philopoemen as if he had bene aliue that he was alwaies enemy to the ROMAINES and enuied much their prosperity and victories But after Polybius had aunswered him neither the Consul Mummius nor his counsellers nor lieutenaunts would suffer them to deface take away the honors done in memory of so famous worthy a mā although he had many waies done much hurt vnto Titus Quintius Flaminius vnto Manius So these good men then made a differēce betwene duety profit did thinke honesty profit two distinct things and so separated one from the other according to reason and iustice Moreouer they were perswaded that like as men receiue curtesie and goodnes of any so are they bound to require them againe with kindenes and duety And as men vse to acknowledge the same euen so ought men to honor and reuerence vertue And thus much for the life of Philopoemen The ende of Philopoemenes life THE LIFE OF Titus Quintius Flaminius IT is easie to see Titus Quintius Flaminius forme and stature by Philopoemenes statue of brasse to whome we compare him the which is now set vppe at ROME neere to great Apollo that was brought from CARTHAGE and is placed right against the comming in to the show place vnder which there is an inscription in Greeke letters But for his nature and conditions they say of him thus he would quickely be angry and yet very ready to pleasure men againe For if he did punish any man that had angered him he would do it gently but his anger did not long continew with him He did good also to many and euer loued them whom he had once pleasured as if they had done him some pleasure was ready to do for them still whom he founde thankefull bicause he would euer make them beholding to him and thought that as honorable a thinge as he could purchase to him selfe Bicause he greatly sought honor aboue all thinges when any notable seruice was to be done he would do it him selfe and no man should take it out of his hand He would euer be rather with them that needed his helpe then with those that could helpe him or do him good For the first he esteemed as a meane to exercise his vertue with the other he tooke them as his fellowes and followers of honor with him He came to mans state when the citie of ROME had greatest warres and trouble At that time all the youth of ROME which were of age to cary weapon were sent to the warres to learne to traile the pyke and how to become good Captaines Thus was he entred into marshall affaires and the first charge he tooke was in the warre against Hanniball of CARTHAGE where he was made Colonell of a thousande footemen vnder Martellus the consull who being slaine by an ambush Hanniball had layed for him betwene the cities of BANOIA and VENVSA then they did choose Titus Quintius Flaminius gouernor of the prouince and city of TARENTVM which was now taken againe the seconde time In this gouernment of his he wanne the reputacion as much of a good and iust man as he did of an expert and skilfull Captaine By reason whereof when the ROMAINES were requested to send men to inhabite the cities of NARNIA COSSA he was appointed the chiefe leader of them which chiefely gaue him hart and corage to aspire at the first to the Consulshippe passinge ouer all other meane offices as to be AEdile Tribune or Praetor by which as by degrees other younge men were wont to attaine the Consulshippe Therefore when the time came that the Consulls should be elected he did present him selfe amonge other accompanied with a great number of those he hadde brought with him to inhabite the two newe townes who did make earnest sute for him But the two Tribunes Fuluius and Manlius spake against him and sayed it was out of all reason that so younge a man should in such manner prease to haue the office of the highest dignitie against the vse and custome of ROME before he hadde passed through the inferior offices of the commonwealth Neuertheless the Senate preferred it wholly to the voyces of the people who presently pronounced him Consull openly with Sextius AElius although he was not yet thirtie yeare olde Afterwardes AElius and he deuidinge the offices of the state by lotte it fell apon T. Quintius to make warre with Philip kinge of MACEDON In the which me thinkes fortune greatly fauored the ROMAINES affaires that made such a man Generall of these warres for to haue pointed a Generall that by force and violence woulde haue
the vpper hand of Scipio and that Scipio bare it paciently and left not of walking for that neither shewed any countenaunce of misliking And in entring into discourse of many matters they discended in the ende to talke of auncient Captaines and Hanniball gaue iudgement that Alexander the great was the famousest Captaine Tyrrus the second and him selfe the thirde Then Scipio smilinge gently asked him what wouldest thou say then if I had not ouercome thee Truely quod Hanniball I would not then put my selfe the third man but the first and aboue all the Captaines that euer were So diuers greatly cōmending the goodly sayinges and deedes of Scipio did maruelously mislike Titus for that he had as a man may say layed his handes vpon the death of an other man Other to the contray againe sayd it was well done of him sayinge that Hanniball so longe as he liued was a fire to the Empire of the ROMAINES which lacked but one to blow it and that when he was in his best force and lusty age it was not his hande nor body that troubled the ROMAINES so much but his great wisedome and skill he had in the warres and the mortall hate he bare in his hart towardes the ROMAINES which neither yeares neither age would diminishe or take away For mens naturall condicions do remaine still but fortune doth not alwayes keepe a state but chaungeth stil and then quickeneth vp our desires to set willingly vppon those that warre against vs bicause they hate vs in their hartes The thinges which fell out afterwards did greatly proue the reasons brought out for this purpose in discharge of Titus For one Aristonicus sonne of a daughter of a player vpon the citherne vnder the fame and glory of Enmenes whose bastard he was filled all ASIA with warre rebellion by reason the people rose in his fauor Againe Mithridates after so many losses he had receiued against Sylla and Eimbria and after so many armies ouerthrowen by battell and warres and after so many famous Captaines lost and killed did yet recouer againe and came to be of great power both by sea and land against Lucullus Truely Hannibal was no lower brought then Caius Marius had bene For he had a king to his frend that gaue him entertainment for him and his family and made him Admirall of his shippes and Generall of his horsemen and footemen in the field Marius also went vp and downe AFRICKE a begging for his liuing insomuch as his enemies at ROME mocked him to scorne soone after notwithstanding they fell downe at his feete before him when they saw they were whipped murthered and slaine within ROME by his commaundement Thus we see no man can say certainely he is meane or great by reason of the vncertainty of thinges to come consideringe there is but one death and chaunge of better life Some say also that Titus did not this act alone and of his owne authority but that he was sent Ambassador with Lucius Scipio to no other end but to put Hanniball to death by what meanes soeuer they could Furthermore after this Ambassade we do not finde any notable thing written of Titus worthy of memory neither in peace nor in warres For he died quietely of naturall death at home in his contrie THE COMPARISON OF Titus Quintius Flaminius with Philopoemen IT is time nowe we come to compare them together Therefore as touchinge the great benefits that came to the GREECIANS neither Philopoemen nor all the other former Captaines are to be compared with Titus For all the auncient Captaines almost being GREECIANS made warres with other GREECIANS but Titus beinge a ROMAINE and no GREECIAN made warres for the liberty of GREECE When Philopoemen was not able to helpe his poore citizens distressed sore vexed with warres he sayled away into CRETA Titus hauing ouercome Philip kinge of MACEDON in battell did restore againe to liberty all the people and cities of the same which were kept before in bondage And if any will narrowly examine battells of either partie they shall finde that Philopoemen being Generall of the ACHAIANS made more GREECIANS to be slaine then Titus did of the MACEDONIANS fightinge with them for the liberty of the GREECIANS And for their imperfections the one of them was ambitious the other was as obstinate the one was quicke and sodainly angered the other was very hard to be pacified Titus left kinge Philip his realme and crowne after he had ouercome him and vsed great clemency towardes the AETOLIANS where Philopoemen for spite malice tooke townes and villages from his owne natiue contry and city wherein he was borne that had alwayes payed them tribute Furthermore Titus continued a sounde frend to them to whome he had once professed frendshippe and done pleasure vnto and Philopoemen in a geare and anger was ready to take away that he had giuen and to ouerthrow the pleasure and good turne he had shewed For Philopoemen when he had done the LACEDAEMONIANS great pleasure did afterwards rase the walls of their city and spoyled and destroyed all their contry and lastly ouerthrew their whole gouernment It seemeth also by reason of his immoderate choller he was him selfe cause of his owne death for that he made more hast then good speede to go out of time to set vpon those of MASSINA and not as Titus who did all his affaires with wisedome and euer considered what was best to be done But if we looke into the number of battells and victories the warre which Titus made against Philip was ended with two battells Whereas Philopoemen in infinite battells in which he had the better neuer left it doutfull but that his skill did euer helpe him the more to victory then the good fortune he had Moreouer Titus wanne honor by meanes of the power of ROME when it florished most and was in best prosperitie Philopoemen made him selfe famous by his deedes when GREECE beganne to stoupe and fall all together So that the deedes of the one were common to all the ROMAINES the dedes of the other were priuate to himselfe alone For Titus was General ouer good and valliant souldiers that were already trained to his hand and Philopoemen being chosen Generall did traine his men him selfe made them afterwards very expert and valliant that were but meane and greene souldiers before And whereas Philopoemen had continuall warres with the GREECIANS it was not for any good fortune he had but that it made a certaine proofe of his valliantnesse For where all other thinges are aunswerable to his there we must iudge that such as ouercome haue the most corage Now Philopoemen making warres with the most warlike nations of all GREECE as the CRETANS and the LACEDAEMONIANS did ouercome the subtillest of them by finenesse and policy and the most valliant by prowes and hardinesse But Titus ouercame by putting that only in practise which was already found and stablished as
Whereupon Demetrius went with his army to set apon the AETOLIANS and hauinge conquered the contry left Pantauchus his Lieutenaunt there with a great army and him selfe in person in the meane time marched against Pyrrus and Pyrrus on thother side against him They both missed of meetinge and Demetrius goinge on further on the one side entred into the realme of EPIRVS and brought a great spoyle away with him Pyrrus on the other side marched on till he came to the place where Pantauchus was To whome he gaue battell and it was valliantly fought our betwene the souldiers of either party but specially betwene the two Generalls For doutlesse Pantauchus was the valliantest Captaine the stowtest man and of the greatest experience in armes of all the Captaines and souldiers Demetrius had Whereupon Pantauchus trusting in his strength and corage aduaunced him selfe forwardes and lustely chalenged the combat of Pyrrus Pyrrus on the other side being inferior to no king in valliantnes nor in desire to winne honor as he that would ascribe vnto himselfe the glory of Achilles more for the imitacion of his valliancy then for that he was discended of his blood passed through the middest of the battell vnto the first rancke to buckle with Pantauchus Thus they beganne to charge one an other first with their dartes and then comming nearer fought with their swordes not only artificially but also with great force and fury vntill such time as Pyrrus was hurte in one place and he hurte Pantauchus in two The one neere vnto his throte and the other in his legge so as in the ende Pyrrus made him turne his backe and threw him to the ground but neuerthelesse killed him not For so soone as he was downe his men tooke him and caried him away But the EPIROTES encoraged by the victory of their kinge and the admiration of his valliantnesse stucke to it so lustely that in the end they brake the battell of the MACEDONIAN footemen hauing put them to flight followed them so liuely that they slewe a great number of them and tooke fiue thousande prisoners This ouerthrowe did not so much fill the hartes of the MACEDONIANS with anger for the losse they had receiued nor with the hate conceiued against Pyrrus as it wanne Pyrrus great fame honor making his corage and valliantnes to be wondred at of all uch as were present at the battell that saw him fight and how he layed about him For they thought that they saw in his face the very life and agility of Alexander the great and the right shadow as it were showinge the force and fury of Alexander him selfe in that fight And where other kinges did but only counterfeate Alexander the greatin his purple garments and in numbers of souldiers and gardes about their persones and in a certaine facion and bowing of their neckes a litle and in vttering his speech with an high voyce Pyrrus only was like vnto him and followed him in his marshall deedes and valliant actes Furthermore for his experience and skill in warlike discipline the bookes he wrote him selfe thereof do amply proue and make manifest Furthermore they reporte that kinge Antigonus being asked whome he thought to be the greatest Captaine made aunswer Pyrrus so farre foorth as he might liue to be olde speaking only of the Captaines of his time But Hanniball generally sayd Pyrrus was the greatest Captaine of experience and skil in warres of all other Scipio the second and him selfe the third as we haue wrytten in the life of Scipio So it seemeth that Pyrrus gaue his whole life and study to the discipline of warres as that which in dede was princely and meete for a king making no reckoning of all other knowledge And furthermore touching this matter they reporte that he being at a feast one day a question was asked him whom he thought to be the best player of the flute Python or Cephesias whereunto he aunswered that Polyperchon in his opinion was the best Captaine as if he would haue sayd that was the only thing a prince should seeke for and which he ought chiefly to learne and know He was very gentle and familiar with his frendes easie to forgeue when any had offended him and maruelous desirous to requite and acknowledge any curtesie or pleasure by him receiued And that was the cause why he did very vnpaciently take the death of AEropus not so much for his death which he knewe was a common thing to euery liuing creature as for that he was angry with himselfe he had deferred the time so long that time it selfe had cut him of from all occasion and meanes to requite the curtesies he had receiued of him True it is that money lent may be repayed againe vnto the heires of the lender but yet it greueth an honest nature when he can not recompence the good will of the lender of whom he hath receiued the good turne An other time Pyrrus being in the city of AMBRACIA there were certaine of his frends that gaue him counsel to put a naughty man out of the city that did nothing but speake ill of him But he aunswered it is better quod he to keepe him here still speakinge ill of vs but to a fewe then driuing him away to make him speake ill of vs euery where Certaine youthes were brought before him on a time who making mery together drinking freely were bolde with the king to speake their pleasure of him in very vnduetifull sorte So Pyrrus askinge them whether it was true they sayed so or no it is true and it please your grace sayed one of them we sayed it in deede and had not our wine failed vs we had spoken a great deale more The king laughed at it and pardoned them After the death of Antigona he maried many wiues to increase his power withall and to gette moe frendes For he maried the daughter of Antoleon kinge of PAEONIA and Bircenna the daughter of Bardillis king of ILLYRIA and Lanassa the daughter of Agathocles tyran of SYRACVSA that brought him for her dower the I le of CORPHVE which her father had taken By Antigona his first wife he had a sonne called Ptolomie By Lanassa an other called Alexander and by Bircenna an other the youngest of all called Helenus all which though they were marshall men by race and naturall inclination yet were they brought vp by him in warres and therein trained as it were euen from their cradell They wryte that one of his sonnes beinge but a boy asked him one day to which of them he would leaue his kingdome Pyrrus aunswered the boy to him that hath the sharpest sworde That was much like the tragicall curse wherewith Oedipus cursed his children Let them for me deuide both goodes yea rentes and lande VVith trenchaunt svvord and bloody blovves by force of mighty hande So cruell hatefull and beastly is the nature of ambition and desire of rule But after
and lodged with him When night was come the LACEDAEMONIANS counselled together secretly determined to send away their wiues and litle children into CRETA But the women them selues were against it and there was one amonge them called Archidamia who went into the Senate house with a sword in her hand to speake vnto them in the name of all the rest and sayd that they did their wiues great wronge if they thought them so fainte harted as to liue after SPARTA were destroyed Afterwards it was agreed in counsell that they should cast a trenche before the enemies campe and that at both the endes of the same they should bury cartes in the ground vnto the middest of the wheeles to the end that being fast set in the ground they should stay the elephantes and kepe them from passing further And when they beganne to go in hand withall there came wives and maides vnto them some of them their clothes girte vp round about them and others all in their smockes to worke at this trenche with the old men aduising the young men that should fight the next morning to rest them selues in the meane while So the women tooke the third parte of the trenche to taske which was six cubittes broade foure cubits deepe and eight hundred foote long as Philarchus sayth or litle lesse as Hieronymus wryteth Then when the breake of day appeared the enemies remoued to come to the assault the women them selues fetched the weapons which they put into the young mens hands and deliuered them the taske of the trenche ready made which they before had vndertaken praying them valliantly to keepe and defend it tellinge them withall howe great a pleasure it is to ouercome the enemies fighting in view and sight of their natiue contry and what great felicity and honor it is to dye in the armes of his mother and wife after he hath fought valliantly like an honest man and worthy of the magnanimity of SPARTA But Chelidonida being gone a side had tyed a halter with ariding knot about her necke ready to strangle hang her selfe rather theÌ„ to fall into the hands of Cleonymus if by chaunce the city should come to be taken Now Pyrrus marched in person with his battell of footemen against the fronte of the SPARTANS who being a great number also did tary his comming on the other side of the trenche the which besides that it was very ill to passe ouer did let the souldiers also to fight steadely in order of battell bicause the earth being newly cast vp did yeld vnder their feete Wherefore Ptolomie king Pyrrus sonne passing all alongest the trench side with two thowsand GAVLES all the choyce men of the CHAONIANS assayed if he could get ouer to the other side at one of the endes of the trenche where the cartes were which being set very deepe into the ground and one ioyned vnto an other they did not only hinder thassaylants but the defendants also Howbeit in the end the GAVLES began to plucke of the wheeles of these cartes and to draw them into the riuer But Acrotatus king Areus sonne a young man seeing the daunger ranne through the city with a troupe of three hundred lusty youthes besides went to inclose Ptolomie behinde before he espied him for that he passed a secret hollow way till he came even to geue the charge vpon them whereby they were enforced to turne their faces towardes him one runninge in an others necke and so in great disorder were thrust into the trenches and vnder the cartes insomuch as at the last with much a doe and great bloodshed Acrotates and his company draue them backe and repulsed them Now the women and old men that were on thother side of the trenche saw plainly before their face howe valliantly Acrotatus had repulsed the GAVLES Wherefore alter Acrotatus had done this exployte he returned againe through the city vnto the place from whence he came all on a goare blood coragious and liuely for the victory he came newly from The women of SPARTA thought Acrotatus farre more noble and fayrer to beholde then euer he was so that they all thought Chelidonida happy to haue such a frend and louer And there were certaine olde men that followed him crying after him goe thy way Acrotatus and enioy thy loue Chelidonida beget noble children of her vnto SPARTA The fight was cruell on that side where Pyrrus was and many of the SPARTANS fought very valliantly Howbeit amongest other there was one named Phillius who after he had sought long and slaine many of his enemies with his owne handes that forced to passe ouer the trenche perceiuing that his hart fainted for the great number of woundes he had apon him called one of them that were in the rancke next behinde him and geuing him his place fell downe deade in the armes of his frendes bicause his enemies shoulde not have his body In the ende the battell hauinge continued all the day longe the night did separate them and Pyrrus being layed in his bed had this vision in his sleepe He thought he â—â—rake the city of LACEDAEMON with lightning and that he vtterly consumed it whereat he was so passing glad that euen with the very ioy he awaked And thereuppon foorthwith commaunded his Captaines to make their men ready to the assault and told his dreame vnto his familiers supposing that out of dout it did betoken he should in that approache take the citie All that heard it beleued it was so sauing one Lysimachus who to the contrary sayed that this vision like him not bicause the places smitten with lightning are holy and it is noâ— lawfull to enter into them by reason wherof he was also affraied that the goddes did signifie vnto him that he should not enter into the citie of SPARTA Pyrrus aunswered him that saied he is a matter disputable to fro in an open assembly of people for there is no maner of certainty in it But furthermore euery man must take his weapon in his hand set this sentence before his eyes A right good signe it is that he vvould hazard life In iust defence of masters cause vvith speare and bloody knife Alludinge vnto Homers verses which he wrote for the defence of his contry And saying thus he rose and at the breake of day led his army vnto the assault On thother side also the LACEDAEMONIANS with a maruelous corage magnanimity farre greater then their force bestirred them selues wonderfully to make resistaunce hauing their wiues by them that gaue them their weapons wherewith they fought and were ready at hand to geue meate drinke to them that needed and did also withdrawe those that were hurt to cure them The MACEDONIANS likewise for their parte endeuored them selues with all their might to fill vppe the trenche with wodde and other thinges which they cast vpon the dead bodies and armors lying in the bottome of the ditche the
sacrificed to the Muses and to the GREECIAN Graces that is to say that he had knowen the Greeke tongue to so many famous and glorious deedes as he did both in peace and warres he had to ioyned so vnfortunate and miserable an end as he made through his choller and extreame ambition at such yeares and through an vnsatiable couetousnes which like boysterous windes made him to make shipwracke of all in a most cruell bloody and vnnaturall age The which is easily knowen in reading the discourse of his doinges First of all he was of a meane house borne of poore parents by father mother that got their liuings by sweate of their browes His father as him selfe was called Caius Fulcinia was his mother And this was the cause why he beganne so late to haunt the city and to learne the ciuility and manners of ROME hauing bene brought vp alwayes before in a litle poore village called CIRROEATON within the territory of the city of ARPOS where he led a hard contry life in respect of those that liued pleasauntly and finely in the cities but otherwise well reformed and nearest vnto the manners of the auncient ROMAINES The first iorney he made vnto the warres was against the CELTIBERIANS in SPAYNE vnder Scipio AFRICAN when he went to besiege the city of NVMANTIA where his Captaines in shorte time found that he was a better souldier then any other of his companions For the did maruelous easily receiue the reformation of manners and the discipline of warres which Scipio aduaunced amongest his souldiers that were ill trained before and geuen ouer to all pleasure And they say that in the sight of his Generall he fought hand to hand with one of his enemies and slew him vpon which occasion Scipio to make him loue him did offer him many curtesies and pleasures But specially one day aboue the rest hauing made him suppe with him at his table some one after supper falling in talke of Captaines that were in ROME at that time one that stoode by Scipio asked him either bicause in deede he stoode in doubt or else for that he would curry fauor with Scipio what other Captaine the ROMAINES should haue after his death like vnto him Scipio hauing Marius by him gently clapped him apon his shoulder and sayd peraduenture this shal be he Thus happely were they both borne the one to shew from his youth that one day he should come to be a great man and the other also for wisely coniecturing the end by seeing of the beginning Well it fortuned so that these words of Scipio by reporte aboue all things else put Marius in a good hope as if they had bene spoken by the oracle of some god and made him bold to deale in matters of state and common wealth where by meanes of the fauor countenaunce Cecilius Metellus gaue him whose house his father and he had alwayes followed and honored he obtained the office of Tribuneshippe In this office he preferred a law touching the manner howe to geue the voyces in election of the Magistrates which did seeme to take from the nobility the authority they had in iudgement And therefore the Consull Cotta stepped vp against it and perswaded the Senate to resist that lawe and not suffer it to be authorised and therewithall presently to call Marius before them to yeld a reason of his doing So was it agreed vppon in the Senate Now Marius comming into the Senate was not abashed at any thing as some other young man would haue bene that had but newly begonne to enter into the world as he did and hauing no other notable calling or quality in him sauing his vertue only to commend him but taking boldenes of him selfe as the noble actes he afterwards did gaue show of his valor he openly threatned the Consull Cotta to sende him to prison if he did not presently withdrawe the conclusion he had caused to be resolued apon The Consull then turning him selfe vnto Caecilius Metellus asked him how he liked it Metellus standing vp spake in the behalfe of the Consull and then Marius calling a sergeaunt out commended him to take Metellus selfe and to cary him to prison Metellus appealed to the other Tribunes but neuer a one would take his matter in hand so that the Senate when all was done were compelled to call backe the conclusion that before was taken Then Marius returning with great honor into the market place among the assembly of the people caused this law to passe and be authorised and euery man held opinion of him that he would proue a stowt man and such a one as would stoupe for any feare nor shrinke for bashfullness but would beard the Senate is fauor of the people Notwithstanding he shortly after chaunged opinion and altered the first by an other act he made For when an other went about to haue a law made to distribute corne vnto euery citizen without payment of any penny he was vehemently against it and ouerthrew it so that thereby he came to be a like honored and estemed of either party as he that would neither pleasure the one nor the other to the preiudice of the common wealth After he had bene Tribune he sued for the chiefest office of AEdilis Of the AEdiles there are two sortes the first is called AEdilitas Curulis so named bicause of certaine chayers that haue crooked seete vpon which they sit when they geue audience The other is of lesse dignity and that is called AEdilitas popularis and when they haue chosen the first and greater AEdilis at ROME they presently proceede the same day also in the market place vnto election of the lesser Marius seeing plainely that he was put by the chiefest of the AEdiles turned againe straight yet to demaund the second but this was misliked in him and they tooke him for too bold too shameles and too presumptuous a man So that in one selfe day he had two denyalles and repulses which neuer man but him selfe before had And neuerthelesse all this could not cut his combe but shortely after he sued also for the Praetorshippe and he lacked but litle of the deniall of that yet in the ende being last of all chosen he was accused to haue bribed the people and bought their voyces for money And surely amongest many other this presumption was very great that they saw a man of CASSIVS SABACON within the barres where the election is made running to and fro amonge them that gaue their voyces bicause this Sabacon was Marius very great frend The matter came before the iudges and Sabacon was examined vpon it Whereunto he aunswered that for the great extreame heate he felt he was very dry and asked for colde water to drinke and that this man had brought him some in a potte where he was howbeit that he went his way as soone as euer he had dronke This Sabacon was afterwardes put out of
to bring him from the temples of EPIDAVRVM and OLYMPVs all the richest and most pretious iuels they had He wrote moreouer vnto the counsell of the AMPHICTYONS holden in the city of DELPHES to bring him the ready money they had in the temple of Apollo for that it should be kept in better safety with him theÌ„ if it still remained there promising besides that if he should by occasion be compelled to vse it he would restore as much againe vnto them and for this purpose he sent Caphis PHOCIAN one of his very frends familiars and commaunded him to wey all that he tooke So Caphis went vnto DELPHES but when he came thither being afraid to touch the holy things in presence of the counsell of the AMPHICTYONS he wept that the teares ran downe by his cheekes as a man compelled to doe such an act against his will. And when some that were present told Caphis that they heard the sound of Apolloes citherne in the temple whether he beleued it was so in dede or bicause he would put this superstitious feare into Syllaes head he wrote to him of it But Sylla mocking him sent him word that he marueled he could not consider that singing and playing of the citherne were tokens rather of ioye then of anger and therefore that he should not faile to procede further and bring him those things which he commaunded for that said he Apollo did geue them him Now for the other iuells of the temple of Apollo the common people knew not that they were sent vnto Syllchia the siluer tonne which only was that that remained of the offeringes of the kings the AMPEICTYONS were faine to breake that in peces bicause it was so great massie that the beastes of draught could not draw it whole as it was This act made them to remember the other auncient ROMAINE Captaines as Flaminius Manius Acilius and Paulus AEmilius of the which the one hauing driuen king Antiochus out of GREECE and the rest also hauing ouerthrowen the kings of MACEDON they neuer once touched the gold and siluer of the temples of GREECE but contrarily sent their offerings thither and had them all in great honor and reuerence But as to them they were all Captaines lawfully chosen and sent to their charges their souldiers wel trained obedient at commaundement voide of rebellion or any maner of mutiny And for them selues were kings in greames of corage and magnanimity of minde but in expert of their persones very spare and scant without any lauish but nedefull and necessary proportioned by reason and thinking more shame to flatter their souldiers then feare their enemies Now the Captaines contrarily in Syllaes time sought not their preferrement in the commonwealth by vertue but by force and hauing greater warres one with an other then with strangers their enemies were compelled to flatter their souldiers whom they should commaund and to buy their paines seruice feeding them still with large great expences to pleasest content them Wherein they did not consider that they brought their contry into bondage made themselues slaues of the vilest people of the world whiles that in the meane time they sought to commaund by all meanes possible those which in many respectes were farre better then them selues And this was the cause that both draue Marius out of ROME made him also to returne againe against Sylla This selfe same cause made Cinna to kill Octauius and Finsbris to stay Flartus of which euills Sylla was the very first and only author spending out of all reason and geuing the souldiers largely that serued vnder him to winne their good willes the more and thereby also to allure them By reason whereof Sylla had nede of mountaines of money and specially at the siege where he was both to make straungers traytors and besides to furnishe and satisfie his owne dissolute souldiers For he had such an earnest desire to take the city of ATHENS that he could not possibly be disswaded from it And either it was of a certen vaine ambition he had to fight against the auncient reputacion of that city being then but a shadow to that it had bene or els of a very anger for the mockes gibes which the tyran Aristion gaue in his speches from the wals against him Metella to spite him the more withall This tyran Aristion was full of all cruelty wickednes hauing taken vp all the worst qualities and greatest imperfections of king Mithridates heaped them wholly together in him selfe by reason whereof the poore city of ATHENS which had escaped from so many warres tyrannies ciuill dissentioÌ„s vntil that present time was by him as by an vncurable disease brought vnto all extreamity For a bushell of wheate was worth a thowsand Drachmas and men were driuen for famine to eate feuerfew that grew about the castell they caused old shoes old oyle pots to be sodden to deliuer some sauor vnto that they did eate whilest the tyran himselfe did nothing all day long but cramme in meate drinke dronke daunse maske scoffe flowte at the enemies suffering the holy lampe of Minerua in the meane season to go out for lacke of oyle And when the Nunne of the same teÌ„ple sent vnto him for a quarter of a bushel of wheare he sent her a quarter of a bushell of pepper And when the counsellers of the city the priestes religious came to the castell holding vp their hands beseeching him to take some pity of the city fall to coÌ„position with Sylla he made theÌ„ to be driuen away scattered with slings In the end very late yet with great a do he sent two or three of his quaffing coÌ„panions vnto Sylla who when they were come to him made no demaund of composition for the towne but began to praise magnifie the dedes of Theseus of Eumolpus of the ATHENIANS against the MEDES Whereupon Sylla made them this aunswere My goodly orators returne you againe with all your rethoricke for the ROMAINES sent me not hither to learne nor to study but to ouercome conquer those that are rebelled against them In the meane time there wereâ—eâ—taine spyes in the city that heard old men talking together in a place called Ceramicus blaming the tyran bicause he kept no better watch on that side of the wal that was directly ouer against the Heptachalcon which was the only place where the enemies might easiliest get vp vppon the walls Those spies went straight vnto Sylla told him what they had heard the old meÌ„ say Sylla tracted no time but came to the place in the night to see it perceiuing that it was to be taken set the matter straight abroach And him selfe wrytes in his commentaries that the first maÌ„ that scaled the walls was Marcus Teius who finding a souldier ready to resist him gaue him such a sore blow with his sword vpon his head peece that
warres who were so forward and aduenturous in all daungers therof in the inuasions of the MEDES into GREECE in the battells of the GAVLES that they were slaine all of them but onely Damon a litle childe left fatherlesse and motherlesse surnamed Peripolias that escaped who for goodly personage and noble corage excelled all the lusty youthes of his time though otherwise he was very rude and of a seuere nature Now it fortuned that when Damon was growen of full age a ROMANE Captaine of an ensigne of footemen lying in garrison for the winter season in the citie of CHAERONEA fell in great loue with Damon and bicause he could not reape the frutes of his dishonest loue by no intreaty nor giftes there appeared vehement presumptions that by force he went about to abuse him for that CHAERONEA at that time being my naturall city where I was borne was a small thing and being of no strength nor power litle regarded Damon mistrusting the Captaines villanie and detesting his abhominable desire watched him a shrewd turne and got certaine of his companions not many in number bicause he might the more secretly compasse his enterprise to be a counsel with him and take his parte against the Captaine Now there were a sixteene of them in consort together that one night blacked their faces all with soote the next morning after they had dronke together by the breake of day set vpon this ROMANE Captaine that was making sacrifice in the market place and slue him with a good number of his men and when they had done fled out of the citie which was straight in a great vprore for the murther committed Thereuppon they called a counsell and in the market place condemned Damon and his confederates to suffer paines of death hoping thereby to haue cleared their innocencie for the fact done to the ROMAINES But the selfe same night as all the magistrates and officers of the city were at supper together in the towne house according to their custome Damon his followers stale vpon them sodainly slue them all fled againe vpon it It chaunsed about that time that Lucius Lucullus being sent on some iorney passed by the city of CHAERONEA with his army bicause this murther was but newly done he stayed there a few dayes to examine the troth originall thereof And found that the commons of the citie were in no fault but that they them selues also had receiued hurte wherupon he tooke the souldiers of the ROMANES that remained of the garrison caried theÌ„ away with him In the meane time Damon destroyed all the contry thereabout and still houered neere to the citie insomuch as the inhabitantes of the same were driuen in the end to send vnto him and by gentle wordes and fauorable decrees handled him so that they intysed him to come againe into the city and when they had him amongest them they chose him Gymâ—â—iarchus to say a master of exercises of youth But shortly after as they were rubbing of him with oyle in his stooue or hotte house starke naked as he was they slue him by treason And bicause that there appeared sprights of long time after in that place that there were heard gronings sighings as our fathers tolde vs they caused the dore of the hotte house to be walled vp yet for all that there are visions seene and terrible voyces and cries heard in that selfe place vnto this present time as the neighbours dwellinge by doe testifie Now they that were discended of this Damon for there are yet of his race in the contrie of PHOCIDES neere vnto the citie of STIRIS who do only of all other both keepe the language and maners of the AETOLIANS are called ASBOLOMENI signifyinge blacke and besmered with soote bicause that Damon and his fellowes did blacke their faces with foote when they slue the ROMANE Captaine But the ORCHOMENIANS being neere neighbors vnto the CHAERONEIANS and therfore their enemies hyered an informer of ROME a malitious accuser to accuse the whole citie as if it had bene one priuate person alone for the murther of the ROMANES whome Damon and his companions had slaine The inditement was drawen and the case pleaded before the gouernor of MACEDON for that the ROMANES did send no gouernors at that time into GREECE and the counsellers that pleaded for the citie of CHAERONEA relied vpon the testimonie of Lucius Lucullus referring them selues to his reporte who knew the troth how it was Thereupon the gouernor wrote vnto him and Lucullus in his letter of aunswere aduertised the very troth so was our city cleared of the accusation which otherwise stoude in daunger of vtter destruction The inhabitantes of the city of CHAERONEA for that they had escaped the daunger by testimonie of Lucius Lucullus to honor him withall they set vp his image in stone in the market place next vnto the image of Bacchus And we also that be liuing at this present though many yeares be gone and passed sence do notwithstanding recken our selues partakers of his forepassed benefit And bicause we are perswaded that the image and portraiture that maketh vs acquainted with mens manners and condicions is farre more excellent then the picture that representeth any mans person or shape only we will comprehend his life and doinges according to the troth in this volume of noble mens liues where we doe compare and sorte them one with an other It shal be sufficient for vs therefore that we shew our selues thankefull for his benefit and we thinke that he himselfe would mislike for 〈…〉 of his true testimonie to be requited with a fauorable lye told in his behalfe But like as when we will haue a passinge fayer face drawen and liuely counterfeated and that hath an excellent good grace withall yet some manner of bleamishe or imperfection in it we will not allowe the drawer to leaue it out altogether nor yet too curiously to shewe it bicause the 〈…〉 would deforme the counterfeate and the other make it very vnlikely Euen so bicause it is a hard thing or to say better peraduenture impossible to describe a man whose life should altogether be innocent and perfect we must first study to wryte his vertues at large and thâ—â— by seeke perfectly to represent the troth euen as the life it selfe But where by chauÌ„ce we finde certaine faultes and errors in their doinges proceeding either of passion of the minde by necessity of the time or state of the common wealth they are rather to be thought imperfections of vertue not altogether accomplished then any purposed wickednes proceeding of vice â—â— certaine malice Which we shall not neede too curiously to expresse in our history but rather to passe them lightly ouer of reuerent shame to the meere frayelty of mans nature which can not bringe foorth a man of such vertue and perfection but there is euer some imperfection in him And therefore considering with my selfe
famines pinche and therevvith made them feele The dynte of vvarre so many a time vvith trusty tooles of steele Till in the end dispaire so pearced in their thought As there they did destroy them selues and so vvere brought to nought Vpon the second there is such an other The citizens vvhich dvvell in Athens stately tovvne Haue here set vp these monuments and pictures of renovvne To honor so the facts and celebrate the fame Their valliant chieftaines did achieue in many a marshall game That such as after come vvhen they thereby perceiue Hovv men of seruice for their deedes did rich revvards receiue Encoraged may be such men for to resemble In valliant acts and dreadfull deedes vvhich make their foes to tremble And vpon the third an other VVhen Mnestheus did lead forth of this citie here An armie to the Troyane vvarres by Homer doth appeare He vvas aboue the rest that out of Graecia vvent A valliant knight a vvorthy vvight a Captaine excellent To take in hand the charge an army for to guide And eke to range them orderly in battell to abide That praise of provvesse then o graue Atheniens Is novv no nevves to fill the eares of these your citizens Since through the vvorld so vvide the fame and vvorthy praise For marshall feates to you of yore hath iudged beene alvvayes Now though Cimons name be not comprised in these inscriptions yet they thought that this was a singular honor to him at that time for neither Miltiades nor Themistocles had euer the like For when Miltiades requested the people one day that they woulde licence him to weare a garland of olyue boughes vpon his head there was one Sochares borne in the towne of DECELEA that standing vp in open assembly spake against him and sayd a thing that maruelously pleased the people though in deede it was an vnthankeful recompence for the good seruice he had done to the common wealth When you haue Miltiades sayd he ouercome the barbarous people alone in battell then aske to be honored alone also But howe was it then that Cimons seruice was so acceptable to the ATHENIANS Yt was in myne opinion bicause they had with other Captaines fought to defende them selues and their contrie onely and that vnder the conduction of Cimon they had assulted and driuen their enemies home to their owne dores where they conquered the cities of EIONE and of Amphipolis which afterwardes they did inhabite with their owne citizens and wanne there also the I le of SCYROS which Cimon tooke vpon this occasion The DOLOPIANS did inhabite it who were idle people and liued without labor or tillage and had bene rouers of the sea of a wonderfull long time vsing pyracie altogether to maintaine them selues withall so that in the end they spared not so much as the marchaūts passengers that harbored in their hauens but robbed certaine THESSALIANS that went thither to trafficke And when they had taken their goodes from thē yet would they cast them in prison besides Howbeit the prisoners found meanes to escape after they had saued them selues repayred to the parlament of the AMPHICTYONS which is a generall counsell of all the states and people of GREECE The AMPHICTYONS vnderstandinge the matter condemned the citie of the SCYRIANS to pay a great summe of money The citizens refused to be contributaries to the payment of the fine bad them that robbed the marchauntes and had the goodes in their handes pay it if they would And therfore bicause there was no other likelyhood but that the theeues them selues should be driuen to aunswer the fine they fearing it wrote letters vnto Cimon and willed him to come with his army and they would deliuer their city into his handes the which was performed And thus Cimon hauing cōquered this Iland draue out the DOLOPIANS thence ryd the sea AEORV◠of all pirates therby That done remembring that the auncient Theseus the sonne of AEgeus flying from ATHENS came into that Iland of SCYROS where king Lycomedes suspecting his comming had traiterously slaine him Cimon was maruelous carefull to seeke out his tombe bicause the ATHENIANS had an oracle and prophecie that commaunded them to bring his ashes and bones backe againe to ATHENS and to honor him as a demy god But they knewe not where he was buried for that the inhabitantes of the Ilande would neuer before confesse where it was nor suffer any man to seeke it out till he at the last with much a doe founde the tombe put his bones abord the Admirall galley sumptuously decked and set foorth and so brought them againe into his contry foure hundred yeares after Theseus death For this the people thanked him maruelously and thereby he wanne exceedingly the ATHENIANS good willes and in memorie of him they celebrated the iudgement of the tragicall playes of the Poets For when Sophocles the Poet being a young man had played his first tragedy Aphepsio◠the president perceiuinge there was great strife and contention amongest the lookers on would not draw them by lottes that should be iudges of this play to geue the victorie vnto that Poet that had best deserued but when Cimon the other Captaines were come into the Theater to see the same after they had made their accustomed oblatiōs vnto the god in honor of whom these playes were celebrated he stayed and made them to minister an othe vnto tenne which were of euery tribe of the people one and the othe being geuen he caused thē to sit as iudges to geue sentēce which of the Poets should cary away the prise This made all the Poetes striue and contend who best shoulde doe for the honor of the iudges but Sophocles by their sentence bare away the victory But AEschilus as they say was so angry and grieued withall that he taried not long after in ATHENS and went for spight into SICILIA where he dyed and was buried neere vnto the citie of GELA Ion wryteth that he being but a young boy newly come from CHIO vnto ATHENS supped one night with Cimon at Laomedons house and that after supper when they had geuen the goddes thankes Cimon was intreated by the company to sing And he did sing with so good a grace that euery man praised him that heard him sayd he was more curteous then Themistocles farre who being in like company and requested also to play vpon the citherne aunswered them he was neuer taught to sing nor play vpon the citherne howbeit he could make a poore village to become a rich and mighty city After that done the company discoursing from one matter to an other as it falleth out commonly in speeche they entred in talke of Cimons doinges and hauing rehearsed the chiefest of them he him selfe told one which was the notablest and wisest parte of all the rest that euer he played For the ATHENIANS and their confederates together hauing taken a great number of barbarous people prisoners in the cities of
whither to the warres then the common people hauing no bodie to gainesay them turned and altered the gouernment of the citie topsie turuey and confounded all the auncient lawes and customes which they had obserued of long time and that by the procurement and setting on of Ephialtes For they tooke away all hearing of causes in maner from the court of Areopagus put all authoritie of matters iudiciall into the handes of the people and brought the state of the citie into a pure Democratia to say a common weale ruled by the sole and absolute power of the people Pericles being then in great credit who altogether fauored the peoples faction Wherefore Cimon at his returne finding thauthority of the Senate and counsell so shamefully defaced and troden vnder foote was maruelously offended withall and sought to restore thauncient state of iudgement againe as it was before and set vp the gouernment of the nobility called Optimacia that was established in the time of Clisthenes But then beganne his enemies againe with open mouth to crye out vpon him reuiuing the olde former naughty rumor that ranne of him before that he kept his owne sister furthermore accusing him that he did fauor the LACEDAEMONIANS And amongest other thinges there ranne in the peoples mouthes the verses of the Poet Eupolis which were made against Cimon No vvicked man he vvas but very negligent And therevvithall to vvyne much more then vnto money bent He stale somtimes avvay at Sparta for to sleepe And left poore Elpinicè his vvife at home alone to vveepe And if it be so that being thus negligent geuen to wyne he haue gotten so many cities and wonne such sundry great battells it is out of doubt then that if he had bene sober carefull there had neuer bene before him nor since any GRAECIAN Captaine that had passed him in glorie of the warres In deede it is true that from the beginning he euer loued the manner of the LACEDAEMONIANS for of two twynnes which he had by his wife Clitoria he named th one of them Lacedaemonius and thother Eleus as Stesimbrotus wryteth saying that for that cause Pericles did euer twit them in the teeth with their mothers stocke Howbeit Diodorus the Geographer wryteth that both those two and an other third called Thessalus were borne of Isodice the daughter of Euryptolemus the sonne of Megacles How soeuer it was it is certaine that Cimons credit grew the greater by the fauor and countenaunce which the LACEDAEMONIANS gaue him who had hated Themistocles of long time and for the malice they bare him were glad that Cimon being but a yoūg man did beare more sway in ATHENS then he Which the ATHENIANS perceiued well enough and were not offended withall at the beginning bicause the goodwill of the LACEDAEMONIANS towardes him did bring them great commodity For when the ATHENIANS beganne to growe of great power and to practise secretly that the confederats of the GRAECIANS should forsake the LACEDAEMONIANS to ioyne with them the LACEDAEMONIANS were not angrie withall for the honor and loue they bare vnto to Cimon who did alone in maner manedge all th affayres of GRAECE at that time bicause he was very curteous vnto the confederates and also thankefull vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS But afterwardes when the ATHENIANS were aloft and of great power and that they saw Cimon stucke not for a litle matter with the LACEDAEMONIANS but loued them more then they would haue had him they beganne then to enuy him bicause in all his matters he had to do he euer highly praised and extolled the LACEDAEMONIANS before them But specially when he would reproue them of any fault they had committed or that he would perswade them to do any thing the LACEDAEMONIANS sayd he I warrant ye do not so That as Stesimbrotus sayth made him maruelously to be maliced of the people But the chiefest thing they accused him of and that most did hurt him self out vpon this occasion The fourth yeare of the raigne of Archidamus the sonne of Zeuxidamus king of SPARTA there fortuned the wonderfullest and most fearefull earthquake in the citie of LACEDAEMON and thereabouts that ouer was heard of For the earth in many places of the contrie opened and fell as into a bottomlesse pit The mountaine Taygetum shooke so terribly that points of rockes fell downe from it All the citie was layed on the ground and ouerthrowen fiue houses only excepted the rest being wholy destroied And it is said also that a litle before this earthquake came the young men of that citie were playing with the young boyes exercising thē selues starke naked vnder a great galery couered ouer as they were sporting together there started vp a hare hard by them The young men spying her ranne after the hare starke naked and oyled as they were with great laughter They were no sooner gone thence but the top of the gallery fell downe apon the boyes that were left and squashed them all to death And in memorie of the same the tombe where they were afterwardes buried is called vnto this day Sismatias as much to say as the tombe of those which the earthquake had slaine But king Archidamus foreseeing straight vppon the sodaine the daunger that was to come by that he saw present perceiuing his citizens busie in sauing their householde stuffe and that they were running out of their houses made the trompetters to sound a hotte alarome vpon it as if their enemies had come stealingly vpon them to take the citie to th ende that all the inhabitantes should presently repayre vnto him settinge all busines aparte with armor and weapon That sodaine alarome doubtlesse saued the citie of SPARTA at that time for the ILOTAE which are their slaues and bondmen in the contrie of LACONIA and the contrie clownes of litle villages there aboutes came running armed out of all partes to spoyle and robbe them vpon the sodaine that were escaped from this earthquake But when they found them well armed in order of battell they returned backe againe as they came and then beganne afterwardes to make open warres vpon them when they had drawen certaine of their neighbors vnto their confederacie specially the MESSENIANS who made hotte warres vpon the SPARTANS Whereupon the LACEDAEMONIANS sent Periclidas vnto ATHENS to demaunde ayde whome Aristophanes the Poet mocking sayed VVith visage pale and vvanne he on the aulter sate In skarlet govvne requiring ayde to succor their estate Against whom Ephialtes also spake very much protesting that they should not ayde nor relieue a city that was an enemy vnto ATHENS but rather suffer it to fall to the ground and to spurne the pride and arrogancy of SPARTA vnder their feete But Cimon as Cricias saieth being more carefull for the benefit of SPARTA then for thenlarging and encreasing of his contry brought it to passe by his perswasion that the ATHENIANS sent him thither with a great power to helpe them And
before they could come to dishonor them or do them villany These pitiefull misfortunes went to Lucullus hart who was curteous and gentle of nature neuerthelesse he went on further still following Mithridates at the heeles vnto the city of TALAVRA And there vnderstanding that he was fled foure dayes before vnto Tigranes in ARMENIA returned backe againe hauing first subdued the CHALDEANS and the TIBARENIANS taken ARMENIA the lesse and brought the cities castells and strong places vnto his obedience That done he sent Appius Clodius vnto king Tigranes to summone him to deliuer Mithridates vnto him him selfe tooke his iorney towards the citie of Aâ—â—â—â— which was yet besieged The cause why this siege continued long was the sufficiencie and great experience of the Captaine that kept it for the king called Callimachus who vnderstoode so well howe all sortes of engines of batterie were to be vsed and was so subtill besides in all in inuentioâ—â— that might serue to defende a place besieged as he troubled the ROMANES much in this attempt but afterwardes he was not only met withall and payed home for all his labor but also outreached by Lucullus for all his finenesse For where before he had alwayes vsed to sound the retreate at a certaine hower to call his men backe from the assaulte to rest them one day he brake that order on the sodaine and comminge to assaulte the walle at the first charge wanne a peece of it before those within could come in time to resist them Callimachus seeing that and knowing it was now vnpossible to keepe the city any longer forsooke it But before his departing he set the citie a fire either for the malice to the ROMANES bicause he would not they should enriche them selues with the sacke of so great a citie or else foeâ— policy of warre to haue the more leasure to saue him selfe and flie For no man gaue eye â—â— them that fled by sea bicause the flame was so great that it dispersed it selfe euen to the â—â—y walles and the ROMANE souldiers they only prepared to spoyle Lucullus seeing the fire without had compassion of the citie within and would gladly haue holpen it and for the purpose prayed the souldiers quickely to quench it but not a man would harken to him euery one gaping after the spoyle making great noyse with classhing of harnesse and being very lowde besides otherwise till at the length enforced thereunto he gaue the city wholly to spoyle hoping thereby to saue the houses from fire but it fell out cleane contrary For the soldiers them selues in seeking all about with torches linckes lighted to see if any thing were hidden they set a number of houses a fire So as Lucullus comming into the citie the next morning and seeing the great desolacion the fire had made fell of weeping saying vnto his familiar frends about him he had oftentimes before thought Sylla happy howbeit he neuer wondred more at his good fortune then that day he did For Sylla sayd he desiring to saue the citie of ATHENS the goddes graunted him that fauor that he might do it but I that would faine folloâ— him therein and saue this citie fortune thwarting my desire hath brought me to the reputacion of Mummius that caused CORINTHE to be burnt Neuerthelesse he did his best â—â—â—â—â—â— at that time to helpe the poore citie againe For touching the fire euen immediatly after it was taken by Gods prouidence there fell a shower of raine as it was newly kindled that quenched it and Lucullus selfe before he left the citie made a great number of the houses which were spoyled by fire to be built vp againe and curteously receiued all the inhabitauntes that were fled besides them he placed other GRAECIANS there also that were willing to dwell amongest them and increased the boundes and confines of the citie which he gaue them one hundred and twenty furlonges into the contrie This citie was a colony of the ATHENIANS who had built and founded it in the time that their Empire florished and that they ruled the seas by reason whereof many flying the tyranny of Aristion went to dwell there and were made side of the city as the naturall inhabitants of the same This good happe fell vpon them that forsaking their owne goodes they went to possesse and enioy the goodes of other menâ— but the very citizens of ATHENS it selfe that had escaped from this great desolation Lucullus clothed them well and gaue them two hundred Drachmas a peece and sent them againe into their contrie Tyrannion the grammarian was taken at that time whom Murana begged of Lucullus and Lucullus hauing graunted him vnto him he made him free wherein he delivery discourteously and did much abuse Lucullus liberality and gift vnto him For in bestowing this prisoner vppon him who was a famous learned man he did not meane Murana should take him for a bondeman whereby he should neede afterwardes to make him free For seeming to make him free and restore him to libertie was no more but to take that freedome and liberty from him which he had from his birth But in many other thinges and not in that only Murana layed him selfe open to the world that he had not all the partes a worthy Captaine should haue in him When Lucullus departed from AMISVS he went to visite the cities of ASIA to th end that whilest he was not now occupied with warres they might haue some refreshing of lawes and iustice For by reason that law was not executed of long time in ASIA the poore contry was so afflicted and oppressed with so many euills and miseries 〈…〉 man liuing would scant beleue nor any tongue can well declare For the extreame and hoâ—rible couetousnes of the farmers customers and ROMANE vserers did not only deuoure in but also kept it in such bondage and thraldome that particularly the poore fathers were driuen to sell their goodly young sonnes and daughters in mariage to pay the interest and vsery of the money which they had borowed to discharge their fines withall publikely the tables dedicated vnto the temples the statues of their goddes and other church iuells and yet in the eâ—â— they them selues were also iudged to be bondmen slaues to their cruell creditors toâ— weaâ—e out their dayes in miserable seruitude And yet the worst of all was the payne they put them to before they were so condemned for they imprisoned them set them on the racke tormented them vppon a litle brasen horse sette them in the stockes made them stande naked in the greatest heate of sommer and on the I se in the deepest of winter so as that bondage seemed vnto them a reliefe of their miseries and a rest of their tormentes Lucullus found the cities of ASIA full of such oppressioÌ„s but in a shorte time after he deliuered them all that were wrongfully tormented For first he tooke order they should accompt for the vsery
an other without any playing or vncomely talke In the middest of supper they that sought occasion of quarrell beganne to speake lewde wordes counterfeating to be dronke and to play many vile partes of purpose to anger Sertorius Whereuppon Sertorius whether it was that he coulde not abide to see those villanous partes or that he mistrusted their ill will towardes him by fumbling of their wordes in their mouthes and by their vnwonted irreuerent maner shewed vnto him fell backewards apon the bed where he sate at meate seeming no more to marke what they did or sayd Perpenna at that instant tooke a cuppe full of wine making as though he dranke let it fall of purpose The cuppe falling drowne made a noyse and that was the signe geuen among them Therewithall Antonius that sate aboue Sertorius at the table stabbed him in with his dagger Sertorius feeling the thrust stroue to rise but the traiterous murderer got vp on Sertorius brest held both his handes And thus was Sertorius cruelly murdered not able to defend him selfe all the conspirators falling apon him Sertorius death being blowen abroade the most parte of the SPANYARDS sent Ambassadors immediatly vnto Pompey and Metellus and yeelded them selues vnto them and Perpenna with those that remained with him attempted to doe some thing with Sertorius army and preparation But all fell out to his vtter destruction and ruine making the world know that he was a wicked man who could neither commaund nor knew how to obey For he went to assaile Pompey who had ouerthrowen him straight and was in the end taken prisoner And yet in that instant of his calamitie he did not vse him selfe like a valliant minded man and one worthy to rule for thinking to saue his life hauing Sertorius letters and wrytinges he offered Pompey to deliuer him all Sertorius letters sent him from the chiefest Senators of ROME wrytten with their owne handes requestinge Sertorius to bring his armie into ITALIE where he should finde numbers of people desirous of his comming and that gaped still for chaunge of gouernment But here did Pompey shewe him selfe a graue and no younge man deliueringe thereby the citie of ROME from great feare and daunger of chaunge and innouation For he put all Sertorius letters and wrytinges on a heape together and burnt them euery one without readinge any of them or sufferinge them to be red And moreouer he presently put Perpenna to death fearing he should name some which if they were named would breede new occasion of trouble sedition And as for the other conspirators some of thē afterwards were brought to Pompey who put them all to death and the rest of them fled into AFRICKS where they were all ouerthrowen by them of the contrie and not a man of them scaped but fell vnfortunately apon th edge of the sworde Aufidius only except Manlius companion in loue Who either bicause he was not reckened of or else vnknowen dyed an olde man in a pelting village of the barbarous people poore miserable and hated of all the world THE LIFE OF Eumenes DVris the Historiographer wryteth that Eumenes was borne in the citie of CARDIA in THRACIA being a cariers sonne of the same contrie who for pouertie earned his liuing by carying marchaundises to and fro and that he was notwithstanding honestly brought vp as well at schoole as at other comely exercises And furthermore how that he being but a boy Philip king of MACEDON chaunsing to come through the city of CARDIA where hauing nothing to do he tooke great pleasure to see the young men of the citie handle their weapons boyes to wrestle and among them Eumenes shewed such actiuitie and performed it with so good a grace withall that Philippe liked the boye well and tooke him away with him But sure their reporte seemeth truest which wryte that Philippe did aduaunce him for the loue he bare to his father in whose house he had lodged After the death of Philippe Eumenes continued his seruice with king Alexander his sonne where he was thought as wise a man as faithfull to his master as any and though he was called the Chaunceller or chiefe secretary yet the king did honor him as much as he did any other of his chiefest frendes familiars For he was sent his Lieutenaunt generall of his whole army against the INDIANS and was Perdiccas successor in the gouernment of his prouince Perdiccas being preferred vnto Hephaestions charge after his death Nowe bicause Neoptolemus that was one of the chiefe Squiers for the body vnto the king after the death of Alexander told the Lordes of the counsell of MACEDON that he had serued the king with his shield and speare and howe Eumenes had followed with his penne and paper the Lordes laughed him to scorne knowing that besides many great honors Eumenes had receiued the king esteemed so well of him that he did him the honor by mariage to make him his kinseman For the first Lady that Alexander knew in ASIA was Barsine Artabazus daughter by whom he had a sonne called his name Hevenles of two of her sisters he maried the one of them called Apama vnto Ptolomye her other sister also called Barsine he bestowed vpon Eumenes when he distributed the PERSIAN Ladies among his Lordes and familiars to marrie them Yet all this notwithstanding he often fell in disgrace with king Alexander stoode in some daunger by meanes of Hephaestion For Hephaestion following Alexanders courte on a time hauing appointed Euius a phiphe player a lodging which Eumenes seruauntes had taken vp for their maister Eumenes being in a rage went with one Mentor vnto Alexander crying out that a mā were better be a phiphe a common plaier of Tragedies then a souldier sithence such kinde of people were preferred before men of seruice that ventured their liues in the warres Alexander at that present time was as angrie as Eumenes roundly tooke vp Hephaestion for it howbeit immediatly after hauing chaunged his minde he was much offended with Eumenes bicause he thought him not to haue vsed that franke speech so much against Hephaestion as of a certaine presumptuous boldenes towardes him selfe And at an other time also when Alexander was sending Nearchus with his army by sea to cleere the coastes of the Occean it chaunsed the king was without money whereupon he sent to all his frendes to take vp money in prest and among others vnto Eumenes of whom he requested three hundred talentes Eumenes lent him but a hundred and sayd he had much a doe to get him so much of all his tenantes Alexander sayd nothing to him neither would he suffer them to take his hundred talentes but commaunded his officers to set Eumenes tent a fire bicause he would take him tardy with a lye before he could geue order to cary away his gold and siluer Thus was his tent burnt downe to the ground before they could
all quarells among them King Cleombrotus by chaunce was at that time in the contrie of PHOCIDE with his armie vnto whom the Ephori wrote that he should forthwith spoyle the THEBANS contrie and therewith also they sent to all their confederates to come and aide them which had no great fansie to the iorney and were loth to make warre with them but yet durst not refuse to goe nor disobey the LACEDAEMONIANS And notwithstanding that there were many signes presaging ill lucke as we haue wrytten in the life of Epaminondas and that Prethous LACONIAN was against the enterprise of this warre all that he could Agesilaus would needes forward hoping he had nowe found oportunity to be reuenged of the THEBANS sith all GRAECE besides was in peace and at libertie them selues onely exempted from treatie of peace If there had bene no other thing in it but the very shortnes of time that made it manifest enough that this warre was begonne in a geere without any manner of reason For the generall peace amongest the GRAECIANS was concluded at SPARTA the fourteenth of May and the LACEDAEMONIANS were ouercome at the battell of LEVCTRES the fifteene of Iune so as there was but twentie dayes betwene them There were slaine a thowsand LACEDAEMONIANS with their king Cleombrotus and the choicest of the valliantest SPARTANS about him Amongest them was also slaine that goodly young man Cleonymus Sphodrias sonne of whom we spake before who hauing bene beaten downe thrise at the kings foote three times got vp againe but at the length was slaine valliantly fighting against the THEBANS This great ouerthrowe chaunsing to the LACEDAEMONIANS vnlooked for and withall so glorious a victorie vnto the THEBANS as GRAECIANS fighting with GRAECIANS had neuer the like the vanquished citie of SPARTA notwithstanding deserued no lesse honor and commendacion for her fortitude and worthinesse than did the victorious citie of THEBES For as Xenophon wryteth that as amongest good men euen in table talke and in their sportes mirth there falleth out ouer some thing of wit worth the noting and bearing away euen so in like case no lesse but rather more ought noble mens wordes to be weyed and their countenances marked as well in aduersitie as in prosperitie At that time by chaunse there was a common feast day in the citie of SPARTA which was full of straungers that came to see the daunses sportes of them that shewed naked in the Theater when as the messengers arriued that brought the newes of the battell lost at LECVTRES The Ephori knowing then that the rumor straight ranne all about that they were all vndone and how they had lost the signorie and commaundement ouer all GRAECE would not suffer them for all this to breake of their daunse in the Theater nor the citie in any thing to chaunge the forme of their feast but sent vnto the parentes to euerie mans house to let them vnderstande the names of them that were slaine at the battell they them selues remaining still in the Theater to see the daunses and sportes continued to iudge who caried the best games away The next morning when euerie man knewe the number of them that were slaine and of those also that were escaped the parentes and frendes of them that were dead met in the market place looking cheerefully of the matter and one of them embraced an other On thother side the parentes of them that scaped kept their houses with their wiues as folke that mourned If any of them also had occasion to go abroad out of their houses for any matter of necessitie ye should see him looke so heauily and sad that he durst not talke with you lift vp his head nor looke ye in the face Besides all this euen amongest the women there was greater difference For the mothers of thē that kept their sonnes which came from the battell were sad and sorowfull and spake not a word Contrarily the mothers of them that were slaine went frendly to visite one an other to reioyce together Now when the people saw that their confederates beganne to forsake them and did dayly looke that Epaminondas glorying in his victorie would inuade PELOPONNESVS then they beganne to be pricked in conscience about the oracles of the goddes thinking that this misfortune came to their citie for that they had thrust out of the kingdome a man perfect in limmes to place an impotent person being specially warned by the goddes to beware of that aboue all thinges This notwithstanding they had him in such veneration for his valliantnes and his authoritie was such thereby that they did not onely vse him in warre as their king and soueraine Captaine but in ciuill causes also wherein there rose any question they euer vsed his counsell and aduise As they did when they durst not punish them according to the penall lawes that fled from the battell whom they call at SPARTA Tresantas being a great number of them and men of the noblest houses and of greatest power within the citie least they should moue some sturre or commotion among them For by lawe they can beare no office in the common wealth It is shame and reproche to geue them any wiues and also to marrie any of theirs Whosoeuer meeteth them may lawefully strike them and they must abide it and not geue them a word againe They are compelled to weare poore tattered cloth gownes patched with cloth of diuers colours and worst of all to shaue the one side of their beardes and the other not Whereupon finding the daunger great to deale with them to execute the lawe according to the infamie they deserued specially then standing in neede of a great number of men of warre they referred them selues altogether vnto Agesilaus to take such order in it as he thought good But Agesilaus then without chaunging or altering any thing of the lawe sayd in open assemblie of LACEDAEMON that for that day they should let the law alone notwithstanding that afterwardes it should stand in force By this policie he kept the lawe inuiolate and saued also the honor of those poore men and withall to put these youthes againe in hart being amazed with this feare he led the armie into the contrie of ARCADIA and would geue no battell but onely tooke a small citie of the MANTINIANS and foraged the contrie This againe did a litle reuiue the citie of SPARTA with some hope to make that it should not vtterly dispaire But shortly after Epaminondas inuaded the contrie of LACONIA with fortie thowsand footemen well armed besides an infinite number of others light armed and naked people that followed his campe for the spoyle so that in all there were about three score and tenne thowsande fighting men that came in with him to inuade LACONIA It was well neere sixe hundred yeares sith the DORIANS possessed LACEDAEMON and in all that time till then they neuer saw enemies in their contrie that durst inuade
ouerthrowen and all went to wracke By this time Agesilaus was growen olde and could no more goe to the warres for verie age but his sonne Archidamus with the aide which Dionysius the tyranne of SYRACVSA sent vnto them wanne a battell against the ARCADIANS called the tearelesse battell for there dyed not one of his men and they slue a great number of their enemies This victorie plainely shewed the great weakenesse and decaie of the citie of SPARTA For in former times it was so common a thing vnto them to ouercome their enemies in battell that they did sacrifice nothinge else to the goddes in token of thankes within the citie but a poore cocke and they that had fought the battell made no boast of it neither did they that hard the newes reioice greatly at it For when they had wonne that great battell at the citie of MANTINEA which Thucydides describeth the Ephori only sent the messenger that brought the newes for reward a peece of powdered meate and no other thing But then when newes was brought of this victorie and that they vnderstoode Archidamus came home victorious neither man nor woman could keepe the citie but the father him selfe went first of all to meete him with the teares in his eyes for ioy and after him all the other Magistrates and officers of the citie and a swarme of old folke both men women came downe to the riuers side holding vp their hands to heauen thanking the goddes as if their citie had redeemed and recouered her shame and lost honor and beganne nowe to rise againe as before it did For vntill that time some say that the husbandes durst not boldly looke their wiues in the faces they were so ashamed of their great losses and miserable estate Now the citie of MESSINA being by Epaminondas reedified and replenished with people he called home againe out of all partes the naturall inhabitants of the same The SPARTANS durst not fight with him not to hinder his purpose though it spighted them to the hartes and were angrie with Agesilaus for that in his raigne they had lost all that territory which was as great as all LACONIA selfe and that for goodnesse and fertilitie compared with the best partes of all GRAECE the which they had quietly possessed many yeares before And this was the cause why Agesilaus would not agree to the peace which the THEBANS sent to offer him and all bicause he would not relinquish that in wordes which the enemies kept in deedes Therfore being wilfully bent once more to fight with them he went not only without recouering the thing he looked for but had in maner also lost the citie of SPARTA by a warlike stratageame in the which he was deceiued For the MANTINIANS being newly reuolted againe from the alliance of the THEBANS and hauing sent for the LACEDAEMONIANS Epaminondas receiuing intelligence that Agesilaus was departed from SPARTA with all his power to aide the MANTINIANS marched away secretly by night from TEGEA without the priuitie of the MANTINIANS and went straight to SPARTA the which he had almost surprised on the sodaine going an other way then Agesilaus came being in manner without men to defende it Howebeit a THESPIAN called Euthynus as Callisthenes sayth or as Xenophon wryteth a CRETAN brought Agesilaus newes of it who dispatched a horseman straight to aduertise them of the citie of SPARTA and marching forward him selfe to returne stayed not longe after before he arriued He was no sooner come but incontinently also came the THEBANS who passing ouer the riuer of Eurotas gaue assault to the city Then Agesilaus perceiuing that there was no more place nor time of securitie as before but rather of desperation and courage he valliantlie defended it more then an olde mans yeares coulde beare Thus through corage and desperate minde whereto he was neuer brought before neither did euer vse it he put by the daunger and saued the citie of SPARTA from Epaminondas handes setting vp markes of triumphe for repulsing of the enemies and making the women and children of SPARTA to see the LACEDAEMONIANS how honorablie they rewarded their nurse and contrie for their good education but Archidamus chiefely of all other fought wonderfully that day running into euerie parte of the citie with a fewe about him to repulse the enemies wheresoeuer the daunger was greatest It is sayd also that at that time there was one Isadas the sonne of Phaebidas that did maruelous straunge thinges to beholde both in the face of his enemies as also in the sight of his frendes He was of goodly personage and at that time in the prime of his youth and being starke naked and vnarmed his bodie noynted with oyle hauing in one hande a borestaffe and in the other a sworde in this maner he went out of his house and ranne amongest them that fought killinge and ouerthrowing his enemies that withstoode him and was not once hurt either for that the goddes preserued him for his manhoodes sake or else bicause men thought him more then a man The Ephori immediatly gaue him a crowne in honor and reward of his valliantnesse but withall they set a fine on his head to pay a thowsand siluer Drachmas for his rashe attempt to hasard him selfe in battell vnarmed for defense Shortly after they fought an other great battell before the citie of MANTINEA There Epaminondas hauing ouerthrowen the first ranckes of the LACEDAEMONIANS and coragiously distressing the rest valliantly following the chase there was one Anticrates a LACONIAN who receiuing him as Dioscorides writeth slue him with his borespeare The LACEDAEMONIANS to this day notwithstanding doe call the ofspring of this Anticrates Machariones as much to say as swordmen as though he had slaine him with a sword The LACEDAEMONIANS did esteeme this Anticrates so much for that deadly stroke he gaue bicause they were afrayed of Epaminondas while he liued that they gaue him that slue him great honors dignities and discharged all his ofspring kinred from payment of subsidie and common contribucions which priuiledge one Callicrates a kinseman of this Amicrates enioyed euen in our time After this battell and death of Epaminondas the GRAECIANS hauing taken peace generally amongest them Agesilaus would needes exclude the MESSENIANS from being sworne to this peace saying that they neede not sweare bicause they had no city Now forasmuch as all the GRAECIANS els did receiue them as amongest the number tooke their othe vnto this peace the LACEDAEMONIANS brake of from this general peace and none but they onely made warre in hope to recouer the MESSENIANS contrie and all through the allurement of Agesilaus who for this cause was thought of the GRAECIANS a cruell and vnsatiable man for warres to deale so craftily and all to breake this generall league Againe he brought him selfe in discredit with all men beinge compelled to make his citie bare of money borowing of them still and
deliuered it ouer vnto the Treasorers custody to be accountable for it vnto the state In an other castell called Coenon he founde certaine secret letters sent from Mithridates which pleased him maruelously to reade bicause thereby he plainly vnderstoode the kinges nature and inclination For in them were mencioned that he had poysoned besides many other Ariarathes his owne soone and Alcaus the SARDIANIAN bicause he had wonne the bell at the horse race before him There was also interpretinge of dreames that either him selfe or his wiues had dreamed and also loue letters betwext Moniâ—e and him Theophanes wryteth also that there was found an oration of Rutilius in the which he entised and perswaded Mithridates to put all the ROMANES to death that were in ASIA Howbeit in reason men thinke that this was a shamefull lye maliciously deuised by Theophanes who hated Rutilius bicause he was but a counterfeate to him or peraduenture to gratifie Pompey whose father Rutilius in his histories describeth to be as wicked a man as euer liued Thence Pompey departed towardes the city of AMISVS There his ambition brought him to commit such factes as he him selfe did condemne before in Lucullus for that his enemy being yet aliue he tooke vpon him to establish lawes to geue giftes and distribute such honors as Captaines that had obtained victory were wont to doe when they had ended all warre and trouble For he him selfe Mithridates being yet the stronger in the realme of BOSPHORVS and hauing a great puissant army about him did all that which he reproued an other for appointing prouinces and geuing out giftes to euery man according as he deserued to gratifie twelue barbarous kinges with diuers other Princes Lordes and Captaines that came to him thither Wryting also to the king of PARTHIA he disdained to geue him that title which others were wont to doe in the direction of their letters calling him king of kinges Furthermore he had a wonderfull great desire to winne SYRIA and to goe through the contry of Aâ—â—â—IA euen vnto the redde sea bicause he might enlarge his conquestes and victories euery way euen vnto the great sea Oceanum that compasseth all the whole earth For in LIBYA he was the first ROMANE that conquered all in the great sea On thother side in SPAYNE he enlarged thEmpire of ROME and brought the confines thereof vnto Mare Atlantieum And thirdly hauing lately the ALBANIANS in chase he came almost vnto Mare Hyrcanium Thus be put him selfe in iorney intending his circuite vnto the redde sea specially bicause he sawe Mithridates so ill to follow worse to ouercome by force when he fled then when he fought any battell and that made him say that he would leaue a sharper enemy behinde him then him selfe and that he ment famine For he appointed souldiers with sufficient number of shippes to lye in waite for the marchauntes that sailed to the contrie of BOSPHORVS to cary them any vittells or other marchaundises prohibiting them vpon paine of death that should attempt it Then he went forward with the best parte of his army and in his way founde the bodies of dead ROMANES which Mithridates had ouerthrowen vnder the leading of Triarius their Captaine and were yet vnburied So he caused them all to be taken vp and honorably buried Lucullus hauing forgotten or otherwise neglected to doe it in my conscience that was the chiefest cause why his men did hate him Pompey now hauing by Afra 〈…〉 〈…〉 the ARABIANS dwelling about mount Amanus went him selfe in person into SYRIA and made a gouernment and prouince of it being won to the ROMANE empire for that it lacked a lawfull king and conquered all IVRIE also where he tooke king Aristobulus and builded certaine cities there and deliuered others also from bondage which by tyrannes were forcibly kept whom he chasticed well enough Howbeit he spent the most parte of his time there deciding of controuersies pacifying of contencions and quarrells by arbitrement which fell out betwext the free cities Princes and kinges and sent of his frends into those places where he could not come him selfe For on a time when he was chosen arbitrator betwext the PARTHIANS and the ARMENIANS touching the title of a contrie which both parties claimed he sent three commissioners thither to iudge definitiuely betwext them both If Pompeys fame and renowne were great no lesse was his vertue iustice and liberality which in deede did hide many faultes his frendes and familiars about him did commit For truely he was of so gâ—â—â—â— a nature that he could neither keepe them from offending nor yet punishe them when they had offended Notwithstanding he did vse them so well that complained vnto him or that had to deale with him in any matter that he made them contented paciently to beare their couetousnes straight dealing One of his chiefest familiars about him whom he loued best was called Demetrius a bondman infanchised who otherwise was very discrete in his doings but being somewhat too bolde of his good fortune of him they make this mencion Cato the Philosopher being at that time a young man yet of good iudgement and of a noble minde in Pompeys absence went to see the city of ANTIOCH Now for him selfe his maner was alwayes to goe a foote all his frendes besides that did accompany him to honor him were a horsebacke He perceiuing a farre of a great sorte of people comming towardes him all in vvâ—â—â— and of one side of the streete litle children and on the other boyes round about them as in a ring at the first he was angry withall thinking they had done it for his sake to honor him that they made this procession which he in no wise would haue had done Thereuppon he commaunded his frendes to light from their horses and to goe a foote with him But when they came neere to the gate of the city the maister of the ceremonies that led this processions hauing a garland on his head and a rodde in his hand came vnto them and asked them where they had left Demetrius and when he would come Catoes frendes laughed to heare this question then sayd Cato alas poore city and so passed by it Notwithstanding Pompey him selfe was cause that Demetrius had the lesse ill will borne him then otherwise he should haue had bicause they sawe howe boldly he would vse Pompey and howe well he would take it without offence It is reported that when Pompey oftentimes had bidden some to dinner or supper while he was entertaining and welcomming of them and would tary till they were all comes Demetrius would be set at the hord and presumptuously haue his head couered euen to the very eares And furthermore before he returned into ITALIE out of this iorney he had already purchaced the goodliest houses of pleasure and fayrest walkes that were about ROME and had sumptuous gardens also the which the people commonly called Demetrius gardens
spede after PoÌ„pey But bycause he had no ships ready he let him go hasted towardes SPAYNE to ioyne Pompeys army there vnto his Now Pompey in the meane space had gotten a maruelous great power together both by sea by land His armie by sea was wonderfull For he had fiue hundred good shippes of warre of gallioâ—s foystes pinnases an infinite nomber By land he had all the flower of the horsemeÌ„ of ROME and of all ITALIE to the nomber of seuen thowsand horse all riche men of great houses and valliant minds But his footemen they were men of all sorts raw souldiers vntrained whom Pompey continually exercised lying at the citie of BERROEE not sitting idely but taking paines as if he had bene in the prime of his youth Which was to great purpose to incorage others seeing Pompey being eight and fifty yeare old fight a foote armed at all peeces then a horsebacke quickly to draw out his sword while his horse was in his full career and easely to p 〈…〉 vp againe and to throw his dart from him not onely with such agillitie to hyt pointe blanke but also with strength to cast it such a way from him that fewe young men could doe the like Thither came diuers kinges princes and great lordes of contries and yeelded them selues vnto him and of ROMANE captaines that had borne office he had of them about him the nomber of a whole Senate Amongst them came vnto him Labienus also who before was Caesars frend had alwayes bene with him in his warres in GAVLE There came vnto him also Brutus the sonne of that Brutus which was slaine in GAVLE a valliant man and which had neâ—er spoken vnto Pompey vntil that day bycause he tooke him for a murderer of his father but then willingly followed him as defendor of the libertie of ROME Cicero him selfe also though he had both written and geuen counsell to the contrarie thought it a shame to him not to be amongest the nomber of them that would hazard their liues for defence of their contry There came vnto him also Tidius Sextius euen into MACEDON notwithstanding that he was an old man and lame of one of his legges whom others laughing to scorne to see him come when Pompey saw him he rose went to meete him iudging it a good token of their goodwills vnto him when such olde men as he chose rather to be with him in daunger then at home with safety Hereupon they sate in counsell and following Catoes opinion decreed that they should put no citizen of ROME to death but in battel and should sacke no citie that was subiect to the Empire of ROME the which made Pompeys part the better liked For they that had nothing to doe with the warres either bycause they dwelt farre of or els for that they were so poore as otherwise they were not regarded did yet both in deede and word fauor Pompeys parte thinking him an enemie both to the goddes and men that wished not Pompey victorie Caesar also shewed him selfe very mercifull curteous where he ouercame For when he had wonne all Pompeys armie that was in SPAYNE he suffred the captaines that were taken to go at libertie onely reserued the souldiers Then comming ouer the ALPES againe he passed through all ITALY came to the citie of BRVNDVSIVM in the winter quarter and there passing ouer the sea he went vnto the citie of ORICVM laÌ„ded there Now Caesar hauing Vibius one of Pompeys famillier frends with him whom he had takeÌ„ prisoner he sent him vnto Pompey to pray againe that they might meete both of them desperse their armies within three dayes and being recoÌ„ciled geuing their faith one to an other so to retorne into ITALY like good frends together Pompey thought againe that these were new deuises to intrappe him Thereupon he sodainely weÌ„t downe to the sea tooke all the places of streÌ„gth by the sea side safly to lodge his campe in all the ports creekes harbars for ships to lie in rode so that what wind so euer blew on the skie it serued his turne to bring him either men vittels or money Caesar on thother side was so distressed both by sea by land that he was driueÌ„ to procuer battel to assaile Pompey euen in his owne forts to make him come out to fight with him of whom most times he euer had the better in all skirmishes sauing once when he was in daunger to haue lost all his army For Pompey had valiantly repulsed his men and made them flie and had slaine two thowsand of them in the field but he durst no enter pelmel with them into their campe as they fled Whereupon Caesar saide to his frendes that his enemie had wonne the victorie that day if he had knowen how to ouercome This victorie put Pompeys men in such courage that they would needes hasard battell And Pompey him selfe also though he wrote letters vnto straunge kinges captaines and cities of his confederacie as if he had already wonne all was yet afrayed to fight an other battell thinking it better by tracte of time and distresse of vittells to ouercome him For Caesars men being olde and expert souldiers and wont euer to haue the victorie when they sought together he knew they would be lothe to be brought to fight any other kinde of way to be driuen to often remouing of their campe from place to place and still to fortifie and intrench them selues and therefore that they would rather put it to aduenture out of hande and fight it out But notwithstanding that Pompey had before perswaded his men to be quiet and not to sturre perceyuing that after this last bickering Caesar being scanted with vittells raised his campe and departed thence to goe into THESSALY through the contrie of the ATHAMANIANâ—â— then he could no more bridle their glorie and corage which cried Caesar is fled let vs follow him And others let vs retorne home againe into ITALY And others also sent their frendes and seruantes before to ROME to hier them houses neere the market place intending when they came thether to sue for offices in the common welth Some there were also that in a iollitie would needes take shippe and faile into the I le of Lâ—â—ROS â— vnto Cornelia whom Pompey had sent thether to cary her that good newes that the warre was ended Thereupon assembling the counsell Afranius thought it best to winne ITALY for that was the chiefest marke to be shot at in this warre for whosoeuer obteyned that had straight all SICILE SAâ—DINIA CORSICA SPAYNE and GAVLE at commaundemment Furthermore that it was a dishonor to Pompey which in reason should touche him aboue all thinges to 〈…〉 their conâ—rie to be in such cruell bondage and subiection vnto slaues and flatterers of tyrantes offering it selfe as it were into their handes But Pompey neither thought it honorable for
for that he went straight into his campe and spake neuer a word to say man rightly verifiyng Homers verses to this effect But mightie loue vvho sittes aloft in yuorie chariot hie Strake Aiax vvith so great a feare that Aiax byandby Let fall his lethern target made of tough oxe hide seuen folde And ran avvay not looking backe for all he vvas so bold In this estate Pompey entred into his tent and sate him downe there a great while and spake neuer a worde vntill such time as many of the enemies entred pell mell with his men that fled into his campe And then he said no more but what euen into our campe and so rising vp he put a gowne on his backe euen fit for his misfortune and secretly stale out of the campe The other legions also fled and great slaughter was made of the tent kepers and their sernantes that garded the campe For Asinius Pollio writeth who was at that battell on Caesars side that there were slaine onely but six thowsand souldiers Howbeit at the taking of their campe Caesars souldiers then sound plainly the madnes â—ovanitie of Pompeys men For all their tentes and pauilions were full of nosegayes and garlandes of mirtle their couches all couered with flowers their tables full of bowles of wine and men prepared ready to do sacrifice for ioye rather then to arme them selues to fight Thus went they to battell caried away with the vaine foolish hope WheÌ„ Pompey was gone a litle way froÌ„ his campe he forsooke his horse hauing a very few with him perceyuing that no man pursued him he went a foote faire softly his head full of such thoughts and imaginations as might be supposed a man of his like calling might haue who for foure thirty yeares space together was wont coÌ„tinually to cary victorie away and beganne then euen in his last cast to proue what it was to flie and to be ouercome and who thought then with him selfe how in one howers space he had lost the honor and riches which lie had gotten in so many foughten feildes and battels whereby he was not longe before followed and obeyed of so many thowsand men of warre of so many horsemen and of such a great flete of shippes on the sea and then to goe as he did in such poore estate and with so small a traine that his very enemies who sought him knew him not Thus when he was passed the citie of LARISSA and comming to the vallie of Tempé there being a thirst he fell downe of his bellie and dranke of the riuer Then rising vp againe he went his way thence and came to the sea side and tooke a fishers cotage where he lay all night The next morning by breake of the daye he went into a litle bote vpon the riuer and tooke the free men with him that were about himâ— and as for the slaues he sent them backe againe and did counsell them boldely to goe to Caesar and not to be affrayed Thus rowing vp and downe the shore side in this litle bote he spyed a great shippe of burden in the maine sea ryding at anker which was ready to waye anker and to saile awaye The master of the shippe was a ROMANE who though he was not familiarly acquainted with Pompey yet knew him by fight very well He was called Peticius who had dreamed the night before that he sawe Pompey speake vnto him not like the man he was wont to bâ— but in pouerty and in misery So he had tolde this dreame vnto the mariners which sailed with him as men commonly vse to doe specially when they dreame of such weighty matters and being at leasure withall and at the very instant there was one of the mariners that told him he sawe a litle bote of the riuer rowing towards them and that there were men in it that shooke their clokes at them bold out their hands Thereupon Peticius standing vp knew Pompey straight euen in like case as he had dreamed of him the night before and clapping his head for anger commaunded his mariners to let downe his bote and gaue him his hand calling him Pompey by his name mistrusting seeing him in that estate what misfortune had happened to him Therupon not looking to be intreated nor that he should tell him of his mishappe he receiued him into his shippe and all those he would haue with him and then hoised saile With Pompey there were both the Leâ—tuli Faonius Shortly after also they perceiued king Deiotarus comming from the riuer to them that beckened and made signes to receiue them which they did At supper time the master of the shippe made ready such meate as he had abord Faonius seeing Pompey for lacke of men to waite on him washing of him selfe ran vnto him washed him and annointed him and afterwardes continued still to waite vpon him and to doe such seruice about him as seruaunts do to their masters euen to washing of his feete making ready of his supper When a simple man saw him that could no skill of seruice he sayd Good gods hovv euery thing becommeth noble men Pompey passing then by the citie of AMPHIPOLIS coasted from thence into the I le of LESBOS to goe fetch his wife Cornelia and his sonne being then in the city of MITYLENE There hauing cast out his ancker and riding at rode he put a messenger on the shore sent him into the citie to his wife not according to her expectacion who was still put in good hope by continuall letters and newes brought vnto her that the warre was ended and determined by the city of DYRRACHIVM This messenger now finding her in this hope had not the hart so much as to salute her but letting her vnderstande rather by his teares then wordes the great misfortune Pompey had told her she must dispatch quickely if she would see Pompey with one shippe only and none of his but borowed The young Lady hearing these newes fell downe in a sound before him and neither spake nor sturred of long time but after she was come to herselfe remembring that it was no time to weepe and lament she went with speede through the city vnto the sea side There Pompey meeting her tooke her in his armes imbraced her But she sincking vnder him fell downe and sayd Out alas woe worth my hard fortune not thine good husband that I see thee now brought to one poore shippe who before thou mariedst thy vnfortunate Cornelia wert wont to saile these seas with fiue huÌ„dred ships Alas why art thou come to see me and why diddest thou not leaue me to cursed fate and my wicked desteny sith my selfe is cause of all this thy euill Alas how happy a woman had I bene if I had bene dead before I heard of the death of my first husband Publius Crassus whom the wretched PARTHIANS slue And how wise a woman had I bene if
realme greatly enuyed hated of daungerous enemies and euery way full of daunger For the barbarous nations that were neere neighbours vnto MACEDON could not abide the bondage of straungers but desired to haue their naturall kinges Neither had Philip time enough to bridle and pacifie GRAECE which he had conquered by force of armes but hauing a litle altered the gouernmentes had through his insolencie left them all in great trouble and ready to rebell for that they had not long bene aquainted to obey Thereupon Alexanders counsell of MACEDON being affraid of the troublesome time were of opinion that AlexaÌ„der should vtterly forsake the affaires of GRAECE and not to follow them with extremitie but that he should seeke to winne the barbarous people by gentle meanes that had rebelled against him and wisely to remedy these new sturres But he farre otherwise determined to stablish his safety by corage and magnanimitie perswading him selfe that if they saw him stowpe and yeeld at the beginning how litle so euer it were euery one would be apon him Thereupon he straight quenched all the rebellion of the barbarous people inuading them sodainely with his armie by the riuer of DANVBY where in a great battell he ouerthrew Syrmus king of the TRIBALLIANS Furthermore hauing intelligence that the THEBANS were reuoked and that the ATHENIANS also were confederate with them to make them know that he was a man he marched with his armie towardes the streight of Thermopiles saying that he would make Demosthenes the Orator see who in his oratioÌ„s whilest he was in ILLYRIA in the contry of the TRIBALLIANS called him child that he was growen a stripling passing through THESSALY should finde him a man before the walles of ATHENS When he came with his armie vnto the gates of THEBES he was willing to geue them of the citie occasion to repent them and therefore onely demaunded Phoenix and Prothytes authors of the rebellion Furthermore he proclaimed by trompet pardon and safetie vnto all them that would yeld vnto him The THEBANS on thother side demaunded of him Philotas Antipater two of his chiefest seruauntes made the crier proclaime in the citie that all such as would defend the libertie of GRAECE should ioyne with them Then did Alexander leaue the MACEDONIANS at libertie to make warre with all crueltie Then the THEBANS fought with greater corage and desire then they were able considering that their enemies were many against one And on thother side also when the garrison of the MACEDONIANS which were within the castell of CADMIA made a salie vpon them and gaue them charge in the rereward then they being enuironned of all sides were slaine in maner euery one of them their citie taken destroyed rased euen to the hard ground This he did specially to make all the rest of the people of GRAECE afraid by example of this great calamitie and miserie of the THEBANS to thend none of them should dare from thenceforth once to rise against him He would cloke this crueltie of his vnder the complaintes of his confederates the PHOCIANS and PLATEIANS who complaining to him of the iniuries the THEBANS had offred could not denie them iustice NotwithstaÌ„ding excepting the priests and the religious and all such as were frendes vnto any of the Lords of MACEDON all the frendes and hinsmen of the poet Pindarus and all those that had disswaded them which were the rebells he sold all the rest of the citie of THEBES for slaues which amounted to the nomber of thirtie thowsand persones besides them that were slaine at the battell which were six thowsand moe Now amongest the other miseries calamities of the poore citie of THEBES there were certaine THRACIAN souldiers who hauing spoyled and defaced the house of Timoclea a vetuous ladie and of noble parentage they deuided her goods among them and their captaine hauing rauished her by force asked her whether she had any where hidden any gold or siluer The ladie told him she had Then leading him into her garden she brought him vnto a well where she said she had cast all her iuells and precious things when she heard the citie was taken The barbarous THRACIAN stouped to looke into the well she standing behind him thrust him in and then threw stones enow on him and so killed him The souldiers when they knew it tooke and bound her and so caried her vnto Alexander When Alexander saw her countenance marked her gate he supposed her at the first to be some great lady she followed the souldiers with such a maiestie boldnes AlexaÌ„der theÌ„ asking her what she was She aunswered that she was the sister of Theagenes who fought a battel with king Philip before the citie of CHAERONEA where being generall he was slaine valiantly fighting for the defense of the libertie of GRAECE Alexander wondering at her noble aunswere and couragious deede coÌ„maunded no man should touche her nor her children so freely let her goe whether she would He made league also with the ATHENIANS though they were very sory for their miserable fortune For the day of the solemne feast of their misteries being come they left it of mourning for the THEBANS courteously enterteining all those that flying from THEBES came to them for succour But whether it was for that his anger was past him following therein the nature of lyons or bycause that after so great an example of crueltie he would shew a singuler clemency againe he did not only pardon the ATHENIANS of all faules committed but did also counsell them to looke wisely to their doings for their citie one daie should commaund all GRAECE if he chaunced to die Men report that certenly he oftentimes repented him that he had delt so cruelly with the THEBANS and the griefe he tooke apon it was cause that he afterwardes shewed him selfe more mercifull vnto diuers others Afterwardes also he did blame the furie of Bacchus who to be reuenged of him made him kill Clitâ—â— at the table being droncke and the MACEDONIANS also to refuse him to goe any furtherto conquer the INDIANS which was an imperfection of his enterprise and a minishing also of his honor Besides there was neuer THEBAN afterwardes that had escaped the furie of his victorie and did make any peticion to him but he had his sute Thus was the state of THEBES as you haue heard Then the GRAECIANS hauing assembled a generall counsell of all the states of GRAECE within the straights of Peloponnesus there it was determined that they would make warre with the PERSIANS Whereupon they chose Alexander generall for all GRAECE Then diuers men comming to visite Alexander aswell philosophers as gouernors of states to congratulate with him for his electioÌ„ he looked that Diogenes Sinopian who dwelt at CORINTH would likewise come as the rest had done but when he saw he made no reckoning of him and that he kept still in the suburbes of CORINTHE at a place
went him selfe before with six hundred horse and fiue legions onely of footemen in the winter quarter about the moneth of Ianuary which after the ATHENIANS is called POSIDEON Then hauing past ouer the sea Ionium and landed his men he wanne the cities of ORICVM and APOLLONIA Then he sent his shippes backe againe vnto BRVNDVSIVM to transport the rest of his souldiers that could not come with that speede he did They as they came by the way like men whose strength of body lusty youth was decayed being wearied with so many sundry battells as they had fought with their enemies complayned of Caesar in this sorte To what ende and purpose doth this man hale vs after him vp and downe the world vsing vs like slaues and drudges It is not our armor but our bodies that beare the blowes away and what shall we neuer be without our harnes of our backes and our shieldes on our armes should not Caesar thinke at the least when he seeth our blood and woundes that we are all mortall men and that we feele the miserie and paynes that other men doe feele And now euen in the dead of winter he putteth vs vnto the mercie of the sea and tempest yea which the gods them selues can not withstand as if he fled before his enemies and pursued them not Thus spending time with this talke the souldiers still marching on by small iorneys came at length vnto the citie of BRVNDVSIVM But when they were come found that Caesar had already passed ouer the sea then they straight chaunged their complaints and mindes For they blamed them selues and tooke on also with their Captaines bicause they had not made them make more haste in marching and sitting vpon the rockes and clyffes of the sea they looked ouer the mayne sea towards the Realme of EPIRVS to see if they could discerne the shippes returning backe to transport them ouer Caesar in the meane time being in the citie of APOLLONIA hauing but a small armie to fight with Pompey it greued him for that the rest of his armie was so long a comming not knowing what way to take In the ende he followed a daungerous determinacion to imbarke vnknowen in a litle pynnase of twelue ores onely to passe ouer the sea againe vnto BRVNDVSIVM the which he could not doe without great daunger considering that all that sea was full of Pompeys shippes and armies So he tooke shippe in the night apparelled like a slaue and went aborde vpon this litle pynnase said neuer a word as if he had bene some poore man of meane condicion The pynnase laye in the mouth of the riuer of Anius the which commonly was wont to be very calme quiet by reason of a litle wind that came from the shore which euery morning draue backe the waues farre into the maine sea But that night by il fortune there came a great wind from the sea that ouercame the land wind insomuch as the force strength of the riuer fighting against the violence of the rage waues of the sea the encownter was maruailous daungerous the water of the riuer being driuen backe and rebounding vpward with great noyse and daunger in turning of the water Thereuppon the Maister of the pynnase seeing he could not possibly get out of the mouth of this riuer bad the Maryners to cast about againe and to returne against the streame Caesar hearing that straight discouered him selfe vnto the Maister of the pynnase who at the first was amazed when he saw him but Caesar then taking him by the hand sayd vnto him good fellow be of good cheere and forwardes hardily feare not for thou hast Caesar and his fortune with thee Then the Maryners forgetting the daunger of the storme they were in laid on lode with ores and labored for life what they could against the winde to get out of the mouth of this riuer But at length perceiuing they labored in vaine and that the pynnase tooke in aboundance of water and was ready to sincke Caesar then to his great griefe was driuen to returne backe again Who when he was returned vnto his campe his souldiers came in great companies vnto him were very sory that he mistrusted he was not able with them alone to ouercome his enemies but would put his person in daunger to goe fetch them that were absent putting no trust in them that were present In the meane time Antonius arriued and brought with him the rest of his armie from BRVNDVSIVM Then Caesar finding him selfe strong enough went offered Pompey battel who was passingly wel lodged for vittelling of his campe both by sea land Caesar on thother side who had no great plenty of vittels at the first was in a very hard case insomuch as his men gathered rootes mingled thē with milke eate them Furthermore they did make breade of it also sometime when they skirmished with the enemies came alongest by them that watched and warded they cast of their bread into their trenches and sayd that as longe as the earth brought forth such frutes they would neuer leaue beseeging of Pompey But Pompey straightly commaunded them that they should neither cary those words nor bread into their campe fearing least his mens hartes would faile them and that they would be affraid when they should thinke of their enemies hardnes with whome they had to fight sithe they were weary with no paynes no more then brute beastes Caesars men did daily skirmishe hard to the trenches of Pompeys campe in the which Caesar had euer the better sauing once only at what tyme his men fled with such feare that all his campe that daye was in greate hazarde to haue beene caste awaye For Pompey came on with his battell apon them and they were not able to abyde it but were fought with and dryuen into their campe and their trenches were filled with deade bodyes which were slayne within the very gate and bullwarkes of their campe they were so valiantly pursued Caesar stoode before them that fledde to make them to turne heade agayne but he coulde not preuayle For when he woulde haue taken the ensignes to haue stayed them the ensigne bearers threw them downe on the grounde so that the enemyes tooke two and thirtye of them and Caesars selfe also scaped hardely with lyfe For stryking a greate bigge souldier that fledde by him commaunding him to staye and turne his face to his enemie the souldier beeing affrayde lift vppe his sworde to stryke at Caesar. But one of Caesars Pages preuenting him gaue him suche a blowe with his sworde that he strake of his showlder Caesar that daye was brought vnto so greate extremitie that if Pompey had not eyther for feare or spytefull fortune left of to followe his victorie and retyred into his campe beeing contented to haue dryuen his enemyes into their campe returning to his campe with his friendes he sayde vnto them the victorie this daye
him The people apon his motion being determined to ayde them Phocion straight sounding the trumpet at the breaking vp of the assembly gaue them no further leysure but to take their weapons and so led them incontinently to MEGARA The MEGARIANS receiuing him Phocion shut vp the hauen of NISAEA and brought two long walls from the citie vnto it and so ioyned it vnto the sea Whereby he stood not greatly in feare of his enemies by land and for the sea the ATHENIANS were Lordes of it Now when the ATHENIANS had proclaimed open warre against king Philip and had chosen other Captaines in his absence and that he was returned from the Iles aboue all thinges he perswaded the people king Philip requiring peace and greatly fearing the daunger to accept the condicions of peace Then one of these busy Orators that was still accusing one or other said vnto him why Phociō how darest thou attēpt to turne the ATHENIANS frō warre hauing now their swordes in their hands yes truely said Phocion though in warre I know I shal commaund thee in peace thou wilt commaund me But when the people would not harken to him and that Demosthenes caried them away with his perswasions who counselled them to sight with king Philip as farre from ATTICA as they could I pray thee friend q Phocion vnto him let vs not dispute where we shall fight but consider how we shall ouercome the which if we can so bring to passe be sure we shall put the warre farre enough from vs For men that are ouercome be euer in feare and daunger wheresoeuer they be When the ATHENIANS had lost a battell against Philip the seditious Orators that hunted after innouacion preferred Charidemus to be chosen generall of the ATHENIANS whereuppon the Magistrates Senatours being affraid and taking with them all the Court and Senate of the ARBOPAGITS they made such earnest sute to the people with the teares in their eyes that at last but with much a doe they obteyned that the affaires of the citie might be put into Phocions handes gouernment He thought good to accept the articles and gentle condicions of peace which Philip offered them But after that the Orator Demades moued that the citie of ATHENS would enter into the common treatie of peace common assembly of the states of GRAECE procured at king Philips request Phocion would not agree to it vntill they might vnderstand what demaunds Philip would make at the assembly of the GRAECIANS When his opinion through the peruersnes of time could not be liked of them that he saw the ATHENIANS soone after repented them that they did not followe his counsell when they heard they should furnish king Philip with shippes and horsemen then he told them the feare whereof ye now complaine made me to withstand that which now ye haue consented vnto But sithence it is so that you haue nowe past your consents you must be contented and not be discoraged at it remembring that your auncestors in times past haue sometyme commaunded and other while obeyed others and yet haue so wisely and discreetely gouerned them selues in both fortunes that they haue not onely saued their citie but all GRAECE besides When newes came of king Philips death the people for ioy would straight haue made bonfires and sacrifices to the goddes for the good newes but Phocion would not suffer them and sayd that it was a token of a base minde to reioyce at any mans death besides that the armie which ouerthrew you at CHAERONEA hath not yet lost but one man And when Demosthenes also would commonly speake ill of Alexander and specially when he was so neare THEBES with his armie Phocion rehearsed vnto him these verses of Homer Hovv great a folly is it for to stand Against a cruell king VVhich beeing armd and hauing svvord in hand Seekes fame of euery thing What when there is such a great fire kindled wilt thou cast the citie into it for my part therefore though they were willing yet will I not suffer them to cast them selues away for to that ende haue I taken vpon me this charge and gouernment And afterwards also when Alexander had rased the citie of THEBES and had required the ATHENIANS to deliuer him Demosthenes Lycurgus Hyperides and Caridemus and that the whole assembly and counsell not knowing what aunswer to make did all cast their eyes vppon Phocion and cryed vnto him to say his opinion he then rose vppe and taking one of his friendes vnto him called Nicocles whome he loued and trusted aboue all men els he sayd thus openly vnto them These men whome Alexander requireth haue brought this citie to this extremitie that if he required Nicocles here I would giue my consent to deliuer him For I would thinke my selfe happy to lose my life for all your safetie Furthermore though I am right hartely sory sayd he for the poore afflicted THEBANS that are come into the citie for succour yet I assure ye it is better one citie mourne then two And therefore I thinke it is best to intreate the Conqueror for both rather then to our certeine destruction to fight with him that is the stronger It is sayd also that Alexander refused the first decree which the people offered him vppon Phocions request and sent awaye the Ambassadors and would not speake with them But the second which Phocion him selfe brought he tooke beeing tolde by his fathers olde seruaunts that king Philip made great accompt of him Whereuppon Alexander did not onely giue him audience and graunt his request but further followed his counsell For Phocion perswaded him if he loued quietnes to leaue warre if he desired fame then that he should make warre with the barbarous people but not with the GRAECIANS So Phocion feeding Alexanders humor with such talke and discourse as he thought would like him best he so altered and softened Alexanders disposition that when he went from him he willed him that the ATHENIANS should looke to their affayres for if he should dye he knewe no people fitter to commaund then they Furthermore bicause he would be better acquainted with Phocion and make him his friend he made so much of him that he more honored him then all the rest of his friends To this effect Duris the historiographer writeth that when Alexander was growen very great and had ouercome king Darius he left out of his letters this worde Chaerin to wit ioy and health which he vsed commonly in all the letters he wrote and would no more honor any other with that maner of salutacion but Phocion Antipater Chares also writeth the same And they all doe confesse that Alexander sent Phocion a great gift out of ASIA of a hundred siluer talents This money being brought to ATHENS Phocion asked them that brought it why Alexander gaue him such a great reward aboue all the other Citizens of ATHENS Bicause sayd they he onely esteemeth thee to be a good and honest
thee this at my death When al the rest had dronke there was no more poyson left and the hangman sayd he would make no more vnlesse they gaue him twelue Drachmas for so much the pound did cost him Phocion perceiuing theÌ„ that the hangman delayed time he called one of his frends vnto him and prayed him to geue the hangman that litle money he demaunded sith a man can not dye at ATHENS for nothing without cost It was the nineteenth day of the moneth of Munichion to wit Marche on which day the Knights were wont to make a solemne procession in the honor of Iupiter howbeit some of them left of the garlandes of flowers which they shoulde haue worne on their heades and others also looking towards the prison dore as they went by burst out a weeping For they whose harts were not altogether hardned with crueltie whose iudgements were not wholly suppressed with enuie thought it a grieuous sacriledge against the goddes that they did not let that day passe but that they did defile so solemne a feast with the violeÌ„t death of a man His enemies notwithstanding continuing still their anger against him made the people passe a decree that his bodie should be banished and caried out of the bondes of the contry of ATTICA forbidding the ATHENIANS that no fire should be made for the solemnising of his funeralls For this respect no frend of his durst once touch his body Howebeit a poore man called Conopion that was wont to get his liuing that way being hyered for money to burne mens bodies he tooke his corse and caried it beyond the city of ELEVSIN and getting fire out of a womans house of MEGARA he solemnised his funeralls Furthermore there was a gentlewoman of MEGARA who comming by chaunce that way with her gentlewomen where his body was but newly burnt she caused the earth to be cast vp a litle where the body was burnt and made it like to hollow tombe whereupon she did vse such sprincklings and effusions as are commonly done at the funeralls of the dead then taking vp his bones in her lappe in the night she brought them home and buried them in her harth saying O deare harth to thee I bequeath the relikes of this noble and good man and pray thee to keepe them faithfully to bring them one day to the graue of his auncesters when the ATHENIANS shall come to confesse the fault wrong they haue done vnto him And truly it was not long after that the ATHENIANS found by the vntowardnes of their affaires that they had put him to death who only maintained iustice and honesty at ATHENS Whereupon they made his image to be set vp in brasse and gaue honorable buriall to his bones at the charges of the citie And for his accusers they condemned Agnonides of treason and put him to death them selues The other two Epicurus and Demophilus being fled out of the citie were afterwardes met with by his sonne Phocus who was reuenged of them This Phocus as men reporte was otherwise no great good man who fancying a young maide which a bawde kept comming by chaunce one day into the schoole of Lycaeum he heard Theodorus the Atheist to wit that beleued not there were any goddes make this argument If it be no shame sayd he to deliuerâ— mans frend from bondage no more shame is it to redeeme his leman which he loueth euen so it is all one to redeeme a mans leman as his frende This young man taking this argument to serue his turne beleuinge that he might lawefully doe it got the young maide he loued from the bawde Furthermore this death of Phocion did also reuiue the lamentable death of Socrates vnto the GRAECIANS for men thought that it was a like hainous offence and calamitie vnto the citie of ATHENS The end of Phocions life THE LIFE OF Cato Vtican THe family and house of Cato tooke his first glorie and name of his great grandfather Cato the Censor who for his vertue as we haue declared in his life was one of the famousest and worthiest men of ROME in his time This Cato whom we nowe wryte of was left an orphan by his father and mother with his brother Caepio and Porcia his sister Seruilis was also Catoes halfe sister by his mothers side All these were brought vp with their vncle Liuius Drusus at that time the greatest man of the citie for he was passing eloquent and verie honest and of as great a corage besides as any other ROMANE Men report that 〈…〉 from his childhood shewed him selfe both in word and countenaunce and also in all his pastimes and recreacions verie constant and stable For he would goe through with that lie tooke apon him to doe and would force him selfe aboue his strength and as he could not away with flatterers so was he rough with them that went about to threaten him He would hardly laugh and yet had euer a pleasaunt countenance He was not chollerike nor easie to be angerd but when the blood was vp he was hardly pacified When he was first put to schoole he was very dull of vnderstanding and slow to learne but when he had once learned it he would neuer forget it as all men else commonly doe For such as are quicke of conceite haue commonly the worst memories and contrarily they that are hard to learne doe keepe that better which they haue learned For euery kinde of learning is a motion and quickening of the minde He seemed besides not to be light of credit that may be some cause of his slownes in conceite For truely he suffereth somewhat that learneth and thereof it commeth that they that haue least reason to resist are those which doe giue lightest credit For young men are easeiyer perswaded then old men and the sicke then the whole And where a man hath least reason for his douts there he is soonest brought to beleue any thing This notwithstanding it is reported that Cato was obedient vnto his schoolemaister and would doe what he commaunded him howbeit he would aske him still the cause and reason of euery thing In deede his schoolemaister was very gentle and readier to teach him then to strike him with his fist His name was Sarpedo Furthermore when Cato was but a young boy the people of ITALIE which were confederats of the ROMANES sued to be made free citizens of ROME At that time it chaunâ—ed one Pompedius Silo a valliant souldier and of great estimacion among the confederats of the ROMANES and a great frend besides of Drusus to be lodged many dayes at his house He in this time falling acquainted with these young boyes sayd one day vnto them good boyes intreate your vncle to speake for vs that we may be made free citizens of ROME Capio smiling nodded with his head that he would But Cato making no aunswere looked very wisely apon the straungers that lay in the house Then
honoring him for his Philosophie Thus Cato did pull downe the pride of the king at that time who before had vsed Scipio and Varus as his noble men and subiects howebeit Cato did reconcile them together againe Furthermore when all the companie prayed him to take charge of the whole armie and that Scipio him selfe and Varus both did first geue him place and willingly resigned vnto him the honor to commaunde the whole campe he aunswered them he woulde not offende the lawe sith he made warre onely to preserue the authoritie and priuiledge thereof neither would take vpon him to commaunde all him selfe being but Vicepraetor where there was a Viceconsull present For Scipio was created Proconsull and furthermore the people had a certayne confidence that their affaires woulde prosper the better if they had but the name of a Scipio to leade them in AFRICKE Nowe when Scipio was Generall ouer them he woulde straight for Iubaes sake haue put all the inhabitantes of the citie of VTICA without respect of age vnto the sworde and haue rased the houses to the grounde as those that had taken Caesars parte Howebeit Cato woulde not suffer him but protesting vnto them that were present and calling the gods to witnesse in open counsell with great difficulty he saued the poore people of VTICA from that cruell tragedy and slaughter Afterwards partly at the request of the people and partly also at Scipioes instance Cato tooke apon him to keepe the city fearing least by treason or against their wills it should come into Caesars hands bicause it was a strong place of scituacion and well replenished with all things necessary for him that should kepe it Cato did both furnish it also fortifie it For he brought in great store of corne he repaired the rampers of the walls made great high towers cast depe trenches round about the city paling thē in betwext the trenches and the towne he lodged all the young men of VTICA compelled them to deliuer vp their armor weapon and kept all the rest within the city it selfe carefully prouiding that neuer a man of thē should be hurt by the ROMANES besides did also send corne armor munition money vnto the campe so that the city of VTICA was the staple storehouse of the warres Moreouer as he had before counselled Pompey not to come to battell the like counsell he now gaue also vnto Scipio not to hazard battel against a man of great skill experience in warres but to take time whereby by litle and litle he should consume the power strength of Caesars tyranny But Scipio was so stowt that he regarded not Catoes coūsell but wrote otherwhile vnto him twitting him with his cowardlines in this maner that it was enough for him to be safe in a good city compassed about with walls though otherwise he sought not to hinder men to be valliant to execute any enterprise as occasion was offred Cato wrote againe vnto him that he was ready to goe into ITALIE with his footemen and horsemen which he had brought into AFRICKE to draw Caesar from them and to turne him against him Scipio made but a spor◠at it Then Cato shewed plainly that he did repent him he had geuen him the preferrement to be generall of the army bicause he saw he would but fondly prosecute this warre also that if he chaunced to ouercome he could not moderately vse the victory against his contry men Then he beganne to mistrust the good successe of this warre and so he told his frendes for the Generalls hastines and vnskilfulnesse and yet if beyonde expectacion it fell out well and that Caesar were ouerthrowen he would neuer dwell at ROME any more but would flye the crueltie and bitternes of Scipio who euen at that present time did prowdly threaten many But in the ende that fell out sooner then looked for For a poste came to him late that night who but three dayes before departed from the campe and brought newes that all was lost in a great battell by the citie of THAPSES which Caesar had wonne that he had taken both campes that Scipio and king Iuba were fled with a fewe men and that all the rest of their armie was slaine These newes did put the citizens in such a feare and maze and specially being in the warre and in the night time that for very feare they could scant keepe them selues within the walles of their citie But Cato meeting with them stayed them that ranne vp and downe crying in the streetes and did comfort them the best he could Yet he tooke not all their feare from them though he brought them againe vnto them selues from the extasie they were in declaring vnto them that the losse was nothing so great as it was made and that it was a common matter to enlarge suche newes with wordes enowe By these perswasions he somwhat pacified the tumult and vprore and the next morning by breake of day he made proclamacion that the three hundred men which he had chosen for his counsellers should come and assemble in the temple of Iupiter they all being citizens of ROME which for trafficke of marchaundise lay in AFRICKE and all the ROMANE Senators and their children also Nowe whilest they gathered them selues together Cato him selfe went verie grauely with a set modest countenaunce as if no suche matter had happened hauing a litle booke in his hande which he read as he went This booke conteyned the store and preparacion of minicion he had made for this warre as come armor weapons bowes slings and footemen When they were all assembled he began greatly to commend the good loue and faithfulnes of these three hundred ROMANES which had profitably serued their contry with their persons money and counsell and did counsell them not to depart one from an other as men hauing no hope or otherwise seeking to saue them selues scatteringly For remeining together Caesar would lesse despise them if they would make warre against him and would also sooner pardon them if they craued mercie of him Therefore he counselled them to determine what they would do and for his owne parte he sayed he would not mislike whatsoeuer they determined of for if their mindes followed their fortune he would thinke this chaunge to proceede of the necessitie of time But if they were resolued to withstande their misfortune and to hazard them selues to defend their libertie he then would not only commend them but hauing their noble corage in admiration would him selfe be their chieftaine and companion euen to proue the fortune of their contrie to the vttermost The which was not VTICA nor ADRVMETVM but the citie selfe of ROME the which oftentimes through her greatnes had raised her selfe from greater daungers and calamities Furthermore that they had many waies to saue them selues the greatest meane of all was this that they should make warre with a man who by reason of his warres was
place where notwithstanding they had much a doe to make it burne Tiberius seeing that to make the common people mutyne the more he put on mourning apparell and brought his sonnes before them and besought the people to be good vnto them and their mother as one that dispayred of his health and safetie About that tyme dyed Attalus surnamed Philopater and Eudemus PERGAMENIAN brought his will to ROME in the which he made the people of ROME his heires Wherefore Tiberius still to encrease the good wil of the common people towards him preferred a law immediatly that the ready money that came by the inheritaunce of this king should bee distributed amonge the poore Citizens on whose lot it should fall to haue any parte of the diuision of the landes of the common wealth to furnishe them towardes house and to set vppe their tillage Furthermore he sayd that concerning the townes and cities of the kingdome of Attalus the Senate had nothing to doe to take any order with them but that the people were to dispose of them and that he him selfe would put it out That made him againe more hated of the Senate then before insomuch as there was one Pompey a Senator that standing vp sayde that he was next neighbour vnto Tiberius and that by reason of his neighbourhed he knew that Eudemus PERGAMENIAN had giuen him one of king Attalus royall bands with a purple gowne besides for a token that he should one day be king of ROME And Quintus Metellus also reproued him for that his father being Censor the ROMANES hauing supped in the towne and repayring euery man home to his house they did put out their torches and lights bicause men seeing them returne they should not thinke they taryed too long in companie bancketing and that in contrary maner the seditious and needy rabble of the common people did light his sonne home and accompany him all night long vp and downe the towne At that tyme there was one Tiberius Annius a man that had no goodnes nor honestie in him howbeit taken for a great reasoner and for a suttell questioner and aunswerer He prouoked Tiberius to aunswer him whether he had not committed a shamefull facte to his companion and brother Tribune to defame him that by the lawes of ROME should haue bene holy vntouched The people tooke this prouocation very angrily and Tiberius also comming out and hauing assembled the people commaunded them to bringe this Annius before him that he might be endyted in the market place But he finding him selfe farre inferior vnto Tiberius both in dignitie and eloquence ranne to his fine suttill questions to take a man at his worde and prayed Tiberius before he did proceede to his accusation that he would first aunswer him to a question he would aske him Tiberius bad him saye what he would So silence being made Annius asked him if thou wouldest defame me and offer me iniurie and that I called one of thy companions to helpe me and he should ryse to take my parte and anger thee wouldest thou therefore put him out of his office It is reported that Tiberius was so grauelled with this question that though he was one of the readiest speakers and the boldest in his orations of any man yet at that tyme he held his peace and had no power to speake and therefore he presently dismissed the assemblie Afterwards vnderstanding that of al the things he did the deposing of Octauius from his office was thought not onely of the nobilitie but of the common people also as fowle and wilfull a parte as euer he played for that thereby he had imbased and vtterly ouerthrowen the dignitie of the Tribunes the which was alwayes had in great veneration vntill that present tyme to excuse him selfe therefore he made an excellent oration to the people whereby shall appeare vnto you some special poyntes thereof to discerne the better the force and effect of his eloquence The Tribuneship sayd he in deede was a holy and sacred thing as perticularly consecrated to the people and established for their benefit and safetie Where contrariwise if the Tribune doe offer the people any wronge he thereby minisheth their power and taketh away the meanes from them to declare their wills by voyces besides that he doth also imbase his owne authoritie leauing to doe the thing for the which his authority first was giuen him Or otherwise we could not choose but suffer a Tribune if it pleased him to ouerthrow the Capitoll or to set fire on the arsenall and yet notwithstanding this wicked part if it were committed he should be Tribune of the people still though a lewde Tribune But when he goeth about to take away the authoritie and power of the people then he is no more a Tribune Were not this against all reason thinke you that a Tribune when he list may take a Consul and commit him to prison and that the people should not withstand the authoritie of the Tribune who gaue him the same when he would vse his authoritie to the preiudice of the people for the people are they that doe choose both Consul and Tribune Furthermore the kingly dignitie bicause in the same is conteyned the absolute authoritie and power of all other kindes of Magistrates and offices together is consecrated with very great and holy ceremonies drawing very neare vnto the godhed and yet the people expulsed king Tarquin bicause he vsed his authoritie with crueltie and for the iniurie he offered one man onely the most auncient rule and gouernment by the which the foundacion of ROME was first layed was vtterly abolished And who is there in all the citie of ROME to be reckoned so holy as the Vestall Nunnes which haue the custodie and keeping of the euerlasting fire and yet if any of these be taken in fornication she is buried aliue for her offence for when they are not holy to the goddes they lose the libertie they haue in respect of seruing the goddes Euen so also it is vnmeete that the Tribune if he offend the people should for the peoples sake be reuerenced any more Seeing that through his owne folly he hath depriued him selfe of that authoritie they gaue him And if it be so that he was chosen Tribune by the most parte of the trybes of the people then by greater reason is he iustly depriued that by all the whole trybes together is forsaken and deposed There is nothing more holy nor inuiolate then thinges offered vp vnto the goddes and yet it was neuer seene that any man did forbid the people to take them to remoue and transport them from place to place as they thought good Euen so they may as lawfully transferre the office of the Tribune vnto any other as any other offring consecrated to the goddes Furthermore it is manifest that any Officer or Magistrate may lawfully depose him selfe For it hath bene often seene that men in office haue depriued them selues or otherwise haue
him speake they leaped for ioy to see him for he had such an eloquent tongue that all the Orators besides were but children to him Hereuppon the riche men began to be affrayed againe and whispered among them selues that it behoued them to beware he came not to be Tribune It chaunced so that he was chosen Treasorer and it was his fortune to goe into the I le of SARDINIA with the Consul Orestes His enemies were glad of that and he him selfe was not sory for it For he was a martiall man and as skilfull in armes as he was oft at excellent Orator but yet he was affrayed to come into the pulpit for Orations and misliked to deale in matters of state albeit he could not altogether deny the people and his frends that prayed his furtherance For this cause therfore he was very glad of this voyage that he might absent him selfe for a time out of ROME though diuers were of opinion that he was more popular and desirous of the common peoples good will and fauor then his brother had bene before him But indeede he was cleane contrarie for it uppeared that at the first he was drawen rather against his will then of any speciall desire he had to deale in the common wealth Cicero the Orator also sayth that Caius was bent altogether to flie from office in the common wealth and to liue quietly as a priuat man But Tiberius Caius brother appeared to him in his sleepe and calling him by his name sayd vnto him brother why doest thou prolong time for thou ca stnoâ— possiblie escape For we were both predestined to one maner of life and death for procuring the benefite of the people Now when Caius arriued in SARDINIA he shewed all the proofes that might be in a valliant man and excelled all the young men of his age in hardines against his enemies in iustice to his inferiors and in loue obedience towards the Consul his Captaine but in temperance sobrietie and in painfulnes he excelled all them that were elder then he The winter by chaunce sell out very sharpe full of sickenes in SARDINIA whereupon the Consul sent vnto the cities to helpe his souldiers with some clothes but the townes sent in poste to ROME to pray the Senate they might be discharged of that burden The Senate found their allegacion reasonable whereuppon they wrote to the Consul to finde some other meanes to clothe his people The Consul coulde make no other shift for them and so the poore souldiers in the meane time smarted for it But Caius Gracchus went him selfe vnto the cities and so perswaded them that they of them selues sent to the ROMANES campe such thinges as they lacked This being caried to ROME it was thought straight it was a pretie beginning to creepe into the peoples fauor and in dede it made the Senate also affrayed In the necke of that there arriued Ambassadors of AFRICKE at ROME sent from king Micipsa who told the Senate that the king their maister for Caius Gracchus sake had sent their armie come into SARDINIA The Senators were so offended withall that they thrust the Ambassadours out of the Senate and so gaue order that other souldiers shoulde be sent in their places that were in SARDINIA and that Orestes should still remaine Consul there meaning also to continue Caius their Treasorer But when he hearde of it he straight tooke sea and returned to ROME in choller When men saw Caius returned to ROME vnlooked for he was reproued for it not onely by his enemies but by the common people also who thought his returne verie straunge before his Captaine vnder whom he was Treasorer He being accused hereof before the Censors prayed he might be heard So aunswering his accusation he so turned the peoples mindes that heard him that they all sayd he had open wrong For he told them that he had serued twelue yeares in the warres where others were enforced to remaine but ten years and that he had continued Treasorer vnder his Captaine the space of three yeares where the law gaue him libertie to returne at the end of the yeare And that he alone of all men else that had bene in the warres had caried his purse full and brought it home empty where others hauing dronke the wyne which they caried thither in vessells had afterwardes brought them home full of gold siluer Afterwards they went about to accuse him as accessarie to a conspiracie that was reuealed in the citie of FREGELLES But hauing cleared all that suspicion and being discharged he presently made sute to be Tribune wherein he had all the men of qualitie his sworne enemies On thother side also he had so great fauor of the common people that there came men out of all partes of ITALIE to be at his election that such a number of them as there was no lodging to be had for them all Furthermore the field of Mars not being large enough to hold such a multitude of people there were that gaue their voyces vpon the toppe of houses Nowe the noble men coulde no otherwise let the people of their will nor preuent Caius of his hope but where he thought to be the first Tribune he was only pronounced the fourth But when he was once possest officer he became immediatly the chiefe man bicause he was as eloquent as any man of his time And furthermore he had a large occasion of calamity offred him which made him bolde to speake bewailing the death of his brother For what matters soeuer he spake of he alwayes fell in talke of that remembring them what matters had passed laying before them the examples of their auncesterâ— who in olde time had made warre with the PHALISCES by the meanes of one Genutius Tribune of the people vnto whom they had offered iniurie who also did condemne Caius Veturius to death bicause that he onely woulde not geue a Tribune place comming through the market place Where these sayd he that standing before you in sight haue slaine my brother Tiberius with staues and haue dragged his bodie from the mount of the Capitoll all the citie ouer to throw it into the riuer and with him also haue most cruellie slaine all his frendes they coulde come by without any lawe on iustice at all And yet by an auncient custome of long time obserued in this citie of ROME when any man is accused of treason and that of duety he must appeare at the time appointed him they doe notwithstanding in the morning sende a trumpet to his house to summone him to appeare and moreouer the Iudges were not wont to condemne him before this ceremony was performed so carefull and respectiue were out predecessors where it touched the life of any ROMANE Now Caius hauing first stirred vp the people with these perswasions for he had a maruelous lowde voyce he preferred two lawes The first that he that he had once bene put out of office
to make vnto them the which if it would please them to graunt him he woulde thinke they did him a maruelous pleasure and if they denied him also he cared not muche Then euerie man thought it was the Consulshippe he ment to aske and that he woulde sue to be Tribune and Consul together But when the day came to choose the Consuls euery man looking attentiuely what he would doe they marueled when they sawe him come downe the fielde of Mars and brought Caius Fannius with his frends to further his sute for the Consulshippe Therein he serued Fannius turne for he was presently chosen Consul and Caius Gracchus was the seconde time chosen Tribune againe not of his owne sute but by the good will of the people Caius perceiuing that the Senators were his open enemies and that Fannius the Consul was but a slacke frende vnto him he began againe to currie fauor with the common people and to preferre new lawes setting forth the lawe of the Colonies that they should send of the poore citizens to replenishe the cities of TARENTVM and CAPVA that they should graunt all the Latines the freedom of ROME The Senate perceiuing his power grew great and that in the end he would be so strong that they coulde not withstande him they deuised a new and straunge way to plucke the peoples good will from him in graunting them things not altogether very honest There was one of the Tribunes a brother in office with Caius called Liuius Drusus a man noblely borne and as well brought vp as any other ROMANE who for wealth and eloquence was not inferior to the greatest men of estimacion in ROME The chiefest Senators went vnto him and perswaded him to take parte with them against Caius not to vse any force or violence against the people to withstand them in any thing but contrarily to graunt them those things which were more honestie for them to deny them with their ill will. Liuius offering to pleasure the Senate with his authority preferred lawes neither honorable nor profitable to the cōmon wealth were to no other ende but contending with Caius who should most flatter the people of them two as plaiers do in their cōmon plaies to shew the people pastime Wherby the Senate shewed that they did not so much mislike Caius doings as for the desire they had to ouerthrow him his great credit with the people For where Caius preferred but the replenishing of the two cities and desired to send the honestest citizens thither they obiected against him that he did corrupt the common people On the other side also they fauored Drusus who preferred a law that they should replenish twelue Colonies should send to euery one of them three thowsande of the poorest citizens And where they hated Caius for that he had charged the poore citizens with an annual rent for the lands that were deuided vnto them Liuius in contrary maner did please them by disburdening them of that rent payment letting thē haue the lands scotfree Furthermore also where Caius did anger the people bicause he gaue all the Latines the fredom of ROME to geue their voyces in choosing of Magistrates as freely as the naturall ROMANES when Drusus on thother side had preferred a law that thencefoorth no ROMANE should whip any souldier of the Latines with rods to the warres they liked the law past it Liuius also in euery law he put forth said in all his orations that he did it by the counsell of the Senate who were very carefull for the profit of the people and this was all the good he did in his office vnto the cōmon wealth For by his meanes the people were better pleased with the Senate where they did before hate all the noble men of the Senate Liuius tooke away that malice when the people saw that all that he propounded was for the preferment benefit of the common wealth with the consent furtheraunce of the Senate The only thing also that perswaded the people to thinke that Drusus ment vprightly that he only respected the profit of the common people was that he neuer preferred any law for him selfe or for his owne benefit For in the restoring of these Colonies which he preferred he alwaies sent other Commissioners gaue them the charge of it and would neuer finger any money him selfe where Caius tooke apon him the charge care of all things himselfe specially of the greatest matters Rubrius also an other Tribune hauing preferred a law for the reedifying replenishing of CARTHAGE againe with people the which Scipio had rased and destroyed it was Caius happe to be appointed one of the Commissioners for it Whereupon he tooke shippe sailed into AFRIKE Drusus in the meane time taking occasion of his absence did as much as might be to seeke the fauor of the common people and specially by accusing Fuluius who was one of the best frends Caius had whom they had also chosen Commissioner with him for the diuision of these landes among the citizens whom they sent to replenish these Colonies This Fuluius was a seditious man therefore maruelously hated of the Senate withall suspected also of them that tooke parte with the people that he secretly practised to make their confederats of ITALIE to rebell But yet they had no euident proofe of it to iustifie it against him more then that which he himselfe did verifie bicause he semed to be offended with the peace quietnes they enioyed And this was one of the chiefest causes of Caius ouerthrow bicause that Fuluius was partely hated for his sake For when Scipio AFRICAN was found dead one morning in his house without any manifest cause how he should come to his death so sodainly sauing that there appeared certaine blinde markes of stripes on his body that had bene geuen him as we haue declared at large in his life the most parte of the suspicion of his death was layed to Fuluius being his mortall enemy bicause the same day they had bene at great wordes together in the pulpit for orations So was Caius Gracchus also partly suspected for it Howsoeuer it was such a horrible murder as this of so famous worthy a man as any was in ROME was yet notwitstanding neuer reuenged neither any inquirie made of it bicause the common people would not suffer the accusacion to goe forward fearing least Caius would be found in fault if the matter should go forward But this was a great while before Now Caius at that time being in AFRICK about the reedifying and replenishing of the city of CARTHAGE againe the which he named IVNONIA the voice goeth that he had many ill signes tokens appeared vnto him For the staffe of his ensigne was broken with a vehemēt blast of wind with the force of the ensigne bearer that held it fast on thother side There came a flaw of winde also
appointed a crowne vnto Pausanias that had slaine him Demosthenes also came abroade in his best gowne and crowned with flowers seuen dayes after the death of his daughter as AEschines reporteth who reproueth him for it and noteth him to be a man hauing litle lone or charitie vnto his owne children But in deede AEschines selfe deserueth more blame to haue such a tender womanish hart as to beleue that weeping and lamenting are signes of a gentle and charitable nature condemning them that with pacience and constancie doe passe away such misfortunes But now to the ATHENIANS againe I can neither thinke nor say that they did wisely to shew such open signes of ioy as to weare crownes garlands vpon their heads nor also to sacrifice to the goddes for the death of a Prince that behaued him selfe so Princely and curteously vnto them in the victories he had won of them For though in dede all cruelty be subiect to the reuenge of the goddes yet is this an act of a vile and base minde to honor a man and while he liued to make him free of their citie now that an other hath slaine him they to be in such an exceeding iolitie withall and to exceede the bondes of modestie so farre as to rampe in maner with both their feete vpon the dead and to sing songes of victorie as if they them selues had bene the men that had valliantly slaine him In contrarie manner also I praise and commend the constancie and corage of Demosthenes that he leauing the teares and lamētacion of his home trouble vnto women did him selfe in the meane time that he thought was for the benefite of the common wealth and in my opinion I thinke he did therein like a man of corage and worthy to be a gouernor of a common wealth neuer to stowpe nor yeeld but alwayes to be found stable and constant for the benefit of the common wealth reiecting all his troubles cares and affections in respect of the seruice of his contrie and to keepe his honor much more carefully then common players vse to doe when they play the partes of Kings and Princes whom we see neither weepe nor laugh when they list though they be on the stage but when the matter of the play falleth out to geue them iust occasion But omitting those reasons if there be no reason as in deede there is not to leaue and forsake a man in his sorow and trouble without geuing him some wordes of comfort and rather to deuise some matter to asswage his sorow and to withdraw his minde from that to thinke vpon some pleasaunter thinges euen as they should keepe sore eyes seeing bright and glaring colours in offering them greene darker And from whence can a man take greater comfort for his troubles grieues at home when the common wealth doth well then to ioyne their priuate grieues with common ioyes to the end that the better may obscure take away the worse But thus farre I disgressed from my historie enlarging this matter bicause AEschines in his Oration touching this matter did moue the peoples hartes too muche to womanish sorow But now to the rest The cities of GRAECE being againe stirred vp by Demosthenes made a new league againe together and the THEBANS also hauing armed them selues by his practise did one day set vpon the garrison of the MACEDONIANS within their city and slue many of them The ATHENIANS prepared also to maintaine warre on the THEBANS behalfe and Demosthenes was dayly at all the assemblies of counsell in the pulpit perswading the people with his Orations and he wrote also into ASIA vnto the king of PERSIAES Lieutenaunts and Captaines to make warre with Alexander on their side calling him child and Margites as muche to say as foole But after that Alexander hauing set all his things at stay within his realme came him selfe in person with his armie and inuaded the contrie of BOBOTIA then fell the pride of the ATHENIANS greatly Demosthenes also plied the pulpit no more as he was wont At length the poore THEBANS being left vnto them selues forsaken of euerie man they were compelled them selues alone to beare the brunte of this warre so came their city to vtter ruine and destruction Thereby the ATHENIANS being in a maruelous feare and perplexitie did sodainly choose Ambassadors to send vnto this young king and Demosthenes chiefly among others who being affrayed of Alexanders furie and wrath durst not goe to him but returned from mount Cytheron and gaue vp the Ambassade But Alexander sent to summone the ATHENIANS to send vnto him ten of their Orators as Idomeneus and Duris both doe write or eight as the most writers and best historiographers doe reporte which were these Demosthenes Polyeuctus Ephialtes Lycurgus Myrocles Damon Callisthenes and Charidemus At which time they wryte that Demosthenes told the people of ATHENS the fable of the sheepe and woulues how that the woulues came on a time and willed the sheepe if they woulde haue peace with them to deliuer them their mastiues that kept them And so he compared him selfe and his companions that trauelled for the benefit of the contrie vnto the dogges that kepe the flocks of sheepe and calling Alexander the woulfe And so forth sayd he like as you see these corne maisters bringing a sample of their corne in a dish or napkin to shew you and by that litle doe sell all that they haue so I thinke you will all wonder that deliuering of vs you will also deliuer your selues into the handes of your enemies Aristobulus of CASSANDRA reporteth this matter thus Now the ATHENIANS being in consultacion not knowing how to resolue Demades hauing taken fiue talents of them whom Alexander demaunded did offer him selfe and promised to goe in this Ambassade vnto Alexander and to intreate for them either bicause he trusted in the loue the king did beare him or else for that he thought he hoped he shoulde finde him pacified as a Lyon glutted with the blood of beastes which he had slaine Howsoeuer it happened he perswaded the people to send him vnto him and so handled Alexander that he got their pardon and did reconcile him with the citie of ATHENS Thereuppon Alexander being retyred Demades and his fellowes bare all the sway and authoritie and Demosthenes was vnder foote In deede when Agis king of LACEDAEMON came with his armie into the field he began a litle to rowse him selfe and to lift vp his head but he shrunke choller againe soone after bicause the ATHENIANS woulde not rise with the LACEDAEMONIANS who were ouerthrowen and Agis slaine in battell At that time was the cause of the crowne pleaded against Ctesiphon and the plea was written a litle before the battell of CHAERONEA in the yeare when Charondas was Prouost of ATHENS howbeit no sentence was giuen but ten yeres after that Aristophon was Prouost This was such an open iudgement and so famous as neuer
was any as well for the great fame of the Orators that pleaded in emulacion one of the other as also for the worthines of the Iudges that gaue sentence thereof who did not leaue Demosthenes to his enemies although in deede they were of greater power then he and were also supported with the fauor and good will of the MACEDONIANS but they did notwithstanding so well quit him that AEschines had not so muche as the fift parte of mens voyces and opinions in his behalfe Wherefore immediatly after sentence geuen he went out of ATHENS for shame and trauelled into the contrie of IONIA and vnto the RHODES where he did teache Rethoricke Shortly after Harpalus flying out of Alexanders seruice came vnto ATHENS being to be charged with many fowle matters he had committed by his exceeding prodigalitie and also bicause he feared Alexanders furie who was growen seuere and cruell vnto his chiefest seruauntes He comming now amongest the ATHENIANS with store of gold and siluer the Orators being greedie and desirous of the golde and siluer he had brought beganne straight to speake for him and did counsell the people to receiue protect a poore suter that came to them for succour But Demosthenes gaue counsell to the contrarie and bad them rather driue him out of the citie and take heede they brought not warres apon their backes for a matter that not onely was not necessarie but furthermore meerely vniust But within fewe daies after inuentory being taken of all Harpalus goods he perceiuing that Demosthenes tooke great pleasure to see a cuppe of the kings and considered verie curiously the facion workemanshippe vpon it he gaue it him in his hand to iudge what it weyed Demosthenes peasing it wondered at the great weight of it it was so heauie so he asked how many pownd weight it weyed Harpalus smiling answered him it will wey thee twentie talents So when night was come he sent him the cuppe with the twentie talentes This Harpalus was a verie wise man and found straight by Demosthenes countenaunce that he loued money and coulde presently iudge his nature by seeing his pleasaunt countenaunce and his eyes still vpon the cuppe So Demosthenes refused not his gift and being ouercomen withall as if he had receiued a garrison into his house he tooke Harpalus parte The next morning he went into the assemblie of the poople hauing his necke bound vp with wolle and rolles So when they called him by his name to steppe vp into the pulpit to speake to the people as he had done before he made a signe with his head that he had an impediment in his voyce that he could not speake But wise men laughing at his fine excuse tolde him it was no sinanche that had stopped his wesill that night as he would make them beleue but it was Harpalus argentsynanche which he had receiued that made him in that case Afterwardes when the people vnderstoode that he was corrupted Demosthenes going about to excuse him selfe they would not abide to heare him but made a noyse and exclamation against him Thereuppon there rose vp a pleasaunt conceited man that sayd why my maisters do ye refuse to heare a man that hath such a golden tongue The people thereuppon did immediatly banishe Harpalus and fearing least king Alexander would require an accompt of the gold and siluer which the Orators had robbed and pilfred away among them they made very diligent searche and inquirie in euery mans house excepting Callicles house the sonne of Arrenidas whose house they would haue searched by no meanes bicause he was but newly maried and had his newe spowse in his house as Theopompus wryteth Nowe Demosthenes desiring to shewe that he was in fault preferred a decree that the court of the Areopagites should heare the matter and punish them that were found faultie and therewithall straight offered him selfe to be tried Howbeit he was one of the first whom the court condemned in the summe of fiftie talents and for lacke of payment they put him in prison where he could not endure long both for the shame of the matter for the which he was condemned as also for his sickely body So he brake prison partely without the priuitie of his keepers and partely also with their consent for they were willing he should make a scape Some doe report that he fled not farre from the citie where it was told him that certaine of his enemies followed him whereuppon he would haue hidden him selfe from them But they them selues first called him by his name and comming to him prayed him to take money of them which they had brought him from their houses to helpe him in his banishment and that therefore they ran after him Then they did comfort him the best they could perswaded him to be of good cheere not to dispaire for the misfortune that was comen vnto him This did pearce his hart the more for sorow that he aunswered them why would you not haue me be sorie for my misfortune that compelleth me to forsake the citie where in deede I haue so curteous enemies that it is hard for me to finde any where so good frends So he tooke his banishment vnmanly and remained the most parte of his banishment in the citie of AEGINA or at the citie of TROEZEN where oftentimes he would cast his eyes towards the contrie of ATTICA and weepe bitterly And some haue written certeine words he spake which shewed no minde of a man of corage nor were aunswerable to the noble thinges he was wont to perswade in his Orations For it is reported of him that as he went out of ATHENS he looked backe againe and holding vp his handes to the castell sayd in this sorte O Ladie Minerua Ladie patronesse of this city why doest thou delight in three so mischieuous beastes the owle the draggon and the people Besides he perswaded the young men that came to see him and that were with him neuer to meddle in matters of state assuring them that if they had offred him two wayes at the first the one to goe into the assembly of the people to make Orations in the pulpit and the other to be put to death presently and that he had knowen as he did then the troubles a man is compelled to suffer that medleth with the affaires of the state the feare the enuie the accusacions and troubles in the same he would rather haue chosen the way to haue suffered death So Demosthenes continuing in his exile king Alexander dyed and all GRAECE was vp againe insomuch as Leosthenes being a man of great valure had shut vp Antipater in the citie of LAMBA and there kept him straightly besieged Then Phytheas and Callimedon surnamed Carabos two Orators and both of them banished from ATHENS they tooke parte with Antipater and went from towne to towne with his Ambassadors and frendes perswading the GRAECIANS not to sturre neither to take parte
and gaue it vnto his friends commaunding them to depart and to seeke to saue them selues They aunswered him weeping that they would nether doe it nor yet forsake him Then Antonius very curteously and louingly did comfort them and prayed them to depart and wrote vnto Theophilus gouernor of CORINTHE that he would see them safe and helpe to hide them in some secret place vntil they had made their way and peace with Caesar. This Theophilus was the father of Hipparchus who was had in great estimation about Antonius He was the first of all his infranchised bondmen that reuolted from him and yelded vnto Caesar and afterwardes went and dwelt at CORINTHE And thus it stoode with Antonius Now for his armie by sea that fought before the head or foreland of ACTIVM they helde out a longe tyme and nothing troubled them more then a great boysterous wind that rose full in the prooes of their shippes and yet with much a doe his nauy was at length ouerthrowen fiue howers within night There were not slaine aboue fiue thowsand men but yet there were three hundred shippes taken as Octauius Caesar writeth him selfe in his commentaries Many plainely sawe Antonius flie and yet could hardly beleeue it that he that had nyneteene legions whole by lande and twelue thowsand horsemen vpon the sea side would so haue forsaken them and haue fled so cowardly as if he had not oftentimes proued both the one and the other fortune that he had not bene throughly acquainted with the diuers chaunges and fortunes of battells And yet his souldiers still wished for him and euer hoped that he would come by some meanes or other vnto them Furthermore they shewed them selues so valliant and faithfull vnto him that after they certainly knewe he was fled they kept them selues whole together seuen daies In the ende Canidius Antonius Lieuetenant flying by night and forsaking his campe when they saw them selues thus destitute of their heads and leaders they yelded themselues vnto the stronger This done Caesar sailed towards ATHENS and there made peace with the GRAECIANS and deuided the rest of the corne that was taken vp for Antonius army vnto the townes and cities of GRAECE the which had bene brought to extreme misery pouerty cleane without money slaues horse other beastes of cariage So that my grandfather Nicarchus tolde that all the Citizens of our citie of CHAERONEA not one excepted were driuen them selues to cary a certaine measure of corne on their shoulders to the sea side that lieth directly ouer against the I le of ANTICYRA yet were they driuen thether with whippes They caried it thus but once for the second tyme that they were charged againe to make the like cariage all the corne being ready to be caried newes came that Antonius had lost the battel so scaped our poore city For Antonius souldiers deputies fled immediatly the citizens deuided the corne amongst them Antonius being arriued in LIBYA he sent Cleopatra before into AEGYPT from the citie of PARAETONIVâ—â— he him selfe remained very solitary hauing onely two of his friends with him with whom he wandred vp down both of them orators the one Aristocrates a GRAECIAN the other Lucilius a ROMANE Of whom we haue written in an other place that at the battell where Brutus was ouerthrowen by the citie of PHILIPPES he came willingly put him self into the hands of those that followed Brutus saying that it was he bicause Brutus in the meane time might haue liberty to saue him selfe And afterwards bicause Antonius saued his life he still remained with him and was very faithfull and frendly vnto him till his death But when Antonius heard that he whom he had trusted with the gouernment of LIBYA and vnto whom he had geuen the charge of his armie there had yelded vnto Caesar he was so madde withall that he would haue slaine him selfe for anger had not his frendes about him withstoode him and kept him from it So he went vnto ALEXANDRIA and there found Cleopatra about a wonderfull enterprise and of great attempt Betwixt the redde sea and the sea betwene the landes that poynt vpon the coast of AEGYPT there is a litle peece of land that deuideth both the seas and separateth AFRICKE from ASIA the which straight is so narrow at the end where the two seas are narrowest that it is not aboue three hundred furlonges ouer Cleopatra went about to lift her shippes out of the one sea and to hale them ouer the straight into the other sea that when her shippes were come into this goulfe of ARABIA she might then carie all her gold siluer away and so with a great companie of men goe and dwell in some place about the Ocean sea farre from the sea Mediterranium to scape the daunger and bondage of this warre But now bicause the ARABIANS dwelling about the citie of PETRA did burne the first shippes that were brought alande and that Antonius thought that his armie by lande which he left at ACTIVM was yet whole she left of her enterprise and determined to keepe all the portes and passages of her realme Antonius he forsooke the citie and companie of his frendes and built him a house in the sea by the I le of PHAROS vpon certaine forced mountes which he caused to be cast into the sea and dwelt there as a man that banished him selfe from all mens companie saying that he would lead Timons life because he had the like wrong offered him that was affore offered vnto Timon and that for the vnthankefulnes of those he had done good vnto and whom he tooke to be his frendes he was angry with all men and would trust no man This Timon was a citizen of ATHENS that liued about the warre of PELOPONNESVS as appeareth by Plato and Aristophanes commedies in the which they mocked him calling him a vyper malicious man vnto mankind to shunne all other mens companies but the companie of young Alcibiades a bolde and insolent youth whom he woulde greatly feast and make much of and kissed him very gladly Apemantus wondering at it asked him the cause what he ment to make so muche of that young man alone and to hate all others Timon aunswered him I do it sayd he bicause I know that one day he shall do great mischiefe vnto the ATHENIANS This Timon sometimes would haue Apemantus in his companie bicause he was much like to his nature condicions and also followed him in maner of life On a time when they solemnly celebrated the feasts called Choae at ATHENS to wit the feasts of the dead where they make sprincklings and sacrifices for the dead and that they two then feasted together by them selues Apemantus said vnto the other O here is a trimme banket Timon Timon aunswered againe yea said he so thou wert not here It is reported of him also that this Timon on a time the people being
when he had found him clapped spurres to his horse and came with full cariere vnto him and cryed out O traytor and most vnfaithfull and desperate man thou now dishonorest the name of Cyrus which is the goodliest and most honorablest name of all the PERSIANS for that thou hast brought so valliant GRAECIANS hether to so wicked an enterprise to spoyle the PERSIANS goods in hope to destroy thy soueraine Lord and onely brother who hath an infinite number of slaues and seruaunts farre honester men then thou wilt be while thou liuest and that thou shalt presently knowe by proofe for thou shalt dye before thou see the king thy brothers face and therewithall he threw his dart at him with all the force he had But Cyrus armor was so good that it pearsed him not yet the blowe came with such good will that it made him stagger on his horse back When Artagerses had giuen him that blowe he presently turned his horse But Cyrus therewithall threw a dart at him so happily that he slue him right in the place aboue the bone that ioyneth the two shoulders together so that the head of his dart ranne quite through his necke Nowe that Cyrus slue Artagerses with his owne hands in the field all the Historiographers doe agree vpon it but for the death of Cyrus bicause Xenophon toucheth it but a litle by the way for that he was not present in the very place where he was slayne it shal not be hurtfull particularly to set downe the manner thereof both according to the report of Dinon and also of Ctesias First Dinon writeth that after Cyrus had slayne Artagerses he went with great fury and flue in amongest the trowpe of them which were nearest vnto the kings person and that he came so neare the king that he slue his horse starke dead vnder him and the king fell to the ground withall But Tiribazuz that was hard by him straight mownted the king againe vpon an other horse and sayd vnto him your grace will remember this battell another day for it is not to be forgotten And Cyrus clapping spurres againe to his horse threwe an other dart at Artaxerxes and hit him But at the third charge the king tolde them that were about him he could not abide this and that he had rather dye then suffer it so therewithall he spurring his horse to charge Cyrus who came fiercely and desperatly hauing an infinite number of blowes with darts throwen at him on euery side threw his dart at him also So did all those that were about his person and so was Cyrus slayne in this conflict Some saye that he was slayne with the wounde the kinge his brother gaue him Others saye that it was a man at armes of the contry of CARIA vnto whom the king for reward of his good seruice gaue him the honor in all battells to cary before the first ranke a cocke of gold on the toppe of a speare for the PERSIANS doe cal the CARIANS cocks bicause in the warres they vse to weare creasts in the toppe of their headpeeces And this is Dinons reporte But Ctesias to cowche in fewe words that which Dinon reporteth at large sayth that Cyrus after he had slaine Artagerses he gallopped on the spurre against the king him selfe and the king against him and not a worde betwene them both Ariaus one of Cyrus flatteres threwe the first dart at the king but killed him not and the king with all his force againe threwe his dart thinking to haue hit Cyrus but he missed him and slue Tisaphernes one of the valliantest and stowtest men Cyrus had about him and so fell downe dead Then Cyrus hit Artaxerxes so sore a blowe on his breast that he pearced his armor and entred into his flesh two fingers deepe The king with this blowe fell downe to the ground wherewithall the most part of his men about him were so affrayd that they forsooke him and fled Howbeit he got vp againe with the helpe of others that were about him amongest whome Ctesias sayd he was one and so recouered a litle hill not farre of to take a litle breath In the meane time Cyrus horse that was whotte in the mouth and hard headed as we haue told you caried his master spyte of his hart farre from his men amonge his enemies and no man knew him bicause it was night and his men were very busie in seeking for him But Cyrus hoping he had wonne the victory being of a whot stirring nature and valliant he went vppe and downe in the thickest of his enemies crying out in the PERSIAN tongue saue your selues poore men saue your selues When they heard him say so some made a lane for him to passe by them and did him reuerence But by euill fortune his Tiara which is the highe royall hat after the PERSIAN manner fell of of his head Then a younge PERSIAN called Mithridates passing by him hit him a blowe with his dart vpon one of his temples hard by his eye not knowing what he was His wound straight fell of a maruelous bleeding Whereuppon Cyrus staggering at it fell to the ground in a swownd and his horse ranne away from him but the capparison he had vppon him fell to the ground all bloudied and his page that had hurt him tooke it vp Shortly after Cyrus being comen to him selfe againe some of his Euenukes which were men gelt and groomes of his chamber that were about him did lift him vp thinking to set him vpon another horse and to get him out of the prease but he was not able to sit on his horse Thereuppon he proued if he could better goe a foote the Euenuks hold him vp by the armes led him amased as he was not able to stād on his feete although he thought he had won the battell bicause he heard his enemies flying about him cry the gods saue king Cyrus and they prayed him to pardon them and to receiue them to mercy But in the meane time there came certaine poore men of the citie of CAVNVS who followed the kings campe getting their liuing as drudges and slaues to doe most vile seruice They ioined with the trowpe where Cyrus was supposing they had bene the kings men but when they perceiued in the ende by the red coates they ware vpon their armors that they were enemies for that the kings men ware white coates there was one among the rest that valliantly strake at Cyrus behind with his pertisan not knowing in deede that it was Cyrus The blowe lighted full on the hamme of his legge and cut his sinewes so that Cyrus fell withall and falling by misfortune fell vpon a great stone with his browe where he had bene hurt before that he died forthwith Thus doth Ctesias report it where me thinketh he cutteth his throate with a dull edged knife he hath such a doe to bring Cyrus to his ende Now after Cyrus was dead Artasyras one
and lastly they made the Captaines at their wits ende who could giue no present order nor haue their men to serue them against their enemies that came hand ouer head on euery side amongest them The citie being thus miserably in garboyle and the ACRADINE also in great hazard of taking in the which they put all their hope and confidence to rise againe euery man thought then with him selfe that Dion must be sent for but yet no man moued it notwithstanding being ashamed of their vnthankefulnes and ouergreat folly they had committed in driuing him away Yet necessitie inforcing them vnto it there were certaine of the horsemen and of their confederats that cryed they must send for Dion and the PELOPONNESIANS his souldiers which were with him in the territorie of the LEONTINES Assoone as the first worde was heard and that one had the hart to tell it to the people all the SYRACVSANS cryed out there was the poynt and they were so glad of it that the water stoode in their eyes for ioy and besought the gods it would please them to bringe him vnto them they were so desirous to haue him againe For they called to minde howe valliant and resolute he was in daunger and how that he was neuer affrayde but did encorage them with his manhood in such sort that being led by him they were not affrayd to set vpon their enemies So the confederats for them sent presently Archonides and Telesides vnto him and the noble men that serued on horsebacke they sent him also fiue amongest them beside Hellanicus Who tooke their horses and posted for life so that they came to the citie of the LEONTINES about Sunne set and lighting from their horses they went first of all and kneeled downe at Dions feete and weeping tolde him the miserable state of the SYRACVSANS Straight there came diuers of the LEONTINES and many of the PELOPONNESIAN souldiers vnto Dion mistrusting then that there was some newes in hand to see the earnest and humble sute the Ambassadors of SYRACVSA made vnto him Wherefore Dion tooke them presently with him and brought them him selfe vnto the Theater where the common counsells and assemblies of the citie were holden Thither ranne euery man to heare what the matter was Then Archonides and Hellanicus brought in by Dion tolde openly before the whole assemblie the greatnes of their miserie and requested the hyered souldiers to come and ayde the SYRACVSANS forgetting the iniurie they had receiued considering that they had more dearely payd for their follye then they them selues whome they had so iniured would haue made them to haue suffered When they had sayd their mindes there was a great silence through all the Theater and then Dion rose vp and beganne to speake But the great teares that fell from his eyes would not suffer him to speake wherefore the hyered souldiers being sory to see him weepe prayed him not to trouble him selfe but to be of good corage Then Dion letting goe the sorowe and griefe he had conceiued he beganne to speake vnto them in this manner My Lordes of PELOPONNESVS and you also the confederats I haue called you together to consult with you what you should doe For my selfe it were no honesty for me to consult what I should do now when the city of SYRACVSA standeth in peril of destruction therefore if I can not saue it from destruction yet at the least I wil bury my selfe in the fire and ruine of my contry But for you if it please you once more to helpe vs vnaduised more vnfortunate people you shal by your meanes set the poore distressed city of SYRACVSA againe a foote which is your deede Or if it be so that remēbring the iniuries the SYRACVSANS haue offred you you wil suffer it to be destroyed yet I besech the gods that at the least they will requite your valliantnes fidelity good loue you haue borne me vntil this present beseeching you to remēber Dion who nether forsooke you at any time when you haue bene iniuried nor his cōtry men when they were in trouble So going on stil with his tale the mercenary straūgers stepped forth with great noise praied him to leade them to ayde SYRACVSA Then the Ambassadors also that were sent from the SYRACVSANS saluted imbraced them prayed the gods to blesse Dion them with al the good hap that might be So when al was whisht quiet Dion willed them forthwith to goe prepare them selues that they should be there ready armed after supper determining the very same night to go to aide SYRACVSA But now at SYRACVSA while day light lasted Dionysius souldiers captaines did al the mischief villany they could in the city when night came they retired again into their castel hauing lost very few of their men Then the seditious gouernors of the SYRACVSANS tooke hart againe vnto them hoping that the enemies would be contēted with that they had done therfore began a new to perswade the citizens to let Dion alone not to receiue him with his mercenary souldiers if they came to aide him saying that they them selues were honester men then the straungers to saue their city to defend their liberty without help of any other So other Ambassadors were sent again vnto Dion some from the captaines gouernors of the city to stay them that they should not come others also from the horsemen noble Citizens his friends to hastē his iorney Whereuppō by reason of this variance Dion marched very softly at his ease Now by night Dions enemies within the city got to the gates kept thē that Dion should not come in Nypsius on the other side made a saly out of the castel with his mercenary souldiers being better appointed a greater nūber of thē then before with thē he straight plucked downe all the wal which they had built before the castel ran sacked the city At this saly out of the castel they did not only kill the men they met but women litle children also staied no more to spoile but to destroy put all to hauock For bicause Dionysius saw that he was brought to a straight desperat case he bare such mortal malice against the SYRACVSANS that sith there was no remedy but that he must needes forgo his tyranny he determined to burye it with the vtter destruction desolation of their citie And therefore to preuent Dions ayde to make a quick dispatch to destroy all they came with burning torches in their hands did set fire of all things they could come to further of they fiered their darts arrowes bestowed them in euery place of the city So they that fled for the fire were met withall slayne in the streetes by the souldiers and others also that ranne into their houses were driuen out againe by force of fire For there were a number of houses that were
made fast the gardiner in his owne house This discoraged the most parte of all the companie who would needes haue him in any case to returne backe againe But Aratus then began to comfort them and promised that he would lead them backe againe if it chaunced that the dogges were too busie with them and therewithall presently caused the ladder men to goe before whom Ecdelus and Mnasitheus led and he him selfe came fayer and softly after The dogges made a fowle barking and were baying about Ecdelus his companie This notwithstanding they came safely to the wall and did set vp their scaling ladders But euen as the first men got vp on them the Captaine of the watch that had geuen place to him that should ward in the morning came by chaunce and passed hard by them visiting the souldiers with a litle bell and there was a number of torches and a great noyse of men that followed him They that were vpon the ladders hearing them ducked downe and stirred not and thereby the souldiers that passed by them could not see them But now the new morning watch came towards them also which did put them in great daunger to be discouered but yet they once againe scaped them and were not discouered bicause the second watch went beyond them and stayed not Then Ecdelus and Mnasitheus immediatly scaled the wall sent Technon with all possible spede vnto Aratus to will him to make all the hast he could to come to them Now there was no great distance betwext the garden where the dogges were and the wall and a litle tower where they kept a great greyhounde to keepe watche but the greyhounde neuer heard their comming either bicause he was a cowardly curre of nature of els for that he had bene ouercoursed and wearied the day before But the gardiners litle curres that bald and barked beneath had wakened the greyhounde with their barking who at the first began to aunswere them with a soft girning but when they came by the tower where he lay he barked out alowde that all the place thereabouts rang of his barking Insomuch that the skowte which was further of called alowde to the hunt that kept the dogge and asked what he ailed that he made such a barking and whether there were any thing stâ—rring or not that angored him The hunt within the tower aunswered that it was nothing but that his dogge was waked and fell a barking at the lights of the watch that passed by and at the noyse of the bell This made Aratus souldiers a great deale the bolder bicause they thought that the hunte had bene made priuy to their enterprise and that he went about to hide their secret attempt and hoped also that there were many other within the citie that would further their enterprise When they came to get vp vpon the wall it was of a great height and very daungerous bicause the ladders shooke and bowed by reason of the waight of the men vnles they did come vp fayer and softly one after another Furthermore the time did put them in some perill bicause the cocks began to crowe and the contry folke that brought things to the market to sell began to come a pace to the towne out of euery quarter And therefore Aratus made haste to get vp hauing onely forty men aboue with him and looked for some besides to come vp which were yet beneath Then he marched directly towards the tyrannes pallace where his hiered souldiers kept watch and ward and comming sodenly vpon them layed hold of euery man of them slue not one Then he sent into the citie to his friends to will them to come vnto him Therevppon they ranne out of euery corner to Aratus Now the day began to breake and straight the Theater was full of people that gathered together bicause of the noyse and sturre they heard in the citie not knowing what the matter ment vntill at length an Herauld proclaymed with open voyce that it was Aratus the sonne of Clinias who called his contry men and Citizens to the recouerye of their libertie Then they perswading them selues that the thing which they long wished and looked for was nowe come to passe they ranne all in a trowpe together to the tyrannes house and set it a fire But the flame rose so high and great after the fire had taken it in euery part that it was seene to the citie of CORINTHE insomuch that the CORINTHIANS wondring what the matter should be were in mind to haue gone to helpe it Now for Nicocles he saued himselfe and got out of the citie by secret vaults he had made vnder the ground The souldiers on the other side quenching the fire with the helpe of the Citizens did sacke all they found in the tyrants pallace The which Aratus hyndered not but did moreouer make all the rest of the tyrants goods common amongest them So his enterprise had so good successe that there was none of his owne company slayne he brought with him nether any of their enemies that were within the citie fortune kept this exployt so pure and cleane from any bloudshed The Aratus restored foure score men vnto their lands goods againe whome the tyrant Nicocles had banished and others also that had bene banished by former tyrants to the number of fiue hundred men who had bene wel neare fifty yeares space banished out of their contry Nowe the most of them being comen home poore and needy would haue entred on their goods and lands they enioyed before and so entring againe vpon their lands in their contry and their houses in the citie they amazed Aratus withall seeing Antigonus on the one side practise all the meanes he could to winne SICYONE beeing nowe free and they all in an vprore and mutinie in the citie Therefore following the best counsell he could thinke vppon and deuise considering the daunger of the present tyme he ioyned the citie in league and friendship with the ACHAIANS and of them all made but one bodye And bicause the Citizens of SICYONE were DORIANS they were glad to submit them selue to be gouerned and protected by the name of the ACHAIANS who were at that tyme of no great fame nor power For they dwelt in litle villages and had no great bounds of landes nether were they very special good for that they stoode vpon the sea side where was no manner of hauen nor port but stones and rockes good store and the sea beating vpon them did eate into the mayne land This notwithstanding they made their enemies know that the power of GRAECE when it was vnited and gouerned by good policie was of great force and almost inuincible For the ACHAIANS being in comparison of the auncient force of GRAECE of do regard and but a part of one citie enfeebled with ciuill and forrein warre So long as they could submit them selues to be ruled by the wisedom and vertue of their Captaine and not
were accused bicause that in open peace they had made warre therfore they were put in sute before the MANTINIANS at Aristippus request tyrant of ARGOS The matter was pleaded in Aratus absence the ACHAIANS were condēned to pay the summe of 30. Minas After this proofe attēpt of Aratus Aristippus being affraid of Aratus hating him to the death sought waies to kil him with the help of Antigonus who did aide him in it and almost there were spialls in euery corner that did nothing els but lye in wayte to execute Aristippus minde Now there is no suerer garde vnto a Prince then the perfit loue and good will of his subiects For after that the nobilitie and common people haue benevsed to feare not him but those that for him commaund them he then seeth with many eyes heareth with many eares and knoweth what is done farre of Here therefore I will a litle digresse from my historie to shewe you the manner of Aristippus life the tyrant whereunto he was brought by this so much desired tyrannical gouernment and smoke of signiorie so esteemed of all men Now though Aristippus had king Antigonus his friend and that he kept a great gard of souldiers about him for the safety of his person and that there was not an enemy of his left aliue in all the citie yet he made his souldiers watche and lye without his pallace vnder the cloisters and galleries thereabouts after supper turned all his men out of the dores then shut his Court gates to him and locked him selfe alone with his Concubine in a litle hie chamber with a trappe dore and set his bed vpon it so slept as one that continually was affraid of him selfe Then after he was come vp his Concubines mother came to take vp the ladder and locked it in an other chamber and so did let it downe againe the next morning and called this trymme tyrant that went downe out of his chamber like a snake that should haue crept out of her hole Where Aratus in contrary manner not hauing obtained by force of armes but lawfully through vertue a continuall gouernment being simply apparelled with a poore gowne of smal price shewing him self a mortal enemy vnto all sorts of tyrants hath left a race noble ofspring among the GRAECIANS which remaine yet vntill this present day Contrarily also there are fewe tyrants that doe vsurpe the castells of free cities that keepe so many souldiers in pay that make such prouision for armor and weapon haue so many gates and drawbridges for the safety of their persons that in the ende can keepe them selues from violent death no more then hares nether doe leaue also any posteritie house or graue why their memorie should be honored after their death So Aratus hauing diuers waies made sundry attempts both by open force and otherwise sodainely to take the citie of ARGOS and to thrust out the tyrant Aristippus he euer sayled of his purpose but specially one night among the rest when he entred the citie very daungerously with a fewe souldiers with him and slue the souldiers that came to giue supply to them that fought But after that day was broken and that the tyrant with all his forces came to set vpon him the ARGIVES sturred not at all as if Aratus had not fought for their libertie but as though they had bene Iudges appoynted to sit to see the sportes of the games Nemee to iudge the game vnto the Conqueror without partiality and with indifferency Aratus in the meane tyme fighting like a valliant man was thrust at with a pyke and ronne through the thighe This notwithstanding at length he wanne that part of the citie where he fought and was not thrust out till night what force soeuer the enemies made vpon him and if he could possibly haue holden it out all night he had vndoubtedly obtayned his purpose For the tyrant looked for no other but to flye and had already sent diuers of his goods to the sea Howbeit no man once came to tell Aratus any newes of it besides also lacking water and for that he could not helpe him selfe bicause of his wound he was driuen to leade his men away and fayled of his purpose So dispayring that he could euer take it by stelth he went thither with open warres and spoyled and destroyed all the contry of ARGOS and hauing fought a great battell against the tyrant Aristippus by the ryuer of Chares they blamed Aratus much that he forsooke the victorie and cowardly retyred out of the battell For the rest of his army doubtles had the better and had followed the enemies farre in chase when he fled being affrayd not compelled by his enemies but mistrusting his fortune and retyred to his lodging So when they that returned from the chase of their enemies were offended for that they hauing put them to flight and also slayne a greater number moe of them then they had lost of theirs and yet for cowardlines shoulde suffer their enemies whome they had ouercome and put to flight to sette vppe markes of triumphe in token of victorie Aratus beeing ashamed of it determined to fight once agayne for the markes of triumphe Whereuppon resting his men but one daye he led them agayne into the field and setting his armye in battell raye offered to fight once more This notwithstanding when he sawe a great supply comming to his enemye and that the tyrants men came to fight more lustely and with better corage then before Aratus durst not abyde them but retyred and sent to demaund leaue to take away his dead men to bury them Yet he could speake so curteously and behaue him selfe so wisely by the experience he had in gouernment and also for the good will they bare him that they forgat the fault he committed and he wanne the citie of CLEONES vnto the ACHAIANS where he caused the feastes of the games Nemee to be celebrated as belonging of great antiquitie rather vnto the CLEONEIANS then vnto the ARGIVES This notwithstanding the ARGIVES did keepe it also and then was the first time that the sanctuary and priuiledge was broken which was wont to be graunted vnto all them that came to play for the games bicause the ACHAIANS did make them prisoners that fought in ARGOS as they returned through their contry and sold them as enemies So maruelously did Aratus and the ACHAIANS hate all sortes of tyrants without respect of pardon Shortly after he was aduertised that the tyrant Aristippus did lye in wayte to spye oportunitie to take the citie of CLEONES from him howbeit that he was affrayd of it bicause he remayned at that tyme in CORINTHE So Aratus straight sent out commaundement into euery place to assemble the army of the trybe of the ACHAIANS and that they should bring vittells with them for many dayes and so craftily came downe to the citie of CENCHREES to intise Aristippus by his going
citie of EPIDAVRVM Howbeit the ARGIVES taried not Aratus comming but were all vp before he came and did set vpon king Cleomenes men and had driuen them into the castell Cleomenes being aduertised of it and fearing least his enemies keeping the citie of ARGOS should cut of his way from returning into his contrie againe with safetie if he were driuen to a straight he forsooke the castell of the Acrocorinthe and went his way by night to helpe his men in the citie of ARGOS So he came thither in time and ouerthrewe certeine of his enemies But shortly after Aratus and king Antigonus both being comen thither with all their aide Cleomenes was driuen to flie to the citie of MANTINEA After the recouery againe of the citie of ARGOS all the residue of the cities of PELOPONNESVS did againe returne to the ACHAIANS and Antigonus tooke the castell of the Acrocorinthe So Aratus being chosen Generall by the ARGIVES he counselled them to present Antigonus with all the tyrans goodes and those that had bene traitors to the common wealth And after they had cruellie tormented the tyran Aristomachus in the citie of CENCHREES in the ende they cast him into the sea and drowned him Aratus was maruelouslie reproued for his death that he woulde suffer the poore man to be so vilely handled that was a good man and one that had done him great pleasure who through his perswasion willinglie resigned vp his tyrannie and deliuered the city of ARGOS vnto the ACHAIANS But besides this they blamed him for many other things else For that the ACHAIANS through his meanes had put the citie of CORINTHE into Antigonus hands as though it had bene some meane village for that when they had sacked the citie of ORCHOMENE they suffered him to place a garrison of the MACEDONIANS there for that they had enacted by parlament that they should neither write nor sende Ambassadors any whether without Antigonus priuitie and consent furthermore for that they were compelled to geue pay to the MACEDONIANS for that they made sacrifices feastes and games vnto Antigonus as if he had bene a god following the example of Aratus citizens who were the first that began and had receiued Antigonus into the city by the perswasion of Aratus that lodged and feasted him in his owne house With all these faults they burdened Aratus and considered not that after they had put the reynes of the gouernment into Antigonus hand Aratus him selfe whether he would or not was compelled to follow the swing of the vnbridled Prince hauing no other meanes to stay it but onely the libertie of speache to admonish him and that also was not to be exercised without apparant and great daunger For it is most true that many things were done greatly against Aratus minde as amongest others that Antigonus caused the tyrans images of ARGOSTO to be set vp which he had before pulled downe and also that he made them to be ouerthrowen which Aratus had set vp for those that had taken the castell of CORINTHE and onely left Aratus owne statue notwithstanding all the earnest inn eaty Aratus made to the contrarie yet he could get no graunt of any thing he requested Besides also it appeareth the the ACHAIANS delt not so frendly with the MANTINIANS as became GRAECIANS one to an other For they hauing the citie in their handes by Antigonus meanes did put all the noblest and chiefest men of MANTINEA to death others they solde as slaues and sent the rest into MACEDON with irons on their legges and brought the poore women children into bondage and sold them for slaues and of the money they got by spoile they deuided the third parte among them selues and left the other two partes vnto the MACEDONIANS Nowe surely it can not be sayd but this was done for some cruell reuenge For though it was an ouergreat crueltie in rage passion of minde to handle people of one selfe blood and language in this lamentable sorte yet as Simonides saith when men are driuen and forced to it it is a gentle no cruell thing to ease their great stomackes inflamed with rage and malice But for that which was done afterwards vnto the citie no man can excuse Aratus nor say that he was either driuen to it by necessitie or that he had otherwise any honest occasion to doe it For king Antigonus hauing geuen the citie of MANTINEA vnto the ARGIVES they determined to make it a Colonie and chose Aratus their Generall who made a decree that thenceforth the citie should no more be called MANTINEA but ANTIGONIA as it beareth name vnto this day Thus it seemeth that gentle MANTINEA for so the Poets called it was vtterlie destroyed and bare the name of an other citie through Aratus meanes preferring the name of him that destroied the city did put all the inhabitants of the first to death After that king Cleomenes being ouerthrowen in a great battell by the citie of SELLASIA he left the citie of SPARTA and fled into AEGYPT So Antigonus hauing vsed Aratus with all kind of honorable curtesie he returned againe into MACEDON There falling sicke he sent Philip that should succeede him in the kingdom being a young strippling growen into PELOPONNESVS and straightly charged him speciallie to followe Aratus counsell and to imploy him when he would speake vnto the cities and become acquainted with the ACHAIANS So Aratus hauing receiued him in that sorte made him so well affected and louing towardes him that he sent him againe into MACEDON being throughlie determined to make warres with GRAECE So after the death of Antigonus the AETOLIANS beganne to despise the carelesnesse and cowardlinesse of the ACHAIANS bicause that they being acquainted to be defended by straungers and hauing bene altogether gouerned by the armies of the MACEDONIANS they liued verie idlely dissolutely whereupon they tooke vpon them to make them selues Lords of PELOPONNESVS So they assembled an armie and by the way as they went they onely tooke some pray and spoyle vpon the lands of the PATRAEIANS and the DYMAEIANS but inuading the territorie of MESSINA with all their armie they destroyed the whole contrie before them Aratus being angrie withall and perceiuing that Timoxenus who at that time was Generall of the ACHAIANS did still tract and delay time in vaine bicause he was vpon his going out of his yeare he being appointed Generall for the yeare following did anticipate his time fiue dayes before to goe and aide the MESSENIANS Wherefore leauing an armie of the ACHAIANS whose persons were nowe neither exercised in armes nor yet had any desire to goe to the warres he was ouerthrowen by the citie of CAPHYES Nowe bicause it was thought that he went somewhat too hottely and coragiouslie to the warres he so extremely cooled againe and left things in such case that all hope being cast a side he suffred the AETOLIANS in maner to tread PELOPONNESVS vnder their feete before his eyes with all
At the first battell Annibal had the victorie but after the second Sempronius ouercame him Since that time I can finde in no Guerkenot Latyn Author that Annibal did any famous acte in ITALY worthy memorie For being sent for he AFRICKE by the CARTHAGINIANS he left ITALY sixteen yeares after this APRION warre was begonne greatly complayning of the Senate of CARTHAGE and of him selfe also Of the Senate bicause that all the time he had bene in his enemies contry so long they had allowed him so litle money and so scanted him besides with all other thinges necessary for the warres And of him selfe bicause that after he had so often ouercome the ROMANES he had alwayes delayed time after the victorie and had giuen the enemy libertie to gather force againe It is reported also that before he imbarked and tooke sea he set vp trumphing arche or piller by the temple of Iuno Lacinia in the which were briefly grauen his noble victories both in the Punick and Graeke tongue So when he was departed out of ITALY the wind serued him well that in few dayes he arriued at LEPTIS and landing all his army he first came to ADRVMENTVM and afterwards vnto ZAMA There receiuing aduertisement how the affayres of the CARTHAGINIANS prospered he thought it best to deuise some way to end this warre For this cause he sent vnto Scipio to pray him to appoynt him some conuenient place where they might both meete and talke together of matters of great importance Now it is not certainely knowen whether Annibal did this of his owne head or by commaundement from the Senate Scipio refused not to come to parley Wherefore at the day appoynted there met two famous generalls of mighty nations in a great plaine together either of them hauing his Interpreter to talke together of diuers matters touching peace and warre For Annibal was altogether bent to peace bicause he saw the affayres of the CARTHAGINIANS were worse worse euery day that they had lost SICILIA SARDINIA and SPAYNE bicause the warre was brought out of ITALY into AFRICK bicause Syphax a mighty king was taken prisoner of the ROMANES and also bicause that their last hope consisted in the army he had brought into AFRICK which was the onely remayne and reliefe of so long a warre as he had made in ITALY and also bicause that the CARTHAGINIANS had so small a power left both of straungers and also of Citizens that there were scarse men enough to defende the citie of CARTHAGE So he did his best to perswade Scipio with a long oration he made rather to agree to peace then to resolue of warre Howbeit Scipio that liued in hope to bringe this warre to a good ende he would not seeme to giue eare to any peace Wherefore after they had long debated the matter of either side in the ende they brake of and made no agreement Shortly after was this famous battell striken by the citie of ZAMA in the which the ROMANES obtayned a victorie For first of all they made the CARTHAGINIANS Elephants turne vpon their owne army so that they did put all Annibals horsemen out of order And Laelius and Masinissas who made both the winges increasing their feare gaue the horsemen no leysure to gathes them selues in order againe Howbeit the footemen fought it out a long time with a maruelous great corage insomuch that the CARTHAGINIANS trusting in their former victories thought that all the safetie and preseruation of AFRICK was all in their handes and therefore they layed about them like men The ROMANES on the other side had as great harts as they and besides they stoode in the better hope Howbeit one thing in deede did the ROMANES great seruice to helpe them to the victorie and that was Lalius and Masinissaes returne from the chase of the horsemen who rushed into the battell of the enemie with great furye and did put them in a maruelous feare For at their comming the CARTHAGINIANS harts were done and they saw no other remedie for them but to hope to scape by flying So it is reported that there were slayne that day aboue twenty thowsand CARTHAGINIANS in the field and as many more prisoners Annibal their generall after he had taryed to see the ende of the battell fled with a few of his men out of the great slaughter Afterwardes when he was sent for to CARTHAGE to helpe to saue his contry he perswaded the Senate not to hope any more in warres but did counsell them that setting all deuises a part they should send vnto Scipio the ROMANE Captaine to make peace with him vpon any condicion When the tenne Ambassadors had brought the capitulacion and agreement vnto CARTHAGE of the articles of peace it is reported that there was one Gisgo who misliking to heare talke of peace he made an oration and perswaded all he could to renew warre against the ROMANES Wherefore Annibal perceiuing that diuers men confirmed his opinion and being much offended to see such beasts and men of no vnderstanding to dare to speake of such matters in so daungerous a time he cast him downe headlong whilest he was yet in his oration So when he sawe that the Citizens and all the whole assembly thought this too presumptuous a part of him vnmeete altogether for a free citie he him selfe got vp into the pulpit for orations and sayd Let no man be offended if a man that from his youth hath bene alway out of CARTHAGE brought vp all his life time in warres be ignoraunt of the lawes and ordinaunces of the citie After that he spake so wisely to the articles of peace that the CARTHAGINIANS being immediatly moued by the authoritie of so great a person they all agreed to accept the condicions which the vanquither the necessitie of time offred them The articles out of dout were very extreame and such as the vanquished are wont to receiue with all extreamitie by the conquerors But besides all other things the CARTHAGINIANS were bouÌ„d to pay the ROMANES an annuell tribute vntill a certen time were ronne out So when the daye came that the first pencion was to be payd to the ROMANES and that euery man grudged when the subsedy was spoken of some saye that Annibal being offended with the vaine teares of the CARTHAGINIANS he fell a laughing And when Hasdrubal Haedâ—s reproued him bicause he laughed in such a common calamitie of all the citie he aunswered that it was no laughture nor reioycing from the hart but a scorning of their fond teares that wept when there was lesse cause and onely bicause it touched euery priuate mans purse then before when the ROMANES tooke from the CARTHAGINIANS their shippes armor and weapons and their spoyles of the great victories which they had wonne before and now gaue lawes and ordinaunces vnto them that were vanquished I know some Authors write that Annibal immediatly after he had lost the battell fled into ASIA for
third part of the world as they had done in AFRICK and EVROPE Antiochus perswaded by the authority of such a man straight commaunded Polyxenidas a very seruiceable man and skilfull in sea seruice that he should goe meete with the army of the ROMANES that was comming thither Then he sent Annibal into SYRIA to leauy a great number of shippes together and afterwards made him and Apollonius one of his fauored Courtiers generalls of this armye by sea who notwithstanding that Polyxenidas was put to the worst by the ROMANES they went and set vpon the RHODIANS that were confederats with them Annibal in this battell assayling Eudamus the Captaine of the RHODIANS that led the left wing he had already compassed in the Admirall galley and doubtles had obtayned the victorie but that the other wing came in to rescue after they had followed Apollonius in chase and tooke the victorie from him that was his owne After this battell by sea which had no great good successe we doe not find that Annibal did any thing worthy memorie For king Antiochus being ouercome besides other condicions the ROMANES offred him they desired that Annibal the mortall enemy of their contry should be deliuered vnto them Annibal foreseeing this long before he sodainely stale from Antiochus after this notable battell that was fought by MAGNESIA where the kings power was ouerthrowen So after Annibal had wandred vp and downe a long time he fled at length vnto Prusias king of BITHYNIA for succor Nowe he did not so much trust to his friendshippe but bicause he sought for the meetest place he coulde come by as also for the safest the which he most desired considering that the ROMANES had the most part of the sea and land in their subiection Some say that after king Antiochus was ouercome Annibal went into CRETA vnto the GORTYNIANS and that the rumor ranne immediatly he had brought a great masse of gold aud siluer with him Wherefore being affrayd least the CRETANS should offer him some violence he deuised this shifte to scape the daunger he filled earthen pots with lead gilt and sent them into the temple of Diana fayning that he was maruelous carefull for them as though all his treasure had bene there On the other side he had hid all his gold in images of brasse the which he had left caresly lying on the groūd in the house In the meane time whilest they watched the temple carefully that these earthen pots should not be caried away without their priuitie Annibal hoysed sayle and fled into BITHYNIA In BITHYNIA there is a village vpon the sea side which the contry men call LIBYSSA of the which by some mens saying there ranne an olde oracle and prophecy in this sort The land of Libyssa shall couer vnder movvlde The valliant corps of Annibal vvhen he is dead and colde There Annibal lay not spending his time idely but passing it away in exercising of the maryners riding of horses and trayning of his souldiers Some Authors also do write that at that time Prusias made warre with Eumenes who was a confederate and friend of the ROMANES and that he made Annibal his Lieutenant generall of his army by sea who assayling Eumenes with a new found and vnknowen deuise wanne the victory of the battell by sea For before they began to fight it is reported that Annibal had gotten an infinite number of snakes into earthen pots and when the battel was begonne and they busily tending their fight he threw those pots with snakes into the enemies shippes and that by this fearefull and straunge deuise he made them flie Now whether this was true or not the olde chronicles do make no manner of mention but onely AEmylius and Trogus And therefore I report me to the Authors So the newes of the dissention betwixt these two kings Prusias and Eumenes being brought to ROME the Senate sent T. Q. Flaminius Ambassador into ASIA whose name was famous for the noble victories he had obtayned in GRAECE to the ende as I coniecture to make peace betwixt these two kings Flaminius being come vnto king Prusias he was maruelously offended and sory in his mind to see Annibal yet aliue that was the mortallest enemy of the ROMANES after the cōquests of so many nations the sacking of so many people therfore he was very earnestly in hand with king Prusias to deliuer him Annibal Annibal from the first beginning mistrusted king Prusias inconstancye very much and therefore had digged diuers vaults in his house and made seuen seuerall vents to flie out at if he were sodainely taken The report of Flaminius cōming did encrease his suspition the more for that he thought him the greatest enemy he had in ROME both generally for the hate he bate vnto all the ROMANES as also perticularly for the remembraunce of his father Flaminius that was slayne in the battell fought by the lake of Thrasymene So Annibal being full of care and griefe as it is reported he found deuises to escape the which stood him to no purpose against such a great power For when the kings gard which were sent to take him had cōpassed his house about Annibal thought to flie at their first comming and to saue him selfe by the secretest vault he had But when he found that the place was kept by the gard then he determined to rid him selfe out of the ROMANES handes by destroying him selfe So some doe report that he was strangled by one of his men whome he had commaunded to helpe to dispatche him Others write againe that he had droncke bulles bloud and when he had droncke it dyed as Clitarchus and Stratocles doe falsely report of Themistocles Howbeit Titus Liuius that famous Historiographer writeth that Annibal called for the poyson he had ready for such a mischiefe and that holding this deadly drinke in his hand before he dranke he sayd Come on let vs rid the ROMANES of this payne and care sith their spight and malice is so great to hasten the death of a poore old man that is halfe dead already The auncient ROMANES aduertised Pyrrhus king of the EPIROTES who came with enseignes displayed to the very walls of the citie of ROME that he should looke to him selfe and beware of poysoning and these ROMANES nowe doe make a friende forgetting his kingly state and faithfull promise vilely to betraye his poore ghest After he had sayd bitterly cursing king Prusias he poysoned him selfe being three score tenne yeare olde as some writers doe testifie His body was buried in a tombe of stone by LIBYSSA on the which was ingrauen no more but this Here lyeth Annibal The ROMANES beeing aduertised of his death euery man sayde his opinion as his fancye serued him Some greatly blamed T. Q. Flaminius crueltie who to make him selfe famous by some notable acte as he thought made a poore olde man put him selfe to death that was in manner half dead by age and besides was past doing the state
vvith svvifter course This is vvithouten fayle The ATHENIANS had nine score in euery one of the which there were eightene souldiers whereof foure of them were archers and all the rest armed men Themistocles also did with no lesse skill wisedom choose his time place to fight forbearing to charge his enemies vntill the hower was come that of ordinarie custome the sea winde arose and brought in a rough tyde within the channell which dyd not hurt the GRAECIAN gallyes being made lowe and snugge but greatly offended the PERSIAN gallyes being highe cargged heauie not yare of steredge and made them lye sidelong to the GREECIANS who fiercely set vpon them hauing allwayes an eye to Themistocles direction that best foresawe their aduaÌ„tage At the same time Ariamenes Xerxes admirall a man of great valure and worthiest of the Kings brethern be stowed arrowes and dartes as it were from the walles of a castell charging the gallye of Aminias Decelian and Sosicles Pedian which were ioyned and grappled with him and fiercely entring the same was by them valliantly receyued vpon their pikes and thrust ouer borde into the sea Whose bodie floting amongest other shippewracks ARTEMISIA knowing caused to be caried to king Xerxes Nowe whilest this battell stoode in these termes they saye that there appeared a great flame in the element toward the cittie of ELEVSIN and that a lowde voyce was heard through all the plaine of THRIASIA vnto the sea as if there had bene a nuÌ„ber of men together that had songe out alowde the holy songe of Iacchus And it seemed by litle and litle that there rose a clowde in the ayer from those which sange that left the land came lighted on the gallyes in the sea Other affirmed that they sawe armed men which did reache out their hands from the I le of AEGINA towards the GREECIAN gallyes they thought they were the AEACIDES for whose helpe they all prayed before the battell was begonne The first man of the ATHENIANS that tooke any of the enemies shippes was Lycomedes a captaine of a gallye who hauing takeÌ„ very rich furniture flagges did afterwards coÌ„secrate them to Apollo laurell as ye would saye victorious The other GREECIANS in the fronte being equall in nuÌ„ber with the barbarous shipps by reason of the straightnes of the arme of the sea wherein they sought so straightned as they could not fight but by one one where by the BARBARIANS disorderly layed one another abourde that they did hinder them selues with their ouer multitude in the end were so sore pressed vpon by the GREECIANS that they were coÌ„strayned to flye by night after they had fought mainteined battell vntil it was very darke So the GRAECIANS wanne that glorious famous victorie of the which maye truly be affirmed that as Simonides sayeth VVas neuer yet nor Greeke nor Barbarous crevv that could by sea so many men subdevv Nor that obteind so famous victorie in any fight against their enemie Thus was the victorie wonne through the valliantnes and corage of those that fought that battell but especially through Themistocles great policie and wisdome After this battell Xerxes being mad for his losse thought to fill vp the arme of the sea and to passe his armie by lande vpon a bridge into the I le of SALAMINA Themistocles bicause he would feele Aristides opinion tolde him as they were talking together that he thought best to goe and occupie the straight of HELLESPONT with the armie by sea to breake the bridge of shippes which Xerxes had caused to be made to the ende said he that we maye take ASIA into EVROPE Aristides liked not this opinion for we haue said he fought all this while against this barbarous King who thought but to playe with vs But if we shut him within GREECE and bring him to fight of necessitie to saue his life such an enemie that commaundeth so great an armie will no more stand still as a looker on and set at his ease vnder his golden pauilion to see the pastime of the battell but will proue euerie waye and be him selfe in euery place at all assayes to taâ—e him self from such a straight daunger Thus with politicke care foresight he maye easely amend his former faulte committed by negligence and doe well enough when he shall see his life and Kingdome both depend vpon it Therefore Themistocles I would thincke not best to breake his bridge at all which he hath caused to be made but rather if we could to build another to it to driue him out of EVROPE as sone as we could Themistocles then replied Seeing you thincke this were good to be done we must all laye our heades together to deuise how he maye be forced to come out assone as we could They breaking of with this resolutioÌ„ Themistocles sent immediately one of the Kings enuches called Arsaces that was one of the gromes of his chaÌ„ber whom he found out amoÌ„gest the prisoners by him he sent this message vnto the king That the GREECIANS hauing woÌ„ne the battell of him by sea had decreed in their counsell how they would goe to the straight of HELLESPONT to breake the bridge of shippes he had caused to be made there Whereof he thought good to aduertise him for the goodwil he did beare him and to the ende he might bethincke him betimes to get him away to the sea within his own dominion and so passe backe againe into ASIA as sone as he could whilest he gaue order to his allies and confederates to staye following him at the poope The barbarous King vnderstading these newes was so affrayed that he hoysed away with all possible speede The further foresight and great wisdome of Themistocles and Aristides in marine causes dyd manifestly appeare afterwards in the battell the GREECIANS fought before the cittie of PLATEA against Mardonius king Xerxes lieutenante who hauing but a small power of the King his soueraines there dyd yet put the GREECIANS to great distresse and in hazard to haue lost all Of all the townes and citties that fought in this battel Herodotus writeth that the cittie of AEGINA wanne the same for valliantnes aboue the rest of priuate men among the GRECIANS Themistocles was iudged the worthiest man although it was sore against their willes bicause they enuied much his glory For after the battell done all the captaines being gotten into the straight of PELOPONNESVS and hauing sworne vpon the altar of their sacrifices that they would geue their voyces after their consciences to those they thought had best deserued it euery one gaue him selfe the first place for worthines and the seconde vnto Themistocles The LACEDAEMONIANS caried him into SPARTA where they iudged the honour and dignitie to their admirall Eurybiades but the wisedome and pollicie they attributed to Themistocles In token thereof they gaue him an oliue braunche and the goodliest coche that was in their cittie and moreouer they
sent three hundred of their lusty youthes to accompany him and conducte him out of their countrie They saye at the next feastes and assembly of the playes Olympicall that were made after this victorie when Themistocles was once come into the showe place where these games were played the people looked no more on them that fought but all cast their eyes on him shewing him to the straungers which knewe him not with their fingers and by clapping of their handes dyd witnesse howe much they esteemed him Whereat he him selfe tooke so great delite that he confessed to his familiar friends he then dyd reape the fruite and benefit of his sundry and painefull seruices he had taken in hande for the preseruation of GREECE so ambitious was he of nature couetous of honour as we maye easely perceyue by certen of his dedes and notable sayings they haue noted of him For being chosen admirall of ATHENS he neuer dispatched any causes priuate or publicke howsoeuer they fell out vntill the very daye of his departure and taking shippe and all bicause that men seeing him ryd much busines at once and to speake with so many persones together they should esteeme him to be the notabler man of the greater authoritie Another time he walked vpon the sandes by the sea side beholding the dead bodies of the barbarous people which the sea had cast vp vpon the shore and seing some of them that had on still their chaynes of golde and bracelets he passed by on his waye but shewed them yet to his familiar friende that followed him and sayed vnto him take thou those for thou art not Themistocles And vnto one Antiphates who in his youth had bene a goodly young boye and at the time dyd scornefully behaue him selfe vnto him making no reckoning of him and now that he sawe him in authoritie came to see him he sayed O my young sonne and friend we are both euen at one time but to late growen wise He sayed the ATHENIANS dyd not esteeme of him in time of peace but when any storme of warres were towardes and they stoode in any daunger they ranne to him then as they ronne to the shadowe of a plane tree vpon any sodaine raine and after fayer weather come againe they cut awaye then the braunches and bowghes thereof There was a man borne in the I le of SERIPHA who being fallen out with him dyd cast him in the teethe that it was not for his worthines but for the noble cittie wherein he was borne that he had wonne such glorie Thou sayest true sayed he but neither should I euer haue wonne any great honour if I had bene a SERIPHIAN nor thou also if thou haddest bene an ATHENIAN An other time one of the captaines of the cittie hauing done good seruice vnto the common weale made boast before Themistocles and compared his seruice equall with his Themistocles to aunswer him tolde him a prety tale That the working daye brawled on a time with the holy daye repining against her that he laboured for his liuing continually and howe she dyd nothing but fill her bellie and spende that they had gotten Thou hast reason sayed the holy daye But if I had not bene before thee thou haddest not bene here nowe And so if I had not bene then where had you my masters bene nowe His owne sonne was a litle to sawsie with his mother and with him also bearing him self ouer boldely of her good will by meanes of her cockering of him Whereupō being merely disposed he would saye that his sonne could doe more then any mā in all GRECE For sayeth he the ATHENIANS commaunde the GRAECIANS I commaunde the ATHENIANS my wife commaundeth me and my sonne commaundeth her Moreouer bicause he would be singular by him selfe aboue all other men hauing a pece of lande he would sell he willed the crier to proclaime open sale of it in the market place and with all he should adde vnto the sale that his lande laye by a good neighbour An other time two men being suters to his daughter he preferred the honester before the richer saying he had rather haue to his sonne in lawe a man that lacked goodes then goodes to lacke a man These were Themistocles pleasaunt conceites and aunswers But after he had done all these things we haue spoken of before he tooke in hande to buylde againe the cittie and walles of ATHENS and dyd corrupt the officers of LACEDAEMONIA with money to the end they should not hinder his purpose as Theopompus writeth Or as all other saye when he had deceyued them by this subtiltie he went vnto SPARTA as ambassadour sent thither of purpose vpon the complaintes of the LACEDAEMONIANS for that the ATHENIANS dyd inclose their cittie againe with walles who were accused vnto the counsaill of SPARTA by an orator called Poliarchus who was sent thither from the AEGINETES of purpose to prosecute this matter against the ATHENIANS Themistocles stowtely denied it to them and prayed them for better vnderstanding of the trothe they would sende some of their men thither to see it This was but a fetche only to winne by this delaye the ATHENIANS so muche more time to rayse vp their walles and that the ATHENIANS should keepe as ostages for suertie of his persone those they should send to ATHENS to bring backe the reporte thereof and so it fell out For the LACEDAEMONIANS being informed of the trothe as it was dyd him no hurte but dissembling the misliking they had to be thus abused by him sent him awaye safe and sounde Afterwardes he made them also mende and fortifie the hauen of PIRAEA hauing considered the situation of the place and all to incline the cittie to the sea Wherein he dyd directly contrary to all the counsell of the auncient kings of ATHENS who seeking as they saye to withdrawe their people from the sea and to accustome them to liue vpon the lande by planting sowing and plowing their groundes dyd deuise and geue out abroade the fable they tell of the goddesse Pallas And that is this how she contending with Neptune about the patronage of the country of ATHENS brought forth and shewed to the iudges the olyue tree by meanes whereof she preuayled and obteined the preheminence Euen so Themistocles dyd not ioyne the hauen of PIRAEA vnto the cittie of ATHENS as the comicall poet Aristophanes sayeth but rather ioyned the cittie vnto the hauen PIRAEA and the lande vnto the sea By this meanes he made the people strong against the nobilitie and brought the communaltie to waxe bolder then they were before by reason the rule and authoritie fell into the handes of saylers mariners pilottes shippemasters and such kinde of seafaring men so as the pulpet where all the oracles were made stoode in the market place of PNYX and dyd looke towardes the sea But the thirtie tyrannes that came in afterwardes dyd remoue it and turne it towardes the lande holding opinion
sette aside foure score talentes that were geuen to the PLATAEIANS with the which they built a temple vnto Minerua and gaue her an image and sett out all her temple with pictures that remaine whole vntill this day and the LACEDAEMONIANS notwithstanding did set vp their tokens of victorie by them selues and the ATHENIANS theirs also by them selues So they sending vnto the oracle of Apollo in the city of DELPHES to know vnto what gods and how they should do sacrifice Apollo aunswered them that they shoulde builde vp an aulter vnto Iupiter protector of their libertie howbeit that they shoulde put no sacrifice vpon it vntill they had first put out all the fier through the whole contrie bicause it had bene polluted and defiled by the barbarous people and then that they shoulde fetche pure and cleane fyre at the common aulter whereon they doe sacrifice vnto Apollo Pythias in the city of DELPHES This aunswer being deliuered the great Lords and officers of GREECE went through all the contrie to put out the fyre euery where And there was a man of the same city of PLATAEES at that time called Euchidas that came and offered him selfe and promised he woulde bringe them fyre from the temple of Apollo Pythias with all possible speede that might be So when he came to the city of DELPHES after he hadde sprinckled and purified his body with cleane water he put a crowne of lawrell apon his heade and went in that manner to take fyre from the aulter of Apollo When he had done he hyed him againe as fast as he coulde ronne for life vnto the citie of PLATAEES and came thither before the sunne was set hauing commen and gone that day a thowsande furlonges But after he hadd saluted his citizens and deliuered them the fyre he brought he fell downe dead at their feete and gaue vp the ghost The PLATAEIANS lift him vp starke deade and buried him in the temple of Diana Euclia to say of good renowme and caused afterwards this Epitaphe following to be grauen vpon his tombe Engraued here doth lye Euchidas speedy man vvho in one day both to and fro to Delphes lightly ranne Euen from this selfe same place vvhich thou doest here behold such hast post hast he svviftly made thereof thou mayest beholde Many thinke that this goddesse Euclia is Diana and so they call her But other holde opinion she was the daughter of Hercules and of Myrto the Nymphe Menatius daughter and Patroclus sister that dyed a virgine and was honored afterwardes as a goddesse of the BOEOTIANS of the LOCRIANS For in all their cities and townes in open places they finde an aulter and image dedicated vnto her and all that are maried doe sacrifice to her apon that aulter Afterwards there was a generall counsell holden by all the GREECIANS in the which Aristides made a motion that all the cities of GREECE shoulde yearely sende their deputies at a certeine day appointed vnto the city of PLATAEES there to make their prayers sacrifices vnto the goddes and that from fiue yeares to fiue yeares they shoulde celebrate common games that should be called the games of liberty and that they should also leauy through all the prouinces of GREECE for maintenance of the warres against the PERSIANS and barbarous people tenne thowsand footemen a thowsand horsemen and a flete of a hundred sayle Item that the PLATAEIANS thencefoorth should be taken also for deuoute and holy men and that no man should so hardy hurt or offende them and that they shoulde onely tende the sacrifices vnto the goddes for the health and prosperitie of GREECE All which articles were enacted in forme and maner aforesayed and the PLATAEIANS bounde them selues yearely to kepe solemne sacrifices and anniuersaries for the soules of the GREECIANS that were slaine in their territories fightinge for defence of the libertie of the GREECIANS And this they obserue yet vnto this daye in this sorte The sixteenth day of the moneth of Maemacterion which the BOEOTIANS call Alalcomenies and is about the moneth of Ianuary they goe a procession and before the procession there goeth a trompetor that soundeth the alarom Then there follow certeine charrettes loden with braunches of fyrre tree and with nosegayes and garlandes of triumphe then a blacke bul certeine yong gentlemen noblemen sonnes that cary great cawdrons with two eares full of wine and milke such as they vse to powre apon the graues of deade men for propiciatory oblations and other young boyes free borne that cary oyles perfumes and other sweete odours in vyoll glasses For no seruaunt or bonde man may lawfully be admitted to haue any office about this mistery for that they whose memory they honor dyed all fighting for defence of the liberty of GREECE After all this shew followeth the prouost of the PLATAEIANS for that time being last of all who may not all the rest of the yeare besides so much as touch any iron nor weare any other coloured gowne but white Howebeit then he weareth on a purple coloured coate and holdeth a funerall potte in one of his handes which he taketh in the towne house and a naked sworde in the other hande and so goeth through the cittie in this sorte after all the pompe aforesayed vnto the church yarde where all their graues be that were slaine at that battell So when he commeth thither he draweth water out of a well that is there and with the same he washeth the fouresquare pillers and images that stand apon those tombes and then annointeth them with oyles and sweete sauors afterwardes he sacrificeth a bulle and layeth him apon a heape of wodde hard by him as they do when they burne the bodies of dead men and making certaine praiers and peticions vnto Iupiter and Mercurie goddes of the earth he doth solemnely inuite the soules of those valliant men that dyed fightinge for the liberty of GREECE vnto the feast of this funerall sacrifice Then he taketh a cuppe full of wine in his hande and spilling it all vpon their tombes he speaketh these wordes aloude I drinke to the worthy and valliant men than dyed sometime in defence of the liberty of GREECE This solemne ceremony and anniuersarie the PLATAEIANS doe duely obserue vnto this present day Nowe when the ATHENIANS were returned to ATHENS Aristides perceiuing the people were bent to stablish a populer state where the people might beare the whole rule and authoritie iudginge them well worthy to be considered of in respect of their noble seruice and valiant courage they had shewed in this warre cōsidering also that they would hardly be brought to like of any other gouernment being yet in armes and very stowte by reason of the famous victories they had obteyned he caused a law to be made that all authority of gouernment should runne in equality among the citizens and that thencefoorth all burgesses as well poore as rich should be chosen by voyces of the people and
promoted to offices within the city And moreouer when Themistocles tolde in open assembly that he had a thing in his heade woulde be greatly to the profit and commodity of the state but yet it was not to be spoken openly for diuerse respects the people willed him to tell it vnto Aristides onely and to take his aduise in it to knowe whether it was meete to be done or not Then Themistocles tolde him secretly betwene them that he thought to sette the arcenall afyre where all the GREECIANS ships lay alleaging that by this meanes the ATHENIANS should be the greatest men of power in all GREECE Aristides hearinge that without any more came presently to the people againe and tolde the whole counsell openly that nothinge coulde be more profitable in deede for the whole common wealth and withal more wicked and vniust then that Themistocles thought good to do When the people heard Aristides aunswere they willed Themistocles to lette his deuise alone whatsoeuer it were so great iusticers were the ATHENIANS and so much did they trust Aristides wisedom and equitie besides So they made Aristides afterwards generall of the army of the ATHENIANS together with Cimon sent them to make warre against the barbarous people Aristides at his comming thither seeing Pausanias the other Captaines that were generall ouer the whole army dealinge hardly and churlishely with people their confederates he on the contrary side spake gently vnto them and shewed him selfe as curteous and familiar to them as he coulde possible making his companion also familiar to all and iust to euery body not oppressing some to ease other in defraying the charges of the warres Aristides takinge this course it was not noted howe by litle and litle he cutte of the rule and authoritie of the LACEDAEMONIANS in GREECE not by force of armes nor by shippes nor by numbers of horses but onely by his graue and wise gouernment For if the iustice and vertue of Aristides and the myldenes and curtesy of Cimon made the gouernment of the ATHENIANS to be liked of and accepted of all the other people of GREECE the couetousnes pride and fiercenesse of Pausanias made it much more to be desired For Pausanias neuer spake vnto the other Captaynes of the people allyes and confederates but it was euer in choller and he was to sharp with them and for the poore priuate souldiers he woulde cause them to be cruelly whipped for euery small offence or else to make them stande a whole day together on their feete layinge a heauy iron ancker apon their shoulders No man durst goe forrage neither for strawe nor reedes to make them couches of nor durst water their horse before the SPARTANS for he had sette skowtes for them to whippe them home that went out before them And one day when Aristides thought to haue spoken to him and to haue tolde him some thinge he frowned apon him and sayed he hadde no leasure to speake with him now and so would not heare him Whereupon the Captaines of the other GREECIANS specially those of CHIO of SAMOS and of LESBOS did afterwardes follow Aristides and perswaded him to take apon him the charge and authority to commaunde the other people of GREECE and to take into his protection the allyes and confederats of the same who long sithence wished to reuolt from the gouernment of the LACEDAEMONIANS and onely to submitte them selues vnto the ATHENIANS Aristides aunswered them thus that they had not only reason to doe that they sayd but that they were also constrained to do it Notwithstanding bicause the ATHENIANS might haue good grounde and assurance of their vndoubted fidelitie and good seruice they shoulde deliuer them manifest testimony and assurance thereof by some famous act attempted against the LACEDAEMONIANS whereby their people hereafter durst neuer fall from the league of the ATHENIANS Vliades SAIMAN and Antagoras of CHIO hearing him say so both Captaines of galleys confedered together they went one day to set apon the admirall galley of Pausanias hard by BIZANTIVM the one of the one side of her and the other on the other side as she was rowing before all the fleete Pausanias seeinge them stoode vppe straight in a maruelous rage against them and threatned them that before it were longe he woulde make them knowe they had bene better to haue assaulted their owne naturall contrie then to haue set vpon him as they had done But they aunswered him and bad him get him away quickely and he were wise and let him thanke fortune hardly that graunted the GREECIANS victory at the battell of PLATAEES vnder his leading and that it was nothing else but the onely reuerence and respect of the same that had made the GREECIANS hold their hands till now from geuing him that iust punishment his pride and arrogancy had deserued So the end was they left the LACEDAEMONIANS stacke vnto the ATHENIANS wherin was easily discerned the great corage and wonderfull magnanimity of the LACEDAEMONIANS For when they sawe their Captaines were marred and corrupted through the ouergreat authority liberty they had they willingly gaue vp their commaundement ouer the other GREECIANS and did no more sende their Captaines to be generalls of the whole army of GREECE thinking it better for their citizens that they should be obedient and in euery point obserue the discipline and law of their contrie then if they had bene otherwise the only rulers and Lords ouer the whole contrie Now at what time the LACEDAEMONIANS did commaunde all GREECE as Lordes the cities and people of GREECE did pay a certeine summe of money towardes defrayinge of the charges of the warres against the barbarous people But after that their seigniorie and rule was taken from them the GREECIANS were contented a taxe should be leauied and that euery city should be reasonably sessed accordinge to their wealth and abilitie bicause euery citie might know what they shoulde pay And for this purpose they prayed the ATHENIANS they would appoint Aristides to take order for it vnto whom they gaue full power and authoritie to taxe and sesse euery citie indifferently considering the greatnes of the territory and the reuenues of the same as euery one was reasonably able to beare it But if Aristides were poore when he entred into that great charge and office of authoritie wherein all GREECE in manner did referre them selues vnto his discretion he came out of that office more poore and had made this assessement and taxacion not only iustly and truely but also so indifferently accordinge vnto euery mans abilitie that there was no man coulde finde fault with his doinges And like as the auncient men in olde time did celebrate and sing out the blessednes of those that liued vnder the raigne of Saturne which they called the golden age euen so did the people and consederates of the ATHENIANS afterwardes honor the assessement made by Aristides calling it the